Chapter 7 – Matter of Life Or Death
A/N : Ive uploaded this one in a different Format hoping you guys can understand the difference in people speaking sorry if it doesn't work let me know by PM and I will change it thank you for all the reviews
This is set 4 months later to the last Chapter –
In a weeks' time it will be Shay's 1st Birthday and the week after that is Kate's birthday as well, They have invited the crew of Hammersley round to the house for a small party, including a pregnant Nikki, Swain, Sally and Chloe and also Mikes Mother and Brother, and Kate's Brother Jordan with his wife and daughter Jessica.
0830hrs-
"Morning sleepy head…"Said Mike as he turned on his side to see Kate asleep with her back to him, he gently moves his hand through her hair and leaning in to kiss the back of her neck and shoulders making Kate giggle slightly to the ticklish feeling, She turns on her back and looks up to Mike who is slightly on top of her, they both lean in for a kiss that takes their breath away, "So have you decided on what you want for your birthday yet?" Asked Mike whilst looking down on Kate, "No I told you as long as I could spend it with you and Shay, I don't want anything, it's Shay's first birthday I want to make that the priority over everything, as long as his day Is special nothing else matter, don't forget to remind your Mum." Kate said quite merrily, By now he is now crawling everywhere and just starting to pull himself up and stand for a few seconds, Mike's Mum already knew about Kate's pregnancy and Shay, Kate told his mum when she first found out, to see if she could tell shay but it obviously wasn't the case.
Mike and Kate share one last kiss before she gets up to have a shower before Shay wakes up, Mike follows her in wrapping his arms around her waist, they both have an intense and steamy shower which was soon interrupted by the sound of Shay shouting for 'Dada'. Kate has been a bit jealous since Shay's first word was 'Dada' and not 'Mama', although sometimes he does try to should for 'Mama' but ends up just going 'mmm'. "He's shouting on you again, he's probably hungry or needing changed, there's a bottle in the fridge downstairs" Says Kate, and without hesitation Mike gives her one last Kiss before grabbing a towel and heading into the bedroom. Kate finishes her shower and gets ready to go meet Nikki for her Scan to find out if she's having a boy or a girl.
"I'll see you when I come back, I'm off to pick up Nikki, make sure he gets a bath some point today, try not to have too much fun without me" Laughed Kate, she gives Mike one last passionate kiss before heading out through the door.
Nikki's Place – 1130 –
Kate pulls up to Nikki's gate and toots the horn, she watches Nikki come out the door and step foot into the car, "Hey, chick are we ready to find out?" Asked Kate, "Yes I hardly slept a wink last night, thanks for doing this with me I didn't want to be alone in all this." Kate grabbed her hand on the seat, "Hey no bother chick, I wanted to know if im having a niece or a nephew anyways, let's go do this hey …" They drive off to the hospital and walk in to the waiting room, they take a seat and waited to be called into the ultrasound room. Kate could tell Nikki was nervous, but she just kept a hold of her hand and smiling at her, after what seemed to be like an half an hour wait "Nikki Caetano" Shouted the Sonographer, Both Kate and Nikki stood and walked into the room, Nikki lay straight back on the bed and Kate sat next to her holding her hand, "Gosh Nik, I can remember when I was here when I went to find out about Shay, trust me it's the best feeling in the world until there born," Smiled Kate as she looked over at Nikki, "Nikki can I ask you to pull back your top for me just to the top of your bump will do" Asked the sonographer as she placed some paper towel around the waistband of her skirt and under her top on top of her bump, "Okay, let's have a look, Now we have all 20 fingers and toes, nice perfect heartbeat and it's looking like you have a healthy 17week baby Boy! Congratulations," Kate and Nikki both burst out into tears, Nikki was going to have a son and Kate was going to have a nephew, they couldn't contain the emotion in themselves, they eventually let it out with a giggle before composing themselves before walking out, the sonographer handed her the scan just as they headed out.
"Congratulations Nikki, we can finally start buying Blue!" Before Kate could celebrate even more she had a phone call from Maxine, Hammersley was to crash sail in two hours, Nikki said it was alright she would come back home with her, then stay with Mike and Shay for a bit,
Walking through the door Kate rushed up stairs to quickly grab her duffer bag and change into her RAN ship uniform, Mike asked Nikki "What's going on?" , Nikki could see the disappointment in his eyes as Kate was telling her they were going shopping today, "Hammersley has been crash sailed in just over an hour and a half, she's got to get to the docks and be on ship before everyone else" Explain Nikki, "I said I'd stay for a bit keep you company before I go home". Just as Nikki sat down Mike went upstairs to see Kate, she had just finished lacing up her boots and was about to pull her hair back into her low ponytail. Mike went over to her in front of the full length mirror and grabbed her by the waist and pulled her back, "I'm sorry honey but I have to get down to the Docks soon as I can, Hammersley has a stock pile for supplies heading down and I need to be there before we sail, I promise I will try not to keep Hammersley out long hopefully I will be back in a few days and not the full week again" Kate turned and faced Mike, she stood for a moment and looked at each other in the eyes before she kissed him, grabbed her duffer bag and headed downstairs to say bye to Shay, "Bye baby, I'll see you soon mommy loves you!" She gave him a kiss and turned to head out the door before hearing Shay shout "Mammm" Kate smiled and shouted bye again before heading out the door before she started to cry again.
HMAS Hammersley Docking Station – Cairns Naval Docks – 1315hrs –
Maxine phoned the crew for Kate so she wasn't delayed any further, as she stood on the Gangway signing the paperwork for the Supplies hand over she could see the moped faces of her crew as they boarded and Saluted her as they headed to get changed in there cabin's , "Ah swain, your medical supplies are on the table in the ward room waiting to be check off, bird is due any minute so she will meet you in there" Swain nodded, "Ma'am are you okay you look a bit pale in colour?" Asked Swain, Kate looked at him, "Erm just a bit light headed I rushed straight from the hospital with Nikki to be here within an hour",
"Oh, I forgot about her scan today, well what is she having?" Asked Swain,
"A perfectly healthy baby boy" Smiled Kate showing him the picture on her phone,
"Oh good im so happy for her" Said Swain as he headed off to do his duties,
Within an hour Hammersley was fully crewed and were already heading out on their patrol, Kate was sat in the Captain's chair, she had the Ship, Swain was at the helm and Ryan was watching out the EOD looking for suspicious activity, Swain looked over to Kate again and noticed her pale complexion and the way she was looking out at sea something was on her mind but making her sick thinking about it, Swain turned behind and seen Dutchy leaning at the desk behind him, "Dutchy, Mate can you take over please?" Dutchy nodded and swapped places with each other, Swain walked to the right side of Kate and Placed his hand on her Shoulder, "Ma'am is everything alright you don't seem to look very good", Swain looked at his boss as she still looked pale and slightly sweaty, "I erm.. I just feel a bit funny, may be something I ate" Kate mumbled still looking out on the horizon in front of her, "Come down to the ward room and ill check you out just in case" Swain grabbed Kate's arm and gently taken her down to the ward room, "Ryan can you get XO up here please to take the ship?" Asked Swain, Ryan nodded "XO Bridge at the rush, XO Bridge at the rush"
Down in the ward room Kate laid back on the medics table, she started to reach to be sick, swain grabbed the cardboard dish and placed it by her mouth just as she leaned over and belched out into the dish, "Kate are you alright?" Asked Swain,
Kate shuck her head and said to swain, "I feel like my belly is going to explode, there is a terrible feeling that's making me feel sick"
"Kate have you ate anything different or had anything that you can think of to make you like this?" Asked Swain not bothering with the formal commands,
"I've had nothing out the ordinary" And before she could continue she grabbed the bowl to be sick again, this time Kate knew something was definitely not right,
Swain sent Kate to go lie down for an hour after taking some paracetemol and sickness tablets, "Don't worry I'll inform NAVCOM and get XO to get us back to port full speed just in case, you'll need to see a doctor before you go home, just precaution in case you have something that may spread aboard the ship"
Kate nodded in agreement and wondered down to the CO cabin, shut the door behind her and lied down in bed sleeping away the pain in her stomach,
Upon the Bridge-
"How is she Swain?" Asked Pete,
"Not good, I've sent her down to her cabin to sleep it off with some pain killers im making sure Bird keeps an eye on her every 10 minutes, RO I need you to inform Commander White that were heading back to base with a Sick CO, X can you get us back to port as soon as possible please" Without hesitation they got right on it RO was on the phone to Commander White, XO had ordered 2Dads to full speed and asked charge to keep an eye on the engines in case we over heat,
NAVCOM – Commander Whites office –
"Commander White speaking hello"
"Ma'am HMAS Hammersley Leading Seaman Dixon speaking I have the ships Coxswain here awaiting to speak to you urgently."
"Thanks RO can you put him through please"
"Ma'am its Petty Officer Chris Blake, I have the CO lying down in her Cabin, she's been sick a few times, she says the pain is coming from her stomach, ive got a bad feeling that she has a stomach ulcer that has burst, I have got our 2nd medic Bird looking in on her ever 5-10 minutes just to check she hasn't been sick anymore, were currently heading back to base, can you have an ambulance ready for our arrival please?"
"Wow that serious, right okay leave it with me what's you ETA back?"
"ETA 1600hrs ma'am at full speed, Oh Ma'am, someone needs to inform Mike?"
"Right leave that with me Swain and please inform me of any changes?"
"Thanks Ma'am, I will"
*They both hung up the phone*
Maxine had sorted out an ambulance to pick Kate upon arrival, She was now on the phone waiting for Mike to pick up the other end.
"Hello?"
"Mike its Maxine, Kate's fallen ill on Hammersley, Swain seems to think she's got a burst stomach ulcer, There approx. an hour and a bit away from base, I have an ambulance on standby for their arrival, so if I was you id be prepared to head to the docks to meet her off the ship"
"Oh god, I erm, thanks Maxine, keep me informed of her condition if anything changes?"
"I will do Mike, I must go I've got to get back in touch with Swain about the ambulance"
"Okay thank you Max,
*They both hung up the phone*
Back on board Hammersley-
"Swain CO's Cabin at the rush!" Said Bird shouting from the bottom of the steps to the bridge,
"What is it Bird?" Said Swain as she ran into the Cabin, Lying on the Bed Kate was sweating even more, she was struggling to breath and was starting to shake,
"Quick, X, 2DADS, BIRD, help me carry her into the ward room", they proceeded, Pete carried her under her arms and 2dads was helping grab her legs and feet,
"Gently place her down, Ma'am, can you hear me?" Swain grabbed his small torch and looked in her eyes, "Bird I need you to put an IV drip of Morphine in her arm,
"Pete get up to the bridge and get Commander White informed of what's happening, Kate, Kate can you hear me, were does it hurt, Kate stay with me!"
"IV drip is in Swain"
"Thanks Bird, all we can do is keep her calm and comfortable, Can you get fleet medical on the line for me please Bird thank you!.
"Kate, just take nice slow deep breaths, try to stay calm, you'll be fine soon were nearly back at base." Said swain,
Kate grabbed Swains hand, it seemed to calm her down a bit, he grabbed a stool and sat next to her,
"Swain Fleet medical are on the head set", Said Bird as she placed it around his head,
"Sir, HMAS Hammersley Coxswain Petty Officer Blake, Sir its Lieutenant Commander Kate McGregor, She started to vomit and feel light headed, she was given paracetemol and was sent to sleep it seemed to help then an hour later she started with heat sweats, shaking and shallow breathing, …. Yes sir, she said she had a sickly feeling coming from her stomach, we assumed it was something she ate… No sir just a moment I'll check," Swain started to feel around Kate's stomach as instructed by fleet medical,
"Slightly rigid, tender and she is reacting to the pressure", Said, swain, There was a small pause as Swain looked over to Bird with a heartfelt look on his face,
"Yes I understand, yes thank you sir" Swain hung up the headset as he looked to Bird again,
"Well what did Fleet command Say?" Asked Bird,
Swain sat back down on the stool and held Kate's, hand, "Ma'am I have to ask you this, so please don't think I'm being rude in asking, But is there any way that you could be pregnant?"
Kate looked at swain in worry, "I, I, I don't know" She cried
"Okay, don't worry, we'll take care of you, Just relax," Said Swain whilst comforting her,
20 minutes had passed, Kate was sleeping on the gurney the had brought in from the medical store room by austere, XO had given the shout that they were just pulling into port Swain and Bird were preparing to move Kate to the boat deck do she could be transferred to hospital straight away. As they hit the boat deck, Swain could see Mike waiting by the Ambulance.
As they loaded Kate into the Ambulance, Mike sat in the back with her Swain said to Mike, "I'll meet you down there"
Royal Darwin Naval Hospital – Kate's Arrival –
"Lieutenant Commander Kate McGregor, 36, Fell ill upon Patrol, at first suspected Food poisoning, had word from fleet command and the ships Coxswain she could be pregnant and miscarrying, No signs of bleeding just vomiting and constant heat sweats..."
At that moment Mike stood still, his heart just froze, was Kate pregnant and not tell him; if so is the baby alright? What if she's not pregnant, what if she is really sick and can't have any more children? All these thoughts were running round in his head, he waited outside in the waiting room, joined by Swain and Bird while Kate had a Scan and test ran to see what was going on,
30 Minutes Later
The doctor stepped out of the room he was in with Kate and walked down to Mike,
"Is she alright, what's wrong with her?" Asked Mike,
The doctor sat down next to Mike, "It seems Kate is pregnant, only a couple of weeks judging by her scan, she also has an ulcer on her stomach lining, it seems one has already burst and the other one is quite inflamed looking, We need to give her surgery to remove this ulcer but…" The doctor took a pause
"But what?"
"But I need you to understand that if we proceed with this surgery there is a high chance the baby won't make it out of the surgery, due to the drugs we need to give her to help reduce the change of the ulcer rupturing, Kate is in no state to give an agreement to go ahead to the surgery, I need you to understand that if we don't operate there's a chance both of them will die."…
Mike had a choice to make a matter of life or death….