A third season story occurring two weeks after my story When the Price is Too High.

When Duty Calls

by Lynn

A white sandy beach, a big yellow sun, the soft breeze flowing off the ocean and not a care in the world. Lee Crane stretched out on the beach lounge chair wearing teal green swim trunks and a pair of sunglasses. He'd spent the last three days skin diving in Acapulco, this forced vacation part of his penance and promise to his CMO, Dr. William Jamieson. Jamie insisted on the vacation after Lee's last two ONI missions left him battling psychotic episodes brought on by a time released drug, a little parting gift from his recent interrogators. He'd been forced to take another mission less than a week from the painful interrogation that left him severely flirting with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. He wouldn't have had it any other way however, as the mission turned out to be a rescue operation to free Admiral Nelson from the clutches of kidnappers bent on selling the prized Admiral to the highest bidder. Lee knew he had pushed the medical envelope with Jamie, having negotiated his way from Limited to Full Duty Status; something he needed for ONI to activate him. The mission was a success with Harry's safe retrieval sporting cracked ribs and bruises but mostly intact, but now it was time to pay the piper. Lee promised Jamie a two week vacation for certifying him fit for duty, something his CMO took very seriously. In fact, Jamie promised to submit his “walking papers” if Lee did any work, especially for ONI.

He had enjoyed the last three days of solitude, that was one thing he didn't get aboard Seaview, but he had to admit a bit of company just now would be nice. As if on cue a shadow covered him, effectively lowering the temperature of the sun's influence as Lee opened his eyes and then raised his sunglasses in response to the beautiful blonde in a bright pink bikini currently hovering over him.

“Hi,” she offered boldly. “My name is Jill.”

“Hi Jill,” Lee sat up, swinging his legs over the side and standing, offering a hand in introduction. “I'm Lee,” he finished with a dashing smile.

“Sorry to interrupt your sunning, but I really need your help.”

Lee raised an eyebrow in question as she continued, her present demeanor obviously indicating she wasn't in any true distress.

“I'm your neighbor,” she said with a grin pointing to a deck chair about five feet over. “And if I don't oil up I'll be as red as a lobster,” she said with just enough girlish charm to cool the curves of her hot body.

“Do you mind?” she asked raising a bottle of sun block in front of her.

“Of course not,” Lee returned smoothly and then smiled politely, but inside he was contemplating the fact that Jill's forwardness meant he had probably solved the “being alone” part of the vacation. He sighed inwardly, This was turning out better than he had expected. He only hoped she was as pleasant to talk to as she was to look at.

She took her position lying down on the chaise deck chair and settled her cheek on her folded arms to keep the conversation going as he applied the sunscreen.

“Are you here for long?” she asked.

“Another week and a half,” Lee answered easily as he poured the sunscreen first on his hand to keep from shocking her from the cold.

He rubbed the lotion in gently, careful to cover her back completely, missing only the spot under the string of her bikini top.

“Oh Lee, would you mind untying so I don't have a bikini line,” she asked between soft moans as his hands were having an obvious relaxing effect.

“Sure,” he replied easily, but raised an eyebrow as he tugged on the string, the bow easily responded by going limp and loosening its hold. He gently laid the strings on either side of her and added the sun screen under the only part of her back that wasn't glistening in the sun at present. Jill was moving fast and at this point Lee had no problem keeping up. She was incredibly beautiful and he realized he wasn't bored or sorry that Jamie had insisted upon this vacation.

“How about your legs?” he asked boldly.

“Would you? Oh that would be wonderful,” she replied with a smile to match her blue eyes looking up at him.

“Sure.” He started down at her feet and ankles and was working his way up to her thighs; he intended to be polite and as appropriate as possible but was definitely enjoying the process. He had just started up beyond the bend of her knee when another shadow appeared over him.

“Captain Lee Crane?” he heard in rather good English and looked up to see the hotel manager.

“Uh, yes. I'm Lee Crane,” he answered stopping his movement as Jill raised her head to see what had interrupted her extremely good sun tanning day.

“You have an important call sir. I am told it is “vital”. Will you follow me, please?” He asked sweeping a hand toward the lounge patio to a waiting phone.

“I'll be right there,” Lee said picking up a towel and dispensing himself of the remaining lotion on his hands. He knew by the title rendered that it was a call from Seaview, if it had been Johnson at ONI he would have been addressed as “Commander” or no title at all.

“I'm sorry Jill, I have to take that call.”

“A captain?” she asked with a smile, up on an elbow and obviously not caring that her bathing suit top was still lying below her as Lee tried to focus on her face and not let his eyes trail down to where he was sure she was inviting him to gaze.

“Yeah, something for work,” he returned with a smile.

“Well I hope they don't keep you away too long,” she cooed.

“Yeah me too,” he let slip out as he set down the bottle within her reach. “I'll try to hurry,” he promised, grabbing his t-shirt from his chair and heading toward the patio as Jill watched him walk away with a satisfied sigh sure she had caught the sexiest guy on the beach.

“Crane here,” he answered shedding his vacation demeanor for his official Captain persona easily. He knew all too well that if Seaview was contacting him it had to be important as no one would dare buck Jamie's orders for anything trivial.

“Skipper? Thank God I found you,” Sharkey's voice was heard. It was more than unusual for the Chief of the Boat to be tracking him down like this so Lee leaned into the standing bar with interest.

“What's going on Chief?”

He nodded as Sharkey filled him in, his facial expression moving immediately from curious to concern.

“No, you did the right thing. I'll take a flight out right away. Very well... Crane out,” he finished as he placed the phone down, heaved a sigh and walked straight for his room without looking back once at the beautiful blonde bombshell waiting for him back on the beach.

* * * * *

Jill watched Lee’s conversation from the beach with interest. She watched as his demeanor changed; even in his swim trunks his whole stance seemed rather official. From his profile she could see that his carefree countenance of earlier was replaced with a face that said he was used to making decisions, and the decidedly serious expression on his face as he hung up the phone indicated that all was not well. So she wasn’t surprised when he turned from the bar and headed straight into the lobby toward his room. Jill blew a resigned breath out and lowered herself back down, resting her head on her folded arms.

“Must be losing my touch,” she muttered out loud, and pondered her next move.

* * * * *

Chief of the Boat, Francis Ethelbert Sharkey hung up the phone at the US Embassy on a rather large island just 100 miles due west of the South American continent and heaved a heavy sigh: First Mr. Morton and Doc Jamieson go missing and now Admiral Nelson. He'd been instructed to wait at least six hours for the Admiral's word, an excruciating wait for the protective COB.

Sharkey ran a worried hand across his neck as he considered his predicament. He'd given his best argument to convince the Admiral not to go, or at the very least, take him along to watch his back. He lost the argument and figured that three officers missing demanded Captain Crane’s personal attention, even if he did have to buck Doc's orders.

Sure, he knew Doc had specifically ordered the Captain was not to be disturbed on his vacation, but Sharkey knew he had no choice. He wasn’t sure which of the three officers he’d draw the most ire from, but of the three, he was pretty sure that the Skipper would be the least forgiving. Oh sure the Admiral could peel the stripes off his sleeves with just a glare and Doc Jamieson could make life difficult on the next physicals but the Skipper could have him inspecting the bilge tanks for years to come.

Truth be known it wasn’t fear of Captain Crane that prompted him to buck the CMO’s order. He knew Doc was just looking out after the Skipper after those scumbags took the Admiral prisoner and Captain Crane came back pretty run down from the back to back ONI missions. But he also knew that Captain Crane was their best chance at retrieving the missing officers. The man could solve problems better than a NASA computer, and he always seemed to find a way to get them back home.

Sharkey knew he was pretty handy himself in a tight spot as well. It hadn’t taken the Skipper too long to recognize his value beyond the COB duties, though the first few missions had been a bit strained. The Skipper was completely professional, but there was a definite impression that he was the “Admiral’s Man” having briefly served under Admiral Nelson some years earlier. They had settled into a good working relationship and he had won the Skipper’s trust and respect, but their relationship was strained when that crazy werewolf virus seized the Admiral again. He was caught between the orders of his friend and superior and the Captain of the Boat. He was in the wrong; Admiral or no, he had no right to hide the werewolf condition from the Skipper.*

He can still remember reporting to the Captain before docking at Santa Barbara.** Their relationship had been decidedly strained by his decision to honor the Admiral’s request to keep the relapse a secret, and the decision had indeed been a bad one as the Admiral wreaked some major havoc on the boat before he recovered enough to order Sharkey to lower him in the Bell. Boy! Was that a mistake!

He knew the Skipper and the Admiral were tight and it was bad enough that Admiral Nelson hadn’t divulged his condition to the Skipper, but Sharkey’s part in the deception had been the last straw. So there he was standing at attention in front of the Skipper’s desk and sweating like a cat in a roomful of rocking chairs.

“I trust you understand the dangerous position your decision put this Boat in, Chief?” Captain Crane stated more than asked, his usually warm eyes exuding a dark serious tone that turned his normally hazel green orbs to their darker shade of brown.

“Aye Sir,” Sharkey replied, standing at full attention like a stripeless Seaman Recruit. The Skipper was jumping mad when he found out that Sharkey had intercepted a message that Ski was supposed to deliver to the Admiral, but Captain Crane had overlooked that as a favor to Admiral Nelson. This conversation was about something different entirely.

“I understand you have a history with the Admiral,” he noted, thinking of their time on Dinosaur Island in particular. “But you should know that I seriously considered putting you off Boat,” Crane said, leaning over his desk with his hands folded in front of him.

“Aye Sir. No excuses Sir.”

“You’re damn right no excuses!” Captain Crane answered back with a slap of his hand across his desk. “He was compromised by the virus. You however, willingly bucked all protocol and the chain of command of this Boat!”

“Aye Sir,” Sharkey replied in full navy decorum.

“Chief…” Crane said never breaking eye contact. “I am responsible for the well-being of every man on this Boat. Every man,” he said emphasizing his point sharply in staccato tone. “It’s my responsibility to complete missions and bring this Boat safely to port and nobody… NOBODY has precedence over that responsibility,” he said in a controlled disciplinary tone. “Even Admiral Nelson,” he clarified. “Do I make myself clear?”

“Aye Sir. Completely Sir. It won’t happen again, Sir.”

Lee let out a humorless scoff and sat back with a sigh.

“It might happen again Chief. You might find yourself in this same exact position; having to choose between your duty to this Boat and your duty to the Admiral. I'm not questioning your loyalty to Admiral Nelson,” Lee qualified, as he stopped and deepened his eye contact with Sharkey. “The Man deserves that and more,” he said with conviction.

“But I need to know that in the future, you’ll do your job so I can do mine,” he finished flatly and to the point.

“Aye Sir. I will do my job to the highest standards of the Navy and those of NIMR,” he stated with the proper amount of respect and holding in his own feelings of disappointment in his actions. Sure a Four Star Admiral ordered him to keep quiet and to lower him in the Bell, but the Captain was right; he held back information vital to the safety of Seaview.

Captain Crane nodded in the affirmative expecting nothing less of his COB.

“Very well, Chief. I consider the matter closed. You’re dismissed.”

“Aye Sir,” Sharkey replied rendering a salute, even though such decorum was typically relaxed aboard submarines while at sea.

Captain Crane returned the salute and Sharkey issued a sharp right face and high-tailed it out of the Captain’s Quarters, grateful that he had escaped a full Captain’s Mast. He closed the door behind him and moved out of Officer Country taking only a few steps before finding himself leaning against the bulkhead and blowing out a breath he didn’t know he was holding.

Sharkey sighed at the memory; he never wanted to do that again and he didn’t mean the dressing down. You didn’t get to be a Chief without knowing how to both give and take a dressing down. No, it was the disappointment he saw in Captain Crane’s eyes. As long he lived he never wanted to see that look again. It wasn’t a matter of choosing between the Admiral and the Captain, the Skipper wasn’t petty; it was simply a matter of duty.

True to his word, the Skipper had considered the matter closed and though Sharkey would always look after the Admiral he had in fact added Captain Crane to his watchful eye almost a year earlier. They had weathered the incident and had come out the other side with the Captain’s trust restored. It had taken a few missions, but it was sweet relief to hear the Skipper call him “Sharkey” once again, instead of the proper and formal title of “Chief”.

Sharkey glanced at this watch; it wouldn’t be long now. The Skipper would take the next available flight out and then they’d get to the bottom of Seaview’s missing officers.

* * * * *

Lee showered, packed and changed into dark blue slacks and a powder blue polo shirt; the short sleeve, collared shirt offering a cool and comfortable fit in the hot weather. He checked out of the hotel and left with his bag in one hand and sporting sunglasses in the other. Once outside, he donned the sunglasses as the light coastal breeze blew a hot breath in his face. He hailed a cab speaking in fluent Spanish, directing the taxi driver to the airport. He had already called Angie, by now his boarding pass would be waiting at the ticket counter. Lee allowed a sigh to escape as he silently reviewed the limited information Sharkey supplied.

A day and half ago, Seaview’s Chief Medical Officer, Lt. Commander William Jamieson received a radio call while Seaview was docked on Kamisaraki, an island nation south of the Galapagos and had left the Boat hastily with his doctor’s kit in hand.*** Chip got wind of the departure and caught Jamie on deck; after a short exchange he arranged to accompany the doctor to his destination, the large estate of a long-time family friend who was in need of medical care.

They left for the Anderson Estate and that was the last Seaview heard from its officers. Harry and Sharkey had done what they could at the US Embassy, but the local police department was reluctant to interfere in Mr. Anderson’s business. Apparently the tycoon was well protected even from a friendly visit, much less a police inquiry. In the end the Admiral decided to check on Seaview’s officers himself. That was the last Sharkey heard from Harry and hence the call to Lee in Mexico.

Lee sighed openly. The first leg of his flight was Peru, from there he’d board a smaller plane to the island of Kamisaraki having declined Sharkey's offer to fly to Peru in FS1 as Lee wanted him at the Embassy in case Harry or the other missing officers checked in.

Harry had already contacted ONI and obtained a background check on Jamie’s family friend, at least he’d have that to look at. He couldn’t really formulate a plan until he knew the specifics, something he wasn’t pleased with. The cab reached their destination and pulled to the curb as Lee leaned over and paid the driver.

“Gracias,” Lee offered, grabbing his bag and leaving the change as a healthy tip. He raised his sunglasses and took a quick glance up and down the sidewalk, a habit from too many covert missions and proceeded into the terminal to catch the next flight to Peru.

* * * * *

Jill sunned herself on the beach for only a moment longer, making sure that Lee was well into the lobby before rising up and retying her bikini top back into position. She ignored several appreciative glances of the nearby male sunners and moved with purpose to her room; by the look of things Crane was on the move. She watched as the elevator light signaled its arrival on the sixth floor, where she already determined his room was located. Jill smiled at the thought of the chase and pressed the UP button waiting for the next car as she thought, She would have to move fast if she were to tail Seaview’s Captain.

She was good at what she did and had planned for a quick departure; within twenty minutes she was back downstairs in the lobby wearing a sundress, large sunglasses and an over-sized floppy hat that effectively covered her hair and facial features. She watched as Crane checked out and hailed a cab, following him out and taking a taxi behind him.

Jill was pretty sure he was headed to the airport and cracked a thin smile as her assumption proved true. She noted the airline curbside that Crane’s taxi had pulled into and instructed the cabbie to drive forward about six cars ahead before pulling over. She waited until Crane entered the terminal and then quickly grabbed her bag, leaving a hearty tip for the driver’s discretion and moving quickly to follow Lee Crane before his trail went cold in the large busy airport.

* * * * *

“Easy there Chip,” Jamie advised as he blotted the perspiration from the Exec’s face with a cool rag.

Chip’s eyes fluttered open as he blinked away the effects of the fever raging through his body. The aspirin had done little to control the fever as Jamie wiped a tired hand across his brow. He was frustrated at the slow progress he was making on the antidote.

“Here Chip,” Jamie said raising his patient’s head as he offered water. “You need to drink to stay hydrated.” Jamie shook his head in disbelief, his medical supplies had been confiscated and he was only given a short amount of time to care for Chip before he’d be expected to return to the research.

Chip drank as much as he could handle then laid his head down noting the guilty look on the doctor’s face.

“Not your fault, Jamie,” he breathed out.

Jamie scoffed. “Isn’t it? You shouldn’t be here. It’s a fine mess I got you into.”

“It’s not your doing…” Chip swallowed hard and squeezed his eyes shut as he rode out the painful effects of the poison. “Just promise me you won’t call the Admiral… I can ride this out,” he promised.

“I won’t contact the Admiral,” he promised as Chip nodded and then closed his eyes to rest just as the door to the bedroom opened and a guard motioned for Jamie to return to the lab.

“Hang in there Chip,” Jamie encouraged patting his arm as he stood.

Chip nodded but avoided opening his eyes as he wearily drifted off to a feverish sleep.

Jamie glared at his guard standing in the doorway and resigned himself to follow having been motioned to leave the room. As he walked down the large immaculate hallways he thought back to the phone call that started all this.

“Joshua,” Jamie greeted excitedly on the telephone handset located in the radio shack. “This is a pleasant surprise. I had hoped we’d get to meet while we were in port…”

“Doktor Hi-ma-son, Gracias a Dios I found you in time. It’s Senor Anderson.”

“Aldolfo?” Jamie greeted, recognizing the heavily accented voice of Joshua's long time employee. Adolfo had been with Joshua since he settled on the island in pursuit of his latest business venture and then decided to stay and build his empire from the seclusion and beauty of the island.

“Si, it is me... Aldolfo. Senor Anderson is showing signs of a heart attack, but he won’t let me call a doktor or take him to the hospital. You know how stubborn he is and insisted on waiting for your ship to dock.”

Jamie shook his head in agreement. Joshua always did hate doctors and claimed that Will was the only one he trusted to take care of him.

“Por Favor Doktor, I know if you were here you could convince him to go to the hospital,” Aldolfo continued, pronouncing doctor in the local language with long “o” sounds.

“Very well Aldolfo,” Jamie replied with marked concern. “I’ll see what I can do. I’ll need directions to the estate…”

“No need Doktor. I have a coche... that is a “car” waiting for you. Please hurry,” he implored as Jamie’s face registered the fear in the man’s voice.

“I’ll be there as soon as I can,” Jamie promised and hung up the phone, briefly considering his good friend and the years they had known each other. They grew up in the same affluent neighborhood but had taken completely different career paths with Jamie attending medical school and Joshua attending Harvard. Joshua hadn’t understood Will’s decision to leave his successful private practice in favor of a career in the Navy, but he wasn’t alone. Not too many people understood his decision, including his own family. But the sea had always called to him and so he embarked upon a second career, joining the Navy and working on surface vessels, which was where he came to meet Captain Nelson… in the ship’s sickbay.

Harry had returned from an ONI mission in less than stellar condition and had needed the steady hands of a surgeon to remove two bullets. He was too weak for transport and had spent five days under Will’s care on the ship. His condition had been precarious and Jamie had opted to ride with his patient to the nearest Naval hospital. The rest is, as they say, “history” as Harry pulled through and recovered fully, the doctors at the hospital crediting Jamieson’s fine care as the reason.

The auburn haired officer had made quite an impact on Jamie as they were contemporaries in age, and being the “old man” in his rank, it had been refreshing to visit with Harry; when he was awake and lucid that is.

He didn’t see Harry again, but heard that he had promoted to Admiral not long afterwards. Then over twelve years later he received a phone call out of the blue from the Three Star Admiral offering him a position on Seaview. Since doctors weren’t assigned to subs in the Navy it was a complete surprise, but Harry was insistent and in the end Jamie agreed. It was the best decision of his career, he often thought, even if he did have to be dive certified.****

Jamie collected his thoughts and hurried to the aft hatch as Sparks raised an eyebrow. He headed straight for Sickbay where he grabbed his medical bag, throwing in a few more supplies he thought he might need and hurriedly left moving straight for the conning tower ladder. Joshua was an old friend, and Jamie’s concern for him momentarily overshadowed his military decorum as he proceeded to disembark without permission.

“Excuse me Doc,” Kowalski said, having drawn deck watch duty in port. “But do you have clearance to leave the Boat, Sir?” he asked cautiously. Doc Jamieson wasn’t in the habit of bucking orders, so Ski was sure it was some sort of mistake or something.

“Clearance?” Jamie asked almost dazed. “No, Kowalski. I guess I sort of moved ahead of myself.”

“That’s okay Doc, we’ll get it figured out,” Ski promised as he reached for the mic.

“Deck Watch to Control Room.”

“Control Room, Aye,” the Exec answered.

“Mr. Morton, Doc Jamieson is top-side seeking permission to disembark.”

There was a short pause and then, “I’ll be right there.”

It only took a moment for Chip to grab his cover and head topside where Jamie stood with his medical bag looking amply embarrassed.

“I’m sorry Mr. Morton,” Jamie started as Ski backed away giving the Exec and the Doc room.

“I got a call from my old friend…”

“The one you told me about?”

“Yes. One of his trusted employees called and he’s ill, he suspects a heart attack. I guess I was so focused I… well Sir, I didn’t mean to jump ship,” Jamie answered going all Navy.

“Relax Jamie. Give me the particulars and I’ll work something out,” Chip added with a smile that brought instant relief as Jamie quickly filled the Exec in.

“Very well. Wait here,” Chip replied. About fifteen minutes later he returned carrying Jamie’s cover and jacket.

“Okay you’re cleared, let’s go,” Chip announced as Jamie raised an eyebrow.

“I’m coming with you,” Chip explained as Jamie nodded and smiled recognizing the XO’s determination.

“Thank you Chip,” he replied as they met the limousine waiting for them at the end of the dock.

* * * * *

The ride to Joshua's estate had been beautiful. It was nestled in the foothills, close enough to town for easy access but far enough away to be secluded from the tourists. The grounds were immaculately kept, a mixture of the island’s rich foliage in their natural state and high maintenance grooming produced an impressive view as they approached the security gates.

A long driveway winded to its final destination in front of a large mansion where Jamie recognized Aldolfo standing outside waiting to greet him. The island native was in his mid to late forties and stood waiting wearing the attire of a western businessman.

“Doktor Hi-ma-son,” he greeted using the dialect and pronunciation of the island, which left Jamie's name barely recognizable to the English ear. “I'm so relieved you could make it.” He extended his hand in greeting with all the proper etiquette his position of second in command afforded him. His pleased countenance changing slightly at the sight of the tall blond officer dressed in service blues climbing out behind Anderson's family friend.

“I’m more than happy to help. You're looking very good; the last ten years have treated you well,” Jamie replied in polite and appropriate conversation for the island's traditions.

“Gracias Doktor,” Aldolfo replied looking toward Chip. “You haven’t introduced me to your associate here,” he finished with a friendly smile as Jamie turned toward Chip.

“May I present Commander Morton, Seaview’s Executive Officer.”

“Pleasure is mine,” Chip said, extending a hand in introduction.

“Si, I am honored by your presence,” he returned, a bit off-balance but returning to his former countenance just as quickly.

Chip nodded and offered a friendly but reserved smile, feeling something wasn’t quite right; something he couldn't put his finger on just yet.

“Well Aldolfo, I'm anxious to look in on Joshua,” Jamie jumped in as Chip scrutinized the situation: For a longtime friend and employee who suspected his boss just had a heart attack, Aldolfo didn’t seem to be in much of a hurry.

“Of course, this way Doktor Hi-man-son,” Aldolfo said swinging a hand toward the large double front doors in an invitation to proceed as Jamie moved forward with his medical bag in hand and Chip close behind.

Jamie was led upstairs to examine his patient while Chip was escorted to a definitely masculine study with deep rich solid oak wall paneling, the wood work obviously imported, a wall of books that reached the ceiling and a wall full of fantastic works of art. He was joined in short order by a servant, a young island native woman who brought a glass of a refreshing fruit juice blend for Chip. He wasn’t thirsty but took the glass out of politeness and smiled. The moment was a bit awkward as the young woman, a Spanish beauty, seemed a bit enamored with him. Her traditional colorful blouse was worn off the shoulder and was gathered at the waist and worn over a full skirt. Chip cleared his throat and took a drink, hoping she’d spot the wedding band and knock off with the smiles and “come hither” eyes. He nodded his thanks for the cool drink on the hot, south of the equator island and turned away to seemingly look at the paintings on the wall. A few more casual drinks later and she got the hint that he wasn't interested and left the study.

Chip turned and watched her leave not at all tempted by the young lady as he had his own beauty waiting for him at home. Monica was blonde, beautiful, smart, witty, incredibly sexy… well, it had been a few weeks since he had last seen her and he was already planning on what their reunion would look like once he got home. He finished his refreshment and examined the books on the wall, some in Spanish but most in English, a few minutes later he heard voices in the hall and turned toward the door seeing Aldolfo enter the room.

“Commander Morton,” he offered with a smile. “Doktor Hi-ma-son asked if I might retrieve you to discuss Senor Anderson's condition,” Aldolfo explained.

“Certainly,” Chip replied as he followed his host up the curved staircase and down a long corridor until they reached a room at the end of the hallway. Aldolfo opened the door as Chip entered a room looking way more like a laboratory than the bedroom of a sick man.

“What’s going on here?” Chip asked perusing the room and finding Jamie standing with a guard holding a gun to him.

“Yes Doctor,” Aldolfo said smugly and losing the heavy island dialect he had spoken in earlier. “Why don’t you enlighten the Commander,” he finished taking on an extremely polished tone accompanied by only a slight accent.

Jamie shook his head and sighed. “Joshua is sick, but it has nothing to do with his heart. Aldolfo tells me it’s a poison derived from an indigenous frog. There is no known antidote and the illness is very severe. The survival rate is fairly good for a young healthy individual, but the old or infirmed often do not survive,” Jamie finished with obvious disdain. “Aldolfo has already admitted to poisoning Joshua, but has apparently had a change in heart,” he finished sarcastically.

“A little matter of Joshua's Last Will and Testament, he apparently made some changes I wasn't unaware of,” Aldolfo stated in a cold, calculating tone. “I was under the impression that I would inherit the island estate and his oversees holdings and Josh would inherit the American holdings, which would have been more than ample for a son who has no interest in the family business. I got tired of waiting and decided to help nature along a little, then I found out that Josh was named as the sole benefactor to his estate. So I'm not ready to let my dear friend Joshua Anderson depart quite yet, not until the Will has been rectified that is,” he explained as Chip's eyebrows tightened at the ruthlessness of the man standing before him.

“There's more,” Jamie interjected. “I'll do what I can of course, for Joshua's sake,” he clarified staring darkly at Aldolfo. “But Joshua's condition is precarious and Aldolfo wants me to lure Admiral Nelson here to help me develop the antidote.”

“That's not going to happen,” Chip stated flatly, realizing that Aldolfo was a twisted man who was capable of anything.

“That's what the good doctor told me, but I think he just needs a bit more time to think about it,” Aldolfo answered looking down at his watch.

“The interesting thing about the frog venom is it has no initial symptoms,” Aldolfo continued changing the subject rather oddly. “The poison travels harmlessly throughout a human's body for twenty to thirty minutes before the first uncomfortable symptoms begin to appear,” he finished glancing down at his watch and then raising his head bearing a thin smile.

As if on cue, Chip stumbled backwards holding his mid-section and blinking, having been unknowingly poisoned in his glass of fruit juice .

“Chip!” Jamie yelled but was kept from moving towards the XO who was obviously under great physical distress.

Chip took another step back, leaning heavily against the wall and barely able to stand as Aldolfo turned toward Jamie.

“Now Jamieson, I know what a humanitarian you are and I'm confident you'll make the right decision. Who knows? He's young and strong, he may survive... but if you don't call for Nelson you'll have Joshua Anderson's death on your head for sure,” he said just as Chip fell heavily to the ground. Jamie broke free and moved toward him quickly.

“Chip?”

“Don't call, Jamie... don't call the Admiral,” he implored before his head exploded in pain and darkness took him.

* * * * *

Jill Weatherby boarded the flight to Peru careful to turn her head away from Lee Crane even though he was gazing out the window in deep thought as she walked through the aisles. She had done her research and already knew that Crane flew First Class whenever possible, presumably needing the extra room to stretch out his long legs she surmised. So she was careful to purchase a ticket in the Main Cabin to avoid running into him before she was ready to reveal her intent. She had no idea what had called him away to the South American country but was determined to finish her assignment. Jill smiled thinly as she found her seat, grateful that the flight wasn’t full and she wouldn’t have to remove her floppy hat. It wasn’t often that her Subject was as good looking as Crane, but that was irrelevant; she never left an assignment incomplete.

* * * * *

Sharkey stood at the airport practically wringing his hands and waiting for Captain Crane to de-board the aircraft. They had lost over seven hours in travel time, but now that the Skipper was here everything was going to be alright; that he was sure of.

If only the Admiral had allowed him to come along, he thought absently as he waited for Captain Crane. He could still remember the conversation he had with the Admiral at the US Embassy on the island.

Harry adjusted his tie in the hot humid subtropical weather of the island; his service dress blues a definite disadvantage in the heat.

“Admiral are you sure you don't want me to come along and you know, to cover your back?” Sharkey asked.

“No Chief, I want you to stick around in case Mr. Morton and Doc show up here,” Harry answered as they stood in the garden courtyard in front the US Embassy while Harry waited for the Embassy courtesy car to pull forward. The fountain behind them cycled crystal clear water through the tiled pool below, its pattern and design a tribute to the beautiful island country that hosted the Embassy. Palm trees, shrubbery and bushes in bloom surrounded them, complimenting the Spanish style hacienda behind them. The arches, bleach white adobe walls, and red tiled roof all reminiscent of the Spanish Explorers who discovered the island and colonized it centuries earlier.

“Begging the Admiral's pardon Sir, but I think you're making a big mistake going in without backup.”

Harry smiled shrewdly and took off his service cap to politely and quickly wipe the brim.

“I have no choice Francis,” he answered, using Sharkey's given name, something no-one else got away with. “Joshua Anderson has contributed substantially to the island's commerce and the locals are not inclined to disturb him just because our officers accepted an invitation to visit; besides, ONI gave both Anderson and his business ventures a clean slate.”

“But something just doesn't add-up, Sir,” Sharkey said in exasperation, using his hands dramatically in a familiar fashion when he was worked up.

Harry stared off in the distance still holding his cover and replied evenly, “I agree Francis, but I'm afraid we're just going to have to go through the proper channels on this one.”

Sharkey avoided the audible blow of the breath and nodded instead. “Aye Sir,” he conceded .

“Now, if everything is fine you'll be hearing from me once I reach the estate and find our officers. But give me six hours before you consider me missing,” Harry admonished as both he and Sharkey checked their watches. “You never know, it could be something as simple as disrupted telephone service. The last thing we want to do is accuse Doc's good friend without proper justification,” Harry cautioned.

“Aye Sir, six hours,” Sharkey agreed, noting the time on his watch.

“Very well Chief,” Harry said, spotting the car he was waiting for. “I'll contact you within six hours.”

The Admiral climbed in as Sharkey watched him drive away.

“I've got a bad feeling about this,” he muttered to himself and headed back into the Embassy.

* * * * *

Jamie drew a tired hand across his brow. He hadn't gotten much sleep with caring for two patients and trying to research the properties of a local frog that secreted a very nasty venom. Several colorful frogs bearing bright green and yellow spots with a black stripe down its back sat safely inside an aquarium in the lab. The island frogs were less potent than their cousins, the Peruvian poisonous dart frogs but were still a devastating poison capable of killing those who were so unfortunate as to come in contact with the secretions, particularly when it had been harvested and concentrated into multiple exposures.

He had only been allowed to check in on Chip, clearly Aldolfo's concern wasn't with the XO. Jamie had continued giving care to Joshua who was delirious and barely recognized him, but spent most of the night reading the previous studies and research on the frog's venom. There was a fair amount of research applied in the direction of the lipophilic alkaloids which were the source of the toxicity of the frog, indeed there were close to thirty different structural classes of alkaloids identified in the poisonous frogs of the world. The specific alkaloid of this frog had not yet been identified and here laid the brunt of his research.

Jamie rubbed his eyes; he had quite a bit of experience in the area of research and development of antidotes serving aboard Seaview, but he was sure the process could be greatly helped along if the Admiral were here. Jamie's skills were excellent, but Harry had the innate and unique ability to think outside the box, taking the research in directions often missed by other researchers. Still, Jamie knew that both Chip and he would be considered superfluous cargo once Aldolfo got what he wanted from Joshua; there was no way he'd call Harry to suffer their fate.

Jamie sighed as the door opened and a guard entered carrying a pot of fresh coffee and a tray with a light breakfast. Perhaps after he refueled he'd get an inspiration, Jamie reasoned silently as he reached for the coffee and heard the guard leaving, locking the door from the outside.

* * * * *

Aldolfo Vega sat at the head of the formal dining table enjoying his morning meal. He smiled at the part he played the previous day as Seaview's officers were easily fooled by his heavy island accent, no doubt the American's arrogance that an islander could rise to heights greater than that of a servant fueling their ability to buy his story so handily, he wrongly reasoned having perceived an incorrect assumption that prejudice played a part in Anderson's decision to alter the Will. As he ate he contemplated Jamieson's progress; slow he noted. What he really needed was Nelson here to speed the research before it was too late.

“Curse Joshua Anderson,” he thought bitterly, “for changing the will without my knowledge.”

This was all supposed to be so civilized, at least in Aldolfo's twisted mind. He planned on taking over the Anderson island empire and endeavoring in a few more questionable business ventures that Joshua wouldn't even consider. With Joshua Anderson out of the way, he alone would control the privately owned business with no public holdings, no board of directors to answer to. The poison from the frog was a perfect way to take over the business as an autopsy would conclude accidental exposure to the frog's secretions; this was after all, a sub-tropic island full of the amphibians.

He reached for a cup of coffee and thought through his options. Perhaps if he gave a second dose of the poison to Morton; that would indeed ratchet up the need for the anti-venom and encourage Jamieson's decision to call Nelson. He nodded to himself, satisfied with the plan as a servant refilled his coffee cup.

He was about to order another dose of poison to be readied when a house servant entered the room and leaned over to speak to him in a hushed tone as Aldolfo smiled thinly at the news.

“By all means, show Admiral Nelson in,” he said in a rather conciliatory tone and proceeded to blot the sides of his mouth with his napkin. His plan was back on track, and soon Joshua Anderson would recover enough to alter his will. He pushed his chair back and groomed himself, brushing his white business suit of any lingering wrinkles then headed for the foyer to greet his guest.

* * * * *

“Ah Admiral Nelson. This is indeed an honor,” Aldolfo greeted as Harry entered the Anderson Estate. “I am Aldolfo Vega, Senor Anderson's right hand man as it were,” he finished.

“Thank you Senor Vega,” Harry replied politely.

“Please Admiral, you'll find that we are quite relaxed here on the island. Please call me Aldolfo,” he invited.

“Very well Aldolfo,” Harry returned adding a polite smile. “I'm here because we lost contact with our officers, they missed their check-ins.”

“Yes, unfortunate. You see our phone lines have been out and Dr. Hi-ma-son felt that Senor Anderson's condition was much too precarious to leave at this point. Both of your officers are very well, would you like to see them?” Aldolfo offered swinging an arm out in invitation.

“Yes, thank you,” Harry replied realizing something was wrong despite his host's agreeable demeanor.

“This way,” the islander said guiding Harry up the grand staircase to a bedroom. As he opened the door Harry's suspicions were verified as he spotted not Joshua Anderson, but Chip Morton in a bed thrashing about in a pained fevered sleep.

“Chip!” Harry called as he was suddenly restrained by a guard who had been positioned inside the room awaiting the Admiral's arrival. The guard patted Harry down confiscating his sidearm before allowing him to proceed to Chip's side.

“Chip?” Harry called as the first officer's wakefulness was preceded by an airy moan.

“Easy there.”

“Admiral?” he said before his eyelids fell back and the sounds of a restless sleep overtook Chip once again.

“What have you done to him?” Harry demanded as it was obvious Chip wasn't “very well” as he had been told earlier.

“Come with me Nelson. I'm sure the doktor can fill you in and then you can get busy trying to save your young officer,” Aldolfo replied cryptically as Harry felt Chip's burning forehead and relented, leaving his side and following Aldolfo into the hall. He only hoped he didn't find Jamie in a similar condition, Harry thought as his lips pursed tightly.

* * * * *

“Boy oh boy, it's good to see you Skipper,” Sharkey said, his Coney Island accent coming in nice and strong and full of emotion to match his sentiment.

“Thanks Sharkey. Let's get somewhere private where you can fill me in on the details,” Lee answered, getting straight to the business at hand. Neither one had any reason to suspect that Lee had been followed from Acapulco and as such missed the beautiful blonde who de-boarded after them.

“Where to Skipper?” Sharkey asked, sliding into the driver's seat as Lee threw his bag into the back seat and slid into the front passenger side.

“To FSI, you'll need civvies if you're going to be my backup,” Lee answered as Sharkey expressed his delight in a large smile that grew reaching the full twinkle of his eyes.

“Aye, Aye Sir,” he replied heartily and began filling Lee in on all the details he had up to this point.

* * * * *

Lee closed the ONI folder as Sharkey piloted FS1 to Seaview for docking.

“Well,” Lee said, shaking his head as he spoke. “ONI gives Joshua Anderson a clean slate.”

“Aye Sir, that's what Admiral Nelson said as well,” Sharkey replied. “Uh Sir, would you like to dock?” Sharkey interjected, offering Lee the controls.

“No thanks, you go ahead and take it,” Lee offered obviously in deep thought as he worked through his options.

“We're going in covert, Sharkey; over the fence,” Lee advised having come up with a plan and reasoning that knocking on the front door had already failed twice. “Dress accordingly and outfit yourself with a sidearm.”

“Aye Sir. Should I call Ski or Ron to accompany us?” Sharkey replied as Seaview's magnetic arms finished the docking process, berthing the flying sub into place with precision.

Lee nodded a “no”. “Negative Chief, diplomatic options have been depleted so we're going in alone, just you and me. The last thing we need is to start an 'incident' if we come up empty at the house.”

“Got it,” Sharkey acknowledged as the two unstrapped and Lee started up the ladder.

“Meet me back here in fifteen minutes, Chief.”

Sharkey acknowledged as Lee headed to his cabin to outfit himself for the rescue mission. He would have liked to have contacted ONI to obtain a report on Aldolfo but didn't want to risk a direct order to cease and desist. They'd just have to go on his instinct, it had served him well in the past, Lee thought as he prepared his backpack, ignoring the fact that Jamie had specifically threatened to resign if Lee took an espionage mission during his vacation. Besides, he was pretty sure that Jamie, Chip and Harry needed help; he'd deal with Jamie when everyone was safe and sound back on Seaview. The last two missions were tucked neatly away as far as Lee was concerned. The dreams had mellowed back and finally disappeared and the effects of the psychotropic drug had fully receded after receiving the medication to counter its influence.

He checked his clip and slid it deftly into place as a click sounded off the sidearm's readiness for use. Lee Crane was in spy mode, and nothing could deter his resolve to get to the bottom of the Command Team's disappearance. He checked his watch and then headed to the Control Room; it was time to get some answers.

* * * * *

Jill watched covertly as her subject headed to the port and boarded the flying sub; the yellow craft was hard to miss and it was a sure thing that Crane was going to Seaview. She groaned out loud, wondering how she would complete her assignment if Crane headed out to sea, but Jill had enough experience not to take anything for granted. She would change into something more suitable and stake out the port just in case Crane returned. Less than an hour later her diligence was rewarded as she spotted the flying sub return to port.

“Alright Crane, now to get you alone,” she said to herself as she watched Seaview's captain head to the car still accompanied with the same man she had seen earlier; Some sergeant or something, she thought as she surveyed the situation.

She'd be patient; Sooner or later they would go their separate ways, she reasoned, following far enough behind not to be noticed.

* * * * *

Lee checked his rear view mirror, keeping track of the tail he picked up from the dock.

“Trouble Skipper?” Sharkey asked, noting Lee's concern.

“Yeah, we've got a tail.”

“Do you think they're on to us?”

“I don't see how, at any rate we're going to proceed, but make sure you watch your back.”

“Aye Sir,” Sharkey said resolutely as Lee pulled off the road into a clump of trees, about a mile from the Estate.

“Okay Chief. Get into position and be ready to move. Stay put unless I miss the rendezvous point and be careful.”

“Right,” Sharkey said as they each headed in opposite directions.

* * * * *

Jill pulled into a clump of bushes and waited for Crane's car to pull back onto the road.

“Just what are you up to Captain?” she wondered out loud. She could see that the area he pulled off to opened up to the forest of the flat lands and there were no roads or houses nearby. She waited a few minutes longer then decided to get a better look and climbed out of her car.

Jill was dressed in blue slacks with a matching blue and white striped blouse designed to keep her looking like a tourist if she were spotted. She intentionally picked a blouse with a rather low scoop neck line in case she needed to call upon all her assets in a tight pinch. She pulled her hair into a neat pony tail and grabbed her matching blue windbreaker to cover her easy to spot blouse, pulling the hood over her blonde hair. She reached for the tools of her trade and dropped them in her jacket pocket then made her way to Crane's vehicle.

Jill approached cautiously and found the car empty with two sets of tracks leading away from the car. She examined the tracks, gauging which one was Crane by the shoe size and estimating his height then took off trailing her subject, confident she would complete her assignment.

* * * * *

Harry sat at a table peering through the microscope lens and making notes beside him on a notepad. Jamie was exhausted and he had finally persuaded him to lie down for a short nap as he continued to isolate the specific alkaloid structural class. So far, he was convinced that the venom wasn't an aconitine, which was good news indeed since the toxic plants consumed by insects that the frogs preyed upon had no known antidote.

Harry sat back reaching for a pitcher and pouring himself a glass of water, briefly considering whether he could trust Aldolfo enough to drink it. He reasoned that the power hungry man needed him and took a drink as he thought through the events of the day.

He had arrived around mid-morning and after finding Chip devastatingly ill he was herded to a laboratory where Jamie explained the details of their captivity. He had no desire to help Aldolfo along in any way, but Joshua Anderson's condition was precarious indeed. Anderson was in his mid-fifties and seemingly in good health, otherwise he might not have survived as long as he had, but he was definitely struggling with the poison's symptoms. Finding the antidote would likely save Anderson's life and in turn keep Aldolfo from using Chip any further as a pawn, at least Harry hoped so. Besides, the research they were doing was definitely buying time.

Harry reached up and rubbed his sore mouth, moving the hinge of his jaw to loosen it up. After hearing the details from Jamie he had launched himself at Aldolfo only to be intercepted by a guard. Harry got in a few punches but was subdued with the threat of a guard's weapon. He had drawn Aldolfo's anger with the move and had received a very hefty and well-placed blow to the jaw for his trouble. Aldolfo was clearly an egomaniac and power in the hands of a narcissist could only spell trouble, something Harry wasn't planning on helping along.

He had played by the diplomatic rules, against his better judgment mind you, and had been captured. Harry smiled thinly despite his situation; he still had an ace in the hole. Francis Ethelbert Sharkey was still out there and if he knew his Chief of the Boat he would soon be bucking his orders to lay low and was working on a plan at this very moment. He could only hope that plan included one Lee Crane, as Harry realized that though Sharkey boasted of a “rich and full childhood” affording him of many street smart skills, the odds of a successful rescue would improve drastically with one of ONI's best operatives involved.

Harry finished his water and returned to the tedious work of identifying and cataloging the poison's elements confident that his back was covered.

* * * * *

Lee heard a twig break behind him, the second time he had heard the noise and circled back to surprise his pursuer. He pressed his back flat against a tree and waited for his shadow; whoever it was they weren't a novice. Not completely stealth but definitely not a slacker either, he observed. He listened intently and readied himself as he heard soft breathing; his stalker passed in front of him as Lee launched forward taking his shadow by surprise and wrapping an arm tightly around his neck.

Her neck, he quickly amended as she let out a muffled cry which Lee silenced by pulling his hold even tighter.

“You want to tell me why you're following me?” he asked darkly, not letting down his guard just because she was a woman. He learned a long time ago that a woman properly trained in the martial arts could counter both his weight and strength with the proper moves.

She grunted as Lee released his hold slightly allowing her to answer.

“It's me, Lee. Jill,” she said with a shaky voice.

“Jill?” he said wondering if it could possibly be who he thought it was.

“From Acapulco,” she clarified as Lee continued to hold her close.

“Alright Jill from Acapulco, suppose you tell me why you followed me 2,000 miles across the ocean because I'm pretty sure you could have snagged someone else to apply your sunscreen,” he added sarcastically.

“If you'll let me go, I'll explain.”

Lee considered for a second and then began patting her down with his free hand. “Sorry, don't take this wrong but if you're carrying a weapon I'll take it now.”

“What do you think I am?” she asked surprised as Lee pulled a small tape recorder from her jacket pocket and a pen and notepad from the other one.

He eased off his hold slightly, “Don't move,” he instructed and lowered himself to continue the pat down satisfying himself that she didn't have a holster hidden in the inner thighs or calves of her pant legs.

“Any other time I'd think this was fun, but you're kind of scaring me,” she said as he finished the pat down and released his hold completely. She turned around slowly pulling her hood off and facing him directly.

“Are you through getting a free feel?” she asked, “Because if you are I'll explain everything.”

“I wish you would, because I'm in the middle of something and I don't have time for this.”

“Now that sounds intriguing,” Jill said with a smile and a twinkle in her eye. “Do tell,” she coaxed.

“Start talking Jill,” Lee countered, folding his arms in front of him and leaning against a nearby tree.

Jill sighed heavily, her shoulders heaving in the process. “I'm Jillian Weatherby...”

Lee sighed and rolled his eyes, Of course, he should have recognized her! he thought in self-deprecation, If he hadn't been thinking with his glands he would have!

“I'm an investigative reporter, and... oh, you've heard of me,” she said with satisfaction.

Lee reached up and rubbed his forehead in exasperation. “Miss Weatherby...”

“Oh come now Lee, with everything we've been through I think you can call me by my first name,” she said smugly knowing that the pat-down and sunscreen application had moved their introductions along rather intimately.

“Jill,” he said stopping to make eye contact with her. “I need you to go back to your car and then back to town and I promise that when this is all over we'll sit down for whatever story you're after.”

“Are you kidding? You leave me stranded on the beach only half-oiled down and grab the next plane to Peru without a look back; you slink around the woods like you're James Bond or something and you think I can walk away from this? Oh no, Commander. You're into something big and that's just the kind of story I'm after.”

Lee walked up to her taking both shoulders in his hands gently. “I'm sorry Jill, but I just can't let you in on this.”

Her smug eyes told him that she wasn't going anywhere so Lee tightened his grip and turned her around, restraining her by the neck once again.

“Hey! What are you doing?” she yelled as he shrugged the backpack off his shoulder and rummaged one handed until he came up with a roll of grey duct tape.

“Sorry about this Jill, I really am, but I'm more concerned with your safety than what you think of me just now,” he said taping her hands tightly behind her back as she tried to wiggle free, protesting as he worked.

When he was finished he tugged her over to a tree and sat her down as he secured her to the trunk with several more wraps of the grey tape. Her protests began to grow louder as Lee took one final strip of the tape and placed it over her mouth.

“I'm sorry Jill. I'll come back for you later, I promise,” he vowed as her eyes shot daggers his direction.

Lee stepped back, not allowing the regret he felt for taking such drastic measures deter him from his resolve to keep her out of the action and complete his mission. He shouldered his backpack and headed toward the Anderson Estate with the sounds of a muffled struggle behind him, and even with her gag securely in place he was sure he could make out a couple of colorful words describing what she thought of him just now.

Lee took off in a jog trying to make up for lost time but slowed down to approach the Estate stealthily. He crouched in the bushes and re-conned his surroundings, picking his point of entry and timing his scaling over the rod iron fence to avoid the security patrols on the grounds. There were no cameras he could see, no dogs, and the fence had no wiring for electricity telling him that the Estate wasn't necessarily under maximum security.

Lee moved from cover to cover until he was in place at the back of the house and crouched, checking his watch. He had made up the lost time, now he needed to get into the house and do a little looking around.

* * * * *

Chip moaned as Jamie added another cool compress to his white pallored face.

“I'm sorry Chip,” he whispered as he watched Seaview's XO struggle with the effects of the frog's toxic secretions.

“Moni---ca,” Chip called out in delirium, completely unaware of Jamie's presence and reacting to what appeared to be a nightmare.

“Wake up Chip,” Jamie coaxed.

Chip's eyes fluttered open but they were glassy and unaware of his surroundings as Jamie raised his head to offer a drink.

“You need more water Chip,” Jamie explained and managed to get his patient to take a few good swallows before Chip's head limped heavily back, succumbing to the delirious sleep once again.

“He's not doing much better than Joshua.”

Jamie wheeled about finding Aldolfo standing in the doorway observing his ministrations.

“I hope you're getting close to the antidote, because if Joshua dies first then I think you can guess what will happen to Morton here,” he threatened darkly as Jamie stood clenching his fists then releasing them in resignation.

“I don't know what you think you'll gain from this Vega,” Jamie replied. “Do you actually think Joshua would write you back into the Will after all this?” he finished with a sweep of his hand toward Chip's feverish body.

“That's one of the nice things about the illness my good doctor,” he answered smugly. “Anderson will wake up totally confused, sore and weak, but without any memory of his ordeal. I will ingratiate myself to him once again and he will be only too happy to rewrite the Will.”

Jamie held back a sigh as Aldolfo had just laid all the cards on the table; once Joshua Anderson was safe and out of the woods then Seaview's three officers would be eliminated. There was no way he could let them walk after all this, Jamie concluded as Aldolfo motioned Jamie to leave and a guard escorted him back to the lab.

Jamie sat down at his microscope and waited for their guard to leave the room, locking the door behind him and walking down the hall.

“Admiral,” Jamie said speaking quietly as he turned toward Harry. “Aldolfo says the poison affects the memory and the victims don't remember the illness,” letting Harry in on information he knew was important.

Harry rose up, abandoning his current work as he took in Jamie's revelation. “So the temporal lobes, in particular the hippocampus is affected?” Harry repeated in a rhetorical statement. “I don't recall that symptom in the previous research papers.”

“I didn't either, but Aldolfo is counting on it to get Joshua to change the Will back.”

Harry nodded as his brilliant mind began working through this new information. “That narrows the

alkaloid structural classes down significantly,” Harry said with a grin as he reached for the medical book on toxins and poisons and thumbed through it until he found what he was looking for, handing the book to Jamie.

“I think you're right,” Jamie said after reading the toxin properties.

Harry smiled and reached for another sample, ready to test his hypothesis as he narrowed the structural category down to one in particular; one that they hadn't even considered before learning of the memory lapse of the victims.

“Admiral, there's something else you should know,” Jamie said, leaning in to whisper. “I have every reason to believe that Aldolfo will eliminate all three of us after he gets what he wants.”

“I'm well aware of that, Jamie. Let's just deal with first things first. Besides, I'm sure Captain Crane has a plan by now.”

“Lee? He's in Acapulco, Mexico,” Jamie stated incredulously, working hard to keep his voice down.

Harry looked over with a small thin smile. “Do you honestly believe that Sharkey wouldn't have called Crane by now and that Lee wouldn't come running once he got wind of our disappearance?”

Jamie shook his head and scoffed. “Well, this is one time I'll be glad that he has no problems bucking my medical orders,” Jamie said leaning closer. “Just don't tell the Skipper I said that,” he finished with a small grin.

Harry nodded with traces of his smile still evident on his determined face. “Then first things first,” he repeated. “Let's see if we're on the right track,” he finished with the excitement of the break-through temporarily overshadowing the fact that they were currently prisoners.

* * * * *

Lee moved cautiously through the large mansion; he had checked out the bottom floor, at least the rooms not occupied by servants and concluded that his next move was upstairs. He peered around the corner at the grand staircase, casing its activity. A man in a white suit took the steps downward elegantly, the island native was obviously in charge as Lee figured he just found Aldolfo. He allowed the man to proceed and waited for a quiet moment, when it was clear he moved quickly up the staircase and into the hall.

He traveled silently along checking the first door he came to, it opened easily as he peeked in finding nothing out of the ordinary. Lee checked several more rooms until he came to a door that was locked. He pulled his pick kit and worked the lock easily opening the door and finding a middle aged man lying in a bed and obviously ill. He heard the bathroom flush and pulled the door closed to just a crack, realizing that someone else was in the room. A man that looked more like a security guard than a nursemaid return to a chair as Lee carefully pulled the door completely closed.

Okay, perhaps Anderson really was sick, he thought, but that still didn't answer why Seaview's officers were missing.

Lee continued down checking other doors until he came to a second locked door. He gained quick access and entered finding Chip Morton on the bed and also ill. He checked the room before going to his friend’s side and satisfied himself that no guard was present then settled in the chair beside the bed.

“Chip?” Lee whispered. “Chip?” he called again as his best friend responded with a moan and eyes that fluttered open.

“Lee? Is that you?” he asked, his voice dry and weak. Lee responded by pouring a glass of water sitting beside the bed and raising Chip's head.

“Here buddy, take a drink.”

Chip drank gratefully and blinked. “Are you the cavalry... or a prisoner?” he asked with a thin smile.

“The cavalry,” Lee returned with a smile. “So I presume Aldolfo is a bad guy?”

“Very bad,” Chip answered, barely holding back a groan. “He's after Anderson's inheritance... needs Jamie to develop... antidote.”

Okay, so now Lee had some missing pieces. Chip was obviously being used as leverage against Jamie.

“He also has the Admiral,” Lee said, stopping to lift his head to listen for a roaming guard.

“Admiral? I thought I was dreaming...”

“Listen Chip, I'm going to find them...”

“In lab... at end of hall...”

“Okay. You stay put, Sharkey is around and between the two of us we're going to get you out of this,” Lee encouraged with a concerned hand to Chip's shoulder.

“Glad... you didn't Lone Ranger it...” Chip grinned.

“I kind of did, but at least I brought along Tonto,” Lee said with a squeeze to the shoulder and headed for the door. He opened it just a crack and exited making sure to lock the door behind him in the hopes of keeping his presence undetected.

* * * * *

“It's a new subcategory,” Harry concluded sitting back as Jamie verified his conclusion that the toxin was very similar to a known alkaloid structural category in which an anti-venom had already been successfully developed.

“I agree, the question is will the antidote of the known alkaloid be effective without further development,” Jamie asked rubbing his eyes in exhaustion.

“There's only one way to find out. We have all the elements here, let's make a batch and test it,” Harry replied, scrutinizing Jamie's weariness. The Doc was working on very little sleep and laboring against a death clock if they didn't come up with an antidote soon.

Harry started gathering the components for the antidote when he heard the door lock click open, he looked up to see not a guard but Lee Crane enter the room.

“Is this a private party or can anyone come?” Lee asked quietly as Harry's closed-mouthed smile widened.

“It's good to see you Lee.”

“Thanks Admiral,” he said closing the distance to their workstation.

“Aren't you supposed to be in Mexico?” Jamie asked in a mock reprimand and bearing a relieved smile.

“Well I've got these friends that can't stay out of trouble...” he started with Harry rolling his eyes in feigned exasperation as Lee pulled a transmitter from his backpack.

“Crane to Sharkey.”

“Sharkey here.”

“I found all three, stand-by and maintain your present position.”

“Aye Sir, standing-by.”

Harry raised an eyebrow at Jamie in an I told you so moment as Lee returned the transmitter to his backpack and continued.

“I just talked with Chip,” Lee said, dispensing of the banter and getting down to business. “He explained the gist of what's going on. He doesn't look too good,” he added with concern.

“No, he was given the same poison as Joshua Anderson to provide added incentive to our work, venom from a local poisonous dart frog,” Harry explained as Lee nodded, separating his emotions of what he thought of Vega to deal with the situation at hand.

“Are Chip and Joshua ambulatory?” Lee asked.

“I'm afraid not, but we're close to a breakthrough,” Jamie replied nodding back to the microscope.

“At which point none of you will be of any use to Aldolfo any longer,” Lee reasoned as he paced.

“What we need are enough witnesses so that when the ambulances show up, Aldolfo won't be able to carry out his threats,” Lee finished.

“How are you going to manage that?” Harry asked with a raised eyebrow.

“I've got an ace in the whole. You two keep up appearances and work on the antidote, I'll be back as soon as I can. I'm going to leave you my transmitter and sidearm,” he said handing the two over to Harry and not taking “No” for an answer.

“Call Sharkey for back-up if things go critical,” he finished and headed for the door before Harry and Jamie could even acknowledge, shooting back one last smile then sliding out the door as quietly as he entered making sure to lock the door again.

“Is he always that bossy when he's in spy mode?” Jamie asked with a raised eyebrow noting Lee's spy demeanor was different than even his naval command mode.

“The hero's on his white horse Jamie, just go with it,” Harry replied with a chuckle then turned his attention back to their work at hand, able to put his full attention to the antidote with his confidence in Lee's ability to work out the rescue.

Jamie shook his head in amazement at Lee's ability to move around the mansion so freely and to think on his feet so handily. He always felt that Lee took too many chances on ONI missions; throwing his own safety to the wind to win the objective and finish the mission, but he realized that was an unfair assessment. Lee was simply doing what needed to be done and drawing on his skills to do it. It didn't always work out so well for the Operative, but he managed to keep making it back home just the same. Jamie smiled thinly realizing that the same skills that compelled ONI to keep calling for the Skipper's services over and over were the same skills that were going to get them all back home again.

* * * * *

Lee skipped the staircase and headed out a window in an unoccupied bedroom, taking a trellis from the second floor to the ground level in a matter of moments. He perused his surroundings and made a dash for the fence going up and over and landing on the other side deftly, then headed for cover and took off in a full run to his objective.

He covered the distance in short order making a six minute mile despite dodging the trees of the forest and slowed his pace as he came upon Jill Weatherby; still tied to the tree and still shooting daggers with her eyes.

Lee lowered his eyes for just a moment and headed to her, pulling the tape off her mouth as gently as possible. She was muttering the entire time he worked the tape off which escalated into an all-out tirade as soon as her mouth was free.

“Are you crazy!?!” she yelled as Lee put a hand over her mouth, simultaneously “shushing” her with the universal finger to the lips sign. She reined in her decibels but not her anger as she continued bawling him out in a subdued voice, just a tad above a whisper.

“Don't you know that this is a tropical island? There are snakes, spiders and all sorts of creepy crawlies that could have gotten me, not to mention panthers and wild boars! What's the matter with you, leaving me like that?” she finished as Lee reached for his pocket knife and cut away the tape that bound her to the tree. Once the tape was free he began working on her hands, which were still secured behind her back.

“I'm sorry Jill but before you go on I just want to know how big of a story do you want?”

Jill Weatherby's muttering ceased as she focused on Lee's apparent proposition.

“Give me the details,” she said going from damsel in distress to Lois Lane instantly.

“A local industrialist millionaire is being held captive in his own home. He's deathly ill having been poisoned by his right hand man with the venom of poisonous frogs, only the greedy SOB didn't know that the rich industrialist had changed the will... any of this sound interesting enough to go Live with on the network?” he asked. “Add to that the fact that he kidnapped THE Admiral Nelson to develop an antidote, which he's close to doing by the way, and you've got something big,” he coaxed as her hands were finally free.

Jill turned to study Lee's face. “This kind of thing is usually kept very quiet. Why do you want the publicity?”

“Because we've got two men in need of ambulances and I need you and the entire world there to make sure that Aldolfo Vega doesn't do something drastic before we get them to safety,” he said laying it on the line.

“Which local rich industrialist are we talking about?” she probed.

“Joshua Anderson,” Lee replied as Jill smiled widely, slapping her knee at the same time.

“Joshua Anderson is more than a rich industrialist. He's a financial genius who buys run-down businesses about ready to fold, pours his money into the venture and comes out the other side as the leader in every industry he puts his golden hands to. He's saved and created thousands of jobs; he's a humanitarian and a philanthropist who's known to drop million dollars grants as easily as the thousand dollar tips he leaves for waitresses making minimum wage in local diners!” she finished rising half-way in the middle of her dissertation and pacing in front of Lee who had sat back against the tree with one knee bent in front of him waiting for her to finish.

“So you're interested?” he said with a small smile as Jill cocked her head in thought.

“You're a little too good at this game, Crane. I mean where does a submarine captain get the skills to break into a private estate with security up the kazoo and waltz back out undetected?”

“I'm an officer in the United States Navy. That means I've been trained for hand to hand combat, the use of weapons and playing hide and seek was a favorite game of mine when I was a kid. Now let's talk about the ground rules for this little adventure,” he said switching gears and moving the plan along as Jill bit her bottom lip continuing to study Crane.

“You get to break the story of an ailing Joshua Anderson being transported to the hospital and an exclusive on the arrest of one Aldolfo Vega. I'm sure with your investigative skills you can get to the motivation behind the poisoning, but I'd start with Anderson's Last Will and Testament. You come armed with television cameras, satellite feed to the networks, helicopters, the whole shebang,” he finished still sitting against the tree with one leg bent, the other extended out before him.

“And just how do I get access to all this?” she asked folding her arms in front of her.

“I'm sneaking back into the Estate. I'll make a call from there, the local authorities will verify the emergency call is legit through the emergency telephone system and I'll call for three ambulances. One for Anderson, one for my Exec who was also poisoned, and one for your camera crew.”

“And just how will we get past the front gate if Vega's men are still in control?”

“The security at the front gate will be neutralized.”

“How?”

“Trust me,” he deadpanned. “Once in the grounds you do your thing and break the story with everything you've got. Vega won't risk going violent with all the media about.”

“What if he does?”

“I've got friends who'll convince the local police to get involved. You'll be covered.”

Jill nodded. “Alright Crane, but we're not through. There's something up with you, I haven't got it figured out just yet, but I will,” she promised.

Lee stood up and offered a hand. “So we have a deal?”

“Yeah we got a deal,” she said taking his hand in a firm shake and then holding it tight when he would have released it. “And I want an exclusive with you when this is all done,” she demanded, remembering her original assignment.

Lee nodded and completed the handshake.

“Deal. T minus 60 minutes, starting now,” he said looking at his watch.

“What? I've got to get prepped, I just can't go on live TV looking like this!” she said with her hands sweeping outward as she spoke.

Lee stepped up close and raised her chin, then lowered his mouth slowly, delivering a welcomed and much anticipated kiss.

“You look beautiful,” he said in a whisper, then backed away. “60 minutes,” he repeated and took off running to the Estate.

Jill watched him disappear into the woods and drew a deep breath, then turned for her car, running at full speed and making plans to break the potential Pulitzer Prize story.

* * * * *

Sharkey was in position on the south side of the Estate, just outside the fence. He'd been waiting patiently and would have loved to have contacted the Skipper on the transmitter, but he knew full well that the sound of the communication device could blow a stealth cover in no time flat, so he resisted.

He was dressed in solid green fatigues and was making note of the comings and goings of the front door doubting his recon would be of any value to the mission, 'Cause what were they going to do? Walk up and ring the doorbell?

“Sharkey,” he heard in a subdued whisper, recognizing the voice right away. His adrenalin spiked at the surprise greeting but he willed it back and turned toward the voice.

“Skipper, is that you?” he asked with his sidearm drawn.

“Yeah, I'm coming out,” Lee replied cautiously, careful not to be the victim of friendly fire.

Lee made his way out as silently as he had snuck up as Sharkey smiled one-sided shaking his head.

“Boy Sir, you sure came in stealth-like,” he complimented.

Lee offered a small but discernible smile and then got down to business.

“The Admiral and Doc are okay, they're being forced to work on an antidote. The Exec and Anderson have both been poisoned and are in pretty bad shape,” he said bringing Sharkey up to date with the situation. “Raise Seaview for me Chief,” Lee ordered as Sharkey reached for his transmitter, stuffed in one of his many pockets in the leg of his fatigues.

“What's the plan Skipper? How are we going to get them out?”

“Through the front door,” Lee said adjusting the frequency as Sharkey's right eyebrow raised in conjunction with his furled forehead.

“Crane to Seaview.”

“Seaview Aye,” Sparks answered.

“Sparks, I need you to contact ONI on my personal code, use the addendum code Romeo-Alfa-Whiskey, got it?”

“Aye Sir, Romeo-Alfa-Whiskey.”

“Good, here's what I need...”

Sharkey listened with interest deducing the Skipper's plan from the transmission as Lee signed off.

“So we're going to do a commando raid, Sir?”

“Not exactly Chief, Vega would likely dispose of his hostages before we could free them.”

Sharkey's eyes squinted as he tried to figure out just what plan the Skipper had come up with.

“Then how are we going to get to them in time?”

“That's where you come in, Chief...” Lee said checking his watch and laying out the plan.

* * * * *

Jillian Weatherby high-tailed it back to her car and headed for town, stopping at the nearest pay phone along the way. When the network's number one investigative reporter says she's on to something big, news producers listen and within minutes she had ordered a full-scale “Breaking Story” news attack.

“You better come through on this Crane,” she muttered to herself as she applied her make-up and waited for her camera crew, (and yes, as a TV news reporter she never went anywhere without the tools of her trade, including make-up.)

She finished the pancake foundation and wondered if she should go a bit less polished, this was after all, a subtropical island. As she worked she considered the story's bi-line:

“Joshua Anderson, rich industrialist, humanitarian and philanthropist has taken ill as seen here in his private estate on the island of Kamisaraki, but is it a case of island fever or something more? Sources tell this reporter that Anderson is actually the victim of an attempted murder by toxin extracted from local poisonous dart frogs...”

Jill nodded to herself, liking the sound of her opening bi-line and hoping she'd have the dramatic live pictures of Anderson being wheeled out in the ambulance gurney's to back-up her story. She was taking a big chance trusting Crane like this, but that was part of what made her good at what she did; the ability to sniff out a good story and the resources to bring it to the people.

She put the finishing touches on her make-up and pulled off the towel wrapped around her neck; it was almost show time.

* * * * *

Sharkey made his way around the perimeter of the fence and climbed over, crouching low to keep himself covered. He only had one security guard to take out but the trick was to silence him before he alerted the main-house. He made his way up behind the guard and grabbed him from behind dragging him back into the bushes as he put a sleep-hold on the hapless man. He fought, squirmed and wiggled but couldn't break free of the chokehold and in less than two minutes succumbed to the lack of oxygen.

“Nighty-night,” Sharkey whispered as if putting a two year to bed. “Time for beddy-bye.”

Sharkey laid him on the ground and stripped his uniform jacket off then trussed him up with duct tape, Never leave home without it, he thought with a tight smile. He donned the jacket and cap and entered the guard booth, now all he had to do was wait.

* * * * *

Lee climbed the trellis, entering back into the second story bedroom utilizing the window he left open earlier. He made sure he was alone then headed to the phone sitting beside the bed making a quick call speaking in fluent Spanish.

“...Si, tres ambulancias... Si rapido, rapido.”

Lee hung up the phone and checked his watch; time to get a little insurance.

His first stop was the Lab. The door was still unguarded as Vega obviously felt he had enough leverage over Nelson and Jamieson with the two sick men in the nearby rooms. Lee worked the lock quickly and entered the room.

Harry and Jamie both looked up as Lee spoke without any greetings.

“Give me five minutes to unlock the doors and neutralize the guard then move Chip into Anderson's room. I want you all together when the ambulances arrive.”

Harry's lips pursed tightly in question as Lee continued.

“Don't worry I've got it all worked out,” he added with a shrewd smile and left without further discussion.

“It's kind of weird watching him work,” Jamie observed as Harry's pursed lips morphed into a thin smile. “I get the feeling he's enjoying himself,” Jamie added, a bit perplexed.

Harry nodded, knowing that Lee's plan must be coming together nicely and motioned Jamie to follow him. He pulled out the .45 that Lee left earlier and checked the chamber then headed for the door.

“Grab the antidote Jamie,” he ordered. “I'm not sure what he's up to, but I think it's going to be good,” Harry said, waiting at the door and checking his watch.

Jamie complied, shrugging his service jacket on and loading the pockets with his supplies.

“Ready?” Harry asked with raised eyebrows.

“Ready,” Jamie replied and headed down the hall. True to his word, Lee had worked both locks open and the guard inside Joshua's room had been “neutralized”. Chip helped as best as he could, trying to move his achy legs in small steps and before long they were all in one room waiting for Lee's plan to unfold.

* * * * *

Lee moved quietly down the stairs having completed his tasks upstairs. He checked his watch and made sure the way was clear then headed for the study he saw Vega enter earlier. He suppressed a sigh of relief to see Vega sitting at a large desk with his executive chair swiveled to face the large windows and making some sort of deal on the telephone. There was a security guard in the room, so Lee moved to take him out first. A quick karate chop to a particular nerve in the neck and the guard dropped like a rock. Lee ensconced his gun, adding to a growing arsenal from the weapon he had taken from the guard upstairs and moved behind Vega. He simultaneously depressed the receiver button, hanging up the phone and shoving the butt of the gun into Vega's temple.

“I've got an itchy trigger finger Vega, so if you value your life you'll keep quiet and not move,” Lee warned darkly.

“Who are you?” Aldolfo asked quietly.

“No one to mess with,” Lee promised pulling Vega to stand and wrapping an arm around his neck to add to the threat of the gun to his temple.

“Crane!” Aldolfo cried in recognition, having done his homework on Seaview's Command Team.

“What did you do Vega? Buy-out Anderson's entire staff?”

Vega scoffed. “I only need a few of them on my payroll, Crane. Most of them don't speak English, they only know what I've told them. You should see them off praying for his recovery and looking to me for guidance. They are as loyal to me as they are to Anderson,” he finished proudly.

“Only because they don't know you're a murderer,” Lee returned turning Vega toward the door, the sounds of sirens growing louder as they neared the main house.

“Let's go meet your public,” Lee said with a wry grin as multiple sirens were accompanied with helicopters circling the house.

“You'll regret this. I'm a powerful man here,” Aldolfo threatened. “You'll be rotting in jail once my friends at the police department hear about this...”

“I'll tell you what,” Lee said as he worked Vega out of the study and into the foyer. “You can tell them yourself, they're waiting outside.”

They met several guards in the foyer as Lee pushed the gun deeper into Aldolfo's temple.

“Call them off Vega, or they'll be cleaning your brains off the walls.”

“Todos paran!” Aldolfo said ordering his men to stop.

“Tell them to drop their weapons and Vega... I speak fluent Spanish,” Lee warned as Aldolfo complied followed by the guards disarming themselves.

Just then Lee heard a “click” behind him as a guard had obviously gotten the drop on him.

“The game is up Crane,” Aldolfo said smugly. “My man can shoot you in the back before you can pull the trigger.”

“And just how will you explain that to the media waiting outside? Even with your “friends” in the police department you won't be able to silence them,” he said nodding toward the window. “Look outside Vega, what do you see?”

Vega turned his head and looked through the sheer curtains, spotting the camera crews and the blonde news reporter setting up the shot.

“Tell your man to drop his weapon, Vega, or you'll have all those men in blue in here followed by the news crew.”

Vega reluctantly ordered his man to stand down feeling that he still had a chance to talk himself out of the situation and big enough friends to clear him from wrong doing. Lee motioned the guard to move over with the other guards while keeping a firm hold on Vega.

“They'll never believe you Crane.”

“We'll just see about that,” he said just as the doorbell rang. “Let's greet your guests, Vega,” Lee said motioning a guard to open the door.

A group of police officers flooded the foyer as Lee lowered his weapon and identified himself.

“Me llamo Comandante Lee Crane.”

“That's our man,” a representative from the US Embassy said collaborating his ID as Lee slid the weapon into the shoulder holster while the officers secured the scene. A few moments later Lee was guiding the ambulance crews to Anderson's room.

* * * * *

“Joshua Anderson, rich industrialist, humanitarian and philanthropist has taken ill as seen here in his private estate on the South American island of Kamisaraki,” Jillian Weatherby reported standing on the steps of the Anderson Estate as the first gurney was rolled out. “But is it a case of island fever or something more? Sources tell this reporter that Anderson is actually the victim of an attempted murder by toxin extracted from local poisonous dart frogs...” she continued as the second gurney was wheeled out with Jamie following his patients in full doctor mode. Helicopter crews were busy supplying the aerial view as the technicians split the screen with Jill on one side and the aerial shots on the other.

“Police responded to a tip and have found grounds for the detainment and arrest of one of Joshua Anderson's top men.” Jill turned as Aldolfo Vega was escorted from the house with his hands secured behind his back and a pair of dark sunglasses covering his eyes.

“Senor Vega, is it true that Joshua Anderson was poisoned?”

“Sin comentarios,” he responded, staring straight forward and ignoring the barrage of questions that followed up his “no comment” reply.

* * * * *

“...And there you have it, folks. The scene here is secured,” Jill said sweeping her hand back towards the house after several hours of on-the-spot live broadcast, “I'm told that Admiral Nelson will be coming out soon...” She trailed off just as a car pulled forward and a tall dark headed naval officer exited. Jill held back all surprise at seeing the officer in full service dress uniform as she quickly adapted to the news opportunity.

“Captain Crane. Captain Crane, would you mind giving our viewers a statement?” Jill asked placing the microphone up to Lee who had secretly scaled down the trellis once again and backtracked to the car where Kowalski was waiting with his uniform.

“I'm afraid I just got on the scene, Miss Weatherby. I can tell you that both Joshua Anderson and Commander Morton are responding to the antidote and I'm told are in stable condition. That's all I know at this time,” he offered politely and then proceeded into the house.

Jill turned back to the camera putting a finger to her ear and nodding as she received questions from the network anchor and continued the live broadcast. A few minutes later both Lee and Harry left the house, both in their service jackets and covers as Jill rushed forward for the on-the-spot interview.

“Admiral Nelson, this is Jillian Weatherby with Tri-Network News. Is it true that you and Dr. Jamieson actually derived an antidote for the local poisonous dart frog; an antidote that has eluded researchers for years?”

“Hello Miss Weatherby,” Harry greeted politely. “Well further tests are necessary but we did make a major breakthrough in identifying the alkaloid structural subclass. We administered the antidote under the care of Dr. Jamieson and I'm told they are responding to the treatment. We're on our way to the hospital now,” Harry replied, giving enough information to keep the anchors talking for the next forty-five minutes allowing for the inevitable “expert witnesses” expanding upon Harry's short statement.

“Thank you Admiral Nelson. Captain Crane, how were you involved in the rescue operation?”

“Nothing too glamorous, Miss Weatherby,” Lee said with a smile. “I'm afraid I was stuck at the US Embassy working through the diplomatic red tape. I'm just glad the police received that anonymous tip to break the case open,” he replied.

“Any word on who called in the tip?” she probed.

“None, but I'm told he spoke in fluent Spanish so we assume it was one of the servants here. I'm sure the Police will sort it all out in time,” he offered wrapping up the interview and moving forward as Jill turned back to the camera to a close up shot.

“That wraps it up from here, Kevin. We'll make our next report from the hospital. This is Jillian Weatherby for Tri-Network News returning you back to the studio.”

Jill kept her countenance even until the red light on the camera turned off and lowered her microphone.

“Okay guys, that's a wrap. Let's get to the hospital and get some statements from the doctors...”

* * * * *

“I still can't believe Aldolfo was capable of this,” Joshua Anderson said having responded well to the newly developed antidote of the toxic indigenous frog. “I did change the Will,” he explained, “Because I thought Josh was now ready to assume responsibility for the family businesses but I made provisions where Aldolfo would have been named CEO of my entire overseas ventures. He would have made millions in his salary alone,” Joshua said shaking his head sadly. “And to think he meant to do-away with you and the others as well,” he finished despondently.

“I'm just glad it all worked out Joshua,” Jamie said with an understanding smile.

“Thanks to you William.”

“It was a Team effort,” Jamie replied thinking in particular of Harry's research skills and Lee's spy abilities.

“Dad?” Josh Anderson said, opening the door and peering his head around the corner.

“Josh! What are you doing here son?”

“Where else would I be Dad?” Josh said as he walked forward to embrace his father.

Jamie smiled warmly. “You two catch up, we'll talk later Joshua.”

“Good bye William, and thanks again.”

* * * * *

Lee Crane entered the hospital room where his Executive Officer and best friend lay recovering. The head of his bed was raised slightly and a healthy pallor had returned to Chip's face. The sound of the door opening aroused the patient from his sleep as Chip smiled at his visitor.

“Hey Lee.”

“Hi Chip. How are you feeling?”

“Pretty tired, but at least I don't feel like I got ran over by a freight train anymore.”

Lee smiled and sat in the visitor's chair.

“How did Monica take the news?”

Chip chuckled. “I finally convinced her to stay put in Santa Barbara,” he said with a grin that faded soon afterwards. “It was hard on her, but she's a trooper. She'll be alright.”

Lee nodded, Monica was certainly a jewel and he was pleased that Chip had snagged her for his wife.

“So when's Seaview shoving off?” Chip asked his hand splayed across his middle; he had done a fair amount of cramping while under the effects of the poison and his muscles were still sore, not to mention the fever.

“As soon as Jamie can arrange your transfer to the Boat, maybe by tomorrow.”

“That sounds good,” Chip said with a yawn as Lee chuckled.

“Alright sleepy head, you take a nap and I'll talk with you later.”

Chip smiled thinly and fell to sleep as Lee sighed silently, grateful that his best friend was on the mend.

He met Harry in the hospital foyer talking with Jamie and joined the pair.

“I didn’t expect to see you here, Sir,” Lee offered with a smile.

“It didn’t take long to meet with the Research team,” Harry replied.

“I’m sure they were pleased to get ahold of your Notes,” Lee said, knowing that Harry and Jamie had graciously turned their work over to the local Poison Control Center who would conduct the final tests on the antidote and eventually certify its use.

“They were chomping at the bits,” Harry returned with a twinkle in his eye. “Come along gentlemen,” Harry said switching gears. “Let’s take advantage of the local cuisine before we head back to Seaview. I know a restaurant that serves excellent Empanadas,” he finished as the three turned to leave.

As they headed for the car Jamie couldn’t help but notice the exchange between Harry and Lee. The spy mode had disappeared and was replaced with the easy but formal relationship based on the respect and decorum of their Naval ranks. Jamie shook his head at how comfortable Lee was in either mode and watched with interest the two’s interactions.

He had also noted how pleased Harry had been with Lee’s rescue; indeed Jamie got the feeling that Harry never doubted that Lee would show up, thereby able to turn all his attention to the research while at Joshua’s mansion. It was a privilege to see the trust the two officers had for one another as Jamie counted himself fortunate to be counted among both men as their friend.

* * * * *

Seaview departed the next day with Chip safely tucked away in Sickbay as Captain Lee Crane guided the large Boat past the break waters and out to sea. The warm tropical air was tempered by a light spray of water cooling its affects as Lee lingered on the Bridge a bit longer.

“You wanted to see me Sir?” Sharkey asked, reporting in as he climbed the ladder to join Lee on the Bridge.

“Yes Chief. I want to thank you for your part in the rescue mission. You did the right thing in calling me, and you're a good man to have around in a pinch. Well done.”

Sharkey smiled widely, not one to hide his feelings.

“Thank you Skipper. That means a lot to me.”

Lee returned the smile and patted Sharkey on the shoulder. “You know the Exec says I Lone Ranger these missions too much, it was good to have you watching my back.”

Sharkey's smile widened as his eyes twinkled in mischief. “Call on me anytime Kemosabe, I mean Sir,” he corrected with a grin.

Lee chuckled, taking the joke in the spirit in which it was rendered and sharing an unusually casual moment with the Chief of the Boat.

“Come on Tonto, let's get below and let Seaview show us what she can do.”

“Aye, aye Sir,” Sharkey replied following the Skipper down the ladder and grateful that he worked for such a fair and competent Captain. He was content as he took up his duty station and pondered silently that if anything, most people would argue that he was “Tonto” to Admiral Nelson, but there wasn't anything he wouldn't do for Captain Crane. He perused the Control Room spotting Admiral Nelson on the Front Porch and sighed at the good fortune of serving under two of the Navy's best.

“High-ho Silver,” Sharkey said silently and went to work.

“Okay you Bozos, look sharp,” he ordered, squaring his shoulders and watching Captain Crane take his place at the Chart Table.

“Status Mr. O'Brien,” Lee inquired.

“All green and waiting to answer bells, Sir.”

“Very well. Make our depth ninety feet.”

“Aye Sir, ninety feet. Flood all ballast tanks. Dive. Dive. Dive,” O'Brien ordered as the klaxons rang loudly.

“Ninety feet, trim satisfactory Sir.”

“Very well,” Lee replied, catching the gleam in Harry's eyes as he watched Seaview's Captain at work.

“All ahead Standard.”

“Aye Sir. Engine room, all ahead Standard.”

“All ahead Standard, Aye.”

* * * * *

Jamie closed Chip's medical file and reached for the second file sitting on his desk. The XO was recuperating and getting stronger every day. By tomorrow he expected Chip to be pestering him for release to his cabin, that wasn't going to happen but he rather looked forward to the tug-of-war just the same. It meant that Chip was feeling better and would soon be back in the Control Room where he belonged.

Joshua was recovering a bit slower than Chip, but not unexpected as he had been ill longer and being in his fifties was perhaps not quite as resilient as the younger Exec. But Jamie's current concern had nothing to do with poisonous dart frogs; indeed it had to do with one Lee Crane.

Jamie read the file once again. Diagnosis: PTSD. Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. Treatment: Two weeks rest and relaxation.

Jamie closed the file. After watching Lee handle the rescue mission so handily he couldn't in all honesty stay with his diagnosis of PTSD, but Seaview's Captain still needed that vacation. Jamie chided himself silently. If it hadn't been for him, Lee would still be sunning himself on a beach in Acapulco. He tapped his fingers on the desk and wondered how he was going to fix the problem.

More importantly, he owed Lee an apology for issuing an ultimatum that Lee couldn't live with. Jamie remembered vividly threatening to “go play for another team” if he took an ONI mission while on vacation, and blast it if Lee didn't have to travel two thousand miles to pull him out of the fire!

“Jamie?”

Will raised his head to the Skipper's voice.

“How's Chip?”

“Doing just fine,” Jamie replied with his familiar soft smile.

“Good. I was thinking about heading back out to Mexico to finish up that vacation.”

“Skipper...” Jamie paused a moment and pursed his bottom lip needing to fix the ultimatum he had issued earlier. “I owe you an apology, Sir.”

“Not necessary,” Lee said with a raised hand to dispel any further argument. “But Jamie, I need to be honest with you. I know what you said about taking a mission, and I think it's only fair for you to know that if ONI had called and someone else needed my particular set of skills; I would have gone. I would have regretted your resignation, but I would have gone. I just can't walk away when someone needs help.”

“I understand Skipper and I wouldn't want you to compromise your convictions in any way,” Jamie replied, knowing that Lee’s sense of duty was an integral part of who he was and that when duty called Lee Crane would always answer. “I got to watch you work, you're good at what you do. I think I understand a little bit better now,” he finished.

“Thanks Jamie. Now that that's been said... I need for you to continue being that medical voice of reason. I may not always take your advice, but I do appreciate having all the facts to make my decisions.”

Jamie smiled. “Deal. Now about your vacation...”

* * * * *

A white sandy beach, a big yellow sun, the soft breeze flowing off the ocean and not a care in the world. Lee Crane stretched out on the beach lounge chair wearing aqua blue swim trunks and a pair of sunglasses when a shadow covered him, lowering the temperature of the sun's influence. Lee raised his sunglasses and smiled.

“Now... where were we?” Jill Weatherby asked as she stood in her hot pink string bikini waggling a bottle of sunscreen in front of her.

“I think I remember just where we were,” Lee said with a grin as he swung his legs off the chaise and followed Jill Weatherby to the nearby beach lounger to apply her sunscreen...

The End

When Duty Calls

*See the Third Season Episode, Brand of the Beast. Written by William Welch, Directed by Justus Addiss, Original air date December 12, 1966. Source: Mike’s Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea Zone.

**Part of my universe and not in the original Brand of the Beast episode, just sort of tying up the loose ends with one possible WHN. ; )

***Kamisaraki is a fictional island south of the equator and west of the South American Continent. PS – Though based on the real-life Poisonous Dart Frogs of Peru, the colorful frogs in my story are as fictional as Kamisaraki, as was my antidote solution. : )

****Casting Note: I realize that Richard Bull is only 3 years older than David Hedison but I write fiction and have always written Jamie as closer to Harry's age, going with several other writers’ assumption that the Navy was his second career after Private Practice, thereby explaining why he is such an old Lt. Commander.

Credits:

Poisonous Dart Frogs, Antidotes and Anti-venoms researched through the resources of www.wikipedia.org.

Brain buzzwords gleaned from: http://www.human-memory.net/brain_parts.html

Author's Notes: This story is my effort to honor the late Terry Becker. Though there was definite chemistry between the Chief and Admiral Nelson I wanted to focus on the Chief's loyalty to Captain Crane as demonstrated several times in the series, but perhaps portrayed the best on one of my personal favorites; Death Clock, where Sharkey stands by Crane when all indications are that he killed Admiral Nelson. Becker was a great add to the cast, clearly comedic relief in many instances but also a competent COB who could get the job done, loyal as a bulldog, and full of versatile talent to compliment the great acting skills of Basehart and Hedison. Lynn : )

Copyright 2015, All Rights Reserved

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