"Attention On Deck!" called out the Master-at-Arms in charge of the courtroom.

Nathan Bridger stood at attention as he watched the three admirals file from the room.

"Are you alright, sir?" Commander Toby Hennessy asked from his side when the admirals had cleared the doorway.

Bridger kept looking at the now closed door and sighed.  "I don't know, Commander... am I alright?"  He turned his head towards the younger man and shook it a little.

"I don't know, sir," he shrugged.  "Right now, I don't know."

The rattle of a chain behind Bridger heralded the arrival of his escort.  Nathan glanced quickly over his shoulder and reached forward, putting the palms of his hands flat on the table in front of him.  The young Master-at-Arms reached in front of Bridger bringing the restraint chain around his waist and securing it at his back.  He reached forward and took one of Bridger's hands and brought it to his waist, snapping the handcuff that was secured to the chain around his wrist.  Then he leaned forward and secured the other hand.

"Ready, sir?" the young man asked.

Nathan turned to speak to him and his eyes fell on the stricken faces of Lucas and Kristin who were standing in the seating area of the courtroom.  "Any chance I can talk to them?" he asked his escort.

The Petty Officer looked quickly over at Lucas and Kristin and then at the other Petty Officers who made up the escort.  "Alright, sir, but just for a moment and you stay on this side of the railing and they stay on that side."

"Alright," Nathan nodded.

"And no touching, sir," the Master-at-Arms cautioned.

"No touching... you've got it," Nathan said moving forward until he was almost at the railing.  His eyes first fell on Lucas.  The boy looked like he'd been crying.  "Hey, kiddo," Nathan said softly.  "You alright?"

Lucas smiled just a little.  "Yeah, I'm alright.  I'm not the one in jail."

"There, see, I always thought it would be you first," Nathan teased. He smiled at the boy's little grin.  "It's going to be okay, Lucas."

Lucas looked him right in the eyes.  "You sure?"

"No, but I hope so," Nathan shrugged.  He looked over Lucas' shoulder at Kristin.  "Hi, babe."

Kristin smiled softly at him noting at the haggard look of his face.  "Hello, darling.  Are you getting any sleep?"

"Yeah, as a matter of fact, I am.  Nothing much else to do in the evenings than to nap."

"Nightmares?" Kristin asked cautiously.

Nathan's face became more serious and he shrugged again.  "Yeah, but different."

"How different?"

"I'm not sinking the seaQuest in these.  Now I'm kneeling over a bloody body with a gun in my hand."  He paused for a moment and looked at the top of the railing.  "God, Kris, I wish I could remember."

"I know, darling, I'm sure that you will," she reassured him.

"Cap, sorry but we've got to get going," the Master-at-Arms said.

"Okay."  He nodded towards Kristin.  "Alright if I give her a kiss?"

The young man nodded, "Yeah, just both of you keep your hands to yourself."

"Not like I have a choice," Nathan said wiggling his hands in the restraints.  He leaned forward and Kristin stood with her hands behind her back as they shared a soft, gentle kiss.  "I'll see you tomorrow," Nathan said as they pulled apart.

"Take care, my love," Kristin said softly as the escort led Nathan away.

Sitting between two guards, Nathan Bridger looked out of the tinted window of the car that had carried him from the headquarters building to the brig.  They stopped at a high fence topped with razor wire which slid open with a clank and the car pulled through into the courtyard, the fence closing behind them.  Nathan waited until both of the others in the back seat had gotten out before sliding across to step out of the car.

"Watch your head, Captain," one guard said putting out a protective hand and Nathan squinted in the bright sunlight.  Each man took an elbow and walked Bridger up the two steps into the entrance of the brig.  A short walk down a passageway brought them to a small holding room where two more guards awaited them.  An orange jumpsuit lay across the bench at the end of the room with a broad stencil on the back of it saying "UEO Prisoner".

One of the waiting guards smiled a humorless smile.  "You know the routine, Captain."  Bridger nodded and moved to stand with his face to the wall.  He heard a clanking and felt the restraints around his waist fall away.  "Turn around."  Bridger turned and now stood with his back flat against the wall.  The guard released each of his hands and then passed the restraints back to one of the other guards. Nathan continued to hold his hands at his waist until the guard took his left hand and turned it so he could read the identification bracelet attached there.  "Bridger, Nathan H," he read back to one of the other guards and then looked up at Nathan.  "Go ahead and get undressed, Captain."

Bridger took off his summer white uniform shirt and handed it to one of the guards who inspected it thoroughly.  Then he slipped out of his shoes and removed his pants and undershirt, handing over these items too.  Standing there in his shorts and socks he looked up at the guard.  "Socks?"

"Gotta come off, Captain.  Strip search means strip search."  Nathan nodded and then leaned down to pull his socks off.  When he stood back up he again looked at the guard.  "You know the routine, sir," the guard repeated.

With an impassive look on his face Bridger dropped his shorts and stepped out of them.  He stood staring straight ahead at nothing as the guard snapped on a pair of latex gloves.  The guard ran his fingers through Nathan's hair and then turned his head from side to side checking for any contraband.  "Open," he said shortly and Nathan opened his mouth.  "Lift your tongue."  Nathan complied and then looked straight ahead again as the search continued.  "Turn around, sir, and put your arms out."  Nathan winced a little at the expected touch of the guard on his back.  "Lean against the wall."  Nathan leaned his hands up against the wall and flinched a little as the body cavity search was completed.  "You can get dressed, Captain," the guard finally said.

Nathan turned from the wall and caught the orange jumpsuit that was tossed to him by one of the other guards.  He picked up his shorts and slipped them and his socks on before pulling the jumpsuit up his legs.  "Any chance I can wear my undershirt?  You guys keep this place pretty cool."

"No, sir.  You'll have to make do with a blanket."

"Aren't you guys afraid I'll hang myself on my socks?" Nathan groused.

"No, sir," the guard dead-panned.  "We're keeping an eye on you."

"I'll bet you are," Nathan said zipping up the jumpsuit and turning back to face the wall.  This time his arms were secured with handcuffs behind him.  The guards walked him to his cell and Nathan waited patiently until a heavy clank signaled that the automatic lock had released.  "Ah, home-sweet-home," he quipped.  He walked into the cell and then listened to the door clang shut heavily behind him. Backing up to the pass-through on the cell door, Nathan put his hands through and the handcuffs were removed.

"Dinner is in a couple of hours," he heard the guard call as they moved away.

Nathan waved to the camera high up in the corner of the cell before sitting down at the chair at the desk of the sparsely furnished room.  He rubbed his fingers over his forehead trying to ease the headache that, once again, pounded through his head.

Kristin, Lucas and Toby Hennessy sat around a table in the New Cape Quest Officer's Club mulling over the events of the day.

"What do you think his chances are?" Kristin asked softly.

"I don't know," Hennessy answered in a frustrated voice.  "How do you defend a man who's found kneeling over a bloody body with a gun in his hand?"  He shook his head.  "And then says he doesn't remember what happened?"

"You don't think he killed him, do you?" Lucas asked forcefully.

"No, Lucas," Hennessy said soothingly.  "I don't think he killed Trailor... but what I think doesn't matter.  It's what those three admirals think."

"He couldn't have done it, Toby," Kristin said.  "No matter how much he disliked Trailor, Nathan wouldn't have killed him."

"Then who did?" Hennessy asked.  "And why can't Bridger remember what happened?"

"I still think he was drugged," Lucas said.

"And I agree," said Kristin.  "Isn't there any way that we can get some blood samples taken from him?"

"Kristin, it's been over a week since Trailor was killed.  If he was drugged, are the drugs still going to be in his body?"

Kristin leaned back and sighed.  "Possibly..." she hesitated.  "Probably not.  We should have done this sooner."

"We didn't think of it sooner."

"This is ridiculous... Nathan would never have killed Trailor," Kristin exclaimed.

"I know," Hennessy said soothingly.  "I'm still working on it though.  I'm trying to get him checked out by the doctors for other problems and get his blood taken while that happens."

"What other problems?"

Hennessy looked decidedly uncomfortable.  "Headaches," he finally admitted.  "He's been having some really horrendous headaches."

Kristin leaned across the table.  "Probably has to do with whatever he was drugged with."

"Yeah," Hennessy said grudgingly.  "I know."

Across town a meeting of a different kind was taking place... These people were worried about Bridger's well-being too but they were worried for a different reason.

"Everything seems to be going well," the tall, blond woman said with a malicious smile.

"What's not to go well?" asked the skinny man sitting at the table.  "Bridger gets found kneeling over Trailor's body with a smoking gun in his hand... couldn't have worked out any better."

"Pulse guns don't smoke," the second man said with a frown.

"You know what I mean," the skinny man said.

The woman pulled out a chair and sat, leaning back until the front legs came off the ground.  "I'd truly love to see him rotting in that jail cell."

"I'll bring you a copy of the tape," the second man said dryly.

The woman leaned forward.  "Does he look miserable?" she asked anxiously.

"He paces... he paces a lot... and he looks like he's got a headache most of the time."

"One of the nicer side effects," the woman smiled.

"You know," the skinny man said reflectively, "I don't know whether to feel sorry about Trailor."

"Trailor was a pain in the ass," the second man said.

"And he was getting greedy," said the woman.  "We were going to have to kill him anyways... just came a little sooner than expected."

"And we got to blame Bridger for it," the second man grinned.

"Killing two birds with one stone... so to speak," the woman said with a chuckle.

Nathan was waiting patiently in his cell the next morning for the guards to come.  He knew that his sense of time was getting a little distorted but he was sure that they should have been here by now.  It had to have been at least two hours since they'd brought his breakfast.  Finally, he heard the measured tread of the guard in the hallway and the pass-through slid open.

"Your breakfast plate, if you would, Captain," said the pleasant voice of Petty Officer Sanchez.  Nathan passed the plate through the small door.  He looked at Sanchez' disapproving face in the window.  "Captain, you hardly ate any breakfast."

"Wasn't hungry."

"I understand you weren't hungry last night either, sir.  You've got to eat... it makes the time go faster."

Nathan grinned at the man.  "I'll try to remember that."  He turned his back to the door and put his hands through the small opening. By now he was getting used to it so he hardly flinched at all when the handcuffs were snapped home on his wrists.  The guard held his hands and he heard the loud, metallic clank of the door lock releasing.  Bridger backed up as the door was swung open and two guards took his arms.

They walked down the passageway and Nathan started to turn towards the holding cell where he usually dressed in his uniform but the guards kept him walking straight ahead.

"Little change in plans today, Captain," Sanchez said as they stopped outside an interview room.  Sanchez opened the door and motioned Bridger inside.  Sitting at the bare table in the room was Hennessy.

"Good morning, sir.  Admiral Kelt is sick this morning so we don't have court."

"Oh, so what do we do today?"

"We're going to take the opportunity to talk some."

Sanchez came to Bridger's side.  "You're outside your cell, sir, so the handcuffs have to stay on."  Nathan nodded.  "We're going to leave you and Commander Hennessy alone but one of us will be watching through the glass."  He indicated a mirrored glass wall on one side of the room.  "Don't pass anything between each other and stay on your own side of the table.  Any questions?"  Both Hennessy and Bridger shook their heads.  "Just to reassure you, sirs, the guard on the other side will not be able to hear you but he will be keeping you under close observation."

Nathan sat at the table opposite where Hennessy sat and waited until the guards had left the room and the door was shut.

"How are you doing, sir?" Hennessy asked.

Nathan looked at the mirrored wall a moment.  "Just ducky, Commander.  What a lovely set of restrictions I've got on me," he said discontentedly.

Hennessy shrugged.  "You're facing a court martial for first degree murder, sir.  They're bound to be a bit anal about it."

Nathan's face became somber.  "Yeah, I guess you're right."

Hennessy leaned his elbows on the table.  "Now I really did mean my question, sir.  How are you?"

"I don't know, Commander," Bridger answered softly while looking at the tabletop.  "I'm confused and concerned.  I wish I knew what was going on...." he hesitated.  "Or at least what happened."

"You still don't remember?"

"No," Nathan shook his head.  "I don't remember anything... I've told you that."

"The court and the investigating officers don't believe you, sir."

"Would you?"

"Probably not, sir," Hennessy admitted.  He also looked at the tabletop for a moment.  "How about you go over it again with me?"  He took in Bridger's look of irritation.  "Humor me, sir.  There's something that we're missing... there's got to be."

"Where do you want me to start?" Bridger asked resignedly.

"Tell me again about Commander Trailor."

Bridger sighed and closed his eyes momentarily.  "Commander Del Trailor was the project manager for the new seaQuest before I suddenly became available."

Hennessy nodded with a smile.  He'd been through the events surrounding the aftermath of the destruction of the first seaQuest and had become hard, fast friends with Bridger at that time.

"Trailor didn't particularly care for me taking over production but he didn't have much of a choice."

"Was he a problem?"

Nathan frowned a little.  "Not a whole lot," he admitted.  "His attitude stunk and he didn't care for Lucas but all in all I understood that I'd come along and bounced him out of a prime job and I cut him some slack."

"Was he an obstruction?"

"Not once we got here."  He looked over at Hennessy's frown.  "Before my crew arrived to work on the seaQuest the production was way behind for no good reason.  The timing of the contractors was off so that everything took too long to complete.  The supplies didn't show up on time... either they hadn't been ordered in a timely fashion or they were misrouted or they were lost enroute.  It was one thing after another."

"And all this was Trailor's fault?"

"I don't know," Nathan shrugged.  "Sometimes I thought it was him and sometimes I couldn't tell if it was bad luck or another force that was screwing things up."

"So why did you keep him around?"

Nathan sighed and shook his head a little.  "Now I wish I hadn't.  He knew more about the new boat than anyone else.  For some reason he and the union workers were getting along rather well and I needed him, in addition to Jonathan, to help smooth out some of the bumps." Nathan hesitated for a moment.  "And after we got to working he seemed to settle down."  He shrugged again, "Sure, he occasionally got in my face about how I was doing things but generally we tolerated each other.  My biggest problem with him was that he just couldn't stand Lucas.  Thought that he was getting in the way all the time and that this was no place for a kid to be... that and the fact that he occasionally went over my head."

"And you put up with that?" Hennessy asked surprised.

"No reason not to, Commander.  My pull was way stronger than his.  He could walk over the top of me all he wanted and I was still going to get my way."

"Did he do this often, sir?"

"Nah, every couple of months or so.  For that matter, the last time he did it was last week."

"What happened last week," Hennessy asked cautiously.

"Last week he went to Admiral Loabinski about some of my procurement methods."

"What was his problem?"

Nathan grinned a little.  "It seems that another unit had gotten one of our shipments of 7/32nd inch screws and as silly as that sounds we really needed those screws so when they refused to give them back we went and stole them."

"And what did the Admiral have to say?"

"The Admiral never got a chance because I got to the Logistics Officer first and explained what we had done.  The Logistics Officer agreed with us and the matter was dropped... with the exception that the unit that refused to give us back our screws was told that if they pull that trick again they'd be scrounging for toilet paper."

Hennessy smiled softly.  "And what happened between you and Commander Trailor?"

Nathan tilted his head a little.  "We had our normal discussion about it."

"What did your normal discussion entail?"

"Me noting to the Commander that I knew he'd gone over my head again and also noting to him that, once again, the only thing he had accomplished by his actions was to irritate me."

"No shouting?"

Nathan shook his head.  "No.  No point in shouting at him."

"I think I would have gotten rid of him," Hennessy said.

Bridger's face turned solemn.  "Some people think I did."

"Not like that, sir," Hennessy reassured him.  "I don't think you would have killed him."  He looked over at the morose look on Bridger's face.  "Why don't you take me through that day again, sir?"

"We've been through this before, Commander," Bridger said exasperated.

"I know, sir.  Humor me," he repeated.

Nathan sighed and leaned back in the chair a little, trying to find a comfortable place to put his arms and to ease the pressure on his shoulders.  "I remember leaving for work.  Lucas was late and I had to wait on him."  He stared at the tabletop again, concentrating.  "We got to work and I spent about an hour at the headquarters building before heading over to the drydock where seaQuest is being assembled."   He looked up at Hennessy.  "Commander Trailor was there.  He was coordinating the work crew that was putting the bulkheads up in the engineering spaces."

"Sounds like heavy work."

"For the work crew it was.  Trailor was just standing around making sure that the pieces were in the right places before they were fastened."

"Did you talk to him?"

"Yeah, he seemed alright.  I think he enjoyed that kind of work... you know, something where you can look at it at the end of the day and say 'hey, we built the engineering spaces today'.  You get a very tangible result."

"Did you hang around engineering or go somewhere else?"

"I hung around for a little while but Trailor worked better without me watching him so I went to the wardroom to finish up some paperwork that Jonathan had there for me."

"How long were you in the wardroom?"

Nathan shrugged again.  "I don't know, a couple of hours, I suppose."

"Anyone else come in while you were there?"

"Yeah, Jonathan came in a couple of times to keep me to the grindstone."  He grinned at Hennessy.  "I truly hate doing paperwork... and then Lucas stopped by for a moment but then he left."

"And that was all?"

"Until Trailor came by just before lunch."

"Tell me about that, sir," Hennessy said leaning forward on the table.

"When he came in he looked a little upset but no more than he usually was with me and said he wanted to talk about my watching him all the time."

"Were you?"

"No, not particularly... but when I was around him, I do have to admit that I kind of kept my eye on him... to be frank, I didn't really trust him."

"Why?"

"Gut instinct.  No good reason."

"I really don't understand why you kept this guy around, sir."

"Because, as big of a pain as he was, I'd been told that if I got rid of him I could kiss off getting a replacement... and I'd rather deal with his attitude than try to run this project another construction supervisor short.  I'm having enough problems getting this boat in the water as it is and I thought I could put up with him if it meant getting the seaQuest wet."

Hennessy stared at the wall for a moment.  "Walk me through that meeting, if you would, sir."

"What? Step-by-step?"

"Yeah."

"Let's see... the wardroom door was open so Trailor knocked on the door coping and I invited him in... he started by giving me a run-down of their progress in the engineering spaces...."

"And while he was doing that he was sitting at the table?"

Nathan thought a moment.  "No, he had gone over to get a cup of coffee."  Nathan stopped dead for a moment.  "And then he got my coffee cup and filled it."

"Could you see your coffee cup while he had it?"

"No," Nathan shook his head.  "He had his back to me and that shielded the coffee cup."

"Then he brought your cup back for you?"  Nathan nodded thoughtfully.  "And did you drink from it then?"

Nathan looked up at Hennessy.  "Yes.  During the next few minutes I drank most of the cup."

"Did it taste funny at all?"

"No... not that I noticed.  What?  You think he put something in my coffee?"

"I don't know, sir.  It's a possibility.  Alright, what happened then?"

"Then... Trailor sat at the end of the table and said he wanted to talk to me about how I was always watching him."

"How was his attitude then?"

"At first, pretty even-tempered but as we progressed in the conversation he got a bit upset."

"How upset?"

"He started yelling."

"What about you?"

"Eventually, I was yelling back," Bridger admitted.

"Do you remember what was said?"

Nathan took in a breath and expelled it before continuing.  "First, he started into that 'watching him' routine... I told him that he was right and that when I was around him I was probably watching him some but that was only because he was always second-guessing me... then he said that if I knew what I was doing no one would have to second-guess me...."  Nathan frowned a little at Hennessy.  "I didn't take that too kindly, I'm afraid... Trailor then went off on how the only reason I was running this project was that I was sucking up to the Secretary General and that if he was in charge it would be progressing much more smoothly... I pointed out that during the year he'd been working on the project he'd managed to complete only a tenth of what we'd completed in the same time... then he said that he'd be glad when the building was done with because it meant that he'd never had to work under these conditions or with me again." Nathan paused and looked up at Hennessy again.  "Then I suggested that his not working with me start right now and that he should check with his detailer about another job."

"What did he say to that?"

"He stormed out of the wardroom."

"You two had never had a showdown like this before?"

"No, not really.  We'd had arguments but the only serious run-in we'd had was when he tried to get Lucas thrown off the project and I let him know that wasn't an option."  Nathan frowned again and shook his head.  "It was almost like he was intentionally baiting me and trying to cause an argument."

"Why would he do that?"

"I don't know."

"What happened after that?"

Nathan shrugged.  "I tried to go back to my paperwork but the discussion with Trailor had given me a really horrendous headache so I decided to walk the boat a little.  It's still pretty bare but there are places where the work has progressed really well so first I went up to the bridge where they're working on deciding where to route the communications lines and then I went down to the shuttle dock where they were installing some new hydraulic switches that I'd just designed and then I walked down to forward engineering."

"Didn't it occur to you to stay out of engineering after your run-in with the Commander?"

"I figured that he'd left... I didn't stay there too long anyways since they were drilling and my head couldn't take that for too long."  He frowned.  "It was kind of like they were drilling right through my skull so I left."

"Where did you go when you left?"

Bridger looked thoughtful.  "I remember turning aft." He looked a little embarrassed.  "I had to stop for just a little while... The drilling made me a little dizzy and I stopped for a bit until I could get the deck to stop moving on me."

"So then you continued aft?"

"I... I think so," Bridger looked confused.  "I'm not really sure. This is where everything starts getting a little fuzzy."

"What's the next thing you remember?"

Nathan frowned again.  "That's getting a little hard to pin down. I've been having some nightmares that are melding with what I remember but I think it's sitting in the wardroom handcuffed with the security guards around me."

"So you've got a blank from the time you left engineering to when the guards had you in custody in the wardroom?"

"Yeah, I think so," Nathan said tentatively.

"And you don't remember anything about meeting with Trailor again?"

"No... the only thing I remember is my head hurting... and then nothing."

Hennessy leaned his elbow on the table and his chin on his hand while he thought for a while.  Finally he looked up at Nathan again.  "You said that you're having nightmares?"

"Yeah," Nathan said shortly.

"Not the ones that you were having when we were at Pearl?"

"No, those were about sinking the seaQuest... this one is about Trailor."

"Tell me about your dream, Captain."

He noticed a pained look cross Bridger's face and then the way that he closed his eyes momentarily like he was steeling himself.  "I'm not sure if it's part of reality or if it's coming out of what people are telling me happened so I don't know if it's going to help you...."

"Just tell me, sir," Hennessy said softly.

Bridger sighed resignedly.  "It starts with me in a passageway in the new seaQuest.  Everything's kind of fuzzy."

"In what way fuzzy?"

"Like there's smoke in the passageway or something."  Nathan frowned in concentration... the pained look still on his face and his eyes fixed on a corner of the room.  "I hear a noise and I turn towards it... there's a dark figure standing at the end of a small crossing passageway with his back to me... as I get closer to him the smoke in the passageway increases until I can hardly see his shape... there's kind of a pounding in my head as I get closer to him also and... I don't know...."  Nathan shrugged again.  "Kind of a feeling of dread or doom... I'm standing close enough to the figure to touch him and I'm having problems breathing because the air is so thick when the figure suddenly turns towards me...."  He looked up at Hennessy.  "And it's Trailor... and he's got a gun and he's pointing it at me when all of a sudden his face explodes....."  Nathan hesitated and his voice took on a haunting quality.  "And then all I see is the blood... there's blood on the walls and the floor and on me... blood everywhere."  He shook his head.  "That's it."

Hennessy noted the tenseness in Bridger's shoulders and jaw and the paleness of his face.  "You didn't kill him, sir."

"How do you know that, Commander?  The guards tell me that they found me kneeling over his body holding a gun... and that was right after they had heard the shot."  Bridger frowned and continued in an agitated voice.  "I don't know if I shot him, Commander.  I don't remember what happened.  What if I did?  And if I didn't... who did?"

"Sir, I can't believe that you would have shot Trailor," Hennessy said emphatically.  "It's not in your nature."

"Is that the nature that's normally me or the nature for that time that I can't remember?"  Nathan closed his eyes again as a wave of pain shot through his head.

Hennessy saw the grimace.  "Sir, I'm going to see if I can get them to take you to the hospital."

Nathan frowned at the young lawyer.  "Why?"

"Those headaches, sir.  That's not normal."

Nathan closed his eyes again and shook his head slowly.  "I'm fine, Commander."

"You're not, sir," Hennessy protested.  "When's the last time you can remember not having a headache?"

Bridger looked up at him with a feeble grin.  "Before all this began, I suppose."

"Please let me see if I can at least convince them to check you out. Having a headache for that long isn't normal."

"Right now, nothing's normal, Commander," Bridger sighed.  "But alright.  I'll go if you can convince them."

"Thank you, sir."  Hennessy looked up at the glass and pointed to the door.  Almost immediately, the door opened to admit Petty Officer Sanchez and two other Petty Officers.  "Petty Officer Sanchez, since we've got a day off what's the chance that we can get him looked at by a doctor?   He's having serious, serious headaches."

"Don't think it might have something to do with tension, do ya, sir?"

"Possibly, but there still remains the fact that he's not well right now and I'd like to have a doctor check him out."

Sanchez looked over at Bridger, the pain he was in was obvious.  "Stay here, sir, and let me check with the Officer of the Watch."  He left the room leaving the other two Petty Officers to watch over Bridger and Hennessy.  A short time later he returned with an officer in whites who came into the room and leaned back against the mirrored wall, folding his arms across his chest.

"You have a headache, sir?"

"Yeah," Bridger answered shortly.

"We can probably call over to sick bay and get you issued some meds."

"Lieutenant," Hennessy said patiently, "he's had the headache for more than a week and right now it's really bad.  I'd like to have a doctor have a look at him."

The Lieutenant fixed Hennessy with an impassionate stare.  "You don't think it might have something to do with having killed someone, do you, sir?"

"Whether it does or not, Lieutenant, he's sick and needs to be checked out."

The Lieutenant pushed up off the wall.  "Sir, do you have any idea what kind of logistics are involved in moving him around?  He's under arrest for first degree murder.  If he leaves here to see a doctor I'm going to have to send him over to the hospital at Fort Gore.  It would take half the people on my shift just to take him there."

"Your point, Lieutenant?" Hennessy commented calmly.

"My point, sir," the Lieutenant answered emphatically, "is that I don't know that I'm willing to tie up half my shift just because his head hurts."

"And if he strokes out from an embolism or something you're gonna be doing paperwork until forever, Lieutenant," Hennessy answered just as emphatically.  "And then you're going to be explaining why you refused medical treatment... but I imagine that you'll be doing that as a civilian."

The Lieutenant had a look at Bridger.  No one could fake the kind of pain that was evident on his face.  "Alright, we'll take him to the hospital... but first I've got to make some notifications."  The man spun on his heels and headed out of the door.

Sanchez looked over at one of the Petty Officers standing by.  "Go get the restraints... both the waist and the leg restraints."  He saw the sharp look that Hennessy flashed his direction.  "You gotta give in some, Commander.  You want him to go to the hospital, he's got to be in full restraints."

Hennessy nodded slightly.  "Alright."  He looked over at Bridger who still had his eyes closed.  "You alright, sir?"

"If I didn't have a headache before, I certainly have one now, Commander," he whispered painfully.  Bridger opened his eyes and raised his head a little.  "Sanchez?"

"Yes, sir?"

"Thanks," he looked up at the man.  "I know he didn't want to come in here."

"No problem, sir, I'm just glad you finally agreed to get checked out.  I've been watching you over the last few days and that headache is getting worse."

"Yeah, I know," Nathan said softly.  The Petty Officer arrived with the extra restraints and Nathan sat patiently while the leg restraints were attached to his ankles and the arm restrains were applied.  By the time the Lieutenant had returned, the guards had Nathan ready for transport.

"I get to go with you," the Lieutenant said in less than a pleasant voice.

"What about me?" Hennessy asked.

"I imagine that you can find your own way there, sir. And just to advise you ahead of time.  You cannot have access to him while he's at the hospital.  You can see him again when we bring him back... after he's been searched... but at the hospital he stays secluded."

Hennessy nodded and then saw Nathan's frown as he stood.  "Just to be sure that we weren't cooking up an escape plot, sir."

"Oh, for Christ's sake," Nathan mumbled.

"Sir, I'll be here when you get back... no matter what the time."

"There is such a thing as visiting hours, sir," the Lieutenant protested.

"Yes, there is, but when you move my client, I have a right to see him each time he's moved so I'll be here... no matter when it is."

"Yes, sir," the Lieutenant acceded.

Petty Officer Sanchez put his hand on Bridger's shoulder.  "Have you ever walked in these before, sir?"

Nathan smiled slightly.  "In leg restraints? ...No, I have to admit that's outside my circle of experience."

"Take small steps, sir, and don't try to hurry."

"Small steps... you've got it," Nathan said as he shuffled out of the interview room.

"They're taking him to the hospital," the skinny man said to the woman.

"What for?"

The man flashed a malevolent grin.  "It seems he's having these really bad headaches."

The woman smiled back.  "I'll bet he is."  She walked over to the window and looked out onto the sun-filled sky.  "It's too late... they'll never figure it out in time."

"Maybe," the skinny man said.  "But I'm going to have someone there just in case."

Toby had called Kristin on his way over to the hospital and wasn't surprised when both she and Lucas came through the emergency room doors.

"How's he doing?" Kristin asked.

"His headaches were getting a lot worse so I convinced them that he needed to be checked out."

"Yeah, but how did you convince the Captain?" Lucas asked.

"With great difficulty, Lucas.  With great difficulty."

Kristin sat down next to Hennessy.  "Have they said anything?"

"No, I pretty much followed them here and he's only been in there about 10 minutes."

"Alright," Kristin nodded.  "That's long enough for me to check on him," she said rising from her seat.

"Kris, remember that the security guys are being very cautious," Hennessy warned.

"I'm just going to check on him, Toby.  I'm not performing a jail break here."

"I know, but don't forget their side of it.  He is under arrest for murder."

"Alright, I'll watch myself," Kristin said softly.

Doctor Dave Kelsy quickly assessed the man lying on the hospital bed.  "First thing is those restraints have to go," he said to the Lieutenant standing at the foot of the bed.

"No way, sir," the Lieutenant said positively.  "The restraints stay."

Kelsy sighed and shook his head a little.  "Lieutenant, we can't get in there to work on him with that kind of restraints.  Get a couple pairs of handcuffs and secure him to the bars on either side of the bed."  He watched as Bridger opened his eyes just a moment before wincing and shutting them again.

"Sounds kinky to me," Nathan muttered.

The Lieutenant nodded at Sanchez and Bridger's restraints were moved around to the sides of the bed.

"Get me some vitals," Kelsy said to the nurse standing next to Sanchez.

The nurse busied herself with stethoscopes and blood pressure monitors as the doctor moved to check out Nathan himself.  Nathan flinched a little and opened his eyes as Kelsy touched his cheek.

"I need to check your eyes, sir.  Look straight ahead."  Kelsy quickly flashed a light across Nathan's eyes and then frowned and did it again.  "Does light hurt?"

"Almost everything hurts right now, Doctor."

"Um hmm," Kelsy mumbled moving to checking Nathan's ears and then his throat.  "Open your mouth."

Nathan glanced over at Petty Officer Coleman who had conducted his search the previous day.  "Your kind of guy, Coleman?"  Nathan grinned a little at the question on the doctor's face.  "Coleman is the master of body cavity searches."

"Oh, that sounds pleasant," Kelsy said sarcastically shining a light down Bridger's throat.  "Say, 'ahh'."  Nathan complied.  Kelsy moved down to check the sounds in Bridger's chest with his stethoscope and looked up at the nurse.

"Pulse, 120; respiration, 12; blood pressure 210 over 180."  Kelsy saw Nathan frown at the last number.

"That's high."

"It most definitely is high, sir.  Do you have a history of high blood pressure?"

"No, usually it's kind of low."

"Well, that's higher than stress would account for," the doctor said and looked up at the security Lieutenant who was frowning.  "Looks like your gonna be here for a while."

"Why?"

"His blood pressure is way out of line.  We're going to need to do some tests to find out why... and to be honest, unless we can get it down he's going to be staying the night."

The Lieutenant shook his head vigorously.  "No way, sir.  He comes back to the brig tonight."

"Not unless I say so, Lieutenant," Doctor Kelsy said positively.  "If we release him with his pressure that high we might as well sign his death warrant."

"Capital punishment has been abolished, sir," the Lieutenant remarked dryly.

Kelsy smiled quickly.  "A view you apparently don't agree with. Doesn't matter, Lieutenant, if I say he stays... he stays.  Besides, I may be able to get his pressure down and he's going to be busy for a while having tests anyways."

"How long is a while?" the Lieutenant asked.

"At least three hours."

"Ah, hell," the Lieutenant muttered.

Kristin stood patiently outside the trauma room where they were treating Nathan quietly conversing with the emergency room staff. The guards at the door made no pretense that they were carefully watching her when the door opened and Dave Kelsy came out.  Beyond him, Kristin saw Nathan clothed in an orange jumpsuit on the treatment bed with his arms handcuffed to the sides of the bed.

"Hi Dave," she smiled at the young doctor.  She'd worked with Kelsy before and really liked his style.  The man was efficient, competent and had a true concern for the welfare of his patients.  "Anything you can tell me?"

"Well, I'm not sure what's wrong yet but his blood pressure is sky-high."

Kristin frowned.  "Usually his pressure is low."

"Yeah, that's what he said but right now it's not.  It's higher than I can attribute to stress... even in his situation."

"You know about the memory loss?"  Kelsy shook his head.  "Nathan says that the day of the shooting he started getting a headache and then shortly before Trailor was shot he can't remember anything. Nothing until later when he was in the wardroom with the guards." She looked at the frown on Kelsy's face.  "I suspect he was drugged in some way, possibly by Trailor himself but I would imagine that anything he'd received a week ago would be out of his system by now."

"I would think so," Kelsy said thoughtfully.  "I'm ordering up a meta-cat scan and some blood tests.  I'll make sure that the blood tests are thorough and maybe we'll be lucky and find something."

"Thanks, I'm going to be out in the waiting room."  She glanced over at the guards who were still watching her.  "I think I make them nervous and I don't want to cause any more trouble for Nathan."

Kelsy patted her on the arm.  "Okay, Kris.  I'll let you know if we find anything."

Kristin went back to the waiting room and tiredly sank into the chair next to Toby Hennessy.  Nathan wasn't the only one who was having trouble sleeping these days.

"His blood pressure is way out of line and they're taking him for tests."  She frowned at the floor.  "I just wish there was some way of finding out if he was really poisoned."

"I think I know when it happened," Hennessy said.

"When?"

"That day in the wardroom and I think it was Trailor who did it." Hennessy related what Nathan had told him about Trailor getting his coffee.

"I just wish there was some way to find out what it was," Kristin said frustrated.

"There is," Lucas said.

"How?"

Lucas shrugged.  "I was just in the wardroom this morning and I noticed that the Cap's coffee cup was over in the corner.  It hasn't been emptied and it occurred to me that he wasn't going to be real happy about his coffee cup sitting around collecting mold."

"It was still there with coffee in it?" Kristin asked excitedly.

"It was this morning."

"Jonathan," Kristin said heading for a vid-phone.  She returned a short time later.  "He's going to get the cup and bring it and its contents here.  I'm going to let Doctor Kelsy know."  She turned but was stopped by Dave Kelsy himself who had come out to talk to them. He motioned her into a chair as she explained about the coffee cup.

"That would be good," Kelsy said nodding.  "Do you know that he's had additional memory loss over the last week?"

"No," Kristin said softly.  "We haven't been able to talk much."

"Yeah, seems like at least a portion of every day..."  Kelsy looked thoughtful.  "And he's having what he refers to as fuzzy periods."

"That I knew about," Hennessy said.  "He says that it's kind of like he's removed from the ground a bit and floating over what's going on around him."

Kelsy nodded and stroked his chin broodingly.  "I don't know of anything that would cause the symptoms we're seeing now, though."

"How about we talk to a toxicologist?" Kristin asked.

"You know a good one?"

"I know the best one, Dave," Kristin stood and took his arm.  "Let's make a phone call."

"So what's going on?" the woman asked the man on the screen.

"They're doing all sorts of tests on him.  The most they've figured out now is that his blood pressure is going through the roof."

The woman smiled softly.  "And that will get worse."

"The Westphalen woman is here helping out the doctors though.  She makes me nervous."

"Then get rid of her."

"How the hell am I supposed to do that?"

The woman sighed in frustration.  It was so hard to find good help these days.  "It would seem to me that you've got a vested interest in keeping them apart since they could be working on an escape.  Why don't you just ban the woman from the hospital until Bridger's treatment is completed."  A malevolent smile crossed her face.  "Or until Bridger dies."

"That needs to be soon, by the way.  It appears that he's remembering things."

"It'll be soon, don't you worry," the woman said calmly before the screen went dark.

"Doctor Westphalen," Lieutenant Kale Dramont called.

Kristin stopped just as she and Kelsy were going to enter the doctor's lounge.  "Yes?"

"Doctor, I'm in charge of Captain Bridger's security detail and I'm afraid I've got to insist that you leave the hospital."

"Whatever for?" Kristin asked in a shocked voice.

"As long as you're here in the building you complicate the security situation to the extent that I've got to order you to leave."

"Do you mean that you think I'd try to arrange an escape?"

"You complicate the situation, Doctor," the Lieutenant repeated.

"Too bad," Kristin said firmly and turned back towards the lounge.

Dramont grabbed her arm.  "You're going to leave, Doctor," he insisted.

Kristin fixed the young lieutenant with a firm stare.  "First, I'm not going to leave.  I'm a civilian and you can't *order* me to do anything," she spat out.  "Second, my help has been requested by the staff of this hospital and I intend to give it... and third, if you don't take your hand off my arm right now you're not going to have a hand."  The lieutenant quickly dropped his hand from her arm.  "And if you've got any problem with me assisting in Captain Bridger's
care... and mind you, at no time have I had any patient contact... you can take it up with the Secretary General."  Kristin quickly turned and went into the lounge slamming the door in the face of the young lieutenant as she did so.

"Phew, remind me never to piss you off, Kristin," Kelsy said.

"If that pompous little ass thinks that I'm not going to do everything I can to find out what's wrong with Nathan then he's sorely mistaken."  She glanced back at the door quickly.  "Let's get this phone call made before he decides to come back with re-enforcements."

Nathan grimaced as the meta-cat machine finished its last pass over his head.  The machine made a soft thrumming sound... at least the sound was probably soft to everyone else.  In Nathan's case the sound of the machine was boring through his head and he felt that there was a distinct possibility that his head would just explode.

The technician came over to remove the foam blocks that had secured his head.  "How are you feeling, Captain?" she asked softly.

"God, I feel awful," Nathan answered in a pained voice.

"Perhaps, now that the tests are done they'll be able to give you something for your headache."

"I hope so," Nathan answered fervently.  He opened his eyes only for a moment while they moved him from the meta-cat machine and onto the transport bed.  He closed his eyes again as his escort re-affixed the handcuffs to his wrists.  He'd been sensitive to light before but now it seemed much worse... especially since he was lying on his back looking at the lights on the ceiling.  Consciously, Nathan tried to relax his body as they wheeled him back to the emergency room, knowing that he'd fail but trying none the less.

"So what are the symptoms?" the grey-haired man on the other side of the screen asked.

"Initially, they included headache, dizziness and a block of memory loss.  Now the headache has continued and gotten worse, accompanied by a severe increase in blood pressure, continued memory problems and an increasing sensitivity to light," Kristin replied.

Kelsy looked over the report that had just popped up on his med-screen.  "And there's evidence of vascular constriction in the brain."  He shrugged.  "At least we know where the high blood pressure is coming from."

"Memory loss, you say?"

"Yes," Kristin nodded.  "At first he had a solid block of memory loss and now he's having periods each day where he can't remember anything."

"And how long ago did you say that you though he might have ingested whatever he's ingested?"

"Eight days."

"Oh, and the fuzzy feeling," Kelsy said to Kristin.

"Fuzzy feeling?" the older man asked leaning forward.

"Yes, Mike, he's complaining that he's having periods where he's kind of separated from the rest of the world."

"Like he's in a cloud?"

"Exactly."

Mike looked thoughtful on the other end of the connection.  "You've tested for all the common toxins, lead and such?"

"Yes, no indication."

Mike stared off-screen a moment.  "Despite his condition would you say that he's extremely calm?"

"Mike, during that period he can't remember from eight days ago he's been accused of committing a violent murder... despite that and the fact that he's now facing a court martial for murder he's been disgustingly calm."

"If you tell me that he's lost his appetite, I think I can pin it down."

Kelsy looked over at Kristin.  "One of his guards tells me that he hasn't eaten in two days."

The older man nodded.  "Locomotrol."

"What's that?" Kelsy asked.

"It was originally manufactured to assist in psychotic patients... controls their runaway mental processes enough that they at least had some ability to act in normal society."

"I've never heard of it," Kristin said.

"It never made it on the market, Kristin."  Mike sighed and shook his head a little.  "Some nasty side effects.  Like skyrocketing blood pressure, memory loss and a little of everything that you've talked about.  It calmed the person down but it was almost guaranteed to kill him."

"What do we check for to see if that's it?" Kelsy asked.

Mike shook his head again.  "The bloodstream dilutes it too much to be able to even trace it... especially after eight days.  Right now it isn't so much the drug in his system as the nerve synapses that the drug has triggered."

"How long does it take to work out of his system?" Kristin asked a little hopefully.

"It won't," Mike said sadly.  "If it's Locomtrol and it's not counteracted, it will kill him."  Mike saw the concerned look on Kristin's face.  "After eight days I'm surprised it hasn't already."

Kelsy noted how pale Kristin had become and took over the conversation.  "We think we've got a sample of the coffee that it may have been administered in.  Is there some way we can test that?"

"Yeah, that would be perfect, actually.  Coffee is a medium that works well with this kind of synthetic drug.  It doesn't try to bind with it but remains separate."

"What do we do if we find it is Locomotrol?"  Kristin almost whispered.

"The treatment isn't easy, Kristin.  It involves injecting counter-drugs and then inducing a coma to allow the nerve synapses time to heal.  The longest coma I've seen needed was three days... but that person had been exposed only a day before.  I have no idea what timeline you're talking about for an exposure over a week old."  His face became a bit more somber.  "And it's also impossible to predict what kind of damage has occurred in the last week.  There could be permanent effects."

"What kind of permanent effects?"

"Brain or motor damage, damage to his vision and inner ear functions, it could be almost anything."  Mike looked up with a solemn face.  "It's really a nasty drug."

"Why in God's name are they making it?" Kristin wondered.

Mike rubbed his face.  "Because it works in horses, Kristin.  For horses who are violent or extremely difficult to control, Locomotrol is used to calm them down enough to train... but it's not supposed to be used on humans."

"Can you give us details on the recommended treatment?" Kelsy asked.

They saw Mike press a button just out of their vision.  "It should be printing across for you now."

Kristin and Kelsy watched the printout feed from the just below the screen, reading it as it advanced.  As they watched the look on both of their faces became more and more grave.  "You're serious about this?" Kelsy asked.

"I'm afraid so," Mike said with a somber face.  "It's kind of controlled poisoning of the body and needs to be handled carefully."

Kelsy nodded and ripped off the sheet.  "Alright.  Thank you, Doctor Mankin."

"You're welcome and keep me apprised on how he's doing."

"We will," Kelsy reassured him.

Mike smiled softly, "And Kristin... take care of yourself."

"I will, Mike, thank you."

They disconnected the line and Kristin looked over at Kelsy.  She nodded at the paper in his hand.  "That's very scary, Dave."

"Yeah, it is... but do you have any other ideas?"

"No," she said walking to the lounge door and opening it.  On the other side was Lieutenant Dramont standing with two other security guards.  Kristin looked back at Kelsy with a humorless smile.  "See, I told you he'd go for re-enforcements."

"Doctor Westphalen, you're leaving this building," Dramont said assertively.

"I don't think so, Lieutenant," Kristin said softly but with just a little edge on her voice.  She spotted Jonathan Ford approaching from the emergency room entrance.

"Doc, we've got it and there's almost a quarter cup of the coffee still left," he frowned a little towards her.  "Although it's got a pretty ripe covering of mold at the moment."

"What's that?" Dramont asked.

Kristin shot him a wilting glance.  "That's the coffee that we think Commander Trailor poisoned Captain Bridger with."

Dramont moved towards Ford.  "Then it's evidence.  I'll take that, Commander."

"I don't think so," Jonathan responded.  "It goes to the lab first."

"Commander, it's evidence," Dramont said forcibly.

"Not after a week of sitting in an open wardroom, Lieutenant.  Right now the only thing contained in this cup is moldy coffee and it's going to the lab."

Dramont moved towards Ford again and Ford turned away.  Smoothly, Doctor Kelsy moved around both of them and took the cup heading down the hallway with it.  Dramont moved to catch him but had his way blocked by Ford and the two seaQuest crewmen who had accompanied him.

"Commander, you're obstructing justice."

"No, Lieutenant, I'm obstructing you.  If there's anything left of the coffee after the lab gets done with it you can have it but in the meanwhile the lab gets first dibs."

"You can be brought up on charges for this, sir."

Ford moved until he was just inches from Dramont's face.  His voice was low and ominous.  "Let me tell you something, Lieutenant," he pointed towards the entrance to the emergency treatment room.  "You've got a man in there that I'd not only give up my career but also give up my life for... if you think that I'm going to allow you to get in the way of his treatment you are sorely mistaken."

"Sir, he's a prisoner on trial for murder."

"He didn't kill him, Lieutenant.  I don't care what easy road your investigators took... Bridger didn't kill Trailor.  He probably should have somewhere in the last four months but he didn't and I believe that your job is to guard the prisoner.  Why don't you get back to your job, Lieutenant, and let the rest of us sort out what happened aboard the seaQuest eight days ago?"

"That's not your job either, sir."

"No," Ford responded and then pointed behind Dramont.  "It's his job."  Dramont turned to see one of the investigative commanders standing behind him.

"Did you get the coffee to the lab?" the tall, dark Commander asked Ford.

Ford nodded while still staring at Dramont.  "Yeah, one of the doctors just took it down."

"Good," he looked over at Dramont.  "How's your prisoner doing?"

"Just fine, sir," Dramont answered, still looking at Ford.  "He's doing just fine."  The tall lieutenant moved off towards the treatment area.

"I don't think he likes you," the Commander said to Ford.

Jonathan was still staring after Dramont.  "I don't give a damn," he said softly.

Nathan had been moved up to a cubicle in the intensive care unit.  He was alone in the cubicle... except for his ever-present guard who was seated in a chair near the door.  Nathan opened his eyes when he heard a bustle at the foot of his bed.  Doctor Kelsy was standing there with a med-slate in his hand.

"Captain, I think we've identified the root of your problem.  You've been poisoned with a drug call Locomotrol."

"Who the hell would want to poison me?"

"Considering that we found it in the coffee you had during your argument with Trailor and he's the one who poured your coffee we think he gave it to you.  It's what's causing most of your problems."

"Is that good or bad?" Nathan asked tiredly with his eyes shut again.

"Yes," Kelsy answered simply.  "It's good because we know what it is.  It's bad because the treatment is pretty dramatic."

"In what way?"

"For the treatment we need to inject you with a series of drugs. Generally we inject you with one and then inject you with another to counteract the first one."  Nathan opened his eyes and squinted at him.  "You need to be conscious while we do this so that we can gauge if there's any immediate allergic reaction."  Bridger still looked at him silently and Kelsy took a deep breath.  "The injections are not going to be pleasant, I'm afraid.  They're countermanding each other so there's a rather unpleasant reaction between them as they meet in your bloodstream."

"Unpleasant how?"

"Generally, sir, it's going to be rather painful."

Bridger shut his eyes again.  "Wonderful," he said in a fatalistic voice.  "What's the alternative?"

Kelsy sighed and told him the truth.  "There isn't much of one, sir. We've talked with the experts on this drug and it's really the only way."  He paused just a moment before continuing.  "There's also a part two of the treatment and that involves inducing a coma to allow your nerve synapses a chance to recover from both the drug and the treatment."

"What if I don't go through the treatment?"

"The drug has already started up reactions in your nerve synapses. That's the reason for your sensitivity to light and your high blood pressure along with miscellaneous problems like your lack of appetite and memory loss.  Without the treatment I can guarantee that those problems will increase and intensify and eventually cause your death."

"How long?"

Kelsy looked a little uncomfortable.  "Actually, sir, we're all amazed that you're still alive.  By all accounts the Locomotrol should have killed you already."

Bridger opened his eyes again and Kelsy was again amazed by the calmness apparent in them even through the pain.  Kelsy wondered if it really was one of the effects of the drug or if Bridger was just naturally calm under pressure.  "Why hasn't it?"

"We've talked about that, sir.  We think that possibly the argument you got into and then the events surrounding the murder actually worked in your favor.  Your blood pressure probably went way up right then and caused the drug to work through your system faster than normal and therefore your body had less exposure to the drug than is usual... unfortunately it still did have exposure and the reactions started by the drug still occurred... they're just taking longer to
show themselves."

"Any chance that it might just work it's way through?"

"No, sir," Kelsy answered frankly.  "You're exhibiting more and more symptoms and the symptoms you're showing are getting much more serious... almost like they're working in exponential time.  You had a little lack of appetite a few days ago but in the last two days you've hardly eaten anything, yesterday you said you were a little sensitive to light and today it's much worse, your blood pressure keeps on going up even though we've taken every measure we can to reduce it... altogether your body is reacting more and more and showing no sign of the effects of the drug decreasing."

Nathan nodded and grimaced as he shut his eyes again.  "Inducing a coma sounds like a drastic measure," he said calmly.

"It is, sir."

"I assume that there's a chance that I might not come out of it."

"Yes, sir, I'm afraid so."  Kelsy sighed again.  "And I can't even give you an idea of the chances... we're just in uncharted territory here."

"Other dangers?"

"There's a possibility of brain damage... to be honest there's a possibility that brain damage may have already occurred although I don't see any evidence of it at the moment.  There's a possibility of permanent damage to your vision.  There's a possibility that your body won't tolerate the treatment and it can have any number of reactions from your standard cardiac arrest to anaphylactic shock where you stop breathing.  Do you want me to continue?"

Nathan sighed deeply.  "Doctor, what I want is for it to be about nine days ago and we get to replay this whole mess."  He again opened his eyes and looked right at the young doctor.  "So my options are to take the treatment and possibly have it kill me or let this drug work it's course in which case I'll most certainly die."

Kelsy nodded somberly.  "That's a pretty good summary, sir."

"I'll tell you the truth, Doctor," Nathan said tiredly.  "I really don't feel like dying today.  How about we go with the treatment?"

"Very good, sir, I'll get it set up."

"Any chance I can see Lucas and Kristin first?"

Kelsy glanced over at the guard.  "I'll arrange it, sir, one way or another."

"Thanks," Nathan said closing his eyes and sighing wearily.

Nathan didn't know how Kelsy had managed it but it was only a few minutes until Lucas and Kristin were waiting at the door of his cubicle.  Lucas looked in with concern.  The Captain had looked tired when he saw him yesterday but he looked much worse now.  He looked gaunt and his color was bad, almost a grey tinge on his skin.  Lucas cautiously approached the bed and took one of Bridger's hands in his.

Nathan opened pain-filled eyes and smiled softly at the boy.  "Hey, there kiddo."

"How are you doing, sir?"

"We'll know in a little while I guess."  Nathan's face turned serious.  "You two will take care of each other, right?"

"We will, sir, but you're going to be around to help us."

"Yeah, I think so too but just in case...."

Lucas nodded softly.  "Don't worry about that, sir.  I'll watch after her."

Nathan nodded and shifted his gaze to Kristin who moved up to take Lucas' place.  "And I'll keep an eye on him," she said softly.

"He needs to have an eye kept on him sometimes," Nathan grinned just a little.  "Are you going to manage to be here during the treatment?"

She nodded.  "One way or another, I'll be here, I promise."

"Good.  That would be good," he said tiredly.  "I love you, Kris."

Kristin brought her hand up to stroke the side of his face.  He really did look much worse than he had when they brought him in.  "I love you too, darling."

Nathan's voice rallied for just a little while.  "You remember the rules, right?"

"I remember them," she said softly.  "I'll follow your wishes."

Nathan's eyes slid closed again and he nodded tiredly.

Toby Hennessy had come in the cubicle to stand by the end of the bed.  "Anything you need from me, sir?"

"I don't think so," Nathan answered wearily.  "Kristin has my instructions."  He opened his eyes again and looked at the young lawyer.  "One thing though, I've decided that the nightmares are just me remembering what happened."  He stopped to catch his breath.  "And I remembered something more... just before Trailor's face exploded I heard a noise from just behind and to the right of me.  It was the sound of a shot."  He paused again while he breathed deeply.  "I didn't do it, Commander.  I didn't kill him.  It was someone else behind me.  I'm sure of it."

Hennessy nodded.  "I knew you hadn't, sir.  Now we just need to find out who it was."

"Tell ya what," Bridger grinned a little.  "While I'm asleep I'll give you some time to work on that one."

"You got it, sir," Hennessy grinned back.  He looked over at Lucas and nodded his head towards the door.  The boy followed Hennessy out and left Nathan and Kristin alone for just a little while.  They stood in the waiting area of the intensive care unit until Kristin came walking slowly down the hallway.  She stopped and leaned against the wall, not looking at either of them.  Lucas came up and slipped his arm around her shoulders and she turned her head to lean against him.

"He's a strong guy, Doc.  He'll be alright... I know he will," Lucas whispered softly.

Kristin pulled her head up and smiled gently at him.  "I hope so, Lucas.  I really need him."  She turned to Hennessy.  "Do you think you can do anything about clearing him while he's unconscious."

"I can try, Doctor.  I'm not quite sure what, but I'll try to see what can be done."

"It has to be someone who was on the seaQuest at that time," Lucas noted.

Hennessy nodded.  "They keep a list, I imagine."

"Yeah, you have to swipe your ID each time you go onboard and swipe again when you leave.  Commander Ford should be able to get that info for us."

"I'll go find him right now," Hennessy said turning for the elevators.

"I've got a question though," Lucas said in a low voice.  Hennessy turned back to him.  "What did the Captain mean by his instructions?"

Hennessy looked over at Kristin who took Lucas' hand and pulled him down into a chair next to where she sat.  "He means his living will. I've got the instructions and the hospital has been given a copy. Generally, it states that if he gets into a hopeless situation or if the only way that he's being kept alive is through the intervention of medical equipment such as a ventilator or heart stimulator that he's to be removed from that equipment."

"And allowed to die," Lucas said in a voice that was barely a whisper.

"Yes."

"You could do that?"

"Yes, because that's the way he wants it, Lucas.  I hope to God that I don't have to make that decision but if I need to I will."

"So you hold his health care power of attorney?" Hennessy asked.

"Yes, and he holds mine."

"Well, we'll pray that it never has to be used," Hennessy said patting Lucas on the shoulder.  "I'm going to find Commander Ford."

Well?" the woman asked.

Dramont looked at the screen uncomfortably.  "They're going to start the treatment any minute now."

"He'll never survive," she said confidently.

"I couldn't get rid of the Westphalen woman," Dramont said not looking at the screen.

The woman said nothing... nothing until Dramont finally screwed up his courage to look at her.  "I've heard that she's very good.  An excellent doctor and that Bridger and she are devoted to each other."

"I can't even really get close to her now."

"She's not really your concern, is she?" the woman answered simply. Dramont just looked at her questioningly.  "Your concern is to ensure that Bridger doesn't survive... he's got an amazing ability to survive, you know... I've experienced that several times now.  Your job is to be sure that he dies... and dies soon," she said vehemently.

"He's got people all around him now.  How the hell am I supposed to do that?" Dramont asked angrily.

"I don't care," she answered back just as angrily.  "Just make sure it gets done," she said cutting the connection.

Hennessy didn't have to go far to find Ford.  He was standing in the lobby of the hospital with Secretary General Noyce and Doctor Kelsy.

"Good afternoon, Commander. It's been a while," Noyce said holding out his hand.

Hennessy smiled as he shook Noyce's hand.  "Seems like we only meet when Captain Bridger is in trouble, sir."

"Actually, that's rather often," Noyce smiled softly.

"I suppose it is, sir.  Fortunately, he usually isn't in need of legal representation."

"No, this time he's managed to get into an exceptional situation."

"He didn't kill him, sir," Hennessy said in a confident voice.

"Can you prove that, Commander?"

"Not yet, but I'm working on it," Hennessy looked over at Ford.  "Commander, I need your help."

"Anything I can do, I will," Ford assured him.

"The Captain remembers the sound of a shot from behind him just before Trailor was hit.  Whoever it was should have been checked onto the seaQuest so I need a list of who was on the boat at the time of the murder."

"That's going to be about three dozen people, Commander," Ford said hesitantly.

Hennessy smiled a little.  "Then the sooner I get the list the sooner I'll get through the three dozen."

"Could you use some help, Commander?" Noyce asked.

"Always, sir."

"I've talked with the head investigator, Commander Ahn.  I don't think he's convinced of Nathan's guilt even though he had to present the information.  I think that given a chance he'd like to continue the investigation."

Hennessy sighed,  "With your permission then, Mister Secretary, I'd like to reopen this investigation while the Captain is out of commission for a while."

"By all means, Commander.  Give it your best shot," Noyce said in a heartfelt voice.

From all appearances, Bridger was sound asleep but Kristin knew better.  She knew that he was working on keeping calm before the treatment started and the only evidence of his tenseness was an occasional clenching of his jaw.  The little cubicle was crowded even though Dave Kelsy had kicked out one of the security guards.  For some reason Dramont seemed to think that he and another guard should be around to observe the treatment.  Kristin shook her head to herself... as if there was any chance that Nathan would be masterminding an escape at this point.  Finally, Kelsy had simply told Dramont that one of them had to leave or he'd get both of them kicked out and true to form, Dramont had chosen to stay himself. Kristin assumed that he wanted to see Nathan's pain.  She didn't like the Lieutenant much at all.

Kristin punched at the keys of the monitor in the corner of the room and the kindly face of Mike Mankin appeared on the screen.  "Good evening, Doctor Mankin, we're almost ready."

"Good," they could see him looking at the bottom of his screen.  "I can see the vitals just fine.  How's your patient doing?"

"Their patient wishes that this was all over with," Nathan mumbled from the bed without opening his eyes.

Mankin smiled.  "A good sense of humor may be important here, Captain.  Hang on to that."

Nathan smiled and chuckled slightly.  "I'll try."

"You about ready, Captain?" Kelsy asked.

"Oh, yeah," said Nathan opening his eyes a little and then squinting.  "Anytime you want to start."

Kelsy took a syringe from the tray next to him and put the needle into the intravenous line that was inserted in Nathan's arm.  "The first couple shouldn't do more than cause you a little discomfort, Captain."  He looked over at the attending nurse.  "Enter the first injection at 6:10 p.m." The nurse made an entry on a med-slate.

"How many all together?"

"Six different drugs and we'll be taking a little while between them to ensure that you don't have a reaction.  So there's the first one and now we'll wait twenty minutes before injecting the second."

"So this whole thing is going to take two hours?" Nathan asked with a frown.

"Yes, sir.  Better to take it slow and be careful."

"And then when do you knock me out?"

"About a half hour after the last injection."

Nathan shut his eyes again.  "It's going to be a very long evening, isn't it, Doctor?"

"I'm afraid so, sir."

"You know, you can call me Nathan if you want."

Kelsy smiled.  "Alright, Nathan."  He looked at his watch.  "Time for number two."

"How do you feel, darling?" Kristin asked oblivious to the raising of Mankin's eyebrows.

"At the moment just as bad as I have up to now but no worse.  So I suppose that qualifies as good."  He winced just a little as Kelsy completed the second injection.

"Note the second injection at 6:30, please," he asked the nurse.  "How was that one?"

"Not bad," Nathan sighed.  "A little uncomfortable but it didn't really hurt, more like an unpleasant pressure."

Kelsy turned to put the syringe away.  "Well, you'll be happy to know that you've got the court all messed up.  Apparently they were hoping to complete the trial this week but now they're going to have to wait."

"Yeah, too bad.  They've got to wait for me."  A small smile crossed Nathan's face.  "Serves them right, they were ram-rodding the damned thing through anyways."

"In what way?" Kelsy asked.

"I've never seen a court martial get held as fast as this one. Usually they take at least a month or more just to get their act together."

"Probably has to do with obvious guilt," Dramont mumbled in the corner where they had made him stand.

"And if you say one more word, Lieutenant, or upset my patient in any way.  I'm throwing you and your attitude out of here.  Do I make myself clear?" Kelsy said in a threatening voice.

"Yes, sir," Dramont said quietly, his eyes fixed on Bridger's face. For just one moment he looked up at Kristin and almost flinched from the anger he saw reflected there.  He was going to have to be sure that he stayed clear of that one.

Kelsy turned to look over the various monitors and screens that were keeping track of what was happening in Bridger's body.  Then he looked over at the vid-screen.  "What do you think, Doctor Mankin?"

"Looks good to me.  I think you're ready for the third injection."

"6:50," Kelsy said to the nurse as he started injecting the drug.

Nathan felt the cool touch of Kristin's hand along the side of his face as Kelsy pushed down on the syringe.  He opened his eyes to look and smile at her just in time for the smile to turn into a grimace as the drug coursed through his veins creating a not painful, but extremely uncomfortable feeling.

"Alright?" she asked him.

"Yeah," he said through another grimace.  "Just not the most comfortable thing I've ever been through."

Kelsy intently watched the monitors while talking to Bridger.  "Oh, you might be interested to know that they're reopening the investigation."

Nathan tried to concentrate on relaxing as the uncomfortable feeling in his arm and chest moved down into his torso and legs but also started to decrease a little.  "What investigation?"

"The investigation into Trailor's murder.  It seems that the chief investigator isn't quite convinced that it's such and open and shut case and they want to look at who was aboard the seaQuest at the time and talk to all of them."

"What a good idea," Nathan said sarcastically.  "Too bad it took them over a week to get to it."

"Well, Commander Hennessy is quite a convincing proponent of your innocence," Kelsy said thumping the IV line with his finger.

"Damned well about time," Kristin said fervently.

None of them noticed that in the corner Lieutenant Kale Dramont had gone quite pale.

"Ah, this list isn't too bad," Hennessy said as he reviewed the list that Ford had produced for him and Commander Ahn.

"No, only thirty people or so.  If it had been a couple of hours earlier there would have been at least twice that many but the main work for the day had been completed and they were between shifts."

"I would think that would increase the number of people aboard if they were changing shifts," Ahn said.

"No, the oncoming shift meets over in the production shed first before coming aboard to map out what they're going to try to complete that night and what's been completed during the day.  We've found that if we review it first that things go much smoother throughout the shift and the workers like it better because they feel like we're keeping them advised on what kind of progress is being made."

"Pretty good management technique, Jon," Hennessy said with a smile.

Ford shook his head.  "I can't take credit for it... it was all the Captain's idea."  He sighed and shook his head again.  "He's one hell of a motivator."

"Yeah, I know," Hennessy grinned.

"Is this everyone?" Lucas said looking over Hennessy's shoulder.

"Yup, it's a list of everyone who was aboard," Jonathan said positively.  "Security checks in everyone as they come up the gangway."

"What about the security guys?" Lucas asked.  All three of the others in the room looked at him questioningly and Lucas shrugged.  "It just seems to me that they'd be the most likely people to have a gun on board."

"Oh, hell," mumbled Hennessy.

"Why didn't we think of that?" Ahn asked aloud.  "We start with the security guys."

Jonathan moved towards a terminal.  "Let me pull up the duty roster."

"7:10," Doctor Kelsy said as he pushed the plunger to send the fourth drug in the course of treatment through Bridger's veins.  Kristin held tight to Nathan's hand as she watched his face screw up into a painful grimace as the injection took hold.

"Okay, that one hurts," Nathan said tightly.

"Yeah, I would expect that," Kelsy said while looking over the monitors that kept track of what Bridger's body was doing.  He looked over at the vid-screen.  "How does that look to you, Doctor Mankin?"

Mankin stared fixedly at the readings reflected on the bottom of his screen.  "Actually, at the moment it looks really good.  Brain and synapse activity is progressing nicely."

"Great," groaned Nathan.  "You want to switch places?"

"No, Nathan," Mankin smiled.  "I've never been through this treatment and I don't care to."

"Neither do I," Nathan sighed.  He put his head back on the pillow and took a deep breath.  At the soft touch of Kristin's fingers on his cheek he opened his eyes.  "It helps that you're here," he said softly.

"I wouldn't be anywhere else," Kristin smiled back and then glanced behind her.  "No matter what some people think," she said pointedly loud enough so that Lieutenant Dramont could hear her.  Nathan smiled softly and then closed his eyes again.

"So how far are you on the boat, Nathan?" Kelsy asked trying to create conversation to keep Nathan's mind off the pain.

"Well, we're putting the last of the major parts of the engineering spaces together.  We have to finish that before we seal up the different modules to each other."

"What's after that?"

"Then we start working on the wiring and the interior spaces... and when we seal up the modules the outer skin framework can be started."

"If you're trying to get him to talk, then asking about the boat is brilliant, Dave," Kristin smiled.  "Given his chance he'd talk for days about the boat."

"It sounds like production is going well."

"Yeah, pretty well, despite the fact that I seem to be spending half of my time in the hospital," Nathan frowned.

"You have met up with an amazing amount of trouble over the last several months," Kristin said with a small smile.

"But you have to admit that I've done myself proud this time.  A hospital trip and a murder charge all wrapped up in one."

"I've heard you're an overachiever, Nathan," Kelsy grinned.  "This may be politically incorrect, but did you kill him?"

"Nope, not me.  Someone behind me killed him and this damned drug just had my mind muddled enough that somehow I ended up with Trailor's gun in my hand but no... I didn't kill him."

"The gun you ended up with was Trailor's?" Kelsy asked surprised.

"Yeah, the last clear thing I remember is him pointing it at me."

"Jeez," Kelsy said checking his watch again.  "7:30, Nathan, time for the next one."

Nathan nodded a little and steeled himself for the injection.  He stiffened as the drug entered his bloodstream and groaned a little. Kristin kept hold on his hand until he squeezed her hand so tight that it hurt.  Nathan opened his eyes for a moment and saw the grimace on her face.  He immediately released her hand and grabbed a bar on the side of the bed.

"Sorry, babe," he mumbled.

"That's alright, Nathan," Kristin said softly while rubbing his shoulder.  It wasn't that easy finding a place to hold on to him with all the sensors attached to his body.  He looked like some sort of weird experiment with the wires and pads on his head, chest, arms, torso and legs.  All the sensors were feeding information back to Kelsy and Mankin so they could keep track of how his body was reacting to the various drugs.

"Getting a little better?" Kelsy asked.

"A little bit," Nathan breathed.  "That hurt more than the last one."

"Yeah, and I'm afraid the last shot will be the worst one."

"Oh goodie, something to look forward to."

Kelsy smiled a little.  You had to admire a guy who could still joke even though he was as much pain as Bridger was.  He smiled again as he checked the monitors.  So far, so good.

"So after you get out of here, what are you going to do?"

"Well," Nathan hesitated.  "There's that small matter of the murder charge, right, Lieutenant?"

"Absolutely, sir," Dramont said with no hint of humor in his voice.

"And if the Lieutenant has his way, I can look forward to several years of rent-free housing."

"But not if you're not guilty, right?"

"I don't think the Lieutenant cares," Nathan said with just the hint of a smile.  It was kind of fun to harass this pompous little twit.

"I care, sir, I just think you're guilty," Dramont said firmly.

"Shows what you know," Nathan said moving his head around a little. That last injection had caused some muscle spasms.  He shifted his arms a little and opened his eyes again as he heard a rustle from the corner where Dramont was standing and saw that the security officer had moved closer to the bed.  "Don't tell me that you're worried that I'm going to try to jump out of this bed and run away, Lieutenant."

Kelsy shook his head and sighed.  "Let me assure you, Lieutenant, there's no God-damned way that he's going anywhere.  He couldn't stand now if he wanted to."

"I'm just doing my job," Dramont dead-panned.

Nathan dropped his head back on the pillow and shut his eyes.  "All the security officers in the place and I get an idiot," he said tiredly under his breath.  Only Kelsy noted the flash of hatred that went through Dramont's eyes.