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As Lee walked back to his cabin, Chief Sharkey was walking in his direction.

"Evening Sir. How's Mr Morton doing?"

"He's not too good at the moment if I'm honest Chief"

"I thought it was just a bad flu?" Sharkey asked surprised

"He's developed pneumonia. Docs got him on oxygen to help with his breathing"

"I'm sorry to hear that Sir. Is there anything you need help with?"

"No Chief I'm good but thanks for the offer. I'm going to hit the sack. It's been a long day. I would appreciate it if we could keep this between us for the moment?"

"Of course Sir, Good night"

Lee continued down the corridor to his cabin. He got ready for bed and climbed into his bunk turning out the light. He didn't know how long he lay there but he couldn't sleep .It wasn't because he wasn't tired, in fact he was exhausted. He was worried about Chip and how quickly he had deteriorated. He would feel far happier when they had docked and that was not to say that Jamie wasn't taking very good care of Chip, he was.

He wondered if it would be wise to tell Chip's wife Lynsey, about how ill he was. They had only been married three months and had not got to spend a lot of time together as Chip had been so busy with missions. This shore leave Chip planned to surprise Lynsey with a trip to San Francisco. It was some place she had always wanted to go but Lee doubted that that would be possible during this shore leave.

As he tossed around in his bunk he looked at the clock – 2:40am. He wondered if he was going to get any sleep at all.

SICK BAY

Jamie had gotten up to check on Chip every hour. He checked his temperature and his breathing both of which had not improved. He decided that he would take another x-ray to see how far the pneumonia had developed. Frank helped the doc set up for the x-ray and then helped settle Chip back into bed. Jamie looked at the x –ray and didn't like what he was seeing.

"Frank"

"Yes Sir?"

"Can you fetch the Captain for me? On the double"

As Frank left to go get the Captain Jamie walked back over and placed a fresh damp cloth on Chips forehead.

As Lee entered sickbay with Frank, Jamie was surprised to see him dressed in his uniform, especially at 4am.

"Jamie? – How is he?"

"Lee he is not improving. We need to get him to port and into medbay as soon as possible."

"His breathing sounds worse"

"It is. I've increased the oxygen to make him more comfortable but the rate he is going I may have to intubate him"

Things had really taken a downward turn during the night. If Lee was worried before it had escalated to anxious as he could see and hear the visible decline in Chip's condition.

"Ok. I'm going to contact the institute and alert them. I'll be back"

Lee shot out of sickbay and made his way to wake up Sparks.

CONTROL ROOM – 4:20am

"This is SSRN Seaview calling Nelson Institute – priority message over"

"This is Nelson Institute. Go ahead Seaview" the familiar voice of Kathy came over the radio

Sparks handed the mic to Lee.

"This is Cpt Crane. We have a medical emergency aboard and require a helicopter to rendezvous with Seaview at once over"

"Cpt Crane – We have been hit with a tropical storm here. Nothing can fly in or out of the area."

Lee washed his hand over his face as Sparks looked on. Nothing was working in Chips favour.

"Kathy this is urgent – is there any indication of how long the storm will last?

"I'm sorry Lee – they reckon it will be within the area for up to 24 hours"

As Lee looked at his watch he realised that the Seaview would be docking into Santa Barbara by that time.

"Is there anything else I can do?" Kathy asked

Lee thought for a minute. He decided that he needed to update the Admiral. Never did it cross his mind yesterday that Chips 'bad flu' would turn into this.

"I need to speak to the Admiral" he requested

"I'll contact him straight away Lee and get him to radio you"

"Thanks Kathy – out"

Lee handed the mic back to Sparks and made his way back to Sickbay.

As soon as Lee got to Jamie's office he asked "Any luck?"

Lee shook his head. "There is a tropical storm at home – they reckon it will last for 24 hours"

Jamie sighed and realised that getting Chip back to port was now not going to be a possibility any time soon.

"How is he?" Lee asked as he crouched down beside his XO

"He's still the same. We will continue to monitor the breathing and do the best we can"

"I'm waiting on the Admiral radioing back to update him. I'm going to ask him to speak to Lynsey. I need to warn her before we dock"

"That would be best"

" ? I have Admiral Nelson on the radio Sir" Sparks announced over the intercom

Lee walked across to the mic to respond "Thanks Sparks – I'll be right there. Look after him Doc"

"I'll keep you updated"

Lee left sick bay and headed back to the control room towards the radio shack.

"Admiral?"

"Lee? What the devil is going on?

"It's Chip Sir"

"He is the medical emergency?"

"Yes Sir"

"I thought you said it was a bad flu?"

"It was Sir but he has since deteriorated and has now developed pneumonia and complications with his breathing. Doc needs him ashore as quickly as possible"

"How long until you dock?"

"Another day at least"

"Bring her up to flank and give it everything she's got"

"Aye aye Sir. Admiral I need you to warn Lynsey before we reach port"

"Of Course. "

"Thank you Sir"

"Lee? How bad is he?"

Lee sighed and paused before he answered.

"He's in bad shape Admiral. Jamie thinks he is going to have to intubate him if his breathing continues to get worse"

Nelson paused before he continued. "OK Lee. I'll go and see Lynsey first thing. Keep me posted"

"Yes Sir" Lee ended the conversation and handed the mic back to Sparks. He looked at his watch, it was going to be another long day.

SANTA BARBARA – 7am

As Harry parked his car outside the Morton residence he had took one final look at his watch. He was sure Lynsey would be awake and getting ready for work by now.

Lynsey and Chip met over a year ago at medbay. Lee had spent a few days recovering after another ONI mission where he had picked up a broken arm and a concussion. Lynsey was one of the nurses taking care of him and immediately she hit things off with Chip. His beautiful blue eyes had worked their magic on the petite brunette. Chip visited Lee every day until he plucked up the courage to ask her out. Six months later Chip asked Lynsey to marry him. She accepted and they married in early May before Chip left for several missions on Seaview.

Harry opened his car door and made his way up the pathway which was pristine with flower boarders and a lush green lawn. Even with all the gusts of wind from the storm the Morton garden looked in good shape. He rang the doorbell and waited for Lynsey to answer the door.

"Admiral?"

"Good morning Lynsey. Can I come in? I'm sorry to call so early"

"Please do come in….is something wrong? What's happened to Chip?" Lynsey asked in a panic

Lynsey knew that Seaview was often involved in dangerous missions. Not that Chip ever told her the finer details but she knew he did that so as not to worry her. Harry came in and Lynsey showed him into the front room.

"Seaview is alright but Chip has been taken ill aboard."

Lynsey immediately looked alarmed. "What's wrong with him?"

"When I spoke to Lee yesterday he had said that Chip was in Sickbay with a bad flu"

Lynsey knew that her husband did not cave in to illness so easily. He was a very fit man and had barely had a sniffle the whole time she had known him.

"This is sounding worse than a bad flu Admiral if he is in Sick bay"

"Lee has been in touch this morning to say that Chip has now developed pneumonia and he has had some complications with his breathing. Jamie wanted to have him brought ashore as soon as possible but the storm has stopped air traffic for the moment"

"Ok… So what's the plan?" Lynsey tried to remain calm on the outside at least. Her heart rate had just shot through the roof.

"They are due to dock tomorrow afternoon. Jamie will monitor him closely then he will be transferred to medbay"

"Has he been intubated?" Lynseys' medical knowledge was acting as both a curse and a blessing at this moment. She knew how serious pneumonia could be but that he could be treated successfully.

"Not yet but Lee did say that Jamie was considering it if he didn't improve. We wanted to warn you of the situation before they docked"

"Thank you Admiral. I appreciate it. Please can you keep me updated if you hear from Lee?"

"Of Course I will. I'll keep you up to date with a schedule so you can meet him tomorrow." The Admiral could see the worry in her tearing eyes and tried his best to reassure her. "Chips a fighter Lynsey"

"I'm just worried. I've never known him to be ill. I just pray that he comes out of this alright" Lynsey became upset at that thought of her husband suffering and she couldn't be there to help him.

Harry placed his arm around her. "Jamie will take good care of him. I have no doubt that Lee will not be very far from him either... he has probably moved the control room into sickbay just to make sure he can see Chip at all times"

Lynsey gave out a small giggle. She knew how protective Lee and Chip were towards one another. She felt slightly more at ease knowing Lee was with her husband.