AN: Thanks to everyone that reviewed. Another thanks to Dusk for her betaing and comments.
"Nathan! What are you doing down here?" exclaimed Kristin, as he paused uncertainly in the door to the medbay.
"We've docked in Canada."
"Yes, I know. Shouldn't you be on the bridge?"
"I was just there. They can do without me for a few minutes. I came to ask you a question."
"Yes?" she answered slowly.
"Would you go out with me tonight, on a date? We can go into town and see a movie and eat at a real restaurant," he asked in a rush. He hadn't asked a woman out since Carol and it was even more nerve racking than he remembered.
"Why you romantic old fool," laughed Kristin. "I'd love to go."
"Great. I'll pick you up at six. I've got to get back to the bridge." Whistling, Nathan turned and walked down the hall. When Kristin went back into medbay, Wendy was smiling at her knowingly.
"Don't even say it!" threatened Kristin unable to stop grinning.
"Alright, back to work you two," intervened Dr. Levin.
[Scene Change]
"Just a minute!" yelled Lonnie as there was a knock at the door. She quickly finished putting mousse in her hair and threw on a shirt. She yanked open the door only to find the corridor empty. Glancing down, she noticed a teddy bear sitting on the floor with a rose and a card. Lonnie picked up the bear absently giving it a hug. She opened the card and smiled.
Lonnie,
I'm sorry. Forgive me?
Jim
[Scene Change]
I can't believe they had an actual live theater," said Kristin as they walked down the sidewalk. Over head the stars twinkled. A few flickering fireflies danced around them in the salty sea air.
"Shall we go for a walk on the beach?"
"I'd love to." They strolled past the busy streets and down to the dock. Nathan held Kristin's hand leading her down the uneven steps to the sand. They continued down the beach past the fishy smell of the dock and the noise of the town until all they could hear were the gentle rolling waves. Selecting a rock, they sat staring out at the ocean. The moon was full and huge illuminating the water with a shimmer of silver.
"Did you have a good time?" asked Nathan watching Kristin's profile in the moonlight. She smiled.
"Yes! Dinner was wonderful and the play was excellent."
"I always did like Hamlet. I played Rosencrantz in high school."
"Really? I was never any good at acting or the more creative pursuits. Science was always my forte."
"Is that why you went into medicine?"
"I wanted to help people. I had the skill. I didn't realize it would be so draining."
"Do you like it on SeaQuest?" He watched her uncertainly.
"Sometimes. It's nice to follow cases through to the end." She sighed. "It's just so hard working to save someone only to have them die in the next battle." They fell silent watching the waves.
"And Lucas?" Her face lit up. It was the same reaction that he saw so often among his crew when ever the boy was mentioned. He wondered once again just what it was about this child that had everyone so enamored.
"He's a godsend. He's made everything in my life up to this point worth it for being able to save him." She smiled softly. "He really is a remarkable child. You should spend some time with him." Nathan shook his head.
I'm not good with children. I never know what to do with them. Carol always handled everything."
"He's not that young. Challenge him to a chess game or something."
"I don't know."
"You're going to have to get along with Lucas before we can become involved." They both froze at the implications of her statement. Around them the air became noticeably warmer.
"Are you saying you'd like to be involved with me?" Feeling bold, Kristin lifted a hand and rested it on Nathan's chest. She smiled at the astonishment in his eyes.
"Well, you are a very handsome man, Captain Bridger." She leaned closer until their lips gently brushed.
"And you, Dr. Westphalen," he began, pausing to initiate a more intense encounter, "are a very attractive woman." After that there was no more talking.
[Scene Change]
"I now pronounce you husband and wife," said Captain Bridger concluding the brief ceremony. "You may now kiss the bride."
Miguel pulled Carla close and kissed her gently as the wedding guests clapped. The wedding was a simple affair held in the same bay where the children had spent so much time playing. Carla was wearing a pretty but plain white dress that she had bought in the harbor town. Miguel looked stunning in his dress uniform. Katie and Jonathan stood to either side of them in their places as the Maid of Honor and Best Man. Lisa and Brian completed the wedding parting looking adorable in their roles as flower girl and ring bearer.
A surprising number of people attended the wedding. Most of them were friends but a few were just people in the mood for festivities. Everyone stood as the wedding party marched out then made their way to the mess hall where the reception was set up. More people were expected to attend the reception because there were few among the crew that would pass up a chance at good food.
"You look lovely," said Ben, handing Katie a glass of champagne.
"Thank you." She took a small sip then nodded to Jonathan who was talking with Miguel. "They told me he asked you to be the Best Man first. Why'd you say no?"
"I had my reasons," said Ben with an unfriendly glance in Miguel's direction.
"For that matter, why wasn't Tim the Best Man? They are best friends. I don't think I even saw Tim at the wedding."
"Our reasons were the same. Miguel's treated Tim horribly. I attended the wedding because Miguel is still my friend but I wasn't going to support him by being his Best Man."
"Wait. What?" Katie stared at him.
"Excuse me. I see someone I need to talk to," said Ben leaving her standing there confused. Behind her, Lucas was watching Ben with an intent expression. He decided to stay close to Ben to see if he could learn anything else about Tim and Miguel.
Lucas lurked and nibbled from the buffet and tried not to get bored but Ben didn't say anything else about Tim or Miguel. Giving up on the covert operation, he went to stand beside Ben. He wouldn't learn anything this way but it was a lot more fun. Across the room, Lucas could see Miguel mingling. Eventually as Ben and Miguel forgot they were avoiding each other, they wound up in the same vicinity.
"My Best Man? Tim?" Miguel said loudly. He took another gulp of his drink, probably feeling hurt and sorry for himself over the whole thing. "No way! The idiot's insanely jealous of Carla. Couldn't even show up for the wedding."
"But I thought he was your best friend," said the other person. Lucas did not recognize him.
"That's what I thought too," he shrugged. "Guess you never really know a person."
"That's it!" growled Ben who could not help overhearing the conversation. "You have done quite enough to Tim already. You're not going to trash him in front of his friends." Before anyone could react, Ben's fist was flying through the air connecting solidly with Miguel's nose. He turned and marched out of the room. Miguel just stood there dumbfounded.
Lucas frowned shifting to alternate between staring at Miguel and the door. He didn't know what Miguel had done but it must have been really awful or Ben wouldn't be so mad. Tim was Lucas's friend so that meant he should stand up for him like Ben, right? Nodding resolutely, Lucas stomped over and kicked Miguel in the shin then followed Ben out of the suddenly silent room.
[Change Scene]
There was knocking at the door again. Tim wanted to yell at them to go away but somehow he couldn't make himself open his mouth. Instead, he just lay there staring at the ceiling. The ceremony would be over by now. Unbidden, the tears began to pour down his cheeks. It hurt so much. More than he ever thought it would.
Again the knocking came. Tim rolled over to face the wall. "Leave me alone," he whispered.
Always alone.
[Scene change]
"Mr. Krieg, could you tell me why you hit one of my men in the middle of his wedding reception?" demanded Bridger.
"Technically, sir," began Ben automatically, "Mr. Ortiz is no longer one of your men." He stared straight ahead no daring to relax a single muscle from full attention.
"Perhaps you do not understand my position." Bridger was trying to be patient. "We should be having this conversation in the brig. Now explain to me why you hit Lieutenant Ortiz."
"I lost my temper, sir. I apologize for hitting Ortiz on SeaQuest."
"But not for hitting him?" Bridger smiled at the careful wording. "Relax, Mr. Krieg, you're not in serious trouble."
"Yes, sir."
"What did Mr. Ortiz do to make you lose your temper?"
"He was making disparaging remarks about Lieutenant O'Neill."
"And?" prompted Bridger.
"Tim is my friend, sir. I could not let Mr. Ortiz do that to him. He's done enough harm to Tim already." Krieg clinched his fists in anger.
"What did Mr. Ortiz do to Mr. O'Neill?" asked Bridger, concerned. Ben shifted to meet his Captain's gaze levelly.
"I think you know the answer to that, sir." Bridger frowned considering.
"Very well, Mr. Krieg, you may go. You are restricted to your quarters until Mr. Ortiz has left the boat." Ben saluted.
"Yes, sir. Thank you, sir." Ben paused at the door. "About Tim, you'll probably want to keep an eye on him. He'll need to be kept busy but not with anything that requires complete concentration."
Bridger nodded understandingly. Long after Ben had left the room, Captain Bridger stared at his door wondering just when his boat had turned into a soap opera.
[Scene Change]
"Captain Bridger," began the Prime Minister. "Welcome to Canada. I trust you've enjoyed your first few days here."
"They've been eventful," admitted Bridger. She smiled.
"So I've been told. You do not hat the authority here to perform marriages but we will honor the union."
"Thank you. They will be relieved they don't have to go through a civil service."
"We have much to discuss, Captain, and it can't be done through a vid-screen," began the Prim Minister ending the small talk. "Tomorrow my men will arrive to escort you to the airport where you will be flown to Ottawa."
"I can't leave SeaQuest unattended."
"She will be safe. How many men will you be bringing? Fifteen to twenty, maybe?"
"That will be plenty," replied Bridger stiffly. He realized that he did not have much choice in the matter.
"Good. Then I will see you tomorrow. And Captain, could you bring the child? I would really like to see what the fuss is over."
The vid-screen went blank leaving Bridger shaking his head.
"From the way she acts you'd think she was a Queen not an elected official," he muttered leaving the conference room. He had one day to figure out how to convince Kristin to agree to Lucas leaving the boat.