Author's note: The next updates for my stories will take a while. With car being in the process of getting fixed (broke down) and the necessity of going out to shoot photography to put food on the table, it may take a while for the next updates to pop up. Please read and review my other fics and I'll try to put an update up as soon as I can.

4621 Byrd Road, San Diego, CA

Vice Admiral Toshio Nakamura, COMNAVAIRFOR, stopped for a moment as he regarded the dark-haired woman in civvies standing at the kitchen washing dishes. It took a long moment for the woman to realize that she wasn't alone in the kitchen any more and turned, smiling at him; her amusement evident in her dark brown eyes. "Hey." Animal said softly, "you're home..."

"Yeah. I'm home." She affirmed as she stopped the water and wiped her hands on a towel to dry them. Then she walked over to Animal, reaching up to caress his face, leaning in to give him a tender kiss on the lips which he returned eagerly; his hands tangling in her hair. When they separated long enough to breathe, she whispered; "Wow, what a greeting. You must've missed me."

"Lots." Animal looked at her, "The bed was empty without you home."

"And lonely too, I bet." She grinned at him.

Animal nearly crushed her to him with a passionate hug, "Trace, you know I can't sleep when you're not home."

"I know, honey." Tracy replied as she gave Animal another kiss. "I felt the same way during your last tour as Battle Group Commander when they sent you out to the Med. I couldn't sleep a wink knowing you were out there." She remembered that deployment almost three years ago. They had been barely married two months then and the two lovers hadn't slept a wink on either end. It had been a relieved and teary Tracy Nakamura that had greeted Animal at the foot of the gangplank of the USS Nimitz. Animal reached out a hand to caress his fingers gently over the worry lines around the edges of her eyes and Tracy pressed her cheek against the palm of his hand. "I love you..." She whispered as she turned her head slightly enough to kiss his fingers.

"I love you too..." He said softly as he leaned in to run his warm lips against Tracy's. Tracy Nakamura closed her eyes and enjoyed the tender kiss.

When the kiss had finished, Tracy smirked, caressing her husband's cheek, saying, "I was brewing up some coffee…want some?"

Animal nodded. "What kind?"

"Java Triple Brewed; it's strong but I'm gonna have a lot of things to do in order to get this investigation underway."

"Sounds rather intensive," Animal commented. "Sure coffee will be enough to keep you awake?"

Tracy gave him another peck on the cheek. "Hmmm, I'm not sure, but if not, I can certainly think of ways you can help."

8541 Miguel Vista Place, San Diego, CA

Lieutenant Colonel Sarah Mackenzie was still steaming as she walked up her walk to the front door of her home. How dare that bitch insinuate that she wasn't doing her job. She had done everything that she was asked to complete. The records must have been mistaken. Someone else was to blame for this fiasco; she couldn't have done anything wrong. After all she was thorough in everything that she did. Someone else needed to pay for their mistakes.

Walking up to the door of her home she inserted the door key, unlocking the door to her home. Spitefully, she grumbled to herself, I need coffee; that bitch needs to pay for her insinuations in that order.

Tossing her handbag to the side, and taking off her Marine Corps Service A jacket, she tossed it haphazardly on the couch, knowing full well that action would have her doing at least forty five minutes of ironing just to get it wearable the next day or perhaps a run to the dry-cleaners tonight would have to suffice. The latter meant that she wouldn't be able to wear the Service A jacket the next day, but who cared? After all, it was summer and I'm able to get away with Service B uniform and piss-cutter, she thought. She relieved herself of the rest of her clothes and got into a Marine Corps sweatpants and T-shirt. Marine Strac through and through. She complimented herself.

Walking over to the Keurig; she grabbed a cup, turned on the faucet to fill it up and then poured the cold water into the Keurig machine. Grabbing a K-Cup of Keurig Java Triple Roast, she popped it in the Keurig machine and pressed the brew button. Standing back from the Keurig, she sighed as she realized that she was home, back in her refuge; and she would in roughly about two minutes be able enjoy a nice cup of gourmet coffee brewed at home. She was looking absolutely forward to that. It would soothe her nettled spirits.

It wasn't long before the Keurig sputtered and Sarah Mackenzie noticed to her ever increasing dismay a spreading hot puddle of clear water on her table top counter. Her Keurig had given up the ghost.