Chapter Text
It was nearly midnight when the lights in UNIT Headquarters settled into their overnight rhythm.The frantic energy of the day had given way to a quieter sort of urgency—scientists murmuring over readouts, analysts speaking in hushed voices, the distant hum of servers filling the spaces between conversations.
Kate hadn’t moved from her office in hours.She sat at her desk, jacket discarded over the back of her chair, sleeves rolled neatly to her elbows. Reading glasses perched low on her nose as she worked through yet another stack of reports from Geneva. A soft knock interrupted her concentration.
“Come in.”
The door opened just enough for Colonel Christofer Ibrahim to lean inside. He held two steaming mugs.
“I’ve decided,” he announced gravely, “that if the Commander won’t come to the canteen, the canteen shall come to the Commander.”
Kate looked up over the rim of her glasses, unable to suppress the smile tugging at her mouth. “And here I thought you were delivering tactical intelligence.”
“I am.” He crossed the room and placed one mug beside her. “Tea, just enough milk to color it and no sugar.”
Kate blinked in surprise “You know how I take my tea?”
“I pay attention.” His words landed between them with surprising weight.Kate accepted the mug, warming her hands around it.
“Thank you.”
“My pleasure.” He started toward the door.
“Christofer?”
He turned.
“…Sit for a minute.”
He hesitated only long enough to hide how pleased he was before lowering himself into one of the chairs opposite her desk.
For a few moments neither of them spoke. The silence wasn’t awkward. It was…comfortable.Kate took a careful sip.
“This is good.” Her tone grateful if tinged with surprise.
“I made it myself.”
“So…” She tilted her head. “What keeps you here this late?”
He shrugged. “Couldn’t sleep.”
“Or wouldn’t?” She asked knowingly
He considered the question.“…Wouldn’t.”
Kate nodded slowly.“I understand that.” She did. Too well.
The conversation drifted naturally after that. Not about UNIT. Not about aliens. Not about Geneva. Just life. He told her about growing up in Germany, about how his father insisted every broken thing deserved one honest attempt at repair before being thrown away.
.“That’s a very optimistic philosophy.” She smiled
“It’s expensive,” he admitted. “My mother would tell you it filled the garage with broken radios.”
“And did he ever repair them?”
“Occasionally.” He said with a smile.
She laughed again.
“And the others?”
“…They became spare parts for the next project.”
“My father wasn’t like that.” She wrapped both hands around the mug.
“No?”
“He believed if something was broken…” She paused. “…you learned to live without it.”
“I’m sorry.” Christofer’s expression softened.
She looked away toward the rain streaking across the windows. “I think that’s why I have such trouble asking for help.” He wanted to ask more.Wanted to understand. Wanted to know what kind of little girl had learned that lesson so young. Instead he said quietly,
“I don’t think you’re as alone as you believe you are.” Their eyes met.The room suddenly felt very small. Kate searched his face. There was no flirtation there.No expectation. Only quiet sincerity.She found herself wanting to tell him things she hadn’t said aloud in years. About the pressure.About command. About being tired.About how lonely leadership could become. She opened her mouth—
Every light in the office snapped crimson.
The base-wide alarm shattered the moment.
Both of them were on their feet instantly.
The overhead speakers crackled to life.
“Alert. Alert. Alien incursion detected.”
Then Vlinxx’s unmistakable voice burst over every communicator.
“Rift activity detected over Cardiff. Multiple unidentified lifeforms emerging. Immediate response required!”
Their eyes met again.Everything personal vanished behind years of training.Kate was already reaching for her jacket.
“Ops deck.” She said
“I’m with you.” He grabbed both untouched mugs from the desk and set them safely to one side before falling into step beside her.They were halfway down the corridor before either of them noticed.
The tea was still almost full.Steam curled lazily from the mugs, abandoned on Kate’s desk.Neither of them gave it another thought. Cardiff needed them.