A short vignette on both Chip's ring and the reason he started wearing his tie all the time...

Tied Down

By Storm

The tall dark haired man leaning against the wall of the parking lot glanced impatiently down at his watch. "Darn it, Chip," he muttered to himself, "you're late." It was more than irritating to the captain of the Seaview - it was worrisome, because if there was one thing Chip Morton always was, it was punctual. When the XO didn't show up exactly when he said he would, something was wrong.

He'd almost decided to hunt for a phone and notify NIMR security when he spotted a blond head above a dark blue sport jacket hurrying in his direction. He waved to get the man's attention and was greeted by a wave in return. Obviously whatever had kept his XO wasn't a disaster, for the man was grinning from ear to ear. He settled back against the wall to wait.

"Hey, Lee, got a question for you buddy," Chip called out as he approached.

Lee arched an eyebrow at his friend's cheerful tone. Had he been drinking? "Oh? And what might that be?"

"How would you like to be my best man next month?"

Lee Crane's jaw dropped. "You asked Babs and she accepted?"

"Sure did." Chip was clearly on cloud nine.

"Well, of course I'll be your best man." Lee paused, hating to bring his friend crashing back to earth, but he had to ask. "Have you told her dad yet?"

Some of the effervescence dissipated from Chip's demeanor. "No, but Babs said she didn't care whether he approved or not."

Lee looked at him askance. "You don't care if Jiggs Starke decides he wants your guts for garters?"

Chip rolled his eyes. "It won't be that bad, Lee."

"Tell me that when Old Navy has you wearing a tie every day on the boat so you won't be out of uniform."

"Leeee, I think I can decide for myself on what I wear on the boat! Sheesh. You make him sound like some kind of tyrant."

"We are talking about the same Jiggs Starke aren't we? COMSUBPAC? And he is a tyrant! And now he's going to be your father-in-law." Lee shook his head at his friend. "Babs is a great girl, Chip, and I wish the two of you well, but I wouldn't wish her old man on anybody. So, good luck, pal - you're gonna need it."

Six weeks later ….

Lee Crane leaned over the chart table in Seaview's control room, working out a course for the upcoming mission. His XO was due aboard any minute and Lee was anxious to see how he'd fared over the last two weeks; he hadn't seen Chip since he and his bride had left on their honeymoon. He had, however, seen far too much of Jiggs Starke. Even his boss, Admiral Harriman Nelson, had finally wearied of the mutterings about Morton and his 'baby girl' and sent his old friend back to Pearl Harbor to get on with running the submarine component of the US Pacific Fleet.

The sound of a duffle bag hitting the deck and footsteps on the ladder to the sail caught Lee's attention, diverting him from the task at hand. He looked up to see a pair of long khaki clad legs descending into the control room.

"So, how was the honeymoon...." Lee trailed off as his XO reached the bottom of the ladder and turned to face him. A smile began spreading across the captain's face as he took in the jacket and tie.

"Not one word, Lee, not one word," scowled Chip as he bent to pick up the duffle.

Lee's smile got even wider. "I wouldn't dream of saying I told you so." His only answer was a glacial stare as the XO turned and stomped away, his captain's chuckles floating in his wake.

End