Title: In Harm’s Way Author: Heather Feather Classification: Harm shipper Rated: Probably PG (we’ll see.) Summary: An old flame of Harm’s is assigned to JAG. Spoilers: None that the author is aware of. If you spot anything, please email me. Disclaimer: JAG and all its characters belong to Donald Bellasario. Top Gun, Walker, and The Practice and their respective characters belong to their creators. This original plot, and Liandra however, belong to me. No infringement of any kind is intended. I just want to borrow Harm for a while. Whether or not I return him is another matter! Crossovers: JAG/Top Gun/Walker, Texas Ranger/The Practice Apologies: I’m sorry, Harm & Mac shippers! I had the idea for the female character in this story long before I ever knew there was such a huge fan base for Harm and Mac. Hope you like it anyhow. Author’s Note: I never liked the fact that they killed Goose off in Top Gun, so I am going to pretend that that never happened. Nick Bradshaw, a.k.a. Goose, is alive and well, at least in this piece of fanfic. (Wonder what Anthony Edwards would think of that?) This piece was begun in 1999, in case some things sound old. ************************************************************************ OCTOBER 1996 The law offices of Donnell, Dole, Frutt, et al. Liandra Gracen walked around the corner of her desk and flounced into her chair. She threw the letter down onto her desk with a sigh. “Of all the . . .” her mutterings were cut short by one of her co-workers. “Something wrong, Lia?” Rebecca asked. Liandra groaned and put her face in her hands. “Yeah, Beck. You remember me telling you when I first started working here last year that I was on temporary leave from the Navy?” “Yes,” Rebecca nodded. “You said you were under too much stress and your commanding officer ordered you to take some time off.” “Uh-huh. “ Liandra picked up the thick, gold-embossed stationary. “This is a letter from one of the highest ranking men in the Navy, telling me my time off is effectively over, and I am to be in his office for reassignment in three weeks, not to mention the fact that I am to be promoted.” “What?” Rebecca gasped, covering her mouth in shock. “Yup. You are looking at Lieutenant Commander Liandra Gracen, USN, *unoffficially*, that is. Technically, I’m not a Lieutenant Commander until I get to my new office.” “How are you going to tell Bobby?” Rebecca wondered aloud, speaking of the head of the law firm. “I have no earthly idea,” Liandra moaned. She picked up the phone. “Maybe one of my favorite uncles can offer me some advice. Although, he used to be a Marine, so he’ll probably just tell me to ‘suck it up, Sailor.’” Rebecca laughed. “Well, good luck, Liandra.” “Thanks. I’m gonna need it.” *********************************************************** Dallas, Texas (Ranger’s Office) “Ranger Walker, there’s a call for you on line three. She says it’s kind of important,” Mindy, the phone operator for the Ranger’s office, called out. “She?” Texas Ranger Cordell Walker asked. “Yes, sir. She didn’t give her name, but she called you by your given name, instead of ‘Ranger’, if that’s any help.” Mindy smiled. “No, before you ask, it’s not Ms. Cahill.” “Who’s not Alex?” Walker’s best friend, fellow Ranger, and partner James Trivette asked as he came in to the office, setting a soda can on his desk and one on Walker’s. “Sorry, man. No Pepsi. Just Coke. Now, what’s with the phone?” “Someone on three for Ranger Walker. A female, someone he knows, I would have to guess, because she asked for him using his first name.” Mindy replied. “Well, just answer it, Walker.” “I wish I knew who it was.” “Well, there’s only one way to find out, “ Jimmy grinned as he reached for the phone on his desk. He put the phone to his ear and tried not to let his grin show through too much. “Trivette,” he announced to the mystery caller. “Jimmy!” Liandra Gracen’s relief was so profound Jimmy could hear it in her voice. “Hey, you. What’re you doing calling here? Don’t you have work to do or something?” “Or something. Listen, I need to talk to Uncle Cordell. Is he there?” “Yeah, sure.” Jimmy looked over at Walker. “It’s Lia.” Walker picked up the phone on his own desk and scowled at his partner. “Hang up, Trivette.” Mumbling about some people not knowing the meaning of the word ‘partner’, Jimmy sat down at his desk and buried his nose in his computer screen. “So, what’s up?” Cordell asked his niece. “I need some advice, Uncle Wascho,” Lia told her uncle, smiling at her unconscious use of his Indian name. “Ok, spill.” Walker sat back in his desk chair. “What’s on your mind?” “I got a letter from Uncle AJ yesterday. On JAG letterhead.” “JAG letterhead? Why?” “He wants me to come to his office in three weeks. According to him, my stress leave is over, and he wants me to report to duty . . .at JAG.” “So?” Walker was puzzled. “You’re a terrific lawyer, Heartsong,” he smiled himself, using her Indian name. “AJ’s office is JAG headquarters. If he wants you there, he must think you’re pretty good, too.” “That’s not it, Uncle Wascho,” she moaned. “Then how about explaining to me what the problem is.” “Harm’s stationed at JAG.” ******************************************************************* JAG headquarters office Falls Church, Virginia “Commander Rabb, Major MacKenzie, in my office, now!” Admiral AJ Chegwidden bellowed. “So much for a private good-bye,” Major Sarah MacKenzie whispered to her partner. “Hey, no tears, Major. It’s not like you’re leaving forever,” Lieutenant Commander Harmon Rabb, Jr. smiled at Mac, and reached over to wipe a tear off her face. “I know, but . . .” “But nothing, Marine. Now let’s move, before your leave is permanent.” Setting their coffee cups down on Harm’s desk, they headed for the Admiral’s office. Walking inside Admiral Chegwidden’s office, Harm and Mac stood at attention and stayed that way until the Admiral spoke. “At ease, Commander, Major. Have a seat.” “As I’m sure you’re aware, Commander, the Major’s uncle, Colonel Matt O’Hara, is ill. Major MacKenzie will be taking some leave time, effective immediately, so that she may go and tend to her uncle. How long that will take is at this time unknown.” “A question, sir, if I may?” Harm said. “Go ahead, Commander.” “While Colonel O’Hara is on the mend, will I be partnerless?” “Only temporarily. I have sent for a top-notch lawyer of my acquaintance to come and take Major MacKenzie’s place while she is away. Commander Gracen should be here in approximately three weeks. Until then, I will assist you in the courtroom.” “You, sir?” Harm and Mac asked simultaneously. “You have a problem with that, Commander, Major?” AJ replied sternly. “N . . .nnn . . .no, sir,” the senior JAG officers replied, stammering. “Good. Major, please give your uncle my regards, but I want to make one thing crystal clear, Ms. MacKenzie,” AJ paused to give Sarah a slightly menacing look. “Once Colonel O’Hara is up and around again, under no circumstances do I want a repeat of that Declaration of Independence fiasco.” He stood in order to make his appearance even more intimidating. “Do I make myself clear, Major MacKenzie?” Harm and Mac stood also. Mac threw her CO a respectful nod. “Yes, sir.” Harm nodded at the Admiral, and held the door for Sarah as the Admiral dismissed them. Reaching for the phone, AJ picked up his private line and dialed. ******************************************************************* Commander Pete ‘Maverick’ Mitchell walked into his office and threw his bomber jacket onto a chair. He started to sit down, but remembered that he’d left his door open. Sighing, he got up and went over to the door. Before closing it, he stuck his head out. “Hey, Sandra, do me a favor,” Maverick hollered at his yeoman. “Sure thing, Commander. But you have a call on line two.” “Who is it?” he asked warily. He was not in the mood for chitchat. “Admiral Chegwidden, from JAG HQ. He says it’s urgent.” “Okay, I’ll take it. But no more calls for a while, all right?” “Yes, sir. If you don’t mind my asking, is something wrong, sir?” Sandra’s voice was full of concern. Maverick chuckled. “No, Sandra, nothing that having my wife home more often wouldn’t fix.” “Oh, I almost forgot to tell you. Charlie called earlier this morning and said she finished her assignment ahead of schedule and her flight should be landing at Miramar this evening. Probably around eight, she said.” “Wonderful.” Maverick smiled as he closed his office door. Crossing the room, he snatched up the phone. “Make it quick, AJ, I have to get home and clean up. Charlie’s coming home earlier than I thought, and she’ll kill me if the house is a mess.” AJ laughed. “Had a few of your old Top Gun buddies over for a little get-together, did you?” “Goose set it up. I didn’t even know about it until the guys came over. So, you didn’t call just to play Mother Hen. What’s the deal?” “I just wanted to let you know Major MacKenzie’s on her way to Arizona. Her replacement has acknowledged receipt of the letter of assignment. She should be here in about three weeks.” Maverick smiled. Everything was falling into place. “I just hope my niece appreciates what I’ve done for her,” Pete said. “Don’t you mean *our* niece, Commander Mitchell?” “Yeah, AJ, *our* niece. Now, you realize she can’t find out what we’ve done. How many of your people know about this?” “None, except Lieutenant Sims. She typed the letter for me. Before you start in on me, I worded the letter in such a way so it sounds all above-board.” “Well, good,” the fighter pilot replied. “Say, what about Harm? Does he even have a clue?” “No. When speaking of Liandra, I used her rank and last name. No first name or mention of gender. For all he knows, his new partner could be a man.” “Perfect.” Commander Pete Mitchell smiled, a devious sort of smile, to say the least. “That sounds perfect, AJ. Now, I meant what I said about Charlie coming home early. Her flight should be in around eight this evening, so I really need to get going. Nick, Ice, and Sundowner really made a mess of things last night.” “Okay, Pete. I’ll call and let you know when she gets here.” “Fine. Oh, and AJ?” “Yeah?” “Get a picture of the look on Lia’s face when you tell her Harm is her new partner and send me a copy, will you?” “You got it, Commander.” AJ burst out laughing. “You got it.” ******************************************************************* NOVEMBER 1996 (Three weeks later) 0900 EST/1400 ZULU JAG HQ, Falls Church, VA “Admiral, “ Petty Officer Jason Tiner spoke into the phone’s intercom. “There’s a Lieutenant Commander Gracen here to see you.” “Fine, Petty Officer. Send the Commander in. Oh, and have Commander Rabb get his tail in here, too.” “Yes, sir.” Tiner turned to Liandra. “You can go on in, ma’am.” With an appreciative nod, Liandra headed for her uncle’s office. “Thank you, Petty Officer.” Tiner picked up the phone again. “Commander Rabb, sir, the Admiral would like to see you in his office.” Harm hit the intercom button. “I’m in the middle of a very important case file, here, Mr. Tiner. Can you ask the Admiral if it can wait?” “Sir, he told me to have you join him and another Commander in his office immediately. I believe this Commander is Major MacKenzie’s replacement.” Tiner hated deceiving the Commander, but the Admiral had given him strict orders not to mention Lieutenant Commander Gracen’s first name or gender to Commander Rabb. “Just tell him to get his rear in here on the double,” he’d said. So that’s what he was doing. He just hoped Commander Rabb would forgive him. “Better to drink the bitter water now and get it over with,” Harm muttered. “Sir?” Tiner asked. “Nothing, Tiner. Tell the Admiral I’m coming.” Harm left his office and walked slowly across the bullpen. He got almost halfway to the Admiral’s office when he collided with Mic Brumby. “Sorry, Commander.” “That’s ok, mate. You wouldn’t have seen me if I’d been a two-ton truck. Something on your mind?” “My new partner’s here. He’s waiting for me in the Admiral’s office, along with the Admiral. I really don’t feel like meeting and greeting right now, nor training a new partner.” “He? Your new partner’s a man?” Brumby asked, a curious look on his face. “Yeah, I guess so. I haven’t met him yet. I’m on my way to the Admiral’s office now. What’s that look for?” “Well, Commander,” Mic began with a grin, “I’ve been at Lieutenant Sims’ desk all morning, going over some of my case files.” “Yeah, so?” Harm was in no mood for one of Brumby’s little games. “I’ve been able to see everyone who’s come in or gone out of this office. No man in Navy whites has come through those doors.” “Your point, Commander?” Harm was getting testy. “My point, Commander,” Mic said with a wicked grin lighting up his face, “is that the only person to come in here this morning in Navy whites, or khakis or blues, for that matter, was a woman. A rather exquisite woman, might I add.” “A woman?” Harm asked stupidly. “Yeah, mate. Gorgeous. She’s not tall at all, in fact, she just reached my shoulders, and that’s probably because she had on heels. She has lovely light brown hair, but I couldn’t tell you how long it is. It’s all pinned up on her head. I wonder what it would look like if she let it down.” Mic had a daydream-like look to his face, so Harm cleared his throat to snap Mic to his senses. “Oh, sorry, Harm. What did you say?” Admiral Chegwidden walked up just then, and Mic scurried off, chuckling as he walked. “Good luck, mate. “ “Commander, I thought Petty Officer Tiner relayed my instructions that you were to report to my office *now*, not whenever the mood struck you,” the Admiral thundered. “Yes, sir. I’m sorry, Admiral, I was on my way when I literally ran into Commander Brumby.” “I take it you apologized?” Chegwidden inquired. “Yes, sir. I have a lot on my mind this morning, what with the Nicholson and Myers cases, not to mention my new partner coming in. Isn’t he supposed to be here sometime today?” Harm asked his commanding officer. AJ had a very hard time keeping a smug smile off of his face. “Yes, Commander, as a matter of fact, Lieutenant Commander Gracen is in my office now. We’ve been waiting for you. Ah, here we are.” AJopened his office door and gestured for Harm to enter before him. Harm walked into the Admiral’s office and his breath caught in his throat. The Admiral walked around Harm and stood by Liandra. “Commander Rabb, I would like to introduce you to your new partner, Lieutenant Commander Liandra Gracen. Commander Gracen, this is Lieutenant Commander Harmon Rabb.” Liandra couldn’t breathe. She could not move, but thankfully, she didn’t have to. Harm did it for her. Harm stepped forward on lead feet and extended his left hand. “Glad to meet you, Commander.” Forcing herself to smile at Harm, Liandra grasped his hand. “The pleasure is mine, Commander Rabb.” “Well, I’ll leave you two to get better acquainted. Oh, Liandra, you’ll be sharing an office with Commander Rabb. I’m sorry about that, but Major MacKenzie is only on leave, and her office is still *her* office. If space gets to be a problem, let me know and I’ll try and come up with another arrangement.” “Thank you, sir, I appreciate it, but I think Commander Rabb and I can make do. But if we can’t I will do as you asked and let you know.” Liandra smiled at her foster uncle turned commanding officer. “If that’s all, then, you both are dismissed.” Harm and Liandra thanked the Admiral, and both walked toward the door. Harm’s tenseness did not override his common sense and his courteous upbringing. Harm reached the door first, and opening it, held it long enough for Liandra to walk through. ******************************************************************* “My office is over here, Commander,” Harm used Liandra’s rank, he told himself, to better look professional. Not because of the resentment he still felt towards her. Liandra walked through Harm’s office door and involuntarily shivered. She could almost see the frost coming from his nostrils and the icicles hanging off his head. *This is ridiculous. He’s still not angry about our breakup, is he*, she asked herself. *Doesn’t he realize that I was just an immature, stupid kid back then*? The sound of the door closing snapped her out of her pensiveness. Harm’s hand on her shoulder made her jump. “I’m sorry, Liandra. I didn’t realize you didn’t hear me. Would you like some coffee?” “You called me Liandra,” she wondered aloud. “We’re in my office now, and the door’s closed. I don’t see any need to be so formal, do you?” “Don’t you mean frigid?” she asked, a tinge of pain in her voice. She saw no reason for him to be so cold to her. It was in the past, and it should stay there. She hadn’t asked to be assigned to JAG HQ anymore than he had asked for her. “What?” he asked, setting a coffee cup down in front of her. “That means it’s all in the past, Harm. I’ve come to terms with it. I admit it, I made a mistake, a terrible one, but I have moved on. It appears that you haven’t,” she replied, looking him straight in the face. “What’s that supposed to mean?” Harm asked defensively. “It means you are still holding on to the same mentality, the same attitude, the same bitterness that you had seven and a half years ago. But I haven’t. If you remember, I blamed you for your crash. I said I didn’t want us to end up like your parents, and when you crashed, in my mind, we’d done just that. “Like I said, I was being very immature and stupid. Instead of staying and trying to work through my feelings and fears, I ran. I left you. And yes, I left you with some very horrible words as my parting gift. I cannot reverse what happened or take back what I said. All I can do now is tell you how sorry I am and how badly I wish I’d never said any of it.” Liandra sniffled. During the course of her apology, she had begun to cry. Liandra had not noticed her tears, but Harm had. On his feet in seconds, he plucked tissue out of a box and wiped her eyes. Liandra had reached up to swipe at her tears, and her hand brushed Harm’s. “Hey, cut that out.” Harm reached out and tilted her chin up with his finger. Looking in his eyes was Liandra’s undoing. Those emeralds had haunted her for nearly eight years. Liandra broke down, crumpled into Harm’s embrace and began to cry. “I’m so sorry, Harm. Can you ever forgive me?” Harm smiled. “Yes, you hard headed little Brat,” he said, calling her by an old nickname. “I forgive you.” He chuckled. “How could I not forgive the woman I love?” Shocked, Liandra pulled away from Harm to look him straight in the eye. “You what?” “I love you, Liandra. How much plainer do you want me to get?” Harm reached for her hands and took them in his own. *He’s going to kiss me . . .and I’m going to let him*, she thought dreamily. “I can’t do this,” Harm said suddenly, startling her. “Why not?” “Well, first of all, the shade on my door is up, so everyone would be able to see. And if I remember correctly, you value your privacy. Secondly, we *are* at the office. Your uncle would have my hide.” “Oh, alright. But you owe me, Commander.” Liandra stood and dusted off her skirt. As she rose, she caught sight of her reflection in the mirror behind Harm’s desk and shrieked. “Aagh!” A knock on the door caused Lia to give Harm a panicked look. “Relax, it’s just Bud.” Harm waved for Bud to enter. “Sir, ma’am, the staff meeting is about to start.” “Thank you, Lieutenant.” Harm replied. Bud backed out the door and closed it behind him. “Listen, I’m going to go to the ladies’ room and freshen up. Geez, it’s a good thing I don’t wear makeup, because my whites would be a mess. Tell Uncle AJ I’ll be there in a sec, okay?” “Sure, Lia. And you don’t *need* makeup.” As soon as Liandra was gone, Harm grabbed the phone. A crisp female voice answered. “Kelly’s Florist.” “Hi, I’d like to have a dozen white roses sent over to JAG headquarters, third floor, please. As soon as possible.” “OK, sir. Who are they for and what would you like the card to say?” “They’re for Liandra Gracen, and the card should read, ‘L., Dinner? My place? I’ll make your favorite. Let me know. Love, Gavin.’” “All right, sir. They should be there in about twenty minutes.” ******************************************************************* “All right, everyone, please have a seat. We have a lot on our agenda this morning . . .” AJ stopped when he noticed one of the chairs was empty. “Commander Rabb, where is Commander Gracen?” AJsaid. Liandra came through the door with Harriet in time to hear her uncle’s latest barrage. “Harriet, should I close this door, you think?” Harriet nodded. “We usually do, ma’am.” “Please, call me Liandra.” Lia said to Harriet as she closed the door. About three seconds after Liandra closed the door, Petty Officer Tiner opened it and stuck his head in. “Excuse me, Admiral, but Commander Gracen has a delivery.” “A delivery?” AJlooked at his niece, who just shrugged. “I haven’t got a clue, sir, but I’ll go take care of this so we can get started.” Liandra scurried out the door. “You have something for me?” she asked the deliveryman. “Yes, ma’am. Sign here,” he said, handing her a clipboard. After she signed for the flowers, the deliveryman tore off her copy of the invoice then handed her the roses. “Enjoy them, ma’am.” “Oh, I will, and thank you.” Lia walked back into the meeting room, and her cell phone rang. “Blast it,” she fussed as she set the roses down at her place beside Harm. “I should have left this thing in your office.” She offered her uncle an apologetic look. “I’ll get rid of them, sir,” she said as she pulled the phone from her purse. “This is Commander Gracen,” she said formally. “Commander? When did you get your feet back in the water again?” an Italian accented female voice asked. “Cessa!” Liandra gushed. (AN: pronounced “Chessa”.) “Man, you have *the worst* timing! I just walked into a staff meeting, I’ve only been in the office for an hour, and it’s my first day. So *of course* you had to call now.” The cousins laughed. “Listen, we’ve got a full plate in front of us and we haven’t even started eating yet. What’d you need?” “Speaking of eating, how about dinner tonight? I’m going to be in town for several days and I wanted to have Fettuccine Alfredo with my favorite cousin.” “Oh, I’m sorry, Chess. I’ve already got dinner plans,” Lia said as she fingered the card from the roses. “Look, I’ll let you go. Give me the number where you’re staying and I’ll call you after dinner.” “Well, I think I’m going to crash at my best friend’s for a few days,” she paused while Harm tapped her foot with his in answer to her silent question. “I don’t know the number over there yet, so call me on my cell and I’ll get it for you. Chess, I’ve really got to go.” “Is my old Papa bear giving you a dirty look?” Francesca asked with a giggle. Liandra chuckled. “Oh, he’s past that stage. I think I see steam.” “Ok. I love you, Liandrina,” Francesca said, using her nickname for Lia. “Love you, too, Cessa. Bye.” She closed the phone and turned to Harm. “One of my uncles gave me this thing before I came up here and I don’t know much about it. Can’t it be turned *off* so it won’t ring unless I want it to?” “Yeah. Here, let me do it.” Harm reached for the phone, but Liandra held it out of his reach. “No, Harm, I didn’t ask you to do it for me. It’s my phone and I need to learn how to do this. I’d much rather you show me how to shut it off.” “Well, it’ll be easier right now to shut the phone off, and tell you how later.” He reached for the phone again. Liandra stood and tried not to show all the anger she felt. “What’s the matter with your hearing, Commander? I said no.” Pausing long enough to take a few deep breaths and let the anger bleed out of her voice, she turned to her uncle. “I am so sorry about all of this, sir.” She picked up the phone and headed for the door. “I’ll go shove this in my briefcase and be back in a minute.” Admiral Chegwidden looked at his staff. “Another five minutes won’t hurt.” He turned a frigid glance on Harm. “Rabb, in my office, now!” ******************************************************************* The Admiral barely kept his door from slamming. “What in the world is the matter with you, Commander? I asked you to *befriend* my niece, not belittle her.” “Belittle her, sir?” “Yes, Commander, belittle her. You may not have meant it that way, but you came off as nothing short of chauvinistic toward Liandra.” “I’m very sorry, sir.” Harm replied. “I was only trying to expedite things so we could start the meeting.” “I know that, Commander, and I’m sure, in a quieter moment, Liandra will admit she knows that, too. By the way, I’m not really the one you should apologize to, Harm.” The Admiral, in a rare mellow moment, smiled at his top lawyer. “Yes, sir, I think I know that now. Thank you, sir.” “You can thank me later by telling me everything’s settled between you two. I don’t need you two fighting.” AJ said, back to his normal gruff self. “Let me give you some advice about my niece, Commander. All she could see in that meeting room was the fact that you were treating her as a child instead of the grown woman that she is. She learns things, like using that cell phone, better if you show her than tell her.” AJ chuckled. “It’s just too bad you had to find out the hard way.” “Actually, sir, I already knew that, or at least I thought I did.” At the Admiral’s questioning look, Harm explained. “Liandra and I have known each other for years, Admiral. Until a few years ago, we were each other’s best friend.” AJ didn’t want to admit it but he was intrigued. This was something about his niece that he’d never known. “Go on,” he told Harm. “It all started with my crash. A couple of weeks before we’d gotten into an argument. She had said she didn’t want us to end up like my parents.” “Like your parents?” “Yeah. Me shot down or dead somewhere and her at home grieving. Then after I went home to recuperate, we had another fight. Our last one.” Harm smiled sadly. “In fact it was the last time I’d seen her until I walked into your office this morning.” “So *that’s* why you two seemed so awkward earlier.” AJ said as understanding dawned. Harm laughed. “Awkward isn’t the word, sir.” “Let’s get back to that meeting, Commander,” the Admiral said. ******************************************************************* Liandra sat down at Harm’s desk with a sigh. The staff meeting was a disaster. The tension between her and Harm was so thick you could cut it with a knife. And then there were those beautiful roses. Every time she breathed she could smell them. Usually the scent of roses made her smile, but now all she wanted to do was cry. She didn’t even want to think of Harm’s dinner invitation or her current living arrangements. She could see now that it definitely wasn’t going to work. She’d have to find somewhere else to stay. *Even if it means staying at Uncle AJ’s*, she thought with a grimace. Lia couldn’t understand what went wrong. The way the conversation earlier went, she thought everything was fine. They’d cleared the air, she’d apologized, heck, he’d almost kissed her. He even said he loved her. “Now everything’s a mess again.” “What’s a mess?” a familiar female voice asked. Liandra jumped. “Oh, I wish you wouldn’t sneak up on people like that,” she scolded. “If you want a hug, you’ll have to come over here. Harm’s got me trapped behind this desk.” “Okay.” Francesca Peretti walked over to her cousin and hugged her tightly. “What are you doing here? I thought I said I couldn’t do dinner.” “Yeah, so I thought maybe we could have lunch together,” Francesca smirked. “Yikes, is it that late already?” Liandra glanced at her watch. “Okay, time to put this away,” she said, speaking of the open file in front of her. Francesca saw the vase full of roses on the desk and glared at her cousin. “Who are these from and why didn’t you tell me?” *Saved by the bell*, Liandra thought just as Harm walked into the office. Harm was walking and reading a file at the same time, so, naturally, he walked right into the Admiral’s daughter. “Huh? Liandra, what . . .oh, hi, Francesca. Could you excuse us for a minute? I need to talk to Commander Gracen privately. “All right,” Francesca said. “I’ll wait in the bullpen for you, Lia,” she said to her cousin, then walked out the door, quietly shutting it behind her.