We're on a roll guys, but sadly I'm back to work next week, so read up!
Live and Learn.
Chapter 9.
The next morning Kate, Maddie and Dutchy arrived at the docks. Maddie spotted Liv and ran up to her squealing, Dutchy scoffed at their reaction.
"I don't get girls, they saw each other like 12 hours ago, and didn't she message her all night?"
"Hey, I'm just glad she's got a girlfriend, when I went to ADFA everyone was out for themselves."
"Well, maybe if you weren't so perfect?!"
They spotted Mike, Tyler, and a less enthusiastic looking Nate.
"Hey guys, thanks for this!"
Mike nudged Nate.
"Yeah, thanks…"
Mike shook his head at Nate's attitude.
"Ah, this is Tyler, Captain McGregor, and this is Dutchy, he used to serve on Hammersley with us too."
Tyler smiled politely and shook their hands.
They turned hearing a whistle come from the upper deck, a tall, muscular, fifty-something, brad pitt-esque looking man strutted down the gangway. Liv leaned in to Maddie and giggled.
"If I was 20 years older!"
Maddie chuckled as they continued to check out the officer.
"Oi! Is that Douchy Mulholland?"
Dutchy's face lit up seeing his old friend.
"Hey butt head! Guys, this is Charlie Butterworth, we served together after Hammersley."
He gave Dutchy a hug and a pat on the back. Kate looked him up and down and shook her head at herself, how did all the navy guys get older, and better looking?
"Let me guess, he goes to one of your gyms too?"
Charlie flexed his bicep and winked in her direction.
"Sure do, you should come work out some time…"
Kate flashed him an insincere smile, Dutchy stepped closer and whacked him on the arm as a warning. Charlie took a moment, observing Dutchy's body language, he stood slightly in front of Kate, as if he was protecting her.
"Did you finally settle down, mate? But these can't be your girls, they look smart!"
Dutchy moved away from Kate, trying not to make it too obvious.
"Ah, no these are some of my old crew from Hammersley, Captain Mike Flynn and Captain Kate McGregor..."
"Oh yes, McGregor, I was told you were bringing some new blood down for a tour, but I was expecting a stuffy old bloke."
"Well, sorry to disappoint you! This is my daughter Maddie, her friend Liv, Tyler and Nathan, Mike's son."
Charlie saluted and ushered them towards the gangway.
"Good to meet you kids, come aboard."
Kate nudged Dutchy as they walked up the gangway.
"Do you know everyone?!"
"Can't help it if I'm lovable."
Charlie waited at the end of the gangway and wrapped his arm around Kate, causing her to flinch.
"So, you were his old XO, huh? We've got a lot to discuss..."
Kate let out a fake laugh as she peeled his arm off her shoulder.
"It would be my pleasure to torture Dutchy with you, but after we've educated the kids..."
Charlie gave her a nod and a salute.
"Okay, well, I've got my orders, c'mon kids..."
Mike and Kate headed for the bow of the boat, while the kids and Dutchy went below with Charlie.
Kate leaned on the railing taking in the sea air, Mike leaned in next to her.
"Brings back memories, huh?"
She nodded, thinking of her time on Hammersley.
"Yeah, I really miss it sometimes, I mean, I wouldn't trade Maddie for anything, but…"
"I know… so why didn't you go back out?"
"No one to look after Maddie, and well, I guess I was afraid that it wouldn't be the same."
Mike scooted closer, Kate tried not to react as their arms touched.
"It wasn't the same, I can tell you from experience, far from the same."
He sighed and gazed out over the water, imagining what could have been.
"So, umm, you wanna catch up properly one night? Dinner? Minus Dutchy."
Kate's heart skipped a beat, her eyes darted to him, then back out to the water.
"Captain Flynn, are you asking me out on a date?"
Before he could answer, Maddie crept up on Kate and tapped her on the back, startling her.
"Maddie, jeez!"
"Sorry, mum! What are you doing?"
She straightened herself, moving away from Mike.
"Just catching up…"
"Well, c'mon, you're missing everything!"
She grabbed her hand and attempted to pull her away, Kate resisted, looking back at Mike, he gave her a nod.
"It's okay, I'll catch up…"
Maddie led Kate away, Mike leaned over the railing and sighed.
"Yeah, I was asking you on a date…"
Maddie and Liv bounced down the corridor asking Kate a barrage of questions.
"Can you really sleep okay on the racks? What kind of food do you eat? How much free time do you get when you're at sea."
Kate laughed and held up her hands, stopping the questions.
"One at a time."
Dutchy and Charlie were in the galley waiting for the kettle to boil, Dutchy poked his head out of the galley window.
"Hey! You guys want a coffee?"
They all nodded, Kate frowned as Dutchy handed Maddie a cup.
"Since when do you drink coffee?"
"Since I'm at Creswell…"
Dutchy laughed and handed them a cup.
"Yep, sounds about right…"
The girls continued with the tour, Charlie nudged Dutchy in the ribs.
"So, that's the famous Hammersley crew you were always talking about."
"Yeah, good bunch…"
"Well, the way you talked about the X, I thought you may have had a bit of a crush?"
Dutchy sipped on his coffee, ignoring the accusation, Charlie took his silence as an admission.
"Hey, wouldn't blame you if you did…"
"Oh, shut up and drink your coffee."
"So, if you have no interest, you'd be okay if I asked her out?"
Mike entered the galley and stopped hearing Charlie's question.
"Oh, sorry guys…"
Charlie nodded towards Mike as he took a sip of his coffee.
"No, maybe I should be asking your Captain, seeming you would know her pretty well. You think I'm her type?"
Mike pretended not to know what Charlie was talking about.
"Huh?"
"McGregor, you think I'm here type?"
Mike hesitated unintentionally, his eyes darted over to Dutchy's for help.
"Ah, I'm not really sure…"
Charlie grinned, picking up his cup he shoved past them.
"No harm in trying then, right?"
Dutchy grabbed his arm, stopping him.
"Charlie, wait..."
Charlie looked down at his hand around his forearm, it was gripped tight, he frowned, unsure why he was being so protective.
"What? She married, seeing someone?"
"Ah, no, she's single, but…"
Dutchy didn't have time to explain her life story, but he knew she didn't need any more complications. Charlie playfully punched him on the arm.
"Oh, come on, you know I'm a good guy!"
Dutchy dropped his grip, unable to look him in the eye.
"Yeah, I know..."
Dutchy and Mike exchanged worried glances as Charlie left to find Kate.
"It's okay, I doubt she'll be interested…"
The kids gathered on the bridge, Dutchy and Mike jumped, hearing an announcement over the PA.
"Mulholland and Flynn to the bridge."
Followed by a giggle.
Mike and Dutchy walked up the stairs to find Nate sulking in the Captain's chair, Maddie and Liv were at the EOD and Tyler was at the Comms Center. Liv grabbed the binoculars and aimed them out the front of the boat, her eyes caught Kate and Charlie talking on deck.
"Ooooh!"
She tapped Maddie on the arm and pointed out the window.
"Looks like your mum's still go it!"
Maddie peered out the window and spotted Kate and Charlie talking closely on deck, there was definitely flirtatious body language.
"Oi, Dutchy, he's not a jerk right?"
Dutchy walked over to the window and peered out, he frowned slightly, Maddie hit him on the arm.
"Well?"
"Ah, yeah, he's a good guy…"
"Good…"
Kate could sense they were being watched, she looked up to the bridge and spotted multiple sets of eyes on her. They quickly ducked away from the window pretending they weren't spying, she rolled her eyes and walked away out of their view.
Nate walked down to the senior sailors mess and lay the bench, Kate walked past and saw him by himself, she knocked on the door frame and stepped inside.
"Not as enthusiastic as the others?"
He shrugged and sat up.
"Not really…"
"Look, it might not seem that exciting while you're at Creswell, but just wait until you get your sea legs."
"Yeah, easy for you to say, you and dad love this crap!"
She sat down opposite him, he hunched himself over the table placing his head in his arms. Kate observed him for a moment, taking in his likeness to Mike.
"So, you didn't want to join?"
"Was either this, or, well, nothing…"
"You got yourself into trouble?"
Nate propped his head up with his hands and shrugged.
"Kinda, nothing massive, just, Dad thinks all of this can straighten me out."
"Yeah well, we had a kid like that on Hammersley, and he turned it around, and he's doing really well…"
Nate rolled his eyes, he didn't need another lecture.
"Great, I'm surprised dad hasn't dragged him down here to be the poster child for my life. Wait, you served with dad?"
"Yeah…"
Kate could see the cogs turning in Nate's head.
"Why has he mentioned something?"
"No… so you knew mum too then?"
"Maxine? Yeah, she was at Navcom."
Nate let out a hiss and rose from the bench and paced the room.
"He's such a hypocrite! Why would he be okay with Maddie and Tyler and not..."
He stopped, realising what he was saying, and who he was saying it to.
"Ah, never mind…"
He scurried out of the room, leaving Kate none the wiser, she frowned trying to work through the conversation in her head. Maddie poked her head into the room.
"Were you just talking to Nate?"
"Ah, sort of…"
"So, umm, do you know Charlie? I mean, Lieutenant Butterworth?"
Kate was about to deny, but Tyler appeared behind Maddie, he cleared his throat, announcing his presence.
"Ah, Captain McGregor?"
"Yes, Tyler."
"Ah, I just wanted to say hi, haven't really introduced myself properly... and I thought I should seeming I've asked Maddie out on a date."
He nudged Maddie with his shoulder, her cheeks instantly turned a bright shade of pink.
"Ah, yeah, well thanks. I, umm, I just hope you both concentrate on your studies."
"Yes, Ma'am, I know how important it is to her, and I wouldn't stand in her way."
Liv appeared in the doorway, bouncing up and down.
"C'mon we're checking out the typhoon!"
She grabbed both their hands and pulled them out the cabin, Tyler called out as he was dragged away.
"Lovely to meet you ,Captain McGregor!"
"You too, Tyler."
Kate flopped back on the bench, she wasn't read for all of this, she and ran her hands through her hair feeling overwhelmed.
"He's a charmer, he dating your daughter?"
She let out an internal groan as Charlie entered the cabin, she didn't have the patience to deal with a chauvinistic muscle head right now.
"Ah, trying too..."
He slid in to the bench opposite her, Kate tried to avoid his dazzling smile.
"Not too keen on the charm?"
She shook her head, hoping her lack of communication would give him a hint.
"So, what do I need to do to impress you?"
Kate bit her tongue, why did guys think silence meant try harder? She folded her arms on the table and leaned in, playing along.
"Oh, surely that's not your best line!?"
Charlie's devilish grin grew, hearing her challenge.
"Phht, you want a line? Feel my shirt..."
Kate tilted her head, not following. Charlie nodded towards his shirt.
"Go on, feel it..."
She reluctantly reached over and ran her hand over his sleeve, he placed his hand on top of hers.
"It's nice, yeah? It's made of boyfriend material..."
Kate held her breath, trying not to laugh, she had to give it to him, it was a good one, one she's never heard before. Charlie burst out laughing.
"Oh, come on, that one is pure gold!"
Kate refused to comment, she wasn't going to let him think his way worked on her, he rolled his head back in frustration.
"Seriously? Who died and took your sense of humour with them?"
Kate's froze, Charlie watched as her face turned cold, she calmly rose from the bench and walked away. Charlie was dumbfounded at her reaction, he didn't normally have that affect on people.
"What did I say?"
Dutchy had observed Kate rushing out of the cabin, he leaned on the door frame.
"Let me guess, date denied?"
"Ah, yeah, she asked me for a pickup line and I gave her one, then she stormed out."
"Oh god, what did you say?"
"I asked her to feel my shirt and if it felt good, cos it was made of boyfriend material."
Dutchy rolled his eyes and laughed, imagining Kate's reaction.
"Well, she's got a pretty good sense of humour, what else did you say?"
"Ah, well, I thought she would have laughed, smirked, anything, so I asked her who died and took her sense of humor with them."
Dutchy's face dropped.
"Yeah, then she looked at me like that."
Dutchy ran off down the hallway, Charlie threw his hands in the air at his reaction.
"What is going on?"
He took out his phone and googled, Kate McGregor and HMAS Hammersley. He frowned seeing the headline of the first article "S.A.S Captain and Naval Officer killed disarming bomb."
He winced as he clicked on to the article, he knew the answer before it loaded. A photo of Jim and Kate appeared with her showing off her engagement ring, he dropped his phone on to the table and ran his hands over his face.
"You asshole, Butterworth."
Later that night Mike and Nate sat on the couch in silence, Mike sighed and chucked his pizza crust back in the box.
"Nate, you've gotta talk to me…"
"Why?
Mike picked up the remote and turned off the TV.
"What is the matter? Look, I know Creswell wasn't your first choice, but you had to do something with your life."
Nate folded his arms across his chest and fidgeted on the spot.
"Why did you say that I should get involved with someone 'like' Maddie McGregor?"
"Huh?"
"You served with her mum, did something happen?"
Mike didn't know how to respond, his eyes darted around the room.
"I don't know what you're talking about..."
Nate scoffed, shaking his head, he knew he was lying.
"See, you can't even be honest with me, how am I supposed to be honest with you."
"That's not fair Nate, it's personal, and you socialise with Maddie."
"Dad, I just want you to be honest, is that why you and mum broke up?"
"No, Nate! Absolutely not!"
"She said she knew mum..."
"Yeah, she was my XO..."
"So, why haven't you even mentioned her? And, what's so bad about her and Maddie? I would have thought you'd like someone straight like her hanging around me?"
Mike sighed, he knew telling him could have consequences, but he was right, he needed to be honest.
"Now, if I explain, you can not say anything, to anyone, okay? This is me trusting you..."
Nate dropped his defensive pose and nodded.
"I promise."
Kate walked in the front door, trying to ignore Maddie's barrage of questions.
"Maddie, stop..."
Maddie's froze, her tone was harsh, her phone rang distracting her, she ran to her room to answer it.
Kate sighed a flicked on the kettle, Dutchy leaned on the bench worried about her snap.
"Kate? You okay?"
She nodded as she removed the mugs and tea from the cupboard.
"Yeah, just need a sec."
Dutchy walked out to the deck, giving her a moment to herself. A few minutes later she joined him, she handed him a mug and sat beside him, leaning into him. Dutchy cleared his throat, breaking the silence, he didn't want to upset or embarrass her by admitting her knew what happened, but he wanted to make sure she was okay.
"Hope Charlie didn't offend you or anything, he can be pretty in your face?"
"Nah, nothing I can't handle, don't worry about it, I'm not gonna date one of your mates."
Maddie came out of her room and smiled, seeing them snuggled together.
"Aww, you guys are so cute, you know, mum, if Charlie doesn't work out..."
Maddie grinned in Dutchy's direction, Kate shifted uncomfortably on the couch.
"Maddie! We talked about this!"
Maddie sat in between them and glanced back and forth.
"Hey, mum, you're a catch, you've got so many options! And, we're all adults, no need to..."
Kate shook her head and placed her mug on the table.
"Ah, not quite, you're a teenager."
"Yeah okay, anyway, can Liv sleep over?"
"Yeah, if it'll get you out of my hair!"
Maddie let out a squeal and jumped up from the couch and headed for the front door, Kate frowned and called out after her.
"Where you going!"
"She's out the front."
Kate laughed and shook her head, re-grasping her mug she cradled it in her palms.
"Don't tell me you're gonna start being a teenager now."
Maddie opened the door, and Liv ran into the house, Maddie poked her head back outside.
"You're the one who said I wasn't an adult yet!"
Dutchy let out a laugh and nudged her.
"You asked for that!"
Kate rubbed her hands over the face and massaged her temples.
"This used to be easy..."
"What do you mean?"
"When she depended on me, it was only me and her..."
Dutchy frowned, confused at her comment. Kate waved her hand in the air, knowing she was sounding like a helicopter parent.
"No, I mean, now she has a life, what am I supposed to do?"
"You're supposed to have a life."
"I don't know what that looks like anymore..."
Dutchy placed a comforting hand on hers.
"Are you sure you're not having a pity party?"
"No! I'm fine!"
"Good, cos I gotta go do some paperwork."
She whacked him on the stomach as he rose from the couch.
"Oh, so you do work for a living?"
The next morning Kate's "keep her mind busy' cleaning spree was interrupted by a knock on the door, she opened it and was surprised to find Mike on her doorstep.
"Hey! sorry just to pop round, again."
"No, it's umm, it's good to see you, come in."
"Ah, you sure?"
She shook her head at his apprehension and pulled him into the house.
"Don't be silly, come in..."
Kate pulled off her gloves, and they sat on the couch in an awkward silence, Mike let out a nervous laugh.
"Why is this weird?"
"I dunno, it shouldn't be... So, how did Nate like the tour?"
"Well, let's just say 2Dads was probably more excited at first than he was."
"Mike, it just sounds like he needs to talk..."
"Yeah, I tired last night, I hope I got through to him. Umm, actually, while we're on that, I thought you should know that I may have told him about us."
"What?"
Kate's voice was so loud Maddie poked her head out of her room, she froze seeing Mike sitting in her lounge room.
"Oh, umm Captain Flynn, hi."
Liv opened the door wider, hearing her uncle's name.
"Uncle Mike?"
"Ah, hi kids!"
They looked at each other and closed the door. Kate's expression grew darker as she moved closer to Mike and lowered her voice.
"What exactly did you tell him?"
He refused to make eye contact, he thought she might have understood.
"Not much..."
Kate shoved him, letting out a frustrated grunt.
"Mike!"
He glanced over to Maddie's bedroom door, then back to Kate.
"Maybe we shouldn't do this here."
Maddie and Liv stood on the other side of the door, their ears pressed against it.
"Stop making excuses and tell me exactly what you told him."
"Ah, well, everything, but don't worry, I made him promise not to say anything, that this was his chance to prove to me that I could trust him."
Kate couldn't believe Mike's stupidity, she threw her arms in the air and moved away from him.
"Mike, he's an unpredictable teenage boy, who's currently mad at you, do you really think that was a good idea?"
"Kate, it's so far in the past it shouldn't matter."
She couldn't sit still, she paced around the lounge room, frustrated at his stupidity.
"Are you forgetting that reputation is everything in our job?! Tell me what you told him."
Mike rose from the couch, he wasn't going to be made to feel like a child.
"I told him about Watson's, okay? That we were together for a bit, and that we should have been more professional. Look, I was trying to get the point across that he needs to concentrate on study, and if he stuffs around, it could affect him later in his career. I mean, you can't exactly say that it was smooth sailing when you came on board Hammersley and the... well, all the other things..."
Liv turned to Maddie, her face wrinkled.
"Ah, I think I was right, your mum's talking about reputation, and what happened at Watson's bay?"
Maddie shook her head and pressed her finger against her lips.
"Shh, I can't hear."
Kate's stood in front of Mike, eyeballing him, her hands on her hips.
"Other things?"
Mike sighed, she was going to make him spell it out.
"Well, you know... umm, us being on and off and..."
Kate blood boiled, this was so typical of Mike, to tiptoe around things. She couldn't put up with it, not 17 years later.
"And?! C'mon, say it out loud, seeming you had no problem saying it to your son."
Mike stood there speechless, he didn't expect her to react this way. Kate cocked her head at his silence.
"No, okay, I'll say it. That working together and having a past relationship was unbearable. That you couldn't choose between us and the sea, even though it was a promotion? That it made us irrational and definitely affected operational protocol."
"Kate, I don't think that's fair."
"Fair, really? Do you forget the way you treated me the first time Jim and I were together? And Jim, for that matter? You know why he left the first time? Cos, he thought I was still in love with you! He put my happiness before his!"
"Hey! You aren't innocent either, you were the same when I was with Ursula."
She let out a hiss and turned away from him.
"That was different, she was, well she was something else, Jim, he was the love of my life! You, you were selfish, you strung me along for, god, 4 years! Deep down, I knew you'd never pick me over that goddamn boat!"
Mike couldn't believe her denial, he spun her round to face him, enraged that she was blaming him for everything.
"Did it ever occur to you that you were the love of my life? And I wasn't letting you go without a fight?"
Maddie stepped away from the door, trying not to hyperventilate, Liv wrapped her arm around her.
"Are you okay?"
Maddie glanced over to Liv, surprised about her calm state.
"Ah, how can I be?"
Back in the lounge, they were locked in each other's glare, Kate took a deep breath in trying to calm herself, but it didn't work.
"You don't treat the love of your life like that, Mike! I loved Jim, with all my heart..."
Mike let out a hiss, their arguments were always heated, he couldn't help but retaliate.
"Yeah, so much that you had to think about his proposal..."
Kate froze hearing his words, she spun round, livid, she couldn't believe he was questioning her feelings for Jim.
"Get out..."
Mike dropped his head, instantly regretting his words.
"Kate, I'm sorry!"
He reached out, trying to make contact with her, to show how sorry he was. She shook her head and backed away from him.
"No! Mike, you crossed the line. He's not here to defend himself, how dare you talk about my relationship with him!"
"Kate, I'm sorry, please, I came here too..."
She shook her head, dismissing him.
"To what?"
"To ask you out!"
She laughed ironically and rubbed her hands over her face in disbelief.
"Well, as usual Flynn, you completely stuffed it up, so, just go."
Maddie waited for the front door the click shut and poked her head out of her room, she watched as Kate sank back on to the couch and placed her head in her hands.
"Mum?"
Kate had forgotten that Maddie and Liv were in the house, she tried to wipe the tears away before Maddie saw, but she wasn't silly, or deaf.
"Oh, Maddie... umm..."
She sat next to her and rubbed her back.
"Is everything okay?"
"Yeah, sorry, just a disagreement."
"Disagreement, Mum that was a screaming match!?"
She couldn't look Maddie in the eye, she had never lost it in front of her, she felt ashamed.
"It's okay, sweetie, it's nothing..."
"It didn't sound like nothing... he upset you..."
She flashed her a weary smile and squeezed her hand.
"Can we talk about this another time?"
"Yeah, are you sure you're okay?"
"Yeah, I'm just gonna lay down for a minute..."
She rose from the couch and kissed Maddie on the head before she could ask more questions.
Maddie made her way back to her room and sat on her bed staring into space, she couldn't believe what she had heard, Liv tried to reassure her.
"Mads, you okay? Is your mum okay?"
"You heard that too, right? That your uncle and my mum, they..."
She nodded to Maddie wouldn't have to finish her sentence.
"Yeah, crazy..."
"And he loved her? And he obviously hated dad. I've never seen mum so upset..."
She needed to know more, she jumped up from the bed.
"I'm gonna talk to Dutchy."
Liv grabbed her arm, stopping her.
"Maddie, are you sure that's such a good idea?"
"Well, if she's not going to tell me..."
She tapped on Kate's bedroom door.
"Mum, we're just going for a walk to the shops, you want anything?"
"No, I'm all good sweetie."
They walked over to Dutchy's house and knocked on them door, he opened it surprised to see the girls.
"Hey! What's up?"
Maddie exhaled sharply, attempting to work up the courage to ask him.
"Ah, mum and Mike Flynn, what's the story there?"
Dutchy hesitated, knowing it was a delicate and private topic for Kate, and not something that he should be explaining to Maddie.
"Ah, have you spoken to your Mum about this?"
"Ah, she can't really talk about it right now."
"Is she okay? What happened?"
"Umm, her and Mike, they had a big argument."
"What? He was there?"
"Yeah, he just left, he said she was the love of his life, and then he said mum nearly turned down dad's proposal..."
Maddie was on the verge of tears, Dutchy pulled her in for a hug so she wouldn't see the rage grow on his face.
"Where's your mum now?"
"She's crying in her room."
Dutchy clenched his jaw, trying to contain his words.
"Bloody, Mike Flynn..."
Maddie looked up to him quizzically, he shook his head and grabbed his keys.
"Ah, you didn't hear that! Stay here, I'll go talk to her."
End Chapter 9
