A/N - thank you for the love on the first chapter! Something I've always appreciated about this fandom is how supportive people are. And as pretty much everybody knows, one of my favorite things about TLS is the interaction between the characters. I really had fun writing this chapter. I hope you all enjoy. xoxo - tmtcltb

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Ch. 2 - A Change of Plan

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"La Boheme?" Tex was the one to bring it up, of course, swiveling back and forth in his chair at the far end of the conference table, coffee in hand. "So you got the ring?"

Kara thought she felt green eyes flicker in her direction as she poured her third - maybe fourth? - cup of coffee, but she kept her attention fixed on her hands. Sliding in the door at 8:59, her hope had been to avoid the inevitable chit-chat and razzing that occurred whenever Cooper's team was called in to report. Still, Danny could hardly think that he needed to avoid the topic of Laura around her. After all, their relationship, in whatever form, was over almost before it began.

xxxxx

"One more month," Kara sighed, her breath visible in the frosty air, uncertain whether she was speaking to herself or Danny. She needed to focus on something - anything - other than the overwhelming desire to press her lips against his neck, to run her hands across his stomach, to wrap herself around him until there was not a single millimeter of space between them. "It's only one more month until we are back in Norfolk."

His hand brushed against hers in the darkness and the innocent contact sent a flush of heat through her, taunting her with his closeness. "Or is this what you do? Have a woman on every ship."

Her anger ignited his own, his voice a hiss. "That's not what this is and you know it!"

Just as quickly as it ignited, her anger dissipated, and Kara leaned against the side of the lifeboat where they were hiding. She groaned, recognizing the truth in his words. She might only have met Daniel Joshua Green three months ago, on the day that he boarded the Nathan James, but they were attuned in a way that Kara had never before experienced. She had watched Danny interact with his men, with the crew, with Halsey, and she intuitively understood the code that he lived by. And Danny seemed to understand her as well. Recognizing her boundaries. Never pushing her for more than she was willing to give.

And wasn't that the rub? After years of following the Navy's rules to the letter, no matter how much a past boyfriend or two might have grumbled, she was now fighting a losing battle with herself. When had she become this person? This woman willing to risk her career - her life - over a man? Because no matter how much she reasoned with herself in private, one glimpse, one smile, one touch was enough for Kara to want to chance it all, the tension between them almost unbearable.

She turned towards him, his shape barely visible in the darkness. "I know. I'm sorry. I just didn't think it would be this hard."

"So you're saying that I'm irresistible?" She could hear the smile in his voice.

"Maybe. I'll think about it and let you know."

"Just so you know, I don't need to think about it." Danny shifted, pressing his forehead against hers, their lips so close that she could feel them moving when he spoke. "You're my kryptonite, Kara. I will do anything to be close to you, even knowing that I'm going to get burned."

xxxxx

"Yeah, I got the ring." Danny fiddled with his cup. Kara settled into the chair between Carlton and Alisha. Despite seating thirty, the table was crowded today between Cooper's team, the Nathan James' senior staff, and an assortment of individuals from Command. "Burk helped pick it out."

Kara shot a dirty look at Carlton, thinking about the betting pool he had just arranged on that very topic. Seeing her face, he shrugged, unrepentant, before nodded towards Danny. "My man did good. We followed all the rules. Two months salary got us a nice, big sparkler."

"Wait, you're supposed to spend two months salary on the engagement ring?" Rick interjected, a worried frown crossing his face.

"No," Kara replied, smothering a laugh. Courtney had been over the moon when Rick proposed. He probably could have given her a lollipop ring and she would have worn it proudly. "Women don't care about that. Do they Al?"

Alisha shook her head. "Nope. You find the right person and that's all that matters."

"Says the woman who picked out her own ring," Carlton noted.

Alisha laughed. "I love Val, but her taste in jewelry is abysmal."

"Val has no taste in anything." Azima agreed, hands waving to emphasize her point. "This American tradition is stupid. Who pays so much for a tiny stone? I would expect at least a necklace, some earrings, several bracelets, and perhaps a headband for that much money."

"You got that Taylor?" Carlton asked, Wolf flipping him the bird in return.

"Actually, I'm with Foster," Tex said unexpectedly. "You youngins' try too hard. Marriage is about finding the right woman and raising a couple of kids. Way too much focus on the ring and wedding and the china pattern. Shit that doesn't matter."

Kara focused on her coffee. She wouldn't look at Danny. She wouldn't. Today was a new day, one without the emotional turmoil of the anniversary celebration. And yet, despite her resolve not to do so, she glanced up, their eyes catching.

xxxxx

"Berchem's married?" Kara laughed at the idea of the man with the filthiest mouth, and probably mind, that she had ever meet going home to a wife and kids.

Danny grinned as he laid out his cards. "Two pair."

"Damn."

After some consideration, she pulled off a sock. Danny shook his head in mock disappointment, leaning back in his chair. Kara had to admit that this was the most fun she had ever had playing poker, even if the sight of Danny's bare chest was more than a little distracting.

"Heading into divorce number two. I told him to skip the big wedding this time and elope but he insisted on a whole production. Pretty sure he's still paying the thing off. Idiot."

Kara picked up a card. "How about you? Anything you are still paying for?" Although she was aiming for casual, the question came out a little too interested.

"No divorces. Always figured that there was plenty of time to screw up my life once I was out." Danny flashed Kara a smile, clearly amused by the question. But then his face sobered, his eyes never leaving hers. "Although I've been rethinking that plan."

Kara felt the flush rolling from her neck to her cheeks, fighting the urge to drop the cards in the floor and climb onto his lap. Instead she set down her hand. "Four of a kind."

Danny swore, then grinned, before standing to drop his pants. Which, it turned out, happened to be the last piece of clothing he was wearing. And seeing a naked Danny Green, it turned out, was even more distracting than seeing a shirtless one.

xxxxx

"So I shouldn't bother inviting you to the wedding?" Alisha asked sweetly.

Tex tipped his cup in her direction. "Hey, I never turn down free booze. Plus, that gal of yours is bound to do something crazy. We'll be there."

"Anyway," Carlton began. "Green's set. And it's a rock for sure."

"What's a rock?" Mike Slattery asked, entering the room with Sasha Cooper following closely behind.

"Green's going to propose," Tex replied. "At the opera."

Slattery slapped Danny on the back. "Good for you. Can't stand opera myself but the ladies seem to like it. Christine got tickets for some show going around. Told her to take the girls."

"Is everyone else going?" Rick grumbled, and Kara made a mental note to ask Mike to pull some strings and get Rick and Courtney tickets.

"Pretty sure Mike is on the same VIP list as Tom," Sasha said, apparently picking up on the situation. "I would offer you our tickets, Miller, but, unfortunately, none of us will be here to use them."

That caught everyone's attention. Kara focused on Sasha, trying to get a read on the woman. She knew her, of course, but had kept her distance, mentally assigning Sasha to Danny's side in their unspoken agreement regarding the division of friends and colleagues. Carlton liked to joke that it was as good as a divorce decree. Kara got Andrea and Alisha. Danny got Wolf and Tex. They shared custody of Rick and Carlton.

"So what is going on, Captain?" Tex asked.

Slattery waved his coffee cup at Sasha. "All you, Cooper."

"We found Christian Vargas."

At that, every eye swing to Sasha. The right-hand man to Gustavo Barras, Vargas had been on the run for almost a year, and was the primary reason why Sasha and her team spent so much time trekking through remote locations. As the last surviving high-ranking member of Tavo's group, Vargas's continued evasion was a thorn in the President's side, and his capture would be a major score. Even if the man never willingly volunteered information, his arrest would be a publicity boom to the current administration.

"Where?" Danny asked.

"And why are we here?" Carlton added, gesturing to himself, Rick, and Kara. Although the Nathan James officially remained in service, their missions tended to be more humanitarian or public relations focused, the ship opening doors that otherwise would have remained firmly closed. Kara strongly suspected that was one reason for her meteoric rise through the ranks despite the official reprimand in her file. With her in the captain's chair, the Nathan James held a double punch, and few seemed to have the ability to say no.

In any case, it had been some time since the Nathan James engaged in anything that might be considered an official operation. And even longer since she and Danny crossed paths in the field.

xxxxx

"Six Alpha Gamma Pi Three. Requesting emergency extraction. Man down. Heavy fire. Repeat. Six Alpha Gamma Pi Three." Despite the eight months and twenty-one days that has passed since they last spoke, Kara instantly recognized the voice.

She stood, pulse racing. "Get the helo up ASAP."

"Ma'am?" The officer of the deck looked confused, and Kara realized that there had been no official identification. As if she needed one.

Thankfully Carlton needed no explanation. "It's a priority one code. They wouldn't be using it if they weren't in deep shit."

"This is Mother Hen." Eyes closed momentarily, Kara recalled how Danny used to laugh at that name. "We are twenty mics out. Could you use some fireworks?"

"Affirmative, Mother Hen." Was it just her or did his tone change after she spoke? "You got here just in time."

Forcing herself to focus on the immediate situation, Kara began relaying instructions as Danny rattled off coordinates. Refusing to admit, even to herself, how her hand trembled as she hung up the radio.

Twenty minutes later, the helicopter was on its way back with six on board, one injured. Kara stayed in CIC until the last moment, determined not to go but, in the end, she found herself headed towards the helicopter pad.

Standing on the deck as the helicopter landed, she watched while Rios exited and the turned to help someone, only to step back when Tex stumbled out himself. Leg hanging at an unnatural angle, it was clear that something was broken.

The next few minutes seemed to take an hour as first Sasha, then Azima, and finally Wolf descended, followed after a short pause by Hector Martinez, the likely cause of the emergency. Martinez was definitely persona non grata in large chunks of the world following his last minute decision to switch sides, prompted by his concerns over Tavo's growing insanity. Kara's fists clenched, and she fought the urge to tap her toe as she waited, needing to see him for herself. To know that he was unharmed. Finally Danny exited, pausing to survey the deck until he found her. And then he smiled, head dipping in silent acknowledgment, a thank you for answering the call.

And she wanted to hit him.

She wanted to bang her fists against his chest and demand to know why he was here. Why he wasn't safe at home where she wouldn't have to worry about him being stuck in the middle of a rainforest someday when she wasn't nearby to save his ass. But even as the thoughts occurred, she knew the answer. Danny was here for the same reason that she was on the Nathan James, headed towards some ridiculous meet-and-greet. They were both unable to step away, to say no, not when the world was still in so much chaos.

"Thanks for the assist." Sasha sounded almost cheerful as she and Rios passed, helping Tex down the ramp. "The Old Man here made our escape plan a no-go when he decided that broken bones were en vogue."

"Damn fuckers and their stupid rat traps," Tex groused. "Nobody better tell my wife about this."

Sasha laughed. "Pretty sure that she's going to notice."

"Don't worry," Danny added, having approach while Kara was distracted. "Commander Garrett isn't going to kick you to the curb when you're bed-bound. Probably."

He was close enough to touch, the smirk he always wore after getting himself safely out of a jam bringing back too many memories. Her fingers twitched, wanting to brush his cowlick to the side, to wipe away the streak of dirt on his cheek, to run her hands all over him until she could reassure herself that he was fine.

"Bed-bound." Tex grinned. "Now that I think about it, there might be a few benefits to breaking a leg."

"Oh man," Carlton groaned, as he stepped onto the deck. "Do you want me to lose my dinner?"

Kara allowed herself one last glance at Danny before she turned, heading back to the bridge. Knowing that Burk would handle the task of settling in their visitors. And wondering just how long it would take for her heart to stop racing.

xxxxx

"Vargas is in Rio," Sasha explained, passing out dossiers. "We have a friendly relationship with the Brazilian government, but there are those who continue to believe in Gustavo's movement. In order to prevent a diplomatic incident, and to avoid tipping Vargas off, my team will be going in undercover. We need to give the government plausible deniability should things go south."

"That's where the Nathan James comes in," Mike said, picking up the narrative. "While on your way to the Falklands Islands for the transition ceremony, the James will make a stop at Brazil. Foster and Miller will finalize a pending trade agreement and then be the guests of honor at a special celebration in honor of the five year anniversary of the development of the cure. It will be a publicity boost for President Alves's administration, and give Cooper and her team a cover story. Officially they will be your security, giving them time to meet up with their contacts and put a plan in place for the extraction."

"Miller can't go." As much as she wanted to get this asshole, Kara wouldn't put Rick's life at risk. Not now. "Courtney is pregnant. I just transferred Rick onto desk duty for the next six months."

Mike grimaced, then nodded. "Okay, change of plans. Instead of Miller I'll see if Master Chief Jeter can rearrange his schedule."

"Sir!" Rick began, but Mike simply held up a hand.

"This one is too dangerous. You know the drill."

They all did, of course. Children were precious in this new world, and official policy prioritized the protection of family units. But Rick and Courtney were also in a unique situation, given Rick's status as one of the Vaccine Six. The press went crazy when Tex and Andrea announced Liam's birth, three months after the fact. Kara expected no less of an uproar once Rick's news was released. Allowing him out of the country right now was simply too risky.

"Look at this way," Kara added. "You'll actually be able to use those opera tickets- assuming Cooper is still offering."

But Rick pressed on. "What about Tex? He's going."

"Nolan is out of my jurisdiction." Mike looked at Sasha.

"Tex has never listened to a single thing that I said. It's a good thing that the man has the devils own luck or I would have kicked him to the curb years ago." Sasha laughed. "I'll drop off those tickets tomorrow, Miller. No way Tom's going to go and Ashley is in Norfolk."

Alisha spoke before Rick could protest further. "I don't think the Master Chief will be able to make the trip, Captain. I've been going over the president's itinerary and there are several sensitive matters in play that I believe take precedence. Kara will have to handle it solo."

Mike cursed, then glanced at Sasha. "Think that the Brazilians will backtrack if we just send Foster?"

She shrugged. "Guess we'll find out."

Tex grinned, tipping back in his chair. "I would be more than happy to escort the lovely commander to these highly sensitive diplomatic meetings."

The horrified silence that greeted his suggestion would have been funny under other circumstances.

"I can do it." Every eye turned towards Danny. "The goal is to give the Brazilian government a publicity coup, correct? One that will make them willing to look the other way when we grab Vargas?"

"Something your sorry ass won't do," Carlton commented.

Sasha snapped her fingers, understanding crossing her face. "You were just featured in that magazine. All about the incident in Columbia."

Mike looked back and forth between them. "Columbia? Do I want to know?"

"Nothing bad, Captain," Danny assured.

"It was a recon trip," Sasha elaborated. "Whole thing was a mess from beginning to end. Started pouring the day we got there and Wolf and Azima couldn't get in. Then we got caught in a landslide. Couple of photographers snapped some shots of us evacuating the locals. I managed to get most of the negatives, but someone recognized Green from the James. Whole story blew up."

"How am I only hearing about this now?" Mike demanded, annoyed.

Tex laughed. "Hablas español, Capitán?"

"They speak Portuguese in Brazil, asshole," Mike replied.

"It didn't hit the America press," Kara jumped in before the bickering could escalate. "We issued an official statement that the United States Navy does not comment on the private lives of servicemen and released Danny's public file. Ring a bell?"

"Vacationing American hero saves dozens," Tex cackled. "That whole story was gold. There was even a nice shot of Laura in a bikini drinking a cocktail. Should've known Foster was behind it."

Kara shifted uncomfortably. She might have gone a little above and beyond to save Danny's cover, but that was part of her job, wasn't it? "Val fudged that one a bit."

"A lot, actually," Alisha threw in. "I saw the originals."

"I suppose that I should be thankful that there were no alien references," Slattery muttered. He glanced at Sasha. "Next time be more careful."

"Cooper was the one who got those negatives," Kara added. "It would've been much harder to spin an explanation for multiple highly ranked military personnel being at the scene."

"And now we can use it to hype Green's presence. I like it!" Sasha was pacing back and forth as she worked the revised cover story. "We'll temporarily assign Danny to the Nathan James, so his attendance will seem more natural. With Green attending the formal events, it will be easy enough to have him make contact with our informant. Wolf and Azima will serve as official security to make the cover story stick, allowing Tex and me to put together an extraction plan."

Mike nodded. "I think it could work. Good idea, Green."

"Thank you, sir."

Danny's eyes darted towards Kara and, abruptly, the reality of what she had just agreed to do sunk in. Not that she had agreed, exactly, but there was no way to graciously excuse herself at this point. She and Danny would serve as the face of the operation. He would be her escort to every official event. They would be expected to sit together, to talk, to dance, to interact. A sense of panic flooded her, and she struggled to control her breathing. She could do this. She could.

"It's decided then." Slattery turned to Danny. "Sorry to disrupt your personal plans, Commander."

Danny shrugged. "Don't worry about it. Not as if this is the first time that's happened."

Again, their gaze locked and this time Kara knew that Danny wasn't talking about Laura.

xxxxx

"Hi."

Danny hesitated at the threshold of the cabin, before stepping inside and swinging the door three quarters of the way shut. Although she had been off the Nathan James for almost a year, Kara was hit by an immense wave of deja vu. How often had this happened? Danny stopping by her cabin, checking quickly for observers before making the decision to enter.

"Hi."

She stood, fiddling with the clothing that she was unpacking. As acting TAO until they hit Rota, she could have requested her own cabin, but Kara chose to bunk with Alisha again. No reason to get settled into the space when she was leaving as soon as they finished crossing the Atlantic.

"I came by to ... to give you this."

Kara glanced at his outstretched hand, her mouth falling open as she recognized the small, velvet box nestled in his palm. One that sat on her mother's dresser for more years than Kara could remember.

"Where did you get that?" she whispered.

"Back when we first hit Norfolk, I talked to your mother. Asked her..." he stopped, swallowing. "Well, I asked your mother something and she gave me this. I just never found the right time to give it to you."

Kara barely remembered the Nathan James's arrival at Norfolk, those days a blur, the joy on her mother's face when Kara found her at that shelter one of her few clear memory. Except that wasn't quite true, Kara realized. She remembered Danny being there, staying by her side for days while they scoured the city, searching for those who remained alive.

"Why?" She shouldn't be asking. She should simply take the box back and thank him politely. Treat him like any other crewmate. They were over. Everything was over. This...this changed nothing.

He didn't pretend to misunderstand the question. "I thought that we had something..." Shaking his head, he stopped. "Anyway, it's yours. You should have it back, one way or the other."

"Thank you." Kara took the box, then looked at him properly for the first time since he entered the room. Noticing the exhaustion lines etched on his face, the pallor of his skin. The grief in his eyes a physical pain. "I'm sorry, Danny. About...about everything."

He lingered for just a moment, almost as though he wanted to say something more. Finally he turned to leave. "Me too."