This is a short follow-up story to True Heroes taking place early in Season 5 and was inspired by That Sunshine Smile story challenge. This time it's Lee who needs a listening ear...

Unfinished Business

by Lynn

Bernard O'Malley stood on Sunnyside Sanitarium's patio watching the fantastic yellow flying aircraft glide in for a perfect landing on the well-manicured lawn. His chest swelled with pride as he watched the side hatch open and a dark headed man step out. Commander Lee Crane scanned the garden before him and caught Bernard's wave. He returned the wave and stepped aside as the second occupant of the flying sub deboarded. Bernard recognized Admiral Harriman Nelson right away, nothing wrong with his memory, he thought as the two naval officers walked toward him. Though neither of the men was in uniform they still walked with the pride and demeanor of US Naval Officers.

Bernard stood proud as a peacock as his friends approached. Lee Crane was a busy man, but the Kid had made time to visit Sunnyside at least once a year to catch up on times with Bernard. He even managed to send him a few letters from time to time. They were his treasured possessions, carefully placed in the dresser drawer in his room in the high priced private Sanitarium. As Lee approached he reached his hand out and clasped Bernard's.

“Hello Bernard,” he said with a smile.

Lee had just spent the last few weeks convalescing at Harry's New England cabin as he rebuilt his strength from Seaview's last mission which left him playing the bio-host for a deadly toxin as the researchers frantically worked on the anti-toxin to not only cure him, but a village full of innocent people as well.* He was definitely feeling better though still on the lean side, but at least he wasn't looking gaunt and sickly anymore. He had made sure to shave his beard before this visit, as he was sure he would shock Bernard with his lack of Naval grooming standards. His hair was a bit long for Navy regs, but he'd take care of that when he returned to Santa Barbara.

“Hello there, Skipper!” Bernard replied back with his hand extended and then turned to address the Admiral.

“Hello Admiral Nelson, how are you doing Sir?”

“Fine, just fine Bernard,” Harry answered. “Now, I understand the Game is all set and ready to go?” Harry asked, barely avoiding rubbing his hands together in anticipation. These matches had been as much a tradition as Lee's yearly visits and Harry found himself looking forward to the challenge with each visit. He had to admit, the first year Lee talked him into coming back he did so out of nothing but appreciation for Bernard and his deep growing friendship for Lee. But inside he had wished he could avoid the visit; that was until Lee had guided him to a table where a woman in her late forties sat with chess pieces ready on the board. She had already ensconced the white pieces for herself and had been sitting all morning patiently awaiting his arrival. Lee had briefed Harry, informing him that Gloria was no push over and he'd have to employ all his tactical skills to defeat her. At first, Harry thought that “defeating” a mental patient wasn't high on his list of gentlemanly things to do, but as soon as the game began he saw he was on more than equal footing with Gloria and proceeded to play at a level that rivaled the chess masters of the world.

With two years’ worth of matches behind them, they were even at one win a piece. Harry had worried about how the determined champ might take losing, but she was a true sportsman and took the defeat graciously. He couldn't even think of downplaying his skill against her; Gloria might be a mute introvert with little social skills, but she loved a good challenge and to play at nothing less than his best would degrade the splendid mind hidden behind her very real disability. So Harry approached these matches with all the respect he'd give any worthy opponent.

Lee smiled as Harry walked inside the Common Area to find Gloria and then caught the pleasant bright smile of Ronny.

“Hi Lee,” she said as if it hadn't been a year since the last time she'd seen him. “I checked the guide and there's a John Wayne movie on in a couple of hours,” she added, quite pleased that she had found it.

“Great, Ronny. I'll see you then.” Lee wasn't too worried about the time as he expected Harry and Gloria's game to last most of the afternoon.

Ronny smiled and turned to leave satisfied that she'd found She Wore a Yellow Ribbon, pleased to share it with Lee and even willing to forego watching Another World today.

“How about we sit outside and catch up on times,” Bernard suggested, somehow realizing that the sunshine would be good for his friend. Lee agreed as they moved to the deck chairs on the patio overlooking the garden.

“I hope you don't mind me saying so Skipper, but you look worn out,” Bernard said cautiously.

“I had a rough mission about four weeks ago, but I'm okay now,” Lee replied candidly.

“More Special Ops stuff?”

Lee nodded a negative, “No, aboard my sub, Seaview.” Lee was never comfortable talking about his health or lack thereof with others, but it seemed he gave Bernard a bit more leeway, still he was ready to move on.

“Anyway, I'm really more interested in hearing about you, Sarge.”

Bernard cracked a smile, his rank was Sergeant but only the fellas in his squad called him “Sarge”. Even so he and the Sub Jockey had a bond, just like the band of brothers he had fought alongside in battle; storming beaches and crossing Europe on foot.

“The last time we talked you were telling me about taking Southeastern France.”

Lee settled into his deckchair and relaxed as Bernard began his detailed recollection of the life of a foot soldier. Lee wasn't just humoring an old man, he was truly interested in the events of the war seen through the eyes of a man who'd been there. It wasn't even the fact that he had spent a couple of days in the “care” of the gestapo when he inexplicably ended up in 1943 Germany over three years ago.** And it was true, Lee had seen his own action and he had more stories than he cared to remember just as harrowing and dangerous.

Still, with everything he'd been through there wasn't too much that could compare to the horrors of war that a foot soldier saw; whether in war torn Europe, the South Pacific islands or the jungles of Korea or 'Nam. These times of listening to Bernard's stories always reminded him of why he continued to accept missions for ONI. He had been tired of late. Tired of the constant subterfuge, betrayal and pain. The pain, he reiterated to himself, both the physical and what it took from his spirit to see the worse humanity had to offer present their plans of destruction and mayhem over and over again. But seeing the War through Bernard's eyes reminded him that his work for ONI was important. What he did protected the innocent and many times his missions actually prevented war.

As he studied Bernard's face he could almost see the young man that he used to be and he could imagine all Bernard's buddies that he described so vividly. Yeah, he thought, every bullet wound, broken bone, concussion and torture session he'd been through for liberty's sake was worth it if it kept these young boys from going off to fight another war. That was his contribution to the on-going effort to keep America and her allies free.

Lee smiled, letting his deep heavy thoughts give way as Bernard told him about the time his squad spent the night in a smelly barn and how he fought a goat for position on the soft hay. Lee laughed as the thought reminded him of a similar situation he had found himself in and soon the laughter reached his eyes as he and Bernard chuckled together.

“There it is Skipper,” Bernard said as Lee looked on inquisitively.

“What?” Lee asked.

“That Sunshine Smile, the one I've been missing on this visit. You want to tell me why you're so serious this time around?” Bernard asked with real concern in his eyes.

Lee's smile faded, but his broody mood didn't return as he answered, “I'm just reminding myself why I do what I do.”

“You don't get to talk about it much, do you Skipper?” Bernard said, in complete understanding of someone's need to talk when there was no one to listen. Only, he figured it was the Special Ops stuff that Lee couldn't talk about.

Lee smiled weakly, answering Bernard honestly, “No, there's not much to talk about anyway,” he said referring to the fact that most of his work was Top Secret.

“Skipper,” Bernard said with eyes full of clarity and completely in control of his faculties, “If you ever need to spill your guts, you come see me. I've held many a boy as they cried in my arms after losing their buddies, or after seeing something too horrific to describe during battle. I know what it feels like, and I know how to keep a secret.”

Lee gazed into Bernard's eyes catching the fact that his friend was truly in the-here-and-now for this moment and nodded.

“Thanks Bernard.”

That's all Lee said; it was all that was needed. He wasn't sure why he had picked this time to visit Sunnyside. Sure he'd spent the last two weeks building his strength so he could return to duty, but he also had too much time to sit around and think. He'd seen too much; lost too many friends, too many crewmen under his command, and he'd seen the dark side of humanity during his many undercover espionage missions for ONI. He had seriously considered whether to continue taking missions for Naval Intelligence. He figured he paid his dues and Admiral Johnson would release him from ONI without endangering his Reserve status aboard Seaview if he asked. And maybe that's why he needed to come and see Bernard right now, to remind himself why he took the missions. He couldn't just talk to Harry about it; he already knew what he'd say. Somehow he knew it was important to continue; it was still his duty as long as he had the skills to do the job.

Maybe he couldn't talk about it, but as he looked into his friend's eyes Lee knew that Bernard would understand anything he told him...and that was enough. That's all he needed. Somehow it didn't matter how tired he was anymore, it was like he'd found his “center”, that spot where everything made sense inside. Next time ONI called, he'd be ready to answer, just like he always did.

“You know what I think Kid?”

“What Bernard,” Lee returned with an easy smile.

“I think we need to lay off the heavy talk and go check on that chess game going on, grab some popcorn and sit down to a good John Wayne movie.”

Lee's sunshine smile returned, the one that reached to the full twinkle of his eyes as the two rose out of the deck chairs and headed inside. He didn't know why this visit was so important just now, but something told him that the next time ONI called he'd be ready.***

As the two entered the Common Area they heard loud applause as “guests” surrounded Harry and Gloria at the game table. Lee caught Harry shaking his head and reaching over to shake the hand of a very happy but silent victor as Lee thought, Score another one for Gloria!

Then Ronny acted as the master of ceremony and settled the guests down around the big console TV as she explained the plot line for the John Wayne classic movie they were about to watch. Lee sat back with Harry on one side and Bernard on the other as someone passed him the popcorn. He had to laugh inside to think of the place he had chosen to come to recharge his batteries before returning to duty. Life was like that sometimes, but at least he got his unfinished business resolved with the help of his friends at Sunnyside Sanitarium.

The End

Unfinished Business

* See my story, In Matters of the Heart

** See Eye of the Storm, one of my earlier stories

*** “The next time ONI calls” is found in my story The Rookie, and it is a life changing event as it is on this mission that Lee realizes that he's fallen in love with Brianna.

Author's Note: Thanks for indulging me and allowing me to share a short story! ; )

Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea and her main characters belong to Irwin Allen