Interrogations

"A faithful friend is a strong defense; And he that hath found him hath found a treasure."

~Louisa May Alcott

Rebecca put her plan into action the following week. Riza decided not to ask how she'd gotten the required equipment so quickly. Plausible deniability, she reminded herself. And when summoned, she presented herself at the general's office as they'd arranged.

"Sergeant Major," she said, in response to Catalina's politely formal greeting. "I'd like to speak with General Grumman, if possible. Is he in?"

"Just a moment, Second Lieutenant, and I'll see whether he's available," Rebecca replied smoothly, picking up the headset on her shiny new phone. "General Grumman, sir? There's a Second Lieutenant Hawkeye here, requesting to see you. Shall I ask her to make an appointment, or can you spare – oh? Yes, of course, sir. Certainly. Yes, I'll send her in at once, sir," she said, raising an eyebrow. Pressing a button on the phone's receiver, she winked at Hawkeye. "You can go right through, ma'am."

"Thank you," Riza said.

"He also said his schedule is to always be clear for you," Rebecca added quietly, so that only Riza would hear her.

"Oh," Riza faltered, but quickly regained her self-possession when Rebecca cleared her throat. They weren't alone, after all. "Um - thank you, Sergeant," she said quickly.

As Riza passed her desk, Rebecca made a show of shuffling papers and reaching for a pen, continuing to work as if she'd forgotten that she still had the headset on at all. Riza suppressed a smile and opened the office door.

Her grandfather looked positively overjoyed to see her.

"Second Lieutenant, what a delightful surprise!" he said jovially. "Come in, come in."

Riza snapped to attention and saluted crisply. Grumman's smile didn't falter, but his eyes narrowed slightly as he casually returned the salute with a vague little flick of his fingers.

"General Grumman, sir? Thank you for seeing me," Hawkeye said, once the door was securely shut behind her.

"At ease, Second Lieutenant. Please, have a seat," Grumman offered, waving his hand at the visitor's chair.

"Thank you, sir. But I'd prefer to stand, if you don't mind."

"As you will," he replied, the faintest of frowns creasing his brow. It was gone in the next moment. "Now, to what do I owe the pleasure, my dear?"

"I've a request to make, sir," Hawkeye said.

"You needn't be so formal, child," he chided gently. "What can I do for you?"

"Just this, sir: If you have questions concerning my personal life, kindly ask me rather than attempting to interrogate my friends and coworkers."

"Ah," Grumman's face lit up. As Riza had feared, he wasn't chastised in the least. "Then my charming young aide is a particular friend of yours, yes?" he asked. "I'd been given to understand that you and she had grown close during your time together at Academy."

"Yes, sir, she's a close friend," Hawkeye said, eyes flashing. No reason to hide it. Rebecca's friendship wasn't something she'd ever be ashamed of.

"Curious, indeed. I wouldn't have imagined that someone of Becky's…er, exuberant personality would appeal to your more reserved nature," he mused.

"With all due respect, sir, you haven't the slightest idea what would or would not appeal to me," Hawkeye said coldly.

To her chagrin, General Grumman merely chuckled.

"Oh, I think you'd be surprised, my dear. Although I haven't been as present in your life as I perhaps ought to have been, I have kept tabs on you since…oh, since your mother first wrote to tell me I had a grandchild. You look extraordinarily like her, as I am sure you're aware. The baby pictures she sent me might as well have been her own," he said fondly.

Hawkeye's lips parted, but no sound came out.

"I still have them. Would you like to see?" her grandfather offered, eyes sparkling. Without waiting for an answer, he leaned forward and plucked a framed photograph from the corner of his desk, turning it around so that Hawkeye could see it.

Her mother's face smiled up at her, all pride and glowing happiness as she angled the sleeping infant in her arms towards the camera.

"You…you have a picture of me. Of us," Riza managed, shocked.

"Several, in fact. This one here is my favorite, I think," he added, handing her a much smaller frame containing a photo of a beaming Tereza with a chubby-legged toddler in her lap, both wearing sundresses in soft pastels. Riza's little arms were wrapped tightly around a slightly ratty stuffed animal. A white rabbit, in fact.

"I – you – what?" Riza stuttered incoherently, sinking into the chair at last. Grumman's smile turned faintly triumphant.

"I gave her that bunny when she was about the same age as you are in this photo," he said. "I was so very pleased to see that she'd passed it on. I didn't even know she'd kept it, until she sent me this. I was sorry to hear that your father had burnt it along with so many of her other things, when she passed."

"I don't understand," Riza said faintly.

"Hm? What don't you understand, child?" Grumman asked pleasantly. "Is it about the rabbit?"

"No, although I did wonder…" Riza admitted, surprising herself.

"Oh, I know you've outgrown plush toys, my dear, but I thought you still might like to have a bunny of your own to replace this one," he explained, nodding at the photo. "Terri told me many times how fond you were of her old rabbit. I made that one for her, too, you know."

"You made them?" Riza asked, incredulous. Of course, she had guessed that her little peach rabbit was handmade rather than mass produced, but she'd never suspected he'd made it himself.

"Hobby of mine," Grumman said, grinning. "Once you have the right pattern, the actual sewing involved is very straightforward, really. I also crochet! Although my talent there mostly runs to pot holders and tea cozies, so far," he admitted. "I keep meaning to take up knitting one of these days. Oh, I know there's not much cause for woolen sweaters or thick scarves here in East City, with the winters being so much milder here than in Central. But I should still like to learn."

"I could teach you, if you'd like," Riza offered before her brain caught up with her tongue. "I- that is…"

"Wonderful!" Grumman cried, beaming. "Perhaps we could arrange regular lessons? Bi-weekly, perhaps, as duty permits. Of course, I'll treat you to dinner as compensation – there's a lovely little steakhouse downtown I'm sure you'll enjoy. Rather exclusive, but they always manage to scare up a table for me. You see, the owner and I served together, many, many years ago," he said in a conspiratorial tone. "I saved his hide more than once, in fact. And he knew your mother, when she was small. He'll be delighted to meet you."

"I-I thought…I assumed you wouldn't want – that you didn't…" frowning, Riza trailed off. She looked young and lost, and her grandfather's heart ached for lost time.

"Ah," he breathed. "You thought I wouldn't want our familial relationship to be common knowledge, is that it?" Riza nodded silently. "Well, I shouldn't like every Tom, Dick, and Harry running to you to try and curry favors from me, naturally. But it's certainly not something I consider a deep, dark secret."

"I haven't told anyone except Catalina," Riza said softly.

"As I thought. She was there that day I visited you at the Academy, yes?" he asked. Riza nodded, though it was clear Grumman already knew the answer. "I thought so. She's quite loyal to you, as I am sure you are aware," Grumman chuckled. "Dear girl has been giving me the side-eye ever since I took her on. And she's been very careful not to let slip any personal information that I didn't already have."

"She told me you'd been fishing," Riza said, the steely note returning to her tone. "Which is why I came to see you today, sir. It's inappropriate for you to place your subordinate in such a position."

"Ah. And the loyalty runs both ways, I see. Good, good. Well, I suppose I owe dear Becky an apology, then. I hadn't realized I'd made her uncomfortable. Rest assured, child, I never meant to imply that her continued employment was conditional on supplying intel. I was merely…curious. I hoped she could fill in some of the details I lacked. Give me a clearer picture of you."

"You might also like to know that she hates being called Becky, sir," Hawkeye said. Grumman laughed aloud.

"Did you know she twitches every time I say it? I look forward to the day she snaps and tells me off," he confided.

Riza just shook her head. Crazy old man.

She also spared a second to hope that Catalina wasn't about to snap and blow her cover right here and now.

"Now that that's out of the way, let's discuss more pleasant matters," Grumman suggested genially. "How are you settling in to Eastern so far, my dear?"

"Very well, thank you."

"Ah, to be young and amenable to changes, again," Grumman sighed wistfully. "Although I suppose it wasn't such a difficult adjustment for you, since you attended Academy here, eh? Rather more difficult for an old man set in his ways."

"Being familiar with the city already has been helpful," Riza acquiesced.

"And your new C.O. is a familiar face for you as well, I understand."

"As I'm sure you're well aware, sir, Lieutenant Colonel Mustang apprenticed with my father several years ago," Riza said, warily. What was he getting at?

"Indeed," Grumman said easily. "And is that prior relationship going to be an issue for either of you?"

"His previous connection to my father will not have a negative impact on our work, I assure you," Riza replied, a little primly.

"But you are getting along well, thus far? You're satisfied under his command?"

"Yes, sir. He's proving to be a canny tactician and a very capable commander, in spite of his relative youth and inexperience."

"Experience will come soon enough," he replied, indulgently. "He certainly seems to have great potential. And he's an ambitious one. Hungry. I like to see that passion in a young officer; he'll go far."

Riza hummed noncommittally.

"He's treating you well?" Grumman pressed.

"Of course, sir," Riza replied, somewhat confused. Why on earth wouldn't he be treating her well?

"Good, good," her grandfather said, coughing a little. "There are always rumors, of course, and more so with the younger, and er, more attractive officers, you see…" he trailed off, uncomfortable for the first time since Riza had walked in. "Sometimes they're founded in truth and sometimes it's all just lies and slander, but one doesn't like to assume, no matter how well the officer in question comes across in person, and er, well—"

All at once, Riza understood what he was insinuating.

"Sir, what exactly are you trying to say?" she asked, torn between amusement and horror. Grumman cleared his throat.

"Simply this, child: If ever you're uncomfortable or unsatisfied under his command, you've only to say the word and we'll have you transferred to someone else. No questions asked," he said, serious and firm.

"I'm sure that won't be necessary, sir, but I appreciate the offer," Riza said.

Grumman grinned suddenly.

"Should I ask him what his intentions towards you are, just to be on the safe side?" he asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Please don't. And besides, Rebecca already has," Riza admitted.

Grumman guffawed.

"I knew I liked that girl!" he chortled. "By the way, you may want to advise to her to give up her pursuit of the handsome Captain Rogers. Dear boy only has eyes for that sassy little civilian consultant he's been working with, and it certainly appears to be mutual thus far. You know, I don't think he's even realized that Catalina has been flirting with him? Hasn't even registered."

"I'll be sure to pass along the message, sir," Riza said, fighting down a smile. She could only imagine the look on Catalina's face right about now.

"Excellent, excellent," Grumman said, sparing a discrete glance at his watch. "I'm terribly sorry to have to cut this meeting short, my dear, but I've a scheduled call in just a moment with my counterpart in the North that I daren't miss. Leave your contact information with our charming Rebecca, and I'll call you about our knitting lessons before the week is out," he said, beaming at her.

Riza rose gracefully from her chair.

"You say that as if you don't already have my contact information, sir," she said, smirking a bit. Grumman chuckled.

"Yes, well, can you blame an old man for trying to keep tabs on his only grandchild?" he said, his light tone at odds with the sudden darkening of his eyes.

Riza stiffened, suddenly remembering his request for letters, before…what seemed like a lifetime ago, now. God, had it only been a year ago?

"Sir, I think you should know…" she hesitated only a moment before seizing her courage with both hands and forging ahead. "When I was deployed, there was a mix-up with some of the paperwork. My address wasn't updated, which means I never got any of my mail, the entire time I was out there. It was all routed to my box at the Academy."

"Oh?" Grumman said.

"I didn't find out until after I was shipped back. Rebecca was the one who figured it out - she was very upset that I hadn't responded to her letters, and I had to explain that I'd never received them. And that I hadn't written myself because…well, when I didn't get anything from her…"

"You assumed that she wasn't sincere in her desire to stay in touch with you," Grumman finished, in a quiet voice. "I see," he breathed.

"It's been corrected, now, though. The mix-up," Hawkeye added, somewhat awkwardly, hoping that he would understand what she wasn't saying.

"I'm glad to hear it, my dear," Grumman replied, in that same soft, gentle voice.

"I-I should go. Thank you for seeing me, sir."

"Of course. Until the next time, child."

As Hawkeye closed the door carefully after herself, she met Rebecca's shocked eyes. Rebecca tapped her empty coffee cup with her pen and flicked her eyes towards the door and then back to her friend. Riza nodded once to show she'd understood.

"Thank you, Sergeant Major," she said quietly, and strode from the office as though nothing out of the ordinary had happened.

She waited in the closest break room for a mere three minutes before Rebecca skidded into view, wide-eyed and out of breath.

"That was…not at all what I expected," she panted.

"Likewise," Riza replied, with a wry smile.

"I'm sorry, Ri, I never thought I'd be eavesdropping on such a personal…er, that is, I didn't mean to—"

'It's all right, Rebecca; it's not as though you did it without my knowledge and consent," Riza interrupted her. "If anyone had to overhear us, I'm glad it was you."

"Oh Riza!" Rebecca launched herself at her friend, who caught her with the ease of born of long practice. "You sure you're okay?" she murmured, mostly into Riza's neck.

"I'm fine. No, really," she said, when Rebecca pulled back to give her a doubtful look. "It's just that I didn't think…I somehow just assumed he wanted nothing to do with me. I thought he was just keeping tabs on me out of a sense of obligation or something, and suddenly he wants to have monthly dinners together and for me to teach him to knit, and he seems to want to make sure that I'm happy…" she managed a hoarse little chuckle. "I'm not entirely sure how I feel about all of that, yet."

Before Rebecca could reply, the two women heard approaching footsteps and quickly stepped apart and straightened into what Rebecca thought of as their "public personas." Riza calmly filled a cup with subpar coffee and Rebecca plastered a bored expression on her face and pretended she was waiting her turn. The captain who entered the break room barely spared them a glance, merely nodding a token greeting and reaching into the cabinet for his own paper cup, which he filled in silence once Rebecca had taken her turn.

"Talk more later?" Rebecca asked softly, as the captain wandered back out into the hallway again. Riza smiled.

"Of course. At least we know your system works, now?"

"Yes, true!" Rebecca chirped. "I have SO many plans for this…" she caught sight of Riza's conflicted look and quickly changed tack. "Not that I would ever use my powers for evil, of course. This is purely for my own personal information!"

"I should go," Riza said, dryly. "Before you incriminate yourself any further. I assume you're aware that my grandfather has Lieutenant Colonel Mustang's name down on his desk calendar for tomorrow afternoon?"

"Well, I am now," Rebecca purred, with a mischievous smirk. "I'll keep you posted; don't worry!"

"That's not what worries me," Riza muttered.

The following afternoon, after Rebecca had waved Lieutenant Colonel Mustang through to the inner office, she set the headset carefully down on her desk and worked quietly for several minutes, until she was certain that no one else was paying her any attention. When she eased it back on, holding her breath and praying no one would glance in her direction, she found that the two men were already deep into their chess game.

"I understand you're unmarried?" Grumman was saying innocently. "Young up-and-coming officer like you ought to have himself a wife to look after him! Any potential candidates in the running, my boy?"

"Ah, n-no sir," Mustang stammered. Rebecca thought he sounded a bit taken aback. "I'm, er. I'm not seeing anyone special at the moment," he went on.

"You know, I have a granddaughter about your age," Grumman said, in a sly tone. "Lovely girl, sweet and very bright, and an excellent cook, as well. Takes after her mother, there, you see. Perhaps I should introduce you two?"

"I'm very flattered, sir, but you should know I consider myself married to my work," Mustang answered smoothly, seeming to regain his footing. "I shouldn't like to give any young lady the wrong impression, you understand."

Damn straight! Rebecca thought, clenching her pencil tightly enough to snap it. Quit trying to pimp out your own blood, you dirty old bastard!

"At such a critical stage in my career, I find I'm obliged to devote most of my time to work," Mustang said, sounding a bit apologetic. "A fine woman such as your granddaughter surely deserves far more of my attention than I would be free to offer her."

"Ah, I suspected as much," Grumman said, a little sadly. "Well, my Elizabeth will be disappointed to hear it, but what else can you do?" He sighed a little theatrically.

Elizabeth? Rebecca frowned.

"I hope I haven't offended…" Mustang started to say, sounding uncertain.

"No, no, not at all, dear boy," Grumman hastened to reassure him. "Perhaps one day you'll change your mind, hm? Check."

Their conversation drifted to other topics, and Rebecca tuned them out a bit, pondering. Why was he calling Riza by a different name? He HAD said he wasn't ashamed of their relationship, but he'd also said that he didn't want anyone taking advantage…what was he playing at?

Wait.

Did…did Mustang not know who Grumman's granddaughter was? He couldn't be playing dumb, could he?

The two men finally finished their game (it sounded like Mustang had lost rather badly, to Rebecca's untrained ear, at least) and Rebecca disconnected and yanked off the headset just before the office door opened.

Mustang looked vaguely unsettled. And Rebecca couldn't help herself.

"Not quite prepared to be interrogated by the boss-man, sir?" she said, all innocence.

"Did you know he had a granddaughter?" he asked, perplexed.

Rebecca could hardly contain herself. Riza had never told him. Oh, this was just delicious.

"Sure, he only talks about her all the damn time," Rebecca replied, with studied nonchalance. "I don't think she visits very often, but they seem fond enough of each other. Why?"

"Hm," Mustang narrowed his eyes. "Have you met her, then?" Rebecca bit the inside of her cheek to keep from giggling and giving herself away.

"Oh, sure. She stopped by the other day, actually."

"Yeah? So what's she like?" he asked, quirking an eyebrow at her.

"Hmm," she said, pretending to think. Oh, this was fun. "She's pretty quiet, I guess? Seems nice. Polite. About my age, or near enough, within a year or two. Um, nice figure, blonde, average height…why? Looking for a date to the Officer's Ball?" she asked archly. Mustang blanched, but managed a convincing laugh anyway.

"As if I couldn't find my own date? I'm not so desperate as all that, Sergeant."

"I have no doubts in my mind, Lieutenant Colonel, sir," she said sweetly. Too sweetly. Mustang shot her a suspicious glare. She smiled brightly in response.

"Yes, well," he said, discomfited. "I suppose I'll see you around, Sergeant," he added, and he turned to leave. Rebecca watched his departing figure with a tiny smirk on her face.

"Well?" said a voice from behind her. Rebecca flinched violently and only barely suppressed a shriek.

General Grumman stood behind her, a foxy smile on his weathered face.

"S-sir?" she squeaked.

"Your opinion, dear," he prompted. "You were listening; what did you think of him? Do we think he's good enough for my precious grandbaby or not?"

"I - what do you – ?"

"Oh please, Becky – yes, all right, yes, I am doing it on purpose," he chuckled at the look on her face. "Rebecca, then. I didn't come down in the last shower of rain, dear heart. I know what all those cute little blinking lights on my phone do, you know."

Rebecca swore, and then clapped a hand over her mouth, mortified. Grumman just snickered.

"I do like your spark, Becca. Oh, that one is all right, then? Good, good; I'm rather partial to nicknames." Stunned, Rebecca could only nod, eyes wide and one hand still clapped to her mouth. "Now then, I don't object to you listening in and taking the occasional note for me. My memory isn't what it used to be, after all. But I must insist that it's only when we've agreed on it beforehand. An old man has his secrets too, you know."

"I-um, yes sir, I'm sorry sir, I never meant – !"

"Oh, never mind all that," he said, waving a hand in a dismissive gesture. "I'd have done the same in your place, I'm sure. You're only looking out for your friend, and since she happens to be very dear to me as well, I think I can find it in my heart to let it slide this once. Provided, of course, that you agree to my stipulations going forward. Do we understand each other?"

Rebecca nodded, dumbly.

"Excellent, excellent," Grumman crowed, rubbing his hands together gleefully. "Now, what do you think about our newest Lieutenant Colonel? Seems like a decent enough fellow, and he comes from a good family. The prior relationship could complicate things, although she says he's treated her with nothing but respect and professionalism since she accepted the position as his aide...but he has no idea she's my granddaughter, does he?" he asked, smirking.

"It certainly doesn't seem like it, sir," Rebecca hedged. Grumman raised one eyebrow at her, and she huffed. "Oh all right! He asked whether I'd met her. And I, uh, I took the liberty of describing her in a general sort of way, but I didn't let on that I knew her, or that he ought to. I was under the impression that you preferred for her to be known under a pseudonym, sir? Am I correct?"

Grumman beamed at her, delighted.

"Oh Rebecca, my dear, we are going to get along very well, you and I," he purred. "Very well indeed."

A.N. You may thank childoffantasy over on AO3 for the gentle nudge that had me opening my drafts and finally finishing this chapter, which has been half-written for...sweet heaven, since November of 2016. Ha. Wonder what sent me spiraling into the Slough of Despond around that time? O.o A mystery for the ages, I tell you. Anyway, I haven't forgotten about this story, and there will eventually be more Riza-Rebecca BFF goodness to come once I get Alphabet Series wrapped up for good.

Yes, there is a teeny, tiny blink-and-you'll-miss-it reference to the Avengers (and to both MASH and James Bond in the previous chapter, improbable as it seems) so if you noticed them at the time, no you're not crazy and yes they were intentional. You can always tell what I've been reading/watching based on the random-guy-in-the-background character names, lol.

As always, feedback is welcome and appreciated, although reviews might result in a long rambling response from the author, so, you know. Consider yourself forewarned ;)

xoxo Janie