"X! What was that" Mike called over the radio unsure of what he had just heard over the radio
"it's a baby" Kate said looking at the infant lay in the cooler who was looking back up at her, it was only in a thin cotton romper and lay on a very flimsy blanket
"Come again" Mike's voice cracked across the radio
"A BABY!" Kate called lifting the child from the cooler tucking her in to her boarding jacket. "let's get back" she said turning to Buffer.
Arriving back on Hammersley Kate waited till the Crain had lifted the RHIB back in to place and it was secure before she carefully climbed out
"SHIT" Nav called "you weren't joking" she said taking the little child from her friend so she could climb back down on to the deck
"I wish I was" Kate said jumping down the last step landing softly on the deck. "it's freezing on the water and who knows how long that cooler has been in the water." she said "I'm going to get swain to check her over. "Nav check the supplies we were taking over to the islands I think I recall seeing baby formular and bottles on the manifest. And I also need one of the boxes that the fresh veg was delivered in"
"On it" Nav smiled placing her hand on the infant's head. "How could anyone just dump a baby like that" before heading back inside heading to find the items Kate needed
"Um ma'am" 2 dads said coming up behind her
"Yes 2-dads" Kate sighed
"Babies poop. And I mean a lot"
"Thanks 2-dads I didn't know that" Kate sighed turning to walk away
"What I mean is how are you going to deal with all that poop, there are no dippers on board I lugged all the boxes to the stores myself
"We have towels and that we can make reusable nappies till we get back to base" Kate said shaking her head annoyed as that was the least of her worries.
Heading into the wardroom she was pleased to see Swain waiting she placed the baby on the table she took her own boarding jacket off.
"Nikki wasn't joking when she got me" Swain said grabbing his kit.
"what's the story" She asked Swain
"She appears to be around 6 months I would say, and apart from a little dehydration and a slight chill she appears to be okay" Swain smiled as the baby grabbed his fingers. "Nothing a bit of warm milk will sort out; they can check her out properly when we get back to base"
"Thanks Swain" Kate smiled
"Right" Nikki called walking in I got the milk and a couple of bottles that I have got in sterilising as we speak, Bomber is sorting out the box as she wanted to keep her veg in some sort of order"
"Thanks Nik" Kate smiled lifting the baby up off the cold table of the wardroom "let's take her through to the officers mess I can make her a bottle up in there"
Walking through the darkened ship Kate made her way into the officer's mess. Thankfully Bomber had already put the veg box in there along with some blankets.
"I've made the box a little comfier and I found these as well ma'am I thought they could go under the box to warm her up quicker" Bomber smiled holding up 2 hot water bottles.
"Thats perfect" Kate smiled "were there any towels and wash cloths down there, we will need them to make nappies until we can get back to base"
"i'll go take a look" Bomber said.
"Those bottles should be finished about now. I'll just go get them" Nav said
Half an hour later Kate put a bottle on to the table, after making sure the baby had no trapped wind, she placed her into the makeshift box bed they had managed to cobble together.
"i don't know why anyone would abandon you" Kate whispered brushing her finger along the baby's cheek. "Your safe now"
"How is everything" Nikki smiled walking in carrying a mug of coffee in handing her the mug she was carrying
"Thanks. She is settled" Kate said looking over at the box bed.
"do you want me to take over later?" Nikki asked
"no! Kate said a little forcefully "i mean it's okay I think it will be best If just one of us does it that way we are all not over tired. Besides it wont take too long to get back to base"
"about 28hrs" Nikki said
"it will be fine I have a ton of paperwork to do now and a report to write up on this incident" Kate said.
"Looks like you will be needing more coffee" Nikki smiled "I'll go grab you a pot and some Brekkie from the galley in a bit"
"Thanks Nik" Kate smiled
Carefully sliding from the bench Kate pulled the folders she needed from the shelf and placed them on the table.
Several hours later Kate woke with a start, the mess had gone silent. Too silent. Looking around she could see Mike sat on the bench opposite her cradling the baby feeding her another bottle. She smiled watching how he was with the baby.
"Hey" she smiled trying not to sound panicked that she had fallen asleep whilst she was supposed to be watching the baby.
"Everything is fine" Mike said sensing the tone of worry in her voice "little miss just wanted a bottle and a nappy change" he said
"Why didn't you wake me" she said taking a sip of her now cold coffee that was in front of her
"Because I thought you needed it you can't have had more than a few hours since your last watch and you were up at stupid o'clock"
"Whose fault was that" she grinned
"Hey if you hadn't got up at silly O'clock then little miss would more than likely still be freezing in the middle of the Arafura Sea. Anyway, Bird is dishing up the scran, why don't you have a Strech, and I will, finish up with Madam" he said
"if you're sure" she said "i could do with that and splashing some water on my face to feel a bit more human" she said standing to leave.
Walking out she turned looking back watching as he lifted the infant up to his shoulder trying to relieve the trapped wind. It made her heart he was so good with the baby, but it also made her heart hurt as it was a painful reminder of their past.
so hope you enjoy. its offically the summer holidays so hopefully i can do more writting (depending on my brain and weather it allows me and provides the words) anyway sorry about the cliffhanger in the last chapter but i do love suspence.
also i have deceided to raise the raiting because some of the planned themes (as well as the theme in this chapter)