Ok this chapter contains a few intercourse type related things I have tried to keep if friendly enough that it doesn't need to go into the adult section and it's only at the start of it all. If you don't like it you are more than welcome to recommend changes to it.

Mike and Kate are in Mike's bed together, kissing and pleasing each other, when Mike reaches over to and open the drawer beside his bed.

"What are you grabbing?" she says while kissing his chest.

"Protection, honey."

"We don't need it, I'm covered," she replies, still kissing him.

"I know, honey, but still I want to use it."

"Why? We're covered, we don't need it," she replies while looking at his face.

"Honey, I just want to be extra careful, ok?" he says while tucking a few strands of her hair behind her ear.

"No, it's not ok. I feel like you don't trust me."

"Hey, that is not true. I do trust you."

"They why do you want to use extra, isn't what I use enough?" Kate says, moving away.

"Honey, look at me," he replies, trying to get her to look at him.

"I do trust you honey, but it's not 100% foolproof. I just want to make sure we are covered all around. The last thing we need is for you to get pregnant."

"Yeah, because then they use that to say I'm blackmailing you into all of this, or that I'm a slut because of it all, or hang on a minute, maybe it is someone else's child because I so called sleep around," she says as she gets out of bed and starts to find her clothes.

"Kate."

"No, Mike. It's what you think, isn't it. After Brad saying those things this morning in Jarrod's office, you've been distant with me. You believe him, don't you?"

"No, I'm worried about the effect it will have on us."

"Bullshit, Mike. You believed him in that office, you believed that I was capable of those things and I would do them."

"Kate, sit and listen to me."

"Why should I?"

"Because I have asked you to." Kate stops and sits on the end of the bed, facing away from him with tears running down her face. Mike moves closer to her.

"Honey, I don't believe what was said. I only wanted to use protection to make sure we didn't get any surprises. Why do you think we had not done it while we were down in Sydney? It wasn't because I didn't want to, I just wanted to make sure we were fully covered."

"Well, we've done it before without."

"Yes, we have."

"And we didn't get any surprises did we? Well, bar the one you didn't know about till now. So why this time? Why now? You just don't trust me, do you?"

"I do trust you."

"I'm going home," Kate replies as she gets up and heads off.

"Honey, don't leave like this. We need to talk about this and sort it out."

"Why?"

"Because we should. You're sailing tomorrow and I would hate it for you to go out with us fighting," Mike says as he puts on his boxers and follows her out of his room.

"Are you going to want to use it every time we do it?"

"Yes I do, honey. Until we decide to have children. It's called being responsible and I'm trying to do my part with that." Kate tries to hold a sob from escaping.

"It's never been an issue for you with me before all this happened with Maxine and Brad, so I'm sorry if I don't believe you," she replies as she opens the door walks out, slamming it behind her. She walks to her car with tears running down her cheeks. Once inside her car, she allows herself to cry. Five minutes later she gets up enough willpower to start up her car and drive back home. Once home she crawls into her bed and cries herself to sleep.

Mike is at home trying to wrap his head around what just happened.

What just happened, I thought she be happy or at least ok with it. But I was wrong yet again. I just stuffed this up some more, haven't I? She wasn't happy I wouldn't talk much in Jarrod's office and now this. What am I meant to do? Do I wait for her to come to me or do I go to her to sort this out? I don't want her going out on patrol with us fighting it won't do either of us any good.

I know we have not used extra before, but with everything that is going on and the way things are with us. I thought she would understand.

Mike, stop tearing yourself up over this.

Mike goes to his cabinet and takes out his scotch. He pours himself a drink, then takes the bottle and his glass to the couch, and proceeds to drink himself to sleep.

Kate wakes to a headache and a dry mouth. She goes down and gets a drink of water before making herself some coffee. As she opens the fridge, she is reminded that she has nothing here. No fresh milk, or other things.

Oh God, everything is at Mike's place. We shopped for his house. I must have some milk powder somewhere, and something in the freezer that can be breakfast.

Kate goes through her freezer and finds some hash browns and bacon. Yes, that will do for breakfast for now. I must remember when I come back that I need to do some shopping. Ah, and there is the milk powder. I can't stand this stuff but I need a coffee and if I make it strong enough I won't taste the difference.

Kate is then interrupted by her mobile going off.

"Kate, Marshall here. I need you in my office at 1000 hours for a meeting. Your XO will be joining us at 1030 hours so you can both can be at the boat by 1100 hours."

"Thank you, Sir. I will be there then."
"Good and please do not be late."

"I won't." They hang up Kate looks at her clock it reads 0830 hours. Ok, plenty of time to get breakfast, showered and my stuff packed up before heading to Navcom.

Back at Mike's place he is on the couch, having passed out as some ungodly hour in the morning. Most of his bottle scotch has gone and he is brought to the land of the living by his mobile phone going off. On the second lot of ringing he manages to get to it and answer it.

"Mike, you sound like shit. You ok?" he recognises the voice of Steve.

"Um, sorry Sir. You just woke me up."

"Mike, you're needed in my office in 30 minutes."

"Ok, Sir. I'll just get a quick shower and then be on my way."

"Don't be late, Mike."

"I won't be."

Oh God, my head hurts. How much did I drink last night? Oh God, I drank over half a bottle, ouch. Ok, better get the kettle on then shower, get dressed, coffee in to travel mug then to Navcom. Thank god I don't live too far away, but I think I will call a taxi. My head hurts too much to drive. Oh god, Kate. I need to see her, talk to her, work things out with her before her patrol.

Twenty minutes later the taxi is pulling up outside his place, has he is getting the last of his things together. Oh shit, her hat is here. I'd better ring her when I am in the taxi and let her know.

Once in the taxi, Mike rings Kate. She does not answer the call as she is busy, when she comes back she finds she has missed a call from Mike and that she also has a voicemail and text waiting for her.

He can wait for now, I've got to get ready.

At 0900 hours Mike enters Maxine's office, which Steve is now using.

"Thank you for coming in on a Saturday, Mike."

"No problem, Sir. What can I do for you?"

"God, Mike. Did you sleep last night? You don't look so well."

"I'm ok, Sir. Can we just get this over with so I can get home?"

"If you say so, Mike." Someone has had far too many drinks last night. I wonder if it's got anything to do with the information I got yesterday. And why does he have a woman's hat with him.

"Anyway, as you well know, Lieutenant Moyes sent photos to the brass of you two on Thursday night."

"Yes, Jarrod spoke to all three of us yesterday morning."

"So you will know that the brass are now doing another inquiry into you two, and also into Kate." Mike just sits there and says nothing.

"Has she been informed yet?"

"No, I'm doing that after I've spoken to you. Now, Mike. I told you if there was any bullshit, lies (or that you had not been truthful with me I would not be impressed, so explain why is there another person saying the same things as Maxine about Kate."

"I've been honest with you, Steve, but I do think this Lieutenant Moyes has some connection to Maxine. Though Kate did go through ADFA with him so whether it has something to do with what happened back then I'm not sure."

"Mike, I'm going to have to ask you a few personal questions about the two of you. What you know about Kate and how she's been with you; even more details than before Are you going to be ok with that?"

"Well, if it clears her name then go for it, but I don't know how much help I can be."

The two of them start talking, Steve asking some very personal questions about the two of them. Mike answers them, sometimes though he is not impressed with what Steve is asking of him. At around 0930 Mike's mobile goes off. He excuses himself to Steve and reads the reply, and then replies back to it.

0930 hours.

God, where is my cover? Where the hell did I put it, I thought it would be with all my other gear. God, Kate think. Think about the last place you had it. Ah yes, Mike's place. Oh hang on, maybe that is why he was ringing me earlier had better check those messages.

Kate then listens to the message, finding out Mike has her cover with him and he'll drop it around after his meeting at Navcom. Kate quickly texts him back, to inform him she will be at Navcom at 1000 hours and will collect it off him then.

Kate enters Navcom to find Mike is still in with Steve, When she looks at him she notices he looks tired and drained. Oh God, I did that last night, did I? Maybe I shouldn't have walked out. Maybe we should've talked and now we don't have time for talking. I have a meeting then I have to be on Hammersley. Great, just blood great.

Steve notices her outside and then goes and brings her in.

"Right, Kate. I've been talking to Mike about what happened yesterday. Now, the brass have decided to look into the things that have come up. They have decided that with two people, with no connection to each other, saying the same thing that they have to do this. As you are well aware, these sorts of things are not acceptable in the Navy so we have to been seen doing the right thing here." She says nothing but looks at Mike.

"Great, so there goes everything I've worked hard for in my life, thanks to two idiots. Do I have to stand down as CO of Hammersley?""

"Regarding the CO job, the brass is allowing you to go ahead as the CO. They are using it as a test, Kate. This with either confirm or deny that you slept your way to this position. If that is the case there will be consequences to face, but then if everything comes back in your favour they will then be dealt with."

"Yeah but not before everything gets put through the wringer yet again. I could understand Maxine doing what she did, I'm taking Mike away from her and their son, well that is how she sees it. She sees me as a threat to her family, but Brad? I thought he would have listened last time he got into trouble for being a smart arse to me."

"Mike said that maybe Maxine has contacted him and they are now talking to each other?"

"No, I don't think so. This is directed at me, and he's done this before, Steve. When we were at ADFA he gave me my nickname. He loved teasing me about how much of a loner I was because I was always reading course material, making sure I knew everything I could about what was ahead of me. I highly doubt he has any connection to Maxine. I think it's got more to do with me and that, right now, the timing has the two of them so close together, if not on top of each other."

"Right, well, I have to ask you a few questions. Now, Mike can stay if you want him too, or he can leave, that is up to you."

"He can stay, I have nothing to hide from him," she replies. Steve then gets into asking her some personal questions. She is struggling answering them without losing control with her emotions. Mike's hand is on hers the whole time, trying to provide comfort without being too over the top, as they both set rules about public displays of affection while in uniform. It surprises Steve when they tell him they have set some ground rules. To set an example to others, but also because they are high ranking officers who are well respected, people will look to them as examples. Mike does say that it is for the best, otherwise he might have trouble keeping his hands to himself. Which provides them with some light laughter.

Before too long Nikki arrives at Navcom.