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 6
When Kate came back from having the tests, she was cranky and sore. She didn't like doctors for a reason. They were always poking and prodding you. She knew they were trying to save her and Catherine, but she still wished she was home. At least there she could come and go as she liked and maybe work at NavCom. But then nothing ever worked out the way you planned, and Kate knew that better than anybody.
Upon entering her room and the nurse and Mike getting settled, she noticed Mike sat back down beside her with her laptop. She looked over and saw he was on some online superstore looking at bedroom sets.
"What are you doing?"
Mike looked over at Kate looking at the computer screen and smirked.
"Both of our bedroom sets are old Kate, I figure when we move into the new house together, there should be some stuff we start off with new. I was also looking at bathroom sets based on little girls just for Catherine"
Kate had to laugh out when she heard him say that. Catherine wasn't even born yet and he was already planning different stuff for her.
Maxine and Ryan had just finished dinner when NavCom called her to the office for an emergency. While she really wanted to talk to her son more, she knew she had a job to do. As loath as she was to leave, she had too.
"Ryan I've been called in. Sorry about our movie night bud"
"It's cool mum, no worries. I know it is part of the job"
Maxine kissed Ryan on the head and went into her room to get back in uniform for work. Ryan gave a sigh of relief that she was leaving the house again. That meant when she was good and gone, he could investigate his mother's office. He was pretty sure he would find something there. He knew what he was doing would be considered as betrayal in his mother's eyes, but he was following the navy's rules. Not to mention he loved his Uncle Mike and he didn't want to see him hurt by his mum.
Ryan got up and started to clean up from their dinner and the snacks they had brought out to watch movies with. Looking around the kitchen, he knew he needed to start looking for a place to live as well. They lived where they lived because of the navy, so when his mother got in trouble, it was a high possibility that they would lose the place. Ryan started making lists in his head of the things he needed to do to protect him when his mother came in the room.
"I'll try and not be long, but I can't promise anything. Try and get some rest though. If something big is going down, I might have to crash sail Hammersrly"
"Ok mum, drive safe"
"I will Ryan"
When his mother walked out the door, Ryan put the dishes in the dishwasher and then went to make sure his travel bag had all clean clothes just in case. He then got out a pen and a small notebook and made a 'things to do list' for himself. After that was done and his mother had been gone long enough as that she wouldn't be coming back in the case she had forgotten something, he went into his mother's home office.
Sitting in her chair for a bit, he first started with the drawers of the desk. After awhile he didn't find anything, so he moved to the papers on top of her desk. There he found a copy of Lt. Kate McGregor's personal Navy files. Making sure he had enough paper in the copier, he copied every file his mother had and put it in a manila folder. He was about to print more when the little alarm went off. Startled, he looked around to find it was coming from the copier. It was low on ink. Quickly going through his mother's desk drawers again, he found replacement ink cartilages and changes them. Only then did he start coping again.
Setting the X's file aside, Ryan found where his mother had been doing several background checks on Kate and her family. Deciding that it showed probable cause, he also copied those and placed them into a separate manila envelope and set that aside as well.
After going through his mother's desk again and finding nothing more of interest; he knew the last place to check was his mother's personal desktop computer. He logged in under her screen name, which wasn't hard considering her password was his name, and started snooping around. There he found another personal journal of his mothers. This one was a lot more disturbing as it had plans on how to ruin the X, hurt her and the baby, make her lose her job and how she was going to use all of it to win his Uncle Mike.
Thoroughly disturbed by what he was reading, he started printing everything in the online he found that was relevant. Soon he had to feed more paper to the printer, but that alright considering that was a lot better than getting caught. After that was done, he started checking other files. He found some forms that his mother had filed but hadn't finished. Taking a closer look, he found they were naval request forms to start a court marshal on Lt. Kate McGregor. Ryan quickly printed them as well. Looking through more documents, he found more stuff his mother was planning to do to the X, and printed them off quickly. He found some forms his mother had already filed that would lead a paper trial away from any suspicion on Uncle Mike due to the baby and printed those as well.
What he found next though upset Ryan so bad, he had to get up and move. Part of his mother plan was get the authorities take Kate's baby away due to her background as a child. How can his mother blame Kate for what her mother had done to her? That had nothing to due with how the X and Mike would raise the baby. Then Ryan stopped. If his mother's plan worked the way she wanted, Kate wouldn't have a job or insurance. She wouldn't have money to pay her bills therefore she wouldn't have a place to stay, and to top it off, she wouldn't have Uncle Mike.
Ryan's stomach turned and he almost got sick then and there. He quickly went to the computer and printed everything he just saw on the screen and then some. He made sure to print every file she had so he could go through them later. After doing that task, he quickly collected his papers and some manila envelopes and then logged out of the computer and turned it off. Collecting all his hard work, he retired to his room to collect his thoughts.
Once inside his room, Ryan took all the papers, including the one he had copied earlier and put them in his travel bag in a neat stack. He opened his own laptop and started looking for apartments. After finding a few possibilities, he then looked into storage facilities in the area. After finding one he knew he could pay for easily, he looked into renting a moving truck. Before long, he had copied all of the info he needed and went to check on his laundry. Finding the dryer done with the first load, and put the clothes in the washer in the dryer and started his last load. He took his clean clothes into his room and went through what he waited to take with him and packed it.
Looking around his room, he saw there were a lot of things he didn't want to leave behind this time, so he ran into the kitchen and grabbed a trash bag. Ryan wasn't going to wait any longer. He was packing his clothes and paperwork into his travel bag now and take it over to Hammersrly to unpack it and then come back for more of his stuff. He couldn't stay in his mother's house any longer than he had to.
Steve and his wife got into Cairns around 2000hrs. They went to their hotel and checked in, then straight back to the hospital. When they got there, they found Kate asleep and Mike on Kate's Laptop again. Steve and Susan watched from the doorway while Mike read something, wrote something down, and then went back to reading. Seeing the serious look on his face, Steve quickly surmised he was studying ways to help Kate and Catherine. Walking inside, Steve placed a calming hand on Mike's shoulder to let him know they had arrived. Mike looked up startled but then relaxed when he saw who it was.
"How was your trip?" Mike whispered
"Tiring but fine. You should get some rest Mike" Steve whispered back
"I can't Steve, not when I know they are in danger" Mike whispered back
Steve sighed and wasn't to surprised when his wife jumped in at that moment.
"Then tell me Michael, how is it going to help them if something goes wrong and you're too tired to help? Kate and the baby need you to rest as well. Go ahead and get some rest, we'll stay with her to make sure she's ok" whispered Susan. It broke her heart to see Mike so worried. She knew for a fact his mother would not approve.
Just then something clicked in her head. The smile she gave Mike and then Steve told both men she was up to something. They were proven right with her next question to Mike.
"By the way Mike, where is your parents? Have you not told your parents yet you're going to be a father?"
Mike groaned and Steve chuckled. Leave it to his wife to find a way to add more influence on Mike's recent behavior. He knew she was right though, Mike parents had a right to know they were going to be grandparents, but the fact Mike hadn't said anything could cause to be a problem. He watched Mike rise up and lay on a cot close to Kate's bed while he mumbled.
"I'll call them tomorrow, I promise Mrs. Marshal, but I'm not leaving them unless I have to. It's my job to protect my family" Mike whispered as he fell asleep as soon as his head hit the pillow. Steve and Susan sat down and got comfortable for their night of vigilance.
Around 0100 hrs, Maxine came home to find Ryan's car gone. She couldn't know where he might have gone, but before she could call him, she saw him pull up beside her. She noticed he looked wide awake and had his empty travel bag with him.
"Ryan White, what do you think your doing out at this time of night?"
"Sorry Mum" Ryan muttered, he really didn't want to look at his mum at the moment but knew he had to so he could continue to do what he had to. "I had a bad feeling and went to drop some stuff off on the Hammersrly"
"What could you possibly have to drop off at the ship" Maxine asked not at all pleased with his excuse.
"Swain and Dutchy said it sometimes makes it easier being away form home if you personalize your sleeping space, so that's what I did. I took some books and pictures to my cabin and put them up. I came back to pack my clothes and get that ready in case you have to Crash Sail us like you said earlier"
To say Maxine was impressed was an understatement. To take a senior sailor's advice on how to make the time away from home easier was following a good road in their career field. She wasn't happy he did it at this time of night, but she was still glad he was learning to adjust to the navy life by following the examples of his senior officers.
"Ok then, just go inside and get some sleep. I have to be a NavCom at 0700 and you just might be crash sailed tomorrow"
"Ok mum, good night"
"Good night Ryan"
Maxine watched her son walk inside and sighed. Her little boy was all grown up and in the Navy. His father would have been proud.
As soon as Ryan walked into his room, he breathed a sigh of relief. His mother had brought his story. She had come home right before he returned from his last trip to the Hammersrly. All of his clothes, and most of his pictures were now on board, along with his evidence against his mother. Now all he had to do was convince her not to search his room.
He walked out of his room and went straight into the laundry room to collect his last load of clothes. Taking them to his room quietly, he packed his travel bag one last time and packed his laptop as well as his speakers and Cd's and DVD's. Looking around his room, he realized it looked a lot like a spare room now. Only a few pictures were placed around, his closet was empty of clothes, as were all of his drawers. His bed was made neatly and his desk was cleared of everything. Taking a deep breath and reminding himself that this was it, he walked out to his car and placed his travel bag in the boot of his car and then went inside to bed. He had a long day ahead of him.
Kate woke up as per usual and got sick, waking Mike and having him by his side. When she got back into bed after a nice long shower because she felt dirty, she laid in bed and watched Mike sleeping on his cot next to her. She also noted Admiral Marshal was back and asleep in a chair opposite her bed. She was surprised to see Mrs. Marshal come out of nowhere with a can of sprite.
"Here, sip this; it will help your stomach settle"
Kate did as she was instructed and had to admit, the sprite did help. After drinking a bit, she placed the small can down and looked at Mrs. Marshal.
"Thank you"
"No problem honey, I did the same thing with my babies. I was always more sick with Alice than I was with the boys. Steve always had to have white soda in the house due to it. Get some sleep; you have a big day later on"
"What do you mean?"Asked Kate as she looked at the older woman strangely. She didn't know of anything happening besides more testing.
"Mike is telling his parents tomorrow, and if I remember the Flynn Family, you're going to have a bigger welcoming committee than you did when your crew found out. Mike is the oldest boy, but there are three girls before him and one girl and four boys beneath him. They are going to be excited to meet you"
Kate groaned and covered her face and Susan gave a small snicker. She knew Kate was becoming overwhelmed.
"Don't worry; they are going to love you"
Kate pushed the hair out of her face and smiled at Susan Marshal. She was glad she was so sure because Kate wasn't. She didn't have a loving family intil last year and she was still getting used to them. Not to mention when Christina came earlier the day before, she mentioned that she had called Dad with the news and had filled him in on everything.
"I hope your right, because Mike and I have had a bad last five months and my dad knows about everything. My sister said he was flying in today and I know I'm going to get hell from him, I don't need it from Mike's parents too"
Susan understood where Kate was coming form and got up to give her a warm and loving hug. She made a promise to herself that if everything started crashing down, that she herself would make sure she was there for Kate and Mike, especially Kate. She wasn't going to let anyone upset her more than she already was.
At 0900 hrs, Mike woke up to hear a few new voices. He was startled and fell out of his cot when he opened his eyes and found two little sets of green eyes staring at him from the rim of his cot in front of his face. He then heard laughter and recognized one set of laughter was Kate's. As he rose up, he met a section of the McGregor family. Kate was sitting up in bed giggling with two girls, one twelve with green eyes and strawberry blonde hair, the other a bit older with red hair and green eyes. He summed up they must be Kate's nieces, as Christina was scolding the two little strawberry blonde headed boys for scaring their 'Uncle Mike". He almost laughed intil a large built man entered the room. His red hair had bits of silver running through it and his green eyes did not show amusement. Looking into those eyes though and seeing that familiar nose and Mike had no doubt in his mind.
He was face to face with Kate's Father.
Shamus McGregor was a tall man as he stood about six foot three. He had broad shoulders and hard muscled arms. His large hands looked like they had worked a hard life and his eyes held no nonsense. While Kate had gained her mother's build, it was easy to see where Christina gained her height and broad shoulders, not to mention her hair color. He was a sight to behold and even at Mike's five foot eleven frame, he knew even at his older age, he would lose any fight to Kate' s father. He was a little intimidated if he was honest with himself. Mike knew he had to watch his action around this man. Because at this moment, Shamus wasn't an ordinary man, he was a protective father to his long lost little girl and he looked like he was looking for a fight.
"So, you're the Lad that placed himself within me little girl huh? Give me one reason not to knock ye block off? I know everything that has happened in the past year and my little girl is too good for you"
"Daddy!" Kate said sternly. The look she gave her father showed while Kate had gotten her build from her mother, everything else was most definitely from her father.
"Don't Daddy me young lady, I want to know what he plans to do about this. As your father, I have to protect my little girls and that is what I'm doing. If ye mother hadn't run off with ya so long ago, I would have always been there"
"I know that daddy, but Mike has been there since right before he found out about Catherine LaFern and he is protecting us now. He's a Military man just like you are and he hasn't left this room since he got here, despite me telling him to go home and rest in case he gets Crash sailed"
Both Father and Daughter starred each other down and Christina let out a sigh as she shook her head.
"You would think I was more like him considering he raised me, but its Kate that is him made over. Stubborn as a mule, Welcome to the McGregor Clan Mike"
Mike looked at Christina like she had grown another head and then had to try not to laugh as Christina walked up and smacked her father's arm before starting in on him.
"And what did I tell you about keeping things calm for Katie and the Baby Da? You know they can't be havin any stress! Look at me, you have me so mad, my accent is comin out! Mike is being a good man and proposed before Kate could tell him she was pregnant. They have named the living child within her and have already picked out the baby's room. Your granddaughters cleaned her house so she could put it on the market. Mike is doing so later this evening and I am suppose to look at house with him this afternoon in Kate's stead since she is stuck her. Don't be starten nothing or your going to be dealing with both of us!"
Mike looked shocked that Christina had even stood up to her father. She was only a little shorter than himself at a meager five foot nine, yet she stood and acted as if she was seven feet tall. It must have worked though because their father stood down and huffed.
"Fine, but I want to know what he plans to do about everything else, as a father that is my right Christina Ann"
Mike knew this was when he was supposed to speak up, he just hoped he didn't screw it up and get pummeled by the man in the process.
"I have only honorable intentions with Kate Mr. McGregor. I plan to marry her because I love her and our little girl, I have been wanting to ask her, but I know I acted like a fool and I will be proving my worth to her for the rest of our lives. I love Kate and I will keep her safe"
"And what about the snake that has been trying to hurt her, a Commander White I have been told about. What are you doing about that?"
"Commander Maxine White is under investigation for her role in trying to hurt Kate. Her son, Mike's God son implicated his own mother before he even knew his mother was already a suspect. He is working with his Uncle Mike to stop her" said a voice and when everybody turned around, they saw Steve in his full Naval uniform.
"And who are you?" asked Shamus McGregor. Mike responded quickly to avoid a confrontation.
"Mr. McGregor, meet Admiral Steve Marshal and a long time friend of me and your daughters. He has come down from Canberra to do the investigation and help keep Kate safe"
Shamus took a moment to look at Mike and then Kate before turning back to Steve.
"Shamus McGregor, I'm Katelyn's father. Call me Shamus or Red" and shook Steve's hand in a firm grip.
"Admiral Steve Marshal, call me Steve" while returning the firm handshake showing he wasn't intimidated by the man, which made Shamus smile.
"Good, now can you fill me in on how my little girl and grandbabe are going to be protected when this man is out on his ship?"
"Mike is calling his parents to inform them today about what is going on. The hospital knows not to let Commander White anywhere near Kate and the baby and someone is to be here with her at all times. If she is transferred home, it will be the same thing. Someone will be with her at all times protecting them"
"Hmm" sounded Shamus as he turned back to Mike. "Christina said you were looking at houses today with her for your new family?"
"Yes Sir" replied Mike. "I want to start off fresh and new with Kate, and neither of our homes is really family-friendly so we are going to find a new one together"
"How do you plan on doing that while Kate is here Lad?"
"I'm taking a video tour of the houses we look at and I'm sending them straight to Kate via the web. I'll have my Bluetooth in so I can hear her questions and the realtor already knows the situation" replied Christina ready for anything her father might throw out at them.
Shamus couldn't help but be impressed. He had to admit, when he found out his little girl had joined the Navy, he had been surprised. He himself had been a member of the British Army and it was one of the reasons he left his home in Ireland when he had met Kate's mother who had lived in London. When she left taking Kate with her, it had broken him. He had turned to whiskey and almost lost his career if it hadn't been for Christina's mother. He wished Ceili had lived to meet his Katie, but her heart had given in two years ago.
Shamus noticed Kate getting out of bed and before he could move, Mike was there making sure she was ok. He almost laughed as Kate got flustered about Mike treating her in such a way and was about to say something when Christina reminded her he had been doing it this long and she doubted he was going to stop now, he did laugh. He watched as Mike made sure her legs were steady from being in bed for so long before he let her go and then started looking for his own stuff to get freshened up.
"Have you been here the whole time Lad?"
"Yes" replied Mike as he got his stuff together. Then Mike looked at Christina. "Do you think I should wear my whites, my ship uniform, or just something nice?"
"I say wear your ship uniform Mike, it will get it across you are in a hurry but serious at the same time. Wearing your whites will look to flashy and your civvies won't make you stand out enough in my opinion"
"Ok, Ship uniform it is"
Shamus watched as Mike helped Kate back into bed and then went into the bathroom himself. It seemed that Mike Flynn was doing everything possible to take care of his little girl, and that was all he cared about.
Ryan drove to the Hammersrly as soon as he woke up. The drive over was quite simple and he was glad to finally be back on the ship. He made his way quickly his sleeping quarters and sighed as he shut the door. Now came the hard part of his job. He had to go through the evidence and put it together for Mike and Admiral Marshal.