A short chapter, this time. :)

Chapter 14

After what seemed like ages, they anxious party saw the medical staff filter out of the ICU room their friend was being treated in. For now, the crisis had passed.

Ducky accosted one doctor and after a brief conversation, the physician followed the ME back to the waiting group of people.

"This is Dr. Cochrane, the respiratory therapist, Timothy's treating physician."

After introducing the doctor to the team, Ducky gave the man the floor.

"As we feared, pulmonary edema has set in. Not exactly an unexpected setback. The risk that this complication might arise, has been very real from the start. This episode was primarily caused by the hypoxia from the drowning and hypothermia. We'll treat him for immersion induced edema by continuing the oxygen supplementation: the measured oxygen level in the blood was too low."

He looked around the circle of people, but since nobody spoke, he continued.

"He's stable now. He's sedated and won't awake soon. We can't let anyone in yet. But you can have a look from the nurses station. Later, you'll be allowed to go in in two's but, please, when you do, restrict your visits to 15 minutes."

He bid them a good day and walked out of the ward.

So they went to see for themselves how their friend was doing before going back to NCIS and the wayward lovebirds, reports and then...home for some well deserved rest.

- -.-. -. . .

NCIS: one of the conference rooms.

There was a much subdued atmosphere with Pellowe and Lorraine sitting at one end of the table and the girl's parents at the other end. There was no animosity, which came a bit as a surprise to the young naval officer and his girlfriend.

However, Lt and Mrs Daring weren't thinking, yet, of easing up on the midshipman who'd stolen their baby's heart.

They had already been informed that there was no criminal intent involved in the 'abduction'. Their daughter had merely ran off with her beau. This was behavior that simply couldn't be tolerated, though. But this was their Lorraine they were talking about!

Right now, they didn't quite know what to do about this whole sorry situation.

Lorraine, they found, seeing love through those wonderful rose-colored glasses, had been the one who'd instigated the elopement. And Hugh Pellowe, ever the romantic and by then so wound up, had complied with his sweetheart's ideas without giving them a second thought.

Not the cleverest thing to do, the young man had soon discovered to his utter shame.

Lorraine's idea had seemed so good. The end of his four week Training Cruise on board the Centennial, had provided the perfect time to carry out the plan. He wouldn't be missed. Not until he went back to the academy. "What a lousy way to start for the new academy year," he thought wrily. He was surely going to be expelled.

Lt Daring covertly watched both young people. Seeing the two sitting there, fingers intertwined, silent, so dejected by the course their actions had taken...but...together like nothing or nobody could ever separate them, how could they let this pass unnoticed?

In the deafening silence, the door opened to let in Director Vance and a man in Service Dress Blue, causing all heads to snap up in unison.

Hugh Pellowe got up and stood to attention. Lorraine also raised from her chair and stood next to him, casting a pointed look at her parents.

"Midshipman Pellowe, you'll be escorted back to Annapolis. Lt Daring, Mrs Daring, Lorraine...you may go. We thank you for your visit and we are pleased to have been of service to you."

The uniformed man now regarded the young man, his face stern.

Pellowe bowed his head.

"Midshipman Hugh Pellowe: consistent with Navy-wide policies and procedures, you will face disciplinary action. Now, if you'll follow me..."

He spun on his heels and turned for the door but was halted by Vance.

"What will happen to Midshipman Pellowe?"

"The Board will determine what punishment shall be meted out. It can be anything between No Action at all to Disenrollment."

It didn't go unobserved how Pellowe flinched at the last words.

Lt Daring slowly pushed his chair back and moved closer, taking in the young man and then his daughter.

He heaved a sigh.

"This...was an act of...love. Not a recommendable one, I agree. As well as these kids know now. They never intended harming anyone and I'm sure they are genuinely sorry for their deeds. I'm equally sure they'll have learned a very important lesson. They are still so young."

This brought Pelllowe's head up, his face a picture of incredulity and hope.

"This may well be, Sir, but people have been harmed." Here, he looked at Director Vance for confirmation. "I can say no more on the outcome of the Staff's decisions. This offence – because, that's what it is - shall be investigated and evaluated."

The officer continued. "Our purpose it not to punish. No. Whatever action is taken, serves to correct a student's conduct. Action will be taken. That much is certain."

Now he addressed Vance.

"At best an Academic Probation. Most probably just Leave of Absence. At worst Disenrollment from the Program, but, if may opine, I doubt it'll go this far."

He chuckled.

"After all, our Midshipman Pellowe was our Student of the Semester in his 2nd year."

This mention was reason enough for the young man to blush furiously and he just wished he could crawl away into some remote corner to escape the extra attention he was now getting.

"Well then? Shall we?"

Lorraine had sneaked her hand in his and squeezed it reassuringly, making him look at her. He cast a last apologetic glance at her parents, offered a polite nod at Director Vance and, taking a deep breath, followed his escort out of the room.