Chapter 10 Meeting at sea

The next day, Nikki and Dylan arrived together at Navcom. He, for doing his job as Maxine's assistant and Nikki to pick up her orders for the patrol she had to start later that day. But she had other plans too.

She knocked the doorway of Mike's office. She noticed he was reading one of the many files which were on his desk and he looked rather gloomy. The office was spacious with a meeting table, a coffee table and a couple of tub chairs around. Behind his desk there was also a scale model of a ship, not a wooden frigate like in Maxine's office, but a scale model of the Cerberus monitor.

He lifted his head and got a smile on his face when he saw Nikki.

"Hey Nikki, come in."

"Hi boss, have you got a minute?", she asked as she walked inside.

"Sure, take a seat and how are you doing with Dutchy?", he said putting down his pen.

"Great boss, I never felt that happy in my life", Nikki said with a radiant smile as she sat down.

He smiled. "Nice, nice and how's the command going?"

"Super boss, it's a wonderful experience. But, I've had a good teacher."

He returned her a grin as response.

"Yeah, good for you. I wished I could switch with you. Back at sea, instead of this office."

"But boss, you've got your promotion as captain?"

"Indeed, I know, I asked for a shore posting years ago and I've got it, but I missed the main goal", he said sadly.

That was obvious!

"Boss, off the record, did you hear from Kate or did you see her recently?"

Mike threw instantly a glance at Nikki like he was stung by a wasp.

"No. Shortly after the explosion she asked for a transfer which she got rather quickly and since then I haven't heard from her anymore."

"Hmm, have you spoken to her before she left?"

Mike shrugged. "I wanted to talk to her. I wanted to make a final attempt to win her for me, but she has refused all contact. I've also tried to call and to text her, but she didn't answer. Finally I went to her house to have a face to face contact, but she didn't let me in. She asked, or better said, it sounded like she begged me to leave her alone. It was weird, what she asked did not seem to correspond to how she sounded", he said down.

Hmm, it must have been a very dramatic moment for both of them.

"What did you do next?" Nikki asked prudently.

"Nothing! What else could I do? Game over. Dutchy had told me the reason but I didn't get the chance to convince her", he replied embittered.

"Uh, Sir, do you know someone else now? Rumours go around that there's something going on between you and Max.. uh Commander White", she asked carefully.

He glared at her. "No, certainly not! Maxine and I are friends, but we do not have a relation. And I would also like to know which idiot has created that rumour!", he said irritated.

"I'm sorry sir, but I don't know either, but what would you do if you could see Kate again?", she asked, trying to sooth his irritation by the question about Kate.

Mike shrugged, "Forget it Nikki, it's over. She's married. No chance!", he said shortly.

"Hmm, and yet I sense something else…", she said casually.

Mike straightened his back and scowled, "Nikki, I …", he started irritated.

She sensed it was highly time for a strategic fall-back.

"Boss, I think I have to go. I need to see Maxi… uh Commander White for my orders", she said quickly rising from out of the chair.

It had an immediate effect on Mike. He smiled and shook his head hearing how Nikki made a slip of the syntax again.

At the moment that she walked through the doorway, she stopped and poked her head back in.

Ok, time to put my best trump card on the table!

"Uhm, by the way, boss, Kate is divorced. I thought you have to know that", she said with a smile and walked further still with the smile on her face.

It's a pity that I can't see his face right now!

Mike stared at the empty doorway and processed the conversation with Nikki and especially her last sentence. He opened a drawer of his desk and took out a small photo of Kate and looked at it.

He shook his head and put it back. Then he rubbed his face with his both hands.

Don't make yourself illusions mate. She's in Sydney, and you are here. Impossible.

Nikki passed behind Dylan's desk and she slid with her hand over his back.

"Hey, and?" He asked as he looked up.

"As planned. I've pushed as far as I could go and I escaped just before he could throw me out. But…I blew the fire again. His body language told me it's certainly not over yet", she said softly.

She continued whispering, "And he has no relation with…" and she rolled her eyes.

He nodded, "Hmm, got it."

"Now, I've to go to Maxine now. See you", she said tapping his back.

"Yep. Fair winds!"

One week later in the Arafura Sea.

4:00 am

Bird was knocking frenetically at Nikki's cabin door.

"Ma'am, we have problem !", she said nervously.

"Grmmbl …. Wait….. Co…ming….", Nikki grumbled while getting awake.

She swung her legs out of her rack and rubbed her face to wake up. She slept in panties with an old T-shirt. She grabbed her trousers and put it on and opened the door.

"Bird, what's up?", she tried to say firmly.

"It's 2Dads ma'am. He is complaining about pain in his abdomen on the right side. I think it's an appendicitis attack", she said nervously.

"Ouch, doesn't sound good. Wait, I'm coming with you", Nikki said all of sudden awake.

She slipped into a pair of slippers and followed Bird to the ward. He was lying on the table and clenched his abdomen with both hands. His face had turned pale and sweat formed droplets on his forehead.

"What did you do already?", Nikki asked.

"I gave him a pain killer and it looks like it helps a bit. It calmed him down. But this is urgent. If we don't transfer him to a hospital it could be deadly", Bird said looking at her patient

"Right, I'll see where the nearest ship is with a operation room or maybe a helicopter that could take him to the mainland. Try to calm him down."

"Ok boss."

Nikki grabbed the phone to call the bridge.

"Bridge", she heard.

"This is the CO speaking. Make a call to Navcom to know where the nearest ship is. We need a Medivac for an appendicitis attack", she ordered and left for the bridge.

On her way to the bridge she knocked at the XO's door.

"Jack, wake up, we have a situation", she said out loud.

Quicker than expected he opened the door wearing only his trousers.

"Ma'am, tell me?" , he said.

She lifted surprised her eyebrows.

Hmm, was he asleep or just waiting behind the door until I knocked on it?

He looked at her suspiciously, tangled black hear, the far too wide yellow T-shirt, camo-trousers and pink slippers and he could hold back a smile just in time.

That's a Nikki I have never seen before! And that T-shirt is for sure from her husband. Bird could slip inside too and even then you would still have enough space!

She could read his thought, "Yes, I know, I'm looking like I just crawled out of the laundry bin, and I feel also like that, but it's now about 2Dads. He's suffering from an appendicitis attack and he needs to be transferred asap."

"Ok, I'm coming", he said as he went back into his cabin to grab his T-shirt and jacket.

She arrived on the bridge with her XO on her heels.

"And? News from Navcom?", she asked.

"Ma'am, the HMAS Darwin is the nearest by at 160 miles", said the radio operator who was in service.

"That's 4 hours of steaming, if we steam to each other at a speed of 20 knots", Jack remarked.

"Right, we have no alternative, XO, set a course to the Darwin", she ordered.

"Steer 0-9-5. Maximum revolutions!", he ordered.

"Steer 0-9-5. Maximum revolutions", the man at the helm repeated.

"The Darwin, again?", he asked suspiciously.

"Why Jack?", she replied.

"Oh, seen the previous encounter, I have so my thoughts", he replied.

"Well, I think you're going to be wrong this time", she said with a mysterious smile.

"If you say so ma'am."

"You don't believe me huh?", she said with a smirk.

He didn't say anything on that anymore but his face told more than thousand words.

"Anyway, I go for a shower, because I feel like a rag doll", she said and walked down the staircase to her cabin.

HMAS Darwin

6:00 am.

Mark Thompson, the XO, came to the bridge and saw that Kate was sitting in the captain's chair.

"Uh? Morning ma'am. So early?", he greeted her.

"Morning X. Indeed, we have an emergency case. The officer on duty warned me. We have to pick up a sailor who needs urgent surgery. An appendicitis attack."

"Ouch, that's not good. Do you think that our doctor will be able to handle it?", Mark asked

Kate lifted her eyebrows while looking at him, "I hope so. He's a surgeon. If not, God save us", she deadpanned.

She continued scowling, "The question is : does he want to do such a delicate operation at sea! I guess he will because the sea is calm, but I'm not a doctor so I cannot judge."

"Hmm, and from which vessel will that sailor come from?"

"The Hammersley."

"Again? First a broken leg, now an appendicitis attack. That's not a healthy ship", Mark exclaimed.

"I would suggest you don't say that to its captain. I know her Italian temper and she would be able to scratch your eyes!", Kate said with a grin.

"I know Nikki too and she has indeed a temper. We served together on our first ship."

"Oh yes, is it? ", Kate asked interested.

"Yes, we were both sub-lieutenants and that was on the Sydney…", he started to tell.

Two hours later.

The patrol boat had reached the frigate and they sailed side by side.

"HMAS Hammersley to HMAS Darwin. We are ready to transfer the patient", Nikki passed the message via the radio while looking at the three times bigger ship next to them.

"HMAS Darwin to HMAS Hammersley. We're ready to receive him", sounded the voice at the other end.

Nikki nodded and gave the microphone back to RO.

"X, you have the ship. I go to the other side as well", Nikki said.

"Boss, are you sure you want to do that? Last time you came back in such a bad mood that we took advantage of it", Jack sounded concerned.

"Oh? Was it?", Nikki answered really surprised.

"Oh yes it was. You criticised everything. Even Bird could do no good in the galley according to you", he said.

"Hmm, I wasn't aware of that. But it's not pleasant when they make look you like a fool! And for the entire bridge, with a lot of subordinates around you", she grumbled.

"I want to see how the situation is there now and… agree, it's a risk, not only for me, but also for you all", she said with a grin.

"Promising!'", he said doubtfully. "Ok, XO has the ship!", he announced.

Nikki walked down and followed the men who carried 2Dads on board. The XO of the Darwin stood at the gangway to observe the operation.

"Hey, Nikki, you pay us a visit again?", he said surprised as she came aboard

"Yep Mark, I want to see how she is", she replied.

"Yeah amazing. She's completely different. Just like it's another person and not only her name."

"Indeed, I feel it. Last time you had even fear from your own shadow."

Nikki walked together with Mark to the bridge where she met Kate.

Nikki grinned internally.

Curious, exactly the same posture as the previous time, also with her hands in her back and the same serious face.

"Hi Kate, how are you?", she asked with a smile. But this time Kate reacted quite differently.

"Hey Nikki, just in time for a brew and breakfast, will you?" She asked enthusiastically.

"X, you have the ship." She said to Mark who had followed Nikki.

They both left the bridge and Nikki followed Kate to the officers' mess where they took a mug of coffee and a doughnut. Next they looked for a free table, because the majority of officers were there for their breakfast.

"Kate, I sense a difference, isn't it", Nikki said as they sat down.

"Yeah, I followed your advice, however it cost me and sometimes it still costs me lots of effort. But on the other hand we are forming a team now. And I must say that the sorrow about Jim is part of the past. He didn't make objections about the divorce. I think he's also happy to be able to move forward with his own life."

"Good, good to hear that", Nikki said before biting from her doughnut.

"Kate, I need to ask you something serious", she said after swallowing that piece.

"Just shoot", Kate replied holding the mug with her both hands.

"Have you still feelings for Mike?"

"Yes, absolutely. But I don't know if the feeling is mutual. Why?"

"Hmm, what would you think if I had a chat with Mike?", she asked to gauge Kate's reaction.

Kate looked at her friend suspiciously, "Did you become insane? He'll throw you out before you say the first word!"

Nikki looked amused at Kate.

"Well, I've already spoken to Mike!", she said decisively.

Kate rolled her eyes, "Here we go! You've become insane!". She looked around "I'll ask our doctor to look at you".

"You'll not find him, he's digging into 2Dad's right now", she replied dryly.

Kate didn't say anything but glared at her.

Nikki continued, "I had a chat with him before I left and he didn't say it with that much words, but he still feels something for you too."

"But, Maxine?", Kate asked scowling.

"No, I almost asked him directly and he was affirmative that it was not."

"And he told you? And he didn't throw you out?", Kate asked baffled.

Nikki leaned back with a smug smile on her face, "'l'm going to talk to him! As far as I understood, you never did".

Kate glared at her for an instant and then she shrugged, "Hmm, but he'll never want me back after all that happened. I've fooled him. He had his expectations and I've smashed them into pieces", Kate said gloomily.

Nikki leaned back forward, "Kate, come on, you both have feelings for each other. Why don't you take contact with him?"

"Oh Nikki, how can I do that?", Kate exclaimed and looked even gloomier to one of the walls of the mess. It was louder than normal so that a few other officers in the mess looked curiously in the direction of their CO, surprised to see her so emotional for the first time.

"Yes, you can."

She looked back at Nikki, "No!. Impossible. Can you image what he will say when I'll call him to say 'Yoohoo I'm back, you may love me again'. He will chase me away and then I come back from where I started. Even worse. Then I would have made a fool of myself", she said fiercely with a muffled voice and glassy eyes.

The other officers stirred uneasy on their chairs. They realised all of a sudden that their commander had been hiding herself behind an untouchable facade during all these months to hide her own pain and sorrows.

Nikki threw her and angry look, "You're laughing at me while I'm doing efforts for you both. Yes, go on, say that in that way! Smash your own happiness!", she snapped.

Kate dropped her eyes, "Sorry Nik! But Mike is not a fool! I've hurt him too much".

Nikki sighed. "Kate, how can you be so stubborn? Damn! You are just as bad as that man in Cairns. That's also such a stubborn nature!"

Kate shrugged and stared at blank in the mess.

The officers pricked up their ears.

Cairns? Who's the daredevil who dares to love their commander? For sure he must have gloves to handle her!

"Well, then you don't know me yet" , she said stubbornly.

"I'm going to do efforts to bring you both back together. "

"But…"

"I don't want to hear a word! You're just going to keep yourself busy with your crew and your ship and you leave the other affair to me, yes?", Nikki said fiercely.

Kate nodded.

The other officers looked from out of the corner of the eye both women at that table.

Wow, who is this Lieutenant-Commander who has such a huge influence on their untouchable captain? God bless the men of that patrol boat!

"I'll keep you in touch, and trust me, I'll fix it. Just do what I'll say in a email or text. And now I'll leave, otherwise my concerned XO is capable to organise a search and rescue operation on the southern half round to find me."

"Ok. Thanks a lot Nikki."

They stood up. Kate threw a glance at the other officers who were all of a sudden very busy with their breakfast.

You rascals, you've heard everything. Before noon, the whole ship will know. I can put a cross over my dignity now!

To be continued