CH 57

"MacGyver," Kate acknowledged her.

"X, where's Baxter?"

"He hasn't arrived yet, why?"

"Ok, well, we won't be leaving," and she showed Kate the clipboard.

"RO, get me NAVCOM please," Kate called out.

"What's missing?" Charge asked.

"IV bags, IV lines, Panadol, tape, gloves and food items," MacGyver answered him.

"Oh, that's all," Charge said sarcastically.

Kate spoke to NAVCOM about the missing supplies and then she turned to MacGyver.

"Can we do with the items we've got?"

MacGyver stepped over to Kate, "Let me talk to them," Kate passed the phone to her.

"Hello, who am I speaking to?…. Right, this is Petty Officer Roth, MacGyver, we need those items… yes, it is…. we've got two bags, the others had to be returned because of the expiration dates… yes, they were ordered a week ago… no... we need them, we are not leaving port until we get those missing items including the food… well then get me your CO on the line and I'll talk to him… thank you." She let out her breath while shaking her head then raised an eyebrow and smiled.

"Hey! Big Mack! It's MacGyver. How are you, Mate? Long time, Sir…" she laughed. "Yeah, it would be great to catch up, Mate. Listen we didn't get everything that was on our restock order… we need them, Mate… you've got the list your able seamen wrote down?… Big Mack, we've only got two IV bags… expired… twelve… yeah thanks, Mate. You forgot what I'm like… Yeah, just until NAVCOM can find a replacement… that would be great, I'd love to catch up… thank you… yeah, and can you find out where the missing boxes are because this isn't the first time it's happened… Ok thanks, Big Mack, take care," then she hung up. "He's sending everything that's missing from the order and he is going to find out what happened to the missing supplies since it has been happening on and off over the past six months before he was CO there."

"Thank you, MacGyver… Big Mack?" Kate asked.

"Lieutenant Commander 'Mack' McDonald, six foot five and ninety-five kilo, that is why his nickname is Big Mack. We served together on Anzac, Commander Flynn would know him, they shared a cabin together."

"Ok."

Half an hour later the supply boxes arrived and after MacGyver checked them to her list she was satisfied and so was Swain.

While the boxes were carried onboard a Navy car arrived on the wharf drawing MacGyver's attention. She was shocked to see who got out of it so she walked over to him.

"Sir, is everything ok? Where's Baxter?"

"He's been promoted and transferred to Sydney. I'll be captain until a replacement can be found." The sailor that was his driver passed Mike his seabag and case, they saluted each other before he returned to the car and drove off.

"Does Kate know?" MacGyver askes.

"No, I'm going to tell her in person."

"Ok, everything is on board and now we're just waiting for you." They walk to the gangway and onto Hammersley.

"MacGyver, tell Kate to take her out and head north, while I get settled in."

"Yes, Sir, and welcome back."

"Thanks MacGyver," She walked up and onto the bridge.

"X, the Captain said for you to take Hammersley out and head north for the patrol."

"Thanks MacGyver."

MacGyver put her hand on Kate's arm before she turned around.

"What is it?"

"You better be prepared, X."

"For what?"

"Mike is Captain."

"What?" She said, shocked.

"He will fill everyone in once we are at sea."

"OK."

Then she gives out the orders to get them underway. They head out to sea with Bird on the bridge watching what was happening. Once they were heading north the crew was shocked to see Mike walk up and onto the bridge.

"Sir! This is a surprise," RO said.

"I know it is and it will be explained," Mike said.

He walked over and picked up the microphone, "Now hear this, Captain Flynn speaking… I know you are all shocked to hear my voice instead of Captain Baxter. Lieutenant Commander Baxter has been promoted to Commander and has been transferred to Sydney effective immediately. Since they were unable to find a replacement on short notice, Fleet Command asked me to take over until a permanent captain can be found, hopefully by the time we return from our patrol. And yes, MacGyver, I promise to spoil our XO when we return from our patrol, that is all." His last remark caused everyone to laugh.

"X. I will want details," MacGyver says. They all laugh and Bird just looks confused. MacGyver noticed and walked over to her.

"Something puzzling you, Bird?"

"Yeah, what you said about the Captain and the X."

"They are married as you can see with their last names being the same. Commander has a shore posting and X is on here. The Commander does fill in as a temporary captain for a patrol or two if another lieutenant commander can't be found."

"Ok."

"Look, if you are not sure about something, don't hesitate to ask."

"Ok, it's all new to me."

"You'll learn and understand."

"Ok."

Over the next five weeks, they were kept busy with mayday calls and dealing with FFVs. Bird was always asking questions helping her to learn what was what. When they return to Cairns the crew's looking forward to having a week off which is good timing as Valentine's Day's in three days.

When June arrived home she did what she normally does when she returns from patrol. When Jim arrived home they hug and kiss. They had dinner at home and went to the pub for drinks with the crazy crew.

"Jim, how are things with the SAS?" Mike asked.

"Been busy, got back two days ago from a mission."

"Ok."

"June told me what Two Dads did to Bird and the trouble he got himself into."

"Well, she is new and very willing to learn," Kate said.

"June said the same thing."

They continue to enjoy their evening with the crew then they left for home and they made love that night.

Two days later it was Valentine's Day. Jim surprised June with different things all day.

On the day Hammersley was leaving for their next patrol everyone learned that Commander Marshall was being transferred and no one seemed to know who the new commanding officer was going to be. Jim drove to the Navy Base security checkpoint when he and June saw Kate walking towards Hammersley.

"Jim, you don't mind stopping here, do you? I want to talk to Kate alone."

"Sure, are you ok?"

"Yes, of course," she leaned over and kissed him. "I'm fine. I just want to talk to her about how to help Bird out since she's learning and to find out what she wants to do in the navy."

"Ok, that's a good idea. See you in three weeks."

"Sure will," they kiss passionately before breaking for air.

"I love you," she said.

"I love you, be safe out there."

"I always am Jim." They kissed once more before she got out and got her seabag.

"See you when I return."

"I'll be counting the days," he said smiling.

She walked over to the security gate and showed the guard on duty her ID before he let her through. She waved and blew a kiss to Jim and he returned to her, then she turned and ran to catch up with Kate.

"Kate!" she called out. Kate stopped and turned around and then saw June running up to her.

"Hey, how was your shore leave?" June asked as they walked towards Hammersley.

"It was great, yours?"

"It was great, had one duty shift"

"Ok."

"So valentine's Day, what happened?" she asked while smiling causing Kate to laugh.

"Only if you tell me yours."

"Alright, so breakfast... what happened?"

"We were enjoying the sleep in when NACOM called and Mike had to go in straight away. So he told me to stay in bed until he returned."

"Ok, then what happened?"

"Well stayed in bed. When he got back he took his clothes off and then said he would be back. He walked out of our bedroom and then returned with a tray in hand. I had to sit up and just as he put the tray on my lap, he put the big pillows behind me."

"Late breakfast?"

"Yeah, it was just after nine-thirty when he returned from NAVCOM."

"Ok, so the tray?"

"There were twenty-four hearts that looked like flowers, it was chocolates, two glasses of orange juice and a large plate with heart-shaped waffles and pancakes covered in whip cream, maple syrup, blueberries, and sliced strawberries."

"Wow, Valentine's breakfast in bed. Did he join you in bed?"

"Yes, he did. He cut the pancakes and waffles and fed me, and I let him and he even fed me his strawberries and cream."

"Oh, sounds quite sexy."

Kate laughed, "Yeah and the chocolates were milk chocolate, of course."

"Of couese" MacGyver said laughing

"Then while having breakfast Mike told me Steve was being transferred to Canberra tomorrow and we would be getting a new CO but he doesn't know who it is."

"Commander Marshall's leaving?"

"Yeah, I was shocked."

"I bet. So, what happened after breakfast?"

Kate smiled, "Just like with the drink, sex with the captain." They both laugh.

"That's funny."

"Ok, I've told mine it's your turn."

"Jim is always full of surprises. It started off with us making love. Then he said he would be back and for me to stay in bed, sound familiar? So I did. Then I could hear him downstairs. I was wondering what was going on plus someone was knocking at our door. But I stayed where I was. I could smell something cooking."

"Jim cooks?"

"Yes. When he walked into our room I had to laugh. Jim was wearing his robe, holding a tray that held two glasses of grape juice and a bottle. From what I could see. He's got a rose in his mouth and in both hands are ribbons holding on to helium balloons. On them was 'I love my wife', 'I love you June', 'Be my sexy Valentine'. Then the one that brought tears to my eyes said, 'June Roth I've loved you from the first day we met', 'I loved you yesterday, I love you today, I'll love you tomorrow and I will love you forever, your loving husband Jim Roth" with XXX."

"Wow, now that is amazing."

"I know. When I read out loud what was on the balloon, that's what brought tears to my eyes."

"That would be it for anyone."

"So true."

"What else was on the tray?"

"A plate of large pancakes wrapped up. He placed the tray onto my lap and I removed the rose from his mouth and kissed him. Then he got back into bed and I told him that this is the best Valentine's gift ever."

"I bet it was. So what was in the pancakes?"

"One had bacon strips and maple syrup and the other was whipped cream and blueberry sauce. He cut them up and we fed each other. Afterwards I got up and got his valentine gift."

"What did you get him?"

"A night at the Kewarra Beach Resort up in Palm Cove."

"Did he like his gift?"

"He loved it. So did anything special happen later?"

"We went into town to do some shopping and then went to a cafe for lunch. How about you?"

"We had lunch up in Palm Cove, in our hotel room. We had champagne and a seafood platter."

"Sounds good."

"Oh, it was all right."

"So how about the afternoon and evening?"

"He took me out to a candlelit dinner at the marina."

"How romantic."

"It was, then after that, we returned home to end our amazing day in bed making love."

"It's great that you had such a wonderful time."

"Oh, did Mike buy you anything while on shore leave since he came back to Hammersley?"

"He did, milk not dark."

June laughed, "Good for you."

" And what about you and Jim?"

"Ahhh, we went for a walk along the beach then returned and had drinks, after that we had a romantic dinner and dancing. Later we returned to our rooms for a night of passion. Then we returned to Cairns the next day."

"Sounds like you and Jim had a wonderful time."

"We did. We're both very lucky women to be married to men who love and respect us. Unlike some men today who use and abuse them."

"That is all too true." When they reached Hammersley they said their good mornings to the crew members that they saw on board and then they went to their separate cabins to sort out their bags before reporting to their assigned duties.

When it was time, Hammersley left port and headed out to sea.