CH 33
The next day Mike and Kate went shopping for the kids as well went walks along the beach and having lunch while in town. That night Kate try to cook up stir fry for dinner but mike keep distracting her with hugs from behind kissing her shoulder blade up to her neck and earlobe which make Kate giggle as well his hand roam over parts of her body at the same time. Kate was luckily that she didn't burn dinner cause of mike distracting her.
The next morning Kate cell phone rings so she rolled over to answer it. Mike open his eyes and turn when he heard one side of the conversation. When Kate hug up she put the phone back on the draws then she rolled back over towards Mike.
"Kate"
"that was commodore Newman he want to see me in the morning"
"So you leaving today"
"sorry Mike" she lean over and rub noses with him then they kiss
"navy got no sense of timing"
"True"
"We better make the most of the time we got"
"Yeah, lucky I got an open ticket just in case some thing like this might happen"
"Want to call the air line" Mike said
"I better" Kate rolled over and pick up her cell phone to make the call while Mike got up and walk into the bathroom.
When he walk out couple minutes later Kate was still in bed so he walk to the end of the bed "Kate" she look at him then she got up and walk around to the end of the bed still she standing in front of him
"I got a flight tonight" Mike pulled her into his arms
"you should try to get a transferred up to here"
"I know but we both know what the navy like" they pulled apart
"Yes we do" He then kiss her.
Kate manage to turn them around then she move her hands to his chest and push him away. Mike felt Kate pushing him then he fell on the bed
"Kate why did you do that for" Mike said with confuse look but Kate was smiling
"for one I need to go to the loo and second you better stay where you are till I get back" she look down his body while licking her lips then she turn and walk into the bathroom.
Mike grin so he lay there on there bed till she return. When she did she walk over and sat on mike with one leg on each side of him. He sat up and kiss her as he wrap his arms around her waist and roll them both. They spent the morning in bed making love as well talk about other things.
They got up and had a shower together before going into town for some lunch then return back home and back into bed again so they spent all afternoon making love since they don't know when the next time they would see each other.
That night they went out to a restaurant for dinner then Mike took Kate to the air port to see her off then he return back home alone. When Kate arrived back at Paul and Alice place she went to bed since she was feeling tired. She did call Mike while in bed before she went to sleep.
The next morning Kate walk into commodore Newman office. "Lieutenant please sit" Kate sat down
"sir why am I here sir"
"You been transferred lieutenant"
"Transferred to where sir" He pass her a file, she open it up and read what it said
"Watson bay" Kate said in shock then she look up at the commodore
"that right, fleet commander want you to be the instructor of advance navigation course" Kate was shock, he look down and read more about it then she look up at the commodore
"But what about HMAS Anzac sir"
"they getting a replacement. You got all in information you needed"
"Yes sir" they talk for a few more minutes before Kate walk out of his office and drove back home.
When she walk in side Paul saw her "Kate what wrong" when he saw the look on her face.
She pass him the file. He open it and read what it said "Instructor at Watson bay. Kate this would be a set back"
"I know but I thought about it on the way home... I'm going to show fleet command what sort of instructor I'm going to be I'll teach them that they pick the wrong person to be the instructor for navigation course. I'll show them" Kate said angry as she walk out of the room just as Alice walk in
"Paul what was that all about"
"Fleet command transferred Kate to Watson bay as a instructor for navigation course for a year"
"Is that why she angry"
"Yes cause of that it set her back for her goal of promotion" Alice was shock and sad at the same time
"All we can do is be there for her and mike"
"i know she been trying to get a posting up in Cairns, there nothing"
When Mike check his e-mail messages he saw one from Kate he was shock when she told him about her transferred to Watson bay. He could tell in her e-mail that she getting frustrated and angry which he doesn't blame her. So he reply back to Kate then he made a phone call.
The next morning Kate was returning back from her run when she saw a van in the drive way so she went to see who it was when the guy smile at Kate as he got back in the van and left.
"Kate these came for you" Kate walk over to the front porch steps and up them till she stop in front of Alice.
Kate saw that they were mix color roses. She saw the card among them so he pulled it out and open it and pull the card and and read what it said which made her smile
"from mike" Alice asked
"Yes, he said no matter where you are I'll still love you. I couldn't decided what roses to send to you I hope you love my choice, till next shore leave, love mike" Tears were falling down her cheeks
"come on, give him a call"
"He called me this morning, Hammersley been crash sailed and don't know when they returning, they leaving in an hour, storm hit the island up north"
"Ok" they walk in side with Kate closing the door behind her.
When mike was in Steve office they were talking about aid re-leaf for up north and for the crew to help out since there was number of damages to couple of the villages. While they were talking Steve pass mike some files
"Mike here are your crew replacements"
"Thanks Steve" Mike open the first file and had a quick look at it
"chief petty officer Thorpe... engineer, I hope he knows his engines well"
"I'm sure he dose mike" Mike close the file and put it on the desk in front of him then he open the next one
"coxswain petty officer Blake, recently promoted... police officer, diver and chief medic... we sure could to with one of them on board... I see he married two months ago" mike said then he close the file and put it on the desk then he open the next one
"Leader holiday, electric technician. It about time since we haven't had one in the last two patrols" Steve smile. Mike close the file and put it on top of the others then he open the last one
"Petty officer Tomaszewski, ship boatswain. I notice he return from Iran last month and recently promoted." Mike said as he close the file and put it on top of the others
"Yes he has Mike. Here are reports on drug smuggling I the area" Steve past more files to mike
"thanks Steve"
they talk while mike open his brief case and put all the files including new crew members files in his brief case then close and lock it. Few minutes later mike walk out of Steve office and out of NAVCOM to his waiting driver who taking him to Hammersley.
When mike arrived he notice two two guys talking to some of his crew when he got out of the car then he got his brief case and sea bag from the driver then they saluted each other before Mike walk over to the group.
"don't you have jobs to do"
"Yes sir" the crew said then they return back to work.
"sir" one of the two men said as they stood at attention and saluted mike which he did in return
"Hi I'm lieutenant commander Flynn, you must be chief petty officer Thorpe" Mike put his hand out which the guy took and they shook hands
"Yes sir, I'm called charge" mike smile
"Welcome aboard Hammersley"
"thank you sir." Mike turn to the other guy
"your leader Holiday"
"Yes sir, ET as crew call me"
"Welcome aboard ET... chefo"
"Yes sir" chefo said as he walk of the gangway
"Care to show Charge and ET to there cabins"
"Yes sir, this way" Mike watch them walk onto Hammersley saluting Thor along the way while talking.
Then he turn around when he saw two more showing up and stop in front of mike saluting him which he dose in return "Your Petty officer Blake and petty officer Tomaszewski, I'm lieutenant commander Flynn captain of Hammersley" they shook hands
"I'm called Swain sir"
"I'm called buffer"
"Welcome aboard, Hefty show buffer and swain to there cabin. We will talk later"
"Yes sir"
Mike watch them walk on board while talking then he walk on board and went to his cabin and got change then he went to do his normal duties before leaving port.
Hour later Mike went looking for lieutenant Miles, he ask the crew if they seen the Lieutenant, they all said no. Mike wasn't impress so he called NAVCOM to get them to try to contact the lieutenant.
While waiting to hear back from NAVCOM mike ended up doing the lieutenant job as well his own. When it was almost time a taxi stop off next to the gangway and they saw who getting out of the car
"sir XO arrived" one of the crew said
"thanks" Mike walk to the steps and up to the look out level where he started giving the departure orders.
Few minutes later Hammersley left port and headed towards the open sea. Once they were out at sea and mike gave the concordances to swain he left the bridge to go and talk to lieutenant Miles. With in minutes every one could hear mike yelling at the lieutenant. Charge, ET, Swain and buffer heard Mike yelling at the lieutenant
"Is the captain always like that" ET asked
"Only if you screw up like the lieutenant did" one of the crew members said
"what is the captain like" Charge asked
"He a great guy when you get to know him, he cares a lot about the crew and there well being, but if you step out of line... well you get what XO getting right now"
"I notice a red mark left by a wedding ring on his left hand" Swain said
"Yes he married, he got four kids, quads"
"quads" Charge, ET, Buffer and Swain said at once
"Yeah when you get called into his cabin you will see photograph for the four of them two of each and photo of his wife"
"Are they in Cairns" Charge asked
"Sydney living with his parents, his wife is a lieutenant and is station there. Captain parents look after kids while the lieutenant is out on patrol and he up here"
"Why can't she get transferred to up here" buffer said
"no opening It been hard on them both and there kids"
"Why that" Swain ask thinking about being away from Sally
"they lucky if they spend six, seven weeks a year together cause of the patrol schedule. When they do, they make the most of it."
"How long have they been married for" Charge asked
"Seven years"
"How old are the kids?" ET asked
"almost three years old , hey you might heard of her lieutenant Kate McGregor"
"McGregor I remember talks going around the frigate that I was on about lieutenant McGregor that she some hero or made history... what did they call her, that right... princess perfect" ET said
"that her she made navy history, first officer to win every navy award at ADFA including the sward award"
"she must be smart" Charge said
"She knows the rules and protocols like the back of her hand and from what I heard she argue with her instructor cause they were wrong"
"How do you know this?" Swain asked
"My brother was in the same classes at her at ADFA and at Watson bay"
Then the door open and mike walk onto the bridge, he walk over and went up top not saying a word.
"when he like that stay our of his way for an hour"
"thanks for the advice" ET said
Three days later Kate took some of her things to Watson bay since she spending week days on base and weekends with her family. When she arrived on the base she went to see the CO for few minutes then she went and got a key to her room where she would be staying.
When she unlock the door and open it and walk into the room she put her bags on the double size bed. She look around to see draws, closet for her to hang her uniform up in. Desk TV, beer fridge.
She walk over to a door and open it and turn the light on it was the on suite. Kate then started unpacking her things, when done she went sent get the books and papers she would be needing to read and study from, she luckily she still got her notes from when she was a student.
When she got them she return back to her room where she started reading and writing since she start her first class in two days and she want to refresh her memory from when she was a student.
The day she started class, Kate was up early she went to the gym to work out for couple of hours then return back to her room where she showered and gotten dress then she went and got some breakfast and join the other instructors since she meet them the day before at a meeting.
After breakfast Kate return back to her room where she clean her teeth then she pick up her new brief case that mike brought and sent to her the day he received her e-mail about her transferred papers. Then she walk out of her room closing and locking the door then she walk down to her class room where the students are.
She walk in and remove her hat as she said good morning to the class as she interduce her self to them. Then she got started talking about what the class is going to be doing over the next few weeks.
Month later Hammersley return back form being up north helping the villages out that was hit by the bad storm. During that month Mike got to read the files better about Charge, Buffer, ET and swain. Plus he got to talk to each of them one on one alone so he get to know what they are like in person.
Plus Mike got to see them in action when they attended to three may day calls on the way back to Cairns. When mike walk into Steve office Mike pass him all the reports about the may day calls and what happen with the two villages including about lieutenant Miles.
"Mike how did it go with the two islands?"
"Good, crew help out a lot"
"that good, how did the new crew members do"
"they done a great job, helping out as well getting to know the rest of the crew. I was able to talk to them alone, get to to know them as well see how well they do when we attended three may day calls on the way back. They all work well as a team"
"that is good news, I heard about lieutenant miles showing up late"
"I wasn't impress with his excuse Steve. It all in my report and request for a new XO"
"what" Steve said in shock
"I don't want him back on my boat Steve, If it wasn't for buffer the XO would of ended up in the sea since he was arguing with the captain of the boat and was about to deck him if buffer didn't stop the lieutenant. It all in buffer and my report about it"
"Dose the captain of the boat wanted to press charges"
"no, Swain spoke to the captain about the way the lieutenant handle the situation. He just happy that we showed up to fix the engine for him so he and his mates could carry on fishing"
"Ok I'll see what I can do Mike, so you flying down to Sydney for few days" Mike smile
"Yes I am Steve, you know how to contact me"
"i do, see you in few days" Mike pass the reports to Steve before walking out of his office and out of NAVCOM.
That afternoon Alice heard car door close so she went to see who it was. She was shock when Mike turn around after the taxi driver pass Mike his bag
"mike"
"hi mum" he step ford to give her a hug.
"what are you doing here"
"Shore leave for few days, how every thing"
"Ok... it Kate mike" they walk in side the house
"Why what wrong"
"She been working hard to hard, she hasn't been home for the past two weekends"
"Mum remember I was like that"
"I know but when Paul and I talk to her, she sounded tired"
"Look why don't I go and talk to her, she will be able to tell me what going on"
"Paul and I talk about it mike. We think that with the transferred to Watson bay set her back for promotion. She just like you want to be out on the sea where the action is, not in class room"
"Your right about that. Look let me go and talk to her, where dad"
"Next door, if you going to go and see Kate take the car"
"thanks mum, kids still sleeping"
"Yes they are, they will be happy to see you"
"same here mum" He kiss her check then he walk out of the room.
Ten minutes later mike drove into town since he got some time to do some shopping before going to see and surprise Kate.
Later that early evening Kate walk back to her room, she was tired all she wanted to do is get change go and get early dinner then bed since it been another long day and she knew tomorrow she got to read all the students paper work that they handed in just before they left the class room. Kate stop at her door and pull key out of her pocket and put in it and unlock the door then she open it when she heard
"Lieutenant" Kate let out her breath and turn to the voice
"Yes sir" he stop close to her
"Care to join me in a drink tonight"
"no thank you sir"
"Why not"
He notice a man in civilian clothing walking around the corner carry couple of plastic bags, the guy thinks it one of the instructors he hasn't meet yet.
"I said no sir, if you will excuse me I got things to do" Kate open her door just as the guy in civilian clothing slow down his walk as he got closer to them
"come on it just one drink" Kate let out her breath and turn to him giving him the angry look just as the guy stop when he heard
"Lieutenant Commander Black sir, I said no so back off and leave me alone, this is the third time you ask me out and drinks and third time I said no. so leave me alone or I'll make a harassment complaint against you" Kate said in command tone
"don't you talk to me like that lieutenant" he said in command tone
"The reason why I'm talking you like that sir is cause you won't take no for an answer"
then doors open and other instructors poke there heads out side to see what was going on. The lieutenant commander look at the guy in civilian clothing who didn't look happy
"did I hear right that you lieutenant commander been harassing lieutenant McGregor" Kate turn around in shock
"mike" she said
"that none of your business" Black said
"Oh yes it is if you harassing female officers lieutenant commander. If the lieutenant say no, she means no. If I find out that you been harassing other female officers I'll have you to the captains table before the day out. Am I clear" mike said in command tone as he gave the lieutenant commander the anger look
"Who the hell are you" Black said yelling back. Kate turn to Black
"Lieutenant commander Black This is lieutenant commander Flynn, my husband"
"what, husband" Black said in shock
"yes sir, that is why I said no when you ask me out for drinks, I'm a married women if you haven't notice my left hand sir" then she turn to mike
"Can I come into your room Kate" they look into each others eyes as they calm down then Kate smile
"You you can come into my room Mike" then she turn to Black
"If you will excuse me sir, I'm going to spend some time with my husband whom I haven't seen for a month" the she walk into her room with mike behind her closing the door on Black face.
He wasn't happy and couple of the instructors notice the look on the lieutenant commander face as he walk away.