Navy Wives

Chapter 19-Christine Slattery

Christine wasn't even sure what time it was. She felt Mike crawl into bed next to her and smiled at how he immediately put his arm around her. She turned towards him and was surprised when he kissed her. It was a gentle and lazy kiss.

"The girls?" Christine asked.

"Sound asleep." Mike said. He gave her another long kiss, this one more passionate than the last one.

"Mike?" Christine asked between kisses. She noticed Mike's hand under her t-shirt but she couldn't bring herself to stop him.

"Please? I'll explain later." Mike begged.

"The girls?" Christine asked.

"Sound asleep and I locked the door." Mike replied. He was now kissing down her neck.

"Mike, are you sure about this?" Christine asked. It was a bad idea. In a perfect world, if she and Mike were to get back together; it would mean counseling and talking. This was…not perfect but it was always how they had dealt with their issues.

"I am." Mike said. His hand was now on her breast and Christine had to admit; it felt good.

"Alright." Christine agreed.

"We'll have to be really quiet." Mike warned just as Christine moaned. Christine nodded as Mike threw the t-shirt off the bed and then her panties. He knew he exactly what she liked and was happy to oblige.

Afterwards, they showered together, changed the sheets and unlocked the door. Thankfully, the girls were still sound asleep. Christine looked at Mike trying to sleep and laughed to herself. "You said you'd explain later?" Christine asked.

"There's a chance I may have to take a land team off the ship." Mike said.

"I don't think that warrants this reaction." Christine teased.

"It did feel good though." Mike remarked.

"It did. Once we are not on the ship; we might need to

continue it." Christine said with a laugh before giving Mike a long kiss.

"I think that can be arranged." Mike agreed.

"You'd better get some sleep." Christine replied. She kissed Mike's chest and wrapped her arms around him.

"Christine; I love you." Mike said. His speech was slurring. A sure sign he was falling asleep.

"I love you too." Christine replied. She gave Mike another kiss and smiled as he fell asleep.

The next day; Leah and Darien were visiting with Christine while the kids were occupied. Darien was talking about putting a Christmas party on for the crew while Leah took notes, finally Christine spoke up.

"Mike and I slept together last night." Christine said.

"Yes. The quarters are small. I figured you were." Leah remarked.

"No…we had sex." Christine answered. Darien and Leah exchanged a look.

"Christine, was that a good idea?" Darien asked.

"It seemed like a good idea at the time." Christine admitted.

"How was it?" Leah asked. Christine was a little shocked by the question; coming from Leah.

"Amazing." Christine said with a smile.

"So, what now?" Darien asked.

"I suppose we try to keep our hands to ourselves for the duration of however long we are on this ship." Christine remarked.

"Is this even healthy?" Darien asked Leah.

"As long as it's done maturely, it can be healthy for them." Leah replied. Darien scoffed in response.

"Mike is scared of something. Christine remarked.

"Tom mentioned last night that he was afraid they were going to have to get the cure and Dr. Scott off the ship. And because of the shrapnel Tom took, he can't lead the group." Darien said, mentioning Tom's recent injury. Leah and Christine had exchanged a look because Darien had barely reacted to Tom's injury.

"So that would explain Mike saying he thought he'd have to lead it." Christine remarked.

"They haven't made any decisions yet." Darien said.

"Mike's done away missions before. He's a SEAL. But this was uncharacteristic." Christine said.

"Because they are talking about taking the kids off the ship at the same time. Only…Katie couldn't and neither could you for that matter." Darien replied, very quietly. It told Christine she knew more about it then she was willing to admit.

"That explains it." Christine said quietly.

"Hannah?" Leah asked.

"She's recovered really well. Katie not as much. Her asthma hasn't helped." Christine said.

"And Mike and Katie are really close." Darien added.

"It sounds like you and Mike need to have a discussion. If you need me to look after the girls; I'd be happy to. They really love Ravit. We could have a slumber party or something." Leah replied.

"I appreciate that." Christine said.

"Nothing has really been decided yet. Please don't say anything. Tom would kill me if he knew I said anything." Darien said.

"No. I won't. I'll just ask Mike what he meant when he said he might have to do an away mission." Christine assured. Just then Ashley came in.

"Mom; can we go back to our quarters? I'm getting tired." Ashley asked.

"Sure; get your brother and his stuff together." Darien said. She squeezed Christine's arm before following Ashley into the other room and leaving.

"She's jealous." Christine remarked after they left Christine's quarters.

"Of?" Leah asked.

"Mike and I. She always has been. The passion. Devotion." Christine replied.

"It's a reminder of what her marriage isn't." Leah said.

"I think they love each other but as the years have gone by; they've become more like partners. But…my marriage is the one that fell apart so I can't say much." Christine remarked.

"I think you and Mike are building something again. Just do be careful about it becoming based on physical attraction." Leah said.

"It was amazing." Christine remarked.

"I'm sure it was." Leah said.

"Mike and I did this part well. We just aren't great at communicating." Christine admitted.

"Christine–I've been a family therapist for a long time, but I've never slept with anyone. I was saving myself for marriage." Leah said.

"Well; that is not a bad thing. Up until eight months ago, I'd never slept with anyone but Mike." Christine remarked.

"Is…it normal to be scared of it?" Leah asked.

"I remember leading up to the first time I had sex with Mike; I was nervous and a bit scared. Where's this coming from?" Christine asked.

"I suspect that once we land…wherever, Russ is going to ask me to marry him. He's…been married before and all. I have no idea what to do." Leah admitted.

"Russ…will do most of it the first time. It was pretty weird the first few times for Mike and I because we were each other's firsts. But…Russ really loves you. He will help." Christine said.

"I feel foolish for not knowing." Leah remarked.

"Don't! Leah, my relationship with Mike might be dysfunctional, but I have no doubt that Mike loves me. And I love him. We waited until we were just pretty much engaged to have sex and I'm glad we did. Love…it makes things easier. To Darien, what Mike and I did last night was immature and not well thought out. For me…and I suspect him, it was an act of love. And as I am very well aware, you don't have to have love to have sex; the sex worth having is best when love is involved." Christine explained.

"You sure you aren't a psychiatrist?" Leah asked.

"Definitely not. My point is…stop doubting yourself. There is nothing wrong with waiting. My one regret is that I cheated. Mike is my first and that is special, but he could have been my only. Russ might be your first and only and that is pretty darn spectacular." Christine said. She winked at Leah and smiled at the girls, reading in Mike's office area.