CHAPTER FOUR

Mike went back up to the deck and found Green. Training had progressed wonderfully this week and both he and Green felt the men would be ready when they reached port to deliver the cure. Lt. Green handed Mike the readiness report and Mike headed off to find Tom. He didn't find him on the bridge and Granderson told him he was in his stateroom reading reports. Mike made his way down there and knocked on the door. He heard Tom say enter on the other side, so he opened the hatch and popped his head inside.

"Got a second, Captain," Mike asked. Tom nodded slowly at him, as he propped his elbows on his outstretched legs and tented his fingers in front of himself. Mike came all way inside and closed the hatch behind him.

"Yeah, Mike, what's up?" Tom replied.

"The crew is looking good on training. We should be ready for deployment when we reach port. Dr. Scott's got a solid batch ready for us to distribute when we get there," Mike reported. He watched as Tom stared at a point on the floor. He seemed to be barely listening to what Mike was saying.

"Sounds good," Tom said absently. Mike saw the faraway look take over when he mentioned Dr. Scott.

"Need anything tonight?" Mike asked trying to draw Tom out of his distraction. Tom looked up from the floor. He looked a little lost to Mike, but he could see the wheels spinning in Tom's eyes. He was sure Tom was going to dismiss him, so he tried another tactic. "Someone on your mind tonight?"

Mike could tell the question caught Tom off guard. His eyes snapped up to Mike's. Mike smiled at him, managed to contain the laugh that was trying to escape, and shook his head slightly. Tom took a deep breath.

"That obvious?" he rumbled. Mike bit his cheek to stop the full blow guffaw that was about to escape him.

"Well, you've been distracted for a while now. I've seen how you look at her, and I've seen how she looks at you."

"Crap," Tom mumbled. "I don't know anymore, Mike. We had dinner the other night and it was a complete disaster."

"On whose account?" Mike asked, but he thought he already knew that answer.

"Mine, damn it. I keep feeling like I'm cheating on Darien. The guilt is heavy. I keep…It is all very confusing."

"Man, she's got you deep," Mike replied, not able to stop the laugh this time, causing Tom to glare at him. "Okay. So, what's your end goal?"

Again, Mike had caught Tom off guard. His mouth opened to reply but then he stopped, and Mike could see the other man thinking hard about what Mike had just said.

"I…I'm not sure, Mike," Tom said with a sigh. Mike studied Tom, watching him glance away at the desk. He could see his friend was in a great turmoil, but he could also see that Tom was just blocking his own self because it was safer.

"I think you do, Tom, I think deep down you know exactly what you want."

"Maybe," Tom fired back. He looked back at Mike. "How do I get there?"

"Time. First off you need to actually grieve for Darien. Then you need to come to terms with your feelings for Rachel."

"I know what I feel for her. And the longer I'm around her the deeper I fall. But I'm still in love with Darien. I know she's gone but…" Tom said, his voice trailing off.

"But you need to finish grieving so you can put her to rest."

"I did grieve…with Rachel actually."

"Oh really?" Mike retorted. That explained Rachel leaving his quarters so late at night a few weeks ago. "How'd that come about?"

"She happened to come to my stateroom when I was having a bad night. It just progressed and I felt…"

"Safe enough to share?"

"Maybe," Tom contemplated. "I didn't mean for it to happen. But she wouldn't leave, and it just happened." Tom finished and Mike thought about his budding relationship with Andrea.

"And?" Mike asked him, trying to force Tom to process his thoughts and emotions. Tom looked at him and smiled. There was a pause while Tom relived a memory.

"We talked after, for a long time. It was nice."

"So, you were able to set aside everything then. Eventually you'll be able to get past it. Just give it time, Tom. Guarantee she loves you too."

You really think so?" Tom asked.

"Are you blind, brother?" Mike asked laughing again. Tom shrugged his shoulders and shook his head slowly.

The next night found Mike having dinner with Tom in the wardroom. Their conversation was light, discussing making port the next day and what was expected. They were discussing who was going ashore.

"So, Vulture team goes ashore with the first shipment," Mike said, and Tom nodded slowly as he forked some food into his mouth. Mike did the same as Tom chewed and swallowed before answering him.

"Yes. Lt. Green will lead. I'll have them secure the things on land and then the second helo load can take Dr. Scott, myself, and whoever else needs to go. I'm not letting anyone, but Vulture team go ashore until we know it's safe."

"What's the word on the environment we're walking into?"

"Not much is known on the ports we are hitting from here on out. They've been broadcasting what we have and what our mission is to the masses so I'm hoping enough people have heard the message. I'm still not going in there blind and without adequate protection for people administering the cure."

"I agree. Vulture team then everyone else. Does Dr. Scott know she's on the second load?" Mike asked, a smug smile playing at his lips. He watched Tom frown and smiled a little more. He did not envy that conversation in the least.

"I haven't discussed it with her yet, but I'm sure she'll understand," Tom replied. Mike erupted in laughter. Tom looked sullenly at his food and Mike knew he was in trouble; his eyes came up to Mike's and he glared at his friend. Mike shoved some food in his mouth, still shaking with laughter. Yep, did not envy that one bit.

"That's a conversation I don't envy," Mike said after he swallowed another hearty laugh escaping. Tom nodded slowly at him.

"Yeah, not one I'm looking forward to. I know she's going to fight me on that one."

"Good luck," Mike said with a smile. "How are things anyway?"

"I haven't really seen her for a week or so," Tom replied. Mike watched as a Tom's eyes faded onto a memory. A blush crept up Tom's cheeks and Mike smiled. They both went back to eating.

The hatch to the wardroom banged open and both men looked up as a laughing Rachel Scott walked in followed closely by Tex Nolan. Tex stepped up next to her and draped his arm over her shoulder as he steered her towards a chair. Mike swallowed his food and stole a glance at Tom. It was not good. Rachel abruptly stopped laughing and Mike returned his gaze to the two as they took a seat. Mike glanced at Tom again and swallowed hard, seeing his friend struggling with the newest development. Tom's eyes dropped to his food.

"Sorry to interrupt, Gentlemen, but do you mind a little company tonight?" Tex was asking. Mike glanced at Tom again, trying desperately to gage his friend's current mood. He looked back up Rachel trying to gage her reaction to Chandler's reaction, and thirdly he looked dead square at Tex and smiled.

"Not at all, do join us," Mike replied, while still smiling. Mike saw Tom's subtle glare from the corner of his eye and figured he would pay for this later. But he didn't want to be rude either. When Mike took another glance at Tom his face was the mask Tom wore when in command. Mike watched as Tom forced his gaze up to Tex and gave him a nod before returning his eyes to his plate. Mike was a little disappointed that Tom chose to flat ignore Rachel.

As they continued eating, that trait also continued. Tom flat ignored Rachel, eating as quickly as he could. Mike sighed and tried to be a good dinner mate, but Tom's mood was sucking him down. Mike watched the anger in Rachel's eyes brew before she happily engaged in conversation with Tex. Mike felt like groaning aloud and screaming at the two…more so Tom. Tom finished his food and abruptly stood from the table.

"Excuse me, I have work to do," Tom said to no one in particular and then he left the wardroom quickly. Mike's eyes trailed him to the door then gave a tight-lipped smile to Rachel and Tex before he quickly finished his meal. As soon as he was done with his meal, he cleaned up his and Tom's trays and then exited the wardroom without another word. He made his rounds on the ship, still thinking about Tom's reaction to seeing Rachel with Tex. Her reaction to his response was intriguing as well. Mike was coming back by her lab when he saw her in the p-way. He decided to take a chance, Tom could be mad at him later.

"Dr. Scott?" Mike called out. She stopped in the p-way and looked over her shoulder at the sound of her name. Mike approached her with a tight smile on his lips. He decided to start with a safe topic and work his way to what he wanted to say to her. "How are things coming with the preparations?"

"On schedule," she answered distantly. Mike studied her demeanor and her face. He knew she was bothered by the captain's reception at dinner. He nodded slowly at her answer but didn't continue he was thinking about how to say what he wanted to say. Rachel noticed he had stopped talking and her eyes came up from the floor and met his. "Anything else, XO?"

"Yeah," he drew out, but then didn't continue. He still wasn't exactly sure what needed to be said. He also didn't want to say the wrong thing and have this backfire on him. She had locked eyes with him now as he studied her features. He half expected her to give him an exasperated statement about wasting her time, but she didn't, she simply stood there waiting. She glanced at her watch, a subtle hint that her time was valuable. But Mike was still struggling on what to say.

"Well, I'm on a tight schedule so I should be getting back to the lab," she said with a nod. He was about to lose his chance and he really needed to get her to see the light. She started to turn and Mike finally found his voice.

"Cut him some slack," he said gently. She stopped and turned back to him. "He's going through a lot. There's a lot of pressure on his shoulders and everything is still so raw," Mike continued in a low voice. Rachel looked at him with her brow knitted. "Look," Mike breathed out. "The captain has a lot on his shoulders. He's trying."

He tried to convey to her with his eyes what he meant. They stood staring at each other in the p-way. She seemed to be contemplating his words, so Mike stood there, eyes locked nodding slightly, with a tight smile on his face. He gave his shoulders a slight shrug, turned, and walked away from her, hoping his message was received…and received properly.

To Be Continued…