Disclaimer: SeaQuest and its characters are not mine
KatKnits00 : Figured Lucas needs a break and just like seeing protective Bridger ;-)
TeacherTam: Thank you so much for pointing it out to me. My grammar really is terrible, along with my spelling. (One of the many reasons I tend towards mathematical subjects) ;-) Don't worry I didn't take any offence. In fact I appreciate it. ;-)
Dolphinology : Thanks for understanding. I finished exams Friday so I was hoping to get a chapter out by the weekend but I was just feeling too terrible to think about it. And thank you for your kind words. ;-)
steffles24: Lol a fellow Lucas torture fan eh? ;-) Its amazing how many of us are out there. I do have a tendency to go for dessert first at times but I will definitely think of having the veggies first in this case.. if it comes out ok that is.
Kokomocalifornia: Lol. I just hope you don't land me with your dentist's bill ;-) lol. I'm glad you liked it ;-)
Rose Ray: Thank you for reading and taking the time to review ;-)
Kiddo: It makes me wonder if the food is actually bad or not. Cos I don't quite recall any scene where they complain about it. ;-) And thank you ever so much for your kind words! ;-)
Bradybunch4529: I'm not exactly a big fan of eggs so it was a lot of fun to write. ;-)goldencompass: I am really glad you're enjoying it! ;-) Wasn't exactly certain where I wanted to take the story next and hence the delay ;-( Sorry
kiss316: Thank you for reading and even more for reviewing. Hope you enjoy the rest of the story too ;-)
badpollyanna: Thanks for reading and reviewing ;-)
reloaded: Sorry I will try not to let that happen again. But I'm glad you like the story ;-)
wolenczak2004: I'm glad you enjoyed it my friend ;-)
"Lucas! Just the person I was looking for." Lieutenant Ben Kreig said effectively redirecting Lucas from his original course. Lucas had seen that specific glint in Ben's eyes before and couldn't help but grin. Had he been on his usual work schedule he would have regarded Ben a bit more warily but he wasn't. The captain had cancelled his duties and only a day into his well-earned rest he was more than a tad bored. There wasn't much to do and Lucas was more than happy to see the mischievous glint in Ben's eyes.
"So what have you got planned?" Lucas asked as soon as they were out of earshot of any passing crewmen.
"Planned? Lucas you wound me." Ben replied dramatically holding a hand to his chest. He dropped the act with a wolfish grin when Lucas snorted at his claim of innocence.
"Lucas I am merely doing my job, don't you think that morale has been low as of late?" Ben asked with an innocent smile in a last ditch attempt to sound sincere.
Lucas merely nodded sagely agreeing wholeheartedly. True that Ben's definition of low morale also fit the general and more widely accepted definition of 'quiet' but he wasn't about to quibble over words.
Seeing a more than willing accomplice Ben smiled even wider. Not yet privy to Ben's plan Lucas found Ben's smile infectious. He would probably regret it later when the unfortunate victim(s) decide to hunt him down calling for blood, but that would be later.
" I have been waiting for this baby to come in with the supplies for weeks. All I need from you is just a small chemistry lesson."
Lucas grin only grew wider if it was possible.
"Anything to help boost morale."
Captain Nathan Bridger massaged his forehead in the vain hope that it would help him maintain a semblance of composure. He should have seen it coming. After the many years of experience he should have seen it coming, he silently berated himself. Things were going so smoothly that he had dared to let his guard down. What was irritating him beyond measure was not the fact that he hadn't expected it, it was the uncontrollable urge to just give in and laugh.
Taking a deep breath Bridger turned his attention to Lieutenant Tim O'Neill. He couldn't help but smile sympathetically at the obviously embarrassed man. If it were possible O'Neill turned yet another shade of crimson. Bridger had to make a conscious effort not to break out into peals of laughter. If O'Neill could see the picture he presented even he wouldn't fault the captain had he bust out laughing. O'Neill's face was nearly the colour of his uniform; a bright shocking red.
"Well Lieutenant why don't you get started on the sweep of the communications array?" Bridger decided to give Tim a brief respite. He knew without a doubt that this was not Tim's doing. Oh no, he knew exactly who the culprits were. Even as he was thinking about the lengthy reprimand that he would give them he could not help but be amazed by their sheer audacity.
How on earth did they manage it?
Tim gave him a grateful smile as he went over to his console. Everyone else hid their mirth somewhat unsuccessfully behind wide smiles and went back to work too. Bridger slowly made his way to O'Neill's side.
"How?" A vague question but there was no doubt in Tim O'Neill's mind as to what the captain was referring to. He let out a disgruntled sigh.
"I did my laundry last night and when I collected it this morning my uniform was red. I obviously wasn't going to wear it but then all my clothes including my other uniforms had disappeared, so it was either wear this or turn up in.." Tim trailed off as his face turned crimson all over again.
Bridger nodded sympathetically. Of course, they would cover all the bases. Make sure that Tim would have no choice but to turn up in the bright red uniform. But how on earth did they manage to get a blue uniform to turn red? If ever he had a doubt as to Lucas' participation in this prank they were dispelled here. There was no way that Kreig could have managed that by himself, (and there wasn't even a whisper of a doubt that it may not be Kreig behind the whole thing) no, this is where Lucas' expertise factored in.
'I'm getting too old for this.' Bridger told himself as he went out in search of the two culprits. Perhaps getting them to scrub the decks with nothing other than a toothbrush might help them feel repentant he idly wondered?
"Lucas! Just the person I was looking for."
Lucas couldn't help but shiver at the sense of deja vu. It was ironic how the same statement uttered by two different people could invoke such adverse reactions. Whereas yesterday his reaction to the statement was barely repressed glee, now it was barely repressed dread.
"Uh.. Captain, what can I do for you?" Lucas couldn't help but cringe inside. He sounded guilty as sin. If the Captain had his doubts before he probably helped dispel them. The Captain's cryptic smile didn't help in the least.
"Dr Westphalen informed me that you were using the lab yesterday. I was hoping you would use the time for recreational activities and not work."
Lucas searched Bridger's face. He was certain that no one had seen him use the lab. Explaining why you were concocting a dye that would be powerful enough to replace darker colours was not exactly easy and hence the reason why he had gone to painful lengths to ensure that he wouldn't be caught. No, he was certain he wasn't detected by anybody. So what was the captain getting at? How much did he know?
"Hmm? Oh that? I just had to look on one of my projects." Lucas thought to play it safe, anticipating the possibility of perhaps been seen by someone in passing.
" No rest for the weary eh?" The Captain said with an indulgent smile. "Now with Robert it was more 'No rest for the wicked'."
Lucas couldn't help the small lump that formed in this throat. He knew exactly where the Captain was heading and he couldn't help but woe the day that he met the acquaintance of Lieutenant Benjamin Kreig.
"He would always be up to some prank or the other. Actually Lieutenant Kreig and he were friends. They were in the academy together. I imagine they wreaked havoc. But he always knew his limitations. He wasn't shy to cough up an apology after one of his exploits. Now if he didn't, that's where I had to step in. He was my responsibility."
Lucas nodded along. He was reading between the lines loud and clear. Even though he was well aware that he wouldn't get off with just an apology and that there was probably more to come he couldn't help but admire the Captains tactfulness.
"When you say step in…?" Lucas realised that he was playing right in to the Captains game but figured that it was better than the slow and painful death that the Captain was currently administering.
"I always did fancy the idea of enforcing walking the plank, being a ships captain and all."
Lucas' eyes widened in astonishment when he realised that the captain was being serious.
"But we are on a submarine!" The words were out of his mouth before he could think twice. What hopes that Lucas entertained about the captain not noticing his slip were dashed by the Captain's triumphant reply.
"Exactly!"
He had all but given the Captain a signed confession when he had automatically related the Captain's little narration.
"Oh and Lucas, since you do seem to enjoy working even when you're having a day off, you can do some of the ship wide diagnostics. I know it's a bit tedious but I believe that Kreig can help you out with it."
Captain Bridger looked extremely cheery and Lucas had a faint suspicion that it had probably something to do with the grimace that undoubtedly graced his face at the mere mention of diagnostics. There wasn't a doubt about it; the Captain was enjoying himself immensely.
Lucas couldn't help but groan as he imagined the long tedious hours doing mind numbingly boring diagnostics. His only consolation was that at least the Captain hadn't ordered him to scrub the decks with a toothbrush as he had originally feared.
