Disclaimer: The Last Ship belongs to TNT
AN: So many fics screaming in my head to come out, I sat down to work on the Rachel/Tom baby fic that keeps bouncing in my head but this one burst out. Unbeated
Rachel stared at the computer screen her vaccines trials on the primates were not going well and several had already died, she was trying to figure out how it happened so she wouldn't make mistakes on the other ones she couldn't afford to lose anymore.
Especially when it was obvious Captain Chandler and his team had obviously been through so much to get all of them.
She had helped examine them when they returned to the ship and none of them wanted to speak about what had happened on the island but each one seemed haunted.
Just then a knock came and she looked up surprised to see Tex standing there usually it was only Captain Chandler and the security people he assigned to her and the lab.
"What brings you here, Tex?" She wasn't in the mood for visitors.
That and she'd never been a people person.
"Just wanted to see if you wanted to get some lunch can't save the world on an empty stomach."
Rachel smiled despite herself, he was a sweet man and it was obvious he truly wanted to be her friend.
Besides Captain Chandler, Tex was the only other person who made any effort to reach out to her. The sailors didn't care much for her not that she could blame them.
"Sure why not."
Tex gave a big grin and led them to the mess hall, there were some others there but she was used to the sideways glares or otherwise being ignored. Quincy's betrayal had made them more wary.
"Ignore them, Doc, they'll come around someday."
"Don't blame the at all for how they feel." Rachel replied.
They each grabbed soup and sandwiches and sat down. "You've been pushing yourself hard Doc, you better be careful."
"Tex, I'm really fine."
"I've never see anyone so driven, I know you want to help cure the virus but I sense it's more than that. What's driving you?"
"I don't know you but I've risked everything for you."
Suddenly she wasn't in the mess hall but back in the hallway with Captain Chandler, the memory was still fresh like it had happened yesterday. His blue eyes were icy.
"I've killed for you, lost men for you, asked all of these people to turn their backs on their families." With each word the contempt and anger in his voice was evident.
"For you, for you."
Rachel snapped back to present, "Tex, I really do appreciate your friendship but I have my reasons and they are private, and please respect that."
Tex nodded; "Sure doc I can do that."
Rachel knew why she was driven not just to help the world but because Captain Chandler's respect and support meant everything to her, she never wanted to lose that.
She never wanted to bring back his mistrust or the contempt she has felt that day in the hallway.
He was the only one who truly understood her and the weight she carried on her shoulders and if she'd ever lost his trust or friendship for good she didn't know what she would do.
She had always been a person driven for so many reasons nowadays more than ever.