Short ficlet -Follows on from the first season episode Nothing But the Truth.
I don't own any of the characters.
Ben was just about to give up on the idea of trying to sleep when he heard the knock on the hatch to his cabin. He switched the light on and picked the way around the various boxes of supplies that crowded the room.
Katie stood outside the door. 'Couldn't sleep?' Ben asked, stepping aside so she could enter. She shook her head in answer. 'Me neither,' he admitted.
She sat down on his bunk and he took a seat next to her. 'I thought you were dead,' she said simply her voice flat and emotionless.
'I'm not.'
'I know.'
'I thought I was going to die,' she said.
'But you didn't.'
'I know.'
Ben slipped his arm around his ex-wife's shoulders and she relaxed against him. Neither of them said anything for several minutes. Then, still without saying anything they lay down next to each other on the narrow bunk, Katie with her back to Ben and Ben holding around her, letting her head rest on his arm.
Nothing needed to be said, they'd said anything that needed to pass between them years ago. The divorce had come through. It was final. They were officially single and unattached.
Unless they needed someone. Then they played pretend that they were still married. Then they slept together. Just slept, just held each other and gave a silent reassurance that they were not really alone.
Tonight Katie needed someone to be there. Not to tell her everything was OK, just another human being to be there and to hold her as she drifted into sleep. UEO Lieutenant Commanders didn't show weakness, they weren't allowed to be afraid when commandos took over the boat. They certainly didn't turn to lieutenants for support. But maybe a wife could turn to her husband if she needed too.
And Ben knew that in a few weeks time when he woke up at three in the morning feeling his hand slip out of Ford's grasp and his head go under the water. When that happened he would knock on Commander Hitchcock's cabin door and his wife would answer it.
His arm started to go numb a few seconds after he heard Katie's breathing even out as she slipped into sleep. Ben didn't try to move it.
What do you think? If anyone is interested in reading more Ben and Katie stories please do reviewand let me know.
