A/N: seaQuest DSV and all characters belong to Amblin/Universal Entertainment. Not mine, basically.


"No. Absolutely not." Captain Nathan Bridger shook his head and turned away from the vidlink screen.

"Nathan," Admiral Bill Noyce cajoled, "It's not like I'm asking you to play host to General Thomas for three months."

Bridger snorted. "The principle's the same. seaQuest is not a taxi service." He busied himself shuffling paperwork on his desk.

Noyce rolled his eyes. "Come on, Nathan. This is a special case. I wouldn't ask if it weren't important."

Bridger sighed heavily, his resolve cracking slightly. After all, it was true his old friend wouldn't spring this on him if it weren't important. "Can I at least think about it?" he asked.

There was a ghost of a smirk. "She's already on her way."

Bridger slammed his hands down on his desk. "Dammit, Bill!" he exclaimed. "You can't keep springing this kind of thing on me!"

Noyce chuckled. "Sure I can," he replied. "I outrank you." His tone grew serious. "Listen, Nathan, I know it's short notice and I know you're not happy, but you have to promise you'll make sure she's kept safe."

"Oh, sure, now I'm a bodyguard," Bridger snapped.

"It's just for a little while," Noyce said by way of apology. "Listen, Nathan, she's in trouble. Otherwise I wouldn't have sent her to you."

Bridger let out a breath. "I can't fix everyone's problems, Bill," he groused.

Noyce shook his head. "I'm not asking you to fix her, I'm just asking you to let her stay on seaQuest until other arrangements can be made. That's all."

"Why do I get the feeling there's more you're not telling me?" Bridger asked warily.

Noyce smiled slightly. "Have I ever kept anything from you?" he asked.

Bridger raised an eyebrow. "I hope you don't really want me to answer that."

The admiral glanced at something beyond Bridger's line of sight. "Look, Nathan, I appreciate this. I have to go, but call me when she gets there."

"Wait a second!" Bridger exclaimed. "You can't just-"

"Goodbye, Nathan."

Bridger again slammed his hand against the desk as the vidlink went black.

This was going to be a long few months.


TBC...