Chapter Six-

Nikki glanced around the corner, checking for Dutchy. He wasn't there, so she crept around the corner. She knocked on Jono's door.

"Enter," he called. She pushed open the door carefully.

"Oh. It's you," he said, sounding slightly disappointed. She nodded, and sat on one of the spare racks.

"You've never been violent before," she whispered.

"I've never done anything stupid before," he countered.

"And you've done something stupid recently?" she asked.

"Yep." He was quiet.

"Jono, what did you do?" Asked Nikki.

"I went and met James and Anna," said Jono softly.

"Oh Jono, you didn't," replied Nikki.

"Amelia cried. Clare was angry. Anna was confused, and James was apologetic. They asked me to leave, and to never come back."

"Oh Jono, I'm so sorry," said Nikki.

"Did you know that Geoffrey and Hannah passed away last week?" He asked.

"Who are Hannah and Geoffrey?" She asked.

"Geoffrey and Hannah Long. They were my adoptive parents," explained Jono.

"I'm sorry Jono. I had no idea," replied Nikki.

"Dad passed away first. Heart attack. Mum always told him that his diet of greasy hamburgers and fries would kill him. Turns out it did. They think Mum just passed away from shock and loneliness. I was on SAREx when they passed away. I didn't even get to say goodbye. To either of them. And then I was rejected by James and Anna. I have no-one Nikki. No-one. I. Am. Alone." He burst into tears. Nikki's heart went out to him.

"Why didn't you tell anyone? You could have had compassionate leave, you could have had a break, taken some time to absorb all of this," exclaimed Nikki.

"Because I thought I was stronger than this," he said through the sobbing. She moved to wrap her arms around him. She wished she could take away his pain, erase it just for a moment. She heard the door being flung open behind her, and her head whipped around.

"Dutchy, you need to leave," she said sternly.

"But…" he started.

"Are you arguing with me Petty Officer?" She asked.

"You're pulling rank…? Yes ma'am. I apologise ma'am. I'm leaving now." She heard the door slam behind him, and she returned to Jono.

"It will be okay Jono. It will be."

"Buffer? Pete!"

"Oh god, look at the hole in his chest."

"Pete, you can't give up now."

"Come on Pete, you've got to keep breathing. Just one breath at a time."

"We need to get him to the RHIB. Has someone alerted Fleet Medical?"

"They've been told. They're sending a chopper to meet us halfway to take Anderson and Bird. Spider, are you sure you're okay?"

"I'm fine. It's just a bump on the head. You've got to make sure Buffer is okay!"

Pete felt nothing…

Weightless…

Is this what dying feels like?

He blacked out for a while…

"Transfer him to the wardroom! We'll stabilise him from there, Bird can walk you through what to do."

So many voices…

The pain chose now to kick in, searing through him. He groaned audibly.

"We're losing him!"

Nikki left after Jono cried himself to sleep. She slipped out of his room, and was startled by Dutchy.

"What are you doing here? I thought you were back on the bridge," said Nikki quietly.

"I had to make sure you didn't get hurt again," replied Dutchy.

"He's hurting Dutchy. He's in pain." Nikki headed to the senior sailors mess, grabbing a coffee on the way past, and Dutchy trailed after. She took a seat, sipping the hot brew.

"Why is he in pain?" Asked Dutchy.

"His parents passed away last week while we were on SAREx. And he didn't get a chance to say goodbye, didn't get a chance to do anything, to be with them. Did you know he was adopted?" Said Nikki, deftly changing the subject. Dutchy nodded.

"Kate told me. It was by accident. We couldn't tell you. We know that he's Josh's older brother, and we knew that we had to keep an eye on you. I'm sorry Nikki," apologised Dutchy. She shook her head.

"That's not an issue right now. I know as well. The issue for Jono is that he went to see Anna, James, Amelia and Clare in the hopes of reconciliation. To have a family after he'd just lost his own. They turned him away, and now he's hurting. He lashed out today because he didn't know how else to deal with everything that's going on. He thought he could handle the emotions, and he's only realised now that he can't. Dutchy, we can't punish him for what's happened today. He didn't mean to do this," said Nikki quietly.

"I know," responded Dutchy.

"Did we make it to Samjung, deliver the supplies?" She asked.

"We've done that already, and we're heading back to port to deal with Dodger, and to restock. Fridge died again, and we're getting our electrics checked again. Damn ship is lucky to still be floating; I would have had it sunk weeks ago. I'm pretty sure it's cursed, and it's slowly taking us to madness with it," said Dutchy, standing up to leave.

"You saying we're all crazy?" Replied Nikki.

"Look at us all Nik. We're all nuts. That's what makes us individual. Go make sure Jono's okay?"

"How the hell did they find out that we were here?" Demanded Mike.

"I don't know. I reckon they were tipped off," said Kelly.

"I need to find Robert," said Mike, flinging open the door of the ships office.

"Why?" Asked Kelly, trailing after him.

"Because he can work out who it was. Someone used our communications to alert the Samaruans of our arrival, and now we're trying to get three of our crewmembers to urgent medical attention. I need this sorted, and I need it sorted now." He made it to the door of ComCen, and rapped on it loudly. RO opened the door.

"What can I do for you sir? Ma'am?" He asked.

"Have you been monitoring all communications?" Asked Mike.

"Of course sir. It's a mandatory requirement." Mike nodded, and rubbed his forehead

"I know that RO. We had a communications lockdown when we were coming into Samaruan Waters. Was there anything odd, any sign of communications when we went into lockdown?" Asked Mike.

"Actually sir, now that you mention it, there was something odd. I didn't think anything of it, but now that we're outside of the exclusion zone, I've had a chance to review the logs. Someone made a phonecall. I've got the number, I just don't know who it belongs to." Robert handed Mike a slip of paper with a number scribbled on it. Mike glanced at it, and then headed straight to the bridge. Kelly followed in his wake.

"I'm looking for the owner of the mobile number 0440 566 788," said Mike to the sailors on the bridge. They all glanced at each other, and then Lexie stood up.

"It's mine sir. Is there a problem with it?" She asked.

"Seaman Alexei Hunt, you are hereby confined to quarters until further notice until a hearing is arranged. NAVCOM will be informed of your actions, and you may find yourself suspended from duty or dishonourably discharged." Mike was visibly shaking with restrained anger.

"You have no proof," hissed Lexie.

"I have your number here! What more proof do I need?" Roared Mike.

"You have no proof that I was the one that sent the message which means that every member of this crew can be implicated. You have no proof!" Said Lexie again.

"Until it can be proved otherwise, you will be confined to your quarters, and we wil all be subject to an internal investigation. 2Dads, Charge, remove Seaman Hunt from the bridge. Now!" 2Dads and Charge escorted Lexie off the bridge quietly, and Mike sank into the captain's chair.

"How does this happen?" He questioned.

"I don't know. We'll work this out though. We'll sort it out," said Kelly quietly.

"Of course we'll sort it out. Unfortunately, it means Internal Affairs will have to be involved, and we will be stuck in port while the investigation is being run." Kelly nodded.

"I never expected that Lexie would be the one," said Kelly softly.

"We won't know. Not until the investigation is finished." He glanced up as Chefo appeared on the bridge.

"Sir, the choppers here to take Anderson, Bird and Buffer back to shore. The medic is concerned that Buffer has lost a lot of blood." Toby's unspoken words echoed around everyone's minds.

Buffer may not make it.

And another episode completed! I do apologise for the lack of updates, but I hope they will be more frequent once the Christmas craziness and New Year excitement is over – I've also got a tablet with dock so I can write on my journey to work each week, so here's hoping!

Anyhow…

Stay tuned for the next episode!

Will Buffer make it?

Is Alexei really innocent, or is this just a game?

Will Spider and EK make up or break up?

Will 2Dads pull himself together and finally ask the girl he loves to marry him?

Stay tuned...

Love you all

MissShawnaAlice xx.