CH 7
2007
Lieutenant commander Mighty Mike Flynn walks into the NAVCOM bullpen where he spots his old friend Commander Steve Marshal talking to a female blonde lieutenant, from her shoulder rank.
"Steve."
"Mike, I would like you to meet your new XO, Lieutenant Kate McGregor." Kate turns to Mike in shock.
"Sir," Kate said saluting Mike.
"Lieutenant," he said in return. Mike was just as shocked to see Kate and he noticed she was using her maiden name.
Then he turned to Steve, "The Lieutenant's name wasn't on my list."
"The decision was taken out of your and my hands, Mike. Fleet command sent the Lieutenant here and she will be posted on Hammersley until it's decommission in six months. Whether you like it or not Lieutenant MGregor stays,understand?"
"Yes sir," then he turned to Kate,"Welcome to Cairns Lieutenant."
"Thank you sir."
"Shall we?" Steve said.
Mike and Kate follow Steve into his office. Mike noticed that Kate has the Victoria Cross, Conspicuous Service Medal, Active Service Medal, Iran Medal, and Defense Medal. He knew how Kate had received the medals. Two of them were from when she did her tour over in Iran. The other medal, the Victoria Cross, she risked her life to help save two sailors who were injured in an explosion on the ship that she was serving on. There was a small explosion down where the fuel tanks were. Kate went and got a fire extinguisher and went down to put it out before the fire before it reached the tanks and doing so without wearing protective fire gear.
Because of what she did, she received the medal for saving a lot of lives that morning as well the ship it self. She became the crews hero and it was the captain of the ship who recommended that Kate receive the Victoria Cross for what she had done. After the investigation into the fire and Kate's heroic actions, fleet command recommended that Kate receive the medal from the governor general himself.
When they walk into Steve's office and they sat down and talked about their one month patrol that was about to start. When finished Mike and Kate walk out of Steve's office and out of the bullpen.
"Where is your bag Lieutenant?"
"Downstairs... sir"
"Alright", they didn't say anything else until the navy car dropped them off next to Hammersley.
Kate followed Mike on board. He showed Kate her cabin, which she would be sharing with another female officer. Then Mike went to his cabin to get changed. When Kate had changed, she walked off the ship and onto the dock where a sailor was checking the list of items to be brought on board.
After saluting, the sailor greets her," Hi, You must be the new XO, I'm Petty Officer Tomaszewski, I'm called Buffer."
"Lieutenant McGregor. Your new XO."
"Ma'am" they shook hands. "Welcome to Hammersley."
"Thank you Buffer. Is this the list of items to be taken on board?"
"Yes ma'am, here you go. When you see each box of items taken on board you tick the box."
"I know what to do Buffer."
"Sorry ma'am."
"You can help take the boxes on board."
"Yes ma'am," then he saw who was walking off Hammersley.
"Come on you lot. Less talking, or I'll give you all some training."
"Yes Buffer," one of them said. The crew introduced themselves to Kate before going to pick up a box and take it on board. A few hours later Hammersley left port for its month patrol.
When they returned from their patrol, Mike noticed that Kate was still a bit shaken up after seeing her first dead body. That night while on shore leave, Mike found out where Kate is staying and went to see if she is ok. When he arrived at her apartment, he knocked on the door and waited.
Kate opened the door she was shocked to see who it is ,"Sir."
"Kate, I came to see how you are doing after what happened in the past couple of days"
"I'm doing ok thanks, Sir. Is there anything else?"
"Yes, there is Kate, we need to talk."
"There is nothing to talk about, Sir."
"Mike, not Sir... Kate if we are going to be working together for the next few months we need to get things sorted out here and now."
"There nothing to work out."
"Yes, there is Kate, don't shut me out," Kate looked at Mike.
"Fine..." Mike followed her as she turned around and walked into the living room.
"You want to talk,so talk." Kate said as she sat down with her arms across her chest.
"Kate, I want to know what happened. One week we were happy, spending time together with the family then a month later I received divorce papers. I asked you a number of times what was going on. You would just clam up. I'm asking you now please tell me what happened. What caused you to file for divorce and change your name?"
"You know why!" she said angrily.
"No, I don't, tell me."
Kate stood up,"Maxine white!" Kate said yelling at Mike.
"Maxine? I don't understand," Mike said confused.
"Yes you do."
"No, I don't!"
Kate paced back and forth then she stopped and turned to Mike.
"Two weeks after our family get together I decided to surprise you one weekend only I got a surprise," Mike thought about it.
"You mean after mum and dad's anniversary party?"
"Yes. I show up to surprise you and guess who I found sleeping in OUR bed, naked! Mike... Maxine White! I was shocked, you cheated on me. I couldn't handle it so I walked out of the house. I spoke to mum and dad. They were shocked too, but then asked me to reconsider because they were sure that you wouldn't cheat on me."
"It's true Kate, I never cheated on you."
"Mike stop lying to me!"
Mike stepped forward until he was standing in front of Kate, he looked her in the eyes, "Kate, I did not sleep with Maxine White or any one else! Mum and dad already had a go at me for cheating on you. I'm telling you like I told them, I have not slept with Maxine White. In fact, that weekend that you showed up, I had been called in for a two week patrol on HMAS Darwin. The Lieutenant Commander was called away to a family emergency and fleet command asked me to take over for one patrol, Kate. You can check my record. I got the phone call a week after the anniversary party."
Kate looked Mike in the eyes and she could see that he was telling the truth. Her in laws had told her the same thing even though she didn't want to believe it, not until now. When she looked into his eyes she could see that he is telling the truth. She should've listened to Wendy and Michael in the first place then they wouldn't be where they are right now.
Then tears started to fall, "I'm so sorry Mike. I should of talked to you before..." He pulled her to his arms.
"It ok Kate. I was shocked when I got the papers. Mum and dad told me what you said."
"I should've listened to them and talked to you first but..."
"It's ok," when they pulled back, Mike cups Kate's face with his hands.
"I only love you Kate and only you. As I said in our wedding vows, I will love you no matter where I am .I will always love you and no one will ever take your place in my heart. You are the most beautiful women whom I love and nothing will break that love that I have for you Kate McGregor."
"I love you Mike, I always have. I've never stopped loving you, please forgive me."
"I already have."
They move closer and they kiss. When they broke apart,"Mike, if you were on Darwin then how did Maxine White get into our house?"
"I don't know. But I will find out one day but for now, we've got a lot to talk about and work from here."
"I agree." They both sat down.
"What about our divorce, Mike?"
"I didn't sign the papers."
"you didn't?"
"No"
"Why?" Mike smiled.
"Because you never signed them."
"Oh"
"So tell me Mrs. Flynn, what have you been doing since Watson bay" Mike said smiling while holding on to her hand.
"Last five years,been to Iran for a tour, and then serving on different frigates."
"I read your record and how you received the Victoria Cross. What you did Kate, in rescuing those two sailors and putting out the fire that was so close to the fuel tank, you deserve that medal."
"So I've been told. So what should we do now? You will have to let Commander Marshal know."
"I will if you stay until the decommition of the old girl and when we get shore leave it will be Mike and Kate. When we are in uniform it's Sir and XO. Agree?"
"Agree." Kate said with a smile.
Over the next five months Hammersley been busy with FFV's, may day calls, and about what's happening on Bright Island. After Mike and Kate figure out what Rick Gallagher was up to, they were able to stop him from taking bottled water laced with a deadly toxin over the Australian exclusion line and into international waters.
Gallagher was arrested and his barge blown up and sunk. The crew was happy knowing that Hammersley's final act was to stop a terrorist attack from happening. When they returned back to Cairns, the crew got shore leave for the next few days until the decommission ceremony.
That afternoon, Kate was at home when there was a knock on her door. She went to see who it was, looked through the peephole she saw Mike. She opened the door and let him in. Once the door was closed and locked they were in each others arms, hugging and kissing. Then Mike picked Kate up and carried her to her bedroom and they spent the afternoon making passionate love. Afterwards while Kate was snuggling up to his side, they look at each other.
"What are you going to do now when Hammersley is decommissioned?" Mike asked Kate.
"Return back to Perth I imagine. I was told I was only here for six months then I would be returning back there and back on the HMAS Stewart."
"Can't you stay here?"
"I wish I could Mike, orders from Fleet command."
"So I'll be getting a new XO when the new Hammersley comes."
"Yes."
"How long before you leave?"
"Day after the decommission."
"Four days."
"Yes."
"Well then we got a lot to talk about over the next few days" He said giving her a kiss.
"I agree Mike."
"Kate no matter what happens, we can work something out so we can spend time together."
"It will be hard with you here and me in Perth, plus the shore leave schedules well..."
"That's true. But for now, let's start off with the four days we've got."
"Good idea Mike."
Mike kisses her and rolls them both until he was lying on top of her. They made love once again.
Over the next few days Mike and Kate got together to talk things over some more as well as spend as much time as they could together.
The day of the decommission Mike showed up at Kate's place early. Kate saw him get out of the car so she went to greet him like she has done the past few days. They hug and kiss before Mike walks in closes and locks the door.
"You're early Mike."
"I wanted to spend a few minutes with my wife."
"Sounds strange."
"Yes, it does." He said smiling as he wrapped his arms around Kate's waist and kisses her.
"Kate there is something I want to give back to you."
"To me? I don't understand," Kate said with a frown. Mike put his hand in his pocket and pulled out his closed hand.
"This Kate," Kate looked down at his closed hand. He opened his hand revealing three rings. Kate gasped then she looked up at him.
"I kept them Kate. Question is, Kate... will you be my wife? If it's too soon, I'll understand" Kate smiles as she put her hand on top of his and the rings.
"I've been thinking about that Mike ever since we talked and you are the only one whom I will ever love. I never dated, I couldn't move on. Something was stopping me from moving on from you. Then I remembered our wedding vows... I will love you no matter where I am, I will always love you and no one will take your place in my heart. You are the most beautiful man whom I love and nothing will break that love that I have for you Mike Flynn... that when I realized it was love. nothing will break that love we have for each other. It the strongest bond we have for each other."
"That is True Kate. You know I haven't been with anyone, not even dated because I see you in my dreams every night Kate"
"Fifteen years Mike."
"Fifteen years today," Mike said smiling.
"It's hard to believe it has been that long."
"True" Kate looks down at their hands.
She moves her hand and picks up a five millimeter wide gold wedding band. She looks at it then she picks up Mike's left Hand with her free hand and slips the ring onto his ring finger.
"It still fits," Kate said as she looked up to Mike.
"Yes it does."
Then he lifted Kate's left hand and slips Kate's three millimeter gold wedding band and one carat princess cut diamond with point seventy five princess cut diamonds on each side set in yellow gold with three millimeter wide band.
"It still fits," Mike said as he looks to Kate.
"Yes it does"
"Kate there something missing on this hand" Kate look down to her left hand then back to Mike.
"What's missing?" Mike put his hand in his pocket and pulled out a box.
He let go of Kate's hand so he could open it, "I had this made before our tenth wedding anniversary."
Kate looked down at the ring, it was five point thirty three princess cut diamond channel set in yellow gold. He got it out of the box then closed the lid and put it on the table. Then he lifted her left hand and slipped it on next to the engagement ring. Kate looked down at her hand then back to Mike.
"Do you like it?" Mike asked.
"I love it! Mike, thank you." Kate stepped forward wrapping her arms around his neck and gives him a passionate kiss. She felt his arms wrap around her waist. When they pull apart they were smiling.
"Hate to spoil this good mood Kate, but we've got to leave soon."
"I know... how about we finish this tonight."
Mike smiled,"I'll like that," they kissed once more before Kate went to get her bag and hat. Then they left together with smiles on their faces.
