“Lucas sit down and put your seatbelt back on.” Captain Nathan Bridger said as the boy got out of his seat to retrieve a disc that had fallen on the floor.  The had been in the launch for about two hours already, traveling back to seaQuest after he, Lucas and Kristin Westphalen had attended a conference in Maui.

“I was only getting my disc, cap. Besides what are the chance of something happening right at the moment I get out of my chair?” Lucas Wolenczak said as he sat back down next to Kristin Westphalen and refastens his seatbelt.  Lucas and Kristin were sitting next to each other across from Nathan.  Kristin was sitting Indian style in her seat with a notepad and several papers strewn about her lap and the seat next to her.

“Anything could happen at anytime Lucas. So be prepared and keep yourself in that seat.”

“Aye, aye, Cap’n” Lucas said with a mock salute.

“Don’t make me come over there.”

“Oh cap you wouldn’t do that you have to stay in your seat, got to be prepared for anything right?” he said trying not to laugh.

Nathan was about to say something when Kristin started to laugh.  “Don’t you start too.”

“I didn’t say a word.” She said as she smiled and went back to her notes.

“Uh huh.” Bridger said as he looked at her skeptically.

A few moments later one of Lucas’ discs went flying across the cabin and landed next to Nathan.  Nathan who had been reading a research paper looked over at the disc then at Lucas with an arch eyebrow.

“It slipped.” Lucas said with an innocent look on his face.

“Uh huh.” Nathan said as he turned back to his reading.

“Um, cap? Could you hand me that disc over there?”

“Sure Lucas.” Nathan said sweetly and flung the disc.  It landed a few seats down on the other side of Kristin.  “Oh sorry Lucas.”

“That’s okay cap, I can get it later.” Lucas said as he smiled innocently.

Next thing Nathan knew about three discs came hurtling in his direction one hit the seat back next to him and fell to the floor. One hit him square in the chest and the other landed in his lap.  Nathan picked up the two discs and hurled them back at Lucas.  One hit Lucas as he tried to duck out of the way and one hit Kristin.

“Will you two stop it.” She said as she glared at them and picked up the disc and placed it next to her on the seat.  Lucas and Nathan just looked at her innocently.  “I can’t believe I have six more hours of you two in this tiny launch. Next time I’m swimming back.”  She said as she went back to her notes.

Nathan picked up his reading again only to be assaulted again by a disc as it came across the launch.  “Lucas.”

“I didn’t do it, I swear.” He said laughing.

“I’m sure.”  He said skeptically but then he noticed Kristin trying not to laugh and also that the disc that was next to her was gone.  “Doctor I believe this belongs to you.” And he flung it back at her.  It hit the chair next to her and she laughed.

“I’m sorry Nathan.  It was just too good to pass up.”

“Am I going to have to separate you two?”

Lucas and Kristin laughed at this; there wasn’t anywhere to go in the small launch.  Pretty much the entire trip had been the same way.  Light hearted bantering going on among the threesome.

After another hour a small shudder was felt throughout the launch.  Kristin and Nathan both looked up at one another as Nathan hit his PAL.  “Lieutenant Kreig care to fill me in on what that was?”

“It was a small earthquake about two miles from out current location.  Didn’t seem to be to worrisome sir.” Replied Lieutenant Benjamin Kreig.

“Thank you lieutenant”

“That’s a little strange, earthquakes aren’t known to happen around here that frequently and when they do they usually aren’t so small.” Said Kristin.

“Do you think we may a problem?” asked Nathan.

“I don’t know.” She said with a shrug of her shoulders.

“Well let’s just hope if this place lets loose we are closer to the seaQuest.”

A few minutes later the launch was tossed roughly.  It felt like something had slammed into the side that Nathan was sitting on.  The craft started to slowly spin around and it felt as though they were starting to descend rapidly.
Nathan hit his PAL, “status report lieutenant”

“Sir, it seems there was another quake, pretty big one.  I’ve lost most of the navigation controls.  We are heading to the bottom and I can’t stop it.  The bottom is coming up quick, everyone hold on.”

The next thing they knew the launch impacting on the sea floor.  The impact was strong enough to knock cargo bins loose causing them to crash to the floor.  The launch then started to tilt  “Oh shit. Everyone hold on.” Nathan said as the launch rolled over and over.  The cargo bins rolled and crashed around the launch.  Kristin had hold of Lucas to try and protect him from the flying debris.

The launch finally came to a stop. It was lying on the side that Kristin and Lucas had been sitting on.  Debris was strewn about the cabin and Nathan was trying to climb down carefully so as not to land on Kristin or Lucas.  He noticed that neither had moved since the launch had come to a stop.  “Kristin? Lucas?”

Nathan finally got himself down and picked up a cargo bin that was lying on top of Kristin and Lucas.  “I’m fine captain but the doc is hurt.” She moaned as Nathan lifted the cargo bin off of her.

Nathan unbuckled her seat belt and slowly rolled her over onto her back.  Another moan escaped her lips and she opened her eyes to find Nathan looking at her with worry in his eyes.  “Nathan…” she whispered.  “Lucas?” she said with worry in her voice and turned to look at the Lucas who was getting up off the ‘floor.’

“I’m okay doc just a couple of bumps.”

“Lucas get the med kit.  Kristin, where are you hurt?”  Nathan could see that the arm she had had draped over Lucas was cut and bleeding in several place.   She was wearing shorts and a short sleeved polo shirt allowing Nathan to see the bruises that were now forming on her left leg. Nathan could tell that she was a bit dazed and hope she didn’t get hit in the head.

“I don’t know.  What happened?”

“Another earthquake this one a bit larger. We must have landed on a hill or something and tumbled down it. Now tell me where are you hurt besides your arm?”

She really didn’t want to tell him that she had been hit on the left side of her back with something very heavy but she was finding that her chest was a bit tight and she was having difficulty taking a deep breath.  And it was hurting her to be on her back.

“My left leg hurts and something hit my back.”  He knew she was trying to downplay her injuries.  He had seen the cargo bin as it had slammed into her.

“Let me take a look at your back.”

“No.”

“Kristin, don’t argue with me. Now tell me where you are hurt.” He was trying not to yell at her, he didn’t want to panic Lucas but he knew she was hurt but was hoping not too seriously.

“Here you go cap.” Lucas said as he put the med kit down next to Kristin.

“Thanks Lucas.  Why don’t you go check on Ben and see if he has sent out a distress call yet.”

“Aye sir.”  Lucas made his way to the cockpit and disappeared inside.

As soon as he was gone Nathan helped Kristin up to a sitting position.  He quickly bandaged her arm and noticed her shallow breathing.  “Okay Kristin let me see your back.”

She looked towards the cockpit making sure Lucas couldn’t see.  Kristin started to pull her shirt up but winced in pain.  “I cant.”

“Alright. I’ll do it.”  He slowly lifted her shirt halfway up.  What he saw made him gasp.  “Jesus.” He whispered as he lowered her shirt.

“That good huh?” Kristin quipped.

“You’re having trouble breathing aren’t you.” She nodded.  “ Do you think your ribs are broken?”

“Possible, they don’t feel all that great. And I can’t take a deep breath.”

“Tell me what I should do.”

“It would probably be good if there was an oxygen tank but I know there isn’t one.”

“No there isn’t.”

“Um.  I…” she took a moment to catch her breath as she tried to get more comfortable.

“Take it easy Kristin.”

“I’ll be fine.  I might go into shock though.  If I do you just need to keep me warm.”  Nathan could see that her hands were already shaking.  He took off his over shirt and draped it over her shoulders.  “Thank you.”

“Your welcome. Now I am going to go check on Lucas. I’ll be right back.”

“Okay.”  Kristin watched as Nathan started to get up but he stopped as Lucas and Ben came out of the cockpit.

Lucas found Ben standing on the wall trying to get a hold of someone anyone to help him.  “Mayday, mayday, mayday. This is mr-4. We ran into earthquake turbulence.  Navigation was lost causing us to crash in to the seafloor.  Power and life support are holding for now but will run out in approximately four hours.”  Krieg went on to give coordinates that they had been at before the console had died on him.

Lucas set the distress call to repeat continuously.  He didn’t have the desire to stay in the cockpit any longer than he had to.  He checked the life support read outs one more time and went back to join the captain and the doctor with Ben right behind him.

As they climbed back out of the cockpit the captain greeted them.  “Report?”

“We have lost everything up there.  The front of the launch took the brunt of the hit and wiped out pretty much everything.  And now for the bad news we are going to loose life support in about four hours. We’ve got a distress call going out continuously so hopefully someone will pick it up and come running. I was going to stay in there and wait for someone to contact us.”

“Thank you lieutenant.  I guess we just sit here and wait.” Bridger replied as he turned his attention to Kristin who had been sitting with her head leaning against the seat cushion.  “Kristin are you okay?”

“Yes, I’m just tired.”

Nathan saw the worried look on Lucas’ face.  “She’s okay. Just got hit with the cargo bin.” Lucas only nodded as he continued to watch Kristin.

“Lucas could you try and find me some water, please?” Kristin knew the boy was worried and giving him something to do would keep his mind occupied for a while.

“Sure doc.”  Lucas said as he went in search of water as Nathan tried clearing up some of the clutter.

He found a bottle of water and brought it over to her.  Kristin had moved so her back was up against the seat and her knees were up against her chest with her arms wrapped around her. Lucas noticed her teeth were chattering.  “Doc are you cold?” Lucas said as he gave her the water.  He noticed her hand was shaking as she took the water from him.

“Lucas go find a blanket.” Said Nathan as he came over to check on her.

“Why what’s going on?”

“She’s going into shock we need to keep her warm.”  Nathan knelt down in front of Kristin and put his hands on her arms. “Hey.” He said but she didn’t respond.  He took her face in his hands and brought her face up to look at him.  “Kristin, what’s wrong?”  Her eyes seemed to be clouded as he looked into them.  Fear gripped him as he saw her pale face looking back at him.  “Kristin?”  His fear subsided a bit as her eyes cleared and she focused on his face.

“I’m so tired.” She said as she closed her eyes and leaned her head against the seat.  Lucas came and draped the blanket over her shoulders and sat down next her and put his arms around her.

“I know.” Nathan said.

An hour had passed as they waited to be rescued.  Nathan went into the cockpit to talk to Ben.  “Any word yet?” ask Nathan as he came up to the young man.

“No sir but I don’t think we are able to receive anything.  I hope to God we are sending something out but I know we aren’t getting anything in.”

“Why do you say that?”

“There was a beacon about ten kilometers from our position before we crashed, probably an earthquake monitoring station.  We were picking it up pretty strongly before the crash but now nothing. I think the receiver is fried.”

“So you’re not even sure we are transmitting a signal.”

“No sir.”  Nathan noticed how good Ben was at hiding his fear.  ‘He’d make a good leader one day if only he would get his act in gear.’

“How’s the doc?” asked Ben.

“I don’t know. She thinks maybe a couple broken ribs and she’s going into shock.  God we really need to get her to the seaQuest.” Nathan said as he ran his fingers through his hair.

“I’m working on that sir.”

“Thanks, lieutenant.” Nathan turned to leave.

“Captain!” Lucas almost screamed as he ran to the cockpit.  “She’s shivering all over.  I can't keep her warm enough.”  Lucas was terrified.  He felt so helpless and really wished they hadn't gone to the conference in the first place.

“Lucas just calm down everything is going to be all right.” He said as he climbed out of the cabin.  He could see Kristin as she shivered under the blanket.  “Come on Lucas. We need to try and keep her warm.”

Nathan sat down beside her and lifted the blanket and pulled her to him hoping the body heat would warm her.  Her shivering seemed to lessen as she snuggled closer to him, the smell of her hair filling his nostrils.

“Kristin?”

“Yes?” she said quietly.  “What else can I do?”

“Nothing.” She said through the chattering of her teeth.  “Just hold me.”

He held her tighter to him as Lucas sat down next to his captain.  “Hey Lucas everything is going to be okay.”

“No, it’s not.” Said Lucas.  “We don’t even know if we are sending out a signal.”

“You can't give up hope Lucas.”  Kristin said.

“I know.” Said Lucas. “I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be sorry Lucas, just don’t give up yet.”  He put his arm around the boy and pulled him close.  All three drifted off to sleep.

Nathan woke up with a start, “Kristin!”  He sat up looking frantically around for her and Lucas.

“Your wife and son are just fine sir, just try and relax.”  A brunette woman with warm brown eyes was gently pushing Nathan back on the bed that he found himself in.

“My wife and son?” Nathan was a little disorientated at the woman’s statement.

“Yes, your wife has a couple broken ribs and has been treated for shock but she is resting comfortably and your son is pacing the floor outside the door.”  She smiled at the thought of the young man outside the room.

“She’s not my wife and he’s not my son, unfortunately.” Nathan said the last part under his breath.  The woman smiled to herself as she heard him.

“They aren’t?” she asked innocently.

“No, Kristin is my doctor and Lucas is my computer analyst.”

“Oh, I’m sorry I just assumed from the way we found you in the launch.”

“That’s alright. We’re all good friends.”

“Ah.” She said.  “Well Lucas is just fine but you’re wife, I mean Kristin, is resting. By the way my name is Angela.”

“Can I see her?” he asked.

“Of course all though I’m not sure she will be awake yet. Come with me.”  Nathan nodded and slid off the bed.  He followed her out the door and Lucas came up to him.

“Captain.”

“Lucas, are you alright?”

“Yeah, I’m fine but they won’t let me see the doc.”

“If you will follow me, I’ll bring you to her.” Said Angela and she watched the two men.  ‘How can they not be family?’ she thought to herself.

They followed Angela down the hall.  She opened the door to reveal Kristin lying in a bed with an IV in her arm.  Kristin seemed to be sleeping peacefully.  “If you need anything I’ll be down the hall. Just push this button here and call my name and I’ll come running. You can stay with her for awhile but if she wakes I don’t want you staying, she needs her rest.”

“Thank you Angela.” Nathan said as she left.  Angela took one last look back in the room before closing the door and just shook her head as she saw Lucas take Kristin’s hand and Nathan brush a stray lock of hair from Kristin’s forehead.

Six hours later Nathan found himself back in his cabin on seaQuest.  Kristin had two cracked ribs was but was resting comfortably in her cabin and Lucas and Ben were fine.

Nathan’s mind kept replaying what Angela had said and how disappointed he had felt at having to admit that Kristin was not his wife and Lucas was not his son.  It wasn’t that he was missing Carol or Robert, well maybe some of it was, but it was that Kristin and Lucas had come to mean a great deal to him in the few months that he had been on seaQuest.

Nathan realized that they had become his family.  They weren’t there to replace anyone but they were there for him to love and cherish like he would if Carol and Robert were there. He just hoped they knew how important they were to him and always would be.
 
 

The end.