In just under three short months she would have her Master's Degree in Psychology. Her undergraduate work was in Social Work and she had lined up a summer internship with the county. She would be working with kids in foster care, helping with their therapy sessions.

As eager as she was to begin her work she had to finish three more classes, one of which was a special topics class with Hilliard. Thankfully, his class was at the end of the day on Tuesdays and Thursdays which would keep her time in his presence to a minimum. And if his class was like other special topic classes, it would be comprised of special projects that would require them to be out of classroom and in the field most of the quarter.

Hilliard hadn't posted what subject the class was to cover, but all of the graduate students were required to have it and it was only taught once a year, so this was one of the few chances to take it. She was anxious to get her education finished and move on to her career.

She had been able to take all of her classes on Tuesdays and Thursdays which left the rest of the week free for her to complete the many projects she would undoubtedly have, including her Thesis.

It turned out Blanche had every class with her and had stuck to her all day. By the time they walked into Hilliard's class she was well and truly tired of her constant chattering. When they walked into the classroom they took seats towards the middle on the end, and Charlie recognized most of the students in the class, nodding to a few who had worked with her on projects over the last two years.

The door eventually opened and Hilliard walked in wearing his usual garb, but beside him was Will who was wearing the dress white uniform of the Navy.

There was no doubt that he looked utterly gorgeous in the uniform; just like every girl's dream.

All the chattering stopped at once and there was complete silence as Will commanded everyone's attention. Eventually, as he turned his back towards them and began talking with Hilliard, the chattering started back up but at a more subdued level.

Charlie knew that they were military but not Navy. Seeing him in the uniform actually made her sick to her stomach. She had no fond memories of that uniform. In fact, she had very very bad ones that she was doing her best to ignore.

Charlie had noticed the trident on his chest which meant that he was a Navy SEAL, and if he was so was Hilliard.

Dr. Kellan Hilliard was no egotistical hippy he was an elite warrior, a Navy SEAL, who had also managed at some point to get a PHD. Everything Charlie knew about the man shifted, leaving her more aware of him than ever before.

"Who is he? He is fabulous," Blanche hissed in her ear, completely unaware of the cold sweat that Charlie had broken into or her pallor.

"That's Dr. Hilliard," she muttered, focused on her paper in front of her, pretending that she did not understand the question.

"Not Hilly, the sexy sailor?"

Charlie shook her head, the idea of calling a Navy SEAL a sailor was a bit like calling a lion a kitten.

"Good morning class." Hilliard's familiar voice filled the classroom.

"He's yummy," Blanche said as she leaned forward, not the least bit ashamed that she was openly staring. Will looked over at Blanche and winked.

"Welcome to Special Topic course 730. I am Dr. Hilliard." He turned around and reached into his satchel and pulled out a stack of papers. "I know many of you but there are a few new faces." He started up the row of seats handing out the syllabus.

Charlie was sitting on the end and when he reached her she didn't even glance up at him as she took the papers from his hand.

She just wanted the ground to open up and swallow her. This man had seen her completely naked.

Charlie didn't think she could handle much more as she took one of the syllabi and passed it down. She had to close her eyes when she saw the topic. The Psychology of Military Families vs Non Military Families.

Taking a deep breath she squared her shoulders as she started an internal pep talk. She had no choice, she needed the class to graduate; it would be fine, it was just the military, the military had never hurt her directly. She pushed even harder on her memories.

"You're a SEAL." Someone called out as Will moved to sit on the table at the front of the room when Hilliard moved back down towards the front of the class.

"Yes, I am and I'm currently active duty." Will said with a grin

Hilliard leaned against the long table next to Will as he assessed the class. The two men looked completely different from each other, but now that she knew he was military it was very evident in the way he owned his space and carried himself.

"Most of your class work will be done outside of this room and on your own, and since you are all graduate students and need this class to graduate I have no worries that you will exceed my expectations."

"OMG he is gorgeous," Blanche sighed, "and he is a SEAL. You know about them, don't you?"

Charlie ignored her as she focused in the syllabus. Blanche wasn't paying the least bit of attention to Hilliard as she focused on Will. She wondered what Blanche would say if she knew that Hilliard was a SEAL as well.

"I would like to take a moment and introduce you to a friend of mine, Will. He very kindly agreed to get all dressed up and come meet you all today to help me make a point.

"You're trained to kill," someone shouted from the back of the class.

"Yes he is, and I'm trained to pass or fail you so please focus." Hilliard rose and scanned the crowded room making sure that they all heard it and remembered it.

"I will start this discussion by saying that when I walked into the room with Will, who is dressed in his uniform, you all automatically went silent. In the past when I walked into the room on my own you all took your conversation down a notch but you never went silent. So I ask you, why is it that Will's appearance today made you all silent?"

"Because he's gorgeous!" a girl shouted from the back.

"Because he's in a uniform which means something important must be happening."

"Because we didn't recognize him."

The reasons were shouted out and a lively discussion began while Will all but preened at the front of the room. He didn't mind in the least that he was the sole topic of conversation.

"How does Will's uniform make you feel?"

"Hot!" the same girl shouted.

"Respectful."

"Jealous."

Hilliard nodded as he crossed his arms taking in all of the answers.

"Are any of you from military families or in the military?"

There were a few people who raised their hands.

"I notice you all are remaining quiet."

"It's fairly normal for me. My father was in the Navy so the uniform to me is just a suit of clothes." One man contributed. The rest of the people who had raised their hands nodded in agreement.

Charlie zoned out after that, doing her best to block out all thoughts. Luckily, there were no group projects required so she wouldn't have to contribute anything other than a few research papers. The syllabus listed the few dates the class met with the notation that it was subject to change, but basically it was a class for which she had to produce a major paper.

She was startled as everyone around her had slowly began to leave the classroom. As she gathered her things Blanche was already climbing over her to get to Hilliard and Will. Still a bit dazed, she walked down the steps and was just about to leave when Hilliard called out for her to wait a moment.

She stopped and waited by the door. Blanche was chattering on about last quarter, and how she had enjoyed working with him, and how good of an instructor he had been while looking pointedly at Will, hoping for an introduction.

Why don't you just go ahead and strip off in front of him? Charlie thought rudely, ashamed as soon as she had the thought. Some girls were good at flirting and enjoyed it. It wasn't Blanche's fault that she was incapable of it. Not that Will would be her first choice, she thought as she grimaced at his uniform.

Eventually, with nothing left to say, she smiled prettily at Will with a fluttering of her eyelashes before saying goodbye.

As Blanche left and the door closed behind her Hilliard turned to look at Charlie. "You were unusually quiet today. Generally you contribute something to my classes."

Charlie just shrugged, aware that Will was watching her.

"Let me try another tactic, how do you feel at the sight of Will's uniform?" He leaned against the table as he watched her closely.

She looked him dead in the eye, "Sick...his uniform makes me physically ill." The words were forced out of her dry throat and came out rough and soft.

Hilliard and Will both looked shocked, whatever they had been expecting her to say that was not it.

"Are you from a military family?"

"My mother's second marriage was to a Captain."

"What was his name?"

"What does it matter? It's not as if I have anything to do with him now."

Hilliard's eyes narrowed as he looked at her.

"Are you going to be O.K. to take this class?"

"I'll manage."

He was silent and she could see him trying to decide what to say next.

"If you have something to say just say it," She insisted.

"Did he hurt you in some way?"

"Who?" she said, playing dumb.

"The Captain."

"No, the man never touched me." The less she said the better.

"But someone did?"

"It was a long time ago." She didn't try to deny it. He was a smart man, one that dealt in human psychology. She needed to be alone, she wasn't going to be able to fight off the memories much longer.

"Did you ever talk to anyone about it?"

I tried, she silently cried. No one would listen. "Are we done here?" It was barely a whisper  she was not about to go into detail now, and especially not where the wise cracking Will could hear.

Just then the door behind her opened and Blanche entered. She looked from one to the other and seemed pleased that Will was not included in the conversation that she and Hilliard were having.

"Are you ready Charlie?"

"Yes," she said, welcoming Blanche's interference for a change as she moved to join her at the door.

"Goodbye Dr. Hilliard."

"Charlie, Blanche." He nodded towards them as he turned to gather up his papers.

"How does Hilly know a SEAL? He really doesn't seem like the type to even support the military." She sighed wistfully, "That Will, he is an Adonis, a beautiful blond headed, sexy sailor." Blanche grew silent, she must have run out of adjectives.

"I'll see you later Blanche," Charlie said as she hurried towards the exit not bothering to respond.