CH 7
"Swain! It's MacGyver! She's seriously injured!" ET calls out.
"How bad?" Kate asked.
"Her legs are broken and she bleeding and pale," ET said.
"Where is she?" asked Swain.
"Down below where the barrel is." Rushing down into the hold Swain went over to MacGyver. Kate contacted Mike while looking at Campbell Fulton with distaste.
When ET, Swain, Buffer, and Change arrived down in the hold, they were shocked by MacGyver's appearance.
"MacGyver!" Swain called to her, she opened her eyes.
"You guys took your sweet time."
"Yeah let's get you out of here," Swain said.
"Good idea."
"ET said your legs are broken."
"Yes, I heard them break."
"Ok, Buffer, Charge," Swain said, "on three". They got her out and onto the boat deck where Swain cut her overalls to see where she's bleeding. He cleans it up and also could see where the swelling is.
"Let's get get back to Hammersley. X we going to need a medivac" Kate relay Swain's message to Mike as they all got into the RHIB and returned to Hammersley.
Mike was on the back of the boat when he watched them lower the stretcher onto the deck. Mike was shocked by the look of MacGyver's pale face and when he saw her legs.
"You two better tell me what the hell happened on that boat"
"Campbell Fulton, Sir, wouldn't listen to MacGyver. He caused the fight which caused the boat to hit the rocks. MacGyver went down below when we heard the bang. She had told Fulton to sit at the back of the boat and not to move. He did so until she was gone from his sight, then he returned to the wheelhouse where I steering He started saying insulting things about the crew, especially MacGyver, I told him to leave the wheelhouse and to go and sit down like he was told. He pushed me hard and I pushed back until he pushed me over to where the steps to the hold where. I felt something hit my back as I grabbed the handrail. As I straightened up MacGyver was screaming. I went down and found her trapped under the container. I yelled out for Fulton to call you then stayed with MacGyver. When Fulton didn't reply, I returned to the wheelhouse and I saw that the radio was broken. I went back to MacGyver told her what I had found and she told me what to do to get the container off her legs. I'd just finished doing it when we heard the RHIB. I went up top and got Swain." ET said.
"Mr Fulton is this true?"
"You're not my boss, so I don't have to answer to you."
"While you are on my boat, and you are in your uniform, you will answer my questions."
"Go to Hell Flynn."
"Sir," He looked up at RO.
"Medivac will be here in five minutes."
"Thanks, RO," turning to everyone that was there, "go and get cleaned up, we're headed back to home port."
"We will wait until MacGyver is safely aboard the Medevac, Sir" ET said and the others agree.
"Alright but when we dock your not to leave the ship until we get the blood results, am I clear."
"Yes, Sir," they all said.
"That's you too, Fulton," Mike said.
"I will leave soon as Hammersley docks, Captain."
"Not my orders, Fulton, orders from the health department."
"What about MacGyver?" Buffer asked.
"The hospital has been notified and she will be placed in quarantine until she gets the all-clear like the rest of us," Mike said.
They heard the helicopter approach just as RO showed up with a radio and passed it to Mike, then he saw Macgyver's face and legs, he was shocked by her appearance. They all watch her being readied for transfer and then they all stood at attention and saluted as the litter was raised up and into the helicopter, then they watched as the helicopter turned and headed back to Cairns.
"Let's head home," Mike said. They all walk towards the hatch one by one.
It was the next day when everyone got the all-clear which they were happy about. They left to go home and to the hospital to see how MacGyver was doing. When some of the crew walked to her room, they saw the quarantine sign was still up and a nurse there was wearing a gown, mask, and gloves.
Looking into her room they notice that she has nasal oxygen, and two lines, one for the IV and the other for blood. There's a bed frame over her legs that's covered in a sheet and blanket. The nurse walked out of the room after replacing an IV bag, then she removed everything and put it in the bin.
"Excuse me, how's Leader McGinnis doing? We're her crewmates on Hammersley" Charge said.
"Here's the doctor, he can tell you. Doctor Adams, these gentlemen are crewmates of Leader McGinnis."
"Hello, what can I do for you?"
"What happened to MacGyver? That's her navy nickname, I'm Petty Officer Chris Blake, Swain, I'm the medic on Hammersley," they shook hands.
"MacGyver, she sustained blood poisoning from her leg wound. Both legs are broken and she did lose two pints of blood. From your report Swain, she was trapped underwater for half an hour?"
"Yes, ET, he was with her and manage to get the container off her legs before we showed up. I cleaned the wound and dressed it before the helicopter arrived"
"I noticed you did, you did a good job, but since the cut was deep you did the best you could in the time frame you had and from what Lieutenant Commander Flynn told me the boat taking on water."
"Yes, Sir, thank you, doctor. When do you think we can go in to see her?"
"Give it a few days."
"Thank you, doctor."
"Any chance of having these put in her room?" Buffer asked as he was holding a bouquet of flowers.
"Yes, Nurse, can you take care of them?"
"Yes, doctor." Buffer passed hands the flowers to the nurse.
"Thank you," Buffer said.
"Now if you'll excuse me, I've got rounds to do," walking away.
"We might as well go to the pub," Charge said.
"Text the others," Swain said.
"Good idea" they walk towards the exit talking about who's going to text who.
Three days later, Hammersley left port with MacGyver's replacement Able Seamen Rebeca 'Bomber' Brown. She knows MacGyver from when they both were on HMAS Darwin and worked together in the wardroom and kitchen before MacGyver transferred to Hammersley three and a half years ago.
The crew learn that Cambell Fulton lost his job after his superiors read everyone's reports about what had happened on Hammersley and the boat. The crew was away for three weeks. While they were away MacGyver's infection cleared up and so has her wound and is out of quarantine.
Her first visitor was Jim after she texted him to tell him that she was in the hospital and that their next date was going to be on hold. Soon as she got the all-clear she texted him as Kate had taken MacGyver's seabag, laptop and phone to her the day before sailing. After texting Jim, she then called Hammersley "Hammersley, leader Dixon speaking."
"Hi RO, can I speak to the Captain or XO, please."
"Who is this? How did you get Hammersley's phone number?"
"RO, it's MacGyver, Captain or X please."
"Oh, why didn't you say so," MacGyver smiled while shaking her head.
"You didn't give me a chance, is Captain or X there, please, and don't tell them that I'm calling."
"Ok, X is here" then she heard "X phone call"
Kate picked up the phone, "Lieutenant McGregor speaking."
"Hey X, I notice that RO's cranky as always first thing in the morning."
"MacGyver!" She laughs.
"Yes, it's me."
"How are you?" standing up from the Captain's chair to look around and see everyone looking at her.
"Good, you can tell the crew, who I know are waiting for the news, the infection and wound are healed and I'm out of quarantine but stuck in hospital until both casts are removed."
"That is great news, the crew will be happy."
" So, who is my temporary replacement?"
"Rebecca Brown, Bomber, she said she knows you."
"You've got Bomber on board? Oh boy, watch out for her X."
"Why?"
"She's got a short fuse, and tell ET and Spider no jokes on her or else there will be wall punishment."
"I'll tell them, anything else I should know?"
"Bomber, she gets nervous when cooking chips, so tread carefully when she does and give her support about it."
"Why is that?"
"Ask her."
"I will, now where have you hidden the chocolate?"
MacGyver laughs. "The one place no one but you dare to go into. That is all I'm saying."
"Clue..."
"He knows because I've noticed the odd bar or two missing."
"You're such a tease."
"You should talk. Well... hello stranger, when did you get into town?" Kate looked at her phone a little shocked then put it back to her ear.
"MacGyver?"
"Oops, sorry, Jim just walked in with roses and chocolate covered nuts, talk to you when you return."
"Ok," hanging up.
"X, how is MacGyver?" Swain asked.
Kate picked up the microphone and turned the PA system on. "Now hear this! XO speaking, MacGyver called, good news, she's healing nicely but will be in hospital until her casts have been removed. Bomber, she said to tell you that she remembers you also, that is all."
"That is good news," Charge said.
"X, what made you look at your phone strangely?" Nav asked.
"Jim walked into her room while talking to me."
Nav laughed. "You'll have to tell me later."
"I will."
"And the chocolate?"
"I'll tell you later."
"Ok."
At the hospital, Jim put the flowers and chocolates on the bedside drawers and then he sat on the bed, leaned over and kissed her. "How are you?"
"I'm good, you?"
"Same here, when I got your text about you being here I had to find out what happened. Mike told me and that this Campbell Fulton guy lost his job because of it."
"It was not only that, Jim"
"What else is there?"
"He sexually assaulted Nav."
Jim was shocked, "Your kidding?"
"I'm not, that's why he lost his job."
"At least it's over for him."
"True, so how was your mission?"
"Bad."
"You can't talk about it?"
"Lost one man, two wounded."
"Sorry Jim, they must have been great men to work with."
"Yes, they were."
"So... since I'm stuck here for the next few weeks, and I don't know when you're going to leave for your next secret mission, what do you think we should do"
"How about I bring in some takeaways?"
"Better than the food they've got here, sounds good."
"Great! But since I won't be able to bring in any wine, a couple of bottles of coke will have to do."
"You could bring in sparkling grape juice, you can buy it from the supermarket."
"Really, I didn't know that."
"Now you do," with a grin.
Jim stayed for an hour when his phone rang and he had to leave for a meeting.
