Thanks for all the feedback guys. Again, any medical details that appear in this chapter are what I have been able to put together based on my own personal research, any mistakes are not intentional, and I take responsibility for them. If anything is drastically wrong, let me know.

Cheers to Bebe and Sierra Mike for the beta.

This chapter is dedicated to my Uncle who is fighting his own battle against cancer. Sadly, we have learned that there is nothing more to be done, but his courage is truly inspiring. I'm blessed to count him amongst my family

Chapter 14
It was mid morning on Monday when Doctor Marsh entered the room, startling Kate who was concentrating on the newspaper she had spread on the table in front of her.

'Morning Kate,' Doctor Marsh said, once the other woman's attention was focussed on her.
'Morning,' Kate responded, staring suspiciously at the folder Doctor Marsh held in her hand. 'Are they my test results?' Kate asked, a feeling of dread filling the pit of her stomach.
'Yes they are.'
'Before we start, do you mind if I call Mike? If it's not good, then I don't think I'll be able to tell him.'
'Sure, whatever you need.' The Doctor was aware of the circumstances Kate found herself in with the vast majority of her support base being at sea on various operations. Kate said a quiet thanks, reaching for the pink object she'd convinced Buffer to bring her a couple of days earlier.

Dialling the Hammersley, she listened while the phone sought a connection with the offshore number.
'Hammersley, Lieutenant Davies.' Kate groaned, she'd heard about everyone's apparent dislike for her replacement, and the issues Nikki had had previously trying to get him to get Mike when asked.
'Lieutenant, I need to speak with Commander Flynn.'
'May I ask who is calling?'
'Lieutenant McGregor.'
'I'll transfer you now Ma'am.'
'Thank you Lieutenant.' There was a pause on the line before Mike picked up.

'Kate?' he asked, a hint of concern in his voice.
'Are you in your cabin?'
'Yes. Why?'
'I've got Doctor Marsh here, she has my pathology results, I wanted you to hear them with me, but Mike, you have to promise that you're not going to turn the ship around, no matter what.' The line was silent for a moment,
'I promise, but Kate…'
'No buts Mike, if you turn the ship around I won't see you, you understand?'
'Perfectly Ma'am.'
'Right, I'm going to put you on speaker.' The line beeped, 'Mike can you hear us?' Kate asked, her voice much more distant, but still clear.
'Loud and clear,' he responded.

'Okay,' a new voice interrupted, 'I've got the final results from your lymph node biopsy here. As you know the initial results showed evidence of spread and we removed all the nodes during surgery.' Kate and Mike responded in the affirmative, they knew that much. 'The final results I have here show that the spread is much more extensive than we thought. The nodes that I removed were sent to the lab as well to see if the disease had spread beyond what we originally thought. Unfortunately, this is the case.'
'What do we do now?' Kate asked quietly, struggling to keep her emotions in check.
'I'm going to send you for more scans this afternoon to see if we can detect any additional cancers in you body then we can devise a treatment regime in terms of dosage and duration, and we'll look to start that in the next couple of weeks when you're stronger. Any questions?' Kate shook her head. Mike, on the other end of the line, was silent. 'I know this isn't the news you were expecting and while it does make the treatment harder, it's not impossible.' Kate nodded,
'Thank you,' she told the woman who politely excused herself to see other patients.

Alone in his cabin on the other end of the phone line, Mike was struggling to find the words to express what he was thinking. 'Kate?' he asked, finding his voice.
'I'm here,' she responded, her voice steady.
'Kate, I want to be there, you shouldn't have to do this alone.'
'No,' she told him, 'Mike I'll be fine, I'm just going to be resting the next couple of weeks anyway, I know you want to be here, but I'm fine.'
'You know I don't believe that for a second. You, Kate McGregor, are too stubborn for your own good.'
'I meant what I said Mike, if you come back early with the express purpose of seeing me, I won't see you.'
'Kate, I love you and I want to be there with you, what's so bad about that?'
'Nothing, but I can handle this part. I don't want you to piss off the Brass so that when I do need you here in a couple of weeks time they won't send you off to God knows where and then I'll be alone. I love you Mike, and I'm not doing this to be cruel.' A knock at the door interrupted their conversation,
'Sir, you're needed on the Bridge,' Bird said, popping her head into the cabin before leaving as quickly as she'd appeared.

'Kate I have to go,' he said regretfully.
'That's ok, I'll talk to you later, oh, and Mike? Can you tell the crew?'
'Sure. Love you Kate.'
'Love you too.' Hanging up the phone, Mike took a deep breath and stood, making his way up to the Bridge.

* * *

Two hours later, after escorting an FFV back over the line, Mike finally had the opportunity to update the Crew on Kate's condition. 'Do you hear there Captain speaking, all crew muster on the boat deck.' Hanging up the mouthpiece, he ordered Davies to stay on the Bridge with the other newly arrived crew member.

By the time Mike arrived on the deck, radio in hand, everyone was assembled, most looking very confused. 'Sir, what's happening?' Dutchy asked.
'I spoke to Lieutenant McGregor this morning, and was speaking with her when the final pathology results came through. Unfortunately they indicate that the cancer has spread beyond her breast and the lymph nodes. At this point they can't be certain of the extent of the spread, but they are doing scans later this afternoon to see if they can detect it's location.' Mike was met with deathly silence.

'How is she?' Swain asked, the first to find his voice.
'As well as can be expected. They're planning to begin Chemo in a couple of weeks when she's recovered more from the surgery.'
'Is there anything we can do?' Bird questioned, a sick feeling sitting in the pit of her stomach as she realised just how serious the situation was. Mike shook his head,
'There's nothing we can do at this point, except wait and hope.'
'And pray,' Bird supplied, remembering her catholic school education. Mike nodded, he was by no means religious, but he was beginning to think that now might be a good time to start bargaining with this God.

Gesturing for everyone to return to work, Mike made his way back to the Bridge to be met by his stormy faced XO. 'Sir, may I enquire as to the purpose of this meeting, you excluded myself and Arthur, why?' His tone was harsh, the anger he was feeling evident. Irritated at the way his subordinate was speaking to him, Mike directed him to the privacy of his cabin, handing the ship over to Dutchy's capable hands.

Once the door was shut securely, Mike turned, 'I do not appreciate the accusation that I am attempting to conceal information Lieutenant. What was conveyed in this meeting is of no consequence to you.' He stood face to face with the younger man, his posture threatening as he put his aloof Lieutenant back in his place. Unfazed by the terrified look on the other mans face, Mike continued, letting all his anger and frustration at Kate's illness spill out.

When Mike was finished the other man ran from the room in a state of shock. Swain, who'd been passing by had overheard Mike's outburst and once he'd seen Davies flee, took the opportunity to knock on Mike's door.

A gruff, 'What?' greeted him and the door flung open, revealing a dejected looking Mike leaning against his desk.
'Boss?' Swain asked, closing the door as he entered the space. Wiping at the stray tears that had escaped their ducts, Mike stood up a little straighter, still trying to impart a sense of authority. 'What is it Swain?' he asked.
'How are you? I mean everyone is worried about Kate, but no one's asked how you are.'
'I'm fine,' Mike responded, borrowing Kate's new signature catch phrase.
'No you're not Sir,' Swain said bluntly, silently hoping he wouldn't set his Boss off again.

Mike looked up at the other man, seeing the concern etched on his face. Sighing, he responded, 'You're right, I'm not. But Kate has made it very clear that unless we are called back in by the Brass, she won't speak to me. At least if I'm out here, I can speak to her, even if it's only sporadically.'
'Surely given this latest news, she'll change her mind.' Mike shook his head, replaying his earlier conversation with Kate in his head,
'She's adamant that she can handle this bit alone, she'd prefer I was there for the Chemo, and I need to respect her wishes, even if I don't agree with it.'
'Is there anything we can do for you?'
'Just keep Davies away from me, do that and I'll be fine. And if Kate calls, anytime, day or night, get me. I want that known to all the Crew.'
'Consider it done.' Mike mumbled a quiet thanks, watching as Swain left, continuing his trip back up to the Bridge.

*runs and hides*