FROM DOVER TO PLYMOUTH, AND BACK

Chapter 12

By Kiddo

In Loving Memory Of Jonathan Brandis

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"Don't fix a broken heart. Who really wants to forget?" (JosephFiennes)

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"I always will remember you by real good moments." ("Real Good Moments" by Christian Wunderlich)

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"But in dreams - I still hear your name - And in Dreams - We will meet again." ("In Dreams"-Lord of the Rings)

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"And there is never a day that passes by – I don't think of you." ("The Perfect Fan" by BSB)

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Disclaimer:

I don't have any rights to "seaQuest DSV" or "seaQuest 2032" and I am not making any money with this story.

A big Thank You goes to my wonderfull beta-reader Jackie and Pheniox-skye, Sam, Dolphinology, Mar, Kas and Joxer for their Reviews. Sorry that it took me so long with posting this, but I have a lot of studying to do for my exams in the next weeks.

Feedback and reviews are still the only thing I get for writing. So please review.

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Captain Bridger was sitting on a chair next to Lucas' bed and lay a cool cloth on the boy's forehead. From time to time, he dipped the cloth in a bowl of cold water.

The storm had calmed down hours ago; 30 minutes ago, the rain had also stopped. The only remembrance of the storm at all was a light wind. The sun was starting to rise on the eastern horizon.

Nathan Bridger looked at Lucas, his head full of self-recriminations. If he had sent the boy back to the galley earlier, the whole thing wouldn't have happened. Lucas wouldn't be lying unconscious in his bed with a deep cut on his forehead and a large bump and wound under his blond hair.

Luckily, Miss Westphalen had been able to stitch the wound without any problems. All were unbelievably relieved that the wooden beam had only grazed the boy and not struck him dead on. They didn't want to think about what would have happened otherwise. This was bad enough. Since Lucas had gone down, he hadn't awoken. Not once.

The Captain couldn't stop reproaching himself. Why hadn't he sent the boy to the galley one minute earlier? Just one minute earlier and all this wouldn't have happened. Maybe just one minute later and the teenager wouldn't have gotten to this point, wouldn't have survived. If the boy never woke again, it would be his fault. Nathan would never be able to forgive himself.

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Hours later, Bridger was still sitting at Lucas' bedside and had fallen into a restless sleep.

A groan from the bed woke Nathan, and he was fully awake within seconds. To the captain's pleasure and immense relief, he saw that the teenager was starting to wake up.

The boy slowly opened his blue eyes and looked confusedly around the cabin. His eyes finally stopped on the older man. "How did I get here?" The voice sounded weak and confused.

Bridger had to lean a little closer to the teenager to understand the words. "Do you remember the storm?"

Lucas had to think about the question. Yes, he could remember a big thunder storm. "Yes." He paused for a moment. "I was on the way to the galley, but I can't remember anything after that."

"A wooden beam fell and grazed your head and you lost consciousness," said Nathan.

The boy heard the self-accusatory tone of captain's voice. "You don't need to blame yourself."

Bridger was speechless. How could the teenager knew that he blamed himself? "How can you say that? It's my fault! If it wasn't for me, you wouldn't be laying in bed."

"You can't know that," said Lucas, determinedly. "You don't have anything to be at fault for. You didn't conjure the storm and you didn't hit me on the head. So stop blaming yourself!" The boy's voice had become louder with every word.

How could Lucas forgive him so easily? Nathan couldn't forgive himself so quickly. He had made a mistake and he realised it. He should have sent the boy below deck from the beginning. But Bridger also realised that this excitement was bad for the boy. He could see and hear it in the teenager's voice. To calm the him down, the captain simply nodded. "Okay."

Lucas smiled slightly. "Good." Then his face twisted in a grimace; his head was really hurting. "How hard did the beam hit me?"

Captain Bridger took the cloth away from the boy's forehead and dipped it in the cool water again. "You have a cut on your forehead, but it isn't so bad. The wound you have under your hair is worse, but Miss Westphalen has stitched it. And you've also got a big bump on your head. But nothing a few days of rest won't fix." Nathan lay the wet cloth on the teenager's head again.

"Thanks. Are the others okay?"

To Lucas' relief, Bridger answered with a nod. "Yes, no one else was hurt. We've gotten very wet, but that's all."

"And what about the seaQuest?"

"The SeaQuest has been lucky. A few torn sails and one square of the mainmast is broken. The beam that hit you was a part of the square. But, we will be able to repair everything." The older man was observing Lucas during the whole explanation, and he realised that the boy was only a few moments away from falling asleep.

Lucas was worried about his special friend. "And what happened to Darwin?"

"Oh, your dolphin is fine," said Bridger ,smiling. He knew what the boy's reply would be to that.

The teenager was fighting against the sleepiness. "Darwin isn't my dolphin, he's..." and finally, he lost the battle.

Nathan smiled. "I know, he is free and belongs nobody." The captain dipped the cloth one last time in the cool water and lay it gently on Lucas' forehead.

Bridger stood up and covered the boy a little bit more with the blanket. "Sleep well, kiddo..." Then the captain left the small cabin.

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To Be Continued...

Only 4 chapters left

Written 2003 / Translated April 2004