Chapter Two-

Mike sat with his head in his hands.

They were so close to losing him.

Only pure luck and fate were keeping him alive right now.

He glanced at the phone sitting on his leg. He'd rung Kelly at least five times now, and each time, it had gone to voicemail. He glanced at Kate, who had fallen asleep with her head on Dutchy's lap. Nikki was leaning against Dutchy's arm, her own eyes heavy.

They were waiting for news.

Any news about Pete.

Dutchy yawned and stretched, disturbing both Nik and Kate.

"I need to head home and sleep. Does anyone want a lift with me?" He asked.

"I'll go with you. Kate, are you coming?" Asked Nikki sleepily.

"I'll stay with Mike until will have some news about Pete. I need to know he's okay," she replied. Mike nodded.

"I'll drop you home afterwards if you'd like." Kate bobbed her head.

"It's settled. I'll see you at NAVCOM tomorrow," said Nikki quietly.

"You'll keep us posted?" Asked Dylan. Kate and Mike nodded, and Dylan and Nikki headed down the corridor.

"He'll be okay, won't he?" Asked Nikki.

"Pete's tough, and he's got fight in him. He'll fight to the death if necessary, and he'll pull through. He always has," he reminded her.

"I know. It just seems kind of crazy that we might lose Pete. I mean, he's always been there. And now, we might lose him." They were standing outside the hospital now, a light rain falling. Nikki pulled her jacket closer, feeling the chill of the air bite her skin.

"I'm just glad to be on shore for a while. Take some time to catch up with my family, pay some bills. Maybe even watch a mo…" He held up his hand, stopping all conversation.

"Did you hear that?" He asked. Nikki shook her head.

"What?" She asked.

"I heard… a moan." He crept around the side of the hospital building.

"Dutchy, there's blood on the ground," whispered Nikki.

"I kn… Kelly!" He dropped down beside her prone body.

"Go get a nurse, a doctor, anyone who can help. GO!" Ordered Dutchy. Nikki ran off, and Dylan pulled back Kelly's hair gently, looking at all the bruising and blood.

"Lord, what happened to you?" He whispered. Nikki returned with a doctor and Mike in tow. Mike pushed Dutchy out of the way and took in Kelly's bruised and bloody appearance. She was unconscious, curled up in the foetal postion, a split lip, a broken nose, what looked like two broken fingers. She'd fought hard and valiantly against whoever it was.

"We'll get her inside and checked over," said the doctor gently. He enlisted the help of Dutchy to get Kelly onto the stretcher, and then rushed her through the double doors. Mike followed after her, and after a few hours, she was admitted for observation in the general ward. Mike stayed with her the entire time, holding her hand, and was there when she opened her eyes.

"Hey. Why are you here?" She asked quietly.

"Because we found you outside the hospital, bruised and beaten. What happened out there?" Mike asked, tucking Kelly's hair behind her ear.

"Rick happened…" She started relaying the story back to Mike.

"Kel? Kelly! What are you doing here?" Called an oddly familiar voice.

"Rick? What are you doing here?" She responded.

"Looking for you. Look, I'm telling you. I've changed!" He exclaimed desperately.

"You haven't changed at all Rick. I'm not getting back with you. I'm seeing someone else," she replied. She wrung her hands nervously, hoping the taxi would get her soon.

"I have Kelly, I swear!" Kelly shook her head.

"It doesn't matter rick. I'm telling you though, I'm seeing someone. I'm not going to leave him to be with you. We're divorced Rick, and that's not going to change. Not now, not ever." A hard slap to the face brought her back to reality, and she felt tears spring to her eyes.

"You promised you would stay with me! You promised!" He hit her harder, the bruises from their last exchange still aching. Kelly fell to the damp grass, and Rick kicked her while she was down. She felt her ribs groan as he abused her, letting out all the rage he'd bottled up since their last visit.

"Please Rick. Stop," she begged.

"No. I'm hurting you as much as you hurt me. You'll pay for this Kel, no matter how long it takes for you to repay. I'll come to collect next week. I hope you change your mind," he snarled. He heard voices from around the corner, and with one final, punishing blow, he was gone. Kelly groaned, and that's when Dutchy and Nikki found her…

"Hey, calm down. You're okay. We can file a report against Rick for what he did, and then he'll be charged," said Mike soothingly. Kelly had gripped his hand like a vice, and Mike knew she was freaking out about what had just happened.

"You can't. It'll just make him angrier, and he might hurt you. Please Mike. Let me deal with it," she pleaded. He nodded begrudgingly.

"For now. I want you tell me though if he's threatening you." Kelly nodded.

"Okay. Thank you Mike."

Jono walked outside of NAVCOM, and looked at the paper scrunched in his hand. He'd been formally reprimanded, but given his current circumstances, they'd not punished him otherwise. For now, it was just a little black mark against his record. Until he did something else stupid. Then it would come back to haunt him. He checked his phone again, hoping for a message from Nikki, from anyone.

Nothing.

He was alone.

"So what you're saying is, you're going to charge me despite the fact the evidence you have is only circumstantial?" Explained Lex. The officer in front of her nodded.

"And your shipmates will be subject to an internal investigation, to make sure that you're all following protocols correctly. The normal," said the officer.

"Oh, so you're going to find out that our Buffer seems to be incapable and got himself shot, our electronics technician is so preoccupied with his pregnant girlfriend that he got himself sliced open by a fisherman, and our Commanding Officer and Executive Officer are in some sort of relationship?" Retorted Lex. The officer nodded.

"We are already aware of those issues but yes. We will be investigating everyone involved with the Hammersley and Victory crew. We'll cover both as a precaution, and the Kingston will also be examined as well when they are next in port for shore leave. For now, we will issue you with your charges, and make a note on your records. Have you got anything else to say?" Asked the officer. Lex shook her head.

"Nothing sir."