Pacific Ocean in the North Equatorial counter-current

Aboard SeaQuest

Two days later, Nathan sat at his desk thoughtfully looking over some papers. As much as he tried to concentrate on his work, his mind kept wondering to Lucas. The last two days had been strange at best. Lucas had been MIA for most of his duties and when approached, he had been belligerent and rude to anyone who dared to question him. Nathan had tried to give him some breathing space to work out whatever teenage crisis he was going through, but it was getting to the point of ridiculousness; he knew he was going to need to intercede. The question was how to intervene in a constructive, proactive way. It was obvious the kid had some sort of chip on his shoulder since he had come back to SeaQuest, and Nathan wanted to find out what was going on in his head. Nathan was brought back out of his thoughts as his com-link rang out loudly. He answered to hear O'Neill's voice.

"Captain, you're wanted on the bridge."

"I'll be there in a few minutes, Lieutenant."

"Aye, sir."

Nathan stood up and stretched with his thoughts still on Lucas. He decided to take a detour past Lucas' room on his way to the bridge. The kid had been hiding out in his room as much as he could the last few days, and he figured that would be where he would be. Nathan was rewarded with loud music pumping from the boy's room. The door was cracked open which allowed Nathan an opportunity to steal a look inside unnoticed. Nathan glanced in to see Lucas messaging with a friend. The conversation seemed strained which couldn't help to pique Nathans curiosity. Usually Lucas conversations were lightheartedly riddled with boyish silliness.

Lucas heard a noise behind him and quickly dropped the connection on the computer. He rose to his feet putting on the glasses and furrowing his brow when he saw the captain standing in front of him. He silently berated himself for not being more careful to lock his door. Nathan imagined the glare in the boy's eyes behind the glasses.

"What do you want?" asked the teen sharply.

"I was on the way to the bridge, and I thought I'd stop in and say hello," commented Nathan with a friendly smile ignoring the boy's coldness.

"Ok…hello," replied Lucas unimpressed.

"Lucas, what's with the glasses? Some sort of fashion trend on Node three?" said Nathan trying to understand the boy.

"Um, yah, something like that," mumbled the boy flatly.

"Why don't you come to the bridge with me?" asked Nathan hoping to draw the boy back into his world. Lucas shook his head and turned away. He felt tears come to his eyes as he hated pushing the captain away, but he felt like he had no choice.

"Do I have to?" asked Lucas almost whining. Nathan cringed slightly and sighed.

"No, Lucas, you don't have to, but I would love your company. Look, even Darwin wants to see you," said Nathan pointing at the gloomy dolphin who seemed to be holding himself hostage outside of Lucas room. Lucas looked at Darwin and dropped his shoulders. He missed the friendly animal too. He had been talking to Darwin often but hadn't spent any time with him since coming back. He couldn't risk being seen without the makeup and the glasses. Not yet. He needed more time to heal. He needed more time to sleep and shake off what happened. The more days that had passed had only increased his nightmares and deepened the bruises.

"I'd rather be alone, Captain, if it's all the same to you." Nathan sighed in defeat. "Fine, Lucas, if that's what you want. However, I need you to be on time for your next shift with Kristen. She said that you have been late for all your duties since you returned and that you've been distant and sullen. Please do what you can to remedy that ok?" warned Nathan sternly. Lucas nodded brusquely. Nathan looked at the boy again and bid him goodbye heading towards the bridge. The meeting had only served to leave him more upset and concerned about the boy.

Several hours later, Lucas assumed his position on c-deck looking at slides for the doctor. He had made sure to be prompt as he had heard the stern tone in the captain's voice. He didn't intend to get into any trouble while trying to avoid everyone. He wanted to lie as low as possible. Sitting down at his monitor, he had removed the sun glasses and glued himself to his work. He loved working in the science department; the work made him feel useful. He glanced at the slides and made notes on his report losing himself in the work feeling grateful for the distraction. Out of the corner of his eye, he could see Darwin hovering at the moonpool. The animal had not left the veesel to feed yet that day.

"Darwin, you should really go eat fella. Aren't you hungry?" said Lucas still staring at slides. The animal nodded his head and chirped and splashed water towards Lucas. Lucas sighed with a laugh. He stood up and walked towards the moonpool reaching in and stroking the dolphin tenderly.

"I'm sorry Darwin, I promise to play with you after my shift today okay?" said Lucas switching on the vocorder. Suddenly Darwin's chirps and whistles filled the room with a flurry of words.

"Lucas hurt," squealed the dolphin.

"Shh quiet, Darwin, I'm fine. Please don't say that to anyone okay? Please!" pleaded Lucas not realizing the dolphin was able to discern that he was hurt. Darwin chirped the same thing over and over seeming to be in distress. Lucas quickly turned off the vocorder and opened the machine angrily pulling some at some wires disabling the unit. Darwin breached a few times and continued to act very restless.

"Go feed, Darwin. I'm fine!" shouted Lucas at the mammal tossing a sponge at him. The dolphin dove deep into the pool avoiding the sponge and swam off leaving Lucas alone feeling even more miserable. He stood staring at the moonpool feeling exhausted and haunted. He needed to get away. Maybe he needed to just leave the seaQuest and get some space. He was no good to anyone, and his dreams haunted him relentlessly. Every night he was strangled, and every night he woke in a cold sweat trembling in terror. Nick had told him that Juliana wasn't herself and looked like she hadn't slept well since he left. Mycroft's replacement hadn't arrived yet, and she was too dedicated to leave Node three until then. Lucas worried about her incessantly. Nick acted like nothing happened, yet Lucas could see the black circles under his eyes; Nick was still frightened too. It's my entire fault, thought Lucas bleakly. He should have spoke up before Mycroft became so irrational. Lucas had known almost immediately that the hacking was wrong. It might not have been immoral, but it certainly had been illegal. That knowledge alone should have made him alert Captain Bridger. For crying out loud, he knew better! Damn it, why hadn't he, thought Lucas silently berating himself up. He knew how hard the UEO worked to maintain peace and tranquility. He knew! Lucas pounded his fist on the side of the moonpool angrily.

"Hey, Lucas, my man, just the guy I was looking for," said the voice of Lt. Krieg as he entered the c-deck. Lucas stiffened and refused to turn around.

"What do you want?" retorted Lucas. Ben Krieg squinted at the boy whose back was to him and wondered what was wrong. Lucas was usually excited to see him and always overjoyed to join him on any practical jokes he might have planned for crew members. Ben walked over and clapped the boy on the back kindly. Lucas turned away silently chiding himself for taking off his sunglasses.

"Um… I have the perfect movie for you, my friend. Wild chicks from planet Meroe and plenty of popcorn…dude, this movie will teach you the birds and the bees in full techno colour. Of course, being that I'm a responsible adult, I will need to cover your eyes during the umm…educational parts but hey, what are big brothers for?" chuckled the dark haired man. Part of Lucas wanted to confide in Ben. Ben was very much like a big brother. He was a big goof and loads of fun but also very trustworthy. Ben was always there when he needed a friend or just someone to goof around with. Lucas hated feeling like he had to be mean. He just didn't know how else to get Ben to leave him alone.

"Go away, Ben. I have too much to do today. Go find Tim or Miguel to bug!" snapped Lucas shaking Ben's hand off his back and walking away.

"Hey buddy, what gives?" asked Ben with obvious hurt in his voice.

"Just go away Ben!" snapped Lucas wincing at his own voice. Lucas kept walking leaving Ben standing on the c-deck alone.

Lucas walked slowly to his room. He shook his head feeling sick to his stomach. He had left his post with his work undone, and he had left his glasses at his desk. Damn it, he cursed as he pounded his fist on his door. He would have to find his way back and get those glasses without anyone seeing his face.

Lucas' PAL rang in his pocket and he answered it irritably.

"WHAT?" he snapped.

"To the bridge, Mr. Wolenczak," stated a stern voice that Lucas recognized as Captain Bridger. Lucas groaned feeling trapped.

"Uh, captain, I can't come right now."

"Now, Lucas. Tim needs some help with the mainframe sensors." Lucas swore out loud and leaned against the wall feeling worn out. He was getting tired of trying to avoid everyone. It was virtually impossible.

"Tell him to figure it out himself!" mumbled Lucas crossly. He disconnected the call, removed the PAL and dropped it on the floor. He needed a place to hide out. He couldn't keep avoiding everyone. He ran to his room, filled his backpack with some essentials and took off down the corridor in search of a hiding place.

Nathan felt his temper flare when Lucas ended his call. The boy had pushed him over his last nerve. What was going on with him? Ever since he had returned back from the Node and even before, Lucas had been irritable and flippant. The kid had a chip on his shoulder, and Nathan wanted to know why now. He was finished with being patient waiting for the boy to come to him. Lucas was going to tell him what the hell was going on with him, and he was going to do it now.

"You have the Bridge, Commander. I need to find a certain young man and have a little chat." Jonathan nodded and took the captain's place at the helm. Nathan quickly left the bridge and walked onto the Mag-lev. He sat down and rubbed the back of his neck stiffly. He attempted to connect Lucas by his PAL with no response. He didn't know if he should be worried or angry but both emotions stormed inside of him. Something was wrong and he needed to get to the bottom of it. When Nathan reached his stop, he walked towards Lucas' room with a clear purpose in mind. Once he reached the teenagers room, he quickly discovered that the boy was missing. Nathan combed areas on SeaQuest where Lucas could be normally found with no luck. Minutes turned into an hour and still he could find no trace of him other than the silly sunglasses at his work station on c-deck. Nathan's irritation turned to deep unease. It wasn't like Lucas to go missing completely. With foreboding worry in his gut, Nathan called an emergency meeting with his senior staff.

Within a half hour, Nathan walked into the ward room mumbling under his breath as his senior crew spoke quietly amongst themselves. They all were well aware of Lucas' strange behaviour the last few weeks, but no one knew that Lucas had disappeared. Nathan sat down collecting his thoughts silently.

"The kid needs an adjustment to his brain upload mechanism," mumbled Jonathan Ford in irritation looking at his captain. Nathan smirked. It had been twice that week that Jonathan had to pick up the pieces of Lucas' disorder, and both times had been a huge inconvenience to him. Ben groaned and elbowed Jonathan harshly in response to the remark.

"Uh, Commander, that kind of thing went out with the stone ages," said Ben snidely jeering at him. Jonathan scowled at Ben still annoyed.

"A few adjustments to your brain upload mechanism as a kid might have been useful as well," commented Jonathan sarcastically. Ben made a face in response but remained quiet. Kristen looked at the man in confusion. It took a lot to silence the joker of the group.

"Brain upload mechanism?" she questioned curiously. Chief Crocker laughed out loud with a twinkle in his eye.

"Uh… a good old fashioned kick in the pants, Doc," replied the jovial man still smirking. Kristen looked at the men in astonishment.

"That's simply barbaric," she stated with disgust in her voice. Crocker, Jonathan, Tim and Miguel chuckled loudly in amusement at her reaction. Katie glanced at Kristen in sympathy, and Ben remained quiet. Kristen turned her attention to Captain Bridger for support. Nathan shrugged and stood up.

"After the last few weeks, it doesn't sound like a bad idea to me," commented Nathan flatly. The room broke into laughter at the captain's remark helping to alleviate some of the tension.

"Nathan Bridger," gasped Kristin in dismay. Nathan raised his eyebrows slightly and held up his hand in an attempt to calm the woman. She stared darts at him.

"I'm kidding, Kristin," he asserted gently. Kristen nodded hesitantly but remained silent. Her expression and body language showed she was obviously annoyed with him.

Nathan proceeded to update his crew on the events of the morning and afternoon and that Lucas was currently missing. Everyone sobered as Nathan continued explaining what he knew. Various crew members shared similar stories of Lucas' behaviour including Ben who was a little less forthright. It was apparent that no one knew what was eating the kid, and everyone was concerned.

"Uh, Cap, this is a submarine. How far can the scallywag go?" commented Crocker wisely. Nathan nodded in agreement.

"I know, Chief, but I've looked everywhere, and I've had no luck finding him. I just want everyone to be on the lookout for him. He isn't answering his PAL, he's not in his room, and I've looked in all his usual hangouts with no success," replied Nathan sighing wearily.

"He'll show up, Captain," reassured Katie kindly. "Sometimes kids just need some space, and it's hard to come by on this boat. There aren't many places to hide on this sub. We'll find him." Nathan nodded and smiled at her. He appreciated her good-natured reply. Right now he needed some reassurance.

"If anyone finds him, please contact me right away alright?" The group in front of him all nodded respectfully. "Okay, dismissed." Nathan watched as his crew exited the room talking quietly amongst themselves about places to look. Kristen and Chief Crocker remained behind.

"We'll find him, Cap, don't you worry. Has Darwin seen him?" Nathan looked up startled at the suggestion.

"I hadn't thought to ask, Chief, thanks for the idea," commented Nathan cheerful at the thought. If anyone knew where Lucas was, it was Darwin. The dolphin made it his purpose in life to know Lucas' whereabouts all the time. He was like a dog following his master. Crocker smiled at his old friend and exited the room.

Kristen stood up and put her hand on Nathans arm kindly. She looked at Nathan and could see the worry in his eyes. Nathan smiled slightly at her.

"I can't stop falling into the trap of being parental," he said shaking his head. Kristin smiled sympathetically. She was also worried about the teenager.

"They are supposed to irritate us, it's their job. But I hope you weren't serious before." Kristen couldn't help mentioning the previous topic in concern. Nathan shook his head and chuckled in spite of himself. Kristin reminded him of his late wife, Carol, when their son, Robert, was in trouble. She was always trying to shield him from consequences.

"Let's go talk with Darwin."