Chapter 8

Present

Janet stood up when the three closest men in Lee's life came back to the room. They could see she had been crying. "I know what you were talking about," she said so softly they could barely hear her. The admiral put his arm around her and she began to sob uncontrollably. They all had tears in their eyes too.

Finally able to control herself Janet begged, "Jamie, please wait before you do anything, please."

"I won't do anything right now. I gave him two hours and I will wait the two hours," Jamie assured her.

Janet sat back down and put her one hand under his and rubbed his thumb and put her other hand on his leg. "Lee Crane you've got one hour to improve," she said softly.

The three men went back to Jamie's office and left the two of them alone.

((()))

Janet sat there with her hand on his leg when suddenly the alarms on the machines started blaring again. Jamie burst into the room followed closely by the admiral and Chip. Jamie rapidly began assessing his patient to identify the problem; he checked blood pressure and other vital signs and while they weren't the best they were no worse. He next checked the electrodes attached to his body that monitored his heart and one of them had come loose because of the bandages. After reattaching the electrode the monitor stopped blaring and picked up Lee's heart beat.

The admiral looked at his watch, "Jamie he's made it past the two hours."

"I know admiral. He's still not out of the woods by a long shot. He survived this long but the next forty eight hours are still critical. How long before we get to Santa Barbara?"

Chip answered, "Right now we're on the bottom. We'll take her up and resume course for home as soon as O'Brien comes on duty. If we have no problems, two and half days."

"I'll have a better answer for you by then. But right now the three of you are going to your cabins for some sleep. There's nothing you can do for him now."

The three of them started to protest but Jamie stood his ground.

"Please let me stay here," Janet pleaded, "I'll sleep on the bunk next to the gurney. Jamie, I can't leave him."

"Alright I'll let you stay. Looking at the admiral and Chip Jamie said, "As CMO I'm ordering you two to your cabins right now."

The admiral looked at Jamie and raised his eye brows, "You're ordering us out?"

"Yes now. Chip you're on duty in the morning. We need you to see that we get home and besides that you look like hell. Harry, you don't look much better. I will call you if there is problem."

"Yes sir," Chip replied. He really was beat. He had been running on adrenaline but that gave out a couple of hours ago.

He walked over to the gurney and gently squeezed his 'brother's' shoulder. "You've got to make it. I can't live without you."

The admiral went over also and gave his shoulder a pat. "Come on son, you have a lot to live for."

Before the admiral left he looked at Jamie, "You could use a little of your own advice. You better hit the rack as you look pretty ragged too."

"I'm going to my cabin as soon as I get Janet settled and check his vitals one more time."

((()))

The admiral and Chip both left Sick Bay and went to their cabins. As much as Chip wanted to be with Lee, he knew he needed to rest and Lee would want him in the Control Room making sure his "gray lady' had no problems getting home. Chip no sooner lay in his bunk then fell fast asleep.

The admiral went to his cabin and sat at his desk. He reached in the bottom drawer and pulled out a glass and a bottle of Glenlivet and poured himself a healthy shot of the amber liquid. He didn't want anything to happen to his 'son'. He had seen him through some rough times but never this rough, he was worried and scared. He finished up his drink and lay fully clothed down on his bunk when sleep finally came.

((()))

Before leaving for the night, Jamie checked on Lee's vitals one last time while John recorded them on his chart. "Jamie is he any better?" Janet whispered still holding his hand.

"No but he's not any worse. I think that's a good sign. Now into the bunk with you. I can tell by looking at you that you are beyond exhausted and I can't handle two Crane's in sick bay."

"Yes Jamie," Janet replied as she went to the bunk closest to the gurney. She climbed in and lay on her side so she could watch Lee's chest rise and fall as the machine breathed for him.

"John is going to be monitoring him, so if there's a problem, he will call me," he told her but she was already asleep before he even finished. He covered her with the blanket before giving John some last minute instructions.

He left Sick Bay and went to his cabin. He was exhausted and knew tomorrow was going to be another long day. He got ready for bed, climbed in his bunk and went right to sleep.

((()))

Jamie was in sick bay by 0500 hours and checked in with John who was sitting at Jamie's desk watching the monitors on Lee. "Did the captain have any problems?"

"His blood pressure dropped for a little while last night but not enough to set off the alarms, just as I was going to call you it came back up. I gave him another sedative and pain medication a few hours ago."

"Thanks, you can go. I'll stay with him until Frank comes on duty. You look a little done in," Jamie told John but before he could leave sick bay, Frank walked in ready to take over.

"Frank, you're reporting for duty early," Jamie said gratefully.

"Yes sir. I've already eaten breakfast which I'm sure you haven't done. I was worried and wanted to check on the skipper."

"Thanks Frank. I'll get some breakfast in a little while."

Janet heard Jamie talking with Frank and got up from the bunk and went over to Lee. "How is he, Jamie?" Janet asked as she took his hand and rubbed his thumb.

"He had a calm night according to John. I was just going to check on him."

He checked his blood pressure which was the same as yesterday. "He's still very critical but it's a good sign he made it through the night with no major problems."

((()))

Chip was also up at 0500 hours. He met the admiral on his way down to sick bay. "You're up early," the admiral said to Chip.

"You, too. I just want to check on Lee before I go to the control room."

Just as Jamie finished giving Lee his medications, Chip and the admiral came in to check on him.

"Jamie, how is he?" Chip asked worriedly.

"He's still the same as last night," Jamie replied quietly.

"Please let me know if there's any change. I'll be in the control room for a while until O'Brien comes on duty."

"Sure Chip."

Chip left sick bay for the control room while the admiral stayed with Lee. When he got to the control room, the crew on duty looked at him for some information.

"He's still alive but not out of the woods," he told them worriedly.

Before going to the plotting table he stopped by the sonar station where Kowalski was on duty, "Everything clear above us?"

"Yes sir. Clear all the way to the surface," he responded softly.

"Thanks, Ski," he said as he walked over to the plotting table and keyed the mic, "Maneuvering."

"Maneuvering, aye."

"Take us up to two hundred feet."

"Aye, sir."

He felt Seaview lift slowly off the bottom and keyed the mic again, "Engine room."

"Engine room, aye."

"Start the engines and bring us up to flank speed."

"Aye, sir."

"Helmsmen, resume course and heading for home," Chip told them.

"Aye, sir."

As he turned back to the plotting table, he saw O'Brien enter the control room from the aft hatch. "Mr. O'Brien reporting for duty, sir."

"You're reporting early, Mr. O'Brien. You weren't scheduled to be on duty until 0700. It's only 0600," Chip remarked after checking his watch.

"I know Mr. Morton but I knew you would want to be with the skipper so I'm reporting early."

"Thanks Bobby," Chip answered patting his shoulder.

The admiral was just coming in the aft hatch and heard the conversation between Chip and O'Brien. He was proud of his men as they would all go above and beyond the call of duty to help each other out. He entered the control room where Chip caught sight of him and the concerned look on his face.

"Sir, did something happen to Lee," Chip asked frantically that didn't go unnoticed by the men in the control room.

"Calm down, Chip. He's fine," he told him a little louder than normal as he noticed the men listening to every word they said. He could see the worry on their faces too. "I just came to see if you had breakfast and when you could get away. I see that Mr. O'Brien has reported early for duty so you're free to go."

"No, I haven't had breakfast yet and I'm not really hungry."

The admiral looked at him and raised his eyebrows, "You're not hungry? Hungry or not you're going to eat."

"Yes sir. Can we stop at sick bay before we go to check on Lee?"

"Of course," the admiral answered patting him on the back.

"Mr. O'Brien you have the conn," Chip told him as he left with the admiral out the aft hatch. O'Brien noted the change in the log book along with the time, speed and course.

((()))

Jamie needed to check Lee's incision and change the bandages and he knew Janet wouldn't be up to seeing that just yet. "Janet, I let you stay here last night but now you're going to go to your cabin, shower, change and go to the wardroom for breakfast. I don't want to see you here for two hours."

"Jamie, I…" she started to say but Jamie cut her off.

"No, that's an order. Go right now or I'll make it three hours."

As Jamie was telling Janet she needed to leave sick bay, the admiral and Chip walked in to check on him again.

"Admiral, Chip, have you eaten breakfast this morning?" Jamie asked with determination.

"No, why?"

"Janet, is thirty minutes enough time for you to get ready?"

"Yes sir. Good meet the admiral and Chip for breakfast and you better eat. I will check with Cookie to make sure you ate. If you don't I won't let you back in here."

"Jamie, please don't do that," Janet begged. "I'll eat...I promise." She walked over to Lee kissed his forehead and rubbed his hand. "Honey, I'll be back soon."

She walked out of Sick Bay and went to their cabin. His backpack was on the desk. She put it in the closet as she couldn't look it. She took a shower and cried the whole time she was in there. She went over to the desk and took out 'the letter' but didn't open it. You have to live...Please don't make me follow these instructions, she thought as she stared at it. When she was ready she walked to the wardroom and left the letter on his desk.

((()))

"Jamie what was that all about," the admiral asked surprised that he would threaten to not let Janet back in to see Lee.

"I need to change Lee's bandages and it's not going to be pretty. I'm not sure she's ready to see how badly he was actually hurt. So I need someone to keep her busy at least for breakfast. She needs to get away for a little while anyway. I need to check him out and don't want her around right now."

"You know she's going to have to see what damage has been done and change the bandages eventually," Chip remarked.

"I know but by that time the wounds won't be so raw."

"Harry, Chip, he is still critical. He's got a long road to recovery ahead of him and they're both going to need our help," Jamie told them emphatically.

"We know Jamie. I'll go and make sure she eats breakfast," Chip sighed looking at his best friend lying on the gurney as the machines helped keep him alive.

"As soon as I'm done changing his bandages, I'll join you in the wardroom. I need coffee and breakfast myself as it's going to be another long day," Jamie told them as he moved the sheet covering Lee and started to remove the dressing.

Frank went to the supply cabinet and took out all the gauze, tape, and pads they would need to apply a new dressing to Lee's incision. Jamie checked out his incision and bullet wound and they did look a little redder than he expected. Just what he didn't need was an infection to set in. Frank and Jamie applied new dressings to his incision. Jamie checked his vitals, gave him another sedative, more pain medication and an antibiotic before he left for the wardroom.

((()))

The admiral and Chip went to the wardroom where Wayne had just gotten his breakfast. Janet walked in a few minutes later and Chip noticed she didn't look much better than before. He handed her a tray while Cookie put three pancakes, two strips of bacon and some fruit on her plate. He stared at her letting her know she better eat it all.

"I'll eat everything so you won't tell on me," she told him with a weak smile.

"Good. Here you go Mr. Morton," he said as he handed Chip a plate with four pancakes and three strips of bacon and fruit.

"That's a lot of food Cookie. I'm not that hungry this morning," Chip said softly.

"I understand Mr. Morton but eat what you can," Cookie replied knowing if Chip wasn't hungry he must be really worried about the skipper.

Janet got them all coffee and sat down along side Chip while the admiral sat down next to Wayne.

"How is Lee this morning?" Wayne asked anxiously seeing the worry etched on their faces.

"He's hanging in there," Chip answered as he picked at his pancakes.

Janet watched as Wayne tried to eat left handed, "How's your shoulder?"

"It's fine," he responded which got a wry grin from Chip. "Did I say something wrong?"

"No. It's just that Lee says that even if he's not fine," Chip answered.

As they were talking, Jamie came in and got a tray which Cookie filled with the breakfast items. He sat down next to Janet and looked at her plate. She'd eaten almost all of the food but left one pancake. He looked at Chip's plate and was surprised he had barely touched his breakfast.

"Chip, you need to eat too," Jamie stressed. "I already told Janet I can't handle two Crane's in sick bay and no way in hell can I handle you and Lee. I would be totally bald by the time we got back to Santa Barbara."

"Yes sir." Chip replied taking another bite of a pancake.

As they sat there eating, a call came over the radio, "Doc, we need in you sick bay right now."

Dropping what they were eating they all jumped to their feet and ran to sick bay. Jamie found Frank standing by the mic.

"Frank what happen...what's wrong...is the Captain alright?" Jamie asked out of breath from running.

"I'm sorry Doc but the skipper's fine. I got a call from the missile room, Simpson got hit in the head with chain and has a head injury that's bleeding pretty badly. I didn't want to leave the skipper alone so I called you."

After catching his breath Jamie answered, "Go to the missile room and bring Simpson back here. I'll stay with the skipper."

"Aye sir. Sorry if I upset all of you."

"No problem, Frank," Chip said patting him on the shoulder as he left for the missile room.

"Go back to your breakfast," Jamie said, "Chip, I'll let you know how bad Simpson is."

"Thanks Jamie."

((()))

After breakfast Wayne and Janet went to the observation nose. Janet still had an hour before she could return to sick bay. They sat in the observation nose staring out the windows as Seaview plowed through the water.

Wayne turned to look at Janet, "I'm very sorry that Lee got shot. It should have been me," he apologized.

"Wayne, I know it wasn't your fault and I don't blame you. It's my husband's sense of duty that put him in that situation. If he can save one life or thousands it wouldn't change what he did," Janet said sincerely.

Looking back out the windows Wayne said, "He's a very brave man."

"Yes he is," she replied tears welling up in her eyes. Being brave may cost him his life, she thought.

Chief Sharkey came up to them in the observation nose. "Excuse me, Mr. Kimball, Mrs. C. but the admiral told me I'm to take Mr. Kimball back to San Diego in the flying sub. We'll be leaving in an hour, sir."

"Okay Chief, I'll meet you here in an hour." He stood up moved in front of Janet's chair and squatted down taking her hand in his. "I know he will be alright. He's got more love here than I've ever seen anywhere. Please let me know how he is."

"Yes I will make sure we let you know," she replied as she continued to stare out the windows of Lee's 'gray lady'.

Wayne returned to his cabin to pack his things. He had everything ready in 20 minutes. He took the gun and ammunition Lee gave him and left it on the desk. He would tell Sharkey it was there.

Janet looked at her watch and she still had fifteen more minutes before she could go back to Lee. She sat there looking out the windows as tears ran down her cheeks. Chip stood at the plotting table watching the interaction between Wayne and Janet. He could tell Wayne was sorry what happened to Lee. He also knew Janet was crying even though she tried to hide it. Hell, I'm having a hard time dealing with this. Heavens knows how's she dealing with it, Chip thought as he returned to his work at the plotting table.