Kate walked in to NAVCOM, yawning trying to rid herself of the tiredness she was feeling. Dutchy had been gone 3 weeks and they were heading out on a second patrol. The last few weeks had been tough with the new crew and trying to get used to each other but she hoped that this time round that they would all be used to each other.
It was going to be a simple patrol according to Commander Smith. Checking out a fleet of FFVs that had been spotted in the Timor Sea but according to the Kingston's intel they were just on the wrong side of the line for anything to be done.
Walking out in to the corridor she sighed rubbing the back of her neck as she headed along the corridor. Stopping outside Mikes office she smiled watching as he was looking over a file in front of him.
"hey" she smiled softly, knocking on the door walking in.
"Kate" he smiled "you all set"
"Just got the details from Smith and just heading over" she smiled perching on the edge of the desk. "Missed you this morning" she said placing her folder next to her
"Yeah sorry. I needed to be in early for a meeting with Brass and you look like you needed the sleep" he said softly placing his hand on her knees "i will make it up to you when you get back" he smiled
"is that a promise" she whispered leaning in.
"maybe" Mike smiled. Reaching in to pick up his phone "Flynn" he said watching as Kate sighed leaning back "okay Sir I will be right there." he said hanging up.
Sliding from her perch Kate smiled. "Duty calls" she said softly
"yeah" he sighed "I'll walk you out" he said grabbing his own hat from the table behind his desk. And picking up her brief case
Walking towards the Lift Kate sighed lately it had been a lot like this, any moment they had managed to have some time together it was either a crash sailing or a meeting with brass that put the brakes on. They came to a stop by the lifts,
"so, what do brass want this time?" Kate asked.
"Not too sure till I get up there." he sighed
"i best get over to Hammersley, make sure everything is in order." she said taking her bag from him.
"Fair winds" Mike said softly wrapping his arm around her pulling her in for a kiss.
"I'll call you later" she smiled "have fun with Brass" she said as the lift doors opened.
Walking over the gangway Kate sighed rolling her shoulders trying to loosen the knot that was sat in the middle of her back. She could see most of the crew loading the supplies on to the stores.
"Nikki" Kate called walking up to her friend "everyone on board?" she asked
"All except 2-dads" Nikki smiled looking at her clipboard
"Give him another call tell him notice for sea is down to 10 minuets and let's hope that gets a rocket up his ass." she sighed rubbing her neck
"Yes boss" Nikki smiled. "You, okay?"
"Yeah, just tired" Kate forced a smile
"There is fresh coffee in the galley put a pot on 10 minuets ago" Nav said
"Thanks" Kate called heading back in side.
Dumping her stuff in her cabin, Kate headed on to the bridge and out on to the fly bride. She could see 2-dads sauntering up along the quay taking his time.
"Nav" she called down to Nikki who was overseeing the checks being made on the deck. "When 2-dads eventually gets on board tell him I want to see him in the office please"
Heading down to the ship's office Kate sighed perching on the edge of the desk waiting for 2-dads to show up.
"Ma'am the Nav says you wanted to talk to me" 2-dads grinned
"yes" Kate sighed "care to explain why you are..." Kate said looking at her watch "1 hour, 23 minutes late for duty"
"Ma'am my alarm failed to go off and as soon as I realised, I made a real effort to get here on time..."
"2-dads if you are going to lie at least make it a good one. Bird said she knocked on for you and I can smell you from here. You smell like a back water brewery making knock off grog"
"Ma'am my alarm genuinely didn't go off and it was only a few drinks"
"2-dads look I frankly couldn't give a damn what you do in your private life but when it impacts my ship then I care. You have made our departure late it was time sensitive if we have lost our target then its on you. Now the heads need a good scrubbing and I don't want to see you on the bridge until they are spotless is that understood"
"Yes ma'am" 2 –dads grumbled
"Dismissed" she said coldly sitting down on the seat as he left
"Everything alright?" Nikki asked walking in handing Kate a mug
"Yeah just 2-dads being 2-dads. Thanks for this its needed" Kate sighed taking a sip "are we ready to head out"
"Yup specials are closed and just waiting your orders "Nav smiled
"Right on my way" Kate said "let's get this show on the road" she sighed heading on to the bridge.
They had been sailing for several hours and were several hours in relatively calm seas. Yawning Kate stretched out the kinks in her neck.
"How long till we are at our target Nav" she asked
Checking the chart and the imputed Data Nav looked over the maps. "About 4 hours ma'am if we can go at the top of the green" she smiled
"Very good" Kate sighed turning to see 2-dads walking up on to the Bridge "lets hope the intel is still good" she said sharply
"Ma'am the heads are clean"
"And I suppose the navy owes you a medal 2-dads" Kate sighed "just get on with the rest of your duties"
"Yes Ma'am" 2 dads sighed heading over to the EOD.
6 hours later
Thankfully when they arrived at the co-ordinates that NAVCOM had sent, there were still one of the FFVs with their lines in the water on their side of the line.
"you're in luck 2-dads" Kate smiled "scrabble, take the boarding party over and show them who's boss and find out where the ice boat is as she can't be too far with them this far over the line"
"Yes Ma'am" scrabble called heading down the steps.
Watching as the RHIB bounced across the waves Kate looked out of the window as the boarding party silently boarded the FFV and managed to get the crew under control. Surprisingly the crew gave little resistance.
"Where is Bird?" Kate asked scanning the boat as she hadn't seen her get off the now empty RHIB.
"she said she wasn't feeling too good so I told her to stay in her cabin" Nav said
"Right well I'll go check on her." Kate sighed sliding from her seat. "Get Scrabble to assess the FFV for tow back to port and you know the drill for the rest"
Heading down the steps Kate walked along the passageway towards the Junior cabins. She slowed as she came to Jessicas cabin, inside she could hear Jess talking. She could only hear Jessicas side clearly as the other voice was slightly muffled but from what was being said she had a clear idea of who she was talking to.
"Why did you leave Hammersley" Jess said sadly
There was a muffled response
"But why" she said sadly close to tears
Kate couldn't hear the response but it sounded like her motto when she first joined Hammersley that you had to go where the navy sent you and learn to like it, the second half of the response sounded a lot like Mikes that it meant that there was nothing stopping them now.
"Fine!" Jess shouted "just leave like you always do" she said through tears slamming the lid to the laptop down.
Deciding that she had eavesdropped enough Kate knocked on the cabin door.
"Jess?" she said softly
"Ma'am" Bird said jumping from her seat wiping away the tears "i umm..." she paused
"it's fine" Kate said softly. "Nav said you weren't feeling well?"
"I'm Fine..." Bird paused moving to sit on her rack
"Was that Dutchy?" Kate asked sitting on the chair
"yeah" Bird forced a smile. "Why did he leave us I thought we were all meant to be a family and after Swain everyone has left." she said.
"i know but this is the Navy and sometimes we have to go where we are sent and learn to live with it."
"that's what Dutchy said" Bird looked up; her eyes glazed with tears.
"you're really Missing him, aren't you?" Kate asked already knowing the answer
"i just feel like our whole family is now broken" Bird said sadly
"CO request you come to the bridge" Nav's voice rang out across the ship"
"You know where to find me if you need to talk2" Kate said softly heading out
Turning she looked at Bird who was looking at the laptop again. It was clear what was going on and she had a feeling about it for a while and everything recently confirmed it to be true. She knew she needed to have a conversation about it but she needed to talk to Mike first.
so hope you like this latest chapter. sorry i have been radio silent for a while but i have been struggling a bit with this and then to crown it off i had a idea for another fic idea slide in to my brain best thing was its for a show i don't really watch and have only been watching clips of on facebook. (thankfully i managed to get it out of my brain)
anyway i am off to write my our girl chapter now so dont know when this will be updated. hopefully this side of the new year