Guess It's my turn.
Hope everyone likes it.

Diane K.

                                       ******

The surface of the moon pool was dark.  Nathan wasn't sure which way he
needed to go up, the dim underwater lights showed the walls of the tank and
not much else.  He silently berated himself for not bringing a torch.  The
deck had gone to night condition while he was out with Darwin.  No one to
blame but himself.

As much as he wanted to stay out in the water with Darwin, it was time to
come back.  Now he could face whatever Lucas and Jonathan had planned for his
birthday.  He really didn't want a big fuss.  Last year had been fun with
only the three of them.  Now, with a full crew, a small, quiet observance was
not possible.  Particularly this year.  He had looked in the mirror this
morning and didn't feel any different than he had the day before.  Only today
he was 60.  His friends cared enough to do this for him, he should appreciate
it.

Nathan looked at his guage.  He had very little air remaining in his tank.

Darwin brushed against his hip.  Nathan ran his hand along the dolphin's
sleek body until he was positioned to where Darwin could see his hands.  He
draped his elbow over the dolphin's back and then signaled Darwin to go up.
  Luckily, Darwin's sonar didn't need light.

They broke surface under the catwalk.  Nathan dropped his feet to stand in
the chest deep water.  He put up his mask, removing the scuba regulator from
his mouth.  Turning slightly, he gave Darwin an affectionate pat.   "Thanks,
pal."

"Good swim,"  Darwin replied.

Nathan rubbed his hand along the base of Darwin's dorsal.  "Very good swim."

"Bridger happier now?"

Nathan smiled at the concern in the dolphin's tone.  Darwin could be quite
sensitive to his moods.  "It's another day in the year.  Don't worry, I'll
survive."

Darwin nuzzled closer.  "Okay."

Nathan curled his hand around the joint of Darwin's left flipper and rubbed
it gently.  Darwin rolled with pleasure against his hip.

"So what have they got planned for me that you had to get me off the boat."

"We didn't tell him."   Jonathan Ford's voice came from the catwalk steps.
 "He wanted to help, we let him.  I had about given you up."

Bridger laughed.  "I was tempted to keep going, but I couldn't disappoint
everyone."  Nathan gave Darwin a final rub.  "I'll be back later."

Darwin nodded.  "After party."

"Yeah."  Bridger released the dolphin, then swam easily the few strokes to
the steps out of the moon pool.  Jonathan helped him unfasten his scuba tank
after he climbed out and then handed him a towel.

"It's a theme party.  Luca's idea."   Jonathan took his mask and fins. "I
took the liberty of raiding your closet for something suitable.  It's in your
locker."

"And the sooner I change the better."

"We are a bit late, sir."

Nathan smiled and clapped Jonathan on the shoulder.  "We'll make a better
entrance.  Call them and tell then you got me corraled.  I'll be ready in ten
minutes."

			******

Nathan combed his hair into place and gave himself a wry glance in the
mirror.  The boots and black jeans were fine, but the skintight polyester
shirt didn't feel right.   He didn't know where Jonathan had gotten the black
and orange monstrosity, but it wasn't his, even if it did fit.  He hadn't
dressed this way since he dated Wendy's mother.  What were the kids up to?

He cuffed his left sleeve absently.  That was better.  He cuffed the right
one as well, making sure they were even.  And unbuttoned the top three
buttons.  That made the shirt more comfortable.  Now all he
needed was some gold chains.  He grinned at himself.  Oh, yeah, disco king.
 Time to face the music.

The driving beat of rock n roll was apparent about half a deck length from
the entrance to the commissary.  It sounded familiar, then as the door opened
in front of him, he knew.  "In the name of love... "  Bono belted out the
mixer board that Lucas had set up in one corner of the commissary.  Trust
Wolenczak to greet him with U2.

Nathan grinned as he was surrounded by well wishers.  He gave Lonnie
Henderson a light kiss.  The Commissary had banners and balloons everywhere.
 It looked great.

Wendy Smith waited until he had greeted everyone else, then let him kiss her
on the cheek.  "Happy Birthday, Nathan."

"This looks great," he replied.  "You really went all out."

Wendy gestured to a corner table.  "The techs from the hydrophonics lab did
most of it."

Bridger looked over.  He spotted Jen, with her hands about six inches apart,
explaining something very animatedly to Betsy, Diane, Karen and Penny.

"I'll have to find someway to thank them later."

Wendy smiled.  "I'm sure you'll think of something.  Now you have to cut your
cake."

Miguel handed him the knife.   "Double chocolate."

Nathan made a long cut across the 6.  "Then it won't last long."

It took about ten minutes to cut enough for everyone with Lonnie, Tim, Miguel
and Wendy helping pass the pieces out.   Nathan looked up from his plate to
see Lonnie offering a forkful to Tim.  He had once been that young and in
love.  A very long time ago.

He felt a light touch on his arm.   Wendy.

She sat next to him.   "Having fun?"

He smiled.  "Good friends and my music, too.  Lucas must have downloaded the
entire archive."

Wendy nodded.  "He's been at it for days.  Ever since Jonathan said he could
be dee jay."

"It's fun to spin platters."

"What?"  Wendy said.

"Ask your mother next time you write."  Nathan took another bite of the
really good chocolate cake.

"What's he playing now?"

"Bee Gees."

Lonnie finished her cake and got up, coming around to his side of the table.
   She extended her hand to him.

"Show me how to dance to this."

Bridger raised a hand.  "Oh, no.  I haven't danced to this ..."

"Since you dated my mother," Wendy replied.   "But she said you'd still
remember how."

"She did?"

Wendy leaned closer.  "She sent pictures."

"Please?"  Lonnie asked.

Nathan shrugged.  "It's been a very long time."  He stood up and took her
hand gently, leading her out onto the dance floor.  He cocked his head.
 "Donna Summer.  Good enough.  Now, the back beat is a count of four and you
basically move in a square two steps at a time. Follow my lead and do what I
do."  Nathan was aware of the other dancers moving back.

Lonnie caught on fairly quickly and he could feel the rhythm of the dance
coming back to him.  Lexi was right, he hadn't forgotten.   Some of the other
couples were trying to copy their movements.  Nathan grinned.  It wasn't as
easy as it looked.  The song ended.  He pulled Lonnie to him a light hug.
 "How was that?"

She was a little out of breath.  "Wonderful.  Show me another one."

"This one you do with Tim," he replied.  "Now stand next next to me, and
bring your hip very gently in to touch mine.  It's called the BUMP, but you
have to be careful or you will bump your partner right off the floor.  Do it
in rhythm with the music.  This ABBA tune will do fine.  That's it."  He
swayed into her gently until she figured out how to match his movement.
  "Now, go dance that with Tim."

She hugged him.  "Thanks.  And Happy Birthday."

"You're welcome."

"My turn."  Wendy was beside him as another song came on.  "Do you Hustle?"
she asked, referring to the song that was playing.

Nathan laughed.  "Not very well.  But seeing as my dignity is totally shot
for the evening, why not?"  He took Wendy's hand.  "Let's do it."

Several dances with female crew later, he found time to wander over to Luca's
perch at the mixer board.   The teen grinned down at him.   "Good party."
 His fingers flashed across the keys.  "Any requests?"

Nathan smiled up at him.   "You really like doing this, don't you?"

Wolenczak grinned.  "The hunt through the archives is half the fun.  I never
knew you could dance."

"You never asked.  Got any Miami Sound Machine?"

Lucas punched up a directory.   "Yep."

"Cue it when I give you the signal.  I'm going to liven this party up."

"Cool."  Lucas hit more keys.

Nathan walked over to the Hydroponics lab table and extended his hands to the
five techs.  "C'mon, ladies, I need your help."  He took Betsy's hands and
placed them on his hips.  Then he pointed at Diane.  "You hook on to her,
then Karen, then Jen, then Penny.  It's called a conga line and each of you
needs to get another person to hook onto you.  Follow my lead."  Bridger
raised his voice.  "Okay, Lucas, hit it!!!"

Latin rhythm came blasting out of the mixer board and he began to lead the
line, swaying in time with the music.  This was one crew party they wouldn't
soon forget.  The night was still young and
he would show them how to party down.

		THE END

<VBEG>

DIANE K.