I don't own Sea Patrol or its characters. The only thing I own is the plot, John, Ryan, Sophia, Annie and Susan.

Here's the next update... Enjoy!

Chapter 14

The drive to where Annie was staying was a pleasent one considering the situation. They spent the first half of the journey in silence.

When they had gotten halfway there John said, "We're halfway now."

Kate nodded absently as she stared out the window.

"Kate I'm just wondering something. Why all the questions? About your mum?"

Kate turned to look at John. John noticed that she looked tired.

"She told me why she had changed and well she's said things and done things before and lied to me about it. I just don't want to, um, well believe her and then find out she's lying to me again. I just don't think I could go through it again. I have to sure." Kate turned to face the window again. "Do you know why my mother wants me to meet Annie so much?"

John was busy driving and didn't say anything for a few minutes. In that time Kate had turned to look at him.

"Ah well, I don't think that's for me to say."

Kate was tried of hearing those words so she decided to be blunt and straight to the point, "Is it because she wants me to take Annie?" Her voice was devoid of all emotion. She was tired and she didn't care at the moment.

"Um..." Said John but the look on his face said it all.

"Why? Why does she want me to look after her? Why not you? You are better suited for it. I'm in the Navy and I'm out on Patrol half the time. I couldn't look after a eight year old. You could at least because you would be around more."

"I guess from your point of view I do look like the obvious choice but believe me I'm not. I'll be traveling around the state for the next couple of years which will not be good for her. She needs to have a stable home. I'm helping out a lawyer and I won't be home much. Plus I can't cook to save my life which isn't good for a child. Also you are her sister. You may find out that you have a lot incommon."

"I haven't decided wheather to take her not. It's just I really want to think about this before I make any decisions. I also want to meet her before I decide. Kate puased then asked, "What would happen if I say no? Where would she go?" Kate asked. She wanted to know all Annie's choices before she made a choice that would impact on a little girl's life. "So do you know Annie well? Like did you live with her and my mother before her being hospitalise?"

"Um, well I do but Aniie doesn't really talk to me much. She's more into her drawings and animals. We were talking about moving in together but then all this happened and well, for Annie's sake I didn't want to change things too much."

"What about Sophia? How did she come into this?" Kate asked curious.

"Well, see your mother was having a bit trouble. See she was working but she couldn't get home in time for Annie. So she found Sophia who has been a God send. She's great with her. You'll just have to find out for yourself. Basically Sophia's been taken on full time until something can be arranged for Annie."

"Oh ok." Kate didn't want to think how the little girl would react when she'd find out one way or another she would be leaving her friend Sophia behind.

"So what do you want to eat for lunch? I was thinking something quick. Say McDonald's or something like that."

Kate frowned at the suggestion. "How about subway?"

"Sure." John said as he made a turn.

Kate stared out the window until she realised something. "John." Kate turned to look at him. "You didn't answer my question about what would happen to Annie if I didn't take her?"

John sighed, "Look Kate I don't want to influence you. So I really wouldn't worry about it."

Kate frowned. "Tell me. I deal with terrorists at work. I'm sure I can handle this. Tell me."

John sat there with his hands clenching the steering wheel. His hands were clenched so tightly that his knuckles were turning white. His eyes were fixed on the road. After a few minutes of silence he said, "Kate can we just have lunch then go see Annie. After that I'll tell you." He glanced over at Kate.

Kate bit her lip and nodded silently.

John sighed again and ran his right hand through his hair. "Thanks Kate."

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Kate was sitting in the car. Her hands were clasped together. She sighed in frustration, were they ever going to get there? Lunch had felt ages ago.

"Just a couple of more minutes. I promise, Kate."

Kate just nodded and turned to stare out the window. They were in the suburbs. Houses passed at a quick rate. The properties were in good condition. Kate remembered her own childhood house. It had been a mess. The place had pretty much had the abandon look. Kate glanced at all the houses wondering which one, was the one that they were going to stop at.

"Here we are." John said with a small smile on his face as he pulled into the driveway of a medium sized house.

Kate stared out the window. She just stared at the house infront of her. It was nothing like what she was expecting. There were flowers running along both sides of the driveway, in colours of blue and pink. The grass was freshly cut and was a rich green colour. Hedges ran along the perimeter of the property. Kate noticed that they'd just been trimmed because she could see the rubbish bin overflowing with greenery. The house itself was made out of brick and had the look of being freshly painted. The windows were clean and it all looked very welcoming.

Kate slowly undid her seatbelt and opened the door. Why oh, why did she feel like she was going to her grave? She shut the door absentmindedly as she slowly walked up the driveway to the front door.

It all felt very surreal to Kate. It was as if time had slowed down but had sped up at the same time. Kate could feel her heart beating wildly in her chest. She always hated the unknown, maybe that was why she liked her job. Even though it wasn't exactly the same each day it still did have some sotr of routine to it.

"Kate? Are you coming?" John was standing at the front door but was facing Kate with a concerned look on his face.

Kate forced a smile on her face and took quick steady steps to John. "I'm ok." She lied. "I'm just looking around that's all."

John nodded and rang the door bell. Kate stood next to John feeling awkward and unsure.

Before John or Kate could say or do anything the front door opened.

A middle aged woman stood at the front door. She had chestnut coloured hair and chocolate coloured eyes and she was a head taller than Kate. She looked at Kate blankly but then gave a huge smile when she saw John.

"Johnny! How good to see you? You said you were coming but I didn't think you would be this quick." She moved forwards and gave John a quick hug. Joh returned it with a grin on his face. Kate just stared in surprise. She couldn't get over the smile on John's face it made him so much younger.

"You must be Katelyn then." The woman said as she held out her hand. Kate stared at her for a moment then as if in a daze took the woman's hand and shook it. "I'm Sophia, please come in."

Sophia pulled her hand away as she moved aside so that she could let the guests in to the house.

John walked in and Kate followed awkwardly behind. She felt so out of place and just wanted to go back to her place as quickly as possible. Kate halted with a start. Shame on you she thought with anger. Your mother is dying, your half sister is living with someone you don't know and all you want to do is go home. Are you navy or not! So get over it Sailor! Kate thought as she mentally scolded herself.

Kate and John were lead into a sitting room. The walls were painted in a buttercup yellow and there paintings and photos hung on the walls. There was a fresh bunch of flowers on a small table and the couches had little pink flower patten on them.

"Sit, sit, sit." Said Sophia. "I'll be back in a minute. I'll just go and get Annie." Sophia left the room as John sat down.

Kate gingerly sat down not at all sure what to do. Kate put one of her hands over the other and started tapping her fingers.

"Just relax Kate. She won't bite. I promise you." John said gently with a twinkle in his eyes.

Kate raised her eyesbrows at him and said nothing.

Footsteps could be heard as well as soft murmurs. Two seconds later Sophia walked in with a young girl. The girl hid behind Sophia as if she felt she would be safe if she stayed there.

"Come on out duckling. They won't bite you, I promise." Sophia said in a gentle voice as she tried to pull the young girl out from behind her.

Kate turned and looked at John raising both eyebrows.

John chuckled, "Annie I think you aren't the only one here who is afraid to be bitten. Kate here, is afraid you might bite her but I've talked some sense into her so she knows you won't bite her. If Kate tries to bite you I'll save you." John put on a tough voice.

Laughter followed and a head swung round from Sophia's pants to look at John. "You're silly Uncle John." She then noticed Kate sitting next to him and quickly hid her face again but Kate had gotten a good look at the child. It was almost like looking at herself only younger and smaller. She had blonde hair and creamy skin.

"Come on now, come meet your sister Kate." Sophia said gently, trying to persuade the child.

Kate smiled, "We already ran into each other yesterday actually."

The young girl poked her head round and looked at her, surprise was etched on her face. "That's right you was in my way and I had somewhere to go." She frowned. "You're my sister?" She had disbelieving look on her face. "But she looks nothing like me. She's too big and well I thought I was gonna be a big sister." She was looking at Sophia and was pointing at Kate. "She can't be my sister. I don't want her to be my sister. I hate her!"

Before anyone could move Annie turned and ran from the room. Kate sat frozen. She hated her. What had she done wrong this time? Kate looked at John then Sophia, "What did I do wrong?"

"I'm not sure Kate." John said looking at her with sympathy in his eyes but Kate hated to see sympathy so she turned her attention to Sophia.

"Maybe I should go and talk to her." Sophia said in a quiet voice. "Calm her down."

"No." Kate stood up. "Let me go. I need to talk to her anyway and well if she's anything like me. She'll be stubborn and I hate sitting around doing nothing, anyway. Besides we've both got to face this problem head on. I can't avoid her forever and she can' hide from me forever either." Kate held her hands up to stop Sophia from saying anything. "Please let me..." She trailed off softly.

Sophia sighed and nodded. Kate walked out of the room and went the way she had heard Annie run off too. Kate had turned into a hallway and stopped. She closed her eyes and leant against the wall. Courage, thats what she needed was courage. She stood up and walked on keeping an ear out for noises. A second later she heard sniffles coming from the room at the end of the hallway. Kate walked towards the sound. She halted at the door. The door was covered in pictures of dolphins and starfish. There was huge sign saying Annie's Room. Kate shook her head, she should have realised that the girl would have gone to her room. Kate quietly knocked on the door, she didn't want to startle her.

"GO AWAY! I don't want to talk to anybody." Yelled a voice behind the door.

Kate sighed she knew if she walked in there it was gonna get worse. What the hell, she'd been shot at and done at lot of things at work. This should be a walk in the park. Well maybe, she thought. At least there are no guns.

Kate turned the handle and walked in.

The room was blue, there was no other word for it. Everything in it was blue. The walls were an sea blue and the bed was a sky blue. There were drawings of dolphins, whales and starfish on the walls.

"Wow!" Breathed Kate.

There was movement from the bed and Kate turned to look. Annie was sitting up looking at Kate. Her eyes were red and she was sniffing. "Do you like it?" She asked in a small voice.

Kate cleared her throat as her nerves hit her again. "Um, yeah. I do." Kate paused. "I take it you like the ocean then?"

Annie crossed her legs as she sat on her bed. "Yeah I do. I drew all of them. They took me ages. The ocean is just soo peaceful and well much better than the land. " Annie sniffed then said hesistatingly. "Do you... do you like the ocean?" Annie turned to look at Kate her face scrunched up in concentration as she watched Kate's face.

"I love the ocean. I work on the ocean, on a boat." Kate said softly. "It was where I met someone special to me." Kate had a wistful smile on her face as she thought about Mike.

Annie didn't noticed. Her eyes grew wide. "Can you take me to where you work? Do you get to see lots of animals and do you..." Kate put a hand over her mouth.

"One question at a time squirt." Kate smiled as she moved her hand away which, was a mistake.

"I'm not a squirt!" Spluttered Annie. "What are you doing in my room anyway? Get out! Don't you remember I hate you. So leave me alone!" Annie turned and thumped back on her bed putting her face into the pillows.

"I'm sorry Annie." Kate said softly but she said it to deaf ears, Annie wasn't listening.

Kate took one last look around the room and at Annie before she left shutting the door behind her.

A/N: I hope no one was disappointed with that! So what do you think of Annie? Will Kate decide to keep her or not? What do you think should happen? Let me know.

Cheers,

Fantasy