Thank you for reviews on the last chapter. Hope you enjoy this.
FFV Under Tow
Arafura Sea
1809 Last Dog Watch
Kari was clearing up the medical kit as Dutchy watched over the crew on deck. They had been underway towards Darwin to drop them off for several hours now and it would be dark soon. It was the first time he had really seen her at work, the drill the day before didn't count as it was just that, a drill. She seemed efficient and capable, he wondered how she would fare on an Exped. As an officer she would probably be fine, after all she barely wore makeup and wasn't too coddled. He knew she would pitch in with anything if needed, although he wasn't too sure about gutting rabbits.
In the Gulf, except for one occasion, their paths had only ever crossed during R&R away from the ships or the refugee hospital she was assigned to help out at on occasion. At first their encounters had been entirely random and after a few times they found they enjoyed each other's company and then tried to be on the same leave cycles. Fortunately at that time they were both Petty Officers as she was still completing her medical training. Now she had obviously completed it and gained her warrant if the Navy allowed her the insignia of a Lieutenant.
As he watched over everyone, all was quiet and he let his mind drift a little more to their last meeting and the only time they had professionally had contact; right after his boarding officer had been killed. She had been the medic called out to the bloody scene to confirm the death and take responsibility for the body.
At first he didn't notice her, just the uniform of the medical officer collecting the body of his senior officer. Distracted by the flashbacks of the event itself he didn't really see what she did, only taking notice as she touched his arm gently. "I'm sorry Petty Officer there was nothing anyone could have done, you did what you could and your swift actions saved the rest of the crew. Counselling will be made available for all of you back on your ship." She had walked away right after the rather official words, it was the last time he had seen her.
Something about the memory puzzled him, it was the insignia of her uniform that day, it no longer bore the crown and anchors, but the pip and coiled stripe of a sub-lieutenant!
His attention turned back to the present as Kari completed her task and she turned, her boots echoing in the still air as she crossed the deck towards him.
"You okay?" she asked.
"Yeah." He hands her a bottle of water from the pack nearby and while she opens it and takes a mouthful he puzzles over the memory.
"Are you sure? You've not said a word to me since we started the tow. Do you think the CO deliberately assigned us? These guys aren't as bad as first thought, some additional fluids and a meal and they'll be fine."
He still wasn't quite sure how to read the situation between them or what his feelings were about the whole scenario, but it was something they needed to discuss and when she was off the ship, he just hoped that if her life was under threat that the brass would leave him aboard long enough to protect her. Talking ship's business was fine, but out here although under the eyes of the watch crew their actions could be seen, their words would be inaudible. Equally with the crew speaking no English their conversations would be private.
"You got your warrant." It was a simple statement.
"You know I'd applied for it before going to the Gulf, it came through after we were last on R&R. I was going to tell you when we next met, but that never happened. Your boarding officer was killed and I was shipped out soon after. Originally I was being assigned a base hospital to gain more experience with the aim of posting to a frigate within a year and becoming a full Lieutenant. What happened put paid to most of that. I started out at the base hospital in Darwin, then was moved to a frigate under another name that lasted all of 2 months when it became clear that keeping me in the Navy was not going to be possible, somehow I was getting death threats, someone knew who and where I was. I then got moved around the country to various bush hospitals, which has been great for building my medical skills, but my formal Navy training has been lacking. The one bonus was that I did get my full stripe, on the proviso that when this is all over I go to ADFA to complete my naval training. You haven't gone for your warrant?"
He rubbed his face and stared out to sea for a moment. It hadn't really come up in the last few years, he had no incentive to apply as she was out of his life, he was comfortable as bosun and he doubted his actions and leadership skills after the incident with his boarding officer. Some would say too that he still had a bit of a strong arm approach to the criminals they came across which wasn't what was expected of an officer. The question still hung between them he had to say something, "never really came up," he answered simply.
"It should, it's what you wanted when we met."
"Things change." He didn't want to get drawn into a deep conversation.
"Think they might change again?" She asked, studying him carefully.
Still not having any idea how he felt about everything, it would depend on how things went over the next few weeks. "No idea."
"I'd like to hear about what you've been up to in the last few years. What scrapes you got yourself into. Maybe you can fill me in later."
A coughing fit by one of the sailors attracted her attention and he was grateful for the distraction as she went over to hand the fisherman some water.
He watched her for a minute as she tended the crew and encouraged them to drink more water.
X-X-X
HMAS Hammersley
Arafura Sea
1923 Hrs Last Dog Watch
Charge and Two-Dads were on watch from the bridge. Things were quiet. Those on duty were going about their business elsewhere in the ship. Two-Dads was at the helm and Charge Officer of the Watch.
"Charge, why did the boss assign Dutchy to go with the Lieutenant on the FFV?" asked Two-Dads, his tone one of curiosity, but for anyone that knew him they would see him looking for an angle.
"I have no idea," Charge answered.
"Think it has something to do with the row they were having in the ship's office yesterday?"
"It's none of our business."
"Hey, why is she on board anyway?"
"Also none of our business."
"But Charge it's not normal for us to have a doctor on board. Do you think they've sent a shrink and Dutchy found out." Two-Dads continued his questions almost like an inquisitive child.
"Or they've just sent us a doctor to help with some drills and to show Swampy and Bird how to use the new equipment." Charge responded through gritted teeth, sometimes the Electronics Technician couldn't just accept things and had to know everything, more than likely to tease the affected party or create some other form of havoc. "Not everything is a conspiracy"
"That's saying something coming from the biggest conspiracy theorist on the ship." Replied the younger sailor as footsteps on the stairs echoed the arrival of another crew member and followed by the appearance of their Radio Officer.
"Ah Charge, there's been an update on the weather from Coast Watch, the storm in the Bay of Carpenteria has strengthened and is turning into a tropical storm, we're going to have to cross its path if we continue on to Darwin."
"Okay, notify the XO and ask him if he wants to cast off the tow." Replied Charge assuming a more business-like approach.
"It's going to get rough," RO commented to no one in particular as he went back down the stairs.
Charge reached for the radio, "Papa 82 to Bravo 82"
"Bravo 82 go ahead Charge." Dutchy's voice echoed back.
"Latest Weather report from NAVCOM says there's a storm front closing in that could make tropical status before we reach Darwin."
"Does the CO want the tow cast off or are we going to try and ride it out?"
"We're checking now, stand by."
A few minutes later the XO jogged up the stairs to join them. "I have the ship Charge,"
"Yes, sir you have the ship. Other than the approaching storm, nothing to report and all's quiet on the FFV."
"Roger. RO says it's a tropical storm and likely to cross our path so the CO will join us in a minute and we will discuss a plan. Have you said anything to Dutchy?"
"Just a head's up about the weather report, he asked if we were going to cast off the tow, he's standing by for an answer."
Several more minutes passed before Swampy, RO and Kate joined those already on the bridge.
Kate reviewed their route, the weather report and consulted with Charge, Swampy and the XO about their options.
After several minutes of discussion around their map table she announced, "I think we have a plan. Swampy, brief your team, 45 minute shifts at the helm once the storm hits until we're in the clear. Two-Dads, work with Charge, make sure all the hatches are battened down and there's nothing loose that can be either lost overboard or cause us damage. XO, brief 2 sailors to relieve Dutchy and Lieutenant Finch, it will be good to have them back on board in case of any mayday calls. I'll brief Dutchy."
A chorus of assenting comments echoed around the bridge and Charge grabbed Two-Dads and almost dragged him to the stairs. "Come-on young Jedi we've got work to do."
Swampy disappeared after them to round up the rest of her team and brief them, leaving one of them at the helm in the interim.
The XO looked at the chart again before also leaving the bridge.
Kate sat in the Captain's chair. "Captain has the ship." She called out and heard it echoed by Robert and the helmsman. Then reached for the radio microphone. "Papa 82 to Bravo 82"
When Dutchy acknowledged she continued, "Dutchy we're too far into the zone to go around the storm, so we're going to be riding it out. The XO is briefing your relief party who will take the vessel in to the Lee of Drysdale Island. It's uninhabited and pretty inhospitable so hopefully no temptation for the fishermen to try and abscond."
"Copy that, It'll be good to be back on board boss."
"How are the fishermen?"
"All good, Doc was rationing their water for a couple of hours to ease their dehydration, but they're much better and she's okay to hand them over."
"Good to know. The XO will be in touch shortly to transfer personnel."
Resetting the microphone on the clip above her head she wondered how Dutchy and the Lieutenant were getting on now. It was difficult to read into the boson's voice as he was focused on the business at hand. She made a mental note to follow up at some point when he was back on board.
X-X-X
FFV - On deck
Arafura Sea
1938 Hrs Last Dog Watch
In the last half hour they had allowed the fishermen to retreat into their main cabin to prepare their food. The boat had also begun to bounce a little more, indicative of the sea becoming choppier with increased swell. Signs that the storm was approaching were more evident on the FFV than they would have been on Hammersley.
Kari was on deck leaning against the bulkhead wall her eyes closed. So far the sky was relatively clear but darkening as both the storm and night rolled in. Clouds were beginning to build and the wind was picking up, if it really blew up it was going to be rough and she didn't want to be on this ship when it did. How the fishermen managed in bad weather she didn't know.
She had managed to stomach the smell when she first came on board, but now with that and the storm her stomach was beginning to react and while she didn't want to disgrace herself, her medical kit failed to have one item – sea sick pills.
Dutchy had just checked the tow line and headed back towards her, studying her expression, she seemed at peace, enjoying a moment of quiet reflection. It was the first time he had seen her relaxed since she had appeared in his life the day before. Here she could almost be herself, there was no need to pretend. His anger at the deception still existed somewhat, but he'd had time to think over their conversation from the day before. Of course he knew how witness protection worked, if things had been as rough as they sounded then it was no surprise that she had trust issues and would be fearful of her safety. It would be good to know more, to know everything about the case and why it was taking so long to bring it to court. He also wondered what would happen once that did happen. It often meant that the witness went back to their old life, although in the cases he'd heard of they hadn't been out of circulation more than a few months. For the odd few though they vanished permanently.
He wondered for the first time if that were to happen to her and where that would leave the two of them. They had a lot to talk about when she was off the ship. Moving towards her she must have heard him and opened her eyes looking at him. A smile crossed her lips and a few strands of hair that escaped her hair tie blew around her face with a sudden gust of wind. He felt the boat shift under his feet as if in response to a larger wave and if he hadn't been so sure footed from 2 years on these types of missions he probably would have lost his balance a little. She had obviously felt it too as she raised her arm and braced herself against the cabin wall for a moment before tucking the strands of hair back behind her ears.
Apart from business and the short conversation earlier they had barely spoken, he certainly didn't have the words and apparently neither did she. It was still strange to think that the last 3 years were not as he thought them to be. He began to wonder if he'd known she was alive would have made him make different choices. The old saying went that a sailor had a girl in every port, but until he left the Gulf that hadn't been true, he'd been conscientious and focused on his career, and had just started thinking of applying to ADFA and becoming an officer. Clearly with her background in medicine it was a natural way to go, she'd just come at it a different way by being a Navy medic first before completing her training. After the Gulf he had been screwed up, not just because of the incident with his bordo, but the way she had been ripped out of his life, just when he thought the chase was getting good.
It was all a lot of what ifs, but the anger at her for the subterfuge was beginning to subside as he got over the initial shock of her turning up on his ship and he wondered what would happen next.
Leaving her to sit for a bit longer he looked inside the cabin and saw the fishermen quietly settled preparing and eating their meal. Satisfied they were not going to be trouble he turned back to the woman on deck.
"Gr-," he stopped himself, he had to make a huge effort to refrain from calling her Grace and just use her current name, also he needed to be super careful around the crew to ensure that he addressed her appropriately within their earshot. Opting to continue without names he tried again. "You look peaceful."
"Tired more like, I can do long shifts in a hospital, but being back at sea is a bit of a shock to the system. I'm thankful the CO let me off the watch rotation."
"Anything I can do to ease the transition?" he asked taking a seat on the storage cabinet next to her.
"Can you stop me from puking if this storm does roll in? I'm really not sure I could cope with being tossed all over the place."
He grinned, "sure, I can show you some pressure points if you feel queasy. Do you want me to get Swampy to get you some sea sickness pills ready for when we get back?"
"I'd prefer to manage without, but the pressure points sound good, just best tell me how to do it myself or you'll have your crew dishing scuttlebutt about us."
"With Two-Dads it wouldn't surprise me to find it's too late."
"He's one of those sailors that push the envelope the whole time, it will take something big to make him conform and grow up and he's more likely to jump ship somewhere looking for a poker game and then he'll be out on his ear."
"Seems like you've summed him up pretty good. The sad thing is that if he puts his mind to it he'd make a pretty good sailor. I've seen moments that he's got it in him."
"How about you, how did things go after the Gulf?"
"Not good." It was a simple answer but an honest one as he was not exactly comfortable sharing the emotions he went through on his return home.
She seemed to accept his reluctance and didn't pursue the point. "And now?"
"Better. Having shorter patrols, a little variety and having more responsibility have helped take my mind off things."
"You look like you've settled with this crew."
"It was a rocky start with the CO, but we came to an understanding."
Silence fell as they sat and watched the sunset, the sounds of the lapping waves and clunking of the fishermen stirring the otherwise peaceful air.
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Posted: 10Jan19