A Wish on a Full Moon
I do not own H2O: Just Add Water or any of the characters.
Chapter 21: The Denman Affair (part 2)
[In Emma's room that night, she shuts the door to her room and sits down on the bed next to Cleo and Rikki, looking serious; facing Lewis, who is sitting on her vanity chair, facing them.]
Emma: "Lewis, she saw the sample. How could you?"
Lewis: "You're not getting the big picture. It was an accident!"
"An accident that could have been avoided," Will pointed out.
Lewis: puts his hands together. "And besides, she's a scientist. This is what scientist do."
"It shouldn't matter if she's a scientist or not. It still puts them in danger," Neil reminded him, obviously worried about his daughter.
He was defending me? Denman thought.
Rikki: scoffs. "Sell out their friends?"
Lewis: "No! Compare notes. That's the thing about us."
"That is not comparing notes," Sam commented.
"Ah, so we are friends," Lewis said, trying to lighten the mood. Although it didn't help.
Rikki: Emma gets angry as Rikki looks at him, hurt. "Us?"
Lewis: nods to her. "We scientists. Our need to know is what drives us! Believe me." He breathes in and holds his hands up. "She's cool."
"Sometimes it's best not to know," Mrs. Chatham sighed.
"I guess I was just so excited that there was a fellow scientist around, that I got blindsided," Lewis explained, feeling guilty. "You're not a scientist!" Rikki shouted in annoyance.
Rikki: waves her hands around. "What if her need to know ends up with her dissecting us?"
"Then she has to get through me," Terry scowled. "Us too," Neil nodded along with Lisa and Don.
Bev looks at her roommate, a little hope left in her eyes. "You wouldn't, would you?" Denman looks at her for a second, before turning away from her and looking down, not wanting to answer her question and give her hopes up.
Lewis: stern look. "She's not like that."
"She better not be," Don said, narrowing his eyes. "Oh, how wrong you are," Zane muttered quietly.
Lewis: shakes his head. "I have to go. I'll talk to you tomorrow." Gets up and grabs his backpack, then opens the door and leaves, looking at them while shutting it. The other two look over at Emma, then at Cleo, who shrugs in response.
Cleo: slowly answers. "Lewis isn't usually this erratic."
"Are you sure about that?" Ash quipped.
Rikki: looks at Emma. "Those in favor of not trusting Lewis as far as we could throw him, raise your hands." Raises both of her hands.
Emma: "Agreed. Let's keep an eye on him." Raises her hand as Cleo looks at them both.
Kim, Elliot, and several of the other teenagers does as well. "Hey!" Lewis exclaimed, although was glad that Cleo didn't ever raise hers.
"Should we tell them what she did to us?" Rikki whispered to Emma. Emma glances at Cleo, remembering her reaction earlier, then looks back at Rikki. "Not yet. I say we wait. If Lewis is right about this possibly going to the present time, then they'll find out about it eventually."
[The next morning at the docks, Lewis helps Denman prepare for their mission by handing the boxes to her from the dock and onto the boat.]
Denman: "Science isn't just about satisfying your own curiosity, Lewis. It has to have a purpose. It has to be better for everyone." Taking a box from him, she puts it up under the main deck.
Isn't that what you are doing though? Satisfying your own curiosity? Rikki thought as she glared at the doctor.
"Not true. Sometimes it's best not to know. In order to protect others," Max chimed in.
Lewis: "Oh, yeah. Yeah, I'm so totally there. I mean, only science can change the world, Dr. Denman." While they have their conversation, Cleo, Emma, and Rikki hide behind some barrels, on their knees a few feet away. Cleo rolls her eyes as they listen in. Rikki watches carefully.
"You spied on us?" Denman asked, surprised that they were there. "Mostly on just him. To make sure he wouldn't slip up," Emma explained.
"Actually, by the looks of it, magic can change the world more than science can," Sam said, "it seems more powerful as well." "Yeah, I mean, this viewing has shown us a different perspective on things that I think we all needed to see," Annette nodded, agreeing with Sam. "Definitely changed my world," Will chuckled.
Denman: "Lewis, please." Comes back to the edge by Lewis. "If we're going to be working together, call me Linda." Grabs another box from him.
Lewis: furrows brow. "Linda? Why?"
Denman: makes a face and chuckles. "It's my name." Walks back to the main deck with the box.
Lewis: chuckles in realization. "Oh. Ah." Winces when she walks off. The trio glances at Emma and sighs, looking back at them.
"That was a dumb question," Elliot laughed. "Yeah, I had a dull moment," Lewis said, laughing as well.
Lewis: "So, we need all this stuff?"
Denman: sets the box down and sighs as she walks back to the side of the boat. "Yup. We'll use most of this stuff today." Lewis hands her the waterproof camera and she shows it off to him. "That's the other cool thing about science, Lewis. All the toys around."
"Expensive toys," Denman muttered.
Lewis: laughs, then bends down to grab another piece of technology and stands up with it. "So, where're we heading?"
Denman: still holding the camera. "I was thinking Mako Island." Lewis fumbles with it, almost dropping it before acting normal again.
"You searched Mako?" Bella said quietly. "We didn't actually go there, just near it," Lewis explained.
Lewis: "Mako Island?" The girls look at Emma worriedly as he answers quickly. "Um, that's not a good idea. There's nothing to see. At all. And, it's full of sharks. It's a big –."
Denman: chuckles and shakes her head. "Come on, Lewis. Don't tell me your afraid of sharks."
"Wasn't the sharks I was afraid of," Lewis mumbled, glancing at his friends, who all had their arms crossed, angrily watching the screen.
"Who wouldn't be?" Annette asked as if it were obvious. "It's the only thing worse than dolphins," Charlotte answered quietly.
"Just saying 'it's nothing' will make people curious, you know?" Ash said. "I panicked," Lewis replied.
"You're not scared of them?" Sam asked in surprise. "Not really," Denman shrugged.
Lewis: eyes-widen. "Me? No, no, not at all. Mako Island's, fine."
Denman: "Good." Walking back onto the main deck, Lewis grabs the last of the equipment and walks on board with her.
"Big mistake," Kim said, shaking her head. "You must've really made those girls mad," Harrison commented. "Oh, believe me, you've no idea," Lewis told him.
Rikki: talks quietly to them. "He's nuts. He's completely nuts. How can he take her there?"
Emma: looks over her shoulder and to the water. "We've got to get there before them." The three of them sneak off the deck and out of their hiding spot.
"Wait, you went to Mako?" Denman said in shock. "Yep," Emma said. "I didn't see you!" Denman shouted. "I did," Lewis said, slightly raising his hand. Denman turns to him, wondering how in the world he kept it from her.
[The three mermaids follow them, speed-swimming towards Mako Island. The boat stops near Mako. Lewis and Denman are on the edge of the boat, the latter sitting on the edge while Lewis stands. They are currently in their wet suits, with goggles, as they test out the oxygen tank tubes and check the camera. Putting on their goggles, Lewis smiles and nods at her to let her know that he is ready, and they jump into the water; sharks swim all around them.]
"You two really jumped into water filled with sharks," Zane muttered, shivering a little as he was reminded about when he was surrounded by them once.
"He really is nuts," Kim said, using Rikki's phrase. "Stupid, yet brave," Annette said.
[They pass the sharks and slowly go down deeper into the ocean. Lewis holds the camera, sinking to the bottom, where he lands next to Denman on the sandy bottom. He gives her a thumbs up to let her know that he is okay. Behind them, Emma and Cleo pop their heads up from behind the reefs, spying on them as they see the two crouching on their knees. The two mermaids quickly duck down when the two invaders start looking around.]
"He's not the only one that's nuts apparently," Bella said. Even she didn't think she would do something like that.
"Why are you guys so close to them! You should leave!" Kim shouted, pointing to the screen.
They were that close to us?! Denman thought, eyes-widening and her breath hitches. They were right there! How did I not see that?!
[Lewis looks around at some fish when Rikki pops her head around the side of the reef as Lewis helps Denman with the camera. Feeling like he was being watched, he turns his head, just in time to see Rikki's tail for a second. He takes his mouthpiece out, before putting it back in, and swims over to where he saw the tail, only to find it gone.]
"Almost looks like a game of hide and seek," Elliot commented, causing his parents to laugh.
"You see? That could've been her. Be careful next time," Don said. "I wish I did," Denman mumbled.
"Of course, you were there Rikki," Terry sighed, shaking his head.
[Back at Emma's house, Lewis argues with them from the stairs, looking angry.]
Lewis: on the stairs. "Did you think I wouldn't notice you guys spying on me? I mean, where's the trust?"
"With that much hair? Yeah, we didn't think we'd get caught," Emma chuckled as she sees Cleo messing up his moppy hair.
"Gone with the wind," Annette said.
Emma: walks downstairs, with the other two trailing behind. "The trust? I think it died when you accidentally gave our DNA to a world-renowned marine biologist." They walk past him on the steps and into the living room.
Rikki: "No, no, I think it was when he agreed to take Dr. Baywatch Babe on a date to Mako Island."
"Is that my new nickname now?" Denman sighed. "It is now," Will laughed.
"It wasn't a date," Lewis said.
"I believe it was my DNA," Cleo mentioned, pointing at herself.
Cleo: shakes her head and looks behind her at Lewis, who follows them. "You've gone too far, Lewis."
Lewis: pauses, before following them again. "You don't trust me. After everything we've been through." In the living room, Rikki leans against the back of the couch, Cleo hops onto the counter, and Emma stands next to Cleo. Lewis pulls his backpack off and scoffs as they give him a distrustful look.
"Yup, pretty much," Rikki said.
Lewis: "I've been working so hard trying to solve basic questions about why you guys are the way you are. And this is what if comes down to."
"Not everything needs to be solved. Sometimes it's best to just sum it up to magic," Mrs. Chatham reminded him.
"It sounds like you need a break," Neil mentioned.
Rikki: "They're our lives, Lewis." Glances at the others. "We're being careful. Maybe you should be too."
"All of you need to from the looks of it," Sam told them. "What we just saw, was not careful!" Ash said.
Lewis: furrows eyebrows. "You know what I think? I think you guys are a bunch of kids. And, at least Dr. Denman is a woman, and a little bit more, mature." They look taken aback as he narrows his eyes at them, then puts his backpack back on and leaves. Emma and Rikki scoff at his petty argument, but Cleo stares at where he was last standing, feeling hurt from his words.
"And now, I think you owe them an apology," Terry told him.
Lewis sighs, looking down until he faces Cleo. "Sorry Cleo, I didn't mean to hurt your feelings." "It's okay, Lewis," Cleo said, giving him a small smile. "Seems like you did," Charlotte muttered, also surprised that he snapped at them, especially at Cleo. "And what about us?" Rikki asked, giving him a look. "Eh, you'll live," Lewis smirked.
[Denman is sitting at her table, studying the mutation that is repeating on the computer screen, when she gets disrupted by a knock on the door. She looks up at it and exits out of the document once she sees who opens the door: Lewis.]
Denman: "Lewis!"
Lewis: "Hello." Walks inside.
"You know, hiding your sample from me doesn't help your factor, Dr. Denman," Lewis commented.
Denman: taps on her keyboard as he walks over to the other side of the table. "Back again? You've really got to get a life."
Lewis: sits down in the chair and places his hat on the table. "What about you? You're always here."
Denman: "This is my life." Pulls up her clipboard onto the table.
Lewis: "Yeah, well one day I hope it's mine, too."
Max smiles, remembering how he used to hope the same thing as well. How he used to dream of being a scientist. Cleo looks down feeling a little upset, now that most likely, he won't be able to live his dream.
Denman: smiles. "Maybe sooner than you think!"
Lewis: frowns, confused. "What?"
Denman: "Lewis, I've just received a very large research grant from a corporation to do a six-month scientific survey on an area of my choice." She shakes her head, her smile getting bigger.
"Wow, that's huge. Congratulations," Sam told her, smiling.
At least she can stay away from them, Don thought.
Lewis: "Really? Wow, congratulations. You really deserve it –."
Denman: "I want you on my team." Lewis's smile drops, turning from serious to surprised. "You and me, Lewis."
"What? You went with her?" Charlotte asked, her heart dropping at the thought of him possibly being out to sea, alone with her. "No, actually, I didn't," she heard and sighs in relief.
"But that sounds like a dream come true to me," Ash said, knowing he would take an offer like that in an instant if it were about horses or management. "It was, but I would miss my friends," Lewis said, wrapping an arm around Cleo as the other two girls smile at him in return.
Denman: "It'll mean full-time work, a lot of travel, maybe even international. What do you think?"
Lewis: completely stunned, he tries to answer. "Well, I, I –."
Denman: "I've already contacted your teachers." He stays quiet to let her finish. "There's government funding available subsidize your trip, and you'll even get credit for the work."
"It sounded like a good deal to me," Sam said, knowing she would've taken the deal as well. "But I would've missed everyone," Lewis told her. "Even me?" Zane asked, pointing at himself. Lewis looks at him annoyed before his face turns into a smirk. "Nope. Not one bit," causing Zane to pout playfully.
Lewis: unsure about the whole thing. "I don't know, I – I –."
Denman: "Ask your parents, of course." They nod. "But I'll need you to make a decision, tomorrow." He glances around, thinking.
"Tomorrow?!" Lisa said.
"That's a little too short notice, don't you think?" Neil suggested. "It was going to be a long trip. And I didn't find out until short noticed either," Denman explained.
Denman: "I'll be leaving for my lab in the Galapagos Islands the day after. That's where we'll be based." She smiles at him and he returns it, feeling a little conflicted now.
"That's a lot to take in," Will said. "It certainly was," Lewis replied.
"She probably wanted him for more of those samples," Emma whispered to them.
[Lewis and Cleo are sitting on the edge of the docks that evening, dangling their feet high above the water.]
Cleo: "Wow. That's amazing isn't it?"
Lewis: "Well, it's certainly a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, yeah." Looks at her.
"One that you didn't take," Will remarked. "Didn't need it."
Cleo: "What are you going to do?"
Lewis: looks out at the water, thinking before he answers. "I don't know. I mean, I'm just so happy that she thinks I'm smart enough to do it."
Cleo: "Oh, please."
Lewis: "What?"
Cleo: looks at him, a little annoyed. "You really think she wants you for your brain?"
"Well, it certainly wasn't for your looks," Zane teased him. Lewis rolls his eyes.
Lewis: scoffs. "It's not like that between me and Dr. Denman and I at all."
Cleo: "That's not what I mean. I mean, how do you know she's not just after another sample?"
"Then that would be a lot to do for one sample," Harrison said, before earning a glance from the girls as if saying, 'you have no room to talk.'
Lewis: shakes his head. "No, no, she's forgotten all about that."
"No, she hasn't," Kim said, getting irritated by his denial. "Not even after she returned," Cleo muttered.
Lewis: changing the subject, he gives her a worried look. "What do – what do you think I should do?"
Cleo: looks down before looking at him. "Well, like you said, it's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. And it's what you've always wanted." She hesitates before continuing, looking sad. "And there's nothing holding you here, right?"
"If it was what you always wanted, then why didn't you do it?" Will asked, for some reason being reminded of diving and his sister. "I already said it. I just couldn't," Lewis sighed, a little tired of repeating himself.
Lewis: hesitantly, he looks out. "Well, actually –." He then notices her small smile and changes his mind about what he was going to say. "You're right. I'm out of here. Thanks, Cleo." Her smile falters as she watches him get up and walk off, leaving her alone on the docks, sad.
Lewis begins feeling bad again, then looks at her and smiles. "Well, it's a good thing I never did leave." Because you were what was holding me back.
[The next day at the marine park, a dolphin show begins: the trainers wave to the crowd as they swim and have fun with their dolphin pals.]
Announcer: "Ladies and gentlemen, girls and boys, welcome to our little piece of paradise: Dolphin Cove." The dolphins' cackle in response, one of them lying on its back, swimming. "My name is Kiley, and –."
[While this goes on, Cleo opens the door to the lab and sneaks in, noticing that Denman was nowhere to be seen. Letting the door shut once she's inside, she slowly looks around on the table, searching for any clues that could lead to her DNA sample.]
"You broke into the lab?" Don asked. "Cleo!" Bev scolded. "The door was unlocked," Cleo shrugged. "That's trespassing!" Denman shouts. "Took a page right out of my book," Kim smirked. "Must run in the family," Charlotte muttered.
[Cleo sits down at Denman's chair and opens the laptop while glancing at the door, making sure no one was going to come in. Once she opened the laptop, an article popped up on the screen, revealing what she's been working on.]
Cleo: looks at the title and reads it out loud. "'Just Add Water: The Phenomenon of Spontaneous Cellular Mutation.'" Her eyes narrow then widen in realization. "Oh no."
A roar of gasps was heard throughout the room, then all eyes look on Denman, who looks like she is about ready to run. "You were experimenting on it?!" Bella yelled in a mixture of shock and horror, deeply afraid that she might be next. "Well, I had a sample of it, of course I was going to run more test. I wanted to know!" Denman spat out, trying to figure out the best reasonable excuse for her, well, inexcusable actions. "You better not get nowhere near them!" Don shouts at her, shooting daggers.
"At least it wasn't actually them," Will sighed.
"An article? Linda, that's my daughter's DNA. If anything happens to her…" Bev said gently, trying to be brave, but only tears threaten to break loose as she thought of her daughter being tied up, experimented on, unable to escape.
"I'm so sorry, Bev. I'm sorry, to all of you. Especially you girls," Denman said, guilt clinging into her throat. "Yeah, right," Rikki scoffed as Emma shakes her head in disappointment.
If they react like this just for a DNA sample, how are they going to handle the real discovery? Denman thought, her heart pounding in her chest.
[The door opens and a guard walks in, right as she quickly closes the laptop. Luckily before he could see.]
Guard: holding the handle of the door. "Cleo, what are you doing in here?"
Cleo: shrugs, shaking her head. "Just, looking for a friend!"
"Snooping," Emma said angrily from earlier.
"And now your excuses have decreased," Kim said, not too brightly this time after the mood from just a moment ago. Bev tries to chuckle at her daughter's comment, trying to think of happier thoughts instead.
"Not the right place to look," Harrison said, feeling bad about how the reaction was to a DNA sample. However, he felt conflicted on who to feel bad for: Denman, for them getting angry with her, even she didn't know the secret back then; or the families, who don't even realize the full extent of this discovery just yet.
Guard: "Sorry, this is off-limits. Dr. Denman's orders. They're moving a lot of expensive equipment out of here today." He steps aside to let her walk by as she stands up from the chair.
Cleo: "Oh, right." She begins to leave when he stops her again in the doorway.
"Of course, you didn't want me in there," Cleo said, rolling her eyes. "I didn't know you were going to be there," Denman said. "You had my DNA!" she yelled. "I didn't know it was yours!" Denman yelled back, trying to defend herself. Bev looks a little hopeful, understanding now that she didn't know who, or what, it belonged to. Maybe everything will be ok.
Guard: "And Cleo?"
Cleo: looks at him. "Yeah?"
Guard: "Don't let me catch you back here." She nods and walks away. He looks around once more in the lab, making sure everything looked like it was untouched, and shuts the door.
"Could've been worse for breaking and entering," Denman warned, a little upset for all the responses she's been getting. "Then don't leave it unlocked for others to just walk in," Kim said, crossing her arms.
[Later at the Juicenet, she talks to Lewis at a table about what she discovered, with Emma and Rikki sitting next to them.]
Cleo: "It looked like an article for a scientific journal or something." Leans in closer. "It's the same stuff as you keep blabbing about, Lewis." Rikki and Emma listen closely, the latter leaning against her hand. "It proves she's still got the DNA sample." Rikki tilts her head at him. "It was in a little white slide box."
"You found the sample too?" Annette asked. "Why didn't you take it?" Elliot asked. "Because, if they would've found out that I took it, I would've been fired," Cleo explained.
Emma: looks at Lewis, displeased. "Well, Lewis?"
Lewis: to Emma. "She wouldn't."
Cleo: "It looked like she'd been studying it, doing tests."
Lewis: "She's not like that."
"Yes, she is. You saw the screen," Ash pointed out.
Denman gulped, guilt rising. He looked up to her so much, yet she let him down. She became someone completely different than what she used to be. But she needed to know!
Rikki: leans in, tapping her fingers against the table as Emma glares at him. "It's time to face facts, Romeo." Eats a snack off the table.
"I'm no Romeo," Lewis exclaimed. And she's no Juliet either, Cleo thought, feeling a tad bit jealous again.
Charlotte chuckles, thinking of the play that she was going to be in. Laughing to herself as she remembered how Cleo thought it was someone named 'R.J.'
Lewis: "Facts? You don't have any facts." To Cleo and slices his hand in the air. "Cleo, you read a bit of an article you don't understand."
"Are you calling her dumb?" Don asked, raising an eyebrow. "Wha – no!" Lewis said in surprise. "I understood it just by reading the title," Cleo giggled.
Cleo: "I understand enough to know it's the same stuff you say."
Lewis: leans back and waves his hands around, not caring. "So?"
"So, get it through your thick skull! She was doing all of that stuff!" Kim yelled. "Take it easy, it's not like she's actually experimenting on them," Ash said, trying to calm everyone down, luckily it does, for most people. Zane glances around, looking a bit nervous, feeling guilty the same way as Denman was.
Lewis: fumbles with his hands. "Maybe I've influenced her thinking. I have a very forceful personality."
"The fact that you said that so seriously is a joke," Kim scoffed.
Rikki: scoffs. "Ha!" Emma tries not to laugh and looks away.
Lewis: points at the table. "Why do you think she wants me on her research trip? Did it ever occur to you that there might be a reason, like, she values my opinion?"
"It's clear she doesn't," Emma said. "She doesn't for nobody," Rikki commented. "What makes you say that?" Terry asked. "Oh, no reason," she lied. They don't want to tell them yet, Zane realized.
Rikki: points at him and Emma scowls. "And your mopping." Lewis stares at her blankly, before sighing and stands up, and leaves the café. Cleo watches him go.
"She valued the sample more," Lewis muttered glumly.
Emma: "He's lost it!"
Rikki: glances at her. "Totally!"
Emma: sighs. "We've got to find a way to get into that lab."
"Just open the door. It's clear that she left it unlocked," Bella suggested. "But the stuff would've already been moved by then," Emma reminded her.
Cleo: grabs her drink off the table. "Ah, correction? You guys have to. I'm going to lose my job if I get caught in that place again." Emma nods and looks at Rikki.
"He said that?" Sam asked. "Yeah, and I love that job. The dolphins are so friendly," Cleo said adoringly, thinking about her sea friends. Friendly? They're terrifying! But, would they be friendly with me? Charlotte thought, feeling a little hopeful.
[Emma and Rikki swim cautiously underwater, passing some dolphins and close to the docks by the marine park. They pop their heads up and stay close to the edge below the dock, to remain hidden from unwanted eyes. A dolphin jumps and squeals behind them, wanting to play as they turn to it.]
Emma: "Shoo!"
"You were there? And it was you two that it was doing that too?" Denman asked in shock, a little angry at herself for not seeing them there. She could've gotten her answers much sooner!
"He just wanted to play," Sam said, smiling at the sight of them. "We couldn't right then. It wasn't the right time," Emma explained.
[Denman, while walking by on the dock, sees it and smiles, thinking that the playfulness was meant for her. She bends down and grabs a bag when Lewis walks up with fishing gear.]
"You really don't leave home without it, huh?" Neil chuckled, remembering the pool party scene. "A good fisherman never does," Max smiled as Lewis nods in agreement.
Lewis: "Dr. Denman. Um, I –."
Denman: "Lewis?" The two mermaids overhear them and quickly dip underwater. Denman carries the bag to the end of the dock, where the rest of the boxes are, and Lewis follows her down the plank. They are now closer to where the girls are by the boxes.
Lewis: "Um, can you, can you be straight with me about something?"
Denman: looks at him. "Anything."
"Not anything. You lied to me about the fish count," Lewis pointed out, from the last time they met. "What fish count? There wasn't one in these scenes," Terry frowned, confused by what he meant, as well as the others as well. "Uh, later," Denman paled, a little worried.
Lewis: hesitates, then lets out a breath. "Did you hold onto that slide of mine?"
Denman: "Yes."
"Well at least she was honest about it," Lisa shrugged.
Lewis: "It's not like you have to –." He pauses as he realizes what she just said, then his face turns into a look of shock. "Did you say yes?"
Denman: puts the bag down on the boxes and turns to him as he puts his gear down. "Yes, I did." She waves to the other stuff around them on the docks, including the box holding the slide on top of the other blue boxes. "It's right here, with all our Mako slides." Lewis, surprised that Cleo was right about her and looks out at the water before looking at her. "And I'm hoping someday, Lewis, you'll be a little bit more forthcoming about where you got it." Smirks.
"Not gonna happen," Lewis told her.
I knew she had other motives, Cleo scowled.
Lewis: "Um –." Rikki and Emma glance at each other, holding onto the edge of the dock. The former tries to slowly reach up to grab the box, without getting caught.
Denman: "Lewis, you've got something extraordinary here." Gestures to the box, causing Rikki to duck back down into the water when she almost had it. "Cells that completely change their molecular structure upon contact with water."
Lewis: "Sounds impossible."
"Careful honey," Terry warned, his heart pounding out of his chest. "Don't worry dad, she didn't see us." Yet. I can't believe they were that close to me! How could I have been so blind! Denman thought bitterly.
Denman: "It is impossible." Rikki tries to reach up again, when Denman looks down at the box for a split second, causing her to duck down again, wincing. "But here it is. I can't explain it. We need to do a lot more tests." Eyes shine with eagerness.
"Mermaids are impossible, yet here they are," Will pointed out. "That's because it came from them!" Denman waved to the girls, earning herself some glares.
Lewis: "You stole it from me."
Denman: sighs. "Lewis, I'm sorry I deceived you. But I have no intention of ripping you off." Rikki tries again, reaching higher this time, almost touching it while her face can be seen. But they both let go of the dock and dive underwater when Denman glances at the box. "Why do you think I want you on this trip with me?"
"And why should he believe you?" Rikki asked, crossing her arms. "He's not that stupid," Emma said. "Thanks … hey!" Lewis shouted, once he thought about the comment.
She was using him, trying to manipulate him. Who would do such a thing? Charlotte thought, shaking her head.
Lewis: frowns. "Is – is it, the charm?"
Denman: smirks, and nudges towards the box. "Lewis, do you think you can get more samples like this?" The girls glance at each other in worry, holding onto the ledge.
"I knew it!" Cleo shouted.
Lewis: pleading look. "What about trust?'
Denman: thinks about it, before slowly moving to his side and wraps an arm around his shoulder, looking at him. "You can trust me, to be a good scientist."
"I did. Or I used to," Lewis admitted. Denman feels guilty, as she thought of the 'big event' once more and how she behaved.
Denman: "Like I said, I believe in your talent." Rikki tries once more.
Lewis: "I appreciate that." Denman looks at the box again, and Rikki and Emma dive further down underwater. Denman grabs the box once they come back up.
"You sure loved that box," Ash commented. "It was valuable," Denman shrugged. "Yet, you leave it out in the open just like that," Kim said.
Denman: "Are you still coming tomorrow?"
Lewis: grins. "Can I have a look at your research so far?"
Denman: smiles, pleased by his eagerness. "Of course."
"That was my biggest mistake," Denman muttered.
Lewis: smiles. "Wouldn't miss it for the world." The girls glance at each other, then dives down again, leaving the docks. Denman returns the smile and walks back up the dock. Lewis watches her go, then looks forward with a mixture of hurt, and determination.
"You were going to let it go just like that? She still had the sample and you let her keep it? That's my sister's DNA for crying out loud! What if she did something with it? To her!" Kim shouted, surprising Cleo, even her parents. "Relax Kim, I'm okay," Cleo smiled, reassuring her little sister. "And he didn't let it go."
[The next day by the beach, the trio sits down on some small concrete walls not too far from the water. Emma and Rikki are on the bottom one, while Cleo sits on one above them, bringing her knees closer to her.]
Cleo: "I didn't sleep a wink last night."
Emma and Rikki: "Me neither."
Haven't seen them this down since when I first found out the secret, Lewis thought, feeling bad for keeping his friends up all night.
"You could've at least told us your plan," Cleo said, rolling her eyes, causing him to put a small smile on his face.
Emma: "You do realize, she'll eventually get it out of him, don't you?"
Cleo: "What?"
Emma: looks in her direction. "Where the DNA came from."
"Have a little faith Emma, I'm stronger than that," Lewis smirked.
Rikki: "We have to get that slide back."
Cleo: shakes head in denial. "Lewis wouldn't sell us out completely." Frowns. "Would he?"
"No. I wouldn't. At all," Lewis said. "Not on purpose at least," Emma muttered. Zane looks down, feeling bad as he realized he sold them out, without even knowing who they were.
Rikki: snaps at her. "Stop having so much faith in human nature." Looks up at her. "He already has sold us out." Cleo tenses up. "You're the only one who doesn't think so. Why is that?"
Cleo: unsure about how to answer. "I just don't believe it. Lewis is …" She looks around, trying to figure out how to say it. "Our friend." Cleo stands up and begins walking off.
Lewis smiles at her answer. A little bummed that he was thought of as a friend, but ultimately glad that he was still a friend to her.
Emma: calls out to her, not even looking in her direction, causing Cleo to stop and look at them. Rikki faces Cleo. "Where are you going?"
Cleo: "I'm going to go talk to Lewis, even if it is for the last time." Takes a few more steps before turning back to them. "Well?" She starts walking again as they hesitate, thinking it over, before finally getting up and follow her.
"Thanks for caring guys," Lewis teased, with a hint of sincerity. "You're welcome," Emma smiled.
[They sling the gate open and run to the end of the dock, with Cleo in the lead. They stop and notice that the boat has already launched from the dock and is out at bay.]
Emma: "That's her boat!"
Cleo: "Come on! If anybody can catch her, we can!" Is about to jump in when Rikki grabs her arm, stopping her.
"You were really jumpy about this," Ash said. "I wanted to see him for one last time," Cleo sheepishly admitted. "And your secret?" Bella asked, crossing her arms.
Should've let her come, Denman thought, still bitter.
Rikki: "Wait! I think that might defeat the purpose of all the secrecy, don't you?" Glances at Emma, frowning.
Cleo: nods in realization. "Oh, you're right. Sorry." Rikki lets go of her and they look back out at the boat again. "But are we just going to let him go like this?" Fumbling with her fingers.
Lewis: "Like what?" Rikki and Emma snap their heads up in the direction of his voice, where he was walking up the docks towards him.
He really didn't go, Charlotte smiled, a little relieved that he didn't'.
Cleo: still facing forward, not even noticing. "Well, you're just sailing away without saying –." Finally turns to him and they all smile, walking to him. "Lewis! You didn't go!"
"How did you know they were there?" Annette asked. "I didn't, I wanted to see the boat leave. Plus, they ran past me on the way without even noticing," Lewis chuckled, before turning to Cleo. "Took you a second there, Cleo." "I was busy," Cleo blushed.
Lewis: leans against a pole. "Keen observation, Cleo. Very, very good." Holds up his hand, revealing the slide.
"The slide!" Kim yelled, smiling big. "Thank you, Lewis," Bev sighed in relief, glad that the situation was over. And glad that Denman didn't do anything to them. But still, she couldn't help but question, how did she know they were mermaids?
"So, he did get it," Denman mumbled, her theory now proven correct.
Emma: they smile bigger, shocked. "You got the slide back!" He hands it to her.
Rikki: "And she didn't suck you in?"
"You almost did," Zane told him.
Lewis: "What are you serious? You think I'd buy that stuff about being a good scientist?" scoffs. "Please."
"With the way you were acting about her, it seemed like you would," Rikki told him.
"Wait, you knew they were there? And that they were trying to steal the slide?" Bella asked. "Yup. It's not that hard to notice them. Plus, I knew they were going to try something," Lewis chuckled, causing Denman to scowl as she was reminded again of how she didn't spot them.
Cleo: "What about her records? All the stuff I saw?"
Lewis: nods. "When she opens the file, I think she'll find it's recently been erased. Oops!" They all smile at him. "No, I don't think the good doctor and I are a team anymore, guys."
Denman pouts, should've known better than to give him a look at her findings.
"That is so mean! I love it," Kim laughed, making Lewis smile.
Cleo: smiles excitedly. "It's good to have you back, Lewis!" They go to hug, but after a few awkward movements, they just settled on a high-five.
Lewis: "Thank you."
"That's a weird way to hug," Rikki teased.
[They look out towards the boat again, then walk off the dock, worry-free.]
"Okay. I think we all learned a lesson: don't trust scientists," Don said to everyone, glaring at the marine biologist, who shrinks back in her seat. She only hopes that they'll forget about it soon. "Not all scientists are bad," Max told him. "And some learn from their mistakes," Mrs. Chatham said, sneaking a glance towards Denman.
"Well, are we just going to sit here the whole time complaining about her? Or are we going to get on with the show," Kim said, waving to the screen. "While that sounds enjoyable, I think we should just get the rest over with," Zane said and looks over to his father.
Harrison chuckles and points the remote at the screen and pressed play. Everyone stares at it, curious as to what happens next, while Rikki looks down, shifting uncomfortably; not wanting others to see the mistakes she made.