As Kate walked up the ramp onto the Baranduda, she threw a glance back at the families saying goodbye to their loved ones. Jealousy and anger flooded through her at the sight. She wished that Mike was here to say goodbye to her, but she glanced over to where the Hammersley should be tied up. She wished Mike hadn't gone out. She wished he were here.

Kate turned as Mike walked into the kitchen. She walked over and wrapped her arms around his waist.

"Hey, what did NavCom want?"

She felt him stiffen against her and pulled back to look at him. His face was blank, showing no emotion. But there was something in his eyes. She was suddenly afraid.

"Mike, what is it?"

He looked her in the eyes, "NavCom wants the Hammersley out on patrol. The Bundaberg needs some repairs done to it."

Kate took a step back, shaking her head, "You can't go. I go in a week! You said you would be there to say good bye."

"I'm sorry Kate but I can't help when I'm sent out," he replied, trying to make her see his side. He moved to try and hug her.

"Don't, just don't," she said before walking off. She walked into the bedroom and ignored him for the rest of the night.

When she woke up in the morning, he had gone.

She looked away from where the Hammersley should be, regretting that she didn't actually say goodbye to Mike.

She stood in the bridge, listening to the navigator tell her about the approaching cyclone. They weren't able to delay their departure to let the category 5 cyclone pass and so instead were looking for a way around it.

"We may have to sail closer to the Indonesian archipelago," he told her.

She nodded her head, "Sounds like a plan. Work out the alternative course and check with the CO."

He nodded, "Yes Ma'am. Did you have family here today?"

Kate shook her head, "No."

She was not elaborating further, knowing that he was only making conversation.

He looked away, throwing a quick glance out the window as a ship let out an approaching horn.

"Looks like a patrol boat is returning," he said offhandedly.

Kate looked up, recognising the Armidale class patrol boat. She grabbed a pair of binoculars to make doubly sure but the hull number gave it away.

She turned to the navigator. "I'll be back soon," she said before quickly running out.

By the time she had gotten back through the ship and to the ramp, the Hammersley had already docked. She raced down the ramp, her eyes frantically looking for Mike. She pushed through couples and parents hugging until she reached the end of the crowd. There was no sign of him. She turned and walked back through the crowd towards the ramp. She was just about to step on when a cry came from behind her.

"Kate!"

She turned around and saw Mike pushing through the crowd.

"Kate! Wait!"

She stepped off the ramp and ran towards him and straight into his arms.

"I'm sorry for what I said. I didn't mean it! I was just upset that you weren't going to be here," Kate said as she buried her face into his shirt.

He tightened his arms around her, "I wasn't going to let you go without saying goodbye."

She pulled back and looked at him, "You smell. When did you last take a shower?"

He just laughed and leaned in and kissed her. She wrapped her arms around his neck, entangling her hands into her hair and deepening the kiss. The ships horn blared, indicating it would be leaving soon.

They pulled apart, her eyes never leaving his.

"I'm going to miss you," he whispered.

"I know. I'm going to miss you too. But I'll be able to email you," she replied.

He smiled at her, "I know. But it won't be the same as having you here." He rested his hand against her cheek, "Stay safe. I don't want to lose you."

She nodded her head, "I will don't you worry. You be careful too. I don't want to come home to hear you've been hurt by some machete-wielding maniac."

He laughed, "I don't see that happening."

The horn blared again.

"I'd better go," she whispered.

He nodded his head and leant in and kissed her for the final time.

"I love you."

She smiled at him and wrapped her arms around him, "I love you too. See you in 6 months."

She stepped away and walked towards the ramp. At the top she turned back and gave him a small wave before disappearing in amongst the throng of sailors boarding the boat.

As she disappeared, he let out a sigh, relieved he had made it to say goodbye, but concerned because of the uneasy feeling in his stomach. As the boat started to pull away, he figured he should return to the Hammersley. When he got back to the boat, he quickly ran to the bridge and told the sailor to let out a few short bursts of the horn, knowing it wasn't right, but wanting to wish the crew, mainly Kate, well.

Kate was standing in the bridge, next to the CO, when they heard the horn blasts from the Hammersley. They all looked and Kate couldn't help but smile at the sight of the crew standing and frantically waving on the decks. Her eyes drifted to the bridge where she could see Mike standing there waving. She moved out of the enclosure to the bridge to return the waves. Even over the sound of the engines, she could hear the cheering and calls from the crew. She waved till they were out of sight before heading back into the bridge with a laugh.

The CO looked at her strangely. "That's hardly the way for an XO to act in front of a crew," he said with a slight disapproving voice.

"Sorry sir, but that was my last crew. It's also my husband's boat," she replied with a smile.

"What boat is it?" he asked, genuinely curious.

"HMAS Hammersley Sir," she replied.

He nodded his head in realisation, "I believe that is commanded by Commander Flynn. I hear he has got himself a bit of a reputation," he threw her a sideways glance.

She smiled and let out a little laugh before murmuring to herself, "That's my Mikey."

She held tight as the boat plunged through another wave. The cyclone had slightly changed its course, meaning the Baranduda was right in the way. They had no alternative but to charge straight through the storm. Kate watched as the lightening flashed through the sky. She thought back to the time when the Hammersley went through a storm much calmer than this and they had lost power. She was afraid then, now she was petrified. Another flash of lightening streaked through the sky followed by a deafening crash of thunder. Everything seemed to move in slow motion. She saw the lightening heading straight for the ship and surprising everyone, the ship lost all power. Everyone started to rush around like headless chooks, no one knowing what to do. The CO was attempting to reach the bridge, trying to get them to restore power to the boat. They spent about half an hour trying to work it out as the ship was buffeted around in the storm.

Kate returned to the bridge, hoping things were looking better, only to hear that they hadn't been successful. Suddenly a cry from the helmsmen turned every ones attention to an island looming up in front.

The CO quickly turned to the radio operator, "Get a mayday out… NOW!" All eyes were on the looming island. The bridge was silent except for the mayday that was being relayed by the radio operator.

The CO's eyes widened as a rocky outcrop appeared out of the swell of the ocean and he knew that there wasn't a chance of avoiding it, "Prepare for impact!"

As the ship hit the rocks, the motion threw Kate into the steering panel. Her vision swam and all she could hear was the groaning of metal and the shouts of sailors. It started to fade and as she was swept into black oblivion, her last thoughts were of Mike.