Everyone thought she was kidding but Faith went home as soon as Truman gave them the all-clear and a don't-do-anything-dumb speech, managing to get the group twelve hours of solace. There was a part of her that almost entertained the idea of going with Will to see his daughters but she told him to go without her. It wasn't that she didn't want to meet Clare and Ella, she just knew that it wasn't the right time. He needed to see them without having to worry about her.

Grace and A.J. ran off to 'be alone' and her dad was going to see her grandfather. It was a long time coming if you asked Faith; the two men have been ignoring each other for the last decade or so. She could almost guarantee that Chick went to see his son, even though his ex-wife had a court order that said he shouldn't. If Denise only knew what was going on, she would welcome him with open arms.

Bear, Freddy, Rock, Oscar and Max all headed to a strip club, to the surprise of no one. It was just like them to want to see naked girls before they headed off to Kennedy Space Center in the morning. It was all so unreal, the reality of this whole mess. Before she could give it any more thought, someone rang her doorbell.

"Aren't you supposed to be with two little girls who look like you?" she asked as she opened the door.

Will smiled. "I was. I hung out, colored a bunch of pictures, had dinner, watched a movie, read bedtime stories and tucked them in. I couldn't stay without telling Jess what was going on and I don't want them to worry." She stepped aside to let him in. He looked around. "So, this is you?"

"Yep." Her house was a mix of different styles, none of the furniture matched but it all went together well. The floor plan was open but it was welcoming. "I wanted it to have character."

He chuckled. "It does have that but I think it's more to do with you."

"Charmer," Faith said with a smile.

"Only around you." Will wrapped his arms around Faith and pressed a soft kiss to her lips. "Hi."

"Hi." All that time they spent trapped together at Johnson Space Center and hours after they get to leave, here they are. She couldn't stop herself from laughing.

"What?" Will asked. Faith told him what she was thinking and he let out a chuckle. "I thought that on my drive over. I almost went home. Figured you'd need a break from me."

"There is no one else I'd rather spend my last day off on Earth with."

He kissed her neck. "That so?"

"It is." The thought of him here, in her house, felt so right. "Come on." She took his hand and pulled him up the stairs.

"Where are we going?"

"I'm spending the rest of the night in your arms… so bed."

"I think that is the best idea I've heard in a while."

Dottie, the asteroid, was public. A meteor shower hit South East Asia overnight, killing over 50,000 people in Shanghai and the whole world looked up. Everything was already in overdrive when they all got back to NASA.

"This is crazy, Faithie," her best friend said to her, falling into step with her and Will.

She chuckled. "Story of our lives, Fred."

"No kidding," Freddy said.

"Sharp, Stamper, Noonan, you gotta see this," Tucker motioned for them to follow him. The three of them squeezed into the room with the tall pilot, the rest of the crew was standing around a large screen watching as a newscaster started talking.

"A French satellite has tracked an object in space. Scientists are calling this a global killer. We have just learned that NASA is on a full-scale military alert. The government has been very tight-lipped, though, it appears that the Pentagon is getting involved at this point with some kind of a project involving, perhaps, a shuttle mission. Senior Pentagon officials refused to comment, adding fuel to the speculation that there could be a very serious problem."

Freddy huffed. "No shit. Think NASA will talk to them?"

"I'll have a statement for 'em when you get to Kennedy. Everyone ready?" Truman asked them.

He was met with looks and Harry chuckled. "I'm gonna go with 'no'."

Truman nodded but didn't say anything else. The man looked like hell and Faith didn't envy him at all, he was the one who had to explain to the world what they were doing.

"We're as ready as we can be, Truman," Faith said from her spot between Will and Tucker. "We'll get it done."

The older man looked at her. "I know. Good luck, everyone. Your ride to Kennedy is waiting."

The teams grabbed their gear and said their goodbyes to the Johnson staff members before heading out to the flight line where two planes were waiting to take them to Florida.

"Riding with us, Gracie?" Oscar asked.

The youngest Stamper shook her head. "I'm gonna fly with Harry. You know…"

Faith squeezed her sister's hand before pressing a kiss to her temple. "I know. See you in a few hours, sweetie."

She watched as her sister ran off to catch up with their father before following Freddy up the stairs to her plane. Faith knew she should be excited about all this but there was just a sense of dread hanging over her head.

"We got this, Faith," Bear said, offering the empty seat next to him.

"Damn right, we do." She looked at him. "Can't help it if I'm worried, though."

"Wish you were flying with your boyfriend?" When Faith gave him a look, he laughed. "I see more than I say, baby girl."

"I suppose you do," Faith said as she buckled her seatbelt. "It's not just him. Dad and Grace are over there too. I know why they have us in separate flights, doesn't mean I like it."

"Fair enough. Why don't you try to get some rest?"

"Me? Why don't you try?"

"Who knows," the big guy said, "maybe I will."

Kennedy was like a mad house, teaming with people who were trying to get past the military personnel posted at the gates. Faith couldn't believe her eyes as people clamored for just a glimpse of their team.

"I'm guessing this is new?" she asked Davis.

"It's an emergency lockdown. They haven't had to do one of those in years," he told her as they walked into the main building.

"Astronauts, welcome to Kennedy, I'm Tony Shaw. If you need anything, I'm the person you call. We have rooms for everyone and I believe that some of you still have prep work to do."

Gruber and Halsey said something to Will before they went to meet the Air Force weapons officers with the nukes. While everyone else was led through the building and given a quick tour. They had just walked into a small rec room when Truman came on the news.

"Is this live?" Faith asked no one in particular. Davis nodded as Truman started talking.

"We have a special team of astronauts that arrived in Florida this evening. NASA's in emergency launch preparation in cooperation with Russian, Japanese and French space agencies on the most massive joint space venture in history."

Faith didn't need to hear anymore, listening to whatever he told the world wasn't going to help her any. She stepped out of the room and pressed her forehead against the cold wall.

"Faith," Will said as he rested his hand on the small of her back. "You okay?"

She took a breath before she looked up at him. "Depends on how we're defining okay."

"I know you're worried, sweetheart."

"I'm a little more than worried. Watching the news doesn't help, it kinda makes it worse. I mean, the world is ending, why don't we just leave already? Everyone's already asking why NASA didn't know sooner."

"NASA can't see everything, budget's not big enough."

"I know, I didn't mean… Sitting still was never my strongest trait. The longer we're in lockdown, the more frustrated I get."

"I can see that," he said with a smile. "And yes, while Kennedy is under lockdown, there are some things we can do." She raised an eyebrow. "Not that. We're supposed to be under a strict quarantine so none of us get sick."

"I'm sure they bent a lot of rules for us?"

"You have no idea. Well, they have no idea, you actually read through the policies and procedures manuals."

"I did. That's what happens when I'm bored."

Will give her a long look, like he was trying to figure something out. "You wanna see something cool?"

"How cool we talking?" Faith asked.

"Very cool." He smiled. "You in?" She nodded. "Wait with the others and I'll be right back."

"Where's he going?" Chick asked as soon as Faith sat down next to him.

"If I knew, I'd tell you," she said with a shrug and tried to ignore the news.

After a few minutes, the Shaw guy told the group to load into a bunch of SUVs. They all asked questions, most of which went unanswered until they were a few minutes from the Independence's launch pads, Will and Davis were standing with some techs.

"What's your boyfriend up to?" Oscar asked her.

"I have no idea," Faith muttered as she hopped out of the backseat. The rest of the team following suit. "What's up, guys?"

"So, that," Tucker said, pointing to a large vehicle moving one of the X-71's into position, "is called the crawler."

"On top of that," Will said, "Is the Mobile Launch Platform. The open-air tower is the Fixed Service Structure; you'll hear FSS a lot over the next day, that's it. It has elevators and service equipment. That's how we're getting in."

Davis nodded. "As long as we stay out of the way, we can watch as they put the shuttle into position."

"This was your something cool?" she whispered to Will.

"It was. What do you think?"

"It's very cool. Thank you."

He smiled. "You are very welcome."

They all walked at chatted about the shuttles when Harry wrapped an arm around her shoulders and pulled her away from the group. "You picked good." Harry looked over at Will. "I'll keep an eye on him for you."

She rolled her eyes. "I guess everyone knows."

"I don't know about everyone but I know because he told me."

"Of course, he did. That sounds like something he would do. You aren't gonna chase him around with a shotgun, are you?"

Her father chuckled. "No. I don't think I'd get away with that one. Besides, he didn't have to tell me but he did anyway. Gotta respect a man who looks you in the eyes and tells you that he's in love with your daughter."

"You weren't so open when A.J. said it," Faith reminded him as they walked.

"To be fair, I did just find Grace naked in his bed," Harry said.

"That is a good point."

"Thought you'd spend the night with your fiancé," Faith said to her sister when she opened the door to the small room she was assigned.

Grace shook her head. "As much as I love him, you're my sister. Can I stay?"

"Of course." Faith smiled.

"Where's your boyfriend?"

"I wish you guys would stop calling him that. He's not a boy in any sense of the word."

"Doesn't answer my question."

"He's with the other pilots, some NASA stuff that the rest of us don't have to worry about." Faith didn't really know more than that but it wasn't important. "Come on," she said, ushering her sister towards one of the beds, "I actually have to try to get some sleep."

Just as they started to get settled, there was another knock at the door.

"You're popular," Grace said before hopping up to answer it. "Oh, hey, Dad."

"You're calling me dad this week?" he asked as he stepped into the room.

"Seemed appropriate," both sisters said in unison.

"I figured you'd be with the guys," Harry said.

"Already had that conversation," Faith said. "We decided to do some sisterly bonding."

He chuckled. "You want me to leave?"

"Of course not," Grace said. "Stay, it'll be like when we were kids."

"You mean when I'd wake up and you'd both be in my bed?" he asked.

"Yep." Faith smiled. "It was her fault."

"I was scared, I couldn't help it."

Harry chuckled at his youngest daughter. "You're both a little big for that, now."

"Please," Faith said with a smirk, "you're never too big to kick your dad outta his bed."

"Don't even think about it."

Grace smiled, "We wouldn't, you guys have a big day tomorrow. Bedtime." Faith and Grace took one bed while their dad took the other.

"I love you, girls."

"We love you more, dad," they replied in unison.

He chuckled, "I love you most. Go to sleep."

"Good morning."

Faith smiled as Will's presence washed over her. "Hey. How'd you sleep?"

"Like crap. I'm too keyed up," he told her.

"Me too. Every time I drifted off, something would cross my mind and then I was awake again."

"That's usually how it goes." Will sat down next to her and looking out at the shuttles, gleaming in the early morning sun. "A few more hours."

"Then we're off. Any regrets?"

"Only about a hundred," he said. "Can you do me a favor and be careful?"

"I will do my very best. You better be careful too."

"Yes, ma'am."

Faith reached over and took his hand. "I wish we had more time."

"The collective 'we' or me and you?" Will asked, his eyes on their intertwined fingers.

"Both."

"Well, there's nothing we can do about the first one. And we'll both fight like hell for the second one. Yeah?" She could hear the words that he didn't say. The promise that they were going to fight, win and come back to each other.

"Yeah."

None of them said anything as they got into their suits. There wasn't really anything to say. Faith looked around the room and smiled. No matter what happened in the next few days, this crazy bunch was never gonna be the same.

"Astronauts." She didn't know the man's name but he was one of the people who helped them get dressed. They all stepped through the door and walked into a large room.

"I'll see you in a couple days, honey," Harry said before he kissed Grace on the cheek. Her sister smiled and nodded at their father before she smiled at Faith.

"I'll get Frosty back in one piece. Love ya, Gracie," Faith told the nineteen-year-old.

The youngest Stamper hugged Faith as tight as she could. "Love you too, Faithie."

Grace let her go as A.J. walked up to the duo and took her sister's hand. Faith smiled and gave them their space. She stood next to Will; they had their goodbye -which was honestly more of a see you later- in private that morning.

"Ready, Colonel?"

"As I can be." Will gave her hand a squeeze before they moved to join the others by the hanger door.

Then, out of nowhere, A.J. started singing to her sister. Faith tried not to laugh but she failed miserably when she saw Tucker wince. The pilot looked like years had been craved off his life.

"He's so off key. If he starts that in the shuttle, I'll abandon ship."

"… On a jet plane. Don't know when I'll be back again," A.J. sang as Bear joined in. "Leavin' on a jet plane. I don't know when I'll be back again." Then Max and Rockhound. "Leavin' on a jet plane. I don't know when I'll be back again."

She shared a look with Freddy and he shrugged. "Should've picked a better song. Like 'It's the end of the world as we know it…'"

"…'and I feel fine'," Faith said with a smirk.

Tucker chuckled. "Now, that's a good song even though I have no idea what half the words are."

"Nobody does," Freddy said.

"That's part of what makes it so fun," she agreed as Oscar managed to pull A.J. away from her sister.

Lined up and ready to go, none of them could have imagined just how many people were standing outside the hanger waiting for them. One of the NASA officials warned them that there were a lot of people outside but this was more than she was expecting. She felt like she had lead in her boots when they told them to walk to the buses that would take them to the shuttles.

"You okay?" A.J. asked over her shoulder; she gave him a small nod. But was she, really?

This wasn't the kind of thing that she signed up for. Hell, the whole point of having a job out in the middle of the ocean, nobody really knew or cared about who you were. Now, here they were, a team of mostly anonymous people racing off to defend the planet against a giant asteroid. Faith was terrified that they were gonna fail and kill everyone on Earth. The men and women that lined their path began cheering and clapping and Faith hoped that they didn't disappoint the world.

Taking the elevator up to the shuttle hatches was more than she could describe in this lifetime. Standing between Will and Davis, she held Will's hand as she stared at the Freedom's sleek exterior. Even though she got to see the shuttles before everyone on the team, save the flight crew, she never really looked at them. They were impressive and, if she had more than a couple of days, she would've asked to see the specs.

When the door to the elevator opened, they were greeted by a man. He pointed to the left. "Freedom crew." Then, he pointed to the right. "Independence crew."

This was it.

"How ya feelin', Faith?" her father asked as the others headed towards their shuttles.

She looked up at him. "I'm good. You know, all things considered."

"Listen," he said. "Once you get up there, you're gonna be on your own."

"And I will do my best to make you proud," Faith told him.

"I'm already there," he said with a smile before he kissed her temple and looked over her shoulder. "Hey, kid, look out for your sister."

"We'll look out for each other," A.J. said before he gave Harry a quick hug. "We'll be fine."

"I know you will," Harry said before he followed his team to their shuttle.

"Did Harry just admit that he likes me?" her friend asked.

"I think so," she said with a nod. "Come on."

"You alright up there, Faith?"

She took a breath as one of the technician strapped her in. "I'm good, Fred. You?"

He chuckled. "Oh, I'm just peachy. Oscar?"

"Great," A.J.'s best friend said with a grunt. "I got that excited/scared feelin' like ninety-eight percent excited, two percent scared. Maybe more... it could be… it could be ninety-eight percent scared, two percent excited. But that's what makes it so intense, is it's so confused. I can't really figure it out." He turned his attention to the person strapping him in. "Will you make mine really tight, 'cause I don't want to fall out? I mean, almost to the point of cutting off circulation."

"At least someone is enjoying himself," Halsey muttered.

Faith smiled. "A.J., you alright?"

He gave her a subdued, "Yea."

"You sure, man?" Freddy asked.

"If I wasn't, there's nothing anyone could do about it," A.J. pointed out. "Bear?"

"I'm just ready to go, man," the big guy muttered as the techs left the shuttle and sealed them in. Faith could understand that.

After waiting a while, Faith's earpiece crackled to life as Shaw's voice sounded in their ears. "Independence and Freedom, this is Kennedy firing room. We're T minus one minute. All crew members, close and lock your visors."

"Independence, this is launch control. Be advised, we're in a smooth count. T minus 31. You're go for auto-sequence start," another man said. Stuff on the shuttle started to kick.

"Okay, ladies and gentlemen," Truman said from Texas, "you're our warriors up there. God be with you. You're already heroes. Just sit back and enjoy the ride."

"Easy for him to say," Freddy grumbled. She chuckled at her friend but didn't say anything. Faith listened to the chatter on the radio and took a deep breath.

"We're T minus 20 seconds," Shaw's voice returned. She started counting down in her head, at ten, launch control started counting out loud. "Ten. Nine. Eight. Seven. Six. Five. Four. Three. Two. One."

The shuttle started to roar and rumble. Tucker notified Kennedy that the main engine started.

"We have booster ignition," that was CAPCOM in Houston. Will introduced her to the guy that morning but she couldn't recall his name.

"We're cooking, Houston," Davis said. Faith wanted to close her eyes but she couldn't as they lifted off the ground. When they got to the right altitude, she heard Davis again. "Starting roll maneuver."

"Independence, we have max cue," CAPCOM again.

Tucker took a breath. "Roger, Control. We are a max cue… S.R.B. sep… We are single-engine, press to MECO."

Faith let out a breath as Houston acknowledged, "Copy, Independence press to MECO."

"Houston, this is a kick-ass ride!" Faith had to agree with Davis, as scary as this all was, she was having a blast.

"This is Independence, Main Engine Cut Out on schedule. Out," Tucker told the people on the ground back in Texas.

Houston came on the radio, "Independence, telemetry is up and running."

Faith couldn't believe her eyes. "Oh, my God."

"This is space! 'Course, we're just in the beginning part of space. We… We haven't gotten to outer space yet," Oscar said to them.

Faith shook her head, "Shut up, Oscar and enjoy the view."