Ch 76

The next morning when Mike walked into Steve office Steve notice, Mike look calmer

"Mike," Steve greeted him smiling knowingly. "You sure look calmer since yesterday," Mike rolled his eyes.

"I followed your instructions and spoke to Kate last night. AS usually, she helped to distract my mind out of work."

"That's good," Mike chuckled. "What?"

"She remembered, Lieutenant Watson."

"How so?"

"She was his instructor last year. She rated his work a three."

"Three out of five is not that bad."

"Yeah, except it was out of twenty. She said he was a Mister know-it-all. And not surprisingly, he pulled the same thing in a class. He argued her about the best course of the case they were analyzing and guess what?"

"He tried a shortcut?"

"Yes, he argued, and some of his classmates agreed with him, that changing the course through the reef was the best course. Kate let him explain his point and feel like the genius he obviously isn't. And then, she entered the scene showing the whole class that the course he set was straight to sink the boat."

"Well, she knows what she is doing."

"Yes. She…" there was a knock on the door. Steve frowned.

"Come in." A Lieutenant entered the room. "Can I help you, Lieutenant?"

"Yes, sir. I'm Lieutenant Bullier. I've been transferred to HMAS Hammersley?" Mike turned around to see a woman around Kate's age with black hair and green eyes.

"Ah, yes! Lieutenant Bullier, this is Lieutenant Commander Flynn, the Captain of Hammersley," Mike turned to her as they both saluted

"Sir"

"Lieutenant"

"Shall we get started?" Steve asked, soon they were immersed in work.

They were standing when Steve secretary entered the room. "Sir? Here are the overnight reports."

"Thanks, Lieutenant. You both can go. Hammersley is waiting," Mike and Amy Bullier saluted him before they walked out. Steve pinched the bridge of his nose and scrubbed his face groaning.

"Sir, are you ok?"

"Yes, Lieutenant. It's only a bad feeling."

"Your bad feelings are usually right, sir. Anything I can help with?"

"Actually, you can. Please get me a list of available Lieutenants." The secretary frowned. "Yes, for the Hammersley."

"Not another one, sir?" She asked in dismay.

"It looks like we will need one, Lieutenant."

"I thought you wanted to be prepared, sir. But your bad feeling sounds much more like an affirmation, sir."

"It was one."

"What makes you think that, sir? Not to be rude or anything, but they have been inside less than an hour," Steve chuckled.

"And I didn't have a bad feeling until they left." The Lieutenant frowned.

"Lieutenant Bullier was more interested in Mike Flynn's backside than on the way out."

"Oh, that's not good, sir. We are lucky his wife is in Sydney." She added with her eyes widened. "From what I've heard about her, you wouldn't want to mess with her unless you want to end up brushing toilets with a toothbrush." Steve chuckled.

"Well, that's something I can't deny. Have you met her?"

"Yes, she was my instructor for Navigation. Sir, if you don't mind me asking, is it true that her ADFA nickname is Princess Perfect?"

"Yes, it's true."

"I guess it does fit her, I mean, she's one hell of a taskmaster." Steve nodded and handled her back some files. "I'll look into the names, sir."

"Thank you, Lieutenant."

Two hours later Hammersley left Cairns and headed north. The crew got to meet the Lieutenant on their way to Port Moresby and hoped that she would last. But that first night, when Nikki was in the top bunk and Amy Bullier on the bottom, Nav knew for sure she wouldn't.

"Hey, Nav?

"Yeah?"

"What is Mike like?" Nikki frowned at the way Amy said his name and leaned over her bed to look down to Amy

"Lieutenant Commander Flynn is the best Captain I've had the pleasure to serve with," she said seriously before getting back on her bed.

"Really?" Nav sighed.

"Yes. Really."

"And… don't you think he looks ... delectable … in his overalls. I mean, he shows some of that chest hair, and I find that tremendously sexy, don't you?" Amy asked in a tone that had alarms running on Nikki's head. She clenched her jaw not wanting to be the first to dislike the woman. "And when he leans over…"

"Where are you going with this?" She asked interrupting any image Amy was trying to paint. She leaned over and looked at Amy seriously. "If you are interested in him, forget it. He's not and will not be interested in you, besides there are rules."

"That's because you like him, perhaps?"

"He's a friend, crew member and an officer in the Navy and so is his wife."

"But if he's your friend, what can you tell me about him?" Amy tried again.

"Forget it," Nikki huffed before she jumped out of her bunk and walked out of the room.

To put some space between the Lieutenant wild imagination and herself, Nikki walked to the kitchen. She was finishing making her drink when she heard footsteps approaching her.

"Hey, what are you doing here? Are you ok?" ET asked her.

"Yes…" She trailed, but a look told her he wasn't buying it. "No, it's Lieutenant Bullier." He frowned and got himself a drink.

"Come on," he said grabbing her hand and pulling her into the dining area.

"Buffer," he said noticing the other member seating there.

"Nav, ET. Why are you to still up?"

"I have to report to the bridge in fifteen minutes," ET said. "I just found her there" Buffer frowned, he knew Nav was in her position all day and she should be on the bed already.

"Nav, what's wrong?" She sighed, and they sat down at the same table, she inhaled deeply and took a sip of her drink.

"All I know is that it has to do with Bullier. I was hoping that by dragging her here, Nav could talk to me about it."

"Oh, hey I can go if you don't want to share," Buffer added with a smile.

"Stay, Buffer," Nav said, and he sat again.

"Then, what is it about the new XO? She seems nice."

"She is nice, but, " Nav grimaced. "She's interested in the captain," Buffer and ET raised their eyebrows

"You mean, interested as in?" ET trailed.

"Don't you think he looks delectable on his overalls? Kind of interested, she was starting to ask a lot of uncomfortable questions as if I could relate to her or something."

"Nav, if she's interested like that, you better tell him," Buffer said

"Tell me what exactly?" Mike asked from the doorway having heard part of the conversation.

"Lieutenant Bullier, sir," ET said

"Nav, you should've come to me about it."

"Sorry, sir. I was going to, but I thought you were asleep."

"I hope I was. Don't worry Nav; I'll have a chat with the Lieutenant in the morning."

"Sir, may I suggest you take Swain with you? You know, in case she tries something?"

"Good idea, Buffer. And ET aren't you due to being on the bridge."

"Yes, sir" he stood up and turned to Nav

"Don't worry, Nav. I'm pretty sure the poor commander Marshall will have to find another XO when we are back in Cairns."

"ET!" Mike yelled making ET run out of the room. Buffer and Nav chuckled trying not to laugh. "Alright you two, it's not funny."

"Sorry, sir. But ET's right. I think you might have to buy Commander Marshal a big box of panadol, sir" Nav said smiling

"Very funny Nav, good night you two."

"Night, sir." They both said.

"I'm glad Kate's not here." Nav started once Mike stepped out of the room, not knowing that he remained in hearing range. "I can imagine Bullier scrubbing every toilet with a toothbrush."

"Ouch, yeah. I can imagine Kate changing the meals to feed Charge with baked beans before ordering her that." Nav scrunched up her nose.

"Ewe! That is so gross, Buffer," she added before they laughed.

"Feeling better?"

"Yes, thanks."

Mike grinned shaking his head and returned to his cabin, on the way he had to scrunch his nose when he remembered exactly how bad did the boat smell after a baked beans meal.

"Sir, you wanted to see me?" Swain asked the next morning entering the cabin.

"Yes."

"Something wrong, sir?"

"Not really, I'll need you here when I talk to Lieutenant Bullier."

"Lieutenant Bullier, sir? I don't understand."

"She was asking a lot of questions about me last night."

"Aren't questions about the Captain normal, sir?"

"About the Captain, yes. About the captain as a male, it's a whole other can of worms."

"Oh, are you saying that she has a thing for you?"

"It seems to be the case, yes. And I won't condone that on my boat."

"I understand, sir. I'll be here."

"Thanks, Swain." Mike picked his phone. "RO, can you page Lieutenant Bullier to my cabin, please? Thanks"

"XO to Captain's cabin, XO to Captain's cabin," was announced over the PA system.

The Lieutenant was smiling when she arrived at Mike's cabin, and her expression dropped when she spotted Swain. But that change didn't go unnoticed.

"Sir? You wanted to see me?"

"Yes, I did. I asked Swain to be here as a witness," she frowned but nodded.

"Lieutenant, Nav told me that you were asking questions about me last night, is that correct?"

"What? No, sir! She's making it up," she exclaimed trying to look shocked

"And you are not interested in me, Lieutenant."

"No, sir. Of course, I'm not. I don't know what she said to you, but the only interest I have in you is as a Captain." Mike picked up the phone

"RO page Nav to my cabin, please. Thanks," it was easy to notice that the Lieutenant was getting increasingly nervous. Nav joined them quickly, standing by the door since there wasn't much room left in the cabin.

"You wanted to see me, sir?"

"Yes, Nav. The XO here claims that what you said last night was false," Nav eyes widened

"Sir, I'm telling the truth. You know I would never lie to you," Mike turned to Bullier

"Well, it seems that one of you is lying and I do not want liars on my boat. Now, I'm going to ask it again. Did you or did you not ask Nav questions about me?"

"No, sir."

"Sir, she's lying, I'll never lie to you," Mike looked at the two women

"Lieutenant, return to your duties. Nav, please remain here."

"Yes, sir." Bullier turned smirking to Nav on her way out of the cabin.

"Don't worry, Nav. I do believe you." Tears left Nav eyes.

"I'm sorry, sir. I thought you didn't."

"We do, Nav," Swain said

"Then?"

"Sir, I have an idea, I'll be right back," Swain said walking out of Mike's cabin.

"What are we going to do, sir? In the end, it's her word against mine."

"I don't know, Nav. But truth to be told, I'm glad Kate's not close," Nav smiled

"The Lieutenant wouldn't stand a chance against Kate."

"Can you keep a secret?"

"Yes, sir."

"No one stands a chance against Kate, Nav. Not even I." Nav frowned. "Last week I accidentally left the seat up, she went to use the loo in the middle of the night, and she woke me up to make me clean the toilet as a punishment." Nav laughed.

"I suppose you learn your lesson, sir?"

"Yes, and the make-up sex helped to ingrain it." Mike winked.

"TMI Sir!"

"Now, all better?"

"Yes, thanks, sir."