Chapter 23

When the ship returned to Sydney after being away for six months, the crew was looking forward to some long-awaited shore leave. The one not looking forth it was Mike, Kate was away on patrol. But he went to her place until his orders arrived.

He observed how one by one the members of the crew embraced their loved ones and smiled when he saw his commander being welcomed by his seven-month pregnant wife.

Walking off the bridge and to his cabin, he picked up his back and looking around his room and finally walked out of the ship.

Once he was on the wharf, he started walking towards the exit until someone grabbed his arms and turned around when he felt someone lips on his. He pulled back in shock to see who it was and dropped his bags, hugging and kissed her back. They were cheers from the crowd, and they broke the kiss smiling.

"Kate, what are you doing here?"

"Welcome home, sailor," She said smiling

"Thanks! What about your patrol?"

"We returned five hours ago. Towed back," she grinned. "There was a fire in the engine room, most of the wires were cooked, so I got a week off."

"A week?"

"Yes, so what do you say? Want to come home with me, sailor?" Mike grinned.

"Oh, yes!" He picked his bags with one hand and held on to hers with the other one.

"Oh! By the way, Kate," he added while she turned to him.

"Yes?"

"My back needs cleaning," he grinned.

"I can help you with that," she chuckled back. They talk as they walk towards the security gates and towards the car park where Kate car is.

"Is this the one?" Mike asked as Kate turn into under ground car park

"Yes. You are going to love the bathroom!" Kate park her car then they both got out with Mike grabbing his sea bag and case. Then follow Kate after she clock the doors on her car.

"Oh, you think so?"

"Yes." They walked into the elevators. Kate pushed the number eight, and the elevator started moving.

"Kate? How can you afford a condo on sub-lieutenant wage?"

"Dad inheritances."

"Oh," Kate turned to him and smiled. Then she stepped forth and kissed him.

"Yes, oh. And I got a new bed," Mike grinned.

"A new bed, huh? I should test to see how comfortable is it," He flicked his eyebrows and kissed her back.

Once they were on her floor, she walked along the corridor until she stopped and unlocked one door. She walked inside with Mike behind her. She deactivated the alarm and walked to the kitchen.

"Nice place," Mike said as he saw how big the kitchen and dining area was.

"Thanks! Do you want a brew?"

"No thanks. Care to show me around?"

"Sure," Mike followed Kate around when they walked outside for him to see the view.

"Great view."

"I know."

They stepped back inside closing and locking the sliding door. Kate showed him the four bedrooms and the on suite between them the extra bathroom and laundry room.

"I saved the best for last," she said opening the double doors and walking into her bedroom with Mike next to her.

"Wow! I love it!" He walked to the bed and seating on it; he bounced a little.

"Not too bad," he said bending over and removing his shoes.

While he was doing that, Kate walked to the bathroom and opened the shower door and turn the water on then she removed her clothes and step into the shower closing the door behind her. He grinned and removing his clothes he walked to the bathroom naked.

He stepped inside, noticing it. It had a spa bath, his and her basin, toilet and a large walk-in shower which could fit more than two people in it. He smiled when he saw Kate inside, looking at him.

"You did say your back needs washing," she said smiling at him while opening the door.

Mike walked into the shower closing the door behind him, wrapping his arms around her waist as she wrapped hers around his neck.

"Yes, I did."

He kissed her. And they spent an hour in her shower kissing and making love. After that, they spent the rest of the day in bed talking and making passionate love. Afterward, while Kate was snuggling up to Mike's side, he looked down at her.

"Bed's comfortable," Kate laughed then she kissed him while rolling on top of him before breaking the kiss.

"Told ya so," she said grinning.

The next Morning Mike was called into Sydney's NAVCOM. So, he and Kate planned on meeting at a cafe for lunch.

"How's your wife, sir?" Mike asked when the commander walked him out of NAVCOM.

"Good," He said smiling

"You look tired, sir."

"I am, my wife kept me awake most of the night," He said smiling

"Enjoy your leave, sir."

"You too," they saluted each other before going their separate ways.

Mike returned to Kate's apartment and got changed before calling a cab to head down to the café. When he got out of the taxi after paying his fair, he walked over to the cafe and saw Kate talking to one of her friends. He smiled and walked to her.

"Hey," he called, and she turned around to look at her.

"Hey," she answered as he bent over and kissed her before sitting down.

"Kath, right?" He said

"Yes, you remembered."

"Yeah"

"Kate said you returned from overseas, how was it?"

"We had good days and boring days."

"Are you pleased to get back, then."

"Yeah, I am." Kath looked at Kate than to Mike

"Well, I'll leave you two alone. Call me later, Kate!"

"Sure thing, Kath." Her friend stood up, grabbing her bags up she walked away.

Kate turned to him, "Mike, is everything ok?"

"Yes." He said then he sighed, "no."

"What's wrong?" she said placing her hand over his.

"One of the students reported us, Kate. Someone told the higher-ups he or she saw us together over the weekends while I was still teaching," she gasped in shock.

"What did you say?"

"I said to them that yes, you and I had seen each other back then, but we were never alone. They want the names to verify that they will call you since I had to tell them they are your friends."

"Okay, what else?"

"They asked if we were having a relationship, I answered the truth, I said yes since yesterday when I returned from Afghanistan. I had to mention we've been writing to each other while I was over there."

"So, they don't know about the day before..."

"No, it didn't seem wise."

"Ok, what else did they asked?"

"If I favored you over the other students, I said they could check that with the other sub-lieutenants."

"Are they going to investigate it further?"

"Yes, I think so. All we can do is wait and see. So, let's forget about work, what would you like to have for lunch?"

"Surprise me."

"That I can do," He stood up and walked into the cafe.

After lunch, they did some shopping before returning to Kate's apartment. That night, Kate made dinner while Mike opened a bottle of Kate's favorite red wine they bought that afternoon.

Over the next few days, they went sightseeing, having lots of fun until the week was up. The morning Kate was leaving for her patrol, they hugged and kissed before Kate picked her duffel bag and walked out the door. Mike left two hours later towards Cairns.

He was there for three days when he was called to NAVCOM.

"Sir, you wanted to see me?" He said, to Commander Johnson as he entered his office.

"Yes, take a seat. Sorry to call you on your leave, Lieutenant Commander. I called you about the ongoing investigation into a possible affair between you and one of your students, sub-lieutenant McGregor."

"I know about it, sir. I was called into Sydney NAVCOM the day after I was back from my tour."

"Yes, I know that. I called you to let you know they have talked to the other sub-lieutenants and all of sub lieutenant's friends and some other people. From what they were saying, you and sub-lieutenant McGregor, haven't shown anything that could point you two having a relationship during the duration of the course. The security cameras from the wharf cafe you visited showed you were hardly alone, and when you were you acted professionally at all times," He sat back in his seat

"Now, Lieutenant Commander, what is your interest in sub-lieutenant McGregor?"

"Personal or professional sir."

"Both"

"On the personal side, from the short time I got to know her, she's one amazing woman, sir. She's high-spirited, full of fun but with a dark past." The commander frowned.

"What do you mean a dark past?"

"If you want to know about it, sir, ask her."

"I'm asking you," he sighed.

"She was abused when she was younger by her mother's boyfriends." The commander was shocked

"Abused?

"Yes, sir. She had no friends, she worked and studied hard. No one knew except for a female doctor who she told about and kept it quiet until she graduated high school. By then, she went to the police and told them everything, even gave them evidence. She learned what to do by reading a book in the library."

"The men?"

"They are serving time, five of the men were already convicted child molesters," the commander shook his head.

"I read her file; it doesn't indicate anything like that."

"She keeps it quiet, hidden it for years. Not many knew about what happened to her, and it took her years to be able to talk about it. I'm the first one she slept with since that happened."

"Did she tell you this?"

"Yes, she did," he said.

"What about professional?"

"She's the best that I've ever seen. She's really prepared, sir. During the class I thought, she knew all the answers; she even corrected me twice. For what I can see, she's going to go far in the Navy. And for what I know from those other courses she's taking, the teachers are impressed too; she had to correct at least one of them."

"I heard about that," Mike let out his breath.

"She a rule stickler, sir," Mike grinned.

"Unlike you," Commander Johnson smiled.

"You know me, Commander. I've bent them but never brake them or cross the line, sir."

"True, you and your cowboy antics almost got you into trouble."

"But I did get the job done."

"Yes, you did," he said smiling. They talked for an hour before Mike walked out of NAVCOM.

He arrived home only to get changed before driving to the marine and head for a walk. He noticed a patrol boat returning to port; he grinned when he read the name the Hammersley was coming home.

"Soon I'll be back on the old boat," he whispered, before walking away towards his car.