"We should get back…" Kate answered as Mike pulled away from the kiss, they'd been gone for 5 minutes now and soon Nikki or Logan would be coming to look for them
"Yeah…" he said brushing the hair out of her face
"What going on here Mike? We fight like an old married couple and then avoid each other like the plague" she said sadly
"I don't know, I guess it's just we've been through so much these past 5 years we're trying to catch up" Mike replied softly
"Yeah I guess but just so you know…" Kate began saying
"Yes?" he asked confused
"I told Logan last night, he knows you're his Dad" she said softly
"And how does he feel about that?" Mike asked hopeful
"He wants to get to know you" she said grinning
"I'd be honoured to get to know him" Mike said smiling at her
"We should…",
"Get back yeah I know" Mike replied brushing her cheek softly as he made a quick exit towards the playground sighing heavily Kate followed a few moments later but made her way towards the picnic table to pack up the uneaten food.
"Hey" Nikki said softly sitting across from her
"What's up?" Kate asked putting cling wrap over the food
"Is everything okay?" Nikki asked concerned
"Yeah why wouldn't it be?" Kate asked as she nervously continued packing up
"Kate…" Nikki said placing her hand on Kates to stop her
"Talk to me" she said patting the spot next to her
"I just miss him" Kate said sitting next to Nikki as they looked at Logan who was playing with Mike
"Who Logan or the Boss" Nikki said as a joke, Kate turning to look at her sadly
"You and the Boss have history don't you?" Nikki asked watching Kates expression
"Mike is Logan's Father" Kate replied looking down at her shoes
"What!" Nikki said loudly as Mike turned to look at them
"Shh" Kate said facing her
"But Logan is 5 that means…" she said trying to work things out
"We had a relationship at ADFA it was only a few months but…",
"You were in love?" Nikki asked softly
"Yeah, I thought I'd been in love before but something with Mike it was different, when he left it broke me it was 3 months after he left when I found out I was Pregnant" Kate said sadly
"Does Mike know?" Nikki asked looking over at Mike who was holding Logan up as he flew him around like a plane
"He's known since Logan was born, apparently my brother told him" she said grinning as she watched Mike with Logan
"What are you going too?" Nikki asked sadly
"I'm still in love with him Nikki… How am I supposed to ignore that when I work with him every single day in such close quarters" she answered softly
"I know how you feel" she replied
"You and ET?" Kate said grinning at her
"How did you know?" she asked confused
"It's obvious, how much you care for each other but it's also obvious you'd never do anything on the ship" Kate said assuring her
"Same goes for you and the Boss" Nikki said nudging her slightly
"Yeah…" Kate said softly
"How did we both end up falling Navy men?" Nikki said grinning as she rested her head on Kates shoulder
"it's inevitable, Navy girls always fall for Navy guys" Kate said resting her head against Nikki's.
Hours later Kate and Mike were walking along the beach as Nikki took Logan to get some ice cream
"What were you an Nav talking about earlier?" Mike asked as they walked along the sand
"Oh nothing just about girly things" Kate said softly
"Right…" Mike said as they walked along in silence
"Logan seems to be warming up to you" Kate said breaking the silence
"He's a good kid" Mike said as his hand brushed against Kates
"Mum wants him to come live with me, she's struggling to look after an energetic 5 year old" Kate said as they continued to walk hands brushing against each other as they moved
"It could be a good thing" Mike said stopping in his tracks
"How so?" she asked stopping to face him
"It'll be good to get to know him" he said reaching for her hand
"A bonus is I'll get to see his Mother even more" he said grinning at her as they continued to walk this time hand in hand.
"Yeah…" Kate said softly
"I was thinking; I'd love to take you out on a date a bit of a get to know each other again" Mike said hopeful
"I don't know…" she said softly looking at someone who was watching from afar
"Kate?" Mike asked
"Um I…" Kate said as the man began approaching them
"Katie?" he asked stopping in front of them
"Katie it is you, it's been what…",
"19 years" Kate answered sadly
"That long?" he asked
"Yes Dad, that long…" Kate replied as Mike looked on surprised
"You look good" he replied softly
"I have to go…" Kate said letting go of Mikes hand as she ran up the beach
"Katie!" the man called out as Mike looked on in confusion as he made his way after Kate leaving the man standing there on the beach.
"Kate…" Mike yelled after her
"Kate!" he yelled again as he ran in front of her
"What?" she asked angrily
"What was the about?" he asked sadly
"Nothing just someone I never had the privilege of knowing…" she replied
"But he's your Dad?" he said confused
"He left when I was five, I don't know him" she said angrily
"Kate…" he said worried as she moved forward
"I'm fine, can we just go?" she asked sadly
"Ok… I'll let Nikki know" he replied as Kate nodded he wrapped an arm over her shoulder as they walked back towards the park.
Later that night Kate was relaxing on the couch as the movie they were watching finished her Mum had gone back home for a few days to pack up Logan's things for him to move in with Kate something she had been dreading but was also looking forward to having her baby boy around permanently.
"Alright time for bed" Kate said shifting as she turned the TV off
"Oh Mum! One more please?" Logan asked hopeful from his spot next to Mike
"No it's already late, come on" she said moving off the couch
"Can Dad put me to bed?" he asked hopeful as Kate looked at Mike surprised who shrugged his shoulder
"Go on, I'll do the dishes" Kate said as Logan pulled Mike off the couch as Kate gathered up all the dishes and made her way into the kitchen.
20 minutes later Mike made his way down the hall seeing Kate standing in the kitchen near the sink on her phone
"Sure, I suppose I can do that say about 11?" she said through the phone not hearing Mike make his way over
"He demanded I read him at least 2 books before he went to sleep" Mike said wrapping his arms around Kate from behind as she placed her phone down
"Yeah…" Kate said softly as she felt his grip loosen
"Is everything okay?" he asked moving back as she turned around to face him
"That was Stan…" she said softly
"Your Dad?" he asked confused
"He wants to meet me tomorrow…",
"How did he get your number?" Mike asked softly
"Apparently he has a friend at NAVCOM, told them I was his daughter and asked for my number" she said grabbing her phone as she made her way into the lounge
"Does he know about Logan?" Mike asked following her
"Nope, doesn't even know about Jake" she answered dropping herself on the couch
"How could you keep that from him?" Mike asked looking down at her over the back of the couch
"I didn't, he left never bothered to check in with us, he got re-married I've got 2 younger half-brothers and a sister" Kate said sadly
"Have you met them?" he asked confused as she shook her head
"I haven't heard or seen my Father in 19 years" she said as Mike moved around the couch lifting her head as he sat down so she could rest against his lap
"I'm sorry Kate…" he said brushing his hands through her hair as he looked down at her.
"It's fine…" she said as she began tear up
"Kate…" he said sadly
"I just wish Jake was here to help me, he was my biggest support with everything and Logan how am I supposed to be a good Mother but do my job by being out at sea?" she said between the tears
"You've done great with raising Logan, he may not have lived with you but that little boy loves you a hell of a lot" he said brushing the tears off her cheek
"You weren't there Mike, you didn't see how much I struggled everyday" she said softly sniffling
"I'm here now" he said hopeful
"Are you? I mean we both know we could never have a relationship with us working on the same boat it's against every rule" she said in response.
"We'll make it work but first… there's something important I need to tell you" he said as Kate shifted to sit next to him
"What?" she asked confused
"6 months before you joined Hammersley I saw Jake" Mike answered softly
"You saw him? Where?" she said looking at him sadly
"We took him on board as a passenger he was seen standing over a dead body covered in blood",
"You arrested him?" she asked more confused
"We turned him over to the Federal Police" Mike said as he reached for Kate
"You're the reason my brother is dead?" she said moving away from him
"It's not like that Kate, he was seen covered in the victim's blood how does that make him innocent",
"It's Jake he would never hurt a fly!" she yelled angrily
"I was just doing my job" he said bluntly
"You knew Jake, you knew how much I loved him it's your fault he's dead, it's my fault for intrusting myself in you" she said moving off the couch
"I told him Kate, he had to tell the truth it was best for everyone if he did" he said sitting forward
"You can't be serious right now, Jake was innocent I second guessed myself in believing him and that's why he's dead, I met him he'd been on the run I called the cops" she said pacing
"It's not your fault Kate he made his choice" Mike said trying to reassure her
"They shot him dead, THEY SHOT MY BROTHER DEAD RIGHT IN FRONT OF ME!!" Kate yelled loudly
"You were doing what was best for him" Mike said moving off the couch
"Did you ever once think about what that could do to me when you turned him in?" Kate said as she began to cry
"Of course I did, I always thought about you Kate I love you I was doing the right thing by the law" he said moving towards her
"You need to leave…" she said moving back
"Kate don't be like that, it was my job you know that!" he said sadly
"I can't deal with this now, you ultimately caused the death of my brother",
"No Kate, you called the cops I was just following the rules" he said before moving towards her again
"Kate I'm sorry I didn't mean it like that" he continued placing his hand against her arm
"Get out of my house" Kate replied pushing him away
"Kate…" he said sadly
"Get out!" she yelled
"We can work this out" he said hopeful tearing up
"No… I will never forgive myself for trusting you, this is over" she said holding her hands up
"Kate please…" Mike said between the tears
"LEAVE!!" she yelled pointing to the door
"I love you, I won't give up…" he said moving towards the door exiting her apartment he stood on the other side of the door as he heard Kate break down in tears yelling Jakes name.
Logan made his way down the hall at hearing his Mother yelling and crying loudly
"Mummy?" he asked sadly as he saw her crying on the floor leaning against the wall
"Hey baby, what are you doing up?" she asked trying to compose herself
"Are you okay?" he asked making his way over with his teddy Nikki gave him in his hand
"I'm okay…" Kate said wiping her cheeks as Logan stopped in front of her
"Here" he said passing her the teddy
"What's this for?" she asked taking the bear
"For hugs" he replied smiling at her
"I'd prefer yours" she said placing the bear next to her as Logan moved forward and wrapped his arms around Kate as he sat in her lap
"I love you Mummy" he said softly as he hugged her tightly
"I love you too more than you'll know" Kate said as she began to cry softly as to not let Logan hear her.