Author's Note: Sorry about the gap. I've been super busy the last week and a half and have another week of craziness that I may not have much writing time. I'm going to do my best to keep up, but just a fair warning, it maybe a week or so break. I'm hoping not but I just don't know. So here is chapter twenty-five. Happy reading. dark rolling sea.

CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

Rachel had been surprised as Tom actually took two days off. She had discussed it over with Rios and they decided together that keeping in out of action for any longer was going to be pushing it, so they let him return to duty. Over the two days Rachel had enjoyed lounging around the stateroom with him. They had just had a relaxing two days of reading, talking, and cuddling.

Today she returned to her lab to double check that everything was still as it should be as Tom went ashore to meet with President Michener and Mike. The lab was still in the same order she had left it, and the stockpile of the cure was ready to be distrusted.

She was sitting in her lab eating a sandwich with Lt. Foster came in. Rachel smiled at the pregnant lady. Kara looked uncomfortable but she never complained.

"Dr. Scott," Foster stated, "Commander Garnett requests your presence on the bridge."

"Oh," Rachel replied, as the statement took her by surprise. She had no idea what this could be about, but she followed Lt. Foster to the bridge.

"Dr. Scott," Commander Garnett greeted her. "Sorry I had to summon you up here. I'm in the middle of something. But I have a request for you to go ashore and meet with President Michener."

"Me?" Rachel asked a bit taken aback. Garnett chuckled.

"Yes, Ma'am," Garnett said with a smile. "The president would like to talk to you I think."

Rachel was a little nervous. She didn't think she was the hero everyone made her out to be, she was just doing her job. But she was the woman who cured the earth, so she needed to get more comfortable with taking the credit. She nodded.

"I'm assuming I'm to go now?"

"Yes. Tom is on his way back on a RHIB to pick you up. He said about twenty minutes."

"Nothing like last minute notice," Rachel said frowning. Garnett gave her a sympathetic smile.

"That's men for you," Garnett said. Rachel chuckled and excused herself. She hurried to the stateroom and changed into a better outfit, brushed her hair out and put it up, then brushed her teeth and washed her face. When she was done, she checked the time and realized she needed to meet Tom at the RHIB.

She walked up as he was leaning against the side wall. He looked worn out, but he smiled when he saw her walking up.

"Glad you could join me," he said softly. Rachel gave him a quick smile.

"What should I expect?" Rachel asked, the nervousness seeping into her words. Tom gave her a reassuring smile as he helped her into the RHIB. Once she was safely over the edge, he carefully put himself into the boat.

"You should expect to meet the president," Tom replied. Rachel frowned at him. "The president has something he wants to ask you."

"So, is that all you've been doing? Talking about me?"

"No," Tom said with a smile.

"Okay. Any idea what he wants to ask me?" she replied still not completely comfortable with the idea.

"You'll find out when you get there," Tom replied.

Tom sat down in one of the seats and held onto the bar, so Rachel sat down next to him. The trip to the shore didn't take long and Tom helped her out of the boat.

There was a SUV waiting to take them to the hotel and they climbed into the back. Rachel noticed Lt. Green was driving. Everyone was quiet on the drive over and Rachel worked to calm her nerves. Tom took her hand and held it. She was grateful for the contact.

When they arrived at the hotel they unloaded, and she saw the crew of the Nathan James surrounding the hotel. They entered and Tom led her to the conference room that the president was using as an office. She saw Miller standing outside the door and gave the man a smile. Miller returned it as he nodded to Tom and then opened the door for them.

Rachel followed Tom into the room and took a deep breath. Tom walked up to Michener, who was talking with someone Rachel didn't know. Tom waited until Michener dismissed the unknown man and turned to Tom.

"Mr. President," Tom said as he put a hand on Rachel's shoulder and moved her next to him.

"Dr. Scott," Michener said with a bright smile. "So nice to see you again."

"Likewise, Mr. President," Rachel said with a tight smile. "Captain Chandler says you want to ask me something."

"Yes. I do, let's take this somewhere with a little more privacy," Michener replied. He reached out a hand and wrapped it on her shoulder, pulling her along with him towards another door. Rachel glanced at Tom, and he gave her a reassuring smile and a nod. Rachel turned her attention back to Michener. Once they were in a smaller room and the door was shut, Michener motioned Rachel take a winged back chair. She slid her body into it and waited. Michener waited a moment, took a second winged back chair, then took a deep breath.

"There was something I was wanting to ask you. And I know this is a big ask but considering what you've been able to do with the cure, and your educational background, well," Michener began rambling.

"Just ask, Mr. President," Rachel said cutting in. The man paused, then nodded.

"We were wanting to get something like the CDC up and running again. I know that you were unable to find a suitable lab on land for a while and have been using the makeshift lab on the Nathan James, but we feel that we can get the Barnes-Jewish Hospital up and going again and there we would be able to build a lab and medical center suitable for an organization to run out of."

"And you're telling me this, because?"

"Because, after discussing this with my staff and the command officers of the Nathan James, we all feel that you are the most qualified and best candidate for the job."

"Me?"

"Yes. After a lengthy discussion with my chief of staff, two other medical doctors we've recruited to help with the revival of the hospital itself and of course Commanders Chandler and Slattery, we all agree that you would be the one to be in charge of the organization, whatever we happen to name it."

"I'm flattered, and quite frankly a little caught off guard," Rachel replied wondering why Tom had not told her what the meeting was really about. He obviously knew.

"Please, at least think about the offer. It would mean a great deal to this city, the United States, and me personally. I would love to have someone with your qualifications running the center. For now, it can mainly focus on recovering from the Red Flu and then eventually as we get our footing branch out and run much like the CDC did before the pandemic."

"This is a great offer, and I will certainly think about it, but I do need some time to come to a decision."

"Of course, I know this is a big step and life changing. You will have housing provided for you if you so choose to take the offer. If you accept, we can discuss hiring more doctors, if we can find them, and the setup of the labs."

"Thank you, Mr. President. I will think about this and let you know," Rachel said, her head spinning with the news. She felt her heart quicken. The president stood and Rachel took her cue to stand as well. He led her back towards the door.

"I also would like to give a heartfelt thank you from the American people and the world for all the work you did in finding and creating a cure. I know it was a long and difficult path, fraught with danger and disaster but those that have been saved will always have a deep gratitude for you."

"Thank you," Rachel said blushing, feeling a little self-conscious with the heaped-on praise. She had never seen herself as a hero, or someone to be worshiped. She had just been doing her job, defying the odds, and pushing when everyone else seemed to have given up. They exited the small office and she noticed Tom standing with Mike. Tom had a giant grin on his face and Rachel gave him a scowl. He chuckled and winked at her, before he motioned her over to them.

"Well?" Tom asked softly. Mike looked down at the table where there was a map of the city with red marks on it.

"You could have warned me," she said coldly. This time Mike chuckled. Rachel let the anger flow out of her and smiled.

"I could have, but then I'd have ruined the surprise," Tom said gently. Rachel nodded slowly. "What did you tell him?"

"That I'd give it some thought," Rachel replied coolly. Tom gave her an odd look then she turned to Mike. "What's all this?"

"We're marking certain parts of the city that will be the first to be reorganized and put back into use. The president wants St. Louis to be a blossoming metropolis as soon as possible," Mike said with a sigh.

"Like a fully functioning hospital with a well quipped lab for making a cure?"

"One of the things on the map," Tom said as he dropped his finger on the red dot marking the Barnes-Jewish Hospital. Rachel nodded slowly.

"So, is the Nathan James under new orders?" Rachel asked. She really wanted to get Tom alone and discuss the president's offer. She wanted to know what he thought, and where his thinking was. Were they going to settle in St. Louis and move Jed and the kids here?

"For the moment. We are working with the communications network. There're small pockets of Army, and Air Force, Marines and other Navy personnel that survived. Also, some National Guards from different states. We trying to get word for them to gather here so we can reevaluate what we have and distribute them accordingly. If we can get some jets with pilots, then we can get the cure across to all of Europe and Asia," Mike said.

"I'll leave you too it then," Rachel said as she looked around, unsure of where she was supposed to go next.

"I'll be back, Mike," Tom said as he nodded his head for Rachel to follow him. They walked into the hotel lobby, both quiet. Rachel's head was spinning with all the new information. She had no idea what to think, and she really wanted to talk things out with Tom, but he was being uncharacteristically quiet. She figured he would take her back outside to the SUV, but they walked to an elevator.

Rachel was confused but didn't say anything. Tom pushed the up button and they waited quietly as the car returned to the lobby from wherever it had been. The bell dinged and the doors opened, and Tom stepped inside. Rachel followed him. Tom pushed the button for the third floor and the doors slid shut.

"What are we doing?" Rachel asked as the elevator car moved upwards. Tom leaned heavily against the elevator wall and Rachel could see the fatigue affecting him. "You should rest, you look wiped out."

"Yeah," Tom mumbled. "We're going to the third floor."

"Why?" Rachel asked the frustration evident in her words. Tom smiled and Rachel felt like smacking him.

"To your room for now," Tom said with a sigh. She arched an eyebrow at him, his eyes were drooping.

"My room for now?"

"Yes. Since the Nathan James is going to be docked later this afternoon, we are moving in here for now."

"Did you already give my acceptance to the job?" Rachel asked as the elevator dinged and the doors opened. Tom gave her a questioning look and pushed himself off the wall. He stepped into the hallway and Rachel followed him. He looked over his shoulder at her as he limped forward.

"No. I figured you'd make that decision."

"I figured we'd make that decision," Rachel deadpanned back. Tom smiled as he focused on the door numbers.

"I like that even better," he said softly. "Here's your room, 3205."

He stopped and opened the door with the card in his pocket. He stepped inside and held the door open from the side so she could also enter the room. She brushed against him as she walked by then examined the room she had. It was spacious and looked luxurious. The bed looked very comfortable. She stopped and turned back towards him.

"And your room?" she asked. Tom gave her a sly smile.

"Officially?" Tom asked with a playfulness to his voice. Rachel chuckled.

"Or unofficially," she said with a smile.

"Officially I'm next door," Tom said then nodded further into the room. Rachel looked and saw a connecting door. "But they're adjoined, so," he finished, trailing his words off.

"Do you have to run back to your duties?"

"Unfortunately, yes," Tom said a sadness in his voice. Rachel could also see the fatigue running through him. "But I'll be done in a few hours."

"I'll be here," she said with a smile. Tom smiled and walked up to her, cupping both sides of her face, before leaning down and kissing her slowly, leaving her with the promise of more.

"I'll hurry home," he said seductively, and Rachel gripped the front of his shirt, giving him another kiss before he left.

When Tom was gone Rachel looked around the room. She hadn't been told she was staying on land, so she hadn't brought much with her. She thought about getting ahold of some clothes, and toiletry items she would need. She was just about to leave the room when someone knocked. Rachel looked at the door with curiosity, then went and opened it. She was pleasantly surprised to see Lt. Foster standing there.

"Kara, how are you?" she asked with a smile. Foster smiled back at her.

"Good, glad to be on land for a bit. I was asked by the captain to make sure you got anything you needed while we were here."

"Well, I could use some clothes, toothbrush, etc."

"There's a store just down the road. We can get some stuff there. It's not too far."

"You sure you want to walk with me?" Rachel asked, smiling at Kara. She was a little worried with the other woman being so pregnant.

"I'll be fine."

The two headed out of the hotel and the store was only a block and a half away. Rachel got herself a week's worth of clothes and everything else she needed. Kara ended up getting some things too. They then headed back to the hotel and parted ways. Rachel put her new things away and laid down on the bed to relax.

She was happy to be spending time off the ship. She was excited to have an actual bed again. Her talk with the president replayed in her head and she knew she had to make a decision. She wished Tom wasn't busy as she really wanted to talk to him about it. She blew out a frustrated breath and closed her eyes for a second. She relished in the comfortable bed and felt herself slipping off to sleep.

To Be Continued…