A/N - not sure this works with the timeline of the show but, since this story is AU anyway, I'm running with it. Thank you for all the support on this little drabble. It's been a fun change for me. Oh, and Mike swears a lot in my head so...you've been warned. xoxo - tmtcltb

x

Mike stood in three inches of snow, puffing on a cigar as he stared through the windows of the hotel, his feet like blocks of ice. Whoever said that it never snowed in December in St. Louis was totally full of shit.

Inside, the party was just beginning to get crazy, the crew working off two years of war and death. Ray and Kat were doing some kind of routine in the middle of the floor that seemed to mostly involve shaking their asses, while the helicopter team urged them on with hoots and whistles. Russ and Bacon had once again pulled out a chessboard, although how they could concentrate over the noise of Gator and Nishioka leading a conga line was a mystery to Mike. And Miller was regaling Courtney and Cameron with some story that involved a lot of hand - and crutch - waving.

But despite the merriment, Mike couldn't quite shake the feeling that something was missing tonight. Or, rather, that someone was missing. Several someones, actually. Tonight there was no Carlton, no Alisha, no Meylan, no Doc. Each loss hitting him like a blow. His people. Lost under his watch. For the first time, Mike understood why Tom left after the events in St. Louis. Sure, losing Jed was devastating, especially coming on top of Rachel's death six months earlier. But it was more than that. It was counting up the men and women that you sent into battle, and then counting up the ones that came home, and seeing a number that you just couldn't stomach.

"No mistletoe?" Asked a familiar voice and, suddenly, the air around him didn't feel quite so cold.

"Snow kills the stuff apparently," Mike replied, watching as Andrea walked towards him. She was limping slightly, the broken hip she suffered at Mayport acting up in the colder weather. "Although I think I saw Green stuffing some in his pocket before the caterers disappeared with it. I could go steal some."

Andrea chuckled, glancing at the window. "They seem better tonight. All of them."

Mike's eyes drifted to Wolf, who sat with his leg propped up, Azima by his side. After a bit of touch-and-go, the Aussie was finally back on his feet, although his days with Delta Team were in the past. The Greens sat across from them, Danny's arm tossed over Kara's shoulders as she leaned against him, their differences apparently resolved for tonight. As Mike watched, Tom and Sasha approached the table with a tray full of champagne. Sasha hugged Azima, then Wolf, before taking hold of Azima's left hand. A minute later, Tom said something and Sasha turned, face breaking into a grin, as they raised their glasses in a toast.

"Yeah," Mike agreed. "They do."

"I see that Taylor finally popped the question," Andrea continued, although her eyes were on him rather than the ballroom. "He must have decided that being a house-husband wasn't so bad."

"Or someone convinced Reiss to provide Taylor with dual citizenship for service and bravery, making him eligible for civilian positions here in the States." Mike blew out a puff of smoke, chuckling. "You keep that up and people are going to realize what a softie you are, Captain."

"As if you didn't make the same play," Andrea snorted, before slipping an arm around his shoulders, tugging him down for a gentle kiss. "I think we can manage without the mistletoe."

Setting his cigar to the side, Mike pulled her closer, burying his head in her hair. Saying a silent prayer of thanks that she was here, in his arms. That, for today at least, she wasn't one of the litany of names he knew by heart, ones that he would carry until the day he died.

He reached into his pocket. "I have something that I want to give you."

Andrea watched as he held up the ring. The one he had been carrying for over a year, waiting for this moment. Praying that he would get the chance to give it to her. She lifted an eyebrow. "You aren't going to get down on one knee?"

"I'm game," Mike replied. "But then you'll have to explain to the CNO why I've ruined another uniform. That woman is a tyrant."

"Maybe we should skip it then." Andrea smiled, lifting her hand so that he could slide the ring onto her finger. When she lifted her eyes, they were shining. "So, should we set a date?"

Mike grinned. "How does next year sound?"

Andrea glanced over her shoulder at the ballroom, before turning back and lifting her head for another kiss. "Sounds like a plan."