Nathan Bridger shook his head a little in disgust as he leaned against the fender of his car.  The officer had asked him to stay in his vehicle but he just couldn't stay still.  Restlessness brought him out of the car and onto the side of the highway where he waited for the officer to complete his report.  He paced for a little then sat on the guardrail on the side of the road and looked at his car morosely.  The flashing lights from the squad car set a somewhat surrealistic scene, reflecting through the dark of the night, bouncing off the cars and the landscape around them, bathing them in flashes of blue and red as the lights rotated.  Finally the officer got out of his car and Nathan glanced up as he approached.  From the other side he heard a car door open and saw the other driver walk their way.

The officer glanced quickly at the two men.  "I've finished my report and you should be able to download a copy in a couple of hours," he handed them both a small piece of paper.  "Here's the site and the report number for access."

Bridger stood up and the other driver glanced at him with an embarrassed look on his face.  "I really am sorry about this...."

"That's alright, you didn't mean to do it," Nathan shrugged, "and what the hell, no one's hurt, right?"

"Yeah, but I do appreciate you being so understanding.  I don't know that I would have been."

"That's why they call them accidents, I suppose."

The man shook his head while looking at Bridger's car.  "But I really creamed your car."

Nathan shrugged his shoulders again resignedly.  "I guess that's what insurance is for."  He looked over at the officer.  "Can we go now?"

"Yup," the officer looked critically at Bridger's car.  "You sure that's drivable?"

"Yeah," Nathan said walking over to the car and touching the crumpled side.  "I checked and the wheels have clearance even on a turn.  It should be alright.  I'll just take it slow."

"Alright, good night, gentlemen," the officer said turning back toward his car.

"Good night, officer," Bridger called back and got into his car to continue the drive home at a bit more of a sedate pace than he had before.

A short time later he sat at a stoplight thumping his thumb impatiently against the steering wheel.  Why did it seem like he'd hit every stoplight between UEO Headquarters and the barrier island tonight.  He shook his head again frustrated.  Just another reflection of how this entire day had gone... it had been one huge irritating, exasperating, tiresome and just all out rotten day altogether.  The light finally changed and he pulled carefully away from the stop.  The car was running alright but it had a definite pull to one side.  The accident must have readjusted the suspension some.

A small smile crossed his face as he thought about Kristin waiting for him at home.  It was still something he was getting used to, having her there at the beach house with Lucas and him.  Waking up with her by his side every morning.  He could really use her touch tonight... and not even to make love... although if that happened, all the better... tonight he really needed a hug.  He needed someone to hold on to and to tell all about his lousy day.  It had been so long since he'd had that luxury that Nathan was still amazed that she was with him... amazed and more than a little bit happy.  As he waited for the next red light his mind wandered to pleasant thoughts of her.  It was different, this love he felt for her... different than how he'd loved Carol.  His love for Carol was a comfortable love... but the way he felt about Kristin... that was something else.  He paused as he searched for the right word to describe it... intense... that was it.  The way he felt about her was intense.  Like it took over his entire body and mind.  Somehow it just seemed right, having her there... and tonight was going to be one of those nights where he'd be happy to have someone to talk to.....

He pulled into the drive of the beach house, carefully navigating over the slight rise at the street so he didn't damage the car any more.  Kristin's new sports car was on the street side of the drive so he parked next to the sidewalk and headed for the house, only taking a short time out to glance sadly at the crumpled side of his car.  He walked tiredly up the stairs to the porch.  Through the windows he could see Kristin inside reading while sitting in one of the large blue recliners.  For just a moment he stopped to watch her as she sat with her legs tucked beneath her on the chair.  She had her hair pulled back in a bun and was wearing a white t-shirt and jeans and a pair of reading glasses were perched on her nose.  Just the sight of her took a little tension out of the day and he walked across the porch to the double doors into the house.

"Hi," he said as he came inside and dropped his briefcase on a dining room chair.  "Sorry I'm...." he started.  He never got a chance to finish.

Kristin's eyes flashed as she raised them from her book.  "Let me guess," she interrupted, "You're sorry that you're late... *again*," she said vehemently.  Nathan opened his mouth to respond but Kristin slid her legs out, put the book down, stood with her hands on her hips in a decidedly aggressive pose and kept on talking.  "Not that I shouldn't have expected it," she spat out.  "You always seem to be late."

Nathan stood there saying nothing but Kristin noted that his facial expression had switched to what she referred to as the 'dead-pan' look.  A face that was an emotionless, flat void and gave no indication of what was going on in his mind.

"I bet I know what kept you," Kristin started facetiously.  "You got tied up working on the boat.  Oh, what a surprise."  She was on a roll now...  "That damned boat has you what?  Twelve, eighteen hours a day??  I suppose I should be happy that you're coming home to sleep at night and that I get to see you at lunch two or three times each week."  She stood there glaring at him, finally taking her hands off her hips and folding them across her chest.

"Are you finished?" Nathan asked softly in a flat voice.

"I've barely begun," she said angrily.

"Well, you're finished for now," Nathan said in a menacing voice turning towards the kitchen.  "Unless you want to nag at my back. I'm hungry."

"I didn't save any dinner for you," Kristin spat.

"I'll find something," he said disappearing into the kitchen. Kristin flopped down in the chair again even more aggravated than before and chewed on her knuckle as she glared at the kitchen.  A short time later Nathan came out with a plate that held a sandwich and chips and a glass of iced tea and sat at the counter that divided the kitchen and dining room.   He steadfastly refused to look at her even though he could feel her fierce look.  To all appearances he was calmly eating his dinner when Lucas came bounding in the door.

"Hi, Doc.  Hi, Cap.  What happened to your car?"

Nathan glanced back at the boy.  "Some moron switched lanes into me," he said in a neutral voice.

"Are you alright?"

"Yeah, just the car got hurt."

"That's an understatement.  The entire side is crushed," Lucas said walking over to him and snatching one of his potato chips.

"You had a car accident?" Kristin asked.

Nathan only glanced at her quickly and Lucas picked up right away on the tension in the air.

"Why didn't you tell me?"

This time Nathan looked directly at her with that flat stare for a long moment before picking up his plate and moving wordlessly into the kitchen.  When he came out again Kristin had another question.

"Why didn't you call?"

Finally, Nathan answered her.  "Because the damned phone didn't work again."

"You need to get that thing fixed, Cap," Lucas said.

"Yeah, I know."  The phone had been working intermittently over the last week but he just hadn't gotten around to getting it fixed or replaced.

Lucas ducked into the kitchen and came out with the bag of chips.  "Sounds to me like you've had a pretty lousy day altogether."

"Yup."

"What happened at the building site?  I heard that something crashed."

Nathan sat up on one of the barstools at the counter again and leaned his chin on his elbow.  "One of the crane operators let his attention waver a bit and lost control of a section of bulkhead."

"Is Carney alright?  I heard he got hurt."

"Broke his leg but he'll be okay."

Lucas nodded and glanced cautiously at Bridger.  "I heard you got hurt too.  Are you alright?" he asked tentatively.

"Yeah," Nathan said begrudgingly.  "I banged up my shoulder.  It's not bad."

"You really did have a lousy day."

Nathan stood and patted the boy on the shoulder.  "And it all started with three hours of funding meetings."  He flashed a humorless grin.  "And you know how much fun those are...."

"Definitely a lousy day," Lucas sympathized.

"The only good thing that happened is I didn't get a ticket at the accident," Nathan said turning for the hallway to the back of the house without even a glance at Kristin.  "I'm going to bed."

"Good night, sir," Lucas called after him and then glanced over at Westphalen who had just stood there silent throughout their conversation.

"I think," she started hesitantly, "that I should probably go to bed too."  She looked over at Lucas' neutral expression.  "I should check that shoulder of his," she said moving towards the bedroom.

"Good night, Doc," Lucas called after her.

Kristin gingerly slipped into the bedroom where Nathan was just taking off his khaki uniform shirt.  He glanced quickly back at her before turning away silently and starting to take off his t-shirt. Kristin saw the grimace that crossed his face as he raised the shirt over his right shoulder.

"Can I have a look at that?" she asked tentatively.

He glanced fleetingly at her before nodding his head.  Kristin looked over the purple and red bruises that covered his right shoulder before reaching up to feel for any injury.  Nathan grimaced and pulled away a little as she touched a tender spot.

"Sorry," she mumbled continuing her examination.  "Did you get that x-rayed?" she asked softly.

Nathan sighed and relented.  "No, I figured if it still was giving me a problem tomorrow, I'd get it checked out... besides, I was a little busy."

"Straightening up the mess?"

"No, reaming out the crane operator," he admitted as he leaned down and slipped his pants off before sitting on the side of the bed.

Kristin sat down next to him and watched him pull his socks off and throw them into the laundry basket.  "I'm sorry," she said simply.

Nathan looked over at her wordlessly and stood up.  He headed out of the room and across the hall to the bathroom.  The door closed and Kristin heard the toilet flush and then heard water running for a while before he opened the door and came back into the bedroom, closing the bedroom door behind him.

"I really am sorry."

Nathan stood silently at the end of the bed for a little while longer until she looked up at him.  "Do you know what my problem is, Kris?"

"No," she breathed softly.

"I've had a totally lousy day.  Sucking up to financers all morning, dealing with idiot crane operators that almost get people killed in the afternoon, almost having some moron run my car off the road when he decides to change lanes without looking and having one of those days where it seems like the whole world is conspiring against you. Then I come home and all I was looking for from you was a hug.  I really needed a hug."  He sat heavily on the end of the bed.  "But instead I get the lecture.  Not that I haven't gotten it before... You don't let me get a word in edgewise... I'm assumed to be wrong before I even have a chance and you suddenly became part of that conspiracy that's out there trying to see how badly they can get me frustrated today."

"I know.  I'm sorry," she repeated.

Nathan rubbed his hand over his chin, still not looking at her.  "I was late," he admitted.  "But do you know something?  During the last couple of weeks there have been several times that I ended up being a little late but decided to stay at work for a while longer even though I could have come home earlier."  He glanced back at Kristin and saw the quizzical look on her face.  "I figured I was going to get the lecture anyways so why waste it on just being a little late? ...may as well be really late.  It seems like it's the same lecture whether I'm a little late or a lot late."

Kristin pulled her knees up onto the bed and turned towards him.  "It seems like you're always late, Nathan."

"I'm trying to get a boat built."

"I guess my question is what's more important?"

Nathan straightened up and looked at her.  "You and Lucas will always be more important than the boat... but that doesn't mean that the boat isn't important."

"It's just a boat, Nathan."

He moved his legs over until he was again sitting next to her.  "It's more than that, Kris... Do you watch the news?"  She nodded.  "Then you see on every broadcast the reports on this frontier station that was raided or this research station that was attacked by unknown assailants... it's happening every day, Kristin.  And one of the reasons it can happen so frequently is that there isn't a seaQuest out there."

"One boat won't stop all that, Nathan."

"One boat like the seaQuest can put a hell of a dent in that, though."  He was silent for just a moment before continuing.  "And it may sound egotistical of me but if getting the seaQuest in the water just one day earlier means that we save someone's life then the extra time we spend each day working on it will be worth it.  We've been out of the water too long, Kris.  The world is destabilizing on us."

"And you think that seaQuest can put things right again?"

"I know it can," he said confidently.  "It can at least help."  He paused and sighed, "I committed to building this boat fast and good and I'm going to do that.  Despite everything that's happened I still intend to have this boat in the water on time."

"Nathan, just the hurricane put production back a month," Kristin objected.

"Then we have to increase production after the hurricane to make up for the time lost... and I know that won't be easy on our relationship but it's got to be that way."

Kristin brought her hand up to rest on the side of his face.  "It's not only us, Nathan.  I'm worried about you... about your health. You're not going to help anyone if you work yourself to death."

He turned his face into her hand and kissed her palm and then took her hand in his.  "I know.  I'm trying to watch that... I won't say that I'll be perfect but I'm trying to make sure that I take care of myself along the way."  His face got suddenly very serious and when he continued his voice was low and concerned.  "And if you decide you can't stay here under those conditions I understand."

Her voice was just as low and serious.  "Do you want me to leave?"

"God, no," he said emphatically looking her full in the face.  "I want you to stay.  I love you."

"I know," Kristin said with a little smile and then reached up and kissed him gently, pulling away before saying, "I love you too and I don't intend on leaving."

"Kris, I won't pretend that this is going to be easy but if I've got you here then it becomes tolerable."  He smiled that little boy smile of his.  "Besides, with you here I have a reason to come home at night... if you weren't here I might just spend all my time at the boat."

Kristin moved up on her knees until she could wrap her arms around Nathan's neck.  "Can I give you that hug now?"

"Yeah," Nathan sighed pulling her close.  "I can really use it."

"How in God's name did the guy manage to change lanes into you?" she mumbled into his neck.

"Oh, probably partially my fault.  I was probably driving a little fast and pulled into his blind spot just as he decided to move."

"You??? ...drive fast???? I can hardly believe it," Kristin chuckled.

"Yeah, well, at least no one was hurt."

"That's a good thing," she said pulling him down onto the bed and laying partially on top of him.  Her fingers wandered through the hair on his chest as his fingers deftly found the lower edge of her shirt.  He continued to undress her as she ran her fingers over his chest and stomach.  "Does this mean that I've got to stop nagging you when you come home late?"

"No," said Nathan as he dealt with the clasp of her bra, "but could you cut back on how often you give the lecture?  Every time I get home late is getting kind of predictable."

Her fingers popped the snap at the top of his boxers.  "Okay, but that doesn't give you carte blanc to stay late at work anytime you want to."

He grimaced as he fumbled with the button on her jeans.  "No, I'll try to keep it down as much as I can."

"Good, then I won't have to nag you."  She gasped as Nathan ran his fingers up the inside of her legs after pulling her pants off.  He moved up until he was again lying next to her and pulled her close so that they could touch their naked bodies against each other.  His lips found hers and what started as a gentle caress soon escalated into a deep, passionate kiss.

They pulled apart, each gasping for breath.  "Do you think that we could stop being serious now?" Nathan asked breathlessly.  "I hate having serious discussions in bed."

Kristin smiled up at him with a mischievous look on her face.  She pushed him over until he was on his back and she on top of him before lowering her lips to attack that sensitive spot on his neck just below his ear.  At first he struggled just a little before giving in to her loving ministrations and groaning deeply as she kissed and sucked at the tender site.

"I'm never serious in bed," she whispered into his ear.