When Kate arrives on the bridge, she is informed of a Mayday call that they needed to respond to. A boat had lost engine power over a dangerous coral reef. The owner had used their anchor to prevent them from drifting. This takes her mind off the whole family idea for the time being.

While the RHIB is cutting through the water towards the vessel that called 'Mayday' she can't help hearing Mike's last words to her going over and over in her head.

The call was a simple fix for Charge, once the problem was isolated. An untrained eye they would never have picked up the problem. The skipper did say to Kate that if it wasn't for the storm that was hanging around, he may have just anchored up and tried to find it, but felt for his own safety and that of his family it was best he didn't. Kate thanked him for thinking like this and also commented on how each member had a life jacket on.

In the early hours of the morning the Hammersley arrives at their destination. At first light they start unloading the supplies that are for communities that have been cut off. The next two days are spent being busy helping the locals get everything up and running again. Mike and Kate don't have much time to talk about things, but she can feel when he looks at her, even when her back is turned. The unasked questions via his eyes making sure she is ok. Mike can tell ever since they left port, Kate is not one hundred per cent, but he knows that if he even tries and remove her from full duties, she will have it out with him and as she is not injured, he has not got valid reason to do so.

Three weeks after leaving port, Hammersley was enjoying a beautiful day. The water was close as it could get to flat, the sun was streaming in, the sky was blue and so far the day had been nice and slow. They had even had dolphins jumping beside them at one stage, which was a pleasure to all the crew. The crew were all enjoying a more relaxed day compared to the busy three weeks they had been having with little down time to relax and recharge the batteries.

Sadly at around 1300 hours their quiet day is broken with the call for help over the VHF, it's not a mayday call, but a pan pan call. RO listens to them picking up their foreign accent.

"RO, ask them what the problem is?" Mike says as the bridge goes dead quiet as they all try and listen in.

"Engines aren't working and we're unable to get them back running again." Comes through the bridge and everyone hears the accent from the skipper. RO is able to get their position and Hammersley start making way towards them.

As they about to board the vessel, Kate yells out to her team.

"Ok guys this may be a Pan Pan call, but be on the lookout for anything out of place. This boat is not an Australian registered boat, so we don't know what it is doing here or what it is carrying. Fox and Charge, I want you two to stay on the RHIBS providing back up if we need it. The rest with me and Charge before you say anything, we will clear the boat before bringing you on to look at their engine." She says, knowing what Charge was going to ask, as she gives him a slight smile.

The skipper of the boat and one of his mates are on the deck watching as the RHIB comes towards them. The skippers mate sees Kate's face and it seems so familiar to him, but he just can't place where he has seen that face before.

"Sam, are you right?" the skipper, John asks his mate

"Yeah, I'll be fine, just the face of that person on the back of that boat, she reminds me of someone, but I don't know who." He says and then he stops as the crew board the vessel as they stand there. The face was now even clearer to him than before.

"My name is Lieutenant McGregor. Which one of you is the captain of this vessel?" Kate asks in her professional officer's tone. Sam thinks McGregor that was her surname, but then how many other people are called McGregor in this world as well as our family?

"That is me ma'am. John Hoy."

"Are there any more people on board?" she asks

"No, just us two." He replies back.

"You don't mind if we do a quick search of your vessel before we allow our engineer to have a look to see if he can fix your issues."

"No not at all, go right ahead." John says nicely to her. Kate picks up the British accent coming from him. She looks at the other male who has said nothing

"2Dads, Dutchy go below and check it out RO with me we'll check the top deck. You two please stay here where the rest of my team can see you." She says with precision. The team then divides up and does as she has asked.

Ten minutes later.

"All clear X." Dutchy says

"Thanks Dutchy, Charge." She says and he starts to board the vessel he lifts up the engine hatch at the back of the boat. And starts looking at it and checking things over.

"X, there's nothing I can do; we're going to have to tow them back to base."

"What's wrong with it, Charge? You know the boss will want to know?" She asks him

"Well, this not fitting properly is the first major issue." He says as he pulls up a pipe and shows it to her. "And I don't have the right parts on Hammersley to fix it. Going by the look of the diesel in this pipe, there is water mixed with it, which means there is a leak somewhere where water is getting in. 2Dads can you double check the cabling for me? It looks like there are issues there as well." Charge asks and 2Dad's starts to look it all over.

"Ma'am, there is issues there as well." And Kate just rolls her eyes like she does and then turns to speak into her headset to Hammersley. She informs Mike of what is going on.

"You know, sir, you should really take far better care of your engine."

"We normal do, but she is an old boat."

"Doesn't matter how old the boat is. Engine care is as important as checking that your boat is sea worthy. More so with the storm that has just been through this area." Dutchy says to them.

"Ok Dutchy and 2Dad's, prepare the vessel for towing." Kate says. The crew knows that this means they will be towing the boat back to base. Harpy brings the RHIB alongside. "If you two will get anything you need for the journey back to Cairns, you will be travelling on board Hammersley as we tow your vessel back to port." Kate instructs to the two people on board the vessel.

"Sam? Are you ok?" John asks once the two are below decks and in the privacy of one of the rooms

"I'm sure I know her. She has the same surname as my brother."

"And how many other McGregor's are out there Sam?"

"Heaps but that face, and her blonde hair, she could be Ben's missing daughter and my missing niece."

"And how many times have we been through this Sam?" John says as they get together a few items that they will need.

"I know, but I don't think he looked this far for them. He never thought they had left the country when they left. The note only said that she was leaving and taking Kate with her. Not where or who with. Plus as far as he knew neither one of them had a passport." He replies back before they leave and head top side.

"I will need to check what is in that bag before we go ahead." Kate says and John passes it over. She goes through it and finds a change of clothes two books some reading glasses and prescription medications for John Hoy and Sam Benson. The name Sam Benson for some unknown reason triggers her to question "How do I know that name?" Kate shakes her head saying to herself within her head. No you don't Kate. Before closing it up and placing it on the RHIB as the two are helped on board.

"Dutchy, 2Dad's, I'll send Harpy back once we have got our quests onto Hammersley."

"Ok X." Comes from Dutchy as he is busy working away.

Back on Hammersley as the RHIB pulls up alongside and Mike is standing on the boat deck waiting as his crew and the two guests arrive on the deck.

"Fox, show our quests to their quarters. Bird make sure they get a hot drink. " Mike says before turning his attention to Charge. Kate is the last one to board Hammersley.

"Charge?" Mike asks him.

"Sir they have several engines problems and some are electrical, either from poor maintenance or just not knowing what they are doing. I can't fix one of their parts as we don't have anything on board that can do the job. "

"Fair enough, Charge." Mike replies back as he then looks at Kate.

"Don't worry I did a full check of their bag before they even stepped off their vessel." She says to him and he just shakes his head at her. He does a quick look around to make sure they are alone before talking to her again.

"You ok?" he asks her softly and she can hear the caring tone in his voice.

"Yea just...nah its nothing." She says as she shakes her head trying to get the thoughts out of her brain.

"Kate, if its bugging you, it is not nothing. if you want to talk, you know where my door is anytime day or night." His voice staying soft and caring as he talks, Then they hear the sound of the RHIB bringing the vessel along behind to hook up behind them. The noise bringing them both to the job at hand and away from the more personal issues that Mike can sense is going on with Kate.

"Thanks." she responds before going back into XO mode.

"Max, do you have any idea when I'm returning to my shore posting?" Mike asks after he has informed Maxine about the passengers and that they are now cruising back to base.

"No Mike."

"Max, you know I want my shore posting and I will do whatever I have to, to get it.

"I know Mike, but Fleet Command wants you out there." He scoffs at what she had said.

"Mike." Maxine replies back to him.

"It's funny how I was pushed for close to three years to take this shore posting and once I do they can't even give it to me. Max, just get it sorted before they end up losing me completely and I mean it Max. I have other far more important things I want to be doing with my life and staying here on Hammersley is not one of them." He says as he opens his door and lets Kate in after hearing the gentle knock from her.

"Says the person who is married to the sea and his boat."

"Not any more Max." He replies back smiling at Kate.

"Ok Mike, I shell see what I can do."

"Don't see, Max. Get it sorted for me please not as a work colleague, but as a friend?"

"Ok, Ok I will do something for you Mike."

"Thank you, Max." he says before they both say a quick goodbye.

"What were you and knocker talking about?" Kate asks as she takes a sip of her coffee.

"Me trying to get my shore posting back."

"Still no luck?"

"Nope, funny thing is since the old Hammersley was decommissioned they have pushed me to take that desk job. I do and then bang! I'm back on Hammersley" Mike sees the look Kate is giving him "And yes I know I mucked around at the start, but now she says fleet command want me out here."

"Well surely they could send you to another patrol boat?"

"Have asked that or a frigate." He sees the sad look in her eyes. "Hey look at me Kate, if it gets me off this boat then that is a good thing right?"

"I suppose so." She says softly. So my sister is right she still does have feelings for me. Mike thinks to himself as he watches Kate face. They sit there in silence Mike ever so often taking a sip of his drink.

"So what was it you came to see me about?" He says deciding that she wasn't going to go on any further about him leaving and being posted away from here. And this helps her get herself under control some more, the thought of him being on a frigate right now when things between them are so up in the air.

"I came to tell you our guests are in the junior sailor's mess talking to some of the crew relaxed and happy." She says.

"And you?"

"I'm fine Sir." She promptly gets back to him.

"Kate, you came off the RHIB this afternoon with something on your mind and you can't tell me there wasn't. We both know that we know each other far too well to lie about those sorts of things. And if I'm being honest I might as well say you have not been yourself since my sister texted you." He gives a brief pause before going on. "I've been worried, Kate. The others haven't picked it up, but I have. Ever since she said the word family to you, you've been side tracked at times." Kate looks down at her hands, she knows that she can't hide it from him. He is right they both know each other far too well. She knew she had hurt him deeply when she called things off several months ago and she knows he took it hard just by the way he was around her, even more so after refusing to talk to him outside of Hammersley or NAVCOM.

"It's funny how things work out. It wasn't till I shot Isabelle McGinley that I even thought about someone else and their family and who would miss them. I keep asking myself why, but then the shrink you made me go to said it might have something to do with me more than her. She was blonde, young, and I could relate to her in more ways than I realised. Now with Swain gone, leaving behind his family Chloe and Sally, But what do I have?"

"So what got you rattled out their today?" he says trying to get to the bottom of today's issue.

"The name on one of the pill bottles. For some unknown reason, I keep thinking I should know the name and the person who it belongs too, but I can't figure out why. The name Sam Benson keeps going over and over in my head and I can't figure out where it fits into all of this."

"Maybe it's a name from back when you lived in England?" Mike asks her

"But I don't remember anything from back then, well not that I can think of." She says as she sits there drinking the last of her coffee.

"Well maybe this name is from then and that is why you can't place it yet. Give it some time. You do know my brother in-law Barry? When he got married to my sister he was trying to find his biology parents, maybe he can help you."

"In what way Mike? He was given up at birth."

"No, He wasn't Kate. His parents gave him up at the age of five. Well… at the time they had no say in the matter. Look… it's just a thought someone to talk to who's been through loosing family. Maybe you should look for yours?"

"I don't know, Mike."

"It's just a thought. Think about it." He says as he starts to read an email.

"Bloody great." He says before resting his head in his hands.

"What?" Kate asks, concern evident in her voice.

"Guess who's in Cairns right now and if I know her as well as I do I bet she will already know what time we are docking and will be waiting for us?"

"Oh god no! Not your sister!" Kate Exclaims

"Yep Zoey, she sent me an email saying that they are up and she wants to know if I made any progress on what she told me to do."

"That explains why she was bugging me for a few days then." Replies Kate.

"I think I will have to have a few words with her over that."

"It's ok Mike, it's not her fault."

"But."

"Mike, I was already going through all of this just with her including me in their news reminded me of what I had lost completely." She cuts him off as her voice cracks, as she talks about what she had lost. He moves his chair till he is sitting in front of her as he places both his hands on her knees and when she doesn't look at him he uses one hand to lift her face to look at her.

"You haven't lost me completely, Kate. I'm still here."

"Yea but you weren't meant to be here. You were meant to be on shore. We were meant to be sharing this together, maybe with our own news to share." She says as a tear falls down her face. They are interrupt by the sound of them both being called to the bridge.

"Damn." Mike says as he moves away from Kate.

"Once ashore Kate, we need to sit down and talk this all over." He says as he gets up and goes to the door. She looks at him and nods her head in agreement. She follows him a few moments later.