Okay, this is a rather long author's note, so beware. But it is a must read.
Story INFO:
This story is technically a Deadliest Catch story, but there is strong and heavy emphasis on the original characters. You will find The Hillstrand's and other fisherman in this story, but they are generally secondary characters. The story as a whole is about the twins finding their way back to each other, and learning to be a family with the father they've finally found. You will find the twist and turns of any family life.
I'm sorry to those of you who wish to see more of John or anyone else in this story, but this is just how the story wrote itself. I am also sorry to those who feel I am not living up to the real Hillstrand's, but please remember this is just a work of fiction.
I have written this story purely for my entertainment and because the idea wouldn't leave me alone. Only after months and months work have I decided to finally share this with anyone. I have been writing under the impression that if I share this with anyone I'll lose interest and won't finish it, (strange superstition, but it's just how I am).
But because I have found a good rhythm (I think), and since there has been a recent call for new stories, I have decided to finally share this with everyone. So please review to tell me what you think!
Disclaimer:
The story I am about to post is considered a DC Fanfic. It is a work of fiction and is not real. I do not own any of the people or companies you are about to read about. I am BORROWING the name Alternative Press magazine, Warped Tour, Lollapalooza, and any other companies or businesses that may be familiar.
I do not own any of the bands named in this story. Once again, this is a work of fiction and I own nothing but the Parker's and my original characters.
And most of all: Please ENJOY!
Chapter 1: Melissa
"Melissa the gallies for the July cover are in," Melissa Parker's assistant Ryleigh Sanders announced through the telecom.
"Thank you." Melissa glanced up from the stack of financial statements to the clock above the door. 2:35 the atomic numbers read. She sighed; financial statements were the worst part of being boss. She absolutely loved her business Parker Productions Inc. She loved everything about it, but when it came to reading financial statements and ledgers from the accounting department she'd rather head home and hit the trails. Not being in control of the money anymore really had her heart in a wrench, but ever since the magazine took off she just didn't have the time to handle the accounting, the editing, the interviewing, and still find new bands and cover the latest news in the music world. Not to mention still run The Club, the bar, and the arena. So if she still wanted to control her money, or feel like she controlled her money, she had to pour over the monthly income statements, spending reports, and account ledgers.
Melissa noted her spot in the income statement with a green post-it note and set the stack of papers to the side. The cover for next month's issue was more important than the money at the moment. She'd get back to her notes for accounting later.
Opening her e-mail, she waited while the page loaded and tossed her long black curly hair over her shoulder. It was down for the first time in weeks, falling to the middle of her back. The bright fire-engine red highlights that ran throughout were new, and the contrast with her black hair was stunning. As a joke, the day before she had a manicure to match her hair, black nails with red racing stripes. It was all to match the new camero she had bought a few weeks earlier. Black with red racing stripes down the middle.
She double clicked on the link to the gallery photographs that were the photography department's final product. She had been waiting not-so-patiently all day for them. All she had to do was approve the photos, and then send the cover photo onto the Finishing Department for the final cover with the headlines and ad snip-its.
After she added her comments about the two photo's of Nine Inch Nails, she picked the photo with front man Trent Reznor sitting in the middle with the band surrounding him. She finished her notes and sent it on; glad next month's issue was almost finished. "Boss, are you ready for me?" Ryleigh's voice filtered through the telecom again.
Melissa smiled. Three o'clock on the dot. Her assistant was always punctual, and when it regarded Melissa's schedule she was entirely grateful she hired Ryleigh in the first place. "For sure," Melissa responded. She closed down her e-mail and opened her electronic Day-Planner.
A moment later the door opened and Ryleigh walked through, holding a large leather covered binder. She wore a black tank top with white lace and bows on the edges and pinstripe pants with white lace bondage straps. Her hair was naturally blonde, much to her dismay, and had black highlights throughout. Her bottom lip was pierced on the right side, as was her eyebrow.
Melissa smiled at her and stood up. She adjusted her black and white plaid halter-top, pulling the hem down and adjusting the halter, making sure her breasts were covered. She re-tied the corset string that laced up the front, adjusted the black leather skirt that had chains crisscrossing over it. She pulled on her knee high boots, before sitting down again.
"So your brother comes to town tomorrow," Ryleigh grinned, handing Melissa a bottle of water.
"Hell yeah, I can't wait." Melissa set the bottle on a napkin and started moving the stack of paper back into their file folders. "He said he's bringing home a couple friends too."
"A bunch of fishermen hotties?" Ryleigh smirked.
Melissa grinned and rolled her eyes. She finished placing the files to her messenger bag, and opened her water bottle. "We'll see. I've never met them before."
"You have to let me come over." Ryleigh was bouncing in her seat with energy causing Melissa to laugh.
"Yeah, that's all I need." Melissa grinned at her before glancing at the clock, "We gotta get goin, I have to head over to the Club."
Ryleigh nodded and got right to business discussing Melissa's schedule for the following day. There was still so much to get done before she took some much needed vacation time to hang out with her twin brother while he was in town.
By the time they finished the schedule and last minute arrangements for coverage while Melissa was out of the office, it was nearing four-thirty and Melissa's cell phone was ringing. "Yeah, Parker," she answered. It was an automatic response.
"Hey baby girl, you coming to dinner or what." Jeff Mitchels stated. He sounded half annoyed, half amused. Probably more annoyed then amused, knowing Jeff.
Melissa grinned hearing her best friend's gruff questioning. "Yeah, yeah. I'm coming."
"Good. I'm out front." He hung up. That was Jeff though, to the point and dealt no bullshit.
Melissa hung up, slipping her phone in her purse. "Well Riles, I'm late for dinner."
Ryleigh grinned and nodded, "Alright, I'll see you tomorrow." She grabbed her binder and stood up. She headed toward the door.
"Yeah," Melissa nodded, grabbed her messenger bag and purse and headed out of her rocker-chic office. While she walked to the elevator at the end of the hall, she put her small purse inside the messenger bag and pulled it over her head. More than likely Jeff would have his motorcycle, a brand new Harley-Davidson Fat-Boy.
She hit the elevator button and a moment later the doors dinged opened. She pulled out her sunglasses from her bag and set them on her face. She hit the button for L and the doors closed shut. She grinned as the Rise Against song filled the elevator. She loved that she was able to have her favorite bands play over the inter-company radio.
Moments later the doors opened and she was walking across the green and black marble lobby of Parker Productions, Inc. "Good evening Miss Parker," the security guard called from his post.
"Good evening Harris," Melissa smiled over her shoulder as she walked briskly toward the door. Jeff had already been waiting five minutes, she already knew he'd be crabby enough; she didn't need to make him wait longer.
She pushed through the revolving door and into the blazing Chicago heat. June was no joke, and was quickly becoming one of the hottest on records. Sure enough Jeff was waiting for her on his Fat-Boy. Buzzed head, tattoos covered his arms and bulging muscles, and he wore a simple black wife-beater tank and black cargo pants with leather boots. Black wrap-around sunglasses adorned his face, and a black and white bandana was tied tightly around his head. With his arms crossed over his chest, he looked downright dangerous.
The traffic on State Street was roaring with taxi horns blaring and CTA Busses hissing. Jeff uncrossed his arms when Melissa approached, and started the bike. She quickly threw her leg over the back of the bike, making sure her skirt was tucked tightly under her legs. She moved the messenger bag around her back and tossed a loose hair tie around her thick mane.
As soon as she wrapped her arms tightly around Jeff's solid body, he revved the engine and took off into traffic. Not a word was spoken, not even a hello between the two friends. It wasn't needed.
When Jeff finally pulled to a stop up town in front of their favorite diner near the corner of Belmont and Clark, Melissa hopped off his bike. She pulled her hair out of the tie, glad it wasn't too windblown and pulled her messenger bag toward the front again.
Jeff shut the bike off, leaned it on its kickstand, before leading the way into the small diner. Melissa followed as he walked over to their usual booth, smiling at the waitress that quickly set the place settings for them.
"The usual?" Linda, the waitress asked. She was on the older end of middle age and had tattoos and wore lots of leather. Her Old Man was a Biker and she fit right in with all the misfits and punks that usually frequented the diner/bar.
"Hell yes please," Melissa chuckled causing Linda to laugh.
Jeff just nodded and slid into the booth. After Linda placed glasses of water in front of both of them, she left to place their order. Melissa looked up at Jeff to see him staring at her. With his sun glasses on top of head, his piercing grey eyes bore deep into her soul.
Not a person to take shit from others, Melissa confronted him immediately. "What's with you today?"
He grinned and shook his head, running a hand over the stubble that was his hair on top of his head. "Not a damn thing. Tired though."
"Me too," she nodded.
"You're fuckin' excited," he stated. His grin radiated his pearly whites.
She laughed, resting her elbows on the table between them. "Hell yeah! Rancid tonight and then Jake tomorrow!"
Jeff grinned but then he leaned forward, resting his elbows on the table. "Let's be serious for a minute okay?"
Melissa groaned inwardly, knowing exactly where Jeff was about to take the conversation. "Jeff," she sighed.
"No Liss, listen to me. You need to be ready for this." His gaze was steady and she couldn't do anything but return his stare. "Jake mentioned before that he met your father; that he was planning on forming a relationship with your father. Have you heard anything about that since then?"
Now she really did groan. Leave it to Jeff to go straight to the heart of all Melissa's worries. "Yeah."
Jeff raised an eyebrow at her, acknowledging her to continue.
"He's been working on our father's boat since October."
Jeff didn't say anything, didn't glare, didn't move, he just continued to stare at her, watching her every move. He was the only person she knew who could make her fidget.
"Stop it, alright? I didn't tell you because I didn't want to deal with this. I know this could be bad. I know Jake might bring my father home with him.I know I might have to face the past, and I know I might be meeting my father for the first time tomorrow. I don't need you to remind me!" Her voice had raised toward the end and Jeff leaned back to give her space.
She sighed and leaned back against the booth as well. "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have yelled."
He shook his head, "No, I'm sorry. I just worry about you."
Melissa nodded as Linda placed two steaming plates between the two. Sensing the tension, she retreated quickly.
"Besides, I know you can take care of yourself." His grin was lopsided and goofy, making Melissa smile fondly.
She rolled her eyes and popped a French fry in her mouth. "But really Jeff? I think Jake really might be bringing my father home with him."
Jeff raised an eyebrow at me as he bit into his deluxe Angus burger.
She shrugged, "It's just something he said on the phone. He said he wanted me to meet someone."
Jeff nodded swallowing. "I know that. He said he was going to bring some friends home, right?"
She nodded biting into her chicken parmesan sandwich. Jeff shrugged. "We'll just have to wait and see tomorrow."
She nodded.
The rest of the meal past by in relative quiet, a kind of comfortable quiet that could only be obtained by two people who were completely comfortable which one another.
Jake:
Jacob Parker was throwing the last of his dirty socks into his duffle when someone pushed into his as they stormed into the small state room. "What the hell?" he asked, standing from the bunk he fell into.
Scott Hillstrand, his half-brother and crewmate grinned at him over his shoulder. "Quit standing in the way," he chuckled while threw the pile of clothes in the duffle bag on his bunk.
The fact that they were brothers was completely obvious to everyone. They looked so similar it was uncanny. The only obvious difference was Jake's hair was pitch black, including facial hair, while Scott or Scotty as their father usually called him, was blonde.
Jake rolled his eyes and zipped his duffle, finished packing for trip home. He was glad. It had been five months since he had been home to Chicago to see his twin sister. Christmas was the last time, and it had only been for a couple of days. He was definitely looking forward to the summer at home. Opilio season had been long and hard, with the fishing elusive at best.
"You guys ready yet?" the deep gruff voice of the captain interrupted Jake's thought process of going home. Jake looked up to see Captain Johnathan Hillstrand standing in the narrow doorway of the stateroom.
"Definitely," Scott grinned.
"Yeah, for sure," Jake nodded. He glanced to Johnathan and felt anything but sure. The man was watching him carefully. He was a tall, intimidating man with broad shoulders and a black leather jacket. Blue jeans and a black t-shirt of some kind were common for his father, as were the black boots. In the five months that he'd been working for the man on his boat, he'd gotten to know him very well. Or well enough, Jake thought.
After finding out Captain Jonathan was his father years ago, Jake had wanted nothing but to work on the Time Bandit and for the man he had always wanted to meet. After proving himself throughout the fleet, he finally convinced Jonathan to take him on his boat for a King Season. Things that season had been rocky the first couple of months. There was hazing for being the new guy on the crew and not to mention the near hell Scott, Johnathan, Andy and Neal put him through for being family.
Jake never complained though. How could he? He had shown up out of nowhere and announced that he was a son no one knew about. The private investigator Jake had hired when he was twenty to find his father, had given him a name and what the man did for a living. The rest had been up to him. So as soon as his sister Melissa settled down and got her ever-expanding business under control, Jake took off for Alaska to become the crab fishermen he had always wanted to become.
And after that first King Season, they asked him back for Opies. He wasn't quite full-share yet, but he was damn near close. Jake had hoped that after this past Opie season he would have been made full-share, but for only one full year working on the boat, he didn't expect them to do it. There was always next year, he thought.
"You okay, son?" Johnathan finally asked, breaking Jake from his train of thoughts.
Jake blinked and nodded, tossing the strap of his duffel bag over his shoulder. "Yeah man, let's go."
Scott was packed and waiting, so Johnathan grabbed his gear and led the way out on deck where Andy was waiting for the three of them. "Neal's not coming?" Scott asked over his shoulder as he walked toward the rail.
"No," Johnathan replied, "someone has to run the boat for Salmon Tendering."
Scott nodded and hopped the rail to land. Jake and Johnathan followed and turned to watch Andy come down the stairs from the wheel house. "All locked and ready to go, my brother," Andy grinned at Johnathan.
"Alrighty let's hit the road!" Johnathan grinned.
Jake forced a smile and headed toward the Ford Explorer they would drive to the airport from Dutch Harbor. Once everyone loaded their gear and got situated, Andy got started the truck and headed toward the airport. "You're awfully quiet over there," Scott nudged Jake, grinning.
Jake shrugged and looked out the window. He was thankful that after he proved himself to his new crew and family the hazing had stopped and he and Scott had grown closer. Over the course of the last five months that he worked on the Time Bandit, Jake could actually say that he considered Scott a brother. Yeah they were half-brother by blood, but for Jake to consider him close enough to be a brother, meant a lot to Jake. "Not much to say," he sighed.
"Quit thinking so much. Everything will be fine," Johnathan said from the front seat. "Melissa does know we're all coming with you right?"
Jake looked him in the eye and shook his head. "No," he replied.
"What?" Scott asked, shoving his shoulder. "How could you not tell her that she would be meeting her family for the first time?"
Andy was watching Jake from the rearview mirror while Johnathan was practically turned around in his seat watching his sons. "She's smart, I'm sure she figured it out. She knows I've been working for you for the past year and she knows I'm bringing friends home. I didn't need her stressing out while I was gone; she's got enough going on as it is." He spoke right to Johnathan who didn't say anything in response.
The rest of the trip was quiet, allowing Jake to think back to when he first met his new family. It was over three years ago when he had first gotten to Dutch Harbor and was looking for the F/V Cornelia Marie. A long time friend of their mother's had gotten him a job through a friend, and Jake was thankful to not be one of the many men who showed up in Dutch Harbor praying to find a boat to take them for a trip or the season.
Jake had seen the F/V Time Bandit from across the harbor and had immediately wanted to head straight over there and introduce himself. But knowing how awkward it was going to be, and being on a time limit, he had to stall the meeting to a later date.
When he had finally gotten up the courage to speak to his father, it was almost the end of his first King Crab season. They were both shit faced in a bar in Dutch Harbor, both boats having just finished unloading. Jake unfortunately let the news slip almost immediately after speaking to Johnathan.
The end result was a fist fight with Scott, and Johnathan telling him not to come near him again. Jake was crushed, but he returned to work on the Cornelia Marie for the rest of the season. It wasn't until midway through the following Opie Season that Jake got up the courage to approach Johnathan again. This time he was painfully sober at a bar in St. Paul Harbor, and asked to speak with Johnathan alone. Andy and Scott weren't too happy at the time, but Johnathan agreed.
Jake could still remember his father's reaction that day.
Johnathan was pissed that the kid wanted to speak to him again, but thought he'd at least hear him out. He was sober and adamant. So Andy and Scott left their corner of the bar to give the men some privacy. When the kid Jake took out a worn photograph of a beautiful woman with long black curly hair and bright green eyes, Johnathan knew immediately. The kid was telling the truth.
"She told me it wasn't mine," he voice was quiet, eyes glued to the picture. "I thought it could have been, the timing was right, but she said no." He sighed and looked up at Jake. "When I called her to say I wanted a test done, her roommate told me she moved and wouldn't give me her number. I never heard from her again."
Jake nodded, believing him. "She didn't tell us about you till the end."
Johnathan raised an eyebrow at him in question.
"She passed away five years ago."
"I had no idea." Johnathan leaned back in his seat and studied the photograph again. Katherine Parker had been a mysterious woman when he dated her. He fell in love with her quickly, and when she fell pregnant, she took off, taking his heart with her.
"She didn't want you to. She didn't want anyone to know. Like I said, we didn't find out until the end."
"We?" Johnathan asked, confused.
"I have a twin sister."
Johnathan was dumbfounded, not only had he just found out he had a son he never met, he also had a daughter. It had been a crazy time when he met Katherine. He already had two kids with another woman and wasn't looking for more, so when she took off after telling him it wasn't his baby, he forgot all about it. "So now what?" Johnathan asked, rubbing his goatee with a hand. "We get a test done?"
Jake shrugged, "Yeah, if that's what you want."
Johnathan nodded and stood up. When Jake stood next to him, Johnathan had no doubt in his mind that Jake was who he said he was. The kid was a spitting image of Johnathan at twenty-three. Together they went to the Clinic at St. Paul Harbor, both knowing exactly what the results would say.
The Clinic had told them it would be a couple days until they got the results back from Anchorage, and that they would be notified by phone. So both men went back to different ships to return to work and wait for the phone call. Jake had known all along what the truth was, but Johnathan had told Andy they couldn't be sure of anything.
Johnathan had been sleeping when the call came to the Time Bandit. Andy had answered the phone and received the news that the results were positive; Johnathan was the father. Jake remembered how pissed Andy had been at him for the first year after that. Definitely didn't trust him. Jake was pretty positive Andy still didn't trust him three years later.
"Yo dude, wake up," Scott said shaking his brother out of his thoughts of the past. Jake slowly opened his eyes to see Scott grinning like a smartass. "Dude, we're here."
"Where?" Jake groaned, stretching his arms over his head and looking around the plane full of standing people.
"Chicago dude, come on let's go!" Scott said, standing up to join the queue heading toward the front of the plane. There was no way he slept all the way from Anchorage to Chicago, was there? He barely remembered changing planes in Anchorage.
Johnathan and Andy were a few people ahead of them, duffel bags slung over their shoulders. Johnathan glanced back at his sons and raised an eyebrow. Jake quickly stood, smacking his head on the low ceiling of the window seat. Johnathan and Scott started laughing immediately while Jake groaned and held his head.
"Fuck you dude," Jake smiled before joining him in the narrow isle. Both men grabbed their bags from the overhead compartment and made the slow trek off the plane.
Chicago's O'Hare International Airport was loud and bustling at 6:30 in the evening and the four men had to fight the throngs of people who both recognized them and wanted their autographs. Jake was glad when security finally stepped in to handle the crowds of people. Being famous because of a TV show he wanted nothing to do with, was not something he could handle sometimes.
It was going on seven-thirty when they finally had all of their luggage from the baggage claim and were in the taxi van heading toward Melissa's Club downtown. "So why the hell didn't she come get us?" Scott whined from the way backseat behind Jake.
Jake smiled over his shoulder at his brother. "She thinks we're coming tomorrow. I wanted to surprise her."
Johnathan shook his head and glanced over at Jake. "You know, most people like to know things like this. Shit we could have even arranged for a limo instead of a taxi."
Jake grinned and shrugged, "It's all about the surprise."
Johnathan rolled his eyes and Andy shook his head, choosing not to comment. Jake was used to that by then. In the three years that they'd known they were family they had either fought over Jake getting close to Johnathan, or chose not to speak to each other. The fact that Andy was even on this trip in the first place was a shock to Jake, but he didn't question it. He had a feeling Johnathan had talked his brother into coming to meet his daughter with him.
It didn't take long for the taxi driver to maneuver the crowded Chicago streets. What felt like minutes later, the men were climbing out of the taxi in front of large building built in the late 1800's. The marquee on the front of the building read The Club. It was simple and to the point, which was exactly why Melissa had picked it in the first place.
"What is this place?" Andy asked, looking around at all the people standing around smoking cigarettes. Every person had multi-colored hair, piercings and multiple tattoos. Most of the men wore Mohawks or liberty spikes, while the woman had all sorts of styles from Mohawks to big '80's hair to almost normal styles. It was definitely a punk rock night at The Club. Jake glanced up to the scrolling marquee to see Rancid was headlining. That explained the people.
"This is home," Jake grinned grabbing his bags while Johnathan paid the taxi driver.
Okay, so that was the first chapter. As I've said, this is a slightly different kind of fanfiction. It is more OC character based, VS DC character based. Yes there will be lots of interactions between the crews and my characters, but most of the storyline follows Melissa and her twin Jake. I KNOW there will be confusion using the name Jake as a main character and not having it be either Harris or Anderson, but that was my call. Jake and Melissa have always been a set in my mind, and changing the name for the sake of posting didn't seem right to me. Yes I know the name is unoriginal, but Melissa wasn't having it any other way. So that's what you get, Jake and Melissa together.
I hope everyone liked the first chapter! There will be plenty more to come. Please let me know what you think. I've put alot of time trying to get everything to fit just right for this story, and I would love to know if I'm doing it right. So let me know what works, what doesn't. Don't be afraid to tell me if you don't like something, but please be kind about it. I can't say I'll change anything, but I do like to know what my readers are thinking. Thanks!