"Sir, we're coming up to Samaru now," said Nav, diverting her eyes away from ET who was at the helm.
Mike nodded. "Thanks Nav. X, prepare the RHIB to go ashore."
"Are you coming Sir?" Kate asked, anxiously.
"Yeah, I think I might," he replied.
Kate nodded, picking up the radio. "Away sea boat, away sea boat." She turned to look at Mike, knowing that he was only coming along because he didn't want her to be alone with Jim.
Breathing out slowly, she looked away from him in the direction of the island, where she knew that Jim was waiting for her. Jim. Did she love him anymore, or was she just with him to piss off Mike?
Mentally slapping herself, she left the bridge and went outside, waiting for the RHIB to hit the water. Two minutes passed and Mike was at her side again...wearing the vest...the Kevlar vest.
"Sir, we're just picking up the SAS team," said Kate, eyeing the vest in his right hand.
He held out the vest. "Yeah, but it doesn't mean you can protect yourself. There are still maniacs on the island with guns and machetes, ready to kill us."
Kate sighed. "Fine," she replied, holding out her arms. "But can you please help me put it on; I think I might have bruised my arm getting off the RHIB when we brought back Clare."
Mike frowned, but nonetheless consented, silently enjoying himself as he slipped the vest over her petite figure. He turned her around, and brought around the buckles, and put them together. Bringing his hands to rest on her waist, Mike found himself lost in her eyes, and leaning towards her.
"Mike, stop." Her voice broke him from his trance and he removed his hands in an instant.
"Sorry," he mumbled, looking down as he felt himself blush.
Kate smiled. "Just don't do that again."
Mike looked up, returning her smile. "I can't promise you that Kate," he replied. "You know I can't."
Kate raised an eyebrow, but before she could say anything, Buffer called that the RHIB was ready. Kate turned around and made her way to Buffer who was already descending the ladder. She climbed in after him, and was greeted with a smile as he helped her sit down.
Swain was steering and so was already in the RHIB, waiting for everyone to sit. He looked on in amusement as Mike followed in after Kate and took a seat beside her, must to her annoyance. He sniggered slightly as he watched the two have an argument about where the captain was sitting, but turned around as Kate gave him a stony glare.
"Sir, what are you doing?" she hissed.
"I'm sitting down X. If you prefer me stand I will, but I might fall out of the RHIB, and we don't want the captain all wet when we land do we?" he stated.
Buffer smirked, nudging Swain to turn around as he eyed Kate's changing face turning from annoyance to concern and back to annoyed all in a matter of seconds.
Kate's eyes narrowed, and Buffer and Swain turned around. Mike, however, just smiled. "Is something wrong X? Do you want me to fall? Or do you just want to see me wet?"
Kate's eyes widened in shock. What the hell is his sick mind thinking? "Sir, I just...would like a little bit of personal space."
"Oh, sorry X," he replied, not budging.
Ok, fine, don't move. Kate smiled, moving over just an inch. Mike returned her smile and he started to hum to himself. A familiar song...thought Kate, sighing.
"You okay X?" asked Mike, raising an eyebrow.
"What? Oh, nothing Sir," replied Kate.
"You sure?"
"Sir, if I were upset, I would talk to someone ā but not you," she said, looking away.
---
The RHIB came to a stop, landing with a thud as it hit the sand. Kate was the first out, followed by Buffer, Swain and Mike.
"Kate?"
Kate looked up, her head whipping around to the voice that had called her; so when she saw Jim, walking toward her, her face lit up in delight.
"Jim!" she cried. She didn't move, knowing that her captain (and her ex), was watching her every move from behind.
"Hi Kate," said Jim as he reached her. "Long time no see," he added, leaning down and kissing her cheek.
Kate laughed lightly, blushing as he started to whisper something in her ear, "I've missed you a lot. I hope that your lack of my company hasn't turned you off me, especially when you've got your captain staring at you."
---
"I wonder what they're talking about," said Mike, as he watched Jim and Kate walk hand in hand back to where Jim's SAS team were.
Buffer shrugged. "I don't know Sir; us perhaps?" asked Buffer.
Mike laughed. "Maybe Buff, maybe."
---
"Jim, Iā"
"Kate, wait," cut in Jim. "Before we do anything, I just need to tell you, I'm really sorry that I couldn't be there at your friend's wedding."
Kate opened her mouth to speak but closed it again when Jim continued speaking. "Were you lonely without me at the wedding?"
She hesitated. What could she tell him? That she had been in the company of her ex the entire night and that she had secretly enjoyed it? "Um...no not really...the crew were all there, so I wasn't that lonely."
"Oh." Jim looked down. "That means Flynn was there too right?"
Kate frowned. "Yes, of course." She looked up at him, a reassuring smile make him look up. "No need to worry Jim, nothing happened."
"Right. Okay. Um, take a seat, and I'll go get you a coffee," he replied, as they reached his SAS team.
"Oh, thanks." Kate sighed, looking down at her shoes. Did she really love him now, or was she just pretending?
"X, are you stopping because you're tired or because...?" Mike's voice interrupted her thoughts and she looked up at him, stony-faced.
Mike frowned. "It's just a question X."
"Jim's getting me coffee," Kate replied, her voice sounding colder than she wished.
"Aha, right." He took a seat beside her. Buffer, preferring to stand behind them, quietly observed the SAS crew going about their business. Well, whatever's their business now will be our business soon. Buffer smirked, but quickly hid it when Jim came walking toward them, a cup of coffee in his hand.
"Captain Flynn, how good of you to join us," greeted Jim, handing the cup of coffee to Kate, who received it gratefully. "Did you want coffee too?"
Mike stood up, shaking his head. "No thank you Captain Roth. There isn't any time for coffee, we have to get going. We have another passenger onboard and we need to get her to base as soon as possible."
"Is the passenger injured?" asked Jim.
"No; but she is creating tension between my crew and I would prefer that she gets off my ship, before something happens," Mike replied. "So please, Captain Roth, it would be much appreciated if you would get your team together so we can depart."
Jim opened his mouth to speak, but he closed it again as his eyes looked at Kate who had a look on her face, telling him that he should probably do as he had been told.
"Five minutes Sir," Jim replied, turning on his heel and shouting at his team to get ready to depart.
Mike ran a hand through his hair. Kate stood up. "You didn't have to tell him that way you know Sir," she replied.
"I know, but we need to get back. If we stay here chatting for any longer, Nav will search the ship until she finds Clare and harm her. And I don't want to lose Lieutenant Caetano because she is in love and willing to fight for who she loves."
Kate gritted her teeth, her eyes flicking between Buffer and then man in front of her, before allowing her eyes to slide down to Mike's mouth. "Yes Sir," she finally said, stepping back, before turning around and walking in the direction of where Jim had gotten her coffee.
Mike turned to Buffer, a questioning look on his face. "Did I just miss something?"
"I think she likes you Boss," answered Buffer, smirking.
