"How far until we reach home port Nav?" Mike asked a few hours later as they were steaming home
"Um…" she said tapping away at the Navigators system
"6 hours Sir if we stay on schedule" she said smiling at him
"Very good" he replied as RO interrupted them
"Ah Sir, I've got a mayday" he answered
"Of course you do" Mike said rolling his eyes
"It's a small boat approximately 5 nautical miles from our current position, there saying they've hit a reef and are going down" he said listening through the headphones
"Nav?"
"I've got them on radar Boss, we can be there in about 30 minutes" she answered plotting a course
"Tell them we're on our way RO" Mike answered moving to the intercom
"Yes Sir" he answered as he spoke into the radio
"Here their captain speaking we're altering course to respond to a mayday boarding party be ready in 30 minutes, that is all" Mike voice echoed through the ship.
Kate was checking her emails in the mess as she heard the call logging off she pushed herself out of the chair and made her way into the hall as she spotted Buffer walking towards her
"X, can I have a word?" he asked hopeful as she looked at her watch
"Ah yep…" she said turning to look at him
"Umm in private…" he said pointing into the mess as she reluctantly stepped back inside remembering what had happened in their earlier
"What's up?" she asked crossing her arms protectively over her chest
"I just wanted to apologise for before I overstepped the line…"
"You don't need to apologise" she said assuring him
"No I think I do…"
"Buff it's fine honestly" she said moving towards the door as he stepped in front of her closing it as he leant against it
"I wouldn't want to do anything to ruin our friendship…" he said sadly
"You didn't" she answered softly
"I mean it's just what we have it isn't something we'd want to lose" he softly
"Buff it's fine stop worrying" she said placing a hand on his chest
"Right…" he answered as she quickly moved her hand back
"Before I forget, thank you for earlier you know the whole panic attack thing was kind of embarrassing" she said smirking a little
"You could never do anything embarrassing" he said grinning
"I don't know about that, singing drunk in front of the crew was probably the embarrassing highlight of the night" she answered
"If people can't see you for the amazing person you are then that's their loss but I must say your voice is just a small bonus" he said smiling as he watched her grin
"Yeah…" she said softly
"How are you feeling by the way? Your breathing seems to be back to normal" he asked
"I feel good, still nauseous but good" she replied smiling as he looked down at her hand
"I'm glad…" he said reaching a hand out as he slowly grabbed hers waiting for a reaction as he looked up at her
"Yeah well I'd imagine you'd be feeling the same from all those drinks" she said stepping forward without really noticing
"I'm a big boy I can handle it" he said placing his other hand on her waist neither of them really thinking about what was going to happen
"I'm sure if anyone can out drink 2Dads it you Buff" she said smirking as she placed her free hand against his chest as she looked down at the compromising position they were in
"X…" he said softly as she looked back up at him he quickly moved his head forward and captured her lips in a kiss before she could object, worried she was either going to pull away or slap him he hesitated for a moment before he felt Kate move forward deepening the kiss before they pulled apart for air
"This is becoming a problem…" Kate said softly as she looked him deep in the eyes
"There's more to us then just friends isn't there?" he asked letting go of her hand as he placed his hand against her cheek
"Are we really wanting to risk this friendship for a few moments of weakness?" she replied sadly
"Kate…" he began saying
"Hands to boarding stations, hands to boarding stations" was called out through the ship
"We have to go…" she answered moving back as she reached for the door handle
"We need to talk about this…" he answered moving aside
"Later… right now we have a job to do" she replied opening the door as she made her way to get into her boarding gear as Buffer followed far behind.
"What have we got?" Kate asked as she walked out on deck as the others got into the RHIB
"Boat has hit a reef, there sinking" Mike answered as Kate nodded before climbing into the RHIB
"Keep in contact we don't know who these people are" Mike yelled over the sound of the boat
"Yes Sir" Kate replied taking her usual spot next to the driver
"Away sea boat" Mike called
"Away sea boat" Kate repeated as she waved her arm they took off across the water towards the boat
"Sir I'm Lieutenant McGregor what seem to be the problem?" Kate asked as they stepped onto the deck
"We hit a reef we're going down" he said in reply
"Okay Charge take 2Dads and check out below decks find out how much time we've got before she sinks" Kate answered
"Yes Ma'am" Charge said moving past her as 2Dads followed
"Swaine, Spider you get all the crew on deck and try to find out what happened" Kate said as they nodded
"Buffer with me, Sir can we have a look at your books and charts?" Kate asked
"Ah yes follow me…" he said nervously as he led them inside.
"Ma'am" Charge said as he motioned for her to move below
"What is it Charge?" she asked confused
"The ship has at least 2 hours before she goes down but there's something odd"
"What?"
"The hole has been made deliberately and 2Dads found this" he answered hiding a pack of what looked to be like drugs
"Is that?"
"It's drugs X" 2Dads said softly as she nodded before moving back on deck where Buffer was talking to the captain of the boat
"Buff we've got a problem" she said softly to him
"Drugs?" he asked as she nodded
"Sir we're placing you under arrest for trafficking illegal substances" Kate said moving towards him
"What I know do nothin!" he replied angrily
"Turn around" Kate answered reaching for the zip ties as she suddenly felt someone grab her from behind as she reached for her gun
"Drop it" he said as he took the gun from her hand and pressed it against her neck
"X!" Swaine and Spider yelled as they spotted the commotion moving inside they spotted 2 men who had the X and Buffer with a gun pointed to their heads.
"Let the officers go!" Charge called as he moved up from below deck
"Get off the boat or we shot" the captain yelled
"X…" Swaine said as the 2 men out of the deck moved towards them pulling out guns from under their shirt
"Your outnumbered leave or they die!" he said pressing the gun harder against Kates neck as she whimpered
"It's okay Swaine" she answered softly
"Ma'am?" he asked confused as she nodded softly as they moved into the RHIB the captain and his skipper moved to follow them with the guns still pointed at Kate and Buffer
"Sit Rep X" Mike's voice answered through the radio as he spotted the RHIB moving towards the boat
"Sir the Captain has the X and Buffer at gunpoint he says if we don't leave he'll shoot them" Swaine answered in a panicking voice as he got in the RHIB
"What! How did that happen?" he asked angrily
"He got us from behind we didn't see him coming"
"Anyone else held hostage?" he asked
"No just Buffer and the X" Swaine answered as the RHIB slowly backed away from the boat
"Sir we can't just leave them!"
"I'm aware of that Swaine get back here and we'll organise a way of getting them back"
"Yes Sir…" he said sadly as he looked at Kate whose eyes were filled with fear
"I'm sorry X…" he said softly to himself as the RHIB headed back to Hammersley.
Everything was dark and her head was pounding, opening her eyes she looked around as they adjusted to the light
"Buff?" she asked as she tried to move but felt something move behind her
"X?" he said groaning softly
"Where are we?" he asked trying to move
"I don't know…" she said trying to move
"Are you okay?" he asked turning to face her
"What happened?" she asked as she tried to pull her hands apart that were tied behind her back
"I don't know the last thing I remember is getting over powered by one of the skippers" he replied hissing in pain as he tried to hit his back to break the zip ties
"They took our weapons…" she said looking down at her empty holster as she heard a loud snap as she felt a pair of hands against her cheeks
"Buff?" she asked confused
"I've had experience with cable ties before" he said leaning next to her as he looked over her shoulder as he pulled at her cable ties
"Are you okay?" she asked as he got her hands free she moved them up and instantly placed them on his chest
"I'm okay…" he said softly as he looked into her eyes
"But your bleeding" he continued as he brushed a thumb against the blood patch above her eyebrow
"I am?" she asked confused
"It's just a small patch, you'll be alright" he said moving his hand down as he rested it against her cheek
"Explains why my head hurts" she said trying to lighten the mood
"We have to get out of here…" he said moving to stand up as he reached a hand down to pull her up
"Buff?" she said softly as she wrapped her arms around his waist and pulled him to a hug
"I'll get us out of here I promise" he said kissing her forehead as the door swung open
"Good your awake" he said pointing the gun at them as they pulled away
"Move" he said motioning the gun out of the room.
Back on Hammersley Mike was pacing back and forth on the bridge
"It's been 4 hours how did they get away from us a second time?" he asked annoyed
"Sir they had another boat hidden out of view, no one knew the X tried to warn us before she was hit over the head" Charge answered softly
"Yes I'm aware of that thank you, what I don't understand is how 4 people can over power Navy personal who have guns, batons and a damn radio!" he yelled
"Sir we need to stay calm" Swaine said moving forward
"Buffer and the X are two skilled officers they will get themselves out of this with the men in custody and unharmed"
"Sir NAVCOM on the line for you" RO answered passing him the phone
"Mike Flynn?" he answered through the phone
"Mike, we've got an update on the men from the boat, the captain is a part of the drug syndicate he's actually the second in command the Boss in the one who overpowered your Buffer as for their whereabouts the last thing coast watch saw was a RHIB heading for a small island from your current position" Commander Marshall replied
"Sir permission to steam for the island in search of our taken officers" he asked hopeful
"You don't have a Buffer or XO their your ship stoppers"
"With all respect Commander Marshall the Buffer and the X aren't just a part of our crew their our family"
"I understand that Mike but…"
"Please Sir" he begged
"Okay but keep me updated the entire time and don't storm the island until we get the all clear from the BRASS, I'll send the location to your Navigator" he answered
"Thank you Sir"
"Fair winds Mike" he replied as the line went dead
"Nav?" Mike asked making his way over to her
"We're 9 hours Sir" she answered
"Get us there as fast as we can"
"Yes Sir, steer 359 revolutions 180" Nav said to 2Dads who was at the controls
"Ai Ma'am steer 359 revolutions 180" he repeated
"Let's just hope we get there in time" Mike answered sadly sitting in the Captain's chair
"The X will know what to do Boss, they've been trained for situations like this" Nav said softly as she reassured him.
...
"Keep going!" Kate yelled as she turned to fire the gun
"Where?" he yelled back as he stopped to notice she wasn't behind him 'bang, bang' he heard as he called out for her
"Kate?" he asked looking around
"KATE!" he screamed as she ran past him grabbing his hand as she pulled him along
"Where are we going?" he asked as they ducked through the tree's
"I don't know somewhere we can hide until we have enough range to reach Hammersley" she answered puffing 'bang, bang' was heard echoing through the tree's as Kate fell forward rolling down the hill
"Kate!" Buffer said quickly running to her side as she tried to stand but fell back down
"I think you've sprained your ankle" he answered as she picked up the gun and shot behind him the man dropping to the ground as his gun rolled down the hall stopping next to them
"We're running low on ammo take his gun" Kate answered as she pulled herself up trying to put weight on her foot
"Kate you can't run with a sprained ankle!" he replied angrily putting the gun in his holster
"I'll be fine" she answered as she went to walk but fell forward
"Let me carry you" he said gripping her waist
"What?"
"Now is not time to be stubborn if we stay here it won't be long before they find us" he answered as they heard voices getting closer
"Come on" he said moving to pick her up as she nodded he began moving again holding her bridal style as she fired shots at the men behind them
"I see a tunnel we can hide in there" he answered as they ran towards it 'Bang, bang, bang, bang' Buffer fell forward as he quickly crawled into the tunnel out of sight he placed Kate down as he heard a wince he quickly moved back as he spotted feet walking past
"They must have gone this way" a man said as the footsteps retreated away Buffer looked down at Kate who wasn't really saying much
"X?" he said softly as he heard her groan in response reaching for their glow sticks pulling it out of the packet as he cracked it hovering it over Kate's face he noticed she was pale luckily the 2 glow sticks combined was giving him just enough light to see
"Kate?" he asked brushing a hand across her cheek as she slowly opened her eyes
"Buff it hurts" she said wincing
"Where?" he asked concerned
"My back" she replied as he slowly moved the glow stick to notice a small pool of blood under her
"I need to take your vest off" he said pulling at the Velcro
"Why?" she asked nervously
"I think you've been shot" he answered carefully lifting the vest over her head as he looked at the vest it had 4 bullets in it except 2 of them had just clipped the bottom of her vest.
"Can you lay on your side for me?"
"I'll try" she answered moving to lay on her right side as Buffer moved backwards surprised to see the giant pool of blood soaking her shirt as he lifted her shirts he could barely see where the bullet holes were from all the blood
"Buffer…" she whispered as she heard the pop of buttons
"You've been shot it must have been when you first fell there's too much blood for it to be from a few minutes ago, I need to take your shirts off to get access to it the fabric is constricting it" he replied pulling off his DPNU shirt as he placed it beside her as he rolled her to lay on her back so her wound was resting against his shirt
"You just want to see me in my underwear" she said smirking slightly as he pulled her DPNU shirt carefully off
"Not like this I don't" he answered as he began pulling her grey shirt off as she slowly lifter her arms as his breath shuddered at the sight of his XO laying there in her bra
"Come on" he said softly as he rolled her back on her right side as he grabbed his bunched up shirt and placed it against her wound as she hissed in pain
"I'm sorry" he answered sadly as he put pressure on it he moved to sit in front of her so they were facing each other she reached a hand over to rest on his leg
"You need to go get help" she whispered
"I'm not leaving you" he said looking down at her
"I'll be fine, I can't exactly go anywhere" she answered softly
"It's my job to protect you and that's what I'm going to do"
"Buffer…"
"No! Don't you dare" he answered knowing what she was going to say
"You have a chance to go get help, I'll only slow you down I've got a sprained ankle and I've been shot"
"It'll be dark soon we'll have to stay the night there's no way Hammersley will find us" he answered moving to lay down in front of her as his hand kept pressure on her wound.