Title: "The Bachelors of seaQuest" – Aftermath (Nathan/Kristin)
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.
Nathan took Kristin by the hand and walked to the dance floor, swinging her around slowly, before placing a hand on her waist, the other one holding her hand. There was a sparkle in her eyes that he hadn't seen in awhile.
"You still need to tell me how you manage to get here?" Nathan spoke softly, holding her closer to the slow rhythm of the music.
"Does it really matter?" Kristin asked, resting her head on the crock of his shoulder and neck.
"Humor me," Nathan stated, pulling her closer as he wrapped both hands around her waist.
Kristin snaked her arms around his neck and smiled. "A few days ago, a replacement arrived as head researcher. I briefed him on the current status of the research center and gave him to Kevin, my assistant. I booked a launch out of there and to the surface. I left, officially, on the early morning of the 26th, their time. I arrived late last night, the 25th, local time."
"I'm glad you're here."
Kristin removed her head from his shoulder to look into his eyes. To show her how happy he was to see her, he took her lips with his in a decent public kiss.
"I hope you plan to show me more later," Kristin whispered against his cheek and she felt his reaction to her words. She rested her head back on his shoulder as they continued to dance.
Lucas had watched the auction with amusement. Now he watched the couples dance on the floor, including the guests of the auction. O'Neill and his buyer were in deep conversation at the table. Dr. Levin and his buyer were at the buffet, talking. He must be telling the story of the King George, because he pointed to Kristin and the look on his buyer's face was astonishment and interest.
Shan, Ortiz, and Krieg were on the dance floor with their buyers. Jonathan and Katie were no where to be seen. Lucas noticed that the captain was escorting Kristin back to the table, so grabbing his crutches, he hobbled over there to see them.
"My Lord," Kristin gasped when she spotted Lucas nearing them. "Lucas." When Lucas was close enough, she hugged him gently. "Come sit with us." Nathan was a step ahead, pulling a chair from another table and setting it beside Kristin's chair. Lucas took the seat gladly.
"Nathan made it sound like you weren't hurt at all," Kristin stated, brushing the teen's hair out of his face, doting on him like a mother would to a sick child.
"It's not. My leg got crushed, had an open fracture of my fibula. A few cracked ribs, a bump on my head, but I'll live. The docs were real good to me," Lucas informed. "I'm glad you came, doc."
Kristin smiled. "I'm glad I came as well. Nathan has invited me to stay with you guys. We'll just have to stop by my hotel so I could grab my things and sign out."
"Great. Darwin will be happy to see you to. He asks about you." Lucas sounded like a kid at the candy shop, excited.
"Well, I'll love to see him again. The Great Barrier Reef has a spectacular view and wonders of sea life, but every time I see a dolphin, I think of Darwin. How's the vocorder coming?"
"It works, a bit," Lucas informed. "Unlike on the seaQuest, there are really no walls to bounce or carry our call to him or his clicks and whistles. He comes a couple times during the day, usually in the morning and evening."
As Kristin and Lucas talked, Nathan held her hand, absently stroking the back of it with his thumb. He remembers talking to her long distance and she didn't have the energy that was radiating off her now. He wanted her to stay, but he couldn't be selfish. She had her work in Australia to do.
It was a couple hours later and gala was dying down. Jonathan and Katie weren't seen since after dinner. O'Neill, Krieg, Shan, Levin, and Ortiz escorted their ladies to their cars and left as well. Janet and Bill Noyce joined Nathan, Kristin, and Lucas for a bit before heading out.
"Well, I suppose we should get home," Nathan finally mentioned, standing up and stretching, offering his hand to Kristin and turn towards Lucas. "How are you doing?" Nathan asked the teen.
"My leg is beginning to throb and I didn't bring my pills with me," Lucas informed, getting assistance from Kristin standing up and placing the crutches under his armpits.
Looking at Kristin, Nathan said as they walked to his car. "Will you make it?"
Looking at the captain, Lucas just laughed. "Yeah, I'll survive."
"Men," Kristin shook her head as she opened the passenger side back door and was about to get in when Lucas stopped her.
"I can sit back there. I need to put my leg up anyways."
"Oh, of course," Kristin said and assisted Lucas one more time with his crutches.
Once they were all settled, Nathan drove away, stopping by Kristin's hotel and once business was taken care of, he drove home.
Lucas had fallen asleep on the drive and Kristin shook him gently when they arrived. Groggily, Lucas woke up and with help, got out of the car. Nathan opened the front door and Lucas hobbled in and straight back to his room. Before closing the door, he called "good night" to them.
"I better give him a glass of water for his pills," Nathan mentioned and Kristin nodded as she looked around the beach house.
Nathan took longer than Kristin had expected and she was standing out on the deck, leaning on the railing looking out at the ocean, when Nathan found her.
"Sorry it took long," Nathan spoke. "Lucas looked ready to fall to the floor if I didn't help him."
"That's fine," Kristin spoke, still looking away from him.
Nathan leaned his back against the rail of the deck and looked at her profile. The silence stretched between them until there were splashing sounds from the water, followed by clicks and whistles.
"Darwin!" Kristin's eyes lit up and she took off her shoes and went down the stairs to the beach and into the water, soaking her outfit to her mid-thighs by the time she reached the dolphin.
Nathan followed on heel but did not step into the water and watched from the beach.
Darwin recognized the voice and was excited, splashing Kristin which prompt a giggle out of the doctor. Kristin rubbed the dolphin's nose and domed head, smiling.
"Well, Darwin," she began. "It is good to see you again. I have missed you."
The dolphin gave a loud click and splash, indicating he missed her as well.
Kristin looked back at Nathan on the shore and smiled, "I'll see you in the morning," she told Darwin, petting the domed head one more time before she walked back to shore to join Nathan.
"Look at you," Nathan teased. "You're all wet. Now, what are you going to do?"
Kristin stopped mere feet from Nathan, still in the water and smiled. "There are several ideas running through my head, but one in particular I like." Slowly, she bent down and cupped some water in her hands, freezing her hands where they were as Nathan looked at her skeptically.
"You wouldn't." He spoke too soon as she flicked her hands and water went flying in Nathan's direction, splattering on his chest. "You know this suit is expensive."
"So is mine. That is why they have dry cleaners."
Kristin swatted water at him again, and this time Nathan laughed and ran into the water towards her. She let out a small yelp as Nathan grabbed hold of her and they went into the water, fully soaking them.
It was sometime later when Nathan took Kristin's hand and led her to the house. They were both dripping wet and Nathan hurried to grab the towels he kept on a shelf on the deck. He draped one over Kristin's shoulder and then wrapped himself in one. They were silent while they dried off as much as possible before Nathan held the door open for her to enter and then locked it behind him.
"Why don't you go to my room and I'll grab your bag from the living room?" Nathan suggested and Kristin nodded, heading to his room.
A few minutes later, Nathan arrived in his room to see that Kristin had removed her wet clothes and was wearing the towel.
"My clothes are hanging on the shower curtain rod," Kristin spoke when Nathan closed the door behind him. "I hope you don't mind."
"Of course not," Nathan assured and set the luggage on a chair in his room.
Nathan walked up to Kristin, smiling. He brushed a wet strand of her dark hair with his hand and bent his head down to kiss her. Their lips met, gently at first, but it grew deeper. They pulled apart, nearly breathless.
"Join me in the shower," Nathan spoke softly and Kristin nodded.
An hour or so later, Nathan held Kristin in his bed as they slept.
The End