Sitting in the officer's mess Mike sighed, crumpling up the paper in front of him. This was his 5th attempt at writing a letter he wished he didn't have to write. Picking up his pen he started again.
'Dear Mr & Mrs Holiday...'
He managed the first like before his mind went blank and he couldn't think of anything to say. What do you say to the parents who gave their son to the military, and he was killed in a tragic accident. Leaning back against the wall he closed his eyes trying to think of the right words. Hearing the door open he looked up to see Kate.
"X" he smiled softly
"Sir" she whispered, "I didn't disturb you, did I?" she asked
"Not at all" Mike smiled "How's Nikki?" he asked
"Finally asleep although she was still crying" Kate said picking up the crumpled paper from the floor. "what's this" she asked sitting next to him uncrumpling the pages.
"My attempts at writing a letter to ET's family." he said "but I can't seem to find the right words" he continued his voice breaking
"Mike..." Kate whispered softly reaching over squeezing his hand "you will find the right words. Just write what's in your heart"
"I don't know how... it's a shock. I mean ET was such an experienced diver how something like this can happen"
"I don't know sir" Kate said softly, moving closer to him, looking into his eyes. She could see the pain in his eyes his blue grey eyes.
They sat in relative silence for what felt like an eternity neither quite knowing what to say. It had been a long day before everything and matters had only been made worse by the murderous eco warriors they had intercepted.
"I best get on to the bridge" Kate said breaking the silence "i said i would cover Nikki's watch
"Kate?" mike said looking up at her "you have been up since Middle watch almost 20 hrs ago and we are not going to arrive home till after 9 tomorrow"
"I'll be fine. Thats why they invented coffee" she forced a smile.
"Kate" Mike said catching her hand as she walked past him brushing his thumb along her knuckles
"i know" she whispered.
Walking through the darkened ship Kate made her way on to the bridge with three mugs of coffee. One for herself and the others for buffer and Swain.
"Here we go boys" she smiled handing each of them their mugs
"Thanks X" Buffer said
"Thanks Ma'am" Swain repeated "how's Nikki?"
"How are any of us really" Kate sighed "when will be back at base?" she asked looking at the screen
"Just after 09:00 tomorrow ma'am" Swain said
"Maintain speed and course" Kate said
Looking out of the window she could see the skies were clear and the moon was bright. It was the perfect evening for being at sea. sighing softly, she made herself as comfy as she could in the captain's chair not only was she doing Nikki's watch but then she would also be doing her own. Yawning slightly, she started to try and think of other things and take her mind off sleep and the sound of her rack practically calling her name.
They arrived back in Cairns just after 9am the following morning. After handing over the eco bandits to the feds Kate stood on the fly bridge with a arm around her best friend watching as the bodies of the divers were carried off, the last one being carried by Buffer and Swain, draped in a flag. She squeezed Nikkis hand as she whimpered watching ET being loaded into the private ambulance.
Standing on the Deck once it was all clear Kate hugged her friend "call me yeah if you need anything"
"Thanks Kate" Nav sniffed taking her fishbowl from Buffer
"Come on Ma'am let's get you to your car" he smiled carefully guiding Nikki towards the gangway.
"Thanks Buffer" Kate smiled
Heading down to her cabin Kate sat on the edge of the rack. Yawning she fell to the side; she was asleep before her head even hit the pillow.
Walking past Mike Smiled seeing Kate's Cabin door wide open
"You still onboard X i thought we could go get some..." he called poking his head through the open door. "oh" he said quieter looking at Kate asleep on her rack. Carefully lifting her legs up so she was lay properly and wouldn't get a crick in her back he pulled her shoes off he pulled the blanket up
"Sweet dreams" he whispered.
so i hope you like this new fic. so i know Kate probs wouldn't be on watch for over 20hrs (i have no idea how things would work in a emergency in the navy) but its my fic so please dont come at me
anyway i hope you enjoy i will try my best to keep it as accurate as possible to season 3 but its tots disappeared off of YT in english and the scripts although they are back on Springfield Springfield its stil not 100% and is more of a transcript of what was said (no stage directions or who is saying what)