Undercover in Monte Carlo
By JSRobertson
Chapter 1
Seaview had been in port for nearly two weeks following a long and exhausting mission that had lasted two months. Although no one had been injured during the cruise everyone was still spent from the experience and Will Jamieson, Chief Medical Officer for NIMR insisted that everyone take a least a week off before they headed out for the next mission.
The crew and junior officers were given two weeks off. The command staff had agreed to take a week off. There was a lot of work to catch up on at the Institute so the admiral, Chip, Lee and Janet would get their time off in one week intervals. Chip took the first week off to visit his parents. They were celebrating their fortieth wedding anniversary and he and his siblings were throwing them a huge party.
The admiral took the second week off and headed back east as well to visit with his sister Edith and friends. He had returned a couple of days early, much to Jamie's disapproval, but he looked rested and relaxed from the break.
Lee and Janet had agreed to take the last week off before they set sail on the next mission. Technically they weren't allowed to go on vacation. The admiral had banned them from taking one since they always seemed to get into trouble when they did. After much deliberation they finally settled on a leisurely cruise down to San Diego on Lee's sailboat.
((()))
The admiral had Lee and Chip in meetings all day on Thursday. He was reviewing all the suppliers NIMR used and toyed with the possibility of maybe replacing some of them.
The admiral scheduled a dinner meeting at Giovanni's with a possible new supplier of gears for Seaview which Lee and Chip were required to attend.
When Janet was ready to leave for the day, Lee told her to take the car. She could have walked but it was raining and chilly so Chip said he would drop Lee off at home when they were finished.
Since Lee wouldn't be home, she just had a salad for dinner. She was happy they decided to sail down to San Diego. They would have to get away or Lee would be at the institute or Seaview just to 'check in'. Janet didn't mind sailing, but was afraid she wouldn't be able to help Lee out as much as Chip did when they went on the weekends as her sailing skills were lacking. But it would be nice to be alone with her husband. No one could disturb them, call them, or even stop in for dinner. Mmmm, that would be real nice she mused.
She was reading her book when she heard Chip's car pull in the drive. She met Lee at the door. While they do spend a lot of time together, she couldn't wait for him to get home. He doesn't have many dinner meetings but she missed not having dinner with him. He gave her a kiss and a hug before he hung up his jacket, put his cover in the closet and took off his shoes. They wore their dark blue uniforms today instead of the khaki ones. Janet didn't care; she liked the dark blue ones better anyway. She thought the men looked more handsome in them.
"How did your meeting go," she asked returning his kiss and hug as they walked over to the couch.
"Okay, I don't know if this supplier is any better than the one were using now. If it were up to me I would keep the one we are currently using." he said honestly. "But as of right now, I'm off of work."
He sat down on the couch and put his feet up on the table. As Janet cuddled up next to him, she removed his tie, undid the buttons on his shirt and rubbed her hands on his chest.
"Are we feeling a little frisky tonight?" he asked enjoying the attention.
"Yes, just a little," she answered excitedly. "Blame it on the dark uniforms; I think they make you look very sexy." She had been waiting all night for him as they laid down on the couch for some intimate exercise. As they were getting up to go to bed, Lee's phone rang.
"Crane," Lee said sharply. He was off work, on vacation and didn't want to take any phone calls.
Janet was surprised at the way he answered his phone. He never talked like that to anyone and was curious as to whom he was talking to.
"Hello Admiral Johnson. What can I do for you," Lee said as he rolled his eyes not happy he was calling. "Yes, I see you do have a problem. Janet and I were going to get away for a few days. We have some time off and desperately need a break. You do? Where? Yes, I understand. We'll be there tomorrow sometime. We'll see you first thing on Saturday morning. No I will arrange our transportation to Washington, my wife is not flying on a military transport vehicle," he replied unhappily.
"Okay what was that about," Janet asked annoyed at Admiral Johnson's call. She didn't like him very much and could tell by Lee's conversation they weren't going to have their time off.
"Well, he ordered us to take a mission," Lee sighed.
"Couldn't you just say no, not this time? Wait a minute, he can't order me on a mission? I don't work for ONI," she said angrily.
"Sweetie, please believe me I tried," Lee sighed. "He said he desperately needs your help. So will you go? At least we'll be together."
"Where are we going?" she conceded. She knew even if she didn't go he would have to.
"Monte Carlo."
"The Monte Carlo in Las Vegas?" Janet questioned.
"No sweetie, Monte Carlo in Monaco," Lee said grinning. "You've heard of Monaco? That's where the Grimaldi family lives; land of the rich and famous."
"I know that," she said sarcastically. "We have to go there on a mission? What is this mission and what do I have to do?" she asked seriously.
"I don't have all the details but something to do with weapons being sold. We will find out more details on Saturday. I'll have to make arrangements for us to fly out tomorrow," Lee said frowning.
"Lee what do you wear to Monte Carlo," she asked innocently. "I've never been there before, have you?"
"Yes and Monte Carlo is very formal so I will have to pack my tuxedo and you better bring some formal wear too.
Lee called the airlines and made flight arrangements for them to get into Washington DC late on Friday. The only seats available were business class so they would at least travel comfortably. This would be the best part of the trip, relaxing together with no one to disturb them.
It was getting late so they went to bed where some more exercises took place.
((()))
Lee and Janet woke up at 6:00 on Friday. After breakfast Lee would go to the office to let the admiral and Chip know he and Janet would be going to Monte Carlo.
"Good morning," Lee said to Chip as he walked in his office.
"What are you doing here?" Chip asked surprised he was there.
"Just letting you know that Janet and I are going to Monte Carlo on an ONI mission. I don't have all the details yet. We are leaving later today for Washington before going to Nice and then on to Monte Carlo," Lee said unhappily.
"I thought you were going to sail to San Diego. Janet is going with you as part of the assignment or just to keep watch over you in ritzy Monte Carlo," Chip said jokingly.
"Well, that was the plan. But duty calls. Janet is actually part of the mission."
"What!" the admiral asked catching the last part of the conversation between Lee and Chip as he walked into Chip's office.
"I was just telling Chip that Janet and I are going to Monte Carlo on an ONI assignment," Lee explained.
"What happened to your week off," he asked frowning.
"I tried to tell Admiral Johnson that we had a week off but he needed us to do this," Lee sighed. "I really wanted to just relax and get away."
"What exactly are you doing there?" Chip asked scowling. He hated when Lee and now Janet went on ONI missions. He always came back hurt and now he would have to worry about Janet getting hurt too.
"Something about the selling of weapons, we will find out on Saturday."
"Please be careful," the admiral said pissed that Lee and Janet wouldn't get the break he knew they needed. "How are you getting to the airport?"
"I'll get a limo. Since we aren't getting time off we can at least travel in style."
"I'm going to San Diego this afternoon for a meeting tomorrow with Jiggs. Why don't you ride with me and I will drop you off at the airport. It's on the way."
"Thank you, sir. I'll take you up on your offer. Our flight leaves at 3:00."
"Good, I need to leave by 11:00. You'll get there just a little early. I will have Tommy pick you up then."
Lee said good bye to Chip who patted him on the shoulder and told him to be careful. He told him he would check on the house while they were gone. Lee said good bye to Angie and Wanda too.
After he left the office, Chip said to the admiral, "I didn't know you were going to San Diego tomorrow."
"Actually I'm not," the admiral said slyly. "I just wanted to take them to the airport and I knew Lee wouldn't let me so I told him I was going to San Diego."
"Very clever, sir," Chip replied grinning.
((()))
Lee got home and saw Janet with her suitcase but nothing in it. She checked the weather and it would be in the 50's and 60's.
"I see you're starting to pack. Can you make sure you get everything into one suitcase," Lee said grinning. He had given her his suitcase to use as it was bigger.
"Yes, I will but Lee I really don't know what to bring," she confessed.
"Just take pants, tops and some dresses. Especially ones you would wear to a party or ball."
"Lee, how many balls have I been too recently," she chuckled.
"Ok ball was the wrong word. Take the dress you wore to the charity auction last year," he replied with a gleam in his eye. "I loved the way you looked in that dress. You can also buy something there if you need to. They have a very exclusive shopping district."
"Okay, thanks for the help," she said gratefully.
Janet grabbed her short black dress and the long dark blue dress with the slit on the side and gave them to Lee to put in his garment bag with his tuxedo. She also grabbed her white dress out of the closet but quickly put it back remembering what happened the last time she wore a white dress.* She took out some pants, tops, and a few more dresses and put them in the suitcase. She also managed to put her dress shoes, flat shoes, a pair of pumps and gym shoes into her suitcase too and actually got it closed with no problem. She packed up her toiletries and put them in another small case and was ready to go.
Lee put some pants, shirts and shoes into his suitcase along with his toiletries. He was impressed that she got everything in one suitcase.
"Sweetheart, ready to go?" he asked as he took their suitcases downstairs while she carried the garment bag and her other little one. "The admiral is picking us up at 11:00. He's going to San Diego so he asked us to ride with him. He will drop us off at the airport."
"The admiral?" she asked. "I didn't know he was going to San Diego today. I didn't see it on the calendar."
They kept a master calendar in the office at NIMR with all the trips, meetings and missions scheduled for the month. Maybe it was a last minute decision. Lee smiled and looked at Janet after she said that. He figured out the admiral just wanted to take them to the airport and used that as an excuse.
((()))
Tommy rang the doorbell at 11:00 and helped Lee load their suitcases in the limo the admiral used when he went to San Diego or anywhere further than twenty five miles. Janet and Lee climbed into the back seat.
"Thank you for taking us to the airport," Janet said cheerfully.
"No problem, I was going that way anyway," Harry told her. He smiled as he saw Lee wink at him, knowing they were both on to him.
They had a nice ride to the airport chatting casually with the admiral about everything but business and their reason for the trip to DC. They arrived in good time at the appropriate the terminal and Tommy took the suitcases out of the trunk and gave them to the sky cap.
"Well, here we are. Have a safe trip and you both be careful, got it?" The admiral said as he gave Janet a hug and a kiss then shook Lee's hand as he patted him on the back.
"We will sir. Thanks for the ride and enjoy your "trip" to San Diego," Lee answered with a broad grin.
((()))
Lee and Janet went inside the terminal, checked in for their flight then headed for the airline VIP lounge to await their flight. They picked up a cup of coffee and found a quiet corner of the lounge where they could talk quietly while they waited.
"Honey, Admiral Johnson didn't tell you anything more about our "trip" than it deals with the selling of weapons? Nothing about what he needs me for?" she asked nervously.
"No that is all. He'll fill us in when with a complete brief we get to Washington. Just relax and enjoy the flight," he told her squeezing her hand. She had no problem flying on FS-1 but when it came to commercial flights he knew she always got very nervous.
Finally it was time to board the plane and they were looking for their seats when the stewardess offered to help them all the while staring at Lee. He did look pretty handsome in his tight jeans and shirt with the sleeves rolled up. She showed them where their seats were, her eyes never leaving his face. Janet twisted her wedding ring on her finger making sure the stewardess noticed he was married.
Lee sat by the window as Janet hated to sit there, something about watching the ground disappearing from sight. As they prepared to take off, she grabbed Lee's hand. He thought she was going to break it she squeezed it so tight. After they were up in the air for awhile, she let his hand go.
"Sweetie, you almost broke my hand," he said laughing as he flexed his hand. "Please relax, everything will be fine."
"I'm sorry. I just get very nervous during take off," she replied a little more relaxed.
Another stewardess came to their seats and asked if they wanted anything to drink. She was also staring at Lee.
"Sweetie, would you like anything to drink," he asked Janet lovingly.
"Yes, just some tea," she replied looking at him smiling.
"My wife would like some tea and I'll have a beer."
The stewardess smiled and left to get them their drinks. Lee was smiling at Janet and she returned his smile. The stewardess came back, gave Janet her tea and Lee his beer and left them alone. Lee watched the in-flight movie as Janet read her book. Before long she laid her head on his shoulder and fell asleep. He rested his head on hers and fell asleep too. He slept for about an hour until he was awakened by the conversation between the passengers in front of them and the stewardess.
Noticing that Lee was now awake the stewardess moved next to their seats. "Excuse me sir, we're starting our dinner service now, would you like a meal?"
"Yes that would be nice. Please bring meals for both of us." Lee answered.
"Very well, I'll be right back with your meals."
As the stewardess turned to return to the galley, Lee reached across Janet to lower the tray table. Feeling Lee brush against her Janet woke up and smiled at her husband.
"Sorry I fell asleep," she told him yawning.
"I fell asleep too," he replied rubbing her hand.
The stewardess brought their dinners and told them they would be landing in two hours. They ate dinner and talked about where they were staying tonight before meeting with Admiral Johnson in the morning. Lee had made reservations at a hotel near Admiral Johnson's office. When they finished with dinner and their trays were removed, they sat there holding hands watching the movie.