DISCLAIMER: DON'T OWN!
A/N: Another shortie!
Chapter 10
The days passed and the crew increasingly warmed up to Skye's presence. Freddy and Ryan treated her like a little sister. She and Jake had always been close, so it was no different than when they were home. And of course Josh was the most joyful about the newest crew member. Phil seemed over joyed as well, except for the crushed disks in his back. Before the voyage to Dutch, the aging skipper had spent a few days in the hospital due to a back injury. 3 days after the grueling pot dump, Josh decided to allow the old man a break from the chair. Skye had prepared a breakfast of toast, eggs, bacon and waffles. Noticing their skipper joining them, she took it upon herself to fill up a large plate for Phil. Setting his plate in front of him, she kissed him on the forehead, "Eat up!" she stated smiling. "Hey! How come he gets treated all special?" Jake protested, already with a full mouth and plate. "Cuz he deserves it and you don't!" she fired back, already loading up with more food for Josh. Leaving the crew to themselves, she made a breakfast delivery to her favorite man.
Entering the wheelhouse, she placed a kiss in Josh's hair. "Breakfast love!" she said softly, setting the plate and a mug of coffee down. Josh turned to give her a proper lip lock and pulled her into his lap. "Thanks baby." They sat quiet for a few moments, while he clung to Skye as if she were a life preserver. She leaned her head on his shoulder, nestling her face in his warmth. "I know baby, I'm worried about him too. You just focus on deck, I'll handle takin of Phil," she said, almost knowing exactly what was on Josh's mind.
"Thank you baby girl. I gotta tell ya, I do feel a lot better that he's got you up here. I mean I know he's got Todd, but havin you is better. At least he's not totally alone."
"It's my job. That and lovin you. Now eat up, 'fore your breakfast gets cold," she responded in her southern drawl. They sat quiet for a few more moments, allowing Josh to enjoy his meal.
"Duty calls!" Josh suddenly announced, upon hearing the skippers' footsteps and finishing up the few bites. He pulled Skye in for one last kiss before heading down to gear up.
As the pots cleared the rail, they came up blank. The poor fishing urged Phil to start over in an old hot-spot called the "Rock Pile". Skye watched as pot after pot came up empty, hoping that they caught a break soon. She prayed for a miracle, a breakthrough, anything to relieve this fishing slump and the skippers' pain.