Last night, at home...

Sverre spent the night tossing and turning, worry for his youngest plaguing his mind. Sleep had never been further away when he finally decided to get up at about 3 a.m. Feeling more tired than ever, he left the bed with its wrinkled, tangled sheets and walked to the window. The night was dark and he could barely make out the whipping tree limbs as the wind shook the house. Damn storm. Why couldn't that fool kid decide to run off when the weather was decent? They should be moving OUT of the storm front the further they get...but that's a small comfort right now. I want to know that he's okay...dammit!

The weary father sighed deeply, his fingers trailing across the surface of the window. The room suddenly felt hot, and he leaned forward and rested his forehead on the cold glass. Unwelcome thoughts crowded into his mind. Edgar could be dead right now, for all I know. For him to be out on a boat in the dark, in poor weather...I don't even want to think about it. Anxiety built in his chest, and he breathed deeply while consciously trying to calm himself. Against his will, the thoughts rushed on into unchartered territory...to a place he'd been hesitant to go. What on earth made him take off like this? Was it something I did?

Sverre let his mind go back over the past few days. When he'd arrived back from taking Sigurd to the boat, his two younger sons had been nowhere to be seen. He had heard voices coming from Edgar's room as he'd sat drinking his coffee at the kitchen table, but hadn't ventured up to talk to them. Having always been the one leaving for Alaska before this, Sverre had never been around to see how his family had reacted to his departure. Sure, his wife had made no attempt to hide her tears as she bid him farewell...but he couldn't remember his sons ever getting tearful. Yet...when the boys had come downstairs that morning, he had seen the obvious signs that his youngest had been crying. Sverre was no fool; he had witnessed the new closeness between his sons, especially Sig and Edgar. The boy's admiration and devotion for his oldest brother was easy to see, and while it warmed the Old Man's heart...he'd also found himself feeling oddly threatened. He was the boy's father.

Catching the direction of his musing, Sverre pulled himself up short. That's ridiculous. Tell me you're not jealous of your 18 year old son. Just because you wish the kid looked at YOU like that...

Unwilling to explore further into the myriad emotions these thoughts brought to the surface, he straightened resolutely and turned to get dressed. Hopefully the storm will pass today, and I can get some answers from the Coast Guard.

Staring at the ceiling with his hands behind his head, Norman listened to the howling wind. He too, was finding it difficult to sleep that night. It felt weird to know that his little brother wasn't just down the hall, slumbering in his queen-sized bed. How did HE score the big bed, anyway? Momentarily distracted by this thought, the tough guy smiled to himself. It's okay, makes it easier for me to snuggle up with him. The smile faded as reality hit him again like a ton of bricks...Edgar was gone, and they had no idea if he was safe.

I'm just gonna choose to believe that he's safe on the Time Bandit, probably cowering down with Captain Hillstrand glaring a hole through him. I'm gonna picture him with Sig on the Northwestern...safe but totally worried about what big brother's gonna do about him running off.

"Oh, Edgar," his voice sounded loud in the quiet room, "...you'd better be alright."

A few minutes later, Norman heard his father's bedroom door open and the creaking of the stairs. Guess he can't sleep either. As much as he wanted to go downstairs with his dad, the teen knew that he needed to try to sleep. Plus, he was pretty sure that the Old Man wouldn't be too happy if he got up... morning was coming soon, and he had school. He sighed and turned over onto his stomach, punching the pillow into shape before laying his head on it. Concentrating on trying NOT to think about Edgar, he closed his eyes...only to open them again a few minutes later.

He punched the pillow. Crap! I'm never gonna be able to stay awake in class tomorrow...the way this is going. A sudden need to be a close as possible to his missing little brother overwhelmed him. Before he could talk himself out of it, Norman quietly rose and tiptoed down the hallway to Edgar's room. Curling up in the big bed, he hugged his little brother's pillow and breathed a quiet prayer. Please let him be okay.

Last night, aboard the Time Bandit...

Johnathan yawned as he arrived in the wheelhouse at 2:00 a.m. to relieve his father. Captain Hillstrand nodded toward the galley.

"Get yourself some coffee. You gotta keep your wits about you...the storm seems to be easing a bit but it still pays to be careful."

"Yes, sir," he mumbled, heading toward the pleasing aroma wafting from the coffeepot. He filled a travel mug with the hot brew, keeping his balance by leaning hard against the counter. Geez, the boat is getting knocked around pretty good. What does he mean, 'the storm's easing a bit'? Doesn't seem like it to me.

Arriving back in the wheelhouse, Johnathan assumed the captain's chair. His father stretched mightily, raising his arms above his head.

"Your brother will relieve you at 6." He eyed the teenager warily. "Don't do anything crazy...just keep it at the heading I've already set. The Northwestern is close by, about a half mile ahead of us. I think Sig is manning the wheelhouse right now...you can talk to him and keep both of you awake." Johnathan resisted the urge to roll his eyes...he knew his father was a hardass when it came to respect. Don't want to piss him off this early in the morning.

"You got it, Pop. Get some sleep...I'll handle everything."

He waited until the door closed behind his dad, and immediately reached for the volume knob of the stereo. The god-awful sound of Kenny Rogers' voice faded, and he breathed a sigh of relief. I don't think that me and the Old Man will EVER agree about choice of music. Leaving the volume down, he picked up the radio handset.

"Northwestern...you out there?"

Sig heard the crackle of the radio, and reached to turn down his own music. He picked up the handset, leaning back in the comfortable chair and propping his feet up.

"Yeah dude, I'm here. I see you got the night shift, too, huh?"

He could hear Johnathan's snort. "Yeah, me and Andy are the low men on the totem pole, you might say. How's Edgar? Still alive?"

Sig smiled to himself. No small thanks to you, he is.

"Yeah, he's good. Sleeping now." The oldest Hansen could feel emotion swelling up as he saw again in his mind the daring "transfer at sea" that his friends had executed to get his brother to him. He swallowed hard before continuing, "...hey, thanks for keeping him in one piece. You risked your life to get him to me. I really appreciate it." Johnathan could hear the seriousness in his friend's voice even through the static of the radio. He had younger brothers of his own, and knew he'd do it again in a heartbeat.

"No problem, Bro. I gotta tell you...me and Andy couldn't believe it when we saw him heaving over the side of the boat. My dad ran down there and grabbed him before we even knew what was happening." His chuckle grated through the speaker. "I saw the look on the Old Man's face. Holy shit, even he was a little freaked out. Then he walloped Edgar's ass once, pretty hard. The kid was almost in tears. I've been on the receiving end of one of those...it's not something you want to repeat."

Sig laughed snidely. "Yeah, right...you've probably been on the receiving end of lots of those. Admit it, you've never been what could be described as 'the Golden Child'. I've heard the stories. You're lucky you made it to your advanced age without your dad dropping you overboard."

Johnathan smiled sheepishly at his friend's words. He took a sip of his coffee, gazing around the dark wheelhouse. Depressing the handset button, he continued the conversation.

"C'mon, we're not talking about me. We're talking about your Little Bro. Man, your dad must be going crazy right about now. I'll keep an ear out on the radio chatter. If a Coast Guard signal picks up, I'll direct them to contact you. Must be one out on patrol somewhere around here. I wonder if your Pop has any idea that Edgar snuck on our boat. Holy shit, if my little brother did something like this, my dad would kill him. Not literally, but let's just say that sitting down would be a distant memory for some time."

Listening, Sig decided not to tell his friend about his plans to physically punish Edgar tomorrow. He wanted to respect the kid's privacy, and he wasn't sure how Johnathan would react. A lot of unchartered territory had been covered this past summer between himself and his brothers...emotional stuff that he sure didn't want to try to explain over the radio.

He kept his answer nonchalant, "Yeah, I'm sure my dad is gonna do the same. At least Edgar will be able to sit down for the next couple of weeks." After the sting from tomorrow wears off. He was glad when John changed the subject with his next words.

"Say, you ready for First Mate classes?" The remainder of Sig's wheel watch was filled with conversation between the two about boats, crabbing, and the coming season.

A/N: Not too long of a chapter this time...but enjoy! Thanks for sticking with me, and remember that the reviews totally MAKE MY DAY!

*****Happy 4th of July!*******