Chapter Two.
Buffer and Amy walked out of the pub, and went their separate ways; she to her little place, he to Charge's place. Amy went into her place, switched on the air-con, and sat down to think. So that is why Andy doesn't speak of the Navy? He has his own demons to battle. Not too far from mine, she thought. If only he would talk about it; I wouldn't feel so isolated in my grief.
Memories started to return. Greg's face was in front of her again – she almost could touch him. Shaking her head, she quickly got up and went to the kitchen.
I'll get some dinner, then I'll ring the kids. I could sure use hearing them right now. Wonder how Peter is going talking to Andy?
Buffer reached Charge's place. He paused, then knocked on the door. He heard someone moving, then Charge appeared, opening the door, but not the screen door.
"Charge. Mate. I just want to talk."
"Piss off."
"I just want to talk. Please let me in."
Charge pushed open the screen door, and stood aside to admit Buffer. His face was stony, and Buffer knew this was not going to be easy.
"Charge. I'm sorry mate, I shouldn't have brought it up. I had no idea it would upset you so much. I'm sorry."
Charge looked at him in silence for what seemed to be a long time. Then he said, "Yeah, well it does… Wanna beer?"
"Sure," said Buffer. He waited until Charge got two long-necks out of the fridge, then sat down at the kitchen table. Charge said, "Look mate, I'll talk about anything except that bloody boat, ok? I've got a good life, and a good job here. I just want to forget what happened, and get on with living, ok?"
Buffer sighed. "Righto mate. But you know it won't just go away, don't you? I know you miss Swain, and you were great mates, but it's not going to bring him back."
"I know that. I don't suppose you know how Sally and Chloe are?"
"Yes, I do actually. The Boss arranged some really good help through the DCO. Thanks to him, Chloe is getting a really good education, and Sally has a great job in Defence as an admin."
"Yeah." Charge's face clouded over again. "It's the least he should do. Mike Bloody Flynn. He could have done a lot more"
"Like what?"
"Like getting Swain and Jim off that boat when the nuclear bit went overboard. Like sending a bloody RHIB to force them off. Why didn't he? That's what I can't forgive him. He…just…didn't…do…enough" Charge beat his fist on the table as he said the last words.
There was a long silence. Both men drank their beer. Buffer was very uncomfortable. Finally, he said, "I'm going out with Nikki."
"Who?"
"Nikki Caetano. You know, used to be Nav." Hastily he went on, "She stayed on after ET died. She's a Lt-Commander now, and CO of HMAS Kingston. Now I'm out, I don't have to worry about that fraternisation crap."
Charge smiled briefly, and Buffer continued, "I've only just started going out with her. She's a great girl."
"So, what the hell are you doing here? Why don't you get a job closer to her?"
"I'm working on it mate. Makes it a bit easier that Kingston has been deployed to patrol the gas fields off the coast here. I can talk to her a bit more. Truth to tell mate, I'm a bit nervous. I'm not all that sure she likes me. She may not think I'm smart enough for her."
"What's that got to do with it?" Charge smiled at his old shipmate. "Look, she's not wanting a bloody Einstein or a uni professor, is she? Just be yourself. Now, how about a feed?"
Later, Buffer went back to his accommodation, picked up his iPad, and emailed Nikki.
"Hi there,
So I finished work today and you wouldn't believe who I met in the pub afterward. Remember Charge? Of course, you do, you saw him at the wedding. Well, he works in the mine as Chief Maintenance Engineer. Still the same old Charge, but he will not speak of Hammersley. He's got it in for the Boss for sure, blames him for everything about Swain. Wish I knew how to talk to him Nik, but he's unreachable there. I just left it alone.
How's the Kingston? I hope you're doing ok and RO isn't giving you a hard time. Funny bloke, that one. Oh well, I don't have to work with him. I don't envy you there. I think a lot about the old crew – Boss, X, and yeah, Swaino. I couldn't tell Charge, but I miss Swain too. I hear Kate has a little girl now. Bet the Boss likes that.
Anyway, got to go, as I have an early start tomorrow. I hope to see you as soon as I finish this shift and get back over to Cairns.
Love, Pete".
Nikki, on board Kingston had just ordered the RHIB into the water for the final patrol among the gas field platforms. So far, so good, she thought, as she scanned the area. RO, next to her on the EOD, watched the RHIB's progress as it navigated about the platforms.
The radio crackled into life as the XO on the board the RHIB reported in.
"Sitrep Ma'am. All platforms have checked in. Safe. Nothing to report"
"Very good X. Return to the ship".
"Yes. Ma'am. Out."
Nikki thought about her XO. Good, efficient, very ambitious. Reminds me of Kate; she wants to be Chief of Navy. Nikki smiled as she thought of Kate, then her XO on board Hammersley, now Lt. Commander McGregor-Flynn, happily married and now a mother. Shortly she would come off watch, hand over to her XO, Lt. Georgina Harley, and go below.