Chapter Three-

"It explains so much. You look so much like him. The first day you went to come aboard Hammersley, I thought you were Josh. I was so excited, and then reality reminded me that Josh was murdered over three years ago. It hurt so much," whispered Nikki. They were sitting on the sand now, watching the waves as they crashed to the shore.

"You were so cold towards me in the first few weeks. Either that, or you were crying when you came into ComCen. I had no idea what I'd done wrong, and Charlie couldn't tell me anything. I was thinking about requesting a transfer, anything to get away. I had no idea Nikki, I'm so sorry," said Jono. So many times he'd thought about a transfer, a way to get out of the awkwardness between him and his XO. Now he finally understood why she was acting the way she had been.

"I'm sorry Jono, I really am. I had no idea how to cope with it. At least Kate was warned about you beforehand. She didn't tell me about you until you were on board," replied Nikki.

"How long were you and Josh engaged?" Asked Jono. The way she winced told him that he'd asked a rather touchy question.

"I didn't mean to overstep…" He started. Nikki shook her head.

"It's okay. We had only gotten engaged the night before Josh's accident. I think that's what made it so much harder; we were ready to make the commitment. Josh was leaving the Navy so he could be with me, he'd proposed. We were so excited, and then the dream snatched away from us." Nikki dissolved into a fresh flood of tears again, and Jono wrapped an arm around her.

Little did he know how much that one hug could change everything…

Kate awoke to Dylan still next to her.

"What are you still doing here?" She asked softly.

"I wanted to make sure you were okay," he replied. She shook her head.

"I'm not okay Dylan. I've never been okay," said Kate, a tear trickling down her cheek.

"I know. I'm so sorry Katie. I had no idea," said Dutchy remorsefully.

"I don't know how I'm supposed to do this. How I'm supposed to get better, how I'm supposed to get past all of this," said Kate, fiddling with her sheets.

"I don't know either, but we can work it out. I'll be here with you Kate, every step of the way. No matter what it takes." He was making the commitment to her again, and she realised it almost straight away.

"Dylan, please, don't promise things like that. I don't want you to get hurt again," said Kate quietly. He was hurt, and his only response was to stand up and leave.

She'd hurt him.

Kate rolled over, and ignored the footsteps that signalled the arrival of someone else.

"Kate," said a feminine voice. Kate rolled over to see Maxine White facing her. She was dressed in civvies, her hair falling gently over her shoulders.

"Why are you here Max?" Asked Kate flatly.

"To find out how you are, and to give you an update on what's going to happen with the Victory and Hammersley," said Maxine, taking a seat.

"Are you sure you're not here to talk about Mike?" Asked Kate sullenly. Max shook her head.

"I don't want to talk about Mike right now. Ryan's dealing with him," replied Max. Kate raised an eyebrow.

"Ryan's looking after him?" She couldn't help asking. Maxine smiled at her.

"Amazingly, yes. Two years ago, Ryan would have run away from the task. He's maturing Kate, and he's had a good role model in you," said Max.

"I don't know about that, but thanks. So, what's the deal with Hammersley and Victory?" Asked Kate, deftly changing the subject.

"Well, Victory is still grounded at the moment, but will be returning to patrols in a month. After you've completed your round of counselling sessions," added Maxine, seeing the look on Kate's face.

"What about Hammersley?"

"She's being sailed in a week. Get Mike out on the water again and out of our hair for a while." Kate laughed at that; Mike was always happier being at sea.

"What's happening with the Victory crew? They'll get bored being on shore for so long," lamented Kate.

"I've reassigned Patterson from Victory to HMAS Lawson at the moment; their Charge is going on compassionate leave, and they need someone to fill in for two weeks. Otherwise, most able crew members will be sent on some training to keep them sharp. Commander Marshall will be taking them," said Maxine, a lilt in her voice. Kate laughed at the idea of her crew being picked on Marshall; they'd be a stronger crew for it.

"I can't see Ryan being too excited about that," commented Kate drily.

"Actually, I think Giordano complained the most about it," said Maxine, leaning back in her chair. Kate nodded.

"He's not really a fan of group training," replied Kate.

"I know. They'll survive shore leave Kate, don't worry." Kate was quiet, and Maxine waited patiently.

"I'm sorry Max," said Kate softly.

"For what Kate?" Asked Maxine, confused.

"For messing everything up. For not being able to take care of things, for not being able to be an example for my crew…" Max laid a hand on Kate's.

"Kate. It's okay. Don't worry about it."

Jamie Patterson stood on the dock, waiting for the HMAS Lawson to come in. NAVCOM had reassigned him to the Lawson for a few weeks whilst their Chief Engineer went on compassionate leave. He watched as the patrol boat docked carefully, and the gangplank deployed. He picked up his bag as a two-year-old shot past him, missing the gangway, and slipped over the edge, between the patrol boat and the dock.

"No! Kaia!" Screamed a woman. Jamie dropped his bag, sprinting for the spot where the toddler was last seen. He grabbed the nearby flotation device, dropped it in the water, and then followed the boy's path. Jamie reached him in time, pulling him to the surface. He clung to Jamie, frightened, his dark eyes wide, hands shaking.

"We're going to swim to the ladder over there, okay?" Said Jamie gently. The little boy nodded, clutching onto Jamie's uniform.

"Lukaia!" Called a frightened female voice. Jamie looked at the little boy.

"Is your name Lukaia?" He asked. The boy nodded, still not speaking. Jamie made it to the ladder, climbing carefully. As he stood on the dock, Commander Little ran towards them. She stopped as she realised who her son's saviour was, and held a hand over her mouth.

It was painfully obvious.

Jamie looked up at the officer approaching him.

"Belle?" He asked. She nodded.

"It's Commander Little now," said Belle.

"Is he yours?" Asked Jamie. Kaia answered his question by leaning forward, arms outstretched. Belle took him off Jamie, and held him close.

"He's a little outgoing. Looked to be pretty energetic too," said Jamie, peeling off his shirt and ringing it out on the dock.

"Just like his father. He's stubborn too when he wants to be," replied Belle.

"Where is his father?" Asked Jamie, glancing around. Belle gulped, and looked at Jamie.

It was now or never.

"Jay. You remember that night over two years ago? After the drinks at that bar?" Asked Isabelle, shifting Kaia to her hip.

"Of course I do Belle. Why?" Asked Jamie. Belle sighed; sometimes men could be thick.

"Jamie, he's yours."

Robert looked around his tidy apartment, and sighed. He was struggling to deal with the emotions of having a crush on someone. He wanted to tell her, but didn't want to deal with the ramifications if she didn't like him back.

He wasn't ready to have his heart broken.

A knock sounded on his door, and he went and peered through the peephole.

"Ellen? What are you doing here?" Asked Robert. He hadn't seen his sister for almost seven years, when he started on HMAS Hammersley.

"I found out you were on shore leave, and I thought I'd come visit. Do you mind if I come in?" She asked. Robert shook his head, and opened the door wider.

"Do you want a drink or something?" He asked.

Why was it so easy to talk to her, yet so hard to talk to another girl?

"Sure. A tea sounds good Robbie," said Ellen, taking a seat on his lounge.

"It's Robert, Ellen. You know that," said Robert. She sighed.

"I remember Robert. I'm sorry," she called. He made her a tea and poured himself a coffee, bringing both mugs into the loungeroom.

"Why are you here?" Asked Robert abruptly.

"I thought I'd say hello. I haven't seen you in seven years Robert; I thought you'd at least be happy to see me," replied Ellen, sipping her tea. He refused to look at her; he'd made plans for the day, and her being here put his schedule out, and he didn't appreciate it.

"Hi Ellen," he said quietly.

"There. Was it so hard to say hello to your older sister?" She asked.

It was harder than she'd ever know.

He shook his head, wanting to keep the peace between them. She settled on the couch, and Robert realised his efforts to schedule his day were ruined.

"So Robert, how's work been?"

"Gabby, where's that handbag you borrowed the other week?" Called Gabriella's roommate Christina.

"I don't know Chris, but if you ever wake me up like this on a holiday again, I swear I am going to kill you," replied Gabriella sleepily.

"What if it was me?" Came a male voice. Gabriella shot up in bed, hair tousled.

"Logan? What are you doing here?" Asked Gabby.

"Well, a couple of us junior crew members are heading out for a while. Flash, Giordano, Jess, Lex, Sweeney and Halfy are coming, and we thought we'd head out for a day at the beach. The weather is good about half an hour away, and the waves are amazing," said Logan.

"We work on a naval patrol boat, and you want to go to the beach?" asked Gabby incredulously.

"Sure. Come on, it'll be fun," came Jess's voice from the hallway.

"You brought everyone didn't you," said Gabby. Logan grinned from her doorway.

"This way you couldn't say no. Now get up!"

Emily snuggled into Spider's chest.

"I've missed you Spide," she said softly.

"I know. I've missed you too. It was so hard to stay in hospital and not have you near me. It's hard enough being on two different patrol boats. At least on Hammersley, I can email you. In hospital, I'm cut-off," said Spider. He kissed Emily's head.

"So you're sure you've sorted things out with Leo?" She asked. He nodded.

"It's been sorted. It's okay. No more fighting. We've got a week before Hammersley is being sailed again; what do you want to do?" She smiled at him.

"I don't care, as long as it's with you."