Chapter 40 - Fallout
Lee did follow through with H.I.V. testing in the next month and was scheduled to repeat the test in another six months, just to be cautious. In the interim, Roger called.
"I heard from Rachael, a quick call from Thailand. Johnson's in a private hospital there. It won't be long. She figured you'd heard by now and asked me to tell you that you had no cause to worry."
"You could have been a little more upfront with me before, Rog."
"I told you before that I never completely got her relationship with him, the nature of it. His generation worked so much harder to hide it, and honestly, once I got a hint, I never knew if he ran both ways or just one. I did kind of wonder that he protected me through the years, but then again, he also used it against me. Kept me off balance that way. In retrospect, I can see that Rachael served as window dressing for both Johnson and me. Funny that makes me feel a little jealous, that she was protecting him just like she did me."
"Try to think of Johnson as more of a father figure to her if that helps."
"That's closer to the truth than you know, buddy."
"Yeah, well, I feel relieved to get images of them that way out of my head. That was bad enough without the threat of deadly illness."
"There's a lesson there for us all, buddy. Everybody on my side of the street may not take the necessary precautions, but we know we should. Your side too."
"Lesson learned. You doing okay?"
"How much detail do you want?"
"As much as you're comfortable sharing."
"Life is good right now, real good. I met a guy. I think he's a keeper. It's something that I want to pursue and I don't want to do it in hiding, so I'm resigning my commission. I'm taking a civilian position with N.C.I.S., thanks to Saul."
"That's wonderful. Next time I come to D.C., I expect an introduction."
"How about you, Lee?"
"Same old routine."
"You might think about change too. Find a family before it's too late."
"I have an enormous family, my crew. It's enough for me."
"Liar."
"As long as I believe it, it's good."
"Okay, keep in touch. I'll let you know if I hear anything more from her."
"Not necessary. Keep me posted on you. If she wants to keep in touch with me, we can skip the intermediary."
"Fair enough."
Three months later, Lee was returning from yet another grueling six weeks at sea. Parts kept breaking, delaying the conclusion of the mission and canceling shore leave twice. Tempers flared among crewmen and even a little amongst the command staff. Even Bobby O'Brien, the most even-keeled of them all had gotten edgy. Lee was relieved to arrive home, finally escaping them all. As he entered, his phone was ringing. The machine picked up before Lee could get to the phone. "Hey, skip. It's Sharkey . . . ." Lee dropped his bag and hurried to pick it up even though he harbored dread at hearing Sharkey's voice so quickly after he'd left the Institute.
"Sorry to disturb you so soon, skipper, but not long after leaving the Institute two ratings got into a bar fight with two bubblegummers, one of whom pulled a knife. Rettig is at L.A. General and N.C.I.S. is holding Warder and the two navy twits in L.A."
"Thanks for letting me know, Chief."
"You gonna do anything about it, skipper?"
"I'll check to see how Rettig is faring and let their families know so they can get lawyers."
"Is that all?"
"They're not children, Sharkey. They were off duty."
"But sir, they were, well, they were defending the honor of the Seaview. Don't you think we owe them more than a phone call or two?"
"What do you mean - no never mind, I'll follow up." Lee saw no point arguing with Sharkey knowing Sharkey would just get more worked up. Lee called information for the N.C.I.S. phone number in Los Angeles. He was both surprised and pleased to hear Saul Jackson take his call.
"I expected that I'd hear from you or your admiral soon, Lee. How are you?"
"Fine. Tired. I just came back from a hellaciously long mission."
"So your rating said."
"How much trouble are they in?"
"Less than the other guys."
"Are you going to hold them?"
"One's still at the E.R., not too seriously injured from what I hear. The other, well, I'd prefer to release him into the custody of a mature and guiding influence such as yourself."
"Right now, I'm just a tired curmudgeon."
"I've seen you rise to the occasion. Come on down. I promise I'll make it worth your while."
"Good luck with that!" Lee snorted, knowing he'd go anyway. His crew was his family after all. "Can you give me some time for a shower and change? I literally just walked through my front door when I got word."
"Absolutely. Take your time and arrive in your dashing best. Nothing would delight me more than letting these guys sweat a little longer."
Two and a half hours later, Lee arrived at Saul's office. Saul warmly embraced Lee. "So good to see you again."
"Mind if I ask what are you doing in L.A? Johnson's revenge?"
Saul shrugged noncommittally. "It's for the best. My wife's family lives here and we're expecting. Plus this office is targeted to focus more on international threats and counterintelligence than San Diego. Less petty crime."
"You mean like the one you called me in for today?"
"Yes. Come on back. We've been waiting for you before we take Warder's official statement."
"Wouldn't waiting for a lawyer have made more sense?"
"He said he didn't need one."
Lee grumbled. "Is coffee possible?"
"Absolutely." Saul led Lee to a conference room. Around the table sat a stenographer, two disheveled naval ratings, an N.C.I.S. agent whose name tag Lee couldn't yet read, and his crewman Warder.
As Lee sat down, Saul deposited a cup of black coffee at his side. The two sailors looked at him and whispered something between each other.
"You two bubblegummers should be thrilled to know that Mr. Rettig is expected to recover. Whether your careers are likely to recover is a much more serious question," Saul chided. "Now, to proceed with statements. Mr. Warder has volunteered to go first."
"Uh, sure thing, but does the skipper really need to be here? This might be kind of awkward."
"Most assuredly he does, sailor," Saul said quickly covering his mouth with his hand to hide a grin that Lee saw.
"Well, um, we'd been out for six weeks, a long six weeks, and Rettig and I stopped at a bar to blow off some steam before we headed home. We hadn't had any shore leave at all during that time. It got cancelled twice, not that we blamed you, skipper."
Lee nodded it was all right; he understood.
"Well, we stopped at this dive just off U.S. 1. Didn't know anything about it, which was our first mistake. Anyway, we order beers and these two bubblegummers spot our Institute outfits and start cracking jokes about - sir, I really would prefer it if the skipper wasn't here."
"Just go ahead, Warder. I don't think anything you could say will bother me that much," Lee assured.
"Well, they asked us if we were together, and as I said, we were beat and didn't really get what they were getting at, and Rettig told them we'd just got back from a long mission on Seaview. Then they started with the jokes about submariners."
"What jokes, son?" Saul asked with false earnestness.
"The stupid old ones. 'It's not gay if we're underway,' right? And 'is it true that 110 men go out and 55 couples return?' Lame middle school shit."
Now it was Lee who suppressed laughter behind his hand.
"Then they started going on about the captain and the admiral."
"How so?" Saul prodded.
Lee kneed Saul under the table as Saul covered his mouth to hide his grin.
"Well, you know. Neither the skipper or the admiral are married. We, Rettig and I had heard those rumors before we were aboard, but I swear, we've never seen anything improper between 'em, not that I'm judging or anything, what happens off the boat. That sounded funny. I mean to say that I've never heard any one say that they've seen anything like that between them on or off the boat."
Lee was barely holding it together then.
"You two bubblegummers, what do you have to say for yourselves?" Saul asked.
"We were just having some good natured fun. Didn't mean anything by it. Those guys just took it too seriously. That Rettig has a nasty left hook."
"He was a Golden Glove winner in high school," Lee explained.
"Who threw the first punch?" Saul asked.
Warder was reticent to answer. The sailors quickly offered "Rettig."
"I don't care if he did throw a wicked left. Pulling a knife was a ridiculous stunt, Montreat!" Saul scolded.
"I know, sir. I overreacted when Lilburn went down with a single punch."
"Afraid you were next?" Lee jibed.
No answer.
"What do you think we should do with this lot, Captain Crane? Press charges?"
"I suppose that depends on exactly how severe Rettig's injury was."
The door had quietly slid open behind Lee during this exchange. "It was just a scratch on his arm. A couple of stitches and he's fine."
Lee whipped around at the sound of the voice, then he sprang out of his chair. "Red!"
"Commander," she smiled.
"Saul, do you mind if we step out a minute?"
Saul smiled broadly. "Not at all, commander. Please do."
The occupants of the room sat silently waiting for the return of Captain Crane. All eyes except Saul's were staring out the window moments later. Saul swung his chair around a little to see what everyone was watching.
"Well, gentlemen, and I use that term loosely, I think you can put a certain rumor to bed, not that the truth or falsity of it was ever any of your business and it certainly was no excuse for a fight!" Saul then tapped on the desk impatiently. Lee and Rachael were clenched together, some serious tongue kissing underway. Saul went to the door. "May I remind you, Special Agent MacAdam, this is a place of business." Rachael and Lee broke off kissing but continued talking outside.
"Hey, I'll pitch in for getting them a hotel room," one of the sailors joked.
"You keep your mouth shut. That should be lesson number one you take away from today. The second is never be so stupid as to pull a weapon when you can walk away! Now, subject to the recommendations of those two, you'll either be doing time in the brig or just getting a write up."
Lee and Rachael entered the room.
"Do I hold them or spring them?"
"Spring them," both said.
"You two dumb shits better appreciate what just happened. Think twice before you open your big mouths or go judging anyone. Get them out of my sight," Saul directed his other agent. "You can go too, Warder. I'll let your captain deal with you, although I have a feeling he's lost interest."
"Go home, sailor. Stay out of trouble until you report back or don't report back. Got it?"
"Yes, sir, captain. Thank you, sir."
"Tell Rettig the same for me."
Saul, Lee and Rachael were left alone in the conference room. "I suppose some explanations are in order," Saul said.
"No, that's all right," Lee said.
"Well, I had been thinking of giving Rachael the rest of the day off, but if it's not necessary . . . "
"She'll take it," Lee volunteered quickly.
"All right. I'm leaving. I'll see you in morning, Rachael."