AN: Sorry for not posting the new chapter few days ago. I was at the hospital with my husband who just had a high risk hunia and skin removal operation. He made it through the operation and the surgeon said that the skin and large hunia (size of 2 basketballs) weigh in at 20kg. Now is going to take time for Peter to recover and learn how to straiten up as he walk since the large hunia cause him to bend over to use a walker to walk around for over two years and causing back and balance problems. He going to be in hospital for a while and i'll try to update in few days.
CH 2
2007
Able seaman Robert 'RO' Dixon was at the hospital getting his arm examined by a doctor after Hammersley had discovered a container floating in the sea with asylum seekers hidden on board. RO had cut his arm in rescuing the asylum seekers and one of the rescued men was a North Korean national who was a doctor, who wished to express his thanks to RO by suturing the wound.
After seeing the doctor, he went to see the man to thank him when a nurse walk into the room to take the man's obs when she saw who was there.
"Robert" she said in shocked he turn to her.
"Cindy, I didn't know you were on duty this morning" as they both smiled, before sharing a brief hug and kiss.
"Yes, I am what happened to your arm" When she saw the white bandage that had not been there earlier on his arm.
"That is a long story," said Robert.
"I'm sure it is" then she turned to the patient who was smiling at them
"Your girlfriend," asked the gentleman.
Cindy smiled then raised her left hand she said "I'm his wife" as she approached the man to begin recording his obs.
"You are lucky" he said to Robert.
"Yes, I am" said Robert as Cindy had finished her job before taking a step back to join Robert.
"How long is Hammersley in port for?" asked Cindy.
"Not long," said Robert.
"I understand, I'll see you when you return" said Cindy as they shared a kiss before she walks out of the ward to continue her shift.
Robert and the doctor spoke for a few more minutes before RO walks out of the hospital room to begin his return to Hammersley where he tells Mike and Kate about what the man said.
When Cindy finished her shift, she saw Robert, a man in a suit, an Asian woman and young boy. She followed them till they stopped outside a room. She remembered it was the room the Asian doctor who stitched up Robert's arm was recovering in and the doctor told her about what happened to Robert. She quietly steps forward then stops when she witnessed the three individuals are hugging, crying and smiling. The man in the suite was waiting outside giving the family some privacy.
Robert was standing in the doorway when Cindy stepped next to him to observe the scene for herself. Robert turned to see Cindy there, she turned to him and held onto his hand and gave it a squeeze.
"He told me about his wife and son. You found and reunited a family."
"At least they are now together again."
"True, when do you have to head back to the ship?" asked Cindy.
"We have gotten a few days shore leave". Cindy smiled and said "come on let's go home. I have finished work for the day". Before they prepared to leave the family to their reunion. Robert and Cindy turned to the gentlemen to receive his thanks for their assistance in finding his family. Robert gave him a nod in response before he and Cindy walked out and headed home.
Two months later Cindy was near the ambulance bay when the doors opened, she saw a paramedic get out of an ambulance before assisting his patient, who was a woman with her arm in a sling.
"Lieutenant McGregor? I'm nurse Dixon, follow me please" Kate followed Cindy down the hall into a private room where she sat on the bed.
"Ok let's take a look, your Swain said you were shot" remarked Cindy.
"Yes, it just a graze"
"Ok let's take a look shall we" asked Cindy as she slipped her hands into a pair of gloves before removing the sling and the dressing. "Ok it's not too bad, I'll give it a clean and put butterfly stitches on it and a new dressing". Cindy then got the items she needed and started cleaning up the wound. "I've check your medical records lieutenant, your current tetanus injection ends in 2 weeks time, if you would prefer it, I could give you one before you leave?.
Kate agreed to have a new tetanus injection and while it was being arranged, Cindy asked Kate a further question. "If you don't mind me asking, how did you get shot" Kate told Cindy about what happened on the bridge.
"You are very lucky," remarked Cindy, "so what are you going to do after the decommission of Hammersley?"
"What do you mean?"
"Stay on patrol boats or move back to frigates."
"How did you know?" Cindy smiled.
"Robert tells me everything, including Spider dressing up as you."
"Robert?" Kate looked confused.
"Yes, so from what you told me you and the crew of Hammersley stopped a boat load of toxic water from getting into the wrong hands," explained Cindy.
"Which Robert did you talk to, there are three on Hammersley".
"My last name should give you the answer lieutenant" Kate looks at her name tag.
"Your RO's sister" Cindy chuckled.
"Wife" Kate look at her in shocked.
"Wife, I didn't know he was married."
"He is, we have been married for seven years."
"I had no idea" said Kate.
"Not many people do" replied Cindy.
"Do you have any children?" asked Kate.
"We have 3, a three and half year old boy and eight month old twins, one of each."
"The only thing I know about RO was about his father passing and he didn't like talking about it or take time off to go to his funeral" remarked Kate.
"Yes, I know about it. Robert's father was not a pleasant individual and was incredibly strict and abusive towards him which intensified when he was drunk."
"How long have you known RO for" asked Kate.
"Since kindergarten, we grew up together and are high school sweethearts".
Kate thought about it and asked if "You were eighteen when you got married".
"Yes, it was before my nursing training began and Robert started his navy training".
"Ok. I notice he does not join the crew for drinks when we return from our patrols" said Kate as Cindy smiled as she put a clean dressing over the wound.
"That is because he spends that time with me and our children."
"I understand," said Kate.
"There that is all done. I'll let the doctor know that you are due for a tetanus injection then you will be good to go."
"Thank you".
"Your welcome lieutenant. Now have you got a ride back to Hammersley"
"No I will walk back"
"Have you got your ID on you" asked Cindy, Kate thought about it and realized it had been left on board the boat.
"No worries, I will be finishing work in twenty minutes, so I can give you a lift to Hammersley if you would prefer as I will be going to the port to pick Robert up" offered Cindy.
"Thank you."
"No worries" Cindy finished clearing things up and started to write up her report.
"I will be right back" as she walks out of the room and walks over to talk to one of the doctors who read Cindy's report and sign the tetanus injection form after Cindy told him the date of when Kate is due for her next booster. Once the permission had been granted, Cindy went to the supply room to bet the necessary items before returning to the room where she gave Kate her injection.
"There all done, I will meet you outside the front of the hospital when I finish work."
"Thank you…"
"Cindy"
"Kate." Cindy smiled
"Nice to meet you Kate, even though this was not how I planned on meeting one of Robert's crew members like this."
"Same here and I am still learning more about RO"
"He has always been closed off with crew mates. but he is good at his job"
"That he is" they walk out together and go their separate ways.
When Cindy finishes work, she meets Kate out the front of the hospital, they walk towards where the staff car park is while talking about the children and other things. When Cindy stopped her SUV next to Hammersley, Robert and Mike were walking down the gangway and onto the wharf.
"Thank you for the lift here," Kate said as Mike opened the door for her.
"No worries, take care of your arm," said Cindy.
"I will, thanks." she got out while Robert opened the boot to put his bag in then walked around to the passenger side.
"X how is the arm" asked Mike.
"It's fine, just butterfly stitches sir" Cindy watched them look at each other.
"Excuse me sir, X" said Robert.
"Sorry RO, enjoy your shore leave" Kate said as she and Mike stepped away from the car.
"I will X" said Robert.
"Are you going to join the crew tonight for a drink RO?" asked Mike.
"Ah not tonight sir."
"We will be there sir" Cindy said smiling.
"Excuse me," Mike said looking at Cindy.
"We will be there sir"
"How do you know RO" asked Mike.
Cindy smiled and replied "Robert is my husband sir."
"Cindy, I do not want the crew to know" pouted Robert.
"X knows Robert since I was the nurse to dress her wound and I gave her a lift here as I was coming here to pick you up."
"Oh, great now the whole crew will know."
"What wrong with that, at least then they can't try to hook you up with some random woman in foreign port" stated Cindy.
"But it's the crew Cindy…"
"I know, and you need to open more, come on let's go home since we got time before picking up the children"
"Children? RO, I did not know you had a family" mike said in shock.
"Kate, are you able to fill him in while I'll talk to Robert?" asked Cindy.
"Ok Cindy" replied Kate as Robert got in the car and closed the door.
"Cindy, what did you tell the XO?" Robert questioned Cindy as she drove away while Mike turned to Kate.
"I'm shocked that RO is married" questioned Mike.
"Same here, Cindy, his wife and I had a talk when I was at the hospital." said Kate.
"About what" they the pair walk back onto Hammersley.
"The way RO acts at times, leads me to understand the reason why RO has been acting the way he is," said Kate.
"Care to share," asked Mike.
"Tomorrow, remember milk, not dark" she said smiling as she walked back onto Hammersley.
On the way home Robert looked at Cindy. "Care to tell me what you said to the XO."
Cindy smiled "she knows about us and our children and since your Captain is happy with her and her work, I was trying to drop hints on staying on the crew from when the new Hammersley arrive"
"Well, it is her choice."
"I know but from what you've been telling me about them and the way they look at each other when she got out of the car. I will say there is more going on between them"
"What they are lovers, they know the rules."
"So do you and I. What I am saying is that they are in love with each other and they know that they can't do a single thing about it at the moment."
"Meaning what" questioned RO.
"Isn't Mike due for a promotion" queried Cindy.
"Yeah, so…"
"Once promoted he would be transferred off Hammersley, then the rules won't apply to them any more" Robert thought about it and knew she was right.
"Yeah, your right, this isn't the way home" noticed Robert.
"It is, the damn landlord gave me six weeks' notice to move and since I knew that you were busy with the toxin water. I took care of everything"
"You found another house" queried Robert.
"It is more than that, it was great timing, grandma came to visit" explained Cindy.
"What your grandmother" he said in shock.
"Yes, she contacted someone she knows in the police force and saw if they could find me six years ago. He kept grandma up to date about us. She showed up last month when I had few days booked off work."
"You must have been shocked."
"Yes, I was she got to meet and held onto her great grandchildren and she was happy to see us all."
"But what about your grandfather" asked Robert.
"He passed away five years ago. Grandma said it was a heart attack because of all the stress he was under thanks to Paul and the others."
"Your joking," said Robert.
"No I'm not, from what she told me granddad soon realized I was right about what I said before I walked out the door and he told the others to get a job or he will cut back on their allowance" said Cindy sadly.
"Did it work?" asked Robert.
"No, but in his Will he gave all four of them ten million dollars each but if they work at the same place for more than five years until grandma passes away they will get one hundred million dollars each. Plus, he also said that every time any of them hound her for any of the remaining money, she is to donate fifty thousand dollars to charity of her choosing till there one million left in each of their accounts or she dies before it happens."
"That a lot of money" exclaimed Robert.
"True" said Cindy.
"What about you" asked Robert.
"I wasn't in the Will because he knew I would rather work hard to get paid"
"That you have" remarked Robert.
"True, anyway granddad left everything else to grandma".
"Really"
"Yes, they had been married for over sixty years."
"True, but why did your grandmother waited all this time to come and see you," wondered Robert.
"She was busy dealing with granddad affairs and once everything was sorted out, she came to see me. She told me she been watching me from a distance but can see how happy I am," said Cindy.
"Ok but why do that when she could have walked up to you."
"Grandma is sneaky, we both know what she was like when I was younger."
"That is true so, what has she done now" queried Robert.
"She build us a large two story house"
"what, how big"
"Four large bedrooms with ensuites upstairs, large chef-style kitchen, dining room, family room, lounge room, two guest bedrooms with a linked ensuite between, games room, an office, outdoor entertainment area, swimming pool. Robert the house is three times as big as the one we used to be in and that's just down stairs." Said Cindy excitedly as she described their new house to Robert.
"That is a big house."
"Wait till you see it."
"Yeah. But why did she have one built?" queried Robert.
"She said that we deserve it since I'm the only grandchild that is working and never asks for any money. I told her that she shouldn't have but she said to me that she is proud of me for the life I have chosen to live."
"I'm proud of you Cindy"
"Thank you darling. One of the reasons why grandma came to see me was to get away from Sydney, my brothers and sister been regularly hounding grandma for their weekly allowance."
"What are they still getting after all these years"
"Yeah, granddad cut it from twenty thousand down to two thousand since they are not working and after granddad died the automatic payment stopped. I was shocked with what grandma told me about how they treated her. They didn't even show up to the funeral. Grandma's friends did ask about where I was, she told them that I was over in Iran doing a tour over there and you were out on patrol at the time. They understood."
"You know we should go down to Sydney, take our children with us."
"Sounds good to me. I know grandma would be happy also, she would love to spend time with her great grandchildren since they are all she has got left."
"So, none of the others married?"
"Nope they are enjoying the single party lifestyle."
"Cindy are you happy" queried Robert.
"Yes I am happy, you know I'm not much of a party person."
"True, how long did your grandmother stay?"
"She is still here, she will be at home waiting for us."
"Is she still here?"
"Yep, oh she is spoiling the children rotten, but I told her I don't want our kids to turn out to be like their uncles and aunties. She told me she wanted to, so I said she can get them two items each. Which she did and then opened a bank account for all three of them and she put in one hundred dollars in each."
"I hope you told her off for doing that."
"I told her ten dollars would be a great start. She said it is to make up for lost time."
"Well, they are young so there is still time to learn solid life values."
"That's true."
"Is she still living in that big house?"
"No, she sold it after granddad passed away, she is renting a smaller place in a retirement village."
"What happened to everything in the house."
"She sold it all apart for any personal items such as family heirlooms, jewelry and photos."
"Ok, so long as she happy."
"She is and she enjoys where she is. She told me she joined card games, bingo and indoor bowls with others from the village. There is an old folks home next door where they join the others in having fun."
"Good for her, she must be in her nineties now."
"Ninety-one even though she doesn't look or act it" said Cindy fondly.
"I guess, what happened to your grandfather's business?" asked Robert.
"She sold it"
"Really, well I guess it was a big business."
"It is" then she slowed down as she indicated to turn.
"Home sweet home" she stops the car at the gate then she reaches over and presses the code then turns to Robert just as the gates open.
"Security" Cindy said.
"Ok" she drove up the small driveway when Robert saw the large two-story house.