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

Exams were looming and Kate had taken the past few days to study. This also meant she was able to avoid Nathan as he had his meltdown about Secretary General Dre of the UEO coming onboard.

Someone knocked on her door and she sighed, from the pattern over the past few days she guessed it would either be Ford or Hitchcock checking she was eating and not lost in her work starving herself. She had forgotten to eat once when she'd first started living on the island and Nathan had never let it go.

"What?" she called, surprised at the man who appeared when the hatch opened, "Bill?"

Noyce gave a mock frown, "That's not the welcome I was expecting."

Kate slid off her bed and moved to hug him, "What are you doing here?"

"The UEO conference," he chuckled, "There was no way I could miss that."

Kate rolled her eyes as she sat down again, "How's Janet?"

"She sends her love," Noyce replied, "And a reminder that you're welcome any time you wish to visit."

"That's good to know," Kate nodded, rubbing her eyes.

"I heard you've been studying hard the past few days," Noyce said nodding to the books scattered around the room.

Kate shrugged, "Well I intend to gain my Masters and then look at my options."

"Who would have thought that outspoken brat who was dragged into my office all those years ago would turn into you?" Noyce chuckled.

"I don't know if I should be insulted or not," Kate retorted with a slight smile.

Noyce smiled, "An insult to the brat but a compliment to who you are now."

A knock interrupted them.

"Yeah?" Kate called.

Tim appeared through the opening; "Kate, do you want…Admiral!" he stalled seeing the man standing there

"At ease, son," Noyce told him, "If you're here to get our girl to eat then continue. I like that you look out for her."

Seeing Tim's uneasiness Kate jumped to his rescue, Tim, I'll catch up in a few minutes."

The younger man gave a quick nod and quickly left the room.

"Bill, leave him alone," she stated annoyed the moment Tim was gone.

"I'm just having some fun," Noyce defended from Kate's glare.

"Stop trying to play 'Dad'," Kate told him sharply, "I have looked after myself since I was ten years old and I don't need you to screen my dates."

"Kate…"

"Tim is my friend and I would really like him to stay that," she cut him off.

Noyce nodded, "In some ways you are still that insolent brat."

"Damn right."

x

"I'm staying well out of the way," Kate promised Nathan before he could ask the moment she stepped onto the bridge.

"Good," he nodded, "The last thing we need is your past rearing its head around Dre. Either part of it."

"You're not kidding," Kate murmured, "I'll stay here or I'll be in my room. I have to study anyway."

He sighed in annoyance, "She'll be here soon, I'd better round up Bill to get ready."

"Can you remind him he's meant to have known me only a year or so?" Kate asked irritably, "Because he keeps forgetting."

Nathan chuckled, "He's just extremely fond of you, Kate."

"That's wonderful," sarcasm filled her voice, "But he's going to blow my cover if he doesn't knock it off."

Nathan patted her shoulder, "I'll talk to him."

"I want the entire resort complex searched within a fifty mile radius above and below the surface," Nathan ordered from the conference centre to Ford and Westphalen sitting in the ward room, "Doctor, try to determine if geology had anything to do with the explosion."

Kristin nodded, "Right."

"What's going on, sir?" Ford asked worriedly.

"We seem to be in the process of manufacturing an international crisis," Nathan told him, "I need Kate over here too."

"Kate?" Ford asked as he and Kristin shared a confused look. They'd all been in complete agreement to keep her well away from Dre, just in case.

"I need her expertise over here," Nathan told them, "It's worth the risk."

"I'll let her know," Ford nodded before the screen went blank. He turned to Kristin, "I'm not sure this is a good idea."

"Lucas is missing," she reminded him, "I'm surprised Kate is still on the boat."

x

Nathan let out a small sigh of relief as he saw his 'niece' walk purposefully towards them. He heard Bill take a sharp intake of breath before turning to Nathan with a look of 'what the hell is she doing here' written across his face.

"You wanted to see me, Captain?" Kate asked completely professionally.

"Excuse me, Ma'am," Nathan nodded to Dre before he rested his hand on Kate's shoulder moving her away. Once he was sure there was enough distance between them he turned to her, "I need Kitten."

"What?"

"I need Kitten to get into the places I can't and see if she can find Lucas," he explained.

"Nathan," she licked her lips, "If I get caught…"

"I know," he sighed as she trailed off, "But Lucas is missing."

Kate nodded, "No problem. I'll keep in touch."

As she disappeared down the corridors Nathan felt his friend arrive at his side.

"Is that a good idea?"

"Bill, I need to find Lucas," Nathan told him, "Before anything happens to him. Kate is the best chance."

"Then let's help her," Noyce nodded.

x

Kate crawled through the ventilation shafts listening to Seaquest bridge crew thanks to Ford, hoping Tim had no idea as she really didn't want to explain to him why Nathan had asked her to do this.

As she moved above the conference room she frowned, this wasn't right.

"Nathan?" she called over her radio.

"Yes, Kate?"

"You're right," she told him, "The room isn't the same. I'm going to try and find a way to access the real conference room."

"Be careful."

Kate rolled her eyes at the useless reminder, before taking a deep breath. She had to focus to find Lucas, he was the closest she'd ever had to a brother and she was not letting this power mad woman take him from her and especially not from Nathan.

It took her another fifteen minutes before she found what she was looking for.

"Nathan," she called, "I've found Lucas. You're going to need climbing equipment to get to him."

"Where are you exactly?" Nathan asked.

Kate hesitated, "I can only send my co-ordinates to Tim's station. Do you want that?"

She knew he was thinking it over and winced slightly when he came back.

"Do it."

Kate took a deep breath before patching into the communications net and sending her position to the Seaquest. Once done she looked down the shaft and changed her position so she could ease her way down the vertical drop.

Kate winced, it had been a long time since she'd had to do something so athletic and was disturbed she'd let herself get so lazy. Cries were coming from below her and Kate winced as she dropped the last few feet.

x

"Lucas?" Kate called through the grating.

"Kate?" surprise filled the voice, "Kate, we're down here."

Kate sighed in relief to hear him, "Are you alright?"

"No," Lucas yelled, "The room's filling up with water."

"Hold on," she called back, pulling out her knife Kate cut through the ceiling tiles sighing in relief to see Lucas.

"Kate," he smiled relieved before frowning in confusion, "How did you get down here without any equipment?"

She hesitated before shrugging as she lied, "I used to do gymnastics."

Thankfully his attention was moved when a rope dropped down beside her, glancing up she saw Nathan at the top of the shaft.

"Okay, people," she turned to the UEO leaders, "Time to climb."

"Everyone wants to know who the woman who rescued them was," Noyce stated as he walked into Kate's room, "And meet her properly."

"And what did you say?" Kate asked, an amused smile covering her face, "Mr Secretary."

He groaned, "Did you have to?"

"Oh, I can have a field day with this," she reminded him before tilting her head, "So, what did you say?"

"That you were only helping and didn't want any publicity," he replied, "I agreed to send on their thanks."

She sighed in relief before frowning, "I've still got to explain it to Lucas. And Tim."

"Actually Ford was the one who received your communication," Noyce assured her, "Your secret is mostly safe."

Kate winced, "I just have to explain to Lucas."

"Or let Nathan."

"That's a great idea," Kate told him.

Noyce smiled at her, "Walk me to my shuttle."

"Sure."

x

The mess was mostly empty when Kate wandered in later that night; the news was playing showing the events of the conference which included the video Tim had created of Lucas showing the UEO dignitaries around the Seaquest.

Tim was sitting eating a sandwich while reading a book oblivious to her entry. Kate smiled slightly as she snuck up on him. The clip Tim created was shown again and Kate leaned over his shoulder giving his cheek a kiss.

"Kate?"

"You're a genius," she told him with a smile.

"I…"

She nodded to the screen as he stuttered slightly, "But you are. That was amazing."

"It was the Captain's idea," Tim told her.

Kate rolled her eyes, "But you did it. Pretty impressive work."

"Where have you been all day?" Tim asked suddenly.

Kate shrugged, "I was helping Nathan, running between him and Bill with messages they didn't want over the radio."

"Shouldn't you be studying?" he frowned, "Your exams are soon."

Taking the seat beside him she stole some of his sandwich, "I need to get something to eat," she grimaced as she took a bite, "I forgot you don't eat meat. That is disgusting, whatever it is."

"There's some other sandwiches in the fridge," Tim stood, "I'll get you one."

Kate smiled when he brought her the sandwich, "I could get used to this."

"Don't," he rolled his eyes before taking his seat again.

Stretching her legs out onto the chair across from her Kate leaned back smiling as they chatted, passing on gossip and discussing the events of the day.