Chapter 14

They were in the final stretch. The division had continued to advance well into the last week. And now it was the night before battlestations. With the prospect of being awake the entire following two days no one wanted the short straw but Traeger ended up getting it. However being a rover meant she had time to visit with Carter. It would be her last night as LLD. Although she could've gone to the guest docks on base, the sub had gotten used to sharing the room with her division. It was rare for her to actually sleep though and there had been more than one late night conversation.

Now Traeger was getting off watch. It was a quarter to midnight and she was ready to climb into her bunk and sleep. Only she couldn't. She tried repeatedly to fall asleep but ended up tossing and turning to the point where she was worried Ford would wake up and scold her. Something pressed down on her shoulders, stilling her movements. It didn't feel like Ford's cold wires. This touch was warm and Traeger could feel the soft pads of fingers on her hull. "Avast moving kiddo." Carter's soft voice murmured. She could feel the sub's breath tickle her ear. Traeger twisted her head around and saw her jump all the way into the berth, front fins holding her down. "Scooch. Come on, move over." Carter commanded. Traeger wordlessly complied. Carter wasted no time climbing in next to her. Traeger had never been this close to the sub before. She felt her soft underbelly brush her back and her excitement grew. With practiced discipline she stifled it but inwardly she was squirming. "Stars, I am so doomed." She thought.

Carter shifted on her side, her front and rear fins working themselves into a position where she could hold Traeger. "A restless destroyer needs an escort to relax." She murmured in Traeger's ear. Traeger had no reason to question that wisdom for it was definitely working at the moment. She could already feel herself getting leery. She settled more and let her head fall back against Carter's chest. She could hear as well as feel the sub's powerful heartbeat and its rhythm sounded soothing to her. She was quickly lulled to sleep. Carter drifted off not long after.

When Sammy B came in about 2 hours later, Orlando was quick to point out the pair to her. Carter had shifted to where her head was resting over Traegers, muzzle buried in the destroyer's neck. Her fins were still gripping her. Traeger meanwhile had adjusted and contorted herself to the sub's own curves, snuggling perfectly into Carter's soft warm flank. Both looked totally content as they slept with Carter's snores sounding more like purrs. With the practiced ease of a professional blackmailer Sammy B snuck up to the berth and took a picture. Neither ship stirred. Grinning madly, the frigate retreated, struck a high five with Orlando and left with the promise to develop the photo for everyone else in the division. It might even make it to the 'graduation highlights' where moments of a training group's time were displayed during the ceremony for all to see.