Walking out in to the courtyard Jessica Bird looked around as slowly others walked out of the surrounding buildings desperate for a bit of sun considering for the last week it had mostly been raining none stop. After more than a year of waiting she had finally made it to HMAS Penguin for her medics training. She had only been on the course for 2 weeks and was enjoying everything
Eventually she found a empty bench under one of the huge trees on the base. Dropping her bag to the floor she sat on the seat leaning back against the table, she closed her eyes enjoying the feel of the warm sun on her face, it was a rare feeling she usually was in class before the sun rose and, in the library, researching when it set. she had a little free time before she had to be in her next class. Rummaging through her bag she pulled out a box and her water bottle. Yawning she stretched out it was tough and hard but she lived for the challenge it was bringing. Reaching back in to her bag she pulled out one of her textbooks she had to study.
The light suddenly became dimmer, looking up she could see a figure she half recognised but it was obscured by the sun. Shielding her eyes, she looked closer as the figure walked towards her. The book she had been holding fell to the floor as she ran towards the figure. Tripping over the strap of her bag she fell in to his arms
"steady on" the figure smiled catching her "nice to see your still falling at my feet chicken legs" he grinned some things hadn't changed she was still clumsy
Looking up in to his eyes "Dutchy!" she cried throwing her arms around his neck.
Staggering back slightly he wrapped his arm around her "hello Jessica" he whispered "i thought you may be missing this" he reached in to his pocket, pulling out the koala she had given him for luck
"you remembered" she gasped taking it from him
"of course, I remembered" he sighed as their hands met
She smiled, catching sight of his watch she looked at her own "I have to go, I'm late for class, but can we meet later I finish at 3" she smiled gathering her things together
"yeah sure" he half smiled
"see you later" she stood on tip-toe kissing him on the cheek before dashing towards the building
Sitting on the bench he watched as she walked through the doors in to the building. It had been a long 18 months and he wasn't sure how to tell her the truth of what happened.
2 hours later she walked back out in to the court yard the sun still shining. She walked over dropping her bag on the floor flopping down on the seat next to him. "what happened out there?" she asked "how come you have been radio silent?" she asked. She had not heard from him in almost a year. He had responded to her emails but then after a while those stopped coming so she gave up sending them assuming the worst.
"fancy grabbing a coffee?" he asked hoping it would defuse the situation and make it easier
"um okay" she replied standing up grabbing her bag. She could see he was trying to change the subject and didn't want to push in case she pushed him away for good
She watched as he stood, it took him a while and she could see the pain in his eyes and the sheer look of determination on his face. "are you okay?" she asked
"fine" he forced a smile "lets go then" he smiled.
Sitting down in the little coffee shop, she felt so relieved he was there with her. She had given up all hope. Dutchy walked over carrying a tray with their drinks. Grateful she was looking else where
"so, what did I miss" he asked sitting down.
"well 2 dads did a disappearing act in Singapore not long after you left actually, went on holiday one shore leave and never returned. Charge left not long after got a job in the mines somewhere west..."
"why doesn't that surprise me" he smiled "and is he still AWOL"
"as far as I know I haven't spoken to anyone in a few weeks" she shrugged "anyway Robert is still on the Hammersley and still his usual glass half empty self" she smiled
"well that's not a surprise," he asked Robert would never change and nor would they want him to
"Oh, and you will never guess what" she grinned "The boss and the X got married like 3 months after you left. It was so romantic we had literally got back off patrol, and he called everyone on the deck got down on one knee and proposed to her and now the X is pregnant due this month she said"
"wow" Dutchy half smiled "good for her" he knew how much Kate had loved Mike and how much it hurt when he was posted on Hammersley indefinitely. "and what about you?" he asked
"oh... Well" she was taken aback "well I am obviously on my medics' course, just started. Then hopefully back on to the patrol boats"
"good, don't fancy a exotic adventure on the high seas?" he smiled
"i don't know, I haven't really thought about it. The X said as it's the navy we have to go where we are sent and learn to like it" she shrugged. "how long you in Sydney for, where is your next posting"
"don't know yet still waiting for brass to tell me if I am staying on Newcastle or being shipped off elsewhere" he half smiled "anyway do you fancy Dinner? We can have a proper chat about everything." he smiled
"okay" she smiled looking down at her uniform. It was practical but not the most glamorous and not something she would want to where when going out for dinner.
"I didn't mean now. Go get changed or whatever and I will see you at 6" he smiled
"see you later then" she picked up her bag heading to the door.
Pulling open her wardrobe she tried to find something suitable to where that wouldn't look like she was desperate or trying too hard. Pulling out a simple maxi dress. She held it up against herself. It was the best she could do she felt that she was too short for maxi dresses. Stuffing her feet in a pair of sandles as she hated the heals she needed to make her taller, she grabbed his leather jacket she still had from his leaving party. she was just grabbing her bag when there was a knock at the door. Looking through the spyhole she saw Dutchy standing on the step.
Pulling the door open she smiled looking down she saw the bag he was holding. "i thought we were going out" she smiled pulling the door open wider allowing him to cross the threshold.
"yeah well I thought this would be better, I'll cook us something"
Trying not to laugh she covered her mouth "Dylan, not that this isn't lovely but you managed to burn a boiled egg when you were on Hammersley."
"yeah well that's where you come in" he grinned "i thought we could cook together"
Shaking her head, she pulled off the leather jacket and threw it over the back of the sofa. "together or me" she laughed grabbing a apron from the cupboard in the kitchen
"is that my jacket?" Dutchy asked picking it up.
"maybe" she smiled "oh all right it's the one you draped around my shoulders. I was half way home when I realised, I still had it and I was on watch the next day, I was going to give it to you before you left but you were already on the ship when I got to garden island"
She watched as he lay it back over the sofa "you were there?" he asked
"yeah, couldn't let you leave without someone to see you off. Kate organised a tour of penguin to see if I wanted to do my medics training, so I had some time free..."
"right" he closed the gap between them "i had no idea"
Looking up in to his eyes there was only a hairs breath between them. She could feel her heart beating rabidly In her chest, lost in his blue-green eyes. "what are we cooking?" she asked breaking the spell between them pulling away from
"Chinese chicken and black bean, with rice" he smiled pulling the things from the bag.
"right have you ever cooked Chinese?" she grinned pulling a pan from under the sink, "wait what is that smell" she turned to see he had pulled out several foil take-a-way "i thought we were cooking" she grinned
"yeah well as you said I can burn a boiled egg and I didn't think you would want a visit from the fire brigade"
"probably for the best" she grinned pulling two plates from the cupboard
so I have moved on to this point as I didn't want to have too much about the tour. anyway hope you enjoy and please leave a review and let me know what you think, it really helps xx