CH 6
Ten minutes later Hammersley headed back to Cairns. Mike was on the bridge the whole time except for when he needed to go to the loo. Nav brought them both brew couple of times. Hour after she spoke to buffer her phone rings so she got it out of her pocket to see who calling then she answer it
"Hello... hi buffer... yes some of them are here. What the latest on spider and the X... yes..." then she smile as she turn to Mike
"that is great news... yes the crew will be happy. Yes he will be... you said what..." then she laugh
"Very funny... I will... me to...in eight hours... ok... thanks for calling... I will... bye" then she hung up. The ones who on the bridge look at her including mike.
"they going to be fine"
"that is good news Nav" mike said. Nav turn and pick up the microphone and turn the PA system on
"now here this... buffer called. Spider and X are going to make a full recovery. Buffer called his feds contact about what happen and he threaten the fed if spider of X doesn't get the antidote. The fed make calls strait away and by the time X and spider were in hospital a fed was there with the antidote. Buffer said to me..." she turn to look at mike
"The feds wanted to know where we got the crab from. Both buffer and two feds were arguing when X she told both feds a thing or two including some colorful language and threat them with tooth brush duties on all the navy boats in cairns" Mike grin while every one laugh.
"buffer said despite the X getting better she still got that fiery temper about her and both feds never stood a chance again her. As for spider... he told buffer just before two feds left. Even though X is sick like me she still can give orders even if it tooth brush orders, I feel sorry for the captain, no wounder he doesn't stand much of a change against her. X and buffer yelled at spider, he lay there with a goofy grin on his face and said to buffer... X should give those two Hammersley job after charge has bake beans" Every one laugh knowing what bake beans dose to charge.
"X threaten him with the job when both he and X are back on board. Oh as for the lieutenant from fleet commander. He in trouble when the feds called and spoke to commander Marshal. That is all" then she put the microphone back after turning the PA system off.
"thanks for share the good news Nav" Mike said
"Well it made every one smiling sir"
"Yes it did"
When they reach cairns, every one was going to head to the hospital to see spider and X. When they dock they saw navy car showed up and stop next to the gang way. They saw who got out of the car so Nav went to greet commander Marshal
"sir welcome aboard Hammersley" they saluted each other
"Lieutenant... how is he"
"He doing better since Pete call to give me the good news. But I think for him to see her for him self, reassuring that she is going to make a full recovery"
"i know it would. I would like report about what happen"
"I did it few hours ago sir, captain got it"
"have you got the crab remains"
"Yes, I asked chefo to hold them just in case the feds wanted them"
"good work lieutenant, where is Mike?"
"In his cabin sir, I can show you the way" Steve smile
"i know my way around a patrol boat lieutenant, carry on"
"Yes sir" they saluted once more before Steve went to see mike while Nav went to finish her and X duties before leaving.
Steve walk down and into Mike cabin, he saw Mike at his desk doing some paper work. He turn and look when when he heard some one enter his cabin
"Steve, I didn't know you were coming down to see me"
"How are you mike"
"I'm doing ok, buffer been keeping Nav up to date on what been happening"
"i know, I get reports from the feds about it. When are you going to see your two crew members?"
"I'll be leaving in few minutes. I'll go home first to pack a few things for Kate then head to the hospital"
"Ok, till your XO and..."
"Spider" Mike said
"spider gets the all clear from the doctors. Hammersley is a ship stopper"
"I under stand and thanks Steve"
"don't worry about the paper work today, go and see them" Steve said since they heard couple of the crew members talking as they walk pass mike cabin
"thanks Steve" Steve turn around and walk out of mike cabin.
Mike sat there for a minute then he stood up and close the door so he could get change. Then he went to check on couple of things before leaving to go home.
Hour later Mike walk into Kate room. He smile and relax when he saw her sitting up in bed smiling at him. He could see how pale she look but at least she was alive. He walk over and put bag on a chair then he sat on the bed passing her dozen red roses.
"Mike thank you" she lean ford and kiss him
"I was so worried about you Kate, after what I saw you in so much pain, I thought I was going to lose you" Kate she cup his face with her hands
"I'm fine now, the doctors said I will make a full recovery"
"that is good news"
"Yes it is. I saw buffer few hours ago, he sneak in here. He told me about what Gallagher been up to and he took photos of people he been meeting. There was one person in partial, a women."
"Rick Gallagher and a women?"
"Yes, the feds know who she is and buffer he mange to find out who she is"
"How"
"you will have to ask him."
"what her name?"
"doctor Ursula Monroe she the one who been getting the toxins from the crabs, for what reason, the feds don't know"
"dose she know Doctor Homes"
"Yes, they work colleges"
"that is interesting"
Mike move the roses and put them on the bed side table then he turn to Kate and lifted her left hand slipping her wedding ring on then he raise her hand and kiss it then he lean forward and kiss her again.
"Have the crew been in yet"
"No, not yet, but" she move her hand into pillow case then pull it out again.
Then she put the item in mike hand. He look down at it then back up to Kate
"Pen drive"
"Yes, buffer manage to up load all the photos and copy of his reports on to here"
"Why not give it to Nav?"
"He received a phone call from Gallagher, they were leaving to do a job"
"ok. So how long are they going to keep you in here for?"
"another three, four days. It turn out spider and I were lucky, we only received a small dose of the toxin"
"small, I thought I was going to lose you Kate, when Nav woke me up and told me." Kate pulled Mike into her arms for a hug
"It scare me as well Mike, I thought I was going to die with out telling you..." then mike move back so he could look at her
"that I love you"
"I love you to" they both kiss when there was a knock on the door then it open.
They turn to see who it was then relax when it was Nav poking her head in and smile "sir we got incoming" Nav said when she walk into the room
"thanks Nav, how spider?"
"Good crew giving him a hard time about crabs"
"At least they all in good spirits" Kate said
"Yeah, you and spider scared every one last night, none of the crew could sleep and captain here, he was on the edge of braking down."
"what?" Kate said in shock
"He was worried about you till Pete called me with the good news"
"I know, buffer told me" Mike got up from the bed and sat down in a chair just as Nav did when they heard the crew talking till they knock on the door
"come in guys" Kate said.
Then the door open and crew walk in smiling when they saw Kate sitting up in bed. "how are you feeling X?" Swain asked
"I'm good thanks swain, Nav told me what happen"
"How long are they going to keep you in here for?" Charge asked
"three, four days"
"Same with spider" ET said.
"Here we got you these" Dutchy said as he step ford hold bouquet of flowers, he put them on the bed side table
"thanks guys"
"Wow X roses" Chefo said when he saw them
"Yes, my husband brought them in about ten minutes ago"
"so we miss meeting him" ET said then charge farted
"Charge" the group said
"sorry"
"so when are we going to met your husband X?"
"One day" then she lean back against her pillows
"come on guys, let leave X get some rest" Nav said as she stood up
"Ok, coming sir" ET asked
"In few minutes, we going to talk about boat rosters, I'll let you know who on what shift, go and enjoy your shore leave"
"Yes sir" then they walk out of the room talking.
Dutchy slow down while thinking then stop "You guys go on a head, I need to ask the captain some thing" Dutchy said
"ok mate" Dutchy turn around and walk back to Kate room.
He knock on the door before entering. When he walk into the room he was shock to see Mike sitting on edge of the bed kissing Kate.
"sorry" mike and Kate broke a apart and turn to Dutchy
"come in Dutchy what is it" Kate asked.
Dutchy walk in closing the door behind him "Sir when you said you were going to talk to the X about ship rosters, I relies when I left that you didn't have any paper work with you that is why I return. Now I know the rear reason"
"Kate and I were sorted out the rosters yesterday"
"ok but what I just saw, sir, X. You know I'll have to report you both"
"Dutchy sit down please" X asked.
Dutchy walk over and sat down. "Dutchy. Mike is my husband. The crew except for Nav and buffer doesn't knows that were married to each other"
"dose commander Marshal know this"
"Yes he dose. You know how Kate came to be my XO"
"Yes the crew told me about you were going through a lot of XO"
"It was fleet command and chief of the navy who posted Kate on Hammersley"
"Ok. How do you two manage to keep navy and personal life separate?" Dutchy asked
"Rules, it been hard but we manage" mike said.
"So the other day when Nav and you X talking up on the look out deck about your shore leave" Kate laugh
"Nav and I we knew that Mike and some of your guys were on the bridge. So we decided to have some fun" Kate said smiling
"fun, Kate you drag me into it" Mike said looking at her
"Ah but mike you enjoy it your self" Mike shook his head at Kate.
"How did Nav know about you two?"
"I was the instructor at Watson bay for navigation cause. Nav was the student. When mike was telling me about the problems he was having with his navigators. So I invited him to sit on the courses and for him to pick out five of the students. Nav was one of them. He spoke to them separately then he told me Nav name" Kate said
"Kate pass me a piece of paper. It got Nav name on it. That was about eighteen months ago. Both Kate and I made the right choice of having her on Hammersley"
"Ok and buffer, how did he find out?"
"Nav told him" Kate said
"Why him and not one of the other crew members?"
"They been Secretly seeing each other and they got a seven year old son" mike said.
"Are they married?"
"engage, they planing on getting married when Hammersley is decommissioned in four months. The crew doesn't know that they are engage or about there son" mike said
"Talk to Nav, she will explain it to you in more detail" X said
"ok. So you want me to keep it quiet from the crew"
"Yes" Mike said
"till when?"
"We will be telling the crew when Hammersley is decommission" mike said
"Ok"
"In the mean time we got to concentrate on the toxin crab bottle water and rick Gallagher" Mike said
"what about the feds?"
"mike want Hammersley crew to take credit this time" Kate said.
"i remember Nav telling me why you hate the feds sir, I under stand" they talk for a few more minutes before Dutchy leave them alone.
Mike stayed for an hour then he left Kate to get some rest. He return back to Hammersley to finish his paper work and send a e-mail to his family about what happen to Kate.
When finish he went and pack Kate sea bag then he left to go to NAVCOM to drop off the paper work and use there computers to send text messages to the ones who going to be on watch while on shore leave then he left to go shopping then home.
That night the crew was at the pub enjoying there drinks, while laughing and relaxing. Nav went in side to get another drink, while waiting to be serve, Dutchy walk in and over to where she is.
"Is the crew always like that" Dutchy asked
"Yeah, it one way for them to relax and unwind after the patrol we just had"
"I can tell" they turn to the noisy crew, then back to the bar.
"Nav, captain and told me about there, your and buffer secret" Nav turn to Dutchy
"what secret?" He lifted his left hand revealing his wedding ring.
"What they told you?" Nav said in shock
"Yes, I caught them by surprise when I return back to X room. They were making out" Nav smile
"they were busted"
"Yes so they told me every thing about them so I would under stand"
"Ok"
"they said for me to talk to you about you and buffer? And your son" Nav turn to the crew then to Dutchy
"Meet me tomorrow morning at the cafe not far from here at ten, we talk then"
"sure"
"Hey what are you two talking about" charge said walking over to them
"Shore leave charge"
"Ok, so Nav up for some guava mojo" charge said grinning, Nav laugh
"Of course" she pass him some money
"I've heard about the drink but never try it" Dutchy said
"you should mate" Charge said
"ok" Dutchy pass charge some money when bar tender walk over to them
"hi what will it be?"
"Seven guava mojo's mate" Charge said grinning
"ok"
"come on Dutchy we will leave charge with the drinks"
"Are you sure" Nav smile while charge gave him a shock look
"Yes, it ok, come on" They walk back out side and sat down to talk to the rest of the crew till charge walk out side carrying a tray in hand hand as he said
"Guava mojo" the group cheered as he put the tray on the table. Every one help them selves to there drink while laughing and talking.
The next morning Mike went to see Kate while Nav and Dutchy meet up at the cafe. They arrived at the same time but showed up at different ends of the cafe.
"Morning Nav"
"morning Dutchy you look tear able"
"Yeah, last night drinks"
"you get use to it"
"thanks" they walk in side and ordered them selves a coffee then they walk out side to a table where they sat down and waited for there drinks to arrive.
"How come you didn't suffer this morning?"
"I'm use to it and the fact I had a cup of tea when I got home before going to bed"
"Tea" He asked with raise eye brows
"Yes tea, there some thing in the tea that helps so I won't suffer in the morning"
"Ok I'll give that a try next time"
"sure"
"so buffer and Nick" By then the waitress showed up with there drinks. They thank her before leaving them alone. Nav starts telling Dutchy how she and Pete meet and where. Dutchy listen to Nav till she finish telling him and showing him the ring.
"that some love story Nav" Nikki laugh
"thanks a lot, care to tell me how you met your wife?"
"School, high school. She a friend of my sister"
"Really" Nav raise her eye brows as she sip her drink
"Yep, she move to Brisbane to live with her grand parents who raise her since she was eleven. Her mother was killed in car accident. Her step father was driving, he was drunk when he was speeding after a cop chase them. He lost control and hit a power pole. She was killed instantly. He only got a few scratches. He in prison doing time. The accident happen just out side there rented house. Mac she woke up and went to window and saw the accident she called triple zero then went to get fist aid kit and gotten dress before she ran down to where the car was. The cop went to stop her when she recognised the car she scream when she saw her mother blood cover face"
"Oh god how old was she?"
"Ten when it happen. She got away from the cop and ran to the driver side, she use the first aid box and hit her step father with it yelling and screaming at him till the cop pulled her away. She called her step father assorts of name and her language was very colorful, she was a true sailor"
"sounds like it, what about her real dad?"
"He didn't know that her mum was pregnant. All she knows is that he went to join the arms forces just like his dad and grand father, becoming an officer"
"Really"
"Yeah"
"what happen to her step father?"
"He did fifteen years in prison then when he got out two days later he was killed, drink driving, lucky no one else was involve"
"Lucky"
"Yeah."
"so you and Mac meet through your sister" Nav said smiling
"Yes, it was at Halloween party my parents put on every year. I remember she dress up as Egyptian goddess and I was vampire" Nav laugh.
"Photos"
"what from the party, why?"
"no silly, your wife and sons"
"Oh yeah, so long as you show me yours"
"Ok"
Dutchy got his wallet out just as Nav got her purse out, Dutchy show Nav the latest photo of the four of them "when was that taken"
"Two days before I transferred to here" Nav look at the women who got long brown hair and blue grey eyes. The boys both got blonde hair and blue eyes like Dutchy.
"they look like you" Nav said
"they do except for the nose and there smile they get it from Mac" Nav look once more
"Your right" she pass the photo back to Dutchy, then she pass him a photo
"Is this Nick and Pete"
"Yes that them you can see Nick like his father"
"i can see well except for the hair"
"Yeah" he pass the photo back to her. They talk for another half an hour before leaving to go there separate ways.
The day spider and Kate walk out of the hospital they were please to leave and go to there homes. Mike pick Kate up and took her home. "good news Kate"
she turn to mike who was driving "what that"
"Crew got two weeks off from today just like what was skeletal"
"that is great news so what have you got plan for us Mike"
"you will see" he said smiling.
Kate smile back "i can't hardly wait"
"i bet you can't"
When they arrived home, Mike let Kate walk in side first "It good to be home" Kate said as she walk into the kitchen then shop when she heard
"MUMMY" there kids ran into the kitchen and into shock Kate, she then hug then back as she crouch down to look at them
"i miss you kids so much"
"We miss you to mummy, and guest what" Connor asked
"no what" Kate said
"We staying here for two weeks"
"what" she look up at grinning mike
"they arrived two days ago. Mum and dad put them on the plane and I meet them at the air port. It the school holidays, I thought you would love the surprise" Kate stood up and step ford wrapping her arms around Mike neck giving him a kiss
"i do love the surprise. So how about I take care of my bag then we go into town to do some shopping and lunch" mike smile
"sounds good to me and tomorrow... fishing" Kate laugh
"Why not" she kiss him then took the bag from his hands then turn to grinning kids
"how about it kids, shopping"
"Yeah" they all said
"ok" Kate turn and walk out of the kitchen while mike talk to them till Kate return. Then they left to go and did some shopping as well have lunch while in town.
