Hey everyone,
TGIF! Another quick chapter out! I'm doing some projects for work from next week up until Xmas and I'll probs be working 60ish hours a week so not sure how much time I'll have to write... damn the responsibilities of being an adult lol.
Thanks to everyone who left feedback, I try and get around to replying to everyone.
The Ties that Bind
Chapter 4
The next morning Kate awoke to the sound of her phone vibrating on her beside table, she groaned as she patted the bed side table trying to feel for it. She brought it up to her face barely opening her eyes.
"Kate McGregor..."
"Kate, it's Maxine..."
Kate bolted up right in bed hearing her voice, she tried to sound more awake.
"Oh Ma'am, what can I do for you?"
"I need you to come in to Navcom ASAP..."
"Ah no worries Ma'am, but can I ask why?"
"I'll explain when you get here..."
Kate got up and rushed around to get ready, she got dressed and ran down the stairs. Dutchy was asleep on the couch, he woke up to her clunking around in kitchen making a cup of coffee. He poked his head over the back of the couch.
"What are you doing up so early?"
She jumped hearing his voice.
"What are you doing here?"
He got up off the couch and stood at the kitchen bench in his boxers.
"Oh, we may have had a few more after you went to bed last night, Paul offered the couch..."
She turned to pour the coffee in her travel mug.
"Oh did he just..."
She turned and took a sip, Dutchy leaned forward on the bench towards her and smirked.
"Well, he did offer your bed first..."
Kate swallowed her mouthful of coffee trying to think of a comeback, she was mortified, Dutchy burst out laughing.
"You couldn't handle me anyway..."
Kate glanced up at him and rolled her eyes, suddenly she found her eyes running down his body admiring his chiselled chest, she realised what she was doing a quickly looked away.
Dutchy raised an eyebrow noticing her wondering eyes.
"But I've never see you turn down a challenge!?"
Kate turned back to the bench attempting to hide her smirk and burning cheeks.
"Don't make me throw this coffee at you! Anyway, I'm gonna be late..."
"What for?"
Kate shrugged grabbing her mug and headed for the door.
"I'll let you know when I know!"
Kate ran into Navcom, she glanced into Maxine's office as she walked past the window. Her heart started to race as she saw Maxine standing with Mike and the 2 Federal Agents. She knocked on the door and entered, she gave a nod towards Maxine and Mike.
"Ma'am, Sir..."
Maxine glanced at the Agents and then back at Kate.
"Ah Lieutenant Commander McGregor, thanks for coming in."
She glanced at their faces, she knew this wasn't going to be a fun meeting, Maxine stepped towards her.
"So, while following up on the drugs case Agent Knowles and Agent Rowe came across some information that they found troubling and they wanted to speak to you. They have raised the issue with Commander Flynn and I and I thought it would be a good idea to..."
Kate had no idea what Maxine was getting at but she was getting more nervous by the minute and Maxine was trying to make it as PC as possible but it wasn't helping, Kate interrupted.
"Ma'am, with all due respect could you please just..."
Agent Knowles stepped forward trying to assert his position.
"Lieutenant Commander, why did you fail to mention that your brother was recently released from prison?"
Kate was taken aback, she wasn't expecting that to be the question but either way she didn't think that it was any of their business.
"Umm, I didn't think it was relevant..."
Agent Knowles stepped closer and raised his voice slightly.
"Not relevant? Your brother is a convicted drug dealer and we're trying to catch the people that he could potentially know or be involved with. How is that not relevant?"
Kate couldn't believe they were accusing Paul of being involved.
"Hang on a minute, just because Paul dealt with heroin and this supposed shipment was heroin..."
Agent Knowles interrupted.
"So you're admitting that he could be involved."
Kate couldn't believe the audacity of this agent.
"No! You're twisting my words..."
Agent Rowe could see that they weren't going to get anywhere with Agent Knowles questioning her, she stepped towards Kate and gave her a reassuring smile.
"Is there any chance you accidentally mentioned this operation to you brother?"
Kate knew she was just trying to play good cop and she wasn't having a bar of it.
"Excuse me?"
"Well, did you?"
Kate raised her hands to pause the conversation and compose herself.
"Hang on a minute, so you're saying I'm either dodgy or stupid?"
Maxine could tell Kate was about to lose it.
"Agent Knowles, Agent Rowe could you give us a minute?"
"What to get your stories straight?"
It was Maxine's turn to be outraged.
"That's way out of line! You need to remember you're making accusations with no evidence, you're messing with officers reputations..."
"I do realise that Ma'am, I don't think you realise the bigger picture and what's a stake here?!"
Kate couldn't believe how far this had escalated, she clenched her fist by her side.
"My brother is not a drug smuggler and I am not feeding him information so you can just forget about that theory!"
Agent Knowles wasn't convinced.
"So you're saying that it's just a coincidence that this operation failed?"
Kate stepped closer to him indicating that she wasn't intimidated.
"Maybe, but why can't you guys admit that it could have been a failing on your part!"
Agent Knowles wasn't going to give in, he turned his attention to Maxine.
"Commander White, I would like to request that Lieutenant Commander McGregor be excused from the current patrol and not have any other involvement in this case..."
Maxine glanced at Kate, she didn't like any of this but she understood where the Agents were coming from. Kate took Maxine's silence as agreement, she couldn't believe that Maxine was taking their side, she looked at Maxine in disbelief.
"Ma'am?"
"I'm sorry Kate, look, I know you were doing this as a favour. I had taken your replacement off the top of my list as I thought you'd be fine for a couple of weeks but yes Agent Knowles I will find a replacement."
They nodded and left. Kate stood in front of Maxine bewildered.
"Ma'am?"
"I'm sorry Kate, my hands are tied, I don't believe it for a minute but you have to see how this looks?"
Kate shook her head in disbelief.
"No, I don't know how this looks! All I see is how this is going to look to others on the ship and at Navcom."
"Kate I'll keep this strictly need to know, we'll just say that I found a replacement quickly."
Kate stormed out of the office, Mike followed her and tried to stop her.
"Kate..."
He grabbed her arm to stop her.
"Kate!"
He led her down the corridor and into her old office, they entered and he shut the door.
"Is it true?"
Kate spun round and couldn't believe that he was accusing her too.
"Seriously?"
Mike could see she was distressed and she was going to take his questions wrong but he had to ask, it hurt him that she didn't confide in him.
"No, about Paul? He was in prison?"
Kate sat down and put her head in her hands.
"Yes..."
He stood above her.
"Why didn't you tell me?"
He cringed, it wasn't meant to sound like so critical but it was too late, she looked up at him annoyed.
"Mike, don't make this about you!"
"Kate, were supposed to be starting a relationship, don't you think this is something that I should know?"
She stood up, she wasn't going to be lectured like a child.
"No Mike, why do you need to know?"
"Kate, I'm your friend... and your boss?!"
"Ah there it is! The real reason..."
Kate aggressively pointed her finger in his direction.
"You don't want to look stupid?"
He wanted to stop but the words just kept coming out of his mouth.
"Yeah! That too Kate! How do you think this looks?"
Kate glared at him, she couldn't believe how he was going on about it.
"You don't want to look stupid, is that why you didn't say anything in there?"
He raised his voice slightly, she wasn't listening.
"What did you want me to say? I don't know your brother..."
"So you think he's involved? Thanks, nice to know who has my back..."
She stormed out of her office leaving Mike shaking his head.
Kate stormed into her house, she was so angry she wanted to cry and scream at the same time. She didn't know how to let it out, she paced around the lounge room muttering to herself. Dutchy came out of the kitchen, she was surprised to see him.
"What are you still doing here?"
"Oh, I just hung around just in case you were going to be a while, Paul has a job interview and I was going to take him... Is everything okay?"
She took a few deep breaths in trying to calm her rage.
"Yeah, fine..."
She needed to be alone, she wasn't going to take it out on Dutchy or Paul. She went into her bedroom and shut the door, Paul came out of his room hearing the door slam.
"Was that Kate?"
Dutchy nodded.
"Yeah, umm hey you don't wanna be late mate, c'mon I'll drop you off and give me a call when you're done."
Paul glanced back at Kate's door, Dutchy noticed his reluctance.
"It's okay, I'll come back and check on her..."
He smiled and gave him a nod.
"Thanks..."
Dutchy dropped Paul at the docks and drove back to Kate's house. He knew something was wrong and he was going to find out what it was. He arrived at her house and found another car in the drive way. As he approached the door her could hear raised voices, as he got closer he recognised the second voice as Mike's.
He wondered whether he should turn around and let them have their privacy, he paused for a minute listening, he could hear in Kate voice that she wasn't happy with him being there. He cautiously entered her house and found them in a stand off in her lounge room, she was startled to see him.
"Dutchy..."
Dutchy glanced back and forth between them not wanting to make direct eye contact with either of them.
"Kate, Boss..."
Kate stepped away from Mike.
"Ah, Mike was just leaving..."
Mike shook his head.
"No Kate, we need to talk..."
Kate defiantley crossed her arms over her chest.
"Fine, whatever you have to say to me you can say in front of him..."
Dutchy glanced Mike, he could tell that he had a lot more to say but he wasn't prepared to say it in front of him.
"Ah it's okay, I'll leave you two too..."
Dutchy turned to leave but Kate grabbed his arm to stop him.
"No, stay..."
She turned her attention back to Mike and raised an eyebrow waiting for him to start. Mike glanced at Dutchy again.
"Well, I think Dutchy would agree that were a little concerned that you never mentioned your brother and the fact that he was in prison..."
Dutchy's eyes widened, prison, this was new information to him. This did make him concerned, but not in the way he thought that Mike was implying, he didn't want to her to think that he was taking sides.
Mike waited for him to respond, Kate glare was now solely focused on him.
"Dutchy?"
Dutchy's eyes darted from Kate to Mike, he cleared his throat.
"Ah, well surprised, maybe, I guess."
Kate went to walk away, she wasn't going to be lectured by both of them, Dutchy tried to smooth over the conversation.
"But it doesn't matter Kate, he's changed right? He's trying to make a better life for himself..."
She turned back to face him.
"Yeah, he is...Thanks Dutchy..."
Mike threw his hands in the air.
"I can't win, Kate. I'm just concerned about you and the situation, why can't you understand..."
She stormed up to him and raised her voice.
"Well why can't you just say that? Instead you ask underhanded questions that make everyone feel uncomfortable."
Mike let out a frustrated hiss.
"Why can't you just understand what I'm saying? You know I care about you!"
Kate couldn't hear any more.
"Just get out, I can't talk to you!"
Mike shook his head and glanced at Dutchy as he walked out the door. Kate crumpled into a heap on the couch and sighed. Dutchy was worried for her and sat next her.
"Kate, what an earth is going on?"
She turned to face him, she didn't really want to tell him everything, she didn't want to get anyone else involved but she had to tell someone, she knew that he would straight with her, she could always trust that.
"I'm being taken off Hammersley..."
Dutchy tried not to react.
"What?"
She looked up to the ceiling trying to blink away her tears.
"They have basically accused me of being involved with the stuff up..."
Dutchy frowned not understanding.
"How?"
He could see she was reluctant, he placed a hand on her knee for encouragement.
"Kate, you know you can tell me anything..."
She sniffed tying to compose herself, the last time she had to explain this she was 15 and it was to a shrink.
"I'll have to start from the beginning..."
Dutchy sat there with an intense look on his face waiting for her to start, he had no idea what this was about but he was getting increasingly nervous.
"You wanna start with the Paul was in prison part?"
Kate sighed.
"Thanks for not freaking out like everyone else, he was in for drugs..."
Dutchy smiled trying to hide his apprehension. Kate quickly glanced at him to see his reaction then looked down at the floor.
"Right...but I still don't understand."
"The feds found out and accused me of leaking information to him, because they think he's involved..."
Dutchy couldn't keep it in, he leapt off the couch in outrage.
"That's ridiculous!"
Kate scoffed in agreement.
"You don't have to tell me..."
He sat back down wondering if asking questions was going to be too much. He lowered his voice so he didn't come across as intimidating.
"So what was he actually changed for? Possession? I didn't think that carried that much of a sentence?"
Kate broke eye contact.
"Ah well, at first it was possession but then he got into dealing..."
"So is that why you had a falling out?"
Tears started to fall from her eyes, his protective instinct kicked in immediately and he pulled her in for a hug trying to soothe her. He didn't often see her cry and it worried him, he knew that there was more to it. Kate glanced up and looked into his eyes.
"I was worried he was going to tell you..."
Dutchy thought back to the story that Paul was going to tell.
"Was it something to do with you getting high?"
Kate's heart skipped a beat.
"What he did tell you?"
"He mentioned something but then quickly changed the subject..."
Kate rubbed her hand over her face.
"At least he doesn't think it's a joke anymore..."
"Kate, what is it?!"
"So umm one night Paul and his mates where doing their thing, you know, hanging out with their muscle cars and playing loud music. They were drinking and I wanted to hang out with them. I, like every dorky litter sister I had a crush on one of his mates, Jay, and I wanted to prove to them that I was 'cool'.
Dutchy frowned knowing that the story wasn't going to make him feel good about Paul.
"So Jay was kind of flirting with me, I don't know why, maybe Paul told him to do it to make me feel good, and I guess I was just getting carried away..."
Dutchy took a sharp breath in predicting what she was going to say next.
"What happened Kate?"
Kate realised what Dutchy was implying.
"Oh nothing like that, there's no way..."
Dutchy sighed with relief.
"Good..."
"So he took out a bag of pills and..."
He knew what was coming.
"Oh Kate, you didn't..."
She shrugged.
"Not one of my finest moments and there's no way I'm advocating drug use but we've all done stupid things."
"Okay, so you took some ecstasy, how did that lead to you guys not talking?"
Kate sighed, this was the part of the story she didn't want to tell.
"We were high and had a few drinks, and we thought it was a good idea to get in the car and do burnouts and stuff."
Dutchy ran his hands though his hair, he knew this was going to end badly. He winced and looked up at her as she continued.
"There was an accident, the car flipped and Jay wasn't wearing a seatbelt."
Kate had to stop, she calmed he breathing and wiped the flow of tears from her face.
"Kate..."
They sat there in silence for a moment, Dutchy was way in over his head he didn't really know what to do. Kate took another deep breath in.
"I admitted to driving the car..."
Dutchy tilted his head trying to make sense of the sentence.
"What do you mean admitted?"
"I wasn't driving but I took the fall, Paul was 18, he would have been charged as an adult. I made him a deal, he had to promise that if I admitted to it he would stop the drugs and start again..."
Dutchy couldn't believe what he was hearing.
"What?!"
"He promised, but that lasted all of 2 months...he went away for dealing..."
"Wait a minute, he just let you take the fall?"
Kate knew it was wrong but she didn't want him to hate Paul.
"Yes and no, I wanted to do it but I don't think I was prepared for what was to come, I don't think I really understood what I was doing..."
"Kate that's crazy, why would you do that?"
"He's my brother Dutchy, I know you're an only child and I don't want to be insulting and say you wouldn't understand but... you wouldn't. Paul was everything to me, he always protected me, he was my idol.
Dutchy scoffed, frustrated at her idea of an idol.
"Yeah some idol, a druggie who let his little sister go down for killing someone..."
Kate reached out and placed her hand on his arm.
"Dutchy, please..."
"How are you even in the Navy then?"
"He came clean about a year later, he said it was the guilt. My record was wiped and he was charged with manslaughter, he got 10 years..."
Dutchy was still a gobsmacked.
"So what, you've forgiven him?"
"I had too Dutchy... You know I hate to admit but the counsellor I saw was right, holding on to anger only made things worse, it eats you alive and it was my idea after all. I never went to see him, he wrote me letters asking me to forgive him but I never said that I did, well not until last week when he showed up."
"But you were just a kid! How could he do that to his baby sister."
Kate put her hands on his, she knew that he was protective of her but she didn't want this to ruin the friendship they had.
"Dutchy please understand, I'm telling you because I thought you would understand, but I'm asking you to let it go."
Dutchy looked at her and her pleading expression. He couldn't believe that family would do that to family but if Kate was able to forgive him why shouldn't he?
"So what's going to happen?"
Kate shrugged.
"I dunno, I'm off the case."
"But you have to defend yourself... I don't even know how that theory works, so basically their saying you joined the Navy like 15 years ago just so you could pull of this plan now?"
Kate rolled her eyes.
"I don't know, I don't actually want to know how their brain works. I'm hoping it will just blow over, I mean they can't prove anything but neither can I."
"No wonder he's trying to make things up to you..."
Kate shrugged and wiped the tears from her face.
"Just try not and let this sway your judgement, I could tell you a thousand stories where he helped me, where he was the best big brother in the world..."
He gave her a sceptical look, his mobile rang, it was Paul, he answered it trying to sound un-phased.
"Paul, mate, all done? Cool I'm on my way..."
He hung up the phone.
"He's finished his interview..."
Dutchy went to get up and leave, Kate placed a hand n his arm.
"Please don't tell him..."
"Kate..."
"Dutchy please, don't make me beg. We don't need to drag this up, we're good now, I don't want this to ruin any chance of being a family again."
Dutchy didn't agree but he didn't want to put any more stress on Kate, he nodded and left. A little while later they returned, Paul triumphantly swung open the door.
"You're officially looking at a dock worker!"
He walked over and stood in front of Kate, she stood up and hugged him, he could tell something was wrong, he held her by her shoulders.
"Kate?"
She avoided his glance.
"What?"
He glanced at Dutchy for answers, Dutchy acted none the wiser and shrugged. She walked into the kitchen trying to avoid Paul's questioning look.
"Celebratory drink?"
Kate brought out 2 beers and a glass of wine for herself.
"Well, I have some news too, I'm back on shore..."
Again Paul glanced at Dutchy noticing her weird tone.
"And that's a good thing?"
She smiled and nodded and wrapped her arm around him.
"Yeah, that way I can spend more time with my brother!"
There was a knock on the door, Kate was puzzled at who it could be. She cautiously opened the door hoping it wasn't Mike, she was surprised to see Maxine.
"Ma'am..."
"Ah, Kate I know this is a little unorthodox but can I come in?"
Kate glanced back at Dutchy and Paul sitting on the couch, Maxine noticed her hesitation.
"It really would be better Kate..."
She sighed at opened the door, Dutchy and Paul turned to see Maxine enter the house. Dutchy stood up.
"Ma'am... ah, I can go if you like Kate?"
She shook her head.
"It's okay, ah do you want to come out to the deck Ma'am?"
She nodded and walked past Dutchy and Paul, Paul nudged him.
"What is going on? The Commander makes house calls?"
Dutchy watched them out the corner of his eye.
"How are you at lip reading mate?"
Kate and Maxine sat out on the deck, Maxine cleared her throat.
"I'm going to start this conversation by saying I didn't agree to this..."
Kate stiffened her back, she knew this was serious.
Inside Dutchy and Paul couldn't help but stare, Dutchy knew that it wasn't a common occurrence for their Commander to visit them at home. They watched as Kate stood up and paced around the deck, Maxine stood and stepped towards her. They could both tell she was distressed, Paul got up to go out there, Dutchy pulled on his arm.
"She's okay mate, she can handle herself..."
He cautiously sat back down and kept his eye on Kate.
"This isn't good is it?"
Dutchy shook his head, he turned towards Dutchy.
"What is going on..."
Dutchy was about to speak as Maxine entered the house, she gave him a slight nod and walked out the front door. Paul and Dutchy walked out on to the deck, Kate was looking out to the distance. Dutchy glanced at Paul and put his hand on her shoulder.
"Kate?"
She spun round trying to hold back tears.
"I've been suspended..."
Dutchy didn't know what to say, Paul grabbed her arm.
"What is happening?"
Kate sighed and sat down, the boys followed. She glanced up at him and then at Dutchy, he gave her a nod of encouragement. She took a deep breath in.
"It's this thing with the drug smugglers, they found out about your past and basically accused me of leaking information and you being a part of the smuggling."
This didn't make any sense to Paul, he looked at Dutchy for confirmation, he nodded.
"Kate, you can't believe..."
"No, Paul, it's not like that I argued with these stupid Feds and now they've reported it to Fleet Command..."
Paul stood up furious.
"This is bullshit, let me speak to them..."
Kate grabbed his arm.
"No, you'll make it worse..."
"Well let me speak to Maxine or Mike, why isn't he defending you? isn't he supposed to be your Boss and your boyfriend?"
He suddenly realised what he had said allowed, he looked at Kate and cringed.
"Sorry..."
Kate glanced over at Dutchy.
"Dutchy, we're not..."
"Kate, I'm not going to say anything..."
Paul headed for the door, Kate called out after him,
"Please don't do anything silly..."
"I'm not, I just need to go for a walk and cool off..."
Kate put her head in her hands, Dutchy scooted his chair closer.
"It'll be okay Kate, we'll catch these guys and it'll all go away..."
"Yeah and in the mean time we all look guilty, maybe you should just keep away from me..."
She appreciated Dutchy was just trying to make her feel better but she didn't want sympathy. Dutchy was confused as to why she was reacting like the way she was.
"Kate, I'm just trying to help, don't push me away..."
She shot him an angry look.
"I don't need your help Dutchy..."
Dutchy held his eye contact, she was the first to look away, he stood up and let out a frustrated huff.
"Kate, you may have your family back but don't forget the other family who's always had your back..."
She looked up at him, she knew she was pushing him away but she didn't want anyone else to get involved. She knew he would do almost anything for her and it scared her. She looked back to the floor and almost whispered.
"I think you should go..."
Dutchy knee better than to argue, he didn't want to say something he couldn't take back. He shook his head as he left, Kate let out a frustrated growl and chucked a couch cushion across the room.
"Shit..."
End of Chapter 4.
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