A/N Prompt #8 for Fictober

"Why are you doing this to me?" Kate all but whispered. "Why are you denying me any opportunity to move on from you?" She made a move to leave.

"Look Kate I'm sorry. That was out of line." Mike's eyes flicked to her lips, then back up to her eyes.

"Let me go Mike. Let me move on. I need to move on. I can't keep waiting, hoping for this. For us. Don't you think we've waited long enough?" There was no reply, he just stared at her face in the intense way he always did, His eyes boring into hers. "My private life is just that, It does not affect my job or what I do here. I couldn't have predicted Jim turning up like he did, He had no idea who I was, and vice versa. When I saw he was SAS…" her voice trailed off.

"Kate..."

"No, Sir." She dropped his title like a bomb, "With all due respect you have made it very clear that you won't leave the Hammersley, and that you're not interested in a shore posting, How long do you expect me to just put my life on hold? For a maybe? Based on a completely inappropriate relationship we had years ago?"

Mike was taken aback. "Kate what we had back then, it was real."

"Maybe so" She gave a small bitter smile and shook her head. "But it never should have happened."

Mike gave a smile and shrugged, "We were both consenting adults."

"I was your student!"

"Oh come on Kate, It was ADFA, I'm sure that's not the first time it's happened."

"Sir, If the higher ups ever get a whiff of anything between the two of us, now OR then, there goes both of our careers." She looked at him, "You've made your decision, Now let me make mine."

Mike stared at her, "So this is it, isn't it?"

"Yeah," she nodded sadly "I think it is"

"I'm sorry Kate"

"Me too"

"I can make a call about that Frigate posting if you want off the Hammersley X?"

"Thank you sir. But I think we're both adult enough to continue to work together." She shot him a small smile and left the tiny cabin.

As Mike pushed the door shut after her he stared at the door, fighting the urge to go after her and take her in his arms. He wanted more than anything, to kiss her and to tell her they would make it work somehow. Kate might be confident about maintaining a professional relationship, but he wasn't so sure. Especially if she continued seeing Jim Roth under his nose.

A knock interrupted his jealous thoughts.

"X?" he said hopefully as he opened the door.

Buffer looked at him quizzically, "Sorry sir, were you expecting the X?"

"No, no."

"I can go get her if you like sir?' He pointed over his shoulder. "She just passed me a moment ago."

"No, It's fine, What can I do for you?"

Buffer began to explain about some repairs that were needed to the RHIB, But Mike's mind was still full of a petite blonde-haired XO who he couldn't seem to shake his feelings for.