GOING, GOING,
LOVE?
Extended Summary: The CO
receives a tempting offer from a fellow sailor that may lead to him
leaving the Navy. Buffer overhears a critical conversation that
involves the boss's career change, which results with Buffer trying
to convince the boss to stay. Meanwhile, the XO accidently reads an
email from Buffer's new girlfriend, which could cause problems for
their friendship after she asks about his love life.
A/N: This story will be told in two parts, with each part only lasting a chapter. Originally it was going to be a one-shot but I thought two chapters would be better. This story is dedicated to my best friend, who is known as WingedTeen here on Fanfiction.
Part One- A Marching Career
"Commander Marshall, we've been
over this before. I'm not taking a shore posting." Lieutenant
Commander Mike Flynn told the Commander, massaging his brow.
"And
as I've told you before Mike, for you to move up the ranks you need
a shore posting." The Commander said through the sat phone. "Sir,
with all respect, you know very well that I don't want to 'move
up the ranks.' And you also know that all I want to do is drive
patrol boats." Mike said, getting frustrated.
"I also know
that by 'patrol boats,' you mean the Hammersley
specifically. Mike, you can't stay on your patrol boats forever."
Mike sighed.
"I know that sir, but I only have 17 years left
before I have to retire from the Navy and I'm not going to spend
any of that on a shore posting." He tried explaining. He heard the
Commander sigh. There was a knock on the door. Mike looked at the
door of his small cabin aboard the Hammersley.
"Sir,
I've got to go now." Mike said, dreading the future
conversations.
"We will talk again soon, Mike." Commander
Marshall said, before hanging up.
"Enter." Mike said, hanging
up the sat phone. He swivelled around in his chair as the Executive
Officer of the Hammersley, Kate McGreggor opened the door.
"X. What can I do for you?" He asked, tidying up some of the
papers on his small desk.
"A Mayday has come through from a
yacht about 2 clicks south-east of our current position." The X
replied.
"A yacht? What's a yacht doing all the way out
here?" He asked, turning round to look at his Executive Officer.
She shrugged.
"They said something about getting caught in the
tide or something and their radio not working. RO couldn't get much
more before the radio cut off." She replied. "RO hasn't been
able to raise them again, but he's trying." She added. Mike
nodded.
"Ok. Have Nav set course for their position." He
said, turning back to his desk. "One more thing X." The blonde
Executive Officer turned to him. "Yes Sir?"
"I just got off
the phone with Commander Marshall." He said. "He's been
bothering me about the shore posting again." The X frowned.
"You
aren't thinking about quitting are you?" She asked.
"I
don't know. That's the thing. I can't see myself doing a shore
posting again. And I only have 17 years left before I have to retire.
I don't want to waste it ashore. I want to be out here, where it
matters." He replied. She grinned. "What?" He asked, confused.
"Sir, only you would think of a shore posting like that. It's
not the end of the world. Maybe you should try it for a while." She
suggested. He laughed.
"No way, Kate. I might not be able to
get back on Patrol Boats afterwards, and I defiantly won't be able
to get back onto the Hammersley." He said. She tried not to
cringe from the 'Kate.' They'd agreed that on board it was
strictly professional and she didn't what that to change,
especially if he might be leaving. Though she knew he'd never let
that happen.
"Yeah and the crew would defiantly miss you."
She laughed. He nodded.
"And you wouldn't?" He asked,
grinning. She smiled.
"I never said that." There was a knock
on the door.
"Enter." Mike said, as Kate scooted over to let
the person in. It was the Navigator, Nikki 'Nav,' Caetano. "Hello
Nav." He said. She smiled.
"Just wanted to know our position
with the yacht, sir." She said, glancing between the CO and XO.
"Oh, yes. Set course for it's position. Do we know her name?"
He asked.
"Um, Lady Eloise I think. RO managed to gain
contact again but they were just repeating their May Day message and
all we got was the name." Nav replied. Mike nodded.
"Ok. I'll
be up on the bridge in two." He said, turning back to his desk. He
turned when he heard the X and Nav leave and the door close.
ON THE BRIDGE FORENOON DOG WATCH
"2Dads your turn." Spider said,
placing a pen on the charts table. 2Dads played around with his mouth
and tongue for a few seconds before placing a pen lid on the pile.
"Done. Charge your turn." 2Dads smiled.
"A 2? That's
all? I put down a five and put a 2?" Spider asked, gaping, mouth
open, at the small open of pens and pen lids in front of him.
"Yeah, Spid, that's cause I'm slightly cleverer than you
and I play with a plan." He said, patting Spider on the shoulder
with one hand and tapping his forehead with his finger. Spider
smacked him over the head, as Charge put down a pen lid. Spider
frowned. Charge shrugged.
"I don't trust him." He said.
2Dads smirked.
"Still going boys?" Nav asked, as she entered
the bridge. Spider smiled guiltily as Charge and 2Dads grinned. "So
who's winning?" Nav asked, putting the data into her computers.
Bomber grinned.
"Well Spider's already down two pens and
2Dads seems to think he has a 'plan,'" She made speech marks
with her fingers. 2Dads frowned. "And Charge." Charge glanced at
her. "Well, Charge it just following 2Dads." Nav grinned.
"And
you Bomb?" She asked. Bomber laughed.
"You know I can't
tell you that." Bomber replied, as Spider tapped impatiently on the
table.
"Mind if we keep this moving along, Bomb?" He asked.
She placed a pen on the table.
"You putting a five down on
that?" The CO suddenly said from behind Bomber. The four spun
around to see the CO with his arms crossed and eyebrows raised.
"Hi
boss." Spider said, putting his cards down suit side down.
"You
remember betting is against regulations, don't you?" He asked,
trying not to smirk.
"Of course sir." 2Dads said, smirking.
"That's why we're using pens sir. And all the pens go back
where they come from." Bomber said. Spider frowned. "I wasn't
told that last part." 2Dads smacked Spider over the head.
"What
you were planning on keeping any pen lids you might win?" He asked,
as Spider rubbed his head.
"We were just teaching Spider a few
tricks sir." Charge said. Bomber nodded.
"More like ganging
up on Spider." He muttered.
"That's fine, so long as you
don't use money or chips and you put it all back." They all
nodded. "And we have a May Day to respond to, so you three gear
up." He said, gesturing at 2Dads, Bomber and Spider. They all
nodded.
Mike walked over to Nav as the four cleared up their
poker game-making lots of noise along the way- and Charge went back
to station and the other three went to gear up.
"ETA Nav?" He
asked, sitting in the captain's chair.
"Approximately over an
hour boss." The brunette navigator replied. Mike nodded.
"Ok.
Let me know when our ETA is twenty minutes please Nav." He said as
RO appeared.
"Commander Marshall on the sat phone for you,
boss." He said. Mike nodded.
"I'll take it in my office
thanks RO." He said, standing up to make his way back to his cabin.
Spider and Bomber watched as the boss disappeared again.
"You
notice his been disappearing to his office a lot lately?" Spider
asked.
"Yep, and he's taking a lot of calls from Commander
Marshall." Bomber replied.
"Don't you guys have some work
to do?" The X asked from behind them. The pair glanced at each
other and nodded. "We'll be arriving to assist with the Lady
Eloise in approximately an hour so be prepared." She added.
Spider and Bomber nodded before leaving the Bridge to converse with
2Dads.
CAPTAIN'S CABIN FORENOON DOG WATCH
Peter 'Buffer' Tomashevski was
reporting to his CO's cabin to ask about to the yacht they'd be
rescuing in an hour. He raised his hand to knock when he realised his
CO was on the sat phone. He was about to leave when he realised it
would be better to wait.
"Lady Eloise, yes sir." Mike
replied, dreading the rest of the conversation.
"ETA Mike?"
The Commander asked.
"Under an hour sir." He replied,
determined to keep this conversation on the subject of the yacht.
"Any idea how they got out there?" Commander Marshall asked.
"No
sir. The X said something about they got stuck in the current or
something." Mike replied.
"Yes, about Lieutenant McGreggor."
Mike frowned.
"When you get your shore posting-"
"Sir-"
"No.
You will get a shore posting. And when you do, the Hammersley will
need a CO. Instead of bringing in a replacement like last time, maybe
you should think about promoting Lieutenant McGreggor." Commander
Marshall said. Mike frowned.
"Then we'd need a new Executive
Officer and no I'm not promoting Buffer." The Co said.
"Why
not?" The Commander asked, saying something off to the side to his
assistant.
"Because that would just disrupt the entire order of
things."
"But Lieutenant McGreggor would love the chance at
the promotion." Mike rubbed his brow again.
"But sir, with
respect I don't think I can do this shore posting thing."
"No.
Mike you're doing this shore posting. There's an opening here, at
NAVCOM."
"Sir, no. I'll quit if I have to. Drive a boat
someway else. But I'm not doing a shore posting."
"Fine.
We'll talk again soon." The CO hung up the sat phone as Buffer
listened from the outside. The Boss was quitting? The X getting a
promotion and him missing out?
Buffer disappeared to the Senior's
Mess before the CO knew he was there.
AUSTEER AFTERNOON DOG WATCH
"I want you to work for me."
Donovan said, sitting down. Mike frowned.
"What? I've got a
job. I can't do that." He said, leaning against the door.
"You're in the Navy. I know that. I was too. And I know
there's a time when the bosses want you to take a shore posting.
And I have a feeling they'll be asking you soon. You're a CO of a
Patrol Boat. You're at the prime of your career."
"They have
already asked me. We were just talking about it." Mike said.
"Well, my wife and I just brought another yacht and we need
someone to drive it. All you'd have to do is drive a few friends
around, as part of our charting business." Donovan said, pulling
out a photo. "She's a beauty."
"Yeah. The last person
that offered me a job ended up funding a coup for mining profits. How
do I know you're not doing the same?" Donovan smiled.
"You'll
have full access to any of my records and you won't be excluded
from anything. I promise. You can trust me."
"That's what
Walsman said too." Mike muttered. Donovan raised his eyebrows. He
shook his head. "I'll think about it and get back to you." Mike
said, nodding and leaving the room. On the outside, he leant against
the door and closed his eyes.
"Sir?" Mike opened his eyes. It
was the X, concern in her eyes. "Are you alright?" She asked. He
nodded.
"Yeah. Um, can you look something up for me?" She
nodded. "Can you do a search on Donovan and his family." She
frowned.
"Of course sir, anything in particular?" She asked.
"He just offered me a job." For a second Mike thought he saw
panic in her eyes.
"Sir, remember last time. Walsman ordered
for Buffer to be killed."
"What everyone that offers me a job
is evil." He laughed. She opened her mouth. He held up his hand.
"Yeah, I know. I thought the same thing. He said I'd have full
access to his records and everything. Also said I could trust him."
"Didn't Walsman-" Kate started. He held up his hand again.
"Yes he did. That's what I'm worried about. But I can't
do a shore posting." Kate nodded. "You know, he offered for you
to be promoted. Either way you'll become a Lieutenant Commander."
Kate looked shocked as Mike laughed. "That's good news you
know."
"Yeah, I know. It'll just be strange for me to be
Commanding Officer and for you to be, well, gone."
"You've
been Commanding Officer aboard the Hammersley before." Kate
sighed.
"That was different. You were injured, unconscious."
She said.
"But I hear you did a damn fine job." Kate glared
at him.
"Are you really leaving? Are you really just going to
leave us?" Mike moved turned to her.
"That's not what this
is. I'm not leaving you Kate, or anyone else."
"Yeah it
does. That's exactly what this looks like."
"Kate." He put
a hand on her arm. "If I'm not in the Navy, then certain other
possibilities will open up." She pulled her arm away slightly.
"You haven't left yet." She said, before stalking away.
Mike was watching her walk away when Buffer stood across from him.
"Boss. You alright?" He asked. Mike nodded.
"Our guest
settled in alright?" He asked. Buffer nodded. He shuffled
uncomfortably. "What's wrong?"
"Sir, I heard your
conversation with Commander Marshall earlier. About the X's
promotion. Sir, are you leaving?" Buffer asked, crossing his arms.
Mike sighed and closed his eyes.
"Marshall wants me to take a
shore posting. You know how much I hate them. And I was just offered
a job by-"
"Donovan." Buffer nodded. "He's ex-Navy isn't
he?" Mike nodded.
"And he just brought a yacht that he needs
someone to drive for his charting business. I'm getting the X to
run a background check on him and his family now."
"Does she
know about the possible promotion?" Buffer asked. Mike nodded.
"She's shocked. Thinks she's not up for it."
"And
you think she is?" Mike asked, looking at Buffer.
"Why isn't
Marshall just giving us a replacement CO?" He asked. Mike shrugged.
"I think he thinks we need to keep this within Hammersley.
We're a tight group. Tighter than any group he's seen before
and he might think we need to be keep together."
"But sir,
that can't happen if you're gone. Sir, the Hammersley needs
to right now. Nav, she's barely hanging on. If you go she might
fall apart, and the others might too." Buffer said.
"So
you're trying to get me to stay by saying Nav is about to fall
apart. Good tactic."
"Boss, we need you. I need you. The X
needs you. You can't go, not yet." Buffer said, standing up
straighter. "Think it through boss." He added, before Mike
watched him disappear to the bridge. He sighed, before following
Buffer to the bridge.
"Sir, ETA to Port is 3 hours." Nav
said, when Mike appeared at her side. He nodded.
"Thank you
Nav." He said, sitting in the captain's chair.
"Hey, RO,
when's my next email time?" Buffer asked, sitting on the RO's
desk as he shuffled uncomfortably and fixed the papers on his desk.
Buffer watched as the RO took a piece of paper from his pin board.
"You should know this Buffer." He scolded as Charge laughed.
"That would be now." He said, placing the paper back in it's
original place.
"Cool!" Buffer said, jumping off the desk and
disappearing into the computer room. The X laughed as he left.
"He's
happy today." She commented. Charge and Bomber glanced at each
other.
"That's because he finally got a girl's email
address." 2Dads said, leaning against Charge's desk. The X
chuckled.
"He didn't say anything." She said. Bomber tried
not to laugh as she drank her coffee.
"That's because he
wanted to be sure it would work out. You know how devastated he was
about Monica." Charge said as 2Dads frowned.
"Who's
Monica?" He asked. Nav smiled.
"She was Buffer's girlfriend
last year." She replied. 2Dads smirked.
"Buff had a
girlfriend? How come I haven't heard about this before?" He
asked.
"She won a holiday and went with another guy called
Eric. She wouldn't answer any of his calls." Nav replied.
"Then
she broke up with him because she was too jealous or some crap."
Charge added.
"Well, hopefully it'll work out this time."
The X said, before leaving the bridge for the computer room.
COMPUTER ROOM, AFTERNOON DOG WATCH
"Hey, Buff." The X said, sitting
next to him in the small room. Buffer was sitting at the desk,
starring intently at the computer in front of him.
"Hey." He
said, scrolling down. She smiled.
"Email from your new girl?"
She asked, trying not to laugh at his face. He turned to her.
"Charge?" He asked, sighing.
"2Dads." She said,
grinning. He rolled his eyes.
"Of course." He murmured. "I
dunno about her yet, though. We're meeting when we get ashore."
He said. Kate opened her mouth when a message went over the loud
speaker.
"Buffer, Bridge. Buffer, Bridge." The CO's voice
said. Buffer smiled and stood up.
"Well, see ya X." He said,
leaving the room as the X turned to the computer. She spun around
when she realised the message was still open.
"Buff!" She
called out, but he was already gone. She turned back around and moved
the mouse to close the message but she couldn't help herself.
"Dear Pete," She read…
What does the email say? How will
the X explain herself to Buffer? Will the CO take up Donovan's job
offer? Will the CO leave the Navy or take the shore posting?
And
that is then end of Part One. Hope you enjoyed it. Part Two will come
as soon as I have at least 3 reviews. Hope you enjoy the next part.
