========================================================================== UP IN SMOKE Kathy Wolenczak a.k.a. Kathleen Brown ========================================================================== Timeline: SeaQuest 2032 Author's E-Mail: kwolenczak@hotmail.com ========================================================================== Kathy's father's house. Late at night. Lucas and Kathy are upstairs, asleep, sharing the bed in Kathy's room. Downstairs, a man jimmies open the front door and walks in. He holds a can of what appears to be turpentine or perhaps Coleman fuel, with several more cans sitting just outside the door. He overturns the can and pours it onto the carpet, all across the room. Later, Lucas and Kathy are still asleep. The door opens and the pouring man comes in. He quietly sets down the can by the door and walks over to lock the window. He then leaves, without so much of a glance at the sleeping couple. In the doorway, he lights a match and drops it onto a dry piece of carpet. He closes and locks the door. Running and pouring down the stairs, he lights another match and runs out, closing the door behind himself. In Kathy's room, hearing the sound of the front door slamming, Lucas wakes, just as the liquid on the floor ignites. Frantic, Lucas wakes Kathy. She doesn't scream, just watches as the fire reflects in her eyes. Lucas hurls himself from the bed to the window and wildly begins pulling at the lock, trying and trying to open it. Kathy begins to panic. she gets out of the bed and huddles herself in the farthest corner of the room. Lucas gives up on the lock and grabs a large intricate metal lamp off her desk, hurling it at the window. The window is shattered and the lamp falls the two stories to the ground. The fire is engulfing the room, getting too close for Lucas' comfort. It's also amazingly loud. Suddenly frantic, Lucas looks for Kathy. He finds her and is by her side, trying to use brute force to pull her up. He's no match for her terror. Finally he has an idea. He lowers his head and whispers into her ear. Lucas isn't even sure if what he's saying is right, he just knows how the mention of her horses reacts in her, so he uses it to his advantage. LUCAS Remember how the horses always feel safest in their stalls, and in a fire try to stay there, but that always ends up being the _least_ safe place to be? She looks at him, nodding. He's desperate to get her out of here. He gently tugs on her arm. He's got her attention, now go for the throat. LUCAS For me, honey. C'mon. He pulls her to her feet and leads her to the window. The room is filled with thick black smoke and searing heat and huge flames. Lucas holds Kathy close to his stomach, using his back to shield her from the flames coming off of her desk. He's shirtless, she's dressed in a large satin shirt. He helps her up into the window as the flames lick at his back. She yells in pain as her right arm is light afire. Lucas slaps it out with his bare, slender, nimble-fingered hands. He nearly throws her out the window. He climbs into the window himself and as he makes a break for it, his back is shown in all it's horror. Black. And charred. Outside Kathy's parents' house. the house has been salvaged, the only room severely damaged was Kathy's. Now firefighters, police, arson detectives are gathered around, trying to determine a cause and a suspect. Hudson quietly walks around to the back of the house. On the ground beneath Kathy's bedroom window is her lamp, intact, and also the grass is burnt away. Hudson's confused. A larger policeman walks over, his southern drawl is pronounced, and very difficult to hear through. He's just trying to get the spectators out of here. Hudson is _no_ spectator. COP Can I help you, Sir? The cop is a clean-cut, despite his weight and presumed “hick" nature. HUDSON Where are the people who live here? Hudson swallows. *I haven't seen them around, are they at a hotel, the hospital, the _morgue_?* COP They ran off about four months ago, nobody's heard from ‘em. Hudson's dreading this. *What if they didn't even _try_ to save them, what if they just assumed the house was empty?* HUDSON (trying not to stutter) Yes, but...there were two teenagers, one of them was the daughter of the people who own this house. COP I just got here, you'll have to ask Willis over there, far as I know nobody came out alive. Hudson turns away, his stomach lurching with dread. Desperate to find out the truth, he walks over to a dark-skinned fireman. HUDSON (calling out) Willis? WILLIS (out of old habit, with near-mock respect) Yes, Sir. HUDSON (almost afraid to ask) Were there any survivors? WILLIS Far as I know, yeah. Soon as we got here they took the kids away in an ambulance. Willis spits. Hudson has to hold back his look of disgust. HUDSON (concerned for their health and safety) Were they all right? Willis averts his eyes and sadly shakes his head. WILLIS It's so sad, she was _such_ a pretty girl. Hudson doesn't enjoy these stalling tactics. HUDSON Where were they taken? WILLIS Hospital. HUDSON (near screaming) _Which_ hospital?! WILLIS Community Medical. Hudson turns and leaves. Willis frantically calls Hudson back. WILLIS Sir?! _Sir_?!! Hudson's gone. The quiet wing of a hospital. Hudson's walking down the hall to a nurse's desk. He whispers something to her and follows her pointing finger down the hallway. Hudson is quiet, somber. This is a burn ward, and for his two officers to be here _can't_ be a good sign. He timidly peers into a room. Inside, Kathy's lying on a bed, sleeping, alone, with a oxygen tube us her nose, feeding her the precious, life-giving gas. Hudson walks over to her. He looks beside her bed, where there sits a bouquet of yellow roses. *Lucas has gotta be fine....he's _got_ to bed*. KATHY Captain? He turns to her the sound of her voice. She's very pale. He decides to be gentle with her. He smiles lovingly. HUDSON Hey. How're you feeling? Kathy sighs softly. KATHY Sore. Breathing's a bitch. (she takes another quick breath.) Where's Lucas? Hudson smiles. HUDSON I don't know, I haven't seen him. I was hoping you could tell me. She slowly shakes her head, wincing. She looks around the room, taking stock of the situation. She can't move. Her leg hurts. Her arm hurts even more. Her head _aches_. Lungs burning. Stiff. Sore. *Hudson looks worried. If Lucas was okay, he'd ask to be in the same room. He either must be really bad or out getting me a "Get Well" present of something.* A doctor walks into the room. Kathy and Hudson both look up in fear. They're both afraid to ask, but Kathy beats Hudson to it. KATHY Where's Lucas? The doctor looks at her frightened expression. He sees how scared she is. He sighs and sits on her bed beside her, laying the chart across his lap before sighing again and beginning to speak. DOCTOR Lucas was very badly burned. A large percentage of his body was injured, somewhere within the range of forty to forty-five percent. He's been through a lot in the passed few hours and now he's just resting down in the ICU. Weak and despite unimaginable pain, Kathy still places him before herself. KATHY Can I see him? The doctor sees how much she wants this and sighs. Her hair's shoulder-length, the nurses cut it that short because about half was singed and it looked awful. She probably doesn't even know yet. He reaches out and gently places his hand on her calf. DOCTOR Wait until tomorrow. Let him rest, with you there, he'll just try to keep himself awake for your sake. It's time for Hudson to intervene. HUDSON Doctor, what's wrong with him? DOCTOR (sighs) He was badly burned on his back, his right side, and his right arm. He suffered a mild degree of smoke inhalation, but not as bad as Kathy's. HUDSON Was _she_ burned? Kathy looks at Hudson for asking such a question. She feels nothing of the sort. DOCTOR Yes. KATHY But how?! I don't remember that happening. Kathy's panicked. She tries to hitch herself up in the bed. She moves her arm out from under the blanket. It's bandaged. She looks at both the doctor and Captain Hudson for an explanation. DOCTOR Lucas told me he tried to shield you, but the sleeve of your nightgown caught fire. You were burned on your right arm and your right lower leg. *Huh?* KATHY (completely bewildered) I don't remember that.... DOCTOR You've been through quite a trauma, Miss Olivier. You're still not out of shock yet. Kathy leans back, suddenly exhausted. She sighs deeply. KATHY When can I see Lucas? DOCTOR I want you to rest first. You're sick, too. She sighs deeply. The next day. ICU. Hudson walks into the room Lucas _isn't_ sharing. The other bed is empty. Lucas is asleep, and only the barest edge of bandages are visible on his shoulder, moving under him and around to cover his arm. He's exhausted. Hudson sits beside him. Lucas turns his head at the sound of the scraping chair, slowly blinking open his heavy, bleary blue eyes. He looks at Hudson and licks his dry lips. He becomes aware of the soft beeping of his heart monitor. LUCAS Something to drink.... Hudson realizes Lucas is awake and goes over to get Lucas a small cupful of ice chips. Lucas takes a bunch to slowly munch on. He sighs and swallows. LUCAS Is Kathy okay? HUDSON (smiling) She's good. She won't shut up about wanting to see you. LUCAS Where is she? HUDSON Sleeping. She needs the rest. LUCAS I love her, Captain. HUDSON She's your sister. All big brothers love their sisters, even if it _is_ only deep down inside sometimes. LUCAS She's not my sister. She's adopted. We're not related. I love her. HUDSON "Love her" love her or just....love her? LUCAS I love her. Hudson realizes, *Whoa*. LUCAS Who did this? HUDSON They're working on it. I promise I won't let them get away with this. I'll have 'em booked on terrorism. Lucas manages a weak grin. LUCAS Captain, do you have any idea what this is like? HUDSON No. LUCAS I can't move. My skin feels like paper. It even hurts to breathe. I can't sit up, I can't stand to go pee, I can't think clearly it hurts so bad. HUDSON I think that's just the morphine. Lucas closes his eyes slowly. He sighs. LUCAS Do you know what they made me do, Captain? HUDSON (trying to be supportive) No, Lucas. LUCAS They put me in the hottest shower I've ever taken and forced me to peel off my own skin. They said it would minimize the scarring, but I think they just liked hearing me scream. HUDSON I don't think so, Lucas. LUCAS I'm going to look horrible. Kathy will hate me. HUDSON For doing one of the most chivalrous things a single man can accomplish? Placing his life before the life of the one he loves? That's absolutely irresistible to women. LUCAS How irresistible will I be when I've got more scars than the Bio skin does? Hudson sighs softly. HUDSON The first thing she did when she woke up was ask where you were, whether you were okay. When a girl cares that much about you, it doesn't matter _how_ you look, and it never will. LUCAS (not believing a word of it) Whatever. Let me sleep, Captain. Hudson sighs, not angry, knowing the pain Lucas is enduring is incredible, unable to yell at, or even be upset with, this young man. The next day. Kathy's sitting beside Lucas' bed, talking quietly with him. He's actually able to break a grin when she's around. Hudson is watching from the hallway, the rest of the crew (Ford, Tony, Dag, Lonnie, and Brody) are with him. FORD Captain, how's she doing? I know about Lucas, but how is Kathy taking all this? HENDERSON Why are you so worried about her? FORD Girls' bodies seem very important to them. HENDERSON What makes you think it's not important to guys, too, Jonathan, the boy's bulimic for Christsakes! Hudson looks into Lucas' room. Him and Kathy are both watching. Hudson sighs deeply. He turns back to Lonnie and Ford. HUDSON They may be in the hospital, but they're not deaf. Henderson sighs softly. She looks into the room. HENDERSON Sorry, guys. Kathy only nods. She looks at Lucas. LUCAS She's right. KATHY I know, honey. (Kathy gently strokes Lucas' hair.)(she smiles) Doctors say you'll be out of here in a couple weeks. LUCAS When're you leaving me? KATHY The day I die. Lucas, I'm not going anywhere without you. Besides, I'm rich and UEO insurance covers hangnails. LUCAS For you it does. And UEO insurance didn't cover me being at Christine's. Kathy stares lovingly at Lucas. He sighs and looks away. KATHY You saved my life. I owe you everything. I love you, Lucas, nothing is ever gonna change that. Not how you look, or whatever's wrong with your mind, NOTHING. He looks at her. LUCAS I'm scared. KATHY I know, honey.... Kathy leans forward and kisses Lucas' forehead. She strokes his hair back. KATHY It'll be okay. LUCAS Do you have to go? KATHY Visiting time is almost over, and I have to make time for everybody else. Besides that, I'm tired. He nods softly. He makes a superhuman effort and reaches his hand up to touch her face. LUCAS I'm tired, too. Kathy sighs and glances back at the rest of the crew. She pulls her chair closer and leans forward to lay her head on his chest. She quietly strokes her hand across his stomach and he places his hand on her back. He sighs. She closes her eyes and stays close beside him. Weeks later. Lucas is sitting in a quiet, warm room, dressed in an open-backed gown, with boxers, of course, waiting for his doctor. Kathy's there with him, dressed in civvies consisting of jeans, a T-shirt, and a large sweater. Her arm is still wrapped in an ACE bandage, her burns were quite severe, tendons were damaged when she threw her arm out to brace her fall. Their doctor, their "Burn Specialist", walks in. He smiles at both of them. Lucas doesn't smiles back. The man checks his chart and look up at Lucas. DOCTOR You seem eager to leave. LUCAS I'm sick of this hospital. I wanna go home. The doctor sighs and walks over to Lucas. DOCTOR All right. Turn around and face away. I want you to brace yourself. This may hurt. Lucas nods. The doctor opens up Lucas' gown and lets it fall onto Lucas' lap. Lucas sighs deeply. The doctor gently begins peeling the bandages off Lucas' back. Lucas winces and tightens up. The doctor continues without stopping. Lucas digs his nails into the vinyl of the table. Kathy gently takes his hand. Of all his body his back was worst. All ready he has mild scarring (when I say mild, I mean, comparatively.) on his right side, arm, shoulder, and neck. He gives a soft grunting noise as the man finishes, then we see. His back is covered in deep, thick scars, enough to look rather unpleasant, and drive us to near-nausea at the thought of this sweet young man having to deal with such an awful affliction. Kathy sighs deeply. Lucas tries to look over his shoulder at her. LUCAS Is it bad? DOCTOR It's better than I had hoped. The grafts took well, very little scarring around the edges. We have treatments that'll significantly reduce even this. LUCAS I wanna see. The doctor takes out a medium-sized mirror and holds it behind Lucas, in his line of sight. Lucas goes stark white. LUCAS Oh God.... DOCTOR Don't worry, I've seen scars these bad heal until they're barely noticeable. Even ones worse than this. LUCAS How long until I can get treated? DOCTOR It'll be a while. You need some time to finishing healing from the initial wounds, then we can move on. Lucas sighs. He looks at Kathy, trembling in fear and shame. Kathy wraps her arms around him, he sighs as the soft cloth of her sweater tickles at his skin. KATHY I love you. Lucas sighs and allows himself to be tenderly held. He manages to choke out his heartfelt words. LUCAS That's what I need right now. KATHY What? LUCAS To feel loved. To know I'm not horrible. KATHY Did people love you when you weighed 87 pounds? LUCAS (shrugging) I guess. KATHY Did they love you even after they knew what you did to yourself? Lucas nods. KATHY Did they love you when you fit into size 29 pants? He nods, grinning only barely. KATHY That's because they love you for who you are on the _inside_, not for how you look. LUCAS "There's beauty in every pure heart". KATHY Who said that? LUCAS Christine. KATHY (thoughtful) She was a smart, smart woman. Lucas nods softly. LUCAS I wanna go home. Kathy nods. One Week Later. _seaQuest_. Lounge. Lucas is sitting on a couch in a turtleneck, baseball shirt, and jeans. He's reading something. It's a story Kathy's been writing for him. Kathy walks into the room, dressed in a long, flowing skirt and a long sleeved shirt. She walks over to Lucas and whispers a sweet nothing in his ear, asking him if he'll just spend some _time_ with her. Ford, Brody, O'Neill, and Lonnie are sitting together, watching the young couple. FORD I feel so bad for the both of them. Their lives are practically ruined. O'NEILL Just because two people have had some bad luck they can never live a productive, happy life? Get real. HENDERSON Maybe they should consider some kind of surgery to lessen the scars at least a _little_. They're just kids, they should be able to enjoy life, not be afraid of it because their bodies aren't what's expected of them. BRODY Have they spoken to anyone _besides_ each other since they got back? O'NEILL You can't blame them for not wanting to associate with us. I mean, take a look around, people, here we are _talking_ about them, literally, behind their backs. You can _not_ blame them! HENDERSON (gazing off) I think he's embarrassed. Lucas and Kathy walk to the doorway, passed their table. Hearing slight behind-the-hand whispering, he turns to the table, furious. He lays his left hand on the table and leans in, his face in their faces. LUCAS We're the same people we were before this happened. We're not recluses, we're not deformed monsters, we're Lucas and Kathy and right now, even if you see us as some kind of _grotesque_ beings, we're still people and we are _scared_. Maybe, instead of talking about us behind our backs, you should talk to _us_ and tell _us_ what _you_ think. There are rumors going around that I'm blind and that Kathy's lungs were burned so badly she can't talk, but it's not true. We're still us and we're happy with who we are, because we don't try to hurt other people. FORD We thought you wanted to be left alone. LUCAS We don't want to have to talk bout what happened, but we _don't_ want to be ignored. There are other topics of conversation. FORD Why not start a conversation, Lucas? LUCAS With the way you guys are acting sitting around this table right now? Having to deal with that? Would you want to? Ford is quiet. LUCAS If you guys decide to be civil, I'll be in my quarters. Lucas leaves with Kathy. Tim shakes his head and sighs. O'NEILL Shit. Tim leaves. Outside Lucas' quarters. Lucas is lying on his back in bed, sans shirt, with Kathy, sans shirt with bra, over on top of him as they kiss. Lucas runs his hands across Kathy's back and pulls her closer as he continues to kiss her. Tim sees the scars on Lucas' back and arm and had to hold the bile down hard. It's nauseating to see this young man cut down in his prime. Tim sighs and leaves. Lucas runs his hands through Kathy's hair and kisses her on the lips. Ford's Quarters. Tim is there, stressing to Jonathan. O'NEILL I didn't know whether to be happy for them or sick right there on the floor. This is makin' me really uncomfortable, Commander. FORD Think of how it is for them. There's a gentle knock at the door. FORD Yeah. Lucas comes in, quietly. He looks tired. FORD You okay, Lucas? LUCAS Yeah, Wendy just did a test of the damage to my hand. FORD How? LUCAS She wanted to see if there was any damage to blood flow so she injected dye in and watched it that way. FORD Hurt? LUCAS Yeah. And I think the dye is makin' me kindof woozy. Can I sit down? FORD Sure. Lucas sits beside Tim. LUCAS Commander? Ford is watching intently. LUCAS Can I have a few hours liberty in a couple days? FORD Sure, what for? LUCAS A pre-op interview to get these damn things off me. FORD You _are_ getting them removed? LUCAS (nodding) As much as possible. Ford nods softly. FORD Of course, go ahead. Do the paperwork. Lucas nods softly. He stands to leave. He turns back. LUCAS Commander, we're just scared. We're not angry. Ford nods softly. His voice is equally as soft. FORD I know, Lucas. And I'm so sorry. Lucas nods. FORD If you guys need anything.... LUCAS Commander, we just need each other. Ford smiles. Lucas leaves. The door closes. THE END. ========================================================================== Copyright Kathleen Brown May, 1997.