Mother’s Day

By R. L. Keller

Apologies – Every so often, just when I think I have a story well in hand, the guys throw me a curve ball and take over. This is one of those times. Even the ladies got in a few jabs. So readers, continue at the risk to your own sanity 😊 PS – Liz, you asked for a wet Lee <ggggg>

Admiral Harriman Nelson (Ret.), founder and head of the Nelson Institute of Marine Research, was enjoying a peaceful morning. Seaview, his futuristically designed submarine, had returned the previous afternoon from a quiet trip re-supplying Logan Sealab and, as she wasn’t due out again for almost two weeks, most of her crew had been given Shore Leave. Nelson had set himself the task of getting through the several mounds of mail that had accumulated during his absence. Angie, his PA, had everything sorted, of course, and had actually managed to deal with a great lot of it, merely leaving Nelson detailed notes on what she’d done. Nelson grinned. Looks like it’s time to give her another raise, he told himself. His time spent in the office had greatly diminished over the years as she was able to handle more of the daily functions at the Institute.

So it was with great surprise that he picked up the next folder in the stack that he was working on to see a sticky note that said, ‘Sorry, sir, but this one you’ll have to deal with. I’m not touching it!’ Nelson snorted softly, sent a look toward his closed office door, beyond which sat the incredibly competent woman, and somewhat hesitantly opened the folder.

There was no hint to Angie’s comment from the top sheet – it was merely a notification that one of NIMR’s department heads, Dr. Merle Evans, had been given a rather prestigious award from The World Association of Microbiology for his research into using ocean-born microbes to come up with new cancer-fighting drugs. Nelson had known, of course, about the nomination for the award – Dr. Evans was doing some incredible research based on bacteria found around thermal vents on the ocean floor and Nelson was extremely pleased to have him as part of NIMR’s staff. Sending another puzzled look towards the door, and Angie beyond, he turned to the second page.

About halfway down the report he nearly dropped his cigarette as he half-choked, half-snorted. “Oh, brother,” he muttered as he continued to read. “No wonder Angie wouldn’t go near Merle’s request.” He laughed out loud, finished reading the page, and went in search of Dr. Evans. This was going to require a face-to-face! As he passed Angie on his way out of the Admin Building he held up the folder. “Coward,” he challenged her, although his eyes were sparkling.

“Yes, sir,” Angie told him in complete sincerity, and Nelson laughed out loud before heading across the compound toward the Microbiology Lab with a broad grin on his face.

Evans had an expectant look on his face as Nelson entered his lab, causing Nelson’s grin to broaden. “I gather Angie warned you I was on the way over,” Nelson guessed pleasantly.

Evans nodded. “Apparently I’ve stirred up a hornet’s nest for some reason. That certainly wasn’t my intention, Admiral.”

“Perhaps you’d better start at the beginning,” Nelson advised, and the pair retreated to Evans’ office.

“After the announcement of the award I was approached by the editor of The American Journal of Biotechnology to give an in-depth interview. I was flattered, of course…” Nelson nodded his agreement. “But when told who the editor wanted to assign to do it I hesitated, and eventually declined.”

“Why?” Nelson’s voice held curiosity, only.

“I’ve read other interviews the guy has done.” He frowned. “I wasn’t impressed.” Both of Nelson’s eyebrows raised. “I was at a conference last year where one of the presenters was a man that he’d interviewed. I wasn’t too sure that I wanted to hear him speak – the reporter had made him sound like a pompous ashcan.” Nelson’s smile returned. “Yeah,” Evans agreed. “And yet his lecture was wonderful, and when I spoke with him later I found him quite likeable; very unlike how he’d come across in the article. I mentioned it to a couple of friends who were also there and was told that the reporter was somewhat known in certain circles. Seems he washed out of grad school – he was studying in the field of molecular science. Now he seems to have a chip on his shoulder against Ph.D’s.”

“How does he keep his job?”

“He’s the editor’s son-in-law,” Evans muttered with a frown.

“Oh,” Nelson commiserated. “But…” He held up the folder he’d kept on his lap.

Evans grinned a bit sheepishly. “I was fortunate enough to meet her that time she was here. Didn’t make the connection to her written works until after she’d left.” Nelson’s grin returned. “Figured, with her connection already to NIMR she might be the perfect person to give both me, and the Institute, a favorable report. If the Journal won't publish it I bet that I can find one that will. Especially with her name on it.” He sent Nelson a look. “I don’t understand the problem, but obviously I’m missing something.”

“You haven’t said anything to her son?”

“Meant to once Seaview got home. Figured that I’d eventually run into him in the Cafeteria.” He sent Nelson a puzzled look as a very strange expression passed all too quickly across Nelson’s face. “I’d already given the paperwork to Angie.” He nodded toward the folder.

“Actually, I quite like the idea,” Nelson told him. “And you’re right; I’m sure that she’d do a wonderful article.” He grinned. “Perhaps even a second Pulitzer Prize.” He frowned. “Or would it be her third,” he questioned himself softly, and sent Evans another grin. “However, just for now, please don’t say anything, to anyone, until I have a chance to.”

“Surely he wouldn’t mind,” Evans almost blustered. “She’s…”

Nelson stopped him with a raised hand. “It shouldn’t be a problem at all. If she’s even available,” Nelson added. “Let me check things out first.”

“Of course, Admiral.” Evans still sounded puzzled but Nelson didn’t elaborate, just headed back to his office. As he’d told Evans, the man’s choice for who he wanted to write the article very much appealed to Nelson; you don’t win a Pulitzer without a great deal of talent. But the woman who the world knew as Helen Graham Lee, award-winning freelance writer, had a side far fewer people knew about – Mrs. Helen Crane, mother of Cdr. Lee Crane, Seaview’s captain.

Nelson walked back to his office pondering just how to handle the matter. Oh, he had no doubts that Lee wouldn’t object to Mrs. Crane writing about Dr. Evans and his research, which would obviously include NIMR. She’d even alluded to the possibility of something involving the Institute before she’d left, after helping keep an eye on Lee while he’d recuperated following an injury.* At the time Nelson had watched Lee roll his eyes but make no comment and, as far as Nelson knew, the subject had been dropped.

It was, however, because of that visit that Nelson ended up with Mrs. Crane’s cell phone number, something that not a lot of people had. She always said that the phone was for her convenience, not everyone else’s, and simply didn’t give it out. But she’d been extremely upset that Lee hadn’t told her of the injury and, while Lee’s best friend and XO aboard Seaview, Chip Morton, did have the number, Helen made sure that she gave it to Nelson as well before she left.

Nelson gave Angie a quirky bit of a smile as he passed her desk. She sent him an upraised eyebrow. “Working on it,” was, however, all that he said before disappearing into his office and very firmly closing the door.

Having absolutely no idea where in the world – literally – Helen Crane might be at that moment, he chose to play it safe and merely sent her a text, asking her to call him when it was convenient. By saying it that way he hoped that she wouldn’t panic and think something was wrong with her son. He really didn’t think that Lee would have issues with his mother being at NIMR. Just… Nelson would rather have things a good deal more lined out before Lee found out. And, no sense even bringing it up if Mrs. Crane was either unavailable, or uninterested. But he’d barely managed to pour himself a cup of coffee after sending the text before his phone rang, and he answered it with a smile both on his face and in his voice. “Good morning, Mrs. Crane. Well, at least it’s morning in California,” he added with a small chuckle.

“Early evening in Seville, Spain,” came back, also pleasantly. “And its Helen.” Nelson chuckled at the slight bit of ‘order’ in the woman’s voice. Before she’d left after her previous visit the pair had progressed to first names, much to Lee’s slight discomfort. Not, of course, that they’d become friends, only that Lee, Navy to a T, could never even think of addressing Nelson as anything other than ‘Admiral’ or ‘Sir’. “What has the brat done now?”

Nelson burst out laughing. He’d discovered that she tended to call Lee that when the pair were teasing each other about something. It so went against the image of Seaview’s incredibly talented, highly trained and competent captain that the term totally undid Nelson each time he heard it. But he quickly got himself back under control. “He’s fine, Helen. Seaview’s just back from a cruise and he was last seen trying to unbury himself from all the paperwork waiting for him.”

Helen chuckled. “He does tend to mutter about all the reports.”

“My fault, a lot of them,” Nelson admitted. “He’s become invaluable to me, helping handle a myriad of NIMR details that helps me have more time for my research. I perhaps don’t tell him often enough just how much I appreciate the help.”

“Oh, he knows,” Helen assured him. “Doesn’t keep him from muttering, nonetheless.” They both chuckled.

“I gather that you’re on assignment,” Nelson got back to business. “What took you to Spain?”

“A follow-up, actually, on a piece I’d done a couple years ago about flamenco dancers. But mostly I’m just enjoying the music and the food. The latter, I’m afraid, a little too much.” She snickered. “I’m considering taking dance lessons to work off the pounds I’m starting to pack on.” They both laughed; Helen Crane, Nelson knew, kept herself in extremely good shape!

“Well, I might can offer you an out. Although,” he hesitated, “there’s still plenty of good food involved.” He went on to explain Dr. Evans’ proposal.

“How absolutely thrilling. I remember thinking, the very brief meeting that I had with Dr. Evans, that I’d love to do a piece on his research. It sounded fascinating. Just…well,” and she chuckled a bit self-consciously, “got sidetracked.”

It was Nelson’s turn to chuckle. “One subject that I have absolutely no problem understanding,” he assured her.

“When would it be convenient to have me come? Ah…” There was a short pause. “And what does Lee think of the project? Not that he could stop me, of course,” and her voice turned firm, causing Nelson to laugh again.

“Actually, he so far doesn’t know anything about it. I didn’t want to get his hopes up about seeing you until I knew for sure that you’d be interested.”

“Humm,” came softly over the phone. “Hopes up, yes…”

It was Nelson’s turn to chuckle self-consciously. “He would love to see you, of that I’m sure,” Nelson told her sincerely.

“As I would him. May I ask, when is Seaview headed out again?”

Nelson grinned. “I’ve actually been thinking, once I knew for sure that you would be interested, of adjusting the schedule a bit so that we might include a cruise during your visit. Then you could actually see some of how Dr. Evans determines where and how he does his collections.”

“More and more perfect,” Helen told him. “I’m afraid that I tend to tease Lee about his…oh, what does he call it? Ah, her,” she snorted softly, “as he constantly reminds me.”

“Usually, his ‘Gray Lady’,” Nelson offered.

“Yes.” There was another pause. “I do tend to remind him that she can’t give me grandchildren.”

Nelson laughed out loud. “You’re on your own with that one.”

Helen chuckled as well. “Actually, then he turns around and asks me if I’m ready to stay home and spoil them.” They both laughed. “Humm,” she continued. “Today is Tuesday. Would showing up next Monday be too early? I’ll try to arrive at Lee’s late Saturday, or more likely Sunday, depending on what he’s up to. Ah…”

Nelson had a feeling that he knew where she was headed. “I’ll be speaking with him this afternoon. There’s nothing in his plans that I know of to interfere with that. If for some reason he does end up going out of town…” Nelson wasn’t totally sure how much Helen knew about Lee’s ONI connections. “I’ll either have him leave a key, or both Chip and Base Maintenance have keys to his place. However, I doubt that he’ll wonder far, knowing that you’re coming.”

“Humm,” Helen offered. They both chuckled, and broke the connection.

Nelson sat back in his chair, lit a cigarette, and turned to watch out his office window toward Seaview, and the ocean beyond. As he’d told Mrs. Crane, there was absolutely no doubt that Lee would enjoy having his mom at NIMR and writing an article on Merle Evans. And, as Merle had alluded to, with her connection through Lee, NIMR would no doubt be portrayed in grand fashion and benefit as well. Just… Nelson understood Angie’s unsubtle sticky note. Lee was an extremely private person. Having Helen around, and especially on Seaview, would open sides to him that… Nelson stopped himself. Lee was totally respected by his crew. They’d follow him to hell and back on a single word. Had, actually, Nelson was forced to admit. There was a small chance that having Mrs. Crane around for a while might cause a bit of embarrassment on Lee’s part – especially with Chip’s occasionally warped sense of humor.

Speaking of Seaview’s XO – and Lee’s best friend – Nelson decided that he’d better talk to Lee before Chip somehow found out what was about to happen and turned around and buzzed Lee’s office. Not getting an answer, he tried Chip. No answer there as well. Next he tried Lee’s cell phone – while in port Lee normally wore it constantly. That got a response, but not the expected one.

“Chief Sharkey here,” Seaview’s COB answered. “The Skipper’s…ah…sort of busy, Admiral.”

Nelson chuckled. Obviously Sharkey had checked the caller ID before answering. “Ballast tank or air ducts,” he asked, humor evident in his voice.

“Access panel to the port screw, sir, but I think the port forward ballast tank is on his list.”

“Please tell me that he put on a pair of dungarees instead of his uniform,” Nelson muttered, although he was having a hard time not laughing.

Apparently Sharkey was as well. “Caught him just in time, sir, but it was close.”

“Well, drag him out, tell him to assign a DC team to whatever he’s decided to fix himself, and have him report to my office.”

“Aye, sir,” Sharkey answered with a slight hesitation, and they both disconnected.

Nelson chuckled. He’d purposely phrased the order in such a way to get the COB’s immediate attention. He was curious to see just how long it would take Lee to get to his office. And what he’d be wearing when he got there. NIMR had excellent employees who were more than qualified to handle any and all repairs on Seaview. And while Lee was perfectly aware of that he still tended to tackle so many things himself. Nelson’s chuckle grew as he realized that he had the perfect way to harass his captain once Lee showed up.

It wasn’t a long wait. In a shorter time than Nelson had imagined, Angie announced Lee’s presence and he entered the office with an expectant look on his face. Nelson’s face was firm as he looked at Lee, standing almost at Attention where he’d stopped a few feet short of Nelson’s desk. “You know, Lee, if you’d let the mechanics do their jobs instead of always trying to handle everything yourself you’d have more time to deal with all the paperwork you’re always complaining about.” He barely got the quazi-reprimand out before his face broke into a huge smile.

Lee, who had remained stiff, relaxed at the smile and sent his boss a sheepish grin. “Yes, sir,” he acknowledged.

Nelson waved him toward a chair, not explaining the widening smile as he took in Lee’s crisp uniform and clean appearance. There was absolutely no indication that the man had so recently been crawling around in Seaview’s innards. “An official announcement will be made shortly, hopefully by tomorrow,” Nelson started, “but I wanted to notify you immediately.”

“Yes, sir.” Lee sat more forward in the chair he’d settled in and Nelson’s grin increased.

“Chill, Lee,” he told the younger man. Lee still didn’t sit back but Nelson saw his shoulders relax ever so slightly. “You may have already heard about Merle Evans having received the World Association of Microbiology Award while we were out on this last cruise.”

Lee nodded. “One of the secretaries told Chip and he mentioned it when I saw him earlier.” Both men grinned. Seaview’s XO had a habit of trolling the unattached female employees at NIMR for companionship. A few had tried over the years to pin him to a more permanent relationship but so far none had had any luck.

“The Journal has requested an in-depth interview and article about his research and work here at NIMR.”

“Sounds like great publicity, sir.”

“I agree. However, there’s a problem. Merle has rejected who the journal wants to send. I agree with his reasoning, and also with who he’s recommended.”

Lee sat back in his chair and Nelson chuckled as Lee, never slow on the uptake, figured out where his boss was headed. “Mom,” he said so softly that Nelson only understood because he read Lee’s lips.

“I’ve already spoken to her,” Nelson continued. Lee’s eyebrows went up but he remained silent. “Didn’t want to get Merle’s hopes up until I knew for sure that she’d be interested.” He sent Lee a puzzled look as suddenly the brunet grinned.

“I teased Mom before she left that time. She made some crack about NIMR only hiring good-looking, attractive Ph.D’s after she’d met Drs. Evans and Frasier.” Both chuckled, although it didn’t last long as they remembered the problems Frasier had gotten them involved in. “When can I expect a houseguest?” Lee asked. “The last I heard Mom was headed for Spain.”

Nelson grinned. He’d listened to Chip mutter all too often that he didn’t think Lee and his mom had the kind of very close relationship that he had with his family. And yet, the few times Nelson had been around them, he was sure that they stayed in closer contact than Chip realized. “Possibly late Saturday,” Nelson now told him, “but she said more probably Sunday.” Lee’s eyebrows went up again. “I gathered that she was a bit bored with where she was and was quite happy to have an excuse to leave.”

“Oh,” Lee muttered softly.

“Problem?” Nelson asked him, his own eyebrow raised.

It caused Lee to grin sheepishly. “No,” he told his boss. “Thought that I might take a long weekend and run up to Portland.” His look got even more sheepish. “Guess not.”

Nelson chuckled. His extremely private captain had recently acquired a very good lady friend in Portland, Oregon.+++ Nelson doubted anything permanent would come of it – she and Lee were both very devoted to their present jobs. But Lee always returned from a visit more relaxed and mellow than when he left, and Nelson, Chip and Seaview’s CMO, Dr. Will Jamison, were always appreciative that Lee had found someone who could help de-stress his sometimes incredibly stressed out life. “I’m going to do a bit of rescheduling,” he now told Lee, “and include Merle’s next sample collection trip during your mom’s visit so she can get the whole picture of his work. I rather think that there will be time, once she has what she needs, for you to take some Leave.”

Lee ducked his head and sent his boss his shy, through-the-lashes look. “Yes, sir,” he said softly.

Nelson pointed another eyebrow at his captain. “I have to say, Lee, that you’re taking this a lot better than I was anticipating.” It was Lee’s turn to point an eyebrow, and Nelson’s turn to grin a bit sheepishly. “I just mean, I wasn’t sure how you were going to take having your mother not only on the grounds, but aboard Seaview. You usually don’t appreciate that kind of invasion into your private life.”

Lee shrugged. “I enjoy so much hearing about other people’s families, it’s only fair that I give them a chance to get even,” he admitted, still a bit shyly. Nelson sent him a fond smile. “And Mom will love it,” Lee continued, “getting to meet the crew.” Suddenly he frowned. “I may have to order a few extra rolls of duct tape.” Nelson sent him the expected raised eyebrow. “To use across Chip’s mouth,” Lee grumbled. Nelson burst out laughing.

* * * *

The next few days went by swiftly but quietly. Nelson did laugh out loud – and had everyone in NIMR’s cafeteria looking at him – the next day when he went down for lunch and discovered his two senior officers already there. It took him a few seconds to notice something a bit different on Lee’s uniform shirt, and discovered a five-inch strip of duct tape firmly attached on the front of the left shoulder. At first he thought that Lee must have snagged the shirt on something – heaven only knew what, the way Lee crawled around through his beloved boat – and used the tape to cover the rip. But catching the expression on Chip’s face when he realized Nelson had seen the tape caused Nelson to totally lose his composure – much to Chip’s disgust. Lee just looked smug – quite obviously Chip had been made aware of Lee’s threat. Nelson got himself quickly back under control, reached out, and pulled the piece of tape off. It was Chip’s turn to look smug until Lee muttered, “There’s a lot more where that came from.”

“Gentlemen,” Nelson warned them both but couldn’t do it with a totally straight face. The three managed a fairly peaceful meal going over odds and ends of boat’s business.

Thursday Nelson once more walked down to Evans’ lab to discuss exactly where Merle wanted to do his next collections. Handiest would be several thermal vents off the Oregon coast called ‘black smokers’. But Evans had already worked with bacteria collected there and been disappointed by his lack of finding anything of value. Nelson knew that Evans had multiple locations that he wanted to try next but wasn’t sure in which order. He was, therefore, surprised when Evans requested a return visit to the Oregon coast.

“While I didn’t find much on initial evaluation,” Evans explained, “further studies have resulted in some interesting possibilities. Also, that first time, I concentrated totally on the several black smokers in the hydrothermal field.” Nelson nodded. “I totally ignored the several white smokers in the same field.” He frowned. “And I’ve kicked myself ever since.”

Nelson grinned. “It’s so easy,” he commiserated, “to get such tunnel vision on one subject that we forget to see the whole picture,” he agreed.

“I got bored one day and went back over some of my notes, and was totally amazed at a few off-hand comments I had jotted down about this and that and then totally spaced them out when I didn’t find what I wanted to find.”

“Been there,” Nelson agreed. “So, we’ll head that direction, and this time take as many samples from as many areas as we can.” Nelson sent Evans a grin. “I’ll make sure COB Sharkey stows a full supply of collection containers for both FS1 and the diving bell.” Evans raised an eyebrow. “I know that we only used the Flying Sub the first time, since we were working where she could easily reach. But perhaps, if we look a little further afield…” He sent Evans a grin. “No telling what we might encounter that needs checking out while we have the opportunity.”

“Excellent,” Evans agreed. “Ah, I don’t know how long you were planning to be out,” he added tentatively.

Nelson sent him an enigmatic little smile. “Seaview isn’t scheduled for anything with a definite deadline for over a month. We can afford to ‘play’ for a couple of weeks if we so choose.” He grinned more broadly as Evans practically purred with excitement.

On the way back to his own office Nelson got a bit of a wild hare and detoured to Lee’s, catching his captain glaring at the computer screen. “Problems?” he asked, stopping at the doorway. Lee rarely closed his office door when he was there.

“Chip retaliated and scrambled my programs,” was growled softly before Lee shook himself and sent Nelson a slight grin. “I’ll have it sorted out shortly. Did you need something, sir?”

Nelson chuckled at his senior officers’ continued sniping. “Actually, just wondering if you knew yet when your mom was arriving. Thought that I might organize a little informal get-together at my place Sunday afternoon into early evening. Give her a chance to chat with Merle in a bit more relaxed atmosphere.”

Lee was already nodding. He greatly enjoyed the infrequent chances Nelson had to hold small dinner parties at his place. “Mom’s plane is supposed to land about 1330 hours Sunday. By the time she gets her luggage and picks up a rental car she should hit my place about 1500 or so. Another hour to get her settled…” He sent Nelson a grin. “With her, that usually takes about ten minutes…” He and Nelson shared a grin. Mrs. Crane was one very organized woman.

“Then pop over at your leisure,” Nelson told Lee. “I’ll have Mrs. Garcia,” he referenced his housekeeper, “put together a light dinner. Let’s see…Chip and his current…” he sent Lee a raised eyebrow.

“I quit trying to keep up,” Lee told him and they both grinned.

“Merle and Faith.” Lee nodded that he knew Evans’ wife. “Will and Lu-Tsi.” Nelson chuckled as Lee frowned at the inclusion of NIMR’s CMO, Dr. Will Jamison, but then also grinned softly. “Perhaps Mike and Devon West?”

Lee nodded. “I know that Drs. Evans and West have been working on a lot of projects together. While they have different agendas they are using a lot of the same research materials and samples.”

Nelson’s smile was almost a smirk as Lee admitted to that bit of knowledge. “We’ll make a marine biologist out of you yet,” he told Lee smugly.

“Just read the reports,” Lee mumbled, but also had a small smile on his face. He’d continued to press a few computer keys as he and Nelson talked and all of a sudden from the speakers came a loud donkey’s bray. Nelson burst out laughing as Lee scrambled to mute the sound, then stood up. “There’s about to be one less for Sunday dinner,” Lee growled.

Nelson, unfortunately, could barely get himself under control enough to move. “I’m out of here,” he got out around his laughter and walked rapidly back to his office.

He was still not totally able to stop chuckling as he called Will Jamison with the invitation. “Admiral?” his CMO asked cautiously, and Nelson finally sputtered out his two senior officers’ latest hijinks. Will chuckled as well. “Why do I get the feeling that the next couple of weeks are going to get, as the saying goes, ‘interesting’.”

“Yeah,” Nelson agreed, and finally settled down enough to tell Will who else he was inviting.

“I wouldn’t be surprised if Lu-Tsi gets together with both Devon West and Faith Evans, and they all help Mrs. Garcia plan something besides a simple appetizer plate.” Will groaned. “I can see it now – food for forty! Not sure about the other two, but Mrs. Garcia and Lu-Tsi are always trying to fatten Lee up.”

Nelson laughed again. “And with Mrs. Crane here as well…”

“He’s doomed,” Will snickered. “Although,” he sobered up, “I suspect so are we.” Agreeing that they’d both better eat carefully the next few days in preparation, they broke the connection and Nelson had Angie take care of the rest of the invitations as he got back to the mound of paperwork on his desk.

He never did hear what if anything Lee did to get back at Chip for the computer issues, but both were on peaceful terms Friday afternoon as he met with them briefly to go over the revised sailing timetables. Chip assured him that all crew had been notified and supplies requisitioned. He did send Lee a quick grin when he added that Cookie had taken the news of extra passengers easily and was already working on the necessary supplies for the menus he quickly started getting together. Lee had merely sighed heavily and went back to discussing the cruise parameters.

Nor did Nelson have any ideas of how Lee and Chip spent Saturday. He’d gotten a call right after his meeting with them that Admiral Jiggs Stark, COMSUBPAC, and an old friend of Nelson’s, wanted him in San Diego Saturday for meetings. After a few choice epithets that, thankfully, only Angie heard, he’d headed south.

Home by noon Sunday, he walked through his front door to discover that he’d been invaded, although by the smells coming from the kitchen he wasn’t about to argue. Mrs. Garcia poked her nose out long enough to say that the Mrs.’s Jamison, Evans, and West were already there, cooking up a storm, and that their husbands were due to arrive about 4:30. In all the years that she’d worked for Nelson she’d never gotten used to military time. Nelson grinned, nodded, and went to change. He’d told everyone that it was casual dress but wasn’t holding his breath that Lee, and possibly even Chip, would show up in uniform. If they did he was going to be ready to properly chastise them.

He needn’t have worried. Chip appeared – stag, for which he apologized, saying that his date had cancelled at the last minute – in casual slacks and polo shirt. Lee arrived only a few minutes later and was dressed much as Chip. Nelson only had time for a few brief words with Mrs. Crane – “Helen,” she reminded him firmly – before she was scooped up by the other women and disappeared into the kitchen.

“Drink?” Nelson asked Lee.

“A double scotch,” Lee half-growled, but sent his boss a sheepish grin when Nelson raised an eyebrow. With a glance at the now closed kitchen door he added. “You’ve never been around Mom when she’s working.”

“Already pressing you for details?” Chip guessed with a broad grin.

Lee nodded firmly, but his grin returned. “Oh, she’ll be fine,” he told both men. “Just…a little wound up now that she’s going to have the opportunity to actually meet everyone she’s only heard me talk about.”

Nelson chuckled as he handed Lee a glass a bit fuller than he normally poured. “NIMR may never be the same.”

“That’s what I’m afraid of,” Lee muttered not quite under his breath, but smiled as both Chip and Nelson laughed out loud. Nelson went to answer the doorbell and admitted Drs. Jamison, Evans, and West.

The six men were all chatting away amiably when the women announced that dinner was ready. The food was laid out buffet-style in the kitchen. Once Helen was introduced to Dr. West, the only one she hadn’t yet met, everyone loaded plates and headed back to Nelson’s large livingroom. Chip sent Lee a pointed eyebrow at one of the dishes but it was Lu-Tsi Jamison who told him firmly, “Yes, Chip, that’s the dish you liked so much until you found out what it was.” ^ As Chip turned several shades of crimson she explained to everyone else that meat-eater Chip had not been pleased when he discovered that it was made with crumbled firm tofu and not ground beef.

Helen turned to Lee. “I didn’t realize that you remembered how to make that.”

“It’s one of your recipes?” Lu-Tsi asked Helen, who nodded. “Lee brought it over one night when he ate with Will and I. It’s positively delicious.”

“Now she requests Lee bring it most times he comes,” Will added as he put a large spoonful on his own plate.

“Somehow it always tastes better when Lee makes it,” Lu-Tsi admitted with a shy grin.

“And I can’t tell the difference when she makes it.” Lee shrugged and there were soft chuckles all around.

Besides that dish there was a melt-in-your-mouth pork roast that Nelson knew was Mrs. Garcia’s contribution, along with halved, herbed, and roasted baby red potatoes. Who brought what else he wasn’t sure but the kitchen table held large bowls of a veggie medley of carrots, broccoli, and cauliflower, and a green salad with several different bottles of salad dressing so that each person could have whichever they chose. A side counter held two large pies – Nelson had smelled them baking when he’d gotten home and knew that one was cherry and one was berry of some sort. Or multiple sorts. Lee had mentioned to Mrs. Garcia, after one of his visits north to his friends’ B&B, about having pie that was a mix of raspberry and blackberry. She’d made it a time or two for Nelson and he had to agree that it was a delicious combination.

Talk was general as everyone settled down to enjoy the casual meal. As the newcomer, so to speak, Helen fielded most of the questions – about where she’d been, what she might be working on at the moment, and compliments for what she’d done in the past. Lee grinned softly to himself as, gracious as always, Helen visited amiably and easily. At one point Chip caught his eye and winked. Lee knew that the blond realized that Helen wasn’t always this mellow and open, keeping herself a bit more…‘contained’…sort of; that he felt this side of Lee’s mother was actually an act. And Lee had to admit that Chip was partially right. But over the years Helen had gradually opened up more from the carefully controlled, almost unemotional woman she’d needed to become to help her through the rough times of losing her husband, Lee’s father, at such an early age and being forced to take responsibility for both herself and Lee. Now, this was actually the more true Helen. Oh, she still kept her ‘working’ persona in place. But here, among Lee’s friends, she was almost totally relaxed. She even made Chip blush again as she teased him about his second helping of the tofu dish.

Over pie – where it was Lee’s turn to get teased as he asked for a small slice of both kinds – Helen did start to get a little more technical as she quizzed both Merle Evans and Mike West about their research. But mostly it was kept to generalities as Evans explained a bit about his focus on possible cancer-fighting agents, and West talked about advances starting to be made in biologically produced drugs to fight what was rapidly becoming almost an epidemic of antibiotic-resistant diseases.

“I can see where it makes sense, given those possible applications, that you’re both using the same types of bacteria and organisms on which to base your research,” Helen told them.

“There have been, over the last few years,” Nelson told her, “some promising results.”

“Makes total sense,” Helen agreed. “We came from the ocean, we shouldn’t be surprised that we find what we need to heal ourselves from the original source.”

“Exactly,” Evans agreed enthusiastically as West nodded. “We’re only barely scratching the surface, so to speak,” Evans grinned at his little pun, “with our work around the hydrothermal vents.” He sighed. “There’s a lot of ocean floor out there and each vent, because it brings up different minerals from its location than even one quite close, has different properties.”

“We’re doing everything we can,” Nelson added, “to study as much of the ocean floor as possible.”

‘Something’ came from Chip’s direction and Lee, sitting next to him on one of the couches, gently kicked his foot. “Job security,” Lee told him, and everyone smiled.

* * * *

A couple hours later, as Helen settled into the passenger seat of Lee’s little sports car, she reached over and none too gently swatted Lee’s shoulder. “What?” Lee demanded, although Helen could easily see the sparkle of amusement in her son’s eyes.

“You could have told me, when I was here before, that Merle was married.” Everyone had quickly ended up on a first name basis. “You just let me blither on about NIMR apparently having a practice of only hiring handsome men.”

Lee snickered. “When you start making noises about settling down, I’ll start screening prospective step-fathers,” he smarted right back before they both burst out laughing.

“Deal,” Helen finally got out. “Lu-Tsi is as delightful as you’ve made her sound. And so busy. I can’t believe she does so much volunteering. Everywhere!” Helen added.

Lee nodded. “At first, I know, it was a way to keep busy and not dwell so much on the death of their son.”

“I can sure relate to that.” Both nodded, thinking back to when Lee’s father had been killed.

“Now, she flat enjoys everything she does. Work with the Alzheimer’s Day Care Center downtown lets her keep up with and use her nurse’s training.” He paused. “I asked Jamie once if she’d ever thought about working at NIMR’s Med Bay.”

“Wondered that myself as we were all talking in the kitchen,” Helen told him. “Thought perhaps it might have something to do with relatives not being placed where one might have to supervise the other.”

Lee shook his head. “Jamie said that when they first came here Lu-Tsi wasn’t sure that she wanted to continue nursing at all; that it brought back too many memories. Eventually she got over it – at least for the most part,” he added softly. “But by then she was volunteering here and there, and involved with the NIMR wives’ group, and no longer had the time to work full-time.” Helen glanced at Lee thoughtfully. “What?” He sent her a frown.

“Just a passing thought.”

“Want me to grab a net and catch it?”

“Brat!” Helen smacked his shoulder again and they both laughed. “In this day and age of families needing multiple incomes to survive, I guess that I find it strange that not any of the three wives work.”

Lee nodded. “Partly, in this case, it’s because of NIMR. The Jamison’s have their own bungalow here on base, and both the Evans’ and West’s have NIMR-owned condo’s. Admiral Nelson, when he started planning the Institute, wanted some control, and security, for strategic personnel.” Helen nodded. She knew that Lee’s lovely beach house was actually on NIMR-owned property. “With extra perks, a lot of NIMR staff don’t have to work extra hard to make ends meet. Oh,” he added, “I know that some wives work.” He grinned. “And husbands of women employees. While NIMR pays an excellent wage as well as wonderful benefits, I’m sure that extra money comes in handy.”

“Humm,” Helen murmured, mostly to herself, and then noticed a quick…something…cross Lee’s face. “What?”

Lee smiled. Sort of. “The Admiral mentioned that, with you writing the article on Dr. Evans, NIMR would no doubt fair well, too. I was just thinking, I hope you don’t get too carried away. Chip and I already get too many requests for transfer to NIMR than we can deal with. If you give NIMR too glowing a report card we’ll have to hire extra personnel just to handle all the applications.” They both laughed, Lee a bit less than his mom.

* * * *

For the next two days Lee saw very little of Helen. They would have a quick bite of breakfast before driving their separate cars to NIMR, where Lee headed to his office and Helen headed to the Microbiology Lab. Lee and Chip were neck deep in getting Seaview ready to sail so they actually saw little of each other, either, as they attended to different areas of departure details. Monday Lee made it home just before 1900 hours to find Helen just sitting down to a grilled cheese sandwich and bowl of soup. She started to get up to fix some for Lee but he held up a hand, saying that he’d had a late lunch at the cafeteria and wasn’t really hungry. Helen frowned and Lee sent her a shy smile. “You haven’t been aboard Seaview. Once we sail you’ll find it hard not to gain ten pounds the first five days,” he assured her.

“Humm,” she muttered back.

Tuesday about noon she called Lee’s cell, catching him going over stowage sheets with COB Sharkey, and told him that she’d been invited to dinner with the Evans’. Lee had promptly called Chip and asked if he wanted to meet at BZ’s for pizza and beer about 1830 hours, to which Chip readily agreed. With the next day’s sailing they each only had one glass of brew, but it was an informal way to co-ordinate what each had been up to the last two days and what, if anything, needed to be covered before they left on the morrow’s afternoon tide.

Helen had already told Lee that Admiral Nelson had asked her to come to his office Wednesday morning and he’d escort her down to Seaview so Lee left as soon as he could put himself together. After making a quick stop in his office for any last-minute messages he headed for his beloved boat. Hip deep in pre-departure details, he nonetheless grinned broadly as Helen preceded Nelson down the spiral staircase and went to stare out Seaview’s front windows. Chip, standing next to Lee, said with a grin, “Now you understand, Mother C., why Lee has problems keeping a girlfriend. No one else can compare.” Lee smacked him, albeit gently, as there were soft snickers from around the Conn.

Nelson laughed outright before he turned to her. “They really are one of the best command teams it’s ever been my pleasure to work with. But sometimes it’s a little hard to tell.” Both Lee and Chip got sheepish looks on their faces.

“I definitely know what you mean,” Helen told him seriously before she, also, laughed softly, and the pair headed out for what Lee knew would be a tour of the boat while things were still fairly quiet.

Lee didn’t realize he’d been standing, staring at basically nothing, until Chip nudged him with a shoulder. “What?” Lee said with a slight frown.

“That’s my line,” Chip sniped back. “You were out in left field.”

Lee nodded sheepishly. “I think it’s finally sinking in that Mom’s going to be aboard for the next two weeks.” He actually shuddered, and Chip burst out laughing. At that Lee sent him a glare. “Would you want Mother Morton around like that?” he challenged the blond. It was Chip’s turn to shudder. “Yeah,” Lee agreed before they both got back to work.

* * * *

Nelson grinned softly as he walked behind Helen entering the Wardroom for dinner. With Seaview leaving at 1400 hours, he’d taken her to an early lunch at NIMR’s cafeteria before coming aboard and had spent time showing her around before returning to the Nose to let her experience the giant submarine exit her berth and head out to sea. He’d watched cautiously, not letting her realize how much he was enjoying how much Helen obviously enjoyed watching her son as he guided his crew through the maneuvers. For Lee’s part he was trying to not let her presence disrupt anything, but Nelson did see Chip give Lee a quick grin as Lee said ‘something’ too low to hear.

As Seaview exited the channel and made her way to more open waters, Nelson had Helen sit carefully at the table and hold on tight. He had his suspicions and was instantly proved correct when Lee got a little carried away with his ‘Angles & Dangles’ maneuvers to make sure everything aboard was securely stowed before they were too far from port. Helen sent Nelson a few curious glances but he merely said something off-hand about Lee apparently wanting to make sure all the extra sample-taking equipment was secure. He did, however, send a huge grin at Lee behind Helen’s back, and had the satisfaction of watching Lee duck his head ever so quickly before confidently calling out the next maneuver. He’d then taken Helen down to the Marine Lab and showed her around there as Evans and West got themselves organized before it was time to head for dinner.

Now his grin spread as he watched Helen look over the food selections. “Lee was right,” she told him with a quick glance, “my main problem will be how not to gain twenty pounds while I’m here.”

“As far as the menus go Will, ah, Dr. Jamison, has been making some inroads, making sure that there’s fruits, salads, and vegetables available. But,” he added, “Cookie’s also dealing with active men who require a steady caloric intake to maintain their health.”

“And then there’s Chip,” Will added, walking in and picking up on the current topic, “who eats everything that doesn’t eat him first and still stays slender. Ah, the inequalities of youth.” He chuckled as both Nelson and Helen nodded, smiling.

“Speaking of which…” Helen added, glancing around and not seeing either Lee or Chip.

“Not to worry, Mrs. Crane,” came from behind them. One of the junior officers was just walking in, although she wasn’t sure which one. Happily Nelson helped her out.

“Lt. Keeter, I gather that you know what’s going on?”

The younger man grinned. “Just came from the Conn, sir. Had to check some instrument readings. The CO and XO were going over weather reports, then they said they’d be right down.”

“Thank you,” Nelson told him, and motioned Helen toward the trays of food.

She was just sitting down between Admiral Nelson and Dr. Jamison, who she was still trying to remember to call Will, when Lee and Chip came in, nattering at each other about something until they realized they were being listened to. Nelson muttered loud enough to be heard, “All must be well, the children only squabble like that when things are calm.” Helen snickered and Lee and Chip shared a quick look before filling their plates and sitting down in their usual spots across the table from the other three.

“Where’s Drs. Evans and West?” Lee asked, but the words were no more out of his mouth when the pair walked through the door. As they dished up their meal and sat down, Evans next to Chip and West next to Will, Nelson asked Lee, “Bad weather ahead?”

Lee shrugged. “Not wonderful topside.” He grinned. “But since we can stay under it…”

“I thought perhaps Helen would enjoy a bit of a spin on FS1,” Nelson told him with a grin of his own.

Lee sent his boss one of his almost through-the-lashes looks. “I rather suspect that we can manage that before we get home.”

“FS1?” Helen asked, looking around the faces.

“One of the Admiral’s toys,” Lee told her.

“We usually refer to it as ‘Lee’s baby’,” Chip added with a bit of a smirk.

“Although, after one of our recent trips Chip’s decided that we need to rename her ‘The Hummingbird’,” Nelson added.** Lee ducked his head and appeared to concentrate on his meal.

“Do tell,” Helen nudged lightly.

“Let’s just say,” Nelson said with a broadening grin, “Lee is well known for getting FS1, short for The Flying Sub, to do things the rest of us can’t even fathom.”

“Thank heavens,” Chip muttered softly, his head also down.

“Now I really am intrigued.” Helen sent Lee a curious look.

“I’m not sure that I could do that again if my life depended on it,” Lee admitted softly with a glance at Nelson.

“Well, since Chip’s and my life depended on it, I’m extremely glad that you managed it that time.”

“Amen,” both Chip and Will said softly at the same time. Lee merely looked embarrassed.

“Humm,” Helen muttered. With another glance at Lee, Nelson changed the subject.

As Lee did his usual ‘walkaboat’ that evening, wandering through his second home – or as Chip usually teased him, his preferred home – making sure all was well, he couldn’t help but notice the quick grins he received from the crew he ran into being just that bit brighter than usual. “I gather Mom’s been by,” he said to Lt. Bryson as he floated through Engineering, Seaview’s newest JO’s current Duty station.

“Yes, sir,” Bryson answered carefully. He’d been aboard long enough to be comfortable with the Command staff. But…

Lee sent him an open grin. “Get used to it,” he said easily. “If you get uncomfortable answering her more specific questions, anything you consider classified or just too personal, tell her to see me.”

“Oh, no, sir,” Bryson hurried to explain. “There was nothing like that. She was just curious…”

“Trust me, Lieutenant,” Lee stopped him with a firm voice,” I am only too familiar with her level of curiosity!” But the smile returned.

“Yes, sir,” Bryson breathed out. Lee clapped him ever so briefly on the shoulder and headed to finish his tour.

He wasn’t at all surprised, when he wandered back through the Conn, to find the Admiral and Helen sitting in the Nose visiting quietly. He stopped at the chart table for a brief word with Lt. O’Brien, who had the Conn, before walking forward.

“Told you,” Nelson turned to Helen after sending Lee an ever so brief grin. “He rarely settles down without that one last walk-through to make sure all’s well with his ‘Lady’.”

“She’s a task master,” Lee agreed softly, but then ducked his head as he took a seat on the window ledge. “Surprised Drs. Evans and West aren’t with you,” he continued, not necessarily to either but just to change the subject.

“Figured that I’d pestered them both enough for a bit,” Helen told him.

Lee couldn’t resist a small dig. “So you’ve been pestering my crew instead.” At Nelson’s upraised eyebrow he clarified. “Trying to badger Lt. Bryson…”

“I did no such thing,” Helen defended herself. “Harriman said that I could explore a bit and ask the crew general questions…” Her voice trailed off as Lee’s face split into a broad grin and she realized Lee was teasing her. “Brat,” came out in half a growl, but the word had Nelson again snickering and quickly so did she.

“Lt. Bryson is still fairly new aboard,” Nelson offered.

Lee nodded. “Your reputation has obviously preceded you, and he still intimidates somewhat easily.”

“Humm,” Helen frowned. Both Nelson and Lee struggled to contain smiles. “I was perfectly polite,” Helen assured her son. “You can ask Chief Sharkey; he kept following me around, although I don’t think he realized that I noticed.” At that both Lee and Nelson cracked up. Helen, not knowing why, merely glanced between the two.

Nelson got himself under control before Lee did. “Don’t worry another second,” he told her. “As you told Lee, I’d given you permission to wander around after explaining where you couldn’t go. Absolutely no problem.”

“As for the COB,” Lee finally managed, “he just didn’t want you to get lost. Seaview is a bit larger than your average sub.”

“Harriman’s tour was quite inclusive, and I have a good sense of direction.” Nelson sent Lee a look as the brunet ducked his head slightly, acknowledging Nelson’s opinion of where Lee got his own innate abilities in that area.

Nelson’s grin broadened. “I’ll have a word with Sharkey,” he told them both. To Helen he added, “I assure you that he meant no disrespect.”

“Just his way,” Lee added, “of doing his job. He’s one of the best I’ve ever worked with.”

“Complimenting me?” came from above, and Chip all but skipped down the spiral stairs. “I need to keep you around, Mother C. Mostly what I get from him,” he nodded toward Lee, “are insults.”

“With good reason,” Lee sniped, before both Nelson and Helen cracking up made the younger men smile.

“I will admit, Harriman,” Helen told Nelson as Chip joined Lee on the window ledge, “I don’t know how you’ve managed to put up with them together for so long.”

Both younger men sat up straight, but before either could say anything in their own defense another voice was heard. “Comic relief,” Will muttered. He came down the stairs a good deal more sedately than had Chip. “Gets a little tense around here from time to time. They are, at least, good for a laugh.”

“Don’t,” Chip got out in a soft growl directed at Lee but still loud enough so that the others were meant to hear. “We’ll have our chance for revenge.” They both sent Will identically innocent expressions.

“Now you’ve done it,” Nelson got out to Will through barely controlled chuckles.

“Brothers.” It was Will’s turn to defend his statement. He turned to Helen. “I have two older ones. These two remind me of them a great deal; always yanking each other’s chain.” He sniffed ever so lightly. “I survived them. Barely,” he added with a grumble, then shrugged. “These two don’t stand a chance.” The expression on the doctor’s face cracked everyone up, including Will, and he settled at the table with Nelson and Helen.

Everyone saw Lee send his mother one of his almost shy, through-the-lashes, looks, and Helen acknowledged it with a quick nod. “I’m forced to admit that I often regretted that Lee had no siblings.” There was a quick snort from Chip. “As it turned out, not sure that I could have managed two of him.”

“Keep it up, Mom,” Lee warned, “and I’ll be forced to retaliate.”

“With what?” She sounded truly outraged although there was still a bit of smile on her face.

“Like the day of the rained-out Sea Scouts picnic,” Lee started.

“That wasn’t my fault!”

“Yeah, riiiiight,” Lee drawled. “And how about Paris?” Lee’s expression went slightly evil.

Helen cringed. “Do have to take the blame for that one,” she admitted.

Nelson was just opening his mouth, although he wasn’t sure what he was going to say, when Lee sat up straight as he glanced into the Conn. Chip’s identical reaction couldn’t have been more than half a second later. Both murmured, “excuse me” and headed that direction.

“Harriman?” Helen asked softly as she and Will also turned toward the Conn.

Nelson remained quiet as he watched, looking for some sign as to what had so instantly grabbed his senior officers’ attention. He saw Lee reach for the nearest mic, calling down to Propulsion to check one of the gauges. As several questions and responses were passed back and forth both Lee’s and Chip’s shoulders relaxed.

“And that,” Nelson told Helen a bit smugly, “is a perfect example of why I so appreciate having both Lee and Chip on Seaview. Despite their occasionally causing fourteen different kinds of chaos,” he sent Will a look as the doctor snorted softly, “Lee especially can spot a problem almost before it becomes one, and only beats Chip by a millisecond.”

“Pardon me for my ignorance,” Helen asked him, her voice full of curiosity, “but what did just happen?”

“Oh, sorry,” Nelson told her almost shyly. “One of the indicator lights on the running panel gave a brief flash.” He sent Helen a quick grin. “I swear, your son misses nothing around him. And especially when it involves Seaview.” Helen’s returning smile was almost smug. “From the conversation I gather that all is green below so they’re just waiting to have the panel light double-checked.” He sent Helen a raised eyebrow. “Paris?”

She dropped her eyes and pursed her lips before finally looking back up. “Not one of my more motherly moments, I’m forced to admit,” she said softly. But the smile reappeared as both Lee and Chip returned to their places on the window ledge. Apparently Lee saw ‘something’ in the expression and sent her a pointed eyebrow of his own. “Yes, Lee?” she asked innocently.

But it was Chip who spoke. He looked at Lee. “Your comment earlier today?” Lee nodded that he knew Chip was referring to the quip about having Mother M. aboard instead of Mother C. “Better you than me,” Chip muttered.

“Gee, thanks,” Lee muttered back.

Helen looked confused. “We’ve learned,” it was Will’s turn to explain, “to ignore them in certain circumstances. It’s safer for our sanity.”

“Humm,” Helen said softly. But more steps on the spiral stairs announced the arrival of Drs. Evans and West. Lee and Chip remained quiet as conversation changed to generalities of sample collection and a bit into how, then, they were stored until they could be evaluated. Lee wasn’t surprised that Helen didn’t have her notebook out; from several comments Nelson made it was clear that this was a subject that had already, at least partially, been covered, and Lee knew that specifics would be noted once his mom actually saw how things were done so that she could make her own notes on the process.

Lee was just wondering how to politely leave the others to their conversation when Chip broke first. With a sigh he mumbled something about “better get to my paperwork,” rose, and headed up the stairs.

“Ah, yes,” Lee said with a soft smile. “The dreaded reports.” He sent Nelson a quick look as he also rose.

Nelson accepted the challenge with a broad grin. “You always have the option of returning to the regular Navy. No more NIMR reports.”

Lee ducked his head. “Given a choice between reports or Admiral Stark,” he said shyly, “I’ll keep the reports.”

“And for that I thank you greatly,” Nelson let him off the hook, sincerity very evident in his voice. Lee sent him a nod, another one to Helen, and followed Chip up the stairs.

* * * *

The next two days were quiet. Since they were just in transit to the collection site, mealtimes were the normal gathering of Admiral, Chip, Lee, and Will, plus Helen and Drs. Evans and West. Chip had his duties in the Conn, joined by Lee right after breakfast. But then Lee would grab a clipboard – or three – and run drills here and there around the boat. A couple of times he caught Helen standing quietly, out of the way, merely watching. Both times COB Sharkey was close by but Lee knew that it wasn’t because of her; he was usually near when drills were being run – just because. After lunch Lee would spend a bit of time in the Conn but then head to his cabin to do reports and enter drill results into the computer. Both days, when he came back down about 1630 hours, Nelson and Helen were sitting in the Nose casually visiting about whatever happened to come to mind. Both days Lee briefly caught up with Chip anything that needed attention and then joined the pair in the Nose. It relaxed him, seeing Nelson so relaxed; the Admiral too often got so involved with his projects that he seemed to be in perpetual motion. Lee did have to admit that those times were better than the ones highlighted by Nelson’s infamous temper and the shudder that caused, as he sat down the second afternoon after pouring himself a cup of coffee, got caught by his eagle-eyed mother. “Lee, is something wrong?”

Lee nearly choked on a swallow of coffee and sent her one of his shy grins. “Actually, just thinking how right everything is,” he told her.

Nelson seemed to read his mind. “Unfortunately, things aren’t always this calm aboard Seaview,” he told Helen, then added also shyly, “and all too often I’m the cause of the chaos.”

At that Lee did choke. “Sir,” he sputtered to get out. “That’s not true.”

“Lee?” Nelson sent him a look.

Lee’s shy look came back and he held up a hand, thumb and forefinger close together. “Little bit,” he admitted.

“Harrumph,” Nelson muttered, but it barely got out around a broad grin.

Lee decided to change the subject. “Has Dr. Evans set his order of collection sites? We’ll get to the general area about 1000 hours tomorrow.”

Nelson’s grin stayed just long enough to let Lee know that he was allowing the change of subject. “Because of ‘Godzilla’, the University of Washington has done some extensive charting of the general area…”

“Godzilla?” Helen interrupted.

“No one’s explained about Godzilla?” Lee asked her, but then looked at Nelson.

“Oops,” Nelson admitted, and turned to Helen. “An extremely well-known – and huge – black smoker. Well,” he added, “it used to be huge. It finally got so big it collapsed, but is now rebuilding.” He glanced at Lee. “I guess that we all figured one of the others told you about it.” He shrugged and all three smiled. “Anyway, I thought that once we’re close I’d take Helen, Merle, and Mike on a scouting trip with FS1 and see what interests the doctors the most.”

“You won’t be going?” Helen looked at Lee.

Her son grinned. “Only four seats in the Flying Sub,” he informed her.

“We could tuck you into the bunk,” Nelson offered. But he laughed out loud at the look Lee sent him.

“Why do you call it Flying Sub?” Helen asked cautiously.

Lee’s grin spread. “I’ll take you for a ride before we get home,” he assured her.

“Definitely,” Nelson agreed. “I gather you never explained how you got to Australia so fast,” he asked Lee.***

“Never came up,” Lee admitted. “And when Ski and I left, Mom stayed to finish her story.” He grinned broadly. “Much to the displeasure of a few people.”

“Brat,” Helen told him, but fondly. “All I ended up writing about was the opal mining.” She sent Lee her ‘sweet’ smile, causing him to cringe and Nelson to point an eyebrow at him. “With all the different agencies involved, the rest got way too much news coverage to be of any value to me.”

“I did tell you, sir,” Lee tried to get himself off the hook for the cringe he knew Nelson saw but didn’t understand, not being familiar with the difference in Helen’s facial expressions, “that everything got a little crazy extremely fast.”

“And I read your AAR to Admiral Jones,” Nelson told him, puzzlement still in his voice.

“AAR?” Helen asked her son.

“After Action Report,” Lee translated. He sent Nelson a shy grin. “I…ah…left out a few things. Figured that since it was really Fisher’s case he could fill out the details.”

It was Helen’s turn to look sheepish. “Such as me trying to send his head over the left field fence?” she asked Lee. Lee nodded with a bigger grin.

Nelson relaxed back into his chair. “Do tell,” he prodded the pair.

Lee and Helen shared a guilty look. “Mom didn’t quite have all the good guys sorted out from the bad,” Lee told his boss softly. Then added in a teasing tone, “Thankfully Mom’s never been much of a baseball player; missed his head with the chunk of wood she’d picked up and just nailed his shoulder.”

Much to Nelson’s obvious disappointment Drs. Evans and West chose that moment to come down the stairs and conversation went back to the next day’s plans. Lee remained quiet as the others tossed ideas back and forth, with the occasional question from Helen. He saw Nelson send him a few curious looks but nothing more was said about the Australia trip.

Until later that evening. Lee was all too aware of Nelson’s dislike of unsolved puzzles so wasn’t at all surprised when called to his boss’s cabin shortly after dinner. Helen, he knew, was in the Marine Lab with Evans and West, and entered at Nelson’s call of “come” with a small grin on his face. It spread when Nelson leaned back in his desk chair with a wave toward Lee’s usual spot for casual conversations – the corner of Nelson’s desk. “Why the cringe, sir?” Lee knew that he’d guessed right when Nelson chuckled. “You haven’t been around Mom that much,” he started. “It took Chip a couple visits home for him to catch on. She…that particular smile…ah…”

“Doesn’t like to be told what she can and cannot do?” Nelson guessed.

“Close enough.” Lee let out a long sigh, and Nelson chuckled again.

“Sort of got that impression a time or two the last few days.” Lee’s expression went hard. If Helen was causing any kind of trouble… “Down, Lee,” Nelson ordered, correctly reading his captain’s face. “She’s being the perfect guest.”

“She’d better be,” Lee mumbled almost to himself, and Nelson’s grin broadened.

“I was just very surprised to see that particular reaction from you,” Nelson admitted. “Although, I can see where having her here does put you at a slight disadvantage under certain circumstances.”

“Yes, sir,” Lee told him.

“I rather suspect that we’ll all survive,” Nelson said with a grin. “Even you,” he teased. “No more duct tape?”

Lee couldn’t stop a bubble of laughter. “I asked Chip how he’d like having Mother M. aboard. He’s been good ever since.”

Nelson laughed, nodded, and glanced at his watch. “Suppose you go make sure the boat is safe for the night. I suspect that tomorrow will be busy.”

“Yes, sir,” and Lee headed for his usual evening ‘walkaboat’.

His first stop, however, was the Conn where he knew Chip was studying charts of the hydrothermal area they were headed toward. While they’d been there not all that long ago, Dr. Evans’ focus had been the areas reachable by FS1 that were closest to shore. Chip hated surprises and to that end was familiarizing himself and, as it turned out, Lt. James as well. Lt. O’Brien, who actually had the Conn, was paying close attention to the conversation.

Chip looked up expectantly as Lee joined the group. “Anything new from the Admiral?”

Lee grinned; Chip obviously thought that was why Nelson had asked to see him. “Not about tomorrow.” He sent Chip one of his through-the-lashes looks. “He wanted to know why I cringed.” He knew that Chip had seen Helen’s ‘sweet’ smile, as well as Lee’s reaction to it.

“Ouch,” Chip commiserated quietly. Lieutenants James and O’Brien gave each other a confused glance, caught by both Chip and Lee.

“Better you two don’t understand,” Lee told them not unkindly.

“Yes, sir,” came back in stereo, and both Lee and Chip grinned.

Lee nodded toward the charts. “What’s new?”

“Instability,” Chip muttered.

“Not new,” Lee told him firmly. Chip sent him a quick glare and the two lieutenants had to quickly bury snickers. Not so Lee, who chuckled softly. “Best guess is,” he told the gathering, “we stay prepared for anything.”

“Business as usual,” Chip translated.

“Yep,” Lee agreed.

“Help,” Chip said not quite under his breath. Lee burst out laughing, backhanded Chip’s shoulder as he nodded to the other two trying desperately to keep a straight face, and headed out the aft hatch.

He’d ambled through most of the boat and was headed for a last check on the Conn before heading to his cabin when he ran into Evans and West leaving the Marine Lab and heading for their own bunks. He was told upon asking that Helen had already gone to her cabin. Instead, once he’d climbed the spiral stairs, he found her tapping lightly on his cabin door. “Haven’t made it there yet, Mom,” he told her, walking up to her and opening the door.

Helen glanced at her watch; it was just after 2230 hours. “Harriman mentioned something about you never sleeping.”

“I do sleep,” Lee defended himself as he sat down behind his desk and she settled in the visitor’s chair next to it. He wasn’t sure what bothered him more, the old line about how little sleep he seemed to need or hearing Helen refer to Nelson by his first name. Somehow it sounded so wrong! Apparently Helen caught ‘something’ in the short phrase and sent him a questioning look. But she smiled when Lee bashfully explained.

“There must be others who use his given name,” she responded, then got thoughtful. “Or is it just that your mother is using it?” Lee sent her his shy, through-the-lashes smile, and she chuckled softly. “Has to be a bit…weird,” she settled on.

Lee couldn’t help himself – he laughed out loud, and then had to explain to her the reason that the word ‘weird’ had become an inside joke aboard Seaview.**** “But yeah,” he had to admit, “it just doesn’t sound right.”

“If you’d rather…” Helen started, but he raised a hand to stop her.

“I’ll adjust,” he assured her. “You wanted something?” he indicated the door.

She grinned. “I realized that we haven’t had much chance to talk. And,” she sent him a bit of a shy smile, “I needed to apologize for embarrassing you earlier.”

Lee looked confused. “When?”

“With Harriman when we were talking about Australia.”

Lee chuckled. “You didn’t, Mom.”

“Humm,” she frowned. “That puzzled look he sent you…”

“Just had to explain the difference between your regular smile and your ‘sweet’ one.”

“I didn’t…” Lee nodded. “Oops,” she told him. “Then I really did need to apologize.” They both ended up chuckling.

“I realized something else the last few days,” Helen continued, and Lee sent her the expected raised eyebrow. “How much you love it here at NIMR, and on Seaview. And also how much respect that your crew has for you. Oh, I know,” she cut off whatever response Lee started to say, “you’ve told me often enough. And I did have a pretty good idea from when I was here the last time. But…” she chose her words carefully, “there was always, in the back of my mind…”

“That it was the Navy that cost you Dad,” Lee said softly.

She nodded. “But I see in you so much of what I saw in him: the excitement, the anticipation, of knowing you’re doing what you really want to be doing; that you’re making a difference.”

“Thanks, Mo…” Lee was interrupted by a flat hand smacking the outside of the cabin door and he called out, “Come on in, Chip.” The blond entered, chuckling, then turned bright red when he realized Helen was there. “That flat hand was Chip’s way of ordering me to go to bed,” Lee explained to Helen.

“Somebody has to or you’d be up 24/7,” Chip defended himself, but his head was still slightly down.

Helen chuckled. “I’d say that it’s bed time for all of us.” She and Lee both stood, she gave Lee a hug and then, to his further embarrassment, she hugged Chip as well before leaving. Lee and Chip shared a grin before Chip headed to his own cabin.

* * * *

The blond was at the chart table with Lt. Keeter, who had the Conn, the next morning when Lee came down the spiral staircase. Noises from the open hatch to FS1 caught Lee’s attention and he nodded that direction as he joined the other two.

“Sharkey’s pre-pre-flighting,” Keeter explained.

“Ticked that he’s not going along?” Lee guessed. Keeter waggled his hand. “Doing his own double-checking before we even get to the site?” Lee grinned. “And very early, before the Admiral might catch him.” He barely got it out before the COB’s head appeared, and the three stayed quiet as Sharkey finished climbing out and dogging the hatch. “Everything okay, Chief?” Lee asked him blandly.

“A-OK, sir,” Sharkey told him, then hesitated as he came to a stop. “Ah…sir?”

Lee very carefully kept a straight face. Chip had his ‘XO on Duty’ face in place but Keeter had to pretend to check the navigation computer. “What’s up, Chief?” Lee got out normally.

“Just thinking, Skipper.” There was a look on his face that almost undid Lee’s efforts to remain casual. “You think it’s okay, the Admiral headed into a dangerous hydrothermal field without a co-pilot? Without anyone else who can operate FS1?”

“What I think, Chief, is that I’m not about to second-guess the Admiral on the subject.” He let a small smile appear. “Even if my mother will be with him.”

There was a choked off snort from Lt. Keeter and a couple more from around the Conn. Sharkey frowned but all he did was nod, mumble a “by your leave,” and head out the aft hatch. The only reason both Lee and Keeter didn’t totally lose it was, more steps sounded on the stairs and Nelson appeared.

But between Lee and Keeter’s broad smiles, other grins around the Conn, and Chip’s controlled expression now showing signs of serious deterioration, Nelson raised an eyebrow as he joined them. “Missed something?” he asked.

“Just another example of how safety-minded the crew is,” Lee got out, almost straight-faced.

“Uh-huh,” Nelson mumbled, before he smiled. “How long did Chief Sharkey spend checking out FS1?” he asked. Lee looked at Keeter.

“Just over half an hour, sir,” the lieutenant answered, fighting for control of his expression.

“Sounds about right,” Nelson managed to get out before he chuckled, totally undoing Lee, and finally Chip’s own grin broke through. “No reservations?” Nelson asked Lee directly.

“No, sir,” Lee told him. “I know that you’ll be careful.”

Nelson sent him a look. “Meaning no way would I put FS1 in a position where I’d be forced to apologize to you for allowing Helen to be in any danger.”

Lee ducked his head and Chip answered. “Nailed it, sir,” he got out before Lee’s elbow nailed him.

“Where’s my duct tape?” Lee muttered with a glare at his XO.

Nelson laughed outright, pointed toward the aft hatch, and the three headed for breakfast leaving smiles on the faces of the entire Conn crew.

Will and Helen were just dishing up their meals when the other three entered the Wardroom. Will took one look at Lee’s glare, Chip’s smirk, and Nelson’s amusement, and turned to her. “Whatever you do, do not ask what those three are up to,” he warned. Helen still pointed an eyebrow at Lee.

“For once in his life, Mom,” he told her, “I’d recommend listening to Jamie.”

“And you have to take into account, Mother C.,” Chip told her, but staying out of range of Lee’s elbow, “how rare it is for Lee to make that statement since he almost never listens to him.”

Nelson burst out laughing again and Will turned to Helen. “Like I said.”

Peace, mostly, was declared as all five got what they wanted for breakfast. But more smiles broke out when Helen, who had until now sat between Nelson and Will at mealtimes, chose this morning to sit between Lee and Chip. As usual, that pair ate quickly so they could head back to the Conn. As the Wardroom door closed behind them Nelson allowed a bubble of laughter to escape. Will sent Helen a look. “I know I’m going to regret this.” He turned to Nelson. “Yes, Admiral?”

Nelson chose the answer he thought least likely to cause further chaos. “Chief Sharkey has raised concerns about not having a co-pilot on today’s FS1 trip.”

Unfortunately, Helen quickly figured it out. “Harriman, if there’s any kind of issue I’ll stay on Seaview.”

“No, no, Helen,” Nelson rushed to assure her. He chuckled and sent Will a quick look before again looking at her. “Sharkey is…ah…used to going along when I take FS1 out.” He shared another look with Will. “He doesn’t like his routines disturbed. I’ve already talked to both Lee and Chip, and neither…” He had to stop and bury a chuckle. “They have no problem going along with this plan.”

“And trust me, Helen,” Will jumped in, “Lee would be quite vocal if he wasn’t comfortable.”

“Amen,” Nelson said softly but sincerely, and shared another look with Will.

“Humm,” Helen told them both, and swallowed the last of her coffee. “If you’re sure…”

“Positive,” Nelson assured her. “When you’re ready come down to the Nose. I think we’re still on target to take off about 1000 hours. Ah, 10:00 am,” he translated.

She nodded with a smile. “I’m not too bad at military time.” Her smiled turned a bit sheepish. “Just past noon it takes me a few extra seconds.” All three grinned and she left.

“Admiral?” Will asked once the door was closed behind her.

“Some minor mayhem,” Nelson translated correctly, “over making sure I don’t forget that I’ll have Lee’s mother with me.”

“Help,” Will muttered softly, but the pair shared a chuckle.

* * * *

When Nelson came down the spiral stairs just before 0930 hours he wasn’t at all surprised to find his three passengers already waiting. Nor was he surprised that FS1’s hatch was open and Helen was standing at the railing looking down. A glance around the Conn not revealing Lee, Nelson grinned but was sidetracked by Helen. “I keep forgetting to ask you,” and she very carefully sent him her normal smile after her slight oops, “why you still choose to use a diving bell when the ROV’s seem to be all the rage these days?”

“The Flying Sub came first,” Lee’s voice floated up just before his head appeared. “Sir,” he added with a grin of his own, and finished climbing up the ladder.

Nelson smiled as well. “FS1 can go as deep as any of the manned units. And, is a good deal more comfortable. I’ve been puttering with designs for something more along the line of a manned scientific explorer.” He sent a slightly sheepish grin around the Nose. “Haven’t quite got a handle on all the details yet.”

“The Admiral is being generous,” Dr. Evans told Helen. “All the department heads at NIMR, me included, keep wanting this capacity or that and he hasn’t been able to satisfy us all. Which is not to say,” he added quickly, “that we aren’t all quite happy with FS1, the bell, and Seaview herself.”

Nelson sent him a nod, then returned his gaze to Lee. “Cookie sent forward coffee and sandwiches,” Lee told him, “since I wasn’t sure how long you’d be out. The packs are secured on the bunk.” There was a slight ‘clunk’ from below that Nelson recognized as FS1’s back hatch being closed. “And Sharkey stowed a box of collection units, just in case,” he added with a broadening grin. “Just coming to the edge of the hydrothermal field and we’ve slowed to one-quarter speed. You can take off whenever you’re ready.”

Nelson glanced around and got back three expectant looks. “I think that would be now,” he said with a grin of his own. He went down first, then Helen. Evans and West waited just a few moments so that the Admiral could get her familiarized a bit before they went down. Lee watched until Nelson had Helen belted into one of the rear seats. West took the other, and Evans headed for the co-pilot’s seat as Nelson stowed the ladder into its travel position. He sent Lee a half-salute and Lee dogged the hatch.

As Lee got back to the chart table Nelson started an abbreviated checklist with Chip; within two minutes Chip was opening the bay doors and releasing the docking clamps. The pair shared a grin with Lt. James. “She’ll have a great time,” Chip told Lee as all three men remembered their first experiences with the little yellow machine.

Lee laughed out loud as the young lieutenant suddenly shuddered ever so slightly. Chris had recently had his first lessons piloting FS1 and it hadn’t gone totally according to Hoyle.++ “Chill, Chris,” Lee told him gently. “Another couple months and you’ll be racing around in FS1 almost as well as Chip and I.”

“Oh, no, sir,” James told him seriously.

“Four months, tops,” Chip chimed in. James didn’t look convinced. Lee grinned, nudged his shoulder, and grabbed up the Duty roster as he headed out to make one of his casual ‘walkaboats’.

* * * *

“Ohmygoodness,” escaped Helen’s mouth before she could stop it, and got three grins back. She’d handled dropping out of Seaview’s belly just fine, even though it was into almost total darkness. Nelson switched on the outside lights but for a bit there still wasn’t much to see. But the exclamation escaped as they approached the hydrothermal field and she was unprepared for the sights she encountered despite what she’d learned over the last several days on top of her own research in the days prior to arriving at NIMR.

“Spectacular, isn’t it?” Nelson sent over his shoulder.

“Still pictures, even some of the video I’ve seen over the last few days, don’t do it justice,” she told him. “This is…”

“Yep,” Evans told her, a grin in his voice. “I never get tired of it.”

And for the next four hours Nelson had the pleasure of keeping that level of wonder on everyone’s faces. Evans had a chart of the area on his lap and made notes about places he’d like to explore further as Nelson almost casually wandered back and forth through the area; although, always with an eye on avoiding anything that might not be totally safe to approach – of which there were several. He paused every so often as the three men pointed out this and that – giant tube worms, stalked barnacles, cutthroat eel, blind shrimp. The diversity had Helen’s mind spinning.

And also diversity in the vents themselves. The men took turns explaining ‘black smokers’ made up of metal sulfide particles, ‘white smokers’ consisting of silica and anhydrite particles, and the occasional clear vent of mostly just super-heated water, temperatures of which could reach upwards of 750 degrees F. Evans and West, familiar with FS1’s sample-gathering equipment, took turns sitting on the deck working with and exchanging the containers in the special compartment underneath as the other worked the arms. Because of the high temperatures special precautions had to be taken, not the least of which were the special materials used to make the collection units. “Another of your patents?” Helen asked Nelson. He nodded proudly.

No one thought much about the lunch Cookie had sent along until Chip, making one of his casual check-ins, mentioned that he was headed for the Wardroom and Lt. James would have the Conn. Nelson almost asked where Lee was but quickly squashed the idea. Whatever was going on aboard Seaview, Nelson wasn’t ready to stir it further. There was absolutely no clue from Chip’s voice. Nelson merely acknowledge the call and had Merle grab the packs off FS1’s bunk.

It was just as well. Lee had headed out of the Conn knowing full well that, all precautions notwithstanding, he’d start to pace if he stayed there. The crew, and especially those in the Conn, were all enjoying the calm atmosphere aboard plus the chance to meet and visit with their Skipper’s only family. Well, family by blood; they all knew that Lee easily acknowledged all of Seaview’s crew as ‘family,’ and in particular the Admiral and XO. Lee wasn’t about to mess up their easy attitudes. Wandering around the boat was something he did anyway; while it helped release tension on Lee’s part it didn’t stir it up in the rest of the crew.

With the exception of his XO. Chip knew perfectly well what Lee was up to, and why. But he, also, wasn’t about to do anything to call attention to it. He went through his routines as if nothing special was happening until just before 1200 hours. Quietly, although he was fairly sure most of the Conn knew what he was up to, he called Lt. Bryson forward to second Lt. James and went in search of Lee. Then had to laugh as he discovered that Jamie had beaten him to the punch and was already somewhat herding Lee toward the Officers’ Wardroom. The three ate a peaceful, if quick on Lee and Chip’s part, meal before Chip headed back to the Conn. Lee stayed a few minutes longer, kibitzing with the doctor for the very reason that he enjoyed doing it, and did really appreciate the effort both Jamie and Chip had made to help him relax. As Lee finally stood up Will sent him off with a laugh, saying, “Chill, Skipper. The Admiral wouldn’t dare let his scientific curiosity get out of hand long enough to cause trouble.”

“At least this first trip,” Lee smarted right back, and left the Wardroom a good deal more relaxed than when he’d entered.

Will noticed Cookie standing in the doorway into the Galley. “What’s on your mind, Cookie?” he asked casually. Will knew that all of the crew knew him to be someone they could say anything to; the CMO kept his own council. And Will did nothing to mess that up, greatly appreciating his position.

“The Skipper,” the premier chef – and Seaview’s back-up Nuclear Reactor Technician – started. “He’s not really worried about his mother being out with Admiral Nelson. I mean, I know that the Admiral can get a little carried away at times…”

Will chuckled. “Actually, from what I know of Mrs. Crane, I suspect that he’s concerned her curiosity has the potential for causing more trouble than Admiral Nelson’s.”

A grin split the chef’s craggy face. “I’ve read a bunch of the articles she’s written,” he admitted. “After it came out who she is. I mean…”

“Understood, Cookie,” Will told him. Lee had been aboard Seaview for some time before it became known, quite by accident, that his mother was in fact Pulitzer award-winning freelance writer Helen Graham Lee.+ Chip, of course, had always known. And Will was sure that Nelson had as well. But both had kept quiet, allowing Lee his privacy.

“She does like to get into a story,” Cookie finished.

Will chuckled again. “Thorough,” he agreed. “Like her son.” Cookie nodded with another grin and headed back into the Galley. Will took a couple of minutes to finish the last of his coffee. Not realizing what Chip had been planning he’d taken it upon himself, after one of his corpsmen mentioned that Lee was spotted on one of his walkaboats looking a bit tense about something, to coax his no-doubt not hungry Skipper into at least eating a little something. With Chip’s help Lee had actually eaten enough that even Cookie was happy, had seemed under control during the meal, and afterward as he’d stayed the extra few minutes to visit. Will knew that he held a very special place within Lee’s small circle of close friends. He cultivated it during the quiet times because he all too often needed to get in the younger man’s face when chaos, unfortunately all too often, broke out and Lee needed to be reminded that he wasn’t invincible. Oh, Will was perfectly aware that Lee didn’t purposely ignore taking care of himself; he simply took care of everyone around him first. It drove Will into the occasional temper tantrum because of it, although it also raised his respect for his incredibly talented CO as well as his wanting to do everything in his power to help. “What’s for supper,” he called out as he stood up and refilled his coffee mug before heading back to his office.

“Sweet and sour pork, with stir-fried rice and veggies,” Cookie called back.

“Yumm,” Will practically purred. One of Lee’s favorites. And, one of his own!

Lee was still puttering around in Seaview’s lower compartments when Chip called him to the Conn shortly after 1400 hours. Chip’s voice was casual but Lee still didn’t waste a lot of time getting there, only to find that FS1 was approaching and Chip knew Lee would want to be there when she returned. Once the docking clamps were in place and Chip started to close the bay doors, Lee undogged the upper hatch. It took a few minutes for Nelson to get everything shut down and lower the ladder, and Helen’s was the first head to come up.

“WOW!” she told Lee as he gave her a hand up the last couple steps.

Lee grinned. “I didn’t try to explain because there’s no real way. You have to experience it for yourself.” They stepped back as Evans and Nelson came up.

“Mike is headed out the back hatch with the samples we gathered,” Nelson answered Lee’s pointed eyebrow. Lee nodded and stepped over to close the top hatch. “And there’s video and stills to download,” Nelson continued. Lee glanced at Chip, who checked the Duty roster and called Seaman Patterson forward; when anything to do with photography was needed he was Seaview’s automatic go-to man.

As Helen headed to her cabin to freshen up, her face still full of wonder, Lee followed Nelson and Evans over to the chart table where they matched Evans’ chart to Seaview’s. They marked areas of special interest to Evans and West, and kibitzed about where to use FS1 and where to use the bell.

“Don’t imagine,” Nelson said at one point to Lee, “that you’d approve of two collections going on at the same time; Merle and I, plus Sharkey in the bell, and you, Mike, Helen, and perhaps Kowalski in FS1?” At Lee’s instant frown Nelson sent him a small grin. “Didn’t think so,” he told his momentarily disapproving captain.

“Too much chance of chaos from one direction causing chaos in the other,” Lee told him firmly.

Nelson’s smile turned slightly sheepish. “Understandable,” he admitted. He noted Chip’s expression matching Lee’s and sent the blond a nod as well.

“Far better,” Lee had himself back under control – mostly – “to alternate FS1 and bell; less pressure on the same crewmen day after day.”

“Excellent plan,” Nelson readily agreed. “And depending on how the collections go, perhaps not even every day.” He glanced at Evans. “We aren’t that limited with time, we don’t have to drive ourselves that hard.”

“Works for me,” Evans agreed. “There’s a fair amount of lab time needed to properly prepare and label the collections before the units can be sterilized and re-used.”

“So, we’ll take it one day at a time and see who wants to do what when.” He sent Lee a look. “That sentence made wonderful sense,” he said bashfully.

Lee chuckled. “Sounded fine to me, sir.” Nelson’s smile broadened as he noted Lee’s easy use of the ‘sir’, something noticeably absent in his last few sentences. “Which first?”

Nelson shrugged. “Tell you over dinner once Merle, Mike, and I have a chance to confer.”

“Sounds good, sir. I’ll check the chart and settle Seaview somewhere convenient.” Nods all around, Nelson and Evans headed up the stairs and Lee, Chip, and James took a closer look at the charts.

* * * *

Everyone pretty much hit the Wardroom at the same time. Lee had no problem finding a suitable location for Seaview to hold station, especially as they’d been in the area before and were fairly comfortable with local currents. Weather topside the next few days wasn’t overly pleasant, but nothing to bother the giant submarine at depth. He and Chip followed Nelson and Helen in, Will barely beating them, and Evans and West followed a minute behind. Smells had floated down the corridor and both Lee and Chip’s eyes lit up; the dish wasn’t something Cookie made often simply because it couldn’t be prepared that far ahead and retain a ‘just made’ taste.

As they all started to sit down, Helen turned to Will. “Have they behaved today?”

Nelson chuckled but Will answered her seriously as the pair in question sent him totally cherubic expressions. “As much as it pains me to admit it, yes, they have.” Helen nodded and sat down between Nelson and Will as the younger men took their usual seats.

Nelson looked at Evans and West as the pair had no idea what was going on. “Don’t worry about it; you missed round one,” he told the pair.

Lee and Chip shared a look. “That was only round one?” Chip asked Lee.

“We obviously haven’t been trying hard enough,” Lee told him seriously. But he barely got it out before both burst out laughing.

“Me and my big mouth,” Helen told Nelson and Will as Evans sat down next to Chip and West settled next to Will.

As everyone dug into their meal Lee caught Nelson’s eye. “We’re still pondering,” Nelson told him. “But we’re leaning toward taking the bell down on the western edge of the vent area. All indications are that there’s an active area too deep to take FS1. The problem is, both Merle and Mike want to go down.” He sent Lee a nod. “And I know you won’t like that arrangement.”

“I’d prefer two people in the bell familiar with its workings.”

“As would I,” Chip got in his own thought on the subject but softly and carefully, with a cautious glance at Nelson.

Lee nodded toward the blond. “But depending on how many collection units you want to pack, we can fit in a fourth person.”

“Humm,” Nelson mumbled. “Hadn’t considered that.” No one said anything for a few minutes. “Who would you suggest?” Nelson finally asked.

Before Lee could get anything out he winced as Chip nailed his ankle. He sent the blond a frown, but nodded. “Lawrence would be the logical choice,” he finally told Nelson. “He’s totally familiar with the bell…” Lee grinned shyly. “And he’s smaller than Chief Sharkey.”

Nelson snorted, for two reasons. He totally understood Chip’s voiceless commentary about not wanting to be the fourth person, after Seaview’s experiences in the Kermadec Trench.** “No, Chip,” he assured his XO, “your name isn’t up for consideration.” He returned his gaze to Lee. “But Lawrence would definitely work. I assume you’ll want Sharkey as Dive Master.”

“Yes, sir,” Lee said, then smirked ever so slightly. “He’s become very familiar with the winch in recent months.”

“As have you,” Chip told him and Lee sent him a quick nod.

Nelson turned to Helen. “We’ll definitely find a time for you to experience the bell. But not this first trip, I’m afraid.”

Helen had been watching expressions around the table, especially those of her son. “Not a problem,” she now assured Nelson and very carefully sent him a genuine smile. “I want to know what goes on onboard Seaview during these kinds of cruises, too.”

Chip started to open his mouth but Lee returned the earlier kick and Chip wisely kept quiet. Will snickered and Nelson grinned. Helen sent them all a shrug and the meal continued with other subjects.

Lee groaned as he eventually stood up, garnering a worried look from his mother which he waved off with a sheepish grin. “Ate too much,” he mumbled. Chip snickered but it was mostly at the smug expression he’d caught on Cookie’s face at the comment, keeping quiet watch from the passageway into the Galley. “I’ll go tell Lawrence his Duty station for tomorrow, as well as immediate future, is being adjusted.” Chip nodded, Lee refilled his coffee mug, and headed out the door followed shortly by Evans and West.

“Cookie, you did good,” Chip called out. There was a chuckle audible from the Galley, and nods from Nelson and Will. Chip noticed a curious expression on Helen’s face. “Part of an XO’s job, Mother C., taking care of his captain.” He grinned broadly as Nelson and Will snorted. “Of course, help from certain crewmembers is always greatly appreciated.” He sent a nod toward the Galley.

“Humm,” Helen told him. “I seem to recall a rant or two on Lee’s part about his…overly conscientious…Executive Officer.”

“XO’s are so under-appreciated,” Chip faux-whined.

“And yet you always say you don’t want your own captaincy,” Nelson tried to say seriously but was hindered by the gigantic smile on his face.

“Too much paperwork,” Chip told him automatically. “Sir,” he added with a sheepish grin, at which point both Nelson and Will laughed out loud.

“Old joke,” Will told Helen.

“So I gathered,” she acknowledged, but then sent Chip a look. “You really don’t ever want to be more than an XO?” She looked around. “Or is this a really bad time to ask that?”

It was Chip’s turn to crack up. “Really, Mother C.,” he still got out seriously. “At this point it would mean leaving Seaview, and that ain’t happening,” he told the entire table.

“Thank you,” Nelson told him. He turned to Helen. “Even though Lee keeps threatening to toss Chip out the diving hatch and promote Lt. James to XO.”

“Yeah, well…” Chip let that one drop before getting totally serious, and his voice dropped so that only those at the table could hear. “And in all honesty, if Lee was no longer Seaview’s captain I’d have to think seriously about whether or not to stay.” He sent Nelson a slightly nervous look.

His boss nodded. “I understand, Chip,” was all he said but it was enough.

Chip sent him a nod and his smile came back. “And on that morbid note I’m off to do my best to see that that never happens.”

“For which the rest of us thank you greatly,” Nelson told him.

“Amen,” came quietly from Will. Chip nodded and headed out.

Helen looked at Nelson but it took him a bit to formulate a response. Helen glanced at Will who was looking lost in his own thoughts and she turned back to Nelson. “Lee,” he started, “and Chip as well,” he quickly added, “have become such an integral part of Seaview, and NIMR as well, that…” he tried to send Helen a smile but she easily saw that it was simply an effort to cover other, stronger, emotions. “I think we’d all find it difficult to…adjust if one…or both…were gone.”

Helen nodded. Her first thought was why is it so hard for men to be open about their emotions. She was surprised to hear these three actually voice the comments they just did and knew that it was her own curiosity that had opened them up even that much. She decided her best tactic was to use the one they most often employed – humor. “Then you have nothing to worry about. Those two will be harassing each other when we’re all dead and buried, and they’re incarcerated in an old sailor’s home. And heaven help the staff who have to put up with them.” She sniffed and polished off her coffee. It had the desired effect on Nelson – his broad grin reappeared. She wasn’t so sure about a brief look that passed over Will’s face but he almost immediately smiled as well.

When Chip left the Wardroom he headed as usual for the Conn, sending James off duty and taking over until Lt. O’Brien came in – early as usual – to take the Conn for “C” watch. They kibitzed about the next several days’ schedule – or concrete lack thereof – and added Lee to the conversation when he wandered through about 1930 hours.

As Chip prepared to head for his cabin for a couple hours of his own paperwork just before 2000 hours he sent Lee a raised eyebrow. “Still trying to walk off dinner,” Lee correctly translated the question, causing Chip to snicker softly and he nodded and headed up the stairs. Lee spent another few minutes with O’Brien, then headed back out the aft hatch.

* * * *

1000 hours the next morning found Helen standing quietly to one side in the Missile Room as crew prepared to launch the diving bell. This part of the submarine had been a surprise but she’d carefully kept her thoughts to herself. She had heard comments, of course, about ‘the missile room,’ and Lee on occasion had talked about jogging around ‘Sherwood Forest’ during the years since he’d joined NIMR. There had been the odd comment from the crew since she’d come aboard. But this room hadn’t been a part of the tour Nelson had given her. She wasn’t surprised by the torpedo racks; from other comments she knew that Seaview had the capacity to defend herself. But she was now learning why Lee had intimated, however accidentally and infrequently, that there was more to his service at NIMR than piloting Nelson’s oversized moveable marine laboratory. When she’d entered with Nelson Lee had, standing next to a large winch with Chief Sharkey, sent her a firm look. She’d immediately sent him back her ‘sweet’ smile before switching to a soft grin as he ducked his head ever so slightly, then continued whatever conversation he was in the middle of with the COB. Nelson caught the interplay and started to say something, but Evans and West walked in and he let it go as Helen greeted them. He did motion Helen over to where the bell sat and showed her the inside, explaining several of the instruments. But as the men, including one of the crew who Helen recognized as Seaman Lawrence, got ready to enter she backed off to a quiet corner and watched.

She tried not to let parental pride show as Lee coordinated the launching of the bell between crew both in the Missile Room and in the Conn. She realized that she’d apparently failed miserably when several of the crew sent her smiles and Lee, apparently heading to the Conn once the bell was safely away, sent her a slightly embarrassed look. “Oops,” she mumbled softly, and Lee’s expression changed to a broad grin. He did raise an eyebrow, indicating the hatch. “Okay to stay here, at least for a bit longer?” she asked loud enough so that others could hear. Lee glanced at Sharkey, headset in place, watching the winch and speaking to the bell. The COB never quit talking, but nodded toward Helen and gave Lee a thumbs-up and Lee left, the smile firmly in place.

Helen spent the next hour totally fascinated. While Sharkey continued to use his headset, communications from the bell were audible through an open speaker and Helen could almost visualize what was going on below her. Sharkey motioned her over at one point and explained more of what was happening, between keeping up with the bell and the Conn, and Helen was enthralled with the coordination needed to keep everything under control. She did ask a few questions, when Sharkey seemed to have time to answer, but carefully avoided either looking directly at or mentioning the torpedo racks and what she assumed were several missile silos. Eventually she sent Sharkey a nod and indicated that she was headed for the Conn. Sharkey nodded and started to say something, but Nelson called up a repositioning request so Helen smiled and left.

For one of the first times she’d slightly miscalculated, she ended up at the aft hatch to the Conn instead of the upper deck so she could come down the stairs into the Nose. She started to switch direction but Lee spotted her, grinned, and waved her forward. She quickly walked through, sent him a ‘sorry about that’ as she passed, and ended up frowning as she got to the Nose and realized both Lee and Chip were snickering softly. She did see Lee say something to Lt. James who then walked back to the Radio Shack. Suddenly communications from the bell, which she’d realized were audible softly in the Conn, now came through a speaker in the Nose and she sent a smile and a nod of thanks as she settled at the table where she could watch the Conn crew.

She was totally focused on what was going on in the bell, as the men talked about what they were seeing and taking samples from, and wasn’t aware of the time until Cookie’s assistant, Seaman Higgins, appeared with a large tray of sandwich fixings, fruit, and salad, and left it on the table as he went to replenish the coffee that was almost always in the Nose. Helen saw Lee frown when Higgins appeared, but Chip gave his shoulder a nudge and he said something that caused both Chip and James to grin, and slowly walked forward.

“My smart-alecky XO,” Lee grumbled, but finally smiled. “He knows that I don’t like to be stuck in the Wardroom when the bell’s out so he cons Cookie into delivering the meal up here.”

“And you of course tell them both ‘Thank You’,” Helen smarted right back. Lee shrugged but started fixing his meal with a small grin, and indicated that Helen should do the same. Lee ate quickly and did thank Higgins as the man returned with fresh coffee, to Helen’s broad grin. Once Lee returned to the chart table both Chip and Chris James came forward. Helen sent Chip a nod.

“Like I said last night, Mother C.” Chip sent the nod back as he started fixing his own lunch, “just part of an XO’s job.” But he barely got it out without laughing, and Helen chuckled. “Trust me,” Chip continued, “he gets his revenge.” But he and James both smiled.

“Oh, of that I have no doubt,” Helen told them.

“Brothers,” was grumbled from overhead, and Will walked down the stairs.

“I don’t envy you,” Helen told him seriously, “having to deal with them on a daily basis.” Chip tried to look indignant, managed merely to look embarrassed, and all four ended up chuckling. Chip did indicate the abundant food still available but Will shook his head.

“Already ate, thank you,” but he did end up taking a few peach slices and some salad, to more chuckles. Once Chip and James finished eating they headed back to the chart table and Lee headed aft. “Back to the Missile Room,” Will told Helen as Lee left. “He’s either here or there when the bell’s out.” Will sent her a grin. “He likes to keep a personal eye on things.”

“He’s always been organized.” Her expression went a bit sheepish. “My doing, I suspect.”

Will chuckled. “Nothing wrong with that,” he assured her. “Around here, unorganized equals chaos. Although,” he got thoughtful, “we usually blame the bit of OCD on Chip.” They both sent the blond a grin.

Not knowing what they were saying, Chip merely raised an eyebrow at the looks and both Helen’s and Will’s grins broadened. Chip decided ignorance might be bliss in this circumstance and ignored them both.

“It’s also why,” Will continued, “Lee tends to wander all over the boat,” he frowned slightly, “at all hours of the day. And night.” His frown increased before he realized Helen was watching him intently, and his smile returned. “Occasionally we’ll have a new crewman who thinks Lee is some kind of control freak. Doesn’t last long until they realize,” he chuckled softly, “or have it pointed out rather succinctly,+ that it’s just Lee’s way; how he keeps track of everyone and everything to make sure that there’s not a better, safer, solution.” He shrugged. “I guess you could call that a control freak.” His grin came back. “We call it the Skipper keeping us all safe.”

“I’ve wondered a time or two if my being aboard was…” Helen hesitated. “That he was nervous…”

Will chuckled. “Not a bit. Well…” it was his turn to ponder, “perhaps a little,” he admitted. “But what you see is Seaview’s Skipper being exactly who he is – dedicated to his job and to his crew.” He grinned. “One and the same.”

“Like his father,” Helen told him. “Dedicated, period. I admired Ben…” Once more she hesitated.

“Not always the easiest personality type to live with,” Will observed carefully. He wasn’t sure just how open he could be with her. The few times he’d been around her, both this trip and the previous time, she’d seemed relaxed and friendly. But still, he’d heard Chip’s sometimes not quite positive comments about Lee’s and Helen’s relationship and tried to be careful.

It caused Helen to look at him fully, a serious but contemplative expression her face. “Lee tends to complain about you getting in his face more than he thinks is necessary.”

Will frowned. “Thrust me. Only when it’s necessary!” he assured her firmly. They both ended up chuckling softly. The more Will was around Helen the more comfortable he got. He did think that he understood why Chip felt the way he did. Mrs. Crane was very different from Mrs. Morton, who Will had met once when Chip’s parents had visited NIMR. And he’d met Chip’s youngest sister, who now lived north of San Francisco, and seen how they interacted. But there was little doubt that Lee and Helen shared a special bond. He did wonder about one thing, and tried to find a way to ask without seeming to ask. “I can only imagine what a handful Lee was growing up.” He thought he got it out casually.

Helen sent him more of the contemplative look. “Are you asking if I was happy when he chose to follow Ben into the Navy, Doctor?”

Will grimaced. “Busted,” he admitted shyly.

Helen immediately chuckled softly. “No, Will, I don’t read minds.”

“Your son seems to,” Will muttered.

Helen chuckled louder, causing Chip to look their direction. She waved him off and spoke softly to Will. “No, I wasn’t originally, I have to admit.” Her voice got serious. “But all I had to do was see the joy in my son’s eyes when he did anything that involved water of any kind, and especially the ocean. No way was I going to squash his happiness.” She glanced around the Conn. “Thankfully,” she told Will. “He loves Seaview.”

“And he warned you I get nosy,” Will said, still shyly.

“Eh,” she told him with a grin and a waggled hand. “Not in so many words. But I can hear, in his voice when he speaks about you…and to you,” she added, “the respect and friendship. I hear the same thing in your voice.” She smiled. “I’m so pleased that he’s made such good friends.”

Anything Will might have responded was interrupted by the ongoing conversations to and from the bell. Everything had remained calm so both Helen and Will hadn’t been listening all that closely. But suddenly there was shouts from multiple voices, and the entire Conn seemed to sit up straighter as Lee’s voice was heard over the dive channel. “Everything okay down there?” came with an edge of tension.

A soft chuckle came back. “Under control, Lee,” Nelson told him – and everyone else as he guessed what the outburst had caused onboard Seaview. “The very unexpected appearance of a Goblin Shark. Terrific!”

“Never a dull moment.” There was now humor evident in Lee’s voice.

“Amen,” Will said, he thought only to himself but Helen sent him a raised eyebrow. Will smiled sheepishly. “Sometimes a little more ‘dull’ would be greatly appreciated,” he admitted. “At least by me.”

“Admiral Nelson, not so much?” Helen asked with an innocent lilt to her voice.

“Eh,” it was Will’s turn to say with a waggled hand and they both grinned again.

“May I ask, what’s a Goblin Shark?”

“No clue,” Will admitted. “We’ll have to wait for the Admiral to return. I’m sure that he’ll be happy to tell us all about it.” His expression caused Helen to grin again before she got serious.

“I gather,” she started softly, her back now to the Conn, “there was some kind of incident with the bell previously? Something about Lee doing something with FS1...” She didn’t continue as Will sent her a look she couldn’t read and then seemed to look beyond her.

“You really don’t want to know about that, Mother C,” came softly from behind. She startled slightly and turned to find that Chip had walked quietly into the Nose. “Well,” Chip amended with a small grin, “just another example of Lee being Lee,” he admitted, and reached over to grab one of the remaining cookies that had been brought up for lunch.

“Something classified,” Helen said, not a question.

Chip shrugged. “Not really,” he admitted.

“Humm.” Helen’s expression turned firm. “Something you don’t want me to know about because I’m his mother.” Again, not a question.

Chip’s expression went sheepish, as did Will’s. “Yes, ma’am,” Chip admitted.

“I am well aware, Chip, that his job can be dangerous at times.”

“I know, Mother C. But you’d smack him silly for being quite that…ah…foolhardy,” he sent Will a look before turning back to Helen, “no matter that he did solve a decidedly sticky issue. And since it’s my job to protect my skipper…” He ended up stuffing the last of the cookie into a very broad grin. Will chuckled openly and Chip headed back for the chart table.

Helen watched him silently before turning back to Will. “Did I just get deliberately sidetracked?”

“And quite adroitly,” Will agreed.

“Humm,” Helen muttered with a thoughtful look at the blond.

Lee caught it as he walked in through the aft hatch, sent Chip a raised eyebrow as he passed, but continued forward. “What did he do now?” he asked with a grumble, not specifically to either Helen or Will.

“His job,” Will answered before Helen could, grinned broadly, and headed back up the stairs. Lee sent his mother a raised eyebrow.

“All things considered,” she told him, “I’m taking the fifth.” There was a snicker from Chip. Lee knew when he was outmaneuvered, shook his head, and grabbed the last cookie. “I’m even more looking forward to going down in the bell,” Helen changed the subject. Sort of, and she sent Lee a bit of a smug look. “Sounds like it gets exciting down there.” They both looked at Chip as there was a strangled off snort from that direction, and Chip turned his back and headed for the Radio Shack.

“Has its moments,” Lee agreed, somewhat distractedly as he continued to watch Chip. He finally gave himself a small shake and turned back to Helen. “The Admiral will no doubt have pictures to show you of the Goblin Shark, and anything else he found of interest this trip.”

“Which I look forward to as well,” Helen told him with a grin.

The next couple of hours went by peacefully. Chatter from the bell went back to what it had been most of the morning: requests from the bell to move Seaview short distances this way and that so those in the bell could reach different areas from which to take their collections. Helen stayed in the Nose as Lee continued to wander back and forth to the Missile Room until just before 1500 hours, when he motioned for her to accompany him so that she could watch the bell being recovered. She did wonder about a couple of looks that passed between Chief Sharkey and Lee as the bell was reeled back in and deposited gently back on top of the quickly closed hatch doors. Once she heard the docking clamps click into place, Lee stepped up and opened the bell’s hatch.

First out was Seaman Lawrence. He nodded to Lee, then turned and started gathering up as many collection units as he could carry. Next were Evans and West, both with their arms full as well, jubilantly chattering to each other; Helen assumed about what the units held and what tests they wanted to run but since she could only understand about one word in ten she wasn’t sure. She did take a few steps forward from where she’d been watching quietly as Nelson stepped out with a grin at Lee.

“Amazing,” Nelson told his captain, and included Helen as she came closer. “I never get tired of being down there.” He looked at Helen directly. “We’ll get you down the next dive, I promise.”

“I look forward to it,” she told him. Lee caught ‘something’, either in her voice or expression, and shuddered ever so slightly but remained silent. Nelson caught Lee’s reaction, had no idea what caused it, and raised an eyebrow. “Ignore him,” Helen muttered.

“Actually, I try very hard not to,” Nelson told her seriously. There were snickers heard here and there around the room, quickly choked off as Lee looked around and frowned. Nelson chuckled, gave Lee’s shoulder a soft backhand, and he and Helen left as Nelson told her more about today’s dive. Lee shared a look with Sharkey, shook his head, and headed back to the Conn as his crew got everything back in order from the dive.

Lee entered the aft hatch to the Conn just as Chip was settling Seaview back into the ‘parking spot’ they’d chosen, close to the hydrothermal field but away from any strong currents. Lee waited until Chip was satisfied all was as it should be, then raised an eyebrow.

Chip, never slow on the uptake, and especially where Lee was concerned, walked into the Nose and Lee followed. “She was trying to get a bit more specific about what happened at Kermadec,” Chip said softly. Lee frowned and muttered something too low to hear, and Chip sent him a quick grin. “Chill. Between Jamie and I, we convinced her that she didn’t want to know.”

Lee sent him a glare. “That just made it worse,” he growled. Chip snickered and headed back to the chart table.

Once Helen figured that Merle and Mike had settled into the Marine Lab with their samples, she went down and sat quietly watching them as they carefully, from the quick notes they’d made at the time, entered each unit into much more detailed journals. Then, working within sterile compartments, they transferred the collections into permanent containers so that the collection units could be sterilized and reused. Helen had her notebook out and the men, now that they could also relax a bit from the intenseness of the actual sample collections, were able to answer her questions easily and openly. She was filling multiple pages, both with the men’s procedures and the reasons behind them, and also notes to herself as she thought about the article she would later write, and had no idea of passing time until Admiral Nelson poked his head in the door. “Dinner time,” he announced pleasantly. Evans and West were both elbow deep in sterile transfers and sent him a look over their masks. “I’ll have Cookie keep a couple plates warm for you.”

“Thanks, Admiral.” Evans nodded and went back to what he was doing, and Nelson looked at Helen.

“Think that I have this part figured out,” she told no one in particular, closed her notebook, and accompanied Nelson to the Wardroom.

Just as they arrived they met Lee and Chip coming from the other direction, and when Lee opened the door and motioned Helen in first she found Will just dishing up his plate. Tonight’s entrée was a simple meatloaf but accompanied by baked potatoes with all the fixings, peas and carrots in a light butter sauce, mixed greens salad with vinaigrette dressing, and fresh whole wheat rolls. As everyone settled into their usual spots Nelson asked Higgins if he’d prepare a couple of plates and take them to the Marine lab. “Maybe just meatloaf sandwiches, some salad, and whatever you have for dessert. Merle and Mike won’t take much time away from what they’re doing to eat,” he added almost apologetically.

“No problem, Admiral,” Higgins assured him, and headed into the Galley.

“Surprised that you’re not helping them, sir,” Lee said carefully with a slightly lowered head. Nelson sent him a firm look but it didn’t last as Will snorted softly, and he relaxed and shrugged.

“Too many cooks, etc,” he told Lee. “They have a system and I figured that I’d mess it up. I do need to check a couple projects in my lab but I’ll do that later.” He turned to Helen. “Hopefully you didn’t mind my interruption.”

“Absolutely not,” she assured him. “I’d watched enough to have a firm grip on what they were doing, and why.” She sent the others a sheepish smile. “Had no idea of the time.”

“Think nothing of it,” Lee stepped in with a grin at Nelson. “We’re constantly having to pry the Admiral out at mealtimes.” His grin spread as Nelson faux-glared at him before everyone chuckled. “Tomorrow, sir?” Lee’s voice went back to serious.

Nelson shrugged. “Not sure.” He sent Lee a quirky grin. “Haven’t wanted to bother Merle with that, either. But my first thought is, since I suspect both he and Mike will be perfectly happy in the lab tomorrow it might be a great time to take Helen down in the bell.” He held up a hand as Lee started to open his mouth. “I know we talked about alternating bell and FS1…” He stopped because Lee was already nodding.

“It’s likely that they both will want to do every bell dive. With the more limited space this would be a great time to take Mom down.”

“Seaman Lawrence and I can do a few collections to add to what Merle and Mike did today, but we,” he glanced at Helen, “could just have a good look around.” He sent Lee a look. “Want to come?”

“It would mean Lawrence could stay aboard,” Chip offered, “instead of two dives in a row.”

“Much healthier for him,” Will added his two cents’ worth.

“I think I’m being railroaded,” Lee muttered, mostly to himself.

“Better you than me,” Chip told him almost as softly as he gently nudged Lee’s shoulder. Nelson and Will grinned and finally Lee did as well.

“I’ll let Sharkey know after dinner,” Lee surrendered, and conversation changed to generalities.

Lee was just headed for his cabin about 2230 when he ran into Helen headed the same direction. “Oh good,” she told him. “You haven’t gone to bed yet.”

Lee laughed. “This early? Not a chance.” His smile disappeared. “Since I’ll be off-boat a chunk of tomorrow I’ve got at least two hours of paperwork I need to do.”

“That’s why I was looking for you.” Lee raised an eyebrow. “You didn’t seem overjoyed to be in the bell with me, and…” She stopped because Lee burst out laughing. “What?”

“I spend the last two hours,” sounded from around the nearest corner and Chip walked into view, “unscrambling one of the communication computers…” he frowned, “and how Sparks screwed it up I’m still not sure…” he glared at Lee, “and you’re laughing your head off?”

“Mom thinks I’m claustrophobic,” Lee got out through continuing chuckles.

“Brat,” Helen muttered, smacked Lee’s shoulder, and said to Chip, “That is not what I meant.”

“And why are you blaming Sparks for the computer problem?” Lee got serious and demanded of his XO. “I thought you said a motherboard went bad.” A bright grin reappeared at use of the term. “Sorry about that, Mom,” he said as it was Chip’s turn to laugh.

“I know what a motherboard is,” Helen smarted back.

“Now what have they done?” Will grumbled, coming from the same direction that Chip had.

Before anyone could answer, “Someone call a senior staff meeting without telling me?” came in Nelson’s obviously amused voice as he joined them from the other direction.

“Geesh,” Helen mumbled not totally under her breath, causing Lee to laugh out loud again. She turned to Nelson. “I have apparently amused my son.” There was still grumble in her voice and it made the other men smile, much to her annoyance and Lee’s continued chuckles.

Lee finally got himself back under control. “She thought that my apparent reluctance to go down in the bell, sir, was because she’d be there, too,” he told Nelson. The Admiral controlled his expression, with limited success. Not so Chip and Will, whose turn it was to chuckle.

“I’m always teasing Lee,” Nelson told Helen with a broad grin, “about turning him into a marine biologist.” He sent Lee a fond look.

“And I keep reminding him,” Lee told her, “that I’m just here to drive the boat.”

“Eh,” Chip said with a waggled hand and even Helen finally smiled.

“Now that that’s settled,” it was Will’s turn to mumble, “past my bedtime.” That served to break up the impromptu gathering. Chip did follow Lee to his cabin and gave a bit more detailed account of the computer issue. Once he left Lee spent until almost 0100 hours dealing with several reports. He was tempted to do another ‘walkaboat’, just to calm a busy brain. Instead, he laid down hoping that he could relax and took only slightly longer than his usual three minutes from the time his head hit the pillow to fall asleep.

He wasn’t late getting up but still found Chip in the Conn going over the last few hours of logs with Lt. Keeter when he came down the stairs. Keeter gave him the abbreviated version verbally before Chip dragged him off to the Wardroom for breakfast. The pair was just standing up to leave when Nelson, Will, and Helen walked in. Not realizing that they’d entered, Cookie interrupted Lee’s greeting by asking if he needed to fix sandwiches; would the bell be out that long.

Lee’s grin broadened. “You’ll have to ask the Admiral.” He nodded that direction. “It’s his sightseeing trip. Don’t even know what time we’re leaving.” He sent Chip a quick glare as the blond shoved him gently in the back towards the door, causing the others to chuckle as they headed to dish up their plates. Seaview’s chef looked at Nelson.

“We’re taking off about 0930,” Nelson told him, “and you’d probably better fix for three.” He sent a sheepish grin at Cookie, but also included Helen and Will. “You know me.”

Will snorted softly. “Only too well, Admiral,” he smarted. Nelson frowned, but it didn’t last as Cookie nodded and grinned before heading back to the Galley.

“Harrumph,” Nelson muttered, but also finally grinned.

He smiled again, broadly, as Lee joined him in the Missile Room shortly after 0900 carrying a sweater. Lee grinned back. “Mom will be here in a couple minutes. I caught her just leaving her cabin and warned her she might want to grab something a little warmer than the light blouse she was wearing.”

Nelson nodded, then continued the conversation Lee had interrupted with Sharkey which included Chip by way of the intercom. Having just come from the Conn Lee knew that the three were coordinating where Nelson wanted to dive, with possible adjustments depending on what they found.

Lee’s grin increased as he chatted a bit with the several crewmen scattered around, helping prepare for the dive. While it was true that Lee didn’t always take much interest in Nelson’s marine explorations, he very much enjoyed spending time with him no matter what the situation. Some of the best moments were when he could enjoy Nelson’s excitement and love for the oceans, and today he had the chance to share that experience with his mom. He was so glad that even the little bit had been said between them that first night – Lee was perfectly aware that his choice of a naval career hadn’t been popular with Helen, although she’d never have tried to change his mind. So just that few minutes had been enough for each to re-affirm their acceptance of each side of the issue.

He'd tossed his sweater inside the bell and was helping Seaman Lawrence load a healthy supply of collection units when Helen entered the Missile Room and walked over to him. He stepped back and indicated to Lawrence to give Helen a visual tour as they stood in the open hatch. Nelson joined Lee and they shared a grin as the seaman’s enthusiasm was matched by that of Helen’s.

During a small lapse in the conversation Lee told Nelson off-handedly, “Rats! Forgot to ask Doc for a couple of anti-claustrophobia pills for Mom.” There was absolutely no mistaking the teasing humor in his voice.

“Brat,” Helen threw at him over her shoulder and promptly asked Lawrence a question. Nelson snorted and Lee practically giggled. As the seaman seemed done with his explanation he stepped back, and the bell’s three passengers for the day settled themselves inside.

The day turned out to be everything Lee was anticipating. Nelson was effervescent, and had a willing and excited audience in Helen. Lee was for the most part silent, enjoying Nelson’s excitement enthralling Helen. They started very near where the dive was the day before. While not finding the Goblin Shark again there was still plenty to see. Besides organisms they’d seen in FS1 there were eel-like Vent Fish. Nelson pointed out crabs scraping microbes from the rocks, explaining that’s what they lived on for the most part. There were more shrimps, weird octopus, barnacles, snails, tiny squat lobsters; so much diversity for what most would see as a totally inhospitable place. Nelson’s in his element, and Mom is soaking it all up, Lee thought at one point, then had to bury a snicker in a short cough at his terrible pun. The other two were so involved that they didn’t notice, which caused Lee to grin even more.

From there Seaview moved them further west, slightly outside the hydrothermal area and slightly higher in the water table where Nelson took several samples for his own research. Then back into a different area of the hydrothermal field where they encountered more Ghost Crabs and tube worms, and gathered several samples for Drs. West and Evans as well as a few mineral samples picked from the vent columns themselves.

At that point Chip made a comment about heading for lunch, and Lee broke out the packs he’d seen Lawrence stow. Meatloaf sandwiches and coffee – nothing fancy but it hit the spot for all three before Nelson called for another position change which Lt. James easily managed. Nelson sent Lee a grin. “I keep telling Chip,” Lee responded, “that if he’s not careful I’ll toss his six off the boat and promote Chris to XO.” Nelson and Helen both laughed, easily reading the sparkle in Lee’s eyes. They meandered around the northern part of the field before Nelson called a halt just before 1430, and Seaview brought them carefully back aboard.

“Fantastic,” Helen proclaimed as it was Chip who opened the bell’s hatch. Everyone was in a jubilant mood. Lee stayed in long enough to hand out to a waiting Lawrence and Riley the collection units that Nelson had filled. As he finally stepped out he felt Seaview move slowly under his feet and sent Chip a look.

“Told Chris to head back to the ‘parking lot’ once the bell was safely back,” Chip told him with a smile. The pair stood just a second watching crewmembers tidy up what little of the area that needed it following the dive and then Chip walked with Lee to his cabin, catching him up on the day’s activities aboard. As Lee hit his cabin for a few minutes Chip continued to the Conn. When Lee came down he glanced at the logs – just because – complimented Lt. James on how easily he’d maneuvered Seaview, and laughed out loud as Chip faux-glared at the young lieutenant and told him “Don’t get cocky and think you’ll get my job any time soon.” Lee knew James took the quazi-reprimand as the joke it was when he came instantly to Attention, but then also smiled. “Harrumph,” Chip muttered before he, too, grinned broadly. Lee winked at James, lightly backhanded Chip’s shoulder, and headed out for a quick ‘walkaboat’ before supper.

Helen was still gushing about the dive when everyone met for the meal, including Drs. Evans and West now that their previous day’s collections were properly stored and marked. There was talk between them and Nelson concerning what he’d seen today, and did they need to go back there for more collections. Lee and Chip mostly stayed quiet as the others chatted, as did Will. Helen happily joined in, describing things she’d seen and asking what about some of the areas intrigued the two scientists. Nelson admitted being focused on his own research for the most part as to what he’d collected during the dive. Eventually the discussion turned to activities for the next day and both Lee and Chip listened intently to that part.

Nelson’s immediate reaction was, “You’re on your own,” indicating Evans and West. “My turn to be busy in the lab tomorrow.” It was said with a broad grin.

Evans turned to West. “You want to take FS1 along the shallower southwestern edge? I don’t need anything more from there.” He grinned and shrugged. “At least I don’t think so. I’ll stay here and finish cataloging that one weird container.” He glanced around before looking at Nelson. “We found ourselves with a puzzle this morning. Nelson’s eyes lit up. Instantly Will snorted and both Lee and Chip ducked their heads.

Will told Helen, “The Admiral loves puzzles.”

“Harrumph,” Nelson grumbled, but his eyes were sparkling.

Lee grinned and looked at Mike West. “0930, FS1?”

“Perfect,” West agreed.

“I’ll have Sharkey check with you about loading collection units, and either he or Kowalski to go along and help.” He glanced at Helen. “Room for you, Mom,” he told her.

“Don’t have to ask me twice,” she told him with a bright smile, and everyone grinned.

* * * *

Lee did a quick tour of the boat after an equally quick breakfast. He expected no problems, and found none, but it was just his way since he’d be off-boat a good part of the day. He hit the Conn just before 0900, glanced around there totally out of habit, and was headed forward to pre-flight FS1 when Chip handed him what turned out to be the current weather report.

“Looking pretty good,” Chip told him with a grin. “Thought you might want to take an extra hour and buzz Tim and Annie’s place.” Friends from their Annapolis days now ran a B&B on the Oregon coast.++++

Lee grinned. “That’s a thought,” he agreed. “Not sure the FAA would approve.”

“Eh,” Chip told him with a waggled hand and they both chuckled.

Fifteen minutes later, as Lee sat in FS1’s pilot chair going over his pre-flight checklist, the back hatch opened and Mike West, COB Sharkey, and Senior Rating Kowalski entered, all carrying boxes packed with collection units. As Sharkey started securing the boxes around the interior, Kowalski and West made a couple more trips. On the third entry Lee sent West a quizzical grin.

“Yeah,” Mike agreed. “Overkill.”

“Hey,” Lee told him, “might as well do as much as you can, when you can.”

“Sorta what I thought. Better to have too many than too few.”

“Absolutely.” He did glance at Sharkey since he wasn’t exactly sure yet who was going. His unasked question was answered when Kowalski closed the hatch once Sharkey left, and looked toward Lee to see where he should sit. Lee had just indicated one of the rear seats, leaving the other front seat for Mike, when Helen came down the ladder. The seaman got her settled in the other rear seat before dogging the hatch, stowing the ladder in its travel position, and settling himself in as Mike clipped his harness in the co-pilot’s chair. While he couldn’t pilot the little machine, Mike acknowledged with a nod Lee’s decision to let him sit up front where he had a better view.

It turned into a totally fun day for all four. Lee loved ‘playing’ with what he tended to call Seaview’s bright yellow offspring. Mike was quite adept at handling her arms, and ‘Ski was perfectly happy sitting on the deck working with the collection units. At one point, seeing Helen intently watching the rating, Lee asked if she wanted to do that job. Helen settled next to ‘Ski and managed the next several exchanges almost on her own. Then Mike asked if she wanted to work the arms and actually do a couple collections. She looked at Lee, who shrugged with a grin, and Helen slipped into the co-pilot’s chair. Mike kneeled right next to her and talked her through the exercise. Helen did notice Lee seeming to be extra careful holding FS1 steady and sent him a quick smile. She wasn’t very dexterous with the unfamiliar arms but succeeded well enough that all four were jubilant.

About that time Chip made one of his casual check-ins and heard the chuckles and ‘high fives’ being given, and said sternly, “What’s going on down there? Cookie better not have put some of the Admiral’s single malt in the lunch pack.” Laughter could be heard over both ends of the speaker.

“Mom’s learning how to run the arms,” Lee smarted right back. “She’s almost ready to take over Sharkey’s job,” and even Chip snickered.

“Way to go, Mother C.,” the blond told her.

Lee indicated that he’d opened the speaker. “Hardly ready for that,” Helen told Chip. “But have to admit, this is fun!” This time Lee was fairly sure he recognized Nelson’s deep chuckle over the speaker.

At 1445 hours Mike filled the last collection unit, causing Lee to snicker softly. “Yeah, yeah,” Mike told him with a sheepish grin.

As the others re-clipped their safely harnesses Lee called Seaview. “Weather topside still holding?” he asked.

“Even better than when you took off,” Chip confirmed. “Scattered high clouds, winds between ten and fifteen knots.” He paused. “Tell Tim I said Hi.”

Lee snickered. “Ah…yeah,” came out hesitantly. “Think I’ll head a good bit west before I launch and not tick off the FAA by ending up in someone’s flight path, thank you.”

“You’re no fun,” Chip told him. “Hang on tight, Mother C.”

Lee glanced at her – she was sending him an extremely curious look. “Launch?” she asked. She looked around as both Mike and ‘Ski snickered. Lee shrugged and once more concentrated on his controls.

Other than a quickly sucked in breath as Lee hit the surface and FS1 lifted gracefully into the air Helen handled this new and exciting experience just fine, even taking and dishing back a bit of teasing from the others. Lee didn’t stay up long, merely giving her a glimpse of the little craft’s additional capabilities before once more submerging and heading back to Seaview.

As the docking clamps clicked into place Kowalski quickly unbuckled his harness and lowered the ladder before starting to help Mike gather up boxes of collection units. The upper hatch was undogged and Helen exited as Lee ran through the checklist for shutting the little craft down. Once she was out Chip slipped down. “Have fun?”

Lee sent him a grin as his hands continued the familiar routine of flipping switches and checking gauges. “Always,” he told his XO. “Well,” he amended, “mostly always.” They both cringed slightly before nodding. As Kowalski went out the back hatch with the last load of collection containers Chip stepped over and dogged that hatch, then followed Lee up the ladder and dogged that one as well.

Nelson was standing next to Lt. James at the chart table. “I gather Helen had fun,” he said to Lee, smiling.

“Yes, sir. Definitely.” Lee let out a sigh. “But the whole trip I kept waiting for her to ask about Kermadec.” He frowned. “I rather suspect that I’m still not safe on that topic.”

Nelson chuckled. “You could always just tell her that it’s classified.”

“Nah,” Chip told him, then ducked his head as his expression went sheepish. “In that respect she’s even worse than Mother M.” He looked at Lee. “She gives you that look…”

“Yeah,” Lee agreed with another sigh. Nelson chuckled, surrendered, and headed up the stairs. Lee and Chip shared a look, grinned – sort of – and Chip caught Lee up on boat’s business.

Lee was ever so slightly on edge all through supper waiting for Helen to ask more questions about FS1. Thankfully, Helen was more interested in listening to Evans and West discuss what Mike had seen that day, and plans he was already making for the samples he’d gathered.

Lee figured that maybe, just perhaps, he was off the hook until, as he headed for his cabin about 1930 hours to catch up on the paperwork he hadn’t gotten to that afternoon since he was out on FS1, he met Helen coming from the other direction. Lee grinned and motioned her ahead of him after opening his cabin door. Once the door was closed she turned, folded her arms across her chest, and gave him ‘The Look.”

“The bell had been down in the Kermadec Trench off of New Zealand with the Admiral, Chip, and a visiting scientist aboard,” Lee started, head slightly lowered as well as his eyes, but still looking at her. “The winch got stuck after a decompression stop…we didn’t know why at the time…and I ended up getting below the bell with FS1 and pushing it back up to Seaview.” Helen didn’t move, didn’t say a word, and Lee knew that he was doomed. While he might try to skip over a few details he’d never outright lie to her. “The bell was…ah, when I got to it…almost exactly at FS1’s crush depth,” he added softly.

Helen still didn’t say anything for a few seconds. Lee waited her out, a carefully controlled expression on his face. No defiance, no apology, just…‘that’s the way it is.’ Ever so slowly a small smile appeared on her face. “And given similar circumstances you’d do it again,” she told him softly.

“That’s my job.”

“Not to mention who you were saving.”

Lee grinned sheepishly. “That, too. But…”

Helen raised a hand to stop him, but her smile increased. “Got it.” She sent Lee a sheepish smile of her own. “Your dad to a T.”

“Thanks, Mom,” Lee told her sincerely. They were giving each other big hugs when there was a light rap on the door. They both grinned, thinking of Chip’s entrance a few days previously, and Lee called out “Come,” the smile still in his voice.

Not the blond this time; Nelson walked through the door, his mouth opening to say something, then stopped dead when he discovered Helen standing there, her arm still around Lee’s waist. “Oops,” he said softly, and started to back out.

“Come in,” Helen all but ordered, causing Lee’s smile to increase. “I’m done harassing my son.” She sent Lee another firm look. “For the moment, anyway.” She changed to a grin and left. Lee was chuckling as she closed the door behind her and Nelson sent him a raised eyebrow.

“Sir?” Lee asked innocently.

“Harrumph,” Nelson muttered almost under his breath, but his eyes were sparkling. “Just came to tell you I’m going down in the bell with Merle tomorrow. Chip’s already notified Lawrence.” He hesitated. “I didn’t invite Helen because Merle wants to pack in as many collection units as we can manage.”

“Not a problem, sir.” He couldn’t totally control the grin she’d put on his face. “I’m sure that she’s just as happy staying aboard.” The grin spread. “She’s having a great time.”

“And you?” Nelson asked carefully.

“I’m having a great time having her here, sir.” Lee told him honestly. “Well, mostly,” he added shyly, and grinned. Nelson did as well, nodded, and left. Lee continued to grin before sighing heavily and tackling an ‘In’ basket full of reports.

* * * *

The next bunch of days fell into an easy pattern. Either FS1 or the bell went out every day with the occupants changing each time. Helen went when there was room but she was also perfectly happy staying aboard and hanging out in the labs watching and asking questions. Lee also saw her watching from a back corner as he ran drills in one of the aft storage lockers one morning. He shared a quick grin with COB Sharkey, helping him, but concentrated on his crew as they ably handled the ‘problem’ he’d created for them having to do with turbulence causing the shifting of stowed supplies and how it could affect Seaview’s balance. Experienced crewmen played the role of ‘rogue wave’, scrambling equipment and supplies. It was then the responsibility of a mixed team of experienced and fairly new crewmen to rush in and re-balance the ‘mess’ as quickly and efficiently as possible.

Helen was having an incredible experience, and it wasn’t entirely due to her trips in the bell and FS1 as well as Seaview herself. While she’d accepted Lee’s decision to enter Annapolis, Lee always knew that it had made her nervous and it was a subject that they both tended to not bring up on those increasingly infrequent occasions when they did get together. Being asked to write about Merle Evans’ research was exciting in itself. Getting this inside glimpse into Lee’s world was beyond wonderful. She literally felt herself relax as she watched how comfortable and confident her son was as he moved through his duties. And then had to chide herself a bit for being nervous in the first place. And yet, wasn’t it only natural to worry about her only child, after losing her husband so early? But she knew beyond a doubt that Lee would be totally miserable at a desk job; he was bad enough on those occasions when he was stuck on land, as he’d been on her previous visit as he recuperated from an injury. Helen had always accepted that. Mostly. Now she was seeing Lee in his element and fully understanding just how happy he was. She was also, she realized, fully understanding those times she’d seen that same excitement and sense of duty in Ben before he’d been killed. She was extremely glad for those opportunities she and Lee had had to express emotions that might not have otherwise ever been spoken aloud. She was sure, from a couple of looks Lee had given her, that he was happy for those times as well.

As Lee started another drill she slipped out and headed for the Nose. Nelson was out in FS1 with both Merle and Mike. She’d been surprised when Chief Sharkey hadn’t gone; she’d been quick to pick up on the fact that, while Nelson was in the bell the COB was comfortable handling the winch but was very unhappy not to accompany the Admiral out in FS1. She hadn’t wanted to ask if it had anything to do with the drills Lee was running. She’d been invited to go with Nelson but had chosen this day to stay on Seaview. She was now happy that she had, and thought that she saw Seaman Riley be the fourth person to board the smaller craft.

She sent Chip a quick grin, easily returned, as she came down the spiral stairs, then discovered Will sitting quietly with his back against the…okay, Helen, you know this…ha, starboard bulkhead, she almost snickered as she greeted him. It caused Will to raise an eyebrow and Helen’s grin went sheepish. “Figured out starboard from port,” she admitted, “and it only took me ten seconds.” It was Will’s turn to grin broadly and Helen finally noticed the paperback book he was holding.

“I come up here to read sometimes,” he told her. “Especially when things are quiet.”

“Mostly,” came from the chart table, and Helen looked up to see Chip frowning, “he comes up to spy on us, hiding there behind the stairs.”

The grumble caused Will to chuckle. “Is that your admission that you need spying upon?” he asked.

“Harrumph,” Chip muttered and turned his back. But Helen saw Lt. James look at Chip and grin, and she and Will both smiled.

“Keeps them on their toes,” Will said loudly enough that Helen knew Chip was meant to hear it. Will hesitated, took another look into the Conn, and told Helen quietly, “I’ve served with a lot of officers over the years. Wasn’t sure, when I came here, how it was going to work out having the two senior officers such close friends, and the Admiral as well tied so close to them both.” He sent Helen a look. “Lee, especially.” She smiled and nodded. “But it’s working out just fine.” It was Will’s turn to smile before he frowned. “Doesn’t keep me from wanting to slap them both silly on occasion,” he grumbled, then smiled as she chuckled openly. “Actually did it once,” Will told her. “Smacked Lee on the back of the head. When we were alone,” he added seriously.

“Did it help?”

“Eh,” Will admitted, and they both grinned. “They are both remarkable young men.” He sent Helen a look. “And if you repeat that I’ll deny every word!”

Helen burst out laughing. She saw Chip turn and look into the Nose, then say something to Lt. James and they both smiled. “I seem to recall Lee saying much the same about you,” she told Will. “He respects you greatly. And that’s saying a lot, considering his dislike of doctors in general.”

“You know about that?” There was genuine surprise in Will’s voice.

“Indirectly,” Helen admitted. “Mostly from hearing Chip rag on him. And knowing that Lee isn’t the most patient person in the world when he sets his mind on doing something, and something or someone gets in his way.”

“Amen,” Will breathed softly, causing Helen to grin broadly.

“Then he brings up the quote from Ralph Waldo Emerson,” Helen was back to muttering, “Men are what their mothers make them.” Her frown went sheepish. “Have to admit, I resemble that remark.” They both laughed.

“Actually,” Will told her, “I prefer another of Emerson’s quotes. The man of genius inspires us with a boundless confidence in our own powers. That says so much about Lee’s leadership.”

“Humm,” Helen pondered. “I think I’d pin that one on Admiral Nelson.”

Will grinned. “Maybe that’s what they see in each other; why they gravitated to each other at the Academy.”

“One reason, anyway,” Helen agreed.

“I told you so, Chris. They’re plotting something,” Chip tossed over his shoulder as he came forward and headed for the coffee urn.

“Shall I prepare to close the crash doors, sir?” Lt. James got out with a straight face – almost. Not only did it produce smiles and snickers from around the Conn, it totally broke up Chip as well.

He managed a “Maybe not quite yet,” filled his mug with fresh coffee, and settled on the window ledge. “Having fun, Mother C?” he asked innocently.

“Very much so,” she told him firmly, before also breaking into a smile. “I know, I know, I’ve heard both you and Lee, especially Lee, talk about how much you love being on Seaview.” She sent him an almost shy look. “It’s finally sinking in.”

“Ouch,” Will muttered, and made them both laugh as he pointed out Helen’s unintended bad pun.

“Missed that one,” Chip admitted, “about subs and sinking.”

“Slipping, Chip,” Will teased him.

Whatever Chip was, from his instant frown, about to snipe back was interrupted by a call from FS1 and Chip hurried back to the chart table. Both Helen and Will listened intently but it was merely a check-in and they both relaxed.

“I do sometimes wonder,” Helen said quietly, “that Lee doesn’t get bored.” She hesitated as Will choked off a snort. “I have gathered that things can get a bit intense at times,” she admitted. “But everything seems to run so smoothly.”

Will had himself back under control. “Trust me, we like ‘quiet and controlled’ around here. Chaos reigns all too frequently.” He carefully avoided any mention of Lee’s sideline job with ONI. He had no idea how much Helen knew about that, although he was fairly sure that she did know some. But he wasn’t going to be the one to bring it up!

“Humm,” Helen said basically to herself, causing Will to wonder just how much she did know of Lee’s service. On the other hand, there had been Lee’s trip to Australia that Helen was involved in. And there was ‘something’ said in conjunction with the trip to Chile,***** over and above what had been discovered about Lee’s father… Will decided that, unless there were specific questions, he was going to keep his mouth shut!

And Helen seemed to let the topic go as well. A few things said, a few incidents, crossed her mind after she’d made that off-hand statement. She thought that, perhaps, that was a subject best left alone and changed the conversation to other topics.

The pair was still sitting, visiting, when Lee came down the spiral stairs just before 1200 hours. Before he could say anything Chip told Lt. James, loud enough so everyone knew that it was supposed to be heard, “You have the Conn, Lieutenant. I am in desperate need of a break.”

Lee looked at his XO, then toward Helen and Will. “He thinks we’ve been sitting here plotting,” Will told Lee. “Can’t imagine why. We’ve been perfectly amiable.”

“And the whole boat knows,” Chip sniped back, “when you’re the quietest, that’s when you’re the most dangerous.”

Lee burst out laughing. He had no idea what had been going on and didn’t really care. Chip was so rarely this silly, especially aboard the boat and in this semi-public a place. But Nelson’s voice interrupted his laughter. “Nelson to Seaview, taking a lunch break.” The Admiral’s voice was almost a bit stern, as if he’d rather not interrupt whatever they were involved in at the moment.

Lee got to a mic before either Chip or James could. “Apparently we are, too, sir. Chip appears to be stressed out.”

“And what, pray tell, has stressed our usually unflappable XO?” Nelson asked, humor now evident in his voice.

“Not sure, sir.” Lee told him. By this time the entire Conn crew was trying to suppress chuckles – with limited success – causing Chip to frown and cross his arms over his chest as he glared at Lee. “It seems having Mom and Jamie sitting quietly in the Nose has upset him for some reason.” That caused Helen to grin and Will to snort loudly as they enjoyed the ‘game’ being played out in front of them.

“Do tell,” Nelson came back. “Well, give him the afternoon off and have him rest. I have a project for you tomorrow that I think now I’ll assign him to as well.”

“Yes, sir?” Lee clearly had a more serious tone in the question despite the teasing going on.

“Tell you when we get back,” Nelson refused to explain. “Go feed him. Perhaps that will help.” The entire Conn crew nearly burst out laughing. Nelson wasn’t ever this silly either!

“Yes, sir,” Lee answered, barely able to get it out coherently. As Lee hung up the mic and Chip started to open his mouth, Lee pointed at him. “You started it.”

“Harrumph,” Chip muttered, sent Lt. James a look, and headed for the aft hatch. Lee, still chuckling, waited for Helen and Will and they all followed the blond to the Officers’ Wardroom.

Happily for Chip, by the time they’d all settled at the table with plates of grilled cheese sandwiches, potato salad, peach and pear slices, and cold slaw – Chip’s plate the fullest, as always – even he was ready to relax and the pair spent the meal discussing the drills Lee had run, and then how the FS1 trip had progressed so far. Will and Helen mostly just listened. Helen did take the opportunity at one point to ask about part of the drill Lee had run that she’d seen; nothing technical, just a question about how he’d handled a slight correction on the part of one of the younger crewmen.

“He wasn’t really wrong,” Lee told her. “I wanted to compliment the speed with which he managed to complete the exercise, but let him know that he might want to consider another option as well.”

Helen didn’t answer, and Lee and Chip went back to boat’s business. But she and Will shared a quick grin, both thinking about their previous conversation concerning the Emerson quotes.

By now Helen had figured out Lee’s habit of spending a couple hours in his cabin during the afternoon doing reports when he was aboard and things were quiet. With no wish to disturb him, and both Drs. Evans and West with Admiral Nelson on FS1, she returned to the Nose and worked on her own notes. She hadn’t totally settled on just how she was going to present her story and also jotted down a few ideas for how she was going to come at it, so to speak. She appreciated the reputation she’d earned over the years for telling stories in unique and interesting ways, and worked hard to maintain that image.

She was also pondering just how to keep her relationship to Lee completely out of the story. She knew Lee, especially, would appreciate that. And truth be told she as well, she admitted to herself, would be happier keeping ‘Helen Graham Lee’ that bit separated from ‘Mrs. Helen Crane.’ The difference had served her well over the years. She still hadn’t managed quite the angle she wanted when she heard Admiral Nelson over the intercom announce that FS1 was approaching. She gathered up her notes just as Lee scurried down the stairs, and sent him a grin as he stood by the upper hatch while Chip opened the docking bay doors and welcomed back the little craft.

As Lee opened the upper hatch Helen could hear noises which she could now identify as FS1’s back hatch opening, and assumed that the two scientists and Riley were unloading what collections they’d made that day. Lee waited at the top of the hatch and presently Nelson appeared, grinning as he glanced between Lee and Helen, and then sent a look at Chip as Lee closed the hatch.

“You let him back on duty?” Nelson asked Lee, with a nod toward Chip. Helen saw Chip cross his arms over his chest and glare at Lee.

“Seemed easier than having Jamie sedate him,” Lee answered. There was a growled ‘something’ from the blond’s direction and Nelson chuckled. He motioned Chip forward, poured himself a cup of coffee, and sat down with Helen at the table, joined immediately by Lee and Chip with their own mugs of coffee and grinning softly.

“Merle and Mike are sufficiently buried in collections, I thought I’d do a bit of research on my own tomorrow,” he told the three.

“Yes, sir?” Lee sat up straighter, as did Chip.

Nelson turned to Helen. “I’m afraid that over the years I’ve programmed both Lee and Chip to expect sudden changes in direction.”

“That’s a bad thing?” Helen asked.

“Ah…” Nelson started. “My changes of direction have a tendency to lead to chaos.” Lee and Chip put identically neutral expressions on their faces. “I rest my case,” Nelson told Helen with another nod in their direction.

“Everyone seems to have survived.” Helen told him. Lee and Chip shuddered, and Nelson cringed. “Oh,” Helen told all three.

“So, Admiral,” Lee got himself back under control from the momentary slip, “what do you have planned for tomorrow?”

Nelson chuckled ever so sheepishly. “Actually, with being so near the Oregon coast I thought that we’d take FS1 close in, to where we can easily dive, and take kelp and water samples.”

“And anything else you find interesting,” Lee teased his boss ever so gently.

Nelson turned to Helen. “Like I said, he knows me only too well.”

“Move that direction now, sir?” Lee asked.

Nelson shrugged. “No real reason. It won’t take that long to get there with FS1, and the crew can hang out here and relax while their senior officers are out of their faces for the day,” Nelson got in his own bit of teasing, and especially as he saw Chip frown ever so slightly. “You have a problem leaving Lt. James in charge, Chip?”

“No, sir,” Chip answered instantly.

Lee nudged his shoulder. “If Mom goes Chief Sharkey will be here as well.” That thought made them both grin. Helen thought the grins a bit on the evil side but she stayed silent until she realized that Nelson was pointing an eyebrow at her.

“I’d love to go,” she answered the obvious question. She suspected that Nelson might be waiting for something further but when she stayed silent he shrugged.

“0900?” Nelson asked them all, then turned to Helen. “I’ve never asked. Do you scuba dive?”

Lee hiccupped burying a snort. Helen sent him a small glare but answered Nelson pleasantly enough. “I’ll be perfectly happy staying on FS1, thank you.” She relaxed a suddenly stiff backbone. “Snorkeling and laps in the pool are as much as I choose to do,” she added with a small smile.

“We’ll point the front windows so you can keep an eye on us,” Lee told her with a grin.

“You can all three be gone at the same time?”

“The Admiral finally got the bugs worked out of his auto-park system,” Lee told her with a quick grin at his boss for the reference to a small oops on a previous cruise.+++++

“Harrumph,” Nelson muttered, but with a sheepish grin at his captain.

Suddenly Lee choked as he took a swallow of coffee. By the time he could get himself back under control, coffee had splattered everywhere – and on everyone, although Lee’s uniform slacks took the brunt of the liquid damage. The three pairs of eyes around him all showed worry. And not a few from the Conn as well. Both Nelson and Helen squeaked out a nervous “Lee?” as Chip patted Lee’s back with gentle strength. All the attention made Lee’s expression as he started to wipe up the mess on the table extremely embarrassing.

“Lee?” Helen’s voice held insistence.

“I’m fine,” Lee got out. Chip smacked him a little harder for that overused line, causing Lee to glare and Nelson to chuckle. Helen sent the Admiral a glare, causing him to explain why.

“Humm,” Helen muttered before turning her eyes back to her son.

“Sorry,” Lee got out to all of them, but sent a quick nod to Chip for use of the disputed phrase.

“Coffee go down the wrong pipe?” Nelson asked.

Lee sent him an even more embarrassed look. “Lee?” Helen all but demanded.

Lee had his eyes so low Chip, sitting next to him, wasn’t sure Lee could actually see his mother’s face. And what came out of his mouth barely made it across the table. “Just hit me,” he started, sent a quick flash of eyes to Nelson and Chip, then continued to Helen, “that the water is cold enough on the coast that we’ll need to change into wetsuits before we dive.” With eyes not quite so lowered, he looked directly at Helen.

Nelson and Chip now had their eyes lowered, concentrating on their coffee mugs, neither having thought of that. Helen, however, crossed her arms over her chest. “Brat,” came out in a soft growl. “I can, you know, simply turn my back.”

“Yes, Ma’am,” Lee mumbled. But his wasn’t the only soft smile to reappear.

****

Soft smiles appeared again on all their faces as the four gathered aboard FS1 the following morning. The men tossed their wetsuits on top of the small bunk; Helen took note of air tanks and other equipment secured against the base. She also noticed a moment’s hesitation on the two younger men’s faces before Nelson gestured for Lee and Chip to take the forward seats as he settled next to Helen in the rear ones. As Lee piloted, Nelson chatted to Helen about the day’s projects: taking water and kelp samples so that Nelson could check the health of the area’s marine environment. “Not that it isn’t already monitored,” he told her. “The Hatfield Marine Science Center in Newport does an excellent job of that.” He sent her a small grin. “I just like to collect my own data when I’m so close.”

“Lee,” Helen asked, “where’s your friends’ B&B?”

“Just north of Newport, Mom,” her son answered. “A place called Beverly Beach.” He sent a look over his shoulder. “Planning a visit?” he asked almost hesitantly.

Before she could answer, Chip piped up. “I’ll warn Tim and Annie,” he told Lee.

“Humm,” Helen muttered softly as all three men grinned.

“You’d love it there,” Lee finally answered. “It’s called ‘Spindrift Inn’. You know what that means?”

“Seems I’ve heard the phrase,” Helen told him.

“Spindrift is the term for the mist that forms at the top of a breaking wave,” it was Nelson’s turn to add to the conversation.

“Ask for the Driftwood room,” Lee told her. “It means an extra flight of stairs…”

“But the view is gorgeous,” Chip added.

Lee nodded. “The only one better is the Lighthouse Suite. But not by much, and it’s really sort of too big for one person.”

“Who said that I’d be going alone,” Helen told him seriously. Chip and Nelson both cracked up as Lee frowned. But as she finally laughed, Chip reached out and smacked Lee’s shoulder and even he finally smiled.

As the little craft got nearer the coastline Nelson started to tell Helen more about what he wanted to accomplish with the quick visit. He explained that the area’s kelp beds were of particular interest. So much depended on healthy supplies of the plant. Not only were kelp beds some of the most diverse eco-systems in the Pacific Ocean, supporting and supplying habitats for so many species of ocean life, but they were also responsible for absorbing up to forty million tons of atmospheric carbon annually. However, even though they could grow up to two feet a day they were susceptible to major issues.

“Especially here in Oregon,” Nelson told her. “Hunters, before it stopped, pretty much wiped out the sea otter population along the Oregon coast. They are just now starting to make a comeback. And kelp depends on otters.” Helen sent him a raised eyebrow as Lee and Chip sent each other a grin. They both knew what Nelson was going to say. “Red sea urchins eat kelp,” Nelson continued. “Well, they attack the base, where kelp attaches to the seafloor, and eat through the anchoring vines which kills the strand of kelp. With their ability to dive up to three hundred feet deep at a time, otters catch and eat urchins; up to a third of their bodyweight each day.”

“The otters are well fed,” Helen condensed, “the kelp stays healthy, and our air quality reaps the benefits.”

“Exactly,” Nelson agreed. “Just one of so many reasons that us land-dwellers are dependent on a healthy ocean. We can’t survive without it.”

Lee had slowed FS1 and the three men now started looking for a suitable place for Nelson to do his collections. Lee suggested that they stay away from the area around Depoe Bay; having spent time with his and Chip’s friends in the area he knew that there was a resident population of Gray whales that not only didn’t they necessarily want to run into but, because they were residents, attracted a fair amount of whale-watching tourist boats.

They ended up on a quiet section of coastline north of Florence. Lee sent Chip a sheepish grin that wasn’t missed by the two in back, forcing Lee to explain about his and Tim Hughes’ adventures in the Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area rolling the rental dune buggy. ^^ He carefully left out what happened on his drive back to Santa Barbara and Chip with a quick nod allowed the omission. Mothers didn’t need to know ‘everything’ their sons managed to get involved in!

They cruised around a bit until Lee found what looked to be an open area of kelp where he could ‘park’ FS1 about fifteen feet below the surface, deep enough to avoid any smaller boats that might cruise through but close enough to the kelp to be safe from larger vessels who would know where the beds were and not want to get their propellers tangled in the stuff. Lee sent Nelson a quick grin as he set the controls to hold the little craft in position, then had Helen sit in the pilot’s chair as he and the others moved to the back to change into their wetsuits.

They all had shirts off and were starting to unzip slacks when there as a ‘something’ from Helen. Lee looked up and saw his mom with her head down and eyes closed. But it was Chip who spoke first. “Mother C.?” he asked, concern in his voice.

“Ah,” she started, “are there, perhaps, curtains for the windows? The reflections, ah…”

Nelson nearly choked, struggling to keep from laughing out loud. Chip didn’t even try – he practically giggled. Lee wasn’t much better, although as the man still mostly dressed he walked forward, leaned over his mom, and hit the button that closed the collision screen. He snickered as he bent down and gave her a quick kiss on the cheek before returning to the back. All three men continued to give each other little grins until all had changed, and Lee walked forward and opened the screen. “Safe now, Mom,” he told Helen with a snicker. She had carefully spent the few minutes staring straight ahead. She gave him a quick swat, but half-turned in the chair and watched as the men strapped on their air tanks and the rest of their gear. She did raise an eyebrow when Chip picked up the spear gun she hadn’t until then noticed.

“Chill, Mother C.,” Chip told her with a grin. “If there’s a female shark anywhere within ten miles it will invariably come over to give Lee a love bite. And you know my job as XO is to protect my CO.” He barely got it out without once more giggling as Lee sent him a glare.

“Sharks?” Helen asked, somewhat tentatively.

“There’s a dozen or so different species of sharks that have been spotted in these waters,” Nelson told her. “Mostly they leave divers alone unless bothered. It just pays to be prepared. But for the most part, I suspect, we’ll run into sea lions. There’s a huge breeding colony not far from here.”

“I seem to remember a tourist spot called, ah… Sea Lion Caves,” Helen said with a nod.

“We won’t wander all that far away,” Lee added. “You’ll be able to see us most of the time.” He sent a quick glance at Nelson. “Depending on how sidetracked the Admiral gets.”

It was Nelson’s turn to glare but it didn’t last long. “Unfortunately,” he told Helen, “Lee knows me only too well.”

“And you’ll be able to hear us over the dive channel,” Lee added. “If you need anything just give a yell. We will be able to hear you, too.” With that first Chip, then Nelson, and finally Lee disappeared down the dive hatch. They all floated up in front of the windows, gave Helen a wave, and headed into the kelp.

Helen spent the next forty-five minutes with a constant smile on her face. Part of it was from the bits of conversation the men shared, still somewhat teasing each other about this and that. It was merely another indication to Helen of how comfortable a home Lee had made for himself at NIMR; how he was surrounded by the strong friendships he’d made.

She was also entertained by a myriad of fish species. She had no idea what most of them were, and didn’t really care. Most were not the brilliant colors one saw around coral reefs but they were still very interesting. She kept her eye out for the elusive sea otters but never saw any. She did see sea lions; several came over to apparently check out the strange yellow visitor to their territory.

The men wandered in and out of the kelp, sometimes in view, sometimes hidden in the ‘forest’. When they were in sight Lee stayed close to Nelson and held on to the collections Nelson was taking here and there while Chip kept watch always slightly above them. When the first sea lion appeared Chip called out, “Don’t let them inside, Mother C. They make a terrible mess.” There were soft chuckles from the other two.

“Then you should have left me a weapon,” Helen smarted back. But she’d heard the dive hatch close after the men were out and knew that the animals wouldn’t cause her problems.

The men weren’t quite that lucky. Helen had noticed the difference in size of the several sea lions that continued to hang around the area and assumed that the larger one was male. She’d picked up on Chip’s comment about female ‘anythings’ being attracted to Lee – it was an old joke that the pair continually harassed each other about. But as Nelson made noises about thinking he had enough samples and the men, at that point out of Helen’s sight, headed back towards FS1 she heard a shout from Chip of “Look out,” then a scramble of yells, epithets and groans before she could once more make out individual voices. Chip’s strong “Lee!” had her sitting up straight and peering intently out the window toward where she’d last seen the men. There was no answer from her son but Nelson’s “I think he’s okay,” allowed her to let out the breath she hadn’t been aware that she was holding. There followed something garbled before Chip’s voice came back. “The damned thing bit right through his air hose,” was muttered fiercely before more garbled ‘somethings’ were heard, and Helen once more nearly froze. But she stayed quiet; these were men used to handling themselves in whatever emergency situation they found themselves in. They didn’t need her near-panic as a distraction.

It seemed like an hour to Helen but could only have been a few minutes before she saw the men approaching. Nelson had hold of Lee with one hand; with the other he was passing his dive mask between himself and Lee. Lee seemed to be swimming fairly well on his own although Chip was very close on his other side. They disappeared under FS1 and Helen heard the hatch open so turned in her chair but stayed seated, out of the way.

Chip appeared first, quickly pulling himself onboard and turning to help Lee who was showing definite signs of being in pain. Helen spotted a rip in the wetsuit over his left shoulder and down the back, red showing against black suit and tanned skin. She sucked in her breath but remained seated as Lee held up a hand to her while Chip forced him to sit down on the deck.

“I’m fine,” came out around obviously clenched teeth. Chip growled ‘something’ Helen didn’t hear clearly but it caused Lee to nod with a sheepish grin. As Chip turned to help Nelson aboard, Helen took the couple steps to her son. “Apparently,” Lee tried to smile but it came out more grimace, “the bull thought that one of his females was trying to get friendly.” Nelson snorted as he started stripping off his tanks. Chip remained quiet but reached into a storage area in the bulkhead and brought out a first aid kit. Nelson started unstrapping Lee's tanks and, once they were off, unzipped the top of Lee’s wetsuit and peeled it off revealing several scrapes and gashes and a couple of punctures that were bleeding fairly heavily. Chip immediately applied a thick compress and held it in place with a strong grip.

But Helen had herself back under control and motioned that she’d take over that duty. Nelson was by now clear of his gear and sitting in the pilot’s seat, calling Seaview that they’d run into a small problem and were headed back with injuries. Chip, once his tanks were off, grabbed a pillow and blanket off the bunk and started to make Lee comfortable on the deck. Lee resisted with a glare and a growl.

“Lee,” came firmly from Nelson and he slowly relaxed. Helen finally smiled, causing Chip to grin, and Lee’s glare reappeared. But he also rolled over on his side as Chip grabbed a fresh bandage from the kit as well as something Helen assumed was an antibiotic wash of some sort and proceeded to cleanse the damaged area.

Lee growled, glared, and pushed Chip’s hand away. “Leave it alone,” he ordered the blond. “You’re worse than Jamie.”

“This wouldn’t have happened in the first place if you hadn’t been making goo-goo eyes with the big guy’s lady friend,” Chip sniped back and continued his ministrations.

A snort from Nelson sidetracked Lee just long enough for Helen to get a word in. “Enough,” she ordered firmly. Both Chip and Lee sent her slightly sheepish looks and Nelson chuckled softly as FS1 began a smooth turn and headed back toward Seaview. “Towel?” Helen asked Chip. One appeared from the storage unit and Helen used it to dry Lee’s soaking wet hair. “What happened?” Helen directed the question at Chip but immediately Lee started talking.

“I was just…”

“I didn’t ask you,” Helen glared her son into silence.

Another chuckle came from Nelson. “Lee was helping me gather some kelp samples,” he started as Chip went back to cleaning the injuries. Helen finished Lee’s head and draped the towel over Chip’s shoulders. Lee opened his mouth, took a good look at his mother’s face, and closed it again before having to bite off another groan of pain. “I had no idea that I’d gotten between two of the females and the bull until Lee pushed me out of the way.”

“Partly my fault, Mother C.,” Chip admitted. “I’d momentarily lost sight of them through the kelp and didn’t see the bull charge.”

“I didn’t have time to yell,” Lee added carefully as Helen was still sending him frowns while Chip cleaned up the wounds. “I saw him coming at the last minute and got myself between him and the Admiral with my back turned. I was hoping that he’d smack the tanks and give up.” He sent Helen a sheepish look. “Instead, he took out his frustrations on my air hose.”

“Not to mention what was underneath,” Chip said softly. “I got there in time to poke him with the tip of the spear gun. Got him sidetracked while the Admiral pulled Lee away and we all backed off. Carefully,” he added with a shudder.

“Most unusual,” Nelson said, puzzled. “That kind of behavior just doesn’t happen. They do their battles mostly on land.”

“People don’t usually dive this close to a rookery,” Lee offered.

“There is that,” Nelson agreed. “Still…” He shrugged. “Quite unexpected.”

“Never a dull moment,” Lee told Helen with a smile.

“Humm,” she muttered, then glared as Lee started to sit up. “Stay where you are,” she ordered.

“Mom, I’m fine,” Lee tried to convince her. “We’re better off strapped in seats while FS1 is moving.”

“The water was fairly calm coming in,” Nelson told no one in particular. “The injury isn’t serious enough to rush back. You should all be fine there.”

He barely got that out before a demand was uttered loudly over the speaker. “What did he do now?” came in Will Jamison’s voice. Nelson chuckled, Chip snickered, and Lee rolled his eyes.

“Saved my bacon,” Nelson answered, humor in his voice. “Again,” he added with feeling. Over the speaker came what sounded like a soft growl. “Minor damage only, Will,” Nelson continued. “A couple of scrapes and a munch mark. I’d call it a love bite but I don’t think that’s what the bull sea lion had in mind.” That caused Lee to mutter something too low for Helen to hear, and she was smart enough to not ask him to repeat it. “Chip is cleaning everything as we speak. We’ll be back in about an hour.”

“Harrumph,” came over the speaker before the connection was rather obviously ended. Helen saw broad smiles on both Chip’s and Nelson’s faces, and she joined them.

She did finally stand up carefully and go sit in the co-pilot’s chair. Chip stripped off the top of his wetsuit and settled more comfortably next to Lee. The punctures were continuing to bleed but not as heavily. Lee frowned at Chip, glanced at Helen, and surrendered.

The docking clamps had barely locked into place when the upper hatch was cracked and Will came flying down the ladder Chip had had the foresight to drop into place. The instant Chip had left his side Lee sat up, and as Will spotted him he glared. “I’m fine, Jamie,” he said slowly and succinctly. The only effect it had was causing both Chip and Nelson to snort softly. Helen, who’d been treated to the ‘wars’ that broke out between her son and his doctor the last time she’d visited, stayed quiet. Will started to drop down next to Lee but quickly, albeit with a choked off groan as his body was starting to stiffen, Lee stood up and moved to one of the rear seats, giving Will easy access to the injuries.

“Why did he attack?” Will asked, his voice now under control since Lee seemed to be cooperating.

“He was aiming for me,” Nelson answered before Lee could. “I’d wandered between him and part of his harem without realizing it.”

“That was clever,” Will deadpanned, and Lee finally smiled. Chip scooped up both his and Lee’s uniforms, causing three broad grins and one slightly flushed face, and Will glanced around. “Miss something, did I?”

“Nothing at all, Doc,” Chip told him, then scurried up the ladder.

Nelson chuckled as he finished shutting down FS1 and stood. “Helen,” he turned to her, “it will take those two an hour or so to yell at each other until both are satisfied. I strongly suggest you and I stay out of earshot.” It was Will’s turn to snort. Nelson grabbed his uniform, along with the collection bags that had been attached to Lee’s diving belt and which now lay in a pile, and he and Helen also headed up the ladder.

“Skipper?” Will asked gently when they were finally alone.

“Stings like crazy,” Lee admitted.

Will chuckled softly before nodding toward the ladder. “You know the way.”

“Unfortunately,” was muttered softly, but Lee rose and preceded the doctor to Sick Bay. He still took the time to stop at the chart table for a quick status report from Lt. James, then glanced at all the instrumentation as he headed for the aft hatch. Will said nothing; Chip had done an excellent job of cleaning the wounds. The deeper bites would require a couple of stitches, and some heavy-duty antibiotics to prevent infections from whatever else the sea lion had been eating recently. But there was nothing to risk Lee’s wrath by trying to hurry him. Not to mention, because Will wasn’t fussing, the rest of the crew would know that the injuries were minor and also calm down from the instant tension Nelson’s initial call had caused.

Lee had barely sat down on the edge of the exam table when Chip breezed in. Now back in uniform and looking his usual dapper self he dropped a fresh uniform for Lee across a chair as he sent both Lee and Will a quick grin and just as breezily headed back out.

“Smart aleck…” Lee’s mumble was cut off as Will started doing his own cleaning process of the wounds. “Thanks, Doc,” came out through clenched teeth. “It wasn’t stinging nearly enough already.”

Will chuckled softly. “Chip did, actually, do a pretty good job. But the two of you have me far too well trained to make doubly sure I go the extra mile. If I don’t, you end up having weird reactions and I end up working twice as hard.” He kept a smile in his voice, as well as on his face, and Lee finally sent him a small sheepish grin. Will cleaned a little more before taping a large bandage in place. Lee glared at it, then at Will. “Chill, Skipper.” Will sent him another smile as he walked around the table. “That bandage will last through a quick shower,” he waved a hand at the head at the other end of the room. “Once you’re out of that wetsuit and into dry slacks you won’t whine so much while I finish up.” Lee started to open his mouth, thought better of it, scooped up the fresh clothes Chip had brought, and headed for the shower. While he didn’t turn around, Will did hear a soft chuckle, and grinned.

Will was laying out a suture kit when Helen walked in the Sick Bay door just as Lee exited the shower, towel around his neck and zipping up his slacks. “I’m fine, Mom,” Lee sent her a frown. “At least until Jamie gets done with me. Then all bets are off.”

“Brat,” Helen muttered. “Will?”

Will couldn’t hold back a broad grin. He was starting to have the same problems Nelson did when she used that word for Seaview’s Skipper. “I still need to put in a few stitches,” he told her. “And my guess is he’s going to be a little stiff and sore for a couple days.” He shrugged. “Par for the course,” he told her.

Lee grumbled ‘something’ and sat down on the exam table. “You have seven hundred pounds of solid, ticked off, animal smack you in the back and see how sore you are the next morning,” he added loud enough to be understood.

“Another reason I don’t go underwater without a submarine around me,” Will smarted right back before both men sent Helen small grins. Lee tossed his uniform shirt on the end of the table as Will pulled the towel away and removed the large bandage, now soggy. But it had served its purpose. Will sprayed the entire damaged area with something to deaden the pain, quickly put in a couple of stitches to close each puncture, then put a layer of ointment over everything before adding a light bandage just to keep Lee’s shirt from rubbing. He grabbed an already loaded syringe and before Lee could argue administered the long-acting antibiotic, to Lee’s frown. “Now, go away and let me get back to the book you interrupted,” Will told his CO. It was Helen’s turn to chuckle softly. “See you at dinner,” Will got in one more jab before Lee could get out the door after putting on his shirt and tucking in the tails. As the door all but slammed, Will sent Helen a bright smile. “He’s fine,” he told Helen, and his grin broadened at his private bit of joke. Helen caught it and smiled as well.

“He’s always been…” she started, then hesitated, searching for an appropriate word.

“Not the easiest person in the world to slow down,” Will finished tactfully.

“That works,” Helen agreed, and shared a knowing nod with the doctor before she, too, left.

Somehow no one bothered Lee about having missed lunch, the slightly altered morning agenda having messed up timetables. But Lee knew that Chip, especially, and no doubt with help from others, would make sure Seaview’s CO wouldn’t be missing two meals in a row. And he was hungry. He just wasn’t about to admit it. So, having spent most of the afternoon wandering around the boat he entered the Conn shortly before 1800 hours and started a detailed conversation with Lt. James about re-designing Seaview’s Arms lockers, James being the boat’s Weapons Officer. Each time Chip tried to interrupt, Lee put him off with more questions to Chris. His plan to drive Chip a little fruiters was going well until Nelson and Helen came down the spiral stairs. One on one he ‘might’ have continued the game. But together, not a chance. Suicidal, he wasn’t. With a wink at Chris he turned and sent Chip a neutral look. “Must be dinnertime,” he told the blond with a nod toward the two newcomers to the Conn. He watched half a dozen comebacks, each nastier than the previous one, cross the blond’s face as he realized that he’d been had before finally blowing out a large expanse of air. Lee grinned broadly, sent another grin Nelson’s and Helen’s way, and headed for the Wardroom. But Helen had obviously caught at least part of Chip’s irritation because, once she’d filled her tray she purposely sat down between where Lee and Chip usually sat. Lee laughed out loud as Chip told her, “You can’t protect him forever.”

“As if I can’t handle you with one arm tied behind my back,” Lee sniped back but still grinned broadly.

“Children,” Helen told them both firmly as she patted the seats on either side of her.

“Now what did I miss?” Will asked Nelson, just walking in the door.

“SOP,” Nelson told him around a broad smile. Will shook his head as Helen smirked, and Lee and Chip sent him identical expressions of pure innocence.

“Got it,” Will responded with a smirk of his own. “Cookie,” he called out, and the chef magically appeared in the passageway between the Wardroom and his Galley, “I’m ordering ‘doctored’ hot chocolate for those two,” he nodded to CO and XO, “at 2100 hours. Then we’ll all be able to sleep comfortably tonight.” Even Will’s two targets cracked up at that threat. As Drs. Evans and West joined them everyone finally settled down, and discussions mostly revolved around the collections Nelson had taken that morning and what the two researchers still wanted to do. Both Evans and West were quite optimistic about the collections they already had, but both wanted at least one more bell dive to cover an area on the northwestern edge that they hadn’t yet gotten to. Because it was so deep it hadn’t been fully charted so Nelson was happy to spend some extra time there and knew that the people at Hatfield would appreciate the new information as well.

“So, bell dives the next two days,” Lee summed up.

“Helen,” Nelson addressed her, “I suspect that we can make room for you one of the days.”

“Not tomorrow, for sure,” she told him. Nelson saw the barest of frowns cross Lee’s face but held back a smile, assuming that Lee thought his mother didn’t want Lee that far out of sight after that morning’s issues. But Helen elaborated and Lee relaxed. “I think I finally have some idea of how to present this article and I want to spend some time outlining it before my thoughts float away.” All the men smiled or chuckled softly at that little pun. The loudest was Lee and she back-handed him gently.

“I want to thank you again,” Merle Evans told Helen sincerely, “for agreeing to work on this. I know that you must stay incredibly busy…”

Helen sent him her sweet smile, caught herself as Lee choked off a snort, and switched to one of genuine delight. She also realized that Nelson had caught the difference as he buried a grin behind his napkin. “No way would I pass up a chance at such an exciting and timely topic as your research,” she told Evans. “I will, of course, run the final draft past you to make sure all the data and statistics are correct.” She glanced around the table, her eyes staying just a dash longer on Lee before they settled on Nelson. “And I can’t deny that the chance to spend time here on Seaview has been extremely rewarding.”

“It has been a pleasure for us as well,” Nelson assured her.

Lee’s left hand waggled just a bit. “Eh,” came out softly but his eyes were sparkling. Even Cookie, from where he was quietly keeping watch, chuckled softly.

* * * *

The next two days went by quickly and quietly. Lee had a feeling that getting up that first morning after the accident might be a bit challenging and wasn’t disappointed. Unfortunately! Although he did have to chuckle softly when he came out of the slightly longer than normal shower to discover that Jamie had been there – a small paper cup with several pills in it sat in a prominent place on his desk. Lee recognized an antibiotic that he’d taken before and a couple of Ibuprofen – the doctor’s way of asking that Lee take them without actually making it an order in front of others. As he entered the Wardroom after a quick check of the Conn he sent the already seated Will a nod.

Helen spent the majority of that day in the Observation Nose working on her notes. For most of the morning she was left alone, Chip and Lee busy getting the bell launched and then following Nelson’s instructions from there to maneuver Seaview, and thus the bell, here and there as he charted the area and Drs. Evans and West took a multitude of samples. Will wandered down the spiral stairs just prior to 1200 hours so Helen wasn’t at all surprised when Cookie and Higgins appeared on Will’s heels with trays of fruit, sandwiches, and salad. She gathered up her papers and she and Will visited as they ate, adding Lee when he appeared, and also Chip as he and Lt. James took turns coming forward. She saw Will point an eyebrow at Lee, and grinned when Lee shrugged and waggled a hand, but that was the extent of the exchange. She did point her own eyebrow once she and Will were alone.

“He’s fine,” Will told her, and grinned shyly at his use of that phrase. “I’m surprised that I slowed him down as long as I did,” he admitted, then winked at Helen. “Your presence, I suspect.”

“Humm,” Helen expressed her skepticism at that reasoning but they both ended up smiling.

An outline starting to take definite shape, she stowed her notes in her cabin and walked down to the Missile Room when she heard that the bell was being retrieved. This time, instead of a back corner, she stood to one side and slightly behind COB Sharkey as he gently brought the bell aboard. Lee sent her a grin as he entered just before the bell appeared.

“Watch your back, Chief,” Lee told the COB. “Mom’s angling to take over your job.”

As there were snickers and grins from everyone, Helen muttered “Brat!” Lee laughed out loud and finished walking up to the bell as the bay doors closed and it settled into its docking clamps.

His smile was still bright as he undogged the bell’s hatch and opened it. Evans and West were starting to gather up collection containers, helped by Seaman Lawrence. Nelson unclipped his harness but waited until the other three exited before he stood. There were still collection units aboard and he handed them to waiting crewmen before he finally stepped out. He spotted Helen, now watching intently as Sharkey started shutting down the winch controls.

“Another bell dive tomorrow, sir?” the COB asked, looking back and forth between Lee and Nelson.

“That’s the plan, Chief,” Nelson told him.

“Then I’ll do a thorough strip down and inspection of the controls now so she’s ready to go.”

Nelson shared a small enigmatic smile with Lee before sending Sharkey a nod. “Sounds like a plan,” he told the COB, then sent a look toward Helen.

“Think that I’ll stay here for a bit,” she told both Nelson and her son.

“Told you, Chief,” Lee barely got out to Sharkey around laughter. He started explaining to Nelson on their way out as Helen glared at him and Sharkey all but guffawed.

Helen was sure, as she walked into the Wardroom later with Drs. Evans and West, that Lee had told Chip about the incident as the blond sent her a bright smile. Her instant frown changed quickly to a grin and she took her normal place between Nelson and Will for the meal.

“Now what did I miss?” Will asked.

“Absolutely nothing you don’t already know,” Helen told him. “My son is a smart-aleck.” It came out a grump but she immediately smiled as all four officers had to choke off snorts of laughter. The two researchers merely smiled, having watched Helen around Lee but not having any idea of what was going on at the moment. But everyone finally settled down and the rest of the evening was uneventful.

As was the next day with one exception. Mike West chose to stay in the lab so Helen was again asked if she wanted to go along in the bell, an invitation she instantly accepted. She had a great time watching Merle take samples as Nelson charted the area using GPS and laser scans that Seaman Lawrence helped with. When she’d asked Lee at breakfast if he would be going, her son lowered his eyes and with a sideways glance at Will shook his head. She said nothing, getting the feeling that she’d stepped into a previous discussion. Once aboard the bell, Nelson elaborated.

“While Lee’s injury the other day was relatively minor, as we get deeper and deeper in the bell I will be adjusting the breathing gases to compensate.” Helen nodded, remembering her previous dive. “Will doesn’t allow anyone with even a minor compromised system to go on dives.”

“I’ve gathered from some things both Lee and Chip have said that Will gets…” She searched for a politically correct word.

“Ticked,” Nelson offered with a grin. “Oh, he’ll back off if there’s a good enough reason. He’s come to understand that there are times, especially on a submarine, where the needs of the many outweigh the comforts of the few.” He grimaced. “He doesn’t like it…”

“And gets vocal?” Helen asked with a knowing smile.

“Oh, yeah,” Nelson agreed as he sighed heavily, and Lawrence had to duck his head. Nelson nodded his way. “Get’s ‘interesting’ on board occasionally,” he admitted.

“I’ll bet,” Helen agreed with feeling.

As she stepped out of the bell just over six hours later she sent Lee, as usual the one who opened the hatch, a brilliant smile. “I’m really going to miss Seaview,” she told him.

“Help!” Lee told Nelson, stepping out right behind her.

The Admiral burst out laughing, and backhanded Lee’s good shoulder. Lee sent them both a sheepish look with head lowered slightly, and followed as they headed out.

Discussions over dinner were mostly about if Drs. Evans and West had everything they needed at this point, as well as if Helen needed any other information she couldn’t pin down in the couple of days it would take Seaview to return to Santa Barbara.

“Lee wants me gone the instant we get back,” Helen told Nelson.

“Mother!” came in an anguished voice from her son as everyone else cracked up. Lee buried his head behind his coffee mug but it didn’t entirely cover a grin.

* * * *

“Have everything?” Lee asked Helen four days later. He picked up Helen’s two medium-sized suitcases from off the bed in his guest room and headed down the stairs and outside to where her rental car was parked.

She took one more glance around. “If I’ve forgotten anything I’ll get it when I come back in three weeks.”

“Excuse me?” Lee stopped dead.

“Didn’t Harriman tell you?” She sent him her ‘sweet’ smile, and laughed out loud at the expression Lee sent back. “By that time Merle will have some preliminary results from his collections and I’ll be able to include some of them in the article.”

Lee finally nodded. Once the bags were loaded Lee faced her and she gave him a hug. “A bit overdue,” she told him, taking a step back, “but I am so proud of you; of what you’ve accomplished, and the home you’ve made for yourself here at NIMR.”

His darker coloration concealed his blush but not his lowered head and bashful expression. “Thanks, Mom,” was all that he said, but the hug they exchanged said volumes. As he opened the driver’s door for her he asked, “Where to once you get this article done?”

“Haven’t a clue,” she answered with a broad grin. “Once this story is finished I’ll have to check my notes. Have a couple of possibilities, not to mention the piece on flamenco dancers that got sidetracked.” She sent Lee a coy grin. “And Admiral Nelson gave me several ideas about things he’s working on,” she told him.

Lee groaned over-dramatically. “Goodbye, Mother,” Lee told her firmly as she sat down and he closed the car door. But they were both laughing as she drove away.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

As always, Mrs Jamison (Lu-Tsi) is used with permission of her creator, Cris Smithson.

* See “Out of the Action” by R. L. Keller

** See “Kermadec” by R. L. Keller

*** See “It’s all Relative” by R. L. Keller

**** See “Past Imperfect” by R. L. Keller

***** See “Jigsaw” by R. L. Keller

+ See “Cobwebs” by R. L. Keller

++ See “Duck, Duck” by R. L. Keller

+++ See “There Will Be An Answer” by R. L. Keller

++++ See “Friends” by R. L. Keller

+++++ See “Storm Front” by R. L. Keller

^ See “A Special Dinner Request” by R. L. Keller

^^ See “Not One of His Better Weeks” by R. L. Keller