Disclaimer: I would love to own them but I don't. That said I am clearly not profiting from this beyond the replies that my lovely readers leave me. I do own Dani and unfortunately Luka, but they're not giving me anything either.

A/N: Wow, I really surprised myself at how fast I got this out. I had a spare hour at work and I made it happen. I hope you guys like the drama. As a warning, I haven't really written anything fast-paced before, so let me know if there's anyway for me to improve. Happy reading!

0216 ZULU

EMBASSY OF KAZAKHSTAN

WASHINGTON, D.C.

The party was now in full swing, and Mac and Harm were doing their best to casually mingle while keeping a watchful eye Dani. They had made it through a number of conversations without Mac killing the chauvinistic males of the group, which was quite the accomplishment. Dani too had completed her rounds and had settled into a conversation with a group of women.

"How much time do I have?" Harm asked, referring to the designated time Webb had assigned him.

"4 minutes 43 seconds," Mac answered seamlessly.

"I should make my way to the door," Harm glanced at the door Webb said would open at exactly 0220. He would then have exactly 12 minutes to get onto the computer, get the name, and get back to the party.

"And I better go attach myself to Dani," Mac sighed, "Wish me luck."

"You should be wishing me luck," he laughed.

"Eh, you'll be fine."

"Okay, see you in a few."

"16 minutes," she specified, "And I expect that dance you owe me."

"You've got my word."

"I better, Flyboy," she took a deep breath and turned to approach Dani. To Mac's surprise Dani greeted her with a smile.

"Excuse me ladies," she said to the four women standing with her, "I believe my sister wants me. I will catch up with you later."

"Where are we going?" Mac asked with confusion as Dani grabbed her arm and led her quickly away from the group.

"Anywhere but with them," she set her empty champagne glass on a tray.

"Bathroom?"

"Works for me," she slowed their pace and smiled at someone she knew.

"What's so bad about them?"

"Remember when we first met and I told you about the spoiled socialites at my boarding school?" she asked and Mac nodded, "Well, that's the grown up version."

"I see," she opened the door to the bathroom, "But you seemed to be getting along so well with everyone?"

"It was an act," Dani checked the stalls to make sure they were alone.

"Even with the ambassador?" she asked, "You two seemed pretty close."

"Hardly," she let out a light laugh, "I had a dossier compiled on him and the last time we had contact."

"So your memories of the wedding?"

"Virtually nonexistent," she shrugged checking her reflection, "If you had any idea how many of those I've had to attend in my life."

"I still can't believe you researched the ambassador," Mac chuckled.

"Oh, I'm sure he did the exact same thing. That man probably knew the date and time that we last saw each other. He was sucking up in hopes I would tell my uncle to make a legitimate donation to his government."

"Wow."

"Welcome to my world," they fell into a silence, "Sarah--"

"Dani--" Mac began at the same time, "You first."

"I'm sorry."

"Me too."

"The things I said..."

"Forgotten," Mac smiled slightly, "And me keeping you out of the loop..."

"Never again," Dani finished, "Where's Harm?"

"Hacking into the embassy's computer to trace the bugs put in there by the rebel forces."

"Then what?"

"We keep you safe while Webb's people move in."

"Okay," she bit her lip.

"It's going to be fine, Dani," Mac looked into her sister's eyes and saw a little girl instead of the polished countess.

"Really?"

"Yes," she hugged her, "I will never let anything happen to you."

"I'm going to hold you to it, big sis," she broke from the hug with her facade back in place, "What's the story with this Agent Webb?"

"What about him?"

"He's State Department?" Dani questioned skeptically, as they exited the ladies room.

"Secretary to the Undersecretary."

"Seems more CIA to me."

"Once a spook, always a spook," Mac answered with a smile. She spotted Luka scanning the crowd, "I think he's looking for you."

"He's the one who disappeared first," she made no effort to make eye contact with him.

"What's going on with you two?"

"When I freak out, Luka's always been there to talk it out and calm me down," she shrugged, "After our fight, I called him. I guess old habits die hard."

"What about Tiner?"

"Voicemail," she left out the fact that she called Jason after she had spoken with Luka, "Luka and I are just friends."

"But he's still hung up on you."

"I know," she looked away.

"You're not still hung up on him, are you?"

"There's a lot of history there," she sighed, "More than what I told you in France."

"Dani?" Mac looked shocked.

"We're still over, don't worry," Dani assured her, "I love Jason."

"Don't forget that," she whispered as Luka approached, "No matter how charming he is."

"I won't, but that doesn't stop you from falling for all of Harm's charm," she teased.

"We'll be discussing my 'date' later," she rolled her eyes.

"I'm sure," Dani laughed.

"What's so funny?" Luka joined them.

"Girl stuff," she smiled.

"I see, where have you been?" Luka asked.

"We've been around," Dani answered vaguely, "What about you?"

"Around," he read Dani's body language to see that she and Mac were good again, "Have you been enjoying yourself, Major?"

"Yes, I have," she smiled, amazed at his about face in treatment of her. Mac was equally as amazed at how well he was able to read Dani's body language, but that was a matter for another night.

"Where is the commander?" he asked.

"I'm sure he's around," Dani answered, continuing their previous joke.

"I last saw him talking to someone he met on a case a couple years ago," Mac lied, "But he'll be finished soon. He owes me a dance."

"Speaking of which," Luka turned to Dani, "May I, Countess?"

"I suppose," she sighed, taking his hand, "I'll see you later, Sarah."

"Not if I see you first," Mac tossed back hinting that she will be watching Dani for her protection and so that she won't be swept away by Luka.

Harm quickly hooked up the modem Webb had given him and got to work with the computer. He sat on edge, watching the door of the darkened office intently, while waiting for the computer to spit out a name. After what seemed like an eternity, a name appeared on the screen. As ready as he was, Harm was unable to prepare himself for who that name would be.

"After this dance would you mind coming out to the terrace with me?" Luka asked Dani as the waltz began to die down.

"The terrace?" she looked to Mac, and signaled for her to check the terrace, "Why are you asking now?"

"Because when this dance ends, a number of men will fight me to dance with you," he cocked his head to where they stood, "See?"

"Good call," she saw the men and groaned quietly.

"So will you accompany me to the terrace?" he asked again.

"Yes," Dani answered when she saw Mac return from her check of the terrace, "Let's duck out now."

"If you say so," he led her through the crowd and they slipped out as the last strands of the song played.

"It's such a beautiful night," Dani walked to the balcony edge and looked up at the moon.

"I agree."

"Luka," she looked over her shoulder to see him staring at her instead of the clouds.

"I can't help it," he came over to her side, "You've always been breathtaking in moonlight."

"Same with you," her mind drifted back to that night after their spring formal. Stop it, Dani, she thought, You love Jason, but you love Luka too, her mind argued. Loved, her rational mind shot back, Love isn't transitory, "We shouldn't be out here."

"We can go back inside," he offered, but she didn't move, "Why can't you just let go?"

"I've moved on," she whispered.

"But you're not moving away."

"I told you no in France," she took a half step back, "Do you honestly think it's going to happen in America?"

"We're on Kazakhstani soil," he pointed out.

"Still..." she trailed off, getting lost in his eyes. The same eyes that swept her away as a teen. The eyes that grew more magnetic with each second. Maybe it was the champagne, but she couldn't walk away.

"Don't think, just feel," he leaned in to kiss her and she didn't move away.

"Where's Dani?" Harm said the minute he reached Mac's side.

"Outside," Mac looked out the window to the terrace, where she had a clear view of Luka and Dani from the waste down.

"Alone?"

"No, with Luka," she looked at him with concern, "Harm?"

"We need to get her, now," he answered, as the power suddenly cut off.

"Luka," Dani broke the kiss before it could get any farther.

"You want to walk away?"

"I..." she thought about all the reasons not too, but ultimately listened to the part that wanted to fill the ache left after their breakup, "No, I'm staying here."

"Good," he smiled and kissed her deeply. She shut off her mind and decided to just feel. She was so lost in the moment that she did not feel the needle prick her skin until it was too late.

A/N: You know the drill…please reply!

RadioRox & chantelmac: I don't want to send you into paranoid fits, but everyone's favorite spook always knows more than he's telling...

Martina Cruz: I hope you liked this most recent addition...

Bite Beccy: Maybe...that's all I'm going to say...but he'll get his due...

Abigaile, starryeyes, and anyone else: Thanks the complements and for reading!