Disclaimer: I own nothing.
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When Kate McGregor awoke that morning, she cursed the need to be sick once again. Thankful that at least Nikki was on watch this morning and didn't have to listen to her morning tradition, Kate finishs her shower and steps back into her quarters.
Her mind already thinking about the day ahead of her as she pulled on her pants. Zipping them up, she looked down in surprise at the tighter fit. Bringing her thoughts back to the moment, she realised something: her pants were just a little tighter than usual. Pulling the zip down once again, Kate took in her form in the mirror in front of her.
From the front, there was nothing apparent, but when she stood in profile, her white undershirt pulled tight up against her body, Kate made a realisation. She was showing! Placing a gentle hand on her small mound, she marvelled at the life growing within her. She was only twelve – no thirteen – weeks pregnant. Zipping up her pants once again and pulling on her jacket, her bump is hidden underneath the chunky top, but she can't hide her smile as she heads to the galley for breakfast.
Heading up onto the bridge half an hour after that, she greets everyone with a bright 'good morning!'. Taking note of the slightly incredulous look that Mike sent in her direction, she heads over to her files and prepares to take a few downstairs to the seniors' mess. But her plan is interrupted by a call from the officer on the watch. 'Tinny in the water.'
Nav can't find the tinny on the radar, but receiving the officer's rough coordinates, quickly brings up the tinny on the EOD. Kate is standing over Nav's shoulder as they both take in the sight. A man is standing upright in the tinny waving his arms furiously. They're joined by Mike who takes a quick glance, and then turns to her. 'Order a party to retrieve this man and his, ah, vessel,' ordered Mike.
'Yes sir,' responded Kate with a grin.
Both Kate and Mike stood on the deck outside the bridge as they watch a RHIB head toward the tinny. When Mike's radio crackles to life they can hear Swain and the man speaking in the background, before Buffer's voice comes over the line. 'Boss. Man's name is Kip Luria and his tinny is the HMAS Costello, so he tells me,' laughs Buffer. 'He was sleeping in his tinny as a bet with his mate, but that same mate apparently cast him off sometime during the night.'
'Any indication as to where the boat is now?' asked Mike.
'Mr Luria assures us that he can give us the coordinates to where the Abbott was last seen. He reckons that his mate, Nate Guhrer, wouldn't have gone far from there,' responded Buffer.
'Alright Buffer,' said Mike with a grin. 'Bring him onboard, and tie the tinny to the deck. We'll make for the boat.'
'Roger that.'
Kate has a huge grin on her own face as Mike completes the radio conversation and turns to her. 'Abbott and Costello?' she says with a laugh as Mike grins. 'Could have been worse!' he responds as he opens the bridge door and allows Kate to enter first.
The Hammersley finds the Abbott suffering from engine trouble only a few hundred meters from Kip Luria's coordinates. It's a very shamed face Nate Guhrer that met Charge on deck and welcomed Kip and the tinny back on board.
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The core Hammersley crew has a rare chance to head to the bar together that night, and Kate finds herself in the middle of a boisterous debate about the boat and tinny combination of Abbott and Costello, as they all sit around a table.
'But I still don't get why you'd call a boat Abbott and the tinny Costello?' said Spider. 'Is it supposed to mean something?'
'Spider my man,' said Charge, hand on his heart. 'Please tell me that you know who Abbott and Costello are?'
'Ah, no,' said Spider, a worried look on his face.
'They're only two of the best comedians of the day,' said Charge dramatically.
'Except maybe Laurel and Hardy,' interjected Bomber. 'What? My parents loved them!' she laughed as everyone gave her an odd look.
'Oh,' said Spider in understanding. 'So they're a bit like the Umbilical Brothers or Puppetry of the Penis?' As everyone roared in laugher, Buffer made the comment that had to be made. 'Could you imagine the Mayday call for that?'
'Mayday, Mayday,' laughed Nav. 'The Penis is going down!'
Brushing away her own tears of mirth, Kate wondered if this conversation could get any worse as everyone started to throw out their suggestions for a boat and tinny combination. Swain suggested Sally and Chloe, and Buffer reckoned you couldn't go past Big Fish and Little Fish, before 2 Dads threw in Danny and Sandy.
As the conversation halts and everyone looks at him for an explanation at this random suggestion, he rolled his eyes exasperatedly. 'Summer lovin'?' 2 Dads put out, as everyone looked at him with a blank face before Kate comes to a realisation. 'Oh no,' she said as 2 Dads sent her a look. 'Oh yeah!'
'What?!' was the cry!
'Summer lovin' had me a blast! Summer lovin' happened so fast,' sang 2 Dads (badly!) with a leer as he got some dirty actions and movements going as everyone's mind was forced to head into the gutter. '...those summer nights!' he concluded as everyone boo'ed and jeered him as he sat down once again with a smug look on his face.
'Romeo and Juliet,' suggested RO, as Bomber hit his shoulder. 'What kind of a start is that for a boat?'
'Hey, at least I didn't suggest the Titanic and the Iceberg,' RO snapped back as all laughed once again.
When Mike makes his boat-and-tinny suggestion of Master and Apprentice, Kate takes a moment to sit back and watch the crew – her family – laughing, drinking and talking. She was going to miss this. Whilst she knew that there would still be nights like this, she knew that it wouldn't quite be the same. They'd have a new XO for starters.
Thankful at the very least that this conversation kept the focus away from her lack of alcoholic drink – an unusual thing in itself – Kate took a sip of her lemonade and leaned forward to offer her suggestion.
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A couple of hours later, Mike downs his beer and stands up from the table. 'Anyone for a walk?' he questions. 'It's a nice night out.'
'Sure,' said Kate as she stood up. A few people made a move to join them, but Buffer and Nav tripped over themselves to stop any potential walkers with drink requests. 'You still owe me a beer a mate!' 'You're not going anywhere!'
'Looks like it's you and me,' said Mike to Kate.
'Looks like it,' said Kate with a small smile as they farewelled their crewmates and left the building.
Out of sight of the bar, Mike pulls Kate close to him, slipping his hand into hers as they walk along the path hand in hand. No words are spoken, and the silence between them is comfortable as they take in the summer breeze.
Stopping their journey, Mike pulls Kate into his arms, her small form fitting perfectly against his body and under his chin. He kisses her head as they both look out at the sea in front of them – the sea they both love and breathe in.
She's happy just to stand there, safe in his embrace as she breathes in the essence of him, their child between them. When he dropped his head and whispered into her ear 'I love you', she couldn't respond. Realising that the man currently gripping her was waiting for a response, she tightens her grip on him and continues to look out on the water as Mike pulls her closer yet.
There would be time enough for this.
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Waking up the following morning, and finding herself firmly in Mike's embrace, Kate can't help the grin from spreading over her face. A quick glance at the clock told her that it was 0617 hours, but this didn't put a damper on her mood. Wasn't love wondrous?
Turning onto her side, she looked down at the still slumbering face of the man who had told her he loved her last night. Even though he was sound asleep, he still exuded that sense of safety and protection that she loved about him.
Running a hand through his chest hairs, Kate props herself up on her elbow as Mike slowly awakens. She smiles as he slowly opens his eyes – Mike Flynn did not wake up as instantly or alertly at home as when he was onboard the Hammersley!
Finding him a little more alert as the minutes tick by, her smile spreads further as he runs his hands through her hair and pulls her face close to him for a kiss. 'Hey,' he mumbles as Kate kisses him back. 'Hey yourself.'
'Do you...' But any further conversation is halted when the clock strikes 0640 hours and Kate finds herself pushing back the sheets and bolting for the bathroom.
She re-enters the bedroom less than ten minutes later, her arms are raised above her head as she pulls her hair into a messy bun. Looking at the man on her bed, now lying on his side, head propped up on his hand, she starts up the conversation again. 'You were saying?'
'Kate...' he said so softly that she almost missed it. Dropping her hands to her sides once again, hairstyle complete, she wonders at why Mike's eyes aren't on her face. Looking down, she sees why. Her skin-tight singlet was doing very little to hide the fact that she now had a tiny bump. Bringing one hand to rest on the slight swell, she approaches the bed as Mike's eyes never leave her abdomen. Close enough for contact, she can't help the smile spreading across her face as she sees Mike reverently raise his hand and place it on her own.
Letting it sit there for a moment, Kate then removes her own hand as Mike sat up in the bed, his hand never leaving her. His hands slid to her hips as he pulled her closer and brushed a kiss against their unborn child, before he turned his head to rest against it. Running her hand through his hair, she can't help the tears pricking her eyes when she heard what he said next. 'Hey bub, I'm your Daddy...'
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Next chapter: Kate unexpectedly discovers that someone else onboard the HMAS Hammersley is aware of her pregnancy.