Chapter 9

As Kristin was on her way to her quarters, she happened to notice Katie at the other end of the hallway. Since she hadn't seen her since she'd been back, she smiled and waved, but Katie didn't return the gesture. The younger woman was looking in the other direction.

Thinking she was lost in thought, she approached her carefully. "My, you're up late."

Only Katie didn't answer. She turned to look at Kristin, only she wasn't looking at her. She was looking past her.

"Katie, dear?" Kristin said again. She moved to place a hand on her shoulder, but it went straight through.

At first, Kristin shook her head, thinking she must have misjudged where to put her hand, so she tried it once more. And again, her hand went through Katie's shoulder. "What in the world?" she muttered.

She shook her head once again. No, this couldn't be happening. Things like this only happen in fiction. One more time, she tried putting her arm around Katie's shoulders. Yet again, it went clean through.

Kristin ran a hand through her hair. This couldn't be happening. She had to be dreaming...wasn't she? Only she'd just been with Nathan, and she knew that wasn't a dream. It couldn't have been.

Suddenly Katie turned and looked directly at her.

"Katie?" she said weakly. "Katie, can you hear me?"

She received no answer. Instead, Katie walked past her as if she wasn't there at all.

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After cleaning up, Nathan sat down on his bunk, reflecting on the evening. He was happy...somewhat anyway. He'd finally told Kristin how he felt about her. It was just too bad it wasn't exactly real. Well, it was, and it wasn't. Oh, it had indeed happened. The question was if Kristin would remember it...and if she would come back to him.

When he'd had such encounters in the past -if 'encounter' was even the right word- he'd never seen the others alive again. So did that mean-

He shook his head. "You can't think that way. This time... It might be different."

Only he didn't sound very convincing. Still, he didn't want to think about it anymore. He rolled over and tried to find a comfortable position. He just wanted to go to sleep, wanted to forget about the events of the day and start again tomorrow.

"Then, I'll find her," he breathed. He only hoped she'd be alive when he got there. He shut his eyes, said a quick prayer for her safety, and drifted off to sleep.

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When he woke, he was standing on the beach of his island. He looked around and saw a blonde-haired woman in a long, white dress standing several feet away from him. Though her back was turned, he felt she looked familiar to him. He approached her carefully and placed a hand on her shoulder, and she turned to face him, a warm smile on her face.

"Hello, darling. I've missed you terribly."

"Carol, how did you-" He placed his hands on her shoulders, looking her up and down, unsure if she was real. "How is this-" He pulled her into his arms, and she felt so...warm. "Oh, sweetheart," he said softly, tears springing to his eyes. "I... I never thought I'd be able to do that again. It's been so long." He buried his face in her hair and breathed in. She smelled like roses. He'd forgotten...

"I've missed you, too, dear...more than you know," she replied, gently pulling away from him. "But... You need to understand I can't stay. This is just...business."

"So this is a dream after all?"

"Of sorts," she said with a nod, taking his hand in hers. "Come walk with me."

"Where are we going?"

"You'll see."

Suddenly, there was a flash of light, and in a split-second, they were standing in front of a brick house. Nathan looked around; they were no longer on the island.

"Where... Where are we?" he asked in surprise.

"You'll find out. Let's go inside," Carol told him. She started up the pink and red flower-lined walkway, opened the door, and stepped inside without knocking.

Nathan's brow furrowed in question, but he followed her. When he stepped inside, he came upon a small entryway, which led to a living room. The first thing he noticed was that everything in the home seemed so neat, tidy, and organized. Absolutely nothing was out of place. There were wooden floors, but there was a beige-colored area rug with a pink and green floral pattern. On the back wall stood a large book case filled to the brim. Beside it stood a china cabinet. A fireplace sat in the far corner of the room where various framed certificates were hung on the wall above it. The other walls had framed paintings and shelves with various knickknacks, but nothing looked tacky or overdone. Not only that, the colors of the room matched the colors in the area rug. No, whoever lived her had impeccable taste and a good eye for decorating.

He couldn't quite tell whose home this would be, however. His eye fell to the mantle above the fireplace, which was lined with various photographs in frames. He looked at Carol, who nodded her permission, so he moved to take a closer look. He examined them carefully, but he didn't see anyone he recognized until he saw one of a young man on the far right.

Where had he seen the man before? he wondered, as he picked it up, trying to jog his memory. Suddenly, he noticed a small patch on the man's shirt: J. West- The rest of the name was hidden, since the man's arm covered the rest, but he was almost sure who it was. He put the photo back where it belonged and turned back to Carol. "Is this-"

She nodded quietly when Kristin entered the room. At first, Nathan wasn't sure what to do. He looked back at Carol, but she said nothing. Wouldn't Kristin be upset about them walking into her house uninvited?

All those worries drifted from his mind when he stared at the woman before them. Nathan suddenly noticed she looked a little younger. She was dressed in blue jeans and a T-shirt, and her hair was much longer, hanging loose over her shoulders, but she looked beautiful.

"You're in love with her," Carol said softly.

Nathan felt his cheeks redden, not realizing Carol had been staring at him. His breath caught in his throat. "Carol, I... I didn't..."

She laughed and placed a hand on his arm. "It's all right. You can admit it. It's not like I'm around anymore, and...I never expected you to remain alone for the rest of your life."

"I just never thought my deceased wife would meet my new love interest," he said, with a shrug. "I'm not sure if I'm even ready to start again."

"Yes, you are." She turned her attention back to Kristin. "If you haven't already guessed, she can't hear or see us. Just watch."

Nathan turned his attention back to her. Kristin was sitting on her sofa, a book in her lap, papers strewn about her, taking notes on whatever she was reading. "What book is that?"

As if on cue, Kristin picked up the book as she changed positions on the sofa, the title clear to him now: Topography and Thermal Range Variances in Our Changing Oceans.

Nathan suddenly remembered the day he and Kristin had met; she'd told him she knew his work. Still, he hadn't realized she'd read it with such...enthusiasm. He was about to ask Carol something else when Kristin spoke.

"That doesn't make sense," she muttered, her eyebrows knitted together in confusion She then turned the book around to the back cover and read quietly for a few minutes.. She then stood and crossed the room, heading to the vid-link where she punched a number into the keypad and waited.

A man's face appeared on the screen. He was about the same age as Kristin, Nathan guessed, with dark hair and blue eyes. "Kristin, what a surprise. It's been a long time. How've you been? Still teaching at the university in England?"

"Dr. Ted Schneider," Carol told him. "An old friend of hers and fellow scientist. They call him 'the brain', because he tends to keep tabs on other scientists around the world."

Nathan nodded and turned back to Kristin. "Yes...it's been too long, Ted," she said with a nod. "I'm still teaching at the university and working the night shift at the hospital. However, I'm hoping that's only temporary. I've actually just applied to a different sort of science program, but I don't know if my application has been accepted yet."

"My, you do keep busy. When do you sleep?" Ted asked with a grin.

"Oh, believe me, I find the time."

"Well, don't keep me in suspense. Where is this new position of yours?"

"Would you mind if I don't say yet? I don't want to jinx it."

"I understand," he said with a nod. "So how have you been otherwise?"

"Frustrated...and I was hoping you could help me. I'm trying to prepare a lecture for my next class, and I'm having a little trouble. I've been reading Nathan Bridger's work and-"

"Nathan Bridger," he said. "I'm somewhat familiar with his work."

"I thought you might be, but...I was hoping for a bit more. Do you happen to know how I can reach him?"

"I know of him, but I don't know him personally."

Her smile faded. "That's not what I wanted to hear. I was hoping to speak with him in person."

"And you thought I'd just have his number lying around somewhere?"

"I did, yes. They don't call you 'the brain' for nothing." She shrugged. "It's just that I've been reading his book, and I have some questions. I'm a little confused, and I thought that if I'm going to explain it to my students, I ought to understand the subject matter myself. You wouldn't happen to know anyone who might know how to get a hold of him, would you?"

"Kristin, honey, you don't watch the news very much, do you?"

"Well…not lately. Why?"

"Look at the copyright on that book in your hand," Ted told her.

She obediently opened it and looked. "2014." Her brow furrowed. "What does that have to do with anything?"

He sighed. "In case you haven't noticed, it's 2017, and I'm going to bet that's the only book you found he's written?"

She nodded.

"There's a reason for that, and there's also a reason he hasn't written anything new lately. And I doubt you'll see anything from him again. Word is, he's become a hermit, lives an island in the Yucatán."

"Yes, well, his bio says he lives on an island with his wife...only I still don't see-"

Ted shook his head. "That's why you need to get your head out of those books once in a while. There is no wife anymore. There was a news story about it all last month. His wife contracted some sort of tropical disease, and she died suddenly. Bridger isn't coping well. Some say he's lost his marbles. He's cut himself off from the rest of civilization. No one can get through to him."

Kristin clicked her tongue. "You're absolutely sure there's just no way to get a hold of him?"

"I really am sorry," he said. "Even if Bridger was accepting calls, I don't know anyone who knows him personally. Do you think I can help you with your problem?"

"Not unless you happen to know about the geology of the Atlantic as opposed to the Pacific and how that's changed since the beginning of time."

"Sorry, they don't happen to teach that to biologist."

"I didn't think so," she said with a weak smile. "Thanks anyway."

"Anytime. Take care of yourself. And let me know if that other position works out for you."

"I will," she said. "You, too. Goodbye."

Once she cut the link, she sighed. "Unreachable," she muttered, looking at the book in her hand. "Well, I guess it's back to the drawing board for a new subject for tomorrow's lecture. Guess I won't be getting much sleep after all." She placed the book back in the book case. "Sorry, Nathan Bridger."

Nathan turned back to Carol. "She'd told me about this...the day we met."

"I know," Carol replied.

"Is that why you brought me here?"

"Not exactly. I'm showing you the point where your fate changed."

"My fate? But...Kristin didn't know me then."

"You're right, she didn't…not in the physical sense. But your work definitely sparked her interest. Why do you think she wanted a position on the seaQuest so badly?"

He shrugged. "Well, it sounded to me like she wasn't getting much sleep, what with teaching and working the night shifts."

"No, it was because of you. She knew seaQuest was your brainchild."

"I'm afraid I don't quite understand... Are you saying she landed a position on seaQuest just so she could speak to me about my work?" He shook his head. "But she didn't even know I'd be the captain. That didn't happen until much later."

Carol rolled her eyes. "Oh, Nathan, I love you, but sometimes, you really are clueless." She sighed. "Yes, she knew you wouldn't be there. That still didn't stop her from hoping you two might cross paths one day. Do you remember the moment you two met?"

"How could I forget? She was giving Commander Ford a tongue-lashing."

"And do you remember what happened after that?"

"Of course. It wasn't that long ago. She hadn't realized I'd been watching, and seeing her in action... Well, it was quite a sight. Not only that, she is quite funny when she's doling out insults. I couldn't help but laugh, and she turned on me. Only when she found out who I was, she changed her tune."

"And?"

"And that's it," he replied. "I really don't see-"

"I know you don't." She crossed her arms. "I'm going to have to spell it out for you, but considering everything that's happened, I can't blame you. Didn't you notice the change in her demeanor?"

"Her demeanor? No…I mean... Well, like I said, her anger melted away when she found out who I was, but..."

"Bingo."

"What?"

"Think about it, Nathan. Look at that woman," she said, motioning towards Kristin. "What do you see?"

"I see…I see a woman who…"

"Yes?"

Nathan looked back to the mantle, eyeing the various certificates and honors she'd received in the span of her career. "Has had to work hard her whole life," he finished.

"And?"

Nathan though hard, only he didn't quite understand what Carol was getting at. "I...I don't know."

"Her whole life, she's had to prove herself," Carol explained. "Being a woman, she was looked down upon by the men in her field...that was until she showed them she was as intelligent as they, if not more. That day with Commander Ford, she was doing that same thing: trying to prove herself. She'd have done it with you, too, only something changed in her that day. Do you know what that was?"

He shook his head.

"You saw her as a person, Nathan. You showed her you saw her for who she was, not what she was. And the moment you decided to stay on seaQuest was the moment that changed both your lives forever. You were a buffer; you quickly proved that you were a comrade, that you were on her side. She knew she could trust you. You weren't the military types she was used to." She paused and placed a hand on his shoulder. "Of course, I knew she'd be good for you as soon as I saw her."

A brow rose. "You? You mean you...had a hand in this?"

Carol smiled. "I wish I could take credit for it, but no, we don't have any influence over the lives of humans. We simply make wishes and hopes, just like you do. I wouldn't change anything, though. If I can't be with you, I'm glad she is." She then held out her hand to him.

When he took it, there was another flash of light, and they were back on the island.

"Walk with me," she told him.

They walked in silence for what seemed like a long time when Carol stopped and turned to him.

"Do you know why I came to you? What all this is about?"

"I don't..." He lowered his gaze. "I'm not sure I want to know..."

She placed a hand on his arm. "You need to know," she said softly. "You never wanted her to go on that expedition."

"Well, in case you haven't noticed, she's not the easiest person to say no to."

She laughed. "And you were worried...for good reason, too."

"Only I can't change what's already happened."

"No, you're right. Even if you'd have said no, the universe would have found another way. Some things...they're just meant to happen no matter what, you see. But you can rectify it. You already know what you have to do."

"I tried, but I couldn't find her." He shook his head. "And I'm afraid I might be too late. I might have already lost her..."

"No, you haven't...not yet. She still has time."

"But the storm..."

"The storm is letting up." She stood before him, both hands on his shoulder. "Don't you see, Nathan? She's still alive. I will admit, her time is running out, but she still has some. I've made sure of that."

"You?"

"You don't think I'm going to let the second woman you've ever loved leave you? Well, as I said, we can't interfere, but we can help. I'm going to help any way I can." She placed a hand on his cheek. "Oh, Nathan, I do miss you, but you know why I can't be with you anymore. " She sighed. "But Kristin still has a chance, and it's all up to you. Don't let her slip away, too."

"I won't, I promise…but how do I-"

"Don't let her slip away…"

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Suddenly, his eyes snapped open, and he pushed himself up, running a shaky hand through his hair. He'd seen Carol in dreams before, but this was the first time she'd ever spoken to him. Normally, when he'd dreamt about her, he'd be the one talking, and she'd just stand there, smiling at him. Of course, this wasn't a normal dream. This had been something else, he was sure of it.

He rubbed his eyes, glancing at the clock, seeing it was 0300 hours. "The storm is letting up," Carol had told him. He had to check. He opened his laptop and opened the weather reports for the Gulf of Alaska. Sure enough, the headline read: Snowstorm Edward Finally Leaving the Gulf Area.

He quickly dressed. Though he knew he'd have to wait until daylight to act, he wasn't going out blind this time. Before Kristin had left, she'd shown him a map of the gulf area. He was hoping it was still in her room, giving him a clue to where she might be. As he was putting on his shoes, he happened to see a note. His brow furrowed. Why didn't he see it before? It read, "Come find me," in Kristin's handwriting.

He sighed. "I'm working on it, sweetheart, I promise." He folded it and put it in his pocket before making his way to Kristin's room.

Just in case, he knocked on the door, but she didn't answer, so he walked inside and looked around for the map. The last time he'd seen it, it was on her desk while she was packing, but it wasn't there now.

"See?" she had said. "We'll only be in this little area. There's nothing to worry about."

Nothing to worry about, indeed," he muttered, taking a deep breath and moving towards her desk. Perhaps she had stuffed it inside one of the drawers? He began rifling through one of them when he heard sniffling. Confused, he turned around, seeing Kristin sitting on the floor with her knees pulled up to her chest. Her head was buried in her hands, and she was crying softly.

He carefully approached her, putting a hand on her trembling shoulder. "Kristin?"

"Why...why didn't you tell me?" she said through her tears.

"I... At first I wasn't even sure what was going on," he said with a shake of his head. "And when I did figure it out... I thought it was better for you to find out for yourself. You didn't seem to remember anything, and I-"

"Well, I remember now!" she cried, shaking her head. "I just don't understand it. One minute, I was on Jeffrey's boat, and the next..." She buried her head in her hands once again.

He wrapped her in his arms. "I...I know, but it's going to be all right. We'll...we'll figure this out."

She pulled away from him, however, wiping at her eyes. "Nathan, please. I need you to tell me the truth." She took a shaky breath. "Why? Why are you the only one who can see me?"