'This is brilliant stuck here with a total stranger doing some undercover operation, all I want to is be out on the water on a Navy ship, I didn't get the awards I did for sitting on my behind all day can't they see there is better things for me to be doing than this.' Kate thinks to herself as she sits in the hotel room with Mike, both of them have been very quiet since their arrival here a few hours ago.

"How are we going to make this look real? I've never had to do this sort of thing before." she says aloud hoping Mike has some idea. 'At least he's not bad looking'

"No idea to be honest, I've never done this type of thing either, well I've stretched the truth at times told the odd white lie but living a whole new life, no idea?"

"The outfits they have here for me are so not me and seem a bit much for cargo ship workers."

"Well it does say here that we are excellent at our job, people fight over us so we have a hefty price tag for our services, and no job is too big or too small. We tackle any job that comes our way. But me personally not sure if I would have my wife coming on trips like this, how can they ask us to do what they want us to do without the experience more for you."

"I have some experience I'm not a complete beginner."

"I know that Kate it's more the experience of dealing with aggressive law breaking people. They not always nice to deal with more the idiots they employ. Though have you read the part about how we became to know each other then get married?"

"Yep I never thought arranged marriages happened outside of some overseas cultures."

"Me either, but then again it looks like from the reads that it was planned once you were born and were a girl that I being the only boy would marry the oldest girl from your family."

"Yea for stability for my family, but why?"

"It says further down here that your parents where family friends grown up together for three generations, we were married as soon as you were 18. Man just of legal age."

"That would of suxed big time."

"Yep it even says here that because we had grown up together you did not mind marrying your best mate. But not long after when the real reason for the marriage came about that we both took off, neither one of us wanting to run the family business anyway. We moved to Sydney and the rest is history."

"History is right where the hell do they come up with these stories even says we no longer talk to our family's either."

"Well that makes it easier in a way less people to be dropped in undercover to cover our behinds."

"I am more than capable of covering my own bottom thank you." She says as she walks off away from the table where the two have been sitting.

'A might fine bottom if I may say so' Mike thinks to himself as he watches Kate move over to get herself another drink 'Just how the hell am I going to control myself at times, with this fine lady doing this with me.'

"Kate on a personal note here, and I know we don't know each other that well and normally this be none of my business but with this operation we are about to undertake I do need to know have you ever been in a relationship before?"

"And normally I would tell anybody who would ask me that question where to go but under these circumstances you do have a right to know…(There is a pause by her, she's not sure how much he wonts to know, but she decides to just give him a simple answer if anything else comes up then she will address it later.)…Yes I have but to be honest even then I was more focused on other things in my life than the relationship I was sort of in."

"Ok that is good some the simple things like calling each other nicknames, kissing holding hands, hugging in front of others is something that isn't going to be new or strange to you."

"Nope though sharing a bed will be. That is one thing I have never done before." She says to him.

'Does that mean she's never stayed over with a guy before or even more so never been intimate with a guy before, shit now that could change things totally.' He thinks to himself.

"Please don't ask me, please don't ask me." She says to herself

"Kate I normally never ever ask a woman this question but I need to know have you ever….."

Present time again

"Kate..." Mike doesn't even finish what he was going to say to her. As his phone rings in his cabin.

"Sir, Commander White for you." Comes from RO into his ear.

"Put her through RO"

"Maxine, Mike speaking."

"Hi Mike, just letting you know your orders have changed I'm bringing in Hammersley today as there is a service going to be held tomorrow afternoon."

"Service I thought that they were fine?"

"They are Mike, Captain Roth and Chief Petty Officer Blake are both being award with medals. It's happening tomorrow afternoon down beside Hammersley."

"It's not normal for us to be called in for that sort of thing."

"I know but your Swain and the chief have both decided that they won't you there. Both are home now as well."

"That is good to hear they both been released. So what time are we expected to be docking tonight? And what time tomorrow are we due at the ceremony?"

"You will dock at whatever time you get back here tonight or early morning I already told your RO to set course for home, we both know Mike that anything can happen and normally does so even if I give you a docking time the chance you as in Hammersley will make it is slim. The ceremony is being held at 1600hours. Oh and Mike also I know you already know about your transfer off Hammersley, and after a long talk with Steve this afternoon he has agreed to stay on in Darwin, so that I can have you here. I hope that is of not to much trouble for you."

"No not at all Maxine, honestly be nicer to stay put here and not have to spend six months or so over there."

"That is what I thought but also Mike there is another reason which I will tell you tomorrow, and it is why Steve was ok with it all and I spoke to Fleet Command and they agreed with me." Mike hears a change in her tone to him, one she only uses when something isn't right.

"Max what's wrong?" Kate goes to get up and leave, but he stops her but pushing his chair back against the door and looking at her, she knows she needs to sit right back down.

"Nothing Mike."

"Don't lie to me Max I know that tone of voice something happened today didn't it?"

"I'm not well Mike, it not life or death but does involve me needing to take some time off and being on light duties."

"Max come on stop stalling."

I have to have a few moles removed that are suspect as well as an operation which is separate to the moles. The operation is going to lay me up for several weeks, they going to do both at the same time."

"You never told me you were sick?"

"I'm not sick Mike, it's just standard things that some woman have to go through now stop bloody worrying will you. Anyway Ryan's just arrived we are off out to dinner talk tomorrow."

The two say their goodbyes.

"Well as you well know now, I'm no longer leaving so me not staying touch isn't going to be a sore point for you."

"But what were you going to say before the phone rang."

"I was going to say when in our life has our relationship ever gone how we would like it too? We have had that many ups and downs I sometimes wonder if this will be anything more than just a relationship, will it ever get any further than some amazing times together."

"A very valid point to make there."

"Valid is right, how many times have we tried to do this Kate?"

"Well we can't honestly count the undercover work as we had no control over that Mike so since then it's been Watsons bay, then when you got the promotion."

"Which have all ended basically the same as us undercover, the job getting in the way yet again. Tomorrow we should talk some more before the ceremony, here is not honestly a good place to get to in-depth about this, as you well know none of these guys know about our undercover work and we can't let them know."

"Understandable, why not you come around after we dock sleep then talk how does that sound?"

"Sounds fine with me, now we both should go to the bridge inform every one of the change of plans and why.