Kate sat on the bridge looking out at the water ahead of them. She had been the commanding officer of Hammersley for just over 2 weeks and was still getting use to the fact. They had only been at sea for 4 days and She still half expected to see Mike walk on to the bridge and take over like he always used to. She still thought of it as his ship not hers. She did however have some back up in the form of her old friend and cabin mate Nikki Catano as her XO and Pete Tomaszewski retuning as the Buffer. It was good to have old friends on board, she felt safe with them on board. At least most of her seniors believed in her.

"ma'am I have a contact bearing 3-4-0 on radar could be the SIEV NAVCOM were on about" Bird stammered from the radar.

Glancing over she smiled at the young sailor. "well done bird" she smiled

"got it on EOD Ma'am" 2 –dads called "although how she is still floating is a mystery. It looks like a SIEV"

"Buff take a boarding party and see what's going on over there and see what's going on but extra plates. Lately the smugglers have been really hostile and show no mercy"

"yes ma'am" he smiled glad to be back on Hammersley and serving with Kate as CO. She was the best choice and knew all the crew were glad it was her especially after everyone leaving and Swain unfortunately being killed.

"Hands to boarding stations, hands to boarding stations, hands to boarding stations" Kate called over the PA system before leaning back in the CO's chair. She smiled slightly she could feel an indentation in the seat of the chair from the 4 years mike had spent sitting in the seat. Even now he still had to leave his mark on the ship somehow...

Watching the RHIB bounce across the water towards the other vessel was hard to watch. She loved being the boarding officer and in charge of the boarding party. But becoming CO meant she had to pass the baton and she was grateful fleet command had allowed her to use a chief petty officer as the boarding officer Jumping down from her seat she headed out on to the fly bridge looking through her binoculars she watched as the crew jumped on to the rickety deck of the suspect vessel.

Picking up her radio. "sitrep Buffer" she called

"X... sorry Boss, minimal resistance when boarded. Searching the boat now"

"very good" Kate called back over the radio walking back inside. She knew the boarding party was in safe hands. Sitting back in her seat she smiled looking out the window it was only the first boarding she had called

"Ma'am can I have a word please" Bird walked nervously up to Kate. "in private"

"of course, come to my cabin" Kate smiled sliding from her seat "Nav can you take the ship"

"aye ma'am I have the ship" nav called siting in the captain's chair.

Walking down the bridge steps she opened the door to her cabin ushering Bird inside.

"what's the problem Bird?" Kate asked sitting at her desk.

"i umm well you see its hard." Bird stammered

"just take your time its fine" Kate smiled reassuringly

"i was wondering if you could put me forward for my medics training"

"of course," Kate smiled it was something mike was going to talk to her about before. "you will have to go to HMAS Penguin for your training and then there is no guarantee you could come back to us on Hammersley" Kate looked at the young sailor

"I know I am ready. I wanted to be a paramedic when I left school but I wasn't ready for Uni so joined the gap year program. Now I think … no I know I want to be a navy medic. I love being in the navy and I want to do it for swain make him proud. Is that dumb" she looked up at Kate. Next to swain she always saw Kate as a mentor someone to look up to.

"not at all" Kate smiled. "Swain said you were a fine medic. He was so proud of you and everything you achieved. I will speak with Commander Flynn and get the ball rolling."

"thanks Ma'am. I am glad it's you that is the CO of Hammersley and not anyone else" Bird stood to leave

"CO bridge CO bridge" Nav's voice echoed across the pipe

Heading out Kate glanced at the crew picture she had pinned to the wall she looked at swain smiling out. it was the first Hammersley crew picture of the old Freemantle. Taken not long after she had joined it was sad to think two of the men smiling out were sadly no longer with them.

"what's the problem Nav?" Kate asked climbing the stairs

"Ma'am Buffer says there are at least 20 woman and children on board and the vessel is un fit for towing. And they are all sick Cinders doesn't know what with though"

"right" Kate picked up her radio. "Buffer what's going on?" she asked

"Ma'am these people are sick Cinders can't identify the cause of illness or what it is. He thinks it may be in the water but he can't be sure"

"copy that stand by" Kate put the radio back in its rest "Robert get me Commander Flynn please" she sat back in her seat.

"Commander Flynn Ma'am" RO handed her the sat phone

"Sir we need a doctor. we have intercepted a SIEV Cinders can't identify the illness they have"

"give me a minute" he sighed

She waited listening to the sound of mike breathing down the line and tapping at keys on a a keyboard.

"HMAS Melbourne is 400 clicks to your south she is the nearest asset with a doctor on board. What's the situation of the boat?"

"stable but un-towable she is quite low in the water"

"right well can you bring the people over put them in to austere and steam towards Melbourne save time?" mike asked

"we could but we don't know what's made them sick surely you don't want to risk us having to be in quarantine for several weeks if we bring them over" she smiled coyly knowing mike wouldn't want that "including me" she added knowing that would get to him

"yeah didn't think of that. Umm I will get on to Melbourne I will send you a ETA as soon as I have one"

"thank you, Sir," Kate smiled

"Stay safe Kate" mike whispered

"of course, Sir" Kate smiled hoping she didn't go red.

Handing the sat phone back to RO she picked up the radio

"Charlie 8-2 to Bravo 8-2 come in over" she called

"this is Bravo 8-2"

"Buffer Commander Flynn is sending Melbourne I don't have an ETA yet. Sit tight over there. I will send 2-dads over with some rat-packs"

"thanks Ma'am out" Buffer called

RO looked up "Ma'am Melbourne's ETA is 5 hours.

"thanks RO" Kate sighed 5 hours it would mean they would have to stay in place watching they don't drift too far. "Nav watch we don't drift too far and inform buffer please I will be in my cabin"

"Ma'am" Nav called sitting in the CO chair

They arrived back in port the following morning and as soon as they were clear and alongside Kate headed to NAVCOM. Walking through the offices she stopped outside mike's office. Knocking she walked in.

"Kate!" he smiled looking up from the computer he was glad she was home.

"Sir" she looked at him trying to be serious watching as he walked round to the front of his desk.

"so, I have some news on your SIEV Passengers. They seem to be suffering from some water born infection."

"well which one. Cholera, dysentery, E-coli "she counted off all the diseases she could remember.

"do I look like a medical textbook" he smiled knowing it would wind her up.

"this is important I need to know if my crew are safe especially the boarding party."

"well I told Nav to send the boarding party to the hospital just to be on the safe side and Hammersley is in for a deep clean shore leave for 2 weeks" he smiled

Closing the gap, she grinned "bet your happy I didn't bring them on board because then we would all be stuck in the hospital" she rolled her tongue across her top lip.

"well when did you ever listen to my orders" he grinned

"i always listened to them it's just sometimes they were a bit dumb so I chose not to implement them. I thought you liked it when I argued back" she grinned

Smiling he snaked his arm around her waist pulling her closer.

Closing her eyes, she tried not to be taken in. "Sir you still haven't got any curtains in this office people are looking." she turned her head slightly.

"let them" he whispered

Even though there was nothing stopping them from being together anymore on account of them being in separate postings she still felt like there was another obstacle to overcome. She didn't want others thinking she was getting special treatment because she was sleeping with the commander. "what time will you be back?" she whispered

"i don't know, I have to wait for Kingston to return. She should be in by 1700"

"well I guess I will see you at home then" she pulled away. Turning walking to the door "do the crew know about the extended leave?"

"i thought I would let you tell them" He smiled

"Sir" she saluted before walking out.

He watched as she passed the window her blond hair slowly falling loose from the bun, she had scraped it in to. Returning to his desk he looked at the clock Kingston should be in in an hour and once he had the reports from the CO he could go home and be with her for 2 uninterrupted weeks.

so this is based on one of my all time fav films Leap Year with Amy Addams. as we are heading in to a Leap year I thought why not. also as 2012 (the year after sea patrol finished was also a leap year so this is when its set)