We hadn't even been able to get to cruising altitude, when I felt the aircraft shift, and begin decending. Sierra must have noticed too, because she started glancing out the window with more frequency.

"Ambassador, the pilot is requesting to know if this is an official diplomatic flight, or if this is an unofficial one." The plane's Steward asks.

"Its an official flight, but it is not urgent, please request the pilot to not try and jump the queue, using me as an excuse." At her resopnse the steward followed her eyes to Sierra, who was still obviously trying to figure out where we were.

After a prompt nod, he went back to the cockpit, then announced over the speakers that we would be in a holding pattern for a,while. It was an hour later when the wheels touched down again. By this time, Sierra had figured out we were landing in Washington D.C.

The doors opened, and Erica told Samantha to hold us away from the doors for a,moment. I heard her talking to someone, then saw samantha put her hand on the pistol she had sitting on a specially designed shelf next to the door.

"Sierra, stand behind me." I said as I grabbed her arm, and pulled her back. It was obvious the Coopers didn't know what was going on, but Leah figured it was serious when she followed my eyes and saw the young Master Chief holding a nine millimeter pistol in both hands by the open door.

A few tense seconds later, the pistol was put back in the spot it had been before, and two men in suits boarded.

"Ladies, and Sir, we appologize for starling you. Accomodations have been made for all of you. Will the gentleman need seperate accommodation?"

"That would be appreciated." I answered. He was asking if Will would stay in a room with one of the many women onboard. Well, He feels like my son; but it would be rather awkward for him to share a room with me.

The man nodded, then stepped back, as to let us off ahead of him. I looked at Sierra, "listen very closely." Her eyes seemed to enlarge slightly. "You are to stand slightly ahead of me, to my right. I need to look like I am an aide to you. But here is the hard part. You can not step ahead of her." I said pointing to Noelle. "She wont get hurt, If I do; I'll come back, but you cant do either. So we need to protect you." She nodded to what was said, and I gave her a hug, relieved that she needed no more explanation.

At no point did I think there was any real danger, but I wanted her to know we would keep her safe, because we didn't need it.

An hour after landing at the airport, we were finally checked into a hotel, in very nice rooms, and we're taking a break, when Leah recomended going to the pool until dinner time.

I would finally get to wear a swimsuit in this lifetime. I grabbed it out of my bag before she finished talking, and was bounding into the restroom to change.

The day was good, and the stress of traveling fell off along with the water from the indoor pool. The hotel staff were too obviously a secret service detail, but I don't think the Coopers realized they were.