Time to heal – Part 2.
Hello, back with part two! I hope this is a good as part one, and that you enjoy!
Just a quick note, I am awful with timelines and all of that, so, a little explanation as to the roles, Andrea, although XO is still spending a lot of time in the Engine room and I am chalking that up to the CNO being on the ship, and Mike is still captain, but it's more like season one with him and Tom being the top two. I hope that's okay for everyone!
Reviews are loved and appreciated. Thank you to all who reviewed the first chapter.
Enjoy.
Disclaimer – I own nothing.
Andrea had spent each night after her talk with Mike in his cabin. Sometimes they would discuss other sailors, sometimes it would be the ship and once or twice the two just sat in silence. Whatever they did, they just wanted company. Company and someone who understood the pain and anger whenever it came up.
Tonight, was no different. Tom had offered to stay on the bridge, although both Andrea and Mike assumed that had more to do with the fact he couldn't sleep, than letting both Mike and Andrea have the night off.
"What do you think we're going home to?" It was Mike who asked, which seemed odd.
Andrea looked up from the Engine Room Status report and shrugged. What was she supposed to say? She couldn't even call it home anymore. There was nothing homely about the Naval Base, or even about the US.
"I'm not sure I could even call it home. I think we're heading back to a lot of issues that are going to need fixing, the biggest one being the government, and then the military, if that even exists anymore." Andrea couldn't even begin to think of anything positive.
"Well, we know we have a government, how long it will stay that way, I don't know. As for the military, I guess with some work we could always live on the ship permanently?" Mike suggested, suddenly feeling the need to add some humour to the situation.
"I wouldn't mind living on the ship. I wouldn't have to worry about putting an outfit together every time I go out." Andrea joked back.
"I would tell you it's not that hard, but I don't think I want to get into an argument over matching colours and why you can't wear boots with skirts." Mike smiled at her looking up from his paperwork.
Andrea couldn't help but laugh, it had been a long time since anyone had said something that made her smile. Mike had insisted on them finally doing some paperwork. As much as it was nice to talk, they still had a ship to run. So, Mike sat at his desk, whilst Andrea took over most of his couch and the coffee table.
"I think I may be with you on that front. To be honest, I never was that way about clothes. I preferred my uniform more." Mike wanted to shoot back some comment about how she looked good in her uniform if he thought about the last few nights they'd spent talking, he was sure some of it was flirting, and he couldn't say it was all one sided. Whether it was a coping mechanism or not, both of them, if Mike thought about it properly, had said things that could, in one way or another, give the other person the wrong idea.
Or the right idea, depending on how they both felt.
"Everything okay?" Andrea's voice brought Mike out of his trance.
"Everything's fine. Although I wish the Master Chief would take some writing classes." Mike picked up a sheet of paper, that in all honestly, he hadn't been reading.
"Would you like me to translate."
"I think I got it, but I may need your help in the future."
"Always happy to help." Andrea smiled. She was happy to help anyone on the ship. They were now her family. She was no longer fighting for her husband and her daughter. The sailors on this ship would now be the ones she fought for, they would become the ones she'd die for in an instant.
"I think you need this. The work, the extra shifts." Mike said after a moment of silence.
Andrea looked up and frowned slightly, before closing the file she had open on her lap
"Well, someone has to order the lads in the engine room around."
"I said we all need some time to heal, but I don't think you, or even I, could just sit around and take some time. We need to work and be busy, so we have less time to think of all we've lost."
"All I've lost. Your girls could still be out there."
"Do you think they'll still want me if they are?" Mike asked all too quickly.
Andrea moved the folder from her lap and stood up, taking the few steps towards Mike's desk, moving around the side of it so she was almost in front of him.
"I can't speak for Christine, but your daughters, they are still going to need you. Every girl needs their father, and they've been through hell, we all have. Of course, they're going to be upset and it may take some time for everyone to get back to some form of normality, but if they're out there, beneath whatever anger they feel towards you, they're still going to need and love you, Mike." Andrea's voice was quiet as she spoke, and Mike could feel the tears building. He knew that the talk of him being with his daughter would most likely bring up some jealousy from her. Jealousy that he would and could never judge her on.
"I just hope that if they didn't make it, it wasn't painful in the end, you know?" Andrea nodded. That was her only hope for Bill and Lily, that they went peacefully and that they were together towards the end.
Mike wanted to reach out and take Andrea's hand, it felt so natural to do it, but something stopped him. Maybe it was where they were, or just because of the situation they were in?
In the end, Mike muttered something that sounded like a thank you as he put his work persona back on. Andrea knew that underneath of the 'manliness' Mike was a good guy with a big heart, but she knew that not everyone on the ship needed to know that.
Andrea moved back to the couch and picked up the file she still needed to read.
"So, how come you can't wear boots with a skirt?" Andrea asked in a light tone.
Mike just laughed at her, because for once, he didn't have an answer.
"Lily loves to wear pretty dresses and all these cute little tops, but she never keeps them clean. And I don't think she ever wears cute shoes, she insists on wearing trainers so she can ride her bike or play ball with her friends. Bill and I always used to joke about how she'll be the one at the school dance in a beautiful gown with her sneakers on." Mike couldn't help but notice the slip of the tongue, and just how much it seemed to hurt him. He normally corrected people on things like that, but her couldn't.
Mike Slattery did not have it in him to tell Andrea that Lily loved to wear pretty dresses.
Instead, he changed the subject completely.
"Did you get to the engine report yet? CNO's gonna want an update tomorrow." Mike asked, sitting up properly, shuffling a few papers around his desk, in a hope it would give him so more motivation.
"Yeah…" Andrea began before grabbing the right folder. When she got up to pass it to him their hands touched for only the briefest moment, which, was a normal occurrence, but this was different. Andrea didn't know if it was because of their conversations, or just because she was over thinking it, but there was something there.
In the last few weeks, they'd gotten closer. Andrea had gone to Mike in her time of need and he told her she needed time to heal, although she knew deep down that time would be spent fixing and maintaining the Nathan James. With him.
Maybe that's what made it bearable? Him? He made healing bearable? Or maybe she was just over thinking it?
Was this as good as part one? Would you like to see a part three? I hope it was an enjoyable read, again, reviews are loved and appreciated. Bethany.