Walking along the quay Mike sighed he had looked everywhere he could think of and this was the last place he could think of before he would really start worrying. Stopping in front of Hammersley, he just hoped she was on here and not running away. She only had an hour before she was to stand in front of brass and if she was AWOL then it wouldn't look good and could make things worse.
Crossing the gangway, he checked the bridge first, Buffer had been on duty watch with Bird.
"Captain Flynn. I... I umm" Bird stammered brushing her hair from her face
"relax Bird I am not here on Ships business"
"oh" bird blushed
"its fine. I was wondering if you have seen Kate"
"what's happened?" Bird asked
"nothing really I just think she is petrified of what brass are going to say with what Commander Smith has said"
"we are all with her Boss" Buffer smiled walking up "Bird 08:00 checks clear" he smiled
"right buff" Bird said
"you looking for Kate?" Buffer turned to Mike
"yeah, although I have no idea where she is. I have looked everywhere I can think of. I don't even know what time she left. She just left a one-word note stuck to her medals. I just hope..." he trailed off trying to stop his mind even going there. It didn't bear thinking about.
"She is in her cabin" Buffer sighed "but don't tell her I said so. She will have me cleaning the heads with a cotton bud" Buffer half laughed
"thanks Pete" Mike half smiled heading down
"and boss, for what its worth we are all behind Kate. Commander Smith is being a ass and that is putting it politely as there are ladies present"
"thanks Pete" Mike smiled "it means a lot"
Standing outside the cabin he smiled softly before tapping gently on the door opening it
"Mike!" she said in alarm
"what the hell Kate. You had me worried sick. I wake up with a note saying sorry and your medals next to me. I had god knows what running round my brain" he sighed
"I just wanted one last look" she said with tears in her eyes
"Kate" he sighed wrapping his arms around her pulling her in to a hug kissing the top of her head. " we best get going, it is always best to be early in these situations" he smiled standing.
"what's the point Mike, we both know what is about to happen. So why bother" she said picking at a bit of imaginary fluff on the bed.
"there is every point. Get in there and fight prove you have done nothing wrong. If you don't go then Smith has won no matter what Brass say. But if you go and give your side of things. The truth will always come out" Mike said
"i can't do this though I am too tired and mentally drained from all of this. And I thought Knocker was bad" she sighed. "do you really think I stand a chance?" she asked looking up in to his eyes.
"of course. You are a fine sailor and a brilliant officer and Brass know that" Mike smiled
"will you stay with me?" she asked
"of course. Now shall we go?" he said softly.
Sitting in the 3rd floor corridor, Kate sighed looking at her watch there was still 15 minuets to go before everything went wrong. Time seemed to be going so slow, prolonging the pain.
"is it ironic that the conference room is on the right-hand side?" she said looking at Mike
"eh?" Mike said confused
"harry potter. The third-floor corridor on the right-hand side is out of bounds to anyone who doesn't want to die a painful death" she said "i thought you were reading the philosophers stone with Grace?" she said
"ah she didn't like the way I read it so I stuck the audio book on" he grinned
Shaking her head, she sighed. "well Stephen Fry does sound good" she smiled "how long is it going to be" she sighed her knees jerking
"Kate there is still 5 minutes to go" Mike said reaching across placing his hand on her knee to stop it jerking
"i just want to get this over and done with" she sighed looking in to his eyes.
Hearing footsteps approach Kate looked up, squinting she half recognised the figure approaching.
"Mike"
"Steve" mike held his hand out. "are you dealing with this?" he asked
"yeah. Brass want it resolved quickly."
"can I sit in?" Mike asked looking over at Kate who was chewing her finger-nail.
"Mike" Marshall sighed "its..."
"i will sit at the back, not make a sound or interfere"
"you don't know how not to interfere Mike" Marshall laughed "but okay" he nodded "no interfering otherwise you will have to wait outside"
"Thank you Steve" Mike smiled
Walking in to the room Kate sat down at the table in front of Marshall, commander Smith, and another member of Brass she didn't recognise.
"Lieutenant Commander McGregor, I assume you know why you are here today" Marshall said looking down at the papers in front of him
"yes" she said through gritted teeth, Catching the smug grin on Smiths face.
"could you please give your side of things please"
"where do you want me to start?" Kate asked
"lets start with the events of Sunday 8th November 2020. why did you not follow orders and leave on time?"
"because the orders were to leave at 11. Sir. I didn't want to move a 300-ton warship whilst people were choosing to remember the fallen. It was disrespectful to try and take the ship out at 11 am so I waited till 5 past. I did question the time with Commander Smith when he said but he just dismissed the point and said it had to be 11." Kate said
"thank you" Marshall smiled still scribbling down something on the paper in front of him.
"Commander Smith is only doing this because he is jealous" she said
Looking over at Smith Marshall tried to read his reaction. "could you explain what you mean."
"at ADFA I would always beat him in everything, I got the Sward for best naval cadet and that I got Command of Hammersley"
"please you're not going to believe that it's a pitiful excuse" Smith said looking as Marshall.
"you are though. Sir" Kate turned through gritted teeth "you wanted Hammersley because she is the most decorated ship in the fleet and you wanted to use that for yourself claim the awards as your own." Kate turned looking directly at him
"Sir you're not going to believe that are you. She is lying to save her own skin. She only married Captain Flynn to move up. Why don't you ask them about '02 and Watsons Bay?" he smiled smugly. The disobeying orders wasn't working so he was moving to using whatever slander he could.
"Kate" Marshall removed his glasses "care to explain?" he asked
Sighing she looked over her shoulder at Mike. Closing her eyes, she turned back.
"it is true that Mike and I did have a brief relationship when I was at Watson bay, but that was almost 20 years ago. It ended and I didn't see Mike till I was posted as XO on Hammersley in '07" she said.
"and I believe you Kate" Marshall Smiled "and after reviewing the evidence I am taking no further action on these matters."
"WHAT!" Smith imploded
"Commander Smith you will calm down at once. Lieutenant Commander McGregor as I said no further action will be taken and after reviewing Hammersley's Schedule for the past few months, I can clearly see you have been out more than what is to be expected there for I am placing Hammersley on at least 6 weeks shore leave unless something major comes up and then obviously you may have to sail" Marshall smiled "you can go" he said "Smith when you have finished sulking like a baby I would like a word upstairs" he said gathering his papers together
"Thank you, Sir," Kate stammered heading out
so really hope you like this. i have changed my mind half a dozen times with this one and it isn't exactly what i first had planed but i hope it is still just as good.
enjoy and let me know what you think
