OK all there was a slight mistake at the end of the last chapter which I've been and changed it was meant to be Mike getting command of the new Hammersley not Kate. Hope you all enjoy this update :)

PRESENT TIME
Mike' office
Navcom

"Kate here can inform you of the crew, and who to watch out for."

"That is good, anything I need to be aware off from the Co coming off to the new CO."

"Yea watch out for 2Dad's he will give you plenty of headaches." Come form Mike then his office phone rings.

"Commander Flynn speaking."

"Yes."

"I do have one boat here in port but the crew are on stand down."

"Until tomorrow, do you need them to sail sooner?" Kate can see Mike facial features change she knows they not going to get to talk tonight, they being crashed sailed, it's a given they are the only boat in port and on down time.

"I have the CO and XO in my office right now Sir." Kate shakes her head.

"Seems we're being crashed sail." Kate says to the new CO of Hammersley.

"I would say so as well, I know this transition isn't going to be easy for both of us, but I would really appreciate all help you can give me to make sure Hammersley stays running like the well-oiled machine I've heard she already runs like." Comes from Lieutenant Commander Grey.

"Not a problem with that at all, change yes it can be hard but it can also be good at the same time, help open up other options and avenues." Of cause the two haven't realise Mike has finished on the phone and that he is sitting there listening to what Kate is saying.

"Excuse me sorry to have to do this to you both, and you Nick but I have to crash sail Hammersley, fleet command have requested you guys doe a supply relief drop off and help this small island here, they been hit by the cyclone that went around us over the last few days." Mike tells them what they have to do, how long they be away, while Kate has already sent a mass Text to the crew telling they been crashed sailed.

Thank god for a text already set up for crash sailing for the crew, they should all be there or on their way by the time we are finished here and down there. She thinks to herself taking in bits of information from the two.

"Kate can I have a word before you leave?" Mike asks her as the two go about getting ready to leave, Grey has no issues with knowing that these two were the CO and XO of Hammersley before Mike took the shore posting, though he has no idea that Mike demanded the shore posting.

"See you down there Lieutenant." Grey says before leaving Mike's office.

"Sorry to have to crash sail you guys, I know you wanted us to talk tonight, and no I didn't do this on purpose before you even go down that road."

"Well it seems the Navy yet again control everything that happens between us."

"Not everything, they can't control the feelings we have." He leaves at that knowing if he says anything more it could lead to worse things more so if someone hears them. He's hoping Kate gets the meaning behind what he has said.

"You're right there they don't control those."

The two sit there for a few minutes not saying anything, but at the same time feeling everything the other feels, and wonts to be able to feel if things where very different to they are now.

"Look after yourself out there, and once you're back hopefully we can get a chance to talk." He says to Kate, and this lets her know that it's time to leave, she sends him a look he knows all too well, one of worry and hope all at the same time.

PAST

"Wes, Trish how are you two today?"

"We're good, how was your trip?"

"Not too bad struck a few issues on the way there and back, we need to replace Ben."

"Why's that?"

"He's crap out there, not pulling his weight only able to do half the jobs he said he could do, the crews having to help him, even I've had to help him and leave Kate in the bridge. It's not fear on the rest of the crew."

"Well Mike he has to stay not my choice either but it's got to do with everything." Mike moans.

"Right he can do all the cooking for us then. He's not going back out on deck and helping the others it's a safety risk, and I'm refusing to put anyone at risk." Mike says to Wes.

The four talk some more about different things, more so the job they doing, so far no idea of when they be out and back in the real world, for both Mike and Kate the real world means no them, she is enjoying the time the two have been spending together, and the more personal times as well, the real world will be very different posting and most likely one on a patrol boat the other on a frigate. Of cause the two are so use to be touchy feely all the time that they hadn't even noticed that Mike's hand is on her knee and her hand on his, Wes and Trish have both noticed it and can't help but feel for them. They know the feeling all too well.

Later that day.

"This maybe it Kate." Mike says as the two get ready to head off on another trip on the boat, Wes has informed that this maybe the time that it all gets done, so be prepared for a bust to happen at some stage while out on the water.

"Can I be a pain ask for this to never end?" her sound voice being heard within their room, Mike goes over to her and pulls her into a hug.

"I know that this could have happened at any time, any stage but we've been doing this for eight months now, and I've…" She stops talking he knows what she means he feels the same as her.

"Katie honey everything I've said to you is true, my feelings for you are real. I'm in love with you. But we both know that once this is over we will be split up. I never thought I would fall in love while doing this job. It's been a fabulous time together. I just wish we weren't having to be separated once this is over."

"Me too."

"Maybe one day we will meet up again and maybe if things are in the right place maybe we can try this in the real world." He says to her before kissing her of course it lead to them doing more than just kissing, and as they just finish giving each other the most important pleasure, the love making that said so many things for each other to the other, they are interrupted by Trish and Wes entering their room.

"We were starting to wonder that something had happened you do know you're nearly 2 hours late."

"Um nope and sorry we will get moving ASAP for you once you leave the room." Mike says as him and Kate stay cuddled up with each other, this not being the first time the other two have found them with half their clothes on or non on at all.

"Right let's get going. And see what this trip brings for us." Mike says as the two quickly shower together before getting dressed and heading down with their bags to head off on what maybe their last trip together. Time will tell.

PRESENT TIME

Hammersley been out at sea for four weeks now, they spent a week helping out those effected by the cyclone, then they were sent out on, too patrol the Kingston's area as they had to return to port with injured crew members from a boarding.

Kate is getting pissed with it all, she is sure he is just delaying their talk, by keeping them out on the water, but then again she has to keep telling herself that this is not uncommon for them to be weeks out at sea with no stops back at home port. But she wants to get things sorted but it's hard, she not even been able to speak to Jim, she thinks he is ignoring her and she honestly can't blame him. As she is sitting down at the computers she decides to email him then at least she can say what she wonts and it's up to him what he decides to do.

Dear Jim

I've tried to ring you and talk to you but you never seem to be the one answering the phone, or I get your answer machine. I left several message for you to contact me but I take it from the silence treatment I'm getting from you that what is ever this was is over, well it is for me.

The day before the explosion happened I went and tried on a wedding dress and it was then that I had my answer to your question. I'm not sure if it is sad or at least good that I found out now but Jim I can't marry you. When I had that dress on and the lady was talking to me all I could think about was Mike which is really rude of me to be thinking of him and not you, the one I was with at the time, the one that had asked me to marry them was not the one I was thinking about at the time of putting the dress on instead of thinking about what you would think it be what would Mike think.

I honestly never wanted to do this via, email or over the phone. I wanted to tell you in person. Your grandmother's ring is back at your place, it's in your sock draw at the back. I put it there the last night we spent together at your place.

Am sorry to do this Jim to you again, seems Mike is the one I'm meant to be with no matter how hard I try he is what my heart wonts, I have no idea where he and I will end up. Who knows we may only ever be friends but I can't string you along. I can't string anyone along.

Thanks for the fabulous times we had together, I hope you find that special person.

Kate.

God that was hard as well as to easy to write, she thinks to herself as she sits there, reading over it several times before hitting the send button.

To Commander Mike Flynn

Just informing you that Captain Jim Roth relationship with myself Lieutenant Kate McGregor is over, so in the case of any emergencies he will not be needed to be contacted.

Thank you

Lieutenant Kate McGregor

She smiles and sends it, knowing that he will get the meaning of the email. Not that Jim would have been contacted by Navcom of anything happening to her, but it then informs Mike that she has finally broken it off with Jim, two months it's taken her to do it. Hopefully he's still interested in me, in their being an us? Only time will tell. She thinks to herself.