Hi anyone who is still reading this! I'm so so sorry, I just completely put this story to the side with thoughts of updating it! Anyway, here finally is the next chapter - hoping to get it tied up soon before another year and a half passes before it's updated again!

Kate continued to observe the scene before her and began weighing up her options; on the one hand she had an injured colleague she really should be getting back to, Buffer was in a fair amount of pain and Kate had the medical bag strapped to her back. The responsible thing for her to do was to get back and attend to his injuries, in turn that would open up new possibilities for them to rescue the girl sitting tied up before her. On the other hand Kate was human and felt the overwhelming urge to rescue the girl before her from a fate she didn't dare think about. The girl was petrified, bound and gagged and in the company of two drug runners – what was their intention with her?

Kate knew that if she was going to be any use to the scared girl that she needed to get back to Buffer and help him; taking one last look at the scene she made the long trek back to her injured colleague all the while formulating a plan for the girls rescue that depended on a fair amount of luck, something that she and Buffer deserved after they day they had had so far.

Buffer, having recovered somewhat from his journey up the embankment became alert to the noises of someone trekking through the undergrowth towards him. Surveying the scene from where he was seated Buffer realised that he was exposed to whoever was coming his way, even if he could have moved somewhere quickly there were limited options were he would be provided with sufficient cover to hide. Reaching for his pistol, Buffer released the safety and sat in wait for whoever was coming his way reckoning he could get a couple of good shots at the person if necessary.

Buffer raised his arms, steadying his gun and aimed it at the person trudging towards him, "Christ X where have you been? I thought you had gotten lost or passed out" As Kate fully appeared in front of him Buffer flicked the safety back on and re-holstered his pistol; dumping Swain's bag down Kate quickly followed it to the ground, fatigue winning the battle her body was waging.

"X...you ok there?"

Kate leaned back, simultaneously resting her eyes and plotting through scenarios and plans in her minds eye. "Yeah Buff, just give me a minute then we'll get your leg sorted and once we do, we've got to get the girl from the drug runners"

Wide eyed, Buffer turned his head to face his XO, disbelief colouring his face "You can't be serious right now, we need to find shelter and wait until the Hammersley gets back tomorrow – we can organise a proper search and rescue party, ones with..."

"No Buff, we get the girl – she's petrified and alone, we can't leave her"

"X"

"Buff"

Grabbing out and turning her head to face him, taking the personal approach "Kate, look at us – neither of us are in a fit state to fight our own shadows never mind take on 2 drug runners without backup. It would be madness to even think of doing it but as I'm talking you're completely ignoring me aren't you?" Buffer realised Kate had zoned out why he was talking, she had a far away look in her eyes.

Feeling the need to assert his viewpoint again "It isn't a good idea X, we're both injured; even if we did get her away without being detected it wouldn't be long before they found us – neither of us can move too fast and who knows if she is injured" Buffer had not only the worry about how to keep the kidnapped girl safe, but also his XO; there had been an agreement between the crew that they would see out The Hammersley's last few months before decommissioning without forcing the Captain to request another new XO from NAVCOM. Besides he actually liked working with Kate, once they had both gotten over their initial jitters about working with a new person they had settled into a comfortable working relationship one that was still in its infancy but one Buffer was keen to continue.

Making eye contact, "She's not injured, well I don't think she is, she's tied up and scared. If we get your leg strapped and rested I think we could get her during the night, the druggies must think we left with the rest of the landing party as they haven't come looking for us, that gives us a bit of an advantage in the meantime."

"That's a big presumption to make there X, maybe they're just biding their time waiting us out before attacking"

"Glass half empty over there?" Moving closer to Buffer, Kate reached for Swain's bag and fished out two bottles of water, after passing one to her stricken team mate Kate took a large gulp savouring the relief as the liquid travelled down her dry throat; the relief was momentary as her stomach rejected what it was being offered and for the second time in the day, Kate was sick in front of Buffer.

Dutifully, as he had done earlier, Buffer shuffled over to Kate and rubbed her back until she was finished; handing her the bottle again he told her to take small sips when he saw the look of horror on her face at the thought of repeating what had just happened.

-x-x-x-x-

Sitting on his chair on the Bridge, Mike called out to Ro for an updated weather report, "Seriously Sir? It hasn't changed from 15 minutes ago, the storm front is projected to pass through Moffet Island overnight, just be glad we're not out there" Seemingly oblivious to the glares he was receiving from his CO and his team mates, Ro continued "can you imagine what it's going to be like out there tonight? Rain pelting and the wind blowing a gale, it's going to be rough alright."

Interjecting Mike suggested Ro go and try to make contact with the land team, all the while plotting how he could justify throwing Ro overboard in the sea conditions just so he could sample life outside of his communications cupboard.

"Ro, after you contact the shore party I want you to flash a message to NAVCOM to keep them updated" Marshall's last orders about keeping him updated were still ringing in Mike's ears.

"NAVCOM sir, and what would you like me to update them with aside from the static I'm getting from the Island?"

Increasingly frustrated with his Communications Officer Mike huffed out a breath; Nikki spotting the signs of a Captain Flynn implosion quickly moved to shut the door from the Bridge to the Communications Office directing a small smile and a "keep us updated" at Ro before suggesting they get a fresh coffee for the coming night.

"Nav, you've been on watch from this morning; go get some sleep we'll call you if needed" Like himself Nikki looked dead on her feet, the excitement of the day fading fast and worry about the landing party firmly rooted instead.

"As have you Sir; I'm just as worried about the shore party as you are, my place is here until they return" Nikki was worried about Buffer, he was a good friend to her and he was injured; Nikki was also concerned about her XO, despite everything Kate was still a person trapped on an island in the middle of a hurricane. Nikki may have wanted her room and the bottom bunk back to herself, but not for any horrible reasons.

"Yeah, sorry Nikki it's been a long day for us all and we've still got to report to NAVCOM when this is all over" Mike was certain there was one hell of a rollocking heading his way, especially if any of the shore party were seriously injured. He kept replaying his last communications with Kate through his mind more convinced that ever he hadn't been told the full story; Buffer being injured he could deal with if it was only a sprain but it was the unknown about Kate that he was sure was going to kept him alert on the Bridge through the storm, watching for any sign that the weather was abaiting and he could order a rescue party to Moffett Island.