Author's Notes: - Thanks to Stonedtoad for betaing.

"Bill," Kate walked quickly away from Nathan towards the man standing waiting for them on the dock, hugging him the moment she reached him.

Noyce smiled as he embraced the young woman, "Kate, it's good to see you."

"You too," she beamed.

Noyce kept his arm around her shoulders as Nathan joined them.

"What did you do to my boat?" Noyce demanded.

Nathan chuckled, "Your boat?"

"Boys," Kate chuckled, "Play nice. I don't want to have to separate you."

Nathan rolled his eyes at her, "Hitchcock believes it should only be two days before we're operational again. So, we'll be in dock for four days and allow some shore leave around the repairs."

"Then I'm assuming you're both free for dinner," Noyce said with a smile.

"Are we?" Kate asked Nathan.

Nathan frowned, "That depends. Eating in or eating out?"

"Janet is cooking," Noyce told him with a smirk.

"Your wife?" Kate asked nervously.

Noyce nodded, "And she knows all about you."

Kate stared at him confused.

"Carol knew about you too," Nathan told her, "You have nothing to fear. Besides you've never lived until you've tasted Janet's cooking."

x

Kate had known both Nathan and Bill were married but she hadn't ever really thought much about their wives. Nathan's wife was a device used in the background cover story they were using but they didn't talk about her in any other way. Meeting Janet Noyce was an experience she was not expecting.

"Nathan," Janet greeted him with a fond smile, hugging him tightly, "You're looking well."

"And you're as lovely as always," Nathan replied, kissing her cheek.

Janet shook her head at him before she turned, "And you must be Kate. I've heard a lot about you."

"Dare I ask?" Kate glanced at Noyce.

Janet smiled, "I'm aware of how they met you and what you used to do." Kate winced making the other woman chuckle, "It's alright dear. I'm not judging you but I would like to get to know you a bit better."

Kate nodded, "Don't say I didn't warn you."

x

While Janet pulled Kate towards the lounge Nathan followed his friend into his office.

"So," Bill asked as he sat down, "How is our girl doing really?"

Nathan smiled proudly wandering around the room, "She's doing well. She's working with Hitchcock and studying hard."

"Should I be worried about your crew?"

"Ford knows now," Nathan told him.

Noyce frowned, "Should we be concerned?"

Nathan shook his head, "Jonathan understands why I'm protecting her. He has agreed to keep our secret but he's a little wary of her past."

"I'll have a talk with him," Noyce said, "Has she managed to socialise yet? You were anxious about that."

Nathan smiled slightly, "She's actually become good friends with O'Neill and to a lesser degree Ortiz."

"O'Neill?" Noyce asked bemused.

Nathan nodded with an amused smile.

"Should I be polishing up my 'what are your intentions' speech?" Noyce asked with a grin.

Nathan laughed.

"Come on," Noyce told him, "We both had boys. I never got the chance to do one."

"They are just friends," Nathan assured him, "Besides even if he did feel more I think he'd be too scared to make a move without you even opening your mouth."

"Too scared of what?" Noyce asked with a smirk, "You, or Kate?"

"Definitely Kate."

Kate sat on the balcony of the apartment; Nathan, Bill and Janet were in the lounge talking. She could see the Seaquest from here and watched the people milling around. The crew as well as the public who wanted to get a look at it.

"Hey," Noyce said as he joined her, "Are we boring you?"

Kate smiled at him, "I'm just enjoying the view you have here. It's nice to see the sky for a change."

"Nathan is really proud of how well you've adapted to being on Seaquest," he broached.

Kate shrugged, "Adapting is one of the things I do."

"Take the praise," Noyce told her.

She gave a shy smile, "I like being on the Seaquest. I don't have to constantly look over my shoulder."

"And what about friends?"

Kate chuckled, "Nathan told you Tim befriended me. Leave him alone, I can terrify him enough without your help."

Noyce grinned before asking, "Seriously?"

"Seriously," she smiled, "I don't know. He's not someone I would ever have imagined becoming friends with unless I wanted something from him. But we have a similar sense of humour; I enjoy teasing and arguing with him. Through him I've become friends with Miguel."

Wrapping his arm around her he gave her an exaggerated stern look, "Well when there is a boy you like, remember I have my speech all prepared."

Kate let out a snort of laughter unable to stop especially when he laughed along with her.

x

"Thank you for dinner," Kate said as she embraced Janet, "And for the chat."

The other woman chuckled, "It was wonderful to finally meet you."

As Janet moved to Nathan Kate touched Noyce's arm moving him to one side.

"Can I ask you to keep something for me?" she said.

"Is it illegal?"

At his question she winced slightly guiltily before hurriedly assuring, "Not completely. It's something Harkens left me and I don't want to leave it on the boat. It's mostly money and a few other little things that I may need some day. The chest is locked and booby trapped so only I can access it. Will you keep it safe for me?"

He nodded, "Of course I will."

Kate sighed in relief handing him the bag carrying the chest she'd retrieved from Culver. She waited for Nathan to finish his goodbyes before joining him to walk back to Seaquest.

"What?" Nathan asked at her amused smile.

Kate turned to him chuckling slightly, "How did I end up with you two playing 'Dad'?"

Wrapping his arm around her Nathan squeezed, "Just lucky."