Sorry for the delay - I have actually been writing a sequel to this story, one that delves deeper into Kate's work before joining The Hammersley so this story mightn't be too much longer!
Kate got into her car and drove back to her apartment; the journey home she didn't actually remember and probably should be concerned about but she kept replaying her earlier meetings with Mike over and over in her head. Each time she replayed a situation, their actions and responses changed. In one re-enactment Mike had walked through the Office door and Kate stood up and slapped him; in another Mike walked through the door, told Steve that there was no way Kate McGregor would be joining his crew before storming out; in the most recent and perhaps surreal version, Mike walked through the door and blurted out the truth to a stunned Steve Marshall before pulling Kate out of her chair and the both of them ran out of NAVCOM hand in hand.
Shaking her head Kate got out of her car and made her way to her front door, which, at the very moment she was reaching out with her keys to unlock it, swung open.
"Liz what are you doing here?" Kate was stunned to see her aunt standing in her doorway, holding Kate's washbag in one hand, multiple pairs of socks under one armpit and the door handle in the other hand.
"Your uncle Steve phoned, he said you could do with a bit of help this afternoon as he was crash sailing you with The Hammersley; honestly that husband of mine…" Liz and Steve had been married for longer than Kate had been alive; they were both delighted when she reached out to Steve about a transfer back to Cairns.
"Well aren't you coming in?" Liz stood studying Kate, there was something off but she couldn't put her finger on it "Katie is everything alright? Did something happen at NAVCOM that Steve didn't tell me about? Did somebody say something about you being his niece?" Liz was genuinely concerned that Kate worst fears had come true and somebody was calling her out for being related to Steve.
"No Liz, everything's fine I promise" Kate moved to enter her apartment and closed the door behind her, "I'm just thinking about everything I need to do. I haven't even unpacked my boxes never mind pack my away bag." Kate avoided eye contact with her aunt and walked down the corridor to her bedroom.
Not quite convinced she was being told the whole truth, Liz chose not to push the issue and began telling Kate what she had been up to since she arrived. "Well Katie, as I said Steve phoned me earlier and told me his plans so I've made a start picking through your boxes for the things I know you'll need, it's all piled on your bed. I'll make you a sandwich while you check through everything and grab the rest of what you want to bring. I'll pack while you grab a shower, I know it'll be the last decent shower you'll have before you return from patrol."
Kate turned to her aunt, a smile gracing her face "Thanks aunt Liz, what would I do without you?"
"Get moving my darling, you're running out of time" Liz left Kate alone in her bedroom to root out the remaining belongings she wanted to take with her to The Hammersley and busied herself in the kitchen. When she heard the bathroom door open and close again, she went to Kate's room and packed up her sea bag, bringing it to the front door with her when finished and returned to tidying through her niece's kitchen.
Kate showered and redressed into her uniform, taking extra time to ensure her appearance was immaculate; each wisp of hair was swept up in a regulation approved bun, shoes were pristine, service ribbons were straight. There was a time she had enjoyed getting ready to be with Mike, now she just felt she was shoring herself up for battle; 6 months in close quarters, how would she survive when she barely did last time. "Professionalism, I need to stay professional for both of our sakes" she muttered whilst taking in one last look of her reflection.
Kate left the bathroom and found her aunt in the kitchen unpacking one of her many boxes that had laid untouched since Kate had moved in a few days ago, "Liz I'll sort that all out when I get a chance"
Liz moved to the far counter and lifted the plate she had made up for Kate whilst she was getting ready, she reached it over to her "anything you want to tell me Katie? You've been mighty quiet since you got back from NAVCOM"
"No, honestly I'm fine; just getting a bit nervous, I've done short journeys on patrol boats when we've needed them for Intelligence work but never actually served-served on one." Kate knew why she was nervous and it wasn't just a fear of the unknown, being in the navy she what was expected of her whilst serving onboard; she had done enough mandatory ship postings in her career. What they didn't train you for was how to serve on a small boat with your ex-boyfriend who also happened to be the Commanding Officer.
Liz tried to accept what her niece was telling her, knowing there was some element of truth behind her words but knew she wasn't being told the entire story.
Finishing up her food Kate glanced at her wall clock "Oh no look at the time, I've really got to go"
"Well you're packed up, bag's by the door ready whenever you are"
Pleasantly surprised, Kate hugged her aunt "Liz! You really didn't have to do that"
"Ah the joys of being a navy wife, I know what needs done and when it needs done. I'll drop you off at the port and then I'll come back and clean up these few dishes" Liz had been through the routine so many times over the years with Steve that she could probably write a How To Guide for Navy spouses.
"No Liz, I'll give them a rinse and they can wait until I get back from patrol; we shouldn't be too long hopefully and then I can finally get started with unpacking everything. Anyway I don't need a lift, I can grab a taxi there". Kate got up and rinsed the dishes, leaving them on the draining board to deal with until her return.
"Nope Uncle Steve's orders, I'm to deliver you to port and wave you off to sea! Something about wanting to make sure the old girl actually makes it away, hopefully he meant the ship and not you! Ok then, lets get going Katie – your new posting begins now!" Liz steered Kate out of the kitchen and towards the front door.
Liz and Kate drove to the port, chatting amiably about plans for when The Hammersley made it back – Liz making Kate promise that dinner the first night back would be at the Marshalls.
As The Hammersley came into view Kate's stomach began swirling, the feeling of dread invading her every thought – '6 months, 6 months, 6 months, 6 months' became her internal mantra. Liz pulled up close to Hammersley's gangway and stopped the engine, laughing "last chance for me to drive away Katie, I'll never let them take you alive if you want to stay with me!"
Laughing, albeit a forced laugh, Kate started to get out of the car "Nah, gotta get this over with! Six months and you can pick me up and drive me away into the sunset, or as far as I can get before getting a now posting!"
Kate got round to the boot of the car and retrieved her sea bag, Liz by this stage had gotten out of the car and walked round to her. The two ladies embraced with Liz kissing Kate on the cheek, "promise me you'll email as soon as you can, do all the official navy nonsense with your uncle Steve you know he thrives on ship running statistics but I want the juicy stuff. Who's pranking who, what happens in foreign ports and who Captain Flynn is sleeping with this time!"
Kate didn't realise that Mike and Nikki had observed the car pulling up on the wharf and were observing her arrival from the bridge of the ship. Mike had a vague notion he recognised the older lady who dropped Kate off, but he couldn't quite place her.
"What? What are you talking about?" Kate was thrown by the comment about Mike.
Unaware of her nieces discomfort, Liz rattled on with her overview of The Hammersley's Commanding Officer "Oh you'll not know about Mike's reputation, I've only meet him a few times but I think he's a good man, navy man through and through, reminds me of your uncle Steve in some ways. But maybe more of a cowboy than even Steve feels comfortable with at times, the messes that man has landed himself in on patrol…but he always gets the results thou from what I hear muttered, usually at 3am when NAVCOM phones about The Hammersley. Scuttlebutt is that he's a bit of a ladies man and it doesn't seem like he's in any hurry to settle himself down. Hopefully you'll last longer than his previous Executive Officers, he does seem to get through them at a scary rate – bit like his women I suppose!" Liz's mind was running a mile a minute planning what she needed to do before Kate's return from her first patrol and was completely oblivious to the internal war being raged in her nieces mind "I really must talk to Steve about organising another BBQ for any docked patrol boats senior officers, we haven't had one in ages. Obviously it will be a BBQ when The Hammersley is docked, otherwise it would defeat the purpose!"
Subtly shaking her head, absorbing the new information she had been given Kate began convincing herself that she was stupid for having been so invested in her relationship with Mike at the time. When he left her Kate had begun thinking she had been nothing more than a notch on his bedpost, that Mike Flynn truly was a girl in every port type of guy, and she had fallen for it hook, line and sinker now she was having it confirmed for her. The worst of it was she had believed him, had fallen for his manipulations and smooth words; she had been flattered by his attention and for what, he played her in the worst way. Steve had had a frank conversation with her when she declared her intentions of joining the navy, warning her about situations such as this but Mike Flynn…what a player he was.
A new sense of dread began overtaking Kate all over again, what if Mike had told everybody about her, she knew the type – the guy who laughed with his mates on shore leave, swapped stories with them. How was she supposed to foster any semblance of a working relationship with a crew who probably all thought she was an easy target?
"I've got to go, thanks for the lift aunt Liz, I'll email soon." Kate pulled her bag closer to her shoulder and turned, drinking in her first real look at The Hammersley examining it from bow to stern before walking up to the gangway.
Mike had made it down to the other end of the gangway to meet his new Executive Officer, saluting smartly Kate announced herself "Lieutenant McGregor reporting for duty as ordered Sir"
Mike saluted back "Lt McGregor welcome aboard The Hammersley" walking quickly, he led her through the ship, "this is your cabin, you'll be sharing with our ship's navigator Lt Caetano. If you want to drop off your sea bag I'll give you a brief tour before introducing you to the Senior Sailors and then give you an overview of your duties."
Kate dropped her bag and quickly followed Mike, he had already invaded what personal space she would be afforded by being in her cabin and she needed to get through the rest of her orientation as quickly as possible.