Hey everyone!

I'm back already!

This one's been in the works for a while, before the Ties that Bind. Actually while I'm on that one I just gotta say that yes, even I thought the ending to the Mike stands up for Kate was strange, I won't say what happened in case some of you haven't read it yet. I wrote it at 1 am after racking my brain trying to think of a way to end it and that's what my brain came up with lol.

So now I think my mind is trying to recover from writing a Mike/Kate fic, sorry M/K fans, and has gone into dramatic overdrive lol. As I said before this one has been in my "incomplete" folder for a while and it's still a work in progress but I at least have an idea of where it's going.

True to my form there's a lot of drama, stubbornness, misunderstandings and not as much Navy action as there should be for a Navy related show/fic lol.

This takes place somewhere towards the end of season 4/ beginning of 5 so Kate and Dutchy have a bond, Jim hasn't returned but Mike and Kate have sorted though stuff and are now just friends, I guess we can pretend that the kiss happened on that boat but they're still just friends lol.

Anyway, enjoy... oh and as usual would love some feedback!

Love Heals All Wounds?

Chapter 1

The Hammersley pulled alongside home port, they had been out at sea for 6 days and were due for a few days R and R.

Dutchy and 2Dads stood at Kate's cabin door waiting for her to exit, she swung the door open bag in hand. She flinched at the sight of them, she wasn't expecting them to be hovering at her door.

"Oh, hi guys..."

They both had a giant grins plastered over their faces, she knew instantly that they were up to something. She grinned nervously back at them, Dutchy took her bag from her as they walked down the corridor towards the deck.

"So, you coming for a drink X?"

She shook her head slightly, not really wanting to go.

"I dunno, I'm pretty beat!"

Dutchy didn't look impressed, he thought that would be the answer, he tilted his head and put on his best charming smile.

"Oh c'mon X, we've got a few days off, there'll plenty of time to sleep!"

2Dads jumped in front of her, his lip quivering.

"Please X, c'mon you know you want to!"

She rolled her eyes and let out a grunt, these 2 always convinced her, they were like her 2 annoying yet lovable little brothers. 2Dads gave her a nudge with his elbow.

"C'mon, you're letting down your namesake..."

Kate wrinkled her face confused at his comment, 2Dads turned to Dutchy with an uncertain look on his face and whispered.

"McGregor is Irish right?"

Dutchy gave him a blank look and shrugged, Kate put her hands on her hips.

"McGregor is Scottish 2Dads..."

He laughed the error off, that wasn't the point.

"Scottish, Irish, who can tell the difference, they both like to drink though right?"

She took her bag back from Dutchy and walked down the gangway, 2Dads looked at Dutchy discouraged.

"We failed big fella..."

Kate let out a huff and turned back to face them.

"Okay, okay, see you at 7?"

They gave each other a high 5 and walked off laughing.

Kate sat impatiently at the local at their usual table playing with a coaster, why did people always say that women took too long to get ready? She looked at her watch, it's was 20 past 7, she was always on time, it was just polite and professional. She heard the sliding doors open and a flurry of voices filled the pub, she instantly recognised them as her crew. They approached the table and saw her irritated look, 2Dads broke away from the group and sat next to her.

"Aww X, you're looking a bit lonely over here..."

She rolled her eyes and chucked the coaster at him.

"Well I wouldn't be if you lot were on time!"

He laughed and patted her on the back.

"We're not at work right now X, if we say 7, we mean 7ish... you should know that by now!"

She gave him an unimpressed look.

"So, you've got the first round right 2Dads?"

He nodded and his eyes widened with excitement.

"Yeah, shots?"

She shook her head insistently, he put a hand on her shoulder and laughed.

"Shots it is!"

Dutchy sat down next to her smirking.

"I think it's gonna be one of those nights..."

Kate knew what that meant and she didn't want any part of it.

"Not for me..."

He patted her on her back trying to encourage her.

"C'mon, I know the fun Kate it just bursting to get out..."

Kate scoffed worried that that's what her crew really thought of her, that she was boring.

"I don't have a problem with fun but I think my version of fun and 2Dads version of fun are 2 very different things..."

"It doesn't have to be, c'mon I've heard about your goat central partying days!"

Mike sat down next to her and laughed overhearing their conversation.

"Yeah, they were the good old days..."

Kate nudged him and gave him a disapproving look.

"Yeah well, we weren't in charge then..."

Mike looked around at the others and raised an eyebrow, she needed to relax a little.

"Kate, we're your family, we're not going to judge you..."

2Dads stood behind her with a tray of shots and laughed.

"Ah, speak for yourself..."

He put a shot down in front of her, she turned at gave him a disappointed look, he shrugged.

"Hey, you gotta give me credit for being honest X?"

He picked up the shot in front if her and hovered it near her face, he put on a high pitched voice.

"Drink me X, drink me..."

She snatched it out of his hand.

"Oh for god's sake!"

She downed it in one mouthful, 2Dads let out an enthusiastic cheer.

"Yes! You've got this!"

She cringed as the alcohol left a burning trail down her throat, 2Dads handed everyone else a shot and they downed it. Kate sighed and looked around at everyone enjoying themselves, Charge approached the table holding a tray of Guava Mojos, she knew at that moment she wasn't getting out of tonight without a hangover.

A few hours later the crew were way past tipsy, Kate leaned on the jukebox and ran her finger over the screen, she nodded to herself and selected a song. The song "Fighter" by Christina Aguilera started to play, she let out an enthusiastic scream.

"Yes, this is my jam!"

2Dads and Dutchy were leaning on a table, they turned hearing Kate's declaration. They looked at each other, their eyes widened from anticipation, they were finally going to see the X let loose.

Kate spun round pretending her cocktail glass was a microphone, she got into character and put on a serious face.

"After all that you put me though, you'd think I'd despise you."

She skulled her drink and put the glass on the table. She stepped on to a chair then on to table where 2Dads and Dutchy were leaning, she knelt down and sang to 2Dads.

"But in the end I want to thank you, cause you've made me that much stronger."

She turned to Dutchy and seductively ran her hand though his hair.

"Well, I thought I knew you, thinkin' that you were true. Guess I, I couldn't trust, called your bluff, time is up, cos I've had enough."

She jumped up on her feet and took of her jacket and flung it at the crowd that was gathering around her. The crew cheered her on, one of the bartenders tried to usher her off, but she ignored him.

"Ma'am, please get down, it's not safe!"

She shook her head and continued to sing.

"You were there by my side, always down for the ride."

She went to step on to the next table and stumbled and lost her balance, she began to fall and braced herself for the impact, but there wasn't one. She felt a pair of arms wrap around her, stopping her inches from the floor.

She regained her balance while hanging on to the bulky pair of shoulders of her saviour, she looked up and met his piercing green eyes. She took a moment to register on the familiar face, she titled her head a little not quite believing who she was seeing.

"Jim?"

He smiled his dazzling smile and held her hands to steady her.

"Falling for me again McGregor?"

She giggled and tried to compose herself but it was no use, she was smashed.

Dutchy and Mike stumbled to a table closer to try and hear their conversation. They were equally as tipsy as Kate, Dutchy elbowed Mike not taking his eyes off of Kate and Jim.

"Uh oh Boss, who's that?"

Mike took a deep breath in and a large sip of his beer.

"That's Captain Roth..."

Dutchy stood there for a moment trying to think where he had heard that name before. He tapped Mike's arm persistently, excited that he had remembered the answer.

"Oh, oh, he's that SAS guy that the X used to date yeah?"

Mike glanced sideways at him wondering how he knew about Jim and Kate, Dutchy could see his confusion.

"Oh umm, heard it on the grapevine."

Mike nodded still keeping an eye on Kate and Jim, Dutchy noticed his fatherly stare.

"It obviously wasn't a bad break up..."

Mike looked puzzled hoping Dutchy didn't know more than he was letting on to.

"Why do you say that?"

He scoffed, was he blind?

"Well, look at them..."

They looked back over to them, Kate was giggling and touching his arm, Dutchy nudged him.

"That's not just friendly looking to me..."

He let out a drunken giggle.

"It's like watching the Bachelor, Defence Force Edition..."

Mike rolled his eyes and pushed him indicating him to 'shhh'.

2Dad stumbled over to Dutchy and Mike and looked in the direction that they were looking.

"Oh, what are we watching?"

Dutchy pointed to Kate and Jim.

"The most awkward rose ceremony ever!?"

Mike immediately slapped his hand down so they didn't see. They watched as Kate giggled again, she sounded like a giddy school girl. 2Dads took another sip of his drink and raised an eyebrow.

"Who's that with the X?"

Dutchy whispered in his ear.

"The Xs ex..."

2Dads looked Jim up and down and nodded with approval.

"Go X!"

Dutchy laughed.

"Captain McDreamy..."

Mike gave him a disapproving look, Dutchy corrected himself.

"Ah, I mean Captain Roth, he's with the SAS."

2Dads eyes bulged.

"SAS? Those guys are full on, but I bet the X could take him, if you know what I mean!"

He laughed and nudged them both raising his eye brows. Mike didn't want to hear anymore, he wasn't having fun anymore.

"We always know what you mean 2Dads!"

Mike pushed 2Dads away, he got the hint and stumbled off. Dutchy gave Mike an all knowing look, Mike tried to act innocent.

"What? He was annoying me?"

Dutchy laughed.

"Why? Cos he was right?"

Mike swallowed the rest of his beer ignoring Dutchy's question, he went to walk away, he hesitated and turned and stepped back towards him.

"And you can shh too, else I'll tell everyone you watch the Bachelor and Grey's Anatomy!"

Dutchy gave him a salute and laughed as he drank the rest of his beer. Mike approached Jim and Kate, Dutchy shook his head and stayed put, he didn't want to get involved but he wanted to see what was going to happen next. He laughed to himself and put on a "TV presenter voice."

"Next up on The Bachelor, Defence Force Edition, the intruder..."

He laughed to himself again and took a sip of his beer.

"Good one Dutchy..."

Mike tried to act composed/sober.

"Captain, good to see you."

He shook Jim's hand, Jim gave him a nod.

"Likewise...Ah, I was about to steal Kate and her karaoke skills if that's okay?"

Mike paused, he couldn't think of a reason that he shouldn't/ couldn't.

"Ah, if you have to, we're just doing some team bonding..."

Jim laughed sensing that he didn't approve.

"Right, does it work?"

Mike took another sip of his beer and mumbled.

"If we're not interrupted..."

Kate heard his comment and whacked him on the arm.

"Yeah, I think I've had enough..."

Kate placed her hand in Jim's and escorted him out of the pub. Mike sulked back over to Dutchy, he laughed.

"Captain McDreamy 1, Commander Flynn 0?"

Mike looked completely unimpressed.

"Oh just drink your beer Dutchy! It's not a competition..."

Dutchy smirked as he took a sip of his beer.

"No Sir, certainly no competition from where I'm standing..."

They stood there in silence for a moment. Dutchy knew this would be his only opportunity to get answers to his questions seeming they had both had a bit to drink.

"So what exactly is your problem with Captain Roth? You've worked with him before yeah?"

Mike ordered another drink, he didn't want to get into it.

"No problem, I'm just protective of my crew, plus he broke up with her..."

Dutchy knew that wasn't all, he kept staring at Mike, he sighed and put his beer down on the table.

"We've just had a couple of disagreements, that's all."

Back at Kate's place Jim helped her up the stairs and into her bed, he placed a bucket next to her bedside and brushed the hair away from her face. She placed her head on the pillow only semi conscious and smiled, she held out her hand trying to reach for him, he reached for it and kissed it.

"You're so nice Jim..."

He smiled and squeezed her hand.

"So are you Smudge..."

He placed the blanket over her, she placed her hand on his.

"I should have called you..."

He knelt down closer.

"We'll talk about this another day..."

She patted the bed inviting him to get it.

"You can stay..."

Jim smirked and leaned down and kissed her forehead, she flung back the covers on the other side.

"I promise I won't bite..."

He hesitated for a moment then made his way to the other side of the bed and stood there contemplating whether to get in. She did invite him but whether she would remember that in the morning was another thing. He was dead tired and gave in, he strategically placed himself on top of the covers and closed his eyes.

The next morning he awoke to Kate lying on his chest, he smiled and carefully placed an arm around her, she snuggled further into his embrace.

He closed his eyes again, he remembered this feeling, the feeling of being comfortable with someone, the feeling of being content. He exhaled loudly, Kate began to stir, she bolted up right. Her cheeks turned a bright shade of red as she realised how she was positioned.

"Jim, I umm..."

He laughed and brushed the hair away from her face.

"It's okay Kate, it's not like we haven't umm, touched before."

His cheeks were now a light shade of pink, she tried to sit up further but the throbbing in her head stopped her, she flopped back into the bed.

"Uh, what did I drink last night?"

He laughed and leaned over to her.

"I think the more accurate question is, what didn't you drink?"

She shook her head slightly remembering the previous night's events.

"Bloody 2Dads and his shots and Charge and his Guava Mojos!"

"Well if it's any consolation you do a great Christina!"

Kate smacked her face with her hand and cringed.

"Oh god, I sang, on a table..."

Jim rubbed her arm trying to soothe her.

"You sure did..."

Kate attempted to get up out of the bed but she had no strength, she fell back down, she groaned and put her hands over her face.

"I'm never drinking again."

Jim got up and knelt in front of her, he peeled her hands off her face.

"Why don't you go have a shower and I'll put on some coffee and make us some breakfast?"

Kate stood in the shower and leaned back under the flow of water and closed her eyes enjoying the calm. Suddenly it was like a bolt of lightning struck her, if she was in a cartoon a light bulb would be flashing above her head.

She pulled her face out of the stream of water and wiped the water away, her brain went into over drive. What the hell was going on? Jim was here, in her house and she felt like it was a year ago. She didn't know how to act, what did he want? Why was he here? She took a deep breath in and closed her eyes once again and moved her head under the water and tried to ignore the questions and the thumping in her head.

She got out the shower and struggled to get any form of clothing on due to her pounding headache, she gave up on pants and chucked on a flowy dress.

She walked to the top of the staircase and paused, a smile crept over her face as she saw Jim cooking in her kitchen. He was bopping along to the radio, she let out a small giggle, he heard her and looked up at her and smiled.

"Feeling a bit more human?"

She nodded and made her way down the stair case and sat at the kitchen bench. He poured her a cup of coffee and slid it to her and turned back to the stove. She sipped on her coffee, she cringed as her thoughts had returned. Why was he cooking her breakfast? Why did this feel so normal? She put her coffee cup down and stared at him wondering how to approach asking the multitude of questions that were piling up.

"Jim?"

"Mmmm?"

He still had his back turned finishing their breakfast.

"Why are you here?"

She winced, that wasn't the way to ask. She watched as he froze for a moment then continued to serve their breakfast.

"Sorry, I didn't mean it that way, I'm just a little confused that's all."

He turned and presented her the plate of poached eggs, sautéed mushrooms, spinach, haloumi and crumpets, she took the plate from him and attempted a reassuring smile.

"It's okay Katie, I get it."

He got some cutlery out the drawer and the salt and pepper from the far left cupboard, she was amazed that he looked so comfortable in her kitchen, that he remembered where everything was. He sat down at the bench opposite her and glanced up at her between mouthfuls.

"Are you glad I'm here?"

She smiled, she didn't have to fake that one, she was glad.

"Of course! But I mean, I haven't heard from you in a year. I'm assuming you didn't come here just to see me. I mean, without a phone call, what if I was married? Or with someone...you wouldn't waste your time on me like that would you?"

Her brain was going into over drive, Jim couldn't help but laugh, her face said it all, she was freaking out. She was so easy to rile up, he had to see where this went, he put on a straight face and raised an eyebrow.

"And so what if I did?"

Kate paused, it was one of the very few times in her life that she was speechless. Jim grinned, this was too easy, but she had suffered enough, he put her out of her misery

"Relax Smudge! I'm here for work."

Kate almost sighed with relief, Jim tried not to look hurt.

"But I knew you were still here and I wanted to see you."

Kate didn't know how to react.

"Oh..."

She immediately put her head down and continued to eat her food, Jim swallowed his mouthful and glanced up at her.

"So, I have my sources but I'd rather hear it from you, are you married? Seeing anyone?"

She scoffed, it was her turn to play the game. She gave him one of the classic "Kate McGregor" stares.

"The bloody Navy grape vine and the gossip, I know you checked up on me a little while ago but that was nearly ahh, 9 months ago, things change. Do you think I would have allowed you in my bed if I was married or seeing someone?"

Jim laughed and tapped her hand.

"Oh you allowed me?"

Kate could feel her cheeks starting to burn again.

"Well..."

The caught each other's gaze for a moment and smiled, Jim cleared his throat.

"That's not really an answer, anyway I feel like any answer I give you're gonna hit me!"

She smiled sweetly and nodded then whacked him on the arm. Jim laughed and whacked her back.

"See!"

Kate smiled and stayed silent and continued to eat. Jim tossed a piece of spinach at her, she raised an eyebrow.

"So umm, last night, you said you should have called, why didn't you?"

Kate hesitated, Jim could see she was uncomfortable, he didn't want to scare her off. He gave her a supportive smile and finished his breakfast and placed his plate in the sink.

"Ah, I've got a meeting this morning, what are you up to?"

Kate was thankful that he skipped over the question.

"Nothing if I don't get rid of this headache..."

He walked over and gave her a kiss on the cheek, it surprised her, he had realised what he had done.

"Sorry, old habit I guess..."

Kate smiled.

"It's okay..."

"Ah, you wanna hang out after?"

She smiled and nodded, he winked at her as he walked out the door. Kate sat there and rubbed her forehead, the voices started again. What the hell was going on? Was she in some sort of time warp? Was he going to ask her out again? She wasn't sure how she felt about it, her heart was racing.

She continued to shovel the food into her mouth as a distraction but seconds later it was all gone. She looked down at her empty plate and laughed to herself.

"I do miss that cooking though..."

End of Chapter 1.

Don't forget to review, pretty please! Xx