Ch 101
Later that night the Flynn's walked the steps to where the noisy crew was; their kids ran over to them the moment they spotted the team.
"Sir, X, you've made it!" Spider said
"Yes, we did," Kate grinned sitting down while Mike went inside to get their drinks. By the bar, he found Brian.
"I see you've made it," Mike grinned making Brain turn around
"Sir! Yeah"
"Have you spoken to your wife?"
"Yes, I did. She is looking forth to seeing me; I miss her and Abby."
"Who's Abby?" Mike frowned.
"My daughter, Abigail."
"Hey Mike," the bartender welcomed. "Should I bring you the usual?"
"Yes, the usual for me and," he turned to Brian. "What are you having?"
"A beer, thanks."
"Sure. And you brought the kids today Mike?" the bartender asked.
"Yup, they are outside with the crew."
"Cool! So, the usual plus a beer coming right this way," the bartender announced turning away from them.
"Sir?" Mike turned to Brian.
"I've given my recommendation to Commander Marshal about Lieutenant McGregor."
"Recommendation for what?"
"Promotion, of course. She has done an amazing job, I know it's not up to me, but I hope my letter will help with something."
"She will appreciate that."
"Well, she deserves it. I've worked with other XO before but your wife," he whistled. "She's one hell of XO," Mike grinned
"That she is. She worked hard to get to where she is today."
"I can tell, sir."
"Daddy!" They turned looking down to the voice before Mike picked Emma up.
"Lieutenant Commander Brain Taylor, this is Emma Flynn."
"Hello, sir," Emma said as she saluted him which he did back while smiling.
"Hello, ma'am," Emma giggled, then she turned to Mike
"Daddy, I'm hungry," Mike smiled at her.
"Alright, I'll order dinner."
"Nuggets and chips?" She asked with a pleading look.
"Yes, nuggets and chips," he said smiling just as the bartender walked over with tray in hand. Mike lowered Emma to get his wallet. "I'll pay for these and three kids meals and two chicken meals," Mike added watching as Emma disappeared towards the crew.
"Sure," he wrote down the order then Mike past him the money.
"Your drink is paid for," Mike said to Brian.
"How much do I owe you?"
"Don't worry about it."
"Thanks, sir."
"You'll want to order dinner before joining us," Mike commented
"Sounds like a good idea, sir." Mike picked up the tray and walked outside with it.
Mike lowered the tray on their table and gave around the drinks before he sat next to Kate and grinned when he noticed that Nav, Charge, and Buffer where all are giving chips to Emma and the boys.
"I've noticed you were talking to Lieutenant Commander Taylor."
"Yeah, I hope kids will eat their dinner tonight," Mike shook his head.
"I told them that it was ok to give them one chip each," Kate shrugged.
A couple of minutes later, when Brain walked outside the crew cheered him. Soon, everyone was laughing about one thing or another for the next hour or so; and then, Charge and Spider walked out carrying a tray full of drinks.
"Guava mojo!" they screamed making the crew cheer.
"I would like to make a toast," Charge said once everyone had a drink on their hands. "To Lieutenant Commander Taylor on behalf of the Hammersley crew, we wish you and your family all the best for your new assignment in Perth; and we got you a little going away gift. Spider," he walked inside and returned carrying a couple of bags that he passed to Brian.
"Thank you," Brain said as he stood to open the two bags pulling out two bears wearing Navy uniforms. "These are lovely, thanks."
"It for your kid's, sir," Swain said
"I know Abby will love her bear and so will my other daughter when she is born."
"To the Taylor family," Charge said
"To the Taylor family," the crew repeated before they took a sip of their drinks. Not that much later, Mike and Kate left the pub to take the kids home.
When their next patrol was about to start, the crew was working on getting ready when a gray car pulled by the pier. Commander Marshal got out of the vehicle followed by Mike.
"Now, we know who will be the Captain, X," Nav said
"Yeah." Mike walked to the Hammersley. "Hammersley up!' Kate ordered, and they all stood at attention. X and Captain exchanged salutes.
"At ease," Mike said, and they all lowered their hands.
"Welcome back, sir," Charge said shaking Mike's hand.
"Sir, not to be rude or anything, but how long are you going to be with us?" Swain asked
"Two patrols, Swain. Get back to work; we ship out in half an hour."
"Yes, sir!" Everyone rushed away looking happy except Kate.
"I'm sorry, it was the fleet command's choice."
"I know, who will be looking after our kids?"
"Mum and dad," Kate nodded as they walk towards one of the doors. Half an hour later the Hammersley left for a two-week patrol.
The second day of their patrol Mike snuck into Kate's cabin and placed a red rose on her pillow and a vase on the desk, before walking out to get himself a brew before returning to the bridge. Later that afternoon, when Nav opened the door, she stopped when she saw the rose on Kate's pillow.
"X!" She called getting back to the corridor.
"What is it Nav?" she asked coming to their cabin. Nav pointed to Kate's pillow. Kate picked it up and smelled it turning around to see the vase on her desk.
"I think he is asking for forgiveness," Nav grinned.
"No," Kate smiled, "our wedding anniversary's today," Nav eyes widened as she smiled.
"Today?"
"Yeah," Kate lowered the rose and went to the bathroom to fill the vase before she placed the rose on it on the desk.
"It's a shame it's not a dozen of roses," Nav said making Kate laugh
"Where would he hide them?"
"I don't know; it's still a shame," she grinned.
"I'll better get back to the bridge," Kate said walking out of the cabin and onto the bridge. She walked until she was next to Mike. "Thank you for the rose," she whispered when she saw him looking at her.
"You are welcomed," he said smiling before they both turned to look at the sea.
When Hammersley return back to port after it patrol. The moment Mike and Kate return home after the patrol they made love. They used all the time they had until it was time to pick the kids from the daycare. When they were getting ready, Mike phone went off.
"Mike Flynn. Hey, hi Steve, ok. Yeah, I'll tell her," he sighed as he hung the phone and turned to her.
"Crash sail?" Kate said looking at his expression.
"I'm afraid so, we are talking over the Childers patrol. They are being towed back. They got caught on a ghost net and had some damages."
"How long until they are ready?"
"Four days. But by then we start our three-week patrol," Mike winced.
"So much for twenty-four-hour shore leave."
"I know," They kissed before they called his parents to let them know they wouldn't be picking the kids.
An hour and a half later, they were leaving port again. The crew wasn't happy.
"Are you ok, Bomber?" Kate asked as she entered the kitchen.
"X! Uhm, what did you say, ma'am?"
"You don't look happy."
"I'm not. It's the first time since Christmas that my boyfriend and I managed to spend a day together. Four hours into it and he got the crash sail message."
"What does your boyfriend do?" Bomber smiled
"He's a midshipman on mine ship Huon."
"I'm sure you will see him again," she said before she grabbed the drink she came looking for and walked to her cabin. "By your look, I'll say boyfriend trouble," Kate commented noticing Nav's sour expression.
"Navy timing sucks. ET was at my place waiting for me. We did have few hours together."
Over the next few days, Mike noticed how grumpy the women were on the Hammersley, so he asked Kate to join him in his cabin.
"Kate? Do you know what's going on? All the women of the crew are looking extremely grumpy."
"Well, they haven't seen their boyfriends since last year, and when they thought they would have a day, they only got a few hours before being stuck back on the Hammersley again."
"That bad?"
"Yeah."
"Leave it to me."
"Alright, is that all?" Mike nodded, and she walked out of his cabin. A few days later, another patrol boat dropped the Hammersley mail. RO was going through the bag when Mike walked in.
"RO, there should be..."
"Here you go, sir," RO cut him picking up two boxes and giving them to Mike.
"Thanks, RO."
"Bomber," Mike said later that night when he went to get his dinner.
"Sir," she said trying to look like her regular self.
"You are off kitchen duty for tomorrow's breakfast."
"Yes, sir," Bomber said confused.