A Question of Trust

Chapter 2

By Kiddo

In Loving Memory Of Jonathan Brandis

Disclaimer:

I don't have any rights to the TV show "seaQuest." I also don't own the different characters like Bridger, Lucas, or Darwin. I'm not making any money with this story; I'm just writing for my own pleasure.

A spezial „Thank You" goes to Jackie for beta-reading and to KatKnits00 and dolphinology for their reviews. Hope you both will also like the next chapter.

KatKnits00: Thanks for your kind words.

dolphinology: It's nice to hear that you like the title.

The next morning, Captain Bridger was standing in the docking bay. Those crew members who had been granted shore leave had already left the submarine. A very tall teenager came on board the seaQuest. He had short dark hair and brown eyes. Immediately, he walked over to the captain. "Uncle Nathan!"

"Hello, Oliver!" They hugged each other tightly. "Wow, you've grown a lot since the last time I saw you. You must be bigger than your father."

Oliver Stevens smiled. "Yeah, I've outgrown him."

Nathan nodded appreciatively and began realize that with each year, Oliver looked more and more like his dead son, Robert. He was sure that this was due to the fact that Carol and her younger sister looked almost like twins "How are Martha and Albert doing?"

"My parents are fine, and they wanted me to say hello from them!"

"Thanks! And how is college life treating you?" asked Bridger.

"Really good. But it is so much different from high school," explained the teen.

Nathan nodded in understanding. "I can imagine it what a big diffrence it makes to be suddenly living alone in New York, 500 miles away from your home."

Oliver nodded enthusiastically. "Oh yeah, from small town to big city. In the beginning, I felt kind of lonely there, but now I have made a few very good friends and I'm getting used to life in New York."

Captain Bridger took his nephew's suitcase. "So, lets get you to your cabin for the next few days."

The dark-haired teenager took his backpack and followed his uncle.

Half an hour later, Nathan was giving his nephew a tour of the seaQuest; he showed him everything. Their last stop was the Moon Pool.

Lucas was wearing a wetsuit and was swimming with Darwin in the water. When the blond boy noticed the captain and Oliver, he swam to edge of the pool. The strange thing was that the dolphin didn't follow him; he swam away.

The captain introduced the teenagers to each other. "Lucas, this is my nephew Oliver Stevens. Oliver this is our chief computer analyst, Lucas Wolenczak."

Oliver lifted one eyebrow. "Wolenczak? Are you any relation to the scientist Dr. Wolenczak?"

The young man nodded. "Yup, he's my dad."

"I see. Uncle Nathan told me that you've already finished at Stanford. It must be really cool to be finished with everything so soon. No teachers or classmates to get on your nerves or drive you nuts anymore."

The young genius laughed. "Yeah, that's a practical way of looking at it! But there are also people outside of school who can get on your nerves."

Captain Bridger acted horrified. "I hope you're not referring to me. Otherwise, I could send you to the kitchen and order you to peel potatoes!"

Lucas lifted his hands in defense. "Oh no, I would never dare that!" Then he smiled mischievously. "Besides, you can't order me to peel potatoes. The potatoes the seaQuest gets are already peeled!"

Bridger looked serious. "Oh, it wouldn't be a problem to change that for you Mr. Wolenczak!"

The blond teenager looked concerned; from the look on his face, he had believed every single word the older man had just said. But suddenly, both the captain and Lucas burst out laughing.

Oliver looked from one to the other. His uncle and the young man really got along well together. That would be pretty obvious to anybody. He could almost feel jealousy rising inside of him. Oliver could remember clearly how his uncle had talked about Lucas; even then he could feel that the Wolenczak boy was important to Nathan. There was more than just friendship that connected them.

After some thinking, the dark-haired teenager decided that this was better than anything he could have dreamed of, that it was playing right into his hands. The next few days could be very interesting. This could be the most fun he'd had in a long time!

To Be Continued …

Written Spring 2003 / Translated Winter 2005