Title: Promises Made
Chapter 1 – A Deadly Horizon (3.01-3.02)

Summary: Chandler had made a promise to Slattery that he would never abandon his friend in a time of crisis and he wasn't about to break it now, no matter the personal cost. Based on season 3 eppys 3.01- to 3.06 Dog Day

Disclaimer: I own nothing from The Last Ship (sadly) only my hard working muse and the dream to work under Captain Chandler (pun intended) hehe and the love of all things #chandlery

A/N: OMG! The #chandlery broments in this epic season so far have been amazing (and the past eppy's #chandlery rescue/reunion was my fave so far!)! Even when apart the Chandler/Slattery friendship bond was strong and in play. Chandler's promise to Slattery that he was coming and then the reunion this past eppy was amazing – a few solid broments and my muse just had to flesh out a bit more! I would have started this little ficlet at the start of the season but due to real life we had to start now so hoping better late than never! And so far this is my favorite season and it just keeps getting better and better! So hope you all enjoy this little piece and please do enjoy! Thanks!

NOTE: As 'always' "words in italics and double quotes taken directly from the eppy." Just italics are thoughts and single is a past convo.

"It was…hell."

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~A month Earlier – St. Louis~

"Thought I'd find you here," Chandler comments as he approaches Slattery on the quiet deck of the Nathan James, a few hours after his brief swearing in ceremony as the new captain of the large naval vessel.

"Just trying to…this is really happening," Slattery retorts with a small smirk as Chandler leans against the side of the ship beside his former XO.

"Captain Slattery," Chandler smiles proudly.

"Got a nice ring to it," Slattery lightly chuckles before his brow furrows once more. "Wanted this…for a long time now. Ah hell since I joined the Navy but now…after that swearing in…suddenly the job seems, a whole hell of a lot bigger."

"Mike…you're going to do a great job. And you're on the water…I'm stuck here," he concludes in a tone so soft it was barely heard over the soft salty breeze.

"Stuck?" Slattery looks up as Chandler's lips crack a soft smile. "Big office now…"

"I envy you Mike…but I'm ready for the new opportunity."

Slattery hears the wavering tension in his close friend and former captain's voice but doesn't call him on it. Both of them were embarking on new paths as they had in the past. The difference this time was they were going in separate directions – a new horizon for each.

"So…any advice?"

"You've got good instincts Mike, trust them," Chandler tells him firmly. "Trust them and the ship, neither will fail you."

"Have always appreciated your command. At times you made it look almost…easy."

"Easy," Chandler chuckles. "It's always easier when you have a good crew and this one…best out there," Chandler states with pride. "But you know…if you need help…just holler."

"Holler…Tom…get your ass down here!"

"There's a leak in this damn boat!"

"Boat?"

"You mean ship!" Chandler concludes the banter and both laugh as they remember their first day on the Nathan James. "Yeah…something like that."

"That I can do."

Chandler's brow softly furrows as he looks at his friend and nods. "I'm glad your Detective friend is going to continue the search for Christine and the girls."

"I haven't given up hope but when this opportunity came…sometimes I think I'm letting them down by leaving. That I should stay here."

"No. She'd understand…she'd want you to continue the fight. Michener needs you to investigate a possible virus mutation in Japan and that's where you need to be," Chandler affirms. "But I know you wouldn't have gone if you didn't have a trusted source here to help you."

"He found his wife after a month and I know…it's been longer," Slattery pauses as his voice cracks, his eyes dropping down to the band on his finger and lingering a bit longer than expected.

"Hope dies last right?" Chandler interjects in a soft tone as Slattery nods and looks up with a determined expression. "Every chance I get…I'll do what I can to help in the search I give you my word on that."

"Appreciate it," Slattery offers in appreciation.

"You're missing your party," Chandler comments with a smile as they hear some happy shouting coming from the decks below.

"Might be the only time I can have a drink or two on the bridge and not be hauled in for some kind of violation," Slattery chuckles as they both stand up. But as soon as they do, serious expressions adorn their faces once more.

"Mike, I give you my word…if you're ever stuck or in real trouble…you call," Chandler tells his best friend as he extends his hand for Slattery to take. "I'll always have your back. Promise."

The two of them grasp the shake firmly and nod. That promise would be tested in the not so distant future.

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~A month later – South China Sea~

"Captain's on the bridge…"

Slattery slowly walks toward the captain's chair, cigar in his mouth and a wide grin on his face. His stomach had tightened into anxious knots as soon he headed toward the chair with his two bold letters on it – CO – standing for his new title 'Commanding Officer' of the Nathan James. For a few moments he stops and feels his eyes darting around for the captain… but his brain quickly reminds him…that's you. You're the captain now. All eyes on him as he tosses out a one liner that cuts through some tension and tries to set his own mind at ease.

"I wanna watch the sunset," he grins with the cigar fixed firmly in the corner of his mouth.

He gives the crew a few directions and then settles into the chair, a chair he still needed to get used to sitting in on a full time basis.

'But much like your lead…don't expect me to just stay on the ship all the time,' he had told Chandler with a wide grin; Chandler nodding in agreement.

'Think it'll drive your XO nuts,' Chandler retorted.

Slattery glances over at his new XO, Andrea Garnett and knows that she's just as anxious stepping into her new role and promotion much like himself…and a few other crew members. But she's up for the task and will prove a valuable right hand in the days, months, possibly years to come. A few deep breaths and…but before anymore anxiety can build, a call for him to answer and a very friendly voice settles his mind.

"This is your new Chief of Naval Operations," Chandler greets with a small huff to his tone. "How's my ship?" He asks glibly.

"Some would say…she's never been better," Slattery replies with a happy chirp, his brain delighted to be hearing a friendly and supportive voice. "Although I'm still getting used to running the ship from the starboard side of the bridge."

"Look to the right and you'll see it's all up to you."

"Yeah…I'm really beginning to understand that," Slattery replies somewhat flatly.

It wasn't that he lacked confidence in his own skills…he was ready and knew he could command the Nathan James in his own right, but Tom Chandler was not only a friend…he was a leader he respected by everyone and someone who instilled confidence with only a few words or even a firm nod.

"And that other project I'm working on…you should know…I haven't stopped looking for them. Second I find anything you'll be the first to know," Chandler tells his friend, reaffirming a promise he had made to Slattery on the quiet upper deck of the Nathan James a month earlier.

Slattery looks at the picture of his family and feels a slight edge of melancholy starting to consume him. But he knows that if it were just he and Tom, he could dare to break down…but now, in command and in front of his crew, he knows he needs to hold it together.

"Appreciate that that," Slattery states simply.

Besides, this wasn't a social call, and their next words qualify that.

"Hey you're not calling from home."

"Last minute trip," Chandler confirms. "Heading to your neck of the woods…oh and Mike…strange forces at work in your part of the world, until I understand them myself, watch your six."

"Roger…Nathan James out."

Slattery leans back in his chair and looks out into the watery blue horizon ahead of him and feels his apprehension starting to build once more. Chandler had called…a bit was social but it was a warning. Something wasn't right and he had to make sure that he listened to that warning. Trust your gut…Tom had called for a reason and he wasn't going to suffer that lightly.

Chandler too, leans back against the side of the large transport plane and looks at his scant Intel and frowns. He didn't like flying into the unknown and something about this whole mission was setting off the uneasy alarms in his head. He could only hope that Slattery and his crew wouldn't be caught in anything sinister.

That plan…would be moot.

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"If you're not home by 23:30 we'll send the Calvary…"

Lieutenant Cameron Burke's words were little comfort for the annoyance growing in his mind. The last thing he wanted to do was go to some local party and…just sit there and…drink water? Diplomatic mission? Maybe in name only, but he wasn't about to indulge in anything local as he didn't want to be taken off his game and he wasn't exactly in the partying mood. He wanted to find out the status of the cure and then get back home.

And his feelings were confirmed the moment they stepped into the bouncing club. "More like a local strip club…" he groaned as he looked at his watch. Trust your gut…Chandler's words come into Slattery's mind loud and clear…being heard about the pounding bass and telling him to go, something's not right. He'd look back later and tell himself he should have insisted to his gut and left when he told the crew and not given in to the happy partyers around him. But he did…and a few minutes later hell…literally broke loose.

The lights went dark, the guns went out, bullets start to spray the revelers and the crew scrambles in all directions. However, it's not the locals the gunmen are attacking, it's them. A few good hits here and there before he tries to make a break for the exit. Something stings his back. Again. He falters. Starts to fall to his knees and can only curse his bad timing. He was caught. But by who?

Just as he sinks into darkness, Slattery's hand tries to grab his radio and call for help. The call doesn't go through and he can only hope that word gets to his ship…to Chandler…if it did…hope wouldn't be lost.

XXXXXXXX

The news about the missing crew of the Nathan James coming right before Val's untimely death was forcing Chandler's mind to race with almost helpless thoughts. Slattery…XO Garnett…MC…and the list of names went on and his heart started to race faster with each one.

He knows that Slattery and his crew wouldn't have gone down without a fight, but how were they caught? Was it a set-up? A trap?...something more sinister? Slattery had told him that they were going to rendezvous with a team that would help them navigate the pirate infested waters but was it them? Did they set up the crew of the Nathan James? Did they know the bulk of senior command would be off the ship at the same time? And for what? Ransom? Hostages?

"Mike…" Chandler whispers as he ponders his next course of action. "What the hell happened?" He looks at Val and knows what he has to do.

"I'm getting off the plane. I'm going to find Slattery and his crew."

With that Chandler stormed off the plane with a determined expression and one thought – to fulfill the promise he made to Slattery when he had taken over command – to be there in his time of need.

That time, was now.

"Hold on Mike…I'm coming."

A/N: So…how was it? Always feel a bit rusty coming back after a long pause but hope it was enjoyable start. I had only planned to write this as a one shot (now It'll be a big longer) based off this last amazing eppy but when I started to think about my two faves I wanted to write a bit of Slattery talking to Chandler after he got command and then flesh out a few more thoughts and emotions from the first six eppies and hope that's okay! We never saw Chandler/Slattery talking before he set sail so hope it seemed in character and helped to tie the past seasons with Slattery's continued search for his family and Chandler's promise to keep it going. Would love your support and reviews on this so please do review before you go and let me know what you liked about it and thanks so much!