The Breakdown

Chapter 6-Henry Bell

Henry had no clue about the tragedies in Admiral Slattery's past. Mike had taken him under his wing, bought him his first beer, given him good career advice, and even some life advice. It worked for Henry, because his own father had died during the Red Flu, and he missed that guidance.

Who better to understand a son that had lost his father, then a father who had lost his children? The only problem was, Mike never told him about his lost family and Henry was too amazed that one of the highest ranking men in the United States Navy had taken an interest in him to ask. He should have asked. It was a regret he'd carry.

He had been shocked when Captain Greene, now retired had called him to tell him the news of Mike's attempted suicide. She had encouraged him to write Mike a note and when the time was appropriate, to visit. As Henry stared at the piece of paper, he had no words. He wasn't good at this sort of thing, but he knew one thing for sure. If the roles were reversed, Mike would do the same. As Henry sit there, he remembered that first trip to the bar.

"Take it easy, Bell; you are going to make yourself sick drinking so fast." Mike said as he pushed the glass of beer away from Henry.

"I thought this was supposed to happen fast." Henry answered.

"This isn't the first time in the backseat of your dad's old Honda Accord with some girl from your hometown. It's a beer. Its to be enjoyed; not that the other isn't to be." Mike told him with a laugh as he lit his cigar.

"I have a feeling this place is a little too high-brow for me." Henry remarked.

"Yes, probably so; but trust me, you don't want to go out drinking with Diaz and his bunch. They would get you totally drunk off your butt, then video it and put it on myspace." Mike told him.

"Myspace is so 2010. Facebook or Tic-Tok is the more typical place." Henry answered.

"Tic-Tok…like a clock?" Mike asked.

"In name only. Why would you care if I ended up recorded?" Henry asked.

"Well, thank God above; there was no Facebook, Myspace, or Tok-Tik when I was your age, so I was able to drink my first beer in peace. I figured I would offer you that some peace, unless you want me to call Diaz?" Mike teased.

"Point taken." Henry said.

"And I will be your designated driver too." Mike told him.

Henry had to smile at the memory, and it gave him exactly what he needed to write the letter. He began carefully writing the note, making sure his handwriting was legible, and his grammar and spelling was perfect. He wanted to give his best for Mike.

Henry Bell was one of the minor characters in Season 5; the helmsman. I just liked his interactions with Mike on screen, so I decided to throw him in. And I purposely wrote Mike a little oblivious to social media in this chapter, more out of humor then anything else.