The Turbulent Road Ahead
By: Sigmastar79
Chapter 24
Danny covered Gerald as he rushed to Christina. Picking her up, he saw the bullet hole in her upper left collarbone area. Pressing on the wound, he rushed her into Andrea's room. Seeing his daughter covering her siblings, their eyes met for a moment before Andrea hid her face. He whispers into her hair as tears ran down his face.
"Please wake up Christina, please my love. I can't raise our young on my own, I need you"
Andrea told Sarah to keep the boys down as she rushed over to her father. Taking her mother from her father, Andrea ripped the gown and robe from her mother's shoulder to get a better look at the wound. That was when she saw the bruise starting to form on her mother's forehead.
"Did she hit the wall when she was hit?"
"She might have, why?"
"She hit her head. She is just knocked out. She is bleeding a lot Dad. When this is over, we need a doctor and fast. The good news is the bullet went clean through her shoulder. But we need to keep pressure on the wound."
Just then Christina moaned as she started to regain consciousness. Her shoulder and head was killing her. When she opened her eyes, she saw her Andrea and Gerald crouched over her. But she also noticed the shadow hovering in the corner. Recognizing the shadow she smiled. Gerald thought she was smiling at him. He never even saw the man coming.
Pete saw Gerald yell at another man behind him to cover him as he ran to grab Christina. Hawker returned fire and yelled for Pete to get her. Thanking the Gods for Hawker, Pete ran towards where Gerald had taken Christina as Hawker delivered a bullet in between the eyes of Danny. He heard Nikki telling Hawker 'good shot' before bracing himself against the wall outside the door. Looking in the room, he inched inside. Seeing Christina in the arms of Gerald made his blood boil, but he almost lost it when he heard the man declare his love for her. Seeing Andrea taking her mother from her father was a comforting sight. Realising she saw him and was not giving it away just made him more proud. Gerald thought she was taking to him about the doctor, when she was really taking to Pete. When he saw Christina see him, he made his move.
Firing one precise shot, Gerald fell forward. Seeing this, Andrea winked at him before she screamed and came at him. Realising she was pretending to attack for Gerald's sake, he pretended to fight back. It was then he saw Nikki coming in and motioning Sarah and the boys to follow her. A quick nod from Andrea told Sarah to go and she took the boys and ran to Nikki.
Christina turned to Gerald who was on the floor gasping for breath. She knew he was dying and so did he. Running a hand through his hair, Gerald took it and kissed it. Christina figured she would give the damned man some peace before meeting the devil.
"I love you Christina"
Christina took off her wedding set and placed it in his hands before she whispered.
"I know, and there will be no other husband like you, I promise"
Thinking she was being faithful, he placed his hand on her belly before the light left his eyes. As soon as she knew he was dead, Christina spoke again.
"No other husband like you I promise. There is no way I could ever fear or hate someone as much as I hate you"
Pete and Andrea walked over to Christina as she threw Gerald's dead hand from her body. He hugged her as she cried in relief that it was all over. She cried even harder when she heard him speak.
"It's going to be ok Christina, I'm here now. I saw the envelope outside. Two sets of twins, huh? Looks like I'll be asking for a raise"
Christina laughed as she heard this and hugged Pete back. She thought she would lose him for good. When she found out he was excited over the babies, she once again felt whole. He still loved her. After everything she had to do to keep her family safe, he still loved her. She felt blessed.
Neither saw Andrea close her father's eyes as one tear fell for the man who made her. She whispered softly as she did.
"Rest in Peace Father"
Picking up the radio once more, Andrea spoke once again into it.
"Romeo A-2, this is Juliet A-2. Compound secure, Gerald Perkins is dead"
Pete laid a hand on her shoulder and Andrea gave it a small squeeze. No matter how much she hated Gerald Perkins; there was a small part that would miss the man. After all, he was her father. Andrea smiled when she heard her Uncle Mike respond.
"Sounds good Juliet A-2, and good job Andrea; Welcome to the Hammersley"
Doctor Harper rushed Kate into the operating theatre. Checking her, she realised Kate's body had already taken over and Cat was half way down the canal. Knowing there was no stopping this labour, she helped Kate's body along. Catherine LaFern Flynn was born on April 29th, 2011 at 1:04 am. She weighed 3.9 pounds and was 15.4 inches long. She was rushed into the NICU to get warm and to have a breathing tube inserted. An IV was hooked up and she was placed inside an incubator. Doctor Harper ordered a set of blood tests to be run on mother and daughter as she tried to stop Kate's bleeding.
The first blood tests that had been taken and placed on a rush order came back showing two different medicines. Both medicines could be fatal for little Catherine and Kate. Catherine had been given something to clean out her blood that was already thin due to the medicine in her system. The baby was in a comatose state and the doctors were fighting to save her life.
Kate wasn't fairing any better. The mix of medicines had caused severe haemorrhaging and had also placed her in a comatose state. Her blood pressure was dangerously low due to the majority of the drugs in her system and the doctors were concerned her heart might stop. The doctors put her on a ventilator to help her breath, and prescribed a heavier dose of meds to clean out her blood system. Her doctors could only pray it worked in time.
The next 24 to 48 hours would tell the tale. Since both mother and daughter were in comas, Doctor Harper sullenly went to tell the family the news. The only thing more heart breaking was knowing Mike didn't make it back in time to cut the cord. He hadn't made it in time to watch his daughter be born like Doctor Harper knew he wanted too.
After breaking the news, Steve went back to NavCom. He was about to make the most heart wrenching call he would ever have to make. He had to call Mike and tell him the news.
Mike was relieved to hear Andrea's voice over the intercom, both he and RO celebrated in a large hug. Knowing the bastard was gone and everyone was safe and there were no injuries to the crew made everyone very happy. Calling the Kingston and the Huon to pass on the news, Mike couldn't wait until Christina and her kids were back onboard. Then their sat phone rang. RO went to answer it and fell heavily in his seat. Mike knew when he saw the despair on RO's face, something was terribly wrong.
"What is it RO?"
"It's for you sir, it's Admiral Marshall. Sir I am so sorry"
Mike grabbed the phone in desperation and horror to RO's reply. He knew if RO was upset it was something very bad. The only thing he could think was something was wrong with Kate.
"HMAS Hammersley, Commander Flynn speaking; what can I do for you Admiral?"
"Mike, it's Steve" Steve said while trying not to break down in tears. He had to be strong for Mike and Kate.
"Steve what's going on?"
"Have you got Christina and the kids yet?"
"Yes Sir, they are just closing up everything before they are transferred over"
"When they get back on board, make way for home at the top of the green. Someone attacked Kate and they couldn't stop the labour this time. The person who attacked Kate gave her two different types of drugs. They are both in comas and the baby is in the NICU. The next 24 to 48 hours are critical."
Mike cried out and RO had to make sure Mike made it to the chair to keep him from falling to the floor. He put his hands on Mike's shoulders as the man in front of him sobbed heartbroken tears for the woman he loved with all of his heart and for his beloved little girl. RO grabbed the phone and answered Admiral Marshal.
"Sir, the boss is having a moment. Should I steam for home as soon as everyone is on board?"
"Yes leader. Have the XO call me when he gets back on board. And Leader?"
"Yes Sir?"
"Keep an eye on him for me. I know he is hurting very badly right now. He needs someone to tell him everything is going to be OK"
"It would be my pleasure Sir"
"Good Man" said Steve as he hung up and RO sighed. He wasn't the best man to be consoling someone, but he would try. His boss and his old X didn't deserve this pain. Hanging up the sat phone, RO picked up the radio and asked for Pete. When he got on, he had the displeasure of informing him of the news.
'X, this is Romeo A-2, come in please"
"This is the X, what's wrong RO?"
"All the Hammersley crew must return to the ship at the rush. Someone attacked the X and she had the baby. Both are not faring well. We need to get the boss back home"
Christina, Pete, Swain and Andrea paled at the news and the pain in RO's voice. Someone had hurt Kate and the baby and now both were fighting for their lives. The fact that Mike had also missed the birth broke everyone's hearts and they knew RO was probably the only one left to console the Boss. It didn't surprise Christina at all when Andrea got up and took charge.
Andrea walked out of the room and reminded everyone of Kate as she started barking out orders.
"OK everyone, we have a situation and we need to move quickly. Charge, you and your son are in charge of packing the freezers in the back room. Please take the handcuffs off Harem and he will help you. The man doesn't even know how to hold a gun, let alone hurt anybody. Harem, please help these men"
"Yes Lady Perkins" Harem replied as Charge took off the plastic cuffs and he went to help Charge and his boy pack up the freezers in back, but not before he gave her a hug.
"I'm sorry for your loss my little lady. Your father was most proud of you. He told me so often. You did good little lady"
"Thank you Harem. I appreciate your kind words" said Andrea on a whisper before watching the man bark orders at Charge and his son about how to handle food correctly. That gave everyone a small chuckle before Andrea started up again.
"2Dads pack the fridge please. Christopher and Daniel, please go pack your rooms. Dad help the boys."
"How can we help young lady? We all knew your aunt and if I might say so you are very much like her" said Hawker with respect. He could see this girl growing up to be just like her Aunt Kate.
'"What's your name sir?"
"Hawker. I'm one of the XOs"
"He'll be the new CO of Kingston when Donger steps down after this next patrol" said Chefo and everyone from Kingston laughed and patted the man on the back. Andrea smiled and remembered being told once by her aunt that she liked the XO from Kingston, but not the sexiest jerk that was their captain.
"Good to see the Kingston is getting some fresh and good blood for once. Can you round up all the baddies and transfer them to your ship to be handed off to the AFP when possible?"
"It will be a pleasure" said Hawker as he yelled at his team to round up the men in custody and ready them for transfer.
"Miss Nikki, could you help Sarah and my Mum pack their rooms. I would appreciate it"
"Of Course" said Nikki with a smile. She also saw a lot of Kate in Andrea.
"Spider, go round up the utes and bring them around. We will use them to transfer the stuff from the house to the RHIBs. Take Mac with you please"
"Gotcha" replied Spider as he took Mac to go help him. Everyone laughed when she turned to Ryan.
"Cousin Polo, can you go clean out my father's office. I know you have an eye for important things and I would like a copy of all my father's files before we hand them over to the AFP"
"OK" Ryan said smiling at Andrea calling him cousin and Polo. He placed a comforting hand on her shoulder as he walked past, letting her know all was going to be ok.
"Swain, help my Mum to the RHIB and patch her up please. Bird, help Red and Crafty to start an inventory of everything. I need to collect my things, Dutchy, please start packing everything into the utes with Spider and Mac. I know it will go a lot faster if it's you lighting a fire under their rears. Everyone else, make your way to the RHIBs and await instruction from your commanders"
A chorus of 'Yes Ma'am" was heard as everyone got to work. They knew they had to work quickly before the AFP could destroy any evidence and they knew they would to cover their arses.
Within an hour, the house had been cleared out of everything of value to Andrea and the utes were being driven by Dutchy and Spider. Once down at the water, Dutchy quickly got everyone together to quickly and swiftly load up the Hammersley.
Before long, everything had been transferred to the Hammersley and Andrea thanked everyone. Hawker gave her a hug and told her to call him in a few years, which earned him a glare from Pete and a laugh from Christina. Andrea knew he meant call him about serving on Kingston, not something else. Nikki gave Christina and Pete a hug and promised to come see Kate and the baby. When she hugged Andrea before leaving with her team, she whispered into the girl's ear.
"You're a hard task master just like your Aunt Kate. You are going to go far in the Navy"
Andrea gave her a smile and then helped Pete get her Mum into the first Hammersley RHIB with her sister and brothers staying behind with her as Red, Crafty, Sparky, Harem, Swain, Bird and Charge joined her mum. Dutchy helped Andrea get Sarah and the boys into the second RHIB before 2Dads, Polo, and Stormy jumped in.
The AFP hand finally taken over and were processing what the teams hadn't taken. Since they were too busy doing their own thing, they never noticed things had been removed from the house. They weren't too happy when Andrea asked to take her father's body, but as his next of kin, they didn't have much choice in the matter. His body had been transferred with the stores back to the ship first.
Setting foot back on the Hammersley, Andrea gave a sigh of relief then accepted a hug from her Uncle Mike, and then from RO. No one noticed the small blush on Andrea's face. No one knew she actually held a small crush for the Radio Operator besides her sister, her Mum and her Uncle Mike, and she planned to keep it that way until she could confront her own feelings.
Quickly recovering, Andrea acted liked Kate once again and asked for help organizing the items on board. She asked 2Dads and her cousin Ryan to help Bird and Harem put the food away in the galley. Harem was thankful not to be in trouble and had asked to stay by the family until they reached dock, which everyone understood. She knew Swain had her Mum in the Wardroom. Asking if her Aunt's cabin was still empty, she learned it was and asked to put her sister and brothers there, which Mike agreed with a smile. She knew Pete and Dutchy needed to be on the bridge with her Uncle Mike and RO to get them home and she smiled. Home. They were going home. Having Crafty take her and her siblings to her Aunt's cabin, Andrea finally felt like it was all over.
Walking into the old cabin, Andrea could still smell the faint scent of her Aunt's shampoo. Settling the boys into the lower bunk and her sister into the upper bunk, Andrea had a seat in the chair at the small desk. When she heard snickering behind her, she turned around to see 2Dads leaning against the door jam.
"What?"
"Do you know how much you look like the X?"
"Pete?"
"No. THE X"
Andrea smiled at that. He was comparing her to her Aunt.
"I'll that as a compliment Leader"
"As you should little lady, although I don't think the Kingston XO thinks of you as a little lady"
"2Dads, he made the comment at the house while we were packing because he would love to see me serve on the Kingston when I reached of age to join. He wasn't being rude or crude you goof. Especially since I like another older man"
"You're like your Aunt in more ways than one. Tell me, who"
"Nope, if I do, it will get out. I refuse to be the reason Pete kills him. He has enough up against him as it is!"
2Dads laughed, already figuring it out but saying nothing. All he thought was it was too bad she wasn't old enough to give RO a run for his money yet. But then again, if the Boss and the X could wait as long as they did, why couldn't Robert and Andrea?
Andrea smiled as 2Dads left, knowing he probably already knew who her crush was and praying he wouldn't say anything. Getting up from her seat, she noticed her siblings were already asleep and smiled. Opening the closet, she found one of her Aunt's old DCPU's still inside. Remembering her Aunt had been in the hospital from the time she found out she was pregnant, she realised her Uncle Mike had yet to really clean out the room yet. Taking the uniform in her hand, she walked into the bathroom. Finding a lot of her Aunt's things, Andrea smiled. She took a quick shower and cleaned up. After cleaning up, she brushed her hair, braiding it just like her Aunt did. She put on the DCPU's and almost laughed to find they were a perfect fit. Putting on the boots that were in the closet as well, Andrea put on the Hammersley hat also there, she was ready.
Checking on her siblings, she told Sarah that she was checking in on Mum. When Sarah saw her in their Aunt's uniform she laughed.
"You're going to get in trouble"
"Everyone keeps telling me I am just like her. I wanna see what happens when they think I am her"
Both sisters laugh at the little inside joke and Sarah went back to sleep as Andrea left the cabin. Heading towards the wardroom, she received several weird looks along the way. Not that she cared; she knew she looked a lot like her aunt, just with red hair.
Reaching the wardroom, Andrea stood back and watched as Pete spoke to her Mum in soft tones while Swain was completing a full check-up on her after her head trauma and gunshot wound. When Swain looked up to see Andrea, he just about fell over from shock. He knew it was against the rules to be impersonating an officer, but seeing Andrea standing there in her Aunt's uniform shocked him. He never knew just how much Andrea looked like Kate until then. A small laugh from his side alerted him that Christina too had seen her daughter and the chuckle from Pete confirmed it.
"Where did you find those?" asked Pete. He knew she took after her aunt, but standing there, she didn't just look like her, she was almost her. All Andrea needed was blonde hair and she would be her Aunt Kate's double!
"In the closet in her old cabin, I had to shower and change. I smelt like sweat and him"
Pete nodded his understanding and Christina frowned. She knew this had to be hard on her daughter.
"Andrea, come here honey"
Andrea went to her mother and received a one armed hug from her, which Andrea reciprocated. She was glad her mother was doing well; she had been worried about her.
"How are you doing honey? He might have been an arse, but he was still your dad and you watched him die in front of you. I know that can't be easy, I was there when Grandma McGregor passed."
"I've been better. Feels a lot safer wearing these" said Andrea as she picked at the uniform she was wearing. "I'm glad you are doing better Mum, I was worried about you" said Andrea as she gave her Mum another hug.
It was then Swain and Pete understood. Andrea was using the uniform as a shield, a defence after what had happened. She was looking for an outlet. Swain smiled at how well Andrea was handling everything. She was in fact just like her Aunt; strong and brave, but with a heart. He didn't expect her to turn to him with a look Kate gave people when she was all business.
"How is she really?"
"She will need to get some professional stitches when we get back, but she is not bleeding much and no major arteries were hit. Your Mum was lucky"
Andrea nodded her head and Swain found talking to her was just like talking to Kate. He knew what would help her.
"Have you been to the galley yet Perky?"
Andrea and Christina both gave a look to Swain that made him take a step back and Pete laughed. He knew what the problem was.
"Her father's last name is Perkins, so Perky would be her navy nickname. McGregor would be Macca. Take a pick Andrea, Perky or Macca?"
"How about no" said Andrea deadpan. She was not amused and Swain could tell. It was scary how much Andrea was like Kate.