[ rumours or no rumours ]
Title: Rumours Or No Rumours
Fandom: Sea Patrol
Pairing: Mike/Kate
Words: 3400
Summary: 'Charge looked around and lowered his voice. ‘Have you ever noticed how her relationship status is set to ‘It’s complicated’?’'
Prompt: Kate: ‘If this ends up on Facebook, I will kill you.’ - from Red Sky Morning
*
2Dads blinked a few times, trying to keep his eyes open. He hadn’t had nearly enough sleep the night before, but he really needed to get the scores from the footy match that wasn’t finishing for another ten minutes.
He refreshed Facebook for what felt like the tenth time in five minutes.
‘Interesting…’ he clicked on the photo that popped up.
It was an old photo, the XO and CO were both tagged in it but it was a huge group shot from some training seminar. Bored, he began to click through the album, wondering if anyone else he knew was tagged in it.
He paused on a photo. Neither of them were tagged but he could see them in the background of the photo, sitting on the beach next to the campfire, the CO’s arm a little too close to the XO’s back…
The door opened and 2Dads jumped, turning around. It was just Swain.
‘Jesus, you scared me,’ he muttered, turning back.
‘Shouldn’t you be asleep? You’ve been up almost twenty hours,’ Swain commented, sitting down at the computer next to him. ‘What’s that?’
‘Don’t you recognise them?’ 2Dads pointed at the screen.
Swain looked briefly and shook his head. ‘Nope, should I?’
‘Not the guys in the foreground, look at the campfire in the back,’ 2Dads pointed.
Swain leaned over and squinted, as though that was going to help him see the picture. ‘No way.’
‘Yes, way,’ 2Dads replied.
‘How old is this photo?’
2Dads shrugged and continued clicking through the album. Finally he came across one of the two of them standing on the beach, his arm around her - they were both smiling.
‘Do you think whoever posted these knows they serve on a ship together?’ Swain asked.
‘I doubt it…’
‘We should tell the X,’ Swain looked back at his computer screen and logged onto Facebook, finding the folder himself and skipping through the photos.
‘You tell the X, I value my life,’ 2Dads replied.
‘You know technically there’s nothing suspicious about these photos,’ Swain commented. ‘It just means they were friends before she served on the Hammersley.’
‘Yeah, sure,’ 2Dads replied.
*
‘Did you see?’
Swain looked at Charge in confusion. ‘The X and the CO?’
‘They must’ve been going at it for years,’ Charge smiled.
‘They’re just friends, Charge’ Swain grabbed the tea bag and put it in his mug, holding another out to Charge.
‘Yes, please,’ Charge replied.
Swain dropped the second tea bag in Charge’s mug. ‘I just don’t buy it. I mean, Bomber was basically kicked off the Hammersley due to fraternisation - would they really risk it?’
‘You can’t help who you love,’ Charge smiled and took a seat.
‘Look, 2Dads started the rumour - remember what happened last time he started a rumour about the X and her love life?’ Swain took the seat opposite him.
‘Yeah - but this time there’s evidence. And it’s all over Facebook,’ Charge looked around and lowered his voice. ‘Have you ever noticed how her relationship status is set to ‘It’s complicated’?’
Swain rolled his eyes and picked up the newspaper lying on the desk. ‘Seriously, Charge, that could be in relation to anyone. That Army Captain guy has been hanging around a bit…’
‘Everyone knows they’ve been in love for years, now we just know it goes a whole lot further back than the Hammersley…’
They both fell silent as the X walked into the room. Swain smiled to himself and Charge suddenly found great interest in his tea.
‘Morning,’ she smiled and grabbed a mug.
‘Morning, ma’am,’ they both replied in unison.
She looked at them suspiciously and went about her way making a tea. They remained silent while she was in there, Charge watching Swain trying to keep a straight face. Swain raised the paper so Charge couldn’t look at him.
*
Mike was aware everyone on the bridge was staring at him. That was pretty standard, he was the CO and everyone was supposed to pay attention to him, but somehow he felt like today was different.
Like they were judging him for something.
He also didn’t miss the smile on 2Dads face when Kate appeared and handed him a coffee.
‘Have you noticed the crew’s strange behaviour today?’ he asked her quietly.
She looked around, as her eyes fell on 2Dads Mike saw his smile disappear completely.
‘No stranger than normal, sir,’ she replied.
‘I’m going to grab some lunch,’ he stood up. ‘You have the ship, X.’
‘Yes, sir,’ she replied. ‘I have the ship.’
She took his seat and Mike headed downstairs towards the galley. He stopped when he heard Swain and Charge talking. He knew better than to eavesdrop on their conversations, but he wanted to know what was going on. And they were always on top of their gossip.
‘It would explain the way the CO blew up when 2Dads spread the rumours about Buffer and the X too,’ Charge commented.
Mike moved slightly closer to the room. He knew there’d been some sort of rumour going around the ship. He wondered who had started this one.
‘If they’ve been at it this whole time I have to admire their acting skills,’ Swain commented. ‘I would never have guessed.’
Mike frowned. Were they talking about him and Kate?
‘Sir?’
Mike jumped the sound of Dutchy’s voice. He turned to look at the other man.
‘I was just thinking about lunch, but I’ve decided against it - excuse me, Dutchy,’ Mike pushed past him and headed back upstairs.
What on Earth had started the rumours now? What worried him was this time they weren’t so far off.
*
Dutchy didn’t miss the way Swain and Charge instantly hushed their conversation as he walked into the galley. He also didn’t miss the visible relief when they realised it was him.
He was curious what they’d been talking about, what Mike had been listening to, but he wasn’t going to ask. It took Charge exactly twenty seconds to answer his silent question anyway.
‘Logged onto Facebook recently?’ Charge asked.
Swain rolled his eyes. ‘Charge thinks the X and the CO are sleeping together and have been for years…’
Dutchy froze. That wasn’t the kind of rumour that should be spreading around the boat. No one but him was supposed to know that, and he didn’t know anything more than the one intimate moment he’d seen. And he didn’t want to know.
‘I doubt that,’ Dutchy commented, grabbing a mug from the cupboard to make himself a tea.
‘That’s what I said. No one’s ever seen anything to prove it,’ Swain looked pointedly at Charge.
‘I’ve seen enough, they’re all over each other in those photos,’ Charge smiled and looked at Dutchy.
Dutchy didn’t return the smile. ‘What photos?’
*
Kate looked up as Dutchy grabbed her arm, seemingly annoyed at how hard he grabbed her.
‘Sorry, ma’am,’ he said, letting go. ‘I need to talk to you.’
‘About?’
He looked around the bridge. ‘In private?’
Kate followed him down the stairs and to her cabin, signalling for him to walk inside he followed. He wasn’t sure how comfortable he felt, being alone with her in her quarters, but he had to remind himself that he was here for a reason and it wasn’t to start spreading any more rumours.
‘So?’
Dutchy looked up at her, dreading the conversation they were about to have.
‘Have you been on Facebook recently?’
Kate laughed. ‘What? No I don’t check it very often, why?’
‘There’s rumours spreading around the boat…’
‘Again?’
He looked up at her. ‘What?’
‘Nothing…it’s just that a couple of years ago 2Dads spread rumours that me and the Buffer were sleeping together.’
‘Were you?’
Kate fell silent and looked up at him and Dutchy instantly regretted his question.
‘Not that it’s any of your business but no, we weren’t,’ Kate was mad at him now and he knew that was going to make the rest of the conversation awkward.
‘Sorry, I shouldn’t have…’
‘It’s OK,’ she cut him off.
They fell silent for a moment and Dutchy could feel the tension in the air.
‘So, what does any of this have to do with Facebook?’
‘I’m only telling you this because of what I saw last year, because I know you don’t bring it on board - but someone uploaded photos of yourself and the CO from years ago and you look a little bit too close,’ Dutchy finally said.
Kate froze.
‘What do you mean, close? We never…I mean…’ she lowered her voice. ‘We never let anyone see. Not back then. And we’re not…there’s nothing…not since I came on Hammersley. Who’s seen the photos?’
‘Everyone.’
She muttered something under her breath that he thought might almost be a swear word and then she pulled open the door and left the room. He followed her.
‘X…’
She stopped and looked at him.
‘Where are you going?’ he finished.
‘I need to see,’ she said.
And with that she stormed towards the computer room. He followed.
*
She wasn’t sure what shocked her more. The fact that there were finally rumours about her and Mike circulating the ship, or the fact that Dutchy had finally admitted that he’d seen her kissing Mike.
She also wasn’t sure which one of those made her feel the most uncomfortable.
Sitting down at the computer she was thankful no one else was in the room, and she logged straight into Facebook. Dutchy arrived a moment later.
‘There’s not much to the photos, X,’ he said.
‘If it’s enough to start a rumour it must be something,’ she whispered.
All she could think about was how badly this could end. At least with her and Buffer there had been nothing happening. Not physically anyway. It had scared her enough knowing people had noticed their feelings for each other even without them acting on those - she could only imagine how obvious her and Mike must’ve been, especially since the incident when she'd thought he was dead.
She found the photos instantly. Dutchy was right, there was nothing much to them. A couple of friends at a Navy training course. Except that Mike was her instructor and she was the student and they had been sleeping together the whole time.
But no one had known that.
Her heart sank as she looked at the final picture, the two of them standing on the beach, smiling, his arm around her. Everything had seemed so simple back then, so easy. And the next day he’d just upped and left with no real explanation other than he couldn’t do it anymore.
Since then everything between them had been downhill.
And suddenly it hurt.
She detagged herself in the photos.
‘That’s not going to help now, X,’ Dutchy commented.
‘I don’t want the reminder,’ she replied, then realised what she’d said. ‘Sorry I shouldn’t be talking about this with you.’
‘It’s OK, X,’ he replied. ‘I won’t tell.’
‘I didn’t think you would…’
That wasn’t what she was worried about, she was sure he wasn’t going to say anything to anyone. Dutchy wasn’t the talking type. But she was vaguely worried about his feelings for her, she still wasn’t entirely sure where they stood - how he felt about her. She knew there was something there but she couldn’t think about it too much.
'I need to talk to the CO,' she stood up and walked out.
*
Bird looked up as 2Dads entered the Junior Sailor’s mess.
‘Heard the rumours?’ he asked.
She shook her head and continued reading her book. ‘I’m sure they’re nothing interesting, 2Dads.’
‘The CO and the X have been sleeping together for years,’ 2Dads said as he sat down.
‘Says who?’ Bird asked.
She was amused, because it had always been obvious to her that there was something going on between them. The way she had reacted when she’d thought he was dead - Bird had never seen that reaction before. Not that she’d been around when many people had died, but she’d also never seen such determination powered by rage and it had almost scared her.
‘Facebook,’ 2Dads smirked and Bird rolled her eyes at him.
‘Right, because Facebook is a reliable source of gossip,’ Bird replied.
2Dads leaned across the table, still smiling. ‘There’s photos.’
She gave him the benefit of the doubt, putting down her book and looking at him. ‘What? Of them making out?’
‘No just sitting closely and stuff, but they’re from years ago - like nine or ten years, they look young.’
‘2Dads, it’s probably nothing. People can be friends you know,’ Bird stood up and grabbed her book. ‘I have to get to work.’
She left 2Dads alone in the mess, still rolling her eyes - but only half convinced that he was making the rumour up. There was definitely something between the CO and the X, but she just wasn’t convinced that either of them would allow it to happen while it was against the rules.
*
RO watched as the X stormed back onto the bridge, followed closely by Dutchy. She went straight to the CO’s side and stood closely, whispering something he could hear.
He hoped to god they hadn’t heard the rumours flying around the ship - he remembered how mad the two of them had been when the rumours about Buffer and the X had spread around and he wasn’t sure how they would handle rumours about the two of them.
He also had a sneaking suspicion that these rumours were much closer to reality.
Dutchy looked his way and he pretended to be really interested in whatever was on his screen, but he was still watching the CO and the X out of the corner of his eye.
The CO finally looked at X, he didn’t look surprised but slightly concerned.
He glanced in Charge and Swain’s direction and then nodded at the stairs.
‘Dutchy, you have the ship,’ the CO said as he followed the X off the ship.
‘Yes, sir,’ Dutchy took the seat and glanced at Charge and Swain again.
The two of them seemed to shrink in their position.
It served them right for spreading rumours - no matter how true they were.
*
Mike didn’t want to have this conversation with her, he knew exactly what it was about and somehow he knew this was going to end up being his fault. It always did when it came to her.
‘You know there are rumours circulating the boat, about us?’ she was almost whispering even in the privacy of his cabin.
‘It was going to happen eventually, X, you know that,’ he replied, moving closer to her.
She stepped back and shook her head slightly. ‘Someone put photos from Watson’s Bay on Facebook - everyone’s seen them.’
‘What?’ Mike froze.
That was bad. Not that they’d done anything suspicious that anyone could have seen, not that he remember anyway - but if the Navy discovered that as a teacher of a unit he’d slept with one of his students he was gone.
‘Exactly,’ she replied, seeing straight through him as she always managed to.
‘Who posted them?’ he asked.
‘Lieutenant Shaw,’ she replied. ‘I mean there’s nothing suspicious in any of the photos, well…not really…but what if someone figures it out, Mike?’
He took a sharp breath in at the mention of his name. She never used it, not even on shore, and when she did it was usually in a situation where he was being blamed for something. He almost preferred it when she called him sir.
‘They can’t prove anything,’ he wasn’t sure now whether he was defending himself or comforting her. ‘It’ll be fine.’
‘OK,’ she paused for a moment and then looked up at him. ‘We need to stop the rumours, now.’
He nodded in agreement and she pushed past him, heading back to the bridge. For a moment he just sat, leaning against his desk, and sighed.
Why did things have to be so difficult all the time?
*
2Dads watched as the CO and X reappeared in the bridge. Swain and Charge hushed their conversation instantly, and Dutchy got out of the Captain’s chair, making way for the CO.
‘I want everybody out on the deck in five,’ the CO said, grabbing the radio he made the official order into the PA system.
As they all headed out to the deck 2Dads heard the CO ordering RO to take the ship. Why was it always assumed that RO wasn’t one of the trouble makers?
Not that 2Dads had ever seen him cause any trouble - well - not while he was sober, but it just seemed an unfair assumption to him when everyone else was being ordered outside.
He stood next to Charge, as though standing next to the larger man would help him hide from the XO who was glaring in his direction.
‘It has come to my attention that there have been rumours circulating the ship,’ the CO started. ‘I want these rumours to stop - now. It has been made clear to each and every one of you that rumour mongering is a chargeable offence and while I let it go the majority of the time when a rumour is spread that can affect the lives of sailors on this boat I want the rumours to stop. If you have any serious concerns about the relationship status of anyone on the Hammersley your job is to take it up with the Navy and not spread rumours around the entire boat. Is that understood?’
Everyone remained silent.
‘Is it?’
A chorus of ‘yes, sirs’ rung down the line. 2Dads felt like he was back in school - although at least it was better than being shouted at by the CO alone in his office. This time he couldn’t be blamed entirely - everyone had seen the photos.
‘OK, you’re all dismissed,’ the CO said, looking specifically at Charge and 2Dads, who were still being glared at by the XO.
2Dads felt even Charge take a step backwards. If looks could kill the two of them would’ve been dead twice over.
‘Good one, guys,’ Bird muttered as she walked past them. ‘Now they’ll be in a bad mood, all day.’
*
Kate was relieved when they finally got to port, she was going to go home, open a bottle of wine and drink the whole thing by herself. She’d always maintained that as a sailor she reserved the right to drink as much as she liked while on shore leave. It was part of the job.
She watched as the others bounced off the boat one by one, heading to the pub together no doubt.
Dutchy turned to her as he was leaving.
‘Coming to the pub, X?’ he asked.
She shook her head. ‘Not really in a social mood, thanks Dutchy.’
‘We could just grab a quiet one and some dinner somewhere else?’
She paused, thinking about it for a moment. Dinner with Dutchy did sound inviting, at least he never judged her - he would never run around the Hammersley spreading rumours. But she could feel Mike watching her from the shore where he was talking to Maxine and the last thing she needed right then was for the others to think she was sleeping with Dutchy as well as Mike.
‘Maybe next week? I don’t really need anymore rumours spread about me today,’ Kate smiled.
He smiled back, understanding. ‘Alright, enjoy your shore leave, X!’
And with that he ran after the others. She slowly walked off the boat and made her way to Mike who had just finished his conversation with Maxine.
‘So, drink?’ he asked.
‘You really think that’s a good idea right now?’ she asked.
‘Why not?’ he responded, smiling. ‘It’s not like it’ll start any new rumours.’
She smiled. ‘Well I have a bottle of wine waiting at home…’
‘Then I’ll go home and get changed and be over in an hour.’
‘OK,’ she nodded.
She had no idea what she was doing. She’d vowed to herself that she wouldn’t allow Mike to come anywhere near her place until he was well and truly off the Hammersley, but she missed him. Missed being his friend.
‘Oh and Mike,’ she called after him, he turned and looked at her. ‘Bring a second bottle, I need a whole one to myself.’
'Yes, ma'am,' he smiled jokingly and hopped into the nearest cab. She watched him go. Things were going to be OK, she was starting to deal with the fact that it was probably never going to happen. But she also wasn't sure if she was ready to let go yet.
But until they figured that out they might as well be friends.
Rumours or no rumours.
Fandom: Sea Patrol
Pairing: Mike/Kate
Words: 3400
Summary: 'Charge looked around and lowered his voice. ‘Have you ever noticed how her relationship status is set to ‘It’s complicated’?’'
Prompt: Kate: ‘If this ends up on Facebook, I will kill you.’ - from Red Sky Morning
*
2Dads blinked a few times, trying to keep his eyes open. He hadn’t had nearly enough sleep the night before, but he really needed to get the scores from the footy match that wasn’t finishing for another ten minutes.
He refreshed Facebook for what felt like the tenth time in five minutes.
‘Interesting…’ he clicked on the photo that popped up.
It was an old photo, the XO and CO were both tagged in it but it was a huge group shot from some training seminar. Bored, he began to click through the album, wondering if anyone else he knew was tagged in it.
He paused on a photo. Neither of them were tagged but he could see them in the background of the photo, sitting on the beach next to the campfire, the CO’s arm a little too close to the XO’s back…
The door opened and 2Dads jumped, turning around. It was just Swain.
‘Jesus, you scared me,’ he muttered, turning back.
‘Shouldn’t you be asleep? You’ve been up almost twenty hours,’ Swain commented, sitting down at the computer next to him. ‘What’s that?’
‘Don’t you recognise them?’ 2Dads pointed at the screen.
Swain looked briefly and shook his head. ‘Nope, should I?’
‘Not the guys in the foreground, look at the campfire in the back,’ 2Dads pointed.
Swain leaned over and squinted, as though that was going to help him see the picture. ‘No way.’
‘Yes, way,’ 2Dads replied.
‘How old is this photo?’
2Dads shrugged and continued clicking through the album. Finally he came across one of the two of them standing on the beach, his arm around her - they were both smiling.
‘Do you think whoever posted these knows they serve on a ship together?’ Swain asked.
‘I doubt it…’
‘We should tell the X,’ Swain looked back at his computer screen and logged onto Facebook, finding the folder himself and skipping through the photos.
‘You tell the X, I value my life,’ 2Dads replied.
‘You know technically there’s nothing suspicious about these photos,’ Swain commented. ‘It just means they were friends before she served on the Hammersley.’
‘Yeah, sure,’ 2Dads replied.
*
‘Did you see?’
Swain looked at Charge in confusion. ‘The X and the CO?’
‘They must’ve been going at it for years,’ Charge smiled.
‘They’re just friends, Charge’ Swain grabbed the tea bag and put it in his mug, holding another out to Charge.
‘Yes, please,’ Charge replied.
Swain dropped the second tea bag in Charge’s mug. ‘I just don’t buy it. I mean, Bomber was basically kicked off the Hammersley due to fraternisation - would they really risk it?’
‘You can’t help who you love,’ Charge smiled and took a seat.
‘Look, 2Dads started the rumour - remember what happened last time he started a rumour about the X and her love life?’ Swain took the seat opposite him.
‘Yeah - but this time there’s evidence. And it’s all over Facebook,’ Charge looked around and lowered his voice. ‘Have you ever noticed how her relationship status is set to ‘It’s complicated’?’
Swain rolled his eyes and picked up the newspaper lying on the desk. ‘Seriously, Charge, that could be in relation to anyone. That Army Captain guy has been hanging around a bit…’
‘Everyone knows they’ve been in love for years, now we just know it goes a whole lot further back than the Hammersley…’
They both fell silent as the X walked into the room. Swain smiled to himself and Charge suddenly found great interest in his tea.
‘Morning,’ she smiled and grabbed a mug.
‘Morning, ma’am,’ they both replied in unison.
She looked at them suspiciously and went about her way making a tea. They remained silent while she was in there, Charge watching Swain trying to keep a straight face. Swain raised the paper so Charge couldn’t look at him.
*
Mike was aware everyone on the bridge was staring at him. That was pretty standard, he was the CO and everyone was supposed to pay attention to him, but somehow he felt like today was different.
Like they were judging him for something.
He also didn’t miss the smile on 2Dads face when Kate appeared and handed him a coffee.
‘Have you noticed the crew’s strange behaviour today?’ he asked her quietly.
She looked around, as her eyes fell on 2Dads Mike saw his smile disappear completely.
‘No stranger than normal, sir,’ she replied.
‘I’m going to grab some lunch,’ he stood up. ‘You have the ship, X.’
‘Yes, sir,’ she replied. ‘I have the ship.’
She took his seat and Mike headed downstairs towards the galley. He stopped when he heard Swain and Charge talking. He knew better than to eavesdrop on their conversations, but he wanted to know what was going on. And they were always on top of their gossip.
‘It would explain the way the CO blew up when 2Dads spread the rumours about Buffer and the X too,’ Charge commented.
Mike moved slightly closer to the room. He knew there’d been some sort of rumour going around the ship. He wondered who had started this one.
‘If they’ve been at it this whole time I have to admire their acting skills,’ Swain commented. ‘I would never have guessed.’
Mike frowned. Were they talking about him and Kate?
‘Sir?’
Mike jumped the sound of Dutchy’s voice. He turned to look at the other man.
‘I was just thinking about lunch, but I’ve decided against it - excuse me, Dutchy,’ Mike pushed past him and headed back upstairs.
What on Earth had started the rumours now? What worried him was this time they weren’t so far off.
*
Dutchy didn’t miss the way Swain and Charge instantly hushed their conversation as he walked into the galley. He also didn’t miss the visible relief when they realised it was him.
He was curious what they’d been talking about, what Mike had been listening to, but he wasn’t going to ask. It took Charge exactly twenty seconds to answer his silent question anyway.
‘Logged onto Facebook recently?’ Charge asked.
Swain rolled his eyes. ‘Charge thinks the X and the CO are sleeping together and have been for years…’
Dutchy froze. That wasn’t the kind of rumour that should be spreading around the boat. No one but him was supposed to know that, and he didn’t know anything more than the one intimate moment he’d seen. And he didn’t want to know.
‘I doubt that,’ Dutchy commented, grabbing a mug from the cupboard to make himself a tea.
‘That’s what I said. No one’s ever seen anything to prove it,’ Swain looked pointedly at Charge.
‘I’ve seen enough, they’re all over each other in those photos,’ Charge smiled and looked at Dutchy.
Dutchy didn’t return the smile. ‘What photos?’
*
Kate looked up as Dutchy grabbed her arm, seemingly annoyed at how hard he grabbed her.
‘Sorry, ma’am,’ he said, letting go. ‘I need to talk to you.’
‘About?’
He looked around the bridge. ‘In private?’
Kate followed him down the stairs and to her cabin, signalling for him to walk inside he followed. He wasn’t sure how comfortable he felt, being alone with her in her quarters, but he had to remind himself that he was here for a reason and it wasn’t to start spreading any more rumours.
‘So?’
Dutchy looked up at her, dreading the conversation they were about to have.
‘Have you been on Facebook recently?’
Kate laughed. ‘What? No I don’t check it very often, why?’
‘There’s rumours spreading around the boat…’
‘Again?’
He looked up at her. ‘What?’
‘Nothing…it’s just that a couple of years ago 2Dads spread rumours that me and the Buffer were sleeping together.’
‘Were you?’
Kate fell silent and looked up at him and Dutchy instantly regretted his question.
‘Not that it’s any of your business but no, we weren’t,’ Kate was mad at him now and he knew that was going to make the rest of the conversation awkward.
‘Sorry, I shouldn’t have…’
‘It’s OK,’ she cut him off.
They fell silent for a moment and Dutchy could feel the tension in the air.
‘So, what does any of this have to do with Facebook?’
‘I’m only telling you this because of what I saw last year, because I know you don’t bring it on board - but someone uploaded photos of yourself and the CO from years ago and you look a little bit too close,’ Dutchy finally said.
Kate froze.
‘What do you mean, close? We never…I mean…’ she lowered her voice. ‘We never let anyone see. Not back then. And we’re not…there’s nothing…not since I came on Hammersley. Who’s seen the photos?’
‘Everyone.’
She muttered something under her breath that he thought might almost be a swear word and then she pulled open the door and left the room. He followed her.
‘X…’
She stopped and looked at him.
‘Where are you going?’ he finished.
‘I need to see,’ she said.
And with that she stormed towards the computer room. He followed.
*
She wasn’t sure what shocked her more. The fact that there were finally rumours about her and Mike circulating the ship, or the fact that Dutchy had finally admitted that he’d seen her kissing Mike.
She also wasn’t sure which one of those made her feel the most uncomfortable.
Sitting down at the computer she was thankful no one else was in the room, and she logged straight into Facebook. Dutchy arrived a moment later.
‘There’s not much to the photos, X,’ he said.
‘If it’s enough to start a rumour it must be something,’ she whispered.
All she could think about was how badly this could end. At least with her and Buffer there had been nothing happening. Not physically anyway. It had scared her enough knowing people had noticed their feelings for each other even without them acting on those - she could only imagine how obvious her and Mike must’ve been, especially since the incident when she'd thought he was dead.
She found the photos instantly. Dutchy was right, there was nothing much to them. A couple of friends at a Navy training course. Except that Mike was her instructor and she was the student and they had been sleeping together the whole time.
But no one had known that.
Her heart sank as she looked at the final picture, the two of them standing on the beach, smiling, his arm around her. Everything had seemed so simple back then, so easy. And the next day he’d just upped and left with no real explanation other than he couldn’t do it anymore.
Since then everything between them had been downhill.
And suddenly it hurt.
She detagged herself in the photos.
‘That’s not going to help now, X,’ Dutchy commented.
‘I don’t want the reminder,’ she replied, then realised what she’d said. ‘Sorry I shouldn’t be talking about this with you.’
‘It’s OK, X,’ he replied. ‘I won’t tell.’
‘I didn’t think you would…’
That wasn’t what she was worried about, she was sure he wasn’t going to say anything to anyone. Dutchy wasn’t the talking type. But she was vaguely worried about his feelings for her, she still wasn’t entirely sure where they stood - how he felt about her. She knew there was something there but she couldn’t think about it too much.
'I need to talk to the CO,' she stood up and walked out.
*
Bird looked up as 2Dads entered the Junior Sailor’s mess.
‘Heard the rumours?’ he asked.
She shook her head and continued reading her book. ‘I’m sure they’re nothing interesting, 2Dads.’
‘The CO and the X have been sleeping together for years,’ 2Dads said as he sat down.
‘Says who?’ Bird asked.
She was amused, because it had always been obvious to her that there was something going on between them. The way she had reacted when she’d thought he was dead - Bird had never seen that reaction before. Not that she’d been around when many people had died, but she’d also never seen such determination powered by rage and it had almost scared her.
‘Facebook,’ 2Dads smirked and Bird rolled her eyes at him.
‘Right, because Facebook is a reliable source of gossip,’ Bird replied.
2Dads leaned across the table, still smiling. ‘There’s photos.’
She gave him the benefit of the doubt, putting down her book and looking at him. ‘What? Of them making out?’
‘No just sitting closely and stuff, but they’re from years ago - like nine or ten years, they look young.’
‘2Dads, it’s probably nothing. People can be friends you know,’ Bird stood up and grabbed her book. ‘I have to get to work.’
She left 2Dads alone in the mess, still rolling her eyes - but only half convinced that he was making the rumour up. There was definitely something between the CO and the X, but she just wasn’t convinced that either of them would allow it to happen while it was against the rules.
*
RO watched as the X stormed back onto the bridge, followed closely by Dutchy. She went straight to the CO’s side and stood closely, whispering something he could hear.
He hoped to god they hadn’t heard the rumours flying around the ship - he remembered how mad the two of them had been when the rumours about Buffer and the X had spread around and he wasn’t sure how they would handle rumours about the two of them.
He also had a sneaking suspicion that these rumours were much closer to reality.
Dutchy looked his way and he pretended to be really interested in whatever was on his screen, but he was still watching the CO and the X out of the corner of his eye.
The CO finally looked at X, he didn’t look surprised but slightly concerned.
He glanced in Charge and Swain’s direction and then nodded at the stairs.
‘Dutchy, you have the ship,’ the CO said as he followed the X off the ship.
‘Yes, sir,’ Dutchy took the seat and glanced at Charge and Swain again.
The two of them seemed to shrink in their position.
It served them right for spreading rumours - no matter how true they were.
*
Mike didn’t want to have this conversation with her, he knew exactly what it was about and somehow he knew this was going to end up being his fault. It always did when it came to her.
‘You know there are rumours circulating the boat, about us?’ she was almost whispering even in the privacy of his cabin.
‘It was going to happen eventually, X, you know that,’ he replied, moving closer to her.
She stepped back and shook her head slightly. ‘Someone put photos from Watson’s Bay on Facebook - everyone’s seen them.’
‘What?’ Mike froze.
That was bad. Not that they’d done anything suspicious that anyone could have seen, not that he remember anyway - but if the Navy discovered that as a teacher of a unit he’d slept with one of his students he was gone.
‘Exactly,’ she replied, seeing straight through him as she always managed to.
‘Who posted them?’ he asked.
‘Lieutenant Shaw,’ she replied. ‘I mean there’s nothing suspicious in any of the photos, well…not really…but what if someone figures it out, Mike?’
He took a sharp breath in at the mention of his name. She never used it, not even on shore, and when she did it was usually in a situation where he was being blamed for something. He almost preferred it when she called him sir.
‘They can’t prove anything,’ he wasn’t sure now whether he was defending himself or comforting her. ‘It’ll be fine.’
‘OK,’ she paused for a moment and then looked up at him. ‘We need to stop the rumours, now.’
He nodded in agreement and she pushed past him, heading back to the bridge. For a moment he just sat, leaning against his desk, and sighed.
Why did things have to be so difficult all the time?
*
2Dads watched as the CO and X reappeared in the bridge. Swain and Charge hushed their conversation instantly, and Dutchy got out of the Captain’s chair, making way for the CO.
‘I want everybody out on the deck in five,’ the CO said, grabbing the radio he made the official order into the PA system.
As they all headed out to the deck 2Dads heard the CO ordering RO to take the ship. Why was it always assumed that RO wasn’t one of the trouble makers?
Not that 2Dads had ever seen him cause any trouble - well - not while he was sober, but it just seemed an unfair assumption to him when everyone else was being ordered outside.
He stood next to Charge, as though standing next to the larger man would help him hide from the XO who was glaring in his direction.
‘It has come to my attention that there have been rumours circulating the ship,’ the CO started. ‘I want these rumours to stop - now. It has been made clear to each and every one of you that rumour mongering is a chargeable offence and while I let it go the majority of the time when a rumour is spread that can affect the lives of sailors on this boat I want the rumours to stop. If you have any serious concerns about the relationship status of anyone on the Hammersley your job is to take it up with the Navy and not spread rumours around the entire boat. Is that understood?’
Everyone remained silent.
‘Is it?’
A chorus of ‘yes, sirs’ rung down the line. 2Dads felt like he was back in school - although at least it was better than being shouted at by the CO alone in his office. This time he couldn’t be blamed entirely - everyone had seen the photos.
‘OK, you’re all dismissed,’ the CO said, looking specifically at Charge and 2Dads, who were still being glared at by the XO.
2Dads felt even Charge take a step backwards. If looks could kill the two of them would’ve been dead twice over.
‘Good one, guys,’ Bird muttered as she walked past them. ‘Now they’ll be in a bad mood, all day.’
*
Kate was relieved when they finally got to port, she was going to go home, open a bottle of wine and drink the whole thing by herself. She’d always maintained that as a sailor she reserved the right to drink as much as she liked while on shore leave. It was part of the job.
She watched as the others bounced off the boat one by one, heading to the pub together no doubt.
Dutchy turned to her as he was leaving.
‘Coming to the pub, X?’ he asked.
She shook her head. ‘Not really in a social mood, thanks Dutchy.’
‘We could just grab a quiet one and some dinner somewhere else?’
She paused, thinking about it for a moment. Dinner with Dutchy did sound inviting, at least he never judged her - he would never run around the Hammersley spreading rumours. But she could feel Mike watching her from the shore where he was talking to Maxine and the last thing she needed right then was for the others to think she was sleeping with Dutchy as well as Mike.
‘Maybe next week? I don’t really need anymore rumours spread about me today,’ Kate smiled.
He smiled back, understanding. ‘Alright, enjoy your shore leave, X!’
And with that he ran after the others. She slowly walked off the boat and made her way to Mike who had just finished his conversation with Maxine.
‘So, drink?’ he asked.
‘You really think that’s a good idea right now?’ she asked.
‘Why not?’ he responded, smiling. ‘It’s not like it’ll start any new rumours.’
She smiled. ‘Well I have a bottle of wine waiting at home…’
‘Then I’ll go home and get changed and be over in an hour.’
‘OK,’ she nodded.
She had no idea what she was doing. She’d vowed to herself that she wouldn’t allow Mike to come anywhere near her place until he was well and truly off the Hammersley, but she missed him. Missed being his friend.
‘Oh and Mike,’ she called after him, he turned and looked at her. ‘Bring a second bottle, I need a whole one to myself.’
'Yes, ma'am,' he smiled jokingly and hopped into the nearest cab. She watched him go. Things were going to be OK, she was starting to deal with the fact that it was probably never going to happen. But she also wasn't sure if she was ready to let go yet.
But until they figured that out they might as well be friends.
Rumours or no rumours.