BREATHE
This is a Sequel to the story RESPONSIBILITY - if you haven't read that one you need to so that you understand the characters that will be introduced later in the story. Murphy makes a come back later in the story so for now you will just have to be patient until I get to that part. Enjoy
PART FOUR
Ben was kneeling beside Lucas trying to do what he could to help his distressed friend. Problem was that Ben was freaking out almost much as the teenager. He didn't have a clue what he could do to help his friend. All the emergency medical training that he had received at the U.E.O. academy didn't mean a damn thing right now.
Footsteps could be heard coming down the corridor at great speed, signalling the appearance of Bridger and Kristen and some help.
Lucas was still curled up in an almost foetal position with his hands hugged tightly to his chest and his face clenched tightly with the pain that he was currently feeling.
"I c-can't b-breathe....." Lucas managed to stammer out through a tightened jaw. His breaths were coming in ragged gasps as he tried to draw air into his starved lungs. Trouble was that he was trying too hard and almost choking on any air that did manage to inhale and it was this that was making the gasping sounds.
Kristen went straight into doctor mode, pushing aside her personal feelings right now. She was trying to pull Lucas's hands away from his chest to try and see what damaged had been caused.
It was only a brief glance sideways that showed the toppled ladder a few feet behind the frightened teenager. The rest she put together and came up with a plausible reason for the accident.
Lucas was still trying to breathe too quickly and the harder he tried, the less air he was getting, making the panicking start all over again.
"Nathan, kneel behind him and sit him upright with his back against your legs" Kristen now instructed. Bridger did what was asked and knelt behind Lucas while Ben assisted where he could.
With the teenager overtaken by his fear, it took both of them to pull him into a sitting position as he fought them the entire way.
With Lucas now sitting in an upright position, Kristen once again tried to pry his hands away from his chest, thinking that the protectiveness must indicate the area most injured. She prayed to God that this wasn't the case. With his weakened lungs, the last thing he needed was a blow to that direct area.
"I c-can't breathe" Lucas repeated again, hoping someone would help him soon. He was quite out of it with the pain and confusion and failed to note that help had already arrived.
"Lucas, you are too tense. That's why you can't breathe properly. You need to relax your body so that the air can get through to your lungs and then to the muscles. You need to calm down honey" she said in a gentle but firm voice.
"I c-can't" Lucas said, letting his fear get the better of him again.
"Yes you can Lucas. Breathe with me, in.out..in.out....one...two" Kristen said as she tried to get the teenager to relax his body.
Lucas tried his hardest to comply and do as Kristen said. His breathing seemed to become a little easier as he listened to her instructions and tried to take longer, deeper breaths instead of small little ones that didn't do anything but make him labour for air even more.
Kristen had been too focused on giving Lucas the help he needed to remember that Ben was still with them. She had briefly forgotten all about the promises she and Bridger had made to Lucas about keeping his condition a secret until he was ready to tell it to the rest of the crew.
"Lucas, listen to me, where is your medicine inhaler?" Kristen asked, gripping his chin gently to get the boy focusing his attention on her question long enough to answer coherently.
Lucas didn't speak, trying to keep his concentration on his breathing techniques, but pointed to the pocket of his jeans. Kristen could see the tell-tale bulge in the material that indicated what she was looking for.
Ben watched with confusion and worry as he saw Kristen pull out the inhaler and give it to Lucas. "What was Lucas doing with an asthma inhaler?" He had seen them before so he knew what it was as soon as it came into view.
Kristen tried to get Lucas's attention long enough for him to focus on taking the medication in an attempt to try and help him. "Lucas.... Lucas you need.....," she found herself repeating.
However, at present, Lucas had his eyes squeezed tightly together in a grimace of pain and had his hands clutched together grasping at his chest and beating on it a couple of times as if to make his starving lungs take a breath of fresh air.
Even though Ben was still a little in the dark as to why Lucas was receiving the medication in the first place. A lot of questions had already formed in his head over the last few minutes that he was determined to have Doctor Westphalen answer just as soon as Lucas was attended to properly. He had already worked out some of the questions in his own mind, but didn't like the answers he was coming up with.
"Lucas we are here for you, I know it hurts son, but let Kristen help you," Bridget now said trying to back up what Kristen was already telling the teenager. He didn't want to move too much from the position he was in for fear of causing more pain to Lucas until Kristen could get a better look at him.
Kristen tried once more to get Lucas to focus on the inhaler and the medicinal help it contained. For a brief few seconds, it looked as though her calming words were beginning to have an effect as Lucas raised his head slightly and looked at her with glassy blue eyes.
Lucas took the inhaler from the doctor with hands that were trembling slightly and held it to his lips, ready to take a deep breath. But just as he took the breath, he was assaulted by a sharp pain through his ribcage and he accidentally knocked the inhaler out of his hand as he reached for the area causing him the distress.
"Ben go and grab my bag just on the other side of the doorway there," Kristen now ordered the Lieutenant knowing that they just weren't getting through enough to the distraught teenager. The pain, the asthma and his breathing were all fighting against him and them at the moment and they needed even the odds a little if they were truly going to be of any genuine help to Lucas.
Krieg did as he was directed to and quickly came scurrying back with Kristen's small medical bag tightly in his hand. He gave it to her and now watched intently as she rummaged around inside it.
After a few seconds, Kristen brought out a small cylindrical shaped instrument, almost like an atomiser with a different looking spray nozzle on the top. Without out consenting Lucas any further and looking briefly at Bridger and acknowledging her curt nod with one of his own, she placed the suction like disc against the skin on the teenager's neck and pressed the canister twice in her hand.
Ben now looked back at Lucas's face as Kristen drew the instrument away and he noted the teenager's eyelids were already beginning to droop due to the medicine that had just been administered.
After a few more seconds, Lucas's hands that had been so tightly grabbing at his shirt, now fell away to his sides and his entire body became very lax from the sedative properties. His head now bowed towards his chin. Bridger held Lucas upright as he adjusted his position and now laid the teenager down.
"Let's get him back to Med-Bay so I can take a look at him," Kristen now stated. "He was just too agitated. He was really doing himself more harm than good," she added, justifying her use of the sedative.
Commander Jonathan Ford too had raced to the scene of the toppled ladder, but had held back a little when Bridger and Kristen took over the scene. He now saw his opportunity to help out by carrying the sleeping teenager between himself and Ben Krieg towards Med Bay.
After a few minutes, Ford and Krieg carefully deposited Lucas onto one of the empty beds in Med Bay. Ford could see some questions forming on Ben's lips and thought it best that he get on with his maintenance routine. He was positive that Bridger or Doctor Westphalen would both let him know about the teenager's condition after a detailed examination.
Ford's awkwardness about being in the room at the moment showed as he went to excuse his presence from the room. "Captain, if it is alright with you and you can manage here with Ben, I will continue with the maintenance checks. I am sure I would only be crowding the room anyway."
Bridger couldn't help but notice the man's uneasiness and looked at Kristen before getting a curt nod from her about Ben still being in the room. Whatever they wanted to discuss about Lucas would have to wait until after Ben left.
However, Ben was a little more astute then they gave him credit for and he had already sensed something wasn't right about the whole thing. He wasn't going to beat around the bush. That wasn't Ben's style. He would just come right out and ask. Lucas was asleep so he wouldn't be involved in the discussion and the drug that he had received from Kristen would see to it that he wasn't disturbed either.
"What is going on Captain?" Ben asked plainly and a little emphasis in his voice.
"I don't know what you mean Ben," Bridger replied, trying to shirk the question all together.
"Don't treat me like a five year old please Sir," Ben now said, he was trying his hardest not to get angry at the Captain. "Why was Lucas carrying an asthma inhaler? What's wrong with him?"
Bridger could tell by Krieg's voice that he wasn't going to be easily brushed off by his ignoring the man's questions. Ben didn't deserve that and they both knew it. Ben was Lucas's best friend.
"Wait until the doctor finishes here with Lucas and we will sit down and talk," Bridger now suggested, knowing that they still had to attend to Lucas first.
Ben seemed happy enough with this explanation. He was patient. He would wait like the Captain asked, but only until after Lucas had been seen too and was resting comfortably. Then he would still be demanding answers and wanting to know why he was being left in the dark about Lucas's medical condition.
For the next half an hour, Ben worked with the Captain and Doctor Westphalen instead of against them. He gently held Lucas into a sitting position with Bridger as Kristen removed the young man's shirt and took at look at his chest.
Lucas's breathing had been slowed somewhat with the administration of the sedative. It was no longer so laboured or wheezy sounding. Lucas's chest rose slowly and rhythmically, with all three standing and watching and finding relief that there seemed to be no serious injuries to Lucas.
"Those ribs are not broken or even cracked thankfully," Kristen began to explain to the two men in the room. "They are badly bruised but considering the height he fell from on top of the ladder he is very lucky."
"Although he had a mild asthma attack, I think it was brought more on by his state of pain rather than anything else. His fear only seemed to escalate the problem and the more frightened that he became once he realised he was having an attack, the more restricted his lungs became and thus the more difficult it became for him to breathe correctly," she continued.
"He should be waking up soon, that sedative I gave him was a relatively mild one. When he does, I think he would be much more comfortable back in his own bed so we will take him home. As long as there are no major problems tomorrow, I think he should be able to resume some sort of normal activity, so long as he takes it easy. Those ribs are probably going to be tender for a day or so," Kristen added.
"And while we are waiting for him to wake up we can go into your office doctor and you can tell me all about this asthma thing that Lucas has," Ben now said, trying to hide the sarcastic tones in his words.
"Okay Ben, just let me cover him to keep warm, you and the Captain wait in the next room," Kristen said with a little guilt. She and Bridger had promised Lucas that they would keep this a secret until he decided to tell the crew in his own time. Unfortunately it looked as though they were going to go back on that promise. She couldn't help but have a feeling of betrayal at what see was about to reveal to Ben.
When Kristen walked into her office a few minutes later, Ben and Bridger had been idly chatting about the maintenance on the boat. She could see from the looks on their faces that they hadn't been talking about Lucas just yet. Obviously they were waiting for her to join them before tackling that topic of discussion.
"Look doc, before you and the Captain say anything. I am sorry about the way I spoke to you both in the Med Bay, but I am Lucas's friend. If there is something wrong with him medically, then I want to know so I can be there to help him. I only want to know because I like the kid so much."
Kristen and Ben both knew that it took a lot for Ben Krieg to admit such feelings to anybody. Although he would fly off at the drop of a hat about almost anything. Hiding his emotions and feelings was one of his best tricks. There was only one other person they knew who did it better than he and that was the friend he was talking about: Lucas.
"Before I say anything to you, I must tell you that Nathan and I promised Lucas that we wouldn't tell any of the crew. And unfortunately that meant you too Ben. So that's why you haven't been informed about his condition up until now," Kristen tried to explain in her defence.
"Lucas hasn't been very well since coming down sick on the boat," Bridger now said. "In fact he should have been better weeks ago but hasn't. A week or so ago, Kristen and I took Lucas back to the hospital to see Dr Kavanagh again. He did some pretty routine tests and diagnosed Lucas with asthma. He says he doesn't know how long Lucas may have it. It may be only temporary, or it may not. Only time will tell," he added leaving the statement a little unfinished.
"You should have seen him Ben, he could scarcely walk up a flight of stairs without being out of breath like you saw today," Kristen said with empathy in her voice. "But he is now on regular medication which we hope will see him at least manage his condition. He has a mild exercise routine that he is sticking to and already he had seen some improvement in his own health from that."
"So what can I do to help him?' Ben asked after taking in everything that they were telling him. For a few seconds he almost couldn't find the words to say in return.
"The main thing you can do for Lucas is just be you," Kristen now said in all seriousness. "Lucas already fells down and like he is the only target at the moment. He needs some stability and normality in his life again. Go and do the things you would always do. Joke around with him. Have fun."
"But," Bridger now said with a warning.
"But?" Ben now repeated knowing there had to be some sort of catch to it all.
"But don't let him fool you either. He needs plenty of rest and to take his medicine on a daily basis. There will be times when he doesn't feel quite a hundred per cent and that's when you as his friend, are going to have to take note for him and make him pull up and stop working or take a break," Kristen now informed him.
"Hopefully it is only temporary and after a few months, he will be back to normal and able to look back and laugh at all of this," Bridger now stated. "But for now, for Lucas all we ask is that you keep this information under you hat until Lucas decides that he wanted the rest of the crew to know."
"I hate to even think what he is going to say when he knows we have told even you Ben," Kristen said with her guilty conscience kicking in once again.
"Don't worry doc, I will take care of him for you and I promise not to breath a word of it to anybody else. I will look out for him like always," Ben said with his normal joking overtones.
"What are we going to tell the Commander?" Ben genuinely asked knowing that Jonathan would at least appreciate an update about the fall and any possible injuries Lucas might have received.
"Kristen and I will get Lucas back home and resting in his own bed," Bridger replied. "I will leave it to you to explain about Lucas having some bruised ribs and needing to take it easy. Tell him I will contact him later today about what is going to happen with the maintenance schedule tomorrow. I will let know if Lucas will be doing anything with the computers tomorrow by then."
"Right you are Captain," Ben said as he prepared to leave Kristen's office and go find Commander Ford. "Oh by the way Captain. If everything works out tomorrow, I thought just to break up the norm it would be good to have a cook out on the beach near the jetty or something in the evening. We can all bring a plate of food and enjoy the waves at the same time."
"That sounds great Ben," Bridger said with a smile. "We probably won't be able to do it for a while once we are back out to sea on duty. I am sure Lucas would enjoy something like that too."
"At least you won't have to cook tomorrow night Doc," Ben finally said with a grin before heading out the door.
"Always the Morale Officer," Kristen said with a laugh at Ben's suggestion. She knew the cook out was mostly for Lucas's benefit are what he had heard about his asthma. But that didn't matter, they could all use a break from the norm.
"Always," Bridger said in agreement with a smirk of his own at Krieg's endless positive outlook. It didn't matter how bad the news got for Ben, he always tried to see the brighter side of life. If things still looked a little gloomy and sad, he would find a way to bring in some cheerfulness and make it happy again.
"See you later Lucas," Ben said as he went back into see how Lucas was doing before he left the Med Bay. The teenager seemed to be doing okay at the moment and resting enough, so he could go without worry too much.
Ben didn't take long to find Commander Ford. "Hi Commander," he greeted the dark-skinned man as he watched Jonathan push a few of the controls on the bridge's main console.
"How's Lucas doing?" Ford asked, looking up from his work.
"Bridger and the doctor are waiting for him to wake up so they can take him back to the island. He's okay, just a little bruised and sore Kristen said. He should be right tomorrow as long as he takes it fairly easily," he added, noting the grimace on Ford's face about how much more delay there would be if Lucas wasn't well enough to complete the computer program uploads.
"Well he's okay and that's the main thing. We will manage without him if he doesn't feel up to anything," Ford said as his mind started to tick over about reassigning certain tasks if it became absolutely necessary.
"If it's all right with you, I would like to stick with Lucas for much of tomorrow just to make sure he takes it easy like the doctor says," Krieg now commented.
"Sure, but don't blame me when he goes off at you being under his feet," Ford now jibed.
"I told the Captain if everything goes to plan tomorrow and we get finished with the repairs that we might be able to have cook out on his island down by the jetty," Ben now informed the Commander.
"Hey you know Krieg, that's a great idea. Especially since we will all be stuck aboard here for the next three months. Hopefully after tomorrow the repairs will be finished at last and everybody, including Lucas can relax down on the beach," Ford said.
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Captain Bridger and Kristen didn't have to wait much past an hour for Lucas to show some signs of coming back awake. While he was unable to put up much resistance due to his groggy state, Kristen began to check his ribs and listen to his breathing. She was satisfied that the effects of the mild attack seemed to be limited.
"Come on junior, lets get you home so you can rest properly," Bridger now said fondly with a smile. Lucas nodded his head, although he hadn't quite put together what was said to him. His fuzzy brain just told him to go with them. He eased himself off the edge of the bed and allowed Kristen and Bridger to support most of his weight on either side.
Bridger didn't know why he just didn't pick up the injured teenager and carry him to the car, but for the moment that seemed like the wrong thing to do and so he and Kristen did their best to guide the unsteady teenager to the vehicle and lay him down in the back seat.
By the time Kristen made her way around to the other side of the car to adjust Lucas's head, the teenager was already well on his way back to sleep again. Bridger smiled at the sleepy boy as he got into the driver's seat and started their way towards the jetty and the ferry to take them back to the island.
The ferry skipper had given them all a strange look as Kristen and Bridger once again helped an almost asleep teenager to a seat in the back of the vessel. Once back at the jetty on the island, Lucas was transferred to Bridger's own private car and the trio now drove towards the house.
For the rest of the afternoon, Lucas spent the majority of his time sleeping on the couch in front of the T.V. It wasn't the comfort and complete rest that Kristen was hoping for that afternoon. But it saved the arguments and complaints that would ensue if there was forced rest in his bedroom. Most of the time Lucas never saw what show was on anyway. Due to the residual effects of the sedative and the pain that he was still experiencing in his ribs, sleep was what he did.
A little later on that afternoon when he was much alert, Kristen explained to him what injuries and bruising he had received from the ladder fall and reminded him of taking it easy for the rest of that day and the next. She also told him about the cook out on the beach that Krieg had suggested and that idea seemed to lift the teenager's spirits greatly.
Kristen then carefully and gently explained to him that it was mostly the pain he was feeling and his own anxiety and fear had caused his asthma attack to become worse. Lucas was a little upset at himself for causing any unnecessary stress to Bridger and Kristen whilst they were trying to help him.
Bridger reminded him that he had nothing to be apologetic for and that it was perfectly understandable how he had coped with the pain he was feeling. The bruising was proof of that pain.
Kristen once again went through some of the things Lucas may have forgotten about his asthma management, like the use of his inhaler on a regular basis and his Ventolin medication. She assured him that things would get better and no matter how much they all were prepared, sometimes things would still go wrong. They just had to know what to do if something like that did happen in the future again.
By the time Lucas retired to bed for the night he was much more relaxed about what had happened.
Early the next morning, Lucas rose fairly early to see what plans Bridger had made the night before about what maintenance was left to be carried out that day. Lucas gave him an update on how things had been progressing with the computer program installation before he had his accident.
Bridger had contacted Commander Ford about the routine for the next day and asked how the rest of his afternoon had turned out. Ford reported that he and Krieg had achieved a fair amount between them. He secretly sighed in relief when Bridger told him that he thought Lucas would be at least present to help out tomorrow. Ford told the Captain about Ben's request to work the teenager.
Bridger didn't have any objections and silently praised Ben for once again looking out for his friend, but warned Jonathan about what was going to happen when Lucas thought his space was being invaded too much.
Kristen thought it better to pre-warn Lucas about his new partner for the day before they got to the boat. At least that way it would be such a problem. She told him over breakfast.
"Why does Ben want to work with me today anyway?" Lucas now asked as he let the idea run through his head. He had specifically asked Commander Ford yesterday to work alone because that's what he liked and that's when he did his best work. Now that was all about to change today. He was trying to think hard about what he could get Ben to help out with.
"I think he got a bit scared about what happened yesterday Lucas," Kristen said as she tried her best to explain. "And I think he feels a little bit guilty about causing the ladder to topple over in the first place. He just wants to make it up to you somehow and make sure you are okay."
Lucas blushed slightly and was a tad awkward at Ben's show of friendship. He didn't have the heart to say that Ben couldn't help out.
When they got to the boat later that morning, most of the other senior crew members were also present, including Katie Hitchcock, Miguel Ortiz and Tim O'Neill. They all wanted to pitch in as much as possible and then enjoy the cook out that Ben had informed them all about.
The crew members that hadn't been present the day before had been discreetly told about Lucas's mishap and the bruising he had received as a result. They all made a mental note to check on how the teenager was doing throughout the day and keep an eye out for any signs of pain that he maybe hiding.
It wasn't until mid-morning, just before lunch that Lucas's patience with his new found shadow began to show signs of running out. There had even been two occasions when Lucas had been working on a panel underneath a console. When he got up to check something, he had smacked right into Ben who had been peering over his shoulder.
At first there were only a few mumbled dark words from the teenager and a scowl on his face to show is displeasure at Ben's persistence. At the end of the day, Lucas found it much quicker and easier to just do the work himself rather than take the time it would need to teach and show Ben. It had to be that way if they ever had plans to finish the repairs today.
Ben had asked Lucas quite a number of times whether or not he was feeling okay or if he had any pain. It got to the stage where Lucas was able to almost predict when the question was going to be asked before Ben opened his mouth. He tried to be pleasant about it but it was beginning to grate on his nerves.
On top of Ben's persistent questioning, Kristen and Bridger had also made regular checks on him to see how he was doing. By now he was answering the questions through clench teeth to prevent his saying something he may regret. He knew they all meant well and were only being concerned, but it was all wearing a little thin after a while.
Now, most of the crew had centred their finished off tasks around the Bridge area. Lucas was part of this and running through some of the last minute checks on the computer consoles before lunch.
Hopefully after that he would be finished. At much as he hated to admit it, he was beginning to feel a little weary. The pain to his ribs had been bearable, mostly a dull ache. He had felt it the most when he had to bend down to reach a panel underneath the work stations or reach up above his head.
As usual, Lucas hadn't mentioned any of it to Ben or the others though. He didn't think it was bad enough to stop working all together. He had already taken his asthma medication before leaving the island and his inhaler was safely tucked away out of view in his pocket again.
Lucas was becoming annoyed with one of the console which was having trouble accepting the program installation. It was taking much longer than the others and he couldn't hide his impatience and frustrations. Just as he went to bend down to take a look at the internal workings for the fourth time, cursing as loudly as he dared, he accidentally hit his head against Ben's who was once again bending over him too closely.
"BEEENNNN!!!!" Lucas cried out loudly as he got up and rubbed at the area on top of his head. He looked over and could see Ben rubbing at his chin where Lucas's head had connected. He had a lopsided grin on his face that was meant as a poor apology effort.
"GET OUT OF MY FACE," Lucas now shouted at his friend. The frustration was a combination of the pain in his head and chest and partly due to his failure at making the system do what he wanted it to do.
Bridger was quickly on the scene, surveying the top of Lucas's head for any sign of injury but all he got in return for his probing was an angry looking teenager pulling his head away roughly and a scowl.
"Lucas how about you go with Commander Ford and Miguel to get the supplies that were ordered," Bridger now suggested, trying to diffuse the situation before it grew out of all proportion. "You get take some extra time and get some lunch too," he added trying to get the teenager to take a break from his work without actually saying the word "break".
"Yeah sure," Lucas said in an annoyed voice. He tossed the little hand held instrument he had been using onto the work station, not really caring where it landed at the moment. He really did need to get out of here before he blew his stack for no good reason.
Commander Ford and Miguel had already teed up to go on the supply run and were only too happy to carry out the Captain's orders and get the frustrated teenager off the boat before he exploded in anger. Bridger had failed to tell Lucas though that Ben had to accompany them all on the supply run because his name would appear on the invoice as part of his supply officer duties. As Lucas and the other prepared to leave, Krieg also got up to go with them, thus adding to the teenager's invasion of space once again.
"He's coming with us now too?" Lucas asked, his voice sounding a little tired rather than annoyed. Nobody really took any notice, but the teenager had been rubbing aimlessly at this chest area for about the last half an hour now. Trying to relieve a slight tightness he was just beginning to detect.
"He has to go Lucas to sign the invoices," Ford now said to Lucas in a calm voice.
"So long as he doesn't sit beside me in the vehicle too," Lucas replied and walked out the door towards the transports without so much as a word of goodbye to Kristen or the Captain.
"Lay off a little him huh," Bridger said briefly to Krieg as he grabbed at his shirt sleeve just before the man left the boat. Ben nodded his agreement, knowing that he had been getting too close all morning. He just couldn't help it though.
Ben kept seeing images of the fall Lucas had taken from the ladder the day before and the words Kristen had said about him having asthma. He just could help but be worried for his young friend. He told himself he would just have to refrain himself a little more in showing it that was all.
Sometimes Ben just had a knack for over doing something and this was exactly one of those occasions. Lucas felt like he was suffocating and Bridger knew that he and Kristen had been adding to the teenager's frustration. He was to blame just as much as Ben was.
On the way to the supply depot in the transport, Lucas was unusually silent. Commander Ford drove, whilst Miguel and Ben sat in the rear seat. The tension was obvious and nobody had the words to break the silence.
The drive was a good ten minutes though and as the gentle breeze blew through Lucas's blonde hair, his temper began cooling off and he started to regret the angry words he had shouted at Ben.
As they pulled up and got out of the vehicle, Lucas walked over to Krieg and tried to make amends for his outburst. "I am sorry about what I said back there Ben," Lucas said, rubbing at his chest again.
"It's okay Lucas, I should have known better then to be getting up so close and personal today, I am sorry too," Ben replied. "Let's forget what happened and just go back to being friends okay?"
"Deal," Lucas answered with a grin and the two friends shook hands for all to see. The friendship was still in tact and the others were relieved to see it.
It wasn't until the crew members began loading the supplies into the back of the U.E.O. transport that Lucas suspected Ben knew a little more about his hidden condition than he ought to know.
The supplies were packed into a number of boxes, some of them small, some much larger. Up until know Lucas had not shown any signs of feeling off to the others. They all thought he was holding up fairly well considering the fall he had taken off a ladder yesterday.
Lucas now bent down and attempted to pick up one of the larger boxes on his own. It wasn't very heavy in weight, just awkward due to it's size but by the time it was loaded into the back of the vehicle, Lucas's breathing was becoming a little audible and sounded somewhat laboured.
"Are you okay Lucas?" Ben asked as he heard the wheezy sounds of breathing from his friend. It didn't sound as bad as the day before, but he couldn't help but be a little concerned.
"Maybe you should take it easier and let us handle the larger and heavier boxes Lucas," Ben now suggested, unprepared for the backlash he was about to receive.
"I can handle it just fine thank you Krieg," Lucas said in a low voice to disguise his suspiciousness. With most of the loading done anyway, Lucas now went to the front seat of the vehicle and took up the silent mood he had earlier. His mind was ticking over about how much Ben might know. "What was that all about Ben?" Miguel asked in a whisper. He didn't think the Lieutenant had said anything to deserve such a cold reply from the teenager. The two of them were out of ear shot of Lucas as they spoke.
"Captain just wants him to take it easy Miguel," Ben replied, "Didn't you hear the sound of his breathing?" he added. It was just as the last word left his lips that Ben realised with horror about what he had done.
Miguel was quick enough to pick up on the word "breathing" unfortunately for Ben and continued along that line of questioning. "Why is the Captain concerned about Lucas's breathing?" he now asked out of curiosity. He thought that they wanted to keep an eye on Lucas because of the fall he had yesterday. Up until now nobody had mentioned anything about breathing problems.
Ben inwardly kicked himself as hard as he could. How could he just let it slip out so easily like that? Now how was he going to get out of this mess he had just created? It soon became clear that it was going to be rather difficult to get out of because Commander Ford had heard Miguel's question about why were people concerned about Lucas's breathing.
He tried to cover his mistake with the minimal amount of information to the rest of the crew. In a whispered voice he told them about Lucas maybe having the condition asthma and that he needed to keep any strenuous activity to as little as possible. He also told them that Lucas didn't want anybody know and that he should not have said anything.
Ford and Miguel promised not to mention anything to Lucas but both of them found themselves wondering about what they would do if Lucas did start having real breathing problems when they were around.
"What are we waiting for?" Lucas asked in an impatient voice, not knowing that his friends had been discussing the very thing he was trying to keep secret. He already suspected that Ben had somehow come to know more than he should but he had no idea that Ford and Ortiz now also knew.
"Coming Lucas," Ford announced, breaking up the little meeting before Lucas became even more suspicious to the topic of conversation.
On the way home, Ford and Miguel found themselves trying their hardest to listen to Lucas's breathing without him knowing to see if they could pick up on what Krieg had told them. But to their dismay, everything sounded perfectly okay.
They couldn't hear any distinct wheezing or shallow breathing that was known to occur with asthma. Lucas seemed okay. A little ticked off at Ben at the moment after their brief reconciliation, but okay nonetheless.
When they returned earlier than expected to the boat, Bridger knew that nerves were still on edge. Lucas came aboard, slamming the door to his cabin to get away from all the prying eyes and everyone asking if he was alright. For now the tightness in his chest seemed to have gone away. He didn't feel like talking to anybody right now.
Bridger had asked Ben how the trip went. Ben couldn't hide his guilt though and admitted to the Captain and Kristen about his slip after Lucas had lifted the boxes and his breathing had sounded rather shallow. He informed them that he had told them as little as possible and swore them to secrecy about Lucas. Somehow Kristen and Bridger were not convinced that Lucas was going to be able to hide his asthma from the rest of the crew for much longer.
Ben suggested they should start packing up and getting ready for the cook out on the beach as a way of clearing the air and trying to get the teenager to relax again. Bridger agreed and started to finish up what he was doing as did Kristen and the other crew members.
There was still a small amount of repair work to be carried out, but nothing that couldn't be done once they were back underway to the open oceans again. The vessel was seaworthy and ready for there next tour of duty.
Whilst Ben and the Captain were preparing to pack up and leave for the rest of the island though, they were unaware that Miguel had been unable to keep his secret about Lucas. He had now told Katie Hitchcock and Tim O'Neill on the Bridge about the asthma.
Miguel also told them about everybody keeping an eye out that Lucas didn't over do things. Katie and Tim like everybody else was now watching the youth whether he like it or not.
Despite the fact that they had been told to keep the information secret. They were soon going to be falling all over him in an effort to keep their own worries at bay. They didn't think now that there would be any underlying and devastating consequences to their vigilance.
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Later that afternoon, everyone was seated on the sand by the jetty on Bridger's island. Everyone had tried to relax and forget about the arguments and harsh words spoken during the day. The sun was just beginning to set in the background, the tides were rolling in and were almost mesmerising if you watched them long enough.
Ben had tried to keep his eye on Lucas from a distance. He knew that the kid was only just beginning to relax for the first time all afternoon and he didn't want to spoil it by hovering around him all over again.
Lucas had actually moved away from the rest of the group slightly and was sitting on the firmer sand, watching the tide roll in and roll out. He was close enough to hear the chatter of the rest of the crew but then far enough away to get lost in his own thoughts and enjoy the gentle breeze as it ruffled his hair.
Apart from wanting the peace of the waves, Lucas was actually trying to suppress the tightening in his chest that had re-emerged about an hour ago. Whilst he was turned away, the other crew members couldn't see the slight grimaces and frowns on his face from the pain.
Kristen and Bridger had been a little disappointed at Lucas's attempts to sit a little away from the rest of the crew. But at the end of the day they were certain that the teenager would come around once the aroma of food wafted across the sand to him. They were unaware that suspicions Lucas had held all afternoon were about to erupt into full scale accusations
They hoped that soon the gentle breeze would erode away the frustrations of the day and Lucas would be back to his normal self by the time they left for home.
Some of the food was now ready and Tim walked over to where Lucas was sitting and offered the teenager a sample. When Lucas turned to place his hand in the bowl though, even Tim could tell that the teenager was less than well. There was a paleness to his face and he looked as though he had been sweating slightly. Tim could also hear a distinct wheezing to Lucas's breathing that hadn't been there when they arrived on the beach.
"Are you okay Lucas?" Tim asked, genuinely concerned by the teenager's pale appearance.
"I am fine Tim, thanks," Lucas lied, knowing he wasn't being honest with his friend at all. He was disappointed with himself that he would once again have to admit reliance on others because of his weakness.
All his life, his father had literally beat it into Lucas that weakness was for others. Lucas had come to believe that if you were in pain you hid in and you certainly never admitted it to anybody or relied on them for assistance. This asthma thing was making him turn into somebody he didn't like very much. He turned on his good friends for no good reason. He hated the idea that they felt obligated to look out for him all the time.
"Kristen, Captain, I think you better come over here and take a look at Lucas," Tim now voiced. "I think his breathing is sounding very harsh," he added, trying to describe how his friend was breathing.
Lucas was more frustrated with himself than his family and friends but that's not what it was sounding like now. He was now on his feet in the sand, hands on his hips in a demanding stance.
"And what the hell do you know about my breathing Tim?" Lucas asked in a loud voice, but he was looking directly at the Captain and Kristen when he asked the question.
"I am sorry Lucas, Miguel told us and he said to keep quiet but looking at you just now I was worried about you," Tim said apologetically as he realised he had now blown everything wide open.
"And just why in world does Miguel have to know about this as well," Lucas now demanded, still looking icily at Bridger as he said the words. The pain in his chest was now becoming a lot more than noticeable and he was rubbing quite hard on the area in an attempt to massage some of the tightness away.
Everyone now remained stoically silent as they realised that all of them had betrayed Lucas's trust about not letting anybody know about his asthma. They could all scarcely find the words to say to say how sorry they were.
But pain was now driving Lucas mostly by adrenaline and he wasn't really focusing on what the crew was trying to say to him. He was only turning his attention to what his brain was telling him about nobody else supposed to be knowing.
"And while we are on the subject, who else knows about me and shouldn't?" Lucas now asked.
The teenager wasn't surprised at all when all his remaining friends put up their hands and voiced small yes's to his question. He had suspected that once one of them knew it wouldn't take long for the entire boat to know about his problem.
"How could you tell everyone after I asked you not to?" Lucas asked, as his voice began breaking from his emotions. "Now all my friends are going to think that I am some sort of invalid that needs to have his hand held every minute of the day. That's why I didn't want to tell them myself in the first place." Once again the tightness was taking over his body and controlling almost everything he did or said. He was scared and he didn't like admitting that to anybody when he relied so much on being independent most of his life.
"Lucas I think I am to blame for most of it," Ben now said as he walked closer to the teenager in an attempt to calm him down enough for Kristen to take a look at him. All in front of him could see the paleness in his face and the fine sheen of sweat that formed on his forehead. They all held off a little too late from making a dive to catch him.
"We are all just worried about you," Ben tried to say, attempting to smooth over the friendship for a second time today.
"Lucas you look as though you need to sit down for a minute and listen to what we have to say," Kristen said in a soothing voice, attempting to take his sleeve and calm him down. Even now she could hear his laboured breathing and knew that it wasn't making it any better by him being so agitated and upset.
"I don't need any help from any of you," he now shouted and took a step back to avoid them.
"Lucas, we want to help you. We are your friends. We feel.......," Ben started to say as he was cut off again before he could finished the sentence.
"Feel sorry for me," Lucas now shot back at Krieg. The hurt and disappointment and shame so evident on his pale face. And with that statement he took off running along the beach in the opposite direction to his friends and family.
"No that's no it Lucas....," Ben began to say in his own defence just a fraction of a second before he and the others saw the teenager take off along the beach.
"Quick after him," Bridger now said to the other crew members as he had taken to running after the teenager himself.
Commander Ford and Miguel did just that as well as Ben and began chasing the fleeing teenager along the beach.
"We will take the car in case we need it," Kristen now shouted to the others who were quickly running towards the vehicles up on the road. Everything that was not essential was left on the sand. Lucas was now more important than anything.
On the way, Katie Hitchcock used the U.E.O. communications radio to contact an ambulance on Kristen's say so. Kristen was dismayed that she hadn't picked up that the boy was unwell before now. If she had picked it up earlier, they may have been able to prevent the teenager getting so upset or taking off along the sand.
After only a few metres along the way, both the men chasing Lucas on the sand and the others driving in the car realised that Lucas was running back towards Bridger's house. They were thankful at least that had some sort of idea where he was headed to.
For somebody who wasn't supposed to over do it with the running though, Lucas proved to be more agile than Bridger and the others gave him credit for, even with the pain and tightness he was experiencing in his chest at the moment.
Despite Ford's athleticism and Miguel's ability to run quite quickly, Lucas had a good head start on them all. He was now about two hundred meters ahead of them.
Lucas could no longer hold in his frustrations and anger as he tried to run away from it all. And that's unfortunately exactly what he was doing. Running not just from the asthma and his friends and family, but from himself too and the fact that sometimes he needed to ask for help.
Tears were streaming down his face as he stopped running and tried to grab out the inhaler in his pocket in an attempt to gain some temporary relief from the pain that was assaulting his body. He felt so incredibly tired.
However, the anger in him rose again as his hands were too shaky to grab the inhaler out on the first attempt. It took two and then a third attempt to get it out. When he brought it too his mouth to try and take a puff of the medicine in side, he found his whole body shuddering too much from the running he had done and the harshness of his breathing to be able to inhale the contents effectively.
In an burst of anger he threw the inhaler downwards to the sand, but unfortunately it struck a nearby group of rocks and shattered, making it unusable and irreparable.
With the last of his strength rapidly running out, Lucas looked up and saw his family and friends now only a few metres away from him. The pain in his chest was too much to bear. He couldn't draw enough breath into his lungs to even shout out his frustrations.
Lucas now found the strength from his legs almost gone and they gave way beneath him and he was now kneeling on the wet sand, tears of frustration streaming down his face and clutching desperately at his chest to make the pain go away. His breathing was now way passed wheezy and well onto the way to raspy and difficult to get enough air into his oxygen starved lungs.
"I will beat you," Lucas shouted at the asthma as it attacked his lungs. He could scarcely find the air to string the words together in the correct order to make any sense.
"Lucas," Bridger now said in alarm as he reached the distressed teenager kneeling on the sand. By now both he, Ford and Miguel were acutely aware that Lucas was in need of medical attention. There would be plenty of time for explanations later on after he was well enough. For now they had to focus on getting him to a hospital and a doctor who could help him.
Bridger was truly scared by the sound of Lucas's breathing. With Kristen only just pulling up on top of the roadway above the sandy slope, it was up to him to try and coach the teenager through the breathing process until she got there. The boy's face was covered in sweat from his efforts to draw in enough air. "I'm sorry.....," Lucas managed to say in a hoarse whisper before even the effort to talk became too much. To Lucas the sky took on a hazy appearance as the blue grew fuzzy and started to spin before him.
The boy was only minutes away from passing out if he couldn't begin to breathe in and out a little easier. Bridger had never felt so darn helpless or scared as he did right now. This was just the occasion they had all dreaded. Watching the struggling teenager whilst the asthma battled against him.
As Kristen and Katie came running down the sandy slope towards the huddled group, the sound of a siren could be heard coming from the ocean. A U.E.O. water transport had been contacted due to being on the island. It was the quickest way to get the teenager to help without the use of roads until the mainland.
"Don't worry Lucas, everything will just fine," Bridger found himself telling the teenager as they waited for the medics to arrive. "Just breathe Lucas, in and out. I am here for you. I promise I won't let anything happen to you. Just breathe," he repeated, stroking the boy's hair out of his eyes as he spoke.
As he looked into those two blue eyes, his own fear was looking right back at him ......
TO BE CONTINUED ............
Firstly, sorry this chapter has taken so long. It's not my best effort either. I didn't think anybody was liking this story very much and this is also why I held back posting the next part up a little.
I used the term 'cook out' for everybody. I am from Australia and should have used Barbeque or Barbie, but didn't think everybody would recognize the word.
I didn't mean for there to be too much of a rift between Ben and Lucas. I promise it won't last for very long. I just thought I had used Commander Ford a couple of other times.
It is very scary watching somebody struggle with a bad asthma attack. I remember my dad having one when I was quite young and my mother leaning over him on the floor with none of use knowing what to do to help him until the doctor arrived. (There was no hospital - it was a small town of about 600 people.)
There will be more. I wrote this scene with the pictures from Sidekicks in head but thought I had better change it in a couple of places just to be different. But I love the scene where he runs away from the girl crying and then has the attack and throws his inhaler when he gets home. That's what I tried to write but it didn't quite sound the same.
Keep reading lots more to come. In the next part baddie Mr Murphy from Responsibility will make his reappearance.
JULES
This is a Sequel to the story RESPONSIBILITY - if you haven't read that one you need to so that you understand the characters that will be introduced later in the story. Murphy makes a come back later in the story so for now you will just have to be patient until I get to that part. Enjoy
PART FOUR
Ben was kneeling beside Lucas trying to do what he could to help his distressed friend. Problem was that Ben was freaking out almost much as the teenager. He didn't have a clue what he could do to help his friend. All the emergency medical training that he had received at the U.E.O. academy didn't mean a damn thing right now.
Footsteps could be heard coming down the corridor at great speed, signalling the appearance of Bridger and Kristen and some help.
Lucas was still curled up in an almost foetal position with his hands hugged tightly to his chest and his face clenched tightly with the pain that he was currently feeling.
"I c-can't b-breathe....." Lucas managed to stammer out through a tightened jaw. His breaths were coming in ragged gasps as he tried to draw air into his starved lungs. Trouble was that he was trying too hard and almost choking on any air that did manage to inhale and it was this that was making the gasping sounds.
Kristen went straight into doctor mode, pushing aside her personal feelings right now. She was trying to pull Lucas's hands away from his chest to try and see what damaged had been caused.
It was only a brief glance sideways that showed the toppled ladder a few feet behind the frightened teenager. The rest she put together and came up with a plausible reason for the accident.
Lucas was still trying to breathe too quickly and the harder he tried, the less air he was getting, making the panicking start all over again.
"Nathan, kneel behind him and sit him upright with his back against your legs" Kristen now instructed. Bridger did what was asked and knelt behind Lucas while Ben assisted where he could.
With the teenager overtaken by his fear, it took both of them to pull him into a sitting position as he fought them the entire way.
With Lucas now sitting in an upright position, Kristen once again tried to pry his hands away from his chest, thinking that the protectiveness must indicate the area most injured. She prayed to God that this wasn't the case. With his weakened lungs, the last thing he needed was a blow to that direct area.
"I c-can't breathe" Lucas repeated again, hoping someone would help him soon. He was quite out of it with the pain and confusion and failed to note that help had already arrived.
"Lucas, you are too tense. That's why you can't breathe properly. You need to relax your body so that the air can get through to your lungs and then to the muscles. You need to calm down honey" she said in a gentle but firm voice.
"I c-can't" Lucas said, letting his fear get the better of him again.
"Yes you can Lucas. Breathe with me, in.out..in.out....one...two" Kristen said as she tried to get the teenager to relax his body.
Lucas tried his hardest to comply and do as Kristen said. His breathing seemed to become a little easier as he listened to her instructions and tried to take longer, deeper breaths instead of small little ones that didn't do anything but make him labour for air even more.
Kristen had been too focused on giving Lucas the help he needed to remember that Ben was still with them. She had briefly forgotten all about the promises she and Bridger had made to Lucas about keeping his condition a secret until he was ready to tell it to the rest of the crew.
"Lucas, listen to me, where is your medicine inhaler?" Kristen asked, gripping his chin gently to get the boy focusing his attention on her question long enough to answer coherently.
Lucas didn't speak, trying to keep his concentration on his breathing techniques, but pointed to the pocket of his jeans. Kristen could see the tell-tale bulge in the material that indicated what she was looking for.
Ben watched with confusion and worry as he saw Kristen pull out the inhaler and give it to Lucas. "What was Lucas doing with an asthma inhaler?" He had seen them before so he knew what it was as soon as it came into view.
Kristen tried to get Lucas's attention long enough for him to focus on taking the medication in an attempt to try and help him. "Lucas.... Lucas you need.....," she found herself repeating.
However, at present, Lucas had his eyes squeezed tightly together in a grimace of pain and had his hands clutched together grasping at his chest and beating on it a couple of times as if to make his starving lungs take a breath of fresh air.
Even though Ben was still a little in the dark as to why Lucas was receiving the medication in the first place. A lot of questions had already formed in his head over the last few minutes that he was determined to have Doctor Westphalen answer just as soon as Lucas was attended to properly. He had already worked out some of the questions in his own mind, but didn't like the answers he was coming up with.
"Lucas we are here for you, I know it hurts son, but let Kristen help you," Bridget now said trying to back up what Kristen was already telling the teenager. He didn't want to move too much from the position he was in for fear of causing more pain to Lucas until Kristen could get a better look at him.
Kristen tried once more to get Lucas to focus on the inhaler and the medicinal help it contained. For a brief few seconds, it looked as though her calming words were beginning to have an effect as Lucas raised his head slightly and looked at her with glassy blue eyes.
Lucas took the inhaler from the doctor with hands that were trembling slightly and held it to his lips, ready to take a deep breath. But just as he took the breath, he was assaulted by a sharp pain through his ribcage and he accidentally knocked the inhaler out of his hand as he reached for the area causing him the distress.
"Ben go and grab my bag just on the other side of the doorway there," Kristen now ordered the Lieutenant knowing that they just weren't getting through enough to the distraught teenager. The pain, the asthma and his breathing were all fighting against him and them at the moment and they needed even the odds a little if they were truly going to be of any genuine help to Lucas.
Krieg did as he was directed to and quickly came scurrying back with Kristen's small medical bag tightly in his hand. He gave it to her and now watched intently as she rummaged around inside it.
After a few seconds, Kristen brought out a small cylindrical shaped instrument, almost like an atomiser with a different looking spray nozzle on the top. Without out consenting Lucas any further and looking briefly at Bridger and acknowledging her curt nod with one of his own, she placed the suction like disc against the skin on the teenager's neck and pressed the canister twice in her hand.
Ben now looked back at Lucas's face as Kristen drew the instrument away and he noted the teenager's eyelids were already beginning to droop due to the medicine that had just been administered.
After a few more seconds, Lucas's hands that had been so tightly grabbing at his shirt, now fell away to his sides and his entire body became very lax from the sedative properties. His head now bowed towards his chin. Bridger held Lucas upright as he adjusted his position and now laid the teenager down.
"Let's get him back to Med-Bay so I can take a look at him," Kristen now stated. "He was just too agitated. He was really doing himself more harm than good," she added, justifying her use of the sedative.
Commander Jonathan Ford too had raced to the scene of the toppled ladder, but had held back a little when Bridger and Kristen took over the scene. He now saw his opportunity to help out by carrying the sleeping teenager between himself and Ben Krieg towards Med Bay.
After a few minutes, Ford and Krieg carefully deposited Lucas onto one of the empty beds in Med Bay. Ford could see some questions forming on Ben's lips and thought it best that he get on with his maintenance routine. He was positive that Bridger or Doctor Westphalen would both let him know about the teenager's condition after a detailed examination.
Ford's awkwardness about being in the room at the moment showed as he went to excuse his presence from the room. "Captain, if it is alright with you and you can manage here with Ben, I will continue with the maintenance checks. I am sure I would only be crowding the room anyway."
Bridger couldn't help but notice the man's uneasiness and looked at Kristen before getting a curt nod from her about Ben still being in the room. Whatever they wanted to discuss about Lucas would have to wait until after Ben left.
However, Ben was a little more astute then they gave him credit for and he had already sensed something wasn't right about the whole thing. He wasn't going to beat around the bush. That wasn't Ben's style. He would just come right out and ask. Lucas was asleep so he wouldn't be involved in the discussion and the drug that he had received from Kristen would see to it that he wasn't disturbed either.
"What is going on Captain?" Ben asked plainly and a little emphasis in his voice.
"I don't know what you mean Ben," Bridger replied, trying to shirk the question all together.
"Don't treat me like a five year old please Sir," Ben now said, he was trying his hardest not to get angry at the Captain. "Why was Lucas carrying an asthma inhaler? What's wrong with him?"
Bridger could tell by Krieg's voice that he wasn't going to be easily brushed off by his ignoring the man's questions. Ben didn't deserve that and they both knew it. Ben was Lucas's best friend.
"Wait until the doctor finishes here with Lucas and we will sit down and talk," Bridger now suggested, knowing that they still had to attend to Lucas first.
Ben seemed happy enough with this explanation. He was patient. He would wait like the Captain asked, but only until after Lucas had been seen too and was resting comfortably. Then he would still be demanding answers and wanting to know why he was being left in the dark about Lucas's medical condition.
For the next half an hour, Ben worked with the Captain and Doctor Westphalen instead of against them. He gently held Lucas into a sitting position with Bridger as Kristen removed the young man's shirt and took at look at his chest.
Lucas's breathing had been slowed somewhat with the administration of the sedative. It was no longer so laboured or wheezy sounding. Lucas's chest rose slowly and rhythmically, with all three standing and watching and finding relief that there seemed to be no serious injuries to Lucas.
"Those ribs are not broken or even cracked thankfully," Kristen began to explain to the two men in the room. "They are badly bruised but considering the height he fell from on top of the ladder he is very lucky."
"Although he had a mild asthma attack, I think it was brought more on by his state of pain rather than anything else. His fear only seemed to escalate the problem and the more frightened that he became once he realised he was having an attack, the more restricted his lungs became and thus the more difficult it became for him to breathe correctly," she continued.
"He should be waking up soon, that sedative I gave him was a relatively mild one. When he does, I think he would be much more comfortable back in his own bed so we will take him home. As long as there are no major problems tomorrow, I think he should be able to resume some sort of normal activity, so long as he takes it easy. Those ribs are probably going to be tender for a day or so," Kristen added.
"And while we are waiting for him to wake up we can go into your office doctor and you can tell me all about this asthma thing that Lucas has," Ben now said, trying to hide the sarcastic tones in his words.
"Okay Ben, just let me cover him to keep warm, you and the Captain wait in the next room," Kristen said with a little guilt. She and Bridger had promised Lucas that they would keep this a secret until he decided to tell the crew in his own time. Unfortunately it looked as though they were going to go back on that promise. She couldn't help but have a feeling of betrayal at what see was about to reveal to Ben.
When Kristen walked into her office a few minutes later, Ben and Bridger had been idly chatting about the maintenance on the boat. She could see from the looks on their faces that they hadn't been talking about Lucas just yet. Obviously they were waiting for her to join them before tackling that topic of discussion.
"Look doc, before you and the Captain say anything. I am sorry about the way I spoke to you both in the Med Bay, but I am Lucas's friend. If there is something wrong with him medically, then I want to know so I can be there to help him. I only want to know because I like the kid so much."
Kristen and Ben both knew that it took a lot for Ben Krieg to admit such feelings to anybody. Although he would fly off at the drop of a hat about almost anything. Hiding his emotions and feelings was one of his best tricks. There was only one other person they knew who did it better than he and that was the friend he was talking about: Lucas.
"Before I say anything to you, I must tell you that Nathan and I promised Lucas that we wouldn't tell any of the crew. And unfortunately that meant you too Ben. So that's why you haven't been informed about his condition up until now," Kristen tried to explain in her defence.
"Lucas hasn't been very well since coming down sick on the boat," Bridger now said. "In fact he should have been better weeks ago but hasn't. A week or so ago, Kristen and I took Lucas back to the hospital to see Dr Kavanagh again. He did some pretty routine tests and diagnosed Lucas with asthma. He says he doesn't know how long Lucas may have it. It may be only temporary, or it may not. Only time will tell," he added leaving the statement a little unfinished.
"You should have seen him Ben, he could scarcely walk up a flight of stairs without being out of breath like you saw today," Kristen said with empathy in her voice. "But he is now on regular medication which we hope will see him at least manage his condition. He has a mild exercise routine that he is sticking to and already he had seen some improvement in his own health from that."
"So what can I do to help him?' Ben asked after taking in everything that they were telling him. For a few seconds he almost couldn't find the words to say in return.
"The main thing you can do for Lucas is just be you," Kristen now said in all seriousness. "Lucas already fells down and like he is the only target at the moment. He needs some stability and normality in his life again. Go and do the things you would always do. Joke around with him. Have fun."
"But," Bridger now said with a warning.
"But?" Ben now repeated knowing there had to be some sort of catch to it all.
"But don't let him fool you either. He needs plenty of rest and to take his medicine on a daily basis. There will be times when he doesn't feel quite a hundred per cent and that's when you as his friend, are going to have to take note for him and make him pull up and stop working or take a break," Kristen now informed him.
"Hopefully it is only temporary and after a few months, he will be back to normal and able to look back and laugh at all of this," Bridger now stated. "But for now, for Lucas all we ask is that you keep this information under you hat until Lucas decides that he wanted the rest of the crew to know."
"I hate to even think what he is going to say when he knows we have told even you Ben," Kristen said with her guilty conscience kicking in once again.
"Don't worry doc, I will take care of him for you and I promise not to breath a word of it to anybody else. I will look out for him like always," Ben said with his normal joking overtones.
"What are we going to tell the Commander?" Ben genuinely asked knowing that Jonathan would at least appreciate an update about the fall and any possible injuries Lucas might have received.
"Kristen and I will get Lucas back home and resting in his own bed," Bridger replied. "I will leave it to you to explain about Lucas having some bruised ribs and needing to take it easy. Tell him I will contact him later today about what is going to happen with the maintenance schedule tomorrow. I will let know if Lucas will be doing anything with the computers tomorrow by then."
"Right you are Captain," Ben said as he prepared to leave Kristen's office and go find Commander Ford. "Oh by the way Captain. If everything works out tomorrow, I thought just to break up the norm it would be good to have a cook out on the beach near the jetty or something in the evening. We can all bring a plate of food and enjoy the waves at the same time."
"That sounds great Ben," Bridger said with a smile. "We probably won't be able to do it for a while once we are back out to sea on duty. I am sure Lucas would enjoy something like that too."
"At least you won't have to cook tomorrow night Doc," Ben finally said with a grin before heading out the door.
"Always the Morale Officer," Kristen said with a laugh at Ben's suggestion. She knew the cook out was mostly for Lucas's benefit are what he had heard about his asthma. But that didn't matter, they could all use a break from the norm.
"Always," Bridger said in agreement with a smirk of his own at Krieg's endless positive outlook. It didn't matter how bad the news got for Ben, he always tried to see the brighter side of life. If things still looked a little gloomy and sad, he would find a way to bring in some cheerfulness and make it happy again.
"See you later Lucas," Ben said as he went back into see how Lucas was doing before he left the Med Bay. The teenager seemed to be doing okay at the moment and resting enough, so he could go without worry too much.
Ben didn't take long to find Commander Ford. "Hi Commander," he greeted the dark-skinned man as he watched Jonathan push a few of the controls on the bridge's main console.
"How's Lucas doing?" Ford asked, looking up from his work.
"Bridger and the doctor are waiting for him to wake up so they can take him back to the island. He's okay, just a little bruised and sore Kristen said. He should be right tomorrow as long as he takes it fairly easily," he added, noting the grimace on Ford's face about how much more delay there would be if Lucas wasn't well enough to complete the computer program uploads.
"Well he's okay and that's the main thing. We will manage without him if he doesn't feel up to anything," Ford said as his mind started to tick over about reassigning certain tasks if it became absolutely necessary.
"If it's all right with you, I would like to stick with Lucas for much of tomorrow just to make sure he takes it easy like the doctor says," Krieg now commented.
"Sure, but don't blame me when he goes off at you being under his feet," Ford now jibed.
"I told the Captain if everything goes to plan tomorrow and we get finished with the repairs that we might be able to have cook out on his island down by the jetty," Ben now informed the Commander.
"Hey you know Krieg, that's a great idea. Especially since we will all be stuck aboard here for the next three months. Hopefully after tomorrow the repairs will be finished at last and everybody, including Lucas can relax down on the beach," Ford said.
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Captain Bridger and Kristen didn't have to wait much past an hour for Lucas to show some signs of coming back awake. While he was unable to put up much resistance due to his groggy state, Kristen began to check his ribs and listen to his breathing. She was satisfied that the effects of the mild attack seemed to be limited.
"Come on junior, lets get you home so you can rest properly," Bridger now said fondly with a smile. Lucas nodded his head, although he hadn't quite put together what was said to him. His fuzzy brain just told him to go with them. He eased himself off the edge of the bed and allowed Kristen and Bridger to support most of his weight on either side.
Bridger didn't know why he just didn't pick up the injured teenager and carry him to the car, but for the moment that seemed like the wrong thing to do and so he and Kristen did their best to guide the unsteady teenager to the vehicle and lay him down in the back seat.
By the time Kristen made her way around to the other side of the car to adjust Lucas's head, the teenager was already well on his way back to sleep again. Bridger smiled at the sleepy boy as he got into the driver's seat and started their way towards the jetty and the ferry to take them back to the island.
The ferry skipper had given them all a strange look as Kristen and Bridger once again helped an almost asleep teenager to a seat in the back of the vessel. Once back at the jetty on the island, Lucas was transferred to Bridger's own private car and the trio now drove towards the house.
For the rest of the afternoon, Lucas spent the majority of his time sleeping on the couch in front of the T.V. It wasn't the comfort and complete rest that Kristen was hoping for that afternoon. But it saved the arguments and complaints that would ensue if there was forced rest in his bedroom. Most of the time Lucas never saw what show was on anyway. Due to the residual effects of the sedative and the pain that he was still experiencing in his ribs, sleep was what he did.
A little later on that afternoon when he was much alert, Kristen explained to him what injuries and bruising he had received from the ladder fall and reminded him of taking it easy for the rest of that day and the next. She also told him about the cook out on the beach that Krieg had suggested and that idea seemed to lift the teenager's spirits greatly.
Kristen then carefully and gently explained to him that it was mostly the pain he was feeling and his own anxiety and fear had caused his asthma attack to become worse. Lucas was a little upset at himself for causing any unnecessary stress to Bridger and Kristen whilst they were trying to help him.
Bridger reminded him that he had nothing to be apologetic for and that it was perfectly understandable how he had coped with the pain he was feeling. The bruising was proof of that pain.
Kristen once again went through some of the things Lucas may have forgotten about his asthma management, like the use of his inhaler on a regular basis and his Ventolin medication. She assured him that things would get better and no matter how much they all were prepared, sometimes things would still go wrong. They just had to know what to do if something like that did happen in the future again.
By the time Lucas retired to bed for the night he was much more relaxed about what had happened.
Early the next morning, Lucas rose fairly early to see what plans Bridger had made the night before about what maintenance was left to be carried out that day. Lucas gave him an update on how things had been progressing with the computer program installation before he had his accident.
Bridger had contacted Commander Ford about the routine for the next day and asked how the rest of his afternoon had turned out. Ford reported that he and Krieg had achieved a fair amount between them. He secretly sighed in relief when Bridger told him that he thought Lucas would be at least present to help out tomorrow. Ford told the Captain about Ben's request to work the teenager.
Bridger didn't have any objections and silently praised Ben for once again looking out for his friend, but warned Jonathan about what was going to happen when Lucas thought his space was being invaded too much.
Kristen thought it better to pre-warn Lucas about his new partner for the day before they got to the boat. At least that way it would be such a problem. She told him over breakfast.
"Why does Ben want to work with me today anyway?" Lucas now asked as he let the idea run through his head. He had specifically asked Commander Ford yesterday to work alone because that's what he liked and that's when he did his best work. Now that was all about to change today. He was trying to think hard about what he could get Ben to help out with.
"I think he got a bit scared about what happened yesterday Lucas," Kristen said as she tried her best to explain. "And I think he feels a little bit guilty about causing the ladder to topple over in the first place. He just wants to make it up to you somehow and make sure you are okay."
Lucas blushed slightly and was a tad awkward at Ben's show of friendship. He didn't have the heart to say that Ben couldn't help out.
When they got to the boat later that morning, most of the other senior crew members were also present, including Katie Hitchcock, Miguel Ortiz and Tim O'Neill. They all wanted to pitch in as much as possible and then enjoy the cook out that Ben had informed them all about.
The crew members that hadn't been present the day before had been discreetly told about Lucas's mishap and the bruising he had received as a result. They all made a mental note to check on how the teenager was doing throughout the day and keep an eye out for any signs of pain that he maybe hiding.
It wasn't until mid-morning, just before lunch that Lucas's patience with his new found shadow began to show signs of running out. There had even been two occasions when Lucas had been working on a panel underneath a console. When he got up to check something, he had smacked right into Ben who had been peering over his shoulder.
At first there were only a few mumbled dark words from the teenager and a scowl on his face to show is displeasure at Ben's persistence. At the end of the day, Lucas found it much quicker and easier to just do the work himself rather than take the time it would need to teach and show Ben. It had to be that way if they ever had plans to finish the repairs today.
Ben had asked Lucas quite a number of times whether or not he was feeling okay or if he had any pain. It got to the stage where Lucas was able to almost predict when the question was going to be asked before Ben opened his mouth. He tried to be pleasant about it but it was beginning to grate on his nerves.
On top of Ben's persistent questioning, Kristen and Bridger had also made regular checks on him to see how he was doing. By now he was answering the questions through clench teeth to prevent his saying something he may regret. He knew they all meant well and were only being concerned, but it was all wearing a little thin after a while.
Now, most of the crew had centred their finished off tasks around the Bridge area. Lucas was part of this and running through some of the last minute checks on the computer consoles before lunch.
Hopefully after that he would be finished. At much as he hated to admit it, he was beginning to feel a little weary. The pain to his ribs had been bearable, mostly a dull ache. He had felt it the most when he had to bend down to reach a panel underneath the work stations or reach up above his head.
As usual, Lucas hadn't mentioned any of it to Ben or the others though. He didn't think it was bad enough to stop working all together. He had already taken his asthma medication before leaving the island and his inhaler was safely tucked away out of view in his pocket again.
Lucas was becoming annoyed with one of the console which was having trouble accepting the program installation. It was taking much longer than the others and he couldn't hide his impatience and frustrations. Just as he went to bend down to take a look at the internal workings for the fourth time, cursing as loudly as he dared, he accidentally hit his head against Ben's who was once again bending over him too closely.
"BEEENNNN!!!!" Lucas cried out loudly as he got up and rubbed at the area on top of his head. He looked over and could see Ben rubbing at his chin where Lucas's head had connected. He had a lopsided grin on his face that was meant as a poor apology effort.
"GET OUT OF MY FACE," Lucas now shouted at his friend. The frustration was a combination of the pain in his head and chest and partly due to his failure at making the system do what he wanted it to do.
Bridger was quickly on the scene, surveying the top of Lucas's head for any sign of injury but all he got in return for his probing was an angry looking teenager pulling his head away roughly and a scowl.
"Lucas how about you go with Commander Ford and Miguel to get the supplies that were ordered," Bridger now suggested, trying to diffuse the situation before it grew out of all proportion. "You get take some extra time and get some lunch too," he added trying to get the teenager to take a break from his work without actually saying the word "break".
"Yeah sure," Lucas said in an annoyed voice. He tossed the little hand held instrument he had been using onto the work station, not really caring where it landed at the moment. He really did need to get out of here before he blew his stack for no good reason.
Commander Ford and Miguel had already teed up to go on the supply run and were only too happy to carry out the Captain's orders and get the frustrated teenager off the boat before he exploded in anger. Bridger had failed to tell Lucas though that Ben had to accompany them all on the supply run because his name would appear on the invoice as part of his supply officer duties. As Lucas and the other prepared to leave, Krieg also got up to go with them, thus adding to the teenager's invasion of space once again.
"He's coming with us now too?" Lucas asked, his voice sounding a little tired rather than annoyed. Nobody really took any notice, but the teenager had been rubbing aimlessly at this chest area for about the last half an hour now. Trying to relieve a slight tightness he was just beginning to detect.
"He has to go Lucas to sign the invoices," Ford now said to Lucas in a calm voice.
"So long as he doesn't sit beside me in the vehicle too," Lucas replied and walked out the door towards the transports without so much as a word of goodbye to Kristen or the Captain.
"Lay off a little him huh," Bridger said briefly to Krieg as he grabbed at his shirt sleeve just before the man left the boat. Ben nodded his agreement, knowing that he had been getting too close all morning. He just couldn't help it though.
Ben kept seeing images of the fall Lucas had taken from the ladder the day before and the words Kristen had said about him having asthma. He just could help but be worried for his young friend. He told himself he would just have to refrain himself a little more in showing it that was all.
Sometimes Ben just had a knack for over doing something and this was exactly one of those occasions. Lucas felt like he was suffocating and Bridger knew that he and Kristen had been adding to the teenager's frustration. He was to blame just as much as Ben was.
On the way to the supply depot in the transport, Lucas was unusually silent. Commander Ford drove, whilst Miguel and Ben sat in the rear seat. The tension was obvious and nobody had the words to break the silence.
The drive was a good ten minutes though and as the gentle breeze blew through Lucas's blonde hair, his temper began cooling off and he started to regret the angry words he had shouted at Ben.
As they pulled up and got out of the vehicle, Lucas walked over to Krieg and tried to make amends for his outburst. "I am sorry about what I said back there Ben," Lucas said, rubbing at his chest again.
"It's okay Lucas, I should have known better then to be getting up so close and personal today, I am sorry too," Ben replied. "Let's forget what happened and just go back to being friends okay?"
"Deal," Lucas answered with a grin and the two friends shook hands for all to see. The friendship was still in tact and the others were relieved to see it.
It wasn't until the crew members began loading the supplies into the back of the U.E.O. transport that Lucas suspected Ben knew a little more about his hidden condition than he ought to know.
The supplies were packed into a number of boxes, some of them small, some much larger. Up until know Lucas had not shown any signs of feeling off to the others. They all thought he was holding up fairly well considering the fall he had taken off a ladder yesterday.
Lucas now bent down and attempted to pick up one of the larger boxes on his own. It wasn't very heavy in weight, just awkward due to it's size but by the time it was loaded into the back of the vehicle, Lucas's breathing was becoming a little audible and sounded somewhat laboured.
"Are you okay Lucas?" Ben asked as he heard the wheezy sounds of breathing from his friend. It didn't sound as bad as the day before, but he couldn't help but be a little concerned.
"Maybe you should take it easier and let us handle the larger and heavier boxes Lucas," Ben now suggested, unprepared for the backlash he was about to receive.
"I can handle it just fine thank you Krieg," Lucas said in a low voice to disguise his suspiciousness. With most of the loading done anyway, Lucas now went to the front seat of the vehicle and took up the silent mood he had earlier. His mind was ticking over about how much Ben might know. "What was that all about Ben?" Miguel asked in a whisper. He didn't think the Lieutenant had said anything to deserve such a cold reply from the teenager. The two of them were out of ear shot of Lucas as they spoke.
"Captain just wants him to take it easy Miguel," Ben replied, "Didn't you hear the sound of his breathing?" he added. It was just as the last word left his lips that Ben realised with horror about what he had done.
Miguel was quick enough to pick up on the word "breathing" unfortunately for Ben and continued along that line of questioning. "Why is the Captain concerned about Lucas's breathing?" he now asked out of curiosity. He thought that they wanted to keep an eye on Lucas because of the fall he had yesterday. Up until now nobody had mentioned anything about breathing problems.
Ben inwardly kicked himself as hard as he could. How could he just let it slip out so easily like that? Now how was he going to get out of this mess he had just created? It soon became clear that it was going to be rather difficult to get out of because Commander Ford had heard Miguel's question about why were people concerned about Lucas's breathing.
He tried to cover his mistake with the minimal amount of information to the rest of the crew. In a whispered voice he told them about Lucas maybe having the condition asthma and that he needed to keep any strenuous activity to as little as possible. He also told them that Lucas didn't want anybody know and that he should not have said anything.
Ford and Miguel promised not to mention anything to Lucas but both of them found themselves wondering about what they would do if Lucas did start having real breathing problems when they were around.
"What are we waiting for?" Lucas asked in an impatient voice, not knowing that his friends had been discussing the very thing he was trying to keep secret. He already suspected that Ben had somehow come to know more than he should but he had no idea that Ford and Ortiz now also knew.
"Coming Lucas," Ford announced, breaking up the little meeting before Lucas became even more suspicious to the topic of conversation.
On the way home, Ford and Miguel found themselves trying their hardest to listen to Lucas's breathing without him knowing to see if they could pick up on what Krieg had told them. But to their dismay, everything sounded perfectly okay.
They couldn't hear any distinct wheezing or shallow breathing that was known to occur with asthma. Lucas seemed okay. A little ticked off at Ben at the moment after their brief reconciliation, but okay nonetheless.
When they returned earlier than expected to the boat, Bridger knew that nerves were still on edge. Lucas came aboard, slamming the door to his cabin to get away from all the prying eyes and everyone asking if he was alright. For now the tightness in his chest seemed to have gone away. He didn't feel like talking to anybody right now.
Bridger had asked Ben how the trip went. Ben couldn't hide his guilt though and admitted to the Captain and Kristen about his slip after Lucas had lifted the boxes and his breathing had sounded rather shallow. He informed them that he had told them as little as possible and swore them to secrecy about Lucas. Somehow Kristen and Bridger were not convinced that Lucas was going to be able to hide his asthma from the rest of the crew for much longer.
Ben suggested they should start packing up and getting ready for the cook out on the beach as a way of clearing the air and trying to get the teenager to relax again. Bridger agreed and started to finish up what he was doing as did Kristen and the other crew members.
There was still a small amount of repair work to be carried out, but nothing that couldn't be done once they were back underway to the open oceans again. The vessel was seaworthy and ready for there next tour of duty.
Whilst Ben and the Captain were preparing to pack up and leave for the rest of the island though, they were unaware that Miguel had been unable to keep his secret about Lucas. He had now told Katie Hitchcock and Tim O'Neill on the Bridge about the asthma.
Miguel also told them about everybody keeping an eye out that Lucas didn't over do things. Katie and Tim like everybody else was now watching the youth whether he like it or not.
Despite the fact that they had been told to keep the information secret. They were soon going to be falling all over him in an effort to keep their own worries at bay. They didn't think now that there would be any underlying and devastating consequences to their vigilance.
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Later that afternoon, everyone was seated on the sand by the jetty on Bridger's island. Everyone had tried to relax and forget about the arguments and harsh words spoken during the day. The sun was just beginning to set in the background, the tides were rolling in and were almost mesmerising if you watched them long enough.
Ben had tried to keep his eye on Lucas from a distance. He knew that the kid was only just beginning to relax for the first time all afternoon and he didn't want to spoil it by hovering around him all over again.
Lucas had actually moved away from the rest of the group slightly and was sitting on the firmer sand, watching the tide roll in and roll out. He was close enough to hear the chatter of the rest of the crew but then far enough away to get lost in his own thoughts and enjoy the gentle breeze as it ruffled his hair.
Apart from wanting the peace of the waves, Lucas was actually trying to suppress the tightening in his chest that had re-emerged about an hour ago. Whilst he was turned away, the other crew members couldn't see the slight grimaces and frowns on his face from the pain.
Kristen and Bridger had been a little disappointed at Lucas's attempts to sit a little away from the rest of the crew. But at the end of the day they were certain that the teenager would come around once the aroma of food wafted across the sand to him. They were unaware that suspicions Lucas had held all afternoon were about to erupt into full scale accusations
They hoped that soon the gentle breeze would erode away the frustrations of the day and Lucas would be back to his normal self by the time they left for home.
Some of the food was now ready and Tim walked over to where Lucas was sitting and offered the teenager a sample. When Lucas turned to place his hand in the bowl though, even Tim could tell that the teenager was less than well. There was a paleness to his face and he looked as though he had been sweating slightly. Tim could also hear a distinct wheezing to Lucas's breathing that hadn't been there when they arrived on the beach.
"Are you okay Lucas?" Tim asked, genuinely concerned by the teenager's pale appearance.
"I am fine Tim, thanks," Lucas lied, knowing he wasn't being honest with his friend at all. He was disappointed with himself that he would once again have to admit reliance on others because of his weakness.
All his life, his father had literally beat it into Lucas that weakness was for others. Lucas had come to believe that if you were in pain you hid in and you certainly never admitted it to anybody or relied on them for assistance. This asthma thing was making him turn into somebody he didn't like very much. He turned on his good friends for no good reason. He hated the idea that they felt obligated to look out for him all the time.
"Kristen, Captain, I think you better come over here and take a look at Lucas," Tim now voiced. "I think his breathing is sounding very harsh," he added, trying to describe how his friend was breathing.
Lucas was more frustrated with himself than his family and friends but that's not what it was sounding like now. He was now on his feet in the sand, hands on his hips in a demanding stance.
"And what the hell do you know about my breathing Tim?" Lucas asked in a loud voice, but he was looking directly at the Captain and Kristen when he asked the question.
"I am sorry Lucas, Miguel told us and he said to keep quiet but looking at you just now I was worried about you," Tim said apologetically as he realised he had now blown everything wide open.
"And just why in world does Miguel have to know about this as well," Lucas now demanded, still looking icily at Bridger as he said the words. The pain in his chest was now becoming a lot more than noticeable and he was rubbing quite hard on the area in an attempt to massage some of the tightness away.
Everyone now remained stoically silent as they realised that all of them had betrayed Lucas's trust about not letting anybody know about his asthma. They could all scarcely find the words to say to say how sorry they were.
But pain was now driving Lucas mostly by adrenaline and he wasn't really focusing on what the crew was trying to say to him. He was only turning his attention to what his brain was telling him about nobody else supposed to be knowing.
"And while we are on the subject, who else knows about me and shouldn't?" Lucas now asked.
The teenager wasn't surprised at all when all his remaining friends put up their hands and voiced small yes's to his question. He had suspected that once one of them knew it wouldn't take long for the entire boat to know about his problem.
"How could you tell everyone after I asked you not to?" Lucas asked, as his voice began breaking from his emotions. "Now all my friends are going to think that I am some sort of invalid that needs to have his hand held every minute of the day. That's why I didn't want to tell them myself in the first place." Once again the tightness was taking over his body and controlling almost everything he did or said. He was scared and he didn't like admitting that to anybody when he relied so much on being independent most of his life.
"Lucas I think I am to blame for most of it," Ben now said as he walked closer to the teenager in an attempt to calm him down enough for Kristen to take a look at him. All in front of him could see the paleness in his face and the fine sheen of sweat that formed on his forehead. They all held off a little too late from making a dive to catch him.
"We are all just worried about you," Ben tried to say, attempting to smooth over the friendship for a second time today.
"Lucas you look as though you need to sit down for a minute and listen to what we have to say," Kristen said in a soothing voice, attempting to take his sleeve and calm him down. Even now she could hear his laboured breathing and knew that it wasn't making it any better by him being so agitated and upset.
"I don't need any help from any of you," he now shouted and took a step back to avoid them.
"Lucas, we want to help you. We are your friends. We feel.......," Ben started to say as he was cut off again before he could finished the sentence.
"Feel sorry for me," Lucas now shot back at Krieg. The hurt and disappointment and shame so evident on his pale face. And with that statement he took off running along the beach in the opposite direction to his friends and family.
"No that's no it Lucas....," Ben began to say in his own defence just a fraction of a second before he and the others saw the teenager take off along the beach.
"Quick after him," Bridger now said to the other crew members as he had taken to running after the teenager himself.
Commander Ford and Miguel did just that as well as Ben and began chasing the fleeing teenager along the beach.
"We will take the car in case we need it," Kristen now shouted to the others who were quickly running towards the vehicles up on the road. Everything that was not essential was left on the sand. Lucas was now more important than anything.
On the way, Katie Hitchcock used the U.E.O. communications radio to contact an ambulance on Kristen's say so. Kristen was dismayed that she hadn't picked up that the boy was unwell before now. If she had picked it up earlier, they may have been able to prevent the teenager getting so upset or taking off along the sand.
After only a few metres along the way, both the men chasing Lucas on the sand and the others driving in the car realised that Lucas was running back towards Bridger's house. They were thankful at least that had some sort of idea where he was headed to.
For somebody who wasn't supposed to over do it with the running though, Lucas proved to be more agile than Bridger and the others gave him credit for, even with the pain and tightness he was experiencing in his chest at the moment.
Despite Ford's athleticism and Miguel's ability to run quite quickly, Lucas had a good head start on them all. He was now about two hundred meters ahead of them.
Lucas could no longer hold in his frustrations and anger as he tried to run away from it all. And that's unfortunately exactly what he was doing. Running not just from the asthma and his friends and family, but from himself too and the fact that sometimes he needed to ask for help.
Tears were streaming down his face as he stopped running and tried to grab out the inhaler in his pocket in an attempt to gain some temporary relief from the pain that was assaulting his body. He felt so incredibly tired.
However, the anger in him rose again as his hands were too shaky to grab the inhaler out on the first attempt. It took two and then a third attempt to get it out. When he brought it too his mouth to try and take a puff of the medicine in side, he found his whole body shuddering too much from the running he had done and the harshness of his breathing to be able to inhale the contents effectively.
In an burst of anger he threw the inhaler downwards to the sand, but unfortunately it struck a nearby group of rocks and shattered, making it unusable and irreparable.
With the last of his strength rapidly running out, Lucas looked up and saw his family and friends now only a few metres away from him. The pain in his chest was too much to bear. He couldn't draw enough breath into his lungs to even shout out his frustrations.
Lucas now found the strength from his legs almost gone and they gave way beneath him and he was now kneeling on the wet sand, tears of frustration streaming down his face and clutching desperately at his chest to make the pain go away. His breathing was now way passed wheezy and well onto the way to raspy and difficult to get enough air into his oxygen starved lungs.
"I will beat you," Lucas shouted at the asthma as it attacked his lungs. He could scarcely find the air to string the words together in the correct order to make any sense.
"Lucas," Bridger now said in alarm as he reached the distressed teenager kneeling on the sand. By now both he, Ford and Miguel were acutely aware that Lucas was in need of medical attention. There would be plenty of time for explanations later on after he was well enough. For now they had to focus on getting him to a hospital and a doctor who could help him.
Bridger was truly scared by the sound of Lucas's breathing. With Kristen only just pulling up on top of the roadway above the sandy slope, it was up to him to try and coach the teenager through the breathing process until she got there. The boy's face was covered in sweat from his efforts to draw in enough air. "I'm sorry.....," Lucas managed to say in a hoarse whisper before even the effort to talk became too much. To Lucas the sky took on a hazy appearance as the blue grew fuzzy and started to spin before him.
The boy was only minutes away from passing out if he couldn't begin to breathe in and out a little easier. Bridger had never felt so darn helpless or scared as he did right now. This was just the occasion they had all dreaded. Watching the struggling teenager whilst the asthma battled against him.
As Kristen and Katie came running down the sandy slope towards the huddled group, the sound of a siren could be heard coming from the ocean. A U.E.O. water transport had been contacted due to being on the island. It was the quickest way to get the teenager to help without the use of roads until the mainland.
"Don't worry Lucas, everything will just fine," Bridger found himself telling the teenager as they waited for the medics to arrive. "Just breathe Lucas, in and out. I am here for you. I promise I won't let anything happen to you. Just breathe," he repeated, stroking the boy's hair out of his eyes as he spoke.
As he looked into those two blue eyes, his own fear was looking right back at him ......
TO BE CONTINUED ............
Firstly, sorry this chapter has taken so long. It's not my best effort either. I didn't think anybody was liking this story very much and this is also why I held back posting the next part up a little.
I used the term 'cook out' for everybody. I am from Australia and should have used Barbeque or Barbie, but didn't think everybody would recognize the word.
I didn't mean for there to be too much of a rift between Ben and Lucas. I promise it won't last for very long. I just thought I had used Commander Ford a couple of other times.
It is very scary watching somebody struggle with a bad asthma attack. I remember my dad having one when I was quite young and my mother leaning over him on the floor with none of use knowing what to do to help him until the doctor arrived. (There was no hospital - it was a small town of about 600 people.)
There will be more. I wrote this scene with the pictures from Sidekicks in head but thought I had better change it in a couple of places just to be different. But I love the scene where he runs away from the girl crying and then has the attack and throws his inhaler when he gets home. That's what I tried to write but it didn't quite sound the same.
Keep reading lots more to come. In the next part baddie Mr Murphy from Responsibility will make his reappearance.
JULES
