A/N: Normally the guys fish red king crab but sometimes they fish blue king crab. There's not much difference except the color. But blues tend to be harder to catch because the blue king fishing grounds are a much smaller area than reds. This season the CM had to fish blues as well as red or else the boat wouldn't have been able to go fishing at all. Good numbers for Blue Kings average between 20-30 crab per pot, the CM was averaging 2-3. The launcher is the part of the boat where the crab pots are put before they go in/after they come out of the water. The spotting of a seagull especially an albatross is said to be the spirits of sailors that are gone. Convo between Harris boys and Derrick is pulled from the show.
Chapter 26
Skye and the boys finally arrive on the blue crab grounds. Everyone seemed to be in good spirits which is always a good sign. Even Derrick appeared to be in a good mood. She awoke first and after giving Josh a good morning kiss, made her way to the kitchen to start coffee and begin breakfast just like she'd always done. She made the boys a hearty opening day breakfast feast: French toast, eggs, home fried potatoes, sausage and grits (southern grits with salt, pepper and lots of butter!).
After full plates and stomachs, the boys hit the deck to pull their first pots of blue crab. Skye assumed her chores getting the galley and kitchen back in order. Once she was finished, her only desire was to go up the wheelhouse steps and see Phil sitting in the captains' chair. Knowing that Derrick was at the helm full time instead was a realization she just wasn't ready to face yet. Still, she knew it was the only place on the vessel that she could keep a watchful eye on Josh as he worked. After willing herself up the stairs, she got to the door and started to reach for the knob but stopped dead in her tracks.
"I-I can't do it!" she exclaimed.
"What'd you say girlie?" asked Todd, who'd been filming her from behind.
"I can't do it. I can't go in there! I just can't do it!" she cried again, only this time running down the stairs back to the galley. The same feeling of numbness and grief from that first day back in Dutch returned. All she could do was sit in the empty galley with Todd, lay her head on her arms at the galley table and sob.
After a few minutes she felt someone's hands on her shoulders. Thinking it was Todd again she tried to shake them off.
"Todd seriously, I'm not in the mood. I know you're trying to help but I just want Josh. I know that sounds selfish to take him away from his work on deck, but I can't help it."
"Angel it's me. Todd's out on deck. I can stay for just a bit if you want."
Skye rose from her seat at the table and was met by an instant embrace from her fiancé.
She couldn't help but resume crying. Through her tears she heard Jake's voice ask if she was okay.
"Yea man, I think she'll be fine. She's just grieving like the rest of us," answered Josh.
Jake simply nodded and without being asked wrapped Skye up in a Harris brother group hug.
Being surrounded by the members of her new family, Skye felt relief for the first time in a long time. With their grieving being shared, it made her feel at ease again.
With a sense of reassurance, she watched the boys return to the deck while she set her stresses aside and faced the music upstairs.
Skye finally made her way back into the wheelhouse with Todd following dutifully behind her. As she settled into the other chair across from Derrick, she noticed a huge albatross seagull had landed on the launcher. The bird had been following them since they left Dutch. Being one of the first to spot the feathered animal, she whispered, "Hey Phil! We miss you so much buddy. I know you're always with us but your boys need you. Hell, I need you! They'll make you proud old man! I know they will."
Josh and Freddie must've had the same feeling because when she re focused on the guys, they were giving the bird good luck rubs.
The day wore on and the pots were pulled. Unfortunately, the number of crabs in the pots remained low. They just couldn't seem to find the crab, no matter how hard Derrick seemed to be trying. In between strings, Josh and Jake with Skye sitting on the far side of the wheelhouse, had a conversation with Derrick about the money the boys were losing. The captains' response? Writing out each percentage and then claiming that "they weren't going to fail."
"Ya know, I've been dreamin' about the ol' man for the past couple nights for the hour of sleep that I get ya know, hoping that I don't fail hoping that I'm making the right decisions."
Josh went on about how much Phil meant to him and how difficult taking this next journey without his skipper/father had been so far. Skye's only desire in that moment was to wrap Josh up in her embrace. She knew how disheartening their situation was and how much pressure Josh was under to succeed at keeping the Harris Family business afloat. But she didn't dare move from her seat, at least not until she and Josh were alone.
"Us as a team are not going to fail at this," their skipper replied with confidence.
Somehow, it didn't help Skye's worried feelings that they were in fact going to fail. But, she knew in the end that Josh's determination to keep The Harris operation going. Josh grabbed her hand away from the wheelhouse and into their stateroom. Once away from prying eyes, she wrapped Josh up in a hug afterward providing him with a loving kiss.
"You are doin' all you can to keep this thing goin'. Everybody knows that baby. Your dad would be so proud of you."
"Thanks Angel. That makes me feel a lot better. Honestly, I don't know what I'd do if I ever lost you too. God, I love you so much! Can't wait till you're my wife!"
Skye giggled lightly. "I love you so much too baby. Me either!"
They shared a loving kiss after which they could hear the grumblings of a hungry crew.
"Sis I know you're lovin on ya man, but uh… We hungry out here!" kidded Jake from outside the door.
"I'm comin!"
They shared one last kiss before joining the rest of the crew for a hearty meal. Josh glanced over at his fiancé as she cooked and somehow his burdens didn't seem so heavy. He knew with her at his side, the world was a little brighter!
