Disclaimer: I do not own Sea Patrol. I merely use the characters for my own enjoyment.
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Nikki and Bomber continued to stare at Kate, the shock of her statement obvious on both their faces.
"You mean Mike?" Bomber asked.
Kate nodded her head.
"As in Mike Flynn?" Nikki asked.
Kate nodded her head.
"As in Lieutenant Commander Mike Flynn?" Bomber asked.
Kate nodded her head, letting out a frustrated sigh at the fact they couldn't process what she was saying.
"The captain of this ship. Our Captain?" Nikki asked.
"Yes!" Kate shouted, the frustration and anger and swirling of emotions inside of her causing her to lose her composure. She stood up, narrowly missing the bunk above her. She paced backwards and forwards, twisting her hands together as she analysed the situation she was in.
Nikki didn't want to ask, but she thought Kate needed to talk about it. "Kate, how did it happen?"
Kate's head shot up, her eyes meeting the curious ones of both Nikki and Bomber. She didn't know whether she should tell them, her emotions in turmoil as she tried to grasp exactly what it was that had occurred in the last few days.
"Well. It started at the pub…"
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Kate stepped into the pub, her eyes instantly falling on Mike. She felt her stomach flutter as his face cracked into a grin as he erupted into laughter with Buffer and Swain. She didn't know how but his smile always weakened her at the knees and although the smile wasn't directed at her, it still had the same effect. She felt the blush rise on his cheeks as his eyes locked on hers and for a moment it seemed as though the world stopped and nothing else existed around them. The background noise faded into nothing as he smiled at her, gently moving his head to tell her to come over. She gave him a small smile in return, her feet instinctively moving towards him. Before she knew it, she was standing before him, taking the glass of wine he held out to her.
"I took the liberty of ordering you a glass," he said quietly.
She smiled, taking a sip from the glass, "Thanks."
He took her arm before pulling her over to where the rest of the crew were.
Drinks continued to flow for the rest of the night and it wasn't long before the crew found themselves stumbling around intoxicated.
Kate found herself leaning against Mike outside the pub, his arm wrapped tightly around her waist.
"'M fine!" she mumbled pulling away from him, only to find herself tripping on her own feet. Mike reached out unsteadily and grabbed her, stopping her from falling.
"No you're not," he replied, his own words slurring together.
His arm found itself wrapping around her waist again as the two leant against one another whilst they waited for a cab. It wasn't long before one showed up and both of them stumbled in. The cab started to move and the motion started to send Kate to sleep, her head rolling around. It wasn't long before her head found its resting place on Mike's shoulder. He jumped at the sudden weight and turned to see her lying there.
"I miss this," she murmured, her eyes opening, leaving her head in place as she turned it slightly to look up at him.
He turned his own head slightly to look at her suddenly noticing how close she was.
As her eyes locked with his, a moment of clarity seemed to pass through her alcohol-befuddled mind and she knew that what she felt for Mike had not been buried with her past. Without a second thought she inclined her head slightly, her lips meeting his in a soft and tantalising kiss. She pulled back, her eyes locking onto his astonished ones. It wasn't long though before he pressed his lips back against hers, pulling her into his lap as he buried his hands into his hair. She let out a soft moan as he pulled her against him, the feeling of his body against hers something she'd been craving for months.
"We're here."
The two pulled apart at the cab drivers interruption, their eyes locking onto each others, trying to comprehend exactly what they had just done.
"That'll be $13 thankyou."
Mike threw a twenty at the cabbie before pulling Kate out of the cab with him. She stared up at him, her eyes glazing back over as the alcohol kicked back in. She leant up, her lips becoming dangerously close to his.
"You going to invite me in," she whispered before placing her lips teasingly onto his.
He smiled against her lips before tugging her inside.
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Nikki raised an eyebrow, "Wow. So you and the captain…" She waved her hand around in an attempt to explain it.
Kate nodded her head, "Yeah. I left before he woke up the next morning. I don't even know if he remembers."
"So that was about two and a half months ago wasn't it?" Bomber asked.
Kate nodded again.
"And neither of you have brought it up with one another," Bomber continued.
Kate shook her head again, "The next time I saw him I kept things professional and I think he either got the hint and hasn't brought it up or he genuinely doesn't remember."
Nikki was lost in thought. Something just didn't seem right. "Kate, why would you and Mike sleep together after only meeting each other as a CO and a XO. I mean, sure enough there would have been tension but it just doesn't make sense, especially with you. You're Princess Perfect, the most rule-abiding officer I know. You wouldn't give in to temptation that easily."
Kate froze, the thought that she would have to reveal her past not too appealing. Bomber had caught onto Nikki's line of thinking though.
"And it's not as though the CO has displayed any obvious feelings for you. The only evidence I've seen is how he acts like a jealous ex-boyfriend whenever you're with Jim."
As Kate fidgeted nervously, both girls picked up where the link was.
"Oh my God," the said simultaneously.
"He is an ex-boyfriend isn't he!" Bomber exclaimed.
"XO, Nav, to the bridge at the rush."
Kate almost thanked Mike at that point in time at getting her out of an awkward situation. However, as she rushed from her cabin, she remembered exactly what had put her in that awkward situation and the even worse one she was walking into. She silently cursed her fellow female sailors and her commanding officer as she opened the door to the bridge.
As Mike's blue eyes fell on her, concern evident in the depths, she felt her stomach twist in nervousness at having to face him.
"X? Is everything all right? I've called you twice to the bridge."
She nodded her head, not relying on her voice at that point in time. He raised an eyebrow at her before turning back to RO.
"Have you managed to determine if there is anyone else able to respond to the Mayday call?"
RO shook his head, "No sir. We're the best placed vessel."
Mike let out a sigh before reaching for the handset, "Captain Roth. Can you please come to the bridge."
Kate's stomach did another flop at the thought that both of the men in her life would be in the same room as her, at the same time. She reached for the chair as a dizzy spell overwhelmed her. This was all getting to be too much.
"XO, I want you to organise a party to board this vessel that has relayed a mayday call. Be prepared though because we're not exactly sure what's gone on."
She nodded her head, the movement sending her vision spinning. Nikki had returned to the bridge to see Kate's face suddenly go pale. She leant over to her, quickly checking to see if she was okay. She knew that she wasn't but Kate wasn't letting anything go and just nodded her head in reply. Her attention was quickly drawn elsewhere as Jim entered the bridge and a radar contact appeared onscreen.
Kate eyes quickly landed on Jim who immediately walked up to her.
"You okay?" he whispered to her.
She nodded her head, her eyes firmly fixed on the radar screen, hoping not to give anything away. Jim let out a sigh, wishing that she would at least open up to him. She had hardly said anything to him in the last two months and he wondered what it was that was going on with her.
"Captain Roth, I hate to inform you but we are going to be slightly delayed in delivering you to the Samaru Islands," Mike said, quickly interrupting what looked to be an intimate moment between Jim and Kate.
Jim turned on Mike, "What! You aren't going after another boat are you! I need you to get us to Samaru. Things have gone to hell in the last two months and they need us there."
Mike turned, his eyes blazing as Jim once again tried to tell him how to do his job, "No we're not. In fact we're responding to a mayday call that was sent through not too long ago. Unfortunately we're the closest placed vessel and as such have a duty to respond."
Jim let out a sigh, knowing he couldn't fight it. He turned to Kate instead, "Can I have a quick word with you?"
She turned quickly, her eyes widening in fear at the thought that he might find out. Her eyes flickered around the bridge, hoping to find some way to get out of the impending hole she would be digging herself into.
"I ah… have to stay here to prepare a boarding party."
Unfortunately, Nav didn't know how to keep her mouth shut, "X. We're still 15 minutes out. You can go and have a chat with Captain Roth if you need to."
Kate threw her a glare as Jim led her out of the bridge, knowing she would have to have a word with her when she returned. He led her outside onto the deck, knowing it would be the only place they would get complete privacy. He pressed her up against the railing, his arms either side of her in a protective gesture. Kate felt claustrophobic though.
"Jim…" she stared up at him, her eyes wide as he leaned in close to her.
"Kate, what is going on?"
Her eyes looked anywhere but at him, trying to avoid the topic of conversation that would inevitably lead to her revealing a certain little something that wasn't his.
"Nothing is going on Jim. I've just been busy."
He let out a sigh, one hand cupping her chin and bringing her back to look at him. "Look me in the eye and say that."
She stared at him, usually able to lie her way out of a situation like this but something in his gaze was stopping her.
"I… I…"
He let out a sigh before dropping his hand, "I thought so."
She looked up at him, watching as disappointment crossed his face.
"Jim, I didn't mean for it to happen," she whispered quietly. His eyes quickly rose to meet hers again, confusion staring at her.
"Didn't mean for what?"
She stopped, knowing she had already let too much out, "Nothing. Just drop it." She pulled out from under his arms and headed for the hatch. As she reached out to open it, she was briskly turned around and pushed against the side of the ship, something sticking painfully into her back. She let out a whimper as his hands pinned hers painfully next to her head.
"Didn't mean for what to happen," he whispered low and threateningly.
She wasn't normally one to be afraid but at the menacing look in his eyes, she couldn't help the words that spilt forth.
Nikki checked the time in the bridge, noticing that Kate had been gone for a little longer than what she thought she would. She stood up, ignoring Mike's question as she left the bridge, concern for her friend clouding her senses. She headed down, jumping as a hatch slammed to her right. Her eyes widened as she watched Jim storm off down below and her instincts started to flare. Her eyes glanced to the half open hatch before turning and rushing out. Her eyes widened as she saw Kate hunched against the side of the ship, her wrists red and slightly bruised, her eyes full of unshed tears as she gazed off into the distance. Nikki stepped hesitantly over, "Kate?"
She looked her, her eyes full of such hate that Nikki was taken back for a moment.
"How could I do this to him," she said quietly, causing Nikki to strain to hear over the sounds of the engines and the ocean.
"How could I be such a… slut…" she continued, trailing off as her thoughts continued to whirl around her head.
"Kate," Nikki started again, only to be cut off by Mike's voice over the loudspeaker.
"Hands to boarding stations, hands to boarding stations."
Kate quickly stood up, the emotional wreck sitting before Nikki having disappeared in the blink of an eye. Nikki rested a hand on Kate's shoulder and for a moment, Nikki saw the scared, emotional wreck flicker briefly in her eyes before being replaced by a professional look as she turned and headed back inside.
