This chapter actually replaces the old chapter 5 and is significantly longer.
Okay, sorry that this has taken so long to come, but hopefully it won't be too much longer before it is finished. Thanks again for all the support along the extremely long way.
Once again I don't own them, someone else does - well obviously!
From his position Lucas had no option but to look up at the Captain and the doctor. His only thought at that particular moment was to try not to laugh at the two of them, if they hadn't looked quite so serious the situation was bordering on comical. Instead he raised his head slightly so that he looked into Nathan's deep brown eyes.
"Captain?"
"Don't look at me like that Lucas, I think you're quite aware of what this is about?"
Lucas continued to look at the Captain, moving his gaze slowly to Kristen, then Ben, before once again resting on Bridger.
"C'mon Lucas I thought we knew each other better than this. Why didn't you tell me? And if not me than at least Kristen?"
"Lucas, Captain Bridger is right, you should have, could have, told me. I'm sure you knew just how serious this could be... didn't you?"
Lucas looked from each person in turn. These were the three people he could count on most. Bridger looked back into the pale blue eyes, carefully disguising his features so that the others couldn't tell exactly what was racing through the Captain's agile mind. "Ben, Kristen would you two please excuse us for a moment?"
"Sure"
"Uh huh", Ben got up out of the chair he had been so diligently occupying and handed his position over to the Captain. Bridger waited patiently until both people were well out of earshot. He leaned carefully on the bed where Lucas continued to lay and took one of Lucas' hands in his. "Captain, I was going to tell you, tell everyone."
"Lucas..."
"Well maybe just you and Kristen and perhaps Ben too. I don't know it just seemed too hard and then when I did try..."
"I know Lucas, I didn't make it any easier for you. How about we set about trying to get Kristen to let you out of here huh?"
Bridger stood slowly letting his relief show. Reluctantly he let go of Lucas' hand and began the walk back to his own room to contemplate what to do next. As Bridger walked past where Kristen was waiting for the all clear, she looked to where Lucas was lying, his blue eyes were closed and his breathing slower, indicating a peaceful slumber. Not wanting to pull Nathan out of his now obvious contentment, she allowed him to pass her without a comment.
In his room Bridger sat in his favorite armchair reading a hefty novel. There were three quiet raps on his door, before being opened by a slightly unruly looking teenager.
"You wanted to see me Captain"
In the week since he had been released from med bay, Lucas had kept fairly well to himself, only coming out of his quarters when called upon specifically by Kristen to eat, or by Nathan to work at the Bridge. Both of the adults were concerned that this was fast becoming the teen's new routine.
"I think we should talk Lucas", Nathan replied motioning for Lucas to sit in the chair opposite him.
"What about?"
"Kristen and I are worried about you," Lucas couldn't suppress rolling his eyes at the somewhat overprotective adults. Nathan tried to ignore Lucas reaction, "further more we thought that you should talk to someone about whatever it is that is wrong. If not me then someone else who you trust."
"Captain, please, there's nothing wrong. Everything is fine, trust me"
"I'm not convinced that easily Lucas, you of all people should know that. I've seen you, walking about in the middle of the night when you think no one is around or watching. You hardly talk to anyone anymore. Ben said you haven't spoken more than two words to him in the past week."
"Ben's exaggerating"
"I'm not so sure, you hardly speak a word to myself and Kristen says you're distant when you see her for your medication."
"That's not entirely true, I just have other things on my mind, like trying to re-circuit the main switch board which you asked me to do the other day."
"Lucas I think we're avoiding the issue here"
"Issue, what issue? There is nothing wrong." Lucas stood to leave, looking the captain in the eye, "Just stay out of things you clearly don't understand."
Nathan sat, stunned. Where on earth had he gone wrong? It was time to talk to Kristen once again, maybe she would have some answers.
Kristen literally ran into Nathan as he walked into the med. Bay to see her.
"Opps, Nathan, for what reason do I have the pleasure of this visit?"
"Lucas"
"Oh, again"
"I'm at a loss Kristen, I don't have any idea of what is wrong, and no idea of what to do about it. I tried the wait and see approach, I tried talking to him about it. Nothing seems to have made much of a positive impact."
"Lucas said you tried to lecture him about it"
"What? I...I certainly didn't mean to, if that is what he is thinking"
"Well, I think although you meant well it didn't quite come out that way for whatever reason."
"Does this mean he's talking to you now?" Kristen looked up from her lab work, into Bridger's face. "Not exactly, he sort of accused me for making you meddle"
"What?"
"Well there is some truth to that."
"But still" Nathan flopped down into a chair on the opposite side of the room. Kristen still looking at him, gave a small sympathetic smile, "Maybe you should try talking to the other crew members about him, subtly of course, feel it out, see what they think is wrong."