Thanks to tmtcltb-kalbs and Aspect for the idea. I had to put my own spin on it! Tmtcltb posted a similar update for Snapshot. Definitely a suggestion!
Suspicious Mind
After being shot down, Tom, Sasha and Maddie drug an unconscious Mike into the cell where they had been taken as POWs. The guards were hideous and Tom would not leave Mike, who was completely defenseless at the moment, with them. As soon as they laid Mike on the dirty ground, Maddie began practically patting Mike down.
"What the hell are you doing?" Tom asked. Maddie was a junior grade lieutenant. Mike was Chief of Naval Operations.
"He must have a weapon somewhere." Maddie said. She began unbuttoning Mike's shirt.
"He would be upset by you doing this…hey!" Tom said as Maddie unbuckled Mike's belt but she gave him a smile when she handed him a razor.
"Take that off. We can use the belt." Sasha said as she knelt down next to Maddie. Maddie pulled it through the loops and handed it to Sasha.
"You might check the stitching of the pants." Sasha said, kind of amused by Tom.
"I'll do the pants, can you check his shirt?" Maddie asked. The two women went to work.
Tom shook his head in disbelief as his wife and Maddie began stripping Mike of his clothes. He wasn't sure how or why Maddie knew where the weapons were or why Mike was carrying so many. A file in the hem of his pants, the razor in his built, a small pistol in an ankle holster, a thin knife that resembled something that would filet a fish in the small of his back, and a pair of hand-cuffs and a cuff-key in a hidden pocket in his shirt.
"I just want to know how you knew these were here?" Tom asked as he looked at the array of weapons. Maddie just gave him a cheeky grin.
"I suggest you ask him when he wakes up." Maddie said. She had carefully redressed Mike so it wasn't obvious that he had basically been stripped naked.
"I'm asking you." Tom retorted.
"Tom, it doesn't matter. All that matters right now is getting out of here. And somehow getting him out of here." Sasha said as she looked down at Mike who was still out like a light.
"You and Admiral Chandler get out and leave me a knife or file. Bring help back. I'll keep him safe." Maddie said.
"That's a horrible idea!" Tom argued.
"Actually…its not a bad idea. Lieutenant Rawlins left arm is broken. Mike is still out. We have to be at top of our game to get out of here and to bring help back." Sasha said.
"I won't let him get hurt anymore than he already is." Maddie told him.
"Seriously…he's a good…friend. Please don't let him get hurt." Tom said, feeling horribly about leaving Mike.
"He will be just fine, I promise." Maddie answered earnestly. While they talked, Sasha had picked the lock using the cuff key and a file. Tom handed Maddie the small pistol.
"Its loaded but only has six shots. Only use it if you have to." Tom said.
"Are you sure you don't need it?" Maddie asked.
"We can disarm someone. Once they figure out we escaped, they may come in here. You need that gun if they do." Tom said.
"Tom, we need to go. The guards just did a walk-through a moment ago. It gives us a window of time." Sasha said.
"Go! We'll be fine." Maddie commanded. Tom and Sasha exchanged a look before running out the door.
Several exhausting hours later; Tom walked back into the cell and smiled when he saw Mike sitting up against the wall. Maddie was next to him and Tom noticed that she was holding Mike's hand. As soon as she saw Tom, she dropped his hand.
"Your chariot awaits." Tom said, ignoring what he had seen. Maddie stood up and they both helped Mike up. Sasha was dealing with some other POWs so Tom helped Mike onto a waiting helicopter. He was not shocked when Maddie climbed in next to Mike. "How long has this been going on?" Tom asked, gesturing between Mike and Maddie.
"About a year. We're keeping it quiet until we both retire. This was supposed to be our last mission together." Mike answered.
"I didn't know you were retiring?" Tom asked.
"Tom, I didn't want you to talk me out of it. I want…normal. A house. Maybe a family. And I do know that a relationship with Maddie was not allowed. I honestly don't give a damn anymore. I sacrificed everything for the Navy. Its about time the Navy allowed me something. And you can't say much. You have Sasha and there is a difference in your ranks." Mike said.
"Not so much of a distance." Tom argued.
"Tom, it doesn't matter anymore. The only thing I ask for is a bit of loyalty for all the years I've shown it to you, so that we can both retire in peace." Mike answered. Tom thought about arguing and decided against it. After the helicopter took off, Tom found Sasha.
"Did you know?" Tom asked Sasha.
"I suspected Mike had someone. He seemed more upbeat. Happier. I didn't know it was Maddie but I should have suspected. He always wanted her to fly us where we needed to go. It was a bit obvious in a hindsight." Sasha admitted.
"She isn't Christine." Tom remarked.
"And I'm not Darien. Mike is not like Russ. He needs something more than the Navy and now he has it. Don't discredit his happiness." Sasha said before walking away. Tom nodded to himself, deciding to just not fight it.
One year later
Tom admired the two babies, sleeping in a bassinet. They were the perfect mix of Mike and Maddie. He and Sasha were visiting Mike and Maddie. Their rambling farmhouse seemed perfect and the twins were exactly what Mike needed.
"Thank God they look more like their mother than you." Tom said as Mike came into the room. He had a burp clothe on his shoulder and was sporting a healthy dose of spit-up on his shirt. And Mike couldn't be happier.
"I can agree with that." Mike said.
"So, now that you're retired, do you still carry all those weapons?" Tom asked.
"No. I do carry a gun and a knife but not all the files and razors. I'm just glad Maddie had watched me put them in my clothes that morning." Mike remarked.
"You've settled." Tom remarked.
"I don't have anything left to fight anymore." Mike said as he picked up his new baby girl, Quinn. She cuddled into his shoulder.
"I envy that." Tom admitted.
"So, just stop fighting it. There is nothing wrong with settling." Mike said before walking off. Tom could only nod in response.
