A/N: I do not own Sea Patrol. This chapter is dedicated to my mum. Without her I doubt I'd have posted this one so soon.

Previously:

Kate was told that her mother was ill & that she has a half sister. Going to Melbourne she reconciles with her mother & meets with her sister, Annie. Along the way, she finds out that her mother wants Kate to take guardianship of Annie.

Saving Annie from her old minder, Sophia, Kate makes the decision to take Annie back to Cairns with her. Just before they leave Kate & Annie's mother passes away.

Things are not going smoothly as between the sisters as, both of them are dealing with the lose of their mother. Also Annie is feeling insecure as she is in a new place.

Kate wants to go back to work, so she gets the Marshall's to look after Annie while she is on Patrol. On the eve before Kate had to go back to work, Annie had run out the front door because she thought Kate didn't love her & that she only looked after her out of guilt. Luckily, Chris (Swain) found Annie but between that night & Kate going back onboard Hammersley things hadn't been reconciled between the two sisters.

In the meantime, Mike thinks that Annie is Kate's child & he is really angry at the fact that she never told him. Kate just doesn't have the courage & is not ready to acknowledge that Annie is her sister yet & she lets things get worse between.

So bad infact, that Mike start taking his anger out on the crew that Kate has had enough. She goes and confronts him & ends up telling him that Annie is not his.

Unfortunately they both get interrupted as Robert informs Kate that she has a phone call from NAVCOM. After the phone call Kate doesn't seem herself and certain crew members wonder why.

The reason why, is that Annie has been kidnapped by her previous carer Sophie and Kate is unable to do anything…

Chapter 25

"Good morning X, Nav. I take it you've caught up on you sleep & are ready to help out finding the missing child."

Kate's eyes widened for a minute, thinking Mike knew. "C-child?"

"Yes, a child that's wondered off from their family. X, I'd like you to organise a search team, while I get the rest of the group to help sort out the rest of the town." He looked at Kate to make sure she understood. "You know the one that a cyclone went through?"

Swallowing, she said, "Y-yes Sir."

"Is there something wrong Nav? You've been staring at the X for the last five minutes." Mike asked mildly amused at Nikki's expression.

Nikki turned to give Mike her full attention. "To be honest Sir, I'm not sure. Ma'am?" her eyes flickered over to Kate.

There was silence as everyone watched the three. All wondering what was going to happen next.

Kate shook her head & tried to stay calm as she replied. "Nothing's wrong."

"Good. Now let's get moving."

Kate nodded & turned to Peter to organise the search team.

An hour later, two groups of two were on the beach all geared up & ready to go.

Pete spoke to the group, "Alright guys, we need to do this quickly & efficiently. There is a child out there & she needs our help. Remember, to stay in contact. Alright let's move out."

Walking away with Chris in tow they headed away from the beach & into the bush, looking for any clues that might lead them to the child. They headed east towards the other coast, where they were told by the child's mother that the little girl often went there to collect shells.

Kate kept her eyes peeled as she walked in silence with Chris. She couldn't help but think about Annie the further they walked.

"I have to find her," she whispered to herself but Chris overheard her.

"Don't worry X we'll find her."

Kate nodded, wishing it would be true. Lifting her foot over a fallen branch, she misjudge how high to lift her foot & stumbled. Chris caught her before she could hit the ground.

"You ok?" his brown eyes full of concern.

Kate steadied herself before answering. "No, not really. Anyway, let's keep moving. The sooner we find this child the sooner we can help the rest of the crew with the rebuilding."

Chris watched her carefully as Kate walked on ahead. His eyes widened as a thought came to him. "This child reminds you of Annie doesn't it. You can't help but think 'what would you do in this situation if it was her?' Its ok, to worry but remember she's back on the mainland safe and sound. Nothing is going to happen to her," he said trying sooth her fears.

Kate in the meantime had frozen, she couldn't move. Chris put his hand on her shoulder & squeezed it in a comforting gesture. "That's just it Chris," she whispered so softly that he had to lean in to listen. "She's already been taken & I have no idea where she is & I'm…" sniffing Kate wiped her eyes. "I'm so worried about her. I can't even leave until Hammersley is tasked to."

Kate turned around to face Chris. "I failed her Chris. I failed her. I promised I'd be there for her but I wasn't & some woman has taken her & I have no idea what she's going to do to her." Her eyes caught Chris's. "What do I do?" her eyes pleaded with his. "Please tell me what to do."

He gently pulled Kate into a hug. "Shh, I'm here for you & I'm sure the police are looking for her as we speak." He stood there & held her for a minute or so before Kate pulled back.

"I'm sorry, I-I-I didn't m-mean to breakdown like that but…" her voice trailed off.

"It's fine, I'd react the same way if it was Chloe," his eyes widening when he realised what he said. "I mean, I'm still worried but…" he looked at her helplessly.

Kate patted his arm. "It's fine, I understand what you mean." She paused & took a swig from her water container. "Let's keep moving. The sooner we find her the sooner I can find out if there is any progress made with Annie."

"Sure Kate. Oh & Kate, if you need someone to talk to my door's always open." Chris said as he found a piece of rope on the ground. Picking it up he pocketed it.

"Thanks Chris," she replied as she turned to lead the way.

Pushing past the last branch, Kate surveyed the landscape before her. There was a breeze blowing gently back into her face, blowing her hair out of her face. The picture before could've been on a postcard. The sand was white & the sea a crystal blue colour.

Chris led the way down to the water's edge. Kate stayed under the trees trying to find any evidence of the missing child.

"Swain!"

Turning instantly, Chris ran to Kate's side to see what she had found. There, half buried in the sand was a pink thong (A/N: that's Aussie footwear).

"Do you think...?" Kate dropped to her knees to dig out the item.

"I dunno Ma'am, I'll radio through & get the Boss to ask the parent's."

While Chris walked away to radio through to Hammersley, Kate continued to move the sand around, just incase there was anything else buried in the sand. A few minutes later, Kate stood with the shoe in her hand & headed towards Chris.

He had just put his radio back in its spot by the time Kate had reached him.

"Apparently, the child was wearing pink thongs the last they saw of her. Though whether these are the same, I'm not sure but chances are it is. I mean how many kids would wear pink thongs?"

Kate smiled. "You have a lot to learn Swain, wait til Chloe gets older. Annie… ah Annie, likes blue but she has a fair few pink things," swallowed Kate.

Chris put a hand on her shoulder. Kate nodded then turned so that she could focus on the task at hand. It would do me no good to loose focus, she thought.

"Oh Ma'am, the Boss also said the parents told him that there was a cave of sorts just further 'round the bend. She could've headed there; I told the CO that we'd check it out."

"Sure, sounds good. You lead, as you seem to have more an idea where it is than I do."

Chris stepped around Kate & led the way, while still keeping an eye out for anything that was out of the ordinary. Ten minutes later they had reached their destination.

It's not really a cave, she thought as she looked at the natural landmark infront of her. "It looks more like a shallow bowl on its side than a cave, surrounded by lots of rocks"

Chris chuckled. "Yeah, I know what you mean but it would be a place that could give some sort of shelter. Maybe Dana, (A/N: that's the girl's name) moved a little further around."

"DANA!!" Kate yelled as loudly as she could. "DANA! WHERE ARE YOU?"

Suddenly to their right, there was a sound, more like a shuffle. Kate looked at Chris & motioned silently for him to go wide and see if he could see what it was, while she headed straight towards the sound.

Moving as stealthy as possible, Kate crept closer to the sound.

"GOTCHA!" yelled Chris from right infront of her.

Kate moved quickly through the maze of rocks & found Chris with a dog in his arms. It was a little scruffy terrier.

"Aww, its soo cute."

"Cute? I wouldn't call me cute." Chris joked.

Rolling her eyes, Kate gently patted the dog. "Now, I wonder where this little guy came from?"

The dog squirmed in Chris's arms while barking loudly. Kate covered her mouth to hide the smile that came to her face. Coughing so she could talk without laughing, Kate said, "Let's get a move on."

"Aye Ma'am."

"I'll let the Boss know that we've found the animal but we should keep moving," pausing Kate looked at the little fluff ball. "Are you gonna carry the little guy the whole time or are you going to make some sort of leash?"

"I'll work something out while you let the CO know." Chris said as he crouched down to find something in his pack while maintaining his hold on the pup.

"Charlie two this is X-ray two, do you copy?. Over."

X-ray two this is Charlie two, yes we copy. What is it? Have you found the girl?"

Kate took a quick breath then replied. "No Sir we haven't but we've found a dog and…"

"MA'AM!!"

"Hang on Sir," turning quickly Kate made her way back to Chris. "What is it Swain?"

"The dog belongs to a Dana Green. Is it the same Dana we're looking for?" his eyes held hers' for a moment.

Pulling her radio out of its spot, Kate began speaking into it. "Charlie two this is X-ray, sorry for the abrupt cut off but the dog appears to belong to a Dana Green. Is this the same person we are look for? Over."

"X-ray two this is Charlie two, yes that is affirmative. Dana Green is the same person. The girl may be close by. Keep looking for her. Is there anything else to report, X-ray two? Over."

"No nothing else Sir. Over."

"Keep me posted X. Over and out."

Putting her radio away, she surveyed the land very carefully wondering where a little girl might go in a situation like this. "She's probably close by," murmured Kate.

"What was that X?"

"Oh, I just thought that Dana probably isn't to far away, I mean this pup is her friend and I don't think she would leave him. Do you?" she asked concerned she had misinterpreted the situation.

"Nah, I think you're right. Let's go." Chris stood up with the pup attached to a piece of rope. "I knew I picked this piece of rope up for reason."

Walking ahead of him, Kate climbed over the rocks and headed around the cave to see the rest of the beach. Landing on sand, after the small climb down Kate noticed foot prints in the sand.

"Swain, what do you think?" she asked as he caught up to her.

"Let's keep moving," he said with a nod.

Moving inland Kate led the way until the puppy started barking and pulling the leash as hard as it could.

"Is the little guy trying to get away from us?" Kate asked watching the antics of their little four-legged companion

"She could be leading us to the little girl."

Following their guide, the pair walked further into the bushland until the puppy stopped abruptly.

Crouching down beside the little dog, Chris started talking to her. "What's wrong? Why did you stop?"

Kate ignoring the conversation walked away from the pair as she surveyed the land, looking for any place that a little girl might decide to hide in. "DANA!"

As she got about five hundred metres away from her partner she heard a tree rustle. "Dana?" Kate said loudly.

"Hello? Is someone there?" a voice croaked from behind the bushes. "Please? Please answer me. Please?"

Still in visible contact with her partner Kate signalled him over to her.

"What is it, Ma'am?" he asked quietly.

Ignoring the question, Kate moved to push the bushes aside and found there was a big hole in the ground. It was about five metres deep and four metres wide.

A small child was sitting in the middle of the hole.

"Dana?"

The child looked up. "Yes, that's me. W-where d-d-did you c-come from?" sobbed the girl.

"My name is Kate and this is Chris. We've been looking for you. Your mum is worried about you and look who we found," stepping aside Kate allowed Dana to see her little dog.

"Tillie!"

"Here," Chris said as he handed Kate the dog. "Dana are you hurt at all?"

"No Mister, I don't think so. I have a couple of scratches but I think I'm ok."

"Swain can you get her out?"

"It shouldn't be a problem. If I use the rope that I used as a leash I should be able to get her out. You'll have to hold the dog though."

"No problems. You do what you've got to do and I'll let Hammersley know that we've found her."

While Kate spoke to Hammersley, Chris was able to get Dana out in no time at all. While Chris was examining Dana he said quietly to Kate. "I'm sure Annie will be ok. If this little one can come out fine, then so should she. Have faith, they'll find her. I know they will," while touching her gently on the shoulder in comfort.

"I hope so Chris, I truly hope so."

A/N: Ok so it's been so long in updating, I'm soo sorry but I just haven't had the inspiration. I still don't have the inspiration and I think it shows in this chapter. It's not as good as what I wanted it to be but still… I want to thank all you guys for reviewing, you guys are the ones who make me keep writing when I would have stopped so long ago.

Hopefully everyone is still in character, please feel free to let me know if I haven't.

Thank you for your patience,

Fantasy