Chapter 7


"Lassiter" Mike said as he came into the Wardroom, he was only making a quick coffee stop and break from the bridge while the Captain and the others were gearing up to go to Fu Fu Cantina to meet up with the Russians. Mike felt it was a bad idea but then it was the Captain's decision and who was he to disobey an order.

"Commander Slattery" Kate said as she continued typing away at the daily log she was making on her laptop. Not that it mattered any more but she found comfort in the mundane activity. Plus after Tex was taken away for some mission, so she needed something to occupy her time as she said she'd wait to have dinner with him when he returned.

"Want to tell me what the hell happened out there today?" he asked, wishing he hadn't brought it up as he truly hadn't as he didn't have the time but yet having the wardroom to themselves was a rare situation. So he filled up his cup with coffee.

"Didn't Grodin write you a love letter about it?" Kate asked sarcastically as she didn't look up from what she was writing.

"You mean the official complaint against you?" Mike asked for clarification as he sat down next to her at the table. She knew he was using one of his old cop interrogation tricks on her as he was using his close proximity to distract her which sadly was working because when she took a deep breath, all she could smell of fresh coffee and his clean scent of soap and something uniquely male that was Mike. It was intoxicating as it reminded her of late breakfast in bed, naked- Kate cleared her throat and gave a slight shake of her head as if to shake the thoughts away before she spoke.

"Yes, I'm hoping that he spelt my name correctly as I did spell it out nice and slow for him" Kate said in a droll tone. Annoyed that she was always affected by that combination of scents. Just like this morning, he obviously knew the effect which why he was using it against her now.

"Could you take the attitude down a few notches and talk to me?" Mike asked somewhat politely, it immediately rang alarm bells in Kate's head as he was never polite. Snide; yes, Passive aggressive; definitely. She didn't know why but she suddenly felt very suspicious and uncomfortable by the change of pace.

"I could" she said carefully avoiding eye contact with him. If he could read her mind and see all the dirty thoughts she was having. You're husband id dead for nearly 18 months and now you're ready for action? I think not, pull it together. He's fucking married... Kate said mentally slapping herself.

"Kate" he prompted annoyed, he used the tone he saved for when his kids did something wrong and wouldn't give him their attention because they didn't want to be punished.

"Fine" she said frustrated, she closed the laptop and looked directly at him. He saw the exhaustion and resignation writ in her expression. "You know I remember when you used to say my name with a little less hostility" she told him as she gave him her full attention. If he was going to make her uncomfortable then he wasn't going to make it easy on him.

"Could you act like an adult?" He asked her. She glared at him for a long moment in pure defiance before she gave a nod.

"Yes, I can as soon as you speak to me as if I am one" She told him somewhat petulantly.

"What happened today was not acceptable behaviour" Mike told her. Kate sat back in her chair and threw her hands up in a 'what could I do' gesture.

"I know and accept full responsibility for my actions" She said, He was surprised she had admitted as much but then she hadn't exactly apologised. Though he didn't know why he wanted her to apologise, it wasn't necessary but a part of him just wanted to hear her say the words.

"What no excuses?" He asked in slight disbelief, he had glanced over Grodin and Lange's reports. Lange was just an observer to the situation while Grodin who was originally at fault was filled to brim with excuses for his behaviour. Hence why Mike had only glanced as he really had no patience for excuses. Yet he had expected Kate to complain or at least expound on her side of the story.

"Would you believe me over one of your own?" she said her tone dripping with contempt.

"What does that mean?" He asked narrowing his eyes at her not liking her tone or her unveiled accusation of favouritism. Sure he was an asshole to her but it was easier to keep her at arm's length that way. But in no way had he shown favouritism to Grodin over her. Hell, he preferred dealing with her as she seemed to know how to keep her emotions checked while they were on the clock.

"You know exactly what I mean. You got all the details from Grodin, Mason and Lange first before you even consider coming to me first which says to you already made up your mind who is at fault before seeing me or hearing me out" Kate said defending herself, she hated how he was looking at her. Even after all the months of making her feel small, she thought she'd become immune to it. To him but apparently he was her soft spot.

"It's called 'due diligence' and I don't make any judgements until I know all the facts" he told her, Kate made a derisive noise as she was definitely sure he made up his mind about her ages ago.

"Right" Kate scoffed with a roll of the eyes. He shook his head at her.

"What is wrong with you?" Mike asked her, the words slipped out on their own volition as she was not the woman he remembered. She gave a huff of indignation at his question.

"That's rich coming from you." Kate said somewhat scathingly. Mike was about to say something but she continued on "Look Grodin panicked and could have killed Lange and I. So I wasn't comfortable flying into dangerous situation as him as my co-pilot once we landed. So yes, I was excessive with getting him to haul ass off the Helo and yes, I would have shot him because my CO once told me you should never make empty threats. Are you happy now?" She asked him.

"XO to the Bridge" Played over the P.A. reminding Mike; he had somewhere else to be.

"Estatic. Now was that so hard?" He asked rising from his seat as he had told Lt Granderson that he'd been gone for just a couple of minutes. He hadn't meant to start a conversation with Kate.

"Intolerably so. Are we done?" Kate asked him, suddenly feeling exhausted by it all. Mike looked at her for a moment and felt himself soften as he hated seeing her look so beaten and exhausted. Kate looked up at him and could have sworn he looked at her with what looked vaguely like concern. Concern in Kate's world usually led to pity and she would not have Mike Slattery pity her, she'd rather have him be a passive aggressive jerk.

"For now, and the Helo is grounded until you and Grodin can learn to play nice together" Mike told her, he left the wardroom before she could draw him into an argument and headed back to the bridge.


Two hours later, Night had fallen and the ship was still on General Quarters. Kate from her position in the wardroom was able to discern what was going on. That a Russian Naval Ship was blocking the entrance to the bay and that the Admiral in charge of the Russian ship was one cold operator. Or so Tex had told her when he returned with the others. He had spent most of their meal filling her in on everything that had happened and as they had dinner; a few of the other officers who drifted in for a quick meal filled in the rest with up to date details which was not much at the moment. It was apparently a stand off where both sides were waiting for the other side to fire the first shot.

Kate wondered where Rachel was but figured the woman was waiting until later in the evening to get dinner that way to minimise her interaction with the crew. Considering Rachel was wanted by the Russians and not exactly well liked, Kate could understand her hiding away. It was a shame as Kate found Tex to be enjoyable company and after being so reclusive from the crew herself. Kate found it nice to socialise and figured Rachel had to be due a lab break.

"Here" Tex said as he placed a can of beer on the table in front of Kate. Her eyes went wide as she hadn't a beer in nearly 5 months, normally she preferred her beer to be full strength of a German or Australian produced beer or an Irish ale. But right now the light american beer was tempting.

"Ah you can't drink alcohol in the wardroom" Lieutenant Green said as he broke through Kate's thoughts as she was bargaining with herself to lower her standards just to drink the beer when Green's warning reminded her that Mike was in charge of the Wardroom. He was 'Mess President' and he had declared the wardroom from day one to be a dry zone and he also made a list of conversation topics not allowed to be discussed. It was the usual topics of politics, religion and sex.

"Technically, we're not members of the crew and I didn't hear you" Tex told Green as if it would exempt them from the rules.

"He is right, we're the guests and as such have to follow the rules" Kate told Tex as she reluctantly pushed the beer away from her.

"Then we'll take it to deck. I got some nice Cubans here. Celebrate that we are alive" He said as he pulled two cigars out of his shirt pocket and waved them in her direction as he could entice her to indulge. She shook her head.

"I quit smoking ages ago" Kate informed him. He blinked for a moment in disbelief and then smiled as if she had laid down a challenge for him.

"Take a whiff of that" he said holding it out to her nose. Kate snatched the cigars out of his hand to stop him from waving it in her face. She took the cigars and held them together with her fingers at each end and brought it to her nose. She took a slow inhale and exhale. The scent of the cigar was intoxicating in itself as the rich scent reminded her of better times. It was purely a nostalgic thing for her.

"Hmm smells like heaven and hell" Kate told him. Tex smiled as he cracked his can of beer open.

"So, we going to the deck? Beers and cigars" he said. Kate shook her head and passed the cigars back to her.

"No to the cigars, because one day you're going to run out and I'm not going through withdrawals again but I will accompany you to the deck so you're not drinking alone" she told Tex.

"Lieutenant Green?" Tex asked giving the Lieutenant an invitation to the party but the man made a weird face and shook his head.

"I'm good" the man said as he held up his half a glass of water. Kate chuckled and nudged Tex's arm.

"Come on Tex, he's too clean cut for beers and cigars" Kate said in a teasing manner as she picked up her can of beer and held it between her hands. It was so tempting to crack it open but no way was she going bring more trouble on herself. Why give Mike ammunition to throw at her.

"We're on GQ" Lieutenant Green said somewhat defensively and Kate quirked an eyebrow as the guy was too quick to react even to a little teasing. She could only imagine how much fun the guy would have been during basic and sincerely glad she hadn't been there. He truly needed to lighten up.

"You are." Kate clarified to Green that he was on 'Alert' status. "I'm grounded for the foreseeable future and I don't know what your excuse is" Kate said to Tex. The man gave a shrug.

"Do I need one?" Tex asked Kate, he frowned as he like Kate followed the rule of when you're off duty it's time to hit the bar and when you're on a ship. There wasn't exactly a bar tucked away for a quiet beer. So he procured beer and figured the wardroom would do or so Kate assumed.

"I don't know" Kate answered honestly.

"And why are you grounded?" Tex asked as he placed his beer on the table letting it sit for a bit.

"Boring story" Kate said as she picked up his beer and took a sip and then made a face "Ugh it's warm" she complained as she gave his beer back to him. Immensely glad she hadn't open hers as the beer was awful.

"It wasn't chilled. If you don't want yours now" Tex drawled as he went for her unopened can.

"Hey, let's not get too hasty." Kate held her beer close to her body as if protecting it. "One day I'll be desperate for mediocre American beer-" Kate started but Green cut her off.

"Hey!" Green said offended by her remark.

"Just let it go, if there's one thing I've learned about Kate. It's that you should never argue with a redhead. They are downright scary when you anger them"

"I take offence to that stereotype" Kate grumbled in good humour.

"Sure you want the mediocre beer?" Tex asked her teasingly.

"Yes, if I can eat fried tarantula then I can drink this tepid American beer" Kate informed him in a slight haut tone. Tex laughed and then took a sip of his beer, the door to the Wardroom opened and Tom stepped into the room. Lieutenant Green rose from his chair out of deference while Kate and Tex lounged in their chairs. Tom nodded to the Lieutenant to take his seat before he turned his attention to Kate and Tex; more importantly the beer in the wardroom which was a big 'no-no'.

"Captain, can I offer you a beer?" Tex asked in a good natured fashion.

"No, thanks I'm on duty" and you're not allowed to drink alcohol in the wardroom or on the ship" Tom told him as he went to the coffee pot and proceeded to pour himself a cup of coffee.

"Tell me Captain, is it true that I've made a faux pas in bringing a beer in here?" Tex asked curiously in not a little mockingly. The man seemed solid at his job and he had to admit that he had not seen a link between Kate and Tex until he heard through grapevine about how the two worked for Lassiter Industries. He idly wondered how well the two knew one another.

"Yes, there are rules on this ship which extend to the crew and civilian subcontractors. The wardroom is a dry zone" Tom informed him.

"Mine is unopened" Kate said to Tom. To make it clear she was technically not breaking any rules.

"Turncoat" Tex said dryly as Kate gave him a closed lip smile and a shrug. It had to be the first genuine smile Kate had worn in Tom's presence since boarding the ship.

"Finish up the beer but it's your last until we have on shore R&R" Tom informed Tex. The man nodded as he picked up his beer and took a sip.

"Hopefully by then all the beer should be chilled" Kate quipped.

"Speaking being chilled. XO talk you about the Helo being grounded?" Tom asked Kate, the woman nodded.

"Yes" she said not impressed by the decision obviously but resigned to it.

"Good, last thing I need is the Russians using you as target practice" Tom said, he noted a moment of slight confusion on her face before she nodded again in agreement with him.

"Uh yeah, I agree" Kate said, not sure how to answer as Mike had said nothing about her being grounded having anything to do with the Russians. The man had purposefully left her out of the loop even though she shouldn't be she was surprised at Mike's underhandedness. "Speaking of the Russians, what's the plan?" Kate asked.

"Still working on it" Tom said.


The next day,

Kate parked herself on the lounge in one of the recreation rooms. It was empty due to ship still being on General Quarters. All ship personnel were either at their stations or getting rest as they needed to stay sharp. Kate being grounded and thus useless as the Helo was not armed for war, she was watching movies until she got bored and then she'd hit the gym. There wasn't much else she could do. She was sure there was a plan in the works on how to get away from the Russians but she was not privy to any of it.

"Hey, what you watching?" Tex asked as he came into the room. He sat himself down on the lounge next to her and looked to screen.

"Operation Petticoat" Kate said, the ship's media library was filled to the brim with movies and TV shows, a lot of them were unsurprisingly Naval related.

"Any good?" Tex asked as he stepped over her legs as her feet were propped on the coffee table as she ate a bag of chips.

"It's alright, it has Cary Grant in it" Kate said with a shrug as she watched the screen and ate a chip.

"Why do women like him?" Tex asked. Tex was obviously one of those people who liked to talk through the movie, or so Kate was assuming as they never had a chance to do such an activity together until now.

"Why do you like McHale's Navy?" Kate asked him, she offered him a chip.

"It's a classic" Tex informed her as if she would be stupid to think otherwise. He snagged a chip and ate it while he looked up at the screen.

"Cary Grant is self deprecating, he also has a sexy voice and kind eyes" She told Tex, she looked at him with a smile as he frowned and stood up abruptly.

"Alright. I'm going to the gym" he told her.

"Bailing out on me?" Kate asked mockingly.

"A movie with a pink submarine? Yes and I don't want to sit here and talk about men. So I'm out of here before you ask me to start braiding your hair" he told her.

"What not interested in a pillow fight?" Kate asked mockingly.

"With the way you punch? I'd probably end up with a concussion" Tex told her, Kate laughed.

"Fine, go" She told him. He stepped over her legs as he made his way to the exit. He stopped at the door and turned back to her.

"Are you really going to sit here all day and watch movies?" he asked her, Kate looked over to him and gave a shrug.

"Not much else for me to do. I'm not exactly in the loop of what's going on with the ship" Kate told him.

"Really? I thought you'd be in the thick of it" He said surprised.

"I'm qualified to do one thing on this ship and it's fly a Helo." Kate told him.

"You're a damn good soldier" he told her.

"Yeah me and every other person on this ship is a soldier but I am an outsider." Kate said, she looked at him for a minute as he pondered her statement. "Hey, you ok?" she asked him feeling remiss as a friend for not asking him sooner.

"Yeah" he said.

"I mean about what happened in Gitmo before the Nathan James arrived. We haven't talked about it yet" Kate said referring to Tex's friends that had been killed. They hadn't even had a informal funeral to acknowledge his loss. In fact he had glossed over the details completely.

"Fine" he said a little too tightly. Kate knew from the response he was in fact the opposite but he wasn't ready to open up and she was not going to push it.

"If you ever want to talk. I'm here" she told him. He gave her a smile as it was an offer he extended to her when Jack had died.

"I'll keep that in mind" he said before he left Kate to her movie.