Nother Sea Patrol fic :P I swear by the end of my posts today we're going to have a Sea Patrol category

Disclaimer: Don't own anything in this one...Lyrics in second chapter belong to The Whitlams


"Kate" murmured Mike softly, crossing the balloon covered dance floor to where she stood silently. Her blonde locks, curls for the occasion, framed her pale, rose tinged cheeks as she swayed slowly to the music playing quietly in the distance.

One arm lay wrapped around her stomach, tugging slightly at the soft beige fabric of her dress as the cool night air penetrated the temporary marquee, blowing at the balloons on the floor and the skirt of her dress gently. She turned towards his voice, shivering violently at the determined air he was carrying as his step quickened, mistaking her tremble as being from the growing cold. A dream like stance took hold of her as his handsome face came into detail and her heart beat quickened, the steady pounding against her chest ringing in her ears, drowning out the rest of the world. She felt the blush rise up through her cheeks as he stopped in front of her, vibrant brown eyes piercing through the haze of emotion chocking her mind and her ability to form a coherent thought.

She managed a weak smile in return as her cheeks blazed warmer in anticipation. She knew immediately something was bothering him, the sixth sense developed years ago lingered at the back of her mind and was sending of alarm bells, almost drowning out the thump of her heart beat racing against her chest.

Mike drew in a deep breath as she stared at him, expectant and alert to what was happening. He rang his hands nervously, rasing one to wipe his forehead on instinct. She was looking more flushed than usual, her red cheeks glowing brightly against the blonde ringlet's framing her face. He liked her hair like this, free for him to run his hand through its soft wave's as he held her close.

His mind drifted back to earlier that evening, their dance, a soft swaying number that he'd been waiting for and dreading all day. His whole self had tingled at the feeling of having her in his arms; the first time in five years. She still felt the same as she had back then, still fitted to his side perfectly; the missing piece of the puzzle that neither could deny. The music was so gentle and the atmosphere had been so soft so that they had found themselves lost in a trance. Sometime's they had gazed at each other till one had looked away embarrassedly, other times one would whisper something to the other and they'd smile knowingly. Neither had noticed the looks they were getting from other people; friends, acquaintances and strangers who could all feel the tension of their slow dance. Both where to enchanted by the lover they held in their arms to notice anything much at all, except the physical pain at letting the other go as the music came to a slow halt.

"You look cold" noticed Mike, staring intently at the shivering form of his partner stood before him. He drew in a deep breath to settle himself, praying his mind would keep him together till he had spoken.

She looked quickly up at him, startled green eyes meeting compassionate brown ones as she nodded slowly in response.

"Yes" she smiled, sighing "Yes, I suppose I am"

Both grinned nervously at the other, a silent acknowledgement of understanding electrified between the two as Mike removed the suit jacket from his shoulders. He wrapped it around Kate's slim figure, letting his hand linger by her waist a moment longer, brushing the cool skin with his rough thumb. She drew a quick, ragged breath in against his cheek, holding it unconsciously as she focused on where his course skin met her own. His gentle touch warmed her quickly, electrifying the connection between the two before she exhaled, pulling back slowly to look at his boyish face.

"Mike" she whispered gently, her hunny tinged voice prying into his thoughts lazily as he opened his eyes once more.

"Did you want something?" she asked, taking a small step backwards as a sudden wave of shyness over came her. He couldn't help but smile at the innocent look of terror that had suddenly become her face, and he wondered briefly if that was how he looked as well, standing slightly bent over before her. He forced himself to speak the words that had been lingering at the back of his mind all weekend; throughout the morning, during the wedding, afterward's at the reception and especially during their dance.

"I've been wondering something, ever since we came a shore" was all he managed before fear choked him into silence.

She hummed softly in acknowledgement, willing him to continue so she wouldn't get lost in his gaze once more. He drew in another deep breath, ringing his hands by his side as he concentrated on her eyes fluttering closed sleepily. "Kay" he murmured

"Will you be staying on the new patrol boat now that the Hammersley's been decommissioned?"

He swallowed all the nerves he had been feeling before asking the question, in anticipation of her answer to the thoughts that had plagued his mind for the last few weeks. He watched her eye lid's open slowly, surprise evident in her steady gaze that matched his own nervous one. 'She doesn't want to' he thought suddenly, his stomach lurching violently at the force of the words.

"You've been such an asset to the team over the last six month's. I know the crew were a bit disrespectful at first but everyone's grown to know you, and you've got to admit we're quite a good unit with me in command and you in second"

He found himself rambling incoherently, words leaving his mouth at maximum speed to try and blank out the dreadful thoughts penetrating his mind.
"Mike" she called, laying a hand against his arm to stop his nervous rant and allow her a chance to speak. "Have you been worrying about this for a while?" she asked, her cheeks burning with red once more so that she was sure he must have noticed how effected she was by him.

"A bit" he muttered, grinning in embarrassment at being caught with her on his mind. He couldn't help but wonder if she knew that she'd been on his mind for the better part of the last few months. Ever since the Bright Island mystery had been cleared he'd struggled to tear his thought's away from her, actually before that, when she had dropped everything to come save him from the fire had been when he first realised she might feel some of what he was feeling. Her strong voice broke through his thoughts once more, pulling him towards her presence and the answer to his question. His heart sank deeply and his stomach gave out as he noted the sorrowful look in her eyes. His heart beat was pounding so loudly in his ears that he had to strain to hear her.

"I'm sorry Mike" she sighed, casting her eyes downwards to avoid his gaze.

"You're not coming back. Are you" he murmured, closing his eyes briefly so she wouldn't see the pain seeping through his dark pools of brown. They were standing close now, so close he could feel her soft breath as she sighed slowly, watching his face with longing and a pain of her own.

"Mike" she began but his voice interrupted her, defeated tone ringing clearly in her ears and ripping at her heart. He looked so desperate that she wished she could stay with him forever, just to see his smile once more.

"You don't have to explain" he said, brown locks of hair falling way ward as he shook his head. She watched as he pulled himself together, eyes becoming clearer to look at her, small smile breaking through his handsome features. He was looking at her with such emotion, such compassion and dare she say love that all she could think about was taking back her words. She already done this to him once; caused him too much pain to bear and yet here she found herself doing it again and they hadn't even acknowledged it. She knew she had to do this, that it was for the best and would turn out alright. They couldn't keep dancing around each other on board. One day some one was going to slip up and that could mean the end of both their careers. She was adamant that would not happen, and so she was doing what she felt obligated to do; yet something in his eyes was ripping at the threads of her heart making it physically painful to even contemplate hurting him again.

She felt herself explaining the situation, making excuses for tearing them apart once more.

"Mike, where I want to go in life, I can't be on the Patrol Boat if I want it to happen" her hands feel by her side dejectedly, realising that no amount of explanation was going to make either of them feel better. The night air had set in around them unnoticed; the dim lantern's surrounding the wooden floor creating a gentle glow while casting shadow's across the tarpaulin and each other's faces. Mike leaned in closer towards Kate, staring at her pale face, glowing cheeks and vibrant eyes for what could be the last time. He'd never felt the urge to cry, not since he was a young boy, but something was tugging at his aching heart and all he wanted to do was cry out, yell at it to stop, rewind, back to another day when Kate was by his side and he hadn't needed to think about her ever leaving him again.

Despite the shadows out lining his face Kate could see the anguish she was causing. A wave of guilt washed over her and suddenly she knew she had to leave, get away from him while she could. Mike noticed the shift in atmosphere signalling the end, and he felt sick.

"So I guess this is goodbye" he whispered. His voice sounded a million miles away, like someone else being carried by the wind to where he stood, slightly hunched and shivering through the cool.

"Yes" murmured Kate in agreement. She didn't dare turn towards his eyes once more; fearing what would happen if their eyes locked once more.

"Last goodbye" she added in, so softly that he could hardly hear over the thumping of his heart and whistle of the wind.

A storm was coming.

He blinked, the harsh words cutting at his ears and mind as he realised this was the end.

Kate willed herself to look at him once more, drinking in his dark features before turning swiftly on her heels and walking away. Her legs brushed against the balloons that lay forgotten on the dance floor. Some blew gently with the wind while others where knocked out her path as she stepped rigidly through them, not daring to slow her pace.

The wind blew at her dress purposely as she stepped outside, into the dark that blanketed the world around her. She drew in a deep breath, holding the tears in a moment longer before exhaling, letting the stream pour down her face dramatically. As she wrapped her arms around her figure to ward of the cold she realised she was still wearing his dark suit jacket. She pulled it up to her face, inhaling his scent, before letting it fall loosely around her once more. The first drop's of water plummeted to the ground around her, homing in on planet earth while her thoughts drifted up towards the heavens, a million miles away from her body in a place she longed to be. She turned her head towards the sky, welcoming the down pour onto her tear stained cheeks and damp curls. His jacket was still warm against her skin, keeping her dry while her surrounding's where drowned in water, washing away the dirt and grim of the past week to bring about a new day.

As she stood swaying in the rain she couldn't help but smile. Tomorrow would be a new bright day, and she was to be a part of it.