Lucas entered his hotel room and tossed his bag onto the bed. Ellie, Gavin and Sean had gone off to catch up, and he wasn't hurt at not going along. It was important for them to be together for a little while, and he had work to do.

Sean hadn't brought his laptop to Patrick and Katherine's and it was the first thing he dug out. Setting it on the table and hooking it up, he booted it up and logged into the UEO security interface. He went to his email and, along with emails from both Sam and Ben, was an email from Jason Barnham.

"Just who I was thinking about," Lucas said with a smile. He opened it and read.

"Lucas,

It was nice meeting you briefly at the mall. Who was that woman you were with? She was pretty hot!

Anyway, I'm really interested in what you do. I'm only an actor, but I really am interested in science and computers. I think it's awesome that you have an opportunity to work on such a technologically advanced ship. I'd quit acting in a second for that chance.

I don't know how much longer you'll be in town, but I'd love to meet up for coffee or dinner. I have tons of questions that I'd love to ask you! Let me know…

JB"

"My Mom is not hot," Lucas said with a scowl. "Ugh, who am I kidding? Yes she is."

He quickly clicked the "compose new message" button and wrote back.

"Jason,

Sorry it took so long to get back to you, I've been visiting with some family. I'm only here in town for a few more days. I'd love to meet with you, how does tonight sound? I'm staying at the Millennium Biltmore downtown, room 1103. I'll be here all night, so shoot me an email back if you want to drop by. I've got some questions for you too.

Lucas"

He hit the send button and browsed through the emails from Sam and Ben. Ben wanted him to bring him back some contraband that required him hitting an adult store, and he definitely was not going to be doing that. Ben could get his own films. Sam was just filling him in on the daily happenings. Nothing big, no major problems, Darwin missed him, etc.

Sooner than he'd expected, there was a ping, letting him know he had new mail. He quickly closed Sam's mail and looked. It was from Jason.

"Lucas,

I had some plans for tonight, but I just rescheduled. I'll be there in an hour.

JB"

"Sweet," Lucas said. He had a feeling that he might actually like Jason after all. He responded to both Sam and Ben, his email to Ben consisting only of two words: No way. Sam got a lengthier email with only a smattering of details from this last week and a half. He'd tell her more when he got home. He also sent an email to the Captain, letting him know that everything was okay.

Once the emails had been sent, he stood and stretched. He kicked off his shoes, unpacked his bag into the drawers, and then plopped down on the bed to watch TV. Picking up the remote, he idly flipped through the channels until he came to a re-run of the old TV show Law & Order: SVU. He quickly found himself sucked into the story. He grabbed the pillow from the head of the bed and, lying on his stomach, wrapped it up in his arms and rested his chin on it, never taking his eyes off the screen. He was so involved with it that he almost didn't hear the knock on his door. Getting up, he walked backwards toward the door, still watching.

"Who is it?" he asked, absently.

"It's Jason," was the reply.

"Oh!" Lucas quickly opened the door and let him in. "Sorry, I was watching this old show, it's really good."

Jason entered the room, taking off the baseball cap he'd been wearing. It was a Marlins World Series hat, much like the jersey that Lucas had back on the SeaQuest. Jason ran a hand through his hair and looked at the TV.

"Oh yeah, this is a great show," he said.

"Mind if I finish it? I think it's almost over."

"No problem man," he replied.

Lucas once again assumed his place on the bed. Jason sat down at the foot of the bed, watching the last 10 minutes of the show with Lucas. Once it was over, Lucas sat up.

"Wow, that show is great! I'll have to remember to catch it at home."

"Where's home?" Jason asked.

"SeaQuest is home. At least I think of it that way. I don't live with my parents."

"Oh, I see, that sucks."

"No, it actually doesn't. I'd rather not be around them."

"It's like that huh?"

"And then some," Lucas replied. "Why were you wearing that hat?"

Jason smiled. "Sort of a disguise. I have to do it sometimes to avoid being followed."

"Like you were being followed by those girls at the mall? What were you doing there anyway?"

"This film for one of the teen magazines to give away. I'm used to being followed by girls, but they're all so young. I wish that I was followed by girls like the one you were with. Who was she?"

"Oh…uh…she's my cousin. Her name is Ellie."

"Wow, lucky you."

Lucas chuckled. "Thanks. Want some food?"

"I'd love some. I'm starving."

Lucas rolled over and grabbed the menu off of the nightstand. Both of them ordered a pasta dish, and waited.

"So," Lucas said. "You had some questions?"

"Yeah, definitely. How did you get on the SeaQuest? I mean, you can't be much older than I am. Don't you have to go to school?"

"No, I finished school. I graduated from Stanford last year."

Jason just stared at him. "Stanford? As in University?"

"Yeah, why?"

"Dude, are you a genius?"

"I keep getting asked that question, but yeah. It's how I got the job on the SeaQuest. Well, actually, my father kind of dumped me there, but I've earned my spot by now."

"Wow, that's incredible. I mean, not incredible that your Dad dumped you there, but incredible that you've graduated college and work on the SeaQuest. I think I'd sell a kidney to work there."

"Why?"

"Why? Why not?! All of that research, all of the equipment. Talk about a paradise!"

"At the same time though, there are cramped quarters, bad food, the possibility of getting killed if you get into a battle of some sort, no sun, and no family or friends."

Jason looked at him, his face serious. "Lucas, I would give all of that up in a heartbeat to have the chance that you do. I love being an actor, but I'd love being there even more."

Lucas had never really considered that someone would actually want to be on the SeaQuest, would want to give up so much voluntarily. Because he hadn't wanted to, it had never crossed his mind that someone else would.

"Jason, how about you and I make a deal? You help me with something, and I'll get you on the SeaQuest, at least for a visit."

Jason sat up. "Are you kidding?"

"Nope, I'm totally serious."

"What do you need me to do?"

Lucas grinned, and launched into his story, albeit a bit modified, about the murder of Ellie (whose name he now changed), and the doctor, and wanting to bring it out into the open. When he was finished, Jason sat dumbfounded.

"And what do you need me for?" Jason asked. "It seems you have it all figured out."

"I need you to be me."

"What?"

"I need you to play me. I need you to go into the doctor's office and be me. I'll tell you everything you need to know, I'll give you the evidence you need. I just need you to do what you do, act."

Jason considered it for a moment, and then looked Lucas squarely in the eye. "You've got a deal Lucas," he said, offering his hand. They shook on it, the deal was official.

The food arrived and the two boys talked late into the night, striking up a new friendship that it seemed they both needed. Jason had a good grasp on some of the AI concepts, and they talked a lot about that. Lucas set up a hacking problem and let Jason grapple with it, impressed when he solved it.

"Wow man, that was great," Lucas said. "How long have you been hacking?"

"Long enough," Jason said with a grin.

"Maybe you should try to get on SeaQuest. They always need new crew with some skills."

"There can only be one computer analyst," he replied.

"True, but you like science too right?"

"Yeah, why?"

"Dr. Westphalen always is on the look out for science staff. Or you could just join the UEO and come on as enlisted personnel."

"In a year, I could do that, when I turn 18."

"I think you should," Lucas said. "One thing I've learned from all of this is to never take tomorrow as a given. You might not have a chance again. If this is what you want to do, do it. Acting will always be there."

"True. I'll have to put some thought into it. But for now, I need to take off. I've got an early call in the morning."

"Alright, good luck with that. I'll prep everything and have it ready for you when you get here tomorrow night. We'll go over it before we go to the Doctor's office the next day."

Jason nodded and stood. "It was really great hanging out with you Lucas. For a while, I got to forget who I really was," he said, sounding a little sad.

"Do you not like this fame thing?" Lucas asked.

"Yes and no. I'm doing what I always wanted to do, but sometimes, being followed gets old. So does worrying about every move you make, every word out of your mouth and every person you're seen with, for fear that the press will get a hold of it and try to blow your life apart. I'd like to be able to just go to the mall again and not be noticed, to eat out and not be asked for an autograph. I don't mind most of the time, but if you've already had a bad day…"

"It can be a little grating," Lucas said, finishing his sentence.

"Yeah," Jason said with a sigh.

Lucas clapped him on the shoulder. "You're handling it well though. Don't let the stress get to you."

Jason smiled. "I'll see you tomorrow," he said, putting his hat back on.

"Later Jason," Lucas said, watching the other teen walk out the door.

It was yet another side of things he'd never considered: the other side of fame.