This is a story from my Season Five series.  It should be noted that Season Five refers to all the years after Voyage's four seasons and as such does not necessarily mean a time span of one year.  The story was inspired by the Challenge picture “The Grin” and specifically to honor the 100th Anniversary of Richard Basehart's birth. 

 

 

What's in a Name?

 

by Lynn

 

 

Lee acknowledged the light knock on the door with a quiet, “Come in,” as Harriman Nelson rounded the partially opened door.  He held a finger to his mouth to indicate a soundless “shhh” and added a smile inviting Harry in.  Harry returned the smile and entered finding Lee Crane sitting in a chair holding his first child.

 

“How is Brianna?” Harry whispered, looking over at the new mother, asleep in the hospital bed.

 

“Doing great,” Lee said barely lifting his eyes from his newborn son.  His eyes twinkled and his smile seemed to be plastered in place, matching the peace that seemed to fall effortlessly across his face. 

 

“And how is he doing?” Harriman said leaning over to get a closer look at the new bundle of joy, held protectively in his father's arms.

 

“He's perfect,” Lee whispered, still looking down and then lifting his eyes to share the satisfying moment with Harry.  Lee's broken and taped ribs were momentarily forgotten as he gazed down at the sleeping baby.

 

“What did you decide to name him?” Harry asked quietly sliding another chair next to Lee as he handed the newborn over to the slightly uncomfortable Admiral.

 

“Christopher...”

 

“After your father?”

 

“Yes Sir.  Christopher William...”

 

“Brianna's father,” Harry smiled approving of his middle name.

 

Lee smiled and continued, “Christopher William-Harriman Crane,” he finished still smiling but looking for something in Harry's eyes to confirm his decision.

 

Harry blinked and then looked down at the world's newest Crane.  Something choked in his throat, a feeling he wasn't accustomed to neither having nor sharing with another person.  He swallowed hard still looking down as he reached to touch the tiny fingers of God's latest creation before him.  Baby Christopher responded to his touch by wrapping a fist around Harry's finger and yawning profusely.

 

“I... I don't know what to say, Lee.  Are you sure?”

 

“Sir, we've been dancing around this for years.” 

 

Harry conveniently kept his head down, looking at the sleeping baby cradled in his arms as Lee leaned over to talk in tones quiet enough as to not wake his sleeping wife.

 

“You've made a real difference in my life, Sir.  And I consider our friendship as dear as the one I would have had with my father, if he had lived.”  Lee swallowed and looked away, wondering if he had gone too far, gotten too sentimental, but now that the words were out he needed to finish.

 

“So... I've got a question for you?” Lee asked, his intriguing words drawing Harry's eyes to meet his.

 

“What name would you like my children to call you... because I was thinking of something along the lines of... Grandpa.”

 

Lee swallowed as he looked straight into Harry's deep blue eyes.  Harry blinked and instinctively looked away... then back down at the dark hair already long enough to curl in places and suppressed a laugh.  He held his chuckles inside with considerable will power so as to not wake Brianna and raised his eyes to meet Lee's.  The lighting was subdued in hues of blue as the moonlight filtered in through the window, but it was bright enough to see the sincere delight in Harriman's face. 

 

Lee caught the twinkle in Harry's eyes and returned his smile.

 

“Grandpa Nelson,” he said with delight.  “I think it has a good ring to it, don't you?”

 

“Aye Sir,” Lee agreed, pleased to have finally had this conversation after so many years.

 

“Lee, since we're talking about names... That is to say... now that you're wearing that new Star on your lapel it should be easier... I mean now that you joined the Admiral's Club,” Harry finished in a near fluster as Lee smiled in return.  Lee's recent field promotion in the unexpected war at sea with the Zorian aliens had earned him the right to keep the star once the war had been won and by Presidential order Lee's new rank of Admiral had been made official.  The battle was still fresh in both of their minds and they had barely made it back from sea in time to see his first child born. 

 

Lee's eyes met Harry's as the two passed the same unspoken regard they had shared for years.

 

“Alright Harry,” Lee answered easily as Christopher took that moment to belt out a good cry signaling his hunger.  The cry elicited chuckles from both men as Lee leaned over taking Christopher and placing him in Brianna's arms who had woken immediately to the insistent cries.

 

Christopher settled in comfortably into Brianna's embrace as Harry stood on one side of the bed and Lee on the other. 

 

Harriman Nelson sighed contently: Christopher William-Harriman Crane.  It has a good ring to it, he thought and leaned over to kiss Brianna on the cheek as he looked across at Lee Crane, a man he had long since considered a son, and then back down at the child who in-part bore his name.  Here in this room was his legacy; not the Nobel Peace Prizes, the great inventions and innovations he had created and built, or the awards and degrees he had earned and won.  No, his legacy was currently being cradled in the arms of his mother.  He sighed contently to know that though he had no kin of his own, his legacy would pass to Lee's children as if they were his own blood.  Christopher's loud burp broke the heaviness of the sentimental emotions of the room as they all shared a laugh.

 

“May I?”  Harry asked reaching for Christopher once again.

 

“Of course Harry,” Brianna replied, her face still radiating her own joy.

 

Harry cradled Christopher who was now content to resume his sleep and walked across the floor speaking softly to the child as Lee looked on proudly.

 

“Now mi' Lad, let me tell you a good Irish bedtime story...”

 

 

The End

 

What's in a Name?

 

 

Author's Note:  This story is my tribute to the wonderful acting ability of both Richard Basehart and David Hedison who gave us the intriguing father/son relationship in the Voyage series.  It was most often passed without words as the chemistry between the actors spilled out on screen.  The story is far more sentimental than I usually pen, but is not unexpected in my story series.  In my season four finale, Of Captains and Legends I elude to Lee's future holding these elements:  his marriage to Brianna, his promotion to Admiral, and the fact that Harriman becomes a surrogate grandfather to Lee's children.   Thanks for reading and allowing me to share such a blatantly sentimental story this time around.  : )

 

PS – Yes, there is a story in the works for the Zorian alien war that earns Lee his first star... but it's still in my head.  Don't worry, eventually it will work itself out onto paper. ; )  Lynn

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Copyright 2014, All Rights Reserved

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