Date: Thu, 15 Jan 1998 09:59:33 -0500
From: Richard Black <rblack@jersey.net>
Subject: [seaQuest-ff] story: Ties that Bind
To: seaquest-ff <seaquest-ff@escapenet.org>
Reply-to: seaquest-ff@stgenesis.org
Mailing-List: contact seaQuest-ff-help@stgenesis.org; run by ezmlm

A little something for you all, dedicated to all the authors who have been
keeping me entertained for the last few months. This one started as a dream,
a huge dream with lots of characters and gun fire and stuff but I pared it
down to something more reasonable. Comments are welcome!



Ties that Bind

Checking his watch and wincing at the lateness of his arrival, Lucas
Wolenczak strode briskly into the restaurant . Stopping at the hostess desk,
he informed the hostess quietly " I'm meeting my party and I'm late."
Looking around the dining room he saw Nathan Bridger give him a quick wave.
"Never mind - I see them" he said to the hostess as he started to walk
towards the table where Nathan Bridger and his family were seated.

"Hello Captain, Michael. Lexi, you look lovely." Lucas leaned over and gave
Michael's wife a kiss on the cheek. "Sorry I'm late. I had some business to
take care of and it took longer than I thought." He pulled out the empty
chair next to the Captain and sat down.

"Well, we just finished dessert and were getting ready to leave," teased
Nathan.

"Dad's just kidding, Lucas. We haven't been here too long - just ordered
drinks and an appetizer." said Alexis, Bridger's daughter in law for five
years.

"Thanks for the computer information you sent. The info really helped and as
soon as you're free, I hope you can come to the island and help me with the
program. Michelangelo has been asking about you," Michael told Lucas.

"How is that crazy dolphin? Is he better after that bout of the dolphin
flu?" Lucas asked. At Michael's affirmative nod, he continued. " I've got
some techs working on a new and smaller speaker for you, something you can
wear in your scuba gear to communicate with the dolphins while you're in the
water."

The Captain cleared his throat. "Boys, boys, no shop talk tonight! Lucas,
come down to the island and then you two can stay up all night talking about
dolphins and computers till your lips fall off. Lexi and I are here for a
nice relaxing dinner. Have you seen the latest pictures of my great
granddaughter?

Baby pictures were passed around and all the appropriate comment were made.
Lucas told his dinner companions about his trip to England to visit Admiral
Ford and his family. Lexi had just begun a long in depth description of the
Bridger family house remodeling when the waitress came to take their dinner
orders.

"I'll have the chicken with baked potato, no sour cream."

As Lexi was ordering, Lucas took a side glance at Nathan, who was staring
out the window into the darkness. Lucas gave Michael a puzzled look but
Michael just gave a shrug.

Halfway through dinner, Bridger excused himself to use the men's room. Lucas
watched him as he left. Wiping his mouth he turned to Michael. "What's
wrong? Is he sick?" Worry shown in his eyes as he questioned the younger
man.

"No, his health is fine. Still runs every morning, eats well. He's just been
depressed lately, spending lots of time by himself. It's like," he stopped
and then went on reluctantly "Granddad's lost, likes he searching for
something. He's stuck at this point in his life and doesn't't know what to
do next."

Lucas knew what that felt like. For two years now, ever since his wife left
him, he had been wandering, concentrating solely on his business and still
feeling unfulfilled. Everyone else seemed to be doing something with their
lives, except him. He felt like he was just spinning his wheels as time
passed him by.

The scrape of the chair next to him startled him and he looked up into the
Captain's eyes as Bridger patted him on the shoulder. "Deep thoughts,
Lucas?"

Lucas looked down at his plate as he scraped the last of the sauce with his
fork. He had plans for the future, plans that would change his life. What
would Bridger think? Straightening in his chair and letting a small sigh, he
looked around at the people sitting at the table with him. People who had
grown to be his family. "Let me tell you why I was late. I bought a sub."

Nathan looked at him with amazement. "You did what?"

"I bought a sub" he repeated himself. "It's a mini sub, sleeps six, has a
decent size lab, small galley." He turned to the waitress who was clearing
the table. "Coffee for me, please and bring him a large piece of chocolate
cake" he added as he waved in the direction of the Captain.

Michael gave him a huge smile. "That's great! What are you planning on doing
with it, using it for Darwin Labs?"

Lucas shook his head. "No, it'll be personal craft. I'm planning on handing
over the reins to my manager and let him run the labs. I intend to take the
sub out to explore the oceans, to work on projects and research that catches
my fancy, to find some empty beaches to relax on. That is, if I can find
someone who would be interested in going with me." He turned to the Captain.
"Well?"

"Granddad, this would be a great opportunity for you," Michael exclaimed and
Lexi nodded in agreement. "Just the other day you were talking about how you
missed exploring the ocean."

Nathan shook his head. "I'm too old to go gallivanting around the oceans."

Lucas pushed the frustration down. This would take some subtle persuasion on
his part. It was too important to him, and from what Michael said, to the
Captain to screw up now. "Yes, you're right. You've probably forgotten how
to use most of the equipment and you've been a landlubber for so long you've
forgotten what it's like to be a submariner. It would be too hard for you to
adjust to the change." He turned to give a small wink to Michael. "It's a
shame though, because I thought we could go take a look at some coral reefs.
You always liked to explore the sea life there. Then there are those
undersea colonies in the Pacific that are suppose to be state of the art. It
's been a long time since I swam with a dolphin pod; I was hoping
Michelangelo would introduce me to some of her friends."He shot a glance at
the Captain, who had a pensive look on his face.

Nathan turned to him, a gleam in his eye. "You didn't go and name it
seaQuest 4, did you?"

Lucas shook his head. "I thought Bridger's Folly would be a good name.' he
said teasingly.

Bridger gave him a thoughtful look. "How about Gazelle?"

Lucas smacked himself in the forehead. "Not that again! What about Darwin's
Delight?"

"No that sounds like an adult night club!' Bridger laughed. Michael and Lexi
were giving them a ‘we're confused but amused' look, which made Bridger
laugh even more. "We'll think of something" Nathan said as he picked up his
glass and extended it in Lucas' direction. "Partners?"

Lucas gave him a wide smile, his eyes dancing with joy, and clink his glass
with the Captain. "Partners."



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