After a long pause (which I'm very sorry for), here is the long awaited and long overdue finish for this story. Hope you enjoy these last three chapters of this great story. Here is the first one. Enjoy!

Chapter 30

Back on the Hammersley:

After not finding any more clues as to where the smugglers may have gone off to, the shore party under Dutchy's lead, has returned to the boat. With hanging heads 2Dads, Charge, Spider, Bomber and Buddy go inside to get their gear off, while Dutchy stays behind to report to the XO. She asks him "What exactly happened out there Dutchy? And more importantly, where is the CO?" Answering in a soft voice, Dutchy explains "Team Charlie walked into an ambush. Spider was knocked out and the CO was taken hostage. We found some blood and his gun and radio, but no other signs of where the smugglers have run off to with him. I'm sorry X." He halts a moment and looks around. Seeing that they are alone, he leans forward and says even more softly "I know how much the boss means to you, X. Don't worry. We'll get him back."

Still a bit shocked about hearing what befell her beloved Mike, Kate nods to Dutchy and goes back inside. Walking to the ComCen she knocks on the door. A moment later RO opens it for her and she steps in. "I need to talk to NavCom immediately. We have a situation that needs to be adressed." Instantly RO makes the call. He asks to be connected with Commander White. Once she is on the line, he just announces "The XO wants to talk you, Ma'am." Slightly nervous, Kate takes the receiver from RO and introduces herself, as is protocoll. Maxine on the other end of the line, hears slight fear in Kate's voice and asks directly "What happened Kate? I can hear that you are afraid and worried about something or shall I say, about someone?"

Opening up to Maxine, Kate answers her "Indeed I'm worried about someone. That someone happens to be our CO. He lead a shoreparty and hasn't returned from it. According to our Bosun Dutchy, hemust have walked into an ambush and was taken hostage from the smugglers we were ordered to find and apprehend." Maxine listens to Kate's words and is looking at her laptop screen at the same time. There she sees that the Hammersley is near a small island high up the northern coast of Queensland, near the tip of the Cape York peninsula. Seeing no other asset near them, she replies "Kate, I want you to search the islands along the coastline, mostly the uninhabited ones. Because those are known hideholes for smugglers of all kind. Maybe you find Mike on one of them. Just keep me posted and Kate, good winds."

"Thanks, Ma'am." With those words, Kate hangs up and hands the receiver back to RO. She then orders him to listen to all radio channels, just in case a mayday comes in. RO nods and just starts his job, not wanting to tell the X that he always listens to all radio channels, knowing that she must be very worried about the boss, like they all are. Back up on the bridge Kate starts to look over the map with Dutchy and Charge, while Spider is at the helm and Bomber at the EOD, watching out for any suspicious vessels. After having mapped out a search area, the X gives the order to launch both RHIBs, widening their search radius. Many hours and lots of checked out islands later, Charge has bad news. "We are running low on fuel, X and this pretty lady here isn't running with water. We need to find a place to refuel."

Together they look at the map again. Nav points out to a harbour not half an hour away from their current position, Cape Grenville. "We can refuel there and our supplies can be restocked too." The X nods and gives the order to go there at top of the green. Charge takes the helm over from Spider and sets the course for Cape Grenville, while the X just walks up and down nervously, deeply worried for Mike. Nav who knows about the deep bond between the two commanding officers, lays a hand on Kate's shoulder and says to her "Don't worry too much, X. We'll find him and everything will be alright." Nodding Kate replies "I hope you are right Nav." Laughing softly, she answers "You know the boss, Kate. He is a tough nut to crack. He won't break so easily under pressure, as most others would. It will take a lot for a man like Mike Flynn to give up. And those smugglers won't know what hit them as soon as he has the chance to fight back."

Charge and Dutchy add to that as one "She is right X. He'll show them what's what as soon as he able to. And we all know that the boss can fight like the devil, hitting hard." After a few moments, Charge says with a smile "Who knows? Maybe the boss is sitting at some beach already, catching his breath after knocking those guys out and just waiting for us to pick him up."

All on the bridge laugh heartily at hearing this, picturing the scene in their minds. Kate is glad for the small disctraction and nods thankfully to Charge. Then the laughing dies down and everyone is concentrated on their job again.

Meanwhile on the island:

After just a few minutes, Mike comes to with a deep groan emitting from his throat. Disoriented at first, he slowly starts to remember what happened and a sharp pain in his upper left arm, reminds him for sure that all of those things he just remembered, really did happen to him. Cautiously he gets into a sitting position first, trying to fight the rising nausea. As it subsides he slowly stands up, looking around the clearing and trying to find the best way back to the beach. As soon as he has found it, Mike makes his way painfully slow out of the clearing, grimacing with each step he is taking and with one hand still covering the bleeding wound.

Seemingly an eternity later, Mike hears the sound of running water. He follows that sound till he reaches a small river, it's water clear and sparkling with the sunlight that streams in through the foilage. Near out of strength and breathless, he allows himself to fall down to his knees on the river's edge, groaning in the process. Then he uses his free hand, forms it like a bowl and holds it into the river. Filled with the clear liquid, he brings it up to his mouth and takes a big mouthful, enjoying the cool and refreshing taste of it. Mike repeats this procedure a few more times, till he has quenched his thirst.

Feeling slightly better, Mike manages to light a small campfire, giving him some much needed warmth. He knows from past experiences that he is in a state of shock, caused by the combination of trauma and blood loss. Fearing a possible blood poisening from the bullet, he starts treating himself, using his survival skills, which he learned during his time in the distinguished service of the RAN.

First Mike takes off the heavy tec-vest, which isn't an easy feat as his injured arm hurts like hell, but he finally manages it, sighing in relief. He decides to leave the Kevlar vest on, as it provides some warmth and it makes him feel less exposed and more secure. With a last look around his makeshift campside, Mike gets his jack-knife out of one of the many pockets of his tec-vest. With it in hand he cuts away the sleeve of his shirt to reveal the wound beneath the fabric, which is totally soaked through with his blood. Trying not to think about how much blood he lost already, Mike continues his work. Determined he holds the knife over the fire to sterilize it. Moments later he is satisfied with the result and holds the now hot knife shortly into the cold stream beside him, cooling the blade down some, before he finally uses it to do the deed.

Biting his teeth and trying to hold his breath as long as possible, Mike starts to cut the bullet out of his flesh, feeling excruciating pain throughout the whole ordeal. After seemingly endless minutes, he is finally successful and has the bullet out of the wound. It clatters to the rocky ground underneath him, spluttering some blood where it lands.

Mike picks it up, cleans it in the stream and puts it into one of his pant pockets, keeping it as a souvenir. After that is done, he holds the knife once more above the fire, but this time until its gleaming red. Taking out the baton from its holding place in the tec-vest, he uses it to bite on it, keeping him from crying out too loud and from biting his tongue, while he cauterizes the wound with the hot knife. The smell of burning flesh hits his nostrils and makes him vomit and the pain gets so intense that Mike finally loses consiousness altogether. He doesn't even register how his body hits the rocky ground with a thump and how the now cold knife falls out of his slack fingers.

When he comes to again, God knows how much later, the pain in his arm has subsided to a dull throb. Seeing that as a positive sign, Mike uses some of the cut away sleeve to tie around his arm as a makeshift bandage. Afterwards he grabs his tec-vest and puts it back on, getting in with his injured arm first. Mike decides to leave the zipper open, making it easier for him to get it off again if he has to. Before he finally leaves the campside, Mike crawls over to the cold stream, not bothering to get up, to drink as much as he can from the cool and refreshing liquid. Feeling more lively now he gets up slowly, avoiding another bout of vertigo and then extinguishes the fire with the sole of his boots, putting it out completely.

Satisfied that not a glimmer is seen anymore and therefore no danger of a forest fire, Mike starts his long and painful treck back through the thick island forest. Not really knowing where to go to reach the beach, he tries to navigate by the position of the sun, giving him a general direction. During his long walk he passes a few palm trees, which are full with ripe coconuts. At that moment his stomach makes itself known with a deep rumbling, reminding him that he needs to eat something. As luck would have it, some of the coconuts have fallen to the forest floor already. Picking them up, Mike manages to crack them open one after another. He then drinks the milk first, before he eats as much of the coconuts as he is able to. Now feeling a bit better with a slightly filled stomach, Mike continues his way through the forest.

Hours later, as the sun is about to set and the light is getting dimmer, Mike reaches the sandy shore of the island. He can't believe his luck. Hearing the waves crashing on the sand, makes him feel better instantly and he takes in deep gulfs of the salty sea air. But this good feelings don't last very long. Now that the adrenalin rush is finally over, he feels his strength fading fast. Hastily Mike looks around the beach, searching for wood to make a beacon. Luckily he finds enough drift wood that was washed ashore long ago. Putting it all together, he lights the beacon and watches on fascinated how the fire catches the wood, making it crack here and there. The smoke rises high into the evening air and Mike hopes that a passing boat, even if it is only a pleasure craft, sees it and comes over to his aid. Not able to keep standing any longer, he collapses in a heap on the sand, too exhausted to move anymore. His sight is growing dim and seconds later darkness engulfes him as he passes out for good this time.

About an hour later a pleasure craft with some tourists aboard, the "Golden Reef", nears the island. Stewie the skipper looks over and sees the beacon. Nudging his mate Brian, he asks "Yo mate, see the beacon over there? Let's get over there and investigate." Brian nods and using a pair of binoculars with night vision, screams out "OMG, there is someone lying on the beach! Either dead or injured." Taking the binos from his mate, Stewie takes a look too and confirms what Brian just said. "Yeah, someone lies on that beach and is in need of help. So let's get over there. As soon as we are near enough, we let go of the anchor and take the tender to get to shore. Thankfully our guests are all sleeping and won't see any of this."

Minutes later Stewie and Brian land their tender on the shore and pull it up high so that the tide can't pull it back into the ocean. Using flashlights they near the beacon which is getting smaller by now. Reaching the person which is lying unmoving in the sand, Stewie kneels down and feels for a pulse. Finding a thready, but steady one, he looks up to his mate. "We have to get him back to our boat, then we make the call." Putting his flashlight into his pant pocket, Brian assists Stewie in getting the man up and back over to their awaiting tender. Together they push it back into the water and make their way back to their boat. Once there, they carry the man inside and lay him gently down on the skipper's bunk, which is the most comfy aboard.

Now in the light of the cabin, Stewie and Brian can make out the uniform the man is wearing. It's the uniform of the RAN, the Royal Australian Navy. Reading the name tag which shows beneath the off-centered Kevlar vest that says in bold yellow letters "FLYNN", Stewie grabs the radio and tries to make a mayday call. But after they finally see the state that this Flynn guy is in, they are somehow stumbling over the right words, unable to form a coherent thought anymore, shocked by seeing all the dried blood on the uniform, or what is left of it and the stark paleness of the man's skin.

On bord the Hammersley, RO picks up the mayday call and immediately informs the X about it. She comes up to the bridge and wants to get details. But RO has to tell her that the man who called didn't make that much sense. All he could make out, were the name of the boat and that they found an injured person on a remote island. Wanting to speak to the Mayday caller herself, Kate takes the radio from RO and says "This is Lt. McGregor of the Australian warship Hammersley. Can you tell me the name of the person you found, or at least how the person looks like?"

Back on the "Golden Reef" Stewie exchanges a look with Brian, shrugs his shoulders and answers "Sorry Lady, can't help you there. But we stay anchored around fifty miles away from shore", he pauses and after some hard thinking, adds "I believe we are near Paradise Island."

Kate shakes her head in disbelief as she hears that the man on the other end of the line is obviously inabriated, not fully drunk, but already slurring his words. Breathing in deeply to stay calm, she answers "Alright. Stay where you are and we will meet you there to pick up the injured person. Hammersley out." With those words, Kate turns to Nav. "Nav, how long till we reach Paradise Island?" Typing in the coordinates, Nav answers quickly "Only about an hour, maybe a bit more, depending on the weather."

Thanking Nav, Kate sits down in the CO chair and taps her fingers on the armrest, nervous about what or who they will find, when they reach this pleasure craft. Looking around the bridge she can make out the same emotions on the faces of everyone else up there. Slight hope, but also some uncertainty over what is to come. Nav shows deep worry too, just like herself, Kate assumes.

As predicted by Nav they reach the "Golden Reef" just an hour later. They hail them and send a RHIB over with Dutchy, Buddy, 2Dads and Bird. Kate has to stay on bord, much to her dismay. But as acting CO she has no other choice. Charge, RO and Nav keep her company while they follow the happenings on the EOD. The RHIB stops alongside the pleasure craft and Dutchy, Buddy and 2Dads jump aboard, followed by Bird. 2Dads carries the folded stretcher and waits outside on deck with Bird, who seems a bit jumpy. 2Dads sees this and assures her with a smile "No worries Bird. This will go smoothly. This ain't a real boarding, but a rescue mission. So relax a little, okay?" Feeling slightly better, Bird nods.

Meanwhile Dutchy and Buddy made their way to the cabin of the skipper and knock on the door. It opens and Stewie and Brian, well and truly drunk by now, let them in, tripping over their own feet and falling to the floor, laughing like maniacs. Dutchy shakes his head and after exchanging a look with Buddy, who carries his medic backpack, goes fully into the dimly lit room. Using his flashlight to see better, Dutchy turns the shine right onto the bunk and the person who is lying on it. Going nearer he gasps in shock as he recognizes the man. It's their missing boss, Commander Flynn! Hearing the gasp from Dutchy, Buddy is curious to see what has shocked the usually collected Bosun. Poking his head around the solid form of Dutchy, Buddy now too gasps, seeing the sorry state that his boss is in.

Getting over their shocks fast, both men act fast. While Dutchy makes the radio call to the Hammersley, Buddy starts to take a closer look at Mike and what his injuries are. Knowing he can't do much for Mike there, he too makes a call out to 2Dads to get in with the stretcher. Moments later 2Dads arrives, Bird hot on his heels, eager to help. Both young seemen are stopped in their tracks when they recognize the hurt person as their beloved boss. Seeing their shocked expressions, Buddy tells them what to do, knowing full well, that keeping them occupied will be the best to help them out of their shock. Unfolding the stretcher, 2Dads lends Buddy a hand in lifting Mike gently off of the bunk and lower him down on the orange stretcher. Bird gets out a blanket that she has packed just in case and covers her Boss with it, giving him some warmth.

Then Buddy and 2Dads lift the stretcher and carry it back out to the awaiting RHIB. With full speed they make their way back to the Hammersley, where they are eagerly awaited by a very anxious Kate. As soon as the RHIB reaches the stern, everyone climbs out and onto the stairs that lead to the aft deck. Now this time Dutchy and 2Dads are the ones carrying the stretcher between them. Buddy goes up ahead and informs the X about the situation, before he continues on his way down to the wardroom to prepare it together with Bird for their patient.

Seeing the man she loves so deeply in such a state, leaves Kate shocked to the core. Tears start streaming down her cheeks uncontrollaby. She gives Dutchy and 2Dads a sign to halt, which they do instantly. Then she leans down and strokes Mike's cheek soflty, whispering to him "Don't you die. Please Mike. I love you." Kissing him on his forehead which is glistening with sweat, Kate strokes his stubbled cheek a final time and allows her two crewmembers to carry on on their way. Determined she follows them to the wardroom. Nodding in thanks to Dutchy and 2Dads she sends them back up to the bridge, but stays herself, as she needs to know if Mike will survive or not.

Buddy does all he can to help Mike, trying to stabilize him. After getting him out of his uniform with the help from Bird, he checks his blood pressure first. Seeing how dangerously low it is, he let the X know this. "Ma'am, his BP is too low, only 60 to 40. He needs blood. Do you know if anyone on bord has his blood type?" While asking this, Buddy readies an IV with a bag of Hartman solution and hooks the boss up to it, setting the drip to its fastest pace, hoping to at least elevate some of the blood loss that Mike has suffered from. Still not having an answer from the X, Buddy takes the boss's dog tags and reads the inscripted blood type aloud "A positive." Not waiting for a reply from the X, Buddy goes over to the ships PA system and makes the call "To all personal! Is anyone aboard with the bloodtype A positive? If so, please report to the wardroom immediately! It's a matter of life and death! The life and death of our beloved CO Mike Flynn!"

Hearing those words from Buddy, brings back tears to Kate's eyes. She can't take them off of Mike, who lies completely still on the bed not too far from her. Only the slow rise and fall of his exposed chest assures her that he is still alive. That and the steady beep of the ECG, he is hooked up to. Just seconds after Buddy has ended his call, the door to the wardroom opens and the last person that Kate would have expected, pokes his head in. 2Dads comes in fully and declares "I have A positive. I'd like to donate some for the boss, especially if this will help him to survive." Buddy is relieved about this and thanks 2Dads. "You are assuming right, mate. It will help him. Gives him a much better chance of beating this."

Seeing the still confused and uncertain look on the X's face, he reassures her "You don't have to worry, Ma'am. Everything will be alright again. Believe me, the boss is strong, even if it doesn't look it this way now. Just don't stop believing in him, okay?" Not trusting her voice, Kate just nods. In the meantime Bird has started to prepare 2Dads for the transfusion of his blood. She turns with a questioning look to Buddy, who tells her "We go directly. It's faster, as we don't have the time to bag it. It goes directly from 2Dads's vein into the bosses. About half a liter should do the trick." Nodding in confirmation, Bird resumes her preparation of 2Dads, while Buddy does the same for Mike. Finally they have an IV-line going out of 2Dads' arm and right into Mike's. Steadily Bird pumps the blood from one person to the other, till the amount is at roughly a half liter.

Satisfied Buddy unhooks Mike first and puts a small band aid on the injection side of his arm. Then he does the same for 2Dads. With a worried look to his boss, who lies deathly pale and still on the bunk, he asks "Are you sure he is going to make it, Buddy? He looks like death warmed over." For those words he earns a slap to the back of his head. "Watch your language, leader. You are talking about your commanding officer. So be more respectful and choose your words more wisely next time! Dismissed!" Lowering his head slightly ashamed, 2Dads shuffles out of the wardroom, Bird following him and trying to cheer him up.

Watching after the two young sailors, Kate says "He is right, you know. If I wouldn't see his chest rise and fall or hear the steady beep, I too would assume that he is gone forever, even though I couldn't stand the thought of losing him."

Buddy clears his throat and replies "Maybe, but still he was disrespectful and he should be reprimanded for that." Kate shakes her head "Not by you though. You are not his divisional or commanding officer. So please keep to your duties and don't interfere in someone elses, is that clear Buddy?" Now it's Buddy who nods. With a last look to his hurt CO, he exits the wardroom and goes to his cabin. Kate stays with Mike, determined to not leave his side. She takes his cold, clammy hand in her own and squeezes it, stroking over the back of it with her thumb. Using her other hand, Kate strokes his cheek and whispers word of comfort to him, hoping against all hope that he can hear her.

Finally the Hammersley reaches Cairns port, where an ambulance is on stand-by, ready to take Mike to the hospital. Just as the gangway is in position, Dutchy and Charge carry their boss out to the awaiting ambulance on a stretcher. Once there, he is being transferred onto the gurney and rolled into the back of the ambulance. After getting a short briefing from Buddy, one of the medics thanks him and jumps in, directly followed by Kate. Then the back door is closed and the ambulance leaves with sirens blaring and blinking red and blues.

Worried the crew watches the ambulance leave. Reluctantly they resume their duties and carry on with the shut down process of the ship, before they all start they deserved shoreleave. But instead of going into the first pub, they make their way to the hospital, wishing to know how their boss is doing.

Once there, Charge asks at the admin desk after a Mike Flynn. The nurse tells him that they have to go to the fourth floor where the ICU is located and that they'll find their mate there. Thanking the nurse, Charge informs the others and together they make their way up. On the fourth floor they exit the elevator and go over to the waiting area, where they meet Kate. Dutchy speaks up first "Ma'am? How is the boss doing?" With tears still running down her pale cheeks, she tells them softly that Mike has fallen into a coma and that his doctors don't know when or if he'll ever wake up. Shocked at hearing this, Charge only asks "How?" Kate answers him, remembering the words the doctor told her, very clearly "I don't know, Charge. But his doctor told me that Mike must have suffered from high blood loss before he took care of his wound on his own. That combined with lack of food, water and sleep caused him to go into shock, his whole body just shut down. That is why he is in a coma right now."

Buddy adds "Hm, that sounds all about right, Ma'am. It's his body's way of dealing with the trauma and this whole ordeal he went through. And sleep is the best way for the human body to start healing itself. Give it a few days and I'm sure his numbers will have improved and a few more days and he'll start to wake up. Just believe in it, Ma'am. And don't forget, the boss is a fighter."

Thanking Buddy for his medical input about Mike's chances, Kate sends the crew home and promises them to keep them posted if anything should change about his condition.

to be continued