========================================================================== FACING THE FUTURE Karel Black ========================================================================== Timeline: Years Later Author's E-Mail: ========================================================================== =========================== PART 1 ===================================== Facing the Future (pt. 1) Karel Black Nathan looked eagerly out the window for the tenth time. He was so excited Kristen thought he would fall out of his wheelchair. She had to tell him several times to calm down or she would give him a sedative. The roar of the boat engine announced the arrival of their visitor. Bridger rolled his wheel chair out onto the deck to wave hello. The lone figure that emerged from the sub gave a quick wave then picked up his bag and started across the sand. Nathan knew he would stop a few minutes at Darwin's grave - he always did. Lucas then came bounding up the ramp, a large grin across his face. "Captain" he exclaimed flinging his arms around Bridger. "It's so great to see you!" They embraced for a few minutes, neither man wanting to break it. "Oh, you two act like you haven't seen each other for twenty or thirty years," said Kristen as she walked onto the deck with a tray of glasses. "Six months seems like forever." Lucas gave Kristen a kiss on the cheek. "You look better than ever, Kristen." "Flattery will get you no where," she laughed. "You're the one who decided to hole up with your experiments. We've been right here all along. And what's your excuse for not bringing Judy along?" "The doctor told her no more traveling. The baby's due in a couple of weeks and well, with all the problems last time..." Lucas stared out into the ocean, his eyes out of focus as his mind drifted into the past. He gave a small sigh and bought his attention back to the future. "Sorry, this is suppose to be a happy time." He raise his glass. "Here's to the future." Nathan and Kristin exchanged a fast glance. Now it was Bridger's turn to look out into the distance. Kristin picked up her glass to make a toast. "Here's to Lucas' impeding fatherhood!" Lucas sat back in his chair with a smile, the sadness pushed back down below the surface again. "Can you imagine me a father? I've met aliens, dealt with sea monsters and faced dangers of the deep but what do I know about babies. Judy and I are going to be bumbling fools. This baby may have a better chance being raised by wolves." He ran his fingers through his hair, sharing his feelings with the people he trusted most in the world."My own father wasn't a great example. There are so many things I want to do differently than he did." Nathan replied, "You've had enough father and big brothers in your life; maybe you picked up something from them." "I can always call you for advice, I guess, Nathan." Lucas said giving Bridger a quick grin. "You'll make a terrific grandfather". Kristin stared pointedly at Nathan. "Now" she whispered. Bridger looked at her, a disturbed look on his face. He wasn't sure how Lucas would take the news. But he felt like there was a heavy cloud hanging over their heads which ruined the beauty of the day. Kristin pulled her chair closer to Lucas and put her hand on his leg and said quietly, "Lucas, one of the reasons we asked you to visit is that we have something important to tell you. We were afraid that you'd hear it from somewhere else. Nathan's disease is progressing again and there' s not much we can do. He's only has months, maybe a year left." Bridger sighed and Kristin got up to put her arms around him. Shock registered on Lucas' face as the realization of what he'd been told hit him. He flung himself out of the chair and with a choked "excuse me" ran off the porch and down the beach. =========================== PART 2 ===================================== Bridger freed his hands from Kristin's and rubbed his chin. "Maybe we shouldn't have told him." "It's for the best; we both agreed that he needs to know. I'll go after him. We'll be back in a while." She walked down the beach to find Lucas sitting in a small grove of trees. His hands were around his knees and his head down. "Lucas Wolenchek, stop that right now," the doctor ordered. "Nathan has finally accepted this and I will not have you getting him all worked up again." Lucas lifted his head and used his hand to wipe his watery eyes. "Well, what did you expect me to do, sing and dance down the beach. You just told me my best friend is dying." Kristin sank down in the sand and put her arm around Lucas, pulling him close. "We know it's a hard thing to deal with. Nathan didn't want to interrupt this happy time in your life. But wouldn't it have been worse if you read it in a magazine? We've both come to terms with it and so will you. At least we know how much time we have left together and can enjoy and appreciate each minute." They sat together in the fading daylight, holding and comforting each other, thinking about the man that had made such a difference in both their lives. Finally, Lucas stood up and brushed off the sand. "I'm ready to go back now." Nathan saw them coming back up the beach and rolled out to the porch with the plate of cheese and crackers he had prepared. He was a little anxious about how Lucas would react, even after knowing him for all these years. Would he just leave and never call again? So many of his so-called close friends had done just that when he finally had to use the chair. This actually was one of the happiest times of his life. Coming to terms with his illness had been difficult but now he was prepared to face the future, whatever it held. All he needed was Kristin and his island. He hoped that the person who he thought of as his second son would be a part of his life till the end also. Lucas came up the steps slowly as Kristin held back a little. He knelt by the wheelchair and put his arm gently around Bridger's neck. "Everything is going to be fine. We'll have lots of happy times still, " Nathan whispered. Lucas stood up and cleared his throat. If they can deal with this, so can I, he thought to himself. "I'm starving. The salt air really makes a person hungry!" Nathan handed him the crackers and cheese, relieved that they had gotten over the worst part and grateful to Lucas for moving on. Kristin got up. "I'll start dinner." Nathan and Lucas sat quietly in the twilight, munching on cheese and crackers. Lucas told him stories about his work and they reminisced about their SeaQuest days. "I talked to Tony last week. His kids are getting big. And Dagwood is having a great time working at UEO headquarters," Lucas said. "I told Loni I was going to see you and she said to say hello. She and her husband are having problems but she's trying to work them out. Jonathan's suppose to be stopping by next week -he's taking his retirement pretty hard. Tim's teaching at Boston University. He calls every now and again" Bridger replied. "Hey, I almost forgot to tell you something." Lucas sat at the edge of his chair. "Judy wanted to be here when we asked you but I couldn't wait. We decided that we would like to name the baby "Nathan" if that's all right with you." "That would be wonderful!" Nathan smiled broadly at the thought. "Oh, great, now he's going to have a swelled head for days" complained Kristin as she stepped out the door. "Lucas, can you help bring out the food?" Lucas leapt to his feet. "Sure, Kristin." "I have a great idea Lucas" Bridger leaned forward in his chair, eyes excited by his idea. "If you're interested and Judy agrees. Why don't you, Judy and the baby come stay with us for a while? Since neither of you and Judy have much family, we could help you with the baby." "You know, that's not a bad idea. I was planning on taking sometime off any way. But are you sure you want us hanging around, I mean you know... " Bridger put his fork down. "Lucas, nothing would make me happier than to have my family around me. I don't know how long I have left and I'm going to be selfish and do everything I want to do. In fact, maybe we'll have a big BBQ and invite everyone from our SQ. days. Celebrate the fact that Lucas, our boy genius, is a father! Now I feel really old." Lucas looked from Nathan to Kristin and back again. "I'll ask Judy but I'm sure she'll agree to it. We'll come a few days after the baby arrives. It'll be great - just like the old days." And I'll be able to use Kristin's lab and see if I can help her find a cure, he thought silently to himself. He picked up a glass for a toast and as they clinked glasses together, he said " here's to the future!" -The End- ==========================================================================