CH 43
When mike arrived on Hammersley after his driver drop him off the crew greeted him. "Welcome back sir" buffer said
"Thanks buffer"
"when is our new XO and Navigator arriving sir" ET asked
"Here one of them now" Every one turn to see who walking towards them carrying there sea bag.
"Who is that?" ET asked
"New Navigator"
When Nikki was close she was shock when she saw a crew member she knows. She saw the shock look on his face.
"Sir"
"Lieutenant welcome to Hammersley, this is chefo, ET, Buffer, Halfy, Charge"
"hi" Nikki said to them all
"Ma'am have you got a nick name" buffer asked
"no do you know a good nick name for me buffer"
"Nav"
"Nav" Nikki said raising her eye brows at him
"Yeah your navigator" Nikki thought about and smile
"i like it"
"Great Nav it is" buffer said smiling at her
"Ok...Nav I'll show you to your cabin while the rest of you back to work"
"Yes sir" they all said.
Nav follow mike up on to Hammersley as they talk. Mike show Nav to her cabin then he went into his and got change. Then he went to check on things while Nav look around the ship as well meet some of the other crew members. When lieutenant Goodwin arrived and was shown to his cabin. Mike was on the wharf when a sailor showed up
"Lieutenant commander Flynn sir" mike turn around and saluted the sailor
"Yes"
"I'm able seamen Robert Dixon, your new radio operator, I'm called RO" mike smile and they shook hands
"Well RO welcome aboard Hammersley... Chefo care to show RO his sleeping rack and the radio room"
"Yes sir, come on I'll show you around"
"Thanks" Mike watch RO and Chefo walk up and onto Hammersley.
Once every thing was done Hammersley left port and headed north for it three week patrol. Nav and RO got to meet and talk to the crew while the XO wasn't interested in talking to any of them which Mike notice.
Two days later Nav was up top when she saw who walk up the steps and stood next to her since she was sitting down on the seat. "How are you Nikki"
"I'm good, you"
"I'm good, shock"
"what seeing me again after six years"
"Yeah, what happen last time I wrote to you it was return back to me, what happen"
"Transferred to Darwin after you left for the Persian gulf. I wrote to you but never got a reply back"
"did that happen about the time of your transferred?" Nav thought about it
"Yes"
"Dam navy why didn't they forward mail of to you"
"Who knows. Look this isn't time or place to talk"
"ok when"
"Next shore leave, we need to talk"
"Ok we will talk"
"It's good to see you" Nikki said.
"you to Nikki, you still look beatiful as always and I always had you close to my heat" he pulled out a photo from his top pocket and show it it. It was the last photo taken of them before his transfurred. Nikki smile and she pulled the same photo out of her pocket.
"Same here. We both have change"
"Yes we except for my love for you, that hasn't change"
"Same here" she said, smiling at him.
At that same Day Kate received a letter from the navy. She open the letter and read what it said, she sat down at the dinning room table as tears were starting to form. That how Alice saw her when she walk into the dinning room.
"Kate what wrong?"
"I've been transferred to Perth"
"what" Alice said in shock
"I've been posted on HMAS Toowoomba, it an Anzac class frigate. I leave in four days. They got me set up in navy accommodation flats in Perth for single navy officers"
"Oh Kate what are you going to do"
"I got no choice Alice, I go where the navy puts me and I got to learn to like it"
"what about Mike and kids?"
"I'll E-mail Mike, he going to be up set over this and now it going to be even harder not only for Mike but for the kids as well" Alice walk around the table putting her arm around Kate shoulder
"don't worry Kate Paul and I will be here for you and mike"
"I know but this shouldn't be happening, I should be up in Cairns not on the other side of the country" Kate stood up and walk out of the dinning room.
Alice watch Kate walk away. She turn when Paul walk in side carrying couple of bags, he saw the look on Alice face and can tell it not good news "what happen" He asked
"Kate been transferred to Perth"
"what" He said in shock
"she received the letter, she leaves in four days"
"she didn't take it well"
"no"
"all we can is be there for her, mike and kids"
"I know I told her" he put the bags on the bench then walk over and hug her.
"Why is the navy doing this to them"
"I don't know, but I'm worried about what Kate might do" He pulled back
"what do you mean"
"Resigning from the Navy"
"We just hope it doesn't happen"
"I hope so to" three days later Kate hug and kiss the kids good bye just as the taxi showed up
"You kids be good, ok"
"Are you coming back mummy" Mary asked
"Yes when I have some leave" She stood up then hug Paul and Alice
"Take care Kate" Alice said
"i will"
"We are here if you need to talk"
"i know thank you" they hug before Kate pick up her bags and walk over to the Taxi is.
She pass her bags to the driver then she turn around and crouch down to hug kids once more "I love you, remember that"
"I love you mummy" they all said. Kate stood up looking at Paul and Alice
"I'll call tonight"
"Ok Kate" Alice said. Kate got into the taxi and wind down the window. She wave to them just as the taxi left to head to the air port.
That night Kate called Alice and Paul to let them know that she arrived ok and that she leaving the next day for six week patrol. She gave them a date on when she returning back for some shore leave.
The next morning Kate walk up on to HMAS Toowoomba with lieutenant commander since she met him and captain of the ship at Perth navy base yesterday afternoon. after she drop her bags off at the navy officer accommodation block. The lieutenant commander interduce Kate to the other officers on the ship after she was change. Few hours later HMAS Toowoomba left for it six week patrol
Over the next three weeks, the crew of Hammersley was busy with FFV and may day calls. When they return back to Cairns the crew looking forward to going to the pub. The day that Hammersley dock and crew started leaving. When Nav left she went home looking ford to seeing her family.
That night mike check his e-mails, he saw one from Kate and he saw what she put in subject so he open her e-mail and read what it said. Mike was shock when Kate told him about the transferred to Perth and what ship she will be on. He pick up the phone and called Kate
"Hello"
"Kate, I received your e-mail"
"Mike, I'm not happy about it"
"I know your not, neither am i"
"I don't know if I'll make it to Connor or kids birthday this year"
"Let me know if you can"
"I will" they talk for half an hour before hanging up since Kate was due to head to the bridge for her watch.
The next morning there was a knock on the door so Nav went to see who it was "hi come on in"
"thanks" he walk into the house just as Nav close the door. Then they walk into the living room
"Want a brew" Nav asked
"not now thanks"
"Ok sit down" they both sat down next to each other.
Nav turn to him. "Pete there some thing I got to tell you"
"your married" she laugh knowing that he was joking.
"no... the last letter I sent to you it was to tell you that I was pregnant" Pete look shock
"Pregnant"
"Yes, wait here" She stood up and walk out of the room leaving Pete alone in shock.
When she return she sat down next to him passing him a photo album. "I've taken so many photos in hoping one day I'll see you again"
Pete open the photo album. He saw photos of Nikki as she was getting bigger and bigger. He flip through the pages till he stop at one photo it was Nikki holding her baby just after it was born. He look down at comments 'Nickolas 'Nick' Peter Caetano born 05/11/2000. 8 pounds 2 ounces' Pete look up at Nikki
"A boy, is he..."
"He our son, he looks like you well except for the hair, he get that from me" Nikki said smiling
"Really"
"Yes" Pete look down at the photo album and flip though the pages seeing different photos of his son. He smile when there ones when Nick was having his bath.
"He water baby" Nikki said
"just like you"
"and you. After all I think that is when he was conceived when we were at that private spa pool at the hotel that one day we had off at the same time before you left for your tour over seas" Pete smile
"Yes I remember, we haven't seen each other for a week and we had that one night together till you received that crash sail phone call"
"Yeah I hated it, it was bad timing. We had plans that evening"
"I know" Pete look through the photo album seeing different photos of there son.
"He dose look like me"
"Yes he dose" When Pete finish looking at the photos he close the album and put it on the table then he turn to Nikki
"you done a great job in raising him"
"I've had some help"
"Who"
"Tom and Heidi. They been raising him when I was at ADFA and Watson bay"
"tom and Heidi, your brother and sister in law?"
"Yes, they here"
"living here?"
"Yes... Tom was in an car accident after Nick was born. He suffered spinal, hip and leg injuries. The doctors told him that he won't walk again cause both hips were smash in to pieces and he had both hips replace and four disks remove and rod put in place. Plus he had knee replacement and rods put in both legs"
"So he in a paraplegic?"
"No" Nikki said smiling
"He can walk short distances with crunches but any long trip he uses wheel chair"
"Ok what about...kids"
"they got two, both boys and another on the way"
"Really, but how are they copping, has Heidi got a job?"
"Yes being a mum and Tom care giver"
"Ah, so they look after Nick while your out on patrol"
"Yes and since the navy help out with the moving it a been a relief for Tom, Heidi and me. Plus I look for a house that got every thing that tom needed"
"Ok so you and kids up stairs?"
"Yes Tom and Heidi live down stairs. It a lot easy on Tom"
"that a good to know. Where are they?" Nikki smile
"Nick at school Jon and TJ are at day care. Heidi and Tom gone out for the day leaving us to talk" Pete smile
"Ok so care till tell me what you been doing tell me more about Nick" Nikki smile
"so long as you tell me what you been doing your self"
"sure. But we will have to tell the captain" Nikki let out her breath
"i know but we will when we got time"
"together"
"together...brew" Pete smile
"Why not" They stood up and walk into the kitchen where they talk while Nikki got them both a drink.
They spent the whole day talking and laughing till they heard toot of horn
"they home" Pete look at his watch
"wow I didn't relies that it was late" Nikki laugh
"I know what you mean, care to stay for dinner"
"Are you sure"
"Yes and I'll interduce you to Nick as a friend for now, if that ok with you"
"sure that fine dose Tom and Heidi know about me"
"Yes they do and tom told me if I didn't tell you about Nick he would"
"Well you don't have to worry about that now"
"True" they walk towards the kitchen
"I can help cook"
"thanks Pete" then they heard
"mummy" Nick ran up to Nikki to give her a hug.
Pete look at his son for the first time. He could see that Nick look like both him and Nikki
"hey nick did you have a great day at school"
"Yeah... hello" Nick said when he saw Pete
"Nick this is a friend and crew mate of mine Pete Tomaszewski"
"Hello Nick"
"Hello do you work with mummy" Pete smile as he crouch down to Nick level
"sure do, crew call me buffer"
"Why that"
"It navy nick name"
"Oh what mummy name"
"Crew call her Nav"
"Strange name" Nikki smile at them
"Nav short for Navigator"
"Oh mummy good at that" Pete laugh
"Yes I know" then Pete stood up when Tom, Heidi and kids walk into the kitchen.
Tom and Heidi look shock when they saw Pete for the first time in over six years "Pete this is a shock" tom said as he walk forward using crunches. Then stop at the breakfast bar to sit down so he could shake Pete hand
"Yes it is Tom. Nikki told me what happen to you"
"i thought she would, you cut your hair"
"Last year when I was involve with raising money for cancer"
"do you know some one who got cancer" Heidi asked
"Yes my mother she got stage three breast cancer" Nikki was shock
"Pete I didn't know" He turn to Nikki
"no one dose. Please don't tell the crew" Nikki step ford to hug Pete
"I won't" when they pull apart
"Where is your mum?"
"Sydney"
"Ok, who hungry"
"Me" Nick and Pete said at the same time causing Nikki to laugh
"Ok Pete you can help me in the kitchen"
"Yes ma'am" she gave him a look which he knew he was in trouble but he gave her a sustain smile which cause her to give up and walk into the kitchen
"I hate it when you give me that look Pete" she said
"Your in trouble mate" tom said laughing
"I know" Pete went and help Nikki cook dinner while the rest of the family went into the living room.
That night every one enjoyed dinner that Pete and Nikki cook up. After wards Pete help Nikki with the dishes before joining the others in the living room for an hour then it was kids bed time. Nikki and Heidi took kids up to there rooms. Nick gave Pete a hug before going to bed.