WickedUk – You and everyone else! Always excited to see where it will end up; 95% of the time I have no idea! Stay tuned – that is, if you're not too busy with NaNoWriMo!
Takapuna1 – here's to hoping everything pans out the way you envision!
daniandan-TehWolfyBlake – let's see how it all works out for them! Glad you're on for the ride.
Only three? I'm chalking it up to the crazy weather outside, exams, and the thought of summer/winter approaching.
Maybe I can get four next time?
Chapter Three-
Thirty-six hours:
"Nikki, you've got to wake up and breathe. Come on Nik, not like this, not now. Wake up!" Dodger was working over Nikki, giving her CPR. Gabriella was sitting with RO, her head resting on his shoulder. She had a large lump on her head, a bruise forming around her nose, and blood congealing on a cut on her forehead. All four of them were sodden, the storm still raging on.
"Did you think NAVCOM accounted for this when they decided to strand us out here?" Asked Gabriella.
"Probably not. I've not known them to ever really think things through," replied RO. Gabriella shivered against him, the cold wind piercing her skin. Nikki rolled over and threw up copious amounts of water.
"We need to find shelter," said Dodger, stroking back Nikki's hair.
"We're on an island Jono. Do you really think that we're going to be able to find any shelter out here?" Asked Robert.
"Basic survival training. We have to RO. I need you to activate the EPIRB as well," he demanded.
"You can't order us around. We have the same level of authority, and I have more experience," replied RO. Dodger picked up Nikki, cradling her in his arms. She glared at Robert.
"No, he may not be in charge Robert, but I am, and I give him the authority to be in charge. Okay?" Nikki coughed hard, her lungs aching, head hurting. She was so tired, all she wanted to do was sleep, and Jono was quite comfortable.
"We need to find somewhere to shelter. Activate the EPIRB, leave it up from the beach a little, and then help Gabriella up. We need to get away from the shore line." Robert stared at Jono, in the hopes that maybe he'd change his mind. Jono started moving towards the tree-line, desperate to find somewhere for Nikki to rest.
"Are you crazy? How are they supposed to find us if we're in the bush? We should stay on the beach," replied RO.
"We can come back. They won't be looking for us in weather like this. They'll be dealing with their own problems. For now, we head for shelter, and then we'll sort out the rest of the plan. Right?" Robert looked like he was about to argue again, but Gabriella put a hand on Robert's arm.
"Please RO. I just want to find somewhere to shelter and wait for them to find us." Robert nodded, helping Gabby to her feet.
"Come on. We'll follow Jono and Nikki."
"Goddamn leak. What is it with this ship? It's supposed to be state-of-the-art, and it leaks in a storm." Giordano shook his head at himself and smiled.
"Well, it'll be the best maintained at least," replied Giordano.
"Do you think we'll find the XO and Dodger?" Asked EK, putting her tools away.
"We have to find them, NAVCOM would kill us if we lost them. You know that. We'll be okay. So have you and Spider set a date yet?" Asked Giordano. Emily blushed.
"If we were in port long enough for us to spend some time together, then we would have the date set. We're not though, so for now, we don't have one. We're happy though," replied Emily.
"It's nice to see a sailor happy for a change. Usually they're dealing with their own inadequacies. Seems like you and Spider have overcome that," replied Giordano, preparing lunch. Charlie burst into the room, face flushed.
"They've found the EPIRB signal, and Hammersley is going to join us at daybreak. It means they're in trouble. We need to be at our duty stations, and you're part of the RHIB team with Dutchy. Giordano, CO wants you on the bridge. Come on, it's not looking good out there," said Charlie, disappearing. Giordano tucked the bowl of salad he was putting together into the fridge, and joined the crew up on the bridge. Kate turned to face her crew, Dutchy behind her, his arms folded.
"Right. NAVCOM called the SAREx off the minute the EPIRB was activated. This is now a real Search And Rescue."
Belle woke up first, her phone vibrating on the bedside table. Noah stirred next to her.
"Who is it?" She mumbled. Belle glanced at the caller ID.
"It's Jamie. He said he'd call if anything happened," said Belle sleepily. She answered the phone, barely awake.
"Hello?"
"Belle, Kaia's just woken up, and he's frightened because his mother and Noah aren't here. How quick can you get here?" Asked Jamie. Belle's eyes snapped open.
"He's awake?" Noah sat up, and touched Belle's arm. She motioned towards getting dressed, and Belle nodded. Noah pulled on her clothes, and then took the phone from Belle.
"Jamie, she's getting dressed. How are you doing?" Asked Noah.
"I'd be fine if he could settle down. The nurses are threatening to sedate him if you guys don't get here now," said Jamie.
"We're on our way now. Belle's just getting dressed. We'll be about ten minutes, okay?"
"See you soon." Jamie hung up, and Noah straightened Belle up; she'd put her shirt on haphazardly, and looked an absolute mess.
"Belle, you can't greet your son looking like that. At least tidy your hair up, and then I'll drive you across, alright?" Belle nodded, and disappeared into the bathroom. Noah went out the front and started the car. Belle joined her after a few moments, her excitement and nerves palpable.
"He's okay Belle. He's awake, and that's a good start," said Noah, reversing out of the driveway.
"I know. I just wish I had been the one to be there when he woke up. I miss my little boy Noah," said Belle quietly.
"I know. We'll be there in a few moments, and then you can hold your little boy again," reminded Noah. Belle reached out a hand and touched Noah gently.
"I love you. You know that, right?" Asked Belle. Noah nodded.
"I love you too Belle."
Kelly watched out over the bridge; they were due to rendezvous with Victory at first light. Right now, they were left waiting in water. She didn't want to move through the water unless lookouts were posted; the possibility of hitting one of the four naval crew members in the water was remote, but still there. She heard footsteps, and turned to face Bird. She held out a mug of coffee.
"Thought you might like a coffee," she said quietly. Kelly half smiled at Jess, and took the steaming brew.
"Thanks Jess. Listen, I'm sorry about earlier," apologised Kelly.
"Don't worry about it. Kate did the same thing one night too. I've never been worried about it. Sometimes an XO needs to vent, and sometimes it's a Swain's job to just sit and listen," replied Bird, sipping her own coffee.
"I'm transferring," said Kelly quietly.
"What do you mean?" Asked Bird.
"I'm leaving Hammersley and going to another ship, a shore posting, a frigate. Anything. I need to get away from here. Too many bad memories," said Kelly.
"Please don't go. I like having a female XO. Means it's a little more balanced in our favour," replied Bird. Kelly laughed.
"You'll be fine without me." Kelly stopped talking as Mike walked onto the bridge. She stood up quickly, nearly upsetting her drink, and left.
"That has to be the quickest change of the watches that I have ever seen," commented Jess, shaking her head. Buffer appeared as well to relieve Jess. He grabbed her arm before she left the bridge.
"Check on the X. She was crying when I passed her." Jess nodded and sighed; tonight was going to be a long night. She stopped by the XO cabin and knocked on the door.
"X? X, are you okay?" She called. She heard a brief sob.
"I'm fine, just go away." Bird waited for another moment, and then headed to her own cabin for so much needed rest. Lexie was still awake when she got there.
"Can't sleep?" Asked Bird. Lex shook her head.
"It's the anniversary of my brother's death today. I can't stop thinking about what he would have been doing, whether he'd still be sailing, or what he would be. Normally I'd go out and sit on the harbour, think about the times we shared as kids." Bird nodded.
"Let me know if you need anything to sleep, otherwise I'm sleeping now. Before all hell breaks loose between the XO and the CO." Lex nodded, and then got up.
"I'm going for a walk, to try and clear my head," said Lexie.
"Sure, whatever. Wake me if you need me." Lex slipped out of the cabin, and padded through the corridors. She watched as Chefo slipped past her, running out to the boat deck. Charge came through next, launching himself up the stairs up to the bridge. Lex took her time before entering the bridge space. She laid a hand on Logan's shoulder.
"What's going on?" She asked.
"They found debris from the RHIB that Romano, RO, Leading Seaman Long and Lieutenant Caetano were in for the SAREx."