Chapter 14 From Bad To Worse

Mike and Kate stood on the bridge watching an FFV pass into Australian waters on the EOD, Mike giving the order.

"Hands to boarding stations, hands to boarding stations" yelled Mike over the pa system as he turned to Kate.

"Be careful" as Kate nodded in reply, heading down to the armoury she popped in to see Alexia

"Hunny mummy will be back soon you stay here with Bird ok" Kate gently said to Alexia.

"Love you mummy" replied Alexia Kate kissing her on the way out.

"Bird look after her I'll be back soon" Kate said to Bird as she nodded.

"So how does it feel to be back in the hunt X" asked Buffer.

"Well it's not what I quite expected, I mean it's different somehow" replied Kate as she got her gear on, she sat in the Rhib waiting for the boat to come around the headland, and soon enough it did.

The sheer power of the new Rhib's was amazing two times faster than the older ones as they approached the vessel Hammersley wasn't far behind "Secondaries off" Buffer yelled.

This was no ordinary FFV they were armed with machine guns as they opened fire on the Rhib and Hammersley, shrapnel flew all over the bridge as the windows shattered amongst other things, Charge hit the deck when he noticed Nav had been hit by a stray bullet and was bleeding profusely, he looked around the rest of the bridge to see if anyone else was hit when he saw out of the corner of his eye Mike had been hit and looked unconscious.

The gun fire started to slow one by one the crew of the FFV were taken down and taken into custody. Kate's voice sounded over the radio "Hammersley this is Thunder the situation is under control, I repeat the situation is under control is everyone ok?" Kate asked over the radio as she waited for a reply unable to get one.

"Hammersley this is Thunder do you copy over" but all she heard was static when finally a voice came over the radio it was charge.

"X this is Charge, you need to get back here now" Charge yelled over the radio in a panic.

A million thoughts were going through her mind, as they drew closer to the ship Kate could see smoke and windows shattered on the bridge, she couldn't get out of the Rhib fast enough. She ran to Bird to check on Alexia thankfully she was fine and there was only one other person Mike. She ran to the ward room where she saw Nikki on the table, blood everywhere she couldn't believe her eyes.

"Is she going to be alright?" asked Kate.

"Yes ma'am she's stabilised for now" replied Swain.

"Look where's Mike" yelled Kate

"Next room" replied Swain as he followed Kate.

Kate rushed into the room Mike was in a bad way "Ma'am he's taken a shot to the shoulder and one to the abdomen, he's in a critical condition we need to get him back to base ASAP" added Swain as he checked his vitals.

Kate sat down beside Mike as she watched him breathe knowing that every breath could be his last as she tried to push those thoughts away but somehow they managed to linger at the back of her mind. She gently ran her hand through his hair, as she placed her hand on his she felt a small squeeze of her hand, when RO interrupted.

"Ma'am commander Marshall is on the phone for you"

"Ok put it though ill take it in here" replied Kate.

"Yes ma'am" RO replied as he left the room.

"Kate speaking"

"Lieutenant I'm putting you in charge of Hammersley until further notice"

"Yes sir"

"How are you holding up?"

"Yeah I'm fine sir I'm just worried that's all"

"Yes well that's understandable, look I have to go get home ASAP and good luck Kate"

"Thankyou Sir Goodbye Sir" Kate hung up the phone she was in charge of Hammersley. She kissed Mike before heading up onto the bridge.

Kate walked up onto the bridge as the debris was being cleaned up, Charge walked over to Kate.

"Ma'am we are going to remove the rest of the glass as we sail home I'll get 2Dads and Spider to give you a hand here" said Charge.

"Thanks Charge we should be home in 2 hours if we run the engines flat chat" replied Kate.

Kate took comfort in knowing Nikki was going to be fine but she had to get her mind off Mike so she could focus on getting them home. As the miles went by and land came into sight Kate went down to the ward room to get Mike and Nav prepped for the ambulance, she walked over to Mike as she whispered into his ear.

"Mike don't you give up on me now we've come too far, Alexia needs you, fight for me fight for Alexia, I love you don't you give up on me" with tears running down her face she couldn't lose Mike not now. Hammersley steered into port, Kate rushed down to the ward room.

"We good to move them?" asked Kate.

"Yes Ma'am" replied Swain as Buffer and Spider lifted up Mike and Swain and 2Dads lifted up Nav, as they walked out onto the deck Bomber appeared out of nowhere with Alexia as she watched her daddy being put into the ambulance.

"Mummy where is daddy going?" asked Alexia.

"Daddy has to go to the hospital to get better we will see him later" replied Kate as she held her daughter in her arms.

Mike was wheeled into surgery and didn't come out for several hours, Kate, Alexia and the rest of the crew waited for some news the silence was killing them and not knowing what was happening killed them even more.

Nav was first to come out of surgery ET racing to be by her bedside as she slowly started to wake up.

"Hey you're ok your in hospital" said ET.

"The boss I saw the boss" Nikki replied stressed knowing that the boss had been hit.

"Nikki he's in surgery now" replied ET putting Nav's mind at ease.

An hour later Mike finally came out of surgery, there were so many machines attached to him, the doctor made her way over to the crew.

"He's going to be fine" said the doctor, the crew letting out a cheer "but he will be in intensive care for the next 2 days just as a precaution" added the doctor.

The crew were happy now that they knew the Co was going to be fine they all headed down to the pub Bomber and Buffer staying behind.

"Kate I'll take Alexia you go see Mike" said Bomber.

"Thanks Bomber I'll be back soon" replied Kate.

Kate walked into Mike's room there we're so many machines, Kate slowly walked over to Mike and pulled up a chair resting her head his pillow and her hand on his, he slowly came back to reality squeezing Kate's hand she sat up quickly.

"Oh thank god" was all she could say.

"Are you ok" Mike replied his voice all raspy.

"I have someone who would like to see you" added Kate as Bomber and Buffer entered with Alexia.

"Daddy" squealed Alexia in excitement jumping onto her mums lap to hug her dad.

"Hey squirt" replied Mike, "I should be out here in a week or so, did you guys get shore leave?" asked Mike.

"Yeah we did a week's shore leave, I don't know how Kate did it" replied Buffer.

"You can thank commander Marshall for that, plus Hammersley is in for repairs" replied Kate.

Alexia went home with Bomber and Buffer leaving Kate to be beside Mike when a nurse walked in "ma'am I can bring a bed in for you if you want?" said the nurse.

"Yes thankyou that would be great" replied Kate she was tired but didn't want to leave Mike alone, the nurse returned with a blanket and a bed as she put it up against Mike's. "Thankyou" Kate said to the nurse as she left the room. Kate pulled the railing down as Mike put his arm around Kate as she drifted off to sleep.

Kate woke up in Mike's arms, Bomber was standing at the end of the bed with Alexia in her arms she was asleep, Bomber stood up placing Alexia down beside them as Mike slowly woke up.

"Hey Bomber how are you ?" asked Mike.

"I'm fine Sir how are you?" replied Bomber.

"Ah you know the usual" laughed Mike.

Mike turned his attention to Kate as Bomber left the room to get a coffee, kissing her on the cheek " how are you feeling" asked Mike.

"I'm fine just a bit tired" replied Kate.

Mike cupping Kate's cheek as he leaned in to kiss her. They both turned there attention to Alexia as she laid there fast asleep, peaceful, Kate resting in Mike's arms as she went back to sleep, she was exhausted.