“Brent, if I know Lee he should be on his way to your location in that red car of his, you should have no problem recognizing it. Just make sure you give him the Ativan. I want him controllable and remember I want him otherwise unharmed.” Julie warned remembering what had happened the last time she had sent men after her beloved Captain.
“I’ll bring him to you as soon as we have him.” Brent Williams told her. He had two of his most trustworthy men, Frank Jarvis and Steven Drake helping him. They were waiting at the lights just outside the Institute and couldn’t help seeing Crane’s car pull up.
Crane saw the light at the deserted corner turn red and he screeched to a stop. Looking around, he wanted to run the light, but even as fearful for Morton and Nelson that he was, he couldn’t do it. So waiting impatiently, he tapped his hand against the steering wheel. He was startled when a man stumbled in front of his car and fell to the ground. Lee jumped out of the car and came around to the front. Bending down, he moved to help the man, and stopped short when the man turned over pointing a gun at him.
Grinning malevolently, Williams said to Lee, “Don’t try anything, Captain Crane. My men are holding guns on you as we speak. Now slowly stand up and walk towards the alley.” Crane could see no way out of the situation he was in and so did as he was told. Standing up he had a good look at the man holding the gun.
“Don’t I know you? Aren’t you Williams, one of the mercenaries who helped Admiral Nelson?”
“Am I Captain? I guess you’ll have to figure that out for yourself, now let’s go.”
“Is she with you?” Crane asked softly as he was shoved into the back of a van.
“Is who with me,” Williams asked him, motioning for Crane to turn around.
“Julie Parsons-Radcliff. You do work for her. She’s crazy you know.” Crane said as he felt ropes cutting into his wrists, binding his hands tightly behind his back.
“Yeah, you’re probably right about that, but she is great in bed.” Holding a large white pill in front of Crane, Williams said, “Take this Captain.”
Lee shook his head to the negative, tightly compressing his lips. “Jarvis, Drake give me a hand here! Hold his head back and force him to open his mouth.” He fought them as much as he could but was soon forced to the floor. One of his captors held his nose closed, forcing him to open his mouth to breathe. The tablet was shoved to the back of his throat. Williams forced water into his mouth and it was either choke or swallow. His instinctive reaction was to swallow. “Very good Captain, now just relax.” Lee Crane felt the hopelessness of his own situation, but still found his thoughts turning to Nelson and Morton, ‘Chip! Admiral! Are you dead or alive? Will I be alive long enough to find out?’
Sharkey drove as close to the fire as he could before the police stopped him, “Sorry sir, but this is as close as you can go. The fire is still pretty hot.”
“Officer, I work at NIMR. Has Captain Crane arrived yet?”
“You’re the first one from the Institute to arrive. Maybe you should come with me. We have two men here who seem to be from the Institute.”
“Who are they? Are they ok?” Sharkey asked the two questions quickly.
“I don’t know any details. Come with me. I’ll take you to Detective Bartlett.” The officer lifted the police tape just far enough for Sharkey to slip under and he walked over to the detective, “Sir, this man works for the Institute. I thought you would want to talk to him.”
Bartlett looked at the dark haired man before him, “Chief Sharkey, isn’t it.”
“Yes sir, have you seen Captain Crane?”
“Crane? No, can’t say I have. We do however have two men from the Institute here. We’re trying to rescue them now.”
“What men?” Sharkey asked in concern.
“Admiral Nelson and Commander Morton were on the pier when it exploded. They are trapped under debris and rescue workers are doing their best to cut them loose.”
“Are they ok? Can I go to them?”
“Come with me,” Bartlett told Sharkey and started towards a crowd of workers at the end of the pier.
“Morton is awake and seems to have only minor injuries. His legs are trapped under a piece of steel, but he can move them. Admiral Nelson is still unconscious and was bleeding from a gash on his head. He was almost free when I last checked. That’s all I can tell you right now.”
Sharkey could see a man being lifted unto a stretcher and recognized the face of Admiral Nelson even under the dirt and ashes. As Nelson was placed in a waiting ambulance Sharkey asked the medic how he was. “His injuries are serious and we’re taking him to Santa Barbara General.”
“Look, his doctor is at the Institute Medical Centre. I think you should take him there. They know him best.”
“I’ll check with dispatch and if they give the ‘ok’ we’ll do that. Same for the other guy I suppose.” He said as he climbed in the back of the ambulance and closed the doors.
Sharkey walked over to where the rescuers were still trying to free Morton, who seemed wide-awake and lucid.
“Chief, where’s Lee?”
“Not sure sir, he left before me.”
“Find him Chief, I have a bad feeling about this.” Morton said.
“Me too, Mr. Morton, me too. I’m going to backtrack to the Institute and see if his car is anywhere along the way. They should be taking the Admiral and you there. I’ll notify Doctor Jamison and Cdr. Weaver as well.”
“Make sure Matty knows I’m ok, Chief.” Chip ordered. He was concerned that Matty would hear the wrong news, and be unnecessarily upset.
“What are you two talking about?” Bartlett asked.
“Captain Crane was on his way here and never showed.” Sharkey told him, his concern for his Captain mirrored in his downtrodden expression
“Are you sure he was coming here?” Bartlett asked Sharkey.
“Well he took off without saying where he was going, but, once he saw the explosion, he was headed in this direction, and since this was no accident...” he let the rest trail off unsaid.
“Are you saying it was a diversion of some kind to get at Crane?” the detective questioned.
“Yes, and I’m pretty sure I know who set it up. Pick up a mercenary by the name of Brent Williams. Admiral Nelson got a note from him asking us to meet him here.” Morton said as he was pulled from under the debris, and placed on a stretcher.
“Hold on a minute.” He told the attendants. “Frank, I think he is working for Julie. You have to find him.” Morton’s voice was filled with concern for his friend.
“Well,” the detective said as he was handed a slip of paper from a police officer, “you’re right about this being a set up. We found evidence of a bomb. You and Nelson are lucky to be alive. Now let these men get you to the hospital and I’ll check out your information.”
Crane felt as if they’d been driving for hours. His arms were stiff and he was finding it hard to breathe through the rag in his mouth. He was beginning to find it hard to think clearly. Still all he could think of was his friends. ‘Please let them be ok!’
The van pulled to a stop and he was dragged out. ‘Have to memorize details’ he thought, fuzzily, as they walked into a dark alleyway and up to a steel door. He shook his head, attempting to clear it. ‘Details!!! I have to remember details!!’ He was beginning to feel light headed. The building had four floors with boards covering the windows on the lower level. From what little he could make out it was ready for demolition.
As the door swung open rats scurried away from what little area the flashlight illuminated. Lee shuddered, remembering childhood taunts, ‘God I hate rats,’ he thought. Once inside the building Williams seemed to relax a little and removed the gag. Lee gulped in a deep breath of the stale air, feeling dizzy and even more disoriented. “What now?” he asked, his voice harsh, his mouth dry from the gag.
“Well, your bride to be is waiting for you.” Williams said with a sly laugh. “Although why she’s so obsessed with you when she can have me, I’ll never know.”
“Hey,” he found his words slurring ever so slightly, “Believe me if you want her, she’s all yours. Just let me go.”
“I don’t think it’s a good idea to double cross this lady. I hear she’s already killed her first husband and a few others because of you. I don’t want to be the next person she puts in an early grave, especially when I can be in her bed instead.” Jarvis and Drake laughed at Williams’s snide remark. “Follow Jarvis and Drake. Remember I’m right behind you.”
Once again Lee desperately tried to pay attention to where he was being taken. They turned right at a corner and started down a long narrow staircase. There was light at the bottom but it seemed rather dull.
“Go ahead, Captain, look around by all means. You won’t be getting out of here for a long time. She really does love you.”
“Her kind of love I can do without.” Crane adamantly told Williams.
“Too bad. I think you’re in for a rough time with that attitude. Take my advice, try and make her think you have feelings for her. It’ll go easier on you. Here we are.” He knocked on the door. It didn’t take long for it to open and Lee Crane stared at the woman in front of him, at first mistakenly thinking it wasn’t Julie. Then she started to speak. He shook his head again, trying to think clearly, but the thought escaped him…
“Darling, you’re home.” She cried happily wrapping her arms around him. “I’ve missed you so,” she said as he was shoved through the door. Her voice changed as she started to give orders to Williams and his men. “Strip him of his uniform, and dress him in these...” She threw a pair of Levi’s and a t-shirt at Williams. “When that’s done, put these on him.” She picked up a set of leg irons and wrist manacles.
“Don’t do this Julie,” Crane said softly.
“I wouldn’t have to, if you would only admit you love me as I do you. Do it Brent, and then hook the chain to his leg irons.” She turned her back on the Seaview’s Captain as Williams and his men roughly carried out her orders on an increasingly docile Lee Crane.
“Look Chip. Give it up right now. I want to find Lee as badly as you do, but you need to rest. The Admiral needs my attention right now and I don’t want to have to worry about you trying to leave on your own.” Will Jamison told his reluctant patient as he checked his IV line.
“I can’t help him, Jamie, but I might be able to help Lee. You said yourself that my legs are fine. Just a bit of bruising and except for some other minor injuries, and you did say minor injuries,” Jamie nodded. “ If I’m fine, I need to be out there actively looking for Lee. Come on Jamie give me a break.”
For a few seconds Chip thought he was going to win another round, until he heard an authoritative voice at the door. “You’re not going anywhere, Sailor. Will knows what is best, and you know that better than most!” Matty Weaver Morton stated as she came in.
Chip found the weight of his eyelids growing heavier and heavier, but he fought it, to look at his wife. “Matty!” His hand reached out for her, and she grasped his hand and squeezed it. He squeezed hers in return, and then said, softly, to Jamison, as he gave into the pull of the sedative that the doctor had given him “Jamie, one of these days some one’s going to give you a sedative and stop you from arguing with them.”
“What’s wrong with him Jamie,” Matty asked worriedly holding her husbands hand.
“Nothing, Matty. He’s surprisingly unscathed. I didn’t know how long you were going to be and I wanted to make sure he didn’t leave before you arrived. I slipped him a sedative. He’ll sleep for a couple of hours.”
“What about his legs?” she was apprehensive about Jamison’s reply. Chip’s recovery from the beating by Gamma’s sergeant had been a long and arduous one, to recover the use of his legs. Her fear was that he would have to go through that all over again.
“X-rays are all negative. He was lucky the steel was resting on another piece of metal and not his legs. I’ll have Dr. Wilkes look at the X-rays just to make sure and if everything’s ok I’ll release him to you tomorrow.”
“Thanks, Jamie. How’s Admiral Nelson?”
“Still unconscious. I’m going to check on him now. Dr. Wilkes is going to be working on his case as well. I’ll talk to you when I get back,” he said leaving her alone with her husband.
Matty bent over, and kissed her husband’s forehead and lovingly caressed his cheek. She pulled a chair up next to the bed, and settled in for a vigil that, this time, would be short….
He walked into Nelson’s room, to find him still unconscious. Head injuries always worried Jamie. Four hours had passed since the Admiral had been brought in and there was still no sign of Nelson coming out of it. He walked over to Joan Harris, head nurse at the Institute for as long as Jamie could remember. “Any changes Joan?”
“None Jamie. Dr. Wilkes was here and he ordered a CAT scan and an EEG. We’re just waiting for an orderly to bring him down.”
Gerard Wilkes was the best Neurologist in the city as far as Jamie was concerned. His bedside manor was lousy but the man knew what to look for. “Where is Dr. Wilkes now?”
“He said he had to check on another patient. You know Dr Wilkes he never waits around for the attending physician.” She said sarcastically.
“Watch what you say Joan, don’t let anyone else hear your opinion. You’re the best nurse we have and I don’t want to lose you.” Jamie said seriously.
“I keep my opinions to myself unless I’m talking to someone I trust.” She winked at Jamie as two orderlies came into the room to take Nelson for his tests.
“He’s all changed and trussed up for you Julie.” Williams gloated. “Ready and waiting for his lady love!!! Jarvis will get rid of his clothing, and the drug is fully effective. He’s just confused enough… he was looking at the irons like he should know something about them, but he couldn’t remember…Just remember you only give it to him once a day. Any more could be dangerous. I did as you asked and told her you were our prisoner as well.” Williams said signalling for Jarvis and Drake to make themselves scarce.
“Thank you Brent. I can handle him from here.” She said coldly, anxious to be rid of the demanding mercenary, so she could get to Lee.
“First things first, honey. You know what I want,” he said as he closed the door to Crane’s cell.
Lee sat on the mattress. Stripped of his uniform, wearing the old Levi’s and t-shirt, he looked a different man. The chains to the manacles ran behind his back, leaving little play in them, whatever way he moved. They were also connected to the irons on his ankles, allowing him to stand, if he was able, but impeding his ability to move much more than that. ‘ What WAS the drug they had forced on him?’ He’d never felt so totally out of control of his emotions, so unable to think and function coherently. He was a grown man, being held in chains because he didn’t return the affections of a crazy woman. He shook his head, trying, yet again, to pull coherent thoughts together and finding it too difficult. He looked abstractedly at his wrists, and the heavy shackles. ‘I should be able to get out of these… out of here!! What is wrong with me???’
He could hear the sounds coming from the other room. It was unmistakable. Were their captors forcing her into having sex? ‘Williams told me that we were prisoners, yet she comes and goes unrestricted ….She’s…crazy… Obsessed!!! Why doesn’t she just turn her obsession to Williams?’ he thought, mournfully. ‘Maybe I can use this for my own benefit. I just have to figure out how.’ He tried to ignore what was happening in the next room but it was impossible. His mind remained a jumble of unconnected thoughts.
His mind began to wander anew as the drug continued to affect him. Suddenly he found himself in the middle of, Robert’s last birthday party. Robert was blowing out the candles as his friends and extended family watched. They laughed happily at the little boy. Just as abruptly he found himself in the control room on Seaview, facing a gun in the hands of his best friend. ‘NO, ADMIRAL! PLEASE! NO!' The shot resonated through Seaview.
“Lee, darling, look at me.”
Blearily, he opened his eyes and looked into the face of his worst nightmare. “What are you doing here? You’re supposed to be at Oceanview.” He said, his voice a mere whisper.
“No, Lee, I’m here. I’ve worked so very hard to make you mine. And now you are… All mine!”
“I … I …just …can’t seem to think straight. Why… am I …here.” He gestured with his arm, and the shackles and chains clanked. He looked at them puzzled
“Because we belong together.” Julie said firmly.
“We do?” he asked.
“Yes, darling, I worked very hard to get rid of the people in our way and now there’s just you and me.” She smiled at him, a knowing smile… one that indicated no doubt as to her plans.
Lee shook his head trying to get rid of the cobwebs, which seemed to have surrounded his brain. For some reason, that he knew he should be aware of, he was having trouble focusing. “What did you do to me Julie? What did they force on me?”
“Just something to help you relax, my Darling” He shuddered at the false ring of the words…. ‘I don’t want you using your ONI skills to get away. We belong together and I mean to keep you. Here, if I have to. As long as it takes… I possess you… I own you…. I LOVE YOU!!!!! You must know by now that I do love you.”
“Your idea of love I can do without,” he told her in an unsteady voice.
“That will change soon. I will make you realize how much we love each other. Your friends are out of the way now.” In his mind’s eye, Lee could see an explosion. “Admiral Nelson and Chip?” He asked her; wary of the answer she would give him.
“Dead.” She answered his unspoken question. “I had to get them out of our way. My family is dead. I will never see my little Amy again and you will never see your Robert. I will leave your son alone, for now. Just remember I have ways to get to him.”
He shook his head vigorously, “Julie, If you have a shred of the love you say you have for me, LEAVE MY SON ALONE! You are a parent, too!!!”
“ONLY if you co-operate, and take your pills when I give them to you.”
“What pills?” He asked her, feeling once again, confused and dazed.
“You’ve been having headaches and the pills help the pain. Darling, don’t you remember?” She smiled at his confused state. “I’m going to lie down beside you now. We can get some sleep and talk tomorrow about our future.”
Unable to focus, he put his head down and wearily closed his eyes. ‘Why? Why is this happening? Maybe if I can sleep, I will understand better!”
Nelson could hear the voices and wished they’d be quiet. “Can’t you just leave me to die in peace?” He asked petulantly. He opened his eyes in time to see a nurse leaving the room.
“Hello, Admiral.” Jamison said. “How do you feel?”
“Lousy, Will. My head hurts. In fact, most of my body hurts. What happened?” he asked trying to focus his eyes.
“Tell me what you remember, Harry.” Jamison urged.
“Well, Chip and I were supposed to meet someone. I…. I can’t seem to remember whom. Some kind of explosion.” His thoughts suddenly cleared, and he tried to sit up. “Chip, is he all right?” he asked apprehensively.
“He’s fine, Harry, just fine… I released him this morning. Matty stayed with him through the night and they should be here any minute.”
“It was a set up, Jamie.” Nelson told the doctor, angrily.
“We know. Chip told Detective Bartlett about Williams and they’re looking for him.”
“Where’s Lee?” New fear crept onto Nelson’s countenance.
Chip and Matty entered the room before Jamie could tell him anything. “Matty knows more then I do. I’ll let her explain.”
“Admiral, You and Chip were meant to die last night.” Matty began, “ You don’t know how lucky you were. If the bomb had gone off while you were standing at the entrance we would have been arranging funerals today. .” Her voice caught on the words. “I think the bomb was a diversion to get you and Chip out of the way for good. I’ve been talking with Frank off and on all night. They found Lee’s car hidden in an alley. No sign of a struggle. Frank thinks he stopped at the light just off Institute grounds and was taken from there.” Matty told them, matter of factly.
“The first thing we have to do is find Williams. He sent us the message and arranged the meeting.” Nelson said, concern evident in his voice. “ How long have I been here and how long do they figure Lee’s been missing?” he demanded.
“You and Chip were brought in late yesterday. It’s 1330 hours now. We figure Lee has been missing for approximately eighteen hours.” Jamie told him. “Admiral, I know you’re worried about Lee, but, you’ve had a very serious concussion and I want you to rest. Chip and Matty are going to have to be your legs for at least another twenty- four hours. No arguments. Ask Chip what I’ll do if you try to leave.”
“Listen to him sir, I tried to argue and he put me out.” Chip said, wryly. “Besides Matty and I will be out there. We’ll do everything we can to find him. Lee’s a survivor.”
“I agree, Chip. He is a survivor but what you don’t know is that he still has nightmares about her. This can only make matters worse. Remember what she did to him the last time. Jamie, I’ll give you the twenty- four hours, if you agree to letting Chip or Matty see me whenever they want to.”
“I wouldn’t be able to keep them out if I tried. We know how much Lee means to you, to all of us, and we all want him back safely.”
Julie moved surreptitiously around the cell that she had Lee chained in. She ran her hands on his body, beginning to slowly, methodically remove his clothing. He shivered in his sleep, the sleep being a restless, haunted one…He was being haunted by his reality and his nightmares blending into one horrific experience. She kissed his forehead, his cheeks, and his neck. She did not want to undo his chains, so she tore at the t-shirt, and then tossed it aside.
‘I can’t believe we’re together, my darling. You don’t know how long I’ve waited to do this!
Looking at him, lying there, she smiled to herself…she ran her hands over his lean torso, stopping at the jeans. She pulled at the waist and began to ease the jeans down his legs. She had had Brent’s men discard his briefs, so that when she removed the jeans, he lay there naked. She replaced the leg irons, when she was finished.
Removing her own clothes, she lay down next to him. She was surprised at the warmth of his body. “Lee, can you hear me?”
He could feel what she was doing to him but could not understand why she had removed his clothes. ‘What’s the matter with me?’ he wondered. “I have to get out of here,” he murmured aloud.
Julie was calm, her hands roaming his body as she spoke to him. She knew how to handle this, “Lee, honey. What’s wrong?”
“I have to get out of here, away from you.” He said urgently, knowing something was not right, but not being able to remember just what…
“Why would you want to get away from me, we love each other.” She pulled him closer to her, revelling in the feel of his naked body against hers.
Lee shook his head and tried to pull away. “If we do, then why am I in chains?” he asked in a confused voice.
“There are men holding us prisoner, my darling.” She told him hoping he would believe her. The Ativan was working better then she could have hoped. His mind was truly confused, just as the drug promised.
“What men? Where are they?” he asked her, still confused by it all.
“They’re in the other room. We have to keep quiet or they’ll come in. We don’t want that. Just try and sleep for now. I’ll stay here with you.” She tried to snuggle closer but even in his confused state he pulled away.
‘How can I love this woman when all I feel is revulsion.’ He asked himself. ‘What’s wrong with me…. Admiral, where are you…. DEAD, you and Chip are dead!’ his mind was further blurred with grief for his friends. ‘JULIE… she killed you. But she says that she loves me… and that I love her!!!’ Shaking his head again he tried to reason things out in his mind, but his mind refused to clear… ‘No! I hate her!!…. Can’t think straight… maybe I’ll just rest for awhile. If I rest, I may be able to think more clearly. He closed his eyes and drifted into a fitful sleep.
Julie lay there next to Lee, holding him close to her. ‘I can’t believe I’m lying next to you. I have loved you from the beginning. That first night when we met at the pizza palace. The Prom when we danced. You held me close and told me we would be married when you came back from your first tour of duty. Why oh why did you have to enter the Navy. Father didn’t like that, but I showed him. He’s dead. Can’t stop me now’ She laughed. ‘I can have whatever I want. You’ll learn how easily I can adapt to any situation. I have to keep you drugged for some time yet. Oh well at least I can sleep with you.’ She sighed, tried to snuggle closer and closed her eyes.
Lee opened his eyes and looked at the woman lying next to him. She seemed to be sleeping. He just couldn’t figure out why he was so uncomfortable. His head hurt from trying to think through the events of the last hours. He didn’t even know how long he had been here.
Julie could feel his eyes on her. She stood without a word and went through the door to the other room. She returned with a glass of water and took what appeared to be a large drink. “Are you thirsty darling?” He nodded his head. She lifted the glass to his lips and let him drink his fill. She had changed her mind about giving it to him in pill form. ‘Too easy for you to hold it under your tongue. This way I can be sure.’ She was happy to see the glass was empty when he pulled away.
“Who are these people you keep telling me about?”
“Don’t you remember? They kidnapped us and killed your friends.” She told him cruelly.
“What friends? Who did they kill? Please tell me, Julie. I need to know.” He begged her.
“I’m sorry darling. Your friends Admiral Nelson and Chip Morton were killed in an explosion.” She told him.
"NO!!!!! You're wrong!" he shouted at her. He pulled against his chains in
frustration and anger. Sobs of sorrow wracked his body and she moved to hold
him close. He quieted once again, the drug continuing to control him.
"Get away. I don't want you to touch me. Leave me alone." He said in a
stronger voice. He pulled himself into a ball, lying down on the mattress and
falling into a fitful sleep. As he moved in his sleep, the chains on the
shackles and leg irons clinked. Julie left the cell with a slight smile on
her face. Lee Crane, you are all mine…you have nothing, can do nothing
without me, without my permission…I have to thank Brent for the Ativan. It is
working so well…if I give you more, then I can control you more… before I
kill Brent for what he makes me do, I have to get more of the drug… enough to
control you for a long time… I can give you as much as 5 pills a day without
it hurting you…. It's not fair…you should be the one who wants to use me
like that. It would make things so much easier. She looked at the sleeping
man on the mattress, and gloated again… ‘ You are MINE!!’
Chip and Matty walked dejectedly into Nelson’s office. One look at their faces told Nelson the news was not good, but he found himself asking the question anyway, “Anything Chip?”
“No sir. It’s like they’ve disappeared off the face of the earth. We went to William’s last known address. Then we checked his headquarters. Nothing. None of his men have seen him since the night Lee disappeared.” Chip told him in answer to his query.
“I just got off the phone with Frank. Forensics just finished going over Lee’s car. Lee was always so meticulous about keeping his car clean, and I thought they would find something there. They did find a few hair strands but they turned out to be Lees. I’ve even called in some favours at ONI, but I haven’t heard back from them.” Nelson told them.
“I’ve checked with my own contacts Sir, nobody has any information pertaining to Lee’s disappearance. They’ll let me know if they hear anything new.” Matty gave Nelson the bad news in a sad tone. Knowing that the longer their friend was missing the harder it was going to be to find him.
“In addition, every member of the crew is out walking the streets. They have a better chance of finding the Skipper then anyone else.”
“While that’s all true, Chip, I keep getting the feeling we’re going to be too late.”
“We won’t give up Sir, we’ll find him. Matty and I are co-ordinating all efforts. Sooner or later this madwoman has to show.”
“Hopefully it’ll be sooner rather than later. It’s not just the physical damage that she can do to Lee; it’s the mental and emotional damage… He was in a bad enough way to begin with….. Chip. Jamie still wants me to rest. I’m going to be here by the phone all day. If you hear anything let me know immediately.”
“I will sir. Chip, you are going to stay here with the Admiral. Will did say you have to rest those legs. There’s nothing else you can do right now. I’ll check with the men and report back here as soon as I’m done.”
“I’m fine Matty.”
“I’m sure that you believe that, my love… but Will and I know different. Both legs were bruised in that bombing. And there is only one way to make sure you don’t damage them further. That’s staying here with the Admiral, and resting. Sit down, Chip, or so help me, you’ll regret fighting me on this one. I love Lee Crane as a friend, but you’re my life. I will not have you endangering the use of your legs. In fact, medically speaking, I can take command of the boat and the men, and have the blessing of the CMO, if it keeps the two of you from anything that will endanger your health. “ Nelson looked at her with admiration in his eyes.
“Well put, Matty.” With a bit of lightness creeping into his voice, Nelson said to Chip with mock gravity, “Give it up, and sit down, Chip. You should never argue with a woman when her mind is made up. We’ll be here Matty.” Nelson said smiling for the first time since Lee had disappeared.
“ I’ll be back soon, sailor… and we’ll have a discussion!” Matty said, and kissed her stubborn husband leaving the two men alone.
“That’s one hell of a woman you have there, Chip. It’s no wonder that she and Karen get on so well! ” He chuckled.
“Tell me about it! I think I found someone even more stubborn then I am. I’m glad she’s on our side.”
“Oh God, yes. I’ll have Angie bring some coffee and sandwiches.” Nelson ordered the lunch and turned back to look at a face full of worry. “Chip, I know how close you and Lee are, but she’s right and you know it. Lee would not want you risking paralysis for him.”
“It’s just so damn frustrating.” Chip slammed his fist into the chair arm.
“I know. I feel the same way. He’ll be Ok.”
Lee Crane was feeling anything but okay. He was so confused; he didn’t know what was nightmare and what was reality. He didn’t know whether he was awake or dreaming. All he knew for sure was that he was wearing nothing, not even the jeans they’d put him in when he’d first arrived, manacles were on his wrists and ankles and he was in a cell of some sort, chained to a wall. He couldn’t remember why. ‘I should be able to get out of these. Any good ONI agent knows how to pick a lock. Why, oh why can’t I remember how to do this.’ He pulled sharply at the chains in frustration and anger, and they clanked loudly.
*****
‘He’s awake’ she thought as she heard the telltale sounds of movement from the other room. “Lee, darling, what’s wrong?” she called.
“I don’t know,” he cried out in frustration.
“It’s okay, honey. I’m here for you.” She called from the other room. She entered the room where the cell was, “ I’ll protect you. Here drink this.” Docilely, he took the glass and drank its contents. “That’s the way.” She smiled as he drank his third dose of the Ativan for that day. ‘I don’t know how you manage to fight the drug but, I’ll just increase it till I have you where I want you. Oh, Darling, we’ll be so good together.’ She watched him closely as the increased dosage of the drug quickly took hold.
“Dead, my best friends are dead,” he grieved, taking a deep breath, and allowing sobs of grief, and frustration to rack his body. She quickly took him in her arms.
“It’s ok, Darling, you still have me and we can have a wonderful life together.” She said gently.
“How can I even think about our life together when we’ll never get out of here. They’ll never let us go and I can’t remember how to get out of these stupid things. I’m no good to anyone.” He said testily.
“Don’t talk like that!” She said, suddenly angry. She slapped him across the face, and then kissed the place where she had struck him, attempting to draw him into a longer and more passionate kiss. “ I won’t let you put the man I love down. We’ll have a great life when we get out of here.”
He pushed her away. “We won’t get out of here.” He said with surprising conviction. “I can’t think about anything anymore. I’m so confused I don’t even remember who I am half the time. What are they doing to me? Why don’t you stop them if you love me so much?”
“I can’t. They have guns and they said they’d shoot you if I tried anything.”
Lee’s eyes seemed to clear for an instant and he said, “You’re one of them.” He stated softly as the drug influenced his mind once again.
She was pleased to see how quickly the drug took over his mind and how he was unable to clear it for long periods of time. “How can you even think that darling?”
“Think what? What did I say?” he asked in a dazed voice.
“Nothing important. It’s all over now and we can get some rest. Would you like me to lay down with you?” she asked hopefully.
As confused as he was he knew he wanted nothing to do with this woman, he just could not remember why. “No. I want to be alone for now. Maybe later.”
“Okay, darling,” she said not quite able to keep the disappointment out of her voice. ‘You will soon do anything I tell you to Lee Crane. There are ways and you’ll learn them the hard way if you don’t start to cooperate with me. I have to keep you with me. You’re MINE, MINE, MINE,’ she thought, anger giving way to disappointment as she left the room only to find Brent Williams waiting for her in there.
“What do you want?” she said savagely.
“Problems, darling,” he said his voice full of sarcasm.
“Nothing I can’t handle. Did you get more of the Ativan?”
“I have it right here,” he said patting the pocket in his coat. “First, however, we have another problem.”
“What are you talking about?” she asked him warily.
“Nelson and Morton are alive and they know I was behind the bombing.” He stated it as a matter of fact, no anger, just fact.
“Why am I always surrounded by incompetent fools?” She said and felt a hand slap her face resoundingly and she fell to the floor.
“Don’t ever call me that.” He told her angrily.
“And don’t you ever lay a hand on me again, Brent Williams. No man has ever done that to me.”
“Well, maybe it’s time someone did!!!!.” He said and came at her again.
She ran to the table and picked up a butcher knife. “Leave me alone, Brent or so help me, I’ll kill you here and now.”
“Listen to you? Do you really think you can use that thing on me? I’m the one man who knows what you’re capable of, honey, and don’t you forget it,” he said, as he came towards her wrapping a piece of clothe around his arm. “I’m going to teach you a lesson you’ll never forget.” He laughed as she backed up against the counter with the knife held directly in front.
She knew he would be able to get the knife away from her without much trouble and decided to try and diffuse the volatile situation. “Stop!!! I’m sorry Brent.” She said in a sexy voice. “Please, I’ll put the knife down if you’ll back away.” She saw his eyes begin to lose their angry glare, as he stopped three feet from her position. “That’s better. See, I’m putting down the knife,” she said as she turned slightly, palmed a smaller knife and turned back to him with open arms.
He stood for a moment transfixed by the naked, angry, and terribly sexy, woman in front of him, then slowly walked into her waiting arms. He kissed her lips and tried to pull her down to the floor when he felt a sharp stabbing pain in his back. “You bitch!!” he cried as he put his hand to the wound in his lower back. “What have you done?”
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