A/N: Just for a slice of inspiration, go here: www dot jonathanbrandis dot org/ pictures/ annie07 dot html (if you can translate that,no spaces etc) because FF won't let me link of even type in an URL. But the picture is so cute! Awwwwwwwwww. (And ::sob::)

Is there something wrong with ff dot net? You've all spoiled me, and the fact that only one person has reviewed worries me. Pardon my egoism.

Nathan silently cursed the whole situation while he sat on the bridge watching the standard, rather tedious, operations of the ship while they cruised the water surrounding the ghost ship. By anyone's standards Nathan Bridger was a focused man, particularly when he was aboard one of his boats.

Today, everything seemed different. He found his thoughts drifting to Lucas, and he had to admit that he was irritating himself.

Plus, somewhere in the back of his mind, he had the feeling that he was somehow betraying Robert.

He hadn't been able to be there all the time when Robert was growing up, and while his love for his son was endless, he knew that he had never been overly preoccupied with his well being while on missions.

Of course, he also knew that he was being irrational. Comparing his relationships with Lucas and Robert was like comparing the sun and the moon. Both boys were equally a part of him, but each brought him different things. Comparing them would only disrespect both of them.

Besides, he had never had to worry this much about Robert because he had had Carol. Lucas was alone, had no one to worry about him except for himself. And apparently he was very good at doing just that.

"Are you all right, sir?" he heard O'Neill ask.

"Of course, why do you ask?" he shot an eyebrow the communication officer's way.

"Well, sir, you're pacing the bridge. You've been doing it for twenty minutes or so."

Nathan sighed. "So I have. Commander Ford, you have the bridge."

He accepted his defeat and headed to the seadeck where he hoped to find Tony and Lucas still swimming. As he approached he could hear the shrieking laughter of the little boy and lots of splashing.

He stood in the doorway for some time, just watching the small group. Darwin had taken to swimming underneath Lucas and getting him on his back for a few seconds before quickly diving underneath the water unexpectedly, causing Lucas to yell out in surprise every time.

Nathan smiled to himself as Lucas sneaked up on an unsuspecting Tony and proceeded to splash the man right in the face with as much strength as he could muster.

"Oh you better watch out now, buddy. You asked for it!"

High-pitched laughter once again filled the air. In his attempt to get away from Tony, Lucas exited the pool and began running around the deck. As he watched his charge, Nathan knew that no matter what Wendy's concerns, this was certainly not the action of a 16 year old. If his teenaged mindset were running this show, he wouldn't be running around seadeck in nothing but his underwear. Immodesty was a characteristic that only small children possessed.

"Lucas," he said, making his presence known, "don't run. You're going to fall and get hurt. You never run around a pool, ok?"

"Ok Captain," the boy said as he slowed to calculated speed walk and headed in Nathan's direction.

"Tony, why is Lucas running around in his underwear?" he asked as Lucas ducked behind him and hid, pressing himself into the back of Bridger's legs.

Tony stalked quietly forward. "He didn't have any swimming trunks, sir, and none of the wet suits were gonna fit, so I figured that was the best thing. That's what we did when I was small and was stuck without swim trunks." The younger man never took his eyes off the small hands that grasped the captain's pants.

In one quick movement Tony jumped behind the Captain, causing Lucas the shriek and move around to the front. Soon they were in a dead chase, with the Captain in the middle.

Water was getting everywhere, and it didn't help that he had a 4 foot nothing soggy bundle climbing all over him. Indeed he could feel his uniform getting more wet by the second.

"Lucas, you need to slow down you're soaking me."

His request was met with laughter, and Lucas grabbed the Captains hands yelling "Save me Captain, save me!" and then took off again.

"Lucas I'm really wet. Move away..."

It didn't look the boy had even heard him.

"Lucas!" he said loudly. Instantly the boy froze, backing away from the Captain.

"I just don't want you to get me any more wet." Lucas wouldn't meet his eyes, and was examining his fingers in great detail. Bridger could see his lower lip trembling.

"I-I'm sorry, sir. Sorry Mr. Piccolo." He whispered. Tony shot the captain a confused look.

"Lucas, it's not that big of a deal, I just..." as Bridger took a step forward he saw Lucas flinch slightly and tense up.

Oh No. Nononononono. Now it was Nathan's turn to freeze, horrified at Lucas' instinctual actions and what they might mean.

He motioned to Tony to hand him a towel, and knelt down and quietly wrapped it around Lucas.

"You ok, buddy?" he asked as he began drying Lucas off. He noticed the minute shaking of the head and the tears that had begun streaming down his face. And Lucas was trying so hard to gain some control.

The Captain draped the towel over Lucas' shoulders and lifted the boy's chin. "What's wrong? You seem frightened, Lucas."

Silence.

"No ones going to hurt you, Lucas. Is that what you're afraid of?"

With that question Lucas' broke, and began quietly sobbing and gasping for air.

Reaching over he picked Lucas up in his arms, and the boy buried his face in Bridger's neck. He was still crying, and Nathan could feel the hot tears.

"Picollo, please go get dressed and inform Commander Ford on the bridge that I've got important business that can't wait, and will be leaving the bridge to him for a few hours."

"Yessir."

With that, he turned his attention back to the child in his arms. "It's ok little one, let it all out."

TBC, if there are enough reviews! Heh.