CHAPTER TWENTY-TW0

Rachel couldn't sleep after she had patched Tom up. It worried her that he would run himself that ragged for the mission. She knew the ship was giving them fits and it wasn't the first time they had had to work round the clock to fix an issue, but this was the first time she had seen where Tom neglected to take care of himself. She wondered how Slattery was doing if he was doing the same things. She knew Mike threw himself into the work to distract himself from his loss, and Rachel knew that could wear a man down too.

She breathed the sea air in deeply and let the spray wash over her. With her work at a standstill in the lab, she wasn't sure what her purpose would be on the ship. But she figured she could help Rios out as much as possible especially once they made it to St. Louis. She wished she could talk to Tom about what she was hearing as the scuttlebutt in the wardroom scared her a little bit. But she knew this was a destroyer and the crew was well trained in combat.

She sighed as she longed for home. The fresh air and the steady movement of the ship was finally making her tired. She wondered if Tom was still on the bridge, or elbows deep in repairs alongside his crew. She hoped he was in the stateroom, sleeping. She made her way slowly down the p-way towards the officer quarters and paused when Garnett knocked and entered Slattery's quarters. Staying out of the line of sight she waited until the other woman disappeared and the door was shut before she walked past towards Tom's quarters.

She had to smile at the seemingly lax enforcement of a rule that used to mean something on the ship. But she supposed the crew felt that if the captain can do it, why not them? She slipped into Tom's quarters and noticed the lights were all off. She walked across the outer office and tripped over something on the floor. She felt around and found Tom's boot and had to smile. It meant Tom was here somewhere.

She went to the bedroom door and peeked in, seeing a lump on the bed. His uniform overcoat was thrown carelessly to the floor next to the bed. Rachel went over and gently laid down on the bed facing him. He was on his side facing the middle of the bed, sound asleep. She sighed as she watched him, glad he was finally getting some much-needed rest. Soon she felt her own eyes were growing heavy and she let herself drift to sleep.

Rachel woke the next morning and found Tom was still asleep. She got up and took a quick shower and dressed for the day. When she came out, he was still asleep, laying on his stomach, taking up three quarters of the bed. Rachel stood in the doorway and watched him for a long while, thinking about all the things that could come.

They had come a long way in a short period of time, and she was truly happy to be with him. She had never been with a man like Tom, and she knew away from the ship, he would be doting. She knew it was going to be a challenge with the kids, especially Ashley, but she was up for the task. She left him to sleep as she decided to go to the wardroom and grab some breakfast. When she walked in Lts. Foster and Green sitting at the table, with Gator. She grabbed some eggs and bacon and with a cup of tea and sat down next to Gator, across from Green and Foster.

"Morning, Dr. Scott," Foster greeted her with a smile.

"Morning. Things running more smoothly today?" she asked no one in particular. Gator groaned next to her.

"Please, don't jinx us, Ma'am. This ship is seriously protesting this mission."

"She needs dry dock for about six months," Green scoffed. Foster nodded.

"She needs to keep it together so we can all go home," Gator grumbled. Rachel looked at him. "But it'd help if we weren't running at twenty-five knots for three days straight."

"She can take it," Foster replied. Rachel was enjoying the banter while she ate her breakfast. She was glad the mood was still a little light, considering what they were heading into.

"Well, she better behave when we get to the Mississippi," Green said softly. "Once we start up the drink it might get some kind of hairy."

"That's what I heard," Foster said solemnly. Rachel watched as Kara placed a protective hand over her belly. Green placed a reassuring hand over her shoulder.

"I'm just glad Commander Garnett was able to track down that phantom short. Who would have thought the check the five inch?" Gator said in awe.

"Commander Garnett apparently," Green chuckled. Foster looked around conspiratorially.

"Anyone know why the captain was rushed to the infirmary yesterday?" she asked quietly. All three officers looked at Rachel who was mid chew on a mouthful of eggs. She slowly chewed her bite as she looked at each one of them.

"I'm sure if it was important an announcement would be made," Rachel said after she swallowed her bite. Foster grinned at her and shook her head.

"Was worth a shot," Green said with a smirk, before he looked pointedly at Gator. The man blushed under the scrutiny.

"You didn't hear anything from me," Gator huffed out.

"But you were on the bridge with him," Green said almost whining. Gator looked at his plate.

"He fell. No big deal. Hit his head. You can see he got stitches," Gator said softly, giving Rachel a sheepish grin.

The three finished up their meals and bid Rachel goodbye before they split up and went to their own stations on the ship. Rachel finished her meal and sat at the table for a moment, watching the television. She didn't even know what was playing but it was a pleasant distraction.

After a few moments more she left the wardroom and headed back towards the stateroom to see if Tom had gotten up yet. She didn't have anything to do on the ship, so she was thinking about spending the day reading in their room. When she entered, she noticed he was still out cold. She was glad, as he needed the sleep badly. She just hoped he wouldn't be mad at her that she let him sleep in. But in the same notion, he did not appear to have set an alarm.

She settled herself on the couch and picked up a book to read. She had no idea how much time had passed but her stomach started to rumble. Rachel put the book down and checked the time. She wondered how the day had gotten away from her. Thirteen hundred hours already. She frowned and got up, peeking into the bedroom to see Tom still asleep. She debated going to lunch or laying down with him in the bed, just to be close to him.

She decided on the later, suddenly feeling the need to be close to him. She quietly entered the bedroom and softly laid down on the bed, on her side facing him. She watched him sleep, letting her emotions sweep over her. Never in her dreams had she imagined how this last year was to go. And when she first met Tom Chandler, although there was a pull of physical attraction to the man, she never would have believed if someone had told her she'd end up here, in his room, in his bed with him. The wound over his eye caught her attention and she frowned. She reached out and gently ran her fingers over the stitching. His head flinched slightly but his eyes stayed closed. She pulled her hand back and rested it on his hip.

Rachel couldn't help but wish this mission was over. She had to admit she was scared going into St. Louis. Hopefully the crew of the Nathan James would be the catalyst to bring about peace. She was only half joking when she told Tom to use his diplomatic prowess to help soothe the issues over. She really did believe he had the charisma to be the leader this nation needed right now, but he was the reluctant hero who did what he did because he felt duty bound. He didn't believe he had the charisma that he did. It was one of the qualities that had endeared him to her.

Now, there was so much to the man she had fallen in love with. She had fallen for the captain of this ship, the stern, charismatic, confident, commanding leader of the ship. And then she had gotten to know the softer side of him. The loving, loyal, attentive, compassionate man that was hidden underneath the captain armor. The further she dug under that armor, the deeper she fell in love with the man before her.

She was so distracted by her inner thoughts, that when his hand touched her face, she nearly jumped out of her skin. She heard him chuckle as she closed her eyes to calm her now racing heart.

"Sorry," he whispered as he dropped his hand, resting it over her hand that was still on his hip.

"I didn't know you were awake," she mumbled as she was still trying to calm herself from the scare.

"What time is it?" Tom asked with a yawn.

"Thirteen thirty hours," Rachel replied and watched his eyes grow wide. "Was it your plan to stay in bed all day?"

"No," Tom replied with a chuckle as he stretched. "Good thing I have the day off after the bender I just pulled."

"I should say. Forty-eight hours of nonstop action was not a good look on you," she replied as she gestured to his stitches. He pulled his hand from hers and gingerly touched his wound.

"Yeah," he mumbled. "Thanks for patching me up, Doc," he said with a smile. Rachel only nodded. She couldn't stop the emotions that hit her in that moment. She saw the concern on Tom's face.

"It scared me," she whispered. Tom's hand picked hers up from his hip and he pulled it to his lips to kiss it.

"I'm sorry," he replied softly. Rachel nodded.

"I didn't like seeing you like that."

"I know. And I am sorry. But sometimes…"

"I know. This ship," Rachel started.

"Is my responsibility," Tom finished for her. Rachel nodded slowly as she did understand his point. "But it's okay. We'll be okay now. I'm guessing things are going smoothly today as no one has woken me up demanding my immediate attention."

"We can hope."

"The James needed dry dock while we were home but there just wasn't time, so we have to do this on the fly."

"I understand."

"Good," Tom said as he rolled onto his back, with one arm behind his head. Rachel curled herself into his side and rested her head on his shoulder. Her stomach chose that moment to grumble, causing Tom to look at her with a wry smile. "Hungry?"

"Maybe a little," Rachel replied with a chuckle. Tom nodded.

"Let's go eat. Then I'll need to check in."

"Thought you were off today?" Rachel said a little bit of the disappointment filtering through to her words. Tom wrapped his arms around her.

"I am but I still need to check in. A captain is never truly off duty."

They got up and Tom got ready before they headed to the wardroom for lunch. Rachel expected it to be empty as the lunch hour for the crew had already passed but was surprised to find both Commander Slattery and Commander Garnett sitting at the table eating. She and Tom got their food and sat down at the long table, Tom sitting across from Mike and Rachel from Garnett.

"Have you checked in with Jeter yet?" Tom asked Mike.

"No. I just got my ass moving not too long ago. You?"

"Likewise," Tom replied with a nod. "How's engineering?" Tom asked turning towards Garnett.

"No news is good news I suppose," Garnett replied with a smile. "Last I heard all engines were running in prime condition, power grid was holding with no surges, and the ship was cooperating running at a smooth twenty-five knots."

"Finally," Tom replied. Rachel smiled, looking from Garnett to Slattery. Mike gave her a funny look as to ask what, and Rachel could only smile. Maybe if she found herself alone with Mike, she would let him know what she saw last night. Maybe it was nothing, but Rachel figured something was going on between him and Garnett.

Lunch continued with casual conversation. After everyone had finished eating the four broke up and separated. Tom looked at Rachel and saw the look on her face. His eyebrow rose in question, and she laughed.

"Something funny on your mind?" Tom asked as he closed the door to the stateroom behind her.

"I was just thinking," Rachel started but then trailed off. Maybe she shouldn't say anything about Slattery. Tom was his boss after all, and his best friend. She didn't want to get Mike in trouble.

"About?"

"Commander Slattery," Rachel replied absently. Tom's eyebrows rose and his face grew suspicious. Rachel couldn't help but laugh again.

"Should I be worried about Mike?" Tom asked and Rachel smiled and kissed him passionately. When she pulled away, she slowly shook her head.

"Not like that," she replied.

"Then what?" Tom asked.

"I was just wondering if there was something going on between him and Garnett," Rachel admitted to him. She saw the corner of Tom's mouth twitch as he tried to keep a steady mask. Rachel narrowed her brow at him. "You already knew."

"I don't know for sure. I haven't asked him, and he hasn't let it slip…too much. But yes, I've suspected for a while now."

"You think they're serious?"

"I think it started much like you and I did…well sort of…I mean the grieving part," Tom stumbled through his words.

"How so?"

"I think Mike was hurting after finding out about his family. And so was Garnett as she lost her daughter and her husband."

"And you think that grief brought them together?"

"I think it started as two friends looking for someone who understood the pain they were feeling. They had both lost a child and a spouse and well, I think maybe," Tom replied, trailing off with a shrug of his shoulders. "But I haven't asked him yet." Rachel thought about what she witnessed last night.

"I saw her enter his stateroom late last night," Rachel replied. Tom's eyebrows shot up with an expression of surprise. Rachel nodded with a coy smile on her lips.

"Well, damn," Tom said quietly.

"So, you going to talk to him now?" Rachel asked with a smile.

"I may," Tom replied with a chuckle. "What are your plans for today?"

"I don't really have any, but if you're off today…" she trailed off with a smile. Tom groaned.

"Let me get some official duties done. I'll be back hopefully in an hour," he said as he stepped into her, kissing her.

Then he turned and left. Rachel sat down and picked up the book she was reading. A little over an hour passed when the door opened, and Tom came back in with a smile on his face. He slumped down on the couch next to her, leaning his head on the back of the couch. Rachel looked over at him waiting. His hand reached out and took hold of hers.

"Everything okay?"

"Right as rain on the Nathan James," Tom mumbled before picking his head up. "We're about to reach the Mississippi River."

"How long until we reach St. Louis," she asked a hint of worry working through. Tom cocked his head to the side noticing her tone.

"Two and a half days if all goes well. Hopefully nothing fubar happens," Tom replied.

"Fubar?"

"Fucked Up Beyond All Recognition," he quipped and waited as she put the acronym together. Rachel nodded.

"Ahh, Fubar."

"Yep. We expect snafus of course, but those last forty-eight hours were definitely fubar."

"Snafu?" Rachel asked with a laugh. Tom looked at her while shaking his head slightly.

"Don't you know anything?" he asked playfully. "Snafu. Systems Normal All Fucked Up."

"Snafu," Rachel repeated, and Tom nodded with a smile.

"Life in the Navy," Tom said softly. "What do you want to do today?"

He asked the question so casually as if they could choose to go to a movie, or maybe a museum. Possibly a nice dinner with a stroll on the beach. Rachel wondered just what they could do today, as she wanted to enjoy time with just him.

"I don't know. It's not like we can go to the opera or ballet."

"Well, I might be able to arrange something," Tom began postering in a pose that mimicked deep thinking. Rachel laughed.

"I'm sure you could," she said warmly as she snuggled into his side.

"Well, I am the captain you know," he teased as he kissed her hair.

"I've heard that," she whispered against his neck. "But seriously. It doesn't matter to me. This is fine," she sighed. His arm tightened around her a little more.

"Yes, it is," Tom said softly as he placed another kiss in her hair.

To Be Continued…