Promise to Love Me, Even When You Hate Me.
Chapter 5.
Kate knocked on Shaun's hotel room door, he opened the door and she barged her way in. Shaun closed the door and wrinkled his face surprised by her presence.
"Ah, come in why don't you..."
She paced the room itching to get her idea out, he sat himself on the couch and smirked while watching her pace.
"What's up?"
She stopped in front of him, her eyes wide, full of excitement for her idea.
"What if I dated him?"
The smile dropped of Shaun's face, he hesitated for a moment wondering if he had heard her right.
"What?"
She sat next to him hoping he'd hear her out.
"Well, Warren seems to think he's a little keen on me, so why not use that to our advantage?"
It was Shaun's turn to pace, he rose from the couch shaking his head.
"I dunno, Kate, it's risky, plus you said you didn't even feel you could have a genuine conversation with him, how are you going to…"
She stood from the couch and waved her hand dismissing his concern.
"Yeah, look, you were right when you said my way wasn't working, and dating him will allow me to get closer, closer than just being his friend. It'll be this whole, enemies to friends to lovers thing, you know what all those BS rom-com movies are based on."
Shaun raised an eyebrow completely lost, Kate rolled her eyes and paced again.
"Okay, so, I'll unfreeze, we'll become friends, and he'll think that I'm opening up to him, that we're bonding. Then the friendship will blossom into flirting and then, well, it's perfect! For some reason the more I resist, the more he wants to get to know me!"
"Ah, right, is that why made up that story about your ex stabbing you? To appeal to his protective side?"
Kate froze and ran her hand over her scar, she was thrown for a moment, Shaun frowned noticing her strange reaction.
"Kate?"
She snapped back to reality and placed the smile back on her face.
"Yeah, totally…"
"But I mean, you'd have to be a sociopath not to feel bad about someone stabbing you."
Kate nodded, they both sat back on the couch. Shaun's brown creased as he thought about her plan for a moment, he crossed his arms over his chest and raised an eyebrow.
"This wouldn't have anything to do with pay back would it?"
Kate broke eye contact pretending not to know what he was talking about.
"Payback?"
Shaun sat there waiting for her to tell the truth, she let out a sigh and leaned back on to the couch.
"Not gonna lie, it has its perks, but he was the one who gave me the idea."
"Kate, I'm not sure that I like this plan."
She got up off the couch and headed for the door, she turned back and smirked at him as she opened it.
"I never said you were gonna like it."
He shook his head at her cockiness.
"Kate…"
She had made her decision, she kept walking and left the room.
Later that night Dutchy headed to the local to catch up with the crew, he grabbed himself a beer and spotted 2Dads and Charge in the corner.
"Is this all we've got tonight?"
Charge nodded and took a sip of his beer.
"Yeah, everyone else has a life, apparently…"
Dutchy slid into the stool next to Charge.
"So, what we talking about?"
Changed glanced at 2Dads wondering whether they should tell the truth.
"Ah, the X…"
Dutchy pretended not to be interested and took a mouthful of his beer, 2Dads nudged him nearly spilling it.
"What do you think Dutch? Don't you think she's a little, I dunno, I don't think she's going to fit in, have you spoken to her outside of work?"
He didn't know how to respond, he didn't want to gossip about her since he had discovered the reason why she wasn't so wasn't so friendly.
"Ah, not really, but would be pretty tough being the only woman on the boat, I guess we don't see things the same way and feel things the same way."
2Dads and Charge exchanged another uncertain glance, wondering why it sounded like he was defending her. Dutchy noticed their confused looks and tried to cover his tracks.
"I mean, must be tough, I think she's not the type to have girl friends, I dunno, just a feeling."
Change took another mouthful of beer and laughed as he slapped him on the back.
"So what are you saying? You're gonna become her BFF?"
Dutchy scoffed.
"No, but there's something about her that just bothers me…"
"Bothers you?"
"I dunno, maybe it's because I can't figure her out."
Charge smirked and playfully shoved him.
"Yeah she's a bit more complicated than the girls you normally hang out with mate…"
Dutchy scrunched up his face mildly offended and shoved him back.
"Hey, bugger off…"
"So, how are you going to figure it out?"
Dutchy shrugged taking another sip of his beer.
"I dunno, but I'm going to, we gotta work together and I'm not going to walk around on eggshells for however long she's here…"
He sculled the rest of his beer and stood from the table, 2Dads pulled on his arm
"You going already?"
"Yeah, I'll see you guys later…"
Later that night Kate sat at dinning room table, paperwork scattered everywhere, there was a knock on her door.
"Who is it?"
"Food delivery!"
She jumped up from the table and ran to the door, she was staring, as she swung open the door the smile dropped off her face, it was Dutchy holding the UberEats bag.
"Seriously?"
"We rocked up at the same time..."
He went to walk into the house but she stood in his way and held out her hand.
"Well, hand it over..."
Dutchy pulled the bag away from her.
"If you let me in..."
She let out a huff, she was starving and the food was getting cold.
"Just hold on..."
She shut the door and ran back to the table and gathered up the paperwork and shoved it into the drawer, she re opened the door looking a little flustered.
"I guess you can come in if you're holding my food hostage."
She opened the door wider and reluctantly let him in.
"So, what was that all about? Needed to put on some perfume?"
Kate rolled her eyes as he walked past her, she closed the door and crossed her arms over her chest.
"What are you doing here, Dutchy?"
He placed the food on the table and started to unpack it.
"I just, I don't understand why we can't get along?"
Kate already had her defenses up, she was expecting a fight, not for him to want to talk rationally.
"Oh, well, I dunno, what, are we in kindergarten?! But if you had just not questioned my…"
Dutchy exhaled loudly, he knew she wasn't over their disagreement on the FFV.
"Not this again, Kate, you need to take others opinions on board, I feel like you just shut me down the other day."
"Yeah, because there was nothing sus..."
"But you wouldn't even hear me out..."
The stood there in a stand still, Kate was the first to break the silence.
"Why are you so desperate to be my friend?"
"Well, wouldn't it be easier?"
He handed her a plate, she looked down at it and snatched it off of him.
"Why?"
"C'mon Kate, I don't know you very well, but I'm pretty sure if you just let go for a second we could be pretty good friends."
There was another knock at the door, Kate ignored his comment and walked to the door. She looked thought the peephole, her eyes widened seeing the visitor, she turned back to Dutchy and smiled nervously.
"Just excuse me a minute..."
Dutchy nodded and sat down at the table. Kate slid out the door and closed it, she pulled Warren away from the door.
"Warren, what are you doing here?"
"Shaun rang me..."
She let out a huff and crossed her arms over her chest.
"And?"
"You're going to date him?"
"You're the one that gave me the idea."
"Kate, it's too much..."
She was getting agitated, she knew the real reason for his so called concern. She raised her voice a little trying to get him to back off.
"Just admit it, you're jealous!"
He stepped closer proving he wasn't intimidated by her.
"So you're prepared too kiss him?"
She shrugged pretending the thought didn't terrify her.
"It's all part of the act right?"
"Really? What if he wants to..."
Kate was secretly enjoying this, she raised an eyebrow and played dumb.
"Wants to what?"
Warren knew she was playing games, he grabbed her by the shoulders.
"Kate, this is serious, you'd really sleep with him?"
Kate hesitated, she hadn't thought about it going that far, but she wasn't going to give Warren the satisfaction of bursting her bubble. She shrugged off his grip and stepped towards the door.
"Hey, I've done worse for less..."
She went to walk back into the house, he grabbed her arm, she spun back around the smile dropped off her face.
"Seriously?"
She snatched back her arm, he shoved a folder in her hand.
"Just remember who the bad guy is, I've brought an updated file to remind you!"
Dutchy heard raised voices and became concerned, he walked up to the door and looked out the peephole. He squinted trying to make out the figures in the dark, he pressed his eye closer to the door trying to get a good look at the person standing with Kate, he looked familiar.
Kate turned and looked towards the door feeling like she was being watched, Dylan sprinted back to the table and sat as she re entered the house, he looked up at her innocently with a mouthful of food.
"Everything okay?"
She refused to meet his eyes and sat at the table.
"Kate?"
"Ah, yeah, just a bloody door to door person, you know how pushy they are!"
He glanced at the folder in her hand.
"What's that?"
"Oh, I said I'd look at the stupid catalogue to get them to go away."
She shoved onto a chair under the table. Dutchy couldn't help but feel she was hiding something, but he didn't want to start another argument.
"Oh, well next time send me out! I think I can scare them a little."
Kate smiled halfheartedly and picked up her fork, Dutchy cleared his throat
"So, umm truce?"
She shrugged as she opened one of the packages.
"We'll See..."
Kate's phone rang interrupting them, she glanced down at the caller, it was Warren, she pressed ignore. Dutchy glanced at the phone.
"Oh, don't not answer it on my account..."
"It's fine..."
It rang again, this time it was Shaun.
"Seriously, Kate, it's fine..."
She let out a huff and picked up her phone.
"Hello, oh, hi Dad, yeah, everything's fine, actually I've got some company, so, I'll talk to you later…"
She placed the phone back on the table, Dutchy smirked.
"You're a popular girl then…"
"Yeah, not really…"
Kate shoved more food into her mouth hoping he'd drop it, her phone beeped, she picked it up and groaned reading the message from Shaun.
"I thought you were going to be nice…"
She quickly replied.
"The meaner I am the more he tries, just let me do this, I can't just be his friend straight away!"
She put her phone back on the table and smiled nervously.
"Is everything okay?"
"Yeah, just leave it…"
Dutchy rolled his eyes.
"Why do you do that?"
"What?"
"One minute you're fine and the next you're cold again, I just don't get it..."
"Why do you have to get me?"
Dutchy held his glare for a moment.
"Whatever... just eat the food..."
Kate let out a grunt, she knew that her inconsistent behaviour was going to make her job hard, she had to swallow her pride and play nice.
"Okay, tell me about yourself then…"
Dutchy put down his fork wondering if it was a trap, Kate could see his hesitation, it was written all over his face.
"I'm serious…I guess If I'm going to be with you guys for well, what, months? I should know what I'm getting myself into, right?"
He let out a scoff and took another mouthful.
"Why is it like that though? Why can't we just be people you want to get to know?"
The rest of the meal was silent, Dutchy got up and placed his plate in the sink, he looked out the window and spotted someone sitting in a car out the front of Kate's house.
He dropped the plate and sprinted out the front, Kate was completely baffled by his behaviour and rose from the table and called out after him.
"Dutchy! What are you doing?"
Dutchy bolted toward the ca,r but it sped off just as he got to the passengers side. He stood there for a moment, the guy looked so familiar, he turned and walked back up the front path deep in thought.
Kate stood at the front door shaking her head.
"What are you doing?"
He stood in front of her ignoring her question.
"Who was that?"
"Who?"
"They guy who knocked on the door earlier, that was him in the car."
Kate placed her hands on her hips and frowned.
"Wait, you were spying on me?"
He stood there frowning back at her waiting for an answer, she broke eye contact.
"You're seeing things Dutchy!"
"What is going on Kate? That guy looked a hell of a lot like the guy from the cafe today!"
Kate scoffed and threw her hands in the air and walked back inside, Dutchy stormed in after her.
"You're loosing it, Petty Officer."
He grabbed her arm forcefully and spun her around to face him.
"You can explain it to me or you can explain it too the Boss and Commander White in the morning."
The stood there locked in each others glare, Kate was the first to look away She needed to think fast, she knew he wasn't going to let this go. She walked over to the couch and sat and wrapped her arms round herself.
Dutchy followed sensing it was serious, he sat beside her looking at her for answers. She exhaled and leaned back on the couch, she attempted to explain but nothing came out.
"Kate.."
She caught her breath and closed her eyes trying to calm herself.
"He's part of my exes crew..."
"What? The ex that stabbed you?"
Kate nodded unable to make eye contact with him afraid that he's see right though her.
"They think I'm still in contact with him..."
"Are you?"
The question shocked her a little, she shook her head.
"No, but they drop in occasionally to check, it's okay I'm not in any danger."
Dutchy didn't believe her but he couldn't say it aloud.
"Umm, I think you should tell the boss..."
She grabbed his arm desperate for him to believe her.
"No, Dutchy, no one can know, it's too risky. They have done this before they just check up on me and go."
"Yeah and harass you with phone calls and..."
"Dutchy, I need you to drop it, please."
Dutchy looked down at her white knuckles latched on to his arm, then back up to her face, he could see Kate was serious, she had a slight look of fear in her eyes.
"Okay, but I'm staying here tonight, no arguments."
He grabbed the remote and flicked it to Netflix. Kate couldn't help but smile, her plan was working but it was marred by a slight twinge of guilt . She never had many close friends, little own ones that wanted to protect her, she felt safe, like she mattered.
Half way through the movie Kate began to drift off to sleep. She unconsciously rested her head on Dutchy shoulder, he was about to wake her but hesitated as he saw her peaceful face. He gently moved over and laid her on the couch, he grabbed a blanket and placed it over her.
The next morning she awoke hearing strange noises, she poked her head up from the couch and looked over to the kitchen, Dutchy was at her stove cooking. She rolled off the couch and entered the kitchen yawning.
"Ah, what are you doing!"
He turned and smiled and served her a plate.
"Didn't your mother ever tell you breakfast was the most important meal of the day?"
She looked at him unimpressed but then glanced down at the plate, it looked pretty good. She mumbled something to herself and sat at the kitchen bench.
Dutchy let out a laugh and poured her a cup of coffee, she may be resistant to him but he was going to kill her with kindness, prove to her that they weren't that bad.
"Yeah, thanks."
He sat down next to her and started to eat.
"So, no more messages?"
She shook her head and shoveled more food into her mouth avoiding the subject.
"Why do you care so much?"
"Have you never had friends Kate?"
Kate grit her teeth, she knew she needed to tone herself down and not answering was a better option than a passive aggressive comment.
"Look, I know frigate's aren't exactly build on friendships and fluff but Patrol Boats are different. I know that Mike goes on and on, but we are a family. Kate, the guys on this boat are my mates, I mean, even though we work together we hang out too."
Kate sipped on her coffee, Dutchy thought it best to move on.
"So, what are we doing today?"
"What do you mean?"
"Well, we have a day off and you're new, don't tell me you're not dying to explore this place?"
"Well, yeah I guess…"
"Let me be your guide… show you that we're not that bad!"
"You don't have to do that."
"I want to..."
Kate sat there wondering whether this was a ploy to get her to talk or if he genuinely wanted to spend time with her.
"Ah, I've got organising to do, but thanks."
Dutchy shrugged, he couldn't expect them to be friends over night but he know that deep down she probably needed one.
"No worries, another day then..."
They had finished their breakfast and Kate had made an excuse about housework so he would leave. As she shut the front door her phone rang, she let out a groan seeing the caller.
"Boss..."
"He slept over?"
"Yeah, he saw bloody Warren and..."
"Yeah, I know, I heard everything..."
"Well, he needs to butt out, he's going to ruin everything..."
"Well, you've made him a bit of a target now that you've involved him in this story of yours..."
"Yeah, I know, but now he can't just rock up. Look, I need to commit to this, I don't need outside distractions. Do me a favour, give me a month to do my thing, 2 months tops and I'll have him eating out of my hand. Then I'll have access to things as his girlfriend, things like his computer, phones, you name it."
"Kate, I think you're getting a bit cocky, and aren't you forgetting that there are rules? You really think you can get him to break the rules and fall for you?"
"Well, I'll be able to do it better than Warren."
She heard him laugh, then there was a pause.
"Well, put your plan in the progress report and I'll send it to the team. We'll go dark, but we need results, any trouble we're just a phone call away, okay?"
End of Chapter 5.
