Author's note: Thanks for continuing to review, guys - appreciate it. And see, Lawrence did come to see Lucas so his concern was sincere!
Bridger stretched his stiff muscles and stood up. Was it a law that the most uncomfortable chairs in a hospital or medical facility had to be placed in the patient rooms to torment those waiting at the bedside?
He glanced at his watch. He'd have time for a quick shower and a bite to eat before he needed to be on the bridge.
He surveyed the still figure in the bed beside him. Three days now and no change. He brushed the soft blond hair from Lucas' forehead, being careful to avoid the bandaged gash on his head. Lucas breathed shallowly, but at least he was still breathing.
The door opened and Ben Krieg stepped inside. "Any change, sir?" he asked. A look of disappointment crossed his face as Bridger shook his head.
"Still the same," he said, lifting Lucas' hand in his and feeling its laxness. "Kristin says we need to be patient, but the longer he's unconscious – " He broke off, unable to continue. He'd been alone on his island for so long, and he'd never thought he'd let anyone get close to him again except for the dolphins. But Lucas had become a part of his life so effortlessly. He couldn't imagine never seeing that impudent grin again.
"There's still hope, sir," Ben said. "I won't give up on him, and I know Kristen won't either." His voice was adamant. Bridger knew Krieg from the friendship he had had with Nathan's son Robert, and while others might see Krieg as superficial and shallow, he knew that a fierce loyalty to those he loved was part of Krieg's make-up. Krieg had struck up a friendship with Lucas from the very first and if Bridger was any judge of things, he now loved Lucas like a little brother.
"You should try to get a little rest, sir," Ben suggested. "We've got the schedule covered for the rest of today. I'll be with Lucas until two, then Miguel, then Tim. We've got people clamoring to help out by sitting with him, sir, so if you want to get some rest in your own bunk tonight, that's no problem." Bridger had been dozing beside Lucas' bed in Medbay for the last three nights, and Ben thought he looked exhausted.
"Thanks, Ben, but I'll be back at my usual time," Bridger answered. He touched Lucas' face and said softly, "I'll be back later, kiddo," before leaving the room.
Ben took the chair that the captain had recently vacated. He reached onto the shelf of the bedside stand and pulled out a copy of Treasure Island. "Okay, let's see now," he said, settling himself into the chair and opening the book. "Jim had just met Ben Gunn when we stopped reading yesterday, so we'll pick up there. You know," he said, patting Lucas' hand, "I still can't believe you've never read Treasure Island. When we were talking about classics that day and you said you'd read War and Peace, Moby Dick, and A Tale of Two Cities but never read Treasure Island, I was shocked. I mean, really, what kid has never read Treasure Island? But we'll remedy that by the time you're up and around again."
Ben kept his voice light and upbeat, but with every passing day, it was getting harder. Why did something like this have to happen to Lucas? Out of all the people on the boat, Lucas probably had the most to offer the world. The work he had already done as a 16-year-old surpassed what most people could accomplish in a lifetime. But what Ben always saw, underneath the bravado and the confidence, was the neglected kid who couldn't believe that anyone really wanted him around. Ben had made it his goal to show Lucas he was wanted not just for what he could do for people, but because of who he was. He wasn't always sure he was successful, but he did think he had made a difference in alleviating some of Lucas' self-worth issues. He just wanted a whole bunch more time to keep trying.
Later that evening, Bridger stopped by the moonpool on his way back to Medbay. As he approached the pool, Darwin's head broke the surface of the water at the edge of the pool. "Hello, Darwin," Bridger said, approaching the dolphin and stroking his sleek head.
"Bridger," Darwin's voice, translated through the now-repaired vocoder, responded. "Lucas is better?"
Bridger sighed. "No, not yet, Darwin," he said. "Lucas is still not awake. I'm going to stay with him tonight after I leave here."
Darwin moved his head restlessly. "Darwin should have helped Lucas better," he said. "Darwin could not tell people Lucas was hurt."
Bridger shook his head in amazement. It seemed that misplaced self-blame was not a peculiarly human emotion. "Darwin, it's not your fault," he said, patting the dolphin. "The vocoder was broken. But you did everything you could. If it hadn't been for you, we wouldn't have found Lucas until much later. I believe you saved his life."
"Darwin should have tried harder," the dolphin said stubbornly. "Darwin should have helped Lucas faster."
"You did the very best you could," Bridger assured the dolphin. "And I know Lucas will tell you the same thing just as soon as he wakes up." And please God, let that be soon, he added silently.
"Hello, kiddo," Bridger said softly, smoothing the hair back from Lucas' forehead. "I missed you today. Don't you want to wake up and talk to me?"
It had been a week now, and still no change. Kristen said it was too early to give up hope, and Bridger knew he never would no matter how long it took, but he had overheard some of the crew talking about what a shame it was to lose such a brilliant mind.
Dr. Wolenczak had been there earlier. It was his third visit in as many days. He had stayed for a few hours, sitting by Lucas' side and talking to him softly. Bridger couldn't help but think how amazed Lucas would have been that his father had given him that much of his time.
"Hello, Nathan," a British-accented voice came from behind him. "Are you here for the night shift again?"
Bridger turned to see Kristin Westphalen behind him. She looked exhausted. He knew she was only grabbing sleep for herself in small snatches. She and Nathan had spent many of the early morning hours talking quietly by Lucas' bedside as they both held vigil there.
"You need some sleep, Kristin," Nathan said, touching her arm sympathetically. "You look totally exhausted."
"I'm fine," Kristen responded. "I can sleep once Lucas is out of danger."
"Is there any change?" Bridger asked, reaching out for Lucas' hand.
"No, not really. I just have this feeling – " Kristin broke off, laughing embarrassedly. "Lord, that sounds ridiculous. But I just feel like I need to be here tonight."
"I'm glad for the company," Bridger said. He pulled up another chair for Kristen beside his and they settled in for the long night.
A few hours later, Bridger and Kristen were both asleep when alarms went off on Lucas' monitoring equipment. They both jumped from their chairs. Kristen's practiced eye scanned the monitors and she started snapping out orders to the nurses who had rushed into the room. "Get the crash cart in here now!" she said. A nurse was already rolling the cart in. "Charge the paddles to 200," Kristen said as she opened Lucas' hospital gown and bared his chest.
Bridger was frozen, his eyes fixed on the flat line scrolling across the heart monitor. "Don't do this to me, Lucas," he said quietly. "You can't do this to me!" He stood by helplessly as the frantic activity around the bed continued.