Walking along the dock, jess stopped as she reached the gangway of Hammersley. Looking up she could see Thor; the ships mascot standing on the ledge just above the bridge proudly guarding and protecting them when they were at sea.
Sighing softly, she was reminded of how different everything now was and how much everything had changed.
"Bird!" Kate called from the Fly-bridge "hurry up please we cast of in 10 minuets" she called
"Yes Ma'am" she replied dashing over the gangway.
Heading down towards her cabin she stopped outside his cabin. Through the small crack in the open door, she could see who she assumed was the new buffer already making himself at home. She watched as he moved around the cabin, sticking up posters on to the wall. He was tall and had white blond hair and she could just make out the edge of a couple of tattoos underneath his sleeves which were tight around his arms
"G'day" he said turning around to look at her "can I help you" he flashed a smile
"I... umm..." she stammered looking up being greeted by his ice blue eyes stepping back she bumped in to the wall before dashing down the passageway and in to her cabin.
Sitting on her rack she sighed. She had never known a patrol without him unless you counted the 3 months he was on leave after the dirty bomb but even then, she knew he was at home waiting for her to return. But now he was 1500 miles away and heading back to a warzone.
Closing her eyes her mind began playing back all the moments they had had together. How they had joined Hammersley at the same time, she was a gap year recruit. When Kate who was the XO at the time had reminded her of the 'no snogging your shipmates' rule as she had put it but there was no harm in checking them out. He had first caught her eye when they were on guard duty for the HMAS Newcastle with the American ambassador was awarding him with the Medal for Gallantry. He had been there for her when her Physico ex turned up and tried to get her back despite being told no. it was his smile that had and still did send her weak at the knees. And if she had ever had a crisis of confidence which was almost every patrol, he had been one of the first to notice and the first to tell her that she was a fine sailor and made her believe in her self
The pictures quickly changed to that of when he had not looked as good. She had tended to his wounds more times than she cared to count each time it killed her inside, she was so scared that he would be to wounded to continue. The worst being when they were on a Exped and had been captured by a group of psychotic hunters decided to tie them up before using them as target practice.
"Special Sea duty men and cable party close up assume damage control state 3 condition voyage" Kates voice echoed around the ship.
Shaking the memories out of her mind she could do without those ones playing as it was only adding to her fears of what could happen to him, they were after all only on a patrol boat and he was constantly in the ward room.
"All crew not on watch muster boat deck" Kates voice rang out with a second announcement.
Heading up on to deck she stood next to 2-dads and Charge; who were the only members of the 'original' Hammersley crew left not including Kate who was the commanding officer now. Bomber had left the Navy and gone back home to open a catering business which was a successful street food van, and swain had been killed in the terror attack on the harbour last year.
She looked around at everyone as they arrived all standing on deck
"Right, this won't take long" Kate said walking up with Nikki who was the XO and navigator. "As we all know Dutchy posted off at the end of our last patrol so we have a new Buffer." she said looking at her papers "so let's welcome Bleddyn Wynne" she stammered trying to get her tongue around the name.
"Thanks ma'am you can just call me Scrabble" he said stepping forward. "That or Wolfe" he smiled "my name means wolf or is derived from the Welsh for wolf"
"Thank you for that" Kate smiled "now we all have duties to do let's get to it"
Walking into the galley bird grabbed her apron and cap she made herself busy preparing the lunch. She had just about figured out what she was going to cook as it was the first day out. She would go through and plan a proper menu after lunch.
Lunch came round quicker than she realised and soon everyone was lined up waiting and she still had to put the food in the heater on the pass.
"So, what we got for lunch then Bird" 2 dads said walking up
Looking at the trays where she put the food as if it was not obvious
"Well, we have the finest pork wellington served with a side of pommes frites and haricot beans in a tomato reduction" she said sarcastically
"It looks like sausage roll chips and baked beans to me to me" 2 dads said
"Then why ask" Bird sighed putting a bowl of salad she had made up on the side away from the heat so it didn't spoil.
"Because I wanted to make sure you never know these days" he grinned turning to scrabble who was stood behind him "hey scrabble What happens if you eat to many Navy beans?" he asked "you get a dishonourable discharge"
"Really 2-dads we are just about to eat" Ro called from the back of the line
"Do you want lunch or not 2-dads" Bird said holding out the plate.
"someone's tetchy" 2 dads said
"No, I just can't be dealing with your bull shit right now" she said plating up a second plate for scrabble
"Or is it that you are missing Dutchy" 2-Dads grinned watching her reaction
"You don't know what you are talking about" she said trying to hide her feelings
"Oh, it is" he smiled turning to scrabble. "Dutchy was the old buffer and all the ladies on board went a bit gaga for him. I don't know why but I suppose if you were in to the action man look and he was awarded the medal of gallantry. Even the boss was mooning over him for a while but she married the old CO" he said "well well well" he grinned "birdy and dutchy sitting in a tree..."
"do the world a favour 2 dads and go jump of the flag deck" Bird said throwing the serving spoon in to the beans causing them to splash over 2-dads before storming out of the galley, almost bumping in to Kate she pushed her way past heading down to her cabin.
"What is going on here?" Kate asked
"Birds lost the plot ma'am all I did was ask her what was for lunch..." 2-dads began
"Actually..." Ro interrupted
"Here we go" Kate sighed "do I want to know?" she said
"Well 2-dads was saying how bird was missing dutchy and how all the female crew had the hots for him including you ma'am" RO said
"i was just filling in Scrabble on the way things have gone down on Hammersley Ma'am..."
"Save it 2-dads." Kate held her hands up "As for Dutchy I recall you worshiped the ground he walked on. And as for lunch get in the galley and start serving, please." she sighed if it wasn't unruly FFV crew it was her own crew behaving like school children. She sometimes thought if she ever did leave the navy she could retrain as a primary school teacher; at least the kids would be easier to control than 2-dads.
Sighing softly, she knew what needed to be done but she would leave it for a bit. Wait for everything to quieten down because the crew would be talking about this for a while. Finishing her own lunch, she headed in to the galley putting her plate in the Sink as 2-dads was just about to walk out
"2DADS!" she called "are you forgetting something?" she asked folding her arms
"I don't think so ma'am" he said grinning
"Washing up. As you made the chefo run away you can complete her duties and get all this washing up done."
"But Ma'am..."
"But nothing 2-dads get to it" Kate said picking up the 2 mugs she had just made drinks in. Turning she could see 2 dads staring at the sink which was loaded with baking trays, pans, plates and cutlery "it's a bit of washing up 2-dads it's not going to bite"
"it's going to take forever" he moaned
"Well think how poor bird feels and she has to do it 3 times a day as well as her medic and other sea duties" Kate said
Walking out she carefully made her way down to the lower deck. She stopped outside Birds cabin. Holding the mugs with one hand she softly knocked before entering
"Ma'am" bird said sitting up brushing the tears from her eyes
"i thought you could do with one of these" Kate smiled handing her one of the mugs she had been holding. "It's Milo. From my secret stash"
"Thank you, ma'am," Jess whispered taking the mug form her
"So do you want to tell me what that was in the galley?" Kate asked sitting on the little desk chair that was also in the cabin.
"I'm sorry Ma'am 2-dads was making these jokes about the lunch and saying that I was in a mood and I just couldn't take his jokes today" Bird said nursing her hot milo.
"You should know never to take anything 2-dads says with a pinch of salt" Kate half smiled
"And then he started saying things about Dutchy..." she said
"You really miss him don't you" Kate sighed
Nodding softly Bird looked up the tears falling "I'm just so scared he will get hurt and won't come back"
"Oh bird" Kate sighed moving to sit next to her pulling her close. "His nickname should have been Teflon. The number of times he has ended in the wardroom and has pulled through." Kate smiled
Bird smiled she knew the odds of something bad happening were low but it still didn't stop that nagging feeling eating away at the back of her mind. It was made worse that she didn't know what ship he was on or where it was posted.
"i know but it's hard when I don't know where he is"
"i will speak to Captain Flynn and see what I can find out about his posting" Kate said wrapping her arm around the young sailor "and try not to worry it's not good for the mind it eats away too much" she said softly
"Thanks Ma'am" Bird smiled
"Sort yourself out and then come on to the bridge. And I have 2-dads sorting the galley out" Kate smiled
Wiping the tears away Bird forced a smile "i might go check the galley first" she said "make sure 2-dads hasn't wrecked the joint" she said
"Okay" Kate said standing
Walking out of the Cabin Kate sighed it was always tough when people posted off but it was all part of being in the navy. She hoped that if she could get some information on what was going on with Dutchy that it would help Bird adjust and feel better.
so sorry its been a while but we have had a bit of a heat wave here and its been my birthday so i have had little time to write but i hope you like it.
in case you were wondering Scrabble's name is Welsh The name Bleddyn means wolf. It is a Welsh boy's name as well as the name of an 11th-centruy king of medieval Wales and Wynne comes from Gwyn meaning fait white.
NB i was going to re write this chapter as i couldnt think of how to make chapter 3 work but i decided not to go with it so here is chapter 2 again