A few hours later after the doctor had checked Kate over Mike was sitting next to her bed as she smiled softly at him
"What?" he asked confused
"I've just never seen you with a beard" she answered as he instinctively ran his hand across it
"Well I didn't really think much of it, I've been here…"
"Everyday?" she asked surprised
"Yeah, even fell asleep in this chair a few times it's imprinted to my back" he smirked
"Why don't you go home, I'm going to be fine" she said softly as he moved forward in his chair reaching for her hand she slightly pulled back
"I'm not going anywhere…" he answered trying not to take it to heart, I mean they had been separated for a year now
"Mike…"
"You still wear your rings" he answered noticing them on her finger
"Well we did agree just until we figured out what to do so the crew wouldn't know" she shrugged slightly
"Yeah…" he replied moving back as he spun his around on his finger as a form of comfort.
"So the doc tells me your aloud to leave tomorrow if you pass the physical" he smiled
"That's great I can't wait to sleep in my own bed" she smirked
"Kate why didn't you tell me you were hurt I mean we spoke on the phone 5 minutes before Swaine found you unconscious" he answered sadly
"It's not your problem anymore I can look after myself" she said shifting slightly to sit up
"Can you, I mean really?" he said annoyed
"I looked after myself perfectly well before you came along"
"Kate…"
"No, you're the one who left Mike not me I don't need you to start being the doting husband now" she sighed
"Well you need someone to look out for you, your still my wife" he answered
"We're separated Mike just back off and worry about our son not me"
"You guys are separated?" a woman asked standing in the doorway
"Mum…" Mike said moving to stand as she entered the room
"Michael what is she talking about separated?" she asked stopping at the end of Kate's bed
"Marie it…" Kate began saying as she held a hand up
"Explain Michael now!" she said turning to face her son again as the nurse entered the room
"Ah Kate, you ready for your shower?" she asked moving towards the bed
"Yes!" Kate said quickly as she shifted to stand
"We won't be long" the nurse answered as she helped Kate towards the small bathroom.
"How long?" Marie asked as the door to the bathroom closed and the lock clicked
"Just drop it Mum" he answered moving out of the chair
"How long Michael!" she said angrily as she placed a hand on his arm
"A year okay" he shrugged her off as he exited the room
"Did she leave you or?" she asked confused following him
"No, look we tried to make it work we stayed together for Wyatt and we decided it was best if I moved out I left 6 months ago" he replied turning to face her
"Michael you know I love Katherine so much but if she's done something to push you away made you lose respect for her then I won't stand here and let her be a part of our family"
"What? It's not Kate's fault!" he answered quickly
"Did she cheat on you?"
"Absolutely not! Kate isn't like that" he sighed
"Then what? Because when she walked back into your life you've done everything you possibly could to provide for her and have her stay" she said confused as he sat in the chair opposite her room
"It's just not the same anymore, it hasn't been since…"
"Since what?" she asked confused as she sat next to him
"Look 4 years ago Kate fell Pregnant but she lost it, we didn't tell anyone because it was so early on and we just couldn't face all the pity heartbreak and people constantly apologising for our loss so we just tried to continue on as if nothing happened but things changed we grew apart I mean she became distant wouldn't touch me anymore, hug me the glimmer of love in her eyes just disappeared"
"Loosing a child Mike it affects people in different ways what I don't understand is why you never told me I was going to be a grandparent again" she said placing a hand on his shoulder as he turned to look at her
"For this exact reason, I don't need any pity Kate and I we were handling it"
"Really? How long after it happened did you separate?" she asked sadly
"3 years, after the first we started sleeping in separate rooms 6 months ago I left" he said shifting forward in his chair as he looked at the ground
"You left her?" she said surprised
"I couldn't do it anymore, I couldn't pretend to play the happy families when that's not what was really happening" he answered twisting his ring around on his finger
"Are you getting Divorced?" she asked confused looking at his ring
"We were supposed to meet after her Patrol discuss over things but she ended up here in a coma" he shrugged
"And now…"
"I haven't brought it up she's been through so much already"
"Michael… do you still love her?" she asked nervously
"I never stopped Mum" he replied turning to face her as she pulled him into a tight hug Kate made her way out of the bathroom she spotted them sitting outside her room she sighed as the nurse helped her back to bed.
It was just after lunch when Mike made his way back into her room as she pushed the hospital food around on her plate
"You'd honestly think they'd serve better food here" she sighed slightly as she pushed the tray back
"Well I figured you wouldn't be happy with the food so I brought you something" he smiled as he placed a foil tray on her small table her eyes lit up
"Is this what I think it is?" she asked hopeful as he moved to sit down
"I went out for lunch with Mum, she thought you might like something" he answered as she pulled off the lid to reveal a gravy smothered chippy goodness
"Your Mum is a saint!" she smirked as she pushed the fork into a chip before taking a mouthful
"So Wyatt is at school until 3 so I've got all day to spend here" he answered as she dropped her fork on the tray
"Mike I don't need a babysitter besides I'm sure you've got some work you could be going on with" she said reaching for another chip
"Nope I am the Captain and I declare that I have the day off" he smirked as she rolled her eyes playfully
"Well sitting around here all day isn't going to be too much fun" she shrugged
"Well I don't know I've got some cards and the company of you what could be better" he smirked reaching forward as he stole one of her chips
"Steal another one of my chips and you'll be lucky to the last 5 minutes" she grinned playfully hitting his hand away as he moved back placing the chip in his mouth
"Yes Ma'am" he smiled as she dug back into her chips.
"I was thinking while you recover I could come and stay help out around the house?" he said hopeful a few minutes later
"Really?" she raised an eyebrow at him
"Well yeah I mean I know you're not one for weakness and asking for help but I was kind of hoping in this case you would except you know to help with Wyatt" he said slightly turning red
"With Wyatt?" she smirked
"Well yeah you know what he's like bit of a handful sometimes"
"Yes I wonder where he gets that" she smiled
"Not from me" he grinned
"I suppose a bit of help around the house wouldn't be too bad" she answered
"Great" he smiled as she nodded slightly.
The next morning Mike pushed open the front door as he stepped aside to let Kate through
"Mum!" Wyatt said moving off the couch as he moved towards Kate pulling her into a hug
"Hey kiddo" she smiled kissing the top of his brown head of hair
"Just take it easy Wyatt your Mums had a few rough weeks" Mike nodded as he closed the front door
"But your better now right?" he asked hopeful as he let Kate go
"I'm still a little tender but I'm doing okay" she smiled as he moved back
"I'll just put your bag away" Mike said moving past her as she slightly touched his hand
"Thanks…" she smiled at him before he disappeared up the stairs she moved to sit on the couch
"So tell me, how's school what have I missed out on?" she asked sadly as Wyatt sat next to her
"Well nothing to interesting actually" he shrugged as Mike made his way back into the lounge
"I don't know about that Wyatt here got an A in his English class for his report" Mike smiled as he stopped behind the couch
"Really? What was it about?" Kate asked softly
"Ah…"
"What?" she said confused
"It was about you" he answered
"Me?"
"I had to do a report on someone we inspire to be like" he smiled as she looked at him surprised
"And you did it on me?" she replied
"Well yeah I want to be like you, a Commanding Officer in the Navy someone that everybody loves and looks up to" he smiled as she began to tear up Mike placed a hand on her shoulder in comfort before he made his way into the kitchen and began making them a coffee
"Why didn't you do it on your Father?" she asked brushing a hand through his hair
"I did but he told me I should do one on someone else who would be seen as a good role model"
"He did?" she said confused as she looked over the back of the couch as Mike who was pulling two mugs out of the cupboard as the kettle began to boil
"He told me that he didn't deserve to be seen as this big hero and role model if he couldn't save the woman he loved" Wyatt said sadly as Kate turned back to look at him
"It wasn't your Dad's job to save me Wyatt"
"I know but that's not the way he sees it" he said shifting into her embrace as he rested his head against her shoulder
"I'll have a chat to him soon right now I just want to spend time with you" she smiled wrapping an arm around him as he snuggled closer
"I'm glad you're okay Mum, but don't scare me like that again" he said sadly
"Don't worry I won't I promise" she said kissing his head as she looked back at Mike again who smiled at her as he poured the hot water in the mugs.
Half an hour later Kate made her way upstairs towards her bedroom to get changed after getting home she hadn't been given the chance as Wyatt wouldn't let her leave his side and Mike kept pampering her with hot drinks and food.
Stopping in the doorway she leant against the door frame as she spotted Mike near the bed folding up some washing
"You know you don't need to do that" she said moving towards him
"I don't mind and you should be resting" he answered as she stopped next to him
"Well given the fact that Wyatt is now side-tracked with some game I found my opportunity to come get changed"
"He just missed you" he smiled
"And you?"
"Me?" he said confused
"Did you miss me?" she blurted out without thinking as he looked at her surprised
"I…" he began saying as she moved back slightly
"I'm sorry it just…"
"Of course I missed you Kate" he smiled as she moved towards the walk in robe he followed her with a handful of folded clothes
"Here…" he said passing them to her as she opened various draws and placed them in
"Oh before I forget" he smirked as he reached into his back pocket he pulled out a pair of red lacy underwear
"Where did you get that…" she said embarrassed
"It was in the basket under everything else" he grinned holding it up between them
"Okay funs over give it here" she said reaching a hand out as he pulled it back
"You know I've never seen these one's before" he grinned
"An you're not likely to again, now pass them over" she replied
"I like them, very lacy don't give much coverage" he smirked as he now moved towards her she backed up into the wall
"Mike…" she said as her breathe hitched slightly
"You know if this is the kind of things your owning now I can only imagine…" he moved his head closer as he stopped next to her ear the hands standing up on the back of her neck
"What your wearing under your clothes right now" he whispered as he moved back slightly and looked into her eyes he saw something in it he hadn't seen in 4 years,
"I…" she tried to say as he moved slightly towards her lips she closed her eyes as she felt his hot breath against her cheek she waited for contact before his presence was suddenly gone,
opening her eyes again she spotted him walking out of her room with the basket in his hand as she caught a flash of red hanging out of her shirt pocket she pulled the underwear out as she quickly shoved them in the draw along with her other ones sighing heavily she tried to control her breathing as she began to get changed into something more comfortable.
Kate made her way back downstairs a few minutes later dressed in one of her flowing dresses as she heard voices coming from out the back
"What are you doing here?" she asked confused as she spotted Mike talking with Swaine and Sally
"We came to see how you were" Sally smiled as she pulled Kate into a soft hug
"I'm fine still a little tender though" she answered as Sally squeezed the life out of her
"Right sorry" she smirked as she pulled away from the hug
"Swaine was just saying that Luke was hoping Wyatt could stay over for the night" Mike answered from his place against the railing of the patio
"I don't see why not I mean it is a Saturday they should be out having some fun" she smiled
"Great, Luke's waiting in the car if that's okay to take him now?" Swaine asked
"Yeah of course" Mike said looking at Kate as she nodded
"I'll go and pry him away from the Xbox" Sally smirked as she moved inside Kate moved to stand next to Mike.
"So how are you doing really?" Swaine asked
"I'm good, I've still got some healing to do scars and bandages that need to be changed every few days but other than that I'm good" she smiled
"Well if you need any help from a medical point of view you know where I am" Swaine answered
"Thanks Swaine but I think I'll be okay, I only have to change the bandages tonight and then not again for a few days" she smiled
"Well I'm sure if you run into trouble Mike will help you"
"Yes of course" Mike answered as Kate began turning a bright shade of red
"Ready uncle Chris" Wyatt said as he stopped in the doorway with his bag over his shoulder
"Awesome, we're taking Chloe and Luke to the pool so I hope you packed your togs" he smiled as they began moving back inside
"Sure did Auntie Sally told me" Wyatt replied as Kate moved towards the bench and pulled out a 50 from her purse and passed it to Swaine
"For snacks and whatever else you need" she answered as he smiled
"Kate he's our nephew we don't need any money" he said moving back
"You sure?" she asked softly
"Absolutely! Gives us a break from Luke's constant wining about not seeing his cousin" Sally laughed as they made their way out the front
"Be good" Kate smiled as she kissed the top of Wyatt's head before he ran off towards the car
"I will be!" he yelled back
"You two don't have too much fun we'll bring him back on Sunday afternoon" Swaine smirked as Sally watched Kate's face carefully to notice the smile had disappeared
"An early night for this one so not too much fun I'm afraid" Mike grinned trying to make things less awkward
"Right well we best be off" Sally said moving towards Kate as she gave her a soft hug
"You okay?" she whispered as Mike moved to say goodbye to Swaine
"Yeah just exhausted" she answered back as she pulled away from the hug
"Call me if you need anything" she said softly as she followed Swaine towards the car Kate nodded before moving back inside as Mike waved them off.
Later that night it had just turned 9:30 when Kate made her way out of her ensuite in pyjama shorts and a tank top lifted up to reveal her abdomen as she pulled at the wet bandage
"Oh sorry I was just heading to bed" Mike answered as he moved past her open door towards the spare room
"It's fine, do you actually have a spare minute?" she asked hopeful as he moved back to stand in her doorway
"What's up?" he said watching as she pulled the bandage off and threw it in the bin as she began trying to remove the other one
"I was hoping you might be able to help with this, I've got to put some cream on but I just can't reach the back…" she said sadly
"Sure…" he replied moving into the bedroom just as she pulled the last bandage off he reached for the cream on the end of the bed
"I just need a few dabs but it's gotta be covering it" she answered pulling her shirt up a little more as she turned her back to him he stopped as he looked at the bullet marks on her back that were healing but still slightly raw
"I…"
"Are you okay?" she asked turning her head to look at him
"Yeah… sorry" he said clearing his throat as he twisted the cap off the cream and put some on her back he slowly reached a hand out as he began carefully rubbing it in he could feel her breath slightly hitch at his touch.
A few minutes later Mike was now standing in front of her after he helped her put a new bandage on her back
"I've got this one it was really just the back…" she said softly as he began rubbing some cream on the ones that's were on the side of her abdomen
"Just let me do it…" he said softly as she looked up at him she nodded slightly as he finished he placed the cap back on the cream and placed it on the bed as he reached for the new bandage
"How's that?" he asked as he placed it against her skin sticking it down
"Thanks…" she said softly as she pulled her top down he removed his hand off her waist
"Not a problem" he smiled as he stepped back
"Is that all?" he asked moving back towards the door
"Ah yeah… sorry about that I just couldn't reach" she answered grabbing the cream off the bed as she placed it on the bedside table
"Kate you don't need to apologise, it's what I'm here for" he replied moving back towards her as he grabbed the blanket and pulled it back for her to hop into bed as she turned around the face him she didn't realise how close he actually was until her hands came into contact with his chest.
"Sorry…" she said quickly as she looked up into his ocean eyes
"You really need to stop apologising Kate" he smiled as he moved his hand and brushed a piece of hair behind her ear
"This is all my fault…" she sighed
"What's your fault?"
"This… Us the constant awkwardness" she said motioning between them
"I'm the one who left Kate, and it was the biggest mistake of my life" he replied moving his free hand as he rested it against her waist
"Mike you…"
"Please just let me talk" he said hopeful as she nodded
"Kate when we lost baby you started looking at me different, you wouldn't touch me, hug me and the look in your eyes it was like you blamed me"
"I didn't…"
"I thought by leaving I was doing the right thing, the way you always looked at me it was like a look of hatred and despise I couldn't tell if there was still love there or if you just pretended for Wyatt's sake" he said sadly as he moved sitting her down on the bed he sat next to her
"Mike I was grieving…" she finally answered
"So was I Kate! It was my baby too and all I wanted was to be able to hold you and grieve with you but you wouldn't let me" he said annoyed as he moved to stand she stayed sitting on the bed
"God Kate, you pushed me away and I tried everything I could to move on to fall out of love with you, hell I moved out thinking it would be easier than waking up every morning to your beautiful green eyes and wanting to kiss you senseless" he yelled as he paced back and forth
"I'm sorry okay!" she yelled as she moved off the bed
"I don't want your apologies don't you get that!"
"Then what do you want!" she cried
"I WANT YOU!" he yelled as he stopped pacing to face her
"What?" she answered confused
"Kate I never stopped, no matter how hard I tried my heart just couldn't let you go" he said through the tears
"You can't just come back after 6 months and expecting things to be the same" she sighed
"When you were shot it was like losing you all over again, I never want to experience that again Kate" he said sadly
"Mike I…" she said looking down at the floor as he moved closer to her
"Kate…" he answered softly as he placed his hands around her waist
"Look at me, tell me what I'm feeling you don't feel the same tell me and I'll walk away right now"
"I can't…" she said softly as she continued to look at the floor he moved a hand up and pushed it under her chin so she was now looking at him
"Tell me Kate" he said brushing a tear off her cheek with his thumb
"We've been through so much Mike I just can't…"
"God Kate! I never ask you for anything for 5 years you called me an emotional coward now who's being the coward" he said letting go of her waist as he moved back he looked into her glassy eyes as tears fell down his cheeks
"All I ever wanted was you Kate, why can't you understand that" he replied moving towards her bedroom door
"Mike…" she said softly as he turned to face her
"I'll see you in the morning" he sighed as he left her room Kate stood in the middle of her room tears running down her cheeks as she heard a loud bang of his bedroom door shutting.
After hours of what felt like no sleep what so ever Kate moved out of bed and made her way down the hall knocking softly she heard a mumble in reply as she entered the room Mike was sitting up in bed with his bedside light on
"It's 1 am what are you doing awake…" he sighed
"I want you…" she muttered as she moved towards the bed
"What?" he answered as she sat next to him and tucked her legs under her buttocks
"I want you too, all I ever wanted was you" she said louder this time as Mike moved the blanket back she moved to crawl in next to him
"Kate…" he began saying as she laid down next to him she placed a hand on his now bare chest
"Mike Flynn I love you, I've always loved you and I can assure you I never stopped" she replied as he smiled softly at her
"It's late we can talk in the morning…" he said softly as he reached behind him as he turned off the light
"Can I stay here with you…" she asked
"I wouldn't have it any other way" he replied moving to lay down as he pulled her close she rested against his chest and closed her eyes
"For what it's worth I love you to Kate" he smiled placing a kiss on her forehead she snuggled in deeper against him as he wrapped his arms around her waist worried if given the chance she'd run again and maybe this time not return.