Epilogue: Follow Your Heart
Disclaimer: Still no ownage of seaQuest and "To Be or Not to Be." I'm working on it, though.
AN: sniff The end. Thank you to any and all reviewers. You're the best. Truly. I am working on story numero two which with have nothing to do with any specific episode. This one's gonna be all me. And Sheila. grin
'Cause I know, tomorrow I'll be breaking in a brand new heart. But it's hard when you are not around. Precious time to stop and start, and it's hard the second time around.
-The BeeGees – Brand New Heart-
Bridger was leaning against a cabinet in his quarters, starting at the holographic image of Carol. He wasn't sure what to do. He knew what he wanted to do and he thought he knew what Sheila wanted him to do, but he didn't know if he could forget his promise.
"The door was open," Lucas said from the doorway, interrupting his thoughts.
"Come on in," Bridger said.
Lucas walked toward Bridger and the hologram. "I'm still trying to improve it." He stood next to Bridger. "She's pretty. Sheila looks a lot like her."
"Yes."
"Well, I just came by to tell you I thought it was very...effective the way you handled the situation."
"Effective?" Bridger made a face. "Thanks."
"You gonna stay, or what?" Lucas asked.
"It's not that simple," Bridger said quietly.
"Why not?" Lucas protested. "Come on, you like it here, don't you? I mean, it is your boat."
"I made a promise."
"To her?" Lucas gestured towards Carol.
"Her name's Carol. And yes. To her. And to Sheila."
"Were you two happy?" Lucas asked.
Bridger thought back to the years he and Carol had shared. "Yes, we were," he replied sadly.
"Well, my parents, they were never happy. I mean, they can't even stand to be in the same room together. I remember wishing they would just get a divorce and get it over with."
"Why didn't they?"
"Well, they said that when they got married, they made a promise to stay together forever. I guess they didn't count on things changing." Lucas looked up and saw Sheila standing in the doorway. "Oh, hey." He stepped towards the door. "I've got to be going. Been nice talking to ya. Laters." Moments later he was out the door.
"Hi, honey."
"Hi, Dad."
"How long have you been standing there?"
Sheila walked over and watched her hand go through the hologram, where her mother's hand was. "A little while."
"Oh."
"He's right, you know." At Bridger's confused expression, she elaborated. "Lucas. Things change. Sometimes it's better for everyone to break a promise, even an important one. Even one with someone you love. I don't think she'd mind, Dad. I really don't. You don't know this, but sometimes, when you'd be out on the dock, just staring out at the ocean, we'd know that you were missing it. I knew it. Mom knew it. And it really really hurt her, you know, knowing that your promise to her was making you so sad. I think that sometimes she knew that maybe she shouldn't have made you promise not to go back. She knew that she shouldn't have made you turn your back on something you loved so much." Sheila looked up. "I think that if she were here with us right now, she'd be telling you to do what was in your heart. And you and I both know that what's in your heart right now is to stay."
"Come here, kiddo," Bridger said, opening his arms. He hugged her tightly for a few minutes. "When did you get so wise?"
"Oh, I don't know. Sometime between birth and now."
Bridger laughed and stepped back. "So what do you think?"
"You look like the captain of the seaQuest."
"Captain, you are wanted on the bridge."
"I guess that's me."
"Go up there and order people around," Sheila said with a grin, as she left his quarters.
"There's more to it than that," Bridger protested.
"Yeah, sure, Dad, I know why you really want this gig. It's 'cause your so bossy." Sheila laughed as she waved goodbye and disappeared down the hall to who knew where. Hopefully somewhere where she couldn't get into trouble.
Bridger smiled and turned once more to the hologram. He touched the shimmering image of his wife's cheek, and then shut off the hologram. He had to get to work.