Okay, so this is a revision of my earlier posting. Hopefully a lot of the mechanical errors have been fixed. Oh yeah, it also follows this new chaptering thing.
Questions, comments and suggestions are always welcome.
Just out of curiosity, where do you think the story is heading?
Gryff
Disclaimer: I don't own SeaQuest or it's characters, they belong to Amblin Ent. I'm not making any money off of this. Alexia, Bruce and company are my creations.
The Winning Gambit parts 1- 3/?
By Gryffyn copyright 2000
"Hey Lucas, slow down will you? The seminar isn't going to start any sooner!" Nathan Bridger called after his teenaged son, whom at the moment was speeding down the hallway of their hotel.
The lanky, seventeen year old blond turned and walking backwards replied with a hint of whining "Aw, c'mon Dad, I wanna get good seats for this one." Nathan just grinned. He and Lucas were in Pearl Harbor to attend a series of conferences and seminars presented by some of the world's top scientists. Unfortunately Lucas had so far found the trip to be less than enlightening, or in his terms 'boooorrring', yet they'd agreed to come as representatives of the SeaQuest's science team. This was the first time since their arrival that Lucas was actually excited about a seminar. 'Temporal Physics and its effects in regards to the human body' or something like that. Nathan was glad that Lucas had come along, he had a feeling he'd need a translator.
Nathan just watched the boy continue on his way to the MagLev, a noticeable spring in his step. 'Was this the same Lucas who'd confessed to him the years of abuse he endured from his parents? Who was in the habit of jumping at shadows? The same boy who used to come to Nathan for comfort when the nightmares disturbed his sleep?' Sometimes it was hard for Nathan to reconcile the differences between that Lucas and the one before him now. But that was the past. A year and a half ago Lucas had testified in court against his parents, and just shortly after the trial Nathan's petition to adopt him was approved. The navy veteran had been able to show Lucas a kinder side of life, and in return Lucas had shown Nathan how to be able to live and love again despite the loss of his family. In so many ways they were each other's saving grace.
"We'll be the first ones there at this rate." Nathan laughed, but his expression turned somber when Lucas nearly ran into another of the hotel's patrons.
"Watch out or somebody's going to get hurt!" he admonished.
Lucas just flashed his infamous grin at his father before he swung around. The warning came too late, for just as he'd turned Lucas crashed into someone, sending them both to the floor.
"I'm sorry are you okay?" Lucas apologized as he saw his victim. She was a brunette of average height and build, yet very petite looking, almost fragile. Her eyes were the color of a flawless emerald, Lucas was sure she couldn't be more than fourteen years old.
"No, no ... I'm sorry. I should...have been paying more attention to where I was going. Sorry." Her muted voice sounded almost melodic to Lucas, as she did a quick inventory for damage.
Just then Lucas became aware of his father's presence as Nathan checked him over. "Lucas are you alright? You're not hurt are you?"
"I'm fine Dad," was the reply as Nathan helped him to his feet.
"How many times have I told you to watch where you're going? That one day you're going to hurt someone?" Nathan demanded of his son, shaking him lightly, voice mixed with concern and exasperation. Lucas just blushed and shrugged his shoulders. He was looking anywhere but at his father.
They'd momentarily forgotten about the girl, which was fine by her. She was embarrassed enough for not having paid attention to where she'd been going. 'I'd been so caught up in my thoughts that I never even saw him.' She was a little startled by his father's anger, and thus decided that this stranger couldn't take the blame for her. 'I'm just glad Dad wasn't here' She thought, a small wave of ice went through her. Aloud she said "Sir, It was my fault not his."
Nathan turned to the young woman still sprawled on the floor. "Forgive my rudeness, are you alright miss?" He mussed Lucas' hair with a smile before leaning towards her, extending his arm as a gesture to assist her up. He noticed that she'd hesitated before accepting, but he felt it prudent not to comment about the slight. Instead he said "I hope this walking disaster of mine didn't hurt you." Nathan laughed and shared a wink with Lucas, who giggled.
"I'm fine, sir," she spoke as she rose, a hint of a smile at the corners of her mouth. "Really it was my fault, I never should have…"
"Alexia!" A loud voice interrupted. Alexia closed her eyes and shuddered slightly as a tall man with sable colored hair stepped up beside her. "What happened? What did you do?" he demanded with a rough shake.
"D-Dad, I was getting those notes you wanted when I bumped into him," Alexia responded, pointing at Lucas.
"Bumped into him," the newcomer repeated scowling. "Let me guess, you were running to the suite weren't you? No, don't answer that! The truth is written all over your face. How many times have I told you not to run in the halls?"
Nathan made a noise, half-snort, half-grunt, heck he'd probably have laughed if things weren't suddenly so seriously somber. The tall man looked at Nathan and Lucas, a puzzled look on his face ... he'd almost forgotten that the strangers were there and quickly released his hold on Alexia. "I apologize to you and your son for this, I can assure you that it will never happen again."
"No need to apologize Mr. …" Nathan paused.
"Grantvin."
"… Mr. Grantvin, I just gave my son a similar version of the same speech. While Alexia takes the blame, I cannot in good conscience allow her to take my son's part of the responsibility."
"Really," drawled out Grantvin, "and you are?"
"Nathan Bridger" was the response as the two men shook hands. "This is my son Lucas," Nathan gave Lucas a small nudge and the boy extended his arm in greeting.
"Dr. Bruce Grantvin, you've already met Alexia," his tone was flat, as he gave a dismissive shrug. "Bridger, Nathan Bridger," he mused. "Not the same Bridger that captains the SeaQuest?" Bruce asked suddenly, his demeanor relaxing as his curiosity rose.
"The very one. Wait a minute are you the same Dr. Grantvin who proposed the theory on reducing a diver's sensitivity to atmospheric strain with the use of small electromagnetic fields on acu-pressure points? I'd be very interested in hearing your data on it," the Captain inquired, while Lucas' face began to fill with an almost awe as he regarded the man before him.
"Ah, I wish that I could however, Alexia is the physicist. I am merely a geologist," Bruce sighed with a dramatic flare.
Lucas looked curiously at Alexia, who was just staring at them, but his memory quickly placed the man's name. "Hardly!" he snorted. "Dad, this is the Dr. Grantvin that worked with Raleigh Young on the magma flow project."
"Well I hope you were as enthusiastic about the results as Raleigh was," Nathan commented with a wide smile on his face.
"I don't think anyone was quite that ecstatic, but I was more than pleased," chuckled Bruce. "Though there were times I thought it would fail, and I for one didn't want to be the one to tell Raleigh if it did. Towards the end we all walked around him like we were in a minefield," the adults laughed, for Dr. Young's moodiness during this project was well known in the scientific circles.
"Yet you survived," Lucas muttered sarcastically. He really wanted to get down to the seminar. He felt uncomfortable around this man, he didn't know why.
Bruce regarded the young man with a cool reserve, and it was apparent to Alexia that he was becoming annoyed. "Uh, Dad?" she called softly, bringing her father's attention away from Lucas. "Um, did you need me to get something else? Is that why you came up?" she prayed her distraction worked. If he figured out who Lucas was…well she didn't want to think of that.
Caught off guard Bruce pondered his daughter's question. "Oh, yes, I remember now. I wanted to be sure you grabbed those slides that Craig shipped over last night," voice neutral. "Apologize to Captain Bridger, and hurry to make sure they're ready, I'll be at the suite momentarily. After my lecture we're going to discuss this."
Alexia paled slightly before managing to stammer out an apology before she began down the hall. "And for pete's sake WALK!" Her father shouted after her. He'd sounded a little amused, but she knew better. Alexia immediately slowed to a walk, at least until she'd rounded a corner and was out of sight.
"I apologize again for Alexia's behavior. I just don't understand why she can't seem to listen," Bruce stated, as he turned back to his audience.
"No need to apologize, Dr. Grantvin, as I said Lucas was at least equally to blame. As to why she doesn't listen, my theory is that it's a commandment in the teenager's handbook. 'Listening to parents is "uncool,"' Nathan laughs, giving Lucas' shoulder an affectionate squeeze and Bruce began to chuckle. Lucas just feigned a smile and blushed again.
"Please call me Bruce, Captain Bridger."
"Only if you call me Nathan."
"Fair enough. We're having dinner with some colleagues tonight please won't the two of you join us?" Bruce inquired charmingly. "I feel terrible about this whole incident."
"Really, that's not necessary. Besides we don't want to intrude…"
"Nonsense," Grantvin interrupted. "We'd be honored. It's not every day the opportunity to dine with the captain of the UEO's flagship comes up. Joining us will be M.I.T.'s Grace Reed and Yale's leading astro-physicist Mike Crane to name a couple."
Nathan thought for a moment. He'd been hoping that he and Lucas could spend some time away from anything work related, however, he also knew that Lucas was as impressed with the guest list as he. It was one thing to study a scientist's theory, it was another to be able to discuss it with the scientist him/herself.
"Thank you, we will, won't we Lucas?" Nathan nudged the teenager in the ribs when he didn't respond.
"Huh? Oh, yeah right" Lucas smiled, he wasn't sure what he just agreed to, but he'd ask his dad later. For some reason his mind kept returning to Alexia. What was it about her? She was the physicist whose lecture he was about to attend? Then there was Bruce, there was something about him too, Lucas' comfort seemed to degrade the longer he was around.
He was brought out of his thoughts when he heard his father laughingly say "…we'll meet you then. We'd better hurry if we're to get 'good' seats for our lecture."
Bruce joined him. "I know what you mean. So until later ... goodbye, Lucas."
"Until then," Nathan confirmed as they shook hands and departed. With a weak 'bye' from Lucas.
Nathan and a much-subdued Lucas resumed their journey to the MagLev. "You're awful quiet, Kiddo, something wrong?" asked a concerned Nathan, but he got no response. It wasn't until Nathan wrapped an arm around his son's shoulder that Lucas snapped back to reality with a startled 'huh' and an unconscious flinch to the physical contact. The rejection concerned the captain greatly and he immediately removed his arm. "I asked you what was wrong. You okay?"
"Yeah, I'm fine," Lucas said noncommittally pressing the call button for the lift and shuffling nervously.
Nathan turned his son towards him and lifted the boy's face until they made eye contact. "I'm here if you need to talk, you know that right?" He knew Lucas wasn't ready, but he wanted to make sure that the boy knew there was an opening when it was time.
"I know! I know. Geez can't a guy think a little?" Lucas mock huffed. He knew he'd overplayed it, but anything to get his father off the subject.
"Not when the 'guy' is a teenager. They are notorious for not thinking!" Nathan joked.
Just as the doors were closing Lucas turned to his father. "Ha, ha fuuunny!" Then taking on a concerned tone. "By the way, what did I agree to?" Nathan's answer was to double over with laughter.
On to part two