Elightate – of course Em is a great sister. Poor Bec; but you know how I love to theoretically torture people.
SeapatrolLuver – as far as I'm aware in my writing, Noah has never changed gender, and has always been female. Glad you liked the interaction.
Takapuna1 – Maybe a Season 7; I've got to see how this season pans out before that happens. Patterson always cared, he just doesn't want to show it.
WickedUk – Always the calm before the storm; of course I piled it in! Yes, Kate and Dutchy are back on Victory as of this episode here. Kaia, Belle, Noah and Jamie will make it through, but who knows what effects it will have on the already strained relationships. And here comes the SAREx.
Only four reviews this time… *sigh* salcking again my dears.
Episode 6.7: SAREx
You all know the disclaimer by now – I don't own the show or the rights to the show, but this is still my creation. All of the original characters are owned by Channel Nine, but any new original characters are mine.
Chapter One-
It had been forty-eight hours.
Forty-eight hours Nikki didn't ever want to talk about again.
Forty-eight hours where it could have all gone completely wrong…
Forty-eight hours earlier:
"SAREx. Search And Rescue Exercise. You've all been trained in them, now it's time to do a real one involving your own officers. Lieutenant Nikki Caetano, Leading Seaman Jonathen Long, Leading Seaman Robert Dixon, Seaman Gabriella Romano. You're being taken out as the officers in need of rescue. If you'll follow Commander Marshall down the dock, we're going to take you out elsewhere. Lieutenant-Commander Kate McGregor and Commander Mike Flynn, I'll give you your orders." Dutchy watched as Kate and Mike headed towards Maxine. He rubbed his hands together; SAREx could make or break you, and he couldn't wait.
"Dutchy, what's SAREx?" Asked Jess. The two crews were gathered on the dock, waiting for their orders before they boarded.
"Search And Rescue Exercise. It's more training for us. It's combined so we can work together," said Dutchy.
"Oh, right. So why are they taking Nav, Dodger, RO and Romano being taken away?" Asked Charlie. A lot of the crew were new to this exercise; it wasn't often that a SAREx was used.
"We need to find someone, don't we? So they've taken the four of them for us to find. Easy," replied Dutchy.
"Sounds good. How do we start this? Do we wait sometime before we go out, or what happens?" Jess had been a GX when they had done their last SAREx, and had not been permitted to join. This would be her first training exercise, and she was excited.
"We head out on a regular patrol. We don't know where NAVCOM will drop them off, but once NAVCOM give us a really large search area, we go from there." Jess nodded.
"Let's do this."
Kate glanced back at the Victory, and she smiled. She was happy to be home again, back on the water. She never felt more rested than she had in the past few weeks, and life had seemed to turn around. She felt more in control than she had before; her life was no longer spinning out of control. She smiled at Slinger as they boarded the Victory.
"Nice to be back on Victory," commented Kate.
"You've got that right boss. I've been dying to come back here! And seriously, training with Commander Marshall? It's not as fun as Commander White made it out to be," replied Slinger drily.
"No, it never is. Who managed to get him in the pool this time?" Asked Kate.
"Ryan pushed him in. Honestly, I never seen a commanding officer swear like he did. Ryan bolted out of there while we all tried to stop ourselves laughing. I've never laughed so hard in my life." Kate nodded as they parted ways; Kate to head to the CO cabin, and Slinger to head to her own quarters. Kate dumped her bag on her bed and then went straight to the bridge.
"Congratulations White; I hear you're the one who dumped Marshall in the pool. Any disciplinary action taken?" Asked Kate. Ryan shook his head.
"Nope. Mum got me off easy. She did tell me that next time I try it, Marshall will kill me," said Ryan, a grin creeping across his face.
"And that's because it's true. I need you on this patrol boat Ryan, so don't go pulling any stunts." The sat-phone rang just as Slinger made it to the bridge, and she answered it quickly before turning to Kate.
"Ma'am, NAVCOM on the line for you." Kate nodded.
"Right, Dutchy, make sure we're ready to sail, and then we'll depart in fifteen minutes." Dutchy nodded, barking the appropriate orders as Kate listened to their sailing instructions. After a few moments, she hung up.
"Right, we're heading out near the Solomon Islands, and then searching from there outwards. White, I want to use search pattern Tango One for this exercise." Kate turned to her crew, and started barking directions.
"Set sail for the Solomon Islands. Dutchy, find me that crew complement list. I need to know who's taken over Patterson's job for this patrol. Giordano, you may want to start lunch, because once SAREx starts, you may not have time to cook."
Bec was bored.
Forget that, she was beyond bored.
They weren't letting her out of the hospital anymore for fear of her losing the baby. She was only just hanging on as it was, and now that Leo, Emily and Spider were back on patrol for a SAREx, she had no company. She heard a knock on the door, and glanced up to see Jamie Patterson standing in her doorway.
"What are you doing here Patterson?" Asked Bec, a smile breaking out on her face.
"I've been here the past couple of nights with Belle, and Leo messaged me to ask me to check on you. So what brings you to the dreary old hospital?" Asked Jamie, sitting next to Bec's bed.
"An infection and I'm anaemic. Total bedrest until baby is born," supplied Bec.
"You're pregnant? Congratulations. And Leo's the father?" He asked. Bec smiled.
"Of course. I'm still convinced that this is a dream, and he won't stay, but he's stuck around so far. What brings you to the hospital?" Asked Bec, settling herself more comfortably on the bed.
"Do you remember Belle? Isabelle? She was with us when we went drinking nearly two years ago, and I ended up taking her home. You went with Leo that night, remember?" Bec nodded.
"Yeah. Whatever happened to Belle?" She asked.
"Belle ended up pregnant. She has a little boy, Lukaia. I found out nearly a week ago, and he's in here in an induced coma. I'm here to support her, and so is Noah. Belle's parents were killed in a car accident last week, and Kaia was in the car with them. They've induced the coma to try and let the swelling in his brain heal naturally. Only time will tell how he is," said Jamie.
"Noah is Belle's husband? He sounds like a nice guy," commented Bec.
"Noah is a female, and she is Belle's partner. They've been living together for nearly twelve months. I don't know what to do Bec. Kaia's never grown up with a father, and I don't know what I'm doing. Why am I even here with her?" Asked Jamie desperately. Bec laid a hand on Jamie's arm.
"Because if I know you correctly, you're doing what a good friend would do; standing by someone no matter what has happened in the past. She'll need you as well as Noah right now, and you need to be here." Jamie nodded.
"Thanks Bec. Listen, if you need anything, let me know. Unless Kaia wakes up soon, I'll be here all week." Bec laughed a little.
"Sounds like a cheap pick-up line Jamie."
Mike glanced at Kelly, and she blushed. She valiantly tried to cover it, but no use. Anderson glanced up from his desk.
"NAVCOM is sending us to the Solomon Islands, and we've been instructed to go from there." Mike nodded.
"Set sail. X, can I see you in my cabin for a moment please?" Asked Mike. Kelly nodded, and followed Mike off the bridge. He opened the door, leaving open for her to enter first. She did, and leant against the wall.
"Kell…"
"Mike…" They both looked away awkwardly. Kelly looked at Mike first, and gestured for him to continue.
"Look, Kel, last night can't happen again." She looked hurt for a moment, and then she put on her face of professionalism.
"You have a habit of falling for your executive officers sir, if you don't mind my saying," she said stiffly.
"It's not…"
"It's not me, it's you? I've heard that one before Mike, and I honestly thought you were different. Now you'll tell me you're still in love with Kate. I'm not an idiot Mike, I just thought you were different. Expect transfer papers on your desk at the end of this patrol." She stalked out of his room, slamming the door behind herself. Mike leant his head against the wall, and cursed himself for being an idiot.
How did he fall for her?
He knew she was right; he'd fallen for his executive officer every time they had been assigned to Hammersley. And he'd gone and fallen for Kelly.
He was such an ass.
Kelly walked to her own cabin, tears streaming down her face. She'd been so ridiculous, thinking that Mike would have changed for her. He hadn't; he hadn't changed for Kate, he hadn't changed for her, he wouldn't change for anyone. She knew she should have been on watch, but right now, all she cared about was her breaking heart, and the pain Mike was causing her.
She should never have fallen for him.
She heard a knock on her door.
"Can't you just let me be?" She yelled, thinking it was Mike. She flung open the door to find Jess standing in the doorway.
"What do you want?" She asked, turning back inside her room.
"The CO sent me to check on you," replied Jess quietly.
"Oh, the CO sent me did he? Well, next time he can do his own dirty work. Return to your duties sailor," said Kelly firmly. Jess was shocked, but didn't say a word. She walked back to the bridge.
"Sir, I don't know what you've done, but she's pretty pissed." Mike sighed.
"Thanks for going anyway Bird. We'll deal with this later. Right now, we need to head towards the Solomons. Anderson, have you got that weather report for me?" Asked Mike. Logan handed him the latest report, and as Mike's eyes scanned down the page, he nearly swore.
"Damn NAVCOM! Picked a hell of a day to do SAREx," said Mike, frustrated.
"What do you mean?" Asked Charge from his seat behind the marine-link console.
"There's one of the largest storm systems ever seen building near the Solomons, and it's predicted to hit in the next six hours. We need to find those crew and get this exercise over, make sure everyone's safe."