*Starting with Danny and Kara. Next one will be Tom and Co. I might add Mike in with that too, since they give us so little of him on the show, I'm not sure I could come up with a decent chapter of just him. After that, I think I'll touch on the end scene of episode 5, with all the guys. Then add something for just the ladies. Hope you all enjoy*

Chapter 1

"He's asleep". Kara, spoke softly as she walked out onto the patio.

Danny, simply nodded. His eyes fixed on the fence line in the distance.

"When you get back from this mission, you should talk with him" she said crossing her arms, looking over at her...husband. Kara, wasn't even sure anymore. Sure, they were still technically married, but not in anyway that mattered. Living in separate homes, separate lives. Not even their son, felt like common ground anymore. The few times Danny, had come to visit, ended much like today. Not always in tears, but something would happen, Danny would make a quick departure and Kara, was always left to pick up the pieces. These days, it felt like all they had in common, was this damn war. "Explain to him, why you got angry. Teach him. Be his father". It had come out, as more of a demand, than she had intended but maybe, that's what was needed now.

Danny, finally looked up, then stood up. "What was I supposed to do, just let him run off with it!?". This is why he stayed away. Anytime he came over, somehow, someway, they always ended up in an argument. Long gone, were the days of arguing about his work, or her schedule. They both seemed to have given up on that, right around the same time they stopped fighting for their marriage. Now all the fights were about Frankie. More specifically, Danny, spending time with his son. Deep down, he knew Kara was right. He knew, he needed to be a better father. A better example.

His distance, wasn't for a lack of caring or love. From the moment his son was born, Danny had known no greater love. There was nothing, he wouldn't do for him, protect him, die for him. But being a father...that was harder then he had ever imagined. Thinking back, he couldn't exactly pinpoint where it all started to go downhill. After recovering from his injuries, Kara made no attempt at hiding the fact she wanted him in a more stable, safer, position. And though, she never came out and said it, he'd always felt as though she wanted him at home. It was her turn after all. She was climbing the ranks, and short listed to be named the new CO of the *James*.

The day his wife received the news, Danny, had never been more proud in his entire life. She deserved that position, a hundred times over. The first six months after her promotion, seemed to go by easily. Danny, was still in the last stages of recovery and rehab, and spending a few days a week, helping with the new command centre, seemed to settle his mind. However, as he grew back to full strength, and cleared for active duties, his restless soul started to act up. He knew Sasha, Wolfe and Azima, were running their own intelligence team. Just the three of them. Small, but meaningful operations, all over the world. After talking with Sasha, who assured him of a position if he wanted, Danny ran the idea by Kara. She was apprehensive at first, perhaps too comfortable with their new arrangement. However, Danny had pointed out that their main goal was intelligence. Slip in and out, with as little trace as possible, in as little time as possible. Meaning he would be home, more then he was away.

With the help of Debbie, things moved along nicely, for the better part of a year. As promised, Danny was present, more than not. There had been no major incidents. A small gun fight here and there, a little hand to hand combat, but no life and death situations. The more he was out there though, the more he wanted. Suddenly, quick, effective, intelligence operations weren't enough. He needed, craved, more. So he started volunteering for longer, more hands on operations. It was like a drug, eventually leading him to this very moment.

"Danny!" Kara, yelled as she shook his shoulder. "Did you hear anything I just said?"

"Yeah, Sorry" he jumped, pulled from his thoughts. "I'll um, you're right."

Kara nodded, seemingly satisfied with his response, though she could feel the emptiness in it. "Listen Danny, I can handle you not being around. I've learned to live with it. But he hasn't" she said pointing towards the house "and he shouldn't have too. He loves you, unconditionally. He looks up to you. He wants to be just like you. Don't let him down" she sighed, softly.

Kara, knew her husband loved their son. There was never a doubt in her mind about that. The problem was his ability to show it. Sometimes she felt like was simply too afraid to show it. It didn't help, that his mind and soul, were constantly in two different places. She could see it, every time he stared off in the distance. Every time she asked a question and received silence, as an answer. He was out, *there*. In the feild. In the thick of things.

"Do you think that's what I want?" Danny snapped. "I don't know how to be, the person you want"

Kara, shook her head as she paced back and forth. "We are long past the person or husband, I want. This is about our son. What he needs and wants. He needs you, and the only thing he wants, is to spend time with you"

"And I'm trying! I want to be that person Kara. For you, for him. I just..." he sighed, sitting back down, head in hands "I don't know how anymore. I'm so angry, all the time. And then in the jungle..."

"Tell me, Danny" Kara whispered, carefully placing her hand on his shoulder "you haven't said a word about what happened out there, and since you've been back...please, just talk to me"

After a deep breath in and moment of silence, Danny started "When we found out about Mayport, and the damage, I thought you were dead. I knew you were there, with everyone. All of our friends. Sasha, wanted to get back state side, ASAP, but I couldn't. I didn't want to face the possibility that you had been killed. That Frankie, would have to grow up without his mother. So I suggested we go south. Take the fight to them. I wanted to kill everyone that stood in our way. Everyone that had a hand in what happened." He stopped, taking another breath to keep the tears at bay, then turned to look at Kara "we ran into an old friend of mine. He helped us, and then I had to stand next to him while someone put a bullet through his head. Since then, since finding out about the attack, and then watching my friend be executed, there isn't a day that's gone by, that I haven't wanted to go right back out there and kill people" he chocked out "and that scares the hell out of me"

Kara, stood motionless as she took in everything Danny, had just confessed. She'd known he was in pain, but didn't realize it was this much. That it was this deep "god Danny" she whispered, snaking her arms around his body.

They stood like that, for what felt like hours, eventually pulling back. "You're not a monster, Danny" Kara said firmly. Placing her hand on his cheek. "But you need to come to terms with what happened, and how you feel. If you need me, want me" she said softly "I'm here for you. Whatever you need. But you can't run from this anymore"

Slowly nodding, he stepped back from Kara's embrace "I know, and I want too. For Frankie...for you" he said as his cell phone beeped. Quickly taking a look, he slipped it back in his pocket "looks like the mission is a go...I have to get to Command". Danny has started to walk away, when he stopped and looked back at Kara "I'll come by, when we get back. Talk to Frankie, and apologize"

Kara nodded, the smallest of smiles on her face "I'll see you in a couple days. Be safe"

Danny, smirked a little "you know me" he said as he walked away.