AN: First Deadliest Catch fanfic. I really hope you all enjoy it!
The men of the Northwestern were on deck prepping her for King Crab launch, while Sig and Edgar were in the wheel house going over strategy. The normally deafening noise came to an abrupt halt which caught the brother's attention. Both of their heads shot up and towards deck. Over the stack they could just make out two Alaskan state troopers and a woman in a business suit.
"You've got to be kidding me," mumbled Sig under his breath.
He and Edgar jumped down the stairs from the wheelhouse and loped over to the rail where the rest of the crew was gathered.
"I need to speak with a," the lady in the business suit paused to look at her paperwork, "Norman Hansen."
Everyone's gaze swung to Norman, the quietest and most even tempered member on board, and then back to the state troopers. Everyone shifted slightly, and squared their shoulders, looking ready for a fight.
Sig and Edgar shared a brief look before stepping forward, slightly blocking Norman, who for his part had stepped slightly forward, but remained silent at the look Sig shot him.
"Now just what the hell is this all about, lady" Sig questioned in his normal psycho Sig voice.
The woman cleared her throat and nodded to the troopers, one of whom nodded back and stepped back towards the black SUV behind them.
"This may come as a shock, so I'd really prefer to have this conversation in private with Mr. Hansen." The woman said in a professional voice.
Edgar nodded to the rest of the crew, who for their parts backed down and returned to work.
"Well lady, we're all Mr. Hansen here, anything you need to say to him, you can sure as hell say to us." Sig said with a mild glare in her direction.
"Yes, well be that as it may, I'll need confirmations from Norman Hansen that it's okay for you gentleman to be here."
Norman quietly stepped up and nodded, "Ya, it's fine."
"Okay, let me begin. I'm sorry to inform you of this Mr. Hansen, but Madeline Holms has passed away."
Norman furrowed his brow in concentration, while Sig and Edgar shot him curious looks.
"Alright…well thanks for letting me know, I guess," Norman replied uncomfortably. The name was vaguely familiar.
"No, Mr. Hansen, you don't seem to understand. In the event of Ms. Holms passing, you became the only living relative of Lucy Holms."
"But, I'm not related to Madeline Holms, I think you've got this messed up somehow." Norman replied looking thoroughly confused.
"Mr. Hansen, Lucy is your daughter. You have become her only living relative. Now, as she's a minor, she is now your responsibility."
All the color drained from Norman's face as Sig and Edgar wheeled around on him, both talking at the same time and not making any sense to Norman's overworked brain.
"Now she's been in a group home for the last three months, as we couldn't get a hold of you. If you choose not to accept her then she will be sent back there." The lady interrupted the Hansen's argument.
The brother's all quieted down and shared a silent conversation. They'd watched TV; they knew exactly what happened in those homes.
"Fuck, no, we'll take care of her." Sig said in a voice laced with resignation.
Norman nodded and stepped forward, "I'll take care of her. When will she be here?"
The woman looked relieved and gestured behind her for someone to step forward. A petite girl with light blond hair down the middle of her back stepped forward with the trooper that had gone to the car. She was looking down with her hair covering her face, but when she looked up there was really no doubt she was a Hansen.
She had the same fair coloring as Sig, and when she locked eyes on Norman, his breath was knocked from him at the sight of her ice blue eyes that all the Hansen's shared. She looked exactly like the pictures of his mother in the family album from her wedding to their dad.
His throat closed up, he told himself it was from panic, but if he was being honest it was him being overwhelmed by emotion.
"Well, Mr. Hansen, it seems we have some paperwork to sign. If you wouldn't mind joining me up here we can settle everything and you can begin getting acquainted with your daughter."
At the word daughter, both Norman and Lucy's cheeks pinked and the broke eye contact. Lucy just stood quietly by the woman as she led them both over to the SUV to sign a million papers.
On deck Sig and Edgar were engaged in a quiet argument over what this would mean for the boat. Louise had just had another baby, and wouldn't be able to take on another kid without him there to help, and June was in Norway with Sig's kids for the next month.
"I hope to fuck that the fact that she's a Hansen outweighs that she's a woman. Or else this fucking boat will sink from the power of dad rolling over in his grave." Sig said in a frustrated tone.
Edgar tried to smooth things over, "I'm sure it'll be alright. We have to do this for Norman. Did you see her? She's fucking tiny; she can't go back to a group home. She's fucking family."
"I know, that's why I'm breaking every fishing rule I've ever had and letting her on the boat."
A half an hour later, all was signed and officially Norman was Lucy's guardian. As she would be eighteen in nine months, the woman didn't expect him to have a surprise visit from CPS, but told him to be prepared for it anyway.
The trooper handed Norman one suitcase and then they got in the SUV and drove away. Norman looked at the suitcase and then to Lucy, "Uhm, you can't bring this on board."
Lucy's eyes shot to him, "Why not? That's all I have…" her voice broke slightly at the end.
Norman panicked, "No, I mean you can bring whatever's in it, but not suitcases on board."
Lucy didn't ask questions, just nodded and bent to open the suitcase. She began scooping the contents into her arms. Norman saw that it was mostly jeans, many with designer holes in them and thin t-shirts. His cheeks heated at the sight of her undergarments and he quickly looked away.
Edgar bounded up onto the dock and looked at his new niece and what she had clutched in her arms. He placed an arm on her shoulder comfortingly and hollered over the deck for Jake to bring up a bag. Jake quickly scrambled over the edge with a plastic grocery bag in hand.
His breath caught at the vision before him. A beautiful woman was standing there; looking tiny between the youngest Hansen brothers' clutching clothes. He caught a flash of black lace and his mouth went dry.
Edgar followed his line of vision and rolled his eyes heavenward before fixing him with a hard stare, "Don't even think about it Junior."
Jake snapped his gaze from Edgar and shoved the bag in Norman's hands before scaling back over the side of the boat.
"Well honey, as cute as I'm sure your wardrobe is, we're gonna have to go get you some warmer clothes quick before we launch." Edgar said with a reassuring squeeze.
Lucy looked at him slightly horrified, "Launch?"
Edgar looked at her and back at Norman, "Ya didn't Norman…never mind. You're going to have to come out on the boat with us. There's no one else to take care of you right now and we can't afford not to go out."
Lucy swallowed back tears and nodded, looking down and hiding her face. She couldn't believe this. She lost her mother three months ago and spent the rest of her time in an overrun group home. Now she was going out to see with her father who had said less than ten words to her, and a bunch of men she didn't know.
Edgar looked at Norman over Lucy's bent head. Norman was sending him a helpless and pleading look. Edgar heaved a sigh and started putting the girl's clothes in the bag. He shoved it at Norman.
"Alright kiddo, let's you and me head to the trading post. Your dad will put your stuff on the boat." Edgar said as he began to steer her away from the boat.
Lucy looked up at Edgar with startled eyes and back at Norman. Her sad stare sent him into action.
"Uhm here, just get whatever you need." He said as he shoved his credit card into her hands. She nodded quietly and shoved it into her back pocket.
Edgar kept his arm around her the entire way to the store and talked incessantly about his wife and kids, and Sig, basically the whole family. It was like he was trying to give her their entire family history in the ten minute walk.
When they entered the store Edgar announced to the sales lady that he needed to outfit his niece in everything a woman would need to go out on a boat, and in a hurry. She looked a bit flustered but took a long look at Lucy, guessing her size before fluttering around the store throwing things into a huge duffle bag.
They got to the counter twenty minutes later and Lucy's eyes bulged at the total. Edgar just patted her comfortingly and told her to give the woman Norman's card. She felt really guilty, but Edgar assured her that that's the total that Norman would be expecting.
They arrived back at the boat and Lucy just stared as Edgar jumped over the side and landed on deck. At 5'2 she had no idea how she was supposed to manage the jump. Edgar had his arms full of her duffle when Jake stepped up. He reached his arms up to her and she looked hesitant before he nodded with a reassuring smile.
She leaned down and placed her hands on his shoulders and he lifted her down into the boat. They locked eyes for a second before both looked away and blushed. Jake heard Edgar mutter an 'Aw hell' behind them and quickly let her go and walked away.
Lucy stared after him before Edgar caught her attention and led her below deck. He put her bag in his and Norman's room, explaining that they'd figure out sleeping arrangements later. Next he led her up to the wheelhouse to meet Sig.
When they entered the conversation stopped immediately. Lucy looked between Sig and Norman uncomfortably, it was clear they had been talking about her. Sig kept his eyes locked on Norman for a moment before turning to Lucy and sticking out his hand.
"I'm Sig; I'm the captain, which means I'm in charge of making sure you're safe. So, just listen to me and everything will go great. Now, do you cook?"
"Uhm yes? I mean I know how." Lucy said, taken slightly aback by Sig's abrupt nature.
"Wonderful. You're now executive chef on this fine marine vessel." Sig said with a straight face. Edgar burst out laughing, and Norman shot Sig a glare.
"You don't have to cook for us if you don't want to…"Norman trailed off without really looking at her.
"No, no, it's fine. I want to earn my keep." Lucy said with a stubborn set to her chin.
Edgar clapped her on the back and pulled her to him, ruffling her hair, "Yup, for sure a Hansen."
Lucy gave him a tiny smile and looked down to cover her face with her hair.
"Matt already got all the food and it's down in storage and the galley, you can take a look if you'd like. We're going to set sail at 12:01 tonight." Sig said, not really leaving room for discussion. Lucy nodded and headed downstairs.
The three brothers' were left in the wheelhouse. Edgar and Sig turned to Norman, "Well, this is certainly an interesting development," Sig said, stating the obvious.
Norman nodded, "I had no idea she even existed," he said, answering the unasked question.
Edgar put a hand on his shoulder, "We know dude. You would've been there. Don't feel guilty now." Edgar stated trying to head off what he was sure to be the beginnings of Norman's silent inner turmoil.
"Do you think she knows? I mean do you think she thinks that I just abandoned her?"
"You could tell her man," Sig stated, trying to encourage some communication between the father and daughter. Norman just shrugged before lighting a cigarette and heading down to the deck.
Please review, and let me know if you think I should continue! xoxo
