Chapter 26
She walk down to the ward room to check on Jessica when she open the door she saw Pete in there with her
"Sorry" Pete turn to Grace
"hey are you OK"
"Yeah I just spoken to Steve he shock with what I told him and he going to look into it"
"OK, I'm just got here" the he put his hand in his pocket and pull some thing out he past it to Jessica
"your grand father dog tags" Pete said as he past them to her
"now you can have some closure" Grace said
"so you found the plane"
"We did"
"thank you"
"your welcome, get some rest" then Grace and Pete walk out of the ward room and walk out on to the back deck where he pulled her into his arms.
"We hope that the other families will have some closer about what to their love ones"
"yeah" Then they pulled back.
Grace look at the diary that in her hand then to Pete. "no one else would know how I was conceived and how special I am" Then she throw the diary into the sea.
Pete pulled her back into his arms. "I wounder what special powers you going to get... I hope you don't turn into the incredible hunk" Grace giggle
"no I don't think so. I don't know what going to happen from now on. But I want to cheeriest each day with you and our kids"
"i want that to Grace" then they kiss and turn to look into the sun set.
the next day Hammersley arrived in port. Steve was waiting for them on the wharf. When Grace walk off Hammersley she walk over to him "Steve"
"Grace I spoke to Canberra last night and I've seen the video shots. They going to talk to the prime minster today and show him the video shots that you and petty officer Tomaszewski took plus they going to check out what happen back when the testing was done"
"good and the families"
"it up to the government"
"Well they better cause I found out from Jessica the young women whom was rescue from the island talk me that the reason why she was there was to find the plane and if possible graves if they survive the blast and crash. She knows that we found her late grand father"
"I'll let Canberra know" Grace nodded
"Excuse me commander Shepard" Grace turn around to a man wearing a suit
"Yes"
"Can you come with us we need to runs some tests on you"
"what sort of tests" then she turn to Steve
"what going on Steve"
"you fell in the crater Grace you would of gotten I high..."
"i know, can you let Pete know"
"I will" then she turn to the guy
"lead the way" Grace follow the guy to a truck where Grace got in and the doors close and it drove away
Pete just walk off the boat and look around when Steve walk over to him "sir have you seen Grace" Pete asked as they saluted each other
"Yes she was taken away to be tested"
"Tested for what sir"
"radiation poisoning since she fell into the crater lake"
"she didn't fall sir, she deliberate unhook her self from the rope and let go so she could save a person life."
"Why would she do that"
"the rope was braking cause of the extra weight when two dads, spider and my self were bring them up. One of the support arms gave way and we had to fix it. We were to late and... I watch her fall into the create lake. I thought she died sir if you will excuse me sir I'm going home" they saluted each other and Pete walk away.
Two weeks later Grace walk into NAVCOM she walk in to Steve office "Steve"
"Grace welcome back"
"it good to be back, I felt like a pin cushion with all the testing that they did on me and the questions always the same how are you feeling, do you need any thing, lye down, we need a sample. It was driving me nuts. Till I started yelling back and asking them questions which they didn't answer so I went to leave when they knock me out... I bite one of the scientist who tranquilizer me"
"So what happen that they finally let you go"
"three days in a row I didn't give them what they wanted but instead I ask them questions that and I threaten them"
"You threaten them"
"Yes that when they finally let me go when I broke out of my room one night and went walk about, I found my file, test results every thing about me. They can't find one thing wrong, no radiation posing, nothing I just normal just like you. I think that got them puzzle they can't find any thing wrong with me. Not even cancer"
"Well you are a strange women Grace" Grace grin
"I've known that for years, so what been happening while I was away"
"About your request in letting the family's know, has been approve and the Sargent body has been move from the plane and was laid to rest next to his crew members. And a head stone has been put in place of where the crosses are. The families are on the island for the funeral and final farewell and they seen where the B52 bomber is"
"when did this all happen"
"Yesterday" grace nodded
"At least the families finally got closer"
"Yes they have"
"what about the wall"
"that is a mystery cause before the bombing the British check the island out and no one live on the island"
"According to them yeah right, if no one live on the island then some one was on there when the bomb was drop"
"they can't explain it"
"more like a cover up to me" Grace said shaking her head
"We did our best"
"I know Steve. So what been happening around here"
"lieutenant McGregor gave birth to a boy two weeks ago" Grace grin
"Really and I suppose mike at home helping Kate out"
"no he on Hammersley he gone to victory island on behalf of the RAN they due back this afternoon"
"Ok... Sally Blake"
"she gave birth to a girl on the same day as lieutenant McGregor" Grace laugh
"sorry Steve I said to swain and mike months go that what are the chances of your wives giving birth on the same day. They recon it would never happen"
"Well it has"
"Yeah" Grace let out her breath
"Ok back to work business what been happening while I've been away" they talk for the next hour before Grace left to go and see Kate and Sally. They both were shock when they answered the door to see who was there.
Later that afternoon when Hammersley return from victory island. Swain was bring the boat into port when he saw three women on the wharf "sir"
Mike turn to swain who nodded to the wharf. Mike turn to look towards the wharf then he pick up the binoculars then he pick up the mic "buffer to the bridge rush. Buffer to the bridge rush"
"Is that mad dog" Charge said looking through his bonus
"it sure is" Mike said then Pete ran up the stairs
"you want to see me sir"
"Yes take a look" Mike past Pete the binoculars.
Pete look through them to see who on the wharf and a big smile plastered on his face. Then he past them back to Mike "that is one sight I miss"
"i bet it is mate" swain said.
Twenty minutes later Pete walk off the gang way and into Grace arms. They hug and kiss "i miss you" grace said
"i miss you to, I though I was dreaming when I saw you on the wharf"
"Your not dreaming, lets go home"
"sounds good to me" they wrap their arms around each other as they walk away from Hammersley.
When they arrived home they spent an hour in the showers where they made passionate love then again in bed.
Later that evening they went around to Margret where they had dinner with her and kids which Grace miss them. Then after wards they took the kids to the pub where the crew is for some drinks and for Grace to catch up on what been happening with every one.
Hammersley return to doing it patrols four days later, which their patrol would last for a month. Grace she return back working for NAVCOM and hospital.
Two months later Grace was at NAVCOM when she heard that Hammersley has in counted a boat dropping mines in the sea and that the HMAS Huon is on it way to meet up with Hammersley to take care of the mines.
Then Hammersley returning back to port since there was damage to the fuel lines after the boat fired at one of the mines that was close to Hammersley. When Hammersley return back to port the crew got the night off while repairs are being made. Peter went home to spend the evening with Grace and the kids.
The next morning Grace walk into NAVCOM and into Steve office since he wanted to see her
"Grace thanks for coming in"
"no worries what can do for you Steve"
"i would like for you to be on Hammersley to watch and observe the rescue training that going on"
"Training"
"Yes after what happen yesterday Hammersley crew are the first patrol boat to have the rescue training from the Huon crew"
"no worries there, any thing I should look out for"
"To see how they do, make some notes"
"oh joy more paper work, alright, I'll do it"
"thank you Hammersley leaves in an hour"
"don't worry I'll be there" then she walk out of his office.
Hour later Grace walk onto Hammersley and down to the guest cabin where she put her bag away and got change. Once done she walk up and onto the bridge
"Mad dog"
"morning charge" Grace said smiling
"what are you doing here ma'am"
"observing your training that coming up in the next couple of days"
"oh, dose buffer knows"
"no I haven't seen him yet"
"OK" Grace watch as they head out of port and into the sea and headed to Timor sea.
When they reach there destination Grace walk out and on to the back of the boat "Grace"
"Pete"
"Charge said you were here"
"Yes so you better do as your told... buffer"
"yes ma'am" he look her up and down and gave her a sexy grin.
She shook her head just as Huon HRIB stop at the back of Hammersley then six people walk up the steps and onto the boat
"lieutenant commander Luxton, I'm lieutenant commander Wright welcome aboard Hammersley" "thank you" they shook hands.
Then she turn around just as her crew walk up the steps and on the back of Hammersley. Grace notice that Charge was grinning when he saw his son. When Jamie was on Hammersley he saw his father and gave him a grin in return. Then the two lieutenant commanders walk towards one of the doors while talking
"Jamie... sir"
"dad" they both hug
"how bomber and kids"
"Growing up fast, you should stop by to see them"
"i promise I will on our next shore leave. So how the renovations coming along" they walk as they walk towards another part of the ship.
Two hours later they had the first training. Grace could see where they did wrong and what lieutenant was saying. Grace wrote notes down as she watch what was going on for the rest of the day.
Grace notice how Luxton been watching Pete more then the three crew members and she miss sustain things that the other crew members was doing during training exercises. When they return back to port for the night Grace was in her cabin when she heard voices on the other side of the door.
"petty officer"
"Ma'am" grace reconcile the voices.
"I was wondering if you would like to come around to dinner tonight to talk about where you went wrong in your training today" then the door open.
Grace look at Pete then to Luxton
"Commander ma'am" Luxton said
"lieutenant commander... buffer. If you want to talk about dating talk about it off the boat. While your on here and in uniform your still on duty. Now if you both will excuse me I'm heading home" then she walk past them carrying her bag since she was in civvies clothes.
"She right ma'am, if you will excuse me"then he turn around and walk toward the front of the boat.
Grace was waiting on the wharf when Pete appeared with charge behind him.
"Hey charge going to the pub" Grace ask
"sure am, are you guys going"
"We might, but I suggest you go and see Bomber and the kids, it been a while since you last saw them"
"I don't know"
"charge go on" grace got her phone and
"I'm texting bomber now telling her that you are on your way and if you don't show up to let me know" Charge could see Grace doing up a text message
"alright, I'll go"
"good" grace said smiling. Charge shook his head
"enjoy your evening mate" Pete said
"you to" then charge walk away.
"Grace that was mean"
"Well it been over a month since he last seen them"
"True but it work"
"Yeah, let's go and see mum"
"Why don't you call her and find out is she cook up any thing for dinner if not we could order some Chinese for dinner"
"sounds good" Pete got his cell phone out and call his mum. He look at Grace and shook his head for no so Grace got her phone out and made a phone call. When the both finish on the phone at the same time some of the other crew walk off Hammersley
"going to the pub tonight Buffer" spider asked
"Na, not tonight, enjoy your selves and don't get drunk we got training again tomorrow"
"yeah, yeah" spider said as he and two dads walk away just as Luxton showed up just as their taxi arrived.
"Petty officer... buffer" Grace and Pete turn to Luxton
"I'll wait in the taxi" Grace said as she got into the taxi
"Yes ma'am is there some thing I can help you with"
"About dinner tonight"
"sorry ma'am I already got plans, see you in the morning, good night ma'am" then Pete got into the taxi and close the door then the taxi drove away.
They went home first where they showered and gotten change then left to pick up dinner then they went around to Margret place since the kids are there also.