Author's Notes: Thanks to Stonedtoad for betaing.
This started as a random idea and I'm really amazed I managed to finish this. Thanks to those who stuck with me throughout.
Enjoy.
They were on an alien planet with very little chance of going home, and about to storm a base they knew was not what it seemed to be to rescue a friend. He had made a recording to say goodbye to his family along with the rest of the crew and now, before they did this, Tim had one thing he needed to do.
"Kate."
Tim caught up with her just before she reached the bridge and winced at the coldness in her eyes.
"What do you want, Tim?" she demanded sharply
"To talk to you," he replied, "I need to tell you why I left."
Kate shook her head, "This is not the time."
"Well we could be dead soon," Tim retorted, "So there might not be another one."
Kate frowned before she suddenly swayed her eyes unfocussed and began to drop to the ground. Tim caught her wrapping an arm around her waist to keep her upright.
"Kate?"
She was gasping gripping his arms before she looked up and took in a shuddering breath.
"Tim?"
Before he could say anything Kate had her arms wrapped around his neck hugging him tightly. Confused he rubbed her back hoping he could comfort her.
"Come on," she pulled away suddenly and grabbed his arm, "I need to talk to Nathan and I'm not repeating this."
Tim stopped her, "I need to tell you why I left. Just in case."
"Tim," she told him, "I just watched you die to save my life. I know you're my friend."
"What?"
She shook her head, "I don't have the time to explain, we need to get to Nathan. I'm not going to let it happen again."
Without letting him say anything else she started away from the bridge dragging him with her.
x
"Nathan," Kate burst into the ward room with Tim trailing behind her obviously confused.
"Aren't you meant to be on the bridge?" Nathan demanded, "We're about to do this."
Kate shook her head, "You can't. Your plan isn't going to work. They've lied, they have underwater weapons and if you do this…." she took a deep breath wanting so much to just throw her arms around him but she couldn't, "Tobias and I have a plan."
"How can you and Tobias have a plan?" Keller asked confused.
Kate took a deep breath, "Listen to me, I have been through this already and I know what happens if you go through with your plan. Nathan, I need you to trust me. Please. I can't let it happen again."
"Kate..." Nathan started before trailing off obviously not sure what to say.
She held up her hand and turned to Keller, "Tobias sent you a message," she hesitated before repeating the phrase painstakingly taught to her in the soft growl and clicks of Tobias' native language.
Keller stared at her in stunned silence.
"Tell me I pronounced that right?" Kate begged, "I apparently swore at Tobias for the first three weeks when learning that."
Keller shook his head, "No, it was perfect."
"What was it?" Nathan demanded.
"It's a code," Keller explained his eyes trained on Kate in astonishment, "From the resistance. How did you know that?"
"Because I have just spent nine months trying to get back here to stop your plan," Kate told them, "I know how crazy this sounds, Nathan but I need you to trust me for the next few hours."
Kate could see the indecision in his eyes and moved to him, "Nathan, if you have ever believed in me I need you to do so me now. I am begging you to let me do this because I can't live through that again."
Nathan rested his hand on her cheek looking into her eyes for a moment before he nodded, "Okay, kid. What do you need?"
Kate took a deep breath then grabbed a pen and paper from the desk and wrote a list, "I need these and fifteen minutes to put them together. While I get these ready you contact the base, tell them we have an idea to boost their shield capabilities. You send me over in a shuttle and three minutes after I dock you head to the co-ordinates I'll give you. Once there I have a message for you to send then exactly seventeen minutes after I have docked you blow the base."
"What?" the three men demanded.
Kate held up her hand, "You promised you would trust me, Nathan. I know what I'm doing."
Reluctantly he agreed before turning to Tim, "Okay. Lieutenant, get what she needs."
x
Kate finished the three devices, two inhibitors and a disruptor, in less time than she had managed during the practice runs she'd done.
"Nathan said you needed my help?" a voice she hadn't heard in months said.
Kate smiled, "Wendy, it's so good to see you," she shook herself to get focussed again on the mission and held up the small circular inhibitor, "I need you to help me with my hair. It has to hide this."
The doctor nodded, placing the small device on the back of Kate's head gathered all Kate's hair up and tied it back in a neat ponytail. She moved her head a few times to make sure it stayed and grimaced, it was odd to suddenly have long hair again when she was used to it so short.
"You have a fall back career," Kate noted with a smile.
Wendy caught her arm concern in her eyes, "Are you okay?"
"Not yet," Kate whispered, "Once I do this I will be," with a slight nod Kate picked up the other inhibitor and the disruptor and started to the launch bay.
Nathan and Tim were waiting for her making Kate smile slightly to see them. Reaching Nathan she gave in to her need and wrapped her arms around him, "When I tell you the story, you'll understand," she whispered before letting him go.
Turning to Tim she hugged him as well, "I'm sorry I pushed you away. We'll talk later."
Not giving him the chance to reply Kate entered the launch.
Tim watched the shuttle as it moved to the Krataks base, he had no chance before Kate left to tell her what he needed to. Absently rubbing the crucifix that sat round his neck Tim prayed that she returned and he got that chance.
"Lieutenant," Bridger spoke up, "She's docked. Start the clock."
Tim started the countdown, watching the numbers slowly change, "Three minutes, sir."
"Helm, head for the co-ordinates Kate gave us," Bridger ordered.
Tim glanced round and saw the worry as well as the fear in the Captain's eyes for Kate.
"We're here, sir," Tony spoke up after about a minute.
Bridger let out a long breath, "Mr O'Neill, send the message."
Tim paused for a moment glancing up when he felt the Captain's hand on his shoulder, "We're trusting her, Tim."
"Aye, sir," Tim nodded and quickly sent the strange message Kate had provided them with.
Silence filled the bridge for several minutes before a soft beep came from Tim's console.
"Sir," he called, "I have a reply to the message."
Bridger nodded, "Onscreen."
A man appeared on the viewscreen, short black hair and strange green eyes.
"Killen," Commander Keller stated stepping forward.
The man nodded, "Scott, it is good to see you. We have the ship ready as requested. We can return the Seaquest to its home."
"What about, Kate?" Tim spoke up suddenly, "She's still on the base."
Killen shook his head, "The message we received was very specific, we are to return your vessel to its home no matter what."
"Captain," Ford spoke up, "We're at sixteen minutes."
Tim shook his head, "You'll kill her."
"I'm sorry, Tim," Bridger rested a hand on his shoulder, "But I have to trust her."
He sat in his seat and took control of the weapons. Tim heard the older man whisper something softly before he fired the torpedoes. All Tim could do was watch as they flew towards the base, where Kate was and his eyes closed when they struck.
Docking with the station Kate set her watch to countdown before she picked up the devices.
"Welcome back," the leader of the Krataks greeted her when she stepped out of the launch, "Captain Bridger advised that you have something to help us."
Kate pulled out the small box and shrugged with a smug smile, "Not exactly," she hit the button and the disruptor signal pulsed through the entire base.
All the aliens fell to the ground clutching their heads, Kate grinned amazed that it had actually worked before she started to run through the corridors. Tobias had ensured she memorised the layout of the base and they'd recreated it so she could practice. Kate quickly found the room where Tobias was being held. He was sitting restrained, straining against the ropes as the disruptor signal affected him the same as his captors. Pulling out the second inhibitor she slammed it onto his neck.
"Kate?" he managed to focus quickly, "You persuaded them."
She shrugged removing his bonds, "Seems that way. Hurry up, we only have five minutes left."
Tobias rubbed his wrists, "Let's go. Leave the box."
Kate followed him through the corridors to what she hoped was a way off the station but if it wasn't or they didn't get away in time Kate had no regrets because the people on the boat, the people she cared about were all alive and would be safe.
"Kate," Tobias called, "Hurry up, get in."
Sliding inside the small vessel she checked her watch, "Thirty seconds."
"Hold on," Tobias told her before he launched the ship. Kate winced seeing the two torpedoes fly past them and let out a sigh of relief Nathan had listened to her.
x
Tim opened his eyes to check the status of the Krataks base praying distracted suddenly when the Seaquest jerked.
"We're caught in the tractor beam thing again," Lucas reported.
"Is there any sign of Kate?" Bridger demanded.
Tim glanced over at Miguel who shook his head softly before answering, "No, sir."
"Nathan," Keller spoke up, "The message Kate gave us to send told Killen that they were to wait for nothing."
Tim watched Bridger's eyes close, pain covering his face and Tim knew, as they all did, their Captain was losing another child. Silence filled the bridge and they all watched as the ship was once again lifted from the ocean. Tim felt a hand on his shoulder and found Bridger standing at his side.
"Look," Lucas said pointing at the screen, "It's Earth."
Tim gripped his console as they hurtled downwards and as suddenly as the systems had cut out when removed from the water they jumped to life again.
"Sir," Tim spoke up, "We're connecting again to all communications nets. And I checked the date, we've been gone for over a week."
Surprised faces greeted his announcement but before anyone could comment a familiar voice advised, "It could be worse. It was ten years the last time and several of you were dead."
All heads spun to the viewscreen where she was smiling down at them.
"Kate," Bridger breathed in relief.
x
Kate looked at the bridge of the Seaquest on the view screen relief filling her that they were all there and safe, "Did you think you were getting rid of me that easily, Nathan."
He chuckled, "Head to Docking Bay 3."
She gave a mock salute before cutting communication. Leaning back in her chair Kate let out a long sigh.
"We did it, Tobias," she whispered.
He nodded softly as he guided the shuttle to the Seaquest, "I can admit now that there were times I thought we never would."
"Me too," she sighed, smiling as they docked.
Tobias checked the seal and shut down the systems before turning to her, "Are you ready?"
"More than I can ever say," Kate told him with a nod.
With a deep breath he hit the button.
Kate hugged Miguel tightly for a second when she walked into the ward room before taking the seat waiting for her with Lucas, Tim, Tony, Lonnie and Dagwood.
"Okay," Miguel said confused, "What did I do to deserve that?"
She gave him a smile, "You are alive, big brother and you'd better stay that way."
He gave her a stunned look before managing to stutter, "Okay."
"So what happened?" Lucas demanded, "You said we'd lost ten years the last time, how did you manage to get back to stop it, what was the world like?"
Kate held up her hand, "Hold on, I'll give you the story but after this we don't talk it about it anymore. For you it's fascinating, for me it was hell."
They all listened intently as Kate gave a, slightly altered, account of the nine months she had lived through in the future.
"No way," Lucas cried when she fell silent, "I would never have joined the military."
Kate shrugged, "You had no real choice if you wanted to stay on the Seaquest. You weren't bad at it but honestly this is more you."
Everyone laughed easing the tension as Tony clapped Lucas on the shoulder.
Checking her watch Kate sighed, "I don't know about you but I need to get some sleep. It's been a long, long day."
Miguel reached over and squeezed her shoulder, "Sleep well."
Giving him a warm smile Kate started out. She waited outside for a moment relieved that she was right and Tim appeared a few moments later.
"Hi," she said softly.
"Hi," Tim replied before asking, "Can we talk?"
She nodded and motioned him to walk with her.
x
Tim walked at Kate's side worried by how tired she looked. They reached the gym and Kate led him inside as it was empty.
"Before you say anything," Kate said softly, "Don't. I don't care why you left, you obviously needed to get away from here for a while and I'm sorry I punished you for that."
"The reason..."
Kate held up her hand cutting him off, "I don't care. Before I came back you stepped in front of a bullet for me and died in my arms. You are my best friend and I need you back in my life. For the past nine months I have been almost completely alone and all I want right now is for you to be my friend again."
Stricken by her words Tim knew he couldn't tell her the truth so he simply wrapped his arms around her in a tight embrace.
"Get some rest," he whispered to her, "I'll see you tomorrow."
"For breakfast," she told him smiling as he squeezed her one more time before leaving.
x
Kate sat on one of the weight benches gently tapping her fingers off the padding.
"You didn't tell him," Tobias noted appearing from the training room.
Kate looked at him confused, "Tell him what?"
Tobias smiled amused, "How you feel for him," he chuckled at her stunned expression, "Your radio was on."
"Oh," was all she could think to say before she sighed, "No, I'm not going to tell him."
Tobias sat at her side, "Why not? He was all you thought of, Kate. He was one of the main reasons you wanted to come back here. Why not let him know you feel the same as he does?"
Kate sighed softly, "If I tell him how I feel, I have to tell him who I am and right now I can't. I just need some time where I have my friends and my normal life. After the last nine months I need that."
Tobias nodded understanding.
"What about you?" she asked, "What are you going to do now?"
He leaned back for a moment to contemplate the ceiling, "I'm going to rejoin my people. I gave Nathan all the information he needs so it's time for me to take my place and help lead my people to a better life."
"I'm going to miss you," Kate told him softly.
Tobias smiled, "I'm going to miss you too."
x
Kate roamed the corridors of the Seaquest knowing she should go to bed but every time she came close to her room she changed direction and started to walk again. Finally she reached the moon pool where Darwin was swimming lazily. She walked towards the edge of the pool trying not to look at the spot she had held Tim as he died.
"Kate," his voice came through the speakers, "Sad."
She trailed her fingers through the water, "Not sad just..." Kate shook her head, "Unsure."
"Nathan, alive. Tim, alive. Miguel, alive," Darwin listed.
Kate chuckled softly, "Why am I surprised you know everything?"
The dolphin laughed before taking off through the water again.
"You need to get some sleep," Nathan's voice made her turn to find him walking towards her.
She let out a long sigh and slid down to sit against the side of the pool, "I can't seem to. I'm afraid, Nathan."
He sat beside her, "Of what?"
"Going to sleep then waking up and..." she looked up at him with large sad eyes, "What if I wake up and this is all a dream? What if I wake up and you're still dead?"
"Oh, Sophie," Nathan rested his arm around her shoulders drawing her to him, "You're home. I promise."
Kate cuddled close to him finding her eyes begin to close as Nathan rocked her gently, the way he would when she woke from a nightmare during the years on the Island.
"Just sleep," he murmured to her, "I'm here and I'll watch over you, Kate."
While Nathan held her, Kate let exhaustion take over and fell asleep for the first time in a long time.
She was home.