Chapter 6
"Hey Kate, I wanted to know…..", Mike began but his voice trailed off when he saw Dylan.
His smile disappeared and his face hardened.
"Dutchy, what are you doing here?"
"Hi sir, I stayed here last night to..", Dylan began .
Meanwhile Kate had heard who was at the door and walked over to them, just in time to see Mike's reaction.
"You bastard! You're barely back in town and you already slept with her!", he yelled, giving Dylan a punch on his nose .
"Stop it!", Kate yelled.
Mike looked at her and saw her teary face, her dressing gown and got even angrier. "Asshole! You made her cry!", He shouted and punched Dylan in his eye again.
"Stop it! You idiot!", Kate yelled, grabbing his arm.
Mike, angry, tried to free his arm from Kate. She lost her balance and her face hit the doorframe, cutting her lip.
Meanwhile, Dylan came to his sense and punched Mike hard in the left jaw. He grabbed him by the collar and belt and threw him out of reach. Mike flew over the access path, tripped and landed face down in the thorny bush at the corner of the access path and the street.
The pain in Kate's head caused a new wave of nausea and she rushed to vomit in the garden.
She straightened her back just in time to see Mike running away. Kate turned around and saw Dylan one hand over his eye and the other holding the doorframe.
"Oh jeez, Dylan, let me have a look at that", she said as she walked back inside and closed the door.
She led him to the kitchen table to let him sit down.
"How is it for you?", he asked her.
"My head is going to burst, I can barely speak because my lips are swollen and I've seen my coffee coming back. For the rest, everything is fine. But now you are my main concern", she said with difficultly.
"Stay put", she mumbled and walked to the bathroom to get the first aid kit.
When she was done tending him, she gave him an ice pack. "Hold it against your eye. It will stop the swelling and numb the pain", she said.
"Now, I'm going to look after myself", she said softly.
A few minutes later, Kate returned, frowning and squinting. She grabbed the box of painkillers, swallowed two pills with a glass of water and sat down on a chair next to him.
"I'm so sorry Dylan. I never meant to involve you in this. How is it for you now?", she asked.
"My head is throbbing. Mike has hard fists and what about you?", he replied.
"Actually they are trying to split my head open with an axe", Kate replied wearily.
He huffed a little, "I was really expecting a little different comeback", he said deadpan.
"Dylan, I'm sorry again. With all that I really forgot to ask you how your training was and where you were going to be posted", she asked embarrassed.
He chuckled, "No worries Kate, these are exactly the first things you asked me when you saw me. I think you asked a hundred questions in a second. That's how I knew you've already had enough", he said".
"Oh gosh! I don't remember. Was it that bad already?", Kate answered, looking down.
"But, to answer your questions", he continued smiling, "My apprenticeship is over. I'm promoted to sub-lieutenant and I'm posted back here", he said.
"Oh! That's good! Really good!", Kate replied enthusiastically.
He smiled back at her, for it was the first time he heard this morning joy in her voice.
"What ship are you on?"
"I don't know yet. I've to see Knocker this afternoon", he said.
"Ooh Jeez! Me too! Totally forgotten! I got her message while I was doing the paperwork. Damn and I just wanted to spend a lazy day recovering from yesterday", she said.
"You better be there in time, knowing her", he replied.
"Nah, it's better. Much better, we became friends because of that idiot Mike", she grumbled.
"But, nevertheless, an appointment is an appointment", Kate sighed.
"Indeed, when?"
"2:30 p.m. And you?"
"3:30 p.m. Kate, I have to leave you. I still have to look for a flat and this afternoon I see Knocker. So, I'll be pretty busy. But, can we see each other tonight? Or, maybe I'll call you to find out how you feel", he asked as he got up.
Kate nodded slowly, "Yeah, that's fine. I'm going to lie down and try to get back to normal".
"Good. Take care of yourself", he said and left.
Kate walked to her couch, lay down and quickly fell asleep.
End of Flashback
Maddie shook her head, "Jeez, I was expecting a little more romance between you two. Consider yourself lucky that Dad was already crazy about you to take a few blows. And you sing! Now you'll have to do it again for me. I want to hear you too. You can't escape it anymore!", Maddie said with her arms crossed to place emphasis on her wish.
"Okay, okay, then I'll have to learn a few songs", Kate said.
"Deal! You said that you had to be at Navcom. Was it for your promotion?", she asked.
"Yeah, indeed. What I didn't know was that Mike had also dropped in to Navcom. I can still imagine Max's face when she saw the three of us", Kate said.
"How so?"
Flashback
Navcom
Maxine was sitting at her desk sorting through several personal files when she heard a knock at the doorframe of her office. "Come in", she said without looking up.
"Hey Max", Mike greeted her as he walked in and sat down.
Maxine looked up and her eyes widened. His face and hands were covered with scratches. It looked like a Redskin on the warpath. She also noticed a bruise on his left cheek as well as another on his right hand.
"Mike! What happened to you?", she asked, baffled.
He brushed her concern aside, "Oh, nothing special. Last night I didn't see the root of a tree and I tripped over it", he replied lighthearted.
"Hmm, I see", Maxine mumbled.
Why don't I believe you?
"Listen Mike, it's the big rotation time of the year again. We'll welcoming a lot of new faces and also old ones. We'll have to spread them out on our ships and that's a great first job for you", she stated.
He nodded, "Yeah, okay".
"And, there's also a big promotion", she said, looking at her papers.
"Ah! Who?", he asked.
"Kate. Her promotion to lieutenant commander has finally come through", Maxine said looking at Mike.
"Oh. And what are you going to do with her?", he asked slightly irritated.
"Isn't the current situation obvious? The Hammersley of course", she said.
"My ship?", Mike replied indignantly.
Maxine frowned, "Mike, it's not your ship anymore. It's hers now!"
He grumbled, "Okay then. I'll get her a crew".
"No need Mike, I've done it before. I just wanted to make sure she got off to a good start", Maxine said deadpan.
"The others are all yours", she said, looking at her watch. "I'm sorry, but I've to meet the other new officers", she said, handing him a stack of files. "Good luck".
"Okay Max. See you later", he answered and left her office.
She sighed,
I don't trust him. He is able to give her the worst crew ever to get his ship back.
A few minutes later, someone knocked at her door. "Come in!", she ordered.
It was Kate.
"Good afternoon ma'am", Kate greeted her formally and Maxine looked up.
She was clearly frightened, "Jeez Kate, what happened to you? Your white shirt has more colour than your face".
Kate sat down slowly, "Thanks Max, it gives me great encouragement", she said.
"What's going on?", Maxine asked worried.
Kate shrugged, "Last night's drink. I haven't had a chance to eat anything because Mike left all the paperwork to me. Because of that, the drinks hit me hard. But, I'm starting to feel a little better now".
"You feel better? Hmm, I can't imagine what you looked like this morning", Maxine replied.
Kate shook her head, "Don't even think about it".
"Well, that's the reason why I always turn down such invitations. I don't know where I end up when I'm drunk", Maxine said.
"I believe you one hundred percent Max!", Kate confirmed.
Did you also end up on a table doing a belly dance?
"But, I've some good news and I'm sure it will cheer you up", Maxine said enthusiastically.
Kate raised her eyebrows, "Ah?"
"Your promotion has finally come through. Congratulations lieutenant commander!", Maxine said, reaching out.
Kate shook her hand, baffled, "Ah, uh, t…thank you Max… ma'am…"
Maxine smiled at the confusion in Kate's voice. "Kate, this also means you get the command of a patrol boat. Giving that Mike has regained his shore posting, this means you are now Hammersley's new commander", she said, looking at Kate with interest.
"Oh! Is it? Hmm, good. Really! Good. Thank you", Kate said, hesitantly processing the information. "And who is going to be my executive officer?", she asked.
"Kate, normally my assistant composes the crews with the replacements, but I composed your crew personally. I want to make sure you get off to a good start. Some former crew members were available again and I've put them all back aboard. They know each other and that means you'll be up and running again very quickly. It means your executive officer will be Lieutenant Nikki Caetano. You've been waiting a long time for a navigator. It will be Sub Lieutenant Dylan Mulholland. You'll get Leading Seaman Rebecca Brown back too. She is now your qualified medic.
Kate nodded, "Perfect! I'm looking forward to working with them again".
Maxine looked at her watch, "Sorry Kate, I've to see the next officer. You'll get your orders the day after tomorrow. Are you going to celebrate your promotion?", Maxine asked with a cheeky grin.
Kate rolled her eyes, "With water or tea, yes!", she said, standing up to leave.
Five minutes later someone else knocked at the doorframe.
"Come in!", she said and was surprised as she looked up.
"Good afternoon ma'am", Dylan said.
"Lieutenant. What happened to you?", she asked looking at his bruised face and black eye.
"No worries ma'am. I ran into an open door in my flat last night. I know it's stupid. I just forgot to close it", he said.
Maxine frowned, "Okay".
It is not normal. Mike and Dylan with a damaged face with Kate as key figure. I need to know more tonight.
"Well lieutenant, your first real posting will be on the Hammersley as a navigator", she said.
He widened his eyes or rather one eye because the other one was still closed.
"Oh, it's a good thing ma'am and who's the captain?", he asked.
"Lieutenant commander McGregor", she said, watching his reaction.
"Oh? That's really good news!", he said, trying to look normal, but his happiness didn't escape Maxine's attention.
Jeez, that's great! Or, maybe not, taking into account the fraternization rules. Shit!
"You have to report aboard the day after tomorrow", she said.
"Okay, fine. I'll be there", he said plainly.
"Nice. Dismiss!", Maxine said and watched him leave her office.
I'm curious to know what happened between these three and the key figure is Kate. Absolutely!
Maxine looked worried.
Is it a right thing to put these two together? Nah, both are adults. Hopefully they'll use their brains.
She grumbled and looked at the other file on her desk when she heard a knock at the doorframe, which brought her back to reality.
"Come in!", she answered.
In front of her desk stood a fierce grey-eyed brunette, her hat under her arm. "Lieutenant Caetano, ma'am!".
Maxine sighed in relief. "At ease lieutenant and take a seat".
Nikki sat down with her back straight and Maxine looked at her flawless countenance.
"I'm glad to finally see an officer in one piece", she said dryly.
Nikki frowned, "I beg your pardon, ma'am?"
Maxine shook her head quickly, "Ah uh, no no, forget what I said."
"Lieutenant, I see in your file that you completed your executive officer training", Maxine said, looking at this one.
"Yes ma'am".
"I also read that you've already served on Hammersley with Lieutenant Commander McGregor", Maxine said, looking at Nikki.
"Oh? She's promoted?", Nikki replied surprised.
"Today. You will be the executive officer aboard the Hammersley with Lieutenant Commander McGregor as commander. Sub Lieutenant Mulholland will be the navigator. The staff are all new aboard, but the three of you know each other and it can only get better".
"Ok ma'am. Thank you", Nikki replied.
"You sail the day after tomorrow and make sure you meet your commander before, but I think that's not going to be a problem, huh?", she said.
"No ma'am".
"Good. Dismiss!", Maxine said and watched Nikki leave her office.
She took a deep breath.
Is it really a wise move? All three are new in their function. It's a risky business, but they know each other and they trust each other and that's more of and advantage than experience.
She sighed.
Time will tell!
To be continued