A Hero In Uniform - The Complete Series (2 page)

“
Oh, right.” Daniel slipped an arm around Kelley's shoulders and gestured to the men. “Kel, these are my colleagues, Steven and Ric. Guys, this is Kelley.”

“
Nice to meet you, Kelley.” Steven said.

“
Like wise.” Kelley said, shaking hands with each one. They head up the yard to the exit and she said to Daniel, “I brought your car if you want to give the guys a lift.”

His car was a 1972 Ford XA GT coupe that he'd spent seven years working on, restoring it to it's original glory. He had no doubt in his mind that Steven and Ric would have liked a ride, but he wanted some alone time with Kelley, so he told them, “Sorry guys. You're going to have to find another ride. The lady and I need to talk.”

They nodded and headed out through the main-gate to hail a cab as Kelley turned to him and asked, “Okay. What's wrong?”

“
Nothing. I just wanted to catch up.”

She smiled and asked, “Really?”

“
Really. I've missed you.” Daniel replied, ignoring the odd mix of feeling that arose when he said that. Instead, he pulled out her present and handed it to her. “Think of this as a welcome-to-your-new-life -gift.” 

But, even as he said that, he got a sudden premonition in his gut that told him something bad was going to happen, and he didn't like it.

Back in her new apartment, Kelley sat on her couch, flipping through a magazine while Daniel took a shower.

His gift was wrapped around her wrist and she loved it; it was made of a massive white shell with six rows of beads coming out in a butterfly-like pattern to cling to the wrist.

When she'd put it on, she'd silently vowed to never take it off.

Looking at it, Kelley reflects on how much alike the two brothers are, even though one is light and one is dark; they both share a passion for hard rock and classics from Sinatra. They both have a weakness for women with hair similar to her own. They both prefer home-cooked meals to takeaway.

But the similarities are only material.

Of the two men, Daniel was defiantly the better one, and she isn't saying that because of what happened to her.

Daniels values, beliefs, and ethics out shine Ronald.

Daniel was a gentleman, while Ronald prefers to live the easy life, taking what he wants by force or manipulation, rather then working for it.

Closing the magazine with a  loud snap, Kelley heads into the kitchen to start lunch.

Anything to get Ronald Coleman off her mind.

“
Yo, Kel!” Daniel called from down the hall.

“
Yeah?”

“
Where's the … Oh. Never mind.”

Kelley grinned; Daniel had a habit of doing that. But it was something that made him more adorable.

He appeared a few minutes later, looking absolutely handsome in a black shirt and jeans. “Whatcha cookin'?”

“
Stir-fry.”

“
Sounds yummy.” He grabs a can of coke out of the fridge and leaned against the counter, his see-everything green eyes on her as he asked, “What's wrong, Kel?” 

Kelley knew better then to try and lie to a who was number one in the Navy for his interrogation skills, so she blew out a breath and answered, “I had Ronald on my mind.”

Daniel looked at her in concern and asked, “Are you okay?”

“
I'm fine. It's just … sometimes it feels weird.”

“
What does?”

“
The history I have. It doesn't seem real.” Kelley explained. She continued to cook the stir-fry as she looked at him and said, “It doesn't seem like it's possible for me to be in this situation.”

Daniel moved closer to her and rubbed her between her shoulders as he asked, “Do you want to talk about it?”

She'd have liked nothing more then to talk to him about it.

For the past month, Daniel had been there for her, offering both support and advice when she needed it.

She was thankful for his help, but, sometimes when she looked at Daniel, she was reminded of just why he did those things for her. And explaining that to him without hurting his feelings was something Kelley hadn't figured out how to do. 

So instead, she smiled and replied, “No. It's okay. But thank you.”

Daniel nodded in his head and told her, “Okay. But I'm here if you need me.”

Kelley smiled again and said, “I know.”

Three

Seventy-two hours flew, and on Thursday, Kelley took Daniel back to the Navy yard. He'd liked the three day they had spent together, but he hadn't been thrilled to learn that she sometimes still thought about Ronald.

His bastard of a brother had really messed her up, maybe more then Kelley was willing to admit.

But work was calling again, and Daniel needed to get his head in the game so he wouldn't mess things up out at sea. Besides, he knew Ronald couldn't get to Kelley and that she only thought of him when her wound acted up or something triggered an unpleasant memory.

She's going to be fine, Daniel told himself as Kelley parked his GT near the main entrance and they got out. She's a smart young woman and she won't let anything happen to herself. 

At the main gate, they were met by Steven, Ric and Jackson, who was meeting Kelley for the first time.

“
I've heard a lot about you, Miss Harmon.” Jackson said, shaking her hand. “I want you to know that, if you need Coleman for anything, just tell me and I'll send him home as quickly as possible.”

Kelley smiled at the CO and said, “Thank you, Lieutenant Commander. That's very considerate of you.”

“
Think nothing of it, ma'am. You have my full support.” Jackson told her.

They continued on to the waiting patrol boat, the roar of an approaching motorbike mingling with the sounds of water lapping against the hull of ships, the cry of seagulls in the air and the chatter of sailors walking about them. Recent rain made the atmosphere very pleasant, and the wharf was dotted with puddles, some quite large. So it was inevitable that the sailor driving the Harley a little too fast lost control on the bend where the four of them were walking.

A shouted warning was issued, but it came too late.

The bike hit Daniel and Kelley, causing Kelley to loose her footing on the slippery wharf and she fell straight into the cold water below.

“
Kelley!” Daniel jumped to his feet and ran to the edge, looking down into the water, hoping to see her.

But she hadn't surfaced yet and that was troubling.

A patrol boat was right there, it's rotors right in the line of where Kelley had fallen in. Had she hit her head?

Without wasting anymore time, Daniel yanked off his shirt and boots, ready to jump in and save her.

Jackson stopped him momentarily, handing him a rope someone had grabbed and telling him, “Tie this around your waist so we can help.”

Daniel did, then dived into the cold water.

Instantly, he found Kelley, and his heart almost stopped when he realised she wasn't moving.

Swimming over to her, he removed the rope from around his waist and secured it under her arms before giving it a good tug, letting Jackson know to start pulling. He followed her out as she was pulled from the water, and when they broke the surface, Jackson hauled a still-unconscious Kelley out of the water as Daniel climbed out.

Navy paramedics were waiting and when Kelley was flat on her back on the wharf, they began working on bringing her around. A crowd had gathered and people were talking, telling exaggerated versions of what had happened, but Daniel paid them no attention.

His entire focus was on Kelley and the paramedics as he prayed she was going to be alright.

Before she'd woken up, the last thing Kelley remembered was being on the wharf at the Navy yard, walking Daniel to his ship.

Now, she lay in a hospital bed at the near-by Navy hospital, Daniel and Jackson at her side.

And she was in shock.

Not because of what had happened, but rather because of what the doctor had told her a few seconds ago.

She was pregnant.

Two months pregnant.

“
Oh, God!” Kelley finally found her voice as she clapped a hand over her eyes.

Two months ago, she'd been in Melbourne and the girlfriend of an AFP agent who would later beat and then rape her.

Jackson excused himself from the room and Daniel took a seat on the edge of her hospital bed, not minding the death-grip she had on his hand.

“
Kel … Look at me, babe.”

She peeked at him through her fingers.

“
It'll be okay.” He said.

She dropped her hand and frowned. “How? I'm pregnant with a baby that is the result of a rape and the father is the one who raped me! How is it going to be okay, Daniel?”

“
Because it's you. You're strong and you'll pull through this.” He told her, rubbing her hand with his free one.

Unshed tears stung Kelley's eyes and she closed them to try and get her emotions under control.

“
Listen to me, Kel.” Daniel said, his voice soft. “You can do this, and I'm going to help you. This baby might have Ronald's DNA, but it's going to be yours through and through. You'll raise it and love it.”

Kelley opened her eyes and looked at Daniel as she whispered, “I don't know if I can.”

She was scared, and he understood that.

He smiled at her and said, “You can. Once this baby comes into your life, you'll be the mother that everyone wants. You'll love it and cherish it and make it's life wonderful and perfect.”