Disclaimer: They're not mine…I'm borrowing them…
A/N: Sorry about the delay…work's been crazy. Hopefully I'll be able to use some of my time off to wrap this up over the holiday. Thanks for all the reviews and happy reading!
0256 ZULU
EMBASSY OF KAZAKHSTAN
WASHINGTON, D.C.
"Luka, don't!" Dani pleaded looking desperately between her sister and him, "Please."
"It's simple, Danaë, you call your uncle and deliver the proper message, or the major dies."
Dani looked at Mac hoping her sister would give her some type of sign, but the marine showed nothing, not even a blink. From Dani's perspective, Mac looked calm whereas Dani was doing everything in her power not to quake. She wanted Mac to tell her that it was okay to do what Luka wanted that way she would not feel guilty about giving in. Instead Mac had put her in what Dani saw as impossible situation: she could make the call and aid the rebels that Mac was putting her life on the line to stop or refuse and kill her sister.
What Dani could not tell was that Mac was fighting the same battle to keep her emotions in check and stay calm. Also, Mac was fully aware of the stress she had placed upon her sister by not responding to her. It was an impossible decision, and she knew it was not fair to put it on Dani, but Mac hoped her silence would help Dani choose not to make the call. It was not the mission that she was prepared to die for; she did not care if the mission failed, but she cared about Dani. Mac firmly believed that if Luka got the money he would take Dani with him, and she was not about to let that happen. It was Dani that she was willing to die for.
"Make a decision," Luka's harsh voice snapped them back to reality, "We do not have all night."
"Fine."
"Dani," Mac finally spoke, "You don't have to…"
"I'll make the call," she said quickly, not looking at Mac.
"I'm sure your sister appreciates that choice," Luka handed her the phone, clearly pleased that his words had the desired effect.
"Just dial," she said tersely.
"Yes, Countess," he mocked only to have her return the phone to him and sit down gracefully on the couch, "What?"
"Line's dead," she smiled looking at Mac, who to Dani's relief smiled back.
Harm made is way through the basement quickly. He had covered most of the area already but had not found an exit. In the southwest corner he found another dead end along with what looked to be the phone line. With a quick jerk, he yanked the cord from the wall, cutting off Luka's easiest form of communication with the outside. Harm dashed through the basement toward the central room of the basement that he had skipped in his initial search. He did not know what would be inside, but he hoped he would find some that could be used to their advantage.
This entire night had turned into a complete disaster. The look on Mac's face after they knew Luka had Dani, was almost too much for him. He knew Mac was blaming herself, but he felt just as much at fault. His rational mind told him that he should not be surprised by the way the evening had turned for the worse. They were on a mission that was assigned to them by Webb, which experience alone told him to be prepared for anything, but the minute he saw Mac in her dress, he fell for the fairytale.
He found the door and was surprised to find it the lock on the outside. He unlocked the door and was even more surprised when he opened it to find the ambassador pointing a gun directly at him.
"Yuri," Luka barked into his radio, "Send someone in here and find out what's going on."
"I'll tell you what's going on," Mac sauntered over the couch to join Dani.
"Enlighten us," Luka slipped the gun into his jacket pocket deciding he did not need it.
"It's Commander Rabb," she slipped her hand into Dani's as she spoke, "He'll cut the power next."
"Then what?"
"He'll come for you," Mac answered without looking at him, focusing her gaze on Dani. The sisters had a silent conversation that consisted of checking that each of them was okay and assuring each other that they would get out of this.
"What did she say?" Webb asked the minute Paul hung up the phone.
"Radicans had a gun on her," he answered stiffly, "He wanted her to beg me for the money."
"But she didn't," the admiral surmised, knowing Dani's stubborn streak.
"Correct," he nodded curtly, "She told me she would never forgive me if I did and hung up the phone."
"You should listen to her," Webb told him.
"I would choose her hate over her death any day, Mr. Webb," he practically growled out his name.
"I want to know what's going on Webb," the admiral stepped between the two men to prevent a physical fight. Although he wanted to punch Webb as much as Arkada did, the Admiral knew that they needed Webb conscious to see this through.
"I need to make a call," Webb excused himself to the corner, grateful to be away from the heat.
"Admiral," Tiner burst into the office with wet hair and a slightly disheveled uniform, "I saw the news. What's going on?"
"When did you last speak with Dani?" the admiral asked.
"This morning, sir," he grew even more nervous when he saw that Dani's uncle was already there, "But she left a message on my voicemail while I was showering."
"What did she say?"
"That she needed to talk with me, but she can wait until after the ball," he noticed Webb in the corner for the first time, "What is Mr. Webb doing here?"
"Tiner," the admiral began, "I think you better sit down."
"Commander," the ambassador lowered the gun when he realized who it was, "I was expecting one of the rebels."
"So was I," Harm chuckled in relief, noticing the unconscious guard in the corner, "Was that your doing, Ambassador?"
"Yes," he answered quickly, "Who is behind this?"
"Luka Radicans."
"And the Countess Daniela?" he questioned not sure if she was involved.
"He's holding her hostage, sir," Harm clarified, "They rounded up the rest of the guests and put them into locked rooms."
"Which got out of."
"Yes, along with the major."
"What's your plan?"
"This is part of it," he found the main power generator and ripped out the cords.
"And the rest?" the ambassador asked through the dim lighting of the emergency lights.
"I'm working on it."
"Your commander seems to be right on schedule," Luka smirked when the power shut off suddenly, a part of him glad that the shadows would had the part of him that was losing confidence.
"Don't say I didn't warn you," Mac smiled.
"You better start planning your escape route, Luka," Dani chimed in, "I bet you could use my necklace to get you out of the country."
"The one from your grandmother?" Mac saw necklace on the desk and connected it to the scrape on Dani's neck, "What's it worth?"
"The whole set goes for almost 2 million," she turned to Luka, "I'd be happy to give you the earrings."
"Leave them and shut up!" he ordered, turning his attention to his radio, "What have you found out Yuri?"
"Nothing yet, sir," his voice crackled into the room, "Jarek is not responding."
"I'll radio him, you go down there," Luka looked over to Mac who was mouthing 'Harm' to Dani, "I told you two to shut up!"
"We didn't make a sound," Dani countered, "Did we Sarah?"
"You think you're cute?" he pulled her to a standing position.
"How long have you been in here with us?" she looked past him and at Mac.
"Fourteen minutes."
"Thanks," she turned back to Luka, "Correct me if I am wrong, but didn't you say the same thing to me about fifteen minutes ago?"
"And do you remember how that conversation ended?"
"Svolotch!" she spat in Russian, which roughly translates to pig. Luka raised his arm to hit her again, but Mac jumped in to stop him with a viselike grip on his arm. He reacted by using his left arm to hit her, knocking her off balance. Her head slammed against the edge of the end table, and Dani rushed to her side, "Sarah!"
"You should have warned her that I was ambidextrous," he shrugged it off and picked up the radio, "Commander Rabb. I know you are there."
"What do you want Luka?" Harm answered the radio he had taken from the guard. He was making his way through the basement after locking the ambassador back in the room. He still was not sure if the ambassador was in on this, and he preferred to play on the safe side.
"You."
"Well then we have something in common."
"We have more in common than just that," Luka looked down at Mac and Dani, "I have my countess and your marine. I would put her on, but she is a little out of it at the moment."
"You're a dead man."
"We will see about that."
"That we will."
A/N: That's not too bad of a cliffie…I could have left you with the gun in Harm's face, but I didn't…so please review!
Radiorox: I've never seen them live…I'm jealous…I definitely need to join CHA…have a good vacay…maybe I'll actually finish this by the time you get back…
Bite Beccy: Yup…I'm evil…but I'm trying to be good…
Abigaile: But they're so much fun to write…
MartinaCruz: Crazy is so much more fun than sanity…
Chantelmac: Thank you so much for the complements on my original characters…I get really nervous anytime I break out someone new because they're "real" in my head but I'm not sure if I can make them real for others…I'm glad you find 'em interesting.
Starryeyes10: Thanks for reading faithfully…
Lauren: I'm a shipper so you know we'll get there…eventually…
Cbw: I'm glad you like Dani's spirit…it gets a bit out of control at times…but that's how she handles things…
SpyKid18: Now it looks like I made you review under duress…but thinks for all your support…you rock…
Anyone else reading: Thanks for taking the time to read…but please let me know what you think!