"Well, kiddo," he started, falling back on calling Lucas by his nickname, "something's happening
Chapter 6
2 days later
Bridger and Kirsten walked towards the Barclays' house.
"Well, it certainly looks homey." Kirsten commented nervously. After tracking down the Barclays', the entire crew wanted to go get him, but Kirsten suggested that, that might overwhelm him. So they decided that the Captain and the Doc should check it out and they would give a full report when they returned. Everyone was still on pins and needles waiting.
Bridger gave Kirsten a supportive smile, then he took a deep breath and knocked. He couldn't believe he was this nervous, Lucas was his responsibility and he was like a son, so why was he so nervous to him again?
Jean opened the door quickly, her eyes narrowed just as quickly.
"Can I help you?" She asked coldly.
Bridger and Kirsten exchanged glanced before Kirsten cleared her throat.
"This is Captain Nathan Bridger and I am Doctor Kirsten Westphalen from SeaQuest. We are looking for Lucas Wolenczak or Luke Smith as you call him, may we come in?"
"Of course, but I'm afraid Luke is at the beach with Baz, he spends a lot of time there." She replied snidely.
Kirsten had the distinct impression Jean had not heard a word she said when she introduced herself and the captain, Jean was very mad for some reason. While she talked to her Kirsten noticed the captain drifting in and out looking at the rooms, Jean noticed this and kept shooting angry glares in his direction. Either he didn't notice or he ignored them, anyway he was getting irritated, he wanted to see Lucas now!
"Look ma'am, I don't know why you are so mad, but we need to speak to Lucas…Luke as soon as possible!" He said angrily.
"What…well he will be home soon and as for my attitude… it's just that I hate these cases." She whispered quietly.
"What, you hate when kids get taken away?" Kirsten asked sympathizing completely.
"No, I hate the kids that go back to a place that doesn't treat them right or abuses them." Jean said lashing out, she couldn't keep it in anymore.
Bridger looked shocked. "What are talking about?" He exploded.
But Kirsten knew she knew what Jean was referring too. "Jean, we did not do that to Lucas, it happened before he came on SeaQuest, his mother did it to him, not us. We know about the abuse, but have no proof, Lucas will not admit to it and keeps it buried. All we can do is teach him real love and keep him away from his mother and father. He has not seen them in 2 years now." Kirsten said quietly. "Captain Bridger is Lucas's guardian on SeaQuest and I am a friend."
Jean looked shocked. "I am so sorry, it's just that every night we are up together after his nightmares, I have pretty much guessed the whole story. He cries out for a Bridger, Ben, Kirsten, Darwin, and Tim to save him, but when he cries out for his mother or father…I have never heard so much terror in someone's voice. I am so sorry when you came I got so mad I thought you were his parents, I guess I missed the introductions, sorry."
"No, its okay," Bridger softened. "I am glad Lucas found someone to trust to share his dreams, I have been trying for months."
Jean smiled shyly. "I have grown quite attacked to him."
"Yeah, he has a way of doing that." Bridger smiled back.
Just then the front door opened and in came Baz and Lucas laughing their heads off. Baz stopped once he saw the 2 people in the living room, but Lucas kept telling a joke and tripped over Baz with his cane. Then he noticed the two extras in the room.
Baz knew they were here for Luke, so he excused himself and fled to his bedroom. Lucas stared at Bridger before whispering "Bridger." Then he sat down on the nearest chair.
Bridger's smile widened. "Yes Lucas, it's me." He started to cross over to sit with him when Lucas grabbed his head and winced.
Jean ran up and started whispering in soothing tones to Luke. She looked at Bridger and saw his pain reflecting in his eyes.
"He gets really bad headaches whenever memories are trying to resurface, sometimes they are real bad. Baz has found him a couple times in the school's bathroom with them. Shhh, Luke it's okay, oh this is a real bad one." She explained.
Kirsten came back from the car, no one had noticed she left, she returned with her med.-kit.
"It's okay I have a sedative." She said half-asking Jean for permission. Jean nodded, she knew the headache was bad.
Jean moved so Kirsten could administer the shot. Once she did, Lucas looked up at Bridger, he knew he recognized him, but it was so foggy.
Bridger knelt down to Lucas's level and placed his hand under Lucas's trembling chin and held it in place. Then he looked into Lucas's eyes and whispered, "I love you, kiddo."
With that Lucas felt his memory explode and images started flashing by. He remembered the captain's kind touch and loving eyes. Lucas lunged out and wrapped Bridger in a tight hug, he started sobbing letting it all go.
Bridger gladly returned the hug and held him until he felt the boy relax and drift off. Then he picked him up and took him to his room.
Baz looked up as Bridger entered with Luke, he saw how carefully the captain was with Luke as he laid him on the bed and covered him with a blanket. Then the captain sat down and started to wait, he was not leaving until Lucas woke up.
Finally he spoke. "How did he get the name Luke?"
"The nurse at the hospital gave it to him and it stuck, he liked it but he said it annoyed him sometimes." Baz said startled by the captain's sudden talkativeness.
"Yes, well on SeaQuest, that's where he lives, you have to call him Lucas, if you don't he won't speak to you for hours, especially to his friend Ben, who always calls him Luke to get him riled up." Bridger said laughing.
Bridger and Baz talked for hours about Lucas and Luke, it was bittersweet for both to hear how happy he was in both lives.
___
Once Lucas awoke he saw Bridger.
"Captain…" He trailed off.
Bridger was ecstatic he had not introduced himself yes, Lucas could remember some things.
"What is going to happen now?" Lucas asked worried.
"We don't want to rush you, so I rented a house down on the beach and I figure we can start form scratch and when your ready we can go home."
"Home" Lucas, said quietly.
Bridger didn't answer Lucas still sounded confused, he didn't think Lucas knew where home was, but they would work on it.
___
Every day after school Lucas would catch a ride to Bridger's cottage on the beach, sometimes they would walk the beach or other times they would sit on the porch and use pictures or other visual aids to jog Lucas's memory. Soon Lucas remembered most of the crew and what his duties where aboard SeaQuest.
Within a week and a half Lucas declared to the delight of Bridger and to the great sadness of Jean that he was ready to return to SeaQuest. Lucas was completely ready but he could see prolonging the inevitable was hurting Jean and Baz as much as the Captain and the rest of the crew. Whenever Lucas left the Captain at night he looked forlorn to see him leave to go with someone else. So a day after Lucas told everyone, Kirsten brought a jeep to pick up him and the captain to return to SeaQuest. After long good-byes, the three piled in and sped off.