A/N: It's come to my attention that the Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea fanfiction site 'Uncharted Waters' is no more. The chapters of this story are made up of stories I had posted on UW, beginning in early 2001. I've put them here in chronological order by content, in the order they'd be best read, rather than by the dates they were first posted.

The fact that, in my stories, Lee had a harsh childhood might help explain aspects of this first story.

Graduation, Originally Posted 7/28/03

Chip ran a comb through his hair and checked himself over in the mirror. He was seeing Julie tonight. It would be one of the last few times he'd see her and the thought saddened him. It wasn't as if a love match were breaking up. But he liked her a lot. They'd had fun and a powerful physical attraction, all either of them wanted at that point in their lives. He graduated in three days and that would spell the end of it as they both moved on.

They were going out tonight but he wasn't in his usual anticipatory pre-date mood. His parent's moods were certainly high. He'd spoken to them yesterday. They'd be arriving day after tomorrow for the ceremonies. They already had reservations at the best restaurant for dinner and Lee had been included in the headcount. Chip hadn't gotten around to extending Lee the invitation yet. He meant to, but somehow it had slipped his mind.

Chip had only been able to talk Lee into coming home with him during leave once but he'd made quite an impression on his family. He'd left all Chip's sisters smitten and his parents thought they had never met a finer young man. That week they had seen a Lee new to Chip. Lee had shed his arrogance at their door. From the introductions, he had been almost deferential towards Chip's mother and father. It had surprised Chip at first, then amused him a bit. He'd resisted an urge to tease Lee on seeing this new side of his friend. Truth be told, he'd been a bit touched seeing Lee's sincere and instant respect for his parents.

His very proud parents. They'd probably made sure that every citizen of his small hometown knew their son was graduating second in his class at the U.S. Naval Academy. They had probably bought enough copies of the local paper with his picture on the front page to send to every out of town relative. He could feel their excitement and pride through the phone lines and it made him uneasy. And it bothered him that it bothered him.

He knew he should just let go and go with the good feelings. Enjoy his accomplishment and revel in how happy they were. He knew he should. He'd had more than his share of big man on campus moments- the limelight of his high school had been focused directly on him. Maybe he'd gotten a little too used to the spotlight and taken it for granted. He'd earned it, though, with every top grade and touchdown. It was wrong to be disappointed with this present success.

But the drive that had carried him this far made it hard to let go, hard to be happy with second place. He'd gotten his hopes up and been disappointed. Again. He'd pushed himself like never before and he'd thought there'd been a chance-minute but possible. Every year for four years he'd thought the same thing and come so close but in the end he'd been burned four times. He was mad at himself and fought the resentment that tried to rise to the surface at this same time every year. The bad feeling would pass, he knew. It always did. It just took a little time to get over it and settle into second place. After all, it was all about timing. If his birth year had been one year off either way, things might have been different. He might have finished first. He knew it shouldn't matter and part of him was ashamed to even think it. But, only one obstacle had stood in his way.

The door opened and Lee Crane walked in dressed in sweats and damp from a run. Chip glanced at him then turned his back and pretended to be checking his tie in the mirror. Lee sat on his bunk and began to untie his shoes. He smiled.

"I smell Old Spice. You must be seeing Julie tonight."

"Yeah."

"I was thinking of calling somebody. You want to meet up somewhere?"

Call somebody, Chip thought. The man couldn't be bothered to build even the semblance of a relationship. No, just like that he'd pick up the phone and call someone at his leisure. Some girls were stupid enough to fall for that lone wolf I-don't-really- give-a damn attitude of his. If life were fair, he'd have at least been born ugly. Chip recalled the glances Julie tossed Lee during their few double dates. True, Julie wasn't stingy with her glances. Or her pats or hugs or conversation-she was a touchy-feely, friendly, outgoing girl. It had never bothered him before, that was just how she was. And he'd never trusted a friend more than he trusted Lee. Still…

"Not tonight. I plan on getting started early on the big goodbye."

Lee was quiet a few seconds before he answered. Chip thought he could feel Lee's eyes on his back.

"Yeah, time's short. I'm going to take a shower. See you tomorrow."

"Okay."

Chip had never turned to face Lee during the whole conversation. After Crane left, Chip cursed himself. He felt small and petty that he couldn't just be happy that both he and Lee had done so well.

But, first place seemed wasted on Lee. He didn't celebrate victories; he didn't seem bothered by the rare defeats. At least not that Chip could see. Lee's gauge of success was wholly internal. It was a part of Lee that both exasperated Chip and forced a begrudging respect from him. Chip had tried to restrain his friend's reckless disregard for the rest of the world's opinion of him. Most of the rest of the world, anyway. A few instructors had earned Lee's respect and Lee had given it to Chip's parents unearned, like a gift. Lee's respect was rare, and his friendship even rarer. Chip sighed. He'd be in a better mood tomorrow. And he wouldn't 'forget' to extend the dinner invitation to his best friend.

Chip finished his beer and decided it should be his last one if he wanted the evening to end on a high note. He'd already had a lot more than usual. First a couple with dinner at the restaurant Julie had chosen. Due to the efficiency of their waitress, he wasn't sure how many here at the bar Julie had wanted to stop by. He'd been ready to leave much earlier, but she had said the night was still young. Every time an acquaintance came by, which was often as Julie had a lot of friends, she grabbed them and insisted they all drink to Chip's achievement of finishing second in his class. Chip's grin was stretched thin by now. He didn't want anymore toasts in his honor or to be reminded of his great achievement. He was buzzing a little too much and just wanted to take Julie home, enjoy her company privately and relieve some of the dark intensity lurking under the boozy fog.

He reached to pull her close and talk nuzzling into her ear. "Let's go. I've had enough to drink. I'm ready for some-"

"Come on, honey," Julie interrupted him. "You'll be gone in a few days and I'm having fun. Just a little longer?"

Chip sighed and nodded, a bit put out she wasn't more eager to spend more of that short time alone with him. He didn't protest when the girl came by and Julie ordered another round of drinks. If all she wanted was a night out drinking, he might as well let go and go with it. Alcohol induced oblivion wasn't his preferred stress-reliever, but lady's choice. If she wanted to go out with a stagger instead of a bang, so be it.

Twenty minutes later, Chip was looking longingly towards the door when it opened and Lee Crane walked in. Their eyes met only briefly before Chip looked away. Lee turned to exit. But Julie saw him before he made it out the door.

"Lee!"

She was to him and had hold of his arm pulling him towards Chip before Lee could object. "Look who's here, Chip. Sit down, Lee. Have a drink with us."

"Thanks, Julie, but I need to go on. It's late and I-"

"It's still early yet. Don't be a party pooper. Let us buy you a drink to celebrate. You deserve it. And how many more chances will I have to share a table with both the two top dogs at Annapolis?" She giggled and Chip scowled. Lee was shaking his head but Chip spoke before he could respond.

"Sit down Lee. Do us all the honor of sharing a table with the big number one."

Chip's tone was lost on Julie as she maneuvered Lee to a chair. But Chip imagined his message came through loud and clear to Lee. He figured Lee knew all about how petty he was feeling. He'd probably realized after the first year what prompted Chip's moods after finals. Probably took the high road, pretended not to notice and just backed off until Chip got over it. Wasn't that big of him? He could afford to humor Chip; after all he was number one. Condescending top dog throwing the pouting runner up a bone. Chip drained the drink he'd been nursing and headed to the bar for another round.

While he was waiting for the drinks, he glanced over to their table. Julie leaned closer to Lee, talking to him. She had one elbow on the table. Her other hand moved out of sight underneath. Chip knew at most she might have given Lee's knee a friendly pat, if even that. But the devil on his shoulder whispered something different in his ear.

Chip shook his head and groaned. He was mad at Lee, he was mad at Julie and he was thoroughly disgusted with himself. This night had gone on long enough. All he wanted was to go to sleep and wake up and start over. When he paid for the drinks, he asked the bartender to call a cab.

Lee had already left by the time he got back to the table. He sat the three drinks down on the table and pushed one towards Julie.

"Lee said he had to leave. He said to tell you he'd see you later."

"Okay, look I-"

"Is something wrong, he having any kind of problems? He seemed in an awful big rush to get out of here."

"He's fine Julie. He's just as great as usual, okay? But I'm really tired."

"Are you sure? I know he's not the friendliest guy in the world. But he was always nice; we've had some nice conversations. But tonight he was in such a rush."

"Why don't you ask him yourself? If you hurry, you can catch him."

"What?" For the first time since he'd returned to the table, she actually seemed to be paying attention to what he had to say. She'd been too preoccupied thinking about Lee to even hear him.

Chip pulled a five-dollar bill from his wallet and stuffed it into her purse. "Here's cab fare. I've called a taxi. Why don't you cruise by and pick him up. Take him back to your place and you two can talk all night long."

"What the hell are you trying to say?" Julie's temper was flaring and Chip's was rising along with it.

"I'm saying if you're so damn worried about Lee, what're doing here with me?"

For a second Chip thought she was going to haul off and slap him. Instead, she snatched up her purse, turned and stormed out. As he watched her leave, Chip began to feel like a real heel. After he downed the drink he'd bought for Julie, he was feeling a little better. After he drank the one intended for Lee, he wasn't feeling guilty at all. By the time he'd finished the third drink, he realized that he was totally innocent and the only injured party that night.

Chip made his wobbling way towards the bus stop. When he was a half block away, he saw Lee standing beside the shelter and muttered a curse. Chip passed by him and went to stand under the bus shelter, his back to Lee. Lee watched him a minute then spoke.

"What happened to the big goodbye?"

"I got a headache."

Lee's soft chuckle came across as a huge insult to Chip. Mr. Perfect laughing at him. He whirled towards Lee, almost losing his balance. He grabbed Lee's collar.

"What's so damn funny?"

Lee yanked Chip's hand from his collar, a surprised look on his face. He took a step back. "What's wrong with you?"

"Nothing. Nothing's wrong with me. Not a damn thing. That's the whole point, you son of a bitch!"

Lee shook his head and his expression turned angry. When he tried to turn to walk away, Chip grabbed his arm to pull him back. Lee jerked his arm from Chip's grasp. "Get your hands off me! I don't know what your problem is but-"

"My problem? You! Mr. know-it-all, do it all, been perfect since junior high. You're my problem. Clear enough for you?"

Chip emphasized his last question by jabbing a finger into Lee's chest. Lee responded by knocking Chip's hand away causing him to stagger a few steps backwards. Somehow, in Chip's drunken but agitated state Lee's response translated into an attack. Or maybe just an excuse.

Because the sight of Lee turning to walk away again infuriated him. Lee was turning his back on him, ignoring his anger and dismissing him as not worth responding to. Anybody else, Lee would have already decked. The last thing on earth Chip wanted was to be let off easy by the high and mighty Lee Crane. He grabbed Lee's shoulder. Just as Lee began to turn to face him again and shrug off the hand, Chip threw an uppercut full of four years worth of smothered frustration. Lee dropped and his head bounced off the curb.

The look on Lee's face instantly extinguished the resentment that had simmered so long in Chip. For a second, Lee looked only stunned and betrayed. Chip was flooded with a shocked shame so intense it halfway sobered him. Then Lee looked furious and Chip wasn't seeing his best friend anymore but the ruthless, wary stranger he'd met years earlier.

Lee never took his eyes off Chip as he pulled himself up and unsteadily stood, leaning into the shelter for support. Chip dropped his arms to his sides, refusing to defend himself against the blow he knew was coming and he knew he deserved. When it didn't come and Lee only glared at him, Chip tried to apologize.

"Lee-"

"Problem solved, Morton." This time Chip knew he wasn't imagining the contempt in Crane's voice. That was dismissal in Lee's voice, total and absolute dismissal. Chip dropped his eyes and Lee walked away. Chip fell onto the bus stop's bench. He began a profane rant against himself that culminated with his fist slamming into the shelter's wall.

Chip woke up the next morning with an aching head and throbbing knuckles. The physical pain was nothing compared to what he felt when the memory of the night before crashed into his consciousness. Julie and Lee… Chip opened his eyes and looked around the room. He was alone. He sat up and groaned. He couldn't believe he'd been such an idiot. What the hell had he been thinking? He hadn't been thinking he'd been too busy being an idiot. A drunken idiot. He sighed. He'd make it right. He'd apologize and… Chip remembered the look on Lee's face and the tone of his voice and he cringed. Still, he told himself, he could make it right.

On his first attempt, Julie hung up as soon as she heard Chip's voice. The second phone call, he managed an "I'm sorry" before she slammed the receiver down. By the third call, she was ready to tell him what an ass he'd been and he was willing to listen and agree and ask her to forgive him. She finally did with some indignant reservations. As soon as Chip ended that third call, he called a florist and ordered her flowers. He was relieved he'd settled half his business but worried Lee wouldn't be so quick to forgive. He'd spent all the time he hadn't been trying to reach Julie trying to figure out how to approach Lee. But every imagined mental speech drew the same response from its intended recipient. A cold unforgiving glare. If it had been any of Chip's other friends, he could envision a different reaction. But Lee wasn't like his other friends.

As soon as Chip left the phone, a member of his class called to him in the hall. "Any word on Crane?"

"What?"

"Crane, have you heard how he's doing? What exactly happened to him anyway?"

"What are you talking about?"

"You don't know?"

"Know what?"

"He got rushed to a hospital last night."

"Hospital?"

"Yeah. Apparently something managed to crack that hard head of his. He was in the infirmary for stitches and something happened and they sent him to the hospital."

Chip rapped on Lt. Harmon's door.

"Come."

"Sir, I heard Lee Crane's in a hospital."

"Yes he is. It seems he tripped and hit the back of his head on a curb. When he went to get it stitched up, he passed out. They took him on over to Mercy. They were afraid there might be some swelling in the brain."

Chip's stomach lurched and he fought not to get sick. "His brain?"

The Lt. nodded and glanced at the abrasions on Chip's hand. "That must've been some fancy wraparound curb he hit. He's got a busted lip and a bruise the size of a fist."

Chip shook his head. "He didn't trip. I-"

"Before you say anything else," Harmon interrupted him, "there are two things I want you to consider. Number one, it would be an awful thing if at this fine institution's graduation ceremony the #1 and #2 in their class were missing. One in the hospital and one in the brig. Hell of a mess there. It might overshadow the achievements of a whole class. We wouldn't want that now would we?"

Chip met the man's gaze but was silent.

"Number two, Crane made it plain before he passed out how he was hurt. He chose what to tell them. Confession may be good for the soul, but if he were to die-"

"Die?" Chip's exclamation coincided with a sudden weakness in his knees.

"Sit down," Harmon said. Chip sat.

"He's not dead yet, Morton. He may be fine. I'm just telling you to think twice before you speak. There's a lot at stake here. At this point, I don't want to know what happened. Later, if it's necessary, I'll expect an official statement." He watched Chip a moment before he resumed speaking.

"You know, Morton, everybody here has wanted to take a swing at him at one time or another, myself included. More people probably would have if it weren't for those golden gloves. That's one thing I'll give him, he's a tough son of a bitch. That curb's probably the first man here to get the best of him in a fair fight."

The words 'fair fight' almost did Chip in. The thought that he could have seriously hurt Lee, damaged his brain or even killed him with what amounted to a sucker punch almost broke him down.

"Go on, Morton," Harmon dismissed him. "I'll let you know when we get word."

Five minutes after Chip left, the phone rang in the Lt.'s office. It was the Academy Superintendent inquiring after Crane. Harmon gave him an update.

"Well, sir, they were worried at first. But it turns out it was just a mild concussion, nothing serious. He gave them a hard time about staying for observation, but I set him straight. He'll be back later tonight and he'll be fine for the ceremonies Friday."

An hour later, Harmon sent for Chip to tell him Crane was going to pull through after all.

When Chip returned from dinner Lee was back in the room. He was on his bunk reading with a book resting against his knees. A circle of gauze wound around his head and the lower left side of his face was dark and swollen. Lee glanced up as Chip entered then focused back on the book. Chip went to sit at the desk chair.

"How's the head?" Morton asked.

"Fine."

Chip picked up a pencil and tapped it a few times on the desk before speaking again.

"Mom and Dad get in tomorrow. They want you to have dinner with us. They already made reservations. I meant to tell you earlier."

"No thanks."

"They'll be really disappointed, Lee."

"Can't make it."

Chip sighed. He stood and went to look out the window. "Lee, I-"

"I'm trying to read."

Chip turned to face Lee. "And I'm trying to apologize."

"Don't bother."

"I showed my ass, okay? Bigtime. I admit it. Can't you at least-"

"I said don't bother. If it makes you feel better, fine-apology accepted. Now shut up and let me read."

"So that's it?"

"That's it."

Chip was silent a minute before he responded. "That's pretty cold, don't you think?"

Lee didn't look up from his book.

"I feel even worse now," Chip said, anger overtaking remorse. Anger that a friendship so hard won was being tossed away so cavalierly. "Here I was getting all worked up thinking you were a bigger man than me. Not only was I a jerk, I was stupid."

Crane didn't respond.

"One swing, Lee, that's all it was. I was wrong, I admit it, I'm over it. Some of us make mistakes. We're only human."

Lee slammed the book closed. "I said okay, Morton. You're sorry, I get it. What do you want? What difference does it make anyway? Four days from now we ship out."

"Oh, I don't know Lee. Maybe being human's kicking in on me again. I hurt my best friend and I feel bad. I'd like to part friends. I didn't realize as soon as we shipped out all bets were off."

Crane didn't respond. He opened the book back up and looked towards the pages. Chip became angrier.

"And you're going to command people? You're going to be in charge with that attitude? I got two words of warning Lee-friendly fire. Because if you treat a friend this way, how do you expect to handle the screw-ups under you. People make mistakes! It's not an automatic write-off."

"I don't need your advice," Lee said without looking up from the book.

"The hell you don't! You may be number one but you've had a little help here. I've run interference for you for four years. I've tried to knock into you that you can't treat the rest of us as if we were you, because we're not like you. We're only human and I thought somewhere underneath all the hardassed bullshit you were too. And what about when your time comes Lee? And it will because when it comes down to it, nobody's perfect, not even you. I'm not talking about a little mistake. I'm talking about a bigtime screw-up. Something you can't really fix you can only be sorry. Your time will come. And speaking as a friend, which I am whether you like it or not, I hope you'll be easier on yourself than you're being on me."

When Lee didn't respond, Chip's anger waned. He was left feeling awkward and shamed again in it's wake. After all, the whole thing was his fault. Somehow his apology had turned into a rant against Lee. That wasn't what he'd intended.

"Anyway, I am sorry. And thanks for covering for me. And…" Chip's voice trailed off. Lee had given up the pretense of reading and was looking back at Chip, his face unyielding. It wasn't until that moment, seeing that it had been wiped away, that he realized the magnitude of Lee's transformation over the past few years. It had been a change maybe not so apparent to everyone else. Chip knew, though.

It was a change that Chip had led and encouraged. Very hesitantly and subtly at first. A suggestion to let up here, a little advice to back off there. He wouldn't have taken the chance then to flat out tell Lee Crane he was wrong. And, back then, Lee wouldn't have put up with being told how to act. But the more time passed, the less reservations Chip had in expressing himself. Somewhere along the line, he'd dropped all caution and spoken to Lee as he would have spoken to a brother. And somewhere along the line, Lee had dropped his defenses to listen and argue and sometimes learn. Like a brother would, Lee had trusted him. Chip knew it hurt to be let down by someone you trusted. How much worse must it be to feel betrayed by the only person you trusted?

Chip put his arms out palms up in a pleading gesture. Then his hands fisted in frustration and dropped to his side. He said the only thing he could, useless though it might be.

"I'm sorry." He left the room.

Chip ended up sitting on the banks of a wide creek just off Academy grounds. The last time he'd been there so late and alone was the night he'd returned from his grandmother's funeral. His friends had taken him out that night to commiserate and he'd had too much to drink. Lee hadn't gone with them, though. Lee very rarely drank and never drank in groups with the rest of them. He had made an awkward expression of sympathy but stayed behind while they went out. But it had been Lee who'd come looking and found him there late that night; it had been Lee who'd dragged him back to campus, forced coffee down him and had him able to stand for roll call. Lee had looked out for him like a brother would. Chip was stone cold sober now. There was nothing to dull the sense of loss he felt.

Lee approached so quietly that Chip didn't realize he was there until he moved to sit down beside him. Chip looked at Lee and Lee looked at the creek.

"What restaurant, what time?" Lee asked.

"Star Bay's, 8:00."

"Okay."

Chip couldn't believe he'd been let off that easily. "Okay what?"

"Okay I'll be there."

"Okay," Chip said. He could see Lee's face in the full moonlight, but couldn't read his expression. Chip waited for Lee to say something else but he just kept watching the water. He wasn't sure whether to be relieved or not. Maybe Lee wasn't forgiving him, just putting in an appearance for the sake of his parents.

"Well…?" Chip finally said, not quite ready to ask a question whose answer he might not like.

"Well," Lee said, "remember when Carmichael messed up the whole competition for the squad?"

Chip nodded.

"Remember I tore him a new one for screwing up and you tried to tear me a new one later."

Chip nodded again.

"If I recall, your exact words towards the end of the 'conversation', were 'It's a sorry son of a bitch that can't cut a good man some slack when he makes a mistake.' Remember?"

"I remember."

"I never liked Carmichael."

He never liked Carmichael. What the hell did that have to do with anything? When Lee stood and began to walk away Chip scrambled up to follow him "Wait a minute!"

Lee stopped and turned to face Chip.

"So, are we good or what?" Chip asked.

"We're fine except for one thing," Lee said. He pointed to his bruised face. "A straight story to tell your mother when she asks about this."

Chip hadn't thought about having to explain Lee's injuries to his parents. He winced at the implications of telling them the truth. Chip shrugged.

"We tell them a drunk jerk sucker punched you. No one we know, of course. Just some drunk jerk."

"And that?" Lee pointed to Chip's right hand. Chip looked down at it. A couple of knuckles were split and swollen and most of the top of his hand was scraped and bruised.

Lee shook his head. "Me with this, you with that-there's really only one thing we can tell them."

Chip sighed. Lee was probably right. It wouldn't be hard for his parents to put two and two together. Maybe honesty was the best policy but it would skew the dinner conversation way off a celebratory track. It would be a shame for his parents to waste reservations and money at the best restaurant in town. They might as well go to a Waffle House to hear what a dope their son had been. How proud would they be after that?

"We'll keep it simple. You took him out with one punch and we left before the cops were called," Lee said.

"What?" That didn't sound like the confessional scenario Chip was dreading.

"The drunk jerk that hit me-you knocked him out. We better add that he was coming around when we left so your mother won't worry you killed him or something."

"So, I saved you?"

"I didn't say you saved me. I would've gotten up and taken care of myself. You just beat me to the punch."

"I don't know Lee. Don't you remember, the guy was huge. And in your weakened condition…" He stopped when Lee scowled. He'd forgotten himself in his relief and realized maybe Lee wouldn't appreciate his good humor. He'd been forgiven by Lee and his parents would stay proud and now wasn't the time to push his luck. Chip shrugged. "We'll just tell the story and let them draw their own conclusions."

"Fine," Lee said and began to walk back towards campus. Chip smiled and fell in step beside him.