As the launch docked, Lucas waited eagerly on the deck. Soon, he saw Jason clambering up the ladder. At first, he didn't even notice Lucas; he just stood and looked around him.

"Wow," he said, his voice almost a whisper.

"Hey Jason! Welcome aboard the SeaQuest!"

"Lucas!" Jason called out, as the two boys gave each other a quick hug.

"It's good to see you. You don't look so tired."

"No? I've been taking your Mom's advice and eating more. I've been feeling better."

"I'm glad to hear it."

"But this…this is…dude, this is magnificent!"

Lucas grinned. "Come on, I'll show you around."

At that moment, Sam came around the corner. "Afternoon Lucas," she said off-handedly before she noticed that someone was standing with him. She nearly spit out her coffee as she came to a complete standstill. "Wait…is this…are you…Jason Barnham?"

"Yes, very nice to meet you," Jason said, extending a hand.

"Sam, I'd like you to meet my friend, Jason," Lucas said, hardly able to conceal his smile from her.

"Your friend? Lucas, you know him?"

Jason laughed. "We met a couple of weeks ago. Really pleased to meet you Sam."

"Samantha," she said, shaking his hand.

Lucas raised an eyebrow. Samantha?

"Samantha it is then," Jason said with a smile. Lucas could see Sam melting on the spot and almost started laughing.

"Come on Jason, I'll show you around."

They made the rounds, Lucas introducing Jason to the Captain and the crew on the bridge. He then took him to the science department and introduced him to Dr. Westphalen. Jason was wide-eyed through it all, asking a great many intelligent questions, impressing all who met him.

Their last stop was the moon pool. Lucas showed him how the vocorder worked, and it thrilled Jason as much as it had thrilled Ellie. Lucas knew that this was his chance.

"Jason, I want to talk to you about something."

"What's that?"

"My mom, she was worried about you, and for more reasons than your diet. She's worried about the toll that all of this business is taking on you and the toll it will take on you in the future."

"What do you mean?"

"That night at the hotel, after you fell asleep, she talked to me. She told me how you reminded her of a friend she had, an actor who had been famous too, just like you. He took his own life Jason. She's worried that the same will happen to you."

Jason's face darkened. "Why does she think that?"

"Because she knows you struggle with depression," Lucas said bluntly.

Unexpectedly, Jason looked down. "She's right, I do. I haven't told anyone that."

"Are you having a hard time with all of this?"

He nodded. "Yeah, I am."

Lucas sighed. "Jason, she says you're going to do it. If you keep up with this, in three years you'll be dead. Please Jason, please quit. You turn 18 in a few months, enlist. If we talk to the Captain, I know he can make sure that you end up here. I don't want you to end up dead for something so meaningless."

Jason just looked at him blankly. "It's not as easy as just quitting."

"Why not? Say you don't want to do it anymore. No one can stop you."

He sighed deeply. "You're right Lucas. Maybe it is that easy. I thought this was what I wanted, but it isn't. Being here, seeing this…this is what I want."

"Then make it happen Jason."

"Do you really think that Captain Bridger could make sure I end up here?"

"I'm almost positive."

"Then let's go ask him. If he says yes, then that makes my decision. I'll quit."

Lucas nodded vigorously. "Come on, follow me."

They reached the Captain's quarters and knocked. "Who is it?" Bridger called out.

"It's Jason and Lucas Captain, permission to enter?"

"Permission granted," came the reply. The two entered the room. Jason looked around him eagerly. "How can I help you two?"

Jason spoke before Lucas could. "Captain Bridger, I've been thinking about enlisting, and I was wondering, well, if I did, could I perhaps be assured of ending up here? I've wanted so badly to work on the SeaQuest, it would be a dream come true."

The Captain considered him for a moment. "What of your career now? There are a lot of things to take into consideration when enlisting."

"I'm not happy with my career now sir. I thought it was what I wanted, but it wasn't. I want to be here, making a difference, doing research."

"When do you turn 18?"

"In a few months, sir. I've already finished high school thanks to off site study."

Bridger nodded. "Well then, before you leave tomorrow, I'll have a letter of recommendation for you to the academy in San Francisco. Present it to the administration there, and they'll speed your training. I'll also ask in the letter that they prep you for submarine assignment. I'll contact Admiral Noyce in the meantime and let him know of your intentions, and that I'd like to have you as one of my crew. That ought to do the trick."

Jason's eyes lit up like Lucas had never seen. He was getting his wish; he'd be a member of the SeaQuest crew.

"Thank you so much, sir! It's an honor I truly appreciate."

The Captain smiled. "I think you'll make a fine addition to our crew. Prove me right, son."

"I will!"

"Alright then, you two out. I want you to hit the mess, I know you haven't eaten."

"Yes Captain," Lucas said. "Come on J, let's eat."

Jason grinned and followed Lucas out.

The next day, recommendation letter in hand, Jason left. He and Lucas promised to keep in touch via email, and he'd told Lucas that he'd be sending something for Sam via the launch back; he'd already called ahead and set it up. The boys again shared a brief hug and Lucas waved as Jason went down the ladder to launch bay.

"You did it Lucas, very good," Ellie said from behind him. "He'll be safe now, he'll be happy. He'll live, and most importantly, he'll thrive."

"Will his parents give him trouble?"

"Of course they will, but he's not going to care. He's getting what he wants. He'll stand up to them; he won't let them hold him back. It's his life and he knows it. He won't let anyone take this chance from him."

Lucas smiled and turned around, but Ellie was already gone.

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On the return launch there was a package for Sam via Lucas. Lucas walked it directly to her and handed it over.

"Who's this from?" she asked?

"Jason sent it."

Her eyes grew wide and she quickly opened it. Inside was an autographed picture, a t-shirt, a set crew badge, a ticket to a taping of the show, and a note.

"Samantha,

I know that you won't be able to attend the taping, but I thought you might want a ticket anyway. I hope you like the other things as well; it was all I could come up with on short notice. It really was nice meeting you, and depending on how long you'll be on board, I'll be seeing you again soon.

JB"

Sam smiled blissfully, and seeing it made Lucas smile. Jason was a cool guy, he'd known that these small things would make her happy, and he'd gone out of his way to make sure that she got them.

"Tell him thank you for me, will you Lucas?"

"I will. He'll be glad to know you liked them."

"What did he mean by seeing me again soon?"

"I'll tell you if you swear to keep it to yourself."

"I swear!"

"He's enlisting; he'll be a member of the SeaQuest in a few months."

Her jaw dropped. "What?! What about his acting?"

"It doesn't make him happy. This," he said, gesturing around him, "does. It's been his dream to be on this ship Sam. Now that will come true, thanks to the Captain."

"And you," she said. "You befriended him and brought him here."

Lucas nodded. "It's thanks to a few people actually," he replied, walking away.