Around 2:30pm, Kate was standing at the door with her hand centimetres from the handle she was trying to open the door but something inside was stopping her. She had decided to go for a walk before meeting up with Alicia but she was currently struggling with just grasping the handle.

She took a deep breath and watched annoyed as her hand tremor. There was no reason for her to feel scared. Security was back to full compliment and even upgraded there were soldiers posted on the edges of the Badlands keeping an eye out for the Phoenix group. She was safe but her brain had apparently hadn't passed the message to the rest of her body yet. Something about staying indoors out of sight seemed like the safer option. She pushed away the fear and grabbed the handle and was about to open the door only to be startled when someone knocked on the other side.

Kate's heart pounded and she swore under her breath for being so jumpy. She took a deep breath and opened the door.

"Elisabeth" Kate said in surprise she had not expected Jim to show up at her doorstep. The woman smiled at her.

"Have I come at a bad time?" she asked.

"No, I was just going to for a walk before meeting up with Alicia at the markets. But the walk can wait. What can I do for you?" Kate asked.

"I just wanted to pop over and see how you are and to talk. So why don't we go for that walk together, it's such a lovely day out." Elisabeth suggested.

"Ok" Kate said as she stepped out of the house and closed the door. They stepped off the front porch and started walking towards the Main Square. "So what do you want to talk about?" Kate asked as pulled her hair back and tied it up into a messy bun. The turtleneck jumper covered most of the scars on her neck so she didn't have to worry about scaring people.

"I was talking with Maddy this morning and she was asking us if it would be ok for her to take self defence classes" Elisabeth said.

"It's a good idea. I hear Corporal Reilly is an excellent teacher. I haven't had the pleasure of meeting her yet but I hear good things about the classes she holds twice a week with Alicia" Kate said.

"I was hoping I could convince you to teach her more than twice a week" Elisabeth said carefully.

"Me?" Kate said surprised stopping momentarily.

"I have heard great things about you. Knocking a man unconscious with one hit" Elisabeth said Kate wondered if she was referring to when she clocked Malcolm or the other time when she sparred with Taylor's men for the first time.

"It was a lucky shot" Kate said casually.

"Liar" Elisabeth said with a smile.

"I don't know, are you sure you want me to be teaching your daughter how to fight?" Kate asked.

"Yes, Jim and I are in complete agreement on this. I think if Maddy is interested in truly learning how to defend herself then intensive training would be best way for her to learn." Elisabeth said.

"I get what you're saying" Kate said as she knew from experience intensive training helped build confidence and skill more quickly than a once a week class.

"So what do you think? We could pay you" Elisabeth said Kate waved a dismissive hand.

"No you're money is no good to me. Look if Maddy interested and wants to learn from me then sure but only her. I don't want to go stepping on Corporal Reilly's toes and I have no interest in becoming a Martial Arts teacher" Kate said. She didn't mind helping Maddy but like she said to Elisabeth, she did not want to start a school or start training groups. She was not a martial arts teacher and didn't want to become one. If it was just Maddy then she was just doing a favour no title was attached to her.

"Of course, just Maddy" Elisabeth said with a nod she looked happy that it didn't take much convincing.

"Anything else I can do for you?" Kate asked with amused tone.

"No that was it for now though I do want to do a check up in three days time to see how you are going" Elisabeth said.

"I'll mark it on my calendar, Afternoon around 3 ok?" Kate asked.

"Sure, now have you been having any problems sleeping? Or other problems you want to talk about?" Elisabeth asked going into Doctor Mode.

"No, I'm good" Kate said Elisabeth eyed her. "I overslept today so I'm feeling a little sluggish" Kate admitted, she was not going to admit the whole truth that even though she had slept over 12 hours and only felt like she had slept one hour. Elisabeth nodded.

"Any more panic attacks?" Elisabeth asked.

"Is nothing a secret in Terra Nova?" Kate asked.

"In regards to you? Never, everything about you is free game. By the way are you going to wear a dress on your date tonight?" Elisabeth asked innocently. Kate looked at her incredulously.

"Seriously you know about that too? There was no one around when he asked me and I only told Alicia and Taylor today. How did you find out?" Kate asked she stopped in front of the steps to the Command Centre.

"I have my sources" Elisabeth said.

"Malcolm?" Kate asked.

"Nope" Elisabeth said, Kate narrowed her eyes at the woman trying to see if she was lying but saw no evidence of Elisabeth lying so she gave up. She didn't want to know how she found out.

"Anyway I was going to get some new clothes with Alicia, you know everyday kind of clothes." Kate said, she only had two outfits: BDU pants, jacket, a turtle neck sweater and a couple black t-shirts and the forest green wide leg yoga pants and white long sleeve top with asymmetrical neckline. She needed work clothes, running gear and nice but casual outfit among other things.

"And one dress" Elisabeth said.

"I don't wear dresses" Kate told her.

"You should tonight" Elisabeth told her.

"I'm not wearing a dress tonight" Kate said, she always felt uncomfortable in a dress and only wore them when it was absolutely necessary.

"What's this?" Jim asked from behind Kate, Kate's heart skipped a beat and she flinched but managed to stop herself from reacting any further as she stepped to the side.

"We are talking about what Kate is wearing tonight on her date" Elisabeth said as she smacked him in the arm.

"Ow, what was that for?" Jim asked rubbing his arm in show as the punch barely hurt.

"You should know better than to scare a girl with bummed ticker" Kate said before Elisabeth could tell him. Kate pressed a hand to her forehead and exhaled slowly taking a look around her. Her heart was beating uncomfortably in her chest and her skin crawled as she stuffed the panic she felt down inside her.

"Oh sorry I thought you're spidey senses picked me up a mile away" he said jovially.

"My 'Spidey senses' are currently haywire. You should probably refrain from sneaking up on me" Kate told him with a serious note to her tone. His smile dropped slightly as he understood what she was saying.

"Sorry" he said.

"No problem" Kate said, she smiled "So you going to put your two cents in about what I should wear tonight?" Kate asked changing the topic. Since it was apparent everyone knew about her date with Malcolm.

"Well" Jim drawled, he looked to Elisabeth "What did you say?"

"A dress" Elisabeth told him.

"Do we get photos of this?" Jim asked. Elisabeth smacked him again while Kate looked at him oddly.

"What? It'd be like seeing Wash in a dress, you need proof of this otherwise it never happened and when you talk about it one day down the line no one would believe you. Unless there is proof" Jim said.

"You have put a lot of thought into this" Kate said.

"Would you believe me if I said I haven't?" Jim asked.

"No but contrary to popular belief I did own a dress in 2016" Kate said.

"Really? Only one?" Jim said being a smart arse, this time Kate punched him in the arm and he winced as she had hit him harder than playfully.

"So violent" Jim said as he rubbed the spot on his arm where she had hit him.

"Don't be such a smart arse and maybe I won't be so violent towards you. Anyway it was barely a tap." Kate told him in a casual yet dismissive tone, Elisabeth held a hand to her face trying not to laugh.

"Barely a tap? You said that yesterday… would you like to see the bruise on my ass that contradicts that statement?" he asked her.

"Pass, I'm not into peep shows" Kate said making a face at the idea of seeing his bruised ass.

"You know I'm going to get you back for it" Jim told her. Kate chuckled at his threat.

"Look forward to it Sheriff" Kate replied.

"I should get back work, as to my two cents… wear pants, don't go giving him easy access if you know what I'm saying. Good Luck!" Jim said giving her the thumbs up before walking off. Elisabeth shook her head before looking to Kate who chuckled.

"You married him" Kate told her.

"I know shocking isn't it? Luckily he only saves those gems for you" Elisabeth said.

"Lucky me" Kate drawled.


"Commander you called me?" Malcolm said as he walked into the Command Centre.

"I did" Taylor said as he signed a plex and handed it back to the soldier standing next to him. The soldier left the room leaving Taylor and Malcolm alone.

"Have a seat" Taylor said as he moved behind his desk.

"I prefer to stand" Malcolm said uncomfortable as the memories of the last time he took a seat in the room hadn't been a pleasant experience. Taylor nodded and took up his chair.

"I hear you and Kate are having dinner tonight"

"Yes" Malcolm said.

"What's the plan?"

"Dinner, dessert and conversation" Malcolm said.

"I just wanted to call you in to give you a warning" Taylor said.

"You've already given me the rules and I would never be disrespectful to Kate or to you. But you need to trust that I know what I am doing. So I will tell you this once but here after what happens between Kate and I is none of your business unless we volunteer the information freely." Malcolm said. Taylor looked impressed by Malcolm's backbone. A month ago the man would not have had the guts to rear up at him before being backed into a corner.

"Understood" Taylor said he gave a small wave of his hand gesturing the floor was his.

"I plan on a long respectable courtship, I have no plans to hasten it nor am I interested in a fling" Malcolm said using Taylor's language.


"How about this?" Alicia asked picking up an emerald wrap dress with ¾ sleeves. Kate had learned from their shopping spree that it was annoying to have someone who was the same size as her. It was great from the fact she and Alicia could swap clothing but annoying as Alicia could just pick up any random piece of clothing their size and judge it suited Kate and she had to get it. Perfect example the 'dress' situation they were in right now.

"No, I don't do dresses" Kate said as she folded her arms being obstinate. They had spent the last hour picking out some extra work clothes, casual wear and workout gear. Not to mention some shoes and other things Kate needed. It was the first time Kate committed to a proper wardrobe in Terra Nova. Now Alicia was fighting an uphill battle in making Kate get a dress.

"We'll take the dress" Alicia told the stall owner. The stall owner smiled at the two of them as they had been quite comical in their shopping as it wasn't the first time Alicia had overruled Kate on a purchase such as the royal blue jacket Kate now owned or a pair of knee high brown boots Kate really didn't think she would need but also now owned.

"I'm not going to wear it" Kate told her.

"You will" Alicia said.

"We'll see" Kate said with an exasperated sight. "Are we done?"

"Nope" Alicia said.

"Hey, I was wondering where was my pack stowed?" Kate asked as she held one parcel of her clothing and looked around the market watching people go about their business.

"Your pack?" Alicia asked.

"You know the pack I came with that should have the leftover non lethal contents" Kate said in an amused tone.

"Umm research labs" Alicia said, Kate smiled as the research labs hadn't been hit by the shells but then she had question if the Phoenix Soldiers had taken it when they ransacked the colony.

"So you think it might still be there?" Kate asked.

"Yeah, why?" Alicia asked.

"I have an iPhone" Kate said before she thanked the stall owner and taking the bag full of clothes.

"iPhone?" Alicia asked.

"It's a communications device but it doubles as a portable music player" Kate said, actually shocked that Apple didn't survive.

"Oh, you know if you want to listen to music just use your plex" Alicia said.

"It doesn't have ear phones or speakers and I'm not sure how I'd run with the plate of glass" Kate said

"We have other tech so you don't have to run with the Plex" Alicia said chuckling at the idea Kate had put in her head.

"Can't I have my iPhone?" Kate asked, she had earphones and an armband in her pack.

"Sure, you'll have to ask Taylor for permission as I think the draw is only keyed for his access" Alicia said. Kate nodded just like her weapons only Taylor had access to them. She liked only he had access, she didn't have to worry about people poking around her past. Pity Lucas had hacked her records in the eye but at least they were going to be fixed. She just hoped not too many people were bored or infatuated in her to take a look.

"Is he free at the moment?" Kate asked her.

"Do I look like his personal assistant?" Alicia asked being a smart ass.

"Maybe if you throw on a dress and heels, you know dress to impress" Kate drawled. Alicia tried to clip Kate over the head but missed as Kate ducked in time. "You got a great pair of gams" Kate told her.

"You know sometimes you speak a whole other language" Alicia said shaking her head as she had no clue what gams were but assumed Kate was referring to her legs.

"I am fluent in at least 4 languages not including strine" Kate told her.

"Give me one of the bags and go talk to Taylor about getting your iPhone thing" Alicia told her with her hand out. Kate handed one over the lighter of the two bags as she knew Alicia was still going to shop for more food.

"You sure? I can help with shopping" Kate said as the iPhone was not so important to abandon Alicia when they still had food to buy.

"No, I'm good on my own for a few minutes" Alicia assured her.

"Ok, you think he's in his office?" Kate asked.

"Should be, if not just get a soldier to call him" Alicia said. Kate nodded as she headed up to the Command Centre leaving Alicia to continue shopping for food.

Kate was half way up the stairs when Malcolm came out of the Command Centre. He looked slightly harassed as he stuck his hands into his pockets and made his way down the stairs. He smiled as he noticed her coming up and stopped on same step as her. They didn't touch or even greet one another with a hug or a kiss. They just stood there.

"Kate" Malcolm said with a smile.

"Malcolm, you alright?" Kate asked as she leaned against the railing lightly.

"Of course, are you ok? You look a little winded there" He said as Kate was a little out of breath.

"Yeah, don't get used to it. I'll be back to being in shape before you know it."

"Do you want me to carry you the rest of the way?"

"No, I can conquer a flight of stairs on my own. Who knew lying around all day made oneself unfit" She said with a smile. She was tempted to crack a joke about coming back from the dead but was pretty sure it was still too early for her to be cracking jokes about it.

"Or it could be that those 133 years are finally catching up with you" he joked.

"haha, when I'm 80-"

"You're already passed that in my books" Malcolm said cutting her off. She shook her head but smiled none the less.

"You'll keep, you cheeky bugger" she told him.

"Sorry when you're 80... please continue" he said as he wore an amused expression.

"I'll still be running laps around your old wrinkly butt" she told him defiantly.

"There's an unpleasant image. Though when you're 80 I'll be 91" he told her.

"Your point?" Kate asked.

"Just saying" he said casually.

"So is there anything I should bring tonight?" Kate asked.

"Just yourself" he told her.

"That I can do" Kate replied.

"Good, so what are you doing now?"

"I'm seeing if Taylor will let me have my iPhone"

"iPhone?" Malcolm asked. Kate saw the blank expression and marvelled for a moment yet again that Apple didn't continue making iwhatevers right into the 22nd Century.

"Yeah it was in my pack. Portable music player and communications device produced by Apple…" She began to describe her iPhone as she knew he probably inventoried it. "It wasn't top of the line but it worked and has all my music on it. Since I have no TV and I need music, my music" Kate said.

"I know what you're talking about" Malcolm said. Kate placed a hand on his arm to stop him.

"Tell me you didn't pull it apart" Kate said as she knew the only way to study something was to pull it apart and look at the guts.

"No, it's still in one piece. Taylor locked it away before I could have a better look" he told her. Kate gave a sigh of relief.

"Oh that is good news" she said before smiling.

"Thanks" Malcolm said dryly.

"What? I don't like anyone messing with my iPhone granted it has no reception but I paid good money for it and spent a day selecting what music I would put on it" Kate said nudging him playfully in the arm. "So I assume Taylor is in?" she asked pointing up to the Command Centre.

"He is" Malcolm said.

"You sure you're ok?" she asked him, he seemed annoyed but it wasn't directed at her.

"Yeah, I'm fine. I'll see you later"

"Picking me up at 6 right?"

"Yes" he said before smiling.

"Until then" Kate said,

"Well if you are picking up your… what did you call it?" he asked.

"iPhone" Kate said.

"iPhone, interesting... Then I'll see you a lot sooner" he said before he made his way down the stairs. Kate climbed up the rest stairs and when she made it to the top she was out of breath. She took a moment to catch her breath before knocking on the door.

Taylor looked up from his plex and smiled.

"Kate, come on in" He said, Kate left her bag at the door and walked in. She pulled up the guest chair by his desk and took a seat while trying not to think about the last time she was in here.

"What can I do for you?" he asked.

"I was hoping to get access to my gear, non lethal stuff of course" Kate said.

"What are you looking for?"

"My iPhone it's a device holds music doubles as a communications device. Though the communications device won't function as the network it uses doesn't exist yet but it has my music" Kate said.

"You know the plex-"

"I know but I want my iPhone" Kate said cutting him off.

"Ok, well why don't you drop off your purchases at home and meet me back here in an hour. We'll get your iPhone" Taylor said.

"Thank you" Kate said, she made moves to leave when Taylor spoke.

"Kate, one thing" he said.

"Yeah?" Kate asked sitting back down in her chair.

"What happened in this room?" Taylor asked.

"What do you mean?" Kate asked.

"Both you and Malcolm have the same twitchy look like you're trying to forget something" Taylor said. Kate shifted uncomfortably in her chair.

"Lucas kind of made it his home in here" She said.

"I see, I know you are sparing me the details but I wish you wouldn't. I have no illusions about the kind of man my son turned out to be. You know how I feel about secrets" Taylor said.

"It's not exactly a secret." Kate said.

"Then read me in" Taylor said, Kate looked at him and realised he was stubborn he wanted to know and he wasn't going to believe anyone else or hearsay. He wanted to know from the source.

"Fine, Lucas believed I held key information on you. He wanted you, so he could kill you. He was getting nowhere with torturing me so he did his homework. He sat me down opposite Malcolm in this room. We rehashed some of my history" Kate said, she spoke like she was talking about something she heard on the news. She left out all the gory details once again as she didn't think it was relevant. She watched as Taylor's expression was stony. He really shouldn't know any of this it didn't help anyone.

"What happened next?"

"I fed him false information in trade to get Malcolm to the infirmary" Kate said she unconsciously rubbed the side of her neck where she still had the scars.

"You broke" he said.

"No offence but your son was so far gone he couldn't tell if I was telling the truth or not. Malcolm had no information neither did I. Lucas was going to kill him, so yeah I took a punt and lied my ass off and it worked. You would have done the same to save a life" Kate told him, she felt like they were rehashing the same conversation they had a few days ago.

"Malcolm? He's a good man don't get me wrong but I don't know" Taylor said as though he wasn't sure he would break for the man. Kate laughed as she knew the man was joking or assumed as much. Taylor chuckled after a moment they both grew quiet.

"Anyway that's probably why Malcolm's 'twitchy' as for me" she gave a shrug "I'm just going through the motions. Everything makes me twitchy at the moment" Kate said giving him an exhausted smile. A knock sounded at the door and Kate turned in her chair and saw a soldier standing at the door. "I should get going" Kate said getting up from her chair.

"Alright, I'll see you in an hour" Taylor told her, Kate nodded and turned to the door she picked up her bag and heading back down to the market.


"You have really eclectic taste in music. But I like this Sade" Alicia said from the kitchen as she was making dinner with one earphone in listening to the music on Kate's iPhone. Kate had stopped by the research labs with Taylor and picked up her iPhone and a few other things from what was stowed away like her drylite microfiber towel, Leatherman and iPhone armband for when she started running again. She returned home had an afternoon kip before Alicia woke her up and suggested she get ready for dinner.

"It's pronounced Sha(r)day but yeah she's awesome" Kate said as she came out of her room and walked into the living area of the house. She looked at the clock on the wall and noted Malcolm would be showing up in the next few minutes.

"Well don't you look all pretty and dressed up for your first date. Maybe I should take photos and make a scrapbook" Alicia cooed as Kate shot her dark look as she pulled on her black leather motorcycle jacket with asymmetrical zipper with shoulder epilates over a steel blue singlet and blue skinny jeans with the knee high brown boots she got that afternoon at the markets. Alicia chuckled as she continued to cut up the vegetables.

"Nervous?" Alicia asked.

"No, I've shared a meal with the man before" Kate said as she pulled her hair into a low ponytail. She wrapped a grey scarf around her neck just in case she got cold in the short walk.

"But never at his house" Alicia said as she stopped cutting vegetables to give Kate her full attention.

"You're trying to wig me out and it's not going to work" Kate told her as she picked up a piece of carrot and ate it.

"You should have your hair out" Alicia told her, Kate slapped Alicia's hand away from her hair.

"You also thought I should wear a dress. Neither are going to happen" Kate told her.

"What's wrong with showing a little leg and letting your hair down" Alicia said as she reached for the hair tie yet again.

A knock sounded at the door distracting Kate momentarily. A distraction that Alicia used successfully to pulled the hair tie. Kate gave her an annoyed look as her hair fell loose around her shoulders.

"Seriously?" Kate asked gesturing to her hair. Alicia looked proud of herself.

"Now you look ready." Alicia told her.

"Give me my hair tie back" Kate said holding out her hand. Alicia shook her head.

"Nope, now go...you should answer the door before he gets suspicious" Alicia said innocently as she pocketed the hair tie and turned back to chopping vegetables. Kate quickly brushed her hand through her hair before she went to the door. When she opened it, Malcolm was there dressed in a green dress shirt and tan suit jacket and cargo pants.

"Malcolm" Kate said with a smile. He returned the smile as he drank in the sight of her.

"Kate, you look beautiful" Malcolm said.

"Thank you" Kate said as she blushed and ran a hand through her hair feeling self-conscious. She still wasn't used to being complimented unless it was a backhanded one. "You're looking very dapper" she told him, he chuckled at the statement.

"Thank you, are you ready?" he asked.

"Yes, let's get out of here" Kate said to him. She did not want Taylor to show up and for Alicia and him to combine their powers to embarrass her. She really was starting to feel like she was in high school again. The feeling was only compounded when Alicia spoke.

"Remember to be back by 10pm" Alicia said as she came to the door. She wore an amused expression as she looked between the two of them.

"Back by 10pm?" Malcolm asked Kate.

"Early start tomorrow for work" Kate told him. He nodded as he remembered Taylor saying something about a 7am start for her tomorrow. He made a mental note though he loathed to, but he made one to keep an eye on the time as he knew Kate needed all the rest she could get. Though she was out of the infirmary it didn't mean she was completely 100% healthy.

"I'll adhere to the curfew" Malcolm assured Alicia.

"And I'm back to the age of 16 again" Kate said with a sigh. Malcolm and Alicia chuckled at her as Kate dropped her head for a moment. "May we go now?" Kate asked Alicia politely.

"Yes, just remember be good and if you can't b-" Alicia started but was cut off by Kate who's cheeks were already burning as she knew exactly how that sentence ended.

"Ok, Ok, we're out of here, bye!" Kate said as she pushed Alicia back into the house and closed the door. She turned to Malcolm "Let's go" she said.


TBC- See you all after my exams!