Chapter 14
The next few hours that had passed since she and Captain Chandler had entered the officers lounge had been many things.
Tense, exhausting, and most of all frustrating.
She had tried to tell them Lieutenant Green wasn't sick from the virus, but fear and doubt had taken over.
The worse of it was realizing the captain was losing faith in her and the crew had seen it.
One of them, a dark skinned man whose name she didn't remember at the moment had persuaded the captain they couldn't take any chances.
It seemed to be the final reason Chandler seemed intent not to believe her and had gotten the XO to order a ship wide lock down.
His anger had really increased when a woman had run in saying she'd had lunch with Lieutenant Green and had been exposed.
An hour later the results were back that a mosquito bite had caused a fever and there was no danger to anyone else.
The lockdown ended and the officers left except for Chandler and the woman.
He turned to Rachel, "I need some privacy with Lieutenant Foster."
Rachel nodded and went down the hall to wait. A few minutes later Chandler joined her, his blue eyes were stormy.
"I know I kept things from you in the arctic, I had my orders, but I promise I will always be straight forward to you from now on."
He looked at her, like she was a complete stranger, the same burning anger in his eyes that had been there when he confronted her after the Russians attacked them in the arctic.
"I don't know you, but I've literally risked everything for you. I've lost men for you, killed, made everyone on this ship turn their backs on their families."
His voice grew angrier, "For you."
Rachel felt her own anger bubble to the surface and erupt, "Sadly for you I'm the one you got stuck with and news flash I never asked to be stuck with you either."
Chandler's eyebrows raised but she wasn't about to stop.
"In a perfect world we would've been able to have kept the virus contained, our mission would've been without incident and when you returned home everything would've still been the way we left it. We would've gone our separate ways, I'd have perfected a vaccine, you would've been seen as heroes and most of humanity would still be alive!"
She ran out of breath and they stared at each other, "I have work to do."
+
Once back in her lab she checked on the monkeys and saw they were holding their own and she sat down, trying to calm her mind and body down.
"Sir it's a restricted area you can't enter." She heard the voice of the security guard who was currently stationed outside the lab.
"Tell her it's Prince Charming, she'll let me in, want me to start singing?"
She didn't want to know what he'd sound like if he started, "For crying out loud let him in."
He came and sat next to her, "Doing all right? I'm sure it had to smart."
He was a perspective one, "The captain had his reasons."
"Don't let his doubt get in the way, you'll get it figured out."
Rachel felt a warmth in her heart and genuinely smiled, he was the one person who had always shown her true kindness on the ship, besides the captain, before his doubt tonight and Master Chief Jeter.
She smiled in gratitude and he returned it before heading out.
Weariness started to come and she knew she needed sleep so she locked up the lab and returned to her quarters.
+++
The next morning after breakfast she returned the lab and returned to find the monkeys had succumbed.
She quickly loaded them into bags and went to dispose of them, thankful not to encounter anyone.
An hour later Chandler entered, but his eyes weren't angry but apologetic.
"I know I'm not your favorite company right now and I struck at you when you didn't deserve it, but I really need your help with the crew."
"You have my interest but how can I help?"
"We've kept some things for their protection but shielding them is turning out to be a mistake and some want to leave the ship. But before I give them the choice to leave or stay I want to bring them here to see things."
"I'll be behind the shielding when you bring them."
He smiled gratefully, "Thank you Doctor."
A few hours later the room was crowded as she explained things to them.
"If we have to return to Nicaragua for more monkeys we will." He looked her in the eyes.
"If we had to go to Bangladesh to find a tiger than we will." He smiled at her, she could see his plea for forgiveness and knew his apology was really.
She was quite sure that smile of his had gotten him forgiven for quite a few things in his life.
He turned back to his crew members, "But no matter what we have to do we will always be straight with you. Anyone who wants to leave tomorrow will be free to go."
Later she sat on the deck staring at the stars enjoying the quiet, she realized she wasn't alone and turned to see Chandler.
"Sorry didn't mean to startle you."
She smiled; "You're fine, heard through the grapevine the sailors decided to stay. I heard it in the mess hall." Over the last few weeks more crew members had started warming up to her.
He nodded, "Yes they did." He hesitated then told her Quincy's part in it.
But she couldn't fault him for his frustration, she was still angry at how he had tried to turn her over the Russians, still could see the gun pointed at her. But she'd probably do the same thing if she was in his situation.
"I can understand why he did it, I'd go nuts at being confined."
They sat together silently.
"How's Lieutenant Green?" She asked.
"He'll be back on his feet in a week, he'll need his strength for his punishment."
"For what?"
"Fraternization with another officer."
"The woman who came into the lounge." Rachel surmised.
"Exactly her own punishment is in progress."
Rachel thought of the two sailors she saw in the hallway, she hoped they'd be more discreet.
She had the feeling there would probably be a few more incidents as time went on.
She then yawned. "Better get some sleep." He told her.
"I will Captain."
"Tom." He said, "Call me Tom."
"As long as you call me Rachel you have a deal."
"Goodnight Rachel."
"Goodnight Tom."