CH 55

The next day HMAS Toowoomba dock so crew got a week shore leave. Kate was in her cabin she she received phone call from Perth navy base commandeering officer. So she got change and went to see the commodore.

Hour later Kate return back to HMAS Toowoomba to pack her things. When she finish packing every thing up she went to see the captain since he was busy talking to two sailors when she return.

When she saw his door open into his cabin "sir" he turn to Kate

"Lieutenant, what can I do for you" Kate walk into his cabin and gave him an envelope

"I've just been inform from commodore James from fleet command sir. I've been transferred to HMAS Cairn NAVCOM navy base sir infected immediately"

"what we can't lose you I'll talk to commodore James about this" he stood up as he took the envelope from her hand

"It no good sir, he try to keep me here. The orders came strait from fleet command and admiral of the fleet him self sir"

"your joking admiral of the fleet and fleet command want you in Cairns?'

"Yes sir as XO on one of the patrol boats"

"do you know which patrol boat?"

"No sir"

"Let me know which ship your on and captain name. I'll send him a letter about you and telling him he took one of my best officers" Kate smile

"I'm sure you would sir"

"when are you leaving"

"My flight tonight. I got to pack every thing up before leaving. I better go sir"

"it a shame lieutenant"

"i know sir"

"Have you got a place to stay in Cairns" Kate smile

"Yes sir accommodation already sorted for me sir"

"Of course your husband lieutant command Mike flynn. He will be happy to have you there. Take good care of your self lieutenant"

"you to sir" Kate stood at attention and saluted the captain which he did in return then they shook hands.

"I'll let the crew know when we leave for our next patrol"

"thank you sir" Kate turn and walk out of captain cabin and off the ship.

She headed to her apartment where she pack every thing up before the van showed up to ship Kate things to Cairns. Then she left taking keys to navy base then left for her flight to cairns.

While in taxi she called Paul and Alice "hello"

"Alice it Kate"

"hi Kate you sound tired"

"I am. I got good news I've been transferred to Cairns" Kate said smiling

"what, when did this happen?"

"This morning I got my orders"

"dose mike know?"

"He still out on patrol but will be home in couple of days"

"Oh he will be happy to have you home"

"Same here but I don't know what patrol boat I'll be on"

"ok I'll let the family know, we been waiting for this moment in over ten years Kate"

"i know hopefully soon we will have kids join us. But I don't know when that will happen"

"soon I hope, although I love them but they should be with you and mike"

"I know. I better go I've arrived at the air port"

"ok Kate" then they hung up.

Kate got out of the taxi after paying for the fair then she got her bag and walk into the terminal.

Couple hours later Kate open the door and turn the alarm off at home. She smile as she look around as she walk up and into her bed room where she sorted out her bags then she made a phone call to order home delivered takeaways.

Then she went and got change then went to make the bed then she walk down stairs to make her self a drink till her dinner arrived. Hour later Kate crawl into bed and sleep while smiling knowing it good to be home.

The next day Kate went and did some shopping as well unpack her boxes that arrived. She was looking forward to seeing mike and knew he in for a big surprise when he arrives home.

The next morning Hammersley arrived in port. The crew looking ford to having the next few days off and wondering who the new XO is going to be. When mike and lieutenant Andrews was in Steve office they talk about what the lieutenant did to Nav. When finish the lieutenant walk out of Steve office and NAVCOM.

"Mike I got you a new XO, and it not from your list"

"what do you mean Steve"

"fleet command and the admiral of the fleet took the decision out of your and my hands"

"what do you know who my new XO is"

"Yes and this lieutenant came highly recommended. She a rule sticker, not like you mike. In fact you use to serve with her on HMAS Darwin few years go"

Mike trying to think of the female lieutenants from when he was on Darwin. He look at Steve

"Sorry there few female officers, who is she" Steve pick up the file and pass it to Mike. Mike open it and saw the photo

"Oh no" He look up at Steve

"I can't have her on Hammersley Steve"

"Why that is that cause she a women, as I said she came highly recommended"

"I know that... Steve have you read her profile"

"Yes I have, why"

"Steve she my wife, it got it here" Mike pass Steve Kate profile.

Steve look at it then back to mike "I see, I'll let fleet command know and let you know what they said before you leave for your next patrol"

"How about now" Steve pick up the phone to make the call.

Mike listen to what Steve saying. When he hung up few minutes later he look at mike "He didn't make the connection, he said that lieutenant McGregor stays till decommission of Hammersley in six months"

"dose Kate know?"

"she will now" Steve said when he saw Kate walk into the ball pen.

He and mike stood up and walk out of Steve office and over to where Kate is. She stood at attention and saluted both Steve and mike which they did in return

"lieutenant McGregor reporting sir"

"lieutenant welcome to NAVCOM" Steve said

"thank you sir"

"Kate I found out your my new XO" mike said. Kate look at mike in shock

"what"

"Yeah, I just found out few minutes ago my self. Steve contacted fleet command about the problem he said that you staying till the decommission of Hammersley in six months" Kate let out her breath she was holding while thinking

"Ok well then there will have to be some set rules"

"Rules" Steve asked

"Yes sir, one is we keep our personal and professional separate. Second while on board you treat my like a lieutenant, not your wife if you do... tooth brush duties at home" Steve smile when he saw the look on mike face.

"Plus there going to be other rules, I'll make a list of them, can you handle it... sir" Kate said looking at mike

"i think we will get along well lieutenant"

"Well Hammersley got five day shore leave, enjoy it while you both can"

"Yes sir" Kate said

"Talk to you both in five days"

Steve watch mike and Kate walk out of ball pen talking while Steve return back to his office thinking that mike might meet his match, but he knew he will see what will happen over the next six months.

When Mike and Kate arrived home they went and got change out of there uniforms, Mike went to have a shower so Kate decided to join him. When she close the shower door behind her Mike turn around and smile as she step ford warping her arms around his neck and kiss him

"Miss you" Kate said

"miss you to Kate, it good to have you home"

"Even if it for six months, it better than week here and week there"

"True, but you being my XO, that is some thing I'll have to get use to" Kate smile

"Yes it is like when we first met on Darwin" mike smile

"Yes I remember, so how well do you know patrol boats?"

"Well enough, why are you going to be testing me"

"May be, so for get about navy"

"good idea" they kiss and made love while in the shower. Then hour later they were in bed hug, kissing and making slow passionate love again.

Over the next few days Mike and Kate spent a lot of time together knowing that they leaving for there first patrol together when shore leave is over.

The morning that Hammersley was leaving for is six week patrol mike and Kate were up early. They just finish breakfast when Kate remember some thing

"Mike I just remember some thing"

"what is it?" Kate look at him

"Nav"

"what about her"

"when she see me, she knows about us remember Watson bay?" mike thought about what Kate said

"Your right" then he got his phone out of his pocket and look through his name list and press talk.

"hi Nav, it captain here, can you meet me at NAVCOM just before eight... I'll explain then... meet me in the underground car park... ok see you then" then he hung up

"she going to be shock" mike said

"Yes she is. So any idea who her fiancee is?"

"No all I do know is that he on a patrol boat?"

"Here or Darwin?"

"I think it here"

"that narrows it down a lot"

"True, you know you look sexy in your uniform" mike said grinning

"so do you and I'm looking forward to seeing you in your overall showing some of that sexy chest hairs of yours" Kate said smiling

"Really"

"Yes I love running my fingers through it"

"I know you do"

"still got that photo"

"Which one?"

"Sexy one" mike grin

"Yes I do why"

Kate open her bag and got laminated photo out and pass it to him. When he saw it photo oh Kate wearing nothing but white lace spaghetti strap sexy nightie, she was lying on the rug giving sexy look with her left hand showing all three rings. Kate saw the way mike look at the photo with a shock look on his face then he smile as he look up at Kate

"Pure touchier Kate" Kate smile

"cold showers Mike"

"One day I'll get you back for this" Kate giggle as she close her bag up.

"I wouldn't have it any other way"

Few minutes later they left home to drive to NAVCOM. When they arrived and park mike car in the under ground car park at NAVCOM. They got out and walk towards the elevators when they heard a car and toot of the horn. They stop and Mike turn around when he saw who it was.

"Kate" she look at Mike

"It Nav" then he walk around her car since she got out of her car

"Sir you wanted to met here why"

"Nav what I'm about to tell you, keep it to your self"

"ok what is it"

"It about our new XO, you know her" Nav frond

"I do who is it"

"Hi Nav" Nav turn around and was shock to see Kate.

Then she look at mike just as Kate walk over and stood next to him "You the new XO, was this your idea sir"

"no it was admiral of the fleet and fleet command choice. Mike and I didn't know till he talk to commander Marshal. Fleet command said it only till the decommission of Hammersley"

"ok so you don't want the crew to know"

"no cause they would think I'll favor Kate here"

"i under stand, but how are you two going to going to keep marriage and navy apart?"Kate pulled out a fold up piece of paper and pass it to Nav

"rules, here a copy of it"

"Ok I'll read it later. That means you won't be needing the sixteenth tooth brush then sir" Mike smile

"no I won't be but they will come in handy if a crew member screws up" Nav laugh

"i bet sir. I better go, see you both on Hammersley"

"ok Nav" mike said.

Nav got into her car and drove away while getting her phone out and making a phone call "Pete meet me at the car park, I'll tell you, you going to be shock... ok love you to" then she hung up.

Mike and Kate went and saw Steve about there patrol and learn that they getting a new crew member seamen billy Webb. When finish they went and got there sea bags then meet the driver who taking them to the wharf.

When Nav park her car she smile when she saw Pete walking over to her car wearing his overalls. She got out and open the back door to get her bag out then close both doors and lock it

"Nikki what is it"

"I know who our new XO is"

"you meet him"

"Her. Pete it Kate McGregor"

"Who?" Nav smile

"mike wife is our new XO" Pete look at her in shock

"your joking, Captain knows the rules"

"It wasn't him it was fleet command and admiral of the fleet who transferred her to Hammersley" Nav said as they walk to the guard house. They show there ID before walking pass and walking towards the wharf

"Your joking" Pete said

"Nope"

"What is she like?"

"she hard task master, in ADFA her nick name is princess perfect"

"Why call her that?"

"she won all the navy awards including the sward award. Her scores are unbeatable and she made both ADFA and Watson bay history cause of her scores"

"Really what else?"

"One wrong thing she will have you on tooth brush duties"

"bad as lieutenant Johnson"

"He has nothing compeer to Kate McGregor. She would have him doing tooth brush duties for the remaining of the patrol then captain will have him off the ship"

"Sounds like I better watch what I do or say around her"

"Yeah but don't worry, my guest she a learner like me she might stuff up but when she dose and you were there talk to her"

"thanks for the warning"

"don't tell the others, I told captain that I'll keep it quiet"

"but you told me"

"Cause I trust you"

"Is that all?" he said with a smirk

"and love you"

"i love you to" They talk till they stop at the gang way. Nikki went on board while Pete went to hurry the crew up with the boxes.

Few minutes later buffer notice a young sailor in uniform carrying his sea bag, he was walking towards him as he look at Hammersley then to buffer till he slow down and stop

"Can I help you...seamen Webb" Buffer asked

"Ah yeah, I'm suppose to report to lieutenant commander Flynn"

"Here he comes now, your first time on a boat?"

"Yeah finish training last month"

they turn to see the car stop and then mike, Kate and the driver got out and walk around to the back of the car where the driver open the boot and got there bags out and pass it to them then mike brief case. Then he close the boot then saluted mike and Kate which they did in return before walking towards where buffer is.

"buffer, this is lieutenant Kate McGregor, our new XO, X this is buffer Hammersley bosun"

"It nice to meet you ma'am"

"you to buffer" mike turn to the new sailor

"you must be seamen Webb"

"Yes sir" they saluted each other

"Welcome to Hammersley... have you got a nick name"

"spider sir, you know as in spider Webb...sir" mike smile

"Yes I get it" then he saw who on back of the ship

"ET"

"Yes sir" he walk off Hammersley and onto the wharf

"ET show...spider his bunk"

"Yes sir"

"Oh ET this is lieutenant Kate McGregor, our new XO"

"ET"

"Ma'am" they saluted each other then he turn to spider

"come on I'll show you your rack and the ship"

"thanks... why are you called ET?" they walk to the gang way

"I'm the electrical Technician"

"I get it" they talk as they walk towards one of the hatches.

"buffer is every thing on board"

"Yes sir"

"good... X follow me I'll show you to your cabin"

"Yes sir... buffer"

"Ma'am" Kate followed Mike up and onto Hammersley.

She follow him to the hatch and through the door. They walk down till mike stop at a door and walk in, he put his sea bag on the bed then turn to Kate

"My cabin" Kate look around it

"small"

"I know come on, I'll show you where you would sleeping"

Kate smile at mike and he wondering what she is thinking as he walk pass her. Kate follow Mike down the corridor till he stop at at close door.

He knock on the door then stood back when the door open "sir"

"Nav, your new room mate" Nav stick her head out the door to see Kate there

"hi come on in"

"thanks Nav...sir"

"We will be leaving in half an hour X"

"Yes sir" Kate walk in to the cabin and close the door behind her.

"I'll let you get change and settle in"

"Ok" Nav walk to the door and open it she walk out closing the door behind her.

Kate look around the small cabin then she put her bags on the lower bunk bed. She open them the started taking her uniform off and got change into her overalls, and boots. Once done she took her rings off and put them in a small bag then put them back in her sea bag. Then she unpack her things. When finish she walk out of her and Nav cabin and walk towards where the bridge is. When she walk on to the bridge Swain, Nav and mike was there.

"Swain this is lieutenant McGregor, our new XO"

"Ma'am"

"Swain"

Mike turn and walk up the steps to the look out deck so Kate follow him up there. Mike smile to Kate as he start giving out the commands before Swain took Hammersley away from the docks. Then Mike and Kate walk back down and onto the bridge where mike gives the next orders then they headed out to sea and headed north for there first patrol.

Coming soon: Family secerts