"Charlie 82 this is X-ray 82"

"Negative sir …he speaks some broken english and says his bosses sent him here… sir I suspect he is talking of a mothership, possibly with other ffv's attached to this organisation".

"Is there a sizeable catch on board?"

"Their nets are out but nothing on board yet …sir they are ill prepared with stock they wouldn't last more than two more days with these supplies…there is no way they would make it back to Indonesia…there has to be another boat supplying them!"

"Agreed X but there's not a whole lot more we can do here, redirect him back over the line and return to the ship Charlie 82 out!"

"Yes Sir X-ray 82 out"

Kate walked back on to the bridge clearly disappointed by the outcome of the boarding. Mike could see it in her eyes the frustration of letting them get away…he could see something else was bothering her too but he wasn't sure what

"You ok X?"

Something was wrong with Kate but she redirected her thoughts to the illegal fisherman clearly they were in the wrong but the CO was right their hands were tied on the matter, though highly unlikely the illegal fisherman could claim exactly what they said. That they had accidentally wondered into Australian waters!

"X?" Came Mike's voice.

This time she herd and responded

"Oh sorry sir, yes I'm fine! Just a little frustrated is all." Mike knew she was talking about the FFV

"Don't worry X we'll get them" Kate looked over at her boss with a questioning stare.

"Well I'm more interested in their mothership they are going to need to return to her at some point to restock supplies as you said"

"So we are going to monitor them then?"

"Yes X that we are, we will keep just below the horizon and monitor them"

"But sir how do you know they will be in our waters?"

"Well X I don't, but that is the second FFV we have found in similar circumstances in the past two days and ….it would make sense for logistical purpose for her to come to her vessel…she may service a whole heap of FFVs in our waters but we wouldn't know because she's constantly moving…these FFV's are getting their supplies from somewhere and I'm going to find out where!" Mike looked at Kate and could see the realization on her face.

Kate too looked at Mike and could see a small rush of excitement wash over him at the challenge and possibility of taking out the mothership that serviced the FFVs!

Two days later…

Mike was convinced that they would catch the mothership he had boarding parties on standby when a mayday interrupted his train of thought.

"Mayday, mayday, mayday this is the pacific dolphin calling on VHF channel 59 …MAYDAY, MAYDAY, MAYDAY!" Kate looked out the corner of her eye to see one very torn CO. The angst was written all over his face Mike wanted so much to ignore the mayday and take out the mothership but with no other boats in the vicinity to render assistance it was Hammersley's responsibility! Mike hesitantly took the receiver from RO.

"Pacific dolphin this is Australian warship Hammersley what is the nature of your mayday?"

"Australian warship, Pacific Dolphin…I have a broken mast and have lost steering! I need urgent assistance or my yacht may capsize, over!"

"Ok Sir, my name is Mike Flynn I am the Commander of HMAS Hammersley how many crew do you have sir?"

"Just myself Commander…..Josh Ambrose…" The transmission began breaking up.

Mike turned to Nav.

"Sir I have him on radar currently 18 miles south of our current position"

"Thanks Nav" Mike replied before speaking into the radio again.

"Ok Mr Ambrose we will be with you A.S.A.P"

"X" came the CO's voice "pipe boarding station…take Swain for medical assistance and charge …see if he can't fix Mr Ambrose's steering problem hopefully he'll be on his way!"

"Sir" was her response before moving to the loud speaker "…hands to boarding stations, hands to boarding stations, hands to boarding stations, boarding party muster boat deck"

Upon boarding the Pacific Dolphin Kate was greeted by Mr Ambrose.

"Hi lieutenant McGregor" she offered her hand "you must be Mr Ambrose"

"Josh please and…..?"

"Kate"

"Well it's nice to meet you Kate sorry about this"

"Oh well it is our job…Any luck Charge?"

"No sorry ma'am"

"Ok we will need to set up a tow back to base".

Back on board the Hammersley mike introduces himself to Josh but it would seem the young sailor is all too interested in his XO, Kate completely oblivious to the fact agrees to give Josh the grand tour leaving Mike on the bridge jealous and hurt. It had been almost two months since he had been with Kate and in this moment more now than ever all he wanted was Kate all to himself. He wanted nothing more than to hold her and couldn't stand to see her with another man. Mike was being selfish he'd had four years to rekindle his relationship with Kate and yet he cheated her so many times after his near death experience. He'd vowed to himself he was uncontrollably in love with her but he had agreed to continue on as CO till the end of Hammersley's rotation, and perhaps on a more selfish level had failed to inform Kate that he would be CO for yet another ten months…mike knew he was being unfair to the woman he loved…she had already waited four years for their relationship to blossom once more and now it was his second love standing in their way…his love of the sea.

Later in the ward room mike was faced once more with Josh and Kate's easy chatter and he knew what he had to do. He had to tell her about the position of CO and that he wouldn't be handing over to her for another ten months, he had to let her know that his feelings for here were stronger than ever before she gave up on them once and for all! Mike began to realise just how amazing Kate was and how lucky he'd been that another man hadn't tried to win her over sooner.

Later out on deck….

"Hi I just wanted to say again how grateful I am, I honestly don't know what I would've done if you guys hadn't of showed up when you did"." Josh paused "Sorry …Kate are you ok?"

"Yea, yea I'm fine…" Kate forced a smile "…actually no, no I'm not…" She let out a shaky exhale.

"I don't know!" she turned to reveal what she was holding in her hands, a pregnancy test.

"Wow" Josh looked into Kate's confused eyes unsure what to say.

"Congratulations?" at this Kate let out a smile, this time it was unforced but shed with a tear she was still clearly confused.

She was confused she had just shared her news for the first time and with a complete stranger. Nevertheless a small weight was lifted of her chest for the first time in days. She had been nervous about confirming what she had feared. What was she going to do? She wasn't ready for this. She wasn't married and the man she loved…she wasn't even in a relationship. She had been trying her hardest since the accident to move on from Mike. She couldn't spend her life loving someone that couldn't love her back. But now she would be linked to him forever. Josh meanwhile could see it written all over her face her mind was racing a million miles an hour she was torn and she was scared he moved closer taking her hand in his to comfort her.

As mike headed of watch that night with Kate in his thoughts he vowed to tell her as soon as they arrived back in port. He was suddenly startled and awoken from his day dream when he heard a familiar laugh, that of the woman he loved he proceeded to detour towards the singing of her laughter but stopped short when he opened the door to the boat deck to reveal an intimate scene between this 'Josh' character and his XO…Kate. To Mike's horror Josh proceeded to lean into Kate taking her hand in his. At this Mike turned and removed himself from the scene he was completely out of place and hurt as he entered his cabin he couldn't rid himself of the anger and pain he felt for Josh and what annoyed him more was that he was a completely nice guy without faults, the right guy for Kate.

Back out on deck Kate pulled herself together.

"…Thanks I really needed that!"

"You will make a great mother Kate" unable to speak Kate nodded in reply trying to convince herself of that. Kate turned on her heals to the direction of her cabin. She needed time alone to come to terms with her new revelation. Just as she rounded the corner to her cabin she was met with a surprised looking face and the very last one she wanted to see at that moment. She knew she had to tell Mike but it was neither the time nor place to spring it on him. She gave him a quick smile and picked up her pace in the hope of bypassing conversation, she made contact with the door to her cabin when she heard him.

"Uh X?" Kate swung around to the professional address expecting some work related news perhaps about the FFV they had encountered earlier.

"Sir" came her response. In the heat of the moment Mike had not intended to sound so formal.

"Ah um Kate?" Mike rarely addressed her as Kate on board unless it was of a personal nature. Feeling this was not the time to question it she simply replied again with "Sir".

"Kate" emphasizing her name again making it obvious this was a personal matter, which did not concern the navy at all "may I have a word?"

She could see it on his face and it wasn't a conversation she wanted to have right now. It was her chance to escape it.

"Another time perhaps" he was shocked even though he used her name and not her rank Kate would never brush him off.

"Kate" he demanded in his professional voice his authority getting the better of him.

"I'm really quite exhausted Sir, goodnight".

Kate opened the door to her cabin knowing full well she had just left mike dumfounded she disobeyed a direct request from her CO.

Kate heard the advancing footsteps of Mike and his hand come to rest on her shoulder as she stepped inside his touch alone triggered a nerve.

"Kate" he whispered softly.

With her back still turned "please mike" she responded "not tonight:" she shut her eyes trying to cling to the tears welling in her eyes.

"Mike!" came her broken voice he could tell she was pleading with him now and yet he was torn he needed to know what was going on had Josh hurt her? He didn't understand, just the same he wanted to respect her wishes. Suddenly she felt the warmth of his hand leave allowing her to shut the door behind her. She wiped the tears from her face unsure of why she was such an emotional wreck? Yes she was tired and confused but she was also pregnant. She had to remember that her emotions were beginning to run wild.

Hammersley was due back in port in three days time and in that time Kate was not at all herself she was tired and unsociable but she kept herself professional as always. Meanwhile mike was left confused and forced to carry on as normal. Kate hadn't mentioned or appeared as the same vulnerable woman again, she was playing the role of his strong, very private XO very well.

Four hours from port Kate resigned her self to her cabin to finish off some paper work, but an hour later the exhausted form of her body lay curled up on her rack, but as tiredness racked her body her mind failed to find the sleep she so desired. Instead plaguing her with thoughts of the conversation to come, she so badly wanted and yet feared to tell mike, and she had another week before all could be revealed. The Hammersley was on a last minute sharp turn around after dropping Mr Ambrose in port, they were to return to sea and continue their search for the FFV they had encountered prior to the mayday.

Just two short hours later Kate was awoken from Her endless daydream.

"Xo bridge at the rush".

Kate made her way onto the bridge "X are you ok?"

"Yea fine thanks Nav"

"Are you sure? You don't look so good"

"Ah just having trouble sleeping is all" Kate stifled a yorn and although convincing her fatigue was, it was only being fuelled by the real problem. At 1500 Kate made her way out to the boat deck to vade farewell to Josh. In the short time she had got to know the stranger she had appreciated consoling in him and had found comfort in his kindness to listen.

"Thanks again Josh and all the best"

"Yea you too Kate and all the best you will make a great mother I know it!"

Nav who had come to stand beside Kate herd the last sentence josh had spoken. She too bid her farewell to Josh before turning a questioning eye on Kate.

Kate had not realised Nav's presence during the interlude and was lost for words when Nikki questioned her.

"Mother?" Kate failed to hide her surprise at Nikki's innocent question. She turned her head in attempt to lose eye contact with the cluey navigator. Nikki who hadn't the slightest idea what josh had meant by this was also quickly surprised, Kate was hiding something.

"Kate what is it? What did he mean you'll make a great Mother…wasn't that a bit uncanny or random even? …Unless…oh my god!" Kate's silence alone had given her away!

"Kate are you pregnant?"

All Kate could respond with was "please Nikki please don't tell anyone" Nikki returned a confused but understanding smile.

"It's just this wasn't something I planned and I haven't told the father".

"But, when? How? Who?…..I didn't even realize you were seeing anyone!"

"Nikki please!" Nikki stopped her interrogation

"Sorry Kate" she could see that Kate was clearly stressed by it all and not willing to go into detail.

"When did you find out?"

"Uh.. four days ago. I took a test. I sort of bumped in to Josh and since I didn't want anyone to know I sort of had to tell him so he would keep it quiet". Kate was looking everywhere but into Nikki's eyes, she knew that by doing so she was facing the truth something she couldn't deal with just yet! Nikki saw it too, giving her a knowing smile.

"Kate you're not alone in this" Kate fort the lump in her throat swallowing hard.

"Thanks Nikki" and with this the pair returned to the bridge Kate taking up her post in the captain chair feeling the weight lift a little more!

"I have the ship Dutchy has the COM, sit rep Dutchy"

"Aye Ma'am" came Dutchy's reply "we are currently steaming north to the coast of Barron Island where we hope to intercept the FFV's mothership! Kingston called in another FFV in the area just 35 minutes ago and we have reason to believe she is steaming toward her mothership on a bearing of 263 she's currently doing 12knots and we should reach her just below the horizon by first light."

"Perfect, carry on"

"Aye Ma'am" and with this Dutchy was relieved of his post and retired down to the senior sailors mess.