Hey all, here'sthe next segment in the story. Hopefully it moves the plot along a little, rather than just being full of sappy cheese ;)
Once again, thanks for all your reviews.
Nathan left the door to his cabin open slightly and turned towards the Ward room with a sign. He wasn't sure if he was relieved or exhausted, likely both. Lucas on his best behaviour was difficult enough to get settled down, Lucas having a bratty day was apparently next to impossible.
Once again leaving the door ajar slightly, Bridger headed into the Ward room and greeted his colleagues who had already gathered around the table. With himself, the doctors, Henderson, Piccolo and Ford they were at full capacity so he took the only empty seat at the opposite side of the room.
"Sorry for the delay folks, had a little personal trouble to take care of," the Captain said as he took his seat, deliberately ignoring the smirks he could see around the table. "Anyway, on with the show. Dr. Gravel you called this meeting, to what do we owe the honour?"
"Well Captain, as I think you know, we had some more difficulties with our FOY work this morning."
"Again." Dr. Smith said pointedly, not quite under her breath.
"I thought, given the amount of recurrence, we might have a bit of a brainstorming session to try and solve this. We simply can not continue with this amount of disaster, or it will takes us significantly longer than hoped to reverse your crew's positions."
"I have to say one thing, Doctor, you're certainly hard to ruffle. You've been taking all this interference well." Wendy had the decency to blush at that. "You're right, of course. After three incidents we need to figure out what the heck is going on here and what we can do about it. We can't afford to keep losing time."
"Well, the events certainly don't seem to be connected in any way. The first was an accident, the second a technical failure with the boat, the third, well, faulty connections in the machinery. If they were all technical issues with the Seaquest, or even all faulty mechanics, we would at least have some where to start." Ford jumped in.
"So you're sayin' we just have lousy luck?" Tony asked. Jonathan could only shrug helplessly.
"Has anyone thought that maybe it isn't luck? It seems awfully purposeful to me." Henderson asked quietly.
"We had actually thought of that," Wendy spoke up, "but it just doesn't seem to be the case. One of the science team members admits that she left the acid out that spilt on the schematics. The Seaquest is known to run into technical difficulties occasionally, " Nathan ignored the amused snort that came from Ford at that, " and with the machinery model, the piece that fell off was positioned in such a way that it would be almost impossible for anyone to get at it."
"But not entirely impossible?" Bridger inquired.
"You'd have to see the machinery to know what I mean precisely."
"Well I'll have to take another look at it then."
Just then the meeting was interrupted by a high-pitched wail coming from the doorway. All eyes turned to find Lucas standing there in one of Bridger's T-shirts, one hand on his left ear and a flush in his cheeks. Nathan wasn't sure how he managed to cross the corridor without being heard, wailing like that, and noted that as soon as the boy laid eyes on him the crying only got louder. They both moved towards each other at the same time, but Dr. Smith reached Lucas first.
"Are you hurt Lucas? What's wrong?" Reaching up to touch the boy's forehead, she turned to Bridger, "He's got a fever, that's for sure." Lucas ducked away from her touch and held his arms out to Nathan. "Where does it hurt Lucas?" Wendy asked one more time. This time, Lucas began talking between his tears.
"What's he saying, I can't understand him." Tony asked, worried about his friend.
Quietly, and with a stern look at Bridger that he failed to notice, Wendy replied. "He's saying 'Daddy'".
"Daddy?" Tony repeated, confused. "Why would he call for that jerk?"
"I don't think he means Dr. Wolenczak, Tony." Ford said quietly to the younger man, nodding his head towards where Bridger had gathered Lucas up in his arms and was wiping the boy's forehead.
Nathan had momentarily felt himself pale at Wendy's words. The single word reeled through his mind, and the thought of all the repercussions one word can have. Thankfully his body was working on instinct, and he had Lucas picked up and settled on his hip before he had stopped to realize what was going on. And just like that, his Captain mask was back, taking charge.
"Rest your head, kiddo, while we go to medbay."
"Can't. My ear hurts too much."
"Which one?" Lucas indicated his left ear silently. As if the touch had set him off again, he began sobbing in pain. "Make it go away, Daddy."
Jaw clenched, Nathan felt Lucas' forehead and titled the boys face up to look him in the eyes. Skin hot, eyes glassy, he noted. "Do you know where you are Lucas?"
"Seaquest."
"And who am I?"
"The Cap'n"
"Who am I to you, Lucas?" Silence. Lucas wouldn't meet his eyes.
"Ok, let's go to medbay ok?" A nod.