Hey everyone,
Literally sitting on the airport lounge in Sydney finishing this chapter. Depending on how good the wifi is I'll try and post while I'm away.
Disclaimer: don't sue me, I don't own these characters or claim to create them!
Charlotte
Chapter 6
She snapped back to reality.
"Ok guys, Mummy's off to work!"
She kissed Charlie goodbye, then Jim. She walked up to Mike and gave him a hug.
"I'm glad you're ok!"
She whispered in his ear.
"And play nice!"
Mike chuckled and gave her a slight push out the door.
Kate sat at her desk and tapped her pen on her notepad day dreaming about her future with Jim. She jumped as Maxine knocked on her door.
"Come in..."
Maxine entered Kate's office and sat down.
"Ma'am, what can I do for you?"
"Well it looks like your statement worked, no more new stories!"
Kate smiled satisfied.
"Yeah, guess the truth isn't as interesting!"
"So, Mike's out of hospital?"
Kate nodded and laughed.
"Yeah, he's staying with Jim."
Maxine put her hand over her mouth to try and stop herself from laughing, Kate nodded and laughed too.
"Ah yeah, don't ask me how that happened, but they seem to be mates and this way they both get to spend time with Charlie."
"Funny how things work out!"
There was an awkward pause, Kate wasn't sure why Maxine was still in her office.
"Ahh, did you need anything else Ma'am?"
Maxine cleared her throat.
"Ah yeah, actually there is something I need to talk to you about."
Kate's face dropped, she felt a sense of déjà vu. Maxine looked around the office and avoided eye contact, Kate became more worried as she noticed Maxine's unusual behaviour.
"Ma'am, I've had enough surprises for a lifetime, what is it!?"
Maxine stood up and paced around the office, Kate became more anxious, she stood up.
"Ma'am?!"
Maxine continued to pace.
"So obviously we are a patrol boat down at the moment and out of desperation Fleet Command had ordered repairs on HMAS Bundaberg. She's ready to sail and they're in need of a CO..."
Kate's eyes followed Maxine around the office, she didn't understand what she was getting at. Maxine glanced back at Kate and sighed, she hoped Kate had figured out the hints so she wasn't going to have to ask, or rather tell her what was going to happen. She stopped pacing and looked her directly in the eye.
"Kate, they want, well the need you, to be the CO."
Kate sat back down and stared into space for a minute trying to comprehend what Maxine had just ordered.
"Ma'am, I haven't been at sea for nearly 5 years!"
Maxine sat and nodded, she knew that Kate wasn't going to be thrilled.
"They know that Kate but you're also a very capable person and an excellent officer. They've just got you on general patrol for now, just to ease you back into it, plus there was no one else."
Kate scoffed still not believing what she was being told.
"Do they realise that I have a 5 year old and a limited babysitter roster?"
Maxine sighed again, she had told them all of this.
"Well, you have Jim now and Mike to an extent so...look I did go into bat for you but they're stuck! Look it would only be for a month or so, until either Mike is better or they can find a replacement!"
Kate wouldn't have thought she would be disappointed to go back to sea.
"You sail tomorrow Kate..."
Kate looked at Maxine bewildered.
"Tomorrow?!"
Maxine nodded and headed for the door trying to make a quick escape.
"Yeah, sorry! Look you can have the rest of the day off to organize yourself, at least you'll have you're old crew so there will be some familiarity!"
Kate started to gather up her things shaking her head, this was unbelievable but so typical of the navy.
"Ok, well 'thanks' isn't really the word I want to use!"
Maxine laughed nervously.
"Thanks will do fine Kate..."
Kate flung open the door to Jim's house and looked around for everyone, she made her way out to the deck. Mike and Jim were eating lunch while Charlie was in the spa.
"Such a hard life for you guys hey?"
They spun round surprised to see her, Jim got up and gave her a kiss.
"What are you doing home?!"
Kate flopped down on to a chair and took a bite out of Jim's sandwich.
"So...I have a new assignment."
Mike scooted his chair closer.
"How much more can they chuck at you right now?"
Kate looked at Mike and raised an eyebrow.
"HMAS Bundaberg..."
Jim was lost he had no idea what they meant, Mike was also confused.
"But it was decommissioned years ago..."
"Yeah, it was, but since our girl went down they are down a patrol boat so..."
Kate looked at Mike intensely, waiting for him to catch on, he realised what she was implying. He looked at her in disbelief.
"Oh... they haven't?"
Kate looked unimpressed and nodded. Jim cleared his throat.
"Ah, I'm lost..."
Kate felt terrible, she had totally excluded him from the conversation, she turned around and took his hand in hers.
"I have been assigned as CO of HMAS Bundaberg..."
There was silence. Kate placed her hand on his arm.
"Jim?"
He looked at her not knowing whether she was pleased with this new assignment.
"Umm, are you happy about it?"
Kate shook her head, of course she wasn't.
"No! It's frustrating just as we have... and Charlie. But they have no one else, Maxine said it's a month tops."
Jim shrugged, not thinking it was such a big deal. He thought Kate might be pleased for the break at sea after all the drama.
"Well at least they might owe you one then?!"
Kate scoffed.
"Since when do they Navy repay favours?"
He looked over at Charlie.
"How you gonna tell her?"
Kate sighed.
"Got anything up your sleeve better than chicken nuggets?"
They looked at each other and smiled.
"Chocolate mousse!"
They all laughed, Kate stopped.
"Well you better get in the kitchen cos I sail tomorrow!"
Jim shook his head.
"Typical Navy!"
Jim got up and kissed her on the forehead. Mike couldn't help for feeling a little responsible that she was being sent back out.
"Sorry Kate..."
Kate looked at Mike puzzled.
"Mike you don't need to be sorry, it's not your fault this happened. I'm actually more concerned about you two, are you guys gonna be alright?"
Mike laughed.
"Kate, we're fine! Don't worry about us! What do you think is gonna happen?"
Kate shrugged and laughed.
"I dunno, I guess it's just strange you and Jim being friends, I mean how you guys used to..."
Mike nodded.
"I know but I think we've all grown up from a few years ago plus we all want what's best for Charlie..."
Kate rested her hand on his and smiled.
The next morning, Home Port 0600.
Kate stood on deck of the refurbished HMAS Bundaberg, Mike, Jim and Charlie had come to see her off. They boarded the boat and looked around while Kate waited for her crew. 2Dads and Bird approached the boat and saw Kate; they ran up and hugged her, she was surprised by their reaction.
"Didn't think that you'd be that happy to see me?! Didn't Maxine tell you I was coming back?"
2Dads gave her a salute.
"Nope! She told us that we were getting a real hard ass."
Kate crossed her arms and frowned at him and put on her best CO voice.
"Well, you haven't served under me for 5 years, things may have changed?!"
2Dads stood there with a terrified look on his face not knowing how to react, Kate couldn't keep a straight face for more than 5 seconds, she burst out laughing.
"Relax 2Dads! I haven't changed that much!"
2Dads sighed with relief, he patted her on the shoulder and walked away, Bird stepped forward and hugged Kate.
"Good to have you back Ma'am, it hasn't been the same without you!"
Kate held Bird by the shoulders.
"I've missed you guys too, I'm sorry we haven't caught up as much as I'd like!"
Bird smiled, she understood.
"It's ok Kate, you're at Navcom with a family and we're at sea. I find it hard enough to have a social life, I can't imagine trying to juggle it with a child!"
Bird bent down to say hi to Charlie.
"Hi Charlie, do you remember me? Auntie Bird?"
Charlie smiled nervously.
"Kinda!"
She hid behind Jim's leg, they laughed. Mike knelt down beside her.
"Not like you to be shy!"
They heard fast footsteps approach behind them, they turned to see who was running late. A huge smile appeared on Kate's face.
"Nikki?"
She hugged Kate nearly bowling her over.
"Reporting for duty, Boss!"
She ran aboard the ship. Kate gave Charlie a hug.
"Gonna miss you!"
Charlie wrapped her arms around Kate's neck.
"Miss you more!"
She gave Jim a kiss on the cheek.
"See you soon!"
He nodded and took off her cap and kissed her on the lips, she sunk into it forgetting she was in public. She heard Charlie laugh and pulled away, her cheeks turned a rosy red. Jim put her cap back on her head and straightened it.
"Stay safe! I love you..."
Kate paused, they hadn't said the 4 letter word out loud. She smiled and looked in to his eyes.
"I love you too..."
Jim placed his hand on her cheek, Kate closed her eyes and wished she didn't have to leave, she sighed and gave Charlie another hug.
They boarded the boat, Kate and Nikki made their way up to the bridge. Kate sat in the captains chair and glanced back at her old team thinking of the it past adventures. Nikki stood beside her, she smiled and looked up at her.
"Nik, I can't believe you're back! What have you been up to?"
Nikki laughed.
"Ah, excuse me don't try and put the focus on me! You've got a lot of explaining to do!"
Kate smiled and rolled her eyes, she knew she'd have to explain sooner rather than later.
"Yeah, well it's a bit of a long story!"
Nikki sat at the EOD and turned towards Kate.
"Well, we've got a lot of time!"
Kate knew she wasn't going to get out of it, she handed RO a piece of paper.
"Head for these coordinates RO..."
RO hesitated and cleared his throat, Kate looked at him.
"Do we have a problem RO?"
RO shook his head.
"Ah no Ma'am, it's just.."
Kate turned and picked up the PA.
"Dutchy and Swain to the bridge at the rush..."
They ran up the stairs, she turned to address the crew on the bridge.
"Does anyone mind if I go pay my respects?"
They shook their heads.
"No Ma'am..."
Kate turned to RO.
"Ok, proceed Robert."
An hour later RO knocked on Kate's cabin door.
"Ah Ma'am, we're approaching the coordinates now..."
"Very good, thanks Robert. When we get there can we please stop for a moment..."
He nodded and left. Kate walked out of her cabin and out in to the deck, she leant on the railing and sighed. Dutchy walked out and stood beside her.
"Everything ok Boss?"
Kate nodded as a tear ran down her cheek.
"Yeah, I just can't believe she's gone..."
He wrapped his arm around her and gave her a bit of a squeeze.
"Yeah well, everyone's alive, that's all that matters right?"
She nodded and wiped the tears from her cheeks.
"Just give me a minute would you?"
Dutchy went back inside, Kate closed her eyes and threw a white rose into the sea.
She went back inside to the bridge, the phone rang.
"Hello HMAS Hammer, I mean Bundaberg, Commander McGregor speaking."
She could hear a laugh on the other end of the phone, it was Maxine.
"It's ok Kate, it will take some getting used to."
Kate laughed too.
"Yeah, what can I do for you Maxine?"
"Ah can you give Jim a call something about school enrolment due?!"
"Oh shit, sorry Ma'am, thanks!"
Kate hung up the phone.
"Nikki, you have the ship?"
She nodded.
"I have the ship Ma'am."
Kate rushed to her cabin and picked up the phone.
"Jim, it's Kate..."
"Hi, Charlie's school for next year called they need her enrolment form and a copy of her birth certificate. I would have asked Mike but he's at the hospital and they said they needed it today else she would lose her position!"
"I totally forgot with all this other stuff going on!"
"It's ok Kate, I can do it..."
Kate paused for a moment.
"It's ok Jim, I'll get Mike to do it, I'm pretty sure he knows where all the forms are..."
"They did say it was urgent, they need it in the next hour. It's ok Kate, I can do it! Where have you put her forms and birth certificate?"
"Ahh, they should be together in the study in the top drawer..."
"No worries, leave it to me..."
"Jim?
"Yeah?
"I love you..."
"Love you too Kate, see you soon!"
Kate hung up the phone and was deep in thought, she was startled as Nikki knocked on the door with a couple of brews. Kate opened the door.
"Ah, just what I needed!"
Nikki sipped her brew and sat on Kate's rack.
"So, you wanna give me the short version but not missing any of the juicy details?"
Kate laughed and took a mouth full of her coffee and cringed.
"Ugh, one good thing about a Navcom, the coffee machine!"
Nikki rolled her eyes.
"C'mon Kate, no stalling."
Kate paused and took a breath in.
"Where do I start? So Jim and I were engaged about 5 years ago, he was killed on a boat that contained a dirty bomb that was set up by a double agent, Madelaine Cruse. After everything I decided to take a shore posting and Mike and I gave it ago. I got pregnant, a total surprise, we were struggling, it wasn't working we tried to make it work for Charlie's sake but after a few years we couldn't do it anymore."
Kate looked at her feet it was the first time she had actually explained it to anyone, she hadn't really discussed it with anyone as most of her friends were on Hammersley so they found out from Mike. They didn't end terribly so she trusted him to explain but it still felt strange. Nikki reached out and put a hand on Kate's knee.
"And Jim's alive?"
Kate looked up at her and smiled.
"Yeah, he was working with Madelaine, well he thought he was. She was bought down and leaked his name to the rest of the terrorist cell. He decided to go into Witness Protection, for everyone's safety. He returned a few weeks ago and after alot of tears and yelling we've managed to get back to where we were, it's crazy but it's like he's never left! Charlie adores him and Mike is staying with him while he recovers."
Nikki looked dumbfounded.
"Wow, I mean, this should be made into a TV show or something!"
Kate laughed at the idea, Nikki sat there processing the story, she gripped Kate's arm.
"Hold up, did you say Jim was staying with Mike?"
Kate giggled.
"Yeah, they're mates, it's so weird Nik! But somehow it all works..."
Nikki took another sip of her brew.
"I can't believe I didn't hear any of this on the navy grape vine!"
Kate laughed.
"Yeah, where have you been, did you see I actually had to make a press release about my own life!"
Nikki laughed.
"I'll have to google that later!"
Kate's house.
Jim rummaged through the desk drawers and pulled out a bunch of paperwork. He shuffled through it and found the enrolment form and Charlie's birth certificate. He sat down and put the birth certificate under the enrolment form. He started to fill it out. Name - Charlotte Jane McGregor. DOB - 12/05/12. Mother's Name - Kate McGregor. Occupation: Commander – RAN. Fathers Name - Michael Flynn.
Occupation - Commander RAN. He laughed to himself, no one was gonna mess with this kid. Alternate Contact. He paused and gathered up the papers and headed home.
Mike was home watching TV, Jim sat down next to him and cleared his throat.
"Ah, Kate asked me to fill out Charlie's school enrolment form..."
Mike looked at him strangely, him. Priced his expression and didn't want him to think he was being excluded.
"Oh, you were at the hospital and they need it like yesterday. I just wanted to know if it was ok that I put my details down for an alternate contact?"
"Ah yeah, no worries..."
Jim finished filling out the forms, Mike picked them up and scanned them over.
"Did you get her birth certificate?"
Jim nodded.
"Yeah, it's the last page..."
Before Mike could say anything Jim grabbed the papers.
"Well I'd better scan these and send them off, it can't be my fault Charlie doesn't get into school!"
Back on Hammersley.
Nikki was sitting at the radar.
"Boss, we have a radar contact..."
Kate walked over to the radar.
"Nikki, prepare a boarding party, I wanna search all boats in this area, this is the area the Hammersley went down. If we suspect anything I want a full search. Maxine said there were no signs of any links but I want to be 100% sure."
"Yes Ma'am..."
Nikki left the bridge, Dutchy and 2Dads went to follow. She reached out and stopped them.
"You guys ok?"
They both nodded. Dutchy put a hand on Kate's shoulder.
"We gotta get back on the horse sometime Ma'am!"
She nodded and squeezed his hand.
"Extra plates, no risks!"
They both nodded and left the bridge. Kate walked out into the deck with the binoculars, she was anxious. She watched the RHIB pull alongside the boat, she held her breath for a second as she watched the crew jumped aboard. The vessels crew tried to resist, she immediately picked up her radio.
"Charlie 81 to X-ray 81, everything ok?"
Static. Kate picked up the binoculars, they were struggling against the crew. She turned to Charge panicked.
"Charge, take the second RHIB to assist."
He nodded and left the bridge, she wasn't taking any chances, this would not be a repeat of their last boarding.
The second RHIB launched and headed for the boat. She watched them board and assist the other team, they managed to control the situation.
"Charlie 91 to Bravo 91, sit rep?"
"Bravo 91, we have contained the crew we have found weapons on board. Should we apprehend the crew and tow back to base?"
Kate sighed with relief.
"Yes thanks Bravo 91, see you soon."
The apprehended crew were tired up in austere, Kate and Dutchy entered to speak to them. Kate walked up to the captain.
"What's your name?"
He sat there and stared at her, she leant in closer.
"You're name..."
No response. Dutchy reached out and put his hand in his pocket and took out his wallet, he opened it and handed the ID to Kate.
"Samuel Walters... so Samuel do you want to explain the weapons in your boat?"
No response. Kate shook her head.
"Fine, the AFP will be waiting for you when we dock."
Navcom.
Kate knocked on Maxine's door, she walked in and sat in front of her desk.
"Kate, the serial numbers match the ones that were recovered from the boat that brought down Hammersley."
Kate slumped over and put her head in her hands.
"It's not over is it?"
Maxine shook her head.
"You're gonna have to go back out there, we're going to search all boats in the area, even some of the smaller islands..."
"I know! Could I have an hour to go see Charlie Ma'am?"
Maxine nodded.
"An hour Kate!"
Kate ran in to Jim's house.
"Hello?"
Mike called out from the lounge.
"We're in here!"
Kate ran into the lounge room and scooped up Charlie.
"Mummy! You're back!"
She squeezed her tight.
"I'm only here for an hour baby!"
She put Charlie back down and turned to Mike.
"The weapons that blew up Hammersley, we found more on a ship today, they're still out there!"
Mike froze for a moment.
"What?"
Kate didn't want to worry Mike, he had always been overprotective of her.
"Kate, you can't..."
Kate placed a hand on his arm trying to reassure him.
"Mike, we will be fine and you know we don't have a choice!"
He picked up his keys and wallet.
"I'm gonna come talk to Maxine..."
Kate shot his a disapproving look, Charlie latched onto Kate's leg.
"Mummy, don't go..."
Kate picked her up.
"You can come to Navcom and Daddy can take you home ok?"
Navcom.
Kate and Mike were in with Maxine, Charlie was sitting with Rachel.
"Max, you can't expect Kate to handle this..."
Maxine stood up from her desk.
"Mike we don't get to choose the jobs, anyway Kate knows this!"
She looked at Kate for backup.
"You know the procedure!"
Kate nodded agreeing with Maxine, she rolled her eyes towards Mike.
"He insisted he come speak to you Ma'am."
Kate's phone rang, she glanced at it, it was a number she didn't recognise and she declined the call. Maxine stood closer to Mike, they were all friends but he needed to look at this professionally. She understood his concerns but this was the job, Kate was more than capable of managing this.
"Look Mike, I know this is fresh but we just need to do our job! We won't take any risks now we know that are ruthless. Kate is capable of doing this!"
Mike's phone rang, he was frustrated and ignored the call.
"I know she is but..."
Maxine glared at Mike.
"Mike!"
Mike knew he had to stop, he let out a aggravated huff, they both left the office, he turned to Kate.
"Please be careful."
Jim's house.
His phone rang.
"Jim Roth..."
"Hi Mr Roth, it's Candice King here from Cairns Junior Academy... "
"Oh hi, what can I help you with?"
"Look I've tried calling Kate and Mike but their phones go straight to voicemail..."
"Yeah, they're in a meeting at the moment, something I can help you with?"
"Maybe, I'm assuming you know them well as you were listed as the alternate contact."
Jim nodded forgetting her was on the phone.
"Ah yeah, we are..."
"Good well hopefully you can clear this up, I see on the enrolment form here that the names actually don't match..."
Jim was confused, he filled them out himself.
"Ah okay..."
"Maybe it's just me not being able to read hand writing but I just wanted to make sure the details match and we have to right student matched up to the birth certificate."
"Yeah , no worries."
"So, can I confirm that Kate McGregor and Michael Flynn are the parents of Charlotte James McGregor."
Jim paused, he frantically searched through the paperwork looking for Charlie's birth certificate.
"Hello? Mr Roth? Are you there?"
"Ah yeah sorry, did you say James?"
"Yeah..."
Jim found the certificate and held it up in front of him.
"Ah yes, I can confirm it's Charlotte James McGregor."
"Thanks, we will see you next semester then!"
Jim hung up the phone still staring at the certificate, he sat down rereading Charlie's name over and over. He glanced over and spotted Charlie's bears sitting on the bench, he slammed his fist on the table
"Damn it Kate!"
He jumped up and grabbed his keys and ran out the door.
End Chapter 6.
Hope you have enjoyed the story so far, don't forget to review! Xx