CH 59

MacGyver walked into her cabin and she closed the door. Then she pulled her phone out of her pocket and made a call while she sat down. When the phone call connected a face appeared, "Hey honey, what's wrong?" Jim asked when he saw that she'd been crying.

"Jim I've been permanently assigned to Hammersley, until my contract expires next year."

"What? Can't they get someone else?"

"There's no one available with my experience as a chef, second medic, and helmsman."

"So... what are you going to do?"

"Stay, that's all I can do until my contract's up."

"We'll make it work, June."

"I know, it's just that it means us starting a family is going to take longer."

"That's true, but I'll be looking forward to your shore leaves."

"Yeah,I know you are. Where are you, or can't you say."

"I...I've got to go, June. We will talk soon. I promise."

"I hope so, love you."

"Love you too," then they hung up.

MacGyver went and got changed then went to her duty station.

Jim closed his phone, "Are you ok Jim?"

"Yeah, June's going through a rough time. She just found out that the Navy's going to keep her on Hammersley until next year."

"You're joking, you said it was temporary."

"That is what she was being told also."

"You two can make it work."

"Yeah, I know."

When MacGyver walked onto the Wharf Kate was there. "X, have you seen the CO?"

"He was called to the comcen, here he is now." They watched as he walked off Hammersley and onto the wharf.

"MacGyver, everything on board?"

"Yes sir, when you're ready."

"We're waiting for some passengers, the Ambassador asked for extra security so the Navy's sending a team to Angel Island with the Ambassador's life in danger. It'll be only for a week."

"Any idea who they are sending?" Kate asked.

"We will know soon enough. Here they are, this must be them." They watched as an army truck and jeep showed up.

"Jim..." MacGyver said, shocked to see him.

"They are sending the SAS?"

"Big Island, like Bright Island," Mike said.

MacGyver walked forward just as Jim did. "You coming with us?"

"Yeah, we're extra security for the American Ambassador."

"Good, when we've got time we can talk."

"I'll make time for you, June," then he cups her face and kisses her then they hug.

"I'll let you help your men and gear on to Hammersley."

"June can you take care of my uniform?"

"Why?"

"I've been invited to the Ambassador's party on behalf of the SAS."

"I'm going to be there, too."

"Well then we will need to talk."

"True, we do, later then."

"Ok," they kissed, and then Jim went to help the guys carry gear onto the ship. MacGyver returned to stand next to Mike and Kate.

"Everything ok?" Kate asked.

"When there's time, Sir, once we're underway, Jim and I are going to have a talk. We'll be using my cabin for privacy, if that is ok with you."

"You don't need my approval, after all you're married."

"Thank you, Sir."

Twenty minutes later Hammersley left port and headed for Angel Island. MacGyver went down to where Jim and his men are staying.

"Jim, June's here," one of the guys called out.

"Hey," Jim said as he went over to her.

"Settle in ok?"

"Yeah."

"Where is your uniform?"

"It's here," he went and got it.

"I'll show you to my cabin."

"Ok. Guys dinner time is the usual time tonight."

"What's for dinner?" one of them asked.

"Food," MacGyver replied, making the other's laugh as she looked at Jim's smiling face.

He followed her until they reached her cabin, they went in and she closed the door.

"Is that wise having the door closed?"

"Mike gave me the ok, and we are married."

"True." He hung his uniform bag up on a hook then he stepped forward and pulled her into his arms and hugged her. "Everything is going to be ok, June."

"I know, I need you now." They pulled apart, looked at each other then kissed which became passionate. An hour and a half later they walk out of her cabin and down to the galley, she's got to get dinner on. Jim made himself a brew while they talked with music playing in the background.

"So what are we having for dinner? And I know it's food."

"Tonight it's peas, carrots, potatoes and your favourite chicken."

"Marinated chicken?"

"Ah-huh."

"I'm looking forward to it."

"I know you are. We will be having fruit crumble and custard for dessert.

"Oh, I'm looking forward to that too."

"I know you are."

"I'm happy that we had a chance to talk," he said smiling.

"I am too."

"There you are, MacGyver." They turn to see Kate walking into the galley.

"Where else would I be at this time, X?"

"Is everything ok?"

"Jim and I talked about the shocking news and we know it's going to be hard on us both but we can do it."

"That's good, I'm glad that you both had a chance to talk."

"It is and I've been helping him out with a problem."

"Problem?"

"Rosters for his men while they are on the island."

"Oh, sure."

"Kate any chance of getting the layout of the house and area so June and I can work on the patrol grid?"

"Sure, how about after dinner."

"That's fine by me, X," June replies.

"Same here," Jim said.

"I'll leave you two to talk," then she left for the bridge.

When dinner was ready the crew started showing up as well the SAS men.

"Sir, we were wondering where you got off to."

"I've been talking to June about things, corporal."

"Newbie, Jim?" MacGyver asked.

"Yeah, three months."

"Right," as she dishes up a meal and passes it to the next person in line. She continues to serve dinner until Mike and Kate showed up.

"Smells great, MacGyver," Kate told her.

"Thanks, X, and there's a special dessert afterwards."

"Great!"

Once most of the crew and all of the SAS finished the first course, she started dishing up the second course for them when Dutchy showed up.

"Hi, we haven't met, I'm Petty Officer Dylan Mullholland."

"You must be 'Dutchy' with a name like Mullholland."

"Yeah, so I hear you're a mean chef."

"Me? Mean? Only to certain crew members, I can be. Petty Officer June Roth, I'm called 'MacGyver'," they shook hands.

"Strange name."

'I'm a strange woman." then turning to Jim, "and this good looking bloke is Captain Jim Roth."

"Captain."

"Dutchy," they shook hands.

"Roth, so you two are…"

"Yes, he's my husband."

"Really it must be hard trying to get together."

"It has been but when we are we try to spend as much time together as we can."

"Ok... like on Hammersley."

"Yep and at home." MacGyver said as she passed him a plate of food.

"Thanks" then he walked away.

After everyone had their dinner and most of the dishes were done, Jim and MacGyver sat in the senior mess having their dinner together. While they were talking Dutchy walked in, "sorry for disturbing your dinner, MacGyver there's something I want to ask."

"Ask away."

"The crew told me some stories and there was one about you two."

"Jim and me? What was it?"

"About a challenge when you both met." Dutchy saw them look at each other and smile, then they turned to Dutchy and told him what had happened and who had won."

"So what happened when you lost, Captain?"

"Call me Jim, and since I lost I asked her out on a date."

"Which I agree to and it took two rainchecks before we managed to have another date."

"How long have you two been married?"

"Nine months and we met eighteen months ago," MacGyver replied.

"It must be hard for you both."

"Yes it has been the SAS and the Navy have no sense of timing," MacGyver said, making Jim chuckle.

"That can happen anywhere, any time," Dutchy added.

"All True," Jim said.

"So Dutchy, you've heard our story, tell us a bit about yourself," Macgyver asked.

"Why?"

"It one way for me to get to know what sort of guy you are. Don't worry you're not the first person I've asked. It gives me a better understanding of the crew members and it makes me able to read their body language."

"You're joking, right?"

" 'frade she's not. She did it with me and my men, and I can tell you this about June here, you trust her and her instincts. She's been right on the money all along, she can tell by the person's body language what they might do," Jim said.

"You can?"

"Yes, I can. I could tell from when we first met and the talk we've had now, that you're hurting. And I can tell that you are trying to cover up a hurt."

He just looked at her, shocked and uncomfortable.

"Dutchy, if you want someone to talk to, June's the best. She's a great listener and very good at giving advice. Trust me, I've seen her do it. And she's good at breaking down barriers."

"When you're ready, I'll listen. Ask anyone here and they will tell you what sort of person I am."

"Thanks for that, and I'll think about it."

"That's fine."

Jim sat back rubbing his stomach, "that was a great dinner June, I miss your cooking."

"Yeah, I know you do."

"Well I'm going to see what my men are up to," he said as he stood up.

"Jim, there board games if they want to play and who knows some of the crew might join in."

"Thanks, June, good to know," and he gives her a kiss before taking his plates and mug out to the sink.

"So, first time on a patrol boat?"

"Yeah, how about you?"

"Four years, I did have a shore posting for few weeks then I was assign back on here until a replacement can be found. Unfortunately, there isn't anyone at this time so here I am until my contract expires next year."

" They can't find another chef?"

"It's more complicated than that. They need someone who's not only a chef but a medic and a helmsman."

"I thought Swain was the helmsman."

"He is, I'm the backup just in case anything goes wrong."

"I see."

They talked for a few more minutes then stood up and walked into the galley where she made them a brew and she started on finishing the dishes while they continued to talk. MacGyver managed to get Dutchy to open up about what ships he'd been on and about his family. They talked for over an hour before he went to join the crew and the SAS in board games.

When MacGyver finished with cleaning, she went into her cabin and lay down picking up a book that she had been reading. After reading for ten minutes there was a knock on her door. "Come in." Looking up from her book she saw Kate opening the door.

"X."

"I heard you and Dutchy were talking."

"Yeah, what is it?"

She walked in and sat down just as Dutchy was walking by the door stopping when he heard his name.