Cat and Mouse

By: Melissa Adams

Disclaimer: SeaQuest and all its characters belong to Amblin Entertainment.  I am only borrowing these characters for a while I am done. This is a work of amateur fan fiction and no infringement on the owner's copyright is meant. Please R&R.

Kristin was taking advantage of the peace and quiet while both Lucas and Nathan were out.  She sat at the desk in the den going over her email for the last few days; being a doctor and a scientist she got more than her fair share of mail.  She sent her last reply and noticed a new message from one of her nurses aboard the SeaQuest.  They were on leave for another week while some routine maintenance and upgrades were made to the boat.  Opening the message her eyes got a decidedly surprised look on them.  She re-read the message again to make sure that she read it right the first time, it couldn't be that time again: 'Doctor Westphalen, I really wish I didn't have to be the one to tell you this but after last year I thought you deserved some warning.  I was updating the medical files and came across this fact; Lucas' yearly physical is coming up in about two weeks.  Sorry doctor, but just let me know if I can help.  Lisa' The doctor closed her eyes and brought her hands up to her head, "Just great, this is just great."

Nathan chose that moment to enter and stopped when he saw the image before him.  Kristin was sitting forward slightly wearing only a light blue sundress and had her hands over the top part of her face while shaking her head.  He came over to the desk quietly and began massaging her neck, "Oh Nathan if that's you I love you even more than before but if you're not Nathan then finish the massage and then get out because Nathan will be home soon."

The older man chuckled and said, "Don't worry baby, I won't be home for a while yet."

Kristin sat up and leaned back against him and he wrapped his arms around her neck and kissed her on the forehead.  "What's wrong Kris, you look miserable."

"Oh I just got an email message reminding me of a rather important but unpleasant date, but before I tell you where is your shadow?"

"He went out with Ben and Tim for a burger but they said they'd drop him off before 8, so we're alone for a couple hours.  Now what was in the message, if you don't mind telling me?"

Kristin looked up into his deep blue eyes and smiled, never had she seen such eyes just looking at them could capture you for hours.  "No I don't mind telling you, the truth is that I may need your help anyway.  In another two weeks it is time for Lucas' physical."

Nathan looked down at her to gauge whether or not she was serious and then couldn't contain it anymore, he busted out laughing.  Kristin sat there looking shocked and dismayed that he could find such amusement in this why Nathan on the other hand couldn't control himself.  He was down on his knees next to the chair trying desperately, although unsuccessfully, to control the bursts of laughter coming from him.  Finally after several minutes he managed to subside into giggles and stood up and said, "I'm sorry Kristin but you have to admit this is funny.  You don't dread anyone else's physical, as a matter of fact I know you enjoy doing mine" he said with a gleam in his eye.

She got up and hit him in the arm and then walked off towards the kitchen and put on a pot of water so she could have some tea.  Nathan walked in slowly behind her and sat at the table.  "Why don't you let me do that baby and you come sit down and tell me why Lucas having a physical is so terrible."

Kristin nodded and came over and sat down.  "Nathan it's not that Lucas having a physical is terrible, truth be known I'm glad when he does that way I know he's okay, but it is trying to get it done.  You remember last year and I just don't want to do that again."

Nathan got up and headed for the cupboard but said, "You'll have to tell me baby because if I remember right I think I was at that week long summit meeting with Bill."

The older woman nodded and said, "Oh yeah you were, I thought I had told you about this.  Well anyway it started out just like now and I told Lucas over dinner one night that he was due for his physical.  I didn't think too much about it but ended up playing cat and mouse with him for over a week and ultimately Darwin finally told me he was hiding out in an abandoned section of that old Spanish ship that was in the area we were in.  I mean I understand that he doesn't like physicals, I don't blame him no one likes them.  However they are a necessary part of life and vital to making sure he's all right, it's not like I do it to torture him or something."

Nathan smiled and brought her tea over and sat it down gently before taking the seat beside her.  "Kristin I can't say for sure but deep down I think Lucas likes the fact that you care enough to make him do those kinds of things, even if he does say he doesn't.  I'm not sure that I'm going to be much help though, because I will be up to my ears inspecting and testing out the new upgrades and crew the first couple weeks back on board.  I'll help anyway I can of course but I'm afraid that you might be on your own with this one."

Kristin nodded and said, "I know but I'll tell you one thing I am not going to say anything until we're back aboard and out in the open water, I mean how many places can he go?  Now didn't you say something about a couple hours of alone time, what say we..." and she let her voice trail off as Nathan only smiled.

Lucas rushed into his room and sat down at the computer and was connected to the Internex in only a few seconds.  He scrolled over to his mail and found several messages from friends and other scientists but what fascinated him more was when he saw a reminder from his message service.  Clicking it he read the message and smiled to himself: Reminder, Lucas Wolenczak has a physical examination coming up in two weeks.  Shutting down the system he lay down and began to plot some definite cat and mouse plans to get out of this, although he knew deep down the doc would get her way in the end.

The next week passed without incident for the three and about there second night onboard Nathan was kept busy on the bridge and Kristin and Lucas were supposed to have dinner together.  Lucas rounded a corner and practically ploughed over Tim O'Neil.  The young man yelled sorry over his shoulder as he raced for his quarters, he needed to check his mail before his dinner with the doc.  He had spent the last couple days devising a plot to postpone his physical and tease the doc and the Cap a little at the same time.  He arrived at his quarters and quickly brought up his mail, yes it was here.  Going over he clicked it and read while a big grin spread over his face.  He immediately printed out a copy to take to dinner, as he was sure the doc would say something to him tonight.  It had just finished printing when his PAL went off.  He grabbed it off the desk and ran out the door while saying, "Yeah".

It was Doctor Westphalen and she did not look happy, "Lucas where are you?  We were supposed to meet for dinner five minutes ago."

Just as Lucas rounded a corner and this time narrowly avoided Ben Krieg he said, "Yeah I know, I'm on my way just running a little late."

Kristin didn't seem to like that answer but didn't say anything.  Nodding she ended the call and patiently waited for her young dinner companion.  Several seconds later she spotted him and waved him over after he picked up a ham sandwich, soup, cake and a coke for dinner.  As he sat Kristin looked at his meal closely and cast a rather disapproving look at the young man.  Lucas just smiled and bit into his sandwich.  "What was so important that you had to be late to dinner?"

"Oh just doing some research, why was there something you wanted me for?"

Kristin debated between telling the boy and just having Crocker send a couple security guards to kidnap him in his sleep and bring him to Med-bay but she decided to try the honest approach first, "Actually Lucas yes there was.  You don't happen to know what tomorrow is do you?"

Lucas scrunched up his face and thought hard and then smiled as he took another bite of his sandwich.  After swallowing it he said, "You don't mean the fact that it is time for my physical again do you?"

The older woman looked over at him with a surprised look in her eyes but recovered her composure fairly quickly, "Maybe since he is admitting it that will mean that he's going to go along with the program this time" she told herself.  "Yes Lucas it is and I'm serious this time young man.  I'm not going to play games with you, I want you in Med-bay at 0900 in the morning or else."

Lucas smiled very broad and tried to sit up straighter and look more grown- up.  "Doc I have no problem with the physical but before you give me a time you better look at this first."  He reached over and retrieved the paper from beside his plate and handed it to her.

The doctor accepted it and put on her glasses and began reading.  She got about halfway down when she looked up and gave the boy the glare he had seen grown men cave under but the truth was he was right and she knew it.  Taking her glasses off she said, "Lucas you can't be serious with this."

"Oh I'm very serious doc and it is well within the law, you wouldn't want me to break the law now would you?"

Kristin sighed and tried to think of something, some way to make him understand.  "Lucas listen to me, I understand how you feel about physicals, after what you've gone through in your past I am sure you have an absolute hate for anything medical but Lucas, it is an important part of my being able to treat you."

Lucas looked over at her and nodded and rose, "I understand doc but the law is the law.  Now if you will excuse me I promised Katie that I would help her try and improve WSKRS efficiency."

Kristin sat still for moment and then grabbed the paper and headed for Nathan so he could put a stop to this nonsense.