[ my feelings for you are purely professional ]
Title: The Things We Do
Fandom: Sea Patrol
Pairing: Kate/Buffer - also mentioned Mike/Kate
Rating: PG
Words: 3165
Summary: 'That morning if someone had told her she would be hiding in a storage closet with Buffer, attempting to steal Thor from Hammersley at close to midnight she would have told them to try some new medication.'
She misses Buffer.
That was her first thought as she left the Hammersley that evening. It wasn’t because of anything that had been between them - because as much as she’d tried to deny it, there had always been something there.
But that isn’t why she missed him. She missed her friend, and right at that moment she needed a friend more than anything. A part of her thought maybe she should call Nav, because she’s female and that’s what female friends are for, right? Discussing men? But that wasn’t really how their friendship worked. They had never called each other or seen each other outside of work.
Not that she had often called Buffer or seen him outside of work.
But it was different.
She began walking back towards her place, not in the mood for catching a cab, and she knew that Mike was watching from on board and would probably try to follow her the second he was done with his paperwork. She just wasn’t in the mood for talking to him right at that moment.
How did things get so complicated?
She pulled out her phone and scrolled through her contacts. He was under Peter Tomaszewski, because he wasn’t technically her Buffer anymore - and for a moment that made her even more depressed.
It wasn‘t like Dutchy was all that bad. He was a fine officer, seemed like a decent guy - it was just that he had something against her and she wasn’t even sure why. And she didn’t trust him. Not with professional things and definitely not with anything personal.
And suddenly she felt alone, knowing the only person she could talk to on board was Mike, and that Mike was the one person she can’t speak to.
She pressed the dial button and held the phone to her ear, half expecting his voicemail. After all he was a big ship guy now.
He answered after one ring.
‘Hey, X, long time no hear.’
And just hearing his voice made her want to cry. The familiarity, the ease she knows she can talk to him with. That was what she needed right at that moment.
‘Hey Buff, how’s life on a big ship?’
‘Oh you know, far less exciting and much less gossip. How’s the Hammersley?’
‘Same old, we got our new Buffer a few weeks back.’
‘Want me to come and give him a few lessons on how to take care of Hammersley’s crew?’
It was spoken like a joke but she knew what he was really asking.
‘He’s OK.’
She didn’t really want to discuss Dutchy with Buffer, because she knew he’d come back and give him a good talking to and she realised that would probably makes things a lot more difficult for her.
‘What’s wrong?’
And suddenly she can’t find the words she wanted to use.
‘Everything…’ she replied after a moment. ‘Everything’s wrong, Buff, and I have no one to talk to.’
‘Meet you at the Bar and Grill in twenty?’
‘You’re in Cairns?’
‘Yes. For approximately 15 hours before we set sale for East Timor tomorrow morning.’
She couldn’t think of anything she’d rather do than grab a drink with Buffer at that moment. Getting drunk was exactly what she needed to do, and Buffer was exactly who she needed to do it with.
‘X?’
‘See you in twenty.’
She hung up the phone and smiled to herself.
+ + +
‘X.’
She turned around to see him standing behind her and she smiled again.
‘You know I’m not your executive officer anymore, right?’
‘You’ll always be my XO, X,’ he smiled and turned his attention to the bartender. ‘Can I get a beer and a…’
He looked at her.
‘Tequila sunrise.’
The bartender nodded and walked off to get the drinks. Kate suddenly felt like an idiot. He only had a few hours until he departed again and all she could think about was herself. She hadn’t even asked if he wanted to go for a drink.
She watched in silence as he paid for the drinks and they walked to an empty table together in complete silence. He handed her the tequila sunrise. This time he wasn’t smiling.
‘So, I heard the CO got promoted…’ and she knew it was a question.
‘Yeah.’
She suddenly found great interest in her drink. It had always been easy to talk to Buffer, why was it so hard for her to just say what she needed to say? She could feel his eyes on her, that intense stare - they way he had always looked at her.
‘That’s the problem isn’t it?’
She looks up and meets his eyes and for a moment she sees a flash of what she thinks is jealousy before he smiles sadly.
‘So why are you here with me, and not with him?’
‘Because I have no idea what he wants, Buff,’ suddenly all she has are words. ‘He gets promoted and takes a shore posting and for a week everything was fine.’
She sighs and looks out the window, just double checking he’s not around. Just in case.
‘And?’
She looks back at Buffer. Maybe talking to him was a bad idea after all. All she wanted to do at that moment was forget Mike and invite Buffer back to her apartment. At least with Buffer things wouldn’t hurt so much. He was safe. The guy who would do anything to protect her, rather than the guy who had spent so much time acting like he was trying to hurt her.
Taking in a deep breathe and a sip of tequila she leaned back in her chair.
‘Well to start off with he came back to the Hammersley and is CO again.’
‘Ouch,’ Buffer replied.
‘And have you met Commander White?’
He nodded.
‘They have a thing…’ she trailed off, realizing how ridiculous it sounded. ‘I mean not a thing, they’re not sleeping together - but they know each other from way back. Mike is the godfather of her son and the actual father seems to be absent and sometimes I just worry that the lure of a pre-existing family might…’
She stopped, realizing how she was sounding.
‘I’m sorry I sound very paranoid. I don’t actually think there is anything going on between them at all - but I just don’t like that he’s known her longer and maybe I’m his second choice…’
At that moment Buffer smiled and leaned forward and she stopped. Normally she would have gotten mad at him for smiling at an in-opportune moment, but she’s doesn't. Instead she's just curious as to why he would smile at her clear confusion.
‘Kate, there is no way you are anyone’s second choice,’ he almost whispered the words.
‘Then why do I feel like I am?’
‘Insecurity. Trust me, everyone has that feeling. The CO is probably sitting somewhere right now wondering the same thing,’ he reached across the table and placed a hand lightly on hers. ‘Trust me. You’re not his second choice, I’ve seen the way he looks at you.’
‘Yeah but you haven’t seen the way he looks at her and her son…’ she trailed off and focused over Buffer’s shoulder. ‘Crap.’
Buffer turned around to see who Kate was looking at. ‘Who’s that?’
‘That - is your replacement…and of course he’s coming over here,’ Kate took a huge drink from her glass just as Dutchy arrived at the table.
‘And here I thought you were sleeping with the CO…’ were the first words out of Dutchy's mouth.
Kate almost choked on her drink as he said it, looking at Buffer in alarm. Why would Dutchy even say that? How did he even know? Dutchy seemed to regret his words the second they were out because he winced.
'Sorry that didn't come out right...' Dutchy continued.
‘Well I guess you were wrong,’ Buffer reached across the table and put a hand on Kate’s. ‘Right, Kate?’
Kate just nodded, still unable to speak. Dutchy stood in silence for a moment, expecting one of them to speak. Normally Kate knew Buffer would introduce himself, get to know the guy - but she felt the professional jealousy involuntarily pouring from him so she turned her hand around and intertwined her fingers in his.
Buffer looked up at her and smiled mischievously.
‘Mind if I join you?’ Dutchy asked.
‘Actually we were just leaving, weren’t we Buf…Pete?’ Kate nodded towards the door.
‘Yeah...nice to meet you,’ Buffer forced a smile at Dutchy as he stood up, letting go of Kate’s hand.
She grabbed her bag and as they walked out Buffer placed his arm around her shoulder. Kate laughed.
‘Oh god, this is going to end in some nasty rumours,’ she stated as they got outside.
Buffer smiled. ‘He doesn’t really seem like the gossip type…’
‘Neither does Charge,’ Kate gave him that knowing look and it was his turn to laugh.
‘So what are we doing now?’
His arm was still around her shoulder and she had to admit she kind of liked it there. For the first time in weeks she felt safe, like someone was protecting her.
‘Anything,’ she replied. ‘I don’t care, as long as it doesn’t involve the Hammersley or anywhere where we can run into crew members from it.’
Buffer smiles and finally pulls his arm away from around her shoulder, standing opposite her.
‘Up for a little adventure, X?’
She narrows her eyes at him.
‘Define adventure?’
+ + +
Half an hour later found the two of them standing on the dock in front of the Hammersley, dressed head to toe in black, Kate’s hair tucked up under a black beanie, both their faces covered in black war paint.
‘I said I didn’t want to do anything that involved the Hammersley,’ she whispered to him as he stepped onto the bridge.
‘Well, which Navy patrol boat did you think we were going to rob? This is the one we know best right?’ Buffer smiled. ‘Who’s in charge of watch tonight?’
Kate thought for a moment. ‘2Dads and Bird.’
Buffer smiled again and continued onto the patrol boat. Kate looked around nervously and followed him.
‘What are we stealing?’ she whispered.
Buffer turned around. ‘You suck at the whole being quiet thing, you know that right?’
‘You didn’t answer my question,’ she responded, almost offended by his comment.
But there wasn’t much Buffer could say that would actually offend her. They’d been through too much together for that.
‘I don’t know! Something unimportant that people will notice is gone but won’t affect the goings on of the ship,’ he sighed. ‘Pity we don’t have Thor on board anymore.’
It was Kate’s turn to smile. ‘Who said we don’t?’
‘What?’
‘Follow me,’ Kate signaled to him as she headed for the door.
He followed. Now it was his turn to be confused and not know what was going on. She could hear 2Dads talking as they entered the corridor, and she hoped no one else was still on board. It was possible Mike was still there - being Mike and doing paperwork instead of dealing with his life off the Hammersley.
For a moment that made her angry, and then she remembered her mission and inside she smiled again.
That’s when she decided she needed to break the rules more often.
It made her feel better.
Stopping in the corridor she pulled open a random storage cupboard. Thor was there, as always, a hidden memory of the old Hammersley.
‘Found him,’ Kate turned to Buffer and smiled.
He smiled back.
‘Quick lets take him and go…’ Buffer grabbed him and the two of them turned to run when 2Dads voice started getting louder.
Without thinking Kate stepped into the storage cupboard and pulled Buffer in after her, shutting the door behind them. It was only after she’d had the brilliant idea that she realised there wasn’t all that much space in the storage cupboard.
She wondered how she had even gotten here?
That morning if someone had told her she would be hiding in a storage closet with Buffer, attempting to steal Thor from Hammersley at close to midnight she would have told them to try some new medication. This was one of the more ridiculous situations she had ever found herself in.
And then she laughed out loud.
Buffer put his hand over her mouth.
‘Ssssh,’ he whispered.
She smiled under his hand and he smiled back. And there they stayed as they listened to 2Dads walking down the hallway.
‘Anything?’ that was Bird’s voice.
‘Not that I can see. Must have been outside…’ 2Dads replied.
‘I swear I heard footsteps,’ Bird was walking towards them now.
‘It was probably one of the crew. We should get back to the bridge,’ 2Dads replied. ‘Knowing my luck someone will choose this moment to board the ship.’
‘Oh! I should have stayed…’ Bird’s footsteps were clearly the ones running back towards the bridge.
It was as the corridor fell silent that Kate registered that Buffer’s hand was still placed loosely against her mouth, and that his eyes were still focused on hers. And that her eyes were still focused on his.
And for a moment neither of them moved. Buffer’s hand slowly trailed down the side of her face and she realised she wasn’t breathing.
They needed to get out of that storage closet right then.
‘2Dads, Bird, did you want a brew?’
Mike’s voice.
Buffer pulled his hand away from her cheek as though it were poison and she actually felt the stab of jealousy that jolted through him as though it were her own. And suddenly the storage closet seemed like less of a safe haven and more of a prison cell.
She hated how they could do that. Bounce from friends to something else in a matter of seconds. It had always been like that with Buffer, that on the surface they could be best friends, but beneath it all there was something else. Something deeper, more sinister, something neither of them could hide. And it always came out at exactly the wrong moments.
‘We need to get out of here,’ Kate whispered.
He nodded in agreement and she knew he was thinking exactly the same.
Opening the door a crack he looked out into the corridor. She expected him to signal to her that it was safe but instead he just took her hand and led her out into the corridor. She wanted to fight that, she didn’t need to hold his hand.
But then again right at that moment maybe she did.
Trying not to think about Mike being only meters away in the galley she followed Buffer back outside.
Unfortunately 2Dads was waiting.
‘Gotcha!’ he flashed the torch on them.
Kate’s immediate reaction was to let go of Buffer’s hand. Buffer’s reaction was to smile.
‘Nice to see you, 2Dads,’ he smiled, his teeth white under the black face paint.
2Dads seemed confused for a moment and let the torch fall to his side.
‘Buffer?’
‘Gotta go,’ Buffer grabbed Kate’s hand again and pulled her after him.
And as they ran back onto shore and away from the Hammersley she heard 2Dad’s confused ‘X?’ and she started laughing. Running and laughing at the same time was never easy.
They managed to find a giant shipping crate to hide behind and she leaned against it, handing Thor to Buffer.
‘It looks a little weird if I steal my own ship’s mascot,’ she spoke as she tried to catch her breath.
‘The look on 2Dads face was priceless,’ Buffer laughed as he took Thor. ‘I wonder what he’s going to tell the CO.’
Kate’s face fell and her laughter was gone. Crap, 2Dads was going to tell Mike that her and Buffer had snuck on board together and stolen Thor. And that they’d been holding hands.
2Dads wasn’t exactly the type to leave out details.
‘Do you feel better now?’ he asked quietly.
She wasn’t looking at him but she knew his eyes would be searching her face for the response. Slowly she raised her eyes to meet his.
‘Much,’ and reaching forward she took his hand.
He was the one person who always knew how to make her feel better, no matter how ridiculous his methods were.
‘Thanks,’ she whispered.
‘Anytime you need adventure you call me, X.’
And his eyes were dark and he was so close and even as she leaned forward her intentions were to kiss him on the cheek.
Somehow she missed. And in the few seconds that felt like an eternity she swore he kissed her back before he pulled away, letting his hand drop from hers.
‘Sorry…’ he whispered.
And she had to wonder why he was apologizing for something she had done. But that was Buffer, that’s just who he was. She didn’t say anything, because she wasn’t sure what to say now that he’d stolen her apology.
‘You’re not the only one who doesn’t want to be second choice…’ he continued and she suddenly knew exactly how he felt.
She opened her mouth to respond but he placed a finger lightly on her lips.
‘Don’t deny it, I know you better than anyone, remember?’ and with that he pulled her into a hug.
She wasn’t sure how long they stayed like that, but it was long enough for her to understand. This was how things would always be between them. And that was OK.
Eventually they pulled apart and she stood back a good distance from him.
‘We should probably both catch some sleep before dawn,’ he suggested.
She nodded. ‘Yeah.’
‘Next time I’m in port I’ll give you a call,’ it was a question not a statement.
He did that a lot.
Again she nodded. ‘You know where to find me.’
He turned to leave, and then he paused, turning back to face her. He smiled.
‘Good luck,’ he said, sadly.
And then he was gone.
+ + +
The next morning when she arrived at the Hammersley Thor was waiting for her, tied to a post out front with a note attached.
She picked him up, opening the note.
A ship can’t sail without it’s mascot. Apparently it’s bad luck…
Smiling she walked aboard the Hammersley. For the first time the site of Mike standing on the bridge didn’t hurt so much, the knowledge that they couldn’t be together right now was still there, but somehow that seemed OK. For the moment.
2Dads gave her a suspicious look as she took her place next to Mike, putting Thor down next to him. Mike looked up at her, surprised.
‘Any particular reason you felt the urge to bring him up here, XO?’ Mike questioned.
‘No, sir,’ she smiled, looking ahead as they pulled out of port. ‘Found him tied to a post outside this morning. Someone must have taken him.’
Mike turned to look at 2Dads. ‘Did you hear anyone come on board last night?’
‘Not a thing, sir,’ 2Dads replied.
And as Mike turned back to face forward 2Dads winked at Kate. She rolled her eyes at him.
Maybe things weren't so bad after all.
Fandom: Sea Patrol
Pairing: Kate/Buffer - also mentioned Mike/Kate
Rating: PG
Words: 3165
Summary: 'That morning if someone had told her she would be hiding in a storage closet with Buffer, attempting to steal Thor from Hammersley at close to midnight she would have told them to try some new medication.'
She misses Buffer.
That was her first thought as she left the Hammersley that evening. It wasn’t because of anything that had been between them - because as much as she’d tried to deny it, there had always been something there.
But that isn’t why she missed him. She missed her friend, and right at that moment she needed a friend more than anything. A part of her thought maybe she should call Nav, because she’s female and that’s what female friends are for, right? Discussing men? But that wasn’t really how their friendship worked. They had never called each other or seen each other outside of work.
Not that she had often called Buffer or seen him outside of work.
But it was different.
She began walking back towards her place, not in the mood for catching a cab, and she knew that Mike was watching from on board and would probably try to follow her the second he was done with his paperwork. She just wasn’t in the mood for talking to him right at that moment.
How did things get so complicated?
She pulled out her phone and scrolled through her contacts. He was under Peter Tomaszewski, because he wasn’t technically her Buffer anymore - and for a moment that made her even more depressed.
It wasn‘t like Dutchy was all that bad. He was a fine officer, seemed like a decent guy - it was just that he had something against her and she wasn’t even sure why. And she didn’t trust him. Not with professional things and definitely not with anything personal.
And suddenly she felt alone, knowing the only person she could talk to on board was Mike, and that Mike was the one person she can’t speak to.
She pressed the dial button and held the phone to her ear, half expecting his voicemail. After all he was a big ship guy now.
He answered after one ring.
‘Hey, X, long time no hear.’
And just hearing his voice made her want to cry. The familiarity, the ease she knows she can talk to him with. That was what she needed right at that moment.
‘Hey Buff, how’s life on a big ship?’
‘Oh you know, far less exciting and much less gossip. How’s the Hammersley?’
‘Same old, we got our new Buffer a few weeks back.’
‘Want me to come and give him a few lessons on how to take care of Hammersley’s crew?’
It was spoken like a joke but she knew what he was really asking.
‘He’s OK.’
She didn’t really want to discuss Dutchy with Buffer, because she knew he’d come back and give him a good talking to and she realised that would probably makes things a lot more difficult for her.
‘What’s wrong?’
And suddenly she can’t find the words she wanted to use.
‘Everything…’ she replied after a moment. ‘Everything’s wrong, Buff, and I have no one to talk to.’
‘Meet you at the Bar and Grill in twenty?’
‘You’re in Cairns?’
‘Yes. For approximately 15 hours before we set sale for East Timor tomorrow morning.’
She couldn’t think of anything she’d rather do than grab a drink with Buffer at that moment. Getting drunk was exactly what she needed to do, and Buffer was exactly who she needed to do it with.
‘X?’
‘See you in twenty.’
She hung up the phone and smiled to herself.
+ + +
‘X.’
She turned around to see him standing behind her and she smiled again.
‘You know I’m not your executive officer anymore, right?’
‘You’ll always be my XO, X,’ he smiled and turned his attention to the bartender. ‘Can I get a beer and a…’
He looked at her.
‘Tequila sunrise.’
The bartender nodded and walked off to get the drinks. Kate suddenly felt like an idiot. He only had a few hours until he departed again and all she could think about was herself. She hadn’t even asked if he wanted to go for a drink.
She watched in silence as he paid for the drinks and they walked to an empty table together in complete silence. He handed her the tequila sunrise. This time he wasn’t smiling.
‘So, I heard the CO got promoted…’ and she knew it was a question.
‘Yeah.’
She suddenly found great interest in her drink. It had always been easy to talk to Buffer, why was it so hard for her to just say what she needed to say? She could feel his eyes on her, that intense stare - they way he had always looked at her.
‘That’s the problem isn’t it?’
She looks up and meets his eyes and for a moment she sees a flash of what she thinks is jealousy before he smiles sadly.
‘So why are you here with me, and not with him?’
‘Because I have no idea what he wants, Buff,’ suddenly all she has are words. ‘He gets promoted and takes a shore posting and for a week everything was fine.’
She sighs and looks out the window, just double checking he’s not around. Just in case.
‘And?’
She looks back at Buffer. Maybe talking to him was a bad idea after all. All she wanted to do at that moment was forget Mike and invite Buffer back to her apartment. At least with Buffer things wouldn’t hurt so much. He was safe. The guy who would do anything to protect her, rather than the guy who had spent so much time acting like he was trying to hurt her.
Taking in a deep breathe and a sip of tequila she leaned back in her chair.
‘Well to start off with he came back to the Hammersley and is CO again.’
‘Ouch,’ Buffer replied.
‘And have you met Commander White?’
He nodded.
‘They have a thing…’ she trailed off, realizing how ridiculous it sounded. ‘I mean not a thing, they’re not sleeping together - but they know each other from way back. Mike is the godfather of her son and the actual father seems to be absent and sometimes I just worry that the lure of a pre-existing family might…’
She stopped, realizing how she was sounding.
‘I’m sorry I sound very paranoid. I don’t actually think there is anything going on between them at all - but I just don’t like that he’s known her longer and maybe I’m his second choice…’
At that moment Buffer smiled and leaned forward and she stopped. Normally she would have gotten mad at him for smiling at an in-opportune moment, but she’s doesn't. Instead she's just curious as to why he would smile at her clear confusion.
‘Kate, there is no way you are anyone’s second choice,’ he almost whispered the words.
‘Then why do I feel like I am?’
‘Insecurity. Trust me, everyone has that feeling. The CO is probably sitting somewhere right now wondering the same thing,’ he reached across the table and placed a hand lightly on hers. ‘Trust me. You’re not his second choice, I’ve seen the way he looks at you.’
‘Yeah but you haven’t seen the way he looks at her and her son…’ she trailed off and focused over Buffer’s shoulder. ‘Crap.’
Buffer turned around to see who Kate was looking at. ‘Who’s that?’
‘That - is your replacement…and of course he’s coming over here,’ Kate took a huge drink from her glass just as Dutchy arrived at the table.
‘And here I thought you were sleeping with the CO…’ were the first words out of Dutchy's mouth.
Kate almost choked on her drink as he said it, looking at Buffer in alarm. Why would Dutchy even say that? How did he even know? Dutchy seemed to regret his words the second they were out because he winced.
'Sorry that didn't come out right...' Dutchy continued.
‘Well I guess you were wrong,’ Buffer reached across the table and put a hand on Kate’s. ‘Right, Kate?’
Kate just nodded, still unable to speak. Dutchy stood in silence for a moment, expecting one of them to speak. Normally Kate knew Buffer would introduce himself, get to know the guy - but she felt the professional jealousy involuntarily pouring from him so she turned her hand around and intertwined her fingers in his.
Buffer looked up at her and smiled mischievously.
‘Mind if I join you?’ Dutchy asked.
‘Actually we were just leaving, weren’t we Buf…Pete?’ Kate nodded towards the door.
‘Yeah...nice to meet you,’ Buffer forced a smile at Dutchy as he stood up, letting go of Kate’s hand.
She grabbed her bag and as they walked out Buffer placed his arm around her shoulder. Kate laughed.
‘Oh god, this is going to end in some nasty rumours,’ she stated as they got outside.
Buffer smiled. ‘He doesn’t really seem like the gossip type…’
‘Neither does Charge,’ Kate gave him that knowing look and it was his turn to laugh.
‘So what are we doing now?’
His arm was still around her shoulder and she had to admit she kind of liked it there. For the first time in weeks she felt safe, like someone was protecting her.
‘Anything,’ she replied. ‘I don’t care, as long as it doesn’t involve the Hammersley or anywhere where we can run into crew members from it.’
Buffer smiles and finally pulls his arm away from around her shoulder, standing opposite her.
‘Up for a little adventure, X?’
She narrows her eyes at him.
‘Define adventure?’
+ + +
Half an hour later found the two of them standing on the dock in front of the Hammersley, dressed head to toe in black, Kate’s hair tucked up under a black beanie, both their faces covered in black war paint.
‘I said I didn’t want to do anything that involved the Hammersley,’ she whispered to him as he stepped onto the bridge.
‘Well, which Navy patrol boat did you think we were going to rob? This is the one we know best right?’ Buffer smiled. ‘Who’s in charge of watch tonight?’
Kate thought for a moment. ‘2Dads and Bird.’
Buffer smiled again and continued onto the patrol boat. Kate looked around nervously and followed him.
‘What are we stealing?’ she whispered.
Buffer turned around. ‘You suck at the whole being quiet thing, you know that right?’
‘You didn’t answer my question,’ she responded, almost offended by his comment.
But there wasn’t much Buffer could say that would actually offend her. They’d been through too much together for that.
‘I don’t know! Something unimportant that people will notice is gone but won’t affect the goings on of the ship,’ he sighed. ‘Pity we don’t have Thor on board anymore.’
It was Kate’s turn to smile. ‘Who said we don’t?’
‘What?’
‘Follow me,’ Kate signaled to him as she headed for the door.
He followed. Now it was his turn to be confused and not know what was going on. She could hear 2Dads talking as they entered the corridor, and she hoped no one else was still on board. It was possible Mike was still there - being Mike and doing paperwork instead of dealing with his life off the Hammersley.
For a moment that made her angry, and then she remembered her mission and inside she smiled again.
That’s when she decided she needed to break the rules more often.
It made her feel better.
Stopping in the corridor she pulled open a random storage cupboard. Thor was there, as always, a hidden memory of the old Hammersley.
‘Found him,’ Kate turned to Buffer and smiled.
He smiled back.
‘Quick lets take him and go…’ Buffer grabbed him and the two of them turned to run when 2Dads voice started getting louder.
Without thinking Kate stepped into the storage cupboard and pulled Buffer in after her, shutting the door behind them. It was only after she’d had the brilliant idea that she realised there wasn’t all that much space in the storage cupboard.
She wondered how she had even gotten here?
That morning if someone had told her she would be hiding in a storage closet with Buffer, attempting to steal Thor from Hammersley at close to midnight she would have told them to try some new medication. This was one of the more ridiculous situations she had ever found herself in.
And then she laughed out loud.
Buffer put his hand over her mouth.
‘Ssssh,’ he whispered.
She smiled under his hand and he smiled back. And there they stayed as they listened to 2Dads walking down the hallway.
‘Anything?’ that was Bird’s voice.
‘Not that I can see. Must have been outside…’ 2Dads replied.
‘I swear I heard footsteps,’ Bird was walking towards them now.
‘It was probably one of the crew. We should get back to the bridge,’ 2Dads replied. ‘Knowing my luck someone will choose this moment to board the ship.’
‘Oh! I should have stayed…’ Bird’s footsteps were clearly the ones running back towards the bridge.
It was as the corridor fell silent that Kate registered that Buffer’s hand was still placed loosely against her mouth, and that his eyes were still focused on hers. And that her eyes were still focused on his.
And for a moment neither of them moved. Buffer’s hand slowly trailed down the side of her face and she realised she wasn’t breathing.
They needed to get out of that storage closet right then.
‘2Dads, Bird, did you want a brew?’
Mike’s voice.
Buffer pulled his hand away from her cheek as though it were poison and she actually felt the stab of jealousy that jolted through him as though it were her own. And suddenly the storage closet seemed like less of a safe haven and more of a prison cell.
She hated how they could do that. Bounce from friends to something else in a matter of seconds. It had always been like that with Buffer, that on the surface they could be best friends, but beneath it all there was something else. Something deeper, more sinister, something neither of them could hide. And it always came out at exactly the wrong moments.
‘We need to get out of here,’ Kate whispered.
He nodded in agreement and she knew he was thinking exactly the same.
Opening the door a crack he looked out into the corridor. She expected him to signal to her that it was safe but instead he just took her hand and led her out into the corridor. She wanted to fight that, she didn’t need to hold his hand.
But then again right at that moment maybe she did.
Trying not to think about Mike being only meters away in the galley she followed Buffer back outside.
Unfortunately 2Dads was waiting.
‘Gotcha!’ he flashed the torch on them.
Kate’s immediate reaction was to let go of Buffer’s hand. Buffer’s reaction was to smile.
‘Nice to see you, 2Dads,’ he smiled, his teeth white under the black face paint.
2Dads seemed confused for a moment and let the torch fall to his side.
‘Buffer?’
‘Gotta go,’ Buffer grabbed Kate’s hand again and pulled her after him.
And as they ran back onto shore and away from the Hammersley she heard 2Dad’s confused ‘X?’ and she started laughing. Running and laughing at the same time was never easy.
They managed to find a giant shipping crate to hide behind and she leaned against it, handing Thor to Buffer.
‘It looks a little weird if I steal my own ship’s mascot,’ she spoke as she tried to catch her breath.
‘The look on 2Dads face was priceless,’ Buffer laughed as he took Thor. ‘I wonder what he’s going to tell the CO.’
Kate’s face fell and her laughter was gone. Crap, 2Dads was going to tell Mike that her and Buffer had snuck on board together and stolen Thor. And that they’d been holding hands.
2Dads wasn’t exactly the type to leave out details.
‘Do you feel better now?’ he asked quietly.
She wasn’t looking at him but she knew his eyes would be searching her face for the response. Slowly she raised her eyes to meet his.
‘Much,’ and reaching forward she took his hand.
He was the one person who always knew how to make her feel better, no matter how ridiculous his methods were.
‘Thanks,’ she whispered.
‘Anytime you need adventure you call me, X.’
And his eyes were dark and he was so close and even as she leaned forward her intentions were to kiss him on the cheek.
Somehow she missed. And in the few seconds that felt like an eternity she swore he kissed her back before he pulled away, letting his hand drop from hers.
‘Sorry…’ he whispered.
And she had to wonder why he was apologizing for something she had done. But that was Buffer, that’s just who he was. She didn’t say anything, because she wasn’t sure what to say now that he’d stolen her apology.
‘You’re not the only one who doesn’t want to be second choice…’ he continued and she suddenly knew exactly how he felt.
She opened her mouth to respond but he placed a finger lightly on her lips.
‘Don’t deny it, I know you better than anyone, remember?’ and with that he pulled her into a hug.
She wasn’t sure how long they stayed like that, but it was long enough for her to understand. This was how things would always be between them. And that was OK.
Eventually they pulled apart and she stood back a good distance from him.
‘We should probably both catch some sleep before dawn,’ he suggested.
She nodded. ‘Yeah.’
‘Next time I’m in port I’ll give you a call,’ it was a question not a statement.
He did that a lot.
Again she nodded. ‘You know where to find me.’
He turned to leave, and then he paused, turning back to face her. He smiled.
‘Good luck,’ he said, sadly.
And then he was gone.
+ + +
The next morning when she arrived at the Hammersley Thor was waiting for her, tied to a post out front with a note attached.
She picked him up, opening the note.
A ship can’t sail without it’s mascot. Apparently it’s bad luck…
Smiling she walked aboard the Hammersley. For the first time the site of Mike standing on the bridge didn’t hurt so much, the knowledge that they couldn’t be together right now was still there, but somehow that seemed OK. For the moment.
2Dads gave her a suspicious look as she took her place next to Mike, putting Thor down next to him. Mike looked up at her, surprised.
‘Any particular reason you felt the urge to bring him up here, XO?’ Mike questioned.
‘No, sir,’ she smiled, looking ahead as they pulled out of port. ‘Found him tied to a post outside this morning. Someone must have taken him.’
Mike turned to look at 2Dads. ‘Did you hear anyone come on board last night?’
‘Not a thing, sir,’ 2Dads replied.
And as Mike turned back to face forward 2Dads winked at Kate. She rolled her eyes at him.
Maybe things weren't so bad after all.