Disclaimer: See part one. Please R&R.
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He jumped up off the bed and was as excited as a ten-year old let loose in a candy store. "The Wisen Conference, are you kidding doc? That's the most respected scientific conference in the free world. Everyone who calls themselves scientists have to know about the Wisen Conference."
Kristin put a broad smile on her face and tried to hold back her own excitement as she knew Lucas would probably react this way, it was working just as she expected so far. "Yes Lucas I know. One of the conference coordinators is a friend of my daughters and mine also and has invited me to attend this year's conference. I just found out before I came to treat you. I was wondering if you can be spared from your work long enough to attend with me, that is if you want to."
If it had been appropriate for someone his age Lucas would have jumped for joy but instead tried to act his age and simply nodded and said, "I'd love to doc and of course I can get away for something like this. Are you sure the Cap won't need us though?"
The older woman shook her head and said, "I don't think so Lucas but we'll have to check. The conference starts day after tomorrow and I'd like to spend some time with Dr. Henderson before the conference starts day after tomorrow. I'll go check with Nathan but I fully expect him to say yes, so why don't you go get packed because we'll have to leave in a little over 3 hours if we want to make our flight."
He nodded and began to walk towards the door when he stopped and came back and smiled at Kristin and then pulled her into a big bear hug and said "Thanks". She hugged him back and then watched as he ran out the door. Shaking her head she headed toward the bridge for the second time that day and another favour, although truthfully she was sure Nathan wouldn't mind both she and Lucas being gone for a couple days.
Two hours and 45 minutes later Kristin stood in the launch bay watching as a dark haired crewman stored her bags in the launch that would take them to one of the smaller islands where they would then catch their flight to Honolulu to meet Joann. Normally she would be looking forward to her trip with Lucas and a big part of her was but another part of her was beginning to feel bad this trip was being taken under a ruse but darn it she wasn't the one that started this. Lucas was a smart young man and he must know that he had to have a physical and that Kristin wasn't just going to let it drop. If she had told him before hand the real reason behind the trip he might not go and deep down Kristin couldn't blame him. Nathan had been no help when she told him. He laughed and said it was perfect but a part of her had to wonder. After all Lucas was a fragile and sensitive child. Even under the ruse of helping him it was not right to lie to him about her motives. Before she could think on it anymore Lucas rounded the corner and stopped just in front of the hatch. He smiled and took his bags over to the seaman. He let the young man stow them while he went to speak to the doc. "Hi doc, we ready or what?"
"Hello Lucas and yes we will be as soon as Nathan gets here and says good- bye. I was wondering if you were going to make it, you were almost late young man."
"Almost doesn't count doc, I wasn't late and you didn't have to wait for me so it's fine."
"Arriving 2 minutes before we're ready to depart is not on time, it is lucky you didn't run into something." She caught sight of Nathan entering the bay and said, "We'll talk about this later Lucas. Here comes Nathan."
Lucas turned and grinned at the Captain and went to stand slightly behind the doc as Lucas figured he needed some privacy to say good-bye to Kristin properly. He nodded his head when the Cap spoke to him. "Lucas you behave and keep an eye on Kristin for me. If I wasn't so wrapped up and committed to this crew shakedown I would go with you two. The Wisen Conference is quite an outing."
Kristin only smiled, as she knew Nathan knew the real reason for this trip but wasn't saying anything. Lucas on the other hand couldn't hide his excitement and said, "I will Cap and I know about the conference. I can't believe we're actually going. It is going to be a great time I can't wait. I'm going to board the launch now." He stepped around the doctor and hugged the Captain lightly and even tolerated it when Nathan tousled his hair somewhat. He headed for the launch while at the same time smoothing out his hair.
The two adults watched as Lucas boarded and were sure he was out of earshot before Nathan spoke. "What's wrong Kris? I thought you were excited about this. It is really going to be a great time for both of you and you'll get Lucas' medical check-up done at the same time, what more could you ask for?"
Kristin nodded solemnly but said, "I know Nathan and I am excited to be going to the conference and spending time with Lucas, believe me. I just feel a little odd lying to him about the motives; it may do more harm than good in the end. I don't want to hurt him only help. I hope he'll understand that when he finds out."
Nathan reached out and pulled the doctor closer to him and kissed her lightly on the cheek and then smiled and said, "Kristin I know you don't like the way this turned out but trust me I know Lucas will understand. No matter what your motives at the time you can't tell me that if Lucas had said he didn't want to go to this conference you would have made him go just for the physical thing. He knows you care Kristin and at some point you're going to have to trust him that he knows and in the end will understand the reason for this." He smiled and pulled away and started to leave and then stopped and said, "Besides I meant what I said, it is going to be some great times for both of you so enjoy it but don't have too much fun. I don't want to have to come up there and get you."
She shot him the notorious "Westphalen" glare the whole crew knew so well and watched as he left the bay. Taking a deep breath she turned and headed for the launch.
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He jumped up off the bed and was as excited as a ten-year old let loose in a candy store. "The Wisen Conference, are you kidding doc? That's the most respected scientific conference in the free world. Everyone who calls themselves scientists have to know about the Wisen Conference."
Kristin put a broad smile on her face and tried to hold back her own excitement as she knew Lucas would probably react this way, it was working just as she expected so far. "Yes Lucas I know. One of the conference coordinators is a friend of my daughters and mine also and has invited me to attend this year's conference. I just found out before I came to treat you. I was wondering if you can be spared from your work long enough to attend with me, that is if you want to."
If it had been appropriate for someone his age Lucas would have jumped for joy but instead tried to act his age and simply nodded and said, "I'd love to doc and of course I can get away for something like this. Are you sure the Cap won't need us though?"
The older woman shook her head and said, "I don't think so Lucas but we'll have to check. The conference starts day after tomorrow and I'd like to spend some time with Dr. Henderson before the conference starts day after tomorrow. I'll go check with Nathan but I fully expect him to say yes, so why don't you go get packed because we'll have to leave in a little over 3 hours if we want to make our flight."
He nodded and began to walk towards the door when he stopped and came back and smiled at Kristin and then pulled her into a big bear hug and said "Thanks". She hugged him back and then watched as he ran out the door. Shaking her head she headed toward the bridge for the second time that day and another favour, although truthfully she was sure Nathan wouldn't mind both she and Lucas being gone for a couple days.
Two hours and 45 minutes later Kristin stood in the launch bay watching as a dark haired crewman stored her bags in the launch that would take them to one of the smaller islands where they would then catch their flight to Honolulu to meet Joann. Normally she would be looking forward to her trip with Lucas and a big part of her was but another part of her was beginning to feel bad this trip was being taken under a ruse but darn it she wasn't the one that started this. Lucas was a smart young man and he must know that he had to have a physical and that Kristin wasn't just going to let it drop. If she had told him before hand the real reason behind the trip he might not go and deep down Kristin couldn't blame him. Nathan had been no help when she told him. He laughed and said it was perfect but a part of her had to wonder. After all Lucas was a fragile and sensitive child. Even under the ruse of helping him it was not right to lie to him about her motives. Before she could think on it anymore Lucas rounded the corner and stopped just in front of the hatch. He smiled and took his bags over to the seaman. He let the young man stow them while he went to speak to the doc. "Hi doc, we ready or what?"
"Hello Lucas and yes we will be as soon as Nathan gets here and says good- bye. I was wondering if you were going to make it, you were almost late young man."
"Almost doesn't count doc, I wasn't late and you didn't have to wait for me so it's fine."
"Arriving 2 minutes before we're ready to depart is not on time, it is lucky you didn't run into something." She caught sight of Nathan entering the bay and said, "We'll talk about this later Lucas. Here comes Nathan."
Lucas turned and grinned at the Captain and went to stand slightly behind the doc as Lucas figured he needed some privacy to say good-bye to Kristin properly. He nodded his head when the Cap spoke to him. "Lucas you behave and keep an eye on Kristin for me. If I wasn't so wrapped up and committed to this crew shakedown I would go with you two. The Wisen Conference is quite an outing."
Kristin only smiled, as she knew Nathan knew the real reason for this trip but wasn't saying anything. Lucas on the other hand couldn't hide his excitement and said, "I will Cap and I know about the conference. I can't believe we're actually going. It is going to be a great time I can't wait. I'm going to board the launch now." He stepped around the doctor and hugged the Captain lightly and even tolerated it when Nathan tousled his hair somewhat. He headed for the launch while at the same time smoothing out his hair.
The two adults watched as Lucas boarded and were sure he was out of earshot before Nathan spoke. "What's wrong Kris? I thought you were excited about this. It is really going to be a great time for both of you and you'll get Lucas' medical check-up done at the same time, what more could you ask for?"
Kristin nodded solemnly but said, "I know Nathan and I am excited to be going to the conference and spending time with Lucas, believe me. I just feel a little odd lying to him about the motives; it may do more harm than good in the end. I don't want to hurt him only help. I hope he'll understand that when he finds out."
Nathan reached out and pulled the doctor closer to him and kissed her lightly on the cheek and then smiled and said, "Kristin I know you don't like the way this turned out but trust me I know Lucas will understand. No matter what your motives at the time you can't tell me that if Lucas had said he didn't want to go to this conference you would have made him go just for the physical thing. He knows you care Kristin and at some point you're going to have to trust him that he knows and in the end will understand the reason for this." He smiled and pulled away and started to leave and then stopped and said, "Besides I meant what I said, it is going to be some great times for both of you so enjoy it but don't have too much fun. I don't want to have to come up there and get you."
She shot him the notorious "Westphalen" glare the whole crew knew so well and watched as he left the bay. Taking a deep breath she turned and headed for the launch.