WOW! So many reviews on the last chapter. I'm glad you all liked it. I've still got a few chapters or more left before I wind this story up, but it won't be for a while yet, so no worries there :) Hope you like this chapter as much.

Nathan's hope that Lucas' nightmares might be dissipating was lost as soon as Lucas' scream pierced through the silent cabin that night. The Captain bounded out of bed and towards the cot where the boy lay. The scream had stopped as suddenly as it had begun, but he could still hear soft whimpers coming the other side of the sheet that separated them.

As he reached Lucas, Nathan knew better than to approach too quickly. He could see that Lucas was still asleep, as he lay there stock-still, biting and sucking on his fist to keep himself from screaming out again. The dreams were real to Lucas, and he was certainly living in the moment – he clearly was trying desperately not to make any wrong noise or movement that might result in a beating. The fact that he was constantly vigilant, even in sleep made Nathan sad. But he didn't have much time to dwell on his thoughts because he needed to wake Lucas.

Sitting on the edge of the cot, the Captain gently put his hand on the boy's shoulder to shake him. "Wake up Lucas, it's just a dream. Wake up kiddo."

Sniffling and whimpering, Lucas opened his eyes slowly. When he spotted the Captain he let out a sob, but then quickly bit down on his fist to quiet himself.

"You don't have to do that, champ. It's ok if you need to cry" Nathan told Lucas, removing the boy's hand from his mouth. "I know that your nightmares can be really scary."

Lucas just shook his head. "Not s'posed to cry."

"Why not?"

"It's being a sissy, and if I'm a sissy I get displin'd."

"He punishes you if you cry?" Nathan asked, trying to keep the hatred and anger out of his voice.

"It's ok Captain. It's a father's job to make sure his son is strong. It's a father's job to make sure his son obeys his elders. It's a father's job to make sure his son knows his place."

Lucas was staring straight ahead, arms around himself, speaking in a quiet monotone. Bridger was sure that these pieces of Lawrence's "wisdom" were memorized. He tried not to think of how that had come about.

Lucas continued. "It's a father's job to teach his son . . ." Bridger couldn't stand to hear another word. He pulled Lucas into his arms. "Shhh, no more of that Lucas, ok?" He took a few seconds to try and get his control back, and then looked down at Lucas who was still rocking back and forth.

"Lucas, did your father teach you that those things were his job?" the Captain asked, rocking the boy back and forth so he wouldn't have to do it himself. He felt Lucas nod against him. "Well you know what Lucas? He was wrong. He taught you those things so that you would believe that you deserved the abuse that he put you through. So that you would believe that it was your fault." He could feel the trembling from the little boy, and he reached down to make sure that Lucas was looking at him, that he heard what he had to say.

"Lucas, you didn't deserve what happened, and it wasn't your fault. That is not what father's do."

He had expected some sort of reaction from Lucas at that, but he was met with silence. The boy showed no reaction, even in his eyes.

"Do you think you can go back to sleep?"

"No! Please don't make me, I'm scared." Lucas looked up, eyes pleading. "Can we read some more of the 20,000 leagues book?"

"Yeah, I think we can manage that."

Nathan had just finished reading a chapter of the novel, when he glanced down at Lucas. He was certainly drowsing, but he was also fighting sleep, Nathan could tell. In a few more pages, however, the Captain suspected the battle would be lost.

"Cap'in?"

"Yes?"

"If those things from before aren't a father's job, then what is?

Nathan blinked for a moment. He wasn't expecting that. He thought Lucas would ask for a glass of whatever, or other typical kid-like methods to delay going to bed. Now here he was faced with quite the philosophical question. Did he even know the answer himself?

"Well, Lucas, that's a tough question, because every father is different. But I can tell you that I think a father's job is to love their children. They should be there for them when they are needed. They should teach their children how to behave – and yes, that sometimes means punishing them, but never, ever in the way your father did it. He should teach them and guide their way through the world. A father should be a role model for his children, and should protect them as much as he can. There's more, but that's the big ones, I think." He responded, brushing the hair off Lucas' forehead as the boy yawned.

"Does that help answer your question?" Nathan asked, as he tucked the blankets in around Lucas and helped him settle in.

"Yessir. It helps 'lot." Lucas murmured as he closed his eyes.