A/N: Tragedy strikes this chapter!

DISCLAIMER: DON'T OWN! Though I wish I did!

Chapter 12

Up in the wheelhouse, a battle of father vs son waged on. Phil had just caught Jake attempting to steal some of his pain medication. Making matters more stressful, Jake admitted to his addiction on camera. After a tense altercation, the skipper decided to head for the better part of St. Paul Harbor.

A few hours later, Skye awoke startled. She suddenly felt uneasy, as if she knew something wasn't right. She decided to shrug it off, not wanting to worry Josh so she drifted back to sleep. The next day, the steam into the harbor ended and the offload began. Skye stood by as the boys filled brailer after brailer with crab. She'd been helping Ryan keep track of the weights. Josh caught her figure out of the corner of his eye. He snatched her hand as they made their way to the wheelhouse, finding Phil and Jake overlooking some old family photos. They died laughing at the sight of a young Phil with a "Billy-Ray" style mullet and a picture of Jake in suspenders. All three then hit the deck to assist with the final brailers. Before the offload could be complete, they needed Phil's signature on the final numbers. Steve ran back inside, calling Phil in his stateroom. Skye had decided to follow him, her uneasiness returning. Receiving no answer, he checked Phil's room with Skye close behind. She nodded to give Steve the "OK" to open the door. Skye stood in shock, feeling as if time had stopped. What lay before them, was an unconscious, unresponsive skipper on the floor.

"Oh my god!" said Steve in disbelief.

Skye suddenly found her feet and ability to speak. "Baby…. Joshua! Jacob!" she screamed at the top of her lungs, bursting back on deck at the same time.

All 6 crew members rushed into the boat house. Josh rapidly dialed 911.

"911 what's your emergency?"

"Yea, I think my dad had a stroke."

Skye stood in a corner of the kitchen, in shock and a complete daze. "He's gonna be alright. He's gonna be okay!" Skye tried to reassure herself over and over. Reality set back in when the sirens were heard blaring from the dock. Skye stayed huddled in her corner, watching the chaos unfold. Her eyes stayed glued to the ceiling as the medivac team lifted Phil into the ambulance. Her ears strained to hear anything about the skippers condition, only to learn that Josh and Todd had gone along with him to the medical center. The sirens soon faded away, and she buried her face in her arms for what seemed like hours. Freddy was the one who discovered her hideaway when he and Jake went to search for her. "C'mon lil sister. Gonna go check on Phil," he said softly. He helped her up off the floor, leading her to the truck with Jake and Ryan. Meanwhile Josh waited outside the waiting room to hear any news of his father. The doctors informed him that they were going to airlift Phil to Anchorage, Alaska. He felt numb to the world, and it total shock.

Reaching the emergency clinic, Skye was the first inside. She raced out of the truck and ahead of the others. She found Josh seated on the floor, his knees pulled up to his chest. Once their eyes met Skye collapsed into his lap, allowing the tears she'd kept inside to flow. Josh lifted her face, and wrapped his arms around her small frame. "Baby it'll be okay. I'm here, it'll be okay," he whispered soothingly.

"So what'd they say?" she asked when her tears had finally stopped. Just then, Jake, Freddy & Ryan came around the corner all wanting the same answer.

"They're pretty positive it was a stroke. They're gonna airlift him outta here," said Josh.

"To Anchorage?" asked Jake.

"Yea, they're gonna send him to Providence (Medical Center)."

Once they reached the medivac jet, Skye stayed glued to Josh's side. She kissed Phil on the forehead and hugged Jake goodbye before retreating back into herself. She felt numb, like she was on the outside of a looking glass and watching the whole scene unfold. She quickly pulled herself together as best she could. "C'mon! You're all Josh's got now. You hafta be strong, for Josh and for Phil," she told herself as she desperately tried to put the pieces of her emotions back together.