This will be a series of one-shots. Some of these are expanded flashbacks that I wrote in other stories and some will be new. I do not promise that they will be published in chronological order. I'm also open to requests if there is something specific that you would like to see. Just let me know!
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May 2014 - Two weeks before the Nathan James departs from Norfolk
"So how was the wedding?" Kara asked, cradling the phone between her ear and shoulder as she stirred the pot of noodles. Debbie was supposed to be arriving any minute for dinner but, knowing her mother, Kara figured that she had at least thirty minutes. Rather than getting frustrated by Debbie's inability to do anything in a timely fashion, Kara had decided to use the time to fill Carlton in on yesterday's surprise meeting of the Nathan James' senior officers - a meeting he had missed because he was in Chicago to attend a wedding.
"Pretty much what you would expect," Carlton replied, and Kara could hear paper rustling on the other end of the line. She knew that Carlton wasn't overly enthusiastic about attending this wedding and agreed to attend mainly because it gave him an excuse to see his family. Originally Kara was scheduled to go with him to Chicago for the same reason - she always enjoyed her time with Carlton's extremely close, loving, and boisterous family - but Kara had been forced to cancel her trip earlier this week when her time off was revoked. "Bride looked great. Groom looked terrified but calmed down after a few drinks. Good dancing."
Kara laughed as she tasted the pesto and added a touch more basil. "Not every groom is terrified."
"Really? Name one who went to the altar completely sober," Carlton challenged.
Kara didn't miss a beat. "Master Chief Jeter."
Carlton groaned. "Well he doesn't count. Or the Captain or XO. Nothing rattles them. A meteor could land at Slattery's feet and he would pick up the smoldering ash to light his cigar."
Kara burst out laughing at the image that immediately popped into her mind of Slattery lighting a cigar from a meteor. "So, any prospects at the wedding?"
"Don't you worry about me, baby girl," Carlton replied, his tone blatantly flirtatious. "You're the one who hasn't gotten laid in like a year."
Kara sighed, once again regretting having admitted that to Carlton during a recent night out after she tossed down one beer too many. It wasn't as though she didn't want a little action in that department. But after the nasty breakup with Jeremy last year she wasn't interested in dating again and there were so many risks to hooking up - and not just the obvious ones like going home with a serial killer or picking up a STD. In a military town like Norfolk, the biggest risk was hooking up with a guy and then running into him on base or, even worse, having to work with him in the future.
Although Carlton claimed to understand her position, Kara suspected that he secretly thought she was a bit of a prude.
Not that Carlton was having much better luck in the romance department. Kara had spent the last six months trying to set Carlton up with her single friends but, while each of the girls had agreed that Carlton was a great catch, none of them actually wanted to catch him. When Kara had expressed her bafflement to her best friend Jennifer, the other woman had just laughed.
If you think Carlton is such an amazing guy, why don't you go after him?
"I still have a couple weeks, I guess. Slattery called in the senior staff yesterday – you were excused, of course – and wouldn't even tell us where we are going. Just said to pack winter gear."
Of course, neither Kara nor Carlton would take Commander Slattery at his word. He could very well have told them to bring winter gear even if they were heading to the Middle East or Africa. Kara made a mental note to throw a bathing suit into her bag, just in case. She couldn't let Carlton out boyscout her.
"Oh, and we're getting a SEAL team. Mountain warfare unit," she added. She had seen the dossier on the team and the part that wasn't blacked out was impressive, with time in Iraq, Afghanistan, and the Sudan. Plus, one of the guys was pretty cute, something that had reminded Kara of just how long she'd been celibate even before Carlton mentioned it.
"SEALs, huh?"
Kara could hear the sudden interest in Carlton's voice. She rolled her eyes. Carlton might be the consummate professional, but he wasn't above a little bit of interservice rivalry, especially if special ops were involved. "XO wants you to play nice."
The conversation was cut off by a voice in the background, one that Kara recognized as Carlton's cousin Danielle. "You on the phone, Carl?"
Carlton's voice grew faint, presumably as he turned towards Danielle. "Just Kara."
Following the sound of a scuffle, Danielle's voice came over the line. "Hey sweetie. I thought you were coming to visit us this weekend. I haven't seen you in forever!"
"I'm so disappointed that I missed the weekend," Kara replied, snapping off the burner and moving to drain the pasta. "Congratulations on getting your master's degree. Any school would be lucky to have you as a teacher."
"Thanks. I've applied to about a thousand different places so keep your fingers crossed," Danielle replied, then her voice changed. "Oh, Carl, I forgot to tell you that Aunt Marion wants you to come downstairs. Someone's here to see you."
"Is Marion trying to set him up again?" Kara asked playfully as she placed the covered dishes in the oven to keep them warm and began cleaning the kitchen.
Danielle was laughing so hard that it took her a minute before she could respond. "Oh, sweetie, the only person that Aunt Marion is trying to match Carl up with is you. She's convinced that the two of you have a thing that you aren't admitting because of the Navy's rules. I'm pretty sure she has your wedding planned already."
"I'm sure that Carlton is thrilled," Kara replied, smiling as she imagined Carlton's horror at being accused of violating the frat rules by his own mother.
"So what is going on with his love life?" Danielle demanded. "Last I heard he was dating that friend of yours. Meaghan or something?"
Kara groaned. "Let me get you up to speed."
Twenty minutes later, Kara was fully caught up with Danielle and still waiting for Debbie when Carlton's name popped up on her phone. "That was a quick visit."
"One of my old high school teachers stopped by to say hello," Carlton explained.
"Is she cute?" Kara asked lightly.
"He, and no." Carlton's voice was suspicious. "Did Danielle tell you that Mama's in matchmaking mode?"
"She might have said something..." Kara let her voice trail off.
"Very funny," Carlton's voice was wry. "She's gone completely nuts. She told me that we should make a deal to get married if we're both thirty-five and single. And I think she was serious."
"Oh, yeah?" Kara laughed as she imagined the hilarious awkwardness of kissing (or having sex with) a man she regarded like a brother, surprised when the picture of the SEAL team leader flashed through her mind. Brushing it aside, she popped a stray olive into her mouth. "I am totally in. Given my track record with men I could do a hell of a lot worse."