Because we need more Tom/Sasha fics and surprise this one won't be M-rated! ;) Thanks V for beta-ing again, giving me ideas and listing every day to my crazy Tom/Sasha fangirling!

A/N: Sasha and Tom will speak Russian. (thanks V for that idea!)

Translations:

Davay zhe, Sashka. = C'mon Sasha!

Tom! Uzhe v prodazhe! = Tom, get out now!

Perestan'te byt' miloy.= Stop being cute

Ya lyublyu tebya, Sashka./Ya tozhe tebya lyublyu = I love you Sasha / I love you, too

Feedback as always is highly appreciated!

It had been six weeks since they had arrived in St. Louis, six weeks since they had found out what was really been going on at home whilst they had been in Asia. Six very long weeks since they had taken down the regional leaders, along with Alison Shaw, before reinstating Howard Oliver as President. Since the final showdown, everyone had been working flat out to restore a semblance of normal order to the country, bringing down the regional border walls, and ensuring food supplies were reaching those in need.

It had taken Sasha nearly a month to settle into life in St Louis, and her new job as Head of naval Intelligence, an unexpected promotion. Though Tom Chandler had recommended her highly for the post, POTUS has been only too happy to appoint her in recognition for her services in rebuilding the country. Ever since that day he made her chief, Sasha had been working hard on forming a new team and moving the equipment from the old Headquarters in Maryland to St. Louis. She was determined to have everything set up and running within a few months so she had no choice but jump into her new job from the beginning. Meanwhile Tom had adjusted back into his role as the CNO and started to rebuild their armed forces and the national security. Tom's and Sasha's relationship continued to grow slowly even with their increasingly busy schedules they always managed to make some time for lunch or coffee at least, savoring the opportunity to simply be together.

But this week it was different.

All that had changed when the shipment of files Sasha had been waiting weeks for arrived from Maryland. Determined to have them sorted by the end of the week, Sasha had been working nonstop, but felt as if she'd made little dent in what seemed an ever increasing pile!

Despite an early night, morning felt like it still came too soon, and Sasha felt run down, exhausted – like she was coming down with something. She got home late that night with a bad head ache and sore throat so didn't surprise her when she woke up the next morning with a nasty cold. She knew that she should stay at home and rest, but she couldn't allow herself to take a sick day, because she knew that the amount of work that she had to do would at least double itself.

When she saw her pale face in the mirror that morning, Sasha knew that if Tom would see her he would probably physically drag her home and put her on bed rest until she would be fully recovered. She started to avoid him as best as she could while she she hoped he was too busy to stop by her office.

By the end of the week, Sasha felt considerably worse, and had reached the point where she desperately needed the day off. Her headache had reached a point where she could no longer think clearly, and felt her nose was running like a tap!

Hot bath, bed, sleep Sasha thought to herself as she tried massaging her temples in a futile attempt to relieve the throbbing in her head.

10:29 pm

She checked her watch and she could swear that she heard her mind begging her to finally get home and rest. "10 more minutes." Sasha promised herself as she took a deep breath and lifted her head up again, but the moment the cool air of her office had made contact with the back of her throat she started to cough badly. "Damn it!" She muttered as she closed her eyes and pinched the bridge of her nose as she tried to block out the pain in her head.

Maybe I should call Tom to pick me up… Sasha thought and for a moment she was about to pick up her phone, but then she thought about his reaction so she told herself to forget about it.

At the same time Tom had just pulled up into the parking lot of the Naval Intelligence Headquarters and as soon as he had killed off his engines he looked up to the third floor where Sasha's office was. He had a smile on his lips when she saw the dim light through the curtains.

Just like old times, Tom shook his head as he recalled one of those night where he had picked her up from the academy library. He had picked her up countless times After many late evening study session but there was one night that was burned into his memory. It was the night they'd been intimate, their first night that they made love and the night that made him realize how much he actually cared for this woman who was so much younger than he was. For a moment Tom was lost in his memories as he recalled every tiny bit from that night.

Maybe we can replay that night, Tom had a smirk on his lips as he got out of his car and into the building. He nodded at the security guards and then he made his way up to the third floor and over to Sasha's office, where carefully knocked on the door.

"Come in." Sasha raised her voice, but immediately started to regret it as she was now coughing even more.

"Jesus, Sasha! You look like crap." Tom couldn't stop his comment the second he saw her sitting at her desk with her skin paler than usual, her nose was red and her usual sleek dark hair was a mess. "Wow, Charm school did taught you well, huh? You must've been top of the class with such a smooth line." Sasha replied sarcastically once her coughing has finally stopped. "What are you doing here?"

"I'm serious." Tom ignored her question as he walked around her desk to get a better look, it was then when he saw her red eyes and by the way she looked at him he was sure that she must although have a fever.

"I can see it now, Tom Chandler Top of the class, famous for flooring all the girls by telling them they look like crap." Sasha said while she watched him leaning against her desk with his back as he folded his arms in front of his chest. "Did they give you a diploma?" She tried not to laugh as she knew how it would end for herself, but the moment she saw Tom's serious expression she couldn't stop herself and started to laugh, which caused her to cough yet again. She reached for her cup and took a sip from her tea which was now cold.

"You should go home and rest." He said, concern colouring his tone

"I'm fine. It's just a cold. Nothing some tea and sleep can't fix." She looked up at him.

"Besides I have work to do." Sasha motioned her head at the file in front of her. "Damn it!" She muttered as she moved her head a bit too fast and her head ache returned. So she lowered her head and started to rub over her temples again.

"Sasha!" Tom's voice was low and she knew that he was warning her not to push it. "And who is going to sort this out? It's not like the files will do it by themselves just because I'm sick." She replied as she tried to ignore her throbbing head ache as she heard Tom taking a deep breath.

"Stubborn as always." He shook his head in disbelief. "Says the man who never follows the "take it easy" speeches himself." Sasha retorted as she slowly lifted her head to face him again. Their eyes locked and for a moment neither of them said a word as they both looked into each other's eyes. While Tom could see the exhaustion in her usual crystal blue eyes Sasha could tell that he was worried about her well-being.

It was Tom who broke the eye contact as she pushed himself away from her desk, but then he turned around and crouched down beside her chair as he took her hand.

"How about I bring you home, you'll take a nice hot bath while I make you some tea and then we get into your bed?" Tom looked up into her eyes with a look that told her not to argue with him.

"The last bit sounds tempting." Sasha replied with a soft smile as she placed her free hand onto his cheek. "But no kissing. The CNO and the chief of Naval Intelligence both sick with a cold would surely raise a few eyebrows." Sasha added when she felt him leaning into her gentle touch.

"I'm sure that my body could handle some of your germs." Tom replied playfully. "Charming, really charming Tom. I'm sure your teachers were proud." Sasha rolled her eyes as she slowly lowered her head towards Tom's.

"So are you going to show me that Charm School diploma?" She asked when their lips were at the same level, but instead of answering Tom reached for the back of her neck and pulled her in for sweet and gentle kiss.

"Let's go." Tom's voice was barely above a whisper when he left her lips and Sasha nodded while Tom got back to his feet. "Do you need anything?"

"Just my purse on the couch." Sasha replied while she got up from her chair a bit too fast as she felt her head starting to spin and she suddenly felt dizzy. "Wow." She breathed as she grabbed a hold on her desk.

"Are you okay?" Tom asked as he quickly went back to her and wrapped his arms around her waist to support her.

"Yeah." Sasha took a few deep breaths. "I was just dizzy. Let's go." She added as she leaned in to Tom's supporting arm and then they both left her office.

10 minutes later they had made it safely over to Sasha's apartment and the first thing she did was kicking off her heels. "You'll make yourself a cup of tea and I'll run your bath understood?"

"Aye, Aye." Sasha mocked him while she walked past him into her kitchen to do what he had told her too.

A few minutes later Tom entered the kitchen only to find Sasha sitting at the counter her head buried in her arms, her cup of tea in front of her.

"Hey don't fall asleep yet your bath is waiting." Tom placed a hand on to her back.

"Why can't I just go to bed?" Sasha asked hoping that he would just let her go to bed, even though she knew he wouldn't let her.

"Because you'll feel better after you've taken your bath. I've added some eucalyptus now let's go." Tom wrapped his arm around her waist and helped her off the bar stool. "Davay zhe, Sashka."

"Speaking Russian won't get your anywhere." Sasha commented dryly as she once again leaned into his arms while he walked her over into her bathroom. Once they were inside he closed the door behind them and leaned against the door watching her. "Are you going to stand there and watch the whole time?" Sasha asked after she had taken off her blazer.

"Someone has to watch that you won't fall asleep and drown." Tom told her firmly

"Tom! Uzhe v prodazhe!" Sasha pointed at the door behind him.

"Seriously? It's nothing I haven't seen before." Tom replied with a grin on his lips as he recalled the many times that he had seen her naked.

"Perestan'te byt' miloy. And it's going to become something that you'll never see again. If you won't leave." She glared at him.

"Fine." Tom shrugged as she could tell that she was getting annoyed by his carrying act and he knew that if he would continue she would probably throw him out. "But if you aren't out of the bathroom in 15 minutes I'll come and get you." He added and then he left the bathroom and over to wait for her in the living room.

A good 15 minutes later there was still no sign of Sasha so Tom decided to go and check on her, but before he went into the bathroom he went into her bedroom and grabbed a pair of pajamas from the closet. He figured that he would be save by bringing them with him just for the case if she would still be annoyed by his act.

"Sasha?" Tom asked opening the door just a bit and to his surprise she was already out of the bathtub and wrapped in one of her fluffy towels.

"Come in. I just need my…" Sasha stopped when she saw her pajamas in his hand. "Thanks." She smiled and took them out of his hand. "So I take it you're feeling better?" Tom asked his voice soft and calm. "A bit." Sasha nodded. "I'll be out in 5 so maybe you could head over and warm up the bed for me?" Tom just looked at her for a few seconds as he tried to ignore the double meaning of her suggestion.

"Okay." He nodded with a smirk that made Sasha roll her eyes. "Jesus, Tom! Take a cold shower."

Once Sasha got into her pajamas and brushed her teeth she turned off the lights in the apartment and then she went into her bedroom where she found Tom already lying on her side of the bed. Neither of them said a word as Sasha crawled in to the bed. The second her body was covered with the blanket she felt Tom's arm wrapped around her waist.

"When is your first briefing tomorrow?" Sasha whispered into the dark with her eyes focused on where she believed his eyes would be.

"Not until 11. We have plenty of time to sleep in." Tom's voice was low and barely above a whisper and Sasha could feel his breath tickling the skin around her lips so she figured that she was looking into his eyes even though she couldn't see them.

"I was thinking…" Tom stopped as he felt a little bit unsure about his timing for the topic. "…while you were in the bathroom… You know this would be a lot easier if I could take you to my house instead of your apartment." He stopped again and Sasha realized where this was going. "So uhm… what do you say about meeting my kids. I mean if you feel better and uh… if you're up for it and if they would like to meet you." Sasha could feel her heart skip a beat fast the second he had finished his sentence.

A smile formed on her lips and she was sure that even though it was pitch black dark in the bedroom Tom was able to see it because she heard him exhaling a deep breath of relief.

"Yeah, I would love to finally met Ashley and Sam." Sasha replied and then she felt Tom removing his hand from her waist and placing it on to her cheek. "Ya lyublyu tebya, Sashka." He whispered as he leaned in closer towards her lips. "Ya tozhe tebya lyublyu." Sasha whispered back when their nose touch and then she leaned in for a soft good night kiss.

TBC...