CH 34
"Ok… one of Ben's mates dresses up as Julie, she's a nurse. The outfit was some thing I never, ever, could have imagined Julie wearing"
"Why's that?" Spider asked.
"It was a white short shirt and a white top with a red cross on it and red zip up front. It could only go so high because of the large bra he hand on. Then add the old fashioned nursing cap, white stockings with a red bow that went up mid-thigh and a red shawl. But what was worse was that he's got a hairy chest."
The description had them all laughing.
"Carry on," Charge said.
"He walked around trying to sway his hips and telling Ben that he's going to get plenty of TLC whenever he is sick."
"Did Julie ever find out about it?" Kate asked.
"Yeah, one of the guys recorded it and showed it to her. But the next day when he showed up for his annual fiscal and she was the nurse. He couldn't sit down properly for the next three days," Jim said.
This got them all laughing again.
"So guys, you all have been warned," MacGyver added.
Then three women walk over carrying trays and put them on the table returning to get more trays.
Then they all saw what was on them.
"Everyone pick up your wine glass," MacGyver said.
"A toast to Mike and Kate, we wish you all the best for the future. To Mike and Kate.
"To Mike and Kate!" everyone said then took a sip of the champagne.
"MacGyver, thank you for that and for the champagne and for everything you have done for Kate and me."
"You're welcome, Sir. I just said what you already knew in your heart."
"I know."
"Mike told me what you said to him today. Thank you for giving him a kick up the back side!"
Making everyone laugh.
"He needed it!"
"Your welcome."
"Guava mojo" Charge yelled out when he saw what was on the trays that were on the way over to the group making them all cheer and MacGyver laugh.
Then they saw bowls of chips and nuts put on the table for everyone to enjoy. They were all having a great time especially sharing some funny stories from other buck's and hen's nights that they had attended to over the years.
"What about you MacGyver, care to share your hen's night experiences?" Two Dads asked.
"I've got none."
They looked at her incredulously.
"What? Come on there's got to be one," Spider said.
"As I said, I don't have any because I was never invited to any, or ever been a bridesmaid. Excuse me..." She stood up and walked out of the pub.
Everyone there was surprised at that.
"Bloody hell, I thought with all of her friends she would have been a bridesmaid at least once," Nav said.
"Jim, did you know?" Kate asked.
"Yes, she had told me. One wedding she had known the couple for four years, she even was the one who got them together. Everything was great, she helped the bride out on what sort of dress to wear, the cake design everything but what hurt her the most was that she was never asked to be a bridesmaid or even invited to the wedding. That was in September of last year."
"How cruel of that couple after all that she had done for them," Charge said.
"But she got her revenge on them both."
"What did she do?" Mike asked.
"She showed up at the reception in her uniform and when it came to the speeches, she told everyone who she is, how long she had known the couple for, everything; including how she had helped the bride out with all of the planning. She told all the guests there… 'After my introducing the happy couple to each other, helped to pick out the engagement ring, the proposal idea, and helped them to plan their special day, after all of that, the bride never thanked me once or even invited me to her hen's party. I didn't even get an invitation to the wedding I helped to plan. After everything that I had done for them, this is the big thanks I get. Enjoy the rest of your lives together and just remember who brought you both together, who's always been there for you both."
"And thanks for the big slap in the face and saying 'we don't need you anymore mate'," June said when she walked back over to them.
Jim stood up, turned to her and hugged her as he rubbed her back.
"Were they in the Navy?" Swain asked.
"Yes," Jim responded. "They both are midshipmen when they got married. They met before joining the navy"
"I would guess that they would have been shocked to see you show up in your uniform," Two Dads said.
"They were alright, the bride's father is Captain Justin Black. He walked over to me and I stood at attention and saluted. He told me that what I did by showing up and telling everyone about what I had done to help the couple, everything took guts. Then but he said to me... 'where did you get that ensign rank from Able Seamen?' I told him that it's Petty Officer, Sir, and if you don't believe me, look me up in the RAN history record, I'm the youngest Petty Officer in RAN history, Sir."
"Wow, that sure took guts talking to a captain like that," Charge said.
"It did, but then another officer showed up and told the captain that it was all true. It was Commodore Zac Norris from Fleet Command who also happened to be the bride's godfather."
Everyone was surprised about that.
"So then what happened?" Nav asked.
"They weren't impressed with what the bride had done to me after I helped and supported her after her bridesmaids made up excuses as to why they didn't have time to help her plan the wedding; shopping and everything"
"I hope they felt ashamed after that," Buffer said.
"They did, and everyone was very disappointed in both the bride and groom after that. I don't know what happened after because I left and returned back here"
"Want another drink, June?" Jim asked.
"Yes thanks, lemonade this time. I don't want to get drunk tonight. I'm on duty tomorrow"
"Sure." Picking up their beer mugs he went to the bar and June sat down.
"June have you ever caught a bouquet?" one of the SAS men asked.
"Four times."
"Four times! and you're not a bride yet!" Nav asked surprised.
"Obviously, how many times have you caught the bouquet Nav, X?"
"Twice," Nav answered.
"Once," Kate said.
"Well the big question is who will be catching your bouquet and the garter." she said grinning at Kate.
"Who knows, maybe you and Jim," Kate said just as Jim returned. She stood as he passed her her drink.
"Thanks"
"What were you all talking about June and me about?"
"The garter and bouquet. X thinks that we might catch them at her wedding." She replied as she sat on his lap once again.
"She's too late for that."
"Too late for what?" Nav asked.
"At Ben's wedding last year, Jim caught the garter and I caught the bouquet" MacGyver said.
"What? Why didn't you tell us!" Nav said.
"Because I know what you're like Nav. You would constantly drop hints that Jim and I will be next to get married."
"Well it's true, isn't it." Nav said.
"What about you and Buffer?"
"What about us. Like I've said before, there is nothing going on between us. We're just friends."
"Oh really, walking along a beach just as the sun is setting?" Jim said smiling.
"Having dinner at the same time and leaving Hammersley at the same time," MacGyver said grinning.
"And, I saw you both on Valentines Day in the mall," Jim said which stunned everyone.
"Is this true Nav, Buffer?" Mike asked."
Yes sir, but how did you know we were walking along the beach at sunset and where?"
"Samaru Islands when you told Kate that you and Buffer saw Jim and me on the beach… Making out."
"Busted," Spider said while Nav and Buffer looked at each other.
"Give it up you two, the cat is out of the bag," Two Dads said.
"Yes, it's true, but we haven't crossed the line. We were waiting till after this rotation and finding out where the Navy is going to send us," Buffer said.
"That's in a couple of months," Mike said.
"We know, Sir. So for now we're just getting to know each other while on shoreleaves."
"OK, make sure that it stays that way and off the ship."
The conversation then moved on as they all talk about different weddings they've all gone to. Some of the tales made everyone laugh.
Jim and June left just before eleven with June on morning watch and Jim has training to do. All of his men left a few minutes before they did.
The day they were leaving for their patrol, they all learned that they would be spending two weeks at Red Reef and that they would also be taking the SAS and army trainees to Penfold Island for survival training. They would be there for a week and then another patrol boat would be picking them up on their way back to Cairns.
When the two army trucks showed up, Kate and MacGyver were going over the supply lists, they looked up and saw everyone getting out of the trucks with their backpacks and other gear. Jim walked over to them.
"X told me that you and your men are taking this group of troubled youth on a survival training trip and see if any of them are SAS matrial," MacGyver said.
"We are."
"Well, it should be a week of fun. It's going to be very interesting to find out how it's going to play out."
"True, see you on board."
"Of course." Jim returned to his group and spoke to them all before they walked over and on to Hammersley and boarded.
MacGyver was on board in the refrigeration room rechecking the list when she heard three voices. Luckily she had just finished checking over everything when as she was walking out of the large storage room, closing and locking the door, when she saw them. "What are you three doing down here?" "
We're just looking around."
"Well, you don't belong down here. Get back up stairs. You aren't supposed to walking around without the captain's permission. You know the rules, Lieutenant MacGregor and Captain Roth told you. Now get back to your group." They turned around and walked back the way they came with MacGyver following them until she saw Buffer.
"Where did you three go?"
"They were down below deck, Buffer"
"I'll take them to Captain Roth."
"Thanks, Buffer."
"MacGyver, did everything check out?"
"Yep, do you know if Swain finished checking his list?"
"Don't know."
"Ok, I'll be in the ward room. Can you give this to the X and let her everything is aboard?" as she passed him the lists.
"Sure"
"Thanks, Buffer."
MacGyver went to help Swain. Once they finished, she went to see the Captain. She found him on the fly deck with Nav and Kate looking down at the SAS and the youth.
"Sir we are five items short for the wardroom," passing him the list.
"I'll go and take care of it," Baxter said.
"I'll let Jim know about the delay," MacGyver said as she removed the bar and chain then climbed down the ladder to the boat deck.
Jim saw June coming over to him, "Everything ok?"
"We've been delayed, we're waiting for medical supplies that didn't show up with the rest of the supplies."
"How long?"
"About ten minutes."
"Are they important?"
"Yes, you know we always carry extra supplies when the SAS are on board but now you've got this lot. You can't be too careful."
"True."
"I'll leave you to it."
"Thanks, are you going to be wearing..."
"Yes, I am." Giving him a wink before turning around and walking towards the hatch.
Once the boxes arrived, they left port and headed to Penfold Island. A couple of hours later, Jim and the guys and two girls were on the back of the ship doing some training exercises when MacGyver walks through the hatch door to some of the guys wolf-whistling at her.
"Knock it off and concentrate on what you are doing! In the army you can't let anything distract you, it could cost you your life. Now, do it again!" Jim said.
Jim watched them as he walks around amongst them correcting them when they were going wrong when he saw MacGyver doing her stretches. He found it hard to stay focused on what he was doing. When they all finished half an hour later he was talking to them but they were too busy looking at MacGyver.
"Look at me, not her! That is one of the things a terrorist would do, use a woman to distract you."
"But she's hot, Sir."
"You listen to me, in the army no distractions! When you're at war, remember what I said. And now, for what you just said, all of you drop down and give me twenty now! Andrews do not comment on another woman like that again understand?!" Jim said in a commanding tone.
"Yes, Sir!" They dropped and did twenty push-ups. By the time they were finished they were all tired and thirsty and they noticed that the woman had just finished her exercises and walked over to Jim. The youth was shock when they saw her scars over her body.
"Well, how did they do?"
"Failed the distraction test."
"Ok, well I'm going to have a shower before getting lunch on."
"What's for lunch?"
Smiling at him, "food of course." Then she turns around and walks towards the hatch.
