Epilogue

The party that resulted the next day was threefold, a celebration of getting rid of the shark, Katie and Ben's new engagement, and Kristin officially being asked back onto the SeaQuest. As soon as the brass found out not only the shark was real, but that they had a near perfect specimen to study, she was offered a job. They wanted to be prepared if another one showed up. Not every colony could be protected by a giant wrench wielding GELF.

Eric Wolfe sat back and watched the festivities. Nathan noticed him, and excused himself from talking to the crew to speak to him. "I heard you're leaving the colony, along with Ben and Katie."

"Yes," Wolfe nodded, and smiled almost shyly. "The designs work, we just have to make sure not to make them so powerful. They're sending me all around the world to install them at every site they have." He shrugged and looked down, "they plan to sell it to other companies too. Everything I wanted to do as a child, it's finally coming true."

"That's really amazing," Nathan clapped him on the back. "I hope what happened here won't cause any problems.

Wolfe sighed sadly. "No, I don't think so. I was informed there will be an investigation, but there wasn't any wrong doing on our part. We did everything we could."

"You did, keep up the good work." Nathan inclined his head in respect and salutation before wandering off again.

He saw Kristin arguing with Martin, who was wearing a stiff and balky cast on his arm. Kristin was explaining her idea for a new mini-sub, and it seemed that Martin was quite worried about her safety on the new vessel. "It just isn't feasible." She sighed and rolled her eyes. "I won't be in a full sized sub, there isn't room."

"Even small cars have airbags, think of how much could have been prevented if there was an airlock on the FlamFish." Martin pointed out.

"And where do you propose I put such a thing? An airbag is a small folded piece of fabric, an airlock is thick movable iron. It isn't the SeaQuest, Martin, it just won't fit."

Martin seemed to be biting his tongue to keep from saying what he really wanted. "And if it becomes a law in a few years? You'll just have to install one anyhow."

Kristin narrowed her eyes, "Chief, are you going to give me a ticket? I'm fairly sure you do not have jurisdiction in the oceans, that is your cousin's domain."

Seeing that he was about to be in deep trouble, Martin shook his head and raised his good arm defensively. His eyes flickered to Nathan, looking for help. "You're on your own, I've never won an argument with her." Nathan snorted, before evacuating the area for a safer conversation.

A very particular sight caught his attention and he decided to investigate. Ben was standing between Miguel and Lt. Brody, looking decidedly embarrassed. He was staring at the floor and shuffling his feet while blushing deeply. As he came closer, Nathan heard Brody comment on technique and positioning. Forcing himself to believe they were talking about the buying and storage of supplies, he turned the other direction and quickly left them alone to talk business.

A slightly more common, but still unusual scene brought Nathan to the next group. Lucas and Tim were blushing nearly as dark as Ben had been, but were only being talked to by a very proud looking Tony. "I really don't think that's it, Tony." Lucas was muttering, scratching mindlessly at his tight bandages around his chest. He saw the captain coming and tried to look for an escape route.

"What isn't it?" Nathan asked, grinning at the expressions around him.

Tony spun, "well... uh... hey Cap'n Bridger. How are you feelin'?"

"I'm fine, what are you talking about?"

"Jus that... um... I heard this... uh theory 'bout why the ocean's all salty."

Nathan blinked, and started to laugh. "I'm guessing it doesn't have anything to do with the black smokers discovered several years ago?"

"I... uh... no sir... um." Tony stuttered, knowing he was in over his head, and impossibly deep already.

"I see, and would it possibly have anything to do with the mating habits of male humpbacked whales?"

"Blue..." Tony said, hanging his head and digging a toe into the floor. "I heard it was blue whales."

Nathan smirked, and nodded at his discomfort. Seeing Kristin now talking to Wendy and Katie close by, he called out to her. "Dr. Westphalen, how would you feel about teaching a class on the ship about the chemical make up of the oceans? There seems to be some misconceptions I'd like to clear up."

She tilted her head, knowing she was missing a punch line, but read his wry smile easily. "Of course, Captain Bridger. But only if I can give homework out to anyone I feel needs more work."

Tony looked terrified, "oh crap... no, I was just kiddin'. A hero doesn't gotta do homework... right?"

"I'm not so sure anymore." Kristin started to explain, her legs curled under her and sipping a cup of tea in the captain's quarters.

"About what?" Nathan asked, just enjoying the sight of her with no crisis brewing. He was currently marveling at how she sat. He could never understand how women could be comfortable bunched up like that. It was one of the many mysteries of the fairer sex to him.

"A small wedding, I honestly don't know who I could leave out." She chuckled, "I already want to ask half the female crew members to be bridesmaids. And how are you going to chose who will be your best-man?"

Nathan shrugged, "at this point I may just throw a ring in the air and let them fight over it. Who ever gets it back to me first wins." He paused, "although, there are couple of them I do not want to plan my bachelor party... it's just not safe."

"So don't have one." Kristin straightened up, and idea forming in her head. "Don't give them time. We can do it here, tomorrow before we leave the colony, then Ben and Katie can attend. The whole crew will be our wedding party. Cynthia won't be able to be here, but I doubt she would be willing to leave her work with the children for any length of time. We can record it and send it to her."

Nathan's eye's went very large. "But... I thought..."

"I just want to be married to you Nathan Bridger, it doesn't matter where. Jonathan can do the ceremony, you just need to make him acting captain for a day. I believe the old tradition of captains being able to marry on their ships still stands." A mischievous grin lit her face. "Actually, you better make him acting captain for a week, you won't be leaving this room."

"I think I'd be ok with that." Nathan said huskily, he took the tea cup from her hand and set it down. "But I think we should brush up on our technique, I've heard it's very important."

The End

Author's Note: Finished! And now I get to figure out what to do with my time...

I know some people will grumble about not writing the wedding, but honestly, I'm better with sex jokes than actual romantic stuff, so I'll leave it to your imagination. If you don't know the joke about why the oceans are salty, stay off the google! (You know who you are. And to the same person, sorry, I just couldn't kill them... But I did only promised people would be eaten. I was very careful about that!)

I do have two short stories in mind, I've had them for a while but this one kind of took over. I honestly have no control over my brain anymore.

I hope you enjoyed it, and I'll see you soon!