Time to Heal – Part 21.

Part 21 is done! While this chapter is pretty all over the place it does have some 'good' moments in it!

Reviews are loved and appreciated, thank you so much for all the other reviews! Enjoy!

Disclaimer – I own nothing.

Mike paced his cabin, a constant mantra of 'the girls are fine' running through his head as he tried to comprehend the news that the President had been assassinated. It had been a possibility from the start, everyone had mixed opinions, the White House was still a few members of staff from across the country, trying to make the government work somehow, many people didn't think a government was needed, while other thought the current President just wasn't strong enough. Even though it had always been a possibility, Mike didn't think anyone would actually take the shot. The crew were trying to get as much information as they could before they made any decisions, but with people scared, and their families on route to safe houses, and still the unknown fate of the person responsible, everyone felt as though they'd hit a brick wall.

His first thought was to go home and he was sure it was Tom's first thought too. For now, he was just running on what Kara had told him and that was, that his girls were safe and hadn't been affected by what had happened. He assumed they had, the shooting of the President was going to affect the country and possibly other countries too. Right now, they just needed to figure out who was behind it and if anyone else was in danger, knowing that there could be more attacks. It wasn't the best thing to be thinking about, the thought of more people getting hurt, along with the effect it would have on Amy and Katie, but he knew they were okay, they were physically safe, and that's what he needed to keep telling himself.

The knock at his door stopped his pacing momentarily for him to shout 'Enter' but he carried on walking when Andrea stepped into the room, closing the door behind her.

"Any other news?" He asked without making eye contact, he didn't even stop to address her.

"No, sir. Kara and the rest of the team in the White House believe it was the act of someone who was mentally ill, seemingly suffering from PTSD. They'd don't believe any other public figures are at risk. As of an hour ago, Vice President Katherine Williamson became acting President unit she is sworn in when all threats are cleared." Mike nodded along not interested in anything other than his girls and the ship being safe.

"Are you and Tom leaving?" Andrea asked after a moment of silence. She could see how stressed Mike was, the fact he didn't address her or even look at her when she walked in told her that he wasn't coping as well as he would want to admit, but she understood, for the most part, an assassination not far from the Naval Base, would put fear in anyone, more so those who'd just had to survive a world with no laws. Although Mike knew about the safe houses, Andrea was sure that until he heard from Christine, Amy, and Katie that they were okay he would keep pacing.

Mike stopped and turned to look at her for the first time since she entered the room. He wanted to say yes, he wanted to say he was going home, but a part of him couldn't. He felt so bad because she was the main reason, he didn't want to leave her, he didn't want to leave the crew either, or leave in the middle of the mission, this was personal, the virus took his son, he wasn't about to let World War Three potentially take his girls. So, now, along with the feeling of dread for what Katie and Amy were going through, the thought of them being scared, the thought of Christine trying to calm them, but having no luck, he also felt like the world's worst father because he was choosing Andrea over them in a way.

"You don't have to answer that, I know how much you want to be with the girls right now," Andrea said with a small smile, taking a step closer to him. Andrea knew what she was going to do next, she also knew it was the wrong time and place, but it wasn't going to stop her. She too was still worried about what was happening at home, as well as saddened by the loss of the President, everyone on the ship was shocked and fearful.

"I love you." Andrea came out with it, giving Mike no time to say anything before she did. If he started talking, about the ship, his girls or the assassination she knew she'd internally talk herself out of it, and with the thought of him leaving the ship, she knew it was no or never, or at least that's what it felt like.

"Andrea,"

"No, let me say it. I love you, despite whatever else is going on, whether it be on the ship or at home, I want you to know that I have fallen head over heels in love with you, and it's probably the worst time to tell you, and it goes against what I said about putting feelings on hold, and it's breaking every rule we have aboard this ship, but I don't care, right now." Andrea took a deep breath when she'd finished, putting a hand up to her mouth for a moment.

"I don't know if you're leaving and I don't know what will happen in the next few months, or what we'll encounter. We've lost so many people on land and at sea and I didn't want you to go before I told you, because, I guess, you never know what's going to happen tomorrow." She put her hands down by her side, before crossing them over her chest as if to hug herself, providing herself with some comfort, not knowing what Mike would say next.

Mike stood for a moment before reaching out to take Andrea's hand, waiting for her to unfold her arms so he could hold them properly,

"Nothing is going to happen to you, Andrea. I won't let it." Andrea shook her head a little, smiling, but still a little annoyed that he seemed to be avoiding the subject altogether. She had just told him she was in love with him, she wanted a little more back than reassurance she would be okay, she could figure that one out on her own, she was sure she'd proven many times that she was a fighter.

When it was clear he had nothing else to say on the matter, Andrea pulled her hands back, before taking a step back, creating some distance between the two of them.

"No matter what happens, you need to do what is best for you and your family. No one on this ship will blame you or Tom if you decide to go home." Mike nodded in understanding, but he knew he needed to speak to Kara and Christine first. Which made him, again, feel like an awful father.

"I'll come and find you later," Mike said, ending the conversation, and any hope Andrea had about him tell her that he loved her too when there was a knock at the door.

Andrea only nodded, because the door had opened. She turned to see Tom looking between the two of them, but no one spoke, she was sure Tom was there to speak about next steps, where he and Mike when from here in regards to their families and the mission. Andrea had a feeling that had this have been any other mission, when the world hadn't fallen apart and people hadn't of died from a deadly virus, that both men would stay, but this was different, the world was different, everyone and everything was so different from how it was before.

She thought she knew the both of them, but maybe she was wrong, maybe tomorrow morning she could be seeing them off the flight deck, knowing they were going home to be with their families, but right now, she needed to leave, it wasn't her place to stay, and with everything she'd just admitted, and everything Mike didn't, she wasn't sure she felt like staying in the room either.

"Sir." Tom gave her a short nod as she addressed him, stopping just before the door.

"XO."

Pulling the door closed behind her, she walked up the passageway, only for a few steps before stopped, leaning against the wall. Her mind was working overtimes, thoughts flying around her mind so much so that she felt a headache coming on. She had just told her Captain she loved him, on the ship, in the middle of a mission, she had gone against everything she believed and she'd done the one things she had asked Mike to do. Put all personal feelings on hold.

"Well done, Andrea. Well done."

A few hours later Mike walked down to the engine room, hoping Andrea would still be there. He still hadn't been able to reach home, but Kara had told them all families had been moved to safe houses, and that she would contact the ship the moment they could talk, although he was calmer after talking to Kara and also to Tom he knew he wouldn't be able to fully focus until he heard his girls speak, until they reassured him that they were okay and safe.

The investigation was still ongoing, but after being reassured their families were okay, Mike and Tom had spent some time speaking to Kara and other officials back home including the Acting President, who promised them that their families would have constant protection just like Tom had ordered and organised before shipping out. They'd covered many topics, the biggest one being that the ship was in no immediate danger, or certainly not from anyone in the US, which put both men at ease, as well as knowing that the more they learnt about the assassination they more it became clear that it was not an act of domestic terrorism or a planned act by a group, more an attack done by someone who seemed to be coping poorly with the events of the last year, or at least that's how Katherine Williamson put it.

Mike was pulled out of his thoughts when he heard voices engaged in a conversation in the passageway, looking up he saw Andrea talking to another engineer, both of them looking over a clipboard, Andrea giving various instructions, oblivious to the fact he was there.

"XO, can I have a word?" Andrea looked up when he spoke, giving him a small smile before turning back to one of the engineers.

"Make sure you have an up to date report for the CNO in an hour." He nodded flipping back the papers on the clipboard, nodding to the Captain before moving back into the engine room.

Mike waited a minute, checking the hall was clear before he crossed his arms and sighed, preparing to fill her in on what had happened over the last few hours, where the assassination was concerned.

"Still no word from home, all families were moved to safe houses, Kara says their safe and I believe her, but I'm still waiting to speak to them. Katherine Williamson gives us her full support if myself and Tom want to leave, and the more they find out the more certain they are that the gunman was simply someone who was not coping well, and with no formal Police Force or Health Services as of yet, some officials said they expected something like this to happen. Either way, the ship is in no immediate danger from home and once all threats have been cleared the new President will be sworn in and we carry on as normal." Andrea nodded in understanding, but still had nothing much to say, she had expected as much with regards to the President, she really had no choice but to support what the 'Nathan James' was doing, and she couldn't say much about the gunman, it was a shame that still no help or health services had been set up, even temporarily to help those who suffered in the pandemic and those who are still suffering now.

"What would you do?" Mike asked when Andrea didn't say another, he still hadn't made a decision as to what to do, he was so torn and Tom was too, so he felt it was only right to ask someone else's opinion, wondering what they would do in his position.

Andrea shrugged before shaking her head.

"I don't know. I don't even know if I would have redeployed had Lily of survived. All I can say is that you need to do what you think is right. You know your kids will be okay if you stay, but you also know the ship and the crew will be okay if you leave." Mike laughed, it wasn't very helpful, and nor did it give him an answer, but he was grateful that she was trying to help him.

"Thanks…"

"I know it's not helpful, but that's all I can say. Personally, I don't want you to go, but, that's just me. I also know that you have two girls at home that need you, it's up to you, which again, isn't helpful. I guess it's easier to act on orders than it is on impulse." Andrea told him, she knew whatever she said wouldn't be helpful, Mike needed someone to tell him what to do and Andrea couldn't do that. Well, she could, but she wasn't going to, she wasn't about to make the choice for him, but she had a point, the ship would be fine if he left, and she knew that with around the clock protection, both his daughter would be okay if he stayed.

Standing in the passageway, she wondered if someone would walk down, start a conversation, maybe the CNO would appear and they could talk? Possibly on a more personal level, both Mike and Tom were in the same situation, she only hoped they could help each other. Much like she and Mike spoke about losing a child and grieving, Mike and Tom could talk about where to go from here. Looking at it from the outside it was family or the mission, and for some that would have been easy, but after all they had been through, Andrea knew that wasn't the case.

"I'll let you get on," Mike said after a moment of thinking. Andrea nodded with a smile, she felt bad because she couldn't give him answer, but she knew that he would feel a little better after he heard from the girls, once he heard it from them that they were okay, or safe at least. Andrea hoped that once they had spoken, that Mike would have a clear head and could decide what to do.

Just before Andrea could walk off, Mike reached out to grab her arm, pulling her back towards him. Andrea felt herself nearly trip but was able to gain her balance, looking up at Mike with confusion written over her face.

"I forgot to say it earlier…" Mike said, when he pulled Andrea close to his body, leaning down to whisper in her ear.

"I love you too…"

Reviews are loved and appreciated like always! Thank you for reading. Bethany.