Waiting and Watching
folder
S through Z › SeaQuest
Rating:
Adult ++
Chapters:
4
Views:
1,728
Reviews:
1
Recommended:
0
Currently Reading:
0
Category:
S through Z › SeaQuest
Rating:
Adult ++
Chapters:
4
Views:
1,728
Reviews:
1
Recommended:
0
Currently Reading:
0
Disclaimer:
I do not own SeaQuest, nor any of the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.
Waiting and Watching
There was someone watching him. Watching his every move. From the moment he’d first stepped onto the bridge when Bill conned him onto the boat he’d sensed eyes on him. He didn’t know who it was or what they wanted; all he knew was it didn’t feel hostile. He could never catch anyone looking at him for any longer than was proper and that really frustrated him. No one on the boat knew about his latent psychic abilities but even then it wasn’t helping much.
So he sat day after day watching his new crew. The seaQuest was a remarkable boat, so much more than he ever dreamed when designing her and in a small way he was glad to be back. Not that he approved of the method certainly but he felt at home. He felt guilty about returning at first but after several long nights on contemplation he realized she wouldn’t want him to hide away forever.
And now the eyes were back. Captain Nathan Bridger didn’t look up from the report he’d just been handed. He didn’t turn in his chair; he didn’t do anything but try and figure out exactly where on the bridge the stare was coming from.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Eventually he went to the only “person” on seaQuest he felt remotely comfortable talking with. He made sure the room around the moon pool was empty before sliding into the water. “Bridger play!” Darwin’s head popped up near him.
“Hey Dar, no play, I need to talk.”
“Darwin talk!”
Nathan smiled. “I know you do. I guess I just needed to talk with someone I trust.”
“Bridger trust Darwin!” the dolphin grinner. “Darwin trust Bridger. Talk, no tell, not even Lucas.”
“That’s right, pal.” Nathan was always amazed at how much his friend had learned since coming on board. “I don’t even know how much you’ll understand but someone’s watching me all the time. I don’t know who it is or what they want. I just sense their eyes on me.”
“Watch work, watch Bridger,” Darwin said, nodding and splashing water. “Like Bridger, watch Bridger.”
“Well yes, I think they like me. The gaze doesn’t feel mean or hostile,” Nathan said, rubbing Darwin’s back. “I suppose it could just be someone who wonders what kind of officer I’m going to be.”
Darwin splashed him. “Bridger legend.”
“Now I wouldn’t go that far,” Nathan said in mock seriousness. “Maybe I’m just imaging things. It wouldn’t be the first time.”
“No picture, real.” Darwin lifted his head out of the water. “Watch Bridger, love Bridger. Darwin loves Bridger.”
“Dar, what are you….” He broke off, sensing someone in the room with them. But when he turned to look there was no one there.”
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Far from making him feel better, the talk with Darwin made him feel worse. If he understood the dolphin correctly, and that wasn’t a sure thing, someone on this boat was in love with him. Nathan lay down on his bunk with a groan. He’d practically killed his wife by taking her to that island after Robert died. Deep down he knew she wouldn’t want him to grieve forever but 27 years was a long time. They’d become attuned to each other, almost two parts of the whole and he didn’t know that he could ever love anyone ever again.
They’d talked, just after the funeral, about what they wanted for the other if they died. Carol had just wanted him to be happy, that’s all she said. Now that he was back on his boat he felt happy, knowing he was helping others, but to even consider allowing anyone that close to his heart truly scared him.
He noticed the note when he sat up to go shower. That truly puzzled him as no one had access to his quarters. No one but Lucas. *Dear Lord, no* thought Nathan. *He’s just a kid, young enough to be my son*
****Captain, or may I call you Nathan
Don’t worry, Lucas just did me a favor and dropped this off. He thinks it’s word-related. I’m sorry if my staring makes you uncomfortable but sometimes I can’t help myself. You are a very handsome man, one I would dearly love to get to know better. I understand your reluctance to start another relationship but know that I am willing to wait until you are.
Your not-so-secret admirer***
So he sat day after day watching his new crew. The seaQuest was a remarkable boat, so much more than he ever dreamed when designing her and in a small way he was glad to be back. Not that he approved of the method certainly but he felt at home. He felt guilty about returning at first but after several long nights on contemplation he realized she wouldn’t want him to hide away forever.
And now the eyes were back. Captain Nathan Bridger didn’t look up from the report he’d just been handed. He didn’t turn in his chair; he didn’t do anything but try and figure out exactly where on the bridge the stare was coming from.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Eventually he went to the only “person” on seaQuest he felt remotely comfortable talking with. He made sure the room around the moon pool was empty before sliding into the water. “Bridger play!” Darwin’s head popped up near him.
“Hey Dar, no play, I need to talk.”
“Darwin talk!”
Nathan smiled. “I know you do. I guess I just needed to talk with someone I trust.”
“Bridger trust Darwin!” the dolphin grinner. “Darwin trust Bridger. Talk, no tell, not even Lucas.”
“That’s right, pal.” Nathan was always amazed at how much his friend had learned since coming on board. “I don’t even know how much you’ll understand but someone’s watching me all the time. I don’t know who it is or what they want. I just sense their eyes on me.”
“Watch work, watch Bridger,” Darwin said, nodding and splashing water. “Like Bridger, watch Bridger.”
“Well yes, I think they like me. The gaze doesn’t feel mean or hostile,” Nathan said, rubbing Darwin’s back. “I suppose it could just be someone who wonders what kind of officer I’m going to be.”
Darwin splashed him. “Bridger legend.”
“Now I wouldn’t go that far,” Nathan said in mock seriousness. “Maybe I’m just imaging things. It wouldn’t be the first time.”
“No picture, real.” Darwin lifted his head out of the water. “Watch Bridger, love Bridger. Darwin loves Bridger.”
“Dar, what are you….” He broke off, sensing someone in the room with them. But when he turned to look there was no one there.”
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Far from making him feel better, the talk with Darwin made him feel worse. If he understood the dolphin correctly, and that wasn’t a sure thing, someone on this boat was in love with him. Nathan lay down on his bunk with a groan. He’d practically killed his wife by taking her to that island after Robert died. Deep down he knew she wouldn’t want him to grieve forever but 27 years was a long time. They’d become attuned to each other, almost two parts of the whole and he didn’t know that he could ever love anyone ever again.
They’d talked, just after the funeral, about what they wanted for the other if they died. Carol had just wanted him to be happy, that’s all she said. Now that he was back on his boat he felt happy, knowing he was helping others, but to even consider allowing anyone that close to his heart truly scared him.
He noticed the note when he sat up to go shower. That truly puzzled him as no one had access to his quarters. No one but Lucas. *Dear Lord, no* thought Nathan. *He’s just a kid, young enough to be my son*
****Captain, or may I call you Nathan
Don’t worry, Lucas just did me a favor and dropped this off. He thinks it’s word-related. I’m sorry if my staring makes you uncomfortable but sometimes I can’t help myself. You are a very handsome man, one I would dearly love to get to know better. I understand your reluctance to start another relationship but know that I am willing to wait until you are.
Your not-so-secret admirer***