CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

Rachel had reapplied herself and been hard at work in her lab for a couple of days. More issues with the ship had kept Tom away, as he was using his at sea cabin instead of their stateroom. She was missing him but was using the time to replenish a stockpile of the cure. She was running out of storage room, and knew she was going to have free time when she ran out of room. She sighed. She was also concerned from what she was hearing in the wardroom from some of the junior officers.

Scuttlebutt was intel coming out of St. Louis confirmed the threat was real. The talk was that they were sailing into a mess. Rachel was afraid for the crew, and for the ship. They were still three and a half days out as delays had slowed them numerous times, including but not limited to, engine troubles, electrical problems, and a fire in the main galley.

She had seen Tom a few times for brief moments, and it was evident he was stressed and worn down. She couldn't wait until this mission was declared over and they could move on to what the future held. She had a feeling that the more problems they encountered the more Tom was thinking it was time to walk away.

She sighed as she cleaned up for the night and put her things away, making sure everything was secure, then exited her lab. She was walking down the p-way trying to decide if she wanted to eat in the wardroom or have a private dinner in the stateroom when she heard her name called from behind.

"Dr. Scott!" Mike's voice boomed down the p-way. Rachel paused and turned, searching out the man. Her heart skipped a beat when she saw the look on his face as he moved quickly towards her. She could tell something was wrong.

"What's wrong?" she instantly breathed out and she took a few steps meeting him in the p-way.

"You're needed in the infirmary," Mike said quietly as he looked around. "Come on."

"What happened?" Rachel asked as her concerns spiked.

"It's better if we don't talk about it out here," Mike said in with gritted teeth and gave her a pointed look. She felt fear rush her insides as adrenaline soared through her veins. She nodded quickly and followed the XO towards the infirmary. When she got there, she could see Rios leaning over someone on the bed and Rachel recognized it was Tom.

"What happened?" She breathed out as she pushed past Mike and went to Tom's side. She glanced at him as Tom laid on the bed with his eyes closed. There was a gash on over his eye that Rios was working on cleaning up. He was definitely going to need stitches.

"He collapsed on the bridge and hit his head," Mike replied softly. Rachel looked at him and she thought she saw a guilty look on Mike's face.

"When was the last time he slept?" Rachel asked. Rios glanced at her briefly, then glanced at Mike before turning his attention to Tom's cut.

"I don't really know, Ma'am. It's been about forty-seven hours for me personally," Mike said. Rachel studied his face and saw the pure exhaustion and strain on the man's face. "Ship's giving us fits and if we're really heading int the shit show we think we are it needs to be in top shape."

"So does her crew," Rachel said angrily. "Have you two at least eaten something in the last twenty-four hours?"

"Relax," Tom mumbled with a wince. It only served to fuel Rachel's anger.

"I will not," she spat at him. He cracked open his good eye, took in her angry expression and closed his eye again. Rachel glared at him.

"Mike," Tom said with a sigh.

"Yeah," Mike replied taking a step back from Rachel. Rachel leaned over Tom.

"Get back to the bridge and fix the, OW!" Tom yelped as Rachel pushed on his head wound. His eyes flew open, and he glared at her. Rios took a step back and held his hands up.

"Ah, yes, Sir, fix the ow. Got it," Mike said with a chuckle. Rachel watched as Tom's eyes flitted to the side to give Mike a glare.

"Just take over until I can get back up there. Soon as I'm stitched up," Tom said but Rachel cut him off.

"You're taking a break," Rachel ground out. Tom paused and looked at her. Rachel turned and looked at Mike. "And so are you, Commander Slattery." Rios ducked his head, and Rachel saw the man was trying to hide a smile.

"Rachel," Tom said in a warning tone, but Rachel just prodded his head again and he winced and grunted.

"If the scuttlebutt is true this ship may be heading into battle. How is this crew going to be able to function when the two highest ranking officers are in sickbay passed out from lack of sleep and nutrition?"

"The ship needs to be fully functional," Tom barked sitting up a little. Rachel knocked him back flat and looked at Rios.

"Sutures please," she said through tight lips. Rios glanced at the captain but then handed the needled and sutures over to Rachel.

"I'll be in my office if you need me help," Rios said and scurried away.

"Mike, why'd you get her?" Tom said angrily at his friend. Rachel glared at Mike over her shoulder, and he pursed his lips and went wide eyed.

"Um, I'm going back to the bridge," Mike replied weakly and turned and left the infirmary. Once they were alone Rachel let some of her fear leak out onto her face. She blinked back the hot tears and gave Tom a shot of lidocaine. Tom winced as the needle went in. He was looking at her, studying her face.

"I'm fine," Tom finally said in a softer tone. Rachel stood; fists clenched waiting for the lidocaine to take affect so she could stitch.

"You are clearly not fine," she mumbled. She felt Tom's fingers try to pry her fist open, and after a few seconds she let him. He wrapped his fingers around hers and she felt a little bit of the emotion ebb away.

"I just over did it, trying to get this ship ready."

"And got lucky. How much sleep have you gotten in the last three days?"

"I don't know. Not much. Too many issues to fix."

"And when did you eat last?" Rachel asked. Tom looked thoughtful, as if he was doing the math. Rachel knew right there it was too long.

"I…don't know."

"You can't do this, this crew needs you," she mumbled still fighting the tears.

"This crew needs me to lead. I'm leading. This isn't my first tour."

"Well, it is mine, and you need to take better care."

"Look, I know this is upsetting to you, and I'm sure the crew too, but I have to get this ship ready because you are right, we're most likely heading into a shit storm."

"Promise me you'll take a break soon?"

"As soon as the current issue is resolved."

"And what is the current issue?"

"There's a short in the firing system for the five inch. I need it functional when we reach port."

"So, delay our arrival."

"I can't," Tom ground out and Rachel could hear his frustrations with her. She reached out and touched the cut over his eye and when he didn't react, she got the needle and sutures ready. She heard Tom blew out a frustrated breath as she started to stitch his head closed. They both stopped talking while she worked. It took six stitches to close the gash. When she was done, she sighed and retook his hand.

"Tom," she said. He looked at her and she could see how torn he was. His eyes showed how frustrated he was with this mission.

"I'm really sorry, but I can't just take a break. I'll try to do better about eating at least, but sleep will come when I can."

"I guess that's what I'm going to have to accept."

"Thank you," Tom said as he sat up and winced.

"Have you eaten since they brought you down here?"

"No," Tom said with a sigh. As if on cue Rios walked back in with a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. Tom frowned.

"I figured I'd save you from the wrath and get you something that will help. Eat this, and drink this," the man said handing the sandwich and an orange juice over to the captain. Tom took it reluctantly and started to eat the sandwich. Rios smiled and walked away.

"Well at least I know you've eaten," she said bitterly. Tom sighed and reached up with his free hand and touched her face.

"This is life at sea. Sometimes the captain doesn't get a break."

Rachel nodded reluctantly. She knew when she was on the losing end with him, and it was something she was just going to have to accept. She sat with him while he finished eating and made sure he drank the entire orange juice before she let him get up.

"I really hope I see you tonight…off duty."

"If we can figure this problem out, you will," Tom sighed before leaning in and kissing her. "Thank you for stitching me up," he quipped with a wink.

She gave him a tight smile as she shook her head at him. He nodded and then left the infirmary and headed back to his duties. He was just out of the infirmary when she called after him.

"Tom?" she called. He stopped and looked back over his shoulder at her.

"Yeah?" he asked.

"Make sure your XO eats some food before he's down here too?"

"Yes, Ma'am," he said with a smile and walked away. Rachel glanced over and saw Rios watching her with a smile on her face. She shook her head and left the infirmary hoping that they could figure out what was going on.

To Be Continued…