Pulling on his Kevlar Mike stopped when he spotted Kate entering
"I thought I told you…"
"This is my boarding" she went to grab her kit out of the cage
"X" he closed the cage with one hand
"I can't just sit here and do nothing" she huffed stepping back
"That's exactly what you do, I need you here to look after the ship"
"RO's got it covered"
"X…"
"We need all the people we can get out there" she looked at him sternly
"This isn't an argument you're going to win, I'm the Captain it is my choice" he replied in his CO voice
"2Dads can you give us a minute?" she looked across at the young sailor
"Yes Ma'am" he nodded clipping his gun in his holster he exited the room
"Kate…." Mike looked across at her sadly when they were alone
"This isn't something you can just run straight into you need me there"
"I don't want you there"
"Excuse me?"
"This mission is dangerous these people have already kidnapped Jim and his team"
"So what this is some moral code as Commanding Officer or this a personal attachment as Mike"
"I'd focus more knowing you're on the ship out of harm's way"
"Just let me do this… the boarding's are my job"
"I can't let anything happen to you"
"And what if something happens to you!" she snapped holding back the tears
"I will come back" he realised her worries
"We've had this argument before"
"But this isn't a time you're going to win, Kate I need you here your too emotionally attached to this"
"My emotions are perfectly in check"
"Kate… you and Jim have a past"
"So do you"
"Not exactly the same Kate" he gave a slight laugh
"My feelings towards Jim are nothing but professional"
"Same could have been said about us"
"There's really no point in arguing about this is there?"
"We agreed to keep this Patrol professional this is me doing just that, this is my job Kate I can't let anyone else take charge in this"
"You don't take any unnecessary risks" she reached forward reluctantly doing his jacket up
"I know"
"You keep your head down, stay focused"
"I know"
"Find Jim and his team, get them to the Army base that is all" she did the last zip up
"Kate…" he grabbed her shaking hand
"You…" she looked up at him with tears in her eyes
"I'll be fine"
"I mean it Mike…"
"I thought I was the Captain" he raised an eyebrow
"No Cowboy antics…" she gripped his boarding jacket with her free hand
"I promise" he rested his hand against her cheek
"Mike…"
"A promise is a promise Kate"
"Always and forever" she whimpered when he met her lips in a remorseful kiss,
neither one of them hearing the door open until he spoke
"Um Sir.. the RHIB's ready to set off…" his voice answered softly,
pulling away from the kiss Mike moved towards the door
"Let's go" he nodded to 2Dads walking up the stairs holding back his own tears in the hopes no one noticed "I trust you can keep your mouth shut" Mike stopped at the top of the stairs
"Of course Sir, my lips are sealed" 2Dads assured him
"You ready for this?"
"Lead the way" he pointed following after Mike down the corridor.
Making her way onto the bridge 2 hours after the RHIB left Kate fixed up her hair wiping the last tears off her cheek
"Charge how are we going?" she cleared her throat
"No contact as of yet Ma'am"
"Let me know once there is some"
"Yes Ma'am" he nodded watching her stop near the controls
"No news is good news right?" she sighed
"X… are you alright?" Charge questioned moving next to her
"I should be on this mission, it's my job"
"And there's all the chance we'd be out there looking for you too"
"Charge.."
"The Boss was right, even Marshal would agree that this is a CO job"
"I am the XO boarding are…"
"Your job I know but Kate…" he placed a hand on her shoulder "He did this for a reason"
"You know?" she turned to look at him
"I'm old and wise, I see the way you two loo at each other"
"Charge we haven't…"
"I believe you, but you being here isn't some CO responsibility it's Mike wanting to make sure nothing happens to the woman he loves"
"He's out there with no idea at what's going to happen"
"He has Swain and Buffer they've got his back even 2Dads is out there"
"That dosen't fill me with much confidence" she laughed softly
"They will find the SAS and will be back here before the sun sets"
"Sierra eight-two to Hammersley come in" Swain's panicked voice echoed through the ship
"Swain this is Hammersley go ahead" RO answered, Kate rushing over to him
"We need immediate assistance"
"X?" RO held the radio out
"Swain what's happening over there?" Kate questioned
"We came under fire"
"Did you find the SAS?"
"Yes Ma'am, we managed to get them back to the Army base" he replied,
"Then what's the problem?" she asked getting static back "Swain?"
"Ah.. we were separated from team Charlie we haven't been able to raise them for half an hour"
"What?" Kate's eyes widened stepping back she dropped the radio in RO's hand
"X…" Charge looked at her sadly
"You have the ship" she moved past him
"What?" he grabbed her hand stopping her
"You have the ship; RO prepare the port side RHIB"
"Are you crazy?"
"The CO is missing Charge; I need to go and find him"
"You can't just leave the ship"
"I don't have a choice" she pulled her arm back
"X"
"You have the ship" she repeated moving down the stairs
"Kate!" he called after her getting a door slam in return
"The CO isn't going to like this" RO turned in his chair
"What do you expect me to do, go with her?"
"I think you just answered your own question, I've got the ship the X needs you"
"Ahh she's such a pain in the…" he muttered following after her;
Pulling on her kit Kate looked at the door in surprise when Charge entered "What…"
"I can't let you do this alone" he shook his head grabbing his own kit from the cage
"Thank you" she smiled sadly.
