Summary - One shot. Danny goes with the captain into Avocet instead of Burke. Danny saves Kara from Hamada instead of Tex and Rachel. Thorwald lives instead of being shot. A teary conversation between Danny and Kara afterwards.

A/N: This work is based off of a request (sort of) from one of the reviews. I know it's been a while since I've written anything for either of my Last Ship stories but I hope I'm still able to write a good story. If not, let me know in a review.

Danny stood in the tunnels underneath the sub-basement of Avocet with Captain Chandler and Thorwald's rebels. Burke was waiting at Granderson's power station ready to turn off the power to the building above them.

Danny checked his watch "Sundown is in five minutes"

"We need to find our people and secure the lab" Chandler said

"Do what you gotta do. I only want Granderson" Thorwald said determinedly

…

Danny paced the length of the tunnel while the rebels packed the ceiling full of explosives. To say he was eager to get into Avocet and find Kara, the person he loved more than anyone else in the world was an understatement.

He was ready to kill anyone that tried to stand in his way. Danny was filled with rage at Granderson, at the corrupt cops that took the Nathan James from them, at the 'desirable' people that were allowed to enjoy the benefits of living in safety while the rest of the world died around them. The captain had agreed to leave Granderson to Thorwald but if Danny happened to find her first…well, he made no promise to Thorwald.

Thorwald's second-in-command walked over to them "Almost there boss"

"Outstanding" Thorwald said "You ready?"

Captain Chandler checked his watch "Sun's been down for thirty minutes. It's dark enough. Let's turn out the lights. Pass word on to Burke"

"Roger that sir" Danny used his radio to send the Morse code message onto Burke, signalling that it was time.

A few minutes later, they received word from one of the spotters Thorwald had in place around the building "The Avocet vans are leaving"

"Alright detective, you're up" Chandler nodded to Thorwald

"Alright men, come on. Let's move. Let's move" Everyone ducked behind the walls for cover "Fire in the hole!"

One of the rebels pushed the detonator. The explosives punched a hole through the ceiling right where they had planned.

Thorwald's men clambered up the ladder into the Avocet complex. Chandler accepted a hand up from one of them as he followed them up.

Danny quickly clambered up the ladder. He peeked through the door into a dark corridor. He could hear voices approaching and the bright glare of flashlights. Two guards ran past the door on their way to god knows where.

Danny wrenched the door open and held his gun up. He fired down the corridor hitting the first guard in the shoulder. Before the second one could turn round, Danny charged at him and tackled the man to the ground.

Chandler ran up the over-eager lieutenant and quickly pointed his gun at the guard Green had shot through the shoulder. Chandler couldn't really blame Green for what he was doing. Only mere hours ago, he himself had charged half-cocked into Olympia searching for his wife.

Chandler didn't want anyone to go through the pain of losing a loved one. Especially in a plague ravaged world where so few people are still alive. So, if he could help Green find Kara before anything happened to her, then by god he was going to do whatever he had to.

Danny picked up the second guard by his jacket collar. He roughly slammed him against the wall "The woman you took off of the ship - where is she?" Danny growled

"I got no idea man" The guard replied looking nervously between Danny and Chandler

Danny slammed the man into the wall roughly again "Tell me where she is!"

"I don't know" the man insisted

Danny threw the man onto the floor next to the first guard. He pulled his sidearm out and pointed it at his head.

"How about now?" Danny asked

The two men both stared silently at Danny.

Danny aimed his gun to the left and pulled the trigger, missing the guy's head by a few inches.

"The next shot won't miss. I'll give you five seconds to tell me where Lieutenant Kara Foster is. Five..."

"We don't know" the first guard insisted

"Four..."

"Come on man, this isn't right"

"three…two…one"

"Alright! Alright" the second one exclaimed desperately lifting his hands to shield his face "Dr Hamada took her to surgery. Three floors up" he pointed to the staircase at the end of the corridor

"Surgery?" Danny frowned

"I'm not sure. Something about her baby"

Danny's face fell "No…" he breathed. Danny looked at Captain Chandler

"Go lieutenant" Chandler urged

Danny nodded gratefully and took off as fast as he could. He burst through the double doors and ran up the stairs.

…

Kara laid flat with her hands bound to the operating table. A few minutes ago, the power had gone out suddenly. Kara had never felt so relieved in her life when Dr Hamada had stopped what he was doing before he had been able to plunge that syringe into her stomach.

Some of the guards had run out of the room when they had gotten a call on their radio that Kara couldn't make out properly. But, it sounded panicked at the very least so that was a good sign. Things were not going well with Avocet.

Kara hoped – no, she prayed- to whoever was listen that it is Danny or at least someone from the Nathan James coming for her.

Kara looked at the nurse while Dr Hamada had his back to them. The other woman looked just as terrified as she probably did at this moment. Kara needed a way out and she was banking on the woman right now.

Finally, the nurse untied Kara's hands from the table. Kara looked over at Dr Hamada. He was still standing with his back to them and focusing on some kind of surgical equipment. Kara reached over to the tray next to her. She felt around for anything she might be able to use as a weapon. Eventually, she grabbed onto the large syringe and held it like her life depended on it. Which it probably did.

"Okay, let's do this" Dr Hamada said as he came over to the table

Kara rose up from the table and plunged the syringe directly into Dr Hamada's chest. Hamada yelled in agony and crumpled to the floor.

The guards that were still left in the room moved to restrain her again when suddenly a figure dressed in camo kicked the doors to the surgery open and fired on both guards in quick succession.

Kara gasped in fear when the blinding torchlight was shone in her face.

"Kara!" the figure lowered his torchlight and Kara was overwhelmed with joy when she recognised him.

"Danny" she said relieved

"Oh, my god" Danny said when he took in Kara's position on the table and her torn uniform "What have they done to you?" Danny untied Kara's legs and helped her off the table "Are you okay? Are you hurt?" he asked panicked

"I'm okay" Kara nodded. Danny looked Kara up and down for injuries. She pressed her hands against her abdomen "We're okay"

"Oh, thank god" Danny couldn't help himself. He reached forwards and brought Kara into a kiss. They lingered there for a moment or two , just in their own little world, oblivious to anything else. "We've got to get you out of here" he said "Can you walk?" he asked concerned. Danny would have no problem carrying Kara if she needed him to.

"I'm alright" she said as she started to walk towards the door.

"Whoa, whoa, whoa" Danny quickly leapfrogged around Kara so that he was in front. He peeked out the door and saw the place void of anyone else "Stay behind me, okay?"

Kara silently nodded and they both exited the surgical room. Danny led her down the corridor and into the stairway, back to the sub-basement.

…

Danny swiftly made his way down the sub-basement corridor. They hadn't run into a single Avocet worker or one of those highway cops. Danny considered himself lucky. He didn't want to risk Kara's safety any more than was absolutely necessary at least until he could get her back to the Nathan James and have Doctor Rios check her over properly.

Danny drew his weapon when he spotted someone wearing an Avocet uniform appear from another corridor "Drop your weapon!" Danny demanded

"Whoa! Hey! It's me soldier-boy" Tex held his hands up in a placating manner

"Tex?" Danny lowered his gun "What the hell are you doing here?" he asked confused

"Heard about Granderson's little empire she's got going on here. Thought I'd take a look for myself"

Doctor Scott appeared behind Tex a moment later

Danny nodded in acknowledgement to the female scientist "It's good to see you Doctor. Are you alright?" Danny asked

"Yes, I'm fine, thank you Lieutenant. Lieutenant Foster, were you harmed in any way?"

"No, power went out before they could finish. Hamada's dead" Kara said

"Well, I hate to say that's good but…good" Rachel craned her head to the side. At least that's one less scientist to help Granderson continue with her Darwinian experiment.

"Yeah, by the way, what's going on? Where's the cap?" Tex asked

"We took down the crematorium and shut off the power to the building. Captain Chandler's gone to find Alisha Granderson"

Kara looked at Danny wide-eyed "Danny, you have to go help him" she urged

"What? No, I'm getting you out of here first" Danny shook his head

"Danny, please she's my best friend. I'll never forgive myself if something happens to her" Kara begged

"I'm not leaving you again!" Danny suddenly snapped

"It's alright soldier-boy" Tex interrupted the two officers argument "I'll make sure she gets out. Just go help the cap" he said looking at Danny

Danny looked at Kara's pleading eyes. He was never able to say no to Kara when she looked at him like that. He sighed and looked at Tex "Anything happens to her, I'm holding you personally responsible. Clear?"

"Crystal" Tex nodded "Get going"

Danny kissed Kara on the forehead. He would have kissed her properly but he doubted now was the time, not when the captain might be in trouble "Be safe" he told her

"You too" Kara replied

Danny and Kara shared a loving look with each other before Danny headed up the stairs again.

"Alright, let's get you two out of here" Tex said as he led the way down the corridor

…

Thorwald reached the top floor of the building. He crept up behind a Baltimore cop and wrapped his arm around the man's neck. Thorwald wrenched the ex-cop's neck to the side and with a sickening crunch, the man went limp.

Thorwald lowered the body to the ground. When he looked at the man's face, he recognised his. His name was Jimmy. A cop that Thorwald used to see frequently when he was a detective in the BPD.

Thorwald silently approached the door to Amy Granderson's office. This is where it finally ends. After months of struggling in guerrilla-style tactics on the streets of Baltimore, after losing countless men to the virus and the highway cops, it was going to end with the death of but one more person.

Thorwald peeked inside the window and saw Granderson sitting at her desk in the corner of the room. She was acting as if all was well even though the only lighting she had was a small candle.

"Politicians – always pretending there's nothing wrong" Thorwald shook his head. If Granderson wanted to pretend her empire was still fully functioning, then Thorwald was gonna show her exactly how much she had lost.

Thorwald pushed open the door and crept inside. He swept the room to make sure that they were alone. There were no secret doors or hidden entrances. Granderson was completely alone now.

"Did you come to read me my rights?" Granderson said without looking up from the paper she was writing on

"No. And I forgot to bring my handcuffs"

Granderson finally looked up at Thorwald. She didn't seem the least bit worried that a man was standing in her office, poised to kill her "Hoping I'd go without a fight?" she asked

"Not your style. Why change now?" Thorwald raised an eyebrow

Granderson shook her head at the warlord "The things we could have done for this city. We didn't have to be enemies"

Thorwald nodded "Yeah, we did"

"Oh well" Granderson looked off to Thorwald's side.

Thorwald looked to his left. He only just realised the cop sneaking up from behind him. He scrambled for his weapon.

GUNSHOT

Thorwald looked down at himself. He ran his hand along his chest.

Nothing

Thorwald looked at the cop and surprisingly, blood started to dribble down from the man's mouth. The cop fell to his knees and collapsed to the floor. Behind him, that Lieutenant - Danny Green – had his weapon up and smoke was still pouring out from his gun barrel.

"Nice shot" Thorwald thanked the lieutenant

"Well, I was just passing by, thought you could use a little help" Danny said with a neutral tone

Thorwald turned back to Granderson "Oh, well" he said before shooting her through the head.

A thick red tar splattered onto the wall behind Granderson as brain matter and blood mixed and dribbled down the wall in streams. Danny ducked his head to the side so that he didn't have to see it.

Danny quietly left the room leaving Thorwald to his victory. Granderson was gone and Kara was safe again. He had done his duty to the woman he loved. That was all that was on his mind as he walked down the corridor.

…

Danny searched the building from top to bottom for Alisha. Finally, he found her standing next to the captain, safe and unharmed.

"Captain. Ma'am" Danny nodded to each in turn

"Lieutenant" Chandler nodded to the officer "Any sign of Amy Granderson?"

Danny cast a look at Alisha before looking back to the captain "Thorwald took her down captain" he said simply

Alisha looked down at the ground. She closed her eyes remorsefully, but to Danny's surprise she remained silent. She didn't cry. She didn't react

"Well…I believe we're done here. Let's get everyone back to the ship" Chandler said "Let's get our home back"

"Yes captain" Danny nodded

…

Thorwald sent several of him men with Chandler down to the docks to retake the Nathan James. But to everyone's astonishment, when they got there they were greeted by Slattery himself on the pier.

"Mike, what's going on?" Chandler asked

"Ship's ours again captain" Mike said proudly "Granderson's men have been dealt with and subdued" Mike gestured to the bow of the ship where several dozen of the Baltimore cops were on their knees with their hands bound behind their backs.

"Did we lose anyone?" Chandler asked

"A few captain" Mike looked down at the ground "They fought bravely. Did everything you'd expect of a naval officer"

Chandler nodded and looked remorsefully at the body bags also on the bow of the ship. Each one contained a member of the Nathan James crew that had died in the fighting.

Even though he had fought as hard as he could, he still couldn't prevent the deaths of more of his crew. It was times like these that Chandler wondered if they would ever find a safe place to land. Or at least a place where they weren't shot at on sight.

…

In the end, the remaining Baltimore cops were taken off of the Nathan James by Thorwald's men and brought to Avocet and locked up in the make-shift prison that Amy Granderson had set in her complex. Thorwald had promised the captain that they would all get a fair trial. Justice, not vengeance, Chandler reminded the detective when the two shook hands outside the Avocet building.

Thorwald had set up his new base of operations inside Avocet. If he was going to start change anywhere, he may as well start at what was the worst point in the whole of Baltimore.

Dr Scott had given them whatever remaining stores of the cure they already had and left instructions to some of the doctors in Avocet on how to make more. The lab would be able to produce thousands every day. Thorwald was going to keep an eye on them and make sure that the cure was spread to everyone and not just selected people.

…

So, when all was said and done, the ship was prepped to leave at 1300 in the afternoon. The captain had given his crew the remaining time to take some down time and relax so long as they stayed within the safe zone that Thorwald's men had established.

Danny had 'borrowed' one of the Avocet SUVs and taken Kara on a surprise trip. He wouldn't tell her where no matter how many times she pleaded with him to tell her on the way there. But, Danny just smirked a giant toothy grin every time she asked and kept tight-lipped.

When they got there, Kara was glad that Danny didn't tell her. It really would have ruined the surprise.

Kara looked out at Baltimore city from the ridge and watched as the sun crept up over the horizon. The bright orange glow cast a beautiful shine on the city below them.

"Danny, it's beautiful" Kara said sincerely. One of Kara's all-time favourite things to do while serving on-board the Nathan James was to watch the many stunning views they came across. If she had a camera, she would definitely have taken a picture.

"I'm uh…I'm glad you like it" Danny said

Kara frowned and looked back at Danny concerned. It was then that she realised he was crying. There were tears forming in Danny's eyes as he looked at her. Kara immediately placed a comforting hand on Danny's cheek "Hey, what is it?" she asked. Did something happen that she wasn't aware of? Was he injured?

Kara immediately pushed that thought away. If there was something wrong with him, he wouldn't have risked himself by bringing them up here. Not just for a pretty sight.

Danny tearfully placed his hand atop Kara's on his cheek. He fell to his knees in front of Kara and placed his head on her abdomen "I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry" he mumbled over and over again, letting the tears spill over onto Kara's uniform.

"Danny! What's wrong?" she asked. Now Kara really was thinking there might be something wrong with him.

"I'm sorry. I'm sorry I wasn't enough" he sobbed

"Shhh" Kara rubbed the back of Danny's head in an attempt to comfort him "What do you mean?" The last time Danny was like this was when Frankie died. Surely, it couldn't be about that, could it?

"I wasn't able to protect you. They took you and I couldn't stop them!" Danny growled

Kara blinked as realisation dawned on her "Oh, Danny…" she cooed. Kara crouched down so that her' and Danny's faces were level again. She put two fingers under his chin and tilted his head up "Look at me" she told him quietly. When Danny looked up at her, with tears wetting the side of his face "There was nothing you could have done. The entire crew of the Nathan James wasn't able to stop them. You couldn't have seen what they were doing"

"I should have tried! I should have been there!"

"They would have killed you if you did Danny" When she didn't see any change in Danny's face, she changed the subject "But, you still came for me. If you had stayed on the ship, they would have captured you too. You wouldn't have been able to stop Granderson, you wouldn't have been able to get to me. You saved me Danny. You've always been there to save me before and you were there this time as well"

Kara pulled Danny up by the hands. The SEAL blindly followed her movements and slowly pushed himself up to his feet. Kara placed a hand on either side of Danny's face. She smiled up at him

Danny smiled back "What did I do to deserve you?" he sniffled and wiped the tears from his face.

"You're you. You're Danny Green. That's all I want you to be"

…

Kara rested her head on Danny's shoulder and Danny rested his head atop hers. They watched as the sun rose fully from under the horizon. It signalled a new day, and with each new day came new experiences and stories. The two of them had stayed where they were for hours silently clinging on to each other to remind themselves that they were actually together.

"How much do you love me?"

Danny glanced down at Kara. He would never get tired of seeing her beautiful face. Never. Danny pressed a kiss to Kara's head.

"More than you can ever understand" Danny said

Kara smiled and rested her hand on her abdomen. Danny placed his large hand over her smaller one.

"How can we raise a baby in a world like this? Where someone might try to harm our child because they're desperate for some food or some water?" Kara asked

"We'll manage. We always do" Danny told her

"How can you know?" Kara asked

Danny rubbed at Kara's stomach softly "Because I'll fight. I will fight for as long as I have to in order to protect you and our child. For as long as I live, I swear, neither of you will ever have to be afraid again"

Kara smiled and snuggled up closer to Danny. His warm body provided a constant source of heat and comfort for her.

"Besides, you're only 2 months along. You can do a lot in the 7 months to come. You could, say…cure the world of a plague. We could rebuild the entire world from the ground up. A world that is safe for all of us. For our child and for us and everyone that comes after us"

Danny rubbed Kara's shoulder affectionately. Kara took Danny's hand in her own and rubbed her thumb against the side of his hand.

"I love you Kara Foster. I will always love you no matter what. No matter how far I have to go, no matter what I have to do, I will always come back to you" Danny said "I swear I shall never leave you again Kara. No matter what"

Kara smiled from where she sat. There were seldom moments that they could have on their own like this while on board the Nathan James. It was a small ship inhabited by a crew of over a hundred. There weren't that many places to hide and PDA was still and probably was going to continue being a big no-no for them. At least, so long as they remained aboard the ship.

But neither Kara nor Danny planned on staying on the Nathan James forever. It was their home for now, but one day Kara hoped to be able to live in a more permanent place. Where she, Danny and their child could live in safety and happiness.

"We had better get back. Captain'll be wondering where we've gone to" Danny scooped Kara up and carried her bridal style- hopefully not for the only time, Danny thought – and Kara laughed out loud as he spun her round in a circle. When he stopped, Kara placed a hand on either side of Danny face and kissed him.

Danny put Kara down carefully and opened the car door for her. Kara rolled her eyes playfully and climbed in. Danny closed her door and walked round to the driver's seat. He started the car and put it into reverse.

When they turned onto the road heading back into the city, Kara looked over at Danny. She interlocked her fingers with Danny's. Danny briefly looked over at Kara and he smiled brightly.

Kara smirked. They were together. And that was all that mattered.

A/N: Thank you for reading this far. Tell me what you thought in a review. If you've got any suggestions, please tell me and I'll act on it.

See you next time :)