Sleeping Arrangements

I know that this story is totally unrealistic and would never happen in really life but I couldn't resist writing it after the idea came into my head. Feedback is much appreciated.

Disclaimer: I don't own Sea Patrol or any of its character's. They are property of Channel Nine and McElroy Productions

I dedicate this story to Shannen- Thanks for you kind words and encouragement. This one's for you.

She couldn't believe her luck. She wondered to herself how she had managed to draw the short straw and have to end up sleeping in her CO's bed until they got back to headquarters in six hours time, the bed that just happened to belong to her ex-boyfriend. It didn't help that she still had feelings for this man and that every time she saw him, her heart beat a little faster.

Her bunk was currently being used by a police officer they were transporting back to the mainland from Bright Island. It wasn't that she really liked her bunk, but the fact that it was the CO who had offered it up, and she couldn't really find the words to protest after he offered her his charming smile. Damn him and his perfect smile!

She had pointed the fact that she had no bed to him, as she was handing over a shift in his cabin. He had decided taking one look at her tired form that she would sleep in his cabin which would allow her to have that little extra bit of privacy for a couple of hours sleep before they got back to base. She had tried to protest, but in the end her need for sleep won and this was how she had ended up here, sitting on the end of her CO's bed, staring out into space, her eyes growing heavier by the second. She finally made the last move and lay down, her head gingerly touching the pillow. At once his scent enveloped her senses, it relaxed her and it was like coming home and smelling the unnameable but familiar smell. It was her Mike, and it was with feeling of security that came with his scent, she fell asleep.

While she was sleeping, he was standing alone on the top deck on the ship, looking out at the calm water. It was a quiet night and he had needed to come up here and think for a second. If there was and trouble he was close by, and from here had a good view of everything. The stars shone bright above him, glowing out from a background of blue velvet sky. There was also a warm breeze blowing against his face, blowing his hair around. He loved coming up here on a night like this, it was here that he felt completely at ease. Here and in her presence.

He knew that her sleeping in his cabin could, and in most cases would, be considered fraternisation, one of the things the Navy looked down upon but one look at her tired but beautiful face and he knew that there was only one place he would accommodate her that night and it was in the safety on his cabin. He knew that she would feel safe here, at least he hoped that his presence that lingered in that cabin would, that she would be able to sleep here. She looked so disheartened when she was tired, the usual happy shine behind her eyes had gone and underneath them there were large dark bags. He hated seeing her like this; it was a shadow of the usual X, his Katie, the woman he still had feelings for.

The first light was just touching the horizon's edge when he decided that it was time to wake her a few hours later. They would be at base soon and they would be able to spend a few hours of bliss ashore before coming back to the ship and leaving again for whatever adventure the seas held for them.

When he entered his cabin, it was dark apart from the lamp on his table emulating a small, gentle amount of light. The only sound was she soft, deep, even breaths, steady like the beating of a heart. She was curled in the foetal position under the blankets, her small figure looking even more fragile in sleep. Her blond hair lay out and tangled around her face which was calm and innocent, almost child like. Her beauty seemed to hit him with such force; it was like a tidal wave engulfing his heart.

He stood looking at her for what seemed like a few long moments, and with great sadness he started to do what he had came here for, to wake her. He decided that a gentler option would be better as she had barely had enough sleep and would still be exhausted from the previous night's endeavours. He sat gingerly near her on the bed, where there was just enough room for him to sit. He bent down low and whispered oh so gently in her ear.

'Kate, it's time to get up. We'll be at base in soon. I promise that when we have done what we need to do there, you'll be able to get some decent sleep onshore.'

'Mmmm, Mike' she murmured, still half asleep. It was then that she did the thing that surprised him the most; she lent up, pulled him and gave him a chaste kiss on the lips, a quick, small, light kiss, but a kiss none the less. She then turned over so she wasn't facing him anymore.

He couldn't believe that she had just done that. They'd just thrown the rule book out the window, and he had to admit, it felt damn good! His lips still tingled from where hers ad pressed against them A question lingered on his mind though, had she realised what she had just done, or was it in a state of sleep, merely acting on their old, morning habits? Judging by her state of what seemed utmost undisturbed sleep now, he'd say it was the latter, though now there was a definite smile on her features which had not been there before. He glanced sown at his watch again, minutes seemed to have passed so he tried again.

'Kate? Come on it's time to get up. I promise as soon as we're finished at base. I'll find you a quiet place on shore and I'll buy you a bottle of that wine you like.' His voice was once again gentle, as it always seemed to be with her. Her eyes slowly opened at the sound of his voice, it still seemed like part of the dream she was just having, about him of course. Tired green eyes searched for cool brown ones, they eyes locked and she smiled, the type of smile that lit up her face. He broke the look they shared and looked down at the sheets suddenly shy. It was her scratchy voice, still heavy with sleep that broke the silence.

'You know, I might take you up on that offer. So long as you promise that I get to choose it.'

He looked up and met her eyes again; they were begging him to give this another try. He knew they couldn't, he would do it to be with her in a second but he wouldn't risk her career for a relationship with him, she was worth more to him than that. They could be friends but was all for now.

'Katie, we can't' he murmured

'I know, we can't have a relationship, at least not at the moment, but I want to try being friends.' She said with conviction evident in her voice. He smiled down on her once again.

'I'm willing to give this friendship a try.' She nodded and laughed,

'Now, what was it you were saying about wine?'

'Well, activities at base could take a while, I mean, it's nine o'clock now and it'll wake us another hour to get to base. I have a feeling we'll be needed at Nav Com for a good couple of hours, at least until 4 this evening. Then maybe, we could go to my place on shore. Oh course, we'll stop on the way and I'll let you pick the wine' Mike said

'Sound's perfect.' She sighed.