Disclaimer: I own nothing - yet.

*****************

Three weeks later, Lieutenant Kate McGregor left the naval hospital after her routine annual medical check up.

She'd been more and more tired lately, but she'd just chalked it up to the heavy workload the HMAS Hammersley had recently undertaken. Her relationship with Mike wasn't quite back on solid ground yet after the pregnancy scare, and so this wasn't helping her general wellbeing either.

The doctor had declared her healthy, and all that was left was for the urine and blood samples to be processed before the dreaded medical report would be over and done with for another year.

As she entered her apartment, she revelled in the fact that the crew was on precious downtime. Grabbing the opportunity with both hands, Kate ran a hot bath as she retrieved a glass of red wine and prepared to soak until her skin was wrinkly.

But within seconds of immersing herself, the phone rang. Knowing that she can't ignore the phone in case it is an emergency, Kate pulls herself out of the bath, groaning as her aching muscles objected to the movements, to take the call.

All crew had been recalled to the ship. With the HMAS Bendigo out of commission with damage, the HMAS Hammersley had been picking up the slack. All she wanted to do was crawl into bed and sleep, but instead Kate found herself trudging to her room and prepared to head ship side.

Meeting up with an equally cranky Swaino as they boarded the boat, the last two to do so, Kate finds herself offering just bare civilities to others as she heads to her quarters to dump her necessities, before heading topside to the bridge.

They have a mission: there is a boat suspected to be carrying asylum seekers that will enter Australian waters within the hour. As the Hammersley leaves port, Kate receives the brief from CO Mike Flynn.

Taking advantage of the good weather, the HMAS Hammersley was within sight of the Iluka within four hours. Nav used the megaphone to declare 'This is Australian warship Hammersley. Stop heave to. We intend to board you.'

As the Iluka's motors stopped, Kate prepared for the boarding party. As Buffer, Swaino, 2 Dads and Spider climb down to the RHIB, Kate looks up as Mike wishes them good luck. Pleased that at least one thing is normal, Kate offers him a small smile, cocking her head as she farewelled him with a 'Sir!', before climbing down the ladder to the boat herself.

The boarding party boards the Iluka and X-Ray 2 relays back to Charlie-2 that the boat appears to be a ship full of asylum seekers. 'No one speaks English, and the master is not cooperating,' says Kate.

'Copy that X. Search the boat, and keep me updated,' responds Mike.

'Yes Sir.' As Kate orders Spider and Buffer below deck, she remains with the captain as 2 Dads and Swaino watch the passengers and crew.

Monitoring the situation via binoculars, Mike drops them and turns when RO makes his presence known on the bridge. 'Sir?'

'Yes RO?'

'There's an urgent call from NAVCOM for the XO.'

'She's otherwise occupied at the moment RO,' said Mike exasperatedly.

'I advised them of that Sir, and then they insisted that they speak to the head of the ship,' responded RO. 'Apparently it is of a most urgent and confidential nature Sir.'

Genuinely concerned now, Mike nods to his radio officer. 'I'll take the call. Nav you have the ship.'

'I have the ship Sir,' was Nav's response as she lifted her own binoculars to the Iluka, doing a sweeping glance that, to the best of her knowledge, revealed all was well on the other boat.

Making his way to the other side of the bridge, Mike reaches for the handset and identifies himself. 'Lieutenant Commander Mike Flynn speaking.'

'Please hold as I put you through to the doctor,' was the voice on the other end. Wondering why in the devil he was going to be speaking with a doctor about his XO, Mike waited.

'Captain Flynn? Dr Abigail Lucciadello speaking,' said a new voice. 'You are Lieutenant Kate McGregor's superior, is that correct?'

'Yes doctor I am. Is there a problem with my officer?'

'Lieutenant McGregor just had her annual check up and was given an all clear on the physical. However the urine and blood work has just come back.'

'Yes?' asked Mike, unable to stop fear entering his voice as he waited for the outcome. Seeing Nav trying to get his attention, he raises his finger in a holding motion as he waited for the doctor's response.

'Your Executive Officer is pregnant Commander Flynn.' Mike almost drops the phone then and there. 'Are you sure?'

'Yes we are sir. We've run the test twice. Kate McGregor is pregnant. I would advise that you speak with your officer and remove her from all dangerous ...'

He vaguely acknowledges that the doctor has continued to speak, but the world seemed to stop for Mike Flynn as he processed what he had just been told. Kate was pregnant?

He comes back to earth quickly when his attention is called for. 'Sir?' questions Dr Lucciadello, as Nav also calls out urgently. 'Sir!'

Mentally shaking himself, but feeling somewhat still in a haze, Mike thanked the doctor. 'Thank you, doctor. I understand. Now if you will excuse me...' Ending the call, he struggles to turn his attentions to his frantic navigator. 'The boat...'

A gunshot sounds.