Episode 6.3 – Love Hurts

You all know the disclaimer by now – I don't own the show or the rights to the show, but this is still my creation. All of the original characters are owned by Channel Nine, but any new original characters are mine. This is Episode Three, and continues on from the previous two published episodes – Mistakes, and Seeing Double.

Enjoy!

Nell xx.

Chapter One-

Kate was frightened. Frozen like a rabbit caught in headlights, she stopped in her living room as she caught sight of the man on her lounge. Mark McGregor had been her mother's first husband, and despite being a wealthy landowner, had been the first of many abusive men in her mother's life.

"Mark? What are you doing here?" Asked Kate in barely a whisper.

"It's been years since I last saw you Katie, and you greet me like that?" She should have seen the slap before it landed, but she didn't. Her cheek stung with the harsh contact, and Kate felt tears spring to her eyes.

"I'm here because your mother stole a lot of money from me, and I want it back. I can't find her, but I've found you. Second best," he declared. He pulled a rope from his back-pack, and tied Kate's wrists roughly with it, nearly wrenching her arms out of their sockets. She winced in pain. Mark pulled her hair back, and looked into her eyes.

"I'm going to hurt you as much as your mother has hurt me, until she either pays the debt, or you die. I don't care which." He kneed her in the stomach hard, and Kate doubled over in pain.

"And I'm not afraid to hurt a girl. Especially a useless one like you. Rumour has it you can't even stay pregnant. Worthless," he spat. Kate felt tears trickle down her cheeks, and he slapped her hard.

"Don't cry! Take it; you know you deserve it." Kate shook her head.

"No, daddy, please," she whispered. He shook his head and sighed, pulling her up to her feet. Her bruised stomach protested, but she managed to stay upright.

"Not your daddy anymore. Now I'm just a man that wants his debt repaid; or else." He pushed her forwards, outside the door and down the street.

"Where are you taking me?" She asked. He sneered at her.

"Somewhere we won't be found."

Buffer stood outside Julia Robertson's apartment, and knocked for the fourth time. A woman in the apartment next door finally poked her head out.

"If you're looking for the woman who lives there, she left for Vegas yesterday. Said something about meeting the perfect man, and taking her savings to go and marry him. No use knocking," said the elderly woman. Buffer nodded his thanks, and left the building. He headed for Bomber's place. He needed to tell her, needed to let her know that he was not her father. She needed to know the truth. He arrived at her place, and knocked quietly on the door. She answered it, 2Dads not far behind her.

"Buff? What are you doing here?" Asked 2Dads.

"I could ask you the same question, given that you both work on the same ship, and you know the fraternisation rules," replied Buffer. 2Dads blushed, and walked into the kitchen, leaving Buffer and Bomber to talk.

"How are you doing Dad?" She asked, smiling. Buffer didn't return the grin.

"Listen Bomber, I…" Buffer stopped, wanting to continue, but not sure how to broach such a difficult subject.

"Come inside Buffer. We can talk in the lounge," said Bec. Pete nodded, and followed her into the loungeroom, taking a seat. 2Dads stood in the doorway of the kitchen, watching, but not interrupting. Pete clasped his hands together, feeling the weight of his heart holding him down.

"Bomb. Rebecca. I don't know how to tell you this, but I'm just going to say it. Your mother lied. I can't be your father; if I was your father, I'd have been twelve when I met your mother and you were conceived. We were together for a little while when I was seventeen, but it was a fling. You would have been five when I first met her. It's not possible for me to be your father," said Buffer sadly. Bec was quiet, shocked into not speaking. 2Dads watched the whole conversation, not getting involved unless he needed to.

"Bomber, I love you, I do, and I didn't want to hurt you this way…" 2Dads interrupted, seeing the tears stream down Bomber's face, his own heart reaching out to her.

"But you did. You have hurt her Buffer. Look at what you've done!" Bomber put up a hand, indicating for both of them to stop speaking.

"Leo. Just leave it. Pete, I want you to leave," she said quietly, refusing to look at him.

"But Rebecca…" 2Dads moved into the loungeroom.

"She said leave." Buffer realised that he'd lost the battle, and left the house quietly. Leo slammed the door behind him, and returned to Bec in the loungeroom. He wrapped his arms around her, holding her close as she sobbed into his chest.

"Shh. It's okay. It'll be okay," whispered Leo. He wanted to help her, but had no idea of what to do to make her feel better. He rubbed her back until her sobbing subsided to hiccups.

"How can I go back to the ship like this?" She asked. Leo shook his head.

"We shouldn't have to. Boss organised for shore leave for a week for all of us. It'll just be you and me, okay?" He asked. Bec nodded.

"I'd like that."

Dutchy finished at the hospital with Maxine, and was standing outside with her when she got a phonecall. Almost five minutes later, they got a message from NAVCOM.

"Hammersley has been crash-sailed. Report to dock at 2230 hours to get underway. NAVCOM." Dutchy glanced up from his phone to glare at Maxine.

"Really? You're crash-sailing the Hammersley again? They only just got into port," commented Dutchy. Maxine sighed.

"I know Dutchy." Her phone buzzed, a message received. She read it quickly, then returned her phone to her pocket.

"You don't need to worry. Buffer's just cancelled his leave, and he's coming back on board," said Maxine, waiting for her taxi.

"So I'm free to go home to Kate?" He asked. Maxine nodded.

"Congratulations to you two as well," added Maxine. He smiled.

"Thanks Knocker." He jogged away, hailing a taxi as he ran. He climbed in, giving the driver Kate's address, and was halfway there when his phone rang loudly. He glanced at the caller ID; Nikki.

"Nikki, what's up?" He asked in way of answering.

"Kate's not replying. NAVCOM sent out the text, and everyone else has checked in and are making their way back to the ship, but she hasn't replied. It's not like her to not reply," said Nikki.

"Well, I'm heading to her place now. Maybe she's just sleeping; it's been a long day Nik," reminded Dutchy.

"I know Dylan, but can you please check for me?" Dutchy sighed.

"Yes Nikki. I will check for you. How was your night with Dodger?" He asked.

"It was okay; he's really nice. It's uncanny how much he is like ET though!" Dutchy wished he could tell her the truth, but he hadn't been given permission to give her the information. The cab pulled up outside Kate's house, and Dutchy climbed out, paying the cab driver and tipping him. He walked up to the front door, phone still pressed to his ear when he noticed the shattered window, the unlocked door, and shuffled marks on the ground. He cut Nikki off midsentence.

"Nik, I need you to ring the police now," he said urgently.

"Why? Dutchy, what's going on?" She asked, picking up her landline to dial triple-000.

"Kate's not here, her window's been broken, doors unlocked, and it looks like she's been dragged out of here. And there's blood in the living room," said Dutchy.

"Dutchy, we need to find her," said Nikki desperately.

"I know Nik. I know."