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 8

Ryan cussed and called Mike to warn him as he put his evidence away. It didn't take long.

"Mike Flynn"

"Uncle Mike, its Ryan. Mum just texted me and said she is about to call you and we are being crash sailed"

"Ok. I'll talk with the family and set up a schedule to protect Kate. Thank you Ryan"

"No problem. When you get the chance, I have some stuff here for you and Admiral Marshal"

"Already, Ryan I must admit you work fast"

Ryan smiled at Mike's praise, but continued.

"The X always said if you think with a clear mind and an open heart you can accomplish anything. I kind of took it to heart"

Mike smiled on the other end of the phone. He was proud of Ryan.

"Good Lad, I'll see you soon"

"Ok Mike Bye"

Ryan quickly changed and then went to see what he could help with. It was going to be a long patrol.

Mike hung up the phone as he pulled into the hospital garage. As soon as his Holden was parked, he rushed up to Kate's room. He was glad to see everyone still there. It made things a tad bit easier.

"Bad news, I just got a call for Ryan, his mum gave him the heads up we are being crash sailed"

Christina pinched the bridge of her nose and Shamus did not look pleased, Kate understood.

"Do you know for how long?"

"Not yet and I need to set up a schedule for several things yet"

His brothers Kevin, Howard, and Corey came forward. Mike was their older brother and they were going to help him.

"Tell us what to do and we will help Mike. We are family and family sticks together"

Mike smiled at his younger brothers. He should have known those three would try to help out.

"I will need to set a schedule of people to be here to protect Kate and the baby from danger for one. I need someone at my house to await deliveries and I need someone to help Christina with the purchase of me and Kate's house"

To everyone's surprise, Joseph Flynn stood up and spoke.

"Alright Flynn family, we are setting a four hour schedule for everyone. Corey, you got first shift, Kevin you have second. Howard, you are third, Carol you fourth. Angela has fifth and your mother and Frances has the sixth shift. I will stay at Mike's house while Shamus will guard Kate's place. Christina looks like she is pretty damn capable son, give her the reins when it comes to the new house, she will be fine"

Mike looked surprised at his father taking over so quickly. It only made Joe laugh out loud at his oldest son's face.

"Michael Adam Flynn, I have been married over 40 years, ran a farm and helped raise and lead you and your seven siblings. Did you honestly think I wouldn't know how to protect the newest members of our family?"

Mike just smiled at his dad. He was right after all.

"Ok, you're right. Kate, are you going to be ok with everything?"

"Yes" replied Kate softly. "It gives me a chance to get to know your entire family"

Mike smiled at how Kate looked at things. He knew she wasn't feeling very good and was loath to leave her. He walked up and picked up her hand to kiss it. Catherine took it as her moment to let herself be known.

"Mike, feel"

Kate took his hand and placed it on her stomach. Tears sprang in his eyes as he felt his daughter doing summersaults inside her mother. When he heard his phone ring, he just ignored it to keep feeling his daughter. His mother was not as kind. She grabbed his phone and answered it on speaker.

"Hello, Mike Flynn's phone"

"Um hello, who is this?" Replied Maxine.

"His mother and he is a bit busy at the moment, can I help you?" Catherine Flynn responded.

"I'm sorry Mrs. Flynn, but I'm his commanding officer and I need to speak to him post haste"

"Wait one moment" Catherine responded as she put the phone on mute. "She can just wait for all the trouble she has caused" which made most of her children laugh.

"I love you Catherine LaFern Flynn" whispered Mike to Kate's stomach as he gave it a brief kiss. His daughter must have heard because she pressed her hand against where Mike had kissed. Shamus and Joe placed a caring hand on each of Mike's shoulders as he fought not to show his emotions.

"Daddy has to go for awhile, can you take care of Mommy while I'm gone princess?"

The baby again pressed her hand against Kate's stomach and Mike put him and Kate's entwined hands on the spot where their daughter was showing herself.

"We love you little Catherine, and daddy will be home soon ok" whispered Kate. Mike looked up at her worried as she slipped off to sleep.

"Kate? Kate!"

"Calm down Mike" spoke Christina. "Remember what the doctor said about the medicine. It is going to take a lot out of her for the next few days"

Mike just nodded his head trying to hold back his tears. He then took the phone from his mother.

"Commander Mike Flynn" Mike responded. He kept the phone on speaker.

"Hey Mike, its Maxine, sorry to do this to you, but I need to send out Hammersley. We have a situation and I need you to transfer a couple of SAS teams to a possible war front. Are you at your Parent's farm or are you in the area?"

Mike looked at his mum and she nodded her head. He knew what she was applying.

"I'm at my parent's farm at the moment, but there is some major work that needs to be done so my parents are going to be staying at my house while repairs are being made. You sort of caught me at a bad time; I was up on the roof"

Everyone heard the throaty gasp Maxine made and the men all rolled their eyes at it.

"How fast can you shower and get back here?"

Mike smirked at his mother while she gave him back the same smirk back. Mike loved his mother at times, he really did.

"About 3 hours if I speed, why"

"Ok then" Maxine said while sounding put out "The Hammersley will be sent out in four hours. Make sure your there Mike"

"I will Maxine. Did you get my recommendations for my new XO?"

"Yes I did" Maxine sounded more chipper at the moment. "Your old Buffer is here and is being briefed as we speak due to his current promotion and new posting"

"Good" Mike smiled towards Kate. Everyone in his family knew that smile and knew it meant trouble for whoever he was plotting against.

"Excellent. I'm glad to have Pete back in the saddle of Hammersley. SO he knows Kate is pregnant"

"Yes" Maxine said sullenly. "He said he tried to go by her place to congratulate her but she wasn't home"

Mike smirk got bigger with that. His entire family was hearing just how Maxine could be.

"Well, parenthood is a wonderful thing Maxine"

"Oh yes Mike, a whore having another whore. How charming"

"Maxine" warned Mike in atone that meant no nonsense.

"Don't Maxine me Mike. I don't care what you say, she's a whore and she's pregnant. Don't get caught up in her web. What is she, two, three months along? There is no way the baby is yours"

"Maxine, Kate is further along than you think" Mike said trying to keep his anger in, but not doing very well. Shamus noticed his fist and understood. He wanted to deck the wench as well.

"I don't feel like talking about it right now, just get back here so you can go out with Hammersley"

"Ok Maxine, Bye"

"Bye Mike"

As Mike hung up the phone he had to overwhelming urge to punch something. It was Shamus to spoke out what he was feeling.

"You were right; she is a hateful little thing. No wonder you're protecting my Kate the way you are. That woman is positively evil"

Frances glared at Kate's father for his comment but no one noticed it. They were too focused on everything else. It seemed to Frances everyone had forgotten they had all knew Maxine for a lot longer than they knew this Kate woman. She wanted to find out just how the woman had met her brother, but knew it wasn't the time to ask. She knew how to get info out of people. You had to kill them with kindness.

As everyone agreed to meet up at Mike's after he left, Frances would put her own investigation in motion. At the moment, she was still siding with her old friend, and she refused to think that Maxine's son Ryan had anything to do with his mother's 'so-called' investigation.

Maxine sat in her office looking at a picture she had taken months ago of Mike and Ryan. She wondered sometimes what things would have been like had she went after Mike instead of Ryan's father. But Ryan's dad had been a good man when he was alive and she didn't regret any of the times they had spent together. But she did regret not going after Mike sooner. She knew he would be the perfect father figure for Ryan, but she was driven by her career. By the time she came back around, Kate had been in the picture, and as much as she hated it, she waited until she could make her move without suspicion.

Now she was looking at real estate sites at the new listing of Kate's condo. She couldn't stop herself from thinking that it was a nice piece of property. Maybe she would get it for Ryan as a birthday present? He would need his own place soon if she was able to ensnare Mike. She started looking into it when she thought about what Mike and Kate might have done there and quickly changed her mind. She didn't want her son having anything to do with that place. Looking at the clock, she smiled at the thought Mike would be at sea in an hour's time and that gave her the window of opportunity she needed to find Kate.

Going through her files, Maxine went back quickly to work. She wanted to be caught up with as much as possible before she started her search for Kate. She wanted her time without Mike and Ryan around to do what she planned to do. She had to file her paperwork and falsify the dates to make Kate look guilty when she turned her into the Brass later that week. She was just about ready to put her plan in motion; all she had to do now was find Kate McGregor.

As soon as Mike got onboard Hammersley, he saw a face he was desperate to see. Peter was talking to Swain and 2Dads and they all smiled when they saw Mike running up the deck to get aboard.

"Not too excited to see me huh Boss"

Mike gave Buffer a huge hug before stepping back and answering him.

"I need all the good men I can get right now. I am guessing Swain and 2Dads filled you in on all that's going on"

"Yep" replied Buffer "Still can't believe you and the X Sir"

"Believe it Pete and we have a beautiful little girl on the way. I'm glad I was able to get you as my new XO. I wanted someone who could fill Kate's shoes"

"I doubt anyone could fill the X's shoes boss, but I'm honored you felt I was up for the job"

"Pete you need to remember, you're no longer the Buffer, you're now the X. Kate is Kate and she is happy where she is and she is well protected at the moment. I need you here with me and help me and Ryan figure things out"

"Who's Ryan Boss"

"I am" as Ryan walked up and shook Pete's hand. Pete watched in shock as he heard the Boy's next words.

"Uncle Mike, I go the evidence on my Mum if you want to look at it. Plus I need to ask your opinion on something"

"That sounds good Ryan; we will do that as soon as we get going. Set up everything in the Wardroom and I'll bring the people involved here with protecting Kate and Cat"

"Got it Mike" and Ryan ran off back into the ship to set up his presentation of the evidence. Mike saw the look on Pete's face and knew what was coming"

"Yes Pete that is Maxine's son and my Godson Ryan White. He's been nicknamed 'Knocker' just like his mum, but he takes it in stride, unlike his mum"

Buffer looked a little uneasy, but then Mike would be too if he didn't know the situation. Telling Pete to get settled in then meet him on the Bridge, Mike went to the Bridge himself. He needed to talk to the crew about meeting him in the Wardroom after they had left port. He just hoped Kate was ok with his family. He still had a bad feeling something was going to happen.

At Mike's house later that evening, Frances started looking around for evidence of his relationship with Kate. At first she didn't find anything. Then she remembered Mike's favorite book. Looking in Mike's bedroom, she found the book in question and started looking in it. She noticed the cover around the back binding was hiding something and when she finally got it loose, several pictures fell out.

Frances found pictures of Kate as a student in ADFA and personal pictures of Kate throughout the years. She also found a key. Thinking it was Kate's house key since it was in with his hidden pictures of Kate, Frances quickly used the excuse of going to buy Ice and left the house. She drove a bit to the address she had overheard form Christina and her father talking about was now up for sale. Parking in the driveway, she noticed there was no for sale sign up, and then remembered hearing Christina say there would be none until they moved Kate's stuff out.

Walking up the front steps, she quickly unlocked the door and went in. Knowing Shamus was at Mike's house talking to her parents about Kate and Mike, Frances started snooping around. If Kate was anything like Mike, there was some stuff that would be hidden in plain sight. The first place she looked was Kate's bedroom, which she located quickly. There she found a Box marked 'MFHatKMH'. Opening it, she found several photo albums and clothing. It was then she smelled her brother's faint scent on some of the items. Looking through the box, she realized Mike must have taken stuff from his house to Kate's recently. This was Mike's stuff of Him and Kate's relationship. She found pictures, an old journal of her brothers, some clothes and love letters. She snorted when she read one of the notes saying she would meet him at his 'commander center' at 1400 hrs for their briefing. Briefing must have met something else apparently.

Taking the box and setting it aside to take with her later to her hotel room, she started looking through the rest of the houses. When she came to the living room, she found several pictures and awards from the Navy. It was then she realized Mike and Kate had both served on Hammersley together, which was a big no-no. She smirked at the info she had found on her perfect brother.

The then looked at the pictures. There were a few of the ship, and she removed the back of the first. Sure enough, she found a picture she could tell Kate took. Mike was behind her, holding her close and Kate had one arm around his while the other took the picture. They were both smiling. Putting the picture down, she went to the next picture of the ship. This one was a copy of the decommission of the old ship. Opening the back, there were two pictures. The first was a picture that Mike had obviously taken, as it was of Kate asleep, and nude. Her hair was tussled and the sheets were at her feet. The second picture was one that Kate must have taken because it was of her brother with no shirt one, acting like he was undoing his belt and had a look in his eyes that clearly said what would happen when Kate dropped the camera. It made Frances sick.

The next and last picture of the ship also hid a picture. It must have been someone else who took it because her brother was wearing swim trunks and loose t shirt while Kate was wearing a simple sundress. They were both on a beach and were looking happily into each other's eyes with a perfect sunset in the background. Frances blinked at how perfect they looked together in the picture.

She looked at all the framed pictures, seeing a long naval career told by them. She then left Kate's house with her evidence. She never noticed the car sitting on the other side of the street, or Maxine White watching her closely as she removed things from Kate's house. Maxine waited until Frances had left the house before following her back to the hotel she was staying at.

Shamus and Christina said their goodbyes to the Flynn family and headed to Kate's house. They picked up Christina's kids on the way and the Rental truck Mike had rented for the task. After pulling up to the house, Christina used her key to go inside and started placing boxes inside the house. Shamus backed the truck in the driveway and opened the back. Christina started packing everything in Kate's Kitchen while Andrea and Sarah packed up their Aunt's bedroom. Shamus moved the living room sectional out first, and was surprised when he saw Joe and Corey walking up the driveway.

"We thought you could use some help Shamus. Kevin will be here as soon as Howard gets to the hospital to relive him of his sentry post. How about we start on that sectional?"

Shamus was happily surprised but thankful for the help. His grandsons were a bit too small to help just yet and having two more sets of hands definitely helped. They worked together to get the sectional in the moving truck and then moved back inside to find Christina had already stripped the tables of pictures and lamps. Shamus and Joe moved the rectangular table outside after removing its top two Glass panels while Corey had taken out the two end tables from the living room. They then moved to Kate's bedroom where Andrea and Sarah had already stripped the bed and proceeded to move the mattress and box springs out. They were walking back towards the house when another car pulled up and Kevin came running at them. Nodding at the man, Kevin quickly joined up and started moving the bed frame and dresser out of Kate's room into the moving van.

When they got inside, they found Christina had stripped all the bookcases and the Cairo Cabinet and were ready to be moved. Shamus and Joe were careful with the Cairo Cabinet as Kevin and Corey moved the bookcases. From there, they removed the entertainment center Christina had cleaned out. They were making good time and that was a good thing.

Andrea and Sarah had started bringing all the bows from the closets, bathrooms and Kate's room into the living room since it had already been cleared out as Christina took the boxes packed form the kitchen and spare bedroom out into the living room. The boys were playing in the well lighted back yard.

Shamus and Joe moved the spare bedroom mattress and box springs and while Corey and Kevin were coming up behind with the bed frame when they all heard a car pull up. Putting everything in the back of the moving truck, imagine the four men's surprise when they turned around to see guns pointed at them.

"DOWN ON THE GROUND! DOWN ON THE GROUND!"

Realizing someone had called the police, all the men went down as Shamus screamed for Christina. Andrea and Sarah came out first and started laughing. They couldn't believe what was happening.

"What the heck did you do now grandpa?" giggled Andrea while Sarah couldn't talk for laughing so hard. The police officers told them to join their grandfather, which just made the girls laugh harder. Hearing her daughter's uncontrollable laughter brought Christina out into the mix.

"DOWN ON THE GROUND NOW!"

Christina saw the police and shook her head.

"You get down on the ground, we are busy moving me sister out" and with that Christina walked back into the house calling the girls inside and telling the men to stop lying around. A police officer ran into the house to hear Christina ask her daughters how much stuff was left to pack up. A police officer grabbed her, which wasn't smart because Christina slapped him. Hard.

"You have no right to touch me! Do not touch me. I am packing up my sister's home, now go away"

"You have no right here ma'am, you are breaking an entry"

"No I'm not" replied Christina. "My sister is in the hospital and her and her fiancé just bought a new house. Our families are moving out my sister's things since it has been already put on the market. Now if you will excuse me, we have a lot of work to do before I have to get my kids to bed"

"Ma'am, we must ask that you come with us"

"DO I need to prove to you who I am?"

"You can't do that Ma'am; you have been caught breaking into someone's personal residence and robbing them"

Christina pulled out her phone and called her sister's room number and put it on speaker phone. Soon enough, Howard Flynn answered the phone.

"Kate McGregor's room"

"Hi Howard, its Christina. Is my sister awake?"

"Yeah hold on"

After a moment, Kate got on the phone groggily.

"Chrisy?"

"Hi Kate" said Christina. "We have a problem"

"What kind of problem" said Kate as she sat up in bed.

"Someone called the cops while Me, Dad, Mike's dad and two of his brothers and my four kids were moving your stuff out of your house. Care to explain to them who you are and why we are moving you out"

Kate groaned on the other end of the line and Christina got worried.

"Are you ok Kate? Do I need to call Dr. Harper?"

The police officer looked bored and took the phone from Christina.

"I don't know who you are, but we were informed the owner of this home is in the Navy and you don't sound like Navy"

"I am Lt. Katelyn McGregor and my family is moving me out of my house because I'm in the hospital. I was stationed on the HMAS Hammersley but I am now on leave due to the fact I am pregnant and am currently admitted at the Naval Hospital by NavCom. If you would like, I can have Admiral Steve Marshal show up there, but then you might lose your job once he gets done with you. I don't have time or patience for ignorant people at this moment, I hurt too much!"

The police officer listened as he got chewed out and Christina could only slightly laugh. Once you pissed off Kate, you were going to hear it, and right now she was far from being in a good mood and the officer in front of her was feeling the brunt of it. She saw him taking out his note pad and writing something down and then hand the phone back to Christina as he grabbed his own cell phone and made a call. After reaching who he wished to reach, Christina heard him ask the other person on the other line.

"Hi, this is Officer Frank Merges with the Cairns Police Department is there a Lt. Kate McGregor staying there. What do you mean that is classified? No I'm not a relative. I just need to know if she is there. Why would you need NavCom approval? Yes, I'll hold"

The officer looked mad at Christina as he noticed she was trying not to laugh. Christina just turned around and started taking things off the wall in the hallway. Placing each item down, she walked into each room to make sure all was packed up. Find the spare bathroom needed to be packed still, she started with that. She was half way finished when she heard the officer again.

"Yes I need to conform Lt Kate McGregor is in the hospital. This is Officer Frank Merges of the Cairns Police. What do you mean it's classified, I have people claiming to be moving her out Admiral and I don't believe it! What do you mean is there a Christina McGregor Perkins there? Yes there is a woman here that fits that description Admiral. She is Lt. McGregor's sister. No sir I didn't mean to upset Miss McGregor. I am very sorry sir. Yes sir I understand. Yes Sir, Goodbye Sir."

The officer walked into the hallway as Christina was coming out of the bathroom with a packed up box. He apologized and Christina told him to let everyone they had go. The officer seemed pissed about it, but went outside to tell the other police officers to let the suspects go. When he revealed why, Christina's daughters and sons were let out of the back of a police car and the four adult men were uncuffed. Christina was none too happy about seeing her children in the back of the patrol car, but as she ushered them inside, she overheard two of the officers speaking.

"Shame we have to let them go"

"They are here on behalf of the owner"

"The owner is not here"

Christina just shook her head and went to complete the packing. The men moved out everything quickly and then moved the outside patio furniture into the moving truck. Was all that was finished all there was left was a vacuum, a carpet cleaner, Windex , a roll of paper towels, a mop and mop bucket, and a sponge with a bottle of Clorox clean up. The men drove the moving truck to the storage facility where Mike had purchased a storage unit that morning and moved everything of Kate's inside.

Christina and her daughters stayed behind to finish cleaning the condo. After two hours, the entire house was finished and Christina and her kids left and went home to bed. The men went back to Mike's house and cleaned up before Mike's dad and two brother's hit the sacks there at Mike's house and Shamus went back to his hotel room to sleep.

On board the HMAS Hammersley, Mike was going over the evidence that Ryan had provided him and he had faxed over to Steve. The meeting had gone very well, considering Ryan was so nervous it was almost comical. But then again, it couldn't be easy being the son of the woman you are asked to help investigate. He pinched the bridge of his nose and then downed the last of his brew. Ryan was on First Dog's watch on the bridge with Bird. Mike had to smile at that. Ryan had already said he would like to ask Bird out, but he had to finish his gap year first.

A knock on the door pulled Mike from his thoughts and told whoever it was to enter. He wasn't too surprised to see Peter at his door. Motioning for him to come inside, Pete did and shut the door.

"Heard anything from home Boss?"

"Nothing yet X, was just sitting here thinking about here though"

"It feels weird being called X Boss; can you just call me Buff?"

Mike turned to look at Pete and knew he felt out of place.

"You've been promoted Pete; you have earned your new nickname"

"I know" said Pete with his head down."Just feels like the name 'X' should always belong to the X. I am so used to Buff or Buffer"

"Pete, you are no my XO, therefore you are the X, even Kate agrees with me"

"She does" Pete raised his head in surprise.

"Yes she does" said Mike with a smile on his face. "When I mentioned you as the new XO, she smiled and said it was time you go a shot at being a XO, said she thought you were perfect for the job"

Pete couldn't hide the smile and Mike smiled as well. Just then they heard Ryan's voice over the speaker.

"CO and XO to the Bridge at the Rush. CO and XO to the Bridge at the Rush"

"That's our call X" said Mike with a smile.

"Yes Sir" replied Pete with a large grin.