Chapter Three.
In her cabin, Nikki was enjoying a coffee and checking her emails. She smiled at seeing Buffer's email. She read it through twice, surprised that he had met up with Charge, of all people. She remembered seeing Charge at Mike and Kate's wedding; he wasn't his usual garrulous self, somehow.
She remembered how little Charge had spoken to his former crewmates, how he had hugged Kate, but avoided Mike. How he refused to talk to Dutchy and Buffer.
Did Swain's death unhinge him that much? She thought of emailing Kate, but changed her mind, instead responded to Buffer's email. As she typed, she thought of Buffer and how attracted she was to him. After ET had died, she had thought there would be no other man for her, until she saw Buffer as if for the first time. The protective, reliable man who could be counted on to be strong when needed, yet such a gentle man. Buffer would prove to be stable, and unlike ET didn't have an eye for the ladies. He would be a one woman-man, and be as steady as a rock. She liked that.
Soon Kingston's patrol would be over, and Nikki hoped it would coincide with Buffer's FIFO shift finishing and they could meet up in Cairns.
She would go with this relationship. In the meantime, perhaps they could talk about Charge and see if they could formulate the plans for an olive branch between him and Mike.
A week later the Kingston was steaming for home. Nikki was pleased to see HMAS Hammersley in port, and oversaw the Kingston's laying alongside. Later as she disembarked, she was delighted to see a familiar figure just ahead of her, and rushed to catch up.
"Kate!"
Turning around, Kate McGregor-Flynn saw Nikki Caetano hurrying toward her.
"Well, well, so good to see you. How was your patrol?"
Nikki returned the quick hug and said, "great, no issues. The new X is something! Definitely wants to be Chief of Navy someday"
Kate smiled inwardly, remembering her own days as XO. Then she said, "George will be fine. She's a good officer. Steve Marshall thinks so anyway. You going to NAVCOM?"
At Nikki's nod, Kate said, "So am I. Need to drop my reports off too. Got time for a coffee? I'll have about an hour before I go pick Jessica up from her grandmother's place."
"Hey, I can do coffee. Let's dump the paperwork and go find a café".
The two women ordered their coffee and went to sit at a table outside near the dock. Looking at Nikki, Kate thought that being a CO was a good thing for her. She seemed to have to put ET and the ugly business surrounding him firmly in the past and gained a new lease of life.
"So, Nikki. What's new?"
"Plenty. The Kingston has been assigned to the gas fields off WA, rotating patrols with the Wollongong. RO is his usual self, but – you're not going to believe this, he is interested in Bomber! Quite a few emails are travelling between Canberra and Kingston!"
Kate laughed. She well remembered Robert Dixon, former RO of Hammersley. An odd solitary character, prone to speaking his mind without thinking about its effect on people. Of course, he came to her wedding, but she wasn't sure if it was for her and Mike, or because Bomber Brown was in the bridal party.
Nikki continued: "I've been keeping in touch with Buffer. You know Kate, I really like him. He's asked me out a few times, and I'm hoping he gets back to Cairns before our next rotation."
Kate said, "I'm not surprised. Buff liked you before you liked ET. I think you couldn't see past ET to notice. He's a good man Nik. He won't do you any wrong".
Nikki nodded. "I had a few emails from him while I was away. You know he discharged last year?" Kate said she knew.
"Anyway, he's got himself a job driving trucks in the mines in WA. You 're not going to believe this, but he bumped into Charge at the pub!"
"Oh yeah? How's Charge these days?"
"Buff said he got quite a cold reception at first. Charge will not speak of Hammersley at all, and shuts down any attempt. Charge did say that he didn't think Mike did enough to save Swain. He won't forgive Mike for that. Sorry Kate, it's what Pete said."
Kate looked out at the harbour, deep in thought. Again, she saw that fateful day, in complete detail. Again, she saw the shock in the crews' faces, Mike turning pale in front of her. She saw Charge's face at the memorial service, looking stonily ahead, doing his best to control his tears.
Her own eyes filled with tears as she turned back to Nikki and said, "No one could lay Hammersley alongside, or take her out like Swain. I still find it hard to step onboard knowing he's not there, nor ever will be again."
Both women fell silent, remembering the easy-going, multi-talented Swain. The best member of the boarding party to have alongside, and a capable Medic, and, as Kate well knew, had saved Mike's life when he was critically injured.
Then Kate said, "We'll always miss him." Throwing off the little cloud of sadness, she said, "tell you what, the Hammersley is fast becoming the Love Boat. First Mike and me, now you and Buffer, and now RO and Bomber!"
Nikki chuckled at that and the grey cloud dispersed.
Looking at her watch Kate said, "Drink up. I have to go pick up Jessica. Come with me"
Nikki said, "I'd love to. Bet she's grown since I saw her last. What is she, eighteen months?"
"All of two years old now! And as stubborn as her father!"
Nikki laughed as they paid for their coffee, then left to go to Kate's mother-in-law to pick up young Miss Flynn.