AN: i would like to wish all my story followers and Sea Patrol fans a happy new year. This is the last chapter for 2023
CH 30
When Mike and Kate return to Hammersley they saw the not so happy crew showing up. "sir what going on" Spider asked
"We been task to take the SAS to samurai islands"
"Why us" bomber asked
"We are the only patrol boat in port. I know you all had plans for shore leave but that the navy for you"
"Yes sir"
"now go and get change got surplys showing up soon" then they all went and got change then started taking boxes on board while Mike and Kate read the files that Nikki gave to them. Then they went to do there jobs when Kate saw flipper showed up
"flipper are you ok" Kate asked
"Yeah I can strait from the hospital"
"Is every thing ok with your family"
"Yeah I was donating blood as well ask to have some test done"
"Tests?"
"Talk about it later"
"sure why don't you go and have a lie down, I'll let mike know"
"no I'll rest later"
"flipper, what would Dutchy say to you" flipper smile
"to lie down, ok, if I don't you would tell him and than I'll be in trouble" Kate smile
"Well you better go and get some rest"
"thanks" Flipper walk on to Hammersley while Kate hurry the crew along.
Hour later the sun was starting to set when Mike walk onto the wharf "Every thing done"
"Yes, every thing done, waiting for the SAS to arrive, we got to leave in three minutes" Kate said
"i know we do, have you seen flipper"
"Yes she resting"
"Resting"
"she came strait from the hospital, she given blood and ask for some test to be done"
"what test"
"i didn't get a change to ask her, here the SAS" Mike turn to see the SAS truck showed up and eight men got out and they got there gear then they walk walk over to where mike and Kate is
"lieutenant commander Flynn, I'm Captain Jim Roth, SAS"
"Captain" they shook hands
"This is my XO lieutenant Kate McGregor"
"lieutenant" he said with a smile when he look at her
"Captain your fifteen minutes late, spider care to show our guests down to the Astral now, we got to leave now"
"Yes X" spider said just as Kate turn and walk onto Hammersley calling Out
"sir you needed on the bridge we going to leave" They walk up and onto Hammersley
"You let her talk to you like that captain"
"Yes I do cause I know she is right, if you will excuse me" Mike turn and walk towards of of the hatch doors.
"This way sir, as for XO keep away from here for the next couple of hours"
"dose she always talk to the captain like that" Jim asked as he and his men follow spider
"Yes especially when there a time limit, her nick name in ADFA is princess perfect and she one hell of a task master, do some thing wrong she give you tooth brush duties"
"Really"
"Yes sir"
"but she not always like that"
"No, not all the time" they talk till spider open the door
"Here you go sir"
"thank you spider" Spider turn and walk back the way he came while Jim and his men went to get settle in while Hammersley left port to go to samurai island.
Just as Hammersley was heading north, Kate went to check on flipper after she spoke to Swain about what Flipper done so he would know what to do if some thing bad happen to her. When Kate open the door of her and flipper cabin, Flipper was awake, reading a book, she look up
"how are you feeling" Kate asked
"Bit better I had glass of orange juice before coming in to rest."
"Ok" Kate walk in and close the door behind her
"i spoke to swain, I told him that you given blood when you received the crash sail message. He said he would come and check on you in an hour"
"thanks" Kate step ford and sat down in a chair
"You said you were having some test done when you were giving blood" Flipper smile
"It nothing serous, it more personal"
"Baby" Flipper smile
"No... I'm trying to find my biological father. I don't know his name only that he an officer in the navy. He would be a commander by now"
"Are you sure he in the navy"
"Yes I remember my mum told me one night when I ask her about him. She told me when they finish high school he went to the navy academy to become an officer. They keep in contact for years but she never told him about me. When she died and I went through her things, I found all the letters from him. I read every single one of them. But at the end of each letter all there was one initial 'M'"
"Perhaps I can help"
"I check out list off officers names and match then to the stamp that was on the envelope and the letter 'M' there was only four matches that fits the time frame but none of them are the same age as my mum. That is why I hope a DNA test will come up a match"
"Well good luck"
"thanks, the doctor I spoke to at the labs she said she would check through all the officers that got there DNA on profile who about my mum age including the ones who not in the navy any more"
"Well I wish you all the best of luck"
"thanks, in the mean time I think about the job I love doing, when I told my mum the day before she died that I was planing on joining the navy she was shock then smile then she said to me... I'm prod of you Mac, you would make a great sailor, I said to her an officer mum... she look at me like she seen a ghost then I relies what I said."
"Just like your father"
"Yes. I hope I can find out who my father is, what is he like, did he get married, have a family of his own"
"I'm sure who ever he is will love you and that his family will except you and you family in to theirs"
"I hope so to. So who our guests?"
"SAS, we taking them to samurai islands then we taking over Kingston patrol they heading back to Cairns, there electoral problems on there boat"
"No wounder the crew not happy"
"no, what about you"
"I feel the same, I was looking ford to spend time with the boys and Dylan since he was flying up tomorrow for two weeks"
"I know what that like when I was at ADFA and mike was in Perth. When he got three four days off it was during the week. We were lucky to see each other four, five times a year while I was at ADFA"
"i know what you mean. When Dylan was over seas, it was hard and when he return he try to get a posting to where I was station at but he was called to here, we were lucky to have one night together before he was assign to Hammersley"
"It can be hard on all families especially married couples in the navy"
"that true" Kate stood up
"I better return back to the bridge before the captain comes looking for me"
"Yeah" Flipper said smiling
Kate turn and walk out of there cabin and return back to the bridge where she saw Jim talking to mike then they turn around when Kate walk up onto the bridge
"How Flipper"
"She resting"
"Ok we had to change course a may day call came in"
"I notice the boat turning when I was walking up the steps, what the may day call"
Mike fill Kate in about the may day call while Jim look at Kate the whole time. The crew, mike and Kate notice it. When finish Kate walk over to the microphone and pick it up to call hands to boarding station, then she put it back then turn around and walk off the bridge with couple of the crew and Jim behind her. When charge had a chance he put his hand on the captain arm which cause Jim to stop and turn to charge
"If you thinking of asking the XO out for drinks or date for get it"
"Excuse me"
"I saw the way you look and smile at her. For get it, she a married women"
"Married" Jim said in shock
"Yes happily married for twelve years and they got four kids" Then Charge turn and walk away from Jim.
Jim went to the back of the boat and watches the boarding team get on the boat, he watches Kate the whole time till the HRIB return and Kate walk off it just as mike showed up. They talk for a minutes then Kate turn and follow the others towards the hatch. Mike turn to Jim then turn around and walk back the way he came.
The next day Hammersley was getting ready to drop off the SAS when mike got to talk to Jim alone.
"Captain I hear rumors that you are interested in lieutenant McGregor, is that true"
"what it to you, are you in love with her, she your XO, you know the navy rules"
"Yes I do captain she also happens to by my wife captain" Mike said yelling at Jim who look shock with what mike just said.
"sir" mike turn to Kate who walk over to them.
"We are ready to transport the SAS to Samaru island"
"Very well" Mike walk pass Kate.
"sir" Kate said as she turn around to mike who stop and turn to Kate
"We are going to have a chat when I return...sir" Kate said as she walk pass him.
Jim followed Kate onto the HRIB. "X is the captain in trouble with you again" ET asked
"no more that normal" the crew laugh
"Ouch I wounder what his punishment going to be" spider said
"spider I'm sure there a toilet need cleaning"
"sorry X" After the SAS was drop off and the RHIB was return, Hammersley went to start is patrol.
Hour later Crew knew that Kate was in mike Cabin, they were wondering what she was doing to him. When Mike return, he wasn't in a good mood.
At that same time at NAVCOM Nikki was doing some paper work when her cell phone rings so she got it out of her pocket and saw who it was so she answer it
"Pete... ok I'll be there soon as I can... sure" then she hung up then stood up and walk to Steve office, he was talking to captain and his XO from one of the patrol boats.
Nikki knock on the door before walking in. "Sorry for disturbing you sir, I got a call for Pete... Vicky condition has deteriorated, the doctor given her... twenty four hour, possible less" Nikki said as she try to hold it together.
"you may go lieutenant, take all the time you need"
"thank you sir" Nikki saluted Steve before turning around and walking out the door as she wipe tears out of her eyes.
"Who Pete" XO asked
"Her husband, he boson on Hammersley. He taken some personal time off, he mum for stage four cancer"
"that not good especially when lieutenant pregnant"
"It is hard for any family" Steve said
Nikki called Heidi and the air lines as she walk towards her car and got in then drove home. When she got home she got change and pick up her pack bag and two suit bags then she walk out side just as Heidi pulled up in the drive way.
Nikki manage to lock the door and walk over to her sister in law car. She open the back seat "Nikki are you ok"
"I will be" Nikki put the things in then close the door then she got into the front seat and close the door and put her seat belt on
"I called mum and dad they going to meet you at the air port"
"thanks" Heidi drove Nikki to the air port. Nikki was quiet the whole time thinking about Pete and Vicky.
Three hours later Nikki walk into Vicky room to see Pete and Victor there. Pete saw Nikki so she walk strait over to him putting a bag on the table and into his arms as he cried. Nikki turn her head to Victor then to where Vicky is, Nikki was shock when she saw how thin and pale she look.
"I'm here Pete" Pete move Nikki so she was sitting on his lap but still hugging her.
Few minutes later he pulled back so he could look at her. She wipe the tears away with her hand
"I'm here"
"I'm please your here"
"same here Pete"
"Nikki is that you" Nikki turn and stood up and step ford holding onto Vicky hand
"Yes it me"
"You came"
"Yes" Vicky look down at Nikki stomach and smile. Nikki mover Vicky hand over the baby bump. "you getting bigger and your glowing" Vicky said
"I know" then she turn to Pete
"Pete get my I pad out of my bag" Pete got the I pad out and stood up and step ford till he was next to Nikki
"turn it on" Pete did what she asked, then she use one hand to touch the screen
"hold it up" Pete held it up, and Nikki made his hand move till she got it where she wanted it
"doctor recorded this for me" then she press play with the volume up.
"Is that your baby" Vicky asked
"Yes that our baby" Vicky watch the baby move while she smile as she watch it.
Pete, Nikki and victor saw Vicky smile as she look at the ultra sound recording till it stop. Pete turn it off and put the I pad on the table then he turn to his mum and move so his hand is covering both Nikki and his mum since it was still over the baby bump.
Vicky look up at them as she smile "Look after each other"
"We will mum"
"We will" Nikki said as tear starting to flow like Pete is.
"Peter... I love you" Her eyes started to close
"I love you to mum" He move so he could kiss her forehead just as her eyes close then they heard the beep of the heart machine stop.
Pete and Nikki cried, just as victor did as he push the buzzer. Pete move Vicky hand back on the bed then turn Nikki around and pulled her into her arms just as the doctor and nurses ran into the room then stop when they saw what just happen.
The doctor look at his watch and said the time then he walk over and turn the machines off then he and the nurses walk out of the room to leave the family grieve in private. Pete turn to his uncle , he put his arm around him and he step ford to hug them both.
Hour later at NAVCOM Steve was talking to mike over the sat phone when a lieutenant walk over to him "Sir there a phone call for you"
"Take a message lieutenant"
"sir it lieutenant Tomaszewski"
"Mike can you hold the line it might be important for you and the crew... thanks" then he walk over removing his head set and picking up the phone
"Lieutenant it commander Marshall speaking... I under stand my condolences to you and your family... I got mike on the line want me to tell him... I can do that" then he move the phone away
"patch the lieutenant to Hammersley"
"Yes sir" then he put the head set on
"Mike, I got lieutenant Tomaszewski on the line , she want to talk to you... I'm afraid so" he gave the lieutenant a nod as he remove the head set.
On Hammersley mike talk to Nikki for couple of minutes before hanging up. Then he turn to Kate who was on radar, she walk over to him "what wrong" she put her hand on his arm, so he put his on top of hers
"that was Nav, Pete mum pass away over an hour ago"
"Oh no"
"Nikki said Vicky got to see copy of the ultra sound recording of the baby, she was smiling. Nikki said and she got to feel the baby before she pass away"
"buffer"
"Shock. Nav said she call Pete sisters, they must be partying when she called them. She broke the news to them, they laugh and hung up"
"Is there any thing we can do for them"
"Perhaps the crew can think of some thing"
"Yeah" mike reach over and pick up the microphone and turn the PA system on
"now here this, captain speaking. I received a call from Nav... Buffer Mum Vicky Tomaszewski past away over an hour ago. I know you want to be there for buffer and Nav, but we got a patrol to do. I know you want to call them but just send messages to them. That all we can do for them for now, that is all" then Mike put the microphone back as he turn the PA system off.
"Sir, may I suggest we put some money together and send them flowers" Charge suggested
"How charge we out at sea" RO said
"Order it over the internet" Charge said
"that a great idea charge since your idea, you can go and gather money from the crew and give it to me and I'll make the order" Kate said
"Ok"