Thanks to srp2017 for the suggestion for this chapter.

Chapter 13

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Sitting on the couch of the hotel room occupied by Christine, Andrea felt like she didn't belong there. Christine had sent the girls down to get some food while they talked. A state of nervousness came over Andrea as she thought about how to tell Christine, but in the end she thought it was best to just cut to the heart of the matter.

"I gather you have some news?" Christine looked anxiously at Andrea who was sitting across from her, trying her best to not break the glass of water in her hands as she felt terrified, worried and nervous all at the same time, she was going to tell Christine that Mike was missing. The only thing she knew, was that he was missing. Was he alive? - A question she had thought over several times already, still no wiser. They could only hope for the best.

"Yes." Andrea stuttered out, suddenly aware of the nervous tone in her voice. She was after all worried sick about Mike, as she was sure Christine was too. Thoughts going back to wonder how Christine and Bill must have felt when she and Mike were presumably missing, yet safely in the Arctic, when the pandemic first hit.

"Mike's.. Mike's missing. I don't know where he is, or if.." Andrea looked straight at Christine, surprised that she found the strength to keep her voice steady while telling her.

"If he's alive.." The news hit Christine like a wave and Andrea could hear from the tone of her voice that she knew the severity of the situation, but could see that she might have gone through similar situations in the past. Mike had after all been a homicide detective in the police force, situations of danger was something Christine had been used to. But this? They didn't know anything.

"What happened?" Christine asked and met her eyes straight.

"There was an attack in Vietnam. They were at a celebratory party when it happened." Andrea told her and took a sip of water from her glass.

"Oh god.." Christine got up and started to pace around the room, slowly realizing what Andrea was telling her. Andrea placed the water glass on the table in front of her as she waited for her to speak.

"Are there any clues? Are they searching for them?" Christine asked, the desperation in her voice was clear. Whether it was for the sake of her children or because of the love she still had for Mike, Andrea was feeling uneasy right now. She caressed her swollen belly out of a comforting habit, not realizing that she was doing so in front of Christine.

"Tom is on the mission. That's all I know." Andrea managed to say, noticing Christine's awkward glance at her belly.

"The girls can't take yet another disappearance of their father." Christine sat down beside Andrea.

After a moment Christine spoke again. "Wait.. Tom? I thought he was in China, discussing about the cure. It was in the News." Christine looked at her and Andrea began feeling rather unwell at all this stress she was feeling right now. Still feeling rather shocked of the recent events and talking to Christine right now wasn't helping much.

"It's a long story.." Andrea said, feeling a dull pain over her abdomen. Holding her breath, she closed her eyes to regain her strength and thoughts. This is not the time, Lucy.

"Are you okay?" She heard Christine's voice beside her and felt her hand reach hers. Right now the usually confident and bossy Chief of Engineering was gone, Andrea felt afraid, afraid that there was something wrong, afraid that she would lose the baby she had been longing so much.. Afraid that she would never see Mike again.

"I don't know." She held onto Christine's hand and felt the dull pain give way, not sure whether it would come again. Opening her eyes she saw Christine watching her like a hawk.

"Come on. I'll drive you to the hospital for a check." Christine helped her up and she was surprised that she was keeping her cool right now. She was a stronger woman than she had thought, but then again the pandemic has had that affect on people.

After their short drive to the hospital Andrea was examined by her doctor who then suggested that she would stay there overnight for observation and much needed rest. The dull pain had gotten slightly more worse on their drive over but it was getting easier to pull through as she was lying on the hospital bed. A soft knock on the door lifted her gaze from the TV in front of her and she pressed the 'mute' button on the remote.

"You're still here?" Andrea was startled to see Christine peak in as she didn't expect Christine to wait for her to be done.

"Hi, is everything okay?" Christine walked slowly inside the room.

"It was just Braxton Hicks, should've realized myself.. But it's best I stay overnight for observation." Andrea explained, and knew that Christine would know herself, having had three children.

"Thank you for driving me here, I know it must've been.. difficult.." Andrea added.

"It's okay.. I didn't have anyone to drive me when I was expecting Laura.. so.." Christine tried to mask her discomfort but Andrea knew she had trouble accepting that her husband was the father of Andrea's baby.

"Christine.." Andrea tried to say but she cut her off.

"I'm.. I'm trying to come to terms with the whole situation, but I need time, okay?" Christine said bluntly and Andrea saw the tears she was fighting back.

"So have you thought about a name..?" To Andrea's surprise Christine sat down on the chair beside her and tried her best to not talk about the elephant in the room. Focus on something else, which Andrea understood herself.

"Lucy." Andrea said the name warmly and a smile came on her face. She already loved this child so much.

"That's a nice name." Christine gave a weak smile.

"It's.." Andrea began, not sure whether her telling the origin of the name would cause more distress for Christine but she thought it might give her something, a comfort of sorts.

"It's combined from Lily and.. Lucas. The two kids we lost." Andrea said and saw the hurt in Christine's eyes, the same hurt she felt whenever she thought about her daughter. Her husband.

"It's nice." Christine managed to say and at that moment the TV that had been on mute in the background showed a footage of a familiar man. A man they both recognized. A man they both loved.

Andrea reached for the remote control to turn on the sound and she looked at the image completely stunned.

"Michael Slattery, Captain, United States Navy. Serial number 171811120."

"I and four members of my crew are prisoners of war."

Left completely speechless by the image in front her, she felt an ache in her heart to see him hurt. Being held captive. It was awful and the dull pain began building up in her stomach again.

"That's not his serial number.." Christine said with a distracted voice and Andrea turned to face her. Trying to make sense in all this, what the hell was going on in Asia?