Chapter 29


"I have an announcement. I'm going to get a full-time job." Ashley told Tom and Sammy over dinner a week later.

"No, you're going to go to school next week. If you want a job, then it can only be for 8 hours a week and you have to keep B average marks in all your classes." Tom told her, he wondered when his world would stop feeling like it was spinning out of his control.

His face was plastered over media for a multitude of reasons. Three quarters of it was positive and basically calling him the Hero returning home.

The last quarter were conspiracy nuts who were pulling together rather tenuous evidence and completely outrageous conclusions about Tom and his actions. They were fully convinced that Tom was a criminal of the highest degree who should be behind bars than being showered with accolades.

Tom worried about them the most as they were usually the ones who could pull a strange crowd with the potential of dangerous acts. He still remembered how Valerie Raymond had done that to the US Government and the Nathan James. How her conspiracy theories had turned America against them just when they needed the public the most.

He wondered if SECNAV and Admiral Wilder believed the nutters as they were keeping him tucked away at the Naval College. A college where he answered to a Commander and a civilian. It was insulting to his ego, but he swallowed it as he always felt he should be punished. Here, he was being punished in the most unlikely manner.

Now, his eldest was trying to stir up trouble with him. She and Sammy had been so compliant since their return. He thought maybe he'd get lucky but apparently not.

"What? School is a waste of time. You said as much over a year ago when you said we'd learn from living and learning from the world around us." Ashley told him. Tom frowned as Ashley had truly paraphrased him.

"We were travelling. It's different." Tom told her.

"We only went to Greece." Ashley told him.

"And you learnt a lot. Now, it's time to go back to school and get a diploma as formal education is important." Tom told her firmly. He knew it was vain but he wasn't ready for to have one of kids be a school drop-out.

"Work experience is better." Ashley argued.

"You want to learn a trade like mechanics, plumbing, and or electrical then I'm all for it. But you're going to go to school. You're getting going to get a high school diploma, it's non-negotiable." Tom told her firmly.

"I'm over two years behind, Dad. There's no way I'd catch up, I'd be at least a grade behind anyone I know because you pulled us out of school." Ashley said frustrated.

"You and every other kid have that problem. You'll just work through it and catch up. You're smart." Tom said, Ashley gave an exasperated growl like he truly didn't understand what a social pariah she was. He looked to Sammy, "You have a problem with going to school?" he asked his son.

"No, but can I learn martial arts after school if they got it? Wolf says it's important to have discipline in my study and skills." Sammy said in a sage manner.

"Ok." Tom said, glad Sammy was being compliant for the moment instead of taking sides. So he turned back to Ashley, "Look Ashley, I have a full time job which comes benefits of food rations and pay. I can support us, so I need you to support me by rounding out your education. It reassures me that when you go into the world you're set up to break minimum wage level." he told her.

"I don't want to go to school." Ashley told him.

"I want you just try it for a semester. I can get you tutors if you're struggling but you have to try." Tom told her.

"If I fail?" Ashley asked him.

"Then you still have to go to school. You can get the job when you're B average across the board." Tom told her, Ashley glowered at him but Tom wasn't perturbed as he knew she used to have an A average so he genuinely couldn't see her struggling to get the marks. She just didn't want to because her own vanity. It wasn't a good enough excuse.


"Ok, we have to figure it out." Azima told the table in the crew lounge as they were playing cards.

"Figure out what?" Wolf asked, as he, Burk, Kara and Sasha flanked her at the table. He looked down at his cards with a frown as he didn't like his hand.

"Why Naz doesn't like Captain Tom." Azima said, Sasha looked at her own cards and folded. She was grateful she knew the reason why Tom and Naz didn't get along but she wasn't about to share. But she knew it was killing Azima to not know what was going on.

It seemed trivial to even discuss it as Naz seemed like she was over it and Sasha was over it too. Tom would do what he wanted, and from what Andrea told her; Tom wasn't happy being back home. But Sasha hadn't asked for details as she had her own career troubles to worry about.

"Do we really have to?" Burk asked Azima. She shot him a look that said 'yes'. "It's just that it doesn't affect our lives and it's not a mystery. He treated her like she was a traitor from day one." Burk said making a face that said 'didn't we all get that memo?'.

"He did not. Well, perhaps he was suspicious but we all were." Azima said with a frown. Those at the table wore cagey expressions as they weren't ready to agree or disagree.

"Maybe a little, but I kept an open mind." Wolf conceded with a shrug, "Anyway, I saw Chandler have a tiff with Naz right here in the mess; the first few days we were back. He tried interrogating her and she told him to back off. She said he was burnt out." Wolf told Azima, he made an expression that said he wasn't interested in digging into it further as it was enough for him to know.

"Not far from the truth." Burk grumbled until his breath.

"Seriously? That's a superior officer you're disrespecting." Kara told Burk. Sasha felt like a line in the sand was being drawn with those who were with Tom on one side and those who just didn't care or held a tiny grudge sat on the other.

"He may have come good at the end of the mission but he's still a wreck and he makes everything personal. When you make it personal you fuck it up. I'm tired of the body count that comes from it because he can't separate emotions from the job." Burk told her.

"Like you, seeing the enemy everywhere?" Wolf asked Burk who ducked his head as he couldn't argue that one.

"Dude, I'm working on it. When Green pulled me up on it and I made damn sure to button it down before the next mission and the others that came after that. But it proves my point that I made it personal and it got messy; real fast. I was lucky my body count was small. Captain Chandler made it personal and look how bent out of shape he got over Dr Scott, Neils, President Peng, Takehaya, Alison Shaw, the Velleks... do I gotta keep naming names?" Burk asked, many at the table understood the point Burk was making and how tired the argument was. The argument of whether leadership was doing what was in the best interest of the whole or for their own individual needs like revenge.

"It's hard being at the top." Wolf said diplomatically as Azima looked ready to have a fit.

"Every time we go on missions we make the tough decisions. We calculate the risks and decide whether it is worthwhile or not. But there is always a cost no matter what link you are in the chain of command." Sasha said in a sage manner.

"I know." Burk said, but he still struggled with the balance of understanding what it meant to be a leader and carrying the burden of hard decisions.

"How is your brother?" Sasha asked Burk.

"Not good, they had to amputate the leg and… it's a mess. He's going to be in the hospital for a while. Last we spoke, he didn't sound so good. I don't blame him for being miserable." Burk said, he wore an expression of guilt that many of them could empathise with. It was a situation that was no-win. No matter what actions could've been taken there would've guilt and loss of life.

"We'll rally round him." Wolf assured him, he looked to Kara. "And Green, cause we're family." He told them, Kara gave a small closed lip smile as she deeply appreciated the sentiments. She was one of the few people who still had family alive from the pandemic, but also built another. But even so, it was good to such a strong support system around her as she felt she was going to need it for the coming months.

"Danny came out of his second surgery today. He's doing well, at least that's what Adam told me. But the prognosis isn't great. He suffered some serious nerve and tissue damage." Kara said with a sigh as it stung but she knew doctors liked to be prudent and not promise too much. But she wanted clear cut answers and instructions not vague insinuations.

"It was a pretty bad hit." Burk said, he knew because he'd been there to see it happen along with the rest of the team who'd supported Danny until he got back to ship.

"I'm grateful that he's alive and the rest will work out; one way or the other." Kara said with a sigh as it was too exhausting to think about what the coming months would be like. She knew it would sound bad, but she was grateful for the two-week reprieve. It gave her time to get herself mentally and emotionally squared away and to enjoy one of her favourite jobs being TAO.

"Speaking of, are we really trusting Naz with our CO's heart? The love sparkles are maturing and breeding." Wolf said, the table erupted with laughter as the mood lightened.

"Bro, stop with the Love sparkles nonsense." Burk told him, Wolf grinned as he clearly baited them all and it worked in getting a reaction and cheering everyone up.

"Love sparkles breed now?" Sasha asked in amusement.

"Like Rabbits." Wolf deadpanned. Those at the table cringed and laughed. "Where is Naz?" he asked Sasha out of curiosity, she gave a shrug.

"Probably playing scrabble with Slattery." Sasha said, smiles spread on the faces of those at the table as they all read too much into that situation.


A knock sounded at Mike's stateroom door, late in the evening. "Come in," he called out as he continued looking over ship status reports. Andrea was going to put his ass in a sling given it seemed to Meylan's assessment that the Nathan James was going to need a serious overhaul. He paused in his reading and looked to the door wondering whoever it was on the other side hadn't come in. In fact, the door latch was scraping like it was jammed.

He frowned as he closed the file and rose from his chair. He moved to door and opened it with zero effort. Then proceeded to catch Naz with one arm as she stumbled through.

"Thank you, that door is heavy." Naz said to him as she recovered from her near face plant into the floor. Mike closed the door, not caring who saw her coming in as he was happy for the distraction and company.

"We aren't meeting for another half hour." Mike looked at the time, "Sorry, time got away from me." He said as it was right on the dot for when they planned to meet her in the wardroom.

"It's ok, you know I figured it would be easier to come to you. Did I interrupt your work?" she asked as she noticed the paperwork but her eyes were more focused on the family pictures he had on his desk. "Cause I can wait or we can postpone." Naz added.

"No, I was just packing it up before you arrived." he lied but she didn't need to know that and she was a welcome distraction.

"So, what are we going do for ten minutes?" Naz teased, a sly grin spread across her lips as they both knew she could neither sneak in or out without someone knowing. There were security cameras. So, it was not going to go unnoticed or timed.

"Please, my reputation is at stake. At least give it an hour." he scoffed jokingly, he gestured to the couch. Naz laughed.

"As long as we don't play Scrabble, I'll give you two hours." she said, as she gave a sigh of relief and lowered herself gingerly on his couch.

"You ok?" he asked.

"Azima idea of gentle exercise isn't gentle." She told him with a wry smile.

"So, about our plans." Mike started, he sat down next to her on the couch as he didn't want to feel so formal about it all. "You can put your feet on the table." he added, Naz looked a little wary but took him at his word.

"Our plans?" she prompted.

"I have the checklist." he told her, Naz couldn't help but smile as he had a manila folder. He handed it to her, she opened to find hand written notes and to-do list. About a quarter of it was already checked off thanks to their diligence in meeting up and sharing information with one another.

"This is five pages long." Naz said as she flicked through them. A lot of the items were innocuous. So, if the list fell into anyone else's hands. It would look like Mike was detail orientated and liked to be very organised. But she couldn't help but feel a little stressed over the level to detail.

"I figured that I write down nearly everything that needs to be done when we get back." he assured her.

"I can see that. It's all pretty straightforward. Are we renovating your house?." She asked as she read over the first page, as she did read through she calmed down as they were simple tasks.

"Parts of it. If you're amendable, I was thinking a quick courthouse wedding, followed by a meal with close friends. Sasha, Andrea, Darius, Tom, Meylan and his partner; Mira and Jeter." Mike said, they hadn't really had the time to hash out the details as his work got in the way by the time they met up they usually digressed onto other topics.

"Can we add Azima? I'm pretty close with her. She'd understand if I asked her to come stag." Naz said.

"Sure." Mike said.

"Sasha will be my matron of honour." She told him.

"Andrea is my best man." He replied, Naz looked up from the list with a curious expression.

"Not Tom or Joseph?" She asked, Mike shook his head.

"Andrea is pulling everything together for us. To be honest, I want someone by my side who supports me 100%. Tom's a little too wrapped up in himself and I don't want to impose on him." Mike said with a shrug as he didn't begrudge Tom for not having the mental space for his friends. He wanted the wedding no matter how small it was to be a joyous and easy going one.

"Ok, dress code?" Naz asked.

"What would you like?" Mike asked her, she frowned not sure what to say.

"Whatever is most comfortable for us both." She offered.

"I can do dress blues or I have a suit. To be honest, I'd prefer the suit as it doesn't get much wear and I don't need to ask permission to wear it." Mike said honestly, Naz gave a nod in agreement.

"Suit is fine with me. We can cut the flower budget in half. I agree on there being a photographer. It wouldn't hurt for us to take some candid photos together and separately for the house and evidence for immigration." Naz said in a business-like manner but she was sweating and nervous. Nervous because part of her was excited to be married again and because a lot was riding on it. "We probably have to start getting a little deeper into the nitty gritties of our personal lives for when they test the validity of our relationship." Naz added.

"I do have one question." he said.

"What?"

"Photo ID for the marriage licence." Mike said.

"All I have are the work credentials." Naz said, they both lapsed into silence as they realised the problem. One that couldn't be circumnavigated quickly. "They won't pass muster. Australia won't reissue my passport and I doubt the UK government held onto my last one. Damn." Naz said with a sigh.

"It's ok, we will have to push back wedding and focus on you getting your green card as quickly as possible. You'll be photographed and given an ID to be on the base. Both of those will work." Mike said.

"Ok, you know-"

"Do not try and back out. This is just a small hiccup." Mike told her.

"Ok, but you'll have to write on your list." She informed him with a wry smile.

"I'll put it on there later. You need to start learning all about America for the hoops they make you jump. This is where you start." He told her as he held out a small thick book. It looked well-loved and read.

"The Constitution of the United States of America." Naz said reading the cover as she took the book into her hands. "Pocket book size, that's cute." She said with a smile.

"Enjoy." Mike told her in amusement.

"Wow, you shouldn't have." Naz drawled mockingly.

"Don't lose it. It's mine." Mike told her, before he chuckled. He watched her flick through the pages with an amused expression. She stopped at one of his favourite parts.

"You highlight and underline as well as write in the margins. You barbarian." Naz told him, as it was true. He ruined books, the binding of the book she was holding was split in several places. Pages were dogeared.

"Promise to cherish it." Mike quipped.

"Oh, I will." Naz said pressing the book her chest as if it were a treasured book. Mike snorted a laugh before he continued on.

"Ok, now once we have your IDs in order and a marriage licence. We can get married, it'll help you secure your chances for citizenship." Mike said, he didn't really have a clue what the process was. He was just assuming by marrying him; she could bypass the red tape.

"So, plan is still on with a few adjustments." Naz said as she went back to the list of to-dos. "Honeymoon?" she asked him.

"Staycation at the house." He told her with a shrug. He hadn't given it any thought because they weren't a real couple and travelling wasn't as luxurious as once had been given the famine.

"Perfect. To be honest, I really need solid ground under my feet and to just relax in one spot. But question; how real are we making this fake relationship?" Naz asked as she rested her feet on the table with a sigh.

"As real as you're comfortable with. If immigration visits, it has to look legit. I hear they like to do random spot checks." he said without hesitation, he didn't want to admit it but he needed her by his side when he went home. He could do it alone but he didn't want to, not when he had an option. Naz unlike his friends didn't have a history with him or his family. There was comfort in that.

"Ok, so we share a bed every night, get used to one another's space." She said, Mike nodded. It was awkward hearing it all out loud. "Learn all our quirks and have our history all in line." She added.

"I think we're doing pretty good with that." Mike told her, he and Naz had been slowly opening up to one another over scrabble games and a late-night beverage of the non-alcoholic kind before bed.

"Well, it probably helps we're people of simple tastes." Naz said with a smile.

"You have no taste given you eat and drink anything offered to you." Mike told her.

"Oh, that's nice. You know you insulted yourself." She told him with a smile.

"Never said I was in good taste." He told her, Naz laughed and shook her head at him. She placed the folder and pocket book onto the table.

"Well, then we are a pair. But there is something I wanted to know." Naz said growing serious.

"What?" Mike asked.

"What happened with your family? If you're ok with me knowing." Naz said, Mike frowned as he had hoped to avoid this altogether. But she deserved to know as people would talk about it at some point.

"We were supposed to be on R&R for six months after which I would've transferred to Miami. I put in for desk duty as Christine and I were in a rough situation. She needed me home. But we were tapped for a mission; one month into our break. So, I left and the world went to hell. When we surfaced; it was too late for my son. We had a scientist and possibly a cure. Tom made a lot of tough calls and I backed him. I didn't agree with him but I trusted him." Mike said, Naz nodded as she listened. "It's funny because I could've at any point jumped ship and searched for them. But I didn't, I believed they were safe, that they'd survive long enough for me to get to them. I thought I could save them. But the reality is that I abandoned them when they needed me the most by staying here and working. Sure, we got a cure but it was too late for my family." Mike said with remorse, he wasn't sure if he got a second chance he would've stayed with the mission. But he'd never get the chance.

"I missed my window by two weeks and didn't find out for another 8 months after the fact." Mike said, he took a shaky inhale as he tried to keep a tight hold on his inner turmoil.

"I'm so sorry." Naz said with empathy, Mike appreciated it. He knew she could say a million things to make him feel better- to excuse himself but she instead let him just say what he felt. He knew in time, his view would change and he'd come to terms with what happened. He'd know the truth of it and forgive himself. But for the moment, he was looking for redemption.

"Just bad timing." Mike said, he winced as he hated how weak his next confession made him feel, "I haven't been home since the first time I went searching for them. I left behind the cure and a radio. Continued with the mission, found out they were gone for good. Never went back there." he told her, Naz didn't look surprised; just accepting as if she would've struggled like him if she were in his shoes. But Mike knew better, she lived in the house her husband died in. She had to clean up after her husband and deal with his remains.

"So, it's going to be a trip for you to be there." she said stating the obvious, there was something about her general demeanour that made him feel accepted. That his behaviour was alright and didn't mean anything besides the maybe the mere annoyance of dust bunnies.

"Yeah," he said with an empty laugh.

" for what it's worth, I'll be there for you." She told him as she rubbed a hand down his arm in a comforting manner.

"Thank you." He told her sincerely. "Maybe when you're ready. You'll tell me about Elias. Cause I have to say, I wonder what it would've been like if I had been with them." He said.

"I wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy." Naz told him, she gave a sigh. "It was horrific, I did everything I could possibly do to keep him alive. It was useless, I tried and he still drowned in his own blood, delusional and fevered until the last very moment. He didn't know where he was, who I was and he was just in so much pain. I selfishly held onto him instead of ending his life when he still had some dignity. I stupidly hoped that maybe he could survive it. It's just like a bad cold, someone had to survive it and build an immunity. But I was ignorant, selfish and so very wrong. He suffered for it." Naz said as she rubbed her face with her good hand.

Mike mulled over her words wondering if that was better or worse to be there. He still wasn't sure but he could see that Naz blamed herself for her husband's death. He didn't know what to say as he couldn't disagree or agree with her actions. He knew the desperation she felt but he also knew there was a good argument for putting their loved one out of their misery when you knew they'd suffer a horrible death.

"There were no services to call. I had to handle it all on my own. You think watching your partner die is the worst but… it doesn't stop after their last breath." Naz took a sharp inhale. "It just carries on and on, I think there is more kindness in not being there. More kindness in letting people go when they still have their dignity and are in their right mind to tell you what they want. But it's just as equally as painful. So, I don't know. I don't know." She told him, it was clear she couldn't speak any further on the subject but Mike didn't need to know as it didn't take a moron to know what she did.

There was only on crematorium on the island at the church and her house for all that he remembered of it. Had been dusty but overall clean, it hadn't smelt like someone had died and rotted inside. So, of course she had taken care of it all. It was in a small way strange to see someone so pragmatic to be in so much pain. He didn't know how to reach her beyond just listening.

"Anyway, we're close to America." Naz said changing the topic. Mike rubbed at his face and pushed back his own emotions as he like Naz didn't want to dwell on their loved ones' deaths.

"At the moment we will most likely make port in the afternoon three days from now. After I hand over the ship to port master, we'll go to the house and sort out what we need from there. The next day, I'll be stuck in meetings but I'll leave you the car." he said changing the topic and laying out plans. Something he was more comfortable doing than talking about his feelings and grief.

"I don't have a driver's licence on me, let alone an American one." Naz reminded him with an amused smile.

"Right," he said, shaking his head as it had slipped his mind.

"I'll be fine with watching TV and snoozing on the couch. If I get bored, I can tackle the list." Naz assured him.

"We can play it by ear." Mike said as he rubbed the back of his neck. Naz sat up straighter and turned on the couch to face him before she took his one of his hands into her own.

"Sounds good." she said him, her good hand squeezed his while hand that was in a cast just remained still. He didn't know why but he was comforted by her words, they both knew each had their own agenda but he felt a kinship with her. He liked how comfortable he felt with her even though he barely knew her. It just boded well for their future as a fake couple.

"You say that but we got our work cut out for us. We have to make it look more like a home than a shrine to my family." Mike said, his own words stinging him as it was his fault for being stuck in the delusional his family was alive.

"We'll work it out day by day. We don't have to make major changes right away." Naz assured him.

"We will have to change the main bedroom, given we'll be sharing the same bed. I need it be an entirely different room from what it currently is." Mike told her, Naz gave a nod as she understood his meaning. He knew he was no longer married but he needed the house to be different so he didn't feel like he was living a shadow of his former life.

"We can do that. Splash some paint on the walls, some new curtains and bedding. We'll be good to go." She assured him as she squeezed his hand in a comforting manner. It made realise how much he had miss the simple intimacies of a relationship. Their kiss on the flight deck still played in his mind.

"It's going to be our home. I want it to feel like one that's ours." he reminded her, he rubbed a hand down his face as he was still coming to terms with their unorthodox arrangement.

"I know and it will but I also appreciate that this isn't easy for you. I'd struggle with it if it were my home." She told him. He didn't want to admit it but it seemed like their fake relationship was becoming more and more real by the second. He was afraid if he brought it up, maybe it would make Naz balk or that maybe he was reading too much into it. "What?" she asked as Mike wore a cryptic expression.

"I was thinking about that kiss the other week. There was something familiar about it." he said changing the topic to something that had been niggling at his brain.

"You kissed me first when we first met. You were high on Nostos and thought that I was your wife. It was a very casual kiss, you told me you had to go back inside and get the keys. So, don't worry about it." she said as she released his hands, Mike immediately missed the contact.

"Ok." he said dumbly, he wasn't sure what the appropriate response was as apologising felt a little on the nose.

"Rest easy, you could never have sex under the influence as Nostos kills the libido. All memories you ever have are of the small things like laying in bed together laughing and teasing, kissing, their smile, the feel of their skin.." she stopped and blushed as she ran a hand through her hair and relaxed against the back of the couch. "Sorry." she mumbled apologetically, it was clear to see her mind went somewhere deliciously fun.

"No, don't be. I know what you're saying." he said, he found it entertaining and comforting. "But I'm also surprised and glad that we stopped Vellek as I don't like the idea of being chemically castrated zombie." he mused.

"Well, you're safe now. Even your one dose of Nostos shouldn't impede your ah-capabilities." She said with an awkward but amused smile.

"My capabilities." Mike stated as he sat back in his chair and chuckled.

"I'm trying to be delicate here. I know some men have problems with the idea of losing their vigour." Naz deadpanned.

"Nothing wrong with my vigour or capabilities." Mike assured her with confidence and then he wondered why he even felt like he should be telling her as much.

"Well, speaking of it. What happens if you meet someone who you really want to be vigorous with and we're still married?" she asked him, a reasonable scenario to be worried about and he appreciated the consideration.

"Trust me, it's not going to happen. I'd stay loyal, I haven't cheated before and I'm not going to start now." he told her.

"I just don't want to hold you back. And add that to the million and one reasons why we probably shouldn't do this." Naz said, he gave an inward sigh as she was back to making sure he wanted to do this. He appreciated her concern but what she didn't know was that he wanted this. He wanted to be in a partnership again, to have the wedding ring on his finger and someone to come home to.

"I made a promise and I get benefits from it as much as you." He told her.

"Are you sure?" She asked him.

"Yeah, I am. So, stop asking me." he told her, hoping the message was received.

"What if I wanted to amend the promise and plan?" She asked him, Mike frowned.

"To what?" He asked, he wondered if maybe she'd met someone on the ship who'd taken her fancy. He wasn't exactly thrilled with the notion.

"Friends with benefits." Naz told him, part of him was relieved that she hadn't said there was someone else.

"I can live in a sexless marriage, I don't want you thinking you have to sleep with me; to keep me." he informed her, the simple plan in his head was definitely more complicated in real world application.

"I know but honestly I don't want to live completely sexless." Naz told him, he remembered how clean cut it all was when she was in withdrawal as she too had her own pain and grief.

But she was getting better every day, he'd never taken into account that like he; she was past majority of the pain of losing a spouse and possibly ready to move on.

Though he had no clue what it felt like to be ready to move on. He just knew he didn't want to be alone for the rest of life. It wasn't about the lack of sex, he could deal with that eventually but he missed having someone at his side. Naz continued to talk.

"I just want to have fun and feel good in the real world. I've missed being with someone, sleeping together and I want to keep the door open for sex. Given we're going to have this faux marriage where we share a bed and a life together. Can we at least enjoy some of the other benefits we may or may not have assumed were off the table earlier?" Naz asked him carefully.

"Let me guess, the Nostos being out of your system has awoken your vigour?" he asked teasingly. He couldn't help but ask, as he'd been trying to be a gentleman with her and she turned the tables on him in the best way possible.

"I'm not going there." Naz informed him, but her blush told him all he needed to know.

"Clearly you want to go here." He gestured to himself, trying not to laugh, "You did kiss me and now you want more of me." he said smugly. Naz glowered at him, a blush gracing her cheeks.

"I had a moment of-whatever if you're not interested, then I will just do what I always do; read a good bodice ripper. So, let's just forget I even mentioned it." She said as she pulled one knee up in a defensive posture.

"Let's not pull out the paperbacks just yet." Mike told her, as he gently pushed the knee down so her foot was back on the ground. "Though have admit, it's kind of cute watching you squirm. I figured you to be more of a go get 'em kind of gal." he added with a grin.

"I used to be. Now, I don't want to embarrass myself. I don't have a lot of vanity but in this, I do. I'd prefer you let me down easy and set parameters than let me make a fool of myself." Naz said with a huff, Mike just looked at her for the longest moment.

He felt like he was watching this entirely new person emerge from the Nostos haze. She was just as conflicted, emotional and wanting nearly all the same things as him. Unlike him, she had no problem just spelling out plainly to his face even if she blushed and looked flustered. While he didn't like her discomfort, he did find her honesty and humour a turn on.

"Well, I'd like to kiss you now." Mike told her, giving her ample warning to say 'no'. But Naz just gave a small smile. He reached out and cupped her face with his hand, tilting it up slightly, "But just remember that I am a real person, not a blow up doll." he deadpanned, Naz rolled her eyes.

"Shut-" she started but Mike kissed her before she finished her sentence. He'd planned on going slow and gentle but something about being behind closed doors and Na's eagerness. The kiss turned from slow and gentle in a snap to hot and passionate; Naz was with him as she kissed him with raw sexual need.

He lifted her up and she swung a leg over when she settled into his lap. He growled into her mouth when she pressed herself close. Mike was in no way apologetic for his hard-on. Just as Naz did nothing to hide the fact that she wanted him right then and there.

His hands snaked under her shirt and singlet, he relished the soft feel of her warm skin. Sharp pleasure and need rippled through him when Naz bit gently on his bottom lip and tugged back. She released his lip and kissed him roughly. Mike didn't want it to stop but he had to, it wasn't fair. Naz gave a breathy moan that went did nothing to cool Mike down. He pulled out of the kiss and looked at her.

"Whoa, slow down." Mike told her as he held the side of her face and neck with one hand while the other rested on her hip. His heart pounding in his chest, sweat beading across his brow as his was fighting his own urges to keep going.

"Sorry. Did I hurt you?" Naz asked a little breathless; her face was flushed, her eyes filled with desire.

"No, I'm alright." Mike assured her. She was gorgeous with her sly smile.

"Good." She said, Mike moved his hands to her ass to hold her still, as he had to remind himself he was the Captain of a Naval vessel, not a teenager in the back seat of his first car. Captains did not come in their pants from two seconds of dry humping even if he was about two more grinds away from breaking that delusion.

"But we can't do this right now. I just don't have protection and I can't break all the rules in one night." he told her much to his own chagrin. He knew he should let go of her, at least remove her from his lap but his body wouldn't let him. "But I also don't want to let go." he confessed.

"Good, I don't want you to." Naz told him, she was still catching her breath.

"I think friends with benefits will work for me." Mike told her in a nonchalant manner, they both laughed and Naz rested her forehead on his as her arms rested on his shoulders.