Disclaimer: They are not mine…except for Dani (I don't even want to own Luka anymore)…

0316 ZULU

EMBASSY OF KAZAKHSTAN

WASHINGTON, D.C.

"You are aware that Harm isn't going to just stroll in here for a chat, aren't you?" Dani asked Luka while keeping a careful eye on the two men who were moving the unconscious Mac to the couch. She had first checked that her sister was breathing easily and that her pupils were equal.

"I am aware."

"You probably won't even know that he is here until seconds before he kills you," she paused for effect, "And he will kill you, Luka, because Harm protects the people he cares about. He would never do anything like what you are doing tonight!"

"Are you quite done?"

"No."

"Well, wrap it up," he gestured with his gun for her to continue, "You bore me."

"And you disgust me," she sat down gracefully in one of the two chairs facing the desk, "There, now I'm done."

"Good, now be quiet," he turned around to fix himself a drink.

"Luka," she said softly, watching him pour vodka into one of the three ice filled glasses behind him.

"What?"

"You could stop this, you know," she stood up slowly and walked towards him, "Just walk away and forget about it all," she placed her hand on his arm.

"Don't," he warned, but did not make any effort to move her hand.

"I could get them to stand down, I would do that for you," Dani watched his eyes and saw his guard drop, "Can you do the same for me?"

"Dani, I…" he began but found his resolve, "Can't."

"Why not?" she breathed, leaning in closer.

"Don't do this to me!" he threw his glass at the wall making Dani jump.

"What?"

"Just don't," he growled, "Sit."

"Fine," she returned to the chair, upset that he had seen through her act. Focusing on Mac, who was thankfully starting to stir, Dani did something she had done almost a half dozen times that night: pray.

Following the radio conversation with Luka, Harm made his way through the dark with newfound urgency. The fact that Dani and Mac were together gave Harm some comfort, but he knew that he needed to get to them fast. When Luka told him that Mac was 'a little out of it,' he never expected to react as he had. He had thought it would be like when Annie and Josh were in danger, but this was different. This was Mac.

"Put down your gun, Commander," Yuri ordered and Harm complied slowly, "Good, let's go."

Yuri led Harm with his arm into the room where Dani and Mac were with Luka. The second he entered Harm's eyes sought out Mac and Dani. Dani was seated in a chair watching Mac, who was slowly raising herself into a sitting position on the couch.

"I'm glad you could join us Commander," Luka greeted, "Have a seat."

"Are you two okay?" Harm asked, walking to the chair next to Dani's.

"Peachy," Mac smiled, "Right Dani?"

"Just swell," she began messing with the emerald ring on her hand. Harm noticed and figured she was just nervous, but Mac was surprised by her sister's action. Dani was not one to fidget and Mac knew this. When Dani was nervous she tucked her hair behind her ear, even if there was no hair to tuck. The twirling of the ring had to be something else.

"We're all here, Luka," Harm began, "What do you want from us?"

"I don't want anything from you Commander," Luka answered, "I just needed you here so you wouldn't complicate my next move."

"What would that be?" Mac asked.

"Yeah," Dani added, "Are you going to make me call my uncle again?"

"No, Countess, we are going to leave," he answered simply, "And the ambassador will take the blame for this."

"Won't work," Dani smiled, "My uncle knows."

"So does the state department," Harm added, "This building is surrounded."

Luka responded by peaking through the curtains to look outside the window and saw that he was right. He began to panic internally, and reached to pour himself another drink.

"That's the second drink you've had tonight without offering it to anyone else," Dani told him as he poured the vodka into a new glass, "You are not being very polite."

"Fine," he offered the drink to her, "Would you like some?"

"We are family, Luka," her hand stayed on her ring, "Ask your guests first."

"Major?"

"Yes, thank you," Mac answered as she realized why Dani was playing with her ring. She thought back to when they were in France and Dani was talking about her grandmother, She's a bit homicidal; poison's her specialty. And then to Paul when they were at Arkada industries, I have done everything in my power to prepare Daniela for any contingency. Finally she thought to when Dani first showed her dress and jewelry, My uncle had them delivered them to me, they belonged to my grandmother. She put all that together and realized that there had to be something in that ring.

"Commander?" Luka handed Mac the glass and poured another.

"Please," Harm answered, wondering why Mac accepted the drink. He knew this had to be part of some plan, but he could not figure out what it was, "Thank you."

"You're welcome," Luka turned sharply when Dani stood up, "What are you doing?"

"Getting more glasses," she looked at the bar, "I want something to drink and I am sure you would as well."

"Fine, but nothing funny."

"I wouldn't dream it," she muttered heading to the bar. Dani took two glasses and turned them over on the corner. Using her nail, she gently pried the large emerald on the ring until it flipped open. There was a white powder inside, and Dani had no idea what it was, but she turned her wrist allowing it to fall out of the ring and into one of the glasses. It was done.

"What's taking so long?" Luka barked.

"I'm getting the ice, hold on," she plunked a few cubes in each glass and returned to where he stood. Smiling sweetly, she put both glasses on the desk keeping one in front of him and one in front of her, "Here you go, Luka."

"Thank you," he mocked pouring into both glasses.

"You're welcome," Dani took her glass and raised it for a toast, "Zdorov'ya."

"Zdorov'ya," Luka clinked is glass with Dani's while Harm and Mac raised theirs. Mac feigned a drink, Harm and Dani took a small one, and Luka finished his entire glass. He pulled his gun from his jacket and grabbed Dani's arm, "We're going. Yuri, if they try to follow us, shoot them."

"Don't do this Luka," Harm lowered his drink to the table.

Luka took one step and froze, staring directly into Dani's eyes fully aware of what she had done. Her unflinching gaze met his and stayed with him even as he collapsed pulling her down with him. The heel of her shoe broke and her ankle twisted, but Dani did not even feel the pain. All she saw was Luka: her first love. Even after everything that had just happened, she could not help feeling something for the man.

"Dani," he said his voice growing faint, "I love you."

"I know," she leaned over and kissed him on the lips. His grip on her arm relaxed and she knew it was over. She closed his eyes and looked up to find Mac watching her while holding a gun on the men. Yuri and the other men were caught off guard when Luka collapsed, and Harm and Mac used this to gain the upper hand. Dani looked away and stood up slowly, noticing the pain her ankle for the first time. Leaning on the desk, she closed her eyes and finished the drink.

A/N: Look there's not a single cliffhanger…but that doesn't mean it's over…so keep reviewing!

Chantelmac: I hope you feel better…

Starryeyes: Thanks for reading…

Abigaile: It wasn't Harm, but the result's the same…

Cbw: You're welcome…hehehe…

Series addict: I love long lost siblings too (obviously)…I think it's the inner-soap opera fan in me…