Pulling back the covers Kate sighed. The kids had only finished school on Friday and she was already wishing the summer break was over and it was only Saturday. She was feeling exhausted and drained. Between Nicole and Grace squabbling over the littlest things it was almost enough to make her want to up sticks and move to a deserted island in the middle of the reef. Mike had the right idea of being in work.

Leaning against her pillows she pulled her book off the bedside cabinet. She actually hadn't read in a few weeks and would properly have to re start the whole book as she couldn't not remember the story up to the point she had got to. Pulling her book mark out she opened the book back on the first page as Mike walked in after dealing with Grace who kept getting out of bed for various reasons like she needed a drink then the loo and then another drink. The icing on the cake was Mike had been to check on them before coming to bed himself and Grace was sat playing with her toys

"you okay?" Mike asked eventually sliding in next to her

"yeah. Gracie finally in bed?"

"yeah reluctantly" he said

"please let these holidays go by quickly" Kate sighed turning back to her book

"you know they are all asleep now" Mike grinned sliding his arm across her waist nipping her neck.

Moaning slightly her book fell to the floor. Turning to face him she gasped slightly as she felt his hand run under her shirt. Wrapping her arm around his neck she pulled him closer deepening the kiss as his hands moved down her body and along her waist

Falling asleep resting on his chest Kate was awoken several hours later with her phone buzzing loudly on the side. Pulling it towards her she could see it was just after 2am.

"Kate Mcgregor" she yawned sitting herself up right. "Shit" she swore loudly reaching for the lamp next to the bed. She looked over at Mike who had woke up sitting up

"what's wrong" he mouthed

"okay I can be there as soon as I can" she sighed ending the call.

"what's happened" Mike asked as Kate slid from the bed.

"SIEV has hit a reef just off Thursday island and is taking on water fast Broome is on her way but we are still closer." she said pulling off her sea bag from the shelf in the wardrobe putting her other uniforms in as well as the other clothes she would need whilst she was at sea.

"do you want a coffee?" he asked

"its alright. I can do it you go back to bed" she smiled picking up her boots and her sea bag

"its alright I am up now anyway" he said walking over kissing her softly.

Half an hour later Kate walked over the gangway of Hammersley. Dumping her bag in her cabin she checked the board to see who was on and who was still to arrive. Thankfully most of the crew were there and it was just Bird to arrive. Pulling her mobile from her pocket she pulled up Birds number. Getting voice-mail Kate headed on to the bridge

"has anyone heard from Bird?" she asked

"no Ma'am" was the round response but everyone was mostly too tired to respond on account of being up at a ungodly.

Calling bird again she smiled when the young sailor picked up this time and said she was on her way she just had find someone to check on her new puppy whilst she was at sea but she was in fact 20 minuets away.

Reading the information that had been faxed through from NAVCOM the SIEV that was going down was actually pretty big which is why they had been crash sailed. There were a unknown number of people on board but it was estimated to be at least 200 people on board including children.

Sitting in her cabin later that evening Kate connected to a skype call with mike. It had taken longer than she would like to reach the search area and they were still at least 8 hours away and wouldn't get to the search area until first light which would be a whole 24 hours after they had crash sailed.

"hey" Mikes face popped up in screen

"hey how are things" she smiled leaning back in her seat

"good. A few tears this morning because you couldn't say goodbye but apart from that things have been good"

"important question. Have you done the elf on the shelf?" she grinned knowing how much he hated the damn thing

"i have as it happens" Mike smiled

She watched as he lifted up his laptop carrying it in to the kitchen turning it so the camera was facing a plate which was on the side. On which he had laid chicken bones in the shape of a "elf body" and covered them in BBQ sauce. At the top of the plate, he had sat the Grinch toy she had brought him last Christmas as a joke present as all through advent, he was being a grumpy bastard. The grinch was holding a knife and fork and he had sat the other elf tied up against the pepper grinder watching on in horror

"Mike do you want them to have nightmares" she asked as he turned the laptop back on to himself.

"and I really don't want to be dealing with that when I come home." she sighed

"okay then what should we do." Mike sighed

"i am running short on ideas." Kate said looking to the door hearing a kerfuffle outside. "i best go" she sighed "why don't you do something like umm the elf could have I don't know maybe you could I know sit him in the freezer on the ice cream. There are some of the little ice cream spoons in the draw" Kate said inspersion hitting as the phone rang, "and now I must go" she said

"fair winds Kate" she heard Mike call as she pushed the screen down on the laptop

reaching for the phone she pulled it towards her, "CO" she said listing to RO on the other end who was connecting NAVCOM who obviously wanted a update and to give any update to the operation plans.

There was still no new information on how many were on board the SIEV however there was more information that it was continuing to take on water but that was all they had as coast watch had to return back to base because of a storm coming in.

Leaning back in her seat she looked up at their baring. She knew they were still a good 8 hours away she just felt helpless that they couldn't get there any faster the logistics of traveling north along the coast line meant they had to watch out for the reefs so they themselves didn't get stuck and needed rescuing them selves.

so hope you like this chapter. the elf idea evil as it is is one i saw on FB the other week and actually found it hilarious although the poster did say her 5yo was traumatized and begun telling the Grinch off. anyway hope you enjoy. the next chapter will be a continuation of this one (sort of) anyway hope you like this