Morning everyone!

Okay so I survived being in the hottest place on earth yesterday (literally) but the power cut out so I couldn't post this last night.

Thanks to everyone that left feedback! It keeps me writing lol

I'll have a long A/N in the next chapter to explain some things...

Okay, well on with it... I've been dying to get this chapter out!

Love Heals All Wounds

Chapter 4

The next morning Jim was called in to Navcom to finalise some paperwork, Kate went with him worried that he would confront Mike. They walked into the main office and Kate did a quick spot check for Mike, it was clear, she went to the staff room to make them a coffee. Jim knocked on Maxine's door and entered, he was surprised to see Mike sitting at her desk, they both froze for a moment. Jim tried to think of Kate and let it go but he couldn't. He shut the door behind him and confidently walked up to the desk and stood in front of it.

Mike cleared his throat nervously, he didn't want to create a scene at work.

"Captain..."

Jim looked like he meant business, he cut straight to the chase.

"What did you say to Kate yesterday?"

Mike shuffled though the paperwork in front of him, trying to act innocent.

"What do you mean?"

Jim stepped closer and tried not to lose his temper, he knew Mike knew what he was talking about.

"You know exactly what I mean...it's not your job to question this, you had your chance!"

Mike looked around nervously expecting Maxine to walk in any minute.

"C'mon Jim, this isn't the place!"

Jim raised his voice slightly.

"I don't care where we are Mike, you upset my fiancée and you're gonna hear about it..."

Mike wasn't in the mood to be patronised, he raised his voice to match Jim's tone.

"Don't get all high and mighty on me...You never told her did you?"

Jim hesitated and dropped his head slightly.

"No..."

Mike stepped closer sensing he was winning this fight.

"You said you were going to tell her, did you think she wouldn't find out?"

"Well, she hasn't and it doesn't matter anyway..."

Mike let out a laugh, it almost sounded evil.

"Doesn't matter? Are you kidding me? Do you really think that she'd be your fiancée if she knew the truth?!"

Kate stood outside Maxine office out of sight, she had heard about half the conversation but that's all she needed to hear. She didn't know what they were talking about but Mike's accusation scared her.

"Lieutenant, how thoughtful..."

She jumped as she heard Maxine's voice, nearly spilling the coffee everywhere.

Maxine took one of the coffees from Kate's hand and opened the office door, she looked at Kate strangely as she just stood there.

"You coming in?"

She nodded and quickly followed.

Jim and Mike had heard them outside and stood there in silence, you could cut the tension with a knife. Mike excused himself from the office as Maxine entered, she sat at her desk and explained the ins and outs of the new job to Jim completely oblivious to the drama that had just unfolded in her office. Kate sat there not hearing a word, all she could hear was Mike's voice. "Do you really think she'd be your fiancée if she knew the truth?"

Without warning Kate got up and left the office, Jim and Maxine looked puzzled but continued with their conversation.

Kate ran after Mike and caught up with him in the car park.

"Mike! Stop?!"

He spun round obviously frustrated.

"Don't worry about it Kate..."

He got into his car, she grabbed the door stopping it from shutting.

"Mike?"

"Just leave it Kate!"

She hesitated then slammed the door shut and he sat there for a moment with the engine running, he shook his head and drove off. She desperately wanted to follow him and question him but she couldn't, she was too afraid of the answers

Kate walked back into Navcom angry and frustrated, Jim walked out of Maxine's office and saw her expression.

"Aww, c'mon, working with your fiancée, that should put a smile on your face."

Kate put on a smile and walked out of Navcom with Jim.

Later that day they sat out on the deck enjoying their day off. Kate wanted to talk to Jim about what she had heard but didn't know how to bring it up, she tried to convince herself that maybe she had just misheard them. Jim looked at her and smiled.

"Drink?"

She shook her head, he got up and kissed her on the head and went inside to grab himself a drink. His phone vibrated on the table, Kate leaned forward and glanced at the screen to see who it was. She frowned as she saw the sender's name, "Flynn".

She sat there for a minute contemplating whether to pick up the phone and read the message. She was about to reach for the phone when Jim came back out, she handed him the phone.

"I think you got a message."

Jim took the phone from her and sat down and looked at the screen, he frowned slightly and put the phone back in his pocket not bothering to reply, Kate attempted to play dumb.

"More angry messages from the team?"

Jim laughed slightly.

"Yeah, they never give up!"

Kate's heart sank, he had just lied to her. The one person whom she thought wouldn't lie to her face, just did. She looked at her engagement ring and glanced back at Jim, she sighed a little and stood up.

"Ah, I'm gonna go have a shower and wash my hair."

Jim took a sip of his drink and laughed.

"Okay, I'll see you in a few hours then..."

Kate faked a smile and walked inside, Jim called out to her.

"Ah, actually I might go for a run then..."

45 minutes later Kate walked down stairs, Jim still wasn't home. She couldn't get that conversation out of her head. She let out a huff and grabbed her keys and drove to Mike's house.

She sat in the drive way trying to think of a way to approach asking all of her questions. As she got out the car she heard yelling, she rushed to the door worried but as she pressed her ear to the door she heard the voices, she knew them, it was Mike and Jim. She couldn't believe he had lied to her again, she burst into the house without notice.

"What the hell is going on?"

They froze like cornered rats, she cautiously approached them not knowing what to think.

"Jim? What are you doing here? You said you were going from a run."

Jim didn't know how to respond, his eyes darted back and forth from Kate to Mike.

"I umm..."

Kate glanced at Mike who looked just as guilty.

"Mike?"

There was no response, their silence made her more agitated.

"I heard you two arguing at Navcom, why do I get the feeling you know something that I don't?"

They glanced at each other still silent. She focused her attention on Jim, he was about to speak when she interrupted.

"I know this isn't just about when we broke up. Don't lie to me again, I know that wasn't your old mates who messaged you earlier either, it was Mike."

Jim was about to say something but thought better of it, another lie wasn't going to fix this. Jim looked at Mike who gave him a slight nod indicating that they needed to explain. He reached for Kate's hand but she refused to be touched, he tried to not let it get to him.

"Can we sit down?"

They sat on the couch, Mike in the arm chair. Kate scowled in Mike's direction.

"What has this got to do with you?"

Jim looked up at Mike and then back at Kate.

"I don't know where to start..."

Kate's stomach was churning, she clenched her fists but her side.

"Jim!"

Even though Mike had started this he never imagined it would unfold like this, he talked the talk and was just trying to be protective but didn't think about the exit strategy. He felt terrible, he interrupted, he couldn't let Jim take all the blame.

"Jim and I, we ahh, we go way back."

Kate sat there not quite comprehending what Mike was saying.

"What?"

Jim nervously cleared his throat.

"We are, umm were, mates..."

It hit her like a bucket of iced water, she leapt up completely astounded.

"What? Mates? Are you fucking kidding me?"

They both shook their heads. She started to pace the room trying to work though it in her head.

"So, this is jealousy, or rivalry or what? I was some kind of challenge?"

Before they could answer she stopped dead in her tracks and turned to Jim.

"Why did I hear Mike say that I wouldn't marry you if I knew the truth?"

Jim cursed Mike's name in his head, how did this get so out of control?

"This is so fucked up..."

Kate was going to explode, all of this was hard enough because of the past issues between the 3 of them but now apparently there was more too it, she didn't know if she could cope with more problems. She looked into Jim's eyes hoping that it was something small, a misunderstanding even.

"Okay, long story short, when we met, it wasn't by chance on the internet. We searched for you on that dating site and when we went on our date I was supposed to be sort of well, an asshole."

Kate was speechless, she didn't think Jim was capable of something so cold, he had always been so honest and genuine with her.

"I was supposed to show you that dating sucked in hope that maybe you would see that Mike wasn't so bad..."

Kate could feel herself getting worked up again, they had literally played her.

Kate's silence worried Jim, he looked at Mike for help, he got up and sat next to Kate.

"You weren't supposed to like him..."

Kate tried to steady her breathing, Jim grabbed Kate's hand trying to get her to focus.

"But I liked you, that first date we had, the calls I was getting, one was really work but the others were Mike, you were supposed to think I was rude."

Kate scoffed.

"Yeah well, it worked..."

"Kate this wasn't supposed to be a big deal..."

Kate still couldn't believe that this was happening.

"A big deal? Tell me how this isn't supposed to be a big deal..."

"Well the plan would have worked if I wasn't posted with you. You did think I was a jerk, you walked out remember?"

Kate wasn't buying the excuse, not matter what they had still lied. Jim could see that his explanation wasn't helping, he tired a different approach.

"But the problem was that I actually liked you, don't tell me you didn't feel it too. It all got complicated when I was posted with you and Mike, we didn't know what to do..."

Kate stomped her foot on the ground out of sheer frustration.

"You could have come clean and not lied!"

They didn't know how to respond, of course that was an option but they panicked.

Jim couldn't think of anything that was going to make this better, Kate stood up, she couldn't sit there any longer and listen to them try and justify tricking her.

Jim knew this wasn't going well, he stood up and tried to make eye contact with her, he pulled her hands towards his heart.

"No Kate, I fell for you and well, Mike and I, we couldn't agree, that's why there was so much tension. He wasn't only jealous he was pissed at me!"

Kate snatched her hand back and stepped away from him, she tried to work though it in her mind, why her fiancée, the guy who she thought was perfect would trick her, would lie to her. She held her hand up to her temple and closed her eyes.

"So let me get this straight, as Mike's friend you decided that I was too stupid to really see how great a guy Mike was and you needed to trick me into thinking that all guys were jerks so that I would think Mike was the perfect man? And in the mean time you started to like me and instead of telling me the truth you both lied to me for months? "

Hearing her say it out loud made Mike and Jim wince, it did sound pretty awful looking at it from her point of view.

Kate refused to wait to for their response, she ran out of Mike's house and drove home, tears streamed down her cheeks as she drove. She couldn't believe that the two people she had truly loved in her life had tricked her, had lied and deceived her, she was shattered.

She ran into her house and threw herself on to her couch, she felt so betrayed, so stupid, she took off Jim's engagement ring and tossed it on the table.

She lay on the couch and stared at it for a moment, she felt so overwhelmed. She picked it up and looked at it, it was perfect, just like she had thought this reunion had been. She held it tight in her fist and let out a frustrated scream as she hurled it across the room, she couldn't stand the sight of it. She sat back on the couch hugging a pillow trying to stop the tears.

13 Months Earlier

Mike sat out on the deck enjoying the sunshine on his day off, his phone rang on the table. He picked it up and glanced at the screen, it was from a number he didn't recognise, he shrugged and answered it.

"Mike Flynn..."

"Mike! It's Jim, long time no see!"

"Bloody hell Jim, how you been? What's it been, like 2 years?"

"Yeah, about that! But hoping to fix that, I'm going to be up in Cairns for work from tomorrow, wanna grab a beer?"

"Sounds good, I'm on R and R, I can pick you up from the airport!"

The next day Mike had collected Jim from the airport and they were sitting on his deck having a beer. Mike patted him on the arm.

"It's good to see you mate! I'm sorry I've been such a bad friend..."

Jim shook his head and took a sip of his beer.

"Don't be ridiculous, I think after nearly 30 years of friendship we can forgive each other if sometimes we fall off the radar, especially with our schedules. Plus longer times between catch ups gives us a chance to have more than a couple of beers and talk shit hey?"

Mike nodded with agreement, Jim had always been a good mate, even if they hadn't seen each other in a while, they could always pick up where they left off with no awkwardness.

"So what have you been up to?"

Jim wasn't one to big note himself but he was excited about his new role.

"Oh you know, find the bad guys, protect the country, although I got a promotion a few months back, been called up to the big leagues, the SAS."

Mike nodded and looked impressed.

"Yeah, well you've certainly come a long way from that scrawny kid I used to know!"

They laughed and knocked their bottles together.

"So what about you? Much changed?"

Mike shook his head swallowing his mouthful.

"Nah, you know me."

Jim rolled his eyes and pat him in the arm.

"Yeah, all work and no play?!"

Mike looked mildly offended, Jim smirked.

"What happened to that girl from the course? You seemed pretty keen on her?"

Mike hesitated, Jim was a good mate but was he going to believe that they weren't breaking any rules. Jim could see he was thinking, he gave him a bit of a nudge for encouragement.

"What?"

Mike took a sip of his beer.

"Nothing really happened..."

Jim frowned, he knew Mike wasn't great at expressing his feelings but it was getting ridiculous, if he didn't try harder he was going to be an 80 year old Commander still captaining the Hammersley.

"Mike, the way you were talking about her, I mean she sounded, well, perfect."

Mike tried to shrug it off.

"It was bad timing, you know how things are."

Jim gave him an questioning glare.

"Not really...so what, it just fizzled out?"

Mike took another sp of his beer and broke eye contact.

"Yeah, something like that..."

Jim could tell Mike wasn't that happy discussing it but he wasn't going to let it go.

"So what happened to her?"

Mike exhaled loudly.

"Well, I didn't really see her much after that, until now..."

Jim smiled excitedly and leaned forward in his chair.

"Don't tell me you grew some balls and you've settled down?"

Mike shook his head and scoffed.

"No, she's my XO!"

Jim nearly spat out his mouthful and gave him a sympathetic look.

"No!"

Mike nodded and took a bigger mouthful of his beer.

"Yeah..."

Jim tried not to laugh, but it was just Mike's luck.

"Man, that's rough, so have you guys..."

Mike shook his head before Jim could finish the sentence, he knew what he was going to say.

"She's not a rule breaker, and neither am I."

Jim playfully punched him on the arm.

"Oh Flynn, when will you learn, some women are worth it!"

Mike shrugged a little.

"We've just got into a good place, I don't want to risk it. Plus, I don't think she feels the same way, she was pretty keen on some bloke, well, until we arrested him."

Mike could help but grin, Jim was lost.

"What?"

He shook his head dismissing the thought.

"Long story...But anyway, I caught her on her phone the other day with the Nav, I think they were setting up an internet dating thing."

Jim raised an eyebrow and took out his phone.

"Which one?"

Mike rolled his eyes.

"Of course you have all the dating apps! But I don't wanna spy on her..."

Jim put down his drink sensing that Mike was more into her than he was letting on.

"You need to see what you're up against! Describe her, I'll do a search..."

Mike didn't want Jim to get involved but he was a little intrigued.

"Blonde, green eyes about 5"7, slim build and she's 32."

Mike peered over Jim shoulder as he pushed search, 1000s of results poured in.

"See, this is impossible."

He let out a disgruntled huff and sat back in his chair.

"Wait I'll do a radius search, where does she live?"

"Around the corner..."

Jim slid his finger over the screen and moved the location toggle, Mike leaned back in peering at the screen.

"Okay, set to within 5ks."

They waited for the search to complete, Jim smiled at the results.

"Well that rounded it down to 30..."

Mike snatched the phone off out of Jim's hand and scrolled though the profiles, Jim laughed at Mike's reaction.

"Not interested huh?"

Mike realised that he would have looked desperate, he handed the phone back and shrugged trying to act blasé.

"Just curious, that's all!"

Jim flicked through the various profiles and stopped on one and grinned.

"Oh, she's cute..."

Jim showed him the picture, Mike cringed. No, it was Kate, his Kate. Jim noticed his reaction.

"Oh don't tell me, that's her?"

Mike nodded and continued to sip on his beer, Jim scrolled through her profile.

"I'm gonna message her!"

Mike jumped out of his seat trying to grab his phone

"Don't you dare!"

Jim gave him and uneasy look surprised at his reaction.

"Whoa, jeez, okay!"

Mike sat back in his chair, he knew Jim was just trying to help but little bit of him was envious; he knew Jim had a lot more charisma than him, what if they actually hit it off?

"I'd be doing it for you Flynn, just sussing out whether she was really over you!"

Mike shook his head and tried to diffuse the situation.

"She wouldn't fall for your charms and lines mate! She's too smart for that!"

Jim paused, they were friends but that comment kind of hurt, did Mike think he was a shallow womaniser?

"Right, well am I gonna meet otherwise then?"

Mike shrugged but deep down he hoped not.

"Dunno, depends if we get crash sailed."

Jim finished his beer and got up.

"Well, I better go get settled into my apartment..."

Mike got up to show him out.

"Apartment?"

"Yeah, they're not sure how long I'll be up here so they rented me a place, got my own Bachelor pad, they got me a nice bike too! Perks of the SAS mate..."

"Right, well you know where I am if you need me?"

He gave Mike a nod and left.

Jim had unpacked most of his things and sat on the couch and got out his phone. He knew Mike wasn't keen on the idea but he wanted to help, he knew that Mike was a workaholic but he deserved someone to love and to be loved. He thought if he took Kate out on a date and it didn't go so well it might make her re think him. He typed out a message, he read it over and over changing it each time, after about 4 redo's he nodded satisfied with the message, he hesitated before sending it. He closed one eye and hovered his finger over the send button.

"What's the harm?"

He pushed send.

Kate and Nav were having lunch at a cafe when her phone made a strange noise, Kate put her fork down and frowned.

"What was that!?"

Nikki laughed and grabbed Kate's phone.

"I put an alert on your phone if anyone was to message you..."

Nav opened the dating app, her eyes lit up seeing Jim's picture.

"Oh, this was such a good idea!"

She flipped the phone around to show Kate the picture. Kate couldn't hide the growing smile on her face, Nikki nodded approvingly.

"Yeah! You're so going on a date!"

She quickly replied to Jim's message before Kate could grab the phone.

"Nik!"

She shook her head.

"Too late, I've said Friday night at 7."

The phone dinged again, Nikki's eyes widened.

"Oh, fancy! He's going to meet you at Rosies..."

Kate gave her a death stare and continued to eat her salad, Nav had a giant grin on her face, she knew Kate was secretly excited on the inside.

Jim smiled at the reply, he then realised that he should probably tell Mike, he should at least give him the heads up, he didn't want to do this behind his back. He dialled his number and took a deep breath in, it rang a few times before Mike answered.

"Miss me already?"

Jim laughed nervously.

"Yeah, something like that... ahh, so before you get mad it's already done, we can't take it back!"

Mike smacked his head with his hand and ran it over his face.

"Oh Jim, you haven't signed us up for more..."

Jim laughed.

"No, I messaged her..."

"Who?"

"Kate, I'm taking her out Friday."

Mike nearly dropped the phone.

"What?"

"Ah yeah, look I'm not gonna be horrible to her or anything, I'll just suss out what's going on, see where she's at..."

Mike didn't like the idea at all, sure he was curious about her feelings but was more nervous about Kate actually liking him. He pretended to be un-phased about the whole thing.

"Okay, your funeral mate!"

Jim hung up the phone and smiled. Even though he was doing this for his friend he was curious about her, Mike had been quite taken with her at Watsons Bay but then it seemed to just go away. He sat back on the couch and scrolled through her pictures, she was beautiful, she had kind eyes and a great smile, just his type. He shook his head at the thought.

"This is for Mike, not you!"

He stopped scrolling when he saw her occupation, she had listed as HR, it was obviously a lie but he had done the same listing his occupation as a chartered accountant. He chuckled to himself, they already had similar minds.

"Oh Kate, what have I gotten myself into?"

End of Chapter 4.

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