Author's Notes – Still not betad – will be at some point.

I am assuming people have knowledge of the episodes for these

Enjoy

"Good morning," Kristin greeted with a smile as Kate arrived in her lab.

"Morning," the young woman smiled back warily, "Nathan said you wanted to see me?"

Kristin chuckled, "I thought since our military colleagues are being made crazy by Captain Clayton we could spend some time getting to know one another."

"Why?"

Kristin looked at her bemused, "Why do I want to get to know you?"

Kate nodded.

"Well," Kristin said slowly, "You are the mysterious young woman who appeared with Nathan and he only agreed to stay if you did. I want to get to know more about the mystery."

Kate let out a soft sigh, "Dr, I'm not much of a mystery. I was trying to find information on my real mother which led me to Nathan. I was in an accident not long after we met and he took me in. He became my family and he didn't want to just abandon me."

"Alright then," Kristin said, "How about the fact that other than Nathan you only spend any time socially with one other person."

Kate rolled her eyes, "I don't trust people easily."

"How about I like talking to you," Kristin tried once more.

Kate laughed this time, "You are persistent, Dr."

"I've been told that," she chuckled.

Kate sighed and gave in, "Fine. We can get to know one another, Dr."

"Wonderful," she smiled back, "And I'm Kristin. Okay?"

Kate shook her head before smiling, "Okay."

x

"How are you coming with the Patient X file?" Kate asked as they sat eating breakfast.

Kristin smiled, "It's fascinating. A poison in two parts but I can't even identify the initial substance in the blood yet never mind a way to remove it."

"Well don't feel too bad, Kristin," Kate shrugged, "Many have tried and failed."

Kristin shook her head, "I'm not finished yet. I have several more ideas to attempt before I admit failure and who knows what we'll come across during the next year."

Kate leaned back in her chair and studied the doctor for a while. She was trying to gauge how much she could trust this woman when she realised how quiet the room was.

"Kristin," she said looking around, "Is it me or is it usually busier here at this time of day?"

The doctor frowned as she glanced about the room, "You know, you're right."

"Something's going on," Kate mused, "And I don't like not knowing."

Kristin leaned forward conspiratorially, "Do you think you can find out?"

"Oh doctor," Kate chuckled leaning forward with an identical smile, "You have no idea how good I am."

Tim jumped as he walked in and found Kate sitting on the bed in his quarters.

"What are you up to?" she asked as he stared at her.

"I…" he licked his lips remembering Krieg's warning not to tell Kate what they were doing under any circumstances, "I don't know what you mean?"

Kate bounced up off the bed, "All of a sudden everyone is taking out Sea-crabs and they seem to be doing so in amazingly organised shifts."

"And?"

"And I want to know what you're doing," she moved so she was as close to him as possible but still able to actually look him in the eye.

He licked his lips slightly, "Nothing."

A smirk touched her lips, "You can't lie, Lt."

"Why do you think I'm lying?" Tim fidgeted.

"Because," she breathed, "You have so many 'tells' it isn't funny."

He stayed silent as she smiled at him.

"Okay," Kate shrugged, "I'll believe you for now but trust me, Tim if this is in league with Krieg I'm warning you he'll only get you into trouble."

"I can take care of myself," Tim told her annoyed.

Kate patted his arm as she left the room, "Of course you can, sweetie. I'm just making small talk."

Tim watched her leave wincing, if Kate knew what they were doing and told the captain they would be in trouble. He frowned as he thought back to what she'd called him.

"Sweetie?"

x

Darkness descended on the boat and Tim winced. If they were caught with the glowing rocks they were all in serious trouble.

"I'll take them for you," Kate's voice made them spin to find her leaning in the doorway smirking at them.

The other two gratefully handed her the rocks while Tim stared at her.

"How…"

"Did I know what you were up to?" she continued to smirk at him, "I told you, Tim. You have far too many tells. Give me the rocks and go do your job."

After a moment he handed them to her, "Thank you."

"Oh don't thank me," she smiled at him, "You all now owe me and I collect favours."

He frowned at her slightly but she rolled her eyes at him.

"Go," she ordered before disappearing back into the room she'd come from.

Tim started up towards the bridge; he had excellent hearing so the darkness didn't bother him. It was one thing that made him so good at his job. As he walked, avoiding the others who didn't have his hearing, Tim mused over his acquaintance with Bridger's niece. When she'd first arrived on the boat she'd been extremely flirty and dressed to match but since she'd become a permanent part of the crew Kate had in some ways begun to dress like Lucas in clothes that seemed at least one size too big for her. She also didn't flirt the way she had instead isolating herself a great deal.

When he found her alone crying over Darwin Tim wanted to be able to comfort her in some way, which was why he'd offered to let her talk to him when she needed to. He was just as surprised as anyone that she not only took him up on the offer but actually sought his company.

Tim winced as light flooded the corridors again; it was going to be that kind of day.

"Why didn't you turn them in?" Kristin asked as she sat beside Kate who was trailing her hand in the water of the moon pool.

"Let's start with the fact that Tim is basically the one friend I have here," Kate reminded the doctor, "And end with he and his two friends now owe me."

"Blackmail?" Kristin asked amused.

Kate shook her head with a teasing smile, "Currency."

The doctor chuckled, "I must admit I would love to have seen Clayton's face when he realised what Krieg had given him."

"I'd love to see Krieg's face now he's stuck in his room," Kate chuckled.

Kristin stared at her for a moment, "You are an evil woman, Kate."

"Then I'm in good company, Kristin," she shot back.

As they laughed Kristin saw Nathan walk in.

"I'm not sure I like this," he said as he joined them, his hand gently resting on Kate's shoulder for a moment, "The two of you plotting together."

Kate gave him an innocent smile, "Would we do that?" At his frown she bounced off her seat, "I'm going to go and find Tim. His shift should be over now."

As Kate disappeared Kristin turned to Nathan who was watching her fondly, "You really adore her, don't you?"

"Kate," Nathan began with a slight smile, "She's been the closest thing I've had to family since I lost Robert and Carol."

"She is your niece," Kristin noted.

"Only through marriage," he replied before turning to Darwin when he swam close. "When she came to the island after…her accident she was like a wounded animal. Skittish and in some ways dangerous but after a while she came to trust me. Once I got that trust I met the real Kate."

"Well personally I'm hoping I'll become one of the people she trusts," Kristin said, "I think once she relaxes I'll get to know her better. And I think it will be worth it."

"Be careful what you wish for," Nathan murmured softly.