Alternative End To "Bad Water"
By Kiddo
Disclaimer:
I don't have any rights to the TV show "seaQuest DSV" or its characters. Additionally, I am not making any money by writing this.
This story is a translation of my German story "Alternatives Ende zu "SOS im Saragossa-Meer," which was dedicated to Yury for Christmas.
Information:
The first time I saw "Bad Water," I had the feeling that there was something missing at the end of the episode. Personally, I would have liked to have seen a bit more, and every time I watched it on tape (or now DVD), I had that feeling again. Therefore, I decided to write my own ending… :-)
A "Thank you" goes to Jackie for beta –reading.
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Chapter 1
Totally soaked, Commander Ford, Lieutenant Krieg, Dr. Westphalen, and Lucas Wolenczak stepped onto the seaQuest. Each of them was glad to have solid ground under their feet again and to not be in direct contact with the elements.
A few crew members (Captain Bridger, Chief Crocker, and Dr. Levin to be exact) were already there waiting for the shipwrecked crew. The others were either working on the damage that the lightning strike had caused, or they were taking care of the French sub and the people they had rescued.
Nearly all of them had big smiles on their faces. The only one who looked quite depressed was Lucas.
Dr. Levin had four blankets in his arms, which he immediately handed out, not even giving them a chance to get rid of their red life jackets.
The teenager still had the blanket in his hands when Bridger stepped forward and hugged him, not at all bothered that he got a little wet. "Everything okay, Kiddo?" Lucas only nodded, but the computer genius looked more like he wanted to cry.
Captain Bridger studied the boy for a moment and then turned to his crew. "You can't imagine how happy we are to have you all back."
The supply officer grinned. "Oh no, we can imagine it. Except Ford, maybe, he would have loved to have stayed in the lifeboat."
Nathan wrinkled his forehead in confusion, and the commander looked questioningly at Krieg. "Pardon?"
"Hey, who wanted Lucas ration out the food so that it would last for seven days?" challenged Ben.
Jonathan Ford rolled his eyes in annoyance, something people hardly ever saw him do. "That was only a precautionary measure; you should always be prepared."
Bridger left Krieg and Ford to their conversation and took Dr. Westphalen off to the side. When he had her full attention, he made an inconspicuous hand gesture in Lucas's direction. The teenager was pulling off his life jacket and really seemed to be downcast. Nathan leaned down to Kristen and whispered, "What is wrong with him? I can't believe that he isn't happy about being on the seaQuest again."
"Believe me, he is really very happy to be here again. But… it's because of Darwin," said the doctor.
"Because of Darwin?"
Westphalen nodded. "Yes, Darwin was close when the lightning struck. Lucas is afraid that Darwin could be dead." The red-haired woman looked pleadingly at the captain. "Please tell me that Darwin is here and well."
Bridger smiled. "Darwin is fine."
The doctor let out a relieved sigh. "You have to tell Lucas that immediately."
The captain of the seaQuest nodded. "I will." He turned away from the doctor and headed over to the computer genius.
In the meantime, Lucas had sat down on the steps, the blanket draped around his shoulders as he looked sadly at the nearby aqua tube. Nathan sat down next to the boy. "Dr. Westphalen told me you're afraid that Darwin might be dead."
The teenager turned his gaze to the captain and nodded. "Is he?" His voice sounded hoarse and unshed tears sparkled in his blue eyes.
Bridger shook his head. "No, Darwin just got in contact with some fresh water, that's all. To make sure that he is really safe, he is secured in the Moon Pool. If he wasn't, I'm sure that he would already be here to greet you."
Still a bit skeptical, Lucas looked at the older man. "Is that really true?"
The captain nodded. "Of course, I would never lie to you."
The teenager's face was now glowing. He jumped up, dropped the blanket, and started running in the direction of the Moon Pool.
Dr. Westphalen had also heard Bridger's words. "Darwin got in contact with fresh water? How did that happen?"
"The French sub was stuck in a fresh water hole, and Darwin found them there."
Kristen nodded in understanding. "Were you able to save them?"
"Yes, and I put a team together that is now taking care of them. We have also changed course so that we can bring them to the mainland as soon as possible," said Nathan.
"Does the team need any help?"
Bridger shook his head. "No, it's all covered. Besides, you only need to take care of yourself now."
Dr. Levin had heard this last statement and nodded. "Indeed, you will all go and take hot showers and then put some warm clothes on. I don't want any of you getting sick."
Nathan smiled. He knew that his three crew members were in good hands with Dr. Levin. He picked up the blanket that the teenager had dropped only moments ago. "I'll go and take care of Lucas." Not that the boy would be crazy enough to take a swim with the dolphin.
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Two minutes later, Nathan reached the Moon Pool. The sight was enough to warm his heart.
Lucas was almost hanging in the Moon Pool trying to stroke Darwin as he spoke soft words to the dolphin. Everybody could see how much these two meant to each other.
Bridger knew that someday, the time would come when either he or the computer genius would leave the submarine. Secretly, he had the feeling that in spite of the many-years long friendship he had with the dolphin, Darwin would stick with Lucas and either stay or go with him. But, he really hoped that that day was far, far away.
The captain moved next to the boy and put the blanket around his shoulders. The blond boy looked up and smiled. "Thanks."
"I told you our friend was alright." Nathan looked down at Darwin, who was clearly enjoying the attention from Lucas.
The teenager nodded. "I really thought that he was dead."
Bridger put his arm around the boy's shoulders. "Even a genius can be wrong from time to time."
For some time, they just stood there and talked with Darwin. Then Lucas fetched a few especially tasty fish and gave them to the dolphin. He really had earned it today.
Now, the captain was really able to see the teenager's face fully. What he saw there shocked him. The boy's lips had turned really blue, and he also noticed that the teen's hands were shaking slightly. "Kiddo, your lips are blue! You go and take a hot shower immediately!"
The computer genius shook his head. "I will in a few minutes. I want to stay with Darwin a bit longer."
Bridger shook his head determinedly. "No chance! You'll go right now. If Dr. Westphalen sees you like this she'll have my head."
"Okay, okay." After all, he didn't want to be responsible for getting the captain in trouble. Besides, the doctor would also end up lecturing him, and today, he really wasn't up for it. "Bye, Darwin."
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to be continued ...
