disclaimer: I dont own anything from deadliest catch or LA ink.
this story takes place before the HLA dating story. the first season of Jake Anderson and Josh Harris as greenhorns.
Smiley?
Most men waiting in line knew what was going on and they more or less accepted the fact that it was going to be one of those days, or weeks even. The plane just wasn't going to take off too Dutch Harbor today. The ones at the beginning of the line settled in to wait it out, the where first on the list if there was a plane going. The lucky ones who had managed to get a hotel room somewhere near the airport left their phone number to get a call if there was a second plane going and the unlucky ones where just stuck.
The blue eyed kid was stuck alright. And starting to panic, what on earth was he going to do? He had to be on his new boat tomorrow. He finally gotten a spot, thanks to his uncle who was a steady deckhand on the Northwestern. And now he was letting them all down because the weather wasn't playing along. He tried calling his uncle, but apparently the weather that prevented the plane from going also screwed up cell phone connections.
With nowhere to sleep and not enough foresight to bring any food with him Jake Anderson was really stuck between a rock and a hard place. But his luck was about to change, even if it came in a rather weird shape.
Looking for a place to sit Jake noticed the other youngster, a cocky skinny tall guy, black hair and piercings in his rather out sticking ears. The cocky guy walked right up to the desk and turned on the charm on the lady sitting behind it. And men this guy really was working it, and Jake was about to curse himself for going for the sad puppy dog approach. What if charm was the way to go? Only the cocky guy got the same result as all the others, no flights to Dutch today, unsure about tomorrow. So come back at 8 tomorrow morning, bye bye sir.
And the lady went on with her own things. No more thoughts or looks for the black haired charmer, to give the same speech to the next fisherman who was anxious to get to his boat.
While most of the fishermen Jake had seen so far would turn around and stalk of cursing, the cocky guy just shrugged his shoulders and fished his cell phone from his pocket, dialing a number while walking away.
"Hey pops, looks like I am stuck in town for a bit, no flights to Dutch. I'll try again tomorrow….. Yeah I'll let you know when I am flying out."
By now the cocky guy was next to Jake and noticed his stare.
"Hello, I'm Josh Harris, what's up?"
Automatically shaking the hand that was offered Jake couldn't help but stare some more. He knew that name.
"Yeah, I have to get to Dutch too, got a job as greenhorn on the Northwestern. Sig is going to be pissed off if I don't get there in time. Only I can't even get thru on the phone, how come yours is working? "
"Don't worry, Sig knows what the flights are like, he has been stuck here on more than one occasion as well. Need a place to crash for the night kid? And as far as the phone goes. My dad has state of the art stuff on his boat, not old junk like the Northwestern."
Suddenly remembering his manners Jake introduced himself.
"Sorry, I'm Jake Anderson, yeah I could use a place. And isn't your dad the captain of the Cornelia Marie?"
Josh grabbed his own and Jake's bag and started heading for the exit. With nothing else to do, and little choice Jake followed trying and failing to get his own bag back. Josh just kept walking and talking all the time.
"Yeah my dad is the captain of the CM, I am on my way to start as a greenhorn as well. Been a while since I worked on the boat. Did some work installing water towers, but that was boring. Its hell to find a place to sleep over here when there are no flight to Dutch at the start of the season, but I know a guy who lives around here. He never minds if I crash at his place, it is like a YMCA anyway. So don't be too keen on manners, or cleanliness for that matter, but keep your money safe. Then you'll be fine. You're not allergic to dogs or cats are you?"
Trying to keep up on both the tempo Josh set walking and talking Jake was stretched a bit, but no he had no allergies and very little money, so he would be fine.
After a brisk 45 minutes walk during which Jake learned more about Josh and the other Harrises than he ever thought possible in so short a time they had arrived at the guys house. To Jake it looked more like a overgrown shed, and it smelled a bit like a garbage dump. But it should be warm and dry in there and that was all he cared about at the moment.
Opening the door Josh was jumped by three of the biggest dogs Jake had ever seen. Josh didn't seem to mind, but Jake was a bit apprehensive when the biggest one shoved its nose into his crotch. But it seemed Jake smelled good enough, because after some sniffing the dog moved on and Jake was able to get inside. And yeah, the description YMCA was accurate, kind off. There where couches all over the place, and there where about 8 kids between 15 and 30 hanging around. Some of them said hi, but most seemed to be staring at the TV not reacting to anything. And there was a very loud game going on in one of the corners between two guys that had a few girls watching and shrieking with laughter.
That is until the backdoor opened and a huge guy with lots of tattoo's came in. The game got a bit more quite but the girls didn't seem to mind. The big guy carefully made his way around all the loungers, making sure not to step on anybody until he got to Josh. Josh got big, bone crushing hug and returned the favor, still talking pretty much non stop.
"Long time no see mate, I'm stuck, can we stay here for a bit?"
The mountain stepped back and clouted josh on the back a few times for good measure. Jake was sure he could hear the ribs breaking.
"Sure, make yourself at home, and give your friend the safety drill."
And with a wave in Jakes direction the mountain went back to where ever he came from leaving Josh and Jake to create a place to crash in the dorm.
Josh managed to push the dogs from one of the couches and flopped down on it. Jake decided that he preferred to share a couch with Josh over fighting with the dogs over his own place too crash.
"What is with the safety drill?"
Josh thought for a few seconds and then he remembered.
"This place is build next to the local dump, so if you want to go out for a smoke, take the dogs, they scare of the bears."
"BEARS?"
Jake is starting to realize that everybody here in Alaska is crazy.
"Yeah, but just blacks and grizzly's to far south for polar bears."
Somehow that isn't all that reassuring to Jake, but before he can ask anything more Josh is fast asleep. And he is tired as hell himself too, so soon Jake is also slumped down and snoring.
He wakes up because he is hot, way too hot. Trying to get the suffocating blanket of him isn't working because the thing growls and refuses to move.
Growls? Blankets don't growl. Jake wakes up almost screaming, only to notice that two of the big dogs have joined him on the couch and snuggled up close to him. And no more Josh. What the hell?
After some struggle the dogs let him sit up without biting, just more growling and a whimper. Jake is looking for the only face he knows in the place and sure, there is Josh sitting at a table with the tattooed mountain.
Josh sees that his new friend is awake and waves him over.
"Yo Jake, is Cath von D over here?"
Jake looks around, nope, no cats to be seen, just the big dogs and a bunch of kids, even if most of them seemed to have left.
"No…No cats."
Well what else can he answer.
At that the mountains shouts something and a girl comes in, and what a girl. She is wearing a golden bikini and really skin tight tights in the colors of the American flag. Jake wonders if that is even legal, to do that to the American flag. And she is almost just as covered in tattoos as the mountain, even has little stars on her face.
It is only when he notices Josh tensing up that Jake realizes that they are in deep shit. But too late to run. Before he has time to react he is sitting in a chair, his left shoe and sock on the floor and a tattoo machine humming. The pain is terrible, but the last thing he will do is give them the satisfaction of hearing him screaming or grunting. It doesn't last long though, soon he is the proud owner of a bright yellow smiley tattoo on his toe.
The next morning Josh and Jake make their way to the airport again. Both limping a bit, and a bit worse for wear. The weather has cleared up and there are going to be four flights to Dutch to get the backlog of annoying fishermen out of the airport.
Once on the plane Josh is still grinning, but Jake is less happy.
"Josh, please don't tell anybody about the tattoo, my parents are going to go ballistic if they find out."
And that is fine with Josh, this tattoo will stay a mystery. He is already relishing the possible reactions he will be getting. This will drive his little bro crazy.
feedback gives more updates. so review. PLEASE
