CH 61
Dutchy was standing alone outside when Swain walked outside and stood next to him. "Are you ok, Mate?"
"Yeah, I've been doing some thinking."
"About what?"
"Nothing for you to worry about."
"MacGyver, she got to you hasn't she."
Dutchy turned to Swain, "How did you know?"
"You're not the first one, Mate, she's very good at her job as you experienced today. And she is a good listener and despite what you're going through, she's probably experienced it herself so she understands."
"She couldn't possibly understand this."
"You'd be surprised. I can tell you this when I first met her she was amazing but she was like you, closed off from others. She got to know the crew and slowly she let others in. One night she was on the boat deck doing exercises wearing shorts and a short top. I went to check on her and thought that she was fine until I got closer. When she turned around towards me I was shocked."
"About what?"
"Scars Mate, she's got them on her legs and her abdomen, her chest, shoulder, arms. They're from different wounds she experienced. She has one right here," he points to his chest. "A bullet wound, it missed her heart by millimetres."
"You're joking."
"No, I'm not, she has been through hell and back. If you saw her scars you would understand. Most of those scars she got risking her life to save others whether on an FFV or someone who's going through hell. She helps them out despite her own pain."
"Does Jim know about what she has been through?"
"Of course, and he loves her scars and all. Get to know her, she can be full of surprises."
"I'll think about it."
"Come inside and help me look after the crew, make sure they don't cause any problems."
"You think they will?"
"Yup."
They go back inside and over to where the group is hanging out. Dutchy stopped short and then Swain did. "Dutchy, are you ok, Mate?" Then he looked over to where Dutchy was looking. It was MacGyver, she was laughing as she and Kate were talking to the Ambassador's wife.
"I had no idea she's a hero."
"She's a war hero. The youngest in RAN history to receive her first Star of Courage."
"How old was she?"
"Eighteen when she received it. She received four more medals by the time she was twenty and promoted to able seamen at nineteen. She got all of them from risking her life. And others from helping the SAS out."
"Really."
"Yeah, come on." They went over to join Kate and MacGyver.
"MacGyver, where'd Jim disappear to?" Swain asked.
"The head and to check in on his men. Is everything alright?" she asked as she looked back and forth between the two men.
"Dutchy's shocked by your story."
"Me? What's so shocking about me?"
"Well, your medals for one," Dutchy said.
"Oh, that...Swain, what did you tell him?"
"That you received your first Star of Courage at eighteen."
"Oh, that."
"How did you receive it?" Dutchy asked.
"I single-handedly took down five men, two of them were about to shoot two crewmates when I took them out. It was the first time I killed someone."
"I had no idea."
"Now you know and talking about it also helps."
"Hey, everything ok?" Jim asked when he returned and passed June a glass of non-alcoholic punch and he had one also.
"Yes, everything's fine. Dutchy was a bit stunned when he learned about my medals."
"Ahh… I see."
"Everything ok?"
"Yep, everything's quiet."
"That's good."
"Excuse me, MacGyver."
She turned to the Ambassador who had just walked up to her. "Ambassador?"
"May I have a word with you?"
"You can have more than one word with me, Sir."
He laughed once he realized that it was a joke. He led her away to talk in private.
"She's got a strange sense of humour," Dutchy said.
"That she has, Mate," Swain agreed.
"Ambassador, you wanted to talk to me about something?"
"Yes, Commander Flynn told me what you did to get Caroline back. That you took down three men by yourself on that barge, how did you know that she was there?"
"Well, Sir, it was the way the captain was acting, I could tell he was nervous by his body language and my gut was telling me that he was hiding something. So Swain and I went below deck and we found Caroline. We were spotted and locked in the room with her. I was able to get us out, went up top and took the three men down. Then grabbed the things that I needed from the RHIB and returned to help Swain with Caroline."
"You are one amazing woman."
"Thank you, Sir."
"He also told me that you took out the man on the speedboat, disabled the boat and the bomb that was on board."
"Yes, Sir, all in a day's work... well except for the bomb, that was a bit unusual."
"Sounds like you enjoy your job."
"I love it, Sir but there's one thing that's more important than the Navy, and that is my husband."
"You're willing to give up the job you love for him?"
"That's one of the things that I love about Jim, his honesty. We have talked about it, but the choice is mine. He trusts I will make the right choice."
"You two work well together."
"Yes, we do," she said smiling.
Then two waiters showed up. One had a tray of finger foods on it and the other with wine glasses. MacGyver was watching them as they approached. Her gut was sending alarm bells. She put her glass down just as the two men put the trays down revealing that they had knives in their hands. MacGyver quickly pushed the Ambassador out of harm's way as they lunged at him intending to kill him. The Ambassador watched as MacGyver fought both men and he yelled out, "Security!"
Jim and the other's heard the Ambassador yelling, ran over and saw MacGyver fighting two men and then a third one showed up. Jim jumped in and attacked him. Everyone was watching Jim and MacGyver fight the three men until they knocked them out.
Breathing heavy Jim turned to June, "Are you ok?"
"Well, now my hair's a mess."
Jim laughed as he pulled her into his arms and hugged her.
When they pulled apart she asked, "Are you ok?"
"Yes, I'm fine." Then she saw movement from the corner of her eye. One of the men had pulled a gun. She pushed Jim away, saw the knife on the floor. She threw herself into a barrel roll while picking up the knife and throwing it into the guy's chest. He looked down then collapsed onto the floor while she was on one knee with her hand still stretching out in front of her. Everyone was stunned. She stood up and dusted herself off then turned around, "what?"
"June, why did you push me out of the way?"
"He was going to shoot you, Jim."
He stepped forward, pulled her into his arms and hugged her, then he cupped her face, "Thank you for saving my life."
"Your life is worth saving."
"And so is yours." He gave her a quick kiss when security and some of Jim's men finally showed up. They took the two men and the body away as well cleaned up the mess.
"Well, I think that that was enough excitement for one night. Let's all move on and continue to enjoy the party," the Ambassador announced. "MacGyver Captain Roth, thank you for saving my life."
"Your welcome, of course, Ambassador," Jim said.
"How did they get to the island and past security?" the Ambassador asked.
"The speedboat," MacGyver said.
"Speedboat..." the Ambassador repeated.
"Yes, it was heading to the island then it turned around about fifty meters from shore and headed straight for Hammersley, I thought that the guy had changed his plans when he saw Jim's men, changed tactics, and Hammersley became his new target."
"The big question is was Hammersley one of the targets."
"No," MacGyver said, "his target was this place."
"And what about the RPGs?"
"There were two buildings on this island that were the targets. The bomb was intended for one and the RPG for the other."
"She's right," Jim said.
"Well, thank you for saving many lives, both of you." Then he walked away to rejoin his guests.
"Will you be ok for a bit?"
"Yeah, I will be," he gives her a kiss then walks away.
MacGyver went out onto the balcony and looked out over to the ocean when Dutchy joined her with two drinks in hand. He passes her one, "thanks."
"Interesting night," he says.
"Yeah, it has been."
"That throw you did with the knife..."
"Ninja, I did a year as an exchange student and I was over in Japan. I was staying with a ninja master and his family. He showed me the ninja ways after he saw what I was capable of doing. It usually takes years of training, I did it in months. When I returned to Australia I kept up my training with an old friend of the master who lives in Australia. In no time I became a pro."
"Does the master know you're in the Navy?"
"He passed away three years after my return."
"Sorry to hear that."
"It's ok."
"So you're a lethal weapon then."
She laughed, "sometimes I can be."
They continue to talk for a few minutes when Kate walks out and over to them. Then Jim returned and joined them on the balcony.
"Jim what's wrong?" MacGyver asked.
"The two men, they're dead."
"What happened?"
"They swallowed something and died seconds later."
"Cyanide poison most likely, hidden in a tooth, it's instant. They must have killed themselves so they couldn't talk and their mission failed," MacGyver said.
"You're probably right. Now we will never know who wanted the Ambassador dead," Jim said.
Hours later the Ambassador and his wife watched from the front porch as they saw Jim and MacGyver in each other's arms kissing on the dock. The RHIB was preparing to return to Hammersley with a full load of crew members. "They are lucky" she said.
"Yes, they are. MacGyver, she is a true hero. The captain is very lucky to be alive tonight."
"And so are you."
" All true. I'll be calling Fleet Command about her and her actions tonight."
"Come, let's return to the party." Taking the Ambassador's arm they turn around and head back inside.
When the RHIB returned, Jim helped MacGyver into the RHIB after kissing her one last time then he watched as the RHIB headed for Hammersley. He left the dock to check on his men before getting some sleep.
The next morning Hammersley left for a patrol and then returned to the island a few days later to pick up the SAS and return to Cairns.
Once in Cairns the SAS left the Navy base to return to their base. Jim and MacGyver share a kiss before he got into the truck and drove away. MacGyver went back on board.
Mike went to see Maxine. They talk about Navy business.
"I received a call from Fleet Command regarding one of your crew members," Maxine told Mike.
"Who?"
"Petty Officer Roth."
"MacGyver."
"Yes. They received a call and report from Ambassador Davis regarding what she did at his party."
"What did Fleet Command have to say?"
"Well, since it was classified that she would've been receiving a commendation and Star of Gallantry for her heroism."
"She will understand, Maxine, and it will still be in her record."
"I'm sure she will. The Ambassador was quite impressed with the way she took out two men by herself while Captain Roth took out the third man and then pushing the captain out of harm's way. And killing the guy by throwing a knife into his chest within a second."
"She's good at what she does, Maxine. I was there and saw the whole thing. She even shocked the crew with what she did."
"Yes, I know, I read your report. Now that you're back you can start your shore posting today."
"All due respect Maxine, I'm taking a couple of days off so I can get myself sorted. And I've personal things that need taking care of."
"Ok then, the crew gets three days shore leave."
"Good, they'll like that. I'll inform my XO, see you in two days."
"Alright, Mike."
Mike went back to Hammersley and ran into MacGyver as she was walking off Hammersley carrying her seabag.
"Shore leave?" he said with a smile.
"Yeah, I can't wait to get home and do some shopping," she said, returning his smile.
"MacGyver, since the 'Ambassador Mission' is classified..."
"I understand, Sir. It's not the first time."
"You would have received the Star of Gallantry for your act of heroism. It will be in your record."
"I understand, Sir. Thank you, Sir."
"Go home and enjoy your shore leave."
"Thanks, Sir. You too."
"I'm looking forward to it as well," they saluted each other and MacGyver left walking towards the guardhouse while Mike walked up onto Hammersley.
