Hey everyone,

thanks for the reviews.

Probsbly should have explained this takes place somewhere around Flotsam and Jetsom but before In too Deep.

Disclaimer - the usual.. I don't own the characters - sigh lol

Enjoy :)

Chapter 2

For the next couple of hours Kate avoided Mike as much as possible. She tried to busy herself with paperwork in her cabin. She had no one else to blame for her mood but herself. Her train of thought was interrupted by a knock on her door.

"Come in"

It was Mike. He had brought her brew as a sort if peace offering

"Thought you might like a brew..."

Kate half heartedly smiled

"Yeah thanks..."

Mike stood there waiting for her to say something, anything... nothing. He was going to have to start the conversation

"Kate..."

She looked up at him. He cleared his throat

"X, I umm, we can make this work right?"

Kate paused.

"Mike we make a great team. I just need some time... look by the time we're in Samaru I should be good... thanks for asking"

Mike knew she didn't want to discuss it anymore. He gave up and left.

Samaru Port

The crew were unloading supplies off the boat. The SAS team departed for their camp. Jim walked off the ship avoiding Kate's eyes. Kate was surprised he didn't made an effort to say goodbye. She ran after him

"Jim.."

He turned around and smiled. Kate realized she looked a bit desperate and broke eye contact

"No goodbye?"

He smiled, not wanting her to think he didn't care.

"Just trying not to complicate things!"

He saluted her and left. Kate stood there confused. She shook her head and continued her duties. Mike appeared on deck to make an announcement

"Okay crew. We are here for a few weeks. We will work together with the SAS conducting patrols and providing medical assistance where possible. We need to be on high alert at all times. Militants are armed and we already know how they respond to the Navy and SAS. The X will post a roster of watches for Hammersley as well as patrol and r&r. All crew will have a night off tonight except those on watch and we start official duties tomorrow. Ok that's all."

Later that night

The crew were all ready for a night out. Dutchy and 2 Dads passed Kate's cabin and saw her doing paperwork. Dutchy pounded on the open door

"X! I'm afraid I'm going to have to confiscate that paperwork!"

Kate looked up. 2 Dads sat on the desk, his leg on her paperwork

"Cmon X come out with us! Come have fun! Let your hair down!"

Kate rolled her eyes. Dutchy flashed his goofy smile

"You know you want to... plus you can be our wing woman!"

Kate laughed

"Yeah cos that makes me wanna go out with you weirdos!"

Dutchy and 2Dads did their best puppy face. Kate chucked the pen on the desk.

"Oh alright just let me get changed! I'll meet you there!"

Dutchy and 2Dads cheered. Kate shut the door in their face. They laughed and continued on to the club

45 minutes later

Kate was doing her doing her make up when her phone buzzed. It was Dutchy "Cmon X, what are you a girl or something?!" She laughed. Patrol boats had really grown on her. The crew were like family and she loved it, even if most of the guys were like annoying little brothers. She looked in the mirror. She felt good. She had in a new black bandeau dress with strappy heels. Hair down and natural make up. She didn't normally dress up that much but she was trying anything she could to make herself feel better. She winked at herself in the mirror and made her way to the club.

The Palm Nightclub

The crew were already inside and had had a few rounds. Kate walked in looking for her crew. They were in the back corner group of tables talking amongst themselves. 2Dads spotted Kate and was about to wave her over. He looked her up and down, he started to tap Dutchy on the back still staring at Kate.

"What 2Dads?!"

Dutchy looked in the direction that 2Dads was looking. They were silent. Soon the whole crew were silent, their eyes locked on Kate. She approached the table almost in slow motion

"Ah haven't you guy's seen a woman in a dress before?"

Dutchy stood and offered Kate his chair.

"Ahh yeah but not YOU in THAT dress... Ma'am!"

Kate laughed

"Alright fellas shows over"

2Dads put a shot in front of Kate

"Permission to speak freely ma'am"

Kate immediately drank the shot, she cringed.

"I'm almost too scared to say yes 2Dads"

He put another one in front of her

"Ma'am you look smokin! If the navy didn't have rules and you were into younger..."

Kate put her hand up to stop him, she took the shot that was in front of her and the one in front of 2Dads and swallowed them

"2Dads thats enough free speech! If you're going to continue I need about 5 more of these!"

She held up the shot glass and waved it in his face.

"Yes ma'am"

2Dads ran to the bar. Dutchy laughed, he looked her up and down once again

"X you should wear that dress on duty, 2Dads might actually do as he's told!"

The crew laughed and continued drinking. Jim and his team walked into the club. They sat at the opposite end to the Hammersley crew. Kate watched as Jim approached the bar. She walked up behind him

"Excuse me but are you stalking me?

Jim turned around, his eyes nearly popped out of his head

"Kate! Wow! You look incredible!"

Kate blushed

"Thanks! You scrub up pretty nicely yourself! Umm can I buy you a drink to apologise?"

Jim raised an eyebrow

"Apologise? For what?"

Kate started to fiddle with a coaster

"My behaviour earlier... it has nothing to do with you and you were just trying to be nice... like you always are!"

Jim laughed he whispered in her ear

"I'm only nice to the people I like!"

Kate punched him on the arm

"Just shut up and let me buy you a beer!"

Mike walked in and spotted the crew

"Hey everyone! Is the X here?"

Swain pointed to the bar. Mike looked over, his smile disappeared when he saw Jim. He walked over and interrupted their conversation

"Night off hey Jim?"

"Oh Hi Mike, yeah one last night of fun before the serious tough guy in me comes out"

He winked at Kate, she smiled. Mike looked at her smiling at Jim. He wondered if she had moved on already? He was mad, frustrated that she could do it so easily.

"X a word?"

Jim squeezed Kate's arm

"Yeah, maybe I'll get our teams together, bit of socialization seeming we're gonna be working together."

Jim left them alone, he didn't want to be apart of the awkward conversation that was to follow. Kate glared at Mike

"What the hell was that about?"

Mike tried stay calm, but seeing Jim made him jealous as hell. He didn't know what is was, maybe the fact that he was genuinely a good guy, better than him anyway.

"Kate what are you doing? It's just so easy to move on yeah?"

He instantly regretted his comments. This was not the way to move on.

Kate snatched her bag off the counter and went to walk away. Mike grabbed her arm. Jim was watching out the corner of his eye. Kate turned around and glared at Mike. She pulled her arm away.

"Mike don't do this! We agreed! I'm here to socialize with the crew, I didn't know Jim was going to be here and even if I did it's none if your concern"

Kate took a step and turned back towards Mike

"This is a really strange way to make things work, Sir!"

Mike watched as she walked back to the table. Jim put his arm around her. He tuned back to the bar and ordered a double.

At the table Jim felt the rage radiate off Kate

"Everything ok?"

Kate took another shot

"Perfect!"

Later that night Jim walked Kate back to the ship.

"So do you wanna tell me what that was all about at the bar with Mike?"

Kate picked up a rock and chucked it into the water.

"He thinks I've already moved on... with you... But I told him nothing is going on, we're friends right?"

Jim stoped walking

"Friends...yeah"

Kate sighed with relief

"Good. I don't wanna lead you on Jim I know you let me go last time because of...him. And I wouldn't want to stuff you around again"

Jim nodded, Kate had no idea how much she hurt him last time. Of course he never showed it, he was head over heels but couldn't stand the thought of being her second choice. He couldn't help being protective of her. But knew he had to keep his distance.

"Good to know Kate."

They arrived at the ship.

"Well this is you! Till we meet again!"

Jim kissed her hand. Kate giggled like a school girl she ran up the gangway and turned at the end to waved.

Kate walked past Mike's cabin and saw the light on. She paused and knocked on the door and opened it.

Mike was lying in his rack reading

"Mike...a word?"

Mike sat up. Kate plonked herself on his office chair and closed the door. They both went to speak at the same time.

"Sorry you go X"

Kate looked down at the floor and played with her tags

"Mike, we need to be okay with this..."

Mike took a moment to reply

"I know Kate."

He couldn't look her in the eye.

"I'm not seeing Jim, we're just friends. He's a good guy. He's good to me but so were you. We have to make this work. I love this crew, this boat."

Mike looked at her. He knew it was just easier to agree

"Kate, I think it's harder cos I know how Jim felt about you... and he is a good guy. But I want us to be able to do this too! The ship wouldn't be the same without either of us!"

Kate smiled satisfied that they could move on.

"Good.. well I'll let you get back to your book... good night Sir"

"Night X"

Kate lay in her rack. If someone told her this is where her life would be 4 years ago she would have said they were crazy! She was only supposed to be on Hammersley for 18 months. The minimum required time in order for her to apply back to frigates. She kept telling herself that Mike wasn't the main reason she stayed. She hated herself for compromising her professional career for a relationship that was against the rules. She missed her old uncomplicated life. It was nice to have someone though. Even though the crew were like family when she went home at night she was alone. She had got used to that but Jim had shown her a different side. There were times she had thought about kids and the white picket fence. After all she wasn't getting younger. She didn't want to look back in 10 years and regret not having a family. She put her pillow over her face and screamed. She turned off her light and tried to get some sleep.

The next morning at breakfast

Most of the crew look like they have had a rough night. She walked into the senior sailors mess and watched as Dutchy skulled a glass of berocca. She couldn't help but laugh

"Don't know why you do that to yourself Dutchy"

Dutchy scoffed

"Ha you can't talk X, you were throwing them back last night too!"

He handed her the pack of Berocca

"Yeah but I know when too stop!"

She chucked it back in his direction.

"Touché"

Kate sat down next to him.

"Dutchy, were mates right?"

Dutchy nodded and put his head on the table.

"Do you ever think about settling down?"

Dutchy lifted his head and tilted it like a curious puppy

"That's a heavy question for 6am. This doesn't have anything to do with Captain Roth does it?

Kate looked surprised. She had never told Dutchy about him. He can't have guessed from last night. Dutchy watched as he could see Kate was deep in thought. He put Kate out of her misery

"X, it's ok I'd heard some chatter when I first got here. Good old gossip!"

Kate looked down at the table and played with her food

"Oh"

Dutchy laughed

"Nothing bad Kate, if anything to the crew it made you more approachable. It's a good thing!"

He patted her on the back and sighed

"I'm probably the last one to give advice about relationships but I think you'd make a great mum."

Kate lifted her head and smiled

"Thanks"

Dutchy stole a piece of bacon off Kate's plate and cleared his throat.

"So is there anything going on with Captain Roth?

Kate paused. She wasn't sure how much she wanted to divulge. She knew Dutchy had suspected things about her and the boss. She wanted to trust someone to talk to... she needed someone to talk to!

"How about we continue this later..."

Dutchy raised an eyebrow and nodded

"Away from suspicious ears?"

Later that morning the crew had set off in pairs walking through Samaru to show a presence and to scout out any militant hideaways. Kate and Dutchy had been paired together.

The walked along the rugged terrain. Dutchy nudged Kate with his shoulder

"So...are you going to elaborate from this morning?"

Kate looked around to make sure the others weren't around.

"I don't want to use Jim as a rebound. I can't figure out how I feel. I know I like him but..."

Dutchy was surprised when Kate said rebound. He wasn't aware she was seeing someone officially.

"Umm rebound... how serious was it with the other bloke?"

Kate laughed nervously

"You know what?! I don't even know! Looking back on it we wasted years. On again off again. It was mostly sexual tension because we couldn't act on it..."

Kate stopped. She knew she had given it away. She looked at Dutchy worried. He looked her face and smiled

"Kate it's fine. I wouldn't say anything anyway. It never affected your ability to work together. He's never showed you favoritism it's fine!"

Kate sighed with relief she did feel better talking about it. A guy's opinion was helpful.

"So umm why did you guys decide not to continue?"

Silence

"Sorry Kate, but you can't leave a girl hanging"

Kate laughed and slapped Dutchy on the chest

"He's been assigned to Hammersley for another 12 months, was it selfish of me to end it Dutchy?"

Dutchy shrugged

"Kate, I don't know the whole story. But it seems that maybe deep down you do want to have the white picket fence, the soccer mum car and the 2.5 children otherwise you would probably be still with him happy the wait it out?"

Kate looked at Dutchy and stopped walking.

"You know Dutchy you're slightly more insightful that I give you credit for!"

Dutchy looked hurt

"Aww Cmon X don't let the muscle and tough exterior fool you! Anyway... So Jim?"

Kate rolled her eyes and threw her arms in the air

"I dunno! It feels terrible just to go from Mike to Jim, I mean I'm a relationship person."

Dutchy put his arm around Kate

"X it doesn't hurt to have a little fun! But I think Jim is a relationship type of person too. I can try and scope out what he's feeling if you like"

Kate stood in front of Dutchy

"Oh no! I don't want anyone else to be involved in this! It's already messy! No I'm just taking a break for a while!"

"Ok X, just make sure you don't leave it too late. Jim's a pretty good catch he'll be snapped up pretty fast! You can't hold off your life just because you feel a bit guilty for breaking off something that wasn't working!"

Kate shook her head and laughed. God it was good to talk to someone about this.

"Dutchy think you're in the wrong profession!"

They arrived back into the Village. Jim was helping rebuild the hospital. Some kids started to play tag with him. He chased after them pretending to be a monster. The kids laughed and run away. He saw Kate and waved. She waved back. Dutchy nudged her

"At least he's good with kids!"

She punched him back.

Jim watched the interaction between Kate and her Buffer. He didn't know much about Dutchy but from what he's heard they were pretty similar types of guys. He had the reputation of a bit of a player but was otherwise a pretty good bloke. He smiled at her and continued with his work.

All of a sudden mortars started to fall into the village. Everyone ran for cover. Kate and Dutchy run, he grabs her hand

Kate grabbed her radio

"X-ray 82 to Papa 82 come in, over"

Mike was on the ship and received Kate's radio call

"This is Papa 82 what's happening X?"

"We are under mortar attack. Require immediate assistance! Can you see where it is coming from? over"

Mike looks out into the Hills

"There is too much heavy bush land to get a clear picture. Just get out of there!"

Kate's radio went static

"Papa 82 to X-ray 82..."

No response

"Papa 82 to Bravo 82 do you copy?"

Silence

"This is Bravo 82, Boss we need cover fire. The X was next to me but I can't see her, she pushed me out the way! The SAS were also here! "

"Received that Bravo 82, we don't have an accurate target but we will try and provide cover"

Hammersley fired the typhoon around the hills of Samaru. The mortars stoped. Mike picked up the phone and called Maxine

"Max, this is too dangerous. Half my crew and the SAS team are MIA after a mortar attack. We're gonna need more help if we are to take control over here. Can you arrange to have a medivac on stand by for casualties."

Mike hung up the phone and ran his hands through his hair.

Back at the village the remaining Hammersley crew scouted for casualties and injured crew mates. Dutchy spotted 2Dads and Bird. They were unharmed.

"2Dads, Bird have you seen the X or the SAS guys?"

2 Dads points over to the collapse structure.

"Jim and his men were over there. I didn't see the X!"

"Right you 2 go and see if they're accounted for"

Swain, Charge and Mike sped in to the village in a 4WD. Mike leapt out the car

"Dutchy, sit rep?"

Dutchy was trying to get it together. Still a little stunned and worried about the X, she had been next to him. He should have protected her.

"Umm it was a surprise attack. Umm 2 Dads and Bird are fine they've gone to check on the SAS team, they saw them take cover in that building. I don't know where the X went. There's quite a few civilian casualties ..."

Mike patted him on the shoulder.

"It's ok just take a minute. First things first we need to check on the X and the SAS team."

The crew started looking under collapsed buildings. They find Jim unconscious he has protected a child from the blast. He had a head wound. The rest of his crew had been killed.

Mike called Maxine back

"Max, we have found Captain Roth he's unconscious with a head wound. His team..."

Mike needed a minute. He couldn't stop thinking about Kate. What if she was dead. His train of thought is interrupted by Maxine on the other end of the phone

"Mike?! You still there?"

"Max they're dead... we still can't find the X"

Mike heard Dutchy call out for Swain. Mike sprinted over to where Dutchy was kneeling. Kate had been thrown by a blast and was impaled on her side by a piece of metal. He froze when he saw her.

"Mike?! Mike?!"

Maxine was still on the phone

"Max we need that chopper ASAP. Kate has lost a lot of blood. She's got a metal rod sticking through..."

He couldn't finish the sentence.

"Mike it's in its way. Just do what you can!"

Mike hung up and turned to Swain. He was trying stop the bleeding. He looked at Mike.

"We need that chopper Boss!"

Mike turned around just in time to see Dutchy hit the floor.

"Swain What happened?

Swain shook his head

"I dunno he just collapsed. He may have a concussion. I can't take the pressure off of X's wound. Just check his pulse and lay him on his side."

Mike looked around him. The village was chaos. He knew he would have to stay. He knelt down and checked Dutchy, he was breathing. He sat beside him with his head in his hands.

End of Chapter 2