Chapter 3
The next morning Grace woke up for the first time since she was sedated the day before. She open her eyes and look around the room. It was a private room. She notice a IV line in her left arm and that she was wearing hospital gown. She felt the baby kick which made her smile
"Hey there you must be hungry aye" She put her hands on her baby bump and felt a kick
"Yeah me to" Then a nurse walk in
"Dr Shepard your awake"
"Yeah" Then she started to sit up
"You need to stay in bed" The nurse walk ford to stop Grace from getting out of bed
"I need to go to the loo, the little one using my bladder as a trampoline" nurse smile
"I know what you mean I been through it twice my self, here let me get a poll for you"
She walk over to the corner and return with an IV poll she move the bag to the mobile IV poll then she help Grace up and out of bed
"Thanks, I'll be a minute or two"
"Sure" Grace held on to the poll and wheel it to the bathroom in suite.
While she was in there the nurse went to let Dr Jordan know that Grace is awake then return back to Grace room. When Grace finish in the bathroom she walk back to the bed and got back in and tilted the bed up just as the nurse return with Dr Jordan in tow
"Dr Shepard how are you feeling this morning" He said smiling
"Morning, how long was I out for"
"Almost seventeen hours"
"No bloody wounder the little one kicking up a fuse it hungry and so am i" Dr Jordan grin
"Breakfast will be here in few minutes. Do you remember what happen yesterday" Grace thought about it then she look at the doctor
"Mike came... Oh god Pete has some thing happen to him" Grace was starting to get out of bed when Dr Jordan step ford and put his hand on her arm
"Grace relax he fine, Hammersley fine" Grace stop and look up at him and see he was telling the truth
"Then why did mike came to see me"
"You will have to ask him. In the mean time get back into bed and relax" Grace snorted
"Relax how can I. I'm suppose to be on duty this morning"
"Not any more. I'm not sure what going on Grace but commander Flynn will be here later today to fill you in what going on. So in the mean time have your breakfast and after wards you can have a shower if you like, your mother in law drop off a bag for you and I know you hate wearing these gowns"
"To right" He grin
"We will talk later ok, Nurse you can remove her IV line she doesn't need it any more and please don't destroy this room" Grace frond just as the doctor walk away
"What is that suppose to mean" The nurse started removing Grace IV line
"You don't remember"
"No not really, do you" Grace turn to the nurse
"When you regain conciseness you try to get out of bed you did some damage to the room, the equipment and a couple of doctors they had to inject you with a sedative when it didn't work they had to give you another one. It took a few minutes before it kick in"
"Doctors what did I do to them"
"You gave Dr Smith a black eye and of course you knock him out with one punch and you bit Dr Watson in the arm and rip both doctors uniforms, six nurses and five orderly who try to hold you down so Dr Watson you inject you the sedative. We all were either bruises or rip uniform. And well you swore like a sailor ma'am. I think the whole wing could of heard what you say, you language was... colorful"
She finish removing the line and put a cotton ball and plaster over it. Grace close her eye as he lay back against the pillows then she start to remember what happen.
"Dr Shepard" Nurse asked. When Grace open her eyes and turn to the nurse
"I remember" Then she pulled up the sleeve and saw the prick mark where Dr Watson injected her. Then she look at the nurse and grin
"I told Dr Watson that one day I'll bit him" Nurse grin
"Well you did he needed five stitches after what you did to him Well don't tell any one but good on ya" Grace smile
"Thanks" Then orderly walk in carrying a tray. Grace raise her eye brow when she saw the guy with plaster over his nose.
"Sorry about yesterday, how the nose" Grace remember kicking him in the nose almost braking it
"It ok Dr Shepard I forgot how strong you are"
"I wasn't my self"
"I know... Good job on Dr Watson arm now I know why they called you mad dog" He smile as he put her tray down
"My bark can be worse than my bite"
"Yes ma'am, I got to remember not to get on your bad side if yesterday any indentation of what sort of women you are ma'am"
"Thanks"
"Enjoy" Then he turn around and walk out the door
"Sounds like you might have a bit of a fan club Dr Shepard"
"I hope not"
"Every thing done, I'll leave you to enjoy your breakfast"
"Thank you" Then the nurse pick up her things and walk out of the room leaving Grace to her breakfast.
When she finish she got up and walk over to her bag and open it. She got what she needed out and walk towards the bathroom once again to have a shower. Fifteen minutes later Grace felt refresh but still a bit tired when she got back in to bed. She just close her eyes when a nurse walk in with a phone. She connected it and press a number.
"Dr Shepard"
"I'm trying to rest here"
"It Petty officer Tomaszewski for you" Grace open her eyes and took the phone from the nurse
"Thanks" Then she put the phone to her ear
"Dr Shepard"
"Grace" Her eyes lit up and the nurse notice it before walking out of the room
"Pete"
"Grace I heard what happen yesterday are you ok"
"I will be, I suppose you heard what happen"
"That you collapsed yeah, Have you spoken to commander Flynn?"
"No not since I collapsed yesterday why"
"Lieutenant Marsh"
"What about him"
"Grace... I think he behind you getting the extra shifts in the past week while I'm out on patrol"
"What do you mean extra shifts"
"Being called in for ship doctor emergency as well translator when your off duty and how you been working later afternoon, evening shift at the hospital and early morning shift at NAVCOM" Grace thought about it
"Yeah but that..." Then she stop
"Grace talk to commander Flynn, from what X told me there going to be a investigation in who been changing the rosters. I told X about lieutenant Marsh, she was going to tell commander Flynn"
"Knowing Mike he would of done a back round check on him"
"Yeah we know what he is like" Grace smile
"Yeah we do just like with bright island"
"True... Grace mum sent me a concern message about you"
"Mum" Grace said in shock
"Yeah she been telling me what been happening with you so I sent a message to commander Flynn to check on you"
"Yeah he did yesterday. When I saw him I through some thing happen to you, I went into shock and collapsed"
"I know. Grace what ever happens in the next two weeks while I'm on patrol please listen to what the doctors tell you and don't fight with them on it" Grace then laugh
"Grace it not funny I'm worried about you and our baby"
"I know it what you said about not fighting with the doctors... to late"
"Grace"
"I gave one a black eye and bit the other one on the arm he needed stitches" Grace knew he would be shaking his head
"X told me and the others since they asked about you. When she told them... Two dads said that if you were the captain on here he wouldn't want to play any jokes not knowing what you might do to him" Grace grin
"What about the others"
"They would be them selves" Grace grin
"And if I was back on there charge would be on a strict diet."
"He will hate you for it"
"Not if I join him so he won't be alone and as for muffins, I'll give the chief a muffin recipe which I know he would like. It would be good for Charge... and the crew"
"Your blue berry, cranberry bran muffins"
"Yes"
"Mmm just thinking about your home cook muffins, I miss them"
"I know you do" Then there was a knock on the door and head poke in. Grace wave the guest in.
"Look how about when I get out of here I'll e-mail you the recipe and you can give it to... bomber to try out on the crew"
"Oh yes please"
"Ok I'll do it in few days" Then they heard
"Hands to boarding station, hands to boarding station, hands to boarding stations"
"Grace I got to go"
"I understand Pete, good luck and fair winds, love you"
"Love you to and remember please rest"
"I will and knowing you you would send a message to Mike about it"
"Yes I will, see you soon" Then he gave Grace a kiss over the phone and Grace did in return before hanging up.
"Mike I can smell McDonald" He move his hands around his back to reveal a McDonald bag. He past it to her
"Buffer sent me a message last night"
"Thanks" She open the bag just as Mike sat down
"Pete told me about the investigation"
"I thought he would, how are you felling besides hungry" When Grace took a bite of the hash brown
"Good still feeling a bit tired. Dr Jordan drop by for couple of minutes before leaving again but he will be back... I remember about what happen yesterday"
"I think every one heard you Grace, remind me not to get you angry is yesterday sailor talk was any indentation"
"I know and the requests for new uniforms as well" Mike grin they talk for a hour before Mike left to head to NAVCOM.
Grace decided to get some rest since she was feeling tired so she close her eyes and feel into peaceful sleep.
When Mike arrived at NAVCOM he notice two navy officers in Steve office so he decided to go to his office to do some work. Few minutes later Steve walk into Mike office with the two men in tow
"Mike I notice you arrived"
"I went to see Grace this morning"
"How is she"
"Bit better, but still tired. She remember what happen yesterday. She though I showed up to give her bad news. That why she went into shock and collapsed"
"I under stand... Commander mike Flynn lieutenant Kent and lieutenant O'Brien. They are here to do the investigation, I hope you will answer any of their questions"
"I will not going any were unless there emergency"
"Very well, gentlemen you can use the conference room to do your investigations from there"
"Thank you commander Marshal" Then Steve walk out of the room
"Commander Flynn we would like for you to answer some questions about commander Shepard"
"Take a seat" Then the phone rang
"Excuse me" then he pick it up
"Commander Flynn... Is lieutenant commander Wright... What happen... Any wounded... What did Swain say... Ok I under stand when will you be in port... Alright see you in the morning then... Fair winds" Then he hung up
"Sorry about that new captain on one of the patrol boats, his first time."
"Is every thing alright on the patrol boat"
"They went to board a suspected boat when they were attack with unknown smoke Granada. Four of the crew members having breathing problems but the chef medic got it under control, they returning so the crew members can be check out by a doctor"
"You know the boat commander" Mike smile
"Yes Hammersley I was the captain of the boat before my promotion and being transferred to here"
"So you know the crew"
"All but three they are new crew members... in fact the boson on Hammersley is Grace Shepard husband petty officer Pete Tomaszewski... Buffer" Mike notice one of the men was writing on a note paid.
Then they started asking different questions for the next hour before they walk out of Mike office. After they left Mike went to see Steve
"Mike how did it go"
"Good, Hammersley returning back to port"
"Yes I know I spoke to lieutenant commander wright just before you walk in."
"Right any idea what sort of smoke Granada would cause breathing problems they only suppose to sting the eyes"
"No idea. But they manage to take down who ever they are and found another dozen canisters, they bring them back to be tested"
"What about the men from the boat?"
"I got lieutenant Marsh trying to ID them"
"Why him"
"Distraction Mike"
"Good point, who was the wounded" Steve past mike the list
"Two dads, spider, charge... Kate" He look up at Steve
"She got the worse of it Mike, she in the wardroom, didn't you know"
"No"
"She will be fine"
"I hope so" Then he walk out of Steve office.
Grace was getting board, she read all the magazines that was brought into her and her back side was getting sore she she got up and put her dressing gown on and walk out of the room and down to staff room where her locker is. She got her purse out then she walk out of the staff room when she heard
"Dr Shepard what are you doing out of bed" Grace turn around and smile
"Dr Jordan three reasons" He folded his arms and raise his eye brows
"One I was getting a sore ass, two I needed to stretch my legs" Then she raise her hand showing her purse
"And three I'm hungry. I was going to walk down to the cafe to get an afternoon snack and would be back in ten minutes."
"Ten minutes"
"Well may be longer depends on who I talk to along the way and I was getting board"
"Ten minutes doctor you suppose to be resting"
"I know, I'll be back" Then she turn around and walk down the corridor.
When Grace walk into the cafe some of the people look at her but she didn't care. She look at what was there till the cooking staff saw her and grin
"Dr Shepard, how are you feeling" A women who would be about her mother in law age asked
"Hungry" The women laugh
"But I'm fine I escape my room" The women shook her head
"I heard you are suppose to be on bed rest"
"So I've been told" Grace said smiling then said
"My back side was getting sore and I was hungry"
"You or the little one"
"Both" Grace look at what they got
"By any change do you have any vanilla slice and log cake in that big fridge back there"
"We sure do, we just need to cut it up... how many would you like Dr Shepard"
"Two of each and for the log slice half the size again"
"Sure, give me a minute will ya"
"Sure" Then the women walk through the door.
Grace walk over to where the drinks are. She got three bottles out and return back to the counter. She put the bottles down then walk along where the food is. She then got her self a cream donuts, carrot cake and two chocolate eclairs. When she return back to the counter she waited for a few seconds when the women return
"Here you go" She put the bags on the counter.
Then she tell up every thing. Grace saw how much it was and got some money out and paid for it. Then the women got a tray out and put them on the tray
"Thank, I'll make sure it return with the dinner tray tonight"
"I trust you Dr Shepard, enjoy your afternoon tea"
"I will" Grace pick up her purse and tray then she turn around and walk out of the cafe and walk back to the the ward and her room.