Author's Notes: - My beta is on holiday so has not betad these yet but I thought I'd post this chapter now.

"You know it's not actually cold on board?" Tim asked, finding Kate curled up in the mess with a fleece wrapped around her and a mug of tea in her hand as she scanned over some papers in her lap, "Just outside."

"I'm psychosomatically cold," she rolled her eyes at him.

He chuckled, "The Captain is looking for you."

She grimaced, "Was it in a 'he's mad at me' or 'it's a good thing' looking for me?"

Tim frowned a little bemused, which honestly happened a lot since he'd befriended her.

"Is he angry?" she clarified.

Tim shook his head, "No."

"Then I will come out of hiding," she finished her tea and reached out her hand for him to pull her off the seat.

Tim smiled as he walked with her through the boat. He liked Kate, she was smart, sweet and funny but as he'd told Miguel there was something odd about her, especially why she was on the boat in the first place.

x

"There you are," Nathan said as O'Neill escorted his wayward 'niece' into the room.

Kate shrugged, "I was studying. What do you want?"

"Mr O'Neill," Nathan said to the young man, "Thank you."

The communications officer gave him a quick nod before leaving them alone.

"What did I say about how you speak to me on board?" Nathan demanded as she dropped into a seat.

"And what did I reply?" she shot back before rolling her eyes, "Nathan, I was trying to study. Why did you send Tim to fetch me?"

Nathan took the seat across from her, "We need to talk about your role here on the Seaquest."

"I thought I was here for you to yell at," Kate smiled slightly, "And my new position as Lt O'Neill's comedy sidekick."

"Bill and I have been talking," Nathan explained trying not to smile too much at her cheeky answer, "It's becoming clear that we need to have an official reason for you being on board."

"I thought I was the official stowaway," Kate said frowning worriedly.

Nathan rolled his eyes, "We've noted that you were my research assistant on the island. So you are officially the Captain's Assistant."

"Is that even a real post?" Kate asked with a grimace.

"It is now. We just have to work out what your duties are."

She chewed her lip in thought before turning to him, "I don't do coffee."

"I know," he replied, "You lived with me for two years. I've tasted what you call coffee."

"Is that all?" Kate asked, "Or do you need more of my comedy act?"

Nathan chuckled, "I want you to work with Hitchcock."

"What?" surprise filling her voice.

"I've spoken with her and she is going to find a spot on her team," he explained, "Try and get along with her. This will help you with your course, plus it will let me worry less if something happens to everyone and leaves you the only one awake on the boat."

"When do I start?"

"Next week," he told her, "That should give you time to finish what you're working on just now."

She started to leave before turning back to him, "So, how long are we going to be up here?" Kate asked, shivering from the thought.

Nathan chuckled, "Not too long. You do know its cold out there, not in here."

"Tim said that," Kate shrugged, "Just not a fan of the arctic."

"The ice?"

"The prison."

"I thought you'd never been caught?" Nathan asked amused.

Kate smirked at him, "Doesn't mean the thought doesn't make me squirm just a little."

"You should have seen his face," Phillips said as he poured himself some coffee, he twisted his own into a grotesque mask.

"So he looks like you," Tim shot at him.

"Very funny," Phillips, grimaced as he took his seat across from Tim, "Anyway, they took him down to sea deck."

"Was he alone?" Tim asked taking a drink of his coffee.

"Nah," Phillips replied, "There was some other guy. I think he was the warden or something."

Tim shook his head, "Are you sure it was the Dr Zeller?"

"Who else would they drag around in a cryochamber?"

"Did you say Zeller?" Kristin interrupted them astonishment in her voice.

"He's down on sea deck," Phillips winced that the doctor had overheard them.

"But I wouldn't worry," Tim assured her, "According to Phillips…he's an icicle."

"Right," Phillips nodded, pulling the face again making Tim snigger as Kristin left them alone.

x

Kate entered the mess as Kristin left and saw Tim sitting with the guy who she knew worked on weapons but couldn't for the life of her remember his name.

"Kate," Tim smiled as she strolled over to their table, "Was it bad?"

She chuckled, "No, it was actually a good thing. I'm going to be working with Hitchcock."

"Have fun with that," the other guy said with an amused snort.

Kate glanced at his uniform getting his name, Phillips, "We worked okay together during the thing with Stark."

"Are you still cold?" Tim changed the subject quickly as she rubbed her hands together.

Kate nodded, "Hopefully we'll be getting out of here soon."

"Well, considering we've got the prisoner on ice down on sea deck," Phillips told her, "We should be leaving soon."

"Prisoner?" Kate asked.

"Supposedly Reuben Zeller," Tim supplied.

"With the warden," Phillips told her, "Though he didn't exactly seem sane either."

Kate shivered again, "I'm going to go get a sweater. See you later."

x

"Nathan," Kate jogged onto the bridge and over to where he stood with Ford, "I need to talk to you quickly."

"What's wrong?" he asked.

Kate glanced at Ford and the people floating around; she motioned him over away from the crew standing around.

"I just had a look at the security footage of sea deck when you brought the prisoner onboard," Kate told him softly.

"Why?"

She licked her lips, "One of the guys was talking about the prisoner and how the warden didn't seem sane either. Thought I should check it out."

"Get to the point," Nathan told her.

Kate grimaced, "Griggs is playing you."

"Why do you think that?" Ford asked from behind her.

Kate frowned that he'd managed to join them without her realising. She let out a long sigh and looked at Nathan intently before saying carefully, "Call it a gut feeling."

Nathan nodded, "Commander, find Griggs."

"Captain?" Ford asked bemused.

"I trust her gut," was all Nathan told him.

Before they could start their search they received a call from sea deck, blood was flowing from the defrosting chamber.

Kate bounced up and down beside Tim's station buried inside her jacket trying to get some warmth in her body.

"What were you saying about it being cold outside and not inside?" she demanded as she shivered.

Tim chuckled, "It serves you right for complaining about the cold so much."

She smiled before glancing over at the pool and frowning seeing the tinge of red in the water, "Do you think Darwin's okay?"

Tim reached out and touched her arm, "He'll be fine. Faith, remember?"

"We are not having that argument right now," she shook her head before smiling at him.

"Miss Foster?"

Kate turned to where Hitchcock was standing, "Yes, Lt Commander?"

"Why don't you take my station for the moment," the other woman smiled slightly; "You'll be working with me anyway. This will get you a head start."

"And get me out everyone's way?" Kate asked amused.

A slight smile quirked at Hitchcock's lips, "You said it, Miss Foster."

x

Kate stared as she watched the missiles the Seaquest had just launched and felt her stomach drop at the destination – Pearl Harbour.

"Bill," she whispered horrified moving to the communications board.

"Kate?" Tim asked worriedly.

She turned to him fear in her eyes, "Noyce is there."

He frowned confused, it flashed briefly through her mind that he didn't know that Noyce was the only other man she trusted completely but Tim didn't say anything, instead he slid his hand into hers and let her hold onto him as she watched the screen in dread.

"They're gone," Phillips called suddenly.

"What?" Kate turned to him.

"They've ditched," Lucas cried in amazement.

The bridge dissolved into sighs of relief and Kate felt her legs give way. She stared a little bemused as Tim caught her placing her in his seat.

"Are you okay?" he asked concerned.

Kate nodded shakily taking deep breaths.

"I'll get Dr Westphalen," he said stopping as she caught his arm.

"I'm okay, Tim," she gave him a soft smile, "I just need a minute." As he continued to look at her worriedly she squeezed his hand, "I'm fine."

x

Nathan had left Kristin to get some rest and headed to check on Kate. O'Neill had mentioned she'd been distressed when they thought the missiles had been real. He knocked on her door waiting until she let him in. When the door opened he sighed at the exhaustion covering her face.

"Can I come in?" he asked.

Kate sighed and moved back allowing him in to her quarters.

"O'Neill said you were a little distraught," Nathan said as he took a seat on the bunk.

She sighed and sat beside him, "I knew Bill was in Pearl Harbour and he would have no way to escape the blast. I only knew it was about to happen because I was here and on the bridge. If I was where I should be…"

"Like jail?" Nathan cut her off.

She glared at him, "Funny."

"This is what happens when you get close to people," Nathan reminded her.

She stared at him, "Then maybe I don't want to get close to people."

He brushed her hair back, "It's a bit late for that."

Kate turned away for a moment before looking back at him, "When I was on the bridge and the missiles were gone I realised that I don't have an escape hatch."

"An escape hatch?" he asked amused.

"I have always had a way out," Kate explained, "Always. That's what I was taught. But since I let myself get comfortable with you I don't."

"That's not a bad thing."

"For me it is," she snapped.

Nathan let out a sigh, "Do you want to leave? Because you can if you want."

Kate shook her head, "Nathan, you and Bill are the only people in my life I have ever been able to count on. The thought of losing either of you…"

As she trailed off Nathan wrapped his arm around her hugging her tightly. After a few minutes he felt her pull back and let her go.

He gave her a smile, "Feel like teaching Kristin poker?"

"Strip or drink poker?" she grinned, for the moment their previous discussion was tabled.

Nathan started out the room with her following, "Dare I ask?"

"Its fun but you do usually need a few days to get over the hangover," Kate replied.

"Not to mention we don't have any alcohol on board," Nathan wrapped his arm around her.

Kate shrugged, "I guess we could do it the boring way."

Nathan chuckled knowing Kate's need for an escape hatch would come up again and might not be solved as easily next time.