Sensory Overload

Part Three – Return of the Ox

By R. L. Keller

“Peace is the result of retraining your mind to process life as it is, rather than as you think it should be.”  Wayne W. Dyer

(I’ve been asked multiple times when Lee is going to marry Becca.  NEVER.  Good friends are essential, but my ‘boys’ will remain single and available 😊)    Story presented for the Contest Picture “Forest”.

 

Just as Dr. R. Lynn Radiwan’s last client left her office this Wednesday afternoon, her secretary buzzed her.  “Yes, Melissa?” she answered tiredly.  The last couple of weeks had been complicated and exhausting, and she was really hoping that none of her patients was having a crisis.

“Your favorite sailor is on line one,” the woman teased her.  By now, everyone in the office was well aware of the psychologist’s special friend.

She called her secretary something slightly rude, they both laughed, and she hit the right button.  “Hey, sailor, long time no hear.”

“Been out to sea longer than planned,” came back a little flatter than Lee’s usual light tones to her and it pricked her interest.  But she carefully kept her tone light.

“Visiting Beverly Beach?”  She mentioned the B&B run by friends of Lee’s, where they’d first met.*

“Actually, didn’t want you to call the cops when you get home.  I, ah, sort of let myself in.  I was really hoping that you hadn’t changed the electronic codes.”

“Humm.  That particular code number means something to me, and I wasn’t in the mood to try and remember a new one.  But the security company I hired said that they were putting in the best locks they had.”  She worked to keep her voice full of laughter, and had a moment of relief when Lee almost answered in kind.

“Specialized training,” Lee managed to tease.

“Ah, those missions.”  She immediately changed her tone when Lee groaned and added a disgruntled snort.  “Are you alright?” she asked seriously.

“Sort of depends on your definition of all right.”  There was a slight pause between the carefully spoken last two words, but that was followed by half a chuckle.  “You’ll find a five-dollar bill on your kitchen counter.”  That was in reference to a time she’d maneuvered him into telling her about an extremely unpleasant time in his life.**

“I’d better…”  She cut off telling him that she’d better find him there as well.

But he seemed to read her mind.  “Yeah, I’ll be here.  At least through the weekend.  If you’ll have me.  Not sure I’m very good company at the moment.  Not sure why I…”

Her turn to read minds.  “You came because we’re friends, and you know that you can talk to me.  About anything.”  Her voice held honest sincerity.  “Just don’t drink all the scotch before I get home,” she added, an order in her voice.  “I haven’t had the most wonderful couple of weeks, either.”

It caused him to chuckle softly.  “I’ll save you a few swallows.”

“You’d better, sailor,” and she laughed softly, too.  “Be home in about an hour.”  They both hung up.

Lee did pour himself half a glass of the amber liquor from the half-full bottle he found in one of the kitchen cupboards.  Leaving the bottle on the counter, he tucked the promised money under it and settled into one of the living room chairs.

He’d meant what he’d told Admiral Nelson at the Monastery; his mind was so full of thoughts, most of them contradictory to each other, that he couldn’t think straight.  He just knew that he had to get away, to some place where he could lose himself for long enough to figure out how he wanted to go forward with his life.  He figured that it was fate that sent him to Becca. 

He’d settled FS1 into her alternate berth at NIMR and left the grounds as fast as he could.  He only went to his office long enough to grab his car keys and tell his secretary that he would be gone for a while.  He figured that Nelson had called Angie because she merely nodded at him as he passed her desk outside Nelson’s office and told him to have a good time on vacation.  With no thoughts of where he wanted to go he’d driven home, quickly threw things into two suitcases, and took a taxi to the airport.  That’s where fate entered the picture – the next flight out had originated in LA, was making stops in Santa Barbara, San Francisco, and Portland, Oregon before its final destination of Seattle, WA, and there was a seat available.  He thought about calling ahead, but in the end had left his cell phone and all I.D. except passport, driver’s license, and two credit cards at home.  Once he landed in Portland he rented a car, drove to Becca’s house and, as he’d told her, let himself in.  He finally realized that she’d probably freak out, finding a strange car in her driveway, and called her office.

Now he stretched out, nursing the strong alcohol.  He had no idea what Nelson would have told Chip to explain why Lee had left early.  Nor, at that exact moment, did he particularly care.  Chaos!  His mind was so scrambled that he wasn’t sure he could even be civil to Becca.  Another sip and he acknowledged that, if there was anyone right now who could unscramble his brain it was her, and sent her a silent toast.  He wasn’t sure that he could even make enough sense that she didn’t immediately pack him off to the nearest funny farm.  And she’d probably have every right, he told himself as he angrily drained the glass.  Berating himself, he got up and poured out another two fingers.  But he studiously made that last.  There was still half an inch left as he met her at the door when she got home a good 15 minutes faster than she’d said.

She gave him a long hug and then glanced at the glass still in his hand.  “My second, only,” he told her, a small smirk on his face, although it morphed fairly quickly into half a frown.

“Good,” she gave him a small punch.  “After the last couple of weeks I’ve had, I need it more than you do.”

“Doubt that,” Lee said softly to her back as she headed to change clothes.  Returning by way of the kitchen and now wearing a soft t-shirt and sweat pants instead of the suit she’d worn to work, she pocketed the money, poured out half a glass for herself, and settled into the chair across from him.

“Gad,” she muttered mostly to herself and took her own long swallow, drinking about half of what she’d poured.  Easily reading Lee, something she kept to herself for the most part because she’d realized very early in their friendship that it made him uncomfortable, she focused on herself – well, sort of.  She hoped that if she started a conversation Lee would relax.  Even stretched out as he was, his body language radiated stress.  “I love my job,” she started, and let out a long sigh.  “I love helping people get through whatever challenges life happens to be throwing at them at any given moment.”  She studiously ignored Lee, pretending not to notice the glare he sent her that he immediately tried to hide behind taking a sip from his glass.  “But every so often there’s a period of time where all I seem to get are whines that the suggestions I make aren’t working; that problems are getting worse, not better.  I get frustrated because I know they aren’t being honest with me.  They aren’t really trying to help themselves; they just want that fifty minutes to whine that everything is someone else’s problem, not that they, themselves, are causing ninety-nine percent of the issues.”  She signed heavily again and took another sip of her drink.  “One or two a week I can handle.  But the last two weeks, I swear, it was every other person who walked through my door.”  She saw Lee flinch and hurried on.  “David said the same thing.”  Becca shared a practice with another psychologist, David Bassett.  “Is Mercury in Retrograde or something?  The world’s gone crazy!”  When Lee only shrugged she immediately changed the subject.  “What kind of pizza do you like? I’m starving, there’s nothing in the house to fix because I haven’t had a chance to go grocery shopping, and I’m not changing clothes to go out!”

Lee finally sent her a small grin.  “Double meat pepperoni, sausage, and green pepper,” he told her, the smile spreading.  “On a standard crust.”

“Gawd,” she drawled.  Actually, that didn’t sound half bad, but she decided that needling Lee was probably a better option at the moment than asking him why he was here.  She pulled her cell phone out of her pocket, scrolled through her contacts, and punched a button, also hitting the ‘hands free’ button.

“Bruno’s Pizza,” was spoken briskly after two rings.

“Maria?” It’s Lynn Radiwan.”  Lee was reminded that she used her middle name for work, plus her mother’s maiden name, after all the hassles she’d had with her ex-husband.

“Hey, Doc.  How goes the shrink business?” was said with laughter in the pleasant voice.

“Far too busy, I’m afraid.  I was just telling my friend that I think Mercury must be in Retrograde.”

That was met with giggles.  “Ain’t that the truth.  Your usual, Doc?”

“No.  Well,” Becca paused, “sort of.  A large regular crust, only half the Hawaiian with extra pineapple…”  She had to bury her own giggle at the face Lee sent her.  “The other half is double meat pepperoni, sausage, and green pepper.  Is your youngest son delivering?”  Lee raised an eyebrow.

“Nope, he’s got a hot date.  So he says.  It will be Anthony.”

“Good.  Andrew isn’t old enough to also bring a six-pack of your husband’s best homemade beer.”

That got another round of giggles from the woman.  “On its way in a jiffy, Doc,” and both hung up.

“You been talking to Chip?” Lee asked.  When Becca merely looked at him, he told her, “Chip says you can’t properly eat pizza without beer.”

“Great minds, and all that,” she said with a flip of her head, and then laughed.  “How’s the…what do you call him, the bottomless pit?”  She immediately wished that she’d kept her mouth shut as Lee’s expression went blank, but he covered quickly.

“Still that,” he told her.  “At the moment he’s bringing Seaview home from Central America.  The Admiral had a…project there.”  Becca didn’t say anything, and Lee sent her a shy half-smile.  “I got told to take some time off,” came out low, but he sent her another smile, “and the first plane out of Santa Barbara was headed here.”  His shy smile came back.

“Works for me,” she told him.  “I’m in definite need of thinking about something besides work.”  Again she wondered if she’d said the wrong thing, as Lee’s expression once more turned slightly dark.  But something made her continue.  “So, how much time do you have?  When do you have to be back at work?”

“When I’m da…darned good and ready,” came out hard as Lee launched himself out of the chair, and then stood with his back to her.  “If ever,” he added, and glanced at her over his shoulder.  “Right now, I…”  He just shook his head.

“Bad week for you, too?” she asked softly.  “I did wonder about the five dollars.”

He turned and settled back into the chair.  “Bad bunch of weeks.”

She sent him a smile.  “We’ll have something in common,” she told him, and drained her glass.  “I’d better go grab my purse.  The pizza place isn’t that far away.”  As Lee reached for his wallet she pointed a finger at him.  “Don’t you dare,” she ordered, and then grinned.  “You can get the next one.”

The pizza was hot and delicious, and the beer was cold and delicious.  They talked sparingly, each eating more than they probably should have.  Lee, especially, hadn’t realized that he was so hungry until the pizza box was opened between them at the kitchen table.  Becca watched with amusement as he polished off the next to last slice of his half, and then pushed himself back with a groan.

“Been a while since you ate, sailor?” she teased.

Lee had to think about that as he drank the last of his second beer.  “Ah, dinner, last night?”  He frowned.  “Was it only last night?” came out almost to himself.  Before she could say anything, he was unable to cut off a huge yawn that ended in a loud burp.  They both ended up laughing, he somewhat bashfully.  “Sleep has, unfortunately, been in even shorter supply.”

“Trust me, I have no intentions of staying up to watch the late news,” she quipped.  “Five am comes way too soon.”  She got up, snagged some aluminum foil, and wrapped up the last of the pizza.  Once that and the rest of the beer were in the fridge, she tossed the pizza box in the trash.  “I so love this kind of ‘doing the dishes’.  I know that you know where the guest room is because I already saw your bags there.”  She sent him a bright smile.

“At least I can walk there myself this time,” he told her, in reference to the first night he’d spent in her house.**  He groaned again as he stood up.  “Maybe,” he told her.  But he didn’t move that direction.  Instead, he just stood there for several seconds before walking over to the fridge and snagging one of the remaining beers.  Once he’d popped the top, he settled back into the living room chair.

Becca remained quiet until he sat, then leaned on the counter between the two rooms.  “Would you rather have the rest of the scotch?”

Lee sent her a shy smile.  “This doesn’t leave as bad a hangover.”

“Depends on how many you drink.” She told him.  She didn’t return the smile, but neither did she frown.

“There’s only one left.”  His smile did increase so she gave him half a one.  They’d both had two with the pizza.

“Nightmares?” she asked gently, staying where she was.  She knew Lee well enough to know that he wouldn’t take being pushed into a corner – in this case only figuratively, but with him it would be the same so she continued to lean casually on the counter.

“If it were only at night,” came out miserably.  Becca carefully didn’t react.  He’d come to her, and she didn’t totally buy the story of this being the destination of the first flight he’d found.  He’d teased about the money, but they both knew that she’d been a major part of helping him through some difficult issues in the past.  “Lately,” he told the beer bottle, not looking at her, “it’s been night, day, nearly 24/7.”

“Bummer.”  He sent her a quick glare, but couldn’t hold it as she sent him a kind smile.  “I have heard it described as ‘sitting within a circle of TV sets, each one tuned to a different channel, and all of them blaring way too loud.”

Lee thought about that for a bit, taking a sip of beer.  “No,” he finally decided.  “One TV, but hooked to so many different channels that all you get is extremely loud static.  A bit of this channel, a little bit of that one, and absolutely nothing makes any sense.”

Her turn to give that some thought before nodding.  “Sensory overload.  So many thoughts hitting all at once that the brain can’t process them in a logical sequence.”  She tried a smile.  “I like your description better.”

“I suppose that it has some long-winded name I couldn’t even hope to pronounce,” came out in a low growl.

She shrugged.  “TMI – too much information,” she said with a quirky grin.

“Any suggestions for how to turn it off?”

“Actually, I gave it to you when we first met.”  He sent her a look of total noncomprehension and her smile increased, working hard to keep Lee as relaxed as possible.  “One question at a time.  One ‘voice’ at a time.”

“I don’t even know where to start,” he told her miserably.

She shrugged.  “That’s why vacations were invented.  See you in the morning,” and she headed for her own bedroom.  He hadn’t moved when she returned several minutes later with a small bottle of pills.  She couldn’t remember ever seeing that particularly fierce expression on his face.  “Chill,” she told him, and held up the bottle.  The label read ‘Melatonin’.  “A natural supplement known for helping the brain calm down.  Doesn’t always work.”  She shrugged.  “Sometimes it does.  Definitely doesn’t hurt to try.  Totally safe, non-addictive.  Doesn’t interfere with any other meds you might be on.”  The fierce look came back.  “You left arm hurts; I noticed it when you were picking up a slice of pizza.”

Lee’s eyes dropped unconsciously to his left forearm.  “Minor owee,” he looked back up and sent Becca one of his sheepish looks.  She tossed the bottle softly to him and he purposely caught it left-handed.  They both chuckled and she headed once more to her room.

Lee set the bottle on the end table next to his chair and glared at it with extreme skepticism.  On the other hand he’d learned to trust Becca, and knew that she would never intentionally cause him harm.  He finally picked up the bottle and read the directions.  While still a nonbeliever, he took one 5mg pill with the last swallow of beer, but continued to sit, staring blindly into the empty beer bottle.

* * * *

He awoke to soft humming and the smell of coffee, and it took him extra seconds to remember where he was.

“Can’t imagine that’s the most restful night of sleep you’ve ever gotten,” filtered through the haze and he discovered Becca in the kitchen, dressed for work.

“At least it was sleep,” he told her, stood up, and headed for the coffee pot.

“There’s half a bagel and a little cream cheese in the fridge,” she told him with an apologetic shrug.  “Told you I haven’t had time to go shopping.”

“There’s pizza,” he mumbled around downing his first mugful of coffee practically in one long gulp, “unless you already ate it.”  He sent her a smirk and got an instant glare back before they both grinned.

 “I’ll stop for a few things on my way home tonight,” she told him as she turned and grabbed up her keys.

“Where’s the best place to shop?” he sent at her back, and she stopped and turned.  “It will give me something to focus on,” he told her with one of his shy smiles.

She nodded, gave him directions to where she usually shopped, and headed out.  She’d made a full pot of coffee and only drank one cup herself.  Lee polished the rest off before taking a shower.  On dry land he enjoyed the luxury of taking his time, letting the water wash away more than just too many hours in the same clothes.  It wouldn’t last – the memories would all too soon invade.  But for this little bit he could put them at bay and try to relax.

Once dressed, he prowled through Becca’s cupboards, freezer, and fridge, making a mental note of what was there.  At the store he ambled up and down each aisle.  He picked up things he usually stocked in his own house, plus ingredients for things he’d seen Becca eat in the past.  With a grin and a nod in the direction of Beverly Beach, he also gathered together the ingredients for the seafood pasta dish that Annie Hughes had taught him how to make the first time he visited she and Tim; in addition to the fact that it was absolutely delicious, it was a bit of a reminder that that’s when he and Becca had first met.

The supermarket was part of a large mall.  Once the car was loaded, Lee drove through to see what else was there, and two places caught his attention.  The first was a liquor store, where he replaced Becca’s nearly depleted scotch with two bottles of fine Glenlivet, one of the Admiral’s favorite brands.  That thought gave him a painful moment but he willed it away, and also picked up a couple six-packs of beer.

His other stop was at an electronics store.  He had to get a little rude with the salesman who insisted that Lee needed the most up-to-date – and therefore most expensive – cell phone with all the bells and whistles, plus unlimited usage options.  The man wasn’t at all pleased when Lee insisted on the cheapest model, with no GPS and limited service.  He’d purposely left his own phone at home so that Chip – and therefore Nelson – couldn’t track him down.  But he quickly realized that being totally without instant communication wasn’t the smartest thing he’d ever done.  He did have to admit to himself – grudgingly – that leaving in the first place wasn’t all that smart, either.  But one issue at a time was all that he could manage at the moment.  And barely that!

As he put all the groceries away, drinking the last of Becca’s beer and restocking the fridge with what he’d bought, he let himself ponder what Nelson might have told Chip.  Nelson wouldn’t lie.  No way.  But Lee was pretty sure that the Admiral would have phrased his comments so as not to upset and/or worry the blond.  A ticked off Chip was not someone you wanted to be stuck on a submarine with for the two days it would take Seaview to get home.  Now that the ball bearing housing was fixed, Lee figured that Chip would waste little time returning to Santa Barbara so that everyone could go on their belated Leave.  That would put them home no later than 1800 hours the next day, Friday.  Lee knew that Chip was supposed to head for his parents’ farm so that would, hopefully, keep him from worrying about his absent friend for a couple of weeks.  Lee hadn’t heard what plans Nelson might have, mostly because he’d barely talked to his boss since leaving the Majuro Atoll.  One mess at a time, he told himself, organized what he’d need for the pasta, salad, and garlic French bread he planned to have ready for dinner when Becca got home, and took a long walk.

* * * *

It was just as well that he didn’t know what happened when Nelson returned to Seaview after seeing Lee at the Monastery.  Chip’s immediate response, while surprised that Lee hadn’t returned with Nelson, wasn’t too bad.  He even teased Jamie a bit about having gotten a little over-zealous “kicking Lee’s backside off NIMR property.”  Will, of course, knew nothing about Lee’s having left until told by Nelson when Lee didn’t appear for lunch.  But ‘something’ in the OOM’s expression had Chip leaving Lt. James with the Conn for half an hour after the meal and searching Lee’s cabin.  Lee had only taken the small backpack with him that morning and Chip discovered that, with the exception of the one uniform he was wearing, everything that indicated Lee’s service to Seaview and NIMR remained, while every one of Lee’s personnel items he liked to have aboard, which admittedly weren’t many but included several pictures and a small paperweight he used on his desk, were missing.  Lee always kept some civilian clothes aboard and they, too, were missing.  That in particular puzzled the blond because there hadn’t been that much in the backpack, meaning Lee had cleared that out in the short time they’d been home before leaving for Central America.

Chip pondered just what might be going on, but chose to keep his thoughts to himself.  He could tell that Nelson was trying to put on a good front for everyone else, but wasn’t overly happy himself with current events.  Will seemed pleased that Lee was taking some time off, and even the crew seemed to be breathing a little easier now that they weren’t subject to the tension between OOM and CO that hadn’t been kept completely quiet, no matter how hard the pair had tried to outwardly cover it up.

* * * *

When Becca opened the front door Thursday after another rotten day at work she was met with a combination of smells that included garlic and seafood, and for a moment just stood there with her eyes closed, inhaling, until she heard Lee chuckle.  “Coffee, beer, scotch, or white wine?” he asked, standing in her kitchen.

She finished walking in and closing the door.  “Not much of either scotch or beer left.”

Lee sent her his sheepish grin.  “Replenished both,” he admitted.  She looked over the counter to see a pot of noodles just starting to cook, and a creamy sauce in a skillet in which she could just make out bits of shrimp, scallops, and some kind of white fish barely simmering.  Most of the garlic smell was coming from the oven.  “Garlic bread,” he explained as she glanced that direction.  “Everything will be ready by the time you change and set the table,” he added with a little smirk.  “I prefer my white wine chilled, but…”  He sent her a raised eyebrow.

“Me, too,” she told him, and headed to change.

Her turn to groan as she pushed away from the table later.  Lee had cooked the noodles only about two-thirds done and let them finish in the seafood sauce, soaking up all the flavors including what Becca discovered were small chunks of both crab meat and cod besides the shrimp and scallops.  The accompanying salad was a simple toss of butter lettuce, sliced radishes and croutons, plus slivered almonds for crunch, finished with a light Italian dressing.

“No dessert,” Lee told her, “but I did grab a couple different kinds of cookies from the bakery department.”  He laughed out loud at the glare she sent him, before together they cleaned up the kitchen.  The only leftovers were some of the garlic bread.  Becca had demanded the recipe, and laughed as Lee explained that there wasn’t really one; that Annie had merely shown Lee how to put it together, and left portions to be dictated by how many were planning to be served.

As the night before, they hadn’t talked much while eating, but once they settled in the living room, he with beer and she with wine, she let out a long sigh.  “Another bad day?” he asked carefully.

“Had its moments,” she told him before giving him a long look.  “You really aren’t going back to work Monday?”

“NO!” came out stronger than Lee intended, and he lowered his eyes.  “No,” came out softer.  “Definitely not next week and…”  He buried what was trying to come out, that he might not ever return to work at NIMR.  “Why?” came out very controlled, as was the look he sent her.

“One of David’s patients…”  She sent him a small grin.  “He’s the father of an old school friend of mine, so I don’t see him,” she explained.  “But I usually at least say Hi when he comes in.”  Lee nodded.  “Anyway, he has a cabin just outside some of the national forest south of Mt. Hood.”  She chuckled.  “The term ‘cabin’ is a tad misleading.  The place has every modern convenience known to mankind, all powered by solar panels.  He calls it his hunting lodge.”  She laughed outright.  “The only thing he and his buddies hunt for is the next bottle of beer.”  They both grinned broadly.  “David’s bugging me to take some time off.”  She sent Lee her own sheepish grin.  “He was already mentioning it, but now that he knows you’re here…”  They sent each other shy grins.  “Long story short I, or rather we, have the cabin starting Saturday if we want it.”

Lee concentrated on his beer for a bit.  He’d actually thought about heading to his friend Pete’s cabin*** as he’d flown FS1 home from Ocho Negra.  But he’d quickly rejected that idea; both Chip and Nelson knew where it was.  “Does it have cell service?” came out in a bit of a grump.

“Unfortunately,” Becca answered in kind, but she sent him a smile as she continued.  “The office will deny any knowledge of my whereabouts until further notice.  As well as yours,” she added as Lee continued to frown.  He did finally send her a shy smile at her next comment.  “The five dollars takes care of that small detail.”

“I bought plenty of food.”

“And there’s a small country store not that far away.”

Lee sighed heavily.  “Not sure how good company I’ll be.”  He looked at her.  “So far…”  He sighed again.

She shrugged.  “We can take both cars,” she suggested.  When Lee didn’t answer, she continued.  “Look, Lee.  I don’t know what you’re dealing with right now.”  She raised a hand as he would have started to answer.  “And I don’t need to, beyond anything you choose to share.  Trust me, I have a few things going on in my own life that I’m not overly anxious to deal with, although at some point I’ll have to, I guess.  The cabin is huge, and surrounded by enough forest that we don’t even have to see each other all week.”  Lee sent her a sheepish half-grin, and she returned it.

“No seagulls for you to scream at,” he teased her.

She shrugged.  “Lots of Steller Jays.  They’ll do.”  She hesitated as Lee all but choked on the swallow of beer he’d just taken.  “What!”  But Lee merely looked at her practically through his eyelashes.  “Humm,” she muttered.  “Something else I need to wheedle out of you at some point.”

“Something else?”

“Yeah.  I haven’t forgotten that little comment concerning what your fourth-grade teacher was interrogating you about.”**

“You weren’t supposed to remember that,” he told her sheepishly.

“Harrumph,” she sent him a glare.  Lee instantly frowned at one of Nelson’s frequent mutterings, but it disappeared just as quickly.  “Lots of trees for you to slam your fist into, and pine cones to throw,” Becca changed tactics with a bright smile.  It changed to a chuckle as Lee let out an exaggerated groan.

“How long a drive?” he finally asked.  “Or walk, if we only take one rig?”

Becca chuckled again.  “About three hours.  But I have a meeting tomorrow, right after work, so I won’t get home until well after eight.  Don’t wait on me for dinner; the group meets at one of the local restaurants.”

“The rest of the pizza,” Lee told her.

“We can both get a good night’s sleep…”  Lee pointed an eyebrow at her.  “Hopefully,” she added, and he nodded, “and leave first thing Saturday morning.”

Lee sent her a look.  “Your ‘first thing’, as I recall, is usually five am.”

She shrugged.  “So second thing – seven-ish.”  Lee nodded and they both smiled.

* * * *

“Am I going to have to take away your driver’s license?” Nelson tried to tease Chip as Seaview settled into her berth shortly after 1300 hours Friday.  “Something about excessive speed?”

Chip straightened to Attention.  “Just testing the new ball bearing housing, sir.”  There were muffled chuckles from several directions in the Conn.

“Uh-huh,” Nelson drawled.  But understanding Chip’s tactics only too well, he happily aided and abetted.  “Obviously Lt. O’Brien and his team did their usual fine repair work.”

“Yes, sir,” came back crisply.

Nelson chuckled and Chip relaxed.  Almost.  “Shore Leave assignments?” Nelson asked his XO.

“All crew will be off-base by 2000 hours.  Base Maintenance and Security have been notified.  I’ll have the final list on your desk first thing in the morning.”

Nelson sent him a look.  “That Leave schedule better include you, Mister.”

Chip ducked his head but grinned.  “My flight to the folks’ place leaves just after 1000 hours tomorrow, sir,” he told his boss.  Nelson grinned and gave Chip’s shoulder a quick, light, backhand.

“And don’t be in a hurry getting back,” he ordered.  “After the last few weeks we all need to unwind.”

“Yes, sir.  I’ve given the entire crew two weeks, knowing that we don’t have another cruise scheduled for just over three.”

“Excellent,” Nelson told him.

“I’ll probably be back in about ten days,” he hesitated, “unless I need to come back sooner.”  He sent his boss a look.

Nelson knew what Chip was implying; Seaview’s timetables had a way of shifting at a moment’s notice.  And that wasn’t even taking into account Lee’s absence.  “A full two weeks for you as well,” Nelson told him firmly.  “After what we’ve been through, Seaview’s going nowhere until I say so.”

“Yes, sir.  Ah…”  He hesitated.  “When is Lee due back, sir?”

Nelson knew that Chip caught the pain that instantly hit his face before he could cover it up.  “Afraid that he’ll get back and catch you napping?” he tried to tease, but his voice betrayed his feelings.

Nonetheless, Chip recognized Nelson’s ploy as by now the whole Conn crew was listening, and he once more came to Attention.  “Would never let that happen, sir,” came out firmly.  Nelson’s answering chuckle was a bit lackluster, but he once more backhanded his XO’s shoulder, and left the boat.

It took Chip until nearly 1530 hours to get all of his reports and paperwork done, turn the boat over to the Base crew, and head home.  But his first stop was at Lee’s.  He really didn’t expect to find Lee there, but wanted to check anyway.  He’d tried calling both the house phone and Lee’s cell once Seaview docked, but had only gotten voicemail on both.  A quick check of the garage showed Lee’s little red sportscar safely inside.  After getting no answer to a quick knock, Chip used his key to enter Lee’s beach house.

That Lee had indeed come home was evident by the uniform Chip found discarded on the bedroom floor.  “Yep, Lee was ticked,” Chip muttered softly, and picked it up and draped it over the back of a chair.  The small backpack had been tossed on the bed, and Chip found the items Lee had taken from his cabin on Seaview inside.  As he walked past the dresser on his way to check the bathroom he spotted Lee’s cell phone laying on top, along with all of Lee’s NIMR identification.  A word Chip hardly ever used slipped out.  “Lee, if you’ve taking an ONI mission…” came out in a harsh growl.  But he finally shook that off.  All things considered, ONI would be the very last place Lee would have headed.  Just in case, Chip checked Lee’s gun safe but nothing seemed to be missing.  What was missing was toiletries from the bathroom, a fair amount of clothes, and both of Lee’s suitcases; the bigger one he checked when flying, and his smaller carry-on.  With a grin, Chip sat down and pulled up a number on his own cell phone.

“Spindrift Inn,” sounded after the second ring in Annie Hughes’ pleasant tones.

“Hey, Annie, it’s Chip.  How’s business?”

“Crazy,” came back in a huff before she chuckled.  “But the Driftwood room upstairs is free if you’re planning a visit.”

“Actually, Annie, I was wondering if a certain brunet had maybe showed up on your doorstep.”

“Did you misplace your captain? Shame on you,” she could barely get out around continuing laughter.  “Fine XO you are.”

Chip played along, not wanting to cause trouble.  “Nah,” he told her.  “Not really, anyway.  The whole crew’s on Leave.  I’m headed to my parents’ place tomorrow.  Just wasn’t sure of Lee’s plans, and wanted to touch base before I left.”

“Well, haven’t seen hide nor hair of him.  But if he shows up, I’ll have him call you.”

“Thanks, Annie.  Appreciate it.  Tell Tim I said Hi.”

“Will do,” and they both hung up.

Chip sat for a second and then walked over and picked up Lee’s cell, checking the Contacts list.  When he found what he wanted, he punched the numbers into his own phone.  After four rings a mechanical voice answered, repeated the number dialed, and requested the caller to leave a message.  “Dr. Radiwan, this is Chip Morton.  Lee’s friend,” he added.  “I seem to have misplaced him,” he continued the tease he’d started with Annie.  “If you see him, could you have him give me a call?  Much appreciated,” and he hung up.  With no other ideas, he relocked Lee’s place and headed to his own condo.  He wondered if Lee had perhaps headed up to his friend Pete’s cabin but the missing clothes didn’t really indicate that as the destination.  Besides the fact that his car was still here, Lee usually only took jeans, t-shirts, hiking boots, and his jogging clothes up there, and most of those things were still in the drawers and closet.  “Lee, be safe,” he mumbled softly.

* * * *

When Lee got back from a long walk, he noticed the flashing light on Becca’s answering machine but ignored it as he cleaned up, then reheated the leftover pizza.  He’d teased Becca about her half but admitted that it wasn’t all that bad, that being most of what was left.

He was busy packing up things to take to the cabin when Becca got home.  “You bought all that yesterday?” she asked, looking at the several boxes on the counter and kitchen table.

“Made another trip this morning,” Lee admitted.  “That’s when I picked up the boxes.  Forgot to ask if you have a cooler for cold and frozen stuff so I picked up that cheap one.”  He pointed to the floor under the kitchen table where he’d stashed the Styrofoam container.

“Just as well.  The last time I used mine it fell out of my friend’s pickup and got dented so bad I’d be afraid to trust it.”

“Friend?”  Lee sent her raised eyebrow, along with a broad grin.

Her hands landed on her hips.  “I told you,” she growled, “that one of my girlfriends’ parents own a ranch in Eastern Oregon.”  She finally grinned as Lee sent her a sheepish nod, still grinning

Becca headed to change out of her suit, but stopped when she saw the light blinking on the answering machine.  She stood quietly, not reacting to the look on Lee’s face as they listened to Chip’s message, a strange combination of anger, sorrow, and something she couldn’t quite put her finger on – at least on this man’s face.  It was, for all practical purposes, a look of defeat.  It wasn’t there long.  Thankfully.  When he did finally look at her directly, everything had changed to resignation.  “Should I call him and lie through my teeth?”

Lee frowned.  “Do you have his number?” he asked softly.  It was conceivable that Chip had given it to her when they’d met.

“No,” Becca told him.

“He didn’t leave his number.  If you call him now, he’ll know you’ve seen me.”

“Sneaky,” Becca teased, trying to break up the tension.  “But why didn’t he just call you?”

“Left my cell at home.  That’s probably how he got your home number.”

She turned to him and softened her voice.  “Why?”

“All too easy to track the GPS in newer phones.”  He saw her glance at the one at his waist.  “Bought that here.  A total cheapy, just to have it.”

“I wonder why he called the house, and not the office or my cell?” Becca wondered out loud.

Lee lowered his head, giving her the shy look she so loved, and found so unexpected on the face of a man of such immense responsibility.  “Those numbers I have memorized,” he told her softly, before looking back up.  “I’m a little careful who I actually put in the Contacts list.  The house phone listing is under just ‘Becca.’  Friends like Chip would know what it was, but no one else.”  He sent her a small smile.

“I gather you’re good at numbers.”  She laughed, once more trying to relieve all the tension she still easily read in Lee’s body language.  “I have trouble remembering my own cell phone number.”

“That’s why you didn’t change the security alarm code,” Lee guessed.

“Got it,” she agreed.  She hesitated, then asked carefully.  “You going to call him?  Despite the comment, I heard worry in his voice.”

Lee nodded.  “So did I,” he admitted.  “If everything stayed as planned, he’s headed to his parents’ place tomorrow.  You said that there’s cell service at the cabin.  I’ll call him tomorrow night.  Maybe,” he added with a little smirk.  Becca didn’t challenge the tease, although she knew that the two men had an extremely strong friendship.  Right now, Lee needed his friends more than ever.  But right now wasn’t the time for her to be pointing that out.  She merely nodded and headed to change.

* * * *

They didn’t get away by 7-ish.  They’d started to pack Becca’s Subaru with the non-perishables they were taking before Becca, glancing at Lee’s rental, suggested that they return his car so he wouldn’t have to pay for it sitting around unused all week.  Lee countered that, with it sitting there, it would look like someone was home.  Between Becca reminding him that not everyone could so easily break in as he’d done – to which he’d sent her his shy smile – and Lee realizing that, if he did leave NIMR he wasn’t sure when he’d have another paycheck, he agreed.  By the time they got back they didn’t finish all the packing before they both decided to get some sleep.  Neither in any great hurry to get up Saturday morning, they finished packing and finally left closer to 8:30.  Lee grinned as he had to remind himself that landlubber meant ‘o’clock’ time, not ‘hours’ time, and got a laugh from Becca when he had to explain the soft grin.

All Lee could do was stare when Becca turned off the small country road into a long gravel driveway and stopped briefly in front of a two-story building almost three hours later.  She’d insisted on driving so that Lee could enjoy the scenery.  Yes, the ‘cabin’ was built of logs.  But anything resembling ‘rustic’ was instantly disguised by its large size.  Decks surrounded the cabin on three sides, Lee saw as Becca continued around and parked in the back.  The front of the cabin faced Mt. Hood, with sweeping forest in between.  The center part of the front had been extended out, creating an enhanced view.  Where they parked in the back, the forest fell slightly away down a gradual hill.  There weren’t any large windows in back, but enough to let in a fair amount of light.  And with the wide porch, one section at the other end from where they parked screened in, there was still grand views in all directions.  From this back side solar panels could be seen on the roof, as well as a cleverly mounted and partially disguised satellite dish.

Becca grinned as she got out of the car.  “Told you that it wasn’t exactly a simple mountain cabin.”

“Eesh,” was all that Lee could manage at that point, and followed her inside.

They entered by way of a covered area off the back porch, and Becca pointed to their right.  “You can have that bedroom if you want.  It’s the master, with both a tub and a shower.  I prefer one of the two bedrooms upstairs, also each with its own bathroom.”

“Less chance up there of getting eaten by a bear,” Lee teased.  She slugged him – half-heartedly to be sure – and they continued into the Great Room at the front, with its glorious views.  A huge stone fireplace on their right had been converted to electric but was still extremely realistic.  To the left was a dining area separated from the kitchen beyond with a counter and bar stools.  Beyond the kitchen, towards the back, was a breakfast nook that joined the covered part of the porch by a sliding door.  Between there and where they entered was a utility/laundry area, a half bath, and stairs leading up to the second story.  There Lee found a lounge area in the back, the front open to the ground floor, with large bedrooms on either side.  Becca called the lounge a quiet retreat area, nodding toward the several large bookcases.  Even though it was a bit back from the front of the house, another section of large windows enhanced the view toward the mountain.

“Like I said,” she told Lee, “except for the kitchen it’s easily divided into two large, peaceful, spaces.”

“Trying to hide from me already,” Lee smarted back.

She took another swing at him, which he easily avoided, and they both laughed before she sent him a look.  “You’re not the only one who needs time to think.”

He reached out a hand.  “Something besides work,” he guessed quietly, but not making it a question.

She nodded, but then shrugged.  “We’d better get the car unloaded.  That cooler you bought will only keep things from spoiling just so long.”  Lee sent her another look but allowed the diversion, and they spent the next hour getting settled in.

After a simple lunch of soup and sandwiches they took off for a hike, Becca pointing out the trails and where there were other cabins and houses in the area, but all hidden from their cabin.  Most of the trails headed deeper into the forest toward the mountain.  Becca told him that somewhere in the cabin there was a rudimentary map of the area showing the trails and houses, to keep guests from getting too lost.  Lee agreed to how easily that could happen, as thick as the forest and underbrush was, especially the deeper they walked.  For this day they stuck to the main trail leading away from the cabin and toward the mountain.  While Becca was somewhat familiar with the area, neither wanted to take the chance of getting turned around.  And even that trail, while seemingly well-used, was quiet and peaceful, relaxing them both.

Becca hadn’t exaggerated when she’d told Lee that the cabin was well-equipped.  From smokeless electric grill and microwave in the kitchen, along with pretty much every appliance a person might dream of having, to the converted, no-maintenance, fireplace, the cabin would have fit right into any expensive community.  The satellite dish served not only a huge flat-screen TV in the lounge area, but also smaller ones in each bedroom.  The stereo system was spectacular, with ways to pipe it to every room.  Or not, depending on who did or did not want to listen, and included CD’s of every style of music from hard rock to grand opera.  Lee could only shake his head when he found at least a dozen of the CD’s Chip liked to listen to, to relax – ones that used soft classical music to a variety of background sounds including birds, streams, waterfalls, ocean waves, and other nature ‘music.’  Lee pointed an eyebrow at Becca.

“You’d mentioned them in passing, I think when we were at the Visitor’s Center on Hurricane Ridge that time, when you found out they had one based on sounds of the park.”  Lee nodded that he remembered.  “When I got to looking I actually found quite a few, in different styles.”  Lee nodded again – Chip also liked ones with light jazz as the music choice.  “I find them ever so relaxing…”

“So do I,” Lee admitted.  He frowned slightly.  “When I have the time to listen to them.”

“I bought a bunch, some for home, some for the office, and brought duplicates up here.”  She grinned.  “I seriously doubt that Clay and his gang of ‘hunter friends’ care for them, but his wife mentioned that when she and her friends, or K.C., their daughter, come up, they do enjoy them.”  She’d pronounced the letters individually, wanting Lee to understand that she’d not meant ‘Casey’, and Lee raised the expected eyebrow.  “Kelsey Charlene.  She can’t stand either one of them.”  They both laughed.

“Better than a whale shark researcher we had aboard once,” Lee told her.  “Myrtle Lysandra.”+  Becca shuddered.  “Yeah,” Lee agreed.  “She went by Sandy.”

“Gee, can’t imagine why,” and they both chuckled again.

But thoughts of that trip invaded Lee’s quiet evening as they both sat downstairs after a simple dinner of grilled steaks and baked potatoes.  Seaview had lost a crewman on that cruise, too, although before the researcher had come aboard.  He had no idea of how hard he was holding his glass of scotch until Becca’s voice penetrated his dark mood.

“If you break it, not only will it make a mess, but the shards could leave nasty cuts.”  He looked at her and she pointed to his hand, fingers turning white from how hard he was gripping the glass.

“So…” he started to tell her ‘sorry’ and stopped just in time.  Becca hated that word.

She chuckled at the shy grin he sent her instead but decided to sidetrack whatever his brain was being tormented with.  “It’s after 7 o’clock; depending on how far East Chip is…”  She didn’t finish as Lee nodded and pulled out his cell phone.

He hesitated before punching in Chip’s cell phone number.  While this phone had no GPS, the number would still register on Chip’s phone and give the blond a way to phone back.  Instead, he punched in the Morton house phone.  While that phone had caller I.D., Lee was hoping that Chip would be sidetracked enough not to write down the number.  He got lucky when Chip’s mom answered.  “Hello?”

“Hi, Mother M.,” Lee tried to keep his voice light.  “How goes your end of the world?”

“Oh, Lee, hello.  And all’s well here.  Well,” she chuckled, “as well as can be with a house full of children, sons-in-law, and assorted grandchildren.  Come join the party.”

Lee laughed.  The Morton household was rarely quiet, even now that the kids were grown and had families of their own.  The two oldest girls didn’t live that far away, and they and the grandkids visited often. “Sorry, Mother M.  As much as I enjoy your cooking, I’ve found a nice quiet spot to unwind.”

“Can I come there?” she laughed, before getting a bit more serious.  “Chip mentioned that things have been a bit…hectic.”

“That’s one word for it,” came out a little harsh, and he took a deep breath.  “Is the rotten blond around?”

She laughed.  “Nope.  The little kids are in the rec room watching a movie and the big kids went to another friend’s place for a bar-be-que.  They should be back before long.”

“No biggy,” Lee hurried to tell her.  “Just tell Chip I called.”

“Will do.  Sure you aren’t coming?  The pie cherries are ripe.”  They both laughed, remembering why that particular fruit made Lee blush and Chip giggle.++

“Thanks,” Lee told her.  “But not this time.”  After good-byes they both hung up.

“Mother M.?” Becca asked.

Lee nodded.  “Chip’s mom.  She’s my Mother M., and my mom is Chip’s Mother C.”

“You two are closer than I realized.”  Lee merely nodded.  “Why the blush?” Becca couldn’t resist prodding.

The blush, which had left, came back.  While not necessarily wanting to explain, it gave Lee an excuse to think about something other than dead crewmen.  He frowned when Becca burst into hysterical laughter as he got to the part about the friendly cow, but it didn’t last and he finally smiled and nodded.  He left out trying to eat a fresh pie cherry; some things Becca didn’t need to know.

“Humm,” Becca finally calmed down.  “I’ll have to check at the little store to see if they have canned cherries.”

“You know how to make a pie?”

Becca glared at him before shrugging.  “Bet I can find a recipe on the internet.”  They both chuckled.

* * * *

The next morning after a light breakfast, and each with a small backpack to carry water and lunch, along with a few other things like bug repellant, bear spray, and a first aid kit that Becca was for some reason surprised that Lee packed, they studied the trail map and set out for a long hike.  Lee had to quickly moderate his long strides as it became apparent that, while Becca did keep fit, she wasn’t quite up to Lee’s frustration-driven pace.  He’d barely slept and hard, physical activity was one method he used to calm his mind.  He expected Becca to make some comment but she seemed lost in her own thoughts and apparently didn’t notice when Lee slowed down.

She did notice when Lee abruptly stopped.  “What the…” she started as she almost ran him over before realizing that he wasn’t moving; she’d let him lead the way while she dealt with a few personal demons of her own, having not slept well either.  She stopped and glared at him when he held up a hand, motioning for quiet.  She finally realized that his body was stiff and he was extremely alert, listening intently.  It took nearly a full minute but he finally relaxed.  “Sorry,” slipped out before he could stop it, and she slugged him before they both grinned.  “Thought that I heard something,” he finally explained.

“We’re in the forest; there’s lots of ‘somethings’,” she told him grumpily.

He shook his head.  “This was something that shouldn’t be here.  Well,” he backtracked, “at least I wouldn’t expect it.”  He shrugged.  “But apparently I’m still a little wired,” he admitted with a lowered head.

“Probably better than my mindless wandering.  I’d have walked right into a bear,” she admitted.

What I think I heard wasn’t a bear, Lee thought but said nothing out loud, merely sending her a little smile.  “I haven’t been any great conversationalist either.  Out here,” Lee gestured around them, “it works.”  She nodded and they continued on, now each more aware of the other and chatting off and on.  Lee remained on alert for sounds that shouldn’t be there, but worked hard to hide that fact from Becca.

The trail they were following, once they left the main one, came to a place where it crossed a small stream coming off the mountain.  It could be easily forded, but as it was now almost 12:30 they decided to sit close by and eat their lunch before heading back, calling the hike good for this first day.  “And perhaps tomorrow as well,” Becca told Lee, looking at how clouds were starting to filter into what had been a clear, sunny, day.

“I didn’t bother looking at a weather report,” Lee admitted.

“I glanced at Portland’s, but here closer to the mountain things can change faster.”  Lee nodded.  “No biggy,” she continued.  “After the last few weeks I could probably sleep most of the day.”

Lee shrugged.  “And then I really wouldn’t sleep tomorrow night,” he told her wearily.

“Spoil sport,” she muttered.

“Told you I wasn’t particularly good company.”

She reached out and smacked his leg.  “And I’ve been Little Miss Mary Sunshine,” came out in a growl.  “Guess we deserve each other.”  She sent him a quirky grin and he returned it.

“Anything you want to talk about?” he asked with a look of genuine caring.

She was silent as she gathered up the wrappings from her lunch and stowed them back in her pack.  “Remember the Ox?” she asked, barely loud enough for Lee to hear.

“Your ex-husband,” Lee said, but instantly had to bury an almost-giggle.  Buried badly, as it turned out.  Becca sent him as scathing a glare as he had ever seen from her and he had to quickly wave his hand.  “Sorry,” came out, they both ducked, and Lee hurried to explain.  “Chip had a temporary secretary a while back.”

“Oh, oh.”

Another giggle slipped out.  “Among other things, she sent out a memo to all departments without proofreading it well, and it ended up reading, “By order of the OX, instead of XO.”+++

“Oh, no,” Becca breathed out.

“Hadn’t thought about that for a while, until…”

“I reminded you,” she finished his sentence.

“Yeah.  So, he’s back?  Your Ex,” he qualified.

She shrugged.  “Actually, I’m not totally sure.  I thought that I caught a glimpse of him while I was shopping a couple weeks ago, but when I looked again he wasn’t there.  A few times…”  She hesitated.  “I don’t know.  I just get this feeling…”

“Getting paranoid, Dr. Radiwan,” Lee tried to tease her.  But it didn’t quite come out that way as a bit of his earlier ‘feeling’ reappeared in his mind.

Happily, Becca didn’t seem to notice, and smacked him again.  They both ended up chuckling, finished policing their chosen picnic area, and headed back to the cabin.

* * * *

When the Morton clan was back from church and getting things together for their big meal of the day, Joanne finally remembered to tell her son about Lee’s call the previous evening.  It was late when he and the others had returned, and there was always a bit of chaos getting the little ones settled down for the night so that the bigger ones could crash as well.  Not to mention even more chaos getting everyone, especially the little ones, dressed for Sunday School.

“What did he say?” came out a little stronger than Chip intended, but his gaze at his mother remained mild.

“Just to tell you that he’d called,” Joanne told him, but there was a definite question in the words.

“How did he sound?”

“What do you mean?  He was just Lee,” Joanne told him.  “I invited him here, but told him that it was crazy.  As usual,” she added with a grin as several childish screams filtered in from the back yard.  “Can’t imagine why he declined,” she added with a chuckle as adult voices joined in whatever games were going on outside.  She continued to give Chip a questioning look.

Chip sighed heavily.  “Things got a little…out of hand,” he settled on, not wanting to go into details, “the last few weeks, and Jamie ordered R&R.”  It was always safe to blame the doctor.  “He left before we had a chance to talk.”

Joanne nodded.  “I sort of got that from what he said.”

“Did he say that he’d call again?”

“Not really.  Why don’t you call him?  There’s time before dinner’s ready.”  Chip grimaced and it didn’t get past his perceptive parent.  “What?”

“Lee left his cell phone at home.  I don’t know where he went, and I have no way to reach him.”  He sent her a look.  “He knew that I could track the GPS in his phone,” he admitted sheepishly.

“You’re worried about him.”  It wasn’t a question.

He nodded.  “Yeah,” he told her.  “I am.”

“The fact that he called should tell you that he’s okay.”

Chip grimaced again.  “Not really.  He called here, not my cell, where I’d have a record of the number he called from.”

“Humm,” Joanne pondered that for only a bit before she shrugged.  “Lee’s a big boy,” she teased her oldest child.  “He’s probably just making sure you don’t play ‘big brother’ and disturb his plans to get some peace and quiet.”  Chip started to defend himself, but she continued.  “Go set the table,” Joanne ordered, ending the conversation.

As he started grabbing dishes out of the large hutch they were stored in he muttered under his breath, “Lee, be safe.  Little Brother,” was added with a small grin.

* * * *

Becca’s weather prediction ended up spot on.  The wind started blowing just about the time they both headed for bed.  Early, especially for Lee, about 9:30, but the fresh air, sunshine, and exercise had them both yawning.  Lee actually slept fairly well, and got up about 6:45 and got the coffee going.  The wind had died down to a soft breeze, but before the coffee was ready it started to rain.  The lower area being cool, Lee started the fireplace.  Even fake as it was, it was pleasant to watch, and gave off enough heat to make the front of the house quite pleasant.  And, he knew, the heat would rise and make the upstairs comfy as well.  He was on his second cup of coffee when Becca meandered down the stairs.  Dressed in sweats, both shirt and pants, she poured herself some coffee and joined Lee staring into the flames.

“Thanks,” she indicated the fireplace.  “Up here, this close to the mountain, the mornings can get brisk.”

“Especially with the rain,” Lee nodded toward the windows.

“Glad that we hiked yesterday.  I needed the expenditure of energy.”

“And release of frustration that goes with it,” Lee added, and she nodded.  “Still going to sleep all day?” he asked.

She shrugged.  “Giving it serious consideration.”  She grinned.  “But I’ll probably just curl up with a good book.”

“Sounds like a plan,” Lee agreed. 

The pair spent a totally relaxing day.  They read, listened to music, ate when they were hungry, and vegged away the entire day.  Lee was reminded of spending time at Tim and Annie Hughes’ B&B, but didn’t say anything to Becca.  In fact, they barely spoke all day.  But it was a comfortable silence.  Both would have been surprised that, at different times, each thought to bring up what was troubling the other but ended up saying nothing, not wanting to risk spoiling the other’s peace.

The rain stopped sometime during the night but Tuesday dawned overcast and cool.  Both Lee and Becca agreed that it was probably too wet in the forest to enjoy another hike.  Becca once more curled up in front of the fireplace.  Lee joined her for a bit before getting antsy and telling her that he was going for a walk, but that he’d stay on the road.  She made a comment about him walking back to Portland and he smarted back a somewhat obscene reply before they both ended up laughing.  He’d only packed a light jacket, so with things still so wet he looked in the closet by the back door for something a little heavier.  Finding a black leather jacket that fit, he almost put it back because it reminded him too much of the flight jacket he wore when aboard FS1.  With a chastising shake of his head, he slipped it back on and headed down the long driveway to the small country road.  He headed further along the road, merely because he’d seen what was the other direction when they arrived and was curious what lay ahead.  Not much, he discovered about two hours later, as the road simply curved around and came back to the small town they’d passed through about two miles before turning into the driveway.  But the walk allowed Lee enough physical exercise that when he got back he was able to sit still without fidgeting.  Becca was in the kitchen, and he apologized for not checking out the small store he passed for canned cherries.  They both chuckled, and Lee settled in to watch the flames in the fireplace.

At one point Becca walked over and joined him.  “How you doing, sailor?” she asked softly.

Lee shrugged.  “Wish I knew,” he told her honestly.  “I’ve actually been avoiding thinking about all of the…”  he sighed heavily.  “Not a very productive way to deal with the issues.”

“Tell me about it,” she muttered.  “Been doing pretty much the same thing.”

“Sooner or later I have to decide.  Do I really want to leave NIMR?  Part of me says no, I love it there.  But then I think about all the…”  he sighed again.  “I’m not sure that I can still handle everything that sometimes goes on; not sure I want to,” came out a little hard.

“What would you do?” she asked, again softly, with true caring easily heard in her voice.

“There’s always work for a Certified Master Diver,” Lee told her, “as well as Maritime pilots.  All over the world.”

“You wouldn’t go back to the regular Navy?”  Becca knew that he was still in the Reserves; had to be to serve as an officer on Seaview.

“NO!” came out hard.  “No,” he continued a little softer.  “I’d instantly get grabbed up by ONI, and that would be worse than Seaview.”

“You couldn’t just say no?”

“Then I’d no doubt end up in command, and probably with a desk job.”  He looked at her.  “Even worse,” he admitted with half a smile.

She returned a genuine one.  “Oh yeah, I can really see you stuck in an office all day every day.”  She laughed.  “The building would never survive!”

“I wouldn’t, that’s for sure,” he agreed.

Humm,” Becca mumbled softly and headed back to the kitchen, deciding that she’d pushed as far as she could for the time being, and a little surprised that Lee had said as much as he had.

Actually, so was Lee, as he sat watching the flames.  It was as close as he’d come so far to admitting what he was struggling so hard to come to terms with.  Until now, he’d start to think about everything that happened the last several weeks and his brain would start dredging up all the other bad times to the point where he’d become so disoriented that he had to literally shut down and try to think of nothing at all.  That, of course, wasn’t possible.  But self-preservation would take over and at least get him to a point where he could physically function.  Mentally he was a wreck.  He knew that at some point he had to face reality and make decisions as to how he was going to move forward.  But each time he tried, his concentration was sabotaged by too many old memories and he’d get so frustrated that he’d surrender and try to think of anything but his current issues.

Trying to clear a once again jumbled brain, he used the sound of the stereo playing softly in the background as a focal point, and then concentrated harder as he realized what he was listening to.

           Looking’ for something that I can believe in, looking for something that I’d like to do with my life

Lee recognized the lyrics of “Sweet Surrender” by John Denver.  “Ain’t that the truth,” he muttered to himself.

            What the future is holding in store.  I don’t know where I’ve going, I don’t know where I’ve been

“Oh, John,” Lee breathed.  “You have absolutely no idea…”

“What did you say?” came from Becca’s direction and Lee looked up.

“Just muttering to myself,” Lee told her with a small grin.

She nodded.  “Been doing a fair amount of that lately,” she admitted, and they both grinned.

            Sweet, sweet, surrender John Denver continued.  Live, live without care, like a fish in the water, like a bird in the air

“If only I could,” Lee told himself, this time almost silently, a voice filled with pain.

* * * *

Admiral Nelson reached for his coffee mug, found it empty, and couldn’t remember finishing it.  He was in his office trying to unbury himself from the multitude of folders scattered across his desk.  Between NIMR department reports, requests for Seaview’s services, Navy bulletins, and half a dozen other odds and ends he was a bit overwhelmed.  And it wasn’t helping a bit that his concentration kept getting interrupted by thoughts of his last conversation with Lee.

To say that it had been disturbing was a gigantic understatement.  Nelson had recognized in Lee, from shortly after their first meeting at Annapolis, a man of deep convictions and a commitment to duty increasingly rare, it seemed, in today’s society.  Quiet and studious, he’d at first been easy to overlook.  But several days in close proximity, when Nelson ended up driving Lee home to Newport, RI after his mother had been injured, enlightened Nelson greatly to the younger man’s character.^

The Annapolis years, plus having Lee serve under him aboard the ‘Nautilus’, only strengthened Nelson’s admiration for the man Lee was becoming.  Nelson had originally wanted Lee as Seaview’s captain but that hadn’t been sanctioned by Navy brass, who Nelson was still forced to deal with.  But with John Phillips’ unfortunate death, when Lee was called in to handle an extremely difficult and dangerous mission, Nelson was able to pull enough strings to keep him.  With Lee’s permission, of course.  And Chip’s happy acceptance, Nelson chuckled to himself as he refilled his coffee mug, sat back down at his desk, but turned around to face the large window with its view of NIMR grounds, and Seaview settled into her upper berth.

And at no time, in the years since, had he been the least bit unhappy with how things had worked out.  Oh, he admitted to himself, he did regret losing Phillips.  Unfortunately, he hadn’t been the only one.  And probably won’t be the last, Nelson was forced to tell himself.  And for sure, Nelson could wish that Lee would give up his continued commitment to the Office of Naval Intelligence, who had recruited Lee almost directly out of the Academy to run occasional ‘errands’ for them.  But that was who Lee was – serious about his commitment to those ideals and people he held dear.

Now, Nelson wasn’t sure what to believe; that all too short conversation at the Monastery had shaken him much more than he was willing to admit.  Lee had become such an integral part of NIMR – of Nelson’s very life – that he couldn’t accept that Lee might not ever come back.  Yet, that’s exactly how Lee had framed his response.  Yes, he’d been upset.  He had every right to be, considering how the last few weeks had gone.  Nelson was hoping that, as he’d said, once Lee had a chance to get away for a bit and think things through, he’d be back and life could return to normal.

But, for one of the few times in his life, Nelson had to admit that he was worried about what the future might hold in store!

* * * *

The weather once more pleasant, if a bit cool, the next several days passed in pleasant peace for Lee – at least mostly.  He still found himself muddled down in negative memories at odd moments, but did his best to drive them away either with long walks, or mildly harassing Becca about whatever happened to come to mind.  He was well aware that she was having her own moments of despair and indecision, but they became comfortable using each other to put the dark thoughts to the side as best they could.

On one of their now daily walks they went into town to the small store, mostly for milk and bread, but Becca made a point of checking for pie cherries.  While the crust recipe they found online that afternoon wasn’t quite up to Annie Hughes’ version, the pie was definitely edible, and they both ate more than they thought they could, teasing each other the whole time and both ending up totally relaxed in front of the glowing fireplace as the sun set in the distance.

As at peace as he was, Lee found himself suddenly on alert, and didn’t for a moment understand why.

“Lee?” Becca asked, carefully as she recognized Lee’s tense posture, still sitting but suddenly ridged.

He didn’t answer for several seconds, but finally let out the breath he hadn’t realized he was holding.  “I’m imaging things,” he muttered grumpily, and got up to refill his glass of scotch.  He sent her an upraised eyebrow and indicated the white wine bottle, but she shook her head, her glass still about half full, and he returned to his chair.

“What did you think you heard?”  Becca said it more with curiosity than concern.

Lee shrugged.  “Probably a small animal or bird,” he told her.  “If the cabin isn’t used regularly, they’re no doubt used to foraging around the foundation.”  He sent her a small smile.  “I’m just a little hyper-sensitive right now, I guess.”

“Rough mission?” she asked carefully.

He took a large swallow of the powerful alcohol before answering.  “Lost crewmen,” he admitted softly.  “Almost lost more.”

“And you’re being blamed?” came softly.

“I blame myself.”

“And should you?”

Lee didn’t immediately answer.  Finally, “Probably not.”

“But you still do.”

“Yeah.”  He took another long swallow.  “No,” he switched with a shrug, “not really.”  He sent her a quick look, and then once more stared into the flames.  “But still my responsibility.  Sort of.”  Once more he hesitated, and this time Becca kept quiet.  “We were following orders, but I can’t get past the idea that there should have been another way…”  His voice trailed off.

“Have you come up with ways that could have changed the outcome?”

He sent her a quick glare, but it vanished nearly as quickly as it came.  “No, Doctor, I haven’t,” he told her firmly, before taking a deep breath.  “Doesn’t mean that I can get past it.  Unfortunately,” came out in almost a whisper.

They were both silent for several minutes.  “Ever hear of a man named Fulton Oursler?” Becca finally asked.  Lee considered the question, but finally shook his head.  “American journalist and playwright,” she continued.  “Passed away, oh, early 1950’s if I remember right.  He was known for writing mysteries, but I ran across him because of his work on the movie, “The Greatest Story Ever Told.”  She sent him a soft smile.  “It was one of Aunt Theresa’s favorite movies.”  Lee nodded that he remembered who she was referring to.*  “There’s a quote of his that’s always stuck in my weird little brain.”  Lee sent her a quick grin at that self-gibe.  “He wrote, Many of us crucify ourselves between two thieves – regret for the past and fear of the future.

“I don’t suppose that he offered any advice about how to get yourself down off that cross?”

“No.  Unfortunately,” Becca muttered with a frown, and then shrugged.  “Left that up to each of us to figure out.”

“Swell,” it was Lee’s turn to mutter, before he finally sent Becca a small smile.  She returned it easily before they both once more fell silent.

* * * *

The next couple of days fell into an easy pattern.  The weather was dry but still cool, this close to Mt. Hood.  After a quick breakfast Becca and Lee would pack a lunch and water into their backpacks and take a new trail into the forest; there were lots to choose from.  Both were enjoying the total relaxation and peace of the mountain retreat, and neither wanted to spoil it by bringing up the other one’s issues.  Lee still had a moment or two where he felt…he still wasn’t sure what it was.  Almost a feeling of being watched.  But he could never pinpoint why, and tried to make sure that he didn’t upset Becca.  Even through his own pain he’d realized that she was stressed out over ‘something’.  He was easily willing to believe that it was work issues, as she’d claimed.  All too well he understood how distracted one could get when what should be an orderly plan for the day got jerked out of whack by someone – or something – not following the ‘rules’.

He was actually starting to quiet the multitude of voices, and their individual issues, in his head.  Not that he managed any conclusions, but it was a tremendous relief to not have them badgering him twenty-four/seven.  He’d continued to take the melatonin Becca had given him, not admitting that it helped all that much, but at least he was able to sleep after only an hour of arguing with himself, not the five or six he’d been battling, getting up more stressed than when he’d gone to bed.

Friday, as the pair prepared their lunches, Becca brought up the subject they’d both been avoiding.  “Any thoughts on how long we stay here?” she asked ever so softly.

“Sort of depends on you,” Lee admitted.  “It’s your friend’s cabin, and you’re the one who has a job to go back to.”

Becca sent him a long look, but didn’t tackle that issue.  “Actually, I’m in no particular hurry to leave.  Thought that I’d call David this afternoon, make sure the office is still standing, and see if he can manage another week.”  She grinned.  “Have no fear, he’ll get his turn after I’m back.”  Lee sent the grin back.  “But we’ve both learned over the years that we need time away!”

Lee hesitated as he put a couple water bottles into his pack.  “I can only imagine the mental stresses you both have to deal with on a daily basis,” he offered carefully.

“Has its moments, for sure,” she agreed.  “But it’s also balanced by the good we can do.  Over-balanced, actually.  Yeah, there are times, like the last few weeks when, I swear, the whole world goes wonky.”  She chuckled, and was happy to get a small smile from Lee.  “But I really do like, well, we both like, our ability to help good, honest, people get past the crap in their lives.  Our little part of making the world a better place.”

Lee was quiet as he packed his sandwich and cookies next to the water.  “I wouldn’t mind staying another week,” he admitted.  “After that…”  he shook his head, not looking at Becca.

“Another week it is,” she ignored his non-answer and slipped her pack over her shoulders.

They chose one of the longer trails that day, and didn’t get back to the cabin until almost 5:30.  Too late to call the office, Becca called her partner’s cell, laughing that she hoped that she didn’t disturb his Friday night plans.  Lee made her laugh even harder with his comment that it was still early enough that David couldn’t be that involved yet.  As it turned out, David was just leaving the office, and wholeheartedly agreed to Becca’s idea of being gone another week.  Things had calmed down, both for his patients and those of Becca’s he was seeing.  He postulated that, without Becca to whine to, her patients were realizing that they had to own up to their issues, which in the long run would benefit their abilities to cope.  He and Becca tossed that idea around for a bit, both agreeing that while it wouldn’t work in all cases, a little separation wasn’t entirely a bad thing.

Lee knew that Becca hadn’t aimed any of that conversation at Lee, she having put her phone on speaker so he heard both sides.  But it still hit home.  Perspective – back off and take a good, hard, look at things.  Admiral Nelson had basically said the same thing when he told Lee to take the time off, Lee now realized.  He’d been too emotionally fragile, too angry, he admitted, to understand at the time.  Well, he himself knew that he had to get away.  But with a bit more perspective he could allow himself to accept Nelson’s logic.  He still didn’t know if he could ever work for the man again.  But somehow he knew that he needed to mend their fractured relationship.  He was just thankful that he had at least another week to figure out how.

* * * *

Chip was just about it slay the last of several attacking dragons, masquerading as his nieces and nephews, when his cell phone chirped.  He held up his toy sword, took a few deep breaths to recover from the ‘attack’, and stepped off a few feet.  “Morton,” he answered officially as Admiral Nelson’s name appeared on the screen.  “How can I help you, sir,” he added.

“You can tell me if you’ve heard from Lee,” came in a tone that Chip almost never heard, that of hesitation.  As the ‘dragons’ continued their attack, now on each other, he moved even further away.

“Sort of,” he told his boss.  “He called the night I got here, but the house phone, not my cell, and I was out.  Mom didn’t tell me until the next day.”

“You know that he left his cell and most of his I.D. at the house.”

“Yeah,” Chip growled.  The ‘sir’ he added was said with a deep sigh.

“I don’t want to breach a confidence…”

“Sorry, sir, but I have absolutely no idea where he is, or how to reach him.”  He hesitated.  “Is there a change of plans?”

“No, no,” Nelson assured his XO with a sigh of his own.  “Just…”

“I hear you sir, and totally agree.”  He paused.  “And the next time I get within ten feet of him I’m going to smack him silly!”

As he’d hoped, Nelson chuckled.  “Now, now,” came in a more normal-sounding tone, and Chip smiled to himself.  “Sounds like you’re enjoying your time away,” came over the cell as ‘battle’ sounds could easily be heard, Chip realized.

“Surrounded by invading dragons,” he admitted.  “But it’s nearly lunchtime; they’ll settle down once they’re fed.”  He joined Nelson’s soft chuckles.

“Enjoy them.”  While it almost sounded like an order, Chip still heard the smile in Nelson’s voice.

“Absolutely,” he agreed.  “Especially as I can send them back to their parents any time I choose.”  They both laughed again and ended the conversation.  He paused for a bit, pondering just where Lee would have gone as he replaced his cell in its holder.  But the ‘dragons’, now that they realized he’d finished his call, once more attacked and he was forced to give up thoughts of his friend to return to the fray.

* * * *

Tuesday dawned as had the days previous, but Becca unfortunately woke up with a headache so decided to stay in while Lee took a long hike.  Not that she had slowed him down all that much, but with just himself to think about he pushed harder and longer than he’d been doing, and didn’t return until nearly 5:00 sweaty and exhausted, but actually feeling somewhat exhilarated.  The cabin was quiet; Lee assumed that Becca was still resting so he took a shower before walking into the main area.  Or, started to.  As he exited his bedroom and turned toward the Great Room, something hit the back of his head and he fell forward onto the floor of the short hallway.

He was disturbed to discover, picking himself up, that nearly twenty minutes had passed from when he’d put his watch on after the shower.  “Becca?” he yelled, unfortunately aggravating his own pounding headache.  But right now that was the least of his worries.  When there was no answer he, as quickly as his still shaky legs would take him, searched the house, but Becca was nowhere to be found.  Her bedroom was in a bit of disarray, but since Lee had barely been upstairs the whole time they’d been here, he couldn’t say for sure that it wasn’t how she was normally leaving it.  Nothing, that he could tell anyway, was missing.  Well, except her.  The car was still parked in back.  Lee had noted that the back door, which he’d locked behind him that morning because Becca was resting upstairs, had been unlocked when he got back, but at first he’d merely thought that she’d finally been feeling better and stepped outside for a bit of fresh air, not relocking it when she came in.  Now he went back downstairs, looking for any signs of where she might be.  And especially for any indication of who had hit him!

At first glance there didn’t seem to be anything out of place.  The fireplace was off; he’d left it on, turned low, as the cabin had been a bit cool when he left.  He walked back outside through the back door.  There ‘might’ have been scuffle marks in the gravel and dirt driveway, but nothing obvious that he could define.  But he was very sure that Becca wouldn’t have left without a note of some sort.  He snorted softly.  And I’m sure that she wouldn’t have cold-cocked me.  He grimaced.  At least I don’t think so, and he continued to search the ground for any other signs.

He found it almost by accident, on the west side of the house.  A trail headed from there into the forest but they’d never walked that way because, according to the map, it only meandered around behind several other residences and back to the road, not deeper into the forest.  As Lee walked past it now, still scanning the driveway, something shiny caught his eye as the starting to lower sun reflected off it; Lee reached down and thought that he recognized an earring he’d seen Becca wear.  He wasn’t sure, but it didn’t look like it had been all that long out in the weather.  The trail was as good a place as any other to start searching.

But Lee hesitated.  He wasn’t armed; he did have his ever-present pocket knife, put in his checked bag when he flew up.  Whoever had hit him had been powerful enough that one blow had leveled him, so Lee knew that he needed to be cautious.  But the setting sun was going to shortly be an issue and Lee knew that he dare not wait too long.  He did go back for the black leather jacket; it would keep him much warmer longer, since out of the shower he’d pulled on simple dark slacks and a blue shirt.  He did take the time to grab a flashlight and tuck it into the back of his slacks in case he was out after dark.  He thought briefly about dialing 911 to report Becca missing.  But he had no idea of what local police force there was, and suddenly wasn’t willing to take the time to find out as thoughts invaded his mind about the weird feelings he’d had since being here; the strange noises he’d heard, and the sensation of being watched.

Suddenly he was hit with a violent shudder.  “Oh, no,” came out in a soft whimper.  “I’ve been followed.  Someone from my past…  And now they’ve taken Becca for revenge…”  The thought stopped him in his tracks, paralyzing him with fear.

He wasn’t sure how long he stood there, literally terrified for Becca’s safety, before fear slowly turned to anger.  And anger to action, because all his years of training had taught him that anger was counter-productive and all too easily led to mistakes.  As worried as he suddenly was, he needed to think clearly; to not rush headlong, but progress carefully.  Slipping the earring into his pocket, he headed down the path, watching the ground for further signs of struggle and listening carefully to every little sound the forest around him was releasing.

He realized that he was being baited.  Whoever was out there had all day, while he was hiking, to grab Becca.  But they’d waited for him to come back.  They’d attacked him but not seriously, giving them time to get away but wanting him to follow.  It was no doubt his attacker who had planted the earring, knowing that Lee was well-trained enough to find the clue, luring Lee into the dense forest to where, if he wasn’t extremely careful, his body might never to found.  “And Becca’s,” he breathed, now concentrating so hard that he literally forgot his still-pounding head.  Whoever was doing this could then easily go back, clear everything personal out of the cabin, toss it in the car, and leave the car so far away that it could never be traced back.  They might guess that someone knew that they’d been here but with all traces removed, the authorities wouldn’t waste a whole lot of time searching the woods; they’d merely assume that he and Becca had left to go elsewhere.

Lee proceeded cautiously, soundlessly, along the path into the virgin forest, the ground beneath the trees a solid layer of ferns and underbrush.  Every so often a glint of setting sun would find its way through an opening in the tree line to his left as the path headed mostly toward the north.  He stopped every so often to listen; even though he was trying to be silent, he worried that his own pounding head and heartbeat might unintentionally mask any subtle sounds of movement around him; sounds that he needed to trace his attacker.  As the sun set lower he was thankful for the dark slacks and jacket; they tended to blend into the dark forest.  What showed of the blue shirt he ignored as he concentrated on his present task.

Later he couldn’t quite remember what caused him to pause at that specific spot.  He didn’t remember hearing anything other than the sounds of the forest as it began settling into evening.  No path led from this trail, at one of the spots where the setting sun broke through and softly illuminated the area.  Nothing on the ground indicated that anyone had been this way recently.  But ‘something’ caused him to stop and look to his right.  Barely visible through the trees he caught a glimpse of one of the other cabins in the area.  He thought that he recognized which one it was, from the walks he’d taken along the road, and at no time had he seen anyone around, or cars in the drive.  Walking silently another ten or so feet, he found the path that most probably led to the back of the house.  His stalker wouldn’t want him to pass right by so he wasn’t at all surprised to find another earring barely a foot into the connecting path.  Putting it in his pocket with its mate with one hand, he pulled out his knife with the other.  As a protective weapon it wasn’t much help.  But it was all that he had.

Knowing that he was expected, he glanced around through the forest to see if there was a better, less visible, way to approach the house than by the path.  Options were limited because of the thick underbrush but Lee did spot an area, perhaps thinned out by the homeowners as a partial firebreak, and carefully worked his way in that direction.  He was aware that he was no longer moving all that silently but he did the best that he could, working his way closer to the structure.  It was more small house than cabin, a two-story building with white vinyl siding instead of logs, and a detached garage.  Lee made his approach on the garage side away from the house and then slowly worked his way around.  He was still against the garage, trying to figure out his best route to the side of the house, when he heard voices coming through a partially open window on the closest side of the house.

“Why doesn’t he answer?” came harshly in a male voice.  Lee couldn’t immediately identify it as one he’d heard before.

“I have no idea,” came in what Lee thought might be Becca’s.  He wasn’t sure; it had been spoken softly.  “Maybe you hurt him more than you thought you did.”  This time Lee was sure that it was Becca.

Lee was momentarily startled because she sounded more defiant than scared, as he’d have thought she’d be.  What the hell… entered his mind, and was instantaneously dismissed.  There was absolutely no way Becca could be involved in a plot against Lee.  No way! he repeated silently, and moved closer.

“No way,” was echoed back by the man.  “I’ve had far too much practice.”  There was a soft snort.  “Bassett should have been out cold for no more than fifteen minutes.  Thirty tops.”

Bassett?  The name stopped Lee in his tracks.  Whoever took Becca thought that she was with her business partner?  He must not know what David looked like, to have mistaken him for Lee.  But that would mean that this is about Becca, not me, Lee postulated, and her comments about her ex-husband Mike, both this trip and when she’d originally told him the story, flooded Lee’s mind.  That’s Mike?  And he suddenly realized that it must have been Becca who surreptitiously dropped the earrings, leaving a trail for Lee because, from what she understood of his training, he would know how to follow the clues.

“Maybe the phone broke when he fell?” he heard Becca try another tactic.  “I told you that it was a cheap phone because he didn’t want to risk bringing his good one out here.”  The guy must not have searched my wallet, Lee decided.  Thought he knew who Becca had come with, and didn’t bother to verify.  Lee grinned to himself but there was absolutely no humor behind it, only anger.  This guy isn’t as smart as he thinks he is, and Lee moved to the side of the house, the sun now behind the horizon and the sky starting to darken.  He heard a tone, as if a redial button had been punched on a phone, and glanced at his own.  Since it didn’t vibrate, he wondered what number Becca had given Mike.  Obviously, one that she knew wouldn’t be answered, and he once more grinned softly.  This time with humor.  He’d make on ONI agent out of her, yet, and had to bury a snicker at her reaction to that comment the first time he’d used it.**

His thoughts were interrupted by Mike – if that’s really who it was – uttering a string of oaths, then angry footsteps headed for the back door.  Lee settled against the side of the house where he could peek around the corner, closing the top of the jacket to hide the bright blue of his shirt.  He heard the back door open but the screen door stayed closed, so Lee unfortunately didn’t get a look at the man, to size up his opponent.  He did wonder if perhaps he’d made some sort of noise that Mike had heard; that that’s why he’d gone to the door.  He didn’t think so, but he was concentrating so hard on all this new intel that he could have missed something.

The steps eventually went back into the house but Lee didn’t hear the back door close, and silently crept to where he could see for sure.  No, the door had been left open.  From what Lee could see through the screen, it led to a small mud room, and then through another open door into the main part of the house.  With my luck lately, he muttered to himself, the screen door will squeak to high heaven, but he eased over to the side where it opened.  He slid his knife blade into the crack, barely nudging it away from the frame, and sighed deeply when it moved with nary a sound.

Even as dark as it was getting outside there were no lights turned on, Lee guessed, because Mike had broken in and didn’t want anyone to notice that someone was here in case any neighbors might notice.  That also worked to Lee’s advantage.  He took the time to zip shut the jacket so that it totally covered the shirt, and ever so gently continued to ease open the screen door.  He could hear heavy pacing from what must be the front room, but both voices now remained silent. He made the assumption that Becca must be restrained somehow as he’d heard no sounds of movement from her, even when Mike had gone to the back door.  Nor was she talking loudly; Lee guessed that, if Mike had taken her captive earlier in the day, he’d threatened her into not screaming or drawing attention in any way.  That she might be a willing partner to whatever Mike was planning now never entered Lee’s mind.

The screen door stayed blessedly silent as Lee opened it only as far as he needed to, to slip into the mudroom.  There was just enough light coming through the windows for Lee to make out a kitchen just beyond the small back room, with a breakfast bar separating it from the front part of the house, and stairs on one side leading up to the second floor, most likely where the bedrooms were.  Lee timed his movement to the sounds of steps going away from him, meaning Mike was pacing with his back to Lee’s position, and crept forward to where he was hidden behind the breakfast bar.  He couldn’t see Becca; she must be on the same side of the room as the bar.  But peeking out at Mike’s next pass, he spotted the man.

Lee guessed, from the quick look, that Mike was several inches taller and at least fifty pounds heavier than he was.  The old adage, ‘the bigger they are, the harder they fall’, slipped into Lee’s thoughts, to be immediately dismissed.  Lee knew better; he’d run into too many opponents who had proven otherwise to believe that nonsense.  Nor did Mike’s bulk look the least bit flabby; he apparently worked out regularly.  Lee didn’t see a weapon in his brief glance but that didn’t mean there wasn’t one handy.

Lee sent a quick glance at the small knife; it wasn’t even the right kind to throw with any accuracy.  He glanced around for any other weapon; perhaps Mike would again walk to the back door and Lee could drop him as he’d done to Lee.  But there wasn’t anything heavy enough to do a decent job within sight.  It’s never easy, he muttered silently with a heavy sigh.

And then instantly wondered if it had been silent, as Mike stopped pacing.  “What was that?” came out in a growl.

“Your conscience?” Becca asked.  Lee could hear the slight sneer in her voice but apparently it went right over Mike’s head and he went back to pacing.

“I’ll give Bassett another five minutes, and if he still doesn’t answer…”  the pacing stopped, and this time Lee heard the sneer in Mike’s voice.  “I disabled the car or he’d have no doubt rabbited back to Portland.”

“That’s how little you know about David.”  Lee easily heard the emphasis she put on the name and smiled as Mike went back to pacing.

This time Lee heard the sounds coming through the screen door; probably small animals – or maybe even bigger ones – foraging around what they thought was an empty house.  Or thinking someone inside had put food out for them; perhaps that had been done in the past when the house was occupied.  Not a smart idea, but some people never realized that they could be doing more damage than good to the local wildlife, encouraging them to come closer to civilization instead of staying in the forest where they were safer.  The pacing headed Lee’s direction and he prepared as best he could.

Mike stomped past him, never looking down, and all but slammed the back door shut.  Lee used the motion and sound to mask his attack.  Laying the knife down he put both hands together, stepped behind the larger man, and chopped as hard as he could on the back of Mike’s neck.  Surprise and pain momentarily stunned the larger man.  He didn’t go down and Lee quickly tried to do it again.  But Mike was even quicker, spinning and striking out with beefy hands.  Lee backed off, but Mike made a grab behind with his right hand to where Lee assumed that he had a gun tucked, and Lee sent a flying kick to that shoulder.  Something heavy dropped to the floor as Lee heard the crack of the shoulder dislocating, instantly drowned out by Mike’s bellow of pain.  Lee used that moment to step in and deliver a two-fisted blow to the man’s midsection, and then another to his neck as Mike doubled over in pain.  This time he went down and stayed there.  Lee quickly searched and found what had fallen – a nice sturdy Sig, and didn’t remember the flashlight he’d tucked in the back of his own slacks until he tried to put the Sig there.  “That was intelligent,” he grumbled out loud.

“Lee?” came almost frantically from the front room.

“Yeah,” he continued to mutter.  “Be there in a second.”  Checking the cabinets in the mudroom he came up with a roll of duct tape and hurriedly but extremely efficiently trussed Mike up, with no thoughts of how much more pain he might be causing.  When he was satisfied that the man wasn’t going anywhere without assistance, he finally headed to check on Becca.  A loud growl erupted as he started to walk past the breakfast bar, stopped dead, and reached back to pick up his knife.  “Idiot,” he berated himself, and continued into the front room.

Mike had found his own roll of duct tape.  Or perhaps brought his own, as Lee found Becca securely bound into a wooden high-backed rocking chair.  “Thank you,” she breathed, looking upward when Lee came into view.  “Are you okay?” was directed at him.

“Yeah,” he grimaced, shaking out his left hand.  The previous injury to that arm decided to make itself known after over a week of remaining silent.  Knife in his right hand, he quickly released Becca’s bindings.  “You?  Did he hurt you?”

“Scared the you-know-what out of me when he woke me out of a sound sleep.  Thankfully I’d dressed before the headache started getting worse and decided to lay back down.”  Lee gave her a bit of a leering look and she half-heartedly slugged him before they both chuckled, more from relief than humor.

“What phone number did you give him?  Obviously not Dr. Bassett’s.”

She sent him an almost version of his shy look.  “The only one that came to mind was your cell phone.”  It was his turn to send a shy smile; with Becca’s admitted lack of remembering numbers she’d known his cell number, the phone no doubt still where he’d left it on his dresser at home.

The next couple of hours went by in a blur.  Lee dialed 911 and with amazing speed three county law enforcement vehicles appeared.  As Becca started telling the Sheriff – or at least the one most in charge – what happened, Lee caused a small commotion among the two deputies when he reached behind his back and pulled out the Sig.  He very carefully held it out to one of them with just two fingers holding the handle, and maintained his grip until the other one pulled out an evidence bag, into which Lee carefully placed the gun.

His part of the story was much shorter.  An ambulance showed up partway through Becca’s narrative and the Sheriff gave Lee a hard look as Mike’s injuries – dislocated shoulder, possibly two broken ribs, and extremely tender neck – were announced by the EMT’s.  Lee had initially identified himself with just his name since he carried no NIMR or military I.D. in his wallet.  Now he had to quality his response with rank, and a glossed-over comment about specialized combat training.  As he handed Becca back her earrings he very carefully avoided any mention of ONI!

Unlike the previous time Becca had been questioned about Mike’s possible illegal activities, this time warrants existed from several states.  The most violent was armed robbery, but with no major injuries.  Becca told the deputies that Mike had taken her in hopes of getting ransom from her business partner, who he thought was Lee.  He’d followed them, and waited until he could get to her while Lee was gone.

The actual owner of the house was notified of the break-in.  There were signs, when the house was searched, that Mike had been squatting there, but nothing seemed to be damaged beyond the back door lock.  The Sheriff told the owner, who lived in Vancouver, WA, that there would be someone stationed there until a locksmith could repair the damage, and the owner said that he’d be down that weekend and do a thorough inspection.

That settled, Lee and Becca were given a lift back to where they were staying, with assurances that they’d come to the Sheriff’s office the next morning to make formal statements.  Lee was a little surprised to find that it was only just past midnight when they entered the cabin.  So much had happened that it felt like many more hours had gone by.  Becca made a beeline for her shower – she’d been adamant that Mike hadn’t hurt her – in any way – but Lee still understood her need to get rid of any trace of him that she could.

Lee, himself, was so wired that he didn’t even try to sleep.  After returning the jacket and flashlight to their proper places, he poured himself a water glass nearly full of scotch and sat nursing it in front of the now blazing fireplace.  His fractured nerves needed the added warmth to help control the shakes that had settled in once the excitement was over and now refused to go away.  Becca came back down nearly an hour later, dressed in sweats but still wet from her long, hot, shower.  As she settled next to him on the couch he handed her the glass, and she nearly drained the several inches still there as a hard shudder now hit her as well.  She handed the glass back with an apologetic grimace.  He merely shook his head.  “No need for an apology,” he assured her.  “What doesn’t kill us, makes us stronger,” he quoted the 19th century German philosopher, Friedrich Nietzsche.  She slugged him again, but then they both sat silently staring into the flames and every so often passing the glass back and forth until it was empty.

While Becca eventually closed her eyes, Lee knew that she didn’t sleep.  As the sun started to lighten the horizon he got up and started a large pot of coffee – extra strong!

* * * *

Angie tapped almost hesitantly on her boss’ office door, and entered as she heard the gruff “Come.”  She only took one step in, and waited until Nelson looked up from the mound of folders – and overflowing ashtray – on his desk.  The scowl on his face softened only slightly.  “What now?” came out resignedly.

“There’s a call on line one, sir, from a Sheriff Callen, calling from a county in Eastern Oregon.  He wanted employment information on Cdr. Crane and the switchboard sent the call up here instead of to Personnel.  I thought you…”  She stopped talking as Nelson was already reaching for the phone, and quietly closed the door behind her as she headed back to her desk.  As much as she wanted to eavesdrop, to find out just what was suddenly going on around here, and especially between Lee and Nelson, her boss had not been in a particularly good mood of late and she decided to leave his office before he had the chance to throw her out!

“Sheriff, ah, Callen is it?  This is Admiral Harriman Nelson.  Why are you inquiring about Cdr. Crane?”  As he realized how harshly his query had sounded, he excused the slight pause before the response came.

“Cdr. Crane was involved in an incident yesterday in my county.  As part of the investigation I’m merely trying to get a handle on all parties involved.  Crane had no identification that indicated he was associated with your organization, or even that he was still in the Navy.”

Nelson let out the breath he hadn’t realized that he was holding.  “I can assure you, Sheriff, that Lee Crane is most definitely still in the Naval Reserves, and serves here as captain of my research submarine, Seaview.  What kind of incident?”  That last came out in his best admiral’s voice.

Which, apparently, the Sheriff didn’t take kindly to.  “Afraid that I can’t comment on an ongoing investigation…”

“Are you accusing Lee of a crime?” came out even louder.  He was unaware that he’d used Lee’s first name instead of title, but it did not go unnoticed by Sheriff Callen.

“No, sir,” came back in a carefully controlled tone.  “He and another person were attacked by…”

“Is he hurt?” Nelson broke in.  “Who is the other person?”

Callen’s turn to take a deep breath and he decided that the quick comments one of the secretaries had made concerning her having read stories about this Admiral Nelson might not have been so far-fetched as he’d originally thought.  “The quick gist from the initial report is, a woman named Lynn Radiwan…”

“Dr. R. Lynn Radiwan,” Nelson broke in.  “She’s a friend of Lee’s.”

“Dr. Radiwan,” Callen amended, “was kidnapped by her ex-husband…”  He stopped again as a few words he tried not to define were muttered loudly over the line.  “Cdr. Crane,” he continued carefully, “who was staying with Dr. Radiwan in a friend’s cabin near here, was out for a hike and discovered her missing when he returned.”  He heard ‘something’ muttered over the line and then silence, so chose to continue.  “Cdr. Crane was able to track them to a nearby empty cabin…”  His turn to leave a sentence open.

Nelson snorted.  “The very last person you ever want to tick off is Cdr. Crane,” he told the Sheriff firmly.

“I sort of got that impression,” Callen told him.  Nelson snorted again, and he continued.  “Crane was able to disarm and capture Nesbit, then called 911.  We got preliminary statements last night, and when we ran Nesbit’s prints, he has outstanding warrants in half a dozen states.  Cdr. Crane and Mi…, ah, Dr. Radiwan are coming in later this morning to make formal statements.  I was merely trying to get a little more clarity before they arrived.”

Nelson let out a long sigh.  “Lee frequently leaves a lot of his I.D. at home when he’s on vacation.”  So, that was a lie, but Callen didn’t need to know that.  Or that there was a difference between actual ‘vacation’ and ONI missions, when he usually carried anything but his real I.D.  “Dr. Radiwan wasn’t injured, I gather?”

“No.  Tied up.  She was more ticked off than anything.”

Nelson chuckled.  “She’s a remarkably resilient woman,” he assured Callen.

“Kind of got that impression as well,” Callen admitted, and Nelson chuckled a bit louder, remembering his introduction to the psychologist.  “Appreciate the information,” Callen told him.  “Ah, sorry that you got bothered, Admiral.  I’d merely asked for confirmation…”

Nelson grinned to himself.  “When it comes to Cdr. Crane, pretty much all intel goes through me, so actually I’m not bothered at all,” he assured the Sheriff.  “And you’re more than welcome to tell him you checked his background.”  Perhaps if Callen repeats what I’ve said, Lee will realize that I’m not angry with him, Nelson told himself.  Not that I was…”  He pondered that as he absentmindedly finished the call and hung up.  Lee, I should have known who you would turn to, he admitted.  Come home safe, lad.  Please, he added, and reluctantly returned to his reports.

* * * *

It didn’t take Lee long, after remembering that Mike had said something about disabling the car, to figure out that he’d done nothing more than loosen the battery cables and shove a potato into the tailpipe.  Becca sent him a raised eyebrow when, after the battery cables were once more connected tightly, the car would start but immediately die and Lee searched further until he found the cause.

“Plugging the exhaust means that the cylinders can’t push out escaping fumes.  No old air out means no room for fresh air in, so the engine can’t run,” he explained as he used his knife to pull out the vegetable residue.

“Gonna have to remember that one,” she told him with a quick grin.

“TV and movies want you to believe that it will make the car, or whatever combustion engine-powered vehicle, explode.”  He sent her a grin back.  “Nope.  Just dead until it’s cleared.  And, if you don’t leave any evidence on the outside of the pipe, not easy to spot and correct.  Mike was a bit sloppy, although I already had a pretty good idea what was wrong.”

“Yes?” she challenged.

“Slightly misspent youth around a couple of Master Chiefs,” he admitted with a particularly shy look.  “Ah, part of what ticked off my fourth-grade teacher,” he added.  Becca laughed out loud, Lee finally grinned, and they headed for the Sheriff’s office.

Lee expected nothing more than a deputy with a notary-licensed secretary, and pointed an eyebrow when he and Becca were led instead into the Sheriff’s private office.  It raised further when Callen welcomed ‘Dr. Radiwan’ and he to have a seat.  Becca hadn’t mentioned her title the previous evening, at least that Lee could remember.  Callen noticed the reaction, from Becca as well, and continued.  “Had a quick chat with your boss this morning, Commander.  He added Dr. Radiwan’s title,” his expression easily read as, ‘why didn’t you two?’

“It had nothing to do with what happened,” Becca quickly told him.  She’d caught the ‘something’ that hit Lee’s face as Admiral Nelson was mentioned, but it quickly vanished.

Not before Callen caught it as well, and it was his turn to point an eyebrow.

“May I ask what the Admiral told you?” Lee got out in a steady voice, although he suddenly wasn’t feeling all that steady inside.

Several thoughts quickly went through the Sheriff’s mind, starting with Nelson’s initial reaction to his call, to now Crane’s quick expression change.  But he decided to keep to the topic at hand, realizing that there was apparently something going on in the background but acknowledging that, as long as it had nothing to do with the case, it wasn’t any concern to him.  “While I was a bit surprised that whoever answered the listed phone number for the Institute transferred me to Admiral Nelson instead of Personnel…”

“I’m not,” Lee told him softly.

“…he quickly verified your position there as well as your Navy status.  Oh,” he added, “he insisted on knowing what happened, and making sure that neither of you were hurt.”

Becca smiled.  “Apparently you still have a job,” she told Lee with a broad grin.

“There was doubt?” Callen jumped on the comment, leaning forward in his chair.

Lee sent Becca a frown, and Callen a shy look.  “The Admiral and I haven’t had the best last few weeks,” came out so low Callen barely heard it.

“I certainly didn’t get that impression,” Callen told him, once more sitting back in his chair.

Lee shrugged.  “Yeah, well…”  He let it drop with a quick look at Becca.  He was actually glad when a woman walked in the still open office door, and everyone settled in to take Becca’s and Lee’s official statements.  Lee was surprised when Callen chose to let he and Becca make a joint statement – that wasn’t accepted protocol. He eventually decided that the Sheriff was being very watchful of the relationship between he and Becca and smiled inwardly, actually starting to enjoy the unspoken byplay.  As it was his turn to add his part, he almost automatically switched into how he would have officially presented a report to both Admiral Nelson and his part-time boss, Admiral Robert Jones, head of ONI.  His voice was crisp, his descriptions detailed and succinct, and it earned him another raised eyebrow from Callen.  Lee didn’t take the bait, and continued his narrative to the point where he called 911.  Callen had a few questions, but not many as Becca had also done an exceptional job of describing events, and had started off by explaining that Lee, a good friend, had come up on vacation, and they had decided to take advantage of Clay Bridger’s invitation to stay at the cabin.  She didn’t gloss over her previous involvement with her Ex, including that she’d seen him, or thought so at least, in Portland recently, and believed now that he’d been stalking her.

“I don’t believe that he will be bothering you for a very long time,” Callen told her.  “As soon as he’s released from the hospital…”  He sent Lee another look.  Lee sent him a bit of his ‘through-the-lashes’ look and it caused Becca to nearly giggle.  Callen shook his head, but continued.  “I’m already getting calls.  Trying to decide who has jurisdiction, and in what order, should keep the County Prosecutor busy the rest of the week.  At least.”

“Good!” Becca told him firmly

“I wonder if that’s why he came after you now,” Lee postulated softly.  “Ran out of places to hide and needed money.”

“I have no intentions of trying to figure out why Mike does anything,” Becca growled back.  Lee and Callen both smiled softly.

“How much longer will you be staying at Mr. Bridger’s cabin, may I ask?”  The Sheriff sent them both a raised eyebrow.

Lee turned to Becca but said nothing.  “Probably go back to Portland this weekend,” she told Callen, then turned to Lee.  “I’d better not leave David alone any longer,” she admitted with a grin that Lee returned.

“David?” Callen pounced on the new name.

“My business partner, Dr. David Bassett.  I gave you my office number, didn’t I?”  Lee ducked his head at her tone of voice – all business.  Callen didn’t duck but he did turn to the woman still taking notes, who nodded.

“One thing I didn’t ask,” Callen continued, “was how he got into the Bridger cabin.  We know that he broke the back door lock on the other place…”

“First thing I checked when your deputy dropped us back there last night,” Lee told him.  “Well,” he amended.  “This morning.  I know that I left everything locked when I left.”  He glanced at Becca.  “You might want to mention to Mr. Bridger that he needs to use better locks.  The ones he has now are fairly easy to pick.”  He looked back to the Sheriff.  “I didn’t pay any attention to the other place.  I’d guess they used better locks, and Nesbit either couldn’t pick them, or didn’t take the time to make a better effort.”

“I’ll give Clay the name of my locksmith,” Becca told him, and once more Lee ducked his head.  But they both grinned.  Callen sent them both a firm look.  But when neither chose to explain what was apparently a private joke, he dismissed them.  They hung around only long enough for the statements to be typed and officially signed.

Once back at the cabin they both decided that they’d had enough excitement and adventure to need any further exercise that day.  They did fix a quick lunch, and then Becca settled into one of the overstuffed chairs, feet on the matching foot stool, and tried to read.  Lee grinned when her eyes closed within ten minutes.  He totally wasn’t aware, stretched out on the couch, when his did the same thing moments later.

* * * *

Admiral Nelson wasn’t at all surprised to find Chip’s SUV parked in its slot when he got to work Thursday morning.  Even though he’d all but ordered two weeks of down time for Seaview’s XO, the blond was just as dedicated to his job, if not more so, than Lee.  Well, Lee until now, Nelson breathed out heavily.  What little he was able to ascertain from Sheriff Callen’s call, Lee had simply been ‘Lee’: recognize danger – this time to a friend, not crewman, but that made no difference – and neutralize danger.  He wondered if Lee would recognize the action for what it was – a trait so inborn in Lee, so intrinsic to his persona, that he couldn’t stop it even if he wanted to.  He bypassed his own office, Angie sending him two raised eyebrows which he merely smiled at, and continued down the hall to Chip’s open office door, the blond’s secretary not yet in.

“Sir,” Chip bounced out of his chair and came to Attention when he spotted his boss.

Nelson chuckled.  “Chill,” he ordered, and continued in to sit in one of the chairs facing the desk.  Chip slowly sat back down in his.  “Could have sworn that I said not to come back until next Monday.”  As he continued to grin broadly, Chip slowly relaxed.

With Nelson this amused, Chip decided that he could get away with a bit of flippancy as well, something he rarely did with his boss.  “Actually, two weeks would be tomorrow, sir.”

“And you’re back early because…?”

“I’d had all I could take of being terrorized by my nieces and nephews,” Chip told him almost bashfully.

Nelson snorted and shook a finger at him, but continued to grin.  “Had a call yesterday,” he started.

“Lee?” burst out of Chip’s mouth before he could stop it.  It made Nelson smile more broadly.

“Well, about him, at least.”

“What did he do?” snuck out in a soft growl.  He instantly turned red and shut up.

Nelson laughed out loud.  “Actually, what he always does.  He’s with Dr. Radiwan…”  he paused as Chip all but smirked, which he acknowledged with a nod of his own.  “There was some kind of threat from her ex-husband and Lee ‘handled’ it.  The call was from the investigating Sheriff.”

“Injuries?”

“Apparently only to the ex,” Nelson confirmed.  “I gather he ended up in the hospital.”

“But you haven’t heard from Lee,” Chip wanted clarification.

Nelson frowned.  “No.  At least, not yet.  I rather suspect that he’ll call one of us in the next couple of days.”  He shrugged.  “At least, I hope so,” he amended.

“Yeah,” it was Chip’s turn to breathe out in a heavy sigh.

* * * *

Lee startled awake, then quickly looked around.  Becca was still sound asleep in the chair so the scream he thought that he’d made had apparently been silent.  Stupid dream, he muttered to himself, and checked his watch; it was just past three pm.  Getting up quietly, he went to wash his face, then checked the larder for what was left from which to make dinner.  He set out two steaks to start thawing, and cut two potatoes into half-inch-thick rounds to also grill, and put them into a bowl of water for now so that they wouldn’t turn dark.  Deciding that he’d probably had enough hard liquor over the last two weeks to last him at least three months, he grabbed a bottle of beer and turned the stereo on fairly low.  Not yet needing the heat, he still started the fireplace to just display flames and settled once more on the couch, this time sitting up, not laying down.

He wasn’t paying much attention to what was playing on the stereo as he stared into the fire and nursed his beer, until once more John Denver’s distinctive voice penetrated his thoughts.

              On the road of experience, I’m trying to find my own way.  Sometimes I wish that I could fly away.  When I think that I’m moving, suddenly things stand still.  I’m afraid cause I think they always will.  And I’m looking for space, and to find out who I am, and I’m looking to know and understand.

             It’s a sweet, sweet, dream, sometimes I’m almost there.  Sometimes I fly like an eagle and sometimes I’m deep in despair.

            All alone in the universe, sometimes that’s how it seems.  I get lost in the sadness and the screams.  Then I look in the center and suddenly everything’s clear.  I find myself in the sunshine and my dreams.  And I’m looking for space and to find out who I am, and I’m looking to know and understand.

           It’s a sweet, sweet dream, sometimes I’m almost there.  Sometimes I fly like an eagle, and sometimes I’m deep in despair.

           On the road of experience, join in the living day.  If there’s an answer it’s just that it’s just that way.  When you’re looking for space and to find out who you are.  When you’re looking to try and reach the stars. 

           It’s a sweet, sweet dream, sometimes I’m almost there.  Sometimes I fly like an eagle, and sometimes I’m deep in despair.

           Sometimes I fly like and eagle, like an eagle, Oh, oh, oh, yeah. ^^

“If there’s an answer it’s just that it’s just that way,” he repeated as the stereo went on to a different CD, and he shook his head almost sadly.  “John, you were wise beyond your years, and you left us way too soon.”  He toasted the air around him.  “But you died doing something you truly loved,” remembering the singer-songwriter’s death in 1997 when the plane he’d recently purchased crashed into Monterey Bay.

“What?” Becca mumbled, slowly shaking herself awake.

“Nothing important,” Lee told her with a grin.

“That better not be the last beer,” she continued to mumble as she sat up.

Lee chuckled.  “Nope.  And there’s still half a bottle of white wine in the fridge, although I have set out steaks for dinner.”

Becca finally shook herself awake.  “Non-conformist,” she told him.  “I like white with red meat.”  They both chuckled, and Becca headed upstairs to freshen up.

Lee finished his beer, then finished defrosting the steaks in the microwave before seasoning them, then putting them into the fridge until he was ready to fix them.  Then he grabbed another beer and returned to his place on the couch.  He knew that, after Sheriff Callen’s call to Admiral Nelson he should call his boss as well.  But he still hesitated, not quite ready to tackle those issues just yet.

* * * *

Silently, yet by mutual agreement, Lee and Becca got up Thursday morning and started straightening everything up.  They packed what food that could go safely there into the freezer, and what couldn’t, into boxes to take back to Portland, then took one more hike into the forest toward Mt. Hood.  Becca called Clay Bridger to let him know the cabin would be empty by that evening, and after glossing over Mike Nesbit’s invasion, strongly suggested that her friend have the cabin’s security upgraded.  She and Lee both just shook their heads when the man didn’t seem overly concerned.  They ended up getting back to Portland just after nine pm, having stopped not far out of town for pizza.

With almost dread, Lee placed the call to Admiral Nelson about ten am Friday morning.  Becca had decided to go into the office; she figured that by now her desk was a disaster zone and she’d try to get as much of it organized as she could before she was back to seeing patients Monday morning.  With no excuse to put it off any longer Lee dialed NIMR, then Nelson’s extension, and smiled when Angie answered in her most efficient tone.  “Admiral Nelson’s office.”

“Hi, gorgeous,” Lee replied.  It was his usual opening to her, although it wasn’t said with quite its usual lightness.

“Lee,” came back a bit officiously, and Lee cringed.

“Is the Admiral in?” Lee asked, now carefully.

“Let me check to see if he’s available,” and he was put on ‘hold’.

“Swell,” Lee muttered softly.  “Not only is he ticked, but Angie is, too.  Not sure which is worse.”

He didn’t have time to ponder that mess before Nelson picked up, his voice not at all strained.  “Lee,” he said a bit breathlessly.  “How are you?” was added almost hesitantly.

“Fine, sir,” Lee gave him his standard answer.  There was a soft snort in the background that sounded suspiciously like a certain blond, and Lee figured that Chip was present and Nelson had put the phone on speaker.  That meant that Angie was no doubt listening as well.  “Figured that I’d better check to see if I still have a job,” he got out, not nearly as casually as he would have liked.  He finally started to relax as Nelson’s sigh could easily be heard.

“I would rather not have to hire an entirely new crew after everyone current deserted if you don’t come back.”  There was a pause, and ‘something’ was said too quietly for Lee to decipher.  “But you’re on your own with your XO,” Nelson added, barely able to get out around the chuckles he couldn’t control.

“Don’t you worry about him,” came in Angie’s firm voice, and even Lee had to laugh.

“Yes, ma’am,” he finally replied.  “See you Monday?” he added softly, once more careful.

“I’ll have your desk all nicely buried by then,” Chip told him.

“Swell,” it was Lee’s turn to mutter.

There was a moment when no one said anything, until Nelson finally spoke.  “Lee?” was definitely a question.

Lee smiled to himself.  “Working on it.”

“That’s all any of us can hope for,” Nelson told him sincerely.  “See you Monday.”

“Yes, sir,” and the connection was broken.

Lee took a deep breath, suddenly grateful that only the phone connection was broken, not the connections he’d made to those people he called ‘family’.  No, he still didn’t have all the answers.  But he knew where to find the people most likely to help him look.

 

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

*           See “Friends” by R. L. Keller

**         See “There Will Be An Answer” by R. L. Keller

* * *     See “Feathered Friend” by R. L. Keller

+            See “For Every Action” by R. L. Keller

++          See “The Legend Begins” by R. L. Keller

+++        See “Chip and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad, Day” by R. L. Keller

^             See “Cobwebs” by R. L. Keller

^^           “Looking For Space”, by John Denver