Chapter 2

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Maddie Rawlings didn't consider herself a particularly vain woman. Still, as she watched her husband walk across the airfield looking so distinguished in a uniform that remained crisp despite it being mid-afternoon, she couldn't help but wish that she wasn't currently covered in grease. The damn chopper was rattling again and Kat simply didn't have enough experience to know what might be causing the sound. With Sunshine doing long runs this week and Jesse with Wolf in San Diego for a much earned vacation and meet the family — not that Jesse was thrilled about the later but she could hardly say no when Wolf's family made the eighteen hour trip to see him — there was simply nobody else around who could figure out what-the-hell was wrong with her bird. Still, Maddie rationalized, Mike fell in love with her when she looked like this, grease and all, so maybe he actually had a thing for women in coveralls.

"Hi handsome." Maddie gave him a cheeky salute, leaning up to brush a kiss across his cheek, surprised when Mike stiffened in response. Quickly stepping away, grabbing a cloth to wipe her hands, Maddie reminded herself that they were in uniform, and PDA of any kind wasn't exactly regulation. Actually, now that Maddie thought about it, even Kara and Danny were pretty starchy while on duty and lord knows the two of them couldn't keep their hands off each other normally. Maddie suppressed a sigh. After eight weeks of maternity leave and another eight weeks on desk duty before she was cleared to fly again, she was still struggling to get back into Navy mode. When Mike didn't respond to her greeting, Maddie took a closer look, seeing how pale he was. "Everything okay?"

"We found another Mayflower group," Mike said abruptly. "I need to leave within the hour."

"Okay. Coffee?" Maddie asked, puzzled by Mike's curt response. She waited for his nod before heading towards the machine in the corner of the hanger. Perhaps this group was infected? That might explain Mike's urgency. "Jesse's in San Diego. Wolf will be pissed but we can pull her to get you to..."

"This group is in the Caribbean," Mike interrupted. "I'm going to take a jet to Haiti and meet the Ramage. Commander Green's arranging it. She, um, asked if you would need help with Nora while I'm gone."

Maddie poured two mugs of coffee, realizing that this was one of those inform the wife what you're doing conversations. She was touched that he took the time. She passed him a mug, flashing him a flirty smile. "We'll be fine, Mike. Just don't be gone too long. Nora misses her Daddy."

But instead of responding to her flirtation, Mike became even paler, setting his mug down unsteadily. Maddie frowned. "Mike, are you..."

"Christine and the girls are there."

Mike practically shouted the words, his entire body so tense that it took a moment for Maddie to process what he had said. Christine and the girls are alive. And then, as they finally penetrated, Maddie felt suddenly like she was underwater, unable to figure out what was up and what was down.

"I'm sorry," Maddie said, pleasantly surprised to find that her voice sounded fairly normal. "Did you just say that your wife is at this Mayflower site?"

"Ex-wife," Mike replied. He took a step forward, hesitating and then lifting his hands to Maddie's arms. "I got a divorce, remember?"

Yeah, because he was sure she was dead.

"Your daughters are there too?" Maddie asked, abruptly changing the topic as the rest of what Mike had said sunk in.

Mike swallowed, his voice dropping to almost a whisper. "They're alive, Maddie. I never let myself believe that it was possible. Christine said the entire safe zone at Deer Park was evacuated. She claims that she left me a voicemail but phones were down by the time we got back, so I never got it. That's why there were no bodies and it was like they all just left. Because that's what happened. They had thirty minutes to pack and leave and, in the chaos, the photo albums got left behind."

Maddie felt tears dampen her eyes as she listened to Mike, and heard the reverence in his voice, the combination of shock and hope and fear that this was all some sort of terrible mistake. She reached up to cover his hand, knowing that a hug would be far, far too much at the moment. She had gotten a first-row seat to Mike's devastation over the loss of his family, and the realization that he was going to get that second chance was amazing. "It's a miracle, Mike. Truly. I'm so happy for you."

His smile dimmed as he looked at her. "Maddie," Mike leaned closer. "Christine being alive changes nothing between us. I told you, I picked you. That's why I got the divorce."

"Because I was pregnant." The words fell between them like a wall.

Mike scowled. "That just moved up the timeline. Okay?"

"Okay," Maddie replied softly. Because one thing she did understand was that this wasn't the right time to have this conversation.

Mike checked his watch. "I have to go but I'll call you. I love you."

"I love you too," Maddie said, watching as Mike walked away. Waiting until he turned the corner to find her chair and sink into it. Wondering whether she would ever hear those words out of his mouth again. Because Mike could lie to himself as much as he wanted, but Maddie wasn't delusional.

This changed everything.

Maddie's phone beeped and she slid it out of her pocket, half expecting some sort of disaster but instead it was Kara. She had sent a group message to Maddie, Sasha, and Alisha.

Drinks tonight. My place. No excuses.

Despite her inner turmoil, Maddie smiled. No matter what happened between her and Mike, Maddie would never, ever regret the last two years, and those ladies were definitely one of the reasons why.