Kate awoke with a pounding headache. Her mind a fuzzy blur of what happened the previous night. She remembered going out with Bomber and Nav. Shots also seemed to come to mind the bitter taste of the Tequila resurfaced in her mouth. Pulling the covers over herself all Kate wanted to do was to stay in bed for the foreseeable future, and never drink again. She never had drank that much as a student or when she was at ADFA. Thank goodness for the three days shore leave she had been given otherwise she didn't know who she would manage. She was interrupted by a loud shrill, the ringing of her mobile. Ignoring it as she couldn't speak to anyone nor did she want to. Hibernation was the only thing on the plan for today and possibly tomorrow. The phone stopped and then started again. Someone was keen to talk to her. The second time it rang it seemed louder. Reaching out she grabbed her phone off the side of the bed.
"Kate McGregor hello." She tried to sound professional and not a hungover as she felt.
"X..." the voice on the other end of the phone was that of Mike Flynn, the C.O of Hammersley "sorry to wake you but Hammersley has been tasked with the assistance of the search for 4 missing students that were last seen on a yacht around Angel point. Notice for sea 2 hours"
"right" Kate rubbed her eyes sitting up in bed " I'll be there in a hour"
This was not what she needed as she sat up her head began to spin. The room moving around her. She did the best she could to move out of the bed before heading to the shower...

Nikki awoke with a start, to her phone ringing unable to recognise where she was. Sitting up with a start she hit her head off of something hard right above her. Brushing the sleep out of her eyes she realised she was in her cabin aboard Hammersley. She was on shore leave and had no watch as ET and Buffer were assigned to the Watch at least for last night so had no idea on why she was in her rack.
Lying back down, she covered her face. She remembered going on a night out with X and Bomber. Her head was pounding and hitting it off the celling of the cabin didn't help matters. She did have a slight recollection of returning to the ship with bomber and cooking in the galley also rang a bell but not much of the nights events.
She could see that someone had left a drink on the side for her. Sliding off the bunk she walked over to the small desk where the drink had been left. There was also a note.

Nav ,

have brought you a brew. Well you can see that. We have been given notice for sea in two hours, well 1 hr 45 it took me 15 minuets to make this. Thought you might need a navigator special given the state you came back aboard last night. From ET. PS we sail at 10 am forgot it may be a while before you see this.

Smiling at ET's gesture he could be sweet if a bit dim at times. She took a sip of the coffee that he had left and spat it out running in to the attached bathroom. The coffee had gone cold. The sweetness and strength of the coffee made her feel ill. She caught a glimpse of her watch and realised she had 45 minuets to make her self look respectable. Changing quickly in to her overalls, she was grateful that she had a spare one still on the ship. She made her way to the bridge via the galley for a much needed coffee.

Bomber was sat in the seaman's mess, nursing a glass of water she had a headache that felt like someone was using a drill on her head. The glass had been left along with 2 aspirin. After taking the painkillers she lay with head face down on the table, She was never going to drink again, or at least that is what she told her self. She also had no recollection of the night apart from leaving the bar near the port with X and Nav and heading in to town.
She lifted her head up and groaned it felt so heavy on her shoulders. At that moment Nav walked passed and seeing Bomber poked her head round.
"you look like I feel"
"thanks" Nav replied. "coffee?" she asked
"I think I need a vat" bomber shot back, smiling weakly
Nav returned 5 minuets later with 2 large mugs of coffee. 1 navigator brew for her self and a normal if slightly strong mug for her friend.
"thanks ma'am"
Nav smiled. "oh and Bomber we have 30 minuets notice for sea. You best go and get sorted"

Kate arrived back onboard just in time. She was slightly longer than the hour she had promised and mike was waiting for her by the gangway.

"X you all right?" he asked looking concerned
Her eyes were red and puffy showing all the signs if a night on the town
"fine" she lied. He was the last person she wanted to know that she was hungover. "is everyone onboard"
"yes, Nav and Bomber look as bad as you though. X, I don't really expect my sailors to return to the ship hungover. Especially my XO, you are suppose to set a example to the junior sailors"
"sorry Sir , but we were suppose to be on leave for 3 days and in our defence some of the men are always returning drunk or hungover especially if we are in a foreign port..."
The wind blew a gust up through the docks bring with it the sent of the salty sea.
"sorry sir" Kate ran to the other side of the ship, throwing up in to the water below.
"sorry sir" she repeated wiping her mouth
"X your on light duties till further notice so no boarding's, when you have your self sorted I need a word"
20 minuets later Kate walked up on to the bridge.
"sir you wanted a word"
"not here X" he indicated for her to follow him to the ships office.
Shutting the door he pulled out his phone. Pressing play on a voice mail message, Kate's intoxicated voice filled the blank space between them.
"I...I.." Kate stammered with embarrassment she ran out on to the boat deck. Shocked and embarrassed
"what have I done..."
okay this is a Fic set sort of series 2/3 and I know Kate probably isn't the sort to go on the lash and get drunk but for where this is heading (Kates phone call to mike (hint)) in the next chapters she sort of needs to have had a few drinks. also I have never had a hangover as I don't drink so the side affects of the hangovers are just based on what I have seen in other dramas. hope you enjoy and let me know what you think DuckmadGirlxx