Chapter 2
Lucas played with his food, not really interested in the green mush. He'd always been a picky eater, and that had often caused him a bruised rib, and once a broken arm. He shuddered; he didn't want to think about his "parents." His thoughts drifted to Darwin, the ship's dolphin, and the only being Lucas had confided in. Darwin knew of his abusive parents, though not in detail...that was too awful to recall, the memories almost as painful as the physical blows that had created them. Lucas knew his vocorder wasn't advanced enough for Darwin to recall to the others what Lucas had told him, and Lucas didn't think he would anyway. He trusted Darwin.
The teen jumped slightly as Ben, Tim and Miguel all sat down at the table he was at. He offered a feeble smile to the people who put up with him. Though he knew he hadn't been at his worst with them...he knew he should push them away, that it would only hurt more when they left. But he couldn't do it. He would never admit it, but he enjoyed someone at least acknowledging him, and they even talked to him. It was nice.
"Hey buddy, you looked wiped," Ben said, scooping up a blob of the green goop, making a face before swallowing it.
"Man, I really need to get this boat some real food. Pizza sounds good, eh kid?"
Pizza did sound good. "Hell yeah, " he answered. "THAT is real food."
He high-fived Ben, who chuckled saying to Tim and Miguel, "At least somebody's got some sense."
Tim and Miguel mocked insult, "Hey, we never said pizza didn't sound good. It sounds DAMN good," Miguel said, taking on a dreamy look.
"It's pizza Miguel, not a chick from Baywatch," Lucas quipped with a grin. The others laughed, including Miguel, drawing the attention of a few other crewmen, including Ford and Hitchcock.
"Smart ass," he chuckled, as Jonathan and Katie approached. Lucas grinned at Miguel, but quickly sobered as the two commanders approached. Ben touched his arm supportively while grinning up at the officers.
"Well, if it isn't my beautiful ex-wife and not so beautiful high Commander...no offense... Sir," Ben said to the commander with a sly grin.
"Why'd you marry this clown again Katie?"
"Lack of anything better to do, and I think I was drugged," she stated casually, eyes revealing her mirth.
Lucas tried to chock back a laugh. He'd never heard the lieutenant commander being anything but serious. Ben's jaw dropped, more so at his young friend's laughter.
"Lucas! Thanks for the support buddy. And you two! I'm hurt," he added to Tim and Miguel, whose shoulders were shaking with mirth.
"Sorry Ben!" Lucas said with a grin, "But that was too good."
Ben rolled his eyes, but he was happy that Lucas loosened up a bit around the senior officers. Katie smiled at the blonde teen. She was so unsure of him. One minute he was ready to snap at anything and anyone, and the next, usually when he was with Ben, he was actually smiling. Her heart lifted at the fact that she had caused that laugh, and that slight sparkle in those big blue eyes. He was definitely competition when it came to eyes. Hers drew attention for being large and a rare pale ice blue. Very pretty, she was told. Lucas's were large and a bright baby blue. Pretty wasn't a word you would use for the young man, beautiful maybe. Expressive.
"Whatever. Anyway, sit down you two, grace us with you presence," Ben stated, lightly.
Ford rolled his eyes, but complied, sitting between Katie and Tim, and right across from the teen. Lucas was quiet for a moment, until Miguel got him going by dropping goop onto his plate.
"Miguel! That's disgusting."
"No it's not, it's food."
"Oh don't even get me started on the many ways that IS NOT food."
Katie stifled a giggle.
"Well, you eat it don't you?"
"Maybe you do, but I don't."
"So, you're gonna waste all that food on your plate."
"It's not food. Besides, I'm sure you could find another use for it."
Miguel's eyes glinted with mischief. "Oh, I could."
The boy looked at him strangely, before his eyes widened. "Don't even think about it."
"About what? Eating it? Never, it's not food Lucas it's...flying green ammo."
SPLAT! It hit Lucas square in the chest.
Lucas' jaw dropped, along with Katie and Jonathan's. Tim and Ben just laughed.
Lucas recovered quickly, "Oh you are SO gonna pay for that."
"Ooh, big talk little ma-"
Miguel stopped mid sentence, a good-sized blob of green right between his eyes.
"Oh, it's on." Just as he was scooping up another batch of green mush, Jonathan, who had just recovered from shock at his friend's sudden playfulness, cleared his throat when he saw the captain enter. Miguel caught the warning, glaring at Katie, who couldn't help the laugh that escaped her throat as she took in Lucas and Miguel's little game results. Lucas hid his grin, ducking his head, as he wiped off his shirt. He looked up as he finished. Miguel had ducked his head as the Captain approached, not having time to wipe off the offending slop. Lucas looked up at the Captain, who was looking strangely at Miguel. The Cuban was shaking in silent laughter.
"You all right there Chief?" Tim and Ben burst out laughing, Lucas was a little more concerned though, not wanting to get his friend in trouble. "It's my fault Sir, I-I...well...I threw some of this goo at him," Lucas stuttered out.
The others were a little surprised at the teen's nervous tone; he should know that Captain was easygoing enough. But they chuckled at his rendition of what had "happened."
"Goo? Lucas?"
Lucas shrugged, relaxing slightly as the Captain didn't seem too upset.
"Well, it's not food Sir."
The others burst out laughing. This kid was priceless.
The Captain smiled, shaking his head in wonder, as Miguel, who had raised his head, wiped the green mush off his face.
"Can't argue with you there," the Captain muttered, walking away.
Lucas smiled, as the others laughed again. He wished his life could always be this happy and carefree. He frowned; he couldn't get used to this. This was just something else that would be taken away from him.
With that he got up, and headed toward his quarters, causing the other five to watch him in concerned surprise.
"He okay?" Ford asked the other three men, who knew the boy better than he did.
Ben nodded sadly. "Yeah, he just gets like that sometimes. It's weird, whenever we're laughing, having a good time, something seems to dim in him, like he's afraid of having fun, and then he leaves, without a word..." Ben turned to look at Katie and Jonathan.
"He's a good kid. You just have to give him a chance... Look past the attitude."
"I agree Mr. Krieg." The Captain said, sitting down where Lucas had been. "He's hiding something. And whatever it is, it's hurting him. Whatever it is...I don't think it's going to be pleasant finding out."
"If we ever do..." Katie added. "He's so...closed off Sir. I want to befriend him...but for a 15 year old, he's got quite the intimidating look. I'm afraid to set him off."
Jonathan nodded. "It's not that I don't want the kid around Sir, but he makes the crew uneasy..."
Bridger sighed. "I know Commander, but I don't think we should give up an this kid...I don't think I can. I just have this feeling, like whatever is up with him, we're his last hope. It sounds strange, but whatever is up with that kid isn't your normal teenage worries and pains. I mean when I was a kid, Lord knows I gave my parents trouble, but they could always tell what my attitude was about, you know? Girl trouble, school trouble, lack of privacy... None of those are really possible for Lucas," he paused, sighing heavily. "I don't know, it's just this feeling I have about him."
The others nodded and Jonathan spoke up. "What can we do Sir? This is a submarine, not a day care. None of us are child psychologists...unless we hire one. Isn't his dad some rich tycoon?"
The others nodded.
"Some rich tycoon that dumped his only son on a military submarine. I really don't think Daddy gives a damn in this case," Ben said with bitterness.
"Now, I don't know. Noyce said his father mentioned behavioral problems, he wanted discipline for him," Bridger said, in all fairness toward Doctor Wolenczak.
"Captain, it's fairly obvious that military discipline makes no difference with him. He doesn't respond to it. He's to stubborn, to indifferent," Commander Ford stated.
The Captain nodded. That was true.
He sighed, "Well, I'm not ready to give up on him yet." He really wasn't. He felt like he owed it to the kid, to help him...to teach him. Lucas was the one to convince him to stay aboard the seaQuest...and that had been the best decision Brideger had ever made.
The others nodded in agreement, all feeling a sense of duty towards the ship's resident teen. They all felt an obligation to help the young man, as a civilian and as a friend.
"We're behind you all the way Captain," Jonathan said with determination.
Chapter 3 Coming ASAP. PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE REVIEW!
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