A/N - thank you for all the reviews and favorites and follows on this story! I appreciated every one. This is the end of this story, but for those who have enjoyed this glimpse of a happy, alternative universe and have not done so already, check out "Where Kara has Something to Tell Danny." Until next time. - tmtcltb

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Monday, October 13, 2014 at 9:21 pm

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Frankie was laughing so hard that he was doubled over his drink, unable to speak. Alisha stared at Kara with her mouth wide open. "Slattery? THE Commander Slattery? Our XO?"

"The very one," Danny confirmed, visibly shuddering as he took another swig of his beer.

"Please tell me that you had nothing to do with this," Kara begged.

Alisha blinked, looking legitimately shocked. "No, swear on a Bible."

"I can confirm it," Sarah piped up. Kara had the taken an immediate liking to the woman. Funny, easy to get along with, willing to put up with Alisha's erratic Navy schedule and, most importantly, not someone that Amy Granderson could steamroll. Sarah was exactly what Alisha needed. "We've been together the whole week. I would know if she called the base. And there would have been repercussions."

All eyes swung to Alisha.

"Every time I talk to someone from work I have to give Sarah a foot rub. Calling the base earns her a full body massage. Oh, and she randomly checks my phone log, suspicious woman that she is." Alisha grimaced at her girlfriend before resting her head against Sarah's shoulder in a way that took any sting out of the words.

"What about tonight?" Danny asked curiously. "By my count Alisha owes you four foot rubs right now."

"It doesn't count when we make plans to meet friends," Alisha clarified.

"Okay, so only one then," Kara joked. At Sarah's confused look, Kara explained. "I don't recall anyone inviting Frankie."

"Hey! I'm hurt." Unfortunately, Frankie was unable to stop laughing long enough to make his statement remotely convincing.

"Benz has a bad habit of showing up when there are beautiful women around. You'll get used to it," Danny replied, shrugging when Frankie flipped him the bird.

"Damn I wish I could have seen your face, Kara." Carlton chortled. "Slattery. Oh my God."

Kara gave him a measured look, still embarrassed by how Carlton discovered that she was seeing Danny. Deciding that she might as well get the awkwardness over with, Kara picked up her sparkling water. "Darts?"

Carlton rose, snagging his beer. After collecting the darts from the bar, Kara waited patiently while Carlton ogled a leggy brunette in a skirt the size of a toothpick. The woman, who looked about eighteen, giggled at Carlton as she passed him a slip of paper.

Kara shook her head when Carlton finally joined her, showing off the woman's digits before he pocketed them. "Why do you bother? Probably some college girl who just got dumped by her high school boyfriend and is trying to make the guy jealous so he realizes the errors of his ways."

"Cynical much Foster?" Carlton replied, although he didn't sound particularly perturbed. His first dart hit the double-twenty.

Kara snorted, hitting the bulls-eye. "Realist. I was that girl once. Remember?"

"Nah, you were never that clueless." They both glanced at the woman in question, who was attempting to get down from her stool without flashing the entire bar. "Figured that much nookie would mellow you out a little."

"Nookie?" Kara stopped mid-shot to stare at the guy.

"You know, sex." A faint red line appeared on Carlton's cheeks. Really the guy could be such a prude.

"How long have you known me, Carlton?"

"Eight years," Carlton replied promptly, then paused. "Damn. That's the longest relationship that I've had with a woman who isn't my mother."

Kara rolled her eyes, Carlton could get a little nostalgic when he was drinking. "And have you ever seen me mellow?"

"Nah. But I've also never seen you this ... giggly."

That gave her pause. "Giggly?"

"Yeah, but in a good way. Way happier than you ever were with Jeremy." Carlton's dislike of Kara's last boyfriend was no secret but his comment also felt sincere. "Guess Green's doing something right. Anything you care to share?"

"He is and no. I am not discussing details of my relationship with you." Picking up another dart, Kara glanced at Carlton from the corner of her eye. "Any chance we can skip the usual mess-with-my-friend-and-I-will-cut-you speech?"

"Nice try, baby girl, but no." Carlton barely looked before he aimed, managing to hit the wire, bouncing his dart onto the floor and earning several snickers from the bar. "Too late anyway. Already delivered it."

"What? When?" Kara was so caught-off-guard that she missed her target, although she did manage to hit the double bed.

"The other morning. Green took it like a man," Carlton nodded approvingly. "Even said that he was happy to know that you had such good friends."

Argh. The damn bagels. Why hadn't Danny told her? Kara scowled at Carlton. "Sometimes I hate you."

"But most of the time you love me." Carlton waggled his eyebrows, drawing a reluctant smile from Kara. "Loser buys drinks?"

Kara laughed. Carlton never won at darts. "You're on."

Twenty minutes later, Carlton had been dispatched to the bar following his dismal performance. On the opposite side of the table Alisha and Sarah were totally engrossed in a travel guide for Paris while Frankie checked out the group of women at the table behind Sarah in a less-than-subtle fashion. Taking advantage of the opportunity, Kara turned to Danny.

"Did Carlton really pull the big-brother card and give you a lecture on how to treat a lady?"

Danny grinned. "Sure did. He was very serious about it too. Like he was channeling Captain Chandler during his welcome to the Nathan James speech. You know? The one where he talked about how we represent the United States to the world and we needed to comport ourselves accordingly?"

Kara groaned. "Why can't my friends act like normal people?"

"Actually I thought it was kind of sweet. Carlton's a good guy," Danny teased, before tossing back the remainder of his beer. Using the table for cover, he slid his hand under Kara's shirt, fingers splaying across her back. "I told you how sexy it was watching you kick Burk's ass, didn't I?

"Actually I don't think you did."

"Well, it's really, really sexy." Danny moved until his chest was pressed against Kara's side, his breath hot in her ear, drawing a shiver. "Think we've stayed long enough to convince Granderson that I am not an axe murderer?"

Kara bit her lip, smiling at Danny over her shoulder. "I'm willing to chance it if you are. Let's go home."

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The End