Disclaimer: ABC and Discovery created the characters and the show. Some ideas have come from both. I'm just having fun with my own little idea of the hybrid.
Authors Note: This chapter (aside from the last few pages) was a pain in my ass. BUT... FINALLY THEY MEET!
Chapter 3
Jason stepped out of the airport and immediately felt the humidity as well as the energy in the air. New Orleans was a fishing town, much like Dutch Harbor but it was more than that. It had an eclectic feel.
After being in Alaska for the past few months, the nearly eighty degree weather was a welcomed change. Late April in Alaska was still filled with twenty degree temperatures and snow covering the ground. He was used to the weather. After years of being on the Bearing Sea, he didn't even feel the cold. Or so it would seem, but warm sun and no need for a jacket was soothing to his body.
New Orleans was going to be exactly what Diane Miller had suggested. A mini vacation in the warm climate for a week. Or possibly two. Francis and Johnny were talking about going over to the casino's in Bilouxi and he had to admit, it sounded like fun.
He wasn't a gambler but he could enjoy watching Johnny and Francis lose their asses in cards. Besides, he was known to play a high stakes hand of five card on a rare occasion. And Johnny promised lots of beautiful women to occupy their time away from the card tables.
He looked around and noticed AJ headed over to a couple of stretch limo's waiting for them. Deadly Encounters was sparing no expense he guessed. His thoughts of the next few days caused him to scowl. He'd be spending his days with a fucking camera stuck in his face asking him to talk about his feelings.
Who the fuck cared about his feelings?
He noticed a beautiful young blond get out of the front of the limo with a clip board. His eyebrow went up. She was a cute little thing. He could probably flip her around his bed with ease. But after focusing in on her, she looked to be barely legal drinking age. He didn't care for girls that much younger than him. They tended to have no substance.
He laughed to himself and Francis elbowed him in the ribs when they both noticed that their friend, Johnny, seemed to have no problem sliding right up to her. Johnny didn't care if they were short, tall, blond, brunette, blue eyes, brown eyes. He really had no specific "look" that turned him on. If she had tits, she was golden and do-able.
Francis liked the smart women. He liked them to be quick witted and be able to match him, brain for brain. Mid forties was his range and he didn't stray out of it much. He was forty six and he wasn't interested in huge age differences to pose a challenge. He wanted someone that liked REO Speedwagon, knew what a record album looked like and didn't need pills to help them pee. And he always seemed to find a woman that exuded sexy in a nonchalant way. They didn't come right out and dress that way but Jason would study the women Francis tended to date and they were always that typical librarian that had a secret porn life type.
Except, of course, for the women he would bed simply to release the urges he had as a man. The girl last night at The No Name was one of his favorites. Apparently she never asked questions or even for dinner and drinks before hand. She would call him up or he call her and they'd meet at her apartment and two hours later he'd be done, calling Jason to see if he wanted to go get a beer. There was no specific look to those girls, much like Johnny, they simply needed to have the right equipment and attitude.
Jason on the other hand was slightly more selective. Not that he didn't have his one night stands. He did. Plenty of them. But he tended to like petite brunettes. The opposite of him with his large frame and blond hair. He liked them to be smart and adventurous. A little bit of a dare devil. And busy with their own lives because he didn't do clingy very well.
Which made him think of Courtney. Courtney was the opposite of everything he ever looked for in a woman. She was blond and clingy and wasn't really that smart. Adventurous to her was a shopping trip with Carly at Wyndams when there was a big sale going on. If he honestly thought hard about it, he wasn't really sure why he was with her at all.
Except that in Dutch Harbor, he wasn't much for bed hopping. Too many people knew too much of his business already. So Courtney somehow became convenient. And for the past year, she was convenient. But for the past few weeks, all of Opilio season, she was starting to annoy him. Even last night, when they'd had sex a couple of times, she wanted to lay there and talk.
He wanted her to leave so he could sleep.
But in her rambling, he discovered that she was ready to face her brother because she wanted a relationship with him.
A relationship.
When the hell did she ever get the idea from, 'Hey, you want to come up to my room after your shift?' that he was interested in a relationship?
He had never led her on. Sure they'd had breakfast together plenty of times but only at Jakes. No one would suspect anything from him coming down from his room in the morning and her being there and eating breakfast with him. Especially since she was Sonny's sister.
They had spent time together when at Sonny's. Sonny owned two houses. When he was fishing, his whole family was in Dutch Harbor. When they were off, his family went back east to live in New York where Sonny was from. So for him to hang out with her socially wasn't unheard of. However, he never led her to believe there was anything more than sex between them.
Admittedly though, the sex was pretty good. She was a pleaser. She wanted to make sure he had a smile on his face when she was through. Sometimes her satisfaction was an afterthought to her.
You gotta love a girl like that!
Jason felt guilty sometimes. It wasn't like him to be that way but he'd been burned so badly that he was still skittish. He knew he was over his ex-wife. Completely. However, he never wanted to feel that type of pain and humiliation again. He wasn't willing to put himself out there to chance feeling it. And if he was, Courtney Mathews would not have been someone he would have chosen.
But he didn't flat out say he wasn't interested. The dog in him still wanted the booty call so when she said something about taking vacation and coming out to stay with him, he told her it wouldn't be much fun for her. When she talked about telling her brother, he stated that now wouldn't be a good time because of Alan's death. When she asked if he'd take her to New Orleans he flat out stated NO but then stroked her hair and softened a bit and said he and the boys would be working and she'd have to spend most of the time alone.
That was enough to satisfy her. She really was so easy. Another thing he should probably feel guilty for. His soft voice and tender touch garnered him one hell of a blow job this morning so in the end, her staying the night was worth it, he guessed.
As long as she didn't make a habit of it, waking up to blow jobs could be a new perk.
AJ tugged on his brother's dufflebag and pulled him out of his thoughts. He looked up and smiled. Johnny already had the girl wrapped around his finger. The guy was smooth. He looked around and saw that everyone was already in the various limo's and it was just him and AJ waiting to get in.
"Hey man, where'd you go?" AJ teased his brother.
AJ had a hunch where his brother's mind was. He caught Courtney sneaking down the back stairs from the rooms above the bar and then ten seconds later Jason appeared at the stairs that led to the bar and restaurant wiping off a color of lipstick that perfectly matched Courtney's.
His brother's secret was pretty well kept but there were a few of them that knew. He just wished his brother would get rid of the idea that he'll never find someone he can trust again. Of course AJ didn't think it would be with Courtney though. She wasn't honestly his type. He knew Jason's heart was completely healed from the mangling it had taken but Jason wouldn't want a simpleton like Courtney. But he wished so much for his brother to let go and allow himself to find happiness. He just needed to put himself out there.
AJ was ready to settle down. He'd learned at the hands of the master how to play the field and sow his wild oats. But as he approached thirty he realized that he wanted stability and a family to come home to. He wanted to give his mother grandchildren and basically move to the next phase of his life. Sadly he lost his father but it jumpstarted his professional move to take over the business and the boat from the old man, now he wanted to make the change in his private life as well.
"Ehh, I was just thinking how warm it is down here." Jason covered.
He saw the look in his brother's eyes and knew his brother had an inkling that his thoughts were much deeper but now wasn't the time to get into it. Camera's were everywhere and he'd be damned if he let THEM in on his private thoughts. He was sick of the cameras already and if that kid Dillon wasn't as easy to get along with, they wouldn't get anything out of him at all. The other cameraman on the boat sure doesn't.
They climbed into the limo and Jason eyed the crew of The Susan Moore. Ray didn't come because Patrick knew Jason was firing him so no need to spend the money. Logan Hayes was also on the chopping block but the producers wanted to do it on camera because Logan was a popular character on the show. Jason didn't care. The guy was a threat to the boat and the crew but he didn't hate him. Why would he care if he got a free trip out of his termination. Personality wise the guy was okay but work wise he was dangerous. It's not like firing him on TV would change the fact that he didn't have a job on The Susan Moore come King Crab season.
He watched out the window as they moved quickly through the streets of New Orleans. It was a beautiful town. He'd been here a few times. He traveled a lot when he was in his early twenties and he remembered New Orleans had some beautiful spots to view the Gulf of Mexico.
Every once in a while one of the guys would pull his attention and he'd smile or nod his head in agreement but for the most part, he was stuck in his own thoughts. For the past three weeks on The Susan Moore he had been engulfed with memories. Memories of when times were better between him and Alan and memories of his mother.
And now he had to go and talk on camera about all of that.
It just wasn't his style.
He laughed to himself remembering what Dillon had told one of the producers on the phone.
'Good luck getting him to talk. You'd be better off gnawing your arm off.'
.~*~*~*~*~*~*~.
They pulled up to Ward House and from the outside it looked like an old run down building. There was fresh paint and the sidewalk was clean but the building itself looked a hundred years old. There were only two bay windows in the front and the street was narrow. The only indication you were actually at a popular hotspot in New Orleans was the Valet Parking sign up next to the door and the line of wooden benches down the sidewalk in front of the rest of the building.
Jason checked his watch, valet parking started in four hours. That was a good sign. That most likely meant that they would be done for the day by then. He waited for AJ, Logan, Roy and Cooper to climb out. He looked to his side and noticed Dillon was already filming him.
"You never quit do you kid?" Jason stated as he shoved his hands into his blue jean pockets and tipped back a bit in his motorcycle boots.
"Jason, all I'm supposed to do is film you. I mean how easy is that. I get paid to just film you doing interesting things that the world will want to see."
Dillon said all of that with a straight face and then waited the two beats it took for Jason to give him the "Stone Cold Glare". Then he crossed his eyes and put his forefinger to the side of his temple and used his thumb to pull the fake trigger.
That got a laugh out of the Captain and Jason patted him on the back. "They should probably pay you a bonus for putting up with me."
Dillon was shocked. He knew Jason didn't know he was ACTUALLY being paid more for dealing with "Captain Hook" but his guess was right on the money.
Jason walked into the bar and restaurant and looked around. He could see where, for filming purposes, two thirds of the bar was roped off. In the corner was a stage where a band was set up. The restaurant was busy with a lunch crowd. The kitchen was open and you could see the kitchen workers bustling inside there as the wait staff quickly moved around the restaurant. The bar split off the restaurant from the lounge. Jason immediately took notice of the few patrons at the bar or tall tables and the jukebox and pool table in the far corner. Dart machines and a pinball machine finished off the room.
Temporary lighting was set up and a large round table was being set for the day's filming. Jason had noticed a truck outside loaded with small cocktail tables and chairs. The large round table seemed out of place and he figured it was one of those "prop" things he'd heard AJ and Dillon talking about at breakfast.
Back behind the pool table was captains chairs set up for temporary makeup and hair stations. Jason had been warned about that. On the boat, they were just themselves but on this new program, they'd have their hair done and makeup put on. The guys had already been placing bets on whether Jason would allow hair and makeup done to himself. AJ had already offered him half of his winnings if he'd simply toss the makeup table and make the hair girl cry.
Once he got the lay of the room down and decided he really liked the place, Jason let out a sigh of relief. At least he wouldn't be uncomfortable with his surroundings. He took another look around, looking for exits and troublesome characters and headed toward the bar.
Johnny met him with a beer and a grin. "Did you see that chick in the limo? Man she's fucking hot!"
"Yeah, but she looked to be jail bait man." Francis slid up beside Jason and shook his head no to the bartender. As a Coast Guard representative, he'd have to drink AFTER the interviews.
"She's twenty three." Johnny said excitedly. "Her name's Maxie and she works as an assistant in production. She said her new boss was single also."
"So I take it you already have plans for tonight then." Jason said evenly. He knew it was possible it would be just him and Francis. Johnny was always the wild card.
Looking around the room and noticing quite a few females he wouldn't mind getting to know, Francis spoke up "So, who's her boss?"
"Oh, I don't know. Some Elizabeth chick." Johnny replied as he pulled on his beer.
Patrick came up and started talking to the three. "Hey, glad you guys could make it."
All three shook Patrick's hand and then Patrick checked his clipboard, "Okay, Francis…we're going to do the Coast Guard segment first. It will probably be kind of long but it's going to be broken up into a few shows."
"Okay, what do you need me to do?" Francis asked, tugging on his collar. He would have preferred to be in uniform but Patrick had insisted he wanted him dressed casually. A suite without the tie and coat was as casual as the Coast Guard was willing to let Francis get.
"Well, actually…you see that guy over there?" Patrick pointed at a man with a beret, a goatee, glasses and three pencils sticking out from behind his ears "That's one of our writers. He has your script. Get that and you can look over it while in hair and makeup."
Johnny laughed out loud and Jason choked a bit on his beer. Both silently thinking to themselves that they definitely needed pictures of Francis getting makeup put on his face and his hair styled. The guy was all military, all man and all about minimalism. Flex shampoo, a comb and the occasional chapstick was his idea of hair and makeup.
Johnny and Jason at least both used a face lotion for the harsh winds on the boat and hair gel in their hair.
Francis grumbled something incoherent under his breath but then curiosity got the best of him, "What do you mean script?"
Patrick, who was already focused on other happenings turned back to the three who now ALL had puzzled looks on their face. "Oh, well everything is scripted for topical purposes. Mac, that guy chewing on the ends of his reading glasses with the salt and pepper hair over there, he's going to keep you all on topic and flowing. He has specific questions he'll ask you and then you answer however you want."
Patrick smiled at Johnny and Jason who both breathed a sigh of relief. Then he looked at Francis and his face took on a serious note. "However, for you, The Coast Guard has already seen the script and sent in the proper responses on some of it. You can put it into your own words but they want to make sure you cite any regulations correctly. You can look over what will be asked and then refresh your memory on any regulations that apply. When we film, we'll check to see that your response stays accurate with what your bosses gave us. Your segment may need a few re-takes which is why we figured we'd start with your first."
"Oh, well that makes sense. But just so you know, I can recite the fucking Coast Guard Regulations verbatim." Francis' back stiffened and Patrick immediately put his hand up in surrender.
"I'm not questioning your knowledge. Actually, your boss told us the same thing. We just have an obligation to make sure that the public doesn't get any mis information from our show. It's a liability. Like if we were to say you need one life jacket for every two persons on board. It would be wrong but some family in Ohio would sue us because they didn't have enough life vests on their boat and Uncle George drowned." He noticed all three nod at that statement. "So we are extra careful with that stuff. But again, Mr. Correlli, we really want you casual and relaxed. We're aware of your friendships with many of the fishermen and we want to capitalize on that. We want your answers from you, not from the Regs book."
"Problem is Drake...Francis and the Regs book are one in the same." Jason commented and shoved his hands in his jeans pockets and walked off.
.~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~.
Jason roamed around as filming was happening. He wanted to stay as far away from all of it as he could. Besides, Dillon told him that they didn't want him seen on screen even if by accident until they introduced him. He had played a game of pool and eaten some dish the kitchen cooked called Trout Meuniere. It was really good.
He left his brother in the kitchen. Keisha Ward, one of the cooks and granddaughter of the family owned eatery's founder had captivated AJ and Jason couldn't sit and watch his brother drool over the woman any longer.
He wandered around outside, checking out his surroundings. As he turned a corner, he heard loud voices. A couple arguing. He looked up to see one of the cameramen, the one he kicked off of The Susan Moore the first day. Lucky was standing at the door of a Winnebago and pleading for someone inside to take him back. He promised to change. To focus on her. To be the man she wanted.
Honestly, to Jason, it just made him look like less of a man.
For some reason, he stayed at the corner watching the man plead his case. He laughed when he heard the woman tell Lucky the same thing he was thinking.
"Lucky, you CAN'T be the man I want. Look at you here begging me after all this time. It's been YEARS. This, right here, just makes you look like less than a man. You're a child. You're having a tantrum because you aren't getting what you want. Well...GROW UP!"
Jason watched as a hand snaked out of the Winnebago's doors and shoved Lucky backward. The kid nearly tripped causing Jason to have to cover his mouth with his hand to keep from laughing out loud.
Suddenly the woman attached to the hand appeared and Jason's jaw dropped.
She was GORGEOUS!
Stunning actually. Her profile parlayed her strong features. She had a strong jaw and pouting lips. Her hair cascaded in tendrils down her back. Big fat curls of chocolate that were sun kissed red. She was petite but he could see her strength in the tiny package. Her nose was tiny with a little slope turned up at the end. Her skin glowed in the afternoon sun.
"Lucky, I'm sick of having this same argument with you. We've been over for years. Right now, we HAVE to work together for the next few days. That's it. Get over it and aside from WORK, leave me alone!"
She turned and stalked off. Jason watched her walk away. Suddenly his admiration of her tripled. Every sway of her hips in her white knee length shorts and the click of her heels made his insides wake up and take notice. Her ass was PHENOMINAL!
Jason didn't realize it but his legs suddenly started moving forward. He looked to his right when he heard the cameraman yell after the woman. He realized he was now standing next to the guy.
"ELIZABETH WAIT! PLEASE?", Lucky yelled.
Jason pushed passed him, laughing at the look of fear on his face when he realized it was Jason walking past him. Apparently he wasn't over his physical removal from The Susan Moore. Jason DID laugh out loud at that.
Good, let the little shit be scared of him.
Yet the woman, Elizabeth, was drawing him to her. Jason couldn't help but continue after her.
His mind raced. She said she worked with Lucky. Could she be the Elizabeth that was producing this show? Surely she wasn't. She looked young. He was expecting someone older. This woman looked to be his sister's age.
Soon it was confirmed. She WAS the Elizabeth running The Captain's Table. He walked in the side door to Ward House a few yards behind Elizabeth. Immediately he noticed she was in a deep discussion with Patrick Drake pointing at something on Patrick's clipboard. She then pointed at the table.
Jason slid up to the bar, not noticing his two friends watching him. They'd never seen him so captivated by a woman. Sure the man could appreciate beauty and there was no denying that the brunette talking to Patrick Drake was beautiful but Jason's eyes hadn't left her since walking in the door.
Johnny slid up beside him. "Here, looks like you need something to cool you down."
He slid the full Stella Artois Lager in front of Jason. Jason's hand absentmindedly curling around the cool liquid. His eyes never leaving Elizabeth's form.
His crystal blue eyes took in the deep blue of hers. They sparkled. She enjoyed her job. He watched as she listened to Patrick and nibbled on her bottom lip in thought. It caused an instant reaction in his groin and he couldn't stop the slight groan that escaped his lips. His head followed her graceful arms as they pointed around the room and he swallowed thickly as she quickly pulled her hair up and twisted it into a messy bun and fastened it with a pencil. He let out a slow breath as he admired her graceful, swanlike neck...so smooth and creamy white.
He took a sip of his beer, enjoying the cool liquid as it went down.
"Okay, we need you guys in hair and makeup. Then we need to set lighting." Maxie's assistant said.
"Sure thing darlin" Johnny smiled. He brushed past Jason headed to the makeshift salon set up in the corner.
"Uh...that means you Captain Hoo...uhhh Mr. Morgan." Maxie corrected herself.
Jason didn't even hear her. He was focused in on the way Elizabeth's mouth, berry red and full, moved as she talked. She was now talking to a guy who looked very much like Diane's boyfriend, Max. He was younger and a little smaller in size but the resemblance was uncanny.
Suddenly fingers were snapping in front of his face.
"Yoohoo...can you please get your tight ass moving? We're on a strict schedule." Maxie finally managed to lure Captain Hook out of his trance but now his irritated look caused an uncomfortable shiver to go through her.
Sexy as he may be, he looked ready to kill her.
"What . Do . You . Want"
Stiffening her spine she jutted her chin up. She may be Mac's daughter but she was going to earn her place in this business on her own. She was tough and knew how to get the job done. She was now hooked up with Patrick Drake and Elizabeth Webber and she knew that now was NOT the time to fail.
"I . Said . Get . Your . Ass . In . The . Hair . And . Makeup . Chair . Now!"
Johnny doubled back and tugged at his friends arm. "Come on Jase, lets get this over with so we can go find some trouble later, New Orleans style."
He winked at the tight little blond bombshell he'd been hitting on since the airport. Hopefully the trouble he found tonight would include her, naked, under him.
Jason walked with his friend. Twenty minutes later they were sitting at the table with lights blaring down on them. He'd lost track of Elizabeth once they started spraying his hair and putting this thick pore clogging crap on his skin. He had to close his eyes as the hairspray started flying and since then, he hadn't caught sight of her.
Now, the little blond that Johnny insisted was his next conquest was pissing him off.
"I don't DRINK Coors Light. I drink Stella." He growled.
"You're GOING to drink Coors Light while you're sitting at this table." Maxie leaned in, hand on hip, nearly nose to nose with the gruff boat captain.
"Look..." Jason stopped talking when he heard her.
"Um...maybe we can come up with a sort of compromise." The melodic voice floated across the room and wrapped around Jason's ears, tickling them.
He couldn't see her but knew it was Elizabeth. Suddenly she stepped under the lights and Jason swore the glow around her made her look like an angel. He looked up and the tension faded. His piercing blue eyes captured hers and he suddenly felt at home. Her eyes were the color of the Bearing Sea, the deepest blue green you could ever find.
"Mr. Morgan, we have to have all of you guys drinking Coors Light. You could have a drink in a glass at the table. You know, like a rum and coke or like Mr. Paul, who doesn't drink alcohol, you can have a soda or something. However, Coors is one of our biggest advertisers for this show. I'd get in so much trouble if I allowed any other kind of beer shown." She tapped her pencil to her chin and Jason followed the movement. "BUT, maybe we could get a Coors Light beer glass and put your favorite beer in there."
She turned looking toward the bar then turned back, "That is if there aren't any other options you'd be okay with. I want you to be happy. That's what I'm here for."
Jason nodded his head in agreement. He couldn't form words at this point. She wanted him happy. That's why she's here. GOD how that made his mind race. The things she could do to make him happy.
"Okay, well we have the beer glasses with the Coors Light logo on them. Let's get you one with your favorite beer in it and then get another one that's empty." She walked around the table and stood next to him. His eyes following her every movement.
"Milo, get me an empty Coors Light bottle. We'll set that in front of him. No one will know the difference. Also, here..." she leaned over the table and with her pencil drew a little "X" in front of him to the right. "We'll do the product placement here."
Jason was fixated on her chest. She was wearing a green wrap around blouse and the swell of her breasts were peeking over the top of the material and were at the perfect eye level for him. Her breasts looked like they would fit perfectly in his hands.
He wanted to know if they did.
"Mr. Morgan...Jason?" Elizabeth's voice pulled him out of his dirty thoughts. "Would you be willing to do that for me?"
"Hmmm?" was all his throat would allow. He needed to swallow the drool that had pooled from him thinking of the sexy woman standing next to him. The hint of jasmine mixed with maybe lavender that wafted through the air each time she moved. The thoughts of running his fingers through her long silky locks and the taste of her alabaster skin on his lips.
"At one point during taping, would you be willing to pour a full Coors Light into your beer glass? Of course it would be the empty glass and then you could set the beer bottle down right on the mark that I put on the table and we'd cut and switch the glass with YOUR beer then resume taping." She lightly touched his shoulder and he felt an electricity move through him he'd never felt before. "I promise, I won't ask you to take a sip. It's just a little trick of the trade. That way I make you happy all the while keeping my advertisers happy which keeps me earning a paycheck."
Jason could only nod. Still unable to speak, especially now that she'd touched him. At this point, if she asked, he'd probably drink the Coors Light.
AJ, Johnny and Francis all smirked, catching each others eyes. Jason was a goner. Diane and Max were standing next to the three men watching everything play out.
"You know my big strong handsome teddy bear. If I didn't know any better, I'd say we have a whole other reality show in the making right here. A real live version of Beauty and the Beast."
All four men who heard her nodded their heads in agreement.