Chapter 11
When they arrived back at Hammersley the crew greeted them as they were walking towards their cabins. After Grace had a shower she went and got her self a cup of coffee when Bird walk in
"Mad dog there some one who want to see you"
"Not now bird, tell them to came back later" Grace turn away from Bird.
As she let out her breath till she in hale though her nose then she put her mug down and turn around and hug the person in front of her
"Crew told me what you did Grace in saving commander Flynn life" Grace didn't say a thing for few minutes then she pulled back and look at Pete then gave him a kiss
"Miss you" Grace said
"Miss you to. Grace" Then they kiss again
"When do you have to leave"
"Got four days shore leave, it a shame you can't as well"
"I know. But I've been thinking how about once Kate get her promotion and take over Hammersley how about you, me and kids fly to Hawaii for two weeks family vacation and two weeks with my grand parents or four weeks with them"
"Four weeks"
"Yes it one way for us to spend time together as a family" Pete grin
"I love that idea" They both hug till they heard foot steps
"Hey buffer what you doing here mate" They turn to the voice
"Charge how are you mate, I notice you lose some weight, keep it up"
"Blame bomber and her rabbit food and your wife daily exercises"
"Hey watch what you say Charge remember I also eat that good healthy rabbit food as you call it"
"Sorry mad dog but I could got for a burger right now, a chicken burger with fries and coke" Grace shook her head
"Charge do you know how much sugar is in normal coke"
"No"
"In six hundred mil bottle there twenty tea spoons of sugar" charge look at Grace in shock
"Your joking"
"I'm not that is why I drink coke zero cause there no sugar in it. You should give it a try some time"
"Ok only if you can talk to bomber about my meals"
"You are not getting out of your diet charge" Bomber said as she walk around the corner with her arms folded then she turn to see who Charge was talking to
"Buffer mate, this is a surprise and I hope you two were planning on make out in my galley"
"No bomber we planning on shagging in steed" Grace said smiling making Charge laugh.
Bomber walk around the corner and into the galley "Out you to, if you going to shag, shag some place else" She push them out of the galley.
"Shag what that" Pete said
"Watch Austin powers, that will tell you" Grace said
"It mean sex mate that what they called it in the sixties" Charge said grinning from the corner.
"Ah, now I remember the movies" buffer said grinning while giving Grace a wink
"Hey buffer good to see you mate" Pete turn around and grin
"Swain, how are you" they both hug
"Good so you come to see mad dog"
"Yeah"
"Bomber push them out of the galley" Charge said
"We better get going since I don't know how long before we will set sail again" Grace said as she held on to Pete hand and pull him away
"Why" Swain asked
"Shag now or shag later" Grace yelled out causing charge to laugh. Swain look confuse
"They were in the galley till bomber push them out" Swain click and laugh.
Grace and Pete walk off the ship and onto the Wharf where the hug once again
"Grace some thing bothering you what is it" Grace pulled away and look at Pete
"The teariest who planning on buying the uranium...is the same group that involve with the shell fish toxin attack and link also the a temp assassination a temp on ambassador Davis and the two attempted bombing of Hammersley" Pete look at Grace in shock
"Are you sure"
"Steve Marshal told me hour ago. No one else knows. There a leak some one from the department of foreign affairs and trade but two names have been mention twice...Kelly Roberts and Madeline Cruise"
"You think one of them the mole"
"Yes if so which one" Then RO walk off the gang way
"Mad dog" Grace turn to RO
"What is it RO"
"Lieutenant McGregor just received word... Mr Tavory is dead" Grace was shock
"How"
"Not sure, the Feds had him in custody"
"Sounds like some one covering there tracks or don't want him to name names... Thanks for telling me RO"
"Your welcome ma'am it good to see you buffer"
"You to RO and congratulations on your engagement"
"Thanks mate" Then RO return back to the ship
"I wounder what they going to do next" Grace said
"Who knows Grace" they both hug.
They talk about other things till it was time for Grace to return back on Hammersley. They both hug and kiss before Grace walk up and on to Hammersley. She gave Pete a smile and wave.
Few minutes later Hammersley left the docks and headed back out to sea. Grace walk in and up to the bridge to find out where Hammersley is going next.
Over the next month while out on patrol the crew took some time out to fish. Grace watches the crew as they gave Charge a hard time. She also notice how close bird and Dutchy are as he show her how to fish when a light plane headed strait for them and miss them by meters.
Only to show up later broken up and in the sea. Grace watches what happens and how Kate handle her self with a wounded prisoner as well head to an island whom call for help.
Hour later While Swain tended to the wounded Man Kate was dealing with another prisoner and a man whom clam to be some one else. Grace notice how frighten bird was after what almost happen on the island and Charge got into trouble for not telling Kate.
When Hammersley was return back to Cains. Grace went to see bird who was out on the back of the ship.
"Bird are you ok" Grace asked as she walk over and sat down not far from her
"I was scared when that man came after me. I just ran"
"You did the right thing bird"
"Did i" She look at Grace
"Bird what self defense training have you had"
"Only what I learn before coming on to Hammersley" Grace nodded
"How would you like to learn"
"Self defense"
"Yeah, I could teach you that and how to use a gun"
"I don't like guns" Grace grin
"We will start off small till you get use to it and work your way up"
"You will teach me"
"Yes"
"I would like that, thank you" Bird said grinning
"So how things between you and Dutchy"
"What do you mean"
"I saw the way he help you to fish and how he cover you with his body when they plane went over head" Bird blush
"We friends"
"I know but be carefully I don't want to see you or him get hurt or into trouble, ok" Bird nodded
"So how about coming around to my place tomorrow morning for your first lesion in kicking ass" Grace said smiling making Bird laugh
"Sounds good to me"
"Great... don't tell Dutchy"
"Why"
"One day you going to surprise him" Then Grace stood up
"Tonight I'm going to announce you nick name at the pub in front of every one"
"I hope it not some thing strange" Bird screw her face up
"No... and it won't be chicken legs, that is Dutchy little pet name for you"
Grace gave her a wink before walking back the way she came with a smile on her face.
When Hammersley dock at Cairns, every one was given five days leave. Grace and Kate went to NAVCOM. When they walk into com center Grace notice Kate was smiling at Mike who was in his office doing some paper work
"Go on, I'll talk to commander White for a few minutes" Grace said
"Thanks"
Grace walk over and into Maxine office while Kate walk over and into mike office for a few minutes then Kate walk into Maxine office few minutes later with Mike showing up after Maxine call for him. Kate did all the talking about the mad day calls the FFV boarding and about the prisoners. They talk for the next half hour before Kate left them to talk.
"Grace how well did lieutenant McGregor do" Mike asked
"She did great as for me helping only Swain ask for my help cause of the wounded pilot" Grace past copy of her report to both Mike and Maxine.
"How did she handle charge after what happen"
"She gave him stern talking to, reminding him the rules about taking extra crew to shore with out letting her know"
"Punishment" mike asked
"Cleaning both ribs and making sure that the tanks are full for the next two patrol and two weeks extra of diet food and extra exercises" Mike grin
"How did he take that news"
"What did you think Mike, we know what he like" Mike chuckle
"Bad well it serves him right for not telling lieutenant McGregor"
"I know... Bomber and Dutchy are looking ford to it and two dads, he came close in joining Charge with the meals and exercises"
"How is the new members settling in"
"Good. Bird she has got a lot to learn. She still hasn't decided what to become yet in the navy. After all this is all new to her. As for Dutchy he slowly moving ford, having no problems with the crew or them of him. I know that they miss Pete but time will tell for them all" they talk for the next half hour before Grace left to go home.
When she arrived home she got change and went into town to the spa where she pampered her self then went to spend few hours with Margret before going to pick the kids up and head to the pub. When she and kids walk up the steps. The kids grin when they saw the crew but the kids as well so they ran over to where the kids are.
"Mad dog here" Charge said passing her a guava mojo to her
"Thanks charge I see every one here except for Dutchy and bird"
"I saw Dutchy and bird leaving together three hours ago when I was at home" Two dads said
"Ah young love" Charge said grinning
"What about you and Janet Charge" Grace said Charge face change
"What how did you know" he said in shock
"Way to go Charge" bomber said grinning
"It about time mate" Swain said grinning
"We taking it slow"
"Five years" Grace said shaking her head
"Where is Janet" Nikki asked
"She down in Sydney family emergency" charge said
"Don't worry mate you got us" RO said
"I know thanks" then Grace cell phone rings so she got it out and answer it
"Grace Shepard"
"Mad dog, it Dutchy can you come to the navy apartment" Grace walk over and down the stairs
"What wrong"
"Bird and I were called in to commander white office... We been giving a reprimand"
"Was mike there"
"No ma'am he wasn't... Ma'am some one on Hammersley been telling commander white lies about bird and me"
"Ok I'll get Mike, we will be ten minutes" Then she hung up.
Grace stood there trying to calm her self down before joining the crew. She got her phone out and send a text to Mike. Once send she walk over and got into her wagon and waited for Mike. When he showed up he got in just as Grace started the engine and drove to Bird place
"Grace what wrong"
"Dutchy called me. Some one on Hammersley been telling porkies about Dutchy and bird. Knocker given them both a reprimand"
"What" mike was shock
"Some one from Hammersley, I can't believe that"
"Neither can I. I've seen bird and Dutchy together but as friends plus there always some one close by so I don't know what the hell going on mike but I'm going to find out"
When they arrived at the navy flats they got out and walk up to bird flat. Grace knock on the door and waited. Then the heard the lock and door open
"Dutchy"
"Mad dog, sir"
He let them in and he close and lock the door then follow them into bird living room Grace saw bird on the couch with he knees up and arms around them and her head down. She was sniffling. Grace walk over and sat down next to bird and put her arm around the young girl
"Hey want to tell us what happen" Grace ask Bird. Bird lifted her head and turn to Grace
"Dutchy and I have been reprimand for have a relationship which isn't true, I know the navy rules... I wouldn't brake them"
"Neither would i" Dutchy said
"Did she ask for your side of the story" Grace asked Dutchy
"No ma'am she didn't even ask us if it was true. I did ask her where did she get these false lies from. She told us that crew member saw us hugging and lying down with me on top on the back of the boat"
"You got to be joking you two didn't"
"No ma'am. Who ever is it sent her pictures of it"
"We saw the photos" bird said
"We told her about that happen, she didn't believe us"
"The photos what can you tell us" Mike said
"One is with me standing behind Bird with my arm around her shoulder. It was when I was showing her how to use a rod" Grace nodded
"Yes I was there so was some of the crew. You weren't ever close to her, let alone touching her. I was watching, what about the second photo"
"It was when that plane flew over us and we all ended on our backs on the deck. I accidentally landed on top of Bird"
"That true also" Grace thought about it for a minute then she turn to bird
"Bird go and clean up we all going to the pub. As for this reprimand bull shit, leave it to me, I'll sort it out tomorrow, ok"
"I'm not in the mood after what happen"
"Poppy cock, come on, the crew is waiting to heard what your new nick name going to be" Grace stood up and help Bird to stand
"go on. We will wait here for you"
"Ok" Then she walk towards the bathroom. Once the door is close Grace turn to Dutchy
"Any idea who might be behind it"
"I wish I knew" Grace nodded
"There some thing that might help find out who it is"
"What that" mike said
"While commander white was giving us both the reprimand I notice an open file on her desk"
"You didn't read what there did you" mike said
"Some sir... it about lieutenant McGregor, it a report on how well she did In the last patrol. From what I could read, it wasn't good. It was about her being late on duty and about the FFV boarding"
"We will sort it out tomorrow, why don't you head to the pub, we will bring bird with us"
"Sure"
"Not a word to any one"
"Yes ma'am" then he walk out of bird place. When Bird walk out of her bathroom
"Where Dutchy"
"He going to meet us at the pub. Read" Grace asked
"Yeah"
"Come on then" They walk out of Bird place together.
When they return to the pub every one cheer when they saw bird. Mike walk over and sat next to Kate.
"Ok can I have every one attention" Grace said Every one went quiet and look at Grace
"After doing a lot of research and thinking. I have come up a nick name for bird here...Falcon"
"Falcon" Charge said
"Yes, one it a new Zealand bird and if you didn't know that is where Jessica bird was born. Plus both falcon and bird here got great eye sights and nails after all she did claw that prisoner face and there big eyes and of cause...bird"
"Falcon... I like it" Bird said
"We can get use to it... Falcon... to Jessica falcon bird" Charge said as he raise his drink to Jessica
"To falcon" The crew said Jessica turn to Grace
"Thank you"
"Your welcome, come on lets go and get a drink" They walk in side to get there drinks then return to the crew.
Every one had a wonderful time after drinking guava mojo's and shots. Grace only had one guava mojo the rest was cranberry and lemonade. When it was after eight she walk over to bird who was talking to bomber
"Hey every thing alright" Grace asked
"Yeah" bird said
"Ok I'll text you in the morning to let you know when I'm home"
"Ok thanks mad dog"
"Your welcome...Falcon, night" then Grace turn around and walk over to her kids who was sitting on some one lap. She pick Richard up since he was almost asleep
"Sam, PJ come on it time to go home, say good night to the crew
"Good night" they said as they wave her hands at the crew. They did in return while smiling at them as they follow Grace down the steps.
Some of the crew left to return home cause of the kids not long after Grace left. Bird left not long after her self.
