Really sorry for the long delay, I've been away on holiday xx

Chapter twelve – win some, lose some

I do not own nothing

They had been on the ship now for what was like just over a week and the crew were starting to get a bit bored. They hadn't really had any major drama, not like they used to have years ago when it was originally Mike and Kate in charge. It's like this time there was nothing. No boardings or nothing. Even Mike and especially Kate admitted it was boring, it was usually her that got all the action.

Kate had, had enough now, she wanted to get off this ship now, she wanted to have a break so she went up to the captain and requested R and R for people.

"SIIR!" Kate shouted at Mike.

"X?" Mike replied.

"I think the crew are not on the top form, I think it's due to boredom and being stuck on here all the time doing nothing, so I suggest that we give them some leave or something, let them go fishing or just let them have a swim in the sea for a while," Kate said to Mike.

Mike nodded, "Kate I agree with you."

Mike walked over to the intercom for the rest of the ship, "I call for all crew not on watch to meet on front deck now," Mike said more like an order.

There were groans from people that were trying to relax and now they were going to have to work, the CO said it like it was an order and no one were looking forward to it.

They all mopped onto the front deck. Yep the CO and XO looked serious something was wrong, what had someone done now.

"We have called you here because we feel that no one is on top form," Mike said.

They were in for it now, their work wasn't up to standards.

"So we have decided to do a vote," Kate added.

A vote? Everyone thought. A vote for what?

"Okay, we have fishing for the lads? Some time safe to swim when we stop the ship? Some time in a port? Or some time climbing? Now for you lot to decide," Mike finished.

There was a relief in everyone's faces, they were happy they were getting time off in the day, and not getting told off.

The lads voted for time fishing instead of going to the pub, they fancied some quiet time but Kate and the new gap girl recruit didn't fancy going fishing of the side of Hammersley, they fancied going up a hike on one of the nearest islands. So they took radios and the RHIB. Mike was happily fishing and didn't really care was doing, they had that relationship were they liked time away from each other. Mike preferred a fishing rod than a hike any day. And besides with Kate gone, he needed to stay on the ship.

The lads were merrily sat on the side of Hammersley with their fishing rods in the water, when there was an almighty splash. The crew that were fishing put down their rods and looked over the side of the boat.

"Buffer! What are you doing your frightening the fish!" charge shouted.

Mike just laughed, buffer had ran from the top of the ship and jumped into the water.

"I'm having fun too, and I thought I would make you think that someone was about to catch a big fish or something," Buffer laughed.

Mike was still laughing.

"Buffer get out the water and come and catch some fish," Charge said more like an order.

"Okay dad! I'm coming," Buffer replied making everyone laugh except charge.

"You lot are worse than my kids," Mike said still laughing.

Buffer reluctantly climbed out the water and picked up his fishing rod, "I bet I catch the biggest fish," Buffer laughed.

"Not in a million years," Charge added.

"It's bloody freezing in that water," Buffer added.

"It's your own fault for jumping in then," Charge bantered back.

With that Mike felt a tug on his line, "Oh I think I've got something," Mike shouted.

The others looked in astonishment, of all the times they fished on deck Mike had never caught anything, never, nothing.

So it was quite a surprise to them when he said he had something. The crew came round to watch Mike pull it in, it looked like something big, a shark maybe Mike laughed to himself.

Mike continued winding it in, it became visible what it was, the others just looked at Mike and laughed, it was a plastic contained used to hold fish.

The crew thought it was hilarious, "That's one big fish sir," Spider shouted.

"You just wait, I will catch one," Mike laughed.

With that, they continued to fish.

They all caught a few little ones and so on but that was about it.

"Oh, I think I've got something," Mike yelled for the second time.

"Yeah, probably the lid to go with the container," Spider laughed causing everyone else to laugh as well.

"Ah think what you like," Mike said continuing to bring his catch in.

"Actually sir, that looks like a fish," Charge said laughing slightly because it felt like a fish but it was probably a tiny one or something.

The others were still laughing and Mike continued to bring the fish in.

"It weighs a tonne," Mike said.

"Oh give it here," Charge said helping his CO bring it in.

"Bloody hell, I think it's a big fish, if it is one," Charge added.

The others watched and waited to see what it was and whether it was a fish at all.

To the crews amazement it was a fish, but it was huge, literally massive.

"Bloody hell sir, that's massive," Charge said.

"Wow, sir I didn't think you would have it in you to catch a fish," Buffer laughed.

"Well it certainly isn't a lid, is it Spider," Mike said to Spider.

Spider just shuck his head. Spider couldn't believe what the CO had just caught, it was massive.

"Well, who fancies fish for tea then?" Mike laughed.

It looked a lovely fish, and so everyone agreed, fish it was for tea.

They continued fishing, the others hoping they could get a fish bigger than the CO's.

Just then the radio crackled to life.

It was Bird on the radio instead of Kate, it was strange but Mike thought Kate must be giving the girl more responsibility.

"Go ahead Bird," Mike said into the radio.

"Sir, it's the X, she isn't well," Bird said.

Mike quickly jumped to life.

"Bird, what do you mean the X isn't well," Mike asked concerned for his wife.

"I do know, she just keeps being sick," came Bird's reply.

"Okay, are you able to get her back into the RHIB?" Mike asked.

This time Kate came over the radio, "I am bloody fine, I was sick yeah, but I am quite capable of getting into a RHIB and getting it back to the ship in one piece, we will be back soon," Kate said.

There was a relief in Mike's tone, "Okay X see you in a bit," Mike finished.

"She sounded okay to me," Swain said.

"Yeah and me too," Mike said, "Bird, she made me nearly have a panic attack," Mike laughed.

"Yeah, we saw," Swain said.

"I bet she wasn't ill, just the humidity and everything," Swain added.

"But, it's never affected her before," Mike said.

"Yeah but she has been off this ship for a long time and now coming back to a totally different environment, it is very common you know," Swain said patting Mike on the shoulder.

This calmed Mike down and also see Kate driving the RHIB back to Hammersley was a relieving sight when Kate now looked fine.

Charge and the others secured the RHIB and Kate came back over to where Mike was standing.

"God, I thought someone was seriously wrong with you when Bird came over the radio," Mike said to Kate.

"I told her not to radio to you, but she felt she had to," Kate laughed.

"Well I'm glad she did. What happened out there?" Mike asked Kate who looked fine now.

"Oh it was just so warm, it felt like there was no air over there. Bird was fine, don't know why, it just seemed to affect me," Kate said.

"Swain said it might have something to do with not being used to the humidity for being back at base for so long," Mike added.

"That's probably it," Kate said.

With that Kate left him to it and went downstairs for a lie down in her bunk, what had just happened, she felt fine, then sick then fine. It was all just too weird.

Kate fell asleep on her bed, she must have been tired, it wasn't like her to fall asleep in the day.

Mike came over the intercom, "Due to today's catch, I mean my catch, we will be having a BBQ on deck," Mike laughed. Kate didn't have a clue what Mike was talking about but she didn't feel the urge to get up and find out what was going on so she stayed in bed.

Mike came to Kate's cabin looking for her. It wasn't like her to be up on deck by now.

"Kate?" Mike said knocking on Kate's door but there was no answer so he walked into her cabin.

He saw Kate, lying on her bed, "Kate you okay?" Mike asked concerned now.

"Yeah, I'm fine, I'm just tired. Do you need me?" She asked.

"No, I was just wondering where are and if you were okay. You not coming down from some tea?" Mike asked.

"No, I'm not hungry," Kate replied.

"But it's m y fish, I caught the fish," Mike smiled because he had actually caught the fish.

"Well, I'm definitely not eating it then," Kate smiled but didn't feel like getting up.

"Are you surprised that I've caught a fish?" Mike laughed.

"Yeah, I am but I'm not hungry, I don't feel like even moving never mind eating," Kate said.

"Kate, Hun, what is the matter this isn't like you at all, are you okay?" Mike sad with concern.

"I just don't feel that great to be honest, I am tired, I'm just not used to being back on this ship, I just want to get home now," Kate said.

"Kate you can't honestly be sea sick," Mike said.

"No, but I can be home sick. I miss the kids, I miss being at home with them. I want to go home," Kate said.

"Kate I want that just as much as you do, but you know as well as me, when we accepted this, we accepted and we can't back down, it's the rules," Mike said.

"I know, but doesn't stop me from telling you and thinking it. It's not affecting my job, I just feel rubbish now, like you and Swain said probably humidity. I'm not sleeping anyways," Kate said resting her head back on the bed.

"CO to bridge, CO to Bridge," Came over the intercom.

"I have to go, do you want me to get Swain to check by?" Mike asked.

"No, I'm fine," Kate replied.

Mike gave a weak smiled and walked to the bridge where he had been requested.

"You wanted me?" Mike said walking in.

"Call from NAVCOM," RO stated.

"Thanks, I will take it in my cabin," with that Mike left the bridge and headed to his cabin and picked up the sat phone.

"Mike Flynn,"

"Ah, Mike it's Steve,"

"Everything okay?"

"Yeah, just thought I would give you an update on the kids, they are all fine, missing you probably but not showing it. We've had them today an went and hired a little boat. But yeah they are fine,"

"Oh that is great Kate will be pleased,"

"That is what I was ringing about, Kate's parents, they keep getting in touch and ringing and leaving messages on the house phone. They sound worried do you want me to call them or what?" Steve asked.

"Oh god, Erm... I'm not sure, in fact just ring them and tell them that she is fine and that she will get in touch with you as soon as possible. We haven't heard from them since the wedding and now they are getting in touch again," Mike said.

"Do you not want to ask Kate?" Marshall said.

"To be honest, I don't really want to disturb her she really isn't well, I don't know what is wrong with her, she isn't sleeping, she was sick earlier today, so I'm hoping she will sleep in off now," Mike said.

"Is she okay?"

"I think so, I am going to get Swain to check on her, but I think she is probably home sick and the humidity is affecting her,"

"Hmmm? Maybe but I don't know. This has never happened before with her, do you think you need to come back?" Steve asked concerned.

"I doubt it, but if she gets any worse then maybe but right now, we are coping," Mike said.

"Okay but do that, come home if she does, I don't want her out there if she isn't great," Steve said.

"Thanks, tell the kids we miss then and will be home soon," Mike said.

"Okay, will do, talk soon Mike," Steve said before putting the phone down.

Swain thought it was better to go and find Swain, he wanted to make sure she was okay and Swain was the medical person so that is what he was going to do.

"Swain, can you do me a favour and check on the X she doesn't look too good," Mike said seeing that Swain was still on the bridge.

"Sure, no problem where is she?" Swain asked.

"She is in here cabin, give me a shout if you need anything," Mike said with that Swain left the bridge and headed towards Kate's cabin.

He reached the cabin and knocked on the door waiting to hear the X shout for him to come in. There was no reply so he knocked again.

Swain thought the X must have gone for a walk or something maybe went to get a brew, so Swain headed back to the bridge to fine Mike.

"She okay?" Mike asked Swain when he saw him.

"Sir, she isn't in her room, I knocked and waited for the reply twice but she didn't. I think she might have gone to get a cup of tea or something," Swain said.

"There was no way she was going to get a brew, she wasn't in any fit state to get one. Maybe she was asleep or something," Mike said.

"Possibly, but I doubt anyone could sleep through my knock," Swain said.

Both Mike and Swain looked at each other and ran down to the X's cabin and walked in. She wasn't asleep because she wasn't on her rack. She must have been in the bathroom.

"Kate? Kate!" Mike shouted but still got no reply.

He opened the bathroom door.

Kate was lying on the floor, it looked like she had been sick, it wasn't good.

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