AN: This is a really short chapter to finsih if this little thread to the story. I have a few more chapters to finish off regarding the Hannah storyline but am going away again ( I was away when I wrote the last few chapters which is why I have updated them all at once). I will finish this story off while I amm away and post when I get back. I hope you are still enjoying it. Let me know if you feel like it.

Ch 14: Better than

As the dawn light began to stretch its way across the darkened room, Kate slowly woke with more than a dull pain in her back and neck but was quickly distracted by another sensation. Someone was gently stroking her hair and Kate relished in the loving touch without realising in her sleepy state the relevance of it.

Kate began to stretch out her body and it was mid stretch that she realised where she was and for what reason. She immediately glanced towards Mike to find him smiling gently down at her. Kate gasped with delight and wordlessly leaned in to embrace Mike, tears of relief immediately falling.

"Mike, I was so worried" she sobbed "Don't you dare do that to me again" She leaned out of the hug and took Mike's face in her hands and kissed him lovingly, witnesses be dammed.

Mike chuckled into the kiss. "Missed you too Kate. What happened?"

"You were hit by a falling beam on the Hammersly and lost consciousness. The doctors were worried you'd slip into a coma…..Oh Mike, I am so glad you are OK. You have no idea….."

She embraced him again and then sat back on the chair, feeling a little weak herself.

Mike saw the wince of pain and the exhaustion on her face and the made the connection himself of what it meant for her to be there.

"Kate you were supposed to be in Brisbane. Did you have the procedure? What are you doing here? You look exhausted?"

Kate filled him in on her 24hrs and admitted she should probably contact her ward for her morning medication but refused to leave his side for the moment. Both of them knew that soon enough there would be a crowded room where such intimacy would be impossible.

"Shouldn't we call a doctor to check you out?" asked Kate

"Not yet" whispered Mike as he brushed the hair from Kate's tired eyes "I am so glad you are here." He said smiling "I hope you weren't serious about the clock ticking though."

Kate eyes shot up in surprise "You remember that? Do you remember anything else" she asked smiling.

"Bits and pieces. Don't worry, I wouldn't dare leave you if I ever have a say in it. Our future is too important for me, for us. Oh and I love you too, Kate but I certainly didn't agree to the clock being set on my waking up – bad form, my dear" Mike finished with a wicked glint in his eye.

Kate laughed, realising she could not have been happier at this moment if she tried.

She reached up and stroked Mike's face "You Ok?" she asked

"Better than. You?"

"Better than." Kate smiled through her tears which Mike wiped away with his thumb. Kate stood to once again kiss Mike before taking the action they both knew had to be done. "But now I really must call in the doctor to look you over and I have to return to the ward for my medication."

Mike closed his eyes and groaned. Kate kissed each of his eyelids.

"And that's the last of those eye lids I want to be seeing for a while Lieutenant Commander Flynn"

"Yes Ma'am" replied the CO as Kate reached for the buzzer.