"Permission to speak freely, sir?" Crocker asked.
"Of course," Nathan responded without even thinking about it.
"I know you love Lucas, hell we all do, but you more than most. But you can't let yourself get too wrapped up in his decisions. He's a 16 year old, not a tiny child. He's going to make bad decisions from time to time, and it has nothing to do with you."
"Oh I know. But it frustrates me when someone so smart is so damned stupid," Nathan replied. "Sometimes he seems like another adult when he's the only one who can solve something, like that virus Stark left. Then sometimes…" he trailed off and gestured helplessly at the wrecked Stinger.
"Don't go too hard on him, Cap. I think the broken arm will be a better lesson than any you could hope to impart."
"Hotdogging I expect. A little recklessness I expect. Hotdogging drunk though? There has to be some kind of consequence beyond the broken arm. At the very least, he can't use the Stinger anymore." Nathan felt himself starting to get into a rant, and stopped.
"I think that's reasonable. But Cap, remember back to our own academy days when we stole the army's tanks and drove those drunk down the mountain."
Nathan winced. It hadn't been his proudest moment, but fortunately, it's hard to get hurt in a tank.
"Alright, Crocker, your point has been made. Let me go talk to Lucas. I'm sure he could use a more friendly face than Kristin right now." He smiled a little bit, remembering, and then put his stern face back on and walked down to medbay. Before he left, he turned around and took one good look at Crocker. It was good to have a friend aboard.