AN: So this started as a 700ish word drabble on Grace's thoughts post 'Nuke It Out', I started typing more and it got a slightly AU life of its own.

Grace is overcome with shame as soon as they separate, not that she didn't enjoy it because she did far too much, but she definitely doesn't want to dwell on that so she hurriedly slips back into her clothes and leaves James bewildered on the beach.

After all she initiated it and now she's running away, well walking quickly because she still has some dignity. Clearly she had a brief moment of madness, she would love to blame it on the BZ but she's sure it's worked its way out of her system by now. She was on a major adrenaline high after the bomb scare and it was obviously enough to make her briefly forget her dislike of the SEAL.

Her feet decide to circle the island while she's lost in thought, probably a good thing because there's no way she's going anywhere near her people until her head is clear and the flush is gone from her cheeks.

She's starting to question whether the tension between her and King really is a mutual dislike after all, there have been many people she has come across in her line of work that she hasn't liked and some she has even downright despised but she would never have slept with them.

What possessed her? Ok she was surprised at how well they worked together to handle the bomb that did soften her attitude slightly and even before then, she left him to die which most people she's sure would never let her forget but he just made a joke and in doing so showed he forgave her.

She looks up from the floor when the terrain changes and realises she walked back into the town and not just any part but to one of the reasons she feels so shameful. The bar of James' island girlfriend.

Grace is not sure what the deal is between the two, sometimes when she's in the bar unnoticed she has witnessed tender moments between them which probably means there's more to it than them just sleeping together.

Luckily the town is asleep so she hurries away before anyone sees her lurking, that wouldn't look good and she doesn't need to give Tani more reason to be suspicious of her.
She's seen the wary glances the woman has thrown her way whenever she's gone into the bar, Grace thought it was because she wanted to protect him from the Navy but now she wonders if maybe Tani knew something they didn't.

Hopefully the cool night air has got rid of the tell tale signs of her body by now so she heads back to the makeshift barracks to get some sleep. She would much rather be back on the Sub, at least there she knows there is no chance of seeing him until she's ready but it's far too late to make that trip now especially without raising any questions, so she's just going to bunk down with the rest of the crew.

She can imagine the looks on her Captain and XO's faces if they ever found out, Marcus' severe features lined with disappointment only noticeable to those that know him while Sam's open boyish face would be crushed by betrayal. This was the first thought in her head when she regained her senses on the beach, the reason she so hurriedly dressed.
She idolises them both even though she's angry that they don't trust her as much as she trusts them, she understands and is still loyal to them and their cause.

Her mind won't clear as she tries to settle down in her bunk so she decides to allow herself this one night to think on the memories.
James' aggravating but perfect little smirk, the feel of his hands in her hair and the way he made her feel more in one night then all her other relationships combined.

Grace goes to sleep with a smile on her face, for a fleeting moment letting herself feel like any of the other girls under her command, knowing that in the morning while she rises with the rest of them she will still be out of place.

The next morning Grace wakes up with limbs filled with a satisfying lethargy and a peaceful mind, she refuses to dwell on the fact that it's because one of her recurring dreams filled only by subconscious want has been fleshed out with memories.

She gets up with a resolve to no longer think about it, puts on her Lieutenants uniform and the persona to match and strides out towards the sub nodding at passing soldiers as she goes.
She's got a story to make up and a Captain to convince, there is no way he isn't going to question why she's working when she's off shift.

Marcus lets it slide for three days before he calls her into his office.

"You wanted to see me Captain?" She asks sitting in the chair he gestures to.

"Why are you on my Sub Grace?"

"Sir?" She queries feigning confusion.

"Don't play dumb with me Grace, it's not your shift I want to know why you're here"

"I like working Sir, I was restless on the island"

"Listen Grace, I know an experience like the one you had can be daunting" he begins voice soft in the paternal way he sometimes uses "but you can't let it deter you from being on the island"

She doesn't respond as she has lost track of this conversation, she's pretty sure though that he is not referring to her and King so at least that's something.

Marcus takes her silence as an unwillingness to answer and so continues on.

"If you let them affect you then that's letting them win and I know you don't want to do that. I understand that you need some time to process it but I won't let you hide in here. You did good Grace, you kept your cool and helped disarm the bomb without causing a panic. You did us proud"

At that she can't contain a smile, after being on what felt like uneven ground with him it's good to hear and now she knows what he's actually talking about.

Though she's not sure him thinking she has psychological trauma is better than the real reason she's hiding out but she's willing to run with it.

"Thank you Sir and I won't let the incident stop me from participating in island life" That is at least partially true, she is willing to go back to the island just not any places he might be.

"That's good to hear, now get back to your post and when everyone switches over you're to go back to the island until your next rotation"

She stands gives a nod and goes back to her station, she's grateful for once that they are marooned this way she won't be made to see a mandated shrink.

She is glad to have been called out, by now she's pretty tired of her own behaviour.
Hiding from someone is not who she is, she's confrontational by nature and she wouldn't have gotten this far without it, so she's going to go back to the island and carry on as normal, she will not hide from King but she isn't going to actively seek him out either.
Far all she knows he probably wants to avoid her just as much, after all she isn't the one who will be filled with guilt when they see each other.