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

"Is there gonna be a scar?" Lucas demanded as Kate walked in to make sure he was alright after his accident.

"No," Kristin soothed as she finished cleaning the cut, "You'll still have your beautiful baby face."

Lucas pouted. "I don't want a beautiful baby face, I want a scar."

"You don't want a scar," Kate told him as she joined them, "Scars make you easily recognisable. Just like birthmarks."

Nathan frowned at her, "Kate."

"I'm just saying," she rolled her eyes.

She smirked at him as Hitchcock and Lucas argued over the name of their sub.

"Foster," Hitchcock turned to her, "What do you think? Gazelle or Stinger?"

Holding her hands up Kate stepped back slightly, "I am not getting involved in this discussion. I have studying to do."

Nathan moved to her side walking with her out, "What do you prefer?"

"Stinger," she admitted, "For the intimidation factor but do not tell Hitchcock."

Nathan chuckled as he started up to the bridge leaving her to head back to her studying.

x

Kate walked into the launch bay as Tim, Miguel and Krieg arrived back from looking for the Stinger.

"I take it you have bad news," Kate said as they reached her.

Tim nodded, "It's gone."

"That's not good. They worked so hard on it," Kate winced, "They'll both be a pain in the ass for weeks after this."

"You're all heart, Kate," Tim frowned at her.

She shrugged, "I have my priorities."

"How's the studying coming?" Tim asked changing the subject.

Kate grimaced, "These exams can't come soon enough. It's like a wall that I need to get over and then I'll have options."

"Wait," Tim stopped suddenly, "Are you thinking about leaving Seaquest?"

Kate gave a slight laugh as she shook her head, "Tim, I can't stay Nathan's assistant forever. Once I pass my course I will be a qualified engineer."

"I know…"

"So, I can get a proper job," she finished, "One where I'm not there because of nepotism."

Tim grimaced but stayed silent.

Kate gently nudged him with her shoulder, "Hey, we're assuming I'll pass. I could be here for a long time."

"No," Tim sighed sadly, "You won't."

"Kate," Nathan motioned her to join him in the ward room, "Close the door."

Doing as he asked she took a seat at the table, "What can I do for you?"

"Do you think your contacts will be able to help us find the Stinger?" he asked straight to the point.

Kate stared at him, "What? Nathan, this is a little bigger than any of my contacts would be involved in."

He shrugged, "It was worth a try."

Kate stared out before turning back to him, "Actually, no, it wasn't. Nathan, you wanted me out of that life. Why do you keep pushing me back?"

"I don't," he told her.

"I offered once to be Kitten," she reminded him annoyed, "Once to help out."

Nathan frowned, "I know."

"Then stop asking me to use my contacts," she snapped, "Stop giving me an excuse to find the way back there."

His lips firmed angrily, "You opened the door, Kate. You offered, I would never have asked otherwise."

"So suddenly because I offered once you've decided its fine?" she demanded bemused, "You were the one who insisted I stay away from my old life and keep a clean record. You just forgot to add other than when you need something?"

"Kate," he grimaced, "You're putting words in my mouth."

"I hope to hell I pass my exams," she snarled, "So I can get out here."

With an angry flick of her hair she marched away.

x

Kate sat on her bunk unable to study as she fumed. From day one Nathan had told her that to stay with him she had to leave her criminal past behind. But he wasn't letting her.

She hadn't wanted to retire; she had liked who she used to be. Her life had been simple and she only ever had to look out for herself, she didn't have to think about pleasing anyone else.

A knock made her look up and she saw Tim poke his head in.

"We're going to rebuild the Stinger," he gave a slight smile, "We could use your help."

Kate gave him a quick nod, "I'll be there in a minute."

"Are you okay?" he asked concern filling his eyes.

She forced a smile on her face, "I'm fine, just going over a few things in my head for my exams."

"Okay," he gave her another smile before he disappeared.

Kate dropped her head as the other problem she had with this whole situation left. Kate had never truly had a friend, someone she knew she could trust no matter what, someone she could relax and be herself with. And then Tim offered her his ear when she needed it.

Kate bit her lip as she thought back. It had taken her a long time to trust Tim, a long time to relax with him but she had and now…now it made any decision to leave the Seaquest harder than it should.

x

Hitchcock put Kate to work the moment she joined them at the moon pool. They worked through the night pulling together a new sub for the trial.

"Are you okay?" Tim asked her several hours later, taking a seat at her side as she sat staring at the finished vessel.

"I'm fine," she shrugged.

He tilted his head questioningly his eyes saying everything.

"I'm fine," Kate insisted.

Tim simply continued to stare at her worriedly.

Smiling at him Kate reached out and squeezed his hand, "I'm just a little tired and stressed about my exams."

Tim smiled as Kate entwined her arms around his resting her head against his shoulder tiredly.

"Go get some sleep," he whispered, "If you want, tomorrow I'll help you study after the trial."

Kate smiled sighing slightly as she pulled herself to her feet, "That'd be great but you also have to listen to my presentation."

"Is she okay?" Noyce asked motioning to where Kate was sitting out of the way staring into space.

Nathan sighed, "I think she might be a little stressed."

Noyce rolled his eyes, "What did you do?"

Nathan sighed again, "I asked her to use her contacts to try to find the Stinger. She got a little angry at me."

Noyce stared at him, "Nathan, why would you?"

"Because I'm an idiot," Nathan shrugged.

"That sounds about right," Noyce told him.

Nathan grimaced, "I spent so much time telling her to leave her old life behind but then I ask her to go back. I'm surprised she's in the same room as me."

Noyce clapped his shoulder, "I'll see what I can do."

x

"Mr Secretary," Kate greeted him softly as Noyce walked over to join her.

"Why are you hiding away?" he asked, motioning to where the rest of the crew were mingling with the guests.

Kate rubbed her eyes. "I'm not. I've got a lot on my mind just now with my exams and everything."

He sat beside her, "Well if you need a break, Janet would love to see you."

Kate chuckled, "You're now in charge of the UEO, do you really think it's a good idea to have a former thief hanging around?"

"Kate Foster has absolutely no record," Noyce reminded her.

"Bill…"

"Kate," he cut her off with concern, "What happened to you?"

She frowned confused, "What?"

"The day I met you," he told her, "You were a pain in the ass. You were barely fifteen but you knew who you were and you let no one push you around. What happened to that girl?"

Kate dropped her head, "I wish I knew."

"Your exams are in three weeks," Noyce said, "Take the time away from the Seaquest."

"I have nowhere to go, Bill," she reminded him sadly, "And do not say I can stay with you because I can't."

"Kate, there are these things called hotels," he reminded her, "You can stay in one of those."

She looked up at him, "When do you leave?"

"Three hours."

"You just have to stay focussed," Hitchcock said as she stood with Kate in the launch bay, "You know the answers and when you're giving your presentation…"

"Do not say imagine them naked," Kate begged.

"I was going to say imagine you're talking to us," Hitchcock chuckled, "Just relax."

Kate nodded, "At least you don't have to listen to it again. You've heard it so often you could recite it."

"Well just so you know I expect you to pass," Hitchcock told her.

"I'll do my best, Lieutenant Commander," Kate promised.

Hitchcock nodded, "Good luck."

As the other woman left Kate turned to Tim who was standing waiting, "Well?"

"Just want to wish you good luck," Tim told her, "And to give you a present."

Suspicion crossed her face which turned to confusion as he placed something in her hand.

"It's a stone," she stated bemused.

"It's a pebble," Tim corrected, "I found it on the beach the day before my first major exam at school. I've taken it into every exam I've ever had and I've never failed."

Kate opened her mouth before slamming it shut stopping the smart remark she had on the tip of her tongue, instead she kissed his cheek, "Thank you."

"Kate," Noyce called, "We need to go."

She nodded, "Coming," she turned back to Tim, "I'll see you in a few weeks."

x

Nathan stood watching Kate leave. They'd spoken very briefly, where she had literally used as few words as possible, about her leaving for the next few weeks.

"Kate," he called before she left making her turn back.

"What?"

He gave her a quick nod, "You'll do fine. We'll see you in three weeks."

"Thank you, Captain," she replied, making him frown at the formality.

As she entered the launch Nathan sighed, he hoped he hadn't set back the trust they'd built over the past few years and that this would blow over once she wasn't feeling so stressed.

He'd find out in three weeks.