AN: Sorry every one for not posting a new chapter in the past couple of weeks. I was in hospital with knee injury. what happen was that my left leg gave out on me when i was walking up the steps. When it gave out on me, i ended up spraining my knee. I went to hospital because my leg started swelling up and my knee pain was a 10. They did x rays and CT scan where it show no broken bones but a tear in my collateral ligament. It will be a while before i fully recover. So here is the next chapter. Feed back, yes please.
CH 34
The next morning Nikki drove Pete to NAVCOM since he was seeing commander Marshal. Nikki waited in the car while Pete went to see Steve. When he walk into the ball pen Pete walk over to Steve office since he was talking to, two other officers.
Pete knock on the door "sir you wanted to see me"
"Yes come in" Pete walk in and stood at attention and saluted the three officers which they did in return.
"Lieutenant commander Thomas, lieutenant Davis, this is petty officer Tomaszewski"
"Sir, I'm called buffer" Pete said as she shook the captain hand
"buffer, commander Marshal said you serve on Hammersley"
"Yes sir"
"May I ask why you not on Hammersley now"
"I took some personal leave sir. My mother was ill, she had stage four cancer"
"Had?" lieutenant asked
"she past away over a week ago sir"
"I'm sorry for you loss Buffer"
"thank you sir."
"I notice your married" the lieutenant commander said when he look down at Pete left hand.
"Yes sir almost six months. My wife is over five months pregnant sir"
"congratulation"
"thank you sir"
"what dose your wife do" lieutenant asked
"she in the navy sir, shore posting cause of her pregnancy. She use to serve on Hammersley, crew called her Nav"
"Nav, you mean lieutenant Nikki Caetano"
"Yes sir she my wife and it lieutenant Tomaszewski"
"so you know lieutenant commander Mike Flynn" lieutenant asked
"Yes sir I do"
"Petty officer you and lieutenant can leave"
"buffer I'll met you on the ship" Captain said
"Yes sir" buffer said as he stood at attention and saluted Steve which he did in return before turning around and walking out of Steve office with the lieutenant behind him.
"Steve what is buffer like"
"You will have to ask mike and lieutenant McGregor. I'll get them on the phone and they can you tell you them selves"
"sure" Steve made the phone call and he got it on speaker phone.
"Hammersley leader Dixon specking"
"Leader it commander Marshal I would like to speak to the captain please"
"He busy right now. Is there a message I can pass on to him"
"Is lieutenant McGregor there then"
"X yes sir" then they heard
"X commander Marshal ma'am"
"thanks RO... commander Marshal, lieutenant McGregor sir"
"lieutenant I got lieutenant commander Thomas of HMAS Bendigo with me now. Your boson petty officer Tomaszewski has been temporary assign to bendigo for two week patrol"
"buffer back in Cairns sir"
"Yes lieutenant"
"What is that you want to know sir"
"Lieutenant it lieutenant commander Thomas. How long have you known buffer for"
"fifteen months sir"
"Can you tell me what sort of guy he is"
"Hard worker, hard but firm on the junior sailor. When it comes to boardings he good at what he dose and he is one sailor you can depend a pond. If a sailor steps out of line, he deals with the situation strait away"
"do you trust him lieutenant"
"With mine and crews lives sir. Lieutenant commander Flynn would agree with me sir"
"How do I know your speaking the truth"
"Lieutenant commander Thomas, you know captain of Hammersley"
"Yes"
"you know how many sailors and officers you been through"
"What dose that have to do with buffer"
"Before buffer was assign to Hammersley, lieutenant commander Flynn went through eleven boson in two years. Why cause they not only broke the rules and put crew in danger, there training was poor as well. Since buffer was assign to Hammersley a lot has change if it wasn't for him. And he risk his own life to save others and he hard on the junior sailors when it comes to training exercises sir"
"X who are you talking to" they heard in the back round
"lieutenant commander Thomas and commander Marshal sir. They asking questions about buffer"
"buffer, pass me the phone... Steve it mike what going on"
Steve fill mike in about buffer being a temporary boson on bendigo and for how long. Lieutenant commander Thomas ask Mike number of questions which he was able to answer.
"Thank you for telling me about buffer Mike"
"no worries there John, just remember you only got him for two weeks then he back on my ship" mike said smiling as he look at Kate
"We will see if he is good as what you say, I might keep him"
"no chance"
"X we got FFV on radar" they heard
"john, Steve I got to go"
"We under stand, fair winds" Steve said before hang up the phone.
"Well John are you happy with what mike and lieutenant McGregor answers" Steve asked
"Yes I am" they talk for another few more minutes before John walk out of Steve office and NAVCOM.
When Pete walk towards Nikki car, she smile when she saw him so she put her seat belt on and started the engine when Pete open the door and got in then closing the door
"Every thing ok" Nikki asked
"Yep can you drop me off on the wharf"
"Sure" Nikki drove out of the car park as they talk till Nikki stop her car next to Bendigo. Pete lean over and put one hand on Nikki expanding stomach while he gives her a kiss.
"See you in two weeks" Pete said
"I'll be looking ford to it. You take care out there"
"I will and you take care of your self"
"I will, love you"
"love you to"
they kiss once more before Pete got out of the car and open the back door to get his duffer bag out then close the door. He and Nikki wave to each other before she drove into town since she was hungry again.
While Pete turn around and look at Bendigo when a sailor walk over to him. Nikki went to hungry jacks for some breakfast then went to NAVCOM to work while Pete was shown his cabin where he got change then her went and do what he normally dose when he was on Hammersley
when the lieutenant and captain showed up. They watch him hurry the crew along as well yelling at one crew member that the captain and the lieutenant knows that he the joker of the ship and like to muck around when it came to taking things on board.
When the captain and the lieutenant got there bags they walk over to the gangway and onto the ship when they heard Pete telling the young sailor about his punishment for the two weeks.
"Mike was right about him, it a shame we can't keep him on here" Captain said
"Well commander Flynn has got the best crew working with him"
"True" Hour later Bendigo left port for it two week patrol.
Week later Nikki was doing some paper work when a man walk into ball pen asking an officer for Nikki, the officer point to where Nikki is so the guy walk over to her
"Excuse me are you Nikki Tomaszewski" Nikki turn her chair around
"Yes I am sir, is there some thing I can do for you"
"Can you sign this please" he pass her a clip board and pen. Nikki read what it said then sign it then pass it back to him.
Then he pull an envelope from behind the sheets and pass it to her "Here you go ma'am" then he turn and walk out of the room.
Nikki look at it and saw her and Pete name on the envelope so she open it and pulled out a letter and read what it said "You got to be joking"
"Every thing ok lieutenant" she turn around still in shock
"No sir, permission to call my husband sir" she show him the letter, he read it then pass it back to her
"you got my permission lieutenant"
"thanks you sir" Then she stood up and walk over to where she called bendigo.
"This is lieutenant Tomaszewski, I need to talk to petty officer Tomaszewski... yes I have got his approval... thank you leader... Pete it Nikki... yes baby and I are fine... Karen and Lisa... I received a letter from there lawyer, they taking us to court... your mother will Pete... they want the house and share of the money... no only the house and money... in two days... Sydney... leave it with me I'll call your mum lawyer, he might be able to help us... ok, I'll e-mail you tonight... ok, fair winds" then she hung up and let out her breath.
Then she turn around and walk out of the ball pen and into the kitchen area where the lockers are also held she got her bag out and look though it and got the card out then she got her phone and made the call.
Two days later both Pete and Nikki were thinking about the court case, while in Sydney in the court room the judge walk out of his chamber and into his seat he look around the room
"Mr Young where are your clients"
"They can't be here your honor Pete Tomaszewski is out on patrol and was unable to return to Cairns for a week and his wife Nikki Tomaszewski is unable to come cause of her pregnancy and they both are in the navy your honor"
"How far long is Mrs Tomaszewski"
"Six months sir, I got letters here to prove that your honor"
"Very well"
Mr young walk up to where the judge is passing him two letters then returning back to his chair while the judge read the two letters. Then he put them down in front of him.
"Right under stand is that Miss Karen Tomaszewski and Miss Lisa Tomaszewski are here to contesting there mother late Vicky Tomaszewski will, is that correct Mr Willis"
"Yes sir, there mother only left them photos, no money not even share of the house where they and there brother Peter Tomaszewski grew up in. She left every thing the money, house every thing in it to her son and only photos to my clients"
"Have you got copy of that will"
"Yes sir" Mr Willis said as he step ford passing the will to the judge then walk back to his spot.
The judge read the will and saw the date on it. Then he asked number of questions which both lawyers did answer.
"Well Mr Willis you are right in what you said. Will can be a tricky thing and as you pointed out your clients received very little from there mother will where as her son received, every thing. And since all your clients want is just the house... and there share of the thirty million dollars"
"Excuse me, your honor"
"Yes Mr Young"
"Before you give your final judgment, I got here a letter from the late Vicky Tomaszewski. She wrote this the same time of the changing of her will. She instructed me to hang on to it just in case her daughters will try to contest the will" Mr young held up the envelope
"Have you read it Mr Young"
"no sir the envelope is sealed and only a judge can open it"
"Very well" Mr Young step forward
"Here the letter of instruction your honor"
he pass the judge the letter and envelope then walk back to his seat while the judge read the letter then open the envelope and pulled out the letter and read what it said while Mr Willis talk to Karen and Lisa quietly. When the judge finish reading the letter he put it down in front of him.
"I've read the letter and I under stand why late Vicky Tomaszewski change her will and why she left every thing to her son and his family. My final judgment is that the will stay as it is. Peter Tomaszewski keeps the house and money"
"what" Lisa and Karen said in shock
"but your honor what about my clients" Mr Willis asked
"Mr Willis from this letter I read I'm shock that your clients haven't help there sick mother, all they wanted is money, your clients who earns over three thousand dollars between them a week, asking there sick mother for money where are her son earns less than them help his sick mother by sending her some of his own wages to help her out financially as well save up to get the house fix. Mr Tomaszewski has spent thousands dollars of his own money to re-piles the house, put ramps in since Vicky Tomaszewski was in a wheel chair, have the bathroom change so a walk in shower could be put in and the kitchen redone and the doorways widen, have gas connected to the house, some windows replace, two bedroom redone, new roof. Your clients haven't put one cent towards any of it and they only show up to the house to ask there sick mother for money where she didn't have any"
"what about Pete he never spend time with her" Lisa yelled out
"your wrong Miss Tomaszewski. From this letter Peter Tomaszewski has been spending time with your mother when he has shore leave, which your mother under stands why she hardly see him where are you and your sister only shows up twice a year not to see her but to ask for money. You two have got a lot to learn from your brother. When he visits he never ask her for money, not even once, he there to spend much time as he could with her knowing about her illness. He show her some thing that you two have never shared with your mother...that is love. And here you are in my court room wanting the house that your bother spend all that money on for your mother, which she left to him, not to the two of you or the three of you, only to him cause of what he did. My ruling stands, Peter Tomaszewski keeps the house and if your clients try to take this matter to higher court, I will make sure that the judge gets this letter, this case is close" he said holding the letter in his hand, then he bang the hammer with his other hand.
Mr young stood up as he gather his paper when the judge walk back to his chambers with the letters and Mr Willis try to calm Lisa and Karen down.
Half an hour later Nikki was doing some typing when her cell phone rings so she got it out of her pocket to answer it
"Hello Nikki Tomaszewski...Yes Mr Young... yes" then her eyes widen in shock
"Your joking but how... yes... she did what... some of Pete must of rub off on her..." Nikki said smiling
"what did the judge say... yes... your joking... I bet they weren't happy with his ruling... ok thank you for calling... yes I will give him the good news... yes thank you for telling me... yes thank you" then they hung up.
Nikki then look over to the big screen to see where Bendigo is then she called Pete to give him the good news. When Pete received call from Nikki and he spoke to her for a few minutes he was please about the judge ruling, every thing.
"Nikki that is great news... yes it is... well when I return how about I take you out to your favorite restaurant to celebrate... sure... your not... Nikki, your a bad girl" then he laugh
"Yes I know, see you in few days, love you..." then he hung up
"good news buffer" captain asked
"Yes sir, my sisters lost there court case"
"the house you inheritance?" captain asked
"Yes sir. Now I know why my sisters wanted it"
"Why that" lieutenant asked
"The house value over three million dollars"
"what?" captain and the XO said at the same time
"Even I was shock sir"
"Are you selling the house?" Captain asked
"no sir renting it out to a navy family"
"Good for you" XO said
"thanks sir"
The Day Bendigo was returning back to cairns they were heading towards the entrance that lead to Cairns harbor when they saw another patrol ship in front of them towing a pleasure craft
"I wounder who that is" XO asked. As he lower his binoculars Pete walk over to the Radar and saw the two dots, he recognized the number and smile
"It Hammersley sir"
"Hammersley" captain asked
"Yes sir, they not due in till tomorrow" Then the captain pick up the microphone
"Hammersley this is bendigo"
"This is Hammersley, Hi John what can I do for you"
"Can you move over, we coming on through" They waited
"copy that we will move over to let you though, how was your patrol"
"It was good mike buffer done an excellent job"
"told you and no you can't have him" buffer grin
"Yes I know you told me and thanks to him I got clean toilets" Buffer knew that the crew would be laughing
"Well what can I say, my XO knows all about that, ow, X why did you hit me for" they all heard
"Sir it lieutenant McGregor here. Buffer has lean a lot from me as I have from him and as for the tooth brush duties, he lean that from the captain here after he was assign on here. How is buffer" Captain pass Pete the microphone
"I'm good X, miss Nikki though"
"I bet you do, crew miss you to"
"what the whole crew"
"Yes"
"I should go away more often" he said smiling
"That not going to happen buffer, charge want to know if you joining us tonight?"
"sorry got plans tonight"
"Ok I under stand, Charge do you want toothbrush duties"
"no ma'am" they heard over the radio.
"X Nikki and were planing on showing up tomorrow night since that is when you all returning" Pete said.
He waited for a couple of minutes "Buffer is the captain here, crew and I will met you with you and Nikki tomorrow night as plan"
"thanks sir, see you all then Bendigo out" then he put the microphone back in it spot.
Pete walk out side of the bridge waving to the crew as they did in return since Bendigo was sailing pass Hammersley then he return back on the bridge while smiling.