Happy Birthday?

Hi! I have recently become OBSESSED with Sea Patrol and this is my first fanfiction for this series.

Pairing is Mike/Kate (of course!).

If any of you who read this have read my other fanfiction 'Just Like Riding A Bike' for the House MD category, I lost my memory stick and have only just found it again, so I'll try and get a new chapter up as soon as possible!

This isn't beta'd so all mistakes (hopefully not many) are mine!

Enjoy!

The sound of her alarm woke Kate from one of the best night's sleep she'd had in a long time. Rolling over, she squinted at the clock, '6:15' it read, so she climbed out of bed and shut it off, looking towards the top bunk to wake Nav. Who wasn't there.

Frowning, because she knew Nav wasn't on duty for another hour or so, Kate started to get ready for her day and went to look for her.

20 minutes later, Kate headed to the Bridge after a quick detour to the galley to grab some coffee for herself, Buffer and the CO, who had been on duty all night. Climbing the last few steps, she saw the CO, Buffer and Nav talking quietly round the Captain's Chair.

'Morning.' She said brightly, causing the three of them to spring apart guiltily.

'Morning X,' Mike said with an overly cheerful smile, 'Sleep well?' he asked, accepting a mug of coffee from her.

'Very well thank you Sir.' She replied, handing Buffer the last mug and looked at them all suspiciously. 'Sorry Nav, I didn't realise you were here or I'd have brought you a mug as well.'

'No, no, don't worry,' Nav replied, waving her off, 'I was up early anyway, grabbed some before. I'll go see how Bomber's coming along with breakfast, I'm starving.' She was just escaping when RO appeared with a piece of paper in his hand.

'Sir, we just got a call from NAVCOM. Coastwatch just reported what looks like a pleasure cruiser under attack from pirates.' He handed the paper to Mike and headed back down to the Comm. Room.

'Thanks RO, Buffer?' Mike looked at the paper in his hands and gave Nav the coordinates.

Buffer picked up the Comm. 'Wakey, wakey, wakey ladies and gentlemen, rise and shine, I need hands to boarding stations, hands to boarding stations, hands to boarding stations, ETA 1 hour.'

'X, Buffer? Take a team each, and be careful.' Mike said.

'Yes, Sir.' They replied, heading below deck.

Maybe today wasn't going to be a quiet birthday for Kate after all.

***

'Good work X.' Mike greeted his XO as she wrestled the last man into the hold.

'Thank you Sir,' she replied with a smile, 'it was all Buffer really.'

'Isn't it always?' Mike said with a smile. Kate just grinned at him and then they stood awkwardly in the corridor for a few seconds until Mike noticed something on her sleeve.

'X, you're bleeding!' he took her hand and rolled the sleeve of her overalls up past her elbow. 'Did you get stabbed?' he asked, noticing how deep the wound was. 'X?' he asked when she didn't answer him. He looked into her face which had turned quite pale as she stared at the wound in her arm. 'Kate?' he asked again, getting her attention.

'Sir?' she asked looking a bit confused.

'Do you remember being hurt at all during the boarding?' Mike asked again.

'Erm… I don't think so, I don't…I'm not sure.' She replied, shaking her head.

'Let's get you to Swain, OK?' he suggested, noticing she had started to tremble slightly and steered her in the direction of the Ward Room.

***

About an hour later, Kate finally managed to make it back to her cabin after Swain had put in a few stitches and bandaged her arm as best he could and told her to visit the hospital as soon as they got back to port.

Lying down on her bunk, it took her a few minutes to realise there was a candle flickering on her desk. She rolled onto her side and looked at it for a couple of seconds before getting up to investigate.

Her slightly confused frown turned into a small smile as she saw that the candle was stuck in the middle of a fondant icing smiley face piped onto the top of a triple chocolate muffin.

Picking up the small card resting against the side, she read the four word invitation that was written in very familiar handwriting, 'Happy Birthday! Drink later?'

She smiled even wider as she flopped down on her bunk and closed her eyes.

***

'XO to the Bridge, XO to the Bridge.' The sound of Nav's voice filling the cabin jolted Kate awake. She looked around in confusion before realising she must have fallen asleep after getting changed.

Muttering curses under her breath, she flew out the door and towards the Bridge.

'Sorry Sir,' she apologised, hastily re-tying her hair, 'I must have fallen asleep.'

'Don't worry,' Mike said with a smile, 'we should be back in port in about 45 minutes. Take her in for me would you X? I've got something I need to sort in my cabin.'

'Erm, yes Sir.' Kate replied with a confused frown.

'Thanks, XO has the ship,' he disappeared below deck before Kate could say anything else.

'I have the ship.' Kate sat down in the chair Mike had just vacated and shot a questioning look at Buffer, who just shrugged.

***

'Who's coming to the pub?' Mike asked as they all filed off the Hammersley a couple of hours later.

'Sorry Boss.' Was the reply from a number of the crew, followed by numerous flimsy excuses.

'Swain?' Mike asked, turning to the medic.

'Sorry Sir, I've got to get home to Sally. Maybe tomorrow.' He apologised with a smile and headed off to catch a taxi.

'Buffer?'

'Hot date I'm afraid Boss, have a nice time though.' He grabbed his bag and jogged off to catch up with Swain.

As everyone else made their excuses and left Mike and Kate were the only two left.

'Well,' Mike said, clapping his hands together and making Kate jump slightly, 'looks like it's just you and me. How about we get you to the hospital, otherwise Swain will kill me, and then I'll buy you that birthday drink?' Kate couldn't help but grin at the hopeful smile he was sending her.

'OK,' she agreed after a few seconds, 'but if they give me painkillers you still owe me a proper drink.'

'No problem.' Mike said with a laugh, steering Kate in the same direction everyone else had gone.

XxxMike/KateXxX

'What did the doctor say?' Mike asked jumping up from his seat in the hospital waiting area and stuffing his phone in the front pocket of his jeans.

'Well, my fingers are aching from all the dexterity tests they made me do, but other than that, I'm fine. No nerves or tendons hit, so I just have to try not to do too much. Good thing I'm right handed.' Kate let out a relieved sigh and at the look on her face Mike pulled her into a quick hug.

'I guess that means you'll be finishing all my paperwork then.' he teased with a grin.

XxXMike/KateXxX

After a quick detour to both of their houses for fresh clothes, they arrived at the pub to find all the lights off and the place deserted.

'Maybe they've closed early?' Kate suggested, as she approached the front door and pulled. She looked back at Mike who just shrugged and followed her through.

'Hello?' she called. All at once all the lights came on and Kate stopped, causing Mike to bump into her.

'SURPRISE!'

Well, that's the first chapter, hope you enjoyed it. Please review, it'll make me smile! :D