Unrelated to my other stories. It's set about six years from the beginning of the first season, with mentions of the other chapters.

Loss of Time

Chapter 1

Christine Slattery clocked out from her second job, so she could make it to her third. The first job was a lunch lady at the grade school where her youngest, a twin boy and girl, went to school. The second was at a dry cleaners and third was waitressing and bussing tables at a higher end restaurant. The tips were good but the diners were rude. The employees from the government weren't so bad but the people that associated with them were terrible. Most of them were social climbers wanting civilian positions or women wanting to marry up. The third job exhausted Christine, mentally.

Her older two girls, Courtney and Hannah had survived the Red Flu. Courtney, always the best student, desperately wanted to go to college but it was not possible for Christine to send her. All she could do was make it to where Courtney didn't have to work and could apply herself to her studies at a community college. Courtney was less than thrilled with that. Hannah, a happy go lucky fifteen year old who had the sweetest heart, helped Christine with Sarah Elizabeth and Mikey, who were six and in kindergarten. Christine had been pregnant with the twins when Mike called from the Arctic. She stupidly withheld the information from him. She had been so angry with Mike after Lucas had died. She wanted a divorce. Now, all she wanted was her kids to have their father. She knew Mike would not want anything to do with her now. She had withheld his children and he had probably moved on. She couldn't blame him.

The past year, she had tried to find him but without her military ID, it was impossible. She had moved the girls and Mikey to St. Louis to be closer to where the legendary Nathan James crew frequented when they were not deployed. She had no idea if Mike was alive. She hoped he was, for her kid's sake and shockingly, her own. Despite the initial anger, she was still in love with him. The restaurant afforded her the ability to scan faces for familiar people, Tom Chandler, Andrea Garnett, and Russ Jeter. So far, she hadn't recognized anyone and she refused to look Mike up because it meant she would have to tell the kids that their father was dead or didn't want anything to do with them anymore because of her.

She had to stop her beat up van and add water because it was overheating. It would lead her stranded one day but so far she had been lucky. She got to the restaurant ten minutes before her shift started, which gave her time to eat a plate that the chef always kept behind for her. If it wasn't for Juan; she wouldn't eat. Everything she had went to her kids. As she stood and ate she looked at the calendar to see what fancy party was occurring that night. Juan came up beside her and shook his head.

"Fancy rich people. This one has been here before. She's hosting ten of her closest friends and their significant others. Apparently she is hoping the guy she is dating will ask her to marry him. I heard he's some hotshot in the Navy. Want to take it? Might be worth the bad attitude if you can get him sidetracked and ask about your husband."

"I'll take it because maybe the tips will be good. I doubt the hotshot knows Mike or if he does, it wouldn't be appropriate to ask about him. What's her name?"

"The rich...oh, right you don't cuss. Helena Montgomery. Apparently she's the President's sister in law. Rumor has it, she had her sights set on Tom Chandler but he's spoken for. So she settled for the second in command, his best buddy. I don't know his name though." Christine looked shocked but covered it up. It confirmed her fears, Mike had moved on. She struggled to keep the tears at bay and put her plate and silverware in the dishwasher. Her boss, Ann, walked in just then and looked at Christine suspiciously.

"So we have a table of ten in addition to their plus ones. So twenty. I'm teaming you up with Gwen. You can split the tip but don't expect much. The last time Ms. Montgomery had a party here; she left a small tip, like twenty bucks for fifty people. Now, her boyfriend, or whoever he is, came back in on the guise that he forgot something and handed the waiter a hundred but I wouldn't expect it. He's a nice guy but I have no idea how he ended up with her." Ann tended to ramble and Christine just nodded. It would hurt to see Mike with the woman he had moved on with but she knew he would at least be thrilled to hear about his kids, even the twins that he didn't know existed. Christine looked out into the dining area and watched the maître de seat a large party, including a very made up blonde, who was just a breath over thirty and Mike.

Mike looked like he was ready to come out of skin. He was in an uncomfortable looking suit and seemed hesitant, even around his girlfriend. What surprised Christine was that he didn't touch her, just scooted her chair out for her and then sit next to her, looking like he was bored stiff. Juan came up beside Christine and watched her, watching the large group of people.

"I think this is your cue to go out there. You look like you see a ghost."

"I do, my husband. He's in there with Ms. Montgomery."

"The guy that looks so uncomfortable? Wow! Do you want me to tell Ann to assign a different server?" Juan was shocked and playing with his apron.

"No. I'll go out there. I have four kids at home who need their father. And Mike is a phenomenal dad."

"He's with another woman. That must be a slap in the face."

"I knew he might have moved on. And once he sees me, he'll be glad he did. Not to mention, I kept the kids from him."

"No. You couldn't connect with him. You didn't hide them from him."

"He doesn't know about Mike and Sarah Elizabeth." Christine hadn't taken her eyes off the group but tied her apron to go out and face the music and it was not going to be a pleasant experience. Christine nodded at Juan and grabbed a stack of menus. Gwen had gotten the table set up with glasses of water and had taken their drink orders before Christine made it to the table. When she walked up, Mike was picking at his hand; with no interest in the conversation around him. Christine felt her heart flutter and her stomach churning.

"My name is Christine; I'm your server today and here are your…"

"Oh, it's about time. I wonder every time why I come here. The food is good but the service is horrid…" The woman, next to Mike was rambling on but Christine wasn't paying any attention to her because Mike's head had snapped up as soon as she said her name and they had locked eye contact.

"Christie? Oh my God. How? The kids?" Mike had thrown his napkin down and stood up, completely ignoring everyone at the table, including his companion.

'Mike, who is this? She's just a waitress." Christine hadn't stopped looking at Mike from across the table.

"It's my…my wife."

"Oh, right, you told me. Now that you found her, you can get the divorce papers drawn up. Who would want to be married to that?" Several people from the party laughed loudly but Christine didn't care what they though. Christine sat the rest of the menus down and walked away. Helena Montgomery had made a point. The blonde made Christine look like a washed up hag. Christine went back into the kitchen to take a breath before she had to take their orders. She hadn't realized Mike had followed her. She was standing with her back to the wall and her head in her hands when she felt Mike touch her arm.

"Christie…I…I have so many questions. I've looked for you and the girls for the past six years and I've missed you all." Mike took her hands in his own, not caring who was watching.

"You missed us? Mike, maybe you missed the girls but she's…"

"It's not how you think. I don't care about her at all." Christine looked at Mike and noticed how tired and sad he seemed.

"So you've strung her along?"

"It's hard to explain. The kids?" Christine could see the look of agony on Mike's face. She had to tell him.

"The girls are okay. They will be excited to see you. But you need to…"

"I want to see them. Now. Where's your jacket? I'll talk to your boss and we'll…"

"Mike, listen. I was pregnant with twins when you called. I didn't tell you because I was mad at you because of Lucas. They are six now, Mikey and Sarah Elizabeth. I am so sorry. I tried to find you but I lost my military ID. I…what about Ms. Montgomery?"

"She can catch a ride with one of her friends. I want to…"

"I'm okay with you meeting the kids but your fiancé may not want you hanging out with me. I can't afford a divorce right now but I won't contest it. If you file, I will sign whatever paperwork. Courtney is eighteen so she gets to choose but we can work something out with Hannah and the twins."

Mike looked completely shocked and speechless. "I…Can we stall the divorce talk? And she isn't my fiancé."

"Fine. I will get another waiter take care of your table. It would be awkward to serve your…whatever she is…she doesn't want me around you obviously." Christine started to walk away from Mike but he caught her arm and pulled her to him.

"I promise, it isn't how it looks. I'm…miserable with her. I always only wanted you. I just hope you can forgive me because I still love you." Christine could see the pain in his eyes and it broke her heart. She lifted her free hand up and stroked his cheek. She had no idea what she was going to do.