Kate's POV
I looked at Pete and with a smile he stepped forward and pulled me into his arms and said "I am so happy for you, and Mike. He does know right?"
Even though it's not an unreasonable question I couldn't help but get a little defensive "of course he knows Pete, do you think I would have told the crew without telling Mike?" He just looked at me with that smile, the one that says a thousand words. Seconds later RO's voice could be heard over the loud hailer, "CO and Buffer to the bridge, CO, Buffer bridge at the rush". Back into it as always, we run to the bridge with is really on a 30 second walk, the second we approached the door I could hear a female voice
"Mayday, Mayday,Mayday our vessel is sinking we are at 28° 36.5' S, 126° 56.8'E." This repeated 3 maybe 4 times.
"RO let them know we are on our way. Nav how long..." before I could finish my sentence
"20 minutes at full steam Ma'am." She said with a slight smile.
"Just once Nikki, its good to have you back. We missed your skills".
In the background I can hear RO sending out the call. All of a sudden, the urge to vomit was overpowering, "XO has the ship"
"Ah Ma'am, are you ok? " Asked Buffer
"Yeah I'll be fine. I'll be back in a few minutes" I replied quickly as to not vomit all over my bridge and my crew. I walked to my cabin at a quick pace, I almost didn't make it. I hurled my guts up, I hadn't eaten really eaten so I was surprised when I couldn't stop vomiting. I heard a soft knock on the door to my cabin,
"Kate, it's me open up," it was Nikki's voice.
"It's open, come in Nik, I don't think I can move yet" I called back. The door opened and her head popped around the corner.
"Hey babe, first really bad spell?" she asked quizzically, I nodded as a response. "It's all worth it, trust me. And anyway it doesn't really last that long, just a few months." She laughed lightheartedly offering a hand up. I took it and looked at her,
"Does it get any worse," I asked.
"Nothing you can't handle Kate, anyway you'll be on dry land before the painful stuff happens" She smirked.
"What painful stuff?" I asked with what felt like my stomach in my throat.
"Oh you know, the swollen ankles, sore back, not being able to eat some food, feeling fat 24/7, not being able to get comfortable. All the good stuff." She said with a wink. "But no, seriously it is all worth it, and having Mike by your side when you need him and when you need him to be as far away as possible, for him to go on snack hunts in the middle of the night. That is what you need. But you go through all that pain and feeling of being uncomfortable for the tiny little human that you get to love and look after, don't get me wrong, it's scary as all hell but when you get to see what they look like for the first time and get to hold them in your arms. That is what makes it all worth it." She looked up with tears in her eyes.
"You miss your boys don't you?" I asked knowing all to well that my best friend pretty much just talked herself out of being back on the ship.
" Yeah, I do. But I am back on the ship and it's where I am needed. I had 3 months off with them and now it's Josh's turn, except he keeps messaging me photos of JJ in the bath, or in his little onesie getting ready for bed. I love being back on the boat, when I am working it's fine. It's at night when I am about to go to sleep or when Josh calls that I loose it slightly. I don't want to post off the ship but at the same time it is all I want." Ah the truth has finally come out. I knew that is how she felt, but I couldn't confirm my suspicions until now.
"If you are feeling like this now, imagine how you will be when you start missing the important moments, like his first tooth coming through, or his first word or when he turns himself over for the first time. Nikki, take the time off. The Hamersly will still be here when you decide it's time to come back." I said as I enveloped her in a hug.
We hugged for about a minute and we left my cabin together.
As we walked back to the bridge, I heard Robert almost yell "Get the CO" almost instantaneously Nikki and I were on the bridge. We look out at the water in front of us where the vessel that called mayday was supposed to be the only thing present was an inflatable that had a dummy inside. Someone was playing games with us. And that is something I don't appreciate and the Navy certainly doesn't like sending assets to pranks.
"RO get me NAVCOM"
