The next morning Kate awoke early as she moved to stretch her hand become in contact with the body of the man asleep next to her and a hand grabbed hers, rolling over to face him she smiled as he grinned
"Morning" he said softly brushing a piece of hair out of her face
"Your still here…" she replied as she shifted
"Where else would I be?" he asked as he moved forward placing a kiss against her lips
"I don't know I guess I just figured you'd gone back to yours" she said as he pulled away from the kiss
"I wouldn't want to be anywhere else then here" he answered as she rested her head against his chest
"There's still time to change your mind" she answered softly as he shifted to look at her
"I've been dreaming about this moment ever since our first time, I'm not going anywhere and I'm going to help you raise this little man" he said placing a hand on her stomach
"Even if he turns out to be Mike's?" she asked sadly
"Even then" he said shifting her to he was hovering above her
"It's just Mike didn't like the idea of it possibly being someone else's so…" she said looking up at him sadly
"Kate I love you and I'll love this baby whether he's mine or not" he said assuring her with a kiss against the lips as he deepened the kiss
"Really?" she asked as he pulled away from the kiss
"Yes, really" he replied as he lent down to kiss her his phone beeped sighing in frustration he moved from his place above her as he picked up his phone
"We've been crash sailed" he replied sadly
"How is that possible, they haven't replaced me as CO have they?" she asked sitting up as he passed his phone to her to read the message
'Hammersley Crash sailed, meet at docks in 2 hours to set sail as Mike Flynn appointed the New CO. Maxine White'
"Well that was fast…" Kate said sadly handing his phone back to her
"I got to say I'm not looking forward to Mike being my new CO" he replied as he moved off the bed
"You could always get a transfer, or a new posting" she said joking
"If I did would you come with me?" he asked hopeful
"You're serious?" she said moving to stand
"Why not? There's nothing keeping you here, I mean we could start a fresh new life together" he said grabbing her hands in his
"I don't know…"
"Just think about I won't push it but you know how I feel about you Kate" he said kissing the top of her head as he moved into the bathroom turning on the shower
"Yeah…" she said softly as he appeared in the doorway without a shirt on
"You coming?" he asked with a wide grin
"I think it's best if you shower alone you can't afford the distraction" she said knowing he had to be at Hammersley in 2 hours
"You're a worthy distraction" he said grinning as he pulled her towards the bathroom as he pulled her nighty off and picked her up before moving them under the cool water meeting her lips in a soft sensual kiss.
Half an hour later Kate was rubbing some creams on her burns as Dutchy made his way out of the bathroom is yesterday's clothes
"I have to head home get changed into my DPNU's" he said softly as he watched her slightly flinching as she rubbed the cream on her abdomen
"How long are you on Patrol for?" she asked placing the cream down as she reached for her shirt
"Not sure, could be days or weeks" he said softly as he sat on the bed
"I guess Mike will be happy to be back on board" she said pulling her shirt down as Dutchy grabbed the end of it and pulled her into front of him
"Kate…" he said softly
"I know… I just feel guilty" she said sadly
"He mucked you around for 5 years if anything he should be the one to feel guilty" he said as he wrapped his hands around her waist
"It was always so complicated with him but with you its…"
"Yeah?" he asked nervously
"It feels right like it was meant to be you all along" she said moving in as she wrapped her arms around him as she hugged him tightly
"Well I'm pretty fond of you too Kate" he said grinning as he rubbed her back in comfort
"Do you have time for some breakfast?" she asked pulling away from the hug
"I shouldn't I've got to get home, are you going to the docks?" he asked as she looked at him confused
"You know to tell the crew your leaving?" he continued
"I suppose I should explain, especially to bird… I mean she was distraught when I got hurt" she said softly
"I think she really looks up to you" he said smiling at her
"I don't know why?" Kate said shrugging her shoulders
"Well I mean you are pretty amazing" he answered moving off the bed as he kissed her head
"You think so?" she said grinning
"I know so and luckily I get to see it every day" he said smiling before continuing
"Right I'm off, I'll see you before we sail?" he asked hopeful
"Sure" she replied as he made his way out of the room she let out a sigh she didn't know she was holding in.
Making her way along the Gangway Kate made her way through the small corridor towards her 'old' cabin as she entered
"Ma'am?" Bird said as she spotted Kate packing up her things
"Jess hay" she said smiling
"It's good to see you up and about" she said leaning against the doorframe
"Yeah it's good to be out of the hospital" she said smiling as she picked up a photo of her and Mike
"Are you going somewhere?" Bird asked confused at the box of her things
"Um yeah… I actually resigned" Kate answered placing the photo of her and Mike back down
"What? Why!" Bird yelled
"Mike and I broke up and seeing as I've got to recover for 6 weeks with the broken rib there's no point in coming back" she shrugged as she went to pick up the box
"Here let me" Bird said grabbing the box as she moved into the corridor
"Thanks…" Kate said pulling a note out of her pocket as she placed it down on the desk before following Bird into the corridor
"So who's the new CO going to be?" she asked softly
"You're not getting one, Mike is coming back as CO any chance to be back out at sea" Kate answered as they exited out the side hatch onto the deck
"I'm sorry Ma'am…" bird said softly
"It's not your fault Jess, it just wasn't meant to be I know that now" she said as she smiled as Dutchy made his way over
"Chicken legs" he said smiling at Bird
"Dutchy…" she replied as she watched the interaction between him and Kate
"Can I have a minute alone with Kate?" he asked as Bird nodded
"Sure, um I'll just go and stock the medical supplies" she answered as she passed the box of Kates things to Dutchy
"Thanks Jess…" Kate said as Bird pulled her into a hug before making a quick and hiding behind the door listening in exit.
"Having second thoughts?" he asked softly
"About us no, but about the resigning from CO yes…" she replied as he placed the box down
"There's always time to change your mind" he answered
"There's no point, if I stay CO we can't be together and if leave I'll miss it but being with you will be worth it" she replied as he reached for her hand
"Dylan not here…"
"I don't care who sees Kate, I want everyone to know the woman who holds my heart" he said pulling her into a hug as Bird watched on through the little window
"Birdy?" 2Dads said softly as he moved next to her
"Shh!" she replied as she grabbed his arm
"What are you doing?" he asked looking out the window to see Kate and Dutchy in a passionate embrace
"Is that?" he quickly said as Bird nodded
"Well, Dutchy does have it in him it's about time I reckon" 2Dads said as Bird turned to look at him
"You knew about them?" she asked confused
"I had a feeling, you could tell the way he looks at her and the way she'd look at him" he said smirking
"2Dads! Why didn't you say anything?" she asked
"Not my place, the way I see it Mike was just a pawn stuck in the middle he didn't have Kates best interests at heart I mean it took the guy 5 years before he'd decided to leave" he replied as Bird looked at him confused
"Um…" she said softly
"What? He asked softly
"Nothing…" bird said as they turned to look back out the window as they spotted them pulling away as Dutchy moved towards the hatch
"Quick!" 2Dads yelled as he grabbed Birds arm as they made a quick and hasty exit in a hope to not get caught.
Making his way onto the ship he went straight to his cabin opening the door it instantly smelled like Kate placing hid bag down he spotted a photo and a note sitting on the desk as he reached for it Charge appeared in his doorway
"Sir, good to have you back" he said smiling
"Thanks Charge, good to be back" he replied as he placed the note in his pocket
"We're set to sail in about 30 minutes any idea where we're going?" he asked as Mike placed the photo face down
"Cyclone of the coast of a small town the Navy has been sent to help with the clean-up" he replied
"Very well.. Um how Kate?" he asked softly
"I don't know, we ended things turns out she's in love with someone else" he said shrugging his shoulders as he moved out of his cabin
"Who?" Charge asked confused
"Dutchy" Mike replied quickly as he made his way onto the bridge
"Hey Charge everything alright?" Dutchy asked as he spotted him in the corridor with a confused look on his face
"Um… yeah" he said making a quick exit down to the engine room.
"Sir everyone is accounted for on board" Dutchy said as he entered
"Very good" Mike answered bluntly
"Could I have a word before we sail?" he asked looking at Mike hopeful
"We have nothing to discuss Dutchy" Mike replied quickly
"Mike…"
"No!" he said as he looked around the bridge at the surprised faces
"I will be civil with you on board for our jobs, but other than that I want nothing to do with you" he replied as RO looked on in confusion
"Yes Sir…" Dutchy replied bluntly as he moved to the steering
"XO you have the ship" Mike answered quickly as he spotted Nikki make her way over
"Yes Sir, I have the bridge" she replied as he moved out of his chair
"Get ready to set sail" he said as he exited the bridge
"Special duty and cable party close up state three condition voyage" her voice echoed through the ship, standing on the deck as they pull out of port Mike pulled the note out of his pocket as he noticed the handwriting
'Mike, I know your mad, angry and confused but don't take this out of Dylan it's not his fault there's a chance this baby could still be yours and if so I want you apart of his life when he's born if you decide to not wanting anything to do with us then I know just how you feel about it all. I'll always love you in a way I can't love anyone else you were my first everything but I can't help it if I just don't feel that same love for you anymore I'm sorry but know this isn't how I wanted things to go, Kate Xx'
sighing heavily he closed the note as single tear fell down his cheek no matter how mad his was he knew part of him was always going to love Kate and all he wanted was for her to be happy.