Author's Notes: - This has now been betad by the great Stonedtoad.

Enjoy

Kristin read through the file with interest before looking up at the man who had just handed it to her.

"This is incredible," she said, "I don't think I've ever seen blood work like it before."

"But do you think you can remove the substance?" Nathan asked intently.

She chewed her lip for a moment, "I'll need time and an actual sample of the patient's blood."

Nathan nodded, "There's a few samples in the case along with all the previous work done on the patient."

"So I don't get to meet my patient?"

At her questioning Nathan shook his head, "I'm afraid the identity is classified. At least until you find the cure."

Kristin's lips curved with an amused smile, "You're so sure I will?"

"I have every faith in you, Dr," he replied checking his watch, "Time to meet Dr Hassan's shuttle. Are you coming?"

x

Nathan was hopeful at Kristin's reaction to the file he'd given her that she would be the one to remove the death sentence that hung over Kate. He knew she'd learned to live with it and, now on Seaquest, she knew it was very unlikely the man who had poisoned her could get anywhere near her on the boat.

The past two months onboard the boat had been good and he was surprised that both of them had settled in easily. What he was even more surprised about was the fact that Kate had been befriended by O'Neill, a fact he was both happy and horrified about.

The file on O'Neill, as well as what he'd witnessed over the past few months, showed the Lieutenant to be a very straight-laced, hard working honest person. He just hoped that Kate didn't corrupt him. It was always a possibility even if they didn't spent huge amounts of time together.

Unfortunately he also had to deal with the leak they seemed to have sprung and the fact he knew what Noyce would say was not making this any easier to deal with.

x

"It's not Kate."

Noyce frowned at him, "Are you sure?"

"Of course I'm sure," Nathan snapped at him, "She wouldn't jeopardise her new life here for a cheap buck."

A grimace covered the other man's face.

"Do you want to ask her yourself?"Nathan demanded, "Because you know what she'll say."

"Nathan, we're both well aware of who Kate is," Noyce started, "And what she does."

"What she used to do," Nathan argued back.

"Nathan."

"Bill," he cut him off again, "I am not saying this again. Kate is not the leak. You need to find out who is."

Slamming his hand on the button cutting off the link he sighed, turning to where Kate was sitting hidden away so Noyce couldn't see her.

"It's nice to know that Bill thinks so highly of me," Kate noted with a grim smile.

Nathan shrugged, "It's his job to think that way."

"It's his job to find the real leak," Kate retorted, "Besides I'm insulted he thinks I would do something so blatantly stupid."

Nathan stared at her, "Really?"

"Let's not get into that I am only here because you vouched for me," Kate told him, "And if you kicked me out I have pretty much nowhere to go. Instead let's focus on the fact there are certain individuals I don't want to know my location and leaking it to the press could get me noticed by those people."

Nathan chuckled, "Good point."

"Can you tell him that?"

Kate couldn't stop being amused by the reaction of people to their psychic visitors. Some of the toughest security guards were doing all sorts of crazy tricks to not have their thoughts read.

Sailors were always so superstitious.

She was however avoiding their guests to ensure that she didn't give away any information she didn't want known.

At the moment however she was sitting in the mess listening to Tim talk about the artefacts in the library and the amazing discoveries they'd found.

"Tim," she tried to interrupt, "Tim," she rolled her eyes as he kept talking, "Tim."

Finally because she couldn't think of anything else to do she picked up her roll and shoved it into his mouth.

"At last," she grinned at his stunned look, "Silence."

Removing the roll Tim frowned at her, "Was I boring you?"

"No," Kate chuckled, "But you did promise to help me study and I need you to tell me when before you start your shift."

"Oh," he winced apologetically, "How about eighteen hundred hours?"

Kate stared into the distance for a moment, "Just translating that to normal person time," she smirked at him.

"Fine," he rolled his eyes, "If you send me what you want to study I'll prepare some questions."

"Thanks," she gave him a warm smile.

Tim glanced away, "I know it's not easy studying alone."

Kate chuckled, looking up she saw one the psychics walk in to the mess and over to pick up a drink. As his eyes met hers Kate stiffened. The man stared at her before he left and Kate grimaced, she'd given her secret away.

x

Nathan sighed as he waited for Kate to arrive. He knew she wasn't the leak, he knew this but since Mr Rossovich's report he also knew he had to talk to her officially.

"I'm guessing the psychic ratted me out," she said the moment she walked in and sat down.

Nathan grimaced, "You blocked a scan?"

"And busted," Kate winced, "Yes, I blocked the scan."

He stared at her, "How?"

She pressed her lips together trying to look innocent before sighing, "I'm a thief and a con artist, remember? And if you recall I'm a good one. I was trained to block by a friend of my mentor."

Nathan sighed, "Unfortunately this is one of those times Noyce will need more."

Kate stared at him fear in her eyes, "You can't ask me to do that. Please, Nathan I can't let someone inside my head."

"Hey," Nathan moved to her side, "Are you planning on betraying me?"

"Of course not," she stared at him horrified he would suggest something like that.

"That's all they're looking for," he told her, "I hate the idea but you're the only person they suspect and until I can prove you innocent, Bill won't look elsewhere."

Kate rubbed her face with her hands, "Nathan, I like it here. However I won't submit to a scan even if it means I have to leave."

"Kate…"

"My step-father is a powerful man," Kate reminded him, "And who knows what information he has access to. I let one of them scan me then who I truly am is out there."

Nathan frowned, "You're safe here."

"If he finds out where I am," Kate said softly and fearfully, "He will find a way to kill me. You know that, Nathan. I'm only safe as long as my real identity is unknown."

He sighed before nodding, "Okay. And I want you to remember one thing, you're not a thief anymore, you're not a con artist anymore. You never have to be again."

"I want an apology," Kate demanded glaring at the man on the vidlink.

Noyce frowned at her, "I was doing my job, Kate."

"You accused me of betraying Nathan," she snapped.

He shook his head, "Kate, I have to ask these things. You are a self-confessed thief and con artist."

"Was," she replied, "I was and I have not done anything remotely illegal in over two years."

Silence filled the room for a moment before she spoke again.

"Bill, please understand why I couldn't let them scan me," Kate whispered, "He could find me."

Noyce shook his head, "I will never let that happen."

"You might not be able to stop him," Kate smiled fondly at him.

He sighed, "I'm sorry, Kate. I will trust that you won't betray Nathan," he paused and smiled at her, "Happy?"

"Extremely," she chuckled, "I have to go. I'll talk to you later."

"Kate," he called before she shut down the link, "If you need anything let me know."

She smirked at him, "Oh I will, you owe me big."

x

Nathan smiled as Kate slid into the seat at his side, "Well?"

"He apologised," she smirked before turning to the other occupant of the table, "Doctor, Nathan told me he gave you the file on Patient X."

Kristin chuckled, "Yes. I've not had much time to work on it yet but it is fascinating."

"Oh, yeah that was my first thought," Kate said sarcastically.

"I'm guessing medicine is not one of your interests?" Kristin asked.

Kate shrugged, "I've seen enough doctors in my time to know the basics but no, medicine isn't my thing."

"Well no matter what it is," Kristin smiled, "It's a puzzle and I love solving puzzles."

Nathan smiled, "Well that's one thing we all have in common. But I will tell you that a lot of doctors have looked at those scans and samples but haven't been able to find a cure."

Kristin shook her head, "Well that's just cruel. Now you've challenged me I'll have to solve it."

He shared a smile with Kate, "That was the point."