Kate just stared at the third mail in her mailbox.

Sender: Mike Flynn

Subject: We need to talk

Kate looked at the date and saw the mail was from some days ago, as Mike did come over to her place and then Maxine had called. Kate closed her eyes and opened them again in the hope, that there was no mail there anymore. Though the mail didn't disappear and so Kate moved the mouse pointer slowly to the message and finally opened it.

Dear Kate,

First of all I would like to say sorry, it wasn't right from me to run away, again. Seems like I'm pretty good in running away, but I don't like myself for doing that and it just shows how much of a coward I am. Instead of running away all the time I should talk to you, but what am I doing? I hurt you. I know I did hurt you all those years ago at Watson's Bay when I left you, even when I thought I was doing the right thing. As you came back into my life a few years ago I knew straight from the beginning why I never was open for a new love, because you treasured my heart all those years. Wherever you have been my heart has been with you.

The last days were, apart from Watson's Bay, the best of my life and the way you blame yourself for Ally's accident just shows how much you care for her and how much you love her. So please stop blaming yourself, Ally needs you and if it would be possible she would spend every single minute with you. This gorgeous girl deserves to hear the truth about us.

I wished you would have told me about the pregnancy and I'm sorry that I haven't been there for you as you lost our baby. You shouldn't have gone through that alone. I should have been there.

Whatever you decide about a shore posting for yourself I will respect your decision. Though I hope, that you are not going to cancel the contact to Ally, it would break her heart and also mine.

I know I should have talked to you in person, but I didn't have the guts to come back to you or to call you.

I love you Kate, always have and always will. You are the one I would like to grow old with and I hope you will give us one more chance and I promise I send the coward in me away. Let's talk properly when we are ashore again.

Mike ox

Kate read the message again and again and couldn't stop the tears anymore.

I love you too. Why can't things go straight for us and I wish you would have known about the pregnancy. Though to look at Ally helped me a lot to go through all of that, to know, that a part of me will still be around this world after I'm gone. We really need to talk and set things right. Kate's mind was running circles, but after reading Mike's email she knew she had to make the first step and finally made a plan in her head how to set things right. But before that Mike's health was first priority. A knock on the door disturbed Kate's thoughts and she knew who ever was out there would see, that she did cry, but Kate didn't care about that at the moment.

"Yes?" Kate turned around and saw how Swain entered.

"Ma'am, are you alright?" Swain asked with worry in his voice.

"It was just a stressful day and I think I'm looking forward to the moment we dock in port."

"When you want to talk about anything, you know where to find me?" Kate nodded and sensed, that there was more to come.

"There is more Swain, what can I do for you?"

"I checked the SAS guys and they are more or less okay. Only Captain Roth needs to be transferred to a hospital as soon as possible when we dock. He has a major injury on his leg, but I think it's going to be fine at the end." Swain paused and looked at Kate, who once more could sense, that there was more to come.

"Swain go on." Kate ordered and Swain knew, that her tone was now not the Kate that she was back to XO.

"Well I got an update from the hospital. The CO is in theatre at the moment. During the flight he slipped in and out and …" Swain looked to the floor and searched for the right words. " … they had to reanimate him. His heart stopped just a couple of minutes after he left here. But he arrived stable in the hospital and fleet command told me it looks good for him now that he is in the hospital. Though he is still in critical condition." Kate's jaw dropped, as she heard, that they had to reanimate Mike. For her it felt like her heart stopped for a moment as well.

"Ma'am?" Swain wasn't sure if Kate heard the last of his words.

"I'm fine Swain, would you please leave me alone for a minute?" Swain accepted Kate's request and left her cabin after one sorrowful look at her.

Kate opened her wallet and got out a number Mike gave her when Ally stay with her. She had some trouble to dial the number, because of her shaking hands.

"Helen Flynn speaking" Kate didn't answer straight away and Helen was close to hang up again.

"Helen it's Kate" Helen could hear, that something wasn't all right with Kate.

"What's wrong with you Kate?" Helen, Mike's dad and Ally had just finished dinner and so Helen decided to go to the study while she talked to Kate.

"Something happened to Mike and I just wanted you to inform you about it." Kate did go on with some explanations and could hear, that Helen was shocked.

"Do you want me to inform Ally about it?" Helen finally asked and that question brought the tears back in Kate's eyes.

"If it's okay I would like to come up tomorrow after we docked and I'm going to talk with her about it."

"That's fine with us Kate. Though right now you have a ship to run and I know you have the strength to do it. So focus on the job ahead and do it also for Mike. He is so proud of you. We are there for you whenever you need us." Kate thanked Helen and hung up, to go back to the bridge and finally bring Hammersley home and to start a new life.