Author’s note: A big Thank you to Susan who provided the
inspiration for this one – she wanted to see more of Chip’s Mom after “Bonds of
Friendship”. The title comes from Susan
too – ‘Oscar Brothers’ being an old, somewhat outdated Navy way of referring to
the CO/XO from the phonetic alphabet. As usual thanks to my betas, Liz and Lyn, for their support and
encouragement.
Oscar Brothers
by Fidelma C.
The silence in the nose was deafening.
Morton glanced up from his reports to
surreptitiously look at the down-bent dark head across from him, signing off on
yet more paperwork. He didn’t know quite
how to break the silence. Hoped the
other man would do it first.
He almost snorted – some hope there! If there was anyone who brooded more than Lee
Crane, Chip Morton had yet to meet him.
And given the current circumstances – well, it was no wonder that Lee
was affording him the silent treatment.
It had been an inordinately difficult mission and the entire crew was
hurting, both physically and emotionally.
Chip had never seen a crew scramble for liberty
as Seaview’s had this time. They
were all more than ready to re-affirm their family obligations in the face of
one of the most intense, important and life-threatening missions they’d ever
encountered.
Eleven Days.
ONLY 11 days! But if the aching
muscles, pounding head and bruised ribs were anything to go by – his at least –
then he could only imagine how Lee was feeling, having been actually out there
on the ice during the rescue attempt.
His new CO had to be feeling even worse than he did. Not that Lee Crane would ever – EVER – admit
to being anything less than 100%. The
man wasn’t capable of acknowledging illness or injury – at least not the man
Chip had known at
He grinned wryly. It had been a tough adjustment for him –
suddenly having his best friend and younger brother in all but blood as his
CO. But it had been rougher on the crew
- adjusting to a new captain, grieving for their murdered commander, coupled
with a fraught and dangerous mission with possible catastrophic repercussions
for the entire world if they’d failed.
Not that the crew had been privy to that level of detail until the
mission was well underway and it had become necessary for the admiral to
explain why someone was so intent on stopping them that they’d sent drone
planes and an enemy sub to try to get rid of them.
Morton wished Lee would look at him but his
friend seemed intent on completing the stack of reports Chip had already signed
off on and pushed across the table towards him.
Chip was worried about Lee. He’d
shrugged off any attempt to have Doc take a look at him. Not that Doc had tried all that hard. One glare from the golden eyes had Baines
backing off hastily, muttering that he had patients to see to that actually
appreciated his help; as he oversaw his corpsmen take Wilson and Malone to
Lee had become the man – the captain – Morton
had known from their Academy days that he could be. Chip had no illusions. While he was a perfectly adequate XO – OK,
maybe more than adequate – and perhaps could someday be a perfectly competent
captain, he knew he would never be the leader that Lee Crane was. Lee had an innate ability to be more than
just a captain – he was a commander of men in the true sense of the word. Even in the few days he’d been aboard Seaview
he’d more than proved his worth. No
surprise that Nelson had pulled strings to hold onto him. Chip’s grin broadened. Despite his desperate sorrow at John
Phillips’ death - he had genuinely liked
and respected and hadn’t yet had time to truly grieve for Seaview’s
previous captain – he knew from this one mission that the boat and its crew had
moved up a gear in performance under Lee’s command.
Looking at the down-bent head in front of him –
the captain still busily signing off on reports – he wondered if Lee would
accept Nelson’s invitation. Chip found
himself eagerly hoping so.
His introspection was broken from two
sides. The mic on the edge of the table
squawked to life and, simultaneously, footsteps sounded from the direction of
the control room.
Lifting the mic, he snapped off. “Morton.”
“Sorry to disturb you, sir.” The deck watch knew he and the captain would
be signing off the cruise reports. “But
there’s a lady on the dock asking for you and Captain Crane.”
Morton eyebrows rose enquiringly. “Asking for me and the captain?”
“Yes, sir.”
Chip saw golden eyes rise to meet his, a
question in the striking depths. Morton
shrugged in response, twisting to look up at Seaview’s dock through the
remarkable Herculite windows that gave the boat her name - wincing at the pull
on his sore ribs - while Crane rose slowly and rounded the table for a similar
view.
As they strained to see the lady in question,
the mic squawked again – the speaker sounding confused. “She says she’s your mother, Sirs.”
Three voices sounded in chorus. From the captain and XO spluttered “Mom!”
while with evident pleasure the just arrived three-star admiral uttered “Claire!”
****
“I’m a little confused, Lee.” Nelson lit a cigarette, eyes twinkling, as he
motioned the young commander to re-take his seat. “Mom?”
Crane’s eyes lowered and he cast a glance –
which in future years Nelson would come to know well – through his eyelashes at
the older man. “I…ahh, sort of call
Chip’s mom, well, Mom, sir.”
Noting his friend’s embarrassment – and the
colour climbing his olive cheeks – Morton, as was usual, came to his
rescue. “Lee used to come home with me a
lot when we were at the Academy, sir.
His mother worked full time and travelled quite a bit back then and
during vacation Lee came to us. We… sort
of adopted him. For sure Mom did.”
“I see.”
And Nelson did too. He’d
known Claire Morton for many years – in fact since before either of the two
young men facing him were born – and he knew her to be a warm, nurturing,
maternal woman who would have taken the too-shy youngster he remembered from
his teaching days at Annapolis under her wing, adding him to her family as
naturally as night followed day.
Chip’s trademark XO mask had slipped to reveal
a questioning expression. “You called
her ‘Claire’. You know my mother, sir?”
“I did, Chip, many years ago.” If Morton didn’t know the full story then it
wasn’t his place to enlighten him. “And
I’ve only seen her briefly a couple of times since then. In fact, it’s going to take you two another hour or so to finish up here, I’d guess?” At the nods from his officers, he crushed out
the half-smoked cigarette and stood.
“Then why don’t I entertain your mother and you two can join me in my
office when you’re done.”
Knowing no arguments would be forthcoming,
Nelson settled his cover on his russet hair and, picking up his briefcase,
nodded at his senior officers and quickly scaled the ladder topside.
Leaving two equally stunned
gentlemen behind him.
****
The blonde was serene, happy to bask in the
Californian sunshine, casting admiring glances over the giant grey leviathan
that was home to some of her most precious cargo for much of their life, and
recently more than that one cherished person.
She’d followed the news reports, learning about Lee’s secondment to Seaview
in the aftermath of John Phillips’ murder and, being a Navy mother, had read
between the lines. She’d been worried
sick for both her boys – the son of her body and the son of her heart –
guessing the media coverage had been carefully screened and toned down to avoid
mass hysteria and panicked reactions from a scared public. But she’d known if anyone could pull it off
it would be Harry Nelson and his crew and, knowing the man as she did, she’d
had every confidence that he would bring his entire crew back alive, if at all conceivably
possible and - God willing - whole.
She’d watched the crew depart for liberty, seen some stretcher cases
taken off the boat from the aft hatch and transferred to a waiting ambulance. Her heart had been in her mouth until she’d
assured herself that neither of the heads showing above well
tucked in blankets had hair that was flaxen straight or dense black
curls.
Activity around the dock had quieted after the
crew had departed for shore leave, taking their waiting loved ones with
them. She was now the only person left
shore-side besides the deck watch who eyed her curiously. A burly man sporting the insignia of a Chief
had approached her a short time ago and she’d
smilingly given her name and the fact that she was mom to both the captain and XO. That had produced raised eyebrows, for
sure, as he’d passed the message to alert the senior officers.
But she was quite content to wait here in the
waning afternoon sunlight, knowing her boys were likely finishing their mission
reports and would be the last ones off the boat. She was slightly apprehensive - it had to
have been a tough mission all round but what concerned her most was how her
boys had re-acted, each to the other, in roles which were poles apart from
their usual ones. And which surely must
have impacted on their relationship during the gruelling days
just past.
She closed her eyes momentarily, praying –
thanking God for their safe return; anything else could be worked out. She had absolute faith that their
relationship – brotherhood - was deep enough, true enough,
to endure anything life could throw at it, in fact would probably thrive on
it. For they were brothers as sure as if
she’d borne them both.
A figure emerged from the boat and she watched
with increasing pleasure as it transformed into the handsome man she’d first
met some thirty-odd years ago. He wasn’t
overly tall but he had a presence that transcended other things – a fine figure
of a man, as her Scottish grandmother would have said. His russet hair was hidden beneath his cover
but his craggy features lit with a huge grin as he espied her watching
him. Her soft pink lips parted in a
warm, genuinely delighted smile as he approached.
“Harry!
I had so hoped to see you!”
“Claire, it’s been too long!”
Encumbered as he was with his bulging
briefcase, he still managed to snag her around the waist one-handed and draw
her into a warm embrace. She hugged him back fiercely; glad the old feelings
were still as strong as ever.
“Come on, let’s go up
to my office and talk. Lee and Chip are
going to be another hour or more. I told
them I’d look after you until they put the boat to bed. Let’s find somewhere comfortable to have a
drink, talk over old times, tell me what you’re doing
here and why now.”
She studied him carefully, noting the shadows
beneath his eyes, the exhaustion evident in his worn features and the lines of
tension around his mouth, although both the man and his words exuded
enthusiasm. “You look tired, Harry. You need to go home and get some sleep. I’m perfectly happy to stay here and wait
for Chip and Lee. You don’t need to look
after me.”
“Maybe I do, Claire. It’s been a while but perhaps you’re the
sounding board I need – if you’re prepared to listen to an old and foolish man
tell you all about his pipe dream.”
Her laughter sounded bright as she hugged his
arm to hers and they began the short trek towards the Institute’s
Administration building. “Harry! Come on, you – old and foolish? Give me a break! You’re the same age I am - and I’m certainly
not admitting to old! And
foolish? I don’t think so! Not with the number of letters you could put
after your name!”
He chuckled dryly. “Sometimes it’s not the years you’ve spent on
the planet, it’s what your body tells you it’s done
with them that counts!”
She stopped, pulling him gently to a halt, and
turned to face him. “It was awful,
wasn’t it? Not just the mission. But losing John like that. You haven’t had
the luxury of grieving yet. It hasn’t
really hit home, I’ll bet. You’ve had to
put your feelings on the back burner and get on with the task at hand, haven’t
you?
That’s part of the reason I came, Harry. Bill and I both knew it would be tough on
Chip. I only met John a couple of times
– when Seaview’s keel was laid and at her launch. He seemed like a good man. I know Chip was very fond of him and must be
hurting desperately. It’s going to be
difficult to find a replacement.”
He started to walk again, keeping hold of her
arm – it was comforting and he finally admitted to himself that she was
right. He was tired - more than tired -
dispirited and heartbroken. The
adrenalin high he’d been on for the past several days, following the successful
completion of the mission, was draining fast.
But Claire’s quiet undemanding company, and the way she empathised with
his emotions, were soothing his worn body and battered soul. It had been two weeks of pure hell. Now he had someone he could talk to, be
himself with, and he wasn’t going to waste the opportunity.
“I think I already have. At least - I hope so.”
She cottoned on fast. “Lee?”
They had reached the steps to the
****
The two men in Seaview’s nose looked at
each other with almost identical comical expressions.
“Mom?”
Barely above a whisper from Chip.
“And Nelson?”
Slightly appalled from Lee.
Chip shuddered delicately and sank down into
the chair he had recently vacated, watching as Lee did the same. He knew exactly what his adopted brother was
thinking. Your
commanding officer and – your MOTHER?
“She never said…. That she knew him, I
mean.” The blond head shook in
wonderment. “You’d think she’d have
mentioned it.”
Crane shrugged.
“He said it was a long time ago.”
“Yeah, but you’d think she’d have mentioned
it!” Chip was still astounded. His head popped up to gaze aghast at his
friend. “You don’t think they….”
“STOP!
Do NOT go there!”
“But….”
“I mean it, Chip. That much information I DON’T need!”
Chip’s lips settled into a grim line and he
attacked the remaining paperwork with renewed vigour. “Come on, the quicker we get finished up here
the better.”
****
“What would you like to drink, Claire?” Nelson asked, having seated her on one of the
comfortable sofas in his large, well appointed office. He moved to the wet bar and mini fridge,
by-passing the coffee Angie had brewed when she’d seen the boat dock.
His stalwart secretary had been delighted to
see him - and stunned to learn the identity of the blonde accompanying
him. He’d seen her eyes widen as she
took his briefcase. And she’d only
managed a stammered greeting for Claire.
Nelson knew the cause – in young-person’s-speak Angie ‘fancied’ Chip
Morton. Not that she would ever have
admitted it or acted upon it. She was
the consummate perfectly professional P.A. – the best he’d had. But to be unexpectedly confronted with the
mother of the object of her ‘fancy’, for that woman to be an elegant natural
blonde (age probably now requiring a little help from Clairol) whose son had
inherited her beautiful azure eyes, and it was little wonder that his usually
perky, no nonsense P.A. was stumbling over her words. Instructing her wryly to inform him when
Captain Crane and Commander Morton arrived, he had propelled Claire into his
office.
“I haven’t changed, Harry, at least not much –
I still favour white wine, if you have it. I love your Californian blends. If not, coffee’s fine.”
“No, I have a particularly good Chardonnay from
a little known winery that sends me the best of their vintage each year. I think you’ll like this one.” He opened the mini fridge and pulled out a
chilled bottle, uncorking it deftly and handing her a crystal goblet filled
with the pale gold liquid.
She sipped and arched an approving eyebrow as
he poured a liberal Irish whiskey for himself.
“Knowing you, you probably own the winery! Or at the very least have shares in it. And this is really good.”
“Guilty, I’m afraid.” He chuckled; her words were appreciative,
not censorious. He shrugged, a little
deprecatorily, more used to his detractors – despite his financial successes –
than his supporters.
Her bright gurgle of laughter warmed him in
ways he didn’t want to contemplate.
“Oh, Harry.
You haven’t changed a bit!” She
buried her nose in the glass, savouring the distinctive bouquet of the wine;
heard his amused snort as the years melted back to the first time she’d met the
young red-haired midshipman, roommate of her intended, at an invitational at
the Academy.
She sighed, melancholy sweeping over her –
uninvited and unwelcome – knowing it was out of place but unable to dismiss it
as she’d done so ruthlessly over the years.
Perhaps it was this one-on-one with Harry – something she’d scrupulously
avoided since she’d married – that had triggered the memories. Suddenly she felt young again – young and
bereft. She stirred restlessly – those
memories belonged in the place to which she’d relegated them
many years ago and had no place re-surfacing here.
Harry was only marking time until her sons came
to collect her. He’d invited her here to
tell her of his plans for the new captain of Seaview – she so hoped he’d
meant Lee. It was her sons’ dream to
serve together but, due to the policies of the Navy – not to mention her
husband’s machinations – they’d til now been denied the opportunity. She prayed Harry was going to bring this
dream to fruition – as he’d unknowingly done for both her boys in the
past.
To hell with it! She was going to ask the question that was
eating at her. She might never again
have this opportunity. Hesitant, her
voice was smaller than she’d wanted.
“Harry, do you ever think of Brad?”
He started; not that he
hadn’t anticipated the question.
He’d waited almost thirty years for her to bring it up but he still felt
a wave of grief overwhelm him when he thought of his young handsome
He’d seen similarities in the relationship
between Crane and Morton – they’d been practically joined at the hip at both
His room assignment with Bradley Redmond III,
way back when, had produced the first real friendship of Nelson’s young
years.
Deeply in love with his high-school sweetheart,
Claire O’Donnell, Brad had droned on – and on – about his girl. Harry had come to know her even before he’d
met her, from his roomie’s confidences.
He knew that Brad planned to become engaged to her as soon as he
graduated the Academy and, from the letters he’d received from his intended,
Harry surmised she was as enamoured as Brad was.
He dragged himself back to the present, masking
the reminiscences by taking a measured sip from his glass before
answering. He’d avoided this
conversation on the several occasions he’d met her since Chip had come to Seaview. This, the first time they’d been entirely
alone – at his instigation – was perhaps a reaction to the close encounter with
his maker he’d had during recent weeks and it had awakened distant memories.
“Harry?
If you… don’t care to talk about it, it’s OK. Really.” She concentrated on her wine, sipping
pleasurably, not wanting to put him on the spot. But over the years she’d wondered if he’d
held it against her. While he’d been
more than welcoming on the few occasions they’d met since Chip had come to
serve on Seaview, she’d never had the opportunity to talk to him
privately or ask him openly how he’d reacted to her marriage following Brad’s
death.
Nelson cleared his throat and contemplated the
amber liquid in his glass. Maybe this
conversation was way overdue. “No, it’s
all right, Claire. I do think of him
sometimes, not so much now as in the early days – after he died.”
“Me too.
Sometimes I wonder what would have happened if he hadn’t been killed in
that accident – if we’d gone ahead and married.”
Nelson’s eyebrows rose in silent query.
“Oh, yeah.”
He had to strain to hear her as she buried her nose in the glass. “I was having doubts. It just seemed like we’d always been together
– it was ‘expected’ that we’d get engaged as soon as Brad graduated. It was what both our families wanted – and
then there was Bill.”
Nelson knew that Bill Morton had been the other
member of their high school triumvirate.
He vividly remembered the touching eulogy the young army officer had
given at
He tuned back in as she continued softly. “Looking back, I think I was in love with the
idea of being in love. We were so young.
I did love Brad, but not in the way a
woman needs to love the man she wants to spend the rest of her life with. I think the Academy showed me that – I just
didn’t miss him like I should have for the four years he was gone. And then the idea of tours of duty didn’t
faze me like they should have. Whereas
when Bill was sent to
Harry could empathise fully – he’d lost friends
during that horrific war, young men like himself who’d signed up to serve their
country in the best way they could and who’d returned in body bags. Assailed by the grim memories he abruptly
stood and stalked to the wet bar, pouring himself another drink and taking a
stiff belt before refreshing Claire’s wine.
“It…was a difficult time – for everyone.”
“But it showed me that my feelings for Bill
were a lot stronger than I’d realised. I
just didn’t know how to tell Brad – or Bill, for that matter. And before I had the opportunity, Brad was
dead. I couldn’t believe it – suddenly
he was just gone. And everyone was
treating me like I was made from spun glass – as if I’d shatter any
minute. And I guess I was in
shock for a time. But then so was Bill –
he loved Brad too, as much as I did. And
then there were just the two of us.
Neither of us could believe he wasn’t going to come waltzing in, home
for a vacation, making plans for all of us.”
She smiled wistfully, caught up in the memories. “It drew us closer, Bill and me and, as he’d
finished his tour and started in his father’s business, we spent a lot of time
together. At first it was mostly to talk
about Brad – then it changed. We
changed. Oh, I don’t know why I’m
telling you this.” She set down the
wineglass and stood, moving to the large picture window that overlooked the
dock where Seaview resided.
“Maybe because you need to.”
Nelson suggested, now needing to hear it as much as Claire needed to say
it.
“I’ve never told anyone else about that time in
my life, Harry.” She turned, crossing her
arms around her middle in a defensive gesture.
“There was no one for me to talk to.
His parents, my family, they all assumed that I was overcome with grief
– and I was, but there was also a huge sense of relief that shamed me
terribly. I wasn’t going to have to tell
Brad that I couldn’t marry him. I’m not
sure I actually could have done it, you see.
I’d have probably married him, coward that I
was, and made both of us miserable. We
were so young, when I think about it.
Too young to be making life choices, I know now. Not that anyone could have told us that back
then.”
She flashed him a grin that he knew had been
devastating in her younger days – he’d seen a similar one on her son’s face
have a disconcerting affect on the Institute’s female staff.
“And then Bill confessed that he’d had feelings
for me too but had been reluctant to come between Brad and me.” Her smile faded and she sighed unconsciously,
picking at a loose thread on the sleeve of her jacket. “And therein lay much of
the problem in our marriage until recently.” Her blue eyes met his surprised ones
squarely. “Oh, yes, Harry, our marriage
has had its rough spots – ones we’ve managed quite successfully to hide from
the kids, I suspect. Bill had this
absurd idea that he was second best – that I wouldn’t have married him if Brad
hadn’t died. Of course he didn’t tell me
how he really felt until we were already married. And I’m afraid I didn’t handle it as well as
I might have. No point in going into the
details now but, suffice to say, it explains much of the way Bill behaved when
it came to Chip’s choice of career.
Bill wanted his only son to go into the family
business – as he himself had – but was prepared to allow Chip to go to
She caught the growl that Nelson tried to hide
by taking a hefty swallow from his drink.
“Oh, don’t think too badly of him, Harry. He was genuinely afraid for his son. Bill was devastated by Brad’s loss, more than
I think even he realised – until Chip came home full of the news that he was
going into submarine service. Bill hit
the roof. He expected his son to ‘do his
duty’ to the country that had provided his education but not by signing on for
the long term. In his opinion, Chip
should put in his time, in as mundane a fashion as he could, and then get out
and join him in the business. But I
think he was truly terrified that he would lose Chip in the same way that he’d
lost Brad.
If it happened today there’d be therapy
available and that might have made a difference. But that option wasn’t open to us back then –
it was seen as a weakness to need a shrink to sort through your problems. And Bill couldn’t have handled it. Not then.”
“But since?”
Nelson asked the question hesitantly – he was seeing a different side to
the woman he’d thought he’d known for years, as first his friend’s girl and
then as his XO’s mother.
“Actually yes, Harry, and it’s partly due to
you.” She smiled and sipped her drink at
his startled expression. “Yes. I think when you offered Chip the job on Seaview
Bill finally realised that his son wasn’t going to cave in to his wishes, come
home and dutifully take his place in the family firm. He could see Chip’s enthusiasm and excitement
and he was forced to re-evaluate his opinion of a lot of things – including our
marriage.”
Intuitively Nelson could almost perceive the
scenario. “You gave him an ultimatum.”
“After a lot of soul searching on my
part. But he needed a wake up call and, in the end, I found the courage to hammer it home to him that he
wasn’t second best and shouldn’t take out his own fears and frustrations on his
son. He found a therapist he could work
with and the rest, as they say, is history.
And he’d be mortified if he knew I’d ever told you any of this. Or if Chip found out.”
“Bill has nothing to fear from me.” Nelson promised, privileged to be the
recipient of thirty years of this resilient woman’s history – and gaining at
the same time an insight into his so-proper, reticent exec. At Claire’s nod of appreciation, he felt
almost obligated to share some history of his own. “I’ve sometimes wondered if you resented me
for pulling Chip out of the regular Navy for Seaview. You must know he’d have had his third stripe
by now if I hadn’t yanked him.”
Her burst of laughter stopped him in his
tracks. “Oh, Harry, Chip wouldn’t BE in
the Navy now if you hadn’t ‘yanked’ him.
Don’t you know how much he hated the Pentagon? Being tied to a desk, day-in day-out? Away from his beloved
ocean? For a kid from a
land-locked state he took to the ocean like a native – must have been all those
weekends we spent on the lakes.”
Sobering, she confided, a little diffidently and fidgeting,
somehow…discomfited. “It was the worst
thing Bill could have done to him – taking him away from the sea. He called in favours from his old buddies
who’d remained in the services and made sure that Chip was desk bound – and
unfortunately Chip’s aptitude for computers helped him there.
He really did want to ensure his safety, Harry,
but he also hoped that Chip would get so pissed off with his assignments that
he would quit when he realised that he wouldn’t get a sea posting any time
soon. Your offer came at a crucial point
in Chip’s career. I knew he was
seriously considering quitting. He
couldn’t have borne much more of that desk job.
Not that he would have come home to join Bill in the business. I know my son. He’d probably have ended up running charters
in the
And, as much as he loves Lee and was glad for
him, it was torture when he saw him get the XO job on the
“I seriously considered calling you – asking
you for a favour; to use your influence to get him a posting at sea. Anything, once he was away from a desk. The only thing that stopped me was that I
knew Chip would kill me if he found out I’d interfered - and his relationship
with his father was enough to cope with, without having him mad at me too.”
Nelson grinned, knowing the implacability that
was so ingrained in his exec. He could
appreciate Claire’s position – caught between the proverbial rock and a hard place. Pushed a little further out of his comfort
zone by this intuitive woman, he took refuge in the amber liquid, swirling it
contemplatively around the glass.
“You know I’ve always kept an eye on both
Chip’s and Lee’s careers since they left the Academy. Crane was easy to keep track of – he’d early
on caught the attention of the Brass. It
took me a while to cotton on to the fact that Morton wasn’t getting the breaks
he should have been – that he’d been stultified – riding a desk when his
talents were obviously better deployed elsewhere. The midshipmen who graduate first and second
in their class at the Academy are not expected to disappear into the realms of
obscurity in the Navy. There had to be
an explanation and so, when I conceived and began to build Seaview, I
went looking. I knew that Chip would
make an exemplary XO. He has the
necessary organisational and interpersonal skills that make for a superb exec
and he’s also earned the respect of the men, which is not always the
case with a boat’s XO.”
“I don’t know Navy, Harry, but I do know
my son – sons.” She corrected with a
small smile. “Chip is a wonderful
organiser and a very good ‘people person’.
And he loves NIMR and Seaview – more than he’s loved anything
since
“Claire,
you know I value your opinion. We go
back a long way.”
The old uptight-when-he-was-way-too-serious
Harry coming to the fore, he struggled to put words to well defined
thoughts. “And yes, you’re right. I want – have always wanted – Lee to command Seaview. But initially the Brass insisted on a more
experienced captain and they wouldn’t release Lee. I guess this latest crisis proved to them, if
nothing else, that he is the best man for the job and they’ve given me leave to
offer him the position.”
He couldn’t repress a delighted grin and Claire
returned it, toasting him lightly with her wineglass. “You always did get your way –
eventually!”
“Now, Claire, you know me too well. I do bide my time….”
“You’re usually proved right, Harry. And your patience pays off in the end – I
know that of old! Lee must be thrilled.”
Nelson’s mouth turned down slightly and he took
a healthy gulp from his glass as he rose and paced with impatient steps to the
window overlooking the Sub Pen. “He
hasn’t given me an answer as yet. Oh,
initially he seemed pleased – a little shocked to be released from the Navy
into the Reserves – but we were all running on pure adrenalin by then. He’s asked me for a couple of days to think
it over.”
Watching him carefully, Claire sipped from her
glass. “That sounds wise. It’s a big decision, Harry. He’d just gotten his first Navy command
before this mission and I’m sure it’ll be a wrench to leave her and her crew,
even for a boat as wonderful as Seaview.”
Nelson’s free hand made an impatient slashing
motion, almost dismissive of her comment.
He’d thought Crane would jump at the chance to captain his ‘lady’.
Her voice gentled. “Harry, he’s young. Give him time to absorb the offer you’ve made
him. He’s just taken command of the
The wisdom of her words hit him squarely. He’d known in his heart that he would have to
let Lee make up his own mind.
He vividly recalled the thrill of his own first
command. He’d hoped that the lure of Seaview,
and the exhilaration of saving the world on his first mission aboard her, would
be sufficient to sway Crane into making a snap decision. In the cold light of day, a little whiskey
warming his bloodstream, he realised that a ‘snap decision’ would not be in
either party’s best interest. Claire was right – he had to let Lee make the
decision that was right for him, and hopefully right for Seaview. Crane’s unorthodox entry had put the backs of
many crewmembers up and, although Lee’d overcome much of the disapproval during
their fraught mission, having him as permanent captain would be difficult for
some of the crew. Nelson knew Lee would
be a very different commander than John had been.
John. A
niggle of guilt – remorse – regret – beset him.
John Phillips had been a true friend, a good colleague and a fine
captain for his lady. Why then did he
feel a sliver of disloyalty towards John’s memory by anticipating what a great
captain Lee Crane would make? Having
seen Lee in action on this one mission he knew that Seaview would be
propelled to even greater heights with Crane at the helm.
She could read his mind – he would forever
after swear it!
“Harry, don’t feel guilty about replacing
John. He’d be the first one to tell you
that it’s absolutely necessary to move on.”
He cleared his throat but his voice was still a
little husky. “Thank you, Claire. You have a unique way of putting things into
perspective. And you’re right. I haven’t
dealt with John’s death yet. I’ve been
dreading visiting Lucy – John’s widow - and that’s not right.”
“Don’t beat yourself up, Harry. You’ve barely reached home and you’re
exhausted. You’ll have time now to come
to terms with things and do what’s necessary – and what’s right for you.
And if Lee is the one you want, then go for
it. I can tell you it won’t take that
young man long to know what he wants, whether that’s what suits you ultimately
or not.”
He contemplated for a moment, somewhat grateful for the subject change – it hurt a lot to think of John, gone forever solely because he’d worked for NIMR – then he ventured. “How do you think Lee and Chip will react to becoming colleagues – CO and XO respectively?”
She considered the question with the
seriousness it merited.
“I’m not naïve enough to think there won’t be
teething problems, Harry. It’ll be an
adjustment for them both. Chip’s been on
board since her launch. He’s very
protective of Seaview – he adores her - and he was very fond of
John. But he was genuinely thrilled for
Lee when he got command of the
But, as in any sibling relationship, there will
be a touch of rivalry. That’s human
nature. And it’ll be up to you, to a
point, to define their respective roles initially so that it’s minimised. Not that I don’t think they’ll work that out
for themselves, PDQ!
They are both consummate professionals –
perfectionists - and they’ll bring that to their command style. There’ll be a period of adjustment, without a
doubt, and it may not be much fun for those around them while they define a
proper working relationship, on and off duty.
But it’ll happen pretty fast, if I’m any judge of their characters. It’s been both of their dreams to work
together since they graduated. They’ll make
it work, I’m confident of that. They’ll
want to make it work, Harry. And they’ll
make a great team – once they iron out the initial dilemmas!”
“And how will you feel, Claire, having both of
them serving aboard her? Knowing the
dangers they’ll likely face, given Seaview’s growing profile.”
Her smile held a touch of wistfulness. “I can’t answer you that – easily, Harry.
I’ll worry, of course – but that’s part of my life, wherever they serve. In some ways, in both his attitudes and
aptitudes - and I could never admit this to Bill - Chip could be as much Brad’s
as he is Bill’s. I think God was trying
to give me something of Brad to hold onto, to dream with – if that doesn’t
sound too fanciful. When Brad died, I
did my grieving. And I don’t ever want
to go through anything like that again.
How much worse it would be, to grieve for either of my boys. And they are both my boys, Harry! If you’d only known Lee as he was when I
first met him!
She knew she was digressing but took a deep
breath and a healthy slug of alcohol before she spoke again. “But it’s THEIR career choice, THEIR
life. And I’ll temper my fears with the
thought that they’re looking out for each other, there for each
other. I know Chip sees himself as the
‘older’ brother but it’ll do him good to have to accept Lee in a superior
officer role - sometimes. He’ll deal
with it – but I’m sure he’ll get him back for it, off boat. And it’ll give Lee a balance that’s been
missing in his life to date so far; he’s usually deferred to Chip as the ‘elder
lemon’, now he’ll have to boss him around….”
Nelson snorted into his glass. “From what I’ve seen thus far, he won’t have
too much of a problem there.”
“See, Harry, you have a totally different
perspective on them than I do.” Claire
Morton chuckled then sobered quickly.
“They’re both Navy, through and through, and they have the
professionalism and the supreme regard for each other to ensure it works for
the betterment of the boat, I’m convinced of that.”
“I think you’re right, Claire. And I know that Chip wants Lee to stay
on. I spoke to him before we
docked. Told him I intended to offer Lee
permanent captaincy. I owed him that
much. More than just
to present him with a fait accompli.
He’s a wonderful exec – and I’m not just saying that because you’re his
mother!”
She dipped her head in silent acknowledgement –
warmed by his obvious regard for her first born.
“Chip told me he’d hoped I would ask Lee to
stay on. Said he would welcome the
opportunity to serve with him. Could see that, despite the initial resentment from the crew, Lee
had earned their respect and would in time have their complete and utter
devotion. That wasn’t BS
either. He told me straight that he
wasn’t ready for a captaincy – he’d been too long behind a desk and hadn’t
Lee’s experience or flair. But he would
be behind Lee one hundred percent and looked forward to serving with him.”
Claire Morton had never been prouder of her
eldest son than she was at that moment.
“He’ll do everything he can to ease Lee into his new role, Harry. And he’ll try to take care of him too, if Lee
will let him. Oh, he’ll never undermine
him on the boat, but a word of caution!”
A smirk he’d seen exhibited on her son’s face once or twice crossed hers
briefly. “Be prepared for his retaliation
off duty. He’s an expert at payback –
and he’ll re-assert his role as ‘big brother’ when he can, just to let Lee know
he won’t have it all his own way!”
Nelson chuckled. She was right on the money – he would bet his
fortune on it – and could see the sparks that would fly, already relishing the
added value the new command structure would bring to his best girl.
“What about Lee’s mother, Claire? How will she react to him giving up the Navy
for a private research boat?” He knew
Lee’s father had been career Navy until his untimely death when Lee was a small
boy.
“She’ll deal, Harry. She always has. She’s wonderful and adaptable. She’s had to be, to get where she is. She was so young to be widowed and left with
Lee little more than a baby and she did a terrific job raising him. What she’s accomplished, both personally and
professionally, is remarkable and we’re all so proud of her. I just wish I’d known them both when Lee was
younger so that we could have been there to take some of the pressure off her.
It might have made things easier for her and for sure would have for Lee – he
spent a lot of time being farmed out to relatives before he came into our
lives.” She shrugged – it was somewhat
of a mystery to her how a woman could be so unmaternal. While Claire genuinely liked Abby and had no
doubt that she dearly loved Lee, he was treated as more of a prized specimen
than a son. “But she’ll accept any
decision he makes – unreservedly –and be thrilled for him.”
“Claire, Claire! You can’t mother the whole world!” Nelson admonished, shaking his head. “Lee’s done just fine. And since you and Chip all but adopted him
he’s had the best of both worlds; CEO of a Fortune 500 company for a mother and
a wonderful mom and family to ground him.
You have a right to be proud of both your boys, Mama Morton!”
She grinned easily at the term he’d so
obviously picked up from her son, shortened through familiarity to mom, as Chip
and her girls used. “He’s neither mine
nor yours, Harry, but we both love him like he is.”
Nelson gave one of his patented ‘harrumphs’,
obviously embarrassed, and declined to comment.
She needled him mercilessly, as he’d done to
her in their younger days. “Go on, admit
it, Harry! You built Seaview with
Lee in mind to command her!”
He couldn’t deny it, having already admitted
that he’d been deprived of Lee to captain her in the first instance. The too serious,
way-too-intelligent-for-his-years, youngster had reminded him of himself when
they’d first met at the Academy. He’d
been inextricably drawn to the boy and had hoped Lee would have the benefit of
a ‘Brad Redmond’ to ease his passage through the rigours of
Lee’s first few weeks with Morton had been
…difficult, the slightly older boy initially resenting the pairing. But by the end of the first semester they’d
been all but joined at the hip. Lee’s
mother being out of town for the Christmas break, Chip had taken Lee home for
the holiday and a new member of the Morton clan had been adopted. Claire had taken the boy under her wing and
smothered him with a brand of familial loving, kindness and scolding he’d never
known heretofore. She’d even gone so far
over the years to add Abby Crane to the family unit, showing the woman who’d
borne Lee how enriched his life - and hers - had become with the introduction
of the Morton family. Chip had come to
enjoy and appreciate Abby too. She’d
been a wonderful source of research for some of their projects – her font of
business knowledge unequal to anything they’d experienced – until Nelson. Henceforth she’d become familiarly known to
both boys as MAC – Ms. Abby Crane, a title she secretly enjoyed more than
Mother/Mom.
She’d willingly ceded the title of Mom to
Claire Morton and was content to be MAC to both her natural and adopted sons –
for she too had recognised Lee’s need for a sibling and gathered Chip into
their small family unit, welcoming him somewhat shyly at first as the second
son she’d have given anything for, had Lee’s father lived.
Harry had only met her once - on the occasion
of Lee’s graduation from the Academy.
She’d sat with the Mortons and he’d shaken her hand briefly. She’d been reserved, even as Claire had been
her exuberant self and smothered both the embarrassed
boys in hugs and kisses.
“Both Lee and Chip caught a lot of people’s
attention at the Academy, Claire. Not
just mine.” He blustered then flushed
somewhat under her knowing gaze.
“But you talked to him about your design
concept for Seaview, Harry. I
remember him coming home one holiday full of it. Chip was sceptical, as I recall, and Lee
defended you hotly. They got into quite
a squabble – before Lee wore Chip down.”
She grinned wickedly at Harry’s reddened cheeks. “Sometimes I think that’s why Chip disagrees
with Lee – just to get a rise out of him, make him justify his argument. He eggs Lee on and then, just when he’s got
him where he wants him, Chip does a complete about face and…. Well, suffice to say, I hope you’ve got
plenty of band-aids on your boat. From
memory, it used to get quite physical!”
Watching him closely while he paced around the
large, well appointed office, she spotted the disquiet that momentarily crossed
his features. “What?”
Nelson shrugged his shoulders under the
elegantly tailored uniform jacket, turning to stare out the window again at his
‘best girl’. “Nothing,
really. I just suspect that if
Lee does take up the captaincy, I’ll be looking for a new CMO.”
He jerked back to glare at her as peals of
laughter assailed him. “Sorry,
Harry! Don’t tell me he’s managed to
piss off your doctor on his first cruise?
Or has his reputation preceded him?”
“Explain!”
Nelson barked. “Please.” Softening his tone at her
raised eyebrow. Another
expression he’d seen her son use effectively on wayward sailors.
“Lee has a complete and utter phobia about all
things medical, Harry. Don’t ask me why,
because I don’t honestly know. But he
shies away from doctors, regularly ignores his own ill-health and when it comes
to injuries – well, suffice to say, unless they’re just short of lethal he
won’t admit to them, much less seek treatment voluntarily.”
The admiral’s glare sharpened as he recalled
Baines’ complaint that he’d thought the captain was hurting but, when the medic
had tackled the man, Crane had denied it and rebuffed his offer of
treatment. Nelson had also noticed Lee’s
exhaustion and careful movements when they’d finally been headed home but he’d
just put it down to the fall in adrenalin levels precipitated by the mission. “Damn!
I should have known better.”
“You’ll get to spot the signs.” Claire comforted. “He doesn’t even realise he does it but he
gives off these subtle little signals.
Like when he has a headache, he rubs his middle finger along his right
temple and when he’s agitated he twists his ring around and around. When he’s really
distracted and at his wits end, he runs his hand through his hair. And when he’s really, really hurting
you can read it in his eyes. Those
little flecks of green just disappear and they go kinda flat brown. Trust Chip, Harry. He can read Lee like a book.”
“Ha! Our
exec is probably the least likely person on the boat to willingly visit
“Lee’s been rubbing off on him, for sure!” The XO’s mother agreed. “Chip’s always been stubborn, unable to admit
to any weakness that an illness or injury might enforce. But Lee takes it to new levels, Harry. Even Chip admits that. I know there were a couple of times at the
Academy when he had to browbeat Lee into going to the medical centre,
practically had to drag his tail there!
And that’s saying something – coming from my son, who has to have a
partially severed limb before he’ll accept a painkiller!” She shuddered with an obviously horrific
memory. “I’ve asked Abby if there’s
anything traumatic in Lee’s past that would account for it but she can’t come
up with anything. It seemed to only
start at
“This is serious, Claire. I can’t have someone in command of the boat who ignores medical advice.
What does that say to the crew?
They’ll have no respect for the CMO if the captain doesn’t. Hell, I’ve lost confidence in Baines
already!”
“Then maybe you need to find someone who can
handle Lee, Harry, if you truly want him in command. And probably Chip, too. But, you know, Lee’s the type that will
insist on treatment for everyone else around him – while totally downplaying
his own need! In fact, if you want my
advice, you’ll pit Lee and Chip against each other. One will ensure and, indeed, harass the other
into getting the help they each need.”
He toasted her with his almost empty whiskey,
detouring to the credenza to re-fill both their glasses. “Then my only problem remains finding a CMO
that can put up with them both!”
“Actually, I might be able to help you
there.” A certain
smugness was evident in her expression.
His silently raised eyebrow encouraged her to continue. “You know I’m still teaching.” He nodded – Chip was understandably proud of
his mother who was now an assistant principal.
It had always surprised Nelson that she’d carried on in her chosen
career after her marriage, when money wasn’t an issue. Now he realised he’d done her an
injustice. “There’s a trauma surgeon in
our local hospital. I’ve come to know
him quite well as, whenever there’s an injury at the school, we take the kids
there. He’s wonderful! He talks to the kids like they’re adults and
treats the hyperactive parents like they’re children! It’s occurred to me on more than one occasion
that he’s exactly what Lee needs.”
“I hardly think a pediatric….”
“He isn’t!
He’s the ER Consultant, Harry.
But he’s ex-Navy. That’s what got
us really talking when we first met. He
left the Navy and moved to
But I’ve seen him in action. We had a boy, eight years old, fall from the
highest branch of an oak tree in the schoolyard.” Her complexion paled at what was obviously a
fairly recent memory and she shuddered, closing her eyes and drawing in a deep
breath before continuing. “I was the
first on scene and, honest to God, I thought he was dead. He was so small…” She became choked and
unable to continue. Nelson quickly
crossed to her side and went down on one knee in front of her, gently massaging
her arm and urging her to sip from the glass she held.
Somewhat restored, she continued sombrely. “Will arrived with
the paramedics. He stabilised Craig on
site and got him to the ER. He coaxed
that child into staying alive, Harry. Worked on him all day and all night. Operated on him initially but wasn’t too
proud to call in the experts when the boy’s need went beyond his own area of
expertise. He handled the parents and
all of us with a degree of courtesy and compassion I’ve never experienced from
all the medical personnel I’ve come in contact with – and that’s been a lot
over the years, with three of my own and numerous classes. He took the time to explain everything that
was being done with Craig. And what
struck me forcibly was that, even while he was giving comfort, he never gave
out false hope, didn’t sugar coat the possible outcomes. But unconsciously he was willing us to
believe - even as he was preparing us for the worst. He was there all that day and the night that
followed.”
She shook her head in remembered wonderment
coupled with anguish, the memories clearly still too fresh. “When Craig didn’t pull through, he was
almost as destroyed as the parents – as any of us – but he was there comforting
everyone, talking to each of us individually, gently bullying us into getting
some rest and convincing us we’d all get through it. He called me, a day or so later, to ‘make
sure I was coping’. I’ve never had that from any doctor that has ever treated
any one of my kids. And I learned later
that he’d phoned each one of us that had been there, offering his support and
suggesting help for anyone who needed it.
Some of us had a hard time coping with Craig’s death.”
Nelson knew she was counting her classes
amongst ‘her kids’. So
typical of Mama Morton. And,
truth to tell, he was intrigued by the sound of her hero-doctor.
“This guy’s ex-Navy?”
“Our age, Harry.”
She sniffed delicately, composing herself, compartmentalising the
memories. “So he’s seen action. Not on subs, though. Mainly destroyers and
hospital ships. Until he decided to retire his commission to be with Eleanor when
her condition was diagnosed. They
moved to
Nelson’s lips twitched, despite the
situation. He was very taken with the
picture she’d painted of the ex-Navy ER consultant whose patient and relative
handling skills were beyond compare to this savvy lady. If – and it was his fervent hope – Crane took
the job offer on Seaview, he knew Baines wouldn’t command Lee’s respect,
hadn’t been authoritative enough to ensure the boat’s captain received the
treatment he needed once their mission was complete. Nelson ruminated silently while he absently
sipped his whiskey – given the information on Lee’s phobia he’d just been privy
to, it would take a rare medical professional to handle him but, more
importantly, if Seaview were to complete her missions with her crew
intact it would take a CMO with the convictions befitting his professional
degrees to gain the respect of her command staff and officers to the extent
that they would back the doc against the captain and exec when or if the
conditions warranted.
“It’s going to take a very courageous
individual to go up against the boat’s skipper, Claire.” His smile was very much in evidence now.
“I’ve known Will Jamieson for almost two years
now, Harry. And I’ve thought several
times that it would be … interesting, to say the least … to see how he’d handle
Lee, sick or injured. It would take a
lot to intimidate this guy! And I have
the impression that he’d welcome a return to sea. He just needs a push in the right direction,
to help him come to a decision.”
“Why don’t you give me his number and I’ll make
a call, arrange to meet him. No
commitment on either side.” Nelson
warned. “We’ll take it a step at a
time.”
She raised her glass to him now. “I know you’ll be impressed. His qualifications are second to none – top
of his graduating class from John Hopkins, Lt. Cmdr. in the Navy; he could have
picked out his desired position in a dozen different hospitals.
“And that’s assuming I’ll need a CMO. Lee may decide not to take my offer.”
She very deliberately pulled back her sleeve
and checked her watch. “Oh, I’d safely
say my number one son has had just enough time to persuade him.”
****
“Hell, you’d be an idiot not to!”
“Oh, I’m an idiot now?”
“You know you want to. What’s stopping you?” Chip was perplexed by his friend’s
attitude. “I thought you’d jump at the
chance to command her.”
“If it were only her….” The comment was uttered
almost beneath his breath but the lightening quick XO, used to picking up on
the slightest remarks from the crew, was on it immediately.
“So? You
have a problem with the crew? Your own making, buddy.”
Totally unsympathetic. “You didn’t exactly endear yourself with
your impromptu arrival”
“Security sucked!” He flamed instantly, as the blond had known
he would, recalling the ease at which he’d gained entry. “I shouldn’t have been able to get anywhere
close to Seaview!”
“Firstly, the Institute is protected from outsiders
getting onto property. Your credentials
checked out; you were expected, the security detail had no reason to
stop you. You were cleared to board the
boat! The manner you chose to
board was recorded on camera and you were apprehended before you reached the
deck of the control room. We’ve been
through this. The crew was not at fault. Get over it, Lee!” Morton’s tone brooked no quarter. “Secondly, measures have been taken to
tighten up on access to the Sub Pen. You highlighted a gap - it’s been plugged. And believe me,
we’re reviewing ALL our security just now.”
The last statement was heartfelt – it being the XO’s responsibility to
ensure that the workings of both the boat and the Institute were way beyond
tight. It had been giving him headaches
for most of the trip home – when he’d had time to think about his former
roommate’s unorthodox technique – along with trying to smooth his captain’s
passage with a still slightly ticked off crew.
Lee, tired now beyond belief, deigned not to
argue this one any further. He’d had the
expected lecture from Chip once the mission had been completed and, although he
hadn’t admitted it to his friend, Chip’s words had stung. He’d come to regard the crew highly for their
professionalism during the attacks on them.
They’d performed as good as, if not better than, any crew he’d served
with. Truth to tell, he was feeling a
little discomfited with his subterfuge.
He sighed heavily, signed the last paper in front of him with his
distinctive scrawl and placed it on top of the stack to his right hand,
stretching his long limbs with a wince he tried to hide as the torn muscles in
his shoulder and chest protested, smothering a groan he knew from experience
would instantly provoke his oldest friend and self-imposed big brother into
‘mother hen’ mode.
Chip’s eyes narrowed dangerously as he very
deliberately capped his pen and placed it on the tabletop in precise alignment
alongside the neatly stacked reports.
“We’ll continue this conversation later.
You done with these?” Indicating Lee’s completed files.
“Yeah, thanks.” As Chip gathered both sets of
reports into his briefcase for delivery to the admiral’s secretary, Lee stood
and reached for his uniform coat.
“No.”
The single, flat word stopped him, as he was
about to shrug into the khaki jacket.
“Excuse me?”
“Enough, Lee.
Your cabin, NOW. I want to see what you’ve done to
yourself. This time.” The final two words were barely audible, but
Lee heard them and a mutinous scowl marred his handsome features. Knowing by the tone and from previous
experience, that Chip wouldn’t be put off, but not one to surrender gracefully,
he gave the patented line he’d always used when medical issues became a
consideration.
“I’m fine.”
The words were ground out between clenched teeth as he took in the
determined expression on the XO’s face while Chip indicated the aft hatch with
a sweeping motion.
“It’s me or I haul your tail to
“Likewise!”
Lee fired back, as he reluctantly turned and strode towards Officers’
Country. He’d be as wise to fall in with
Chip – knowing of old that there was no way could he distract or dissuade him
in his present mood.
“Couple of bruised ribs from the shaking we
took after the explosion, like everyone else aboard.” Morton retorted dismissively as he followed
his CO closely.
“And your diagnosis came by way of
Morton chose a dignified silence on that
subject as he reached around Lee and pushed open the door of the captain’s
cabin. “Now, we can do this the easy way
or the hard way. Your
choice.”
He watched as Lee’s hands fisted at his sides
and was just about to reach for the phone on the desk when he heard the
exasperated sigh and saw Lee begin to undo the buttons of his shirt, shrugging
out of it slowly. Chip whistled at the
colourful bruising on his friend’s back and shoulders as Lee tossed the shirt
onto the bunk. “Looks pretty painful, buddy.”
He moved around to Lee’s front and shook his
head at the elongated black and purple discoloration down the left side of his
torso, extending from just under Lee’s armpit to disappear into the waistband
of his pants. “Ouch!”
Lee inhaled sharply as Chip gently probed his
ribcage. “I don’t think anything’s
broken but I’d lay a bet that you’ve cracked one or two. You’d be a lot more….”
“I am not going to your
“Not an option, buddy.” Chip shook his head forcefully, indicating
the phone on the desk. “There’s a direct
line to the admiral’s office which I will use if you don’t show some
sense here. I’m gonna hit
Lee’s teeth snapped together and Chip grinned
evilly, knowing he’d won. “Don’t go
away.”
As the exec left his cabin, Lee briefly thought
about smacking his hand into the nearest bulkhead. Only the probability of breaking a couple of
fingers and being ignominiously frog-marched to the Institute’s medical centre
stopped him. Instead he closed his eyes
tightly and counted to ten, trying to think up a suitable retaliation –
preferably something outstandingly painful.
But he swiftly acknowledged that he wouldn’t
have had the support he’d had aboard Seaview without Chip as his
XO. Morton had taken on the chin his
challenging eruption onto the boat, soothed ruffled feathers, barracked others,
and seen to it that the temporary captain had received the respect he’d
deserved – by rank alone, if nothing else – from a distinctly wary crew. More than that, he’d latterly convinced the
crew that Crane was a shoe-in for permanent captain and they’d better get used
to the idea – at least if he’d anything
to do with it.
Lee shook his head – he’d patently lucked
out. Most captains got an XO who
tolerated them at best, ruled the crew by fear rather than respect, and thought
they should be captain. He’d gotten an
exec who had his, Lee Crane’s, best interests at heart, obviously had the
loyalty of the crew, the respect of a three star admiral – and Lee’s undying
gratitude for his wholehearted support.
It was a measure of the persona of Chip Morton that he would downplay
his own attributes – and his devastation at John Phillips’ murder – to ease
Lee’s passage into his, perhaps, temporary role.
There was still a niggle
of guilt that Chip had been forced to defend him to the crew – he shouldn’t
have put his friend in that invidious position.
Having weighed the options, he’d justified his decision by reckoning
that Chip was well capable of overcoming the dent to his person once he, Lee,
was gone. He should have known
better. He’d been with Chip enough years
to recognise that his oldest friend had a distinct agenda. And he grinned, chagrined.
Chip was back in mere minutes, inwardly
relieved – although he didn’t allow it to show on his face – that
Lee was still there, standing in the same tense pose as when Chip had
left. The next few minutes were going to
be tricky and he prayed he could strike the right balance. Push Lee too far and he’d better be ready to
face the inevitable consequences.
Chip put his raided supplies – Doc and the
corpsmen having left the boat already – on the CO’s desk and detoured into the
small head to wash his hands. Drying
them on a towel as he emerged, he pondered the best way to proceed.
“Why don’t you lie down on the bunk and let me
rub this stuff on the bruising before I tape you up?” He held his breath at Lee’s instant
thunderous frown but stoically stood his ground.
Knowing he’d get nowhere fast, Lee grudgingly
conceded defeat and stalked to the bunk.
His ribs reminded him that he couldn’t throw himself onto the coverlet
in protest, as he felt like, so he carefully eased himself face down, pillowing
his head in his arms and grimacing at the pull on the strained muscles.
Chip sat gingerly on the edge of the bunk,
poured a generous measure of the glutinous gel onto his palm and warmed it
between his hands before applying it gently onto the taut slender back. He was silent for a while as he massaged the
muscle relaxant gently but thoroughly into Lee’s bruised flesh.
“Been a while since we did this.”
Lee barely grunted in response, his shoulders initially tensing beneath
the firm but soothing hands, gradually relaxing as the gel and the hands worked
their magic. He was so tired.
“Don’t go to sleep on me yet.” Chip re-capped the gel and set it to one
side. He could clearly see Lee’s
exhaustion and concern battled with pride at his friend’s recent
accomplishment. It hadn’t been easy for
Lee, substituting for a well-loved captain at the last minute on a perilous
mission crucial to the future of the world.
But his friend had come through for them all and, despite his rather
cavalier entry mode, had won the respect of – most of – Seaview’s
crew. Oh, there were still one or two
who resisted, namely Ski, the senior Rating aboard plus his stalwart following,
and Chip couldn’t blame the Sonar operator who’d borne the brunt of Lee’s wrath
in the form of a punch from Lee’s formidable right hook. “I need to wrap you and get you home.”
“Don’t think I have the energy.”
“Try!
Come on, Lee, you know you’ll be more comfortable.” Chip cajoled, niggled and hassled
the younger man into standing for his ministrations. Lee capitulated; inwardly glad for his
friend’s caring and attention. He’d
missed this and, truth to tell, after the wrap of his ribs he did feel better
and could breathe more easily. Balling
his shirt in his fists, as Chip washed his hands once again, he grinned
affectionately at his friend’s back.
Chip Morton was one of a kind, the best friend a plebe could have, the
brother he’d always wanted and the XO he’d been sub-consciously looking for
since he’d taken command of the Santa Fe - and revelled in once aboard Seaview.
He reared backwards almost palpably at the
unwarranted thought. Where had that come
from? Sure, he’d envisaged working with
Chip but when had that wayward thought taken up residence? Chip wouldn’t want him as his permanent CO,
having played the ‘big brother’ since their early days. Not that Lee had let him have it all
his own way, mind you. But to have to
play the role of exec to Lee’s captain? They’d never spoken of that. Lee had always envisaged that they’d be
colleagues at similar rank – on the same side, attuned to each other’s modus
operandi. But to have
to pull rank on Chip?
Geesh!
Could he do it? Hell, yes! Hadn’t he done it for the past two
weeks! How would Chip react to it? Well, probably the same way he’d done for the
past two weeks! It hadn’t gone unnoticed
to Lee that Chip had been smoothing his way with the crew at every
opportunity. He knew he’d blown any
chance of crew co-operation when he’d punched that hole in security by way of
his entrance to Seaview. And he’d
been prepared to deal with that – brutally, if necessary.
It was more important that the crew focus on
the mission at hand, succeed and get home safely, than on their temporary
captain’s introduction to the boat. Not
that, even with the antipathy he’d sensed, they hadn’t
been positively the best-trained and most able crew he’d ever served with. It was with a sense of pride that he looked
over at his friend who, as exec, was ultimately responsible for the crew’s
readiness. He’d always known Chip was
wasted behind a desk at the Pentagon.
As he reluctantly pulled on his now wrinkled
shirt, Lee ran through the worries that were causing his head to pound. Absently running the middle finger of his
right hand across his brow he was startled back to awareness by Chip’s amused
comment.
“Headache?”
Ingrained reaction caused a biting “No” to hiss
through his lips before he retracted with the fairness that was so much part of
him. “Maybe. Little one. Just tired.”
“I know, Lee.”
Chip could read him better than any man alive. “But before we go face Mom and the admiral I
need to know what you’re going to decide.”
Lee opened his mouth but again his friend
forestalled him. “The past few weeks,
this mission, proved to me that you are the skipper Seaview needs. John was a good commander, one of the best
I’ve served with, in my limited experience at sea, and I’ll miss him.” Chip’s azure eyes stung. “But Seaview needs more than good, she
deserves the best. And in my book,
you’re it. I know it. Nelson knows it. Hell, the boat damn knows it! She’s never performed better than since you
took command!”
Chip paced the small cabin,
uncharacteristically – he usually left that up to his friend or his
admiral but suddenly pacing seemed right (and he’d better get used to it!) “You
know, and I know, that we’d never have pulled off this mission if you hadn’t
been at the helm.”
“You’re a good commander, Chip.” Lee knew he wouldn’t have taken the decision
to follow Wilson and Malone onto the ice if he hadn’t been supremely confident
that Chip would get the boat out of the area before the bomb had blown. “But you sell yourself a lot short, pal. If I do decide to stay on, that has
got to change. I’ll depend on you to be
Acting Captain if I’m off boat – for whatever reason. And you know you’re more than capable – after
all, you have her best interests at heart.”
Lee grinned companionably, having had more than once been privy to the
boat’s XO waxing lyrical about his ‘lady’.
Chip felt a frisson of unease wend its way down his back at Lee’s words; there
was an unknown quantity lurking there, unspoken; however he’d probably have
agreed to anything his friend proposed right then. But….
“Just tell me you’re not still taking on assignments for ONI?”
“I can’t tell you that, Chip.” Lee wouldn’t meet his friend’s eyes now.
“Dammit, Lee!
You’re going to get yourself killed!”
Chip’s tone was a mixture of exasperation and concern – with a good dash
of fury thrown in. “Well, you’d better
consider handing in your resignation, pal.
Nelson won’t stand for you double jobbing! He needs a full time captain for this baby.”
“He knows I’ll have the best back-up. She’ll be more than OK in your hands,
Chip. I’ve seen the way you work and the
crew like and respect you – more than they do me right now!”
“Does that mean you’re going to take the job?”
“With your pushy attitude, are you going to
accept any other decision, Mr. Morton?
You’d probably deck me if I refused!”
Lee’s eyes sparkled despite his exhaustion and he grinned as Chip
grasped his forearm in pure delight, dampening his concern for now but meaning
to revisit it until he got his way. He
knew of old the value of systematic harassment – gentle, of course. And knew when to live to
fight another day.
“Aye, aye, Sir!
Shall we go tell the admiral he’s got a new CO for his boat?”
Eying the immaculately dressed and supremely
pressed exec, while he fumbled into his tired khaki shirt, Lee sighed. “I’d feel a lot happier if I could request a
fresh shirt before I meet Mom and the admiral.
As it is, all my gear’s been taken topside.”
“Instant benefit.”
Countered his new XO. “We’re the same collar size so I can loan you
a fresh shirt.”
“Guess that has got to be a plus. And I’ve observed your creases are just that
shade more than regulation, Mister!”
Lee’s teasing brought a huge smile to the blond’s face.
“Guess you just got to be in the know,
Skipper!” That last bespoke more than any
other word could have to express the stricture and, at the same time ease of
command protocol, that had instantly grown from the bond of friendship and
brotherhood that existed between the two.
“Ain’t gonna be always easy, Chip.” Lee cautioned.
“Hell, Lee, if it was easy, it probably
wouldn’t be worth it!” The exec, his
exec, countered. “Tonight you need to
rest and Mom’s here for the duration, so I guess we’re not going to escape a
dinner or two with her and the admiral.
Talking of which, I’d kinda forgotten….”
Lee groaned, not only from the effort of
pulling on the shirt Chip had loaned him, and inserted his commander’s pin in
the collar after he tied his tie. “I so do not want to know, Chip!”
“I’m kinda curious. Think we’re performing a rescue job or
butting in?”
“Chip….”
“Lee, admit it!
You’re just as intrigued to know what they’ve been talking about for the
past couple hours.”
The brunet scowled but a small grin finally
sneaked in. “Probably
us!”
“Ah, sh….”
****
“Admiral Nelson?”
“Yes, Angie?”
“Commander Crane and Lt. Commander Morton are here, Sir.”
“Send them in, Angie.”
“Yes, Sir.”
The secretary sounded a mite dazed.
Nelson placed his glass on his desk as he
turned towards the door. “It seems my
secretary has already succumbed!”
“What do you mean, Harry?” Claire watched as he attempted to control the
amusement that threatened to take over his expressive features.
“Oh, your son has the majority of the
secretarial staff swooning in his wake when the boat’s in port, Claire. Surely you know? Personnel breathe a sigh of relief when Seaview
departs – only then can they get any real work out of the girls. Now it seems even my own secretary – and I
thought she was immune – has joined the ranks.”
“Ah, yes!
Add Lee to the mix and….” She broke off, her own smile dropping as the
door opened and two immaculately attired officers, both tall, one dark, one
fair, entered and immediately snapped to attention. “Oh, my.” She barely breathed. They were magnificent! Sorry, Harry, but efficiency ratings in
the steno pool are about to drop – through the floor!
Nelson returned the salute. “Captain. Commander.” Both men eased into parade rest at his nod
then, almost as one, turned to acknowledge the lady present. Identical grins broke out on their
faces. “Ma’am. Mom. With your permission,
Admiral?” Chip allowed his new CO
to speak for them both. Nelson’s wry
grin broke the formality and both men swooped on the tall blonde.
Hauled into their loving arms, her eyes filled
with tears as she contemplated the worn looks on both their beloved faces. Her heart clenched in silent protest as she
thought of the worrisome days she knew were in her future, with both her boys
on the giant nuclear sub. Enough, Claire; their choices, their lives, their dream. Let them live it and enjoy it.
Nelson caught the sparkle of emotion in the
azure eyes he was used to seeing in a more familiar masculine setting. “Gentlemen, I take it the boat is safely put
to bed?”
“Aye, sir.”
Seaview’s XO glanced briefly at his friend and new CO before speaking
but saw that Crane was content to allow him to answer. “All the reports are with Angie – Ms. Newman,
sir.”
“Thank you, Commander. And now may I suggest that you both get some
much deserved rest. Captain Crane, I
know Angie has booked a hotel room for you.
Perhaps you’d be good enough to join me for breakfast tomorrow.”
It was more order than request and both men
knew Nelson would be seeking an answer to the offer he’d proposed. Chip nodded encouragement to his friend. No point postponing the inevitable.
Lee cleared his throat. “Actually, Admiral, Chip offered me a bed at
his place so I asked Ms. Newman to cancel the room she’d reserved.”
Nelson glanced towards Claire; he’d assumed
she’d be staying with her son.
“Don’t look at me, Harry. I booked myself into a five star hotel. No way I’m cleaning
out rotting refrigerators or vacuuming unaired apartments while I’m here! I got sense long ago. Besides, the boys are tired and, if I’m not
mistaken, sore and in definite need of eight hours un-interrupted sleep. If your very efficient secretary can organise
me a cab, I’ll take myself off and see you two,” directed at her now sheepish
sons, “at your place, Chip, tomorrow afternoon.”
“I’m sure we can arrange a staff car for you,
Claire.” Obviously once a mother….
Her gaze swept the two young officers
maternally, lingering on the brunet.
“Well? Have you anything you want
to share with us, Lee? Chip, haven’t you
harassed him sufficiently yet?”
“Uh, Claire!”
Nelson was uncomfortable with her pushiness but she dismissed his
concerns without qualm.
“Nonsense, Harry. I know them too well. And Lee’s wearing Chip’s shirt. Fait accompli!”
Two sets of jaws dropped simultaneously as Chip
groaned. “Mom!!”
“Well?”
She was giving no quarter.
With a sidelong glance at his friend, and at
Chip’s nod of re-assurance, Lee squared off to the three star
flag officer. “Sir, I’d be
honoured to accept permanent captaincy of the Seaview. If it’s still on offer,
sir.”
He held his breath, awaiting the response, as
did Chip – and Claire.
Bright blue eyes connected to amber as Nelson
reached out his hand, his voice husky.
“Welcome aboard, lad.”
As the two men - one tall, dark and lean of
build, the other shorter, thicker set and russet haired - shook hands, the
Mortons grinned companionably and in complete understanding. A son had found his father and a father the
son he’d not known he was lacking – even if none but the woman present
recognised the moment as such.
“Ahhhh!”
“What’s wrong, Chip?” Crane’s concerned tone brought a fiery blush
to the blond’s fair complexion as Chip belatedly realised he’d emoted aloud.
“Uh, nothing, Lee, just a stray thought.”
“Must be something to make you go
red like that.” Payback time!
Never one to resist a challenge Morton, on this
occasion, decided to give his new CO a freebie – just this once.
“Trust me, you don’t
want to know, Lee.”
Having put up with his friend’s mother-henning,
and sometimes-oblique sense of humour, for the past several hours Lee wasn’t
ready to let it drop. “We’re among
friends, Chip.” He insisted.
A wholly devilish grin overtook the XO’s Nordic
features. “Oh, I was just wondering how
the crew will cope with calling you the ‘Old Man.’ And
would that make you, Sir, the ‘OOM?’”
Lee instantly wanted to clobber him!
The admiral looked momentarily nonplussed and
Chip tensed, wondering briefly if he’d overstepped the mark, then sighed
silently with relief as Nelson burst into a guffaw of delighted laughter. “I can see things are about to change around
here – radically. Out, all of you. NOW!
Gentlemen, I will see you both here at 0800 tomorrow. Claire, enjoy your day and we will be pleased
to take you to dinner tomorrow evening.
Perhaps you’ll have instilled some decorum into these reprobates before
then!”
“If I haven’t managed yet, Harry, I wouldn’t
hold your breath! You’re on your own
now, my dear, dear friend.”
“Oscar Brothers, Claire?”
“Oh, I think so, Harry! I really, really think so.”
****
Finis