Chapter 4

Lee was up early the next morning and went for a run while Janet stayed in bed still tired from the previous night's antics. Lee was outside on the patio when his cell phone rang at 0800 hours. He answered the call right away recognizing the admiral's number.

"Good morning sir. Is something wrong...how's your arm...do you need any help?"

The admiral was sitting at his kitchen table eating breakfast when he called. "Hi Lee. Everything is fine," he replied with a grin, "I've decided to have a barbecue today to show our appreciation for all the hard work Chief Sharkey, Bob O'Brien, Kowalski, Patterson and Riley did on the repairs to Seaview. I'm also inviting Angie and Wanda. I'm sure they had a lot to deal with while all of us were gone. Chip and Jamie will be invited too."

"Sound like a great idea. I'll ask Janet to whip up a batch of brownies and chocolate chip cookies. Is there anything else you need? I'll be over early to help."

"No Lee, those items will be fine and Sally is here to help out so you don't need to come early. See you about 1400 hours."

"Yes, sir." Lee hung up the phone and went into the house where Janet was in the kitchen cooking breakfast.

"I see you finally decided to get out of bed," Lee joked as he kissed her, poured them a cup of coffee which he could see was nice and strong and sat down at the table.

Walking over to the table she said lovingly, "You wore me out last night," returning his kiss as she put his breakfast in front of him.

Taking a gulp of coffee he told her, "The admiral is having a barbecue today and I volunteered you to bring brownies and chocolate chip cookies."

"Thanks for letting me know," she replied as she took out the mixer and ingredients.

"Sweetie, could you make those amaretto brownies?" he asked sweetly putting a fork full of eggs in his mouth. "I'll call Chip and let him know we'll pick him up."

"Okay honey, but when you're done with breakfast could you please download the pictures from the vacation to the computer. I would do it but since I was volunteered to make the brownies and cookies I won't have time and I want to take the camera to the barbecue and take more pictures."

Before calling Chip he took another drink of the coffee as he dialed Chip's number he replied, "Sure, no problem."

"Hi Chip. Did the admiral call you about the barbecue...How's your ankle?"

Sitting with his ankle on the chair Chip replied, "Yes, he did. The ankle's better this morning."

Still holding the coffee cup in his hand Lee told him, "We'll pick you up at 1345."

"Thanks, Lee. See you then."

Lee finished breakfast cleaned up the breakfast dishes while Janet was baking and went in his office to download the pictures. It was taking a long time since there were quite of a few of them. He was looking at them when Janet came in to check on his progress. She wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed the top of his head.

"I sure took a lot of pictures," Janet remarked as she was looking at them too. They came across the one she took of him in bed.

"I don't like this picture," Lee stated, "I'm going to delete it."

"Don't you dare," she threatened, "You look very sexy in that picture."

"Sexy? I just woke up," he replied raising his eyebrows.

"Honey, it's my picture and I like it," Janet said a little tersely but Lee knew she was only joking.

"Alright, I'll let you keep it," he replied kissing her hands.

The timer on the stove went off so Janet left to take the brownies out of the oven while Lee turned off the computer, took the camera and put it by the door.

((()))

While the brownies were cooling, Janet went upstairs to get ready. Lee joined her and if they didn't hurry they were going to be late. It was a warm day so they both put shorts and shirts.

They put the brownies, cookies and camera in the car and went to Chip's house. He was walking a little better and they could see his ankle wasn't nearly as swollen as it was yesterday. Lee went back for the case of beer Chip told the admiral he would bring and put it in the back of the SUV.

"I smell brownies and chocolate chip cookies," Chip said once he was in the car.

Janet had them in the back seat with her so she gave him a brownie.

"Thanks," he said with a big grin on his face, "just what the doctor ordered."

As they pulled up to the admiral's house, Sharkey, Kowalski, Patterson, Bob and Riley were just pulling in too. Chip got out of the car and they were surprised to see him limping. They walked over to him and saw that his ankle was wrapped, his faced scraped, bruised and a bandage on his forehead. Riley took the brownies and cookies from Janet as she got out of the car. Lee went to the back of the SUV to get the beer which Kowalski took from him.

"Ah...Mr. Morton, I thought you went on vacation?" Sharkey asked him as he limped around the car.

"I did. Ran into a rock and a hole," Chip replied with a smile.

Janet took the camera out of the car and they all walked to the admiral's patio in the back of the house. Kowalski brought the beer to the cooler and put it on ice while Riley gave the cookies and brownies to Janet who put them in the kitchen.

"Hello, everyone," the admiral greeted them. Sharkey stopped and looked at the admiral who had his arm in a sling and a black eye.

"Sir, what kind of vacation did you go on?" he asked warily, "you look like you went a round with a boxer."

The admiral replied grinning, "Just some bad luck."

Sharkey stood there staring at the two officers and shook his head. He was glad he didn't go on vacation with them. As he went to get a beer, Jamie came in limping. Sharkey stopped and looked at him. He noticed he also had a large bandage on his arm.

"Doc, what happen to you?" Patterson asked as they stared at Jamie.

Smiling Jamie said nonchalantly "A couple of small accidents."

Patterson helped Jamie sit down and got him a beer. It was a beautiful sunny day so they were sitting around the patio talking about the vacation when Angie and Wanda walked in and stopped in their tracks when they saw the admiral, Chip, and Jamie sporting bruises and bandages.

"That must have been some wild vacation you went on," Angie commented looking at Janet and Lee and not seeing any injuries.

"Sit down all of you and we'll tell you what happened," the admiral told them as Angie and Wanda sat next to the admiral.

Lee went to the kitchen and brought out a bottle of wine and poured a glass for Angie, Wanda and Janet while he grabbed a beer for himself from the cooler. Now that everyone had a drink the admiral told all of them how they were all injured. After he finished, they shook their heads with slight grins on their faces. Janet was taking pictures of all of them.

As they sat around Lee asked, "Did you get Seaview repaired?"

"All the frames are repaired and she's ready for her next mission," Bob told them. "It took a little longer to repair a couple of the frames but the crew did a good job."

"Thanks men," Lee said appreciatively.

"Angie, how much work is on our desks," the admiral asked warily.

"Well, to be honest quite a bit. Wanda and I did the best we could but most of it you, Lee and Chip will have to take care of," Angie answered taking a sip of wine. "Janet your desk isn't much better."

"We figured we would have a lot to catch up on," Chip said frankly taking swig of his beer.

((()))

Since Lee and Janet were the only ones not injured they took care of getting all the food ready. Lee started the barbecue so he could cook the hamburgers and hot dogs. Janet went into the house with Kowalski who helped her bring out the plates, napkins, silverware, buns, condiments and salads the admiral had Sally prepare. They set everything up on the table near the grill. When the hamburgers and hot dogs were finished, Lee put them on a serving plate. They all helped themselves to the food and sat down as they listened to the rest of the vacation stories. When they finished eating, Lee and Janet with the help of Riley, cleaned up the plates and put the food away. Lee brought out another case of beer and another bottle of wine for all of them.

After a few minutes the admiral stood up and proposed a toast with his good hand, "We want to thank those who stayed behind and took care of the repairs to Seaview and to Angie and Wanda who kept the institute running while we were away."

"Thank you," Lee, Chip and Janet told all of them as they raised their glasses.

If Lee and Janet wanted to take another vacation, someone would have to go with them if the admiral wanted his Captain back in one piece along with his wife so still standing he had a question for all of them.

"Now I'm looking for volunteers to go on Lee and Janet's next vacation. Any takers?" the admiral chortled.

No one volunteered to accompany them on their next vacation until finally Jamie spoke up.

"I'll go again with them on vacation," Jamie volunteered grinning, "but I might have to pack few more medical supplies."

"I'll be a 'Crane sitter'," Chip stated smiling at Lee and Janet.

Not wanting to be left out Harry said, "Count me in too."

The rest of them breathed a sigh of relief. None of them had a problem spending time with the skipper and his wife but going on vacation with them would be a whole different story especially after what happened on this one. Lee and Janet looked at each other and then at their 'Crane sitters'.

With a huge grin on his face Lee told them, "You three are sure gluttons for punishment but you can all relax we aren't planning any more vacations in the near future."

"Thank goodness," Chip mumbled and only Sharkey heard it. He sat there with a huge smile on his face as he took a swig of his beer.

Janet, Wanda and Angie went in the house to bring out the desserts and coffee. Wanda made a cheesecake while Angie brought a chocolate cake. It was early evening and starting to cool off, so the admiral asked Patterson to make a fire in the fire pit on his patio. Everyone sat around the fire eating their desserts and drinking coffee. The coffee must have tasted good as Janet had to make another pot. They were enjoying each other company so they continued to talk about the repairs and the vacation. It was 2200 hours when they said their good byes and thanked the admiral for a nice time. They all left leaving only Chip, Jamie, Lee and Janet still there. Janet had gone into the kitchen to finish cleaning up the dessert dishes and coffee cups while the men sat outside.

"Harry, thank you for a wonderful afternoon," Jamie said. "I had a great time."

"Thank you sir," Chip added putting the last chocolate chip cookie in his mouth.

"Yes, admiral we had a nice afternoon and thank you for throwing the barbecue. The crew, Wanda and Angie earned this party," Lee remarked as Janet came out of the house.

"All cleaned up," she told the admiral, "Sally won't even know we were here."

"Thanks for all your help," he replied smiling at her.

"Sir," Lee said softly.

"Yes Lee," the admiral answered looking at Lee raising his eye brows.

"None of you need to go on vacation with us if you don't want too. I wouldn't blame you if you never went with us again. I don't think we'll ever attempt another vacation."

"How about we worry about that when the time comes," the admiral said as he patted him on the shoulder.

"Good night Harry," Jamie said, "See you and Chip tomorrow to check on your injuries around 0900."

Groaning Chip replied, "Yes Jamie."

Chip, Lee and Janet said good bye to the admiral and Jamie. Janet gave the admiral a kiss on the cheek before leaving.

"I had a wonderful time. Thank you sir."

Janet grabbed her camera and her empty plates as they left the patio and walked to the car. Lee took the keys out of his pocket, unlocked the car and held the door for Janet. She hopped in the back while Chip got in the front. They drove to Chip's house.

"We'll pick you up tomorrow at 0700 for work," Lee told Chip as he was getting out of the car.

"Okay, see you tomorrow," he told them as he limped into the house.

Lee and Janet parked the car in the driveway and went in the house. Janet left the camera on the chair in the living room. It was cool outside and still early enough so Lee made a fire. They cuddled next to each other watching the flames.

"I can't believe the admiral, Jamie and Chip would go again on vacation with us," Janet said truthfully.

"I was surprised too, but I'm not ready for another vacation. How about you?"

"No home is just fine with me. I don't want to take advantage of the 'Crane sitters'".

They sat on the couch for a little while longer watching the fire die out before going up to bed. Janet went upstairs while Lee made sure everything was locked up. He took the camera with him when he went upstairs.

"I have a ton of pictures to download after work tomorrow," Janet said yawning.

After she climbed in bed and got settled Lee snapped a picture of her catching her by surprise.

"Lee, why did you take a picture of me? I don't have any makeup on and my hair is a mess," Janet complained.

"Because I can," he smirked as he put the camera down on the chair and climbed in bed with her.

The End.