Chapter 3
While Lee and Chip were downtown with the admiral, Janet worked until 1700 hours. She took the keys to the Cobra out of her pocket. She was a little nervous about driving the car home as she knew Lee really loved that car. She would never take it downtown to the car show but the look on her husband's face when she mentioned it was priceless. She got in the car, started it up and drove straight home and parked it in the garage. She patted the hood, "Lee will be very happy you made it home without a scratch."
She made herself a quick dinner and went to her office to look for a book. When she couldn't find it she went out to the garage as some her books were still in a box from when she moved. She opened a box she thought was hers and found pictures of Lee when he was at Annapolis, along with awards he had gotten and trophies he had won. As she went through the pictures she found some nice pictures of him and Chip at graduation. She found one of Lee alone dressed in his service dress whites. He looks so handsome in this picture and still does when he dresses in his dress white uniform. I'm so lucky to be married to him, Janet thought. There was even one with him and the admiral when he first got commissioned to the Nautilus. She would keep out some of the pictures and frame them to hang in her office. As she looked through the rest of the pictures, one of them fell on the floor. When Janet picked it up she noticed it was a picture of Lee dressed in a green shirt and pants sitting on the hood of a red Mustang Cobra with a smile on his face. The car was parked under a bunch of palm trees and you could see a couple of houses in the background. Janet turned the picture over. Someone had written on the back, To the one I love, Sorry you didn't like my present and want to keep that old Cobra. But you still look sexy sitting on it. Love always, B. Janet wondered who 'B' was. She closed that box and found the box she was looking for, took out her book and went back into the house taking the pictures with her. She put them on the kitchen counter and went upstairs to get ready for bed.
((()))
Chip dropped Lee off at his front door. "Better check the garage to make sure your car is there," he chuckled driving away before Lee could say anything as he still needed their car for his errands which he would have to do tomorrow.
Lee unlocked the door and checked the garage. Sure enough his 'baby' was there. He felt the hood and it was cold so she didn't take it to the car show. He walked in the house, hung up his jacket and put his cover on the shelf in the closet and noticed all the lights were off. There were a few candles lit in the living room and kitchen. If he didn't know better he would think there was a problem with the electricity. What's Janet up to, he thought mischievously.
He walked into the kitchen, turned on the light and saw the pictures sitting on the counter. "Sweetheart," he called as flipped through the pictures. Janet came downstairs wearing a nightgown that left nothing to the imagination. He lustfully ogled her. "That's quite some wel..." he started to say when she came over to him and gently kissed his lips gradually deepening her kiss with more passion. She undid his tie, unbuttoned his shirt and ran her hands down his chest. He was surprised at what had come over his wife not that he didn't like it but he wondered what was up. As she started to undo the belt on his pants he looked over her shoulder and saw the picture of him sitting on the Mustang Cobra.
Oh boy, he thought as looked at the picture. She's going to want to know who 'B' is. By this time she had undone the button on his pants. "Who's 'B'?" she asked nibbling his ear. Moaning softly as her hand had made its way to the lower half of his body, "You do know I love you and only," he said lovingly pressing her body up against his. She looked at him and shook her head yes. "It's Belinda Barry," he answered as she continued to work him over. "Sweetie," he said breathlessly as he got more aroused. Looking at him seductively she blew out the candles, took his hand and led him upstairs to their bedroom where she finished undressing him lingering a little longer in some areas on his body than others. He quickly removed her nightgown dropping it on the floor. They climbed under the blankets and pleasured each other for the next hour.
As they laid there close to each other catching their breath, Lee asked, "How did you find that picture?"
"I was looking for a book and saw the box and thought it was one of mine. I didn't see that picture right away. It fell out on the floor," she answered truthfully. "Honey, why were you sitting on the Mustang Cobra?" Janet asked softly playing with the hair on his chest.
He knew he was going to have to tell her as they promised each other they would have no secrets after he didn't tell her about being a spy. Sighing deeply Lee leaned up on one elbow and looked his wife in the eye, "Belinda said she wanted to take my picture sitting on the car but didn't tell me she bought it for me until after the picture was taken. She didn't like the old Cobra so she bought me the new Mustang Cobra assuming once I saw it and drove it I would like it better and get rid of the old Cobra. I told her she could keep the new Cobra as I would never get rid of the old one."
"Okay, no problem," she responded unemotionally as she got out of bed, went to the closet, got her robe and put it on. Lee furrowed his eyebrows a bit confused by her actions and laid back down on the bed.
Janet walked back over to the bed, "Are you hungry?" she asked not sure if he had eaten dinner.
"For what," Lee replied deviously.
Giggling Janet answered, "Dinner of course."
Sitting up in bed, Lee grabbed her hand, undid the belt on her robe, letting it fall to floor and pulled her back into bed where he showed her several more times just how much he loved her. Lee never did get dinner and they both were exhausted by the time they fell asleep.
((()))
The rest of the week passed very quickly as they prepared to leave on Monday for the restocking mission. Chip and Janet made sure they had all the items the laboratory requested. She was in Chip's office on Thursday before they left for the day double checking the requests.
"Chip, this Dr. Barry we're bringing back, was she that possessive as Lee said she was?" Janet inquired and told Chip about the picture she found in the box.
Chip looked at her before answering. "Did you ask Lee about her?"
"No," Janet admitted. "Would you please tell me about her? He's worried I'll get jealous or something. I know he loves me but I just need to know," she said honestly.
"Yes, she was that possessive. He couldn't make a move without telling her. I don't know why he even dated her for as long as he did."
"How did they meet?" she asked sitting down in the chair in front of his desk.
He got up from behind his desk and sat on the edge facing her, "We brought her back to NIMR on one mission. She took a liking to him so he asked her out when we got back to Santa Barbara. I'm not sure if he wanted too or felt he had too. Her father was a friend of the Admiral's."
"Thanks for the information," she said as she stood up getting ready to leave.
Before she could leave, Lee stopped by Chip's office looking for Janet so they could go home. It had been a long week and he was looking forward to eating dinner and going home to relax. "What are we doing for dinner?" he asked Janet.
"How about Chinese food?" Janet replied and turned to look at Chip, "Chip you want to come?"
"Sure Chinese food sounds good."
The three of them left the institute and headed for their favorite Chinese restaurant. Lee and Janet had beef with broccoli and Chip had chicken chow mien. They finished their dinners and were reading their fortunes.
Lee read his, "You will never know true happiness until you have truly loved." "That is very true," he said looking lovingly at his wife.
"Expect smooth sailing in your love life," Janet read hers laughing. "I hope there's smooth sailing but it sure could get interesting."
Chip grinned as he read his, "You are a bundle of energy, always on the go."
"Isn't that the truth," Lee remarked as Janet shook her head in agreement.
They left the restaurant still laughing at their fortunes.
((()))
Janet had been practicing her scuba diving for the last couple of weeks. If Lee or Chip weren't available, Kowalski was there to take her out. She was doing very well and ready to take her tests.
On the Friday afternoon before they left on the restocking mission, Chip went into Janet's office. "I think you're ready for your test dives," he told her. "How about we go out tomorrow and Sunday? I want to be able to test you leaving Seaview on this mission as there are several crewmen that also needed to be tested. This way everyone will be done." Lee walked into her office just as Chip was telling Janet about the test dives.
"If you say so," she replied nervously.
"You'll do fine," Chip reassured her. Turning to Lee Chip asked, "Just one more thing, Lee could you please stay in the boat while we do the dives?"
"Sure. I know I could make her nervous so I have no problem with that," Lee answered. "I'll pace the boat waiting for the results," he kidded.
((()))
On Saturday the weather was a little cooler than it had been and overcast. They were going to use Lee's sailboat for the four test dives. Chip came up to the house to ask Janet if she still wanted to do it.
"Are we still on for today?" Chip asked.
"If you are, I guess I'm ready," Janet said hesitantly.
"You will pass with flying colors," Lee reassured her.
They drove down to the dock and got on the sailboat. It was not very windy so they had to use the motor to get to the area Chip wanted to use for the dives. It would take about thirty minutes to get there. Janet was a little nervous and just didn't feel right but she wanted to get the dives over with. Lee threw the anchor over while Chip and Janet got ready to dive. He gave her a kiss for good luck and saw she was shaking.
"Sweetie, are you alright? Don't be nervous."
"I'm fine."
Chip had her enter the water using the controlled seat entry. She had a little trouble doing it. She also had some problems doing a couple of the other requirements. He figured she was nervous so they waited a couple of hours before doing the second dive. He made her enter the water this time using the giant stride entry which she did just fine. She had more problems on some of the other elements Chip knew she never had problems with before. Chip couldn't understand what was wrong with her today and was a little upset with her.
"Janet, what's wrong with you today? You were very shaky on some of the elements I know you knew how to do," he said tensely.
"Chip, I don't know what happened," she said near tears.
"I'm sorry I didn't mean to upset you, but you better have it together tomorrow or you won't pass."
Lee didn't say anything. He knew Chip would never get angry at Janet unless he had a reason. He could tell something wasn't right with her today. They pulled up anchor and went back to the harbor. She took all her equipment rinsed them off and went to the car.
As Chip and Lee secured the boat, Lee asked with concern, "What happened out there?"
"Lee, she was very shaky on her controlled seat entry and other elements that I know she knew how to do perfectly. I just don't understand why." Lee understood and agreed with him. They met Janet back at the car and drove home in silence.
"Chip, I'm sorry. I will be better tomorrow," Janet said guiltily when they got back home.
"Don't worry about it, I know you will have no problems tomorrow," he said as he squeezed her hand.
Chip had plans for the evening so he went home while Lee and Janet went to their house. "Sweetheart, what happened out there? You were very nervous and tense. Are you feeling okay?" Lee asked her gently taking her in his arms.
"Lee, I don't know. I'm very tired, could we not talk about it," she said softly looking him in the eyes.
Lee made dinner for them and after dinner they sat out on the deck for a little while. Janet was very quiet and Lee was worried about her. They went to bed early and she fell asleep right away.
((()))
Janet and Lee woke up early the next morning. Lee could tell Janet was in a better mood, not as nervous or tense as yesterday. Chip was at their door by 0700. They were going to take his boat out for the last two dives today instead of Lee's. He even noticed Janet seemed better today.
They went to the same area they were at yesterday. After they completed the surface skills which she aced with no problems, they started the first of two dives she had to do today. She passed the first one with no problems. After waiting a while, she did the last dive and did everything required perfectly. Chip made her repeat the elements she had trouble on yesterday and she was perfect on every one of them.
"What a difference from yesterday. Everything was perfect today. You are now a certified scuba diver," Chip told her giving her a hug. "I'll fill out the paperwork and you'll get your c-card. There is one more requirement though, you will have to leave Seaview through the escape hatch and swim around her to fulfill the regulation on Seaview. We will do that on the way back from the restocking mission."
"Thank you, Chip, for your patience. I don't know what happened yesterday," she said relieved she passed.
"Congratulations, sweetheart," Lee told her as he gave her a kiss. "It wasn't that bad, was it?"
"No, you were right, it wasn't that bad," she replied as she returned his kiss.
"Let's celebrate. How about we head for home and I will barbecue some chicken for dinner."
"Sounds good to me," Chip said grinning. "I'm hungry."
They packed up their equipment and headed for the harbor. They docked Chip's boat and left for home. Lee barbecued as promised. Chip didn't stay too late because they had to be on Seaview early on Monday. Lee and Janet went to bed and after some celebratory lovemaking they fell asleep.
((()))
Seaview left on the tide first thing early Monday morning. Standing on the bridge with Chip, Lee slowly and carefully backed Seaview out of her pen and into the channel. He looked at Chip as he once again didn't scratch the paint. They both had gotten so good at getting her in and out of the sub pen they had to find something else to bet on as neither one of them had to buy dinner in a long time. The new bet was Chip would get to drive the Cobra and Lee would pick a day when Chip didn't get any desserts, coffee and no second helpings of food. So far, neither one of them had to pay the bet.
Once they cleared the channel, they would dive staying at two hundred feet. Since it would take them three days to get to the laboratory, they would stop about half way to there so Chip and Lee could take out some of the men that needed to be re-certified in diving. The rest of the men and Janet would be checked out on the voyage back to NIMR.
After they had been at sea for a few hours, the admiral called Janet into his office, he needed her help on a project he was working on. "How are your scuba lessons going?" he asked her.
"They're finished and I passed," she told him proudly. "Lee, Chip and Kowalski sure had a lot of patience with me. I just have to go out the escape hatch and swim around Seaview to complete my regulation."
"Congratulations," he told her giving her a hug. He gave Janet the notes he needed typed up, so she went to her office to begin typing up the notes. The admiral went down to the Control Room to talk to Lee and Chip. "I heard Janet passed her scuba diving classes. Good work, gentlemen," he told them as he patted them both on the back. He walked over to Kowalski at the sonar station and patted him on the back too for helping out.