CHAPTER 6

I realize it's been a long time between chapters. Those of you who work and have families know exactly what I mean. Still I apologize and hope that my latest submission will make up for my absence. There's a hint of citrus (cough…cough) from both Princess' and Mark's perspectives. Special thanks to MistyGirl1 for her undying patience with me and reading ( and re-reading) this chapter when I doubted I'd ever finish it. The story continues…

Princess had lain awake in the darkness even after her mother entered the apartment. It had been ingrained in her; a habit she believed she'd buried along with other hurtful memories. The night seemed to be conspiring against her, causing the 12 year old within her to return as she listened for every sound coming from the next room. She'd heard the shuffling of a coat from her mother's shoulders, the removal of stilettos striking a hardwood floor, and an exasperated sigh of relief chasing a low throaty groan of exhaustion. Combined were the sounds of a tired woman coming home from work; not the inebriated woman she remembered as a kid, stumbling in after binge drinking all night at some local haunt. Young Jade would often confront her mother about her atrocious behavior and was often rewarded with a painful back handed slap followed by a scornful flow of obscenities. Princess winced as if though the occurrence had just taken place, touching her cheek as if the tenderness still remained. She wasn't prepared for this.

From the moment Princess stepped into her mother's apartment, she'd been haunted by visions of the past; the darkness only fueling her torment. She'd lain awake as she had ten years ago; the childhood terror of abuse bound to her like handcuffs to her wrists. Now regretful of her decision to stay for the night, Princess decided to head for the hotel her father had reserved for her later in the day. Distance had been and remained her best ally where her mother was concerned.

Without thinking she reached for the scarf that Mark had given her. She had placed it on the bed while she undressed for the night. Ironically, knowing it was there had offered her a strange sense of comfort. She methodically fingered its silk folds.

The door handle clicked and Princess gasped before turning on her side away from the door as it eased open. Nina peered into the bedroom for a brief moment before closing the door soundly; padding barefoot towards her room so as not to disturb her daughter. No longer sensing her mother's presence nearby, Princess shifted underneath the comforter and eventually succumbed to her own exhaustion; clutching the scarf between her hands…

"Mmmm…good morning kitten," were the words spoken in her ear in a provocative gravel-edged tone. The man lying next to her began brushing his lips tenderly against the soft scented skin behind her ear; his arms encircling her from behind, pulling her against his warm bare body. A knowing smile appeared upon Princess' lips as she snuggled deeper into Mark's embrace. Her eyes remained closed as she savored their closeness; basking in the aftermath of their lovemaking.

"If I had known you were going to be so appreciative, I would've given you the scarf a long time ago," Mark murmured; easing his thigh intimately between Princess' legs as he rocked her gently against him.

Princess grinned as Mark began kissing the curve of her neck. "It was a gorgeous scarf…I loved it the moment I saw it. The colors are reminiscent of something out of a Moroccan flea market." She leaned back into him, allowing his lips greater access as his hands skimmed over her creamy skin. His fingers migrated from the fullness of her breasts towards the dip of her smooth stomach, fingering her navel ring and beyond; causing Princess to purr like the kitten he called her.

Mark buried his face into fragrant strands of sable colored hair. "I've given you gifts before but you've never been as emotional as you were about the scarf."

Princess winced at his accurate description of her reaction to his gift. The scarf did remind her of something but even she wasn't certain of the reasoning behind it. She had a feeling that she had seen it before; as if the beautiful piece of silk provided a link to the family she never knew.

He felt Princess stiffen slightly and immediately turned her onto her back to face him. "Hey baby…don't shy away from me," Mark pleaded as Princess lowered her eyes. Sensing her anxiety, he then lifted her chin with his thumb while his finger caressed the corner of her mouth. "I'm just trying to understand how the scarf seems to hold some sentimental value for you. I've never seen you so touched by anything that I've given you before."

Seeing the concern in those fathomless blue eyes and acutely aware of Mark's need for an explanation, Princess reached out and placed a soft hand against his cheek. "I think it's a reminder of who I am…and where I came from. It's the first gift you've given me that makes me feel…like you really know me. My Indian ancestry I guess… I'm not your typical girl next door Mark. I didn't grow up the way you did…having the things you had." It wasn't until recently that the painful part of her past began to invade her thoughts. Regretfully she hadn't been able to share that part of herself with him.

Her admission seemed to touch Mark deeply; his eyes appearing bluer to her than she'd ever seen them. He'd known that she had it rough as a kid but nothing more. His gaze lingered on her gypsy green eyes for several moments before lowering his mouth to hers. The kiss was slow and deep; his tongue sweet and reassuring as he reached for her right hand. He placed it next to Princess' head on her pillow and laced his fingers between hers tightly.

"I never wanted a debutante," Mark spoke softly against her lips, his nose nuzzling hers. "Princess…ever since I've known you…you've made it a point not to talk about your past very much. I mean…I know that you were basically a nomad for a while and that you grew up in a few foster homes. But essentially…that's all I know. I'd really like to know more about…"

Mark sucked in his breath as Princess' hand purposely began an erotic exploration of her lover's anatomy. "I don't want to talk anymore" she whispered against his mouth, pressing her body tantalizingly against him. In a sense she was using him; using him to wipe from her mind that one essential thing that always plagued her…that she wasn't good enough for him. And, that when the novelty of their relationship wore off; when Mark had enough of her, he'd leave her. She desperately wanted to forget her uncertainty over his feelings for her. Princess kissed the sun baked skin of Mark's throat, loving the way his pulse hammered rapidly against her lips as she arched her hipbones into the very source of his pleasure.

Mark closed his eyes tightly as her thumb stroked the satin soft tip of his arousal; the muscles of his stomach contracting as the length of him stirred and grew heavy in response to her touch. "Oh…kitten… you don't play fair at all," He groaned as Princess began massaging his sex rhythmically with one hand; coaxing his hardened body back against the bed as she slid further down his muscular frame, planting warm, moist kisses along the meandering line of Mark's abdomen before she took the thick, pulsating heat of him into her mouth…

Princess awoke startled by the distinct and persistent sound of her communicator, muffled beneath the pillow covering her wrists. She quickly lifted her head and looked around the unfamiliar room before remembering where she'd spent the night. Not with Mark as she had believed. "It was just a dream…our last time together," she murmured softly; vividly recalling the dream's content as she touched her reddened cheeks, rubbed at her eyes, and shifted in the bed before tossing the pillows and covers aside hurriedly as she became more alert; recognizing the flashing red light as her father's priority alert signal. Princess pushed herself into a sitting position, placing her back against the bed's brass headboard. She raised her left wrist to her chin before responding.

"G-3 here Chief. Go ahead."

"Hello honey," Chief Anderson began, his tone that of the concerned parent. Sensing the urgency, although his greeting was personal, told Princess that her father needed to speak with her right away. Their communicators were supposed to be used for Federation purposes only; for transmutation and while on assignment. "I apologize for calling on you at this time but I needed to relay some important information to you. I need to be as brief as possible before someone from one of our Global Positioning Post realizes that I'm communicating with a G-Force member on the outside."

"Is everything alright? Am I needed back at Center Neptune right away?" Princess asked.

"No, that isn't necessary. But you do need to contact Mark as soon as possible. I'm afraid we've pushed him too far. He was very angry once he discovered you left without informing him and even more so because I refused to give him any information on your whereabouts. The Commander feels disrespected although I'm certain there's an underlying degree of hurt beneath that brash exterior of his. He's threatened to go to the Federation board and inform them of your dismissal from duty and of my involvement in your release from lock down here at Center Neptune."

Princess closed her eyes tightly and grimaced. "Oh no," she whispered silently. She knew Mark would be angry but had never expected this. "Dad, I'm so sorry for getting you involved and covering for me. Maybe it's best that I come back. I can't get anything accomplished here if Mark is even considering…"

"You will do no such thing," Anderson interrupted and spoke adamantly. "I can handle that young man of yours but I think simply by calling him and letting him know that you're alright will ease some of the tension." Silence stretched between them for several seconds before Anderson continued, "Princess…things are alright with you aren't they? You did find your mother?"

"Yes I found her. Nina is…different…than what I expected. But it's been hard to shake the past Dad. So many bad memories. I… I just don't know if I can go through with this."

"Now listen to me," Anderson began. "No one is more deserving of answers about the past than you. You waited ten years for this moment and I'm not about to let you turn tail and run because you're worried about the actions of your Commander. Mark will get over this, believe me, but I implore you to call him first before he does something that we'll all regret. Say what you can to pacify him and I'll handle the rest. You have my word on that."

"Thanks Dad," Princess nodded; relenting to her father's advice. "I'll admit that I'm not satisfied with things. The only way I'll get any answers from Nina is to stick around for a while. Are you certain you can spare me a day or two away from Center Neptune?"

"There haven't been any new developments Princess," Anderson remarked. "I'm taking care of everything here on my end. You contact me if you need anything."

Princess had purposely decided not to tell the Chief she had stayed the night with Nina. No sense in getting him worked up too. She had to mentally prepare herself before contacting Mark. She suddenly remembered his gift and began anxiously looking around for the scarf before she caught site of it peering from beneath a pillow. Staring at it caused her to feel a tremendous sense of guilt; remembering their last time together before she left ate away at her conscious like acid. She'd accused Mark of using her by sleeping with her, when she had all but seduced him into forgetting about his inquiry into her past. She had stooped to tactics her mother used to brag about after conniving to get whatever she wanted from a man.

"Princess?" Anderson queried. Intuition was telling him that something was still bothering her and he wanted to reassure her that things would work themselves out.

Princess tore her eyes away from the scarf and shook her head in response to her father's questioning tone. "Yes?"

"Honey…for what it's worth… I don't think that Mark will go the distance and turn us in to the Federation board but given his behavior last night, it would be foolish of me to doubt him. We can't afford to call his bluff."

Princess could only imagine the hell Mark raised concerning her unexplained absence. She felt it necessary to apologize once again to her father. "I'm so sorry about all of this. I promise to get in touch with him after signing off."

"Alright sweetheart. I wish I could tell you that you could stay longer than a day or two, but the sooner you get back here the better. As for your conversation with Mark, keep it as brief as possible. I wouldn't put it past him to attempt to trace your transmission signal. I'll sign off for now. Take care."

Princess groaned as she pushed her face into a nearby pillow, the scarf now laced between her fingers. Mark had never been one to be so forgiving. As much as she loved him, she'd rather face Zoltar himself than deal with Mark's offended male pride. Princess rolled onto her back as she contemplated making that all important call.

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"You look like a fucking Chia Pet!" Jason mocked as he sauntered past Mark into his officer's quarters; taking in his friend's unruly copper mane, facial stubble, and disheveled state of undress, wearing only his boxers upon greeting him at the door. The Condor continued to make fun of his Commander's appearance by laughingly adding, "Sort of a cross between a wildebeest and a muppet," as he made his way inside carrying a small bag with him.

The panel door hissing behind him, Mark angrily shoved a fistful of hair off of his forehead as his best friend grinned at the fulminating look on his face. The Eagle wasn't too pleased about being awakened early in the morning by the Condor, who announced his presence by keeping his finger on the buzzer of the intercom located outside his officer's abode. He'd finally been on the verge of falling asleep but with Jason leaning heavily on his panel's intercom, and the buzzer sounding like that of a giant mosquito hovering above his head, Mark had no choice but to get out of bed before his second in command began shouting for inclusion into his quarters.

"Damn the jokes this morning alright Chuckles. I'm not in the mood," Mark warned as he made his way back towards his single bed and sat on the edge of it. He'd had an awful night and didn't need his friend's jovial mood adding insult to injury. "What in the hell are you doing here so early in the morning for anyway?" Mark added leaning forward; his elbows perched onto his knees as he covered his face with his hands.

"Hey lighten up! Besides…," he lifted the small bag in the air, "…I bought breakfast. And it was either eat with you or listen to Keye and Tiny in the cafeteria having one of their philosophical discussions. Today's topic 'What is the sound of one hand clapping?'" Jason walked towards the small kitchenette and placed the bag on the counter. "The scary thing was…I was actually listening to their conversation and beginning to understand them." He shuddered in mock fright. "Like listening to Spongebob and Patrick."

Mark eyed Jason fumbling for the contents within the bag. He sniffed, recognizing the smell of fresh brewed coffee and hot blueberry bagels. He appreciated the combination, particularly after realizing he hadn't eaten since lunch yesterday. But he didn't appreciate the intrusion; he'd decided to spend the day in solitary confinement hoping to figure out Princess' location.

"Nice to know your hunger far surpasses my need for sleep," he mouthed sarcastically. "Jase if you don't mind, I'd really rather be alone right now."

"Obviously someone got up on the wrong side of a lonely bed this morning. Here you go," Jason smirked as he handed Mark a small insulated cup of coffee, which he grudgingly accepted, before he carefully straddled the nearest chair holding onto his own cup. He took in the shadows of tiredness underneath Mark's eyes; the deep grooves etching the corners of his mouth. "I take it Princess hasn't called, huh?"

Mark sighed, realizing that Jason wasn't about to leave anytime soon. "No she hasn't," he grumbled as he lifted the cup's lid cautiously and blew at its contents. "I'm beginning to wonder if she even wants to." He took a small swallow after that.

Jason took a sip of coffee. "You know Prin better than that, man. Just because she hasn't called yet doesn't mean she won't." He eased back towards the counter, fished out a huge bagel with a napkin, and took a healthy bite before tossing the bag at Mark's feet.

Mark sucked his teeth as he toyed with the bag's edge and frowned in Jason's direction. "You're not holding out on me are you? Did Prin contact you about anything before she left?"

Jason shook his head as he lifted his partially eaten bagel towards his accuser. "You know…," he began, his mouth filled with hard, chewy dough, "…normally I'd kick… your ass just on principle… because you've just questioned… the depth of my integrity…and the integrity of your girlfriend." A large swallow of coffee chased the bagel down Jason's throat before he continued, keeping his anger at bay. "But because it's so early and I can tell that you haven't had a descent night's rest, I'm going to blame those ignorant questions you just asked me on sleep deprivation."

Jason's metal gray eyes never wavered from Mark's suspicious blue stare; enough for him to back down and nod acceptingly of Jason's recent statement. "Sorry. You didn't deserve that."

"Princess didn't either. Man, I thought we were past that. You know that she would never confide something to me without considering your feelings. She's always put you first." He then popped the remainder of his bagel into his mouth. "And you're spoiling my breakfast. I didn't ask for bagels with a side order of interrogation."

"I said I was sorry," Mark ground out. "I guess …it's just easier to point the finger at someone else other than myself." He looked down into the bag and reached for a bagel.

"I kind of figured more was going on with you rather than just being mad at Prin for leaving. This isn't just about G-3 taking off, more like your girlfriend not confiding in you with her reasons for doing so," Jason remarked perceptively.

Refusing to let Jason know that he scored a direct hit into his ego, Mark shot back quickly, "I take my role as Commander seriously Jason. What she did was in direct violation…"

Jason held up an intervening hand. "Uh uh…don't even go there with me Eagle. I know you. There's more to it than that. You and I are the undisputed tag-team champions when it comes to insubordination. Even Tiny and Keye have gone off kamikaze at one time or another and I've never seen you get half as mad as you did yesterday. If Princess left, she left for a reason. More personal than she cared to admit to you. What I'm sensing from you is…something else," he added suspiciously, pointing his coffee cup in Mark's direction.

"Well you're wrong. What's going on between Prin and myself has more to do with her leaving without authorization from me," Mark denied vehemently. He took a large bite out of his bagel and drank from his cup, the hot liquid scalding his throat as he looked straight ahead; hoping to avoid more of Jason's probing into his personal life.

Placing his elbows on the back of his chair, Jason gauged his friend for several minutes, monitoring him for a reaction. He noticed the restrained look on Mark's face as he feigned interest in his breakfast. As realization dawned on him, Jason raised a discriminating eyebrow and smiled knowingly into his cup. "You two had a fight huh?" A twist of Mark's lips provided confirmation. "Well that would explain the 'Ain't no sunshine when she's gone' look on your face."

"Shit!" Mark muttered beneath his breath, closing his eyes tightly as Jason chuckled smugly. "I hate you. I fucking hate you," he spoke before getting up and kicking at Jason's outstretched leg as he made his way toward the kitchenette. "You didn't even bring any cream cheese with you," he added; causing Jason to laugh only harder. Mark tossed his half eaten breakfast into the small sink before making it to his bathroom, shutting the door behind him.

Still straddling the chair while smirking at Mark's expense, Jason turned it towards the bathroom door and spoke loudly over the sound of running water. "Come on man. You need someone to talk to and what better person to talk over your woman troubles with than me?"

A few minutes passed before Mark appeared; drying his damp face and hands with a towel. "It's not what you think...and it wasn't really a fight." It felt strange confiding in Jason about something that was so intimate concerning Princess. Although he did mention it to Chief Anderson last night; his anger causing that momentary lapse in judgment.

Jason urged him with a nod of his head and a quick motion of his hand. "Well…what happened?"

Mark conceded; figuring that Jason might be able to provide him with some insight into Princess' behavior. "Prin mentioned that I was using her just to sleep with her. Right after our last night together."

Jason held his cup midway from his mouth; eyebrows raised in surprise. "Man, that's savage coming from Prin. What set her off that way?"

Mark shook his head as he tossed his towel aside, before he began rummaging through his dresser drawers. "I don't know. We did have a disagreement about how much time she's been putting in for the Internal Security Division. Some of the agents have been giving her a hard time. I know the amount of strain she's been under. Her assignments have been rough."

"That group is headed up by the very guy we're looking for right? Robert Cooper." Jason finished his drink and tossed the empty cup into a nearby trash dispenser.

"Yeah the one and the same," Mark answered tightly as he pulled out a pair of worn jeans and grey t-shirt. "Prin has had a few run-ins with this guy and a couple of those Men in Black wannabees before. Her last assignment was really weighing on her so I suggested that she leave the ISD alone. Her workload was more than hectic and she needed a time out."

"You know how Prin feels about being treated differently from any other agent; especially the guys." Jason could imagine Princess cutting Mark into pieces. "Man, I almost feel sorry for you."

"You don't know the half of it. She literally handed my ass over to me when she reminded me that I wouldn't be asking either you or Tiny to quit if you guys were taking part in an ISD assignment that got to be too tedious," Mark added while stepping into his blue jeans. "Right after I tried to appease to her good sense, she questioned my support of her efforts and then throws at me that I'm probably doing so just to sleep with her." He then slid his jeans over his hips.

"So after that proverbial bitch-slap to your ego, what happened next?" Jason asked with a lop-sided grin.

Mark frowned while pulling his t-shirt over his head. "I just…asked her did she mean it."

"And…" Jason prompted.

Mark stepped around Jason and headed towards his small work desk. "Prin gave me some lame apology but then says that maybe we should cool it for a while. She mentioned that I wasn't helping her situation any so I agreed to give her space and I left."

"In other words, you limped right out the door." He raised a pointed finger in Mark's direction.

"I didn't do that. But I did call her on it…telling her we'll talk only when necessary," Mark stated as he eased into his swivel chair, turning on his PC through voice activation. "Computer on…Jase if you could've seen the look on Prin's face when she said that I was using her. It's like she lumped me into a whole other category of men."

"Women get that way sometimes. She probably didn't mean it."

"No…no this was different. She was definitely angry and for whatever reason she included me into the mix." Mark began fingering his keyboard while sliding his bare feet against the smooth texture of his floor. "I don't know man. Maybe my dad had the right idea all along."

"Care to translate?" Jason asked. "Your old man wasn't exactly the poster boy for monogamy."

"Yeah but he didn't have to deal with this sort of drama either. I'm the Commander of G-Force. My mind should be on the matter at hand; our lock down and what Zoltar might be planning next if Spectra were to get their hands on our security plans. Instead my thoughts are centered on Princess. How in the hell am I supposed to be an effective leader when my focus is on her?"

"You knew having a relationship with the Swan while we're still at war wasn't going to be easy," Jason reminded him.

At this, Mark actually grinned; recalling how many fights he and Prin had since they began seeing each other. "I'll admit that's what makes it interesting. When we're G-1 and G-3, we put everything aside for the mission. We're totally in sync. But when we're together as man and woman…" Mark shook his head and grimaced as he lightly pounded his fist on his work desk. "I don't know…in the beginning it was good. Hell it was great. But…lately…it's like Prin is deliberately insulating herself. She's only letting me get as close as she wants me to."

"You tried talking to her about it?," Jason asked.

Mark reached for a nearby pencil and began twirling it between his fingertips. "I have…but I haven't gotten anywhere." He turned his back away from his second; visualizing the vulnerable adolescent that was hidden within a woman's body and debated saying anything more.

Fresh in his mind was the last time he'd confronted Princess about her past and how she used her body to silence him. The sex had been hot, hard, and undeniably mind-blowing. He remembered gripping at tangled sheets as he lifted his hips, facilitating the erotic roving of Princess' mouth around the throbbing evidence of his arousal. She'd savored the taste of him as though he were the most decadent chocolate and worked him into such a frenzy that he'd bent the columns of the bed's brass headboard; groaning her name aloud as his body shuddered during its climax. She'd left him dazed and breathless; his body awash in a sheen of perspiration as his mind struggled to find its sanity. Looking at her through heavy lids, he had pulled Princess up against the length of his body afterwards just to kiss her, only to have his own desire for her reignited as she teased his lips apart. Her soft tongue greedily stroked against his; hot and insistent, reveling in the taste of his body's own essence still clinging to her lips. Spurned by her eagerness, Mark then chose to roll Princess onto her back; holding her wrists above her head and eased himself within her as she wrapped her legs around his hips. He remembered sensing a wildness in Princess that morning; staring down into her hypnotic green eyes as her hips rhythmically siphoned him deeper between her thighs. "You can always make me want you," she'd whispered before arching her head back and biting her bottom lip as Mark ground his pelvis into hers. He'd regarded her for only a second, hearing what he thought was an accusation. The moment was quickly forgotten as Princess moved fluidly against him; her body drowning in need and urging him to satisfy her. She was as much a slave to him now as he was to her moments before. Feeling her muscles tighten around him, Mark exhaled, releasing Princess' wrists and buried his face into the side of her neck as her fingernails lightly scraped his sweat-slickened back before sinking them into his buttocks. "I want you to fly with me," he commanded softly; his gravel-edged voice a forbidden mix of fire and ice. He then wrapped a fistful of black silk between his hands as his body responded in kind; dragging his open mouth along creamy skin and plunging again and again into moist, yielding flesh.

Looking back on it now, it had been such an incredibly fucking 'guy thing' to do and Mark hated himself for surrendering to Princess' now obvious ploy. He never would've expected her to go to such lengths to avoid his questions regarding her past. He honestly believed the scarf he'd given her had been the catalyst for further conversation given Princess' grateful reaction to it.

"Hey," Jason spoke up; interpreting Mark's silence as detachment, his friend's mind once again on his absent Swan. His blue eyes transfixed while lost in a state of somnolence; remembering the last time he'd been with Princess. He began a slow descent back to reality with the coaxing sound of Jason's voice. "Hey Eagle. You zoned out there for a while man. You alright?"

Some things were just too personal to share even with your best friend. Mark nodded as he rubbed at bleak, tired eyes once more. "Yeah…yeah I'm alright."

Jason watched Mark for a minute. Choosing to steer their conversation off of Princess for now, he rubbed at the back of his neck as he carefully probed, "Anderson blew right past me last night. Figured he'd been in to see you."

Mark sighed heavily as he leaned back into his seat, sliding his forefinger along the bridge of his nose; his arms folded. "He paid me a visit."

Jason twisted his mouth. "That would explain the anaconda-sized vein throbbing at his temple when he all but shoved me out of the way. What went down between you two?"

Mark gave Jason a look that bore right through him. "To make a long story short; I gave Anderson an ultimatum. Have Princess contact me within 24 hours of her whereabouts or I report her absence from duty and his involvement of her dismissal to the Federation Board."

At this, Jason straightened and shook his head in disbelief. "You know I always thought of you as an asshole but I didn't realize how hard you work at being one until now." At this Mark snorted. "What in the hell were you thinking?"

"The same thing you should be thinking!," Mark answered back, his voice leveling that of his second. "And the same thing everybody else ought to be thinking; that I am the Commander of G-Force and I will not allow anyone to disrespect me! Least of all Anderson!"

"Who you kidding? You think putting Anderson's nuts on the chopping block is going to earn his respect in your favor?" Jason sarcastically remarked.

"I don't need this shit from you Jase." Mark grumbled, turning his swivel chair in the direction of his computer screen. "As a matter of fact I've said more than I need to about any of this. Besides it's none of your business."

Ignoring that comment Jason pressed on. "You're being petty. Your leadership role has little if anything to do with this. This thing with you and Anderson should be just between you and Anderson. There's no need to put Prin in the middle of it. And as for Anderson…"

Mark shot a brief irritated look over his shoulder as Jason continued. "…he's doing what any good father would do for their daughter. He's being supportive. He genuinely cares about her welfare as any parent would."

"He's not her father," Mark bristled as his fingers began striking at his computer keys. "Princess doesn't belong to him."

Jason's eyes narrowed. "Mark…he's her father in every sense of the word. You've gotta give him credit."

Mark continued to ignore Jason as his fingers tapped brutally at his keyboard, his shoulder muscles rigid and tense.

Jason watched Mark for several moments as he attacked his computer keys. As Mark's recent statement began to sink in, a new realization suddenly came into Jason's mind. He rose from his seat and approached Mark slowly from behind.

"You're jealous," he spoke quietly to Mark's back. "Anderson has more claim and more clout being Princess' father…than you have being the boyfriend."

At this Mark froze momentarily, his fingers unmoving on the keyboard while staring stone faced at his computer screen. Jason had struck a monstrous chord; another direct hit into his already bruised ego. There was some modicum of truth behind the statement but he had refused to admit it; even to himself. Rather than face his second, Mark breathed deeply and continued to type as if unphased.

Jason stuffed his hands into the back pockets of his pants. He added matter-of-factly, "You can't force her to choose you know. If you do… you're going to lose man."

Mark stopped again and seemed to consider Jason's advice before resuming his typing once more.

A few minutes of silence hung between them before Jason inched his way towards Mark and mouthed over his head. "What are you looking up anyway?"

He tried to peer over Mark's shoulder but by then he'd had enough of Jason's intrusions. Mark waved a hand in front of his computer's screen, instantly darkening his recent input and keeping a suspicious Condor from discovering what he'd been doing.

"Get out." His command had been simple, quiet, yet dangerous. He didn't move from his seat but placed his hands on his knees; readying himself to show Jason the door.

Having known Mark long enough to realize he had pushed his friend to a sizable limit, Jason held up his hands in mock surrender. "Alright…alright. Don't get all bent out of shape. I'll let myself out." He headed for the panel door but stopped short before pressing its exit button. "Dude…don't do anything rash. There are plenty of guys here at Center Neptune and at the Federation's base that would love to get next to the Swan."

"You included?" Mark asked coldly, placing his hands back on his keyboard to resume his task. The computer's screen had returned to its normal state.

Jason wasn't surprised. There had always been an underlying paranoia within Mark about his relationship with Princess. He had no one to blame but himself for Mark's doubts. He had expressed an interest in Princess at one time but his feelings for her were never reciprocated; although he and Princess remained close friends. He purposely kept his distance and accepted the fact that Mark and Prin were an item.

Still, the comment stung and Jason's gray eyes narrowed angrily. Mark trusted him with everything else that mattered except the one that mattered the most to him; his girl.

"You're losing altitude Eagle. Keep it up and you're going to lose a whole lot more." Pressing the panel's exit button he added, "Besides we both know the biggest threat to your relationship with Princess isn't me anyway…it's you."

Mark heard the brief hiss of his panel door open and close, indicating Jason's departure. Irritated with himself he pushed away from his desk; leaning his elbows heavily on the arms of his chair. In the span of 24 hours he'd managed to alienate his girlfriend, his mentor, and now his best friend.

It was the sound of his communicator that caught his attention; that resonant hum against the flesh of his left wrist causing him to jerk instinctively to a standing position from his seat; his swivel chair spinning away from him. The flashing pink signal was what he'd been waiting for.

"Where the hell are you?" was the first thing that erupted from Mark's mouth. Instantly regretting his remark, he blew his frustrations through gritted teeth and began again. "I'm…sorry." He reached for his lost seat and eased into it carefully. Lifting his left wrist towards his chin, Mark spoke in a strained tone. "Hi." It was the only feasible word he could muster.

Princess closed her eyes at the sound of Mark's voice; knowing he was practicing exceptional control of his feelings with a forced effort for which she was appreciative of. She knew she'd hurt him but couldn't allow him interference into this area of her personal life. Not when she needed to come to terms with it on her own. She had made up her mind prior to contacting him to project a certain distance; keeping their conversation brief and hoping she'd be able to make Mark understand upon her return.

"Hi…Commander."

Everything Mark wanted to spew at her at that moment had dissipated with the sound of her voice. But he noted that she regarded him as 'Commander;' in a subdued and neutral tone,her choice to address him as such he discovered was immediately disturbing to him. Princess was choosing to keep the intimacy out of their conversation.

But he wasn't. His anger only moderately deflated, Mark decided to meet Princess half way. "Alright…I deserved that. Can we cast G-1 aside Princess? This is Mark you're talking to."

Princess retorted, "I don't know. Can we? You threaten my father and me with exposure to the Federation board and you expect me to carry on a normal conversation with you?"

"Give me a break; your father had it coming. I'm giving you a hell of a lot more credit than you're giving me right now. Our last time together you tell me that I'm not helping your situation any with the I.S.D., I'm using you just to sleep with you, and then you take off without even giving me a reason. Am I not supposed to have a problem with this Princess?"

Princess blew again through pursed lips. "OK…I'm sorry. I know I haven't made this easy for you but my leaving wasn't planned. At least…the way that it happened but if I didn't leave when I did, I never would've had the nerve to go through with it."

"Go through with what Prin? Are things so strained between us you felt you couldn't come to me with this?"

"You would've tried to help me."

"Isn't that what I'm supposed to do?"

"Not if I don't want it," Princess shot back.

"You mean you don't want help from me but you're willing to accept it from your father," Mark grated.

"He knows what I'm going through," Princess answered tightly.

"The only reason I don't is because you won't talk to me. Seems like the last time I asked you about anything, particularly your past…well…you took it to a whole other level."

Princess licked at dry lips, wanting to speak but stopping on impulse; her silence fueling Mark's suspicion about their last encounter.

"Well…say something," he pressured. "Was that the only way you could avoid my questions? What does that say about our relationship?"

"I never heard you complain," Princess replied smartly.

Her remark surprised him; a sucker punch with the truth right into his solar plexus. "Guilty as charged, but is that all you think I want from you Prin? Did that morning even mean anything to you?"

"I'll admit…that…my intent was to stop you from probing…at first. But…what started out as a tiny deception…didn't end that way Mark. I wanted you just as much. I could never come to you unless my heart wasn't in it."

Mark covered his mouth with his right hand; his blue eyes closing and savoring that admission. "Baby…I needed to hear that." He shifted in his chair, allowing the wheels to roll slightly against the floor. "Look Prin…whatever it is…it can't be that terrible. I just want to help."

More silence ensued and Mark was getting more annoyed at Princess' refusal to open up.

"I need you to trust me," he pleaded.

It seemed as if an eternity passed before she answered. "It's something I have to deal with Mark. Certain things are hitting too close to home." She instinctively stopped; feeling as if though she already revealed too much before adding, "I don't need you to be my hero this time. Just let me handle things my way."

Another awkward silence hovered between them briefly. Mark cupped the back of his neck and he pressed on. "Are you alright? I mean…did you get any sleep? Have you had breakfast?" It felt stupid to ask but these things mattered to him.

Princess smiled at this; a small laugh escaping her. "Are you really for real?" she asked incredulously. "I've only been gone a day."

Mark answered with a sheepish laugh of his own; scratching at his shaggy mane. "I know…I know…but humor me. Besides I'm trying to keep you on for as long as I can. I'm usually the one who cuts out remember? I'm not used to my girl doing a disappearing act. This is new territory for me." He rubbed a nervous palm on one denim clad thigh. "I miss you," he murmured into his communicator. "I didn't like the way we ended things. Just seemed…out of character for both of us to behave the way we did."

"I know…I miss you too," Princess answered somberly, crossing her legs in front of her, still sitting on her mother's guest bed. She fingered the scarf that he'd given her before wiping at the corners of tear filled eyes. His concern was proving to be too much for her and she needed to end this transmission before her absence was discovered. "Mark…I've got to go. Please…I've never asked you for anything but just give me this time to myself and I promise…we'll talk when I get back. Cover for me."

Mark could hear the break in her voice and sensed the degree of hurt. "Princess wait! Just let me help…tell me what to do…" Their conversation had been cut abruptly; Princess had chosen to sign off.

"Damn it," Mark swore quietly turning his chair in the direction of his computer screen, combing irritated fingers through his hair. Lifting his eyes toward the ceiling, Mark exhaled a groan. Whatever it was; it was difficult for Princess to deal with but something she needed to do on her own. He had no choice but to be satisfied that he'd heard from her and chose to support her decision…for now. "Alright baby. I'll cover for you," he silently promised.

Facing the source of his worries; Mark looked at his screen and traced the curve of the face that stared back at him. For several minutes, he merely studied the picture of the young woman who altered his life more than he ever could've imagined. A small image of Princess illuminated from the upper left corner and flashing boldly in red the word 'Classified' emblazoned across the screen. He only recently discovered that he had no access to Princess' personal information, which didn't make sense to him. As G-Force Commander he had priority access to all of his officer's background files. "Supposedly," Mark muttered to himself. Feeling betrayed once more and certain of Anderson's hand in it, Mark vowed to get to the bottom of this.

Thanks for reading! More to come…