Chapter 62


Miller was lying on his back reading his phone as Larrin laid on the ground next to him. He was glad he brought a picnic blanket as he didn't think Wolf would appreciate Larrin coming home with grass stains on her dress. A few hours ago, he'd laid down the blanket and left Larrin as he went to get food.

He came back with a bounty of food as he had no clue what she wanted and she hadn't given him any specifics except that she hated Tarragon which didn't narrow down the menu. She'd been happy with the spread of food. They ate and laughed together over funny stories and random things they had in common and some that they didn't. All the while all he could think was how beautiful she was, that she was so far out of his league but she wanted him. That she liked him, that kiss she had given him had rocked his world.

Soon after the food was all gone and they'd cleaned up all the empty containers, Larrin looked ready sleep. So when he suggested they just lay down and cloud watch, she said yes and within seconds had fallen asleep. She'd been sleeping for nearly two hours and he wasn't ready to wake her up yet. She needed the rest and he loved how much trust she showed in falling asleep next to him. In her sleep, she had moved around and somehow with no help from him, she ended up with her head on his shoulder and curled at his side. He laid his arm around her shoulders out of comfort and pulled out his phone to read one of many training manuals he had downloaded.

He knew he should be bored out of his brains laying there but he wasn't. He was content to stay as he was and just let her sleep. To him, it was a pretty perfect first date and it made him wonder how the second and third date were going to go. He also couldn't wait to dance with her at Kara and Danny's wedding in a couple of weeks.

Larrin gave a sigh and shifted in her sleep, he felt her slowly wake up as muscles started to tense up. He placed his phone down as Larrin pushed up with her good arm and looked down at him with a sleepy smile.

"Sorry." she said sheepishly as she hadn't planned on sleeping let alone curling up against him. She just hoped she didn't grope him too much in her sleep. She had no clue given she had been blissfully dream free.

"You're fine. How do you feel?" he asked her.

"Good, I really needed this. To be with you." she said with a warm blush gracing her cheeks as she really liked Miller. He was a gentleman and made her feel like she was perfect just the way she was. More than anything he made her laugh, smile and feel content. Something no man had ever made her feel, she should feel a little mortified but she felt like they'd been together for a lot longer, and thus was more comfortable than she had previously thought.

"Same." he told her.

"What were you reading?" she asked him as she crossed her legs and sat up. Miller was a little disappointed she didn't just lay straight down next to him again.

"Training manuals." He confessed.

"So, you're Navy for life?" she asked him carefully. She wanted to know what she was possibly signing up with Miller. She didn't want any illusions as right now she wanted up front facts and truths. Her memory loss had made her feel insecure in how accurate her memory was and wanted to be reassured.

"I hope so." Miller said, he felt like they were entering a very serious conversation that wasn't normally first date topics.

"Dr Scott offered me a job that will keep me stateside. I'm going to take it not because of you but because it's something I want for myself. It's going to be based here or maybe in Norfolk depending on where the best labs are, I guess. It's all still in the works." She said, she felt the need to clarify so she didn't sound so clingy.

"I'm glad to hear it. You're one of the smartest people I know next to Dr Scott." Miller told her sincerely, he already knew that he'd go anywhere and travel any distance to be with her. So he didn't mind where she ended up as long as she still wanted to be with him. She was worth it, but he had to admit it would be great if she ended up somewhere he could get to easily. Flights between St Louis and Norfolk even San Diego were quick and he knew he'd be stationed out of Norfolk or San Diego depending on where his deployment took him.

"I guess what I'm saying which is pretty heavy for a first date to say is that I really like you and I know what your work is like. That you will be deployed for months at a time, even so I would really like to continue dating you. If you want to give it a shot with me." Larrin said, she knew she was laying a lot on the line but she felt fairly secure in Miller's answer. But she just wanted to be up front with him as much as possible so as to not waste their time.

"I definitely want you- I mean to give this a shot." Miller said to her, Larrin chuckled and smiled brilliantly at him and laid back down next to him on the blanket. She felt completely relieved that he hadn't brushed her off. She also loved his slip of tongue.

"So how boring is that training manual? or is it classified?" Larrin asked as she rested her head back on his shoulder. Miller picked up the phone and showed her it to her. It was for Petty Officer 2nd Class requirements, a rank he was hoping to make before his next deployment.

"Not classified but will probably put you to sleep." he joked.


Rachel knew she should be taking it easy but gardening had always been a sore spot for her. She could grow live cultures in a lab but trying to grow a plant or even keep a cactus alive was a real life challenge for her. But now that she had time, she was committed. She was going to grow something beautiful in her and Andrea's front yard even if it possibly killed her.

If her chest wound had anything to say it was informing her that she was definitely heading towards dying as it pained from the exertion but she didn't want to stop. She had pulled out nearly half of the garden bed that had dying plants. Tex had come around the week before and mowed their lawn for them so she didn't have to worry about that. But she had to admit she enjoyed being outside in the fresh air and sunshine, the smell of the dirt and ozone was relaxing.

"Rachel?" Rachel turned in surprise to the voice calling her name.

"Tom?" She sat back on her feet and looked up at him. He looked so damn strong and healthy it made her jealous as she struggled to pull out weed grass. He was dressed in his customary BDU's, clean shaven and impressively handsome. She on the other hand was a sweaty probably very pale dirty mess. She had on a wide brim hat and was wearing a t-shirt and overalls, not the kind of outfit she needed him seeing her in. It was her grandmother outfit as she could imagine herself still wearing it trying to grow something in the garden besides weeds well into her 80's.

"Should be exerting yourself so much?" he asked as he crouched down beside her and idly pulled out a weed with ease and tossing it onto the pile.

"It's good to keep moving." she informed him as she pulled off her gloves taking a rest. "What do I owe this visit?" she asked.

"Just checking in, see how you are." he said to her, his eyes roaming her face. She tried not to show weakness as she didn't want him to save her when she could save herself. She didn't want him being her knight in shining armour even if she would love for him to just pick her up off the ground and take care of her.

"I'm good. How are you?" she asked him, she saw through the mask he wore to the pain and grief inside. It was why she understood that he didn't invite her into his room. If he wanted meaningless sex that night he would have, and if she were honest she highly doubted they could have meaningless sex.

"I'm ok, my kids and father and flying in this afternoon." Tom said.

"That's great." Rachel said as she was glad he would be reunited with his family. "Are they coming to Kara and Danny's wedding?" she asked.

"Yes, I'm making them go whether they want to or not. I think it'd be good for them to be around the crew of the Nathan James and their families. Dad will love not having to cook or clean and Cruz has nephews who are Sammy's age. Ashley is at that age where weddings are very romantic." he said with a smile, loving the ease of being able to talk to her about his kids.

"Weddings are romantic no matter what age a girl is." Rachel said teasingly.

"Will you save me a dance?" he asked her, he wanted to be her date but it was too soon for him and the kids. So asking for a dance was the best compromise he had. It would be enough for now.

"For you, I'll save two dances." she told him with a smile. Tom warmed at the offer and gave a nod as he knew she was flirting with him and it felt good.

"You're too good for me." he joked.

"You have no idea how true that statement is Captain." she told him with a brilliant smile. He couldn't help but chuckle at her salaciousness and looked to the garden bed that was a mangled mess.

"What are you going to plant here?" he asked her.

"Lilacs and Irises, my grandfather used to plant them for my grandmother; he continued to do so even after her death. I remember really loving them and what they meant to my Grandparents." She said with a soft reminiscing smile.

"May I help you?" He asked.

"Sure, if you don't mind getting a little dirty." She replied, Tom said nothing as he knelt down on the ground next to her and started to pull weeds out of the ground. Rachel pulled her gloves on and joined him.


"You seriously need a girlfriend or a hobby." Doc informed Wolf who was trying to spy on Larrin and Miller. But was completely unsuccessful given trees and a hedge blocked the view. All he could see was the top of their heads which told him exactly nothing. All he knew was that they were well past the time Miller said he'd have his sister home.

"You could be both for me." Wolf said turning to face her. Everyone was home given it was nearly dinner with exception of Danny and Kara who decided to go out for the evening. So it was Tex, Kat, Ms Miller, Wolf and Doc who apparently couldn't pass up fajita night.

"I don't think I'd make a very good hobby. I work 60 hour weeks." she told him with a smile.

"That and I prefer to know who I'm dating. Like their name, so I know what to call them when I'm-" Wolf stopped as he was about to say something profoundly sexual and didn't want Ms Miller to hear it.

"Are they back yet?" Ms Miller asked, as she moved to stand next to them breaking the magic of the moment between Doc and Wolf.

"Yeah," Wolf said.

"Geez you three, get away from the window and sit down. You'll embarrass them with the stalking." Tex told them from the table as he and Kat were playing poker.

"I'm not stalking them." Ms Miller informed him in a tart manner as she moved away from the window. "I'm just curious because if we can all be honest. This won't last. Your sister has to return to her family in Australia right?" she asked Wolf. It was pretty clear that Ms Miller's Mama bear mode was fully operational as she was afraid of seeing Miller's heart broken. Wolf however wasn't worried about that as Miller and Larrin were completely dopey for one another. He just wanted Larrin to reach her goals and dreams before getting knocked up.

"Dr Scott and I were talking about a training program for Larrin to help her reach her goals a couple of days ago. I think that rules out her leaving to go back to Australia unless something drastic changes." Doc said as she moved to the table.

"What's this?" Wolf asked, Doc gave him an incredulous look.

"Really? Your sister wants an MD on top of all the other letters after her name. You have no clue what state Australia is in. While here she had the best chance of becoming one of the top physicians and engineers in medical science here." Doc told him.

"Larrin didn't say anything about that." Wolf said with a frown.

"Well, we haven't discussed the finer details with Larrin yet. Since her recovery takes priority at the moment. But we're very keen on keeping her here." Doc told him.

"Fair enough." Wolf said as he couldn't argue with that and he did respect Doc and Dr Scott. They were incredibly strong and intelligent women who would be good mentors for Larrin. "And Ms Miller, if anyone will be going to Australia it'll be me. Major Damon told me the last reports that came out of Australia said civil war had broken out. So I'm not having my sister walk into what could be a potentially dangerous situation. Something I'd like you all to keep under your hat as I haven't told Larrin yet." Wolf said to them.

"War?" Kat said bleakly, Wolf inwardly cursed as he hadn't meant to upset the girl.

"We've been having racial tensions in our country for years. The disinformation from the media about pandemic apparently was a catalyst for a blowout. I don't have all the details but don't worry. It's apparently all internal won't affect the US." Wolf said even though it affected him deeply. He had no clue what it meant about him going home and finding his family. But apparently no one was answering the phones back home.

"But you're all really apathetic and laid back people." Tex said lightening the conversation even Wolf couldn't help but smile at the stereotype coming through.

"Only until the beer runs out Mate. That's when things get real and people start to care" he told him with a chuckle.


Larrin reluctantly pulled back from the kiss, she could really kiss this man forever but she had a feeling Wolf was pacing the floor and Ms Miller would not like it if they were late for dinner given they said they'd be home over an hour ago. But their date had run into the overtime and it was great.

She'd had another short nap and then Miller had kissed her when she'd woken up. Which led to some more kissing, playful hot kisses while hands remained annoyingly in tasteful places until a football hit them. It was then they realised they had to get home. Whether the football hit was an accident or not was left un-investigated as they returned home. Miller parked the car where they shared a quick kiss before he helped her out of the car.

Neither could resist sneaking in one more kiss before going in and facing the music. The hard and annoying part of their courtship as they were both adults but were seen as kids. So they were really like teenagers.

"I had a really good time." Larrin said not for the first time as she smoothed the front of his shirt with her hands. She had smiled so much her face was starting to hurt but she was so incredibly happy. Miller was wearing a smile too, his hands trailed out of her hair as they broke apart and took a breath to prepare themselves.

"I'm going to move out." Miller told her.

"What?" Larrin asked, she didn't want him to leave. They wouldn't have their late night conversations anymore.

"Not tomorrow but in the next few weeks, if I have my own place then we will have some more privacy for us." he said pointing out the real advantage as they wouldn't have a freaking curfew. A curfew Ms Miller put in place not Wolf as he begrudgingly figured if he tried to lay down the law Larrin would do everything in her power to rebel against it. Sure Miller was all for flouting it but Larrin didn't want to be on Ms Miller's bad side.

"I like the sound of that." Larrin said with a soft smile, she turned and barely took two steps away from him before he pulled her back into his arms.

"One more kiss. Last one for the night." Miller promised before he gave Larrin a kiss that made her toes curl in pleasure.