HELLO!

So, if you read my "update" for this fic on my profile, you would've seen that I said I would update by the end of this week... I made it! Well, according to my time-zone anyways, so I'm happy :D

Just quickly, a BIG thank you to my reviewers; seriously, I can't believe I'm at three chapters now and you guys DEFINITELY contributed to this great feat :)

Thank you thank you thank you!

Terranovafan

miaparker

flimmer

Alleycat1

Theseriousjedi

and LittleDreamer2

In all honesty, this chapter isn't all that long and in retrospect it doesn't even have that much, plot development wise, but for some insane reason I felt it an important process. So HERE is the product of my squeezing the contents of my brains out...

BTW, I do not own Terra Nova. But I do hope to own the DVD box set as soon as it comes out :D

ENJOY!

It is another two weeks before consciousness begins to stir in Lucas.

The first time, it is like breathing in new life. The process is slow but all senses are in hyper drive and it is all so overwhelming. He can feel sheets, every stitch coarse beneath his fingers. He can smell antiseptic, burning his nostrils and tingling under his scalp. He can hear everything; the hushed though urgent murmurs of conversing individuals, the tap tap tap of shoes across the linoleum floor, and the constant beep beep of something, all sounds clashing together, like an escalating storm that gets louder and louder and sends his heart pounding into an erratic frenzy–

Lucas tries to open his eyes. Even the subtle glow of light filtering into his room is too much for him to bear, as if the light is shunning his presence away for all the bad he has done. He closes his eyes once more, the world too much for him to process at this point in time.

The second time, the reality hit is not as hard. He uses all his mental strength to keep the world at bay, breathing slowly in and out. He takes his time and focuses on one sense; touch. He feels the covers once again, rippling beneath his fingertips. It is not as rough as it was before. He then turns his consciousness to his body. He feels pretty comfortable actually; he must be lying in a bed.

Focusing on the sounds around him, Lucas does not hear anything different from before. The voices are still there. The tap tap tap, also present. That incessant beeping pervading his mind is still there too. However, the difference between the two former and the latter is that Lucas knows those sounds. What is that beeping?

Lucas takes a deep breath in through his nose; antiseptic. However, this smell is especially distinct. More natural; not as heady, not as toxic as others he can recall. This recognition brings up memories; an initial physical on his arrival from 2142... Being stitched up after a particularly dangerous research mission... No, it couldn't be.

Lucas opens his eyes. Squinting to limit the amount of light entering his retinas, the man scans his surroundings. He had a hunch before, but seeing everything around him now only confirms his fears. He should've known; the Terra Nova infirmary.

How the hell did he get here?

Lucas swallows thickly in confusion and uncertainty. And for the first time, he realises how dry – how parched – his mouth and throat are, all too suddenly, he realises how absolutely famished he is. It must be weeks since he had something to eat.

But first things first; he needs to get the feeling of sand in his throat out. To Lucas' relief, he sees a remote control next to him. Slowly, he inches his stiff arm closer and closer until he is able to grab it with what little strength is left within him. The whole action is agonisingly slow, as if he is moving through wet sand and powerless to get out of it. With a motion that requires the muscles of his entire arm, Lucas presses down on the stiff 'call' button. He knows he's probably already got a death sentence on his head; he may as well get one last drink before his father does the honour.

It takes about a minute or two before a surprised looking intern pops her head in the door frame.

"Water", is all Lucas can manage to say, his voice a desperate, raspy whisper.

The girl's eyes widen at Lucas' ability to communicate. This bed ridden man whose room she's passed many a time and yet, this moment is the first interaction she's had with him. She only nods once and leaves to fulfil his wish.

As Lucas waits as patiently as he can, he allows his mind to wander. That girl... she seemed to be around the same age as Skye. From what little he can recall of Terra Nova back in the early days, they needed all the help they could get. Perhaps Skye was around the infirmary too, doing her part to aid the injured of The Commander's precious colony. Maybe he would get to see her... No – Lucas stops that thought from completely forming. All ties to Skye, fragile though precious to him they were, were severed the moment she shot him in the chest. He knows now, no matter how special he feels their bond is – was – her loyalty would now, and always lie with The Commander.

Now Lucas can feel more emotions stirring; betrayal, hurt, anger... Why did his father get to keep Skye's company, her loyalty? It isn't fair.

His father doesn't deserve all he has; he couldn't, wouldn't save his mother. If he were so great, he should've been able to get them both out of Somalia alive. If he really loved them as much as he said he did, he would've saved his mother. If he really loved Lucas he wouldn't regard him with so much disappointment and contempt –

"U-um..." Lucas darts his head to his side to find that the young girl is back with a plastic cup of water between her hands, shaking ever so slightly. Lucas sits up and reaches for the cup – his own hands shaking from weeks of disuse - takes it in his hands gingerly, takes a sip at first, then gulps the entire contents as quick as he is able, savouring the cool, soothing feeling sliding down his throat, easing the uncomfortable prickling he's been feeling there since he woke up.

Absentmindedly, his eyes flick to just behind the girl, where the source of that incessant beeping is finally revealed; he is hooked up to a heart monitor. He notes that his heart beats are a little over the average rate, most probably due to his escalating thoughts. Well, at least he knows he's still alive...

"Lucas, so glad to see you're awake."

The voice comes from the direction of the room's entryway, right in Lucas' line of sight had he been facing forward. So absorbed with the task of quenching his thirst, so distracted by his surroundings was he, that he had not noticed the presence of more people in his room. However, the second he hears that voice, that deep, commanding baritone, he knows exactly who it is.

Shooting the young intern an accusatory glare, Lucas then arranges his features into that of sly nonchalance. He takes a deep breath in, looks up with sea green eyes, locks onto ones so much like his own, and stares with a penetrating gaze equal to that of the man standing right in front of him.

"Father. To what do I owe the pleasure?"

BAM! what'cha think?

Can you believe this chapter isn't even HALF way through my notes for it? It's actually only two lines worth of "draft" and a LOT shorter than it's supposed to be. This is, in FACT, one of three scenes that are meant to be in this chapter. BUT, this one scene took so annoyingly long that I decided to make it one chapter on its own... Deal with it.

But yeah, NEXT CHAPTER: TAYLOR CONFRONTATION.

Please tell me what you think. Despite the length, I worked pretty hard on this and though it's not particularly plot moving, I like the way it turned out. The process of writing was a pain in my backside but the fruits of my labour are pretty comforting. Please review :)

I know the sentences were preeetty long, but I was going for effect. Did I succeed? Anyways, time to mull over and construct the next chapter! But before that I'ma watch me some "New Girl". I worked through this and DIDN'T procrastinate by watching so I'm itching to get my fix. I think I deserve it :D (I love Nick!)

Just an FYI... If ever you're traipsing around fanfic and wondering if I'll put up a chapter some time, I give updates (kinda) on this fic on my profile; whether I'm working on a chapter or b*tching about how annoying it is to write... Or rather, I intend to :P So if you're curious as to how this fic is moving along, my profile (under all the other random stuff) is where you'll find what you're looking for ;)

ALSO, surfing the net I found pics of the Terra Nova infirmary and my imagination loosely bases this chapter off of them. I'll put up a link on my profile so you know what I'm talking about/where I'm going with this scene :)

Anyways, SORRY for the kinda long AN.

Reviews are very much appreciated :)