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Some time later, Adm. Ledger grumbles and slowly opens his eyes to see himself in a bed before they adjust enough for him to notice a person two yards or so from him. "Where'm i?" The person stops and turns to look at him before taking his IV-stand with him to a desk to pick up a phone.

"Dr., the Admiral just woke up." He hears, and watches the nurse wait at the door.

After a few seconds, a black haired young man enters and walks over to get the chart at the foot of his bed. "Good to see you're up, sir; how're you feeling?" The Dr. asks him.

"Like crap. Now get me up outta, the ol' dame's prab'ly worried sick by now, sonny. I'll bet they left that grandstander Overton in charge; been wanting my post for years. Like hell he's gonna..." The Admiral replies, but the two stop him from getting out of the chair.

"I think after a day and half, a few more minutes won't bother anyone, sir." The Dr. tells him with a small grin.

"Eh, raggin-fraggin doctors, always think they know everything. So go on, spill it, what'd i miss?" Adm. Ledger asks while the nurse removes his IV.

The doctor adjusts his glasses and explains. "Well, like i said, you've been out for a day and a half after having a mild heart attack."

"I had a... Wait; it's comin' back to me now... I was on the bridge when we got word that... Washington, the damn poison ropes conned us into leaving it wide open! Did we-"

"I'll admit we nearly did, Admiral; if it weren't for both the Joes and the Soviets, we'd have lost for sure."

The Adm. ran a hand across his head after sitting up. "...Both sides, huh? Suppose that means some of us will be needin' to look for new jobs before too long, Dr..."

"Steen; I'm Doctor Edwin Steen."


Chapter fourteen.