White Christmas
Chapter 1
24 Dec 2011
Sleigh bells ring
Are you listening
In the lane
Snow is glistening
A beautiful sight,
We're happy tonight
Walking in a winter wonderland
…
The radio was blaring Christmas carols as the sun burned on the outside decks as the Hammersley patrolled along the border in the Coral Sea near islands in the Louisiade Archipelago.
Mike and Kate were having lunch in the officer's mess. She sighed and looked annoyed at the speaker playing the music.
"This is really ridiculous!", she muttered.
Mike noticed her annoyance and looked up.
"What's the matter? Do you think it's inappropriate to listen to the radio through the speaker system? It's only once a year, at Christmas", Mike said.
She shook her head, "No, it's not that at all. That's what they sing! The snow is glistening? My goodness! Look outside! 35 degrees and that idiot sings the snow! And it's not the only one", she ranted.
Mike has put down his cutlery and looked amused at his girlfriend.
"You don't like Christmas, huh?", he asked her.
Her mood switched, "Oh yeah I do! It's the cosiest time of the year ever! I've always loved it, but it's the way they present it. It's all about the snow and frost, even Christmas cards, snowmen, snow against the windows, caps, gloves, scarves, you name it! It's as if, in the northern part of the world they think they are alone on earth! Even in the songs, 'let it snow', 'winter wonderland', 'I'm dreaming of white Christmas', she ranted.
Mike was smiling, "You seem to know them all?"
"Oh yeah, sure, most of them! All irritants. And this one, 'Rudolf the Red Nosed Reindeer'. And us? We've kangaroos, wombats and koalas. Can you imagine one with a red nose?"
"And drop bears?", he added with a smirk.
"Hmm, don't give me bad ideas! Maybe I'll teach our koalas to behave like drop bears when the northerners come here to celebrate Christmas", she grumbled.
"Snow you say, but we have enough snow in the Blue Mountains", Mike said.
Kate glared at him, "Oh, come on! Since when does Christmas fall in July or August?"
He made a face, "Yeah…."
Kate gave him a meaningful glance and said nothing more but continued with her lunch.
"Hmm, Kate, is that so special? Christmas in winter? With snow? I've never experienced that?", he asked after a few minutes.
Kate put down her cutlery again and stared at the opposite wall with a smile.
"Yeah, it's special", she said after a few seconds. "It's something you never forget. It's cold and freezing and in England the weather is humid. People are rushing home to get warm. There are Christmas trees in every house, lights, and decorations. Everywhere people are running with presents. Night falls quickly which makes the decorative lights give a special festive impression. And there is London. We used to go there often during the Christmas period. All the streets were decorated with lights, music in the shops, shops crowded with people looking for presents. Each time I had a hot chocolate in a tavern and something to nibble. Back home, a fire was burning in the fireplace and the lights were on", she whispered with a sigh. "And then all of a sudden, it became a memory! I can't get used to enjoy decorations, lights, snow and pine trees under 30 degrees in a light summer dress. And a hot chocolate by 30 degrees hardly tastes either", Kate concluded in a sad voice.
Mike nodded, "Yes, I can imagine, but it's hard. Maybe….", but he was interrupted by Bomber poking her head inside.
"Sorry to interrupt you sir, X, but what time do you want dinner tonight?", she asked.
"Ah Bomber! Christmas dinner? Hmm, 8:00 p.m. and a little drink before. Only one", Mike said.
"Okay boss"
"Oh, by the way, what are we going to eat?", he asked.
"Uh sir, it's a surprise actually, but uh… you're the CO. There will be mushroom soup, then Parma ham with melon and then turkey, of course", she answered disarmingly.
"Great! What about dessert?", he asked, raising one's eyebrows and Bomber couldn't hide her smile, especially seeing Kate hold back a laugh at Mike's question.
"Ice cream sir".
"Nice job Bomber, carry on", he said.
"Okay sir", she said and left.
He turned around and saw the smile on Kate's face. "What's the matter? Did I say something weird?"
"No Mike, but the way you asked for dessert, you looked like a little boy pouting for his dessert", she replied with a smile.
He spread his hands and shrugged slightly, "Isn't that normal, huh?"
She smiled back at him, "You and your stomach!"
"Indeed, it's good that Bomber is back. Bird works well, but she never reached Rebecca's level", Kate said.
"Yes, that's true!", he replied, smiling, thinking of the good food.
Flashback
Two weeks after the explosion which caused the death of Captain Jim Roth and Petty Officer Chris Blake.
Kate had admitted that Mike was the only one she was considering marrying and he had confessed the same to her. The next two weeks both had seen each other often, but in a very cautious way. They were afraid to screw up everything again. Moreover Kate was still upset over her long hesitation between Mike and Jim with the consequence of giving Jim false hope. Her heart had always been inclined to favour Mike and she thought she had given Jim hope that they could move on. Now Jim was dead and Kate had never had the opportunity to tell him the truth. Even his parents, poor people, thought she was going to be their son's wife. The day she told them a white lie, she had been trying to drown her guilt in whiskey all night. Luckily Mike had been there and he had comforted her. The next morning she felt better except for the terrible hangover.
After two weeks, both were convinced that they were going to move on together and they accepted the fact that they had to wait for one of them leave the ship.
After one week shore leave Mike was called to Maxine's office.
Wondering why she called him out, he headed for her office and knocked on the doorframe, "Hey Max. You wanted to see me?"
She looked up and smiled, "Ah! Mike, come in!"
He sat down and looked at her.
"Mike, how are you doing? After the explosion, et cetera?", she asked, elbows resting on the desk.
"Well, it's going okay. Well, it's never pleasant to lose a good friend and colleague but you can't stay put. It's probably hard, but that's life", he replied.
She nodded, "Yeah, I understand"
Then the tone of her voice changed.
"Mike, it's about your crew. You're missing a boatswain, a medic and also a buffer because I sent him off for officer training, as you recommended. I have a new buffer, he's from Darwin Division. Petty Officer David Müller", she said as she slide a file over to Mike who grabbed it.
He examined it quickly and nodded, "That sounds good", he said.
"That's what I thought too", Maxine replied. "And, I also have a medic for you. A certified one. She took training courses and according to reports she should be very good", Maxine said, reviewing another file.
"Do I know her?", asked Mike. "Müller is unknown to me", he added.
"You should know her, she's Leading Seaman Rebecca Brown!", said Maxine.
Mike raised his eyebrows surprised, "Ah! That's good"
Good food and lots of animation aboard!
"Nice! That was for the medic function but I don't have anyone for the swain. Do you have a possible candidate aboard?", she asked.
He rubbed his chin, "Hmm, yes, I do. Harpie, Leading Seaman Andrew Harper. He is a decent guy and I see him becoming a petty officer one day".
"Good! It's settled then. I'm going to promote him to petty officer. The other two will go aboard when you have to leave again", she added, ending their chat.
One week later.
After the chat with Maxine Mike had, of course, informed Kate about Bomber and the new buffer, Müller.
The couple arrived separately and when Kate boarded, she formally greeted Müller and he did the same, but their gazes said something else altogether.Apart from pure professional chats, she had wondered about the mood aboard after the death of Jim and Swain.
Both were now busy with maps and checklists for the upcoming patrol and they didn't notice the person who has came up behind them.
"Sir? X?", a well-known voice greeted them and they turned to have a look.
"Bomber! I'm glad to see you're back!", Mike said, reaching out to her.
"Yes sir, so am I!", she replied shaking his hand and then Kate's.
"Welcome back Rebecca", she said.
"Thanks ma'am".
"And congratulations on your promotion", Mike added.
"Thanks sir, I had asked for more medical trainings and luckily I was allowed to follow them. After my certification, I was sent to the minehunters with a promotion. About two weeks ago, I was ordered back to Cairns because they were looking for an experienced medic on patrol boats, but I didn't know I had to replace Swain…", she said, her voice filled with emotion.She swallowed and looked embarrassed.
"Rebecca, we understand how you feel because we also feel the same", Mike said, glancing at Kate. She wasn't showing that kind of emotion because he knew that phase was already behind her.
Bomber took a deep breath and gave a look at Mike, "Sorry sir".
"Never mind. Are you still a cook?", he asked.
"Yes sir".
"Okay, then you'll take care of the cooking with Bird".
"Okay sir, but if it's possible, I would like to do something else too", she asked.
Mike nodded, "Yeah, I understand. I'll take it into account".
"Bomber, you can go to Bird's cabin of. She'll be very happy to have a cabin mate again", Kate said.
"Okay, I'm going right now", Bomber said as she turned to walk down the staircase where she bumped into 2Dads.
"Hey! Bomber you're back! That's great!", he exclaimed with a beaming face. "Maybe we could have a drink together, right", he asked.
Mike and Kate also heard 2Dads proposal and looked at each other, Kate staring with wide eyes and Mike with worried look. He nodded and turned towards the staircase.
"Bomber, 2Dads, a word in my cabin", he said and went down as well. He opened the door to his cabin and walked in, leaning against his desk and waiting for the other two to get inside as well.
"Bomber, 2Dads, I just want to tell you this. Last time you got into trouble by expressing your relationship aboard. Be careful that it doesn't happen again", he said.
Rebecca shook her head vigorously, "No sir! Certainly not, we're no longer a couple".
Mike looked at 2Dads.
"Uh… No sir, we're not anymore", he said hesitantly, hoping there would still be a little spark on Bomber's side.
She sensed his hesitation and turned to him, "Don't even think about it Leo!", she said convinced.
"No no, it's fine", he confirmed more decisively.
Mike nodded, "Okay, that's it, carry on".
"Okay sir", they both replied and left his cabin.
Kate gave him a questioning look when he returned to the bridge.
"It's okay, nothing's going on", he replied.
End flashback
"Mike, did you want to say something about Christmas before Bomber entered the room?", Kate asked.
"Did I?"
"Yes you did. I told you how Christmas was in winter in England. You answered me you could imagine and you started a sentence with 'maybe'" Kate said to get him on track.
"Aah yes! I wanted to say that one day, maybe, could we spend our holidays in Europe around Christmas", he replied.
She looked at him pitifully, "Mike, stop dreaming. You know as well as I do how much plane tickets cost to Europe.
He gave her his puppy look and shrugged, "Yes, but… you never know".
She gave him a faint smile and finished her meal.
"Try to enjoy the evening, because I can see from your face that you are exasperated", Mike said.
She shrugged, "I'll try, but every time I hear Jerry bark, I get pissed off".
"Kate, don't worry, he'll learn. David Müller is not like Pete or Dutchy".
"I know, but can't he ever say anything in a normal way? Always barking! That's why his nickname is Jerry, as the Germans were called during the war", she replied agitated.
"You are gone again! Keep calm. He's not worth it", Mike said, trying to sooth her.
"I'll try, Mike. I'll try, okay?", she said after taking a deep breath.
To be continued