"Lucas? Really? What makes you think that?" Dr. Gravel asked in surprise.

Nathan shot a look at Wendy. She was leaning against the desk with one eyebrow raised in what could have been surprise, or just as easily could have been anticipation. "Well," he started, turning back to Dr. Gravel, "there are a number of reasons I suspect Lucas. He certainly is intelligent enough to pull off the shuttle difficulties, and if you think about it, he's the only one with small enough hands to have been able to mess with the machinery you were working on."

Dr. Gravel looked thoughtful. "You have a point, but why would he do such a thing?"

"Why wouldn't he?" Wendy jumped in passionately. "I mean, just look at what happened tonight. He's calling the Captain 'Daddy'! He's so emotionally mixed up, and I would be money on the fact that he's doing it because he doesn't want to be changed back."

Nathan turned to her quickly, surprised at her frustration. "Can't you understand his position, Dr.? Look at where he's coming from, and now it seems like he's got a second chance to have a normal childhood with a parent who loves him. Of course he doesn't want to change back."

"But that's the thing. You're not his parent, not his father, and now he's calling you Daddy. The 16-year-old boy we knew would never have done that. He's losing more of himself every day he remains like this, and encouraging him to continue behaviour like what happened tonight will only make it harder on him when he does change back. We're not doing him any good allowing it."

Nathan could feel his anger building. Why the hell couldn't she understand? He knew that she was just trying to look out for Lucas, to make the upcoming change as easy as it could be, but he felt frustrated at having to defend a little boy to a grown up who should be able to grasp what was happening.

"I may not be his father, biologically or even legally, but he is my son." Bridger said to her with a quiet intensity. "He's acting on instinct, not rationality. His calling me Daddy was innocent. Sometimes you understand things in your heart that your mind cannot even recognize. I cannot ask him not to call me that. I won't."

"I get that, Captain, but it seems like this is an awfully convenient second chance for you as well as Lucas."

"You are way out of line Doctor Smith!" Nathan growled, clenching his fists.

"If you'll pardon me, but I think it would be more helpful to get back to the original topic of the trouble lucas is causing with his actions." Dr. Gravel interrupted. "Regardless of his reasons, Captain, we've got to get a handle on it quickly or else we'll never be able to get this project done."

"Well, we don't know for sure that it's him. I can't ask him, he'd never admit to it. Wendy, you're keeping here for a few days, right?" Bridger asked.

"Yes."

"Well, if nothing happens to the project in that time we'll know. We'll make sure Lucas is never alone so that he never gets the opportunity to get at the project. Anything else?"

Both doctors shook their heads and watch as the Captain turned on his heel and left, heading straight for Lucas. Wendy sighed.

"I totally blew that."

Dr. Gravel patted her on t he shoulder and smiled kindly. "I'm sure he'll forgive you."

--------------------

By the time Lucas woke the next morning it was clear that his ear infection was now an ear infection and a cold. Nathan felt bad for the boy. He had spent most of the morning coughing, which only ended up triggering his gag reflex and Lucas lost his lunch, again. By the point he had thrown up enough times he didn't cry any longer, but Nathan could tell Lucas was exhausted. Between the silence and the listless way he just laid there, it was disconcerting to see. He couldn't even sleep because he kept waking up in a fit of coughing.

"I'm tired of being sick, Cap'in."

"I know your are, kiddo. I'm sorry I can't make it better for you."

"S'ok." It seemed now that Lucas was more himself he was back to being 'Captain'.

Lucas looked miserable lying there in that bed, although he was trying to put on a good show. Picking the boy up, Bridger carried him over to the where he had been sitting and settled back in his chair with Lucas on his lap.

"Is that a little better?" Lucas nodded his head. "Your fever's going down, that's good." Lucas remained quiet, playing with the rings on the Captain's fingers. "Something on your mind, kiddo?" His rings kept turning, but Lucas said nothing. Nathan took a breath and then took the plunge. "How about we talk about last night?" Lucas froze, and the Captain's rings were no longer turning on his fingers.

"I'm sorry I threw up on you Cap'in."

"You don't need to apologize for that, Lucas. I wasn't talking about your being sick. Do you remember what you called me last night, Lucas?"

"No." came the whispered reply. He could feel Lucas trembling, and held him a little closer, rubbing his back. "Well I remember, and I'm sure glad I do."

"Why you glad?"

"Because it made me feel good, special." He paused. "Last night when you were sick, Lucas, you called me Daddy; more than once. Do you remember that now?"

Lucas hid his face in his hands and nodded.

"There's no need to be embarrassed, kiddo. It's ok. I'm just curious as to why you called me that. I want to make sure you're okay."

"I didn't feel good, and I wanted a hug or something. I wanted you. And you told me that's what father's do. They pr'tect their kids."

Nathan understood now. Their conversation the other night about how a father is supposed to act apparently had more of an impact on Lucas than he realized.

He set the boy back on the bed and leaned down to meet his eye. "Thank you Lucas. I'm touched you thought of me like that. But just know that you don't have to continue, and you don't have to stop. You can call me whatever you're comfortable with."

Lucas paused thoughtfully, and then looked up at Bridger with a wicked grin. "Whatever I want?"

Bridger couldn't hep but grin back.