CHAPTER THRITY-FIVE

Three days later Mike was standing on the deck of the Nathan James in his dress whites. He adjusted his cover as he watched Tom scan the area. Andrea stepped away from Mike to talk to Jed, so Mike stepped up to Tom, who was leaning on the railing staring out at the open sea.

"Nervous?" Mike asked casually.

"A little. More excited," Tom replied looking around. Mike turned to look back at the activity on the deck. The crew was assembling, getting ready for the ceremony. Mike saw Tom nod and glanced in that direction and saw Tex with Kat. Tex was nodding back at Tom. "It's about time."

"Yep."

"Got the rings?"

"In my pocket," Mike said as he brushed some lint off Tom's shoulder. Mike smiled at his friend. Tom glanced off and motioned to Ashley to come to him.

"What's up, Daddy?" she asked as she approached. "You look so handsome."

"Thanks, Baby. Can you run down and let the ladies know it's time to start?"

"Sure, Daddy," Ashley replied and then headed away. Mike took in the scene. He couldn't wait until he could do this with Andrea. He looked over and saw her standing, still talking to Jed. She saw him looking and smiled at him. Russ stepped up to them.

"As soon as the ladies are ready, we are good to start," Russ said. Tom nodded slowly. Mike slapped Tom on the back once and then walked away while Russ steered Tom towards the alter area.

Mike walked up to Andrea and Jed as they were laughing about something. Mike smiled and glanced over the crowd. He then looked at Andrea and smiled. She was really stunning in her dress whites. She grinned at him. When the other ladies joined them, they began to slowly walk towards the front.

Mike held his arm out to Kelly Tophet as she slipped her hand into his elbow. They walked towards Tom and Russ together, then separated as Mike stood next to Tom and Kelly stood just off of where Rachel would stand.

Then he turned and watched as Ashley and Jed came next, before Kara and Andrea came down and took their places. Finally, Rachel made her appearance and walked to the front up and joined Tom. Mike looked at Andrea for most of the ceremony, catching her eye multiple times and grinning.

The ceremony was short and sweet and then Russ said to kiss the bride and Tom went full passion. As they pulled apart the entire crew jeered and cheered for their captain and the doctor. Mike could see the blush in Rachel's face. Mike was the loudest, or maybe he was just the closest, but Rachel looked at him over Tom's shoulder and shook her head, eyes slightly wide. Mike laughed. Tom then held out his arm, and Rachel wrapped hers up in his and they walked back through the crowd as a married couple.

A couple hours later they were in the hall Andrea had secured eating dinner. As Mike cleaned up his plate, he felt Andrea as she pressed her knee against his under the table. He glanced at her and quirked his mouth into a smile. It was loud as the crew ate and talked so Mike leaned in close to her ear.

"I can't wait until I can marry you," Mike whispered. Andrea grinned and winked at him. As the staff started to clear plates the DJ cranked up the music and Mike sat back in his chair and took in the scene. He glanced over and saw Rachel and Tom sharing a conversation, so he stood up, trying to get everyone's attention.

Mike stood up. Tom had begged him not to give a speech as his best man and Mike had halfway promised him he'd consider his request, fully well knowing…he was going to give a speech. Once the hall had quieted down, Mike held up his glass.

"As best man I'm obligated to give a speech," Mike said dramatically.

"Well, we talked about it, and I told you not to," Tom boomed back at him. The crew laughed, and Mike glared at Tom before he grinned.

"You said I sucked at speeches and shouldn't do it. You never said I couldn't do it," Mike protested, earning more laughs. Rachel was now laughing as well, and he noticed Andrea chuckling away, a grin on her face. Mike and Tom stared at each other, letting the laughter die down.

"If you have to," Tom quipped and leaned over and kissed Rachel's temple, before looking back at Mike. Mike smiled and looked back out at the crew.

"Always needs the spotlight that one," Mike continued, shaking his head. Then he lifted his glass out in front of him. "I know I'm supposed to do that whole funny or embarrassing story or whatever, but Tom's right," Mike said, made a face while he paused then stage whispered, "don't tell him I said that." Tom burst out laughing and raised an eyebrow at Mike. After the laughs died down, they smiled at each other, then Mike continued. "Seriously though. I've known Tom Chandler for twenty years or more. I've done this twice with him, and both times it was meant to be. Tom, I'm glad you got your head out of your ass and figured this out. Rachel, I'm glad you gave him time to get his head out of his ass to figure this out." More laughter erupted as Tom simply shook his head. "Here's to you two, hold each other up, keep each other safe, and love each other fully."

The hall erupted into a chorus of "here, here!" as the crew agree with Mike. A lopsided grin had graced Tom's features as he stared at Mike. Mike tipped his chin at his best friend and then drank from his glass. Tom turned his attention to Rachel, leaned over and kissed her lovingly on the lips. Mike sat down and Tom leaned over to him, reached his hand out and Mike shook it. As Tom gripped his hand firmly, he leaned into Mike's ear.

"You're such an ass," Tom whispered, and Mike laughed heartily, throwing his head back. Tom dropped his hand and leaned back towards Rachel when Kelly Tophet stood up.

"Well, who can follow a stellar speech like that?" Kelly asked as more laughter erupted from the crew. Mike threw a wink in Kelly's direction as his hand slipped into Andrea's under the table. "As maid of honor, I suppose I'm supposed to give one of those too. Rachel, we've known each other a long time…not as long as those two," she said indicating Tom and Mike, "but long enough. I wish you both long lasting happiness in this crazy world we now line in," Kelly finished and raised her glass. She sat down as Rachel leaned over and hugged her.

A little while later Mike and Andrea had moved to a table near the dance floor as Tom and Rachel shared their first dance. They slipped into seats as Kara joined them first, then Jed and a woman that neither of them knew sat down.

"Who's this, Jed?" Andrea asked. Mike looked at Tom's dad.

"This is Gladys, a friend of mine," Jed replied with a smile. Everyone exchanged hellos. Mike felt Andrea slip her hand into his under the table.

The conversation soon took off as the night lagged on. Tom and Rachel's dance came to an end and then Tom was dancing with his children. Andrea squeezed Mike's hand and he looked at her. She motioned with her chin towards the dance floor, and he looked out to see Tex and Rachel dancing. He smiled, glancing at Chandler to gauge his reaction. His attention returned to the table.

"How are things going on this ship?" Jed asked.

"Pretty well," Mike said. "The engineering crew got her engines back in top shape just in time for us to head to sea."

"At least we had the proper time and testing this time," Andrea breathed out and Mike smiled.

"So, I shouldn't expect any issues once we start cruising?" Mike asked. Andrea glared at him briefly before she smiled.

"That's going to be Chung and Lynn's problem. I'm command now," Andrea said with a wink. Mike laughed.

"That's what I heard," Jed replied. "Captain Slattery, and XO Garnett."

"Yep, Tom took the big wig desk job, so I get the ship," Mike said with a smile. "And we'll be shipping off tomorrow afternoon."

Tom stepped up as Mike said it and everyone looked at him. Andrea held her hand at an empty chair and Tom took a seat.

"Are you sad you're staying on dry land, Sir?" Andrea asked Tom quietly. Tom smiled and looked over his shoulder, finding Rachel working the crowd.

"No, actually I'm not. I'm ready for land duty," Tom replied with a smile. Andrea smiled and nodded.

"We're gunna miss you out there," Mike said with a nod. And he really meant that. It would be different with Tom no longer on the ship after everything they had been through.

"I think I've left the ship in good hands. Make sure you keep him in line, Eng."

"Oh, you can count on it, Admiral," Andrea replied with a wink. Tom laughed and Mike grinned. Mike caught the confused look on Kara's face, and the smirk on Jed's.

"Did I miss something?" Kara asked just as Danny stepped up behind her.

"Can I have a dance?" Danny asked and

Kara looked up over her shoulder at him. She then scanned the faces around the table one last time but then got up and joined Danny on the dance floor.

"Whoops," Andrea said laughing and Mike cringed while Tom smirked.

"So, how long have you two been sleeping together?" Jed asked. Tom's jaw dropped and his eyes widened at his father's remark. Mike burst out laughing and Andrea turned bright red.

"Long enough," Mike said with a shoulder shrug, squeezing her hand, and smiling at her.

"I take it, it's still under cover?" Jed asked.

"Always under the covers," Andrea said with a sly smile. More laughter erupted around the table and Mike grinned.

"Since we share a command right now, we have to keep it on the down low. But after this deployment," Mike shrugged, and Andrea smiled at him. They had still not announced their intentions when they came back, and tonight was not the night to do that.

"You two make a cute couple," Gladys piped in. Everyone smiled and nodded. Tom pushed up from the table and put a hand on his dad's shoulder.

"Take the kids tonight?" Tom asked. Jed nodded.

"Just find me when it's time," he replied before turning to Gladys. "Dance with me?"

"My pleasure," she smiled at him. The two sauntered off to the dance floor and Tom turned towards Mike.

"If I don't see you before you ship out tomorrow, be safe."

"Always, Sir. And congrats, Tom. She's a catch."

"Thanks, Mike."

"Congrats, Tom," Andrea said. "I'm glad you found happiness again."

"Thanks, Eng. Happiness looks good on you too. I'm just stunned it's with that goofball," Tom said jutting a thumb at Mike.

"Hey," Mike said, but he couldn't hold the posture and started laughing. All three of them were laughing.

"It's the people I'll miss the most," Tom said with a sigh. "Make sure you both come back."

"Aye, Aye, Admiral," Mike replied with a salute. Tom smiled, before he stepped away from the table leaving Mike and Andrea alone.

Mike turned towards her, squeezing her hand under the table. He wanted to kiss her. He wanted to dance with her, but with the entire crew here, they couldn't chance it. So instead, he leaned in close.

"I love you, Andrea Garnett," Mike said. "And I can't wait until it's our turn."

"Me too, Mike, me too."

To Be Continued…