Walking up to the bar Kate sighed it had been a long and gruelling patrol, what with communist refugees, people smugglers and then murder on the high seas. All she wanted to do was enjoy a quiet drink before heading home for a soak in the bath with a good book. Looking over her shoulder she could see the lads all talking about Chefo's engagement and what they had planned to celebrate it.

Placing her glass on the bar she planned on having one more before heading off home.

"Same again please" she smiled opening her purse as the lady behind the bar took her glass

"Let me guess" a voice came up behind her "rum straight up"

She looked up and was greeted by the captain of the Pacific Mariner; a vessel they had boarded earlier that day in the search. she half smiled

"it's what sailors drink isn't it" the man smiled

"Only at sea 100 years ago. Now we drink..."

"House Shiraz" the bar woman placed a glass in front of her

"nice" Rick smiled "here let me" he said pulling a note

"thanks" Kate smiled putting her purse back in her bag. "so, this your local" she asked sipping her wine

"no not usually, just looking for a audience to brag about my big naval adventure"

"Adventure?" she grinned it was the first time she had heard a boarding being called that

"tah" he smiled taking his change from the woman behind the bar. "Yeah, that was the highlight of the month. I mean it might just be a standard day for you"

"oh, sure Yeah, well amongst the communist refugees, people smugglers and murder on the high seas pretty standard" she smiled

"Murder?" Rick looked at her

"yeah" Kate said looking over at the crew who were finishing the last of their drinks "couple of fishermen, their boat was ransacked one dead one missing. You can never be too careful out there" she said looking up in to his eyes.

"I'll have to keep that in mind" he smiled. "so, I take it you found your missing container"

"Yeah, thankfully it was on another vessel about 12 miles from where we boarded you" she smiled

"that's good and did you find what you were looking for?" Rick asked making small talk

"yeah thankfully." she smiled watching as Mike walked in making his way up to the rest of the crew. She could just hear Buffer ask him if he was joining them for Chefo's engagement celebrations

Out of the corner of her eye she could see him watching her talking to Rick. Watching him leave with a look of annoyance on his face

"can I get you another drink" Rick indicated to her empty glass.

"sorry what" she shook her head turning her attentions back to the conversation in front of her.

He smiled giving a slight laugh. "drink" he indicated to her empty glass "do you want another?"

"oh" she blushed embarrassed she had been distracted. "sorry" she smiled looking at her watch, she hadn't realised how late it was getting and she was on morning watch. "i best not, I have an early watch, not fun when hungover" she smiled

"Well maybe I could get your number" he smiled

"Bit forward" Kate smiled

"you can't blame a guy for trying."

"i suppose not "she smiled pulling a pen from her bag scribbling her number out on a napkin of the bar "Just my number. No promises" she smiled

"of course," Rick smiled taking the napkin from her hand. "i guess I will see you around. Maybe you can board us again"

Trying not to laugh at the inuendo that was in his voice. "Night then" she smiled tucking her pen back in to her bag

"Have a good one" Rick smiled turning back to the bar ordering himself another drink.

Heading out she felt the cool air hit her. Sighing softly, she walked back towards the ship. It was only a short walk to the ship. Walking over the gangway she made her way in through the side hatch.

"You're back early" Nav smiled walking down off the bridge.

"Yeah well 1 I am on middle watch so want to get some kip and 2 didn't really fancy joining the lads on a pub crawl" she smiled.

"fair enough. I best get back to the bridge." she smiled "you know what RO is like if things are not on time"

"yeah" she smiled as a text arrived

Pulling her phone from her bag she smiled as she read the message from an unrecognised number.

' just checking you didn't give me the number for the local Chinese. Maybe we can get a drink sometime. X'.

"Anything interesting?" Nikki smiled

"just a text" Kate said trying to think of a witty response she could send back.

"Booty text?" she grinned "Who when and where"?

"no not a booty text. Just some guy I met in the pub." Kate sighed

"so who is he, what's his name?"

Sighing she knew Nikki wasn't going to let this one go. "You remember the master of the Pacific Mariner. Rick"

"you dark horse Kate Mcgregor" Nikki grinned. "Although he was pretty cute. In a loveable rogue sort of way"

As they were talking a second text pinged through

'king prawn with pineapple with extra chilli, soft noodles, shoots and chestnuts.'

Typing her response, she sighed. Maybe this was just what she needed to finally forget Mike and move on. Even if this was just a summer fling.

"anyway I best get back on to the bridge now." Nikki smiled "Night X" she said

"night" Kate smiled walking through the dark ship.

Heading down to her cabin she bumped in to Mike in the passageway

"X" he smiled

"Sir" she smiled trying to edge past him

"so what were you talking about with the guy off the mariner?" Mike smiled

"Nothing really. He was more interested in bragging how he got boarded by the navy" she sighed

"just be careful" Mike smiled

"and what's that supposed to mean?" Kate asked looking up at him trying to read his mind

"exactly what it sounds like. Just be careful of him. He looks dodgy and like he is only after one thing"

"and what might that be" she hissed not wanting to wake the whole ship

"nothing" he sighed knowing how stubborn she could be

"and I said the same about Ursula but you still went and slept with her and the fact she has disappeared says it all. This was just a drink, nothing more."

"Forget I said anything. Night x" he said

"Sir" she forced a polite smile heading in to her cabin. Shutting the door behind her she typed her response to Rick

'haha thanks for the drink maybe we can do it again'

Tucking her phone in to the cubby by her rack she quickly changed in to a pair of shorts and a vest and pulling the covers up around her, she was on watch in just under 6 hours. Closing her eyes she just willed sleep to take over and tried to put what Mike had said to the back of her mind.

so... sorry its been a while with this one but i have sort of lost my train of thought with this one a little. hope you like this chapter and i may just fast forward through a lot because i am finding it hard to think.

enjoy x