Again, thank you to everyone who has read and reviewed this story. It really means a lot to me. I hope you're enjoying it. Special thanks to NicoleVonDee, Mahone-chic-89, and Kairo.

Disclaimer:
See chapter one.

What a rainy ending given to a perfect day
Chapter Four !

"Fucking Christ," Jake groaned as he and Jackson lifted up the full pot, setting it on the ship and dumping it's contents. He watched as Kyle practically flew across the deck, helping unload the crab and string up the bait bags. "Move your ass, McDaniel."

Kyle paused mid stride as she heard that. What the fuck? She shook her head and continued for the bait area, to fill the bags she'd just taken down, back up. Glaring at Jake, she shoveled up the bait and slid it into the bag. After that, she joined the guys in sorting out the crab. She smaller ones she had, she threw to the side, over the railing. The larger ones were tossed down the chute where the other crabs of its size stayed until they reached the port to unload. She didn't look at anyone as she did her work, concentrating solely on the task at hand.

The next pot, Jake said the same thing, telling her to move her ass. She was going as fast as she possibly could. What did he want? For her to pop on a pair of roller skates and skate across the damn deck? Still, she attempted to pick up her pace.

By the final pot of the night, she had had it. Sure, Jackson had gotten his fair share of ribbing that day, but Jake's attention seemed to be fully on Kyle and how slow she was being. It was the last straw. He'd said something stupid about turtles being faster then her and Kyle snapped. "I'm going as fast as I fucking can, Jake."

Everyone stopped, the tension on deck nearly palpable. "What did you say to me Greenhorn?"

"You heard me. I'm going as fast as I can."

Jake moved from where he was, crossing to look Kyle in the eye. "Really? Because I'm pretty sure you can do better then that."

Fire burned in both sets of eyes and Kyle didn't understand. What had she done to earn this? She'd been moving fast, at least she had thought so. The other deckhands had teased her, but it was all in good fun. This, what Jake was doing? It was serious. She didn't want to get into a fight. She wanted to do her damn job and that was it. "Forget it," she said, blowing him off.

Jake wasn't sure what he was doing. Both Kyle and Jackson had been doing an alright job today. They'd moved fast and done everything with minimal complaining. Maybe he was just bored, yeah, he'd blame it on the boredom. Then the female Greenhorn was blowing him off, being the non-confrontational person that he knew her to be. "Don't blow me off, Kyle. Everyone else has been working their asses off and you're just taking your sweet time."

Really? Was he seriously going there with her? Jake could be one of the laziest people Kyle knew. Did she say anything? No, because that was just Jake. You learned to live with it. Though, Kyle had noticed a difference since he had started working with his father. It was like he had grown up some in that respect. Right now, though, it was like he was intentionally picking a fight with her. "That's funny because you're the only one who's said something about it. Just, leave me alone Jake and let me get back to work." With that being said, she turned and went back to her station, wanting to clean it up and get below deck. Whispers of a storm had pushed the crew to finish their jobs with speed so they could get below deck before said storm was upon them.

It seemed like Kyle had won for the time being. Jake let her go and left to help the guys finish tying everything down. Still, this struck her as odd. Sure, she and Jake had fought, what best friends didn't from time to time? Sometimes Jake did start a fight with her just to do it, just to watch her react, but never in public like this. It was usually when they were by themselves and other people couldn't hear what was being said. Whatever. Kyle shook her head and popped the lid back onto the bin of bait, hoping it wouldn't get lost in the storm. While doing bait was part of her job, it wasn't her favorite and she relished in any time she got to be away from it.

Within record time, the crew had secured the deck and made their way into the living quarters of the boat. Phil announced they'd be heading into the storm soon and to make sure everything was secured inside the boat as well. As soon as the crew had done that, they set about trying to figure out what to eat, and how to pass the time before they'd be able to pull up more pots. It was going to be a long night.

& &

"If I eat anymore, I think I'm going to explode," Corey said as he shoved his plate away from him.

"Well, you did eat like, six pancakes."

Everyone laughed and finished off their food. For some reason, the crew had decided they wanted breakfast, though it was eleven o' clock at night. Pancakes just sounded good to them. Jackson had offered to cook and Kyle had told the crew that he made the best pancakes ever. So, Jackson had cooked and Kyle had helped out, though she had to admit cooking was definitely not something she was that good at. She was more of a baker then a cook.

"I think Kyle was right, Jackson makes the best damn pancakes," Freddy agreed, patting his now full stomach. "What'd Phil say?"

"Said they were good," Jake answered, finishing off what was left of his food. He sat back and elbowed Josh, who had finished eating a few minutes earlier, in the stomach. This resulted in Josh elbowing him back and before they knew it, the brothers were having an all out war in the booth.

Kyle rolled her blue eyes. That stopped when she had to dodge a fist that had nearly collided with her head. "Hey, Ding and Dong, stop it!"

Jake huffed and Josh laughed before getting up to collect the dishes. Kyle stood up and gave him a hand. Soon they were washing and drying the plates they'd eaten and the cookware Jackson had used. Kyle looked over her shoulder and laughed as Jackson snoozed on the table, head buried in his arms.

The boat was moving from side to side a little harder then normal as wave after wave crashed into it. They could hear the thunder just over the roar of the waves. "Wonder how bad it is out there?"

"Well, Kyle, why don't you go open the door and find out?" Jake popped off, rolling his hazel eyes.

"Uh, no. It was just a question." The woman dried her hands off on a dishtowel before handing it over to Josh so he could do the same.

"It was a stupid question."

"What the hell is your problem?"

Jake just looked at her before shaking his head. A hand ran through his hair and he flicked a paper clip at Jackson who didn't even move as it hit his head. Jake felt a sense of sadness at the fact he hadn't woken up the man. "Nothing," he finally managed to get out.

"Yeah, okay." Because Kyle really believed him. She shook her head, and breathed out a tired sigh. Whatever. If Jake wanted to be distant and stupid, then let him. Placing a hand on Jackson, she gently shook him.

Jackson looked up through tired eyes and gave a half hearted nod of thanks. A sudden harsh wave hit the boat and both brother and sister, as well as Josh were tossed to the side. Thankfully, no one was really hurt, just a little thrown off balance. Kyle and Jackson stood up, and the man held out a hand for Josh who used it to get to his feet. "Jesus," Jackson muttered before leaving the small group to head to his and Kyle's shared room.

Kyle sat back in her spot and did everything she could to avoid looking at Jake. He was in a foul mood and though she was used to his mood swings, she really didn't want to be a part of it. Josh had gone up to talk to his father, leaving the boy and girl to themselves. After a bit, she felt Jake's eyes on her and she turned her head to meet his gaze. "What?"

"Nothing."

"You're really frustrating, you know that?"

Jake just grinned, already well aware of that fact. "Yeah, but you should be used to that by now. We've been friends, for what? Twenty-one years?"

Kyle only nodded in agreement as she watched him light a cigarette. She wanted to know what his problem with her was, why he was all of the sudden down her throat about everything but decided she didn't want to get into it. Not tonight anyway. A soft sigh escaped her lips and she looked back at Jake. "You relieving your dad tonight? Or is Josh doing it again?"

"It's my night. You and Josh can have the room all to yourselves," he shot at her, grinning.

The woman rolled her blue eyes. It wasn't like that between herself and Josh and Jake knew that. They were like brother and sister, neither had any type of romantic feelings for the other. It would be a bit weird considering the fact Kyle was holding a torch for Jake. "Cute," she replied with a playful glare.

"Yeah, well, I know I am. If you want to get technical though, the term would be deliciously hot."

Kyle raised an eyebrow at his words. "Cocky bastard."

"Yep." He grinned as he slid out of his seat and got to his feet. Jake ruffled the woman's dark wavy hair as he passed her. Before he climbed the stairs leading up to the wheelhouse he turned to face her once more, "You know, you could come keep me company."

She turned around in her seat to face him, contemplating his words. With a shrug of her shoulders, she stood up and followed him up the stairs. Josh sat silently in a chair across from his father, watching the waves crash against the side of the boat as Jake and Kyle entered the wheelhouse. "Worst of the storm is over," he said absentmindedly as he turned to face the pair. He heard Phil grunt in response as he looked over points on a map he had spread out before him.

It was minute later that Phil rolled the map back up and turned to face his two sons and Kyle. "You relieving me?" he asked his youngest son.

"Yeah."

"Good." Phil got to his feet and walked toward the door, ready to crash for a few hours. "Everyone needs to be up in about four hours," he started, looking down at his watch and mentally counting up to the time. "So five in the morning, got it?" he asked before disappearing, not waiting for a response.

Jake nodded as his dad left and sat in the captain's chair. "You going to bed, Josh?" he questioned as he noticed his brother get up from his chair.

"Yeah. I'm gone. You staying Kyle?"

"For a while."

Josh nodded his head and followed his father's steps, ready to catch a few hours of sleep himself. The two were quiet as they watched the rain pour down on the deck of the Cornelia Marie. Wave after wave crashed over her and still, the pair remained silent. It wasn't an awkward thing, it was more like they were both lost in their thoughts.

It seemed like a few hours later that Kyle woke with a start. When had she fallen asleep? Her head turned to look at Jake, who was sitting in his chair, silently glaring. "What?" she asked, quite unsure of what she had done now.

"So much for you staying up with me. Go to bed Kyle," Jake all but ordered.

Great. Kyle stood up, too tired to carry out some long, drawn out fight with the man. "Fine." With that, she left Jake and his cold as ice attitude toward her.

& &

"Got another full pot," Jake muttered around six the next morning. He and Jackson worked on lifting it up and quickly dumping the contents. Kyle slid in after it was mostly clear and picked out the stragglers before hooking the bait into place. With that finished, she slid out and moved to help Freddy, Josh, and Corey sort out the crab.

Already, they had pulled about six pots. Four were pretty well stocked, one had had maybe twenty, and the last one they pulled out had about two hundred crabs inside. It was a pretty good morning, despite how tired the crew actually was. Before they'd gone on deck to start the day, Phil informed them they would have to pull a twenty-four hour shift to meet their quota and the crew nodded, all trying not to say some negative word or two.

"So, if this is the last round before we head back to port, why are we throwing the pots back in?" Kyle asked Freddy who stood beside her.

"Phil wants to let them soak for a few hours, see if we can get more crabs seeing as we've had good luck from this string. We'll come back before the twenty-four hours is over and haul everything back up and head back to Dutch Harbor. These will be the last pots we get," he explained.

Kyle nodded as they finished sorting the crab. By then, the boys were hauling up another pot and she heard Jake yell at her to get a move on. With a barely suppressed glare, she did as he said. A blast of icy Arctic water washed over the boat and Kyle shivered as it hit her. Yeah, that definitely helped to wake her up some.

The rest of the day passed much the same except for a few minor incidents. Waves washed over the boat, the guys were once thrown to the side, and a crab pot nearly took out Jackson. This was about the time they were hitting the twenty-hour mark. They took an hour break to get warm and get food into their system. The next three hours were spent hauling more crab, getting doused by the Arctic water, and getting on each others nerves due to exhaustion.

It was well worth it though, because they would have a few days of rest as they headed back to Dutch Harbor to unload the boat. Phil called them over the sound system, telling them to pack it in, yet another storm would be heading their way as they made their way back to the harbor. A sudden fire seemed to be lit under their asses and they moved quickly before everyone disappeared inside.

It was a sudden shove that woke Kyle up. She'd been standing in the ready room, taking off her gear when Jake suddenly pushed her. Her mind jolted from it's exhausted state and she stared at him, trying to figure out what she had done. "What?" she finally managed to ask.

"You were standing in the way."

"And a 'hey could you move' was too much effort?"

Jake just grinned and shook his head. "Exactly, you know me so well."

"Ass," she muttered under her breath as she removed the rest of the gear. She stalked out of the ready room and into the galley, throwing herself down next to Freddy. Freddy raised an eyebrow at her and she just shook her head. "Jake's an ass," she offered as a way of explaining. He merely chuckled and shook his head. It wasn't much later that she got up and left for her room, mumbling some form of goodnight as she went.

Just as she was drifting off to sleep, she felt the bed dip and did her best to ignore the warm body beside her. She didn't care who it was, she just wanted sleep. An arm wrapped firmly around her waist and this woke her up. No one did that, no one but Jake. She ignored him the best she could, fighting her questioning mind as it did everything it could to wake her up.

Jake watched as Kyle slept. He was pretty sure she wasn't actually asleep but he wasn't about to wake her up. Lately, Jake didn't know how he felt when it came to Kyle and that was annoying him more then anything. He was annoyed by her presence on the boat, but at the same time, wasn't. It was more then obvious to him he was being an ass to her and for really no good reason. He couldn't help himself though. When he wanted to be nice, he couldn't. When he wanted to be an ass, well, he could. The thing that bothered him the most, he found himself considering, was that she didn't swoon like other girls did. Maybe it was because they were best friends and she was just used to him. Still, she was only a girl, and every girl swooned over him, right? She was the only one that put up with his crap and it almost seemed willingly that she did so. Why would someone do that though? Jake's head was starting to hurt and he told his mind to shut up because he really didn't want to think about it.

"Go away," Kyle's voice finally broke the silence.

The man didn't do anything, just laid beside her. His arm held her tighter, fingers tracing circles on the woman's side. "No," he answered simply.

"I mean it, Jake. I don't want you in here. You've got your own bed, go to it." At this, she attempted to move out of his grip.

Jake wasn't having any of this though. "No," he said again.

Finally, the brunette opened her eyes, blue meeting hazel. "I'm mad at you. Go away." She watched as Jake just ignored her words. That wasn't fair. When he was an ass, she let it go and left him alone. When she was mad, Jake didn't go away. It was more then infuriating. "Whatever," she breathed out, turning her head the opposite direction. That was how she fell asleep; Jake's arm around her waist, fingers rubbing circles.

[ Cold As You – Taylor Swift ]