Chapter 4 Stained In My Memory
Hammersley had one more day out on the water before they returned to port and Buffer was jumping out of his skin to get home to Bomber, after three weeks at sea Bomber couldn't wait to have Buffer in her arms, to hold him, to feel his touch once again.
Kate sat at her desk in Navcom, staring at a photo of her and Mike, she had another 18 hours until she would see Mike again as he train of thought was interrupted by a knock at the door.
"Kate do you have that report" asked Marshall as Kate fumbled around her desk.
"Here sorry I just finished it, I was just about to bring it to you" replied Kate.
"No need to apologise Kate, I know you were thinking of Mike, I could tell from your expression, how's Alexia?" asked Marshall pulling a chair up to her desk.
"She's good she's grown so much, its amazing how much of the little things you miss when they start to grow up, and yeah I miss Mike so much I wish he could be here on shore, but I know how much Hammersley means to him and I couldn't take that away from him, I know first hand what its like to leave" replied Kate.
"Yes well you are a big family on a small ship" replied Marshal, standing up.
"Yes sir, I have three weeks here left and well it can only get better" replied Kate.
"I know you hate being at a desk, but its too dangerous for you to be out on the water Kate and you know that, just think three weeks then your on leave and you wont have to put up with this place" replied Marshall amused at Kate.
"yes sir when you put it that it does make it sound better" replied Kate, Marshall throwing a smile her way cheering her up a tad.
Mike stood on the bridge looking out to sea, on course for home, noticing Buffer standing where he once stood when he needed to think, Mike made his way down to Buffer.
"Hey Buff you ok?" asked Mike, he stood beside his best friend.
"Yeah, I'm fine just thinking, I have a lot on my mind at the moment" replied Buffer pulling out a ring from his pocket, handing it to Mike.
"When are you going to propose" asked Mike, knowing full well who the lucky woman was.
"When we reach port, Bomber means a lot to me and this is one thing I never want to lose her Mike, ever" replied Buffer taking the ring back, "After the accident it made me realise there is never enough time, and that you have to use what precious time you have, Bomber is like the one thing I never want to lose her, what prompted you and Kate" asked Buffer.
"Same thing Buffer when Kate got shot, it made me realise I was such a fool to let her go, after she came out of the coma it made me realise that if it wasn't for Kate getting shot I don't think I would have a beautiful daughter and another bub on the way not to mention a lovely wife that I want to spend the rest of my life with it" replied Mike, patting him on the shoulder.
"I love her Mike and I know if I do this one of us has to leave" replied Buffer.
"Do what your heart tells you Buffer" replied Mike as he left Buffer to think.
'Do what your heat tells you' Buffer thought to himself as he stared down at the ring in his hand, he had a few hours to think 'its now or never Buff' as an after thought.
Bomber sat on the couch her mobile in hand waiting for her text to replied, instead was replaced by a phone call.
"Hey, how are you" asked Buffer as he stood on the deck of Hammersley.
"I'm fine I got my cast off today and they gave me the all clear" replied Bomber, she was pacing around the kitchen.
"That's good news look I need you too met me down at the wharf when we dock I have a surprise for you" replied Buffer as smile spread across his face.
"Yeah I can meet you there, I was already going to come anyway, why, what are you up to?" asked Bomber the smile that was on Buffer's placed transferred onto Bomber's.
"Nothing just meet me there, I love you " replied Buffer.
"I love you too" replied Bomber as Buffer was called up to the bridge he hung up the phone, in under five hours he would be home and so would everybody else.
The final minutes ticked down as Hammersley arrived in port, Buffer scanning the wharf looking for Bomber, when he spotted a small figure walking down the wharf, he immediately ran down from the bridge he couldn't get off Hammersley fast enough. Running up to her, he picked her up twirling her around in the air, like no one else was around, Buffer gently put her down he leaned in placing a soft but passionate kiss on her lips.
"That surprise you were talking about are you going to tell me what it is" said Bomber wrapping her arms around his neck.
"Well if you give me a minute I will show you" replied Buffer kneeling down on one knee as Bomber covered her mouth in shock. "Bomber after the past few months I have spent with you, its made me realise I cant live without you, life's to short to waste it, so will you marry me?" asked Buffer as Bomber just stood there in shock, he knew what her answer would be.
"Ye-yes Buffer of course I will" replied Bomber, standing up Buffer pulled her into a strong passionate kiss.
Mike and Nav stood side by side on the bridge as they both looked out upon their Buffer.
"Ok did I see what I just saw Mike?" asked Nav, astounded that Buffer had just proposed.
"I knew he was going to ask her, he has for some time, as he said life's to short to waste it, he loves her and that's it" replied Mike patting Nav on the shoulder he too heading onto the wharf to meet Kate. Seeing Kate heavily pregnant brought a tear to his eye soon he would have another child that would brighten his life just a little bit more.
"You look beautiful Kate" said Mike pulling her in for a hug.
"Well I like your tan" replied Kate placing her hand on his face.
"Well you are my sunshine" he replied.
"Aw your sweet, but I have to pick up Alexia from Navcom Marshall was spending some time with her and she was too happy so I left her with him" replied Kate as she walked past Buffer and Bomber, noticing a ring on her finger she stopped walking turning back to the pair.
"Bomber, Buffer congratulations" said Kate as she started to walk again.
"Thanks Ma'am" they both replied in unison.
"Another happy couple of Hammersley" said Kate as they both laughed.
They all headed for the pub after Hammersley finished docking, and Buffer and Bomber had some news for everybody, but most of the crew already knew, being a small ship news travelled fast. After many celebratory drinks everyone was drunk except Buffer and Bomber and of course Mike and Kate who had now separated themselves from the rest of the sailors.
"So what's happening now" asked Kate curiously.
"Well one of us has to decide who's getting a transfer" replied Bomber resting her head on Buffer's shoulder.
"That's never an easy choice trust me I know" replied Kate.
"But, we love each other and that's all, I will say one thing I would give my career up to be with Bomber" replied Buffer taking hold of her hand and placing a gentle kiss onto it.
"That's one thing the navy cant do, tell us what to feel" replied Mike, he knew what it was like to love someone but be restricted to say something.
Bomber and Buffer stumbled into there house the alcohol slightly taking affect on them, a delayed reaction. Falling onto there bed Buffer rolled onto Bomber.
"There's one thing that will never be removed from my mind" he said to Bomber, "and that one thing is you, you are forever stained in my memory" added Buffer placing a kiss on her forehead. A single tear ran down her face, it was beautiful, yet another side of Buffer emerged, that once hard shell that he emitted slowly started to decay exposing his soft and gentle side one thing Bomber loved about him.