CHAPTER 8 - THE PLACE I CALL HOME
"Melody! Come, you're just at the right time. Bird just came to me, 2Dads wants to see you", Swain calls me. "All right, well, let's hurry then." We walk up the stairs, and enter the room 2Dads's laying. "Hey Curly. Bird and I, we wanted to say thanks to you. And to Swain." 2Dads looks better than Dylan. No beeping machines, no lines. I smile. "It's okay. I'm glad I could help. I think you'll recover fast." 2Dads nods. "Yes, they only let me stay for one or two nights", he says, he's very relieved. I look at Swain. He nods. "We better go. Otherwise Knocker will be really pissed off." I smile and we leave.
"Thank you for the ride, Swain. And the money for a cab. And everything." He nods. "It's okay Melody. You can call me anytime." I close the door and Swain drives away. I walk up the stairs to NAVCOM. I'm nervous. I love being out at the sea, and I really missed it. I enter Knocker's room. "Hey Melody. Come in. Sit down." I sit down and try to imagine how I look at the moment. Wearing navy-pants, a grey shirt, my hair still a little wet and wearing old sneakers. Knocker looks at me. "I went here straight ahead, I didn't stop to change", I explain. She nods. "So, to the point. Your shore leaf ends in three months, but since this happened I wanted to talk about it. Hammersley will be out until at least 2Dads and Bird are back for duty. I can replace Dutchy, but there's another spot free at the ship." Another spot free? Why is she telling me this? It's like she can read my mind, because she immediately tells me. "Melody, the reason why I am telling you this is because I think you're the one that can fill the spot. Bird needs education, not only from Swain, but also from you. With your experiences she can become a very good navy-medical." Wow, glad to hear that. "The Hammersley will sail out in two or three weeks. We can call you up anytime. And I will make sure you'll get your uniform in time." I'm really happy right now. "Will you take the job or do you want to continue your shore leaf?" she asks me. "What? No, ma'am, I'd love to be out at sea again." She smiles and she nods. "Well, sailor, that's all set than. I'll see you in two weeks. Dismissed."
I take a cab to my house, here in Cairns. I haven't sold it, I always kept it because Dylan insisted to keep it. -Where would I be without him?- I pay the taxi-driver and walk up the road to my house. The key is under a rock, near the front door. I lift up the rock and, of course, it's still there. I open the door and get in the house. Nothing has changed, it's even clean. My mum kept it clean, I said to her it's okay not to, but she wanted to do it herself. I walk to my closet, let's change first.
After I changed, I walk around my house. Everything is just the way I left it. All the pictures, photo's and drawings, they're all still here. But my car… where is it? Ah, I remember again. I left it at my parents' place. I walk to my phone and dial my parents' number. "Hey Dad, it's me. Yeah, I'm home again. Look, I have no car right now so can you pick me up? I'll explain everything to you than, all right? Thanks dad. Love you." I hang up the phone.
My dad arrives, I get in the car. "Ey, love." "Hey dad. How's mum?" "She's doing fine, just doing fine", he mumbles. "All right, well, that's good news." He nods. "So, Mel, how … ?" I tell him everything. From the part my canoe crashed until the hospital, only an hour ago. We drive in our street when I get to the final part. "… And Swain dropped me off. I need to go back to the hospital, I'll type my report over there." My dad will probably understand. I love my dad. "All right, I will tell your mum. Just get your laptop, your keys and your mobile phone and drive back to the hospital. Oh and give Dylan a hug from us, all right?" "I will dad." We arrived at home. I give my dad a kiss, and walk into the house. "Hi, mum." I kiss her as well. "Hey, Mel. Oh, I missed you so much." "I missed you too, mum. But I really need to hurry now. Dylan's in hospital. But Dad will explain it. Love ya." I quickly run upstairs to get everything. After that I run to the garage to get my car. What a circus.
XXX-Sea Patrol-XXX
I asked the nurses if the 'special' room is still there. It is and I still know the way. I sit down and get my laptop to type my report. I learned from before that just sitting next to the bed isn't gonna work. You need to deal with it and keep on going. At the end, everything is going to work out fine anyway. Most of the time.
Swain enters the room. "Hey, the nurse said I could find you here. So, here you are." I look up. "Yes, I'm here." I smile. "What's up?" "I'm leaving, Bird is staying with 2Dads and I think you'll keep an eye on Dutchy. I'll come back tomorrow, perhaps in the afternoon? I'll see. Anyway, you can expect me." I nod. Swain wants to leave. "Oh, Swain, wait, I almost forget to tell you." He looks around. Can I tell him? Oh, why not. "I'm rejoining, I'll probably sail with the Hammersley." Swain is stunned. "Oh, that's great! That means we can finally work together!" Swain smiles. "Well, I better hurry now. I told Sally I would hurry." "Oh, well you'd better go than. See you tomorrow." Swain leaves and I finish my report. I've just sent it to NAVCOM, when a nurse walks in the room. "Mrs. Holiday?" I look up. "Mr. Mulholland is awake."
While walking to him, I think of this whole situation. Together we got Josh back, when he needed to deal with his leg. Now I will get Dylan back, in the name of Josh. In the end, everything is gonna turn out just fine. When destiny calls you, you must be strong. We may not be together, but we have to hold on. Even when people won't believe it, I'll get him back. Back on track. Back to the navy, that's our plan. We're gonna do it together. Like we always did. Because he, he'll always be in my heart. He only needs to look over his shoulder and I will be there.
A/N: The story is complete! I hope you guys all liked it, thanks for reading it. In some time you can expect another story of me, I'll keep you up to date! :)
-the thing with josh his leg is based on ep-Birds from season 2 ;)
up-to-date: i am working on a second story with dutchy&curly. i am thinking about posting it when i am ready to :)
till then, keep calm and love fanfiction! please review, thank you guys :)
