Nathan Bridger captain of the seaQuest was just entering the fitness room.  It wasn’t his normal time to run but he was at odd ends this week and had to grab time when he could.  He planned on finding the room empty but saw Lucas Wolenczak and Kristin Westphalen on treadmills. Nathan just shook his head as he saw Lucas leisurely walking while Kristin was running.

As he started warming up on the treadmill he studied her for a moment. Her hair was in a ponytail, which always made her look younger and she wore a headset.  She was wearing a navy tank top and gray running shorts.

Nathan pushed the thought that she was attractive out of his mind, he sure as hell didn’t want to think about that, not about her.  He regarded her as a friend and he respected her a great deal but he didn’t want a relationship with anyone.  He had never thought of her as a woman before and wasn’t about to start now.  The sweat glistening off her neck dampening the small curls resting there wasn’t helping his plight though.

She was running a good pace and Nathan noticed not for the first time that she was in excellent shape.  Her legs lean and firm no doubt from running and scuba diving.  He was impressed with her physique.  He began to wonder how long she normally ran.

“How long has she been running?” Nathan asked Lucas.

“I got here about 15 minutes ago and she was going strong.” Replied Lucas.  “I can’t understand how she runs like that.”

“Like what?” asked Nathan.

“She runs with her eyes closed.”

“You’re kidding?”

“Nope.”

Nathan looked at her thoughtfully for a moment.

“I wouldn’t do it captain.”

“What?”

“Try and out run her. You wont be able to.”

“How do you know that?”

“Lt. Travers tried it once and almost died. Levin had to give him oxygen.  And Travers runs marathons.”

“How long does she usually run?”

Lucas shrugged his shoulders.  “Depends, sometimes a half hour sometimes an hour and a half. Depends on what she is trying to figure out.”

“What do you mean?”

“She always runs when she has a problem she can’t figure out.”

“Huh.”

For the next 45 minutes Nathan ran with her.  She never lessened her pace and never opened her eyes.  Nathan had finally given up his race with her and he slowed his own treadmill to cool down.  Lucas, who had stopped his leisurely walk, looked at him with a smirk.

“What?” asked Nathan.

“I told you sir.” Said Lucas with a laugh.

The men’s heads turn to the door as Katherine Hitchcock walked in.  “Hello sir, Lucas.” She notices Kristin still running.  “How long she been that way?”

“About an hour and fifteen.” Said Lucas.

“Why didn’t you stop her, Lucas?” Katie asked concerned.  The teen shrugged.

“Kristin.  Kristin!” for the first time since Nathan had been in the room Kristin opened her eyes. Almost glaring at Katie, she removed the headset and slowed her pace to cool down.

“What is it Katherine?”

“How long have you been running?”

“I don’t know about an hour I guess.”

“Nope, you were running when I came in and that was almost an hour and a half ago.” Said Lucas.

“Okay so it was longer.” She said with a shrug of her shoulders.

Katie looks at the monitors of the treadmill.  “Jesus Kristin, 15 miles!”  Bridger stopped in his tracks.

Joshua Levin walked into the room and upon seeing Kristin said,  “Thank God.  Elizabeth said you were running.” He walks over to Kristin.  “How long did you run?”

Kristin rolls her eyes. “I don’t know.”

Katie replied, “fifteen miles.”

Joshua glared at Kristin as she glared at Katie.  “Thank you Katherine.” Says Kristin dryly.

“Christ Kristin. You should know better.”  He said as he grabbed her wrist to take her pulse.  He pulled his hand away moments later somewhat dismayed which drew an ‘I told you so’ smile from Kristin.

“Hell next time Colonel Clayton comes aboard I’m just sending him to talk to you about stamina.” Said Nathan with a laugh.

“What?” asked Kristin perplexed.

“He was saying how the science team being aboard seaQuest hurt the ability of the boat to react to dangerous situations.  I remember one of his complaints was that the scientists on board didn’t have stamina.” Nathan shook his head and laughed as he continued to walk on the treadmill.  “Definitely send him to you next time, doctor.”

“Stamina, huh?” Kristin thought for a moment and then gave Nathan a mischievous smile.  “Not my type but I’m sure I could leave him panting.”

“I’m sure you could doctor.” Nathan said as he smiled and shook his head of the thoughts racing through his brain as he watched the doctor leave.