Chapter Four

When they were sufficiently stuffed and their dishes collected, although their carafes were left for them, they walked down the beach and back, applied more sunscreen and finally waded into the ocean. They'd both noticed adults swimming parallel to the shore and decided that was safer if there were rip currents.

They swam in the water for nearly an hour before taking a break. Tim decided to rent a paddleboard which Gibbs also had to try and then ended up renting his own for the rest of the afternoon and early evening, finally packing up near sunset. Deciding to clean up and find another of the local restaurants recommended by their Uber driver for dinner, they stopped on the way into the hotel for a swim in the pool. That felt great and no doubt removed some of the salt and sand from them. The pool was open until midnight and they thought they might be able to handle a late night swim by Saturday or Sunday. Right now they were still on East Coast time which was 6 hours ahead.

Asking the concierge for directions to the restaurant they wanted to try, the young woman smiled, "It's about 3 miles, you could walk but we find most people don't want to walk back. However, our shuttle driver will happily drive you to and from."

Having already had plenty of exercise, they rode the shuttle. The restaurant was as promised, looked like nothing special from the outside, had a friendly tropical beach vibe with appropriate decorations inside and the food was excellent. They each tried the beers crafted in Hawaii, although Tim limited himself to one.

Back at the hotel, they turned in early. Their transport would pick them up at 0800 for the drive to the Pearl Harbor National Memorial.

They were up at dawn on Friday, doing their stretches before starting their run on the beach just as the night skies began to lighten. A few minutes into their run, Vance joined them. When Tim found himself having to hold back again, he gave them a wave and took off. Vance sighed, "I thought I was holding my own."

Gibbs snorted, "Me too. I haven't run with Tim in a few years. He's not a kid anymore but he's built up his speed and stamina. I'm just grateful that I can run as well as I do, because of my new knee."

"Not so new anymore but I take your point. Wish I had an excuse! You ready for today?"

Gibbs nodded, "We've read up on the ceremony and the interment. The hotel is supplying the roses we'll be allowed to toss into the water. What we weren't clear on is if park visitors will be on the Memorial or not."

"Yes, they will be. The park opens at 0800, the first boat leaves at 0830 and you, McGee, Porter, her security team, a few military personnel, the Pearl NCIS team, the guy Tim knows from State and I will be on that. The second boat follows immediately and has a capacity of 145 people. They've posted notices on the website, at the gates and parking lots that there's an interment today at 0900, and that the tour and boat schedule is amended to 1 boat at 0830 and then no boats until 1000. Once those first two boats are on the Memorial, nobody else will cross over until everything's done. So, yes, there will be visitors, but as Smith didn't have any family, that works out all right. The visitors will be briefed before they leave from the dock." He stopped talking to adjust his breathing. "Each interment has been special but this one, not only because it was unexpected but because it will be the last interment for the Arizona, is an historical occasion and you and Tim will be in many photos, formal, including photos with the SecNav and any other Brass that show up and of course whatever the visitors snap. You okay with that?"

"Yes, we've talked about it. Will Tim and I be allowed to stay on the Memorial after the interment? Neither of us has ever been."

"Yes, when we board our boat, we'll be given tickets to allow us on the Memorial and most importantly, give us a return trip back."

"Is that a problem?"

"No, we'll list you as returning on the 1100 boat. I don't know whether the return ride is normally reserved but for you two today, it will be."

"That's good, thanks, Leon."

"Almost forgot, do you have plans for lunch?"

"Other than to eat, no."

"Porter would like the four of us to eat here together, at the hotel."

"All right. Other than beach time, we don't have anything planned. Is there any specific reason?"

Vance shook his head. "Not that I know of."

Gibbs made a noise, "We have paddleboards reserved for 1400."

"Paddleboards, I'm impressed!"

"Tim's experienced and I took lessons yesterday. We were in the water until the last shift of lifeguards called everyone in."

"Is it difficult?"

Gibbs shook his head, "Wasn't for me and Tim does fine. I had a couple of spills but they weren't bad. Look on the photo board when we go back into the hotel, there should be photos of us."

McGee circled back to them, keeping whatever thoughts he might be having to himself about Gibbs' and Vance's stroll along the beach. Smiling, he told them he was running ahead to grab the first shower, Gibbs could order breakfast if he wanted. When told about lunch, Tim nodded, "All right, then scratch what I had yesterday or my usual. I'll have 2 scrambled eggs, no cheese, apple juice and coffee with whole grain toast and no hash browns. No bacon or fresh fruit."

"Got it, good idea."

Tim waved as he continued to the hotel and Vance shook his head. "Apple juice?"

"We'll be on a boat and on the water. Orange juice is acidic, apple juice is not, bacon and fresh fruit can cause uh, digestive problems, although he's probably holding off on the bacon for a pork sandwich at lunch, same for the hash browns, he might want sweet potato fries again. He's treating himself here but he's decided to rein his appetite back in, too. More importantly, he doesn't want to take any chances this morning, even with the ginger root and sea-bands."

Vance nodded, "Good thinking."

Back at the hotel, Gibbs went ahead to get their breakfast sorted while Leon stopped at the rear entrance to look at the Photo Board. He grinned at the shots of McGee and Gibbs on the paddleboards, asking at the office for digital copies. He didn't send them to anyone, he'd wait until they were all home. One of the photos showed a dripping wet Gibbs climbing onto the board after a spill, with McGee in the background, sitting on his board and looking like he was coaching the older man while trying very hard not to laugh.

Post-showers, breakfast and dressing in their fresh from the dry cleaners suits, crisp white shirts and ties, shoes polished to Marine satisfaction, Tim and Jethro were given the roses at the front desk and then rode to Pearl Harbor National Park with Director Vance and Secretary Porter. Once at the park, they were given tickets for the 0830 boat over and the 1100 boat back from the Memorial.

Tim spotted Richard Owens and Jay Whitman in the crowd of visitors and was not surprised when Whitman joined them on their boat as well as Owens and several of his staff. Most wore NCIS jackets. The field agents, including McGee, Gibbs and Vance, had their badges attached to the breast pockets of their suit jackets. Whitman also wore his State Department ID on his suit jacket. A big surprise was the presence of Admiral Michael Caplinger and his wife Gloria, the couple whose house Smith broke into, the incident that started this chain of events although Tim supposed that had really happened nearly 80 years ago when Smith enlisted using his brother's name. Tim was glad to see them, wondering if this would help in their healing from the death of their daughter.

Although the Memorial was managed by the National Park Service, US Navy sailors handled both visitor boats and Tim imagined that might be a privileged position. The second boat didn't begin loading until the first boat was away. Tim and Jethro spotted their Uber driver in the crowd and nodded to him.

When they reached the Memorial, they were guided inside. There they found that the front of the area where the indoor ceremony would be held had chairs for those in the first boat and those in the 2nd boat who chose to attend. The Caplingers were included with their group, along with the Commandant of JB Pearl Harbor-Hickam, a few other Brass with a representative from each service, the NCIS folks, Whitman from the State Department, the DoN official photographer and a videographer who would record both ceremonies.

When everyone from the second boat docked, the visitors were ushered in. If they didn't want to attend the ceremony, they were taken to an auditorium where they'd watch clips and a documentary about the attack. The rest were seated in the rear of the room set aside for the ceremony. There were only three children that Tim could see and they looked like they were between 10 and early teens. He smiled when he realized they were with their Uber driver.

Four horseshoe flower arrangements were brought in, one from the "American Legion", one from the "Sons and Daughters of Pearl Harbor Survivors", the third was from the Department of the Navy and the fourth was from the Veterans of Foreign Wars. The SecNav had been told earlier that the flower arrangements would remain in the Memorial through the weekend and then returned to shore and given to local nursing homes.

Once everyone was in place, the two-bell ceremony began. A Naval Officer welcomed the Secretary, some of the Brass, Director Vance and then, to Tim's shock, Gibbs and himself. Then the officer addressed the group, explaining to them, as he conducted the ceremony, what the two-bell ceremony meant to service members. On a small table at the front was a red rose, signifying the blood shed by their fallen shipmates. Next to it was a crystal glass of water to quench their thirst for freedom, salt to remind them of the pain felt, a china plate that was pure white for the purity of their hearts and sacrifices. The officer continued, explaining that in days past two bells, here he paused and a bell was rung twice, marked the end of a routine day aboard ship; it was time for tattoo and soon, taps would sound throughout the ship.

The officer continued, "Certainly it is a most appropriate time to honor our departed shipmates. Ladies and Gentlemen, please bow your heads. The toll of the ship's Bell reminds us of the reverence we owe to our departed shipmates."

The bell was again rung twice and the officer continued the ceremony, "…to those who guard the honor of our country upon the sea, in the air and on foreign soil. Let it be a reminder of the faith they confide in us." The bell again rang twice. "Let us gathered here not forget our obligations and on silence breathe a prayer for our departed shipmates." Again, the bell rang twice. Silence followed as prayers were offered.

Eventually the officer said that the moment of reverence was dedicated to those shipmates who'd gone before those gathered and the bell was rung. What followed was a rifle salute from the U.S. Navy and a benediction with the echo of Taps being played across the harbor. When it was time for the flag to be presented, Tim stepped forward to take it.

They'd had a vigorous discussion about this on the way here. He thought Secretary Porter or Director Vance should take it, but the three of them, Gibbs included, insisted that he accept it, on behalf of the agency. That made even less sense to McGee, not understanding why the director wouldn't take it. He stopped pushing back when Secretary Porter started laughing. He didn't get that either but hoped that Gibbs or Vance would explain it to him at some point. Now, for the benefit of the visitors and anyone who wondered, he said, "On behalf of the Naval Criminal Investigative Service, I accept with gratitude this flag honoring Electrician's Mate Fireman Apprentice Joseph Smith."

Following the flag presentation, Gibbs carried Smith's urn, McGee carrying the flag and rose with both arms across his chest, from the Memorial to the dock area. A Naval officer and a National Park Service officer stood by Gibbs and McGee's sides. The urn was presented to the waiting Navy divers, who swam with it to the open barbette of gun turret number four of the USS Arizona and then proceeding to an opening large enough for the urn. The urn was placed into the slot and from there, slid into the remains of the ship. While the officers and Gibbs saluted, he had permission from the SecNav, Tim placed his hand holding the rose over his heart, on top of the flag he still held, bowed his head, praying for Smith and for his own long-dead father, Daniel McGee. Once the urn was gone, Tim and Jethro threw their roses into the water, saying another quiet prayer. Then the four of them returned to the interior, Secretary Porter entering first. Tim didn't know if it was protocol for her to be on deck but he doubted it mattered. As it was, the videographer and DoN photographer had been on the deck as well, they re-entered the Memorial after Tim, so protocol had already been changed.

More photos of them were taken inside. The DoN photographer showed them a few photos taken on the deck, including the two men tossing the red roses into the water. Now he wanted photos of them with Vance, with the SecNav and with the Pearl NCIS team and the reps from each military service. He gestured at the Caplingers but they disappeared into the crowd and Vance said something quietly to the photographer. Tim asked the SecNav if she'd be interested in meeting the descendants of another survivor, although not of the Arizona but another ship in the Harbor during the attack. He told her what their Uber driver told them and she smiled, yes, she would like to meet them. Tim went to find them, asking the driver's father if he and his family would like to meet the Secretary of the Navy, that she was interested in hearing his father's story. The man's face lit up and the group followed Tim back to the Secretary.

Although he found the story interesting, Tim was also sad and exhausted. He was suddenly finding it hard to believe that the man who'd appeared in their lives less than a week ago was gone so suddenly. Sure, he'd been old but he'd been so alive in his mission that it was hard to deal with.

He relaxed a little when Gibbs wrapped an arm around his back to comfort him, although the younger man felt his surrogate father might be even sadder, thinking of Jack, Mike, his former CO, Colonel Ryan, who'd died a few years ago and other Marine friends. Wanting him to have the same comfort he was giving, Tim wrapped an arm around Gibbs' shoulders and for a fleeting moment, the two leaned their heads together. Behind them, Porter and Vance watched, touched at the closeness between the two.

Although Gibbs and McGee had tickets to return on the 1100 boat, neither had any desire to look around the Memorial. When the SecNav and Vance turned to leave, they found the other two waiting. Tim gave them a half smile, "Neither of us is feeling much like looking around today. They gave us tickets for the 0830 boat tomorrow and exchanged our Friday 1100 returns for tomorrow's 1100."

Before they left, Tim was given a waterproof, zippered cover for the flag and Gibbs helped him handle it. The four of them, Porter, Vance, Gibbs and McGee boarded their boat, joined by the local NCIS folks and most of the others who'd ridden over with them. One of the NCIS'ers asked Tim what would happen with the flag. Looking at Vance, he was given a subtle nod, ok to answer and said, "It will be framed in a case custom made for it and placed with a plaque commemorating Smith. It'll go in the hall at Headquarters with our photos of those we've lost and the letters and photos of thanks and commendations. When it's up, the Director intends to have a video made so everyone in the agency can see it."

"That's great, Agent McGee, thanks!"

Vance smiled, "It was Mr. Smith's idea that we keep his flag. He insisted once Gibbs, our MCRT, forensic tech and ME figured out how to prove he was who he said he was."

Gibbs smiled at everyone's inclusion. Tim was feeling tired and dispirited again. At that moment, if he'd had his choice, he would climb on the next flight to DC and fly home to his loving wife, who'd fought so hard to live after her injuries and their babies, full of life. Then he remembered his primary reason for being here, for coming along with Boss, was to make sure Gibbs' spirits didn't take a nosedive. Straightening his shoulders, he stood taller and managed to nudge Gibbs' arm just a bit. He didn't turn, but he felt Gibbs' smile.

They were only in the SUV for a few minutes, a little longer than their drive in with Friday traffic and Tim fell asleep. Vance shook his shoulder when they arrived. "Wakey, wakey, McGee, lunch and your paddleboard await you!"

He smiled before he opened his eyes. "Coffee!"

Beside him, Gibbs snorted and they laughed, dispelling the melancholy left from the ceremony.

Tim took the flag upstairs to his room, putting it in the safe there, before joining the others for lunch. They'd opted to eat first, change for their afternoon plans after. Removing their suit jackets, the four relaxed over their meal, starting with much needed coffee for Tim and Jethro while Leon and the Secretary each had iced tea. Tim eyed the pitcher but decided to wait until they needed a break on the beach.

As they ate their lunch, Porter looked at Tim, deciding to tell him why he'd been chosen to accept the flag. "Timothy, you're the youngest of all of us here, the youngest representing the Navy and NCIS. You, in your relative youth, represent the future of both. That's why we," she made a circle with her finger of Gibbs, Vance and herself, "decided you should be the one to accept it. You will carry forward the memory of this last interment for us, ensuring that no one forgets the sacrifices made by Joe Smith and his shipmates on the Arizona and the other ships damaged or destroyed on December 7th, 1941. It's not who attacked or who won, it's the sacrifices they made. When the flag in its case is hung on the wall, photos of you and Gibbs on that deck, honoring Seaman Joseph Smith will surround it."

Tim swallowed, finally just nodding his thanks for the explanation and his appreciation for her words. This was a lot to think about and he immediately thought of Gibbs' words.

"Maybe the best of me was gone.

…"You come home and you're like half a person.

"The other half of you is still back there where at least it made sense.

"Where even with the bullets, the blood, the chaos, you knew what mattered.

"You knew that the guy next to you was willing to die for you and you for him.

"And you look around and think, it shouldn't take a war to make the world that simple."

WITH LOVE AND GRATITUDE

THE END