Next Day.
Morning Watch.
Mike awoke to a brilliant sunrise. He couldn't help but feel an anticipatory excitement at Hammersley's return. It seemed to be infectious as Jessica too, was awake, and ran first into Philip's room, then her father's, announcing at the top of her voice: "MUMMY'S COMING HOME!"
Philip managed to catch the excited child, and said, "Now now, mo ghaoil, you need to have your breakfast first. We have plenty of time before Mummy comes back."
He steered her toward the kitchen and started to get breakfast underway. Mike appeared in uniform and Philip observed the extra care Mike had taken with his appearance. This seemed to confirm the feeling Philip confided to Amelia and Gregory. It took Mike's shipboard commanding officer's voice to induce Jessica to stop jumping up and down, sit at the table and have her breakfast. Presently Mike's mobile buzzed and he moved away to answer the call. "Mike Flynn," he said.
"Sir, Steve here, I'm confirming that Hammersley will be alongside at 0900 hours. Thought you might like to know. I will come down to see her in with you."
"Right, Steve, see you then." Mike ended the call as Robert, accompanied by Bomber freshly returned from Sydney, were admitted by Philip. Mike noticed the large smile on Bomber's face and remarked, "Are you that pleased to be posted to Childers?"
"No sir, I mean, yes sir, I—" she broke off and held up her left hand which displayed an elegant diamond ring in classic design.
Mike shook Robert's hand, "Good work, Robert. Congratulations, both of you."
Philip offered the happy couple a coffee, then Robert broke in, "Sir, we need to be at the docks by 0830."
Philip said, "Easy there, lad, where's the fire?" He thought there was something about Robert's demeanour which spoke of something more than his engagement to Bomber. "Plenty of time yet, enjoy your coffee."
HMAS Hammersley.
Kate had kept her word to Robert and signalled him when they were half an hour away. Around the ship there seemed to be an abnormal buzz of energy as the crew went about having scran and resuming their duties. Kate couldn't quite put a finger on this, and turned to her XO. "X, the crew seem a little more amped than usual. Any thought on this?"
David lowered his binoculars, and replied, "No ma'am, I can't see the difference" He didn't say to his CO what he had picked up through his binoculars. Quietly he aimed the EOD and it confirmed what he had seen. Among the crowd amassing at the docks, he had seen a figure in a wheelchair. Turning the EOD back to its original view, before Kate could see it, he went below in search of Sam Davies, the ship's buffer. Finding him in the Senior Sailors' mess, David said, "Sammy, prepare piping party for when we are alongside."
Surprised, Sam said, "Aye, sir," then went to his Bosun's Mate before assuming his station as the ship prepared to come alongside. David returned to the bridge and began the sequence of orders that would bring Hammersley into her berth safely. Coxswain Tony Brierley was at the conn, and he knew the sequence as thoroughly as David, and Kate, who had commandeered Hammersley into port many a time with Swain or Buffer at the conn. The ship was safely docked and tied up alongside. Those on the bridge looked out and saw their loved ones, and Kate's eyes rested first on Charge and Amy, then Dutchy, then 2Dads, then Nikki and her twins, standing with Bomber. Steve Marshall was there as well. With pleasure, Kate saw her father with Jessica, wearing her Hammersley cap on his shoulders. Standing with him were Mike's parents. Finally, her eyes rested on Mike, who was looking up at the bridge of the ship he knew so well, and behind him stood Buffer and Robert. Hammersley's crew, instead of disembarking, mustered on the boat deck. Her CO appeared, with her XO. David gave the order – "Piping party, HO!" As he did so, Mike, assisted by Robert and Buffer, stood up. Robert assisted him with his crutches, then stepped back, but close enough to be of any assistance required. As Kate watched, Mike took his first steps to be seen outside the physiotherapy studio. Slowly and deliberately, Mike walked up the gangway. David gave the order: "Piping party, up pipes!"
Kate's eyes filled with tears at the sight of her husband walking onboard Hammersley to the trill of the bosuns' pipes. She collected herself, stood to attention, saluted, and said "Welcome aboard, sir." She then abandoned formality and stepped forward to put her arms about him. She whispered, "I'm proud of you," which Mike barely heard over the cheers, whistles and clapping emanating from the dock. Amelia's eyes were also moist and so was Nikki's.
David gave the dismissal order, and the crew disembarked, following by their XO and CO. Kate was walking close to Mike in case he needed support, but it wasn't necessary.
Afternoon Watch.
Both the original and current crews of HMAS Hammersley were in the beer gardens of the usual Navy pub. The younger members, in awe of Captain Flynn, weren't sure of themselves around him until David Miles presented each member to him personally. Mike set each one at ease and said that their CO was proud of each and every one of them. Pleased, they went off, bought their drinks, and mingled with the original crew. Kate was the centre of the circle of the original Hammersley crew, with Jessica sitting with her. They were all talking animatedly to her, and she eventually looked about for Mike. David led him over, and he was glad to be finally sitting down, to ease his aching legs. There were congratulatory cheers for Robert and Bomber, and 2Dads remarked, "Well, I see the second-best man got her," which earned him a swipe from Charge, and a firm confirmation from Buffer that it was his turn to buy the drinks. In the midst of all this, Jessica suddenly burst into tears. "Sweetheart, what's wrong?" her mother asked. Jessica sobbed, "Daddy doesn't need his magic chair anymore. I won't get any more rides!"
Kate held her close to console her. "Never mind sweetheart, we'll find another magic ride for you," and she made a mental note to buy her a bike as soon as possible.
As Mike sat with his family and friends, he was tired but content. He felt as if he had run a marathon, but had triumphed and overcome. Dutchy saw his little smile and moved over to him. "You made it, sir. You made it. And that's the answer."
"I owe a lot of it to you and this crazy bunch. You kept me going."
Kate saw David Miles approaching, a drink in each hand. He passed the wine to Kate and she said, "You knew about this? You knew Mike could walk?"
He grinned, "Sure and haven't I the second sight? I saw him on the deck and thought there was something afoot. And so I did, ma'am."
David then sat down next to Mike, and raised his glass to him.
"Slaintè Mhah, Captaen Ò Floinn."
"What's that mean?" asked Mike.
To David's surprise, Kate translated, "Good health, Captain Flynn."
THE END.
