Chapter 3 The First Departure

Hammersley had been on course for Bunyan island for just over 6 days, and yet Swain still hadn't woken up which was starting to worry the doctors, Kate on the other had was making a full recovery with most of her burns starting to heal.

Mike sat in his chair on the bridge as he looked out onto the vast ocean that lay before them as Hammersley was making best speed to Bunyan island in just under fourteen hours Hammersley would dock and drop their passengers off and make their way home in all a two week round trip which had been increased by the explosion and medivac.

The few hours left of there journey went by as they steered into Bunyan wharf.

"Special sea duty men and cable party close up assume damage control state three condition Yankee" said Buffer as they all rushed to there respective stations as they prepared to dock.

Buffer, 2Dads, Bomber and anyone they could spare helped in unloading the medical gear onto the wharf. Mike and they crew farewelled Liz, Neela and Sam, Mike could help but get a sinking feeling it wouldn't be the last time, that wasn't until Buffer saw the look on Mike's face.

"Sir is everything okay?" asked Buffer as he stood beside Mike as Hammersley steered back into the deep ocean.

"Yeah I'm fine Buffer I just cant help it but I have this feeling that this isn't the last time we are going to see this island" replied Mike.

"Yes Sir I got the same feeling when I was on the wharf" replied Buffer as he stood up to take the Con.

Mike handed the bridge to Nav and headed below to his cabin, stepping inside his cabin a photo leapt out a him a photo Kate had purposely put in the one spot so that when Mike walked into his cabin he saw it every time. Taking down off the wall he stared at it for a few minutes until his phone rang.

"CO Mike Flynn" said Mike as he answered the phone

"Lieutenant Commander, this is Midshipmen Fox, Lieutenant Kate McGregor is on the line for you its urgent" said the midshipmen.

"Thank you put her through" replied Mike as he waited to hear Kate's voice.

"Couldn't live with out me" laughed Mike.

"Mike it's Swain he's in cardiac arrest the doctors don't know what's wrong, they think it might have something to do with the explosion the other day" said Kate in a panic voice.

"Ok calm down, you said he's in cardiac arrest well what the hell happened" replied Mike as he transferred the call onto the wireless headset.

"He went into cardiac arrest about four minutes ago, they think his brain is swelling which is putting pressure in the spinal cord and other veins in his brain which is cutting off his oxygen and blood supply to his brain" replied Kate as she paced up and down the hallway.

"What can they do for him" replied Mike as he stepped out and onto the front of the ship in clear view of the bridge he to was now pacing as Buffer and Nav looked on with confusion.

"Who is he taking to?" asked Nav as she looked at RO.

"Ah the X" replied RO

"I wonder what it is about he looks pretty stressed to me" replied Nav.

"Well they can release the pressure which they-they" replied Kate but stopped mid-sentence.

"They do what Kate please tell me" replied Mike he was starting to worry, Kate never held anything back.

"They drill small holes into his scull to release the pressure" replied Kate tried to hold back the tears that were threatening to spill.

"Oh my god is Sally okay? Are you okay?" asked Mike as all he heard was silence.

"Yeah I'm here, I'm fine sally isn't though I'm going to stay with her while Swain is in theatre it's the least I could do" replied Kate as she looked through the glass and into Swain's room. "he's back they got him back" said Kate relieved as Mike sighed in relief.

"Is Sal there can you put her on for me please" asked Mike as he started pacing once again.

"Mike?" asked Sally.

"Yeah how are you holding up" asked Mike concerned.

"I'm fine what the hell happened out there no one's telling me anything" replied Sally.

"We came across an FFV that we had been chasing for months, the boarding party went over to investigate when the ship exploded, Swain, Kate and the rest of the boarding party were thrown into water, when we pulled Swain out of the water he was unconscious and unresponsive from there he was medivac'd to the hospital in a critical condition" replied Mike as sally started to cry. She handed the phone back Kate.

"Mike there taking him into surgery I don't think it is a good idea to tell the crew I don't know how they will react" said Kate as she looked over at Sally.

"I cant keep it from them Kate they are worried enough as it is" replied Mike as he walked down to the back of the boat.

"Just do what you think is right Mike and get back here as soon as you can how far away are you from port" replied Kate.

"You're not going to like it were approximately six and a half days away but I think Charge can cut that down a little bit if we run the engines as fast as they go" replied Mike as he looked up onto the bridge.

"Okay Mike just get back when you can, I love you" replied Kate.

"I love you too, take care of sally for us, give her a hug from me okay?" replied Mike as he walked up onto the bridge.

"Okay bye Mike love you" replied Kate as she hung up the phone.

"Love you too" said Mike as he went to hang up.

"Sir is everything alright" asked Nav she could the sadness in his eyes and on his face.

"No everything isn't alright its Swain, about ten minutes ago he went into cardiac arrest, they revived him thankfully, but they say his brain is swelling and if they don't relieve the pressure he will die" replied Mike.

"Oh no" said Bomber as she covered her mouth, knowing full well what was involved in the procedure.

"Bomber what is it what do they do?" asked Buffer.

"They drill into his scull in certain places to relieve the pressure there are risks though" replied Bomber.

"What do you mean risk's" said Spider.

"They are many risk's first one is they drill in the wrong part and it doesn't relieve the pressure, two they drill to far and they hit the brain they are to many to name I'd be here for hours telling them to you" replied Bomber as she took her eyes off the crew and looked out onto the ocean.

"There going ahead with the surgery so it may be at least ten hours until he comes out until then we set course for home, Nav I need the fastest most possible route home, Charge I need you to have the engines going as fast as they will go" said Mike as they all rushed around the bridge.

"Bomber he will be fine, go cook get your mind off things we have everything covered up here" said Mike as he placed hi hand on her shoulder.

"Okay Sir how about some muffins?" replied Bomber.

"Sounds good to me take your time, ill pipe you if we get any news" replied Mike.

Aside from the boys Bomber and Swain were very close they had been through a lot together in there time aboard Hammersley and with being the only two medics onboard they work with each other often. After their mission on victory day island, both had coped a fair dose of radiation more than the others, but after he saved her life she never was able to thank him enough. All in all it was part of the job but they didn't see it like that. They were really good friends.

Swain was wheeled out of surgery fourteen hours later, the doctors believed the operation was a success but the next twenty-four hours were vital in knowing if they would be successful or not, it was now up to swains body to do the rest of the work.

Kate phoned Mike, he immediately answered the wireless headset hadn't left his body. There he stood on the bridge as the other sailors looked at him for any reaction he might show.

"That's good do they know if it worked?" asked Mike as Bomber walked up onto the bridge.

"They don't know yet they will know in a few hours, for now it is up to Swain to respond" replied Kate.

"Thanks Kate I'll let the crew know, please keep me updated if anything changes just call" replied Mike.

"Okay Mike I will love you" replied Kate.

"Love you too" and with that Mike hung up.

"Well how did it go is he okay?" asked Bomber.

"He came out of surgery about five minutes ago the doctors think it was a success but they will know in twenty-four hours or so, for now its up to Swain to respond" replied Mike as a sigh of relief flooded the bridge all except one. Bomber ran off the bridge and down onto the back of the boat were no one was at the time.

"I'll go Nav you have the ship" said Mike as he walked off the bridge in search for Bomber.

"His injuries were too severe" said Bomber aloud.

"They may have been severe Bomber but he's Swain he can get through anything, he's in the best of hands" replied Mike as he sat down beside Bomber.

"He may be but the chances are too low, with releasing the pressure what damage was done when his brain was swelling, brain damage, memory loss" replied Bomber as Mike wrapped his arm around Bomber's shoulders.

"He will make it Rebecca, be strong for him" replied Mike, he was acting like a friend rather than the CO, she needed a friend at this point, as Bomber started to cry Mike pulled her into a hug, passing the piont of professionalism.

"Come on let get you below you could do with some sleep and I have a ship and people to get home" added Mike as he picked her up.

"Thank you Sir" replied Bomber as she started to walk below they reached her cabin, Mike said goodnight as he left Bomber and headed for the bridge he passed the galley on his way grabbing a coffee for himself and everyone else on the bridge one.