CH 44
When Nikki and kids were up stairs Pete turn to Tom as he sat back on the couch.
"Now you know about Nick, I hope you won't try any thing stupid"
"like what, trying to take him away from her, I'm not like that"
"i hope not. She was really up set when you return her letters back to her unopened"
"We talk about that, even I received return to sender letters Tom. I didn't even know she was transferred and as for me not receiving her letters, I wasn't the only one who wasn't getting mail while over seas mate, quarter of crew also didn't receive any thing. Some of us weren't happy that we didn't received any mail from our families. If I did I would of been hit with double blower"
"what do you mean double blower?"
"nick and my mum"
tom thought about what Pete said and remember that Pete said that his mother got cancer and relies that Pete didn't know till he return from his tour over seas to hears about his mother health and how bad it was
"Sorry about that Pete, I guest your right on how bad it would of been"
"Yeah. There was some thing I was planing on doing back then"
"what that"
not knowing that Nikki was out side the living room just about to walk in when she heard them talking about her.
"I was planing on asking Nikki to marry me when I return back for the gulf. While I was over seas I was paying off the engagement ring that I brought for her"
"You were going to purpose" tom said in shock
"Yeah"
"Have you still got the ring"
"Yes I still got it, I don't know why I keep it but I guest back then that one day I'll find Nikki and if she wasn't seeing any one..."
"Rekindle that lost love"
"Yeah,some thing like that"
"What sort of ring is it?"
"single diamond in white gold"
"solitaire, how big the diamond?" Tom asked
"One carrot the jeweler told me"
"One carrot how much did that cost you"
"A lot, I'm not saying how much"
"Ok next time you come around bring it with you"
"sure"
"so what are you and Nikki going to do now?"
"Talk, that all we can do and for me to get to know our son"
Nikki was shock that Pete was planing on purposing to her when he return from the gulf and that he still got the ring after all this time. And that he wanted to get to know there son which made her smile.
She listen to them talk till she heard Heidi walking down the stairs. Nikki turn to her and put her fingers to her lips. Heidi slow down as she walk down the stairs and over to where Nikki is
"Nikki why aren't you in there" Heidi said quietly
"tom talking to Pete"
"Oh no"
"It ok"
"Nikki"
"Pete was planing on purposing to me when he return back from the gulf" Heidi was shock
"oh my god your joking" then the door open which cause them to jump when they turn to see Pete there looking at them
"Care to join us. From what I remember Nikki you and Heidi like to gossip and since we got few more days off I'm sure Nikki will tell you all about the guys including me that on Hammersley" they heard Tom laughing from the living room
"We don't gossip now do we Heidi"
"no we don't Nikki" they walk pass Pete and into the living room and sat down.
Heidi sat next to Tom slapping his arm "Stop laughing Tom" Heidi said just as Pete sat next to Nikki.
They talk and laugh for the next three hours before Pete left to go home. When he walk to the door and open it he step out side then stop and turn to Nikki.
"Call me any time so we can carry on with our talk or for me to come around to see you and Nick" Nikki smile
"i would like that. How about Friday morning"
"sure, but wouldn't Nick be at school" Nikki smile
"Yes, how about we meet in the mall, I need to get Nick some new clothes" Pete smile
"sure so long as you don't mind me buying the clothes it a start and I can give you money for child support"
"Pete... on nick birth certificate it got father unknown" Pete look at Nikki in shock
"Why?"
"At that time I wasn't thinking strait plus I was in labor for twenty six hours with him. I was so tired after giving birth to him... the first time I held him after giving birth, the next time was four days later"
"was there some thing wrong with him?"
"no it was me. The doctor gave me a drug after I've given birth. I had a bad side affect from it and ended up in coma for three days" Pete was shock so he step ford pulling Nikki into his arms
"I had no idea Nikki"
"Neither did I or my family Pete" when he pulled back he cup her face while looking at her.
"I'm please you are ok now... I... don't want any thing happen to you and from now on while out on patrol I'm going to be extra protective" Nikki smile
"I know you will Pete but we don't want to raise suspicions"
"True but I will worry about you"
"i know you will"
"See you Friday then" Pete said
"Ok, enjoy your shore leave"
"You to" Pete lean ford and kiss Nikki on the lips.
Then he look at her once more before he turn around and walk down the steps walking towards his motor bike. Nikki watch him leave then she step back closing and locking the door. Then she turn around to see Tom and Heidi looking at her with grins on there faces.
"He still loves you sis"
"Tom it been six years"
"so" He raise his eye brows at her
"come on tom lets go to bed, night Nikki"
"night tom, Heidi"
"Sweet dreams about lover boy" Heidi said laughing as she and Tom walk down to there bedroom.
Nikki grin while shaking her head. Then she walk towards the steps and up them tuning lights off along the way till she reach her bedroom since the censer lights are on in the passageway just in cause Nick gets up in the middle of the night and went into her room like he dose when she on shore leave.
The next day Mike walk into ball pen carrying files in his hand. He walk over to Steve office and walk in since Steve wave him him even though there are two officers in his office.
"Mike"
"Steve... Jim it good to see you"
"You to mike" they shook hands.
"Lieutenant commander Flynn, this is my new XO lieutenant Eric Walker"
"sir"
"Lieutenant" they shook hands then mike turn to Jim
"New XO"
"Yeah we just return from patrol his first why did you ask?" Jim look confuse.
Mike turn to Steve "Steve what the hell going on here, you told me lieutenant McGregor is on top of the list for transferred to here soon as there was an opening" mike said looking at Steve not looking happy about what he just learn.
"I know that mike, I spoke to Canberra about it, lieutenant McGregor was suppose to be here and lieutenant Walker was suppose to be transferred to Perth. But some one change the orders. Lieutenant Walker was second on the list to be here but on Hammersley if you ask for another XO and lieutenant Goodwin was suppose to be on Bendigo"
"so some one from Canberra screw up the transferred orders" mike said
"mike some one change them, fleet command is having it investigated but they told me that lieutenant McGregor is back on top of there list to have her here"
"I hope they don't screw up again Steve or I'll be marching into there office, here my reports" Mike lightly toss the reports on Steve desk then he turn around and walk out of Steve office.
"Mike sure doesn't look happy and I don't blame him" Jim said
"I know it been tough on him and his family"
"Sir why dose lieutenant commander Flynn wanted lieutenant McGregor posted here for?" lieutenant Walker asked
"lieutenant McGregor is Mike wife"
"Oh I under stand why he not happy, I would be to sir is some one screw up my wife orders"
"All officers would be lieutenant, shall we continue"
When mike return back home he called his father and told him what he found about. Paul was shock that some one change the transferred orders. They talk for half an hour. When finish talking to his dad. Mike then sent an E-mail to Kate then he went into town to do some shopping.
That night Kate went to check her e-mail messages. When she saw one from Mike she open it and read what it said. She was shock with what mike said then she turn around when she saw who walk into the room so she stood up
"sir"
"Lieutenant, carry on"
"Yes sir" Kate sat down and turn to finish reading mike E-mail just as the captain sat down to do his.
"Sir you normally check your e-mail messages in your cabin"
"Battery dead, it on the recharger"
"Oh"
"Are you ok lieutenant" Kate turn to the captain
"I received an e-mail from my husband sir he station in Cairns on one of the patrol boats. He just told me some one change my transferred orders"
"What" he said in shock
"mike my husband founds out today from commander Marshal that I was suppose to be transferred to HMAS Bendigo as the XO. Lieutenant Walker who on there was suppose to be here but was on the list if lieutenant commander Flynn who captain on Hammersley ask for a new XO but in steed he got lieutenant Goodwin who was suppose to be on Bendigo" Captain thought about what Kate said.
"You were suppose to be on Bendigo, and Walker was suppose to be here"
"Yes"
"Then why was Goodwin suppose to be on bendigo?"
"Lieutenant Walker was second on the lieutenant list to be transferred to Cairn after me but first on the list if lieutenant commander Flynn ask for a new XO"
"Ah I get it now so some one screw up the orders"
"Not screw up sir, some one change them. Fleet command is looking into who change the transferred orders and why"
"so what going to happen when we return?"
"Till I know I'm on here till I get my transferred orders"
"fleet command not going to fix this mess?"
"Not till they find out who change the orders just in case some one change them again but Fleet command doesn't know who the person is and who the lieutenant that the person is targeting. It could be lieutenant Walker, lieutenant Goodwin or me. Some one from Canberra is out there trying to hurt of one us but for what reason why that is happening I don't know"
"Well I'm sure they will find out who change the transferred and why. But I'm please you are here lieutenant. You been a great help so far" Kate smile
"thank you sir" Kate turn and look at Mike E-mail then she reply back to him while the captain check his e-mail.
On Friday morning Pete walk into the mall, he look around looking for Nikki since he received her text message about meeting him there and at what time. He look around till he saw her looking around till she was looking his way so he raise his arm to get her attention. When she saw him she smile and wave back just as he walk towards her.
"Hey you made it" Nikki said giving him a hug
"Yep so what do you to do first go shopping or get a drink?" Nikki look at Pete while thinking about it
"how about shopping then lunch" Pete smile
"Why not and the make sure I don't lose you" He held onto her hand
"you will never lose me Pete"
"I know, come on where to first"
They walk towards one of the shops and walk in side. Nikki show Pete shoes she want to get Nick since he almost out grown the ones he got. "He need theses and these" Nikki said showing Pete
"Ok how about I buy these and you by those" Pete said pointing to the two shoes
"Ok" they pick the shoes up and walk to the counter when Pete shoe a pair of sand shoes in his size so he pick them up as they walk to the counter.
"New shoes Pete"
"Yeah you saw what my others ones were like" Nikki grin
"Yes I know"
Once the shoes were paid for they walk out the shop together while holding hands then they walk down to another shop. They shop for couple of hours before going to a cafe for lunch. While they were having lunch Nikki look at Pete
"you going to be spoiling Nick Pete"
"You think so?"
"Yes, I couldn't believe the things you got him"
"you could of said some thing sooner Nikki"
"i know I should but seeing the look on your face it the same look that Nick got, that why I didn't say any thing" Pete put his hand in her's while looking at her
"Next time tell me, ok"
"Ok" She said smiling.
When they finish lunch they went to couple of shops then the the public toilets. When finish there they carry on shopping for an hour before walking towards the car park. When they stop at Nikki car she unlock the doors then Pete open the back door so he could put most of the bags he was carry on the back seat then Nikki pass him her bags so he could put them next to the others before closing the door. Then he turn to Nikki.
"Well our son should be happy with the new clothes we brought him" Nikki smile as she step ford to hug Pete
"Yes he will be alright" just as Pete wrap his arms around her and kiss her. When they pulled apart he look at her
"See you tomorrow morning"
"Sure, and thanks for buying Nick clothes"
"no worries" Pete lean ford and kiss Nikki on the lips. When he pull back Nikki was smiling
"See you tomorrow" Pete said before turning around and walking away.
Nikki watch him walk away before getting into her car and drove home while still smiling. Pete went to couple more shops before returning home him self.
The next morning Hammersley left for four week patrol. The crew talk about what they did on there shore leave plus other things. Mike was up top looking out at sea when Nikki walk up the steps.
"sir" He turn to her
"Nav" then he look out at sea
"Are you ok sir? You didn't seam your self this morning" He turn to Nikki then back out at sea
"Kate was suppose to been transferred up to Cairns but instead some one from fleet commander change her transferred orders to Perth"
"what" Nikki was shock He turn to her
"It true, fleet command is having it investigated"
"Who would do that sir"
"don't know, all I know is that Kate was suppose be on HMAS Bendigo lieutenant Goodwin suppose to be In Perth and lieutenant Walker suppose to be here"
"Where is lieutenant walker sir"
"On Bendigo"
"Oh. Is fleet command going to change the transferred orders?"
"No, not till they know who change them in the first place"
"ok, how lieutenant McGregor?"
"Not happy after what I told her, but she under stands"
"Ok" they look out at sea for a few minutes with a crew member walk up the steps.