Sitting on the Bridge Kate starred out the main window watching as the port slowly came in to view it had been a harrowing 48 hours, most of which was actually spent at sea. They had arrived too late and the SIEV they had been sent to was just showing above the waterline with lots of the passengers in the water struggling with the current. Broome had arrived moments before and had already launched their RHIBS to help pull the people from the water. They rescued all they could but it would seem in an attempt to stop the boat sinking the masters had not only thrown people over board but had also resorted to pretty drastic measures in not to get caught.

"boss" Nav walked up behind her "specials are closed" she said softly

Turning she smiled weakly "thanks Nav" she whispered

Moments later they pulled alongside. After dealing with the checks Kate walked out in to the boat deck. Pulling her bag on to her shoulder. Walking over the gangway she could see Mike stood on the quay. Dropping her bag, she threw her arms around him burying her face in his shoulder.

"hey" Mike whispered soothingly catching her holding the back of her head

Burying her face further in to his shoulder she

"come on, let's get you home" he said softly reaching for her bag

"i have to go to NAVCOM I have a report..." she stammered looking around

"its fine Marshall is okay with leaving it and with the report you emailed over

Nodding softly, she allowed mike to lead her along the quay to the waiting car. She didn't really have the strength to argue she hadn't slept in the past 24 hours unable to get the image of the sinking SIEV out of her head especially given the time of year.

It didn't take long to drive through the city back home. Walking through the door Kate dropped her bag on the floor

"think I am going for a shower and a lie down" she said in a monotone voice

"okay. Do you want a drink?" Mike asked

"i just want to sleep" she whispered turning on the stairs to face him

Standing under the water in the shower Kate closed her eyes feeling the water wash over her. Brushing the water off her face she reached for her towel stepping out. Changing in to a pair of leggings and a baggy top she curled up on the bed pulling the sheets tightly around her.

"hey" Mike smiled walking in "i have brought you a hot chocolate" he smiled

Sitting up she half smiled "mike its 30 degrees out" she said taking it carefully taking some of the whipped cream off before it formed a volcano down the side of the cup

"i know but its never too hot for a hot chocolate and I know it always cheers you up. Especially after a tough patrol" he said sitting next to her.

Taking a sip she almost coughed as there was the familiar taste of whisky. Placing it on the side she looked up at him she could feel the alcohol warming her from the inside out

"yeah, I may have also added some baileys" he smiled

"that was for Christmas" she said mock scalding him but grateful.

"i know but I thought you could do with a pick me up." he said brushing her hair off her face

"it was so awful." she said turning "they were all in the water by the time we got there" Kate whispered "we pulled as many out as we could but some..." she tailed off

"hey" Mike said scooting closer pulling her in.

Resting her head against his chest she could feel the tears "they were just kids" she said

Sitting in silence for what felt like a age Kate eventually pulled away "so where are the kids?" she asked

"i had to take them in to the office and left them with Steve so I best go and relieve him I said I was only going to pick you up" he smiled "you going to be okay?" he asked standing up

"yeah. I am just going to try and get some shut eye" she smiled

"you sure?" Mike asked softly

"yes, now go and get the kids before they drive Steve round the twist" she smiled

"what more than Hammersley did" Mike grinned "have a good sleep" he said kissing the top of her head

Kate laughed slightly picking up her drink sipping it again. The cream mike had put on top had all melted down in to a creamy puddle on top of the chocolate. Placing the mug back on the side she slid down the bed trying to sleep.

Resting her head on the pillow she slowly closed her eyes and tried to get some sleep. It must have been the fact that she was off the ship and wasn't thinking about what was in the cold room about 50 ft away from where she was trying to sleep but she managed to get a few hours of undisturbed sleep.

She awoke to the sound of the door banging open and a thundering up the stairs slowly coming round she could hear mike calling up the stairs to Grace. Sighing she leant back against the pillow as the bedroom door crashed open.

"Mummy" Grace dived on to the bed

"hey" Kate forced a smile as they were quickly joined by Chris clambering on to the bed.

"why didn't you say goodbye" grace demanded

"because you were asleep and I didn't want to disturb your dreams"

"you could have though mummy" Grace said sadly

"that's enough Gracie Mummy has had a hard few day" Mike said walking in to the room behind them. "come on downstairs please"

"fine" grace sulked sliding off the bed

"its fine I'm getting up my self" Kate smiled sliding from the bed

"you sure?" Mike asked

"yes, I can't spend all day in bed and anyway I won't sleep tonight." she said easing her feet in to the slippers "why don't we have a movie night?" Kate suggested as she walked down the stairs

"yay can we have a Maccas for tea?" Grace called bouncing from the bottom step

"don't bounce you will fall straight through the floor and maybe end up in England" Mike said as he stepped down.

"i didn't bounce" Grace protested

Sitting on the sofa Kate reached for the remote loading up Netflix to see what Christmas films on and available to watch. Scrolling through the list. There were lots of the old classics like; white Christmas, it's a wonderful life and meet me in St Louis. But she knew the kids would never sit through them and would soon get board at the black and white pictures or the language used. They were films that she and mike could snuggle up and watch with some wine once the kids were in bed.

"Maccas?" Mike said sitting next to her

"yeah, I actually CBA right now" she smiled

"what do you fancy?" Mike said loading up the app

"umm" she said looking over his shoulder "ooh that Parmi burger looks nice "she smiled "yeah the Parmi burger with a large fry and just get the kids chicken nuggets." she smiled still scrolling through the list of films. "what about this one?" she clicked on to a 'Christmas Carol 2001'"#

"a Christmas carols?" Mike said "bit old school isn't it and what about the ghosts"

"it is classic Christmas this one is a animation and has got Kate Winslet and Nichols cage in. It's a musical movie and it is a Universal so it's okay for all of them" Kate smiled clicking on it for it to download and play.

Pulling her knees up she pressed play on the film. Chris not wanting to be left out pulled himself up sitting next to Kate playing with the pull tie on her trousers.

Tucking in to their food which had arrived not long after the film had begun, they settled down to watch the film. They had just got to the part where Marley appears before Scrooge and Chirs Dived on to Kate almost knocking her chips flying

"hey its only pretend" Kate whispered softly as Chris nervously kept looking at the T.V to see if the spirt had disappeared.

Finishing the food Kate leaned in resting her head on Mikes shoulder she sighed watching the end of the film. She still couldn't shake the images from the last rescue out of her mind but she had seen worse in her time on Hammersley. She was slowly beginning to feel more like herself watching her own children happily watching a Christmas move. There was just over a week till Christmas and Hammersley was now back on the original idea of not being sailed till 2021.

so hope you like this. a few of you have said about the 200 people in the boat in a pandemic. whilst i know 200 people is a lot especially in the current situation but the reason behind this is because the smugglers dont actually care and only care about money. anyway the version of a Christmas Carol they are watching is a really nice version and i love the soundtrack a song called What if? sung by Kate Winslet (who only agreed to sing it if the moneys raised went to charity)