The Way To A Girl's Heart
Part 2

Shore leave came and went and soon enough Spider found himself back in port staring up at the patrol boat. To his mother's pleasure, and his displeasure, he had spent almost the entire break with his family, and he hadn't heard from anyone in a while. So when they approached en masse on the docks he assumed they'd just missed him. Understandable. Instead he found himself facing a sea of questioning eyes until Nav asked it aloud.

"So, where's Bomber?"

Spider smiled cheekily but he worried what would prompt this. "She gave me the thumbs down a while ago Nav."

Nav just shook her head, her nose crinkling. "You don't know anything, do you?" Spider just tipped his head sideways with a grin and shrugged. Nav frowned at him. "The chef from the Waroona is on board. Bomber isn't back."

Spider frowned. He'd assumed she'd be back before they set sail again, she hadn't said otherwise. Unless she'd taken leave. He hoped she wasn't sick. But then a passing figure answered their questions. The smug-looking RO gave him a blank glance as he passed them, not stopping to speak but just passing them slowly. "I know where she is." He teased, looking like the cat who'd got the cream. "She went home."

Spider scoffed. "I could've told you that."

RO barely batted an eyelid. "Home to her hometown. Her mum is in hospital with liver damage." And with that he sauntered off.

Had Spider not been so worried about Bomber he may well have followed the smarmy git and punched him, but instead he just followed him onto the Hammersley lost in thought. Bomber's mum was really ill, dire if Bomber had returned to Mount Isa. She'd already confessed to Spider that she didn't have fond memories of her hometown. But more than his worry for Mrs Brown Spider worried about Rebecca. Why hadn't she told him? Because now he felt so useless.

I think I'm scared
I think too much

Bomber's trip back to Mount Isa had been uneventful. Eventually the small Cessna plane she'd been travelling home in landed in the small strip of compacted dirt that the townsfolk called the airport and, almost no luggage with her, Bomber stepped off the plane. Standing at the edge of the runway was Jessica and her husband Tom. Jessica was almost an exact replica of Bomber, from head to toe, except she had longer hair. They used to be asked if they were twins, but in fact there was 3 years between them. And their personalities were very different. While Bomber ranged from kind and sweet to cold and cruel, Jessica had two levels of emotions; nice or really nice. As a teen Bomber used to envy her sister. Everyone loved Jessica, she was perfect. Good grades, beautiful girl and a lovely personality. On the other end of the scale Bomber took after their mother. A livewire with substandard grades and little charm. Bomber still didn't care what people thought, but over the years she had grown more like Jessica and less like the little ratbag kid that everyone in town thought destined to marry a passing biker and ride off into a hazy sunset. And although Jessica had been expected to achieve greater things, she was now a farmer's wife with her first child on the way. A noble job, but Bomber still couldn't help but feel superior to her sister. She'd got away from Mount Isa the first time she could. Jess was still here. Poor thing. But then she had Tom. Tom was the second nicest man she knew, behind RO, and never had a bad thing to say about anyone. He was the kind of guy who'd lend you his shoes and walk across hot sand barefoot just to ensure you did okay. Unfortunately this meant that far too many people took advantage of his kindness and the couple's farm, with the aid of the drought, was struggling. Their small financial aid from the government helped little and Bomber and her mother had both started lending them money. They had promised to pay it back, but Bomber didn't need it and knew she'd never ask for a repayment, no matter what.

"Becky!" Jess squealed as she spotted her sister and hurried over her, a smile brought to Bomber's face as she watched her 8-months-pregnant sister waddle towards her. Rather than make her go the whole way Bomber jogged up to meet her, hugging her sister as tightly as she could around her giant belly. She touched it softly and Jessica smiled. "Say hello to aunty Becky little one."

Bomber laughed. "Aunty Becky, now I do feel old." She glanced up and gave Tom a wave. He waved back but didn't join them, giving the sisters time to catch up. "How are you Jess?" Bomber asked, getting a little more serious as she looked back at her little sister.

Jessica gave a brave smile but it didn't reach her eyes. "Oh yeah, well, it's all fine."

Bomber knew this wasn't true but smiled back at her anyway. The baby had already faced complications, with the child facing the wrong way, it's head up towards Jessica's chest rather than the other way around. The doctors hoped it would move, but it now seemed unlikely and a caesarean was on the cards. Then there was the farm, which still posed problems, and their mother. With their mother in hospital the weight was off Jessica's chest for a little longer, but the moment she left hospital their mother would become Jessica's burden. Bomber felt guilty for doing this to her sister, but there was nothing she could do. She couldn't exactly pack up and leave the Navy for an untold period of time, not unless she never wanted to return. Not to mention the fact that despite everything she'd faced so far on the Hammersley, she could never leave her friends to go anywhere, let alone this place she had escaped from. But while Jessie stood here free of cares Bomber wasn't about to stick the knife in. "Good Jessie, good." She gave her sister another hug. "Now, I'm tired. Let's get out of this dusty disaster of an airfield."

Jessica chuckled and took Bomber's hand. "C'mon then, let's go before the poor dear gets too much of the land in her sister and loses her ability to walk on water." She muttered jokingly. Bomber laughed. If only she knew how much Bomber wishes she could walk on water, because if she could she'd be walking back to the Hammersley right now, wherever it was.

I know it's wrong
It's a problem I'm feeling

The Hammersley had stopped and now, sick of staring at the same blank expanse of ocean on the EOD, Spider got to his feet and stretched. Nav glanced up from the maps before her and gave him a weak smile. Over at the controls Swain was starting to tap a rather annoying beat on the side of the armrest. They were all terribly bored. Earlier in the day they had spotted a fishing boat, but like many before it they had put their poles out when the RHIB got close, leaving the CO fuming and desperate to win this battle. Now their plan involved sneaking up on the little boat under cover of darkness and ambushing them, a tactic that the CO had attempted to employ before but had been shut down by SAS Captain Jim Roth in a hurried desire to get to Samaru. Not that Spider liked to think much about that day and how the whole week had ended so badly for him. Still, it had been his own fault. Bomber had told…

His thoughts and memories ceased then, caught up in other things. Bomber. It had been three days since they'd left port without her and although the Waroona chef, a cheery bloke called James, was a good cook, he was no Bomber. The galley was positively empty without her laugh, stupid faces and threats to poison his mashed potatoes. He hadn't had a decent battle of wits in a while and while Buffer entertained him enough, it wasn't as much fun as watching Bomber's hands close around a meat mallet when he appeared at the doorway and threaten to 'mallet' him with it. Then there was the normality of James' food, something which he never thought he'd regret having. He missed the feeling of confusion that came with receiving one of Bomber's creations and the look of disbelief he'd get from Bomber as she was again and again forced to explain exactly what it was. Of course he'd eat it, in his opinion anything Bomber did was outstanding, but it was still fun to have her look at him in that same way every meal time. It was one of the little things that made the Hammersley what it was, and with her gone the place seemed devoid of something. Just something little to her, but huge to Spider. The spirit of the Hammersley had gone to Mount Isa with Bomber.

If you're gone
Maybe it's time to come home
There's an awful lot of breathing room but I can barely move

The minute Bomber was settled in her sister's little homestead Jessie turned on her with a blank look. "We should go see mum straightaway." She said, not explaining anything.

Bomber frowned. "But she's only just out of surgery isn't she? She won't be up to visitors yet."

Jessie sighed and Bomber knew there was something else her sister wasn't sharing. Jess eventually explained. "I got a call this morning. There was a problem with the surgery. They wouldn't say what it was over the phone."

Although Bomber would rather avoid seeing her mother altogether she could see that Jessica was really worried and gave in. "Fine, let's go."

-

They reached the hospital, which was just outside Mount Isa, half an hour later. Tom had driven them but he didn't join them in the hospital, rather staying in the pick-up truck with a book. So, following Jess, who seemed to have memorised the way to their mother's room, Bomber sound found herself standing outside the closed door of private room 6. Their mother and her private health. She was such a snob sometimes. Knocking softly the door was opened by a middle-aged doctor who glanced briefly at Bomber before recognizing Jessica.

"Mrs Carlisle, come in." He ushered the sisters inside warmly, but his tone was defeatist. Bomber's eyes just went straight to their mother. The years hadn't been good to Grace Brown and now she looked even worse than Bomber ever imagined she could. As she heard Jessica introduce her to the doctor, Dr. William something, Bomber watched her mother's eyes move slowly. Her skin was so white it was almost transparent and she was starting to lose her hair. Although only 49, Grace looked very old. But there was something else wrong with her. The life in her that Bomber had always known, the anger that had been passed down to Bomber, was gone.

Bomber glanced back up at the doctor. "The surgery didn't go well, did it?" She came straight out and said, causing her sister to gasp softly.

The doctor didn't deny it and just gave a small nod. "No, it didn't. I'm sorry." He looked at Jessica. "That's why I called you this morning. I didn't want to tell you over the phone."

"Tell me what?" Poor Jessica looked terrified.

"The liver wasn't accepted by the body. It's not looking good." The doctor explained.

Bomber understood what this meant, but Jessica just looked confused. "So… so what are you going to do?"

The doctor sighed. "There's nothing we can do except hope. This liver took ages to get. I'm afraid there just aren't enough organ donors in Queensland." He glanced at Bomber but she just looked towards her mother who was now destined to die. "The liver purifies the blood. Without it functioning properly the blood becomes poisonous. And with the foreign liver within it speeds up the process. She doesn't have long."

Jess nearly collapsed under the weight of the revelation, but Bomber had seen it coming and just sighed. She led Jess over to a chair as the doctor gave them a sympathetic look and left the room. Leaving her sister sobbing uncontrollably in the corner Bomber just went to her mother's side.

"Oh Mum."

If you're gone
Baby you need to come home
There's a little bit of something me in everything in you

Standing on the edge of the deck, glancing up at the RHIB, Spider was joined by Buffer who just clapped him on the back before heading up the stairs to the RHIB. Spider joined him in the little boat a minute later. But as usual his mind was away with the pixies and he didn't notice the boat until the RHIB loomed up on it. Following Buffer on board he pulled his gun out as a man lunged towards them with a knife. Buffer dodged his advice and the man was surrounded but he didn't give up, turning on an unexpected Spider. Spider didn't notice that he was the man's target until he was too close to do anything and just stepped out of the way, causing the man to fall towards the edge of his own boat, momentum pushing him.

"What are you doing Spider?" Buffer's voice echoed in Spider's head and he woke up just as the man turned towards him again. This time Spider was quicker on his feet and pushed the man back into the corner, causing him to drop his knife. He then hastily handcuffed him, feeling silly under the gaze of Buffer who Spider knew was only watching him in case he stuffed up again. About 20 minutes later everyone was finished and Buffer walked towards Spider.

"What were you doing back there? You nearly got stabbed." Buffer asked.

But Spider had nothing to say and so felt stupid under the look of disappointment he was getting from Buffer. With a sigh he pulled one of the men to his feet and dragged him into the corner with the others.

I bet you're hard to get over
I get the room just won't shine

The doctor had suggested that they talk to their mother as much as possible because she could still hear them, but Jessica was in such a bad state that Bomber was starting to worry about the baby and forced Tom to take her home. Alone with just her mother's solitary figure with her, Bomber started to talk to her.

"I didn't hate you mum, I just had to get away." She started, glancing at the woman that had caused her so much grief with nothing but pity. "I wanted to be dad, free of all this trouble. It was a nice idea I know, but that doesn't mean it was right to leave you and Jessie. It was selfish and I know this. But the Navy was my dream, to get away from the disapproving looks and a drunk mother and perfect sister." She sighed. "Everyone thought you were perfect too, and that I was the mad one. But that's not the case was it. I just hated it that you never put them right. I'm your daughter!" She sensed her anger swelling and pushed it back, trying to think of something better. Something nicer. She thought about the Hammersley and started to tell her mother about everything she'd experienced so far on that boat. She knew she was rambling on though and eventually stopped. Then another thought crossed her mind. Spider.

"I have a confession to make mum. I know you always told me to tell you when someone important came into my life, but I never believed you actually meant it. I mean, you were a drunk. But I know you just wanted Jess and I to be happy, even if that meant getting away from you. He makes me happy mum. Really happy. I didn't think it was possible that one person could create that kind of idea. I mean, so many. One minute I need to hear his voice, the next thing I want to hit him with a saucepan." She gave a soft laugh. "It's so silly really. But he's nice, you'd like him. Kind, considerate, witty, funny. Pain in the ass of course." She smiled. "I didn't tell him what was going on back here because he'd be worried. He's like that, more emotional than he likes to make out. Really caring. He'd invite himself along if he knew. Charge in here and try to solve all the problems in the world. Completely bugger things up, but still try. He's a tryer." She laughed. "Trying."

Bomber glanced up at her mum, the older woman's eyelids now barely moving. Bomber watched her, the echo of the machine that kept her alive floating around in her head, and confessed one last thing. "I was going to ask him to come, I was so close to it. Seems stupid doesn't it; he has to work, but still. My little fantasies mum. You always said I was a dreamer. My last day before coming here I thought about it. Picturing him walking into this room, winning you over with a smile before announcing that you were the coolest person he knew. Of course you'd hate him, I did at first, but then you'd come around. Everyone does. He's a lovable rogue. But that was when I thought you were going to be okay mum, and you're not are you?" She shook her head slowly. "No, you're not."

I bet my hands I can stay here
And I bet you need more than you mind

Spider enjoyed the rec room, even if it did remind him that it was here that Bomber had turned cold on him and walked off into the sunset without a word of why she was going and how long she'd be gone. It made him think of the good times too. The times when he'd managed to make Bomber drop her tea by jumping out at her, the discussions about the French flag incident, the battle over the big screen TV they'd had when Ray Walsman had sent them the oversized electronic device or the day she'd finally confessed to him many things like her relationship with her mother and the real reason she never used to cook chips (something that had left Spider feeling terribly guilty). There were the good times, but still there lingered the threat that those good times were gone. If only he knew where he stood with her things would be okay. Maybe. He'd still miss her terribly.

There came a tap on the doorframe and Spider looked up to see Buffer glancing down at him, a worried look on his face. "Want some company mate?" He asked.

Spider smiled and nodded, watching Buffer enter the room. He headed straight to the bench by the door, leaning against it in his usual way, watching Spider who sat there lost in thought, one foot up on the seat and his arms crossed sullenly. "What happened out there?" Buffer asked eventually.

Spider glanced up at him and shook his head. "I don't know Buff, I really don't know. I just stuffed up, that's all."

Buffer sighed. "You're not like this Spider, usually I can count on you out there. You really let me down today."

Spider looked away. "Look, I know Buffer. I feel terrible enough already okay."

Buffer rubbed his head and frowned. "I'm not trying to make you feel terrible Spider." He sighed. "Whatever's on your mind, get it out there and get back to your usual self alright. You're built of tougher stuff than this Spi."

Spider smiled up at Buffer. "Thanks Buff." He expected Buffer to leave but when he didn't Spider realized Buffer was now prepared to take Spider's frustrations and this made Spider admire the man even more. "I'm being stupid Buffer, but it's really getting to me and I don't know why."

Buffer nodded, clearly he had no idea what Spider was on about, but supportive nonetheless.

Spider continued. "If I just knew why she didn't tell me about her problems I'd be fine, I'm sure. It's the not knowing."

Buffer smiled softly, finally catching on. "Bomber right?" He asked. Spider nodded. "Look mate, if I know anything about Bomber she's not the type to burden someone else with her problems or even show someone her feelings, unless of course it's anger, she does that one pretty well." Spider chuckled. "I'm sure that's all it is."

Spider nodded, knowing Buffer was right. "Yeah."

Buffer stood up then and went to the door but he stopped and glanced back at Spider. "You really like her, don't you?" He joked, giving Spider a grin.

Spider just frowned and waved him from the room, Buffer's laugh staying behind as Buffer himself left. But once he was gone Spider admitted something to the empty room.

"Yeah, I do."