CH 155
When Hammersley left for a month patrol Coburn ordered all senor officers to the ship office. When they all arrived in there Coburn look at them all.
"There been a change in who in charge of all boarding while we are out on patrol"
"sir lieutenant in charge of all boardings" Swain said
"I know that Swain but after what happen to the last patrol...Buffer you will be in charge"
"On who orders sir?"
"commander Marshal and he send this fax to me" Coburn past the fax to buffer whom he read what it says. Then he turn to Parker and past it to her for her to read. She read what it said the look up at buffer
"I'll be testing you twice a week ma'am as commander Marshal orders" She past him the fax back
"when do you want to start testing me...buffer"
"when you less expected ma'am"
"Alright now you know who in charge of all boarding you all dismiss" they walk out of the ship office talking about what just happen. Coburn return back to the bridge with Parker behind him.
A week later Mike was reading buffer report on how well lieutenant Parker did when Steve walk into his office
"mike" he turn around
"Steve I was reading buffer first report on lieutenant Parker"
"How did it go"
"From what buffer said, she try to take charge on two boarding till buffer reminded her. One was a may day and the other was FFV. He tested her yesterday on both boarding. She argue with him about both boarding trying to tell him that he was wrong and she right"
"that bad"
"Yes he even sent reports on what happen to both boardings, I haven't read them yet. But he got here on the end notes that he can't wait till Kate back and he want to call her to ask her some thing"
"Any idea what it is"
"no I don't I've sent Kate a text to call here and we can patch her through to Hammersley so Kate can talk to buffer"
"that fine"
"what did you come in here to see me about"
"Right, I'm off to the dentist, there was a cancellation so they can fit me in, in an hour"
"sure that fine, I can take care of things here"
"thanks Mike, I'll be back soon as I can"
"don't rush"
"thanks, oh can you send me a copy of those reports"
"sure" Steve turn around and walk out of Mike office.
Later that afternoon Mike was passing a file to one of the petty officers when a lieutenant walk over to Mike
"sir your wife on the phone sir"
"thanks, can you get in contact with Hammersley petty officer Tomaszewski, Kate will be wanting to talk to him"
"Yes sir" they walk over to the lieutenant desk where he past the phone to Mike
"Kate you got my text"
"Yes I did Mike is every thing alright at home" mike smile
"Yes every thing fine Kate. Buffer sent me a message he want to ask you some thing"
"Is it to do with lieutenant Parker?"
"i don't know Kate"
"Sir I got perry officer Tomaszewski on the phone"
"Kate buffer on line, lieutenant young going to patch you through to him"
"Ok Mike, I'll call you after"
"sure...lieutenant" Mike hung up when he heard Kate and buffer started talking.
Five minutes later Mike cell phone buzz so he pulled it out of his pocket and open it to see it was Kate calling, lucky he was in his office.
"Kate"
"mike I talk to buffer"
"Care to tell me"
"He ask for my help with couple of problems to do with boarding he wasn't sure about"
"He done hundreds of them"
"i know that Mike and he only lead a hand full of them. I was happy to answer his questions and he told me what was going on with lieutenant Parker. I gave him the best advice an XO could give her bosun"
"did it help"
"I hope so he say he wants me back, well the whole crew dose" Mike smile
"Well they know how much longer you got and they got no choice but to have lieutenant Parker on board till then"
"True I said to buffer no mutiny while I'm here or tooth brush duties" mike laugh
"Poor buffer you sure didn't give him much of a choice"
"Not just him but the whole crew"
"that bad"
"sounds like it from what buffer was telling me. Two dads put a rubber snake in her bed couple days ago, she woke up the whole ship with her screams. She don't know it was him, but buffer gave him extra cleaning work for what he did even though it was a joke"
"sounds like I'll have to have words with two dads when Hammersley returns"
"You might be to late after buffer sorts him out"
"your right about that"
"Of course I am. How Nav?"
"Good, ET return to Melbourne next week so he spending much time as he can with Nav and Micheal. Hannah offer to help Nav when she needs it"
"that good of her"
"she doesn't mind it keeps her busy during the day while kids are at school and Brad at work"
"i guest your right so when are you coming back down this way, I miss you"
"I miss you to Kate. I don't know when kids and I can make it"
"i under stand" then there was a knock on the door, Mike turn around
"Yes lieutenant"
"sir I got Bendigo medic on line they asking for a medic vac sir" Mike stood up and walk out of his office while still talking to Kate.
"Kate honey I got to go"
"i under stand, I'll call Friday night"
"Ok, love you"
"love you to give kids a hug"
"will do" then they hung up.
Over the next three weeks Steve and Mike read buffer reports about the boardings and the tests he did up for lieutenant Parker and the results from those tests including sea rescue tests. When the finish reading buffer reports they were shock from what he tells them the results. Plus he put in his reports that he contacted Kate for help a couple of times.
"By the looks of buffer reports lieutenant Parker either failed or just pass buffer tests" mike said
"I agree Mike"
The day Hammersley return back from there patrol it was Saturday morning. Mike and kids were on the wharf when Hammersley dock. Mike watch his kids run up the gang plank saluted Thor along the way till they step onto Hammersley with Mike behind them. He follow them up to the bridge. The crew on the bridge heard giggling then turn to see kids running onto the bridge. They gave each of the crew members a hug
"where uncle Pete" Emma ask as she look around for him
"Emma he in the ward room" Swain said
"Is he ok"
"He will be"
"Can I see him please Uncle Chris" Swain smile
"I'm sure he would love to see you" Emma smile
"thanks" then she turn and ran to the steps and down there
"woo there Emma where you off to" mike asked
"uncle Pete in the ward room he hurt" then she ran down to the ward room while Mike walk up the steps
"sir it good to see you"
"you to swain, what happen to buffer" Swain turn to Parker then back to Mike
"buffer was stab while on FFV"
"How bad"
"Ten stitches, I better go sir the ambulance should be here soon to take him to the hospital" Swain said
"Alright, if Emma want to go with him she can" Swain smile
"I'll tell her sir" then swain walk off the bridge.
Mike look around "Steve a word in your cabin"
"sure thing Mike"
"You boys be good ok"
"Yes daddy" Mike follow Steve down to his cabin.
Emma knock on the ward room door before opening it and pocking her head around the corner to see bomber there talking to buffer. They turn and smile when they saw who it was
"Emma" they both said.
She walk in and over to buffer when she saw his arm "what happen to you arm"
"a man cut it"
"You always careful uncle Pete" she manage to get on the bed next to buffer to give him a hug and snuggled up to his side while looking at the partly blood soak bandage.
"Buffer save a crew men life when the man try to stab her. Buffer saw what was going to happen and push her out of the way when the man went to stab her. The knife cut his arm"
"did he save you auntie Rebecca?"
"no it was lieutenant Parker"
"I hope she thank you for saving her life" Emma said looking up at buffer
"no she didn't"
"Well she should, I know mummy would thank you for saving your life and buy you guava mojo's" Buffer and bomber laugh just as Swain walk into the room after he heard what Emma said
"We know X would do that Emma...swain" Emma turn to Swain
"the ambulance arrived"
"Ok" buffer got up from the bed slowly
"coming Emma" Swain said
"Where to"
"ride in the ambulance, your dad said it was ok" Emma smile as she hop off the bed
"Cool" they all laugh as they walk out of the ward room.
The crew watch from the boat deck as Emma yell at the paramedics "Daddy said I can go with uncle Pete"
"listen miss, you can't" Swain whisper some thing in the paramedic ear. He nodded then step back
"Ok you can get in"
"thank you sir" Emma got in and sat next to buffer as he held on to her hand.
"I'll drop by in an hour" Swain said
"alright mate" then the paramedic got in and the door close. he strap buffer on the gurney then sat down next to Emma.
"Emma"
"Yes uncle Pete"
"I won't be able to have any guava mojo's tonight" he said giving her a sad look
"you still can have guava juice" He smile at her
"True, so how school" He asked when the ambulance started moving
"Good, having heaps of fun"
"and learning"
"Yep, I talk to mummy last night"
"did you how is she"
"she good, she miss all of us, she said she talk to you last week"
"Yes I did. You mum help me out with a problem"
"Why not ask daddy" buffer laugh
"Well this problem I was having only you mum could help me with"
"i could help"
"i know you would of but it about a navy training I was doing with some of the crew"
"oh, did mummy help you solve the problem" buffer smiled
"Yes she did" Emma smile
"good" the paramedic listen between buffer and Emma.
When they stop at the hospital the guy undid buffer straps so he got stand up and walk off the back of the ambulance. Emma was just behind them following them into the hospital and into a room.
"Uncle Pete I need to go to the loo"
"do you know where one is"
"Yes, we walk past it"
"Ok, I'll wait in here for you"
"ok" then she turn and walk out of the room.
"she must be a good kid" the paramedic said as he fill out the papers
"Yes she is, hey what did swain whisper to you"
"that her father is Commander Flynn and don't try to piss her off or she would threaten me with tooth brush duties and would tell commander Flynn and commander Marshal that I wouldn't her in the ambulance to be with you" buffer smile
"that about right she a perfect combo of commander Flynn and lieutenant McGregor"
"I've meet them before and I heard the lieutenant yelling at one of the crew members...few months ago...long blonde hair"
"Yep that the X when she and commander Flynn argue well the crew are use to there...throat ripping debates. Commander Flynn gives up a lot of the time knowing the X was right"
"so they serve together?"
"Use to on the old Hammersley before his promotion and shore posting"
"Ok, well I better get this to the nurse and don't try to hurt your self again or other wise Emma will give you a tooth brush duties" the paramedic said with a smile making buffer laugh
"that true" then the guy walk out of the room with a clip board.