Disclaimer: I DO own seaQuest.. As well as the Ford Company and the planet Pluto and
ordered the destruction of all Mercedes.. But then.. I woke up and it was all gone.. *sighs*
memories.....

Personal Note: I am very sorry that this took forever to up date. Yea I know I say it all the time
but RL loves to butt in.

Thanks to Dag and Captain Michael. Thanks you two... Dag for everything... Michael for
keeping me evil... hehehe.. sorry dude, Mercs Rule... And to Beoulf.. thanks to him I am
finishing this faster since he gave me a good great idea for another story....

This chapter was a bit hard for me to write, there is a bit of emotions I could describe so much
in Spanish but to find the English translation.. it loses the meaning... But here is the best I could
have done... Enjoy.
Meaning Of Love

By the Untalented JOxER

Chapter 14

Nathan Bridger waited in the waiting room as he awaited news on Lucas. He was taken right
away into surgery for the fact that he still had the bullet in him and the broken leg was just as
bad as the wound. Nathan sighed as he rested his head in his hands. It was time to do
something he wasn't sure he could do. He reached for his cell phone and dialed the rented
house. He waited for Kristin to pick up.

"Hello? Nathan?" Kristin said, she did not even let the phone ring twice.

"Yes Kris, it is me." Nathan replied as he sighed.

"I have been so worried about you... where are you?!"

"I am at pioneer Hospital..."

"What do you mean at Pioneer?! What are you doing all the way out there?! Oh my god, you
did not get hit by a car or were in an accident?!" Kristin said as she began to worry for the
captain.

"No.. No Kris... I am here at their waiting room..." Nathan said as he heard Kristin sighed in
relief but then she was silent. "Kris, Lucas and Dayna... I found them." Nathan said as he felt
his voice crack a bit. There was another moment of silence.

"Nat..Nathan, how are they?" She got straight to the point.

"I... I don't know Kris... The doctors try to assure me Lucas is going to be all right... But Oh
God Kris, I have never been scared in my whole life." He said as he told her the story on how
he found Lucas and how he was... He heard Kristin weep a bit as he went through the injuries
that Lucas had. Nathan had to hold his emotions inside to be strong for Kristin. He went to tell
her about Dayna and the three men that had taken the teen.

"How.. How's Dayna" Kristin said as Nathan didn't said how she was.

"I don't know.. They wont tell me. Something to do with family members only bull shit..."
Nathan said as he remembered asking the doctor about Dayna and was just turned away.
"They were going to call the Patterson's." He said.

"I will be right there Nathan. Do not go anywhere please." She said as she heard the way the
captain was speaking. He was trying to cover his pain but slowly it was coming out. He was all
alone. She knew she had to get there and confront him even though he would never ask for it.

"Ok.." Nathan blankly said as he ended the call. He put the phone on the waiting table and
placed his face in his hands. He shook his head back and forth. Trying to wake up from this
nightmare. His shoulders began to move up and down as he cried to himself. He cried as finally
he let go of the barrier that was holding his hurt behind. He heard someone come into the room
and shut the door softly.

"Mr. Bridger?" The man said as he held Lucas' chart in his hands. Nathan looked at the man
and saw the doctor's scrubs. He wiped his eyes and put up the barrier once more.

"Yes... How is my son?" Nathan said as he got up from where he was sitting. The doctor
motioned him to sit back down as he also took a seat next to Nathan.

"I am Doctor Wayne Davis and your son Lucas is doing fine now. We removed the bullet that
was in his stomach and repaired the torn organ. We also popped his shoulder back in place
and his arm will be immobile for about a week." The doctor said he opened Lucas chart and
showed the captain a diagram of Lucas' leg.. "At the same time I had another team re arrange
his two bones in his lower part of his leg." Davis said as he pointed to diagram of Lucas broken
leg and how it was broken. "We placed two small metal plates here." He said as he pointed to
the picture. "So the bones will heal on their own but the plates are there to help them heal
properly."

Nathan looked carefully at the diagram. There were small X's in the outline of the body. "And
the X's? What are those?"

Davis sighed. "Each X is where there were some damage to his tissues. Mostly burses and
small cuts. They will heal on their own." Davis said as he knew the number of X's that Lucas
had... 24....

"What about Dayna Patterson?..." Nathan asked.

"I can not tell you.. I am not her doctor and you are also not a family member so I can not get
any information also."

"May... May I see my son?" Nathan asked. He had to see for himself that Lucas was ok.

"AT this time...." Davis was about to say No when he saw the look on the Captain's face. It
was the look of a desperate father in pain. "Yes.. You can.. But only for a few seconds. He is
recovering..." Davis said as he got up.

Nathan agreed and also stood up from his seat and followed the doctor. They entered the ICU
and de ja vu struck the captain. He entered the room where Lucas was. Nathan gasped as he
saw Lucas. His leg elevated... his bruised face... it was De ja Vu once more. This was how he
found Lucas when the truck hit him as he avoided his biological father. He then thought about
Lawrence. He turned to the doctor that was behind him. "What about the man who did this...
Lawrence Wolenczak." Nathan asked.

"Oh yes.. He was taken to a section of the hospital to keep him under police watch. I do not
know his condition but I know there is heavy security where he is."

"So he is alive..." Nathan said with a bit of disappointment in his voice.

"Yes.. " Davis said. He looked at his watch. "Time is up sir.." He said as he motioned to the
door.

Nathan nodded and went to Lucas side and kissed his forehead and whispered in his ear.
"Hang in there Kiddo.." He said as he walked out the door. The doctor closed the door and
placed a hand on the captain's shoulder.

"I will keep you inform..." Davis said as the captain nodded and exited the ICU. As he left the
section of the hospital he couldn't get the image of Lucas out of his head. He shut the door and
sighed. Why his son.... He kept asking himself that question as he walked back to the waiting
room.

*** Two Hours Later***

Nathan found himself in the cafeteria drinking what was stale coffee. He had put as much sugar
in it to make it drinkable but it wasn't enough. The coffee was one of the worst things he has
tasted. He went to throw the cup away when the doors opened. Kristin stood there looking at
Nathan as he as well stood in place. She felt her eyes start to water as she went near the man
and embraced him. Nathan held her as he as well let his own tears roll down his cheeks. Both
were there, letting all the emotions out. Not caring who was there to see them or who was
whispering.

"God Kris.. Sometimes I felt like giving up but.. I had to find them. I am sorry that I left you..."
Nathan apologized.

"Nathan.. Nathan.. my sweet Nathan.. Shh..." Kristin said as she held him tighter. Nathan had
never felt as comfortable within Kristin's arms. And Kristin hasn't ever felt safer. Both of them
continued to hold each other when Nathan thought it was enough and started to push Kristin
away.

"I am ok.." Nathan said as he wiped his eyes clean. Kristin did the same and smiled at him.
Before Nathan could return the smile there was yelling coming from the hallway. Both of them
recognized the voice and went rushing out the cafeteria and down the hallway.

"Don't give me that bullshit! Where is she?!?!" Dan Patterson yelled at who ever was in his
face blocking the entry to the ICU. Nathan knew what Dan was going through but he had to
calm down. Nathan went near the man.

"Mister Patterson..." Nathan said as he tapped on the big man's shoulder. Dan Patterson
turned around and swung his fist towards the captain. Nathan did not expect this but when he
saw what Dan was up to, it was too late. Dan's fist made contact with Nathan's face and
Nathan was thrown to the ground. Dan was about to get on top of Nathan and continue his
rampage when Brenda Patterson came running down the hall and yelled at her husband.

"DAN! STOP IT!" Brenda yelled as she ran towards her husband at lighting speed. Kristin
went down to Nathan to check what was the damage and to be somewhat of a shield. Brenda
stepped in front of Dan and pushed him back. She was such a small petite woman but she
managed to push him back. "Dan.. what are you doing?!" She demanded him to answer.

"Get out of my way Brenda.. This is all his fault..." Dan said as he tried to move around his wife.

"This isn't anyone's fault! Not the Bridger's or ours.." Brenda said as she moved with him.

"No.. You are wrong. This is his fault.." Dan said as he pointed to Nathan as he was slowly
getting up. "Why didn't you tell me about your messed up kid sooner?! Why did you have to wait until something like this happened?!?!" Dan yelled. Nathan turned a bit red in anger. Nathan understood completely what Dan was going through but calling Lucas a 'messed up kid' was something he would not stand for.

"This isn't my son's or my fault Mr. Patterson. I know this is a hard time for you as it is for me but right now we should focus ourselves to..." Nathan started to say as Kristin was holding him back from doing any thing to Mr. Patterson. She saw his face turn red with anger as the man infront of him was dissing Lucas.

"Like hell it is.. This is both your fault. No one told us your son was messed up. That he was
son to Lawrence Wolenczak until we meet in the police station when we heard that they were both taken!! We over looked the fact that he was one year younger than our daughter. But this... his childhood abuse..Lucas being a freak... Its something we can not stand for!" Dan said.

"Dan, please control your angry. Mr. Bridger is right... the only people to blame are the people
who did this to them..." Brenda said as she tried to calm down her husband.

"NO! They should of told us! I should have kicked his ass when I first found out!." Dan yelled as his wife. He then turned to Nathan and Kristin. "Your son is to do nothing with Dayna. I swear if I ever see him near my daughter.. I..." Dan said as he looked back at his wife and the nurse that was standing behind them. "Let's go Brenda and see if this damn hospital will let me see my daughter!" He said as he grabbed her arm and pulled her towards the nurse's station. Brenda turned and lip said that she was sorry. Nathan nodded his head as he felt someone poke his eye.

"Ow.." Nathan said as he felt Kristin's hand over his right eye.

"Hold still Nathan.. He hit you pretty hard..." Kristin said as she touched the area.

"Yea.. I know. So stop touching it please..." Nathan said as he moved her hand away. The
words that Dan spoke had hit him hard. He saw Kristin give him a worried look and was about
to explain his feelings to her when Lucas' doctor came out the ICU.

"Mr. Bridger.." Dr. Davis said and walked towards them.

"Dr. Davis.. What's wrong?" Nathan said as he forgot about everything that just happened and
focused himself on Lucas.

"Nothing is wrong. I came to tell you that Lucas is starting to wake... and... Sir.. What
happened to your eye?" Dr. Davis started to question at the red eye Nathan was now wearing.

"Wrong turn.. My son needs me. Can I see my son?" Nathan said as he changed the subject
back to Lucas.

"Sure thing Mr. and Mrs. Bridger." Davis said as he went to open the door. Nathan did not
bother to explain his relationship towards Kristin to the doctor; it would only delay him from
seeing Lucas. Nathan took Kristin by the hand and walked into the ICU area. They saw the Patterson's talking to a doctors as they passed by the ICU. Dan Patterson had shot them a look, a look of pure hate towards Nathan. Kristin gripped Nathan's arm for confront as the followed the doctor to Lucas' room.

*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*

: D.