TITLE: Kate Decision
AUTHOR: Alimoo1971
RATING:
SPOILERS:
CATEGORY:
PAIRINGS: Mike/Kate
SUMMARY: Kate has a lot of thinking after she was called into Maxine's office and she makes a decision that could affect her and Mike carriers and their future.
SEQUEL:
ARCHIVE: Fanficion
DISCLAIMER: Ok, don't own characters. Made this story up, didn't make any money out of it, yada, yada, you know the rest.
FEED BACK: Yes Please
NOTES: I was thinking about this story, so I decided to write it.
SONGS:
When Kate returned to Hammersley after being to NAVCOM she had a lot to think about over the next two weeks while out on patrol. She knows that Mike loves the navy and Hammersley, she can see it in his eyes and smile when he talks to the crew. Then she thought about what Maxine said about Mike leaving the navy if he didn't get his shore posting back then she remembered what he said after she went to see Maxine about her promotion.
"I'll do whatever it takes Kate. I'm not going to give up on us. I screwed up once, I'm not going to screw it up again."
and that he was shocked and upset after she told him that Maxine said about Mike being on Hammersley for the next twelve months when fleet command told him months ago that it was only for a few weeks.
Kate knew something didn't add up and the only way to get the answer is for her to wait till they finish their patrol. When Hammersley docked at home port everyone was looking forward to some shore leave. Mike showed up at Kate place that night for a quiet dinner and an early night.
The next morning while Mike returned to Hammersley to do some paperwork Kate flew to Canberra and went to the navy base headquarters where she walked down to rear admiral McDonald's office. Kate took a deep breath before walking into his office, closing the door behind her. She stepford to the secretary who look up from her computer
"Hello can i help you lieutenant"
"Yes is rear admiral Mcdonald in his office"
"Yes he is, have you got an appointment with him"
"no i flew in from Cairns this morning"
"Name"
"Lieutenant McGregor, i'm the executive officer on HMAS Hammersley"
Then the door opens and they turn to see the rear admiral walking out of his office. Kate stood at attention and saluted him which he did in return.
"Lieutenant have you got an appointment to see me"
"No sir"
"Name lieutenant"
"Mcgregor sir, i'm the executive officer on HMAS Hammersley"
"Commander Flynn, your captain?"
"Yes sir"
"Why are you here lieutenant"
"to talk to you sir. i was hoping you can clear something up for me"
"Why not talk to commander Flynn or commander White about it"
"You the only one who can sir" the rear admiral was confused to what Kate said and wondering why she is there
"come into my office Lieutenant"
"Thank you sir" she follow him into his office
"close the door lieutenant" Kate closed the door then stepped forward taking a deep breath and letting it out.
"Now tell me what you want me to clear up" Kate looked at him as he sat down.
"sir i wanted to know did you tell commander Flynn that he would be on Hammersley for a few weeks after what happen to the prevest captain"
"Why do you want to know that lieutenant? Is there something going on between you and commander Flynn"
"There was sir when he had a shore posting. He told me that you told him it was only for a few weeks" He thought about it
"That is true, but finding a captain for a patrol boat is hard, i did tell commander white to find one last year"
"Last year sir"
"Yes, why did you look confused?"
"Commander Flynn told me about commander white list four months ago when commander White sent him her list. he told me that the candidates wouldn't know how to commander a tugboat let alone a war ship" He chuckled
"commander flynn got a way with words"
"Yes sir, i found out from commander white after commander Flynn kidnapping and the sub explosion, she told me that he rejected her list and he put my name on top and sent it to her cause he knows that he leaving Hammersley in good hands"
"that was before the promotion list came out"
"Yes sir"
"Was there anything else"
"Yes sir, Commander white told me that you told her that commander flynn was to stay on Hammersley for the next twelve months. that is why i'm here sir, you told commander Flynn it for a few weeks then you told commander white it for twelve months. Is this true sir"
"commander Flynn told me this three weeks ago. he told me what you said to him. i told him till another captain is found, he did recommend you lieutenant but i didn't know till you confirmed your personal relationship with him when he had a shore posting. He didn't tell me why he wanted his shore posting back so bad. Now i know"
"Sir did commander flynn threatened to resign from the navy if he didn't get his shore posting back"
"what" he said in shocked
"did he tell you this"
"no sir, so it not true about leaving the navy"
"Hell no" he said angry
"did commander flynn tell you this"
"No sir, it was commander White. She called me into her office" then she close her eye and shook her head slightly as she pinch the top of her nose then she remove her hand and open her eyes
"lieutenant are you ok"
"Yes sir. I just relies what going on sir"
"Care to tell me"
"When i was called into commander White office, she told me that commander Flynn came to see you, she asked me if i knew about it, i told her no. She said you called her and get her to find out what was going on and to do whatever it takes to keep commander flynn in the navy"
"I did contact Commander White to see if commander Flynn spoke to her about it. It was the first time she heard about it and told me that he was happy where he was."
"The reason why Commander Flynn spoke to you sir instead of Commander White is that she kept saying she was looking for a replacement captain. He was getting frustrated because of the same answer sir"
"what did Commander White say to you" Kate look down at her hat then back up to the rear admiral
"She said that the navy is his love, his life. She knew about us when he had the shore posting. How she knew I don't know…. she said if rumors got around about us it would end his career and mine sir"
"sit down lieutenant" Kate sat down
"what you just told me is that the truth"
"Yes sir, I stake my career on it" He raised his eyebrows at Kate's answer which surprised him.
"That is a lot to gamble on lieutenant, you are a great officer and an asset to the navy. As for not getting your promotion, i'll look into it and your record"
"Yes sir"
"was there anything else"
"commander white told me the reason why i didn't get my promotion was cause of lack of experience"
"Lack of experiences, how many times have you been acting captain lieutenant" Kate thought about it
"fifty six times sir. Commander Flynn even let me take charge of leaving port and docking for experiences and also be in charge of hammersley while he did the odd boardings so I can get experiences that way also sir"
"What about the courses?"
"Done and pass them all. Commander Flynn was able to get my name down for lieutenant commander courses just in case I got promoted. I pass them all"
"That is good that you pass them all, lieutenant. How well did you do lieutenant?"
"Top officer sir"
"in all of them?" He asked in surprise.
"Yes sir"
"Congratulations…. Ok i'll look into why you didn't get promoted lieutenant"
"Thank you sir"
"when is Hammersley leaving for it next patrol"
"tomorrow morning sir for six weeks"
"Thank you Lieutenant, i'll let you know once i check things over"
"Yes sir, thank you for seeing me sir"
"Keep up the good work lieutenant and don't mention our chat to any one"
"I understand sir" Kate stood up and they saluted each other then she walked out of his office.
"What the hell is going on up in Cairns. What a nightmare this is." he said to himself then pick up the phone to make a call "commander Mashell rear admiral McDonald from fleet command calling"
Later that evening Mike and Kate talk about their holiday getaway which they both look forward to. The next morning Hammersley left port for their six week patrol.
When they returned Mike and Kate were called into NAVCOM. Once Hammersley was docked and everything was done, they left in the navy car wondering what was going on although Kate had an idea but didn't say anything to Mike about it.
When they walked into the ball pen they saw Maxine in her office but she wasn't in her chair. They both recognised rear admiral McDonald. He saw them and waved them into the office. they walk in and saluted him which he did in return
"commander close the door and both of you sir down" mike closed the door then he and Kate sat down.
"I'm here cause of lieutenant McGregor came to talk to me last month" mike turn to Kate then look back at the rear admiral
"She asked me to clarify a few things for her that were weighing on her mind and after what she told me was bloody alarming. I'm not impressed with what has been happening here. Commander Flynn, do you want your shore posting back or stay where you are on Hammersley"
"You you damn well know i want my shore posting back sir"
"Tell me this commander is it because of lieutenant McGregor" Mike was shocked he turned to see Kate looking at him. the rear admiral look from one to the other
"Yes sir"
"Tell him"
"Are you sure, you know what will happen"
"tell him" they turn to the rear admiral
"I've been in a relationship with lieutenant McGregor sir, that is why i want my shore posting back, this personal relationship between us, it frustrating for the both of us"
"Is that why you want lieutenant to be the new captain of Hammersley"
"Yes sir, she knows the ship and its crew, plus she had relieved two captains in the past of their command. Sir if your wondering if she is capable of being captain, then my answer is yes sir"
"Is that why you put her name on top of commander white list"
"Yes sir, On commander White list, they wouldn't know how to commander a tugboat let alone a war ship sir" Rear admiral grin slightly
"Lieutenant McGregor said exactly the same thing commander, now tell me commander how would you feel if a high ranking officer who knew about the two of you told the lieutenant to break up with you that the navy your love your life and if rumor got around it would be the end of your carriers" he could see Mike getting angry as he sat up straight and forward.
"sir are you implying that someone threatening lieutenant Mcgregor with blackmail that if she doesn't break up with me it would end of our careers cause i love the navy more than her"
"what is your answer to that commander"
"If what you say is true sir, I want to know who threatens Lieutenant McGregor and I'll deal with the officer in question myself. How dear that officer is using his, her rank and position to get what they want." then he turn to Kate
"Why didn't you tell me you been threaten Kate"
"the two weeks while out on patrol i had a lot of thinking to do and things didn't add up"
"You could of talk to me about it"
"i know i should, that is why i went to see rear admiral McDonald he was able to help clear up a couple of things and he knows about us, the blackmail"
"Who was it, who was blacking mailing you, who said that the navy was my love my…." the he saw the look on maxine face. he stood up
"Maxine you blackmail Kate, why" he said yelling at her causing the one close by to look through the glass wall then return back to what they were doing.
"It true mike we both know that you love the navy"
"You have no idea what damage you have done Maxine, Kate is my love, my life, not the navy. don't you ever blackmail anyone like that again or try to get them to break up with me. Why Maxine"
"she in love with you" Kate said which shocked the rear admiral and Mike
"Is that true commander" rear admiral said
"We friends"
"Well friends don't go around blackmailing their girlfriend unless they are in love with them, themselves" Mike said. Kate reach over and held onto Mike hand. he look down at her then relax as he sat down just as Kate let go of his hand then turn to the rear admiral
"what happens now sir"
"commander i would like for you to stay on hammersley"
"No sir i won't" Mike said in a commanding tone.
Kate put her hand on his arm. "Mike" he turned to Kate. "Let him finish what he is saying before you jump in like you did"
"You're right Kate." then turn to the commodore "sorry sir for my outburst. you were saying"
"Commander, I spoke to the chief of the navy about this mess and he is in agreement with me. You stay because of this tearist thing that is going on. commander white you stay on here till this teariest thing is over then you will be transferred to another posting, then commander Flynn will take over and CO"
"yes sir" she said
"Now lieutenant McGregor, i'm transferring you to HMAS ANZAC for six months" mike and Kate was shocked
"Sir ANZAC left for Iran last month." Kate said
"Yes I know, their lieutenant was seriously wounded when a boarding went wrong and they needed an experienced replacement. I'm sending you over for the remaining six months. you are the best boarding officer for it. When ANZAC return you can be posted back here if you want to"
"thank you sir, when do i leave"
"tonight"
"Yes sir"
"Commander Flynn, I got a replacement XO and please keep this one for six months. I know your record of going through XO before lieutenant McGregor came along"
"I'll try my best sir"
"That's all I asked. Now commander white because of what you have done while being commanding officer of HMAS Cairns NAVCOM there will be a black marker placed on your file for what you have done and because of that black marker it would also affect any further promotions. Now i would like to talk to commander Flynn and lieutenant McGregor alone, your dismiss" she stood up and saluted the rear admiral which he did in return before she walked out closing the door behind her and walking towards the exit.
"Now commander Flynn, lieutenant McGregor, I've gone over every report in the past five years including reports from commander Steve Marshall. I even spoke to him about the two of you. He has nothing but high regards for you both"
"What are you trying to tell us sir?" Mike asked.
"commander what you said before about you love lieutenant more than the navy, is that true"
"Yes sir, I love Kate, she means everything to me. We both been through a lot over the years sir it what makes our love even stronger"
"Lieutenant"
"i agree with Mike sir, we have been through alot and we made it this far"
"commander how much do you love her, how far will you go" Mike thought about it and turn to Kate
"whatever it takes. I'm not going to give up on us and to prove how much i love you, i want to Marry you Kate" kate look at Mike in shocked
"you mean it"
"Yes I do. I've been doing a lot of thinking myself since I've been to fleet command about my shore posting. i know it not on how i had plan on proposing to you but now you know" Kate smile at him and reach over and held onto his hand
"i would say yes" mike smile
"you mean it"
"Shore posting, marriage, kids"
"coffee" Kate chuckled
"your remembered"
"Yes, i wasn't thinking straight but after thinking about it back then i realize what you were trying to tell me"
"We got to sort out this communication problem"
"i agree"
"commander, lieutenant" they turn to him
"sorry sir" they both said at the same time
"Well i think congratulations is in order but you both should wait for a few months"
"We can do it sir" Kate said
"i agree sir"
"Very well, lieutenant you can go and pack your bags, a car will pick you up at six tonight" Kate stood up
"Yes sir" then she turn to Mike
"Can you let the crew know"
"sure i can do that"
"Thanks and keep an eye on two dads make sure he doesn't put anything in the XO bed, if he does tooth brush duties for two weeks" Mike smile
"Noted" Kate saluted them both which they did in return. Kate looks at Mike before turning around and walking out the door and NAVCOM.