CH 61
Two days later it was a Saturday, all the crew and there families showed up at Mike and Kate place for the celebrations on the home coming after what they all been through. Even the three wounded who was in hospital when Hammersley return were there since they were realest from the hospital the day before. The kids were playing in the play area while the adults were talking and laughing while having drinks and snack foods during the day.
"Can I have every one attention" mike call out. Every one stop talking and turn to him.
"Yesterday I received word that Hammersley is going to be tow to Perth on Monday cause of the amount of damage that was done on both the inside and the out side of the ship. It will be in dry dock for at least three to four weeks so you are all on shore leave for that time but I would like to have you all volunteer to be temporary replacement for on any other ships during your shore leave for a patrol if a temporary replacement can't be found. The choice is yours." Mike said looking around to every one
"now Nav told me last night, her trial case starts on Wednesday in Canberra. So we will wish her all the best" Mike turn to see Pete putting his arm around Nikki shoulder as she snuggled up to his side.
"And some good news... Stewart White transplant is a success and is in remission" they all clap and cheered since Stewart is there sitting next to Mac.
"Is there any news any one want to share with every one here"
"I do" Nikki stood up. "I spoke to Mr and Mrs Dawson about what there son has done. They weren't happy with me telling lies at first till sustain crew members step ford and told them what I said was true including the phone call he made. Brad try to get out of it saying I and the crew are lying. After I spoke to them and told them a few home truths. It was a wake up call for them both when they relies what there son was doing. They came into NAVCOM yesterday to talk to me and to apologize for the way they treated me and all of you during those ruff few days. I got a letter here for you all to read, it a thank you and apologetic letter form the Dawson family" Nikki show them the letter in hand.
"Nav will the son be paying the phone call" Swain asked
"Yes it would be taken out of his pocket money and after the way Mr Dawson seen the way we all work together and how his son never help out. Mr Dawson told his son if he want money he will have to go out and earn it since his bother and sister got after school jobs so they could earn there own pocket money plus what there parents give to them."
"That is a good idea Nav" mike said
"thanks sir and Mr Dawson even written a letter to fleet command about how well we all work together in difficult situation and how we manage to return to Cains with out being tow by another patrol boat." then she sat down since the letter was being pass around to the crew.
Every one enjoyed them selves giving each other a hard time as they always do. They had barbeque dinner that night with Mike and Pete manning the two barbeques since Nikki brought one for his birthday couple months ago and haven't had a chance to try it out till now.
When the meat was cook Mike smile when he saw what Pete got hidden in among the other meats. When every help them selves to the meats and salads before sitting down till Buffer pick up what he was cooking with the tongs and put then two on the plate then he walk over to where spider is.
"Here you go spider, here your crabs" Pete said as he put the plate on the table next to spider plate while the crew burst out laughing.
"Very funny buffer"
"Well you haven't had any crabs for couple of years" Charge said causing another round of laughter.
"Spider put one on my plate if you want to share" Kate said
"Are you sure you want to eat it X after what happen last time"
"Yes and if I do ended up with food poising, I'm sure Nikki will think up some sort of punishment for buffer" Kate said smiling
"Oh yes I can think of a number of punishments X" Nikki said smiling
"Ok. Here you go X" Spider pick up the plate and pass it to Kate so she could put one of the crabs on her plate then pass it back to spider.
"Thanks spider" They watch as Kate started eating the crab while Pete and mike walk over and sat next to there wives.
"How the crab X" buffer asked
"good thanks, where did you buy them from"
"Saw Carl yesterday, he said he saw us on the news and he gave me two crabs and ask how spider is" Kate stop eating and turn to buffer
"did you ask where he got the crabs from"
"Yes it got it from another island so they are safe to eat"
"Not from bright island" Spider asked
"no since he and his mate still have got the all clear to return there" Buffer said
"Oh, ok" then spider started eating his crab while every one return eating there dinner.
It was late by the time every one left. Most of the crew was drunk but lucky they got some one to drive them home and lucky they don't live far away.
On Tuesday afternoon Pete and Nikki flew to Canberra for Nikki trial. Heidi and Tom was looking after Nick and Vicky while they were away. The next morning Pete and Nikki showed up in there uniforms for the trial.
They were quiet on the way to fleet command building where the trial is also being held. When they walk down the corridor there saw lieutenant commander Ellis there waiting for Nikki.
"sir"
"Lieutenant" they saluted each other
"Lieutenant commander Ellis, this is my husband petty officer Pete Tomaszewski"
"Sir" Pete said as they shook hands.
"buffer right"
"Yes sir. What are Nikki Chances"
"not good but I'll do the best I can for you lieutenant"
"I under stand sir"
"shall we" they turn when they heard foot steps to see Maxine White and her lawyer walking towards them.
"come on Nikki" Pete said.
They walk into the court room and up to where they would be sitting. They notice few people there in uniform who they don't know. Pete sat behind Nikki so he could be close to her. The three of them talk quietly when Maxine and her lawyer walk in and sat down at the other table.
Few minutes later they turn around when the doors open. Pete and Nikki smile as they stood up when they saw who walk into the court room. They all gave Nikki and Pete a hug.
"Nikki we are all here for you and buffer" Kate said
"thank you for your support"
"You would do the same if it was one of us" Charge said
"True. Lieutenant commander Ellis, this is the Hammersley crew sir"
"Yes I know who they are"
"Kate where commander Flynn"
"He here... he here as a witness"
"I under stand and I suppose half of NAVCOM is here as well"
"some are" Ellis said Nikki turn to him
"Well they did hear and saw what happen"
"We better sit down the trial going to start soon" Pete said. Then they all move around and sat down just before the court case begins.
Over the next three days it was long and tiring for every one concern. The crew was there for those three days to support Nikki and Pete. When it was Nikki turn to be on the stand. She answered all her lawyers questions, then it was Maxine White lawyer who try to twist the words around from when she answer her lawyer questions. When he was finish Nikki Lawyer stood up.
"Lieutenant. What if things were different, would you still hit commander white" Nikki thought about it
"It would depends on what things change. If Hammersley was in dry dock like it was suppose and the Hammersley crew had there normal shore leave. The out come would have been a lot different"
"In what way"
"Hammersley wouldn't of been drifting for ten days and going through three storms with no engines and no power and there wouldn't of been any damage done and no injury to the crew."
"and the assault on commander White"
"wouldn't of happen if she listen to me in the first place"
"no more questions"
"you may step down lieutenant" the judge said. Nikki stood up and return back to her seat.
Then both Lawyers did there closing argument to the jury for a few minutes then the jury left the room to decide on what to do to Nikki. While Pete and Nikki hug and the crew step ford to talk to Nikki for twenty minutes when they learn the jury already reach it verdict. When every one seated they all watch the jury and the judge return.
In NAVCOM Mac received the latest text message from Kate. She look over to where captain Marsh is since he been at NAVCOM for the past few days cause of the trial. She stood up and walk over to where he is.
"sir" he turn around to Mac
"Yes lieutenant"
"Text from Kate sir the jury reach it verdict"
"thank you for telling me" Mac look down at her phone then back to Steve
"i hate the waiting part" Steve smile
"mike is like that"
"I know sir. Kate told me how impatient he was when it came to boardings" then her cell phone rings cause her to jump.
She look at it "It from Kate" then she open the text and read what it said.
Then she look up to Steve then look around the room "Can I have every one attention please" Mac yell out. Every one turn to her
"I've received Text message from lieutenant McGregor who is at Nav court marshal... the verdict is in. Nav has been found... not guilty and the assault charge was dismiss cause of sustain circumstances which cause her to hit commander White. Let the other patrol boats know since they also been waiting for the news" they all cheered for a minute then they all got back to work smiling knowing it was good news.
Mac turn to Steve "Well sir it good news"
"Yes it is, I wounder what the circumstances were?"
"Nav was here for eighteen hours every day helping to find Hammersley and the day commander white told her and Mike about the search being called out, she would of snap and that what happen which cause her to take it out on commander white since it was her fault in the first place"
"that true" Steve said
In the court room Nikki was shock and releave that it was over that she was found not guilty. She turn around to to look at Pete who stood up and step ford and pull her in to his arms
"Not guilty" Nikki said quietly
"It over Nikki" when they pull apart they kiss then they were surrounded by the crew.
Then she saw Mike and the ones who was there to testified walk into the room and over to to congratulated Nikki. Mike pulled Nikki into a hug which shock her.
"How are you feeling now" mike asked
"Shock, happy sir"
"We all are Nav"
Nikki turn slightly to see Maxine white looking at her. Then Mike turn to Maxine to see she wasn't happy with the verdict before she walk out the door with her lawyer.
"Come on. Lets get out of here" Pete said
They all walk out of the court room after Nikki thank her lawyer before she held onto Pete hand before walking out with the crew and ones from NAVCOM following them.
The NAVCOM staff left to return to Cairns since they got work in the morning while the crew went to there hotel to get change they they left to meet up at a pub that the officers go to for meals and drinks when they weren't at work or ADFA.
They all enjoyed them selves in celebrating Nikki not guilty verdict that including ET, Spider and Charge returning from the bar calling out "Guava mojo" which cause the crew to cheer.
"Nav what are you going to do now" Spider asked
"Well I'm going to enjoy spending the weekend with Pete and kids, as for returning back to Work...Sir" Nikki said as she look at Mike
"You can return on Monday morning"
"thanks sir" Nikki said smiling.
They all enjoy them selves over the next few hours before they return back to the hotels since they all were returning back to Cairns in the morning. That night Nikki and Pete made love three times after Pete punish Nikki since she wore the lime green silk nightie when she walk out of the bathroom.
The next morning they all took the same flight back to Cairns. When they walk into the turmoil they all were greeted by there families. Pete held Vicky in his arms after Nikki hug and kiss her before passing her to Pete. They all said good byes to each other before they went there separate ways.
On Monday morning Nikki smile when she saw Mike getting out of his car. So she walk over to where he is "Morning sir" he turn and smile
"Morning Nav ready to return back to work"
"Yes, you sir"
"Yes, how was your weekend"
"It was great, we went shopping, went to the zoo, parks, the beach. It was great, you sir"
"We went shopping, kids growing up fast" Nikki laugh
"that true, how Kate"
"Good she spending it Ed since he here for two weeks"
"that good"
they talk and laugh as they walk to the elevators and into the ball pen of NAVCOM where they saw every one there smile at Nikki before returning back to work. Mike went to his office while Nikki went to her desk where she started her morning paper work.
She saw Steve in Maxine office talking to her which Nikki wasn't worried about. Ten minutes later Nikki saw Mike walk into Maxine office closing the door behind him before sitting down next to Maxine since Steve was in her chair. Nikki watch what was happening and could see Steve doing most of the talking.
Nikki return back to what she was doing the look up every now and then till she saw Steve on the phone to some one when Mac walk over to her "Nav" Nikki jump a bit then to and look up to Mac
"Morning flipper" Mac sat down in chair next to Nikki.
"I notice you where looking at Knocker office every now and then"
"Oh"
"don't be, I'll be doing the same thing to" she said smiling
"Even after what I've been through in the past few months"
"Yes, so to change the subject. Vicky birthday" Nikki smile
"I can't believe she one next weekend"
"they don't stay small for long"
"that true, she sure is daddy little girl"
"buffer miss out on so much hasn't he"
"Yes he has, but he spends much time as he could with both Nick and Vicky"
"I bet he would and I know what you going through"
"Dutchy"
"Yes... he call me last night, he been transferred to Afghanistan on some joint mission program with the US"
"for how long"
"three months, he leaves after this one is born" she put her hand on her expanding stomach
"Well at least you got family here to help you"
"I know"
"How things between your grand parents and command Flynn"
"It going to take time but they got to relies that he is family"
"True"
"what about you, heard from your sister in laws?"
"nothing, last time Pete left a message on there cell phone to let them know that they got a niece"
"Why do families do that to each other?"
"I don't know?" They turn when they heard office door bang open and saw Maxine storm out of the office angry.