Disclaimer: I do not own JAG or any of the characters therein. I own my personal creations, that's it.
A/N: Once again, sorry about the delay. Over 100 reviews…I'm so happy! I'm hoping to get the next chapter out this weekend too, so wish me luck. As always please review and happy reading!
0229 ZULU
JAG HEADQUARTERS
FALLS CHURCH, VIRGINIAAs Harm sat in the darkened office of the Embassy, a similar scene played out in Admiral Chegwidden's office at JAG. The admiral, Webb, and Paul Arkada all stood around the computer waiting to receive the name Harm was working to get. They watched as the letters slowly unscrambled on the screen before them: R-A-D-I-C-A-N-S, L-U-K-A.
"I knew it," Webb said to himself when the name popped up.
"You knew it?" Paul's eyes grew cold and he approached Webb menacingly.
"I had suspicions," he took a step back.
"You suspected Luka but insisted that I send my niece to stay with his family," Paul grabbed Webb's collar to keep him from backing away.
"It was the safest place for her," Webb glanced at the admiral, who looked as if he had no plans to remove Webb from Paul's grasp.
"You better explain your logic, Mr. Webb, and quickly."
"Radicans obviously has gone through a lot of effort to keep his identity secret, so there was no way he would target your niece when he was the only suspect," Webb explained quickly, "We knew he would not act before the embassy ball."
"But what about tonight?" his grip didn't slacken, "He is there as her date."
"We couldn't break cover. Besides, Rabb and MacKenzie are on it."
"You better hope they are," Paul was interrupted by Webb's cell phone ringing.
"That's probably my team," Webb said and Paul let him go in disgust, "Webb – What? – Get the building surrounded and report back."
"What's going on Webb?" the admiral got into the Webb's face partially to threaten the spy and also to keep Paul at bay when whatever went wrong came out.
"Embassy power was cut suddenly before Rabb gave my people the signal. Shot's were fired and the windows are being boarded up."
"What the?" Mac began as the power flickered back on.
"Dani's gone," Harm looked out at the terrace where she had stood seconds before.
"Maybe she just moved from our view," she said as calmly as she could, heading for the door with Harm on her six. As she reached for the knob, a shot was fired and they turned to see two soldiers standing on the steps over the crowd.
"Everybody listen!" the man who had fired his gun in the air shouted, "This embassy is now under the control of XXXXXXXX. You will be fine as long as everyone follows the rules and no one attempts any heroics. Now move!"
"Come on, Mac," he led her by the elbow when she failed to respond to what was said. They needed to formulate a plan, but until then they had to follow the crowd and blend in. Luckily she followed him without resistance, "You okay, Mac?"
"Who was it?" she glanced up at the balcony to see it lined with what were obviously rebel soldiers.
"Luka Radicans," he watched her turn another shade of pale.
"Oh God," she whispered, blindly following the crowd while thinking how she failed her sister.
Luka carried Dani in his arms when he walked into the ambassador's office. He placed her gently on the couch and walked over to where his second-in-command stood at the desk, "Are they other guests secured?"
"Yes, they are being moved to the salons as we speak."
"The ambassador?"
"Moved to the basement."
"And her sister and the commander?"
"Secured as well."
"Well done, Yuri," Luka walked to a bookshelf and pulled out a book. He opened it and pulled out a leather case from which he removed a syringe, "Watch the door, I need some alone time with the countess."
"Yes, sir," Yuri left the room and Luka injected Dani with whatever was in the syringe.
"Danaë," he set the syringe aside and stroked the side of her face, "Time for you to wake up."
"Luka," her eyes blinked open.
"Hey there."
"What happened?" she started to sit up.
"Stay down," he eased her back into a lying down position, "You passed out."
"Passed out?" Dani tried to remember what had happened on the terrace.
"You must have had too much champagne."
"I didn't drink that much," she closed her eyes and remembered them kissing and then the prick of a needled. Her eyes opened and fell upon the fresh needle mark. She sat up again and Luka did not stop her this time, "You."
"Yes me," he stood up from where he had been crouching at her side.
"You bastard."
Harm and Mac were led with the other guests into one of the salons down the hall from the ballroom. Mac sat in a chair half-watching Harm attempt to pick the lock with one of her hairpins. She had no idea if he was making any progress because she was too focused on berating herself for allowing Dani to go outside alone with Luka. If she had just shaken her head 'no' to Dani or followed them out there, none of this would have happened.
"Mac," Harm handed her back the bobby pin, "That's getting me no where."
"Okay," she fiddled with the pin and didn't look up at him.
"Mac, you have to snap out of this," he knelt before her and placed his hands over hers, stopping her attempts to break the pin.
"I let her go out there alone with him," she met his eyes now that her hands were still.
"I would have done the same thing."
"I should have gone with her," she snapped her head to the left, and then back to him.
"We had no reason to suspect Luka."
"I should have—"
"There's nothing either of us could have done, Mac," he knew she needed more time to deal with all this. He felt just as guilty as she did, but they would both have to deal with that later.
"I know," she pulled her hands from his and sat up straighter.
"Are you with me, Marine?" he wanted to be sure she was really ready.
"Yeah," she stood up, "Sorry about that. I don't usually…"
"No problem," he smiled, relieved that she was back to 'Mac-mode.'
"How many guards are on our door?"
"I only heard two voices."
"Is this the only room in this hall?"
"Yes, everyone else went down the other hallway," he answered, "What are you thinking?"
"I'm feeling very sick suddenly, I really need to get to a bathroom," she answered with a smile.
"Works for me."
"Everyone, stay where you are and go along with us," Mac said to everyone else in the room.
"Ready?" he put his arm around her.
"Yeah," she collapsed weakly against him.
"Hey! Open the door, we have someone sick in here," he pounded on the door fiercely, "Open up!"
"What?" the door swung open to reveal two guards just as they had expected.
"My girlfriend's really sick," Harm nodded his head at Mac, "You have to do something."
"Please," she gasped, giving them a pathetic look to the guard and then up at Harm, "Honey, get them to do something."
"She has a delicate system and the stress of all this must be getting to her," Harm explained, "You know how women are."
"My stomach," she doubled over and accidentally hit Harm in the stomach with her elbow for his comment on women, "I think I'm going to be sick."
"Can I take her to the bathroom?" Harm asked and the guards conferred in Kazakh.
"I'll take her," the shorter guard grabbed Mac's and she slumped into him.
"Let me go with her," Harm pleaded.
"No," the taller guard stopped him with his arm. Harm grabbed the guard's arm and twisted it, knocking him out before he could grab his gun. Mac did the same with the other man, and within seconds they stood before two unconscious men.
"You're looking much better, Honey," he smiled at her as they dragged the bodies into the room.
"It's a miracle," she smirked, "Especially with my 'delicate system.'"
"That hurt," he took the gun off the guard and checked for any other weapons.
"Sorry," she pulled the gun from her man and picked the key from the ground.
"Use the sash from the curtains to tie them up," Harm told one of the guests standing next him, "It's safest if you are in here, so we're going to lock the door again."
"Now what?" Mac handed him the key once they were alone in the hall.
"We have to get word to Webb and find Dani," he locked the door.
"Obviously," she rolled her eyes, "How do you plan to do this?"
"I have to have the plan?" he teased.
"I got us out of the room," she shot back.
"Either the roof or basement will allow us to get word out, so we should split up."
"I'll take roof," she said quickly, "What about Dani?"
"We need to get to Webb's people first," he told her, "They need Dani alive."
"That's really comforting," she handed him the gun she lifted from the guard, "Take it, I'll be better off without it."
"You sure?"
"Yeah," she put her hand to her forehead, "If I hit trouble, I can always faint from fear."
"Ha," he slipped the gun into his jacket, "Good luck, Mac."
"You too."
A/N: If you review, I'll love you forever!
Radiorox – Of course Dani couldn't see past the charm he was her first love…these MacKenzie sisters have more trouble getting their emotions figured out than anyone else…as for the song in your head…that's what happens when I'm on an Evanescence kick while creating a title…
Chantelmac – Mac and Dani could never fight for long…it's the same with my sis and me…as for those problem people…all in good time…
Mara-rabb – The ex-boyfriend is always sketchy…especially the dark, brooding ones with a chip on their shoulders…
Bite Beccy – Very, very bad Luka!
Abigaile – Oh yes, Luka's been a very bad boy…messing with Dani's emotions…
Aj – But if you kill me the cliffies will never be completed…muahahaha!
Starryeyes, Garnet Turner, AB, MartinaCruz – Thank you, thank you, thank you!