Chapter 35

x

"It's been five minutes, sir." Mike heard Alisha state. Taking a step toward the radio, he hoped to get in touch with the Vulture Team.

"Vulture team, this is bridge. Radio check. Radio check." Mike tapped his fingers on top of the radio, trying to resolve the nervous feeling he was beginning to build up.

"Bridge.. team.." When he heard Tom's voice on the other end, he let out a breath he didn't know he was holding, but Tom's words were too garbled to make any sense of.

"No.. life."

"Vulture Team, say again. Your last was garbled." Mike replied. He knew there would be a radio drop-off but still, he liked to be kept informed.

"Bridge, Vulture Team, I say again.."

"No sign of.."

Sharing a look of concern with Alisha, he sighed as there was nothing he could do.

"Vulture Team, say again." Mike repeated again, knowing it was a worthless effort. Irritated he placed the radio back to its place and picked up the phone. "Commo, Bridge. I need a better signal." Was that a bit too cranky? He thought to himself as he replayed his words in his mind. There was no need to be cranky but he hated when things didn't go according to plan.

Sinking onto his XO seat on the bridge, he couldn't help but feel restless. Tapping on the armrest with his fingers, he hoped it was just a feeling. A habit he had picked up along the way:

Watching over your shoulder - Hoping the Russians weren't on their trail.

Learning not to trust blindly at everyone you meet - Still remembering the open arms of Amy Granderson, what a lie it all had been.

Still thinking back that he should have seen the signs. He should have noticed that something was off. He was after all an ex-cop. But perhaps he had been blinded by the possibility of coming home, learning the truth about his family. Finding his daughters. Perhaps they all had been blind about it, hoping to have come home in the nick of time, to save their loved ones.

The radio crackled to life and Mike heard Lieutenant Burk's words that drained the color from his face. He had hoped it was just a hunch, but it seemed that his gut knew all along.

"Bridge. Be advised.. ship.. again, hostiles operating on board this ship."

"Set general quarters." Mike gave the order as his eyes stared at the still ship beside them. There was nothing that indicated there was a threat aboard the ship. They hadn't attacked them, not yet.

"General quarters. General quarters. All hands, man your battle stations." Jeter's voice echoed through the comms and Mike took up the phone again. He had done this before. The going into action part. In his mind he wondered - Would this fight ever stop?

"CIC, Bridge."

"Hostiles operating aboard Solace. I need a 360 surface search. They didn't come from nowhere." Mike informed Kirkland.

"Find me a ship." He ended the call and gazed at the ship again.

Staring at a bunch of papers about the calculations of how many doses it was possible to manufacture with the supplies at hand, and the plans for spreading the cure, Kara dropped a pen on the papers and got up from her seat in the wardroom. Rubbing her hands on her face, she couldn't help but feel that she was suppose to be doing something else. Something that mattered. Glancing at her clock, it was about 20 minutes since Danny had left the ship with the Vulture Team. Her team. His team. He was the boss of them alright, but she felt that she had an equal say of how he run things, even though her favorite pastime was to piss him off by not seeing eye to eye.

Then she heard it. Jeter's voice echoing on the comm, throughout the ship.

"General quarters. General quarters. All hands, man your battle stations." She swallowed hard as she heard it. Danny!

Rushing out of the wardroom, all she kept thinking was that she should have been there with him, covering his ass. Fighting.

But she couldn't. Not anymore.

As she stepped to the CIC she overheard Kirkland ask his team. "Anything on surface search?" So it was true. Hostiles.

"No, sir. Nothin'." Nishioka replied. Kara felt her heartbeat slow down at the revelation of it, but it got quicker when she thought of another way to hide in these waters.

"Sir. Let's check underwater. Have you checked?" Kara asked and saw the hesitation on Kirkland's face, the slight blush on his cheeks, he knew it was worth the shot, but right now it didn't matter, because he was trying his best to be the TAO Tom would want him to be and it hadn't been his idea to check underwater. It was hers.

"Well we can't see any ships out here. It's worth the shot." Kara continued, building her case stronger. Still watching as the TAO stood there silently gasping like a fish on dry land.

"Ma'am, all due respect.." Kirkland tried to say.

Feeling like a fire was building inside of her, Kara looked at the man fiercely and cut him off "I'm not here to take your job, or to tell you what to do. Despite that I may the Captain's daughter, we are all working towards the same goal."

"XO Slattery will be asking for it too." She added, hoping it was enough to convince the man.

Looking around, she noticed the looks and whispers, knowing she might have come off too strong she added pleadingly "I'm used to being out there in the field, let me help from here." The young man gave her a nod. Finally!

"Mason.." Kirkland spoke, trying to be confident in front of his team.

"Sir?" Mason looked up from his desk.

"I need you to run Sonar." Kirkland said and Kara watched as Mason looked baffled. Not sure if he could do it.

"You passed the murder board. You told me so yourself. You can do it, Mason." Kara turned to face the young sailor and he nodded with confidence.

"I need a 360-degree sonar search." Kirkland specified.

"Aye, sir."

"Ma'am?" Kirkland addressed Kara again.

"Yes, Sir?" Kara looked at him.

"Can you man the starboard Mark 38.?" Kirkland asked and Kara had to repress a smile. This was after all a serious situation, but she couldn't help but feel satisfied that she had something to do. She wasn't just moving papers around.

"In my dreams, Sir." Kara answered.

"Then do it." Kirkland gave the order and before she got to the doorway of the CIC she heard him add. "And thanks for all the help you've provided me in the past few days, Ma'am."

Looking back at him, she nodded and left the CIC.

Rachel stood on the bridge her arms crossed as she nervously glanced at the Solace. Desperately trying to see something.

"I say again, the lab is destroyed. Not sure what we can salvage." Hearing Burk's words over the radio hit her to the very core. Just like that their triumph over tracking down the Solace, plans to salvage the lab - vanished. Shaking her head slightly she could feel her eyes filling with hot tears. Why was it always someone or something standing in their way? Who was it this time?

"Be advised hostiles are heavily armed and well-trained." She overheard the last bit of intel and covered her mouth. Trying her best to keep her cool. It didnt serve anyone any good if she broke down right now. She had to be strong. Tom would be fine.

"We got gunfire, topside." Jeter alerted.

"Green?"

"No target." Rachel heard Kara's voice and looked at her as she manned the station for the Mark 38. She looked so concentrated, calm under pressure. She didn't seem to be affected by the fact that both her husband and father were on that ship. She fought through it.

"Sir, if we get any closer, we could collide." Helmsman reported.

"It's a chance we have to take. Bring us in closer." Mike ordered.

"Find me something to shoot!" Mike's voice was desperate. A feeling she knew all too well - Being utterly helpless. And all she could do was watch.

"Aye, Sir." Alisha replied.

"Nathan James, what's your whiskey?" As Tom's voice came over the radio, she could feel her body relax. He was fine. He was alive.

"Comin' up your starboard side, 400 yards, lookin' for a target." Mike answered the call.

"Well, I'll give you one. Flight deck. We flush three hostiles topside, you light 'em up."

"Roger that. Batteries released." Mike gave the green light.

"Starboard Mark 38 hot." Kara answered as she focused to line the shot.

"On your count." Mike said to the radio.

"Three.."

"Two.."

"One!"

"Lost em' in smoke." Kara said, frustrated that she couldn't do more.

"You got one."

One. Out of possible three.

Suddenly she felt a hand on her shoulder and her entire body relaxed under the touch as she felt the hand give her a light squeeze. She looked up and met her mother's gaze. Realizing that she was equally terrified as she was. That they were on the same side for once. Was it this particular feeling that had driven her mother to protect her own flesh and blood? To do anything in her power to keep her safe?

"Bridge, CIC, possible subsurface contact, bearing 0-5-0 relative."

"Request bearing, clear or foul."

Tensing again, she placed a hand over Rachel's. There it was. They had found something. Somewhere out there was a submarine.

Kara stopped at the doorway to the mess, trying her best to hide her worry over her teammates. From what she had gathered, Taylor was currently in the sickbay after a through and through. Way to join the action, mate.

But it could have been Danny. The thought never left her mind.

"These guys are good." Burk said as Kara entered to the room.

"Too good." Tex added as they all sat scattered around the mess. Thinking of what had just happened.

"Everyone alright?" Kara tried to cover the fact that her voice was shaking. The fact that she had been scared for her friends, fellow sailors. But what got her attention was the obvious bullet hole in Burk's vest.

"You got shot?" She asked frantically, realizing that she might have come off slightly strong. You're better than this Kara. Keep it together. Hoping her brain would listen, she continued to stare at Burk.

"Well.. I.." Burk stuttered. Something that she hadn't seen before. The man usually had something to say in his defense.

"He took a bullet for me." Ravit's rough voice came from behind her and she instantly wrapped her friend in a tight hug.

"Easy girl. I'm fine. So is he." Ravit tried to reassure her. But all she felt like was crying.

"I would kick his ass myself, but he did safe my life.. so.." Ravit whispered and she chuckled slightly as she heard her.

Breaking the embrace, Kara fought back the tears.

"Where's Danny?" Kara asked as she didn't see him.

"Last time I saw him, he was escorting the prisoner to the sick bay." Tex said as he sat on one of the chairs.

"Don't worry, he's fine." Tex added with a warm voice which took Kara by surprise. She didn't expect him to understand, but perhaps he did. He has a daughter in the mainland. Or had..

Kara gave the old man a smile, who would've known that the witty man from Gitmo would be one of them. He had become family. And perhaps they where the only family he had left in the world.

Leaving the mess, Kara walked the P-Way toward the sick bay, hoping to catch up with Danny. Wanting to know he was fine just like Tex had said.

But the only one he managed to meet on her little detour was Cruz with Halsey trotting along by his side.

"You okay?" Kara looked at him and Halsey nuzzled her nose at her kne. Probably sensing the tension that was growing inside of her. How can someone disappear on a 509 ft ship?

Half of her brain was reminding her of a time when she actually did want to escape his presence, hide after their first night together.

"I'm fine, ma'am. Just taking Halsey out." Cruz explained and gestured at the dog now sitting beside her.

"If you're looking for Danny, I think he was going to hit the showers." Cruz said. He probably realized the real reason behind her being there.

"Thank you, Javier. Glad to see you're in one piece." Kara patted his shoulder as she left his company.

Reaching the doorway to Danny's and Tex's cabin, the fresh scent of men's soap hang in the air. She smiled even though it was strange to think that probably half the crew used the same soap. It wasn't like men used that much time at the store deciding which brand to take. Which scent fit the most. Well except for Burk. But still the scent brought Danny on her mind.

Kara reached for the door and it was open to her surprise, she stepped inside closing the door behind her. From the corner of her eye she could see Danny was still drying himself off. Towel wrapped around his waist.

"Hey.." Danny threw the towel he was holding onto his bunk and as Kara turned to look at him, she felt the crushing weight disappear from her chest. She could breath again. He was fine. He was fine!

"Kara.. I know I should've come and find you.." His words took her by surprise. Hearing his warm voice, she felt like all the tension she had been bottling up was about to break free. Would it be like this every time? Trying to reason with herself, she was usually more confident. She knew her teammates could handle the job. So what had changed?

"Kara?" His eyes tried to search hers for answer of sorts. To try and find out if she was mad at him.

Locking her eyes with his she closed the gap between them, wrapping her arms around him as her lips met with his. She took him by surprise since it took a moment before she felt his hands on the small of her back. Locking her tightly in his embrace.

As she kissed him fervently, she could feel tears coming down on her cheeks. Knowing he would notice it too.

One of his hands cupped her cheek, she felt his thumb wipe some of the tears away. He stopped for a moment to look at her teary eyes and she held her breath as he looked at her. Hoping he would just know that all she needed right now was him. Not words. Just him.

She closed her eyes as she rejoiced the warmth of his hand on her cheek until he let go of her. But before she could say a word, she heard him lock the door behind her and in an instant his arms embraced her from behind, his right hand moving to undress her while his left hand caressed her lower belly, gently pressing her against him. She felt his lips hungrily kiss her open skin just below her ear, knowing exactly what she wanted.

Tom sat in his cabin, staring silently at the picture of his family. Deep in thought as he thought over the events on the Solace.

"Now we figured, pirates, locals from the islands desperate for food, medicine.. We've had those guys before, but these guys, these guys came out shooting." Chief Mate Gonzalez's words echoed through his mind.

"They think we have the cure."

They shouldn't have been hit, it was the Nathan James they were after. And yet the man he never had met before thought it was him who should've been sorry.

"No, sir. I'm sorry."

All he could say at the time, but it wasn't enough.

"Ding-ding! Hey, U.S Navy, it's bad luck for you happening on this ship,

but this is the end of the line for you."

The words still made his blood boil. The arrogant British tone haunting him as he thought about their encounter.

"Because we know how to fight better than you do."

"Tom.." Rachel stood behind him, noticing that he was consumed by his thoughts. Knowing exactly what was going on in his mind.

"I recognize that frown. It's not your fault." She wrapped her arms loosely around his neck, taking him by surprise.

"What are you doing here?" Tom leaned his head against hers for a moment. His gaze still fixed at his desk.

Rachel allowed her eyes to shut for a moment. For a moment it felt like they were back in that summer all those years ago. It just felt right and all she wanted was to kiss him. To feel his touch.

"I hope you don't mind, I let myself in." She opened her eyes and said softly as a smile escaped on her lips but before she could do or say more there was a knock on the door.

Quickly stepping a few steps away she glanced at Tom who got up as he spoke "Come in."

Trying to mask the situation she tried putting her hands in her pockets, wondering if that would be a tell of sorts or just a casual look she was trying out. She felt her cheeks blush as she witnessed Mike walk in, slightly taken aback to see her there as well.

"Oh, didn't realize you got company." Mike's gaze briefly landed on Rachel before moving onto Tom.

"You got something?" Tom crossed his arms over his chest as he leaned against his desk. Noticing from the corner of his eye that Rachel seemed nervous.

"Not yet. There hasn't been any air or surface contacts on radar, according to Kirkland." Mike informed.

"We spotted at least eight hostiles diving into the water and aside from the one we clipped, who's sitting in our medical bay, the others never came up for air." Mike continued, relaying the facts.

"Cruz did say he found some wet suits with the hostages. So my guess is they came in on a 2-man subs, SDV." Tom replied.

"Agreed. They're military." Mike nodded.

"Any idea who they are?" Rachel asked.

"They weren't nice enough to wear uniforms." Tom answered.

"Mercenaries, then." Mike concluded.

"Hunting the cure for the highest bidder. Hospital ship was a natural target." Mike met Rachel's gaze. At this point they should be used to these kinds of things, after all it is a known fact that the Nathan James might be targeted because they are spreading the cure, but this was beginning to be something else, something on the scale of the Russians and Amy Granderson. Yet again.

"Mason claims he saw a sub." Mike continued.

"He's sure of it?" Tom asked.

"Yes, Sir."

"We'll keep searching." Mike turned to leave.

"The minute you find anything, I wanna know." Tom shared a look with Mike and he nodded with the familiar "Aye-aye, Sir" as he left the room.

"Why is it that every time we come a step closer to our goal, there is always someone plotting against us?" Rachel asked the obvious question, feeling frustrated.

Thinking back at the moment when she had vaccinated Tom. Feeling like the emotion she had felt in that moment was light years away, again. Happiness. Happy to have successfully made the cure. Happy to be going home.

But it was before Baltimore.

Before Quincy's sacrifice.

Way before what ever was haunting them now.

"Huh?" Rachel woke up from her trance as she looked at Tom.

"I said.. We'll figure this out. We'll fight through it. Just like we've done before." Tom said with a confident voice.

"Aren't you tired of fighting all the time?" Rachel stared at him.

"I am. But I also knew this wouldn't be easy." Tom answered. His voice was suddenly warm and caring as he stepped closer to her.

Rachel sighed but she knew he was right, and as his strong arms took her in, she leaned her head against his chest. Listening to the familiar rhytm of his heartbeat, she closed her eyes and breathed. Feeling her body relax in his embrace. Right now, she was happy to be there, in his arms.

Happy New Year to you all! Hope you have enjoyed this chapter. :)