The following morning

"Bloody navy has no sense in timing," comes from Kate as she prepares her bag to take back onto Hammersley, she is more hacked off that she is missing yet again another appointment with not only her doctor but her shrink, yes she still talks to Mike's dad and she was booked for another session for later in the afternoon, but now that has all been put aside as she yet again get the call to go out to sea. Another crash sail, she wishes she could blame Maxine for it but she isn't in charge right now and that if Steve is sending them out then it must be important, as he is fear and she also knows they are the only boat in port right now as the others sailed out on their arrival a couple of days ago.

"It's ok honey," comes from Mike having heard what she said.

"It's not ok, Okay, I'm missing another doctors appointment, thank god my bloods were done yesterday, unlike last time and I'm also going to miss another session with your dad tonight too," comes from her then before she knows it she is sitting on the floor, leaning against the bed, crying her eyes out she has no idea why the hell she is crying, but she is, Mike goes to her and just holds her.

"You can't go out like this honey," he says as he holds her firmly rubbing her back as she just let the tears fall, she really has no idea why she is crying, it's not the first time they've both been home together and then she or he has had to suddenly sail. They've spent more time apart than together since changing ships, and as much as she would have loved for him to come back to Hammersley they both knew it wasn't right.

"I'm going to ring Steve and let him know you're not able to sail today and that they need another XO to go out."

"Mike, I'm more than capable of doing my job." She bites back at him with anger, and for him its a positive from her, her fighting for her normal life.

"I know you are but I think your body is trying to tell you something that you need to talk to dad. We have had a lot of information in the last couple of days and with him being here he can be of help they'll be back soon and you can talk to him then.'' he says and he doesn't expect the next few words from her to come so easily.

"Ask Marshell if he will delay the sailing until I have spoken to your dad and been to my doctor appointment." She says as she just stays curled up in his chest on the floor, Mike gets out his mobile and rings Steve. Steve totally understands where Kate is coming from and grants them a later sail time as long as it is today and not tomorrow.

"Did you get told it's thanks to Chandlers that you're being sailed?" Mike asks once off the phone.

"Yes they've broken down. We have to take a part out to them so they can return back to base for more repairs and then we are doing their patrol."

"He's promised to have you guys back in port so we can go on our holiday." Comes from Mike. The two just sit there for a bit longer before the sound of the front door opening brings them out of their own world, Kate goes back to finishing off sorting her bag out for Hammersley, cursing under her breath that the Navy is hopeless and can't even give the promise down time to the crew.

"It just be nice to have the shore leave as promised and not be crashed sailed because of something else going on.

She also knows there be others just as pissed off as her about being crashed sailed yet again and this time would be worse they've been given a weeks shore leave, she now wonders how many will be able to turn up or not, how many she is going to need to inform Navcom of that are missing and need replacing.

Dylan's Parents Place

Dylan and Jess have finally arrived at his parents place, he picks up his phone and notices a text message from Kate with the words "CRASHED SAILED" on them. He thought his phone was connected up to the car's inbuilt system by using bluetooth, he notices the bluetooth is on but can't figure out why it didn't hook up unless it picked up Jess's Phone first. Which could explain it.

"X, it's Dutchy. Why have we been crashed sailed?" he asks after she answers her mobile.

"Chandlers has broken down." Is all she says and he hears her deflated tone, he knows she isn't happy about this at all, but he also can tell something else is up but what he isn't sure.

"X, I'm 5hrs away, I thought we had a week's shore leave, so Jess and I headed to my parents we just arrived and I didn't notice that my mobile hadn't connected up to the car's bluetooth system." He says trying to explain why his phone call is an hour after the message is sent.

"Don't stress Dutchy we aren't selling until later on today. Are you able to come back or would you prefer to stay there?" She asks him, giving him the choice of what he wants to do. Her knowing full well that in a couple of months time he won't be able to go visit them. The choice throws him off a bit, but he can hear the unsaid words from her as well.

"I can come back if you want me there X." he says to her giving her the choice of if he should return or not, he doesn't want to but he made a promise to be there for her, be her buffer

"Not what I asked Dutchy, what do you want to do, or prefer to do." Comes from Kate she knows in her heart what she would be saying if it was the other way around.

"Stay here to be honest X, but I made a promise to Mike to be there to protect your back when on Hammersley." he says and he feels like he is letting her down by not going.

"Ok then I'll let Navcom know I need a temporary buffer along with 5 other sailors that have rung and said they can't make it back in time as well. Enjoy your time with your parents Dutchy." She says as she hangs up mobile.

"X you sure about this?" He asks her just to make sure.

"Yes I am Dutchy, go spend time with your folks and Jess, I know soon you won't get it, enjoy it while you can." She says before hanging up the phone, on him.

"Dylan everything ok?" Comes from his mum as he sees him staring out into space.

"Just dealing with work, Hammersley has been crashed sail and the car's hands free system never informed me of the message, I've spoken to the Executive Officer and she has told me to stay here with you guys." He says to his mother. As he gives her another hug.

"If you have to go back, then go back son." She says to him not knowing what is going to unfold in a few months, but just pleased to get some time with her son. She also understands how important his work is as well, so pleased he didn't stay on and run the farm, pleased he chose a different career path for himself. Now she is more interested in getting to know the young lady he has brought home with him and how serious he is about this young lady.

"No mum I don't have to go back. The X said it was ok to stay here so that is what we will do. Plus you guys need to get to know Jess, even more so with us living together now. I know she is young mum, but she is the one, that is why I brought her here to meet you guys, you need to meet her to see just how fab she is. Though mum don't be surprised if she takes over your kitchen, she is a bloody good cook, she was the cook on Hammersley, but is training to be a medic now." His mum hears the pride in his voice as he talks about the young lady he brought home to them to meet, she has had her concerns about him being with someone so young, but with how she has been since she arrived, so polite and well mannered. What surprises her is how she is not just a sailor but is training to be a medic that she knows requires hard work, long hours as well. This makes her think more of this girl, more so that she isn't going to try and bludge off her son, that she is prepared to work hard to make her own money.

"You sure about this Dylan? She isn't just something to pass the time with?" She asks him, she knows she shouldn't but she cares for her son, she worries about him, and she just doesn't want to see him get hurt, like has done so many times beforehand.

"I am mum, and don't worry. I've been talking to a counselor about all of this as well. Just to make sure, and with his help we have come to the conclusion that I have had feelings for her for a very long time, I don't know what it is about her that has drawn me in, but something has. Don't worry mum she is just as scared about all of this as me, she didn't want to live with me she was happy to go back to her old place, but she stayed because I asked her too. The best thing mum is I sleep now, I truly sleep." He says, his mum had noticed how much more refreshed he looked on this visit, and she also knows how he struggles to sleep as well as when he stays he is often up late or wakes during the night and there are times where they hear him having nightmares.

"She calms me mum, for the first time since Helen, do I see a future again, feel like I am whole again, and most of all mum she's not after anything she has no hidden agenda." He says they all know what Helen did to him, including Jess, and he told her just in case they ran into her when visiting his parents.

The two talk some more before Jess comes out with a coffee for Dylan and the three then talk, while waiting for his dad to return back from work. They sit and enjoy each other's company. His mum learns a lot more about Jess, and what makes his mum happy is she wants to help while staying. She is prepared to pull her weight, so far she is earning far more respect from his mum than Helen ever did, by just being herself. She is starting to see why her son has fallen for this young lady.

Cairns

Mike's place

"Is everything ok with Kate?" his sister asks having seen Kate leave and not even say hi or bye to when she spoke to her.

"They've been crashed sailed, she off to see the doctor, then be home to talk to dad before they leave, don't take any offense to it." Mike replies to his sister having also noted how Kate was before she left.

"You're not going with her to the doctor?" she asks him.

"Nope, Kate said she was fine to go on her own, she knows all she has to do is ring and I will be there for her." He says as he flicks through more paperwork.

"God, do you ever get a break from paperwork." She says as she sits down beside him. Eyeing hits stack of paperwork

"The joys of being the rank I am and in command of a frigate, sis. I get loads more paperwork to do than the rank you are when serving on a ship, or like with your current job where you can leave it at work. I can't sadly. As you know when you do your report on an incident while serving on the boats it goes to your divisional officer, who checks it then passes it on to me, or their divisional officer. I then have to read everyone's report and not only do my own report of what I did but also include all the reports and a brief overview of all their reports, which then goes to Maxine."

"If this is what you do on the boat I hate to think what you would do if you were at Navcom."

"That is why I prefer being at sea, yes there is paperwork but shit loads less of it."

"I'm pleased that I'm not your rank or in charge of a boat, I can just do all mine while at work and then leave it there, once out the doors of work I can then think about home, the kids and being a wife."

"I could do this on board and it should have been done sooner, but the problem is we never have enough time on board at times, more so if something comes up so close to home, I then got to wait, so yes sadly work comes home with me."

"So how long are you on Melbourne for?" she asks.

"Not sure to be honest, no one has given me a time frame."

"That's odd normally you get, given a time frame."

"Normally yes, but I am just a temporary CO for her, her one is off on medical leave and I'm on until he returns."

"That makes it hard for you."

"It does but I am taking leave in a few weeks, Kate and I are going on a holiday, mum and dad are going to be staying here as there is some work going to be done while I'm gone as well."

"What work is that?" His sister asks him.

"The roof is being redone and there are a few other things to be done as well, just small things. Dad said he is going to make a start on some of the things today so that he has something to do. I know he's gone to get supplies to make a start."

"Trust dad. If he's not talking to patients he is busy building things with his hands." she says the two jsut sit there side by side, enjoying just being around each other, they use to hate each other when younger but over time they have grown to love each other, and have a better understanding of each other as well.

Hammersley

1800hrs

Hammersley is cruising the waters on their way to meet up with Chandlers, to provide them with the part they need, it took time for Marshall to sort out the few replacements that were needed. Everyone is doing their normal routines, the new Chef is getting the hang of life on a Patrol boat, and has finally nailed how Kate likes her coffee. Kate is also trying to figure out who the new buffer is, she is sure she knows him from somewhere but not sure where. They are yet to talk, but she knows Marshall wouldn't put someone who isn't up to the job on board Hammersley not after everything they all have been through. He knows how Mike will react if something was to happen to not just her but the rest of the sailor son board, though Kate was surprised he didn't do his stack when he found out Dutchy wasn't going to be there, but maybe just like her he knows just how important this visit is for them.

The following day

NAVCOM

Steve's Office

"Thanks for coming in today Mike."

"So what did you want to see me about today."

"This." Steve says as he passes over some paperwork, Mike reads through it several times.

To Commander Mike Flynn

On your return from you holiday it will be with great pleasure for us here at Fleet Command and with the express wishes of the Chef of Navy, we will be giving you your next set of orders and those next set of orders are Command of Navcom Cairns, Captain Steve Marshall will stay on for a period of time after you take over to provide you with the help needed to transition from Commanding a Frigate to the Command of Navcom. He will be able to stay on for as long as needed to help with this transition. I hope that this change in postings and orders will be met with honor, and pride.

Fleet Command And Chef of Navy

"Sir?" Mike asks him not fully believing what he is reading.

"I got it sent to me yesterday evening, after our talk the other day, I rang them and spoke to them in more depth. I suggested that you should take over here once you are back from your holiday and it seems that they agree with it."

"What about Melbourne?" Mike asks knowing him leaving is going to leave them in a tight spot.

"Well their CO this morning emailed me his resignation on medical grounds, so I have a few weeks to find a replacement, while your on holiday they going to have some shore leave while it gets some maintenance, it sort of gave me a good excuse to bring her in, to get a few jobs done on her plus gives me just a fraction bit longer to sort out a CO."

"How long are you going to stay on here to help? Do you have another posting to go to afterwards?" Mike asks, wondering how long he will stay around to be of help to him.

"For as long as you need me Mike and nope I don't have another posting to go to after this. I float around Mike and go where I am needed when I need to, there are a few of us who aren't fixed to a set posting, this allows us to step in on short notice to do any role, like I am now. This role isn't an easy one at all, it's going to be bloody hard and tough on you Mike, your going to be responsible for more than just 20 odd sailors, but most of all Mike your going to have to follow the rules no cowboy antics like you are use to getting away with, that is why I want to stay on to help guide you in the right direction with decisions plus its a sounding board for you when you need it more so when it involves Hammersley as I told them that you may find it hard to stay objective with Kate serving on it, and with me here I can deal with Hammersley and anything that is major and important that you may find hard to deal with, plus Mike I have a lot of faith in you more than some do in the Navy, but I feel with my help you will became an excellent CO for Navcom, The chef feels the same way, the way you have handled things after the bombing just shows us there is a lot more to Mike Flynn than a Patrol boat captain."

"That would be good to be honest as it will be hard to stay objective with that particular boat. But also having the help to learn this new role is going to be important. It's different."

"It sure is Mike."