CH 2
When Kate stop the ship she went up top with Nav while a sailor sat at the controls. Nav and Kate watch a HRIB leave Melbourne and headed towards Hammersley with ET, Jaffa and three fishermen on board. When the HRIB stop next to where the rope ladder is.
They climb the ladder then step a side since Swain and Chefo showed up carrying the stretcher towards where Mike and buffer are. Buffer and another crew member hook the straps to the stretcher then Charge gave the orders to raise the stretcher since it hook up to a line with number of crew members holding the rope end.
They watch the carry arm move till the stretcher was over the side of the ship and above the HRIB then charge gave the order to lower the stretcher till it was on the HRIB then the doctor and other crew member remove the straps and gave thumbs up.
charge gave the order then they rope and straps were pulled out and the carry arm move back in it spot over the dingy. They watch the HRIB return back to Melbourne while mike talk to the captain over the radio.
Then he turn and gave some orders before looking up at Kate before walking towards one of the hatch doors. Couple of crew took the three fishermen down below decks while Hammersley started it engines then they started heading back to Cairns.
When they return the next day, the crew got night off shore leave so most of them went to the pub while Kate and Mike went to see Steve about bright island and what Dr homes told them.
"Mike the feds are handling it, don't you go and interfere got it"
"Steve"
"No mike that an order"
"what about the water Dr homes told us, has the feds told you any thing about that sir?" Kate asked
"no they being tight lip about the whole thing"
"Why doesn't that surprise me Steve. What about Dr homes, have they told you any thing about her?"
"They keeping her where about a secret just in case the men who were are her will try to kill her knowing what she knows"
"Great so if I want to ask her questions I can't" mike said angry
"mike calm down you know my hands are tied"
"I know Steve" Kate put her hand on his arm. Mike turn to Kate
"One of the reasons why the Feds not telling any one is I think that there must be a mole in the labs where she work"
"mole" Mike said
"Yes, how else did those men knew about the crab and the toxin. It got to be a in side job" Mike thought about it while looking at Kate as she remove her hand from his arm
"your right... but the question is who is it" Mike said as he turn to look at Steve
"lieutenant you might be right, that is why the feds are keeping things quiet"
"so there nothing we can do Steve?"
"no sorry they don't want our help"
"Sir perhaps we can help" Kate said
"how Kate, the feds not going to tell us a thing" Mike said looking at her Kate turn to mike and smile
"We can check out the barges in the area of bright island. That was Doctor homes told us and she did give Swain a description of the men and the barge they were on" Mike smile then turn to Steve
"that got to be worth check out while we are on patrol Steve"
"Mike no, orders are orders"
"Yes sir"
"tomorrow you leave at zero nine hundred. If there nothing else"
"no sir" Kate said
"no Steve"
"i mean what I said mike"
"I know" then Kate and mike stood up and walk out the door not saying a thing.
When they walk towards the elevator "Mike you going to do it aren't you"
"Yes I am, the feds did it once before, they took all the glory and the ship I was on, the crew and I got nothing, no thanks, no job well done. No recondition for the work we did for the feds, for taking the drug dealers down our selves, nothing. This time I'm going to make sure that the navy, especially Hammersley crew take some sort of credit this time, even if I have to step on some of the feds toes I will"
"I know you told me what happen, but if you are going to do it... I'll make sure you try not to steps on any feds or navy toes" Mike smile
"thanks, lets go home and enjoy a long hot shower"
"sounds good to me, how about we pick up a few things on our way home" mike smile
"I like the way you think"
Hour and half later Mike and Kate were in the shower together kissing and making love in there then they spent the afternoon in bed. They did get up to have some dinner and wine before returning back to bed since they got to be up early in the morning. When Kate was snuggled up to Mike side she turn to look at him
"mike" he open his eyes and look down at Kate
"what wrong"
"i know who Nav Fiancee is" mike smile
"You got it out of her?"
"no... you know when she said he on a patrol boat but didn't say which patrol boat"
"Yes... are you saying he on Hammersley?"
"Yes that is why she didn't say which boat he was on."
"How do you know this"
"i over heard them talking yesterday about wedding when Hammersley decommission, about the buck night if Nav brothers and Hammersley crew get together for it. He said it would be a nightmare if they get together"
"Kate who is it, so I can have words with Nav and the sailor. They broke the rules"
"That is why they keeping quiet about it, not telling any one. They planing on telling every one before final patrol. That is why Nav doesn't want the crew to know about her engagement. And they have keep it a secret for how long I don't know. You can't go and talk to them telling them they broken the rules Mike, look at us, no one par from Nav knows that we are married. It would be like the pot calling the kettle black"
"If we keep our marriage a secret then why can't they keep there engagement a secret"
"Yes"
"Who is it so I can talk to him before we leave tomorrow"
"We will talk to them both Mike, ok"
"Ok"
"You promise" mike smile as he lean over to kiss Kate
"I promise...who is it" Kate smile
"Who the only other crew member that knows about the secret engagement" mike thought about it and look at Kate in shock
"Buffer"
"Yes, I heard them talking about it on the bridge before I open the door. They were lucky that it was me that heard them and not some other crew member"
"sounds like we will need to talk to them"
"Yes we do. And since they keep it a secret for a long time and it hasn't interfered with there work"
"Not yet"
"Mike... we should hear what they have to say and the reason why they didn't tell us"
"ok I'll listen but can't promise any thing"
"that all I asked"
"Kate you starting to become a romantic" Kate laugh
"don't tell them that, I got my princess perfect reputation to up hold like you mighty mike Flynn" Mike smile as he roll them both till he was lying on top of Kate
"Is that right" he bend down and kiss her. They made love once more before mike turn the lights off before falling asleep with Kate snuggling up to his side.
The next morning when Mike and Kate arrived on Hammersley they went and got change. Then they went to do there normal work before leaving port.
When Kate was on the wharf she saw Nav, ET, Buffer and spider together walking towards her with some of the other crew members not far behind them. so she got her cell phone out and send a text to mike then she put it back in her pocket then carry on doing what she was doing. She look up on Hammersley when mike walk off the ship just as the group arrived together talking and laughing.
"Morning sir, X" Nav said smiling
"Morning, Nav, buffer we need to talk to you both, rest of you go and get change"
"Yes sir" spider asked since others showed it.
Mike, Kate, Nav and buffer walk away from Hammersley and the crew. Mike and Kate turn to Nav Buffer "I want you two, to be honest with X and me...are you two in a relationship" mike asked. They saw the shock looks on both Nav and Buffer face.
"how sir?" Nav asked
"it was me, I over heard you two talking on the bridge about bucks night if your brothers and crew got together" Kate said
"Is it true, Nav" mike asked
"yes sir, Pete is my fiancee. We want to keep it quiet from you two and from the navy"
"Nav you and buffer will get into a lot of trouble cause of this" mike said as he look at them both
"Why didn't one of you ask for a transferred to another ship" Kate asked
"how long have you two known each other for?" Mike asked.
Nav and Pete look at each other "We should tell them Nikki, every thing"
"i agree Pete" then they turn to look at mike and Pete.
"Pete and I meet over nine years ago when we both were station in Perth I was midshipmen and it was my first posting. Pete and I meet at the guard house, I was trying to find my ID when Pete saw it on the ground so he pick it up and said to me. 'Here you go ma'am you don't want to lose it again'... That how we first met." Nikki said
"I could tell she was nervous so I ask her what ship she was on. It turn out the ship she on is doc next to the one I was on. So we walk towards the ships together talking" Pete said
"When we stop off at the ship I was on he ask me out for drinks when both ships dock at the same time, I agree to it and gave him my phone number. We did meet up again two months later, we hit it off and we dated for a while and things became serous." Nikki said
"We were together for two and half years before I got my transferred to another ship that was heading to Iran for tour"
"After Pete left for his tour I received some shocking news my self, I was transferred to Darwin, so I wrote to Pete number of letters but they were return back to me"
"Same thing happen to me when I wrote to Nikki. We lost contact cause of it. When I return back from Iran I went to Perth to look for her. All I was told was she transferred there and had a shore posting."
"We haven't seen each other in over five years till that day I arrived here. I was shock when I saw him after seven years"
"i was shock but she look the same as she was when I last saw her, still beautiful and sexy as ever" Pete said grinning.
"When we had out first shore leave, I invited Pete around for us to talk about what happen. Now we know if was the navy fault that we lost contact with each other."
"sir Nav engagement ring. While I was over seas on tour, I was paying it off. I was planing on purposing to Nikki when I return"
"you keep the ring after seven years?" Kate asked in shock
"Yes ma'am, I was hoping that one day our paths will cross and they did"
"There more sir, X" Nikki said
"your pregnant" Kate asked. Nikki laugh
"no"
she open her bag and pulled out a photo and past it to Kate, she show it to mike it was a photo of Nav, Buffer and a small child.
"Is this your son" mike asked
"Our son sir. Pete is Nick father. As I said sir about shocking news. I found out that I was pregnant two months after Pete left for his tour. Nick reminds me so much about Pete"
"But there no record on buffer file about him being a father" mike said as he pass the photo back
"It cause I didn't put Pete name down sir. I was in labor for twenty six hours and the doctor gave me me some thing after giving birth to Nick. But I had a bad allergic reaction to it, cause of it I was in a coma for almost four days. I almost died cause of it" Mike and Kate were shock with what Nikki told them.
"sir X we know that we broken the rules but we never brought it on the ship. That is why we didn't tell you cause we know that one of us will have to transferred to some where else. We just found each other again, and I've miss out on so much of Nick life, I don't want the navy to pull us apart again. I loss Nikki once, I don't want to lose her again"
"Sir when you told me not to tell any of the crew about you and X... I only told Pete, cause of the love and trust we have for each other and I know he won't tell any one"
"you knew" Mike asked looking at Pete
"Yes sir, Nav told me every thing, how X here been trying to get a transferred posting to here for years, you two being apart for so long how it not affecting you both but your family" Mike let out his breath
"Let me think about this situation, we still got two weeks patrol, I'll let you both know what I decided by then, if I've notice you two braking any rules, I'll have no choice..."
"sir we keep it a secret for this long" Nav said
"Yes I know that Nav but you two put me in a difficult position"
"sorry sir" they both said
"Go and get change"
"Yes sir" then they walk over to the gangway and on to the bridge talking about some thing else. Kate look at mike who was looking at Nav and buffer then he turn to her
"what a nightmare this is" mike said
"I know. How about you talk to them separately when there no one else around"
"If there is time"
"They sure did surprise us both"
"Yeah, nine years and a child"
"That true, I can see in the photo how happy they are"
"Same here it reminds my of out family photo" mike said smiling
"Yeah, well back to work we leave in an hour" Kate said as she walk towards Hammersley. Mike follow Kate few seconds later. Hour later Hammersley left for it two week patrol.
During the two weeks, Mike manage to talk to both buffer and Nav separately while keep a look out for any barges in the area of bright island. At night when Kate and Nav were in there bunk beds, Nav tells Kate how buffer purpose to her, what happen the first time buffer met her dad which made Kate laugh
"I bet that shock buffer" Kate said
"yes dad did alright I had words with him about it. But dad being dad he was all protective of me and he thought that buffer was one of those guys with every girl in port thing. I told dad that he isn't like that, but dad can be stubborn as an old mule" Kate laugh.
"what happen how did buffer convince your dad?"
"mum and dad ask Pete a lot of questions which he answered them and Pete share with them about his family and why he join the navy"
"did it convince your dad?"
"A little, tom my brother told dad that Pete got on well with all of the family even though my brothers are bad as my dad when it came to my boy friends, very protective. But once they meet him and finds out what sort of guy he is, they get on well and that they all got a lot in common which helps. My brothers warn him if her ever hurt me talk, he said to them if I hurt or up set Nikki in any way she knows what my punishment is. Tom ask Pete what the punishment, Pete said tooth brush duties and a lot of groveling, roses and if she forgives me the best and last bit is the make up sex" Kate laugh, just as Nikki rolled over the side of the bunk bed and look down at Kate
"I was on Pete lap when he said it. I gave him the Nav piss off look, he gave me a look which makes me give in, then he smile and kiss then he whisper in my ear... Nikki you should know not to give me that look you know that turns me on"
"He said that" Kate said as she look up to grinning Nav
"Yes so I made him suffer"
"How"
"I wiggle my back side over his crouch, he told me that I'm a bad girl and I should be punish...he did that night five times hard and fast. It amazing we think that we keep my family awake that night cause of all the screaming coming from my bedroom" Kate laugh.
"did it?"
"Yes, when they saw us the next morning they shook there heads at us. I said to them I was a bag girl and Pete punish me last night, my sisters in laws grin at me and said we heard. Pete how about giving our husbands tips... Pete and I were shock with what they said"
"I know what you mean, mike sisters gave me some advice and it help"
"Oh on how to please the captain?"
"Yeah" Kate got up and walk over and sat on the chair ans turn it around then look up at Nikki.
"there some thing I want to share with you, not many know this but... when I was thirteen I was raped" Nikki look at Kate in shock
"Dose...mike know?"
"Yes"
Kate tells Nikki about what happen to her and that she try to kill her self. Nikki was shock with what Kate was telling her. When Kate finish telling Nikki, Nikki was out of her bed and put her arm around Kate since tears were falling down her cheeks.
"On my god, Kate I had no idea, is that why you went hard after what happen to you?"
"Yes, I wanted to finish school and join the navy. Every time some one see me I got my head in a book and at ADFA I was either in the library or at the gym or shooting range"
"that how you made history"
"Yes"
"so how did mike purpose to you?" Nikki asked as he move to sit on Kate bunk bed while looking at her
"On my twenty first birthday mike showed up at me room at ADFA academy early in morning. He gave me a single red rose. Then he got me to sit on my bed then he got down on one knee and purpose to me, I said yes"
"what was you and he wearing?"
"i was in night clothes like what I'm wearing now. Mike he was in his uniform"
"Really, so he didn't wine and dine you" Kate laugh
"No I was in middle of studies and fitness training. But what shock me more was that Mike grand father told mike I was the one and gave him the engagement ring"
"Really"
"Yeah. It was hard for Mike and me getting together to plan our wedding with him in Darwin and I'm in Canberra. But we did do it"
"I heard at ADFA that other midshipmen gave you a hard time about your engagement"
"it true. Six of them got dishonorably discharge for sexual assault and cover up. Others didn't have the point to graduated"
"I heard that also. So where did you get married?"
"Royal botanic Gardens in Sydney"
"That is a great place to get married" Nikki said
"Yes it is, it was a great day. We had over five hundred guests at the wedding. A lot of them were family on both sides"
"big families?"
"Yes, on Mike side, he one of six kids. His father is one of eight kids. His mother is one of five kids. That just for starts"
"wow that is a lot"
"It is and Mike he the only grandson Flynn, the other grand sons got different last names"
"Really"
"Yep. Mike Grand father is one hundred and one years old he a retied rear admiral" Nikki look at Kate in shock
"Three generations of navy Flynn's?" Kate laugh
"Yes"
"My dad is ex navy"
"Really" Kate said
"Yeah. Have you got any wedding photos with you?" Kate smile
"behind you where the book is there one behind the book"
Nav turn to see the book so she lean back and saw part of laminated photo so she pick it up as she sat up at look at it "wow you look beautiful in your wedding dress and captain look young"
"We both were"
"I can see how happy you both are"
"Still is today" Nikki put the photo back.
"Have you and buffer decided on where you going to get married?"
"Sydney"
"Why not in cairns?"
"Our family there and..." she look down at her hands then back up to Kate
"what is it?"
"Pete and I decided to get married when Hammersley is decommission is cause of his mum"
"Why is she ill or some thing?"
"she got stage four breast cancer" Kate look at Nav in shock
"Oh no. I under stand why you want to get married then, when did buffer found out?"
"When we had over night shore leave. He called her to find out how she was. That when she told him"
"dose Mike know?"
"Yes, Pete told him when they were up on look out together couple days ago. Pete told the captain every thing including that he been helping his mum out financially where his sisters haven't even help out once. All they did was ask for money. Yet they get more that what Buffer get. More than what I get but they always broke"
"Why is that?"
"Parties, they love to party"
"Ok do they know about you and buffer getting married?"
"Yes, Pete mum told them when they called a week before Pete called. I could tell by the look on Pete face when he hung up some thing was wrong. He went into his bedroom then return wearing running gear. He look at me and I was worried. He said he was going for a run then walk out the door. When he return couple hours later he went to have a shower so I walk into the bathroom and ask him what was wrong. He turn to me I could tell he was going to yell at me so I said to him to talk to me, not to shut me out. He told me about the bad news about his mum cancer and he then told me about his sisters. When his mum told them, they ask when the wedding is, is there going to be dancing. Vicky, that his mum name. She knew what they were asking so she told them she didn't know since she hasn't heard from Pete since we were out on patrol"
"Have you meet Buffer sisters?"
"Yes, they love to party and the attention. That is what Pete is worried about happening"
"sounds like he will have to have a chat with them" Nikki snorted
"Last time he had a chat to them, they left his place a mess. He wasn't happy and I don't blame him"
"i guest your right, well we better get some sleep" they both stood up
"Beauty sleep after all we got to look good for our men in the morning" Nikki said as she climb up to her top bunk while Kate laugh
"Very funny Nav, night"
"night X" Kate got into her bed then they turn off there lights and close there eyes thinking about there man as they fall asleep with smiles on there faces.