“How bad?”

“They’ve got us redlining three starships on a mad rush home, Abe.” Captain Helena Dread sat across the table from her ex-husband, Lieutenant Commander Abraham Greyson. Commodore Geronimo Fontana ordered the Justice, Perseverance, and Relentless back to Montana Station to stem the tide of The Network. They would be there in just under twelve hours. She tossed a PADD over to him. “Wren’s doing her level best with Denver and Olympic, but it’s been getting hairy. The new CO on the Denver’s been impressing damn near everyone.”

Greyson nodded, quietly reading the after-action reports. “I’ve heard his name. Nothing pressing, but a reputation for being a cool operator and a hard worker. Sometimes too hard.” She could see his eyes reading further and then going back to read it all again.

“You ever think of getting out of the game?” She asked it bluntly and sat back to accept his accusing stare.

The stare was there, accompanied by a rare smirk. He replied, “You’re not the only one asking. Operating in the gray isn’t as much fun the older you get. Covering it with medical symbols can feel a little dirty. It just means I have to save everyone, including the not so good guys.” He sat back, sipping his coffee. “I think it’s hard. I’m good at it. Sometimes great. Made a lot of saves over the years. People are alive today because of what we managed.” Dread saw a grim look dance across his face and fade into his eyes, where it remained. His voice was quieter, yet still strong in the way she remembered. “Nobody gets a perfect record, if that’s what you’re asking.”

She pushed her finished plate away, catching his eye as he spoke. There had always been a connection with him, she had realized. Since he’d returned to her, the moments in the hallway, or in the meetings, or just in the senior lounge seemed to be something more. Something waiting in the wings. She wasn’t afraid of it. Dread had wondered what the feeling was and until this morning wasn’t sure. Now she was. It was surprise. She chuckled darkly. “Abe, I’ve been a doctor long enough to understand that reference.” She added an empathetic smile. “It doesn’t make it any easier with the work you do. I’m sorry.”

“I learned. I adapted. I coped. Still hurts like hell when it goes wrong.” He sighed, and she could see some of the stress in his shoulders fade. “I’ve been doing some thinking about my future in the business.” His eyes glanced up to meet hers, and she felt the contact stay a little too long. He chewed on his bottom lip, and she sat up.

“I know that look.”

“Yea. Not just my future in the intel business. All of my business.” He accepted the refill from the wandering chef. “I’m not saying tomorrow. But I’ve been thinking of taking control of how my story ends.”

Dread narrowed her eyes, wondering where this was all coming from. “Nobody chooses when, Abe. You know that as well as anyone.”

He shrugged. “We all have some element of control over our destiny. I know that as well as anyone.” Greyson tipped his mug to her. “You can’t tell me you’ll do this forever, Helena.”

She frowned at him, but played it off with a nervous chuckle. She could never lie to him, even if she tried. “I don’t know, Abe. I don’t. I said I’d never sit in a damned command chair. And here I am, having sat in several of them. I had a lot of ideas about where I’d end up and what I’d end up doing…not much of that’s ever come true.” She felt a quiet warmth in her shoulders. “I’m not sure I’d want to change that now.”

She knew he was watching her eyes as she talked. That was his way. He could read her unlike anyone she knew. It had scared her a couple of times. He was just that good at it. He swirled the dregs of his coffee. “You like this squadron.”

She replied, “That wasn’t a question.”

“Intentionally so.”

Dread held her tongue for a moment, wondering if it was true without really needing to think about it. That, she realized, was the second surprise. This place felt right to her. “I don’t like it when you’re right,” was her retort. She rolled her eyes at his second shrug. “You’re asking a lot of questions about me as someone who was my ex. Twice.”

Greyson didn’t shrug this time. He set the cup down and leaned forward. “Old feelings and all, Helena.”

She didn’t scoff and leaned forward to meet the wily look in his eyes. “I won’t deny feeling something.” Dread shook her head. “There are rules if we start this thing up again.”

His sly smile widened. “I do like me some rules.”

She scoffed at that.