Mike sighed. He looked back, meeting Sam's eyes. "It's not my call, Sam. This is JayJay's boat. You'll have to come clean. Come on. Let's get it over with." He stood, waiting for Sam to join him.

And Sam did. He stood on shaky feet, grasping Bobby's email in his hand. The boy moved past the rest of the crew, face pale and hands trembling. He felt like he was walking his last mile as the two made their way to the captain.

JayJay spun around in his seat as Mike appeared at the top of the stairs. He smiled, "Mike. How are you?"

Mike nodded, "Still drawing breath. We can thank Sam for that." He smiled, stepping back and drawing the reluctant boy forward. "Sam has something to tell you, skip."

JayJay focused his attention on the young greenhorn. The boy looked terrified, and the skipper frowned. "What's wrong, Sam?"

Sam blushed pink, his head down. "I … uh ... " He twisted the email in nervous hands. "I …"

JayJay frowned at Mike over Sam's head. "Come on. It cannot be that bad?"

Sam looked up then, straight at JayJay. "I'm sixteen."

JayJay froze, leaning back. He met Mike's eyes. "Sixteen."

"Sixteen." Mike repeated sadly.

JayJay whistled. "I guessed seventeen. At seventeen, a boy can be a man, Sam. Sixteen … sixteen is always going to be a boy."

Sam's eyes were huge. "Please? Please let me stay? I can do the work, I swear. If I couldn't, I'd tell you."

"Why do you need to do a man's job so badly?"

Sam faltered, not wanting to sound pathetic. "I … my brother is … sick."

JayJay nodded. "Your mother? Father?"

"My mother is dead. My father is … I don't know where he is. It's just always been Dean and me."

JayJay blinked. "Come, Sam. Sit." He nodded at Mike, giving him leave to go.

Sam inched forward and sat down in the chair across the cabin. He was sure he knew what JayJay was about to say, but the man surprised him.

"Did you see her?"

Sam looked up, "What?"

"The goddess. She was in the water with you."

Sam's mouth dropped open. "You saw?"

JayJay held up binoculars, smiling. "I watch when there is a man in the water. You are special, slatsiin. On a good day, she flays fingers from the hands of fishermen like us. She chose to save you. You should feel flattered." He chuckled, "and you should take care to count the fingers on each hand."

Sam stared. "It was Sedna?"

JayJay's eyes widened, "You are familiar with the Inuit stories?"

"No, just Sedna. She's the goddess of the sea. Her father chopped off her fingers and now she does the same to fishermen who mistreat their teenage daughters."

JayJay's mouth thinned in thought. "That is only part of the story. She also protects children whose fathers hurt them. Boys and girls. I was surprised to see her beneath you, helping you regain your grip on the railing. But now I think I understand."

Sam gazed at his captain. "I think … I think she calmed the sea."

"I think the same. There was a storm, and then there wasn't. I think you saved more than Mike, young Sam. I think you being here may have saved my boat."

Normally, Sam was above using information like this to his advantage, but this was for Dean … "You should let me stay then. Maybe I'm good luck?" He grinned.

JayJay smiled, "I believe that is what is referred to as blackmail."

Sam shrugged. "Or fate."

JayJay stretched back, "When I arrived on the docks ten years ago, I had a fake ID and an empty belly. One captain was willing to take a chance on me. One. This was after a dozen others had turned me away. I was fresh from the reservation, feeling the pull of the sea. I would have died on the docks if one man had not shown me kindness. I would not have gone back. I could not breathe on the reservation. I do understand, my friend."

Sam felt the first spark of hope. "So … I can stay?"

JayJay nodded. "You do a man's share of work. You are excellent as a greenhorn. I see no advantage in turning back and putting you off my boat. It will put us behind and leave us a good man short. You are safe, Sam Hetfield. Now go, eat. You will need your strength for the crab."

Authors Note: Thank you to everyone who is reviewing and reading :) I love hearing from you. I took liberties with Sedna's legend to fit my story, so it's not the true Inuit legend that's represented here - just the basis.