Chapter Two-

Emily Kosov-Meyer was fuming.

Forget that.

She was absolutely furious.

Her brother had some nerve butting in on her relationship with Spider like that. She slammed her toolbox down on the kitchen bench, mere centimetres away from Giordano's fingers. If they had of been any closer, he would have been using some choice Italian expletives to spell out his pain.

"What's got you so riled up?" Asked Daniel, moving his kitchen utensils out of harm's way.

"Leo. He's such an idiot! He thinks he knows everything, and interrupts my goodbye with Billy by trying to kill him! He can be so unreasonable when he wants to be," exclaimed Emily angrily.

"Well, from what I know of 2Dads, he's been like that an awful lot. You should hear some of the stories that the old Hammersley crew tell about him; he's a bit of a prankster. Nearly gotten some friends killed from what I've heard. He's learning though," said Daniel, picking up the mixing bowl he'd been working with earlier.

"He drives me up the wall sometimes! It's been so long since I've seen him, and this is what happens. Did you know we both specialise in the same area?" Asked Emily. Daniel shook his head, stirring the cupcake mix in the bowl.

"I had no idea; you're both Electronic Technicians?" Asked Daniel. Emily nodded.

"Yep. It's crazy. When did life get so complicated?" Complained EK.

"I have no idea." Emily crawled behind one of the fridges, and pulled out a wire.

"I swear this is the third time this week I've fixed this bloody fridge. Marine Tech were supposed to do it when we were in port," grumbled Emily.

"They did. Isn't it fixed?" Asked Giordano, setting aside his bowl. EK pulled out the wire.

"Nope. It's still just as loose and free as ever," replied Emily. She put a hand behind the fridge, not quite able to twist her head around to see what she needed. She touched a live wire, and everything slowed down…

Daniel hit the emergency power stop button, and everything in the kitchen died, the power sucked out of it. Jamie Patterson came flying in, about to reprimand Giordano for cutting the power to the area when he noticed Emily on the floor.

She wasn't moving.

She wasn't breathing.

Flash was called, and he appeared in what was mere seconds, breathless. He ordered her to be taken straight to the wardroom.

"Slinger! Giordano!" Yelled Flash, working over Emily. She had a severe burn up her arm, and was unconscious. Slinger skidded inside the door, carrying the defibrillator.

"Giordano's not coming in; he thinks this was all his fault for talking to her while she worked. Patterson's trying to calm him down, but none of us understand Italian. You've got me," she replied breathlessly.

"We need to shock her heart," said Flash, still giving her CPR.

"Didn't she just get shocked?" Asked Slinger.

"Yes, and it stopped her heart. We can shock it back into rhythm, but only if you hurry up!" Exclaimed Flash through gritted teeth. Charlotte nodded, and pulled the electrodes out of the small case, attaching them to the skin on Emily's chest. Flash pulled his hands away to allow Charlotte to attach them, and then continued CPR.

"Charging," called Slinger. Flash nodded, and continued, watching Emily closely.

"Clear!" The shock travelled down into Emily's chest, and circled her heart, trying to encourage it back to a rhythm. Her back arched up, and she fell back on the table. Flash swore under his breath.

"Go again," he said firmly. Slinger nodded.

"Clear!"

"I love you Emily. For forever and a day. I know we're on the same ship, but I want this." Emily nodded as Spider got up from the picnic blanket, scrabbling through the picnic basket. They'd been having a quiet lunch together while on shore leave, and Spider had somehow managed to find them a secluded area, away from the crowds, but still in the warmth of the Queensland sun. He'd prepared an entire picnic, and Emily surmised his mother may have helped with that one, though she was never one to question. They'd been together for two years, most of the two years spent keeping everything secret from everyone on the HMAS Melbourne.

So far, so good.

Spider turned back to her, a tiny box held in his hand. Emily's hand flew to her mouth as she realised what it was.

"Emily Kosov-Meyer, will you do me the honour of becoming my bride?" She nodded through the tears.

"Of course Billy." He slipped the ring onto her finger, and kissed her tenderly.

The next day they'd been back on the Melbourne.

The same day it was bombed.

"2Dads. You've got some new duties to add to your roster," announced Buffer in the ships office. 2Dads groaned, leaning back on his chair.

"I apologised, didn't I? Isn't that enough?" He complained bitterly.

"No, it's not enough. You nearly killed a sailor out there today! You're lucky the CO was feeling generous today, and that Nav knows you, otherwise you would have been off the ship, suspended from duty. Instead, I've been tasked with the duty of making sure that you are punished appropriately." 2Dads wished the floor could swallow him up whole. Buffer glanced at the list he'd compiled.

"Starting at 0400 tomorrow, you will be awake to ditch the gash for Chefo, and to help him prepare breakfast in the galley. After that, you will join me on deck for some extra physical training sessions. 1100 hours, I want you to clean every latrine on this ship until it sparkles; Bird has the toothbrush you'll be using to do it. After that, Charge has some tasks for you; he hasn't even told me what they are. You are also banned from any shore leave other than when we are in home port," added Buffer. 2Dads watched his life go from bad to worse.

"How am I supposed to function if you've also put me on middle watch?" Asked 2Dads. Buffer shrugged.

"You can deal with it," replied Buffer. He turned heel and left, clearly pre-occupied with something else. 2Dads wished he could go back to this morning, back to when he'd had to leave Rebecca on the docks. He wished he'd never seen Spider kissing his sister. Spider stuck his head inside the office.

"You gonna beat me up again, or can we talk?" Asked Spider.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to try and beat the crap out of you," apologised 2Dads for the fifth time. He glanced up at Spider's face, taking note of the black and blue bruising coming out. Spider took a seat, close enough to the door to escape if 2Dads tried to take a swing at him. 2Dads didn't miss the seating position.

"Look, we've been mates for ages, and I want to set things straight," started Spider.

"So you're not dating my sister?" Interjected 2Dads. Billy laughed.

"Leo, I'm getting married to your sister," replied Spider. 2Dads stood up, a thunderous look upon his face.

"You're what?"

Buffer hid in his room, seated on his rack, curtains drawn.

He wanted to take back everything that had happened with Kate. He could never recall a time when he had seen such fear in her eyes, such regrets as were echoed in hers this morning when she woke up in his bed…

She'd left in a hurry.

And she'd left Pete with a bigger hole in his heart. He'd always been concerned about finding his true love.

He still was.

So may wrong turns; the wrong girl, the overbearing boyfriend. So many factors.

And he was Navy.

Would he ever be worthy enough for any woman?

Or was he destined to be alone?

Silent tears fell…