Author's Notes:- Thanks to Stonedtoad for betaing.
"Are you alright?"
Nathan grimaced as he sat beside Kate in the launch, she'd come to Washington with him to apologise to Noyce after the torpedo incident.
"My 'old friend' General Thomas wants me to destroy the submarine going after the Whaling ships," Nathan told her.
Kate stared at him, "But that's not what the Seaquest does."
"That's what I said."
Kate stared at him for a moment, "He threatened you?"
"He threatened my people," Nathan told her, "If I refuse then everyone's career will come to a halt."
Kate stared at him, "Can he do that?"
Nathan nodded, "If I don't follow orders then he will."
"So," Kate said taking a few deep breaths, "We're leaving Seaquest."
"You don't…"
"Nathan," she cut him off, "We both know the only reason I am on that boat is because you are. I don't see any subsequent Captain putting up with me."
Nathan chuckled slightly, "I don't know how I put up with you." They sat in silence for a moment before he sighed, "I have to make Lucas leave too."
Kate rested her hand on his arm wanting to say something but knew there was nothing, especially as she couldn't stop focusing on losing her home once more.
x
Nathan looked at the young woman sitting beside him as they headed back to the boat trying to keep his anger in check. He knew he had no choice.
Thomas had not only forced Nathan into this decision but he was also forcing Lucas and Kate to leave their home.
"Captain on board," Crocker said as they entered the launch bay.
"As you were," Nathan told him grimly.
Ford stepped forward, "Welcome back, sir. How was Washington?"
"Redskins lost," Nathan stated before asking, "Where's Lucas?"
Ford looked a little confused, "I think he's sleeping, sir."
"Wake him up," Nathan stated as he walked out the launch bay.
Ford turned to Kate, "What happened?"
"The worst possible outcome," Kate sighed before she followed Nathan out.
x
Kate stood in the doorway watching the teenager as he slammed his things into the bag.
"Hey," she let him know she was there, "Krieg is waiting for you."
Lucas looked up at her before turning back to finish his packing without a word.
"This isn't easy for Nathan either," Kate reminded him, "But he's doing it for a reason."
"He's kicking me out of the one place I've ever felt was my home," Lucas snapped, "But I'm glad it's for a reason."
"That's enough," Kate scolded sharply, "Show a little respect. Nathan has been nothing but good to you even when you've acted like a brat."
Lucas dropped his head, "I don't want to go back to my mother. I'm just either a burden or a possession to parade out."
Kate hugged him, "Sorry. But if it's any consolation Nathan and I are leaving too."
"It actually is," he smirked at her.
"Come on, genius," she patted his shoulder, "It's time to go."
Kate entered the launch bay with her bag over her shoulder finding Nathan talking to Crocker as he waited for her.
"Kate!"
At the voice Kate turned and saw Tim jogging over to her.
"Hey," she greeted him softly.
Tim stopped in front of her, "I wanted to see you before you left."
"I was trying to avoid you," Kate admitted with a shrug, "I don't do goodbyes."
Tim gave a soft smile, "Well this time you have to."
Kate didn't move so he stepped into her, wrapping his arms around her in a tight embrace. After a moment she hugged him back closing her eyes, this was exactly the thing she wanted to avoid by not saying goodbye to him.
"I'm really going to miss you," Kate confessed not moving from the embrace.
"I'll miss you too," Tim replied.
Kate shuddered slightly as she forced herself to keep her emotions in check, "Thank you."
"For what?" he asked confused.
Kate chuckled in his ear, "For offering to let me talk to you whenever I needed. You have no idea how much that meant to me."
"Kate," Nathan called, "It's time to go."
Kate pulled back and placed a soft kiss on Tim's cheek, "Look after yourself," she told him before she joined Nathan; she smiled at Crocker who nodded to her as she headed into the launch.
x
"Do you want to talk about it?"
Kate looked up as Nathan sat beside her on the sand, "Isn't that supposed to be my line?"
"I'll answer if you will?" Nathan challenged.
She sighed, "I miss the Seaquest, I miss the friends I made. I miss…" she hesitated for a moment before confessing, "I miss Tim."
"I'm sorry, kid," Nathan told her, "I wish there was another way. I miss it too."
They sat in silence listening as the news started, "The attack, labelled by the UEO as an outright act of terrorism, is the fourth in the last three months, but this is the first time a luxury liner has been targeted. The first three ships were whaling vessels, and speculation is that this tragedy may have been a case of mistaken identity. Rescue ships are steaming toward the scene, but casualties are expected to be high. The identity of the passengers on board have yet to be released."
"Oh no," Kate whispered.
Nathan nudged her, "Well, look who's decided to come home."
Kate smiled as she saw Darwin in the water before turning to Nathan when he swore softly.
"What?"
Nathan jumped to his feet, "Come on, Kate. I have an idea."
x
Kate followed Nathan towards the man lying by the poolside, they looked at one another amused that he had no idea they were there.
"Malcolm," Nathan called, making Malcolm Lansdowne look up at them.
"Nathan?" he asked confused, "Kate?"
Nathan frowned at his friend, "Who is he?"
"Who's what?" innocence covered the other man's face.
Kate rolled her eyes.
"Now, don't take me through the tide pools on this," Nathan told him annoyed, "You know everything that's going on underwater or you know somebody who does. Who's been sinking these ships?"
Malcolm shook his head, "I made a decision a long time ago not to stay out of this game. No one wins, so I don't play it anymore."
"When it comes to people and whales it's close, but people win," Nathan told him before frowning, "You know who it is, don't you?"
Malcolm shrugged, "So do you."
"Are we getting a straight answer," Kate demanded, "Or should I throw him in the pool?"
Malcolm stood up waving her back, "Call off your attack hound, Nathan and follow me."
As they followed Malcolm through the compound Kate glanced up at Nathan, "Attack hound? Guess it beats Kitten."
"I prefer Kitten," he told her making her smile.
x
Kate stood watching as Nathan hugged Lucas smiling slightly. She remembered standing watching him with his wife on the day of their son's memorial service and seeing the despair in his eyes at the loss of his son. There were days she saw it occasionally since she'd lived with him and knew that in many ways Lucas was helping with that wound.
"I was sure Krieg left the boat with you," Kate noted as she interrupted them.
Lucas shrugged making her chuckle.
"Ford is looking for you," Kate told Nathan, "They need you on the bridge."
Nathan clapped Lucas on the shoulder, turning to Kate and giving her a quick nod before leaving.
"So, what exactly did you do to persuade Krieg to bring you back?" Kate asked with a smile.
The crisis had been averted and things returned to normal so Kate had headed to her room to settle in once more. She'd just finished unpacking when someone knocked. Opening it she smiled to find Tim and Miguel there.
"Hi," she greeted them.
"Is that it?" Miguel demanded, "Hi?"
Kate shrugged a little confused, "What do you want from me?"
"Well since I never got a goodbye a profession of how good it is to see me again," he replied with a grin, "How much you missed me. Things like that."
Kate laughed, "I don't do goodbyes but it is good to see you," she turned to Tim, "You too."
Tim smiled slightly at her, "We're going to watch the movie Krieg is showing. Are you coming?"
"I'll catch up," she promised.
As they disappeared Kate sighed, she was too comfortable here. She was going to have to be careful.
Pulling her hair back she caught up with the two men. Miguel threw his arm around her shoulders and started talking as they walked through the corridors.
Kate glanced at Tim who gave her a quick smile making her smile back. Maybe comfortable wasn't too bad.