Disclaimer: If I owned them I wouldn't have to say this now would I?

Thanks for the response on the last two chapters posted...told you I would post again didn't I.

Thanks go to my betas Jennifer and Kathy.

~*~*~*~*~

It wasn't until Nathan assumed his position on the bridge the next day that he caught up with Lucas. Nathan stood with his hands comfortably linked behind his back watching over his crew. Mostly watching Lucas. Lucas was sitting in Tim's position obviously trying to solve the problem that had arisen earlier in the tour. He had finally made time to find a more permanent solution to the puzzle. He sat staring down at an instrument, which Nathan had never seen before, quite clearly he was absorbed in his work, flinching when Nathan came over to him and lightly touched his shoulder.
"Sorry I didn't mean to startle you"
"That's okay, I'm almost done anyway."
Nathan smiled at him; at least the gleam had returned to Lucas' eyes, he was finally enjoying himself.
"You found the problem then?"
"Yeah, it was simple if I just thought about it, all that I had to do..." Lucas began his long speech about what he had discovered was the problem and Nathan although missing a few bits here and there, got the main idea. After Lucas had finished Nathan smiled, "Keep up the good work kiddo"
Lucas was attaching the final bits of wire covering when Tim returned to his post.
"Oh, uh, hey Lucas"
"Tim"
"How's things?"
"Fine," Lucas looked up from where he was working, "Your stations fine now. All yours" Standing Lucas indicated to Tim's console and slowly made his way from the bridge. There were other places that he needed to be.
Taking Kristen's advice Nathan didn't utter a word, he just watched. After some careful on looking he had finally discovered why Lucas was so unsettled in his place on the seaQuest.

*~*~*~*~*

Lucas was sitting at a mess table by himself when Nathan and Kristen arrived for their lunch. Indicating that she would get the food for them Kristen left Nathan and Lucas by themselves. "Hey kiddo."
"Captain" The coldness of his tone, told Nathan that he was unwanted and that talking was certainly the last thing that Lucas wanted to do but that didn't matter. Talking was something Nathan thought Lucas needed to do.
"They treat you differently huh?"
"What?"
"Sorry, didn't really beat around the bush did I?" Nathan was looking right into Lucas' eyes trying to read what was going through the teen's mind.
"They, the crew I mean, don't quite treat you the same as they used to huh?"
"I don't know what you mean"
"C'mon Lucas, please it's me you're talking to, I know you, better than you think I do. For the last week you've been moping about. You won't talk to anyone, least of all me. I thought we were closer than that."
"We were."
"I don't treat you any different do I?" Nathan was feeling concerned, he had tried his hardest not to treat Lucas any different then before. He knew Lucas hated attention, especially when it was due to something he couldn't control.
"No, but they don't treat me any different either, you've got it all wrong," Lucas pushed his food around his plate no longer interested in what he had thought was finally an all right menu. "But I thought...maybe...well Tim this morning..." "Did nothing wrong...he..."
"So he does treat you different?"
"I don't know, it's just confusing, I don't know what they're thinking, I can kind of tell and then I can't."
Kristen returned to the table with her and Nathan's meal, Nathan gave it the once over and his stomach clenched, whatever Kristen had chosen he wished she had gotten the same as Lucas. "What do you mean?"
"It doesn't matter" Lucas stood and left the table leaving both Nathan and Kristen surprised. "Well he obviously doesn't want to talk to me."
"I wouldn't be too worried Kristen, I think he doesn't particularly want to talk to anyone."