Disclaimer: I don't own Last Ship.

LSLSLS

They were alone, it was late…or early, depending on how you wanted to look at it. The two men sat companionably in the otherwise empty wardroom, winding down after another too long day, each nursing a now luke-warm cup of coffee. Despite the comfortable silence, Tom had the distinct impression that his father had something on his mind. So despite his growing desire to turn in for the night, return to his cabin…to his sleeping children and hard couch...he felt he should give it some more time…he didn't have to wait very long.

"You need to talk to your Doc Rachel." The 'your' was simply dripping with innuendo.

"She's not my anything." He replied a little too quickly. The argument was automatic and even to his own ears the statement seemed filled more with bitter disappointment than any kind of defensive argument.

"Yeah well, she doesn't seem to think she is either, and that is the problem. For two highly intelligent people, genius in her case…no offence…you're both idiots."

Tom stamped down on what would have been his natural reaction to almost anyone else on the planet talking to him like that and summoned up a large dose of the affectionate patience that was required when dealing with the oft-ornery man his father was…especially when he was convinced he was right about something.

"And just what do you think I need to talk to her about?" Tom was going to try to ignore the possessive implication for now…even though he suspected it was probably closely connected with the little chat his father felt he needed to have with Rachel.

"The fact that you're in love with each other." His father replied in a forthrightly blunt fashion. Tom was glad he had already swallowed the sip of coffee he had just taken. Yep, possessive implication closely connected, check. Gee, his old man was some piece of work…

"Dad, I just lost my wife a month ago…" Of course as he said it he realized it ought to be his love for Rachel that he was protesting…not the timing of that love…lest he be seen to be accepting his father's overt allegation as fact.

Jed interrupted his son's protestations to continue his lecture.

"How many more chances at love and happiness do you think you are going to get, son? We are living in a completely different world than we were just a year ago, and it is going to be a very long time before things go back to being remotely close to the way they were before, I'll certainly never see it…and that's if they do at all. It's not like love and happiness were guarantees in life back then…and those things have gotten a whole lot less certain now. Now that just basic survival has been thrust back into being the foremost goal of human existence. A whole lot of people are never going to get the chance of experiencing true happiness even once. Are you really going to throw away your second chance at it because you don't feel the timing is exactly right?"

Incredulity saturated his father's last words and silence lingered between the two men for several moments, Tom mulling over and considering his fathers speech, depleting liberal quantities of that aforementioned patience as he went.

He finally summoned up the resolve to respond, to let his father down gently, because it was clear that the older man was not only convinced that he and Rachel could be a couple…he also seemed to like the idea...a lot. Tom couldn't remember his father ever encouraging him so heartily towards a woman. His father's first introduction to Darien as his fiancé had been met with lukewarm celebration…and frankly resignation.

"Look the point is moot anyway, she doesn't…." He was about to argue further when something his father had said finally sunk in. "Wait a sec, go back, you said 'each other', you said 'in love with each other'. What do you think you mean by that?"

"And this is where a large amount of the idiot part comes in. I meant exactly what I said. I told you that you were both being idiots about this, and I meant it. Everything you are feeling for her and foolishly ignoring…she is feeling for you as well. It's as plain as day…to everyone except the two of you apparently."

Tom considered his fathers assertions…it would be good…unbelievable…but…

"No, Dad, your wrong. I don't know what signals you think you are picking up on her end but…"

"Those…umm…signals as you call them, are better described as large blaring beacons and they are the exact same ones I am picking up from you, Tom. So, answer me this. Am I wrong about you? Because if I'm not, and I really don't think I am, I would heavily advise you to consider the fact that I'm not wrong about her either. Think on that son, think long and hard…or you will loose her. You are taking her continued presence in your daily life for granted right now, but if you don't give her a reason to stay…tell her that you want her to stay…one day you'll blink and she'll be gone."

"Dad, I just don't think…"

"Tom, if thinking is what has got you two stuck in this stalemate, I highly suggest you both stop it. It's times like this that aren't for thinking; they're for feeling and reacting. Make her yours, son, and do it now. Wait and you could very easily regret it. Something worse than just her leaving could happen you know, someone else could make her theirs first. It could happen son, because as clear as it is for everyone who knows you two, I don't think she believes her feelings are returned… And as I said, we are living in the end times here; she won't deny herself the companionship she craves forever. How does that thought strike you? Rachel moving on with a man who isn't you." His father asked with unmasked humor.

Tom knew he failed miserably to keep the pained grimace from his features at the thought of Rachel with another man in that way. And from the look of amused triumph on his father's features it was clear the older man had not failed to notice. Damn.

"Ok ok, so maybe… just maybe… you're not wrong about me, but that doesn't mean she feels the same whatever you say and it still feels far too soon. Even if I was able to let go of Darien so quickly what does that say about me as a potential mate for a woman? I'll be loyal to you now but the minute you're gone I'll be on to the next?" He spat the words with disdain. Not giving his Dad a chance to respond, he went on.

"And what about my children, huh? What about Sam and Ashley? What kind of message would I be sending to them if I were to just replace their Mother so quickly and easily?"

"Are you blind Tom? The kids are just as afraid of loosing her as you are; they're just not so scared of showing it. They've bonded with her, especially Ashley. The loss of Darien has afforded them both the unfortunate grim lesson that you can lose those you love most. The loss of their Mother has made them want to cling to your Doc all the closer."

Tom had noticed his children had become close with Rachel. Since she had first cared for them after they had finally got the ship back and had all made it back aboard after the ordeals of Baltimore. He had tried to care for them and his father as best he could at that time, but he had been ill equipped to do very much while running around rescuing his people, reclaiming his ship and ultimately putting a definitive stop to the evils that that place now represented. As such his family had not been in a good way when they had finally gotten them to the Nathan James' very busy infirmary.

They had taken heavy losses in the battle to reclaim the ship and end Granderson's vile occupation of the city. The number of original crew had now fallen below the two hundred mark… plus Dr. Tophet had not made it. There was no doubt Baltimore had cost them dearly, but to prove fate had a perverse sense of humor, it had also delivered him back his family…at least most of them…just moments before it would have been too late. The cure that he had thankfully been able administer to them upon their long awaited reunion had meant that they had lived through the proceeding events…something he owed Rachel everything for. He knew he would have watched his children die but for her.

Upon arriving at the infirmary with Rachel, his children and father supported between them, he had watched her take complete charge of every aspect of their recovery personally. Her mind and body set to the task with an almost inhuman zeal, barely leaving the infirmary that fist 24 hours, even after she had eventually announced that they would all fully recover.

He remembered thinking that it was like she was taking their lack of immediate return to full health as a personal insult. Like she considered her cure a failure because they were not completely healed and better the moment they had taken it, despite how far gone they had been by the time he found them. Even back then he had absolutely known better but he had been searching for an explainable reason for the clear anxiety and zealous fervor she had displayed in that infirmary for the recovery of his family, people that were almost perfect strangers to her.

He was quite sure that anyone walking by not knowing who she was; would have naturally assumed she was his children's Mother simply by they way she was acting towards them. The thought had brought feelings of strong ambivalence then, somewhat less so now…

From what he had gleamed, Darien had been infected first, but only mere hours before his father and children…and she had succumbed. Rachel had warned him long prior that her cure would not save someone if they were too far gone and he knew just how close to that invisible line his Dad and his children must have been by Darien's passing even before his arrival. In truth it seemed that Rachel's cure was more effective than even she had believed…that or it was her dire determination to see all the Chandler's alive and healthy that had done it. Either way he was beyond grateful to her, overwhelmingly indebted actually.

Of course in hindsight he knows that was one of many reasons he should have taken better care of her welfare during that time, but a selfish focus on him and his had kept him from paying proper consideration to her wellbeing. He remembered that he had liked that she was there with them…with him. He liked that every spare moment he got to check on him family, she was there also, and it had been a comfort to reassure himself that she was ok too. A selfish desire considering she would have been much more 'ok' if he had ordered her to get some much needed rack time. But that would have taken her away from his children, who had wanted her continued presence even after they had stopped needing it, and it would have taken her away from his presence too. Something that still made him anxious, had ever since he had left her, supposedly safe, back in Baltimore to go and retrieve his family and everything had proceeded to go completely FUBAR.

His father's continuing well-intended sermon brought him back from his internal musings.

"I and everyone else who knows you, knows that under normal circumstances you wouldn't even be considering another women so soon after Darien but these circumstances aren't normal, Tom. Fate has stepped in here…in so many ways. It's a whole new world now. I promise you; nobody is going to think less of you for reclaiming a little bit of happiness for yourself after everything you have sacrificed for the sake of the human race. I don't think they'll think less of your Doctor either after everything she has done for them. And what's more I don't think Darien would mind either…"

"How can you say something like that?" Tom's protest was immediate, eyes snapping to meet his father's.

"Because I believe it's true, Tom. Darien had faith you were still out there, and not only that but she was sure that the reason you had not already made your way back to her and the kids was because you were doing something damn important that would help everyone including them in the long run. She had put her everything into making sure we all survived until you came home to us. She was incredibly angry with herself when she realized what she had done… Unknowingly carry the virus home to us…but through all of it she kept her faith in you…for the children, and she was right…about everything. You came and found them and you saved them…and me.

"How does that add up to her wanting to be replaced?" Tom countered bitterly.

"Because she loved you and the kids so much, you and they were her first priority in everything…including at the end. The absolute last thing she wanted was to leave this world thinking that she was leaving you to remain alone forever, leaving Sam and Ashley to grow up without a Mother…and she as good as said so."

"What do you mean? What did she say?"

"Right to the end she held firm to her belief in your return, but eventually she did accept that it was likely going to be too late for her. But even then she refused to believe that the kids and I had the same fate coming. Told us to give you a message when we saw you, because she was so sure that we would. Told us that we weren't to let you blame yourself, she had absolute confidence that every decision you would have made in dealing with this catastrophe would have been for the good of everyone and not just us and to reassure you that that was the right thing to do…no matter how hard or what the cost. Her very last words were to order you to keep going, to survive and to be happy."

Tom couldn't prevent tears from filling his eyes, at first only threatening to fall and then proceeding to do so unchecked. He barely held back sob as he spoke next, familiar sorrow having replaced his earlier ire. "Dad, that doesn't exactly directly translate to 'I want you to find another woman as soon as possible'."

"No, not directly but it was what she said to Sam and Ashley that really cinched her meaning for me."

"Why? …What did she say to them?"

"She told them to remember her, but that they weren't allowed to use her as an excuse to be sad for very long. Told them that they were very loveable and that another woman was going to want to love them before too long…said that they had to let her…because that would make her happy."

A pause…a muffled sob…and another droplet of salty liquid making its escape… Tom brought a large slightly shaky hand up to his face. A hand that still held a large silver band prominently displayed on its forth finger, it gleamed noticeably in the artificial light. Tom wiped at his eyes, removing the evidence of his traitorous emotions but leaving the hand it in place to massage his temples…relieve the symptoms of the headache he could feel looming…his eyes closed.

"She said that?"

"She did." Jed replied with solemn candor. His tone strong, firm and final, broaching no argument to the essential truth he was conveying.

Tom didn't know how to respond to that. He couldn't believe Darien could say such a thing. On the other hand, he could completely believed it, such was the unselfish resolution he had seen her meet every other parental and spousal decision with.

He considered his band of silver again; the small shiny object that was supposed to be an eternal reminder of his love and commitment for one woman. With each passing day the band was presenting more and more of conundrum of guilt for him. He couldn't believe he was so much as considering removing it, felt eminently disloyal for so much as allowing the notion to occur. But the problem was he felt disloyal for wearing it too, for wearing the symbol of his love for one woman, while having…thoughts…about another.

After several moments lost in his reflections, with effort, he gathered what he could of his newly even more frayed wits.

"Dad, I need time to think about all this…and frankly, I think the whole situation needs more time…"

"I figured, and I can understand the desire, but mark my words and don't give it too much time... She's the woman who saved the fricking world for crying out loud, and she is gorgeous to boot, inside and out. I have no doubt that right now you're her first choice by a mile, probably the only one, but everyone's desire for companionship gets the better of them eventually. And I dare say she has other options if she cares to look. You don't think she's going to be a pretty attractive option for other men as well? I'm sorry but you're dreaming if you think you can be sure that you have time to give it time."

"I say make her yours now, but at the very least talk to her. Talk to her about the prospect of something happening between the two of you in the near future. Let her know there is hope. I'll stake my life that her response will be…. encouraging."

Jed paused and took a deep steadying breath before going on; he wanted his son to feel the gravity of his next and last words.

"Son, talk to her now…or risk losing her forever, those are your options, mark my words…"

THE END?

A/N: What do you think? I know it must seem like I have jumped ahead a bit, but what can I say? This idea caught me and wouldn't leave me alone until it was written. For those of you interested, as promised I do have two other fics; 'After The Vyerni' and 'After Baltimore' in the works. This fic simply made it to a publishable point first.

A/N 2: As always reviews are very much appreciated, honestly they truly are writer fuel… ;-D