Hey everyone!
(this is the same A/N as the other chapter – just in case people don't read both!)
Hope you all had a lovely Christmas and a fabulous new year with too much food and booze. Well that's how us Aussie's do it hahaha.
Sorry it's been so long between chapters, this one has really been kicking my ass! Lol, slightly regretting the double story option, never again... well maybe haha. Also being distracted by other fics away in fantasy K and D land doesn't help my writers block but I think I'm finally back on track.
Anyway let's get on with it before I change my mind and want to re write it again.
Don't forget to review.
The Ties that Bind
Chapter 11 (Mike stands up for Kate)
Mike stood on the bridge constantly checking the radar, he was surrounded by Dutchy, Swain and 2Dads and the Federal Agents. Kate walked up the stairs and tried to peer over Mike's shoulder. Agent Knowles frowned at her presence and pulled her aside.
"What do you think you're doing?"
Kate glanced at him sideways irritated.
"Ah, I'm getting an update on the mission..."
He pulled her further away from the radar.
"I don't think so..."
Kate looked in Mike's direction for help, Mike cleared his throat and stepped in between them.
"Kate, ah Lieutenant Commander McGregor's experience and relationship with Paul will an asset..."
Agent Knowles didn't want to hear it, he interrupted.
"I think it will be more likely a disadvantage..."
Kate didn't appreciate being talked about while she was standing right next to them, she put her hands on her hips.
"Agent Knowles, it is clear that my brother is guilty and I want to see him brought to justice, I believe that I'll be able to convince him to turn himself in, well more than any of you lot."
Agent Knowles glared at her for a moment, she did have a point. He let out a frustrated grunt and looked at Mike.
"If she stuffs this up it's your head...We're going to interview the others..."
He walked out of the bridge and Agent Rowe followed. Kate sighed, she knew that it was a possibility that it could all go downhill but she didn't want Mike to take all the blame.
"Boss..."
"It's okay Kate, look I don't know if it's best if you're there but I trust you. But if you can talk him down then it's best for everyone."
She gave him a half hearted smile and stood back at the radar.
An hour before first light they gathered on the deck to board the impounded drug boat. They crew were dressed in civvies and had wigs on to disguise themselves. They jumped onboard while Kate and Mike stood on the deck, he reached out and grabbed her hand.
"You sure you're okay to do this?"
She nodded slightly.
"I have too..."
"Okay, if he goes quietly then I want you to be the least involved, got it?"
She nodded and boarded they boat.
The crew stood in the wheelhouse looking out for the smugglers boat. 2Dads took out some gum and started to chew, he's chewing became louder, Kate glanced over to him, he didn't notice. Kate tried to distract herself, but it wasn't working, all she could hear was the incessant noise of his chewing.
"2Dads, would you just stop!"
The crew jumped at Kate's snap, they all looked at each other not knowing what to do.
Kate looked around at the shocked looks on the crews faces, she hung her head in embarrassment and walked out to the deck, Mike followed concerned at her behaviour.
She stood out on the bow of the boat and wrapped her arms around herself, Mike slowly approached her and placed a hand on her shoulder.
"Kate, there' still time to get you back to Hammersley."
She shook her head still staring out to the ocean.
"How could he do this to me again?"
He sighed and stood next to her, Dutchy ran out to them interrupting their moment.
"Sorry boss, we've got a visual on the exchange boat."
Mike gave her an encouraging smile and gave her arm a squeeze.
"You can do this..."
They rushed back into the wheelhouse.
"Okay, 2Dads and Dutchy you board first..."
Dutchy cleared his throat interrupting them.
"What if Paul is on deck and recognises us..."
Mike chuckled a little
"I didn't even recognise you when you came out of your cabin... but I guess when they get close they'll see that you're not the guys we've got in austere and we'll need to move fast. According to their intel there are only 2 of them and Paul on board. Right, you two stand on deck, we'll make ourselves scarce..."
2Dads and Dutchy stood on deck almost pacing, they were incredibly nervous, Charge was steering the boat and Mike and Kate crouched down below the railing out of sight. The boat came along side and they tied the boats together.
2Dads and Dutchy jumped on board the drug boat, Gaz approached them and looked them up and down. Paul came up from below and recognised them both, he tried to hide his surprise but Gaz saw him. Gaz was immediately on dege.
"Hey, where's Ted and Brad?"
2Dads glanced nervously at Dutchy, he cleared his throat.
"They got caught by the bloody Navy, Terry sent us instead..."
Gaz glanced at Paul and he shrugged slightly, he shook his head and drew his weapon. 2Dads and Dutchy retaliated and drew their weapons, they were at a standstill.
Mike and Kate jumped up from the other side of the boat and announced themselves, they also drew their weapon. Paul immediately recognised Kate, he tried to diffuse the situation.
"Gaz, mate just calm down a minute..."
He scoffed.
"Calm down? Do you want to go back to prison?"
Gaz noticed Paul glance back and forth from Kate to him.
"What's going on Paul? Do you know her or something?"
He placed the gun at his temple and took out another gun and pointed back at the Hammersley crew. Paul exhaled sheepishly.
"That's my sister..."
Gaz's eyes nearly popped out of his head.
"Sister? You're shitting me right?"
Paul shook his head ever so slightly, Gaz let out a groan.
"The one that's in the Navy?"
Paul nodded again, Gaz unlatched the safety on his gun, Kate held her breath.
"I know having you here was a liability!"
Mike glanced round, it was about to get messy he had to intervene.
"Look fellas, this doesn't have to end badly..."
Gaz laughed and smiled at him.
"This is only gonna end badly for you or him..."
Mike unlatched the safety on his gun.
"Look around you... you're out numbered..."
Kate had to do something, she went to step forward, Mike grabbed her arm stopping her and shook his head. She frowned and shrugged him off and lowered her gun and stepped closer to Paul.
"Paul, it's not too late... please, I thought you came back here to make amends, you were doing so well, please, I just want us to be a family."
He reached out to take her hand, a grin grew on her face, she was getting through to him. He grasped her hand in his and spun her round and dragged her towards him, he had held his arm tightly around her neck and held the gun to her head.
"I'm sorry sis, I don't have a choice..."
Kate tried to struggle out of his embrace but he was too strong.
"There's always a choice Paul..."
He focused his attention on Mike.
"Go or I will shoot her..."
Mike hesitated for a minute.
"I don't think you would mate..."
Paul let out a laugh and took the safety off the gun.
"Are you sure about that?"
Dutchy tried to distract him.
"Paul, what are you doing? She's your sister, she took you in, she trusted you..."
Paul laughed and rolled his eyes.
"Nice try Dutchy, I can't believe you guys fell for that!"
Mike raised his gun and aimed it at Paul, Kate's eyes bludged.
"Mike! What are you doing?"
"Kate, just stay out of it..."
"Ah I think that's a bit hard Mike..."
Dutchy glanced at Mike and gave him a small nod, Paul noticed and re-aimed the gun at Dutchy.
"Oi, what are you doing?"
Mike took the opportunity while Paul was distracted to take him out, he let off 2 rounds. He held his breath as the force flipped Paul and Kate overboard, Mike and Dutchy raced to the side of the boat to look for them, there was no sign of them. Gaz cut the rope tying the boats together and then raced to the wheelhouse and started the engine, Mike and Dutchy were thrown by the force of the boat taking off. He opened fire on them while trying to steer the boat. Mike and Dutchy returned fire, 2Dads approached from the back and tackled him, he hit his head on the steering wheel and knocked himself out. 2Dads stopped the boat and tied him to the wheel and ran to check on Mike and Dutchy. Mike desperately scanned the water's surface, he grabbed his radio.
"Charlie 82 to Papa82 we need immediate back up, 2 POB overboard, repeated 2 POB overboard."
Chaarge brought the other boat alongside and re tied them together and let down the anchor. Swain arrived in the RHIB and Mike, Dutchy and 2Dads jumped in and started the search for Kate and Paul.
A kilometre or so away Dutchy spotted something in the water.
"Halfy, something in the water, green, near..."
Halfy steered the boat in the direction, it was Kate, she had been able to inflate her life jacket. They pulled her aboard, she was a little groggy but relatively unharmed. Mike grabbed the radio to alert the others
"Charlie 82 to Papa82, we've found Kate, we're sending her back to the ship and then we'll continue the search for Paul."
Swain too Kate back to the Hammersley in the RHIB. He sent it back out to Mike, Dutchy and 2Dads who went back out to search for Paul. Swain and Bird took Kate down to the ward room. Swain flashed the light in her eye to check her pupils.
"X, can you hear me? X?"
Kate bolted straight up and gasped, Swain placed an hand on her shoulder and gently lay her back down on the table.
"It's okay Kate, you went overboard."
She bolted up again.
"Paul!"
"Kate, please just lay down, they're out looking for him..."
She shook her head.
"No, I'm fine swain..."
She went to stand and stumbled, Swain gave her an insistent look and sat her back down.
"Kate, you probably have a concussion, please just sit for a moment..."
Kate sat back down and let out a frustrated huff, Swain continued to check over her.
A little while later Kate paced on deck waiting for the RHIBS to return, Bird brought her a glass of water and a sandwich.
"Ma'am, I know you're worried but you should be resting..."
Kate shot her an all knowing look, Bird knew what was coming, she retreated.
"But you know your body better than anyone right?"
Kate gave her a smiled and nodded, she continued to pace sipping on the water and taking the occasional bite out of the sandwich.
A few hours later she heard the RHIB crane being lowered and looked over the side of the boat. She tried to make eye contact with Mike, he was busy trying to avoid it. Mike climbed back on deck, Kate raced over to him and pulled on his arm.
"Where is he?"
He took a deep breath in and swallowed hard.
"We couldn't find him Kate..."
Kate already knew this was the case as he wasn't standing on board but her mind refused to believe it.
"Well why aren't you still out there searching..."
He placed a hand on her shoulder.
"Kate... we've been out there for nearly 3 hours...I got confirmation from Maxine to call off the search."
She couldn't believe that he was abandoning the search, she scoured the RHIB for Dutchy, she ran up to him desperate for answers.
"Dutchy... what was your search radius? You can't have searched everywhere..."
Dutchy looked into her eyes hoping he wouldn't have to say it, she could tell from his expression that it wasn't good. Tears formed in her eyes, she knew what he was going to say next. She shook her head in disbelief and ran to her cabin. Dutchy went to go after her, Mike put his hand out stopping him.
"I'll go Dutchy..."
Kate sat on her rack trying not to believe that her brother was gone, she tried to tidy herself as Mike knocked on the door.
"Kate, I'm sorry..."
She tried to calm herself, but she had to blame someone. She stood up making herself feel less venerable.
"If you hadn't shot him..."
Mike was expecting a reaction like this, he kept his voice calm.
"Kate, he was going to shoot you..."
She didn't want to hear it, stepped closer and raised her voice.
"There had to be another way, but I guess it doesn't matter now you got exactly what you wanted, he's gone..."
He knew that she just needed to rant but that comment was out of line.
"C'mon Kate, that's never what I wanted..."
She let out a frustrated hiss and clenched her fists by her side.
"Oh c'mon Mike, you hated him for the second he arrived."
"Kate we've discussed this..."
"Yeah we have, now get out!"
Mike stood his ground, she knew that this was her way of grieving.
Kate's eyes welled with tears again, she couldn't deal with him, not on top of everything else.
"Please go..."
He saw her expression change in to one of defeat and sadness, he didn't want to upset her further, he did as she asked and left.
End of Chapter 11
Please don't forget to review! Xx