Chapter 2
The Christmas party went well. Bomber had surpassed herself again because the dinner was delicious. Kate wondered how it would be if she didn't have to follow the supply restrictions of the navy and could use directly the products from the market.
It went well, with no highlights, except maybe one thing. At midnight someone announced out loud, "Hey guys, it's midnight! Merry Christmas!"
Mike stood up and looked at Kate who was still seated. "Merry Christmas, X! A night like this it's allowed, isn't it?"
Kate stood up and received a peck on her mouth as the crew applauded.
"Merry Christmas to you too sir", she replied with a blush.
Luckily no one has realised it wasn't on the cheek or noticed that I was red as a beetroot!
Jeez, Mike why did you do that? Whatever it gave a good feeling. A sign that it's more than a flirtation.
After the party everyone headed for their cabin or to the bridge to take over the watch. Kate stood up and also wanted to go to her cabin but she changed her mind and went out on the quarterdeck. She stood near the railing and stared, her hands buried in her trousers pockets, at the vague outline of the neighbouring island with the few lights of the small village.
It's been almost a year since Swain and Jim died in that explosion. I admitted that I wanted to marry Mike and he told me the same thing too. But where are we now? Almost a year later and we're still at the same point. Sir, X and still together on the same ship. However, there are a few changes. He already asked for a shore posting several times, but Knocker, the bitch, doesn't budge. Neither did my promotion. This year I failed again! The positive side is that we can talk more freely with each other and we can stay more often in one of the two houses. But is this being a married couple? Is this creating a family?
Sadness made her gaze shine but the night was too dark for anyone to see it.
Kate didn't notice that someone had approached her.
"Still out X?", asked Mike who was standing a meter away.
"Woeha!", cried Kate in fright, stepping aside.
"X?! A bad conscience?", Mike asked.
"Sir. I didn't hear you", Kate stammered, her heart pounding.
He chuckled, "Rubber soles", he said deadpan.
"Did you enjoy dinner X?", he asked.
Kate kept getting sadder and sadder.
X, here we go again.
"Yes sir, marvellous", she replied lightly.
"It's good, me too. Bomber is a real chef. I would like to see her in a real restaurant", he said, looking at the little lights in the distance.
Kate looked at him in the dark.
Wouldn't you get a little bit closer?
"Maybe it will be calm the next few days. New Year, you see. Hopefully, the fishermen will also want to be at home".
"Yes sir, indeed, although a bit distraction is always welcome", Kate replied.
No, he stays put.
"Well X, I'll let you. See you tomorrow. Good night", Mike said as he walked away.
Kate stared with anger and disappointment at the direction he had gone and felt even sadder. She turned her head and looked at the lights on the island.
Jeez, how could I fall in love with a man who still talks about work on Christmas Eve?
She sighed, wiped away her tears, and also went inside.
When Kate entered the officers' mess the next morning, she noticed that Mike was already there. Moreover he was in a very good mood. "Good morning X! Did you sleep well? And… Merry Christmas!", he said enthusiastically.
A good sleep and a good shower had washed away most of her gloomy feelings.
"Yes, I did and Merry Christmas to you too sir", she replied, sitting down.
"Enjoy your breakfast and…. this is for you!", he told her, handing her a small square box. It was wrapped in a shiny paper with a pretty bow.
Kate widened her eyes, "Uh? Sir? I…", she stammered, looking from the present to him.
"Christmas means presents!", Mike said with a bone melting smile.
A slight blush appeared on Kate's cheeks. "But,… I don't …. have…", she stammered.
"Never mind! Just enjoy it", he encouraged her.
Cheeks flushing, she grabbed the box and unwrapped it, "Ooh! My favourite! Coco from Chanel!", she said. "Thank you!"
Mike was obviously happy to see her happy. "Pleasure X".
"But, sir? How did you know that? Did you snoop around?", she asked suspiciously.
"No, you simply told me", he said stiffly.
"Huh? How?"
"Oh, a while ago, when we were on shore. I paid you a compliment saying you smelled good and asked what it was. You told me that it was Coco".
"Naughty!", Kate replied, sniffing the bottle, "Hmm".
"Maybe, I'll get the chance to explore it entirely on you?", he suggested.
Her eyes twinkled, "Maybe we can do something on New Year's Eve?"
"Sounds good. I'll be there"
"Huh, where?", Kate asked.
"At yours", he replied deadpan.
"Huh? I haven't said anything yet."
"No, but it looked like that….", Mike replied disarmingly.
Kate didn't answer but a broad smile lit up her face.
That's Mike. Sometimes he's completely selfless and sometimes he can be so intrusive!
A few hours later on the bridge, Mike was sitting in his chair and Kate next to him watching the radar. Buffer Jerry stood behind them arms crossed, like rock.
"Sir, FFV spotted southeast at 1-5-8. Distance 3 miles", she said.
"Okay, X, let's intercept her", Mike replied.
"Steer 1-5-8", Kate ordered.
"Steer 1-5-8! Leading Seaman 'Tubby' replied, turning the steering wheel in that direction.
Kate grabbed the microphone, "Hands to the boarding stations, hands to the boarding stations, hands to the boarding stations!".
She put down the microphone and she rushed downstairs. Jerry was already down the stairs. She slipped into the Kevlar gear and grabbed a gun. The boarding team, with Kate in the middle, walked slowly outside and they were greeted by Jerry's harsh voice, "Come on lazy bastards, move your ass!"
The men sped up and Kate exited the group, glaring at Jerry, "I'm here and my lazy ass too", she answered him irritated.
That surprised him, but his recoil was barely noticed. "Uh, ma'am, I didn't see you", he said in defence.
"Check your eyesight!", she snapped.
Jerry didn't seem to worry when she sailed to the FFV, but Kate's mood dented again.
Focus on your job Kate. Don't give him a chance to make you angry!
"Come on! Hurry up!", he yelled again.
"Don't make such a fuss mate", King grumbled.
"What did you say, sailor?", Jerry snapped angrily.
It was getting too much for Kate as well, "Can we focus on work?", she snapped back.
"Aye ma'am", Jerry answered.
The team climbed into the Rhib and they sped silently to the fishing boat. Jerry jumped aboard first and yelled, "This is the Australian Navy! Nobody move! Who's the captain of this vessel?!"
Kate followed and showed the cards with the translation into the men's native language.
"Come on assholes! Answer! Who's the captain?", he barked but no one moved.
"Answer!", he shouted again, but these poor local fishermen seemed to get smaller and smaller.
"Buffer", Kate said, "You can scream your lungs out, they barely understand English. And if you yell like that then the pronunciation disappears and they will not understand you at all!"
"They have to because they're just a bunch of filthy bastards", he said in disgust.
"They are just trying to do… Oh forget it!", Kate said, waving her hand desperately.
It doesn't make sense! He doesn't understand anything and his behaviour spoiled the whole operation.
She looked around and found a man who looked a bit smarter than the others. "You!", she said pointing at him and gesturing inside the wheelhouse. Apparently, it was right, because he was following her. Kate scribbled a course on a piece of paper and pointed to it with her finger. "You…sail…this…di-rec-tion! Understood?", she said aloud as she pronounced each syllable.
The man nodded enthusiastically, "Yes, yes yes!".
"Okay", she said wearily and left. "Back to the Rhib! We're going back!", she said harshly.
After returning their weapons to the armoury, Kate returned to the bridge in a bad mood.
She sat down behind the radar and said in a toneless voice to the radar screen, "We can go".
Mike looked at her surprised with raised eyebrows. "How did it go X?"
"I don't want to talk about it…sir", she replied, still staring at the radar screen.
This was exactly an attitude that Mike didn't accept, not even from Kate. "Listen X", he said sternly, "I'm still the CO and I need to know what's going on!"
She looked at him annoyed.
You wouldn't dare to nag me, would you!
"It was a mess sir, a perfect mess! The only thing I could do was give them a course to the international waters to get away!"
He looked at her baffled, "But how…", he tried but she cut him off.
"I told you sir, I don't want to talk about it!", she grumbled.
"Hmm", he mumbled and looked forward as well.
When she's in that state, she's able to rip my head off!
Her mood didn't improve. Supper passed with the strict necessary comments and Kate left early for her cabin. Mike stayed behind with a brew as her pondered the situation.
Nope, she's not on the right track yet. It's useless to ask what went wrong today. She would have put up her walls even higher. It's not that bad either, she'll calm down sooner or later and then I'll have the whole story with some spicy nouns and adjectives. She's always very formal, unless she's angry and irritated, then she becomes a real sailor!
He smiled at that last thought.
To be continued