Eight weeks later...
Haven and Slattery were back on the James along with the crew on their way to execute a mission that would end this war.
Kara addressed everyone as they neared their target:
"Attention all hands. This is your Captain. We have now crossed south of the eighteenth parallel. In addition to the marines on board, we have three hundred more following us on USS Michener. It's our job to see to it that they make it safely to their destination. From this moment forward, all contacts - surface, subsurface, and airborne - are to be considered hostile. The battle before us will most likely alter the course of the war. The conflict that began in Mayport will end on the beaches of South America. And we will be victorious. That is all."
Haven was listening to Kara's speech from the Situation Room where she was with Sasha, Tom, Mike, and two marine commands looking for the right location to start their attack, their D-Day.
Tom was running the meeting, convinced Tavo would be near the town he was born, and grew up, in. "He will be there, I can feel it," he argued, "We just have to find a beach that won't be heavily guarded or too rough for our teams to navigate."
Sasha jumped in, moving to the maps spread out across the table, "According to our intel, Tavo has these beaches heavily guarded. Here and here," she pointed out the locations, crossing them off of their list of possibilities.
Haven was about to point out a spot she'd noticed before the strategy session began but she was suddenly sick to her stomach, "Excuse me," she pardoned herself from the meeting, racing to a bathroom.
As soon as she was through the door, Haven had to grab the trash can with both hands as she lost, what felt like, the entire contents of her stomach. She felt like she'd been vomiting forever when it finally subsided and she was able to walk to the sinks and clean herself up.
Haven took a deep breath, wondering what had caused her sudden sickness, when she walked out of the restroom coming face to face with Slattery.
"Everything alright?" he asked, the color drained from his face from concern.
Haven waved off his concern, "Yeah, I just got sick, but I feel much better now. Did you guys decide on the spot?" she changed the subject as a possible reason for her illness crossed her mind, while she was going over the timing in her head.
"Alright, you'll let me know if you get sick again?" she nodded to his question so he continued, "We did find a beach. Tonight, Wolf, Green, Burk, and two of the marines are going out to scout it and set up for our attack tomorrow. Accompany me to the bridge?"
Haven smiled, "I'll meet you there. I've just gotta run and check on a few things in the CIC real quick. Is that alright, Sir?" she teased, though she was actually going to stop by the ship's doctor.
"Of course," he leaned down, stealing a quick kiss, "I'll see you up there."
Once Slattery was out of her line of sight, Haven made her way to medical where the ship's new doctor was getting used to her new role.
"XO Jackson," Doctor Young greeted Haven, "How can I help you?"
Haven swallowed, finding herself the most nervous she'd ever been about this subject, "Well, I don't think it's possible, but can you take my blood and run a pregnancy test?" she blurted out her request.
Young smiled warmly, "That is not a problem, at all," she added, "And, it doesn't seem as unlikely as you may think. You're young and healthy. You just gave birth to you daughter around fourteen weeks ago?" Haven nodded causing Young to add another question while she began the stick to draw blood. "Did you breastfeed at all?"
"For the first four weeks and then I stopped and transitioned her to formula since she'd be going with my parents," Haven answered.
Young simply nodded as she disappeared to run the tests. Haven sat anxiously, running over the idea of having another baby so quickly in her head, getting more overwhelmed by the minute.
Doctor Young entered the room, beaming, "Congratulations are in order. According to your levels, you're between six and eight weeks along. Here are the vitamins you'll need, though I don't really need to tell you, you're a pro."
Haven took the vitamin bottle from her, her worry turning into shock, "Thanks Doctor," she managed to say as she left to put the prenatals in her cabin before heading to the bridge.
Haven walked onto the bridge and moved beside Mike. She was about to ask him to step aside with her but her chance was interrupted by two of Gustavo's ships on their radar.
"Are you feeling better?" Mike asked before he engaged in problem solving, "You look more pale then you did earlier." Haven could only give him a nod, thankful for the crisis to give her a little longer to prepare to share her news.
She stood on the sidelines while Gator worked through a strategy that would've normally made Haven smile, getting them out of trouble.
Tom looked at Mike, "We froggered," he laughed, "Meet in fifteen to prep the team that's going in tonight?"
Mike nodded, "I'll be there."
Haven inhaled hoping to blow all way all her anxiety when she released and grabbed Mike's hand to get his attention. He looked at her, his expression tender, "What's up?"
"Can I speak to you, alone, before you go get the team ready?" she asked, hoping she didn't sound as grave as she thought she did.
"Always," he replied, moving them into the Captain's quarters off the bridge, "You never have to ask for time with me. I'm your husband, remember? What's going on?" he asked again, his face showing worry. He'd never seen her look so afraid.
Haven closed her eyes for a second, gathering herself, and then she began, "A few months ago I made you a promise and I want to make sure I am true to my word."
"Haven," he interrupted, his tone gentle, placing his hands on her arms, "There's nothing you could tell me that should cause you to be this worked up. Just calm down and talk to me, babe."
She nodded, "You're right. Mike," Haven paused one final time, "I'm pregnant. I was worried that might have been the reason for my sickness so I had the doctor test me right before I came to the bridge. So, on the plus side, I am telling you when I know," she added on an optimistic note.
Mike went silent once she finished and he seemed stuck that way.
"Babe, please say something," she urged, noticing he was supposed to be with Tom in five minutes.
Mike shook off whatever was going on in his mind, "I'm sorry I went quiet. I was just thinking about what this mission is for and, I can't lie, it scared the hell out of me, having you here before, but now. You're expecting and we're about to storm the beaches," he explained his own anxiousness.
"I know," Haven replied, "Now you get why I like to wait to tell you because there has never been a safe time for me to be pregnant since we've been together. But, you need to go help Tom get the team ready. We can talk about this more later, ok?"
Mike nodded, "Don't get me wrong, I am thrilled at the idea of you being pregnant and another little one running around once we get back. It's this mission that's causing me not to be able to show that happiness, or even let myself really feel it," he elaborated, not wanting to walk away from her making her feel like he didn't want this baby.
"You're good, Slattery," she replied, "I'll catch up with you in a little while. Go get our guys ready."
A/N: I can't believe there's just one more episode left to write, ever…