CH 40
When mike pulled up in car park at the rest home they all got out and walk inside the rest home. Kids held onto there parents hands as they walk down to connor bedroom to see that he not there so they walk down to the living room to see him there looking out side.
Mike crouch down to the kids. "Kids see that man over there the one who looking out side" they nodded
"Who is he daddy" Grace asked
"He is your great grand father" Kate crouch down
"kids that man is daddy grand father."
"Your grand dad daddy" connor asked
"Yes come on I know he will be happy to see you all again"
"Why don't you go over and say hello to him" Kate said smiling at kids before she and mike stood up
"what do we call him"
"Grand pa" Kate said then she and mike watch the kids walk into the living room and over to where connor is.
Connor turn his head around slightly when he saw four little kids stop in front of him looking up at him while smiling
"Well hello there what is your names" he asked
"I'm connor"
"I'm Patrick"
"I'm Grace"
"I'm Mary" Connor look shock then he turn to see mike and Kate walk into the room smiling
"surprise grand dad"
"mike, Kate" Mike and Kate gave Connor a hug
"This is a surprise" then he look at kids again
"Oh my you kids sure growing up fast, how about giving me a hug" They step ford one by one to give Connor a hug.
"My gosh last time I saw you four, you where just starting to walk and look at you now" then he turn to mike and Kate who got chair each and move it to where Connor is and sat down in the seats.
"We plan this visit a month ago grand dad"
"Why not back then"
"i was work at Watson bay and mike shore leave started Monday and he was back out on patrol two days later when he and crew received crash sail messages"
"Are you a student there Kate"
"Instructor"
"Ah doing what?"
"advance navigation course"
"Are you enjoying it Kate"
"Yes and no"
"Yes and no?"
"There no lieutenant commanders to run the second part of the course, Kate has to do both" Mike said as kids wanted up on mike and Kate lap.
"they can't find any one"
"no. Cause of that Kate hardly seen kids on weekends cause she doing two courses at once and there two times more paper work for her to do" Mike said
"I under stand, don't worry dear I'm sure every thing will turn out fine"
"I hope so to" They spent the whole morning talking.
Connor enjoy his morning talking to Kate, Mike and the kids. When the other residents heard about Connor visitors they went to see who it is them selves. They smile when they saw it was connor grand son and family and how they enjoy talking to the kids which made them happy.
Connor, mike and Kate watches how kids say hello to the residents while smiling. When kids needed to go to the loo, they let mike and Kate know so one of them take who ever need to go to the loo then return back to the living room again.
The residents love talking to the kids and show them things that they do like doing jig saw puzzles, playing in door bowls and other games which they show the kids and have them play as well. Connor, Mike and Kate watches kids have a lot of fun playing and talking to the residents.
"They love your kids mike, Kate" Connor said
"We know grand dad, we know that there families hardly come to visit"
"It sad, every time they heard that a family comes and there young children visiting they want to meet that family till that family leaves. We talk about how cute kids and babies are for the next few hours then they think about there own families" connor said
"grand dad have any of the other family come to visit"
"you mean your sisters mike, they come once a year if I'm lucky"
"what about cousins?"
"I haven't seen them since my ninetieth birthday"
"nine years that not right, have you received any letters, cards from them?" Kate asked
"Christmas card and that it"
"don't worry grand dad, Kate and I will visit the next time we both have the weekend off and bring our four balls of energy with us" Connor laugh
"I would love that mike and I know that the residents would love it also"
"Plus I'm going to have talk to my sisters about them bring families here to visit you"
"you don't have to Mike"
"Grand dad, they should visit you more often. They got free weekends and I don't know when I get free weekend like this again"
"I under Mike, both you and Kate work"
"There is one thing we are differently going to be here next year for your birthday" Kate said smiling
"that would be great but what if mike out on patrol?"
"I know the commandeering officer so there shouldn't be any problems getting that weekend off for it"
"That would be great if you can make it mike"
"Me to grand dad" They turn to see where the laughter was coming from.
When it was lunch time Mike, Kate and kids left to get some lunch while the residents went to get there. Mike, Kate and kids went to a cafe for lunch. After lunch they went shopping for kids new clothes then they return back to the hotel late that afternoon.
That night they had room service for dinner and after dinner Mike shower the boys while Kate shower the girls in there own suite. Once they were in there night wear they all sat on the couch watching a kids movie. When it was finish mike and Kate took kids to bed tucking them in and kissing them good night since they had a busy day and it tired them out. Mike and Kate waited for half an hour before they went to bed them selves where they made passionate love twice before falling asleep in each other arms.
The next morning after they left the hotel they went back to the rest home so the kids could see Connor again since Kate and kids were flying out that afternoon and mike flying out an hour after Kate flight to Sydney. Kids enjoy them selves talking to Connor while Mike and Kate watch the five of them talk till the other residents showed up once again to see the kids.
When it was almost lunch time. Mike, Kate and kids gave Connor a hug before leaving when kids wave to Connor and the residents when they walk out of the rest home. Mike took Kate and kids to the mall in town where they had lunch at one of the cafes and they did some more shopping for couple of hours before they left to go to the air port.
When they arrive there. Kate pack the shopping that was brought into her's and kids bags then she help mike get the kids out of the van then they pick up the bags and walk into the terminal. They went to get the bags and tickets sorted out first.
Once done they walk over to where seats are. Kate and kids sat down in them while mike went to return the key back to the car rental place, then he return and sat down next to Kate holding onto her hand.
"Are you ok" Mike asked.
Kate turn to mike "Yes I am how about you"
"It a shame we have to part ways, three days isn't long enough"
"i know"
"I was thinking when crew have a week shore leave when we return I'll fly down to Sydney to spend it will you and kids"
"I would love that"
"We know our kids would"
"True"
They talk for five minutes when that heard over the PA system about the boarding to Sydney. So they stood up
"come on kids" Mike said.
They got of the seats and held onto mike and Kate hands then they walk over to where other passengers are then they stop. Mike crouch down to give them a hug
"You be good for grand ma, grand dad and mummy, ok"
"you not coming daddy" Mary asked
"No sweetie, but I will visit soon as I get some time off, ok"
"ok" Mary said as she hug mike. Then the others did again. Mike stood up so he could hug and kiss Kate
"I'll call you tomorrow morning"
"I'll be waiting"
They kiss once more before Kate kids walk to where the staff is. Kate show them the five tickets then they walk through the door. Mike watch them till the plane was in the air.
Then he walk over and sat down looking at his wedding ring thinking about Kate and kids till it was time for him to board plane to Cairns.
When Sydney plane landed Kate and kids follow the other passengers into the terminal. When they walk though the double doors Kate smile when she was Paul there waiting for them
"Grand dad" Patrick said yelling then he wave to Paul then turn to Kate
"go on" the four kids tan over to where Paul is. He crouch down to give them a hug.
"Did you kids enjoy your selves"
"Yes grand dad we had heaps of fun" Connor said smiling
"that great" then he stood up and gave Kate a hug
"You look tied" Kate smile
"I am"
"come on lets gets these kids home, dinner will be ready by then"
"that great, come on kids" the kids held onto Paul and Kate hands as they walk over to where they could pick up the bags then they walk towards the exit while talking and keeping an eye on the kids.
Half and hour later Paul pulled up into garage and turn the engine off. Then he and Kate got out then got kids out of the wagon. Once kids were on the ground they ran towards the back door while Kate and Paul got the bags out of the boot before closing and locking the wagon and garage. Then they walk towards the back door when they could hear the kids and Alice talking. When they walk in side Alice saw Kate
"You look tied"
"thank I know, I'll take care of the bags" Paul pass Kate the other bags
"ok dinner will be ready in five minutes"
"Ok" Kate walk out of the kitchen dinning area leaving Paul and Alice to talk to the kids.
Kate walk up stairs and into her room then the kids bedroom. She sorted out there bags taking the new clothes and washing to the laundry shoot and put them down them then she return to finish unpacking the two suite cases. When done she went and did her's. When finish and suite cases were put away. She walk back down stairs to see kids in there high chairs eating dinner and Paul putting two plates on the table.
"smells good" Kate said when she walk into the room.
"come on you must be hungry" Alice said when she walk over to the table with plate in hand
"Yes I am" they sat down and started eating dinner while Kate tell Paul and Alice how the trip went.
After dinner Kate took kids up stairs for there bath and in there PJ's and in bed. When Kate finish cleaning up the water mess that the kids made and the washing down the laundry shoot. She return back to the kids bedroom where she read them a bed time story till they were asleep which didn't take long.
After she put the book down she got up from the chair and kiss each of the kids before turning the lamp off that was on the draws next to the chair. Then she walk out closing the door up partly then she went and got her two bags before walking down stairs and into the kitchen
"Kids sleeping" Kate said
"Ok your off now" Alice said
"Yes, I want to get a good night sleep, got to be up early in the morning"
"Ok see you on Friday"
"looking forward to it" Alice and Paul gave Kate a hug before she walk out the door.
Hour later Kate walk in to her room closing the door behind her. She sorted out her two bags and got change into her nightwear then she got into bed turning her alarm clock on before turning the lamp off and snuggling down closing her eyes and falling asleep.
The next morning when Kate just walk out of the bathroom after having a shower her cell phone rang so she walk over to her desk and pick it up to answer it when she saw who calling
"Hey good timing" Kate said smiling
"Oh, did you just get out of the shower?" Mike asked
"Yes. Did you get back ok"
"Yes, you"
"Yes kids were asleep before I finish half a page of a story"
"Well I'm not surprise Kate with all that running around and the flight"
"True, are you still in bed?" Kate ask smiling
"no I got out the shower my self"
"Really what your wearing?"
"Towel, you"
"Same" they talk for few more minutes before hanging up.
Kate went and got dress before leaving to get some breakfast while Mike got dress and went to hungry jacks for breakfast since there nothing in the house. Then he went to see Steve since Hammersley leaving for three week patrol.
Over the next four months, Kate and mike took kids to see Connor twice which he enjoy them visiting him. Mike E-mail his sisters about taking kids to see there great grand father as well giving him the odd phone call.
Kate e-mail her father once a week to let him know how things are and wondering what he and her grand parents doing for Christmas. When Mike and Kate talk when he home for few days shore leave he tells her that he asked for another XO and Navigator.
"Mike when are you due to come down to Sydney?"
"after this next patrol since I got to put up with lieutenant till next year, why?"
"When you come down let me know"
"Why Kate?"
"Trust me"
"Ok" Kate smile.
When mike return from his patrol he wasn't happy not only with his new XO plus the lieutenant who doing navigation. When he went and saw Steve, Steve saw the look on mike face when he walk into his office and sat down
"How bad Mike"
"Six weeks at least"
"I'll make the phone call, and lieutenant Roberts" Mike gave Steve a not happy look
"don't tell me"
"Yes Steve I want lieutenant Roberts and lieutenant Wilson off my boat" Steve sat back in his chair while looking at Mike
"Why" Steve asked
Mike open his brief case and got two files out then close it. Then he lean ford passing two files to Steve. Steve open the first file and read what it said then he look up at Mike
"no wounder you want him off Hammersley. Look I see what I can do but I'll try to get another XO by next year"
"thanks Steve" Steve close the file and put it on the desk then he pick up the second one and open it. He read what Mike put in his report. When finish reading it he close the file and look at Mike
"Captain table are you sure Mike?"
"I am Steve, three times he gave wrong course directions which cost us not only hours in finding those three boats who called in the may day but he was close in hitting the reef if it wasn't for Chefo and buffer who was on look out but on our way back" He shook his head
"Mike I'll see what I can do in finding a navigator for you"
"Steve there might be some one"
"Who" Steve asked
"I don't know the lieutenant name. Kate said she knows some one from her class who might be my next navigator. She want me to sit in couple of her class to see if I could spot the one Kate thinking of"
"Well then let me know the lieutenant name soon as you know if he or she can work with you and your crew"
"thanks Steve. Have you found new radio operator?"
"Yes I have, he will be here next year, I'll give you his profile next year"
"thanks Steve" they talk about the may day and FFV.
When finish Mike left Steve office after passing him all reports including the damage done to Hammersley and what needed to be fix. Mike walk out of Steve office and headed home since the crew got six weeks shore leave since Hammersley received number of damages in the past twenty four hours.
One was that they hit a reef during the night since the lieutenant gave the wrong course direction. When it hit the reef it did damage to the pillars and there was hole breach which the crew was able to seal the area off.
There on the way back to port, there was electrical fire on top of the fridge in the electrical area cause by two fuses blowing. Then there was mini fire in the engine room. By the time Hammersley return back to Cairns there was number of other problems happen on the old boat.