A/N: This is my first story so just some disclaimers... I do not own anything but my OC characters. The rest is owned by people with more money than I shall ever have. Also all my information regarding medical, military and helicopter stuff in this story is derived from either the internet or my over active imagination... So realise that at least 89% all of it is incorrect or physically impossible. Also the timeline will be a skewed from the show's all I ask for the sake of the story that you let it slide and be kind to me.. :-D

Please Enjoy!

Chapter 1

"Yeah well, I hate you with every fibre of my being right now" Kate said on her company owned iphone to her brother in law and current boss for the past year. She pulled her rucksack out of the back of the Jeep and slung it over her shoulder.

"Thank you for the escort" Kate said to the soldier as Evan continued to talk to her. The soldier gave a nod and drove away. Kate turned her attention the large ship in dock and listening to her Evan talk with glee as he enjoyed her misery. He acted like the big brother she never wanted but was glad to have ever since her husband Jack had died in a tragic motorcycle accident a year and half ago.

Kate had served her country faithfully for 12 years as Helicopter Pilot in the Australian Defence Force before she decided to retire 3 years ago and get married to Jack. Do the whole nine yards of a house, the white picket fence and 2 kids with the dog etc but a year into it and well Jack died and so did the dream. Kate had been a wreck and Evan did what he did best take over and make everything happen.

It was his gift, it's how he owned and ran a hugely successful industrial company that developed… well Kate had no clue nor did she try to understand. The man just had too much money and enjoyed the fact that he fooled her into signing a contract to work with him based on an I.O.U. she wrote while drunk 3 years ago when he managed to single handedly saved her wedding from disaster.

A year after Jack's death, Evan had wanted her to get a green card and step into Jack's shoes at the company but she refused. So he turned into a cold hearted asshole (or so she interpreted his actions) and blindly signed an iron clad 3 year contract without reading it because she just wanted to be left alone. In hindsight it was one of the best things he had ever done for her. It got her into the private sector working as a civilian contractor for the Military. She was able to fly Helicopters again and she was working which helped her move forward. The downside was Evan treated her more like a little sister than an employee which meant he meddled in life and forever reminded her how simple it had been to coerce her into working for him with an I.O.U., he had the thing framed and on his desk while she had a photocopy of it folded up in her wallet.

"Ah you love me and I don't see why you keep complaining about being on ships especially when you get to fly" Evan said, she could hear his smug grin over the phone. The man owned a multimillion dollar corporation where his time was about a few grand a minute... he told her the number once and it sounded obscene and here he was wasting his time and money yabbering at her.

"You're not giving me this gig. The pilot that was supposed to do the job got hit by a car. I'm your back up" Kate grumbled, she had the photocopy of yellow post it note I.O.U. in her wallet to remind herself not to be fooled like that again. Phillip Chen was supposed to be on this project but he had been hit by a car J-walking yesterday and was not fit to fly hence why Kate was stepping in for the guy.

"Did I mention there's huge bonus in it for you when you're finished? It's only fair because you're saving me from paying huge penalties for being late-"

"You know I hate ships, I hate sailing, you knew this because I told you when I signed the contract. I don't do ships or anything that floats on water" she said into the phone. Yet he had his assistant send over a bag with Jacket and thermals for subzero temperatures. All in her size, it was just creepy that his assistant knew her dress size.

It came with a note saying 'Good Luck in the Arctic'. Sometimes she felt like she was just the part of his life that he could just stir and mess around with for his amusement. She had immediately called him that night when he informed her he was taking her off her current project and sending her to finish up another to substitute for another Pilot on a time critical project.

"You should have asked for an addendum to have been made before you signed on. Oh yeah you didn't read the contract, you just signed it" he chuckled "Anyway sailing is much like flying but on the water. Just think of every roll and dump as turbulence" Evan said, the bastard was enjoying her being uncomfortable.

"It's a destroyer not a Yacht" Kate told him as she looked at the destroyer, people were coming going from the areas it was getting ready to leave port in less than an hour. She frowned as a voice shouted nearby, that sounded achingly familiar. She lowered her aviators and looked to the gangway to the ship to see Mike Slattery in dress whites shouting orders. She quickly turned her back to the gangway as if it would make her invisible.

"This is the Nathan James" Kate stated, it was like some cosmic joke that she had to endured 4 months trapped on a ship with Mike Slattery. The only other man she'd known who she had ever loved enough to change her life for besides Jack. Like she needed a painful reminder of someone else she lost and he was alive which didn't make her very happy right now.

"Yes, that is the ship we just finished retrofitting and is scheduled to leave at 1pm, your time. I told you the name last night when you called me to tell me that you hated the colour green and to stop buying you clothes. You're the only woman I know who complains about getting free things" Evan said casually.

"No you didn't, I would have remembered and we've talked about this before it's creepy when you buy me clothes" Kate said, she definitely would have considered leaving but knew she owed Evan and it was four months.

"Yes, I told you it was the Nathan James and don't flatter yourself, I'd never go shopping for you that's what I have an assistant for. Now get on the Destroyer, enjoy your trip, I want daily log and I'll speak to you in four months" Evan told her before she could even argue with him the man hung up on her. Kate gritted her teeth and even though she was sorely tempted to through the iPhone in the water, she didn't and put in her back pocket.

She took a deep breath and walked to the man with the clipboard who had just let a group of marines and a dog through. When she got closer she saw he was the Master Chief. He was strong looking, confident and tall African American man who gave her a cool and analytical once over before he spoke.

"Are you lost Ma'am?" He asked in a polite yet curt manner.

"No, I'm Cap-" Kate stopped to corrected herself. She was still getting used to not saying her rank. Being a retired from the military was not an easy adjustment after 10 years of service. "I'm Kathryn Lassiter, civilian contractor for the Lassiter Industries. I'm subbing for Phillip Chen" she said as she pulled her ID out of her jacket pocket of her burgundy leather bomber jacket and held it out to him. The Master Chief too the I.D. and scrutinized it for a moment before he through his clipboard.

"Kathyrn Lassiter" he said ticking her name off the list and holding out her ID to her. Kate frowned as she was supposed to be a last minute change. She was expecting a problem with getting on board. She took back her ID. He looked up from the clip board to her.

"Welcome aboard the Nathan James, your quarters are-" he told her the location of where she would be sleeping and Kate nodded. "Will you require assistance to your quarters?" he asked.

"No, I'll be fine. Thank you Master Chief" She said, the man gave her a nod before stepping to side to let her pass. She took a deep breath and walked towards the gang way.

"I'm not too happy about this Rep we're going to be babysitting in addition to Dr Scott and Dr Tophet" Lt Commander Mike Slattery said, he couldn't wait to get out for the next four months to go by so he could get back to his family and try to fix things with Christina. Give her what she wanted which was his presence apparently which was confusing because when he was away she would complain he wasn't there and when he was home it was that he wasn't 'here'. He wasn't sure what that meant as he was there literally. He came home and he spent as much time as he could with her and the kids bit it never seemed to be enough.

So when they docked a few weeks ago, he was expecting at least 4 months on dry land at least while the ship's weaponry systems got upgraded. He was looking forward and had been enjoying the dedicated family time, time spent with his kids. He didn't enjoy Christina's attitude or the fights she was picking with him but he took the good with the bad and when Tom called him to inform him they had been recalled to duty. Well, shit hit the fan with Christina.

He knew there would be some catch to getting top of the line weaponry systems installed into the Nathan James but this one seemed rather left of field as Mike didn't know why a simple weapons test couldn't wait a little longer. But apparently it couldn't and as it was becoming habit, Mike had to leave things unfinished and mess with Christina. He hated leaving things rocky between them, he hated leaving in the middle of an argument but Christina like he was stubborn to the bone. He had wanted to leave on a good note with her but failed miserably. The only consolation was that he got to spend time with his kids. The one highlight of his shore leave was catching up with them.

Instead they had been called back to duty a week early which had only put further strain on the home situation. So right now, hearing that the Nathan James was going to have some useless twit who sit in CIC staring dumb at the screen watching them blow up decoys made him feel just added fuel to his bad mood.

"I know but-" Captain Tom Chandler started to tell Mike about the rep would be on board for 4 months and to play nice because Mike didn't have a lot patience for civilian contractors. "Come in" Tom said. The door swung open and the woman Tom wanted to warn Mike about came into the room.

Mike turned and looked at her in shock. Kathryn 'Kate' Gentry the last woman he had ever wanted to see again was standing at the door to the Captain's office. It had been 4 years, 35 days and 18 hours since he last saw her and for someone like him to know that, to be counting that number in his head made him angry. He was married, had three kids he loved to the very core of his being. Yet this woman had gotten herself so thoroughly under his skin it drove him mad because he wanted and tried to forget her on and off for years without success and here she was. Physically here on the Nathan James, it was just making his day that more crappier than it was before.

She was nearly as he remembered her as he looked her over. She stood 5 ft 8, wore black skinny jeans, scuffed up black combat boots with a white pocket t-shirt and a burgundy leather motorcycle jacket. Her red hair was messily swept back into a low bun though she looked skinnier and more fried than he remembered. He vainly tried to squash the concern he was feeling for her welfare but failed miserably so went for the next best tactic to take.

"What the hell are you doing here?" Mike demanded, the best tactic was to be an asshole so she would know she wasn't welcome. Even though he wanted to ask what was wrong with her. If he kept her at arm's length, if he didn't get to know her again then he could pretend that chapter of his life was completely closed and forget about it.

"Gee it's great to see you too Mike." Kate said in a mocking yet friendly manner as she closed the door to the office behind her. If they were going to shout at her then it would be behind closed doors. She gave them a smile that didn't quite reach her eyes.

"We're supposed to have a Kathryn Lassiter on board" Mike said looking to Tom who gave him a look that said he had no idea. It was bad form for them not to know who was coming and going on their ship.

"Obviously I got married" Kate told them, it stung Mike to hear she settled down but when he looked to her left hand he saw the ring. He mentally slapped himself for not noticing it. "Would you like to see my I.D.?" She asked them in dry tone. She didn't seem to be too happy in seeing them either.

"No, I'm sure the Master Chief checked you in and that's good enough for me" Tom said feeling the awkward tension in the room. Kate visibly relaxed at his acceptance of her identity. "I have to say this is a surprise. I thought you were still serving in the ADF" he said using the acronym for Australian Defence Forces.

"I retired and Evan Harris gave me an offer I couldn't refuse" Kate said casually as it was the truth.

"Good for you, though I don't know why you're here" Mike said, he wondered if she heard he was the XO and was here to just make the one place in his life turn to hell but then again after three years of no contact it seemed odd. Kate pursed her lips for a moment as if choosing her words carefully before she spoke.

"I'm here because Lassiter Industries holds a multimillion dollar contract with your government and the Navy to service and upgrade the fleet. Part of that contract is that the company I work for is legally obligated to have a representative on board for a period of 120 days to observe that all requirements of the contract have been met i.e. the upgrades are functioning at optimal standards. We also have to fulfil said requirements to your schedule not ours. Hence why I am here and not in Maui collecting freckles and Mai Tais" Kate said annoyed at Mike's less than stellar attitude. If the less the warm welcome was anything to go by, the next four months were not going to fun.

"So you're going to stand around, look pretty-" Mike started and Kate wondered why he was being such an asshole.

"That I can do naturally but no, I will be a somewhat productive member of the crew" Kate said in a droll tone.

"Kate is also our Helo Pilot" Tom said as he knew Mike was picking a fight with Kate for what reason he didn't know. He really hoped he wouldn't have to spend the next four months diffusing the two before it got messy. Hell he was just an observer and he felt like he had stepped in it.

"Look the Navy believes that everyone on the ship should serve a purpose. The Navy gave Lassiter group a special dispensation for our company pilots to fly considering it's not the Helo that has to jump through the hoops. Don't worry I've been informed that my duties will be to ferry Dr Scott and her colleague around and also engaging in training exercises with your crew. Its 120 days, I'm sure we can be civil to one another and do our jobs" Kate said.

"Of course, we can-" Tom stopped mid sentence as the phone rang, he stepped back to the deck and picked up the receiver."Chandler" he said.

Kate looked to Mike, noting that he looked exactly the same except for maybe a few more grey hairs. It didn't affect her memory recall and damn if she didn't feel that pull of attraction between them. Little over 4 years and one marriage should have killed any emotion or physical attachment she had to him but right now it felt like it slowly coming back to life.

"How's the Family?" She asked Mike, needing to fill the space and squash that revival of old feelings. Hence the question she needed to remind herself that he was with his wife and family making him completely off limits. Not to mention over four years ago he decided end their relationship and go back to his wife and try for his marriage again. She knew the biggest part of his decision was his kids. Kids always came first in any relationship. Anyway she had been truly fine with the decision even if it hurt like hell when he said it was over and left her. The stupid part was that she knew going in the relationship had an expiry date but it didn't stop her from stupidly falling in love with man. So right now she needed to remember all that and focus on why she was here. Her job.

"Good, how's your husband?" he asked there was a slightly snide note when he asked about her husband.

"Dead" She said bluntly. Mike looked taken back by her blunt answer as he hadn't expected her to say her husband was dead. At least he had the sense to look a little remorseful for being snide but before he could say anything Tom interrupted them.

"Admiral Foster would like to speak with you." he said to Kate, she nodded and stepped forward taking the phone from him but wondering what the hell an Admiral wanted to talk to her about.

"Hello" she said into the phone.

"We going to have a problem?" Tom asked in a low tone to Mike as Kate's back was turned to them as she spoke on the phone. Mike was unable to tear his eyes off her as her posture was rigid and she gave clear 'Yes, Sir' and 'Of course, Sir' answers.

"Not at all, I'm just peachy about all of this" Mike said through gritted teeth. Tom knew about the relationship between him and Kate. Not all the dirty details, but enough to know they had been intimate on and off for awhile when they were stationed overseas. Sure he could say that it wasn't cheating as Christina and he were separated at the time. There were a million excuses he could use but he wasn't going to make them. He owned his mistakes and learned from them.

The only mistake Kate was that she had made him realise how miserable he was with Christina, but also that he loved his wife and he just wasn't ready to give up on their marriage and break up their family. Sure he and Kate had something but she was Australian and career military one of them would have had to give up their career to give their relationship a serious go.

"I didn't know it was her and I'd kick her off but the Admiral told me to play nice with her or she'll take our new toys away." Tom said with a touch of humour but it was lost on Mike.

"Well I'm sure it'll be fine, just four months. How bad could it be?" Mike asked rhetorically.