A/N: I am so sorry I haven't updated in so long. I've been struggling to write two psychology assignments. Abject, pleading apologies. I've just about finished the assignments and will be handing them in this week and then I am free for 3 weeks. Well when I say free I mean I will be studying desperately for end of semester exams. But after that I have 4 whole weeks of holidays during which I will be able to write as much as I please and update more regularly. I hope this is worth the wait.
I was considering being mean and making this a short chapter with a cliffhanger but you have all been so patient with me so I shall reward that patience with a nice long chapter. I hope you like it. I am still taking suggestions for baby names. So far I have received a grand total of zero. If you have a name you like, let me know. Boy, girl doesn't matter. Now, on with the good stuff!
Disclaimer: Unfortunately I don't own Sea Patrol. If I did Mike and Kate would be married with twins.
Kate and Mike held hands as they walked down to the dock towards Hammersley. Even from a distance of they could both see the crew of the infamous patrol boat working quickly to make her ready for sea. Kate looked at Mike, a slight frown on her face as she analysed his expression. It was an odd mixture of sad, happy and wistful and it made her heart ache for him.
She stroked the back of his hand with her thumb and he looked at her from his superior height. "You're really going to miss it aren't you," she said, more of a statement then a question and Mike's confirming nod drew a sad smile from her. He didn't have to say anything. She knew exactly how he was feeling having already sacrificed Hammersley for them both..
They stopped walking, having reached the ship and Kate turned and faced Mike, reaching up to stroke his cheek softly. "I will miss Hammersley," said Mike, glancing up at the ship, "but I'll miss you more this week." Mike leant into her soft touch and smiled at her, earning himself one of her beautiful smiles in return.
"Its only a week," she whispered wrapping her arms around his neck and nestling her face into his shoulder, her fingers playing with his hair. He drew her closer and she turned her face up to kiss him, taking her time, savoring the feelings she would miss while he was gone. The warmth of his body next to hers, the little thrill she felt when he looked at her so lovingly, the feel of his lips against hers.
Mike broke off from the kiss and buried his face in her soft hair, inhaling her warm scent. "I know it's only a week," he said, pulling back to look at her face, "but I'll still miss you like crazy. All three of you." She smiled and kissed him again quickly, fingers still toying with his hair.
He stepped back but instead of letting her go like she expected him to he knelt down in front of her and placed a kiss on her abdomen. "Now you two be good for mum,"he said and kissed her stomach one more time before getting up. Kate grinned at him and leaned in, kissing him on the cheek.
"See you in a week Sailor," she said and waited for him to leave. Instead he stood there and stared at her, a bemused look on his face.
"What?"she asked, tilting her head to the side in question.
"You haven't called me Sailor since the first time we dated."he said, smiling at her. She thought this over for a minute before realising he was right. She hadn't used the endearment in years.
"Well get used to it Sailor," she said and smiling, she turned and walked towards NAVCOM, one hand resting on her stomach. He watched her walk, noticing the sway of her hips and the graceful way she held herself before turning and walking on board Hammersley, saluting the ensign as he passed.
Three days without Mike. It had only been three days without him and she missed him terribly. To her credit it had been three days of morning sickness, torturous breast pain and weight gain that she couldn't fathom. How on earth had she put on weight when she had thrown up just about everything she ate? Not to mention the mountain of paperwork Marshall had dropped on her desk that seemed to grow higher every time she blinked and the sleepless nights. She just couldn't get comfortable without him next to her.
She was surprised and a little proud that she had made it three days without going completely crazy. The prospect of another four was daunting, however, and she wondered if threatening to go on strike would be enough to convince Marshall to bring Mike home sooner. She stretched and stood up. She couldn't sit behind her desk any longer or she would fall asleep. She grabbed her purse and headed out in search of some lunch.
Commander Marshall stuck his head out of his office and called for his assistant Darryl. "Have you seen Lieutenant Flynn?" Marshall asked the harried assistant. "She was supposed to have three reports on my desk fifteen minutes ago!" Darryl shook his head at the commander.
"Sorry sir," he said, gesturing apologetically, "last I saw she was headed to the bathrooms." Marshall nodded and turned back into his office.
"Have her report to me as soon as she gets back,"he said, waving Darryl away with one hand and making his way back to his desk where his own mountain of paperwork needing signing awaited him.
"Yes sir,"said Darryl, heading back out to his desk to get back to work before Marshall could yell at him. Fortunately, as he was making his way back to his desk he spotted Kate. He walked over to her, noting the slight sheen of sweat on her forehead. "Commander Marshall wants to see you in his office now," he said, smiling apologetically to her. She nodded and made her way over to Marshall's door.
Knocking, she heard his instruction to enter and walked inside, closing the door behind her again. Only then Marshall noticed how pale she was. He could practically see the waves of tiredness radiating off her. "You wanted to see me sir," she said, standing opposite to him.
"Kate," he said, his tone softening slightly, "those reports were supposed to be on my desk twenty minutes ago. I need them now or I won't be able to get through the rest of this." He gestured towards the pile of papers in front of him.
Kate nodded, the strangest feeling overcoming her. She felt light headed and the room began to spin, the edges of her vision darkening. "Sorry sir,"she said stumblingly, desperately clinging to the edge of consciousness, "I'll...I'll get them...to..." but the rest of her sentence was lost as her vision finally went black and she collapsed onto the carpet.
Mike was thoroughly enjoying his last patrol. It had been quite relaxing, the only excitement the boarding of an FFV that they were towing back to base. Only three and a half days left of being CO of Hammersley. Only three and a half days until he could see Kate. This thought brought a smile to the captains face and the rest of the crew were glad to see him happy even if they were sad to see him leave.
Mike's happy thoughts were interrupted by no other than Robert Dixon. "Sir,"he said, unwilling to look the captain in the eye, "call for you in the COMCEN. It's Commander Marshall. Somethings happened." Mike's face fell and the crew exchanged worried looks. For Robert to be unwilling to tell Mike exactly what had happened it had to be bad. Really bad.
There was an annoying beeping coming from the right. It was incessant yet regular. And really irritating. She had been having such a lovely dream too, peaceful. Just her and Mike at home, relaxing after work. She fought consciousness for a little bit longer, her body steadily becoming more aware of her surroundings.
There was the beeping noise. She had already established that it was coming from somewhere to the right and was really annoying. There was also a weird belt around her waist, resting against her abdomen. And then there was the warm weight on her hand. She realised it was another hand, rough, brown fingers curled through her own. Mike.
"Mike,"she said, finally surrendering to being awake and turning towards the man sitting beside her bed. Her movement caused a slight dull ache through her muscles that reminded her of the soreness you get a couple of days after an intense workout. "Where am I?" she asked, confused by her surroundings, "What happened?"
"Kate?" said Mike, his voice flooded with relief, "Oh thank god your awake!" He stroked her cheek softly and squeezed her hand tight. "I've been worried sick!" he exclaimed. Kate just looked at him confused, unsure of what had happened. Her mind began thinking back, looking over the events of the past few days. Mike had left and she had been alone for three days. She was at work and really tired. She had just finished throwing up in the bathroom when Darryl told her Marshall wanted to see her. She had walked into his office and talked to him and then nothing. Blank. Darkness.
"Mike, what happened?" asked Kate, her tone becoming alarmed, "Am I in the hospital?" Mike nodded
and watched Kate carefully, trying to gauge how stressed she was. "Oh my god,"said Kate, becoming more worried by the second, "am I okay? Are the babies okay?" she asked, her hands flying to her abdomen.
"Calm down," said Mike hastily, one hand stroking her cheek, the other covering her hands on her stomach. "The babies are fine. You are fine. You just fainted." Kate breathed a sigh of relief and relaxed
only to tense up seconds later.
"If I only fainted why am I in hospital? And how are you here? You were still three days away from port. How long have I been unconscious?" she asked, her worried eyes turning towards Mike. He tucked her hair behind her ear and continued stroking her face.
"You were exhausted and very dehydrated," he explained, frowning at her, "the doctor said you had been working far too hard, not getting enough rest. The decided to give you a mild sedative so you could get some sleep and they hooked you up to an IV to rehydrate you. Marshall called me and authorised us to drop the tow of the FFV. He sent the Kingston to pick it up and we sprinted back to base. You've only been unconscious for a day.
Kate nodded and tried to process all of this. She had been feeling awful will Mike was away and she had worked to hard, throwing herself into it to keep distracted and busy. "You scared me Kate,"said Mike shakily, "for a minute there I thought I had lost you and the babies. Never do that to me again." he finished, burying his face in his hands.
"I'm sorry,"said Kate, reaching for him. He wrapped his arms around her and held her like he would never let her go, relief flowing through him like a drug.
"I forgot to ask, how was your last patrol?" Kate asked a few days later as she lay on the couch. She had been released from hospital under strict instructions from her doctor to stay on bed rest for a week. Mike had refused to let her lift a finger and as much as Kate enjoyed being treated like a queen it was growing old quickly. She was looking forward to tomorrow when she was allowed up and about again but she had learnt her lesson. She was going to take it easy for the rest of her pregnancy. Relax and enjoy herself.
"It was very pleasant until someone interrupted it"Mike replied, moving across the lounge room to sit with Kate. She poked her tongue out at him and he laughed before lifting up her legs and siting down, placing them in his lap. "Not much happened," Mike continued, rubbing Kate's feet, "it was actually quite peaceful." Kate smiled at him and he smiled back, happy to be home where he could look after her.
"No regrets?" she asked, tilting her head to the side.
"Nope," said Mike, tickling her feet til she laughed, "no regrets." She nodded and settled back into the fluffy pillow behind her back. Mike stared again, wondering for about the thousandth time at how beautiful she was. "I love you Kate," he said, giving her his bone melting grin.
"Love you too Sailor,"said Kate smiling at him before looking down at her stomach, "and I love you two too," she said, resting her hand on her abdomen and closing her eyes for a sleep.
