Just a quick note: I realized belatedly that I had failed to give Mrs. Clayton a first name. I have corrected that omission and have made the appropriate changes in the previous chapters.

At the funeral, Robert, wearing his dress uniform, chose to stand behind his mother and nephew, his eyes hooded, one hand on each of their shoulders willing them to receive strength from his touch; strength he himself did not feel. Dr. Johnson and his wife sat to the right of Helen. Nathan had felt that a lesser dosage of her medication might be okay so that she may have some memory of this day should she ever fully recover. However, he was ready in the event that the stress may be too much for her. When Helen was handed the flag that had been draped over Matt's casket, tears streamed down her face, but she remained silent except for her quiet sobs. Lee, not yet fully understanding the gravity of the situation, reached out to hold her hand to comfort her while seeking comfort from her touch.

True to his word, following the services Robert took his mother to see a psychiatrist at Parker General. He had made arrangements for Lee to go home with Doris. Her boys would be home from school shortly and Lee could use being with kids his own age. He had asked Nathan to accompany him in his professional capacity to answer any questions Dr. Williams would have regarding his mother's current care and observations of her mental state.

Following an examination and separate interviews with all three, Dr. Williams called Robert and his mother back into his office. "It is my considered opinion after a preliminary examination, and with all the available facts, that Helen be admitted to St. Elizabeth's Hospital until such time that she won't pose a danger to herself or others. She has agreed and is willing to sign the admission papers. Also, during the conversation I had with your mother, she recalled the incident that occurred with her grandson yesterday morning. She has some concerns she'd like to address with you." He turned to Helen and asked, "Would you like to explain, or should I?"

I think I need to," Helen stated quietly with her head bowed, not willing to see the look of trepidation in her son's eyes. "Please understand; if I could be sure what happened yesterday morning won't happen again, I would not hesitate in my willingness to take care of Lee. I am aware you and Matt took care of everything when your father died because I was incapable of doing so then, as well. I love my grandson too much to ever again see the look of fear I saw in his eyes. I know you have to leave soon, but I'm asking you to care for him until such time that I can take over his guardianship."

Robert didn't know how to answer his mother. How could he tell her that he couldn't guarantee his safety if he were to take Lee with him? Not wanting to add to her anxiety, he hedged, "I'll see that he's taken care of."

Dr. Williams made the arrangements to have Helen admitted to St. Elizabeth's, leaving Robert now free to consider Lee's future. Robert promised that he would bring clothing and some of her personal belongings once she was settled.

As he and Nathan were leaving the hospital, Robert stated, "I need to go to the legal department on base to see what papers Matt and Jennie had drawn up with regards to Lee. He told me a couple months after Dad died that he and Jennie had it done, but for some reason he didn't elaborate, and I didn't ask. Now, I wish I had. I'll be around to pick Skip up after I'm done there. Would you mind meeting me at the playground across from Lee's school tomorrow morning before you have to go to the office? I believe I'll have a hard choice to make and I'd like your advice."

"Sure. Eight o'clock?"

"I'll see you then."

The next morning, Nathan arrived at the park across from the school to find Robert already there, a cup of coffee in his hand. As he reached the bench, he was handed a cup of his own. "Cream or sugar?" Robert indicated the packets on the table.

"Thanks. Okay, I'm here. What's on your mind?" Nathan Johnson sensed the young captain had felt out of his league since he arrived four days ago, but had done remarkably well considering the circumstances.

"First, I want to thank you and Doris for being there to help with Mom and Skip. I don't know how I would have made it through the last few days without your support. It's funny; I'm responsible for the welfare of a hundred men every day and it doesn't faze me. So why does having the welfare of one small boy in my hands scare the daylights out of me?"

"Several reasons. First, you're not used to being around children. Second, this child happens to be your nephew, your brother's child. I know you want to do him proud. And third..." Nathan chuckled slightly, "your last attempt at taking care of him didn't end so well, if I remember right."

"No, it didn't," Robert smiled wryly at the memory. As I recall, your wife bailed me out." His facial expression turned serious once again. "But the question remains. Matt and Jennie named me as his guardian. I chose the military as my career. What kind of life is that for a child? Moving every few years? And where I'm stationed at the moment, is no place for a child. We have no family to speak of where he could live until I am reassigned a new post."

"You do have a few choices."

"What? Adoption? No, dammit! He's my only brother's only child. He'd trust me to take care of him. But, how can I take him with me if I can't guarantee he'd be safe! Foster care? Being shifted from home to home every few years? I probably wouldn't be able to keep tabs on him in the system. You know how easily government paperwork gets lost. No!"

"There is one other solution." Nathan Johnson couldn't meet Robert's gaze even as the words crossed his lips.

Robert's eyes took on a thunderous look as comprehension dawned. "Dozier Hall! Are you mad, man! You know what kind of kids they place there! Skip wouldn't stand a chance! And even if, by some miracle, he survives there what kind of future is he going to have with that on his employment record? No!"

"Listen, Robert, that facility isn't as bad as some of them I've seen. I'll personally check it out. Hell, I'll even visit him often to keep tabs on him and personally send you updates on how he's doing. Then when you are transferred to a safer post, you could send for him. We could get the records sealed so no one has access to that information. After that he'd be with you on the bases to which you are posted. He'd get a world class education. Surely any employer would be a fool to turn down someone well travelled and well educated in the ways of the world. All I'm saying is to think about it. The only other option you already rejected flat out, and with good reason. Raising him in the shadow of the Kremlin's reach would mean risking Lee's life, and I've seen you with the boy. You could in no way do that anymore than I could risk one of my sons. At least look into it. Unless, you want to throw away your career that you've spent more than a dozen years to establish; and I can't see you doing that."

Nathan saw Robert was wavering, so he pressed the advantage. "You said that you should only be stationed in Berlin another couple of years. After that, with the work that you have accomplished there, you should be able to pretty much name your next post. You could come back here to Andrews; reconnect with your nephew in familiar territory."

"Great! I've got a Hobson's choice. Whatever I choose, I lose. But worse than that, Skip loses more."