Episode 6.5 – Worthy

You all know the disclaimer by now – I don't own the show or the rights to the show, but this is still my creation. All of the original characters are owned by Channel Nine, but any new original characters are mine. This is Episode Five, and continues on from the previous four published episodes – Mistakes, Seeing Double, Love Hurts and Leaving.

Enjoy!

MissShawnaAlice xx.

Chapter One-

"You've had a week off, and now you're going again," said Rebecca disdainfully.

"I know, and I'm sorry, but it's the Navy Bec. You know what it's like." She nodded, glancing down at her increasing waistline.

"I remember. As long as Mike can have you back on land during September, I don't mind as much. I want you to be here when our bub is born. Not like Swain when Chloe was born; he ended up just missing everything because NAVCOM couldn't find a replacement for him." 2Dads nodded, caressing her face. Buffer was watching them from the Hammersley, arms folded. HMAS Victory was docked next to Hammersley; they were leaving as well. Leo glanced up at the Hammersley, and then back to Rebecca.

"Email me every day, call me if there's an emergency. Maxine said she's available if you need someone to talk to or if you need anything," said Leo, kissing Rebecca on the forehead. She nodded, tears falling thick and fast. She'd never been so emotional before, and blamed it on her hormones and the baby. He held her close once more, before walking up the gangway onto the Hammersley. He would never admit it, but Buffer saw him cry. It was hard for both of them; after nearly losing Bomber when Hardaker tried to kill her, and then rekindling the flame to find out she was pregnant. It was a lot for the young couple to take in, and what Buffer saw next didn't make it any easier for 2Dads.

"Hey, 2Dads, is that your sister kissing Spider?" Asked Buffer. Leo dropped his bag on the deck as he spun around. Buffer was right.

Spider was kissing Emily.

"Oi! What the hell do you think you're doing with my sister?" Yelled 2Dads, sprinting towards Spider and Emily. They broke apart, Emily only just moving away in time to avoid 2Dads jumping on Spider.

"Leo! Leo, get off him, please!" Begged Emily as Leo let his fists fly into Spider. After a few moments, Emily's cries got through him. By then, Buffer and Logan had joined them, pulling 2Dads off Spider. Emily dropped to her knees, cradling Spider's bruised and battered body.

"Flash!" She called urgently. Liam appeared over the edge of the Victory.

"What is it EK?" He called.

"I need a medic to look at Spider. Leo just lost it at him," she called back.

"I'll be down in a few moments, just let me grab my kit," he replied quickly. Spider was unconscious, and Emily stroked back his hair. Flash appeared in mere seconds, joining Emily on the dock. 2Dads was struggling against Buffer and Logan, trying desperately to escape.

"He's got a broken nose at least, but I think it's mostly bruising. A few more punches, and we may have been looking at a serious concussion," remarked Flash. As he was securing tape over Spider's nose, he started to come around.

"What the hell happened?" He mumbled, face aching. Emily glared at her older brother.

"2Dads here thought he would protect me from you, and decided to beat the stuffing out of you. May I remind you Kosov-Meyer, that whilst you are my brother, I do not need protecting, nor do I need you beating up my boyfriend," said Emily icily, absolutely furious. Leo reeled back.

"You two are dating? How is that possible?" Asked 2Dads, shocked.

"One, yes. We are dating. Two, love is always possible, as you can attest to in your relationship with Rebecca, and three, I cannot see how our relationship is any of your business," replied Emily. She kissed Spider's forehead as Nikki strode towards.

"Flash, EK, we've been waiting to leave for the past fifteen minutes; what is the hold up?" She called. As she neared them, she realised Spider was lying on the dock, face bruised and now bloody as well. She noticed Leo trying to sneak away, and Buffer grabbed him again.

"2Dads, stay here. Buffer, can you make sure he is disciplined appropriately, and get Bird to look after Spider. I need our sailors back," said Nikki. Buffer nodded.

"Of course ma'am. Our X will be hearing about this, and disciplinary action will be taken. Anderson, you can help Spider onto Hammersley, and 2Dads and I will make sure Bird's prepared for you," Buffer replied. Emily gave Spider another quick kiss, and then stood up, following Flash and Nikki as they headed back onto the Victory. Flash went on ahead, and Nikki stopped Emily.

"What happened back there?" Nikki asked.

"Leo happened. He's so hot-headed! Spider and I have been dating for a little while, and we were saying goodbye today, and Leo just loses it, and starts beating the life out of Spider. Thank god Buffer and Anderson intervened, or Spider could have been seriously injured. It's bad enough Leo broke his nose," Emily replied. She was so angry at her brother; he'd never shown an inkling of care about her, and he picked a private moment with her boyfriend to interrupt and to nearly kill him to show he cared.

"Em, he's just worried about you…" Started Nikki.

"I'm sorry ma'am, but if he cared, he would have responded to my letters and emails that I sent him for years. He doesn't really care; he's just angry that it's his best mate," retorted Emily. Nikki nodded, and promptly changed the subject.

"Giordano's complaining that his kitchen isn't working again. Do you mind looking at it for him, see if we can keep him happy?" Asked Nikki. Emily smiled.

"Can't have an unhappy chef; he might poison us."

Kate was sitting in her cabin on her rack, leaning against the wall. It had been a long thirty-six hours, and she was struggling to absorb everything that had happened.

Everything that had been said…

That one kiss…

Thirty-six hours earlier…

It always starts with a request…

"Kate, can we talk?" Called Buffer as the two ships were docked. She glanced at her watch and shrugged her shoulders. She had nowhere else to be, nothing else to do. A conversation with Buffer would be a welcome distraction; at least for a little while. She nodded.

"Sure, I've got time. Where do you want to go?" She asked.

"My place? Just somewhere quiet, just to talk. Nothing special," said Buffer.

"Sure Pete."

It was only a short ride to Pete's house.

He made them both coffee, and invited Kate to sit in the lounge. His place was immaculately kept; if she didn't know better, she would have questioned if Buff was married or not.

"Is there something you wanted to talk about?" She asked, sipping the hot brew. He leant back, enjoying the fact he was back in his own home. He vaguely remembered needing to talk to Kate about something, but couldn't put his finger on what it was. He shook his head.

"Nothing really. More just to catch up; we're stationed on different ships now, so I don't see you at work every day. How's the Victory going?" Asked Buffer.

"She's an amazing ship; the crew work well together. We nearly lost Slinger on one of Dutchy's famous exped's, but she'll be back on deck in a month. Dutchy's a problem though; I don't know if I can work with my ex-fiance. Life is so awkward with him around now, and I find myself wanting to run away every time I see him. Nikki's been keeping him busy, but he has to know what I'm doing. How do I explain something like this to him?" Asked Kate.

"Dutchy and I have shared a beer more than a few time at the pub. He likes honesty. Tell him you're hurting; he'll understand better than you think," Pete replied.

"So which do you prefer; do you like someone to be honest with you, or do you want them to dance around the subject until you realise the answer?" Asked Kate, curling her legs up on the couch. She was glad she changed into civvies; so much more comfortable than her uniform.

"I prefer honesty. I like to know where I stand with people. What about you Kate?" He asked.

"Same. I'd rather people were honest with me than trying to hide it from me. Mike was always dancing around the truth, waiting for it to hit me in the face. I wish he'd been the type to tell the truth," replied Kate, a tear sliding down her cheek as she remembered all that could have been with Mike and Dutchy.

If only things had been different…

Pete noticed the tear, and handed her a tissue. She sniffled a little, but managed to hold back from crying.

"Kate, I think I'm falling for you again."

He said again… How many times had he fallen for her?

Kate just stared at him, slightly disbelieving. He leant forward, and kissed her gently. She started to pull back, but her body had other ideas.

Her mind was screaming no.

But her body was saying yes.

And her body won the fight.

She didn't even recall when they moved to the bedroom, or what had really happened. She awoke the next morning, his arm wrapped around her, the bedsheet the only thing covering them.

How did this happen?

Kate launched herself out of bed, and upon realising she was naked, pulled on her clothes quickly, not caring what state they were in.

"Kate, what are you doing? What did I do?" Pete asked, confused and hurt.

"It's not you Peter, I swear, it's just… It's all moving too quickly for me. I.. I'm sorry Peter." Kate grabbed her jacket and bag and disappeared out the door, letting the door slam behind her. She ran as fast as she could, wishing her heart didn't hurt as much as it did.

I'm not worthy of anybody.

I'm broken; damaged.

I will not be worthy.

Nikki knocked on Kate's door.

"Kate, NAVCOM's tasked us to search for a boat that was attacked by Samaruans. Do you want to take the ship out, or do you want me to arrange it?" Asked Nikki.

"You can do it Nik, I've got paperwork to do."

She didn't want to talk to anyone.

Not yet.

Mike ran his fingers through his hair; he missed Kate, but part of himself knew it was his fault, and knew that there was no real hope of salvaging the shattered relationship. He'd found himself spending more time with Maxine and Ryan. She made him laugh, made him forget his troubles. For a little while at least. And Ryan, when he was at sea, had Mike's bizarre sense of humour, and odd sense in girls. He'd found out that he and Jessica Bird were engaged, but had mutually ended the relationship after realising that they wouldn't survive being posted on different ships, and neither wanted a shore posting. The final option of leaving the Navy altogether was not an option for Jess or Ryan, and instead chose to be friends. Romano brought Mike back to reality, interrupting his musings.

"Sir, NAVCOM wants us to patrol waters about three hours away from here. There's been reports of an FFV, and we have to go and find it." Mike nodded, shifting in the captain's chair.

"Hunt, set a course for the co-ordinates NAVCOM have given us, top of the green." Alexei nodded, and did as Mike instructed.

Maybe Maxine was the one.

Buffer appeared on the bridge.

"Sir, we need to work out an appropriate punishment for 2Dads. What happened with Spider was unacceptable, and Nav asked me to pass on the message that he needed disciplining." Mike sighed. Never a quiet moment on a patrol boat.

"Right. Ships office. We'll work it out, and then go from there."

Trouble was, would Maxine have him?

Love him?