Chapter 9

Buffer walked towards CO's cabin. He allready know what Kate is going to tell him.
"Come in Buff!" she said and he came in.
"What is going on?" he asked and crossed his arms.
"You desobeyed order and jump in water. And you are still on light duties after poisoning."
"I done that just to save Bomber." answered Buffer.
"I know. And I understand. But again you went against my orders. I don't need cowboys on this ship."
"I know ma'am and I am sorry. It won't happen again."
"I hope so..."
"Ma'am, Dutchy just find a dead body on Star. It is woman, probably former owner of Star." said Nav caming in her cabin.
"Oh my God!" said Kate. "Melbourn is going to take care for everything. For now we are waiting what Bird is going to say. Is Bomber gonna need medical treatmen or not." added Kate.
"Ma'am, I just check Bomber. She is going to be ok. She is still unconcious, but she is going to be ok. She doesn't have any injuries, just bruised ribs again." said Bird caming in CO's cabin.
"Thanks Bird." smiled Kate on young chef.
"Ma'am is that all?" asked Buffer.
"Yes." Kate nodded and he went out together with Bird.
"Can I see her?" he asked.
"Yes. She is sleeping but you can. Just be quiet." answered Bird and smiled. "I will be in galley." she added and went towards it. Buffer went in wardroom, where Bomber was sleeping. He sat by her bed and took her hand in his. She was everything to him, and losing her would mind losing everything what he had. Seeing her today on that ship first with a gun on her head and then how that guy is throwing her unconcious over board almost killed him. It was his fault. He shouldn't told her that in sailor mess. When he shut up till then, he could shut up from then too. After it, she probably was distracted and that almost costed her life.
"She is going to be ok." Bird interupted when she came in wardroom.
"I know. Just I am feeling bit responsible for all this what happened." he answered not looking into chef.
"But you didn't. You saved her Buff. Without you, in water, unconcious, she would die." said Bird. "When she wake up, she is going to tell you all this what I allready told you." added Bird with a smile.
"Probably." Buffer smiled too. "Look Bird, go take some rest. It was a hard day for you. I will stay with her." he added.
"Ok. Thanks Buff." said Bird and started to walk towards doors. Then she returned. "Maybe you should tell her about your feelings and stop torturing herself and yourself." she added and then went out.

0300 am night watch

Buffer was sleeping in the chair. Sailors what were going bellow deck after their watchs woke him up. He looked on Bomber who was still sleeping. He move a hair from her face and took her hand. How much he wrong choosing EJ. He never could forget Bomber even if he wanted it so much. In that moment, Bomber start tosing having a nightmare.
"Bomb wake up!" said Buffer shaking her easily to she woke. She woke with scream. Spontaneosly, without thinking, Buffer pull her into hug.
"It is ok! It was just a nightmare! You are safe now." he said while she was in his arms and while she was crying.
"I again was on that board, see that woman dieing in front of me and I can't do anything." said Bomber through tears.
"Calm down. It is ok!" said Buffer and kiss her forehead. He sat by her side, still having Bomber in his arms.
"What happened there? Tell me!" said Buffer while his one arm was looped around Bomber and second was on her hand.
"After I split up with Dutchy, I heard a noise and went in bellow deck. I found these women downthere. Then I opened next door and I was faced with that poor woman." said Bomber and burst into tears. Buffer squeeze her hand. "She was still allive, but then he came and stab her. On my eyes and I couldn't do anything. When he captured me again, I thought on one moment that I am next." she added while her tears were falling down. She hugged him tighter.
"But it is over now. You are safe and he is arrested." Buffer comforted her.
"Thank you!" said Bomber.
"On what?" asked Buffer.
"You saved me. Take me out of the water." smiled Bomber.
"It was my fault I didn't protected you in first place." said Buffer and looked in Bomber.
"My hero." said Bomber and laughed.
"Why are you laughing?" asked Buffer.
"When Dutchy first time came on board, Bird said that he could be her hero every day." answered Bomber with smile.
"And?"
"And couple weeks after, 2Dads tease her about it and Swain said that every woman on board had a hero. 2Dads said that Kate's hero is CO and that costed him cleaning toilets. Bird's hero was Dutchy and he still is. I said I didn't have it and Swain added from a joke that it was you." finished Bomber laughing.
"And?" asked Buffer and looked into her.
"And what?" asked Bomber and looked into him.
"Did I be your hero?" asked Buffer with a grin.
"Yes you did." smiled Bomber. She looked on him. "And you still are." she added.
"Really?" he asked and rise his eyebrows.
"Yes. You show it today. My hero." she said and kissed him in cheek and then put her head on his shoulder. That last moment saw EJ. Her heart melted. First, Buffer is spending all night there in wardroom with another woman and second, Bomber was in his arms and he didn't care that someone could see them. And when she kissed him in cheek, he didn't pushed her away. EJ was sure in one thing now, woman about what Buffer speak earlier was Bomber. She run in her cabin and lied in her rack crying. 'This time I won't give up. I am not going to let her to have him.' thought EJ while she was crying.

0600 am, morning watch

Bomber was sleeping and Buffer's arm was still around her. He was sleeping too. They were in very unprofesional posicion. Dutchy was walking by corridor and suddenly came in wardroom to see how is Bomber when he saw that sight.
"What the Hell..." he started but he was cutted with Bird.
"Come here." she said and pull him out of wardroom.
"Bird..." he started.
"Shut up! It is none of your buisnis. Don't mess up." said Bird when she pushed him out from wardroom.
"They are breaking rules..."
"They not. And it is not your or mine thing." Bird was determineded to stop Dutchy.
"It is. Breaking rules..."
"You saw Mike and Kate kissing two years ago and you didn't say a word. You can do that now too." interjected Bird.
"How do you know that?" asked Dutchy surprised.
"Kate told me." answered Bird. "Promise me you won't say a word." she added.
"I won't Chicken legs. I promise. But I will tease them for that for next couple patrols." he said with a grin.
"I don't know how much is clever idea to tease anyone from them. Spider teased Bomber because of chips and almost finished over board. He also made stupid joke on Buffer and he was cleaning ship for next three patrols." worned Bird.
"You are wright. But we need to woke them up..." Dutchy didn't finish because Bird slammed with a door of sailor mess. "Ok, I was thinking to woke our little love birds in wardroom, not entair ship." he added.
"Call to hands! Call to hands! Wakey, wakey, wakey!" came from PA.
"I need to finish breakfast. I allready lose enough time and Charge is going to be in galley for hour and a half and he will say that he is hungry." said Bird and went for a galley avoiding Dutchy's look.