A double length chapter, because I'm loving!

Enjoy!

Nell xx

Chapter Three-

HMAS Victory

"Dutchy, a word?" Asked Nikki. Dutchy sighed; he wondered how long it would take before they hauled him aside.

"White, you have the ship," said Nikki, before leading Dutchy down to the briefing room. She closed the door behind him.

"Dutchy, we have a small task for you. The CO would like you to take a small group on an exped; we've got sea trials to run before our mission, and we think it would be ideal. We've got a few new junior sailors that could do with a Dutchy training session," said Nikki. Dutchy could see straight through her, but didn't say a word about it.

"Who are the sailors?" He asked instead.

"Kosov-Meyer, Dodger, Slinger and Charlie," replied Nikki, checking her list.

"Charlie?" Questioned Dutchy. He knew that Slinger's real name was Charlie Woods, and he was a little confused as to why Nikki would mention her twice.

"Seaman Noble. He's been put with us as his last chance. He fails being Navy, he goes straight to jail. Maxine has been impressed with the job we've done with 2Dads, and now we end up with at least one each year. Ryan was actually our last case," replied Nikki. Dutchy finally took a seat, tired of standing and looking down at Nikki.

"What do you mean? He seemed pretty stable; he made it through Naval College, didn't he?" Asked Dutchy.

"He did, but given the circumstances with Mike and his step-father Stuart, Ryan, when Mike was assigned to the Melbourne , Ryan was re-assigned to us to make sure he stayed on the straight and narrow for a while. Don't get us wrong, we know he still loves Mike, but Maxine agreed it was better for him to be with us. Now we've got Noble to deal with," said Nikki tiredly.

"What's his history like?" Asked Dutchy.

"Similar to 2Dads. In and out of juvenile detention centres, pulled a knife on his mother on numerous occasions, beat up his step-father. You name it, he's probably done it," said Nikki, flicking through Lachlan Noble's file.

"Right. So you want me to pull them up into shape?" Asked Dutchy.

"Pretty much. Same details as the one RO tells me you guys went on; only no nut-job turkey hunters this time," commented Nikki, smiling. Dutchy half-smiled back.

"Right. Add Midshipman White to that complement as well; I want to check up on his training as well, see how he's going. When are you dropping me off?" Asked Dutchy. Nikki glanced at her watch.

"In about half an hour. Do you need anything in particular?" Asked Nikki, jotting down Ryan's name. Dutchy shook his head.

"You know I'm sorry, right?" He asked. Nikki nodded.

"I know Dutchy. I've known for a while. Kate could never see it. She stuck to you like glue after Mike left; I was never really sure if it was love she was feeling or just infatuation. She's going to hurt for a long time, and I don't know if she'll be the same, but we'll get through this, just like we got through Mike," replied Nikki. Dutchy bobbed his head, and stood up.

"Can you arrange for Dodger, Slinger and Noble to meet me on the boat deck? He's going to have to earn himself his naval nickname," said Dutchy.

"I'll organise it, don't worry. Go get ready," said Nikki. Dutchy left quietly, and Nikki packed up her folder. She knew he was hurting, and desperate to fix the situation between himself and Kate, but she felt it best if they were separated for a little while, giving each other space. She headed for ComCen, looking for Dodger and Slinger. She knocked twice.

"Enter," called Dodger. Nikki climbed through the door.

"You've been selected by the CO for an exped. You're leaving in half an hour with Slinger, White, Kosov-Meyer, Noble and Dutchy," said Nikki. Dodger groaned.

"Not Noble. That guys an ass! Seriously, he comes in to our room, dumps all my things off my rack, and claims it for himself," complained Dodger.

"Well, you're going to have to deal with him overnight, and learn to deal with him sailor. You've been given an opportunity on a new ship; don't make us regret it," said Nikki sternly.

"Aye ma'am. I'll prepare my things," said Dodger resignedly. Nikki left him, still searching for the other four members of the exped group. She found Kosov-Meyer and Slinger in the galley, Slinger perched on a bench with a hot brew, Kosov-Meyer tucked behind a cupboard.

"Slinger what are you doing on that bench?" Asked Nikki. Slinger nearly upset her drink upon herself as she jumped down from the bench.

"What would Giordano think of you being up on his benches?" Asked Nikki. The fiery Italian-blooded twenty-four year old was notorious for fighting first and asking questions later, and it usually got him into a little bit of trouble. He was a good naval officer, and his cooking was incredible.

"Sorry X. I didn't really think," said Slinger remorsefully.

"Don't leave yet Woods. Kosov-Meyer, what are you doing behind that cupboard?" Asked Nikki. Emily pulled herself from behind the cupboard, coughing a little as she disturbed the dust.

"Daniel Giordano was complaining that one of his overhead lights wasn't working, and he'd replaced the globe several times. I was just tracing back the wiring and checking it over ma'am," said Emily, standing up and brushing herself down.

"That's something the electronics technician should be looking over Kosov-Meyer; not you," reprimanded Nikki.

"With all due respect ma'am, I am the electronics technician, and I am trying to do the job I was assigned," said Emily.

"I thought you were assigned to a different station," replied Nikki. Kosov-Meyer shook her head.

"No ma'am; I trained to be an electronics technician whilst training as a naval officer. The Charge was quite impressed with my credentials ma'am," said Emily stiffly. The Charge on the HMAS Victory was none other than Jamie Patterson; Andy Thorpe's son. After meeting his father again, he transferred off the Huon and back in naval college, majoring in engineering. He wanted to make his father proud, and to spend more time with him, and that was the quickest way he could see that happening. Patterson excelled in his engineering class, and Maxine snapped him up for HMAS Victory as soon as his name came up on the postings.

"Apologies then sailor. Both of you have been selected for an overnight exped. You have twenty minutes to get your gear together, and then you're heading out with Dutchy, Dodger, White and Noble." Both female officers groaned.

"Not Noble," said Slinger.

"Guy thinks he's God's gift to woman, ma'am, and I personally don't want to be left alone with him," said Emily. He made her nervous.

"Dutchy will be there, and I will inform him of the situation. You do have to attend this exped anyway," said Nikki. Both girls sighed.

"Yes Ma'am."

2Dads was distracted on the boarding. He was there, but he appeared distant.

"2Dads, I pray to God that you are paying attention!" Yelled Buffer from the wheelhouse.

"Yes Buff," he called back. He was supervising the four illegal fisherman whilst Buffer and the X were checking their logs, and Spider and Bird were checking below decks. His mind was focussed on Rebecca, and their baby….

"Pregnant?" He asked, shocked. She nodded.

"I'm so sorry," she said, apologising profusely.

"Why are you sorry? When we decided to get back together, it wasn't a whim. I want to be with you, no matter what. If you're having a baby, that doesn't change anything. I will still love you!" He exclaimed.

"Are you sure about this?" She asked. She wanted to give him the option of out, just in case he was humouring her.

"I'm positive. How far along are you?" He asked, sitting on the floor in front of her. She counted off the weeks on her fingers.

"I'd guess about twelve weeks, give or take a week or two," replied Rebecca. 2Dads smiled.

"What?" She asked, confused.

"I was just thinking about how much I love you, and how lucky I am," said Leo, taking her hand. She caught a whiff of his cologne as he moved closer to her, and her face paled visibly.

"Are you o…?" His question was answered as she leant over the toilet bowl, holding it for support. 2Dads held her hair back for her, and passed her a damp washcloth when she'd finished.

"Are you okay?" He asked, concerned. She sat back down, and nodded her head.

"I'll be fine; just got a bit of a weak stomach," she replied tiredly.

"How much sleep have you had?" He asked.

"Not a lot. I missed you, and I wasn't feeling well," she responded, leaning against him.

"Let's get you in bed then, you can have a few hours rest," decided Leo.

"But what about NAVCOM?" She asked.

"I will deal with them. I'll talk to Lieutenant Commander McGregor and we'll get you a shore posting, or…" Bec held a finger to his lips.

"I want to leave the Navy. I want to leave," she said firmly.

"Are you sure?" He asked. She nodded, resting her head against his chest as he lifted her up easily.

"I'm sure 2Dads. I'm sure." Leo tucked her under the covers, and she fell asleep easily, breathing peacefully. He stroked back her hair, watching her as she slept. She was so beautiful, so perfect, and now she was carrying his child. He got up off the bed gently, and headed downstairs. One phone call to Maxine, and the ball was set rolling on the paperwork for her discharge. There was only one thing left that Leo wanted to do now.

Marry her.

"2Dads, look out!" Cried Spider as he clamoured topside. Whilst he had been distracted with his own thoughts, one of the foreign fisherman had stood up, and sliced him across the leg with a machete. 2Dads dropped his gun as the wave of pain radiated from the new wound. He fell back, slipping off the deck and into the water, his Kevlar vest and helmet weighing him down. It was one of the few days 2Dads had not put on a life-vest, and was regretting it as he struggled to stay afloat, blood flowing easily from his wound.

"Buffer! X! 2Dads is injured, and he's fallen overboard!" Yelled Spider. Buffer and X left the wheelhouse, and Buffer disarmed the man with the knife.

"Halfy, get the RHIB in here!" Called Bird as the ship and 2Dads floated further apart. Halfy revved the RHIB closer, and Bird and Spider climbed aboard.

"Take us in slow, we don't want to run over 2Dads," instructed Bird. Halfy nodded his acknowledgement. Spider watched as his best mate sank under the gentle waves, and didn't come back up.

"He's gone under!" Yelled Spider.

"Get him Spider, he's going to drown!" Exclaimed Bird. Spider pulled off his Kevlar vest and dove in after Leo. 2Dads had stopped fighting and was just floating. Spider took a quick breath before swimming underneath. He pulled Leo to the surface, and dragged him back to Bird in the RHIB.

"He's not breathing and he's bleeding!" called Spider. Halfy helped Bird pull Leo up first, and then helped Spider aboard.

"Tell me what to do Bird," pleaded Spider.

"Start CPR; you remember the course you did two weeks ago? I'll strap the wound on his leg, try and stop the bleeding. Halfy, get us back to Hammersley!" Yelled Bird. They sped away, back towards Hammerlsey, leaving Buffer and the X to stand on the FFV, wondering what had just happened. Spider continued CPR on 2Dads, determined it would work. Bird watched on, talking under her breath as she compressed the wound.

"Don't leave us 2Dads. Not like this. Breathe dammit! Come on Leo, you can do it. If not for us, then for Bec. Don't leave her like this!"

He didn't move…