Alone
By JSRobertson
It was six weeks before Christmas and Seaview was on a mission in the Pacific testing out some new equipment for the Navy on monitoring the tides but would be back in plenty of time before the holiday season started. Angie, Wanda and Janet had already planned the annual NIMR Christmas party for the employees and their families for the Saturday after Thanksgiving. Now they weren't as good as Edith Nelson at planning events but in past years everyone has had a good time. They would again use the cafeteria and turn it into a winter wonderland. Every year one of the officers would put on the Santa suit stuffing it with plenty of pillows. It was Lee's turn to play him this year.
The three of them designed an invitation sent it via e-mail to all personnel. If you didn't have an e-mail address, they would make sure you had one delivered to you. Angie and Wanda would take care of finding out how many adults and children would be attending from the institute while Janet took care of the personnel on Seaview. Janet posted the invitation on the bulletin board in the officer's and crew's quarters as well as the crew's mess and wardroom.
They wanted to make sure no one was left out so you could e-mail, stop by the institute offices or fill out the form Janet had on Seaview to let them know how many adults and children, boy or girl, would be attending so they had enough gifts and food. The ladies would take a day off from work and buy the gifts. So far the response was overwhelming.
Cookie was in charge of the food. There would be hot dogs, hamburgers or chicken nuggets for the children while the adults dined on roasted chicken with mashed potatoes and Cookie's special green bean casserole. There was also lasagna, salad and desserts. Cookie and the mess specialists would outdo themselves making all kinds of Christmas cookies, cakes, pies and tortes. The admiral wanted to make sure everyone got home safely so there was no alcohol served but Cookie always made delicious punches for everyone to enjoy along with sodas, coffee and tea.
Since Lee was playing Santa this year, Lee and Janet would also host the Seaview party at their house. All crew members were invited along with their wives or girlfriends to the party. The party was always held the Saturday two weeks before Christmas provided Seaview was in port. Since she would be back before then, they would have the party as scheduled. Janet made the invitations and passed them out to the crew as they boarded Seaview before they left on the mission. This would be the first time Janet was hosting the party as Lee's wife. She was very nervous and wanted to make sure everything was perfect.
Janet was thankful Cookie offered to help her with the food which was always appetizers. They had already decided on which appetizers would be served. Carol from the diner would bring her bite size hamburgers as one of them. They decided to serve Christmas cookies, brownies and cheesecake bites for dessert. There would be drinks at this party but no one has ever overindulged. Janet hoped the weather would co-operate and not rain. Even if it was cool outside, they would have outdoor patio heaters around to take away the night chill.
((()))
It was 1900 hours on Seaview and Lee and Chip were in the control room just finishing up their shift and would be replaced by Bob O'Brien. Chip noted the change of duty in the log book while he filled him on what had occurred during their watch and what was expected on the next watch.
"I'll meet you and Janet for dinner," Chip told Lee before he walked out the aft hatch on his way to the wardroom.
As he headed for the spiral staircase and up to officer's country, "Okay, I'll pick up Janet and meet you there," Lee replied.
Lee looked in their cabin to see if she was there but found it empty so he went to her office. He found her there and moved some papers out of the way so he could sit on the corner of her desk which got him a dirty look. She took the papers he moved and put them on the other side of the desk where she would have to re-sort them again.
"What are you doing?" he asked looking at all the papers and little colored slips lying all over her desk.
"Marking off whose coming to the NIMR party and our party," she replied as she checked off another name on one list and then the other list.
Furrowing his eyebrows he asked, "How do you keep it all straight?" as he watched her go through the slips.
"You have to be very organized," she told him checking off a couple of more names and marking the slip to show she put it on the tally sheet.
Picking up one of the slips he said, "How can the men answer you when they just received the invitation? Don't they need to check with their wives or girlfriends?"
"Honey, the wives and girlfriends of the men know when these parties are scheduled. It's posted online in the NIMR newsletter. Maybe you should try reading it sometime," she joked gently slapping him on the knee.
"When are you going to be done? I'm hungry and I told Chip we'd meet him for dinner."
"Just a couple more minutes, I want to finish these up so I don't mix up the new ones and old ones."
He watched her finish up the tallying and then shut down her computer. He took her hand as they left for the wardroom for dinner. He was off duty for the night, so when they finished dinner, he would take his walk around the boat. They got to the wardroom where the admiral, Chip and Jamie had just started eating. Lee took a tray and handed one to Janet. The mess specialist put meatloaf, mashed potatoes and spinach on their plates. Lee wasn't too fond of spinach and frowned which didn't get by Cookie who was watching them from the galley.
Cookie walked over to the serving station. "Sir, it's good for you. I'm trying to serve more healthy foods. Doc says we're eating too many fattening foods so you better get use to it," Cookie told him with a smile.
Lee smiled back, looked at Jamie and shook his head wondering how long this would last.
"Does this mean no more brownies or cookies too?" Lee asked after dawned on him that his favorite foods were unhealthy.
"Well I wouldn't go that far just yet. Maybe just cut down on how many times I make it on a cruise," Cookie said to pacify him.
Janet snickered as she went to the table, put her tray down and got a cup of coffee for Lee and tea for her.
"Anybody else care for some coffee," Janet asked before sitting down next to Jamie.
The three of them handed her their cups with grins on their faces. Lee sat down across from her, next to Chip and looked at the spinach.
Barely containing a laugh Chip said, "It's not going to bite you. Just mix it with the potatoes and you won't taste it. Remember Popeye ate it and he grew up big and strong."
The admiral, Jamie, and Janet burst out laughing as Lee mixed it with the mashed potatoes and ate it. He too had a smile on his face but not for the same reason.
"Mr. Morton, I will get you for that remark and you won't know when or where or maybe I will just have to assign you bilge cleaning duty when we return to port," Lee stated calmly putting a piece of meatloaf in his mouth.
All but the admiral ducked their heads and returned to eating their meal hiding their grins. The admiral just sat there looking at Lee still smiling. When they finished eating, they cleaned up their dishes. Chip, Jamie and the admiral were heading to their cabins to catch up on some work.
Lee and Janet also got up to leave but Lee stopped outside the wardroom door and asked, "Where are you going?"
"I'm checking the crew's mess for more slips. Sharkey and Scott Taper will check the crew's and officer's quarters for me. I've got a few more items to jot down on my list of what's needed for our party. Then I'm going to get ready for bed and read my book."
Squeezing her hand he said, "I'll be back soon."
He turned and walked down the passageway with his first stop in sick bay. She went to the stairway and up to her office. When she got there she pulled out her list and jotted down the items she needed for their party. Sharkey and Scott had put some more slips on her desk so she put those on her tally sheets. She would enter all the information on the computer tomorrow. She turned off the light in her office and went to their cabin. She got ready for bed, turned on the soft light over the bunk and took out her book. She had been reading for about two hours when Lee returned from his walk around.
Looking up from her book she asked, "Is she all tucked in for the night?"
Smiling as he removed his tie, took his shirt out of his pants and unbutton it he answered, "Yes she's all tucked in."
"Good how about tucking me in," she said seductively as she put her book on the shelf above the bunk, turned off the light, scooted under the covers, took off her pajama top and dropped it on the floor.
Lee quickly finished getting ready for bed and tucked his wife in for the night too.
((()))
Seaview was at sea a few more days recording the data the Navy needed before heading for home. Chip and Lee were standing at the plotting table. Chip had checked the navigation computer to make sure they were on course and was recording it on the map. Lee finished making some notations in the log book and was tapping his pencil on the table.
"This mission has gone very smoothly," he commented to Chip who looked up at him.
"Yes, all the data has been recorded and saved so when we get back the admiral just has to bring them the disks. Sometimes computers are helpful."
"And sometimes they're not," Lee smirked.
"We should be in Santa Barbara in two days. I'm sure the crew will appreciate the extra time they will have to spend with their families since Thanksgiving is just around the corner," Chip remarked.
"I'm really glad we have no missions scheduled until after the first of the year. I don't like keeping the men from their families at this time of year," Lee replied still tapping his pencil.
Everyone was looking forward to the time off even the officers. They would still have to report to the work at the institute but at least they were home.
((()))
The admiral and Lee were sitting at the table in his 'front porch' discussing when he would bring the disks to Washington when Sparks radioed the observation nose.
Closest to the mic Lee picked it up, "Yes Sparks, what is it?"
"Skipper, I have a call for the admiral from the Secretary of the Navy. He says it's important."
The admiral taking the mic from Lee answered, "Sparks, pipe it to my cabin."
"Aye aye sir," Sparks replied telling the Secretary he would ring the admiral's cabin.
The admiral got up from his chair and ascended the spiral staircase heels clicking on the metal rungs. Lee returned to the plotting table where Chip was standing with a perplexed look on his face after hearing the SecNav was on the phone.
"I wonder what that's about," Lee told Chip picking up a pencil from the plotting table rolling it between his hands.
"Maybe he wants the data on the tides before we get to port," Chip answered with a look of concern.
"We'll see," Lee said returning to his work at the plotting table while Chip checked out the stations in the control room.
((()))
Entering his cabin, sitting down at his desk, he picked up the receiver and pushed the flashing button his phone, "Hello, Mr. Secretary," the admiral said. "What can I do for you?"
"Admiral, I have a problem. The captain of the USS Chicago, Bill Woolf, has taken ill and can no longer command the boat. We have no qualified personnel available in this area to take over for him until he recovers. Therefore, I'm going to need to remove Commander Crane from his reserve status to active duty and place him on that boat. He will remain in command until Captain Woolf can return and from what I'm told he could be on the Chicago for quite a while."
"Yes sir. How soon will he need to leave?" the admiral asked running his hand through his hair. He knew the Chicago's captain and was sorry to hear he was ill.
"There will be a helicopter there in two hours to pick him up. The XO has limited experience on that type of boat so that is why we need someone with Commander Crane's expertise. Admiral, the Chicago is one of three submarines patrolling the international shipping lanes due to attacks on vessels by the People's Republic."
"I understand, sir. Would you like to talk to him or have me relay the order? I can have him report here immediately."
"Have him report to your cabin," the secretary responded without hesitation wanting to talk to him directly.
"Yes sir. Just a moment please," the admiral replied pushing the hold button on the phone and pressing the intercom button connecting him to the control room.
"Lee, please report to my cabin immediately."
Grabbing the mic on the plotting table Lee answered, "Yes sir." He replaced the mic in the holder and ran to the spiral staircase just as Janet entered the control room through the aft hatch with the duty rosters for Chip to sign before she would post them.
Seeing Lee run up the staircase, "where's Lee going in such a hurry," she asked as she handed the duty rosters to Chip.
"The admiral's cabin, the SecNav is on the phone," Chip told her as he looked over the rosters and signed them.
"Why would the SecNav be calling him?" Janet asked with a worried look on her face as she took the rosters from him.
Sighing deeply Chip replied, "I'm not sure but it can't be good."
Lee knocked on the admiral's door waiting for him to answer before he went in as it gave him time to catch his breath.
"Come in, Lee," the admiral said with a grim look on his face. "The SecNav needs to talk to you."
Taking the call off hold Lee answered, "Hello Mr. Secretary."
"Hello Commander," the SecNav said and explained to Lee what he just told the admiral.
"Yes sir. I will be ready to leave by then. Good bye sir," Lee replied placing the phone in the cradle.
"Damn," he said unhappily. "Sorry Admiral."
"You just said what I was thinking," the admiral responded with a sigh.
Rubbing his hand on his forehead he realized he would have to tell Janet that he had to leave and wouldn't be home for Thanksgiving and more than likely Christmas.
"Lee," the admiral said with concern knowing what he was thinking.
"Yes sir," Lee looked at the admiral, "I know I better tell her right now."
"You want help?" the admiral asked knowing Janet would be upset.
"No I'll tell her," he sighed as he walked to the door, "but thanks for the offer."
"No problem son," the admiral said getting up, put his hand on his shoulder and gave it a squeeze.
((()))
Lee left the admiral's office and went down the passageway stopping at their cabin to see if Janet was there. It was empty so he walked across the passageway to her office. She wasn't there either. He headed back to the front of the boat and down the spiral staircase to the control room. Chip looked up from the plotting table when he heard foot steps on the stairs and knew they were Lee's. He could tell by the look on his face there was a problem as he walked over to the plotting table.
"Lee what's wrong?" Chip asked looking at his best friend and 'brother'.
"Chip let's go to the observation nose," Lee said, "Mr. Taper you have the conn."
"Aye sir," Taper answered.
Chip followed Lee to the observation nose. Lee sat down at the table as Chip sat down across from him.
Running his hands through his hair he told Chip what had taken place in the Admiral's cabin and that he would take over as Captain of Seaview until he returned. Chip would have no problem taking over and bringing her into port.
"Have you told Janet about his?" Chip asked softly.
"I haven't told her yet because I can't find her. She wasn't in our cabin or her office," Lee replied sighing.
"She came into the control room just as you went to the admiral's cabin so she knows the SecNav wanted to talk to you."
"I better find her. I'm leaving in two hours," Lee told him as they both stood up and walked back to the control room.
Chip took over the conn as Lee went out the aft hatch to find Janet. He checked in sick bay and Jamie hadn't seen her all day. He also checked the wardroom and she wasn't there. He went back up the stairs to officer's country. He checked her office again and found her in there typing on the computer. He walked in and closed the door. She looked up at him and knew something was wrong.
"Lee, what did the SecNav want to talk to you about," she asked as he walked over to her desk.
Taking her hand, he led her over to the bunk, "Please sit down," he told her as he took her chair, sat in front of her and took her hands in his.
Taking a deep breath he began, "I've been reactivated back into the Navy. I'm going to command the USS Chicago, a fast attack submarine."
"Lee can they do that?" she asked innocently as she knew nothing about how the Navy worked.
"Sweetie, yes they can," giving her a wry smile, "I can be permanently returned to active duty if they needed me."
"Why do they need you?"
"Her captain is seriously ill and had to be removed from the boat. They have no qualified personnel that can assume command."
"Can't the XO take over like Chip does when you leave...can't they just go back to port and wait for him to get well?"
"No, not this time," he told her as he rubbed the tops of her hands, "The boat is patrolling the shipping lanes in international waters in the Pacific because the People's Republic has been attacking ships."
"How long will you be gone?" she whispered staring at her hands.
Putting his hand under her chin and gently lifting her face up, he replied, "Quite awhile, I'm afraid."
"So you won't be home for Thanksgiving or Christmas?"
"No sweetheart, I'm sorry," he answered kissing her forehead as she put her head on his shoulder, "but at least you'll know where I am," he smiled as he stroked her hair.
Sitting back and giving him a small grin she said, "I guess that will have to do. When are you leaving...can I contact you?"
Looking at his watch he replied, "There will be a helicopter here in about ninety minutes and no I will have to contact you but don't worry if you don't hear from me, we could be on radio silence. I will call you when I can," he reassured her. "Come with me while I pack."
They both got up, Lee opened the door and they went to their cabin. Lee took his duffle bag out of the closet and was packing his gear and a map of the area.
"I guess it's a good thing I had the laundry wash your uniforms," Janet told him as she went to the closet and took them out laying them on the bunk. Normally they take them home and send them to the cleaners but since Seaview would be in port for awhile, Janet had them washed so they could leave them here and not worry about getting them back aboard.
"I knew there was a reason I married you," he laughed as he carefully folded them and put them in the duffle bag as Janet hung the empty hangers in the closet. They weren't Navy regulation uniforms but they would have to do to. The only good thing Janet could think of is that his backpack would stay in the closet. He would use that for every ONI mission.
He needed to change into his dress blues so he took off his khaki uniform but before re-dressing he grabbed Janet by the waist and kissed her passionately. He pulled back the covers on the bunk, helped her get undressed and they climbed into the bunk where they lost themselves in each other for the next half hour. Lee got up and took a quick shower. While he was dressing, Janet took one too. He finished packing his shaving gear and other essentials he would need. They walked down the passageway taking the stairs to the observation nose.
As they stood in the observation nose looking out the windows Janet said urgently, "Lee, you were supposed to be Santa at the party...who's going to do it now...what about our party...I have to cancel it."
"Sweetie, calm down. One question at a time," he chuckled knowing she would rattle on when she was nervous.
The admiral was coming down the stairs, heard her questions and he walked over to them.
"Don't worry about the party. I have a perfect replacement for Lee," the admiral told her smiling as both he and Lee looked at Chip at the plotting table in the control room.
"Who's going to tell Chip he has to play Santa. Didn't he do it last year?" Janet asked while she looked at Chip too.
"I'll take care of telling Chip," the admiral assured her.
"Please don't cancel our party as I know the men are looking forward to it. I'm sure Chip and some of the crew will help you. Do you think you can do it?" Lee asked hopefully.
"Yes, of course. I just thought maybe you would want to be there," she replied softly.
"Sweetie, I'll be there in spirit," he told her giving her a hug.
The three of them walked in the control room where the crew noticed their captain in his dress blues and knew something was up. Going over to the periscope island, Lee took the mic out of the holder and pressed the button once keying the mic so the whole boat would hear him.
"Attention all hands, this is the captain," Lee said, "I've been recalled back to the Navy to command the USS Chicago. Since I'll be gone for the holidays, I just want to wish all of you happy holidays. Hopefully I will return for Seaview's mission scheduled for next year." As Lee returned the mic to the holder, Kowalski on radar spotted an object on the screen.
"Skipper, there's a helicopter 2000 yards off the port bow," Kowalski alerted him.
"Thanks Ski," Lee said, "Mr. Morton surface the boat."
"Aye sir," Chip replied as he picked up the mic, "Surface, surface."
Seaview responded and was on the surface in no time.
"Crack the hatch," Chip told Sharkey at his station in the control room.
"Aye sir," he replied shaking Lee's hand and went up the ladder.
The admiral and Chip shook Lee's hand. He went over to Janet, pulled her close and kissed her while the crew looked on.
"Love you," he whispered in her ear. "Don't worry...I'll call when I can."
Kissing him back she whispered back, "Love you too. I know you will."
He climbed the ladder to the sail hatch while the admiral, Chip and Janet went up to the conning tower. Kowalski handed up Lee's duffle bag to Sharkey who passed it to one of the crewmen on the deck detail. The helicopter was just getting into place landing lightly on Seaview. Lee took the duffle bag from the crewman, opened the door of the helicopter and put it in. He looked back up to the conning tower and waved good bye. He jumped in the helicopter and shut the door just as the copter took off from the deck. They watched the helicopter fly away until they could no longer see it in the sky. Chip, the admiral and Janet went back down the ladder into the control room where Chip told them to dive the boat and continue on the present heading for home.
Janet stood in the observation nose arms wrapped around her waist watching the waves go over the bow before going to the control room and over to Chip and the admiral as they stood at the plotting table.
"I'll be in my office," she told them heading for the spiral staircase.
"She's not very happy," Chip said as he and the admiral watched her go up the stairs.
"Can't say I blame her," the admiral remarked, "at least the party will occupy some of her time but we do have one problem," the admiral said to Chip in a serious tone.
"What's that sir," Chip answered with a concerned and baffled look on his face trying to think what the problem could be.
Seeing Chip had no clue as to what he was getting at, the admiral broke out in a grin, "You're going to have play Santa for the NIMR party this year."
Smiling too, Chip responded happily, "No problem at all. I don't mind doing it. The kids are always fun to be around." Chip had plenty of experience with children as he had quite a few nieces and nephews.
"Thanks Chip. That's one less problem Janet has to worry about," he told Chip patting him on the shoulder.
They both were standing at the plotting table when Sparks called to the admiral.
"Admiral, I have Admiral Starke on the phone for you."
"Pipe it up to my cabin," the admiral told Sparks.
"Yes, sir."
"Wonder what he wants," the admiral said to Chip as he left the plotting table for his cabin leaving Chip to attend to the duties of captain.
Reaching his cabin he went in, sat down at his desk and picked up the phone. "Yes, Jiggs, what can I do for you?"
"Just checking to make sure Commander Crane is on his way to the Chicago."
"Yes, he left about fifteen minutes ago. I was wondering who gave the SecNav his name."
"Sorry Harry, I didn't want to do it but I had no choice. He was the only one with experience on that type of sub in this area. It would have taken too long to get someone else. That sub is the lead one of the three on this mission."
"I understand Jiggs. Thanks for the call," the admiral told him as he hung up the phone. "Damn," the admiral said out loud.