Ch61

The day the Hammersley returned to Cairns, everyone was looking expectantly to have a few days of shore leave. Their families were already waiting in the wharf and along them was Kate with the kids. She noticed a woman and three boys she hadn't met before, so she walked over to her.

"Hi, are you waiting for someone?" Kate asked when she noticed Sally and boys.

"Yes, my husband Chris. He's on patrol."

"Same here, in which boat is he?"

"Hammersley," Kate smiled, "yours?"

"He's the temporary Captain on Hammersley."

"Really? I'm Sally Blake"

"Kate McGregor" they shook hands. "It's nice to meet you, Sally."

"You too, Kate."

"What's your husband position?"

"Coxswain"

"Nice. Here they come," Kate pointed as the Hammersley entered the port.

Buffer was up top when he noticed two women with children on the wharf, picking up his binoculars he smiled when he recognized one of them. He went to the steps and crouched down.

"Sir? You got visitors waiting on the wharf" Mike turned and raised his binoculars and smiled when he saw Kate with the stroller. He recognized the woman she was talking from a picture he saw.

"Swain, you got a guest!" He told him, and Swain turned to see who it was when they were close to the wharf. None of them could stop the smiles on their faces.

"Who is she, Swain?" Nav asked

"My wife," he grinned. "Sally, and our kids Adam, David, and Alex, they moved up here three weeks ago from Melbourne where I was last stationed."

"Why did it take so long for them to come up here?" ET asked

"We bought a house two months ago. I was staying at mate place when we were on shore leave until we could move in."

"I guess you are not coming to the pub tonight then," ET commented

"No, mate! No offense but I'm looking forth to spending time with my family," Swain said smiling.

Half an hour later the crew started to walk off Hammersley. When Swain finally came out, the kids ran towards him screaming "dad."

He hugged them, before walking towards Sally. He hugged and kissed her, as their kids started to try to get Swain's attention. Kate smiled at them, and then she noticed Mike.

"Daddy!" Emma screamed when she spotted Mike. Kate placed her on the floor, and she ran as much as she could. Mike smiled at her and crouched down opening his arms for her to wrap herself into him. Emma wrapped her little arms around Mike's neck and hugged him. Mike stood up and picked his bag.

"I missed you, Emma."

"Miss you, daddy," She said planting a wet kiss on his cheek. Kate got closer to them pushing the stroller.

"Welcome home, Mike."

"Kate, this is a surprise," he grinned.

"Well, we were home and the day was perfect… so Emma and I decided to come."

"Sunny day! Daddy home!" Emma grinned as Kate stepped closer and kissed him.

"How have you all been?"

"Good. Ready to go home"?

"I can't wait." He lowered Emma back in her stroller, and then he put his arm around Kate's shoulder as she pushed the stroller towards the car park.

It was the third day since Mike's returning home when his cell phone rang. He took the call and walked away to the garden to talk when he entered Kate was looking at him.

"Crash sail?" Kate asked

"No. Steve wants to see me about something" he stood up from his chair. "I'll pick up some dinner on the way home, how that sounds?"

"Like a plan," she grinned, and Mike leaned over to kiss her.

"I'll be back as soon as I can."

After getting into his uniform, Mike grabbed the car and went to NAVCOM. He walked straight towards Steve's office and knocked.

"Steve?"

"Mike!" He said looking up. "I'm sorry to call you away from your leave. Please, sit down."

"Well, I'm here. What is it that you wanted to see me about?"

"Hammersley"

"Hammersley? Have you found a Captain?"

"Yes, I have. I've spoken to the fleet commander about my recommendation, and they agree."

"Who it is?" He asked before he remembered he had read he was going to be the Captain of the Hammersley three years earlier when he received that mysterious letter.

"You, Mike"

"Me?"

"Yes. Look, she will be decommissioned in eighteen months." Mike looked at Steve. "And according to with your reports, you will have the best crew working with you."

"Well not all of them Steve."

"Really? Who's missing?" Steve said sitting back

"Lieutenant Booth"

"What about him?"

"He disagreed with a call that I made about a boarding."

"Which one?"

"The FFV that was close to international waters. I canceled the hands to boarding stations when the Lieutenant called it"

"Why didn't you send a team over to the boat?"

"It's in my report, Steve. The boat was one hundred meters to the line, by the time the crew could reach them, the FFV would be over the line," Steve nodded.

"I understand. I believe it was the right call."

"I know. But if it happens again, I'll be asking for a new XO."

"Alright, let's just hope it doesn't happen."

"Yeah," they talked for a good time before Mike walked out of NAVCOM and headed home after picking dinner.

"Daddy!" Emma squealed when he walked out to the garden where Kate was seating with Emma. She ran towards him, and he picked her up, walking towards Kate.

"Everything's alright, Mike?"

"Yeah, we can talk about it later."

"Daddy, are you leaving?" Mike smiled at Emma

"No, sweetie. I just got back," he kissed her cheek then he lowered her to the ground, "I'm going to get change. Why don't you help mommy with the dinner?" She jumped in her place as he stood up. "It's on the bench."

"Come, Emma. Let's go check what daddy bought for dinner," Kate picked Emma, and the three of them walked inside. After the kids were all clean and slept, Mike and Kate sat in the living room.

"So, what did Commander Marshal wanted from you?"

"He spoke to the fleet command about me staying on Hammersley."

"For how long?"

"Eighteen months, until she's decommissioned."

"Eighteen months," she whispered. "What about us?" Mike sighed.

"There is no opening for lieutenants here, Kate. Not even for patrol boats. But Steve assures me that the first post that opens is yours," Kate bit her lower lip and snuggled to his side.

"I hate that we are apart, Mike."

"I know," he kissed her forehead, "But we can make it work, Kate. We can make the most of every little moment we have together."

"I hope so, Mike."

Mike got a couple more of shore leave days before he was due to sail again. The day before Hammersley was due to sail, they decided to go for an afternoon in the mall, and Mike spotted two of the crew members in one of the shops and frowned. Kate told him something, and he smiled, deciding that if they could manage to remain, friends, while on the same command, others could too.

"Nav," Mike called her when Hammersley was already heading north. "a word in my office, X you have the ship" Nav nodded and followed Mike down and into his office. "Nav, are you and ET having a personal relationship?" He saw the shocked look on her face

"No, sir. Why did you ask?"

"I saw you and ET in the mall yesterday morning."

"Sir, allow me to stop you right there," Nav interrupted him. "Nothing is going on between ET and me; we are just friends" Mike folded his arms in front of him

"Just friends?"

"Yes, sir. We are getting to know each other while on shore leave."

"Nav, you know the rules."

"Yes, sir. I do, and as far as I know, there's no rule against being friends with your crewmate. Not even one against helping one of them to find a birthday present for their sister."

"So… if I ask ET the same thing…." Mike trailed

"He would say the same, sir."

"Why you, Nav? Why didn't he ask Buffer or Charge?" Nav grinned

"Sir, there is a significant difference between them and me." Mike chuckled.

"You are right. Well, if that all it was, you are good to go."

"Yes, sir."

"Nav," he called as she walked away. "If I see anything happening between the two of you."

"Sir, trust me. Nothing is going on between us."

"Alright, leave."

"Thank you, sir," Nav turned around and walked out of Mike's office. Mike looked at the pictures of his family before he too returned to the bridge.

Two weeks after Kate returned to work, she received a letter which was hand delivered from an able seaman from Sydney headquarters. She opened it up to read what it said before she folded the letter and picked her briefcase and hat and walked out of the classroom.

After picking Emma from the daycare, Kate completed their now quite established routine with the kids, and once they were all asleep, she called her in-laws.

"Kate! How are you, dear?" Michele asked

"Tired. It has been a long day."

"I bet it has, everything ok?"

"Yes. No. I just received a notification, mum. I've been transferred to a frigate; I leave in three days."

"For how long Kate?"

"Two months." She sighed

"Two months? There has to be a mistake," Michele said in shock

"That's what I thought. But would you and dad look after the kids while I'm away?"

"Of course, dear."

"Thanks, I'll let the staff at daycare know in the morning."

"What about your breast milk?"

"I got none; boys are on milk formula."

"We will come around tomorrow night and talk about everything."

"That will be great. Thanks, mum."

"That's what families are for, dear." Kate smiled

"I know. Talk to you and dad tomorrow then."

"Alright, Kate. Good night"

"Good night, mum."

The following day, Kate sorted the kids and took them to Mike's parent's house. She went to meet the Captain and Commander of HMAS Sydney. The ship she going to be on. Kate learned that the Lieutenant she was replacing broke his leg when he fell down the steps on the ship during a harsh weather they went through on their way back to Sydney and had two months of recovery ahead.