CASTLE'S COMMAND

CHAPTER FIVE

Castle knew that as group commander he should be in or toward the middle of the formation but his gut instincts put him in the lead boat where he could better observe the enemy. He ordered;

"All boats open fire when in range, be sure of your targets. He no sooner said that then his forward gunners opened fire, He could see tracers converging on the lead E-boat. His gunner would claim it was skill, but it was just plain luck that the 37mm scored direct hits on the E-boat's forward 20mm taking it out of action. The E-boat's commander made a fatal error. He turned to bring his aft 37mm to bear, exposing his flank to all nine boats of the center group. Raked from stem to stern my 37mm and 20mm fire. The boat slowed and began to burn. That was, in a way one of the luckier ones. About half the crew survived, got a raft overboard and was later picked up my one of the retreating E-boats.

Knowing how difficult to get a torpedo hit on the fast, maneuverable PT boats the German commander had ordered the torpedoes saved for the larger ships. A nervous new skipper fired two anyway. It was a golden BB shot. It scored a direct hit on the 603 boat from Semmes' squadron. The boat simply disintegrated as its' magazine went up along with the torpedo warhead.

The German didn't get to savor his victory as an equally lucky golden BB shot from PT 607 impacted directly under the bridge. E-82 broke in half and sank with all hands. Castle ordered his crew to drop back to where he really should be. He needed to exert more control over Semmes' squadron. They were simply boring straight in, not using their maneuverability as they should be.

They lost 604 when a second E-boat commander disobeyed orders and launched torpedoes. One of them missed completely. The second tore a gaping hole in the hull at the engine room, but failed to explode. The cold seawater hitting the hot engines did for them. The crew launched the life raft and everyone got off, safely. They floated around for about an hour before being picked up.

Each side had lost two boats, putting the Americans up 23 to 16 enabling some of the boats to double up on the enemy boats.

Staying toward the center, didn't mean staying out of the fighting. Castle fought as fiercely as ever. Managing to get wounded, again, although this time, only five pieces of shrapnel grazing his left arm, producing painful cuts that a bandage and a sling took care of, temporarily. He would need stitches when he got back. This part of the battle was over in a little over an hour. The Germans losing six sunk to the American's three. (604,607, and 519) In addition the German commander's boat was disabled and captured. Of the remaining eleven boats, four of them, commanded by fanatics, broke through and headed for the convoy. They would encounter the British MTB's. All four went to the bottom, with the loss of one MTB. Seven boats broke off and returned to port at flank speed.

Castle let them go. A stern chase is a long chase and He wasn't sure that he'd have the fuel to chase them down and return home. He began rescue operations and took the captured E-boat under tow. He sent three men aboard under Ensign Barnett. They disarmed and tied up the German crew. They threw the German small arms over the side, except for the commander's Luger, which Barnett presented to Castle, keeping the ceremonial dagger for himself.

Castle sent two of his more heavily damaged boats along as escorts. He then took his remaining boats to join the convoy escort.

The convoy had lost three ships sunk and attack transport badly damaged to submarine attack. Two cargo ships, and an oiler. In return the escorts had sunk three U-boats. And forced a fourth to surface. The Germans abandoned ship and scuttled the badly damaged submarine.

The escorts managed to drive off the rest away or keep them down below periscope depth.

The attack transport managed to get the hull temporarily shored up. They counter flooded to right the ship's list and managed to limp into port.

The Bamberg never got in range to attack as she was driven off by the heavier guns of the U.S.S. San Francisco. The two German destroyers retreated with the cruiser.

Both Castle and Bailey wanted to go after the retreating ships, but were ordered to stay with the convoy. It was well past midnight when the PT's made port with a cold wind at their backs. It didn't matter. Heavily bundled up, Kate and O'Leary were waiting on the dock. Kate concerned for Rick and O'Leary for his friend Esposito and also along to protect Kate war or no war, there were still plenty of lowlifes around, some of them in the services.

Kate was relieved to see Rick walking under his own power but both scared and a little angry to see the sling. Damn it, not again. He's walking and not grimaces; it can't be too bad but any wound is bad! I dare not wait any longer. We must talk and whatever the outcome I must tell him how I feel.

Rick was shocked to see Kate bundled up and obviously waiting for him, in such raw weather, the look of concern on her face.

Damn, what is she doing out here in this weather? Waiting for you, idiot. His brain said. In all the time we were dating, Kyra would never have come out in weather like this for me. This woman is something very special. This just proves what our talks have told me. She's beautiful, desirable, intelligent, caring. Be careful. You haven't used that word in three years, Okay, damn it, I'm falling in love with her. But I can't tell her that. It wouldn't be fair to her. She lost her husband to this damn war. He was a battleship sailor. A damn sight safer than a PT jockey. On top of that, she's an aristocrat. Way out of my league. Oh, God, those beautiful eyes.

Those beautiful eyes had tears in them. It was close. Too close. A foot to the right and he wouldn't be walking down the dock, maybe not even breathing. She reached out and put a gloved hand on his good arm."

"Richard, you're wounded again we must get you to the hospital"

"It can wait till morning Katherine. It's just scratches doc put some sulfa on them and bandaged them. We have several more badly injured than me, the doctors need to see them first."

"All I want you to do is see Doctor Greaves. If it's as minor as you say it is, an old friend runs a surgery near my flat, it's only a mile from the base He will treat you."

"At this time in the morning?"

"He's a doctor, irregular hours are part of his life."

Rick got a staff car and a driver to take him to the hospital. doctor Greaves was in triage.

"You're becoming my most frequent patient, Commander. Let me see what you've done, this time. A nurse removed the sing and bandage,

"Five shrapnel wounds you will be sidelined for a week. But we can't treat you till tomorrow, so, if First Officer Beckett-Trent has a private doctor who is willing to treat naval personnel by all means go there."

They took the car to the doctor's house. Kate got out of the car and rang the bell several times."

"Yes, yes, I'm coming." Came from inside the house. A tall, slender, gray-hairdo man in a dressing gown opened the door.

"Katherine, my dear, what can I do for you?"

"I have a wounded officer who needs treatment but the military hospital is busy with more seriously wounded men."

"Bring him in, don't dawdle."

Kate went back to the car, and helped Rick out.

"Go on back, Seaman. I'll see that the Commander gets back to the base later."

"Yes Ma'am."

They entered the house.

"Doctor Walsh, may I introduce Commander Richard Castle. Commander, Doctor Dennis Walsh." The men shook hands.

"Get him into the surgery while I dress. You're a widow, so you've seen a man without his shirt. You can help me. Get that shirt and bandage off him."

Kate did as she was told and in just three minutes the doctor was back in his lab coat and washing his hands. He then put on surgical gloves.

"You've got some nasty looking wounds there, Commander, but luckily not to deep. I'll give you an anesthetic, the I'll disinfect and stitch the wounds

An hour and a half later, the doctor was finished. It was almost four o'clock in the morning. Kate said;

"You can stay in my flat, I've got a Murphy bed you can sleep on. I rang the base and they approved it."

Woozy from the second dose of anesthetic Rick didn't object.

It was almost noon before Rick awakened. A combination of trauma, tiredness and the anesthetic.

Kate heard him groan and came out of the kitchen carrying a glass of water and pain pills.

"Take these and you'll feel better."

He took the pills and drank the whole glass of water. He then took stock of himself. He was in his uniform trousers and undershirt. Kate had removed his shoes, jacket and shirt.

He said;

"What time is it where's my watch?"

"It's eleven-fifty and your watch are on the end table. The doctor had to remove it when he was working on your arm. Speaking of that, the doctor will want to. Check you over before he releases you."

"When will that be? I have to get back to the base."

"No, you don't. Not until tomorrow, afternoon at the earliest. And then only to report to Commander Greaves. You will be on medical leave for one week from tomorrow. Commander Ryan is handling the after- action report. Commander Bailey has granted me a week's leave as I haven't been on leave in nearly a year, I want to spend it with you."

"With me, why?"

"I will answer that in a moment. I know that you are not married. Do you have anyone waiting for you at home?"

"Other than my parents, no. Why are you asking?"

"There is only one reason that a woman asks that question. The same reason that I want to spend a week with you. I am falling in love with you. I love you. I think that you feel something for me, too. A woman can always tell."

Rick took a deep breath.

"Yes Katherine, I'm falling for you too. I love you, but I can't let it go any further. I can't let you take that Risk. You're a widow because of this damn war. I'm in a high-risk job. Look, I've been wounded twice since you've known me. What are the odds that I make it? On top of that, I'm just Commander Castle. American officer. Nothing special. You are Lady Katherine Beckett-Trent. What would your friends or fellow British officers think?"

Her temper flared.

"You can't allow me to love you? Who do you think you are? I am an adult woman. I make my own decisions. I analyze my own risks and I do not care what my fellow officers or the King himself thinks. I love you and I will be with you. If I only have you for a few weeks I can accept that. It will hurt like hell if I should lose you but I willingly accept that possibility if I can have some happiness however short it might be. Who knows? I could be killed by a German bomb next week. No one in this war has any guarantees. And again, who knows? We may survive this war and if we grow old, it will be together.

Rick's mouth hung open. Completely awed by the passionate woman emerging from that reserved upper class shell, then she said, quietly;

"Please Richard, do not deny me, us, this chance for happiness. A time for us."

No sane, normal man could deny this beautiful, passionate woman what she wanted and needed.

"I think you're crazy, Katherine, but I do love you, so I'll try to make you happy."

"I've never been saner." Then she surged forward and kissed him. No demure little peck on the lips, but a hot, open mouth assault on his mouth, demanding and gaining entrance. It lasted until the need for oxygen forced them apart.

"We will continue this later my Darling, but now you need to bathe. Keeping that arm dry. In fact, I think I shall bathe you to ensure that it does."

Trying to lighten things a little castle said;

"Are you saying that I stink?"

"Frankly, you do. Battle sweat, pain and blood. As soon as you are clean you can change clothes. Commander Ryan sent a complete set of clothing and toiletries for you."

Castle grimaced.

"Damn it, that was a brand- new shirt and jacket."

"Now you have another new shirt and jacket and trousers as well. It's not as if they are in short supply. I'm going to draw a bath. Go into my bedroom and get undressed. Put your underclothes and socks into the hamper. (His trousers were bloodstained as well and getting bloodstains out of them was more work than they were worth.

Rick did as Kate asked then walked into the bathroom and stood by the tub. A moment later a gloriously nude Kate walked into the bathroom.

"I need to bathe as well and the water boiler isn't very large."

, Rick was in awe of her beauty. Her creamy skin, pert breasts, tiny waist and long elegant legs. She, in turn, scanned his broad shoulders, massive chest and powerful arms and legs. She gasped at the scars on his torso, and started crying.

She touched the one that almost killed him.

"Oh, my Darling, so much pain. So much. Then, fiercely;

"Never again, my Darling, never again!" She composed herself. Please get in the tub."

She joined him in the tub and proceeded to very carefully bathe Rick then herself, asking Rick to wash her back. She had briefly thought about having sex in the tub but it seemed a bit tawdry for their first time. Also, he was a large man, she was a tall woman and the tub was too small for that.

On top of that, she didn't want to simply have sex, she wanted to make love. She needed her bed for that. She didn't care what anyone else might think whether anyone disapproved or not, tonight she would claim her man, for good.

After Rick was bathed, shaved and dressed, Kate put on a clean uniform and called for the transportation. The driver showed up with a navy Studebaker sedan While Rick reported to doctor greaves and had his wounds checked and dressings changed, Kate went to the commissary. She was hoping for lamb, but they didn't have any. She did get a pork loin, a couple of potatoes and green peas. She talked to Ryan and managed to wheedle a small can of coffee out of the mess officer. Coffee was something the U.S. Navy always had plenty of.

She might be moving very quickly, but she wanted romance with it. She knew that under all that armor, was a sensitive man who would give it to her. She, however, would set the stage. She was going to make a special dinner, she even had candles and a bottle of wine. The candles had been easy to come by, the wine, not so much but she had done it. By the time Rick was done with the doctor she had everything she needed.

"What did Commander Greaves tell you?"

"He said that everything looks good, I'm on medical leave for a week and can spend it off base if I choose to."

They went to his quarters picked up three uniforms and a week's worth of underclothes and socks. She smiled, happily.

"Let's go home, my Darling."

When they arrived at the flat, Rick said to the driver;

"Where you took me and who I am with is our own private business. If I hear any gossip, I will know the source and have your ass. Is that clear?"

"Yes Sir."

"Very well, thank you Seaman." Rick gave him a dollar for his time. Rick took off his Jackett, hung it up and sat down. Kate changed into a skirt and blouse and put on an apron.

"I am going to prepare our supper."

"Can I do anything to help?"

"No, my Darling, (How she loved using that term) my kitchen is small and you would be in the way. Just sit and read the paper or listen to the radio."

While the peas were cooking, Kate set the small dining table., including the candles. She let the peas simmer and changed to a nice dress and high heels, applied her carefully hoarded perfume in strategic places, then put the apron back on to serve the supper. That done, she removed the apron. Rick seated her and sat, himself. He poured the wine for them. She touched glasses with him.

"To our love." Was her simple toast. He smiled and replied;

"Our love."

The food was superb, perfectly cooked. They talked quietly and Rick was enchanted with her eyes sparkling softly in the candlelight. They moved to the couch after dinner, sipping more wine and still talking. Finally, Ric took Kate's face in his hands and kissed her. It started gentle, but quickly became urgent. Mouths opening, tongues entering and exploring, tasting and claiming. Rick lifted a hand to caress her breast. She hissed in pleasure, then moaned when he slid the other over the silky skin of her thigh.

"Oh yes my darling, just like that, but not here. Take me to bed."

In her bedroom, each slowly undressed the other

He kissed her again, slow and deep igniting the passion that she kept so well hidden. She hadn't been sure what to expect from him and was delighted that he was a gentle, considerate lover taking her pleasure as more important than his own. Bringing her to climax twice, before his own release.

She snuggled against him in the afterglow of their passion. Their first time together. Was as close to perfect as she could imagine.

Rick went to clean up first, then it was her turn. He dressed in an undershirt and boxers and she in a silky, nightgown and they both got into bed. She again snuggled up to his warmth drifting off to sleep to the rhythm of his breathing.

She awoke early to her body's internal clock, so used to the routine set by the last three years. Although awake, she didn't get up, happy to stay in her nicely warmed bed. It was only one night, but she knew that she was going to hate it when he had to go back to sleeping in his on base quarters.

As she lay there, head resting on his chest she knew, that despite the shortness of the time, she'd found her forever love."

TBC

Please Review

Swordwriter