CH 160
The next morning Hammersley and Huon arrived back in port. A tug boat pulled Huon over to one area of the navy port so it could go in to dry dock for repairs since Huons engines over heated just before they reach the entrance of the harbor.
Hammersley stay in port for five hours to restock. Buffer notice the navy car pulled up and saw Kate get out of it, then she walk towards the gang plate. Buffer could tell some thing was wrong so he walk over to her
"X are you ok"
"Yes...no"
"Yes, no?"
"We getting a temporary captain for the next three months. I'll let every one know once we are out on patrol"
"Who are we getting"
"Mike"
"no way commander Flynn"
"they can't find any one else on short notice"
"Who looking after the kids?"
"mum and dad are. What worse is that it Emma birthday coming up next week and we won't be here for it"
"Well then we will have to give her a belated birthday party"
"Thanks buffer, I better go and get change"
"alright X" Kate walk over to the gang plate and on to it, she saluted as she walk onto Hammersley.
"buffer is every thing alright" bomber asked
"Later bomber"
They just finish loading every thing aboard when the same car pulled up. Spider was looking out onto the wharf when he saw who got out of the car. He watch the driver past mike his sea bag and brief case
"Hey come and look at this"
"What for spider" spider turn to every one
"commander Flynn coming aboard not Coburn"
"what are you talking about" RO asked
"commander Flynn just walk on to Hammersley with his brief case and sea bag. X doesn't look happy"
"what" charge said walk over to where spider is
"He right. That mean some thing must of happen for commander Flynn to be here"
"I'm sure commander Flynn will tell us what going on when he ready" RO said.
Word got around that Mike is being temporary captain and wondering what happen to Coburn. When Mike and Kate walk up onto the bridge the crew greeting mike before he sat in the captain chair with Kate next to him.
"X" he said smiling at her
"you give the orders of taking Hammersley out" Mike said smiling
"Yes sir" Kate went and dose what a captain normally dose till they were out at sea heading north.
Once they were heading north Kate turn to Mike for his next orders "Care to tell the crew why I'm here"
"Yes sir" then she walk over and pic up the mic and turn the PA system on so every one will hear what Kate has to say
"now here this XO specking. I know you all want to know why commander Flynn is here and not lieutenant commander Coburn...Lieutenant commander Coburn had to taking emergency family leave. His sister, brother in law and their family was killed in a car accident just out side of Perth last night. Commander Flynn and I have already sent flowers to Coburn family this afternoon on behalf of the Hammersley crew...That is all"
Then she turn the PA system off and put the microphone back then she walk over to Mike chair and stood next to him looking out at sea. Mike put his hand in her's and gave it a squeeze before letting go.
A week later after dropping off last of the suppliers the crew got the night off so they were just about to leave Hammersley when buffer phone rings so he answer it
"Hi Nav, how Micheal...yes we were just leave for shore leave...yes...i know that place" buffer smile
"sure...now...alright see you then" then he hug up
"Hey listen up change of plans"
"you not coming"
"no listen that was Nav on the phone. Commander Flynn family, Nav, ET and Micheal are here"
"Now, where" spider asked
"At that hotel not far from here"
"that posh one" two dads asked
"Yes, Nav is waiting for all of us including X and commander Flynn"
"why are they here?" bomber asked
"It Emma birthday today"
"Of course I for got, no wounder X and commander Flynn weren't in a happy mood today" spider said
"Here they come" charge said
"don't say a word it a surprise" then he turn to Mike and Kate
"sir, X care to join us" mike and Kate look at each other then to the crew
"another time"
"come on X, sir, just for one drink, please" bomber ask Mike and Kate look at each other
"one drink Kate"
"alright" they turn to the grinning crew as they cheered as they walk off Hammersley and headed to the hotel as they talk and laugh along the way.
When they walk into the hotel room they walk towards the restaurant "where are you going, the bar over there" mike said
"We hungry sir and after moving all those boxes I'm hungry I don't know about you lot" charge said patting his stomach
"I am felling a bit hungry my self" Kate said
"Why not" mike said.
They walk into the restaurant room when a man walk over to them "do you have reservations"
"Yes we do" buffer said
"Under what name"
"Flynn sir" mike and Kate turn to buffer
"buffer" he turn to Mike and Kate
"why did you made reservation under my name"
"not your name sir, her name" buffer said smiling as he look behind Kate and Mike.
They turn around and was shock to see who there "Emma"
"surprise" she said as she open her arms as she ran to Mike. He crouch down to give her a hug then pick her up
"Emma but"
"it was auntie Nikki idea since it my birthday" she said smiling then she went into Kate arms for a hug and kiss
"hi mummy"
"hi Emma where is Nav" she put her on the ground
"follow me" the she walk towards double doors with the crew behind her.
She push the door open and walk in then Mike and Kate open the doors to see Nav, ET,Micheal and all of mike family there including MJ and David whom ran over to the for a hug. They walk in with the crew behind them.
"mum dad this is a surprise" mike said giving them a hug
"Why not son since we received Kate and your e-mail about how you both missing Emma birthday this year. Nikki found out that Hammersley was going to be here for few of days so we flew out to here to surprise you"
"We are surprise mum, thank you" then they turn when they heard giggling to see Emma talking to spider and two dads.
"We saw you today, Nikki tells us what the crew is like after moving all those boxes so we put on a smorgasbord for every one"
"the crew would love that, thanks mum"
"your welcome the only thing you have to do is pay the bill before leaving"
"no problems there mum"
then the doors open and waiters walk in with trays off food they put them under headed lamps where the serving area is while other serve every one a beer, wine and juice for the kids. Mike and Kate watches as Nikki and ET talk and laugh with the crew as they all catch up on what was happening.
"Hey spider I heard bomber finally egg you" ET said making the crew laugh
"not just spider but two dads as well" charge said
"what at once" Nikki asked
"Yep she sure egg them both at once" charge said.
"good on you bomber" Nikki said smiling
"Well they both were couple of egg heads" every one laugh they talk and laugh before they start helping them selves to the food that was purpeared.
Every one laugh and joke during the evening. Two dads tells ET and Nav some jokes he played on the crew which cause every one to laugh then ET share some of the jokes he played on the crew including jaffah and Chefo. Mike and Kate watch every one enjoying them selves including there kids.
After main dinner every one relax while talking and laughing till the door open and two waiters walk in carrying trays.
Emma smile the yelled out "guava mojo" causing the crew to cheer then they saw the drinks.
The adults had the guava mojo while the kids have the guava juice. "Mike there one thing missing" Kate said
Then the lights went out and the door open, every one turn to see lit candles on a trolley and relies it birthday cake so they sang happy birthday to Emma. When they finish singing it Emma was in front of it. She close her eyes and blew out the candlers. Every one cheered just as the light turn back on.
They all saw it was a large ice cream cake. Bomber walk over and pick up a knife and started cutting I and picking up a piece and putting it on a plate then she past it to Emma
"thank you auntie Rebecca"
Then she walk over and put it on the table then she got up in her chair and pick up a spoon and started eating it. While bomber carry on cutting and put it on to plates for every one. Buffer was sitting next to Emma eating his ice cream cake
"Emma" she turn to buffer
"sorry we didn't get any thing for your birthday" Emma put her spoon down and stood up in her chair then lean over to give buffer a hug. Every one heard what he said to her.
When she pulled back she look into his eyes "Have you..." then she turn to every one else
"all of you here is more important to me than gifts" Buffer hug her back
"Emma what you said is amazing" buffer said
"It true uncle Pete family is more important than presents and having every one here makes me happy"
"that makes me happy also" they hug once more before Emma sat down and pick up her spoon once more.
"Mummy, daddy want to hear some thing funny" Emma asked
"sure what is it" mike asked
"Micheal peed on uncle josh this morning when he was just about to put a diaper on Micheal he was lying on the bed with uncle josh leaning over him while talking to him when he peed like a fountain" Every one laugh
"Nav did that happen" Kate asked
"Yes I saw the whole thing it was so funny" Nikki said laughing
"auntie Nikki show mummy and daddy" Nikki got her video recorder out and past it to Kate. Kate press play and she and mike what what happen. They laugh
"Way to go Micheal" mike said then Kate pass it to Buffer so he and the others could watch what happen and laugh.
"Nikki did you have to show them" Josh said with a groan
"Why not, I've already sent a copy to our families"
"Oh great you know what they are like"
"i know"
Every one had a great evening. It was getting late so they all left after saying there good night to Emma, MJ, David, Josh, Nikki, and Mike family. The crew left after mike paid for the bill then they all went down to a bar where they drink some more before returning back to Hammersley for the night.
Mike and Kate stayed on the wharf while the others went back on board. He pulled her into his arms for a hug and kiss "This evening turn out to be a big surprise for us" Mike said
"Yeah. Hopefully we will be in Cairns for the boys birthday and first day at school"
"I hope so to Kate but it will depend on the rosters"
"True" they both hug for a few minutes then they kiss once more before walking on to Hammersley as captain and the X.
The next day Hammersley left to do it patrol for the next two weeks before returning back to Cairns for the Christmas holidays.