Author's note: This chapter is going to take a bit of a different format, with jumps between thoughts and moments and not a lot of linking together. Almost like glimpses of time without seeing the whole thing. I'm doing it this way because I wanted to cover a certain period of time, but if I went into too much detail this story would never bloody end. And eventually it has to. Heck, it should have a while back probably. Oh well. This is the penultimate chapter.

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"Four days, you're sure?"
"Positive Captain." Dr. Smith reassured him.
"So we return here on the morning of the 5th day and we'll be able to turn Lucas back?"
"Absolutely." Dr. Gravel this time.
"Well, at least this way we get him out of your hair. Thanks for all the work you two are doing." Turning and looking towards the doorway he picked up his voice a little. "Lucas, you ready?

"Yessir" came the strained reply as the small boy tried to drag their duffel bag across the floor towards the shuttle. "So it's really true? We really get to go to your island for 4 whole days?"
"Yep, it's really true. We need to do some quick shopping on the mainland first though."

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"Ok, so we've got you a jacket and a few extra things to wear, you think we need anything else?"
Lucas shook his head frantically. "This is boooooring Cap'n. I'm tired of walking."
"We're at the cash now, I just have to pay for all this and then we can find our ferry all right?"

Silence. A quick glance back found Lucas enraptured with some of the stuffed animals in what Nathan referred to as 'the sucker aisle' right by the cash. He watched the boy for a minute, and he just stared wide eyed at the animals, and eventually reached out to stroke the ears of what appeared to be a stuffed cocker spaniel.

"Do want the dog, Lucas?" His voice startled the boy, who snatched his hand back, and looked up at the Captain wide-eyed.
"I didn't hurt nothin'. My hands are clean!"
"It's fine Lucas. You seem to like him, do you want to take him with you?"
Lucas shook his head and went up to the cash. "No, no thank you." Bridger heard him reply.

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The rest of the day at the house was hectic. Nathan showed Lucas his room (conveniently chosen as it was right next to his own) and couldn't help but wonder if Lucas would spend even one complete night in it. The neighbours certainly didn't waste any time spotting his presence and making themselves known and welcoming him back. It had been a while. Lucas played shy at first, watching the strangers from the kitchen doorway and then eventually from behind Nathan's legs. It didn't take long for one of the neighbour's teenage sons to charm him with a ball and glove, however, and soon Nathan could hear Lucas' laughter as he sat on the porch with his friends and a few beers.

By the time everyone had eaten, cleaned up and settled around the bonfire Nathan had built in his fire pit, it was nearing 8 o'clock. Turning around he surveyed the small crowd for Lucas, smiling quietly when he spotted him. That kid really does need to step falling asleep in chairs.

Bending over he shook Lucas' shoulder slightly. "Hey kiddo. How about we take you to bed?"
"No I donwannago." Came the muffled reply.
"Oh, I'm not so sure this is a matter of choice, Lucas." He replied, lifting the boy and the blanket that surrounded him.
Despite himself, Lucas' arms circled the Captain's neck. Bridger heard the small voice in his ear. "But I'm not tired Daddy."
Bridger couldn't help but smirk at that. "Dead give away to the opposite Lucas." But his charge was already snoring softly.

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When the cry rang out, Nathan was on his feet before Lucas even had a chance to catch his breath. Flipping on the overhead light he sat on the bed and tried to calm Lucas, who was crying so hard he could barely see, although the Captain doubted he would register where he was.

"Lucas." he said, placing his hands on either side of Lucas' face and tilting his head up so he could see his face. Nathan took a moment to wipe the tears of Lucas' face before trying again."Lucas, kiddo, open your eyes and look at me. It's Captain Bridger Lucas."

His breath came in great, hiccuping sobs, but Lucas opened his eyes and looked straight at the Captain, taking only a second to register the older man's face before crawling into his lap and his open arms. After a few moments of rocking the child in his arms, Nathan asked quietly,"Do you think you can go back to sleep now?"

A small head shook vigarously against his shoulder, and small hands grasped his T-shirt even tighter. "Ok, you wait here, I have something that might make it easier. I promise I'll be right back." he stated at the whimpered protest that came when he began to move away.

Sure enough, he was back in the room moments later with his hands behind his back. Sitting back down on the bed he wrapped one arm around Lucas, "Do you think a little bit of company might help?" After seeing the quick nod, he brought the stuffed dog out from around his back and presented it to Lucas.

Lucas wiped his wide eyes and took the toy. "You bought this for me?"
"Yep"
"Thank you cap'n," he said, his face hidden in the fur of the animal.

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"So how did you manage to bang your knee up so well?" Nathan asked as he tried to gently clean the wound with alcohol. Lucas was seated on the toilet, his hands gripping the sides until his small knuckles were white, and his face turned away.

"I was runnin' and I fell."
"Where were you running?" Silence. "Lucas?" A slight stern edge crept in.
"The dock."
"The dock?" Nathan looked up and met Lucas' eye. "I'm sorry Lucas. This is my fault."
"You're fault? How come?"
"I thought I was clear when I told you that you were not to run on the dock, but you must not have understood me, right? Because if you did you wouldn't have been running in a place where you could hurt yourself and fall in the water."
"I understood, Cap'n." came the small, guilty sounding reply.
"Then why did you disobey me Lucas?"
"Darwin was there an' I wanted to see 'im." Nathan just raised an eyebrow. Lucas flushed. "I'm sorry, I shouldna done it."
"No you shouldn't have, and I'm glad you're sorry. But you'll be spending the afternoon in the living room on the couch. And for the rest of our time here you are not to be playing outside alone."
"But -" Again with the eyebrow.
"Go to the living room and sit your butt on that couch Mr. Wolenczak."
"Fine!" the boy slid off the toilet and stomped dramatically out of the room, and flung himself on the couch angrily.

Nathan couldn't hold back the laughter at these pathetic attempt to make a point. Especially when Lucas landed on the couch with a bounce.
"Don't laugh at me!" came the angry cry.
Nathan bit the inside of his cheek. "Right. Not laughing."

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Lucas looked skeptically at his plate.
"What is this 'gain?"
"Crab legs."
"How'm I sposed to eat it, it's all hard and scaly."
"Here watch me," Bridger said. "You crack the shell like this, and then you dig the meat out with the little fork."

He watched Lucas make a few unsuccessful attempts before taking the boys plate.
"It is a little hard. I'll take the meat out for you, ok kiddo?"
"Yep. Thanks."

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He heard the creak of his door open before he saw anything, his eyes not yet adjusted to the dark. By the time they could focus, he could see the small shape huddled in the corner beside his bed.

"Lucas? What's wrong? Did you have another nightmare?" He hadn't heard anything, and Lucas has actually managed to get through the night before without one.
"No."
"Come out of that corner, come hop up here with me." Bridger patted the mattress.
Lucas approached the bed but didn't climb on. "I wetted the bed Cap'n" he said into the fur on Goldie (the name he had given the Cocker Spaniel).
"Ok, that's no problem kiddo. Let's get you cleaned up."

Nathan quickly grabbed a clean set of pyjamas out of lucas' dresser, quietly thankfully he had bought several pairs, and then headed with Lucas to the bathroom. "Full bath or sink and cloth?"Lucas yawned and shivered. "Ah, sink and cloth, I think, kiddo. It's faster."

Crouching down he pulled the bottoms of Lucas' pyjamas to the floor. "Step out, Lucas." Lucas silently obeyed, hanging on to the Captain's shoulder for balance. Nathan could tell he was still half asleep. Even so, any sense of embarrassment at this almost nightly ritual was long gone, and had mostly been on his part anyway. Lucas at his most vulnerable completely trusted the Captain to take care of him and didn't seem to give it a second thought.

Underpants were removed just as quickly, followed by the pyjama top. Poor Lucas shivered. Nathan stood the boy on the toilet seat and filled the sink with warm water. As quickly as he could he wiped Lucas clean, dried him off and dressed him in clean pyjamas. By the time he was done, Lucas was wobbling on his feet.

The mattress could wait till morning, he thought, and headed back to his room with a dry, sleeping Lucas in his arms.