The following morning

NAVCOM

Mike arrives at NAvcom after requesting a meeting with Steve the afternoon before, having spoken to AKte in private about what had happened the day before, both were in shock not just about his new posting but what had them more silent in that meeting was the news on Dutchy, bother wondering how Bird will cope without Dylan around but also working out how they can be of help to her when he is gone.

"Mike what can I do for you today, I am presuming that this meeting is in regard to yesterdays meeting," Steve says to him once they are both sitting down inside his office.

"It is, and sorry I didn't say anything yesterday but with both lots of news I had to go home and talk to Katie first before making any decisions on what I was going to do next. As you well know I was transferred off Hammersley on to Melbourne on medical grounds. I want that to still stand. I won't be accepting the transfer to Hammersley." Mike says to Steve and this was what he was expecting to happen yesterday but in more of a Mighty Mike Flynn demanding way, and for Steve this is a nicer way to address the issue with Mike than his normal ways of doing things.

"I know and I did bring that up with the Brass in Canberra, as you know Maxine is on leave and under investigation. They thought it be better to put you on, Hammersley. Having both Kate and yourself on the same ship makes it easier for them when they need to talk to you guys and both of you."
"Well tell them I say no but I am more than happy to stay on as CO of Melbourne, I know we aren't back in as much as the Patrol boats but at least for a frigate she isn't out as long as the big boys of her class are." He says hoping he can compromise with his superior over this matter."
"And Mike if they say no?" Steve asks, he knows what will come out of MIke's mouth.

"Well Kate and I spoke about this and we decided one us would leave if that happens. And after more talking it was decided that I would leave if that is the case, I did suggest she leaves but Kate did put a good case to me and so, in the end, we decided that yes I would leave. I have money to fall back on to as you well know my family is well off, Kate doesn't have that luxury of money to use if we need it later on, so if she stays working int eh Navy even when we do have kids she will still have benefits coming in to help and for her, that is highly important she needs to feel like she is giving to the home, to the living costs of both of us. It's got to do with how things were when she was a kid growing up with her mother."

"That I can understand she is very strong-willed is Kate and very determined in what she wants that is for sure," Steve says in reply to what Mike has said to him. It is of no surprise to him that Mike is prepared to leave the Navy for Kate

The two talk for another 30mins before they wrapped up Steve left trying to figure out how best to tackle the situation that Mike has given him. Well if he is honest with himself, he knew this was going to happen before even telling Mike yesterday, what has thrown him more is that Mike didn't get all upset and cross yesterday regarding it but instead went home and talk to Kate about it all then came in, he is noticing a more mature Mike one to think before acting, but he still feels if someone's life was on the line then he be as pig-headed and make a song and dance like what is normal for him to do.

Dylans home.

"Jess my uncle wants to give us the home," Dylan says after hanging up the phone from talking to his UNcle.

"What no we need to pay for it." She says firmly to him, she hates being given things and a home is something she doesn't want to be given she wants to pay her way as well, her share.
"I told him that but he said no, you have been living in it, looking after it, and since you are wanting it to live in with your partner may be your future wife then you can have it," Dylan reply's back to Jess, having spent the last 40mins in a disagreement with his uncle over them buying the place. "In the end, we managed to make an agreement that we will buy it and on a price as well but it is far less than what it is worth, I mean far less than its worth, but his feeling is since it is staying within the family then the price isn't important than the home staying within the family. He said it has always been in our family name. No one else has ever owned it he said to me, I always thought granddad had brought it and then given it to my uncle in his will, being the oldest of the two boys. But he said that his grandfather built it with his great grandfather."
"You wouldn't think it is as old as that?" Jess says knowing the house looks far more modern than a home of its age should look.

"Yea that is because when it was rented out it got very badly damaged, so he decided to totally renovate the whole place inside and out, and he had the two sheds outside added as well, and upgraded the garage as well."
"SHame it's lost all its character of an old home, but I bet there are many stories of fun times in this place."
"There have been good and bad times in this place. That is for sure over the years. I've had loads of fun in this place as a kid when my grandfather was still alive, it's a shame he is no longer with us he would love you" Dylan says to her, wishing his grandfather was still alive, he would love to introduce her to him, knowing he would approve of Jess, would love her for how down to earth she is and also how she doesn't like anything been handed to her, she likes to earn her keep

"Right we better go our appointment is soon with the bank," Dylan says as the two pick up the items they need before heading off to talk to the bank.

Jess having decided after another long talk in bed later last night that his idea wasn't, in fact, a bad, one though also having spoken to Kate about it earlier on int he evening also helped her decide that what Dylan was doing was a good thing, Kate said he was being responsible, and thinking of her over himself and that she should seriously consider accepting it. Plus Kate was right it was far better living there than the junior sailors courters at base. And as Kate said she can turn it more into a home with her own things redecorate things she doesn't like, and have space and quiet away from the fellow sailors that she has to live day in and day out at present on Melbourne, though in a couple of months she will be on land full time her being able to finally get into Barry General hospital to do more of her medics course, as being on Melbourne has meant she has been able to stay out on the water learning via the medics on there, she will be in for a 6month land base training before going back out for another 6months of on the water training.

Mike and Kate's place

"How did you get on with Steve?" Kate asks Mike as they lay cuddled up on the couch with a movie playing on the T.V. Their house quests being out shopping giving the two of them some alone time.

"Far better than expected to be honest." He lays a kiss on top of Kate's head
"I hope you didn't yell at him at all." Her knowing just how bad his temper can get, when things aren't going the way he wants them to be going.
"Nope I managed to stay cool calm and collected for once." this statement from Miek leaves Kate shocked, more the fact that he was calm with Steve.

"That is a miracle all in its own self. SO what is he going to do, do you know?"

"He couldn't give me an answer there and then, but he did say to leave it with him and he would return back with one, though he said it was Canberra that wanted me on Hammersley again they though having us both on the same ship while they deal with Maxine would make it easier for them when they need to talk to us, I said to Steve I am more than happy to stay on Melbourne but will not be stepping foot back on Hammersley, he wasn't happy either when I said I would resign if need be. But he fully understands where we are coming from in all of this." He says as they just lay there thinking of how things have been for them over the last ten years their ups and downs, and now the inquiry into Maxine White as well.
"I also put in our leave applications for our holiday next month, I said to him we are only away for ten days and that if the Brass needed us tough luck we both deserve and need it after everything else that has been going on, plus I did tell him we were planning on going in a few months but decided to move it forward so that we were around once Dutchy has left for Jess, he understood."

They lie there watching the movie that is on the T.V neither hearing their house quests arrive back until a little boy runs and jumps on the couch to join in with their cuddles.

"They looking a lot better than when I last saw them, mum." Says Julie Mike's younger sister, having arrived yesterday to visit.
"Yea it's not been an easy road for them of late."
"No it's not though last time Kate was pretty sick, she looks so much better, not just in colour but in weight," she says to her mum as they put away the food, them both agreeing that Kate is looking far better than she did several months ago when Julie last saw them both, having done an urgent visit up to see Kate and Mike when her mum rung concerned that they were going to lose Kate. This time around she came with her husband and her son as well. Decided she needed to take more time out to visit, and having rung her mum beforehand finding out that they were having some downtime for the next week she decided that she would bring the family up to visit. Have that much-needed family time with her parents and her brother all at the same time. She understands the nature of Mike's job her self being a NAvy Sailor, now working from the Naval Training Hospital in Sydney after asking for a shore posting after having little Jack 3 years ago. Of course it helps that her husband also works there too.

She followed her big brothers footsteps into the Navy, her parents had the money to pay for her to go to medical school and train as a nurse, but decided to go into the Navy after hearing of the stories from Mike. But what she liked was she got to travel, work and get a degree all at the same time. What she liked was no debt for doing it as well. But both Mike and herself understood the meaning of working for a living, working for your money and not expecting it to just grow on tree's.

Since the explosion that killed Jim, and badly injured Swain she realized just how much more important family time was, her and Jeff had already had leave approved for this week so instead of doing what they had planned to do 6months ago they decided to spend it with family.

REHAB CENTRE

Swain has been working hard since waking up to get strength back, to get movement to be able to walk on his won, but so far he is still needing a wheelchair far more than he would like to be using it. His physio reminds him that he is making progress and to give it time. Chris understands the medical side of it all he understands that he has had massive injuries to his legs and the fact they are still there is a big miracle in itself, but he also needs to give it time to adjust to build up muscles tone to get his legs to work again while also lacking muscles in places.

He knows he will never return to the sea again, not how he is now, all he wants to do now is get back to work. Steve agrees that he can do a few hours a day at Navcom since the doctors have also said that he can start returning back to some work. As much as he hates paperwork he is enjoying doing something else par physio, he is living at home now with Sally and the kids, them both seeing a councilor about their marriage and the issues that have been there even before he joined the Navy.