I want to thank my beta reader EskimoSatan for her great work.

- CHAPTER SEVEN -

- CONFUSION -

Bridger looked down at Lucas, who had just managed to fall back asleep. Standing up, he placed a hand on Kristine's shoulder. "I'm going to call Lucas' parents, let them know what happened."

She nodded and Bridger left, making his way to his quarter. He sat at his desk and pulled up his vid screen, calling the number the UEO had given him.

A man answered on the second ring without turning on the video feed. "Hello?"

"This is Captain Nathan Bridger of the Seaquest. I need to speak with Lawrence or Cynthia Wolenczak."

There was pause, followed by, "I'm sorry, but they're unavailable at the moment. I can take a message and have them call you back at their convenience."

"I'm afraid I have to insist. Their son, Lucas is sick."

"I'm sorry, but you must have the wrong Wolenczak. The Lawrence and Cynthia I know don't have children."

The line went dead before Bridge could respond and he stared at the screen, trying to process what he'd been told. What did he mean the Lawrence and Cynthia he knew had no children? How many Lawrence and Cynthia Wolenczaks were there?

Flicking the screen back on, he dialed Bill Noyce, picking up a pen and tapping it impatiently against his desk as he waited for Bill to pick up.

"Admiral Bill Noyce."

"It's Nathan."

The video feed turned on and Bill's face came into view, "Nathan, is everything alright? Was the mission a success?"

Nathan folded his hands on his desk, looking intently at the Admiral. "Not exactly. Lucas collapsed."

The concern was immediate in Bill's face and he put his hands on his desk, leaning forward, "Is he okay?"

"To be honest, I don't know. He's been acting strange the last few days, but we can't find anything wrong with him. That's not the reason I'm calling, though. Bill, I called Lawrence and Cynthia to let them know what had happened and I spoke to a man at their home that said the Wolenczaks had no son."

For a long minute, Bill said nothing and when he finally did, Bridger had a cold feeling in his stomach that said he wasn't going to like what he was about to hear. "God, Nathan, I was sure Lucas would have told you."

"Told me what?"

"Lawrence died three days ago. He was killed."

The pen that Bridger had forgotten he was still holding fell onto the desk with a loud thunk. "Does Lucas know?"

"Of course he knows. He was notified as soon as we found the bodies, but, to be honest, Nathan, he probably knew before we did. He was always in contact with them."

Numbly, Bridger sat back in his chair. "Why didn't he tell me?" His eyes focused on Bill and he asked accusingly, "Why did you tell me, Bill? If it affects a member of my crew, I have a right to know."

Bill sighed, "I was sure he would. If I'd thought otherwise, I would have commed you immediately. Apparently, Lucas is a little more private with his personal life than I realized."

"That makes two of us." Bridger focused on the table for a moment, reigning in his thoughts before he spoke. "His collapse is probably due the stress caused by his father's death. At least now we can help him."

"I'm sorry, Nathan."

Bridger nodded and reached for the button, "I'll be in touch." Ending the call, Bridger sat back in the chair, turning over his options of which there were sadly few. As much as he wanted to respect Lucas' privacy, there was the safety of his ship to consider. They were a submarine, at sea for long periods of time in close quarters. If someone was at risk, even of depression, it had to be dealt with. It was probably better if the senior staff knew, since they worked closely with Lucas, and, of course, Kristine was Lucas' doctor. He'd keep the number of people to a minimum and that would have to do.

Buzzing O'Niel, he told him to call a staff meeting. Five minutes later, he was standing in the conference room, trying to form the words necessary to explain this to his crew. It wasn't the first time Bridger had to deliver bad news and it certainly wouldn't be the last, but it never got any easier.

"I've been given some... unfortunate news regarding Lucas." Kristine perked up, sitting straight as she realized this concerned her patient. "Three days ago Lawrence Wolanczak was killed."

From the shock written on everyone's faces, Bridger was certain that Lucas hadn't told them. There was some satisfaction in that; it meant he hadn't been the only one Lucas didn't trust. However, this wasn't the sort of thing that was healthy for anyone to keep inside, especially not a boy Lucas' age.

Croker voiced the thought on everyone's minds, "Why didn't Lucas tell us?"

"I don't know, Chief. I only found out from Noyce a few minutes ago." Krieg mumbled something under his breath and Nathan turned to the Lieutenant. "Do you have something to say, Lieutenant Krieg?"

"I said, he didn't want anyone to pity him, sir. Lucas doesn't talk about his family, not to any of us, but I've overheard him talking with Darwin. Darwin won't judge him, he won't feel sorry for Lucas, or try and offer advice, he'll just listen."

All eyes turned to Krieg, shocked at his introspection. Katie was the first to recover, smiling sadly, "You're probably right, Ben. It just hurts that he didn't trust us."

"Yeah, well, it's up to Lucas who he tells his personal business, too. We have to respect that. If it's Darwin he trusts to keep his secret's save, that's his decision."

Bridger cut in, hearing the defensive tone in Krieg's voice, "I know, Kreig, but Lucas is supposed to tell us when something like this happens. It's our job to watch out for the crew, which we can't do if we don't know when something's wrong. The last few days would have been easier on everyone if we'd known what was going on."

Krieg sighed, rubbing the back of neck ruefully, "I know, sir. I know. But we know now, right? So, now we can help him."

Bridger nodded his agreement, "I'm going to go talk to Lucas. I don't want anyone to push him, give him his space, keep anyone from hassling him. This does not go beyond this room. We respect his privacy. Is that clear?" To everyone's nod, he said, "Dismissed."

Kristine kept her seat while the others filed out. "He's right you know."

Bridger nodded, "I know. No one likes pity, especially not Lucas. I can't count the number of stupid, reckless things that boy has done to make us see him as an equal."

"Hm. Well, what do you say we get down to medbay and see how that stupid, reckless boy is doing?"

With a sour laugh, Bridger shook his head. "Let's get this over with."

They left the warroom, silent as they made their way to through the ship, each of them deep in thought. Lucas was hurting, holding his pain inside and they needed to get him to open up before he broke down and hurt himself, or worse.

The medbay was empty and it didn't take the shared glance to know that they were both thinking the same thing. If Lucas wasn't here, he'd be in his room, or possibly with Darwin, but his room was closer, so they'd start there. The red light indicating the locked door, told them they'd been right; Lucas was there and he didn't want to be disturbed.

Unfortunately, undisturbed wasn't what was best for him. Knocking on the door, Nathan waited.

The response he got was as angry and hostile as he was expecting. "What?!"

"Lucas, we need to talk."

"I don't want to talk. Go away."

"I know about your father." Bridger said patiently.

Lucas didn't say anything for a moment, then, "I said, go away." "Lucas, open this door, before I open it for you."

"What?!"

Kristine and Bridger waited. If Lucas didn't open the door soon, Bridger would open it himself.

"I don't want to talk. Go away." Bridger tensed and there was a long pause. "I said, go away."

Damn it! Bridger buzzed security, "Croker, get down to Lucas's room with a pass."

Lucas' voice carried through the door again. "What?!" It was exact same inflection, tone and level as the last two times and Bridger's stomach dropped. "I don't want to talk, go away." It was a recording.

He buzzed Croker again, "Hurry with that pass. I think something's wrong."

The recording cycled twice more before Croker appeared, "What's going on?"

"Lucas has locked himself in his room and turned on some kind of recorder."

Croker swiped the card and stepped aside as the door slid open to reveal a room that looked like a tornado had passed through it - the blankets had been thrown off the bed, the desk chair was overturned, CD's were strewn on the floor, and Lucas' notes were everywhere, some torn and ripped in Lucas' haste.

Bridger turned to Croker, his face grim, "Chief, call out a search party. I want every inch of this boat covered."

"Yes, sir." Croker stalked off, buzzing the security team.

"I don't want to talk, go away." Pause. "I said, go away."

Kristine reached over, flicking off the small recorder that sat on the table next to the door and gave Bridger a knowing look. They had no idea what Lucas might have done, but people, especially teenagers did stupid things when they grieved. Until Lucas was found, though, there wasn't anything they could do other than wait.

TBC