Chapter Five
Wolenczak Villa, later that afternoon…
"Lucas?" Bridger knocked on the boy's door gently. "It's time to go…"
He and the others were dressed and ready, the limo was waiting out front to take them to the funeral, so all they needed was the main reason they were all here…
Not getting a response, he opened the door and quietly entered.
He found Lucas in front of his mirror, wrestling with his tie.
The boy was wearing a three piece black suit that looked quite expensive; in fact, it looked brand new.
He had never seen Lucas wear anything except blue jeans and t-shirts, so more than likely that suit had never been worn until now.
"Need some help?" he asked, gently.
Lucas turned around, a frustrated look on his face. "I hate ties," he grumbled, sourly.
Bridger chuckled, crossing over to him and taking the tie from him.
"Here, let me show you," he said, and began demonstrating how to connect the two ends together.
"Thanks," Lucas said, once he was finished, and turned back to the mirror. "I hate suits."
"I'm not overly fond of them myself," he told him, tugging at the collar of his own black suit.
He had considered wearing his uniform, but—like the others—had decided to keep the military out of this particular situation.
Lucas smiled. "Guess I'm ready, then," he said, sighing. "Do I really have to go?"
Bridger reached up and gave the back of his neck a squeeze.
"Yes, you really have to go," he told him, gently yet firmly.
The boy nodded.
"Then let's go," he said, sighing. "The sooner this is over, the sooner I get out of this thing."
He headed for the door and the captain followed him, a worried expression on his face the entire time.
The funeral was a grave-side service, with very few mourners, and the SeaQuest crew sat directly up front.
Lucas, of course, sat in the middle with Bridger and Kristen on either side of him.
Katie and Ben sat beside the captain, while Tim and Miguel sat beside the doctor.
All wore solemn expressions throughout the service, except for Lucas.
The boy didn't shed a tear, barely even blinked an eye, the entire time.
He sat, unmoving, simply staring at his parents' caskets.
It was almost as if he were an automaton or something.
Over his head, Bridger and Kristen exchanged worried glances.
Bridger draped an arm over the boy's shoulders, while the doctor gave his clasped hands a squeeze.
He continued to just stare.
When the service was over and the caskets had been lowered into the ground, they all got up to leave.
"Are you ready to head home?" Bridger asked the boy, curiously.
Lucas shrugged off his hand.
"It's not my home," he stated, unemotionally. "It never was…"
He then turned and walked off, back toward the waiting limo.
Now, they all exchanged worried glances as they quickly followed after him.
…TBC…