Chapter 2

It had been a month, since the Mitchner, has returned to Mayport. The first few weeks, had been filled with debriefs, media, funerals and speeches. Slowly though, everyone seemed to be falling back into a rhythm. It wasn't until a few days ago, that Tom, had finally managed to return home, to Norfolk. He kept himself busy, tidying up, both in and out of the house. After being away for almost 6 months, it certainly needed a lot of attention. Which was good. It kept his mind off of the emptiness, of being alone. No kids, no Sasha. Just him and his thoughts.

It was late in the afternoon, after spending the day in the yard. Tom was sitting on the balcony, staring at his cellphone. Within days, of making Port, Sasha had been summoned to St. Louis, and he hadn't spoken to her since. The first couple weeks, had seemed easy. His days were full, from the moment he woke up, until the moment he went to sleep. But now, back at home, there were constant reminders.

He sighed softly, giving his phone a final once over, before picking it up and dialing her number. After 4 or 5 rings, he was about to hang up, when finally, he heard her voice.

"Hey" Sasha spoke softly, though sounded a little out of breath.

"H-hi" he stuttered, for a moment "did I catch you at a bad time?"

"No, no. I was just getting ready to go out, and can't find my shoe. Living out of a suitcase, is not as exciting as when I, was in my 20's" she sighed, while searching the hotel Room.

"Working on a Saturday?"

"Sam, has a baseball Game. I guess his school put together a summer league for the kids. I said, I'd go watch"

"Oh" Tom said surprised "I didn't even know he was playing. He never mentioned anything"

Although Sasha was sure he was trying to hide it, she could hear the hurt in his voice "he didn't tell me either. I only found out the other night when I stopped by to see them, and Ashley, made some sarcastic comment about it"

"I see" he nodded "well thank you for keeping an eye on them. I really appreciate it. Do they seem...okay?"

"Yeah, I think so" she said, finally tracking down the missing shoe "Ashley, was actually the chattier of the two, which was odd. She's picked up a part time job, to keep her busy this summer. As for Sam, I'm not sure. He was very quiet. Ill try and find out more after his game"

"Alright" he said, walking into the house, grabbing a glass of water "what about you?" He asked a little hesitantly.

"Busy" she said honestly "president wants to make sure nothing like this happens again. So I spend my day arguing, about the best way to prevent that" she sighed, grabbing her purse, before walking out of her hotel room. "And you? The kids said you are back in Norfolk"

"Got back a couple days ago. Been cleaning up, around the house" he said settling his eyes on a picture of the two of them "I ah..." he cleared his throat "I wasn't sure if I should call or not"

"Of course you can call, Tom" she said softly "I told you, I'll be here. I'm still your friend, and I care about you. I want to know what's going on. If you're...moving in the right direction"

"I seem to be at a bit of a standstill at the moment. Everyone around me, seems to moving off in their own direction, and I'm...I don't know, stuck" he sighed.

"Maybe you just haven't found your path. Your new path. You don't have to be just one thing, one person, for your whole life. It's okay to change, and in your case, I might even suggest it" she said smiling a little.

Tom scoffed, with a small laugh "What is it they say? Old dogs, new tricks"

Sasha, laughed and shook her head as she stepped into a taxi, and gave the driver an address "are you admitting to being old?"

"I feel it" he sighed. And he did. Everything seemed to hurt a lot more, and for a lot longer. Both physically, and mentally. "Listen, I wanted to tell you that, I understand why you've made this choice. I miss you, and I want you here, with me, but I've been thinking. A lot. And you're right. I cut myself off, from you and the kids" he said softly "pushed all of you away. And I don't want to do that anymore. I want to be here, for you, for them, for us. I...I'm not exactly sure, how to get there, how to be that person, again. I just wanted you to know, that I'm going to try"

Sasha, took a deep breath, to steady her voice, and keep the tears at bay. She hated hearing the pain in his voice, especially knowing she had some part in adding to it. "Tom, I'm... I'm so happy to hear that" she whispered, quickly wiping a tear from her eye "I know this is difficult for you, but I think in the long run, we'll all be better off"

"I hope so. I miss you, and I want to be someone you can count on. I want to be the person you fell in love with, almost 20 years ago" Tom said running his finger across the picture of the two of them.

"I don't know, the man I fell in love with 3 years ago, isn't all that bad" she whispered "Besides, who says I fell madly in love with you, all those years ago?"

Tom chuckled, softly "Come on Sasha. Your heart did backflips, the second I smiled at you"

Sasha laughed, wiping away a few more tears. That was more like the Tom, from 20 years ago. "I was young and impressionable, what can I say" she said as the cab, came to a stop by the ball diamonds "listen, I have to go. I'll um, I'll call you next week, to check in. Is that okay?"

"I'd like that" he smiled "say hi to the kids for me, and tell them that I miss them"

"I will. Bye, Tom" she said hanging up. Sasha, took a minute to fix her makeup, and dry her eyes, before making her way to the feild.

Tom, smiled softly as he set the phone down, staring at their picture a moment longer, thinking back to when he'd inadvertently become mesmerized, by her.

Tom, was working late one evening, trying to get his course plans done for the week. If he was being honest, he was trying to rush through this entire six months. Teaching academy newbies, what not what he'd signed up for. He wanted action, he wanted to be in the fight, not lecturing kids. It was almost midnight, when I finally looked up and out the window. At some point and time, without him even noticing a blizzard had blown in. "Great" he mumbled to himself. Gathering up his things, and shutting the lights off, he walked through the hallways, almost reaching the door when he noticed a light coming from the library. He was going to ignore it, and had once again started to leave, when curiosity got the better of him.

He was shocked, to see who was sitting at the table, books spread out from one end to the other. "You know, in my experience, students that hand in assignments late, or sometimes not all, usually aren't the ones staying up all hours of the night, studying"

The brunette looked up from her books, and had a sassy, yet defiant smirk across her lips "clearly lieutenant Chandler, you don't have a lot of experience"

Tom bit his lip and shook his head "they usually don't talk back to their superior officers, either"

"If you're looking for someone to hang off your every word, I suggest you track down my other classmates. You know, the ones that don't have an original thought, between the group of them"

She'd baited him, and he knew it, yet couldn't find it in himself to walk away. She was both his worst, and best student. It was the teachers job, to challenge the students, yet he found himself challenged by her, every time they spoke. "You mean the ones that complete their assignments on time" he said setting the contents of his hands, down on a chair.

Sasha shrugged, and held his gaze. "Because they are told what to do, how to do it, and when to have it done by. Not a single one bothers to question, why, they are doing it"

Tom pursed his lips "that's not how the navy works. There is a chain of command, for a reason" he said taking a seat.

"And yet, time and time again, throughout history, the biggest success come from someone thinking outside the box" she countered.

"And some of the biggest disasters" he said softly, looking over some of her work "may I?" He asked grabbing what appeared to be a rough copy of a paper she was working on.

She simply nodded, and got back to her book. It was about 5 minutes later, when Tom laughed, setting the paper back on the table "you can't honestly expect to hand this in, and receive a grade?"

"Why not?" She asked, not looking up from her book.

"I instructed the class, to write on the historical differences of wars won, vs wars lost. What were the major downfalls and victory's of each"

"That's exactly what I've done" she defended.

"No, you've basically said death, is both the downfall and the victory, then have gone on to write 6 pages about ways to avoid war, and take a more strategical course of action" Tom argued, getting slightly annoyed.

Sasha simply nodded as she started to close up her books, and pack up. "Yes. The only difference between winning a war, and losing a war, is the side that loses more people. The real win, comes when the war is never fought. It's exactly what your assignment called for, just an "outside the box" view. Doesn't make it wrong" she said matter of factly.

Tom steadied his gaze, handing the paper back to Sasha, as she collected her books. She was by far, the most frustrating, yet intriguing person he'd ever met. The worst part, he couldn't even argue with her. He whole heartedly agreed, and probably would have told her as much, had she not been contradicting the merits of his assignments. "Can I ask, why you're here?" He asked, changing the subject "I've seen your transcripts. You could go to any school you want...Why here?"

"Honestly?" She said, slipping on thin windbreaker, before throwing her bag over her shoulder. "I was rebelling. I was expected to continue my education at my parents Alma-mater. Carry on the family legacy" she sighed, rolling her eyes. "Short of dropping out, this was the worst thing I could think of"

Tom had to laugh. Perhaps they weren't so different after all. "Well, as strange as it may be, we have something in common. My father was a Colonel, in the Army. Growing up an army brat, wasn't exactly the easiest childhood. I was young and angry, and wanted to piss him off. So the Navy It was"

"Do you regret it?"

Thinking honestly about it, for a moment, Tom shook his head "no. I love it"

Sasha nodded and smiled. She believed him. Even though she openly challenged him, and seldom followed instructions, she could tell his heart and soul, were with the Navy. A quality she greatly admired. "Well, I should get going. Need to put the finishing touches on my paper. If I'm going to get an F, it's going to be the best F, you've ever handed out" she said with a smirk.

"I'll walk you to your car " Tom smiled, gathering up his things.

"That's not necessary. I walk here"

He sighed, looking at her clothing or lack of. She probably hadn't even realized the storm that was happening outside. "You can't walk home in that" he said as they rounded the corner, and she could finally see the blizzard outside "I'll give you a ride home"

"Honestly, I'll be fine. It's not that far"

"Good, then it will be a short drive" he said firmly "stop being stubborn for one second, and accept my offer. It's not weak, to ask for help"

Sasha sighed, and looked outside, then down at her flimsy coat, and nodded "alright. Thank you"

Tom could still feel the complete loss of control he'd felt as he watched her walk into her apartment. Driving away, he knew she would be at the front of his mind, and eventually his heart.

He set the picture down, and then went to his bag, grabbing a piece of paper, thinking about the very advise he'd given to Sasha, so many years ago. He dialled the number, and a woman answered on the other line.

"This is Tom Chandler. I'd...I was wondering...Can I make an appointment?" He asked softly, finally getting the words out.

Back In St. Louis, Sasha and Ashley, were sitting in the stands. It was about halfway through the game, and Sam's team was winning.

"Your brother seemed quiet the other night. Did something happen I should know about?"

Ashley, just shrugged and shook her head "I don't know. He's moody lately. Keeps asking if dad's home, and when we can go visit"

"Well, your dad is home now, and I'm sure he'd love the company" She said keeping her eyes on the game.

"Why, because you guys broke up?" Ashley asked, somewhat sarcastically.

Sasha sighed and bit her lip "no. Because you're his kids and he loves you and misses you"

"If he missed us so much, he'd come see us. But he hasn't" she mumbled

"I think he's scared. Last time he saw the two of you, it didn't go so well"she paused, taking a breath "listen, I rarely lecture you, or Sam. And I try to remain neutral when it comes to you and your dad, but you really should think about opening up to him. At least keep him informed of what's going on in your lives. He didn't even know Sam, was playing baseball. Finding these things out from me, I imagine, hurts him quite a bit".

She was met with silence from Ashley "just think about it" Sasha, said softly.

"Okay" Ashley mumbled, as they both clapped their hands, when an opposing player, struck out. "Did you guys, really break up?"

"It's a little more complicated then that" Sasha sighed.

Ashley rolled her eyes "that's what dad says, when he doesn't want to answer a question"

"Doesn't mean it's not true" she said thinking about it for a moment. In all honesty, she didn't know how to define it. Wasn't sure, if she wanted to. "Your dad, has had to carry the weight of the world, on his shoulders for so long, he doesn't know how to live, without it. He needs time, to figure out what it means to live without that. And hopefully, like you said, find peace"

"Do you think he will?" She asked, finally turning to look at Sasha.

"I don't know" Sasha said honestly. "But I think he wants too. And that's a very important, first step. Your dad, is the strongest person I know. If he wants something, and puts his mind to it, there isn't very much, that will stand in his way"

Ashley smiled, and gently leaned into Sasha, before sitting up straight again "I'll make sure we call him tonight. Sam, can tell him how the game went".

"Thank you" Sasha smiled, turning her attention back to the game, as Sam, stepped up to bat.