Nikki opened the door and saw Kate, standing there, sobbing her heart out. Nikki took her hand, and brought her in. Buffer came through to the hall to see what the commotion was, a twin on each arm. He took in the situation in a glance and told Nikki, "I'll take the twins out for a bit."
Nikki sat her down, offered her a box of tissues, and quietly sat down to wait for Kate to speak.
Kate stopped crying. "Nikki, Mike told me to leave. He told me to get out."
Nikki said, "What happened?"
"He hasn't been himself for some time now. I don't know what it is exactly; but I do know he's frustrated with how long it's taking him to walk again. He's lost heart, somehow, and he's been taking it out on Jessica and me. Jessica's in WA with Dad and when he saw I was going back to Hammersley, he lost it and yelled at me to leave him."
Nikki asked, "Is anyone with him? Do you know?"
"I saw Dutchy at NAVCOM and suggested he visit Mike; he might be with him."
"Let me check." Nikki picked up her mobile and called Buffer, who called 2Dads. Buffer was certain that 2Dads had Dutchy's number and he was proven right. Buffer called Nikki back and confirmed that Dutchy was with Mike, and planning to stay the night.
Kate was relieved, then she said, "I'll stay onboard Hammersley. We're due to sail in a couple of days."
Nikki said, "Hey you can stay here; you know you're welcome."
Kate was adamant. "Thank you, but I won't disrupt your household. You two have enough to cope with – your business, the twins, no, I'll feel better if I was on the ship."
Right on cue, Buffer returned with the twins, and a tub of ice-cream. Kate saw that and gave a watery smile. He said, "A dish of ice-cream will make you feel better," he said cheerfully. He dished up the ice-cream to everyone, then sat Christopher on his lap and fed him. Nikki did the same for Kat, but she wanted the spoon and it became a bit messy. Buffer was right; Kate did feel better. She stood up, went to the bathroom and washed her face. Coming back into the living area, she hugged Nikki and said, "You're a wonderful friend. Both of you."
Buffer looked at her, "That's what friends are for," he said philosophically.
Nikki said she would drive Kate to the docks.
When she walked up the gangway, Kate looked about. She saluted the flag and thought, I'm sneaking onboard. No piping party, no fanfare. But just this once, I don't mind. She did surprise "Cookie" Harvey who instinctively announced; "Captain's on the bridge."
"As you were, Cookie."
"Yes, Ma'am."
"Who else is on duty watch?"
"Harry, Ma'am"
"Good. I'll be staying onboard until we sail. I'm going to my cabin now. Please have X report to me when he comes on board.
"Yes, Ma'am."
If Cookie was surprised, she held it in until she saw the ship's RO, Harry Tyler appearing on the bridge to make the call to the harbour watch. She said, "Harry, the CO is onboard. She's not staying at home. She said she's remaining onboard until we sail. I thought she'd want to stay with Captain Flynn for as long as she could before sailing."
Harry shrugged. "It's her first patrol for a while now. Maybe she just wants to get back up to speed and get used to being aboard a ship again."
"Yeah. You could be right."
In her cabin, Kate picked up her mobile and called her father. His voice sounded welcoming. "Katie, mo ghaoil. How are you?"
She said, "I'm on Hammersley, Dad. We sail day after tomorrow. How are you? How's Jessica?"
Philip thought she sounded tired. "We're fine, Katie. The little sailor is sound asleep. We're on my boat. How is Mike?"
Kate hesitated, then she said, "He's OK, Dad. He's got a friend with him tonight. He offered to give me a break, so I could make ready to sail." She didn't feel she could tell her father all that had happened between Mike and herself.
"I have a few more things to tie up here, business wise, then I'll come back over. I'll be away for another week, the way it's going."
"OK, Dad. Dad, it's good to hear your voice, it's good to talk to you, I miss you. Is Jessica behaving?"
"Of course she is, honey, she's a grand little girl. But she still thinks her daddy doesn't like her; I'll have to sort that. Oh, and she's learnt a new song."
Kate smiled. "That's lovely, Dad. I have to go now. Love you. Give Jessica a big kiss and hug from me, OK?"
"I love you too, mo ghaoil. Fair winds, and come home to us well. And Katie?"
"Dad?"
"Don't forget to sing."
"I won't. Bye, Dad."
There was a tap on her cabin door. "Come in," Kate said. She opened the door to Cookie who was standing diffidently out in the corridor.
She said, "Ma'am, we are going to ring for a Thai takeaway. Would you like some?"
Kate was acutely aware that she hadn't eaten since breakfast. She said, "Yes please, Cookie, that would be wonderful. But how are you going to get it? You can't leave the ship."
"I know, Ma'am; we are getting it delivered."
"Great. Well, carry on."
After parting ways with Dutchy at the airport, Bomber called her mother. She wasn't at home, so Bomber called her aunt, her mother's sister, where she knew she could usually find her mother. Her aunt informed her that her mother was in Brisbane, then went on to say if Bomber had phoned ahead earlier, then she could've met her mother in Brisbane. Bomber was annoyed at this; she had only gotten leave. As she hung up, she thought, Oh well, there's no point crying over spilt milk. I'll give Robert a call, at least he knew I was coming up here.
Robert answered his mobile with his usual precision three rings, and said, "Bomber? Where are you?"
"I'm in Cairns, silly, where do you think I am?"
"I know you're in Cairns, but where exactly? I'll come pick you up."
Bomber said she was outside the airport and would wait for him there. She didn't have long to wait. Robert had arrived within fifteen minutes and picked her up. He took her back to his place and offered her a coffee. She said, "I don't suppose you have a beer, do you?"
"No, but I do have some Coke. Want some?"
Bomber nodded her acceptance of a Coke, then asked Robert what the latest news was. He explained that he had extended shore leave while Kingston was in dry dock undergoing maintenance, and he had stockpiled quite a bit of reading. He showed her the books piled on the coffee table.
"Well, that's all good, Robert, but haven't you seen the Boss? Have you visited him at all?"
"It didn't cross my mind," he said. "I was at sea while he was in hospital, and I didn't want to interfere with his family now he's home. I haven't thought of it."
"Well, you're thinking of it now. We're going to see him. I want to see Kate and her little girl. And I want to see Buff and Nikki."
"Sure," Robert said. "Bomber, it's really good to see you in person. I was getting a bit tired of emails."
"Yeah. Me too."
"Um, would you like to have dinner?"
"Oh, Robert that would be wonderful."
They decided on a place they knew from Hammersley days, and planned on having a swim beforehand.
Kate was enjoying the Thai food, and thought it refreshing to be eating with two of her crew. Harry and Cookie, were a bit uneasy at first in the presence of their CO, but soon the ice was broken, and they were talking freely. About themselves, how they came to join the Navy, their home towns and their families. Cookie asked how Captain Flynn was, and Kate said that he was recovering; but not walking yet. She changed the subject and asked how the patrols had been while she'd been away. Harry said that the X was a good acting CO and it was a pleasure serving under him; but they had missed Kate, all the same.
Presently the change of watch came onboard, and they too, were surprised at seeing Kate on board. She told them she would remain on Hammersley until they sailed. She wished them goodnight, and left to go to her cabin. Once there, she decided to have a quick wash, climb into her rack and read for a while.
She had just climbed into her rack, when her phone rang. Slightly irritated, she snatched it up. "Kate McGregor-Flynn," she snapped.
"Ma'am, it's Dutchy. I'm at your place. I'm staying the night with Mike. Sorry for the lateness of the call, I waited until he was asleep to call you."
Kate was silent. Dutchy said, "Ma'am?"
"I'm here. Is Mike OK?" Far from it, thought Dutchy, you don't need to know how I found him. Aloud he said, "I took him out for a bit. Ma'am, Kate, he's convinced that he's a burden, he thinks that if he doesn't walk soon, then he'll be stuck permanently in a wheelchair, burdening you with his care for the rest of your life. He's scared, scared of that, scared he will lose you, and scared you'll stop wanting him. He is terrified that his career is over. He believes you and his daughter would be better off without him, yet he's frightened that will happen and he will end up alone."
"Is that why he lashed out at Jessica and me?" she asked.
"I'd say so."
"Should I come home?"
"No. I told him you needed space, a new scene. Stay onboard, I'll arrange for someone to be with him. I have to report to HMAS Diamantina tomorrow."
"His father comes to take him to physio in the morning. His mother might come sit with him for a bit. And I'm sure Cmdr. Marshall has some work for him. There's Nikki and Buffer as well. Although Buffer has to work, and Nikki has the twins. My father is coming back over from WA in a week's time as well."
"All good, we'll sort something. Mike will be in good hands."
"Dutchy?" He waited. Kate continued, "I don't think Mike is a burden. It never has crossed my mind to leave him, never. He's hurt me, and I'm exhausted, but I love him, and would never leave him. If I end up caring for him for the rest of our lives, well, so be it. I'll never abandon him."
Dutchy said, "You know that, and I know that, I think deep down Mike knows it too. But somehow, he has to find a way to believe you'd never desert him."
"I know Dutchy, I know. Did he have his medication?"
"Yes Ma'am, and I put a sleeping tablet in the mix too. He'll sleep tonight."
"Thank you Dutchy. Thank you for stepping in."
"My pleasure, Ma'am. Goodnight."
Kate switched off her phone, climbed into her rack, and slept peacefully through the night.
