Well, here it is, my first ever attempt at SeaQuest fanfic! For a
 brief word of warning, it is about a 4-hanky type story, and also
 you see a side of Kristin that she usually keeps hidden. Feedback is always welcome :)



     Nathan Bridger was in a very good mood as he entered SeaDeck. most of the science personnel had already departed for their shore leaves. But one lone figure remained at one of the workstations.

     "Hey," he said softly, walking over to her. "What are you working on?"
     Kristin looked up and smiled tiredly. "I'm just checking up on the new science personnel coming aboard."
     "You know, that's funny because I came across quite a coincidence when I checked the roster on the new staff," Nathan said suddenly. He looked directly at Kristin as he said, "One of the names on your new staff is a Colleen Westphalen. Guess it's just one of those...Kristin? What's wrong?"

     Kristin hid her face in her hands and remained that way for a moment. Then she looked up at Nathan, her eyes full of sadness. "It's no coincidence, Nathan. Colleen is my niece. She always wanted to be a scientist, was at the top of her class when she graduated."

     "Must run in the family," Nathan smiled. "I guess you're really looking forward to her arrival."

     "I suppose." Kristin abruptly rose and said, "I should get ready. I'm supposed to go to her island tonight."
     "You mean you're actually going on shore leave?" Nathan teased.
     "Not exactly," she answered with a sad smile. "I'm just staying with Colleen tonight and coming back for the staff orientation day after tomorrow."

     Kristin sighed and turned to leave, but Nathan caught her arm and gently turned her to face him.

     "Kristin, I can see something is very wrong," he said softly. "You don't have to tell me what it is, but you might feel
 better if you have a shoulder to cry on."
     Kristin sank gratefully into his arms, desperately wanting to unburden herself to him, but she didn't know if she was ready to face the pain that her memories would bring. She pulled away and took his
 hand. "Come with me."

     "Where?" Nathan asked, following her to the mag-lev.

     "There's something you need to see," Kristin answered. She was
 silent the whole way back to her quarters, and by the time they got
 there, Nathan was very worried. He'd never seen her act this way,
 and she was so upset she couldn't bring herself to confide in him 
what was troubling her.
     Kristin picked up one of the smaller framed photographs from her desk. "This is Colleen."

     The picture was a snapshot of a very pretty young woman standing beside a large black horse. The dark hunter green coat she wore emphasized her green eyes and made her dark red hair glow like banked coals. "She looks a lot like you, Kristin."

     "That's what James always said," she said quietly, a single tear escaping down her cheek. Impatiently she brushed it away and tried to smile. "He was so proud of her...would you believe he actually called 
me at three in the morning the day she was born? He was so thrilled to have a daughter." She sighed wearily and curled up in a corner of the bunk. nathan sat beside her and pulled her close.
     "What's wrong, Kris?" he whispered into her hair. "I want to 
help, but I can't if you shut yourself off. What happened?"
     "I...I just wish our reunion was under happier circumstances," Kristin managed, silent tears streaking her face. "her 
mother...Jeannie... passed away last night."
     Nathan held her tighter. "I'm sorry, sweetheart."
     "She was a lovely person," Kristin said softly. "When James was killed, she was the one that held us all together. Colleen was so young when her father died. She became quite...unmanageable...for
 some time, but Jeannie never gave up on her. She broke through the 
walls Colleen had put up, and that angry little girl grew up into the 
beautiful, charming young lady in that picture." She pressed closer to Nathan, needing his comfort to strengthen her for the coing twenty-four hours. "The funeral is tomorrow morning in Ireland."
     "Oh, Kristin." Nathan held her as tightly as he dared. "When did 
you find out?"
     "I got the call around two-thirty this morning," she whispered.
     "I wish you had called me, Nathan murmured. "I might have been able to help."
     "I couldn't, Nathan," Kristin answered through her tears. "I didn't want to mess up your shore leave..."
     "Hush," he said, gently laying a finger across her lips. "Kristin...it's okay to be human, you know. Why are you so afraid of letting people care?"

     "You don't understand, Nathan," she sobbed into his shoulder. "Colleen is my goddaughter, but I was never...." She broke off, unable to go on.
     Nathan rocked her gently and after a moment he tenderly drew her onto his lap to bring her closer. He understood what she had been trying to say, that she hadn't been there for Colleen as much as she'd wanted to. And she hid that guilt-complex behind a wall of icy professionalism so that nobody ever saw anything but the professional.
     "Why?" Kristin whimpered softly. "Why do things like this always happen to the ones who least deserve it? They didn't deserve any of it...not Jeannie or Colleen!"
     "Not you either," Nathan added, gently stroking her hair. She looked up at him in surprise, but he continued, "I wish I could tell
 you that everything's gonna be just fine, but I can't. All I can do is try to help you get through this--if you'll let me."
     Kristin nodded and laid her head on his shoulder, suddenly exhausted. She hadn't slept since she'd gotten the call from Cynthia
 that morning. Very softly she asked, "Will you come with me?"
     "If you want me to," Nathan answered. He helped her to stand and pulled her close again. "Do you want some help getting ready?"
     She managed a weak smile and was about to answer when the communications screen beeped and incoming message. A young dark-haired man appeared on the screen. "Hello, Kristin. 'Tis good t'see ye again."
     "How have you been, Patrick?" Kristin asked. With some trepidation, she asked, "Has something happened?"


     "Not really. I just called t'let ye know that Collie just arrived a bit ago, so ye dinna have to stop by the island for her," Patrick answered. He hesitated, then added, "I'm worried for her,
 Kristin. The last time she was like this was when her father 
died...and Danny isna helpin matters much."
     "Oh, no," Kristin breathed. She would have collapsed if Nathan's arm hadn't held her close. "Patrick, I'll be there as soon as I can."
     "Please hurry," Patrick said as he signed off.
     Kristin pressed close to Nathan, trembling violently. Pat's message had shaken her worse than she wanted to admit, and she fought desperately to calm herself.

     "Shh, it's okay, Kris. I'm right here," Nathan soothed, caressing her tenderly. He felt her shaking diminish slightly. "Just take a deep breath, sweetheart. That's my girl."

     At last she looked up into his eyes. "I...guess we should get ready."

     "Okay," Nathan answered, gently kissing her forehead. "I promise 
I won't be long."

     "Thank you," she whispered.
     "For what?" Nathan asked, slightly puzzled.
     "Everything," Kristin answered. "I don't...I don't think I could have gone through this alone." She looked away, unable to meet his 
eyes. But Nathan gently lifted her chin.

     "You don't ever have to be alone again," he promised softly.
     Kristin nodded and reluctantly slipped out of his arms. For the 
first time that day she was able to summon a genuine, albeit weak smile. "Be sure to pack warm clothes," she cautioned. "It gets very
 cold in Ireland this time of year."
     "Thanks for the warning," Nathan smiled. Then he slipped out of her cabin.
     Kristin sat down on her bunk and picked up the photograph once more. She had already packed what she needed for the trip, so she took a few minutes to contemplate. She hadn't realized before how much Colleen resembled Jeannie in some ways. The most obvious was her dark green eyes, but also Colleen sported Jeannie's beautiful smile. The smile that said no matter what happened, the world was a good place, that everything worked out fine in the end.
     "I'm sorry, baby," she whispered, feeling the tears beginning to fall again. "I'm so sorry."
     A soft knock sounded at the door and Nathan quietly entered. "Kristin?"
     "I'm ready," she said, quickly brushing away the tears.
     "Good. Our flight will be leaving as soon as we get to Pearl," Nathan said softly as he slipped his arm around her. Seeing her 
questioning look, he continued, "Bill owes me a favor, so he's got a UEO jet standing by to fly us to Dublin."
     Kristin allowed him to lead her toward the launch bay in silence, too stunned to speak. As they sat down, she pressed tightly against him. "Thank you for doing this, Nathan."
     "I'll always be here when you need me, sweetheart," Nathan whispered, pulling her closer.



     When the couple reached the base, they were surprised to be greeted by Bill Noyce.
     "Bill, what are you doing out here?" Nathan asked, confused.
     "I just received a message from a Cynthia Westphalen," Noyce answered, turning to Kristin. "She wanted you to know that she's
 arrived safely in Ireland and will be waiting to meet you at the airport." Noyce paused. "I'm sorry about your sister-in-law, Doctor."
     Kristin nodded in acknowledgement. "Thank you sir."
     "Nathan, you two take care. According to the schedule, you should arrive in Dublin late tonight," Noyce said.
     "Thanks, Bill," Nathan said softly, shaking hands with his
 friend. Then he gently lead Kristin to the waiting jet.

...to be continued