Crisis Point

Chapter Six;
The Other Side of Me

HMAS Cairns was quiet for probably the first time ever as security had managed to fight off those determined to get inside the complex. Those who worked on base full-time had started to live on base as well, even if they had homes on the outside, since 2011 and the sole figure tapping away on her mac in the small communications section of the base was no exception. Leading Seaman Dixon frowned at the monitor as information spread across her screen about the HMAS Maryborough encountering another boat load of illegals. She transferred the information into the HMAS Maryborough's log and continued with the information she was sending to the only other patrol boat based out of Cairns, the HMAS Hammersley. Despite having been in port for the last two hours, the Hammersley's CO was still requesting any information Cairns could gather about the ship they had intercepted The Avalanche. Commander McGregor had given the task to Dixon, assuming she wanted the job because of her connections to the ship. The Commander was mistaken. But then, she hadn't exactly told her boss why she suddenly despised anything to do with the Hammersley. It wasn't really work business and Kasey Dixon was not the type to reveal her personal details to the people she worked with. Of course, when her husband appeared at the doorway to the communications sector, that went out the window. She frowned at him then minimised the window she'd had open, leaving the screen with it's usual Navy Crest background. Navy – The Team Works. Sure, when there were enough people to man the base and all it's ships.

"Hello." She said simply, her voice devoid of all emotion as she met Robert's eye. "What are you doing here?" She sounded like she was talking to a stranger, not the man she had married, but right now that was what he felt like.

Robert picked it up and frowned, but he quickly understood and put on his own business-like voice. "You're working late?" He walked towards her.

She nodded slowly. "Your boss wants any information that can be gathered about The Avalanche and it's history." Robert joined her and she opened the page she'd been working on again, showing him what she'd found. "We have the journey log from your Swain, and I've been in contact with all ports they've stopped in."

Robert leant over her, trying to read, and Kasey felt a little uncomfortable. Her hand shook a little on the mouse as she breathed in his aftershave. Then she remembered why she was being so cold to him and shook every good memory that had crept into her head back out again.

'Get a grip Kasey.' She warned herself.

"Kasey." Robert said, frowning at her, and she glanced back at him with a meek smile. She hadn't even realised that through this moment of weakness he'd been talking to her. "Are you okay?"

She nodded. "Yeah, sure, just long hours, you know."

"You should take a break. You'll work yourself to death." He put a comforting hand on her shoulder, but it wasn't want Kasey wanted to hear. She shrugged his hand off.

"I'm fine, just…" She pushed back her chair and inched away from him. His eyes went to the ground as he realised his effort had been in vain. "What do you want Robert?"

"Nav wants all of the crew to bring their family onto the Hammersley when she sails Thursday. She wants the Hammersley to be a safe place for the crew and the people they care about."

Kasey nodded. "I heard."

"Kasey, I want you to come aboard." He asked, his voice suggesting it was the most obvious thing in the world. But to Kasey it wasn't. She frowned. He continued. "Please Kase, it isn't safe here anymore. They say it's only going to get worse."

"What about my job?"

Robert grabbed her hand. "Kasey, if the locals do something drastic you won't have a job." She tried to shake off his hand but he had a pretty tight hold. Then he said something that made Kasey give in. "Please Kase, as long as I know you're alright the whole world could fall apart and I wouldn't care."

She sighed and glanced up at the Commander's office. "I guess I could still do my job on the ship." He smiled but she didn't return it. She'd let him win this battle, mainly because she hadn't been on a ship so long she'd do anything to get back out to sea, but the war wasn't over. She managed to shake off his hold and push her chair back again to where he couldn't touch her. His smile fell. "I'll talk to the Commander. If it's okay then I'll see you on Thursday."

He sighed. "I was hoping you'd have dinner with me tonight. We could talk about… well, what I said."

Kasey shook her head. "I have to work Robert. So, please, just go hang out with your mates." He made to reply, but she cut across him. "Robert, go."

He nodded slowly. "Okay. See you Thursday?" She didn't give him an answer, just went back to her work. "Okay." He sighed out the last word and then left. Kasey glanced up at his retreating figure with a sad smile then returned to work.

"Guess who." A voice said in the army man's ear.

He smiled. "I'm not sure but she sounds super cute."

The voice giggled and uncovered his eyes. "Good answer." Scruffy appeared at his side. "What you up to?"

He motioned to the beer in front of him and the collection of army men at the pool table now setting up a two on two competition with Buffer and Radar. "What does it look like I'm doing?"

"Well, being the life of the party certainly isn't it." She sat down on the bar stool next to him and stole his beer straight out of his hand. "Where's the rest of your lot?" She glanced around her.

"This is it. The others have been sent down to Sydney. This was all they could spare for me; two Privates." He glanced at his men. "We're becoming completely redundant anyway. They say they're going to disband the regiment soon." He sighed, looking downtrodden.

Scruffy just smiled. "That's great!" He lowered an eyebrow at her but she just grinned. "I've had a brilliant idea."

He stole back his beer and took a sip. "Why is it that when you say 'I've had a brilliant idea' I get scared?" He teased.

She poked her tongue out at him. "Fine, if you don't want to hear it." She turned away from him, crossing her arms and attempting to look fierce. It didn't work.

"Okay, tell me the plan." He gave in.

Scruffy grinned. "You ask to set your men up on the Hammersley. Your team is just the right size now. Tell them the sea is no longer safe for patrol boats and we need super tough army men to protect us."

He laughed. "Actually, I'd think they'd like that. But your CO and Commander wouldn't like it."

"Well, duh, so we don't tell them that. The Nav wants us to bring family and friends on board, I think it's part morale and part she wants to bring her own family on board, but we just bring you and the kids…" she smiled, thumbing back at the others, "… on board and tell her it's part of her initiative. Everyone feels superior, you keep your job and I get to see you every single day."

He laughed. "You're not as dumb as you look." She rolled her eyes and shook her head at him. "No, that's good Emma. So when do you sail?"

"Two days." She put up two fingers to go with her answer.

"You don't give me long to put this together, do you?"

Scruffy shook her head. "Nope." She stole his beer back and finished it in one large gulp. She gave the empty glass a frown. "Uh, your shout?"

He grinned, making to answer, but one of the Privates spoke over him. "Sir, you coming to play?" He asked.

Scruffy glanced at him and answered before he could. "We're in. Buff, I'm in your team." Buffer nodded, holding the cue out to her. She glanced back her army boyfriend. "Come on you, Army vs. Navy, let's see what you have."

He laughed. "You're on." Then, taking her hand, the pair headed for the pool table.