Chapter 5: Home Coming.

Captain Benjamin Krieg was at a full sprint by the time he reached his cabin and almost skidded past the door as he came to a halt. He didn't even bother sitting as he quickly punched up the codes to contact Kristin. He had to tell her what a horrible mistake he had made. He needed her to know Lucas was alright. Suddenly the screen before him lit up and he was faced with a young brunette woman with green eyes glistening with tears. Abbey. How could he forget Abbey. She and Lucas had been an item for over a year. He had been so distraught about the whole things she had simply slipped his mind. Before he could speak she quietly greeted him.

"Hi Ben, um Kris isn't feeling very well right now. Can I help you?" The young woman looked at him trying to keep her composure but tears still streaming from her eyes.

"Abbey, listen to me you need to get Kristin okay? Right away, I made a horrible mistake and I really don't think I'll be able to get through this twice okay?"

Ben watched as hope flickered in the young woman's eyes as she ran off to get Dr. Westphalen. Abbey Noyce, the Granddaughter of Admiral Bill Noyce and Lucas were quite the pair. They had been sort of pushed together by Kristin and Bill, and even though both had resisted, Ben knew neither actually minded at all. In fact on their last shore leave he recalled Lucas mentioning something about a ring. He smiled wondering if the young man had actually purchased it yet. If he hadn't Ben thought, he'd be making a contribution to the fund himself.

"Ben? What is it?" Kristin looked cautiously at the man before her as he started to cry with tear filled eyes.

"Lucas was shot down with another pilot. We knew only one of them had time to eject but when we retrieved the rescue pod, not only was it badly damaged but it wasn't from his sub. Apparently there was some kind of mix up when they dropped and J.J. or Lucas got in the wrong sub we're not sure. When he wakes up we—"

"When he wakes up! Ben are you saying Lucas is alright?" Kristin stared at him her eyes pleading him to say yes.

Ben could only bring himself to nod at first. As he began to speak tears filled his eyes and his voice gave way to the emotions he was trying to cover, " I don't know about alright, but he is alive. Dr. Levin says he's pretty banged up he's checking him out right now. Bobby will update me as soon as we know anything new."

"Where are you? Lucas mentioned the last time we spook he would be getting leave soon," Abbey asked him with a combination of laughter tears in her voice.

"As soon as Hudson gets here with the Chaser we're going to head back home to Cape Quest. I have to double check with Katie but, we were due for leave and I don't see that changing especially since we'll need some repairs now and the crew will probably want to attend services for J.J. We should be there some time tomorrow morning."

"Great, if you'll excuse me, I have to call my granddad and let him know Lucas is alright. I'll ask him if we can all use his beach house too. I'm sure he won't mind and that way no one will have to go too far or get a hotel room." The young woman practically bounced as she left the room. Kristin turned to Ben with a great full but still concerned look on her face.

"Ever the optimist that girl. Really Ben, how bad is it?"

"I don't know he did wake up at one point when they took him out of the pod. He looks pretty banged up but, Joshua thinks he'll be alright and even if we don't get leave as a ship, I'm going to make sure he gets a month or so off after this."

Kristin smiled warmly realizing what a toll this had taken on the Captain, "How are you holding up?"

Ben scoffed at the question at first as he felt tears prick his eyes again.

"Honestly, I haven't felt this way for oh I'd say about ten years. It wasn't easier the second time. I think it was worse."

Kristin nodded at the reference it had already been 10 years since they thought they had lost the then, 17 year old boy. She remembered how hard Krieg had taken the news back then and couldn't imagine what it must have felt like to have witnessed it again. She knew from her own experience this time had been far worse. Cynthia had died years earlier in an automobile crash. Lucas and now Abbey were all she had left in the world.

"I know what you mean. This time it seemed so final," Kristin looked down adjusting her auburn hair before looking up with a smile, " So, do you think there's any way I can convince him to make a career change?"

Ben smiled, " You know, I'd consider joining you on trying to convince him but, I think he'd keel haul me and jump ship to work under Hudson or something and if he's going to be out here, I'd rather it be with me," the captain gestured behind her to the young woman on the phone excitedly telling the now retired Bill Noyce the good news, "Now Abbey on the other hand, could probably convince the kid to do anything."

"I know," Kristin smiled looking behind her at the young woman, "They are quite taken with each other. Did you know he was considering proposing?"

Ben chuckled to himself, "And I thought that was our little secret."

Kristin was about to speak when she saw Cmdr. Robert Bridger enter the room. She looked puzzled at his blue hair but, thought she'd wait until he left the room to ask Ben about it.

"Ben, Dr. Levin sent me to get you. He said Lucas is asking for you. "

"Is he alright?" Ben asked looking concerned.

"Yeah, he's fine, shaken up and in a world of hurt but, they said he'll be fine in a few weeks maybe a month. Admiral Hitchcock has already ordered us back in to Cape Quest for leave. 60 days. She wants you to make the announcement."

"That's great so why the long face? Bobby what aren't you telling me?"

"Captain Oliver Hudson is on his way sir, he wants to speak to you about what happened to J.J."

Ben had almost forgotten Lt. Freddricks had been with his crew for over a year he considered her to be part of his crew. J.J. Freddricks was actually the protégée of Captain Hudson. They had only taken her on as a loaner so she could learn some new maneuvers. She had been such a good fit, she had just simply never been ordered back to her original boat. As a loaner, it was actually Captain Hudson's responsibility to notify her family.

"Fine, I'll meet him in the ward room," Ben turned back to the screen to nod a quick good bye to the doctor, "If you'll excuse me doc?"

"Of course," Kristin smiled and cut the link. Kristin smiled as she turned back to see Abbey happily pulling out suit cases. The girl was quite the opposite of Lucas. She was bright and an eternal optimist compared to Lucas and his sometimes depressing realist views. Abbey was far from military or a scientist for that matter either. She was rather normal by most accounts. Kristin often wondered to herself if Lawrence would have approved of the relationship. After all the arrogant man he was he would of never approved of his genius prodigy of a son marrying an ordinary school teacher. But Abbey was warm and sweet. She loved her work and life in general. Quite the opposite from anyone Lucas had ever grown up around. The young woman made him happy, and that was all that really mattered to Kristin.

"Packing already?" Kristin laughed a little watching the girl struggle with a large duffle bag.

"Well, I'd like to leave this afternoon. If that's alright with you?" Abbey said plopping herself down on top of a suit case she had stuffed with Lucas' clothing she had just tossed inside, " I know he's hurt pretty bad. I can tell by the way they're talking. So, I'd like to find the hospital and sort of get my bearings in case he needs to spend a few days there. I wouldn't want to get lost without my navigator. Luka would never let me live it down."

Kristin smiled at the use of the nickname that only Abbey was every allowed to use and even then, it was still under protest.

"Very well, then. I'll pack my things and come along too. If that's alright?"

Abbey sat awkwardly on the suit case looking between her legs as she attempted to latch the bag shut. Jumping up in success she began to reply, " Of course doc, I wouldn't have it any other way. Want me to help you pack?"

Kristin smiled looking at the disheveled mess that was Abbey's packing style, "No thank you my dear, I think I can manage." Maybe those two are more alike that I thought, Kristin thought to herself as she went to her room to finish packing.

Captain Ben Krieg sighed deeply before pushing open the door to the ward room. As he entered his saw a rather disheveled looking Oliver Hudson sitting across the table looking at his clasped hands. He had expected the older man to take the news hard but, this seemed a little much.

"Are you alright Oliver?" Ben asked trying to gage the reaction he was witnessing before him. Maybe there was more to the relationship between the captain and his lieutenant than he had thought.

"Yes, Krieg I'm fine. It was just shocking is all," Hudson replied regaining his composure. He refused to break now there would be time for that later, much later. He was angry and hurt at the loss of Freddricks and keeping his composure was growing more and more difficult by the second, "I just want to know what happened. Has Wolenczak briefed you yet? Has explained why she wasn't in her own sub?"

Ben took offense at the tone of the other captain's voice, "Now, look Oliver I know you're upset we all are but, it really didn't matter what sub she was in. They both were blown to bits, the results would have been the same. If you're looking for someone to blame for this you can just get the hell off my boat because, I won't have it. Do you understand me?"

Hudson's tone took on more of a growl than an actual tone as he answered, "You better hope everything was done by the book Krieg because, if I find out any mistakes caused her death, I'll come after you and Wolenzcak personally."

Benjamin Krieg stared at the man, he always had a strong distaste for Oliver Hudson. They had different styles in command. He found Captain Hudson to be a trigger happy pompous jackass and the last thing he was going to allow him to do was start pointing his trigger at Lucas. Ben stood abruptly and headed to the door waving his is security chief, William Shan.

"Mr. Shan, please see that the good captain here finds his way back to his shuttle."

"Aye sir," the Asian man complied as he began to escort Captain Hudson from the room.

"Oh and Chief, make sure he stays the hell away from medbay would you please."

"Aye sir," Shan escorted Hudson out of the room stepping around Cmdr. Robert Bridger in the process. Ben looked up to see Bobby walking in the room giving him a questioning look.

"What was all that about?"

"All what about?," Ben asked trying to not call any more attention to a bad situation.

"Ben, you just had Captain Hudson escorted off the boat, I know you don't like him but, you don't normally let him push your buttons that badly.

"He's looking for someone to blame for J.J.'s death." Ben sighed as he looked at Robert, "He wanted to know if Lucas had done anything wrong. You know how he is, he thinks Freddricks is the best so it simply has to be someone else's fault."

"Sure it is, how about lets blame the guys that shot them down? Seems easy enough for me."

"Not for that blow hard," Krieg said cracking his neck, "Well, I better get to medbay and maybe get some sleep before we dock in the morning. Let me know if you need anything Bobby."

"I'll be fine, Ben. My biggest problem is going to be getting this crap out of my hair before the wife sees it."

Ben laughed looking at the still blue haired man.

"You know, Lucas did the same thing to me once. It's not dye, it's some kind of chemical he cooks up himself. Don't worry it'll be better tomorrow."

"Really? That's great. I was starting to think I'd have to shave my head."

"Nah, you'll be fine. It won't be blue anymore in the morning. " Ben stood walking to the door giving his friend a wink, "Tomorrow it'll be fuchsia."

Robert looked stunned, He wouldn't. Would he? This was Lucas he was talking about of course he would. Robert shook his head and spoke to the now empty room. "He's lucky he got shot down, I'da probably killed him in the morning."

Cmdr. Bridger left the ward room and headed for the bridge. It had been one hell of day and he was glad they were on their way home.