This is AU, simply for the fact that Tony and Westphalen are not in the same season. This was brought to my attention by Morgan. Thank you. Also, thanks go out to JediK1 for mentioning that Tony never calls him "Lucas", rather, he calls him "Luke". And, thank you Nain, for pointing out that I had no distinguishing marks when it came to the characters' thoughts. These are the changes that have been brought to my attention for Chapters 1 & 2 as of 06/01/01. Thank you!
If Only Memories Could Be Erased As Easily
Lucas ran his hands through his hair self-consciously as he stood near Darwin. The dolphin glided effortlessly through the waters of the moon pool, chirping happily.
"Lucas play?" the dolphin asked hopefully. His sleek gray head lifted up out of the water as he waited for the reply of Lucas. The water sparkled a soft cyan as miniscule waves were created by the Darwin's movement.
"Not now, Darwin," Lucas replied regretfully. "I have some work to do." Darwin splashed Lucas lightly and slipped back into the water.
"Hey!" Lucas cried. "No fair getting me wet before my shift!" Lucas grinned and turned, his footsteps echoing as he walked out of the room.
He passed several crewmembers in the corridor. Each waved hello to the 16 year old, and Lucas exchanged a quiet smile with each. Making a last-second decision, Lucas turned and headed back to his room, needing to get a few things before he went on duty.
"Hey Tony," he replied to the still-dozing form. "Just came back to get some things before I went on the bridge." A grunt was his only answer.
Lucas snickered lightly, grabbed his stuff, whispered quietly, "See you later, Tony. Don't forget to wake up in time for duty."
Tony grunted once more and rolled over.
*~*
Lucas eyed his meal, hoping it would just disappear. 'It wasn't very good today,' he thought with sarcasm. 'Or the day before, or the day before that...'
"Hey Lucas," a cheerful voice greeted him from behind. "Mind if I sit here?" Lucas didn't even have to turn to know who the voice was from.
"Hi, Captain. Sure, take a seat." He grinned up at Bridger as he sat down.
"Food not too good today?" Bridger asked.
Lucas shook his head. "Not really."
"Lucas..." Bridger said in a warning tone.
Lucas stiffened, but Bridger continued, "Kiddo, you haven't been eating much lately. I asked Doctor Westphalen to check you out. Seems you missed your annual physical, as well."
"Sir... I don't really have the time to go down there right now. Duty and all... Don't forget that I have to work with Darwin, too," he feebly continued.
"I already arranged for you to have the morning off from duty. Now go, before I have to make it an order!" Bridger said threateningly.
Lucas sighed. "Yes, sir." As he turned to go, Bridger spoke again, softer this time.
"Lucas, wait," Bridger called out. "You know I wouldn't do this if I didn't care about you," Bridger added quietly.
"Yes, Captain. I know." With that, Lucas turned to leave the room, his steps slower, as if he was going off to meet his death.
*~*
Lucas found himself in his room instead of getting himself checked out by the doctor. Thankfully, Tony was on duty for a bit longer, and Lucas had the room to himself.
In seconds, Lucas booted up his computer and hacked into the medical database. It was quite easy, really. Not much protection. Well, not enough to keep him out, anyway.
He called up his file. Westphalen herself had never really checked him out, yet. This particular file was from another, private doctor. One whom his father had probably paid off to stay quiet. Slowly he typed out each letter of his name until his entire name flashed before his eyes. Each letter was a heartache in itself; put together, they made him feel miserable.
His finger shaking, he pressed enter. His file stood out, and quickly he went past all of the "age/height/color of eyes" crap and went down to the section entitled NOTES.
NOTES: This subject displays a fairly common case of abuse. Bruised ribs, a few black eyes, and countless hospital visits attest to his injured body. Two broken fingers within a span of one year, and a broken wrist, of which he replied, "I only fell down the stairs. I only fell down the stairs," quiet stubbornly to me when I asked about it. All evidence points to his father, but for a figure of such substantial rank to be accused of such a hideous crime... Even if I brought the case under light, he would merely pay off everyone involved with the case. And I would probably lose my job. But... this kid has suffered a variety of injuries. Most include broken or sprained arms/fingers. Once, he was brought in with a major head trauma, to the local hospital. It's a wonder he survived. And he still stubbornly says he only falls... It is the worst case I have ever seen of abuse.
Lucas sighed, and pressed down hard on the BACK key, tears trickling down his face as the words slowly disappeared from his view.
NOTES: This subject displays a fairly common case of abuse. Bruised ribs, a few black eyes, and countless hospital visits attest to his injured body. Two broken fingers within a span of one year, and a broken wrist, of which he replied, "I only fell down the stairs. I only fell down the stairs," quiet stubbornly to me when I asked about it. All evidence points to his father, but for a figure of such substantial rank to be accused of such a hideous crime... Even if I brought the case under light, he would merely pay off everyone involved with the case. And I would probably lose my job. But... this kid has suff
NOTES: This subject displays a fairly common case of abuse. Bruised ribs, a few black eyes, and countless hospital visits attest to his injured body. Two broken fingers within a span of one year, and a broken wrist, of which he replied, "I only fell down the stairs. I only fell down the stairs," quiet stubbornly to me when I asked about it. All evidence points to his father, but for
NOTES: This subject displays a fairly common case of abuse. Bruised ribs, a few black eyes, and countless hospital visits attest to his injured body. Two broken
NOTES: This subject displays a fairly common case of abuse. Bruised ribs
NOTES: This subject displays
NOTE
And whiteness met his eyes where the words once were. Sighing, he ran his hands through his hair as he closed his eyes, struggling against his inner demons.
If only he could erase his memories as easily... Just press a button, and watch them disappear. Forever.
"Luke?" a small voice asked. Lucas jumped and turned, almost falling out of his chair.
"What are you doing?" Tony asked, trying to peer over the shoulder of Lucas.
"Nothing," Lucas answered defensively. He quickly hit save and the X button, exiting the file. He only breathed a sigh of relief when the accursed file disappeared from sight.
"Now if you'll excuse me, I have to go see Doctor Westphalen," Lucas said as he brushed past Tony.
Tony bewilderedly looked at the now-closed door as he took in Lucas' abrupt leave. Shrugging, he turned to walk further into the room.
'This place was a mess', he thought slowly. 'Why not clean it up for Luke?' He would make it a present for Lucas.
He rooted through stacks of papers as he tried to make sense of the whirlwind that was Lucas.
As he lifted up a page of paper and opened one of Lucas' drawers to stick it in, he stared in shock at the sight that was before him.
Bottle after bottle of pills lay strewn on the bottom of the drawer, ranging from pain medication to anti-depressants.
"Oh, Luke," he moaned. "What have you been doing to yourself?"
tbc
If Only Memories Could Be Erased As Easily
Lucas ran his hands through his hair self-consciously as he stood near Darwin. The dolphin glided effortlessly through the waters of the moon pool, chirping happily.
"Lucas play?" the dolphin asked hopefully. His sleek gray head lifted up out of the water as he waited for the reply of Lucas. The water sparkled a soft cyan as miniscule waves were created by the Darwin's movement.
"Not now, Darwin," Lucas replied regretfully. "I have some work to do." Darwin splashed Lucas lightly and slipped back into the water.
"Hey!" Lucas cried. "No fair getting me wet before my shift!" Lucas grinned and turned, his footsteps echoing as he walked out of the room.
He passed several crewmembers in the corridor. Each waved hello to the 16 year old, and Lucas exchanged a quiet smile with each. Making a last-second decision, Lucas turned and headed back to his room, needing to get a few things before he went on duty.
"Hey Tony," he replied to the still-dozing form. "Just came back to get some things before I went on the bridge." A grunt was his only answer.
Lucas snickered lightly, grabbed his stuff, whispered quietly, "See you later, Tony. Don't forget to wake up in time for duty."
Tony grunted once more and rolled over.
*~*
Lucas eyed his meal, hoping it would just disappear. 'It wasn't very good today,' he thought with sarcasm. 'Or the day before, or the day before that...'
"Hey Lucas," a cheerful voice greeted him from behind. "Mind if I sit here?" Lucas didn't even have to turn to know who the voice was from.
"Hi, Captain. Sure, take a seat." He grinned up at Bridger as he sat down.
"Food not too good today?" Bridger asked.
Lucas shook his head. "Not really."
"Lucas..." Bridger said in a warning tone.
Lucas stiffened, but Bridger continued, "Kiddo, you haven't been eating much lately. I asked Doctor Westphalen to check you out. Seems you missed your annual physical, as well."
"Sir... I don't really have the time to go down there right now. Duty and all... Don't forget that I have to work with Darwin, too," he feebly continued.
"I already arranged for you to have the morning off from duty. Now go, before I have to make it an order!" Bridger said threateningly.
Lucas sighed. "Yes, sir." As he turned to go, Bridger spoke again, softer this time.
"Lucas, wait," Bridger called out. "You know I wouldn't do this if I didn't care about you," Bridger added quietly.
"Yes, Captain. I know." With that, Lucas turned to leave the room, his steps slower, as if he was going off to meet his death.
*~*
Lucas found himself in his room instead of getting himself checked out by the doctor. Thankfully, Tony was on duty for a bit longer, and Lucas had the room to himself.
In seconds, Lucas booted up his computer and hacked into the medical database. It was quite easy, really. Not much protection. Well, not enough to keep him out, anyway.
He called up his file. Westphalen herself had never really checked him out, yet. This particular file was from another, private doctor. One whom his father had probably paid off to stay quiet. Slowly he typed out each letter of his name until his entire name flashed before his eyes. Each letter was a heartache in itself; put together, they made him feel miserable.
His finger shaking, he pressed enter. His file stood out, and quickly he went past all of the "age/height/color of eyes" crap and went down to the section entitled NOTES.
NOTES: This subject displays a fairly common case of abuse. Bruised ribs, a few black eyes, and countless hospital visits attest to his injured body. Two broken fingers within a span of one year, and a broken wrist, of which he replied, "I only fell down the stairs. I only fell down the stairs," quiet stubbornly to me when I asked about it. All evidence points to his father, but for a figure of such substantial rank to be accused of such a hideous crime... Even if I brought the case under light, he would merely pay off everyone involved with the case. And I would probably lose my job. But... this kid has suffered a variety of injuries. Most include broken or sprained arms/fingers. Once, he was brought in with a major head trauma, to the local hospital. It's a wonder he survived. And he still stubbornly says he only falls... It is the worst case I have ever seen of abuse.
Lucas sighed, and pressed down hard on the BACK key, tears trickling down his face as the words slowly disappeared from his view.
NOTES: This subject displays a fairly common case of abuse. Bruised ribs, a few black eyes, and countless hospital visits attest to his injured body. Two broken fingers within a span of one year, and a broken wrist, of which he replied, "I only fell down the stairs. I only fell down the stairs," quiet stubbornly to me when I asked about it. All evidence points to his father, but for a figure of such substantial rank to be accused of such a hideous crime... Even if I brought the case under light, he would merely pay off everyone involved with the case. And I would probably lose my job. But... this kid has suff
NOTES: This subject displays a fairly common case of abuse. Bruised ribs, a few black eyes, and countless hospital visits attest to his injured body. Two broken fingers within a span of one year, and a broken wrist, of which he replied, "I only fell down the stairs. I only fell down the stairs," quiet stubbornly to me when I asked about it. All evidence points to his father, but for
NOTES: This subject displays a fairly common case of abuse. Bruised ribs, a few black eyes, and countless hospital visits attest to his injured body. Two broken
NOTES: This subject displays a fairly common case of abuse. Bruised ribs
NOTES: This subject displays
NOTE
And whiteness met his eyes where the words once were. Sighing, he ran his hands through his hair as he closed his eyes, struggling against his inner demons.
If only he could erase his memories as easily... Just press a button, and watch them disappear. Forever.
"Luke?" a small voice asked. Lucas jumped and turned, almost falling out of his chair.
"What are you doing?" Tony asked, trying to peer over the shoulder of Lucas.
"Nothing," Lucas answered defensively. He quickly hit save and the X button, exiting the file. He only breathed a sigh of relief when the accursed file disappeared from sight.
"Now if you'll excuse me, I have to go see Doctor Westphalen," Lucas said as he brushed past Tony.
Tony bewilderedly looked at the now-closed door as he took in Lucas' abrupt leave. Shrugging, he turned to walk further into the room.
'This place was a mess', he thought slowly. 'Why not clean it up for Luke?' He would make it a present for Lucas.
He rooted through stacks of papers as he tried to make sense of the whirlwind that was Lucas.
As he lifted up a page of paper and opened one of Lucas' drawers to stick it in, he stared in shock at the sight that was before him.
Bottle after bottle of pills lay strewn on the bottom of the drawer, ranging from pain medication to anti-depressants.
"Oh, Luke," he moaned. "What have you been doing to yourself?"
tbc