Okay, so it's been a while. *Shrug* What can I say? I've had writers block. And I just got back from a holiday in Cairns/Canberra.

Thanks for those reviews guys, especially 7 and Ellen who reviewed last time.

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There was silence as all teams registered what had just happened. Buffer was the first one to break the ice.

"All teams, this is Bravo82, that wasn't us, over."

"Roger Bravo82," responded Luxton. "And that's a negative for us."

"That wasn't us," added ET through the radio a moment later.

"What's going on there, over," came Mike's desperate voice, wondering what had happened. Being back on the boat and only being able to hear was almost as bad, possibly worse, than being on the island and seeing it firsthand. Waiting, and not knowing, was torturing.

"Ah, Charlie82, this is Sierra82, we've had a shot fired. But it wasn't from one of ours, over," said Luxton, speaking into the radio but not stopping her eyes from glancing cautiously around her.

"Do you have the culprit?" asked Mike, not liking what he was hearing. Luxton sighed, looking towards Chefo as she prepared to answer, knowing how much the Captain would not like to hear what was coming.

"No Sir. We're trying to locate their position now, over," replied Luxton with a sigh. Over on the Hammersley, Mike was feeling frustrated that he wasn't doing anything, feeling completely and utterly useless. He sighed obviously.

"Roger. Keep me informed. Charlie82 standing by."

"Lets make our way this way," Luxton told Chefo quietly, holding out one arm. "The noise echoed through there." Chefo nodded and took a step before speaking out.

"Ma'am," he said, pausing. Luxton stopped too, turning to face Chefo. He indicated for her to listen. There was silence for a moment before the obvious sound of scuffling. Any noises were muffled so they could barely be heard.

"What the hell is this?!" hissed Luxton, moving towards the scrub. She pulled away a branch before seeing the opening. The sounds were louder now, and definitely didn't sound positive. Chefo went to make forward but Luxton grabbed his arm. "Wait, we'll contact the others first."

"Yes Ma'am," he replied quietly, standing just off from the opening. It was dark through the clearing, so nothing was visible.

"All teams, this is Sierra82. Join me here now," ordered Luxton. With that, she clicked the safety off her gun and indicated for Chefo to move forward. "Alright, go!" Chefo pushed into the clearing, Luxton following behind him. They moved quickly in, the natural light from outside being left behind them. It wasn't completely dark inside, but it wasn't as light as outside. But they could still make out the figures.

"XO?" said Luxton, catching glimpse of the blonde hair and female figure, standing up almost completely straight. Luxton pulled the torch out of the strap around her leg and turned it on, focusing the beam on the figure. Kate was standing, a gun pointed downwards to where a man was lying with blood seeping for a wound on his leg. At hearing her name, Kate looked up.

"It's alright Ma'am," said Chefo, pulling out the bandage from his zip pocket and putting it over the man's wound. He yelled out in pain.

"Stupid cow!" he spat out.

"I think that would be what you get for taking two Navy sailors hostage," replied Luxton bitterly. She took a step towards Kate, plucking the gun from Kate's hands. Having been released from the weapon, Kate turned around, to where Nikki was still gathered in a heap on the floor.

"Nik?" asked Kate, lifting up her friend's head.

"Are your Lieutenant Caetano?" added Luxton from behind Kate.

"It's Nikki. And I'm right," replied Nikki weakly, her eyes flickering.

"Yeah sure," replied Kate sarcastically, keeping Nikki's head up. Luxton was still standing behind Kate.

"Are you alright there Chefo?" she asked the medic. "I'm going to show the others were to go."

"I doubt he'll be going anywhere," replied Chefo. As Luxton left, Chefo looked up. "Are you two alright?"

"I'm fine Chefo," replied Kate. "It's Nikki I'm worried about."

"I'm fine!" mumbled Nikki. Her eyes closed and Kate lifted her head more.

"No, you need to stay awake! That's an order!" Kate told her. Despite her eyes still being closed, Nikki gave a small smile and smirked. Slowly, she opened her eyes.

"You're not my superior," she jokingly replied. Kate laughed.

"Nikki!" Those in the shelter heard people approaching and ET's voice ring out. Luxton came back in, ET and Buffer right behind her.

"I'm fine," was Nikki's groggy reply to her name. As ET entered, he spotted her and immediately made for her whilst Buffer went to assist Chefo.

"I think you'll find the feds are going to be very interested in you," said Buffer, standing over Rob as Chefo pressed the bandage against his leg, attempting to stem the blood flow.

"She shot me!" yelled Rob back, gritting as Chefo pressed down harder on his leg.

"You took three Navy sailors hostage, as well as god knows how many civilians, not to mention murder!" Buffer yelled at him, tempers flaring. "I'd say she was well within her rights!"

"Murder? I didn't murder no one!"

"You murdered my mother," piped up Nikki, Kate and ET standing protectively by her side, holding her up. She had fought them to stand up to him; she wanted to confront him. After the pain he had caused her, she wanted the chance to be standing over him. For the past few hours, he had been the one standing over her. And she wanted that to change.

"What's she talking about?" spat Rob, turning his head. But no one else said anything, allowing Nikki the chance to speak.

"My mother? She died. Because you poisoned her! You murdered her. No one else," Nikki said defensively. "And I hope like hell you rot in prison. Because it will never, ever, come anywhere close to the pain we felt when you killed her." With that, ET and Kate pulled her away, supporting her so she didn't collapse.

"Lets get her out of here," suggested Luxton, to which Kate and ET nodded. Despite her rightful outburst, Nikki was in no way able to walk on her own and ET and Kate literally had to drag her out of there. Emerging from the shelter, Spider and RO, who were waiting just beyond there, saw them come out and rushed over to help.

"Nikki?" said Spider, his voice raising an octave higher like it always did in tense situations. ET and Kate gently lowered her onto the orange stretcher RO had just flicked out. Her eyes were closed again, all her energy used up from her speech just the moment before.

"Nikki?" said ET softly, gently slapping her cheek when she didn't open her eyes.

"Lets get her back to the Hammersley," ordered Kate. RO went to lift the end of the stretcher near her feet while ET broke trying to wake her and lifted the end nearest her head.

"On three. One, two, THREE!" counted RO as he and ET lifted it up. Kate went to step back but ET paused.

"Ma'am." Kate stopped at this. "You should get checked out too." Kate was going to protest when RO added his own thoughts.

"ET's right Ma'am. And you're bleeding," he told her, nodding towards her. It wasn't until Kate rubbed her head and her hand drew back blood, that she realised this.

"I should help," she replied quietly. The usually composed officer seemed lost.

"I'll help them X," jumped in Spider, already moving towards where the shelter was. With no excuses, Kate followed the men carrying Nikki back towards the RHIB's. After they had moved off, there was still no movement for several minutes. Finally, Rob was brought out, where he was then placed on yet another waiting stretcher. Chefo was keeping the pressure on the wound while Spider and Buffer carried the stretcher, Spider carrying the end where his head was, Buffer where his feet were. Luxton was following behind.

"Charlie82, this is Sierra82, come in over."

"This is Charlie82, go ahead," replied Mike almost instantly, having obviously been waiting for the long coming call.

"We've got Nikki and the XO. They're on route to Hammersley now, over," said Luxton, still trailing behind the others. On the Hammersley, Mike looked out the window, directly ahead to the island where he could see one of his RHIB's turning in the water for the journey back to the Hammersley.

"Roger. Are they okay?"

"The XO's fine. And Nikki was conscious when they left but I'm not sure, over," replied Luxton as they arrived at the second RHIB. While Rob was lifted onto the RHIB, Luxton watched as the other RHIB neared the Hammersley.

Over on the Hammersley, the first RHIB had just arrived alongside. The RHIB crane was about to lift it up. Mike had come down from the bridge, as had Charge and they were moving hastily along the side. They reached their destination, the boat deck, and stood back as the RHIB was lifted back into place. Once it stopped, they both stepped forward.

"How we doing?" yelled Mike above the noise from the ocean and the RHIB crane.

"All good Sir," replied Kate, rubbing her head. "I don't know about Nikki though." RO stood and motioned to ET. They squatted for a minute before rising, lifting the orange stretcher up. Charge stood directly underneath where they were coming from the RHIB, to offer other assistance. Once the stretcher had been lifted off, Mike looked over at his former navigator.

"How are we Nikki?" he asked but didn't get a response. "Alright, get her to the wardroom!" ET and RO headed immediately off whilst Mike waited for Kate. "Are you really okay X?" he asked as she stepped off. She rubbed her head again, wincing as her hand hit an obvious sore spot on her head. Mike saw the spot of blood on the edge of her head and decided what she was doing next.

"Go get Swain to check you out." When Kate faltered, he added, "Now." Kate sighed and moved off in front of him, knowing if she refused, he would just make it an order, something she couldn't refute.

****

That's a wrap. I didn't like the first part. But that was the best I could get it. And trust me, that took a lot of tweaking in itself!

What are we all thinking? Your thoughts? Love to hear them.

I'll try again to update again as soon as possible. Just be thankful though that you got one now!

Please read/comment/review. Much appreciated.