A/N: Thank you to all you anonymous reviewers. I appreciate it.
Chapter 2
Southampton, 2022
As Kristin stood to go into her bedroom to start packing, she thought, Bill's absolutely right. This needs to happen. Things might be a little rocky at first, but by the end, everything will be fine, won't it? She gave a nod, trying to confirm it to herself and ignore the bubbling kernel of doubt in her gut.
But that was short-lived, because upon entering her room, she caught her reflection in the mirror and sighed. "Except you don't really believe that, do you?"
She shook her head. "I'm really trying to, but no amount of positive thinking is going to change what we're about to face. I wish I had Bill's optimism, but I can't lie to myself either. Perhaps by the end, things will be fine, but in the beginning?" She sat down in front of the vanity, unable to stop her mind from imagining about a thousand different scenarios. They ran from yelling and screaming at her to downright ignoring her...and everything in between. Either way, none of them were very pleasant.
A slight shudder pulled her back to reality. You can't think about that all now, she chastised herself before looking at the clock. She and Bill had spoken for over an hour, and she'd wasted a bit of time herself, so it was just after ten now. It was going to take her at least an hour to pack. If not longer.
She glanced at her reflection again. "I'll deal with you later. I'd like to be in bed by midnight."
•❤•.❀•ǝʌol sᴉ sᴉɥʇ ɟᴉ•❀.•❤•
It was nearly 11:30 by the time Kristin packed and double-checked she had everything she needed. Well, at least it's a little earlier than I expected, she thought as she changed into her pajamas and went to bed. The moment she lay down, however, worries about the upcoming reunion filled her head. She tossed and turned in an effort to shake them, hoping to just forget about the seaQuest situation and go to sleep, but that didn't seem to work.
"He was devastated after you left. You were the first woman he loved after Carol, and he still loves you," Bill had told her. "Oh, believe you me, he's healed, but I know he still loves you."
She groaned and sat up. "I highly doubt that," she muttered crossly. "I don't even love me right now." Though she was somewhat relieved she hadn't completely destroyed all the friendships from her past, Bill's call had reminded her how much pain she'd caused when she left. She'd nearly forgotten how much it had hurt her, but it was never supposed to go as far as it did. She and Nathan were never supposed to become serious. Or that's what she'd told herself, but her heart had had other plans...
•❤•.❀•ǝʌol sᴉ sᴉɥʇ ɟᴉ•❀.•❤•
Pearl Harbor, 2019
Though the first seaQuest's destruction hadn't been something they'd planned, Kristin saw it as a sign from the heavens. Not that she wanted Nathan's dream destroyed, but she decided it meant the two of them shouldn't be a couple. They'd both waited until the last minute to act on their feelings, and the moment they had, disaster struck? The world was obviously warning them. After the dust had settled, she'd been prepared to move onto something else. Though she wasn't sure what that was, she'd decided to return to England while she figured out her next move. The night before she was supposed to leave, however, she received a call on the vid-phone.
"Westphalen," she answered out of habit, not bothering to look at the screen. "Erm, I'm sorry, I mean-"
"Kristin, it's me," Nathan said with a light laugh. "I didn't mean to get you flustered."
She waved a hand and sheepishly said, "I'm just so used to..."
"I understand; I've been having the same problem myself. Uh, I hope I didn't catch you at a bad time. I know it's a little late. I just... Things have been a little busy these past couple of weeks, and I feel guilty I haven't gotten the chance to touch base with you."
"It's all right; I never go to bed this early. You know that. Things have been hectic for all of us, so I certainly didn't expect you to... Well, I'm sure you've got your hands full with the UEO. I doubt you've had a free moment for yourself." She paused, giving him a warm smile. "I understand, really."
"Maybe not, but I should have..." He sighed, a slight grimace marring his features. "Sorry. Look, the actual reason I was calling is I'd like to see you...on more than just the vid-link, that is."
"Oh, I see," she replied breathily. "I'd love nothing more, but I'm actually not going to be in town much longer. You see, I-"
Nathan nodded. "Yes, that's exactly why I'd like to see you. How about right now? You're not busy, are you?"
"Not particularly, but-"
He didn't allow her to finish. "You're still at the Pearl Hotel, yes?"
"Y-yes, room number 422, but, Nathan, I'm not-"
"I'll be there in ten minutes. See you soon," he told her as the screen went blank.
Kristin sighed. "See you soon," she muttered, glancing around at her room. She was still packing, so she had clothing and other things strewn about. "Guess I'd better tidy up a bit then."
•❤•.❀•ǝʌol sᴉ sᴉɥʇ ɟᴉ•❀.•❤•
Ten minutes later exactly, Nathan knocked on Kristin's door. She did one last survey of the room, deciding it looked presentable enough, and then opened it.
"Hello, there," she said with a smile. "Why don't you-"
Nathan didn't wait for her to finish. Instead, he pulled her into his arms and kissed her, pushing the door closed with his foot.
They stayed that way for several long moments before the need for air became paramount.
"Nathan, what," she said, trying to catch her breath, "was that for?"
"Don't go," he replied, panting for breath himself. "I...I don't want you to go."
Her eyebrows knitted together in confusion as she gently wriggled out of his embrace. "I can't just... I've already made all the arrangements, and without the seaQuest, I'm not sure there's anything more for me here..." She paused as a thought hit her. "Wait a minute. How did you even know I was leaving?"
"Lucas. I can't believe you were going to leave without saying goodbye. After everything, I thought..."
She sighed, took his hand, and led him to the small sofa. "I'm sorry. It wasn't my ideal choice. I tried calling you a few times. I left messages with someone at the UEO offices, and I was always told you were in a meeting or that you were simply too busy to be bothered, but whoever answered always said they'd give you the messages. You'd never returned the calls, so naturally, I assumed... I thought you started to regret the fact that we..."
"No, Kristin, I could never..." He shook his head. "I never received any messages, and believe you me, I'll be giving the secretaries there a stern talking to about it. I promise if I'd known, I would have called you. I know I left you a bit in the dark, but I've just had so much going on, I-"
She gave his hand a squeeze. "Nathan, it's all right. It's not as if we'd been dating for months. We had one almost-dinner and necked a bit. That doesn't exactly mean we were attached. We hadn't even discussed what exactly we were...are, so I don't think it really matters now. You don't owe me an explanation of any sort."
"No, you don't understand." He took her hands in his and looked into her eyes. "The only thing I regret is not acting on my feelings earlier. I had to be so damn stubborn and wait until the last minute. It was some bad timing, but it doesn't mean I want you out of my life. I love you, Kristin, and I promise I won't brush you aside again. Please," he said, squeezing her hands gently, "don't go."
Her mouth fell open slightly. "Nathan, I... This is a little sudden. I...I'm not sure what to say."
"Say yes," he said, kissing her again. "I don't want to lose you."
She thought for a long moment. "I don't want to lose you either. I...I love you, too, but as I said, all the arrangements have been made..."
"So cancel them. I'll help you make the calls if you'd like. Just don't leave."
She bit her bottom lip. "Well, if I stay, I'd still need to find a job and a place to live. I can't stay at the Pearl Hotel forever..."
He smiled softly. "So you're staying?"
She nodded. "I honestly wasn't looking forward to going back home, but I wasn't sure where else to go."
"I can help with that," he told her. "First, let's make the cancellations, and then I'll explain everything."
•❤•.❀•ǝʌol sᴉ sᴉɥʇ ɟᴉ•❀.•❤•
New Cape Quest, 2019
Nathan's help came in the form of relocation, but since he was the one keeping Kristin in the States, she would have followed him anywhere. If they were dating but weren't living in the same area, there would have been no point. The UEO had decided that moving their headquarters from Pearl Harbor to New Cape Quest was better for them financially, especially when it came to the build for the new boat. For Kristin, that was actually ideal, since the labs and the hospital were far larger and more advanced than those in Pearl. They were also closer together, which meant less commuting for her.
Though it was a little fast, Nathan and Kristin decided to move in together. In the beginning, they used separate bedrooms, especially with Lucas added into the mix. She and Nathan were both happy that Dr. Wolenczak agreed to let Lucas move as well, since he'd have business there from time to time. Besides, Lucas loved the seaQuest as much as Nathan; there was no way he'd have been content staying behind.
Not long after the move, they were one happy family. Nathan and Lucas would go off to the base to work on the build for the new boat, and Kristin divided her time between the labs and the hospital. Lucas also wasn't with them all the time. On weekends, he'd spend time with other crew members. Tim, Miguel, and Jonathan were kind enough to spend lots of time with him. Even Ben came to visit on occasion. And with that extra alone time, Nathan and Kristin got even closer. Eventually, they moved into one bedroom, and they lived that way for a few months.
Soon after, though, Kristin noticed that look in Nathan's eyes. It was a look she'd seen many times before, the look of a man truly and hopelessly in love. When men were that in love, they only had one thing on their minds: marriage. She knew a ring was in her near future, and she couldn't have that. She'd been married four times before. She'd also been divorced four times before. She really didn't want to add any more to that list, despite her feelings. She knew it was time to go. After Lucas and Nathan had gone off to work, she called in sick for the the day and began packing.
The moment she started, however, she began to regret it. The thought of leaving cut her to her core.
"I'm not sure I can go through with it after all," she said through tears.
Then maybe you shouldn't, her heart replied. If you're truly happy, why would you want to ruin that?
"You know why we have to go. I was happy with all the others, too, until..." She shook her head. "No, it's better if we go now. We should never have let it get this far as it is."
As she continued to pack, however, every piece of clothing felt as though it weighed a thousand pounds, every item bringing a new wave of fresh tears. After hours spent between deliberation and crying, she made her decision. She wiped the stray tears from her eyes and unpacked.
Glad you see it my way for a change.
Kristin frowned. "I'm not staying forever. I just can't do it today. This...this can only be temporary. I'm just not ready yet."
When Nathan returned home that evening, the first thing she did was wrap her arms around him. "I've missed you," she said, hugging him tightly.
"I've missed you, too," he replied, pulling away to look at her. "Kris? Have you been crying?"
"It's just been a long day," she told him, "but it's better now that you're here." She paused. "Where's Lucas?"
"Oh, the boys took him out bowling. He won't be home for hours. I suppose we could use that to our advantage," he said with a wink.
She simply took his hand and led him to the bedroom.
•❤•.❀•ǝʌol sᴉ sᴉɥʇ ɟᴉ•❀.•❤•
Another three months passed, and they were still incredibly happy. Kristin actually started to entertain the fact she could stay after all...until she found a small box stuffed in the back of Nathan's drawer while she was putting laundry away on her day off.
"Oh, no," she muttered, her hand trembling as she reached out to pick it up. She then shook her head. "Don't be silly. It could be anything. Just because it looks like an engagement ring doesn't mean it is. It could be something else." It could have been a military pin or medal for all she knew. She nodded, confirming it to herself. "Yes, that's it."
Once she opened the box, however, her heart sank. "Damn it, no!" she cried softly, seeing the gold band with a diamond stud nestled in the black velvet and satin. "Oh, Nathan, you idiot, why did you do this? We never even discussed the possibility of marriage." She sighed as she closed the lid and put the ring back where she'd found it. "Well, that settles it."
Settles what? You're not planning on leaving again, are you? I thought you were okay with this. I thought you loved Nathan.
"Love isn't always enough," she said as she pulled out her suitcase. "And I thought you'd understand. You were there with all the others, weren't you? You saw what happened."
But that doesn't mean the same thing will happen again. Nathan's not like that. Maybe if you talked to him about all this, he-
She shook her head. "No, I'd rather not tempt fate. I've been down that road too many times before, and I love him too much to let him go through that. Eventually, he'll be glad to be rid of me. Now, if you'll kindly be quiet, I've got too much to do to argue with you. We've only got a few hours. I want to be long gone by the time he arrives home."
•❤•.❀•ǝʌol sᴉ sᴉɥʇ ɟᴉ•❀.•❤•
Southampton, 2022
Kristin hugged herself as she cried quietly. Though now that the wounds of the past were reopened, she blamed herself for it all...or rather, she blamed her heart. "You...you just couldn't help yourself, could you? You knew we weren't supposed to fall for him, and now look where it's got you," she said through her tears. "You're absolutely hopeless."
It takes two to tango, you know, her heart reminded her.
She sighed shakily. All right, so maybe Nathan did ignite the spark, but she'd been the one who gave in, despite telling herself she couldn't possibly get involved with anyone else. Prior to her CMO position on the seaQuest, Kristin had told herself she was likely swearing off men for good. She was getting too old to play the love game, especially since she found herself on the losing end of it far too many times.
Then she met Nathan Bridger. All it took was for him to catch her eye, and her knees turned to jelly. She fell for him fast and hard, but she hadn't let him know that right away. If he hadn't expressed interest in her, she could have carried on with her one-sided crush without any problem whatsoever. It wasn't as though Nathan would have been the wiser, as she'd been very good at keeping herself in check...at least in the beginning.
Nathan had acted as though he wanted her, but then he suddenly seemed to change his mind. Naturally, she'd assumed she'd been wrong about him, told herself she must have misinterpreted his signals, that she'd mistaken the friendship for something more. That had actually been better in the long run. She'd resigned herself to loving him from a distance, but her heart had been so thrilled at the idea of being with someone that she couldn't stand to be alone. That's when Malcolm came into the picture.
Had she met Malcolm Lansdowne before she met Nathan Bridger, Kristin couldn't imagine herself being remotely attracted to him. She and Malcolm were opposite in many ways, and while opposites attract, she wasn't sure that would have been enough to satisfy her. But Malcolm was a charmer, and when your heart was on the rebound, charming satisfied. She knew full well the relationship wouldn't be long-term, and she suspected Malcolm knew it too, but she dove in, no pun intended, in an attempt to fill the void in her heart.
Once the relationship started, however, Kristin had been looking for a way out. Oh, she'd enjoyed Malcolm's company, but his disorganization bugged the hell out of her, among other things. Though she hadn't expected to be confronted on sea deck by a jealous Nathan, that was her way out. She'd gladly sent Malcolm on his way. If Nathan Bridger wanted her, she vowed to make herself available to him, but that didn't come without reservations. She'd needed time to think about it, decide if it was what she'd truly wanted. Naturally, she'd tried to talk herself out of it at first, remembering her self-inflicted ultimatum.
That had been ideal, since Nathan seemed to get cold feet again as well. Well, maybe it hadn't been cold feet exactly. They'd just been so busy with their work that pursuing a romance fell by the wayside. Occasionally, they shared a few kisses but nothing more...until the end of the tour when Nathan finally made his move.
Kristin hadn't quite complained about that, though. After a bit of humming and hawing, she'd admitted how much she wanted him. Her heart had leaped for joy when Nathan led her to his bunk. Had Lucas not interrupted them, she was sure they'd have ended up in a rather compromising position. And though they did eventually take that step, they'd both said they were happy they'd been interrupted that day. Had it not been Lucas, the world nearly blowing up would have done it instead.
She shook her head at it all now, though. Damn her heart. "If only I hadn't been so stupid," she said, nearly choking on the bitter taste of the words. "If only I'd been able to stop myself, to know that getting involved with Nathan was a mistake..."
But the problem was she couldn't stop herself. Once Nathan had lit that spark within her, she'd have done anything to stoke those fires. That feeling of being in love was so addicting, she'd started to realize she couldn't live without it. It was as vital as oxygen.
"You just had to go and ruin everything for me, didn't you? You just couldn't leave well enough alone."
She took a tissue from her bedside table and dabbed at her eyes. "Of course, if I'd have stuck it out, this wouldn't be happening now, would it? You've made your own bed, and now you're going to have to lie in it. If only..."
"No, don't do this to yourself," she said, reaching over to turn on the lamp. "You know why you had to leave; don't second-guess yourself now. This was for the best, and you know it."
Was it? She chewed nervously on her bottom lip. "Well, at least at the time, it seemed like it was. But if you hadn't left, you know full well it would have ended in tragedy."
She'd never had very good luck in the relationship department, so why should her romance with Nathan Bridger have been any different? "You're absolutely right, but why doesn't that make me feel any better?"
Because you know you still-
"Don't say it!" she cried. "If you already know why, then it doesn't matter anyway, does it?"
I suppose not, but...
"This isn't really helping." Tired of arguing with herself, she pushed herself out of bed and glanced at the clock, seeing it was past midnight now. "So much for getting a good night's sleep," she said with a groan, catching her reflection in the mirror again. "You just couldn't let me forget, could you?"
You did say you'd deal with me later...
Kristin sat down on the vanity stool with a slump. "I'm not ready for this, you know."
It's a little late for that, darling. Unless you've got a plan to get us out of this, we're stuck.
She shook her head. "I don't really have a good excuse, and everyone at the lab is counting on me. I just feel so..."
Alone? Guilty? Afraid?
She buried her head in her hands. "All of the above and then some. I just don't..." She felt tears sting her eyes once again. "If Nathan... What if...?" Kristin knew she wasn't going to get any sleep this way, but she just couldn't stop worrying. Or wondering if anything would ever fill the deep hole inside her. "I don't know what else to do."
Just give in and let it out. It's what you need.
She cried quietly. "Oh, Nathan, I wish..." She trailed off as her soft cries turned into violent sobs.
•❤•.❀•ǝʌol sᴉ sᴉɥʇ ɟᴉ•❀.•❤•
"Damn it," Kristin swore under her breath when she awoke to the sound of the alarm. She didn't remember much from the night before, beyond having an emotional meltdown. Apparently, at some point, she'd moved to the floor, because that was where she slept. She was now paying the price, because her stiff body moaned in protest at every movement.
"Serves you right," she muttered as she stumbled across the room to slap off the obnoxious alarm. She hoped a hot shower would help her muscles relax. She walked into the bathroom and stood in front of the mirror. "My God, Kristin, you look like hell." Dark circles rimmed her eyes, and her face was red and puffy from crying.
Ugh, well, let's hope that shower does miracles.
Twenty minutes later, Kristin was washed and dressed, her muscles a little less achy than they were before. Upon looking in the mirror once again, her face looked mostly presentable, but not even the shower could erase the dark circles. She frowned and dabbed some concealer under her eyes and rubbed it in. There, that looks a little better, she thought with a nod. And even if it didn't, she really didn't have time to worry about it. She needed to get her car packed if she expected to be at the docks on time.
•❤•.❀•ǝʌol sᴉ sᴉɥʇ ɟᴉ•❀.•❤•
Southampton Docks
When Kristin arrived at the docks, she was relieved to find the launch wasn't there yet, despite her watch saying she was five minutes late. Maybe it won't show up and I can forget this whole mess? she thought hopefully.
A moment later, she shook her head. No way am I that lucky.
Just as she was lugging her bags out of the trunk, the launch pulled onto shore. She half-expected to see Chief Crocker open the hatch. More than anything, she hoped to see a familiar face to ease her mind. Instead, she saw a young, handsome sailor walk up to her with a warm smile.
"I understand you're looking to hitch a ride," he said with a light laugh, holding out his hand in greeting. "Lieutenant Jim Brody."
She took it and gave it a shake. "It looks that way, Mr. Brody. Dr. Kristin Westphalen. Nice to meet you."
"Likewise," he told her, moving in front of her and picking up her heavy bags like they were nothing. "But please, call me Jim, Doctor." He paused and gave her a look, making Kristin feel self-conscious under his scrutiny. "Forgive me for saying so, but you look very familiar. We haven't met before, have we?"
"I don't think so," she said with a shake of her head, "but actually, I-"
"That's it! I've seen you in photos."
She felt a rush of heat to her cheeks. Did Nathan still have photos of her? She made sure to keep her voice neutral. "You have?"
"Yeah, Lucas has some on his wall. You were the CMO on the first boat?"
She nodded, relief washing over her upon hearing it was Lucas, not Nathan. "That's why the secretary general was so eager to have me, since I know the ropes, so to speak."
"Yeah, that makes sense," he replied as he set her bags down in front of the hatch and held out his hand to help her inside. "Then I don't need to worry about you not having your sea legs."
She accepted his hand and stepped inside, glad to see it wasn't launch MR-7. Launch MR-6 had always been a much better number for her anyway. "Not at all. Though it's been a little while, I think it's like riding a bicycle."
"That's what they say," he said with a nod. "Since you've been through this before, just have a seat. I'll get your bags secured, and I'll see you shortly."
"Thank you, Mr.-" She cleared her throat. "Uh, I mean, Jim. Thank you, Jim."
"Sure thing, Doc. Sure thing."
As Kristin moved to her seat and strapped in, she finally released the breath she hadn't realized she'd been holding. Her meeting with Mr. Brody had been fairly painless, so it was a pleasant start to the day. If that was going to be the precedent, then her stint on the seaQuest was going to be much easier than she'd thought. Let's hope so, she thought, crossing her fingers.
•❤•.❀•ǝʌol sᴉ sᴉɥʇ ɟᴉ•❀.•❤•
Launch MR-6
The next thing Kristin knew, Lieutenant Brody was gently shaking her shoulder. "Dr. Westphalen, wake up. We're here."
"Huh?" she muttered as her eyes fluttered open and she looked around. Becoming aware of her surroundings, her cheeks warmed. "Oh, I...I am so sorry. I didn't mean-" She ran a hand through her hair. "I didn't sleep very well last night, and I guess I-"
Jim waved a hand. "It's all right, really. The fact you slept the whole way here shows you trust my driving skills. It's good to know someone does," he said with a wink.
Kristin tried to laugh as she unhooked her seat belt. "Maybe so, but I obviously wasn't a very good traveling partner. You must have been bored to tears."
He shook his head. "Nah, it gave me a chance to take in the scenery and listen to some great tunes. Besides, I'm sure we'll have lots of time to get to know one another while you're here."
She nodded. "Of course, but, um, could you do me a favor?"
"We've known each other for all of five minutes, and you're already asking me for favors?" he said with mock surprise, a hand to his chest. "I don't know, Doc, depends on what it is."
"I can see you're going to be trouble," she said with a laugh.
"You have no idea," he replied, "but believe it or not, I'm the good one. It's Tony you need to watch out for."
"I'll remember that, but I'll be fine. Have you heard of Ben Krieg?"
"I've heard a thing or two, yeah," Jim replied.
"Well, after him, I think anyone else would be a walk in the park." Kristin's shoulders lifted in a slight shrug. "And I have to say, you are helping me relax a bit. You see, I'm a little nervous about seeing everyone I used to know."
Jim's brow rose. "Really? Oh, Doc, I wouldn't worry. Believe me, I've heard so many good things about you. Everyone's going to be thrilled to see you, and I promise, the new ones are easy to get along with. Tony might be a little naughty, but he's a good guy, I promise."
"Right," she said with a nod. "I'm sure they're all lovely, and I know the old ones are too, but... I just didn't know if they'd want an old reminder of their past is all. We didn't always have the best of times, you see." She sighed. "I was just wondering... Could you not spread it around that I'm here, please? I wanted it to be a surprise, and if you go telling the others..."
"I understand, Doc. I promise my lips are sealed. Now, why don't we go inside? Dr. Smith is supposed to be waiting for you." He gave her arm a squeeze. "And don't worry about a thing. Everything will be just fine."
She offered him a smile, mainly to stop herself from bursting into tears, albeit happy ones. "Thank you, Jim. That's really very sweet of you."
"Anytime, Doc. I'll go get your bags, and then we'll head inside."
•❤•.❀•ǝʌol sᴉ sᴉɥʇ ɟᴉ•❀.•❤•
seaQuest, North Sea, near the Norwegian Trench
Kristin was thankful she wasn't walking through those launch bay doors alone. She wasn't sure who might be waiting on the other side, and if Nathan were there, she might need Lieutenant Brody to catch her when she fainted. Or at least she felt as though she were going to fall over. She felt light-headed, and her legs felt like stalks of straw. But she couldn't stay in the launch all day, much as she might like. She took several deep, calming breaths, shut her eyes tightly, and pushed her way through the doors. The moment she heard her name being called, she risked a peek and was both surprised and relieved to see Nathan wasn't there. She turned to see a younger woman with shoulder-length dark hair and piercing blue eyes. Though she wasn't wearing a lab coat, Kristin guessed she was Wendy.
"Dr. Westphalen?" she said again, holding out her hand. "I'm Dr. Wendy Smith. I'm so pleased to make your acquaintance. The secretary general has told me so much about you; I feel like I know you already. Then again, I'm familiar with your work. It's such an honor to meet you, really." She laughed nervously. "And I realize I'm bombarding you. Sorry, I'm just so excited to have you here. How was your trip?"
"Just fine," Jim replied for her, Kristin's bags in his hands. "She was in good hands, and she was a model passenger. I barely remembered she was there." He flashed Kristin a grin.
Kristin nodded, returning the smile. "Yes, he was a perfect gentleman, I assure you." She turned and looked down the corridor but didn't see anyone she recognized. "Mr. Brody-"
Jim cleared his throat.
"Um, Jim and I have already become friends. He's a good man."
"Yes, he is," Wendy replied, placing a hand on her arm. "I know you're probably eager to see your old friends, but most of the senior staff is in a meeting at the moment. Captain Bridger said he'll stop in later to greet the new scientist." She lowered her voice and leaned in close. "And don't worry, he doesn't suspect a thing, Doctor."
Kristin felt her cheeks go warm, but she offered a smile. "That's very good, thank you. It's just been so long, I-"
"I understand, really. I'm sure everyone will be thrilled to have you here."
Kristin stifled an unladylike snort; she still had her doubts.
"Lucas talks about you all the time. But I promise, we're not going to keep you in launch bay all day, Dr. Westphalen, so what would you rather do first? Would you rather see the labs and med bay or would you rather see the rest of the boat first?" Wendy asked. "Or would you rather be shown to your room first?"
"Uh, well..." Kristin thought for a moment. Knowing Nathan was in a meeting meant she'd have a reprieve for the time being, and if she went traipsing about the boat, that meant she could bump into him unexpectedly. "I think I'll see the labs first, my room second, the rest of the boat last."
Wendy gave a nod. "I was actually hoping you'd say that. Jim will take your bags to your room, and you can follow me."
Kristin did so, but on the way there, she got to see a little bit of the new boat. It definitely reminded her of the old boat in some ways, but it was still very different. The one thing she noticed was Darwin swimming through the aqua tubes, and just that made her feel at home. She hadn't realized how much she'd missed that dolphin, and she wondered if he felt the same...or even remembered her. She was so lost in her own world that she didn't even see who approached them.
"Wendy, do I do it now?"
Kristin turned towards the voice and was somewhat surprised to see a very large GELF holding a bouquet of homemade flowers.
"I think now's as good a time as any," Wendy replied, putting an arm around around his shoulders and gently leading him forward. "Dr. Westphalen, this is Dagwood. Dagwood, this is Dr. Westphalen."
Dagwood thrust the flowers towards Kristin. "Wendy said you'd enjoy these. I didn't have any real ones, so I made them for you. I did the same thing a few months ago for Dr. Smith's birthday."
"Oh, thank you, Dagwood. She's right, I love them. I couldn't think of a nicer present; I'll never have to worry about watering them." She took his hand in greeting. "And you can call me Kristin, by the way." She then turned to Wendy. "And you, too. I've been meaning to tell you that."
Wendy nodded. "Kristin, you got it."
"Kristin," Dagwood replied. "I'll remember that. It's very pretty."
She laughed softly. "Thank you."
"Well, I better get back to work; the boat won't clean itself, you know. I'm sure I'll see you around. Bye," he said with a wave.
"Bye, Dagwood," Kristin said, waving back.
As soon as he walked away, Wendy turned to her. "Dagwood's very special."
"I can see that, though I can't help but wonder..."
"How a GELF came to live on the seaQuest?" Wendy finished for her. "I think it's the UEO's way of trying to make peace with them, for everything they've done to them." She shrugged. "They assigned him to custodial duties here, but he's more than just the janitor. He's one of us."
Kristin nodded. "And I wouldn't expect anything less. Secretary General Noyce assured me he made some positive changes in the last few years. I suppose that's one of them."
"I'd say so," Wendy said, turning back to her. "Well, are you ready to see the labs?"
"Definitely."
"Follow me, then. You can put those flowers in my office for now and pick them up later if you'd like."