It's been a year since the attempting bombing on Cairn's

A year since the lives changed for many of those on board Hammersley.

6 months since Dutchy left

Kate started to heal more after Jim's parents got in touch with her a few months ago, it had taken them that long to go through his things after his death, they had it all packed up and put into storage. Once they started to slowly go through it they found photos of the two of them, emails he had printed off and kept as well, which they could tell he had carried around with him, they realised she was the Kate he spoke to them about, the one he had asked to marry him, but she never got a change to give him an answer. She was able to return the ring back to his parents, and this for Kate was a huge help as she didn't feel right keeping it as it was a family heirloom to Jim's family. She never told them that she was going to decline his proposal instead deciding it was best for them to think of their son planning a future and being happy, and not have her ruining those memories.

The Navy had decided to have a 1 year anniversary of the bombing, more so to celebrate the achievements of all those involved with it, and to remember Jim, even though he wasn't a Navy sailor they still honored him for his work in helping to keep their country safe. Sadly Dylan was unable to attend the service but he along with the whole crew got medals, Dylan like Chris and a few others got extra recognition due to them playing more of a role, like him for catching Miss Cruise. The day was a day for very mixed emotions

Sally and Chris found out that they are expecting another boy.

Jess was doing well with her training missing Dylan, but she would get the odd email from him, she knew he couldn't reply to her all the time but she always sent him an email once a week with what she was doing and how it was all going, she had moved her promise ring from her right hand to her left hand, and on to her finger were an engagement ring would set, she knew it was what it was going to lead too once he was home, so she took the chance and moved it, and she also told him via email what she had done.

Larnie had got her visa to stay in Australia, no one knew par Larnie that Kate also put in a report to help her come over, but her report was something that gave those doing the application more to think about, she did it as a partner of a Navy sailor, she even got Sally to help, even though she knew Chris and her were having troubles she knew if she could prove to them that even though Charge's first marriage failed it wasn't because of him but because of his wife not wanting to work at it. Sally's help showed that yes it's tough with kids but it also showed that she was putting in just as much work into the marriage and saving it as Chris was. They also both put in how Hammersley is a family and that they support all their sailors and Family, even with a new CO, the way the crew was didn't change at all, the new CO enjoyed working with Mike's crew, he found them more relaxed more approachable, but also what he found the most important was they always had each other's back no matter what. He also knew the new buffer was adjusting and being accepted into the family.

Kate was pleased to be in at base and on some leave, for her she was struggling just a tad, more so the memories and having someone to talk to was helping her, someone who she could trust other than Mike. A few could see Kate was struggling, but it wasn't just her as well Chris was also going through a rough patch, the two were talking more to each other now, at the start Kate struggled, Sally knew why she was struggling, she knew Kate blamed herself for the death of Jim and for the injuries that were sustained to Chris, Sally never blamed her she blamed Madaline Cruise for it, having been told by Mike who was behind it all so that she knew who cause the injuries to her husband. He wasn't supposed to tell her but he felt she deserved to know the truth, but also that Kate ordered them to get off in time as well, that Kate wanted to stay but that Jim and Christ told her to go that they would sort it out.

Dylan is not enjoying his new posting, he didn't realise just how much Hammersley was a family but most of all how they all worked so well as a team and could do it with eaze, his new team of fellow ship mates are very different and he is struggling with how they prefer to work, which is more solo than as a team and together, his gut keeps telling him something is going to happen to them if they aren't careful. When he gets time he checks his emails and loves reading the ones from Jess and how things are going for her, how she is enjoying her medics course.

6 Months later

18months since the explosion

Unknown to everyone is that Dylan is returning home today, well, not unknown to Mike and Steve, who are both running NAVCOM together and have made the team of boats based from that Navy base the best in the whole fleet of boats. They know he is returning but Dylan asked for it to be left as a surprise. Mike is pleased that he has returned home alive and not dead. He is also happy he is home sooner than planned but the reason for it leaves him pissed off.

Kate walks into Mike's office.

"How are my two favorite people doing?" he asks as he watches Kate move and sit down in front of his desk. She looks tired to him, and he knows she had a rough night last night with sleep.

"I'm tired, sore and sick of my bladder being used as a football." She replies back to him. Her voice sounding just how she feels.

"Well you don't have much longer to go honey, and why don't you go home and rest." he says as he moves around to sit beside her in his office.

"I can't go home. I have paperwork to finish off and I know it's not much longer, a couple more weeks then I am on leave, then I can rest and hopefully this fella won't make us wait too much longer."

"I thought you said it was a girl?" Mike says to her both having decided to leave the sex of the child unknown until it came.

"Today it's a boy, there is no way in hell would my daughter use my bladder as a football." She says to them, he places his hand on her belly and feels their child moving around inside Kate, the feeling always amazes him. But he also notices how firm it is, more firmer than what it is normally like when he places his hand on her belly to feel their child moving around.

Suddenly Kate feels a sharp pain, which Mike feels through his hand, he looks at her and then there is water all over the floor of Mike's office. Mike see's the fear and worry in her face. As he is about to go get Steve, he walks into the office and notices what has just happened and rings for an ambulance.

"Why didn't you tell me you been having contractions honey?" MIke asks as he stays beside her as they wait. Feeling her belly get tight every so often.

"I didn't know they were? I just thought the pain was from all the bladder kicking I have been getting on and off all day long." She says back to him, she now realises she must of been in early labour.

8 Hours later

Cairns Hospital

Everyone has gathered at the hospital to wait for the news on the new arrival. Unknown to Kate she had been in Labour for most of the morning before her waters broke in Mike's office. She was worried about the baby being 4weeks early but her midwife reassured her it would be ok, they gave her drugs to help the baby's lungs and allowed nature to take it cause, with the waters broken they couldn't stop the labour they had to allow the baby to be delivered.

It didn't take Kate long once she was allowed to start pushing for their little bundle of joy to arrive. A baby Girl named Sarah Lousie Flynn.

Unknown to Kate is that Dylan was about to arrive at the hospital after Mike texted him hours earlier about what was happening.

Out in the waiting area, Dyaln has arrived and everyone is talking to him except Jess who hadn't yet arrived as she had been working. They all know when she arrives as she lets out a scream and then runs to Dylan and hugs him for dear life, before they break apart and share a very passionate love filled longing kiss with each other.

"Your home?" She asks once she can speak

"Yes I'm home." He says to her they just stand there holding each other, a year being a long time to be away from each other with limited contact.

"But you're early? What happened? Did you get hurt?" She says to him panic sounding in her voice, he knew keeping his return a secret would cause this for her, as they both knew he, would be gone for 18months at least.

"I'm ok, yes I got hurt, but it wasn't serious and I'll explain the rest later to you."

"Does mum and dad know?" She askes wondering who knew he was coming and didn't tell her so she could be cross. She has kept in touch with his parents since she met them, them now loving the girl like one of their own children seeing just what Dylan their son see's in her. She is by far one of the best choices for a woman that he has made, they feel now. Sadly her own parents are still not talking to her but she sends them emails and letters, hoping one day they will.

"No, Mike, Steve and Fleet Command are all that knew, Plus I wanted to surprise you." He says, as he caresses her face, smiling at her, love showing in his eyes as the two stand there forgetting about everyone else around them, the crew all watching the two of them. Neither having broken the hold on each other.

"Surprise is right, when do you go back?" she asks her one fear is him having to return and leave her behind again. Also knowing that he was meant to be there longer, meaning he must have to go back.

"I'm not going back, Mike has made sure of that one, though I am on leave for a few weeks then I will get my next posting. I asked to be posted here if possible." He says to her they share another kiss, and as they are kissing Mike walks over to the group, smiling when he sees the two of them.

"You two break it up please." Comes from Mike, they all turn to look at him.

"First off Kate is tired so she has asked just to see my family and Jess of course. The rest of you she said can come back tomorrow. We have a girl, who we have named Sarah Louise Flynn, 7lbs 3oz," Mike says to them all they say congrats to him and Kate before heading off to the local pub to celebrate in true Hammersley style, Dylan stays knowing that Kate has no idea he is back.

"It's good to see you, how was the flight."

"Not too bad, pleased to be home though." He says to Mike as the two walk towards Kate's room. Mike knowing what happened overseas. The emails from him to Mike was what helped to get him taken off the team once he got injured. Dylan's gut wasn't wrong at all, an accident was waiting to happen; he was just lucky it wasn't a serious one.

Jess and Dylan didn't stay long after seeing Kate and the new baby, Kate was pleased to see him back, she knew it would help pick Jess up some more. Plus help her with everything that has unfolded. They all still had open wounds from that day, not as open as they once were as they were all still healing.

Chris was starting to learn to walk again with help it had taken a long time to get his muscles strong enough to be able to hold his weight, more so his badly damaged leg, his aim was to be able to walk again even if he could only ever walk short distance being able to just get up and walk would be a blessing to him.