Title: Promises Made
Chapter 5 – Aftermath of Armageddon (3.06- Part II)

NOTE: As 'always' "words in italics and double quotes taken directly from the eppy." Just italics are thoughts and single is a past convo.

Would they actually get that moment?

They would but it wouldn't be easy and it came at great cost to them all.

XXXXXXXX

Chandler stands inside the belly of the Nathan James, the cool night air dotted with salty moisture that starts to assault his skin and bring his temperature down a few levels. He looks at the crew…exhausted, recovering…hopeful…remorse-filled…proud and feels his mind and heart race with a mixture of emotion.

He looks at Green…Wolf, Miller, Diaz, Rios, Garnett and then slowly heads for Sasha. After the heated battle he wanted to show her a bit more personal attention but that would have to wait for a more private moment. An affectionate rest of his hand on her upper back, a small nod and a warm eye lock would have to suffice in that crowded area; but it was something both of them gave their all in those few heated seconds.

But anything further would have to wait as he lifts his eyes and spies Slattery on the deck of the Nathan James sitting in the same place he was when he was first given the command of the ship they were now situated on; assuming the same serious pose and doing it all alone.

Chandler looks at Slattery's defeated position and feels his heart sink. Tired, battered and probably wanting to just collapse but sitting there in silence with the only thought of self-condemnation to keep him company; slightly shivering but showing no signs of wanting to seek personal comfort.

"This is all my fault…" Slattery states in a tormented breath, looking up as Chandler nears. "Never shoulda went into that nightclub."

But despite not having all the firm answers, Chandler is quick to put his friend's tormented thoughts at ease, or at least try to. "They were coming for us Mike…no matter what we did," Chandler tells him in no uncertain terms.

"Who?...who the hell's behind all this?" Slattery asks with a hint of desperation in his tone.

Chandler's eyes for a few seconds glance over at the three black body bags before his anger starts to build momentum once more. "That's what we're gonna find out," he promises with a small hiss to his words.

Despite his fatigue and the cold nipping at his skin, Slattery feels revenge starting to build in his mind as soon as Chandler's words leave his lips. But as much as he wants…desperately wants to get up and walk beside Chandler to survey the damage among the survivors his body refuses and he remains in place.

"Mike…" Slattery croaks as he pulls the jacket a bit closer around his weary frame. Chandler picks up on it and knows that right now, more than all else, his friend needs rest.

"Get some rest…the ship's yours…" Chandler tells Slattery in a warm tone. "You've earned it."

"Think the crew will think less if I…ask for help to get outta here?" Slattery quips as he tries to stand up.

"Hold on a sec Mike…" Chandler states in haste as his hand rests on his friend's shoulder and gently pushes him back down; Slattery's legs more than grateful for the gesture. "Wait until you can walk out on your own." As much as Chandler knows that no one around, no one, would ever think less or fault Slattery for leaning on his friend after such a harrowing ordeal. But much like in the jungle, when despite, obvious physical fatigue and Chandler let him finish the mission, he knows right now his friend needs a few more minutes and then walk out on his own.

Slattery shakes his head and offers Chandler a small smirk. "None of this makes sense. What Takehaya said…the mish mash of his crew…the ineffectiveness of the cure," he huffs as he looks at the crew and then up at Chandler. "What's going on?"

"Get a few hours rest and then we'll question Takehaya," Chandler reassures his friend.

"Okay," Slattery agrees as he watches Chandler give him a firm nod and then pull away and head back into the Nathan James. The ship is mine…Slattery's mind recalls the first time Chandler had told him those very words. And he quickly recalls the promise that followed. But as he finally has time to reflect on the gravity of what Chandler sacrificed to fulfill that promise, another small pang of guilt starts to consume him and he feels his body starting to shudder.

"Time to get some rest captain."

He hears the soft but weary command and looks up as Garnett approaches.

"Time for us all to get some rest," he adds as she nods in agreement. "You did well out there," he states with a weary huff. "Couldn't have asked for better support. Just wish that…"

"Don't beat yourself up about the nightclub," Garnett groans as she leans against the side of the helo. "I urged you to stay longer. Was too caught up in the moment."

"So…we're both to blame?" Slattery gently smirks.

"I won't tell if you won't," Garnett tosses back with a small smirk of her own.

But as soon as Slattery looks back over the wounded and recovering crew his expression droops. "How many of them…of their surviving families will blame me for going into the damn club in the first place?" He asks with a small hiss to his tone as he slowly stands up beside his weary XO.

"None of them," she replies confidently. "But…" she starts and then pauses as Slattery looks at her in wonder. "It might take a few days before we believe that."

His expression softens and he knows she's right…coupled with what chandler had said earlier, but that still didn't make him feel less guilty.

"Get some rest," Garnett adds with a sleepy drawl as she finally feels her body wanting to shut down, gives him a friendly pat on the back and then slowly trudges back into the warm belly of the Nathan James and disappears from view.

Time for you to get some rest also, Slattery's brain commands as he heads for the stairwell that will take him to his private quarters. Once inside, he heads straight for the showers, wanting to wash as much of the past few days' carnage away as possible. The dirt and dried blood wash away easily but as soon as he feels a stomach cramp, he's instantly reminded of his hellish ordeal and his fists tighten into anxious rage-filled balls.

It's not until he hears himself telling Takehaya to surrender and why…"do it for your family…your unborn child…" that his anxiety starts to relax. Putting on fresh blue fatigues felt better than he expected as did lying down on his own bed. He inwardly chuckles as he recalls complaining to Chandler about the little cramped bed for a man his size but after his ordeal in the jungle and the hellish sleeping situation he endured – on the floor, this seemed like a King sized bed fit for royalty!

Slattery's head hits the pillow and he closes his eyes hoping for at least a few hours of uninterrupted rest; telling himself that it shouldn't be an issue as he was past the point of normal fatigue. However, anything normal, even a few hours, wasn't to be, because as soon as his eyes closed, he's whisked back into the nightclub as the sounds of gunfire resound clearly in his weary brain.

"Ahhh," Slattery growls as his eyes snap open and he looks around for something…anything that will help drown out the horrible sounds. He pushes play on a small radio and despite the staticky sounds being produced, he tells himself to focus on whatever melody can be heard and try to relax. That doesn't work either. So with a heavy groan he pushes himself upright, opens a small drawer and retrieves a CD, something that would offer sounds without the unwanted static.

It works for a bit and his brain is able to offer up a happy memory of his family. But a few seconds later, Slattery is pulled from his nightmare as he watches his son strapped to the bed in his place and then hears Takehaya's sinister laugh as his son's heart stops beating.

Slattery offers another angry curse and tells himself he'll sleep later…if possible. With that he pushes himself into the quiet hallway and then heads for the kitchen to get a mug of strong coffee. After that he takes the dark stimulant and heads for another area, housing another tormented father.

"Mike…"

He looks up to see Chandler approaching with a look of concern. "Can't sleep," Slattery quickly qualifies with a huff of resignation.

"Understandable," Chandler comments as he watches Slattery's jaw grit. "What?"

"Was just down at the kitchen. Garnett, Diaz, Miller and Master Chief were all served…well basically the same plate of…food that Takehaya had served us during our captivity. The only food we were given."

"Ouch," Chandler gently hisses in an undertone. "It wasn't intentional."

"Course not but…they all sat there in silence and I just…I couldn't join them. I don't care if I don't have another meal I just need to distance myself from those damn memories…nightmares. We've all come back with too many nightmares thanks to that God-forsaken place!" Slattery growls as he takes another sip of his coffee.

"And yet…you helped talk him down from being killed," Chandler notes as Slattery's tormented blue gaze looks up and then away to the door that was keeping their prisoner at bay.

"Too many families have suffered because of that damn virus and now…" his voice trails off as he shakes his head. "Maybe his sob story is actually working," he concludes with a nervous smirk as Chandler offers his friend a tired smile. "So…I briefly met Sasha," Slattery states softly as he takes another sip and keeps his gaze on the small window with Takehaya on the other side. "Is that the same Sasha you mentioned…briefly…"

"Very briefly," Chandler interjects as Slattery looks at him and both of them look at each other and trade tense smiles. "She was my Intel when I got to Hong Kong and…"

"Surprise," Slattery whispers as he takes another sip.

"That it was," Chandler agrees as Slattery finally looks at his friend in amusement. "It was a surprise at first but now it's all professional."

"You only ever mentioned you had a history with her and that was in passing," Slattery comments as Chandler's brows slightly knit.

"Mike…"

"I'm more interested in Takehaya," Slattery interjects firmly as Chandler offers his friend a bemused smile and then follows his gaze and lets it rest on the man of their future interrogation. "So did you two ever…"

"Takehaya?"

"Right," Slattery clears his throat as both of them share a small chuckle before expressions turn serious again. "He's gonna start to deplete pretty fast without a fresh hit," Slattery states somewhat sourly.

"We'll find out what he needs but…but I gotta say. When we stormed into that room and saw the blood, the bags, the restraints…" Chandler's voice dies out as Slattery's face instantly winces.

"Never been scared of too much in my lifetime but damn…when I was dragged into that room and then strapped down…I didn't know what to think. At first…" he pauses to take another sip of his coffee. "I thought he had meddled with the virus and was using us as test subjects."

"Scary thought but not that farfetched," Chandler states, not knowing in that moment just how fateful his words would turn out to be.

"Then when I found out what he wanted it for…I was more confused than anything. These claims…can they be true?" Slattery asks with a hint of frustration in his tone.

"I don't know but from what I've learned about Peng so far I wouldn't put anything past him."

"Yeah."

Chandler hears the strain in Slattery's voice and looks at his friend in concern. "This ship needs you Mike, but you need to be able to give it your all."

"I close my eyes…" Slattery starts as he finally pulls away from Chandler, turning his back to his former tormentor and letting his shoulders slightly slump. "I see…Mason bleeding out and then being taken away to die. Miller strung up and then getting his ankle stomped on…Garnett…Rios…all of them mistreated…Jeter…Takehaya said the deaths were my fault…he was right."

"No…it was a threat, a tactic he used to put more guilt on your shoulders. He's a captain also…he knows that the buck stops with the top and that you'd put the most blame on yourself," Chandler insists as Slattery's lips slightly purse. "Didn't I order you once to get some rest?" He lightly quips.

"Tried listening to one of those damn relaxation CDs…the one Alisha swears by," he huffs. "Think it just frustrated me more. But…if you have a better suggestion, I'm game. Just don't tell her that."

"I might have…" Chandler chuckles as he gestures for Slattery to follow.

Slattery's gaze drifts once more to Takehaya and then to Chandler's back.

"I so wanted to hate him…even right now part of me wants to look for a reason to just toss his ass off the ship," Slattery mutters as they move deeper into the belly of the Nathan James. Chandler hears the distress in his friend's tone but remains silent, knowing that sometimes Mike would just need to vent, not expecting anything more than a listening ear. "But when I see the devotion to his wife…what he'd do for her…despite his barbaric methods…I just can't. And mostly for his unborn son."

"He was acting on what he thought was right," Chandler softly qualifies. "I'll never condone it…"

"But I get it," Slattery quietly qualifies as they near the mess hall. "Uh Tom…what the hell? I'm too tired for any damn exercise."

"Trust me," Chandler quips as he leads Slattery to a small room right off the kitchen area. "No steak smell."

"Thank God," Slattery whispers in relief as his brow slightly furrows. He watches Chandler open a small door and that leads into a tiny, private room with only a screened window on the wall and a small bed a few meters away. "You're kidding right?"

"Do I look like I'm kidding?" Chandler tosses back. "Trust me. Now lock the door, lay your ass down and don't come onto the bridge until you've had at least a few hours solid rest."

"Yes sir," Slattery replies in haste and then chuckles. At first he inwardly balks, telling himself that this was probably another failed idea but he knows if he doesn't give it a fair try he'll never hear the end of it. So, he locks the door, flips off the small light and then slowly trudges over to the little bed.

"It's knee length," Slattery mutters in disbelief as he slowly eases his aching frame down onto the bed and the rolls onto his uninjured side. It's not quite as short as he thought but not enough for him to fully stretch out without his feet dangling over; so he remains curled. At first his mind is anxious, as expected, and he inwardly mocked his chances of getting even a few hours of muchly needed rest.

But then…the familiar smells that slightly waft in from the kitchen area down the hallway…the smell of sizzling bacon and freshly brewed coffee. A soft smile forms upon his lips. He hears familiar…but friendly voices entering the mess area and an upbeat tempo starts to complete with the human voices for airtime.

Fatigue pulls at his frame…his eyes and finally his mind pictures himself engaged in some friendly wrestling with the crew when he first started on the Nathan James or watching and cheering on a few others and soon his body is relaxed…his mind drifts further into darkness and if he wasn't too busy sleeping, he'd have offered Chandler a friendly but 'damn you were right' curse.

This time…he'd settle for a few hours that would allow his body to regain some strength and let him awaken anew.

Thank you Tom…

XXXXXXXX

Chandler's mind races with anxious thoughts about their attack on the Island by the Chinese and can only hope that Slattery was able to get some rest as he knows his friend won't be able to, especially after all he's been through, to get some solid rest so his body could start to heal and regain strength so he can command properly.

He knew it wouldn't be long but he had hoped it would be longer than a couple of hours. However, when he heard Slattery's presence announced on the bridge of the Nathan James he couldn't scold his friend and the captain of the NJ. He would be the exact same. Something Slattery would remind him of in short order.

"Captain on the bridge!"

Chandler looks up to see Slattery slowly step through the final archway and onto the bridge deck of the Nathan James with a weary but determined expression and nears him with a small head shake; dressed in a fresh set of navy blues.

"My take it easy speeches never worked on you…now I get it," Slattery gently smirks; reminding Chandler that he had said that to him when they first started working side by side on the bridge of the Nathan James not so many years ago and Chandler hadn't listened as much as he had wanted.

"Think this post calls for a stubborn SOB," Chandler retorts in sarcasm in an undertone as Slattery offers him a slight smile.

"Hate to say that worked."

"Hate to say I told you so," Chandler tosses right back as Slattery snickers and nods his head.

"But it did work and I feel…a bit more rested. I know it'll take a bit more time but it feels good to be back here," Slattery admits in a soft tone as he looks around the bridge of the Nathan James and then back at Chandler.

"Time to take it back – officially," Chandler smiles broadly as he takes a step back. "Attention in the pilot House, this is Captain Chandler. Captain Slattery has the ship," Chandler announces as he turns back to Slattery; Slattery offering Chandler an instant salute to which Chandler salutes in return.

"I'll let you know when Takehaya is ready to talk," Chandler tells Slattery as he prepares to go and see their prisoner. "One part of the battle is over…the next part of the war is about to start."

Slattery watches him leave and then turns to look at his crew who looks at him, silently waiting for orders. "Bring it on," he states with determination. One promise had been fulfilled, many others were waiting to be offered.

THE END!

A/N: I have loved writing this series and it really expanded from a planned one shot and that is thanks to all your reviews! The rest of this epic season has had so many great Chandlery broments that I hope to capture a few more in other stories. So please do review before you and let me know if you liked this ending and if you'd support more (more reviews = more stories) and thanks so much!