Chapter 18 Between Sheets
3 days passed slowly, making there normal route round the islands, Buffer walked up onto the bridge, requesting Hammersley anchor so the crew could have some R and R.
Kate, Alexia, Nav and Bomber went ashore they needed to get away from the ship, Bomber bringing a picnic basket, they laid on the beach relaxing. Laughing and joking and letting everything out, Kate watched Alexia playing in the sand, admiring her creativity.
Kate looked on, when she saw a Rhib heading there way, and to much of Kate's surprise Mike was driving, he jumped out of the Rhib leading Kate away from the girls, as they walked into the rainforest.
Mike and Kate walked on for quite sometime before Mike stopped, standing in front of her, they were alone and isolated, pushing her up against the tree, embracing her in a passionate kiss, before coming up for air.
"Mike" stated Kate as Mike brushed her lips with his finger stopping her from going any further, and once again he pulled her in.
Mike and Kate walked on a little further, coming across a waterfall.
"its beautiful" Kate replied to the look on Mike's face, they both took of their holsters as they headed in for a dip.
Mike admired Kate's figure before she dived underneath the water, coming up for air, Kate treading water in front of Mike, her lips millimetres away from his, teasing him, waiting, who would make the final move.
They laid on the rocks surrounding the waterfall, tangled in each others arms, the sound of the falling water and the native birds filled their ears, it was peaceful and relaxing.
It was fast approaching sunset, Kate and Mike stood on the beach watching the sun descend below the clouds that covered the horizon, pink and orange clouds streaked the sky, they often looked at the sunset watching it, it brought forward a new day.
"So what do u find on your little bushwalk?" asked Nav smirking waiting for Kate's reply.
"You know the usual bird watching, water falls" Kate replied unable to contain her smile.
"Oh the usual" replied Nav, picking up her coffee amused at Kate's answer she knew her to well.
2Dads walked up onto the bridge in an extremely happy mood whistling.
"Ok what have you done?" asked Bomber she read him like an open book knowing full well he was up to something.
"Nothing, I'm just happy that's all" replied 2Dads trying to conceal it.
"Yeah sure what ever you say" replied Bomber it was only a matter of time before she would find out what he had planned.
Bomber walked into her cabin, surprised and stunned, it was full of balloons 'how the hell does he do that' Bomber thought popping them one by one when she came across a black balloon, suddenly it popped cream going everywhere, Bomber was pissed it went all over her laptop and belongings finally it was payback time.
She stormed her way to Charge.
"I've had it, I need to get him back" Bomber stated.
Charge had no idea what she was talking about " huh get who back ?" Charge replied.
"2Dads who else" replied Bomber.
Charge stood there thinking unable to come up with anything.
"Laxatives?" offered charge.
"It could work but I need something better no offence" replied Bomber.
"Give me a couple of days to think and I promise it will be something good" replied charge as he walked off his mind was hard at work already. Bomber walked off satisfied project 2Dads was now in affect.
Mike sat in his chair up on the bridge looking out into the vast ocean before him, Swain was at the helm and Nav at her charts. Ro walked up onto the bridge, walking over to Mike he handed him a piece of paper, Mike sat there reading it concentrating, disappointment spread across his face like wild fire as he slowly read to the final letter…
Mike walked down to Kate's cabin, walking in he sat down on her rack " I'll get that paperwork done in a hour" Kate said.
"I'm not here for the paper work" replied Mike handing her the paper, an identical reaction to Mike's.
"We have been out here for 6 weeks already the crew are exhausted, I'm exhausted " replied Kate.
"I know Kate we will be rendezvousing with HMAS SUCCESS and we will get this over and done with" replied Mike placing his hand on Kate's shoulder before he left the room.
"Do you hear captain speaking, word in from Navcom, our patrol has been extended a further 3 weeks, sorry sailors, that is all". Everyone sighed and went back to work.
Hammersley ploughed through the rough seas, waves crashing against the ship before the bow sliced through the water, Ro sat at his desk talking to Navcom immediately hanging up and walking over to Mike.
"Sir that was Navcom, a group of backpackers have gone missing on an island just north of here, they were on a survival guide when they went missing" said Ro as he handed Mike the information.
"Thanks Ro, Nav set a course for Hinton Cove and X can you organise a shore party" asked Mike.
"Sir we will get there at first light" replied Nav keying in the co-ordinates into the computer.
Many hours later… X sat in the Rhib waiting to go ashore, all she could think about was getting off Hammersley and getting home into her own bed, felling the touch of Mike and hearing the laughter from Alexia. But all this was taking its toll on Kate, she was missing Alexia, not being able to hold her, Hammersley had been so busy lately Bomber and Nav were seeing more of Alexia than Kate was, at times she thought of a shore posting but that meant she would give Hammersley and the crew, they were her only family, she would miss all the crazy and unusual happenings on the ship and on missions.
They arrived on the island, the sand crushing beneath there feets as they walked into the rainforest looking for any signs of the missing backpackers, they walked for miles without any sign until they came across a bare patch of land hiding behind the scrub.
There were signs of a fire and boot prints stamped into the ground, they walked a little further coming across what appeared to be hoochies, all accounted for, things just weren't adding up.
It appeared they had abandoned camp but why, the same question running though everyone's head.
"Hammersley this is Bravo 82" Kate spoke into the radio.
"Bravo 82 go ahead" replied Mike.
"Sir we have found there camp site it appears to have been abandoned over" replied Kate.
"Abandon?" replied Mike he to starting to wonder what was going on. Buffer walked over to a tree noticing something engraved as he read through.. It read….
CROATOAN
"Sir Buffer has found an engraving on a tree, its fresh and I think Charge and Ro might want to have a look at this" added Kate.
Charge and RO walked through the rainforest reaching the tree they both looked at it…
"Oh no" both speaking in unison.
"What is it Charge" asked Kate is was something bad very bad…. This was just the beginning.