A Question of Trust

Chapter 7

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 Swasti, dolphinology, KatKnits00, wolenczak2004 for their reviews.

Swasti: Thanks! It is interesting to read your thoughts to my story.

dolphinology: Thanks. Before I wrote the original german story I watched „Photon Bullet" again. But it was kind of difficult to translate it. (By the way the episode „Photon Bullet" is called „Kampf gegen die Welt" „Fight against the World" in germany)

KatKnits00: Thanks for your review. I normally think that Lucas wouldn't tell if he has hacked something, but I thought that the World Bank is such a big and importend think that he tells the people it so that they can make it safer.

wolenczak2004: Thanks for your review!

Captain Bridger knocked softly at the door of Lucas' cabin. He didn't want to wake the boy up if he was sleeping. After receiving no response, he stepped into the cabin. His glance fell on the blond teenager, who was sleeping quietly. He walked to Lucas' desk as silently as possible and put the book down. Then, he folded the paper and put it on the book so that it would catch the teenager's eye when he woke up.

For a moment, he stood by Lucas' bed. Then, he leaned forward and pulled the covers up so that the teen wouldn't get cold. "Sleep well, kiddo. I'm so sorry about everything..." Then, he turned around and left the cabin.

Lucas listened for a moment, and when he couldn't hear the captain's footsteps any longer, he opened his eyes and sat up in his bed. Slowly, a few tears ran down his cheeks. The whole situation was fraying his nerves to no end.

He had just gone to bed and tried to sleep when he'd heard the knocking at his door, so he had pretended to be sleeping. At the sound of the steps, he could tell right away that it was Bridger. His heart was racing, and when the captain had covered him with the blanket and spoken to him, he had nearly lost it.

The young man's glance fell on his desk. He stood up and took the paper in his hands. Sitting under the paper, he recognized the book that he had left behind in the lab... He unfolded the paper and saw the captain's handwriting.

Lucas,

I know that I have made a huge mistake, and I want to talk with you about it.

I really should have let you explain what happened with the World Bank.

I'm so sorry about everything! I didn't seriously mean the comment about your parents, and I hope you know that I would never send you away!

Please give me the chance to talk with you.

Bridger

P.S. I have read your book and would like to talk with you about it.

It felt to Lucas like a weight was falling from his shoulders; Bridger wouldn't send him away from the seaQuest. But the teenager wasn't really anxious to speak with the older man. He had said so many things that he didn't mean, and he really was ashamed. Would he ever be able to re-build his relationship with the captain again?

The teenager's eyes moved around his cabin. Bridger had often called it untidy, but Lucas saw it a bit differently; his cabin looked lived in. And besides, if he cleaned it up he wouldn't be able to find anything - he needed his chaos. The only things that were really kept well were his much-loved computer equipment, his music discs, and his beloved books.

The boy's glance was drawn to his computer. A flashing symbol told him that he had a new message. The young man sat down in front of his computer and started to go through his e-mails. When he saw that he had a new one from Wolfman, he clicked on it.

Hi Frankenstein,

Talked to your captain. I don't know what your argument was about, but the man is really beating himself up over it. Your captain is a real cool guy. I know that whatever he said, he's really sorry about it...

Talk to him!

I'll send you a longer e-mail in a few days. I have just met this hot girl, and I really have to tell you about her.

See you later...

Owwooooooooooooo!

Wolfmann

Lucas' guilt over the argument was getting more and more serious. Why hadn't he spoken with the captain rationally about everything? What kind of genius was he if he couldn't even handle himself in a conversation? And how did Wolfman suddenly know about all of this? Bridger had obviously told him.

The teenager shook his head. His thought's wouldn't go forwards. Probaply it would be best if he just went and talked with the older man first thing tomorrow. Lucas shut his computer down and went to bed, but his thoughts kept him awake for a long time.

In the middle of he night, Bridger was awakened by a loud knocking at his door. Still half asleep, he climbed out of bed. "Yes, come in!"

His nephew, Oliver, ran breathlessly into the cabin. "Uncle Nathan, you have to come with me."

Bridger put on his dark blue bathrobe. "Calm down, what's happend?"

The dark-haired teenager took a deep breath. "You have to come with me. It's Lucas!"

Captain Bridger felt his heart drop into his stomach. "What's wrong with Lucas?"

Oliver shook his head. "Not now. You have to come with me right away." The boy turned around and started to run, and Bridger followed at his heels.

Nathan had never seen his nephew like this; his worry over Lucas became unbearable. "Oliver this is the wrong direction, Lucas' cabin is the other way!"

Still running, the teenager shook his head. "No, he isn't in his cabin, he's on the bridge."

Thousands of thoughts were running through Bridger's head as he followed his nephew. What had happened to his youngest crew member, and why was he on the bridge at that hour? And how did Oliver know about it?

To Be Continued …

Written Spring 2003 / Translated Winter 2005