Jake made his way to the Captain's Ready Room, greeting the young Ensign who sat outside the doors like a sentry. "Lt. Long for Captain Thoreau, please?" Jake requested formally.

"Certainly, Lt., go ahead."

The doors opened to admit Jake into the Captain's inner sanctuary. Andy stood and made her way around the desk to greet her old friend, "Jake! I'm so glad you took me up on my offer." And she hugged her friend.

Jake returned the sisterly show of affection before sitting down in one of Andy's large wing chairs. Andy took the other. "How'd it go?" She asked cautiously.

"The least you could have done was let me know Drew was here. You never said a word." He admonished.

"I was afraid you wouldn't come. And I knew you needed to."

"What do you mean by that?"

"I know, Jake, okay? I know everything that happened."

Jake became defensive, "Everything, Andy? Are you really so sure?"

Andy reached across and took Jake's hand, looking him square in the eye as she did. "Yes, Jake, everything. The affair…the reason she ordered you off…everything."

"But, how?"

Andy released Jake's hand and leaned back in the chair, "I have a few, well placed contacts. And, I've gained a few more since this appointment. They thought they were doing me a favor, warning me about the kind of man you are. I simply told them, I already knew what kind of man you were. That's why you were coming out here to discuss the opening."

Jake smiled. Trust it to Andy to put a person, ever so delicately, in their place. "Well, whatever happens, Andy, I'm grateful. I know that it's time to get back to a real working position. If it's not this one, well, I'll start searching for a ship. Sitting behind a desk isn't my idea of fun."

Andy raised her eyebrows at the veiled insult but let it pass. "I still need to know why you let Drew interrogate me, though." Jake continued.

"Simple, really. You're position with him is the same as his with me. You would be third in command, Jake. Drew's got to be able to know he can trust you in the heat of the battle. That you won't wilt or shut down because of past incidents. I know you well enough to know you don't make the same mistakes twice. I would trust you with my life. He has to feel the same. If he doesn't, he'll never be confident letting you make command decisions, at any level. I know it may not seem fair, but I have to have a cohesive team. That was the only way I could think of to make sure it would happen."

Jake nodded his understanding of Andy's explanation. The stress of the afternoon was beginning to catch up and Jake could feel the tiredness begin creeping in. He stood, forcing Andy to do the same. "With all due respect, Captain, it's been a long day. I think I'm ready for a little bit of rest."

Andy smiled, "I understand, Lt. I'll meet you in the morning, then."

Jake shook his head, "I'd rather you didn't, Andy. If I'm staying, we'll have plenty of time to see each other. If I'm not, well, I'd rather we part like this."

Andy was slightly injured at the comment but refused to let it show. She smiled, as she replied, "Very well, Lt. It was nice to see you. You're dismissed."

Jake smiled at Andy's command tone but didn't comment. He nodded his goodbye and left the Captain to wonder what the outcome would be.