A week had passed as Katherine made her way to the docks for her first Patrol aboard Hammersley, as she arrived Mike and Kate were waiting at the front of Hammersley with the rest of the crew for her, she slowly made her way to them and saluted.
Kate smiled at her as she turned to face the crew
"Alright everyone, this is Katherine Shooter she is the new electronics Engineer. Charge you'll take her under her wing until you leave in a couple of weeks. So teach her everything you know" Kate said as Charge made his way over.
"Come on I'll show you too your cabin, names Andy, Charge for short you got a nickname?" he asked shaking her hand and moving to walk towards Hammersley entry
"Ah well my Mum calls me Kate.." she said following him
"Well that might get a little confusing any other nicknames?"
"My Dad and friends call me Kat"
"Kat it is then" Charge said smiling at her as they walked through the narrow hallways of Hammersley towards her cabin.
Kate had heard some of what Katherine was saying to Charge, especially about the part of her being called 'Kate', she turned to face Mike who was smiling at her.
"Stay safe ok.. And if there's any trouble give me a call" Mike said as he pulled her into a hug
"What do I do if she brings things up?" Kate said looking up at him
"Just tell her the truth" Mike said giving her one final squeeze
"I love you" he said into her hair
"I love you, I'll see you in a month" she said looking up and giving him a quick kiss before pulling away and walking onto Hammersley.
Kate was terrified and this sort of thing didn't come easily for her the only other times she felt this way was the birth of her children.
She was 18 when she fell pregnant with Katherine, she was just starting her career out and Mike was her professor, she did what she thought was right at the time when she turned 19 she went into Labour so she'd always remember the birth of Katherine because it was the same day as her birthday.
Each year she prayed that Katherine was doing well especially around their shared birthday.
Mike was 28 when he got Kate pregnant he knew it was wrong he was her professor but they were madly in love. They gave her up for adoption because neither one of them were ready or even knew how to look after a baby, Kate chose a lovely couple who couldn't have children of their own and each year they would send Kate a photo of Katherine.
Kate and Mike broke up the same time they gave Katherine up; they didn't see each other again until 5y later when Kate was transferred to Hammersley they danced around each other for another 2y before they finally gave up everything to be together.
Mike went to NAVCOM for a shore posting so they could be together and Kate stayed on Hammersley, that same year Kate found out they she pregnant with twins.
It brought up a lot of mixed feelings for them both but they were ecstatic and knew that they were ready to be parents this time.
When Kate was 25 when she gave birth to a beautiful set of twin boys they named them Chris and Noah they were happy of a family of 4 but Kate surprised Mike less than 5y later when she told him she was Pregnant, she gave birth to a beautiful girl when she was 31 they named her Hope.
They named her this because Kate went into early labour and almost had a miscarriage.
Kate knew this day would come one day, but never did she imagine Katherine following in her parents' footsteps and joining the Navy.
Kate made her way up to the Bridge to where Charge was showing Kat the ropes she looked so much like her Dad, Kate couldn't help but stare.
"Right lets take her out" Kate said taking a seat in the Captain's chair
"Yes Ma'am" Swaine smiled as he took a seat next to her as they began to take Hammersley out.
Kate had a feeling this would be a long patrol she could feel Kat looking at her from her spot next to Charge.
