SUMMARY: After Bridger and Westphalen get back together again ten years in the future, they learn that Kristin's son-in-law is someone Nathan knows.
CODES: SQ, B/W
RATING: PG13
DISCLAIMER: Amblin owns everything but the plot.
NOTES: For any of this to make sense, the first season took place like normal, and the second season was the same except that the tour ended without being taken to some other planet. The timeline is a bit out of order, but it should be fairly easy to follow.
"Someday"
by Liz VanZandt
October 5, 2028
Florida
Kristin Westphalen stopped in the doorway of the kitchen and watched the man expertly chopping up carrots for the salad. "Your skills in the kitchen never cease to amaze me," she said coming over to help.
"Uh uh, no you don't, not on your birthday," Nathan Bridger said taking the knife from her hand. "I told you I would take care of dinner and I will do just that, by myself."
"But you can't cook for seven people all by yourself, let me help."
"No way," he said playfully shaking the knife at her. Just then the doorbell rang. "See, you'd better go answer that."
"Fine, but you have to come say hello. You've never even met Greg."
"I'll be out as soon as I wash my hands," he said with a quick kiss.
Kristin smiled and left the kitchen. Answering the door she was promptly bombarded by two toddlers. "Grandma!" they shouted in unison.
"Hello," she said sweeping them up in a big hug.
"Where's Mr. Captain?" Kelly Rogers asked.
"Yeah, where's Mr. Captain?" her brother Zachary echoed.
"I think he's in the kitchen, why don't you go find him?" Kristin said as the twins ran off toward the back of the house.
"Mom," Cynthia Rogers said with a kiss. She was holding a baby in one arm and hugged her mother with the other.
"How are you and the little one?" Kristin asked.
"I'm about ready to collapse from fatigue, unfortunately this little guy has a few more hours until his nap."
"Kristin," Nathan called coming around the corner, "I found these two rascals in the kitchen. They wouldn't happen to belong to you, would they?"
"I'm afraid so, Captain," Cynthia said. "I hope they didn't do much damage."
"No, none at all except maybe scare me half to death."
Cynthia came over and gave him a jovial hug. "How have you been?"
"Quite well, actually. And you?"
"Busy," Cynthia laughed.
"Cyn," Greg Rogers said coming in and dropping some bags by the door, "I thought we were only staying for the afternoon."
Kristin noticed Nathan suddenly go pale. "What's wrong?" she asked.
"Robert?" Nathan said not quite believing his eyes.
Greg looked up at Nathan and without a word turned and practically ran back to the car. "Greg!" Cynthia called after him as Nathan ran out after him. "Mom, what's going on?"
Kristin racked her brain trying to remember Nathan talking about a Robert. Suddenly it hit her. "Oh God," she whispered, "it can't be."
"It can't be what?" Cynthia said. "Could somebody please tell me why my husband just ran out of here like he'd seen a ghost."
"That's because he has," Nathan said coming up behind her.
She whirled around to face him. "What do you mean?"
"My son, Robert," he said quietly and left.
"What? Oh ..." Cynthia said slowly piecing it together. "But it can't be, can it?"
Kristin gave her a look and bent down to the twins. "Why don't you two go out back and see if there are any dolphins around, OK?"
"Can we, Mom?" Zach asked.
"Yes, but stay out of the water," Cynthia managed.
"Yea!" they yelled gleefully running off.
Kristin took the baby from Cynthia's arms. "Why don't you go see if you can find Greg and calm him down. I'll watch Bobby for you and talk to Nathan."
Cynthia nodded quietly.
Kristin watched her go and then made her way toward the kitchen to confront Nathan. She found him staring out the window, watching the twins play in the sand. "Nathan," she said quietly, putting her hand on his shoulder.
He brought his hand up to hers. "I thought he was dead."
"I know."
"Why didn't he tell me?"
"I'm sure there's a very good explanation."
"I just don't understand."
For the first time Kristin saw a tear fall from his eye. As she watched it curve a path down his cheek she realized she was still holding the baby. Putting him down, Kristin reached up and wrapped her arms around Nathan. "Shh, it's all right."
* * *
August 18, 2028
Caicos Key
Lucas looked around at the faces of the people gathered on the beach. They haven't changed one bit, he thought, except that everyone is older. It had been almost ten years since he had seen some of them; others he saw regularly. But he kept in touch with all of them, for they were his closest friends.
"So, Lucas, when are you gonna tell us why you're having this little reunion?" Jonathan Ford asked.
Lucas looked around. "Not until one more person arrives." He turned and walked back into the house.
Ford turned back to the group he was with. "Lucas hasn't changed one bit; he's still the same scheming, plotting little guy he used to be. I wonder why he's gathered all of us here."
"Maybe it has to do with that young lady, he seems to be quite attentive to her," James Brody offered.
"Probably, I recognize everyone here except her," Ford commented. "In fact, the only person I expected to see but haven't is Captain Bridger." No sooner had he said that, than Lucas returned with a plate of veggies and dip with Nathan Bridger right behind him. Everyone on the beach turned to welcome Bridger, who acknowledged each.
"Jonathan, are you taking good care of the seaQuest for me?"
"Yes, sir," Ford smiled. "Haven't even added a scratch yet."
"Yeah, but that's only cause he never lets me drive," Brody interjected.
"I never let you drive either," Bridger said. Brody just shrugged. "How is the world of supertankers, Captain Hitchcock?"
"Good, sir," Katherine Hitchcock answered. "And your dolphins?"
"Well, they're not mine anymore, they're Lucas's now," Bridger said. Hitchcock smiled in return.
"So, Krieg, I see you decided to slum with us for the weekend," Bridger said noticing Ben Krieg.
"Well, sir, Lucas is a friend and you gotta remember the little people in life."
Bridger nodded skeptically. "Gator."
"Hey, Cap," Manilow Crocker said with a hug.
"How's Tucker treating you?"
"Not bad. I've been thinking of retiring though, let the next generation take a turn."
Bridger laughed and tensed as Wendy Smith came over. "Captain," she said.
"Doctor, how are things in the parapsychology department?"
"Slow compared to the seaQuest."
"Most everything is," Bridger agreed as his eye caught the poker game in front of him. "What is this?"
"Poker, sir," Tony Piccolo said, "care to join us?" He motioned to Ortiz and O'Neill.
"Maybe later."
"OK, everybody," Lucas said loudly, "can I have your attention."
"Hey, Lucas, maybe now you could tell us why we're all here," Brody said loudly, drawing a laugh from all in attendance.
"I know I've kept you waiting, but I'm sure you'll all agree that what I have to say is worth the wait."
"So spill the beans already," Piccolo yelled.
Lucas gave him a rude look. "Everyone, I'd like you to meet Audrey Clark, the future Mrs. Lucas Wolenczak."
A stunned moment of silence followed before everyone began congratulating Lucas. Bridger took advantage of the opportunity to greet the only person he hadn't talked to earlier.
"Hi," he said coming over. "Mind if I join you?"
"Not at all," Kristin Westphalen smiled.
"How has life been treating you?"
"Not bad. Cynthia's married now."
"Oh really? Do I know the lucky guy?"
"Probably not. She's got three kids as well. Twin four year olds and an eighteen month old baby." Pride was evident in her voice.
"Well, congratulations, Grandma," he smiled. "Think you can find enough extra energy to take a walk with me?"
She nodded. As they walked down the beach, ten pairs of eyes followed them silently.
"OK, Lucas, spill. What's up between those two?" Krieg said voicing the question on everyone's mind as a circle formed.
"After the first boat went down they dated for about a year. Then, out of the blue, about a month before the second ship was finished, they stopped seeing each other. I could never figure out why."
"I can't tell about the Captain," Wendy said, "but she definitely still loves him. You don't need to read minds to see that."
* * *
"What's on your mind, Nathan?" Kristin finally said when the house was out of sight.
"Kristin, I want to apologize for whatever may have gone wrong between us."
"Nathan --"
"No, let me finish. When Lucas told me about this party I knew I'd have to see you again, and I was forced to confront my feelings. I never stopped loving you, Kristin, I only agreed to split because I thought it would make you happy. I'm sorry for anything I may have said to scare you away."
"Nathan, don't blame yourself for anything that happened. The only reason I asked to split is that I was scared."
"Of what, me?"
"No, myself. The last time I was in a relationship that went that far, it ended in divorce. I couldn't chance being hurt like that again, not by you."
"Kristin, the last thing I ever wanted to do was hurt you."
"I know that, but when things started getting serious, I did what I've always done -- back away." She walked away and sat down, staring out at the ocean. Nathan sat down next to her. "I didn't realize until it was too late that leaving you would hurt more than staying."
Tears began welling up in her eyes and Nathan put his arm around her shoulders. "I'm sorry," she said finally.
"No, you have every right."
"Oh Nathan, I've missed you."
"I missed you too." He looked out and watched the sun sink lower in the sky. "Do you remember how we used to watch almost every sunset."
"How could I forget?" she said quietly. "It was my favorite time of day because we would just sit there and talk."
"Not always," he said with a smile.
"Nathan, hold me like you used to do." He nodded and moved to sit behind her with his arms around her. Silently they just sat there thinking.
Finally Nathan broke the silence. "Do you think maybe we should be getting back."
"Let them think what they'd like," she said.
"Well, it's your call ..." he trailed off.
Kristin turned around to look at him. "Are you sure you can forgive me?"
"I told you before, I've never stopped loving you. You're the one who needs to come to terms with this, though."
Her response was an almost immediate kiss. Before it could deepen, however, Lucas came over the hill.
"There you two are," he said. "Dinner's ... um, maybe I'd better just go back and say I didn't find you."
"No, that's OK, Lucas," Nathan said standing up, extending his arm to help Kristin up. "We were just about to head back anyway."
"Did you mention dinner?" Kristin asked.
"Yeah, the burgers are almost done."
"Great, I'm famished," Kristin said.
"Um, I don't mean to be rude, but, well, does this mean you two are ... um ..."
Nathan looked at Kristin and then back to Lucas. "Just try not to tell anyone yet, OK?"
"Hey, my lips are sealed," Lucas said with a smile. "But I am happy for the two of you. I never could understand why you broke up in the first place."
"It's a long story," Kristin said. "Too long."
* * *
Dinner was spent discussing how the last ten years had been spent. Bridger had stayed with the seaQuest for the next few years before going into semi-retirement. He still helped Lucas with some dolphin projects and assisted the UEO occasionally.
Ford had continued with the seaQuest for two more years and then finally took his own command for a few years before returning to head the seaQuest after Bridger left.
Katie Hitchcock had taken the captain's position on the supertanker H.R. Clinton after the first tour. Since then she had floated around to captain's positions on various other supertankers improving her skills and was currently one of the most sought after captains around.
Krieg had resigned his commission shortly after the first tour as well. He and a couple of friends had pooled their money and opened a discount wholesale retail store near Miami. It had flourished, much to the chagrin of his former shipmates, and Krieg, now a millionaire, owned a fastly growing chain of stores.
Brody had remained with the UEO, slowly rising through the ranks, and had recently been named head of the security division at UEO headquarters in Cape Quest, Florida. On the side he had started a fishing business taking tourists and retirees out on the weekend.
Crocker was still head of security at Tucker Enterprises. After the success of their one-seat high-speed submersible, Tucker Enterprises had grown quite large and Crocker was constantly faced with the challenge of protecting both it and their designs.
Tim O'Neill had remained with the seaQuest, gradually rising through the ranks. Eventually he had been moved off seaQuest and given an XO's position on another sub.
Similarly, Ortiz had stayed with the seaQuest for a few years before finally being accepted to Officer Candidate School. He had done extremely well and been placed in charge of sonar on another sub.
Seaman Tony Piccolo had finished out the last five years of his sentence aboard the seaQuest and then formally enrolled in the navy. As he told it, his parents had been shocked that he decided to do something worthwhile with his life.
Wendy Smith had spent a few more years at sea, mostly involving disagreements with her superior officers. Eventually she had taken the position as head of the UEO parapsychology research center.
Westphalen had gone back to teaching at Florida State University, where her tenure had just been renewed. She had used her free time to continue her research from aboard the seaQuest.
Lucas, besides becoming engaged, had stayed with the seaQuest for a year longer than Bridger before leaving to work with the UEO on land as a computer specialist. His passion for dolphins and artificial intelligence had blossomed, and he had taken over for Malcolm Landsdowne at Caicos Key after he died of a heartattack two years earlier.
* * *
After dinner, Piccolo struck up a rousing game of poker with everyone except O'Neill and Audrey playing. "Chicago style, Black Mariah, one-eyed jacks are wild, first king up than you're out," he said deftly shuffling the cards.
"Woah," Kristin said, "I think maybe you'd better explain all that first."
Lucas jumped in. "We're not professionals, Tony, and we're not even betting with real money," he said. "You'd better keep it simple."
"Hey, that is simple for me."
Krieg grabbed the cards out of his hand. "Not for the rest of us." He started dealing. "OK, nothing wild and the sky's the limit on betting."
"So Lucas, how did you meet Audrey?" Katie asked a little later.
"She's head of the UEO Archives. I was looking into an old project and went there to find the records. She helped me look through piles of papers and eventually we started dating."
"You don't have a little bundle of joy on the way, do you?" Piccolo asked with his normal grace.
Lucas shot him a look. "No, we both decided to wait until we're married."
"As you should," Bridger commented.
Lucas considered retorting, but thought better of it and bit his tongue.
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