A/N - I have no idea about Navy medical conditions on frigate boats so lets just assume I have made it suit so I can continues with the stroyline.

Ch 9 Smooth Sailing

Mike and Kate didn't say anything on the way to the Hammersly and once onboard they were busy enough readying the boat for patrol. Kate was scheduled for dogwatch later in the evening so once they had embarked and entered open waters she excused herself under pretence of paperwork and headed for her cabin. Kate immediately set about researching kidney failure and organ transplant rates in Australia. While the information was daunting and Kate was increasingly overwhelmed by the seriousness of Hannah's illness there was an emerging hope and awareness that the organ transplant avenue was at least, a possibility. Deep down, Kate was concerned at why Hannah had not wanted her to know about her illness and then came the horrific realisation that Hannah's questions about her father also had another purpose.

'Why was Hannah willing to approach an unknown father about this but not me?' Kate wondered to herself. Kate soon found that a live transplant has no long term effects on the donor and only beneficial effects to the recipient. Even pregnancy was possible for the donor which Kate had guessed might be the reason for Hannah's avoidance of her as an option. 'Maybe she resents me more then she is letting on' mused Kate but quickly dismissed this considering Hannah had searched her out and the mood of their meetings so far.

And then she found it –; Hidden in the medical manual and conditions of employment for the Navy was a condition on serious medical conditions and military service on a frigate boat.

'Due to the long periods in isolation with minimal medical services aboard it is Navy policy that personnel with the following conditions are not available for service on a frigate class boat.'

..(ix) personnel who have suffered kidney damage, kidney transplant or donor and thereby functioning on one kidney.

And there at number 9 was the truth of the decision that was in front of Kate. She quickly checked the conditions applicable to the patrol class of boat and found that due to the shorter time periods for patrols and proximity to Australian Medical Services, the same condition did not apply. Kate leant back in her chair and stared at the number of windows she had open on the computer and contemplated the impact of any decision that may be sitting quietly in the back of her mind.

Kate had fallen in love with the smaller community she had expereinced on the patrol boats. Perhaps it was a matter of time before she signed off on firgates as an option in her career. She had no immediate plans to go back but to close it permanently through the choice that she was considering was a different matter altogether.

Kate was so deep in thought and continually flipping from one window to the other, she did not even hear Nav approach.

"All smooth sailing up top" Nav said as she entered.

Kate quickly closed down the information and began logging off the computer. She was happy for the distraction and smiled at Nav.

"How was you shore leave?" Kate asked.

Nav shrugged and with a sneaky smile asked the same of Kate. Kate noticed the tone in her voice and the raised eyebrow but thought she'd still play dumb.

"Oh, mine was the same as it ever was…"

"Oh yeh?" asked Nav "Did your new man get to meet your sister?"

"My sister?" Kate was confused.

"The girl from the bar. I mean she looks exactly like you. It wasn't hard to guess that she was your sister"

Kate looked at her and smiled at the convenient mistake made by the crew as to Hannah's identity. Before she had a chance to reply, Nav jumped in.

"Don't worry Kate. I'm not going to give you the third degree. Just know I am here if you need. I always am." Nav smiled.

Kate realised that Nav was increasingly become closer to her than any sister could be. While she was not about to tell her the real relationship with Hannah, Kate decided to confide in Nav about the health problems Hannah was experiencing. Kate was beginning to feel a little bad about the fact that this was the second time Nav had been a confidant without the full story, first Mike and now Hannah, but Kate simply wasn't ready for Nav to know everything.

Kate felt a lot lighter as the time approached for her to go on watch and Nav to get some sleep.

"What are you going to do?" asked Nav.

"Well I guess there is nothing to decide until I get tested" Kate replied thoughtfully. "I will make an appointment with the hospital for the day we get back to port. Not much I can do until then"

Nav put her hand on Kate's and gave it a squeeze before Kate reluctantly rose to go onto the bridge.

"Thanks Nav. I mean it. You are a really good friend. I know I have my secrets. ….It's good to know you're here to drag them out of me and make me share. It does me good." And with a smile Kate left the cabin leaving Nav to ponder just what other secrets her friend was keeping.