Crane Residence

Lee opened his eyes to the sun streaming in his bedroom window. He picked up his watch from the bedside table and noticed it was 6am. He was usually getting ready for work by now but today he savoured the extra time he had been in bed. In the past few days he had barely slept and it had caught up with him when he got home last night from the hospital. However he would now have to make a move to report to the office. After taking a shower he put on his uniform and headed towards the hospital to visit Chip before starting work.

Medbay – 7:30 AM

Lynsey had woken up around 6am and decided that since Chip was still asleep she would head home, shower and collect a few more things. She had been back almost half an hour and was now sitting waiting on her husband to wake up.

The duty nurse had been by to check his vitals and recorded them on his chart. As she waited she had called Chips parents to update them on the situation. Naturally they were very distressed to learn of their son's condition and were going to fly over from New York within the next few days. Lynsey was deep in thought when she felt Chips hand move beneath hers. She looked up and noticed he was restless. He shifted around in the bed for a few seconds then he slowly opened his eyes. She could see him trying to process his surroundings then he lay his eyes on her. She smiled and he smiled back at her.

"Morning beautiful" He croaked

"Hi there. How do you feel?" She asked moving to fetch him a glass of water.

He didn't get a chance to reply as he started to cough. Although the drain was out and the pneumonia had improved slightly with the antibiotics, Chip still wheezed heavily. The coughing subsided and Chip tried to catch his breath whilst holding his side from the pain the drain had caused him.

"I'm good" He managed

"You're not a very good liar Chip" She laughed. She offered him a sip of cool water.

"I know" He coughed again taking the water. He hands were a little shaky and Lynsey steadied the glass for him.

"Good morning Chip. How are we today?" asked Jamie as he came into the Morton's room for now

"I'm better than I was Doc"

"Glad to hear it. The nurse tells me you had a peaceful night. Let's hope we can have a few more like that to help with your recovery"

"About that Doc, any chance of springing from here?"

"I'm afraid not Chip. I know you want to go home and not rest and return to work but it's not going to happen before Friday."

"It was worth a shot I guess" Chip said rather dejectedly

"How is he doing Jamie?" Lynsey asked placing the glass of water down for Chip

"He's is doing better. He is still weak and he is going to need plenty of rest but we are going to repeat his chest x ray this morning and get him up and moving too. First we need you to eat something. How about some breakfast?" Jamie asked

Chip was not in the mood for food "I don't think so Jamie. I have no appetite" Chip replied

"I'm not surprised. The medication we have you on has that as a side effect I'm afraid"

"How about some ginger ale and crackers? Just a little?" Lynsey tried her best to persuade Chip to eat. That was something she nor anyone else for that matter had ever needed to do.

"Ok honey, I'll try" Chip said. Although he didn't want to eat anything right now he didn't want Lynsey to worry further.

"I know its hard Chip but you need to try and eat. It will help replace the weight you have lost but it will boost your energy levels. That will help with your recovery"

"I'll try Doc. Lyns makes a better case than you though just so you know that"

"No doubt about it" Jamie replied.

Lynsey could see Chip was starting to tire. Jamie said he would be back to check on him later when he had had his x ray. Lynsey made her way to the cafeteria to fetch the ginger ale and crackers but doubted that Chip would stay awake long enough for her to return. When she got to the elevator she bumped into Lee in his dressed blue uniform and looking more relaxed than last night.

"Good morning Lynsey. How's Chip? Any change? How are you?" He almost knocked Lynsey over with his string of questions

"Morning Lee it's good to see you looking a bit more rested. He is fine. If you hurry you might catch him before he falls asleep. I'm just going to get some things from the cafeteria. Would you like a coffee?"

"That would be fantastic thank you" he calmed a little more knowing Chip was ok. Lynsey too - they got on rather well with one another.

Lee made his way down the corridor towards his XOs room. He didn't quite manage to get to him as Lynsey predicted he was spark out. He pulled up a chair and waited for Lynsey to return. He listened to Chip as he slept still hearing the terrible wheezing but it was music to his ears. That awful moment on Seaview when he realised his best friend had stopped breathing was one if not the most frightening things he ever had to suffer.

Lynsey returned a few minutes and spotted that Chip was asleep. They chatted for a bit before Lee had to leave for work. He kissed her goodbye saying he would return after duty tonight and made his way to Jamie's office.

"Knock knock"

"Lee..good to see you. What can I do for you?"

"I just came by to see Chip. I didn't quite get here before he fell asleep"

"Yes that's going to be just about his only task over the coming days. He is still very weak"

Jamie could see that Lee was worried. He was agitated, anxious and he looked tired. It had been a stressful few days for the Captain but he had handled it as he did everything else - calmly and controlled.

"Something you want to ask Lee?"

"As his CO I should be asking you when he will return to full duty.." Lee stopped

"But"...Jamie asked

"Really as his friend I want to know will he be able to return to full duty?" Lee didn't want to ask the question but he knew that he needed to know.

" I won't lie that he has a way to go to get there and obviously he will need to undergo a physical and fitness test"

"Any permanent damage? To the lungs I mean?" Lee was asking as he knew being fit for full duty meant being able to dive. He wanted to know if the after effects of pneumonia could cause an issue for his return to duty

"There may be some scarring on the lungs caused by the pneumonia but we won't know until he has finished the antibiotics and had several more x rays. In saying that, he is a fit and normally healthy young man and I can't see anything stopping him from being fit to serve"

"4-6 weeks recovery time you think?" Lee asked

"I would play safe and assume six. I am curious Lee..The day before Chip was taken ill"

"What about it?"

"Did he seem ok to you? I mean did he show any signs of flu or not being himself?"

"During the day no but the night before I had stopped by his cabin around 8 but he was asleep. I just assumed he needed the rest"

"I see" Jamie said

"Is there any reason why you are asking Doc?" Lee inquired

"Not really. I asked Lynsey if Chip had been unwell before he left for the mission and she said that everything was fine. I just wonder why this took hold so quickly"

"I've wondered the same thing. The day he took ill first thing...he was not himself . I wouldn't say struggling to get out of bed but definitely fatigued...a little off colour perhaps" Lee explained

"Hmm sounds like the beginning of it all. It has obviously been a violent strain of virus and if he has been run down it could have accelerated everything" Jamie concluded

"Well it has been full on the last few months with the wedding and we have been at sea a lot" Lee looked at his watch and realised he really should be going.

"Thanks Doc I better be going. I'll catch you later". Lee left the Docs office reassured that normal service for the XO would be resumed shortly.