They've finally arrived home…..

Part 21 – An Invitation

Elena packed the last of her things into her bag and glanced around the room which had been home for the last 2 weeks. The final thing she slotted in her bag was the photo which had adorned her notice board during the patrol. It had been a successful mission, if challenging, exhausting and frustrating in various measures, but in the end worthwhile. A few minutes later she stepped out onto the boat deck and was met by the ship's normal CO.

"Kate McGregor, nice to finally meet you." Kate greeted, thrusting her hand forward as Elena dropped her bag at her feet and shook the other woman's hand and they exchanged salutes.

"Elena Larkin, you have a good crew Lt Commander. It's been a pleasure to work with them." Kate beamed widely; she was immensely proud of her crew for doing their best. She noted Dutchy trying to skirt the ship and disembark.

"Dutchy, please see that Lt-Cdr Larkin's bag reaches her car while we report to NAVCOM."

"Yes Boss," he answered immediately and stooped slightly to grab the bag at Elena's feet, at the same time accepting her car keys before saluting both women and leaving the ship.

Kate and Elena turned towards the gangplank and began walking up the dock towards NAVCOM. Once they had left the ship behind, Kate glanced at Elena, "so how did you get on?"

"Fine, they're a good team."

"So you had no issues with anyone?"

"That sounds like you expected me to." Elena retorted, a smile crossing her face.

"No, it's just that some of them can take a while to get to know," Kate answered, matching Elena's smile.

Elena stopped for a split second then picked up the pace again, half turning to Kate knowingly, "you mean RO? How was it your X described him? Technically sound, but socially impossible. It's a good description."

Kate laughed, "I'll have to remember that. ... how were the rest of the crew?"

"They're a good team, it's been an honour serving with a crew that work together so well. I know your XO is new but everyone respects him and he's got the measure of them, well at least it appeared so in the short time we worked together."

"Good to hear, I hear you had Seaman Webb back on board did him and 2-dads get into trouble?" she asked lightly.

"Nothing I couldn't handle. 2-dads even on his own doesn't seem to be phased by Navy discipline, I get that he's still young and immature, but sometimes he pushes things a little far."

"So what did he get up to this time?" Kate asked, sounding like it was nothing new.

Elena paused for a moment, debating whether to say anything, but she probably needed to say something now she had opened the subject, "stirring rumours about Dutchy."

"What rumours?" questioned Kate, intrigued by the comment.

"I gather your buffer has a reputation with women and 2-dads wouldn't let him off the hook over an encounter the night before we sailed," Elena answered hoping the other woman didn't dig too much further on the subject.

"I don't think you'll stop either of them on that point. 2-dads loves to stir gossip and I've been on the receiving end myself before, so I know what it's like. Dutchy's reputation with the ladies has only increased in recent patrols, so it's hardly surprising to hear the two talked of in the same sentence. What about you, how did you find working on a Patrol Boat?" Kate asked, deflecting further conversation from either of her sailors much to Elena's relief.

"The first few days were a little hairy with the storm, but we made it through; saved a few locals who were supporting the rescue effort and got themselves into trouble with their local craft." Elena answered, watching the ship's bosun heading towards the parking lot. "It was great being back at sea but don't worry Lt Commander I'm not after your job. Right now a desk job suits me just fine."

"It's Kate and I hear you're new in town and didn't even get a chance to find accommodation."

"Something like that. I'm going to go and report in then head off and find a hotel for the night, the ship's all yours again."

"Thank you."

They climbed the steps and entered the air-conditioned offices of NAVCOM as Elena's phone beeped. She pulled it from her pocket and checked the message, it made her smile.

"Good news?" Kate asked, with a curious look.

"Maybe; it's an invitation ... there's someone I need to talk to before I go up to my father's tomorrow."

"Well let's go see Commander White and get you signed off," suggested Kate.

...

Elena pulled up at the kerb and looked at the single storey house. She sat for a moment before getting out and approaching the door. She paused again before raising her hand to knock, wondering if she was making the right move.

However, before she could knock the door opened and her eyes met those of the occupant. "Hi, ... I didn't even knock yet," she greeted in surprise.

"I know, I was waiting." He stepped back and gestured for her to enter.

"I wasn't sure if I was going to come," she answered but remained on the step. "I can't stay," she added glancing back at her car, before turning her attention to him again. "I got your message." With the patrol finished and them back on land, her days as his Commanding Officer were over, so there was nothing wrong with her being there, but something about it felt strange and awkward. They both knew they needed to talk, to clear the air.

"You should come in, we can talk," he offered again and she shook her head, he frowned wondering what was stopping her; images flashed through his mind of the last time she had been there; they had both been soaking wet and he had been so distracted by holding her shivering body close to his and locking his lips on hers that he had taken ages to unlock the door.

"Can we talk here?" she asked casting another furtive glance at the car.

"You changed your car," he noticed following her glance.

"It's temporary; I needed a bigger car for a few weeks. It's a rental." She stuck her hands in the pocket of her jacket as he seemed to take the initiative first and started talking; only he went back to the beginning.

"Why didn't you say anything?" he asked, he didn't need to elaborate, she knew what he was referring to.

"Would it have made a difference?"

"Not to me," he answered, accepting her wish to remain outside and sitting on the steps in order to keep some distance between them, when he wanted anything but. "It would have been good to know that you were going to be my CO this rotation."

Elena took a breath, she'd already told him what happened, but it seemed like they were going to go over already covered ground. She needed to make him understand she hadn't known what was in store when she'd left him that morning. She sat on the step next to him, "I didn't know when I left here that morning after the phone call; all I knew was my leave was cancelled, I didn't know until I reported to NAVCOM that I was even going to command a ship. I had no idea you were part of the crew until Mike Flynn mentioned your name once I was on board, why do you think I asked to see you before we sailed?"

"Could have been any one of a dozen things," he answered haughtily.

"Would you rather I was waiting on the boat deck for you while they were loading the supplies?" He could hear the lighter tone in her voice and knew it was an attempt to lighten the mood between them, but she was wrong, he remained closed off and pensive. She obviously expected a different response because her next words really got his attention, "this is a bad idea ... The whole thing was a bad idea. I'm going to go; I've got a long drive." She stood up to leave, then stopped and turned back to face him. "Dylan I'm sorry I didn't say anything, but for one night I just wanted to be normal, I pretty much out-ranked everyone in the bar that night and I wouldn't have been there if it wasn't for meeting Megan. ... I'd hoped you weren't still going to be mad at me, I was wrong." He stared at her for a minute wondering what he could possibly say at this stage that would make a difference. She didn't seem to want to prolong their relationship, such as it was and when he didn't respond she continued, "this was a mistake, it should never have happened, I'm going to go." She turned and crossed the lawn towards her car, this time not intending to stop.

He watched as she got further away and then the realisation dawned, if he didn't do something she was walking out of his life and he concluded he wasn't ready for her to do that, and he found himself already on his feet and following her before he spoke, "Elena wait, I'm sorry." His long strides reached her quickly and he rested a hand on her shoulder and turned her around. "I'm not mad at you, not anymore, I was surprised, I thought you'd left because of your father, seeing you on the ship- ... I was hoping that when you got back into town we might be able to pick up where we left off, after all you did leave me your number." He smiled down at her while he caressed her cheek with his thumb.

"I don't know; things are different now," she stated simply.

"We're not breaking any rules; you're not my CO anymore. Stay." The smile was replaced by a serious look, his eyes focused on her, unflinching.

"This wasn't supposed to get complicated; I don't normally behave the way I did that night," she sighed, but she never moved.

"Tell me it wasn't fun; tell me you don't want to see what happens next." He murmured lowering his lips to hers and capturing them in a chaste kiss.

Elena pulled back and taking his hand from her face, he noticed the pained expression cross her face. "Elena?"

"I need some time, I'm heading north soon and I'll be gone a couple of weeks, maybe when I come back we can have coffee or something." He could see the desperate look in her eyes and didn't want her to leave when he could see she was so torn up over whatever they had going.

"What something do you have in mind?" he taunted, raising his eyebrows at her, and his lips curling in that unique grin that he saved just for her.

"Let's start with coffee," she answered with a smile of her own.

"Alright we'll do this your way, when are you leaving?"

"Now, I got through with NAVCOM and a few other things I needed to do quicker than I expected so I'm not waiting until tomorrow, hopefully I'll get there before dark."

"Are you alright to go alone?" he asked as they walked the last few steps to her car.

"It's only a couple of hours, I'll be fine." She stopped next to the car and he opened the door for her, his eyes remaining fixed on her, a slight frown across his forehead, making her reach up to smooth her fingers across the lines, "I'll call you when I get there if it will make you happier."

"It would," he answered, cupping the back of her neck, his thumb caressing her neck just under her left ear. The sensation of her heart racing as he grazed her pulse point gave him the courage to take the next step.

Drawing her closer he lowered his lips to hers, he started softly, worried he might scare her off, after all she'd seemed more reluctant to become involved this time, keeping him at arm's length. She was frozen for a few seconds before responding, answering his lips gentle caress. When she didn't pull back and actually responded, the kisses became more fervent and hungry, his arm circled her waist and he pulled her closer as he felt her hand rest against his bicep, until slowly she pushed them apart, but only a few inches until their eyes met, she never attempted to separate them further. He grazed his thumb over her pulse point again and smirked when her eyes closed in response. Still with his arm around her he lowered his lips to her ear.

"You don't fool me ma'am, you know what I can do to you, just remember that while you're gone," he whispered before seizing her lips one last time for a few seconds before letting her go and stepping back. "Drive safely," he uttered crossing his arms over his chest and watching her slowly compose herself before getting in the car.

He was fairly certain if they hadn't stopped that they would be spending the rest of the day behind closed doors, but she'd said she needed time, he didn't want to force her into something she wasn't sure of, but he got the impression it was her mind talking not her heart, not when she melted under the slightest touch from him. He just couldn't let her go without a reminder of the night they'd spent together.

A high pitched squeal and giggling from inside the car drew his attention and he noticed for the first time that a baby seat was strapped in the rear and she was now talking to the tiny figure it held. He didn't get a good view of the infant, but it gave him a good jolt of reality, no wonder she was reluctant to take things further; he watched them for a moment as she talked to the child and perpetuated the laughter. As he stood there transfixed he realised the baby was probably little more than a year old, which would have meant she was pregnant when Niko died. It wasn't just her she was thinking about and why she seemed so hesitant when there were no apparent obstacles. What he couldn't grasp was the fact that she hadn't said anything, in their discussions on the ship, he had teased certain information from her about Niko, but there was still a lot he didn't know about her and her life before him. Now it had hit him head on and made him stop and think, if they pursued a relationship it wouldn't be just her, there was her baby to consider too and he wasn't sure how he felt about that. He couldn't even figure out whether it was still a baby or toddler or what the terminology was. Was it fair to her if their relationship ended to put the kid through the trauma? Would she even want him to meet the child, she hadn't mentioned it so far and she made no attempt at introductions now, so what was he to think? Maybe they both needed time.

The drone of her car engine as she pulled away from the kerb drew him out of the shocked stupor which had enveloped him and he watched until she disappeared from view before heading back into his house.

.

My daughter has congratulated me as I've made it to the gutter community, I can park my car by the drain and join them for toasted marshmallows on Tuesdays. I've been told to make myself at home because I'm likely to be staying a while! All because of an innocent concept that could have created an alternative, not so innocent image!

SeaKat