CH 81
Jim was in line and waiting to be served when he heard someone speak to him from behind. "Hello Jim, I see you made it."
He turns around. "Kim."
Kim moved forward and put her arms around his neck. Jim promptly removed her arms and stepped back. "What are you doing, Kim?" he said, annoyed.
Several of their classmates were watching what was going on.
"I missed you and want to give you a kiss."
"Hell no! Just keep away from me, Kim."
"Jim, Kim…" they turn to see who was speaking to them.
"Amy, it's good to see you," Jim said, giving her a hug.
"You too, Jim. So what are you and Kim up to these days?"
"I don't know what Kim's doing, but I'm up in Cairns."
"You don't know what your wife is doing?" Amy said, confused.
"I'm a housewife," Kim added.
"Really…"
"A housewife… Kim, that's a joke. You don't even know how to cook." Jim snarked.
"Jim, darling, don't talk about me like that," Kim said with a pout.
"I'm not your darling or your husband."
"Jim? You're married?" Amy looked at his left hand and then to his face.
"Yes, I'm married to a Petty Officer in the Navy. Her name is June."
"What?" Kim said, stunned.
"Is she here?" Amy asked.
"Yes, I am. " Kim was shocked to see June standing there.
"Amy Clark, my wife June Roth."
"Hi, nice to meet you, Amy," they shook hands.
"You too, June. Jim was saying you're in the Navy."
"Yes, that's right. I'm on one of the patrol boats up in Cairns."
"Really. So how did you two meet?" Jim and June were smiling as they looked at each other. Then they turn back to Amy.
"One of the boats, Hammersley, that's the one that I serve on, was a taxi service for Jim and his men."
"The Love Boat," Amy said laughing.
"Not quite," Jim said.
"Oh… please do tell!"
June turns to Jim, "you want to?"
"Why not." As Jim told Amy the story, several others listened in. He told them everything, including the rain-checked date that they had.
"June, how did Jim purpose?" one of the guys asked.
"Plan A didn't work, so it was plan B," Jim said.
June told them about the hit and run, the injuries, being in a coma and spending Christmas and New Years in hospital. She told them about the proposal and everything. "Did the police arrest the driver?" one of the women asked.
"Yes, the driver was sent to prison for fifteen years for the attempted murder on us," Jim explained.
"But the driver somehow had the case retried, and with a disgraceful testimony from a doctor, she got two years probation."
"What?," some of them said, shocked.
"We didn't know about the second court case until days later; no one had informed us about it. I contacted our lawyer about it. He had it checked out and spoke to the judge involved with the case. The judge was shocked with our lawyer's information and that he had let the driver who deliberately tried to kill us go." June explained.
"Do you know who tried to kill you both and why?"
Jim and June look at each other, then Jim pulled her into his arms. "It was Kim Simpson. " Everyone was stunned.
"Why? Why would she do that?"
"Because Jim loves me, not her. She tried to kill us 'cause if she can't have Jim, then no one can. I was a bonus."
They all look at Kim. "You lied to all of us. You told us that you and Jim are married. I can't believe you lied to me; to all of us, Kim. And you tried to kill Jim! What did he ever do to you? What did June ever do to you? Nothing.," one of the women said.
Kim looks around, then she turns and walks towards the exit.
"Jim floor," June said, indicating that he should look down. Jim saw the string that June had dropped and stepped on it. They all watched as the zipper on Kim's dress was pulled down.
"Some things never change," June said. Shocked, Kim quickly picked up her dress and ran out of the room.
"It's safe, Jim," June said, and he turned around.
"Was she?" Jim asked.
"Oh yeah. Gee, if she can afford dresses, why can't she afford underwear?" June quipped smiling
"She's has done this before?" one of the guys asked.
"Yeah, over a year ago at my brother's wedding…that she wasn't invited to. Her dress ripped in a public place."
"Were you there, June?"
"Yes, I was"
One of the women changed the subject. "June, what do you do in the Navy?"
While June answered their questions, Jim got them both a drink. Everyone talked and mingled, then they all sat down for dinner and afterward danced to the old songs they remembered. It was after one by the time Jim and June walked into their hotel room. It was an incredible evening.
The next day they went to Jim's parent's place for a couple of hours. While they were there, Jim showed June photo albums of him when he was younger. She finally got to see what Jim was like when he was a baby until he joined the army. They told Jim's parents about the reunion and how shocked all Jim's classmates were when they learned the truth about Kim and what she tries to do.
When they returned to Cairns and home, they sorted out their things and went into town for dinner. Returning home, they made it an early night as Hammersley was leaving in the morning for a six-week patrol. Jim won't see June till next year.
Jim flew down to Sydney to spend Christmas with his parents. He got to talk to June for ten minutes on Christmas morning, then the call was cut short when June was called away for a mayday.
When Hammersley returned from its patrol, the crew looked forward to a few days of shore leave.
June arrived home. She followed her usual routine before going into town to do some shopping.
When Jim got home, and he could hear the music. He walked into the kitchen and up behind June. Moving her hair aside, he kissed her neck as he wrapped his arms around her waist.
"Missed you," he said in her ear. June turned around and, wrapping her arms around his neck, kissed him passionately.
"Missed you too," then they kissed once more.
Turning around, June turned off the stove. Then grabbing his hand, she walked them up to their bedroom. They kissed and removed each other's clothes, laid down on the bed, and they made passionate love. June and Jim enjoyed a few days together before Hammersley left port for a two-week patrol.
The day before they were due to return to Cairns, MacGyver was at the helm when her cell phone rang. She smiled when she saw that it was a text message from Jim. She opened it, then her face fell. She texted him back.
"Everything ok?" Kate asked from the captain's seat.
"Jim's been called away and doesn't know when he will be back."
"Oh. He will be fine."
"I hope so, X."
Hammersley docked in Cairns, and the crew went to the pub.
Swain was in the wardroom doing paperwork before leaving for home. He won't be sailing with the crew on their next patrol as Sally's due to give birth in two weeks. MacGyver walked onto the wharf as Sally arrived.
"Hi Sally, how's the little one doing?"
"Kicking up a fuss. I thought a walk would be good to settle the little one down."
"Not long to go now."
"No. Has Chris already left?"
"No, he's still on board. Come on, I'll show you where he is."
"Thanks."
"How's Chloe?"
"She's great."
"That's good. Chloe must be looking forward to playing big sister."
"That she is."
Arriving at the wardroom, MacGyver opens the door quietly and sticks her head in, checking on Swain, then pulls her head back out. Then Sally tiptoed in and put her hand on Swain's back, causing him to jump. Turning, he was surprised to see Sally smiling at him.
"Gee, Sally, you scared me half to death!"
MacGyver laughed. "I'll leave you two alone" as she saw them hugging and kissing.
"Thanks, June."
"No worries," she walked out, closing the door.
"MacGyver, I thought you already left," Mike said when he saw her in the passageway.
"Sally showed up on the wharf. I brought her to the wardroom. She's in the wardroom with Swain."
"Ahh, enjoy your shore leave."
"I will, and you too, Sir."
"MacGyver," Swain walked up to them, looking concerned.
"Swain, what's wrong?" Mike asked.
"Sally's gone into labour."
"Sir, call for an ambulance," MacGyver said, then she followed Swain into the wardroom.
"Sally, how far apart are the contractions?"
"This is the second one, and my water broke."
"Ok, let's get you out of your wet pants and check to see how far dilated you are."
"Ok."
Swain helped Sally until she was on the bed when another contraction hit.
"I'm going to check Sally."
"Ok."
MacGyver checked then looked up at Swain just as there was a knock on the door. MacGyver pulled the sheet down over Sally's legs and opened the door a crack to see who was there.
"Ambo's on its way."
"Sir, get towels; she's having it now."
"Now?"
"She's fully dilated."
Sally screamed.
"Need those towels, Sir," MacGyver said, closing the door; she put on gloves and returned to Sally.
"Ok, Sally, this little one wants to be born on board here; now you know what to do."
"What? She's having it now?" Swain said anxiously.
"Yes, she's fully dilated, Swain." Swain and Sally were shocked. Then Sally started pushing while Swain held onto her hand.
The door opened, and Bird was there with the towels MacGyver had asked for. "Boss said to give you these" She said when entering the room.
"Thanks, Bird, put them down and step over to the other side of the bed and hold onto Sally's leg; you too, Swain, hold her other one."
"Ok, Sally, that's it, you're going great." A few minutes later, the crew that had remained on the ship heard the wail of the baby.
"Congratulations, it's a boy," MacGyver said, smiling as she lay him on Sally's chest.
Once the baby was settled on Sally's chest, MacGyver sorted out the umbilical cord, and Swain cut it. Bird got a towel and covered the baby, and Swain pulled the sheet up, covering them both. Then the placenta came out. MacGyver cleaned Sally up then stood there watching them.
"Bird, can you go and find out where the ambulance is?"
"Sure. Congratulations, Swain, Sally."
"Thanks, Bird," Swain said. Bird went to check on the paramedics just as they showed up with the gurney.
"She already gave birth," Bird explained to them.
The paramedics were shown to the wardroom. They smiled when they entered, seeing Swain and Sally kiss while Sally held their new son.
MacGyver was writing notes down and talking to the paramedics giving them the time of the birth. Once Sally is settled on the gurney holding their son, MacGyver turned to Swain.
"You go to the hospital; I'll finish the paperwork," MacGyver told Swain.
"Are you sure?"
"Of course, go and be with your family."
"Thanks, MacGyver," he and MacGyver followed the paramedics out to the ambulance.
Returning to the wardroom, MacGyver started cleaning up the mess. She finished off the paperwork and filled out the order forms for items that are needed on board. Once that was done, she left for home.
A few days later, Hammersley left port for a two-week patrol with Swain's temporary replacement. MacGyver and Mike knew the guy from ANZAC. He was an Able Seaman back then and now is a Petty Officer. He likes to be called "Possum" because growing up on a farm outside of Sydney, when he was little, he would help to look after injured possums. When MacGyver saw him walk onto Hammersley, she had been talking to Mike and Kate on the side deck. She passed Mike the clipboard.
"Sir, who's Swain's replacement?"
"Petty Officer Johnny Andrews."
"Johnny Andrews… that name sounds familiar," MacGyver said.
"This must be him now," Kate said when they saw a guy in his DPNU and carrying his seabag stop to talk to Dutchy. Then he looked up to where the three were standing.
"Bloody hell!" MacGyver said, shocked at seeing him.
"You recognized him?" Mike asked.
"I didn't, but now I do," she said smiling. "Hey! Possum! What the hell are you doing up here?" MacGyver yells out, which caused the crew to look at her.
"Who are you to talk to me like that?" he yells back.
"Oh yeah, you want me to shove a large needle up your ass mate like I did in two thousand and two over in Irag, you big baby!" MacGyver said, laughing.
He just looked at her and then to Dutchy, who was grinning. "You know MacGyver?"
Possum looked at Dutchy. "No bloody way! MacGyver?" He said, dumbstruck.
"Yep," Dutchy replied.
Then he looked up, clearly shocked to see her. "MacGyver…"
"The one and only. Hey, you remember Mighty Mike Flynn?"
"Yeah, he likes to be a cowboy; what about him?" Then Possum saw her point her thumb to the captain standing next to her.
"Well, the cowboy is now the Captain."
"I'll be damned."
MacGyver climbed down to the boat deck, then onto the wharf, where they hugged hello.
"You haven't changed a bit!" Possum greeted.
"Oh, I have. I've changed rank and name."
"Roth.." he said, reading her name tag.
"Yep."
"Petty Officer… since when?"
"Rank, two years, marriage ten months."
"Well, I'll be damned."
"Come on, I'll show you to your cabin."
"Great!" They talk until they reach the hatch.
"Possum!" they stop and look up.
"it's great to see you again, Sir."
"Likewise, welcome aboard."
"Thank you, Sir." Then he followed MacGyver through the door.
