This is the last part of this fiction. I you enjoyed reading it and if you did, I've got some other Sea Patrol fictions I'm hoping to publish soon. I'd still really like your reviews too. Anyway, so here goes...
You know the drill with what I own/don't own
0830 hours next morning
"How did you know something was wrong?" asked Nikki the next morning, looking a lot better than she had a few hours ago. The crew and Sally were all in to visit her.
"Well, the door was open and the house was trashed," said ET. "But mainly, it was Ruby." Nikki's eyes widened at the mention of her precious pup.
"Ruby, what is she okay?" Nikki asked worriedly, trying to sit up. She winced in pain.
"Hey, easy there Nik. You've just come out of surgery," said Kate, placing a hand on her friends' shoulder.
"Ruby's fine, she probably saved your life," replied Bomber. "She escaped and kept barking and barking. She never does that and we realised something was wrong."
"I've always said she's special, not just a ball of fluff," Nikki laughed, directing her reply mainly at ET.
"I stand corrected," he smiled. There was a knock at the door and everyone turned around.
"Are you trying to outdo me or something?" asked a man who was using crutches. ET instantly recognised the man as Nikki's brother, Ryan. Behind him was another one of her four brothers, Matt and his partner Tamsin.
"What are you guys doing here?!" Nikki exclaimed.
"We could hardly stay back there knowing our little sis was in trouble," said Matt. Nikki looked at ET.
"He called you didn't he?" Nikki asked. Ryan nodded.
"But I'm glad he did," added Matt. Nikki noticed the looks on her colleagues' faces.
"Oh, sorry. This is my brother Matt, my best friend since high school Tam and the crippled one is my brother Ryan," she told them.
"You can hardly call me crippled; look at you," said Ryan playfully. The crew took this as their cue to leave.
"We'll leave you guys to it," said Mike as he ushered the crew out of the room. ET stood up to leave but Nikki held onto his hand. He sat back down again, realising she wasn't going to let it go.
"So, how you feeling sis?" asked Ryan as he sat down on one of the chairs.
"I'm feeling good," Nikki smiled. "I should be able to return to work in a couple of days."
"Yeah, I don't think you'll be going back for a while yet," laughed Tam.
"I seriously didn't need you guys to come up here," said Nikki.
"Hello? What planet have you been living on? You just took a month off work to come help me because I had an accident. It's only fair I do the same," said Ryan.
"And as if we wouldn't come," smiled Tam.
"Mum and Dad will no doubt come too, as soon as they get the message," added Matt. Nikki looked confused.
"Just after you left, Mum and Dad left for a holiday in Italy. You know, to catch up with the family. But when they hear about you, they'll be on the first flight home. You know that," elaborated Ryan. Nikki groaned. Although she loved her parents to pieces, the thought of her overbearing mother just didn't appeal to her at the moment.
"Anyway, we better let you get some rest," said Tam, standing up to leave. "We'll come back later." ET slowly stood up and kissed her forehead gently.
"Love you gorgeous," he whispered.
"Me too," she replied, smiling.
1230 hours
Two weeks later, Nikki was well enough to go home. Although he had felt terrible, ET had returned to work after the Hammersley was tasked a week after the attack. He had considered asking for extended leave but Nikki had insisted he go, that she would be okay. Her doctors had also told ET that they weren't expecting her to leave the hospital for a while yet so she was in good hands until he got back. Matt, Ryan and Tamsin were also still staying in Cairns while Nikki recovered so ET did feel a little better. But Nikki had recovered so well, that her doctors let her go home a week before she was due. As Matt drove into the driveway of her house, Nikki froze. She had begun to remember flashbacks of the attack and until now she hadn't returned home. Tamsin hopped out of the car and opened her door and Nikki stood slowly, the pain in her chest reminding her of her broken ribs and damaged lung. She took one step, with the help of crutches as Matt came around beside her.
"You okay?" he asked, holding out his hand. "We can always book a hotel or something if you aren't ready to come back yet." But Nikki didn't feel frightened. If anything, she felt happy. She shook her head.
"It feels good to be home. Besides, I don't really remember so it can't freak me out too much." She smiled and slowly started making her way to the front door when she heard a familiar bark. "Ruby," she called out and the little dog came bounding over, gently dancing at her feet.
"Don't you make her fall over, Rubes," said Matt warningly. Ryan was walking behind Nikki and, as he too was still on crutches, nearly fell over the little dog.
"Nikki, how do you deal with her? I've only been here a fortnight and she's already tripped me over like a million times!"
"She's was missing me weren't you baby?" Nikki cooed to the little dog.
"Auntie Nikki!" cried a little voice. Running from next door was Chloe, Sally following closely behind.
"Hey Chloe! Can I have a hug?" asked Nikki, sitting down on the seat in the garden. The little girl hugged her tightly.
"Be careful, Chloe. Remember Auntie Nikki's just out of hospital," warned Sally.
"Hey Sal," said Nikki, looking up at her friend. She hugged Sally too. Everyone proceeded to head towards the decking to catch up.
1635 hours
The HMAS Hammersley was just about to dock in port after being at sea for the last week. While most of the crew were eager to see their family or go to the pub, ET was hurrying to organise his things, wanting to visit Nikki at the hospital as soon as he could. He was about to leave the bridge when the CO stopped him.
"You going to visit Nikki?" he asked, but already knowing the answer.
"Yes, sir," ET replied.
"Is tonight the night, ET?" asked Swain from his seat at the helm with a smile.
"I reckon it could be," smiled ET. Kate smiled at Mike. They both knew what ET and Swain were talking about.
"Good luck mate," Swain called out as ET was leaving the bridge. He was about to open the door when the CO stopped him.
"Yes sir?" asked ET, slightly impatiently wanting to go below and organise his stuff.
"I think you have a visitor," the CO nodded to the dock. Looking at the figures on the dock, ET instantly recognised her, supporting herself on crutches, standing with Sally, Chloe, Matt, Tamsin and Ryan.
"I thought she wasn't getting out for another week," stated Swain. X shrugged her shoulders. As the Hammersley docked, ET was the first off the ship, nearly forgetting to salute on the way off. She smiled, giggling as she watched him hurry a salute after forgetting to do so. He rushed over and gave her a hug.
"Careful, I'm still fragile," she warned teasingly.
"How long have you been out?" he asked as he drew back.
"A couple of hours. I wanted to be here when you arrived back," she smiled, looking up deeply into his eyes. He leant down and kissed her. Just behind them, most of the crew were watching.
"ET's proposing tonight," Swain said quietly to Sally. Ryan, Matt and Tamsin turned around at hearing this. They all smiled.
"Hey guys!" Nikki called out, peeking out from behind ET. "We're having a barbeque at our place tonight. I've missed you guys so you all better come!"
"Are you sure you're well enough to?" asked ET worriedly. Nikki just smiled and shook her head before hopping off to go and see Kate.
1900 hours
"Oh no. Not limbo!" laughed Nikki who was standing with Kate, Sally and Tamsin. Sure enough, someone had started up limbo.
"I swear it's become a Hammersley tradition at parties," laughed Kate. The crew had all come and Nikki was enjoying seeing her "family" again. It had felt like forever since she had last spent time with them.
"So sir, are you ready to have me back on Hammersley yet?" Nikki cheekily asked her boss as he came over holding a beer.
"We've been granted shore leave for 2 weeks so if at the end of that you are allowed back, only on light duties of course, I guess we'll take you back," said Mike playfully. Kate laughed. Nikki nudged Sally and pointed to where Swain and Buffer were trying to teach Chloe to limbo.
"They're corrupting my baby!" laughed Sally.
"Well, it officially makes her a Hammersley member now," said ET as he came up to them.
"As long as she's a shore Hammersley member," replied Sally. ET glanced over at Nikki. He reached for her hand and went to pull her closer.
"Ah, I kinda need my hand back if you want me to move," laughed Nikki, pointing at her crutches. She took a step forward.
"You know, I was going to ask you to dance but I guess that's out of the question," he joked.
"Mmm, I think that might be pushing it," agreed Nikki.
"Wow, this wasn't how I was expecting this," ET told her. Nikki looked confused.
"Expecting what?" ET sighed nervously, pulling something out of his pocket and getting down on one knee. Nikki gasped and raised her hand to her mouth. By now, everyone was watching.
"Nikki, I had all this planned for when you came home but things changed," ET started. "You have no idea how lucky I feel to still have you with me. I thought I'd lost you. The thing is, I love you, I always have and always will. You complete me and I want to spend the rest of my life with you. So please, Nikki, marry me." He held up a gorgeous diamond ring. Nikki was so stunned she could barely answer.
"Yes," she happily replied. ET slid the diamond onto her finger and stood up. Nikki wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him passionately as everyone cheered. Nikki broke away and looked into the eyes of her fiancé. She smiled before kissing him again.
So there you go. The end of my first fan fiction! I have to say that when I was writing it, I thought it was really long but when it was published it actually turned out really short! I'll try attempt a longer one soon though. Also, I'm about to post another fiction for Sea Patrol. It's called "Lost and Found" and it's just a one chapter story; I just wrote it for a bit of fun. Check it out!