Chapter 2

Tom had wasted a trip to the medical facilities. She had already left. Rios had cleared her immediately as she was being pushy and slightly difficult. The thought brought an unbidden smirk to his face as he stalked through the passageway's towards Rachel's lab.

Could she ever make things easy for him?

Tom stepped through the bulkhead and paused in the doorway to the makeshift laboratory. Rachel was already back at work. She had the items from the freighter and was cataloging them for future use. He felt his anger boil as he stood silently watching her. Quincy Tophet was working steadily beside her... both oblivious to the fuming Captain.

How could she act as if nothing had happened?

"Captain Chandler. What can we do for you?" Rachel asked calmly, barely even glancing up from her work.

Tom took a few steps into the room, "Tophet...Out!"

Quincy looked slightly confused and glanced at him before looking to Rachel. She gave him a slight nod and he quickly dropped what he was doing and left the lab. There seemed to a certain defiance and stubbornness in the scientists on board the Nathan James.

"Spit it out." Rachel demanded as if bored already of his presence.

"Busy?" Tom questioned with an arrogant slant of his brow. Rachel put down what she was doing and turned, leaning back against her work bench and crossing her arms. Tom had learnt quickly that this was her 'arguing' position and he was prepared for anything she threw at him.

"Well..."

"What were you thinking?" His tone was low but harsh, something she hadn't expected by the look on her face. Tom could see her mind ticking and waited for her witty rebuttal.

"It was a stalemate. What did you want me to do?" Rachel's voice was tough and unforgiving. He knew that she would probably make the same decision again...He had to make her see that she couldn't risk her life like that.

The air in the lab was thickening with tension and his gaze caught hers...defiance and annoyance flickered in her orbs.

"Do you think this is a joke?" Tom asked her roughly as he advanced a few steps towards her. He hoped his tall, built frame might intimidate her slightly but she didn't even blink.

It was her cavalier attitude towards her own safety that was eating away at him. Did she not understand her own importance...to him...to the crew?

"Not at all. We needed the supplies. I know a few moves. It all worked out fine." Rachel shrugged, brushing the situation off. She was trying not to show him just how much the situation had actually scared her. It was easier just to be blasé about it all.

"Do it again and you won't be allowed off this ship." His warning came out harsher than he expected. His anger burned brightly, all we wanted to do was shake the damn woman.

"You really don't need to be so protective any more...you have the vaccine." Rachel told him softly.

Tom advanced forward quickly, his hands reaching out to grip her shoulders. He swore he could feel the heat of her skin through her shirt...burning him.

"You...are...important." He enunciated each word slowly. Her eyes met his, a shocked look passed over her face before something undefinable settles there.

"Tex has already offered to teach me a thing or two." Rachel told him before wrenching her gaze away and pulling herself out of his grip.

Something dark started to churn in his stomach. Tex?

Tex had made no secret of his attraction towards the Doctor and Tom had become a confidante, someone that he shared his inner thoughts with. Hell, Tex would make comments about Rachel or ask for his advice. Tom was always honest with him and they had struck up a friendship or sorts. As far as he knew Tex hadnt had any progression with the Doctor, though not for lack of trying.

"I'll do it." The words blurted out of his mouth before he could stop them. There was something about Tex training with Rachel that just didn't sit well with him.

Rachel Scott's brows furrowed in confusion, "Train with me?"

She wanted clarification of his comment and he gave a small jerky nod.

"I'm not sure..." Rachel's voice trailed off.

Tom could feel the air crackling and it put him slightly on edge. The to and fro of their conversations always seemed to get to him and he decided that he needed a break from this one.

"I will be in the gym 0600 tomorrow morning if you change your mind."

Rachel Scott stood staring at the doorway for a lot longer than she'd care to admit. He baffled her. There was something about Tom Chandler that she just couldn't work out. After the initial mistrust between them she had begun to feel connected to him. He backed her up...put all of his faith in her and was intellectually witty. She was extremely attracted to him, to his strength and his wit...and it was her burden to carry.

She felt like an idiot. Tex had made it completely obvious that he wanted something with her but it wasn't him that made her catch her breath.

Every slight smile...or touch made her heart race. It was wrong but it was also her secret. She knew she was going to take up Tom's offer of training despite telling herself that she shouldn't. He was the Captain and in magnificent shape...perhaps he could teach her some useful techniques.

Liar

It was bad when you began lying to yourself about why she would go to the Gym. Rachel decided that she would take both men up on their offers. Tom offered her a more standard, methodical form or training whilst Tex offered more ragtag methods. Both would be useful.

0630

Tom pumped up the treadmill and quickly matched its pace. He had been working out steadily for half an hour. He hadn't really expected the Doctor to take him up on his offer but he was still disappointed when she hadn't shown.

The Nathan James was setting a good pace back towards Norfolk and the communications room was working on filtering out important messages. He had found time after little sleep to make it down to the Gym by 0600. There had been a few other crew members finishing up and after half an hour not one other soul had entered. Tom knew first hand just how intimidating working out with the Commanding Officer could be, so he bet that word had spread to avoid the gym.

The punishing pace of the treadmill had him quickly working up a sweat but it didn't stop the thoughts rolling around in his head.

His life had been stable...it had been safe. His kids were smart and friendly and his wife...Darien was beautiful, supportive and loyal. He had everything he needed in them. ...it had been easy and simple.

Nothing about the current situation was easy...or simple.

Tom slowed the machine to a brisk walk and grabbed his bottle of water and towel. He took several large gulps and wiped the sweat from his face.

"Does the offer still stand?" The British lilt could only belong to one person on board. Tom tapped the red stop button and jumped down from the machine to face the woman confusing all of his thoughts.

"You're late."

"I'm here aren't I..."

It was remarks like that one that set him on edge...that threatened to unbalance his whole world. He loved that he couldn't predict what would come out of her mouth. It was refreshing and he relished the challenge she presented.

Maybe this wasn't such a good idea after all.

Finding himself attracted to a woman that wasn't his wife was a little hard to swallow. Yes he found other women attractive but this was something more. It wasn't just her looks that drew him to her.

Her warm-up was over quickly and Tom found himself putting all of the conflicting emotions out of his mind and get into a teaching mode. He was careful to keep his distance as she showed her some beginners moves that had been taught to him many years ago. There would come a time when they would have to test those moves but today wasn't it.

Rachel had loosened up and it was odd for him to see her in this light. She was usually so serious and uptight. Their eyes had caught briefly several times but one of them would always look quickly away. Pretend that the electricity between them wasn't there. If they pretended and pushed it down...it would eventually go away.

Right?

Rachel acted as though there was nothing between them...and there wasn't because there couldn't be. The thoughts began clouding his mind again and Tom decided that it was time to pull the plug but he was saved from any awkwardness by his XO.

Slattery's voice came over the radio, requesting him on the bridge. A massive weather front was moving in.

"Same time tomorrow?" He asked as he collected all of his belongings.

Rachel gave him a small nod and he swiftly left the gym.

The storm wasn't just brewing outside...it was here and it was threatening to overwhelm him.

TBC