A/N: Apparently this story wasn't done yet. People asked for a continuance and here it is. There will probably be at least one more part that will segue into a different story idea I had for this pair. DISCLAIMER: You know the drill. Anything you recognize does not belong to me. Enjoy!

A week and a half after Crabtree Island the Hammersley docked at HMAS Cairns. The ship was scheduled for a week of maintenance, which meant that any crew not assigned duty watch were given a week's shore leave. Jess couldn't wait to get home to her flat and decompress. Maybe she'd take some time to fly down to Melbourne and see her family. It had been a while since she had seen them in person. Video calls could only do so much.

She followed Charge and 2Dads toward the gangway, but her steps slowed when she saw the two Federal Police inspectors waiting on the quay.

"You alright there Bird?" Dutchy asked from where he'd come up behind her. She hadn't realized her feet had come to a complete stop and she was now blocking the way.

"For some reason I'd never thought about the whole legal process that would be started after turning those two psychos over to the police last week. We were crash sailed and I think I kind of buried the fact that we'd have to tell the police about what happened somewhere in my brain and forgot about it."

She watched 2Dads's steps hitch and his smile falter for a second when he also saw the waiting inspectors before he continued up the gangway. Swain had stopped to talk to them and called 2Dads over when he spotted him.

She turned wide eyes on Dutchy. "I don't think I can relive it Dutchy," she said, shaking her head back and forth. "I cant."

He laid a broad hand on her shoulder. "Jess I know you're scared, but you can do this. You're strong. Plus with our testimonies and the evidence they gathered from the island those two will spend the rest of their miserable lives rotting in jail."

His words brought a small amount of comfort through the fog of panic that had taken over her mind and she inhaled a deep breath. Then another. He was right. She could do this. She had to do this. The others' testimonies would be damning enough, but she wanted every nail possible put in their coffins. There was no way those two were going free.

"Thanks."

He gave her a smile. "Anytime Chicken Legs. We'll get through this together yeah?"

She smiled at him as Swain spotted them and waved them over. "Together."

"Bird, Dutchy, this is Inspector Sharp and Inspector Bailey," Swain said making the introductions when they joined the group. "Inspectors, this is Seaman Jessica Bird and Petty Officer Bosun's Mate Dylan Mulholland. The last member of the Exped team is our radio operator who should be along shortly."

"Excellent," Inspector Sharp said. "We spoke to your commanding officer and he's given the go ahead to conduct our interviews on board. I'm sure you all are probably ready to get this over with." They gave nods and shared looks of agreement were passed around. "If you'll head to the officers' mess we'll get underway."

"Of course," Dutchy said. He gave Bird's hand a brief squeeze as he went by leading the way back down the gangway. They made their way back through the ship until they reached the senior officers' mess where the captain was already waiting for them.

"I'd like to be present for this if that's alright with you?"

Inspector Bailey shrugged. "Fine by us." She turned to the rest of the group. "We'll interview you each individually. Let's start with Kosov-Meyer."

2Dads followed the inspectors, the commander, and Swain into the mess. The door shut leaving Jess and Dutchy in the hall.

She felt like she would burst out of her skin from her nerves and drew comfort from Dutchy's sturdy presence beside her. Knowing that he was also dreading talking about it made it a bit easier.

They stood in a tense yet companionable silence for what felt like hours, but in reality it was probably closer to about 10 minutes when the door opened and 2Dads came out. Jess's pulse skittered when Inspector Bailey's eyes landed on her.

"Seaman Bird, please come in."

She stepped forward and followed the woman into the small room. With five people crammed in the room was almost claustrophobic. She slid into the seat next to Swain across from the inspectors.

"Alright Seaman Bird, I understand you were the only one of the group not captured by the two men on Crabtree Island. Is that correct?" Inspector Sharp began.

Jess nodded her head.

"Out loud for the recording please."

"Oh sorry. Yes, that's correct."

"With as much detail as you can remember, can you tell us about what happened on the island?"

She wet her lips and folded her hands on the table to keep them from shaking. "Yes."

"Just take your time Bird," Swain murmured from beside her. "I know this is difficult."

She knew he did. She remembered having to go through this same process when they had been taken by those organ traders. She took a breath and dove in.

It took ten minutes to tell her version of events. There had been a few places where she felt like she might break, but she gathered herself together and carried on. Occasionally one of the inspectors stopped her to ask a clarifying question. The whole time she recounted the nightmare she kept her eyes fixed on the table top. She wasn't sure what she would do if she saw a look of horror, concern, or even pity. She was grateful no one tried to offer a gesture of comfort. Her emotions were so jagged and fragile that if someone were to touch her right now she'd probably come apart into a million sobbing pieces, which would be mortifying. Swain had seen her cry, but to do so in front of the others was not high on her list of things she wanted to do. She was a sailor in the Australian Navy. She could be strong.

When she finally finished her account there was a beat of silence where she looked up and found the inspectors giving her a look she hadn't expected. It was a look of...admiration?

"You're a brave young woman," Inspector Sharp commented. "Not many people would have done what you did." Jess felt herself blush a little under the praise.

"That's all we need for now Seaman Bird," he continued. "Your account and those of your crew mates will be very beneficial to the case. Someone will be in touch if we need anything further."

She nodded and stood. Inspector Bailey followed her to two steps to the door. When she stepped out into the corridor she caught Dutchy examining her face. He shoved off the wall he had been leaning against and took a step toward her.

"You alright?"

"Yeah. I'm going to go home, take a hot shower and eat a whole tub of ice cream."

"That sounds like an excellent plan."

"Petty Officer Mulholland, if you'll come in please?" Inspector Bailey spoke from behind them.

"My turn. I'll catch you later Bird."

He squeezed her shoulder as he moved past her and she gave him a quiet smile in return. The door shut behind him and she was left alone in the hall.

A/N: As always I would love to know what you think. Leave a message after this note. ~Naomi