I don't own the show or characters – just having fun!
This is set after the very last episode, more of a how Mike and Kate got started on the marriage, baby etc… they had a lot to deal with in that last season with Ryan, Jim and explosions and I wonder how they got back on track.
Jim and Swain live in my world! Having Jim die felt too much like Kate only went back to Mike because Jim was gone – despite what they made her say. In my world she turned him down once back at home and that was that.
This idea that came to mind was supposed to be funny and sexy but hearts and feels got in the way. I'm not sure I am entirely happy with the ending but I am working on other stories and I might come back to it later.
The Blonde and Sex with the Captain
"I'll have…Sex with the Captain, please" she kept eye contact with the waiter, trying to avoid eye contact with him. However, out of her peripheral vision she saw Mike relax back against his chair with an obvious smirk in her direction.
"Very good ma'am", The waiter collected their drink menus, "It shouldn't be too long" he announced to both before excusing himself to place their orders.
"Well...he doesn't know me at all", Mike quipped at the waiters parting words.
Kate chuckled quietly and tagged her green eyes with his, "Clearly…", attempting to sooth his jokingly bruised ego, though not entirely letting him off the hook "If I remember….", feigning forgetfulness of their long almost forgotten past.
"You don't remember?", giving her a mock look of pure disbelief and outrage.
"Oh, I do….", soothing his ego a little. "It's sketchy though, it was so very long ago…" she trailed off with an eyebrow raised, her voice giving way to how much of a shame that was.
"Hmm", he kept fighting his smile from getting any bigger at her banter, she was playing him and he loved it. "I thought you didn't like rum?" he queried, playing the game a little longer.
"It's spiced rum and I'm willing to give it a go…Sex with the Captain does sound good", she quipped back.
"Might be the best you've ever had" he smirked at her, proud of himself.
Kate couldn't help the laughter, "That's a big call!" she teased but didn't deny it.
"It's a big drink" he teased back, and they got lost in grinning at each other.
Kate laughed quietly before flirting back a little, "Now I know we are no longer talking about the cocktail...".
"Oh, you remember that then", his cheeky grin on full display.
Kat blushed at his reference and shook her head affectionately at him, at them. Their last few months on patrol together had been nothing like it used too and she had feared that whatever they had once, was lost forever.
They had come along way she thought, particularly for someone who hadn't wanted to discuss that 'other thing' and the other full of resentment. Could this shift in their professional lives be the reason for the newfound comfort and freedom to be bold?
Kate thought on that a second longer before asking, "So, how does it feel. Last patrol completed, promoted to Captain and a new role at NAVCOM". It had been the reason they were having celebratory drinks in the first place.
"I know I resisted the idea…" Mike couldn't help the slightly sheepish look, "… but I think it's going to be a good move", he admitted. He cleared his throat softly before continuing. "… and there are some other things to look forward to", his eyes trying to convey what he was scared to voice just yet.
"Such as?" giving him a genuine interested look.
"Well, spending time in my apartment would be nice." He shrugged, "Maybe… think about buying a house in the next few months."
"Nice", She nodded thoughtfully.
"A new car would be good, now that it won't be just sitting around for weeks at a time".
Kate could certainly see the appeal and nodded in understanding, "Any hobbies on the horizon?" when Mike gave her a 'look' she smiled. They both knew with higher rank came some long hours and even so, both had workaholic tendencies.
He thought about making that joke but decided he had wasted enough time with her and he wouldn't waste anymore if he had anything to say about it.
"Maybe…or focus more on a personal life" he hoped his look was telling to where he wanted to steer the conversation and broach the topic of 'them'.
Kate smiled softly, "You are thinking about trying to repair your relationship with Ryan?".
Kate could admit that the thought of Ryan didn't hurt as much as it did when it had all come to light. More importantly, it had never been about Ryan himself but more what he represented in a connection for Mike with Maxine White.
Kate couldn't help at times, thinking back to that particular interaction where Commander White had tried to call out something between Kate and Mike. The worse part though, now Kate could see Maxine's ulterior motive for the advice she had so 'kindly' given back then.
Kate promised she would never bring that up with Mike, she had been tempted to fling it in his face but with the news of Ryan, she swore she would keep it to herself. At times it was a bitter pill to swallow but Kate could see no good coming out of it.
"I…ah…I actually already reached out to him." Mike confessed somewhat timidly, like he was still getting used to the idea of it all. "He's out of hospital now but he'll have to give evidence against Garth Davidson".
Mike knew he didn't need to explain how draining that was going to be for Ryan, Kate got that more then anyone. After the attempted Tourist attack at their home port here in Cairns, Mike and Kate's normal day to day Navy life had been flipped on its head. There had been so much news coverage, local and overseas and what followed naturally was a lot of written and verbal reports, interviews, meetings etc.
It had only just gotten back to normal Navy life for both of them. Mike was grateful but knew he would now need to support Ryan in his own journey now.
"He's lucky to have you for support. You said it yourself, you had a great relationship before, and this was a big adjustment for you both", Kate smiled his way in show of support. "You'll get that back with him in time".
Kate wanted that for Ryan and more importantly Mike, Kate wasn't sure what that meant for Mike and Maxine but Kate tried not to think about that too much.
"Well…there was one other thing. I was thinking about maybe…pursuing a more personal relationship of sorts".
"Oh?" she innocently asked, "Anyone I know?"
He gave her a look that suggested that was cute but pleaded with her to help him out.
Kate swallowed nervously at the topic of a 'them' so to speak and smiled but was tentative to ask, "So, a date perhaps?".
"No" He shook his head and enjoyed her surprised look, "we're way past that…how does girlfriend sound?" his blue eyes meeting her surprised green eyes.
Kate swallowed nervously and tucked a piece of hair behind her ear in shyness, "That's …a big step" she pointed out to him for his benefit. The light and playful air that had surrounded them had been sucked away and replaced with a more intense air.
Mike was ashamed to admit he deserved that, that lack of faith she had in his ability to commit to her. His mother often liked to remind him that he could become tunnel visioned with his career and his needs and often loose sight of the bigger picture, if only she knew how right she was on that. He was so focused on his professional direction that he just assumed Kate would be by his side and wait it out until it suited.
Mike knew she had broken it off with Jim months ago but he couldn't keep thinking that he would be so lucky has to have her by his side forever. No, Kate deserved a big gesture of truth and feelings from him, or he would loose her for good.
Mike shrugged to indicate this step in their relationship didn't bother him in the slightest, "I don't think I need dates to work out how I feel about you.", he hoped his earnest approached showed her how serious he was about this and he noted a slight flush in her cheeks while she took in his words, maybe he could fix this after all.
Mike thought back to the words Dutchy had shared with him at the bar, when he had thought he had lost her for good. "I know you think my career means more to me and… I know I haven't said or done anything to show you otherwise- but if you allow me too…I…I just…I love you Kate…move in with me", he hadn't planned to spring either of those last two on her just yet, but the moment had taken him.
The slow look of surprise on her face by this revelation wasn't all that surprising to him. When he thought on their history, they had brief moments of intense passion and then 5 years living in close quarters on a patrol boat. In their time together they hadn't ever labelled them 'dating' and had barley spent any time alone, just the two of them without their Navy responsibilities or rules hanging over them, but they could now.
Kate was trying to formulate a thought out loud but the spontaneity of his deceleration of love at her at a loss of words, "I…I…" but any words that were going to come out had been stopped by the arrival of their waiter and their drinks.
"Sex with the Captain", the waiter announced with a flourish of the fruity acholic beverage in hand and raised a slightly awkward eyebrow at the change in atmosphere between his two guests.
Mike cleared his throat, "Uh Yes", indicated to the waiter with a hand gesture that it was Kate's drink. Mike was pleased to see her cheeks tinged with a light blush and a smile appeared at the name of her cocktail. He figured it was a good sign.
"And for you sir…The Blonde", placing a pale ale of some fancy local beer with an equally relevant name given his present company. The waiter bowed his head and made off from their table leaving a slightly awkward silence to sit heavy.
Mike knew though that he had to show Kate how serious this was. The old Mike might have let the moment pass out of fear and emotions, but he didn't want to be without her anymore.
"Kate I…"
She cut him off before he continued and for the first time, he was beginning to think this might not got to plan, that his waiting might have cost him dearly.
"You have no idea, how long…" she shook her head a little to stop any kind of emotion taking over, she needed to get this out. "The thing is…I want nothing more than to be with you but, I just called it off with Jim and…"
It was his turn to cut her off, "That was months ago and I'm not concerned with that at all. You know, in the last 12 months I could list a number of events where we either one of us were in danger, could have been killed even."
Mike shook his head in amazement has he thought about it, "12 months ago…we were discussing getting together, we booked a holiday and then we couldn't even look at each other in the last few months and in between all that…there was promotions missed, my patrol extending, finding out about Ryan, terrorist plots at our own base…" he trailed off and took a deep breath before he continued.
"I remember 12 months ago you were struggling with Isabelle McGinley's death. I remember you were having some difficulties dealing with that and I remember at some point you became a little overwhelmed and I comforted you in your cabin…all I wanted to do was hug you but all I could think about at the same time was…what if someone walked past", He shook his head in frustration.
"Mike…" she called softly, try to think of something to offer comfort.
"It shouldn't be like that Kate, I shouldn't have let it get like that", Mike eyes pleaded for her to give him a chance. "Who knows what the next 12 months looks like, I just know I want to be with you whatever happens, and I absolutely want you to know that I do love you".
Kate reached to lay her hand over his that was resting on the table, "I love you too Mike", offering him a smile and touched by his words she could feel here eyes were slightly watered.
Mike took a breath in relief and he moved his hand to grasp hers so their fingers intertwined, "I want you to know, this is the real deal. No more false starts…this is it, like forever!" Mike tried to inject some humour to bring the moment back to fun, it was easy enough, he had his girl back.
Kate chuckled, "Ok" and nodded to let him know she was on the same page. Kate could help but share a small fear, "The Navy…people…they'll talk you know".
"They talk too much if you ask me", Mike mumbled in disgust, he knew they might get a murmur here or there, but their professional records would help hold up some integrity and they would pray to god nobody came out with a Watson Bay rumour with any proof.
He didn't care anyway; nothing was worth anything more then having her here with him.
Not wanting to spoil his good move he changed the subject, "Drink your drink" he ordered kindly, "We should celebrate, the promotion and more importantly, I've got my two blondes", holding his beer mid air and offering her that smile of his that got her every time.
Kate lifted her drink to cheers and waited for him to sip first, "…and I'll get two lots of Sex with the Captain", Kate grinned cheekily and tried to hide it with taking a sip while he coughed a little.
"It's been almost two years Kate…", He dead-panned before he continued, "it's going to be a long night for you, you should drink up and get those fluids in".
"Yes Sir", Kate smiled and could feel the blushing creeping up on her face and him looking at her so cocky and sure.
It might have taken years and some bumpy roads but they were right where they needed to be.