2- Samaru Islands mystery continues; Mike considers a job offer.

(Script from Season 2 episode 9 in italics. Assume all events, including Charge getting stabbed and Jim Roth is in the picture at this point. All of Mike's glaring, smoky, jealousy stares in season 2 occurred when he saw them together. Heading off course.)

"X. Take the ship, Nav" said Mike, gesturing to Kate to follow him below.

"On the bridge, Navigator has the ship" announced Nav.

"Ray Walsman's last boat was stolen. It just happened to be a Puccini 52." Mike began.

It clicked in Kate's mind, "Like the one the mercenaries are using? Oh, is that why you asked Swain to talk to his police contacts?"

"If it is Walsman's yacht," Mike continued, "then maybe they'll have a lead on who these mercenaries are."

"Well, you don't think that Walsman is somehow involved in this do you?" asked Kate.

"No way." Mike replied adamantly. "I admire the man. Matter of fact, he's just offered me a job."

Shocked with his announcement, Kate replied, "You'd leave the Navy?" shaking her head, "right." "You're not considering it hey?" staring at him incredulously.

"He's ordered a beautiful offshore cruiser, a 120-footer, and he wants me to skipper it," Mike tried to explain.

"You…you can't be serious. You'd leave the Navy?" Kate sputtered.

"Well, people do."

"But, not our sort of people."

"Kate, Marshall wants me to go for a shore posting."

"Of course, because to get promotion that's what you have to do."

"I've done shore postings before. I hate them. I'd rather be at sea."

"I just don't understand why you're even considering it you know? Is it the money?"

"Well, the money would be good, and I do know that. But really, it's just about being at sea"

"Yeah, skippering a giant plastic bath toy, pfft" the disdain her voice very evident.

Mike moved closer to Kate, "You sound upset X, could it be that you'd miss me?"

Taken a back, she sputtered, "I just think that it would be a terrible waste for the Navy."

Mike grinned, "Well, I'm sure the Navy would appreciate your concern. Moving in even closer he offered, "If I wasn't' in the Navy, it would open up certain other possibilities."

Kate's eyes widened at his statement. He was so close. She could smell his cologne, uniquely Mike. She looked as his eyes, his mouth. She could easily lean in and…

Catching her breath, Kate stepped back into the hallway. Shaking her head while attempting to calm her breathing she continued to step away from him. Damn him, why was he doing this to her? Was he torturing her on purpose?

Mike watched her go. That was not how he thought the conversation would go. What was he thinking, saying that out loud? Was he really thinking of giving up the Navy or was he just jealous of seeing her with another? Was her reaction a positive or a negative, he did appear to strike a nerve. Did he still have a chance or had he lost her to Jim Roth? Did he want a second chance? Time to think, he needed time to think. He would think later; after they figured out what was going on in the Samaru Islands.