Day 3: Part 1
"Mike how's the Hammersley lockdown going?" Maxine's voice answered through the sat phone
"Very funny, that's actually why I'm calling"
"Oh?"
"Are you sure we have to stay out here for three weeks? We can't dock at a local island?" he sighed
"What do you want?" she replied hastily
"What? Max it's me would I really being calling for something?"
"Yes, now I repeat again what do you want?" she laughed slightly
"Well…"
"Ah there it is!"
"There's a local island, it's deserted and I was thinking rather then spending three weeks cooped up on a patrol boat you might consider letting us spend a few days of camping on shore" he fiddled with his pen
"How long is a few days?" she questioned
"Four or seven…"
"A week! What if you end up receiving a mayday?"
"I'm not that stupid Max, I'd take radio's"
"Mike…" she sighed
"It's not fair to keep us cooped up on this boat for three weeks its inhumane"
"Mike" she tried to get his attention again
"I mean you wouldn't like it and yeah its different for patrol because we're actually doing stuff.."
"Mike!" she yelled
"What?!" he huffed
"You have my permission to go 'explore' but only if you keep three personal on board at all time" she rolled her eyes
"Wait really?" he asked surprised
"Yes, but if you keep asking I'll change my mind"
"Thank you Maxine" he smiled happily
"But the minute a mayday comes through you give up camping and return to the boat, got it?"
"Got it!" Mike tried to hide his excitement
"And keep it PG would you, we don't need any Hammersley babies created" she snickered
"Who's supposed to keep it PG?" he answered nervously
"Your 2Dads and Chefo they're 'close' didn't you know that?"
"No I wasn't aware of that"
"Wait who'd you think I was talking about?"
"Ah no one…"
"Mike…." She shifted in her chair
"Ah got to go Maxine things to sort out" he cleared his throat
"MIKE" she yelled ignoring the looks she got from the passers-by's
"Thanks again Max" he answered before the line went dead.
Making his way onto the bridge he stopped at the top of the stairs
"So who's up for a little exploring?" he looked around with a wide grin
"Your serious?" 2Dads asked hopeful
"Maxine has approved for us to go explore the local island but three people have to stay on board" he answered sadly
"I'll stay" RO replied immediately
"What?" Bomber looked at him confused
"I hate camping, I didn't join the Navy to go camping" he screwed his nose up
"Okay well that's one, who else?" Mike rolled his eyes
"I guess I'll stay; someone has to keep an eye on whoever is left in charge" Kate replied from the Captain's chair
"Ah no X, I'll stay behind" Buffer piped up
"But…." she turned in her chair to see Mike motioning to Buffer
"Sir you wouldn't be influencing the crew now would you?" she shifted out of her chair
"Me? Never" he smirked
"Hmm" she crossed her arms
"Right who else will stay on board…" Mike avoided her gaze
"I will" Swain cleared his throat
"Swaino you sure?" Kate asked confused
"Absolutely, you guys go have fun" he nodded
"Sweet!" 2Dads jumped up from his chair in excitement
"X get the gear ready, Charge can you organise some radio's and Bomb food"
"On it Boss" they answered while Kate stayed near the stairs with her arms crossed
"What?" he looked at her confused
"I'm not sharing a tent with you" she grinned
"Wouldn't dream of it X, we're sleeping under the stars" he winked moving aside for her to walk down the stairs
"Romantic" Bomber teased
"Keep it up or you'll be left behind, I'm sure 2Dads doesn't need the distraction" Mike answered sternly with a grin
"Ah…"
"Relax Bomb, I can't exactly talk" he shrugged looking down the stairs at Kate who was waiting for Bomber
"Sir we haven't…"
"I believe you" he nodded patting her back.
"So where should we set up camp Sir?" 2Dads stepped off the RHIB half an hour later
"Wherever you like, we've got radio's so technically we don't all have to be in the same area" Mike shrugged grabbing his bag
"Right so if I wanted to set up on the east of the island?" 2Dads grinned
"Just make sure you're near the radio in case of emergencies" Mike tried to hide his smirk
"I still can't believe no one else wanted to come exploring" Bomber sighed stepping onto the sand
"There all a bunch of pansies"
"2Dads" Kate huffed when she moved a leg over to exit the RHIB Mike grabbed her hand and pulled her into his arms
"Hi" he gave her his girly grin
"You can put me down now" she rolled her eyes
"Do I have to?"
"Yes" she playfully hit his chest when he reluctantly put her down
"Right so, it's like a couples thing then" 2Dads blurted out
"2Dads!" Bomber hit his chest
"Are you two?" Kate motioned between the two of them
"Bit slow on the news their X" Mike whispered in her ear
"You knew?" she turned her head confused
"Even Maxine is aware" he placed his hand across her back
"So um… We'll see you in a week?" Bomber answered awkwardly
"You guys right for supplies?"
"Yeah all set Boss" 2Dads held up his bags
"Right well keep in contact and we'll do the same" Mike waved his radio at them
"But the whole time" 2Dads smirked as he began walking off
"Umm… yeah I packed you some of my secret stash X so…" Bomber replied awkwardly before running off to catch up with 2Dads who instantly grabbed her hand in his.
"Secret stash?" Mike whispered in her ear
"Ah… Chocolate… Those two are in a relationship?" she turned around with a stunned look on her face
"God you really are slow on the news" he grinned moving his hand across her waist
"I ah…"
"Come on, I have the perfect place for camp" he interlocked his hand with hers
"I'm not sharing a tent with you" she grinned
"Under the stars it is, lucky I packed my extra warm sleeping bag" he winked pulling her towards the trees.
...
"This place is beautiful…" Kate looked around at the waterfall
"My view is better" Mike grinned leaning against the tree watching her
"Sly move Captain" Kate tried to hide her grin
"I have no idea what you're talking about X"
"Letting 2Dads and Bomber go off alone, do you think it was a wise idea"
"You'd rather having them here disturbing our peacefulness?" he moved towards her
"That's in thinking something is actually going to happen" she shook her head
"Hmm and yet you seemed to be happy to strip me of my clothes back on Hammersley" he studied her face carefully, smiling to himself at the way she looked with the sun shining across her face
"Really? I don't recall such an event happening" she turned to face him
"Very funny, look how about a swim?" he stopped next to her
"I didn't bring any bathers" she turned to face him
"Kate! If you wanted to see my with my gear off you just had to ask" he teased nudging her arm
"Your dreaming" she moved aside picking up her bag
"Skinny dipping later it is then" he winked.
"You only packed one sleeping bag?" she knelt next to there gear
"No there should be two…"
"I'm serous Mike this isn't going to become some sexy time…"
"Sexy time?" he snickered
"You know what I mean"
"Kate honest I packed two" he reached for the radio
"Sure you did" she rolled her eyes walking off
"Team X-ray this is team Alpha" Mike spoke into the radio
"This is team X-ray here go ahead Boss" 2Dads answered
"Did you happen to see the extra sleeping bag I packed?" he watched as Kate began collecting firewood
"You mean the one on the RHIB?" 2Dads replied nervously
"Yeah… yeah that would be the one" Mike sighed
"Did you need us to radio the boat?"
"No, it's fine um I'll sort it out team Alpha over and out" Mike brushed his hand through his hair
"Copy that, this is team X-ray signing off" 2Dads replied,
"So?" Kate looked across at him when she placed the pile of wood down
"I left it on the RHIB" he gritted his teeth
"Right and I'm just supposed to believe you didn't do it deliberately?"
"Believe what you want I told you I packed it" he huffed
"I'm going for a walk" she sighed moving to stand
"Kate…"
"We need more wood than this, can I trust you to set up camp?"
"Yeah…" he nodded unsure
"Great, I'll be back in a few" she nodded turning to walk off
"Kate I didn't do this deliberately" he called after her
"Just drop it Mike" she sighed
'What the hell just happened?' he muttered to himself watching her walk off.
Sitting down on a log hours later Kate brushed her hand through her hair letting out a slow sigh she jumped slightly when she heard footsteps approaching
"You've been gone awhile" he cleared his throat
"I just needed some air" she looked down at her feet
"We're surrounded by air" he teased
"Yeah…" she laughed softly when he sat next to her
"Kate… I didn't, I didn't pack one sleeping bag"
"Can we just drop it… please"
"Why are you so rattled?" he looked at her sadly
"I…"
"Kate I would never take advantage of you, you know that right?"
"Of course I do, it's not that" she finally looked across at him
"Then talk to me, tell me what's wrong" he reached a hand across grabbing hers
"Nothings wrong" she smiled sadly
"Liar"
"It's just… it was all fun and games on board, knowing at any moment we could get interrupted and now…"
"We're actually alone" he squeezed her hand
"The more that I think about it…"
"Kate I would never force you…"
"And I love you for that, it's just seven years is a long time Mike what if we take that step further and its not the same?" she looked at him sadly
"Well I wouldn't expect it to be after seven years" he grinned
"I'm serious" she nudged his arm
"Kate… all I want is you and if nothing happens until six months then I'm okay with that" he shifted to knell in front of her
"Mike…" she reached across placing her free hand against his cheek
"All I want is to be here with you, sitting around the fire toasting marshmallows, going swimming just getting to spent time with you it's all I need" he leant into her hand
"I did actually pack my bathers" she grinned
"Oh I know" he laughed moving to stand pulling her up with him
"I love you, and I don't think saying it over and over again justifies just how much" she looked up at him
"Hearing you say it Kate… it's all I've ever dreamt about and knowing you feel the same is enough for me" he leaned down teasing her into a slow kiss
"Did you set up camp?" she mumbled against his lips
"Yes Kate I set up camp" he laughed moving back walking them towards camp with her hand in his every now and then feeling her squeezing his hand.