Mike forgot to set his alarm the night before and is woken by the sound of his mobile going off beside him. He quickly answers the call, hoping the noise hasn't woken Kate.

"Mike, Steve Marshall here. Have you forgotten about our meeting?" Mike looks at his clock and is surprised to see it reads 0915hrs.

"Ah, no Sir. I must have forgotten to set the alarm clock," he replies. He moves to get out of bed and inadvertently wakes Kate, who speaks without realising he is on the phone.

"Mmm. Mike, stay in bed. It's too early to get up, plus I want my pillow back." Steve hears the comment and is annoyed to recognise Kate's voice.

"Mike. Maxine's office in thirty minutes, and make sure Kate is with you," he says crossly before hanging up the phone.

"Shit," Mike says out loud as he closes his phone. Kate hears and asks what's wrong.

"Now we've both got a meeting with Marshall."

"Why?"

"I think he heard what you said when you woke up." Kate looks worried at the thought.

"Don't worry nothing happened, bar us talking and sharing a bed. We did nothing wrong. Well, nothing as bad as what we could have done. Anyway, we are late and now you need to go home and get changed and meet me at Navcom, ASAP," he replies while sorting out his uniform.

"Ok. See you there, and can you get me a coffee, since I'll take longer to get there?" she replies as she quickly puts on yesterday's clothes and leaves.

Navcom

Cairns

1000hrs

"Nice of you two to finally show up," Steve says as they enter Maxine's office.

"I'm sorry about being late, it was not my intention," Mike replies as he and Kate sit on the chairs in front of Maxine's desk.

"Right, you two. Talk. I want to know what is going on, and how long it has been going on, before I waste any more of my time." Mike and Kate look at each other and then look back at Steve, nobody says a word.

"Ok, you two. I can't be of help if I don't know what I am dealing with here. I need to know things, I need information. I saw how you were in the bar last night; the subtle things Mike did when he thought no one was watching. When I rang this morning I heard you in the background, Kate. I'm assuming you had no idea Mike was on the phone, or who to?"

"No, I didn't. I woke when he moved to get out of bed. I was still half asleep, having enjoy my first good sleep since the death of our coxswain," she replies, then looks down at her hands.

"Ok. When was the last time you two shared a bed then?"

"When I first took my shore posting and promotion," Mike says.

"So I take while you have been serving together on Hammersley there has been no breaking of the rules?"

"That is correct."

"Sorry if what I'm about say offends you Kate, but I need to ask Mike this question."

"No problem." she replies

"Now. Mike. I know you have a fancy for the blondes, but is this just a fling; something to pass the time till the next blonde comes along?'

"God, Steve. How low do you think I am? Would I just give every thing up if that was the case?"

"I'm not sure, Mike, but you do have the reputation for being a cowboy."

"And that is because I tend to use the rules to my full advantage. I do things that other captains wouldn't even think of doing. But no way in hell is Kate a fling, or something to pass the time with." His voice raises as he argues his point.

"Mike, calm down please."

"Why should I? The Navy is the damn reason why Kate and I are still not together. Ten bloody years I've been dealing with loving her. Loving someone that the Navy says I shouldn't love because she was once my student, and now she's my XO. Trying to love someone outside the Navy doesn't work. They don't understand the hours, the job, the time away. Only other sailors can understand that, but the Navy make it hard for you to love within the Navy. There are too many damn rules and regulations, and then they have to approve it."

The room is silent. Mike's words float in the air for all to think and chew over.

"Kate, how do you feel?"

"I feel the same as Mike, Sir."

"So, Mike. I take it once your contract ends, if you've not got a shore posting, you will be leaving?"

"Yes, that correct."

"What about you Kate? Will you be leaving too?"

"No, Sir. I will be staying on, my contract with the Navy still has three years to run, before I have to worry about a new one."

"Mike, do you really want to leave the Navy? Please, be honest?"

"No, I don't want to leave. I enjoy working for them. But I've decided to put myself before my work for a change."

"Ok Mike, if I can work something out that gets you off Hammersley, will you stay?"

"As long as I am off after this rotation."

"How long is it?"

"Six weeks, then I have a week before my contract ends."

"Ok, so I have six weeks to find some way of getting you off Hammersley, or we lose one damn fine officer."

"That is correct."

"So what was going on last night and how come, Kate, you ended up at Mike's?"

"Last night, Kate and I were talking at my place about our relationship. We have a few issues to overcome and last night we started to try and work through them. The last few months have been stressful on everyone and have caused a few issues between us that are sort of related to the job, but also to us personally. It was about 1am when I noticed the time and we went to bed. That was that, nothing else happened. Kate was not in a good state for driving so I told her to stay with me, rather than drive home and have an accident."

"Ok then. Thanks for coming in, you can both leave." Kate gets up and starts to head off, but Mike stays sitting.

"Steve, can I have a private word with you please?"

"Sure, Mike."

"Kate, I'll met you outside in five."

"Ok." She turns and heads out of the office.

Once the door is closed and Kate is far enough away, Steve asks what the problem is.

"It's about Maxine."

"Ok?"

"She gave Kate private information about my application to Fleet Command."

"She did what?" Steve says, raising his voice with annoyance.

"I found out that she spoke to Kate after I presented my case to Fleet Command. She told her what I had done."

"Bloody hell, what is she playing at?"

"I'm not one hundred percent sure. She may of been trying to protect me, or warn Kate away so she could get me, I'm not totally sure. But I am not happy about it at all. She's using her status to make things go her way and I don't like it. She won't even explain why Kate didn't get her promotion."

"Hang on, Mike. Kate was up for promotion? When?"

"On the last round of promotions. I put her name forward via Maxine"

"Mike, are you sure? I don't remember seeing Kate's name amongst the applicants, and if she was there I would have backed her the whole way."

"I did the paperwork with her. I recommended her for the CO job for Hammersley. I gave Maxine all the paperwork for the promotion to send off to the board."

"Mike, I'm on the board and her name was never there."

"Then what the hell happened to her application?" growled Mike

"I'm not sure Mike, but I will look into it for you. Just don't inform her that she wasn't on the list."

"I won't."

"And I will have a word with Maxine as well."

"Thanks, Steve. Anyway better go only an day and a half left of shore leave and I have things to sort out before we sail on Monday morning."

"Enjoy your shore leave, Mike. I'll ring you once I know more." he replies as they walk to the door.

First day of patrol

Everyone has arrived on time and Dutchy has put them to work loading the supplies under his watchful eye. Mike and Kate are going through their orders, working out the watch rosters for the next two weeks and attempting to schedule some R&R along their patrol route.

The new coxswain Jon Webster is busy getting himself accustomed to a patrol boat, this being his first time on patrol boats having come from a frigate posting.

0830hrs roll around pretty quickly and Mike and Kate have been through several coffees. They were both up at 0430hours to be on the boat by 0530hrs and arrive ahead of the crew.

Mike, Kate, Dutchy, Charge, Bird, 2Dads and Webster are all up on the bridge when Kate pipes leaving specials through the ship. As the last of Hammersley's mooring ropes are released, Mike guides her safely away from the dock and out to sea.

Their first day back on patrol goes without a hitch. The crew is kept busy by doing routine checks, and cleaning. Surprisingly, Bird has somehow managed to master the art of coffee making.

"Hey Chicken Legs, good coffee," Dutchy replies after taking a sip when she brings a round of coffee to the crew on the bridge.

"Thanks, Dutchy. I had some lessons while on shore leave. Well, not lessons, just informed that not everyone likes weak coffee, as it was put to me, and that over time I will understand why you guys drink it so strong. I was given a list of how each of you like your coffee, and also the navigator brew recipe for those long nights. I was told that the X is a fan of it." Mike smiles at the suggestion.

"I still have no idea how you and Nikki could drink it that strong," replies Mike.

"That's why it's called navigator brew. Only navigators seem to be able to drink it. Bird, would I take it that this came from Bomber? Since she is the only other one, bar me, on this boat that knows the recipe."

"Yes, it did, ma'am."

"Must thank that girl when I see her next," she grins.