Rolling over Kate was awoken by a loud knock at her front door sighing she moved to sit up as she reached for her phone she picked it up as she made her way downstairs
"I said after nine, not before" she answered pulling the door back as Mike entered
"Well I figured one minute before wouldn't be pushing it" he grinned
"Technically it's a whole 2 hours before" she replied holding her phone up that read 7:00
"Coffee, extra shot 2 sugars" he smiled holding a takeaway cup out for her
"Thanks" she replied taking it as she quickly took a big sip of it she followed him towards the kitchen she placed her phone down on the small table near the door
"Cute Pyjamas" he grinned as he took a quick look at her before he stopped next to the bench Kate stopped in front of him in a pair of duck pyjama pants and a bright red singlet
"We're on leave, these are my comfy pair" she smiled slightly as he pulled out a croissant from the paper bag he was carrying
"Honestly I'd figured you were more for the sleeping in the nude I mean if I remember back to ADFA" he grinned as held out the croissant for her
"Really?" she said rolling her eyes at him
"So any plans for the day?" he asked changing the subject as she took the croissant and sat down at the bench
"Yes after you leave, I'm going back to bed" she smirked as he moved to sit next to her
"That hurts Kate, I mean if you don't want my company that's fine" he nudged her arm slightly
"You woke me up at 7am on a Saturday after getting home at 1am" she shrugged with a smiled as he just shook his head they dug into their food.
"Thanks for brekkie" she answered 20 minutes later moving from her chair as she opened the cupboard under the sink for the bin
"Not a problem" he smiled as he moved next to her she closed the cupboard as he stood there staring at her
"I can hear your brain doing overtime would you just ask already" she smiled
"Umm…"
"Just spit it out…" she said turning to face him as he grabbed her head like the night before he kissed her passionately, her hands instinctively moved to wrap around his neck he gripped her waist pinning her against the bench knocking her takeaway mug of coffee on the floor the small thud and cold coffee splashing against her foot tearing them apart
"Sorry…" he whispered as they looked down at the cup his hand still resting against her waist
"It's fine" she smiled softly as she looked up at him
"Kate…"
"I should go get dressed…" she replied just as quickly he stepped back his hand dropping off her waist
"Sure" he cleared his throat as he moved aside to let her pass.
Standing in the walk in robe she stared at the wall not hearing him come up behind her until she felt a hand on her back
"Kate I…" he began saying as he moved his hand up and along her shoulder he pushed her strap of her singlet down he moved his head forward as he began placing light feather kisses along her now bare shoulder he could hear her breathe hitching at each time his lips touched her skin
"I almost died yesterday Mike and all I…" she whispered as she turned around her lips were met with his in a soft kiss
"Tell me Kate…" he replied his lips parting from hers as her hand moved to rest against his cheek she sighed softly as she moved back to look at him
"All I could think about was you…"
"Kate…" he mumbled running his hands along her waist
"I…" she swallowed nervously
"I never stopped loving you Mike" she finally said as she looked deep into his eyes he ran his hand under the bottom of her singlet as he pulled it off throwing it in the corner
"It was always going to be you Kate" he smiled meeting her lips in a fiery kiss he moved to pick her up in his arms as he carried her towards the bed she smiled against his lips as they laid down he hovered above her moving towards her neck her kissed it softly
"I love you Kate…" he whispered in her ear before he moved back towards her lips.
"Mike Flynn" his voice echoed through the room as she felt the bed shift hours later
"Okay… I'll let them know" he replied pulling on his pants he turned back to face her sleeping form as his eyes were met with a pair of intense green ones
"You doing a runner?" she joked as she laid on her stomach looking at him
"Hammersley's been crash sailed…" he sighed as he moved to sit on the bed
"I thought we were out for repairs"
"We've been tasked to provide security for HMAS Newcastle for some award ceremony" he sighed as he reached a hand over and brushed a piece of hair behind her ear
"And then it's back to pretending there's nothing more between us other than X and CO" she sighed
"Kate…"
"I get it, work comes first" she replied as he moved his head down and placed a soft kiss against her lips
"We do need to talk…" he said softly as he moved back
"I know but…"
"After Patrol" he nodded as she shifted to sit up pulling the sheet with her
"How long till we sail?"
"3 hours" he smiled moving off the bed as she moved towards the walk in robe
"I guess I'll see you on board then, Sir…" she teased him slightly as he moved towards her grabbing his shirt off the floor
"I guess so" he smiled stopping in front of her he snaked an arm around her waist as she looked up at him
"The Navy has no sense of timing" she sighed
"Absolutely not" he replied moving his head down placing a breathtaking kiss against her lips
"You… should go…" she only just managed as he continued to kiss her
"Mm, I should…" he grinned back as he dropped his shirt pulling her closer her grip loosened on the sheet she had wrapped around her
"Mike…"
"Mmm" he grinned against her lips as he maneuvered them back towards the bed.
"Are we really being crash sailed after yesterday's events?" Swain sighed as he sat at the controls 4 hours later Hammersley steaming to HMAS Newcastle for security
"Take it up with the new Commander at NAVCOM Swain" Kate shrugged from her place in the Captain's chair
"What? You mean Marshal's gone?" he said confused
"Early retirement, we are now in the trusty hands of Commander Maxine White" Kate replied
"Knocker!" Everyone on the bridge laughed
"Okay everyone, knock it off!" Mike smirked as he stood next to Kate
"Really?" she grinned at him as she shifted out of the Captain's chair
"Too much?" he nudged her arm slightly
"You're try at a joke? Pretty weak"
"Ouch" he playfully placed his hand against his heart as he moved to take her seat
"CO has the ship!" Kate called as she made her way down the stairs towards the Galley.
"X!" Bomber grinned as she entered the Galley
"I'm just here to grab a brew"
"How are you feeling?"
"Um… Fine" she said confused as she poured herself a fresh brew and grabbed a mug for Mike
"And you're breathing? Swain said he'd put you on oxygen before you left"
"Yeah… It's fine, was kind of hoping we'd have more time off to be able to recuperate though" she shrugged
"Well I thought we had a week of shore leave" Bomber replied as she grabbed her self a mug
"What is this 20 questions?" she asked
"I just wanted to make sure you were okay, I mean you were at the height of all the action yesterday and inhaled a lot of smoke" she shrugged as Kate picked up the two mugs
"Bomber I am fine and if I wasn't…"
"You wouldn't mention it anyway" she grinned
"Exactly!" she laughed before making her way out of the galley and back to the bridge.
"So when does the new Buffer arrive?" Kate asked Mike as she passed him a mug
"Ah I'm not sure Maxine didn't mention" he shrugged taking a sip of his drink
"And Pete? Is he liking the new posting Swain?" she asked moving in between the two seats
"He hasn't really mentioned it X, except he does miss the family tie here on Hammersley" he smiled
"Hours until we reach Newcastle X?" Mike piped up changing the subject not wanting to show just how must he missed Pete,
"Ahh…" she said passing Swaine her brew before she moved towards the Navigators system
"20 minutes Sir, just in time for the medal ceremony" she smiled at him
"Great" he nodded at her as Swaine took a drink from her brew before she moved back towards him taking it she took a sip herself before she started coughing
"Are you okay?" Mike asked quickly moving from the Captain's chair placing his brew on the floor
"I'm fine" she said through the coughs into her sleeve
"Swain" Mike said concerned as the coughing didn't stop
"Get her to the wardroom, I'll check her over" he nodded as Mike grabbed Kate's mug off her and passed it to Swain before walking Kate to the wardroom a hand resting on her back as she continued to cough slightly.
"Here…" Mike said softly as he pulled the chair out for her to sit down in the wardroom
"I'm fine" she replied clearing her throat as she tried to compose herself he knelt in front of her
"Kate…" he placed a hand on her leg
"It's just a cough" she whispered
"You inhaled a lot of smoke it could be something more serious than you want to believe"
"Mike I love you but… you need to stop fussing" she said placing a hand on his cheek not knowing Swain was standing in the hall listening
"Kate…"
"Let's check you out" Swain interrupted entering the room as Mike quickly moved to stand
"Swain I'm fine it's just a cough" she shrugged as she moved to stand
"I'll be the judge of that" he pushed her shoulder back down into the chair
"Any headaches or weakness?" he asked placing the stethoscope against her back
"I have a slight headache…" she said nervously as Mike watched on concerned
"Any burning of the throat or the mouth?" he replied as she breathed deeply she shook her head
"I just need to go under the shirt" he said as she lifted her shirt slightly he placed the stethoscope against her chest
"Deep breathe" he continued as she breathed in and out he looked at her concerned
"Any chest pain?"
"Slightly, a bit of shortness of breath too" she shrugged as he continued to listen to her chest
"Swain?" she asked nervously
"There's some sort of congestion in the chest when you cough is there any mucus or blood?" he replied moving back as she pulled her shirt back down
"It's more of a cough then anything"
"Hmm…"
"What is it?" Mike asked stepping forward
"Well I mean…"
"Swain?" Mike said nervously
"I'm not a doctor but it could be just really bad smoke inhalation or the start of pneumonia" he shrugged
"Pneumonia?" Kate asked confused
"You're showing a few of the symptoms…"
"But how?" Mike butted in
"Well the crude oil it was a chemical as such and any sort of particles or even just the gas from the burning oil it can enter the respiratory system and cause damage"
"I knew you should have had the chest x-ray" Mike sighed
"I feel fine…" she coughed slightly
"Really?" Mike gave her an annoyed look as she coughed into her sleeve she moved back slightly as Swaine spotted a small patch of fresh blood
"Kate! You said there was no blood or mucus" he sighed as she pulled her arm back suddenly feeling like a little kid getting told off
"I want to put you on some oxygen, and I'll give the on shore quack a call about starting you on antibiotics" Swaine sighed
"Fine…" she said annoyed as Swaine set up the oxygen Mike looked at her sadly and full of concern.