LONG LAST CONFRONTATION
by Teresa
Disclaimer: I do not own SeaQuest or it's characters. I'm just borrowing them for fun.
This story is inspired by Diena Taylor.
It really bugged me how Bridger and Lucas' relationship just fell apart in third season. Seems it bugged her more :-)
The conference bustled with excitement and activity. It looked like the first underwater aquatic protection organisation was about to open successfully.
The massive hall was filled with thousands of people from all areas of oceanic research, science, politics, media and business.
Miss Scutten was a petit blonde lady, semi-attractive and very kind natured but not known for her intelligence or social skills. She had the fortune to be placed with ushering the SeaQuest crew to their places, and making sure they were comfortable.
“Oh, Mr Wolenczak,” she doted on the young man almost embarrassingly as Ensign Wolenczak and Captain Hudson were led through the large hall.
Lucas, unlike the Captain, was enjoying the social glamour and hype, as well as learning about many topics that interested him.
She walked over to the two of them quickly, “Mr Wolenczak,” she called again. Hudson turned away from her and pulled his worn out face, just as Lucas turned to her and smiled charmingly.
“Oh, Mr Hudson,” she said coming up to them, “I didn’t recognise you.”
She stopped next to them and clasped her hands together, “There are some people who might like to meet you. You both look bored standing here.”
Hudson leaned across Lucas to address her, “No, that’s fine, thank you.”
“Oh, but I’ve just been talking about you,” she took Lucas arm, “Come on, this way.”
Lucas turned to give Hudson something of a half grin, only more respectful, as he was pulled away. He didn’t want Hudson getting too upset with him. Hudson gave an exasperated sigh and followed them.
“Excuse me,” she called out to the elderly gentlemen huddled in a group. She pulled Lucas over with her. Lucas tried to pull away from her grip, not wanting it to look as though he had been forced over there.
The men turned and smiled at Lucas as though young women would a small baby.
“This is, ah, Ensign.. Wolenczak,” she stumbled over Lucas’ name but pronounced it correctly.
Another man walked over to join the crowd, seemingly to address one of the men being introduced to Lucas.
Lucas’ face soured slightly as he saw him. Nathan Bridger turned to see Lucas just after Lucas turned his face away, sadly.
Bridger squirmed uncomfortably, not sure how to address his young charge.
“And this is Mr Bridger,” Miss Scutten began, “This is Lucas Wolenczak,”
“Ah, yes,” Bridger cut in, “We know each other.”
At this point Lucas looked at him, nodded and smiled slightly, although the smile didn’t reach his eyes.
The other men in the group noticed the tension and squirmed uncomfortably too.
“Ah, I think I should be going,” Bridger said as he backed off quickly and left them.
The look on Lucas’ face was slight shock, hurt and irritation. He turned his face away from all them angrily.
The teenager swallowed, “Excuse me,” he said as he walked through the group after his ex-Captain.
“Captain,” Lucas called, his eyebrows furrowing together in a hurtful expression.
Nathan Bridger stopped and looked at the ground before he turned, “Hi Lucas,” he greeted.
Lucas looked quite annoyed as he came up to him, “Yeah, why didn’t you say hi before?” He glanced back at the group, who had already continued with their conversation.
“I uh, was surprised to see you here,” Bridger told him truthfully.
“Well maybe if you kept in contact like you promised you would have known,” Lucas told him boldly, his voice low and gentle with sadness.
Bridger sighed angrily, “Lucas, I’ve been busy.”
“Yeah,” Lucas looked at him, “My father was always busy.” Lucas looked at him right in the eye before he turned and walked away.
Bridger ran after him grabbing his arm roughly, “Lucas!” he looked at Lucas severely, “This is not the time.”
Lucas took a while to get over the shock, “Not the time!?” he demanded, pulling out of his grip, “When will be the time?”
Bridger sighed, “Look, could you act a little more maturely please? You chose to join the navy and become an officer. Now act like one.”
The words stung and Lucas felt his face flush and tears prickle his eyes, “F*ck you!” Lucas’ voice broke as he spoke a little too loudly.
They immediately heard a murmur of shock at the language as people turned around to watch. Both Lucas and Bridger became aware of this immediately. Lucas’s eyes darted around uncomfortably. Then he looked at Bridger and stalked towards the exit.
Bridger just watched him go.
“Shouldn’t you go after him?” one of Bridger’s associates asked him.
“No,” Bridger told them, “I think he needs time to settle down.”
“I think you should go after him now,” a voice behind them commanded.
Bridger turned around and glared at Hudson. He looked around. It looked like everyone expected him to go. So he did.
Nathan walked out to the back alleyway to find Lucas by himself with his back to the door.
“It’s just that I lost my son in combat. Or at least I thought I did,” Nathan began.
Lucas turned around to face him, “What have I got to do with your son?” Nathan saw that Lucas had been crying.
Bridger shook his head, not sure what to say to Lucas, “I don’t know what to say to you, Lucas,” he said.
“How about, you’re sorry?” Lucas suggested.
“Sorry for what?” Bridger asked him.
“For holding something under my nose and then taking it away, for treating me the way you have the passed few months.”
“Lucas, I just.. I don’t want you in the navy.”
“Well, where DO you want me?” Lucas demanded, “You don’t even want me at all!”
“That’s ridiculous don’t be stupid,” Bridger scolded, getting annoyed.
“You’re the one who’s stupid!” Lucas yelled.
Bridger looked furious at this, but Lucas continued, “What was I suppose to do?” Lucas demanded.
“There are many things you could have done,” Bridger told him angrily.
“Name one!” Lucas demanded.
“Lucas, I’m not having this conversation with you,” Bridger told him, turning to leave.
“Fine. Leave,” Lucas said, “But you could at least apologise for making me think that there was someone who could love me.” Lucas’ voice had quieted down considerably.
Bridger turned around and looked at him, shock written on his face, “Lucas…” he didn’t know what to say. He stood there mutely for a while, trying to process what Lucas had said.
“I.. I do love you,” he said.
Lucas just looked at him, “I don’t believe you.”
Lucas pushed passed him to walk back inside, leaving Bridger to stand there in shock.