CH 37

By that late afternoon, Hammersley docked and the men and their boat were taken care of. Everyone went to have drinks and were enjoying themselves when Buffer returned to see MacGyver at the bar.

He walked over to her "MacGyver!"

"Buffer..."

"I spoke to Pauly about my tattoo, he said that you had designed it."

"Yeah, well, it's better than what Spider had planned for you. Why did you ask?"

"Pauly told me about Spider's idea and I can tell you that I love your design."

"That's great, did he tell you about Spider's tattoo?"

"No, I didn't ask. What is it?"

" A spider web with an anchor in the middle."

"Does he know?"

"He thinks it a henna tattoo and that it will fade off. He had a bit of reaction to it but it will settle down in a couple of days," She said grinning.

The next day they returned to their patrol where they boarded more FFV and three mother ships before returning to homeport. They had been out for three weeks. When Hammersley docked Mike and the Captain from the army walked up an onto Hammersley.

Mike got a fair idea where MacGyver was when they heard... "Two Dads if you keep up with your jokes you will be scrubbing my ovens with a toothbrush for the next three patrols."

"Sorry, MacGyver."

Mike stood in the doorway of the galley to see her finishing cleaning up.

"Commander Flynn, this is a surprise. If you're looking for the X, she's in the ship's office."

"I was looking for you."

"Me? Why Sir?"

He steps forward then another man appeared, "Warrant Officer Ed Gray, Petty Officer June MacGinnis, MacGyver."

"It's nice to meet you in person' MacGyver," as they shook hands.

"Thank you, Sir."

Turning to Mike, "Sir you know that I'm seeing Jim, are you trying to set me up with someone else?" she said while keeping a straight face

"No, I'm not trying to set you up MacGyver. This is the officer you spoke to while disarming the bomb," he said, giving her a look.

Then she smiled and giggled, "I was joking, Sir. I know who he is." then looking at the officer, who was looking confused, "It's ok, Sir, I know who you are and it's a pleasure to know what you look like instead of just a voice, Sir. As for Commander Flynn here, he should know by now when I'm joking and when I'm not."

"Very funny, MacGyver," Mike said.

"I gather you read my report, Sir," MacGyver asks Warrant, Officer Gray.

" I did and was impressed with it, and I've read your profile. I'm impressed with that as well, with all that you've done for yourself at a young age."

"Thank you, Sir."

"When I was told your nickname I thought you were a man."

"Why did you think that, Sir?"

"Because of that TV show called 'MacGyver'."

"So, you've seen the show, Sir?"

"I watched it as a teenager and now the Navy's got a female version of MacGyver."

"Thank you, Sir, but I don't have a mullet."

He laughs, "I can see that."

"Mike" they turn to see Kate in the doorway.

"Lieutenant Kate Mcgregor, Warrant Officer Ed Gray. He's the one who talked MacGyver through disarming the bomb."

"Nice to meet you, Sir."

"And you, Lieutenant."

"Commander Flynn brought him down here to meet me in person, X."

" It's nice to meet you, Sir. If you will excuse me," Kate said and then she walks away.

"We better get going ourselves, Will you be joining the crew at the pub tonight?" Mike asked

"Depends on what Jim is doing, he's in a meeting at the moment."

"Ok, see you later MacGyver,"

''You too, Sir, it's nice to meet you Warrant Officer Gray."

"You too, MacGyver."

They walk out of the galley.

That night when MacGyver arrived at home and went inside she realized that Jim wasn't home yet so she went upstairs and to the bedroom, she smiled when she saw that the new furniture had been delivered. Sorting out her seabag she noticed Jim's clothes in the walk-in closet making her smile. She finished sorting out her things and then she went to see where the rest of his things are.

She saw his bed in one of the bedrooms and some stuff had been put around the house, some family photos including the big one of the two of them together from the wedding. She was planning on picking it up from the frame shop in town this week but Jim must have picked it up himself.

Next, she went to the kitchen to see what food was in the fridge, making a list and then heading to the supermarket. When she got back she started making her cheesecake dessert.

It was a few hours later when Jim arrived home. Smiling when he saw her cooking at the stove, "Welcome home!" As he went over to her and kissed her.

"It's good to be home."

"That bad?"

" I wish I could tell you what happened."

"It's ok, so long as you're ok."

"I am, how was work?"

"Good, but bad news about the trial, they cancelled it cause one of the kids OD last week and another two ended up in jail."

"That's a shame, sorry Jim, you and the guys tried your best."

"I know. But there is something going on, on Penfold Island."

"Why do you say that?"

"Last week we were there for three days of training exercises and we kept hearing rumbling sounds coming from underground. It would last for about forty minutes then it stopped."

"Do you know in which area it was coming from?"

"Better than that, it was right under us."

MacGyver thought about it, "My God, the tanks, they already started filling them!" she said.

"I was thinking the same thing. I contacted NAVCOM when I returned and left a message for Commander Flynn to call me."

"He didn't call you back?"

"No."

Turning the stove off and moving everything off the rings, "I'll be right back, we're going to NAVCOM."

Fifteen minutes later they walk into NAVCOM and see that Mike's still there.

"Jim, MacGyver what is it?"

"Robsons, they're making their move."

"What? How can that be?"

"My team and I were on Penfold Island camping with some troubled kids when we heard a rumble under our feet. It lasted for about forty minutes."

"Sir, it's the tanks, they must be filling them," MacGyver said.

"Ok, so the oil should still be there."

"Or not," MacGyver said.

"Meaning?"

"I did some checking, Sir, they bought a fish farm that has pumps that would be perfect for pumping the oil into tankers."

"Show me where it is."

They walk over to a computer where MacGyver brought up the fish farm and marked its location. Then she zoomed out.

"Where is the normal pipeline?"

She pointed to an area on the map and then to where the new pipeline is in relation to the normal line to Penfold Island.

"You can see where the new line goes straight to the fish farm," MacGyver said pointing to the screen.

"I'll make some calls. Good work, both of you."

"Thanks, Sir."

They talk for a few more minutes then they left and returned home, changed and enjoyed dinner which included her quads layer cheesecake.

The next morning MacGyver got a text message letting her know that shore leave had been cancelled. She grabbed her seabag and sent a text to Jim before leaving the house.

When she walked onto Hammersley the crew was none too happy about their cancelled shore leave. She got changed and then went to find out what was going on when Jim walked on board with his men.

"Jim, you guys helping out?"

"We are, we're going to help you guys out when it comes to the takedown of the Robsons."

"It's great to have you on board, a nice surprise."

"Same here."

Half an hour later, Hammersley left port on a heading to Penfold Island. Arriving at the island, both teams were sent over. They grouped on the beach and then headed into the bush to where Jim had been camping with the kids.

"This is where we heard the rumbling," Jim said.

"Ok... spread out and use the stick to probe the ground until you hit something," MacGyver said as she poked her stick in the ground. The others walking in a grid formation did the same.

"Found something!" Charge called out. They all walked over to him and saw him and couple others moving apart a fern. Then they saw it, rusted lids that are closed.

"Let's get this open," Jim said.

They tried to unscrew the cover but it wouldn't budge. It wasn't until Jim looked at MacGyver for ideas that she opened her bag and pulled out a can and sprayed it over the hinges.

"CRC... do you think it will work?" Spider asked.

"It'll help, Spider."

After spraying the lid, she got the swimmers strop and some rope and went over to a tree, wrapped the strop around it then attached the rope to each end. Next, she brought the rope over to the cover where she put it around one side of the butterfly nut and put the two ends together until the rope was tight. She picked up a thirty-centimetre stick and put it between the two belt ropes and began to twist it around and around. Everyone was watching with fascination as they saw the nut start moving.

"It's working!" Jim said.

When the nut moved an inch she loosened the belt, "Try it now," she said.

They were now able to unscrew it a centimetre but it was enough to move the other part of the top, opening it together until it was partially open.

"It's full." Charge put his finger into the tank, pulled it out and declared, "It's oil."

"Now we've got evidence. All we need to do is catch them in the act," MacGyver said smiling.

After gathering more evidence they returned to Hammersley which then headed to the fish farm where Baxter had Hammersley wait out of sight until nightfall to go ashore and have a look. Once at the farm, they broke up into teams with each team carrying a camera. Then they headed into the farm where they noticed several men with weapons, the Robsons, Campbell Fulton and others when the tanker arrived to be loaded with the oil. They record everything. Once everything was documented for evidence they went in and arrested everyone including Campbell Fulton.

Everyone was pleased with the outcome then they waited for the police and Feds to arrive to pick up their prisoners. At that, all teams returned to Hammersley looking happy with the work they did together.

Three days later Hammersley left for patrol, and while out on patrol Kate told everyone that she and Mike had set a wedding date. The crew congratulated them and were looking forward to it.

That night in the XO's cabin, MacGyver, Nav, and Kate were enjoying a tub of chocolate ice cream, biscuits, a box of continental chocolates, and chocolate milk.

"Nav, MacGyver, I would be honoured if you will be bridesmaids."

Stunned they look at Kate, "Yes!" they both said grinning

"That's great! I brought these magazines to look at dresses. She opened a bag and pulled out several bridal magazines.

"Wow! There is a lot here, Kate," Nav remarked.

"I know, so shall we?"

They look through them until it was after midnight before closing them and going to bed to get some sleep.

Throughout the patrol, at night they would talk about the wedding and look through the magazines.

"Kate, this is the one," MacGyver said showing her the picture.

"Wow! She,s right Kate," Nav said.

"Yes, that's the one." It was an ivory strapless A-line with chapel train, tulle dress with lace and beading.

"Where is it from?" Nav asked.

" The shop is in Sydney."

"Looks like you're going to be making a trip down there," Nav said.

"Not alone, I hope," Kate said smiling at them.