Relief

Something was there. Was there? Nelson squinted and rubbed his eyes and returned them to the periscope. Yes, something tiny and light coloured against the green of the foliage. He could swear it hadn't been there an hour ago. Couldn't he? It had to be Lee's signal. It had to be. It was so small, so insubstantial, so fragile, like the life of a man but it kindled hope. He squinted and blinked, willing it to be the signal. He couldn't see it. He blinked again.

"Chief!"

"Sir."

"Take a look. Do you see anything?"

The Chief and the Admiral had been taking turns haunting the periscope island for hours now.

Sharkey scrambled up the steps grabbed the handles and fitted his eyes to the eyepiece. He checked along the beach coming to a halt at the scrap of white. He pulled back, rubbed his eyes and leaned into the periscope again. "I'm not sure, sir but maybe. It's really hard to tell but I think so." He voice was gradually rising in expectant hope. He sure knew how worried the Admiral was. "Hey, sir! Yes! There it moved in the breeze!" Did it? Was it just shadows of the moving leaves? He paused hesitating. "I think."

Nelson reached for the handles again as Sharkey relinquished them. Yes. Something was there. He looked at his watch. There was still an hour or so to wait for the tide but for the first time in hours he could breathe.

He ran following Sharkey who knew the exact spot to look in the gathering dusk. Sharkey stopped abruptly when he saw the Skipper. Nelson nearly ran into his back. Crane was there lying limply in a heap with his arm tangled in the strap of a backpack. Nelson moved around the Chief with his heart in his throat. Was Lee alive?

He fell to his knees a couple of feet away; they all knew to be cautious around the Skipper on a mission such as this. Was he breathing? It was hard to tell in the deeper darkness of the rocky niche.

"Lee." Nelson spoke carefully trying to gentle all his own urgency and fear out of his voice. "Lee."

Crane woke with a start and was on his knees in a flash tugging back and away dragging the pack back with him in a panicked awakening. His hand anchored to the pack slid out in the blink of an eye, and both hands rose ready to attack and defend.

"Lee, it's Nelson." The Admiral kept his voice the epitome of calmness.

Terror flared in the clouded amber eyes, panic tightened the features of his face. "Nelson! No!"

Nelson's heart cringed at the fear he saw. Knew why it was there. He leaned back to give Lee time, ready to get up and back right away to give him space if necessary. He'd had to do it before, while Lee faced and resolved it, but it always hurt his heart when he saw that sudden terror of him in Crane's eyes.

Before the Admiral could back off further Crane suddenly blinked several times rapidly, sagged, his hands dropping abruptly to his knees as he forcefully released the hastily indrawn breath. His eyes cleared.

Nelson's stricken heart started beating again.

"I'm sorry, sir. I … " Crane's head dropped as his hand came up to rub over his curly head in a familiar movement. "I was a bit startled. I'm sorry." His eyes rose to meet the Admiral's, "Thanks for coming for me, sir."

"Always, Lee." Nelson's rich voice was soothing, calming.

At that the Skipper's eyes lit up with relief and the warmth of friendship. The Admiral didn't need to say anything more. The two men had a knack for telling each other how important their friendship was without using many words at all. Krueger still raised his phantom head at times, haunting them with fear and guilt. When that happened they intentionally chose to put that ghost to rest. Offering mutual reassurance and support like brothers united in solidarity against the nameless terrors under the bed.

"Are you hurt, Lee?" Nelson found he was holding his breath awaiting Lee's answer.

"I'm okay, sir. Tired. Stiff and sore." His whole body looked wilted. "Kind of weak, sir."

Nelson glanced over at Sharkey. They had both been waiting for the word 'fine'. If Crane had said 'fine' they would assume he was hurt enough to need medical attention immediately. It wasn't a hard and fast rule but if Crane was hurt his instinctive response was to say he was fine. He swore he didn't do it on purpose it just happened. This time he'd said 'okay'. Nelson and Sharkey's eyes met and they smiled fleetingly in silent relief.

"Admiral how's Chip?" Nelson recognised the timbre occasionally heard in Crane's voice that meant he wasn't necessarily ready to face the answer but personal concern and duty dictated that he needed to know. Hearing that question he felt a surge of pride, he had chosen more than a good captain, he had chosen the best.

"Doc's treating him, Lee. He lost a lot of blood. It seems it was touch and go for a bit but he'll pull through. He's in good hands."

Crane's sigh of relief seemed to come all the way from his boots. "Right. And Kowalski?"

"Not much more than the sprained ankle. He'll be back to restricted duty in a few days and good as new before long."

Crane nodded silently; glad for Ski but still worried about Chip.

Nelson wordlessly unscrewed the top on a canteen of water and handed it to him. Crane drank gratefully then handed it back too tired to even put the lid on himself. Nelson's heart went out to the exhausted man kneeling there, slumped in overwhelming fatigue and temporarily stifled the irritation he felt at him for putting himself into the position to be so depleted and spent.

Nelson capped the canteen and hooked it onto his belt. "Well, let's see about getting you home then so you can check on them yourself."

Nelson stood and reached forward to clasp Crane's hand to help him up but before he was ready to get up Crane had a question. "Chief, would you happen to have one of those candies in your pocket? I could sure use one if you do."

Sharkey could see his Skipper's shoulders were drooping in exhaustion. The Chief broke into a huge grin. He was thrilled to help. "I sure do Skipper." He reached a hand into his pocket and extended it with a candy as happy as if he were receiving a treat not giving it. Nelson had a fleeting thought of a puppy wagging its tail as he fondly watched the Chief hand over the candy.

"Thanks, Chief." The Skipper smiled at him tiredly, fumbled with the wrapper, and finally got the sweet drop into his still parched mouth. The Chief reached forward to take the wrapper and return it to his own pocket.

Crane braced his hands on his knees, then tried to rock back and up to his feet but faltered with a light groan. Nelson extended his hand and the Skipper got creakily to his feet with that help and smiled ruefully, "I really can hardly move, sir. Legs are kind of tired. Chip's really heavy. Did you know?" He swayed, drained and bone-weary.

Nelson draped Lee's arm over his shoulder lending his support to Lee's struggling steps as Sharkey shouldered the pack. Walking slowly and haltingly they turned toward the rubber dingy, and Seaview, and home.