Beginnings

By R. L. Keller

 

Readers : Once more my slightly warped brain went off on it’s own.  I read something that stuck in my brain, and with help and inspiration from Pauline’s and Gail’s wonderful Contrives, the following is what came out.  It’s actually four separate stories, but all tied together because of the time period in which they occur – Lee’s first few months aboard Seaview.  The saying that started this makes up the chapter titles.

 

 

Chapter one – Respect is Earned

 

As his pride and joy, Seaview, neared her home port of Santa Barbara, Admiral Nelson wandered into the Conn by way of the aft hatch.  A carefully controlled smile crossed his face as he glanced around.  The crew was still getting used to their new captain, and being careful around him.  Not that they hadn’t been attentive to their duties under Capt. John Phillips, killed in the line of duty barely four weeks ago.  But Nelson was very aware that Seaview’s hand-picked mixture of navy-trained personnel and civilian technicians hadn’t yet figured out Cdr. Lee Crane.  After Lee’s rather unorthodox entrance that first night, ticking off pretty much everyone aboard – with reason, Nelson admitted* - they weren’t quite prepared for Lee’s normally laid back leadership style.  Nor were they immediately excited to find out that their backbone, Seaview’s XO, Lt. Cdr. Charles Philip “Chip” Morton, turned out to be Lee’s best friend.  COB Curley Jones assured both Chip, who he reported directly to, and Nelson, who he had on easy relationship with, that everyone was slowly getting used to the changes.  While Phillips had confined himself mostly to the Conn, letting Seaview’s well-trained crew deal with most of the day-to-day running of the submarine, Lee was all over the boat – at all hours of the day.  And night, Nelson once more controlled his expression.  Lee didn’t interfere with the crew.  Nelson knew that it was merely Lee getting to know his new boat and crew; that he wanted to learn everything and everyone.  Nelson couldn’t fault his new captain.  Seaview wasn’t exactly your average submarine.  But Lee’s actions had further unsettled the crew, no matter how Curley reminded them that it was normal for their new Skipper to want to understand how different Seaview was from his previous all-Navy experiences.

 

Nelson did let a bit of that smile appear as he walked up to the chart table – Lee was nowhere in sight.  “Everything under control,” he observed to Chip, quietly making notes on one of several clipboards scattered on the flat surface.

 

“Yes, sir,” the blond answered, casually glanced around the Conn, and went back to writing.  “Just putting a few last minute notations on the crew’s Leave schedule.”  He straightened up and sent Nelson a serious look.  “Unless there’s been a change of plans, sir.”

 

Nelson grinned broadly.  That had become, unfortunately, one of Nelson’s ‘specialties’, messing up Chip’s ultra-organized plans with last-minute changes; however accidentally it happened.  “No, no,” he waved a hand.  “We’re still in port a full two weeks.”  Chip nodded and went back to his scribbling.  “Lee?” Nelson asked softly.

 

Chip’s hand stopped but he didn’t look up.  “Last reported in Propulsion,” he answered, paused, and finally looked at Nelson.  “But that was over half an hour ago.”

 

That earned the XO a chuckle from his boss.  Lee was quickly gaining a reputation for being everywhere at once, it seemed, aboard the giant submarine.  “Got it,” Nelson answered, and reached for the mic.  “Cdr. Crane,” he spoke after double-clicking for an all-boat call, “report your location to the Conn.”  He’d barely hung up the mic when rapid footsteps could be heard approaching the aft hatch and Seaview’s new CO hurried up to Nelson.

 

“Sir?” he said, coming to a stop at almost Attention.

                                                                                                                                                                              

It earned another soft chuckle, especially as Nelson noticed Chip have to bury a grin.  “Relax, Lee.  I was merely curious as to which part of Seaview you were crawling through at the moment.”  His grin spread as Lee frowned, and he noticed Chip have to totally turn his back to the pair.

 

“XO Morton had everything under control, sir,” Lee answered formally, “and I’m still learning my way around Seaview’s larger size.”

 

“And planning how you want to re-organize the storage units?” Nelson teased, in reference to the time Lee had served under him aboard the Nautilus.**  He knew that Lee understood the reference when the brunet ducked his head slightly, in the shy way the younger man could on occasion.  “You will probably have less of an argument explaining your reasoning to Chip than you did Cory Mains.” Nelson told him.  There was a soft snort from the blond’s direction.

 

“Not so sure about that, sir,” Lee admitted, and finally smiled.  Nelson gave his shoulder a soft backhand and Chip finally turned to face the pair, softly waggling a hand and causing both Nelson and Lee to smile.

 

“Plans for your Leave?” Nelson changed the subject, looking directly at Lee.

 

“Trying to find my office under all the reports piling up,” Lee answered seriously.  Besides everything related to the Navy that he was responsible for as Seaview’s CO, the sub still having to deal with the service even though she was privately owned, Nelson had made it clear that Lee needed to keep on top of everything related to the Institute as well.  Nelson didn’t expect Lee to understand all of the research being conducted, but he did want Lee to at least be aware of what kinds of projects were in the works at any given time.  Nelson had realized that there had been confusion, and occasionally conflict, because John Phillips hadn’t been involved with anything other than running Seaview.  With Lee’s arrival Nelson vowed that that would change.  Chip already kept somewhat up-to-date since he’d been involved with the Institute almost from the beginning of Seaview’s being built.  He’d been a great help as Lee started learning the Institute as well as Seaview.

 

“Leave means Leave,” Nelson now told him firmly.  “To the best of my knowledge you haven’t taken a day off since you got here.”

 

“Not true, sir,” Lee corrected.  “I took two days, once my stuff arrived, to move into my new house.”

 

“A day and a half,” Chip corrected with a smirk.  Lee sent him a glare, causing Nelson to grin.  He glanced around the Conn, gauging how the crew was reacting to the quiet hijinks between CO and XO they were still trying to adjust to.  From what he could see, so far so good.

 

“Lee,” he returned to his new captain,” you will take Leave.”

 

“Yes, sir,” Lee acquiesced quietly, before a mischievous grin appeared.  “I can read a lot of the reports at home.”

Nelson shook a finger at the impudent response but couldn’t quite keep a grin off of his own face.  It was actually what he, himself, had planned for the two weeks in port.

 

“I’ll drag him with me up to my sister’s,” Chip told Nelson.  “That will take care of at least one week.”

 

“Hah,” Lee muttered.  “You won’t last three days before you’ll want back in your own office.  Especially with the new baby.” 

                                                                                                                                                                              

Chip’s turn to smile shyly.  “There is that,” he agreed.

 

Nelson just shook his head and walked back out of the Conn, leaving his two young officers grinning softly at each other.

 

* * * *

 

Two weeks later found Seaview’s top three officers once more in Seaview’s Conn.  This time Nelson was accompanied by two men who, he was realizing, were making themselves quickly disliked by not only Lee and Chip, but causing frowns on the faces of those crewmen on duty in Seaview’s hub as she was preparing to leave port.  NIMR actively encouraged being ‘hired out’ as it were, to scientists and researchers, the incoming monies helping offset NIMR’s own projects.  Nelson hadn’t met these two before, only having read and approved their proposed trip off Alaska’s coast to do feasibility studies for a possible offshore drilling project.  The cruise would also allow Nelson to take water samples in the area to further a couple of his own studies.  Lee, with Chip’s input, had scheduled a couple of extra days in the cruise for Nelson, but when the men had become aware of that they both started arguing, saying that they were paying for Seaview’s time – all of Seaview’s time.  Nelson, with Lee’s help, patiently explained that the original billing covered the original timetable, and the extra days weren’t requiring extra payment.  But both men insisted that they’d planned ten days, and ten days only, for their research, and needed to be back at their own facilities by the original date, not the extra two days Lee and Chip had added.

 

Ultimately Nelson’s decision, Lee took a step back and let his boss deal with the issue.  The Admiral, not wanting to back down but also not wishing to continue the argument in the Conn, took the pair to his office.  He later called down to Lee, who was at that moment guiding the sub from her underground lair into the channel that would take her to the open ocean, to reschedule the cruise to its original parameters.  Lee and Chip sent each other a shrug and, while Lee continued the maneuver, Chip started re-plotting Seaview’s timetable.

 

“A question, Lieutenant?” Lee asked during one pause between commands as he caught Seaview’s Second Officer, Lt. Bishop, giving him a strange look.

 

“No, sir,” came back, in what Lee surmised to be an insolent drawl.  Even before Lee had taken command of Seaview, he knew from Chip’s occasional letters that Bishop wasn’t the most easy-going person.  ‘Stick-up-his-ashcan’ was how Chip had referred to the man in at least one instance, and Lee had quickly understood the remark once he was aboard.  It was also quickly apparent, once it became known that Lee and Chip were such good friends, that Bishop totally disapproved that they were now serving together.  Not that he could do anything about it, being junior to both of them.  But that didn’t stop the occasionally snide response.  While Chip would glare the man into silence, Lee tended to let it pass.  The man was a good officer, knew his job, and did it well.  Quietly, not even mentioning it to Chip, Lee was figuring out just how to convince Bishop to return to the regular Navy from the Reserves, where all of Seaview’s officers served, and replace him with someone who fit more comfortably into the crew.  For now, as long as he did his job, Lee was willing to put up with him.

 

“But, sir,” Bishop now added, “why are you not standing pat with the Admiral’s plan?”

 

Lee carefully hid a grin at Chip’s instant straightening to Attention and glaring at his Second.  “Because,” Lee answered easily, “the Admiral just changed it.”  He turned away as he needed to issue the command for his next maneuver.  Thankfully Bishop let the subject drop.  Although, Lee was quick to note and quick to bury another grin, Chip sent the man on an errand aft to get him out of the Conn.  Lee heard a softly muttered ‘something’ from the blond and tapped him lightly on the shoulder as he called out the next maneuver.  Chip sent him a nod and Lee returned it, juggling his current duty with re-doubling his thoughts on how to get rid of the increasingly obnoxious lieutenant.

                                                                                                                                                                          

* * * *

 

Three days later Lee changed his plans to how to get rid of the two scientists.  The pair had quickly all but taken over the Observation Nose, getting in the way of whoever was stationed at that post to keep detailed records of Seaview’s passage by way of her unique front windows.  Then they demanded that their meals – all of their meals – be served to them there, and complained bitterly if they didn’t get served enough food.  Lee was already on the boat’s cook’s bad side simply because he, always a light eater, didn’t eat enough to satisfy the persnickety chef.  Chip, who the man actually liked because the blond ate everything in sight and always had, had finally stepped in when Lee failed miserably to calm the man down.  Whatever Chip had said worked, and Cookie stopped threatening the entire boat with bread and water for the remainder of the cruise.

 

Nelson remained uncharacteristically silent on the subject as he, Lee, and Chip shared most of their meals in the Officers’ Wardroom.  Nor did the younger men bring up the topic, after the first time it was mentioned.  There was heard a very loud banging of pots from the Galley, Nelson had sent a glare that direction, then one toward the other two men, and Lee quickly changed the topic to boat’s business.  He was still learning Seaview’s more interesting idiosyncrasies and eagerly soaked up everything Nelson, and Chip, had to say on the subject.

 

By day four the scientists’ attitudes had, if anything, gotten worse and Lee was taking note, as he wandered around the sub, of a growing discontent among the crew.  Lee tried to get a sense for what was causing it; surely, he asked, they’d had disagreeable people aboard before.  He didn’t actually say “during Capt. Phillips’ command,” but that’s what he meant.  Unfortunately, he didn’t get any real answers.  Men would shrug, mumble a few off-hand thoughts, and eventually say that there hadn’t been anyone that disagreeable.

 

“I get the feeling that they think it’s my fault that it’s gotten this bad,” he finally uttered quietly that evening to Chip, in the confines of his own cabin as the pair sat for their usual 2000 hours meeting to go over the day’s workload.

 

“Absolutely not,” Chip told him firmly.  “How could it be?  You have nothing to do with who the Admiral brings aboard.”

 

“I also haven’t done anything to stop their jackhole attitudes,” Lee grumbled.

 

“Not your job,” Chip countered.

 

“But it is my job to maintain order aboard.”

 

“No, that’s my job,” Chip smirked.  It dragged a grin from his friend, as he’d intended.  “The Admiral has always had the final say when it comes to passengers.  We just run the boat.”

 

“I suppose...”  Lee let his voice trail off.  “Just seems that there’s something I should be doing,” he admitted.

 

“There’s not a solution to every problem,” Chip told him.

 

“Says the man who figured out how to get the cover off Herndon in the fastest time ever at our graduation from Plebe to Third Year Midshipman,” Lee smirked.***

 

“Yeah, well...” and it was Chip’s turn to let his voice trail off.  “And I had lots of help,” he added, sending Lee a nod.

 

“So why can’t we figure this mess out?” Lee muttered.

                                                                                                                                                                        

“We can, easy.  Toss those two idiots overboard,” Chip growled.

 

“NIMR would have to return their money and we wouldn’t get paid for this cruise.”

 

“There is that,” Chip agreed with a shrug.

 

“Tomorrow we arrive at Nunivak Island.  Hopefully once they can concentrate on their research they won’t have time to be such pains in the tails.”

 

“Until we head for home,” Chip frowned and slumped further into the chair next to Lee’s desk.

 

“Maybe they’ll be so busy in the lab with their samples that they won’t cause any more trouble.”  Chip sent him a glare and crossed his arms over his chest.  “Yeah,” Lee agreed to the unspoken comment, “I don’t believe that one either.”

 

* * * *

 

The next morning started badly.  Until now the two scientists had only demanded what Chip mutteringly called ‘creature comforts’, with an emphasis on ‘creature’, that concerned themselves.  Now that Seaview had reached their chosen research area they started demanding extra equipment that they knew the sub carried – several zodiacs, collection containers and testing machines among other odds and ends – that were not part of the original contract.  It was assumed that those things, at least the equipment, were what the men had brought aboard in several packing crates.  Lee stood next to Nelson when the Admiral pointed that out. Loudly.  The men merely waved a hand and said that their equipment was for what they needed to take back with them, and that the contract stated clearly that NIMR would “supply what was needed for them to complete their research data.”  That, it quickly became apparent, also included at least ten of Seaview’s crew to do the collections as the scientists ordered.

 

“How did you think we were going to complete everything we need in the two days allowed for collections?” one of the men practically spit in Nelson’s face.  “Your people have been hired, the same as everything else, to do the grunt work.  Now here’s the list...” and he shoved several sheets of paper into Nelson’s hand.  “And they’d better get everything right the first time.  We’re not paying for any extra time if anything has to be re-done because of your people screwing something up.”

 

Lee literally held his breath.  No one talked to Admiral Nelson that way.  At least, no one who lived long enough to tell the tale.  Having read the contract for services Lee had to admit that the wording, while sounding straightforward, had been general enough that the scientists had a point.  It did read like NIMR and Seaview would provide what the men needed to complete their studies.

 

Apparently that thought also went through Nelson’s mind as well, as Lee saw him take a deep breath and blow it out.  He turned to Lee, his expression fierce although Lee was sure that it wasn’t actually directed at him, and handed over the sheets of paper he’d been given.  “Lee, please see to these,” came out fairly normally, although Lee easily read the man’s underlying anger.

 

“Yes, sir,” Lee answered, and started quickly scanning the list of demands as Nelson stalked out of the Observation Nose, where the confrontation had taken place.  COB Jones had been present, standing quietly to one side, ready to assist the scientists.  Instead Lee, frowning, motioned him closer.  “Chief Jones,” he addressed the man in an under control voice, “we’ll need...” he continued to read, “two zodiacs prepared, plus the mini-

sub.”  He took his own deep breath.  “A dive party of eight, four men to each zodiac.”  He looked at Jones.  “I know that there are men who have assisted the Admiral with collections before.”

                                                                                                                                                                         

“Yes, sir.”

 

“Pull whoever you need, two divers and two crew for each zodiac, and whoever has the most experience handling the mini-sub.”

 

“Aye, aye, sir,” came back instantly.  “I know exactly who I need,” he assured Lee.  They both ignored the two scientists, large smirks on both faces.

 

“Good man,” Lee told Jones.  “A third zodiac will take two or three men to Nunivak to do the shore collections.  Assemble the men in the Missile Room.  I’ll have instructions and assignments for them at,” he glanced at his watch, “1000 hours.”  It was now 0830.

 

“You can’t organize anything faster than that?” came in a growl from one of the scientists.

 

“If you had bothered to give me these,” Lee held up the papers, “prior to today,” Lee tried to control his anger, “it would have already been arranged.  Chief,” he turned his back on the two men.

 

“1000, roger,” the COB’s craggy face betrayed his own displeasure but his response was crisp. “Our people will be ready.”  He sent Lee a nod, turned, and left out the back way, as Nelson had.  Lee, still ignoring the scientists, headed up the spiral stairs to the Conn.  Seething inside, he kept enough control over his emotions to explain to Chip what had just occurred.  The blond’s ‘XO on Duty’ face barely changed, although Lee could easily read the tension in the man’s body as the pair went over the sheets of instructions – well, demands – together, and re-adjusted duty assignments to cover the men COB Jones needed.  Lee relaxed slightly as Chip, knowing the crew better than Lee, approved Jones’ choices, and even suggested a couple extras to the COB’s list.  He scribbled notes on the sheets, ideas for how a few things should be handled, which Lee appreciated.  While he was slowly getting used to Seaview and her crew, he still relied on Chip for details such as this.  They left Lt. Bishop with the Watch, just holding station where they’d surfaced off Nunivak Island, and together headed for the Missile Room to supervise the launching of the zodiacs and mini-sub after Lee gave each team a detailed list of instructions.  It was obvious, to everyone, that no one was happy with this abrupt departure from what they’d all been expecting.  But Lee was quick to note everyone jumping in to make it work, and gave each team a thumb’s up as they left the boat.

 

The pair had just gotten back to the Conn when Admiral Nelson joined them, more papers in his hand, and glanced around.  “Where’s Bains and Elias?” he named the two scientists.  Lee noted that his voice was still stressed with anger but he’d definitely calmed down at least a little bit.

 

“As far as I know, sir,” Chip answered, with a quick look at Bishop, “sitting in the Nose with their feet up, swilling coffee.”  Lee frowned at the tone Chip had used but it actually caused a slight smile to briefly cross Nelson’s face.

 

He held up the papers.  “Been re-reading the contract,” came out with almost a sheepish look.  “Obviously I, and NIMR’s lawyers, are going to have a serious discussion when we get back.”

 

“It’s always worked until now, sir?” Lee asked respectfully.  He saw ‘something’ cross Bishop’s face but ignored it.  “It sounded okay when I read it.”

 

Nelson nodded.  “No reason for you to question it, Lee,” he told the younger man.  “You’ve had a lot on your plate since you got here, and contracts shouldn’t be anything you needed to worry about.”

 

“Lee worries about everything,” came quietly from Chip’s direction.  Lee sent him a frown, Bishop actually glared, albeit briefly, and Lee figured that’s what caused Nelson to snort softly.

 

“I remember, Chip,” he told his XO.  “Annapolis was an ‘experience’ for everyone.”  Lee ducked his head ever so slightly and Chip actually blushed at that reminder, causing Nelson to grin.  Lee also saw him relax even more from the stiff posture he’d been maintaining.  He nearly grinned himself when he saw Bishop openly staring at Chip.  “I’m actually surprised,” Nelson looked at Lee, “that you didn’t go out with any of the teams.”  He kept the slight smile on his face.

 

“Your crewmen are used to working together, sir,” Lee told his boss.  “I didn’t want to mess anyone up.”

 

Bishop’s stare transferred to Lee, who realized that both Chip and Nelson noticed as well.  “Uh huh,” Nelson told Lee with obvious fondness in his voice.  Bishop didn’t stare at Nelson only because he found something immediately behind him that apparently needed his attention and turned his back to the other three.  “And with you aboard,” Nelson continued, ignoring Bishop, “you can instantly respond to any trouble that might arise.”

 

“Yes, sir,” Lee agreed seriously.  Chip nodded, Nelson sent both a quick grin, and headed back out of the Conn.

 

Thankfully the morning expeditions went very well, especially after how quickly they’d had to be organized.  Lee continued to study the ‘orders’ the two scientists had given Nelson and, as the first teams came in, Lee and COB Jones already had plans for the afternoon session.  Lee mentioned, somewhat off-hand and also quietly as both Bains and Elias had appeared to grab everything that was brought in, that if the afternoon session went as well they could do one more set the next morning, have everything done, and head home that much faster.  As softly as he said it, he instantly had nods of agreement from not only Curley but the several crewmen close enough to hear.

 

Lee was paying special attention to who Curley chose for which jobs and who he put together as teams.  Still learning his way through the crewmen, and while still angry at what made it necessary, he was actually appreciating this extra knowledge and insight.  He had a feeling that Nelson understood when he appeared as Lee and Curley sent out the afternoon teams and caught Lee continuing to concentrate on each man’s assignments. 

 

Nelson addressed his first question to the COB.  “Everything under control here, I see,” he said casually.

 

“Aye, sir,” Curley answered.  “Ah,” he paused ever so slightly, and both Lee and Nelson gave him their attention, “Dr.’s Bains and Elias have any complaints, sir?”

 

“Not that I’ve heard,” Nelson told him pleasantly, before his expression hardened.  “And I’m sure I would have,” came out in a snarl.

 

“Aye, sir,” and Yes, sir,” came from Curley and Lee respectively.

 

“How long to cover everything in the actual contract?” Nelson asked Lee.

 

“We were just working on that, sir,” he included the COB, which got him a quick nod from several men.  “If everything stays under control, one set tomorrow morning and we can head for home.  Well,” he frowned, “if they don’t add any more demands.”

 

“They can’t,” Nelson told him firmly.  “At least that part of the contract is very clear.  Specific collections and data from exact locations.  That’s all we are obligated to supply.”  His expression hardened further.  “And if they want anything else, you have my permission to tell them precisely where they can shove it.”

 

“Yes, sir,” Lee told him carefully.

 

“Harrumph,” Nelson growled.  “Better yet, let me tell them.”

 

“Yes, sir,” Lee repeated.  Nelson sent him a nod and left.  Lee and Curley shared a look and went back to double-checking that they had everything covered.

 

As the afternoon teams came back, and Lee checked off on his lists that they’d covered everything equally as well as the morning teams, Lee sent a “Bravo Zulu” to Seaview’s entire crew.  He got nods and quick smiles from those men he could see, and Chip told him as they met as usual in Lee’s cabin at 2000 hours that there had been appreciative comments elsewhere on the boat.

 

“Seaview has good people,” Lee told his friend.

 

“Mostly,” Chip replied, and both grinned at that remark.  Lee knew that Chip’s comment was meant to exclude Lt. Bishop.

 

“There’s always one,” Lee told him.  “Be glad that there aren’t more.  When I served with Admiral Nelson, well, he was Capt. Nelson then, on the Nautilus, it was mostly a good crew, too.”  He shrugged.  “But there were a couple men...”  He didn’t finish the thought.

 

A quirky grin hit Chip’s face.  “Somehow, I wouldn’t think any man would last long under the Admiral for very long if they didn’t shape up.  Fast!”

 

Lee chuckled.  “There is that,” he agreed.  “But like now, he let his XO and COB handle the crew.  Well,” he hesitated,  “Mostly.  There were a couple instances...” and again his voice trailed off.

 

“And knowing you, you were right in the middle of it,” Chip smarted off.

 

Lee sent him a quick glare, but also a sheepish nod.  “A time or two,” he admitted,**** and shared a chuckle with his best friend.

 

“Better go do my reports,” Chip finally grumbled.  “My new Skipper is a real stickler for details.”  He sent Lee a glare as he stood up, Lee sent it right back, and they both burst out laughing as Chip headed to his own cabin.

 

Lee cleaned up a few things on his desk and then headed out for what was quickly becoming an almost nightly walk through the boat.  He didn’t expect to find any problems, and rarely did aboard Nelson’s pride and joy.  But it helped settle his own mind that all was well, and he slept better for the extra bit of exercise.

 

Tonight was no exception, until he happened to pass by the Marine Lab at the same time the two scientists were leaving.  Lee assumed to their cabin for the night but he didn’t really care.  What he did react to was Dr. Bains all but shoving a sheet of paper into his hands.  “A list of further samples we need,” he growled and started to walk away.

 

“No, sir,” Lee told him, politely but firmly.

 

It stopped both men in their tracks.  “What?” was all but shouted as both scientists glared at him.

 

“With one more set of dives we’ll have all the material you contracted for and we’ll head back to Santa Barbara,” Lee continued to speak steadily, looking directly at the men.  As they started to sputter, he cut them off.  “If you have further questions please take them up with Admiral Nelson.”  He shoved the paper back into Dr. Bains’ hand and walked off, ignoring both men’s indignant, and loud, utterings.  Turning the next corner he ran into two crewmen, Seamen Patterson and Kowalski.  From their expressions they had heard the quick conversation between Lee and the scientists.  And knew that Lee knew they had.  Lee merely sent them a quick nod.  “Good evening, men,” he said softly and kept walking.

 

“Sir,” came hesitantly from both crewmen to Lee’s back.

 

Lee kept walking but a quick smile hit his face.  Seaman Kowalski, Seaview’s Senior Rating, was still wary of Lee, not quite ready to totally accept him.  Lee did his best to treat every crewman on board with the same level of respect, no matter that he recognized Kowalski’s, and a few others’, continued level of distrust.

 

After his encounter with the scientists he took the precaution of heading directly to Admiral Nelson’s cabin and reporting the incident.  He almost cringed at the expression of disgust that instantly hit Nelson’s face, followed instantly by one of determination.  Lee went straight to his cabin on being dismissed.  Since he never heard any shouting, and Seaview stayed stable in the water, he assumed that either the scientists decided not to complain, or Nelson kept his temper under control and didn’t verbally blast them into the next time zone, as he was all too capable of doing when he was royally ticked!

 

There was no indication when Lee and Chip followed Nelson into the Wardroom the next morning, after a quick check in the Conn.  Conversation centered around that morning’s last round of dives and land collections, both Lee and Chip assuring their boss that everything was under control.

 

“Excellent,” Nelson told them with a satisfied grin.  “I look forward to having an extra day at home before our next cruise.”

 

“Yes, sir,” Lee agreed.  He lowered his head, but not to take a bite of what little food he’d taken.  “I’m never going to get all the department reports figured out,” came out softly.  Chip snickered, but Nelson shook his head.

 

“I have every faith in you’re being totally up to speed inside three months,” he assured Lee.

 

“Eh,” Chip muttered and waggled a hand.  Lee elbowed the blond and Nelson chuckled, but the subject was dropped when there was a rap on the Wardroom door and Chief Curley Jones stuck his head barely inside.

 

“Sirs?” came cautiously, but Nelson waved the man in.  He also indicated the food set out but Jones shook his head and walked up to the end of the table.  “Dr. Bains is demanding to go out with the closer in of the two dive teams,” he said, taking in all three officers’ faces.

 

“He doesn’t have to ‘demand’,” Lee muttered.  Nelson and Chip nodded.  “He and Elias were supposed to be doing their own collections from the very first.”

 

“Harrumph,” Nelson muttered, and something that sounded like ‘maybe that stupid idiot will drown’, came from Chip’s direction.  Lee sent a glare but Nelson snorted softly.

 

“Just make sure that whoever’s on that team is calm but determined enough that Dr. Bains can’t buffalo them,” Lee told the COB, and then looked at his boss.  “After last night’s little encounter I’m not sure I’d put anything past either he or Dr. Elias.”

 

“Absolutely,” Nelson agreed.  “Chief?” he directed toward the COB.

 

“I’ll take care of it,” Jones told all three, made a sharp left turn, and exited.

 

“I’m tempted to go myself,” Lee grumbled, and Chip nodded.

 

“No,” Nelson told him firmly, before a slightly devious grin hit his face.  “We won’t give him the satisfaction of pulling officers into whatever game he’s playing.”

 

“Yes, sir,” came from both Lee and Chip.

 

But two hours later they were all reconsidering that decision.  The leader of the dive team Dr. Bains had gone out with reported, somewhat breathlessly although Lee could hear almost as much anger as anxiety in Seaman Kowalski’s voice, that he’d turned away for only a moment and Bains had disappeared.  Nor was he answering hails.  Lee immediately got on the divers’ channel and demanded Bains report his position in a voice that had the entire Conn crew sitting straighter in their chairs.  He didn’t see Chip have to quickly hide a grin; Seaview’s crew had obviously forgotten, in the intervening weeks, how Lee had originally come aboard the sub, and the dressing down he’d given the men who’d ‘caught’ him for being so lax with security that he’d managed to get as far as he had.  Chip was all too aware that, while Lee was normally laid back and calm, his dark Mediterranean complexion hid a dark, dangerous, side that Lee sometimes had to work hard to keep under control.  A thoroughly ticked off Lee was not a pleasant person to be within fifty feet of!

 

Chip wondered if Admiral Nelson was having some of those same thoughts as he scurried into the Conn from the back hatch.  “Lee?” he asked, while not cautiously, at least with a bit less power than he, himself, could level at someone when irritated.

 

“Dr. Bains swam away from the team and isn’t answering a hail,” Lee reported.  “Sir,” was hastily added, and it actually caused Nelson to half-smile as Lee went back to concentrating on the radio.

 

“Where’s Dr. Elias?” Nelson sent toward Chip.

 

“As far as I know, sir, in the Observation Nose,” came the instant reply, and Nelson barreled through the Conn and down the spiral stairs to Seaview’s lower deck.  Chip expected Lee to follow but he stayed in the Radio Shack, continuing to call Dr. Bains in between talking to the other teams as well.

 

When Nelson reappeared both Lee and Lt. Ted Sines, Seaview’s head radioman, who was rarely called anything other than ‘Sparks’, were listening intently to their headsets.  Nelson started to open his mouth, noticed the intensity in the Radio Shack, and walked that direction.  Lee saw him coming but continued to concentrate on the secondary headset Sparks had given him for several more seconds before he answered the unspoken question on his boss’ face.  “There are sounds coming over what must be Dr. Bains’ speaker, sir,” and he handed Nelson his headset.

 

“Not water,” Nelson muttered after listening for a bit.  He got nods from both Lee and Sparks.  “And definitely not breathing.”

 

“It’s more like he took it off and laid it on the ground,” Lee agreed.  “What did Dr. Elias have to say, sir?”  Chip buried another grin – mostly at the look of surprise on Lt. Bishop’s face as it became apparent that, even though Lee had been focused on the headphones, he’d been aware of Nelson’s question and exit.

 

“He has absolutely no idea – he says – what Bains is doing,” came out in a snarl.  “He says he was as surprised as anyone when Bains wanted to go out; that he has been extremely pleased with how our men have handled the collections and he thought that Bains was as well.”  Nelson’s voice calmed down through that last part and a slight smile crossed Lee’s face.

 

“They’re a great crew, sir,” Lee agreed, and Chip saw quick nods from several of the Conn Duty men.  Lee indicated the headset.  “Bains’ group was close enough that he could easily have headed for the shore.”

 

“Where?” Nelson demanded and, by the time he and Lee walked over to the chart table Chip had the exact spot pointed out.  “What’s there?” came the next question.

 

Lee headed for the periscope island and checked.  “Cliffs, sir, and what looks like several caves.”

 

“Sparks,” Nelson called, “bring Kowalski’s team in, whether or not they are done, to pick me up...”

 

“And me,” Lee all but cut off his boss.  “Sir,” was quickly added.

 

“Mr. Bishop,” Chip addressed his Second, “grab the Admiral’s and Skippers cold weather coats and have them ready at the boarding hatch.”

 

There was an ever so slight pause, which instantly drew a glare from Lee.  “Aye, sir,” the lieutenant finally answered and headed aft.  Nelson nodded but Chip wasn’t quite sure who the nod was aimed at.  Despite a few quietly muttered complaints from Chip, both Capt. Phillips and Admiral Nelson had stayed loyal to Bishop, admitting that he could be a little abrupt but knew his job, did it well, and the crew simply had to deal with him.  So far Lee, while knowing Chip’s feelings about the man, hadn’t said much on the subject.

 

The zodiac carrying the team Bains had assigned himself to barely touched the side of the sub when all the members jumped out except Seaman Patterson, who was acting as pilot, and Lee and Nelson jumped in. Kowalski tried to apologize for letting Bains disappear but Nelson waved him off and Lee gave him a quick, “Some people are impossible,” comment.  The seaman offered to quickly change gear and go with his officers.  Lee considered it but Nelson waved him off once more and pointed Patterson toward the closest shoreline from where the team had been diving.

 

Lee and Nelson scanned the line of cliffs as they approached the island’s shoreline, and both pointed toward a cave with almost a flat opening to the ocean.  “We’ll try that one first,” Lee told the seaman, who nodded and headed that direction.

 

As the zodiac grounded, Lee jumped out and steadied the small boat for Nelson who, while quite agile, still sent Lee a quick grin and nod.  Leaving Patterson to pull the boat a bit more up on shore, the officers headed inside the opening.  There they found that at least the walls and ceiling closest to the opening were covered with ice.  “Ocean water blows in, covers everything, and freezes,” Nelson pointed out, and Lee nodded.  They also found, laying on the ground just past where the ice stopped and bare stone appeared, scuba fins, tanks, and mask.

 

“Bains,” Lee yelled, listening to the sound bounce off the walls and echo further into the cavern.  Something extremely derogatory was yelled back, and Nelson and Lee headed further inside.

 

They found the scientist around a bend in the tunnel collecting samples from the base of the cave against one of the walls, digging them out with his dive knife.  “Just what do you think you’re doing?” Nelson yelled angrily.

 

“The collections your idiot captain refused to take.”  Bains didn’t bother looking up, continuing to dig with the knife point, but did take a second to send them a middle finger.  “I decided that I needed them to complete my studies, after reading the results from yesterday’s collections.”

 

As Nelson started to open his mouth, Lee raised a hand.  “Mine,” he told his boss, walked the several steps he needed to reach Bains, and kicked the knife out of Bains’ hand.  “Get your ashcan back to the zodiac, along with your gear, before I leave you here and sail for home.”

 

“I like that idea,” Nelson sent Lee a grin before glaring at Bains, who seemed ready to attack Lee.  “These collections aren’t part of your contract.  Not only that, but we weren’t given permission for anything beyond what’s already been authorized so these are illegal.  Lee, put back everything as close as you can while I escort Dr.,” and he made the title sound disgusting, “Bains back to the zodiac.”

 

As Bains started yelling, Lee shouted over him “Aye, aye, sir,” grabbed up the samples Bains had taken, in small collection bags laying next to the man, and started dumping them out.  Bains continued to scream and tried to stop Lee, but Nelson grabbed Bains’ arm and Lee put his back to them both, quickly finishing the task, stuffing the collection bags into a pocket of the foul weather coat and picking up the knife, now irreversibly damaged from the misuse of being used as a pickax.  When he turned back, he realized that Patterson had followed the officers and was helping Nelson shove Bains toward the cave entrance.  Bains finally shut up when Lee ordered the seaman to park Bains in the Brig once they were back aboard Seaview and tell Master-At-Arms Chief Hauck to keep him there until they returned to Santa Barbara.

 

“You wouldn’t dare,” Bains threatened.  The unholy grin Lee sent the man had Nelson chuckling, Patterson cringing, and Bains finally shutting up. 

 

He remained quiet all the way back to Seaview.  But once inside the hatch he turned toward Nelson and started to open his mouth.  “Don’t,” Nelson stepped close and bellowed into the man’s face.  “Shut up, be happy with what you have, and you can remain in your cabin on the way home.”  His sudden evil grin almost matched Lee’s earlier one.  “Personally, I agree with my captain,” yelling the title once more into Bains’ face with obvious pride.  “But I’d prefer to save him the extra paperwork.”  Lee didn’t get a soft snort buried at that reference to their earlier conversation, and Nelson sent him a fond smile.

 

“You’ll regret this,” Bains threatened.

 

“I doubt it,” Nelson told him easily.  “If your laboratory tolerates jackholes like you, it will be a pleasure to ignore any further requests for our services.  And be assured, every legitimate company in our files will hear about your impossible demands, illegal collections, and disregard for Seaview’s personnel.  Chief Hauck,” he turned and addressed Seaview’s MAA, who’d quietly walked up to the group.

 

But it was Lee who continued.  “Dr. Bains is now restricted to his quarters and the Marine lab.  He’ll take his meals in one or the other, but is not permitted in any other part of the boat.  Once home he will be escorted directly off Institute property.”

 

“Aye, aye, sir,” Hauck answered instantly.  “So ordered,” and the MAA glared at Bains.

                                                                                                                                                                         

“Admiral?” Bains all but whined.

 

Nelson shrugged.  “I’m not in the habit of questioning my captain’s” and again the title was said with pride, “orders.  Especially,” he added firmly, “when I happen to totally agree with them.”

 

“Doctor?” Chief Hauck addressed Bains formally but there wasn’t anyone, and especially the scientist, who didn’t recognize the set of the MAA’s shoulders and the expression on his face.

 

Lee blew out a large breath once Hauck and Bains were out of sight, and Nelson actually chuckled.  “Excellent,” he gave Lee’s shoulder a quick backhand.  “Very well handled.”

 

“Wish it hadn’t been necessary,” Lee admitted.

 

“Nonsense,” Nelson admonished.  “You treat people exactly how they treat you.  Bains has no respect for anyone other than himself.  That kind deserves what they get.”

 

“Yes, sir.”  Lee finally shrugged out of the heavy coat, handed it to the still waiting Patterson, and headed for the Conn.  He had the rest of the cruise to complete.

 

* * * *

 

Two days later, with Seaview headed home, Chip stood at the chart table puttering with a Duty assignment sheet as he kept an eye on the boat’s progress.  ‘Something’ was just that little bit different in the Conn and Chip had yet to put a finger on just why until Lee wandered in from one of his casual walks through the boat.  Felt more than seen, the XO caught the subtle shift in the Conn crew’s attitude.  At no time disrespectful to their new Skipper, the men on duty sat a bit straighter, returned Lee’s casual comments as he passed each station with a less formal stiffness than they’d been using, and just seemed...happier?...to Chip than they’d been. 

 

Lee caught Chip’s puzzled expression as he walked up to join the blond at Seaview’s command post.  “Problem?” he asked.

 

Chip sent his friend an easy grin.  “Realizing just how very right everything is,” he answered enigmatically, as he acknowledged that the crew was finally accepting Lee officially ‘into the fold’ as it were, of Seaview’s ‘family’.  Lee frowned at the comment, causing Chip’s grin to spread.  “Green across the board, Skipper,” Chip told his CO, back to his ‘XO on Duty’ expression.

 

Lee sent his friend a raised eyebrow but surrendered without another word.  Sometimes figuring out Chip’s logic wasn’t worth the effort.

 

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

                                                                                                                                                                         

                                                                                                                                                                           

*          see “TAD” by R. L. Keller

**        see “Job Hunt” by R. L. Keller

***      see several of the flashback segments in “Cobwebs” by R. L. Keller

****    see “First Duty”, “Quote, Unquote”, and “The Incident”, among others by R. L. Keller

 

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

 

Chapter Two – Trust is Gained

 

“Cdr. Crane, report to my cabin,” came over the all-boat intercom, Admiral Nelson using that method since he had absolutely no idea where on the giant submarine the man might be at the moment.  Seaview’s new Skipper had been aboard just over two months and still spent a great deal of time, when he wasn’t needed elsewhere, learning everything he possibly could about his new command, and the crew who now served under him.

 

“Yes, sir,” came back almost instantly.  “Five minutes, sir?”

 

Nelson smiled as he answered in the affirmative.  Either Lee was in the middle of some project or conversation, or he was in one of Seaview’s very aft compartments.  With Lee’s swift pace it rarely took him that long to walk the entire length of the submarine from one end to the other.  Seaview had just completed a supply run to Logan Sealab* and was headed back to her home port of Santa Barbara, but Nelson had received a call from a casual acquaintance living in Hawaii, asking if Nelson could see him about some important information and he needed to make Lee aware of the change in plans

 

Almost five minutes to the second there was a soft tap on his door, and Nelson grinned.  “Come in, Lee,” he called, sure of his guest, and waved a hand toward the corner of his desk where Lee often sat for casual conversations.  Instead, Lee shook his head and remained standing.  Nelson wasn’t about to ask what had Lee on edge but he did get right to the point.  “We’re going to make a slight detour to Pearl,” he referenced Oahu’s Naval port.  “I’ve been invited to a friend’s house.  Well,” he hedged, “I know the man from environmental meetings we’ve both attended.  He seems excited about some new development and doesn’t want to share over the radio.”

 

“Yes, sir,” the younger man told him.  “I’ll go set the course.  Ah,” he paused, “how long are you planning to be in port?  Should I have Mr. Morton post Shore Leave?”

 

Nelson almost grinned at Lee’s use of the formal term for Seaview’s XO instead of his first name.  Lee and Chip had been friends since their first days at Annapolis, where Nelson had also met them as an occasional instructor the men’s four years at the US Naval Academy.  Combined with Lee’s stiff posture, it signaled a problem.  But Nelson chose to ignore it for the moment, his mind on other details.  “Call it forty-eight hours, so yes, Leave is authorized.  If I’m finished before that, it will still be a nice break.”

 

“Yes, sir.  By your leave?”

 

Nelson did grin at the continued formality, and merely waved a hand.  Lee nodded and exited nearly as rapidly as he’d entered.  “Humm,” Nelson pondered, but almost instantly his mind moved to other topics than what had Lee apparently in somewhat of a snit.

 

Lee walked with purpose into Seaview’s Control Room by way of the aft hatch.  Having heard, of course, Nelson’s earlier call, and also knowing that, just before that, Seaview’s Head Radioman, Lt. Sines – who was rarely called anything other than Sparks – had routed an incoming call to the Admiral’s cabin, Chip wasn’t at all surprised to have Lee grab the nearest chart and start plotting a course toward Hawaii.  As he worked he spoke.  “We’re making a stop at Pearl on the way home, Mr. Morton.”  The formality here didn’t phase Chip – Lee was doing his best to be careful, in the Conn especially but elsewhere on the boat as well unless he and Chip were alone.  Then the long-time friendship shown easily through.

 

“Aye, sir,” Chip kept up the ‘by the book’ conversation.  More and more the pair was slipping into a relaxed command but Chip followed Lee’s lead; if he was being formal, Chip was careful to follow suit.

 

“I’ll radio Pearl to arrange docking.  We’ll be there at least forty-eight hours so Shore Leave is authorized.”

 

“Aye, aye, sir,” Chip again told him.  There was an ever so slight pause, and a quick flick of Lee’s expressive eyes, that caused Chip to have to carefully cover a grin.  But he sent the brunet a nod as Lee headed toward the bank of equipment that served as Seaview's Radio Shack.

 

* * * *

 

Six hours later, just before 1400 hours, Lee settled Seaview where the Port Authority directed him.  Admiral Nelson made a quick stop in the Conn on his way to the Boarding Hatch, handing Lee a slip of paper.  “Where I’ll be if you need anything,” he said lightly.

 

Lee nodded.  “Thank you, sir, but I’ll try not to,” he told his boss with an ever so slight smile.  Nelson returned it.  A quick thought went through his mind that, whatever had Lee a bit uptight that morning seemed to have worked itself out.  He was curious as to what had caused it but again decided that this wasn’t a good time to ask.

 

Lee continued to putter with one of the clipboards on top of the chart table as Chip was topside at the Boarding Hatch starting to release crewmen to Shore Leave.  Lee had approved Chip’s quickly arranged schedule and COB Curley Jones had immediately posted it, so departures were organized.  While Lee seemed preoccupied, he still noticed Lt. Bishop hovering despite the fact that Seaview’s Second Officer had clearly heard Lee ‘take the Conn’ once they were docked, releasing his XO.  “Question, Lt. Bishop?” he asked casually.

 

“I can take the Conn, sir, if you’d like, until XO Morton returns.”

 

Lee quickly buried a grin.  “Not a problem, Lieutenant.  I’m not leaving the boat.”  He finally glanced up.  “And if I remember right, you’re scheduled for Shore Leave at 1800 hours.”  He carefully didn’t react to the surprise Bishop allowed to all too easily cross his face that his captain would have that information logged in his brain without having to look it up.  At least, that’s what Lee assumed had triggered the expression.

 

“That’s correct, sir,” Bishop got out fairly naturally as Lee returned his gaze to the clipboard.  Bishop was close enough to realize that it had nothing to do with Leave schedules, although he wasn’t sure what it actually was.

 

Lee purposely let another soft smile show.  “I’m merely puttering with stowage designs for several of the aft storage units.  I can just as easily do it here as anywhere else.  You can relax a couple extra hours.”  He sent the man another look, without the smile but still casual.  “I’ll call you forward if I need to leave the Conn before Mr. Morton returns.”

 

“Aye, aye, sir,” Bishop replied formally, and finally headed out the aft hatch.  There was ‘something’ said from one of the Duty crew and Lee immediately looked up and around but was unable to identify the source.  He frowned, sent another glance around, and returned to his puttering with the stowage sheets.

 

He was still at it when Chip returned to the Conn at 1600 hours.  Lee was a bit surprised that the blond had stayed away so long without assigning that Duty station to someone else, and pointed an eyebrow at him.  Chip seemed to read his mind.  “Sun, a light breeze, and a view of the Base beach area.”

 

Lee laughed out loud, causing more than a few glances his direction from the Duty crew.  “A little sun bathing going on by female personnel?” he asked his XO.  Chip waggled a hand and they both snickered.  “There’s still time to assign yourself Shore Leave.”  Lee commented earlier that Chip had left himself off the schedule and received a waggled hand then as well.

 

“I prefer to wait until we get home,” Chip told him then, and repeated now for the benefit of the crew.

 

“Me, too,” Lee told him, for the same reason.  He cringed slightly and got a raised eyebrow from his XO.  “Just as soon not run the risk of bumping into the Base Commander, Admiral Daniel Laird.**  At least, I understand that he’s still here in some capacity,” Lee added so softly that only Chip heard.

 

“What did you do?” Chip demanded, although it was also said quietly.

 

“You mean Admiral Nelson never told you about my time aboard the Nautilus with him?”  This was said loud enough for others to hear.  He had no idea how much of his and Nelson’s history had so far gotten out to Seaview’s crew.

 

“As much as you’ve shared,” came in a like level from Chip.  “Which is nothing!”  Lee shrugged, and Chip leveled a glare at his friend as he crossed his arms over his chest.

 

“Remind me when we get home,” Lee told him with a quick grin, and went back to his stowage sheets.

 

“You better believe I will,” Chip muttered firmly.  He finally uncrossed his arms.  “You still okay here?  Sir,” he added with a quirky grin as they were both getting the occasional looks from the Conn crew.

 

“Yep.  You can go work on reports if you’d like.  Lt. O’Brien also chose to stay aboard.”

 

“I wondered what happened to him,” Chip admitted.  Lee knew that the Engineering and Propulsion specialist had been at the top of Chip’s list for officers’ Leave.

 

“I meant to call up to tell you,” Lee apologized.  He sent Chip a sheepish glance.  “Got sidetracked,” and he pointed down to the clipboard.

 

“Knew I shouldn’t have left you alone,” came ever so softly from the blond and Lee burst out laughing, earning quick stares from everyone in the Conn, including Chip.

 

But the blond just as quickly nodded.  While it was extremely unusual for Lee to forget anything, and therefor he had no idea what was behind the man’s ‘getting sidetracked’, Chip was all too familiar with what a workaholic his friend was.  He was also rather familiar, after four years as roomies at Annapolis, it was usually hopeless to try outguessing the man so he shrugged again and headed for his cabin and the ever-present mound of reports.

 

1800 hours had them arriving at the Wardroom door from different directions.  They grinned and entered, finding not a full meal but odds and ends of leftovers.  And a very embarrassed chef.  “Sirs,” he didn’t exactly stammer, but Chip still sent him a quick look, not unnoticed by Lee.  “Sort of figured I’d clean things up and lay in some fresh supplies when I’m ashore tomorrow.  Figured you’d both be eating either on Base or out somewhere,  I...”

 

Lee figured that he was going to apologize, and quickly stepped in.  “This is perfect, Cookie.  A great way to waste as little food as possible.”

 

“Works for me,” Chip added.  He knew that the sometimes temperamental chef was still getting used to Lee being such a light eater; Capt. Phillips, like Chip, and Nelson for that matter, had been a hearty lover of food.  He quickly grabbed a tray and headed for what amounted to a smorgasbord.

 

Lee grinned as, once more, Chip jumped in to cover up what could have been a bit of a tricky situation.  His XO, and friend, had been careful over the last couple of months, since Lee was announced as Seaview’s new Skipper, to let Lee ‘fight his own battles’ as it were, but step in when a situation arose that he knew Lee wouldn’t battle.  Lee would – and did – be assertive if Command decisions needed to be made.  But little things like this would be easily left to a crewman’s discretion, without interference – as long as he didn’t actively disapprove.  Lee sent Chip’s back a quick grin and a nod, intentionally done in front of Cookie, and grabbed his own tray.

 

Lee had brought with him the stowage sheets he’d worked on all afternoon, and the pair discussed the changes Lee had outlined as they ate.  Chip agreed with all of the changes except one.  “The Admiral specifically wanted the spare circuit breakers in both places.”  He sent Lee a quick look.  “I tried to change that, too,” he admitted.  “It didn’t make sense to me to have two separate inventories of the same item.”

 

Lee nodded; that was his immediate thought.  “So, why?” he now asked.

 

“Seaview being so large,” Chip shrugged, “and as I quickly learned, subject to sudden moments of chaos...”  He shrugged again and sent Lee a look of…  Lee wasn’t quite sure.  “The Admiral does get us into some ‘interesting’ adventures,” Chip settled on.

 

“So I’m learning.”

 

“You ain’t seen nothin’,” Chip drawled almost under his breath.  “Anyway,” came out more normal, “he pointed out that having essential quick fixes closer to where they might be needed was better than having to run all the way back, when others could also be trying to grab repair equipment at the same time.”

 

“Got it,” Lee nodded, and made changes to his notes.  “Should have thought of that myself.”

 

Chip shrugged again, this time with an open grin.  “You’re used to tin cans.  A lot of differences in our Rolls Royce.”

 

“So I’m learning,” Lee admitted with one of his shy grins.  Chip chuckled and they both finished their meal.

 

Once done eating, they both walked forward.  Chip, Lee discovered, had taken what reports he was still working on to the Observation Nose before heading to the Wardroom.  When they got there Chip dismissed Lt. Higgins, who had the Duty Watch there.  In port there wasn’t much to do and Lee asked why Chip had assigned the duty, which he intended to take while he worked on the reports.

 

Chip pondered that as Lt. Higgins gathered up what both he and Lee easily recognized were manuals to study for the man’s next Proficiency drills.  “Because we always have?” he made it a question.  “Other than when we’re home.  It’s an easy way to keep an eye outside,” he smiled and pointed to the windows.  Neither man noticed that Higgins had stopped just outside the exit.

 

“But there’s always at least one person on Duty at the Boarding Hatch,” Lee continued to require information.  “I don’t really see a need for both, at least in a secure port.”

 

Chip pondered that only a moment.  “I’ll run it past the Admiral when he gets back.  Makes sense to me.”  Lee nodded and turned to leave, not noticing Higgins scurry off before he could get caught eavesdropping.

 

For the next three hours Lee meandered all over the boat.  With so many crewmen on Shore Leave there weren’t as many people for Lee to visit with but he still kibitzed with those he found, or simply used the time to keep familiarizing himself with his new boat.  At one point he wandered back into the Wardroom; he’d learned early that he could always count on a good, strong, cup of coffee, day or night.  A couple of the boat’s junior officers were also there and instantly started to rise.  “Chill” Lee said softly with a smile, and waved a hand.  They both slowly sat back down.

 

“Cookie set out a plate of peanut butter cookies,” Lt. Keeter offered.  He was even newer to the boat than Lee, having come shortly after Seaview had returned from that first, very stressful cruise of Lee’s.***

 

Lee’s face lit up.  His mother had been, and still was, a carefully healthful cook.  Lee’s first introduction to this kind of snack was when new neighbors had moved in next door when Lee was about twelve years old.  And even then it wasn’t often that Mrs. McDonald offered them to Lee, having quickly learned that Mrs. Crane, while not disapproving, still wasn’t fond of Lee spoiling his appetite with too many sugary treats.  When Lee went to Annapolis and Chip started sharing his ‘care packages’ from home with the slightly younger man, Lee truly learned to enjoy the indulgences of cookies and hot cocoa.  Now Lee grabbed several cookies, filled his coffee mug, and then hesitated before sitting down, not wishing to interrupt the JO’s.  But “come sit if you’d like” came from Lt. Garvey, and another soft smile hit Lee’s face as he accepted the invitation.

 

Lee sent them both a nod and a quick smile, but changed to one of puzzlement as he sat down.  “Didn’t I see both of your names on the Leave schedule?”

 

“Tomorrow, sir,” Garvey told him.

 

“We approved some changes with XO Morton, sir, to let more of the crewmen under us go,” Keeter continued.  “We’ll get our turn, sir,” he added quickly, and shared a grin with Garvey.  “But we both felt it was better for crew to get first crack.”

 

“Not like...” and Garvey practically slammed his mouth shut, trying to look everywhere but at his CO.

 

Lee purposely let another grin show as he munched the first cookie; he knew exactly who the lieutenant was referring to.  But he let it drop and merely told them both, “That was good of you.  I appreciate officers who care about the people under them.”

 

“Thank you, sir,” was all but mumbled by Garvey, still embarrassed that he’d almost badmouthed Lt. Bishop.

 

“It makes for a much happier crew when they are treated with respect, sir,” Keeter added.

 

“Absolutely,” Lee agreed, before stuffing the second cookie into his mouth.  Finishing his coffee in one long draught he stood and headed once more ambling through the boat, this time nibbling on the third cookie.  It earned him some not quite quickly enough buried grins as he wandered into the Conn.  “All quiet, Lt. O’Brien?” he asked, and stuffed the last of the cookie into his mouth.

 

“Yes, sir,” O’Brien answered instantly, also having to bury a grin – with limited success.  He covered it by pointing to the table top.  “Using the time to familiarize myself with specs for some new propeller shafts the Navy is considering for new subs being built, sir.”

 

Lee nodded.  “Better than Seaview’s?” he asked innocently.

 

“No, sir,” came back instantly.  “Admiral Nelson only designs the best for Seaview.  Although,” he added, “I think maybe he’s shared some of his ideas.  These specs share some interesting details with ours.”  Lee grinned again and let O’Brien point out what he’d been studying.  The pair spent the next half hour discussing the pros and cons of submarine propellers and their connecting parts.

 

By that time it was nearing 2300 hours.  “Suppose that I’d better get some sleep,” Lee told the lieutenant.  A half-wicked, half-sheepish grin hit his face.  “Before my obnoxious XO comes looking for me.”  He knew that O’Brien, among others on board, had heard Chip mildly harassing Lee about getting enough rest, and then covering the out of order comment with a slightly muttered, “just looking out for my Captain, as any good XO does.”

 

O’Brien managed an easy grin.  He, like everyone else aboard, was slowly getting used to the fact that their XO and new CO were best friends.  There had been absolutely no glimmer that it would, or could, interfere with the chain of command.  But a yanking of each others’ chains had definitely been witnessed!

 

Lee, himself, laughed as he’d barely left the Conn when he ran into Chip.  “Yes, Mr. Morton,” he gave the blond an easy grin despite the formal address, “I’m headed for my pillow,” came out in a tease.  The blond gave him an instant glare before it changed to a broad grin, and both made their way, chatting easily, to their cabins.

 

* * * *

 

Lee’s first stop after exiting his cabin the next morning was the Boarding Hatch, taking a quick glance down the list Chief Curley Jones handed him merely to see who was, and who wasn’t, on the boat.  Next, he checked the list on the chart table, Lt. Keeter with the Watch at the moment.  Noting no discrepancies, just as he expected, he headed for the Wardroom and whatever there happened to be for breakfast – Cookie was scheduled for Shore Leave at 0800 hours.  He stopped dead and raised an eyebrow when he walked in the door and found Chip just starting to fill his tray with scrambled eggs, sausage patties, and blueberry pancakes.  “Cookie,” he said to the chef, standing in the walkway between the Wardroom and Galley, “you decided not to take Shore Leave?”

 

“Not at all, sir,” the man answered instantly.

 

“I expected toast and cereal,” came out in a totally confused tone.

 

Chip snorted.  Cookie didn’t, but his craggy face did break into a grin.  “No, sir.  Food first.  But you’ll just have sandwich fixings and fruit for lunch.”

 

“Works for me,” Lee told him honestly and returned the grin as he picked up a tray.

 

Without the Admiral aboard, Lee and Chip sat across from each other instead of side by side and kibitzed about what each had planned for the day.  Chip decided that it would be a good time to get a head start on Fit-Reps.  At Lee’s curious look he shrugged.  “Just the basics,” he told Lee.  “I can go back for specifics later.  With the ability to handpick Seaview’s crew, nothing changes too drastically.”

 

“Unless it’s for the better, as crewmen get more comfortable with their duties?” Lee asked.

 

“Exactly,” Chip agreed.  “It’s pretty rare for much backsliding.”  There was a crash in the Galley.  “Cookie?” Chip only beat Lee to the call because Lee had taken a big bite of pancake.

 

“Sorry, sir,” came back after a short pause.  Both Lee and Chip waited for a further explanation but it didn’t come.  Lee pointed an eyebrow at his XO, the blond shrugged, and they both let it drop.  Lee had quickly become aware that ticking off Seaview’s chef wasn’t a particularly good idea!

 

“You going to work in the Nose?” Lee asked as they were almost done eating.

 

“Actually hadn’t gotten that far in my plans,” Chip admitted.  Lee grinned.  He rather doubted that remark; Chip was the ultimate planner.  But he didn’t challenge the blond.  “Reason?” Chip asked.

 

Lee’s turn to shrug.  “Just curious,” Lee told him.

 

If Lee didn’t believe Chip, Chip also didn’t believe Lee.  The brunet pretty much had a reason for everything he did, no matter how casual he might seem to be.  “Yeah, riiiiiight,” Chip drawled.  It caused Lee to chuckle.  Chip was all too familiar with Lee’s seeming nonchalance covering an ulterior motive.  But again the brunet merely shrugged, and Chip had to be content with the non-answer.

 

From the Wardroom they both headed for the Conn.  While Chip caught up with Lt. Keeter and officially ‘took the Conn’, releasing the lieutenant for Shore Leave, Lee went to the Radio Shack to check for any incoming messages that might have come in while he ate.  Sparks was on Leave and Seaman Haskins had the Duty.  Lee didn’t think that the man would have failed to immediately pass on something to his new CO but he was also one of the crew that Lee knew the least about.  He ambled lazily up to the seaman and leaned against the cabinets next to the radio equipment.  “Anything of interest out there?” he asked, as part of the radioman’s job while in port was monitoring what might be going on around them.

 

“Nothing but standard chatter, sir,” came back instantly.  “I would have called you…”  There was nervousness in Haskins’ voice.

 

Lee briefly touched the man’s shoulder and grinned broadly.  “Of course you would have.  Not what I was asking.”  He shrugged.  “I’m just curious about our neighbors, or if there’s anything going on in the harbor.”

 

“Yes, sir,” came back with a slight release of air.  “The Carl Vinson,” he named an aircraft carrier, “is about six hours out and headed this way, and the Fitzgerald,” he identified a destroyer, “is just getting ready to head out.  “Oh,” he added, “there’s scuttlebutt that Admiral Stark, ComSubPac, is arriving in the next couple of hours.”

 

Lee knew that he frowned when Haskins gave him a curious look, and Lee grinned sheepishly.  “I know that Admirals Nelson and Stark are friends.”  The look turned even more sheepish and he lowered his voice even more than the quiet tone he’d already been using.  “But I’m not one of Admiral Stark’s favorite people in the world.”

 

Haskins was unable to hide his surprise that his new CO would share something like that with a lowly seaman, but Lee very carefully didn’t acknowledge the reaction.  “Maybe the scuttlebutt is wrong, sir,” Haskins offered.

 

Lee shrugged.  “One can hope.”  He sent the seaman a quick grin, touched his shoulder again, and walked back to where Chip still stood by the chart table.  “What’s new?” Chip asked, mostly for something to say rather than any real interest.

 

“Admiral Stark is rumored to be arriving at Pearl.”

 

Chip sent Lee a sharp look.  “Gotta watch out for rumors.”  He was perfectly aware that Admiral Stark wasn’t happy that Lee was now Seaview’s Skipper.  Both younger men had accidentally eavesdropped on part of a conversation when Stark had visited NIMR, and Nelson hadn’t gotten his office door closed before Stark started ranting that Lee wasn’t seasoned enough to be in control of what not a lot of people in the world knew was an extremely powerful machine of war.  “Admiral Nelson told me, in confidence not long after I came to NIMR,” Chip continued, “that Stark was ticked that he coaxed me out of Stark’s chain of command.  Something about planning for me to eventually run the Resupply Depot for the whole Pacific Fleet.”

 

“You’d have been perfect for that,” Lee told him honestly.

 

“Rather be here,” Chip said bluntly, but then smiled.  “Stark probably had something special planned for you as well and Admiral Nelson swiped you, too, before Stark had a chance to stop it.”  He sent Lee a smirk.

 

Lee waggled a hand.  “Eh,” came out somewhat uncertainly.

 

“Don’t worry about it,” the blond advised.

 

“Hard to ignore when Admiral Stark’s in your face.”

 

“Eh,” it was Chip’s turn to utter.

 

“With Admiral Nelson off boat, Stark has no reason to want aboard,” Lee offered.

 

“Or he uses that as an excuse to run an impromptu inspection,” came out in a low growl.

 

“Could we deny boarding without Admiral Nelson’s permission?” Lee asked.

 

“Deny ComSubPac?”  Chip turned slightly green.

 

“Suppose not,” Lee admitted.  He paused, and his expression lightened.  “We might get away with delaying him until we can talk to Admiral Nelson.”

 

Chip pondered that one.  “Yeah, that might work,” he decided, before sending Lee another smirk.  “But I don’t want to be within fifty feet when you try it.”

 

“Thanks for the support, XO Morton,” Lee snapped back before they both chuckled.  Looking around the Conn, Lee asked, “you okay with the Conn for a couple hours?”

 

“Off to make sure your boat’s in one piece?”

 

Lee glared at his insolent XO before he sheepishly nodded.  “Be back in an hour or so, so you can go work on your Fit-Reps.”

 

“I won’t time you,” Chip smarted off again.  Lee merely nodded and headed out.

 

He almost made it.  Momentarily sidetracked in the Missile Room as Chief Jones supervised some minor repairs to one of the torpedo racks, he ambled back into the Conn just short of seventy minutes after he’d left.  Chip made a point of glancing at his watch but grinned as Lee officially took the Watch, releasing Chip to whatever the blond chose to do.

 

The day ended up being a quiet one.  Because of the Shore Leave schedule, shifts all over the boat and including the Conn were shorter than normal.  As men came and went, everyone sticking to the posted lists which pleased Lee, although he’d expected nothing less given that Chip had been XO from the very first and had ‘his’ crew in fine form, took the time to kibitz lightly with everyone as he also puttered off and on with whichever clipboard he happened to pick up.  Sparks was due back on Duty in the Radio Shack at 1200 hours, but before he could relieve Haskins Lee stopped him.  “Lieutenant,” he gave the man his actual rank, “if Seaman Haskins doesn’t mind a few extra minutes on Duty, would you take the Conn while I go grab a quick bite of lunch?”  He very carefully covered a grin at the surprised pleasure on Sparks’ face.

 

“Of course, sir,” he told his CO before they both glanced at Haskins.

 

“Got it covered, sirs,” the seaman answered easily.

 

“Good men.  Thanks,” he told Sparks.  “You have the Conn.  I won’t be long.”

 

“Take your time, sir.”  Sparks glanced around.  “Everything looks under control.”  Lee grinned and left out the back hatch.

 

Chip was almost through eating when Lee walked into the Wardroom.  “Who’s got the Conn?” he demanded.  “Sir,” he added with a quirky grin.  “I was just about to come relieve you.”

 

“Sparks,” Lee told him with his own grin.  “He just came back on Duty, Haskins was okay keeping the radio, and figured that Sparks would enjoy the bit of OD.”

 

Chip thought for a second, and then nodded before heading for another trip to the sandwich fixings.  “I like it,” he told Lee.

 

“Just sort of presented itself,” Lee admitted.

 

“Yeah, riiiiiight,” his friend drawled.  “One more example of you settling everyone in.  Including yourself.”  He grinned at Lee.  “Like that whole conversation in the Conn this morning.”

 

Lee straightened up.  “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

 

“Yeah, riiiiiight,” Chip muttered not quite under his breath, thankful that they were the only two in the Wardroom.  “Ever since I first met you, you act like nothing special is going on, yet suddenly everyone’s one big happy family.”

 

“Not everyone,” Lee grumbled, thinking back.

 

“Braken,” Chip’s turn to grumble and Lee nodded, taking a bite of the sandwich he’d fixed.+  “There’s always one.”  They both nodded, each knowing that the other was thinking about Lt. Bishop.

 

“We survived Braken,” Lee reminded Chip once he’d swallowed the bite.

 

“Yeah, by getting him expelled from the Academy.  Well, sort of,” Chip amended.  “Mostly he did it to himself.”  Lee didn’t answer, merely smiling as he took another bite of his lunch.

 

* * * *

 

The afternoon remained quiet, with one minor exception.  Lee and Chip ended up walking back together to the Conn, and both caught the look of uncertainty on Sparks’ face before discovering that Lt. Bishop was also present.  “Problem, Lt. Sines?” Lee addressed Sparks correctly.

 

“No, sir,” Sparks answered, working hard to cover a bit of nervousness

 

“Lt. Bishop,” Lee now addressed Seaview’s Second Officer, “I didn’t think you were due back until 1500 hours.”

 

“Yes, sir,” the lieutenant answered after a short pause.

 

“Then you still have a couple hours to relax before coming on Duty,” Lee told him with a smile.

 

“Yes, sir,” Bishop answered, caught flatfooted with nothing else that he could say.

 

Lee turned back to Sparks, ignoring Bishop.  “Enjoy your hour of OD Duty, Lieutenant?” he asked, the grin spreading.

 

“Yes, sir,” Sparks answered easily, carefully not looking at Lt. Bishop.

 

“We’ll have to find you more times.  If you’d like, that is.”

 

“Yes, sir,” came out with enthusiasm.

 

Lee didn’t dare look at Chip as a small snort came from the blond’s direction.  He was fairly sure that, as soft as it was, neither Sparks nor Bishop heard it.  “Something to think about, for sure,” he said simply, released Sparks to the Radio Shack, gave Chip the Conn, and headed casually out the aft hatch, followed at a distance by Bishop.  Lee stopped and let his Second Officer catch up, however hesitantly.  “When you were ashore, did you notice the USS Indianapolis,” he named one of the Navy’s newest Littoral Combat Ships that happened to be docked nearby.  “Isn’t she a beauty?”

 

“Yes, sir.”

 

Lee almost laughed as Bishop was obviously uncomfortable having this out of the blue conversation.  “If I wasn’t so enamored of sub service, and Seaview especially, I’d be tempted to return to Active Duty from the Reserves so I could possibly captain her.  Bet she’d be a blast.  She...”  He caught himself.  “Excuse me, Lieutenant, here I am rattling on, taking up your off duty hours.  Sorry,” he added sincerely.

 

“Not a problem, sir,” Bishop told him, and headed down the next corridor toward his cabin.  Lee smiled at his back and headed the other direction.

 

* * * *

 

Returning from another casual meander through the sub, visiting with a change of Duty personnel from his last trip, he was surprised, and pleased, to find Admiral Nelson just coming in through the Boarding Hatch.  “Sir,” he greeted the man, a broad smile on his face.  “Your business got done earlier than planned.”

 

The smile that had been on Nelson face instantly died.  “The man’s an idiot,” came out in a snarl.  Lee instantly gestured to a seaman standing close by to take Nelson’s overnight bag to his cabin.  The action put a more pleasant expression on Nelson’s face, especially as he realized that the seaman didn’t even bat an eye at the order, and the ‘aye, aye, sir,” was said without any residual animosity.  Obviously the crew was getting comfortable with their new Skipper.  “He not only didn’t have anything new to offer,” Nelson continued his reply to Lee as the pair headed for the Control Room, “he assumed that NIMR would foot the bill for what would be a totally speculative cruise that from what he presented was doomed to failure from the beginning.”

 

“We won’t have all crew back until 0800 tomorrow,” Lee told him, almost apologetically.

 

Nelson waved it off.  “Exactly as you’d been authorized,” he confirmed, and Lee sent him a calm nod.  As they entered the Conn, he sent a look that included Chip.  “Hopefully you two took some time off.”

 

“No, sir,” Chip answered.  “Decided I’d rather take Leave at home, sir.”

 

Nelson turned to Lee.  “Still learning Seaview, sir, and like Chip I’d rather spend time finding my new house as well.”

 

Nelson sent Chip a grin and Lee a nod.  NIMR owned a stretch of beach about twenty minutes north of the main gate, on which sat a dozen houses leased to NIMR employees.  The house at the end of the beach closest to NIMR had been empty and Lee happily claimed it.  But Seaview hadn’t been in port much since Lee’s personal gear had been shipped in so Lee was slow getting settled.  “Well,” Nelson said now, “since I knew we’d still be here tonight I called Daniel Laird, since he retired here, to meet for dinner.”  A mischievous grin hit his face as he looked at Lee.  “I’m sure that he’d love to have you join us.”

 

Lee ducked his head with a sheepish look but still maintained eye contact with his boss.  “Thank you, sir, for the invitation, but if you don’t mind I’ll stay aboard.”  Nelson laughed out loud, startling those crewmen on Duty in the Conn.  “But please pass along my greetings.”

 

“Happy to,” Nelson told him, still a big grin on his face.  He glanced at Chip who was sending Lee, while not a frown, still a look of determination.  “Has Lee explained why he knows Admiral Laird?” he asked his XO innocently.

 

“No, sir, but he’s going to once we get home,” came out very softly from the blond and once more Nelson burst out laughing, startling crewmen who weren’t used to laughter coming from their OOM.

 

Nelson seemed to finally notice the crewmen’s reactions and he sent nods to both of his officers.  “Obviously all’s well here,” he told them.  “As I expected it to be,” he added with a broad smile.  “I’m going to go clean up, change, and head out again.”

 

“Enjoy your evening, sir,” Lee told him.  Nelson nodded and left the Conn.  As Lee turned back to the chart table he took note of the determined look still on Chip’s face and all but cringed.  “Beer and pizza at BZ’s when we get home,” he told the blond very softly, mentioning their favorite Bar & Grill in Santa Barbara.  He sighed.  “Lots and lots of beer!”

 

It was Chip’s turn to burst out laughing.  If the crewmen had reacted strangely to Nelson’s laughter, they were a bit dumbstruck at their XO’s.  As the two officers took note they both smiled.  “Welcome home,” Chip told his best friend very quietly.

 

Lee nodded, understanding what Chip meant – Lee had been accepted into Seaview’s ‘family’.

 

“Feels good,” Lee agreed and they settled side by side, ready to handle anything that came their way.

 

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

 

 

*          Used with permission of the sealab’s creator, Liz Martin

**        see “First Duty” by R. L. Keller

***      see Voyage episode “Eleven Days to Zero”

+          see “Cobwebs” (among others) by R. L. Keller

 

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

 

Chapter three – Honesty is Appreciated

 

“Homesick?” Chip softly asked his CO – and best friend – Lee, as the pair guided their boss’ submarine, Seaview, past Rhode Island’s coastline, headed from a quick stop at Norfolk Naval Yard in Virginia on their way to the southern coast of Newfoundland, Canada. Lee had been born and raised in Newport, RI.

 

Lee sent the blond a quick grin as he followed their progress with a finger on the chart.  In another hour or so they would swing east to head around the Canadian Province of Nova Scotia.  “Not really,” he answered just as softly.  “Home now is Santa Barbara,” he added with a broadening smile.

 

Chip nodded.  “Pretty much feel the same way.  Although...” and he shrugged.

 

“You have more family to go home to.  I just have Mom and she’s gone just as much, if not more, than I am.”  Lee’s mother was a freelance writer who traveled extensively to track down good stories.

 

 

“There is that,” Chip agreed, and then straightened slightly as a familiar cadence of steps coming from the Conn’s aft hatch indicated the arrival of their boss, Admiral Harriman Nelson (Ret.)

 

Lee stayed relaxed but did turn toward the man.  “Good morning, Admiral.  Missed you at breakfast.”  The three of them took most meals together in the Officers’ Wardroom, especially when things were calm.

 

“Got caught in my office with a call from CPAWS,” he used the acronym for the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society.

 

“Problems, sir?”

 

“No, no,” Nelson waved him off.  He sent Lee a grin; he was all too familiar with Lee’s wanting to know about issues as fast as possible!  “Just sorting out a few details with one of the Provincial directors.  All of the original instructions and Seaview positionings are still in effect.  I merely assumed that Dr. Thurman was an early riser.”

 

“Or forgot, sir,” Chip interjected, “that Newfoundland is technically two time zones ahead of the Eastern United States.”

 

“Not that we pay much attention to that underwater,” Lee added, “but...”

 

“A perfect explanation,” Nelson agreed.

 

“We aren’t scheduled to arrive at Burgeo until about 1800 hours,” Lee paused, half a grin on his face, “Newfoundland time,” he continued, “tomorrow.  “Once we skirt Nova Scotia the cruise parameters were to slow to quarter speed so as to create as little disturbance to the sea life as possible.”  Lee knew that Nelson was totally aware of the timetable.  But he also knew that, saying it out loud where it could be heard by those crewmen on Duty in the Conn, that detail would get passed around so that no one wondered why Seaview had suddenly started to crawl – so to speak.

 

Nelson grinned.  He knew exactly why Lee had spoken, and in an open voice meant to be overheard.  “Dr. Thurman assured me that Dr. Grace would be there ready to board.”  A quick frown hit Chip’s face but was covered so quickly that Nelson wasn’t even sure he’d seen it correctly.  But it was confirmed as Lee sent his XO a firm look.  “Down, both of you,” Nelson ordered softly, and the two younger men instantly focused on their boss, causing him to snort softly.  “I know that you are both still thinking of those two idiots we had aboard last month.”

 

“Yes, sir,” Lee confirmed and Chip nodded.

 

“I’ve met Dr. Grace and she’s perfectly pleasant.”

 

“She?” came out of Lee’s mouth before he could stop it and he instantly dropped his head, although still watching his boss, who was grinning.

 

“Didn’t I mention that?” Nelson asked innocently.

 

“No, sir,” Lee all but mumbled.  “I assumed that Dr. Jordan Grace was male.”

 

“Chill,” came out an order but Nelson was still smiling.  “Get used to having women aboard, Lee,” he added softly, for just Lee and Chip to hear.  “You have command now of a mostly civilian submarine, not Navy.  Many of the world’s great scientific minds are female.”

 

“Yes, sir,” came out somewhat bashfully.

 

“But,” Nelson added, also a bit sheepishly, “I should have made that clear in the original notes.”  Both Lee and Chip remained silent, causing Nelson to once more grin.  “It will be a pleasant change, don’t you think?”  Again, both CO and XO remained silent.  Nelson laughed out loud, gave his captain a backhanded tap on the shoulder, and headed down the spiral stairs to Seaview’s Observation Nose with her unique front windows.

 

“Don’t worry, Lee,” Chip finally told the brunet, “after our last experience I assigned Dr. Grace Guest Cabin C, keeping ‘him’ as far away from ours as possible.”

 

“It’s also closest to the Marine Lab,” Lee noted, getting himself back under control from his momentary annoyance.

 

“That, too,” Chip agreed, and they both went back to studying the planned route.

 

* * * *

 

Even as much as Lee kept to the agreed-upon cruise parameters they still were a bit ahead of schedule so Lee slowed even further, surfacing slightly off Burgeo’s harbor just after 1700 hours local time.  He notified Admiral Nelson, and had Chief Jones break out a zodiac to carry the Admiral to shore where he’d meet Dr. Grace and bring her and whatever equipment she was bringing aboard.  Lee teased Chip a bit – currents in the area made for a slightly rough sea so Seaview wasn’t nearly as stable on the surface as she was underwater.  “You need to go grab some crackers?” he asked with a quirky grin.  Chip could sometimes be a bit queasy in rough water.

 

“No,” the blond growled.  “I just hope Dr. Grace is on time.”

 

“What would you have done on a regular Navy ship, like you originally planned, instead of going into the ‘Silent Service’,” he referenced what sub service was often called.  “Be seasick the entire time?”

 

“Harrumph,” Chip muttered, in a pretty good imitation of what Lee was learning was the Admiral’s favorite grump when unhappy.  Lee grinned broadly and headed down to the Observation Nose to await Nelson’s return.

 

Apparently Dr. Grace was also early because Nelson barely made it ashore before the zodiac headed back toward the boat.  Lee headed up to the Boarding Hatch to welcome their guest.  Chip had already assigned two crewmen to take the woman’s gear to her cabin as Nelson, after introductions, started on a tour of the boat with her.  Lee stayed only until COB Jones’ detail had the small craft stowed and then returned to the Conn where he, grinning, had Chip return the boat to deeper waters.  Then they gradually headed back along the coastline between there and Harbour Breton, where Nelson and Dr. Grace would be doing most of their combined research.

 

While making observations and taking samples to study a good portion of that ecosystem, they both wanted to specifically study how the Porbeagle shark population was doing.  Lee had admitted to Nelson, when he’d read the initial reports of this cruise, he’d never heard of that particular shark.  “Not surprised,” Nelson had told him with a grin.  “They aren’t well known.”

 

“Which makes the study all the more attractive and important?” Lee guessed.

 

Nelson chuckled.  “Exactly.  They are of moderate size; the adults usually run roughly eight feet and about three hundred pounds.  Well, at least here in their northern range.  In their southern range they can be a bit bigger.  They are known to cover a good portion of the Northern Atlantic, from Canada to Ireland, and as far north as Norway.  But around Newfoundland is one of their breeding grounds.”  He sighed.  “Which is why, while worldwide populations have started to stabilize once commercial fishing for them...”  He paused at the look Lee sent him.  “Apparently they are considered quite a delicacy.”  Lee shrugged, Nelson nodded, and continued.  “It’s concerning that where we’re going, the population is considered ‘threatened’.”

 

“Poaching, sir?”

 

Nelson’s turn to shrug.  “They get caught by accident in long-line fishing gear.  And some sport fishing still goes on, especially around Ireland.  Apparently they are quite the catch for those wanting a good fighting fish.”

 

“And since they are good to eat...” Lee let that thought die.

 

“Exactly,” Nelson agreed.

 

“Are they dangerous,  sir?”

 

“No,” Nelson told him emphatically.  “In all the years they’ve been studied I think there’s three reports of attacks on swimmers, all unverified and with no deaths, from what have supposed to have been Porbeagle sharks.”  He sent Lee a smile.  “What they have been reported doing is buzzing divers, even occasionally rubbing against them lightly, but not seriously attacking.”  He chuckled.  “It’s said that they merely seem to be playing with the divers.”

 

Lee frowned.  “Somehow, sharks ‘playing’ just sounds wrong.”

 

“Have to give you that one,” Nelson told him with another grin.

 

“Will we be diving, sir?  Or just observing.”  Lee sent his boss one of his shy smiles.  “Gotta love those windows.”

 

At that Nelson laughed openly.  “Precisely why I invented them,” he said proudly.  “But in this case, while the sharks can dive deep, they are also found throughout the water table as they feed near continental shelves.  In fact, I think I read that they’ve been seen in water as shallow as three feet.”

 

“What do they eat, sir?”

 

“Actually, a little bit of everything, according to reports.  But mostly ground fish: cod, haddock, pollack, and the like.  But examinations of stomach contents have also included mollusks and crustaceans.  It’s one of the things Dr. Grace is most interested in, as the belief until now has been that those are picked up accidentally as the sharks go after bottom fish.  Oh,” he raised a finger.  “I think they like squid, too.”

 

“Everything seems to like squid,” Lee muttered.  “I’m surprised they aren’t already extinct.”

 

Nelson chuckled.  “Strong reproduction tendencies.”

 

“If you say so, sir.”  Nelson chuckled at the expression on Lee’s face, and the discussion was dropped.

 

Now he passed along to Chip what points of that conversation he thought pertinent.  Seaview’s XO listened seriously, especially as it sounded like they’d be diving with the sharks.  If Lee was serious about boat and crew safety Chip was doubly so, and Lee greatly appreciated the backup.  Nelson, while not ignoring the safety of his crew, tended to be somewhat blind to what dangers he might be asking them to be involved with.  Lee had no such forgetfulness when it came to such things, and had made it clear from the beginning that he was willing to go toe-to-toe with the Admiral when he was uncomfortable with instructions he felt weren’t in everyone’s best interest.  It had already caused sparks to fly a couple of times.  But Lee’s willingness to stand his ground when it came to defending everyone’s safety went a long way to his new crew’s acceptance.  Even Seaman Kowalski, Seaview’s Senior Rating and the most vocal expressing his displeasure when Lee first came aboard, was noticeably more relaxed around, and accepting of, Lee’s presence.

 

Once he knew that the Admiral and Dr. Grace were headed to the Wardroom for dinner, Chip turned the Conn over to Lt. O’Brien and he and Lee headed aft.  Dr. Grace had sat down across from Nelson, where Lee usually sat, so once Chip was introduced, he and Lee filled their trays and sat across from each other slightly further down the same table.  Lee could easily admit to understanding barely one work in ten of the animated conversation their entrance had only momentarily interrupted between his boss and the scientist.  And while both he and Chip listened for any signs that they might be included, as various regions of the area were discussed as to what might be found or seen – it quickly became apparent how excited Dr. Grace was about the front windows – they maintained their own quiet conversation about boat’s business.

 

“Lee,” interrupted them midway through the meal.

 

“Sir?” Lee answered instantly, cutting off Chip’s latest rant about Lt. Bishop.

 

“Have we passed Deer and Bear Islands, yet?”

 

“No, sir.  Well, about to,” he amended.  “Knowing we were in no hurry I’ve maintained a speed of Dead Slow to avoid disturbing as much marine life as possible.”  He saw Dr. Grace nod enthusiastically.

 

“When you get back to the Conn...and not before,” he added as Chip started to shovel in what food was left on his tray, “set us off the base of one of them about halfway to the bottom.  We’ll spend some time seeing what we can see.”  He sent a grin across the table to Dr. Grace.

 

“Aye, sir,” Lee acknowledged.  While they didn’t rush, both he and Chip ate a bit faster and shortly headed forward.

 

Nelson sent a self-conscious glance toward the pass-through into the Galley, then had to smile at the confused look Dr. Grace was sending him.  “The boat’s chef,” he started quietly, “doesn’t think Lee eats nearly enough to be healthy.”  He cringed as apparently he hadn’t spoken softly enough and a pan banged from that direction.  “The fact,” he said even more softly, “that I all but interrupted Lee’s meal didn’t go over well,” and he nodded toward the cook’s domain.  Dr. Grace still sent him a strange look.  “Inside joke,” he said more normally and another pan clanged.  Nelson cringed again and all but whispered, “Not a joke to Cookie.”  More normally he continued.  “Don’t worry about it.  The crew is still somewhat getting used to Lee.”  He smiled.  “Just as Lee is still getting used to Seaview.”

 

“Oh,” she answered somewhat noncommittally.

 

It caused Nelson to smile again.  “I would have liked to have had Lee as Seaview’s captain from the very first but that didn’t happen.”  He didn’t bother to explain that he’d argued long and hard over who he wanted at Seaview’s helm but the ‘powers that be’ in Naval hierarchy, who he was still forced to deal with, had nixed his choice.  John Phillips had been a good second choice and Nelson, as well as members of the crew, were still smarting over his untimely death.  Nelson had been thrilled when Lee’s name had been proposed as a quick substitute for the upcoming extremely vital mission.  When it was over Nelson, with Chip’s total agreement, worked hard to make Lee’s TAD assignment permanent.  He did add, with another grin, “Lee is an exceptional sub driver, the youngest man in history to command a Fast Attack submarine.  But he’s adjusting to Seaview’s more exploratory and scientific cruises quite easily.”  For the most part, he added under his breath.

 

“What happened to your original captain?”  It was a normal-enough question, but Nelson still took a deep breath and let it out slowly before answering.

 

“Passed away suddenly,” was becoming Nelson’s stock answer to that question from non-Naval personnel.  The scientists and researchers Seaview hired out to had no reason to know of her other types of cruises, or just how close the world had come to major destruction!  “I was finally able,” he went on with a returning grin, “to coax Lee away from the regular Navy and into the Reserves.  I’d known both he and Chip, ah, XO Morton, when they were Midshipmen at the Naval Academy.”  His grin spread.  “Think nothing of it if you happen to overhear them teasing each other.  They’ve been friends since their first days at Annapolis.”

 

“That doesn’t get in the way of command structure?”

 

“On the contrary, they are such a balance for each other that Seaview is the stronger for it.”  He shrugged.  “Being a private research vessel,” mostly, he added again only to himself, “it works perfectly.  So,” he changed the subject since they were both done eating, “shall we go see what we can see?”

 

“Absolutely,” she agreed.

 

At first, as they settled into chairs facing the windows, there wasn’t much to see.  Still light topside since days were longer this far north in late June, the light still only penetrated so far down through the water.  Nelson was reluctant to turn on Seaview’s exterior lights for fear of disturbing the marine life.  Mostly all they saw were the usual suspects of local fishes.  A small school of cod passed by, pursuing smaller prey.  The area supported a high density of seaweeds and the pair spent some time identifying different species.  That’s also what contributed to it being good breeding grounds for cod, flounder, haddock, and other ground fishes.  It was thought to contribute to the Porbeagle population as well.  The sharks could be solitary swimmers, but easily congregate when food supplies were abundant.

 

At one point a smallish Great White shark wandered past the windows.  “We’ll need to be careful on dives,” came from behind the pair.  Turning, they discovered that Lee had come in quietly from the back hatch.

 

“For sure,” Nelson agreed, and Dr. Grace nodded.

 

“We can keep divers close to the boat, I guess,” Lee continued.  He added one of the shy smiles Nelson had gotten used to seeing at Annapolis.  “Maybe the sharks will be intimidated by their rather large intruder.”  He reached out and patted the nearest bulkhead.

 

Nelson chuckled.  “One can hope,” he agreed.

 

“Overnight instructions, sir?”

 

Nelson pondered for a bit, and then glanced at Dr. Grace.  “Stay right here?”

 

“Works for me,” she agreed, and Nelson looked back to Lee.

 

“I’ll make it so,” and he headed up the spiral stairs to the Conn.

 

The pair continued to sit watching out the windows until nearly 2230 hours.  Dr. Grace seemed reluctant to leave, fascinated by the ability to enjoy being underwater without the need to constantly check the air meter on her dive tanks.  Nelson grinned broadly when she admitted same.  “Exactly why I invented Seaview’s windows,” he told her with pride.

 

Just as they stood up two shapes passed in front of the windows, stopping their exit.  Roughly seven to eight feet long, broad body narrowing to a pointed snout, they were easily identified by the white spot at the base of the forward dorsal fin.  “Porbeagles,” Dr. Grace said almost reverently.

 

“And looking very healthy,” Nelson agreed.

 

“Maybe I’ll just sleep down here,” came softly from the scientist.

 

Nelson chuckled.  “Then you wouldn’t be able to dive tomorrow.”  She sent him a quick look, half-glare and half-surprise.  “Seaview safety regs,” he answered.  “No diving without proper rest.”  He chuckled again, this time a bit self-consciously.  “You wouldn’t sleep – I know from personal experience,” he added.

 

She finally nodded.  “I suppose you’re right.”  Her turn to smile softly.  “Way too tempting,” and she gestured toward the windows.

 

“Exactly,” and they reluctantly headed out the back hatch.

 

* * * *

 

The next two days went by quickly, and very productively, for Nelson and Dr. Grace, but also quite tiring.  With heavy tidal action came many nutrients to the area from both the St. Lawrence River and the Gulf Stream, allowing for the abundance of sea life.  But it also meant being extremely careful where, and for how long, teams of divers could be in the water fighting currents.  Low visibility added to the difficulty of making collections and observations.  With a woman aboard, changing into and out of wetsuits was done in the cabins, and while not a problem did add just that bit of not normal activity to the dives.

 

Lee went out on as many of the dives as he could handle and still stay within Seaview regs.  The crew was slowly getting used to their new Skipper’s love of that activity.  Capt. Phillips never left the Conn when divers were out, especially if one of them was Admiral Nelson. Lee didn’t worry as he knew Chip had Seaview under total control.

 

Chip did make a disgusting bit of growl, in the quiet confines of Lee’s office/cabin the second night during their usual 2000 hours meeting, and Lee pointed an eyebrow at him.  “Bishop,” was all that came out, and Lee sent the blond a nod.

 

“What’s he done now?” was, however, said quietly.

 

Chip tried to shrug it off, Lee’s eyebrow went up again, and Chip nodded.  “Just fussing at how much you’re off the boat diving,” came out in a half-snarl.

 

“Is he the only one?” Lee asked.  He wanted to get a feel for how the crew was handling this change in what they’d gotten used to under Phillips.  He hadn’t noticed an issue, but he did know how carefully a lot of the men were still being around their new Skipper.

 

“Not that Curley’s mentioned,” Chip told him.  The COB reported directly to the XO.

 

“So what’s Lt. Bishop’s beef?”  Lee’s voice was merely curious.

 

“You, off boat, leaving me with the Watch.”

 

“You always have the Watch,” Lee said, slightly puzzled.  “Unless I need to deal with something directly.”  He grinned.  “Which isn’t all that often.  You do a great job.”

 

“Thank you, sir,” Chip answered formally, before both broke out in smiles.

 

“Maybe I’ll take you along the next time I dive and leave him in charge.”

 

Chip sent Lee a glare.  Totally unacceptable on a Navy boat, between the two friends it was easily allowed, especially in casual conversations.  “The man’s head is big enough already.”  Lee grinned at the grumble in Chip’s voice.  The blond was well known for a level head and a level voice – no matter how angry he happened to be at the time.

 

Lee shrugged.  “It would be another indication to the crew of changing times.”

 

“And I’d spend the next week calming them down from Bishop’s lording over them his new status.”

 

“But as Second Officer he’s often had the Watch,” Lee countered.

 

“Actually, not as much as you’d think,” Chip admitted.  “Between John and I, he rarely was left in command during the day, and he absolutely hated Night Watch.”  Chip grinned.  “Which, of course, I somehow always managed to figure out a way to give him.”  The grin changed to a frown.  “And then had to calm down the Duty crew on that Watch the next day.”

 

Lee sighed.  “We’ll just have to deal with it for now.”

 

“I suppose,” Chip agreed.  He sent Lee a nod and the subject was dropped.

 

* * * *

 

Unfortunately, at least for Chip, it was brought up at breakfast the next morning, however inadvertently, by Admiral Nelson.  Neither Chip nor Lee mentioned their previous night’s conversation as the Admiral started laying out instructions for the day, setting down plans for dives that included he and Dr. Grace, but asking Lee to take a zodiac and a couple men, and go up one of the several channels in the area too narrow for Seaview to traverse to take samples from several places.

 

A sudden smile hit Nelson’s face.  “Take Chip,” he told the pair brightly.  They were in their usual spots that morning – Nelson and Dr. Grace on one side of the table, Lee across from Nelson with Chip to Lee’s right across from Dr. Grace.  “Chip enjoys diving as much as you do but he doesn’t take much opportunity to do it.”  He glanced between the pair.  “I don’t know why; we certainly do enough of it aboard Seaview.”

 

Lee and Chip shared a quick look but neither enlightened their boss as to the reason.  They both merely nodded and continued to lay out plans for the rest of the day.  As they stood up at the end of the meal Nelson did send his officers another slightly questioning look.  Chip maintained his usual bland expression.  Lee did smile slightly but remained quiet, and everyone headed in different directions.

 

But once alone, Lee stopped and turned to his XO.  Chip shrugged.  “I really do enjoy diving,” he admitted.

 

“Capt. Phillips didn’t like you to go out on dives?” Lee asked carefully.  Mostly he didn’t bring up Seaview’s original Skipper.

 

“I didn’t ask,” Chip admitted.  “Limited my diving to off-duty time, mostly at home.”

 

“You don’t have to go today,” Lee told him.  “I’ll cover for you.”  He frowned.  “Somehow,” he mumbled.

 

“Nope,” Chip told him with renewed humor.  “Serves Bishop right, especially as it was the Admiral’s idea.”

 

“What about the crew?” Lee asked with a quirky grin.

 

“Chip’s ‘XO on Duty’ face instantly appeared.  “I’ll take care of it, sir,” he told Lee formally, before they both cracked up.

 

“Suggestions for who we take with us,” Lee got out as both continued forward to the Conn.

 

“Kowalski,” Chip said instantly, causing Lee to once more stop.  While Seaview’s Senior Rating was definitely calming down from his original reaction to Lee’s arrival, Lee didn’t push the issue by purposely getting in the man’s face.  Chip grinned at Lee’s reaction.  “He’s one of our strongest, most talented divers.”  The grin spread.  “Don’t worry.  I’ll protect you.”  That got a snort from Lee, but also a nod, and they finished their walk to the Conn.

 

An hour later found one of Seaview’s zodiacs headed up Nelson’s chosen channel loaded with Lee, Chip, and Kowalski.  Also along was Seaman Barstow to handle the zodiac, loaded not only with the men but enough air tanks and scuba gear to handle at least three dives each for all three men.  Chip had a brief frown as he watched the gear being loaded.  Lee didn’t notice anything wrong, but Kowalski quickly supplied the explanation.  “Admiral Nelson is using all of the communication masks for his and Dr. Grace’s teams, Mr. Morton.  We have to use the regular gear.”

 

“Not a problem,” Lee jumped into the explanation.  “It’s what I’m most used to, anyway.”

 

“True,” Chip agreed.  “It’s all I had until coming to NIMR.”

 

“Me, too,” Lee told him.

 

Even Kowalski nodded.  “It was a pleasant surprise when I came to work here.”  Both Lee and Chip nodded, they piled into the zodiac that Barstow and COB Jones had snugged against the side of the sub, and headed north.  Nelson had marked several places on the map he’d given Lee where he wanted water and soil samples taken.  Lee and Chip both agreed that they’d start with the farthest spot up the channel and work their way back toward Cabot Strait and Seaview.

 

The first two dives went off without a hitch.  While Kowalski kept watch overhead, carrying a spear gun just in case of unfriendly marine life, Lee and Chip meandered along the bottom of the channel, or close to it, taking samples and staying on the lookout for anything else they thought might be of interest to their boss and his guest.  Lee had originally raised an eyebrow when he recognized the wetsuit Curley brought to his cabin as the bright gold one he’d been given his original TAD assignment aboard Seaview.  Now he was praising Chip for the suit, especially as Chip had one the same color.  The sides of the channel that far inland were tall and steep; almost fjord-like.  And also fjord-like, the water was full of silt.  Kowalski had an easier time keeping track of the other two in the bright colored suits, and they could better see each other as they wandered around gathering samples.  Kowalski was wearing a bright red suit, which also helped Lee and Chip keep track of him.

 

The last dive took place closer to the mouth of the channel, where the land on both sides was flatter and more open.  Here they were able to ground the zodiac instead of using it for a diving platform.  Along the western bank, where they decided to land, the remnants of what looked like a dock, and an old watch tower covered the edge of a flat sandy beach.  The four men kibitzed about what the ruins might have originally been as they ate the lunch Cookie had packed for them, and waited out an hour before they felt safe going back into the water.  This dive, because the channel was wider here, would take them nearly twice as long to get all the samples Nelson had stipulated

 

Here the current from Cabot Strait bothered the divers more than further up the channel.  It became apparent almost immediately, and Lee indicated all three return to the surface.  “Okay,” he said, once he could talk, “we all need to be extra careful down there.”  He got nods from Chip and Kowalski.  “Stay closer, pay attention to each other, and try to alert the others if you run into a problem.”

 

“Aye, aye, sir,” came back instantly from the other two, and they all headed back down.

 

For the first half hour the three worked as a team moving around the area, Lee and Chip doing their sample-taking as they kept an eye on each other, and Kowalski keeping an eye on both of them.  The first Lee knew that there might be a problem was a tap on his shoulder.  He turned from the collection he was concentrating on and found that Kowalski had reached out with the handle of the spear gun.  When Lee turned, the seaman held his hands out in a shrug, then gestured around them.  Puzzled, Lee glanced at where he’d last seen Chip to see if the blond knew what was wrong.  Chip was nowhere in sight.

 

Lee indicated to where he’d last seen the blond, Kowalski nodded agreement, and they both headed that direction just far enough apart that they could keep each other in sight.  Nothing.  They tried; tried until Kowalski indicated his dive meter, then up.  A glance at his own meter had Lee nodding, and both headed for the surface.  It had been pretty much a hopeless search to begin with because of the lack of visibility in the water, but Lee was practically beside himself as he surfaced and spit out his regulator, treading water and looking all around for his friend.  As they headed for the zodiac he yelled at Seaman Barstow to ask if he’d seen Chip surface.  Like Kowalski, all that seaman could do was shrug.  As the two hit land, Lee turned on the Senior Rating.  He wasn’t angry – he was all too aware of how easily divers could get separated.  It was why he’d given the warning he had after they went in.  From Kowalski’s expression it looked like he was expecting a dressing down, and Lee almost smiled.  “What happened?” he asked, his voice carefully controlled.

 

“I’m sorry, sir.  I had both of you in sight, I looked around for wildlife, and when I looked back all I saw was you.”

 

Lee shrugged.  “Happens.  Chip, ah, Mr. Morton, knew to keep us in sight as well.”

 

“Yes, sir.  But if we’re almost out of air, so is he.  Sir,” was quickly added.

 

“And hopefully he can surface the same as we did.  There’s sure no sense of us trying to look for him with all the silt in the water.  You keep your eyes toward where we came up.  Barstow, you keep your eyes on this shore, and I’ll watch the far one.”  He got instant “aye, ayes,” and Lee sent a quick look skyward before starting his scan.

 

Thankfully for Lee’s nerves, it was barely a minute later when Barstow yelled and pointed, and all three watched a gold wetsuit emerge about forty yards upstream from where they were standing by the old metal watchtower – if that’s actually what it was.  Chip pulled off his hood and flippers, and headed in their direction.  Lee got concerned because it seemed that Chip was walking slower and slower, the closer he got to the other three.  Then Lee got a good look at Chip’s face.  Whatever had happened to the blond, he was very embarrassed about something.  Lee realized that both Seamen were noticing it as well, and did what he could to lessen the impact on their XO – and his friend.  Barstow was easy – Lee sent him back to the zodiac.  There wasn’t an easy way to make Kowalski walk away; Lee could only hope that being Senior Rating, he’d understand that ticking off his XO was not any way to advance his career.

 

“What happened to you?” Lee asked as Chip reached him, concern in his voice.

 

“Ah...” Chip started, turning even more red.

 

Out of the corner of his eye Lee saw Kowalski struggling to keep a straight face.  Apparently he’d never seen his ultra-competent, no-nonsense XO get this far out of control.  Lee had!  It was infrequent, for sure.  But their years of friendship had lead to some very interesting moments.  Usually it was Chip needling Lee about something so Lee took every opportunity he had to get revenge.  Lee saw nothing to indicate that Chip was in any way hurt; that would have instantly changed matters.  No, this was pure ‘torture Chip’ time.  “Yes?” was all that he said, but he let a curious grin start to show.

 

“I, ah, must have gotten just far enough away from you that I lost sight,” came out apologetically.  Chip had his head slightly down, looking more at the sand than at Lee’s face although he did flick his blue eyes toward Lee’s hazel ones off and on.  “Felt something brush my leg; figured that it was you but when I looked, nothing was there.”  He paused and took a deep breath.  “Made me realize that I’d moved north a bit too far; I’d spotted a strange shell I don’t think I’ve seen before and wanted to gather it for the Admiral.” 

 

Lee nodded.  He’d done the same thing, although his shell had been within easy reach.

 

“I picked up the shell and turned back toward where I knew you should be...” again Chip paused, “and found a shark zipping through my path.”

 

“Oops,” Lee allowed to come out softly.

 

Chip cringed.  “Pushed myself backward, away from it before turning around and came face to face with another one.”

 

“We saw nothing,” Lee told him honestly, and looked at Kowalski for confirmation.

 

“Nothing, sirs,” the seaman told both of his officers.

 

“Could you tell what kind they were?” Lee asked, looking once more at his friend.

 

Chip nodded.  “Saw the white spot at the base of their forward dorsal fins.”

 

“Porbeagles,” Lee supplied.  “Admiral Nelson said that they seem to sometimes buzz divers, almost like dolphins, acting like they want to play.”

 

“I have no intention of playing with sharks,” came out in a grump, before Chip’s expression went sheepish again.  Lee noticed Kowalski all but smirk, but the rating quickly covered it.  He obviously had no wish to tick off his XO, no matter the circumstances.

 

“So?” Lee nudged, getting back to the story.

 

“So,” Chip all but mumbled, “by the time I managed to get far enough away from the pair, praying that there weren’t any more around...”

 

“Or those two wanted to use you for a beach ball,” Lee teased.

 

“Yeah,” Chip grumbled, and gave himself a shake.  “I know that the Admiral said that they aren’t known for attacks on people...”

 

“But they are sharks, and just that much larger than people,” Lee supplied.

 

“Yeah,” Chip repeated.  “I beat a steady retreat, but by then I had to figure out where I was.”  Lee nodded.  “Knew I’d never find you two, so headed for the west shore.”  He glanced back toward where he’d come out of the water.  “Had no idea that I’d gone that far.”

 

“Did you complete your list of collections?” Lee wanted to know.  “We’ve still got three single air tanks we haven’t used.”

 

Chip was already shaking his head.  “All done.”  He lowered his head again slightly.  “Took several more as I headed to shore.”

 

Lee’s turn to nod.  No matter the challenge, Chip always managed to complete an assignment, an observation from Lee that went back to their earliest days at Annapolis.  “Then I guess we’d better get back to Seaview.  The Admiral will be looking forward to what we’re bringing him.”  He almost laughed as Chip caught the double-meaning, of crew getting back as well as the samples.  The two friends shared a quick grin, missed by Kowalski, and all three headed for the zodiac.

 

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

 

 

Chapter four – Loyalty is Returned

 

Seaview sat quietly on the bottom, not all that deep actually, off a small unnamed island in Indonesia.  The look Lee got from the periscope when they pulled in shortly before dawn, and before settling down in a rocky area that would help shield their outline from any wandering patrol boats, the island was basically jungle and, according to most reports, uninhabited.  But Admiral Nelson had received a different report, routed through ONI, that it was being used as a depot for modern day pirates.  They were not only storing at least some of their ill-gotten gains there but also stockpiling a large collection of arms.  For what purpose it wasn’t known, but no one considered that it was for anything good!

 

Lee raised an eyebrow when Admiral Nelson announced, in the privacy of his cabin, that he was going ashore to try to verify the report he’d been given and, if possible, eliminate the depot.  He knew that his boss had connections to the Office of Naval Intelligence.  But he assumed, since it was that agency that had been partially responsible for sending him to Seaview just over three months previous, which Nelson had then managed to turn from a TAD to being permanently Seaview’s captain, that Lee would be given the assignment. Nelson instantly caught the surprise.  “It was felt,” he told Lee, “that as a scientist I wouldn’t be viewed as much of a threat as a SEAL team.”

 

“You’re not going alone.  Sir,” was added firmly.

 

It caused Nelson to smile.  “Taking a few crewmen along to help my ‘sample-taking trek’ would, of course, be perfectly normal.”

 

“I don’t like it, sir.”  Lee was still stiff but his voice wasn’t quite so tight.  “Pirates aren’t known for being lenient.”

 

Nelson nodded.  “They also aren’t known for being stupid.  We’ll surface Seaview; they aren’t going to attack her.  We send a zodiac ashore, perhaps a weapon visible since we don’t know what wildlife we might encounter as we gather samples of this and that.”

 

“And a whole lot of weapons not visible.  Sir,” was again added firmly.

 

“Exactly,” Nelson concurred.

 

“May I ask who you plan to take with you, sir?”

 

“Oh, I thought perhaps Chief Hauck,” he referred to Seaview’s Master-At-Arms, “and one of his security team, all dressed in jungle green so no insignia stand out.  And another seaman to stay with the zodiac.”

 

“And me, sir,” came out in a tone that broached no argument, causing Nelson to grin broadly but nod.  “Of course, Lee,” he concurred once more.  “I assumed that was a given,” and he nodded again.

 

Lee wasn’t so sure but he didn’t challenge the comment.  “When do we go?”

 

“As a scientific expedition we would surely wait until daylight to surface.  But that doesn’t mean that we can’t approach before that.”

 

“And send in an advance party by scuba?”

 

Nelson pondered that one.  “Messes up the ‘purely scientific’ story if anyone is spotted.”

 

“Not sure that will be believed anyway,” Lee muttered.  “As you said, pirates aren’t stupid.”

 

“True,” Nelson admitted.  “But I’d still like to give it a try.”

 

“Then I’d like to go on record as not liking it.  Sir,” was once more only slightly delayed.

 

“Understood and noted,” Nelson agreed.

 

“May I go notify Chief Hauck?” he pointed to the report Nelson had laid on his desk once Lee had read it, “and ask his preference for further members of the landing party?”

 

Nelson waved a hand.  Lee was still learning the ins and outs of his new crew and relied on Chip, Chief Hauck, and the boat’s COB, Chief Curley Jones, when he needed to assign personnel for specific duties.  “An excellent idea,” he added with another small grin.  Once Lee left he sat back in his chair.  While he wouldn’t admit it out loud, he wasn’t overly thrilled with ONI’s plans, either.  But he’d been a good officer for too many years to totally disregard how he’d been told to handle the mission.  On the other hand, he told himself, I haven’t stayed alive this long by depending on others halfway around the world to tell me how to do my job.  His own expression determined, he headed for his lab to put together what would at least look like scientific materials for gathering samples and store them, along with a few carefully hidden objects, into a backpack.

 

* * * *

 

0800 hours the next morning had Seaview backing away from the island slightly, surfacing, and then gradually once more approaching.  Thankfully the weather was not only clear – if hot and sticky topside – but there was a smallish cove Chip used to get as close as possible, and Seaview would be quite stable on the surface.  Lee nodded his approval as Chip posted lookouts in their normal places, as well as on both fore and aft decks, all of the men armed but trying to keep their weapons as concealed as possible.  Lee did raise an eyebrow when he discovered that it was Seaman Kowalski who was assigned the duty of handling the zodiac.  Chip told him softly, “Besides being one of the best divers on the boat, he’s one of the best fighters,” and Lee had merely nodded.

 

By 0900 the zodiac had been launched and Nelson, Lee, Chief Hauck, and Seaman Monroe, all wearing backpacks with varying amounts of contents, climbed aboard.  Lee noted a small box at Kowalski’s feet as he manned the motor and figured that it held small arms of some sort.

 

The island wasn’t particularly large.  They automatically assumed that they were being watched since Seaview wasn’t exactly inconspicuous, so Nelson started giving each member of the shore party, in a voice meant to carry, a list of specimens he wanted samples of.  Everyone would keep busy seeming to be following these orders, but the actual outline for the trip had been carefully gone over with everyone in the Observation Nose the night before.  They would move slowly into the interior of the island, constantly gathering samples but also constantly wary of their surroundings, taking note of anything they found that they didn’t feel belonged there.

 

For the first hour all went well.  The four men stayed within sight of each other as they meandered slowly forward, filling small bags with samples of plants, and the occasional bugs, they ran into.  Lee tried to stay as close to Admiral Nelson as circumstances would permit, earning the occasional quick grin from his boss as the maneuver was noted and acknowledged.  Nelson had to keep his expression under control as he watched Lee move easily and quietly through the terrain, memories of their last mission together aboard the old Nautilus quickly coming to mind.*  Apparently he was less than successful as a soft, “Sir?” came from Lee, and he let a grin openly appear.  “Merely enjoying the fresh air and the chance to gather all these wonderful samples,” he tried to cover his woolgathering.

 

“Yes, sir.  Lots of ‘fresh’ air, as muggy and stuffy as it is,” Lee grumbled, causing Nelson to chuckle openly.

 

Two things happened so suddenly that Nelson couldn’t later separate them: Lee melted into the jungle and Nelson felt a sharp pain in his left shoulder, only noting afterward the sound of a gunshot.  “Back to the boat,” someone yelled and Nelson was grabbed, one person on each side, and all but carried back to the zodiac.

 

“Where’s the Skipper?” Nelson heard Kowalski ask.

 

“We can’t wait for him,” Chief Hauck yelled as more shots were heard.

 

Nelson was in enough pain that he could barely remain conscious, but he tried to tell the others, “Crane can handle himself.”  He wasn’t sure how successfully he managed to convey that message.  He did feel the zodiac being pushed away from the shore and realized that either Hauck or Monroe was at the motor because Kowalski had grabbed the box he’d brought aboard, which turned out to have first aid supplies, and was tending to Nelson’s injury.  Nelson wasn’t sure if the gunfire stopped, or he simply was losing consciousness and could no longer hear it.

 

He awoke to chaos, multiple voices all talking at once.  He tried to raise his right hand to quiet the cacophony but discovered that he couldn’t move it so tried the other one, quickly canceling that idea as being way to painful.  “Lay still, Admiral,” he heard Seaview’s new doctor, Lt. Cdr. Will Jamison, order but promptly ignored it and tried to sit up.

 

An actual growl came from someone, but Nelson found Chip at his side.  “Stay still, sir.  You’ve been shot and Doc needs to get you down to Sick Bay.”

 

“Shouldn’t we go back for the Skipper?” Nelson heard in what he thought was Kowalski’s voice.

 

Nelson managed to get out, “Lee can take care of himself,” then struggled to bury a scream of pain as he was lifted onto a stretcher, and didn’t hear the rest of the conversation that took place behind him.

 

“Sir,” Kowalski started, but Chip held up a hand.

 

“Like the Admiral said, Cdr. Crane can take care of himself,” Chip assured the Senior Rating, inwardly amused at the caring Kowalski had put into that one word.  The man had been the most ticked off when Lee first came aboard but was rapidly changing his mind.  “At least until tonight,” Chip added, and sent a silent prayer that he was right.  He got nods from ‘Ski, Hauck, and Monroe, who had all managed to return uninjured.  “Chief, pick a team and prepare to scuba in after dark.”

 

“Aye, sir,” came back instantly from the MAA.

 

“I volunteer, Chief,” came firmly from Kowalski, with a sheepish glance at Chip who carefully ignored the slightly out of order statement.

 

“Already had you in mind, ‘Ski,” Hauck told both the seaman as well as Chip.  “Especially with your first aid training.”  That got nods from both, and precisely why Chip had assigned him to the first trip.  They all heard Lt. Bishop call in the lookouts, then felt Seaview start to settle deeper into the water. 

 

“With any luck,” Chip told the small group, “whoever you ran into will believe that we turned tail and ran.”

 

“Not counting on that, sir,” Chief Hauck told him.

 

Chip nodded, with a grin that had absolutely no humor in it.  “Got that right, Chief.”

 

* * * *

 

Lee saw movement off to his right, he wasn’t sure from what, and almost slithered into heavier cover just as the first gunshot rang out.  He almost shouted and broke back into the open when he saw Admiral Nelson go down.  But a moment’s hesitation saw Chief Hauck take immediate action, and Lee instantly decided that he’d be of much more help if he stayed ashore and continued the hunt for the pirates who, he assumed, had just found them.  If he was really lucky whoever had been doing the shooting, and he thought that it was only one gun, wouldn’t have noticed that not all of the shore party had scrambled back to the boat, so he stayed hunkered down and perfectly still.

 

His thought was confirmed as several more men ran into the area, all heavily armed.  Lee couldn’t understand whatever language they spoke but from the gestures figured that the one man, likely a sentry, was explaining what happened to the others.  There was no indication that the sentry had seen Lee.  One of the men headed toward where the zodiac had landed, and Lee heard more gunfire. He could only hope that Nelson hadn’t been badly injured and that everyone else was okay.  He had to stay totally still because all of the men except the one stayed where Nelson had gone down until the missing one reappeared and, again from gestures, Lee surmised that the zodiac had made it safely back and Chip had dived the boat.  At that all the men seemed to finally relax.  The sentry remained in the area but all the others disappeared back into the jungle.

 

Lee contemplated his next move.  He could take out the sentry, leaving him tied up and gagged.  But it was too early in the day.  Lee knew that he’d be on his own until nightfall now that the pirates had proven their willingness to protect the island as their own.  If the sentry were found it would alert the others that there was an enemy around.  Better to bide his time until he could carefully make his way in the direction the pirates had gone and evaluate the situation.  His backpack had been carefully prepared; collection materials on top, with an interesting selection of other objects hidden below.  Among the ‘toys’ he’d brought with him were a selection of incendiary devices, with timers he could set to go off well after he’d had time to make it back to the beach where he knew Chip and/or Nelson would send a rescue party after dark.  Once their stash was destroyed either the men, if they survived, would pull up stakes and leave, or a SEAL team Lee figured wasn’t far away would be sent in to clean up.  Actually, Lee gave a quick thought that Seaview might wait for a team to be dispatched before they, themselves, attempted a rescue.  He had to quickly bury a snort at the thought that, if Lt. Bishop was in charge, that’s exactly what would no doubt happen.

 

But he dismissed that idea.  Not only would Chip not allow the delay, Lee was confident that Nelson – please let him be okay, Lee prayed – would do everything in his not-insignificant power to get Lee safely back aboard.

 

Lee tried to keep an eye on the sentry; not easy from his hiding place.  But he got lucky when there was an apparent changing of shifts.  While the original man headed away, the new one meandered closer to the beach long enough for Lee to feel safe leaving his hidey hole and carefully heading in the direction he’d seen the others go.  The denseness of the underbrush was both a help and a hindrance; it protected him from being easily seen, but it also kept Lee on extreme alert to make sure that he didn’t run into either another sentry, or any creepy-crawlies or other wildlife that might be around.

 

Between the original wait, and then careful progress toward where he assumed the main camp was, it was nearly 1600 hours before he got a hint that he might be getting close to his destination.  Sudden laughter first caught his attention, then the smell of something cooking hit his nose, suddenly making his stomach growl.  Swell, he muttered to himself and retrieved his canteen, hoping a large swallow of water would quiet his hunger at least long enough to get close enough to reconnoiter the situation.  Thankfully it seemed to and he eased even more carefully forward.

 

What he found was not promising.  A group of about half a dozen men sat smoking around an open fire, but there was every indication of more people present as an occasional call would go back and forth from somewhere out of Lee’s sight.  Bummer, he thought.  Perhaps we should have scouted around the whole island last night.  Well, too late now, and he pondered his next move.

 

* * * *

 

Once he checked the Conn to make sure everything was under control there and Seaview was once more laying quietly on the bottom, Chip headed for Sick Bay.  A grin had to be carefully controlled as, still two corridors away, he could hear Admiral Nelson yelling.  He entered the boat’s large and well-equipped Sick Bay quietly, remaining close to the door after shutting it behind him and watched the new Doc work on an aggravated Admiral.  Nelson, laying on the central exam table, was telling Jamison to just put in a few stitches, cover them with a bandage, and let Nelson make plans for rescuing his captain.  Dr. Jamison was just as adamant that Admiral Nelson lay still before he lost so much blood that he passed out, let the Doctor remove the bullet that was still embedded in his shoulder, and do a proper closure which would include a stay in Sick Bay long enough for an I.V. to replace at least some of the fluids Nelson had lost.  Neither man paid Chip any attention until the blond wasn’t able to stop a small snort at the bickering between the two strong-willed men.  Through Chip’s mind had quickly run Nelson’s hard work to find a replacement for Seaview’s original CMO, who finally had had enough of the sub’s occasionally whacky cruises.  Seaview had gone through three doctors just since Lee had arrived and none of them had been able to stand the pressure.  Nelson had finally found Jamison, assured both Lee and Chip, as well as himself, that the man could “handle anything that we can throw at him,” and was now having to take his own medicine.  Literally!

 

“Update,” Nelson demanded.  Chip walking up to the exam table kept Nelson from seeing the loaded hypodermic needle one of the corpsmen handed Jamison until it was already in Nelson’s right shoulder.  The grin Chip couldn’t control kept Nelson’s reaction to a glare at the Doctor before he turned it on Chip.

 

“We’re settled on the bottom, sir,” Chip answered.  “Lt. Bishop took a quick look before we left periscope depth and all seemed to be quiet.”

 

Nelson managed a nod.  “Lee slipped into heavy cover just before the shot happened so they may not have noticed him.”  He sent another glare at Jamison as he could feel his eyes getting heavy.  “Lee’s had special training...”  His voice trailed off.

 

“I know, sir,” Chip told his starting to fall asleep boss.  “I haven’t always been the most supportive of his ONI work.”  That caused Nelson to smile but whatever Jamison had given him was working fast.  “Doc?” Chip looked at a slightly smirking Jamison.

 

“He’ll be fine,” the Doctor assured his new XO.  “The bullet didn’t do any major damage.  I’m just concerned with how much blood the Admiral has lost, and is continuing to lose until I can get it out.”

 

“Understood,” Chip told him, and nodded to the two corpsmen who had been carefully keeping their distance; they’d both tangled with an injured Nelson before!

 

“Something else?” Jamison half-growled.  Chip took the hint and started to leave, before turning back.  “Let me know when the Admiral is awake.”  The Doctor merely nodded, and Chip headed back to the Conn.

 

* * * *

 

It was starting to get dark before Lee could manage to get a look at where the other voices were coming from.  The men gathered around the fire seemed in no hurry to do anything different, although once more during the time Lee lay hidden the sentry changed to a different man.  Finally, just after 1930 hours, all but one man left the fire and walked in the direction of the other voices.  Lee waited until the one man left stood and walked into the bushes, apparently to relieve himself, and he maneuvered in a wide circle to where he could finally see what had been hidden.  In a small cove a small but efficient-looking boat lay hidden from the open ocean by heavy growth at the narrow mouth of the cove.  Above where it sat quietly in the water an opening to what could be a cave was also partially covered by the jungle.  As he watched, all but one of the men boarded the boat and it slowly eased its way out of the cove under the cover of the gathering darkness.  Out for plunder, Lee told himself.  That left three men on the island.  Well, three that I know about, anyway, he mumbled softly.  Better odds than I’ve had until now.  He shrugged and got busy.

 

The guard left at the cove ended up being a non-problem.  Lee was able to work his way close enough that, when he tossed a small pebble to get the man to look the other direction, Lee instantly took him down with one hand over the man’s mouth to keep him from yelling, and a rock in the other hand rendering him unconscious.  From his pack Lee took a couple of plastic zip ties that made short work of the man’s wrists and ankles.  Duct tape over his mouth and eyes, and a small piece of twine to connect the two ties behind the man’s back, and Lee dragged him away from the cave entrance into some heavy bushes where he wouldn’t be immediately noticed if one of the other two guys showed up.

 

There hadn’t been any sound from the cave but Lee still approached it with all due caution.  Now fully dark, a small penlight caused Lee to draw an instant sharp breath when he found what was inside.  Mostly small arms, there was still enough explosives to create a fair amount of damage.  Lee wasn’t happy about destroying the goods and supplies he also found.  But there simply wasn’t a way to separate them, and the munitions had to go!

 

Digging once more into his pack, out came two small bombs along with a timer for each.  Lee figured that two might be slightly overkill with what was already there.  But better to be safe and get it all the first time.  Once he was satisfied with his handiwork, having set the timers, well hidden among all the other armament with a four hour delay, he poked his nose out to make sure everything seemed quiet and scurried once more into the safety of the heavy underbrush.  He was careful as he skirted around the one man still sitting by the fire.  Unfortunately, the sentry closer to the beach had apparently gotten bored and was wandering around because Lee nearly ran into him before he was aware.  He stopped dead, but must have made a noise of some sort because the man had his gun in his hand instead of tucked in its shoulder holster.  Lee barely breathed, and it was only then that he heard a slight noise of some sort coming from the direction of where he and the others had landed the zodiac that morning.

 

Which was precisely the direction the man instantly pointed his gun.  Lee only had a split second to decide which of several options that whipped through his brain would work the best to protect who he assumed was his ‘rescue’ squad.

 

Lee coughed.  He needed the man’s gun focused on him, not his crew.  It wasn’t a loud cough, more a clearing of Lee’s throat, but it was enough.  It was almost too much, however.  The man turned and fired where Lee was standing.  Thankfully, Lee had instantly moved and the bullet missed him by several inches.  But the shot alerted the man by the fire, who gave one shout before Lee heard him hurrying in his partner’s direction.  That man stayed quiet, but the shot had given Lee’s men his location and almost instantly there were several soft ‘phat’ sounds.  At that point Lee couldn’t see the man, who let off several more shots in Lee’s crewmen’s direction and there was a muffled ‘oomph’.  A word Lee rarely used snuck out softly, but Lee needed at the moment to concentrate on the man coming from the fire.

 

There weren’t any rocks handy so he hid in some heavy brush, let the man go past him, then stepped forward and with the side of his hand chopped down hard on the back of the man’s neck. The gun in the man’s hand went off, thankfully wildly as he fell to his knees.  He wasn’t unconscious, merely stunned, and Lee gave him another chop before he could figure out what was happening.

 

“Skipper?” came almost in a whisper as Lee reached for his duct tape.

 

“Clear,” Lee called back since there hadn’t been anything further from the first shooter, and shortly found himself surrounded by Chief Hauck and Seamen Monroe, Kowalski, and Patterson, who stood and watched as Lee trussed up this guy as he’d done the one outside of the cave.  He did send a nod in the third guy’s direction.

 

Chief Hauck held up his hand in which was, Lee noted, a gun Admiral Nelson had shown him that fired tranquilizer darts.  “He won’t be going anywhere for half an hour or so.”

 

“Any of you hurt?” Lee demanded, remembering the sound he’d heard.

 

“No, sir,” Hauck answered, guessing why Lee had asked and sending a look toward Kowalski, who sent both Lee and Hauck a sheepish look.

 

“Flattened when I heard the gunshot,” the seaman got out, not quite looking at Lee.  “Nearly knocked my breath away landing on an exposed root.”  Hauck grinned ever so softly, and Lee sent the seaman a quick nod.

 

“If I could borrow your tape and zip ties, sir...” came softly from Monroe.  “When you’re finished, sir,” was quickly added, and Lee sent him a grin and a nod.

 

“Any more, sir?” Hauck asked.

 

“One, who won’t be going anywhere until someone releases him,” Lee told the MAA, finished up and stood, then handed his leftover ties and tape to Monroe.  “The others all left in their boat when it got dark.”

 

“Sonar picked them up just as we were getting ready to scuba over,” Hauck confirmed.  “Mr. Morton let them get clear of the area before he’d let us go.”

 

Lee nodded, then glanced at his watch.  “We need to get back to Seaview.  Still a couple hours before the fireworks I set go off.”  He sent the men a satisfied grin.  “But I’d still rather be a little further away.”

 

“Aye, sir,” Hauck replied, and indicated the man at his feet who was just starting to regain consciousness.

 

“Once we’re aboard and underway...”  He paused.  “How’s the Admiral?” 

 

There were grins and half-smiles from the others.  “Already screaming at the new Doc to let him out of Sick Bay,” Hauck told him calmly, then added with a grin, “I like this new guy.”

 

Lee nodded with a smile of his own.  “Then either I or the Admiral will alert the...”  He paused again, then shrugged.  “Whoever the Admiral is supposed to alert,” he said with another shrug.  “No longer our problem.  We did our job.”

 

“Yes, sir.  We brought extra scuba gear for you, but since things are under control we can call for a zodiac if you’d rather.”

 

Lee shook his head.  “Scuba is fine.  That way Seaview doesn’t have to surface, if the pirate boat happens to come back.”  He frowned.  “And after all day in this heat and humidity, the water will feel extra good!”

 

“Yes, sir,” and everyone headed for the beach.

 

* * * *

 

Lee didn’t ask how it happened, but Admiral Nelson was in his cabin by the time Lee and the others got back. He quickly changed and, hurrying forward, rapped lightly on Nelson’s door.  “Enter,” came a loud grumble, and Lee entered carefully but calmly.  Thankfully, at Lee’s appearance, Nelson instantly relaxed back into his desk chair.  “You’re okay,” came out, and Lee could easily hear the relief in Nelson’s voice.

 

“Didn’t actually mean to get separated, sir,” Lee started.  But Nelson waved him off.  He gestured toward the corner of his desk and smiled when Lee chose to accept the invitation, reporting how he’d spent his day as well as what had just occurred.  As he started, he felt Seaview lift off the bottom and start to move out to sea.

 

When he was finished, Nelson called down to have Sparks place a call to ONI’s Director, Admiral Robert Jones.  Lee started to leave but Nelson told him to stay.  It was just as well because that Admiral had questions.  Not many, thankfully, and Lee stood to leave.  He could see that Admiral Nelson was starting to show signs of the tiredness and pain that he must be in, although Lee knew that he’d never say anything.  Nelson sent him off with a “Good work today, Lee.”

 

Lee ducked his head slightly, a gesture Nelson was all too familiar with.  Lee always seemed uncomfortable accepting praise, and especially if he felt that he was merely doing nothing more than what he felt was his duty.  “Thank you, sir,” was slightly mumbled.  Nelson grinned and waved a hand of dismissal, and Lee quickly left.

 

His first stop was the Conn, but Lt. O’Brien had everything well in hand.  The lieutenant did mention that he thought XO Morton was in the Wardroom having a late cup of coffee.  “My next stop,” Lee admitted.  “I’m starved!”  O’Brien grinned and Lee headed aft.

 

Chip wasn’t alone in the Wardroom.  The new Doctor was also there, sitting across from Chip where Nelson usually sat.  The blond immediately moved to his right, where he usually sat, but demanded in a firm voice, “Damage report.”  Lee saw Jamison send Chip a startled glare.  Apparently Chip saw it as well because he added a quick “sir,” but only slightly softer.

 

The whole scene caused Lee to laugh out loud.  “Nary a scratch, Mr. Morton,” he got out between chuckles, then turned and filled his coffee mug.  The first one went down in one long swallow and he refilled it as both Chip and Jamison remained silent at his back.  The second took a couple shots to get down.  Lee finally turned to the food with his mug filled for a third time and found the cook’s assistant, Seaman Higgins, watching him.  As late as it was, there was still sufficient food items to choose from and Lee had no trouble filling his tray a little more than he usually did.  It earned a raised eyebrow from Chip as Lee sat down next to him.  “Didn’t expect to be gone all day so I didn’t take any nutrition bars with me.”

 

Chip nodded as Lee dug into his meal of meatloaf, whole kernel corn, mashed potatoes and gravy, and whole wheat rolls.  “Just as well,” the blond told him.  “The Admiral says that they are everything a body needs.  The problem is, you’d have to eat them to get the benefits and they are totally inedible.”  He turned to Dr. Jamison.  “There’s your new assignment, Doctor: design a bar that travels well, has all the nutrition a body needs, and can actually taste good enough to eat.”

 

Lee chuckled and tapped Chip with his elbow.  “They can’t be that bad.”  He paused.  “Can they?” he asked.  Chip glared at him.  “Oh,” Lee surrendered and took a big bite of meatloaf.  Once he’d swallowed he directed his next question to the Doctor.  “Admiral Nelson?”

 

“You’ve seen him,” Chip stepped in.  Lee nodded but sent Jamison a long look.

 

“Sore and in some pain,” the Doctor confirmed what Lee had himself noted.  “But nothing too seriously damaged.  I’d have liked to keep him in Sick Bay at least overnight...”

 

“Fat chance,” came from Lee’s right, and again his elbow connected with Chip’s arm.  It earned a puzzled look from the Doctor but he shrugged and continued.  “As long as he takes it easy he should be fine.”

 

Lee nodded.  “Chip, ah, Mr. Morton, and I will do all we can to help but...”  His turn to shrug.

 

“So I gathered,” Jamison admitted with a bit of a grumble.

 

Chip grinned.  “You managed just fine this morning, Doc,” he said, and went on to explain to Lee.

 

“I can see that I’m going to have my hands full,” came out, not completely drowned out by the long swallow the Doctor took emptying his coffee mug.  He stood with a “Sirs,” and headed out.

 

Lee yawned as he finished the last of his meal.  “The Admiral has already reported to Admiral Jones.”

 

“I was in the Conn when Sparks put through the call,” Chip admitted.  “We’re headed home; all’s well on the boat, so you can crash.  Sir,” he added with a quirky smirk now that they were alone.

 

Lee sent him a quick glare, but also a nod as he polished off the last of his coffee.  “A little surprised that you didn’t assign yourself to the ‘rescue party’,” he said almost shyly.

 

Chip frowned.  “With the Admiral down, that would have left Bishop in charge,” came out in a growl, but said softly enough that only Lee heard.

 

Lee smiled, interrupted by another yawn.  “Have I told you how much I like having you as my XO?” he told the blond.

 

“Just looking out for my captain, as any good XO does,” Chip smarted back what was rapidly becoming a joke between the long-time friends.  Lee lightly smacked the blond, they both chuckled, and headed for their bunks.  It had been a long day!

 

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

 

*     see “Shark Bait” by R. L. Keller