CHAPTER THREE
A week had passed, and Mike was worried about Tom. He had hinted multiple times that he was around to talk if Tom so needed. Tom had acknowledged him each time, but still hadn't come to him with what was so heavily bothering. He had noticed that Tom was avoiding Dr. Scott as well. Mike had become the liaison for her to handle information exchange. Not that he was complaining but he had to wonder what was going on between the good Doctor and the heroic Captain.
As much as he wanted to confront the captain with what was bothering him, Mike had his own problems to deal with, mainly…the chief engineer…and his growing feelings for the woman. They continued to seek each other out in the darkness as each struggled with putting their demons to rest. And each time Mike felt more and more attracted to her. He was a little unsure of what to do. He was mostly positive that she felt something for him too. Or at least he hoped he was reading the situation right and it wasn't just a shared grief that was keeping her coming back for more.
It was getting to the point where his favorite part of the day was any part, he got to see Commander Andera Garnett. He found himself wondering if she felt the same way. He thought she might, the way her face lit up when she saw him. They way she'd smile at him when they were alone. Mike blew out a deep breath.
The biggest difference between Mike and Tom right now was…Tom was getting distracted on watch…and Mike was keeping himself in check. Mike noticed that the crew was beginning to notice their great captain's distractions. There were quiet murmurs around the ship about what could be causing the captain's distress. Mike was glad to hear most of it centered around the fact he was grieving for a dead wife, much like the rest of them were grieving for someone. Mike asked Jeter to gently remind the crew that everyone grieved differently. Jeter had agreed.
Mike was sure on a few occasions that it had gotten too heavy for Tom Chandler to handle, expecting him to unload like he usually did with Mike, but Tom wasn't quite there yet. So, Mike let him shoulder the load by himself…for now.
He sat in his stateroom in the dark staring at the wall…actively fighting the urge to rip down of all the pictures of his family. It was a particularly hard night and he finally got dressed in his sweats and made his way up to the deck for air. He made his way to the five-inch gun and leaned against the casing housing it. He stood, ankles crossed, arms folded tightly over his chest, cigar stuck between his teeth. He looked up at the star-studded sky and leaned his head against the cold metal. He sighed and tried to clear his head of all the ghosts that were currently haunting him.
He saw a shadow from his peripheral. Someone else was on deck tonight. He felt his insides tingle at the anticipation, hoping it was who he wanted it to be. And he was rewarded as Commander Garnett walked into view, still in her BDUs. He smiled as she saw him. Garnett looked around the deck, looking to see if they were alone, then settled in next to him, taking up his same posture. No words were exchanged, and none were needed. They both knew why they were on deck tonight, and they both understood the need to run from the darkness.
After a while, Mike gave into temptation and slipped his arm around her shoulders, tugging her gently closer to him. He wanted to feel her against him, steal the strength from her body heat. She didn't resist and even leaned heavily into his side. Mike smiled, and still no words were exchanged between them. More time passed, the ship steamed ahead, the air whipped around them, and yet they stayed, side by side, healing each other. At least that's what was happening for Mike Slattery. The pain was less when she was around, the hurt wasn't so deep. The ghosts were containable, all because she was next to him. He wondered if she felt the same. There had to be something he told himself…otherwise she wouldn't keep seeking him out in the darkness…like he did for her.
He felt her shiver against him, and he instinctively wrapped his other arm around her shifting her in front of him, her back against his chest. He enveloped her in his embrace, holding her strongly in place, fighting the urge to bend down and kiss a trail down her neck.
Those feelings were startling to Mike. And if he wasn't terrified it would completely ruin what they were doing, he'd go for it. But he didn't want to risk this, for that. Not yet anyway. Not without more evidence that she wanted him to kiss a line down her neck. That thought rushed through him and his breathing hitched slightly. He quickly closed his eyes and stopped his rampant thoughts. Garnett shifted slightly against him, he loosened his hold on her and he felt her spinning around. He found the courage to look down, finding her blue eyes staring right back at him. She went up on her tiptoes and reached with her hand, cupping the side of his face ever so gently. Mike's eyes closed on their own volition, he was slowly losing brain functions, his body kicking into response and auto piolet.
"What are we doing, Slattery?" she asked so gently he wasn't sure if he really heard her. He couldn't bring himself to open his eyes, so he simply shook his head from side to side. He didn't know. He didn't have a clue. He just didn't want it to end. "Well, when you figure out what you want? Come find me," she whispered and then she was gone from his grip and walking away. Mike opened his eyes and sucked in a deep breath, trying to fill his air starved lungs.
He didn't follow her. He stood rooted to the spot, his brain spinning so fast it felt like it was catching fire. That was your sign idiot he thought to himself. But he still couldn't bring himself to do anything about it. What if he had read that situation all wrong. He blew out a straggled breath and pushed up and away from the five-inch. He went back to his cabin and stretched out on the bed. He'd removed his shoes, but the rest of his clothes were still in place. He wondered if he would sleep tonight. He wondered if he would ever sleep again. He was angry with himself, but he was still too chicken to go to her.
The next week Mike was kept busy as he oversaw the training being conducted by Lt. Green. He'd noticed Tom's distractions were getting more and more and more and the crew was definitely taking notice that the captain was not on his A game. Mike had done his duty to knock the scuttlebutt down and keep the crew in line, with the help of Jeter. But it was getting out of hand. He decided he was going to have to bring it up with Tom himself because it was evident that Tom had decided to suffer alone in whatever his predicament was.
Although Mike had a very good idea of what that predicament was. Tom Chandler had fallen in love with Dr. Rachel Scott. Mike had seen the way Tom looked at her, and how that look had evolved over time. He had also seen how Rachel Scott looked at the good captain…and that look hadn't really changed much…other than maybe growing more affectionate as time passed. There were plenty of rumors about those two already, but Mike knew that Tom was struggling with this point.
As the week lingered on Mike also noticed that Garnett was avoiding him. He felt a sadness in him, but as he thought about her last words to him…he knew it was partially his fault. He had sought her out the next day but had acted like that hadn't happened, and it had burned her. He could tell she was agitated that he was hiding from her words. Mike knew he needed to do something because he had missed her terribly this week, and that thought scared him.
He was hung up on the major rule of fraternization, something that Garnett was apparently okay with breaking. But then again…in this new world…did the old-world rules still apply? Mike knew that if he went to her, and they agreed to try this…it would have to be secret. It would have to be guarded…it would have to be just between them. But accomplishing that on a ship while deployed? That was a feat in and among itself. Was he up to keeping that big of a secret? Was she worth that big of a secret? Was she worth getting busted over?
His answers to those questions had surprised him…because they were all yes. There was something there for him and Garnett. Every time he thought of her a smile came over his face. A warmth spread through the darkness. She was tough as nails, and beautiful to boot. He wondered where she was in that exact moment. She'd still be on watch…in engineering. He made his way through the ship, sailors stepping to the side, clearing a path for him to move down. He popped his head into the engine room and spotted her talking to Chung on the other side.
He waited for her to finish her conversation, wondering if she would notice him. She finally glanced over Chung's shoulder, saw him standing there. He gave her a little wave, a small smile. He tilted his head towards the hatch and left the engine room. He paused in the p-way, waiting for her to emerge. He turned and walked towards officer country seeing if she would follow him. He was afraid to look back. He strode forward, towards his stateroom. He pulled the hatch open and stepped inside, leaving it open for her. To anyone around it looked like the chief engineer and the XO were having a meeting. Garnett had a folder in her hands. Mike finally allowed himself to look when he heard the hatch to his stateroom click shut. She stood there, arms folded over her chest, her face an unreadable mask.
Mike breathed in deeply and sat on his desk, drawing one leg up resting on the top while he used the other to support himself. He arms crossed over his chest and he stared at her. She grew impatient, he could see it in her body language, as her face remained indifferent. He smiled and looked up at the ceiling. So many emotions were rampaging inside him. He needed to find a calm. He needed to find his courage. She was on the move. Garnett walked up to him and placed her hand gently on his elbow. The touch seemed to give him that calm he was craving, and he look down into her eyes.
"Did you need something XO?" Garnett asked.
"Yeah," he croaked out. He almost said it. He almost let himself break and say, you. But it stuck in his throat, and he couldn't say it. He looked over her shoulder and tried to refocus, needing to clarify his feelings so he could articulate them. She was patient, seemed to understand he was struggling. Her hand flattened against his arm, stroking softly on his forearm and heat exploded in his body.
"I said when you figure out what you want to come find me. You came and found me. So, Slattery, what do you want?"
"For you to call me Mike," he burst out. He felt a slight blush creep up his cheeks, but he stood his ground. Her hand stilled, her delicate fingers curling around his arm, squeezing. Her mask slipped and a smile crept slowly across her face. Then a laugh began to bubble and sputter forth from her lips. Mike felt himself relax, he dropped his leg to the floor and stood abruptly, maximizing their height difference. "I'm serious," he whispered, his hands finding her shoulders. She smiled wider.
"I don't doubt that." She answered, her head twisting slightly to the side. Mike fought the urge to ravish her mouth. His lips curled into a cocky grin, his hands shifting, one going to the back of her neck, the other to her ass. He took a chance. He flatted his hand on her ass and hefted up while spinning them around. He placed her on his desk then leaned down and captured her mouth with his. His left hand held him steady on his desk, the other still on the back of her neck, her ponytail feathered over his fingers.
Her lips were soft against his. He moved slowly, tentative, and she responded. The kiss was simple, just lips. It was quick. Mike pulled back slightly, his fingers gently stroking her skin on her neck. She stared at him, a look of slight disbelief on her face. He grinned. Her hands came up and stroked the sides of his face. She tugged and he obliged. Mike dropped his head down and she captured his lips with her own. She led the kiss as it deepened and intensified. Mike held on as the sensations washed through him making him heady and lightheaded. Her tongue stroked along his lips and then she was nipping at his lower lip. A groan escaped him, and he opened his mouth and thrust his tongue forward into her mouth. She matched him.
When the need for air drove them apart, Mike took a step back. He needed space. They needed to talk about what was going on. She seemed to understand his hesitance. She sat, her legs dangling, on the side of his desk. A grin on her features making her even more beautiful to Mike. He touched his lips and closed his eyes, briefly, then opened them again.
"So, that happened," Garnett said simply, and Mike found himself laughing.
"So, it did," he countered. His brain was still spinning wildly from the sensations brought on by the kiss. He was also running what he felt through his mind, trying to make sense of it all. He smiled and bit at his lower lip, igniting the memory of her doing the same thing…he wanted it again.
"So now what?" she whispered as she hoped down off his desk. She came up to him, her arms slinking around his hips. She was looking up at him, expectant. Mike fought the urge to pick her up and take her to his bed. It was too soon for that, he chided himself.
"So now we figure this out," Mike breathed out, his hands resting gently on her shoulders. The corners of his mouth tugging up.
"I didn't see this coming, Mike," she whispered. And the sound of his first name rolling of her tongue sparked something primal in him. He leaned down in a hurry and crushed his lips against hers, his hand palming the back of her head, holding her in place as he ravished her mouth, his tongue seeking admittance, dominance, complete submission. But she fought back with the same fervor and Mike felt his insides ignite in a way he had never experienced before.
He couldn't breathe, but he continued to twist his tongue with hers. The sensations rolling through him were guttural and primitive, driving him to pull her body flush with his. Finally, he was too lightheaded to continue, and he broke his mouth from hers, his head snapping up, his arms wrapped around her head and neck tugging her into his chest as tightly as he could without crushing her.
"Neither did I," he gasped out, sucking in air, trying to not hyperventilate. He held her for a long time after that, her arms wrapping around his middle her face snuggled into his chest. Neither one dared move, not wanting this to end, fearful that it might be just a dream. After a long while, Mike found his voice. "Am I dreaming."
It was quiet, just above a whisper. He felt her shift, her head shake back and forth, her fingers flexing on his back.
"No, it's real," she breathed out. She sighed and Mike pulled her back by the shoulders, afraid it meant she regretted it. She reached up, her hand lying flat on his chest over his heart. "It's not a dream, Mike," she said. And he smiled down at her. "But I have to get back to engineering," she whispered, the regret in her voice sparking something deep inside Mike.
"Yeah," Mike replied as he glanced at the clock. He cringed. He'd been gone a long time too, and as if on que the portable on his shoulder squawked to life. Garnett laughed and smiled up at him then stepped away. He answered the call on the radio as he watched her walk across the room. He finished just as she got to the hatch. "Hey, Andrea," he said, testing out her first name. He really like how it sounded. She looked back at him, a smile dancing on her face.
"Yeah?"
"I'll see you later," he said with a wink. Garnett laughed and nodded. She then opened the hatch and was gone.
To Be Continued…
