Nelsons Office

"Angie I need you to call Chips wife please. I need to speak to her it's urgent"

"Yes Admiral" Angie immediately accessed Chips personnel file and dialled the number the Admiral had requested.

After Nelson had heard from Lee he needed to update Lynsey. He stood by his office window and watched the storm rage along the sea front. He wasn't sure if Lee's plan was going to work but they had to try.

Angie broke his train of thought as she came into his office "I have Lynsey on the phone Sir"

Nelson made his way across to his desk and picked up the phone. "Hello Lynsey? I have an update for you. There has been a slight change of plan"

Morton Residence

After the Admiral had called, Lynsey had all the details spinning in her head along with a lot of questions and a lot of what ifs.

She decided she needed to snap out of questioning things she couldn't control. First thing that was for certain was that Chip was going to be spending some time in med bay. He was going to need things – pyjamas, shaving kit, clean clothes. She went upstairs to their bedroom and grabbed a small suitcase and started to pack the items on the list in her head.

She decided against calling Chips parents until she knew more. Today was her day off from work and she would need time off once Chip was admitted. She finished packing the case grabbing the last of Chips shaving kit from the bathroom. She got her jacket and purse from the closet and fetched the car keys from the hook holder in the kitchen. She opened the front door to a gale force wind that almost swept her back inside. She ran to the car and placed the suitcase in the trunk and left for the hospital to arrange her leave and wait for Chip to arrive.

Seaview

Jamie was keeping close watch on Chip as he waited for Lee to return. Chips fever stayed at a steady 100.1 despite the IV antibiotics, cold wash cloth the ice pack and the fan. The good news was that Jamie had taken pressure off his lungs by intubating him. He replaced the empty IV bag with a new saline bag and administered his dose of antibiotics.

Lee came back to Sickbay and updated Jamie on his course of action briefly before going back to the control room. Jamie was exhausted. He had spent most of the night tending to Chip and he was getting to the stage of requiring sleep. He took his stethoscope and placed it on the side table before making his way over to a bunk where he lay down and closed his eyes.

Control Room – 1pm

Lee stood at the table tapping his pencil on the table. It had been over an hour since he spoke to the Chief and his crew regarding the flying sub. His anxiety level was rising the longer he had to wait.

As he lifted the mic to contact Sharkey, he came into the control room closely followed by Patterson and Kowalski and a team from engineering.

"We have a plan Sir. What do you think?"

Lee studied the plans and the men really had stepped up to the mark.

"Excellent Chief. How long till the adjustments are made?"

"Should be completed within the hour Sir"

"Then hop to it. Every spare set of hands we can fit into the flying sub"

"Aye aye Sir. OK men you heard the captain lets get this done on the double"

The team gathered their equipment and made their way to the flying sub and began their work.

Seaview

"CAPTAIN!" Sharkey yelled from the Flying sub hatch

"Are you finished?!"Lee asked anxiously

"Yes Sir. Tell Doc it's a go"

Lee ran the length of the control room and made his way aft to Sickbay. He opened the door and found Jamie asleep. He gently shook him awake.

"Jamie? We are ready to go. Make preparations to move Mr Morton"

"On the double Captain" Jamie struggled to get out of the bunk as he was a bit disorientated from being asleep.

Lee walked over to Chip and leaned in towards his ear "We are getting you home bud. Lynseys waiting". He grabbed his shoulder with a reassuring grip and hoped that Chip could hear him.

Jamie gathered extra bags of saline, antibiotics and pain relief along with a few other pieces of medical equipment he may need on the journey back to Santa Barbara. Kowalski and Sharkey arrived with a stretcher to transport Chip to the flying sub.

Jamie supervised the stretcher party "Ok men – gently as possible. Chief? Try and lift from the shoulders whilst supporting his head. Be very careful of the tube. Ski – support the legs" Lee grabbed the IV bag so as it would get tangled up when they moved him.

"Ok Ski on three….1,2,3" Chief counted

They carefully lifted Chip from the bunk to the stretcher and lay him down. Jamie checked the position of his tube and IV before lifting a blanket over him.

"Ok - GO!" Jamie yelled with almost excitement in his voice but in reality it was relief.

They managed to manoeuvre the XO onto the adjusted Flying Sub. As Jamie got Chip settled, Sharkey prepared FS1 for launch. Lee stood back to let Jamie work. In a way he didn't want his friend to leave the ship but knew it was for the best.

"Sir we are ready to go" Sharkey said

"Ready Doc?" Lee asked

"As we will ever be" Jamie replied

"Very well. I'll radio ahead to warn the Admiral"

"Before you go Lee, I noted Chips vitals and medical treatment down" Jamie handed Lee a sheet of paper with the details

"Ok Doc. I'll pass this along"

Kowalski and the Captain made their way back up to the control room and closed the hatch. They felt the flying sub launch as they stood in the nose of the ship. Lee watched as they left his sight line.

"He'll be ok Sir. Back on his feet before you know it" Ski said.

"Fingers crossed Ski"

Lee left the observation nose and made his way to contact the institute. He informed them that the medical transfer had left and passed along the details doc had given him. He gave them an estimated time of arrival and the waiting began.