A Third Season Story...

 

 

When the Price is Too High

 

by Lynn

 

 

The entire Boat breathed a sigh of relief.  It was all becoming so commonplace, waiting for Seaview's Skipper to return from an ONI Mission.  It was one of those rare occasions when the windowed submarine played a part in the captain's mission, serving as the secondary extraction option to retrieve the operatives from enemy territory.  Scuttlebutt had it that the Skipper had missed his primary retrieval point but made his secondary extraction point a day later than planned and that the rubber zodiac was now on its way in with its payload.  All of which accounting for the emotions of relief that washed over the Boat like a warm gentle wave on a tropical island beach.  They even heard he was injury-free; something else that was becoming all too common was the Skipper returning with a bullet wound, beaten, or some other physical memento of his off-boat excursion.

 

The Ratings in the Control Room kept sharply focused on their duty stations as the sounds from the sail hatch indicated the Captain was back aboard.  A few were able to sneak a glance from their vantage points and noted two legs dressed in black commando gear descending down the ladder.  He clutched a blanket wrapped around his shoulders and used the entire ladder, noticeably not skipping the last three rungs and hopping to the deck as was his habit.  Captain Crane turned and quickly scanned the Control Room satisfying himself that everything was under control as the Exec followed him down the ladder.

 

“Come on, Lee, Jamie's waiting for you.”

 

The Captain just nodded and blew out a silent breath of acceptance as he clutched the blanket tighter and followed the XO out the aft hatch.

 

* * * * *

 

Lee was greeted to the antiseptic smell of sickbay, a smell he had come to loathe, and smiled a weary smile at Dr. William Jamieson, Seaview's Chief Medical Officer.  Doc raised an eyebrow, noting the exhaustion in Lee's eyes and the blanket still clutched about his shoulders and neck.

 

“Okay Skipper, you know the routine,” he said patting the gurney as Lee surrendered his blanket and hopped on the gurney with ease. 

 

“I'll check on you after a while, Lee,” Chip promised as Lee nodded in return.

 

“I'm fine, Chip.  Take care of things up there,” Lee responded.  Orders had already been given and they had subsequently felt the boat submerging even as they walked to Sickbay.   But Lee would feel a whole lot better with Seaview wrapped snuggly in 200 feet of ocean as she headed for International waters.

 

“Anything I should know about?” Jamie asked as he motioned for Lee to unbutton his shirt for the exam.

 

“No bullet holes, no broken ribs, no concussion...” Lee added with a small smile as he shrugged off his black fatigue shirt.

 

“Uh---Huh...,” Jamie offered dispassionately as he spotted the rope burns on Lee's wrists along with the bruises on his mid-section and pressed gently to gauge how deep the bruising extended.  He proceeded to take Lee's vitals; listening to his heart, reading his blood pressure and taking his temperature.  He examined Lee's pupils with his penlight first, then his ophthalmoscope and expelled a breath out.

 

“Okay Skipper, out with it.  Your blood pressure's up, your temperature is slightly elevated and your pupils are responding sluggishly,” Jamie recited, standing slightly back with his arms folded across his chest.

 

Lee offered a weak grin trying to dispel some of Jamie's concern as he raised his eyes, though his head was still slightly lowered.

 

“Just par for course, Jamie.  They wanted to know stuff.”

 

Jamie put two and two together and surmised that with the lack of physical injuries that the next mode of persuasion had been used.

 

“Drugs?”

 

“Yeah,” Lee answered losing his smile and lowering his eyes.

 

“Truth serum?” Jamie probed.

 

“No,” Lee answered without any further explanation.

 

“Pain inducers?” Jamie continued, slightly frustrated that Lee was making him ferret everything out. 

 

“Yeah,” Lee answered as he let go of some of the wall he had erected before entering Sickbay.

 

“Are you still in pain?”

 

“A little.”

 

Jamie nodded, having finally gotten down to the truth, but as difficult as it had been to drag his condition out of his unwilling patient, Jamie realized that Lee was giving him more information than he probably would have given his physical examiner on some Naval base somewhere. 

 

“Okay Skipper, that bunk has your name on it.  I want you in it...”

 

Lee raised his face to meet Jamie's as his expressive eyes made contact with Seaview's doctor. 

 

“Jamie, I need to be in my cabin.”

 

Jamie studied Lee for a moment and made his decision.  He deduced that Lee wanted his cabin and the surrounding privacy it offered to combat privately the nightmares that sometimes accompanied these missions.

 

“All right, Skipper.  But first I'll draw blood so I can see what I'm dealing with and IF the situation warrants it, you will be my guest back here in Sickbay,” Jamie said, laying down the law.

 

Lee nodded his acceptance.  “Thanks Jamie.  I'm alright, really.  It's almost out of my system now,” he offered hoping to dispel Jamie's concerns, but the doctor wasn't buying it.

 

“I'll verify your diagnosis, Dr. Crane,” Jamie quipped drawing blood and then handing Lee back his shirt.  “I'll have Frank escort you to your cabin, and have Cookie send a tray with dinner.”

 

“Jamie...”

 

“Work with me, Lee.  You're exhausted and I don't need you keeling over between here and your cabin, and when's the last time you ate anyway?”

 

Lee grinned.  “Okay you win,” he acquiesced, buttoning his shirt and tucking it in, even for the short walk to his cabin. 

 

“Get some rest, Skipper.  I'll be by to check on you later.”

 

Lee offered a mock salute following Frank out the door as Jamie sighed in near exasperation.  Another ONI mission... another battered and scarred Captain Crane.  He was really starting to hate the fact that Lee Crane was such a good spy. 

 

* * * * *

 

Lee had fallen asleep rather handily after showering and only managing to eat half his dinner; his bunk felt good and he was sleeping hard... until a dream seized him. 

 

He was back on the mission... he had successfully retrieved the stolen formula and the sounds of the lab's explosion had wiped away all evidence of the potentially dangerous experiments.  The bad guys would be back at square one.  He and his partner ran through the forest but the sounds of pursuit sounded loudly behind them.  Lee made his decision turning toward Victor and handing him the Intel.

 

“Secure the Intel.  I'll draw them away.”

 

Victor's eyebrows tightened, but the sound of their pursuers demanded action as he reluctantly took the important documents.

 

“Take care, Lee,” he offered and then took off running as Lee took a tangent line in another direction leaving a visible trail for his pursuers to find.  He hadn't planned on getting caught, but he knew it was a real possibility, especially when he had to slow down to allow his pursuers to find his trail.  He needed Victor and the Intel as far away as possible.  The plan went South real fast as Lee was captured and taken back to the compound in the middle of the forest.  His captors were none too pleased with their loss of the formula and had employed a rather nasty drug with the promise of an antidote for his cooperation.  He resisted and had managed to affect his own escape after his guard let down his diligence, wrongly judging that Lee was completely incapacitated.  He made it to his secondary extraction point and had been informed by Chip that Victor had indeed been extracted and was currently out of enemy territory with the Intel secured.  But the memories of the pain induced by the drug was all too real, and currently replaying itself in Lee's dream as his head tossed back and forth with an accompanying moan...

 

“Lee?”

 

The nightmare dissipated as Lee heard his own name being called and opened his eyes to view Chip hovering over his rack.

 

“Chip... what are you doing here?  Did Jamie send you to baby-sit?” He asked without any pleasantries as he sat up.

 

“I'm Brother-sitting, and yeah, he got back your blood work and was about to send Frank here, I thought you'd prefer...”

 

“Thanks Chip,” Lee interrupted, managing a small smile in the process as he positioned himself against the bulkhead in a semi-sitting position with his head leaning back heavily.

 

“Do you want to talk about it?” Chip asked without any emotion.

 

“No,” Lee returned just as emotionless.  “Have you heard from the Admiral?”

 

“Not since the Conference began.”

 

Lee nodded; he expected as much, but it would have been nice to have heard from him.

 

“What have you been doing besides Brother-sitting,” Lee asked with a half-grin.

 

“Just catching up on some reports,” Chip offered, tilting his head back toward Lee's desk and the pile of folders sitting neatly in a stack.

 

Lee's eyes brightened.

 

“Report, Mr. Morton,” he quipped as his smile broadened.

 

Chip sat back, relieved to see the twinkle in Lee's eyes return and proceeded to give his Captain a Boat's Status Report, including the last three days his errant Skipper was off-boat.  The report had its desired affect as Lee lowered himself into a lying position and turned on his side to get comfortable.  He asked a few questions but found himself succumbing to the sleep his body needed as Chip resisted the urge to tuck his best friend in.  He resumed his watch at Lee's desk and finished his reports, content that the fire in Lee's eyes was still there.

 

* * * * *

 

Lee was back at the Con two days later having accepted “light duty” for the fatigue he still felt.  He suspected that his reinstatement to duty was helped along by Jamie's reasoning that the ONI Operative found his way back to “center” much faster when he could immerse himself in his work.  Jamie was right of course and Lee was grateful for his CMO's insight. 

 

“Skipper, you have an incoming call,” Sparks announced over the Com system.

 

Lee dropped his pencil on the Chart Table and made his way aft to the radio shack. 

 

“What do you have Sparks?”

 

“A video call from Admiral Johnson, Sir,” Sparks reported with concern hoping the call didn't signal another ONI Mission so soon after Lee's last call to duty.

 

Lee smiled and added a squeeze to Sparks' shoulder.

 

“Thanks, I'll take it in the nose.”

 

He headed forward, passing the raised eyebrow of Chip Morton along the way as Lee just shrugged his shoulders.

 

“Probably has questions about my After Action Report,” Lee offered in way of explanation and closed the crash doors behind him.  He really wasn't worried about being called up.  Johnson knew better than to assign another mission as he would have a real fight on his hands with another Admiral he knew... besides, Lee was still officially on light duty.

 

The screen's fuzzy transmission lines morphed into sharp focus to reveal Admiral Johnson's steel blue eyes.  In an instant Lee knew that the call had nothing to do with his AAR.

 

“Commander, I have some bad news for you,” Johnson announced with no preliminary greetings.

 

Lee's forehead furled as he leaned forward and Johnson continued.

 

“I just got word that Harriman missed his engagement as the Conference's Keynote Speaker.  We have credible Intel to substantiate that he's been abducted.”

 

Lee kept his face even, a skill he had perfected at Annapolis.  Everyone talked about the XO's infamous command glare, but they all knew that Captain Crane could hide his emotions behind his command face just as effectively.

 

“What are the details Sir, I'll ready myself for deployment,” Lee answered without missing a beat.

 

“You're still on light duty?” Johnson asked with a raised eyebrow.

 

“I'll take care of that, Sir.  You'll have my CMO's clearance within the hour,” Lee promised as Johnson nodded, pursing his bottom lip.  They both knew that he intended for Lee to take the mission, but Johnson couldn't over-ride the CMO, not when he had a coffer full of Operatives to call upon.  But Lee Crane was the best person to affect a rescue and he wasn't going to ignore Harriman's best chance for retrieval.

 

“Very well, Commander.  Here are the details...”

 

* * * * *

 

“No!  Whether you want to admit it or not, you're still suffering from the side-effects of that nasty drug cocktail...”

 

“I'm fine Jamie...”

 

“Oh really?  Have the nightmares stopped?  Because you and I both know you are borderline PTSD right now,” Jamie said with his arms folded, broadcasting his determination in the matter. 

 

“Post Traumatic Stress Disorder is nothing to fool around with Lee, and I will not be held responsible for sending you out with this handicap,” Jamie finished with lips pursed tightly.

 

Lee sighed and ran a frustrated hand through his dark hair.

 

“Look Jamie, that's Admiral Harriman Nelson out there and I'm not going to leave this to someone else to do.  If I felt in any way that the last mission impaired my skills then I would gladly step down for the best operative...”

 

“Captain Crane...”

 

“No Jamie, hear me out,” Lee said pacing toward the medicine cabinet and then turning around.

 

“I accept full responsibility, and it comes to this:  If you deem me fit for duty, I go out with all the resources of ONI at my disposal.  If you don't... I still go out... but alone,” Lee finished with a seriousness in his face that added credence to his words as Jamie took a deep breath in and expelled it.

 

He looked up, his lips still pursed and thought through his options.  Lee was going to do this with or without his approval... he could just strangle his willful Skipper sometimes... but being faced with Lee's two alternatives he knew he had to choose Curtain Number One and deem Lee fit for duty.  His face kept up his expression of disgust, but inside he was working on a way to get something out of this.  Lee wasn't the only one who could be manipulative.

 

“If... IF I deem you fit for duty, I expect something in return,” Jamie bluffed, already knowing he would give Lee the clearance he needed.

 

Lee raised an eyebrow; the negotiations were on, only he knew this time he was the one standing on thin ice.  He kept up his poker face knowing that he would agree to anything Jamie threw out at this point.

 

“And that would be...?” Lee said, coaxing out Jamie's condition for Full Duty status.

 

“A two week Leave, and I mean a vacation not just sitting at your desk at the Institute...”

 

Lee smiled in an “is that all” look as Jamie continued.

 

“And ONI will NOT have access to you during those two weeks or I will go play for another team, do I make myself clear, Captain Crane?” Jamie said threatening his walking papers if Lee weaseled out of their agreement.

 

“Crystal clear, Doctor Jamieson,” Lee answered with a straight face that gave way to a relieved grin.

 

“Don't worry, Jamie.  I'm fine.  Really,” he added to which Jamie just rolled his eyes upward in surrender, but he also knew that Lee was good at what he did and was probably Harry's best chance for escape.

 

“Go!  Get back the Admiral and then start planning where you're going to spend your Leave,” Jamie said adding a smile as their game had yielded the best result he could hope for.  He knew that Lee would make good on his threat to go in alone and at least this way he'd get his over-worked Captain to relax for two weeks.

 

Jamie's smile faded as Lee left Sickbay.  He was counting on Lee coming back, because if anything less happened he would indeed feel responsible for sending the Skipper out handicapped by the last mission.

 

* * * * *

 

Harry expelled a painful breath as he sat in the shed that served as his prison cell.  His captors had been non-too-gentle with him, ensuring that he was physically impaired to reduce his likelihood of escape.  He had sustained a healthy beating that left him with a couple of cracked ribs and an array of colorful bruises to broadcast his treatment, both on his mid-section and his face.  He had discovered that his abduction was a “hired” job and that after successfully capturing the prized Admiral the thugs had decided to re-negotiate with their employer.  To that end, he had been taken to a farm surrounded by a dense forest.  He had found an opportunity for escape and had nearly been successful, but five thugs at once was a bit on the impossible side; the failed escape attempt accounting for his current condition as his captors made their point that they wouldn't lose their “gravy train” so easily.

 

The shed offered no help with only small amounts of light entering through the slats of wood.  It sat on a concrete base, negating the possibility for digging out and a guard was left constantly at the door.  All of which really put a damper on what should have been an exciting day giving the Keynote Address at the World Oceanographer and Under Water Geologist Convention taking place on the beautiful Portuguese archipelago of Sao Miguel Island.  The island chain born out of volcanic activity sported beautiful scenery rich in foliage, tall mountain peaks and a gorgeous ocean sporting whale and dolphin activity in its pristine waters.  It was the perfect resort island for the Convention and Harry's speech on the common dolphin found in the surrounding waters was to be the highlight of the week-long event.  Only now he found himself sitting in the dark and hoping that his captors held out for more money, as he was sure that the alternative of being turned over to their employer wouldn't fare any better for him. 

 

He leaned his head against the shed wall and decided to busy himself with an experiment he currently had in the works back in Seaview's lab.  He carefully built and rebuilt his apparatus and then moved through the steps of the experiments, noting the observations he had already made and looking for any he had previously missed.

 

“Hey Nelson!  Turns out you're worth a lot more than we thought,” he heard in Portuguese through the shed door. 

 

“Looks like our original employer is going to have to cough up more money to claim you!” He finished as he slid a plate full of food under the small opening.  It actually smelled good, so Harry reached for it and took a small bite.  Someone's wife knows how to cook, at least I'm not going to starve to death, he thought optimistically and finished his dinner.  He wasn't giving up, he knew that his abduction would be on ONI's radar by now and that they would also have the low-down on his situation with the thugs putting him up for the highest bidder.  Harry allowed a smile to crease his face, causing the dimple on his chin to sharpen.  Now, if the thugs would just play the game a little longer until ONI got a handle on his location.  He returned to his experiment in his mind until the sun set then laid down on the blanket provided him trying to ignore his pained ribs. 

 

* * * * *

 

Lee felt the needle insert as the pain immediately began to seize him.  It held him in its grip as grunts mixed with occasional gasps of air escaped.  They wanted something from him... something he couldn't give them.  It was a no-win situation as he steeled himself for the pain even as his captors promised instant relief if he cooperated...

 

Lee shook himself awake before crying out as beads of sweat rolled down his face.  He took a deep breath in and scanned the aircraft for any sign that his distress had been noted.  He was relieved to see his fellow passengers were either asleep or busy reading and had apparently been oblivious to the affects of his nightmare. 

 

He didn't want to sleep any more so he concentrated instead on the mission ahead of him.  He had been fully briefed on the negotiations taking place for Harriman Nelson.  A CIA Agent was making bids for Harry, careful to keep the price offered lucrative but not exorbitant as to indicate the US was involved, as that would be an instant deal breaker.  So far the abductors had been interested as the Agent played a delicate game in the underworld, the deal likely ending his undercover work but well worth it to retrieve the captured Admiral. 

 

ONI agreed with the supposition that the abductors were probably amateurs which did little to quell Lee's concern.  Whether the abductors were notorious outlaws or newbies to the game, the fact that they had abducted Harry and were willing to sell him to the highest bidder was enough to know that they were ruthless and capable of anything. 

 

Lee's thoughts were interrupted by a pleasant stewardess offering him coffee, which he happily accepted.  He took a sip and stared out the window at the ocean below him.  He was still easily fatigued even days after the drug had supposedly left his system.  Jamie told him the fatigue was possibly as much a symptom of PTSD as the physical side-effects of the drug.  Somehow Lee couldn't see nightmares as so much cause for alarm, and apparently ONI agreed with him.  It wasn't like he was having flashbacks and it wouldn't be the first time he battled sleepless nights thanks to a rough mission.  Frankly, if he ever got so callous as to not be affected then he knew it was time to hang up his spy gear; until then he would heal-up and be ready for the next time his country called.  Besides, he'd seen firsthand the effects of PTSD on his fellow warriors and he just wasn't buying the diagnosis. 

 

Lee finished his coffee and offered his cup back to the stewardess as she passed through the aisle.  He allowed his head to rest back on his upright seat and returned to the mission at hand.  He was entering the island as a tourist, if the CIA Agent secured Harry's release...fine.  If not, he'd follow the marked bills' tracking device and hopefully it would lead to the Admiral.  He would accept no other possibility than Harry's release.  On that thought he allowed his eyes to close as the hum of the jet engines lulled him back to sleep.

 

* * * * *

 

“Where did you stash the formula?”

 

Lee's breathing was shallow as he concentrated, the fire in his veins felt like he was burning from the inside out.

 

“Where did you stash the formula?”  He heard again as his mind sharpened and he realized that they didn't know about Victor.  He had bought Victor the time he needed with his capture and as the interrogation was going into the second hour he figured Victor was sitting in cover waiting for the extraction that wouldn't take place until midnight.

 

Lee ignored his interrogators as the IV was adjusted and another dose of the painful drug was released into his bloodstream.  His scream penetrated the otherwise quiet room as he desperately fought the restraints. 

 

“The formula!” Was reiterated as Lee began to search for a way to give his captors some false trail to take the heat off the painful interrogation session.  He was about to speak when he realized that to do so would unlock the possibility of spilling the truth in a moment of disorientation.  It sometimes happened, which was why ONI trained their Operatives to go silent unless they had a viable plan of escape to follow the bad intel.  He was still restrained and didn't have such a plan, so he stayed silent fearing he would inadvertently give Victor's location away.

 

His silence was met by his Interrogator opening his IV once again, releasing more fiery pain into his blood stream...

 

“Crane?” He heard in a whispered breath in his ear.

 

“Crane?”

 

Lee's eyes flung open as he grabbed for the wrist of his Interrogator moving to add more liquid pain through his IV...

 

“Crane, focus!  It's me Collins.”

 

Lee was sitting straight up in bed in the hotel room he had secured for the night having arrived on Sao Miguel late in the evening.  His eyes were still glassy but began to sharpen as the surrounding interrogation room dissipated into the luxury hotel room.  The stark white walls morphed into the pleasant floral wall paper that graced the room along with the striped coordinating ceiling to floor drapes currently pulled closed.  He blinked realizing he had a death grip on his CIA Contact, Ted Collins.  Ted waited patiently as Lee blew out a breath and released his hold on the agent.

 

“How'd you get in here?” He asked lamely, while glancing at the alarm clock to check the time.  It was 0300 as he wiped his brow and realized what a dumb question that was; Collins was a spy and getting into his hotel room wasn't difficult.

 

“Are you alright?” Collins asked, ignoring Lee's question.

 

“Yeah, just a dream,” Lee answered, now fully awake and in complete control.  “Are you that good or was I sleeping that hard?” Lee asked as Collins headed for a chair next to a table while Lee grabbed his robe and headed for the bathroom.

 

“Yeah I'm that good, but you were sleeping pretty hard,” Collins added as Lee returned in jeans and a t-shirt.

 

“Jet lag I guess,” Lee offered and then continued.  “What's going on?  I thought we were meeting at eight o'clock?” He asked taking the chair on the opposite side of the table.

 

“Change of plans.  I'm making the drop tomorrow at ten and so we won't have time.”

 

Lee nodded.  “So the negotiations have gone well,” Lee stated rather than asked but not convinced they were out of the woods yet.

 

“Yeah, but I don't like the set-up.  The exchange should be in a public place, but they've demanded a very private location.”

 

“How private?”

 

“They want me to meet them in an alley on the edge of town,” Collins said with a raised eyebrow.

 

Lee stood up and started pacing, shaking his head in the negative as he did so.  “It's a set-up.  They have no intention of turning the Admiral over.”  The whole thing proving they were both amateurs and ruthless as real players in the game would know what a dangerous venture it was to double-cross their buyers. 

 

“Yeah, I know, but it will probably be our only chance to pass the marked bills,” Ted replied knowing he was walking into what was very possibly a death-trap.

 

“Alright.  You'll have to take precautions.  Where's the drop-off?”

 

Collins waited a moment as he silently gauged Lee's fitness.  He'd been at this game long enough to realize that Crane's “deep sleep” was something more.

 

“Are you up for this, Crane?” He asked without any hint of accusation; simply a question he needed answered.

 

Lee spun around but resisted the first response he wanted to give and instead moved to the table and sat down.

 

“I'm less than a week out of another mission, and yeah it was rough, but when is it not?  I wouldn't be here if I wasn't ready,” he added coolly as he made strong eye contact with Collins.  While it was true that this particular episode had escalated in the fact that he woke with the dream still before his eyes, he was convinced that he was still Harry's best chance for a safe retrieval.  It wasn't something he would gamble on, his eyes conveying this truth with confidence.

 

Ted nodded and cracked a half-smile.  “That's good enough for me.  Let's make plans,” he said having been briefed on the credentials of the ONI Operative and determining that the high praise had been appropriately earned.  Lee returned a small smile, grateful that the seasoned agent's careful approach was tempered by experience as he reached for a map of the city.

 

* * * * *

 

Harry was escorted back from the outhouse to his cell.  His short walk was well-guarded to prevent another escape attempt as the last one had occurred on such a visit.  At present his ribs weren't in any condition to make another attempt, which could only be a fool-hardy endeavor that would surely leave him in worse shape.  If there was a rescue in the works, then he needed to be mobile.  So he played a good little prisoner as he tried to gain a perspective of his current position.  It was 0700 hours and by the position of the sun he could see which way was east.  The mountains were north of the sea-shore city and he reasoned which way he would run if given an opportunity.  The volcanic activity of years past had produced rich foliage in various shades of green.  It was breath-taking, or at least it would have been in different circumstances.  Right now the miles and miles of landscape presented a barrier that he would have to overcome in order to gain his freedom, something he hoped he wouldn't have to do alone. 

 

As he walked, Harry noted the change in atmosphere in the thugs surrounding him.   He listened intently, picking up a few words here and there in Portuguese as he surmised that a payoff was in the process.  Then he heard a word which loosely translated as “double-cross” and noted the laughter of the men in the conversation.  One guard drew an imaginary line across his neck to denote someone's demise as Harry was locked back inside the shed.  He wasn't sure whose demise was being planned, his own, or whichever bad guy they were planning to double-cross.

 

Harry slid down the shed wall clutching his tired, hurting mid-section and sighed.  There wasn't anything to do but wait and see how this played out. 

 

* * * * *

 

Jamie sat in the nose which was darkened for the lateness of the night.  The sounds of the Control Room offered hushed background noises as Ratings worked their stations and soft beeps and hums were heard.

 

No wonder Lee finds this spot so peaceful, he thought silently as the flood lights lit what would otherwise be a dark ocean around him.  Colorful fish swam around the Boat as she glided effortlessly along.  Lt. Hardy had drawn the crash doors into a near closed position sensing the doctor's need for privacy, as it was indeed unusual for the Boat's doctor to visit the nose so late in the evening.

 

“It's quite a sight isn't it?”  Chip asked as Jamie's solitude was jolted by the voice behind him.  He turned and nodded, inviting Chip further in.

 

“Yes it is.  I spend too much time reading my medical journals...”

 

“Something we appreciate, Jamie,” Chip interrupted.

 

“Yes well, sometimes it’s good to get your head out of the books and just appreciate life around you,” he finished philosophically.  

 

“Is that what you're doing here?” Chip asked cautiously.

 

Jamie sighed.  “No.  No, I'm here wondering if the Admiral is alright and if I was right to give the Skipper medical clearance to go,” he stated rather bluntly.

 

“Do you think you could have stopped him?”

 

Jamie chuckled humorlessly.  “That's the only reason I cleared him, Chip.”

 

Chip leaned against the conference table as Jamie took a position with his back to Seaview's windows.  The haze of the flood lamps illuminated the ocean, creating a blue background behind him as the water pressed against Seaview's windows.  Jamie slid his hands into the pockets of his white lab coat, something he was still peculiarly wearing for the late hour. 

 

“You want to know what I think?”  Chip asked rhetorically as Jamie raised an eyebrow in question.

 

“I think that Lee Crane had a rough mission, was dealing with bad memories that worked itself out in bad dreams... End Of Story.  He wasn't any different than any other time he came back and needed to find his center, in fact, I think he was handling whatever happened pretty well,” Chip finished.

 

“How can you say that?  Did he confide in you?” Jamie asked, truly hoping Chip's optimistic version was the case.

 

Chip cracked a soft smile that softened the blueness of his eyes as the tender spot he had for his best friend was easily seen.

 

“Yeah we talked.  We talked about anything and everything besides the mission.”  Chip chuckled.  “I think he spares me the details as much for my sake as for his, but I know the Lee Crane I talked with earlier can handle what's out there right now.”

 

Chip blew out a near exasperated breath and continued. 

 

“I don't like his association with ONI, never have, but that's the brother in me.  The officer in me knows that he's good at what he does and he saves lives when he does it.  He's out there right now making sure that the Admiral has the best chance of returning home, and the way I can help is making sure that Seaview is safe while he's out there doing it.  Sometimes I feel like an enabler,” Chip laughed as Jamie's head tilted upwards.

 

“Yes.  That's just what it feels like.  He goes off and comes home broken in some way or another and I patch him up, just to send him out again,” Jamie added sadly. 

 

“Then we're both enablers Jamie, but in a good way.  Lee Crane depends on us and when we do our jobs right, he can concentrate fully on his.  And that, my friend, is why he keeps making it back home.”

 

He nodded and smiled, accepting Chip's sound appraisal of Seaview's Skipper.  Jamie unwrapped the stethoscope he still wore around his neck and tucked it neatly into his pocket; somehow letting go of his perceived guilt in certifying Lee fit for the mission.

 

“Thanks Dr. Morton.  When did you earn your degree in Counseling anyway?” He asked in jest.

 

“Just multi-tasking as usual Dr. Jamieson,” Chip quipped back as he followed Jamie up the spiral stairs to Officer's Country.

 

* * * * *

 

CIA Agent Ted Collins walked into the alley at the edge of town.  This wasn't the pristine, touristy part of town, but the gritty, dirty, on-the-edge side of town.  A place where an errant gunshot sound caught no one's attention any more than an occasional scream or yell.  The alley was empty, and though it was 10:00 in the morning it was dark for the multi-story buildings that encased it on three sides; an opening to the street on one side, a dead-end on the other, the perfect set-up for disaster.  He carried a sports bag as if he had just been to the local gym, though he doubted this side of town even had a fitness center.  He heard a car and turned to view the dark sedan pulling into the alley.  He was now cut-off, nowhere to run.  All four doors opened as four men exited leaving someone in the back seat. 

 

Maybe they would go through with the exchange after all, he wondered. 

 

“That the money Malone?” One of the thugs asked, motioning towards the bag in Ted's hand.

 

“Is that the goods in the back seat?” He returned, not letting on any intimidation what-so-ever.

 

“Yeah.”

 

“Let's see,” Ted demanded, trying to stay in control of the exchange.

 

The thug smiled a crooked smile that shouted “danger” as he motioned one of his men to bring out the last occupant of the car wearing a black bag over his head, effectively hiding his features.  The man was escorted out and Collins knew right away it wasn't Harriman Nelson, he was too tall and wirey.  The bag was removed as the man under the disguise smiled just as crookedly and raised a gun firing twice into Ted Collin's chest.

 

“Bulls eye,” the gun man said without regret as Ted fell to the ground dropping the gym bag in the process.

 

“Get the loot and let's get out of here!”

 

“You shouldn't have shot him before checking the bag,” one of the thugs admonished.

 

“It didn't matter, he was a dead man anyway,” the gun man said, kicking Collins from his curled position to his back and smiling at the limp form in front of him, his dark shirt effectively hiding the blood.

 

“It's all here!”

 

“See.  Told ya'.  Let's get back to the farm, count it and sell the old man again,” the gun man ordered as the thugs returned to the car and backed out, leaving the still body of Ted Collins alone in the alley.

 

* * * * *

 

Lee's car was positioned down the street.  He was banking on the abductors heading out of town and found an alley on the opposite side of the street where he could watch the entrance to the drop-off point.  He'd been in position for over an hour and spotted Collins walking down the sidewalk carrying the pay-off bag.  Neither Ted nor Lee made an effort to acknowledge one another, but each knew the other was there.  Ted entered the alley as Lee breathed in deeply.  He had passed by the drop-off location before finding his surveillance position; it was an ambush if he'd ever seen one.  It was only a few minutes later before a car passed as Lee's eyes narrowed, even before it turned into the alley he knew it was the abductors.  He waited with the window down, the streets were quiet.  Unusually quiet in his book, like the streets were privy to the knowledge of a deal going down and as no one wanted to be a witness to anything, there were few people out.  A shot rang out and then another as Lee's hands tightened around the steering wheel.  He put the car in gear and waited, sure enough the dark sedan backed out and headed out of town.  Lee waited until they cleared the next intersection and pulled out, driving normally as to not alert the occupants of the car they were being tailed.  He drove by the entrance of the alley, but didn't turn to check on Collins.  He didn't want to lose sight of the dark sedan.  The money was marked on five different bills with micro-dot transponders; small and colored to match the American bills the abductors had insisted upon.  Though these types of tracking bugs were dependable he didn't want to take a chance if they took to the windy mountain roads.  He would hang back enough to be inconspicuous but he didn't dare lose visual contact either.

 

Lee allowed another car in between his and the sedan and raised a radio to his mouth.

 

“Collins, do you read me?”

 

His call was met with silence as Lee tried again.

 

“Ted, come in.”

 

This time a crackling noise was heard and the sound of heavy breathing.

 

“Come on buddy, give me a sign,” Lee coaxed, dividing his attention easily.

 

“I'll need a new 'vest', do I charge it to the Agency or to ONI?”   Lee heard as he expelled a breath of relief.

 

“Take your pick,” Lee answered with a small grin.  “How are you?”

 

“I'm good, pretty sore.  You know how it is.”

 

“Yeah I do.  I'm in pursuit can you make it back to the hotel alright?”

 

“Yeah.  I'll track your transponder from there.”

 

“Very well, Crane out.”

 

* * * * *

 

Ted Collins pushed himself off the dirty ground and brushed himself off, thankful that the bad guys had aimed for the chest and not a kill shot to the head.  It was a risk he had to take if they were to have any chance of finding Nelson.  He exited the alley and walked back several blocks to where he had a car parked and eased himself into the driver's side.  The impact zones marked some dandy bruises, he was sure.  He put the car in gear and headed back to Lee's hotel room so he would track Crane's progress from there, his old digs off limits since he was supposedly dead.

 

Lee's car was fitted with a transponder strong enough to be monitored from the city, even with its mountain destination.  Ted would monitor Lee's progress using the signals that bounced off the satellites providing the CIA Agent longitude and latitude coordinates.  Though the two had a plan and plenty of gizmos at their disposal they were completely alone in their endeavor.  One “snitch” in the wrong place could end Nelson's life, they couldn't count on anyone but themselves.  Crane's hand-held radio was expected to transmit even in the mountains, but Ted's monitoring equipment was the only contact ONI's Operative had with the good guys.  Ted would do everything he could from his end, but the rescue of Harriman Nelson was solely in Crane's hands.

 

* * * * *

 

The road began winding as Lee lost the car separating him and the sedan and was forced to allow the bad guys a greater lead.  The microdot trackers were still transmitting, though the signal was weaker as Lee radioed Collins from his car.

 

“Ted, I need a satellite photo of the area, the terrain is changing and we're heading into farm lands.”

 

Lee had a computer opened in a suitcase beside him, powered by a cigarette lighter sporting a power inverter, converting the low current dc power to alternate current. 

 

“Got it.  Should be showing on your screen about now,” he reported as Lee glanced over watching a photo begin to appear one pixel line at a time.  The new technology was years away from private use, and took advantage of the technology NASA developed for the space program.

 

“Got it,” Lee noted as the last of the photo was displayed on his screen.

 

“Wait...” Lee said watching the progress of the microdot trackers on a handheld monitor, “I think they've arrived at their destination.  I'm a couple of miles behind them, I'm going to stash the car and make the rest of the way on foot.  I'll make contact when I can.”

 

“Roger.  Be careful out there,” Ted offered as Lee set down the radio and took an appraising view of his satellite photo before he closed the suitcase and pulled the adapter from the power source. 

 

He was going in alone.  Ted had a fix on the car, but Lee carried nothing with him other than his gun.  They couldn't take a chance of the abductors realizing that the US government was involved as it would likely end Harry's life instantly.  If he failed, there was still the chance of another rescue as Harry was still prized material for his abductors and would likely be sold again. 

 

Lee made his way to the coordinates, but had to take the long way around to avoid a large neighboring farm that offered no cover with its open fields.  The detour effectively turning an approximate two mile hike into a four mile endeavor.  He moved along stealthily, making progress toward his goal when everything turned psychedelic and hazy.

 

* * * * *

 

Harry heard a car return and four car doors open and slam shut loudly.  Shouts of excitement and celebration filled the air as he caught bits and pieces of conversations.  Something about money and more money to come and the boss's good aim.  It was all disjointed, but Harry figured that they had indeed double-crossed their first buyer and that it hadn't bode well for the drop-off man.  He wondered if they still needed him, but heard something about how the “old man” was going to make them rich with the next deal.  Harry figured he was the “old man” and stifled back a huff of disapproval, choosing to be thankful that he was still of value to his abductors as the sounds of celebration etched up in volume.

 

* * * * *

 

Jamie sat leaning over his microscope studying Lee's blood sample on the glass slide.  It was tedious work but necessary as he analyzed the drug used on the Skipper for his report to ONI.  He made a few notations and then hovered over the eyepiece for another look.  Something caught his attention, something he hadn't noticed before as he adjusted the pointer on the slide and increased his magnification.  The anomaly was moving in activity and growing as Jamie increased magnification again and began sketching his find.

 

He finished his sketch and sat back studying the new attribution now making itself known in Lee's blood.

 

“Time released...” Jamie breathed out and reached for his “dictionary” of known drugs, both pharmaceutical and illegal.  He thumbed through until he reached the section he was searching for, running his finger down the section index page and then turning to the exact page he wanted.  Carefully he matched his drawing to the photo in the book and sighed.

 

The Skipper was handicapped, but not by what he had originally diagnosed.  Jamie's self-recrimination was put on hold as he reached for the mic to inform the Exec that he needed to place a call to ONI.

 

* * * * *

 

Lee was only a half mile from his destination when the psychedelic lights seized him and his world went hazy.  He leaned against a tree to keep his balance but found he was losing the battle as he slid down and began shaking uncontrollably.  Two worlds began to war within his mind; two places that he seemed to occupy at once.  One was on Sao Miguel, only a half mile from finding Harry; the other... back in the interrogation room with the IV releasing liquid fire into his veins.  The colors of the two worlds contrasted back and forth between the rich green foliage of the mineral rich volcanic soil to the stark white, sterile walls of the interrogation room.  The two worlds collided, flashing back and forth in front of Lee's eyes as he wrapped his arms around himself and quivered with the episode playing out before him.

 

“Come on Crane, don't lose it,” he whispered out loud and was immediately met with a reply from his own mind.

 

Ever notice how you call yourself Crane when you're in trouble?  Not Lee.  Not me or I, just Crane...

 

Lee fought back the voice he heard, bordering he realized on a schizophrenic episode as the voice spoke like it was him and not him and the same time.

 

He pulled his legs up close to his chest and placed his head on his knees, struggling to stay in this world.

 

“No,” he whispered, keeping enough of his wits to realize that if he cried out he could get both himself and Harry killed.

 

Did you think you were so arrogant as to not be affected by your missions someday?  

 

The voice in his head morphed from his own voice to that of Seaview's Chief Medical Officer, Dr. William Jamieson.

 

If you had let me do my job, ONI would have sent an Operative who was well and whole.  Not someone having a nervous breakdown because he was so full of himself that he thought he was the ONLY one who could save the Admiral.

 

Jamie's sharp words were hitting home as Lee turned his head on his knees to view the green landscape around him, working desperately to stay in reality. 

 

“Jamie's not here.  The interrogation was days ago,” he reminded himself willing his brain into compliance when he suddenly lost the battle.  The greenery switched as if it was lost at the far end of a long tunnel and was replaced with the white room moving toward him at a great speed, as if the tunnel had now reversed.

 

“Where did you stash the formula?”

 

“Open the line wide open!” 

 

“No,” he whimpered out loud in a small voice sitting on the ground in Sao Miguel and yet lost in the interrogation room. 

 

He needed to give them something... something to stop the pain, he needed the antidote.  They said they had an antidote!  Frantically, he started working on a backup story to give them but stopped himself.  Once an operative starts talking it becomes hard to stop, he was already disoriented with the pain.  He couldn't trust himself to speak... “Just keep quiet, it will all end one way or another,” he told himself.

 

The pain continued to seize him until he thought he would explode and then eased off. 

 

His interrogator stepped away. “Move him to the cell.  He'll need some time to recuperate before we can begin again,” Lee heard in a hazy mist. 

 

Only one guard was left to tend him.  Lee felt the restraints loosened and then removed as he willed his body to be still and pliant.  The guard moved Lee into a sitting position pulling an arm around his neck and moving him to the door.  His feet moved in small steps as the guard stopped to turn the handle; Lee took the opportunity given to him and threw the deepest punch he could into his guard's gut, followed  immediately by a two fisted blow to the back of the neck as he double over.  The guard fell in a heap as Lee breathed heavily for the effort.

 

He peeked out of the room and headed for the heavy door that led to freedom.  He was running on nothing but adrenalin and will power, his body having little else to offer but still obeying his commands to move and before long he found himself in the forest.

 

“Don't lead them to Victor, head for the secondary extraction point,” he thought drawing his reasoning abilities into focus and trodding along keeping a surprisingly clean trail for his condition.  The operative in him and his subsequent training took over as he traveled on automatic pilot to his goal. 

 

Seaview would be waiting for him, his Boat would take him home.  He encouraged himself with the thought and found a place to hide-out.

 

The next twenty-four hours were a blend of pain marred with bad dreams as he relived his experience, but as each hour ticked off the clock he found the pain diminishing.  By the time the zodiac arrived he was able to haul himself in the raft as Kowalski wrapped a blanket around his shoulders.  He clutched the blanket tightly, wrapping not only its warmth but the care of his crew taking him home.  Chip was waiting for him on deck as their eyes locked.  The XO's command face was in full gear but his eyes said, “Welcome Home,” as Lee returned the sentiment with a small smile.  Chip handily sized up Lee's distress and motioned him to the sail hatch for a trip to Sickbay.

 

“Follow my voice, Lee.”

 

It was Chip's voice in his head this time as the scenes of days earlier began to dissipate before him and flashed back and forth to the greenery of the here and now.

 

“Follow my voice, Lee.  Harry needs you.”

 

It was his schizophrenic mind working again but somehow Lee needed to make it back to Sao Miguel, so he allowed Chip's voice of reason to draw him back.

 

“Harry needs you,” he heard once again as his surroundings morphed sharply back into view.

 

“Harry needs me,” he whispered out as sweat rolled down his face.  He raised his head and leaned back heavily against the tree perusing his surroundings, grateful that he was still alone and his position still secure.  He pulled himself together as he heard the voice once again.

 

“Welcome home, Lee.”  Chip's voice faded out in echoes as Lee stood shakily and made his way forward.

 

* * * * *

 

“It's a time released psychotropic drug and if its activating as quickly in Lee Crane as it is in my blood sample, then he very well could be compromised by an all-out psychotic episode at this very moment,” Jamie reported directly to ONI's head, Admiral Gerald Johnson.

 

“I'll get right on it Doctor.  Send over your findings as soon as possible.”

 

“Aye Sir,” Jamie acknowledged as Johnson signed hastily off.

 

Chip placed a comforting hand on Jamie's shoulder, but it did little to take the edge off his concern for his Captain and friend.

 

“I'll go get those reports ready,” Jamie uttered lamely and left via the spiral stairs to avoid having to walk through the Control Room.

 

Chip moved to open the crash doors hovering his hand over the button, but instead withdrew from his movement and turned toward Seaview's windows as he stared out, completely missing the extraordinary view before him.

 

* * * * *

 

Johnson signed off with Seaview's doctor and sighed.  There was nothing he could do.  He had already been informed by Collins that Lee was within two miles of Harriman Nelson and Crane was out of radio contact.  He contacted Communications and instructed them to patch him through to Collins, but he already knew there was nothing to do but wait.

 

* * * * *

 

Lee scanned the set-up and found the shed with a guard out front and surmised he had found Harry's cell.  He made his way to the shed as the sounds of celebration filled the farm house about forty feet away.  The guard was clutching a bottle of spirits and happily drinking his own celebration as Lee moved to the back of the shed.

 

“Admiral,” he whispered. 

 

“Lee?  Is that you?”

 

“Yes Sir.  What's your condition?”

 

“Mobile,” Harry answered, knowing he was slightly handicapped but still able to aid in his own escape.

 

“Sit tight Sir, I'll dispatch the guard.”

 

Harry smiled thinly and watched the shadow of Lee's sleek movements as his form was visible through the vertical slats of the shed.  A moment later he heard the lock; the door opened as Harry blinked at the sunlight and then caught the off-look in Lee's eyes.  Not quite right, though he couldn't put his finger on it.  Lee motioned a silent “shhh” and tilted his head for Harry to follow.  He relocked the shed and positioned the guard against the door, sitting with his bottle snuggled close to his heart as if he had passed out making merry.  Hopefully it would buy them some time, especially if the celebrating inside kept going strong.

 

Lee did a once over of Harry's condition and then led the Admiral to backtrack his steps around the neighboring farm.  If all went well, they would rendezvous with the car and be on their way before the bad guys came to check on their prisoner.

 

Harry followed Lee silently as he made his way from cover to cover and finally to the relative safety of the foliage rich forest that surrounded the farm land.  Lee wished he could bypass the long way around but there was too much danger of being spotted and so he took Harry deeper into the forest.  He was beginning to feel as if they would make it when the psychedelic colors returned and he fell to his knees.

 

“Lee?” Harry called in a low tone, wondering if Lee was sporting an undeclared bullet wound. 

 

Lee was breathing erratically and Harry noticed his eyes becoming glassy and fixating off to an unknown spot in the distance.  Harry guided him to a nearby tree as Lee shifted back from the terror of the interrogation room to the island.

 

“Lee?”

 

“I'm sorry, Admiral...” was all he got out as he swallowed hard and squeezed his eyes shut fighting to stay with Harry and not dive again into the torture chamber with the fiery drug.

 

Harry waited as he watched Lee draw his legs up to his chest and take deep breaths until his eyes began to lose some of the gloss and sharpen ever so slightly.

 

“What's wrong Lad?”

 

Lee looked into Harry's eyes, somehow finding an anchor there.  “I took an ONI mission earlier in the week,” he explained as Harry's face revealed some displeasure.  “Victor and I completed it, but I was captured.  Things were rough.  Jamie thinks... he says PTSD... guess I should have listened.”

 

“Has this been your first episode?”

 

Lee nodded in the negative.  “No, a worse one earlier,” he admitted.  “We better keep moving,” Lee said trying to rise as Harry placed a hand on his shoulder easily keeping him in place.

 

“No, we're away clean.  You rest a moment,” Harry said as Lee acquiesced without argument.

 

“You want to talk about it Lee?”

 

Lee stared out beyond Harry, but he wasn't lost in another world, just deciding what to do next.

 

“It was a painful interrogation.  I started looking for ways to give them a false trail...”

 

“There's nothing wrong with that Lee.”

 

“It breaks all the rules, Admiral.  I was already disoriented, I could have gotten my partner killed...”

 

“But you didn't.”

 

“No.  I went silent, they said I needed to recuperate and my guard got lax.  I escaped and made it to the secondary extraction point.”

 

“Lee look at me.  Whatever guilt you're feeling is misplaced.”

 

“I'm not worried about this time... everything worked out.  But what if these experiences pile upon themselves?  What if the next time I do blow it?”

 

Harry let out a sigh and sat next to Lee as they shared the same large tree trunk as a back rest.

 

“That's a calculated risk ONI takes with every operative they send out over and over again.  I don't know how to answer you except to say this...” he paused as Lee turned to look directly into Harry's face as he continued.

 

“The bad guys will have to do more than hurt you, they'll have to get by that strong sense of duty and honor you possess.  Look at what you just did, even handicapped by this recent experience.  You got me out so clean they still don't know I'm gone,” he finished with a smile that made his eyes twinkle.

 

Lee's eyes were sharp now as he cracked a short but sincere smile.  “Thanks for believing in me, Admiral.   Now... I really think we should get going.”

 

Lee stood and noted that it wasn't such an easy task for Harry as he leaned over and offered a hand up.  Harry grasped Lee's forearm and was pulled into a standing position.  The two held their grasp on one another for a moment as Lee's eyes expressed his thanks before releasing the hold. 

 

“This way, Sir,” Lee said guiding Harry the final mile to his car.

 

They were both relieved to see the car still tucked safely away as Harry climbed in taking the driver's side, just to be safe.

 

Lee relented and reached for the radio.

 

“Ted, this is Lee.  How do you read?”

 

“Lee!” Collins said in surprise.  “What's your status?” He finished back in control.

 

“Mission accomplished.  We're on our way back in, so far we're out clean.”

 

Collins' relief was heard as an audible sigh.  “And the condition of your package?”

 

“He's holding his ribs...”

 

Harry reached for the radio and spoke into it, invoking his rank as his right to do so.  “The package is fine,” he finished and then gave the radio back to Lee with a smirk.

 

“Great.  Your boss is anxious for news.  Uh... Lee.  How are you?”

 

Lee wasn't quite sure how to answer, but Collins let him off the hook and continued.

 

“Your last outing... not what you think.  There was a little something extra in the cocktail, time released,” he said cryptically, but Lee understood every word.

 

“I'll look forward to hearing more about it,” Lee replied with a slight grin and a sideways glance over to Harry.

 

“Good.  Proceed to the Blue House,” Ted directed, referring to the safe house where they would wait for their extraction later that evening.

 

“Roger.”

 

Lee signed off and smiled, relieved there was an explanation for his psychotic episodes and leaned back allowing himself to rest heavily on the head rest as he guided Harry to their destination.

 

* * * * *

 

Harry, Lee and Ted were extracted by way of speed boat to a waiting sub, compliments of Her Majesty's Royal Navy Submarine Service.  From there they were transported by air to a USAF Base in England, (USAFE).

 

All three men were escorted to the Base Hospital where the Admiral was treated for three cracked ribs and a plethora of nice ripe bruises.  Ted was treated and released with no complications for the impact zones that created several large dark bruises, while Lee received an antidote to counter the disruptive drug in his system.  He was kept overnight, and then deemed fit for transportation back to the states.  The local authorities in Sao Miguel were left to clean up the farm house of bad guys, who were still celebrating when the raid was executed and were consequently rounded up with little trouble.

 

* * * * *

 

“Thanks Ted.  It was a pleasure working with you,” Lee said offering a sincere hand shake.

 

“The pleasure was all mine.  I'm glad everything worked out,” referring to both Harry's release and Lee's condition which was counteracted by the antidote leaving only residual effects, which were currently working out of his system as his body absorbed the last remaining traces of the drug.

 

“I'll put in a good word for you at the Agency if you ever want to join the Company,” Ted offered with a wide smile impressed with what Lee accomplished while compromised by the drug; especially after witnessing the drug in action as Lee battled another episode while waiting for their extraction from the Blue House.

 

“Thanks, but I think I'll just stick around the Navy for awhile,” Lee replied with a grin as the two spies said their farewells back in Washington DC. 

 

With all the debriefings complete Harry and Lee were finally given the go ahead to leave the Capitol as they both welcomed the ride back to Seaview in the Flying Sub, piloted by Chip Morton.

 

They were greeted to a hearty welcome upon their arrival on Seaview as Lee hung back allowing the men to offer the Admiral their sincere pleasure at his return.  After the greetings died down, Lee was ordered to Sickbay for Jamie's exam to check the progress of the antidote before clearing the Captain for duty.

 

* * * * *

 

Lee buttoned his shirt noting Jamie's reticence even as he leaned over the microscope to examine the blood sample.

 

“Is there something wrong, Jamie?  They told me the drug was almost completely dissipated and I haven't had a strong episode since the antidote was administered,” Lee said trying to get to the bottom of Jamie's quiet mood.

 

“No.  No your blood work looks good.  I see no problem with placing you on Full Duty Status.”

 

“Then what is the problem?” Lee asked waiting for Jamie to come out with whatever was bothering him.

 

Jamie blew a breath out and lowered his head.  “I was wrong to certify you as fit.  If you had been aboard I could have treated you faster... spared you the psychotic episodes...”

 

“You weren't wrong Jamie.  I left the Boat feeling completely in control.  I was dealing with some issues, but I was fit.  You couldn't have known about the drug until it began to manifest itself,” Lee offered as Jamie breathed in deeply and sank into his chair.

 

Lee pulled another chair up next to the doctor's to speak frankly.  “Jamie, I trust you and I take everything you tell me seriously.”

 

Jamie reacted with a surprised if not a look of disbelief at Lee's statement.

 

“No really.  I know it doesn't seem like it, but I listen to what you tell me.  It's just that sometimes I have to see the big picture beyond my own health.  But I depend on you to give me all the facts so I can make those judgment calls.  I need you to keep doing that, even if you don't like my decisions regarding my health.”

 

“Permission to speak frankly, Sir,” Jamie asked as Lee nodded.

 

“Granted.”

 

“I can keep doing that Skipper, but I'm also depending on you to do something for me.”

 

Lee's forehead furled in question as Jamie continued.

 

“I need to know that when you hit your limit you will stop and let me help you.  I can't keep patching you up and sending you out there if I don't know that you'll stop when the price is too high to pay anymore.”

 

“Fair enough, Jamie.  I'll make this promise... when I hit my limit out there I will hang up my ONI hat; not just for you or even me, but for the safety of my fellow operatives and the important missions we conduct.”

 

Jamie swallowed, feeling privileged that Lee would make him this promise.  It wasn't a discussion among superior and subordinate but a treasured friend to friend promise that he knew he could count on. 

 

“Thank you, Skipper,” Jamie said, returning the conversation to proper decorum for their ranks and positions.

 

Lee placed a hand on Jamie's shoulder and stood.

 

“Then I'm good to go in the morning?”

 

“Aye Skipper. Full Duty Status.”

 

Lee smiled and headed to the door.  “Oh and Jamie, two weeks skin diving in Old Mexico?”  He said, remembering his promise to take a two week Leave.

 

“Aye Skipper, that sounds just fine.”

 

* * * * *

 

Lee walked back to his cabin and headed straight for his desk.  He had one last loose end to take care as he reached for the intercom.

 

“Mr. Morton, report to my cabin at your earliest convenience.”

 

“Aye Skipper,” was heard as Lee leaned back and rested his head on his chair. 

 

He wanted to talk to Chip... really talk.  Chip never pushed for information, and he was always there to welcome him home despite his feelings for Lee's second job.  This time he wanted to tell Chip everything; that it was his voice that brought him home and to make the same promise that he made to Jamie... that when the price was too high, he would walk away from ONI.

 

 

The End

 

When the Price is Too High

 

 

 

Author's Note:

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder was known as “shell shock” and “battle fatigue” in World Wars I and II.  It was recognized as a real medical condition with the help of a real American hero, Audie Murphy who by the age of 19 earned every medal of valor his country could offer including the Medal of Honor, as well as honors from France and Belgium for his heroism.  He was the most decorated soldier of WWII and suffered from PTSD for years after his return home.  He still managed to produce some of the most entertaining westerns, (in my opinion) appearing in over forty feature films, most in starring roles.  He reluctantly agreed to play himself in his own story, To Hell and Back, an adaptation of his book, which tells the story of his experience as a foot solider in WWII and chronicles some of the heroic events that earned his decorations.  In an effort to bring attention to the problems of returning Korean and Vietnam Vets, Audie Murphy testified before Congress concerning his own struggles and urged his country to give increased attention to the emotional impact of combat experiences and to extend health care benefits to American Vets.  He died an early tragic death just prior to his 46th birthday in a plane crash where he was one of five passengers.  Audie Murphy remains a true American Hero in my opinion, his honesty and bravery continuing to help the plight of the American Vet even years after his death.  Lynn

 

Credits

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Audie_Murphy

http://www.audiemurphy.com/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ptsd

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Copyright 2015, All Rights Reserved

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