I've decided that there will be only one more chapter and an epilogue after this one. Actually finally some action here, hope you enjoy!

BTW, Did anyone one else finish last night's episode with a very puzzled face? A who-was-that-girl-at-McGee's-place kind of face?

Chapter Eight

"Kate, I've got to head up to Annapolis for a few days. Maybe you could catch up with your brother now. You and the baby and me...I know you don't want to see your family, but its a good opportunity. You owe your brother at least that much, you don't have to see the others, and he can't really do anything about us." Nick blurted this mouthful out almost as soon as he walked inside, picking up his son from the baby seat.
Kate froze. Seeing Brett again would be nice--he'd be so proud of her and her baby. But there would be so many questions. Kate sighed. She'd have to face them someday. Why not sooner rather than later?
"I don't know about this, Nick, but, I'll go with you."
Nick smiled at his wife. "Great, I think we do owe your brother something. Its hard not to stay in touch with them, huh?"
Kate nodded. She knew very little of what was happening in her family's life. She did know Brett was at the Naval Academy, Greg doing well in school, and Doug engaged to his old girlfriend, Sarah. Dad she knew nothing about.

... ...
"Lets go, plebes! You think the whole world revolves around you? You think I should let you off? Get moving, before I report you!" Squad Commander Midn. 3c/o Brett Sanders yelled at some young men and women. With scared faces, they saluted him with an abrupt, "sir, yes, sir!", and marched off towards Bancroft Hall.
Brett sighed, and continued his walk towards LeJeune Hall. It was a beautiful day, just right for a swim, and the midshipman was ready to let his stress go in the waters of the pool in the athletic center of the Academy.
"Brett!" Brett turned, startled. It was rare to hear his first name here on base. Sometimes it would be midshipman, sometimes it would be Sanders, and often it would be something derogatory by the upperclassmen.
Brett Sanders froze. "Kate!"
Kate nodded at her twin. "Hey, Brett. I see you've actually made it here. Who would have thought!" Her lighthearted attitude had no affect on Brett, as he stared at her blankly.
"Where--? Why? And who is the kid?"
Kate grinned. "That kid is your nephew!"
Brett's mouth dropped open. "You actually mean you ran away because you were pregnant?"
Kate looked at him severely. "Uh, Brett, no...I ran away...well, I don't want to talk about it now. The point is, I'm back, with my son, and...my husband."
"Your husband!"
"Nick."
"Katie, I'm so happy to see you. I have a lot of questions though."
"They are going to have to wait, I don't feel right about discussing things now."
Kate looked around the campus. "You think we could go someplace to catch up on old times?"
"We could go home, if I could get a pass."
The midshipman's sister froze. "Absolutely not." She said in a choked tone. Her brother looked at her curiously. "You don't want to see everyone?"
"Well...I'd like to see Mom."
"We could get her here."
An hour and half later, the three were seated at the quaint Academy restaurant overlooking the ice skating rink. Mom was cooing over Jacob, her first grandbaby, as he sat purring on her lap. Kate was absentmindedly stirring her drink, while Brett scrutinized her intensely.
After a long pause, Mom broke out, "Okay, Kate, talk, and talk now."
"Mom, please. Don't make me tell you anything. Tell me about the family."
"Your father is the same, he's at the Naval Station across the river now."
"The Naval Station?"
"Yeah, they hired a civilian company to work on some of the military housing there."
... ...
Nick had just dropped his wife and son off at the Naval Academy's Gate One. He crossed the beautiful Severn River by way of the short bridge that spanned it, and took the next right to the Naval Station Annapolis. It was a smaller Naval station, especially compared to Norfolk, but it was known as the best small Naval station in the world. He scanned the various buildings on base--the fire department, an NCIS building, the medical facilities, some different military housing. His eyes wavered back to the military housing when his eyes caught on a familiar figure.

Nick swore under his breath. Of all the unlucky things! He thought his wife would at least be safe in Annapolis, and her father would be there that very day. He caught Perry Sander's eyes, and marched to him.

Perry was sweating heavily from the heat of the Maryland spring. He wiped his face, and looked up to see Nick Phearson. Perry had never known Nick that well--he was never home long enough to. But he had met him, and when both Nick and Kate had disappeared simultaneously, both families knew it was a connected event. He swore.

"Phearson, where is my daughter?"

Nick returned his furious face with an icy gaze. "You mean your daughter, the one that you abused for years? The one that ran away from home to be with me because you terrified her? Because you never gave her the chance to have a father who loved her the way a father should? The daughter that gave up her brothers and mother and who life to get away from you? If you mean that daughter, then, yeah, I know where she is."

Nick could see the mixed shock and rage in his father-in-law's face. Suddenly, the older man lunged at the young one, who firmly whirled him around, and caught him around his neck and shoulders, Marine-style. Nick spoke softly yet forcefully in the man's ear. "You can't push me around like you did your daughter. And you cannot push her around. She's my wife, and don't you forget it."

Perry tensed. "You married Kate? She ran away and married you!"

"Yeah."

Perry flipped behind and delivered a punch to Nick's face.

Back at the Academy, Kate waited for her husband to come and pick her up. She gave her mom her phone number, making her promise not to give it to anyone. Nick arrived soon after, and was greeted warmly by his in-laws. Kate looked questionly at his black eye, and he smiled weakly at her.

"You ran into...him, didn't you?"

"Yeah, but I don't think he'll bother you again, Katie."

Maria and Brett exchanged glances. "Who is 'him'?" asked Brett.

Understanding suddenly appeared on Maria's face. "You ran into my husband, didn't you? Is that why you ran, Kate? Because you couldn't live with an alcoholic?"

Kate paused. "No, Mom, I ran because he was a child molester."

A few days later, Kate was settled nicely into her own home in Virginia. Things had been explained to her mother and brother. Both were shocked at the events that had taken place in their very home for so many years.

Kate had just arrived home with Jacob from the commissary. She was checking her phone messages, when her mother's voice stopped her still.

"I haven't heard from your father until a few days ago. He delivered divorce papers, and I haven't seen him since. Kate, you can come home now."