CH 15

Half an hour later while MacGyver was getting lunch on, she noticed that the engines were starting up just as Spider walked around where the serving area is.

"MacGyver, we've got eight guests to feed."

"Who?"

"You will find out" she turned to see him grinning

"Who is it?"

"We're going to Samaru Island" she looks at him

"SAS"

"Yep and lover boy is one of them!" he said grinning.

"Spider, if you ever call Jim 'lover boy' again you won't just have me to deal with, understand,?" she said angrily.

"Sorry, I thought that you two..."

"There is a time and place, and right now I'm working, and haven't you got something to do?"

Spider walked away letting out his breath as he went. MacGyver shook her head then returned to the work at hand.

When it was lunchtime, most of the crew showed up for lunch

"Has anyone informed our guests that lunch is ready?" MacGyver asked.

"No need." Then the person appeared around the corner smiling at her.

"We know what time lunch is when your cooking, and it looks great."

"Thanks," she said smiling back.

An hour and a half later, MacGyver was walking to the bridge when Jim appeared, "Hey," he said kissing her.

"I'm on duty, Jim."

"I know, I miss you."

"Miss you. Spider said Samaru Island."

"Yeah, the government asked for help."

"Ok, how long?"

"Don't really know. How long is your patrol?"

"Two weeks."

"Ok, how's Mike?"

"Slowly getting better. He should be out of hospital sometime next week."

"That's good then."

"Yeah, it is. I better get to the bridge, I'm due on watch in a couple of minutes," looking at her watch.

"Alright, talk later."

"After dinner."

"Ok," he gives her a quick kiss before walking away.

MacGyver walk up and onto the bridge and joins Swain at the helm, "Everything ok?"

"Yep, we're on course to Samaru Island," Swain said as he got up from the seat and she sat down taking his place.

"Ok, thanks, Swain." She checked things over then sat back and looked out to sea while listening to the chatter around her.

The next morning after attending couple mayday calls, Hammersley dropped the SAS off on one part of the island. Jim and MacGyver kiss before he got into the HRIB. She watches what is happening until the RHIB is back and Hammersley left to do resume patrol.

When Hammersley returned from patrol MacGyver was bringing Hammersley in while Swain was in the wardroom resting after he fell down the stairs during the storm overnight and sprained his ankle. Once Hammersley was docked, the paramedics showed up on the boat deck as Buffer and ET help Swain onto the deck where the paramedics had a gurney waiting for him. MacGyver was handing over her report on Swain to the paramedics when RO approached.

"MacGyver,"

"Yeah, RO?"

"NAVCOM called, Commander Marshall wants to see you soon as you can."

"Thanks, RO," she returned to the wardroom to finish her paperwork. Then she checked on the fridge and pantry. After dropping the paperwork at ComCen then she changed into her dress whites, grabbed her seabag and left Hammersley for some shore leave.

Walking into the bullpen she sees Steve talking to an army general. Saluting when she approached, "Commander Marshall, Leader McGinnis reporting, Sir."

Returning the salute, "At ease Leader. General West, Leader McGinnis."

"We've met before, Sir. Hello, Sir," she said saluting him.

"You look much better compared to the last time I saw you MacGyver." Steve looked confused.

"General West came and saw me when I was in hospital, Sir."

"I see."

"RO said you wanted to see me, Sir."

"Yes, I did, Attention!... General'" MacGyver stood at attention and noticed all the personal in the room did also.

"Leader McGunnies on behalf of the SAS, I have been given the honour and privilege to present to you the Star of Gallantry for acts of great heroism or gallantry of action in circumstances of great peril at the risk of your life for taking out single-handedly the largest insurgent camp which was holding crates of weapons that were to be going into the enemy's hands and including the extra crates that you found hidden. You succeeded in a mission that the SAS was unable to complete. You have done both Navy and SAS proud. Because of what you have done, it has caused a major setback for the enemy." Then an officer stepped forward passing the general a box. He opened it and lifted the medal out and pinned it on her, then they saluted each other.

"Keep up the good work, Leader."

"I'll do my best sir, thank you, sir."

"Dismissed!" Steve said and MacGyver turned to the left then relaxed. She turned and smiled at Mike.

"I see you took my advice to heart, Sir. Congratulations on your promotion. I bet Fleet Command was shocked but happy."

Mike chuckled, "Yes they were and you are right about everything."

"Does Kate know?"

"Not yet."

"Ahh, a surprise. I like it so long as you remember milk not dark."

Mike laughed, "Yes, of course, I remember."

Turning to a confused general and Steve, "Chocolate, Sirs" MacGyver explains.

"Oh," Gen. West said.

"Leader, since Mike is now promoted, this way please," Steve said. The general passed her, her box then she followed Steve to a door opening it he says, "Your wearing the wrong uniform petty officer." she smiled.

"Well then, Sir, I better do something about it." Walking through the door she sees her new uniform in plastic bag on the table and others over a chair.

She closed the door and walked over to it. She took her top part of her uniform off and removed her name tags and metals. She put her metal in the box and took out the smaller one. Then she removed the top from the bag and put the metals on it, putting the jacket on, she sees that it fits perfectly. Then she opened the box with her new hat.

She got it out and smile then put it on to see that it fits too. She removed her hat and then put her old top on the hanger and laid it on the table then put her old hat on top. Picking up her hat, box and four other uniforms with the petty officer insignia on the sleeves and shoulders. Leaving the room to see them there waiting for her.

They all smile at her as she steps forward. "Does it fit?" Mike asked.

"Yes, Sir. Perfectly."

"Here, you going to need these," Mike passed her, her petty officer rank badges. Dog tags and new ID badge.

She took out her wallet and took out her ID badge and passed it to Steve then Mike passed her her new one. Then Mike passed her the dog tags which she replace them and pass Mike her old dog tags then he pass her the shoulder boards to her.

"Congratulations Petty Officer McGinnis, the youngest sailor in Australian Naval history," Steve said. They saluted each other while everyone clapped then settled down.

"How does it feel, MacGyver?" Mike asked.

"Ask me about it when I return from my next patrol, Sir."

"Sure."

"Petty Officer, a word in my office, you too Mike. Sorry General Navy matters."

"No, I understand. Congratulations on your promotion, MacGyver."

"Thank you, Sir," they saluted each other.

MacGyver followed Steve and Mike into Steve's office where they talk. "Sit down Leader, I mean Petty Officer."

"Thank you, Sir."

"I've received an email from Lieutenant Commander Baxter about you."

"What did he say, Sir?"

"That you're disrespectful to superior officers, disobey orders, and being late for duty. Care to tell us about it?"

She took a deep breath. "In the years I've been in the Navy, I haven't come across an officer who was such a disrespectful, snobby stuck up ass who wants the crew to be at his beck and call. I've served under and respected other officers including Commander Flynn here, but Lieutenant Commander Baxter, to me, he is not a team player. For one, he shows no respect for officers of lower rank and sailors alike. Whenever he's around, everyone is on eggshells, Sir, with the tension so thick you can cut it with a knife. To everyone else it's ' yes sir, on to it sir', that is how he wants it."

"Is it that bad?" Mike asked.

She turns to him, "a lot worse than Lieutenant Commander Freemen, Sir, judging from what the crew told me about him."

"But what about what he said about you?" Steve asked.

"I'm the only one who stood up to him and he doesn't like that one single bit. For starters, I was late once to the bridge because I was dealing with a wounded crewman in the wardroom and Swain was busy dealing with one of the men that we had in austere who was having an asthma attack. As for me being disrespectful and not following orders, well when the Captain comes into the galley while I'm dishing up breakfast and he orders me to get him two slices of toast, with bacon and hashbrowns on top and a poached egg and have it delivered to his cabin, I tell him no, Sir. If you want eggs it's scrambled, not poached and second I am not a waitress. I am a chef for the Royal Australian Navy and if you want to eat your breakfast you can eat it in the officer's and senior officer's dining room like the rest of the crew, not your cabin, Sir. He didn't like that one bit, Sir. But he comes into my galley and tells me what to cook special for him only and have it delivered to his cabin every mealtime, and I say no to him every time."

"MacGyver, you or X brought meals to me when I was in my cabin."

"You had a good reason, Sir, Baxter doesn't. And you do have respect for the crew and you've got more manners than Baxter's got."

"What do you think, Mike?"

"We should talk to him, Steve."

"He was still on board when I left, Sir," MacGyver says.

"Thanks, MacGyver." Steve then made a couple of calls.

"X told me that you've got spider scrubbing out the ovens," Mike said making her chuckle.

"Yes, after what he said to Jim, not knowing I was not far behind him and heard everything. He asked Jim if he was going to see me and make out with me in the galley. When I came up behind him he jumped so hard it nearly made him hit the roof. I yelled at him and Jim said a few words when X showed up. Jim told her what happened and I said to X that I wanted him in the galley with a toothbrush because he was going to clean the ovens because of what he said to Jim. X backed me up on the punishment and had a few more words for him, which he didn't like"

"Have you two…"

"Sir, there's a time and place and it's not on Hammersley while I'm on duty. Even if I'm off duty, which I'm not while on patrol. But some of the crew, X included saw us kiss before he got into the RHIB when we were dropping him and his men off Samaru Island."

"What about your cabin?"

"He's only stood in the doorway and hasn't stepped inside once, Sir."

"Ok, so what are your plans for your shore leave?"

"Swain and I are going to be at Barry General to do a three-day medical course"

"I remember reading about that two weeks ago," Mike said.

"Now you'll know why X hasn't rostered us on any shifts because of the course."

They talk until Baxter walks into Steve's office. He saluted Steve, Mike and MacGyver. He was a bit shocked to see that she was wearing a Petty Officers uniform. "Leader, why are you dressed like that?"

"It's Petty Officer, Sir. I was promoted ten minutes ago."

"What?" then he looks at Steve.

"She was actually promoted two weeks ago, today it's been made official, Lieutenant Commander," Steve said.

"Congratulations, Petty Officer," Baxter says.

"Thank you, Sir."

Turning to Steve once more, "You wanted to see me, Sir?"

"Yes, it's about your report on Petty Officer McGinnis."

They talk for the next ten minutes before the Lieutenant Commander walked out of Steve's office not looking happy. "MacGyver, you did well in keeping your cool."

"Years of practice, is there anything else, Sir?"

"No, that is all, and good luck with your course," Steve said.

"Thank you, Sir. There is one more thing, any idea what happened to the missing food?"

"It was your temporary replacement, he took it all. He got a dishonourable discharge from the Navy for what he did."

"Thank you for telling me, Sir." She saluted them both. She picked up the bag that had her other uniforms in them and her box and hat before walking out of Steve's office.