Chapter eleven – back on Hammersley

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Starts with a bit of a recap. The tense swap a lot, hope it doesn't confuse you too much. There is also a Mike and Kate's point of view about their first impressions coming back to Hammersley.

Kate's point of view

The day had finally arrived for when Kate and Mike were to get back on the Hammersley and set sail leaving their three beautiful children behind. But they were going to be okay, they had just dropped them off at Nikki's. She was going to keep in touch with her throughout the few weeks. Marshall has given Nikki the sat phone number if she ever needed to get in touch with Kate or Mike so that eased their minds more.

The kids looked happy, it was more Mike and Kate that were sad so they left the kids to it, not wanting to make themselves more upset by leaving so they both made their way to the port.

It wasn't long before they arrived at port and parked up in the long stay car park, it was after a longish patrol, but they really wanted to make it shorter and come back early. So both Mike and Kate wanted Marshall to hurry up and find replacements, quick!

When they got back on board, it looked like it hadn't changed, everything was the same. Same photos decoration. Everything. Kate thought that they might have had a little change, but there was nothing. Some people just like the same thing she laughed to herself.

She reached her cabin, it was the one she shared with Nikki when she first joined Hammersley. At first Kate and Nikki didn't really see eye to eye, but once they had gotten to know each other, they became good friends. In fact they became best friends. They were always talking about their secrets, their futures, their everything. Nikki had wanted to settle down with Josh and have loads of kids, whereas Kate wanted to go to the top and be chief of navy. It was funny how things change, Kate never saw herself as the settling down, marriage type of person. But, here she was married and three kids. Life just couldn't be more perfect.

She didn't share the cabin with anyone now, it had be renamed the XO's cabin because there was only one girl on the ship so there was no need to have it as any other name. It gave the XO more space, privacy and basically more power, Kate laughed to herself.

Kate had a feeling she wasn't going to like this patrol much, the fact of being away from the kids made it difficult. She hated being away from them. When she covered for Becca last time that was only a week and now this time was going to be a hell of a long longer. Would she ever be able to cope on this ship. Yes, of course she had Mike. But that wasn't the kids. She missed them now and it hadn't even been an hour. Yes, this was going to be difficult. Was Mike feeling the same? Maybe, he was a fella, did he feel the same? Yeah, of course he did he was their dad. He was probably showing it more than Kate right now. Kate was a girl, they were always better at hiding things than lads. But Mike certainly gave her a run for her money. Especially on the Hammersley a few years ago when they both hid their true feelings for each other. Yeah, Mike was very good at hiding things.

Kate sat in the bed and held a photograph I her hand, she looked at it with a tear in her eye. It was a photo of her and Mike and the three children when they were babies, she hadn't seen it before. It was in Becca's cabin, she must have taken it when they weren't looking. There was also one up of Nikki and Josh, and also Becca and Spider. It was a great comfort to have photos around her.

Mike's point of view

Me and Kate both went on board Hammersley and went our separate ways, she went to her cabin and I went to mine. Everything just looked exactly how it was when I left it. Part of me always wishes I never should have left the Hammersley, but the other half is grateful that I did. Don't get me wrong, I love Kate and my three beautiful children, but I miss this old girl.

I think if I hadn't left Hammersley when I did then I would be deeply regretting my decision. I knew I needed to be at home with Kate and the kids, no I didn't need to be I wanted to be. They were my three gorgeous children and I wanted to be there to watch them grow up, not just someone in the background that they saw occasionally. I wanted them to know who their dad was. And they wouldn't really know if I was at sea all the time. I made the best decision.

The children really do mean the world to me, I miss them terribly now, and what is it? Like an hour or so that I have been away from them. I wonder whether Kate is thinking the same thing. I need to keep busy, to keep my mind from thinking about them otherwise I am going to go stir crazy. No I should be able to think about them, I am their dad. And I love them to pieces.

The sooner we get this patrol going, the sooner we are going to get back. I looked at my watch it was only half eight. The crew wouldn't get here till nine. So I am going to un pack my bag and get to the bridge. Kate might be up there by now. No, if fact Kate wouldn't be up there by now, she was a woman and then it came to everything being perfect, it was so she was probably sorting out were to hang this and that. She always drives me potty, always having to have a neatly iron shirt, what was wrong with the creased look. Mike laughed to himself, he really did love Kate, more than anything.

He knew him and Kate had, had a discussion before leaving this morning, Mike wanted more kids, he had seen what it did to Becca after losing a child, and now he wanted more children. Was that reasonable? Yeah of course it was. Was Kate being unreasonable about not wanting anymore kids? No she wasn't, they had three triplets that was enough. But Mike, he just wanted more. He had always been a big family type of person, whereas Kate wasn't. He could always imagine himself with like six of seven kids, was it reasonable again? No not six or seven. They really have enough.

Mike looked at his clock again, he hadn't even unpacked yet and the crew would be arriving soon. He started to unpack, but he noticed what looked like a photograph on top of his case. It was one taken at their wedding, with the three kids and himself and Kate. Kate must have put it in there to make him feel more at home. Kate and Mike had to stay strictly professional so the photograph would help.

Mike headed to the bridge hoping Kate would be there now. He walked up the stairs that he walked up many times before. But this time they felt different. It didn't feel right. It felt he didn't belong here anymore. No, he was right, this wasn't his home or calling anymore. He did not belong here he belonged at home, with his wife Kate and their three beautiful children. He should not have come back here. He climbed the stairs, one by one. As he reached the top, he was faced with Kate holding out a brew.

Back to normal now

"All settled?" Mike asked Kate.

"Yeah, yeah, there are some lovely photos in my room that Becca has left behind," Kate said smiling to Mike.

"Well, I like the one you put in my stuff," Mike smiled.

"I just thought it would be nice to have something to comfort you," Kate said walking over to Mike and Mike place his hands around Kate.

"I have an idea, no body know who the new CO and XO are, so why don't we give them a surprise for when they come in," Mike laughed.

"I did that last time when I was covering for Becca," Kate said

"Yeah, but they are never going to suspect it is on here because of the kids, so maybe we could give them a shock," Mike smiled cheekily to himself.

"You have gone worse things last few years with practical jokes, honestly you are worse than the kids," Kate said.

"Yeah, yeah, I know, but seriously I think they will be coming in onto the ship in a minute or so, so if we wait and a bit longer, they will go to their usual meeting point and wonder where their superiors are and then we will talk in, in out plain clothes and wonder what is going on," Mike smiled.

"Oh fine, you are such a big kid," Kate said giving Mike a hug before everyone comes in and they have to stop being a husband and wife and become two officers in charge.

"Yeah, but you love me for it," Mike said cheekily.

"Yeah, I do and you know what is even better, I will get some peace and quiet on this ship. No kids and no husband it will be absolutely amazing, my perfect dream," Kate laughed.

Mike became serious, "What you mean no husband?"

"Well we are just two people, no fraternization, so it is all peace and quiet," Kate laughed.

"What? On come on Kate, that isn't fair, I thought you would like miss your husband," Mike said mockingly.

"Ah, you thought wrong, this girl loves peace and quiet and time to herself and this is what she is going to get," Kate pulled a tongue at Mike.

"Oh you want to play like that do you now, Kate Flynn. Well two can play at that," Mike replied.

"Yeah, I don't think you can though Mike, you just can resist my irresistible charm," Kate laughed knowing full well he couldn't.

"Oh yeah, okay the bet is on. I bet I could live without you for three weeks," Mike stated but knew full well that it was going to be hard. She was his wife, his beautiful, sexy wife that he couldn't resist.

"Okay then, the bet is on," Kate joked.

"Yeah, but just think, about the holiday of a life time we are going to have when we get back, it is going to be amazing and even more amazing because it would be worth the wait," Mike smiled.

Mike really did have a point, this holiday was going to be worth the wait.

"We really should be making a move down to do morning briefing, they are going to be cursing us for being late. I bet they are all talking saying how rubbish she are at being superiors because we still aren't there," Kate laughed.

"Okay, I have an idea, let's sneak down to the room and stand outside the door and see what they are saying about us," Mike said slyly.

"Mike, you are just getting worse with age. But, yeah that is a good way I can make them clean the toilets with a toothbrush," Kate laughed.

"Well you can talk with getting worse with age," Mike finished.

With that they both tip toed downstairs and sure enough they could hear the sailors talking. Mike and Kate stood with their backs against the wall. They heard all their conversation.

"Where the hell are they? They call themselves superiors when we are here before them. This is just getting ridiculous now,"

"Yeah, for god's I think I am going to die or old age waiting for them. I can't believe they aren't even here. Are they even capable at even running a bloody ship,"

"I bet my cat would do a better job at running this ship than our superiors at the moment, I think I could to be honest,"

Kate and Mike looked at each other and nodded. They were right they were talking about them two. So they both decided to make their grand entrance.

"Well Spider, I would like to see your cat run this ship," Kate said in her stern voice.

All the sailors didn't know what to say.

"And yes we are your superiors, for those who don't know us, I am captain Mike Flynn and this is LT Kate Flynn," Mike said.

The new sailors didn't know why the others were stunned to see them.

"Why are you two covering?" Buffer asked.

"Well because there was no one else and it would be a shock to see us here. If there is any complaints or what not, you will be scrubbing everywhere with a toothbrush. Count yourselves lucky you aren't doing that right now after what we have just heard from standing outside listening to every piece of conversation," Kate finished.

"Yes ma'am, sorry ma'am," Spider said.

"Right then, get to you duties, we set sail in fifteen minutes," Kate finished.

There was a chorus of "yes Ma'am" by the sailor and Kate and Mike left the room to get changed into their uniforms.

"Do you reckon she heard me say that it was probably some old bat that couldn't tell the time?" Spider asked the others.

"Well I doubt it because I don't think you would still be living if she heard you call her that," Buffer finished.

"Yeah, best not bring it up," Spider finished.

With that they dispersed and got ready to leave port.

Hope I didn't confuse you too much!

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