Chapter 7
Belinda heard what happened to Lee and ran down to sick bay. She went over to the gurney and grabbed his hand and started rubbing it. "Oh Lee, I hope you're going to be okay," she said tenderly. "If there's anything I can do, please let me know."
Lee pulled his hand away. "Please don't. I'm married so leave me alone," Lee said harshly.
Taken aback by his actions and tone she left sick bay in a huff. "I'm sorry," Lee said to Janet as he grabbed her hand, "she just won't let go."
"I understand she's worried about you," Janet replied as she held on to Lee's hand a little tighter.
((()))
Laying on the gurney, Lee knew they needed to flush out the killer before Seaview reached port. He also realized the killer knew that too. He would have to make a move tonight because once Seaview docked tomorrow it would be too difficult to find out who wanted to hurt or kill Janet. Chip knew Lee would never let whoever is trying to kill his wife get away.
"We need to set a trap to catch him or her," Lee decided.
"Him or her," Chip questioned.
"Chip, ever since Belinda came aboard, she has not been very subtle about the fact she still cares for me."
"Lee, I don't think she would try and kill Janet to get to you. She knows you would never go back to her if you found out she was the one who tried to kill her," the admiral replied rationally.
"Sir, who else could it be? She's the only person who has not been on Seaview until this mission."
"What do we need to do?" he conceded. He knew Lee was right but was having a hard time accepting that Belinda would do this.
"We need to set a trap for them. We going to let it out that Janet will be alone in our cabin tonight. I'll be hiding in the cabin and wait for them to strike."
"No Skipper, you will not be in that cabin. You will be in sick bay for the rest of the day and night until I can make sure you have no more reactions to the morphine or epinephrine," Jamie stated emphatically.
"Jamie, I have to be there," Lee pleaded.
"Lee, I will stay in the cabin myself," Janet said, "If we are trying to trap Belinda, I can handle her. We are about the same size. Chip can be in his cabin. He can watch from the door to see when she goes in."
"I don't know about that," Lee said running his hand through his hair. "What if she is armed? She could kill you before Chip even got there."
"Lee, let me hide in your cabin with Janet. She or he won't know if anyone else is in there," Chip volunteered.
"Chip, I can't let you put yourself in danger," Lee protested.
"You would do it for me with no questions asked, let me help you out this time," Chip insisted.
Sighing deeply, "Okay," Lee said reluctantly as they mapped out a plan.
((()))
Janet and Lee had dinner together in Sick Bay. The admiral invited Belinda to dine with him and Chip in the observation nose.
"Aren't Lee and Janet joining us?" Belinda asked seeing only three places set at the table.
"No Lee will be in Sick Bay tonight so they are eating in there. Janet will return to their cabin later this evening," Chip told her as they sat down for dinner.
"I see. Will Lee be alright?" she inquired.
"Yes, he will be back on duty tomorrow morning. This is just a precaution," the admiral replied as he ate his salad before eating dinner. After dinner, Chip excused himself for the evening and went to Sick Bay.
Before Chip left the observation nose the admiral told him, "Tell Lee I'll stop by after Janet leaves before turning in for the night to check on him."
"Yes sir," Chip replied knowing that everyone in the control room heard their conversation. He walked out the aft hatch and made his way to Sick Bay.
((()))
The admiral and Belinda stayed in the observation nose a little while longer. "Does this happen a lot on Seaview," she asked. "I mean are people always getting into trouble."
"No, this is very unusual," the admiral replied as he stood up.
"Good night Harry. I'll see you in the morning," Belinda said as she made her way up the spiral staircase heels clicking on the metal stairs as she went up.
After she was out of sight, the admiral went to Sick Bay just as Chip and Janet were leaving for her cabin. "Belinda's on her way to her cabin,' the admiral said warily. "Please be careful."
"Yes sir," they both replied and left for Janet and Lee's cabin.
Once in the cabin, Janet put Lee's desk light on low which barely lit the room and sat on the bunk while Chip sat on the chair behind the door. They had no idea how long it would be before the person made their move. Janet was really tired and had a hard time staying awake. She laid down on the bunk and fell asleep. Chip watched her and chuckled, she would make a great spy on a surveillance mission.
((()))
In Sick Bay, the admiral, Lee and Jamie were sitting there waiting for news when Belinda walked in.
"I thought you were going to your cabin," the admiral asked quickly glancing at Lee.
"Yes, I was there but I wanted to see how Lee was doing and apologize for my behavior. I was a little jealous of him and Janet but I realized after seeing the two of them together that he really loves her."
"Haven't you been trying to kill Janet?" Lee said bluntly.
"Kill her. Why would I do that? I may love you my dear but don't flatter yourself by thinking that I would go that far for you. Why?"
"Shit," Lee said as he got up from the bunk and ran up the stairs to his cabin followed by the admiral and Jamie who grabbed his bag on the way out the door. Belinda wasn't too far behind.
((()))
Just as Chip was starting to fall asleep, he heard someone turn the knob on the door. Janet woke up immediately and stared at Chip. He put his finger to his lips to let her know to be quiet. She lay back down and pretended to be asleep. She could hardly keep from shaking. The person outside opened the door, came in and locked the door. They walked over to the bunk where Janet was lying.
"He killed my brother. He shouldn't have let him go into the cave. He came out alive why didn't Tommy? He just left him to die," the man's voice said. "I tampered with both your regulators. I knocked you out in the storage room and I put the morphine in your coffee. I didn't know the skipper was allergic to it. But now you're by yourself no one will get in my way this time. He will know how it feels to lose someone he loves."
He pulled out a knife and was ready to stab Janet when Chip turned on the overhead light and was surprised to find Lawrence there with the knife.
"What the hell is going on," he said to Chip as he lunged at him with the knife and caught Chip on the forearm leaving a deep, long, jagged gash that bled profusely.
"You set me up you bitch," he yelled at Janet holding the knife on her. "You'll be sorry."
Afraid of what he might do Janet said calmly, "I'm sorry Lawrence. The skipper would never do anything to put someone's life in danger. I know it hurts to lose someone but please let me go and get help for Mr. Morton," she continued as she pushed his arm away and slowly got out of the bunk.
"Stop, don't go any farther. I will stab you if you take another step," he bellowed as he waved the knife inches from her face. "I don't care what you say, he killed my brother," he shouted as he brought down the knife on Janet's chest tearing her shirt.
Lee had unlocked the door and quietly opened it. Lawrence never heard him or the admiral enter the cabin. Before he could stab her, Lee grabbed his arm and wrenched the knife out of his hand. The admiral grabbed the knife as Lee tackled him. Jamie ran over to Chip who was lying on the floor white as ghost. Jamie applied pressure trying to stop the bleeding. He managed to stop it enough to get a temporary bandage on it before he took him to Sick Bay.
"He needs to get to Sick Bay right away. He's going to need quite a few stitches."
Jamie and Belinda walked Chip down to Sick Bay. The admiral stayed behind in the cabin to make sure Lee and Janet were alright. Lawrence was huddled in the corner on the floor of Lee's cabin. He was crying, "I'm sorry, so sorry."
Pressing the button three times on the intercom Lee called, "Master at arms, this is the Captain."
"Yes sir," the MAA answered quickly.
"Please send someone up to my cabin immediately."
"Aye sir."
When the MAA was at the cabin door Lee said, "Put him in the brig until we dock. We'll turn him over to the authorities after everyone has left the boat." The MAA put a pair of handcuffs on Lawrence and walked him out of the captain's cabin. Lawrence offered no resistance and went peacefully with the MAA. The admiral followed behind them and would go to Sick Bay to see how Chip was.
((()))
Lee went over to his wife who was sitting on their bunk. He could see she was still shaking so he held her in his arms and kissed her.
"Sweetie, are you hurt?" he asked looking her over to make sure she wasn't stabbed and didn't know it after seeing the tear in her shirt.
"No," she replied looking at Lee. "What did he mean when he said you killed his brother, Tommy?"
Sighing deeply he told her what happened on a mission a few years ago. "We were on a mission to explore some caves looking for a new mineral. There were two other divers on the team besides me, Tommy and Bailey. We were exploring a cave when an underground quake hit with no warning. The cave collapsed around us. I was able to pull out Bailey but Tommy was already dead when I went back for him. A wall of rock had fallen on him. He was in the wrong place when the quake hit. We managed to get his body of there with the help of another diving team." Lee hesitated before continuing, "He was only twenty-one but an excellent diver and crewman. The admiral, Chip and I went to his house to tell his family what had taken place. Lawrence must have heard us tell his parents what happen to Tommy but I never saw him. When we hired him, I knew he was related to Tommy but he worked for the Coast Guard and got an excellent recommendation from them for his sonar abilities. Janet, that was one of the hardest things I've ever had do," Lee told her tears welling in his eyes. "It was the first time I had to tell a family their loved one was killed while on Seaview."
"Lee, it wasn't your fault. I know you would never leave anyone behind. I think Lawrence knows that too but just needed to blame someone for his brother's accident." Janet said to Lee as they held on to each other. Lee kissed gently kissed her forehead. "Can we check on Chip," Janet asked after a few minutes. "He really didn't look good." His blood was still pooled on the floor of their cabin.
"Let me call maintenance first and have this cleaned up before we return for the night," Lee replied picking up the phone on his desk and made the call.
((()))
By the time they got to Sick Bay, Jamie had just finished putting in twenty stitches in Chip's arm as the gash was pretty deep. Lawrence had used a diving knife, so Jamie wasn't taking any chances on Chip getting an infection and gave him a shot of antibiotics. He put his arm in a brown sling and helped him into a bunk.
"I'm sorry Chip. I didn't want you to get hurt," Lee apologized patting Chip on his good shoulder. "I should have been there not you."
"It's alright as long as Janet isn't hurt," he asked with concern.
"Thanks to you, I'm fine. I'm sorry too I wasn't much help," Janet said sheepishly.
"Don't worry about it now we're even," he told her with a smile. She smiled back and gave him a hug.
"Belinda," Lee said contritely, "I'm sorry I suspected you of trying to kill my wife."
"Don't worry about it. I might have been a little suspicious of me too by my actions," she replied patting his arm as she left Sick Bay leaving the five of them alone.
((()))
So much for Jamie's easy night, as he now had the two most unwilling patients in Sick Bay, Lee and Chip.
"Both of you will be staying here tonight," Jamie stated. "No pleading or begging will get you out. So just grin and bear it."
They both opened their mouths to speak but shut them right away when Jamie stared them down. Janet grabbed a chair and put it between the two bunks. She would stay in Sick Bay too for the night not wanting to leave her two men.
Once the admiral knew Lee and Chip were going to be fine he told them, "Lee, Chip, Janet, I'll see the three of you tomorrow."
"Yes sir," Lee responded with a yawn.
They all fell asleep a few minutes after Jamie turned the lights down. He looked at the three of them and shook his head. They were a very close group and he hoped nothing would ever change that.
The admiral walked into his cabin, turned on the globe light on his desk. He sat down and opened his bottom drawer. He took out a glass and a bottle of golden amber liquid and poured himself a healthy shot. He drank it down in one gulp and poured another one. This one he drank slowly savoring every sip his took. He got ready for bed and climbed in his bunk where he promptly fell asleep.
((()))
The next morning all three of them woke up and were waiting for Jamie to release Lee and Chip from Sick Bay. After checking Lee's vitals and Chip's arm for infection he let them go making sure Chip had his arm in the sling. They actually had no restrictions. Chip's arm was a little sore but nothing acetaminophen wouldn't take care of. The three of them went to their cabins to get ready for the day and were going to meet back in the wardroom for breakfast. When they got there, the admiral and Belinda were already eating. Grabbing some trays, Cookie put pancakes and bacon on their plates and told them they better eat it all. Lee grabbed coffee for himself, Chip and Janet and sat down.
"How are the two of you feeling today?" asked the admiral.
"We are cleared for duty," Lee replied with a smile.
"Good," the admiral returned the smile.
When they finished their breakfast Lee and Chip would go to the control room. Janet would go back to her office to finish the typing up the notes. Belinda and the admiral would return to the lab to finish up what they were working on.
((()))
When Lee and Chip got to the control room everything was running smoothly. Lee took over command from Howard and was at the plotting table tapping his pencil nervously.
"Chip, I'm thinking of taking Janet off Seaview. I never thought she would be in danger here on Seaview but after what happened I'm not sure."
"What," Chip asked surprised, "does she know this?"
"No, not yet. I was hoping to get your feelings before I said anything to her."
"Lee, you know she will be pissed. She loves working on Seaview. How will she be in any less danger working at NIMR? She will always be in danger wherever she is with you working for ONI. Are you quitting ONI to keep her out of danger?" Chip told him.
"No, but at NIMR there is security to keep her safe," Lee replied still tapping his pencil.
"This was an unusual situation," Chip insisted.
"I know but ..." Lee tried to continue but Chip cut him off mid sentence, "Lee there is no but. She is going to be very angry."
Chip walked away from him and went to the sonar station before he said something he shouldn't as he was angry at Lee.
((()))
Seaview docked early in the evening. Everyone had left the boat except the admiral, Lee, Chip, Janet and Belinda. Lawrence had been taken away by security and would be turned over to the police. The admiral was going to take Belinda to her hotel before she left for the east coast laboratory.
Before she left the boat she gave Lee a quick kiss. "You're one lucky woman," Belinda told Janet as she stood next to him.
Janet smiled at her and then looked at Lee replying, "I know."
Kowalski took Belinda's bag up the ladder as the admiral helped her up and out of the sail hatch. She and the admiral walked down the gangway to the admiral's car that was waiting for them.
Janet was just getting ready to start up the ladder when Lee stopped her. She turned around to face him.
"Sweetie, I'm thinking of taking you off of Seaview," Lee said hesitantly.
"What! Why? You can't without the admiral's approval," she said frantically.
"I'm thinking of your safety after what happened on this mission. What if Lawrence had succeeded? And I can take you off without his approval," Lee said harshly.
"Chip, please talk to him, don't let him take me off Seaview," she begged with tears in her eyes.
"It's out of my hands. It's up to Lee and the admiral," Chip told her sadly.
"Lee, please don't, please," she pleaded.
"We'll see," he replied sharply.
Janet went up the ladder and out the sail hatch before Lee or Chip left the boat. Chip had a difficult time going up the ladder with one hand as Jamie insisted his arm stay in the sling for another couple of days. Before they walked down the gangway they saluted the colors while Janet waited for them at the bottom. Chip and Lee stopped at the bottom of the gangway to talk to the security detail but Janet kept walking to the parking lot with her gear. Lee had both his gear and Chip's so it took him awhile to get to the car. She waited for Lee to unlock car and threw her gear in the back. She didn't say one word to him. She climbed in the back seat of the car and sat there while Lee loaded the rest of the gear. Chip drove with them to the dock and knew it wasn't going to be a pleasant ride home. Luckily for him it was a short drive.
The End.
