Hey everyone,

hope you enjoying the fic :)

I'm in a roll at the moment and have nearly finished 2 more so will post them soon! Keep the feedback coming please!

Disclsimer- I didn't create or own the characters :(

Chapter 3

An hour later the chopper arrived and had taken Jim, Dutchy and Kate back to Cairns Naval Hospital. The Kingston was steaming to Samaru to help Hammersley with the clean up and to help search for the militants.

Maxine had arrived at the hospital to check up on the crew. Dr Madison approached Maxine.

"Commander White, I'm Doctor Emily Madison..."

They shook hands

"What's their condition doctor?"

They walked down the corridor towards Kate's room.

"So Captain Roth has a serious head would. We've sewed him up and have done a CT scan. There is no bleeding in the brain but we are keeping him in for a day or two for observation. Petty Officer Mulholland has a sever concussion. He has, against my medical advice checked him self out. Well not completely. He's in with the XO. She's very lucky the rod had missed major organs but we are worried about infection as the rod was rusty and old. She also has not regained consciousness and because of that were unable check any deficits. She will be out of action for some time. I advise you will need to find her a replacement for the near future."

Maxine let out a sigh.

"Where is Kate's Room? I would like to see Dylan."

The Doctor pointed to the next room.

Maxine stood in the doorway. Dylan was sitting next to Kate holding her hand.

"How is she?"

Dutchy was startled. He tired to stand nearly falling over himself.

"Ma'am"

Maxine put a hand on Dutchy's shoulder

"It's ok Dylan, how is she?

He sat back down

"No change Ma'am! She's not awake yet, that can't be good can it?"

Maxine kneeled down next to Dutchy

"Sometimes it's the body trying to heal its self. Speaking of healing, I've heard you've checked yourself out?"

Dutchy avoided Maxine's glare. She was the one person who genuinely terrified him.

"I'm fine Ma'am! You know she saved me? She pushed me out the way, she saved my life!"

He laughed half heartedly

"I'm supposed to be watching her back!"

Maxine patted him on the shoulder

"It wasn't all on you Dylan, we know the risks of this job. Don't be too hard on yourself. I'll leave you alone but I will need a debrief when you're feeling up to it."

He nodded. Maxine left the room. Outside, Jim watched them through the window. Maxine bumped into him.

"Oh Captain Roth, I'm very sorry to hear about your men."

Jim didn't make eye contact, he continued to stare into Kate's room.

"Thank you Ma'am, how is she?"

"You can go in if you like?"

He shook his head.

"I'm ok for now"

A Nurse was calling Jim's name, she came running up to him.

"Captain you shouldn't be out of bed! No arguments!"

Jim was put into a wheel chair and lead back to his room.

A few hours later Jim had snuck out of his room again to check on Kate. He looked through the window, Dutchy was still sitting with her, talking to her. He stood by the door to see if her could hear what he was saying.

"Kate you need to wake up! I need you to be ok! Please! Who am I going to tease on the boat! Who am I going to rescue when they get stuck in swamps!? And most importantly who's going to save me?"

Kate began to stir

"Kate! Kate! Can you hear me?!"

Kate whispered

"Dutchy? Is that you?"

Dutchy hugged her tight. Jim decided to leave them. It was probably best to stay out of Kate's way, she was still trying to get over Mike and now he suspected Dutchy had feelings for her. He didn't want to complicate things more.

"Kate you saved my life!"

Kate smiled

"We're even then! How is everyone else?"

Dutchy laughed

"Jim is fine"

Kate tried to hit him and missed

"I'm serious!"

"All our crew except for you came out in scathed. Jim's crew weren't so lucky!"

Kate looked worried

"How bad?"

Dutchy shook his head

"None of them made it!"

Tears welled up in Kate's eyes.

"Oh god, that's horrible, I need to see him, see if he's ok"

Kate tried to get up but yelps out in pain. A nurse ran into her room

"Miss McGregor! You're awake I'll get the Doctor!"

Dutchy tried to hold Kate at bay

"Kate you need your rest! You've got a hole in your side! They're worried about infection! I'll go see if Jim's awake"

The doctor came in to examine Kate. Dutchy looked for Jim's room. Jim saw him coming and pretended to be asleep. Dutchy decided not to disturb him. He went back to Kate's room and waited for the doctor to finish.

A week later

Kate was still in hospital. Jim had been cleared to leave but was still in town. He hadn't visited Kate when she was awake but he had left some flowers for her and a giant teddy bear. The Hammersley had returned from patrol early. The conditions in Samaru had improved however they had been relieved by another patrol due to the harsh conditions and they were short permanent experienced crew members.

Mike walked into the hospital trying not to run. He approached Kate's room. He knew she was ok as Maxine had kept him up to date but he was still worried.

Kate was sitting up reading a book. He appeared in her door way

"Mike!"

He was relieved to see she was awake and bright.

"Kate! How are you feeling?"

Kate put her book down.

"I'm fine Mike, they're taking good care of me! Even though they won't let me out when I'm fine!"

He sat down next to her.

"How was the rest of the patrol? Everyone else safe?"

He nodded

"We were relieved a week early. The XO they sent was... nothing like you!"

Kate laughed and winced as it moved her whole body. Mike jumped up to try and help her get more comfortable.

"Mike if you're going to fuss I'm gonna have to kick you out! You and Dutchy are the same!"

Mike stopped

"Dutchy's been here? "

"Yeah every day! He's insisting I saved his life and now hovers like a bloody mosquito"

Mike broke eye contact

"What about Jim?"

Kate immediately felt uncomfortable

"Umm no I haven't seen him. He did leave those beautiful flowers though and the ridiculous bear! I don't even know if he's still here.."

Mike looked at her

"He is..."

Kate swallowed and tried not too seem upset that Jim hasn't been to see her. She knew Mike would take joy in that fact as he would instantly think that he doesn't care.

"All his men died Mike, I'm sure he's got more important things to do!"

Kate desperately wanted to change the subject

"So anyway, I'm fine! You can tell the others I like milk chocolate not dark!"

Mike smiled

"Ok X, well let me know if you need a ride home when they let you out!"

Kate nodded, she sat there frustrated. She hadn't had to think about Mike and Jim all week and now she was in a mood. She rang the buzzer. A nurse appeared in the doorway

"Miss McGregor?"

"Can you ask the Doctor when I can go please?"

The nurse nodded and left

A hour later no one had come to see her. She decided to find the doctor herself. She struggled out of bed and looked for Dr Madison. She walked past the cafeteria and spotted Jim sitting at a table with Dr Madison. Kate frowned. Maybe she misread all his signals. They were laughing. Kate suddenly felt all the blood drain from her head. She grabbed the rail of the door but fell to the floor. The nurses rushed to her side, Dr Madison and Jim came running from their table.

"What's she doing out of bed! Grab a wheel chair"

Kate opened her eyes. She saw Dr Madison and Jim leaning over her. She closed her eyes again. It was too much to deal with.

Back in Kate's room

Kate was back in bed and conscious. Dr Madison was checking her vitals and writing on her chart.

"Kate you really need to take it easy! Your body is recovering. I can only let you go home if you have help!"

Kate rolled her eyes

"Where'd Captain Roth go!"

"Oh umm he got called back into NAVCOM...maybe you could call your friend Dylan? He seems like a nice guy!"

Kate took out her phone

"Yeah pity about the non fraternization rule!"

She wasn't serious but she didn't want to let on to the Doctor that she liked Jim.

"I'll need to talk to him when he gets here!"

45 mins later

Dutchy walked in to Kates room with some chocolates. He knocked on the door.

"Your chariot awaits... with chocolate!"

Kate is was relieved to be getting out of the hospital. She already had her bag packed. Dr Madison walked into Kate's room

"Now Kate, I've given Dutchy a strict set of instructions. I've told him if you don't follow them that he is to bring you straight back! I'm serious Kate, if you get an infection you could get seriously ill!"

Kate dismissed her comments and tired to get out of bed. Dutchy took her hand to help stabilize her.

"Yes Doctor!"

Kate's house

Dutchy carried Kate's bags into the house. She walked in stuffing her face with chocolate.

"OMG I can't wait to have proper food!"

She picked up the mail and looked for any important letters, nothing, she chucked them back on the bench. Dutchy put her bags in the lounge.

"Ok what can I do to help? Laundry?"

Kate shook her head

"I'm fine Dutchy! You can go!"

Dutchy walked over to Kate waving his finger in her face.

"Oh no Kate. I'm not leaving! You heard what Dr Madison said! You need a hand, I'm here for a week, you're not getting sick on my watch"

He dumped his bag on the floor. Kate put her hands on her hips

"I wondered who that bag was for!"

Kate knew she wasn't going to win. Especially when she had saved Dutchy's life.

"So, Dr Madison also told me she thought you might fancy me!"

Kate laughed

"Yeah right why would she say...oh"

Dutchy looks puzzled

"What did you say?"

Kate sat down on the couch

"I saw Jim at the hospital..."

"Oh So he did come and see you?"

Kate shook her head

"He was having lunch with Dr Madison"

"What?!"

"Yeah I asked about him and she was a bit weird... then she suggested that we might have had a thing and I said something stupid about the non fraternization rule so I could save face about Jim. Umm I might go and lie down..."

Dutchy helped her up the stairs. He wanted to carry her but she refused.

Dutchy was doing her washing and hanging it out. There was a knock on the door. It was Mike

"Oh hi Boss"

Mike was surprised to see Dutchy.

"Ah, I heard Kate was home?"

"Yeah she's just upstairs sleeping."

He gestured to for him come in. Mike looked at his hand and had a strange look on his face.

"Dylan?"

Dutchy looked at what he was holding. It was one of Kate's bras. He quickly chucked it on the couch.

"Oh I was just doing some washing for her. The doctor insisted that someone stays with her for a week to watch her make sure she's taking it easy."

Mike nodded and looked surprised

"And she called you?"

Dutch looked at Mike strangely

"Yeah who did you expect her to call?"

Mike tried to play dumb

"Oh I dunno just didn't realize you two were that close!"

"Boss Nothing is going on! She saved my life I'm just returning a favor!"

Mike believed him. There's no way Kate would put herself though this again.

"Yeah fair enough. Just let her know I popped in, Oh and give her these!"

Mike handed over a box of chocolates. Dutchy laughed

"Milk not dark right!"

Mike laughed too

"Yeah she's kill me if I didn't remember that"

Mike paused. Why did he say that! He hoped Dutchy didn't read much into it

"All Good Boss"

Mike left in a hurry. Dutchy shrugged and opened the chocolates. Kate hobbled down the stairs

"Who was that?"

Dutchy turned around with a mouthful of chocolate. He could barely form a word.

"Mike"

Kate walked up to him

"Are you eating my chocolate?"

Dutchy smiled, his teeth were brown covered in chocolate

"Busted!"

Kate snatched the box from him and sat on the couch. She got up again and pulled her bra from under her

"Why is my bra on the couch!? And why is it wet?"

Dutchy laughed nervously.

"Funny story! The boss came and I was hanging out your laundry and I had it in my hand and he saw it. The end!"

Kat's face was bright red

"Dutchy!"

"It's ok Kate he thought it was funny too!"

Kate shook her head

"Ok I'm going back to lie down..."

"What do you want for dinner? You have nothing in the fridge.. we'll actually you have vodka and chocolate!"

Kate yelled from the top of the stairs

"Don't mind just order something, menus are in the top drawer!"

Dutchy finished the washing and walked around Kate's house. It was neat and tidy like he imagined. But there was no personal stuff. No photos, he at least expected one of her and Mike. But nothing. He started looking for the menus he opened a few drawers and found some photos. They were of Kate and Mike, a few years ago by the look of it. They were smiling and cuddling on the couch. Even one of them kissing. There was a knock at the door he quickly put the photos back

He answerd the door. It was Jim

"Jim! Hi!"

Jim was surprised Dutchy was opening the door.

"Dutchy, Ah wasn't expecting you mate."

"Yeah getting that reaction a lot today!"

Jim looked confused

"Never mind! Umm Kate's just sleeping, I told Dr Madison that I'd give Kate a hand that's why she was allowed to come home!"

"Right I'll go then!"

Jim turned around to leave

"Jim?"

Jim stopped

"Why didn't you visit her... I thought.."

Jim walked back up to him

"You thought what Petty Officer!?"

Dutchy stood his ground

"I thought you liked her!"

Jim took another step forward

"How is that your business?!"

"She's my friend... "

"Oh really is that all?!"

Dutchy frowned

"Of course! What she went though with Mike..."

Dutchy stopped himself. He didn't know if Jim knew and now he's betrayed Kate's trust. Jim could see by the expression on Dutchy's face that he had made a mistake

"It's ok Dutchy I know..."

Dutchy let out a breath of relief.

"She thought you still had feelings for her but when you didn't visit and she saw you with Dr Madison..."

Jim raised his hand

"Hang on a minute! I was meeting with Dr Madison trying to convince her to let her out and I would look after her! The she told me that Kate wanted you to do that so I backed off. Dutchy I saw how you were with her in the hospital..."

Dutchy shook his head

"Jim she saved my life! She's like my little sister... my bossy little sister!"

They both laughed. Dutchy motioned for Jim to come in. They sat on the couch

"So umm I think Dr Madison was into you and was being a bit less than professional"

Jim leant back into the couch

"Bloody girl drama!"

They both laughed. Then silence

"Jim, she talks to me. I don't want to break her trust but I think she still has feelings for you. This thing with Mike has got her questioning everything but if she was just to see what a relationship should be like..."

Jim cut him off

"We've already done this Dutchy. She said that's what we had... she said it opened her eyes to what it should be but she was still hung up on Mike. I couldn't be second best, I don't know if they'll ever be really done..."

"Well look she's got a few weeks off now she's not allowed to go back on the ship without clearance. Have you got another assignment?"

"Nothing as yet... my team..."

"Oh sorry Jim, of course... look maybe this is a perfect time for you guys... how about I go and you can stay here with her."

Dutchy got up off the couch and started to gather his things. Jim followed him

"Oh Dutchy I don't know if that's a good idea!"

Dutchy looked up from packing

"It's ok I'll leave a note, and tell her to blame me!"

Dutchy scribbled on a piece of paper and nearly ran out the door. He turned before shutting the door

"She hasn't had dinner, if you want her to listen get her some food! If you want her to talk the vodka is in the fridge!"

Jim laughed and waved at Dutchy. He poked his head back in to door.

"If it works, you owe me!"

End of Chapter 3