The bridge bustled with activity as the crew worked to prepare for their next assignment. There had been some attacks on civilian outposts in the Antarctic and seaQuest was being sent to investigate. Lucas was at his station, running computer tests.

O'Neill's comm station whistled and he informed Hudson of an incoming transmission.

Settling in his chair, Hudson ordered, "On screen, Lieutenant."

"Aye, Sir"

The face of a young boy filled the screen, effectively freezing all activity on the bridge. Recognizing the face instantly, Lucas wanted to sink into his chair and disappear.

"Hmmm, is this seaQuest?" Michael asked innocently. "I'm looking for my Daddy. Where is he?"

"Who are you, young man and why are you looking for your...daddy?" Hudson demanded in his best command tone.

"I'm Michael!" the boy said brightly. "You must be Hudson. Can you find my Daddy for me?"

Reluctantly, Lucas made his way down to stand in front of the screen. When Michael exclaimed joyfully, "Daddy!" Lucas couldn't help but smile. "Hi, Michael. Where's Pop Pop and Nana?"



There was a slight commotion behind Michael and he disappeared from the screen to be replaced by Captain Bridger. "Uh, sorry, Lucas," he apologized. "He's been asking for you and I guess he decided to take matters into his own hands."

"It's ok, Captain. I know how he is with computers," Lucas replied resignedly. The truth was out, and in a most unexpected way. He almost laughed out loud at Hudson's astonished expression.

"Ensign, I think you have some explaining to do!" barked Hudson.

"Oliver," began Nathan but Lucas interrupted him. "It's all right, Nathan."

Turning to the Hudson, his eyes swept over the bridge. Suddenly, feeling like a specimen under the microscope, he sighed. "Not here. In the ward room, please, sir," he pleaded with Hudson, hoping to avoid even a bigger scene. He knew that later he would be bombarded by questions from his friends. Tony was moving towards him, and he scrambled to escape before the other man could catch him.

"O'Neill, kindly transfer Bridger's call to the wardroom," Hudson ordered as he followed Lucas off the bridge. "Commander Ford, you may as well join us."

********

Lucas let Bridger relate most of the details, as he leaned back in his chair, eyes closed. Hudson had gotten up to start pacing when Nathan got to the part about Dr. Wolenczak and 'cloning' intelligence. Ford kept shooting looks in Lucas' direction.

"When I 'appeared' at the embassy, Kristin brought Michael to me. We were afraid for him, afraid of the media and what they would do if they found out about his...unusual conception. That's why we disappeared to the island," Bridger concluded his story.

"But how long has Lucas known about this?"

Bridger frowned at Hudson. "That's really none of your business, Oliver. I told you what you needed to know, as his commanding officer. And we're only telling you this because of Michael's untimely vid link."

Wisely, Hudson didn't push. At least now he knew what Wolenczak's leave request was about. "Ensign." He turned to address Wolenczak formally. "What are your plans now?"

Sitting straight in his chair, Lucas glanced at Bridger , then at Ford and finally focused on Hudson. "I'm not sure, sir. I haven't decided if leaving seaQuest would be a wise move at this point. Michael is happy and content where he is and I made a commitment to the Navy when I signed up, Sir. There are plenty of men who leave their children to serve their county."

"The Navy frowns upon single parents serving in a combat position, Ensign," Hudson reminded him.



"Yes, Sir," Lucas mumbled, staring at his hands.

Jonathan, who had been quiet to this point, thought it was a good time to jump in. "Lucas, can I have permission to tell the others? They were on the bridge, they know something is happening."

Nodding his consent, Lucas was relieved. He knew that if nothing was said, Tony would bother him day and night, trying to pull information out of him. Ford was one of the few people who had been friends with him from the first tour and he trusted Jon. And the others would keep the details to themselves and discourage shipboard rumors. "Tim, Tony, Dagwood, Loni and the Doctor," he specified. Turning to Bridger, he gave a forced smile, trying to reassure the Captain, who looked disturbed at this turn of events. "They were going to find out eventually. Nothing is safe on this tub."

Returning the smile, Bridger said warmly, "I know but you're still getting used to the idea. You don't need other people bugging you about it"

"It's the way it is, Captain. I'll call you later. If we're finished now, Captain Hudson?" He inquired edging slowly to the door. At Hudson's nod, Lucas fled to his cabin.

Ford and Bridger exchanged concerned looks. "Give him time, Oliver. It's been an emotional roller coaster of a week for him and he's unsure of himself, his relationship with his own father and what Michael means to him."

Now that the Ensign was gone, Hudson confronted Bridger. "You hid his son from him," he accused.

Flinching at the tone, Bridger nodded. "Yes, I did. I didn't feel that he was ready to accept what had been done. Maybe it wasn't the best way to handle it but under the same circumstances, I would do it again."

:"When were you planning to tell him?"

"At the end of the current tour. That way he was free to separate himself from seaQuest and the Navy." Deciding that he was finished with the current line of questioning, because there was only one person he had to answer to anyway, he challenged, "Are we finished now, Oliver?" Without waiting for an answer, the screen faded to black.

Jonathan got up to leave, but at the last minute, he turned back to Hudson. "Captain Bridger has always viewed Lucas as a second son."

"Yes, Commander, but the son gets to grow up and make his own decisions, not denied information because he can't handle it," Hudson disagreed and walked out past Jonathan.

****

The group that was clustered around the table was quiet, lost in their own thoughts. Ford had just finished telling them the highlights of Lucas' new parenthood and they were working on the acceptance part of it all. It was shocking that their 'little brother' had a child but each in their own way was happy for their friend.

"Only Lucas would make having a kid a scientific event," murmured Tony. "Takes all the fun out of it."

"It wasn't Lucas, Tony," Ford reminded him. "It was his father."

Shaking his head, Tony commented, "How could his father do something like that to him?"

"I think, Tony," Loni started pensively, "that he was handed a second chance on a silver platter and took it."

"Yeah, he was such a great parent the first time around," Tim observed sarcastically.

"It's definitely classic Dr. Wolenczak, using his son for scientific experimenting,"added Jonathan.

Loni argued, "Maybe he was overcome by grief and he thought he was doing something good."

"Why couldn't he just build a memorial?" Tony challenged Loni, anger spiking his tone.

Loni shook her head, ignoring Tony. "What I don't understand is now that Lucas knows, why is he back here? If I found out I had a child, nothing could tear me away."

"It's just not that easy, Loni." The icy, hard voice from the doorway stopped all conversation in the room. Lucas stood there, nervous about how the others would react to him but anxious to still be accepted. All his life, he was different and now it was happening once again. He went on, wearily sighing, "Don't you people have anything better to do then discuss my personal life?" With anyone else, he would have been furious, but with this group of people, he accepted it. They were his family and he knew that they would help him anyway they could.

An uncomfortable silence filled the air, but Dagwood came to Lucas, his child- like smile beaming. "Congratulations, Lucas." The GELF grabbed his hand, shaking it furiously. "Being a father is a very great thing. Isn't it?"

Dagwood's exuberance broke the tension, and Lucas pulled out a chair between Tim and Jon to sit on.

Tim flashed the younger man a sympathetic smile. This kid was not destined to have a normal life, he thought to himself. Out loud, he tried to explain to Dagwood, "Being a father can be a great thing, Dag, if that's what you choose for yourself. But being a parent is a very difficult thing."

Tony butted in. "Yeah, and Luke didn't have a say in the matter. Why should he have to give up his whole life, the life he's made for himself?"

"But a son needs his father!" Loni exclaimed, a romantic at heart.

"A father he's never known? It's not like he's in an orphanage or abandoned on the street. If I had to pick people to raise my child, Kristin and Nathan certainly would be at the top of the list. The child has a good life." Jonathan threw his two cents into the conversation.

As they continued to argue, Lucas remained silent, his hands grasping the arms of the chair tightly. All the same questions went running through his mind, leaving him in a chaotic state. The dam of pent up emotions, built up over the years of neglect from his own absent parents began to break, drenching him with doubts and worries.

Tim, taking a good look at his young friend, was worried at his pale face and the white knuckles gripping the chair. "Um, guys," he interrupted softly but firmly, making everyone stop to stare at him. With a pointed look at Lucas, he motioned them all to the door . Taking the hint, they left quickly, so Tim and Lucas were alone. Gathering the younger man in a tight embrace, Lucas clung to Tim for a few minutes and then he sat back in his chair, averting his gaze while Lucas quickly wiped his eyes. "What are you going to do, Lucas?"

"I'm not sure, Tim. I'm angry at Kristin and Nathan for not telling me but I understand their reasons. I've always trusted them and I know that they love me and they love Michael. They told him stories about me so it's not like I didn't exist. I'm only nineteen, no matter what the year is. I had him for two days and almost had a nervous breakdown. Am I ready for this responsibility?"

Clasping a hand on Lucas' shoulder, Tim gently shook him. "You are one of the strongest people I know and you've done more in nineteen years than most people have done in their whole lives. You were never meant to be a soldier, Lucas, and you haven't been happy here for some time. It's time for you to move on, to be happy again." Thinking back to the happy, bright child he saw on the vid screen, he added, "Besides, I don't think that Michael's going to let you go."

Lucas' face brightened as he remember Michael sleeping in the oversize t shirt. "Yeah, he's pretty special." Drifting for a few minutes, he made his decision, which seemed so simple now. "I have to go see Hudson," he stated as jumped up, running for the door.

"Goodbye, Lucas. I'll miss you," Tim whispered to the empty chair.

*****

Hold on - it's not over yet! More to come.