Author Notes:

I blame Maureen.

Thanks to Cadnobach, Sara, Maureen, and Rhaeve for their reviews. Thanks to Dusk for the advice.

Tony hovered at the back of the room trying to stay out of the way.  Imagine him in the wardroom at an Officers' meeting.  He probably stood out as bad as a normal among alphies. This was all Katie's fault. She had insisted that he come with her so they would have more time for his lessons afterwards. He just couldn't say no to her.  Tony shifted uncomfortably and rubbed at the grease spot on his pants. At least, he wasn't alone.  That would be worse. He didn't think he could take it if he was the only person standing here and everyone was looking at him knowing he didn't belong.

            "Calm down, kid," whispered Gene Aldrey. He was Tony's boss. All of the department heads were at the meeting along with the doctors from medbay.

            "I'm calm," insisted Tony. Gene just patted him on the shoulder and tried to make a little more elbow room in the crowd.

            "Thank you for coming," began the Captain as he stood to start the meeting. "This will be brief. We just have a few important announcements.

            "First off, we have a new addition to our crew. I would like to introduce Lt. Danabe. He will be taking over Sensors."

            There was a shuffle as the new lieutenant stood up. Briefly, Tony wished he'd picked a spot with a better view. He would have kind of liked to have seen what the new guy looked like.

            "There have also been a few additions to the rest of our staff.  The affected departments have already been notified and the men will begin work tomorrow. Now, I would like to introduce everyone to our guest, Ambassador Dickson.  He will be staying with us for a while because we will be taking him to England."

            England! He couldn't have heard that right. Why on earth would they be going to England? No one traveled that far anymore.

            "Quiet!" commanded Captain Bridger, silencing the murmurs. "Yes, we are going to England.  One of the matters of business with the Prime Minister was the hiring of SeaQuest to provide transportation and protection for Mr. Dickson. This will not be an easy voyage but the gains far out weigh the risks."

            Tony didn't pay attention to any more of the meeting. He was too busy thinking about England. Wow. They still had Kings and Queens, right? Maybe he could meet some Royalty! Imagine that. Of course, he knew he couldn't really meet any of the Royalty. That would be like him thinking he could be an officer or something. Some things just didn't happen.

            "See, that didn't take too long," said Katie, interrupting his thoughts. "Now, come on, we have a book waiting for us."

[Scene change]

Tim scrolled through the pages of his latest book, The Sociopolitical Stage in the Modern World, as he surreptitiously watched his new roommate put away the last of his belongings. The man was undeniably handsome but then you could say that about almost any man on SeaQuest. The unappetizing but nutritious meals kept people lean and the physically grueling fighting kept them in shape. Tim wondered if the Canadian military used the same formula.

Danabe's hair was straight and dark. It somehow gave the impression that it should have been much longer. Tim thought he looked kind of like that actor, Adrian Paul, from the old television series Highlander. Tim had watched that show when he was younger. He liked anything with a historical element even if most shows embellished the facts beyond recognition. Xena was another favorite of his. Tim was something of a history buff. It wasn't really surprising since you needed to understand a culture before you could grasp their language and culture was nothing unless you knew the history behind it.

Danabe swore softly snapping Tim out of his tangent.  Tim looked up just in time to see Danabe bend over to retrieve something he'd dropped.  His heart sped up as Danabe's pants shifted to conform tightly to his backside.

"Whoa!" Tim told himself mentally. "Slow down there."

"But there's nothing wrong with looking."

"True," said Tim then laughed because he was arguing with himself.  Daniel glanced up at him puzzled then returned to his things.

The truth was that looking was all it would amount to. Danabe was simply safer ogle than most guys because he was new and, judging by the way Danabe kept sizing everyone else up, wouldn't react as badly to a guy admiring him. Danabe was still very much a stranger but Tim had picked up enough hints and clues to know that the man had some unresolved issues of his own. For that matter, Tim knew that he wasn't ready for another relationship or even capable of being interested in one at this stage of the game.  He was still struggling with not falling apart every time he looked somewhere Miguel was supposed to be and didn't see him. Tim sighed and turned to read his book for real this time.

[Scene Change]

            "Oh, Nathan, tell me again. Are we really truly going to England?" said Kristin with a beaming smile.

            "Really and truly," he assured with a smile. Gently, he leaned down to kiss her.

            "I know I've made you tell me a dozen times now. It's just… It doesn't seem real, I suppose. I spent so much time resigning myself to the fact that I'd never see her again and now I'm going home."

            "I don't mind at all." He kissed her again allowing his hand to trail down her back. "I've never seen you so happy."

            "How long is SeaQuest going to be there? Do you think you'll have time to come out and meet my family? I hope Mum's still alive. I think she'd like you." Kristin was practically glowing as she spoke. One would have thought Nathan had given her the moon on a necklace.

            "I don't really know how long things will take. I think arrangements can be made for a visit."

            "I wonder how Lucas will like England. He'll be safe there at least. Our government wouldn't stoop to stealing children."

            "Safe there?" He paused as the horrifying implications hit. "You mean to stay there?"

            "Well, it is my home and really a submarine is no place to raise a child."

            "I see," said Nathan quietly. "Well, we should finish our lunch before someone comes looking for us."

            "Oh! Right!" Kristin returned her attention to her sandwich.  The smile never left her face. Thankfully, she didn't seem to notice that Nathan was no longer enjoying things as much as he had been.

[Scene Change]

"Daddy," said the girl pulling on her fathers arm. "Will you play with me?"

            "Not now, Caitlyn, darling. I'm watching the news."

            "But I have a new video game," she protested.

            "After the news, sweetheart," he promised. "Why don't you sit down and watch it with me? You were interested in all that SeaQuest stuff a few weeks ago."

            "OK," she said sitting on the couch and scooting over next to him. "What's going on now?"

            "Well, SeaQuest has just left Canada. Everyone's trying to find out where it's heading now and if this means Canada's going to declare war on us."

            "That's silly. Canada likes us."

            "That's politics."

            "It's silly! Besides, SeaQuest's not going to attack the US. Ms. Haley says that they're just trying to protect that little boy. She says they're heroes."

            "Your teacher seems to have a lot to say about things."

            "Ms. Haley wouldn't lie to us. Her brother's on that boat."

            "Well, I don't think we have to worry about SeaQuest very much." He smiled down at his daughter and ruffled her hair. "Now, how about that game?"

[Scene Change]

            Tim shut his door with a sigh.  Daniel had decided accept Ben's invitation to join the guy's gambling night.  This was Tim's first chance to get away from the man.  It wasn't that he disliked Daniel.  He really seemed like a nice guy.  It wasn't even the fact that Daniel was taking over every role Miguel filled except the important one. It was simply the fact that you can only take so much time around someone before you get tired of their company. He needed a break.  He needed a break from everyone. Not caring where he went, just that he was alone, Tim began to walk.

Some time later, he was startled by what sounded like a splash.  He stopped and looked around him, realizing his wanderings had brought him near the moonpool. 'Darwin would be good to talk to,' thought Tim as he continued forward.

            He stopped again at the entrance to the moonpool. Lucas was standing with his back to the door. Darwin was bobbing in the water in front of him. Tim wavered for a moment then decided to leave. Lucas reminded him too much of Miguel and those children. Everything reminded him of Miguel. All of a sudden, Lucas let out a strangled yell flinging a book across the room.

            "It can't be that bad," said Tim moving to pick up the book automatically. Lucas whirled around and stared at him.

            "American Sign Language," read Tim from the cover. "Trying to talk to Darwin were you?"

            Lucas looked down at his feet and nodded.

            "Don't be discouraged. It's hard to teach yourself a language if you don't have any background in them. Would you like my help?"

            Lucas nodded eagerly.

            "Let's start with the alphabet." Tim folded his fingers over into a fist. "A." He reached out and took Lucas's hand. Gently, he folded Lucas's fingers into the letter 'A'. "A."

            Lucas studied the hands. Slowly, he spread out his fingers then folded them back. He held the new 'A' out to Tim questioningly. Tim nodded approvingly. Lucas grinned and turned to Darwin who was watching them curiously. Lucas folded his fingers and showed them to Darwin who bobbed unimpressed. Lucas bit his lip in frustration. He tried again with the same effect. He glared at Darwin and stomped away from the water.

            "Whoa, where are you going?" asked Tim. Lucas whirled around and glared at him accusingly. "Why are you upset?"

            Lucas pointed at Darwin and glowered.

            "Lucas, Darwin can't understand a letter. You use them to spell words and Darwin only understands commands."

            Confused, Lucas cocked his head at him. Tim decided to try again.

            "Do you know what the alphabet's for?" Lucas shook his head no. Tim thought for a minute then picked up the book again. Pointing at the letter 'A' he asked, "Do you know what this is?"

            Lucas nodded and held up one finger. Taking a pen, Tim wrote Lucas's name in the margin of the book.

            "And this?" Lucas pointed to himself. He watched Tim wondering what kind of game they were playing. Tim wrote "Lucas" again but left big spaces between the letters so that it didn't look like one word. "What about this one?"

            Lucas looked at it for a moment then shook his head no. He didn't recognize this pattern. Tim stared at Lucas in astonishment.

            "You can't read. You've just memorized all of the words." Tim shook his head. Some how Lucas had managed to teach himself enough meanings to be able to read without grasping the concept of reading. This was amazing. If he didn't understand spelling, he probably didn't understand the fundamentals of grammar or language.  This was why Lucas was still limited to communicating through gestures. Tim felt a thrill of excitement. Lucas was a linguist's dream.

[Scene Change]

            "Hit me," said Ben rubbing his lucky penny. Jim slapped a Jack down on top of the eight. "Busted."

            "Stay," said Danabe as Jim looked towards him. Ben sighed and threw his cards into the middle of the table.

            "I'm good," said Lonnie. Ben fiddled with his quarters restacking them into neat columns. Across the table, Jim was mulling over his cards. Finally, he flipped a card over for himself and nodded.

            "Twenty-one," he said flipping over his cards.

            "Ha! Blackjack!" said Lonnie with a grin. Danabe, Katie, and Jon simply slid their cards over to join Ben's. Lonnie danced in her seat as she slid the pot over to her.

            "So, Daniel, how do you like SeaQuest?" asked Ben as Lonnie reshuffled the deck.

            "It's different. That's for sure. I've never been on a boat like this."

            "You'll never be on another one like her," said Jon with a proud smile.

            "You better watch out," warned Ben. "You keep saying stuff like that and Bridger's going to put you in charge of making the recruitment video." He felt a kick under the table and looked up to see Katie sticking her tongue out at him.

            "All right, gentlemen," said Lonnie cracking her knuckles. "Time to place your bets."

            "Ante up! Ante up!" cried Ben sliding a couple dollars in coins into the center of the table.

            "You are such a little kid," said Katie, throwing her part into the pot.

            "OK, children," warned Jon.

            "Yes, Dad," mimicked Jim in a little kid's voice.

            "So," said Lonnie, as she dealt the cards. "Daniel, how did you end up being assigned to SeaQuest?"

            "Mostly luck, I guess." He shrugged. "You needed someone to replace the last guy.  I just happened to fit the bill and wasn't assigned to any crucial position."

            "So that's how you have so many of the same skills."

            "Well, yeah. You didn't think he was the only person in your navy to hold all those qualifications did you?"

            "I never really thought about that," said Lonnie.

            "Yeah," interrupted Ben. "Always remember you're replaceable."

            "Gee, there's a good morale booster. I hope you're not looking for a promotion," joked Katie.

            "A promotion to what? Are they going to give me my own launch to command?"

            "OK. Who needs a hit?"

            "Give me your best shot," said Jim.

            "Hit me," said Daniel. He looked at his cards then pushed them into the middle of the table.

            "Well, you may have been matched with Migs' other skills but you definitely can't play cards like him," said Ben with a smile. "That's OK, though.  I'll be glad to take your money."

[Scene Change]

            "Thank you, Lucas. That's all I need for you to do."

            Lucas heaved a sigh of relief as he was allowed to leave Kristin's office.  He crossed the room to the adjacent vacant laboratory where he had been spending most of his time since they had gotten back from their trip.  He kept telling himself that it was because the lab held plenty of space and the appropriate equipment for his project. Only occasionally did he allow himself to admit that the lab's proximity to Kristin was its greatest advantage.

            "You saw for yourself," continued Tim. His voice was just loud enough to carry. "Lucas can't read. He has no grasp of language. That's why he can't speak."

            Lucas looked at the mess of wires on the table and his computer sitting silent in the corner.  He really didn't want to work on any of that right now. It was going in circles. Or maybe it just seemed that way. He wasn't doing anything yet. The hardware was getting better.  The program was finished, had been for a while. It was useless though. He didn't have any way to test it. He couldn't collect any data from Darwin.  How was he supposed to find patterns without a sample? It was just so frustrating!

            Lucas sighed again.

            "Oh, I understand that," said Kristin. "But what can we do to help him?"

            Lucas looked up as her voice grew clearer. She smiled at him from the doorway. He waved and she moved back into her office. Anything else she said was muffled by her footsteps. She did that a lot now. She was always checking up on him. It was kind of like being on one of those ships. You got used to the constant surveillance. Made real sure you weren't ever doing anything wrong. This felt different though. It wasn't scary at all.

            If he wasn't going to do any work, he needed something to do for a while.  A flash of color caught his eyes. His crayons.  Ben had given them to him.  Said every kid needed to color. Lucas thought one of the children had left them on board. Maybe not. Lucas had felt kind of silly the first time he used them and the blank book that came with them. He wasn't quite sure how but he thought only little children were supposed to use them. But then Ben had given to him so he had supposed it was all right if he tried them. And now he loved them. Half of the book was full already. There was just something wonderful and calming about thinking about nothing but what color to use next and how to stay in the lines. It made a great break from his project.

            Lucas hunted through the wires and tools until he found his coloring book. He pushed aside enough space on the table and opened it up. Selecting the brown crayon, he set to work. A slight wrinkle set in his forehead as he concentrated. The room was silent except for the soft scrape of the wax on the paper and the muffled conversation from across the hall. Suddenly, the conversation in Kristin's office became heated ending the tranquility.

            "I am a licensed psychologist!" exclaimed Wendy, her voice rising with each word. "I think I know how to teach children better than you."

            "And I am a linguist," argued Tim calmly. He wasn't shouting like Wendy but his voice was raised enough for Lucas to hear every word. "I have forgotten more languages than you will ever know. Do you really think you're more qualified to teach Lucas?"

            "You have no idea how to deal with traumatized children! They require special care!"

            "Dr. Smith, with all due respect, you were trained to work on a naval vessel. How much expertise can you really have with children?"

            "Enough!" said Kristin. Lucas sat up straight and listened hard trying to hear what she had to say. "Neither of you have ever worked with someone like Lucas."

            "Yes, but."

            "Dr. Smith, may I remind you that I am Lucas's guardian. I make the decisions regarding him." Their voices fell and Lucas couldn't hear what was said next. He sat very still in his seat, his mind racing.  What were they saying? Was it worth it to sneak over to the doorway where he would be able to hear better? Would he be in trouble if he did?

            "Lucas!" 

He jumped, staring around the room as though he'd been caught. He looked to the door and Kristin was standing there with Tim.

            "Lucas, sweetie, I have some good news for you."  Lucas looked from Kristin to Tim worriedly. He didn't know if this was going to be a good thing. "Tim is going to teach you how to speak."

            Tim smiled at Lucas, delighted.

"Aren't you excited? Don't you think this will be fun?"

            Lucas swallowed nervously. Suddenly, he felt like he had some idea of how the fish felt just before the shark ate him.