Still in Present:
It had just turned 06:00 when Hammersley pulled into port making his way through the Corridor Mike stopped at Kate's cabin knocking softly waiting for an answer this time
"Yeah" he heard as he softly opened the door
"Headed home?" he asked as he watched her pack
"Please don't tell me we need to go to NAVCOM?" she answered annoyed
"No, I was going to see if you wanted to go for a drink" he said smiling at her
"Mike, it's 06:00 in the morning what I will be doing is going home to bed" she said softly
"I didn't mean now, I meant tonight to celebrate" he answered as Nikki made her way towards him
"I told you I don't want to celebrate" she said as Nikki stopped next to Mike
"What aren't you celebrating?" she asked confused as she moved into the cabin
"The X's birthday" Mike answered as Nikki pulled Kate into a hug
"Oh happy birthday X!" she said squeezing her
"Yes thanks for that Sir" Kate said softly as Nikki pulled away from the hug
"Why wouldn't you want to celebrate?" Nikki asked confused
"I just don't want to... If you'll excuse me I'm heading home to go to bed" she said quickly exiting the cabin
"We're doing something special right?" Nikki asked as she looked at Mike
"Something casual" he answered unsure
"Drinks at the Pub?" Nav asked as she began packing her own bag
"Yeah say about 7, can you let the crew know?" he asked moving to walk towards his cabin
"Yes Sir" Nikki answered as he walked off.
Past 2 weeks from where we left off:
The two weeks had flown by and her scars have healed just enough to barley notice them unless you were right up close to her,
Jake had testified against his Ex Bosses and was put in Witness Protection for 6 months just until they judge reached a verdict to stop the drug ring and put the dealers in jail he told their Mum that he was just going away for a little holiday and he'd be back in no time that Kate was doing well and she needn't worry.
It was lunch time and the most part of the day Kate always hated, she didn't have to eat in the Canteen but eating alone in her room wasn't really her idea of fun. Making her way through the rows of tables with her tray Kate got stairs from all different directions
"Princess Perfect coming through!" one girl yelled as Kate moved past her placing her tray down on the table as she sat down
"Look at her she's so desperate to fit in" one girl said to her friend as Kate played with her food on her tray trying to ignore the comments and remarks
"Kate, a few of us were wondering" one woman turned to look at her
"What now Heather" Kate answered dropping her fork as she looked at her
"Do you ever have fun or are you just a lonely virgin?" she asked as another girl piped up
"Heather, she's sleeping with one of the teachers she can't be a virgin" she answered
"That's right! So who is it Kate; Who are you fucking to get your grades up?" she answered smirking
"It's called studying Heather look it up, but I guess someone who feels the need to make fun of others just wouldn't understand" Kate said looking back down at her tray
"No way! Kate McGregor actually has a voice" she answered as the group of girls all laughed
"What do you want Heather?" Kate answered annoyed
"I want you to admit to everyone that you don't belong here" she said smugly
"Are you done?" Kate answered bluntly not wanting to give in
"Not quite" she answered moving out of her seat and over to where Kate was sitting
"Why are you doing this? Are you jealous because I get it honestly" Kate answered looking up at her
"Your nothing to be jealous of Princess Perfect" Heather answered picking up Kates drink and pouring it over her head
"What the hell!" Kate answered arising from her chair as the drink dripped down her face
"Oh I'm sorry, did you want that?" Heather answered crossing her arms
"Your nothing but a bitch, you'll get what's coming to you" Kate answered angrily
"I'm so scared…" Heather said moving closer to her
"Your nothing but a Teacher's Pet, Kate you'll never amount to anything and you know that" she answered as Kate shoved her backwards Heather moved towards her shoving her back as Kate raised her arm his voice echoed throughout the whole Canteen
"Lieutenant McGregor!" he yelled as Kate turned around to face him with a surprised look on her face
"Outside now!" he answered motioning for her to follow him.
"What are you doing? You can't be starting fights!" he answered as they walked along the path outside
"You're serious?" she answered stopping to face him
"Are you telling me I didn't just see you about to hit your fellow student?" he asked facing her
"Have you looked at me? She poured a drink over me; are you witnessing the same thing that just happened" Kate answered angrily
"Kate you can't just go and hit someone who pisses you off" he said trying to calm her down
"Heather just loves the attention I don't care anymore it's been 2 months I can handle her" she answered angrily
"That's not what it looked like to me" he answered sadly
"I'm not having this discussion; I need to go get changed before my next class" she said as she started to walk towards the living quarters
"I'm not finished here, I'll have to give you a warning" he answered sadly as he followed her
"Are you for real?" she answered confused
"Kate you were seen by everyone fighting with another student" he answered bluntly as she stopped to face him
"Heather started it why should I be the one who gets punished" he answered crossing her arms
"If I don't handle this it could be classed as favouritism" he answered pulling her towards the side of the building that was quiet and out of view as a bunch of students walked past
"But it is favouritism…" Kate answered softly as he pinned her against the wall
"It's good to see you" he answered softly his hot breath against her cheek
"Really?" she answered smugly as she placed her hands against his chest
"Because you didn't call or text so…" she began saying as she was cut off by him placing his lips against hers
"Sorry about that, my Mum kind of has a rule of no phones unless it's an emergency" he answered pulling away from the kiss
"Sure if you say so" she answered as he pulled her into a hug
"I missed you…" he said into her hair as he hugged her tightly
"It has been kind of quite since you left" Kate answered as she pulled away from the hug
"I'll take that as a you missed me to then" he answered grinning at her
"Only a little" she said smirking
"So dinner my place tonight?" he asked hopeful
"I'd like that but let's skip dinner" she answered moving forward as she placed a soft kiss against his lips
"Hmm say about 6?" he asked as she pulled away from the kiss
"See you then" she answered smirking at him as she checked to see if the coast was clear before leaving towards the living quarters to get changed.
It was a little after 6 when Kate made her way up the steps to Mike's apartment as her phone started ringing, pulling her phone out from her purse she pressed the answer button confused at the unknown number that was lighting up the screen
"Kate McGregor hello?" she answered confused
"Kate? It's me…" a man's voice answered through the phone as she sat down on the step
"Jake?" she said softly
"How are you Kate?" he asked sadly
"I'm good, how's witness?" she asked
"Can't really go anywhere so you know boring as hell" he replied
"It's good to hear you voice" she answered tearing up
"Yeah, listen Kate somethings happened and you need to go home for a few days" he answered softly
"What's happened? Is everything okay?" she asked confused as Mike made his way out and sat next to her
"Mum rang me, she went to the doctors yesterday for some results and she…" he said before pausing
"What's going on Jake?" she asked sadly
"They found a lump Kate they think it's cancer" he replied as he could hear Kate break down in tears
"What!" she answered as Mike placed a comforting arm over her shoulder
"She's got to have surgery and someone needs to look after her for a couple of days while she recovers, I can't go for obvious reasons but I was hoping you could" he answered hopeful
"Yeah of course! I'll book a flight for the morning" she answered between the tears
"Let me know how it goes, love you Kate" he said softly
"Love you too" she replied as the line went dead.
"Is everything okay?" Mike asked concerned as she leant against his shoulder
"I have to go home for a few days, Mums going through a rough patch they think they might have found a cancerous lump" she said between the tears
"Kate I'm so sorry… Is there anything I can do?" he asked sadly
"Come with me?" she asked hopeful looking up at him
"Yeah of course" he answered kissing her forehead as he comforted her.
Present:
It had just turned 6:30pm when there was a loud knock at Kate's front door sighing heavily she pulled herself off the couch as she made her way towards the door pulling it open she moved back to the couch as he entered
"What no hello?" he answered entering her apartment as he shut the door
"Hello, what do you want?" Kate asked annoyed
"I've come to take you out for dinner, no hidden agenda just dinner for your birthday" he replied smiling at her
"Just dinner?" she answered turning to face him as she turned the T.V off
"Yes, and a few drinks" he said reassuring her
"What have you got up your sleeve Mike?" she asked confused
"Nothing I promise, now go get dressed" he answered as she shook her head before descending up the stairs to get changed.
It had just turned 7 when Mike and Kate made their way along the path towards the pub
"I can't see anything" Kate answered as they moved inside
"Must be closed for an event" Mike answered acting dumb as the light turned on and the whole crew jumped out
"Happy Birthday" they yelled as they set off crackers Mike grinned as Kate turned to look at him sadly
"I told you I didn't want the crew to know" she answered before moving past everyone and out onto the balcony
"Well that was a bit rude" Spider replied as he moved towards the bar, Mike went to follow her as Nikki placed a hand on his shoulder to stop him
"I'll talk to her" she answered as she made her way outside.