Author's Notes: Thanks to Stonedtoad for betaing.
Enjoy
"Mr McDonald," Nathan greeted one of the men who had raised Kate when he appeared on the screen before him, "Kate is on her way. Do you want me to leave?"
Mac sighed, "I have to speak with Kate but I need you to be here while I do."
Nathan nodded concerned but he didn't get a chance to ask as the door opened and Kate joined them.
"Mac?" she smiled surprised before suspicion set in, "Why are you calling the Seaquest? What's wrong?"
"Kate," Mac took a deep breath, "Alex died yesterday."
Nathan caught Kate when she staggered slightly moving her to sit down.
"How?" she finally managed to ask.
Mac sighed, "Heart attack. It was fast, honey he didn't suffer. The funeral is in two days from now."
"I'll be there," she whispered.
The screen went dark and Nathan crouched down beside her, "Are you okay?"
Kate nodded her face blank.
"Do you want me to come to the funeral with you?" Nathan asked softly.
Kate shook her head, "No. With Ford trying to find Piccolo, you're needed here. Can I take the Stinger?"
"Of course, kid," he told her.
Kate stood and left the room, Nathan watched wishing there was something he could do or say to comfort her.
x
Kate climbed out the Stinger at the dock just behind Harkens and Mac's house. She pulled out the remote and sent it to the bottom because this may have been a funeral but there were a lot of people who would ignore the unspoken rules and try to steal it anyway.
Reaching the house she knocked.
"Kate," Mac sighed in relief seeing her standing there. Kate had never seen him look so old, so tired. He wrapped her in his arms hugging her tightly, "I'm so glad you're here."
Kate followed him inside, feeling the emptiness instantly. She dropped her bag on the couch turning to see Dionne leaving the kitchen.
"Hey, Dee," Kate hugged the other woman.
"Why don't you go get changed," Dionne told her, "If you need me just call."
Kate nodded, the funeral was in less than an hour and she couldn't be who she was now. Kitten had to attend and that meant dressing the part. It was another reason she didn't want Nathan to attend the funeral because he didn't fit into this world.
Finding her room Kate smiled slightly, she'd never lived here with them but Harkens and Mac had set aside a place for her. Taking a deep breath Kate forced down all her emotions and slid into the persona of Kitten. Dressed all in black Kate pulled her hair back before lifting her sunglasses. She would not let Harkens down by showing anything to anyone outside the family.
Her phone buzzed and Kate grabbed it expecting Nathan to be checking up on her, Kate grimaced when she saw the message.
I heard about Harkens,
I know you don't want to talk to me but I'm here if you change your mind.
Tim.
She sighed softly and dropped the phone. Making sure she was completely ready Kate started out before swearing to herself and going back into the room.
Picking up her phone she typed, Thanks, before deleting it and throwing the phone down once more.
He made it so hard to be angry at him sometimes.
x
Kate stood beside Mac with Dionne at her other side during the funeral.
They made sure they displayed no emotion, ensuring they didn't let Harkens down at this time. She recognised many of the attendees, the ones she had spent her childhood amongst where she had picked up tips on how to be the best. There were others she didn't recognise, people from the nearby town here to pay their respects.
Finally the torture was over and Kate was able to return to the house. She tossed her sunglasses and jacket onto the chair relieved.
"Here," Dionne pressed a glass of beer into her hand, "You look like you need it."
Kate took a long drink, "I think we all do."
Mac joined them a few moments later and took a drink himself, dropping into his seat sadly. Kate slid into the seat beside him, "What happened?"
"Oh, Kitten," Mac whispered taking her hand, "I…" he trailed off looking up at Dionne questioningly.
Dionne nodded, "She deserves to know."
"Know what?" Kate asked confused.
Mac licked his lips nervously before squeezing her hand, "Alex didn't have a heart attack."
Kate pulled her hand away, "What?"
"I didn't want to tell you before the funeral," Mac told her, "I didn't want you to be distracted but his death wasn't natural."
Kate took a deep breath, "You're telling me he was murdered?"
Mac and Dionne nodded.
"Who?"
"Kate," Dionne started but stopped when the younger woman held up a hand.
"Mac, you know who did this," Kate ground out, "Then tell me."
He sighed, "Mason."
"Mason?" Kate demanded, memories of the first time Nathan had found her beaten and bloody rising unbidden to her mind, "Travis Mason? And you let him stand there at the funeral?"
Mac stood to face her, "What did you want me to do, Kate?"
"Something," she cried, tears slipping along her cheeks, "We buried your husband today."
"I know," Mac retorted.
"And you let the man who killed him stand there," she snarled, "As though he had done nothing."
Mac shook his head, "I had my reasons."
Shaking her head Kate walked out, heading back up to her room she fell onto the bed and let her grief take over.
Mac finished his coffee; he stopped drinking after his first beer because any more would be too many. Dionne had left him a few hours before; she had responsibilities to get back to. He was giving Kate time before they spoke again; time to calm down then he would talk with her.
He knew why she was angry, understood why she didn't understand but this was one of those things that couldn't be dealt with emotionally. No matter how much he wanted to, no matter how much it had angered him to see that man standing there as a 'mourner'.
Mac took a deep breath before he headed up the stairs, standing outside Kate's room he knocked. Waiting a few moments he frowned and knocked again.
"Kate," he called softly, assuming she had fallen asleep Mac gently opened the door, "Kate, are you awake?"
Peering into the dark room Mac frowned, even in the dim light it was clear the room was empty. Kate's bag was gone and Mac winced.
"No," he breathed moving quickly through the house he headed to the safe room. Quickly tapping in the code Mac winced to find two guns missing, "Damn it, Kate. Why couldn't you have just trusted me?"
x
Nathan frowned in confusion when O'Neill told him he was getting a call from Kate's foster father.
"Mr MacDonald," he greeted the man when he appeared in front of him, "What can I do for you?"
"Captain, has Kate contacted you?" Mac asked worry in his voice.
Nathan shook his head, his confusion rapidly turning to worry, "Not since she left for the funeral."
Mac winced, "Oh no. Captain, I wasn't entirely honest about how Alex died. He was killed by a man called Travis Mason."
"The man who poisoned Kate?" Nathan demanded.
"Yes," Mac replied grimly, "I told Kate after the funeral and now…she's gone along with some weapons. I think she's going to try to kill him."
Nathan froze, "Do you know where she is?"
"I think so," Mac replied, "Captain, I need your help to stop her. She will listen to you more than she will to me right now."
Nathan nodded, "Tell me where."
x
Kate checked the guns she'd taken before climbing out of the Stinger. Travis Mason had taken one of her father's from her; he'd already beaten her and placed something into her so that he could kill her at his leisure. This time she wasn't taking any chances.
Anger flowed through her like fire. Mason had poisoned her, he had beat her so badly he'd put her in the hospital and now he'd taken Harkens from her. There was no way he was getting away with this.
Stepping into the house she aimed the gun at the man sitting there. Slight surprise covered his face before the smug look covered his face, "Kitten, I expected you sooner."
Gripping the weapon tighter Kate stepped slightly closer, "Then you got to live slightly longer," she snarled at him.
"Please, Kitten," Mason laughed, "Do you really expect me to believe that you will shoot me? I still have something you need."
Kate laughed harshly, "And you think that will save your life?"
Mason stared at her trying to work out if she would actually shoot him.
"Kitten," Mac's voice came suddenly, "Put the gun down."
Kate didn't turn, keeping her eyes on Mason, "No."
"Don't this, Kate," Nathan's voice said making her frown.
She glanced back seeing the two men standing there, "Why? He killed Harkens, he has to pay for that."
"He will," Mac replied, "But not like this. Harkens wouldn't want you to do this."
Kate gritted her teeth, "He's gone, so he doesn't get a say."
x
Mac grimaced at the man standing beside him, the worry he had for the young woman he had helped raise reflected in the Captain's eyes.
He motioned to Bridger to try to talk her down knowing he was closer to Kate these days.
"Kate," Bridger stepped forward slowly and they both saw the young woman jump in surprise at his voice, "If you do this then you can never come back. Everything you worked for, everything you achieved will all have been for nothing."
"I don't care," Kate threw back at them.
Bridge stepped forward a few more steps, "Yes, you do. I know you, Kate. You've made friends, you've made a place for yourself and if you kill him it will all go away."
"I don't care," she snapped again.
"Yes, you do," Bridger snapped back, "You can't lie to me, Kate. I know you too well."
Mac held his breath hoping that she listened, that the young woman before him would listen to other man. They both caught the small change in Kate's stance; Bridger nodded to Mac to take over.
"I didn't do anything," Mac said, "Until I knew you were safe. I know about the poison, until I knew he couldn't find a way to harm you even in death I wasn't going to make a move."
Kate shook her head, "If you'd asked me I would have told you that Westphalen got rid of it during the first tour."
Mac glanced at Bridger who nodded in confirmation, "Kitten, stand down," he ordered, "Now."
x
Kate stared at Mason who was watching them, her grip on the gun never wavering. Finally she stepped back lowering the weapon and letting Mac take it from her.
"That's my girl," Mac breathed softly.
"So," Mason spoke up finally, "Since we've established Kitten isn't going to kill me, I'm going to leave. It's nice to know that Kitten is hiding on the Seaquest. There are so many people who would love to know that."
A gunshot echoed through the room just before blood appeared on Mason's chest and he pitched forward to the ground. They all turned to the large man with dark hair and scars on his face who was holstering his gun once more.
Kate pulled away from Mac and moved towards the shooter, "Mash?"
"I owed Harkens many favours," Mash rumbled, "All were written off with the stipulation that I always protect you, Kitten."
The young woman stretched up and wrapped her arms around his neck hugging him tightly, "Thank you."
Letting him go she turned to Nathan whose face was blank, "You have to leave. They can deal with this."
He stared at her for a moment before nodding, "I'll see you in a few days."
Kate stood staring at the gravestone thinking how much of the past week seemed surreal. She'd never thought Harkens could die, even in their line of work he'd always seemed immortal.
"He loved you so much, Kate," Mac rested his arm around her shoulders, "Alex loved you and he was so proud of you. Especially that you'd changed your life and become an engineer on the Seaquest."
Kate sighed very softly.
"Captain Bridger is also extremely fond of you," Mac continued, "He came without hesitation when I called."
Kate pushed her hand through her hair, "When you and Harkens left me, I was alone for a while and I told myself it was a good thing. That being alone was the best thing. Then my mom died and I needed to say goodbye to her."
Mac just hugged her letting her talk.
"Nathan took me in," she spoke again after a few moments silence, "He gave me a place, he gave me a purpose and I nearly lost that."
Mac chuckled softly, "No matter what Alex told you, it is allowed for you to be emotional at times."
"Mac…"
"You're also allowed to forgive people," he told her making her frown, "Bridger told me about what happened with O'Neill."
"Mac…" she tried again,
He moved so they were face to face and cupped her cheek, "You were hurt badly as a child; the emotional trauma of what Kincaid did to you runs deep. Just don't let it dictate the rest of your life. Don't let it ruin the friendship you worked so hard to forge."