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

"Explain exactly why you needed me for this little experiment?"

"Because we need to record the results by an independent person and you haven't touched it at any other stage," Tim replied.

"Why me?"

"Because all three of us trust you," he rolled his eyes, "Is that what you wanted to hear?"

Kate patted his cheek, "Of course."

"Are you coming?"

Kate chuckled and they started walking through the corridors of the colony. Kate took the small conical device Tim handed to her.

"Okay," she studied it, "What do you want me to do?"

"We just need you to wander through the colony for thirty minutes," Tim explained, "Then activate the beacon. We'll see how long it will take for us to trace the beacon."

"No problem," Kate nodded, tucking it into her pocket.

"We've marked a starting point for the experiment," Tim told her as they dodged several people, "Once there we send a test signal and then off you go."

Kate shrugged, "Sounds good. Anything else?"

"I need your PAL," Tim told her as they reached the secluded section they were starting from; "We don't want to have any communication equipment that could possibly skew the results."

Kate pulled out her PAL and handed it to him, "No problem."

He chewed his lip for a moment making Kate frown, she recognised the sign.

"What is it?" she asked.

"When were you going to tell me you're leaving?" Tim asked, suddenly making her stare at him.

"What?"

Tim chuckled, "Kate, you told me before you took your exams that you would have options once you passed. Remember? I don't want you to leave and I am trying my best to give you reasons to stick around."

Kate shook her head but before she could say anything a gunshot sounded and Tim fell back against the wall.

x

Tim stared confused that Kate was suddenly taller than she had been a moment ago before he deduced he was on the ground.

"Tim," Kate cried in horror, she dropped down pressing her hands to his shoulder where he realised suddenly he'd been shot.

She helped him against the wall and a figure just over Kate's shoulder made him frown, "Look out," he gasped.

Kate's head spun to check what was happening, she grabbed his left hand and pressed it against his right shoulder, "Keep pressure on," she ordered before she ducked just as the man moved to hit her.

Tim knew she'd received self-defence training from Ford but was surprised how good it must have been. Dodging punches Kate landed several good blows, she slammed her foot into the man's leg making him swear before her body began to spasm when she was hit by a taser.

"No," Tim gasped when she fell beside him unconscious. He reached for the PAL sitting close by but a foot stepped on it crushing his link to the Seaquest into bits.

The man leaned over Tim, a smirk on his face, "I can't have you calling for help." He turned to the other man who was lifting an unconscious Kate, "Put her fingerprints on the gun."

Tim tried to move but the blood loss was making him weak and dizzy. The man leaned down and patted his shoulder.

"You should choose the people you talk to more carefully," the man laughed before his fist struck Tim's face knocking him onto the floor where he lay unable to move his head spinning. Tim watched in horror as Kate was taken away while he had no way to help just before the world around him became black.

Nathan walked onto the bridge finding Ortiz and Lucas sitting discussing their experiment. He walked over to them waiting until they noticed his presence, chucking to himself when they both jumped after five minutes.

"Captain?" Miguel asked.

"At ease," Nathan told him with a smile, "How are things going?"

"We're just waiting for Kate to send the test signal," Lucas told him.

Nathan frowned, "Didn't they leave about an hour ago."

"We're assuming they're talking," Miguel sighed, "One of those conversations that interrupting only gives us a headache."

Nathan chuckled again turning as Thomson sitting at communications called him.

"Sir," she said, "You have an urgent message from Secretary General Noyce, it's marked as private."

"I'll take it in the ward room," Nathan told her, he clapped Lucas on the shoulder before jogging off the bridge wondering what crisis was about to hit them.

x

"Nathan," Bill sighed in relief when he finally appeared on screen, "Where's Kate?"

"She's on the colony with O'Neill helping with the experiment for a new tracker," Nathan told him, "Why?"

"Kincaid escaped," Bill stated grimly, "And we have reports he's been spotted near your location."

Nathan stared at his friend, "How the hell did he escape and why did it take you so long to warn us?"

"Because we only found out about an hour ago," Bill replied, "Get Kate back on the boat and tucked away until we find him."

Nathan winced, "Bill, as soon as you have news let me know."

"Take care of our girl," Bill told him before the screen went blank.

Nathan waited a beat taking a breath before he hit the button to talk to the bridge, "Ortiz, call Kate back to the boat."

"Sir?"

"This isn't a discussion," Nathan said sharply, "Get her back here now."

Shaking his head Nathan worried how Kate would react to the news. He headed back up to the bridge frowning as he saw Ortiz looking annoyed.

"What's wrong?" Nathan asked.

Ortiz frowned, "Kate's not answering. In fact her PAL signal is gone. I'm trying Tim as well but so far he's not replying."

"Keep trying," Nathan ordered, "I'll send a security team…"

"Captain," Ortiz cut him off, "I've got something," he tapped a few controls, "Tim, can you hear me? Tim?"

Static filled the air before a soft breath sounded over the speakers, "Miguel."

"Tim?" Nathan heard the panic in Ortiz voice at the obvious pain in his friend's voice, "Tim, what happened? Where are you?"

"Shot…" the word was forced out, "Kate…taken…"

Lucas and Miguel both spun to Nathan.

"Ortiz, keep talking to O'Neill," he ordered, "Lucas, use that to give me his location."

"Yes, sir," they nodded in unison.

"Thomson, I want a med team and security team at the launch bay by the time I get there along with Commander Ford, Chief Crocker and Dr Westphalen," Nathan ordered leaving before she could reply. When he entered the Maglev Nathan closed his eyes hoping Kate was okay but doubting she would be.

Kate gasped awake as cold water covered her face. She managed to focus after a few seconds and quickly took stock of her situation the way Harkens had trained her. She was tied to a chair, her hands bound behind her with rope. The ropes were tight but not too tight. Kate knew she would be able to get out of them, though she would lose a lot of skin on her wrists. She looked round and spotted the man who had come at her sporting a burst nose, taking in the fact that there was only one door on the three walls she could see which was right behind the man she had hoped never to see again.

"Hello, Sophie," Lewis Kincaid smirked at her.

Kate wanted to demand if Tim was safe but she knew that would reveal the fact she cared about him, which could possibly put him in more danger - assuming he was still alive. Instead she stayed silent.

He smiled even more that she was refusing to talk to him.

"I was surprised to find you here," Kincaid told her smugly, "I thought I'd have to track you down but there you were."

"So you shot the man I was talking to?" Kate snapped unable to hold her tongue.

Kincaid laughed harshly, "I have to protect my daughter from herself. Selling yourself is not how you were raised."

"Step-daughter," Kate ground out, "And you're worried about my virtue now? You sanctimonious son of a b…" she was cut off by the sharp slap snapping her head to one side, Kate spat out the blood that welled in her mouth.

"You still need to learn to hold that tongue of yours," Kincaid told her.

Kate began to stretch at the binding holding her to the chair, "You couldn't get me to be quiet when I was ten, what makes you think you can now."

Kincaid shrugged before his fist slammed into her stomach.

x

Tim forced himself to focus on Miguel's voice but he knew he couldn't for much longer.

"Tim," Miguel called again, "Tim, I need you to keep talking to me. The Captain will be there in a minute just keep talking to me."

"Bet you…thought…you'd never…say that," Tim gasped.

Miguel laughed, though it was filled with nerves, "Yeah, buddy. This is a one time only pass."

Tim laughed too, or he thought it was a laugh until Miguel yelled his name worriedly but before Tim could reply the wonderful sight of Kristin Westphalen appeared above him.

"We have him, Mr Ortiz," Captain Bridger assured Miguel.

"Tim," Kristin said her voice soothing, "You're going to be alright."

He shook his head, "Kate…you have to find her."

"We will," Bridger assured him.

"She…" he winced in pain trying to catch his breath, "She's got the tracker."

Bridger nodded before he moved away and Kristin pulled his attention back to her.

"Tim, Dr Levin and his team are going to take you back to the boat," she told him, "We'll find Kate."

Tim nodded too exhausted to say anything as he was lifted onto a stretcher.

x

Nathan watched as his communications officer was carried away before he turned to the three people standing with him who were all aware that Kate was not truly his niece.

"Okay," he said softly, "Kate's past has caught up with her in a big way. When we find her you have to refer to her as Miss King, no matter what."

They all nodded, he could see Kristin and Jonathan a little bemused by the fact Crocker was here, as well as the fact he obviously knew about Kate.

"Sir, do you know who did this?" Ford asked.

"I do but at this moment I'm not going answer any questions as finding her is the priority," Nathan told them, he pulled out his PAL, "Mr Ortiz, O'Neill says that Kate has your locator on her. Is it possible to activate it from your controls?"

"No sir," Ortiz replied, "We weren't at that stage."

Nathan let out a long breath, "Okay, we'll have to do this in some other way. Scan the entire colony and keep scanning until you find her."

He switched off his PAL before turning to Crocker, "Chief, I need a map of this area. See if you can find somewhere she might be being held. Otherwise we need to wait until she manages to activate it."

"You're sure she will?" Crocker asked.

Nathan nodded, "I am."

x

Nathan watched his people working trying to find Kate. He knew Ford and Kristin were surprised that Crocker knew Kate Foster was a façade but they were thankfully not asking right now. It had been two days after they'd come onboard Seaquest for good when Crocker had knocked on his door.

"Chief," Nathan allowed him into the room, "What can I do for you?"

Crocker stood at attention, "Sir, it is my duty as head of security to find any potential threats to the boat."

"And you have a potential threat?" Nathan asked.

"I'm not completely sure, Captain," Crocker replied, remaining as stiff as before, "As you brought someone onboard I believe may be a risk."

Nathan winced.

"However," Crocker continued, "As her name is Kate Foster and your niece then I thought it may be a coincidence that she looks exactly like Kate King, a thief."

Nathan leaned back in his chair, he should have known Crocker would recognise her although the last time he had seen her Kate had been about seventeen and badly beaten.

"Kate is under my protection," Nathan told him, "Admiral Noyce is well aware who she is, what she was and that she is here."

"Yes, sir."

"Chief," Nathan said softly, "She's turning her life around and if you're hovering over her shoulder then she might not be able to. I'm asking that you treat her as you would any of the crew and if you have any issues then please bring them to me."

Crocker nodded.

Kate choked as Kincaid squeezed her throat, her feet scrambled against the floor as she desperately tried to free her hands. He let her go and Kate gasped in as much air as possible.

"Now you might keep a civil tongue in your head, young lady," he told her.

Unable to speak at that moment all Kate could do was glare at him. Kincaid was taking great delight in beating her; thankfully he hadn't broken anything – yet. He turned to take a sip of water giving Kate a few moments to strain against the ropes. She needed to get her hands free if she had any chance of surviving.

"Sophie, do you have any idea how much this hurts me?" Kincaid asked as he turned back to her.

"I'm the one who's been smacked, punched and choked," Kate sneered through her aching throat, "Did my face somehow hurt your fist?"

He slapped her again.

"Why don't you just stop posturing and kill me?" she snapped.

Kincaid cupped her cheek, "You're my daughter, Sophie. I need to protect you from yourself."

Kate stared at him incredulously, "Firstly, I'm your step-daughter. Thankfully there is absolutely no biological connection between us. Secondly, you've tried to kill me at least twice already. If I need to be protected from anyone, it's you."

His hands gripped her throat once more.

x

Kate winced as the rope scraped off her skin when she managed to pull her right hand out of the loop slightly. He'd cracked one of her ribs, which was making breathing difficult but she knew she had to keep herself focussed.

Kincaid walked over to her and rested his hand on her hair, "We'll be leaving soon. Your friend should have been found by now and I want more time alone with you."

"You won't get out of here," Kate told him, despite how painful talking was, "You shot a UEO officer and they will come after you."

Kincaid chuckled, "I have so much I need to teach you, Sophie. I didn't shoot him, my friend whose nose you burst did that and the weapon shows your fingerprints."

"They're not stupid," she snarled.

Kincaid shrugged, "That's not been my experience. Is that what you're hoping for Sophie? That the UEO will blunder in here and save you? You don't exist, remember?"

"But he does," Kate retorted looking over at Kincaid's hired help, "And so do you."

She jumped when Kincaid grabbed the gun sitting on the table and shot the other man, she could tell he was dead the moment he hit the floor.

"You are psychotic," Kate whispered.

Kincaid glared at her before he slammed the handle of the gun across her cheek. Pain seared through her but she managed to swallow back the cry of pain. He moved to the dead body in the corner for a moment, Kate gritted her teeth and managed to pull her right hand out of the binding completely. Watching Kincaid she slid her hand into her pocket finding the small device Tim had given her what seemed like days ago. She squeezed her eyes shut forcing back the tears that formed at the thought of her friend and the fact he might be dead. Kate had been trained to keep her emotions in check at all times, although until recently she wasn't sure she was even capable of real emotion, and right now she knew she needed to be the person before the Seaquest, before Tim.

It was the only way to survive.

"Sir," Ortiz's voice sounded suddenly over the radio, "Kate's activated the tracking device."

Relief filled Nathan; he knew she would find a way to call them, "Do you have a location?"

"Not yet," Ortiz replied, "The tracker is a prototype, Captain. We were doing the tests to day to help us work on just this. I'll need some time to set the parameters."

"Fix it fast," Nathan snapped, "And find her."

The waiting was agonising, the medical team working on O'Neill were completely silent over his condition and they were not having much luck tracing Kate's whereabouts.

"Come on, kid," he murmured, "Tell me where you are. I'll come for you if you just tell me where."

"Sir," Ortiz came on suddenly, "I have her. Sending the location to you now."

Nathan looked over to Crocker who nodded, "We have it."

"Chief, Jonathan, Kristin," he ordered, "Let's go."

With Crocker in the lead they started through the corridors of the colony following the signal hoping it would lead them to Kate.

x

"It's time to go, Sophie," Kincaid told her.

"I'd rather stay here," she retorted, all she needed was a few more minutes to pull her other hand out of the rope.

Kincaid didn't reply instead he moved to hit her once more; Kate managed to haul her left hand free and caught his fist before it struck her. At his surprise Kate took the opportunity to twist his arm and slammed her elbow into his stomach. Kincaid cried out in pain and Kate pulled away. Unfortunately her cracked rib meant she wasn't able to move fast enough and he caught the back of her shirt. Pulling her back Kate cried out as she fell into the table holding Kincaid's water and gun. Seeing the gun fall Kincaid moved to catch it. Kate pushed against the stabbing pain in her lungs and scrambled to get it before he did. She managed to grab the gun and rolled; shakily she stood and pointed the gun at her step-father.

"Sophie…"

"Get up," she snarled.

He held up his hands, "You don't want to do this, Sophie."

"Oh, trust me," Kate gripped the gun tighter, feeling the metal bite into her hand, "I've wanted to for a long time. Even more since I realised you murdered my mother."

Kincaid laughed harshly, "Rosemary, she really was gullible. Sobbed over you for weeks, just like she sobbed over your father."

Ice slid down her spine, "My father?"

Kincaid took advantage of her shock and tried to grab the gun away from her, Kate pulled back slightly keeping out of reach.

"You killed him too," Kate gritted her teeth, "Didn't you?"

He began to laugh and Kate gripped the gun even tighter her finger pressing against the trigger, "Then no one can blame me for this."

x

Nathan prayed that when he opened the door that Kate was both there and alive. He gripped his gun as Crocker and Ford broke down the door surprised to see Kate standing holding a gun on Kincaid. He could see she'd been through the mill but the determination on her face as she was beginning to squeeze the trigger.

"Miss King," Nathan said softly as he stepped towards her, not wanting to spook her into firing accidentally, "Miss King, put the gun down."

She shook her head; he could see her gasping for breath and the pain each breath was causing.

"Miss King," he glanced at Ford and Crocker who were making their way slowly to Kincaid, "I'm Captain Nathan Bridger, I'm Lt O'Neill's commanding officer."

Kate froze slightly, "Is he alright?"

"He's fine," Nathan assured her, "He managed to contact us and told us you were in danger. Just give me the gun."

He stepped closer to her, Kate had released the pressure on the trigger slightly and when he reached her side she let him take the gun. Nathan passed the gun to Kristin, who didn't look happy about taking the weapon but she said nothing, before he caught Kate who sagged her energy sapped.

"Sophie," Kincaid yelled as Nathan started walking Kate out of the room.

"It's alright, Miss King," Nathan said stopping her from turning back.

"Captain," Kincaid continued, "That is Sophie Kincaid and I can prove it."

Kate stiffened slightly beneath Nathan's arm and they slowly turned to the man who had tortured her in so many ways.

"She has a birthmark," Kincaid smiled triumphantly at Kate, "On her right shoulder blade, don't you Sophie."

Kate was shaking slightly and she looked up at him for a moment before she unbuttoned the top few buttons on her shirt, "Captain, can you help?"

Nathan helped her slide the shirt back revealing her right shoulder blade that didn't even have a freckle on it. He heard Kincaid's strangled cry of disbelief as Kate fixed her shirt before she started out again. He frowned as he saw her turn to Kincaid one final time and give him a smug smile.

Kate sat on the infirmary bed leaning against the pillows staring blankly at the wall. Kristin entered and moved to her side.

"How's Tim?" Kate asked.

Kristin sat beside her, "He's fine. He's resting but I promise you that in a few weeks it will just be a memory."

"Connected to a scar," Kate stated coldly.

Kristin sighed softly, she stood and pulled over the tray holding everything she needed, "I'm going to clean any cuts and make sure you're not bleeding internally."

"I have a cracked rib on my left side," Kate told her, "Possibly a fractured cheek bone but other than that mostly just cuts and bruises."

Kristin gently brushed Kate's hair back making the younger woman duck her head away from the affection. Frowning slightly Kristin stood up and began Kate's exam.

x

"She has a cracked rib, as she predicted," Kristin reported as she sat in the ward room with Nathan, Ford and Crocker, "Thankfully, that's the worst injury she has. She is badly bruised and her wrists are a mess but there is nothing life threatening."

"Good," Nathan sighed, "We managed to lay a false trail for Kate King. Just in case."

"I still can't believe that Kate is Sophie Kincaid," Ford shook his head.

"And you will never repeat that ever again," Nathan ordered, he motioned to Crocker also, "I didn't have a choice but to let you both know something I promised I would never reveal."

"Of course, sir," Crocker nodded.

Nathan turned to Ford who rolled his eyes, "Kate may be a lot of things but she's part of this crew. I'll protect her."

Nathan nodded, "Thank you. Dismissed."

As the two men left the room Kristin sighed.

"How is she really?" Nathan asked worriedly.

Kristin shrugged, "She asked me about Tim but hasn't gone to see him. In fact she simply headed back to her room. I'm worried about her."

Nathan sighed, "So am I."