CH 48

On Tuesday morning, Jim drove June to the dock on his bike. They both were in uniform and wearing leather jackets. He had gotten her one when they were down in Hobart. The crew was busy taking the supply boxes onboard when they noticed that a bike had stopped not far from the gangway and then the two people who got off it.

"No way! It can't be..." Two Dads said.

"What? Is that... Two Dads?" RO asked.

"Captain Roff and MacGyver."

"Nah, it can't be, MacGyver's on Melbourne"

When the couple removed their helmets... "It is them!" Two Dads said surprised.

"Hey! You're late! You can say goodbye to your boyfriend and get a move on," they heard a male voice say.

"This is going to be interesting," said RO.

June looked at the guy with the big mouth who was holding the clipboard and then turned back to Jim.

"Uh-Oh, I know that look, June."

"I'll let you know what happens" she wraps her arms around his neck and kisses him deeply.

Then the guy walked over to her and Jim, "Now break it up you two or I'll…"

He screwed up his face as he slowly got down onto his knees. June's hand was on his shoulder nerve point all the while still kissing Jim.

Two Dads and RO walk over to them, "You can let him go MacGyver, I think he got the message," Two Dads said. She let go and put her arm back around Jim's neck.

The guy got up, "You're on report!" he said angrily.

"Spike, this isn't Scotty, this is MacGyver."

"Who?"

"MacGyver, Petty Officer June McGinnis." Two Dads informed him. "Well, it's Roth now, and that is Captain Jim Roth, her husband."

"Two Dad's, RO, Spike what's going on here?"

June smiled when she recognised the voice.

"They haven't come up for air...oww!" Two Dads said, which caused MacGyver to clip him on the back of the head.

"I can see that," she said walking onto the wharf just as they broke apart.

"Hi X."

"MacGyver, Jim, how was your honeymoon?"

"Wonderful, I had three different drinks while down there and Jim had two."

"What were they?" Two Dads asked.

"Sex on the Beach," June said.

"Sex on the Boat," Jim added.

"And... Sex with the Captain" June said, making Kate laugh.

"That's a lot of drinks," Two Dads said grinning.

"Yes, it was." Turning to the guy with the attitude, "Petty officer Millar, now you know who I am. Not that I should have to explain myself to you but I'm only here to catch a lift to Melbourne and you need to loosen up and find a balance or you won't have the respect of any junior sailors that are under you or make any friends."

"I'm here to do my job."

"You still can do your job and make friends, you've got to learn to balance and then everything will be fine. If you don't you will end up being kicked off Hammersley."

"MacGyver's right, Spike," Kate added.

"Two dads, RO back to work you two we can catch up later."

"Ok, MacGyver," going back to loading supplies.

"We'll leave you two alone," Kate said.

"Thanks, X." She and Spike returned to where the crew were loading boxes.

Turning back to Jim, "I better get going, got a meeting in a half an hour."

"I know, I'm going to miss you."

"I'm going to miss you too" and they hug and kiss once more.

"I love you," she said.

"I love you too."

Taking off her jacket she folded it and put it in one of the saddlebags on the bike and the helmet in the other one. Kissing once more before he put his helmet on, got on his bike, started it up, and with one more look at June he rode away. She stood there watching him until she couldn't see him any more. Picking up her bags she walked up and onto Hammersley.

"X, where am I staying?"

"Your sharing with me tonight."

"Hey, that's great, we can chat tonight."

"Can't wait."

June went down to Kate's cabin and sorted out her bags then she went to say "hi" to the others. She heard Swain in the wardroom, so she opened the door quietly and stepped inside. Closing the door behind her, she noticed that he was checking the medical supplies.

"Whatcha doing?"

He jumped, then turned around, "Macgyver!" They hugged, then pulled back, "What are you doing here besides giving me a heart attack?"

She laughed, "Luckily I'm a medic. As for me being here, hitching a ride with you guys. You're going to drop me off on Melbourne tomorrow."

"Ok. So how was your honeymoon?"

"It was wonderful, Swain."

"That's great. Sally and I had a great time at your wedding and Chloe, she looked amazing in her dress."

"She did, adorable. The photos will be ready next month."

"We're looking forward to seeing them. Have you seen the crew?"

"All but Charge and my replacement who apparently is late, and the

Captain."

"Well, I better get back to this."

"Have fun."

"You can help..."

"That's my replacement's job, talk to you later."

"Okay, later."

She left the wardroom and ran into Kate. "You've seen Swain?" Kate asked.

"Yeah and he almost put a hole in the roof again," she said giggling. " He's so easy."

"You didn't."

"Yep, but this time nothing ended up on the floor." They laugh as they walk away. "Well, that's good news."

"Has the new chef shown up yet?"

"He has and I gave him a stern talking to," Kate replied.

" And the Captain?"

"He arrived a couple of minutes ago."

"Well, I'll see you up on the bridge then," MacGyver said.

"Sure," then they parted ways.

When the order was given to sail, Swain looked to MacGyver, "MacGyver." She turned to Swain, "Care to take her out one last time?"

Looking at Kate, "You can if you want," Kate said smiling. MacGyver went over to the helm. Swain got up from his seat and moved out of the way so she could sit. The Captain was outside giving the orders and MacGyver repeated them back causing the Baxter to look and to see MacGyver at the helm. He smiled and then carried on until Macgyver, turning the ship around, said... "Two Dads hit it!"

"Yes, Ma'am!" Then throughout the ship, as they were leaving port, 'Born to be Wild' was blasting over the PA system. That made the crew laugh as they knew who was in control of the ship then they all started singing along.

The Captain, who was on the side bridge, looked at MacGyver who was singing along and just shook his head. There were two patrol boats in port and the music blasting caused those who were on board, to go out on deck to see where it was coming from. They should have known it was Hammersley, it was not the first time that it had happened.

Once they cleared the harbour and were out to sea, they headed north.

They had been underway for about an hour when the phone rang. RO answered it and called out, "MacGyver, it's Commander Marshall for you."

She walked over and took the phone from him, "Thanks RO… Petty Officer Roth."

"MacGyver, I've received reports from security and from Childer and Bendigo about loud music coming from Hammersley as it was leaving. Tell me it wasn't you."

"Yes, Sir, I was in the driver's seat. The song was, 'Born to be Wild'."

"I hope you don't do that on Melbourne"

"Only if I'm in the driver's seat, Sir, you might want to give them the heads up about that."

"Don't worry I will."

"Is that all, Sir?"

"Yes, it is. Fairwinds," then hung up and she said to the crew, "someone reported our departure to Commander Marshall and about the choice of song as we were leaving port."

"Well it could've been a worse song," Charge said.

"Yeah, 'In the Navy' by the Village People," MacGyver said, making them all laugh.

That night in X's cabin, Kate and June talked while enjoying the chocolate that June had in her bag. June told Kate about what they had done while down in Hobart.

"Sounds like you two had an amazing time together."

"We did."

They talked for another hour before going to bed and getting some sleep.

The next morning they met up with Melbourne. MacGyver said her goodbyes to the crew and she waved to them as the RHIB was lowered into the sea to take her over to Melbourne.

Once she was on board with her bags, she waved again to the crew then picked up her bags and followed an Able Seaman to the bridge. She walked onto the bridge, stood at attention and saluted the Captain.

"Petty Officer McGinnis, welcome aboard Melbourne."

"Thank you, Sir, it's Roth now, Sir."

He looked at her name on her uniform, "Sorry about that, there must have been a mix-up."

"No, no mix-up, Sir. McGinnis is my maiden name, I've recently been married, just over two weeks ago, Sir."

"Well, congratulations, I gather your husband's in the Navy?"

"SAS, Sir, Captain Jim Roth."

"You married him?"

"Yes, Sir."

"Good for you. I hope that your marriage works out for you both."

"Thank you, Sir."

"Now, Petty Officer, I read your profile, I'm impressed with your record."

"Thank you, Sir."

"So, you've joined us to complete the medical side training of your training."

"Doing the three-month course and training, Sir so that I can keep up with the latest techniques that the Navy has to offer."

"Good for you, and will you be working in the galley as well?"

"Yes, Sir, and I'm a helmsman as well."

"I'm aware… Ginger can you show Petty Officer… Roth down to senior cabin four please."

"Yes, Sir."

"I'm called MacGyver, Sir," then she saluted him before following Ginger off the bridge.

"She's young to be a Petty Officer, Sir," the lieutenant said.

"She was promoted a few months ago. She's a hero and one woman you don't want to mess with," the Captain warned.

"How do you know this, Sir?" his XO asked.

"I read her record, X, and talked to Commander Mike Flynn about her. He knows her from when he was Captain of Hammersley. He gave me a heads up. She's bright… smart, stubborn and a lethal weapon."

"Lethal weapon, Sir?" the XO asked.

"Yes, Commander Flynn first met MacGyver in two thousand and two. She did her gap year on ANZAC when they were over in Afghanistan doing a tour. A boarding would have gone south if it wasn't for MacGyver. She single-handedly took down five armed men by herself and saved three crew men's lives. She was awarded the Star of Courage for that, the youngest in arm forces history."

"How old was she when she did that, Sir?" the lieutenant asked.

"Eighteen."

"Wow, that is young," the XO said.

"What she did took guts. It wasn't the first time that she risked her life to save others and she's got scars to prove it too."

Ginger showed MacGyver down to where the cabins are, "Here's your's Petty Officer".

"Just MacGyver, that's my Navy nickname."

"Ok... MacGyver, I can show you around if you like."

"I'll be fine, thank you. You can return back to your duties."

"Yes, MacGyver."

MacGyver walked into the cabin closing the door behind her. There were six bunk beds, five already being used, so she put her bags on the open bottom bunk and started getting her things sorted out. Then she left and found her way to the wardroom. She introduced herself to the doctor and the chief medic. She was there in time for her to start her duties and courses.