Author's note: This is a little interlude, really, before our mission gets going. I'm maintaining a T rating, because I don't think this crosses the line, but if you disagree then let me know. I increasingly suspect we'll get to M territory proper later down the line…!

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Chapter 3 - Goodbyes

Tex placed his hands carefully on Nina's waist, steadying her as she leaned back into him, grinding her hips just a little.

"Whoa lady, none of that."

Nina laughed as she raised the revolver and squeezed off three rounds, hitting two of the six tin cans that Tex had arranged on the broken wall that circled their back yard.

"Focus!" She snapped at herself, taking out a third can with her next shot, the last two hitting home as well.

"You haven't lost it, darlin'." Tex reassured her. "I'm only doing this because I like feeling you up." He slid his hands upwards from her waist, as she laughed.

"Sounds good to me." She turned in his embrace, sliding the weapon into the back of her jeans as she wrapped her arms around his neck. "Kat still entertaining the little man?"

"You really shouldn't call Ray that." Tex replied, and Nina snorted with laughter.

"You know perfectly well I was referring to our son."

"Speaking of which..." Tex moved one hand to her belly. "You really should tell Sasha before you go."

"She doesn't need something else to worry about. Kat knows, that's enough."

Tex opened his mouth to disagree, but Nina stopped him with a kiss. "Kansas, you want to argue, or you want to sneak upstairs and do dirty things to me?"

He considered it for a moment, then grinned, "Sweet talker like you, Callaghan, how could I resist?"

Kat smiled to herself as she heard her father and Nina's soft footsteps ascending the stairs. "Our parents are about to get loud." She informed her two year old brother.

"Loud!" Jack agreed, banging his feet on the floor for emphasis before turning his attention back to his toy trucks.

Kat picked up her cellphone and her smile broadened further as she read the message on screen.

I miss you, beautiful.

Miss you more, she tapped back.

In the city, Rachel Slattery carefully closed the door of Jamie's room and went in search of her husband. Mike was staring out of the kitchen window into the backyard, and she wrapped her arms around his waist and leaned against his broad back.

"Jamie's asleep."

"Good."

"Did you talk to Lissy?"

"She's doing okay. Better today. Yesterday was rough on her."

"I know." Rachel planted a kiss between his shoulder blades through his thin t-shirt, and he turned around to hold her.

"I spoke to Aaron too. Gave them my blessing."

"You did?" Rachel looked up at him in surprise. She'd been trying to talk him round for weeks, ever since Aaron had proposed and Mike had declared them far too young to marry.

"He saved her when I couldn't, he loves her and protects her. What more could I ask for, really?"

Rachel just nodded, and Mike bent his head to kiss her.

"I really would prefer it if you took just one operator with you." He said, when they broke apart. "I can assign someone you know from the James. Burk, or Wolf?"

"Wolf and Hope are in Australia, remember?" Rachel touched his face. "And Sasha is equal to any one of your men."

"I know," Mike sighed, "But-"

She stopped him with a kiss. "It will be fine, I promise. Now are you going to take advantage of our last few hours together, or not?" She gave him a naughty smile.

"Dr Slattery!" He replied in mock outrage, before making her gasp with surprise as he lifted her into his arms. "I guess I could do that." He conceded as he bore her off towards the bedroom.

At Tom and Sasha's house, a reluctant Sam was loading the dishwasher after dinner, and Ashley was quizzing Sasha about the trip, while Tom ran upstairs to answer a squawk on the baby monitor.

"But where exactly is this town?" Ashley asked.

"I can't tell you that, Ash, and you know it." Sasha smiled at her stepdaughter, "It's in Southern California, that's enough."

"But how are you getting there? If there's no airport?"

"We're travelling with a military convoy as far as Phoenix, then they split off to Tucson and we keep going. Should take around thirty hours." Sasha felt tired just thinking about it, but she, Kat and Nina were going to split the driving and sleep in shifts. Rachel needed to stay out of sight in the back of the SUV, because Sasha didn't want anyone to see her close up, not even the members of the military that they were driving in convoy with.

"Thirty hours without stopping?!" Ash looked slightly incredulous.

"That's the plan. An occasional comfort break, that's all."

"Is it true there are bandits in New Mexico?"

Sasha's instinct was to lie, but Ash was sixteen and far from stupid. "Seems like it. Not just there, either. But that's why we're travelling with the convoy."

Tom came downstairs and joined them. "Amelia kicked off her blanket." He replied to the unasked question. "She went right back to sleep." He smiled at Sasha, "Speaking of which…"

"Ew, I know that look!" Ashley exclaimed. "I'm going to my room, to put my headphones on!"

Tom was visibly torn between censure and laughter, "Ash!"

Sam scampered past them, his newly lanky limbs appearing, as always, to not be quite under his control. "Bedroom, headphones, LOUD!" He agreed as he ran up the stairs, and Tom succumbed to laughter.

"Wait, Sam! You need to say goodbye to Sasha, remember?"

"Sorry!" Sam blushed a little as he came back to hug Sasha. "Bye, Sash."

Sasha held him tight for a second, then laughed when she went to kiss his head like she used to when he was younger, and realised he was now too tall. She reached up and ruffled his hair instead. "Bye Sammy."

Ash stepped up for her own goodbye hug as Sam went upstairs. Her relationship with Sasha had vastly improved from the early days, but it had never been as relaxed as the one her brother and stepmother enjoyed. "Be careful." She said now, as Sasha stroked a hand over her hair.

"Of course." Sasha held her for just a second longer, then released her. "Take care of your dad while I'm gone, okay?"

"Don't worry, he can even cook an egg now." Ashley smirked and followed her brother upstairs, with a rather pointed, "Sleep well!"

Sasha turned to Tom, "When did they get so grown up?"

"I'm not sure." He pulled her close, "But since they already think they know what we're going to do for the next few hours, I say we go right ahead and do it."

Later, Sasha lay in Tom's arms in bed, his hands tracing slowly over her naked skin as their sweat cooled in the night air coming in through the open skylight windows.

"Tell me I'm doing the right thing," She murmured, "Going on this mission."

"Are you asking me as the CNO, or your husband?" Tom stroked her cheek and she turned her head to look at him.

"Husband." She confirmed, "I don't need convincing of the value of the mission."

"We'll be fine." He reassured her. "The kids will be fine, all of them."

"But you've never done this alone before-"

"I know." He acknowledged. "But Dad's here to help, Ash is great with the twins, and Tex is just down the road. We can always join forces. It will be fine."

"It will be fine," Sasha repeated, trying very hard to convince herself.

"Listen," Tom looked right into her eyes, "Once you're out there, it'll kick in, that focus. Trust me."

"I do," She said honestly, leaning in to kiss him, "I always have."