Chapter 25

    Matt was nervous. He knew he was going to have to explain to the SeaQuest why Lucas wasn't talking. He spoke to Lucas through sign language about the notes, but he made sure that his younger brother understood that he wasn't angry at him…That was tricky especially as Lucas had decided at that particular moment he didn't want to look or hear what Matt was saying and had covered his hands over his ears and squeezed his eyes shut. Smiling softly at the memory, and got a couple of strange looks from passers by. He sobered up when he saw the crew approach him and the reception desk.

    "Hello Matt!" Bridger stated, looking a bit tired from the conferences. "Is everything all right?"

    Suddenly feeling intimidated by Lucas's friends, Matt decided it might be easier if he spoke to the Captain alone.

    "Hi! Um…Can I…Um…Speak to you alone, please?" Matt was suddenly nervous.

    "Is it really urgent? Cos I'm really tired…" Bridger started.

    "It's important," Matt stated.

    "Well…OK then." Bridger agreed.

***

    "Well, what did you want to talk to me about?" Bridger started after having being led to the same room the brother's were interrogated in earlier.

    "It's about Lucas. Do you know any sign language by the way?" At Bridger's confused look, the younger man sighed. Matt explained the whole story about the notes and the detectives visit and Lucas's reaction to the questions. Matt hedged around which question it was that Lucas didn't like, as he knew no one on the seaQuest knew about their past.

    "And now he's not talking?" Bridger asked, genuinely concerned.

    "Yeah, he did it a lot when he got scared by people yelling and stuff, but he hasn't done it in years and usually Baz was the one who got him talking again, but…Well…That's not gonna happen at the moment." Matt sighed.

    "I see why you had to tell me on my own," Bridger stated. "What do you want me to do?"

    "I want you to make him feel loved and wanted. He trusts you. I've already told him off about the notes, but can you tell the crew for me please? You're their commanding officer; they're less likely to beat you up!" Matt pleaded.

    Bridger chuckled slightly before agreeing to Matt's terms and departing company.

***

    When Bridger reached his shared room, he found Lucas already up their. The youth looked like an abandoned rag doll in the position he was sitting on the couch. One leg was on the cushion, while the other dangled off the edge of the couch. The rest of his body was sprawled in the middle of the couch and giving the impression he was watching the TV. Bridger had a suspicion that if he asked the teen what he was watching, he wouldn't have been able to tell him. Upon Bridger's entry, the head had looked round but had almost immediately lost interest.

    "Hey kiddo," Bridger gently approached. "You know I think you've had enough TV for today."

    Reaching across, Bridger switched the TV off. Lucas didn't even acknowledge the fact that the TV had been switched off. Watching the teen, Bridger crouched down so he was on the same level as the youth and gently began to stroke his hair back away from his face. Lucas's eyes flicked nervously around, as though he didn't know what it was to be loved or cared for.

    "Come on…It's time for bed. You've had a busy day today." Bridger carried on stroking his hair and was surprised when Lucas's hand reached up to take his. The elder man just smiled and accepted the youngster's hand, leading him off the couch and to the bathroom to get changed. When Lucas re-emerged from the bathroom, he climbed into his bed and was surprised when Bridger tucked him in.

    "Wow, I could get used to this…No complaints before getting into bed!" Bridger observed, earning a smile from his charge, who closed his eyes and almost immediately feel asleep. Bridger planted a kiss on the youth's forehead, whispering,

    "Goodnight, kiddo."

TBC…