Hey ya'll. So this is my first story in a longggg time lol. so be gentle lol. I love Deadliest Catch and hopefully you'll love the story.

First Chapter coming at ya!

It was the first day of opie season. In a gracious gesture of good fortune, the bering sea was calm almost to the point of serenity, the sky was summertime blue and most importantly the forcast was optimistic. Onboard the Cornelia Marie, deckhands were loading bait and arranging pots, with smiles and jokes in abundance. The weather and the promise of the next profitable season had everyone one in high spirits none more so than Captain Phil who was counting his blessings to merely be on his beloved boat again after his brush with death the previous opie season.

He surveyed the busy deck once again from his rightful place in the captain's chair, smiling briefly at the sight of Freddy and his eldest son Josh laughing at the expense of Dave who had uncharacteristically missed the bait-cod thrown his way and now stood with fish juice dripping off his front.

"I don't know Dave, this might be some sort of bad omen for you on this trip!" Josh chortled as he playfully slapped his shoulder.

"Or maybe it's just an indication of how bad a thrower you are," Dave replied sullenly as he attempted to wipe fish guts off his rain gear.

Phil smiled to himself again as he re-checked his planned route while sipping a bottled water-- one aspect of his new health regime that he had strived to follow through with.

"Now if only I can give up smoking..." he muttered to himself as he turned to once again to gaze at his deck.

He mentally counted his deckhands realizing that someone was missing in action. Someone who too often found ways to elude the dirtywork that every ship depended on.

"Dammit Jake..." Phil cursed as he reached for his intercom radio. "Where the hell is Jake?" he growled while his good mood quickly faded.

Josh shrugged as he faced his Dad in the wheelhouse and the rest of the crew seemed just as clueless.

"He went to the head, but that was a while ago," shouted Josh so his father could hear him.

Phil let out an angry sigh as he heaved himself up from his chair and pounded down the stairs to the galley. If Jake was down there sleeping, smoking or eating he swore he was going to throttle him.

"Jake!" Phil called. "Where the hell are you?"

A quick survey of the area revealed that Jake was neither in bed or in the kitchen. Just as Phil's blood pressure threatened to sky-rocket he heard the muffled sound of a toilet flushing and Jake appeared around the corner.

"How fucking long have you been in there?" Phil heatedly questioned his son.

"Sorry," Jake mumbled while turning to head back outside.

The one word answer without Jake's characteristic back-talking or amusing remarks, left Phil puzzled. And his son had looked awful pale. Phil followed Jake onto the deck.

"Jake, come here."

"Yeah Dad?"

"Are you sick? And I want a one-word answer, yes or no will do." Phil directed.

"I..." Jake began.

"Jake... yes or no." Phil ordered.

"It's just a cold," Jake quickly spat out before his Dad could stop him again.

"Dammit Jake, if you were puking your guts out before we even leave the dock, how the hell do you think you're gonna do in 20 foot waves?" Phil lectured. "I need a full crew and if you can't do the job, then I need to find someone who can."

Jake stood silent fighting the already familiar taste of bile and the need to throw-up once again. Realizing that this would not be the most opportune time, he bit the inside of his cheek until the nausea had passed. Jake was hurt by his father's harsh words but knew now was not the time to wallow in self-pity. His Dad wanted affirmation that he could work, a sign that he did only have a bad cold and could stick it out. So he fought the trembling that was coursing through his arms and legs, pulled himself together, and stood up straight.

"I'm fine," Jake replied slowly and forced himself to smile-- a mere shadow of his true charismatic beam but it would pass. "And you know that me sick would still be forty times better than anyone else you could find that was healthy."

This comment forced a relieved laugh from Phil. He wanted to believe that Jake was truly fine and so hearing it from his son allowed him to do so and he pushed any wary doubts he had earlier into the back of his mind.

"Alright then, get to work." he said as he gently punched his youngest son on the arm.

As his Dad headed back to the wheelhouse, Jake turned to help with the bait, feeling his false smile slide easily from his face. "Fuck me," he muttered to himself as he felt another intense wave of nausea threaten to overtake him. He grabbed quickly for the side of the bin he was next to and managed to hold himself up as his stomach turned itself over.

From across the deck, Josh watched his brother in distress obvious only to him who knew him best. "Oh fuck," he mumbled.

"What was that?" said Murray as he passed behind Josh.

"Oh nothing," Josh replied attempting to smile and mostly failing. "I hope it's nothing," Josh repeated to himself as he darkly watched his little brother struggle to stand upright again and continue with his work.

I'd love for you to Review!!