Chapter Five-
"I didn't even know John had any siblings," said Mike.
"You didn't know anything about my brother. We got your letter. Well, Mum and Dad did. It was ridiculous reading about my brother on paper and realising his own commanding officer had no idea who he really was. 'Dear Lucille and Markus Jaffah; By now you will be aware of your son John's passing whilst serving on the Navy vessel HMAS Hammersley. John was a well-liked sailor amongst the crew, and frequently entertained crew-members with his book quotes…' To be honest, that line made me want to cry even more. His own commanding officer had no idea of what he was like! If you were lucky, John had maybe picked up three books in his life. He quoted movies like you wouldn't believe, and he used to impersonate actors. How can you say you were his commanding officer when you didn't even know him?" Mike shook his head. The water had crept up to his knees now, slowly soaking through to his skin as it crawled higher.
"I don't know. I thought I did know him," replied Mike desperately.
"And yet when you read that letter aloud, it doesn't reflect that, does it!" Mike shook his head.
"It doesn't, and I apologise," said Mike remorsefully.
"Apologies don't bring back my brother!" Snapped the individual.
"Taylor, work with Bird to make sure that everyone is evacuated promptly. The Victory should be here in twenty minutes to help us with personnel transfers. Make sure everyone is accounted for!" Called Kelly. As the Victory's mast came into view, Kelly breathed a sigh of relief.
"Charge, have you seen the CO?" She asked. Charge shook his head.
"Not since he went into the engine room. I thought he came back here," replied Charge. Kelly sighed.
"With all due respect ma'am, he's probably on board, helping the crew with the evacuation. You know what Commander Flynn is like," said Charge, a hint of a smile on his face.
"I hope you're right Charge," replied Kelly. Taylor appeared on the bridge, a list in his hand.
"We're just about ready, the RHIBs are loaded. We're just missing some crew members," reported Taylor.
"Like whom?" Asked Kelly.
"Commander Flynn, Leading Seaman Dixon, Seaman Hunt and Able Seaman Jones. No-one's reported seeing them ma'am, and with such a limited time frame, I'm not entirely sure where to start," admitted Alex.
"RO was here five minutes ago; where can he have gone in that time?" Asked Kelly.
"Probably to get one of his bonsai plants," sniggered Charge.
"Thorpe, this is no time to be making jokes!" Exclaimed Kelly. She turned back to Alex.
"Start with ComCen. Charge, I want you back down in the engine rooms please, just to do another quick sweep before we declare the area closed." Charge's grin dropped off his face.
"But the engine room is filling with water!" He replied.
"Are you arguing with a superior officer? Go; that's an order!" Snapped Kelly. Charge gave her a sideways glance, and then disappeared off the bridge.
"Taylor, send Bird to check ComCen. We need to find Hunt and Jones," she decided.
"Very good ma'am. I'll give Bird her orders, and meet you at the Senior Sailors Mess," said Alex. She nodded, and followed him down the stairs in a daze.
She wasn't ready to lose Mike, but something in the pit of her stomach told her the worst could come true…
Kelly waited patiently in the Senior Sailors Mess, and Taylor joined her two minutes later.
"I recommend searching cabins and the galley first, and then the junior mess and wardroom. After that, I'm not entirely sure where else to look," said Alex bluntly.
"Four sailors just don't go missing," replied Kelly.
"I know, but…" Alex was cut off as a cry sounded from ComCen. The two of them dashed out to find Jess dragging Robert out, blood flowing freely from the wound on his face.
"Bird? What happened?" Asked Kelly.
"I have no idea; I just opened the ComCen door, and he was sprawled on the floor. He's been knocked unconscious," said Jess.
"God. Today of all days!" Exclaimed Kelly.
"He did have a note in his hand," said Jess. She handed the scrap of paper over to Kelly, who unfolded it with trembling hands.
For John Jaffah. Kelly glanced at Alex and Jess.
"Who's John Jaffah?" She asked. Bird and Taylor looked at her.
"I have no idea," answered Jess.
"It can wait. For now, get RO out onto the RHIB, and as soon as Victory is close, we'll transfer him across," ordered Kelly.
"Aye ma'am. Taylor, can I get your help to get RO out to the deck please? I'll get Spider to help after that, but I just need to get him out," Jess asked Alex. He nodded.
"X, I'll be back in a moment." Alex and Jess disappeared, and Kelly let her guard down for a moment, allowing the frightened tears to fall. She needed to know that Mike was okay, to know that Charge was okay, and to work out what the hell was going on. As she heard footsteps approaching, she brushed the tears aside, and glanced up at the approaching sailor.
"Seaman Hunt, where have you been? Are you aware that we're evacuating the ship?" Asked Kelly.
"Yes ma'am, and I was collecting a few items from my room. I apologise if it appeared like I was missing ma'am, but I'm not," replied Lex.
"In that case, have you seen the CO or Charge?" Asked Kelly.
"I saw Charge run past a few minutes ago, but I haven't seen the CO. My apologies ma'am," said Lex. She pushed past Kelly, and headed outside to the awaiting RHIBs.
"God Mike, where are you?"
"I can't do it anymore. I'm too tired," complained Bec breathlessly.
"You're doing great Bec, I promise. We can do this," said Charlotte, encouraging the young woman.
"I can't. Jamie, I need Leo. I need him here. I promised I would wait for him," said Bec desperately. She held onto Jamie tightly as another contraction washed over her; they were nearly relentless, and Charlie knew she was close to giving birth.
"Charls, go see the CO and give her a status report please?" Asked Jamie. Charlotte nodded, and with a final glance, sprinted out the door to the bridge. She arrived just as the first RHIB from the Hammersley pulled alongside them.
"Ma'am, I'd like to give you an update if possible," said Charlotte breathlessly.
"Go ahead," said Kate, turning her attention to Charlie.
"She's progressing ma'am, but she's fighting us the whole way. We need 2Dads here, otherwise I think she's going to cross her legs and fight to control this, and it's not good for her or the baby," said Charlie.
"Is Patterson helping at all?" Asked Pete. He'd left the room after Bec had screamed bloody murder during a difficult contraction, and hadn't returned.
"He is a little, but she want's Leo. She's at the point of begging for him nonstop, and I can't keep telling her she can't have him. I know we're pulling up alongside Hammersley for a crew transfer. I don't care why, but if we can get 2Dads over here now, this would all be so much easier," said Charlotte.
"I would make life easier, would I? Doesn't sound like me," said 2Dads grinning.
"Thank God you're here. Come on!" Urged Charlie. Pete practically pushed Leo down the stairs.
"Why? What's going on? Pete, what are you doing here? And where's Bec?" Asked 2Dads, confused. Another cry broke the tense air around them, and Charlie ducked around Leo and into the wardroom.
"Mate, Bec's here, and she's giving birth now," said Pete, giving 2Dads a moment to compose himself. Instead, he found himself being punched in the face by Leo.
"You idiot! You took her out on a boat in her condition? What the bloody hell were you thinking?" Demanded 2Dads.
"It was your fiancé that started it, and I'm sorry for wanting to spend some time with her. You don't spend enough with her, because you're on a patrol boat, and she was feeling lonely and trapped in the house, so I took her out on the boat. You're lucky Victory picked us up anyway, because someone rigged the boat engine to fail, tampered with our EPIRB, and set up the engine to explode. We could have died mate. Now, I got your fiancé the help she needed, and right now, she needs you. We can fight this out later. Right now, she's giving birth to your child, and Patterson can't help her. She wants you. Get in there!" Growled Pete. Leo ducked into the wardroom, and was greeted by Bec's sweaty face.
"Leo, I can't stop it. It's happening now," whispered Bec breathlessly. Leo knelt down in front of her.
"I don't want you to stop it. This is it. Jamie and I are both here, and we can do this, okay?" Bec nodded, wincing as another contraction started. Charlie checked Bec again, and then straightened up, allowing room for her cousin and Leo to get Bec comfortable.
"You're nearly dilated Bec, and then the fun begins."