Authors' Note: Sorry it's been so long, but our alter-egos have been busy! Thanks for reading and reviewing. Love, The Captain Trap (aka IrishCaptain and AleutianStorm)
Talia POV
The wind was chilly the next morning as I got in Johnathan's truck and drove down to the docks. The fleet was leaving today and I wanted to say goodbye to my sister. I parked near the Time Bandit, I had always gone to see them off. Maybe it was because I knew Johnathan had no one there to say goodbye to and despite his posturing I knew it bothered him. As I approached I saw Scotty hugging a pretty blonde and his son Sawyer. I glanced up to the wheelhouse and saw a sullen Captain.
"Talia!" Mike Fourtner scooped me up and bear hugged me before I even saw him coming. "Glad you made it down."
"Would I ever not come to wish my favorite guys good luck?" I smiled trying to swat his hat but I missed. He seems to be taller every year.
"Hey sweetheart!" Andy came over and and gave a hug. "You seen your sister yet?"
"No, heading there next." I said looking over my shoulder at the Northwestern. I could see the crew busy on deck.
"I wish she wouldn't do this." he said shaking his head.
"We all wish she wouldn't do this." came Johnathan's gruff voice from behind his brother. "Hey Princess." He shot Andy and look and in a flash we were standing alone.
"So..." Johnathan shifted uncomfortably.
"Good luck John. And be safe out there." I smiled avoiding his eyes.
"Of course...I get to take you out I get back." There was that grin, damn those dimples.
"Yeah, and it better not be pizza!" I giggled, smacking his arm. Before I knew it he pulled me to him and we hugged. Probably longer than we should have. Just as I was thinking about how good he smelled, I felt him run his hand through my hair and breathe in my jasmine scented shampoo. There was something...not the womanizing tendencies I usually saw from him, this was different. Softer, more sincere.
"I'll call." He whispered then released me. I couldn't say anything so I just nodded.
Elizabeth POV
"I'm never drinking again," I mutter as I finished tying down the pot Edgar has just maneuvered on top of the stack. This job was hard enough without a pounding headache to go with it. I heard a ruckus rising from the deck of the Time Bandit and looked over in time to see Mike Fourtner bear hugging Talia before he helped her up and over the rail. I watched as Andy hugged her and then quickly disappeared when Johnathan came down from the wheelhouse.
"Think they'll ever figure it out," Norman asked as he crawled across the stack.
"I dunno," I shrugged. "It's none of my business." I inclined my head toward the wheelhouse. "Think it'll be okay for her to come aboard, or should I go say goodbye on the dock?"
"It's cool with me and Ed, so..." he smirked.
"On second thought," I rolled my eyes, "I think I'll go down to the dock. No need to add fuel to his fire."
"Suit yourself," Norman shrugged. "You might wanna grab a couple aspirin on your way back – you look like you're hurting pretty bad after last night."
I stuck my tongue out at him before I crawled off the stack and over the rail. I saw Johnathan climbing back onto the Time Bandit and Talia standing on the dock, looking like she was about to cry. "Are you okay," I asked, "or do I need to go up there and kick his ass?"
"I'm fine," she sniffled and took a quick swipe at her eyes with the back of her hand. "I just hate saying goodbye to everyone. This town gets pretty dull when everyone I actually know is out fishing."
"Uh huh," I nodded, eying her suspiciously before glancing up at the Time Bandit's wheelhouse. "Are you sure that's all it is this time?"
"Of course," she insisted. "What else would it be? I do have to say, I'd be a little better if you were going fishing with anyone but Psycho Sig."
"I know you don't understand," I sighed, "but this is something I have to do. Edgar and Norman are going to be there the whole time. I'll be okay. I promise."
Talia sighed and hugged me. "Just be careful."
"I will," I muttered, hugging her back. "I should probably get back before he realizes I'm gone and blows another gasket."
I forced myself to turn away from my sister. I was only a few steps away from the boat when a hand closed around my arm and pulled me behind a stack of pots on the dock. I found myself face to face with Andy. "What the hell..." I began.
"Don't do this," he said, his tone urgent.
"Jesus, Andy," I sighed, "please don't start this shit with me. Not here. Not now."
"I'm not starting anything," he said simply. "I'm just asking you not to go out with them."
"I have to." I snapped, ignoring the wounded look in his eyes. "You of all people should know why I have to do this."
"That's exactly why I'm begging you not to do it," he pleaded. "Please, Beth, don't do this."
"I'm sorry, Andy," I whispered, trying to ignore the look in his eyes. "I'm doing this. And don't call me Beth. Not anymore." I hurried away from him and back to the Northwestern.
I ducked into the ready room in search of some aspirin to soothe my pounding head and a cigarette to calm my nerves. No sooner had I crammed a few pills in my mouth, chased them with a swig of Diet Coke, and lit the Camel I'd pilfered from the extra pack that Edgar kept in his spare raincoat than I heard him come up behind me. "I didn't tell you that you could take a break," he growled. He was so close that I could feel his breath on the back of my neck. Involuntarily, I closed my eyes and a rush of memories flooded my brain. "Get back to work," he snarled, still right behind me.
Slowly, I turned to face him in the confined space. "Back off, Sig," I said, willing my voice not to shake. He glowered at me, his blue eyes becoming more and more stormy. He took a step toward me. In that moment, I couldn't tell what he was going to do next. He was either going to take a swing at me or...
The door to the ready room flew open and Edgar stood in the doorway staring at us.
"Uh, am I interrupting something?" he said, looking uncomfortable.
"Actually," I smiled acidly at Sig, "Sig here was just interrupting my cigarette break."
"I told you to get back to work," Sig said coldly.
"Last time I checked," Edgar began, "I'm the deck boss and I'm fine with her taking a break. Why don't you go back to managing your space and I'll manage mine."
Sig looked like he was on the verge of a nasty retort, but instead he made a 'harumph' noise and turned back toward the stairs.
"See you later, Sunshine," I called airily. I had decided that since he'd made my life a living hell, it was time for me to return the favor.
Talia POV
I drove back to the bar in tears. I have no idea what's happening to me. Maybe its the result of four years in this insane place. I feel closest to the people I care about when they are in the middle of the Bering Sea. Waiting for them to get back is harder than spending the whole summer alone.
I wandered in circles around the kitchen, I could still smell his cologne and cigarettes on my clothes. What? Why the hell did that even cross my mind? He said he would call...why do I care, it's one date. One dinner, just a few hours to fend him off and thats it.
I was interrupted from my internal argument by April pushing through the back door with several bags of groceries. I shook my head and relieved her of one of the bag. "The fleet left this morning, I don't think we need fresh produce."
"It's not for them, it's for you." She began emptying the bags onto the counter, revealing chips, salsa, microwave dinners and frozen orange juice. "I don't need you down here trashing the kitchen when you're hungry or just brooding. I won't be here all the time the next few weeks and I know you can't fend for yourself."
She only worked during lunch when the fleet was out since they roll up the sidewalks around here at night when the boys aren't in town. It was no secret I couldn't cook. April was good at making sure there just happened to be leftovers or there was 'unused' preps from dinner that would make a great snack.
I smiled and grabbed a pitcher for my orange juice. "I hope this season goes fast. A girl can't live on tv dinners for long."
"Yeah, I'm sure that's why you want them back fast." She chuckled.