The Turbulent Road Ahead

By SigmaStar79

A/N: Please remember I have no Beta, so all mistakes are mine! Hope you all enjoy XD

Chapter 4

It was around 0245 when Kate woke up with the nauseous feeling she had been experience for the last few months. Getting her bearings, she sat up in bed and tried to think calming thoughts. It didn't work and before Kate knew it, she was up out of bed with her IV pole in hand and rushing into the bathroom.

Mike was awoken suddenly by the sound of Kate getting sick. It took a few seconds for him to remember where he was and why. When he did, he remembered Kate was pregnant and he also rushed into the bathroom to find Kate hovering over the toilet vomiting. He quickly pulled her hair back out of her face with one of the hair ties that her sister Christina had packed for her. Then he got a cool glass of water and cold wash rag.

Setting the glass on the sink counter, he returned to Kate and put the wet wash rag on the back of her neck while he rubbed her back. Soon enough Kate was finished and Mike handed her a glass of water to rinse out her mouth with. He helped Kate up and stood with her as she quickly washed her face and teeth and then helped her back into bed. The paleness of her face scared him, so he wanted to stick by her.

"How long has that been happening Kate?"

Kate looked him funny intil she remembered he wasn't around when it started. She just smiled at him as she grabbed a package of saltines Mike had bought for her the day before while she responded.

"For about two months now. Its amazing wheat you get used to when it happens enough. I first thought my belly didn't like Bird's cooking. Then I thought I had contracted a cold since my back had started hurting occasionally and I was more than usually tired"

Mike seemingly took in that info and decided to ask the question that had been burning on his mind for the past few days.

"When did you first suspect you were pregnant?"

Kate gave a small sigh and looked at Mike. She knew this was coming but did he have to ask at 0300 in the morning? She was still tired and everyone knew she wasn't a morning person, most definitely him.

"During the beginning of our last patrol onboard Hammersrly. We were about two hours in and all of a sudden I wanted oranges. I went to the galley and then found out I wanted ice cream. I made a small bowl of ice cream and then decided I wanted an orange with it, so I did. Poor Bird just thought I needed a sugar boost. When I finished though, I remembered I am not particularly found of oranges. Everything started making sense then"

Mike looked confused and Kate had to stop the laugh wanting to come out. He just looked too darn cute when he was confused.

"About a week into our patrol and me wanting ice cream and oranges and I started looking into the problems I had been experiencing as of late. The cravings, the getting sick, the tightness of my pants and uniform. My fatigue, and then my moodiness. When I looked to my calendar, I realized I had missed a lot of periods. I have a tediously of writing down when I start and stop in case I have to go to the doctor. When I snatched a test for the infirmary towards the end of the patrol, it confirmed my suspicions"

Mike started letting it all sink in. the last few months had been some busy times on the boarder patrols at sea. There had been more FFV's in the past few months than usual and the weird weather as of late had caused flooding which they had helped with and storms meant ships that needed their help during Mayday calls. He could see where Kate would have missed her periods and probably hadn't thought about it. She was getting older and her periods were bound to start being irregular. He felt horrible then. He should have been there for her.

"Kate I'm so sorry"

"What for?" Kate asked surprise. It wasn't everyday Mike Flynn gave someone an apology.

"I should have been there more for you. Instead I had acted like an ass. I'm sorry"
Kate opened her arms up and Mike gently held her in his arms. He felt she was safer there and hoped everything panned out in the future. Mike was going to kiss Kate when he heard a man clear his voice behind them. He wasn't too surprised to hear a response either.

"I know you're not much for apologies Mike so you must have really screwed up with Kate. What I want to know is why you decided to impregnate your Executive Officer?"

Mike and Kate turned to face Admiral Steve Marshal and knew they were trouble. Mike offered Steve a seat while a nurse came in and scolded Steve for being too loud and that Kate didn't need any stress per doctor's orders. This made Steve raise his eyebrow at Mike which Mike said he would explain. As the nurse went to check Kate's vitals and was seeing to making sure Kate and the baby were safe, Mike started to talk to Marshal.

"Remember after the whole Cavanagh and Gorski situation?"

"How can I forget, I was being updated everyday on your progress. Me and the Wife kept in constant contact with you to make sure you were ok during the healing process and the counseling you had to have."

"Then you know I was one administrative leave and therefore was not the CO of Hammersrly for a bit"

"Yes, I remember. Cairns docked the Hammersrly for a week and then they had Kate as a temporary Co while you were recovering. Why Mike?"

When Marshal saw Mike look over at Kate talking to her nurse, everything clicked suddenly.

"Was that when you had a relationship with Kate Mike?"

"Sort of, we had been together when I got my promotion to Commander too and had to put our relationship on hold, again, when I was placed back on Hammersrly. I tried to recommend Kate for the CO position, but Maxine wouldn't accept my choice and I wasn't going to let her give my ship to someone the crew wouldn't get along with or someone who would hurt my ship, so I stayed onboard"

Marshal nodded his head in agreement. He knew first hand how Mike was about the Hammersrly. But there was something else bothering him too.

"You said again Mike, how many times have you been in a relationship with Kate McGregor Mike?"
Mike knew he had to be fully honest and as he looked at Kate, he could see how nervous she was about the truth coming out.

"This will be the fourth time we have tried Steve. The first was when I was her instructor at her navigation course in ADFA. The second time was when I finally accepted my promotion to Commander. The third time was when I was on administrative leave and I was no longer her CO for the time being. I'll admit though, I was a fool to not see Maxine's game, and I hurt Kate in the process. It is something I will be making up for to her for the rest of my life"

Mike looked and gave a small smile to Kate and Kate returned it. Marshal watched as Mike got up from his seat and went over to Kate. He watched as Mike kissed Kate on her head and then turned his attention to her stomach. He didn't hear what Mike said to her belly, but he didn't miss the tears that fell from Kate's eyes before she could stop them. He knew something else was terribly wrong.

"Care to inform me why you're crying Kate?"

Mike looked up to see in fact Kate had tears running down her face. She put her hand over the one Mike had over her stomach and Mike pulled her close and squeezed his eyes shut. Marshal knew then there was something wrong with the baby, and his heart went out to them. But it broke his heart more to hear what Kate said next.

"I feel like it's my fault. If I had known I was pregnant, if I had read the signs, maybe just maybe, I would still have both our babies. Mike I'm so sorry, I should have known. What kind of mother doesn't know something is wrong with her children!"

"Shh Kate, it's going to be ok. It has been a hard time lately and not everyone notices the signs of pregnancy. Doctor Harper even said it was nothing you did, that just sometimes happens. Just remember we still have one little girl to love and I am going to do everything I can to make sure you are both safe and sound Kate"

Marshal was shocked at Mike's promise to Kate and even more to learn they had been parents of twins and had lost one of the babies. But then email had said Mike was an expected father but was looking towards having some difficulties protecting his family and needed help. What danger were Kate and Mike in?

"Mike, you said in your email that your family was in danger. Care to explain what exactly is going on that is so dangerous?"

Mike looked at Kate one last time before he turned to Steve. It was now or never.

"Steve, Maxine has been trying to sabotage me and Kate. Kate's life is in danger now and so is the baby's life. That is why she is in the hospital. The twins were identical. They share the same sac, the same blood and food. One baby is alive and the other is dead. The doctors said any stress can cause Kate to lose the other baby. Even though she is five months, the baby can still die in the womb. Maxine has been attacking Kate professionally. She has even gone as far as to enlist Kate's ex boyfriend into her web of deceit"

Marshal groaned and punched the bridge of his nose again. His migraine was starting to come back.

"What do you mean Kate's ex boy friend Mike?"

"Captain Jim Roth" replied Mike. Kate hid her face and Steve knew he was missing something.

"Care to add to something Kate?"

Kate looked at Marshal with a look that said she didn't like speaking of private matters. But then again, Kate McGregor had always been a private person and Marshal knew it. He knew this couldn't be easy for her. He watched her take a deep breath before she spoke.

"Sometime after we broke up, Jim had found out Mike had been promoted and transferred off the ship. When he got word Mike was back on the ship, Jim took at as his mission to 'Win' me back from Mike. I told him to leave me alone, but he wouldn't listen. One night when I was home on leave, Jim broke into the house and tried to have sex with me. Needless to say by the time the police arrived, I had a baseball bat in my hands and Jim was bleeding from the head and singing soprano. I told him there would never be a 'him and me' again, but he wouldn't listen. So I placed a restraining order on him. My sister has even had a few run-ins with Jim. Just today when Mike and Christina were at my house collecting things I would need, Jim had been sneaking around my house. He was then caught talking on the phone with Commander White. She had sent him there to see why Mike was with my sister at my house"

Marshal wasn't surprised that Kate had taken the man out. But he was surprised to hear she had a sister. As far as he knew, Kate was an only child.

"Your sister you say"

Kate smiled big and then explained.

"A little over a year ago, I finally found my dad Admiral Marshal. I also learned I had a little sister. Christina lives in Cairns not to far from me and runs my dad's business here. She is 10 years younger than me and has four of the most adorable children. She also has a temper and is not too fond of Maxine or Jim at the moment"

Marshal smiled at that. He was glad Kate had finally found her father. He knew it was something she had always wanted. The fact that she also has a sister and they are now close was a good thing for Kate, and he knew it. The fact that her sister knew Maxine posed a danger to Kate was not good though. He needed more information to help her.

"Tell me Kate, does Commander White know you're pregnant?"

"Yes Sir she does. I told her with Mike there after we got back from the last patrol before I came to the doctors yesterday and found out the problems with the pregnancy"

"Did she seem hostel towards you?"

"No, she was acting very smug and was insulting. It was when I left the office she turned hateful towards me with Mike"

Marshal turned and raised an eyebrow at Mike. Mike scratched the back of head nervously and then told Marshal Maxine's reaction to Kate's pregnancy and about him fearing she was watching his home and the fact he knew for a fact she was having him followed. One look at Marshal's face and both Mike and Kate knew he wasn't happy.

"She is having you followed Mike. Are you completely sure of this"

"Yes. The moment me and Christina got to my house for some things, Maxine sent her son, my godson Ryan over to check on me. After we left, we went straight to Kate's house, where we encountered Jim Roth and Christina got the man arrested. When I tried to tell her I had a doctor's appointment to hide the fact I was going to the doctor with Kate, she wanted to come and got upset when I wasn't home at a certain time. She even texted me about it! Christina figured out she was probably trying to know where I was so she could search my house, and considering what happened when I fibbed and said I was on my way home with a date and showed up with Christina, she was proven right."

Marshal seemed to take this all in. The fact that Maxine knew Kate was pregnant could open up a lot of doors for her to attack with. The fact she had been figured out and her plans spoiled so far thanks to Kate's younger sister proved the woman was out for the kill and her target was Kate and the prize was Mike.

"Mike, does Maxine know Kate is in the hospital?"

"Not yet, but we wont be able to hide it long. Kate had to reveal she was pregnant when Maxine called Kate into NavCom because Kate requested a transfer from the ship. She wasn't going to grant it intil Kate told her the circumstances. I have the crew showing up here later to explain that Kate is pregnant and we will be getting a new XO. When Kate's medical files start coming into to NavCom due to the pregnancy and why she now has to be put on leave instead of a desk job, Maxine is going to find out. She is the one who has to sign off on everything"

Marshal now understood why Mike's family was in danger and why he called on him. Any form of stress could kill the surviving baby and might even kill Kate. Mike knew who the danger was coming form, but he was at a loss at how to stop it. Maxine was a woman used to getting her way and the danger lied in the fact she had her eyes set on destroying Kate.

"Let me see what I can do about Maxine. I might even be able to pull both your asses out of the fire when it comes to your jobs. The fact you both didn't do anything until one or the other was off the boat shows a lot of integrity and strength. You both tried to follow the rules, and now have found yourselves in a pickle. As of right now you two can be together no problem due to Kate no longer being on the ship. You two are no longer breaking any rules. I can try to see if I can sign off on Kat's leave of absence since I am above Maxine. We might be able to hide the fact Kate is in the hospital a bit longer than usual"

Kate tried to get out of bed and Mike stopped her. Marshal almost laughed when he heard Kate say she had to use the bathroom and thank himself. Marshal walked over to Kate and let her give him a hug in thanks before Mike called a nurse to help Kate, which Kate got upset about. Steve had to out right laugh when Kate told Mike to stop treating her like a univalent. Leave it to 'Princess Perfect' Lt. Kate McGregor to put Commander 'Mighty' Mike Flynn in his place.

When the nurse came in to say Kate would need to use the rest room anyway before her test that day, Kate finally agreed and then Marshal and Mike where alone. Marshal took the opportunity to say one more thing to Mike.

"I'll be here when you address your crew Mike. It might nip Maxine in the butt if she knows I'm here. But Kate has been though a lot and there is something you're not telling me. You better treat that woman right, you hear me"

"Yes Sir and your right"

"About what part"

"They don't think they can remove the dead baby. That means my daughter is pumping blood for herself and her dead sister. Kate is pumping blood for all three and the dead baby causes health risks to both Kate and Catherine. We also decided to bury the dead baby once it's born. He or she deserves that much respect"

Steve placed a hand of Mike shoulder and gave it a squeeze in encouragement. He knew this was a rough time for both of them and it just made him more determined to help them out. No parent should have to live through this and have someone trying to break them up as well. Lord help Commander White if she pulled anything else.

At 1100 hrs, the Crew of Hammersrly, except Ryan, were all diligently waiting for their CO in the lobby of the hospital. When they saw their Co walk up to them with Commander Marshal, they knew something was wrong. The fact none of them saw their XO anywhere pretty much confirmed it.

"Yesterday, our XO found out she was pregnant"

The crew received looks as they all started cheering. They were happy for their XO. They all quieted down when Marshal said to though. The look on his face was a Solomon one and they all knew then something was terribly wrong.

"Does everyone remember when I was put on leave after the sub deal?"

A chorus of 'Yes Sir' was heard and then Mike continued.

"At that time, me and Lt. McGregor started a relationship which had to be put on hold due to the fact Commander White refused to placed Kate as your permanent CO and made me return as CO of Hammersrly"

Swain figured it out first, which wasn't surprising considering he was head medic on board Hammersrly.

"The baby is yours Boss?" Swain asked with a smile.

"Yes Swain it is"

This caused everyone to congratulate Mike on his impending fatherhood intil Swain spoke out again.

"But that breaks the rules if the X is pregnant guys. It means she has to leave the Hammersrly and she won't be returning. It means we are all getting a new XO"

The looks of disbelief and sadness touched Mike to the core. Kate was highly respected and loved by the crew and her loss was already being felt. Feeling a hand on his shoulder, Mike turned to see Steve giving him support for what he was about to do. Mike nodded his head in agreement and it didn't miss RO's attention either. He spoke out next.

"But there is something else wrong isn't there Sir. We have all been called to the hospital for a reason and the X isn't with us to celebrate. Plus Admiral Marshal is here. What is wrong and how can we help?"

The whole crew looked at Robert Dixon like he had grown two heads at the moment. They didn't understand how Robert could see the worst of the situation. That was, intil 2Dads spoke up.

"He's right, the X isn't here and we are in a hospital. That means something is wrong with the X"

Everyone turned back to Mike and Steve gave his shoulder a squeeze.

"We were having twins, but one passed away. Kate has been admitted to the hospital because any stress right now could kill the other baby, and maybe Kate. She just found out she was pregnant. She is around 5 months. And we have a problem at NavCom as well"

Having experience with trouble, 2Dads face darkened. It didn't go unnoticed by the crew either.

"Commander White am I right?"

"Yes 2Dads. She has expressed interest in me and what's the XO out of the picture. That is why I texted everyone but Ryan here. I love my Godson, but I'm pretty sure he has no idea what his mum is up too and it's my job to protect my crew and my new family. I don't want him involved in this"

The guilty look on Bird's face said a lot and Mike knew there was about to be trouble.

"Have something to share Bird?"

"I'm so sorry sir, before you mentioned the problem with NavCom, I texted Ryan and asked him why he wasn't here. He just texted back and said he didn't receive the text and he was on his way. I didn't mean to put the X or your baby in danger"

"It's ok Bird, we will just tell Ryan that the X is pregnant and that it is a Girl. But nothing else understood?"

"Yes sir" Bird replied with her head down. She knew she has screwed up.

Just then Ryan rushed through the front doors of the hospital. Everyone looked at him suspiciously and he said sorry he was late. Mike told him no worries as his phone was messing up last night and not everyone got the text and that the others had learned through word of mouth. He then told Ryan what he wanted to know and the smile on Ryan's face said everything. It shocked most of the crew what the young man said next.

"That's great Mike, when can we congratulate the X? I know for sure I want to buy the baby something!"

Mike smiled and was surprised when it was 2Dads that jumped in with a totally believable excuse.

"That's why we are here mate, The X fell and she is in the hospital. They are keeping her to make sure both her and the baby is ok. The Admiral is her because the X received a threat and we have all been put on notice to watch out for her and protect her. We don't know who wants to hurt her yet, but the crew of Hammersrly is like an overgrown 2nd family to everyone. You don't mess with one of us without messing with all of us. Don't talk about this to no one because the Admiral is here to find out whom and we were told we are not allowed to talk to anyone about it, in case someone we know is being used without us knowing"

Ryan looked shocked. It was then the admiral added to the lie and said he believed it was someone who has a crush on Mike and thinks Kate is a roadblock and that it might be an underling at NavCom. They all saw Ryan's eyes darken with anger and Mike jumped in quick to stop it.

"Kate and I don't want your Mum knowing someone is trying to hurt Kate by using her. We both know how protective your mum can get at times and I don't want her to worry. She has enough on her plate these days as it is"

Ryan nodded his head but surprised everyone with what he said next.

"Mike, what would you say if I said I think the problem might be my mum?"