Chapter 11: The Raging Fury
 

Kristin wearily walked into the den and sank into the chair in front of the computer. As she closed her eyes in exhaustion the day's events kept intruding into her mind. The morning and afternoon had been alright... so why did everything have to fall apart in the evening? It just couldn't get worse. At least she hoped it couldn't get worse.

In the back of her mind she heard the porch door slam... and slam hard. Things were not improving at all. But sitting here and brooding about it wasn't going to solve anything. Shaking her head she sat up in the chair and activated her mail program. She paid barely any attention as the list of incoming mail started forming on the screen. It was all the standard garbage. Nothing she wanted to deal with now. The appearance of one message on the screen caught her eye and she sat closer in the chair. No sender was indicated in the list. Another anonymous letter. This one had a subject of ‘I told you once before'. Humph. Probably warning her again against marrying Nathan. God only knows if that was going to happen now. Kristin sat back with tears brimming in her eyes. She pounded one fist against the arm of the chair in frustration. Everything had been going so well...

She looked up again at the screen, tempted to open the letter but hesitant to do so. Finally she got up and wandered over to Lucas' room. His door was open and he was pounding away at a video game on his computer. Lucas seemed to use those shoot-em-up games to keep his mind busy when things were upsetting him. Kristin could use one of them herself just about now.

"Lucas?"

He didn't turn around but his back stiffened at her voice. "Yeah?" he said sullenly.

Kristin's voice was soft and apologetic. "I'm sorry... but could I bother you to have a look at something?"

Lucas slammed his controller down with a frustrated sigh. He got up with very little good grace, turned and frowned as he spoke to her. "What now?"

"I think I got another one of those messages."

The teen just tilted his head and gave her one of those ‘dumb' looks. "Give me a hint. What kind of message?"

Kristin frowned at Lucas' attitude... not that she didn't deserve it. "Look, Lucas. I said that I was sorry... I don't know what else to say."

"Yeah, sure," he said in that voice that only an insolent teenager could manage.

Kristin gave up. "Forget it, Lucas. Go back to your game." She turned to leave the room.

Lucas sighed and relented. "Doc." She stopped and half-turned towards him. "What kind of message?"

"One of those anonymous ones," she said in a shaky voice.

Despite himself he was curious. "What's this one say?"

"I don't know. I haven't opened it yet. I thought that maybe you should be there when I do." She flinched as a crash came from somewhere out on the porch.

Lucas glanced towards the front of the house but otherwise ignored the crash. "Alright. Let me come take a look at it."

Lucas slipped into the desk chair and Kristin stood behind him. He stared at the screen for a little while and then set the computer to command mode and started typing.

"Aren't you going to open it, Lucas?"

He sighed and put on his ‘patient' voice. "Yeah, but first I'm going to be sure that it doesn't just disappear like the last one did... I'm putting a capture on the message so we can keep it."

"Oh."

Lucas typed a while more before he glanced back at her. "So... you want to see what this one says?"

"I'm not at all sure," said Kristin with a little quaver in her voice. "Yes, I suppose we have to."

Lucas leaned forward and highlighted the message. The standard format came up. The top was text. This time it was regular text and nothing as dramatic as last time.

'You're just not paying attention to me. I hate it when you do that. I can take care of this problem at any time.'

The text didn't have to be dramatic. The picture that loaded below it was dramatic enough. It painted slowly. Slower than the download of a normal image. It must have been designed that way. Especially since it didn't load like a normal graphic. They usually started at the top and filled in downwards. This graphic started at both the top and the bottom and filled in towards the middle.

Lucas and Kristin frowned at the screen as the graphic painted. After a short time it was obvious that it was a picture of Nathan. Just a head and shoulders shot. Kristin reflected that the description of a shot was just what this picture was. As it completed painting they saw that imposed over the picture was a crosshair graphic that was centered on Nathan's left temple.

So engrossed was Kristin in watching the graphic paint on the screen that she didn't hear another person come into the den behind her. She jumped a little as he spoke. "What the hell is that?" Nathan's tone of voice was evidence that he was still upset.

Lucas leaned back in the chair and shook his head a little. "The ball's in your court, Doc."

Kristin took a deep breath and turned a little towards Nathan. "That's number two of a pair of threatening messages advising me to not get married to you."

Nathan's cold glare captured her eyes. He said nothing and after a short time Kristin dropped her gaze. His voice was calm but business-like and that was never a good sign. "When did you get number one?"

"Two days ago," Kristin murmured.

Nathan looked back at the screen and sucked in an irritated breath. "I see... And just when were you planning on telling me about this?"

"Nathan, the first one wasn't much at all... just a message saying ‘I've heard you're thinking of getting married. I don't think so.'"

Lucas raised his eyebrows and sotto voice put in his own comments. "Yeah, in animated graphics that looked like the letters were bleeding and the whole thing was blown off the computer on its own after some graphics that looked like the page had burned up."

Kristin frowned at him but Nathan stared at the teen for a moment. "So you knew about it too." Lucas blanched a little. Nathan looked up at Kristin. "Don't tell me... you didn't want to upset me."

Kristin looked a bit downcast. "Yes, I'm afraid that's it."

After staring silently at her for a moment longer, Bridger turned his attention back to Lucas. "Is that crosshair superimposed or is it actually part of the picture?"

Lucas turned back to the screen and started to type. All of a sudden the screen went totally blank leaving all three staring at the computer. Then, just as suddenly as it had blinked off the screen the picture reappeared. Lucas sat back and grinned a little.

"I was ready for you that time, you bastard."

Bridger nodded his head and gave Lucas a short pat on the shoulder.

After messing around with the graphic for a while, Lucas leaned back in his chair and turned around towards the Captain. "It's part of the picture. Not superimposed."

Bridger nodded again. "So it came off a gun camera."

"Yes, sir."

The frown on Kristin's brow had gotten deeper. "Do you mean to tell me that sometime, somewhere, someone actually pointed a gun at you to take that picture?" she asked astonished.

Nathan looked over at her. "Not sometime, somewhere... this afternoon, when we were on the dock."

"How do you know that?"

"The shirt I'm wearing in the picture is the one I'm wearing now. It's a little cleaner than the one I'm wearing now, but it's the same one." The sarcastic tone of his voice wasn't lost on Kristin but she thought it best to ignore it.

"So?"

Bridger indicated the light blue UEO polo shirt he was wearing. "So... I only bought this shirt on Tuesday. Today is the first time I've worn it."

"Oh... But how do you know that it was when you were on the dock?"

Bridger's tone was like the one used by a patient parent explaining something easy to a child who just couldn't grasp the concept. "The pilings behind me... and the palm tree in front of the Rossini's place."

Kristin turned and looked at the picture again. "Alright. You're right."

Bridger turned back to the picture also. "And it's when ‘we' were on the dock. Not just me." He looked closer at the picture. "So, whoever it is was somewhere south of us."

Kristin broke in. "Wait a minute... how do you know it was when we were both on the dock?"

Nathan rubbed his eyes and answered in a frustrated voice. "You know... you and I are not having a particularly stellar night here." Kristin dropped her eyes and looked at the floor again. "Look at how my arm is placed. I was probably holding onto you at the time. Whoever it was probably took the picture right after I kissed you."

Kristin was staring at the picture now with concern on her face. "No, I kissed you," she said absently and then with mounting fear, "Nathan, he could have killed you right then."

"Yeah, but he didn't. I don't know that he's looking to kill me... more like looking to keep you from getting married." He swung his gaze over to Kristin's face. "Perhaps we should let him know that you're doing a fine job of working that one out for yourself."

Kristin looked upset. Almost like she might cry. "I tried to tell you that I was sorry. I don't know what else I can say."

Bridger shook his head again but a more gentle look softened his face. "You know... it's a damned good thing that I love you or I wouldn't put up with you." A small smile graced Kristin's face. "Now you've only got to convince Lucas that you didn't mean what you said to him."

Kristin was standing behind Lucas and didn't see the small grin on his face. "I really didn't, you know, Lucas. I'm terribly sorry... I don't know what I was thinking."

Lucas swung the chair around a little more and tilted his head as he looked up at her. "Oh, I don't know, Doc. All I got called was a sponge... at least I didn't have to push a car that was out of fuel off the freeway in the middle of the rush hour." He leaned his head back on the chair and folded his hands over his stomach.

Kristin dared to look up at Nathan.

"You know... for a lady with two doctorates you can be really dumb sometimes."

Kristin shrugged her shoulders, a pleading look in her eyes. "I am so sorry, Nathan. I completely forgot about fueling up the car... it just slipped my mind." Bridger frowned at her. Kristin got more defensive. "How was I to know that we'd run out of fuel right in the middle of the road?"

Bridger looked over at Lucas and raised his eyebrows. "On a four lane highway... with cars zooming by on all sides... and she runs out of fuel." He paused. "And the even dumber thing is that I'm dumb enough to push the car out of traffic instead of just standing on the side of the road until a service truck showed up." He shook his head. "Probably lucky we both didn't get killed."

Kristin looked at him with apologetic eyes. "Are you calming down now?"

"A little," said Bridger grudgingly. "Of course, matters weren't particularly helped by your performance at the jewelers."

"I just thought that the ring was too expensive, Nathan," she said defensively.

"You might have tried talking to me about it rather than launching into a diatribe right off the bat."

"You..." Kristin started in a frustrated voice and stopped. Taking a deep breath to control herself she tried again. "You were in no mood to talk to at that time. You were too frustrated and already angry with me," she said calmly.

Nathan looked over at Lucas again. "So instead of starting out on a low, reasonable level she goes straight to escalation." He shook his head and rolled his eyes up.

"You wouldn't have listened to me anyway," Kristin said reasonably.

He ignored her comment. "What really amazes me is that when we met up with Lucas you managed to carry on your fine tact and conversational skills right into dinner."

Kristin was on the defensive again. "I was only trying to make a joke... trying to lighten up the rather tense atmosphere."

Nathan frowned at her. "By calling Lucas a sponge and a free-loader?"

"You're taking it out of context. It was meant to be a joke."

"I think you ought to have more regard for who your audience is."

"I think my audience needs to get a sense of humor."

"I think your audience left his sense of humor out on Highway 75. And, by the way... you're back-sliding here... we were almost talking civilly for a while there."

"Yes," she said softly. "You're right."

"Is this what we have to look forward to? A fight every three days? I don't know if I want that kind of relationship, Kristin."

His voice was gruff but the little twinkle in his eye let Kristin know that he was just trying to drag her through the tidepools for her bad evening. She brought her hand up to caress the side of his face. "No," she said a lot more calmly. "I think that we're both just a little tense right now." Nathan's smile lightened her heart. "I imagine that we'll be a bit calmer when all this wedding stuff is over."

"Umm hum... speaking of wedding stuff..." He indicated the computer. "What do you plan to do about that?"

"I'm not sure," she said confused. "What should we do?"

Nathan took in a deep breath and let it out. "Well, it's a pretty direct threat. I think we probably should get a police report made."

Kristin looked back at the picture with concern. "I suppose you're right."

Chapter 12: The Storm Subsides Again
 

Nathan lay on his back staring into the darkness. The peace and quiet of the night was a welcome relief after the evening they'd had. Kristin lay curled up on her side next to him with her head resting on his shoulder. Nathan gently ran his fingers through her hair and kissed her forehead.

"Hey, you awake enough to talk?"

"Barely," was the sleepy response mumbled into his shoulder.

"Ya know, it seems to me that you're, ummm, just a little on edge these days." Kristin's only response was a mumbled groan. "I was just wonderin' how come you're so tense?"

Kristin rolled her head back to look at his face. "Oh, I don't know," she said in a facetious voice. "It's only a little over a week before the wedding... and there's tons of stuff that needs to be done."

"Nope... there isn't tons of stuff that needs to be done," Nathan said in a calm and reasonable voice. "We've got the place, I took care of the chaplain and the license, you took care of the food, the tent and chairs are ordered, the invitations are out, Lucas took care of the music."

"I can't believe you let him do that," she mumbled.

"Uh huh... You got the flowers, the decorators are set for Friday and then Saturday morning... you've got your wedding dress, my uniform is cleaned and pressed, we're set for transportation to the island afterwards, we've got a place to stay on our wedding night..."

Kristin rubbed his chest. "Are you going to tell me where we're going that night?"

"No... Lucas has his outfit..."

"And you're not going to tell me about that either, are you?"

"Nope... there have to be some surprises in life. We've both got our vacations set, and I've talked to God about making sure the weather is okay that day." Kristin's chuckle rumbled against his chest. "So we could almost put this on auto-pilot at this time." He rubbed his cheek against the top of her head. "So how come you're still so tense?"

"Mmmm... I don't suppose it might have to do with keeping the groom alive to attend the wedding... do you?"

Nathan tightened the arm around Kristin's shoulder momentarily. "Nope... until today's delivery I don't think you were really sure about the threat but you've been really tense and, by the way, a pain in the butt for several days now."

"I am not a pain in the butt," she said defensively and then paused. "Am I?"

"Ummm hmmm," he affirmed.

Kristin pulled back to look at his face again. "So why am I a pain in the butt?"

Nathan had been lying with his eyes shut but now he opened them and raised his head to look at her with a little twinkle in his eyes. "You've been a pain in the butt because you've been really touchy and Lucas and I are having to tap dance around everything to try and make sure you don't get upset... it's been kinda like permanent PMS." He flinched as Kristin pinched him in the ribcage. "And I need to either find out what's making you tense or try to find some way to help you relax."

Kristin grinned up at him and then pulled herself up until her face was even with his. She was lying halfway on top of him and her left leg was lying across the bottom part of his body.

"You're trying to figure out some way to help me to relax?"

Nathan grinned back at her. "Yeah."

Nathan's head rotated slightly and Kristin brought her lips down to meet his in a short but passionate kiss. She ran her fingers through the hair on his chest as she raised her head back up. "I can think of a way you can help me relax."

"Yeah," Nathan repeated as their lips met again and parted to allow the eager dueling of tongues. Nathan pulled Kristin up until she was lying on top of him... his hands beginning their roving journey across her back as her one hand slid through his hair and cupped the back of his head to increase the pressure of their kiss. All thoughts of threats and weddings slipped from their consciousness as they allowed their passion to take over their minds and their bodies.

Chapter 13: Red Sky in Morning
 

Nathan was sleepily staring into his cereal when Lucas made his morning appearance. He grabbed up a bowl and poured his own cereal and then sat across from Bridger as he reached for the milk.

"You look like you should try to get to bed a little bit earlier," he said to Nathan.

Nathan grimaced at him. "We did go bed early."

Lucas leaned forward on the table and lowered his voice conspiratorially. "Perhaps I should say that you should get to sleep a little earlier." Nathan frowned at him. "Or at least you should remember to close your door all the way."

Bridger straightened up, a look of shock on his face. "Oh Christ, Lucas... I'm sorry."

Lucas shook his head a little, still keeping his voice low. "One of the nice things about this house is that it's got really thick walls. I never hear you... unless you leave the door open." Bridger leaned his elbow on the table and covered his eyes with his hand. "And that's okay... you didn't wake me up until the very end."

"Oh Jesus," Bridger groaned. Lucas could see the color of his neck and face had changed to a crimson red.

"Oh, Jesus, what?" Kristin asked as she came in from the kitchen with her coffee cup in her hand.

Lucas straightened up in his chair. "You don't wanna know."

Nathan lifted his head and looked at the milk jug. "Trust me... he's right... you don't want to know." He couldn't quite bring himself to look at her.

Kristin glanced at the two of them doubtfully, noting Nathan's red face, and frowned. "Alright... which one of us is giving you a ride to work today, Romeo?" Her frown became even deeper as Lucas choked on his cereal and Nathan buried his eyes in his hand again with a soft, "Oh, Christ."

"It's Friday, Doc," Lucas said with a smirk on his face, "and I'm going out after work so if you don't mind..."

She glanced suspiciously between the two of them. "No... I don't mind."

"Great," said Lucas as he wolfed down the last of his cereal and got up from the table.

Kristin looked uncertainly at Nathan as he finally met her glance with a small smile. He also got up and headed into the kitchen, exchanging a glance with Lucas as they passed in the doorway.

Lucas grabbed up his jacket and headed for the door. "You guys have a good one," he called out as he went through the doors onto the porch.

Kristin stood and went to deposit her coffee cup in the sink. "What was that all about?" she asked Nathan as they passed.

Nathan looked at her with a feeble smile. "I'll tell you in the car."

By the time they had arrived at work Kristin had decided that, considering how it started, today was just going to be another bad day.

"Actually, if you think about it," said Nathan, "Lucas overhearing our... activities last night was really just the end of a very bad evening... so today could be just fine."

Kristin wasn't convinced. "Uh huh... you think so, huh?"

"I hope so," Nathan said fervently. He changed the subject quickly. "Do me a favor and drop me at Security."

"What are you going to do there?"

Nathan grimaced. "Well, since we made a police report I figure I'd better let them know about your little message last night."

Kristin pulled up in front of the Security building. "Oh, yes... I suppose so." Nathan leaned over and gave her a quick kiss before opening the car door. "I'll see you after work then?"

He leaned back down into the car. "I'll see you for lunch if you're free."

"Alright," Kristin smiled, "I'll let you know." She watched as Bridger headed into the building.

They did end up finding time to eat lunch together and Nathan stopped by Kristin's office a little after five.

"Hey lady, it's time for the weekend, you know. You could actually leave now if you wanted to."

"Let me get the last couple of lines in this report and I'm all yours, sailor."

Bridger grinned and sat down in the chair in front of her desk. He watched as she finished up and then saved the report she was working on. He stood again as she closed out her computer and then gathered up her things to leave.

"So... was the day lousy or did it manage to stay calm for you today?"

She came around the desk and slipped her arm into his as they left the office. "Actually, it wasn't too bad. How about yours?"

"It was a pretty good day altogether. I'll be moving my office over into the seaQuest as of next week."

"Oh, that's wonderful... it'll be so much easier for you to keep tabs on things."

"Yeah... they've managed to finish the wardroom and that's what I'll use for the moment." He paused and continued wistfully. "I'm kind of looking forward to being back onboard... even if it is a new boat."

They talked a little while more on their way home until Kristin noticed that Nathan wasn't answering her. She looked across the car at him and smiled as she saw that his head was leaning back against the seat and he had again fallen asleep during their drive. He really hadn't been kidding when he said that being a passenger in a car made him sleepy.

When they arrived at the beach house Kristin reluctantly reached over and shook Nathan's shoulder. He stirred and then with his head still leaning against the seat looked at her with bleary eyes. "Hmmm?"

"We're home."

"Did I fall asleep?" he asked sleepily.

Kristin raised her hand and caressed the side of his face. "What a dumb question."

Nathan lifted his head and smiled and glared at her all at the same time before getting out of the car. They mounted the stairs and Kristin unlocked the porch door. As they walked across the porch Nathan stopped to straighten up a picture of Kristin on a table. The wind must have blown it over.

Kristin reached towards the double French doors to unlock them and stopped, staring at the piece of paper affixed to them. "Nathan," she said in a quavering voice.

"Hmmm?" he looked over at her and then noticing the paper on the door came to stand next to her with a frown on his face.

A piece of letter-sized paper was affixed to the door with a small knife. The large red block letters on the paper said, "HOW MANY TIMES DO I HAVE TO TELL YOU?"

Kristin stared at the paper and then turned. "Nathan, this is getting scary."

Nathan wasn't looking at the door anymore but instead was casting his gaze out onto the water trying to spot an out-of-place boat.

Chapter 14: Sailors Take Warning
 

"Where are you going?" Kristin asked quietly.

Nathan, who had just stood up from the chair he had been sitting in for the last hour, expelled an irritated breath. "I thought I might go to the bathroom if that was alright with you?"

Kristin had the grace to sound embarrassed. "Oh, well, yes."

After casting a quick glance back at her Nathan headed for the bathroom. A short time later he came back down the hallway and walked to the French doors that led out onto the porch. As he stood staring out at the late afternoon sun on the water Kristin came up to stand beside him.

"Um... Nathan, you know it's probably not a real good idea for you to be standing on the porch." He turned his head and glared at her. "Well, given the situation... and the threats and all." Her voice trailed off under his stare.

When he started talking it was with barely controlled irritation. "Kristin, I've played this game all day with you and I've about had it up to the gills." He sighed and looked out at the water again. "You don't want me going on to the dock... you don't want me going for a walk... you don't want me going out of the house at all... you don't want me standing on the porch... you don't want me to get too close to any windows..." He paused again and then looked back at her. "You're driving me crazy."

She reached up one hand and stroked the side of his face. "I'm sorry, Nathan... it's just that I'm scared."

Nathan sighed again and leaned back against the doorframe. He took her hands in his.

"Kris, I know you're scared. That's just what this guy is depending on." He pulled her close to him and brought his hands around her waist. "But this is not life... not what we're doing now. You keep this up and he wins... and I don't know about you, Kristin, but I don't intend to let this jerk win."

Kristin leaned her forehead against his chest. "Yes, but at the moment he's got all the cards."

He rubbed his chin against the top of her head. "Not all of them, Kris," he said softly. "We've got extra police protection... we know what we're going to be doing... all he can do is follow us... and we know he's out there. That's an advantage on it's own."

Kristin turned her head to look out at the water. "Do you think he's really out there right now watching us?"

Nathan turned her head back to him. "It was a figure of speech, Kris. No, I don't think he's out there right now. I think we've probably made it a little uncomfortable for him at the moment." He smiled at her a little. "Hell, this area hasn't seen so many police cars and Coast Guard boats in years."

Kristin just shook her head and buried her face in his shoulder.

"You really can't think of anyone who might be the bad guy, huh?" Nathan's voice was a lot more tender this time.

"Nathan, to be honest I can't think of anyone who gives a damn about who I marry besides you." She brought her face up to look at him with a lost expression on her face. "I've really got no idea... I wish I had."

He brought one hand up and ran it through her auburn hair. "Tell you what... why don't we go out to dinner?" He interrupted her as she tried to comment. "Hey, the safest place is probably in a crowd... how's he going to get to me there?" Kristin looked a little doubtful. A small smile crossed Nathan's face. "It'll be alright. I promise... and I won't even try to sneak away from you."

Kristin smiled back and shook her head. She suddenly found herself looking into his eyes... and believing everything that he told her. Nathan lowered his lips until they barely skimmed across the top of hers. His hands held her as he pulled her even closer and after rubbing his cheek against hers his lips came back for a kiss that was at first gentle and tentative but quickly increased in intensity and passion. After a long while they broke the kiss and Kristin nuzzled her head into the place between his cheek and his shoulder.

"You keep that up and we won't be going anywhere for dinner," she mumbled into his neck.

Nathan held her close for a while, allowing his breathing to return to normal. "Sure we will," he said softly into her ear. "If you think Lucas gets crabby when he's hungry... you should see how nasty I get... and I'm starving."

Kristin brought her arms around his neck and ran her fingers through his hair.

"Alright... we'll go out to get something to eat," she conceded.

Nathan grinned at her. "Besides, you only have a little over a week before I get my wheels back... if you want to take advantage of the fact that I'm dependent upon you for my mode of travel, you've got to do it now."

"Oh really? ...How much do you think they're paying chauffeurs these days?"

Nathan slipped one hand around her waist and turned her towards the door. "I don't know... we can talk about it later." He pulled the French doors closed and locked them behind them.

"How much later?" asked Kristin suspiciously.

Nathan stopped and one side of his mouth curled up in a little smile. "Tell you what... how about we talk about it in bed tonight?"

Kristin nodded and they continued to walk out off the porch. "Oh, that sounds good to me."

Nathan was wrong though... two steely eyes watched their every move on the porch, noting the intimate kiss and the close embrace. The man slowly shook his head and turned away into the interior of his boat. He had more preparations to make. She obviously didn't think he was serious. She'd have no doubt about that soon.

Chapter 15: In For a Little Blow
 

Nathan wandered in from the porch and after a short search found Kristin in the kitchen.

"Hey, where are my car keys?"

Kristin cast a doubtful look his way. "What do you need those for? You can't drive."

With a little smile and a twinkle in his eyes he said, "I need them because I want to wash my car and check the levels... if that's okay with you?"

Lucas sat up a little from the couch where he was laying reading a book. "You can wash my car if you want to."

Nathan frowned over at him. "I already washed your car, Mr. Smart Guy... and I washed Kristin's too."

Kristin came back from the bedroom where she had gotten Nathan's car keys from.

"Good heavens, we're feeling energetic today, aren't we?"

"Yup," said Nathan with a satisfied smile. "And your car really needed it." He looked over at Lucas again. "Hey, why don't you move your car so I don't get it wet again when I wash mine?"

"Ah, that's okay," was the response that came drifting up from the couch.

Nathan leaned over the couch and looked down at Lucas. "No, its not okay... for one thing, I'll get waterspots all over your nice clean car... and secondly, you parked so damned close to me that it was hard enough to clean your car..." His voice got more forceful. "Move it."

Lucas looked up at him. "I think I'll move my car."

Bridger nodded and flashed a humorless smile at him. "Good idea." He headed into the kitchen to get a drink while Lucas moved the car.

Kristin glanced over at him as he opened the refrigerator. "Are you sure it's such a good idea for you to be outside working on the cars?"

Pulling a pitcher of lemonade from the refrigerator and grabbing a glass, Bridger responded as he poured the lemonade, "Yeah, it's probably the safest place for me to be. I've got the bushes on two sides, the drive on one and the house on the other. It's almost like being in a protected area." He took a sip from the glass. "Besides which, I'm going stir-crazy in this house. I've got to get outside some, Kris."

Kristin sighed and shook her head a little. "Alright, but don't get too caught up in staring at that beautiful car of yours. Be sure you pay attention to things around you."

Lucas wandered back in and flopped down on the couch. "It's all moved," he called.

"Thanks," Bridger called back to him. He turned to Kristin and gave her a quick kiss on the cheek. "I promise... I'll be careful out there, Mommy." Kristin punched him on the shoulder and pushed him towards the door. Nathan wandered out with a smile on his face.

Nathan carefully soaked and then rubbed his car down with a large sponge filled with soap, meticulously going over each inch of the car to ensure that no dirt remained. He worked on one panel at a time so that he didn't end up with any dried soap on the car and after he rinsed it off he went back over the car with a chamois. As he dried the steel blue Mercedes he relived the feelings he had when he was a boy and owned his first car. The feel of the sleek panels beneath his hands felt like caressing a woman. And it would only be a little over a week before he'd be back behind the wheel. He could hardly wait... this last three weeks had seemed like an eternity. He knew that Kristin and Lucas really didn't mind carting him around everywhere he needed to go but he just wasn't used to having to depend upon people so much. And besides which... they didn't drive near fast enough... good Lord, sometimes he felt like Kristin was driving like an old lady with the speed (or lack of it) that she drove at.

Nathan stood back and admired his work. That car was definitely looking good. Now to be sure that everything was alright inside too. After unlocking the door Nathan sat down in the driver's seat. He leaned back and put his hands up on the steering wheel and just sat there reveling in the feeling. Kristin picked that moment to look out of the bedroom window to see what he was doing and grinned at the satisfied look on his face. She shook her head and went back to her chores, letting him enjoy the feel of being back in the car.

Leaning down, Nathan pulled the release for the hood and it popped up slightly. He put the key in the ignition and turned it. The car hummed to life and for a moment Nathan just sat there listening to the engine purr. Nathan had no way of knowing that by turning the car on he had activated a small timer tucked up against the firewall in the engine compartment. A timer attached to a small expertly placed block of C4 plastic explosive.

Nathan got out of the car and went around to raise the hood. A quick glance over the engine didn't show anything out of place and Nathan went to pull the dipstick to check the fluid levels. He got the dipstick half way out before remembering that he'd left the rag to wipe it off with in the storage area beneath the house. Slipping the dipstick back in Nathan went to find the rag. It was right where he had left it and Nathan walked back to the car just as the timer completed its cycle and a small contact closed. The closed contact completed a circuit... the completed circuit activated a piece of primacord... and the primacord detonated the C4. Bridger's car exploded in a blinding flash of flame and smoke.

Chapter 16: Restless Seas
 

Kristin jumped at the boom that shook the house. For a moment she stood confused as to what might have caused it and then a shocked, fearful look covered her face as she soundlessly whispered "Nathan" and took off running for the stairs down to the front of the house. She skidded around the corner to see Nathan's car sitting on the far side of the driveway engulfed in flames. Her heart jumped to her throat as she saw the smoke and flames billowing from the car and a small gasp crossed her lips as she angled around it to see if she could see a body in it. The heat of the flames kept her away from the car itself so she hugged close to the house as she circled the car. Finally, standing across from the passenger door Kristin could see inside the car but orange flame and dark black smoke was all that was visible. She brought both hands up to cover her mouth as she fought back the tears and the terror gripping her body.

So intent was she on the car that she didn't feel the arms coming around her waist until they encircled her. Kristin jumped in shock and quickly looked back over her left shoulder. With another gasp and a sob she spun around and threw her arms around Nathan's neck as she buried her head in his shoulder.

Lucas came running around the corner and stopped dead at the sight of the Captain's car going up in flames. With a groan of relief he saw the Captain standing next to the house fixedly staring at his car while he held Kristin. Lucas' eyes were riveted on the burning car as he walked over to where they were standing. "The fire department's on the way." Bridger looked over at him for a moment with a confused frown on his face, nodded silently and then looked back at the car.

Holding onto Kristin as she cried desperately into his shoulder, Nathan stared wordlessly at the flaming car. The wail of a siren came close and stopped as a squad car pulled up in front of the house. Officer Mike Valdez came running up the driveway, skidding to a halt when he saw the trio standing near the house. Bridger's gaze left the car as Valdez approached and he looked at him silently. When he spoke he still had a frown on his face and Valdez could see the tensing of his jaw. "This just stopped being a game."

Valdez glanced quickly at the burning vehicle and then back at Bridger. "Shall I assume this is not just a car fire?"

"No," said Bridger calmly... perhaps too calmly. "It was an explosion... someone just blew my car up."

A fire engine arrived and Valdez went quickly to speak with the fire lieutenant and then came back to talk to Bridger, who was still staring at the car as the fire fighters covered it with foam. "Captain, I gather you weren't in the car when it blew up."

He shook his head slowly while watching the car. "No."

Valdez also watched the actions of the fire crew. "Where were you?"

"Right about where I am right now."

Valdez looked back at Bridger and then at the car as if to gauge the distance. It was way closer than you wanted to be to an exploding car. "Are you alright?"

"Most of me is," responded Bridger absently. He continued to look at the car which now just billowed smoke from under the foam. He shook his head slowly again and a slightly disgusted look crossed his face. "I just got done washing it." He looked over at Valdez, who had the beginnings of a smile on his face from that rather inane remark. "You know the rules, don't you? ...You can do a lot of things but don't screw with my car." The grin became more pronounced on Valdez' face.

Just about then Kristin registered an answer that Nathan had given earlier. She pulled her head back and brought her hands down to wipe off her face. "What did you mean that most of you is alright?"

Nathan took one hand off her back and grimaced a little as he reached behind himself with the back of his hand. When he brought the hand back out again it was covered in blood. "I kind of got blown into the pilings." He glanced back at the 12 by 12 wood pilings that supported the house and grimaced. "It seems that I melded with one of them."

The other three moved behind Nathan and saw that when he had slammed into the pilings several large wood splinters had become embedded in his back and now were bleeding profusely. Nathan grimaced again and jumped as Kristin cautiously inspected the wounds.

"Doc, the fire department has got an ambulance here too if you want," offered Valdez.

"Nathan?" Kristin asked.

"I'd rather not if you think you can take care of it."

Kristin nodded. "Thanks anyway, Officer Valdez. I think I can probably handle this but I am going to need to take him inside."

"The house doesn't look like it caught much more damage than a little shrapnel. I think that should be alright."

They all headed for the stairs up to the porch. As they got to the corner of the house an older man with grey hair and a moustache who was watching the fire department called out to Nathan. "You alright, Nathan?"

Nathan looked up at his next door neighbor. "Yeah, Henry, I'm alright." He glanced back ruefully at the car. "My car's seen better days... but I'll be alright."

Chapter 17: Sitting at Anchor
 

The small procession worked its way up the stairs and into the house where Kristin directed Nathan to the kitchen. Pulling a stool around from the breakfast bar, Nathan sat gingerly while Lucas went back to the bedroom to get Kristin's medical bag. The sounds of more footsteps coming up the stairs got Officer Valdez' attention. He liked Bridger and was beginning to feel a bit protective about him. Valdez gave a sigh and relaxed visibly as he saw another police officer come through the door. The new arrival was Detective Sergeant Clara Wadkins. Valdez had known that Wadkins was in charge of the case involving the threats on Bridger and made sure that she had been notified about the explosion.

She smiled Bridger's direction. "Captain, are you alright?"

"Yeah, I think so..." Bridger frowned, "but did you see my car?"

Wadkins nodded ruefully. "Your car has seen better days, I'm afraid."

Nathan rubbed his hand over his face and grimaced a little as Kristin started cutting away his shirt. "I think this has stopped being just a nuisance... .now this guy is really beginning to irritate the hell out of me."

The detective sat on another stool across from Bridger. "I think I'd be more than irritated... I think I'd be downright mad."

"Trust me... I am..." He winced a little and Kristin mumbled an apology as she hit a tender spot. "I was really looking forward to driving that car after next week." He shook his head ruefully. "Where do you want me to begin?"

Nathan spent the better part of an hour telling his story, not that there was much to tell. Nathan's whole involvement in the explosion had been to turn on the car and then almost get himself blown to kingdom come. He got to tell it again when Lt. Brakker from the UEO Security Department showed up. Brakker had not only made his own appearance but he'd brought along reinforcements and there were now armed UEO Security guards posted around the house.

Despite the fact that Kristin was using a local anesthetic, Nathan could still feel it every time she went to remove one of the splinters. At this point he had his head pillowed on both arms which he had folded and rested on the kitchen counter. To her credit, Kristin had told him that there was a painless way to do this but Nathan wasn't about to agree to being knocked out. Kristin noted with concern that while Nathan was answering the constant questions coming his way from the various security and police people he was also getting paler by the minute. As she prepared to remove what she hoped would be the last piece of the pilings from his back she indicated to Lucas that he should go back and get a shirt for Nathan. It was bad enough that all these people were standing around while she worked on him... they could at least allow him to get dressed.

This last wood splinter had gone in almost sideways around the left side of Nathan's ribcage. Kristin knew that there was no way this one was going to be painless. She glared at the UEO Lieutenant who had managed to work his way around from the dining room side of the countertop and into the kitchen. He obviously didn't quite catch on that the kitchen was where she was doing her work. The rest of them could talk to Nathan through the countertop pass-through.

Lucas squeezed by the lieutenant to put one of Nathan's shirts on the counter and grimaced as he saw the damage the splinters had done to Bridger's back. He was definitely going to be sleeping on his stomach for a while.

Kristin had finally had enough of this three-ring circus. Still holding a pair of rather gross looking forceps in her hand she turned from her perusal of Nathan's back to face the UEO lieutenant and put on her best ‘doctor's voice'.

"Lieutenant, you need to move out of my kitchen."

"Just a couple more questions, ma'am," the lieutenant said as he turned back to Bridger.

"Lieutenant," Westphalen said more forcibly. "You either get the hell out of my kitchen or none of you will be asking Captain Bridger any questions until I am completely satisfied that his medical treatment is concluded." She paused for effect. "Do I make myself totally clear??"

Lucas didn't miss the grin that was apparent on the small part of Bridger's face that was visible. Brakker looked at Westphalen in surprise for a moment before hesitantly moving out of the kitchen and to the other side of the counter. Kristin continued to glare at him.

"That's better." She leaned down next to Nathan's face so she could talk to him. "You don't have to think it's so damned funny, Bridger." Of course, he only smiled more. "One more piece to go and then I think we're done." Nathan nodded a little and then gasped as Kristin used her forceps to grasp the last piece of the piling from his back. A quick inspection showed that the splinter had come out in one piece so Kristin cleaned out the wound and put the last bandage on.

Kristin kept one eye on the officers in her dining room while she removed her medical gloves. She saw Brakker have the gall to open his mouth to ask another question and made sure that she got there first.

"Not yet, Lieutenant," she said firmly. Brakker only blinked at her and shut his mouth.

Bridger had gratefully accepted the shirt from Lucas and was gingerly buttoning it up. Kristin put her back to the dining room and leaned against the countertop. "How's your stomach?"

A rueful look crossed Bridger's face. "Oh, you don't want to know." He took in the slightly less than patient frown on her face. "Okay, maybe you do want to know," he relented. He took a deep breath and winced at a twinge of pain. "It's pretty awful."

"Sharp pain or a dull ache?"

"Um, constant dull ache with an occasional twinge."

Kristin nodded. "You're not answering any more questions until you've had something to eat and you've taken your medications." She paused and Bridger opened his mouth to reply. "And that's final," she said decisively.

Nathan shifted his glance from her to the UEO Lieutenant standing expectantly on the other side of the pass through. "You heard her, Lieutenant. We'll continue after I get something to eat." He grinned at the distress showing on his face. "Why don't you have a seat?"

Lucas placed a couple of jelly sandwiches in front of him and Bridger started eating under the watchful eye of just about everyone in the place. After only a few bites a mild commotion could be heard at the bottom of the stairs leading to the porch. Nathan recognized the strident voice causing the disturbance.

"Look, he says I have to see him... I've got to see him," came the rather youthful voice from below.

Bridger shook his head with probably the first smile he'd had in hours. "Kenny?" he called down.

"Yes, sir," was the disjointed reply.

Nathan looked over at Brakker. "Let the boy up, Lieutenant."

Brakker notified the guards posted below and soon a rush of footsteps could be heard on the porch. A well-tanned young man of about 14 years of age with sun-bleached hair wearing baggy shorts and a tank top came through the porch door. After a quick look around the room he homed in on Nathan.

"Are you alright, sir?"

"Yeah, I'm okay, Kenny. What have you got for me?"

With a suspicious look at the other adults in the room Kenny came over to the countertop between the dining room and the kitchen and, taking a well-folded chart from his back pocket, opened it up on the counter. Nathan leaned forward gingerly to inspect the chart which had several notations written in at different points.

"Only a couple of the same people, sir," the youth said speaking only to Nathan.

"Anyone moving in a strange way or something you wouldn't expect?"

The boy leaned over the map and pointed to one symbol. "When the explosion happened..." He looked up at Bridger. "What was that, by the way?"

"My car."

"Bummer... anyways when your car blew up most of the boats just stayed where they were and watched the smoke but this guy pulled anchor and left."

"You get a look at him?"

"Not much of one, Captain. White guy. Very short light hair... that's about all we could see. You said not to get too close."

Nathan nodded and looked a little closer on the chart. He pointed over to more charts sitting on the credenza. "Get those other two for me." Kenny grabbed the other charts and spread them out on the counter too. Bridger tapped at a symbol on each chart and Kenny nodded his head.

Straightening up and reaching into his pocket for a bill, Bridger handed the money over to the boy and then he leaned forward again. "Alright... here's what I need you to do." He made sure the boy was paying attention. "For the next week or so go sailing somewhere else." The boy nodded. "Don't stare at any boats, especially ones that you've watched this week." Kenny nodded again. "Don't talk about this and if it looks at all like you're going to have a problem, get the hell out of the area... got it?"

Kenny nodded again. "Got it, sir."

"Thanks," said Bridger as the boy grinned and headed out of the house.

"Captain?" said Detective Wadkins as her eyes followed the boy out.

Bridger shrugged, well he shrugged as well as his hurt back would allow, and then he took a bite of a sandwich. It wouldn't do to get Kris any angrier than she was now. "Sherlock Holmes had his Baker Street Irregulars and I've got Kenny and his friends. Those boys sail off the shore here every day. They can slip in and out of the area without being noticed, unlike the police boats and the Coast Guard." He paused while he took another bite. "They've been watching and recording any boats who've been in this area for the last week. Paying special attention to any of them who are moored or hanging around south of us since that's where this guy's been known to be before."

"Did they find anything?" That was from Brakker.

"Yeah," Nathan pointed at one of the symbols written on the first chart that Kenny had given him. "Go looking for this boat." He checked more notations written on the bottom of the chart. "The name of it is ‘Tequilla Sunrise' and it's a 36 ft. Drager sailboat, white with a red stripe down the side."

Wadkins nodded and handed the information to Valdez who headed out to start the search. She looked over at Kristin. "Doctor, if we could, I'd like to see the picture that was sent to you. We've seen copies but sometimes the real thing shows more."

A small procession, including Nathan and his sandwich, made their way into the den where Lucas took over bringing up the Doc's mail list. As the old mail loaded, the system checked for any new mail too. Lucas straightened up and looked back at Westphalen as another anonymous message appeared in her unread pile.

"Capture it," said Bridger's voice over his other shoulder. Lucas looked back that way to find the Captain staring at the screen.

Lucas quickly coded in a capture before glancing back at Bridger again and pressing the button to bring up the new anonymous message. This one painted faster than the picture... but then again it was only a graphic and words. The graphic filled the middle of the screen and was of a grey tombstone with red flowers planted at its base and the letters ‘R.I.P." in the center. The words which printed below said, "So sorry to hear about your loss. You should have known better... and now he's dead."

Chapter 18: A Shift in the Winds
 

Kristin looked over at where Nathan was still staring at the screen. "Nathan, he thinks he killed you."

Bridger nodded silently and then slowly turned to look at Lt. Brakker.

"You're out of here, Captain," stated the young Lieutenant.

Nathan nodded again. "We're all out of here, Lieutenant." Lucas was frowning up at him and Nathan addressed him and Kristin. "All three of us are moving out of here."

Arrangements were made in a surprisingly short time and a little after dark, with as little fanfare as possible, Nathan, Kristin and Lucas were moved by van to a house within the UEO complex.

The three of them sat in the back of a van with smoked windows. Nathan and Kristin in the middle seat and Lucas all the way in the back with the luggage. Lieutenant Brakker was riding shotgun in the front. Nathan shifted a little and put his arm over the back rest to bring less of his sore back into contact with the seat.

Kristin had noticed his movement. "How's the painkiller working?"

"It's not."

"Sorry. I wish I could give you something stronger but with your stomach... "

"No, that's okay... it's just uncomfortable." He glanced out the windshield and then back at Kristin with one of his more normal grins. "Just expect that I'm sleeping on my stomach tonight."

Lucas' concerned voice came softly from the back seat. "Captain?"

"Hmmm?" said Bridger turning to look at him.

"Just how long do you think this move is going to fool this guy?"

Bridger was silent for just a moment and then he sighed. "Well, I'd say approximately right up to tomorrow morning." He glanced towards Brakker. "What do you think, Lieutenant?"

"I'd say your timeline is pretty accurate, sir."

Lucas closed his eyes a moment and shook his head. "Then what's the point, sir?" He looked up at Nathan. "How long does this go on?"

"No more than one week, Lucas... one way or another this gets settled by next Saturday."

"I'd rather not have the ‘other', please," commented Kristin.

Lucas was sorting things out in his new bedroom and Kristin had last been seen inspecting the kitchen and bathroom facilities. Nathan was sitting alone in the front room of the UEO house with the lights off staring out the window when Kristin spotted him.

"So are we going to spend the next week with the lights off too?" She pulled an ottoman up next to him and sat with her arms resting on the side of his chair.

"No... at the moment I'm just humoring the lieutenant."

"You took this move pretty well... I would have expected that you'd raise more of an argument."

Nathan didn't look at her... for that matter he looked anywhere but at her. When he finally responded to her she was surprised at the sound of his voice. This wasn't the confident, sure voice she was used to... this voice was a little shaky and emotional.

"Kris... " He stopped and rubbed his forehead. "I shouldn't have been in that car... it shouldn't have been me." He stopped again and his voice was barely over a whisper when he continued. "It could have been you... or Lucas." He shook his head and finally looked at her. "I don't know what made me start that car but it could have so easily been one of you two." Again he stopped and looked out the window. "I can play with my own life but I can't do that with yours."

Kristin understood... and she had the solution. "Nathan, we need to talk."

"I thought that was what we were doing."

Kristin closed her eyes and leaned her head against his forearm. "Nathan, we need to call off this wedding."

He didn't say anything for a moment and then just merely calmly said, "No."

Kristin sighed and looked up at him. He had that stern, no nonsense look on his face. "It's not an option, Nathan," she said earnestly.

His expression didn't change. "You're right because we're not calling off the wedding."

"And just how do you plan on having a wedding without the bride?" Nathan didn't say anything but just stared at her. "If I refuse to come, Nathan, there is no wedding."

He leaned back in the chair a little and then grimaced as he discovered that wasn't a good thing to do. "You'll be there. There'll be a wedding... because this will be over with by Saturday."

"How can you be so sure?" Kristin sat up and glared at him. "You don't even know who it is who's playing these games." Again Nathan just stared at her for a moment and then dropped his eyes. Kristin came to a sudden realization. "You do know, don't you?" She moved around until she was kneeling in front of him and he couldn't avoid her. "Nathan, you know who's doing this."

He managed to avoid her eyes for a little while before finally meeting her gaze. "Yeah, I think so," he admitted.

"Who?"

He shook his head a little. "You know too... if you think about it."

"I know???"

"I think so... did anyone ever write you messages like this guy does?"

Kristin stared at him with confusion written all over her face. Gradually that confusion cleared as she thought about what Nathan had said. Then the confusion was replaced with horror. "Oh, my God, Nathan."

Chapter 19: Sheltered on the Lee Side
 

There was one advantage about the safe house that the UEO had moved Bridger and company into... there were two bathrooms and the morning escapade of getting ready was much easier when there were two places to take showers. Also, they didn't need to worry about who was driving Bridger to work since UEO Security was providing the transportation for all of them.

Nathan was ready earlier than he wanted to be and was sitting in the kitchen of the house frowning at his bowl of cereal. What he really wanted was a cup of coffee but it was going to be at least three weeks until the doctors allowed that. Kristin came in the room and as Nathan looked up at her his frown disappeared. Sometimes he had to sit there in wonder that in less than a week he'd be married to this gorgeous woman. Today she said that she had some meetings to go to so she had forgone the jeans and t-shirt that was her preferred dress and instead she was wearing an ivory blouse of some sort of silk-like material and a maroon skirt. She turned and caught him checking out her outfit... and the person inside of it.

"What are you looking at?" she asked with a smile.

Nathan smiled back. "Just admiring the scenery."

"You're hopeless, Bridger." She came over and sat beside him bestowing a quick kiss on his cheek. After a few moments Kristin hazarded a glance at him. "Did you sleep at all last night?"

"Yeah, a couple of hours. Between trying to get comfortable sleeping on my stomach and other disturbances I was a bit restless."

"Yes, I noticed," she murmured. For the first time since they'd been sharing a bed Nathan had a nightmare last night. Although Kristin had woken him from it as soon as she realized what was going on, Nathan had gotten up and she had heard him pacing in the living room for most of the night.

"I could really use a cup of coffee, Kris."

Kristin placed one hand over his and gave it a squeeze. "Yes, I know... I also know what that would do to your stomach and I don't think you want to have that experience today."

"Or any day," he agreed.

The front door to the house opened and Lieutenant Brakker came in and continued to the kitchen.

"Good morning, Lieutenant." Bridger said with a little hesitation in his voice. "So how many hours of sleep did you get last night?" Bridger had seen the lieutenant several times during his last night pacing.

Brakker returned a good-natured smile. "Captain, you're not much of one to be talking. Seems to me I saw you walking around the house most of the night last night."

Nathan indicated the cereal box. "You're welcome to some breakfast, if you'd care for it."

Brakker headed back out of the kitchen. "Thank you, sir, but I've already eaten."

"I just bet you have," Bridger muttered under his breath. Sometimes hyper-efficient people irritated him.

Lucas came wandering in the kitchen and headed straight for the refrigerator. Bridger gave him a run-down of the food supplies in the house. "They've got fruit, cereal and milk. If you want a donut you've got to wait until you get to work. If you want cereal, the bowls are to the left of the sink."

Lucas grabbed a bowl from the cabinet, sat at the table and poured himself a generous helping of cereal. He frowned at the bowl. "Cheerios... just like the UEO... they could have gone for something with a little more sugar in it," he groused.

"Oh, just what you need... more sugar in the morning," said Nathan.

Lucas grinned and then glanced up at the Captain. "Was that you walking around last night?"

"Yeah, kinda like old times, huh?" When Bridger had first become Lucas' guardian right after the sinking of the first seaQuest he had gone through several months of nightmares and spent countless nights pacing the living room at their house. "Not necessarily good old times though."

"Yeah," commented Lucas. "What's the plan for the day?"

"Well," Nathan started leaning back in his chair before remembering that his back didn't like that. Instead he leaned his elbows against the table and tented his fingers. "I'm going to work."

Lucas gave him the basic ‘duh' look, "I figured that from the uniform you're wearing."

Kristin grinned over at him. "And I've got a couple of meetings today so I have to go to work also."

"Besides which," interjected Nathan, "we've got to get our desks cleaned off before we take off next week."

Lucas stopped with his spoon half way up to his mouth. "So the wedding is still on?" he asked hopefully.

Nathan nodded. "Yeah, it's still on." He paused a moment to think and then continued. "There is something I need you to do though."

"What's that?"

"I need you to see if you can find a guy." Lucas listened closely to what Bridger wanted him to do and nodded his head.

"If he's out there, I'll find him, sir."

"Oh, he's out there Lucas... I know he's out there."

Chapter 20: Parting Clouds
 

Lieutenant Brakker was waiting with two other security officers at the door for them when they left. He introduced everyone all around.

"Captain, this is Chief Lenny Akima, he'll be your shadow today." Bridger shook hands with the barrel-chested weathered Chief. "Mr. Wolenczak, Ensign James will be watching over you." Lucas' eyebrows raised and he smiled as he shook hands with the pretty blond haired officer. "And Doctor, you're stuck with me all day."

"I wasn't aware that each one of us was going to be getting our own watchdog," said Westphalen.

Brakker shrugged, "Doctor, this guy has just gone into unpredictable mode on us. We just figured it would be safest this way."

"Oh, trust me, Lieutenant, I'm not arguing at all. I'm just kind of surprised at the amount of effort."

As they walked out to the cars Kristin turned to Nathan. "Lunch today?"

"Not me, I'm afraid. The Chief has the easiest job, I'll be over at the seaQuest all day."

She turned to Lucas. "How about you."

"You got a date, Doc."

Bridger and Kristin stopped for a short but intense kiss at the end of the sidewalk. "Be careful," she warned him.

Nathan put on an innocent face. "Who me??? I'm always careful . . . just ask my doctor."

They parted and as they headed for their respective cars Chief Akima asked Bridger, "So are you driving, Captain, or am I?"

"They didn't tell you about that part, did they, Chief," Bridger said slapping the man on the shoulder. "You're the driver... I'm suspended."

Kristin gathered her papers at the end of her second meeting and was preparing to leave the conference room when she was stopped by Bill Noyce.

"Kristin, would you have a few moments that you could give us?" Noyce was standing with Tom McGath, the man who would be taking his place as Secretary General in another month.

Kristin smiled over at him. After a little bit of a shaky start she'd found out why Nathan was such good friends with Bill. He had one of the biggest hearts she'd ever seen and was a man of unquestioned honesty. "I've got all sorts of time today, Bill. What can I do for you?"

"Come on into my office. We'd like to talk to you."

After getting snugly ensconced in the comfortable chairs at the end of his office Noyce leaned forward with his elbows on his knees and the ever-present smile on his face. He didn't beat around the bush but went straight to what he wanted to discuss.

"Kristin, do you remember Dave Horsty?"

"Of course, he ran the Department of Biological Oceanography before I took it over. He stayed in Hawaii, didn't he?"

"Yeah, if you remember, his wife was ill and the move to New Cape Quest was just out of the question for him."

"I've worked with him before," said Kristin. "He's one heck of a biologist... and he did an excellent job of running the department. I barely had to make any changes when I took over."

"Yeah, he did do a good job." Bill hesitated, looked over at McGath and then back at Kristin. "Dave's wife died two weeks ago."

A sad look crossed Kristin's face, "Oh, dear, how awful."

"It was... at the same time it was rather a release for Claire. She'd been in pretty terrible condition for the last year or so. Dave had stopped working for the last six months and provided full-time care." He shook his head a little. "Claire was pretty much in a vegetative state for the past four months." Bill sat up a little bit and folded his hands. "Dave is looking to move now and we'd like to find a place for him to move into."

Noyce looked over at McGath again who took up the conversation. He smiled at her and Kristin was impressed, it wasn't a politician's smile but a genuine one. "Doctor, we've got a proposition for you."

Kristin made it down to the cafeteria just after noon and picked out the pasta salad for lunch. She made it through the cashier and searched the room looking for Lucas. She spotted him over near the windows and weaved her way over to his table.

Lucas looked up at her and found that her smile was contagious. "You certainly are happy about something, Doc."

"Yes, I am, Lucas. I've had an exceptional morning."

Lucas didn't think he'd seen her look this happy for quite a while. "You gonna let me in on the secret?"

Kristin leaned forward conspiratorially on the table. "Well, I shouldn't but if you promise not to tell..."