Hammersley had returned to home port at around 09:00 and everyone was desperate to disembark and take some time. The last 48 hours had been tough. Draining physically and for some emotionally as well. They had to organise and assist with a mass evacuation on Samaru as the island village they were assisting in building a medical centre had been attacked. The SAS had gone to investigate and isolate the insurgents, but they were ambushed and attacked. Hammersley had been tasked with extracting the SAS team. The only place that they could safely dock was Sambon Warf. The whole task resulted in Mike and Jim getting wounded both had serious injuries but Mike was more serious shrapnel wound and serious blood loss. Both men had been medi-vaced on to HMAS Melbourne. Leaving Kate as the Commanding officer of Hammersley.

Getting a command of a ship even a patrol boat was something Kate had dreamed of her whole career. But getting her first command in this way was not how she ever imagined or wanted to achieve this. Hammersley was Mike Flynn's ship and she would be glad to hand it back when he had recovered. Then she had to deal with a stow-away and possible hostage situation.

She was desperate to get off Hammersley and to the hospital but being in command meant she had a ton of paperwork to go through before she could leave. Standing on the deck looking out at the port and the crew all leaving she was talking to Commander Marshall

"Mikes in intensive care. Now everything went well but the next 24 to 48 hours are apparently crucial"

"that's good news" she smiled

"yeah yes it is. They say they wont know if there is any perement damage until he wakes up"

Kates heart sank. The Navy was mikes life. It would more or less kill him if he had to take a desk job and was unable to return to the sea, to Hammersley.

Marshall told her mike must have thought she was good enough to be in command otherwise he would not have left her in charge as he lead the extraction team.

"now About your Stow-away"

"oh I sent a report..." was her reply internally her mind was going "oh that's great my first command and I stuff up over a stow-away there is no way they will let me take another command again."

"and I read it. Bit unorthodox" he smiled

"yeah" Kate smiled with relief at least Marshall was alright with the way she handled things and she wasn't in any trouble for bringing the girl back to Australia.

"but a good result"

"yes" Kate smiled looking out at the sea. Now all she really wanted was go to the hospital.

Kate rushed out of the lift. It had taken a age to go up the few floors. She fiddled with her collar loosening it from around her neck. Turning the corner she walked in to the path of Jim Roth. She was surprised to see him here as he was the big tough SAS type who usually didn't listen to medical advise like get a scan after a head injury.

"your back home" she smiled at him.

"I just had a CT scan. Everything is fine"

"oh that's great" she was pleased for him it had been a nasty incident and he had been seriously injured

The space between them suddenly felt awkward and neither of them knew what to say to each other.

"so um you hear to see mike?" he asked

"yeah" she nodded slightly

"we had fun Kate" he smiled with a slightly forced smile. "take care of yourself" he sidestepped around her.

She turned eyes following him "what do you mean"

He looked at her it was painful to recall the moment when he realised the woman he loved was in love with someone else. "when you and mike were in the ward room on Hammersley I wasn't asleep. I heard you"

"I have enormous respect for lieutenant commander Flynn as ..." she replied nervously trying to hide her true feelings.

He smiled with a chuckle "its okay smudge. I don't get all hung up on fraternisation rules like you navy guys." He held out his hand "take care of your self" he smiled taking her hand he turned it tracing his thumb along her knuckles before pulling away despite Kates resistance.

She watched him as he walked towards the lift. Despite her feelings for mike she did love Jim and she never wanted to hurt him like that. She turned on her heal and walked along the long corridors of the hospital till she found the ICU where mike was.

Kate walked in to mikes room closing the door behind her. Looking at him lay in the bed was hard she just wanted him to wake up. Walking over to the bed she placed her hand on his arm. Tracing it down towards his hand dodging the iv line that was providing the life saving medication and fluids. She edged her hand under his fingers. It felt so small in his. She gave his had a squeeze hoping for some sort of reaction a responce something that showed he knew she was there.

When there was non she sat in the hard uncomfortable blue plastic chair beside the bed. Forcing back the tears trying not to cry. She just sat and watched. Watched the slow rise and fall of mikes chest listing to the machines humming in the background. She just watched and prayed. Prayed he would wake up. Wake up and be alright. But most of all he would come back to Hammersley