8 hours later Hammersley was steaming back to port after mayday call for a broken down boat the owner having gotten on Mike's last nerves after he kept hitting on Kate any chance he got
"So…" Nikki grinned slightly as Kate entered their cabin after putting her boarding gear away
"Yes?" Kate replied confused
"You and the Boss" she wiggled her eyebrows at her
"What?" Kate laughed a little as she grabbed her bag off the desk and shoved it into the cupboard
"Come on Kate, you were totally making out on the side deck before we sailed" she grinned
"Right…" she muttered
"So do I get the goss?" she asked moving to stand
"Well…"
"XO to the bridge, XO to the bridge" RO's voice echoed through the ship
"Sorry Nik, some other time" she smiled before exiting their cabin
"Kate McGregor you're not getting off that easily!" Nikki yelled down the hall as Kate disappeared onto the bridge
"Something wrong leader?" Nikki asked as 2Dads moved into view
"Ah no Ma'am" he replied quickly
"Good, carry on then" she huffed as she re-entered their cabin shutting the door.
"Ah X we're going to sit still for a little while for Charge to do some maintenance on the engines"
"Sure, and those of whom aren't on watch?" she asked standing near his chair
"Some much needed deck maintenance" he grinned
"In other words…"
"Fishing!" 2Dads called out as Kate rolled her eyes
"I'll give the order" Kate smiled as she picked up the intercom
"Here their XO speaking, we're putting up anchor for the next 2 hours; all those who aren't on watch enjoy some downtime that is all" she finished saying as she placed the radio back down there was a bunch of cheers and yells from the lower decks.
"Can I have a word?" Mike asked hopeful moving out of the Captain's chair
"Sure…" she replied a little hesitant
"Great, Swain you have the ship" Mike nodded as he discreetly brushed a hand against Kate's side when he moved past,
"So what's up?" she asked as they entered his cabin he pulled her towards him, resting his head into her neck he kissed it lightly as he drunk in her smell
"I just needed this" he sighed softly as she instinctively wrapped her arms around his neck into a hug
"We shouldn't be doing this" she whispered against his chest as he wrapped his arms around her waist
"I know but…" he replied against her neck
"You got jealous? About earlier" she grinned slightly as he moved his head back
"I…"
"There's a look you get" she shrugged
"Mr Jacobs was way out of line, touching you with his dirty hands" he shook his head
"He was just showing me his travel plan" she sighed
"Kate…"
"You don't need to worry" she tried assuring him
"It's not that, it's just… god this is a lot harder than I thought it would be" he sighed moving his head back against her neck
"It's only been 8 hours and our first Patrol back as something more, it'll get easier" she answered as he began kissing her neck softly
"How are you so optimistic?" he grinned against her skin
"Mmm" she shrugged as he continued to kiss at her neck
"I should get back to the bridge" she whispered running her hand along the back of his neck
"Yep…" he mumbled before continuing pushing her slightly against the door again she let out a slight whimper as he moved his hand under her shirt
"Mike…" she moaned when his hand moved to caress the underside of her breast grinning against her neck as he felt her begin to melt against his touch.
"Sir…" a knock at his door broke them apart 10 minutes later as Kate hid behind the door as she began doing up her DPNU shirt Mike pulled the door open slightly as he stood in the opening
"What is it, 2Dads?" he asked slightly annoyed holding a hand on the door
"Um I'm just looking for the X, Swain wants to run some drills and he needs her to take the bridge" he nodded as he looked at Mike confused, his hair all messy and his DPNU shirt discarded on his cabin floor
"Um… Tell him to go ahead she'll be there soon" he cleared his throat quickly shutting the door as he grinned at Kate they heard the footsteps descend down the hall again.
"We really need to set work boundaries" she answered now fixing up her hair from where he somehow pulled it out to slip his fingers through it
"Where's the fun in that" he laughed placing a hand on her waist as she playfully hit it off
"Stop" she nodded as he held his hands up in surrender
"Right sorry" he grinned as she moved towards the door handle
"You might want to fix that; it could get you into trouble" she laughed as he looked down he quickly covered his groin
"Not again!" he sighed making a quick escape into his bathroom she took it as her opportunity to leave his cabin.
"This drill Swain is it something you can add the CO too?" Kate grinned as she entered the bridge
"It could be" he laughed
"Great" she smiled as he moved out of the Captain's chair
"Have a go at you did he?"
"Something like that" she blushed slightly
"I'll go get him shall I?"
"Maybe give him 10, you know how paperwork can make him rather grumpy"
"Ai Ma'am, XO has the ship" he called as he exited the bridge
"I have the ship" she replied moving to sit in the Captain's chair.
"Hey where's the CO?" Nikki asked as she entered the bridge 20 minutes later
"Um take a look" Kate grinned pointing to the front deck
"Ha! No way" she laughed as she spotted Mike shirtless and doing push ups on the front deck with Swain and the younger sailors
"How'd he get roped into that?"
"Swain generously took him off our hands" Kate smirked as Nikki turned to face her
"Um Kate… Have you been up here the whole time?" she asked as Kate looked up from her folder
"What?" she laughed confused
"How about you go get cleaned up and I take the bridge for a while" Nikki nodded moving towards her
"Nikki I have work to do here, I'm on watch" Kate sighed as Nikki pulled her out of the Captain's chair
"I'll take the bridge, we don't need to junior sailors talking"
"What are you going on about?" she asked placing the folder down on the chair
"Um…"
"Nikki spit it out!" Kate yelled as Spider entered the bridge Nikki moved towards her as she whispered in her ear Kate looked at her shocked
"What!" she answered quickly moving her hand to cover her neck
"Ma'am the CO requests your presence on the boat deck" Spider piped up
"You can tell him to wait!" she replied quickly as Nikki tried to hide her smirk
"Ah…"
"It's fine Spider, just let the Boss know she's otherwise preoccupied" Nav nodded as he sighed before leaving the bridge
"I just…" Kate said moving towards the exit
"Yep" Nav replied as Kate quickly ran down the stairs she burst out laughing as see could hear Kate frantically running through the ship towards their cabin.
"Are you kidding me Flynn" Kate sighed as she frantically stood in her bathroom looking at the 4 small hickeys that resided on the left side of her neck, reaching for her makeup bag on the corner of the sink she rummaged through it for some foundation
"Seriously, I can't let the crew see me with this"
"I thought it was kind of romantic actually" she heard his laugh from behind her
"How are we meant to keep our relationship a secret if you're practically branding me" she replied turning to face him her breath hitched as he stood there shirtless his toned chest glistening with sweat
"Well" he shrugged
"What are you doing here?" she asked biting her bottom lip
"Well it is my ship Kate and when I requested you on the boat deck, I was confused when you didn't show up" he said moving towards her
"I mean…" she stepped back
"You're supposed to be on the deck with…" she stuttered as he stopped in front of her
"Yes?" he whispered
"I… We s…"
"Is something wrong X?" he smirked watching her eyes flicker to his chest before back up again
"You should get back to the…" she cleared her throat
"Can I give you some matching ones?" he grinned pointing to her neck
"Ah no, we can't really afford to have people talking"
"Sure…" he nodded as she avoided his desirably blue eyes
"Now get out of my cabin before Nikki walks in" she smirked
"Pull the collar up"
"What?"
"Pull your collar up to hide the marks" he replied moving towards her as he pulled at her DPNU collar
"I can't wear it like this it's…" she began saying as he quickly moved his hand and brushed it against her cheek
"I promise to steer clear of the neck from now on" he winked at her as he moved back
"You can't help yourself" she grinned
"It's my weakness, hearing you moan in my ear" he winked at her as she laughed he made his exit.
"How's it going?" Kate asked as she made her way towards Charge and 2Dads who were fishing off the back deck
"2Dads caught a monster before" Charge grinned
"Really?" she smirked
"Go on 2Dads, show her"
"Well I…"
"Oh come on 2Dads"
"Fine" he sighed lifting a small baby fish out of the bucket
"That's your monster?" Kate said trying to hold back her laugh
"It was a lot bigger in the water!" he grumbled throwing it back in the bucket
"I'm sure…" she giggled as 2Dads stomped off leaving her alone with Charge,
"Something on your mind X?" Charge said watching her curiously as she leant against the railing looking out at the calm waters
"I need to talk to someone Charge…" she said softly as he reeled his rod back in and leant it against the railing
"And you want to talk to me?" he replied a little surprised
"I can't talk to anyone else…"
"Well what about Nav, she's the divisional Officer?" he asked as she turned to look at him sadly
"Charge…" she sighed as he moved to stand next to her
"I'm listening" he assured her he watched her carefully.
"I've been seeing things…"
"Right?"
"When I died in the wardroom, I was pulled from my body I could see everyone and touch them but then this light appeared I was drawn to it; it was like I couldn't stop myself"
"Okay…"
"When I went to follow the light a figure appeared in my way stopping me he told me it wasn't my time, at least not yet" she answered as she continued to look out at the water
"And this figure, did you… I mean do you know him?" he asked moving a little closer as he watched her posture change
"Yeah… It was ET" she replied turning her head to look at him
"ET?" he said surprised
"Charge, you believe in conspiracy theories I just need to know I'm not going crazy" she sighed
"X I don't…"
"It's not the first time Charge he comes to me every time I close my eyes"
"And what exactly does he do or say?"
"He shows me a life where I don't exist, a life where I'm not even around to see my daughter grow up" she muttered
"I don't understand…"
"I think he's trying to warm me of something Andy" she answered tearing up he looked at her sadly
"What?"
"Cancer… I don't know what type or how but…"
"Have you seen the Doc?" he asked as she shook her head
"Then how do you know this is all real?" he shrugged
"Things like this they don't happen to me, I don't believe in ghosts or spirits but this… this feels so real!"
"Make an appointment" he said softly placing a hand on her back as she turned to face him he pulled her into a warm hug
"I'm scared" she cried against his chest as he rubbed a hand along her back
"I'll come with you if you want?"
"I can't ask you to do that…"
"You're not asking I'm offering" he sighed as he felt her grip tighten around him her muffled tears against his chest
"And what if it turns out to be nothing or it's just my mind playing tricks on me?"
"Then at least you'll know and it'll put your mind at ease"
"And if it is something?" she answered through the tears looking up at him
"Then let's pray whatever it is it's been caught in time" he nodded as she rested her head against his chest again looking out at the ocean as he rubbed her arm in comfort
"I'm sorry for crumbling like that" she sniffled as they continued to stand there hugging
"Don't even apologise Kate, it's fine" he assured her as he placed a kiss on her head of hair Mike watched on from the bridge in confusion.