I apologize for being so late this time. Occasionally real life interferes with writing. But, here you have the next chapter.

I hope you enjoy it.


How the hell had she gotten herself into this situation again? Jesse contemplated while she packed a small bag of clothes and other essentials. She had asked herself the same question since they had left the wardroom last night and she still hadn't found a satisfying answer.

Frustrated she sat down on the bunk bed.

"He's a strange one, isn't he?" she asked a loud to the empty room.

"Tell me about it!" Sasha stood in the door. She walked over and sat down next to her.

Neither of the women had been to thrilled when they had been informed they would have to share a cabin for the time being, but surprisingly they hadn't argued yet. Maybe they had just both been too tired … or too focused on their thoughts surrounding the same man?

"Was he always like this?" Jesse asked the other woman, honestly curious.

"Like what?" Sasha asked.

And that was the real question, wasn't it? "I don't know ..." frustrated Jesse sighed. "It's just … I was ready to leave! I really was! Then I heard you guys were in trouble and needed extraction and I thought 'Ok, I'll help and then I'm out'. But then I sit in that chopper with him and before I know it, all thought of leaving is gone and now I'm going on a secret mission to a secret location to deliver some secret person. My life has become a bad spy movie! How did that happen so fast?"

Sasha silently contemplated her question. "I'm not sure I know this Tom, to be honest!" she finally admitted, surprising Jesse with her honesty. "When I knew him he was so full of life and laughter. So many jokes and weird quotes! Yes, he was serious about the Navy and his career back then as well, but there was always this underlying joy in the world and life!" she hesitated. "This Tom has so much anger in him."

"Don't you think that's understandable … given the circumstances? I mean if even half of the rumors are true he had to put up with a lot this past year! I think that might somber up everyone."

"Yeah... maybe you're right. Anyway, what hasn't changed is his charisma. Even back then, he was always the centre of attention. When he entered a room everybody instinctively looked at him, every time he said something everybody just listened. Even back then I knew he would one day make a great officer. People just instinctively trust him! So … I can't tell you how you ended up here, but I can tell you, you're not the first nor the last person to find herself asking that exact question."

Silently they sat side by side.

"Yeah, uhm, well, I guess, I better go then." Jesse finally mumbled.

"Sure. You take care." Sasha said.

"Of course … I always do." she laughed uncomfortably. Hastily she grabbed her bag and left the cabin, leaving Sasha behind.

Boy! That had been uncomfortable! Even before, when they had still been somehow friends, they hadn't spoken this honestly! And she wasn't really sure she liked it. It made her understand Sasha and almost … pity her. But she didn't want to pity her, she wanted to be angry at her! Besides she was pretty sure Sasha wouldn't want her pity either.

Jesse made her way up to the helo bay, when she passed Captain Chandler and XO Granderson standing in a corner, deep in conversation. The look on the woman's face changed from attentive to surprised to suspicious and back to attentive in a matter of seconds.

For a moment Jesse considered creeping closer just to find out what they might be talking about, but decided against it.

When she entered the Helo Bay the chopper was almost ready, a group of busy sailors working on it. It did have advantages to be on the Nathan James!

Dr Sheffield and Lt Green, no, Maggie and Danny, as they had asked her to call them, were already there as well deep in conversation with each other. The Lieutenant was in civilian clothing and even Maggie had chosen a practical outfit instead of one of her pink and flowery ensembles. Just for a moment Jesse wondered if the Captain had forced her into wearing these.

Danny was the first to notice her. He gave her a curt nod. Maggie smiled at her.

"So!" Jesse dropped her bag on the ground. "Where am I flying?"

"I'll tell you as soon as we are out of com reach. Wouldn't want anyone to listen in!" Maggie answered. Jesse waited for more information, but nothing came.

"Ok, I'll bite! Why do I take someone you don't know to a place he doesn't know?" Jesse asked.

Maggie smirked. "Because Tom is notoriously paranoid when it comes to protecting people he loves! And I'm really good at hiding!"

Jesse thought about that for a moment. "That doesn't really answer my question."

"First lesson of keeping secrets: keep it between as few people as possible. Second lesson: make sure none of the people involved know everything. Third lesson: make sure everyone involved has a strong reason to keep the secret and just in case, have leverage over all of them." Danny said drily.

"Oh!" Maggie squealed. "You remember!"

"Of course I do. I'm not clear on the leverage you have on the Captain, though, and what the secret is."

"Oh no, Danny, you have it all backwards! He is the one having leverage on me … or more like I owe him a massive favor along the lines of 'I can never make that up to you' … as for the secret … You'll find out soon enough, I'm afraid." she answered without answering at all.

"Really? You're not going to tell me?" he stared at her.

"Remember that 'I can never make it up to you' favor?" she asked with raised eyebrows. "No! I'm not going to tell you! I love you, Danny, but that man, has my undying loyalty. If I have to choose, I will always choose him!"

"I'm touched." Captain Chandler's dry voice interrupted them from behind. He along with Sasha and Lt Burk the older joined them. "And here I thought you would find a way not to have to choose."

"Of course! After all, there are one hundred and forty six things to do when someone holds a gun to your head other than giving up." she looked expectantly at the captain, but he didn't react.

"Tom, you disappoint me! I thought you would get that." she called.

Confused he looked at her. "What?"

"Ignore her, sir!" surprisingly Lt Burk the older was the one to say. "It's just a TV-show."

The Captain looked at her in a weird mixture of confusion, annoyance and indulgence. "You really had too much down time, didn't you?"

"Yes, yes, whatever! Here!" she slapped a piece of paper against his chest. "I wrote it last night. It might come in handy while I'm gone. Use it!"

Without even looking at it, he slipped it into his chest pocket.

"Jesse!" he turned to her and handed her two envelopes, one thin probably containing just one page, the other thicker. "The man your going to meet is called Tex." a surprised look from Danny made clear that even if Maggie didn't know the man, her cousin obviously did! "He's going to meet you at the airfield. He doesn't really know anything either, so, give him this from me." he pointed to the thinner envelope.

She studied the envelopes. "And the other one?"

He hesitated for a moment. "For the person you will meet later."

"Really, why all the secrecy?" she asked. She really didn't get it. Even after spending only a short amount of time on this ship and with this crew it was clear that they almost worshipped him. Ok, she suspected that Lt Burk wasn't to much of a fan, but still, why the secrecy.

"One of the rules of keeping a secret. Keep the circle of people who know as small as possible. Not necessarily because they are untrustworthy, but because the more people are in the know the more they want to talk about it and the bigger the chance someone who shouldn't know, can overhear." he explained.

Jesse glanced at Maggie. "Let me guess, the other rules are, even the people in the know shouldn't know everything and have leverage over everyone involved."

He looked at her slightly surprised. "Something like that." he agreed.

"Captain?" Lt Granderson called. They all turned to look at the approaching woman. She hurried over and joined them holding out a piece of paper to him. "It's just a first overview."

"That's fine, Lieutenant. We have to begin somewhere." He looked the paper over and gave it to Maggie. "If you get a chance, see what you can find!"

She took the paper and glanced at it. "Look at that! You're not being stupid after all!"

"Just because I hope it doesn't come to it, doesn't mean I'm not going to plan for it!" he answered then he turned to Danny. "Green, you take the lead. See what you can find, but don't take any unnecessary risks. Come back safely, or your wife will kill me."

"I seriously doubt that, sir!" Danny smirked. "But we will come back safely nonetheless. Can't die without ever meeting my little boy now, can I?"

"Jesse!" the Captain turned to her once more. "Stay radio silent. No contact to anyone until your back in Vietnamese waters!"

"Ay, ay!" she agreed.

"Safe trip to all of you!"

The three made their way to the chopper, waiting for them.

"Oh, Tom! One last thing," Maggie turned to the Captain. "What kind of message did Takehaya send?"

"A video. Broadcasted to half the world!"

She nodded thoughtful. "Have you seen it?"

"Yes. Why?"

"Well, judging from everything I've heard and seen so far from your crew, they appear to be quite … savvy. Don't you think they would sneak in some information to help you find them?"

The Captain hesitated for a moment, lost in thought. "Son of a bitch!" he suddenly cursed, turned away and hurried inside. "Alisha! Get me the crew manifest!"

"Hm!" Maggie said. "Seems like I'm right!"

Danny snorted. "Should I be surprised or are you going to tell me, what the message is as well?"

"Oh shut up! I know you soldier types that's all. Now, let's go and get that damn virus sample! So we can come back home!"


Ok, I admit it, I totally forgot to include the hidden message in the video … So I had to include it here. :P

Kudos to everyone who gets the reference of 146 things to do. I just wanted a small moment to lighten the mood for TAO Lt Burk.

I did stretch the story a bit. With Jesse gone to deliver someone somewhere and Danny and Maggie on a family trip I needed more than just 48h (or was it 36h?). I know the show wants to be exciting and non-stop action, but that does seem to be a bit ridiculous.

Also, despite the fact that the action sequence of breaking into Peng's house was awesome, the idea of sending a small group of six people (including the highest ranking military leader, I might add) to break into the best protected house in Asia was so ludicrous that I just can't include it … probably :P