Chapter 14
With one last look at the man she loves, Kate exits the room, followed by the doctor and the nurse. Kate walks back to the nurse's station where Bird and Ryan are still chatting away animatedly with Val, the nice older head nurse. Seeing her approach, Ryan asks "How is he? Can we see him?" Kate holds up her hand "Hold your horses Ryan. He is out of danger, but still in a lot of pain. The doctor had to sedate him again. - He'll be asleep for the next days. So the doctor told me to go home and come back in about four days. Hopefully he'll be better by then."
Ryan and Bird exchange a worried look and Bird speaks up "Will he be alright ma'am?" Kate nods and says "I hope so Bird. But things are looking good for him." Having heard the whole conversation between the three of them, Val puts her thoughts in "How about you three go for a coffee or maybe something stronger? If anything changes in your boss' condition, I'll let you know. Just give me your number dearie." With those words she looks at Kate, smiling gently. Kate smiles back and hands Val her card. Val takes it and puts it into her pocket. "Now you three go and have some fun and stop looking so worried. Your boss hasn't died yet and he won't. Think positive. I think you all have a bright future ahead of you. So embrace it!"
Thanking Val for her help and those encouraging words, Kate, Bird and Ryan leave the hospital. Once outside they hire a cab and make their way to the Esplanade, a street at the waterfront with lots of shops, bars and restaurants. It is a spot loved by locals as well as tourists from all around the world. Finding a quite café with a nice ocean view the three sailors make their way over to it. Bird and Ryan have already spotted a free table, while talking quietly. A waitress leads them to a free table and hands them the menues. To their luck it is just the table that Bird and Ryan have spotted earlier.
Kate looks around nervously, feeling a bit out of place in her work whites. But most people in Cairns and especially near the docks and waterfront are used to the sight of men and women clad in their whites walking around. After they have ordered their coffees and a light snack, they just enjoy the ocean view and are engrossed in their thoughts. When the waitress comes with their order, they directly pay and then they eat and drink in silence. Having finished first, Kate takes out her mobile and sends a text to the crew, letting them know about their CO's condition.
Minutes later Ryan and Bird are finished too and together they leave the café. Kate says her goodbyes to them and grabbing a taxi, makes her way home. Bird and Ryan take a walk along the waterfront, before they too take a cab and go back to the junior sailors accomodations. Once there Bird goes to her own flat, while Ryan phones his mum on his way to his flat in another part of the complex. He tells her what is going on with Mike and that they can visit him again in four days. Maxine is glad to hear that he is at least out of immediate danger and on the mend.