I'm pretty happy with this chapter, I hope y'all are too. I already have half of the next chapter written! Look for it as soon as I finish it! :D I think you'll REALLY enjoy that one!

CathyCath was incredible and made ANOTHER video that inspired this chapter and the next chapter. It's a teaser, if you will. Go watch it, it's GORGEOUS.


Chapter 26

Light knocks sounded on the door to the small medical bay. Rachel was settled comfortably against pillows, the pain still rough, her head still aching from the blood loss and the medicine induced sleep. She cleared her throat and softly called for her visitor to enter.

Ashley peeked her head around the second door, and a large smile broke her face. "You're awake!" she whispered with excitement, coming through the doorway. She waved behind her and Sam, Ava, and Sarah all came in, each with a big smile upon their face. Rachel's heart swelled at the sight of the children, and she was grateful for the distraction.

"Children!" Rachel placed her hand over her heart as they all inched closer to her, timid and unsure. Ashley got to her right side first and Rachel placed a hand on the young girl's cheek. "How have you been doing?" she asked, her voice still a little hoarse. Ashley smiled.

"Good. We missed you while you were gone," she spoke sweetly, a small blush upon her pretty cheeks. Rachel grinned back.

"I was not gone long at all," she teased, but inside she felt overwhelmed at the children's attachment to her. She adored them so much, and for them to say they missed her…she could feel her eyes water again. "I missed you all as well," she added, looking at the small faces before her. Sam and Ashley looked so much like their father. Ava was growing up beautifully, despite her parents still working on their relationship after all that had happened. And then there was Sarah. She looked about Sam's age, with a sweet face and sad eyes. She was petite, with two braids. Rachel recognized her as the child she was helping when she was shot. Before she could say anything, the child spoke.

"I'm sorry you got hurt," she spoke honestly. Rachel watched her eyes fill up with tears. She waved Sarah closer, and placed a hand on her shoulder.

"Shhh, there's no need for tears. I'm healing just fine. And it was not your fault," Rachel insisted, brushing the little girl's tears away with her thumb. Ashley stepped up and wrapped her arm around Sarah's shoulder, and Rachel gave her a thankful smile. "Look at this," she began, surveying the room, "There is four of you now. I can't believe it," only months ago there had been no children aboard, and now it seemed they were becoming a town upon water. Sam spoke up.

"Soon they'll be five!" he climbed up on the bed, sitting beside Rachel's legs. Remembrance dawned on Rachel.

"That's right! The baby!"

"Yeah! She said the baby will be here in five months! Where will it sleep?" Sam seemed perplexed by the set-up of the ship, looking around the small room. Ashley rolled her eyes.

"With its mom, Sam, just like we did," her tone was condescending, and Rachel gave her a gentle warning look. Ashley dropped her annoyed expression.

"The baby will probably have a bed of its own, in Kara's stateroom," Rachel confirmed. The children contemplated her answer.

"I hope it's a boy," Sam said thoughtfully, holding Rachel's hand. She smiled at the young boy, realizing he had no friends on board as Ashley did. She squeezed his hand.

"You never know. We'll be able to tell soon, if Kara wants to know what it is," the kids' eyes widened.

"How?" Ashley asked, surprised. Rachel laughed lightly.

"See that machine right there?" she pointed the monitor and machine across the room from her. "That's an ultrasound machine. It can see inside the mother's belly and see what the baby looks like, measure how big the baby is, and see whether it's a boy or girl," she explained, as the children inspected the machine from where they stood.

"What do you do?" Ava asked curiously, stepping closer and looking at the wand.

"Well, you use special gel, and put that wand on her belly, and the image shows up on that screen." As she talked, and the children hung on her every word, she realized how much she did, in fact, love this motherly role she had taken on.

Sam looked back at her from where he sat beside her on his knees. "Can we try it out?"

Rachel laughed, "We can ask Kara if she wouldn't mind to let you all see the baby the next time we do it."

"What about on you?" Ava asked, stepping closer to Rachel. She laughed again, this time her cheeks turning pink.

"It's not very interesting when there's nothing to see," she chuckled, her gaze falling to her midsection momentarily. She sincerely hoped there wasn't anything to see. She wouldn't know for another week or so. She said a quick prayer that she had nothing to worry about.

Tom had stepped in through the door way to the first portion of the medical bay, listening intently to the children peppering Rachel with questions. He leaned against the wall, letting them have their time with her for a moment. They'd been so excited to know she was awake and ready for company, they had run off to see her without waiting for him to finish his dinner. He briefly wondered if Jenny had brought Rachel any dinner. He made a mental note to ask just as Sam's voice caught his attention.

"You should have a baby with Dad," he began, "A boy so I can have someone to play with." Rachel was taken off guard at the comment, it surprised her and her mouth gaped open for a few moments.

Tom sucked in a breath and listened for Rachel's response. He didn't know whether to step into the room and make his presence known, or let her answer herself. Part of him wanted to know what she'd say. The other part of him wondered briefly if she could be pregnant from their recent activities. That was not something he was ready to explain to anyone.

She laughed a little, though she knew her cheeks were on fire. "You have a 50-50 chance that Kara's baby will be a boy," she tried to recover, taking the attention away from her and Tom.

"I think you'd make a cool mom," Sam spoke quietly, suddenly very interested in looking down at his hand in Rachel's. Ashley leaned her head on Rachel's shoulder.

"Yeah, you would," she agreed, as her father rounded the corner.

Tom had to see the scene in the next room, and he wasn't disappointed. Ava leaned on the foot of the bed, Sarah sat in the chair next to the bed, Sam on the bed cross-legged next to Rachel, holding her hand, and Ashley with her head on Rachel's shoulder, her arms wrapped around Rachel's arm. His kids were clearly attached, literally and figuratively, he laughed to himself.

Rachel had always found it a little funny that everyone jumped to attention when Tom entered a room, except the kids. They never stopped what they were doing to acknowledge his presence and now was no different. She caught his eyes and he gave her a soft smile, lifting her heart.

He walked up behind Sam, reaching under the boys arms and tickling him. Sam screamed in delight, laughing. "What are you guys doing in here? Are you bothering Dr. Scott?"

"Why do you call her that Dad?" Sam asked, in between laughter, "We know her name is Rachel."

"Because that's the polite thing to do from adult to adult," he teased, lifting the little boy off the bed and holding him half upside down. Ashley made a face.

"You should call her Rachel, Dad. You always called mom by her name," Rachel didn't take her eyes off Tom's as Ashley spoke, her heart dying for some sort of reaction from him. His face never changed, his tone never faltered.

"I was married to your mother, and she wasn't a doctor," he explained the difference, keeping his eyes locked on Rachel's.

"My dad is a doctor, and my mother calls him Quincy," Ava argued, and Rachel pursed her lips to keep from laughing. Tom was clearly outnumbered. And she had to admit, she was enjoying the children ganging up on him.

Tom looked to her for help, and saw the laughter in her eyes. "Your mother is married to your father," he responded to Ava, placing Sam back on his feet.

Ashley put a hand on her hip, "Danny calls Kara by her name," she retorted. This time Rachel dropped her head and a giggle escaped. He wasn't going to win this battle. "And you call Mike by his name," she finished.

"Captain," Rachel interrupted, finding the only way to save him was to prove his point to the children. They all looked at her quizzically as she spoke, and a small, knowing smile appeared on Tom's lips. "Would you mind to hand me that pillow there?" She pointed behind him, to a shelf, and he nodded.

"Absolutely, doctor," he replied, reaching for the pillow. Ashley rolled her eyes again and Sam looked confused. He moved around the kids and helped raise her up a little more, making her more comfortable.

"Thank you, Captain," she said again, catching his eyes once more. Ashley sighed and Rachel laughed. "Ashley, would you mind to grab me a cup of tea from the ward room?" Ashley nodded eagerly at the task. "I would greatly appreciate it, sweetie. Thank you." she smiled sweetly at the young girl, who headed off, taking all the kids with her, leaving Rachel and Tom alone again. He watched them leave and then settled next to her on the stool Sarah had been sitting on.

"How are you feeling?" He asked, suddenly very interested in is wedding ring, which Rachel noticed he still wore. She tore her eyes away, and looked down at her feet.

"Sore, tired. In need of caffeine," she chuckled a little, hoping it would help her headache. "Your sister filled me in on everything that happened. Please tell James not to worry about this, I'll be just fine," she added. "Your sister is beautiful."

Tom laughed, "Yeah, she looks a lot like my mother." He looked up at her, and she saw that softness again. His eyes were incredibly expressive. "Jimmy keeps apologizing. Would you mind if he came by?"

"Not at all, I'd love to meet your brother," she spoke quickly, and meant it. She loved all of Tom's family she'd met so far, she could only imagine she'd love James just the same. "Have you spoken to Mike?"

"Not about what happened."

"Tom, it wasn't his fault."

"Ultimately, it was," he argued, and she could see that fire flash in his eyes again. She shook her head. "What?"

"You're so stubborn," she sighed, leaning her head back against the pillows.

"You could have died," he responded, defending his anger with his friend. She set her jaw.

"But I didn't. How long are you going to punish him with the silent treatment? If anyone should be mad, it's me, and I'm not mad at anyone but myself," and you, Rachel added in her mind. She still couldn't get over his display, or lack there of, on deck.

He gave her a dubious expression. "What made you get out of that vehicle without them anyway?" he questioned.

"I saw the young girl, she appeared hurt," she replied. She knew he knew that.

"No, what made you get without waiting for my men to set a perimeter for your safety. You know our protocols," he was frustrated by her stubbornness and her inability to listen sometimes.

"I was distracted, and then I saw her, and I didn't stop long enough to think," she spoke softly, looking at her hand where it was tucked in his. His brow furrowed.

"Distracted by what?" he dared to ask, worried about what she was about to say. He knew Tex had been in the car with her.

Rachel took a deep breath. She was too tired to fight, but too confused to let it go. "Your goodbye left a lot to be desired," she spoke honestly, slowly looking up. She watched his eyes narrow, confusion clouding his expression.

"What does that mean?" he replied quickly, tilting his head and surveying her face.

"'Be safe?'" she quoted, incredulously. "Just a few days earlier, you were sleeping beside me in my bed, and then you get mad at me for doing my job, and then you send me off with no more than a cordial reminder to take care of myself. I don't appreciate your games," her tone was sharp, and her hurt was evident.

"What was I supposed to say or do? Hug you in front of my crew? Kiss you? If you remember, I punished Foster and Green for this exact behavior. What kind of example would I be setting?"

"Give a girl a little something to hold on to, Tom. I would think someone like you would understand that," she shot back. She dropped her angry eyes and took a deep breathe. "I don't think this is a good idea," she began slowly.

"What's not a good idea?" he echoed, his head snapping up a bit.

"This. Us. I don't want the children to get hurt, or for us to make a poor decision," she spoke hesitantly. He had a duty to his crew, to his family. This could only get messy, she thought to herself.

"What do you mean 'poor decision'?" He questioned, his tone cold. He wasn't playing games with her, not intentionally. This was all very complicated.

"You're right, your crew relies heavily on you from every aspect. You cannot be distracted." she replied vaguely.

"You're not a distraction, Rachel," he tried to interrupt, but she kept talking.

"Tom, I don't want to hurt you, and that is just what I did by getting shot. And it is a distraction. I will not be a distraction, and I cannot bare to hurt you any more than you have been, after everything you've lost." It was easier to place the blame on the bigger picture, than on either of them. "I can't hide how I feel about you, and for me, that's a distraction." she finished, daring to look up at him. He seemed to process her words, and she could see that he was hurt. It broke her heart, but she knew it was best. Or she hoped it was.

"Fine," he relented. "If distance is what you think is best, then distance is what you'll get."

He dropped her hand, and she felt her heart drop. He stood up, and for the first time since he'd entered the room, she couldn't read his expression. Ashley appeared just then, a steaming cup of tea in her small hands. She was oblivious to the tension, and happily handed Rachel the cup of tea, that she needed now more than ever. Rachel felt sick as Tom clasped his hands behind his back and stepped away from the bed.

"Good evening, Dr. Scott," he said goodbye with a nod of his head, "Come Ashley, leave Dr. Scott be," he added, stepping outside.

"Thank you for my tea, darling," Rachel offered up a watery smile and Ashley grinned back.

"I'll see you later," she said as Tom called for her again. Rachel nodded.

"Goodnight," she replied as Tom shut the door to medical. Rachel stared down at her tea as a shuddering breath left her. She knew that this was for the best, hoped it was. But it hurt a lot more than she'd thought it would.

XXXXX

Tom sat with his head leaning on his clasped hands in his quarters a few hours later. He'd put the children to bed, had hoped for sleep, but none came. Instead, he sat at his desk in his night clothes, staring at a picture of Darien and himself, rolling is wedding band around on his finger, and hearing Rachel's words over and over again in his mind.

'Fine', he had said. He hadn't fought her, fought for her yet again. It hurt his heart, but the hesitation was hard to get over. He stared at his beautiful late wife for a moment, and then closed his eyes. He put the frame face down on the counter and rub a hand over his face. He hadn't been able to fight for Darien either.

He said he'd give her distance, and if that was what she wanted, that's what he would do.

A knock sounded on his door, and he checked his watch. It was late. He stood, rubbing his hand over his face once more before pulling open his door. Danny stood at attention outside the door. "Sir." he greeted professionally. Tom nodded.

"Green. Come in," he opened the door wider and Danny stepped in, shutting the door behind him. Tom leaned on his desk. "What brings you by this time of evening?" Tom inquired, curious. Danny clasped his hands behind his back.

"Sir, I'd like to talk to you about Lt. Foster," he began, and Tom thought his voice sounded shaky. He nodded.

"Everything all right, Danny?" he asked, concerned for the young woman's wellbeing. Danny nodded.

"Yes, sir. But I would like to ask your permission," Danny paused and took a breath. Tom waited patiently for the rest of his statement. "I'd like to ask for your permission to ask Lt. Foster to marry me on board the ship, sir," he finished. Tom dropped his eyes to the floor for a moment. He looked up with a proud smile.

"About time you made an honest woman of that girl," he chuckled, standing. Danny seemed to visibly relax and a grin grew across his face. "Permission granted, sailor. Congratulations," he reached out and shook the younger man's hand.

"Thank you, Captain." Danny's voice was true to his relief. "I plan to ask her this evening," he explained. Tom smiled and nodded.

"Do you have a ring?" Tom asked, curious if he had secured one for such a moment. Danny pursed his lips and shrugged a little.

"I have my ring from the academy. I wasn't able to find much other than a dress for her during our travels," Danny explained, a small hint of embarrassment in his cheeks. Tom nodded thoughtfully before moving to the small drawer in his headboard by his bed. Danny furrowed his brow, watching his captain produce a small box. He placed it on his desk and opened it. Danny wasn't sure what Tom was doing, and waited patiently.

"I proposed to my wife right after I graduated from the academy. I didn't have much money at the time, and tried to replace this ring several times over the years, but she always said she found it charming and that the history behind it, our history, made it special. That the size didn't matter to her," he held up the white gold ring, with a small solitary princess cut diamond. "I'd like you to have it, to give to Kara. It gave me a lot of wonderful years with my wife, and I know it'll do the same for you." He handed the ring to Danny for his inspection. The Navy Seal was speechless. "I have her wedding band as well," he pulled it out of the box too, a band with a speckling of diamonds along the top. He handed that to Danny as well.

"Sir, are you sure?" Danny looked up at Tom, his eyes wide. Tom gave him an emotional smile and nodded.

"Absolutely." He answered, without question.

"I'm honored, sir. Thank you," Danny replied, his thanks heartfelt. Tom again shook Danny's hand.

"Did you say you found her a dress?" Tom eyed Danny, seeing if he'd heard him right. Danny laughed and nodded.

"Dr. Scott suggested we ask Commander Slattery if his wife had her wedding dress with her in Deer Park. Surprisingly she did, sir. She was kind enough to let me offer it to Kara, so she doesn't have to wear her dress whites," at the sound of Rachel's name, Tom felt his heart snap.

"Dr. Scott suggested that, did she?" he asked, surprised. Danny's face grew somber and her looked down.

"Yes, she did. She wasn't doing very well at the time. I only asked because she insisted, and how could I say no to her in her condition?"

"Well, it definitely seems like it was a good call," Tom grinned again at the officer.

"It definitely was," Danny nodded in agreement. "Thank you again, sir," Danny spoke, once more. Tom nodded.

"It's my pleasure, Danny. Enjoy every moment," he slapped the sailor on the back, and moved to his door.

"Good night, sir," Danny replied, stepping out into the p-way. Tom said his good night and as Danny went off in search of Kara, Tom shut his door, and leaned against it for a moment.

He looked down at his own wedding ring, and wondered briefly for a moment what exactly he was wearing it for, especially right now. It suddenly didn't seem to carry as much as it had hours ago, and now that he'd given Darien's rings to Danny, it felt like a broken chain to his wife. He let go of the door handle and slid the ring off his finger. He peered at it for a moment, and then decided he'd give it to Kara when he saw her next. He suspected the wedding would happen fairly quickly, thought that maybe they should move to warmer seas for the occasion. He'd talk to Mike about it tomorrow.

He put the ring on his desk, next to his dress whites cap and rang his fingers over the bare spot on his finger. He pulled out his academy ring from that small box, put it in its place. It felt less uncomfortable that way.

His thoughts wandered back to Rachel unexpectedly and he sighed as he turned out the lights and climbed into bed alone. He was frustrated by the situation, by his own behaviors, and by the circumstances surrounding them. He rubbed his hands over his face and sighed heavily. He cared about her, more than he could outwardly admit, to her or anyone. It was a scary feeling, a helpless feeling. Instead of just spitting it out, he'd walked away. He never walked away from anything, but this woman made him crazy, made him unsure of everything. He knew Darien inside and out. They'd been through everything together. He didn't know Rachel like that, and it scared him. He worried about whether it would work out. She was right in the possibility of the children getting hurt. If she hadn't survived being shot, they would have been devastated. He couldn't bear them having to lose one more person. But what if they never experienced motherly love again because of his fears—he couldn't bear that either. They needed a mother, someone to love them as he did.

He sighed and looked at the ceiling for answers. He closed his eyes and prayed that answers would come to him. Tomorrow was another day. Maybe he could make this right.


Thank you to each of you and your incredible reviews! Please, leave a line and let me know how you enjoyed this chapter. I'm thinking of posting a one-shot companion of Danny proposal, anyone want to read it? I'll totally write it if y'all are interested.

**I apologize for any typos!**