Author's note: Thank you even more than usual for the lovely reviews for the last chapter, which felt very personal to me for various reasons. And thank you as ever, of course, to everyone who is reading, reviewing, following and favouriting.

Once again, probably should affirm that none of the characters from The Last Ship are mine.

Chapter 12 – In Conversation

Dinner had proven a complete anticlimax. Having prepared themselves to enter a busy ward room and behave like a couple, in the event the only person Mike and Rachel saw while they ate was Bacon changing out some trays. It provided a good opportunity to thank him for his recent efforts, but given he clearly already knew about their relationship, it didn't deliver what they were both looking for.

"We should go to bed." Mike ran a hand over Rachel's hair as they got up from the table. "Everyone's schedules are out after the last few days; if we haven't seen anyone so far, we probably won't."

"Ten more minutes?" She asked, gesturing towards the comfortable chairs. "I know it sounds ridiculous, but I really want to tell someone!"

He laughed, but deep down he felt pleased. "Alright, ten minutes."

They'd only just settled into their chairs when the door opened and Tex walked in. Mike tried to hide a smile as he saw Rachel's face. He was betting this wasn't the person she'd wanted to see.

"Go on then," He muttered as Tex went over to the food trays, "I'll stay here, give you some privacy."

She shot him a slightly agonised look, but stood up anyway.

"Tex! Can I talk to you for a minute?" She asked as she moved over in his direction.

It wasn't that Mike was deliberately eavesdropping, but the wardroom wasn't exactly huge, and he wasn't exactly trying not to listen, either.

"You alright Doc?" Tex asked.

"Yes, yes good." Mike could hear the nervous tremor in her voice and was torn between sympathy and just a little bit of amusement.

"You sure?" Tex pressed. "You need something?"

"No, I- Well yes, actually, I need to tell you something."

"You can tell me anything Doc, you know me."

For the first time Mike started to feel just a little guilty. There was an undercurrent of tenderness in Tex's tone that reminded him how much the wisecracking contractor really cared for Rachel.

"Tex, I really value your friendship, do you know that?"

"Sure," He sounded puzzled. "Nice to hear though."

"Okay," She paused, and Mike almost wanted to intervene. "Tex, I'm seeing someone. I mean, I'm... It just happened, I didn't-"

"You and the Commodore finally got it together, huh?" Tex didn't sound surprised, and Mike gritted his teeth.

"No! Not Tom, no, that's not-" She sounded so emphatic that Mike was able to unclench his jaw just a little. "I'm not seeing Tom." She clarified. "I'm in love with Mike."

It took everything he had not to turn around and look, such was his shock at her choice of words.

Tex must have felt the same, because he didn't respond for several seconds, and when he did, he sounded truly poleaxed. "You're in love with Mike? The XO? That Mike? When the fuck did that happen?"

"After the labs. A bit before. It just happened." Her voice was soft, almost scared, in the face of his disbelief, and Mike readied himself to step in.

"Christ, Rachel." Tex said, but his own voice had softened. "You know how to stun a guy. I mean, I was pretty certain I wasn't going to win this one, but that's not who I thought I was up against."

"It's not a competition, Tex."

"No, course not darlin', you know what I meant." He raised his voice, "You going to come out, XO?"

Mike stood up and walked over to them. Rachel was red faced, and Tex's expression was unreadable.

"Let's get this over with." Tex said, "You're a lucky bastard, and I'm not going to pretend I'm not jealous as hell, but no hard feelings." He held out his hand and Mike took it. "Now if you don't mind, I need to be some place with pretty girls and liquor, or the closest I'm going to come to that on the James." He stepped forward and planted a brief kiss on Rachel's cheek, then turned and left before either she or Mike could say another word.

"I need air." Rachel said faintly.

It was a clear night, and Mike smiled to himself when Rachel's hand slipped into his as they walked slowly on the deck.

"You said you wanted to do this." He said, squeezing her hand. "How's it measure up?"

She squeezed back. "Despite the hideously awkward conversations required, I like it."

"Listen," He began as they stopped and leant on the rail, "You heard what Tom said today - he doesn't want to know where you're sleeping. So where do you want to be sleeping?"

"What do you mean?" She looked confused.

He stroked a hand down her spine, leaving it resting in the small of her back. "I mean, are you planning to sleep in my cabin every night?"

"Is... is that not okay?" She sounded puzzled and a little worried, and he realised he needed to be clearer.

"Sweetheart, it's perfect." He reassured her. "I'm asking because I'd just like to get it settled." He paused. "I'd like to know that you'll be in my bed."

"Oh," The confusion was replaced by a slightly naughty smile, "Then yes, you can safely assume I'll be in your bed every night from now on."

"Well then," He took a deep breath, "Maybe you should bring some of your things. So you don't have to hurry off in the mornings wearing last night's clothes."

An amused smile spread over her face. "Mike, are you asking me to move in with you?"

He snorted. "We're on a naval ship, not in an apartment block. I'm just saying it would be more practical if your things are in the same place you're sleeping."

"Very practical." She agreed, the smile more of a smirk now.

"Look, you want to or not?" He asked, starting to wish he'd never started this conversation.

"I want to." The smirk was gone, and she leaned in close. "I really want to." She kissed him slowly, and he decided it was worth it after all.

"So you want to pack up some things?"

"Right now?" She raised her eyebrows.

"Good a time as any."

"Don't you have another awkward conversation to have first? The Master Chief?"

He sighed and nodded. "Guess you're packing without me then?"

"I've done my job, you need to do yours." She leaned in and kissed him again. "Then we can celebrate."

Mike tracked down Jeter leaving the mess decks.

"Master Chief, a word if I may?"

"Of course, XO."

"Mind if we step outside?"

"Not at all." Jeter looked faintly puzzled.

Out on the deck, with at least a degree of privacy, Mike decided to launch straight in.

"Master Chief, there is a situation I feel you should be aware of, and it relates to the conversation we had out here not so long ago."

Jeter's expression moved from puzzlement to embarrassment, and Mike ploughed on before the Master Chief could respond.

"Doctor Scott and I are in a relationship." He stated. "Captain knows, everyone else will probably know soon enough. Thought I should tell you personally."

Jeter's expression was now somewhat closer to shell shocked. "So when I heard..." He said faintly. Mike opened his mouth to respond, but Jeter raised a hand before he could. "Perhaps best not, on reflection." He fell silent.

Mike tried to wait it out, but this conversation was proving even more awkward than the one that had preceded it. He was just about to break the silence when Jeter spoke again.

"Also on reflection, if I may, happiness is in all too short supply in our new world. So if you and Doctor Scott have found some, then that's a gift. Make the most of it." He nodded and then left without further ado.

Mike turned and looked out into the dark night beyond the rail. Happiness was a word that at least approached how Rachel made him feel. He remembered their stolen hour out here, what she had said - even in the midst of it all, I can still take a moment like this and feel happy - and smiled to himself.

He made his way back to the cabin and found her stacking some clothes alongside his. She didn't seem to have brought much, but then he wasn't sure she had many personal possessions to start with.

"I've tried not to make a mess," She said softly, something a little tentative in her tone. "But I didn't know..."

"It's fine." He stepped close and put his arms around her. "I'm not territorial about this. Put things where you like." It wasn't entirely true, he had a well ordered system, but he could vary it for her. "Did you leave much in your quarters?"

She looked up at him and shook her head. "Nothing, really."

"Good." He kissed her gently.

"How did it go with the Master Chief?" She asked.

"Aside from the embarrassment, pretty good." He kissed her again.

"Is he-"

"Rachel," He interrupted, "I might just have had enough of talking about other people today." He kissed her once more. "In fact, I've had enough of talking, period."

He wrapped his arms more tightly around her and kissed her again, nudging her lips apart and deepening the kiss as she willingly pressed against him.

"No more talking," She breathed in agreement.

He undressed her slowly, taking time to run his hands and lips over her skin, listening to her little gasps and moans, before laying her down on the bed and quickly stripping off his own clothes so he could join her.

"Do you think we'll ever get tired of this?" She murmured as he stroked her breast.

"Not possible." He replied, bending his head to take her nipple in his mouth and hearing her gasp as he gently used his teeth. "Besides," He added, "There's so much more to do."

She laughed softly, "Such as?"

"One of these days," He murmured, "I'm going to bend you over that desk."

Her eyes widened and he swallowed her gasp in another kiss as he moved to lay between her legs.

"I was thinking you could further hone my navigation skills," She whispered.

"Oh yeah?" He moved his mouth to her ear as he slowly pushed inside her. "I like the sound of that." He tried to keep his voice steady, but the feeling of her wrapped around him was close to overwhelming, "For now though, I'm just going to do this the old fashioned way."

He kissed her, one hand stroking her cheek as he moved slowly inside her. Somehow, knowing that this was no longer secret, that they didn't have to hide anymore, made it more exciting, not less. She was moving with him, her legs wrapping around his waist, and he managed to work a hand in between them so he could tease her sweet spot, groaning as he felt her clench around him and moan as he did.

"More!" She demanded in a gasp, and he obeyed, circling his thumb as he continued to take it slow, until she was gasping softly against his neck and he was struggling to retain control, and then she arched and shouted and he pushed in deep and let go.

Afterwards he lay facing her, just looking at her until she squirmed and covered her face.

"Stop staring!"

"Sorry." He chuckled. "Just..." He realised he didn't actually have an explanation. "Just like looking at you."

She laughed and cuddled up to him. "Well you're going to have a lot more opportunity now."

"Good." He smiled.