A/N — thank you Guest. I'm glad you are enjoying the story so far. :)

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Chapter 6

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Tom shifted the last stretcher onto the helo, waiting for Cosetti to strap it down before stepping back. The seahawk rose from the roof of the hospital, stuffed to capacity with families, a few children wailing in terror as they clutched their parents.

There was nothing they could do for these children here on the ground. At least nothing more than provide them with morphine to dull the pain of their final moments. Even with Utt's men clearing out another floor and Garnett getting the building generator up and running so they were no longer relying on the portable units the Marines brought from Lejeune, the hospital was far from operational and these kids weren't simply infected — they were dying. Tom had known — the entire team had known — that some of the people who arrived here for help would be infected.

But there was simply no way to prepare to look a mother in the eyes as she begged you to help her baby and admit that there was nothing you could do.

Turning away those who were too sick to benefit from the cure without the kind of specialized, round-the-clock care that Green received from Doctor Scott would have been hard enough under the parameters of the original mission, when they knew that there were not enough doses to go around and couldn't waste a single one on someone who was one step from death. But then came the news that the USS Solace was only half a day away, fully stocked with a laboratory capable of pumping out thousands of doses an hour, as well as medical staff and equipment capable of providing the kind of care that the ground team was not.

Tantalizingly close.

But even with the additional helicopter routed from Camp Lejeune to Solace to assist in ferrying the cure and the vaccine from Solace to Savannah, they didn't have the manpower or equipment to transport medically fragile patients over such long distances. Leaving them with few choices other than continue to clear the hospital and extend the "hospital" side of the operation into the upper floors, hoping that at least some of the patients would survive long enough to take advantage of the medical care Solace offered.

Rios was the first to crack. Pulling Tom aside to suggest that they evacuate a few of the younger patients to the Nathan James until the hospital ship arrived, his suggestion seconded by Doctor Scott and, somewhat to Tom's surprise, Mike.

"The crew is already setting up extra cots in the helo bay," Mike said, voice crackling slightly over the radio.

Tom paused, considering the ramifications of what he was being asked to do. Every person who boarded the Nathan James was a security risk, a potential threat to Doctor Scott that could have far-reaching consequences. Yet the alternative was to ask his crew to stand by while people continued to die — people they could have saved. Finally he spoke. "How far out is Solace?"

"Nine hours at flank speed," Slattery replied, his voice gruff, before adding. "We could limit it to kids under ten. Minimal security risk."

Tom heard all that his XO wasn't saying. It could have been their kids — it could still be their kids. A fear he re-lived every time he saw another family being shifted behind the quarantine curtain. But that didn't change the logistics.

"We only have one bird," Tom pointed out. One helo that could only do one thing at a time. Either heading to Solace to pick up more doses of the vaccine and cure, which were critical to keeping the operation here running, or transfer patients to the Nathan James. How could he put thousands at risk to save a few dozen?

"TAO is coordinating with Lejeune right now. Unfortunately for us, it sounds like they sent off most of them with samples for other laboratories but Hurtado is trying to scramble assets out of Mayport. Also, SecDef is on her way to personally oversee the operation. Lejeune plans to conscript her transport," Mike replied.

Tom suppressed a chuckle. He hadn't worked with Commander Hurtado previously, but he was starting to get a good idea why Green's team got so much latitude.

"Set the deck up for temporary triage," Tom said, finally. "We'll make two transports before sending her back to Solace."

Two trips. Ten adults, perhaps twenty kids if they pushed it. It was barely scratching the surface.

"Roger that."

"And XO, any sign of trouble, your orders remain the same. Protecting Doctor Scott and her research is your first and only priority."

There was a short silence. "Understood."

"Captain!"

Tom glanced towards the doorway to the rooftop entrance where Benz stood gesturing, taking one last look at the helo before running across the rooftop. Benz didn't attempt to talk over the sound of the disappearing helicopter, instead ducking back inside and taking the stairs as quickly as possible. If anything, the stench had grown worse as the day grew warmer and Tom fought the urge to gag.

Benz waited until they reached the ground floor before speaking. "Cooper's in with another contact right now. Thought that you should know."

Tom's frown was instant. This was their third contact and with both of the prior two, as planned, Benz made sure Tom was in position in the lunchroom-turned-command center before passing along the instructions for their meeting. "Commander Cooper was not supposed to be meeting with anyone alone, Lieutenant."

Tom could have sworn that he saw Benz roll his eyes before he opened the door, quickly scanning the room — presumably looking for Utt — before gesturing for Tom to follow. Tom was at the door to the lunchroom when Benz spoke again. "Jesse's not a colleague, Captain. She's a friend. And Sasha needed a minute."

Which was the only warning Tom got before opening the door to the sight of Sasha, tears running down her cheeks, hugging a slim Asian woman wearing military fatigues that were at least two sizes too large. The other woman was the first to react, spinning at the sound of the door, eyes narrowing in a way that reminded Tom of a street urchin he once cornered in Bagdad — just before the kid pulled out a knife and tried to gut him.

One of Sasha's hands moved to the woman's shoulder, the other lifting to wipe the tears from her cheek, the smile on her face radiant. "Jesse, meet Captain Tom Chandler. Tom, meet Jesse. She's a pilot with Doctors Without Borders and a good friend."

Mentally storing that information for later — there was really no good reason for Sasha to be close friends with a pilot who likely spent the majority of her time in war or disaster zones — Tom nodded. "A pleasure to meet you Ms..."

"Just Jesse," she responded, eyes flickering between Tom and Sasha.

Interesting. Jesse might be more subtle than Karl, but she was clearly trying to peghole Tom. "She's Commander Cooper today, in case you were wondering."

Jesse's eyebrows almost disappeared into her hairline. She turned to Sasha, arms crossing over her chest. "Is this by chance the reason for your out-of-the-blue divorce just before you dropped me a line to keep my head down and then disappeared into the Arctic? If so, I approve."

Even more interesting. Tom had suspected that Nicholas Cooper was merely part of Sasha's established background, suspicions that were more or less confirmed by Benz's constant comments about how unsubstantial the man was. But the fact that this woman — Jesse — knew put her on a level with Green or Benz. Frankie's words range in Tom's ear.

She's a friend. And Sasha needed a minute.

"Jesse," Sasha's voice was a growl but Tom suspected that had less to do with the comment and more to do with his presence. "Where were you anyway? I tried reaching you for weeks before I left."

Jesse's stance stiffened. "Mexico. Damien died."

The smile that Sasha had been wearing vanished. "Oh god. I'm so sorry, Jesse. The virus?"

Jesse's eyes flickered to Tom for an instant before she responded. "Sinaloa Cartel. When the Mexican government collapsed, they moved in. Literally. Ismeal took over the National Palace."

Tom stared at Jesse, his mind unable to process the words. A drug syndicate took over Mexico? Shady elections were one thing but a coup? In Mexico? For a single moment, Tom wondered whether Amy Granderson might have a valid reason to keep the vaccine under wraps — before rejecting the premise as ridiculous. Tom might not shed any tears if Ismael Zambada García died a horribly painful death, but he wasn't willing to sacrifice thousands of Mexican civilians in order to obtain such a result.

Sasha's breath caught. "Was Pablo there too? I couldn't reach him."

"We got out together but split when we got to the States," Jesse replied, a shake of her head. "He planned to find his family and go to ground. He didn't drop Green a message? Figured he would."

"No."

Silence fell, then Jesse spoke again. "I was trying to figure out the best way home when I got your message. Anyone else heading my way?"

Sasha bit down on her lip, as though she wanted to say more, but finally shook her head. "Nobody we can trust but there might be another option. Let me get you the package."

Tom watched as Sasha found the cabinet and pulled not one, but two packages out of the cabinet where she hid them earlier. One wrapped in white, identical to the packages Sasha had given to both of the prior contacts, the second sporting a large black cross on the front. Sasha passed the white package to Jesse, who tucked it into her jacket without comment. Then Sasha held out the second package. "I need this package to go to a man in Virginia. The instructions are inside. Jed has connections that might be able to help you get across the Pacific."

"I should have known that you wouldn't just be giving this shit away for free," Jesse replied, but her voice was teasing.

Jesse's eyes narrowing on Sasha. "Jed? Retired Army? You've mentioned him."

Sasha nodded. "Like I said, he has connections."

"He's my father," Tom said bluntly. He saw the surprise on both Sasha and Jesse's faces. But, unlike the two of them, he wasn't intelligence and if he wanted Jesse to trust him, he needed to give her a reason. "My children are with him. Damien — was he your husband?"

Jesse lifted her chin. "My brother."

"I'm sorry for your loss," Tom replied.

Jesse nodded, before tucking the second package in her jacket next to the first. She looked up, meeting Tom's eyes. "I'll get the package to your family."

"Thank you."

Sasha reached out, pulling Jesse into another tight hug. "Watch your back, okay? Things...are messy right now."

Jesse flashed a grin. "Always do, chickadee. Always do."

xxxxx

Tom didn't step onto the Nathan James until close to midnight, almost eighteen hours after he first left. Solace had arrived two hours prior, their medical staff taking charge not only of the patients on the Nathan James but also at the hospital, bringing with them sufficient supplies to begin treating people on the ground. But Sasha hadn't been ready to go, waiting on her last contact. A woman who turned out to be a Brazilian telenovela star Tom recognized only because of her reputation for destroying hotel rooms and tendency to appear on the front of those glossy magazines Darien used to enjoy reading.

According to Sasha, she was also an excellent agent.

Mike approached, both watching as the helo finished refueling and then rose back into the air, carrying several of the more critical patients to Solace. Although possible, moving people between the ships by RHIBs was a complicated process. "SecDef wants us ready to move out at first light. Apparently, there's a virus outbreak in a Florida safe zone where some of the Cabinet holed up and she wants Doctor Scott to respond personally."

It took Tom a minute to shift his focus from Savannah back to the James. "Are we even carrying any doses?"

"That's why we haven't already left. The stadium has roughly a hundred thousand people so Solace will be joining us. We're waiting on them to refuel and finish moving patients," Mike replied.

Tom pictured the crowd outside the hospital that continued to grow, no matter how many people they vaccinated. "What about Savannah?"

"The CDC will be supplying them and setting up a secondary site closer to Atlanta," Mike replied, before adding. "Guess that means we aren't headed back to Norfolk anytime soon."

Across the deck, Sasha was laughing at something Green said. "A ... friend of Sasha's came by the hospital and promised to get some doses to Jed. Between him and John, they'll make sure Christine and the kids are vaccinated."

Tom waited for the inevitable question, but Mike surprised him. "Guess that means I owe her two."

Now Green was leaning against the rail, arms crossed over his chest, nodding at something Sasha said. Mike followed the direction of Tom's gaze. "I heard that the Commander used to date an actual prince."

Tom snorted. "You expect me to believe that someone told you that?"

"Of course not." Mike snorted. "I overheard Wright talking to Nishioka. Wright claimed to have the information straight from Benz. According to Wright, Cooper dumped Green for this guy years ago and he's still so hung up on her that he flew from Europe in his own plane to try to convince her to quarantine with him on a private island. Oh, and Green was pissed about him showing up because he and Cooper still have a thing on the side."

Tom glanced sideways. Green and Foster's relationship was trouble enough, he didn't need rumors swirling that Green and Sasha were involved. "I assume you put an end to any suggestion of inappropriate fraternization?"

"No need," Mike replied. "Foster overhead that last part and made them both recheck the coastline for biologicals as a training exercise. I think she was pissed."

Tom knew that Mike was expecting him to laugh, the story told for pure entertainment, but all Tom could think about was the look on Sasha's face when he walked into that lunchroom to see her hugging Jesse.

The same look she had when she found out that Green was going to live.

Sasha fit so naturally on the Nathan James that sometimes he forgot.

Fourteen years.

A lifetime.

While he was marrying and divorcing Darien and raising Ashley and Sam, Sasha was living her own life. One filled with friends and relationships that Tom knew nothing about. The realization was jarring. He knew Sasha — understood her in a way that neither time or distance could erase — yet there were moments, like seeing her with Jesse earlier or with Danny now, when he was faced with the stark reality that he might not slip back into Sasha's life the same way that she so seamlessly slipped back into his.

Tom considered how much he could tell Mike while still leaving him with plausible deniability in case of a court martial. "Prince Karl Ferdinand worked with Sasha years ago. When he heard that we had a vaccine, he wanted one. The part about the private plane is probably true. Sasha said he has extensive connections in Europe and Russia."

"Hm." Mike was silent for a moment. "I get it now."

Sasha was apparently lecturing Green, hands on her hips and toe tapping, him shrugging in response before tipping his head back to stare at the sky. "Get what?"

"Benz," Mike explained. "He's their jester."

Tom turned away from Sasha so he could see Mike's face. "You feeling okay, Mike?"

Mike hesitated before continuing. "Hannah did a school report on court jesters. We think of them as clowns but they were actually pretty powerful figures in the middle ages. The only person who could mock the king and get away with it. The person that everyone watched and listened to."

"And that relates to Benz how?"

"Everyone watches him, don't they?" Mike explained. "Remember all those times the Docs complained about Benz crashing into their equipment? Have you seen him act clumsily anywhere else? Or what about how he had us running around in circles keeping him and Mir separated when we should have been watching Green and Foster? And today, out of the blue we have this crazy story circulating about Cooper and some European prince that Wright claims to have gotten straight from Benz, but nobody actually believes anything Wright says. Benz is the frontman, the one we're all watching while the rest of the team does their job."

"Distraction," Tom said, finally understanding Mike's point. "He plays the buffoon but it's intentional."

Green leaned forward, saying something, and then he and Sasha began moving towards the helo bay. Just before the doors, Sasha's head turning towards Tom, her eyes meeting his for the briefest of moments, before she disappeared.

Mike nodded. "Exactly, like Hurtado said before we left. The team is unconventional, but a well-oiled machine."

"Matryoshka dolls."

"Huh?" Mike replied.

Tom smiled. "Nesting dolls. The girls probably had some when they were little. Each doll has another, smaller, doll inside. You keep opening them until you find one doll that isn't hollow. All we're seeing is the first doll."

Except for those brief moments, like with Jesse, when Sasha allowed him to see more.

"Smoke and mirrors," Mike agreed.

"Exactly."