Running down the dark docks, Maria's heart hammered against her chest. Eyes wide with fear scanned the boats lined up at the wooden quays, looking for a likely place to climb aboard and hide. She paused long enough to settle on the blue-trimmed white vessel before raised voices caught her ear. With a mouthed curse, Maria scrambled to get aboard before they found her. Heart in her throat, she held her breath as the galley hatch opened beneath her hand and she slid into the dark interior. In the feeble light thrown off by her cheap lighter, she quickly scanned the area for a place to hide.

A sudden weight on her shoulder sent the lighter clattering to the floor and a scream died in her throat as she was twirled around to face a red-faced blond man. Panic filled her mind and she flinched as the blond gave her a rough shake.

"What the fuck do you think you're doing on my boat?!" Maria tried jerking away from him, but his grip was strong and her shoulder began to throb in pain.

"I-I needed a place to hide! I was scared and…" Maria's voice died into a whimper as the man yelled.

"NOT MY BOAT!! Not after that shit you pulled with my brother!!!" A tear rolled down Maria's cheek as he verbally vented his frustrations on the frightened twenty-year old.

"I-I didn't know he was your brother, C-Capitan! I'm sorry it h-happened to him, but- but he should have listened to me and walked away!" Sig's eyes flashed dangerously as Maria wrenched her shoulder from his grip, his fists clenching as he tried to control his rage.

"You're sorry?! Your friends put my brother in the fucking hospital and you're fucking SORRY?! BULLSHIT!!" A voice spoke softly from behind the skipper and Sig's features twitched in a mask of rage as he took a deep breath and nodded his agreement. A brown haired man came around Sig and took Maria by the arm. When she jerked her arm free, the man gave her a stern look and she allowed him to lead her out the way she first came in only moments before.

From the small group of men waiting on the dock below, a young man in his mid-twenties stepped forward and shouted at Maria in Spanish, who responded tensely. The man below violently spat out a final vehement response that left her trembling and stormed away with his four followers close on his heels. When the man next to her cleared his throat, Maria flinched and took a step away. Swallowing hard, she opened her mouth to translate but paused when he held up a hand and shook his head.

"I understood enough, and I don't want to know anything further. But I want to show you why my brother freaked out."

Momentarily hesitating when Norman climbed into his pickup, she finally slid in as he leaned across the cab to push open the passenger door with an annoyed look on his face. The drive to the hospital was silent and Maria pressed herself against the door and stared blankly ahead as she anxiously fidgeted with the ragged ends of her long black hair. The dim dashboard lights illuminated her face and Norman shook his head slightly as he glanced at her from the corner of his eye. She seemed oblivious to the fact that her clothes were stained with his brother's blood, her hands covered with the drying sticky liquid.

Walking into the waiting room, Norman took Maria's wrist in his hand and gently led her through the corridors until they reached the room where Edgar lay. Pausing at the door to open it, Norman looked back at Maria and his face set firmly as she shook her head. Tears streamed down her cheeks as she tried pulling her wrist free from the fisherman's grip. The blonde woman sitting next to the prone man looked up at the struggling Maria and her pretty features twisted in anger.

"He said that your brother and his friends did this to him while you just stood by and watched." Maria squeezed her eyes shut and pressed a hand over her mouth as she stood just inside the door; her conscience forcing a nodded confirmation while her mind screamed that the woman lied. Through the shock she smelled the sharp tang of blood and she gagged. Finally wrenching her wrist from Norman's hand, she staggered to the tiny bathroom and slammed the door behind her.

Slowly crossing the room, Norman sat in the chair opposite Louise and took Edgar's weakly offered hand in a gentle shake. He followed Edgar's heavy-lidded stare at the door where the sounds of Maria's vomiting subsided and spoke softly.

"Her brother and his friends were waiting for her at the boat. Apparently he's not too happy she decided to call the police, and even more pissed that she grew a conscience and stayed until the ambulance arrived."

"But she's still responsible for nearly killing Edgar." Louise had resumed her hold on Edgar's hand, anger replaced by frustrated grief. Norman shrugged, and summed up what he understood from the exchange earlier on the boat.

"Sig's even more pissed because we're already behind schedule as it is and now with Edgar out of commission…he's looking at working a four man crew or hiring on a half-assed greenhorn who isn't worth the time and effort of training." He snorted at Edgar's tired lopsided grin.

"Yeah, keep laughing Bud. I'm the one who's gonna have to train the sorry bastard Sig hires…if he hires anyone." Edgar's voice rasped as he answered.

"Look at this way…you just got promoted!" Norman cracked a sad smile as he shook his head.

"Fuck the promotion…I want my brother back." Silence fell as the tap water ran shortly before Maria emerged from the bathroom looking less sickly, even if her skin had an ashen tone to it. Sliding to the floor, she stared at her trembling hands; cleaned of blood, she held them away from herself as though they were dripping the crimson liquid.

"What do I do? I-I told the lady at nine one one what happened…and stayed with him until help got there…but Mauricio said…" Maria swallowed hard against the rising panic and wiped her hands over her dirty jeans.

Footsteps echoed up the hallway and stopped in the door. Maria looked up at the police officer; a simple nod confirmed his question of identification and, with a last regretful glance over her shoulder at the three Hansens, she allowed the officer to lead her from the hospital to the waiting squad car.

For a long while after Maria left, silence hung heavy in the room as Edgar slipped once again into a painless darkness. Louise hugged herself tight with one arm as her hand remained cradled in his, and Norman sat staring at the open door, lost in thought.

Louise's gentle shaking pulled Norman from a doze and he blinked owlishly around him before recognition settled in. Louise repeated herself twice before Norman could register her words.

"You said you were there when her brother yelled at her…what did he say that had her so upset?" Norman scrubbed a hand wearily over face and stretched before he answered.

"He said, 'You're the walking dead.'"

****

A/N: Welcome to my third story based off the real life men and women of the F/V Northwestern. I've been putting a little more thought into this one than the second one, but it's quite a bit different than both previous stories. As I'm getting ready to take a break between seasons, along with a wonky new work schedule, please bear with me on this new story. Constructive criticisms and reviews are most welcome, and I hope you enjoy. Thanks for reading.


Story Copyright Alissa Franko 2009