Chapter Thirteen

Animal's Apartment, 503-4141 Henderson Road, Arlington, VA 1835hrs

Animal grinned as he thought about the weekend. "Hey, Maegyn, wanna go flying?" he was thinking about the possibility of making a trip out to Manassas where he had his own Cherokee which he had picked up for about forty-eight thousand; not much more expensive than a car. He had thought about Cessna, but all their general aviation aircraft were tail-draggers and Animal hated tail-draggers. He would much rather do three point landings with a Piper than have to worry about fishtailing or bunny-hopping down the runway because he hadn't gotten his tail-dragger down at the right airspeed.

"What?" she asked, her eyes bright and curious. "You didn't tell me you bought a civilian aircraft."

"Yep, all I had to do was ace my written, which I did. I've had the aircraft for six months now and try to get up as often as I can to keep up my hours." Animal sounded proud of himself. "If they won't let me in a military aircraft, I might as well go for my airline pilot's and my multi-engine ducted fan rating so that I'm all ready to do what I need to when I finish my twenty. They gave me my commercial pilot's due to my passing military flight school. I love my Piper Cherokee; it gives me a sense that I'm not trapped on the ground here." Animal finished. "But I can't afford a Lear, damned things are too expensive."

"So what did you have to give them?" Maegyn asked.

"Gave them my OPNAVFORM 3760-31, Aviators Flight Logbook, OPNAV 3710/2, NATOPS Instrument Rating Request, and OPNAV 3760/32 (REV 4-81), NATOPS Flight Personnel Training and Qualification Jacket. It was either/or so I just gave them everything." Animal informed her. "Read up on the FAA-G-8082-5 Commercial Pilot Knowledge Test Guide; gave me everything I needed to know. I was lucky, I was still in the 12 month window or I would have had to do everything all over, practical, written and at least 12 hours of Pilot-in-Command time in the category of aircraft that I intend to fly – guess it's just to make sure that I'm not rusty. The Cherokee I have is a PA-28-180 Cherokee Warrior, gross weight is 2,400lbs; 50 gallon tank and it's great for short hops around the region."

Maegyn grinned at Animal. "So…you wouldn't consider buying a Stearman like Harm's?"

Animal glared at her for a brief moment. "Do I look like I have a death-wish? I hate having nothing keeping me in the aircraft with the exception of two straps built by the lowest bidder." It was a 44 minute drive to Manassas and Animal figured, what the heck, why not stop off at a hotel and enjoy the evening then get a full day of flying in on Saturday, just for some fun. He looked over to see what Maegyn's reaction to the idea would be.

"So…shall we go?" Maegyn grinned at him.

Animal nodded as he grabbed some stuff together, including some flight maps. "Any idea where we can fly to?" he asked.

Main Intelligence Directorate, Khoroshevskoye shosse 76, Khodinka, Moscow

"Colonel Parlovsky…I have the information that you have been seeking. Lieutenant Rabb's information was found aboard the USS Hornet…by his son; I managed to get it away from him." Major Mark Gennadi Sokol stated to his handler who nodded silently as he contemplated the view outside the window overlooking Khoroshevskoye schosse. "Lieutenant Commander Rabb, his son, is looking around for clues. What should we do with him?"

"The answer, Comrade Major, is…" Colonel Mikhail Parlovsky answered, his smile a death's head smile over skull-like features… "nothing. He is attempting to jump over his own head – an old Russian proverb…" he chuckled as if he had made a joke that only he could understand. "No matter, if he persists in trying to find out, he will come here and then he will be easier to deal with."

The Major nodded. Rabb could potentially cause problems if he continued to dig into the matter of his father going missing. But he knew that Parlovsky was right. Unless Rabb showed up in Moscow, there was nothing that he could do, at least nothing that he could attempt without blowing his cover. Sokol joined his superior in looking out the window at Khoroshevskoye schosse.

Parlovsky on the other hand, contemplated the options that he had. The Politburo would not approve of the dark forces meddling in business that was solely the domain of the Russian Federation and they would want anyone who was eliminated. "Perhaps…" he considered out loud, "…the bait hides the hook…" he looked over at Sokol.

Harm's Apartment, North of Union Station 1900hrs

"Well," Lia noted the time on her watch and got up from the couch where she was too comfortably entwined. "I think I should really get going."

"Any plans for the weekend?" Harm inquired sensing her reticence and not wanting to push if she was reluctant.

"Aside from reviewing a few cases that I know are still on my 'to do' list." Harm noticed Lia didn't look too thrilled with the idea of sitting down with legal folders for the weekend.

He came up with an idea. "Say, I was thinking about going flying this weekend. You want to come up to where I have Sarah stored?"

"Sarah?"

"Yeah, my Stearman; I fixed her up when I was recovering from my ramp-strike." Harm informed her – either way he was going flying that weekend, it wouldn't hurt to ask.

"You know what…" Lia replied after a long moment of reflection before answering. "That sounds like a fun weekend. I'll take you up on that. Anything I should bring along?"

"Just be ready at 0600hrs tomorrow morning." Harm informed her as he shot her a wide smile…"Bring a heavy jacket that you can wear and a wool cap. It's going to be cold at altitude…" and winked at her. "I don't want to bring you down on to the ground an ice cube."

"Trust me…" Lia noted the friendly dig, and saucily riposted, "I look good in blue…" she grinned at him. "0600? That's an early morning…"

"Well, it's a long drive." He grinned at her.

Olde Towne Inn, Manassas, VA 2100hrs

AN: TripAdvisor website has mentioned that this motel wasn't the best of motels back in the 90s, but I'm going to give them the benefit of the doubt as there have been mixed reviews.)

Animal grinned at Maegyn as he parked his car at the Olde Towne Inn. Animal noted that it was a red-brick motel; nicely designed with entrances from the exterior as he and Maegyn entered the Inn reception area. The elderly concierge smiled at them, "May I help you?" she asked as she managed to struggle to her feet, slowly and arthritically, hunched over painfully, walking towards Maegyn and Animal at the counter.

Maegyn smiled at her. "I'd like to rent a room…" she held her hand out while Animal deposited his credit card into it. The concierge restrained a laugh opting to give the two of them an indulgently maternal look at the intimate gesture and immediately knew that the couple in front of her was together despite their disparate ethnicities… "…for two nights." Maegyn finished, shooting Animal a warm glance.

"Very well…" the elderly lady smiled gently at the two informing them "The rate will be $78 per night which will come out to $156.00 plus our state sales tax of 5.3% and another 0.7% state tax in Manassas. In total that comes out to $165.42. Since you are paying by credit card, the usual $100.00 damage deposit is waived."

Maegyn thanked her as the concierge dug into the desk drawers and pulled out keys for the room that they would be staying in. "I'll give you room 23 – 51 to 54 are prone to night disturbances…and we reserve them for ghost hunters. Miss Lucy likes to accommodate them. I'm sure you would prefer a good night's sleep." Animal and Maegyn looked at each other with uneasy looks as Animal thanked her and accepted the keys. They both went out to locate their room. Grabbing their seabags from their car, they locked the door. Looking at the key, Animal noted that the room was on the ground floor. He sighed in relief; that meant no climbing stairs and his back thanked him. As a naval aviator, he had experienced one ejection and the compression injuries to his spine still bothered him from time to time.

When they unlocked the door and opened it, the room was clean and Animal sighed in relief; no crawling things with more legs than were necessary and the room did not smell of second hand smoke. Animal found that second hand smoke tended to make him nauseous and he wasn't too fond of cigar smoke. Thank goodness, Harm had quit that disgusting habit; he didn't need to smell that crap around the office either. There was a nice king sized bed, he noted, and a couch in the room, which was nice. There was a 32 inch TV on top of the six drawer dresser and a dressing table with mirror and chair. Animal inspected the bathroom, the bath tub was in its own little room inside the bathroom separated from the toilet area and bathroom sink and both sections were separated from the sleeping area by a door.

Maegyn sighed as she looked around the room, then dropped her sea-bag under the desk, gesturing to Animal to put his sea-bag beside hers. "Now we need to find some food." She looked exhausted.

"TGI Fridays?" Animal tossed out a suggestion.

"Yeah…that sounds good. But I guess we're going to have to go out again." Maegyn barely suppressed a yawn.

"Looks like it." They grabbed their motel-room key and went back out again. It was a thirteen minute drive to TGI Fridays on Route 234 and Animal was yawning again by the time they got there. Animal opted to get a Jack Daniel's Chicken Sandwich which he ordered take-out. Maegyn opted for Bruschetta Chicken Pasta. A quick stop at a convenience store for a couple of colas for both Maegyn and Animal pretty much topped off the trip and the thirteen minute trip back to the motel was enjoyed in silence while they marinated in the smells of the food emanating from the takeout bag. When they were back in their room – the two of them grinned at each other and dove into the bag reaching for their respective meals.

Being exhausted, they put the discarded containers in the now empty takeout bag in prep to toss it out in the morning, locked the door, pulled the curtains, stripped clothes and went to bed, snuggling comfortably under the covers.

Liandra's Apartment, 614-2475 Virginia Avenue, Georgetown, Washington DC. 0545hrs

(AN: I've done this for literary purposes. Harm moves his Stearman to Pop's in Blacksburg, VA later).

Lia dressed quickly in jeans and a white blouse. Pulling on a pair of leather combat boots, since she knew she was going flying with Harm that day, she grabbed a warm cap from the closet, then she grabbed a heavy leather coat, locking the door to her suite behind her, she got ready to head down to the lobby to wait for Harm. When she got downstairs, he was already in front of the main lobby door waiting patiently.

"Hi, Harm…" she gave him a quick peck on the cheek in greeting as she got in the car while Harm grinned at her. "So, where are we going?" Buckling up her seat-belt she leaned back and waited for his answer.

"I've got Sarah parked down at Manassas airport…She's hangar'd and sheltered out of the elements, but I can still take her out and fly her." Harm replied as he engaged the Corvette in drive.

Lia leaned back in her seat and watched the scenery go past as Harm put the Corvette through its paces down I-66, heading towards Manassas.

Olde Towne Inn, Manassas, VA, Room 23, 0600hrs,

Maegyn yawned, looking over to note a still comatose Animal who was laying there with his back towards her facing the edge of the bed. Snuggling in close to him, she evilly grinned and licked his earlobe. That elicited a grumble of protest from him. Evidently he was still three-quarters asleep – this meant that she was going to have to up her plan of attack. Reaching around his sleeping torso, she smiled as she found what she was feeling around for…and tugged.

"Wha-?" was Animal's gasp of surprise in her ear. "Ow! Why you…" he growled looking displeased at Maegyn who grinned at him innocently.

…saying. "Oh, you're awake."

"You are so lucky that we're going flying today…or…" Animal muttered

Maegyn smiled, "or…what?"

"I might have to devise some sort of retribution…"

"Like what?" her inquisitive inquiry caused Animal to flip her over on her back.

"Skin to skin contact for the rest of the day…" he growled amorously, "In…our room…here…all day…"

"Hmmm…" Maegyn replied to that suggestion by caressing his back and pulling him on top of her. "I do like that idea…"

Needless to say it was 0800hrs before they managed to get dressed.

Manassas Regional Airport, Manassas, VA, 0935hrs

After eating in the morning, Animal and Maegyn got to the airport at a little after half past nine in the morning.

"Morning, Cliff!" Animal called out as he looked over at the Airport manager. "How's my airplane?"

"Oh, she's lookin' mighty fine. Been a while since you were last here…but we've taken good care of her."

"Good, any bills I need to take care of?" Animal inquired. Maintenance fees and tarmac fees were a part of the upkeep that needed to be taken care of when one was dealing with an airplane."

"Well, I think you're square with us, but I'll take a look and see if there's another bill." Cliff replied, turning to a filing cabinet and rooting around in it.

Manassas Regional Airport, Manassas VA, 0945hrs

AN: Actually Animal's Cherokee aircraft registration number was in reality registered to a Grumman G-159 Gulfstream I in 1964. Just thought any airplane aficionados might be interested in knowing that.

Harm looked over his Stearman that was sitting in the hangar just off 34L. Actually not too far away from the private hangar that Animal had his Piper Cherokee in, Animal's hangar was three doors down though Harm didn't know it. Hangar door open, he looked over at Lia, "A few more adjustments…and I think we'll be able to get this baby in the air…" he called out, then his eyes widened as he saw two familiar faces come walking by their open hangar door. "ANIMAL?!" he yelled out. "What are you doing here?" At that Lia rolled her eyes. Of all the people she had to meet today, it would be him! She handed Harm a wrench so that they could get the oil changed on the aircraft.

Animal nearly startled out of his reverie spun around and saw Harm standing by a vintage WWII Navy yellow biplane trainer with a red stripe encircling the middle of its fuselage. "Same thing it looks like you're doing, Harm!" Animal replied.

"Going flying?"

"Yeah…I got my Piper down here. Evidently it looks like we're three doors down…" Animal informed Harm as he continued walking.

"Couldn't fly open cockpit, could ya." Harm grinned at him as Animal continued to walk with Maegyn towards his hangar.

"I'm not insane, Rabb…" Animal threw back over his shoulder, finally turning towards his hangar three doors down and sticking the key in the door. Going in, he disarmed the burglar alarm and set about opening the hangar doors, so that he could get the blue striped Piper Cherokee ready to taxi out of the hangar. After doing a thorough walk-around he got into the aircraft, gestured to Maegyn to get into the right hand seat…which in the Piper Cherokee 180 made it extremely comfy.

Maegyn looked at him as they were sitting shoulder to shoulder. "Hmmm, this is nice. Very intimate…" she purred.

"Yeah…hold that thought…" Animal grinned at her and handed her a checklist. "read that out for me…"

"OK…Starting Engine Checklist." Maegyn stopped for a brief moment and looked over at him. "Ready?"

"OK…read it off…"

"Parking brake…"

"Set."

"Carb Heat" Maegyn read.

"Cold"

"Fuel Selector…"

"Left; indicator reads full on both tanks" – the left tank was usually drained first by the engine then the right.

"Cold start checklist." Maegyn intoned. "Throttle?"

"Open to a quarter inch."

"Master switch?"

"On."

"EFP"

"On."

"Mixture?"

"Rich."

"Magnetos…"

"Rotating switch clockwise while pressing in…" Animal replied while looking forward to see the prop rotate…as the engine caught.

"Throttles?"

"Throttles –forward" and Animal slowly moved the Cherokee 180 forward out of the hangar and stomped on the right rudder pedal to turn the 180 to the right to taxi out of the hangar area. As he passed Harm he lifted a thumbs up to Harm which he returned. "Manassas Tower, November Seven One Three Golf, Taxi, Take off Runway 34L." Animal radioed to the tower.

"Roger, November Seven One Three Golf, Taxi, Take off Runway 34L. Hold short Runway 34 left for Piper Aztec making a touch and go."

"Roger, November Seven One Three Golf acknowledges, Taxi, Take off Runway 34L. Holding short Runway 34 left for Piper Aztec; touch and go." Animal acknowledged the transmission from Manassas Tower as he watched the Aztec make a run-in to the runway, touching his main-mounts on the asphalt, then applying full power to scramble back into the sky for another go-around. "November Seven One Three Golf, Manassas Tower, taxiing onto Runway 34L for runup."

"Roger November Seven One Three Golf, Manassas Tower, Runway 34L clear for take-off. Have a good flight."

Animal grinned at Maegyn as she turned to him and smiled. "OK…sweetheart, we're goin' flying." He crowed as he lined up on the center-line and opened throttles releasing the brakes. The gentle acceleration of the Piper Cherokee 180 wasn't at all like the F-14s that they were used to – the kick in the pants wasn't there and the engine was a lot less powerful, adequate enough that the engine and prop pulled the Piper down the runway and into the air.

"Wonder if Harm is still down there tinkering with his Stearman." Animal snickered as he looked forwards and to the sides downwards and in his sideviews to make sure that his sector in the sky was clear. The airspeed indicator was reading 120 knots with a headwind of 9 knots pushing back on the airframe.

"Last I saw, Lieutenant Commander Gracen was helping him." Maegyn replied. "So…where are we going?"

"Well, I thought for this flight, we might like to visit Rochester, New York, then head for Portland, Maine, then back down the Eastern Seaboard to Manassas." Animal grinned.

"Sounds like a plan. Any place to eat in Rochester?" Maegyn looked out the window to keep an eye out for aircraft on their starboard side.

Manassas Regional Airport, Manassas VA 1040hrs

Harm finally finished the last of the adjustments and refilled the oil and finally managed to get everything ship-shape for flying that afternoon. After heading back from the meteorology building and filing their flight plan, he noticed Lia was looking up at the sky to see if everything was alright for a flight. His eyes followed her gaze skywards. It looked as though some clouds were floating in at about mid-altitude. As a light plane, they would be stuck under this stuff and these looked like cumulus clouds – it looked as though the bases were at about 11,500 feet. "Looks like we might be in for some weather, Lia." He informed her. "Right now it doesn't look too good and Animal and Maegyn just took off forty-five minutes ago. I saw the WX NOTAMS when I went over to file our flight plan and it said that there were stratocumulus with the potential to become CB (cumulonimbus) by late afternoon. Animal might be running into weather on the way back." Harm notified Lia. "I hope he made sure that he was aware of the weather situation."

"I'm sure he did…" Lia looked over at Harm who looked concerned as he continued to monitor the sky. "If he's as good of an aviator as you say he is…I'm sure he'd be making sure of the situation."

"I hope so…" Harm looked back down, kicking a rock away from the door of the airplane. Less FOD to worry about, he thought as he walked over to the Stearman. "I think we'll be doing a couple circuits and then see what develops before flying over to University Park Airport, because if it does develop into something that ends up concerning us, I don't want to be up in that thing."

"Good idea…" Lia replied as she looked equally worried at the darkening skies.