Hi everyone! This is my first ever fiction and I'm not exactly the best! I'm into the drama/tragedy/romance stories so if I write more fiction, expect lots of action, especially where ET and Nikki are concerned. ET and Nikki are the best couple on TV and I'm totally devastated that ET died. So I'm just going to live in denial; just keep writing like he's alive! This is mainly an ET/Nikki fiction but there is a bit of Spider/Bomber, Mike/Kate and Swain/Sally. Anyway, reviews would be greatly appreciated. Also apologies if any are a bit long; I tend to write in detail! Lol.

I don't own any of the Sea Patrol characters; I'm just borrowing them for a while. But I do own Matt, Ryan, Tamsin and Dr Sophie Bradbury! And of course Ruby.

It was about midday and the Hammersley was about to dock at their home port. The crew were running around hurriedly, packing up their things and helping close up the ship so they could go on shore leave after being away for the last fortnight. While most of them wanted to head straight to the pub, ET had other ideas. He thought about Nikki, his only ever real love. The last month had been torture; Nikki had taken sudden leave to go and visit her family in Sydney after her brother was involved in a car accident. ET had just started to slip away into the land of the fairies when a voice from behind caused him to jump.

"Got anything planned for shore leave, ET," said Kate. ET turned around to see Kate and Swain standing behind him, ready for shore leave.

"Ah, ah, yeah," ET stammered back. Swain and Kate looked at each other before turning back to ET.

"Alright what's up mate?" asked Swain with a grin. ET gave them a 'What are you talking about' look. Both Kate and Swain raised their eyebrows.

"Ok, you have to promise not to tell anyone," started ET. Swain and Kate nodded. ET reached into his pocket and pulled out a small, black, velvety box.

"Oh my god, your not!" exclaimed Kate.

"Wow, lady's man ET settles down!" laughed Swain.

"Shh, I don't need the entire ship knowing before Nik does," smiled ET as he put the ring back in his pocket.

"When does she get back anyway?" asked Swain.

"Tonight at 2200. I've got to pick her up," replied ET.

"Come on then, we can head home and go to the pub before you go and meet your wife," teased Swain. ET punched him playfully. Kate just laughed.

1615 hours

Swain drove up the street into the neighbourhood where most of the Hammersley crew resided. Swain, his wife Sally and their daughter Chloe lived in a modern house next door to the large house that ET shared with Nikki, Spider and Bomber. Kate lived in a small house opposite them. Swain pulled his car into the driveway of his house and ET and Bomber hopped out. Kate pulled into her driveway just behind them. At that moment, little Chloe Blake came bounding out the front door of her house, rushing for her dad.

"Daddy!" she squealed. Swain held out his arms and the little girl jumped into them. "Look Daddy, look. I got a puppy!" A small bundle of fluff was running around Swain's legs. Sally had by this time come over. She hugged her husband.

I've missed you," she whispered. As Bomber played with Chloe and her new puppy, suddenly a dog came running out from the house next door. Kate instantly recognised the dog as Nikki's beloved Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, Ruby.

"What's she doing out?" ET wondered aloud. Bomber shrugged her shoulders as she picked up Ruby who was barking loudly. She headed towards the backyard with little Chloe in tow. As she walked past the front door, Ruby wiggled her way out of Bomber's arms and continued to bark loudly. Swain, Sally, ET and Kate looked over at the commotion, confused. Bomber had just picked up Ruby again when she noticed something odd.

"The door's open," said Bomber, pointing at the door.

"So? Sal probably left it open when she came over to feed Ruby," said ET, who had come over and was bending down to pick up Ruby.

"I haven't been in the house today," said Sally as she, Swain and Kate walked over to where the pair were standing. "And it was closed earlier." It was then that Kate noticed the keys hanging in the door. She instantly recognised the key ring of a frangipani as Nikki's.

"There Nikki's keys; she's home!" said Kate. ET smiled and went inside. The others followed.

ET had just walked into the living room when he gasped. Swain, who was behind him, grabbed his arm to make him stop. The lounge room had been totally trashed.

"ET, just stop," said Swain. He looked back at the others behind him who all had worried faces. "Just stay here, I'll have a look." He slowly opened the first door, Nikki's bedroom, before heading further into the house. ET couldn't bare standing there; he was freaked out at the thought that his girlfriend could be in trouble. He walked off down the hall towards the kitchen, despite Sally and Kate telling him to stop. Swain had just reappeared from the bedroom when the group heard ET call out for help. They rushed into the kitchen, to see Nikki lying on the floor, covered in blood. Swain immediately hurried over. Sally gasped.

"Call an ambulance!" he yelled. Bomber quickly searched for her mobile but Sally had already beaten her to it. She relayed the information that Swain gave her to the operators but then passed the phone to Bomber. Spying Chloe near the door, she picked up the toddler and took her outside.

"Please Nikki, please," ET pleaded to the pale face of his girlfriend. He grasped her hand tightly as Swain tried to get a better look at her injuries.

"How far away are the ambos?" called out Swain.

"At least 5 minutes," replied Bomber.

"Tell them her pulse is weak and thready," added Swain. As Bomber relayed this information to the operator, Kate looked at ET's tense face and instantly thought about his special plans for tonight. Reaching for her friends' hand, Kate whispered 'Please Nik, you stay with us.' Swain's voice broke her out of her thoughts.

"She's not breathing! We need to do CPR!"

TBC