Hey everyone!
so here it is the last chapter!
For anyone who is disappointed with who Kate ends up with I have a few more fics that I'm about to finish so stay tuned!
The usual disclaimer - don't own the characters
Chapter 4
Jim wandered around Kate's kitchen. He started to look through the cupboards, he found a few things he could work with.
An hour later Kate woke to the smell of food wafting up the stairs. She put on her dressing gown and walked down the stairs. She saw a figure dancing in her kitchen, she assumed it was Dutchy and laughed. Jim heard Kate's laughter and ran to the stairs. She was startled, not expecting it to be him.
"Jim? What are you doing here? Where's Dutchy?"
Jim passed her the note that Dutchy left
"Long story, he left you this!"
Kate opened the note
"Don't be mad, he likes you, be nice! Now we're even! Love your BFL (Buffer for Life) Dutchy"
Kate laughed to herself
"So umm you're here and your cooking?"
Jim smiled and ran back to the stove to stir the pot. He looked back at her.
"Don't you remember? I'm a mean cook right!"
He walked back over to her and escorted her to a chair at the kitchen bench. Kate smiled. He was such a gentleman, how he hadn't already been taken was beyond her. Kate was confused Dutchy said he liked her and yet he hadn't seen her at the hospital and he was having lunch switch Dr Madison. She was sick of mind games.
"So umm, I saw you at the hospital with Dr Madison"
Jim span round and stood in front of Kate.
"Kate that was a miscommunication! The whole thing! I was actually trying to arrange to get you out of there. Can we just have a nice dinner and catch up?"
Kate went to say something but thought better of it. Instead she smiled.
They sat on her balcony having dinner by candlelight.
"Jim that was amazing! "
He got up and cleared the plates.
"You haven't had dessert yet!"
He went down stairs and returned with 2 bowls.
"Close your eyes Kate"
Kate reluctantly closed her eyes.
"I don't like surprises!"
Jim gently kissed Kate's lips. She opened her eyes.
"Ummm well that was nice.. I was hoping for some chocolate though"
Jim laughed. He put down the bowl of chocolate mousse in front of her.
"Ohh your famous chocolate mousse! You know the way to a girls heart!"
Jim pretended to look hurt
"So my kiss was not the way?"
Kate smiled and lent over to kiss him. This time it was deeper, more passionate. They separated and looked into each other's eyes. Jim brushed a stray hair from her face
"I've missed you Katie..."
Kate took a big spoonful of mousse
"And I've missed... this mousse!"
She laughed and Jim playfully punched her arm.
Later that night Kate was preparing for bed. Jim had made him self comfortable on the couch. She watched him try and get comfortable, he was about 2 foot to long for the couch. She laughed to herself.
He smiled at her.
"Sweet dreams Kate!"
She walked over to him and took his hand.
"Jim don't be silly, come to bed... it's not like we haven't slept in the same bed before!"
They lay in bed. Kate lying on Jim's chest. His arm around her being careful not to disturb her bandage. She let out a big sigh.
"It's funny how things work out hey?"
Jim kissed her on her forehead
"What do you mean?"
"Well if Dutchy hadn't have interfered we wouldn't be here... Jim, I want to see if this can work. I'm a relationship person, I don't mean we have to get married or anything but I do want loyalty..."
Jim smiled and held her a little tighter.
"Kate that's what I want too... I just can't watch some one I love, love someone else..."
Kate froze, he said love. She didn't know if he meant it. They had only had 4 or 5 dates previously. Could they just start off where they ended last time? Was she ready? She stopped her train of thought. Shut up brain. Stop thinking too much into it or you'll never be happy! She heard her name and snapped back to reality
"Kate... I can hear you brain work overtime!"
Kate nuzzled back into Jim's chest
"I know. I'm turning that part of my brain off now!"
They lay there in silence for a minute. He laughed.
"You're freaking out cos I said love right?"
Kate smiled, he knew her too well. She tried to sit up. Jim helped her. She turned on the light
"Jim.."
He put his fingers to her lips
"Kate it's fine. I just want you to know how I feel about you. My side is a lot simpler. I have a girl in front of me who is amazing. Who makes me laugh, who I can't stop thinking about. Whom I love..."
Kate couldn't believe how simple it really was. Throughout the 4 years her and Mike had been together he had never actually said those words. He implied them but never said it, and here was a man who hadn't seen her for 2 years happy to say it unprompted. She needed to stop thinking about Mike and start thinking about herself, her future.
"Jim, I love you too.."
Jim smiled and kissed her
"No going back now Smudge!"
The next morning Kate was lying in bed. She woke up and stretched, she reached over but Jim wasn't there.
She stumbled out of bed and down the stairs. Jim walked through the door with bags of shopping.
"Hey what are you doing up? I thought you might like a sleep in on your first day of leave!"
Kate looked at Jim standing there unpacking the shopping.
"You know I always wondered how this would feel..."
Jim snorted
"What do you mean?"
"Having a butler... no, a live in boyfriend"
Jim continued to put away the groceries
"Well be careful what you wish for... you might not get rid of me! I've already asked for extended leave... we have 3 weeks together Kate..."
"Yeah until the Navy butts in with their terrible timing!"
Kate walked over and hugged him on her tippy toes. She winced.
"Careful Kate you don't wanna pull any stitches... I dunno how long I can keep my hands off you as it is!"
Kate took a bite out of an apple
"Ha! well it's like we're dating again... from the beginning!"
Jim embraced her and helped he sit down
"Well Miss McGregor where would you like to go on our first date?"
There was a knock on the door. Jim answered it. It was Dutchy.
"Ahh it's Cupid!"
Dutchy laughed
"Good, So she didn't kick you out then!"
Jim shook his hand and welcomed him in.
"Kate, how are you feeling?"
"I'm fine Dutchy! You only saw me the other day!"
Dutchy hugged her, he whispered in her ear.
"I wanted to see what happened! Message me later!"
He cleared his throat.
"Well I didn't mean to interrupt... I'll
Be on my way! Be good kids!"
Dutchy left smiling. Jim looked confused
"Ahh What was that all about?"
Kate laughed
"Secret Buffer business!"
Jim rolled his eyes. Kate's phone started to ring. It was Maxine White
"And here's the terrible timing!"
"Hi Maxine!"
"Hi Kate, are you able to come in today? Just for a quick chat?"
"Sure I can come now, I'll see you soon"
Kate looked annoyed. Jim raised and eyebrow
"Can you drive me into NAVCOM?"
NAVCOM
Kate walked in to Maxine's office. Jim waited outside
"Kate, glad to see you out of the hospital"
She motioned for Kate to sit
"Thank you Ma'am!"
Maxine looked outside and laughed. Jim was standing outside the door looking very official
"You've got your own personal bodyguard is see?"
Kate giggled
"Ahh Yeah... Jim's staying with me, he brought me in"
Maxine raised an eyebrow
"Are you 2?"
Kate nodded
"Sorry Kate none of my business, I just thought... no never mind anyway. The doctor tells me you probably won't be back on board for a little while."
Kate tired to object
"Kate, we can't risk it... so anyway I was wondering if you would like to work at NAVCOM for a while? Mike is currently training a new XO who needs a bit of, let's say development. Now before you say no. It is a bit of a promotion! It will look good when you return and apply for a CO position. You're essentially skipping a step. It was the job that Mike kept turning down until a decision was made to keep him on Hammersley."
Kate sat there for a moment. Before she could speak Maxine started again
"And it might give you a chance at a normal life.m, an opportunity to explore the other side of life"
She nodded toward Jim.
"Can I think about it?"
"You have 3 days Kate. I'll talk to you soon"
Kate left Maxine's office. Jim put an arm around her
"Everything ok?"
"Well I've been offered a promotion!"
Jim stopped infront of her
"That's great! You've always wanted to be a CO!"
Kate shook her head
"It's a NAVCOM position... its actually a step above..."
Jim interrupted her
"Well that's still fantastic isn't it..."
Kate didn't know why she wasn't excited. It had been what she's always wanted. And this way she gets to spend time with Jim, like a normal couple. A smile appeared on her face
"Yeah it is!"
For a moment she forgot she's standing in the middle of NAVCOM and kissed Jim. She heard footsteps approach and pulled away.
"Lieutenant?"
Kate turned around to see Mike
"Boss... I've just been talking to Maxine..."
Mike nodded
"I know, I hope you will take the position. It was under my recommendation..."
Kate looked confused. She turned to Jim.
"Can you give us a minute?"
He nodded
"I'll be in the Car"
He kissed her on the cheek and headed for the car. Kate waited for Jim to be out of ear shot.
"So you want to get rid of me Mike?"
"No not at all Kate, actually the opposite. I wanted you to have a chance with Jim. I realize that he ended it because of me."
Kate put her hand on her hip
"Oh you just realized that did you?"
Mike laughed
"Ok Dutchy told me! You happy?! Any way I want you to be able to discover what you want. A family and the Navy is hard little own a family and the Navy and a partner in the SAS. So this way you will at least have more time together."
Kate pause, he was letting her go. Kate put her hand on his.
"Thank you Mike."
Mike saluted her and walked off. She watched him walk away. She walked to the car, a tear ran down her cheek, she was free. Mike had let her go, as much as she hated to admit it he had a power over her but now they could both be happy. She truly loved Jim she just didn't want to hurt Mike in the process. She wanted him to be happy as well.
She got out of the lift and saw Jim leaning against the car. She walked up to the car smiling. Jim opened the door for her
"What are you so happy about?"
Jim helped her into the 4wd
"What? I can't smile at the man I love?"
Jim laughed and shut the door.
Kate's house
They lay on the couch. Kate nearly on top of Jim. Kate lifted herself up to be at eye level with Jim
"Do you want to move in?"
Jim tucked some loose hair behind her ear
"I kinda have already haven't I?"
Kate pinched his chest
"Oww What?"
Kate looked his dead in the eye
"I'm serious!"
Jim smiled
"Well umm..."
He started to get off the couch. Kate thought he was avoiding answering she started to back peddle. He grabbed his bag
"Don't worry Jim, that was stupid! You can't..."
He walked back and sat on the couch with his bags at his feet
"Well actually I was thinking something a bit more permanent too..."
Jim pulled out a velvet box from his bag.
"Kate McGregor, I told my mother 2 years ago that I met the woman I was going to marry. When I left 2 years ago she gave me my grandmothers ring and said that if it was great love we would find each other again. On that day I swore that if we met again and this feeling was still here I would give you this as soon as I thought you were ready"
He opened the box to reveal a beautiful trilogy set diamond ring with aquamarine accents. By this time Kate was now crying
"Kate, I love you. Will you marry me?"
Kate leapt in to his arms
"Yes! James Roth I will marry you!"
He put the ring on her finger and they sealed it with a kiss
"Did you really say that to your mum?"
He smiled and nodded
"Did you ever wonder why I didn't call? I needed you to come to me...I couldn't believe it when Maxine called and said I was on your boat. I was even more surprised to hear Mike was still your CO. I called my mum that night and said I was going to see you again. And now I get to call her and tell her she was right"
Tears streamed from Kates eyes. She looked at the ring on her finger.
"I guess we really owe Dutchy now!"
They both laughed.
The end
Thanks for reading!
To be honest I am super dissapointed that she didn't end up with Jim. I was a K/M fan until he came along lol Mike really did stuff her round for years! But I do have some K/M fics in the works and Kate and Dutchy.