DISCLAIMER: I do not own The Guardian just my character. Enjoy.

CHAPTER NINE

It was the day the group, that Randall had been training, to graduate. Skinner was handing out the things, Randall had gone back to Kodiak the day before. Chole went over to see Weatherly after the ceremony.

"Congrats" She said, giving him a hug.

"Thanks"

"Here," she handed Weatherly a sparkle green bag with blue tissue paper sticking out of it.

"What's this?" He asked as he took it.

"It's kind of a congrats, I'm sorry for being an ass to you present."

He pulled out a black square pictures frame. It was a picture from Chole's birthday. At one point in the night they played a piggy back game. Weatherly was Chole's partner. Someone took a picture of the two of them with Chole on his back.

"Now you can tell your buddies wherever you are going that you hooked up with a crazy white chick."

Looking at the pick, "But we didn't."

"No one has to know. You can even say it was one of the captain's daughters. But if you come back to visit with friends tell me ahead of time what you told them. Hate being caught off guard."

"I'll just tell them it's the greatest person…..I mean friend I have ever made." He gave her another hug.

"All right, you're getting all girly on me. If you don't stop, I'll take the picture back and deny ever knowing you, after throwing up all over you."

Weatherly laughed as he went to join his family.

"I think you're sweet on him" Skinner whispered in her ear.

Still looking forward as she folded her arms under her breast, "And I think you're retarded."

Moving in front of her, "With that attitude you'll never land a guy."

"Why when I'm having so much fun being single?" She shrugged.

"You know you can get more flies with honey than vinegar."

"I caught you, didn't I? Imagine if I actually used honey." She smiled leaving Skinner in her dust to join her father at his side.

Soon new people came wanting to be in the Coast Guard. Chole watched from the front door of administration as they arrived. While Skinner and his other colleagues screamed at the newbies. The days melted away one by one. Chole had gone to the mall on her day off. She was trying on clothes when her father called her telling her she needed to come back to the base now.

"Papa?" Chole called as she entered the house.

Walking into view he didn't look too happy. He held a duffle bag in his left hand.

Chole panic, "I swear on my life it's not my fault." Throwing her hands up.

"It's not that. And I wish you didn't say that. Ben Randall died last night, during a rescue mission."

"Give me ten minutes and I'll be ready to leave." Chole held hard to not let the tears fall down as she went to her room.

Following her to her room, "Honey, maybe you should stay."

"Papa it'll be fine. I want to go." Chole kept packing as she spoke.

They held a very amazing ceremony honoring the memory of Ben Randall. The entire thing Chole held her fathers hand. The only time she didn't was when her father went on the stage to talk about Ben. After, they went to offer their condolences to his wife. Chole's father went to talk with some others as she went to get some fresh air.

"There you are. Are you ok?" Her father asked as he stood next to her.

"Yes, papa. I'm just going to miss him."

Wrapping an arm around his daughter, "We all are."

They returned back to the base the next day. That night Chole was knocking at Skinner's door. When Skinner opened the door, he was surprised to see Chole.

"Are you busy?" She asked

"No, come on in. Is everything ok? When did you get back?" He asked as he let her in.

Walking in, "Papa and I got in this afternoon. Everything is good I just wanted to talk with you."

"Sure, what about?" He ushered her to the couch.

"I want to be more than friends."

Skinner cocked his head, "With who? With Weatherly? That'd be kind of hard since he's not here anymore."

"With you and only you."

"Are you sure? I mean it's a sad time. Maybe you're not thinking clearly."

Chole glared at him, "I have never been more sure in my life. I didn't believe my friend in Maine."

"I don't understand."

Chole turned her body to him, "When I was in Maine telling people about living here on the base, I talked about you a lot. But the more people I told, the more that brought to my attention that I liked you, the more I realized that I did have feelings for you. Then it got to the point I thought about you an awful lot. But when I got back, I saw that you still saw me as that girl from a year ago and wasn't sure if you would feel the same about me. When Ben died, I realized that I'm better off telling you. That I was better off telling you then wondering all my life 'what could have been'."

There was a long pause. After what seemed like forever, Chole took it as he didn't feel the same and got up to leave. Skinner quickly got up, wrapping an arm around her, placing it on the middle of her back as the other cupped her face.

"I wanted to be with you too. Even if I still think you're kind of funny looking."

Chole was going to say something in return when his lips silenced her.

Stopping him, "You're not going to get me all hot and bothered then ask me to leave?"

"Maybe, if you're not wearing the things from Victoria's Secret." A smirk crawled across his face.

"Lets see….every bra and panties I own are see through and this outfit " Chole motioned up and down to her self, " Doesn't require undergarments."

Skinner growled as he nuzzled and kissed her neck.

Pulling away quickly, "Wait, are you sure this hasn't anything to do with a recent death?" He asked.

"That has crossed my mind. But it's a definite no." She snaked her arms around his neck as his hands went around her waist.

THE END