New Fic - The Perils Of Friendship
Title: The Perils Of Friendship
Category: Friendship
Pairings: None
Summary: After a second she stuck her head back out and motioned him to follow her. Wincing Tim realised this was what the Captain had meant; it had to be a punishment this time. - Sequel to A Polite Nightmare
Author’s Notes: - Thanks to Stonedtoad for betaing this.
I’m really enjoying writing these and have at least another two in my head at the moment.
Enjoy.
*********************************************
The sun shone in the deep blue sky as the beach bar was filled with people enjoying the summer. Sitting at a table near the bar Lucas sipped his ice cold cola, since Bridger would kill not only him but the others if they’d bought him anything even remotely alcoholic. Tony was nearby chatting to a couple of women who’d given him a ‘how cute’ look while Tim was reading a book across from him enjoying the peace. After their last mission they were doing some much needed maintenance, and as there was a beach two minutes from where they were docked it meant downtime was being spent in the sun.
“I take it that didn’t go the way you planned,” Lucas chuckled as Tony dropped into the seat beside him rubbing his cheek.
“It was a boring conversation,” Tony grinned, he picked up his drink and spun to look at the rest of the beach, “And I may have found a more interesting one. Look at her.”
Lucas turned his eyes following Tony’s finger and grinned as he saw the woman his friend had his eye on. She had shoulder length wavy dark brown hair, pale freckled skin while the blue swimsuit and wrap showed her curvaceous figure. She was sitting sipping a cold drink with her legs stretched out on the chair across from her as she stared out across the ocean.
“You have no chance with her,” Lucas chuckled turning back.
Tony frowned at his young friend, “Really?”
“I bet you fifty bucks that she’d kiss Tim before you,” Lucas grinned as Tim looked up on hearing his name.
“What am I being pulled into?” he demanded.
Tony chuckled motioning to the woman, “Lucas thinks you’ve got a better shot than I do with her.”
Tim glanced over Tony’s shoulder to see who they were talking about, he caught the younger man’s amused smirk and shrugged, “I don’t know. Lucas could be right.”
“You two are on,” Tony grinned before standing up and heading over.
“This is kinda cruel,” Tim murmured to Lucas.
“But its fun,” Lucas replied with a grin.
They watched Tony as he swaggered over; with his back to them they weren’t able to see what he was saying but they could see the expression on the face of the woman he was hitting on as she tossed her hair and laughed before returning to staring out at the sea.
Tony walked back to the other two and took his seat ignoring the smug look he was getting from Lucas.
“Okay, O’Neill,” Tony said, “Your turn.”
-
Tim started towards the woman aware of Tony’s grin and knew the other man was sure Tim would get the same reaction he had. As he reached her she smiled up at him.
“So, what’s the stake?” she asked.
“Fifty.”
“And what is needed?”
Tim swallowed uncomfortably, “Uhm…kiss.”
She stood placing her hands on his shoulders she pushed herself up and touched her lips to his in a soft kiss before wrapping her arms around his neck and deepening it, he heard the astonished cry from Tony as they parted but ignored it as her two brown eyes crinkled happily.
“Hi, Tim.”
“Hi, Kate,” he replied, smiling as she wrapped her arms around him in a tight hug, “It’s good to see you again.”
“You too,” Kate said, turning as Lucas walked over Tony trailing along behind confused, “Lucas, you look good.”
Lucas gave her before turning to Tony, “Tony, meet Kate King.”
“So, you were in on…”
“As I said you’re not my type,” Kate cut him off before turning back to Tim, “I’m actually here to talk to Bridger but I thought it might be better if I arrived with an escort instead of just appearing again.”
Chuckling Tim nodded smiling when she wrapped her arm around his waist as they headed to the Seaquest while Lucas laughed at Tony who followed on with a bemused look.
-
Nathan sat at his desk looking over the orders he’d just received. Glancing up at the view screen he gave the man watching him a suspicious frown, “What aren’t you telling me?”
Noyce held his hands up, “That is all the information I have, Nathan. I’ve got some other sources working on this and I’ll send you anything else as soon as I get it.”
Nathan nodded, “Okay. So I’m assuming this will mean all my Officers have to attend this gathering?”
His friend chuckled, “If you have to suffer so do they.”
“We should be ready to leave tomorrow afternoon,” Nathan said, “The repairs will be complete by then and we’ll have had time to test everything.”
“That will give you plenty of time to get to Darrow,” Noyce nodded, “Have fun, Nathan.”
Rolling his eyes Nathan tapped the control and turned off the screen. He scanned over the information again looking up when someone knocked on his door.
“Come,” he called, confused as Tim O’Neill appeared looking slightly nervous, “What’s wrong, Lt? You can’t have broken something and you’re not due back on for another three hours.”
The young man gave a slightly nervous shrug, “There’s someone here to see you.”
When he stepped to one side Nathan understood why he was uncomfortable as he saw the woman hidden behind his officer giving him a bright smile.
“Hi, Nathan.”
-
“I thought we decided you weren’t coming back to the Seaquest,” Nathan demanded as Kate sat across from him.
The young woman shrugged, “I don’t remember saying that. Besides Noyce thought I might be able to help on your next mission.”
“Kate,” Nathan frowned at her, “Considering the last time you were here I think I can live without your help.”
She laughed softly, “Come on Nathan. I’m not here to cause trouble.”
“Really?” Nathan asked with a raised eyebrow.
Kate gave a soft smile titling her head slightly, “Not intentionally anyway.”
Nathan grimaced frowning even more as she handed him an envelope. He quickly scanned it and sighed, “I’m going to kill Noyce when I see him.”
“Nathan,” Kate said her voice soft, “I spent several years working on the Darrow Colony. I can help.”
“And you think I would trust you after what happened the last time you were here?” he demanded sharply.
Kate rolled her eyes, “You should trust me because of what happened last time.”
He stared at her in bemusement, “Do you want to run that past me again?”
“In all the time you’ve known me,” Kate said, “Any time I’ve…”
“Betrayed my trust?” Nathan suggested when she hesitated.
“Exactly, the next time we’ve met I have been nothing but honest with you,” she reminded him.
Their eyes met for a moment before Nathan sighed with resignation, “Fine. I’m assigning Lieutenant O’Neill and…”
“Tim will be fine on his own,” she cut him off.
Nathan chuckled, “Assuming he agrees.”
“Tim adores me,” Kate smirked confidently.
Nathan tilted his head questioningly, “Even after the last time you were here?”
Kate blanched as she remembered trying to stop the sweet guy from bleeding out the bullet wound she’d caused.
“Hey,” Nathan touched her shoulder, “He never blamed you for that. I have but he hasn’t.”
*********************************************
“So, who is she?”
Tim looked up from his book to find Brody, Henderson and Piccolo looking at him waiting for him to answer with Miguel, Lucas and Ford sitting watching looking forward to hearing his answer as well.
“Kate is a friend of the Captain,” Tim replied.
At Miguel’s amused snort Tim frowned at his friend.
“No way,” Tony cried, “That kiss was not from a ‘friend of the Captain’.”
“Kiss?” Henderson asked with a raised eyebrow.
“I was winning a bet,” Tim replied, in all honesty he’d known she would kiss him like that. She did it mostly to make him squirm, “Kate knew that. She wants half the money.”
Ford clapped Tim’s shoulder and rescued him, “Kate and the Captain have known each other for years. When she was last here Tim was assigned to escort her around the ship.”
“That worked out well for him,” Lucas muttered to Miguel.
Tim frowned, his hand automatically moving to the scar on his chest and he saw Lucas wince, “We kept in touch.”
With that said he walked out.
“Tim,” Miguel caught his arm before he could get up the stairs, “You okay?”
“I’m fine,” Tim assured, “Captain Bridger hasn’t said we can discuss Kate, she might be here for a reason where the others can’t know her…past.”
Miguel understood that, Tim was very protective of Kate despite what happened the first time they met.
“As long as she doesn’t decide to kidnap you again,” Miguel chuckled clapping his friend’s shoulder, “I think there shouldn’t be a problem.”
-
Tim took a deep breath as he stood outside the Captain’s office. He liked Kate, she made life very interesting any time he’d seen her but the last time she’d been onboard the Seaquest he’d ended up with a scar on his chest.
“Lt,” Bridger greeted, “Come in.”
Kate smiled at him from her seat but said nothing as Tim slid into the chair waiting for him.
“Miss King will be joining the crew for our next mission,” Bridger told him, “If you agree, and trust me Tim I wouldn’t blame you for saying no, then I’d like you to be her point of contact while she’s here.”
When he looked over at her Kate gave him an innocent smile and sighed, “No problem, sir.”
“Good,” Bridger nodded, “Officially she’s being noted as an observer for the UEO.”
“What about unofficially?” Tim asked.
Kate shrugged, “Not too sure yet.”
“The others who weren’t here the last time Kate was on board have been asking about her,” Tim said, “We’ve not told them anything other than she’s a friend of yours, Captain.”
Bridger nodded, “That’s good. I’d rather not have Brody watching her constantly while Piccolo asks for tips.”
Tim chuckled slightly at that thought as Kate tried to look offended.
“Can you escort her to the guest quarters,” Bridger asked before turning to their newest member of the crew, “And Kate, I’m trusting you so please no snooping around the ship for classified information, no corrupting any more of my crew and no kidnapping any of them either.”
Giving him a smile Kate nodded, “You know you take all the fun out of life.”
-
Tim carried the bag Kate had brought with her to the room she’d been assigned. They walked in silence through the corridors as she examined the ship smiling as Darwin swam past them.
“Do I get to meet him this time?” Kate asked as she watched the dolphin with a smile.
Tim winced, “I don’t know if the Captain will want you corrupting his dolphin.”
“I corrupted you,” she smirked.
“You wish,” Tim retorted.
Kate grinned, “I miss you, you know that?”
“That’s good to know,” he said as he started them walking again.
“Hold on,” she cried with mock indignation, “Are you telling me you don’t miss me?”
Tim shrugged, “Exactly.”
As he started forward leaving her standing Tim smiled to himself, he loved getting the better of her.
In all honesty after she’d left Seaquest and after everything that had happened he was happy to see her go but there was this little part of him that knew he would miss her slightly. He’d never expected to see Kate ever again - how wrong he was.
-
The hotel they’d chosen for their leave was really nice Tim decided as he looked at the view from his balcony. It was now three weeks since the Seaquest had been destroyed, since Bridger had asked them to help redesign then build the new vessel and they’d all been sent on leave. Since for various reasons neither of them were able to visit family Tim and Miguel had decided to keep each other company for the two weeks.
“What?” Tim demanded when he opened the door after the insistent knocking to find Miguel grinning at him.
“You have to see this,” Miguel said grabbing his friend’s arm.
Bemused Tim was dragged out of his room, barely managing to grab his key and close the door, before his friend pulled him through the hotel.
“I decided to explore,” Miguel explained as they got in the elevator, “And I went to see the gym.”
“Surprise, surprise,” Tim murmured.
“Anyway,” Miguel continued as if he hadn’t spoken, “You’re not going to believe what I found.”
Tim followed on wondering what exactly his friend had seen to get him so hyped up. So followed on when they reached the end of the elevator ride. Miguel stopped suddenly and motioned to his side. Reaching his friend Tim glanced over and frowned at his friend.
“An aerobics class?” Tim demanded, “Why have you dragged me here?”
Miguel rolled his eyes, “Look who’s taking the class.”
Shaking his head in bemusement Tim looked again at the class feeling his jaw drop at the woman at the front.
“Kate?”
-
Tim smiled slightly as Kate finished the class turned and saw him waiting for her. Her look of genuine surprise made him almost sure that she had no idea he was here but considering who this was he wasn’t completely convinced.
“This is the last place I expected to see you,” Tim noted as she appeared in front of him, “What exactly are you getting out of this?”
“Other than exercise?” she asked with a smirk, “It’s a paying job. I do them on occasion.”
Tim laughed, “I’ll try and remember that.”
“Give me ten minutes to get showered and changed,” she told him, “I’ll meet you in the bar.”
With a toss of her hair she headed for the changing rooms and Tim winced.
“Great.”
-
Kate sat across from Nathan waiting as he finished giving orders to his crew. She was relieved he’d allowed her back on the boat after the last time but she knew that reminding him of their past would be the one way to do it. She hadn’t lied though, every time she had betrayed his trust she’d made up for it the next time and intended to be completely straight on this mission. It also meant she got to spend some time with Tim who she looked on as her closest friend.
“Why you?” Nathan asked turning to her, “Why did Noyce send you to help me with this?”
“I lived on Darrow for about two years when I was sixteen,” Kate reminded him, “I know every inch of that place. It’s where I learned…my trade.”
“So you’re sure you can get to this secret room?” Nathan asked.
Kate rolled her eyes, “Nathan, I’ve never not got into somewhere. It’s usually the getting out that causes me problems.”
He chuckled softly. Tapping a few buttons he brought up the schematics of the colony they were headed to.
“The most likely area they’d use is back here,” Kate pointed out a seemingly blank area, “It was mostly storage.”
“So if this bunch are going to kidnap the UEO delegates at this conference this is the best place to keep them,” Nathan mused before looking back at her, “Your job is to find this place and lock it down so they can’t use it as any sort of holding cell. Nothing else.”
“Nathan, I have no idea how to do something like that,” Kate stared at him, “I can get someone in who can but working with those systems is not my forte.”
Nathan frowned as he mused over his best choice for this, “I’ll send…”
“Not Tim,” Kate said instantly.
“Really?” Nathan stared at her in astonishment.
“I’m not putting him in danger again,” she told him, “I won’t.”
Shaking his head Nathan sighed, “Kate, Lt O’Neill is a UEO officer. He is also the most qualified person next to Lucas to do this and Lucas is a civilian who I can’t justify sending.”
“What about one of your other officers?” Kate demanded, “Surely one of them has the knowledge to do this.”
“Not one of them has O’Neill’s skills or experience,” Nathan replied.
“He almost died when I dragged him with me last time,” Kate snapped, “He is actually my friend, Nathan. Do you have any idea how rare that is in my world?”
Nathan moved and took her hand, “Kate, I trust you to get in there. Trust in him.”
Letting out a long sigh she finally nodded, “If something happens then I want it on record that this wasn’t my idea.”
*********************************************
“I can’t believe we all have to go to this stupid reception,” Brody noted, leaning over to see the readings on the screen
Tim rolled his eyes, “Jim, you love these things. You get to boast about being the guy responsible for making Seaquest safe.”
“Maybe he’s just annoyed he doesn’t have a date,” Tony threw in, “Like you.”
Tim stopped what he was doing and looked at the other two, “What are you talking about?”
“We’re talking about the Captain’s friend,” Brody grinned at Tony.
“Kate?”
“Yeah, Kate,” Tony said in his best imitation as he could.
Tim shook his head, “You guys are crazy.”
“Well you have spent a lot of time with her since she came on board,” Henderson joined in.
Tim grimaced, “I’ve been assigned by the Captain to help her while she’s onboard. Besides she’s not my type.”
“Are you blind?” Tony cried, “How can she not be your type?”
As an alarm sounded Tim moved from his station looking relieved to get away from them.
“Guys,” Miguel moved over to the group once Tim had left, “Lay off him about Kate.”
“Why?” Tony demanded.
Miguel grimaced, glancing over to where his friend was thankfully out of hearing range, “You don’t know the full story and trust me you don’t want her to overhear.”
Lonnie chuckled, “Why? We’re only teasing him.”
“Kate is very protective of him,” Miguel continued, “And she is not someone to cross.” As they stared at him he frowned, “Also not someone to play poker against.”
-
Kate stepped onto the bridge of Seaquest glancing round till she found who she was looking for. Intently she walked across the bridge and up the stairs to her target.
“Hi Kate,” Lucas greeted her, “You just missed Tim.”
“I’m actually here to see you,” she replied, chuckling at his surprised look, “Nathan said you would be able to get me some information on some of the guests for the conference.”
Lucas nodded, “No problem.”
Kate smiled slightly before she glanced over at the small group talking next to what was Tim’s station; Miguel looked up and caught her eye before glancing away quickly.
“Can you send that to me as soon as you can?”
Lucas grinned at her, “Sure.”
“Thanks,” she replied before heading towards the people who had now separated moving towards the man who was trying to look like he was working hard, “Hello, Miguel. I haven’t had a chance to catch up with you yet.”
“Kate,” he grimaced slightly, obviously very aware she was suspicious.
“I take it there’s a little gossip going round,” she stated softly.
Miguel gave her a quick smile, “This is a small community. Gossip happens, it always will just ignore it.”
“Not worried about me,” she said.
“Tim can cope with a little gossip,” Miguel assured her, “You can’t keep trying to protect him. He’s a big boy.”
Kate hesitated for a moment before replying, “I’m not worried about him, I’m just wondering what I can do to make more.”
She turned and headed off the bridge again.
-
Miguel frowned, he’d spent enough time around the woman to know letting her loose on the ship was not a good idea
“Kate,” he called as he caught up with her.
“Yes?”
“Tony holds a poker game every few nights,” he told her, “Want to join tonight?”
“Sure.”
“Oh, and maybe we can teach them your rules,” Miguel noted with a smirk.
At this she smiled back, “Really? Nathan might not agree since it took you three days to get over your hangover the last time we played.”
“Won’t that be a shame,” he grinned throwing his arm around her shoulders and leading her towards the mess.
*********************************************
Nathan fixed the collar of his dress uniform going over in his head what he had to do during this reception. At the knock on his door he turned to find Lt O’Neill standing there also in his dress whites.
“You wanted to see me, Sir?” the younger man asked.
Yes,” Nathan motioned him to come in, “Keep an eye on Kate tonight. She’s here for a reason and I want you to help her.”
Tim frowned, “Sir, can I ask how much help she’s going to need?”
Nathan smiled slightly, “I can’t give you the details. We have reason to believe there will be psychics who might try to read our minds. Dr Smith will be actively helping to block my thoughts.”
“What about Kate?”
“Our own little con artist learned how to block casual scans,” Nathan told him. Seeing the astonished look on the younger man’s face Nathan laughed, “I’m betting she hasn’t told you that.”
“I think she may owe me some money though.”
Nathan turned to his desk and lifted the small box sitting there before turning back to his Communications Officer, “You should wear these cufflinks on your uniform.”
“Sir?”
“Trust me,” Nathan told him.
Nervously Tim allowed his Captain to help him change the cuff-links he was using, they were ready to go.
-
Tim kept checking the cuff-links he was wearing wondering why he’d been given them as he walked with the Captain towards the launch bay to join the rest of the command crew who were going to the reception all of them in their dress uniforms looking smart and professional. Ford and Piccolo were the only two not coming, Tim wasn’t sure if they’d won or lost the toss on this. And then Kate joined them.
Tim had seen this woman in many guises, his favourite would always be watching her in a blonde wig acting like she didn’t know how to count to ten, though he hadn’t been to happy when he realised she hadn’t actually bought him the lunch they’d just eaten, but he had never seen her look the way she did as she walked into the launch bay. She was wearing a figure hugging black dress with a silver wrap, the black strappy sandals that matched her outfit perfectly had extremely high heels that Tim was stunned she could walk in but they brought her a good bit closer to his height.
“Is something wrong, Lt?” she asked smugly at the way he was staring at her.
Tim smiled back, “You actually look respectable, Kate.”
Looking down at the elegant gown she was wearing Kate looked up at him through lashes, “I’ll take that as a compliment.”
“You should,” Bridger appeared and offered Kate his arm, “Time to go, people. Remember you’re representing the UEO and the Seaquest so be on your best behaviour.”
Kate turned back to look at Tim and winked at him before walking with Bridger into the small ship.
-
The colony was full of people making Kate more than a little nervous as she stepped off the launch with Nathan at her side. He’d warned her to keep her distance from Tim for the moment until later as he wanted to make sure no one picked up what she was planning to do. She stayed completely silent as Nathan led her into party with Dr Smith on his other side, smiling politely as those who greeted them.
“I’m going to circulate,” Kate murmured to him.
Nathan frowned at her, “Without O’Neill.”
“I’ll take Miguel,” she told him, “Don’t worry, I know what I’m doing.”
She moved before he could reply and joining the small group from the Seaquest she caught Miguel’s arm tugging him slightly to come with her, not missing Tim’s confused look.
“Can I ask?” Miguel said as he walked with her.
“I need to see the room,” she told him softly, “Just come with me.”
He shrugged and walked away from the team with her. They moved slowly to the bar both collecting a drink which Kate didn’t touch as she guided Miguel further into the crowded room.
“Why am I here?” he asked when they reached the upper levels of the room which had fewer people at the moment.
“Cause Nathan won’t let me drag Tim along just now,” she smiled.
Miguel frowned getting the feeling there was something he wasn’t being told, “What are you up to, Kate?”
“Nothing that Bridger doesn’t know about,” she replied softly glancing around the room, she suddenly let go of his arm and leaned heavily against the wall as her eyes widened, “Get Tim and tell Nathan I’m not feeling well.”
Worriedly Miguel reached out to check her getting an annoyed look so he jogged down to where his Captain and friends were standing making polite chit-chat with some UEO dignitaries.
“Sir,” Miguel said softly, “Kate isn’t feeling well. She’s asked for Lt O’Neill.”
Tim’s head shot up instantly and he glanced towards the Captain, Bridger nodded softly and Tim turned to his friend. Miguel quickly let him know where Kate was and watched as Tim moved as fast as he could through the crowded room.
-
Tim found Kate leaning heavily against a wall, her eyes were half closed and worry filled him for his friend. As he reached her side Kate moved and rested her forehead against his chest. A few moments later she looked up at him.
“Give me the cuff-links,” she ordered.
“What?”
Kate rolled her eyes, “Just do it and let me know if anyone comes close.”
Realising, once again, he’d been played Tim held out his arms so she could remove the cuff-links before pulling out what looked like a pen from her small bag and connecting them all together. Tim frowned as he was handed the bag while Kate started sliding the pen around the edge of the panels on the wall.
“What are you doing?”
“Shh,” was the only reply he received.
Bemused Tim stood watching the stairway, “Someone’s coming,” he whispered as he saw a security guard heading up the stairs.
Just before the man turned and looked their way Tim found Kate’s arms wrapped around him with her head on his shoulder seemingly sobbing inconsolably.
“She’s a little upset,” was all Tim could say to the man when given a suspicious look.
The man nodded and continued on.
“You can’t lie for toffee,” Kate said as she moved back from him, “It has to be the uniform.”
Before he could reply she returned to whatever she was doing, a soft click preceded the panel swinging back slightly and Kate looked up to him with a self-satisfied smirk. Taking her bag back from Tim she climbed through into the darkness behind the wall. After a second she stuck her head back out and motioned him to follow her. Wincing Tim realised this was what the Captain had meant; it had to be a punishment this time.
Part Two