Hammersley
The crew of Hammersley are all waiting on board for news from Swain regarding their Boss Mike. Jimmy is even there with them providing support. They watch some DVD's play card games.
When they receive the news that Mike made it through the surgery well and is resting. But can't have any visitors no one leaves Hammersley. The only one not there is Swain. Bird cooks dinner for all the crew that are on board. Jimmy rings Maxine to ask if the crew can have a couple more days' shore leave to get themselves in the right frame of mind before going back out on patrol. Maxine grants it. Shifting there sailing day from Tuesday to Friday. The crew are pleased to hear this news. They don't jump up and down they think of ways that they can help the boss and Kate through this period of time.
Pete emails Nikki to let her know of what has happened. He decided to wait till he had more info before emailing her about Mike and what had happened.
The crew have no idea what triggered this morning's events off. All they know is a blood clot moved and he needed surgery to remove it.
Mel and Tom took Kate home and stayed with her. They had never seen her that worked up before. And they were concerned. Was that normally how Kate was or was it the effects of the last 4weeks taking its toll on her? She spends most of the afternoon on a sun chair outside watching Lizzie swim in the pool. She ate a small sandwich and had a couple of hot drinks but other than that. She was very quiet.
Kate never heard Swain and Sally come around to see how she was. Mel and Tom spoke to them. But Kate just sat where she was. They weren't sure what to do. Sally decided to bite the bullet and go outside and talk to Kate.
"Hi Kate" Sal says as she sits down beside Kate
"Hi" Kate replies. She knows it Sally.
"You don't mind me sitting here with you?"
"Nar its fine" Kate replies quietly and shrugs her shoulders at the same time.
"Thanks" replies Sally. Kate and Sally sit there in silence watching Lizzie in the pool. Mel, Tom and Swain watch from inside.
"You sure about Sally talking to her Chris?" asks Mel
"Yes I am sure. Sally wouldn't go out there if she did not think it would help her."
"Thank you. You have no idea how much it means to us to know these two have such a great support network around them. I never thought the navy was like this when one of their own gets hurt like this."
"Well on Hammersley we are like family. What we do for them, they would do for us as well."
"It is not just that Chris. When we arrived up from Brisbane you guys had a roster in place to look after her and also to make sure Mike was not alone. The crew seem to be concerned for him more than I had expected from them. I can see why Mike loves working with the patrol boats now." Replies Tom
"Do you two wont a hot drink?" replies Mel
"Sure" they both reply
Outside by the pool the only noise to be heard is Lizzie splashing in the pool. Kate and Sally just sit there watching. Sally knows Kate well enough to know that Kate will talk when she feels like talking and pushing her will only make it harder to get her to talk. Several minutes later Kate talks
"Thanks Sally"
"No need to thank me Kate."
"Yes I do you been a great support over the last few weeks. I don't think I could have made it through those first few days without you."
"That is what we are here for Kate. And I know you and Mike would do the same for me and Chris."
It is quiet again between the two again. About 15mins later Kate talks again.
"We nearly lost him again today Sally." Kate gets out trying not to cry.
"He is tough Kate it will take more than that to take him out."
"I hope so Sally. I really do hope so."
"We know so Kate. Remember the mortar attack where he saved Jim's life, but got shrapnel in his knee. He survived that. He survived being taken hostage. And he survived the car accident too Kate. They are some major injuries he got and he survived them all. He will recover and be back at work before you know it."
"Thanks Sally. Lizzie I think you should get out now and go have a shower."
"Do I have to too?"
"Yes you do."
"Mummy?" Lizzie says as she gets out of the pool and heads towards Kate were her towel is sitting.
"Yes Lizzie?"
"Can I stay with you tonight please?"
"I don't know sweetie"
"Please mummy I don't own to go back to daddy's place. I won't to stay with you."
"I will think about it. Now go inside and have a shower please"
"Yes mummy" Lizzie walks off inside Kate just stays there sitting down. It is quiet again for a few more minutes. Sally wants to ask Kate about Lizzie but decides not to.
"Sally if there is something you wont to ask or say go ahead and say it" says Kate
"Not my place to ask Kate"
"Well then I will ask you. You are wondering about Lizzie correct?"
"Yes but it is none of my business."
"Maybe not Sally but you been there for me. And I feel that I do need to give you some details. Well just a few more than what I have already given to you."
"Well yes I do know a few things about you and Mike but I promised I would never say anything and I won't."
"I know you won't Sally. But just to be clear on you. Mike and I are Lizzie parents she lives with Mike's sister Alisha and her husband Brent. Swain found out at the hospital this morning when I went off at Jim. And Marshall found out two days ago."
"What you went off at Jim?"
"Um yea. Not proud of myself over that one. I was not acting like a professional Naval Officer that I am."
"Well he must have done something to make you go off at him."
"Yea he was yelling at Mike…Jim told Mike to make whatever made me kept going back to him to disappear and not return. Mike's heart started to play up after Jim said that. I lost it after that I ran in to Mike then I remember being pulled away and then sitting on the floor crying after that I remember nothing till Lizzie come over to me. Jim was still there I got up found out where Mike was then had a go at Jim over it all. Right in front of Marshall, Swain, Lizzie and Mike's parents. I even pushed him Sally. Something an officer should never do is hit another officer even if they are Army. God what must they think of me know after that outburst."
"Kate you were worried for Mike. And you needed someone to blame. It is not something you normal do."
"True but I should never have done it in the first place. God I am in so much trouble already and now this." Kate shakes her head trying to hold back the tears.
"Kate what do you mean trouble?" Kate and Sally keep on talking outside for ages. Kate goes into more details about her and Mike and their past together. Kate is starting to feel better about it. Finding talking about her past makes it not such a weight on her shoulders anymore. Kate thanks to Sally is starting to feel better about things.
Mike POV
Mike spent the day resting drifting in and out of sleep. When awake he would think about what had happened that morning.
Why is Jim being like this? I can't control what Kate does. It is her own choice if she wont's to be here or not. Not his choice. It is also her choice.
But how can he claim her as his. Has she lied to me? Was she just saying those things to make me feel better to get me to stay?
Then there is Lizzie. If Jim thinks she can disappear and not return he has another thing coming. I can't believe I got so angry over him saying that too me. Sadly she will always be there will always be that connection between us. She will always have us coming back together for events in her life. God will Jim accept that? Will Jim allow her to have contact with Lizzie? Or will Jim make you turn her back on Lizzie?
Come on Mike you two made plans yesterday of what you would do if work decided to be a problem for you both. She would never have agreed to some of my ideas and suggest some others if she did not won't to be with you Mike.
She finally told you she loves you. How long have you waited to hear those three words from her Mike?
Marshall, dam we missed our meeting with him thanks to Jim. Oh well as soon as I see him I should talk to him about it.
Marshall POV
Later that afternoon Marshall starts thinking about the issues around Mike and Kate
God what am I going to do with these two. They have broken rules and regulations.
Why did I never click to it when Mike request personal leave around the time Kate gave birth? Dam that meeting at Canberra when I found out about it. Princess Perfect was pregnant it was an interesting talk as they were shocked about it happening but more so the fact she was still very focused about her work and her job in the Navy. So it was decided to support her.
But she did the right things, she informed her CO as soon as she found out, requested a shore posting. And luck had it the posting was one she needed to do for another promotion for her. She would have had to have done it within the year anyway. The pregnancy just made it happen a tad sooner. She worked hard as normal. The only thing was she refused to do was name who the father was. In the notes here it has she knows who the father is and he has been informed. But she refused to name him saying that since the baby was being adopted the navy did not need his details and that was true.
She was asked on several different occasions about him and still said the same thing over and over again. Now I know why she was protecting Mike.
She has too much honour in her to let something like this ruin his or her career. So she did the one thing she knew was for the best for all.
But I should of bad more attention. As soon as she went on leave Mike was requesting urgent personal leave for six weeks. Said there was family stuff he had to deal with and he would be back in six weeks. The first and only time he had not given me a choice about leave for him.
Also explains why the two of them reacted the way they did to each other.
God what a mess. What a god dam mess we have here.
Well at present Mike and Kate aren't serving on the same ship or in the same command. So I can't stop anything happening at present. But once Mike is better and Kate is back on Hammersley what then. They both won't to keep seeing each other and if we won't let them they will leave.
I can't let two excellent Naval Officers leave. I am just going to have to find a way around all of this. Somehow I have to find some solution that will work for the Navy and for them too. I just have too.