Disclaimer: SeaQuest and its characters are not mine.

Kiddo: I want to learn a third language too! You could say that Bridger was more surprised by the fact that Lucas waited for him as opposed to the fact that he fell asleep. I'm glad you liked it. ;-)

KatKnits00 : I must say I considered that but imagine poor Bridger trying to find his way through Lucas' room? Lol.. actually that would be a fun idea. ;-)

TeacherTam: Hmm I'm thinking its more fanon than canon. Lol. Cos I have seen it in so many fics but can't seem to recall seen it on SQ, But then again it was ages ago that I saw SQ so it could be my memory failing me. ;-)

Aewnaur : I can't wait to see you put all those plot bunnies to use ;-) Do you think the story is going too slow? Cos at times it's really frustrating that I'm still more or less on the same day as when this fic started.

Dolphinology : Thankyou :-) I'm glad you liked it.

BecB : I'm glad you're enjoying it! Thanks for reviewing!

Nerene : As for the title it will eventually be about Lawrence and Lucas, and hopefully them coming to some sort of reconciliation… but when will that be? Hmmm guess you would have to continue reading to find out. ;-)

Lynn : lol does your comp throw temper tantrums often? I'm thinking my computer is related to yours somehow.. some distant cousin perhaps? cos my comp seems to have mind of its own too.

wolenczak2004: Thank you for your kind words my friend! ;-)

steffles24: Well I started out thinking I'll stick to father son fluff but I am so tempted to put some Lucas torture, but then I don't think I would be able to write action … oh well we'll see.

jaydedangel73: Thanks I am so glad u enjoyed it! ;-)

goldencompass: I figured some time away from anything official (and hence the island) might help them loosen up.

Bradybunch4529: Forgive me for taking so long. I completely lost track of time. Thank you so much for reading and even more for reviewing.

My deepest apologies for taking so long to get this chapter out. I finished exams last week and they were so terrible that I was so busy wallowing in my misery that I really didn't notice the time fly by. Again I am really sorry for taking so long.


Lucas sighed contentedly. He was feeling better than he had in weeks. He couldn't believe exactly how comfortable his bed felt. If all it took was falling asleep at his desk a few days in a row to make him appreciate his bed by gosh he would have done it more on a regular basis. He let out another happy sigh as he burrowed deeper in to the covers. He paused in his languorous movements. No amount of hours accumulated sleeping at a desk could actually make his bed bigger. He stood abruptly. This wasn't his bed.

"Morning kiddo." His mind may have been fuzzy but he recognised Captain Bridger's voice immediately.

"Huh?" He was a genius and that was all he could come up with? Lucas felt himself colour at the look of amusement on the captain's face. If he saw it Bridger didn't comment on it. Instead he brought over a tray of food.

"I brought you some breakfast, figured you wouldn't have eaten much yesterday."

Lucas stared dumbfounded at the tray set before him. Just as he was about to protest his stomach betrayed him and growled appreciatively at the sight of food. Bridger chuckled and ruffled his hair.

"Don't complain kiddo, eat up. I'm not leaving till you finish that."

Lucas' first instinct was to protest but one look at the smile on Bridger's face and he felt himself smile too. He couldn't begrudge the Captain when he looked at him like that. But he didn't want to give in too easily either.

"I'm not a kid." Lucas mumbled, as he carefully tasted what may have passed off as eggs had it not been for the slightly suspicious consistency.

"A word of advice, don't try to discern what it is, just eat it, before you can taste it." Bridger said with a light laugh noticing how Lucas inspected the eggs as if he was expecting it to start moving on its own accord.

"Sorry I took longer than I thought on the bridge, you had fallen sleep when I got back and I didn't want to wake you up." Bridger started to explain as he dragged his chair closer to the bed and sat down. Lucas' nodded in reply. He had assumed as much as the fog of sleep lifted from his mind and he was able to think clearly.

"I guess I didn't realise exactly how tired you were." Bridger paused uncertainly.

Lucas looked up from his eggs. Was that regret in the captain's voice? Surely he hadn't changed his mind about the conference? Didn't the captain want him to come along anymore? Did he do something that made the captain change his mind? The thoughts flooded him all at once.

"I feel like I coerced you into something you may not have wanted.." Bridger was staring at him now. Lucas could swear the captain was reading his every emotion.

"But captain, I want to come." Lucas interrupted. The captain was thinking that he would have changed his mind. He couldn't be further off the mark.

"That is if you still want me to come?" Lucas asked uncertainly. He wanted to know. There weren't many things he was certain about in his life and he didn't want to have any doubts, not on this issue. Somehow it felt monumentally important if whether or not the captain wanted him to come along.

"Kiddo, I wouldn't have it any other way." The captain's reply was instant. Lucas could barely contain the relief that flooded his senses at the certainty of his response. The captain wanted him there. Him. Not Commander Ford, not Kristin Westphalen, he wanted him. Lucas was almost giddy with relief. He must have smiled or given some indication of what he was feeling because the captain was smiling. It wasn't his usual smile. For some odd reason it was almost like the captain knew what he was thinking and was trying to ease his fears. Unsure of how to respond Lucas turned his attention to the eggs, if that was what they truly were.

Perhaps it was the need to concentrate on something other than the Captain or perhaps it was just his body driving him to sustain it but he began to attack the eggs with more fervour. Now that he thought about it he hadn't had a proper meal in some time. Amazing how food tasted that much better after you've had some time to appreciate it. That reminded him,

"How come your bed is bigger?"

Bridger actually looked surprised. Lucas grinned as he realised he had managed to throw the captain. It wasn't everyday that he managed to catch the captain off guard.

"Oh? You didn't think that being the captain of a ship didn't come with some perks now did you?" Bridger replied with a wink. Lucas snorted in between mouthfuls of eggs. Bridger's only reply to that was to reach up and ruffle his hair.

"I would think twice before I say anything that might offend the captain of this ship if I were you." Bridger said putting extra stress on the word captain. His threat carried no weight as he was grinning just as hard as Lucas.

"I'm needed on the bridge, I trust you to finish that." Bridger said indicating the breakfast as he got up to leave. It was then that it hit Lucas.

His morning shift in the science lab!

Reading his thoughts Bridger put a restraining hand on him effectively stopping him from jumping out of the bed.

"Whoa! Take it easy! I have cancelled your duties for today. You did an exceptional job on those upgrades and since it was done ahead of schedule why don't you take today and tomorrow off? I have already informed Commander Ford and Dr Westphalen so you don't need to worry."

Lucas was dumbfounded.

"Besides your shift was two hours ago." Bridger put in as an afterthought.

He watched as the captain headed towards the door but he couldn't let him leave, not yet.

"Captain?" He called out at the last minute before the captain reached the door. Bridger stopped to face him.

"Uh… Thanks." He mumbled awkwardly. He wanted to say more.

Thank you for taking me on your shore leave.

Thank you, for putting me in to bed.

Thank you, for breakfast.

Thank you, for cancelling my duties.

Thank you, for noticing I was tired.

Thank you, for taking care of me.

Thank you, for being you.

Even though he meant all of it he couldn't get himself to voice it. Bridger regarded him for a moment as if he had caught the silent plea to understand everything implied in that simple thank you.

For a split second Lucas felt like the Captain had actually acknowledged his silent thank you when he smiled. He couldn't help but wonder what it would have been like had the captain been his dad. Would he want him as a son? Just at that moment Bridger chose to reply and Lucas had to remind himself that the captain was not answering his unvoiced question.

"Anytime Kiddo, Anytime." Bridger replied softly as he left.