Chapter 7 : Second Chance pt 1

NAVCOM, Cairns, 2007

Mike climbed up the stairs toward NAVCOM. With each step, the dull pain in his left leg increased.

"Sit down, Mike. I'll be back in a minute"

Steve Marshall left his office as soon as Mike arrived, grunting something about having to deal with an emergency occurring on HMAS Childers.

"Yes, sir." Mike waited, resting his hat in his lap, while he rubbed the scar on his left leg until the ache finally disappeared. The twinge he felt where he'd broken his leg in Iraq had become an omen for rain or something good happening in his life. He needed some good luck. His last patrol had been the absolute worst since he'd joined the Navy.

One of his crew had been seriously injured during a boarding and the X's role in the injury had been the final straw. The incident had effectively ended Mike's working relationship with his Lt. Treadrow, and had left Mike no choice but to charge the man with incompetence and insubordination. After a tense call to Commander Marshall, Mike had insisted that the lieutenant be removed from his ship permanently. He'd tried for three months, but he just couldn't work with the arrogant fool anymore.

Mike had a fair idea why Marshall called him into NAVCOM; his next patrol orders and a list of possible XO candidates for him to choose from. Hopefully he'd make a better choice than last time.

Steve returned to his office, muttering under his breath about the FFVs, ICE boats and the EEZ. After a deep breath, Steve focused his attention on Mike and the problems and nightmares that he caused. The latest had been Lt Treadrow, who'd become the third XO not to last three months on Hammersley. It wasn't that Mike was a reincarnated Captain Bligh, he was a just a perfectionist. Unfortunately Canberra had also noticed the rapid turnover of executive officers and had taken the decision out of Steve's, NAVCOM's and Mike's hands and sent a replacement themselves.

A quick look at Steve's watch told him that the officer in question would be there shortly. In the meantime, he started on the patrol orders.


Kate stared out the of car window as the building of HMAS Cairns flashed by.

The previous twenty-four hours had been one long blur.

It had begun with a meeting just after lunch the day before with her clearly angry yet apologetic CO. He had informed her that she'd been transferred to Border Protection Command and the patrol boat fleet effective immediately. Her CO, Commander Hayden, hadn't wanted her to go and had tried to fight it but to no avail.

And then there was an even bigger shock. Her new CO would be Mike Flynn.

Mike Flynn.

Kate still had no idea how she felt about that, despite mulling over it the night before and on the flight up to Cairns. She hadn't seen Mike Flynn in five years. She'd always thought that it was unlikely that their paths would cross again. And although she'd succeeded in expunging him from her foremost thoughts for the most part, there had been a few moments of weakness where what he'd meant to her had flooded back.

At the moment her anger was increasing, at the Navy for transferring her to Cairns and for thinking that Mike had probably moved on and had a family, because she certainly hadn't done either of those things. And there was no way she could have refused the posting. She had no intention of explaining why she shouldn't serve under Mike – for her sake and his. It would be a death sentence to both their careers. Granted at first it would be awkward on board the Hammersley but she vowed to be professional and to be the best XO she could be to earn his and their crew's respect and trust.

In the end there was nothing Kate could do. The Navy had ordered her to go and so she went. She'd make the best of it, like it or not, so there was no point in getting angry

Three Fremantle class patrol boats were tied up along side each other at the dock. One of them would be her new home but already she missed the new and modern lines of the frigates. She sighed; these patrol boats were nearly as old as she was.

Incredibly disappointed to miss HMAS Parramatta's six month deployment to the Persian Gulf, Kate also hoped to have stayed on the frigate longer as a Navigator and OOW to gain the necessary experience before doing the PWO course. That had been her career path until the day before. Promoted not in rank but in position, her posting to the patrol boat fleet wasn't what she had planned. Big ships were where she wanted to be.

Unaware that she'd been rubbing along the throbbing scar on her arm, Kate looked up out the window. The sky was clear, so there were no storms on the way, but she knew that could change quickly in the tropics. Chuckling quietly to herself, she wished she had a less painful augury for when the weather was about to change or when things were going to improve for her.

"Ma'am, this is NAVCOM," her driver said as they pulled up in front of the imposing building.

"Thank you, Leader," Kate replied. After getting out of the car, she made sure her cover and shirt were perfect, and then made her way up the stairs and into the building, where a petty officer directed her to Commander Marshall's office.

Kate confidently walked toward the office. Through the window, she could see Mike Flynn sitting there, relaxed and confident. She knocked on the door and waited.

"Enter," Steve ordered.

Outwardly calm, Kate walked in and then saluted Commander Marshall. "Lieutenant McGregor reporting as ordered, sir."

Steve returned the salute. "Lieutenant, please have a seat."

"Thank you, sir." Kate removed her cover and sat down. As soon as she sat next to Mike all her simmering anger disappeared and even more shocking was how her body reacted to the nearness of Mike, just as it always had; her pulse quickened and waves of desire poured through her. After a calming deep breath, she looked at Mike, her face neutral but no telling what colour her skin was, and said, "Sir." And then her attention was focused back on the commander.

Nodding, Mike smiled politely, but trying to conceal the shock of seeing Kate after all the years. "Lieutenant," Mike acknowledged automatically, seeing her flushed face he thought she was as shocked as he was. She'd changed a little but still looked amazingly beautiful. He was unable to stop his heart fluttering. Turning back to face Marshall, Mike gulped hard and told himself to get a grip.

"I'm Commander Marshall. Welcome to NAVCOM and Border Protection."

"Thank you, sir."

No time the present, Steve thought and then he dropped his bombshell. "Mike Flynn meet Kate McGregor. She's your new Executive Officer."

Mike's eyes flickered between Marshall and Kate. He was stunned, but that changed to ire because the decision had been taken out of his hands.

Steve got in first. "Mike, this comes from Canberra." Steve smiled at Kate, feeling sorry for her but knew that Mike shouldn't resent her presence too much on his boat. It would be hard but he knew that she might be ideal foil for Mike. "Lieutenant, report back here at 1600 hours for the formal paperwork. Now please wait outside."

"Yes, sir." Kate stood up and left the room. She understood why Mike seemed aggravated. The decision had been taken out of his hands and could be construed to be an affront to his command.

Mike took a calming breath. "Sir, -"

"Enough, Lieutenant Commander," ordered Steve. "Don't bother. Canberra has put her with you for a reason." Steve shook his head, although he understood where Mike was coming from, there was nothing he or Mike could do. The order had come from the rarefied air in Canberra. With a more relaxed tone, he continued, "Look, Mike. You're on notice. Take this as a sign. Do this right and after Hammersley is decommissioned, you'll be up for promotion."

Mike groaned. Promotion meant shore posting and he hated shore postings.

Shaking his head, Steve knew Mike's reticence at promotion. It would mean driving a desk for awhile but if Mike played the game he could end up commanding a frigate. He passed Kate's personal file to Mike. "The Lieutenant's an excellent officer, Mike. She's here to stay so make the most of it."

"Yes, sir." Mike still seethed. It was just galling that he couldn't choose his team.

Steve relaxed a little. "You're not due to depart until Friday, Mike. Take this time to get to know her. Show her around Cairns. Dismissed."

Resigned, Mike stood up, saluted and then left NAVCOM. Christ! He needed a drink.

Kate kept a respectful distance back from Mike, understanding he'd need time to digest what had happened.

Mike heard the footsteps following a few steps behind him.

He stopped in his tracks. Damn … Somehow he'd completely forgotten about Kate. He should've realised that she'd followed him.

Stopping too, Kate waited, standing at ease.

Looking over his shoulder, Mike contemplated for a second what Steve Marshall had said. It wasn't Kate's fault. Some of the fault lay at his own feet, as Marshall had said, but he could at least act like an officer and gentleman. "My apologies, Lieutenant."

"Sir, I understand," Kate replied gently.

Mike nodded realising that she actually did.

Kate smiled.

"Do you have a car?"

"Not yet, sir." Like the rest of Kate's meagre worldly goods, it should be in transit from Sydney.

"Would you like to see Hammersley?"

"Yes, sir." Kate needed to get familiar with the boat quickly. She'd only been on a patrol boat once during her time in ADFA.


With his crew on extended shore leave the boat was deserted. Mike showed Kate around her new home, giving her the full Cook's tour, from the MRC to the Bridge. Despite not serving on a patrol boat, Mike was impressed that she knew a great deal about the ship's systems and operations. He already knew she was a quick learner.

Kate enjoyed the tour and Mike's obvious pride at his ship and crew. It seemed that he knew every bolt and circuit on the boat. They'd slipped easily into conversation. The Navy was a safe subject but it was a start.

Kate smiled. "Thank you for the tour, sir."

"My pleasure, Kate." Mike returned her warm smile. It seemed so natural to say her name and he was glad that she hadn't reacted adversely.

"She's a fine boat."

Mike looked around with pride but equal amounts of sorrow. "Yes she is, but unfortunately she has only six months to live."

Kate noticed the obvious sadness in Mike's eyes and voice. It wasn't surprising. Hammersley had been Mike's first posting as a seaman and he'd be the final CO.

Not wishing to dwell on Hammersley's looming decommission, Mike changed the subject. "Lunch?"

"Yes, sir."

"There's a nice cafe near my place." Mike looked at his whites. "We'll have time to get changed"

"That would be fine."

"Yeah." Mike was going to suggest it anyway, wanting they're getting to know each other session to be as relaxed as possible. "Let's go."


I go crazy
You know when I look in your eyes
I go crazy
No my heart just can't hide
That old feelin' inside
Way deep down inside
I go crazy

'I go crazy' by Paul Davis

TBC