Chapter 9
Kate grimaced. "It's something that still haunts my nights. I see every time Nikki gunshot wounded lying on the ground. Not Harpie or the other one, just only Nikki".
Maddie gaped at her mum. "Shit, what a disaster! You can count yourself happy that Dad saved the day".
Kate nodded, "I know, for sure. Otherwise I wouldn't be sitting in this chair now".
"So, you were still pissed off. How did you fix things?".
"I was pissed off at myself. To make it worse, I bumped into Mike at Navcom. Afterwards, I was turned so upside down that I lost my self-control", Kate said.
"Hmm, let's pay and take a walk. What do you think of coming to have our supper here?"
"Yeah, that sounds good to me. I think I already know what I will take", Maddie said.
"Oh, and that is?"
"Spare ribs".
Kate grinned, "Just her father's daughter. Your Dad takes spare ribs almost every time".
Flashback
Kate had sent her report to Navcom and packed her belongings. Before leaving, she decided to go to Navcom to see Maxine.
Unfortunately, she was at Canberra for a meeting with one of the admirals. Grimacing at her empty office, she turned around and wanted to leave. Unfortunately, she bumped into Mike. But it was not by chance because he had seen her and had left his office to face her.
"Lieutenant Commander! I read your report. What the hell was that? I can't believe it. You really made a bloody mess of it, didn't you? Three wounded for a mere ice boat. In all the years I've commanded the Hammersley I never, ever made such a mess!", he ranted at her.
"Sir, it…it was totally unexpected", she stammered, turning pale.
"Unexpected, unexpected. You should have known better Lieutenant Commander. Ice boats are always dangerous. I was expecting much more from you", he sneered.
Kate's pale skin then went red with indignation.
"Yes sir, it won't happen again", she said, tears of frustration burning her eyelids.
"Hope so for you!", he snapped before moving away.
Kate swallowed and tried to choke tears back then headed back to the ship.
Damnit!
She got her sea bag and drove home in a foul mood.
That night Dylan went to her house, but there was no light inside. He rang the doorbell several times, but got no answer.
He rubbed his face.
Where could she be? Mike? No, they broke up. Knocker? Hmm, maybe. They're friends.
He grabbed his mobile and called Maxine.
"Good evening ma'am, this is Lieutenant Mulholland. I would like to know if Lieutenant Commander McGregor is with you?", he asked hearing Maxine's voice on the other end of the line.
"No Dylan, I'm in Canberra at the moment", she replied.
"Ok, thank you ma'am", he replied, putting his phone away.
If I call Kate, she'll probably ignore my calls. I've to find her and I think I'll start with the pubs.
Dylan entered the third pub and scanned the visitors to find Kate. His gaze stopped on a blonde woman sitting on a barstool.
She was slumped over the bar with her arms crossed, staring gloomily at blank at her glass in front of her.
Ah! Finally, here she is.
He went to her and sat down next in the next seat.
"Hey Kate, I finally found you", he said.
"Leave me alone!", she said with a furred tongue without looking up.
He ignored her reply, "Kate, what are you doing here?", he said, setting himself more comfortably in his seat.
She looked at him irritated, "I'm having a shower!"
He chuckled.
"I'm drinking, of course. Can I still? It's a pub you know", she replied with difficultly.
"Are you drinking whisky?", he asked, reaching for her glass to smell the amber liquid.
"Yeah, it's more efficient than wine", she explained, taking the glass for a swig.
He waved to the bartender, "A beer please".
When he got his glass, he raised it a bit, "Cheers!", he said and took a sip. Kate did the same.
"How are you?", he asked.
She looked at him with her puffy red eyes. The green of her eyes looked very dark, "Didn't I say a minute ago to leave me alone?"
"This barstool is free and the pub is a public place, so. And I still want to know what's going on with you?", he asked again. He knew that with her he had pushed the right buttons and that he simply had to wait.
"If you really want to know, I'll tell you, otherwise you won't stop nagging me", she grumbled.
"I'm not in the mood. I feel miserable, okay now?", she said before taking another gulp.
The glass was empty and she waved to the bartender to refill it.
"How many glasses have you had already?", he asked as the bartender refilled her glass.
"This is my fourth", she said with a furred tongue.
"Why?", he insisted.
"Dylan, can't you hear well. I feel like shit and I want to forget, pass…out", she said with a sigh, grabbing her glass.
"Do you really think it will help you?"
Kate sighed, put down the glass and looked at him. "Now, yes. Tomorrow, I dunno".
"What's bothering you?", he continued.
Kate sighed again, "Everything. I fucked up everything! I refused to listen to good advice. I put my best friend in danger while she's inexperienced. I was rooted to the spot when I had to act. You did what I had to do. Finally I misused of my rank to bawl you out."
"Kate, it's a learning curve. It could have happened to everyone", he said, trying to sooth her.
"Apparently not to everyone. I wanted to talk to Max, but I bumped into Mike. He scolded me like I was a midshipman. And the worst part is that he was right. I screwed it up. I made a mess of what had to be a classic boarding", she said, her voice cracking at those last words.
"Don't pay any attention to him. He's still pissed off because you broke off the relationship", he said, rubbing her back to comfort her.
She shook her head, "Perhaps it would be better if we exchange our shoulder boards. You're a better commander than me", she said gloomily.
"What's that for a crap? You're the best commander in the division!", he replied.
She looked at him with tears in her eyes, "Do you know why I froze? If I had listened to you, you would have gone to that ice boat and you would have been shot down. And I don't want to lose you!", she said, tears rolling down her cheeks.
He wrapped his arm around her shoulders and hugged her, "Hey sweetie, it wasn't supposed to go like that. Nikki simply hesitated too long. We both know that, right? We made those boardings very often huh?", he whispered in her ear.
Kate nodded slightly, "Yeah, maybe you're right".
"Of course I'm right and you're a good commander", he said.
"Let's go home now", he encouraged her and emptied his glass.
Kate also emptied her glass and waved to the bartender, "The billlll pllllleasssse", she slurred slightly as she rummaged through her purse for her wallet.
"I'm also paying his glasssss", she mumbled.
Dylan stood up and helped her off the barstool. His arm around her to hold her upright, they left the pub.
He drove her home and helped her in. In the entrance hall, she tried to kick off her pumps, but she lost her balance and before he could catch her, her face hit the doorframe.
She landed on the floor moaning.
"Damn", he muttered.
Dylan shook his head and picked her up from the floor. He carried her upstairs to her bedroom and laid her on the bed carefully. He raised his eyebrows as he heard her snore softly.
How can you fall asleep while being carried?
Okay, here we go again. Let's try to put her under the sheets without waking her up.
He unbuttoned her trousers and gently removed it. Then he lifted her slightly to slide the sheets and finally cover her. Smiling he looked at her.
Sleep well and forget everything. Unfortunately, you're going to have a hell of headache tomorrow.
He left the bedroom, leaving the door open.
I stay here. It's the best I can do. Another night on the couch? I'm not looking forward to it.
He opened the guest room door and peered inside.
Okay, the bed is made. Good!
He entered, got into bed and immediately fell asleep.
The next morning he woke up early. He peered inside her bedroom, but she was still sleeping.
He had a shower, looked back in Kate's bedroom and saw that she was beginning to stir.
Yeah, time to make a good brew. She'll need it.
He went down to the kitchen and prepared the coffee.
The little noises coming from the kitchen must have woken her up. He heard someone shuffling and looked up. Kate shuffled into the kitchen wearing her dressing gown, her feet in slippers and messy hair.
"Hey Kate, good morning! A brew?", he greeted her enthusiastically.
Ouch. She's going to freak out when she looks in the mirror. The encounter with the doorframe wasn't the best thing that happened to her.
Her left eye was black at the point of impact.
She raised her hand and plopped down on the chair where she usually sat. "Shht, not so loud please".
She looked at him, "Did you stay here last night?".
"Yep, in the guestroom", he said.
"Thank you. It seems like it's becoming a habit, right?", she said.
"No worries Kate".
"Dylan, next time you'll take my bed, there's room for two", she said with a faint smile.
He grinned back, "Okay I'll remember that. Coffee?"
"Uh-hu", she mumbled resting her head in her hands, eyes closed.
"How are you feeling?", he asked her, pouring her a cup.
"Headache. It's pounding in my head and my left eye hurts. Where are the painkillers?", she replied.
"Luckily you didn't put them too far away", he said, putting the box down in front of her.
Kate grumbled something and opened the box. She took two pills and swallowed them with a gulp coffee.
"Dylan?"
"Yes?"
"I'm really sorry for my gaffe during the patrol. It was incorrigible. And the worst part is that I yelled at you while you were right", she said as her eyes became wet.
"Kate, I also have to apologize. I acted without asking you. I completely ignored you", he said.
"Dylan, you did the one thing that made sense. Don't worry. I'm going to have to answer some nasty questions from Maxine when she reads my report", Kate said wiping her eyes.
"No worries, it's not going to be that bad", he said.
"Do you want to eat something?", he added.
Kate waved, "Pffft, no food now. I'll see later on".
"Okay".
"Thank God I didn't end up on a table", she said, standing up.
"Indeed".
"I remember what I said except how I got here. One moment I left the pub and the other moment I woke up in my bed", she said, walking around the table.
"Ah".
"And, I also remember what you called me", Kate said, giving him a gentle pat on the back.
"Do you remember that?", he replied surprised.
"I was drunk but not drunk enough to forget everything", she said deadpan.
"Euh, yes, I...I uh…", he stammered, not really knowing if it was the right moment.
She looked at him with a mysterious smile, "And now I'm going to have a shower. I hope I'll feel better afterwards", she said, heading for the staircase.
He watched her go up the staircase.
What a smile! The Mona Lisa's smile is nothing compared to hers. What could that mean? Would it be real? Will I really stand a chance? Have the woman of my life? I can hardly imagine having her by my side...
His thoughts were interrupted by a squeal from the bathroom.
He saw Kate in her undies on the staircase.
My God!
"Dylan! What the hell is that? How did I get that black eye?", she asked in panic, pointing to her eye.
"Last night you lost your balance when you kicked off your shoes and you hit the doorframe with your face", he answered.
"Oh noooo. Now I'm ready for the garbage bin!", she said angrily. She turned around and slammed the bathroom door behind her.
He could only hear a moan caused by the slamming of the door which was way too loud for her headache.
Wow, what a silhouette! Didn't she forget to put on her dressing gown or... ?
Twenty minutes later Kate was back. She put on the denim dress from the last time that was still in her wardrobe.
"Hey, you're gorgeous!.
"Dylan, don't exaggerate. It's just an ordinary dress. You have seen it before", she replied.
"Nevertheless, you look good in that dress. Do you feel a little better?", he told her.
"The headache is better, but my eye! It couldn't be more black", she said.
"It will also fade away. Put on your sunglasses", he said.
"I have no choice, I guess?", Kate answered.
"It will fade away, like everything else", he replied.
Kate just shrugged and mumbled something inaudible.
"Dylan?"
"Yes?"
"You were right about 2Dads. He was the best choice. He and RO have the most experience, but RO can't think outside the box. I was sceptic, but he succeeded well", she said.
"Thanks. That's the point with him. He's changed a lot. If you trust him and give him responsibility, then he is in", he said.
"Anyway, I have to see Nikki, Harpie and Sharky in the hospital today", Kate said.
"I'm coming with you. It's always better to be two", he said with a wink.
"Thank you", Kate replied, knowing she would feel better if he was with her.
To be continued