Mike was awoken by a cry. He sat up, his first thoughts being that Kate was in danger. As he looked over at her bed though, he noticed that she was asleep. When he realised this, he assumed he was hearing things in his dream. But as he looked more closely at Kate, he noticed her eyes flickering and her hands twitching. He jumped slightly as she let out another cry. He continued to stare for a moment before realising she was having a nightmare. He slid out of his bed, ignoring the pain that shot through his leg at having pressure put on it. He walked slowly over before leaning over Kate and shaking her shoulder.

"Kate," he said softly, hoping she would hear him. She continued to sleep, ignoring his attempts to wake her.

He shook her slightly harder this time, being careful not to disturb her dressings. She let out another cry. This time it was louder, and filled with fear. He shook her again.

"Kate, wake up."

Her eyes shot open, wide and fearful as they flickered around the room before settling on Mike's concerned face. She stared at him, gasping as she tried to get her breath back.

"Just take deep breaths Kate. It'll be okay. It was just a bad dream," he whispered to her as he tried to reassure her. He sat down and pulled her into his arms. At first she was tense and resistant to his embrace, but eventually she relaxed, allowing herself to be comforted by him.

He gently rubbed her back, soothing her to the point that she was almost back asleep.

"Mike," she whispered.

"Hmm…"

"Don't leave me… Please."

He looked down at her, surprised at the vulnerability evident in her voice. He gently pulled her closer before whispering in her ear, "I'm not going anywhere."

She shuffled over, giving him room to settle in next to her. He lay down beside her, grasping her hand into his as they went back to sleep.

Swain opened the door quietly, quickly shushing the others as he noticed their two bosses asleep. He smiled as he looked at them before waving the rest of the crew and their gifts in. Eyes widened at the clear display of affection between Mike and Kate, who still lay in each other's arms on Kate's bed.

Spider leant over to RO, "Don't you reckon it's weird seeing them like that."

RO nodded his head, finding it awkward even being in the room.

Nav turned around and hissed at them to shut up, which only woke up the sleeping pair.

Mike shifted first, his eyes opening to notice the blurry shapes crowding in the room. He sat up, making sure to be wary of his injuries as he recognised the familiar faces. He smiled at them, "Hey everyone."

There were murmurs of "Hey Boss", and "How are you feeling Sir?" before flowers and chocolates and cards were placed down on the available space.

Mike gently shook Kate, waking her up to say hi to the crew. She let out a low moan before rolling over. He laughed before shaking her again.

"Kate, wake up. Everyone is here."

She mumbled something about being rudely awoken before sitting up and noticing the rest of the crew. She looked at Mike, who was happily remaining on her bed. As everyone noticed that Mike wasn't moving, they raced to take up spots as others grabbed chairs.

"So, Boss, X. How are you both feeling?"

Kate leant back into the pillows, the aching inside of her tiring her.

"I'm okay," she yawned, "Just a bit sore from all the bumps and bruises."

Mike laughed, his eyes resting on her as she let her eyes slip shut.

"Can't say I'm too bad myself," he murmured.

Nikki had to hold back an 'Aw' at the loving look Mike gave Kate. The smile on her face was quickly erased though at Spider's question.

"So, what's the deal with you two?"

He let out an 'oomph' as Bomber promptly elbowed him.

Mike laughed, drawing his eyes away from Kate to look at the curious faces of the crew, only to realise they were serious.

He stopped laughing, "Ah… well…"

He turned to Kate. "Help me," he whispered.

She shook her head, "No. I had to tell Marshall!"

Mike's eyes widened at her words, "Really?"

She nodded her head.

"Sir?" Spider prompted, earning another elbow.

Mike turned back, letting out a sigh as he told the crew everything. By the end, there were shocked faces on all the crew. That the boss and the X had been able to get away with a relationship onboard, without the crew finding out, astounded them all. Nikki was the first to break the silence.

"So Harris wanted you…"

Mike nodded his head, "Yeah. Harris wanted me dead because I was with Kate."

The blunt words seemed to hit the crew hard, none more so than Kate who tried to hold back the rising sob. She raised her hand quickly to muffle the noise coming from her mouth. Unable to stem the flow of rising tears, she rolled away from the crew, hoping none of them would notice the shaking of her shoulders. They didn't, but having Mike sitting on the bed did nothing the help her trying to hide her tears. He was quick to pick up on the sound of her muffled sobs and even more so on the sudden shaking of the bed. He turned his head, his eyes immediately resting on Kate's back and her shaking shoulders. He manoeuvred himself so he could look at her comfortably.

"Kate," he said softly.

She didn't reply, his only response another muffled sob. He tugged at her, pulling her up into his arms. He held onto her as she continued to sob, both oblivious to the concerned eyes of the crew surrounding them. He felt her arms tighten around him listening to the muffled "I'm sorry" coming from her. He knew she was feeling guilty and he had tried to tell her that it wasn't her fault. She wouldn't listen though.

Nikki, who picked up that wanted to be alone, quickly huddled up the crew and hustled them out.

Mike noticed the crew leaving and threw Nikki an appreciative smile as she waved at him. He turned his attention back to Kate, noticing that her breathing had evened out. He brushed the hair out of her face, noticing that she was asleep. A small smile crossed his face as he lay her back down onto the bed before getting up and moving over to his own bed. He settled himself in, starting to drift off to sleep before noticing the door opening slightly. He sat up, his eyes locking onto a familiar pair of blue eyes peeking in through the door crack. A smile crossed his face as he recognised the familiar brown plaits framing the small 8 year-olds face. He waved his hands, indicating to her to come in but quickly holding a finger up to his lips to make sure she was quiet. She threw the door open before running in and climbing up on Mike's bed.

"Uncle Mike!" she said, her voice bordering between a whisper and a normal volume.

He returned her enthusiastic greeting with a hug.

"Hey Brooke."

He looked up as other's started to file into the room, quickly recognising his family. He flinched though as the volume started to rise as they all started to say hello.

"Everyone, quiet!" he hissed.

At the sound of his angry hiss, they all quietened, inquisitive looks in their faces at why he wanted them to be quiet. He pointed over to Kate sleeping. As they looked, realisation crossed their faces at whom it was exactly laying there. His mother sat down on the bed beside him, taking his hand into hers.

"Are you all right Mikey? Is Kate okay?"

Mike nodded his head, his eyes flicking over in concern to Kate as she let out a whimper. It didn't go unnoticed by his mother.

"Poor Dear. Are you sure she's okay?"

Mike shook his head, "I'm fine. But the ordeal that Kate's gone through, I think it's affected her pretty badly. She's not willing to admit it though."

His mother let out a sigh before waving her husband over, who was holding Mike's nephew in one arm and a box in the other.

"Well, I've brought a few supplies for you because I know how shocking the hospital…"

She was cut off by another cry form Kate, this time it was louder and sounded more urgent. Mike sat up, concern crossing his face as he noticed her moving about. He pulled his blanket off, moving over to her bed to try and wake her, as her cries became shouts. He ducked, avoiding her flailing hands and she moved about. He started to get concerned, knowing that this couldn't be good considering the fact they'd only been out of surgery for a few days.

"Kate," he shouted, trying to shake her to try and wake her. He wasn't getting anywhere. He started to worry, watching as her face started to go pale. He turned to his family.

"Someone go get a doctor or a nurse! Anything!"

He didn't notice his brother run out or returning with a nurse. All he noticed was Kate's sudden silence and how pale she was. As the nurse arrived, he felt someone pulling him back, pulling him away from her side. He struggled against them, pulling at the arms that held him back from his Kate.

"Let me go! I said I wouldn't leave her side!"

His shouts drowned out the alarm the nurse set off and the doctor arriving. One thing he did hear though was the doctor's words.

"We need to get her back to surgery. She's split her stiches."

Mike's face paled, the thought that Kate had to have more surgery scaring the hell out of him. He felt his legs go weak as they wheeled her out of the room. He didn't notice the concerned faces of his family, or the sudden reappearance of the crew. All he saw was Kate's almost lifeless body leaving the room.

Marshall stood in the interview room with Harris, this time, he was the one questioning him.

"Harris, although you are already facing criminal charges from the Police, I thought you should also be informed that…."

Marshall's phone rang, interrupting him. He pulled it out, glancing at the number. Instantly recognising the number as the hospitals, he answered it.

"Sir, I know you said you would like to be informed of the situation regarding the Boss and the XO," Nikki's voice came over the line.

Marshall's eyebrow raised at the news, "And?"

There was a pause from the other end of the line and a sigh, "Sir. Kate has been taken back into surgery. She's split her stiches."

Marshall let out a sigh, his hand going to massage the impending headache.

"Thankyou for informing me Lieutenant Caetano."

He hung up, turning to face the smirking face of Harris.

"Problem at the hospital?"

Marshall glared at Harris, "Kate has been taken back into surgery no thanks to you."

The smirk widened at the news Kate was fighting for her life, "Means that bastard Flynn won't get her."

Marshall didn't know what overcame him, all he knew was that he wasn't going to let Harris continue bad mouthing his officers like this. Before Harris even knew what had happened, he found himself on his back, his jaw smarting from the blow that Marshall had just dealt him. He looked up to see Marshall standing over him, a furious look on his face.

"Continue the way you are Lieutenant Harris, and you'll be facing more than just disciplinary charges from the Navy."