Kate woke and stretched. She climbed out of her rack, feeling refreshed, after a decent night's sleep. She dressed, then went to the galley for a brew before going onto the bridge and receiving the watch report. She was wondering what to do for breakfast when her mobile buzzed.
"Kate McGregor-Flynn."
"Ma'am. It's Bomber. How are you?"
"Bomber! Well, this is a pleasant surprise! Are you here in Cairns?"
"Yep! Got some leave, and I came up to see Mum and Robert. Mum's gone to Brisbane and Robert has extended shore leave. Want to have breakfast? The usual spot?"
"Sounds good, Bomber. See you over there."
Kate went to the bridge and asked the duty watch if the XO was onboard.
"Not yet, Ma'am. Want me to call him?"
"No, I'll see him when he reports in. Meantime, I'm going to have breakfast with some friends. Call me if there are any problems."
"Yes, Ma'am. Enjoy your breakfast."
Kate saw Bomber and Robert before they saw her. She walked over to the table and said, "Do you have room for one more?"
Robert, ever the gentleman, rose to his feet first, "Ma'am," he said formally.
There was a squawk of laughter from Bomber, and Kate said, "Oh, for heaven's sake, Robert, at ease. Sit down."
Bomber was still laughing as she said, "X – um – Ma'am, hey, how are you?"
"You both are on leave, and not under my command, so it's Kate; and that's an order. Speaking of which, I'll have the 'early bird' breakfast, with coffee."
Following Kate's lead, Bomber and Robert gave their orders, and Kate asked Bomber about life aboard HMAS Canberra.
She said, "I don't know what you saw in big ships, because honestly, cooking for five times the complement of Hammersley is a real challenge, I can tell you. At least we cooks have a rotating watch, but tell you what, Kate, the officers' stewards would drive you mad with all their different orders, and wanting food served yesterday. I miss Hammersley, but still I've met some great people on Canberra. Did you know Spider's on Canberra too? He finally got a tattoo; I can't wait to tell Buffer."
At that remark, they all laughed, remembering the tattoo incident when Spider was still on Hammersley.
Kate said, "You should go see Nikki and Buffer while you're here. They have a beautiful set of twins, a boy and a girl, named Christopher and Katerina."
Bomber said, "It sucked I had to miss their wedding. Bird did too, we were both away at sea. Imagine Buffer is a dad! And Christopher…Swain would've loved that." They all fell silent at this comment, as Swain readily came to mind.
Kate turned to Robert. "And how are you finding life onboard Kingston?"
Robert said in his blunt way, "Not much different than Hammersley. Except for the X, she bounces around the ship like it's some kind of dance floor. And you have to see her conduct a boarding. She is so gung-ho, a female Clint Eastwood."
There was another squirt of laughter from Bomber; and Kate, who had heard in NAVCOM circles, regarding the XO of Kingston, "Harley by name, Harley by nature," joined in the laughter.
Breakfast arrived, and everyone began to eat with relish. Bomber was the first to clean her plate, although she commented on every facet of the meal, until Robert chided her, "You're off-duty, Bomb, you can stop being a cook."
"Sorry Robert, can't help it. So Kate, how is Jessica, and the Boss?"
Kate took out the photo of Jessica she always carried out of her wallet. As she did so, the photo of Mike fell out on the table. Kate looked at it for a while, then put it back in her wallet, but not before Bomber saw the look of sadness pass across Kate's face.She took up Jessica's picture, and said, "Doesn't she look like you!"
Robert studied the picture and said, "Yes but she has her father's hair colouring, and his eyes."
Kate said, "In all honesty, Bomber, Mike isn't doing too good. He's frustrated because it's taking him longer that he hoped to walk again."
Bomber looked at her former XO, and laid a hand on her arm. "But he will walk again, won't he? Ryan said the prognosis was promising."
"There was no permanent injury to his spine, but this particular injury can take its time. In some cases, if full recovery hasn't happened by the twelve-month mark, it can be permanent. It's been nearly four months since the accident. He's getting feeling back in his legs, and they're working him hard in physiotherapy, it's just not happening quickly enough for Mike."
"Who's staying with him while you're away?"
"Dutchy was last night, his parents have been taking him to appointments. My dad is returning from WA in a week, with Jessica, so he'll be there too."
Bomber said to Robert, "We should go see him. And I have to go back next week, so you could help out with looking after the Boss."
"Me? I don't think so," Robert protested.
Bomber glared at him, "Why not? What else were you going to do when I go back to Sydney?"
"If you remember, I said I was planning some reading."
"Well, you could read at Kate and Mike's. Maybe lend him some books. Play chess with him. You can't expect his mum and dad to be there all the time."
Kate said, "He likes classics, like you. I'd like it if you could help out. But first check with his parents, to see the lie of the land. Knowing you Robert, you would be good for Mike."
At that juncture, Kate's mobile buzzed. Bomber saw hope come into her eyes as she picked up the phone, then fade as she saw the text was from her XO. She stood up. "I have to go, my XO is onboard, I have to meet him. We sail tomorrow, so he'll want to bring me up to speed."
She shook Robert's hand, and hugged Bomber, then walked off in the direction of Hammersley.
Bomber said, "Let's go see Nikki and Buffer. They'll know how Mike is."
Mike awoke that morning and looked over at the empty bedspace next to him. He remembered; Kate had gone to Hammersley. He remembered how and why she left. He sighed, and pulled himself up and into his wheelchair.
Dutchy was in the kitchen making coffee and some breakfast when Mike appeared. He smiled. "Thought you might like some breakfast. I called Kate last night, and told her I was staying with you. And I told her why you acted like you did." Seeing the alarm in Mike's face, Dutchy said, "I didn't tell her how I found you, nor will I. However, you should talk to your counsellor about it."
Dutchy didn't press the issue, and passed Mike a mug of coffee.
They ate in silence and Dutchy said, "I have to report to Diamantina soon. Is there anyone I can get for you?"
Yes. Kate. Aloud Mike said, "My father will be here in half an hour. He takes me to my medical appointments."
"OK, just so I know you won't be alone. Mike, Kate doesn't care if she has to look after you lifelong. She won't abandon you. She never will. Sure, she ended your relationship before, and that was because Maxine frightened her off. She told her that she would be second in your life to your career. Maxine was jealous. That decision tore Kate in two. But that was then, this is now. Kate loved you all that time. You've talked about being scared of losing her. Let me ask you this, Mike. Do you think Kate deserves to lose you? Think about it."
Dutchy put the plates in the dishwasher, folded up the blanket he was using to sleep on the lounge. Then he picked up his bag, and called a cab. He then turned to go, but stopped, squatted in front of Mike. Putting his hand on Mike's knee, and looking him in the eye, Dutchy said, "Mike. You deserve Kate."
Then he straightened up and left.
