This is the first part of a trilogy. I originally set out to write only this part, but the other two crept up on me.
SUMMARY: Some of the crew are planning a surprise for the Captain's birthday.
CODES: SQ, B/W
RATING: PG13
DISCLAIMER: Thank you to Amblin for creating the characters so I can borrow them.
NOTES: 1) Set anytime late in the season and pretend that K & N have been seeing each other for a while; 2) Written originally as the first part of three, although it could stand on its own.
"Surprise"
by Liz VanZandt
Nathan Bridger entered the Officer's Mess and surveyed the scene. His eye caught a table at the far end of the room. Doctor Kristin Westphalen, Lucas Wolenczak, and Lieutenant Benjamin Krieg were seated there. Bridger wondered why the three of them were sharing a table; Kristin and Ben rarely got along. The question passed and Bridger headed toward the table to join them.
"Uh oh, subject sighted at twelve o'clock. Can it, guys," Lucas Wolenczak whispered to Westphalen and Krieg as he noticed Bridger nearing. "Captain, how are you today?"
"I'm fine, Lucas. And you?"
"I'm great. Have a seat." Lucas motioned to the empty chair on his right.
Krieg glanced at his watch. "Well, I hate to eat and run, but I'm on duty in five minutes. If you'll excuse me." He stood up and left.
"I think I'll go work on that security routine program Crocker's been after me to finish. I'll see you later." Lucas followed Krieg out of the room.
A confused look crossed Bridger's face. "Did I say something to scare them away?"
Kristin laughed. "I think Lucas simply wanted to leave the two of us alone."
"Remind me to thank him later." Nathan smiled. "Are you up for dinner tonight?"
Kristin smiled. "Of course. Your place or mine?"
* * *
Kristin Westphalen entered her cabin and closed the door behind her. She crossed the room and dialed a number on the vid-link. A few moments later the face of William Noyce came up on the screen. "Kristin, how are you?"
"I'm fine, Bill. How are things at the UEO?"
"Crazy like always. What can I do for you?"
"I have a favor to ask."
"Sure. What do you need?"
"You know that Nathan's birthday is in two weeks, right?"
"Yeah."
"Well, a couple of us are planning a surprise party for him, but we need your help."
"Of course, anything I can do to help."
"We want to be able to invite the whole crew, but the only way we can do that is if the seaQuest is in dock. Is there some way you can arrange to have the seaQuest docked over Nathan's birthday?"
"He's not going to like it, but I might be able to fake a maintenance check for the ship."
"I figured you might think of that, so I asked Katie Hitchcock about a plausible excuse."
"And?"
"She said that the aqua return jets have been acting up lately. She thinks they should be fixed, but it would be a reason to pull the ship in for a few days. Maybe just double check them or something."
"Sounds good, I'll get on it and get back to you when it's set."
"Um, we're trying to keep this as quiet as possible, so just inform Nathan of the plans to dock her, and I'm sure I'll hear through him. OK?"
"Fine. You'll let me know the time of the party, right? I'd like to be there and see his face."
"Definitely. I wouldn't want you to miss a thing like that," Kristin said with a smile. "Thanks."
"Any time, Kristin." The screen went blank and Kristin pulled out her PAL. After a minute Lucas's voice came.
"Yeah."
"Lucas, Operation Shock has a green light. We'll be docking next weekend at Pearl."
"Thanks, Doc. Krieg and I will get everything else ready."
"All right, keep me informed of your progress."
"Will do."
* * *
Nathan sat at his desk with the ship's log open in front of him. He was filling in his impressions of the happenings of the last weekend. As he started to wander off into a daydream a knock on the door snapped him back to reality. Startled, Nathan looked up to see Kristin entering. "What's up?"
"Nothing, I was just headed to get some lunch and I thought I'd see if you'd like to join me," she replied walking over to where he was sitting.
Nathan stood up to face her. "Well, I'm not very hungry, but you know what I'd like instead?"
Kristin wrapped her arms around his neck. "Hmm, let me think for a minute." Nathan leaned down and pressed his lips to hers. "You're not trying to take advantage of me, are you?"
"Who, me?" Nathan countered in an innocent tone.
"I only have an hour before I have to be back."
"Can't you stretch it a little?"
"If I come back late many more times, people are going to start becoming suspicious. Especially if they see me leaving your room right before."
"Well, than we'll have to make it quick. I hope you weren't too hungry."
"Not anymore," she said and kissed him.
* * *
"Ben, we don't need that much food."
"Lucas, we're planning on inviting the whole crew, that's over two hundred people."
"But they're not all going to come. Even if they do, I don't think they're going to want pork rinds and guacamole. Come on, think, Ben."
"Some will want pork rinds and guacamole. I like it."
"Good, then you can eat the whole five hundred bags."
"And what do you think we should serve?"
"Well, if we hold this a little later than we can just order a bunch of pizzas and have chips and veggies with dip on the side."
"I'm sure the entire crew doesn't like pizza."
"Ben, pizza and chips will go over a whole lot better than pork rinds."
Both Krieg and Lucas turned their heads at the knock on the door. Relief crossed their faces as Kristin entered. "How's it coming, guys?"
Lucas gave Krieg a disgusted look. "Ben here wants to serve the guests pork rinds. Are those things even real food?"
"They're very good. Besides, it's a helluva lot less expensive than pizza."
"We can probably find some place to give us some kind of discount for that much food."
"Even with a discount that's still too expensive."
"Hey, guys, please. Have you decided on a place to hold the party?" Kristin said stepping between the two.
"I haven't made any calls, but there are three places topping the list right now. Why?" Ben said.
"Well, why don't we just find somewhere that will cater the food for us. It costs a little more, but in the long run we'll save ourselves a lot of headaches."
"Hey, good idea, Doc."
"Thank you. Now, keep it down in here. If someone hears, this could be all for naught. Got me?"
"Yes."
"Yeah."
"Good. I'll talk to you later and see if you've made any headway by then." Kristin turned and left the room shaking her head.
"Ben."
"Yeah."
"Why didn't we think of that?"
***
The next week passed quietly and the crew went about their duties as usual. One morning, a few days before Bridger's birthday, Kristin and Nathan were lying in bed talking when his PAL beeped. "Bridger."
"I'm sorry to wake you, Captain, but I have Secretary Noyce on vid-link for you," came the voice of Lieutenant O'Neill.
"Put it through to my room, Lieutenant."
"Aye, sir. Out."
Bridger got up and put on his robe. Kristin did the same and sat back down on the bed with a book as he walked over to his desk and turned on the vid-link.
"Good morning, Nathan, Kristin," Noyce said after his face appeared on the screen.
"Hello, Bill," Kristin said with a smile and went back to her reading.
"I hope I didn't wake the two of you," Noyce said with a smile.
"No one gets much sleep down here, you know that, Bill."
"Yes, well, I'm afraid you'll get the chance to do a lot more this weekend. SeaQuest is being called in for a maintenance check again."
"Bill, she was just in dry-dock a few months ago. There's nothing wrong with her," Nathan said disgusted.
"I'm sorry, Nathan. You've been under some heavy fire since then, and I've heard rumors that the aqua return jets have been acting up lately."
"Commander Hitchcock assures me that they're fixed. I'd know if the seaQuest were having problems."
"I don't doubt your ability to judge that, but the UEO has also decided that this would be a good time to give a tour to some of the representatives from various countries."
"This isn't a parade float, Bill."
"I know, but some of the big-wigs have been pressuring me to see where their money went. It's only a one day tour, Nathan, make the best of it. I'll be expecting you in Pearl tomorrow."
"So you expect me to undergo a maintenance check and then have the boat ready for tours within days? That's damn near impossible and you know it."
"It wasn't my call, Nathan. I'm sorry."
"Bill."
"No arguments, Nathan, it's an order."
"You owe me big time for this one, Bill."
"I know, and I'm good for it."
"You better be, I know where you live."
"Tomorrow, Nathan. Stop by and see me when you get in. Goodbye, Kristin."
"Goodbye, Bill," Kristin replied as the screen went blank. She put her book down and went over to Nathan. "It's not so bad. Look at it as a few days in which we don't have to hide from the crew."
"You think you can keep me busy for a weekend?" Nathan said putting his arms around Kristin, pulling her close.
"I'm sure I can think of something to do." She leaned up and pressed her lips into his with a long, sensual kiss. "How about a preview?"
"Best proposition I've had yet today."
"That's because you've only been awake for half an hour."
"Does that mean there are better ones coming?"
"Maybe," she pulled the cord of his robe and pushed it off his shoulders, "if you're good." Her lips met his again.
* * *
An hour later Bridger walked onto the bridge and surveyed the scene quietly. Equipped with both the latest technology and the best crew in the UEO, the seaQuest was without a doubt the most superior boat on or under the oceans. Bridger walked over to his chair by the navigation table in the center of the room.
"Captain," Commander Ford said as he neared. "We're cruising at thirteen knots, bearing zero eight one, nearing the Mid-Atlantic Ridge."
"Thank you, Commander," Bridger acknowledged and raised his voice. "Your attention, please. Mr. O'Neill, please pipe this through the ship on the intercom."
"Aye." O'Neill punched a few commands into the controls before him. "You're on, sir."
"Thank you. Attention, this is Captain Bridger. We have been ordered back to Pearl for a maintenance check. While it is being conducted, the whole crew will have three days shore leave. After that, we will have two days to prepare for a visit by politicians from the UEO. I will expect everything to be in perfect working order by the time our visitors arrive, and I will award everyone appropriately should the visit go well. Thank you." Bridger turned to Ford. "Commander, we have to have this boat in Pearl by tomorrow morning. Please set course and speed appropriately."
"Aye, sir. Helm, prepare for incoming course and speed change."
Bridger walked over to Hitchcock's station. "Commander, you did fix the aqua return jets, correct?"
"Yes, sir. There haven't been any further problems in the past three weeks. Why?"
"Noyce mentioned he had heard rumors claiming there were still problems."
"No, sir. I'd stake my career on the fact that I fixed those. I'm starting to resent the insinuation that I'm not doing my job correctly that comes with maintenance checks."
"I second that, Commander. I don't like these any more than you do."
"Yes, sir."
"But, we can only grin and bear it. You'll have the boat ship shape by the visit?"
"Definitely, sir. You can count on it."
"Thank you, Commander."
"You're welcome, sir."
"Commander Ford, I'll be on Seadeck if you need me."
"Aye, sir."
* * *
The next day Bridger was finishing packing his things and was about to head for the launch bay when his PAL beeped. "Bridger."
"Captain," O'Neill said, "I have a call for you from Mr. Landsdowne."
"Put it through to my room, please, Mr. O'Neill."
"Aye, sir. One moment."
Nathan smiled as the face of a grinning Malcolm Landsdowne came up on the screen across the room. "Nathan! Happy birthday!"
"Thank you, Malcolm." Just then there was a knock on the door and Kristin entered.
"Malcolm! How are you?" Kristin said crossing over to stand next to Nathan.
"I'm great. How are you?"
"Not bad. Is something wrong?"
"No, I just called to wish Nathan happy birthday. You do know that it's his birthday today."
Kristin noticed Nathan's face go red. "No, he didn't tell me. I guess that means we'll have to have some kind of celebration tonight," she said with a smile.
"I hope that isn't the only reason you called," Nathan said.
"And why shouldn't it? Apparently no one there knows and you can't just let your birthday pass quietly."
"I have for the last few years. Besides, I'm a little busy today, Malcolm."
"Oh, more running around chasing deposed heads of state?" Malcolm joked.
"No, I'm supposed to be off-loading the crew right now for a maintenance check and then a visit from UEO people in less than a week."
"Ooh, sounds difficult. Do you think he can handle it, Doctor?"
Kristin caught on to the joke right away. "Only if he gets lots of rest this weekend."
"All right, Doctor, it's up to you to make sure he does."
"Cut it out, you two. Thank you for the concern, but I think I can take care of myself. Malcolm, it was nice hearing from you, but I have to be going."
"Fine, I'll go, but only if you promise to do something special for yourself tonight to celebrate your birthday."
"I promise. Goodbye."
"Goodbye, Malcolm," Kristin said with a smile.
"Bye," he said as the screen went blank.
Kristin turned to Nathan and put her arms around him. "Well, happy birthday. How old are you?"
"And why should I tell?"
"Because if you don't, I'll tell the whole crew that it's your birthday."
"I'm older than you, and that's the most you'll get out of me."
"And how do you know that?"
"I have my ways." Nathan kissed her. "And we should be in launch bay right now, Doctor." He grabbed his bag and opened the door.
Kristin picked up her bag from by the door and left the room. "How could you know my age?"
He followed her out. "I never tell."
* * *
Ford looked up from his check list and saw Bridger and Westphalen coming down the hall headed for the launch bay. "Captain, after this launch is gone, we'll be down to just the senior staff. Hitchcock is finishing on the bridge and Crocker is making one final security sweep for people lagging behind."
"Thank you, Commander." He took the pad from Ford and looked over the list.
As Bridger was doing this, Kristin pulled Krieg and Lucas aside. "Is everything set for tonight?" she whispered.
"I'm going to swing by the hall and double check when I get ashore, but it should be all set," Krieg replied.
"The crew all knows when and where, you just have to make sure the guest of honor is there," Lucas said.
"Seven o'clock, right?"
"Yeah."
"Lucas," Bridger said coming over, "what are your plans for the weekend?"
"I was going to see if my mom's around. If not, I may be hunting for a place to sleep."
"You're welcome at my place anytime, Lucas," Kristin said. "Just give me a call before you come."
"Thanks, Doctor, I may take you up on that offer."
"OK, Cap," Manilow Crocker said entering, "everyone is off the ship except for us. As soon as Mr. Shan docks the launch we'll be ready to go."
"Bridge is shut down and everything is ready for the maintenance crew," Hitchcock said entering behind Crocker.
"All right, than let's leave them to their job," Bridger said. They all headed for the launch.
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