Title: "The Bachelors of seaQuest" – in response to "The Men of seaQuest" challenge, posted by Ms. Deidre
Author: AngelBabs81 (Barbara)
Rating: PG
Copyright: February 2006
Disclaimer: I own none of it. Amblin owns the show and characters and Deidre owns the challenge.
Part 3:
Kristin couldn't believe it. Her shore leave had been cancelled. A few of her crew had been injured when a small earthquake shook the sea floor and had caused a landslide. She would have to disappoint Nathan. Hopefully, she prayed, he hadn't already left to come see her.
She went along the corridor to her room, smiling at the other crew members walking along the same corridor. Closing the door behind her, she activated her vid-phone and put a call through to Nathan.
Appearing a few seconds later, a ruffled sleepy-looking Nathan answered the call. "Hello," he grumbled, rubbing his eyes.
"Hey, stranger," she greeted softly, which prompt Nathan to open his eyes.
"Hey, you," Nathan smiled. Then he noticed that she didn't look okay. "What's wrong?"
"How can you tell something is wrong?" Kristin asked, faking a small smile.
"So, everything is okay?" Nathan asked.
"No, I'm afraid not." Kristin sighed and looked at Nathan. "I'm afraid my shore leave has been cancelled. And to top that off, I may not be able to leave after my 45 days. It seems that the head physician for the other rotation has passed away. Until they find another one, I'll be staying down here. I'm sorry."
Nathan frowned and answered, "you couldn't do anything to prevent either one of those incidences." He smiled then. "Kristin, I'll see what I can do about coming down there to visit at the center."
"They usually only let VIPs in here, aside from the staff and workers," Kristin informed.
"Don't fret," Nathan told her. "I was looking forward to seeing you again, but we'll manage to achieve it."
Kristin nodded. "I'll miss you even more now."
"And I miss you. Take care of yourself." Nathan smiled. Kristin waved before the link was severed.
Kristin stared at the blank screen for a few seconds before taking a few deep breaths. He was right. They will see each other sooner or later, though she preferred sooner. She went back to her lab to get some research done.
~*~*~*~*~*
"I heard the vid-phone ringing early this morning," Lucas spoke to Nathan on the deck that evening. "Was it Dr. Westphalen?"
"Yeah. Under some circumstances, she is unable to get shore leave," Nathan informed.
"Does that mean you aren't going to Australia?"
"Yeah, afraid not." Nathan glanced at his watch to see what time it was and looked at Lucas. "Why aren't you in class?" Nathan gave him a stern-father look.
Lucas smiled and laughed, "I'm skipping," Lucas joked. "Lighten up. The instructor cancelled class." Sitting down next to him, finally, he asked, "did you tell the doc about the auction?"
"I didn't get a chance. It was too early for me to think. Plus, she was upset about the cancellation that it wasn't proper to tell her at the time."
"You still have a month before the auction. How are the designs coming? I heard the UEO wants to show off first drafts at the auction."
"You heard right. I'll be very busy getting them finished and approved by UEO for show. How's school coming along?" Nathan glanced at Lucas.
"It's going good. I'll pass with flying colors." Lucas gave Nathan a smart aleck smile. "Speaking of which, I have to call a friend and get him to peer-evaluate my paper. I'll see you tomorrow morning."
"Good night," Nathan called after Lucas as he disappeared into the house.
A few minutes later, Nathan disappeared inside the house, locking the doors before heading to his office. As he took the designs out for the new seaQuest, the vid-phone beeped. He received it and smiled as Kristin's face appeared.
"I couldn't sleep," she told him. "I just wanted to see you."
"I'm glad I get to see your face as well," Nathan told her. "And it gives me an opportunity to tell you what I forgot to tell you earlier."
"What's that?" Kristin asked.
"The UEO and Admiral Noyce have this nut-brain idea to hold a bachelor auction to raise money for the building of the new seaQuest. Well, along with me, O'Neill, Ortiz, Ford, Levin, and Shan are being auctioned."
Kristin's eyes lit up in amusement. She grinned and almost laughed. "A bachelor auction? You're right about the nut-brain idea."
Nathan laughed at her look and responded, "well, it's for a good cause. I want another seaQuest in the water."
"When is it?" Kristin asked, pulling out her date book.
"The 26th of next month," Nathan informed, watching her find the day and jotting it down. "Are you going to come?"
"Assuming I can get a few days off, yes." Kristin answered.
"Good, I hope to see you there." Nathan felt better knowing that Kristin would try to be there, hopefully bidding on him. "Now, get some sleep."
"Good night, Nathan," Kristin said in her sweet voice.
"Good night, Kristin," Nathan told her back, the screen going black and he turned back to his papers.
~*~*~*~*~*
A week before the auction, Kristin was disappointed again. Her staff had made a discovery that required her attention. She wasn't able to reach Nathan, so she left a message. She doubted she would be able to reach him later or have time to call him back if he did call her back and left a message.
~*~*~*~*~*
"Hey, Lt. Commander," Nathan called to Ben Krieg from down the hallway at UEO headquarters. "What are you doing?"
"The admiral asked me to help set up for the auction," Krieg answered. "I guess there will be a lot more people than expected, so we had to find a bigger place. O'Neill is calling everyone to let them know where to go."
"So, it has become a big deal," Nathan mumbled and saw Krieg nodding.
"The press is supposed to be there," he announced and than shut his mouth quickly, seeing the look at his old captain's face. "Oh, I said too much. Just forget the last part."
"Now, why would I do that?" Nathan asked.
"So I won't get in trouble. Captain, Admiral Noyce just found out about them as well. The publicity will be good and might bring in more money. I'm sorry."
"Don't worry about it. I'll see you later or at the auction." Nathan walked off and Ben hurried off in the direction he was heading with the cart of chairs.
~*~*~*~*~*
Nathan sat in the admiral's office waiting for the UEO heads and the admiral to finish looking over his final designs. He wasn't a nervous person and he could care less what the heads thought of his design. There was always room for alterations. He kept the design very similar to the first seaQuest.
The door opened and a proud looking Bill walked in. Nathan waited for him to speak.
"They loved it," Bill stated, smiling. "After the money is collected we can start ordering the parts and begin construction. Copies of the designs have been made so we can auction them off next week."
"Great. Does that give me a week off?" Nathan asked.
"Yes, but be here next Saturday," Noyce informed. "We want the bachelor's here at 1730 hours, show starts at 1900 hours."
"I'll be here," Nathan assured. "If you try to contact me within the next week, before Saturday, I will be gone. I am going to visit Dr. Westphalen."
"Don't disappoint me, Nathan." Noyce placed the original plans and designs in the safe and looked back at Nathan. "Have a good time and tell her 'hi' from me."
"See you next Saturday."
Nathan departed headquarters and headed home. Lucas should be home and he planned to leave the next day for Australia.
"Lucas," Nathan called as he entered the house. When no one answered, he called out again, "Lucas!"
Again, Lucas did not answer and Nathan heard the beeping of new messages. He began the messages. First one was from Kristin, informing him of a new discovery and wouldn't be able to make the auction. She looked devastated about it, and now he felt unhappy about it. The last message was from someone he did not recognize.
"Mr. Bridger, I am Captain Morris of the Pearl Harbor Police Department. A Lucas Wolenczak gave us this number. Please call us back as soon as you can." The message ended and Nathan was shaken up. Panic grabbed hold of him as he called up the police station.
"Captain Morris, please," he told the secretary that picked up. Within a minute he was transferred and the same face from the message appeared.
"I'm Nathan Bridger. You called me about Mr. Lucas Wolenczak," Nathan greeted.
"Yes. Mr. Wolenczak was in an accident earlier this evening. He is currently at Pearl Memorial. I have some officers there to keep me informed. Would you like to meet there?" Captain Morris said.
"Yes. I'll be there in 15." The captain nodded and Nathan turned the screen off. He grabbed his keys again and left the house, heading to the hospital.
Meeting Captain Morris in the emergency room, Nathan feared the worst. Lucas had become like a son to him and if he died, Nathan could not take it.
"Mr. Bridger," Captain Morris greeted, extending his hand.
Nathan took the captain's hand in a shake and asked, "how is he?"
"According to the doctor, he will be fine. A few cracked ribs and a broken leg."
"What is the reason for the police to be involved?" Nathan asked.
"Well, Mr. Wolenczak was the victim. The causer fled. We caught him a half hour later. It was completely an accident and got spooked, so he fled. The reason we needed you here was because Mr. Wolenczak is still a minor."
"Oh, okay," Nathan nodded. "If he is up for it, you can question him."
"Would you like to be with him?" Morris asked.
"No, he can handle it. I'd like to see him first, though." Nathan stood and Morris got a nurse to take Nathan to Lucas's room, while he waited outside.
Knocking at the door, he heard a small grumble to come in. Nathan stepped in, closing the door behind him. "Hey, Lucas."
"Hey, captain," the young man greeted.
"How are you doing?" Nathan sat down in a chair next to the bed. "You nearly gave me a heart attack when I got the message from the police."
"Sorry," Lucas apologized. "The morphine is kicking in so I feeling less pain."
Nathan surveyed Lucas laying there. He had a small bruise on his forehead and a cast on his foot and aside from looking paler than usual, he looked to be okay. "Don't worry about it. I've given the police permission to question you. Do you feel up to it?"
"I better tell them. I might forget before tomorrow."
Nathan smiled. "I'll be outside while the police officer is asking you questions. I'll be back after they leave." Nathan stood up and left the room.
A few minutes later, Captain Morris strolled in and left within a half an hour. Nathan returned to the room.
"The doctor told me I can take you home tomorrow. He wants to keep you over night to observe. Are you going to be okay for tonight?" Nathan asked, concern in his voice.
"Yeah. I'll live." Lucas looked at Nathan. "Does that mean you are not going to go to Australia to see the doc?"
"Yeah, I'm afraid not."
"I'm sorry, captain."
"Don't worry, my boy," Nathan assured him, combing his fingers through the teen's unruly hair. "I'll see you tomorrow, so get some rest."
"Night."
Nathan closed the door softly and got some information he needed before heading back home. He wanted to see Kristin, to surprise her by showing up at her doorstep, so to speak. He sat out on the porch for a bit before heading to the shower and getting ready for bed.
End of Part 3