And away we go again! The kernel for this story was revealed at the end of 'In With The New' and the action starts there. Sioux has dealt with a few of Johnathan's *ahem* ex's. But what if one of hers enters the picture? *rubs hands with wicked glee*

Don't know if this will be a shorty or longer because I never know where these fools will take me! LOL! Anyway, the mystery man will make his appearance in the next update. . .and you're gonna just love it! I promise!

In this chapter: Opies is looking like hell on ice and Johnathan & Sioux get their stubborn on. Dawne schools Lita on what 'goin' fishin' really means.

Thanks for all of you have faithfully read and reviewed my stories. . .you keep me inspired and chained to my computer. LOVE YOU! =:)


Johnathan

Opilio season was less than two weeks away and decisions needed to be made about the make-up of the Time Bandit crew, fishing strategies, provisions, repairs and a myriad of other things. He was busy getting it together before he flew out to Dutch to meet the boat and the crew and get everything rigged, secured, and stocked before the start of the season on the 15th of January. He had hoped the weather forecasts would be favorable, but according to all projections this was going to one of the worst seasons in memory. He would miss Andy's experience and gunslinger cool, but as he always said, 'shit happens when you party naked'. He worried a thumb cuticle as he stared at the latest weather reports on his laptop.

Sioux silently lounged in the doorway sipping from a cup of herb tea, watching him chain smoke and chug coffee, and knew he did the thumb chewing when he was upset or stressed. Well, she thought it hadn't taken long before the mellow of their New Year's vacation to slip away, as the reality of doing the most dangerous job in the world encroached like the endless mass of deadly Bering Sea ice. She had been watching Andy closely since she returned and it appeared he was starting to even out, and she thanked Gods of her people for Lita and Jimmy Sue.

Now Johnathan had her worried. She knew he more than up to the challenge with the heart and spirit of a Roman gladiator, but she had been doing her own research on the upcoming season and it was shaping up to be one for the ages. . .the ice age. It was looking like she was needed more on the man-eating Bering Sea than in this idyllic Seattle suburb.

She pushed off the doorway and stood behind him massaging his shoulders that were knotted and tense. 'You ready for breakfast? What ya looking at?' She cooed.

'Weather.' He muttered as he read. 'Gonna be a bitch. That feels good baby.' He stared at the screen and slowly shook his head. 'I hate fuckin' ice.'

She knew the rigors of Opilio fishing, which she had avoided in her previous career, and had a good idea of the dangers. 'What do you hate the most about the ice?'

He groaned has her strong fingers kneaded. 'What it does to men and boats. We've had plenty of close calls over the years, but there's something about being out there in that ice . . .well let's just say it ain't my favorite part of the job.'

'Coming with you.' She whispered in his ear.

'What!' He jumped and looked up at her in shock. 'But you said. . .'

'I know what I said.' She cut him off. 'But Andy is doing much better, and with Lita and Jimmy Sue to keep an eye on him, which is what I would have been doing, there's no reason for me to stay back, so I'm coming with you.'

He turned back to the laptop without a word.

She was confused. 'I thought you would be pleased?' 'Pleased? He snorted. 'I don't what I was thinking. . .I should have told you no way from the jump. Dropping pots and staying alive in sub-zero temperatures is no picnic. It's too dangerous, especially this year.'

He shook his head. 'Nope. You're not going. It's too dangerous.'

Too dangerous?' Sioux's eyes narrowed, not a good sign, and her voice held a steely edge. 'Too dangerous for me, but not for you and the crew?'

He threw up hands, got up and started pacing. 'This is what we do! It's hard, dangerous, and miserable and I don't want you out there!'

Sioux stalked over to him. 'Tough shit 'cause I'm going! And when Andy gets better, he's coming too!'

Neither had noticed Andy who now lounged in the doorway.

Johnathan shouted. 'Oh, so now you think you need to babysit me !'

Sioux hissed through gritted teeth. 'That's not what I said. I said we. We are going to fill those fuckin' tanks and bring our men back safe.'

'She's right you know.' They both startled and turned.

'As much you two going after each other amuses, especially first thing in the morning, we gotta look at the situation and not be stupid about this. Have a seat.' Andy gestured to the table. He sat in front of Johnathan's laptop examined the screen and gave a low whistle.

Without looking up he growled. 'Sit your asses down!'

Johnathan and Sioux exchanged a wide-eyed looks.

Sioux shot him a side whisper. 'Did he just go Captain on our asses?'

And they silently sat their asses down.

'Whew!' Andy blew. 'I'm not gonna lie, looking at this report. . .' He gave both Johnathan and Sioux the cold blue 'Axe-man look'. 'You two have got to get this season together.'

He slumped and sat back. 'I'll get up there as soon as I can. . . '

Johnathan jumped in. 'Both of you just chill out! I got this!'

Andy held Johnathan's dark determined eyes with his knowing crystal blue, and stated the hard truth. 'Shut up and face it. You're gonna need her.'

Sioux

Just because Andy had summoned up his inner hard-ass and stated the truth, didn't mean Johnathan was okay with it. But she was going and would be ready. . mind, spirit, soul and body. Especially body. The next day she was in the basement gym, an hour into the daily four hour workout she had designed to get ready for the season. She had completed a hard seven mile run and was now, as Pat Benatar blasted, hitting the speed bag like a champion featherweight boxer.

With a sigh, Johnathan rose where he had sat and watched from the stairs and sought out Jimmy Sue.

What the fuck!' He groaned as he sat down at the kitchen table. 'She's training like she's freakin' Rocky gettin' ready to fight Apollo Creed!'

Jimmy Sue placed a cup of coffee in front of him, blew out a stream of smoke and got in his shit. 'Wouldn't hurt your panty-ass to bust a sweat.'

He waved her off.

'No, I'm serious!' Jimmy Sue grinned with malevolent glee. 'You know get in fighting shape before you go out to do manly battle and all.'

'Ya see this!' Johnathan pointed to his head. 'It's all in here. Thirty years of crab fishin' expertise. That's all I need.'

Jimmy Sue blew out another plume and grinned. 'Then my precious, that's all you need to sit on your ass and drive the boat. And when you need some extra muscle you got Sioux. How sweet is that?'

'Arghhhh!' He growled.

'Jimmy Sue!' Andy yelled from the dining room where he worked on permits and accounting. 'Quit fuckin' with him! John, come look at these numbers. I got a Plan B if we got to fish the baradai quota if opies suck.'

Johnathan shot her an extra evil look and went to check out the numbers Andy was working on.

Johnathan

Sioux bounced up the stairs wiping her face and arms with a sodden towel. Johnathan couldn't help but stare entranced. She was so hot in her workout wear; some layered sleeveless tees now dark with sweat, spandex shorts that hugged her toned thighs and ass and well broken in running shoes. She had always kept herself in shape, but the vigorous workouts would further tone and define every sleek muscle on her body. It was a cryin' shame he thought, that she started her regime yesterday and collapsed exhausted into bed last night at eight, slept like the dead, and was back up at six a.m. to start all over again. At this rate he wasn't going to get laid again until April! He'd be damned if he wasn't gonna figure out someway get a little sumthin-sumthin off her tonight.

Lita

Even though Andy wasn't going fishing at the start of the season, he had thrown himself into the planning and readying, and they talked but hadn't seen each other for a two whole days. She called Dawne to bitch.

'Damn! We talk, but I haven't seen him and you know I'm missing him big time meja, you know what I mean? Who knew this going, or not going crab fishin' was like planning the invasion of Dunkirk? He's not going until February at the earliest, so what's the deal?'

Dawne, the niece of fishermen explained. 'Lita. Andy's boat, his brothers, and their men are facing months at sea in some of the worst conditions known to man or beast. Remember, his profession is the deadliest on the planet. Of course he wants to prepare them the best he can. Especially since he won't be with them when they head out.'

Lita was thoughtful. 'You know, he told me his 'issue' was fishing, but I never really thought about what it meant. It's been. . .pretty intense since we met. . .you know?'

Dawne sighed. 'Yeah, I feel you, but on land? That's not who, and what he is. The reality of loving these men is separation. Long separations. For months at a time. I'll lose Edgar for months, even though it won't be during opie season. You saw them at the 'Deadliest Poker Game'. These men are not your 'average bears'. They have to be smarter and tougher mentally and physically to survive each and every day they are out there. The closer they get to the edge the more they're alive.'

Lita shivered as Dawne continued. 'Any weakness or failure to stay focused and alert could kill them in a second. You're used to men who have offices in buildings and come home at some point. These men have offices, but their offices are their boats, out on the deadly Bering Sea in Northwest bumfuck Alaska weeks and months at a time.'

Lita groaned. 'It's only been two days and I'm going crazy here! I miss my big cavacho (white boy) so much. Used to be I prayed for a man who was gone more than he was around. Andy? I want him 24/7! Why can't I catch a freakin' break with men?'

Dawne felt her pain. 'I feel you, but let's be real here. We both have lives and careers we've built and love. You wanna go hang out for months in some Alaska nowhere outpost waiting for him? Do you think that's what he's looking for?'

Lita pouted into her phone. 'Baby you don't understand. . .'

Dawne chuckled and called her out. 'Oh, I understand just fine. But you gotta get clear and stop thinking with your vajayjay gurl!'

Dawne had shot her shit and Lita sputtered and howled. 'I hear you, but my vajayjay ain't never been this happy! Ever! This Andy Hillstrand is gonna be the death of me! Dios Mio! I swear!'