Author's Note: This one is for my betas. You know who you are!

Blind Faith

by Diane Kachmar

“Mr. O’Brien.” Kowalski removed his headphones. “She’s doing it again.”

Chip Morton looked up from the chart table as O’Brien left. Lee was seated at the table, making himself notes about some of the problems Bobby was reporting to them, now his watch was nearly over. Most had to do with the computer software upgrade, which they had expected. It would take time to fix them all. Lee stopped writing and turned sideways at O’Brien’s movement toward the station. It looked like they were about to get a practical demonstration.

Kowalski reset the machine. The screen went down and then back up again as the diagnostic printed out. Ski took the report and pointed in the middle of it. “There is where you are losing power to the screen during the sweep.”

Crane stood up. “That sounds electrical, Chip, not a computer glitch.” He walked down to the station. “Open her up, Ski. They may have nicked a wire installing the new boards. Good thing you brought Malone with you.”

O’Brien stepped back. “With your permission, sir, I’ll finish with the Exec while you handle this.”

“Fine.” Lee bent over the panel as Kowalski removed the cover.

Chip hid his smile. Crane enjoyed rooting around in the wiring a little too much at times, but he did have a knack for finding whatever the problem was so the repair team could fix it quickly.

As he turned away to listen to O’Brien, Chip heard Lee mutter, “This isn’t right.”

There was a sudden flash and a bang as the deck shook. Chip grabbed the edge of the chart table to keep from falling over. The fire alarm began to blare loudly. Morton whirled as the control room filled with white smoke. He could smell burned wire. The sonar station was aflame.

The fire control detail came running through the starboard hatch with extinguishers in their hands. Chip bolted for the oxygen tanks on the wall and quickly donned a mask, grabbing two more up as he ran back to the sonar. The rest of the watch grabbed masks in turn behind him as the fire protocol demanded. The console was being throughly doused with foam by the detail and the fire was going out.

Kowalski and Lee were in a heap where they had been thrown by the explosion onto the deck near the periscope well, with fire blackened faces and singed sleeves. Kowalski lay under Crane. As Chip approached, the sonar man groaned but made no move. The fire alarm mercifully fell silent.

Frank, with an oxygen mask already in place, came in through the aft hatch for a damage control casualty check. The paramedic ran to meet him at the well area and quickly knelt down next to the Captain. Chip could hear the fans going full to clean out the smoke. Morton handed the two masks in his hand down to Frank, but the paramedic shook his head. “Flash burns. Too painful.” He did a quick vitals check on Crane. “Better to evacuate them. I need two men to carry the Skipper out of here right now. You have two more bring Kowalski down immediately after him.”

“Malone. Jenkins.” Chip beckoned to the two closest members of the crew.

Lee hauled himself upright abruptly, in obvious pain.

Frank caught his upper arm swiftly, halting his movement before Crane could put his burned hand down onto the deck to hold himself up. “Easy, Skipper. Let us move you. I have Jenkins and Malone right here. You’ve got some nasty burns on your face and hands. Keep your eyes closed and try to relax. I’ll give you something soon. We have to get out of this smoke first.”

“Fire’s out, Lee,” Chip added quickly. “And we have two to go to Sick Bay.”

“Take... the conn,” Crane forced out.

“Aye, sir.”

Lee slumped at his affirmative and let the paramedic gently ease him back down. His head lolled onto the deck as he went limp.

Chip turned to the paramedic.

“Shock.” Frank rapidly knotted the corners of a blanket. “We have to get him out of here.”

“How bad?” Chip stepped back to let Malone and Jenkins by to move Crane off Kowalski and into the blanket.

“Easy,” Frank cautioned. “Don’t touch anything that looks burned. Malone, get under his shoulders. Now lift together.” Frank rose from the deck with Crane. “Come down in an hour, sir. We’ll know by then.”

Chip watched the stretcher party make their way to the starboard hatch. This was not what they needed right now. Morton turned back toward his waiting men. He had been given command and it was time to get Kowalski below. Then he had to repair the sonar station. “Thompson. Scott.” Chip gestured at two more crew members. “Use the other shock blanket to take Kowalski to Sick Bay and then report back here.” Chip walked back to the chart table where O’Brien was waiting.

“Do you want me to stay?” Bobby asked quietly.

“No. Let Rod relieve you. You need the rack time. But you can help me clean up until he comes and we get the watch changed over.”

O’Brien smiled under his oxygen mask. “Aye, sir. It is a mess.”

“Nelson to control room. O’Brien, what’s going on down there!”

Chip reached over and snagged the microphone. “Morton here, Admiral. Fire’s out and we’re transferring the two casualties to Sick Bay. We’ve got a station to repair, and I was about to order all stop for a systems check so we don’t lose another one.”

“Very well, Chip. I see you have it in hand. Let me know if you need anything.”

“I will, sir. Morton out.”

“You didn’t tell him one of the casualties was the Skipper.”

Morton put down the mic. “He’ll find out when he goes to Sickbay to check on them, as he always does. He’ll take the news better from Will. Now I want you to get on the comm, find me the spare sonar parts in stores and get them up here. Then pick a repair team.”

“The Admiral never likes it when the Captain gets injured,” Bobby observed.

Chip ran a distracted hand through his hair. “I’ll deal with that when I have to. Right now, I need to get the control room in hand, the sonar repair started and Rod on watch. If the Admiral wants to yell at me, he knows where to find me.” Even if the control room was not where Chip wanted to be at that particular moment.

* * * * * *

Morton paused by the exam table that had been pushed back as far from the door as possible. Lee was definitely out, no doubt from something in the IV that hung from the pole. Burn dressings covered most of Crane’s face, and what remained exposed of his cheeks and chin had been painted with iodine. His friend had definitely looked better. Chip’s gaze fell to the oven mitt-like dressings on both hands nearly up to Lee’s elbows. Crane wasn’t going to like being spoon fed, either. Which was probably why Morton had been called down here. Kowalski lay on the other exam table, not as heavily bandaged as Lee, but he was also out from his own IV.

“Chip!” Will’s voice summoned him to the Doctor’s office. Morton entered the room and took the last empty chair. Nelson was seated in the other chair and he was not happy.

Morton turned, giving him a quick report. “Rod has the conn and we’re secure in the control room. Best estimate on repair of the sonar is eighteen hours, sir. The boat has been vented of smoke. We’re at all stop until the systems check is completed.”

Nelson nodded. “Not a bad idea. I understand the sonar fire was electrical and had nothing to do with the new software acting up?”

“Lee thought so. He said something about bad wiring, right before it went up. The station is a complete loss. We won’t know what he saw wrong until he’s awake to tell us.”

“That will have to wait,” Jamieson broke in. “I’m keeping him sedated until I complete at least three days of eye treatments.”

“Eye treatments?” Chip leaned forward.

“Lee was lucky. The flash fire missed most of his face. He has some superficial burns but nothing that won’t heal. But he was too close and it injured his eyes.”

“How bad?” Morton asked.

“Lee will regain full sight if he does exactly what I tell him for the next ten days.”

“Ten days!” Nelson started shaking his head. “You don’t have that much sedative on the boat.”

Jamieson almost smiled. “No, that’s not practical or recommended, but thanks for the thought. That’s why you two are going to help me until his eyes heal.”

Chip leaned back in the chair. “That’s a tall order, Doc. Lee will despise being triple teamed into submission.”

“I don’t care. Lee has to do this.”

“And if he doesn’t?” Chip asked.

“Lee goes blind and loses his command.”

“It’s really that serious?” Nelson asked, startled.

“Yes, it is. That’s why I’m enlisting you two for the duration.”

“Then you’d better issue us some kevlar,” Morton replied.

Nelson smirked. “That won’t help you, Chip.”

* * * * * *

It was time. Jamieson came over to the head of the exam table. He pressed his hand down lightly on Lee’s shoulder to see what kind of response he would get. He had been steadily weaning Crane off the diamorphine during his third round of eye treatments. Lee was awake, if he was reading his body language correctly. Having Crane’s eyes bandaged was a nuisance as they were often the most accurate diagnostic tool Will had, but there was no use lamenting that fact.

“Lee?” he asked quietly, testing.

Crane shifted slightly on the pillow and turned his head toward him.

“Ja – mie,” Lee acknowledged, his voice thick from the drugs he had been given.

“I have some water for you. Do you want it?”

“Yes.” Lee hitched with his shoulders, moving himself a little higher on the pillow.

“You have to let me hold it. Try not to inhale all of it on the first swallow. Here’s the straw.” Will positioned the straw where Crane could use it. He waited until Lee had drunk his fill and indicated he did not want any more, then he set the cup down on the tray beside the table.

“Thanks.” Crane eased back down on the pillow. “Where’s Jerry?”

“It’s not the middle of the night, Lee. I don’t have the lights turned off. It’s dark because of your injuries from the sonar station fire.”

Crane raised his head. Will got the distinct impression he was being glared at despite the fact that Lee’s eyes and most of his face were covered by protective bandages.

“Are you telling me I’m blind, Jamie?”

“No, you have flash burns on both retinas. Your eyes are swollen shut from your facial burns. With the proper treatment your sight will return and your eyes will open again, but until that happens, you have to be on permanent lights out.” Will pressed down on Lee’s shoulder. “We’re all here for you. You will see again. Soon.”

“Treatment?” Crane’s expression slid toward dismay. “For how long?”

Jamieson smiled. “You’re responding. Another seven days should tell.”

“Seven days...” Lee wasn’t quite panicked, but the edge in his voice was apparent. “What am I going to do for – ”

“What I tell you to. Nothing more. Now, try to move your right hand.”

Crane dropped his head automatically and then stiffened as he realized that was no help.

Lee clenched his teeth, then lifted his right hand. It moved about one inch until the restraint caught it. Crane tugged again, but the light restraint held.

“Your hands and wrists have extensive flash burns. Nothing that won’t heal, but they also have to be treated and kept free of contaminants. You’re not doing anything for yourself this week. Do I make myself clear?”

“I have a choice?” Lee asked quietly.

“Not if you want to see again.” Will let his hand curl around Crane’s shoulder. “You don’t have to like it, Lee, but you do have to do it.”

Crane relaxed slightly. “Is that all the bad news?”

“I think so.” Jamieson lifted his hand away. “Let’s take the treatments one day at a time.”

“Do Chip and the Admiral know I can’t – ”

“Yes. And they don’t care. They want you to get well. Let them worry about the boat.” “Any more problems?”

“Today? Or since you were injured?”

“How long was I out?” Lee gave him the bandaged glare once again.

“Three days,” Jamieson replied, unrepentant. “I needed every one of those hours to get you where you are right now. I’ll not apologize for doing my job.” Will was glad Lee could not see his face when he added a formal, “Sir.”

The angry set of Lee’s shoulders softened abruptly. “All right, Jamie. I’ll cooperate. I can’t go anywhere, between being blacked out and tied to the rails.” He gave his right arm restraint another small tug.

“They are there to protect you while you heal,” Will replied patiently. “Not because we think you will run out of here first chance you get.”

“Won’t I?” Crane grinned suddenly.

“No matter how much you hate this place, Lee, you know better than to walk around a submarine when you can’t see.”

“Yes, I do,” Crane acknowledged. “Now I’m better, are you going to sleep tonight?”

“I plan on it. You’ll tell Jerry if you’re in pain? We can give you something that won’t put you out.”

“I told you I’d cooperate.”

“Fine. Jerry will bring you some soup from the galley. I want you to eat as much of it as you can. After that you can have a visitor. Or two. Kowalski can use the company.”

“How is Ski?”

Jamieson took a quick bearing. “He’s port, about nine o’clock in a bottom rack. You can talk to him when he wakes up again. It hasn’t been much fun for him, either, but you took the brunt of the flash, so all he’s dealing with are burned hands and wrists. He’ll be back on duty in a week.”

“That’s good.” Lee settled into his pillow. “Let me guess, my second course is applesauce.”

Will smiled. “Depends on how well you do with the soup. If you can keep that down, I’ll follow that with something you actually like,” he promised.

* * * * * *

Harry hung back for a moment as they passed Kowalski’s rack. He caught the sonar man’s eye and smiled, pleased when the rating grinned back at him. He had come in the previous day to cheer the man up, but Harry found he had felt better after he left. Nelson continued on into the room and swung around the head of the exam table, so he was on the opposite side of Morton and Jamieson.

“Lee?” Jamieson reached out and gently touched Crane’s shoulder. “Still awake?”

Crane turned his head toward the Doctor’s voice, shifting uncomfortably under the sheet. “I don’t see how you expect me to sleep with all these devices stuck into me.”

“You needed them,” Jamieson replied. “If you behave, they will be disconnected in the morning. I brought you some visitors.”

“One of them is definitely Chip, so the other one must be the Admiral.”

“Are you sure he can’t see through that bandage, Will?” Morton asked.

Jamieson shrugged. “There’s nothing wrong with his hearing. Your leather oxfords make a very distinct sound on a steel deck. It lets the crew know when to run.” Will grinned evilly.

“Ah.” Chip smiled. “That’s why I never find anyone to blame. Next cruise I’ll have to bring some rubber soles, go into stealth mode.”

Nelson laughed. Behind him he heard Kowalski quietly join in, but Crane did not. “Hello, son.” Harry reached down, taking hold of Lee’s other shoulder, to let him know where he was. “It’s good to have you back with us.”

“Wasn’t my idea,” Crane answered bitterly.

“Skipper...” Jamieson’s voice held a note of warning.

Lee looked up and his scowl abruptly softened into an almost sheepish smile. “Promised I’d behave, didn’t I?”

“Yes, you did.”

Nelson gave Crane’s shoulder a small encouraging squeeze and was pleased when Lee relaxed back into his pillow.

“Did you find out what’s crashing the software?” Crane asked, looking where he last heard Chip’s voice.

“No. Not yet. Nick’s working on it,” Morton answered.

“Any more botched installations show up during your systems check?”

“How do you know about the systems check?” Chip asked. “You were out.”

Crane smiled. “I know you. You lost a station. You wouldn’t risk another one.”

“Everything else checked out fine. Why did yours blow up?”

“It wouldn’t have, if they had wired it back the way they found it and not tried to hide that they cut into the shielding for the wire on the power supply. That caused the connection to fail when it got hot. When I tried to disconnect it, the damage to the wire caused it to short out.”

“I’m sorry, Lee. They won’t work for us again.”

Crane raised his head. “Best we found it before it went up in someone else’s face.”

Nelson rolled his eyes, exchanging a glance with Will and Chip.

“Do you think I enjoyed it going up in yours?” Morton replied. “Now I have all the damn paperwork to fill out. In triplicate!” Chip was building up steam for a lecture. Nelson was content to let him blow, but Jamieson reached out, put a hand on Morton’s arm and shook his head emphatically no.

Crane waggled his restrained and burn dressed right hand. “Don’t expect me to help you now.”

“I’ll save it for you.” Morton scaled back his ire with an effort. “We get him back in seven days, right, Doc?”

“You should,” Will replied. “If he behaves.”

“He’s awake and asking about the boat, that’s an improvement in my book.” Harry lifted his hand away from Crane’s shoulder.

Lee made a face. “Jamie knows what he’s doing, even when I don’t like it.”

“You never like anything he does,” Morton answered, laughing softly.

Crane tilted his head sideways. “He wasn’t the only one who missed some sleep over me, was he?”

“You will heal, Lee,” Jamieson assured him. “It may take longer than you’d like, but it will happen. Now, say good night to your friends. They are going to catch up on that sleep they missed or they’ll end up in here as well.”

“I think we just got thrown out,” Chip observed.

“I know we did,” Harry replied. “Good night, Lee. See you tomorrow.”

“I’ll be here,” Lee answered, resigned. “Night, Chip.”

“I’ll bring you a status report in the morning,” Morton promised.

“I’d like that.”

* * * * * *

Lee lay half asleep but not quite ready to drift out. The dull throbbing of his wrists and hands was not enough to stop him from sleeping, but it was a constant reminder he wouldn’t be leaving anytime soon. Three days. Lee knew it was irrational for him to resent those lost days, but he did. Crane had heard the worry under the false cheerfulness of the voices that washed over him. Nelson and Morton’s relief had been palpable. But their gentle banter had not made him feel any better. He couldn’t see. It would be another week, despite Jamieson’s assurances, before Lee would know if he would see again. The prospect of several days of being treated, led around, and spoon fed was not appealing.

“Skipper?” Jerry’s voice came from beside him.

“Time for medicine?” Crane asked.

“If you are hurting,” the med tech answered.

Lee shrugged. “Am I supposed to take it?”

“Might help you sleep. Do you want to?”

“I’m not sure. Should I sleep?”

Jerry laid a light hand on his shoulder. “That’s up to you. If you want to stay awake a while longer, that’s fine.”

“If I’m required to have pills, then give them to me.”

“You really don’t want them, do you?”

Crane looked up at that, then realized it didn’t matter. And that was even more irritating than Jerry being right about the medicine. “You have orders from Doc. Do your job, Jerry.”

The med tech pressed on his shoulder. “My orders were to make you comfortable. Not force feed you medication. On demand means that.”

“The last thing I want right now is another pill!” Lee replied, his resentment finally spilling over. “Is that demanding enough?” he asked the air.

To his surprise, Jerry laughed and removed his hand. “Fine. I’ll be happy to log the patient is awake, quite responsive and that he doesn’t want any medication at this time. I won’t ask you again unless you call me. Now, can I shift pillows or do anything else for you?”

Lee thought a moment. “My left arm... something’s slipped or is pressing...” The pillow under his arm was repositioned to take the pull of the restraint off his limb. “That’s it. Thanks, Jerry.”

“That’s why I’m here.”

“Maybe I will sleep for a while.”

He could feel the med tech’s hands on his blanket, straightening it. “You do that. And call me if you need anything.”

“I will, Jerry,” Lee replied softly.

* * * * * *

“Skipper?” Kowalski’s whisper roused him, but it was carefully pitched not to draw the attention of the med techs. Not that Lee was asleep. He hadn’t been able to explore how much bandage was wrapped around his head, but he could feel the bottom edge resting against his cheekbones. With his eyes covered, it wouldn’t be easy for anyone observing him to tell if he was awake or not. Crane had lain quietly after being woken by Jamieson’s vitals check, listening to what was going on around him, trying to identify each sound he was hearing. Apparently whatever Jamieson found during his exam was improvement. One of the techs had come over soon afterward and removed the last few invasive medical monitors still attached to him. From the deft touch and the care not to hurt or wake him, it was Billy, but Lee hadn’t felt like giving himself away to find out. “Yes, Ski,” he answered quietly, not moving.

“It’s good to have you back with us. Whatever Doc gave you really put you out. I guess with all they had to do to you...”

“Ringside seat?” Lee asked, slowly turning his head toward the crewman.

“Only yesterday,” Ski answered. “I was too out of it before that.”

“Do your hands hurt?”

“Most of the time. What I can’t manage, Pat does for me.”

“Do they always visit en masse before breakfast? A herd of elephants would have been quieter.”

Kowalski laughed. “They thought you slept through it. I should have known better.”

Crane allowed himself a small smile. “When do they come back?”

“They are here all the time. Mr. Morton’s doing. He assigned the Forecastle to me until my hands are healed enough for me to return to crews’ quarters. Pat is my hands, Stu is my cheer squad, and Boots keeps me warm and makes sure I rest. They started yesterday. I guess now you’re awake, the Exec will make some arrangement for you, too.”

“No doubt,” Lee replied. “Since I can’t use my hands, either.”

“I’d help you, Skipper, if I could.”

“I know, Ski. You need to get yourself well first. I’m sure my care will be the med techs for some time yet. I’ll try to be a more talkative neighbor.”

“If Stu lets you get a word in.”

Lee smiled and felt his dark mood lift slightly. “Did you come over here to check on me or tell me something?”

“Both.”

Crane could tell by Ski’s tone that the sonar man had dropped his head in chagrin.

“Then tell me,” Lee encouraged, to soften Ski’s embarrassment. He could always count on Kowalski to be the most conscientious of his stewards, making sure he was being looked after.

“They will bring you something to drink in a while. It’s a protein supplement, because we are burned. It tastes like liquid chalk and smells like rancid lead paint. Since you can’t see it coming, I felt duty-bound to tell you, sir. So you don’t gag on your first sip like I did.”

“Does it have a name?”

“They call it breakfast,” Kowalski replied, in utter distaste.

Lee laughed. He couldn’t help it. “Then I’m sorry I blew up the station, Ski, and put you in here.”

“It wasn’t your fault, sir. You got hurt way worse than I did,” the sonar man assured him. “Doc says I’m on the mend.”

“No, Doc says go back to your rack and eat your breakfast.” Jamieson’s voice came from above Lee as footsteps stopped beside his table. Crane heard voices, sounding suspiciously like the Forecastle, come through the doorway.

“Gotta go, Skipper.”

“Thanks, Ski,” Lee replied softly. “We’ll talk again later.”

Kowalski walked away.

“Finally decided to let someone know you’re awake?” Will’s tone was more amused than scolding.

“Ski has a better bedside manner.”

There was silence for a moment and then footsteps walking away. Lee almost let the CMO leave but found he couldn’t. “Jamie?” he called quietly.

The footsteps halted.

“I’ve been awake since you examined me,” Crane replied in answer to the question.

Lee heard the Doctor return to his side, but it was more than a few moments before Will finally spoke. “If you continue to resent everything I do, none of us will get through the treatments you need. If you don’t complete the treatments, you will go blind. Is that what you want?”

“Jamie, I can’t see and I’m tied to the bed! You can’t expect me to be happy about that!”

Will’s strong hand closed around his shoulder, gripping it tightly. “If you had let me know you were awake and that uncomfortable, I would have released the restraints.” Lee felt his left arm tether being loosened and cast off, followed by the right one. “I can’t help you if you don’t talk to me.”

“Am I allowed to sit up?”

“Billy,” Jamieson called. “We’ll try, Lee, but with your burned wrists and hands it’s not going to be easy to move you without hurting you.”

“Hi, Billy,” Lee said quietly as he felt someone gently lift him by the shoulders.

“Glad to have you awake, Skipper,” the med tech replied. “Help me out, push with your legs, not your hands. The table is locked. It won’t go anywhere.” Together they managed to find a comfortable position for him on the pillows Will piled behind him.

“Thanks, Billy.” Crane eased down into the softness gratefully.

“Any time.”

Lee gazed up where he last heard Jamieson. “Now what’s involved in these treatments you keep talking about?”

“I’ll tell you everything you’d ever want to know.” The Doctor paused. “After you drink your breakfast.”

“I’m on liquids?” Crane couldn’t stop from making a sour face.

“Partially. For a couple of days.” Jamie’s amused tone returned. “Until you are back in balance.”

“All right. Bring it on.” Lee slumped into his newly adjusted pillows.

“Billy,” Jamieson directed. “Go get the Captain his breakfast.”

“Coming right up, sir.”

* * * * * *

Thanks to Ski’s warning, Lee managed to gulp down most of the vile protein shake when it was presented to him. The bustle in Sick Bay increased with the addition of the Forecastle having breakfast and a four-way conversation with the sonar man.

“Time for your saline treatment, Skipper.” Billy was way too cheerful for his liking. The more optimistic they were, the worse the therapy turned out to be. “It will take Frank a little while longer to get everything we need set up in your cabin shower. Which gives us time to get you up on your feet for a few minutes before we take you there.”

“You’re letting me walk out of here?” Lee lifted his head off the pillow in surprise.

“Can’t get yourself to the head any other way, now you are off the catheter, unless we carry you.” Jamieson’s voice came again from the side of his table. “Your legs will support you. Once we get you back up on them again. If that works out, I’ll release you to your cabin for the duration of your treatments. Now, sit up without using your burned hands to push off.”

It was awkward and he wasn’t sure how straight he was, but Lee managed a sitting position. Billy moved in behind his left shoulder, letting Crane lean back against him. The corpsman placed a steadying hand around his upper biceps. Lee felt the covers being removed from his outstretched legs.

“Billy will not let you fall off, but this time I want you to move yourself as much as you can. Now swing your legs down and around so I can protect your other arm while we do this,” Jamieson instructed.

Lee turned sideways in Billy’s grip and brought his legs over the edge. Jamie’s hand closed around his other biceps, so that neither of his burned hands was in contact with the mattress. Crane slid one foot experimentally down to the floor and planted the sock firmly in place, then eased down his other foot to join it. The deck felt solid so he scooted slightly forward, putting some weight down. His right leg felt fine, but his left leg was rubbery for a few moments. Lee slipped off the exam table and onto his feet, swaying slightly. He was glad for the support on either side, as they kept him from pitching too much in either direction until Lee felt his balance return.

“Ease off, Billy, let him support himself,” Jamieson directed as he loosened his grip on his biceps, letting Lee’s arm drop down to a more natural position. It helped steady him. “So far, so good. Now take a step forward.”

“Isn’t the head aft?” Lee turned his head toward Jamieson’s voice.

“Yes, but you have to go forward before you can go aft. About five steps.”

He could hear the amusement once again in the Doctor’s voice. “If you say so, Jamie.”

Lee slid his solid right foot forward and it took his weight. They moved with him, so he tried his left foot. It wasn’t steady, but he still moved. He took five cautious steps and stopped.

“Now what?”

“You’re in the lane, make a quarter turn port and go straight for fifteen steps.” Again they moved with him. Lee had counted seven when another voice spoke up.

“It lives!” Chip Morton declared cheerfully.

“And it’s walking,” Crane shot back.

“Almost. All hail Imhotep, risen from the slab.”

Lee could feel Jamie shaking with laughter through the hand that was around his arm. Crane had no idea how bandaged his burns were, but apparently there were enough for Chip to make bad mummy jokes.

“Be quiet and let me count.” Lee wanted to scowl at his Exec, but he had no idea where Morton was in the room. “Or I’ll end up in the dispensary.”

“With two guide dogs? I doubt it.”

Crane could hear the grin in Morton’s voice. “How’s the boat?” Lee asked, waiting to see if Jamie would allow him to be given his promised status report.

“Green across the board. You were the last thing I needed to check before I went up to the wardroom. Can I bring Lee back a cup of coffee, Will, after you’re done with him?”

“No, you can’t. And I won’t be finished with him for quite a while, so scram.”

“I’ll catch up with you later, Lee,” Chip promised. “Keep moving that left foot.”

“What’s wrong with my left foot?” Crane turned his head in Jamieson’s direction.

“Morton is pulling it,” Jamie answered. “You’re a little stiff yet, but it’ll work itself out. Now what was your count before we were so rudely interrupted?”

“Eight.” Lee put his foot forward again. He felt better, now he was up and moving, even though everything wasn’t quite working the way it should. His feet only had to work well enough to get him out of here.

* * * * * *

Chip knew he’d find who he was looking for in Sick Bay. Patterson had appointed himself to be Kowalski’s hands until Ski healed. Morton had no trouble making it official with Chief Sharkey. Ski would mend faster with his friends helping him, but at most Kowalski only needed two hands looking after him. Morton stood in the doorway, watching Patterson and Riley kibbitz with the sonar man. Boots Malone sat on a chair by the end of the rack, grinning as their fish story got wilder.

“Was it really that large?” Chip let his presence be known right after Patterson delivered the punch line and Kowalski dissolved into laughter. They looked up at his voice.

“Good morning, sir,” Patterson greeted him. “As you see, we take our new assignment seriously.”

“Of course,” Chip replied, deadpan. Kowalski started laughing again. “I need to talk to all of you. Has the Skipper left for treatment in his cabin?”

“About five minutes ago,” Ski answered. “I don’t think he would have been as willing if he knew exactly what they have to do.”

Morton shrugged. “Will says it has to be done. You’ve had your hands cleaned several times.”

“Having burned hands rinsed with warm saline is one thing. Having it sluiced over your face is something else. I watched them do it to him yesterday. Not something I’d ever want to go through.”

“Lee will make it.”

“I wish I could help him.”

“You can’t, but I know someone who can.” Morton turned to look at Malone. “How about it, Boots? I think Kowalski can spare you to serve as the Captain’s steward for the week, seeing as the rest of his normal steward rotation is now assigned here. We certainly don’t want the duty to fall on someone who doesn’t know, shall we say, the Skipper’s ways.”

Malone grinned. “Wouldn’t last 15 minutes.”

“Ten, tops,” Patterson replied. “Before he ran for his life.”

“Mind if I liberate Boots from your detail, Ski?”

Kowalski shook his head and indicated Riley and Patterson. “I’m in good hands. Boots has helped me when the Skipper was down. He knows the drill.”

“You game?” Morton glanced over to Malone.

Boots nodded. “The Skipper may not let me do everything I should, but I’ll do all I can.”

“Like Ski, Lee can’t use his hands, so he may be a bit more cooperative this time around.” Malone raised a disbelieving eyebrow and the rest of the Forecastle cracked up. Chip bit down on his own grin. “It won’t be easy duty. Do the best you can. When something’s not right, tell me. I’ll get it squared away for you.”

Malone nodded. “Between the two of us, we’ll make it work.”

“Threaten him with the Admiral,” Patterson suggested.

Chip smiled. “He’s there if I need him. You keep that under your hat, mister.”

Riley grinned. “Does the Skipper know he’s outgunned?”

“It won’t take him long to figure it out, even if he can’t see,” Kowalski answered. “Judging from what I’ve observed since he woke up from the sedative.”

“Check in with Doc when you get to the cabin. Find out what needs to be done medically, if anything. Then see what Lee will let you do after his treatment. I’ll have lunch with him, so prepare for the two of us. We’ll see how that goes. You can report anything you need to me this evening.”

The four of them exchanged looks.

“Good luck with him, sir,” Kowalski replied, speaking for the group.

Patterson placed his hand on Ski’s shoulder. “It’s time for your bowl of warm saline.”

Kowalski grimaced. “Don’t remind me. At least I get new gore-tex bags when I’m done. These have about had it.”

“I’ll go see if Jimmy left it on simmer for us.” Riley turned toward the dispensary.

Chip walked out the door. One down, one more to go.

* * * * * *

“All right, Lee,” Jamieson took a deep breath. “This is the real test of what I explained to you over breakfast. In order for you to heal properly, your corneas have to be irrigated with warm saline three times a day, once in the morning, once in the late afternoon and once before bedtime. Frank has already been treating you for three days, so everyone else knows the drill. Your job is to stay relaxed and keep your eyes closed. Now, we spent this morning scaling down the wattage of the lighting in your cabin. The bulb from the light over your bunk is gone, so that doesn’t work at all, but the wall and desk lights can be lit as needed. We cannot completely black out this area since we need to be able to see to work on you, but it should help. You are not to look at any light source at any time when your bandages are off as you could permanently damage your burned retinas beyond repair. Frank will do the irrigation in your shower, which we have rigged for red. Frank’s wearing the special red glasses that let him see. Do you understand?”

“Yes, Jamie. Let’s get this one over with.”

“First you need to know who’s here. Sound off, Frank.”

“Hello, Skipper.”

“Jimmy has the saline.”

“He can probably smell it,” Talbot replied. “Good morning, Skipper.”

“And you know Billy helped you walk here.”

“I’m the muscle of the group. You lean on me if it gets rough.”

“I’ll be observing this session to make sure it goes all right in the new venue. Frank is in charge of your treatments, so you listen to him. I expect you not to give him any trouble whenever he and the team come to irrigate you.”

“He won’t, Will,” Frank answered. “The Skipper understands it’s my job to get him well.”

“All right, prep him for the shower. I’ll be back as soon as I check on something.” Will stepped back as the two med techs came up on either side of the desk chair.

“This gets downright messy so I’m going to undress you,” Billy explained as he started removing Lee’s Sick Bay greens. “We’ll squeeze in a quick morning shower before the saline.”

“I have to remove all your bandages to clean up your burns.” Frank began unwinding the dressing from Crane’s left hand. “You’ll get new ones when we’re done.”

The cabin door opened quietly as Will turned to leave and Malone came in.

“Ah, Boots,” Jamieson acknowledged the Electricians’ mate’s entrance for Lee’s benefit. “I was about to come looking for you. You drew the stewards’ assignment?”

“Yes, sir.”

“Then watch closely. We may need you to fill in sometime. Kill the wall light and let’s see how much red light the shower gives us.” Boots hit the switch and the cabin went quite dark. Will waited a moment for his eyes to adjust. The red glow from the open shower gave them about a five-foot radius to work within. It would be enough.

“Frank?”

The paramedic found Will without trouble. “Works better right on top of our patient but I can see your insignia reflecting from here. I’ll be okay.”

“Billy?”

“I can see enough to do what I need to.”

“I could rig something to switch the wall light on and off from anywhere in the room later today, if you want, Doc,” Boots offered. “Seeing as I’m here.”

“Not a bad idea, Malone. Ask the Exec to okay whatever you need.”

“Boots strikes again,” Jimmy replied with a grin and his other two med techs laughed. Malone shrugged and moved over to the wall mic to make his request. Will turned his attention back to Lee.

“Almost there, Skipper.” Frank started unwinding the head bandage. “Relax. Let us do all the work.”

Billy tossed Lee’s greens into the laundry hamper and reached in to turn on the shower, adjusting the water until it was pleasantly warm. Will took up an observation post on the far left side of the open shower door, giving his techs room to work. “This is roughly the same size as the Sick Bay shower, Skipper,” Frank said. “You and I will both fit, but Billy will stay outside the door and work from there. We’re not used to having you awake, so you let us know if we’re moving too fast or putting you in an uncomfortable position. I’m going to take you into the shower now. The way is clear. Let me lead you.” The paramedic kept a steadying hand on Crane’s shoulder.

Frank entered the shower first, then turned to help Lee. “Lift your right foot over the sill.

Now your left one. Billy’s right here. We won’t let you fall.” Crane flinched as the water hit his lower body, but quickly recovered and turned so that he was standing under the stream. “Watch your face and hands,” Frank cautioned. “The water beating on them may hurt a bit. How’s your balance, do I need to brace you?”

“No,” Crane shifted his upper body to the right. “I’m okay. Can I get my hair wet?”

“Go ahead. We wash your hair the first treatment to get it over with. If it’s too painful face first, then turn around.” Crane squared his shoulders and quickly ducked under the spray, his head down. He stayed under for a long minute, before moving his head aside. “That hurt?” Frank asked.

“Not really. I wish I could use my hands.”

“That’s what you have me for. Now turn your back to the spray and I’ll put in some shampoo and give you a quick soap down. Then we’ll dry off and move onto the saline.” Frank did the wash and rinse with quick efficiency. Then he reached over to turn off the water. He took the towel Billy offered and began drying Crane’s hair with quick backward strokes. “Let me know if I’m pulling or hurting you.”

“You’re doing fine,” Crane assured him. “Boots can take care of that later.”

“Will?” Frank glanced out the door at him.

“Malone can’t blow dry your hair or shave you, Lee. Not until the facial burns you have heal. Probably two weeks.”

“Swell,” Crane muttered. “I’ll look like Robinson Crusoe by then.”

“Burns are very sensitive to heat. I’ll not risk it,” Will continued. “At least you don’t have to worry about sun damage.”

Frank handed the now wet towel to Billy and took up another one. “Extend your arms for me, Skipper, so I can get the rest of you dry without going over any of your burns.” He wiped as much water off as he could, then knelt down and spread the damp towel on the shower floor. Taking the third dry towel handed into him, Frank spread it over Crane’s shoulders. “Now, we need you to sit down on the shower floor. I put down a towel. Billy will help you down if you like.”

“It’s my wrists and hands that need protecting, right? How did you manage it when I was unconscious?”

“We took you by the shoulders.”

“Billy, where are you?”

“From your position? One o’clock.”

“Left shoulder work?”

“It should.”

“I won’t fight you. You let me know when you have a good grip and I’ll let you move me anyway you need to.”

“On three then, Billy. What we did in Sick Bay.”

Billy stood up and reached for Crane’s shoulder. On three, Lee went limp and they lowered him to the shower floor, with Billy coming into the stall as Frank exited. Billy eased down with him, so that Crane ended up reclined against him.

“Thanks, Skipper,” Frank leaned in to give Lee an encouraging pat on the shoulder. “You warm enough in a towel? We can drape you, since the saline rinse is going to take a while.”

“I’m fine,” Crane answered softly. “Keep going.”

“Okay, I’ll do your face first, then your left arm and finally your right arm. First, we flush your eyes with saline. Then I will rinse away the exudate from your facial burns that’s built up since your last treatment, then do a light paraffin scrape for some of the more stubborn crusts and finally we wrap you up again until your next treatment.”

Lee nodded. “Jamie explained all that. Go ahead.”

“Bulb syringe loaded, Jimmy?” Talbot handed it over.

“Skipper, I want you to lean your head back onto my chest,” Billy directed. “And let me hold your shoulders steady. You’ll feel the saline going under your eyelids, but don’t open your eyes. Let it run all over them, under them and down your cheeks into the towel around your shoulders. I know it’s going to feel weird, but let it run.”

Lee relaxed into Billy. Frank leaned into the shower and emptied the syringe slowly and expertly, first into Lee’s left eye and then his right, sluicing the liquid in where it would do the most good. Crane started to tense but a soft reassurance from Billy almost in his ear relaxed him enough to let Frank finish. He handed out the syringe to Jimmy to refill.

“Round two, Skipper.” Frank began squirting small amounts of saline over Lee’s facial burns, rinsing them clean. Then he handed back the syringe and took up the soft paraffin Jimmy had prepared. “Almost done,” he said encouragingly. He then traded Talbot the paraffin for a soft gauze pad, which he used to blot away any excess saline left on Lee’s face.

Billy picked up one corner of the towel draped over Crane. He began to use it on Lee’s hair, trying to dry it as much as possible before the bandage went on.

Lee sighed as Frank lifted his hand away. “Are we there yet?” he asked quietly.

“Next exit,” The paramedic replied, with a smile. “You’re doing really well.” He placed two pads over Crane’s eyes and then took the head bandage from Talbot, which he quickly wrapped around Lee’s head and pinned closed. “From what Jimmy told me, you’ll be in Giza before you know it.”

“You still have to do my wrists and hands,” Crane replied, a small smile crossing his face.

“Piece of cake. With your eyes wrapped you can relax and enjoy it.” Jimmy handed Frank the loaded syringe and he began working on Lee’s left arm.

Will had seen enough. Crane was being more cooperative than he had expected and the venue was going to work out. He motioned Boots to follow him over by the door. “What did the Exec tell you?”

“That he can’t use his hands, so I have to feed and dress him. Otherwise, it will be the normal stewards’ routine. He’ll take it better. ”

“Laundry is going to pile up in a hurry. Billy will help you with that, as he will have to lay in dry scrubs and towels every time we do this.”

“We’ll work it out. Mr. Morton said to ask if there’s anything medical I should do.”

“Lee needs plenty of liquids, lots of protein. Basically what you have been feeding Ski. I’ll get you a list for his meals. Keep him as warm as possible. He won’t want to stay quiet or rest, but until his burns heal, Lee’s not going to have much energy. If you can get him down, he will probably go out. Call one of us if he gets really stubborn.”

Malone smiled. “The Skipper and I understand each other. I’ll get him down.”

Jamieson grinned. “You may be in the wrong department for some of your particular talents, but we are grateful for them. We’re almost ready for you to take him off our hands. C’mon, you can help get him dressed again.”

Frank was finishing off Lee’s right hand. “The thing about a gore-tex bag, Skipper, is that it lets your fingers move so they heal individually and won’t congeal into a weeping mess that we have to pry apart with saline. I know it will be frustrating for you not to be able to grasp things, but right now you need to heal more than you need to pick things up.” Frank sealed the burn bag into place. “They keep the exudate contained as well, so it’s less mess for all of us.”

“Boots can get him anything he needs, Frank,” Jamieson answered. “Why don’t you dry off, ditch those wet scrubs into the laundry bin, and put on a fresh pair so we can give the Captain a respite from our torture for a few hours.”

“Where do you want to go from here, Skipper?” Billy asked quietly. “Back to the chair to get dressed for your bunk?”

“Okay. I can get up now?”

“If you let me steady you.” Billy steered him gently toward the chair, letting Crane find his own pace. “I’ll get rid of this.” The tech removed the saline soaked towel. “Jimmy will dry you off while I change scrubs.”

“I can do that.” Boots reached out to take the towel from Talbot. “Jimmy knows better what needs to be packed up, so you can be on your way.” Malone moved behind Crane and started to work.

* * * * * *

“That can’t have been much fun,” Malone said quietly, his first words to him since the medical team had finally gathered all their implements and left them alone in the cabin. “Now you’re finally dried, how about some clothes?”

“If you’re not allowed to shave me or dry my hair, why bother?” Lee did not feel up to being manhandled by a third person.

“With all due respect, sir, you cannot have lunch with the Exec in your birthday suit.”

“I’m having lunch?”

“Doc told me what to fix for you.”

“What else did Doc tell you?” Lee asked, failing to curb the irritation he knew came out in his voice.

“I know how to take care of you, Skipper. If you’ll let me,” Malone answered, his tone excruciatingly neutral.

Crane sighed. Boots had incredible patience. It did no good to rail at him. Lee was going to be dressed, whether he wanted to be or not. “All right,” he replied. “God forbid we shock the Exec.”

Lee heard Malone open the wardrobe. The mitten like burn bags over his hands made dressing himself out of the question. Boots laid some clothes on the desk next to where Crane was sitting. Then he heard the crewman kneel down.

“Right foot,” Malone requested. Lee lifted his foot and a thick sock was rolled onto his foot and up his calf. “Left foot.”

“Those socks don’t go with my oxfords.” Lee felt compelled to point out.

“No shoes today,” Boots replied. “And I’ll have to make a few other adjustments.”

“Such as?” Crane put his sock clad left foot down only to have both of them lifted again. He felt cotton briefs sliding up his legs.

“Belay that! Give me green sick bay bottoms.”

“They didn’t leave me any dry ones. Look, Skipper, we’ll be doing this at least four times a day for the next seven days, might as well get past it now. Stand up when I get to your knees, then lean down on my shoulder with whatever part of your arm isn’t burned until I get them up.”

“What if I fall on you?”

“Your balance was never that bad, Skipper. You can do this if you try. Now stand up.”

Boots was right in front of him and he worked quickly and efficiently. “Okay, that’s done. Sit back down and let me get the pants started. Then stand up again until I get them zipped.”

Lee complied while Malone put the belt through the pant loops. Finally he was done. “Thanks, Skipper. It will be easier from here. If it makes you feel any better Ski isn’t crazy about Pat dressing him, either.”

“Get on with it, Boots.” Lee sat back down again and extended his right arm for the shirt.

“No, give me both arms straight out, so I can get this past the gore-tex.”

What was slid up his arms was not khaki. It was too soft. “That’s underwear again, not my shirt.”

“I have to keep you warm. I can’t get your long sleeved uniform shirt on you, unless I hack off the sleeves or open the seams. I’ll work on one this afternoon, if you insist on wearing it. For the week your hands and wrists have to be wrapped, cutting open two of your denim work shirts would be better.”

“Sliced chambray won’t do at all for our lunch guest, Boots.”

Malone laughed. “That’s better, Skipper. I knew you were still in there somewhere. I’ll have to tell Ski you said that. He’ll love it. Hold still for me until I get this over your head.” Boots stretched the cotton wide, sliding it past his face at a distance and then settled the T-shirt into place. “Now give me your right arm.” Soft flannel slid up his arm and remained bulky around his elbow. “Left arm.” Boots slid the rest of the warm shirt over his mitten and onto him, flipping the collar into place. Malone pulled the front flaps even, buttoning the lower half of the shirt closed. “Now you’re ready for lunch.”

“Flannel?”

“For warmth. The shirt is easier than having a blanket draped over you. You won’t trip on it.”

“You got volunteered for this, didn’t you, Boots?”

“Ski would be here but he can’t, so it fell to me. I didn’t mind being asked, Skipper.”

“I do. This is not making sure there is no live current in the line before you let me work on it, or crawling up into some place I won’t fit to check for trouble.”

Malone laid a hand on Lee’s flannel-clad shoulder. “We’ve been a good repair team because you let me help you, Skipper. As for the stewards’ rotation, you have never abused your privileges or made the four of us do any service for you we didn’t want to. I want to be here. Mr. O’Brien called me. I should have been the one with my hands in the sonar panel, checking for the bad wiring.”

Lee raised his head. Malone was right. As usual. “All right, Boots,” he conceded. “I’ll try not take your head off more than once a day for as long as you can stand to be here.”

“I’ll stay low, sir. I’m built for it.”

Crane laughed. “Touche, Boots. The race doesn’t always go to the swiftest or the tallest.” Malone had never let his short stature stop him from doing anything.

“The tallest can’t get into subs.” Boots lifted his hand away.

Lee knew Malone was grinning, even though he couldn’t see it. “How long until lunch?”

“About an hour and a half,” Boots replied.

“Fine.” Crane stood up from the chair. “Get a pad out of the desk. I’m going to reacquaint myself with everything in this cabin under lights out condition until I know exactly where it is.”

“You’re supposed to be resting.”

“Are you going to help me or not, Boots?”

“You know I will, Skipper.”

* * * * * *

Nelson stopped outside Lee’s closed cabin door when he heard voices. One was Lee’s, counting and the other wasn’t Chip, but somehow familiar. Harry knocked once to announce himself, pushed the door open, and went in.

Lee was pacing from his desk to the shower. “Nine,” he said, as his outstretched hand touched the door. “Make a note of that.”

“Yes, Skipper.” Malone was seated on the end of Crane’s bunk, but jumped up when Nelson entered. “Hello, Admiral.”

Lee turned around. “Where away, Boots?”

“By the door. 180 true.”

“I’m a course?” Nelson inquired.

“Just getting acclimated,” Lee replied.

“Don’t forget there’s a desk between him and you,” Boots cautioned.

“I’ll meet you there,” Harry offered.

“Actually, I think I have this figured out now.” Crane moved toward the desk and stopped right before he would have walked into it.

“You’re there, Skipper,” Malone stated.

Lee reached out carefully for the desk, found it and then eased down onto the edge. “What can we do for you, Admiral?”

“Skipper, I need to go get lunch started. I’m leaving the pad on the desk.” Malone laid it down and crossed behind Nelson. “If you’ll excuse me, sirs.” Boots disappeared out of the door.

“Malone didn’t have to leave,” Harry commented.

“He knows that. If Boots doesn’t fix lunch, Chip won’t have any when he gets here.”

Nelson crossed over to the desk. Crane had on uniform pants, but the rest of him was decidedly non regulation. Malone had been given specific instructions or he wouldn’t have dressed Lee like that. “You look better today.” Boots had made sure the flannel shirt matched the khaki pants. Harry smiled to himself.

“With a four-day beard? I doubt it,” Crane grumbled.

“No, I mean it. It’s good to see you up and about.”

“And dressed. Courtesy of Chip.” Lee scowled. “I have to talk to him about drafting Malone.”

“Leave it, Lee. Morton’s taking care of you the only way he knows how.”

Crane’s scowl deepened. “I need to talk to him about that, too. Would you like the chair, sir?”

“Don’t mind if I do. How about you take the bunk?”

Crane took four steps, found the edge of his bunk and lowered himself into it. Nelson dragged the chair over to it and sat down.

“You must be glad to be out of Sick Bay.”

“I don’t really remember being there so it wasn’t so bad, but this is better. At least until Frank comes back with more warm saline.”

“From what I saw of the treatment that couldn’t have been easy to sit through this morning.”

“It wasn’t, but it has to be done if I’m going to see again.” Lee shifted on the bed. “It’s like being in a car wash in a convertible in the ocean. Only it’s dark and you don’t dare open your eyes, even when it feels like you could drown. I’ll get used to it, sir. I have to.”

“Holding your hand is out of the question.”

Lee raised one of his mittens. “Yes. Thanks for the thought. Chip sent you here to cheer me up, didn’t he?”

“He saw Frank in action, too. Said something about being related to Machiavelli.”

“A distant cousin, I believe.” Lee almost smiled. “Frank will deny it, if you ask him.”

Harry laughed. “He’s good. Will depends on him.”

“I’ll get through it, sir. I know everyone wants me to get well. Do me a favor?”

“Sure, Lee.”

“Pass the word. No one else is to be pulled off their regular duty to help me. I’ll accept Boots as there are things I can’t do with burned hands, but he’s it. It’s bad enough I’m already tying up most of the medical team, when they have Kowalski to take care of as well.”

“Patterson and Riley have that in hand. Will welcomed their help.”

“Which leaves a hole in A watch.”

“Chip decided it would be good training for some of the less senior ratings.”

“Under normal conditions, perhaps, but with the software acting up we need our most experienced personnel on watch.”

“Nick’s working on the glitch. So am I. We’ll handle whatever happens, Lee.”

“I feel so useless. I could be helping, but I had to go get injured,” Crane growled.

“You didn’t damage that wire. It would have blown regardless of who tried to fix it. Blaming yourself for something that wasn’t your fault won’t help, Lee. You need to concentrate on getting well instead.”

“I’ll try, sir. Tell Chip I don’t want everyone offering to help me. I have to find my own way. It’s not that I don’t appreciate the help and that they care, but I need to do this. At least, as much as I can manage all bound up like this. Apparently it gives me a decidedly Egyptian look, judging from the jokes this morning.”

Nelson smiled. “It’s only part of your face and your hands and wrists that are covered, no matter what they said to you. I will deliver the message and make sure everyone understands it.”

“Thanks.”

Harry stood up and leaned over the bed, pressing down on Crane’s shoulder lightly. “You really are better today. I’m glad. You call me, if you need to. I want to be here for you.”

“I will,” Lee promised. “Let me get my feet back under me and I’ll be fine.”

“You do that, son.” Nelson lifted his hand away. “Now I’m going to see Nick about that software glitch. He has a theory I think may help.”

“Get it fixed,” Crane replied. “That’s one worry we can do without.”

* * * * * *

Chip was beginning to think lunch wasn’t such a good idea after all. Lee had greeted him cordially enough, but had hardly said two words directly to him since then. Maybe it would have been better to leave Crane and Malone alone their first meal together to work out how Boots was going to feed him.

Crane’s meal didn’t look that appetizing, either, but Chip resisted making any comment for fear Lee would refuse to eat. From Crane’s expression when Boots gave him the straw, his protein drink tasted as awful as it looked. Boots was having more success with the sliced up meat. They seemed to be anticipating each other pretty well, so it might work out. Boots certainly had the patience for the job.

Malone had given him a silent thumbs up when Morton came in the door, which was good, but Chip still wished he could get a better read on Crane’s mood. Normally, he’d catch Lee’s eye and know what his friend was feeling. Crane’s rigid posture in the desk chair was not good. That could be his dislike of having to be fed coming out. Chip took another bite of his sandwich. He doubted Lee had much appetite, but Crane was trying. That was all they could really hope for.

Lee turned his head away as Boots offered the straw again. “No, I don’t want any more. I drank most of it. That will have to do. Is all the meat gone?”

“Yes, Skipper,” Malone answered, putting down the cup.

“Then take it away.”

“You really ought to finish,” Chip ventured. “Will’s not going to like – ”

“Don’t even start,” Crane said darkly, surprising him with his tone. “Carry on, Malone.”

“Aye, Skipper. With your permission, sirs.” Malone removed the tray in front of Lee and left with it, closing the door behind him.

Chip leaned back in his folding chair. “He’s gone and the door is shut. Now what do you have to say to me that you couldn’t say in front of Malone.”

“You’re the one who put Boots in the middle of this. How could he say no?”

“He didn’t.”

“Did you give him a choice?”

“Yes, I did. Ask Ski or Pat or Stu. They were all there.”

“Ah, there was a meeting. I thought so.”

Morton leaned forward. “Look, Lee, what are you really sore about? That I assigned you a steward or that you need one?”

“Boots has better things to do than be my wet nurse.”

“That’s one duty I assure you he will not perform, even if you ask him to.” Morton struggled to keep his grin out of his voice.

“Ha, ha. Everything is a joke with you. It’s not so funny from this side of the table.”

Chip stood up and came around the desk. “Okay. Now I’m on this side. Tell me.” Morton reached down, placing his hand lightly on Lee’s shoulder. “Help me understand what I need to do.”

“How about doing nothing, for a change. Let me figure out how to do it on my own.”

“Is the issue Boots?”

Lee sighed. “No, he can stay. He’s far less irritating than a certain overprotective Exec who shall remain nameless.”

“Ouch.” Morton tightened his hand.

Lee turned his bandaged head toward where Chip’s hand lay. “You’re very good at what you do, don’t ever change. But I’ve got to handle this. I can’t, if you insist on doing everything for me.”

“I’m sorry, Lee. I didn’t think about that.”

“I know. You want to help. Help by not helping me, okay?”

“That’s what you want?”

“Yes. Now watch out. I’m going to stand up. I don’t want to hit you with the chair.” Morton took a few steps back. Lee felt his way clear of the chair. “Come over here. Let me know where you are.” Crane raised his right hand, searching for him.

Chip caught Lee’s outstretched arm, above his burns. He moved closer, letting the mitten rest lightly against his chest for a moment, without putting any pressure on it. “I’m right here.”

Crane ran his mitten over Morton’s uniform shirt until he found his shoulder. Then Lee bent forward, giving Chip an awkward hug. “That’s for caring.” Crane turned sideways, his mitten dropping down to find the edge of the desk to guide him back to his bunk. “I gave you the boat, go run her.”

“Aye, sir.” Morton stepped aside to let his friend and Captain pass. “I will.”

* * * * * *

Lee came awake with a start. Something was wrong in the way the boat was moving. A ballast tank alarm began blaring, then he heard O’Brien giving orders over the comm to trim them. Crane didn’t realize he had sat up until he was swinging his feet out of the bunk. He heard the hatch beyond his door open and someone go through to the spiral stairs. Chip. Much as he longed to join his Exec, Crane knew he’d only get in the way. He remained seated on the edge of his bunk and listened. The watch quickly identified what had gone wrong and O’Brien was using their information to give the correct orders. He had trained them all to handle emergencies and that’s what they were doing. Lee could feel the boat responding and coming back to an even keel.

“Skipper?” Malone’s breathless voice came on the heels of the door being opened. It sounded like he had run all the way from crews’ quarters.

“Still here, Boots. Commander Morton went to handle it.” There was silence from the doorway as Chip’s voice came over the comm, asking for a report from the affected department.

“Who wants to know? Doc?”

“No one, sir,” Boots finally answered. “I was afraid the motion had thrown you out of your bunk and you landed wrong and were hurt or injured one of your burns and needed it tended... It’s my job now, sir.” Malone ended in a rush.

“Did you get tossed out of your rack?”

“No, but the motion up here is always– ”

”Yes and how many years have I been sleeping up here?”

“Enough to know how to handle it,” Malone answered.

“It did wake me,” Lee granted back. “But I decided I wouldn’t be much use. They have it under control. It sounds like the software glitch claimed another system.”

“Nick isn’t going to like that.”

“Maybe the diagnostic will help him, now that it woke everybody up.” Lee heard someone else open the hatch, heading for the stairs.

“That was the Admiral, sir, in his bathrobe,” Boots said quietly, after the hatch had clanked shut again.

“Come on in then and close the door. At least until storm Nelson is over.”

Lee heard the door shut. “Thanks. You couldn’t pay me to have the watch right now.”

“You’re here, aren’t you?”

“That’s different, Skipper.”

“No. Not if you feel it’s your job to look after me. That is why you came, isn’t it?”

“Yes, Skipper,” Malone answered, resigned.

“And you know I never fault anyone for doing their job.”

“Yes, Skipper.”

“Don’t you think you should start doing it?”

”Do you need to use the head, sir?”

Lee smiled. “Not at the moment, no, but I will let you straighten out the covers before you slide me back under them.”

He heard Boots cross the room. “Ski tried to warn me. I should have listened to him.” Malone started at the foot of the bunk and a few moments later Lee felt the sheet being drawn back. “Ready when you are, sir.”

“Thanks for coming, Boots,” Crane said quietly, as he laid himself back down. “It helps to know you’ll be there if I need you.”

“Even when you haven’t fallen out of your bunk.” The covers were tucked gently under his gore-tex mittens. “Good night, sir. Let’s hope they take the computer offline for the rest the night so we can get some sleep.”

“Why don’t you go down and suggest it?”

“No way, Skipper. I’m going quietly back to my rack while I still have my head. I’ll see you for breakfast.”

“Good night, Boots.”

* * * * *

“Ready for lunch, Skipper?”

Crane’s head came up in surprise as Chip set the tray down on his desk. “I sent Malone to get my food,” Lee answered mildly.

“I know.” Chip took the folding chair out from inside the wardrobe and placed it on the opposite side of Lee’s desk. “I had a deuce of a time getting it from him until I explained what I wanted it for. I sent him to eat.”

“You gave him the job.” Crane shrugged. “You should let him do it.”

“Don’t start,” Chip replied and was pleased when Lee grinned at him. This might work after all. “How’d it go with Frank this morning?”

“He’s very efficient. He says I’m better, but he still wrapped me six ways to next Sunday before he left.”

“Actually, there are fewer bandages than there were when you first left Sick Bay. Must be the sport version.”

Lee laughed. “With mag wheels?”

“Adding a chariot to your head would ruin it, trust me.”

“It’s better I can’t see what I look like. I’ll leave that to Boots.” Crane raised his right arm to show off how his denim shirt sleeves had been opened to accommodate his burn mittens. “Behold the latest in shipboard fashion.”

“Works, doesn’t it?”

“Long as I’m not on duty. What’s for lunch?”

Chip stood up. “I have to do a couple of things before I turn you loose. I’m going to come over there.”

Morton touched Crane’s shoulder as he came up behind him. “First we fold these sliced sleeves up out of the way.” Chip tucked the chambray up over Lee’s elbows. He moved to one side when that was finished and lifted the three linen napkins off the tray. “Now you have to help me with this part. Let me know if these are too tight.” Chip folded the napkin into a triangle, brought the two ends over the back of Lee’s right mitten, and tied a loose knot to hold it in place. “Does that hurt?”

“Not really. What are you doing?”

“Getting you ready to feed yourself,” Chip replied as he tied the second napkin around Lee’s left mitten and tucked the third under his tee shirt. “There. That should keep Boot’s clean up to a minimum. Now there is a plate of cut up sandwiches directly in front of you. Pick whichever mitten you want to use and I’ll give you a piece.”

“Got it all figured out, do you?” Crane extended his right hand and Chip put a sandwich quarter in it.

“No,” Chip admitted. “How you get it into your mouth is your problem. I thought I’d let you try. There’s nobody here but me and I don’t care how messy it gets.”

“And if I can’t?”

“Then I will feed you. My idea. My responsibility. But I think I won’t need to.”

Crane bent forward, bringing his mitten up. “You have more faith in me than I do.”

“Be quiet and eat.” Chip watched in satisfaction as Crane downed the sandwich in two bites. “That’s it. Here’s another one.” He placed another quarter on the linen when Crane extended his mitten again. He’d get together with Boots later and figure out what other finger foods they had on board that could be adapted. Anything Lee could do himself had to help.

* * * * * *

Chip gave his tie a final pat into place, even though he did not feel as together as he looked. He was due in the control room, but Morton was not really looking forward to hearing what had happened to the software overnight. At least there was no alarm last night to interrupt his sleep. And everyone else’s. Nick Peatty was sure he would soon isolate the code that kept crashing the program, but it hadn’t revealed itself yet. Every failure taught them more, and so far nothing had crashed that was critical, but Chip didn’t like it when anything crashed. Nelson continued to review the program and had taken to muttering to himself, which was not good. And Lee –

Chip strode for the door. He might as well pop in before the med team arrived to do Crane’s first treatment. After being thoroughly irrigated with warm saline, Lee was in no mood for his humor. If he arrived before them, Chip could usually get a smile at something before the medical harpies descended for the first of their thrice daily douses.

Morton came out of his cabin and stopped dead. Crane was almost through the hatch on his way to the spiral staircase. Chip wouldn’t have thought him capable of turning the hatch wheel, but apparently Lee wasn’t as immobilized by the burn bags as they thought. One of his mittened hands was outstretched as Lee counted his slow steps forward.

Morton didn’t wait. He grabbed Lee solidly around the waist and lifted his friend back through the hatchway. Crane’s trailing foot caught on the sill and he fell heavily into Chip. They went down in a heap in front of the door to Lee’s cabin. Chip rolled both of them at the last moment to soften the impact and avoid landing on his convalescing Captain. He barely missed getting hit in the face by Lee’s flailing left arm.

“Steady,” Chip growled low. “There are stairs beyond that hatch. What the hell are you doing out here?”

Crane pushed up off the deck with his mitten, grimacing in pain. “I was going to the control room.”

“Why?” Chip reached over, trying to help Lee sit up, but Crane twitched away from him, almost falling over again in the process. Morton grabbed Lee’s shoulders and sat him up, despite Crane’s second effort to get away from him.

“Because I need to,” Lee ground out.

“You need to get well first.”

“I’m not an invalid! I can’t stand being waited on hand and foot any more! I have to do something!” Crane pushed him away hard and promptly fell over. Chip reached down to help his friend once again. “Don’t touch me!” Lee’s voice was harsh as he remained prone on the deck. “I know where the stairs are. I know exactly how many steps to get there. I also know how many steps down and how many steps to the chart table. I was not going to fall down the stairs!”

“Lee – ”

“I don’t need you to save me! I need to go do my job!” Crane pushed himself up into a sitting position, grimacing in pain as he used his gore-tex mitten. “Get out of my way!”

“No,” Chip replied quietly. “Now lower your voice before all the juniors hear us.”

“Let them! I make quite a spectacle, don’t I? The most useless Egyptian artifact of all! A blind submarine Captain!”

“I know you’re frustrated –”

“You have no idea how I feel!!” At that volume, Lee’s voice would be heard throughout officer country.

Chip reached out, gripping Crane’s trembling shoulder. “That’s true. Only I can’t let you go down.”

“I’m not asking you to!”

“You gave me command seven days ago. You do remember that?”

Crane raised his bandaged head. “In the control room. After the flash.”

“That’s right. You’re on sick list for three more days. So you have to ask me. Even though you’ve made it quite clear you are not about to.”

“I can’t stand lying around anymore, Chip. I want to help.” Crane’s belligerent tone faded to a near whisper as Lee dropped his head in defeat.

Chip moved closer, easing his hand around Lee’s back. “You’re not totally useless. You are healing.”

Crane almost laughed. “All the king’s horses and all the king’s men...”

“We need to take this out of the hallway, Humpty, before we draw a crowd. Your cabin door handle is at one o’clock. Do you want to get it or shall I?”

“It hurts to try and grasp anything,” Lee admitted softly.

“Then I’ll get the door,” Chip replied. “After I help you up.”

Crane turned sideways, getting his legs into position. “I only need your arm. I told you, let me do it.”

“Okay, once I stand up, you’ll get one arm at four o’clock. Is that okay?” Lee nodded.

Chip extended his arm and let Lee hook his elbow around it, so his friend could pull himself up off the deck and stand next to him. Chip reached down and opened the door with his other hand. “Am I leading?”

Crane grimaced, half smiling. “I know how to find the bunk. You have to sidestep the desk about halfway there. Took me a few tries to get it right.”

“Okay, put me between you and the desk and go for it.” Lee dropped his arm by the desk and walked until his leg brushed the edge of the bunk, then he lowered himself into it.

“Where’s Boots? Did you send him on some errand, so you could escape?”

“Malone went to the galley after he dressed me. I told him to eat breakfast with his bunk mates before he picked up my tray from the wardroom. Which means you’ll have to untie my shoes, if you want me to lie down. Captain.”

Chip moved closer to the bed. “Whatever it takes,” Morton answered as he leaned down and hugged his best friend. Lee stiffened slightly, then relaxed when he realized what Chip was doing.

“What was that for?” Crane asked quietly, when Chip released him.

“I owe you one. That’s for courage.” Morton knelt down to remove Crane’s oxfords. “It’s only three more days until your bandages come off. Hold on. You’re over the worst of it.”

Crane sighed. “I know. It’s hard.” He gazed up sightlessly. “I hate being out of action.” “Well, bud, like it or not, you are stuck here for the duration.” Chip stood up again. “Now lie down. I’ll stay until Boots comes back.”

Lee frowned. “Aren’t you supposed to meet Bobby before the end of his watch? It’s going to chime any minute now. I don’t want a babysitter. I’ll stay put until Malone gets here with my breakfast.” Crane lowered himself into a recumbent position in his bunk.

“Do I have your word?” Chip asked.

“Yes.”

“I also don’t want you wandering any place else.”

“Chip, I– ”

“I mean it, Lee. It’s too dangerous. There are too many hatches, sills, wheels, ladders... One misstep and you’ll end up with a broken leg or neck.”

“I know where the ladders are on this sub.” Crane raised up to a half-seated position, glaring at him.

“And I know this sub too, Skipper. Some crew member will get hurt trying to save you from yourself. You may know where you’re going, but all they will see is what I thought I saw. That you are headed for a fall. And they will try to prevent it. You told the Admiral you don’t want them helping you. Prove you don’t need a babysitter. Stay here. Even though you hate it.”

Crane flopped down onto his pillow. “All right, Chip. I won’t leave again until the bandages come off. Good enough? ” The watch chime sounded in the hallway. Lee gestured at the door. “You’re late.”

“Bobby’ll wait for me.”

“He shouldn’t have to. Not on account of me.”

Chip reached out to grasp Lee’s shoulder. “Want anything after your treatment?”

Crane scowled at the reminder. “You know what I like. If you see it, bring it. I’ll try to be decent company for lunch.”

“I’ll stay even if you aren’t.”

Lee raised his mittened hand carefully and laid it on Chip’s outstretched arm. “I wouldn’t have the patience to put up with me.”

Morton smiled. “You’re entitled to be a little cranky. Forget it.”

Lee lifted his hand away. “Take care of Bobby first.”

“I’m going. I don’t want to be anyplace near Marquis de Frank and his torture devices.”

“You were closer to the mark with Machiavelli,” Lee replied. “Frank’s not enjoying this any more than I am, but that doesn’t stop him from ruthlessly doing what needs to be done. It’s not something to joke about, Chip.”

“Might as well tell the birds not to fly south,” Morton answered. “We all have to cope in our own way.”

Lee smiled. “Okay, you’ve done your bit. Now get going.”

“Aye, sir.” Chip answered and went out the door. Once he was through with O’Brien, he had another errand to run.

* * * * * *

“Got a minute, sir?” Chip twisted his body around Nelson’s half open cabin door.

The Admiral looked up from the papers on his desk. “Come on in, Chip. I’m not getting anywhere with this at the moment.”

“Nick’s idea didn’t pan out?”

Nelson shook his head. “The theory is sound, if only we could find out where in the program to apply it. I’ll keep puzzling on it. Something will come to me.” He glanced up. “What do you need?”

Chip slid into the guest chair beside the desk. “You heard my dustup with Lee this morning about him not going to the control room?”

“It was kind of hard not to, seeing as I’m down the hall.” Nelson snorted. “I’m told they heard him in the wardroom.”

Chip shrugged. “Lee doesn’t lose his temper very often, but when he does, he doesn’t leave much standing.”

“You survived.”

Morton smiled with humor. “Lee may have taken his frustration out on me, but I’m not the reason he lost it this morning. He needs to be involved. Can’t Lee help you and Nick with the software problem? You know how good he is at figuring out why something doesn’t work.”

“When Lee can see the schematic or get his hands into the wiring,” Nelson countered. “Neither of which he is capable of at the moment. Will would not thank me for letting him try, either.”

“I know Lee can’t use his eyes or hands, but there’s nothing wrong with his mind. Take him the program codes. Read them to him. Let him think about how and where to apply Nick’s theory. I bet he’ll figure out something.”

“You talked to Will about this?”

“Yes. Doc thinks an in-cabin distraction would definitely help. Lee’s cooperating with the treatments but, according to Frank, if he climbs the wall any farther our Captain will be on the ceiling. I don’t have enough energy left to get Lee down if he does go there.”

“He hates being on sick list.”

“Particularly now Lee has to be dressed and spoon fed by Boots on top of being salt water-washed three times a day.”

Nelson gathered up some papers. “What time is it?”

Chip looked at his watch. “His saline squad should be done with the morning irrigation. A little distraction would do wonders.”

“Will you tell Nick?”

“He’ll be second team this afternoon. Leave a copy of the program there. After Nick helps Lee get his daily paperwork read and signed off on, I’ll have Peatty follow up with what he’s done on identifying which command codes and systems have been affected by the glitch. Having Nick write for him is one of the few things that is working around here.”

Nelson came around the desk and clapped Chip on the shoulder. “Cheer up. We will fix the software. Now go do something for you for a change, at least until lunch. That’s an order.”

“Aye, sir,” Chip replied. “Thanks.”

The Admiral waved a dismissing hand. “We promised Will we’d help.”

Chip smiled. “Yes, we did.”

* * * * * *

“Son?”

Nelson stopped in the doorway of Crane’s cabin as he realized the interior was dark. Something white gleamed in Lee’s bunk, but the corridor light did little to illuminate the rest of the cabin.

“Welcome to my world,” Lee spoke softly from the bunk. Then his desk lamp clicked on.

Nelson entered the room slowly, now he could see to move around. “Am I interrupting your treatment?”

“No. It’s a protocol Jamie wants me to follow when I don’t have visitors.” Lee moved his shoulders, pulling himself higher in the bunk. “Since I don’t need it to see, the less light the better. He said it’s most important after irrigation, because of the light exposure, so Boots rigged a kill switch I can use from the bunk when the cabin is clear. Which doesn’t happen too often. Malone decided now would be a good time to go do my treatment laundry. Saline washes aren’t my favorite thing.” Crane shook his head. “A senior electrician’s mate doing laundry...”

“Malone was a good choice.”

“Except I know why Chip chose Boots.” Crane gestured in the general direction of his desk. “Pull up the chair if you want to talk. I’m not going anywhere.”

“I know.” Nelson slid into the chair.

“Chip sent you to cheer me up after I took his head off this morning, didn’t he? He won’t stop, even after I told him.”

“Do you really want him to?”

“No,” Lee admitted softly, “but he could be less obvious about it.”

“Not his way.” Harry laid his papers out under the desk lamp. “Only Chip didn’t send me here to cheer you up. Morton requested I brief you on the software problem. He thinks you can help.”

“I’d like to.” Crane’s hand moved in his mitten and the side wall light came on as well. Nelson smiled and started organizing his papers. Morton’s instincts were right on. “This is what we’ve been able to be figure out so far.”

* * * * * *

“Is he together, Boots?” Chip entered the cabin and quickly closed the door when he realized Malone wasn’t quite done dressing Lee.

“You again.” Lee spoke up from the desk chair. “I thought I gave you a boat to run.”

“That’s what I’m doing,” Chip replied. “How much longer, Malone?”

“Two minutes. I need your right arm, Skipper.” Lee extended it. Chip watched with satisfaction as Boots carefully worked the opened khaki sleeve up over the burn mitten. “Okay, now the left arm.”

“That’s not chambray,” Lee said, puzzled. “It feels like – ”

”Khaki?” Chip grinned down at his friend.

“Yes.” Crane started to smile as Boots worked his uniform shirt into place and began buttoning up the buttons.

“You made it pretty clear you didn’t want to wear chambray to the control room, so Boots went to work. Did a nice job.”

Malone folded the opened sleeves into neat cuffs. “I need you to stand up, sir, so I can tuck in your shirt.” Lee stood and Boots finished. “Okay, that’s done.”

“Want a tie?” Chip asked.

Lee thought for a moment. “No, I’ll hold off until I can shave. That’s why you insisted on trimming my beard this morning, isn’t it, Boots? You were in on this.”

“Guilty, Skipper,” Malone answered quietly. “I knew you’d want to look good.”

“You really didn’t have to change my shirt from lunch, did you?”

“To dress you in what the Exec wanted, yes I did, sir.”

Crane turned to face him. “Why am I going to the control room, Chip?”

“Don’t you usually meet with Nick right now?”

“Yes, but he’s been coming here.”

“Well, today you’re going to him.”

“Why?”

“Why not?” Chip countered. “You know how many steps out of the hatch and down the stairs to get there.”

Crane gazed at him intently. “You’re letting me do that?”

“The front porch is waiting. Say the word and we’re out of here.”

Lee extended his right hand to him. “Plot the course, Chip.”

* * * * * *

Nelson came down the spiral stair, looking for a break from reading program codes. He stopped in surprise. A very relaxed Lee Crane was sitting in the nose. Lee could not enjoy the view out the front ports, but Harry could tell from the small smile on Crane’s face and the tilt of his body that Lee was reveling in every sensation he could feel from the deck and any sound he could hear from the control room. Like catnip, Nelson thought and grinned.

Lee had on his uniform shirt, the first time Harry had seen it since the fire, but he doubted Jamieson had authorized this visit. It looked more like Chip’s handiwork, in cahoots with Malone. Boots had definitely spent some time making Crane presentable. Lee looked happier and more alert than he had been in several days, even if he was still covered by bandages.

Harry could see where Chip had gotten his mummy inspiration from. Nelson had already heard several crew members making scuttlebutt references to “Imhotep.” He was certain Chip had no idea what he had started with that first innocent jest. Lee had been a good sport about being razzed, but Nelson knew he didn’t find the jokes nearly as amusing as everyone else did.

“Hello, son.” Harry announced himself, even though Crane had heard him come down the stairs. “Mind if I join you?”

“There should be another chair or two around here. Help yourself. Nick and I are all caught up. I probably have to go back up soon for treatment, but it was nice while it lasted.”

“You look better today.”

“Boots strikes again.” Lee smiled.

Nelson laughed. “He does have that reputation.”

“Would you like something to drink?”

“Sure.”

“Sit tight a moment. I’m sure one of my keepers is around here somewhere.”

Malone came up on Harry’s left side. “Coffee or hot chocolate, sir?”

Harry thought a moment. “Milk will put me to sleep. I still have pages of code to go through, so it will have to be coffee, Boots, black.”

“Yes, Admiral.”

“They didn’t give me a choice,” Lee observed. “I got the milk.”

“At least there was chocolate in it,” Harry replied.

“True, but that won’t stop it from putting me to sleep.”

“They want you to get well, Lee.”

“I’m working on it, sir.”

“I know you are. Will is pleased with your progress.”

“Frank is very efficient.”

Harry rose from his chair to stand behind the one Lee was sitting in. He dropped his hand down onto Crane’s shoulder. “Will and Frank both know how hard it is for you to be at everybody’s mercy and not be able to do anything for yourself.”

“It has to be done,” Lee answered softly. “I’ll get through it. The sooner I can get rid of this Egyptian headgear, the better.”

Nelson cocked his head. “It doesn’t look so bad, son.”

Lee smiled patiently. “It’s not the look that’s bad. It’s the jokes.”

“You never did like puns. After all your years with Chip, you should at least learn to appreciate them.”

Crane glanced up. “Lord knows I’ve tried. The antipathy is still there. It must be me.”

“Different strengths,” Harry replied quietly. “It’s what makes you a good team.”

“One of whom is carrying most of the load.” Lee dropped his head again.

“Chip is where he wants to be. You won’t be down much longer.”

“I’m counting the days.”

“So is the medical staff.”

“If you were sent to cheer me up, that isn’t going to help.”

“I didn’t know you were here. I came looking for coffee. I’m glad to see you’re on the mend.” Harry pressed down on Crane’s shoulder. “Have some more milk with me?”

Lee’s head came back up at that. Nelson wished he could see Crane’s expression under the bandages, but realized it was probably best he couldn’t. Lee gathered himself in the chair and Harry prepared to be told what he could do with his suggestion.

“Your coffee, sir,” Boots announced, setting a steaming mug down on the table.

“Thank you, Malone. Bring the Captain another hot chocolate.”

“Aye, sir.”

He felt Lee slowly relaxing under his hand. Crane began laughing. “I’m surprised you and Chip haven’t patented that routine by now,” Lee said, as he shook his head in amusement.

“What routine?” Nelson protested innocently, although he knew exactly what Lee was referring to. Problem was, it only worked on Crane.

He pressed Lee’s shoulder again. “I’m going to sit down and have coffee with my Captain. If that’s okay with you.”

Crane smiled. “Maybe I’ll give you some of my whipped cream. Reading codes is hard work.”

“Yes, it is. But I have help.”

“So do I, sir. More than I want at times. I will get better, if only for the satisfaction of sending every last one of you mother hens packing.”

Nelson laughed. “You’ve got a deal, son.”

* * * * * *

“Can I come in, Skipper?”

Lee hit his switch for the side wall light. “Sure, Ski. Are you alone or with your entourage?”

“They decided to go do laundry with Boots. I made myself scarce before they decided I needed a wash, too.”

Crane laughed. “Frank just finished my treatment. You must be tired of being rinsed by now. Pull up a bunk and tell me how you’re doing.” Lee folded his legs to make room.

Ski eased down on the end of his bunk. “Doc says I’m healing ahead of schedule. Which is good, I guess.”

“Tired of all the attention?” Lee could relate to that.

“They mean well, but they are always so – ”

”Cheerful.”

“Yeah,” Kowalski agreed. “Gets a little annoying after a while.”

“I know, Ski. Believe me.”

“Is it hard not being able to see? I never realized how much I did with my hands, until I couldn’t. Of course, Pat won’t let me do anything at all.”

“Be glad they care, Ski. As for not seeing, I’ve almost got used to it, except when I fall over something.”

“I can’t believe Boots would let you fall over anything, sir,” Kowalski answered dryly.

Crane smiled. “He’s almost as bad as you are in that regard.”

Kowalski laughed. “I see he’s been working on your clothes.”

“Did Boots do your jumpsuit sleeves?”

“Yes. He made me a serape out of a blanket, too.”

“That must look odd on.”

“No one said a word. They would merely redress me in it. Kept me warm, I guess. You’ve still got papers on your desk. Is Nick coming back later?”

Lee shrugged. “No, we’re done. That’s something the Admiral left for me. I have to wait until someone has free time to read the program code to me. Did about ten pages so far. We’re looking for an anomaly or a bad command set or something.”

“That’s a lot of code to go through, sir.”

“Yes, I know. The Admiral and Nick have been searching for it longer than I have. It may not even be there.”

Kowalski eased off the bunk. “I don’t have anything to do right now. Would you like me to sit at the desk and read some more of it to you? At least I’d be doing something useful.”

“Can you flip pages with burn mittens on?”

“I don’t know, Skipper. Why don’t we find out?”

“Carry on, Kowalski.”

“Aye, sir.” Ski slid into the desk chair and started reading aloud.

* * * * * *

“Hold up, Ski.” Crane sat up in the bunk suddenly. “Read me that line again.” Kowalski complied. “And the line below.” Again he read as instructed. “Now go back two lines and read that one.”

“Did you find something, Skipper?” Ski asked when he was finished.

“I’m not sure. Start at the top of the page and let me know when you reach the bottom.” Going through a second time, Ski could see where the characters changed as well. It looked like the same program on the page, but the character arrangement was different when it shouldn’t be. At least from what Nick had been trying to teach him when he had time.

“Do you hear it?”

“I see it, Skipper. Starting at line 26.”

“Then mark that page.”

“With what?”

“There should be something in the desk drawer.”

“Maybe so, but I can’t pick it up to write.”

“Try, Ski.”

It took him a couple of swipes to even get the drawer open. Then the pen kept rolling away from him. Kowalski finally got it corralled against the side and between two of his healing fingers. “X will have to mark the spot until you can show it to Nick, sir.”

“Fine. It’s probably nothing useful, neither one of us is an expert on command codes. I’ll tell Boots to tell Nick we found it and then Peatty can decide if he wants to pursue it from there.”

Kowalski laboriously marked a large x right next to line 26, then thankfully dropped the pen back into the desk. His fingers were throbbing through the gore-tex. Not quite healed yet, but he felt proud he had been able to help the Captain when he needed him. It was worth the pain. “Does Nick have a pick-up point?”

“The green-tabbed folder.”

“This is too thick for it.”

“Lay it on top, then.” Crane leaned back onto his pillow, looking worn out.

“You okay, Skipper?” Ski asked quietly.

Crane sighed. “I asked Jamie why I don’t have any energy, and he said it’s because I’m still healing. I don’t understand. I’m not really doing anything that strenuous. Boots, Chip, and Nick come and go, plus Frank and his team are in and out of here three times a day. The activity keeps me from being too bored, but I invariably fall asleep after my second treatment. I can’t seem to stay awake this time of day, no matter who’s here and what needs to be done.”

Kowalski stood up from the chair. “Then it’s more than time for me to shove off to the laundry room and collect my helpers. Why don’t you sleep until Boots brings your dinner tray, since you do have one more round with Frank before lights out?”

“The lights are already out for me, Ski,” Crane replied softly. “But that’s a good idea. Close the door on your way out. I’ll turn out the light.”

“I heard. Boots strikes again.”

“The quiet ones are the ones you have to watch out for. Stu may never figure that out.”

Ski laughed. “That’s half the fun. I’ll come again tomorrow, Skipper.”

“You do that.”

* * * * * *

It seemed Lee had barely closed his eyes before he felt Boots gently shaking him awake. “Skipper?”

Lee rolled over onto his back. “Time to eat?”

“You could say that,” Chip’s droll voice came from the desk area.

“Where did you find him?” Lee asked, sitting up slightly higher in the bed.

“Same place he found us,” Patterson replied.

“Us?” Crane questioned.

“Galley said there had to be six for a special order, so we got drafted,” Riley answered.

Lee turned his head. “And where there is Pat and Stu... there has to be Ski.”

“I found them in the Galley, so yes, I’m drafted, too,” Kowalski replied from the base of his bed.

“Something smells good.”

“That’s dinner. We’ll eat as soon as Boots ties your napkins on,” Chip replied.

Lee felt a linen napkin being tucked under his T-shirt and two more being placed around his mittens. “Sit up, Skipper. Bring your legs up,” Malone directed. Someone sat down on the end of his bunk.

“Boots and Ski are with you and I’ve got Stu and Pat,” Morton explained.

“And the desk chair,” Pat observed.

“RHIP,” Chip replied. “Now give that one to Boots and let’s eat.”

The smell of melted cheese wafted up from the middle of Lee’s bunk.

“There is a sliced pizza at twelve o’clock, Skipper. Do you want the first piece or would you rather help yourself?” Boots asked quietly.

Lee extended his right mitten. It smelled too good to be knocked on the floor. “Hit me.”

A warm slice was laid in his hand. Lee brought it up carefully and bit down on the end. It tasted even better. “Here, Ski,” Malone said. “And one for me, since I know I’m not going to get any of their pie. Let me know when you two want another slice.”

“We must be a sight, Boots,” Crane stated about half way through the slice.

“You’re fine. Tastes great, doesn’t it, Ski?”

“You bet. You gotta tell Jimmy those protein supplements need some cocoa in them or something. Man.”

“SLS,” Boots said with sympathy.

Lee downed the last corner of his slice. “SLS?”

“Now you’ve done it,” Kowalski said, as the room got suddenly quiet.

“Would you like another slice, Skipper?” Boots asked.

“Yes.” Lee extended his right mitten. “Then you can answer the question.”

“It’s rack talk, Lee,” Chip broke in. “Don’t make him tell you.”

“Then how do you know about it?”

“I’m the Exec. Sometimes that means I’m deaf as well as blind.”

“You drag the four of them in here to eat with me and they can’t talk freely? I don’t think so, Chip.”

“All right, Malone, tell him. Don’t worry about the language.”

“Your slice is getting cold, sir. You eat, I’ll explain.” Crane dutifully took a bite. “None of us like being sick, so we made up our own code for it. A shorthand commiseration if you will.”

“And?” Lee took another bite.

“Finish chewing. If I have to heimlich you, Doc will have my ears.”

Crane swallowed down the pizza and waited.

“SLS stands for sick list sucks.”

“You couldn’t possibly relate to that, could you, Skipper?” Patterson asked.

“Not at all, Pat,” Lee answered quietly and grinned. “Who’s responsible for this special order?”

“It evolved out of our mutual experiences trying to feed you two,” Chip admitted. “We put our heads together and it came up pizza. We know how much the two of you love those protein drinks.”

“Yeah, we ordered every single meat they had for yours,” Riley interjected. “Let’s see. There’s California pizza, Chicago pizza, New York pizza –”

“It’s Egyptian pizza,” Kowalski declared.

“Just like mummy used to make,” Patterson replied.

Lee could feel his bunk shaking as Kowalski started laughing. He took another contented bite of pizza.

“You’re not laughing, Imhotep,” Chip stated once the hilarity had died down a little.

“If you want yours to get cold, be my guest,” Crane replied. “I’m going to enjoy mine hot, no matter how many bad jokes this crew comes up with. Pass another round, Boots.”

“Yes, Skipper.”

* * * * * *

The alarm claxon brought Lee wide awake. He had no idea what time it was but the clanking of the hatch, indicating Morton’s hasty departure, made it sometime in the middle of the night. Lee sat up and listened to the orders coming over the comm. The more he heard, the less Crane liked it. A second alarm started blaring and Peatty was paged to the control room. That had to be a computer problem.

Computer problem? Damn. He was supposed to have told Boots about what Ski had found in the printout earlier that afternoon and he hadn’t. He had fallen asleep. Crane rose from his bunk and walked over to the desk, casting around for the codes he had left there for Nick. The desk had been cleared. For the pizza. No telling where the program was now. They had all been here for dinner, but he was too busy enjoying himself to remember to mention it needed to be delivered down to the radio shack. Damn!

Lee walked over to where he knew the microphone was on the wall. He tried to close his hand around the mic but it slipped out of his grasp, falling to the floor. Crane started to trace the cord. Suddenly he was pitched across the cabin and up against his bunk. Half falling into it, Lee braced as the sub made a violent course change. The collision alarm sounded, only to be quickly shut off.

Lee hauled himself upright with an effort, listening intently to the different orders and damage control reports coming over the comm system. The engines were refusing to power down from flank, no matter what Chip was trying to do down in Engineering. Crane needed to be in the control room. Bobby ordered yet another course change. They must be running out of maneuvering room. There was no longer any time to find where the mic had fallen. Lee would not fail his boat a third time.

Crane reached up with his mittened hand, twisting his fingers inside the gore tex until he could grasp the clip that held his head bandage in place. He undid it. If the boat was going down, he refused to remain a useless invalid any longer. He would die where he belonged, with his men in the control room. Lee deliberately wound the now loose end of his bandage around his mitten and began unwrapping his eyes. He had to see in order to take back his command.

The bandage came off and Lee blinked experimentally. Everything was red. Crane blinked again and the fuzzy brown shape below his mittens became his desk. Stacked neatly in the far corner was Nick’s green tabbed folder with the printout on top. He could see. Crane shook the bandage free from his mitten. His eyes hurt, but they were focusing.

Lee glanced down. He needed pants on and shoes for the stairs. Crane yanked open the bottom drawer of his wardrobe where his shore clothes were stored. Awkwardly pulling free a pair of sweat pants and carrying them over to the bed, he sat down. Lee squirmed into the pants, not caring how much it hurt to grasp the elastic waistband with his mittens. Then he walked back to the wardrobe, swiped his deck shoes off their pegs onto the floor and slid his feet into the only shoes he had without laces.

Crane grabbed up the printout as he passed the desk headed for the door and nearly dropped it as it slid on his burn mitten. He quickly sandwiched the accordion paper between both mittens and pushed it under his left arm. Let Nick decide if they had found what he was looking for. It might not be any help at all, but Lee wasn’t about to leave it behind. He debated for a moment whether or not to tear off his cumbersome burn mittens, but decided there wasn’t time as another violent course change bent him back over the desk. They had to get the engines shut down or they would collide with something. And at this speed...

Crane grabbed the latch and pulled the door open, trying to ignore his throbbing hands. Everything was still red as Lee walked over to the hatch, turned the wheel and went through. The pain in his hands flared as he turned the wheel on the other side to dog the hatch closed behind him. If they did go down, every hatch needed to be closed.

As he started down the stairs, Lee realized that the sub was rigged for red. He hadn’t heard that alarm sound. Another system failure. They couldn’t take much more damage if that was down. Crane carefully placed his feet on each of the narrow steps until he made it to the bottom, then began walking down the right side of the control room.

“Captain?” Bobby looked up in surprise as he passed him.

“Keep the conn, Mr. O’Brien! Don’t let us hit anything! I’ll be in the radio shack.”

“Aye, sir.” The Diving Officer ordered yet another course change in response to a shouted warning from sonar.

“As you were!” Lee ordered as most of the watch paused to stare at him. They were too well trained not to obey him, particularly when he used that tone, and they quickly resumed their tasks.

Nick was reading the computer error log when he came in. “Captain! What are you doing here?” Peatty studied him a moment. “You can see.”

“I needed to give you this about eight hours ago. Ski and I found something not right in my copy of the code.”

Nick picked up a magnifier. “This blasted red light is hard to read in. Where it’s marked?” Lee nodded. Peatty bent close. “Skipper, this is old code. It doesn’t belong in the latest upgrade. These characters have different command functions in the newer version.”

“Is that what is causing our systems to crash?”

“If it’s still embedded and executing, yes. I’ll have to bring down the entire system to purge it. Then I’ll reinstall, but if our master program disk was corrupted, a reload still won’t fix the glitch – ”

“Then shut the computer down on my authority. We have to get the engines under control now.”

Nick turned sideways in his chair and hit the comm switch. “Attention, all hands, by order of the Captain, commencing main computer shutdown. All systems switch to manual override. I repeat, all systems to manual override. This is not a drill.” Peatty turned back to his computer console and began typing commands.

A hand fell on Lee’s shoulder and he turned to see who it was. And wished he hadn’t.

“I won’t ask what you’re doing. I heard. Thankfully Nick had sense enough to tell me where you were.” Behind Jamieson, Boots hovered. His discarded eye bandage was in Malone’s hand. “At least your hands are still wrapped. Step over here and let me assess what you’ve done to the rest of you. Nick can handle your order by himself.”

“Jamie, I –”

”I know. Ski told Boots what you found. Boots came up to take the printout to Nick when he realized you hadn’t asked him to deliver it, but you were gone by then. Now, follow my finger.” Jamieson made a quick X motion. Lee complied. “Not bad. Did that hurt?”

“A little bit, but not that much.”

‘Double vision, blurriness?”

“No.”

“You’re a little early, but as long as you don’t take these off until I tell you to, you should be okay.” Jamieson pulled a pair of sunglasses out of his front shirt pocket. He flipped the ear pieces open and fit them carefully over Lee’s eyes. “You are damn lucky we’re stuck on red and you are healed to the point this kind of light exposure didn’t re-damage your retinas. Full light would have and as you had no way of knowing what lights were on, taking off your bandage was not very bright, no matter what danger the boat was in.”

“I can’t see anything with these on, Jamie,” Lee growled as he tried to use the dark tinted lenses.

“You’re not supposed to,” Will replied smugly. “They will protect you when the normal lighting is restored. You’ll able to see enough to get around in that light. Until then, keep your eyes closed as much as possible and as soon as the crisis is over, you are going back upstairs. Boots will make sure you do.”

Lee turned so he faced where the electrician’s mate had been standing. “Where did you leave Mr. Morton?”

“In Engineering,” Malone replied.

“As I don’t need you at this particular moment, go back and finish helping him.”

“Am I fired, sir?” Boots asked quietly.

Crane grinned. “Not quite yet. Report to my cabin when you finish damage control. We’ll discuss your future with me then.”

“Aye, sir.” Malone left through the aft hatch.

“Boots was doing his job,” Jamieson reminded him. “That’s why Chip picked him.”

“Malone knows he’s not in trouble, even if you don’t.”

“Looking after you is punishment enough, eh?” the Doctor retorted.

Someone came through the hatch and stopped. “Nice shades.” It was the Admiral. “Any damage I should know about?” Nelson asked.

“Nick thinks Ski found the software glitch,” Lee answered before the Doctor could get a word out.

“I gave that problem to you.”

“Yes, but I couldn’t read at the time. Ski wanted to be useful.”

“What’s your excuse?” Nelson’s voice was gruff.

“I don’t have one,” Lee admitted. “Other than the boat was in trouble and I had the answer sitting on my desk.”

“It’s all right, Harry. I’ll come collect him later, if I need to.” Jamieson’s tone indicated Lee had better follow the orders he had been given. Then he heard the Doctor walk out of the radio shack. Behind him, the computer powered down. O’Brien’s voice came over the comm, asking all systems to report their manual status.

Nelson raised his hand and clapped Lee on the shoulder. “Well then, let’s go get the boat under control.”

“Aye, sir.” Lee reached out with his right hand. “Can you help me find the chart table until the lights come back on? I can’t see a thing with these glasses on.”

Crane felt the Admiral’s hand move down to his upper arm. “Stick close to me. I won’t run you into anything and when I stop, that means the stool is right beside you. You can park there until we get all the systems straightened out.”

“Thanks.”

Nelson laughed softly. “I should be thanking you. It’s good to have you back, son.”

Crane smiled. “It’s good to be back, sir.”

* * * * * *

Lee wished he could see what Jamieson was slathering all over his hands, as he sat on the exam table in Sick Bay, but with his luck lately it would be a puke green color or something else as disagreeable. He willed himself to have patience. Crane knew he had gotten off very lightly last night. Boots had come back with Chip. He had waited patiently for him until Lee was told none too gently to go to bed. Malone had followed him up the staircase and began undressing him, like he had the previous six nights.

Frank had shown up unannounced as Boots was turning the covers down. He had killed all the lights except the desk lamp which he had Boots tilt away, before he removed the sunglasses and put soothing drops into Lee’s eyes. Then the paramedic had bandaged his eyes over again and told him good night. Malone had put him to bed and left.

Lee still wasn’t sure they wouldn’t lecture him, now it was a more decent hour, but so far Jamie hadn’t. Crane felt soft cotton work gloves being placed over his goo-covered hands. It felt weird to have fingers after a week of being bagged in gore-tex.

“If your burns get dry and start itching, you get down here. Don’t take those gloves off. You need the barrier until your burns completely heal,” Jamieson directed.

“It’s no good to have fingers again if you can’t see what they are doing,” Lee answered pointedly.

“The crew likes this look on you. Gives you character, Imhotep,” the Doctor replied.

“Not you, too, Jamie. What is this pyramid scheme you all have going? To see which one of you drives me nuts first?”

“It wasn’t a scheme, Lee. It was a mutual decision we all made willingly to help you get well so you wouldn’t lose your command. I’m pleased to say we succeeded. Now, do you want that bandage off?”

“You have to ask?”

“All right. One step at a time. Keep your eyes closed until I tell you to open them.”

Jamieson began unwrapping the bandage carefully until it was gone. “Hold still a minute.”

His eyelids were swabbed with a saturated cloth several times. “All right, don’t look up at any of the lights, but let your eyes open naturally. Let me know when you can see your hands clearly in your lap.”

Lee blinked away the slight fuzziness. His hands in white cotton gloves came into focus. “I see my new gloves fine, Jamie.”

“Now look up at me.” It was good to finally see Jamieson smiling back at him. Crane grinned back. He had some good friends. “That hurt?”

“No, feels like I want to squint.”

The Doctor pulled the sunglasses out of his shirt pocket. “Wear these until you don’t squint any more.” He handed the dark lenses over. “Go on. Now you have fingers, use them.”

Lee donned the sunglasses and the slight pain vanished. “Am I cured?”

“As long as you only read what is absolutely necessary for the next week or so, I’ll certify you for light duty. And I do mean light duty, mister.”

“If I can write, I have a log that needs some serious updating. Is that light enough?”

“Seeing as Nick is too busy fixing the software to write for you anymore, I’d say yes. If you find those gloves too bulky, I’ll lend you a couple pairs of my latex ones. Let me know how it goes.”

“I thought you were getting regular reports on me from all my helpers.”

“They have their duties to resume. It’s your responsibility, now. Don’t make me come check on you, because you know I will.”

“Yes, Jamie.”

“And if I don’t like what I’m hearing or seeing, I’ll send Frank.”

Lee put up his gloved hands in mock horror. “Anyone but him.”

“I heard that!” Frank’s voice came from behind him. “Shall I tell Igor we need another batch of warm saline brewed...” The paramedic came around to the front of the bunk, rubbing his hands together gleefully, giving Lee a once over.

Crane let himself shudder. “If I never see that stuff again, it will be too soon.”

Frank touched his shoulder lightly. “Don’t ever let anyone impugn your courage, Skipper. That was one of the roughest treatment schedules I’ve ever had to carry out and you never once complained. I’m proud to serve with you, sir.”

Crane reached out with his gloved hand, laying it lightly on the paramedic’s arm. “I owe you my sight and my command. I won’t forget. Thank you.” Lee dropped his hand.

Jamieson gripped his shoulder. “Go to the control room and relieve Chip. Tell him I said to take the next 24 hours off and sleep. Craig can use the experience.”

“Hoisted by his own petard. I like that, Jamie. And if he won’t go willingly, I’ll call you to send Frank to haul him away!”

Lee was pleased when they both laughed. It felt good to laugh. Crane lowered his feet to the deck and stood up off the exam table. Between the gloves and sunglasses, they would probably find another disgusting moniker for him. Lee didn’t care. He was back in command.

* * * * * *

It was mid morning watch before Lee made it down to the control room. He had waited deliberately, no sense showing the watch how anxious he was to resume a more normal routine.

He expected Rod. Instead nearly all the juniors were gathered around the chart table. They were waiting for him, judging from the smiles that flashed among them as he appeared. Lee knew then he should have gone next door and checked to make sure Morton was still asleep as ordered. His Exec wore the largest grin of all. Behind Morton, he could see the Forecastle had resumed their A-watch stations.

“Ah, the rock star has finally deigned to join us,” Chip greeted him. “Cool shades, o gloved one!”

Lee scowled. “What are you planning?”

“Not me.” Chip was the soul of innocence. “I’m here to welcome you back.”

“Yeah, right,” Lee replied. “I would never date anyone named Billy Jean, so you’ll have to find another rock star.”

“We did.” Morton leaned out so he had line of sight to the radio shack. “That’s your cue, sir,” he called down the length of the room.

Music started coming out of the comm system. Nelson came out of the radio shack with a broad smile on his face. Crane could feel the junior officers gathering around him. The Admiral came up to him and clapped him on the shoulder. “Welcome back, Lee.”

“I’m glad to be back, sir, but you didn’t need to do– ”

“Yes, we did, Lee. I found the perfect song for us to celebrate with.”

“That’s rock and roll.”

“Music is music. Listen to it. Then you’ll know how glad we are you’re back.”

Chip slipped up behind him and put an arm over his shoulder. “It says what we all feel.”

Lee forced himself to listen to the lyrics streaming out of the speaker. The first stanza brought forth a grin, which quickly turned to laughter.

“All the old paintings on the tombs, they do the sand dance, don’t you know
If they move too quick (oh whey oh), they’re falling down like a domino.
All the bazaar men by the Nile they got money on a bet
Gold Crocodiles (oh whey oh) they snap their teeth on your cigarette.”

As Crane glanced around, trying to spot any guilty-looking party, he realized the whole control room was laughing with him.

“Foreign types with the hookah pipes say Ay oh whey oh, ay oh way oh
Walk like an Egyptian. Slide your feet up the street bend your back
shift your arm then you pull it back. Life is hard you know (oh whey oh)
So strike a pose on a Cadillac.”

Lee felt a wave of movement around him, a subtle swaying as the music blared louder.

“All the kids in the marketplace say Ay oh whey oh, ay oh way oh
Walk like an Egyptian.
All the cops in the donut shop say, Ay oh whey oh, ay oh way oh
Walk like an Egyptian.”¹

The juniors were getting caught up in the beat and Crane realized he was about to get a practical demonstration. He smiled. He was back where he belonged. It might actually be fun to see if Morton would unbend enough to join the juniors in their celebration. Perhaps a sudden nudge into the center of the line might be the best way to pay back his friend for all he had done for him the previous ten days.

The End

1 Copyright The Bangles “Walk Like an Egyptian.”

©Diane Kachmar, 2003. All rights reserved.