Disclaimer: SeaQuest and its characters are not mine.

Ack! I'm losing reviews! I'm losing one review per chapter! Lol If this keeps up by the time I'm up to the 7th chapter I won't have any reviews! ;-O Please review. Tell me what it is that I'm doing wrong!

wolenczak2004: Thanks for the lovely review. Sorry I couldn't send this chapter for u to beta. Just didn't have the time. Just don't have the time to do anything anymore.:-( But I always have time to read your lovely reviews.

Kiddo: I love Bridger as a father figure and couldn't believe it when he left.. and the way he left was just terrible. So I can relate to why you like the first season better, I prefer it myself. As to the ordered chaos, lol that's how my room is these days, books everywhere and it will stay that way till June the 3rd. Can't believe how I am looking fwd to the end of that day!

KatKnits00: Well I'm hoping that Bridger can pull it off without setting off any alarm bells too. But the good thing is that Bridger knows, so he can at least try to do something to make it all better.

Aewnaur: Well I hope you don't mind me torturing Lucas a wee bit more during this chapter too. I can't help myself. I am evil:-)

Managed to get another chapter done. This one is just Lucas and Darwin. Hope you guys don't mind. Hope to get both Bridger and Lucas in the next chapter. Anyways Enjoy, And PLEASE review. Its your reviews that keep this fic going.


Lucas had no idea how long he had been swimming with Darwin for but he was certain that it was long enough as signs of his obvious fatigue plagued him. He knew it was dangerous to continue swimming if he was in danger of collapsing in exhaustion so he reluctantly climbed out of the moon pool.

"Lucas tired." Darwin stated as Lucas began to towel dry his hair. Lucas smirked. Talk about the understatement of the year. He sat down at the base of the pool idly twirling his hand in the water. He didn't want to leave. Not the moon pool and definitely not the SeaQuest. He loved coming here. It was one of the few places that Lucas felt completely at ease. Of course he knew of a few nooks and crannies in the SeaQuest where he could hide in for hours on end secure in the knowledge that he wouldn't be found, but today, right now, he felt just as much at ease in the moon pool.

"Lucas sad." The dolphin stated as he swam closer. Lucas paused for a brief moment. Was he that transparent? He softly caressed the dolphin as he swam close to him. He knew it was Darwin's way of showing his concern.

"Yeah, I guess I am a bit sad." Lucas reluctantly admitted. He had learnt long ago not to bother lying to Darwin. The dolphin would keep insisting until he finally relented. Lucas had always prided himself on not giving up without a fight but next to Darwin he didn't stand a chance. Admitting his feelings to Darwin was different. Darwin had no hidden agenda's. He wouldn't judge him. Darwin accepted him regardless of what he was feeling.

"Why is Lucas sad?"

Lucas found himself smiling despite everything. Trust Darwin to try and make it all better. He reached over and caressed Darwin as he passed.

"It's alright Dar, Just have a lot on my mind." Lucas said evasively. Darwin may not believe him but he sure as hell would try to avoid the subject if he could.

"Why is Lucas sad?" Darwin asked persistently pushing at his hand as if to emphasise the fact that he wanted an answer. Lucas sighed. How was he going to describe why he was sad when he himself wasn't certain as to what was causing the sadness.

"I… I don't know." Lucas mumbled. That was the truth. He didn't know. Not for sure anyway. He could swear that Darwin was eyeing him critically as if to ascertain the truthfulness of his answer.

"I have to go home when shore leave is granted." He wasn't certain why he was volunteering the information. He ran a hand through his hair. Maybe Darwin would find a way to make him feel better. He always did.

"But my dad isn't going to be able to see me… again. Don't even get me started on mom. She doesn't want to have anything to do with me." His dad would always have his pet UEO project to work on and well, as for his mom she had better things to do than bother about him. He remembered how bitter his parent's divorce had been. His mom had wanted nothing to do with him. She wanted to start her life anew and she didn't want a constant reminder of her mistake. Lucas guessed his father had no choice but to accept full custody.

"SeaQuest is Lucas home?" Darwin asked.

"Yeah I guess in a way it is." Lucas mumbled not understanding what Darwin was getting at.

"Lucas stay in SeaQuest for shore leave. SeaQuest is Lucas home." Darwin chattered away happily as if he had solved everything by his simple logic. Lucas only wished it was that simple.

"No Dar, it's not that easy. I have to go to my real home, to my family. I can't stay in the SeaQuest." Even as he said the words he rolled the idea around his head. His father sure wouldn't miss him. But him staying aboard would only leave room for questions; questions that he didn't want to answer. No normal teenager would choose to stay on a submarine over going home to his family. No, that was not a viable option. He could imagine the thousand and one questions Captain Bridger would ask him about his decision. No, staying on board was definitely not a viable option.

"Family? What's family? Why does Lucas not want to go to real home?" If it was possible the computer-generated voice actually sounded confused. Lucas could feel his frustration rising. He was frustrated with the whole situation and to top it all of he was frustrated that he wasn't capable of expressing himself accurately.

"No Darwin you don't understand. My…" Lucas struggled to find the word. "..My pod is not going to be there. I don't want to go back to my pod. I want to stay here." There he had finally admitted it out loud. He didn't want to go on shore leave. He wanted to remain on the only place that was actually like a home to him.

"Sea Quest is Lucas pod. Darwin is pod." Lucas smiled at how Darwin had taken it upon himself to declare the whole crew his family.

"Lucas stay." Darwin was more insistent. Actually he had started to regard the crew as if they were family, in a strange sort of way. Ben was like a big brother to him. Actually if anything it was a case of role reversal between the two. Ben would always be up to some prank or the other and against all his better judgement Lucas always managed to get roped in to Ben's hair-brained schemes.

"Lucas stay. Bridger is Lucas pod."

Lucas felt his chest constrict at Darwin's words. Would he dare to think down that line? Would he dare to hope? If Kreig was a brother Bridger was undoubtedly the father. Lucas found his mouth so dry that he could barely swallow. Oh god what was he doing? Why was he doing this to himself? But as much as he wanted to deny it he knew it was useless. He wanted Bridger as a father. Needed him as a father. He had lost count of the times where he had found himself wishing that Bridger were his dad and not Lawrence. Of course he dashed the thoughts as soon as they appeared but god help him, he couldn't stop them from reappearing.

He loved talking to Darwin but sometimes that wasn't enough. He found it disconcerting how he would crave for the Captain's company. How much he yearned to confide in him. How much he wished that Bridger were indeed his family.

"Sometimes …sometimes I wish he was." The words were a strangled whisper. He was afraid. Afraid that he was growing dependent on someone who would probably get rid of him faster than his parents did once he realised just how worthless he truly was.

Lucas felt the edges of his vision blur with tears. Darwin swam under his fingertips again as if to offer comfort. His silent presence offering him more comfort than he could ever hope for.

"I really wish he was." Lucas said softly as he lost the battle with the tears that were threatening to fall. But not once did he allow himself to cry aloud. Blue orbs that emanated the sheer depth of his grief slowly slid shut as more silent tears escaped its confines and coursed down his face.