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Chapter 7 – sickness

The time had come to board Hammersley for a long six weeks. Kate was not wearing her engagement ring for fear of not only being found out but also the fact that she might lose it during a boarding party. So it hung with her dog chains, however, when alone in her cabin she found herself always looking at it.

It had been two days and Nav still hadn't brought up anything about her and the CO. She thought she was off the hook. When suddenly she walked into their cabin.

"Oh my God, why didn't you tell me?" Nav said when she saw the X looking at the ring.

Kate looked at the ring and looked at Nav, "because I didn't want many people knowing and besides me and the CO had a bet to see how long it would take you to notice." Kate laughed.

Nav now laughing with Kate.

"still you could have told me you know I wasn't going to tell anyone," Nav added.

"Well where is the fun in that, Mike would have won the bet then and I was determined to win," Kate replied.

"Well, in that case, I'm so happy for you, congratulations. Who knows? And when did she propose?"

Kate had questions thrown at her left right and centre and didn't know what questions to answer first.

"Mike proposed the night before we boarded Hammersley, only you know, not even NAVCOM know, so we have to tread carefully otherwise they will discharge us and that isn't what I want," Kate said now being serious.

"Kate, I totally understand, I don't know how difficult it is for you but I can imagine, seeing him all the time knowing you can't do a thing about it," Nav said giving Kate a big hug.

"Thanks Nikki, I needed that. Thanks for being a great friend who I can tell everything to, well that is unless there is a bet going on," they both laughed.

It was coming up to about three months that Kate and Mike had been going out.

Kate was now on the bridge with Nav and 2Dads.

"You know what, I have this huge headache and it will not go away," 2Dads said.

"Are you okay, do you need to go see swain, 2Dads?" Kate replied.

"No I'm fine, but X you don't look so well yourself. Are you feeling okay?" 2Dads asked the X.

Nikki now started paying attention to the conversation the XO and 2Dads were having.

"You look pale, X, 2Dads is right you don't look well," Nikki added now interrupting in the conversation.

"What me? I'm fine, I'm tired but that comes with the job now doesn't it?" Kate said as she laughed to herself.

They all got back on with their duties, leaving the bridge in complete silence.

"Nav, anything to report on radar?" Kate said as she broke the silence.

"No, nothing X" Nav replied.

"Thanks,"

They had only been on watch a few hours and to Kate is seemed like forever. She had only just noticed how tired she felt. She felt like she could curl up and just sleep for years. But that wasn't going to be the case on this ship she thought.

It was Kate's turn to go off watch and go and get breakfast that Bomber had freshly prepared. Kate didn't feel like breakfast but knew it was a long time before lunch so she thought she better have something.

The smell was strong as she walked into the kitchen, everyone was sat having their breakfast except the ones who were on watch. They greeted her with "good morning X"

As soon as they said morning to her, she covered her mouth and just ran. The smell of the food made her feel sick.

"Is my cooking that bad," Bomber asked.

"No, it's lovely" the CO replied.

"Oh right, maybe the X is coming down with something, she looked very pale before," said Bomber.

Nav walked into her and the X's cabin. "You okay X?" asked Nav.

Kate still in the Bathroom replied "Yeah I'm fine I think I'm coming down with something, 2Dads mentioned he didn't feel well before. Maybe its going round?"

"Maybe," Nav replied.

There was a heavy knock on the door and Nav answered it. It was the CO stood there.

"Nav, is the X still here?" Mike asked politely.

"Erm... yeah she is, but she's like not well. Do you want me to see if she will come out?" Nav said.

"No, no its not problem, will you tell her not to worry about her watch today. I've got someone to cover her. Is she okay though?"

"I'm sure she'll be fine sir, she thinks it's just a bug she has picked up."

"Thanks Nav, could you keep me updated on her please?," the CO asked.

"Course sir, you'll be the first to know."

To Kate the next few weeks passed in a blur. She always felt sick, was always throwing up. She just couldn't seem to shake this bug off. Mike became increasingly more worried every day. He had sent her to swain a few times and all he kept saying was it looks like a bug and that she has a low immune system that probably can't fight it off.

That seemed to settle Mike's mind a little bit more knowing there was nothing seriously wrong with his fiancé.

It was about 2 weeks before they were due back to port and for everyone it seemed like they had been at sea for ages. For Kate it seemed even longer. She was knackered and everyone could see that.

She came to the bridge to the bridge with Bomber to offer brews to everyone who was on watch. She felt really tired and faint.

She handed the coffee out to everyone and turned to leave with Bomber, when suddenly she felt no control over her body anymore. She collapsed.

Everywhere went black. She could hear distant voices but they seemed so far away. She tried to make out what they were.

In the distant she could just make out the voice of swain.

"Ma'am, can you hear me?"

Kate could hear him vaguely but she couldn't open her eyes or mouth to speak. Next thing she knew she could hear anything.

What seemed like an eternity passed and when she came round she was in the wardroom with Swain and the CO.

"Ma'am, you're awake, how do you feel?" Swain asked.

"What happened?" Kate said confused.

"You collapsed but you're going to be fine. I think it was down to you being so tired all the time and this bug you have isn't really helping. So therefore I'm putting you on total bed rest till we get back to port in just under two weeks," Swain answered her question.

As Mike helped her back to her Cabin where Nav was he asked her quietly, "You sure you're okay, I've been really worried for you the last few days knowing there was nothing I could do for you."

"Honestly Mike I'm fine, I promise you, like Swain says just a silly bug," Kate said.

After going to sleep Kate woke up with a familiar feeling, she got up quickly and ran to the bathroom. This time she woke Nav up who was sleeping in the bunk above her bunk.

"Kate, not only is the CO really worried about you, I'm starting to worry about you, your always being sick, you always tired and now you collapsed," Nav said anxiously.

"I know I feel rubbish, I don't want to do anything. I'm really starting to get fed up of this situation. I can't wait to get back to port and get the doctors."

"Oh my god Kate, I never even gave it a thought..." Nikki said in a shocked tone but Kate interrupted.

"Nikki, what? Never gave what a thought?" Kate was now interested to what Nikki thought.

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