DISCLAIMER (don't you just love these?): I don't own SeaQuest or any of its original characters, story lines, or anything else that was originally there before I decided to mess with it. I also don't own the character of Sam/Samantha. I do, however, own the following original characters: Ellie, Jason, and Katya. Can I say that I wish I owned Lucas? I'm not making any money off of any of this writing, if I were I'd quit my job and write full time!

"Come on Kat!"

"No."

"Please?"

"No!"

"Come on Kat, just tell me what the numbers are going to be," Ben implored. "I'll split the money with you!"

"No way Krieg!"

"You don't want to win millions from the lottery?"

Katya stopped in the corridor and turned to face him. "Fine. 58, 22, 36, 11, 10 and 3."

"You're the best! You'll get some of it! I promise!" Ben cried out over his shoulder as he dashed down the hall.

Katya rolled her eyes and sighed. "Sure. Just what I need, more money."

"Were those the right numbers?" Lucas asked.

She smirked. "What do you think?"

He chuckled. "I'll take that as a no."

"Smart move," she replied, walking down the corridor again.

They were headed for Lucas' quarters, where they always went after dinner. They'd taken to sitting together; talking, reading or working in silence, until they were ready to go to sleep. Their friendship had developed into a close, familial relationship. They were as close as Sam and Lucas still were. Katya and Sam had spoken several times via vidcom and had struck up a friendship of their own.

Katya carried her laptop with her, and Lucas knew that it meant she was planning on working on emails, journaling or just writing. He liked to read the stories she wrote, they were interesting, and made even more intriguing by the fact that someone he knew had that kind of talent. Lucas opened the door and held it for her as she walked in.

"Thanks," she said, smiling.

He knew that she liked the gentlemanly thing; he'd heard her mention it once, and he figured it was an easy thing to make her happy with. She took up her usual spot on his bed, her back to the wall, so she was unable to see his computer screen. He'd told her she didn't have to do that, but she had insisted, and so it just continued that way.

She put his pillow behind her back, and booted up her computer. He knew, from the sound of her typing, that she was working on emails. He pulled up the interface to log into his own email. His vidcom buzzed and he looked up with interest. Who was calling him? Katya ignored it and went on with her emails.

"Lucas here."

"Hi Lucas!" Katya's head snapped up in interest as an unfamiliar female voice came over the speaker.

"Juliana! Hi…" He didn't even dare to look in Katya's direction. Juliana couldn't see Katya because of where she was sitting, and he wanted to keep it that way. Katya, at the mention of the name, shrugged and went back to her work.

"How are you? It's been a bit since we last talked."

"Yeah, things have been hectic here. I'm fine though. How about you?"

"Good. I miss you. When are you going to come and see me?"

"I'm not sure when I'll be able to get away, but I promise that I will as soon as an opportunity arises."

"I feel like you're avoiding me."

"I'm not, I promise. Things really are busy here, and we have new crew…"

"I think there is more than that."

"Honestly Juliana, there isn't anything else."

"Why am I having a hard time believing that?"

Katya looked up from her computer and saw Lucas' jaw tighten. "You stupid girl," she thought. "Quit pushing him. You'll push him away and you'll lose a wonderful guy…"

"I don't know why, Juliana. Believe it or don't, but that's the truth."

"Do you still care for me? I would think that you would want to visit me more often if you did."

"That's a ridiculous question that I shouldn't even have to answer. Look Juliana, I don't have the time or energy to do this right now. I'll call you back later," he replied, irritated. He disconnected the call and stared at the blank screen for a moment.

"Do you want me to go so you can call her back?"

"No."

"Okay then."

"Why couldn't she just leave it alone? It really has been busy. And why ask that question about caring for her? If I didn't I would have broken up with her long ago."

Katya shrugged. "She's worried Lucas. She's got a good-looking boyfriend she hardly ever sees or talks to thanks to his job. Most girls would be a little paranoid."

"Not you."

"I'm not her."

"True."

Katya lay down on her side, her back to Lucas. At moments like these, when he wasn't getting along with Juliana, he was glad to have Kat to talk to. She gave him a perspective on the situation he wouldn't have had otherwise.

He turned back to his terminal and logged in. He had an email from Sean with pictures of little Ellie's birthday party, as well as an email from his grandmother. He smiled happily as he scrolled through the little girl's birthday pictures. It looked like she'd had a blast. He'd sent her a present, one of the hot new toys that no one could buy because they kept running out of them. Courtesy of Ben, he'd gotten his hands on one for her, and according to the little thank you note from the girl herself typed under Sean's sign off, she'd loved it.

Katherine's email also made mention of the party. She'd attended on behalf of Lucas, Gavin and Ellie. She relayed the information that when the little girl had opened his gift, she'd nearly screamed with happiness. She was even more thrilled when she found out it had come from "Cousin Lucas" who was far, far away under the water on the SeaQuest. His grandfather and Margery were both well, and Ellie had come to see them a few times. The two emails instantly improved his mood.

"Hey Kat, check this out," he said.

"Hmm?"

He'd told her all about Ellie and Gavin. He trusted her, and he knew that if Ellie ever came around, Katya would be the first to see her. She knew about Katherine and Patrick, Sean and his family.

"Look, Sean sent pictures of little Ellie's birthday party."

"Oh!" she said, quickly abandoning what she was doing. "Let me see!" Lucas scrolled through them as she looked on over his shoulder. "She's so cute! Look how excited she is! And how sweet that she sent you a little thank you note!"

"Yeah, she's a great kid."

Katya smiled and patted his shoulder, then scooped up her laptop. "I'm going to head out. I feel like going to bed early tonight."

"Okay, sleep well."

"I will thanks. Night Lucas," she said, grazing her fingernails lightly across the top of his scalp.

It gave him the chills, but he loved it. It was a routine. She always did it and he always liked it, surprising for him due to not only the fact that he didn't mind it, but that she seemed to be slowly getting over her aversion to physical contact with other people.

"Night Kat," he replied as she walked out and shut the door behind her. He looked at the vidcom screen again, and decided to call Juliana back.