Lisa looked up from what felt like the trillionth potato she was peeling, dicing and plopping into the huge black pot of bumbling broth. Soup of the day was spud and muck, and as usual she was on spud duty.

"Knives down, ladies!" called the voice of Helen, announcing her presence only moments before the owner of The Stinky Skink suddenly appeared. "Lisa, love, get that pot off the stove and drain whatever you've got cooking over there…"

"What's going on, Helen?" asked Bella.

Bella was good at voicing what everyone else in the kitchen was thinking.

"Jack's heading our way," said Helen.

"Shit! Shit! Shit!" said Lisa.

The pot clattered to the kitchen floor spilling boiling hot water and a mass of vegetable mush as Lisa hurriedly searched for somewhere to hide.

"Are you OK, Lisa," asked Helen.

"Yeah… Yeah… She's fine," said Bella, already forgetting the carrots she was roasting, resting a familiar hand on Lisa's shoulder.

"Good," said Helen, reassured that Bella had whatever was going on under control.

Over the few days that Lisa had been working in the kitchen with Bella and the other girls, the self-proclaimed princess of the porcelain had discovered all about what, or more accurately who it was that the newcomer was running and hiding from.

"They've found me," Lisa whimpered. "How the hell did they do it so quickly?"

"Don't be daft," said Bella. "It's not your Jack or Joe or anyone who is looking for you."

"Then who is Jack?" asked Lisa. "How do you know it's not him?"

"You obviously haven't been listening to the radio, have you," suggested Bella.

"I just wake up, come here and try not to mess up," Lisa admitted. "I've been trying to avoid listening to anything but the dishwasher if I'm truly honest."

Bella tried not to laugh.

"You've got honesty plastered across your face like make-up, gorgeous," she said, kindly. "I a hundred percent don't get how you mix up your sweet self with those bad boys."

"In seaside towns I guess the best-looking boys are the bad ones," Lisa admitted, this time it was her turn to at least smile. "Thanks, Bella…"

"For what?" asked the dish pig.

"For listening, for being a friend, for reassuring me that everything will be a-ok," said Lisa.

The two girls shared an awkward hug. Lisa overcome by the emotion of the moment and Bella not often keen on embraces of that nature.

"Come on, let's get this kitchen floor cleared up before someone goes ass up," suggested Bella.

Lisa let her go, took a step back and nodded.

"I'll pick up the worst of it while you go get the mop and bucket."

"A team effort," agreed Bella.

While her friend was gone for those few brief seconds, Lisa found her mind whirring with panic again.

So, if it's not the Jack who is looking for me, who the hell is coming that has everyone so concerned?

"Ready?" asked Bella, the mop bucket full of steaming and sudsy foam.

"I'm ready to find out just who this mysterious Jack is," said Lisa as she picked up another squishy orange blob that could have been pumpkin, carrot, or something else entirely. "Although the nature of this bad boy can remain a mystery."

Bella laughed, left the mop to clatter beside the bucket, and bent down to help Lisa with the remaining slop.

"Jack is just the name of another big, blustery bully who wants to shake up this town," the dish pig tried to explain.

"And you're not scared?" asked Lisa in awe, not sure she would ever get as brave as Bella. "Bullies have always been something of a feature in my life."

"Mine too," admitted Bella. "Until I came here and found my family."

"And now?" asked Lisa.

"Now any bullies that I can't handle myself, I get Helen to chuck out the doors and into the street," said Bella.

"Is that what you're going to get Helen to do to this Jack who is coming?" wondered Lisa. "Chuck him out if he's too much trouble?"

Bella snorted, both surprised and amused by what Lisa said.

"You really don't know what's going on, do you?" she said.

Lisa shook her head as the last of the mess went from the floor to the trash, ready for the mop to work its magic.

"Not a clue…"

"Look around you, and tell me what you can hear, what do you feel?" Bella asked.

Lisa took a glance around the kitchen. Unfamiliar faces were busying themselves like ants before a storm, squares of thick ply were being screwed to cover windows and doorways, knife blocks were stashed away into lockable cupboards, fridges were padlocked and then chained to the walls.

Are we preparing for a war?

"Is it World War Three?" asked Lisa.

"I guess," agreed Bella. "If you believe we are at war with Mother Nature herself and all the elements."

"Huh? At war with nature?" asked Lisa.

"Yeah… Except it would probably be World War a hundred and three, if anyone is counting…"

"A storm?" suggested Lisa, still confused.

"Try a tornado, hurricane, tsunami, and whatever else that bitch has up her sleeve," said Bella. "Think of the worst storm you've ever survived and multiply that by a gazillion at least."

"Sounds nasty," said Lisa.

"Let's hurry up with the mopping or else you and me both are going to find out firsthand just how nasty…" urged Bella.

The sirens started up just as Lisa squeezed the mop head to try and help it dry. Bella made to toss the grey waters, no longer steaming, but Helen called out to her before she reached the door.

"Send it down the garbage chute!" she yelled, trying to get heard over the howl of the wind that had already picked up outside the safety of the hotel's walls.

It literally came out of nowhere… Lisa thought to herself.

It was her first cyclone.

Of course, like so many Aussies, she had heard of cyclone Tracy from the 70s but had no way of knowing just how strong a wind such a natural phenomenon could bring.

"Sure thing, Helen," Bella yelled back.

Rooted to the spot, Lisa listened to the shudder of the doors and windows as they threatened to tear themselves away from The Stinky Skink, to add to the debris. In her mind the newcomer imagined the litter from the streets mixing and mingling with whatever the people of Darwin had not had the chance to tie down.

"Come on, what the hell do you think you're doing…?" Bella yelled in Lisa's ear as she passed her, mop and bucket still in her hands. "A cyclone is something you listen to and hope to survive… Not watch from the front row…"

"World War a hundred and three…" Lisa yelled back.

"Lisa meet Jack," said Bella, giving Lisa a grin. "Now follow me if you want to see tomorrow."

In the darkness of the cellar, Lisa huddled with Helen, Bella, the rest of the staff, and anyone unlucky enough to find themselves at the hotel. Some of the unfamiliar faces were locals, caught out by the cyclone's sudden arrival, others were visitors staying in the northern capital.

"Grammy how long is this one going to last?" asked a little girl, clearly American.

"Your first cyclone?" asked Lisa as the wind continued to howl.

"We're used to hurricanes from where we're from," answered the older woman, Grammy.

"Maybe your granddaughter can help me then?" Lisa said, hopeful. "Where I'm from we get nothing like this."

"You gotta wait and then the wind blows past you," the little girl explained.

"After that you get to do the clean-up, and you just pray to Jesus that the house and barn made it through the worst," added the elder. "My Jim was stupid enough to get caught in a bad storm in the early 90s, wouldn't listen to me when I told him to get inside."

"I'm sorry," said Lisa, expecting the worst.

"Oh no, Pappa Jim survived, somehow," said the little girl.

"Hid amongst the haybales," said Grammy. "Saved his life that did."

"I bet he listened to you every storm after that," said Lisa.

"Nope," said Grammy. "We lost him three storms later when he thought he'd fix the roof leak."

"My daddy listens to Grammy whatever she says," said the little girl. "Listens to mommy too."

"Hen-pecked," sighed the old woman. "But it has kept him breathing, so I guess it's a good thing."

"My daddy works in silly-con valley," said the little girl, proudly.

"That's right, honey, it is just one big silly con, ain't it…" said Grammy. "Now let's let the nice lady experience her first storm and see if she likes it…"

"Yes, grammy…" said the girl. "Bye lady, I hope you learn to love the hurry-cane just as much as I do…"

"I hope so too," said Lisa. "That's if we all survive."

"Well, we ain't outside like my damned fool of a husband was, so that's a darn good start," said Grammy.

"And if I can survive this Jack, there is no reason why I can't survive them all," said Lisa.

"Amen to that darlin'," said the old lady. "Amen to that…"

"Mike, this is important, and we promised the girls a holiday," said Sonya.

The two were back together face to face and at the station, waiting to hear if the detectives who had taken on the kidnapping case needed to ask them any further questions.

"Except this won't be a holiday, will it, Son?" Mike said, kindly, but firmly. "I know you, the girls know you, even you know yourself enough to realize there is a big reason you want to go overseas."

"Bali is all temples and spa resorts and there are probably more Australians over there than there are locals," Sonya argued.

"That, darling, is an exaggeration, and so not a reason for us all to go…" Mike argued back. "Anyway, I am a hundred and ten percent certain there is only one Australian you are hoping to see while you are there, and I'm sure you are not going to find them at a resort."

"What about the thrill of the two of us at the aquarium together, on the case, hunting down the clues," suggested Sonya.

"That was thrilling for you, babe," said Mike. "All I felt was mostly guilt with the occasional glimmer of hope."

There was a glimmer of realization in Detective Fields' eyes, but she blinked it away.

"If you won't come with me to try and help catch who took the girls, at least let me go on my own to bring to justice whoever did a number on Ray," she begged.

"Bloody Ray," sighed Mike. "Some days, Sonya, I truly wonder who it is that you love more."

Sonya wanted to spit back a line that told this man exactly what she thought of him. But then she knew that would be a bad idea. In fact, the whole thing would be a bad idea. She had been warned off the case by her superiors, had been assured that the best officers were on the job. Her family just needed a break, time away from trouble and danger. A trip to Bali could prove that, if Sonya could trust herself to stay at the resort. The detective knew though as soon as she got off that plane, she would be looking for every excuse to leave the girls with Mike so she could detour away from the tourist path and into the parts of the island where the locals lived. She could not be trusted to switch off her cop instinct and play the visitor.

"Alright," Sonya relented. "You win, Mike, for now."

"So, no trip to Bali?" asked Mike, wanting to be sure.

"No trip to anywhere," Sonya replied.

"I love you, Sonya Fields," said Mike, pulling his partner into a hug and then a smooch.

"Yeah, well, just know I'll probably be like a caged bear over the next week or two," said Sonya as she pulled away.

"We know," said Mike.

Just at that moment the door to Interview Room Two opened and a female officer exited followed by the two Fields girls.

"Your daughters have been most helpful," the officer announced. "We shall be in touch when we need to interview any of you again."

"We understand," said Sonya.

"Don't leave the country, please," the officer added.

"Don't worry, we know the drill," Mike replied. "We're not planning on going anywhere too far."

"Not to Goolwa, not to Bali, just leave the investigation to us," suggested the officer.

"As you wish," said Sonya.

In the car, Sasha was the first to speak up.

"So, when are we leaving?" she asked, determination written all over her face.

"Yeah, please tell us you are not going to give up on this case, mom," added younger sister Georgie.

"Now girls, your mom and I have talked this over…" began Mike.

"And surely you see it too, dad," said Georgie, giving Mike a look that normally melted his resolve. "We can't leave those people who did this out there so they can do it again."

Sonya mouthed an apology toward her partner, genuinely sorry that their two daughters felt so passionate about the case.

"Look, girls, it's dangerous, you could be taken again and who knows what will happen then," argued Mike.

"We know all of that, dad," said Sasha. "Especially overseas… It will be risky, dangerous and we just don't know what will happen."

"One or more of us might even die," said Sonya.

"Die?" Georgie said from the back seat of the car, her voice somewhat alarmed, not so certain any longer.

"Yes, mom, we know all that," Sasha said, speaking hurriedly.

"We do?" asked Georgie, her voice even softer.

"But it is a risk that we are willing to take, Georgie and I, and you too I'm sure," Sasha continued.

"Now wait one minute…" said Georgie. "I never said… You never mentioned… Who said we could be…"

"Shhh, Georgie…" hissed Sasha.

"Hold on, Sasha, let your sister speak," requested Mike.

"I don't know if I'm ok with going overseas if it means one of us could be dead and not come home," murmured Georgie.

Sasha rubbed her younger sister's shoulders and gave them a squeeze when she noticed that there were tears in Georgie's eyes, threatening to fall.

"Wherever we go I want it to be us together as a team," said Sasha. "If mom is going to follow after the bad guys, then I want to follow after them too."

"Your mom isn't going anywhere except for home," said Mike. "Right, darling?"

"Well…" began Sonya.

"Son, you promised," Mike stated, somewhat wounded as his partner's hesitation seeming undid everything that they had only just agreed upon.

"I know, Mike, I know," she then agreed. "But…"

"There is always a but…" Mike groaned.

"But… The girls have gone through a lot… we've gone through a lot…" continued Sonya.

"And we want to get revenge," said Sasha. "The right way of course."

"Yeah, those people who have done that to us have been mean to Gregory too," Georgie added. "And Gregory is their family so that says something about them and it isn't something good…"

"That's right," said her sister.

Before Sasha could add what else she planned to say in favor of the family continuing their own investigation, Mike cut her off.

"Oh my god, Greogory!"

"What about Gregory?" asked Sonya, now she was the one concerned.

"He's supposed to be coming with us," said Georgie. "Dad promised that we would look after him."

"Well, that does it then," said Sonya, her voice once full of determination suddenly deflated.

"What, mom?" asked Sasha.

"Well, we can't go chasing after Gregory's family with him in tow now, can we?" the girls' mom asked them.

"No, we guess not," both girls agreed.

"Leave the engine running, hun," said Mike. "I'll go back into the station and see if they are ready yet to release the boy."

Within five minutes Mike and Gregory appeared again.

"Now, girls, not a word to Gregory about what we just discussed," ordered Sonya.

"Yes, mom," said Georgie.

"No, mom," said Sasha.

"Right," said Mike as he returned to the driver's seat. "Where are we off too now?"

"Bali," said the boy from his spot between Sasha and Georgie. "I'm pretty sure I overheard that someone from my family ran away overseas and I'm sure you are going to need my help to catch them."

Mike groaned again.

"Are you sure you've got everything you need to travel?" asked Sasha.

"Have we?" Georgie added.

"We have our passports," said Mike. "Ironically."

"And I have mine," said Gregory.

"It looks like the Fields family is going international," said Sonya, giving Mike a weak grin.

"I am not going to let you out of my sight," said Mike as he drove out of the police station carpark. "Not for a single second."

"That had better be a promise," said Sonya, kissing her partner on the shoulder.

"Better than a promise," said Mike. "It is a one hundred percent guarantee…"

"I like that even better," said Sonya.

She knew then that Mike would not let her down.

"Honestly girls, I just don't know how you keep talking me into these things," Mike muttered.

"It's because you love us," said Georgie with a great big grin.

"One hundred percent I do," Mike agreed.

-