It's me, Hi, I'm the problem it's me!
Look, I don't blame you all if you have forgotten about me, or my crazy fics!
Honestly, I have no excuses this time, just life... I can not believe it's been nearly two and a half years since i started this.
I had to go back and re read the whole thing, twice. I would also advise you re read some if not all of it as there are some references in there from past chapters.
I'm also not going to claim this is my best work, I'm super rusty, but I had to finish it.
In saying that I have started a new one, it's been a while but i can not guarantee this one isn't going to take me 2 years to finish either!
Somebody That I Used to Know.
Chapter 20.
Dutchy's fist slammed on Mike's front door, the pounding becoming more frequent as the seconds ticked by. He stopped for a moment, afraid he would punch a hole in the door. He knew he had to keep his cool, but he wasn't going to let this slide, for her sake. He was about to yell when Mike swung open the door, glass of scotch in hand.
"Dutchy, what are you doing here?"
Dutchy hesitated at his casual tone, was he seriously asking why he was at his house? Shaking his head he pushed past him into the house.
"You know, I could ask you the same thing, what's going on? Why aren't you standing on the Hammersley marrying Kate?"
Mike turned his back not wanting Dutchy to see his shameful face. He flopped back onto the comfort of his couch mumbling under his breath.
"I thought you'd be glad I wasn't…"
Dutchy followed Mike into the living room trying to compose the jumble of thoughts in his mind. He paused as Mike last comment replayed in his head.
"Wait, why would I be glad?"
Mike shook his head as he picked up the bottle and topped up his glass. He glanced up at his sheepishly, not wanting to admit the reason.
"I know, about your and Kate, not the whole time, I found out yesterday."
Dutchy lost his train on thought as his mind turned to Aria.
"Wait, where's Aria?"
"Maxine has her."
Dutchy took a moment to refocus himself, remembering his rage he positioned himself in front of Mike glaring down at him. He waited for a reaction, an explanation, but nothing came. Mike finished his glass ignoring Dutchy's intimation tactics, Dutchy shook his head as he grew impatient, he couldn't believe how he was acting, the opposite of leaving the love of his life at the altar. Dutchy threw his hands in the air unable to contain his feelings.
"Mike? what is going on?"
Mike threw his hands in the air, forgetting about the scotch in his glass, it spattered all over the wall.
"Well, I've stuffed everything up, haven't I?"
Mike's sudden outburst made Dutchy flinch, he sighed and plodded to the kitchen.
Mike wiped down the wall, Dutchy watched as he struggled to maintain his balance.
"Actually, I do have a question for you."
Mike tossed the ditch soaked towel into the coffee table. His eyes narrowed, wincing in preparation for his answer.
"Why didn't you say anything?"
There was silence, Dutchy glanced at the bottle then back at Mike, realising Mike must have been at least half a bottle in, he was too calm not to be. He exhaled sharply sensing that the conversation may go more smoothly while he was under the influence.
"She had her family and she seemed happy, who was I to stand in the way of that? I couldn't stand in the way of Aria having her mum and dad. Ah, although, while we're being truthful, we did kiss…"
Mike made eye contact for a split second, scrunching his face, his fist slammed the couch.
"Fuck…"
Dutchy stepped back anticipating another explosion. To his surprise Mike reached for another glass and poured it full habding it to Dutchy.
"Fuck, what, how did we get here? One minute I was just trying to fix things, and next minute we're planning a wedding and…"
Dutchy chose to not to answer, hoping it was a rhetorical question. He observed Mike for a moment, he almost felt sorry for him, he sighed and swallowed the glass.
"Mike, I've known you for a long time, and while I'm not exactly pleased with how all of this went down, I can't be mad at you. You loved her, and so do I, I couldn't tell you what I would do in your situation. I mean, maybe it's not the smartest thing you've done, but on some weird level I get it."
Mike scoffed pouring another glass.
"See, you're a better man than I am…"
"Not quite, I think I'm more mad at Kate for not remembering what we had, stupid huh?"
Mike laughed and handed him the bottle, Dutchy poured himself another and handed it back. Mike swished the scotch around the glass wondering how he got himself into this situation.
"I don't think we should be discussing who is more stupid. So, you don't want me to explain?"
Dutchy wanted to say yes but shook his head.
"To be honest, I'm not sure. I know love does silly things to people, and I know why she went back originally, she wanted that perfect family. I think in a way she wanted to prove to herself that she could have it all. Look, I'm not saying she didn't love you but…"
Mike exhaled sharply and nodded along.
"I know, I could tell, something was different, but I loved, well, I love her so much that I thought I could make it work. Shit… I left her at the altar, Dutchy. I left her a note, all it said was 'I'm sorry'. I don't know if I would forgive me if I was her."
For a moment Dutchy forgot the situation he was in.
"You have to try, Mike, you share a child together."
Mike cocked his head to one side, was he really trying to help him fix this?
"So, I potentially stuff up your life and you're trying to help me? Why?"
Dutchy shrugged, the old Dutchy would have him pinned on the floor, but, his navy family And someone to love had changed him.
"I dunno…"
"Well, I think I can fix things, just leave it with me, if I reveal how, you may just wanna punch me after all."
Mike raced upstairs leaving Dutchy clueless to his next move.
A couple of hours later Mike had sobered up and built up the courage to see Kate, taking a deep breath in he knocked twice, there was no answer.
"Kate, please just open the door."
Kate walked to the door but stopped hearing Mike's voice. She leaned her back against her front door unsure of what to do, she braced herself as the thuds shook her core.
"Kate, please, you deserve an explanation."
She sighed, he was right about that, begrudgingly she opened the door. Mike put on his best forgive me face.
"Thanks…"
She folded her arms over her chest waiting for him to start, he cleared his throat and stepped towards her, hoping she could see his remorseful expression.
"I'm sorry…"
Kate raised an eyebrow, is that all he had to say?
"You're sorry?!"
Her stone cold expression suddenly changed as she laughed uncontrollably, she had to else she would bust into tears.
"Ladies and gentlemen, he's sorry…"
Mike winced, he second guess himself, was explaining everything going to help?
"For the record, I had no idea about you and Dutchy, I only found out a couple of days ago…"
Kate stopped laughing instantly at the mention of Dutchy.
"Dutchy? Me and Dutchy? what are you talking about?"
Mike slapped his forehead, he'd really put himself in it now.
"Fuck… look, don't know the full story, but Jack knew, I'm not sure how… Kate, I don't know how this got so messed up but I can explain my side."
She sighed and opened the door wider, he followed her to the couch and sat awkwardly beside her. She shuffled aside smelling the stench of scotch.
"Mike, how much had you had to drink?"
"Enough to be here to explain, so can you just listen?"
She was about to object, but maybe it was easier this way, she might even be able to get honest answers to her questions.
"It's simple, I was stupid, I wanted to make up for the past and, we'll I took my opportunity. Yes, it was selfish, but at the same time I knew how much you just wanted this perfect family and I had already stuffed up once, I wanted to give it to you. That's it, I swear there was never any malice, but I guess not knowing about the other circumstances made things worse…"
Kate sat there expressionless, trying to keep calm.
"I want to be furious, I want to scream at you…"
Mike sat with his heads in his habds waiting for the wave of yelling to begin.
"Please, go ahead…"
"But, I just, I kind of understand and…"
Mike slolwly raised his head and makde eye cobtact with her, checking his hearing wasn't deceiving him.
"Really? I didn't expect you to understand, I barely understand. Umm, I think you might want to look at this… it will explain the Dutchy part."
He handed her the SD card and squeezed her hand.
"I'm sorry I interfered in what you had, don't be mad at him. I know things will be complicated for a while, I can drop Aria off any time you want, and I totally get it if you want some space."
Mike got up and left, Kate spun the SD card around in her hands for a moment before grabbing her laptop. She held her breath as the first file loaded, she held her breath as Dutchy's face appeared on the screen. She jumped as there was another knock at her door, pausing the video she made her way to the door and opened it ever so slightly, hoping it wasn't Mike again. She breathed a sigh of relief seeing Jack, who was trying to put on a sympathetic expression.
"Hey…"
She swung the door open and threw her arms around him and sobbed.
Jack squeezed her tight and rubbed her back trying to soothe her.
"I was going to ask how you were, but…"
Kate stepped back wiping the tears from her face.
"Mike was just here…"
Jack remained silent trying to gauge her feelings about Mike, Kate frowned at Jack's lack of reaction and questions
"What do you know?"
Jack walked into the house trying to buy him some time to think of an explanation that wasn't going to upset her more. He turned to face her, her bewildered expression got to him, he couldn't lie, she'd been lied to enough.
"I umm, I may have confronted him the night before the wedding…"
Kate's jaw dropped.
"What? What did he tell you?"
"Well, hopefully the same thing he just told you?"
Kate exhaled sharply and headed to the kitchen, she poured herself a glass of white and downed it in one mouthful.
"Kate, it's 11am…"
She slammed her glass on the bench clenching her jaw.
"Yeah, the day after I've been left at the altar. If you were any type of friend you would have bought me some vodka."
He chuckled and shook his head and grabbed a glass.
"Pour me one…"
She sighed and leaned on the bench.
"He said that he just wanted to have his family back… I'm so mad, but somehow I understand, is that weird?"
Jack laughed nudged her with his elbow.
"Do you think you're not really upset because you're not really in love with him?"
She eyeballed him over the top of her glass.
"Please, enlighten me with your wisdom…"
He held her glare for a moment, hoping she may admit it on her own. She smiled sweetly back at him, he rolled his eyes and shook his head.
"You're in love with Dutchy…"
Kate swallowed the rest of her glass and grabbed Jack hand and led him to the couch. She opened her laptop and placed it on her lap.
"What's this?"
"Mike gave it to me…"
They sat in silence as Kate pressed play, she gripped Jack hand, anxious of what was to come.
Photos of Kate and Dutchy rolled across the screen, at first Kate just thought they were pictures of them on their various adventures, but the pictures slowly became more intimate.
She pulled the laptop in to her lap wanting a closer look, pictures of them holding hands crossed the screen, then one of them laying on a sun lounger in each others arms.
Jack cleared his throat.
"Umm, do you want me to be watching this with you?"
Kate playfully hit him on three arm.
"I doubt your going to see anything…"
The next photo was of then laying in bed, Kate was laying on Dutchy's chest a he kissed her forehead.
She's slammed the laptop lid shut.
"Errr, maybe that's enough…"
They sat there in silence for a moment.
"I was was with Dutchy…"
Jack nodded and placed his hand on her arm.
"Are you okay?"
She slammed the laptop on to the couch and let out an aggravated growl.
"What the hell… how, how could he not tell me? What kind of person just…"
She spotted the key ring sitting the bench, grabbing it she squeezed it tight and let out a scream and hurled it towards the wall. It shattered, sand scattering everywhere, she frowned hearing a metallic ping against her floor. Scrambling on her hands and knees she pulled something from under the couch, she closed her eyes and clenched her hand hoping it wasn't what she thought it was. She one eye as she opened her hand.
"Oh, you've got to be kidding me…"
Stacey was about to knock as Kate swung open the door.
"Kate!"
"Do you know where he is?"
She knew instantly Kate was talk about Dutchy.
"The Castaway."
Kate got into her car and sped off, Stacey jumped as Jack appeared in the door way, she frowned seeing the glass in his hand.
"Do I wanna know?"
"Ah…"
Jack didn't want to be the one to tell Stacey that Kate and Dutchy had been together. Stacey recognised the remorseful look on Jacks face.
"It's okay, Jack, I know."
Jack tried to hide his surprise, Stacey chuckled and took his glass.
"Got anymore of this?"
He nodded and escorted her into the house.
Kate burst into the cast away , he jumped from his seat startled by the door ricocheting off the wall.
"Kate!?"
Her eyes focused on him like laser beams, she made a bee line for him. He stumbled backwards in fear she would tackle him.
"A fucking ring? Seriously? We were this far in and you were just going to let me go…"
Dutchy took a moment to comprehend her yelling, he looked around at the multiple sets of eyes focused on them. He lowered his voice, he wanted to be able to show his face here again.
"You know?"
"It doesn't matter… I just want to know how you can just sit here and act like nothings wrong."
He glanced around again, he attemped to take her hand.
"Maybe we should go somewhere private?"
She stepped away from him.
"No, tell me now, Dutchy. How could you just watch me with him?"
He was expecting a fight, but not this one. He took a moment to compose the thoughts in his head.
"Wait, you're mad because I was going to let you go? So that means you have feelings for me?"
Kate hesitated contemplating her answer.
"Yes. I mean, no, I… "
The sparkling of the ring on her hand caught his eye. A smirk crossed Dutchy's face.
"Wait! You're wearing the ring…"
Kate covered her hand knowing where his reasoning was going.
"I, it, it was just so I wouldn't lose it!"
He grabbed her wrist bringing her hand into view.
"On your ring finger?"
She snatched it away losing her train of thought.
"It fit that finger, okay? I'm still mad, let me yell!"
Dutchy's smile grew as he took a step towards her, his frustrations fading.
"You love me, don't you?"
Before she could answer a confused look adorned his face.
"Hang on, how did you find it? I thought I hid it pretty well."
Kate broke eye contact, she spun the ring around her finger.
"I smashed the bloody key ring cos I was mad."
He couldn't help but chuckle, he brushed his hand against hers.
"Sounds like the Kate I know… after our trip I knew, I bought the ring the day after we got back. I put it in there as a joke, like the day I proposed I was gonna be all like, you've had this with you every day."
They were at a stand still, Dutchy wasn't sure what she was expecting him to say, whether she'd listen to his explanation.
"Kate, I'm sorry, I'm sorry if it feels like I gave up, I just, I didn't think I could compete with Mike, you have a history, and well, I know how much you wanted to have your complete family."
She scoffed giving him a slight shove.
"But… I love you, stupid…"
He smiled as he brushed the stray hairs from her face.
"So you remember?"
She shook her head and leaned her head in the palm of his hand.
"No, but, I just know I love you… but Dutchy, there's so much to figure out…"
"Kate, we'll work it out. I promise…"
She leaned forward to kiss him but hesitated, Dutchy frowned and opened his eyes, his lips still puckered.
"Ah, did we recover another memory, what's happening?"
Kate put her hand out shoving Dutchy's face away from hers.
"That sex dream…."
He chuckled and placed his arms on her shoulders.
"Not a dream, that's your reality now…"
Kate scrunched her face and shoved him away.
"Ugh, you just had to spoil the nice moment didn't you?"
He funbled his phone from his pocket Kate scrunched her face as he furiously typed a message. Her phone beeped, she rolled her eyes as she took out her phone, a smile crossed her face as she read it aloud.
"Happy first day of the rest of our lives."
Dutchy pulled her in to his embrace, vowing never to let her go.
"Better?"
Then end.