CH 29 A little victory

Canberra, the next Monday

Kate closed the door of her office, put her hat on the shelve and walked woodenly to her desk where she put her briefcase on it. She sat down prudently on the edge of the chair with a straight back. She opened her laptop and activated her mail software. Meanwhile she slipped unconsciously out of her pumps and buried her toes in the carpet.

She sighed.

My body screams for being at home yet and it's barely 9 o'clock. God, it's going to be a long, long day. My head is about to crack, my legs and my back are burning and this shirt feels like an armour on my shoulders. Damn you Katherine why did you have to forget your sun tan oil? They, Dylan, Vicky and Josh have already a tanned skin, but yours is as pale as a pancake!

"Peep".

She frowned as she looked at her screen.

"Server error, contact your administrator", she mumbled.

"Great, oh great, is it going to be such a day?", she groused and she leaned back in her chair.

"Aargh! That hurts", she grumbled and whipped back to the edge of her chair, making a face.

Do I really have to pay the bill afterwards when I've had some fun?

She sighed again and turned her torso carefully to her briefcase to open it. Kate took out the files and put them next to her on her desk. She closed the case and put it next to her desk. Next she leafed through the files and picked out the mine hunters case.

"I'm going to have a nice discussion today with you, minister! And you're not going to do me a lip service", she mumbled.

A knock on the door made her looking up. "Yeah, come in!".

Dylan probably.

Indeed.

"Good morning ma'am. Here's your brew and the daily reports", he said as he closed the door with two mugs and a few files in his hands.

"Morning is fair enough, drop the 'good' today", she muttered.

He put the files down and put the Nelson mug in front of her. Next he sat down with his mug in his hand. "Still not better?"

She rolled her eyes. "Within one hour time? I'll already be happy if I feel tomorrow morning a bit better", Kate replied.

She looked at him suspiciously, "You're trying to hide a laugh and don't say it's not true because I know you too well. What's up?".

He couldn't hold it anymore and showed her a big smile. He stood upright, "Come I'll show you", he said to her motioning with his head.

Kate got upright also and followed him stiffly to the mirror in her office.

"Look at your face. I really hope for you that you don't have to speech today or that you have to talk to the media", he said.

She looked wildered at her own image in the mirror. A red face with olive green glasses with two big white circles around her eyes where her sun glasses have been stared back.

She recognised the humour in it, but she didn't want it to admit.

"And you find this funny?", she said annoyed.

"Come on, it is", he said as he gave her a gentle push on her shoulders that provoked a grimace from her.

"Ow, sorry sweetie", he said.

"No fun tonight in bed for me darling", she deadpanned.

"Seriously?", he replied teasingly.

"Uh-hu, you can do something else with me tonight, with the flask of lotion."

He smiled and shook slightly his head.

Kate walked slowly back and sat down with a grimace.

"Aargh, the fabric of my trousers hurts the burned skin of my thighs", she said painfully.

He sat down again and shrugged slightly, "Why didn't you put on your skirt? It still has to fit you because your posture hasn't changed since years. Then there would be been less rubbing".

Kate glared at him, "Do you forget my knee?"

"Why don't you make it somewhat longer? I guess there's still some fabric inside?"

"That's not conform with the uniform rules", she argued back.

"And Kerry? She has made it shorter, thus, if she can, then you can modify it too. Who's going to blame you now huh?"

Kate silenced and frowned. The pain of her thighs was convincing her.

She nodded, "Yeah, you're right. It would give me a better feeling. I'll fix that tonight".

The conversation was interrupted by a knock at the door.

"Yeah, come in", Kate replied and looked at the door.

Commodore Grant entered.

"Good morning ma'am", he said and he nodded to Dylan "Dylan", he said.

"Good morning Dave", Kate replied.

"'morning sir", Dylan said.

He looked at her face and lifted his eyebrows, but didn't say anything. "The Monday morning meeting has been postponed to Tuesday. Too much people are absent this morning."

"Yes, that's ok", Kate replied.

He wanted to turn but he stopped in his movement. "Oh, by the way ma'am, a good sun tan oil can give you the correct tint", he said dryly, but the twinkling in his eye said something else.

She looked at him wildered and noticed how Dylan couched to a hide his laugh.

"Out! You both. Now!", she said irritated pointing with her finger to the door.

"Yes ma'am", both men said as they started to walk to the door. When they walked thru the door they had a broad smile on their faces.

Kate entered again her office during the afternoon. She aimed her hat in one of the club chairs and hurried to her desk to sit down at the edge of her chair. She quickly slipped out of her pumps and blew out.

Even my feet didn't escape from the sun, they are glowing. And the drive to the minister was hell. I don't feel my back anymore.

But on the other hand I have a little victory. I have convinced him to continue with the mine hunters case. The idea of the passive peace keeping fleet attracted him. He sensed some political advantage in it as well.

Well done girl, she thought and she leaned unaware in her chair.

"Aargh!", she moaned and whipped back.

Damnit!

Now a call to Mike and Russell and then homewards! I feel the cool lotion already on my body.

Kate dialled Mike's number and waited an instance.

"Commodore Flynn speaking", he replied

"Hey Mike, it's me, Kate", she replied.

He chuckled. "Hi, no need to say your name, I'll recognise your voice out of thousand others. Well, how was your boat trip? Have you enjoyed it a bit?"

Kate smiled. He always succeeds in making me smile. "Sure. You were right. I closed all files and had a splendid weekend …although", she replied.

"What 'although'", she heard him replying and she saw in her thoughts how he frowned.

"It's good that you don't see me at the moment. I'm as red as a lobster because I forgot my sun tan at home."

"Ouch".

"And to make it worse, Dylan had shaken me in my smallest bikini, that makes that I'm red everywhere", she said annoyed.

"You? In a bikini? I've never seen you before in a bikini", he said in unbelief.

Kate giggled. "You don't have to know everything buddy. But I'm calling you about the mine hunters case."

"Aha, stubborn as usual, isn't it?"

"Yes, they are not sending me away that easy. Hold on I'll call Russell to join the call", Kate said.

She dialled his number and waited.

"Rear-Admiral Russell speaking", they heard him saying.

"Hi James, McGregor speaking and I have Commodore Flynn on the line as well", Kate replied.

"Hi ma'am, Mike", Russel replied.

"I've had a conversation with the minister of defence Burges about the mine hunters case. Initially it was postponed, but I convinced him to continue with the project. It's a passive way of peace-keeping and he likes the idea. Thus we have a go! ", Kate said.

"So you convinced him? And why am I not impressed?", Mike deadpanned.

"Well now he knows me", Kate replied.

"Patching up has actually no sense anymore, because our entire fleet of Huon class mine hunters is ready for the naval museum in Sydney. We have to pop up with a new design so that we can sweep mines everywhere. To give them a extra advantage, we have to see that they can do something more than only neutralising mines. Mike, I assign you this task to work out a proposal for a new fleet of mine hunters," she continued.

"Yes ma'am, but in which time frame?", Mike answered.

"Don't do it hasty, but on the other hand, make it a top priority. We have a go now, but if we wait too long, the agreement could be revoked."

"Hmm, I understand," Mike replied.

"So James, now you're immediately at the current of the situation. Commodore Flynn will report only to me and you", Kate added.

"Right ma'am," Russel replied.

"Ok, that's all. If nobody has further questions, then I close this call", Kate said.

Both men answered negative.

"Ok then, bye for now."

"Bye ma'am."

Kate put the horn down and wanted to lean in her chair but she remembered her back in time and sat upright again.

"Right!", she murmured, slipped in her shoes, stood upright and walked to the door of her office.

At Dylan's desk she stopped.

"Dylan, it has been enough for today, let's go home."

He looked at his watch, lifted his eyebrows and looked at her. "Ok, that's just a word", he said with a grin.

A big hour later they had arrived at home.

Kate had her hair up and she lay on her belly on the bed, naked. Dylan sat next to her with the flask of lotion in his hands. He was carefully rubbing the liquid into her skin.

"Why did you put everything out?", he asked her.

"Because I don't like that the lotion touches my underwear", she answered faintly.

"In despite of my sun burned skin, I feel happy", she continued.

"Tell me."

"I convinced that stupid minister to agree for our mine hunters program. After I came back I assigned the case to Mike to handle."

"Great sweetie. Your first big action in your function."

"Yeah."

He chuckled.

"What?"

"It's just like you're wearing a white bikini."

"Ooh! Stop teasing me! It has been enough for today! Mullholland, there will be a day that I'll take a little revenge on you!", she grumbled but she couldn't see the huge grin on his face.

"So, that's it", he said and waited until Kate sat upright.

"Thank you", she said before she took over the flask. She put some lotion on her hand and she started rubbing it into the red skin of her thighs.

"Listen, I'm going to wear only my silk robe. That's the only thing that doesn't hurt my skin", she said again as she turned the cap on the flask. Then she walked to the wardrobe to take the robe out.

"Ok, I'll prepare a cold meat dish", he said as he stood upright also.

A bit later she walked into the kitchen and hissed herself on the work bench.

"A drink?", he asked her as he shoved her glass of white wine to her.

"Thank you."

"Feeling better?"

"Sure, it cools", she said before taking a sip.

The robe slid a bit open due to the slippery silk and he had a view on her thighs that looked painfully red.

He frowned a bit. "I'm really surprised that you don't have fever from that sunstroke? You're glowing", he said cutting a tomato.

"Of course I do, but complaining doesn't work away the fever huh?", she replied with a shrug.

"But, why…", he started but she cut him off.

"I didn't tell that I have fever? Because I know you. You're overprotective to me and you would have dragged me to a doctor this morning."

He shook his head as he divided the tomato slices on the plates. "You'll never change huh?"

"Neither do you", Kate replied shrugging again and her robe slid a bit more open again so that he had a view on the large cleavage of the collar of the robe.

Dylan smiled at her. The naked red thighs peaking out the silk robe, the slight view of her boobs in the cleavage of the collar, her red face with the two white goggles of the sunglasses and her hair up.

"You're beautiful you know", he said.

"Dylan, that's bullshit what you're saying now because I know how I look like and how I feel right now. But I really appreciate that crap because I actually need it. You're a Prince Charming."

He chuckled and continued by cutting an egg in slices.

"I've never asked you that before, but what was it that you decided to move on with me? You attracted many girls back then.", she asked after taking another sip.

He looked at her and gave her a smile. "Well, that was not that difficult you know. I agree, I went out with many girls, but you knew that already, not?"

"Uh-hu."

"They became boring at the end, empty bottles in fact, but you were a girl with a content and one that not fell immediately for my charms. Initially it began with respect and trust. The fact that Mike and Jim were involved didn't have made it easier. Besides, in the beginning I had the impression you wanted to kill me."

Kate chuckled. "Maybe that was my protection. I looked secretly at you when you did some exercises at the quarterdeck with your naked torso."

He showed her a grin. "Even that I knew, I could feel your eyes in my back."

"Ooh! You make me blush now. It's good that you can't see the blush on my red face now. Oops." She has noticed that the robe had opened itself and she pulled it back together with a giggle.

"From the moment we were together on the frigate, it became so much easier. We were friends and we were together all the time. I couldn't imagine to go out with someone else anymore. Ok, we did what we could within the regulations", he said looking at the finished dishes.

"Ready!", he added and looked at his wife. "You take the glasses? I'll take the dishes."

Kate hopped from the bench, took the glasses and followed him to the dining table.

They had just made two bites when her phone rang.

"Can I never eat at ease?", she grumbled as she stood upright to walk to the dressing where their mobiles lay.

"Mullholland speaking", she answered the call.

"Hey Kate, it's me, Nikki. Tell me, what did I hear? You're burned?", she asked worried.

"Nikki, I'm fine."

"I'm fine? My ass! Each time you were saying that you were fine, then I held my heart because it meant that you were mentally of physically in frays. So, tell me what's going on now or I'll have to interrogate Dylan", she said concerned.

"Who told you that?", Kate asked startled.

"Mike told me you were burned."

"Oh! Can he never keep his mouth shut?", she said annoyed.

"Well then, what's going on?", Nikki asked again somewhat irritated.

Kate sighed. "I forgot my sun tan and now I have a sun stroke. I'm as red as my red bikini", she said beaten.

"Ouch, oh, I really thought it was worse when I've heard Mike", Nikki replied calmed down.

"Well, it do feels as it is worse. It hurts and glows everywhere", Kate said looking at her red legs.

"Use the after sun lotion."

"Just did."

"Ok, ok, now I know that it's not that bad. I'll leave you and take care of yourself", Nikki said.

"Yeah, will do, thanks for calling", Kate answered before closing the call.

She walked back and sat down again.

"Nikki, I presume?", he asked.

"Yeah, Nikki. She thought that I was burned. Mike told her that. He's a real chatterbox as well!", she said disapprovingly.

"Be happy, that they are concerned about you", Dylan replied as he was cutting the smoked ham on his plate.

"Indeed, that's true."

To be continued