CH 4
Kate sat there quietly listening to everyone else talking when they all heard footsteps so they all turn to see people in navy uniform showing up
"Lieutenant McGregor" the front guy asked. Kate stood up and walk over to the group
"I'm lieutenant McGregor"
"Lieutenant commander Tom Bates"
"sir" they both saluted
"I heard what happened to commander Flynn, and that he needs blood"
"yes O positive. The hospital and blood bank ran out since not many people got that blood type"
"We know. We are here to give a pint just in case commander Flynn needs any"
"thank you"
"no thank you and the Hammersley crew for saving our lives. If it wasn't for the Hammersley crew and what you have done in the past few days. Things would have been a lot worse"
"On behalf of the Hammersley crew thank you" Swain step ford
"X I'll go and find the doctor"
"thanks swain" then he walk out the door.
"you know lieutenant all we hear in the past five years about commander Flynn and Hammersley crew you guys" he look around to everyone then back to Kate
"Have made more arrests, drug busts, counter terrorist attacks than any other bloody patrol boat in navy history." Kate grin
"Well sir we are a bloody great team, hell we are Hammersley family" charge said making every one grin or chucking.
"i can see that and I wish you all the best and I hope commander Flynn will get better soon"
"thank you sir" the Swain return
"Sir this nurse will show you all where you can give blood"
"thanks you" then he walk out of the room and the others follow the nurse down a corridor.
Kate walk back to her chair and sat down. They return talking to each other for half an hour when the doctor return. Kate saw him and quickly stood up and walk over to him
"Dr has something happen" he put his hand on Kate arm
"no chance but if you like you could stay with him... talk to him"
"are you... sure"
"Yes"
"thank you" then she turn to the others
"doctor letting me stay with... why don't you all return back to the boat, I'll see you all tomorrow" then she look at her father, he gave her a nod and smile. Then she turn around and follow the doctor down to mike room. Jim room was next door.
"We might as well head home, there nothing much more we can do here" swain said
"yeah it been a long few days" charge said
they all walk out of the hospital talking then they went their separate ways knowing that they won't be getting much sleep after what happen that day. Kate walk into Mike room and sat on a chair that was close to Mike bed. She pick up his hand and held on to it while tears was falling down her cheeks
"Mike, I don't know if you can hear me... after the talk we had the other day in the mall I went and try on wedding dresses...I was seeing myself walking down the aisle to one man whom waiting for me... that man is you mike... I love you and I want to spend the rest of my life with you" then she sniffle
"I'm not going to marry Jim... why didn't you tell me that you were going to be on Hammersley for a year, why. If I have known I would've waited for you"
then she kiss the back of his hand as she cry.
Hour later a nurse walk into to check on mike when she saw Kate falling asleep next to Mike bed. So she woke Kate up
"Lieutenant" Kate open her eyes and sat up
"what" then she look around and saw mike then she remember what happen. She turn to the nurse who was smiling
"Why don't you lye down on the other bed it would be more comfortable"
"I think I'll do that, thank you"
Kate stood up and walk over to the next bed she took her shoes off and layed down face Mike she close her eyes and feel asleep since she hasn't been getting much sleep in the past few days with everything that has happen.
The next morning Kate woke up when she heard the door open she sat up and smile when she saw who it was
"morning X"
"morning swain" he look at mike for the first time then he turn to Kate
"any change"
"no change what the rest of the crew doing"
"waiting to come in here, they waiting on the boat... here" he past her a cup of coffee
"thanks" she took a sip of it just as Swain sat down on the chair.
"did you get much sleep last night" he asked
"some you"
"same, even the crew manage to get some sleep"
"i can't believe we almost lost..." Swain put his hand on her arm
"i know. Look why don't you head back to the ship to freshen up" Kate look down at what she was wearing then back to Swain who was wearing civilian clothing
"Yeah sounds like a good idea, thanks"
"no worries"
Kate finish her coffee and put it on the table next to her then she got off the bed and put her shoes on and tie them up then she ran her fingers through her hair and put it up the best she could then she pick up her hat
"I'll be back soon as things are sorted out"
"take your time, oh be careful the media just outside"
"thanks" she look at mike before she walk out the door.
Swain notice the sad look on Kate face he knew she didn't want to leave his side but she knew she needed to go even if it is for a few hours.
He turn to Mike "Mike what am I going to do you you and Kate. I know you love her. You should of told her about what was going on. She would of waited for you mate" he sat back and shook his head.
When Kate walk out side the media was a pond here like bees to honey. They were asking her one question after another. She stop and look around when she heard a car horn. When she saw who it was. She walk quickly over to the car with the media on her tail she quickly got in and the drive drove away
"thank buffer"
"no worries, Swain call me and ask me to pick him up and to come here and wait for you" Kate smile as she sat back against her seat
"any chance"
"He still the same"
Kate look out the window not saying anything else till they reach the Security checkpoint that lead onto navy port. Buffer got his ID out and show the guard.
Then he look over to Kate "Excuse me ma'am your ID"
"i can vouch for you she XO of Hammersley"
"sorry sir you know the rules" Kate pulled out her pass and show the guys
"lieutenant McGregor, ma'am" he saluted which Kate did in return
"you can go through"
"thank you" buffer said then he drove to where Hammersley is.
When the car stop they both got out and walk over to the ship. Kate stop and turn to buffer
"Want to come aboard" buffer grin
"sure, love to" then he follow Kate aboard.
"you know your way around" Kate said
"Yep, meet you in the galley"
"sure" then they went their separate ways.
Kate went and freshen up and got change into civilian clothing then she went to Mike office come sleeping quarters. Where she made few phone calls to keep sustain people up to date about what happening with Mike and Jim. When finish she went up onto the bride to see RO there
"x, how the boss"
"no change" he nodded
"Security here been looking after the boat while everyone got some sleep"
"i know"
"when can we..."
"in an hour and wear civilian clothing, there a media frenzy outside the hospital this morning"
"sure" then she turn around and walk off the bridge.
She walk down to the galley when she heard laughter coming from junior mess. So she walk in to hear buffer and bomber who was on the ship telling Dutchy and Bird stories that they had when they were on Hammersley. They were telling them about jokes that they played on each other which cause everyone to laugh. Kate smile remembering some of the jokes. Charge turn to see Kate there
"x, how the boss" Everyone went quiet and turn to her
"there no chance. Buffer bomber are you giving duchy and bird ideas on practical jokes" they grin
"Yes and they been also shearing some of the the jokes they played on other crew members both on this boat and others" buffer said grinning Kate shook her head
"Hey remember last April fools joke" two dads said grinning
"which one there was number of them" charge said
"the one when the boss went to sit on his chair on the bridge" then he started laughing
"what did you do" buffer asked looking at two dads
"whoopee cushion" while he was laughing then everyone laugh
"that was you two dads" Kate asked
"Yes ma'am I sneak on to the bridge and put it on his seat and left. I was in the corridor listening when it happen" Kate remember that morning.
She was on the bridge when mike sat on his chair then quickly got up. Everyone who was on the bridge look at mike as he turn and pick up the whoopee cushion then turn to every one and ask who put it there. Kate remember trying not to laugh that morning.
"One day two dads the boss will get you back for that" charge said
"but he doesn't know it was me"
"but we do" bomber said. Kate went and got herself a cup of coffee while listening to everyone talking and laughing.
"Listen every one" they all turn to Kate
"If you want to return back to the hospital where civilian clothing the media found out where Jim and the boss is. And if they ask for information just say no comment or your visiting a friend. That all ok"
"Yeah two dads we know what your mouth is like" charge said
"Hey I follow orders" they all gave him a look
"Ok, ok I don't follow them some of the time"
"Well you better two dads or toothbrush for toilets, showers, galley and anywhere else I can think of" Kate said. Every one grin when they saw two dads eyes widen
"Yes ma'am"
"How long before we are back out on patrol" bird asked
"Don't know bird Commander white looking for commander Flynn replacement so in the meantime let's get this ship clean up before we leave for some down time"
they all talk and laugh for the next hour while they went to do their normal duties. Hour later Kate left the ship and headed to NAVCOM then to her place where she got change before leaving to head to the hospital
When Kate arrived she walk down and into Mike's room to see Swain was there reading the morning paper. He look up and smile
"Everything alright on the boat"
"Yeah everything sorted we are on down time till a new CO can be found"
Swain watch Kate as she walk over to Mike side of the bed and held on to his hand while looking at him. Swain stood up as he folded the news paper.
"Kate I'm going to head back to the ship, then home. Call me if there any chance"
"i will, thanks" then he walk out of the room and headed back to the ship then home.
Kate stayed with mike for three hours by that time the crew showed up. So she left them to talk while she walk next door to see Jim was awake.
"Hey I was wondering when you going to come to see me"
"hi, how are you feeling" Kate walk over and sat down on the chair
"Getting better"
"what happened on the boat" Jim let out his breath
"After mike sent the others back I started cutting the white wires, there was number of them so Mike help. When finish and the RHIB show up and took the two cases I started to look for a way to deactivate the timer but when the amount of explosives Mike and I manage to cut number of wires around the bomb which was in a case. Then Mike suggested that we throw the bomb overboard so he pick up one side and I pick up the other, we went to the back of the boat and throw it overboard. Just as we did that the engine cut out. Mike turn to see that there was another bomb and told me to jump just as there was under water explosion so I jump off the boat, just as I hit the water the boat exploded" Kate nodded
"the boat only half exploded from what I've been told and from what you said you must of cut wires around the back up bomb that you didn't know was there"
"that my guest as well... how is Mike no one telling" Kate look down at her hands then look up at Jim there was fresh tears rolling down her cheeks
"he alive... he lost a lot of blood. There was boat fragments all over his body but the two worst places was his head and spine. Four surgeons spent ten hours working on him they got him in a comber so his body could heal there also brain and spinal swelling, broken and fracture bones cause by the exposition and one of the fragment nick an artery that why he was losing a lot of blood"
"so he going to make it"
"It will depends the next twenty four hours are critical, they trying to get the swelling down. The surgeons done the best they could for now, the rest is up to Mike" she look down at her hands once more.
Jim watch Kate and listen to her as she told him mike condition but he also notice that she is worried about mike than him. He knew that Kate spent the night next to Mike instead of him.
He spent the past three hours thinking about everything and remember the shock look when he show her the engagement ring. He thought she would be happy smiling when he show her but she wasn't happy.
Jim knew that he love Kate but he also knew that she did love Mike one time, but he didn't know why they broke up and he been wondering if he is her second choice since she and mike couldn't be together because of the navy rules. Jim slowly close his eyes and went back to sleep.
Kate watch fall back to sleep so she stay for another ten minutes before leaving the room. She could hear the others talking in Mike room so she decided to go for a walk.