This is another one-shot I found on my computer from ages ago :) Guess I write them and then forget about them. lol. Don't own Sea Patrol.
***
"What is it Nav?"
"Well Sir...I don't know how to put this..."
"Just say it."
"There's a rumour circulating..."
"About?"
"....Buffer and the X, Sir. That they're in a relationship of sorts."
He stood there, stunned.
"Oh ok, thanks Nav. You're dismissed."
He knew he had to talk to them but didn't know what to say. It couldn't be true...Of course it wasn't true. The realisation crept into his mind slowly, but shocked him all the same.
He wasn't feeling anger that they could have lied to him.
He wasn't feeling disappointment that they had broken fraternization rules.
But rather, he felt a sinking feeling as he suddenly realised he wished it was him and the X which were the subject of the rumour. And of course, in that case, he wished that the rumour was true. He shook his head trying to get rid of thoughts as stupid as those. How illogical. Wanting to be the subject of a rumour about a relationship between him and the X. It's thoughts like those which could ruin his career. He took a deep breath and began to walk towards the X's cabin. He'd simply ask if it was true and go from there. He reached her door, composed himself and knocked.
"Who is it?" came the call from inside.
"It's Mike"
She opened the door and smiled.
"Oh, is everything ok Sir?"
"I just have a few questions to ask you..."
***
He walked out feeling satisfied. She was not only shocked by the claims but also insistent that it wasn't true. How he, himself, could have ever considered any of it to be true was beyond him. And as he walked towards his cabin he indulged himself in the thought that maybe, just maybe, one day the X and him can be involved not in a rumour, but the real thing.