Captain Nathan Hale Bridger stood on the bridge of his newest submarine, the SeaQuest.  It had taken a year and a half to build, even though its construction had began two months before its predecessor had been destroyed.  Even now, with the new tour well under way, well six months under way, Bridger still reflected about the old boat and the changes that had taken place.

"Captain," Jonathan Ford stated, "Sir?" Ford look at his commanding officer with a smile on his face, 'Where is this guy? Must be a million miles away' he thought.

Nathan felt a hand on his right shoulder and looked up, he was now staring directly into Commander Ford's dark brown eyes.

"Captain, are you alright?"  Ford asked

"Yes I am fine, uhh sorry Commander.  I was just thinking, that's all"  Nathan stated, "Did you need anything?"

"Well actually I am relieving you of duty sir!"  Ford said smiling, while he watched the confusion spread across his Captain's face, " It's 10:30 sir, your shift is over!"

"Oh... right, I guess I am a little tired, it's been a long day."  Bridger started walking towards the clam doors, "Goodnight Jonathan and if you need me I should be in my quarters."  With that he left the bridge and was walking down the corridor giving his usual nods and good nights to respective crewmen that passed him.  But he really wasn't paying attention to any of them, he was deep in his thoughts.

A few days ago Bill Noyce had phoned him to tell him of the birth of his second granddaughter.  They had gotten on the topic, of course, the SeaQuest.  The basics, how the crew was doing? How the boat was holding together?  Then he asked the question, it really was a simple question, but one the was implanted in his mind.

"Nathan, are you enjoying this tour as much as the first?"

Nathan just stared at the screen, he was speechless, "Nathan did you hear me?"

"Yeah I did, and I am thinking," he replied.

"That's a scary thought" Noyce shot back.

"Very funny" Nathan smiled, " I don't know Bill, it's just different you know?"

"I don't see how, you've got a terrific ship that has more gadgets and speed then the last one, Darwin is still there with you and Lucas.  You have one hell of a crew, some from the last tour and new personnel that are the best in their fields.  Plus you have a bigger states room.  What more could a guy want?"  Noyce laughed.

"I don't know, it just feels...."

"Yeah I know DIFFERENT" Bill interrupted.

"That's it! But don't worry I still wouldn't give it up." Nathan said.

Different that was it and for the life of him he couldn't figure out what had really changed that much, to bother him, especially while at sea.  Noyce was right the new ship was better, both in technology and space.  He did have his dolphin and his computer genius Lucas had come back, as well as some others.  He came to a stop when he arrived at his quarters, he opened the door and stepped inside.  He crossed to his desk.  Bridger opened his desk drawer and took out a picture of the crew from the first tour.  He smiled as he saw the faces of those who had come back and those who had left.  He saw Lucas there looking like the awkward teenager that he was last tour but now he seemed like he had grown up a bit.  But that smile quickly faded as his eyes focused on the individual that was standing beside Lucas and suddenly he realized why this tour was "different"

"Kristin" he whispered.

Dr. Kristin Westphalen glanced up from her microscope for the fourth time in the last minute, frustration evident on her face.  She was just about to curse at the microscope when her secretary came in, "You have a call on line 1."

"Thank you." Kristin got up from her stool and crossed the room to the phone on the wall, "Dr. Westphalen"

"Hi ya beautiful" a familiar voice said.

"Kristin frowned, "Who is this?"

"How can you not recognize the voice of your husband?" He stated.

"Gregory, you mean EX-husband!" Kristin made sure to heavily emphasize the "ex" part.

"A small detail" he replied, "Kris I need to talk to you, it's important."

"Cynthia's fine, so I really don't think there is anything else that we need to talk about" she stated.

"Kristin it is important please met me at The Oasis in an hour, I promise I will behave and it's on me."  He was pleading now.

"Promises, promises.  OK an hour." She and with that she hung up the phone.

Kristin stood by the phone staring at it; thinking what could he be up to.   Gregory Montgomery was a person who always had an ulterior motive.  Ever since Kristin had met him, she was 16 and he was 21, he had always wanted something.  She knew that she must have something that he wanted for him to pay for dinner, but for the life of her she couldn't figure out what.  He was a wealthy businessman and had decided to go into politics.  She shrugged her shoulders and started to clean up the lab.  Kristin had only 45 minutes to get to the restaurant, which was on the other side of Cape Quest.

"I'll have a lobster tail with the baked potato and a salad, please."

"Alright, and you sir?"

"Umm.  I will have the Beef Tenderloin and the lobster tail with also a baked potato, thank you that's all."

With that the waitress gathered the menus and left.  Kristin put down her glass of wine and said "Okay, what do you want?"

"What makes you think that I want something?" he replied.

"Well for starters you are always up to something,  Gregory we are eating at a 5 star restaurant and you are paying!"

"Can't I ask the most beautiful woman to dinner?" he asked innocently.

"Your wife must be busy huh?"

"Oh umm...  well I've missed you that's all." 'Close one' he thought.

"Greg, you and I haven't had a civil conversation in, well, never, so seriously what do you want?

"Fine, you want he truth?" Kristin nodded and he continued.  "Alright, I want to buy your shares of Deep Eaze"

Kristin sat there with her mouth opened, completely stunned. How could he expect her to sell it to him of all people.  Especially since James had given her his share when he died.  It was the last project that  by her husband, Greg, and that she and her brother had been working on.  While he was off duty and she took some time off after Cynthia was born; they had decided to start a company never thinking that it would take off to be such a large competitor.

"NEVER!" she stated, giving him that glare that caused the little hair on the back of his neck to stand on end.

"Kris, you know I built that company to what it is today and it is easier to make decisions if I have all the control."  he tried to explain.  However knowing his dinner date as well as he did he should of known better.  Her stubbornness were as well associated with her as her beauty.

"Too bloody bad, I will not give you anything, especially something that belonged to my brother!" she told him, trying to keep her temper under control.

"Kristin there are some things you don't understand," He paused while the waitress brought their dinner, "Thank you... Sweetheart, it is better, for everyone if you give those shares!"  'Please God let her cave in, the more she doesn't know the safer she'll be."

"Greg, the company is on the verge of a major breakthrough that will change the way the public can interact with species that only a few have been able to see.  So as long as I am here the company will live on the way it is now!"  With that she stood up and left the restaurant.

Gregory just shook his head, he knew she was going to be difficult but he was hoping she would just give in.  His eyes wondered around the restaurant and stopped at the back of restaurant to two men that were lurking there who had seen the whole scene.  "Kris, its not the life of company that worries me but yours!" He then went to pay the bill and also left the restaurant, intent on convincing her on selling her shares!

The Captain had moved from his desk in the corner of his quarters to his bunk.  He just lay there, with the lamp above his buck on and the picture of him, Lucas and Westphalen in his hands. He stared at this photo, it was taken a couple of days before the supposed end of the tour.  Lucas wanted to make a scrapbook of his first adventure aboard a submarine and said that he wanted a picture with his under the sea parents.  Yeah, Nathan thought, bringing a smile to his face of the memory, he and Kristin had acted like parental figures to the boy and what a darn good team we made too!

This of course brought his thoughts back to Kristin - of all the time they spent together aboard the ship, working on experiments, playing with Darwin or just enjoying each other's company in the mess hall. His thoughts then carried him to the day proceeding the destruction of his boat.

The next thing Bridger remembered after being taken out of the Stinger was the ambulance ride to the hospital.  He opened his eyes and saw the two paramedics putting tubes in his arms and nostrils.  He heard the young man reading numbers to the older female paramedic.  Nathan was scared.  He had never needed to be rushed to a hospital in an ambulance before, well at least the other time he knew what was wrong with him.  This time was different, he had lost consciousness, he couldn't feel his left leg, his head was throbbing and to add to all of that - the butterflies in his stomach were doing somersaults.

"Nathan, relax!" came an extremely recognizable British accent.

He turned his head, ouch, shouldn't do that he thought. Kristin brushed some of his hair back and when he saw her face all of the butterflies left his stomach. He realized she was holding his hand.

"Your blood pressure is rising buster!" she squeezed his hand, "Nathan you're fine, they are just going to run some tests, so close your eyes and..."

"Yeah relax...  She wants me to relax!"  He turned to one of the paramedics "Could you please tell her that I just sank a two million-dollar boat - Ask her if she would be relaxing?"

Kristin smiled and kissed him on his forehead, Nathan closed his eyes.  Because she was there with him, he felt so safe.  She leaned close to his ear and asked "Are you in a lot of pain?"

"No, I'm okay," he replied without opening his eyes.

"Stop being the hero and tell me the truth.  You know you scared the crap out of me.  Bridger the next time you don't want to go out to dinner with me just tell me, because you have already used the excuse that you saved the world once already." she teased.

He smiled and she thought that that was the best thing that she had ever seen.  He looked in her eyes and said "You are so beautiful."

"I think I like these drugs they are pumping into you!" she said.  "Nathan close your eyes and get some rest."

Kristin sat in the emergency room, trying to read a magazine, well maybe trying was to strong a word, she was flipping throw the magazine.  She was doing anything to keep her mind busy when she looked up she saw Lucas, Ford, Crocker and Hitchcock starring at her.

"What?" she asked, "There is nothing of any importance in these magazines."

"Yeah well the stack of magazines are not quite centred maybe you should straighten them... again." Lucas said with a smile on his face.

Lucas was referring to the fact that since they had arrived at the hospital about an hour ago, Kristin had straightened the chairs, moved and piled the magazines and newspaper, closed the drapes only to reopen them again.  She couldn't sit still.

"Hey watch it wise guy, whose going to pay for your supper if he's in here, eh?"  She teased him back.

Lucas' smile quickly faded. "Uh, nice job with the furniture, Doc."

"Nice try Lucas," she said.  But after a few minutes she became serious, "I just wish that they would tell us something?"

"Yeah me too," Ford said, as he walked towards her and they all sat in silence.

"Will one of you please go harass one of the nurses at the nurses' station because I have been banned."  Kristin informed them and the group smiled.  Somehow Jonathan, Katie and Crocker had decided to take the walk to the nurses' station together.

The two men were surprised at how upset Kristin was about Nathan's condition, but Katie told them that men have no sense of chemistry.  She also informed them that she had always thought that there was something more than friendship between the Captain and the C.M.O.

Finally after much arguing and promises that they would be as quiet as possible the group was allowed in Nathan's room.  Ford, Hitchcock and Crocker stayed for a few minutes, just long enough to get information to the crew about their Captain and vice versa. Lucas and Kristin sat on opposite sides of Nathan, both lost in their own thought as he had his eyes closed.  Then there was a light knock on the door, when the door open it revealed Dr. Wolenczak.

"Hi Dad," Lucas whispered s he came around the bed to stand in front of his father.

"Hi, how is he doing?"

"Well, he has a nice bump of his head, he bruised his ankle and just needs to rest to repair his lungs.  Nothing that will be permanent." Lucas informed his father.

"Glad to hear it!" Dr. Wolenczak said, "Are you ready to go?"

"Yeah, I'll come back tomorrow - he is going home in two days.  Dr. Westphalen are you coming too?"

"No thanks Lucas, I'll stay"  When she saw the concern in his eyes she added, "for a little while longer, okay?"

"All right  -  a little bit."  Lucas walked up to her and she stood.  They shared a warm hug and said their goodnight.  Lucas and his father left after that.

When Nathan opened his eyes, he could see a television and the sun from outside his window.  The smell of his room told him that he was in the hospital.  He looked around the room and stopped almost as soon as he started his search because to the right of his bed slumped over in a chair was his CMO.  He looked at the bedside clock 3:07am  - he smiled I can't believe that she is still here.

"Kristin" Nathan whispered, even that hurt, a little.  She stirred so he tried again, "Kris."

She opened her eyes and looked at his sleepily. "Hi you, did I wake you?"

"No, It's 3 o'clock in the morning -  time for you to go home"

"Shush Nathan go back to sleep, I'm staying" And with that both of them put back their heads and fell back to sleep.  The next day had Nathan still in the hospital but he mostly slept and really didn't notice that Lucas, and Crocker and Noyce had come by to visit him and of course Kristin was there the whole day and night.

The next morning Bridger's dream was being intruded on by the aroma of coffee, eggs and something else.  He opened his eyes, yep there on the table was the coffee and eggs beside the bed, now for the something else, where could she be he thought, when all of a sudden there was  a crash followed by a curse heard from the direction of the bathroom.

"My virgin ears," Nathan hollered "Are you all right?"

"Oh sorry," She said as she came out of the bathroom and headed towards him, placing a kiss on his forehead, "Good Morning, yeah I am fine.  I dropped the hair dryer that Lucas dropped off for me on my toe.  But how are you doing?"  Nathan had moved over in the bed so she could lie beside him, facing each other.  She caressed the right side of his face and was absently playing with his hair.  Did she have a clue what that did to him.  Being so close to each other but not allowing each other to react.

"I'm great, feeling 100% better than yesterday."  He leaned closer and gave her a good morning kiss that left both of their breathing a little ragged. "Didn't they say I might be going home today?"

"Well yes Nathan they did but don't you think you are pushing it? I know you; you'll be running yourself sick if no one is there to keep you in line." She said with concern. " And Darwin doesn't count as someone that will look out for you. Oh and Malcolm and Scott are in town.  They came by yesterday, I think they are going to come visit you at home tomorrow.  You know you worried them too."

"I know." He got a suspicious smile on his face.  "If those two guys are going to be hanging around I better keep an eye on you."  Seeing the confused look on her face he decided to explain.  "They might try to steal the most beautiful woman from me before we even have time together."

Right at that moment the doctor came in an agreed to sign Nathan's release forms. He was given strict orders to avoid any alcohol and to get  rest.  And with that he was sent home.

Nathan now laid in a recliner on the porch at his home which faces the ocean.  It was afternoons like this that he craved an ice cold beer, but just as that thought had pooped into his head he felt some water droplets on his shoulder.

"Hey you rat?" Nathan teased and then opened his eyes. "Oh!"

"You thought I was the Doc, didn't you?"

"Yeah Lucas, what's up?"

"Well here is the iced tea the Doc sent out for you. Uhhmm... My Dad is here to pick me up, but if you want me to stay, I can..."

"No, no go.  Thanks for stopping by Lucas.  I already have one warden, there is no need for the two of you to gang up on me!"

"Okay then I will call or come by tomorrow"

"Have a good day Lucas."

"Bye Cap, Bye Doc"  Lucas said as he passed her coming out of the house.

"His Dad here?" Kristin asked.

"Yeah but he said that he would call or come by tomorrow?" Nathan said, then he started to smile, but the smile on his indicated that he was going to do something bad.  Kristin went to sit at the end of his recliner with her iced tea in her hand.

"What are you smiling about?" she questioned.

"Boy, I can't even smile without having a reason.  You are taking this guardian thing way too serious."  She now was giving him a warning look, he better tell her now or else. "Okay well now that Lucas has come by for his daily visit, we have the house all to ourselves!"

"Well you are correct  on that one, not just cute he's smart too"  She said smartly.

"You know you can be extremely attractive when you are cruel.  That's an odd combination, but you pull it off so well."

She tickled his feet and as she did that he jerked away from the attack, which knocked her iced tea all over her.

"Nathan!" she yelled frowning and a little annoyed, but this annoyance grew when she saw that he was laughing.  "This is funny is it?  Well let's see how you like it?"  She grabbed his glass and poured it down his shirt and shorts.

"Kristin!"

"Don't Kristin me!"  Westphalen then picked up a couple of ice cubes from the floor and was about to put them down his shirt when all of a sudden she felt this strong pull and she fell - right on top of Nathan.  He looked right into her eyes, they both were extremely professional when need be but could also be very playful.

Nathan kissed her passionately on her lips and reluctantly pulled away to trail small kisses down her neck.  "You aste ke mmm t" he said

"What?" came her laughed response.

Nathan moved his face to on top of her shoulder. "I said, you taste like iced tea"

"Let's see if the same can be said about you?" Kristin started to unbutton his shirt and then started kissing his neck, using her tongue to taste the salt and sticky tea, and moving to his chest.  To his moan, Kristin jerked her head up and smiled playfully "Yep you too."  Then she started to get up.

"Where are you going?" He questioned sadly.

"Since we are wearing are drinks, maybe we would have more luck with food, hungry?"

"Sounds good, but look at us we're all wet no one will let us in."  He said getting up.

"Okay well we will shower then -should we cook or order in?"

He took a few steps to stand in front of her and placed a few strands of hair behind her ear. "Well I'll shower first and you can set the table and order the food and while you are showering I'll pick up the food, deal?" He leaned forward for a kiss to seal the agreement.

"Deal" she kissed him back.  "Okay you shower but when you leave go out the from door because I think a supper out on the patio is a  good idea."

"Sounds nice, but no throwing food!" He said smiling.

"Whatever you say" She said innocently.

And then they both went their separate ways.

After about 30 minutes Nathan walked out of his bedroom, clothed in a pair of Kakis and a white-buttoned shirt.  When he came to the living room he paused and smiled. Kristin had closed the curtains that cover the patio door leading to the porch.

"I'm done the shower is all yours." He yelled.

Kristin popped her head around the edge of the curtain, "Oh, okay good.  Nathan I only have my bathing suit, a wrap skirt and well these sticky things.  And since swimsuits are not proper dining clothes, could I burrow a shirt, please?"

Nathan smiled at her, she was just so adorable, "Yeah, I guess so, I wouldn't want one of the neighbours to come over and see you half naked and me fully clothed, now really how would that look? But if you give me a kiss then I won't charge you for the shirt."

Kristin stood there, thinking about her options. She firmly  closed the curtains and walked up to him.  Nathan stood there, Kristin grabbed the back of his neck and pulled his head closer to hers.  She brought their lips and tongues together in a kiss that was fiery passionate.  Once the kiss had ended.  Nathan was a little bit disorientated.

"Okay go get the food, throw the front door and I'll wait for you on the porch."

"Bye" Nathan said and walked out the front door.

After having a shower and rummaging through Nathan's closet, Kristin found a green shirt that matched her wrap.  She also put on whatever make-up she had in her purse.  Right now she stood in the bathroom deciding whether to straighten her hair or leave it curly. She opted for straightening it.  Five minutes passed and with a heavy sigh she was satisfied with the way she looked.  Kristin walked out to the porch and started to light the 15 or so candles she found lying around Nathan's house.  Westphalen had just sat down when she heard the front door open and her name being called.

"I'm out here!"

"Can I come in" he questioned.

"Sure"

As he moved the curtain and lifted his face to see his porch light softly by the moon and the candles, he was speechless.  It was beautiful and then there was Kristin standing in the middle of it. My God she's beautiful he thought.  "Wow, it 's amazing." he said as he placed the food and the sparkling water on the table.  Can't mix alcohol and antibiotics.

Kristin looked around "Yeah it 's not bad."  She winked up at him.

"No, well the room yes  but I was talking about you.  You look incredible - most be the shirt." He teased as he pulled her in for a kiss.

"Mmm" She moaned and reluctantly pulled away. "But you now we did order supper and you need food to fight infections, so this will have to wait."  She said referring to their lip lock.

"Yes Doctor."

"Good, Captain."

They spent dinner mostly in silence expect for the occasional yawn from Bridger.

"All done?" Kristin asked.

"Yes." Nathan answered throw a yawn.

"Sleepy?"

"I guess so." Nathan started to pile up their dishes.

"Hey why don't you get ready for bed and I'll clean up here  -  and before you argue there really isn't that much!"

"Kris -" He started to argue but the look that he was getting from across the table told him better. "Are you sure?"

"Positive, besides I can make sure you are sleeping before I leave."

"True, okay only if you let me cook for you in a couple of days."

"All right I won't fight you on that."

Nathan walked into the kitchen after getting ready for bed, as he did so Kristin had put the last dish away.

"All ready?" she asked him.

"Appears so." He stated as he put his arm around her waist leaving her to his room.  Once inside he pulled back the bed sheets and got into bed.

"You know this feels rather juvenile."

"Nathan letting someone tuck you in , it's not juvenile it's it's... nice."

He rolled his eyes.  She pulled the bed sheets around him.

"Will I see you tomorrow?"  He asked

"Well I have a meeting in the morning and then I have some things to wrap up about SeaQuest, what about you?"

"I have a meeting about the new SeaQuest tomorrow morning, oh I forgot to tell you, Bill called and he handled all the technicalities surrounding the destruction - so no Inquiry."

"That's wonderful, but Nathan do you really think that a meeting tomorrow morning is  a good idea!"

It'll be great! It will get my mind working again and I promise if I'm tired I'll end the meeting, okay," he said as he kissed her hand.

"Okay" She smiled.

"But you got me off topic, can you do the stuff for SeaQuest here?"

"I guess so."

"Good then come here around 1, will go for a little picnic and then you can do your work and I'll take a nap.  See I can take care of myself."

"Good, sounds great.  See you tomorrow.  Sweet dreams.:

"Yeah Thank.  Goodnight Kris."

They shared a sweet goodnight kiss and then Kristin left Nathan's house and headed for her own...