Author's Note: The name of the girl and the boat came from "The Perfect Storm" book. Just FYI…and I named one of the other characters Ashley for my Ashley friends in the forum!! : )

Chapter 1:Chris Cotter

"Are you going to keep whining or are you going to shut up and do you job?" shouted a very irate woman.

She was leaning out the wheelhouse window and practically cursing out one of her deckhands. She was a greenhorn captain on a brand new boat about to head out into the Bering Sea for the Opillio crab season. She grew up fishing with her dad in North Carolina in the Atlantic Ocean and dreamed of one day joining the Bering Sea fleet. Her dream had come true a few years later when a boat owner offered to sell her his boat. With her father's help, they took out a loan and purchased the vessel.

The Hannah Boden was a one-hundred and twenty eight foot, house-forward fishing vessel. It was a deep, almost burgundy red and had black trim. She was a pretty boat sitting amongst the more worn and beaten Bering Sea vessels and she caught quite a bit of attention. Although the attention wasn't so much due to the fact that she was a new vessel, but that her captain was a woman and so was half of her crew.

"Ashley, are you listening to me?" snapped Chris as she brushed her long, straight black hair out of her eyes.

Ashley rolled her eyes and exchanged a look with her friend, Billy.

"You'd better answer her," laughed Billy, "She'll drop you like an overdone turkey if you don't!"

Daniel nodded in agreement as he and the other two deckhands, Carter and Sasha, appeared.

"Yeah, girl answer the woman before she beats us all to death!" he said with a laugh.

Ashley muttered something under her breath before she raised her voice so her captain could hear her.

"I'm doing my job!" she yelled, anger in her voice.

"Then stop moaning to the rest of your crew!" retorted Chris, "I'm not putting up with that crap! You'll be on bait duty till the day you die if you don't knock it off!"

Chris slammed her wheelhouse window shut and grumbled angrily to herself. She was stressed beyond words and was beginning to wonder if this was such a good idea after all. Most of her crew was experienced and knew what they were doing. Ashley was the only true greenhorn, although technically they all were at this point. The Hannah Boden had never been out to sea before so anyone on her was a greenhorn to the boat, herself.

With another sigh, Chris decided to head into town for a drink or two. She could use some time away from the boat. They had one week left till the season started and she had a lot of work to do between now and then, but she also could use a break.

"Watch the boat while I'm gone, Billy," she said as she jumped onto the dock.

Billy was the senior deckhand and the most experienced. He had been on three other boats in his past and had a calm and cheerful disposition, much unlike her own. She knew from the day she met him that he would make a great deck boss.

"Aye aye captain!" he said as he saluted, trying to get a laugh out of their tightly wound captain.

"Ha ha very funny," said Chris with a smirk as she turned to leave.



The amusement in her brilliant blue eyes was satisfactory for Billy. He smiled and turned back to face his crew.

"Alright, you heard the lady! Billy's the boss now, so you ladies better start haulin'…"

…

Chris opened the door to the Elbow Room and was surprised to find it rather quiet and empty. Only two people were in the bar, one being Danni the Elbow Room's owner. The other was a young man around her age, sitting in the far corner with a despairing look in his eyes.

"Hey Chris," greeted Danni, "How's it going?"

Chris sighed, "Not good."

"The other captains' not getting along with you still?"

Chris grimaced at that. Since the day she arrived two weeks ago, not a single Bering Sea captain had approached her. Instead they kept her at a distance and gave her disapproving looks. It was obvious to her how they felt about a woman being captain of a fishing boat.

"I'm pretty sure they all hate my guts," replied Chris as she sank onto a bar stool.

"Well it could be worse," muttered Danni as she cast a swift look in the young man's direction.

Chris followed her line of sight and gazed at the man.

"What's up with him?" she asked quietly.

"The Northwestern lost one of their crew members a few days ago," said Danni, a deeply sad look entering her eyes, "Jake Anderson fell off a stack of pots. They think his head hit the dock on his way down…that's why he didn't call for help. No one noticed he was gone until Sig Hansen's youngest brother saw Jake…he went in after him but it was too late."

Chris shook her head in despair. She couldn't imagine what that must feel like…to lose a deckhand like that.

"So I'm assuming he's one of the crew?" she asked.

"He's Sig's son."

Chris' eyes grew wide with astonishment.

"Sig Hansen's son?" she asked, "Are you serious?"

Danni nodded, "Yeah…he's not doing so well. He's been coming in here every day since the accident."

Chris glanced back over at the young man. He was quite handsome…he obviously took after his father. He had blonde, slightly wavy hair and crystal blue eyes.

"Maybe he needs someone to talk to," murmured Chris as she stood up and walked over to him.

Griffin looked up when he saw the woman walking towards him. He had seen her come in and was rather taken by her. She had beautiful long, dark hair, nice figure, and cutting blue eyes. She looked every bit as tough as the guys he worked with.



He watched as she sat down in the seat across from him.

"Hi," she said as she gazed at him.

"Hi," he muttered.

"I'm Chris Cotter…captain of the Hannah Boden. I'm sure you've heard about me," she said with a glint of resentment in her eyes, "It seems like I'm the talk of the town."

Griffin gave her a sad smile.

"Yeah…Dad doesn't like you too much. He says women shouldn't be skippers."

"Oh really?" asked Chris, eyes flashing slightly.

Griffin smirked a little, "Yeah but I don't agree with him."

Chris raised an eyebrow, "Is that so?"

"You look like you could handle just about anything."

Chris smiled, "Yeah we'll see about that I guess…thanks."

"For what?"

"For at least having a little faith in me…its more than anyone else has given me."

Griffin smiled slightly as he felt a warm feeling growing inside of him. This woman was beautiful and there was something else about her that got to him.

"So…how are you holding up?"

Chris almost regretted the question when she saw the look on Griffin's face. He glanced away and swallowed.

"Oh…you heard I guess…um, not too good to be honest. Jake…was a good friend and a great deckhand. Edgar's taking it badly."

"Edgar?"

"Edgar Hansen…my dad's youngest brother and my uncle."

Chris nodded, "I'm so sorry to hear that. Things like that shouldn't happen to people."

Griffin glanced up at her and nodded, "Yeah…that's what I said. I've been more angry than upset…my dad's worried about me. He says I'm not acting right and if I can't get myself together then I can't go out for Opie season."

"Anger's a natural reaction for some people," said Chris, "It's actually kind of healthy to feel angry about it. I know I'd be cursing and hitting things left and right if I was in your position. I guess it's a Norwegian thing, huh?"

"You're Norwegian?" asked Griffin in surprise.

"Yeah…I don't look it, I know. But I'm Norwegian, one hundred percent!"



Griffin smiled and nodded, "Oh I see it now…you have that Norwegian attitude."

"What's that supposed to mean?" exclaimed Chris.

Griffin laughed and leaned back in his chair.

Danni looked up when she heard Griffin laughing. She smiled to herself as she watched them interact with one another. No one had gotten Griffin to talk much or even smile but this woman was making him open up and laugh.

"Told you!" said Griffin, "You're a fighter…I can see it in your eyes and hear it in your voice."

Chris narrowed her eyes and crossed her arms over her chest as she leaned back in her chair, causing Griffin to laugh more.

"Aw, now don't get all offended," he said as he leaned forward, "I'm sorry…I was just playing."

Chris smirked, "Yeah I know. You're Norwegian too…and you're a Hansen. I know how you are."

Just then, the door opened and Sig Hansen strolled into the Elbow Room. He glanced around and relaxed when he saw Griffin.

"I've been looking everywhere for you!" he exclaimed.

"Dad I come here everyday," muttered Griffin.

Sig suddenly noticed Chris. He froze in mid-step and gave her a hard stare.

Chris narrowed her eyes and stood up.

"Guess that's my queue to leave," she said with an edge to her voice.

She turned around and glanced at Griffin.

"Nice talking to you. I'll see you around."

"No…I don't think you will," said Sig as he stepped in front of her.

Chris glared at the older Norwegian captain.

"And why not?" she demanded.

"Come on Griffin," said Sig, not acknowledging her question, "Let's go."

Chris watched them leave, a feeling of anger and hurt rising in her chest.

Griffin mouthed the words: I'm sorry as he walked out of the building.

Chris hit the table and stormed out the other entrance, suddenly feeling the need for a long walk down the docks…

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