3 months before season 5 begins…

After a difficult exam, Halley Penn joined her classmates from Officer Training Command for drinks at a local bar. In a rare opportunity, her teacher Admiral Tom Chandler joined the group.

Halley had a few drinks before she took a seat next across from Admiral Chandler, in the booth he'd set up in.

"Admiral, you've been amazing as our teacher. I feel so prepared for the real thing," she complimented, her words slurring just slightly.

Tom couldn't suppress a grin as he replied, "Tom is fine, we're in a bar. Thank you for your words. It does mean a lot to know that my students feel like they're getting the teaching they need," he finished, tipping the rest of his whiskey past his lips.

She felt a shiver down her spine watching his motions and her drinks got the best of her. "Tom," she felt strange just saying his name like that. "What do you think about going somewhere quiet? I have to confess that I really like you and this is probably the only chance I'll ever have to act on it," she confessed.

He sat back, slightly surprised. "I think that would be highly inappropriate considering I'm your teacher and your superior," Tom explained, though if he was being honest with himself, he shared her feelings.

Halley nodded looking down, "You're completely right, Sir. I'm sorry I even brought it up," she started to get up from the table, "Enjoy the rest of your night," but she was stopped when he grasped her wrist causing her to look back.

Tom stood, "I happen to like you too and I won't have you going away feeling like the look on your face because I acted like I truly value the dating rules. Come with me," he smiled, leading her out of the bar and to his truck.

Tom led Halley into his condo straight to his bedroom where he took a seat on his bed. Halley moved toward him, straddling him, "I see we're going straight to the main event," she commented, wrapping her arms around his neck as she looked into his eyes.

He laid his hands on her hips, "I think we both know what the other one wants," his tone changed to a more serious note as he added, "This can't go beyond tonight. Are you alright with that?"

She shook her head, "Of course I'm not, but this will be worth it. Maybe someday, down the road, we'll have a real chance," she stated, optimistically, before she leaned in and placed her lips against his.

Tom kissed back, breaking it briefly to reply, "I doubt our Navy careers will ever put us in the same place again. Let's make this night count," he finished before resuming the kiss and standing to lift her and turn around to lay her back on the bed, his body over hers as he moved his affections to her chin, her neck, her chest, her stomach, and then lower causing Halley to gasp.

She lifted her hips towards him, struggling under his assault. She reached down and grasped his cheeks, between her hands, to pull him back to her face where she passionately pulled his lips down to hers, using her feet to lower his pants while she pushed her tongue through his lips starting a dance with his.

"No patience, Penn?" he teased, breaking the kiss to help her out of her clothes until they were both bare. He moved back over her scraping his lips over hers while he moved inside of her.

Halley moaned from his entry wrapping her legs around his waist, tightly, pulling him deeper as he began moving inside of her, increasing both their pleasure with each moment.

Halley closed her eyes as ecstasy took her over, yelling out his name while she tightened around him, bringing Tom with her.

She immediately hated that this was over just as quickly as it began, looking away as he moved back away from her and she immediately stood and started putting on her clothes to leave.

Real Time

Halley received a call from Admiral Meylen to report to Command shortly after the attack on Mayport. She missed the entire, horrible event because she had been called to do a recruiting event. She drove straight there as soon as she got off the phone and went through the many security measures until she was inside.

Admiral Meylen saw her and waved her over to his group which included Tom Chandler. Halley noticed immediately because she hadn't interacted with any more then necessary after their drunken night.

"Everyone, I'd like you to meet Lieutenant Halley Penn. I've asked her to join us because she has incredible foresight and analytical skills which we could really use right now," Meylen glanced at Tom, "She was one of your students, wasn't she?"

Tom nodded, making eye contact with Halley while she tried to avoid doing the same. "She was one of my best students. I'm not surprised at all that you called her in," he replied.

Halley's need to count the tiles in the ceiling ended as Meylen continued his briefing before they broke out in discussion over plans. Halley stayed silent, instead thinking over the problem and taking in all the solutions being thrown out.

"Admiral Chandler?" Halley spoke, breaking her silence for him. He immediately looked at her, waiting for her to continue. She did, "Did you ship make it? I noticed it wasn't on the list of ships that were docked when the attack occurred."

Tom's lips curled into a grin she was very familiar with, "She is but she can't reach out thanks to the havoc the virus wrought on our systems. Why do you ask?" he asked, in return.

She hoped no one else could sense the sexual tension between her and Tom. Halley shook off the distraction, "If Nathan James is still functioning then we need to find a way to give her backup. Gustavo is angry with the US because we call ourselves America and he feels the name and reputation doesn't belong to just us. His long game is to take control of South and Central America before coming against us. We need to create a line of defense to stop him," she explained.

Her idea was met with a few satisfied nods. Meylen nodded, "I knew I called you for a reason. Let's start with that idea and see what spot is the most strategic for us to set up our defensive measures."

Tom moved around the table so he was standing next to Halley. He lowered his voice and said, "I missed watching that brain of yours at work. How've you been?"

Halley shook her head, matching the volume of his voice, "You made it clear that what we did was a mistake and nothing should ever come from it. I've done my part and avoided flirting with you or any unnecessary interaction, so what's with you right now?"

He leaned in closer, "You're not my student anymore. I wanted to start something with you after that night but I knew better…"

She cut him off, "You, of all people, know this is not the time or place to rehash our one night stand," before she moved away, angry mostly because he was acting so nonchalant about them after he'd made their future before perfectly clear.