A/N Thanks for the reviews. It always brings a smile to my face to know that people are reading and enjoying the story. This section may be going a little off canon...it's always bothered me how Lucas can be injured or put in dangerous situations and no one seems to inform his parents or at least it's never mentioned. Medical care is given and no mention of parents. So, I'm going to deal with that a little in this section.

Just a note to say Eric Petersen is my own OC that I introduced in Aftershock. His father is a good friend of Kristin's. He is a an excellent therapist and has a good relationship with Lucas. He was the one they called in to help all the teens involved.

Just a little resolution in this chapter, but things are heating up once again.

enjoy! :)

Glancing at the clock on that wall, Nathan rubbed the tension from the back of his neck as he forced himself to focus on the conversation at hand. Bill Noyce, Kristin and he had been in a conference with Eric Petersen for the past hour, and as much as things needed to be ironed out, he just felt worn. Nathan stood up and limped across the room to pour himself another mug of coffee. At this rate, he wouldn't be sleeping until sometime the middle of next week.

"Nathan, isn't that your fourth cup of coffee?" Nathan looked up to see Kristin's less than enthused look as he brought the cup to his lips. He cast a rebellious look at her as he took a long drink, nearly burning his tongue.

"I wasn't counting," he grumbled, returning to his chair. Kristin's look of concern wasn't lost on him as he leaned back with a groan. He noticed the small smirk on Bill's face as he quietly stared at him.

"I know this is information overload, Captain Bridger. I don't mean to overwhelm you," stated Eric, taping his pen on the Kristin's desk.

Nathan sighed. "It is what it is, Eric. I appreciate all your help under the circumstances. I'm afraid I'm little out of my league here."

Nathan knew that Eric had been doing his best to work with Shapra, Kaman and Mika the past few days, trying to figure out what he could about them and their relationship with Franklin Wise. There was no doubt that all three kids were deeply wounded. Shapra exhibited hostile anger and denial the most, insisting his father would find him. Nathan hadn't dared to let the kid wander anywhere on his own. Kaman seemed to be coping well enough but was demonstrating extreme depression, remorse and bitter resentment towards Wise. Nathan had allowed Kaman more freedom to wander the boat, but he chose to stay on the c-deck close to Mika. Miguel had agreed to keep a close eye on the kid which helped ease Nathan's nerves somewhat. Mika seemed despondent and spent most of her time with Darwin, although Katie was still doing her best to befriend the girl. Lucas had been spending a fair amount of time with Mika as well. They had formed a close bond which Eric speculated had resulted from the ordeal they had survived together. Lucas had been quiet and withdrawn with everyone so far, not wishing to discuss much of anything with anyone.

"The UEO informed me that Mika's parents should be arriving early next week. As you can imagine, this has been quite a shock to them. They had a long time ago assumed the girl was dead," replied Bill, repositioning himself in his chair.

"I can't even imagine what they've gone through," sympathised Kristin softly.

Eric nodded. "I'm sure it's like waking up from one nightmare only to begin another. At any rate, the UEO will take things from here. I have faith she will be just fine in time. As much as Mika is wounded, she has a very resilient spirit. She's a remarkable girl," commented Eric, reaching for his coffee and taking a drink. Nathan, Bill and Kristin all nodded in agreement with his sentiments. Mika had stolen all their hearts including Darwin's.

"What's going to happen to Kaman and Shapra?" asked Kristin.

"Well, I'm not sure exactly," replied Eric, stretching out his legs. "We aren't even sure how old they are, and they have no recollection. They're going to need a great deal of help to get past this and be able to live normal lives. They've been controlled and subjugated for goodness knows how long. The UEO has therapists that will be able to help them much better than I. I wish I had more answers surrounding that, but I don't."

"The UEO is prepared to do whatever it takes to help these kids, Nathan. You can rest assured in that," stated Bill, casting a comforting look towards Nathan.

Nathan nodded thoughtfully. He could see the concern in Eric's eyes as well. He knew it had been an intense time for the man since he arrived. He'd basically been thrown into a very complicated situation but had handled it with the genuine care and diplomacy. It was clear how professional and adept the man was, and Nathan admired that.

"Anyways, I'm sure you're all anxious to discuss Lucas." he continued, as he leaned over to pull a file folder out of the briefcase that sat on the floor at his feet.

"I haven't had any more luck than you reaching his parents, Captain. His father's secretary informed me that Dr. Wolenczak trusts you implicitly with anything regarding his son."

"What the hell does that mean?" snapped Nathan, scrubbing his hand across his face. He had all but given up trying to reach Lucas' parents. "The man doesn't know me from Adam, for Pete's sake. How can he say he trusts me implicitly?"

"Calm down, Nathan, and hear the man out. I think you might like what he has to say," assured Bill, patting Nathan's arm. "I wasn't sure how you'd take all this but after our conversation earlier today, I think this just might be the best answer."

Nathan furrowed his brow in confusion but turned his attention to Eric. Eric hesitated and cast Nathan a sympathetic look as he handed some paperwork to him. "This was sent to me by Dr. Wolenczak, Captain. If you so chose, by signing these documents, you will have legal guardianship over the minor Lucas Wolenczak while he is aboard SeaQuest. Technically, the UEO has been in this role for the past few years, but this will make things legally binding and, to be honest, just simpler for everyone involved. I believe it's in the best interest of Lucas as well, in my opinion."

Nathan's jaw dropped and he glanced at Kristin who looked equally shocked. "Guardianship?" echoed Nathan.

"Restrictions apply of course, but in essence, you will be able to make decisions regarding Lucas without having to ask his parent's permission every step of the way. They aren't giving him up mind you, just granting you permission to be a sort of surrogate parent in their absence while he is aboard SeaQuest," added Bill, a smile forming on his face as he looked at the shocked expression on Nathan and Kristin's faces.

"Surrogate parent," echoed Nathan again, blinking his eyes slowly as the information sank in.

"I've been keeping very accurate notes on Lucas the past several months, Captain Bridger. I have voiced my concern on numerous occasions as we were forced to wait for his parents to grant us permissions. Anyone who sees Lucas on SeaQuest can't help but see how he flourishes under your love and support."

Kristin cleared her throat quietly. "This is unbelievable."

Nathan turned to Bill. "What was with all the nonsense this morning about removing Lucas from SeaQuest?" Out of the corner of his eye, he saw a bewildered expression flood Kristin's face. Her expression pretty much summed up his.

Bill stood up and strolled across the room, turning to face them. "I just wanted to be sure, Nathan. You never asked for Lucas to be dumped on you. The UEO just sort of dropped him into your lap. I guess you could say I was just testing to see how you truly felt." Bill scratched his chin carefully while waiting for a reaction.

Nathan sighed deeply as he stared at the papers in his hand; his heart was beating rapidly in his chest. So many times since Lucas was tossed into his lap by the UEO, Nathan had wished he'd had some say regarding Lucas. Oh, when they were at sea, he was in charge, but in the serious times, he had to wait around helplessly waiting for Lucas' parents to step up. It made him feel powerless. His hands were always tied, and it broke his heart more times than not that Lucas had essentially been abandoned by the very people who were supposed to love him. Nathan and Lucas had formed a bond of sorts, and it wasn't just a figment of his imagination. Nathan had come to realise a long time ago that he needed Lucas as much as Lucas needed him. He didn't know why Bill would ever think he needed an excuse to get rid of Lucas.

"Captain Bridger?" replied Eric, a look of concern on his face.

Nathan blinked and looked up. "I'm sorry; I'm just a little overwhelmed at the moment." Nathan glanced at the papers again. "What about when we are on Shore leave? Or at the end of this tour of duty? What then?"

Eric pointed at Bill. "Admiral?"

"Shore leaves are still under your care as always, Nathan. Lucas usually hangs out with you most of the time anyways. As far as at the end of the tour, well, we'll just have to re-evaluate things then. To be honest, I don't see Lawrence Wolenczak changing anytime soon. Lucas needs stability, and I think you're just the man to give that to him," replied Bill, once again taking a seat beside Nathan.

"I agree," piped up Kristin with a smile.

Eric tapped his pen on the table thoughtfully. "You don't need to feel like you have to make this decision right away. This is a big step, I'm sure…"

Nathan reached for the pen with determination. "Where do I sign?" Nathan couldn't help but smile as Eric showed him where to sign. He glimpsed at Kristin, and he could see tears shimmering in her eyes. The two of them had grown so weary of waiting all the time for decisions to be made surrounding Lucas. Now they didn't need to wait anymore. Nathan set the pen down and handed the papers to Eric. Bill clapped him on the back.

"So, tell me, what comes next?" inquired Nathan, his heart still beating quickly in his chest.

"Well, Captain Bridger, this paperwork says you tell me. Do you want me to keep working with Lucas?"

Nathan looked at Kristin who nodded. Nathan knew that she trusted the man completely, and Lucas responded well to him. "Yes, I do."

"Very well, then. If Kristin wouldn't mind excusing us, you and I can discuss a few concerns I have, and we'll go from there."

Nathan watched as Kristin rose from her chair, patted his arm with a smile and left the room quietly.

Bill stood up, clapped Nathan on the shoulder. "I think I'll take this opportunity to leave as well. I'll be in touch, Nathan." Bill hesitated for a few minutes. "You are a good man, Nathan Bridger, and Lucas is a lucky kid to have you."

He watched as Bill left the room. He stared at the empty doorway for a few moments and then turned to face Eric once again. Eric picked up the papers and tapped them on the desk purposefully. His face was gravely serious which caused Nathan's heart to skip a beat in concern.

"What is it?" prompted Nathan, taking a deep breath.

Eric set the papers back on the desk and folded his hands together. "This is complicated for me because of patient confidentially, but I feel you need to hear this. I know you already realise that Lucas is confused, and he's been very quiet around you. He told me about the trouble regarding the Sanger Institute; he's carrying quite a bit of guilt surrounding that. He also mentioned some difficulties with Kristin as well. He's confusing things that happened here with things that happened on Abalon. I've assured him that it's perfectly normal considering the trauma and the drugs in his system."

"How can I help?" Nathan rested his chin on his hand as he sat looking intently at Eric. "I've been trying to engage him in conversation, but he seems to keep pushing me away."

"Yes, I've suspected that. I think Lucas is avoiding everything right now. It's his way of coping with things. I speculate that things are going to come to a head, and he will be forced to deal with his feelings. It's the things he isn't saying that are screaming at him the loudest. Right now, all I can say is keep trying to talk with him and just take things one day at a time."

Nathan nodded as he pondered Eric's words. It was the little things that he noticed most about Lucas. The way the kid looked at him with hesitancy in his eyes. The spunky and fun-loving side of Lucas had all but disappeared since returning from Abalon. It dawned on Nathan how much he missed that and how much he longed to see that part of Lucas returned to them.

oOoOoOoOseaquestOoOoOoOo

As she walked towards the exit on c-deck, a light in one of the Laboratories caught Kristin's attention. She furrowed her brow as she wandered in that direction, wondering who would be working so late. It was already past 1800 hours and usually the labs were long past vacant for the day. As she approached the doorway, she was surprised to see Lucas sitting at a desk busily working at something. Kristin cleared her throat softly to announce her presence and walked into the room. She saw him look up with a startled expression on his face and then almost before her eyes, a look of guilt flooded his face.

"Uh, um, I know you banned me from the labs and all, but I just…" he stammered with a pained look on his face.

Kristin placed a warm hand on his shoulder, and she felt him shiver under her touch. "It's okay, Lucas. What are you working on?"

Lucas shrugged his shoulders. "Nothing really. The last time I was working with Darwin, he was teasing me a little. I'm making more flashcards with pictures for him."

Kristin glanced at the cards he was making with keen interest. Lucas always impressed her with the close attention he paid to detail. Often he thought of things that would never cross her mind, and this was no exception. One card in particular captured her attention. He had pictured an adult cat with a kitten. He seemed to notice her eyes resting on that card.

"Uh, he knows what mother means, so I thought I would show him animal families. He seems to think I'm teasing him about cats existing. Short of bringing a kitten to show him, it's all I could think of." She noticed him shifting uncomfortably in his chair, dropping his eyes to the floor.

"Some concepts are difficult to teach him," agreed Kristin. "Lucas, can we talk?"

Lucas nodded and swung his chair around to face her. "Yah," he mumbled, not making eye contact.

Kristin could sense his discomfort. Kristin felt her own heart rate increase a little as she pulled a chair over to sit down. This talk had been a long time coming, and she wasn't sure how it was going to go, especially since Lucas seemed to be so withdrawn. Her only hope was that he wouldn't be as volatile as before. She still didn't know where all the hostility had come from.

"Do you know why I banned you from the Labs in the first place?"

Lucas chewed his lip and nodded. "Yah, I guess I do," he admitted. "I wasn't exactly listening to you."

Kristin smiled and gave his hand a squeeze. "I don't know how we got so lost from one another, sweetheart, but I'm very sorry we did." Kristin felt tears come to her eyes as she looked at Lucas' young face. His blue eyes shimmered with tears, but he remained quiet. "Oh, Lucas, I was tired and burning the candle at both ends. I never intended to take that out on you. I could have extended you a little more grace." At this point tears did fall down her cheeks as she saw Lucas blink back his own tears. She saw him look up at her, licking his lips and then sucking in his bottom lip with a deep sigh.

"I was so mad at you," he blurted out suddenly.

"I know," she commented softly.

Then as if he suddenly realized it himself, he continued, "But it's not you, I'm mad at. You know that right?"

Kristin nodded. "Yes, sweetie, I had a feeling it wasn't me. All the same, I'm sorry things became so volatile between us. I wanted to give you space to talk to me on your own terms."

Lucas looked at his hands and fiddled with his fingers. "My mom hasn't come here once since I've been here, Dr. Westphalen. Why? Doesn't she love me?" Kristin's heart was breaking as she looked at his young face, so full of uncertainty and despair. Without thinking, Kristin leaned forward and wrapped him in her arms.

"Of course she does, sweetheart. I can't pretend to know why she hasn't visited. Sometimes adults are just so buried in their own wounds; they don't stop to see who they're hurting. Hurting people hurt people, Lucas. But I know your mother loves you. How could she not?" Kristin felt the boy melt into her embrace, and she held him tightly. She could hear him sniffling, and she wished that she could take away some of his pain.

"I'm sorry," came his muffled replied. "I'm so sorry, Dr, Westphalen. I guess I was hurting, and I hurt you." Kristin could hear the anguish in his tearful reply.

"Shhh, it's okay, sweetie," replied Kristin, hugging him tighter.

After a few minutes, she felt Lucas squirm a little, and she released him reluctantly. He had been so angry at her for so long that she had almost thought their relationship had been beyond repair. She watched as he pulled away and wiped his eyes with the back of his hand causing her to smile at the boyish action. Sometimes it was easy to forget he was still so young, especially when they worked so closely together; his intellect was so far beyond his years.

"I was mad when you grounded me. Real mad," admitted Lucas. "Captain Bridger said you didn't want to do it, but in my head, I was just so busy being mad that I didn't want to listen. It was stupid. I can't really explain why…I, uh," Lucas hesitated a moment and then gave an embarrassed chuckle, dropping his chin. "Sometimes, I guess I don't make sense even to myself."

Kristin smiled at him. "I forgive you." She reached out and stroked his cheek lovingly. "I know I'm not your mother, Lucas, and I don't mean to take her place. Sometimes there may be times I need to discipline you, but I want you to know that I only do it because I love you, and I care about how you turn out. Do you understand?" She stared deeply into his blue eyes, seeing flickers of confusion. "What are you thinking?"

He shrugged. "I dunno, just that if I ever, well, need a mom-type person…" He hesitated as he fiddled with his hands. "I guess I'd want that person to you." He looked up at her with a small half smile. "I mean, if you're interested."

Kristin felt her heart bursting inside her. "You better believe I'm interested, young man." She reached out and poked him on the nose, teasingly. "Anytime you need me, I'm here." A large grin formed on the young teen's face as he looked at her. They sat quietly for a few minutes staring at his flashcards.

"I think I'm gonna check on Darwin, Doc. You know, see if he will believe me about cats." Lucas rose to his feet, grasping the card in his hand. He started to walk towards the door but hesitated a moment. "I, um, I love you too." With those final words, he spun on his heels and fled the room.

Kristin reached a hand to her face to wipe away tears that trickled down her cheeks. Her heart was full as she thought of her conversation with Lucas. The boy had finally let her in, and she felt so relieved and thankful.

oOoOoOoOseaquestOoOoOoOo

As she reached into the water to grab the sponge, Mika smiled at Darwin and stroked his sleek nose. She tossed the sponge into the water, but Darwin ignored it while he remained still enjoying her attention. Since returning to SeaQuest, she had scarcely wanted to spend time anywhere else. Every time she closed her eyes, she could hear the explosion, and she instinctively felt her father was dead. That knowledge filled her with fear. Never before had she felt so empty and devoid of everything. She couldn't make sense of anything, and she was afraid. Everyone had been so kind to her and even the strange man called Eric had tried to explain things to her. Her head felt so mixed up. The doctor had said she wasn't who she thought she was, and all the tests they had done confirmed it. They said she was going to go live with a new family. Mika looked into the water and felt tears come to her eyes. No matter what they told her, none of it made any sense. Abalon was the only home she remembered. As much as she wanted to escape it, now she wished she could go back. She wished she could see her father and hear his voice one more time. He would be able to explain things so they made sense.

"I am so confused, Darwin."

"Mika is sad. Darwin is sad that Mika is sad."

"I am sad for many reasons, Darwin. Soon I will have to leave Seaquest." Mika leaned on her elbows sighing as her tears escaped. She didn't try to stop them but blinked them away as they fell.

A soft sound behind her made her spin around. She noticed Kaman join her at the Sea deck edge. He reached into the water and petted Darwin as well. Mika glanced up at him forlornly.

"Kaman, what is going to happen to us?"

Kaman shrugged his shoulders as he stared across the moonpool. "I wish I knew. I am still trying to digest the fact that Father destroyed Abalon and just left us behind."

Mika frowned. "He did not leave us on purpose."

Kaman reached out and put a firm hand on her shoulder. "No. Mika, you must trust me on this. Father told me that he would destroy Abalon before he would let anyone find out her secrets. He left us!" Mika could hear the insistence in his voice. His voice was firm and unwavering.

"You were not there. I heard Abalon explode, Kaman. No one could have survived. Father shot Captain Bridger, he hurt Lucas so badly…he hurt me…I do not understand why," sobbed Mika, her eyes pleading at Kaman to help her understand. "Now, they are going to make me go away, and I will not have you or Shapra. I am afraid, Kaman."

Kaman's face looked bleak. "I am too." Kaman inhaled a deep breath and tapped his fist on the edge of the sea deck anxiously. Several minutes passed as the two teens stared in silence at the water. Kaman groaned, "I hate what he did to us."

Mika blinked back tears at the words and closed her eyes as her mind dwelled the events that occurred. She reached up to wipe a stray tear and felt Kaman's hand grab her wrist tightly. She looked up to see a terrifying look on Kaman's face.

"We need to escape, Mika. We must leave now. If we do not leave, they will separate us. I will not be able to protect you," insisted Kaman, an insistent look on his face.

Mika's eyes widened. "Where would we go? Kaman, Captain Bridger said he would help us. Should we not trust him to know best? I am so mixed up and confused."

"You must trust me. Father told you to obey me, did he not? Well, I am telling you that we are going to leave SeaQuest. You know how to talk to Darwin. Have him get the hull door opened," ordered Kaman.

Mika inhaled quickly in surprise. She recognised the tone in Kaman's voice. He had decided to take command and if she refused, it wouldn't be a pleasant experience. Mika shook her head and started to back away. As much as she wanted to trust Kaman, she just felt so confused and frightened. If they left SeaQuest, where would they go? They had no home now. They had no place to go.

"No, Kaman, this is not the answer. What about Shapra? We do not even know where he is…" Mika noticed a change in Kaman's demeanor as he reached out to grab her arm harshly. She knew that look. The last time she saw it, he had smacked her repeatedly until she relented and obeyed him. Her father had praised Kaman for being a good leader, saying that leaders sometimes needed to do things for the betterment of all.

"Please, Kaman," she whimpered, feeling her heart rate increase.

"Tell Darwin to have the hull door opened," repeated Kaman ominously.

Mika trembled and licked her lips. She looked at Darwin who was hovering anxiously. The room was filled with his clicks and chirps, and Mika could tell Darwin knew she was upset.

"Darwin, can you ask for the hull doors to be opened?"

"Bridger ordered the doors closed. No fresh fish for Darwin. Darwin stay inside SeaQuest."

"He cannot, Kaman," cried Mika attempting to pull her arm away.

Kaman held tightly to Mika's arm and glared at Darwin. "Get them to open the doors, Darwin," he demanded. Mika watched as Darwin breached the surface and swam off under the water. Her heart beat rapidly in her chest as she turned to face her brother.

"This is not a good idea, Kaman."

Kaman's face flushed in anger as he pulled Mika closer to him. "You will obey me. I cannot protect you if we are separated. This is the only way."

Mika pulled on her arm to free herself and then felt a harsh slap to her face. She blinked several times, reaching out to cup her stinging cheek as she looked up at Kaman; fresh tears escaping down her cheeks.

"You do not have to be like him,"

Kaman lifted his chin as he looked at her. "We are leaving."

"No!" screamed Mika, struggling to free her arm. Kaman was frightening her, and she didn't know what to do to escape his grasp. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw movement from the right side of the room. She saw Lucas walking onto the Sea deck and could see that he noticed the altercation as he picked up his pace to see what was going on.

"Hey, let 'er go!" shouted Lucas as he approached.

Kaman held his arm out threateningly. "Back off, Lucas. This is none of your business."

Lucas froze in place, glaring at Kaman while he held a tight grip on Mika's arm. Lucas held up his hands in surrender. "C'mon, Kaman, let's talk about this."

"Shut up! All I have done since we came here is talk. No more." Kaman pulled Mika towards the water's edge. Mika could tell that he had reached his limit on listening. He had made a decision, and he wasn't going to change his mind.

oOoOoOoOseaquestOoOoOoOo

Lucas felt his heart beating rapidly in his chest as he watched Kaman grasping tightly to Mika's arm. Kaman was pulling her to the moonpool edge roughly. Her face was white with fear. Lucas blinked his eyes as few times as visions flashed in his head again. He rubbed his eyes in frustration. This wasn't a time to lose focus and get trapped in his head. He needed to stay clear-headed to help Mika.

"Let her go, Kaman. Don't do anything stupid. Captain Bridger and everyone on SeaQuest just want to help you."

"Back off, Lucas," repeated Kaman, yanking on Mika hard enough to cause her to cry out.

Lucas frowned, and he felt his anger flare. He didn't want to see Mika hurt anymore. Wise had already hurt her enough. As he stood watching, Kaman pulled Mika closer to himself. Lucas knew that if he didn't do something quickly, Kaman would drag her into the water and they would be gone.

"Where are you going to go? C'mon, Kaman, think about it," urged Lucas. He was trying hard to keep his breathing even and calm, but he felt himself starting to panic. His head was beginning to hurt and flashes of images were getting more intense. He furrowed his brow inwardly willing himself not to succumb to the visions.

Kaman took sudden step forward and pulled back his fist. "Mind your own business!" he shouted, standing threateningly over Lucas. Lucas veered back without thinking, blinking in uncertainty. In that moment, his mind flashed vivid pictures of events at Abalon. He saw Wise beating his sons and heard the man's ominous voice. Lucas covered his ears momentarily and attempted to blink the image away.

Lucas raised his hands again. "Captain Bridger can help you," he implored.

Kaman lowered his hand and poked Lucas hard in the chest. "Just back off," he threatened again, turning to look at Mika. "Get in the pool."

Mika shook her head, trembling. Lucas took a few steps forward as he watched Kaman harshly grasp Mika once again. Kaman raised his arm and backhanded Mika harshly across the face.

"I said get in the pool!" he shouted. Lucas saw Mika stumble backwards, almost upend herself into the pool. She leaned against the ledge holding her cheek.

Lucas felt something burst in him as he took a deep breath and flung himself at Kaman. It was as if all the pent up emotion deep inside was erupting out of him. He grabbed Kaman around the neck and wrestled him to the floor. He heard Kaman gasp in shock at the unexpected attack from behind, but he was only momentarily taken aback. Within seconds, he managed to flip things around, raining down his own fury on Lucas.