So sorry for the long delay in updates! My computer got a NASTY virus on it, and I lost everything, and my poor computer has been getting fixed for the last 3 weeks. SOOO, I lost what I DID have written of this story, so I had to rewrite the chapter. Oh, and I do have Phil in this story, just to give you a heads up. Story wouldn't be the same without him, since this IS a continuation of my other story, and he was in that one as well.
Hope you guys enjoy, and please keep the reviews coming! They are like music to my ears! :)
Thanks to those that have reviewed so far! :)
The next week flew by, and they barely realized when the rest of the crew showed up on the boat. The engine was taking longer than either of them had anticipated, and Joelle couldn't help but point out the fact that they could have had it done months prior, but Edgar wouldn't hear of it.
"What do you mean it could take another week?" Sig barked, standing on the stairs to the engine room. "We are supposed to leave in two days!"
"I don't know what else to tell you. We had to wait for a part, and it just came in yesterday. We can only work as fast as our hands can go." Edgar argued back.
"I should never have let you guys come back when you did after salmon season. This could have been done and over with. I don't have time for my engine to not be in good working order."
"Like any of us expected this to be as big of a job it is."
"I'm going to send Norman down here to help you guys."
"Not worth it! Keep him up on deck so that he can get the pots ready to fish, and the bait on board. Three people down here are too many." Edgar said, shaking his head as he went back to work.
Sig stormed up the stairs mumbling to himself, and Joelle glanced at Edgar, stifling a smile.
"Your fights just aren't as good as they used to be." Joelle said, shaking her head.
"Not worth getting into it with him."
"Either that, or you are saving all of your energy for one big fight." Joelle said, smiling.
Edgar didn't respond to the comment, just kept on working.
"You really aren't going to tell me what is eating at you, huh?" She asked, sitting back as she crossed her arms.
"Can't you just help me get this done?" He asked, glancing over his shoulder at her.
"I don't know what you are hiding, but I swear to god, I will kick your ass if you don't tell me soon, or if you take it out on me anymore than you already are."
Edgar ignored her comment, and then threw the wrench he was holding down, and grabbed his soda that was sitting on the floor near him and took a drink.
The two of them went back to work in silence, and Joelle was lost in her thoughts until Jake came bouncing down the stairs.
"Wacha' doin'?" He asked, sitting down on the stairs.
"Quit sounding like a teenage chick, Junior. What do you want?" Edgar barked.
"We're all headed to the Elbow Room, and wanted to see if you guys wanted to join."
"Yeah, that would go over well with Sig." Joelle said, snickering.
"I heard the Time Bandit's new greenhorn is going to be there tonight."
"No wonder why you guys are going. Want to check out the fresh meat, eh?" Edgar asked.
"I just want to see if she is hotter than Joelle, that's all."
Joelle rolled her eyes.
"We have work to do, Junior." Edgar said, waving him off.
"Don't say I didn't ask." He responded, then ran up the stairs.
Joelle glanced at Edgar, who had a scowl on his face.
"You really don't want to go? We haven't had a break in over a week."
Edgar sat back, rubbing his forehead with the back of his arm.
"You deserve a break, old man." Joelle said with a smile.
"Why is it again that I put up with you?" He asked, glancing over at her.
"Because you love me, and you would have me no other way." She said with a smile.
"You know if we go, Sig will have a conniption fit."
"Who said I'm going?" She asked. "I'm not pissing off the uncle."
"So you're not going?"
"Nope. I think one of us should stay back and keep working, that way Sig doesn't get angry."
"So I'm allowed to go, but you're going to stay behind to look like the perfect deckhand?"
Joelle laughed at the comment, rolling onto her back.
"You're right. You're the farthest thing from a perfect deckhand."
"And you're mistaken if you think I'm staying on this boat."
"What? I thought you didn't want to make Sig mad?"
"No, this way I can say that I objected to this in the beginning, but you dragged me along anyway."
"Pure evil. You really were raised by us, huh?"
"There is no denying it." Joelle said, standing up and running up the stairs. She headed straight to the bathroom to take a quick shower. She then changed into a pair of skinny jeans and a black, form fitting sweatshirt, and then threw on a pair of her favorite dress boots. She blow dried her hair quickly, and put on a light layer of make-up, then headed out to the galley.
"Why are you all dressed up?" Edgar asked.
"Why not? It's the last time I will get a chance to do this in a couple months. I want to look nice."
"You're hoping to see Crosby."
"Well, that too." She said with a smile. She hadn't seen him since they had arrived in Dutch. She knew they arrived safely, but they both were so busy with their boats, that neither of them had a chance to visit each other.
The two of them headed to the bar, and when they got there, Joelle immediately looked for Crosby, but was disappointed to see that no one from the Wizard was there.
"Maybe they are on their way." Someone said to her in her ear as she looked around the bar. She turned to see Josh Harris standing by her.
"Maybe. How are you?" She asked, giving him a hug.
"Ready to get fishing. I heard there are troubles over on your boat." He said as the two of them headed towards the bar.
"You could say that. Our engine still isn't put back together, and it will take a miracle to have it done by the end of the week."
"Oh yes, we have heard. Sig has been bitching to my dad for the past hour now about it." He said, pointing to the bar where Sig and Phil Harris were sitting.
"Yeah, well, the whole bar is about ready to hear Sig when he realizes Edgar and myself are here."
"Yeah, probably. You are wasting time that could be devoted to the engine."
Joelle nodded, and then heard a slam on the bar just as Jamie, the bartender, was setting a couple drinks in front of Josh and herself. She looked over and saw Sig looking right at Edgar, and then back at her.
"Hey, might as well get this over with now, eh?" Joelle mumbled to Josh, before heading over to where Sig was standing.
"What the hell do you two think you are doing?" Sig screeched, his face turning red.
"Enjoying a beer, taking a break. You know, it is our first one in over a week." Edgar said, taking a drink of his beer.
"How do I know that? I haven't been here the whole time you two were supposed to be working. Maybe that's why my boat is dead in the water."
"Yes, I love working for no money, Sig. It's what I live for. We're enjoying a couple of drinks, and then sleeping for the night. Us working right now won't change the fact that we aren't leaving in two days. Plus, don't you think that Joelle should see her fiancé one last time before they head out?"
Sig glanced over at Joelle, and she could tell he was still fuming.
"Fine. Where's Crosby?"
"Not here yet." Phil said. "Just chill. One night out isn't going to make things that much worse."
Sig shook his head, lighting a cigarette, turning away from them.
"Plus, don't you want to hang out with your favorite niece?" Joelle asked, smiling at him as she stood next to him.
He glanced over at her out of the corner of his eye, taking a drag of his cigarette. He watched her snatch his cigarette case and steal one, and then light it.
"You just know I can't stay mad at you." He said, shaking his head.
"It's why I get away with as much as I do." She said, smiling at him. She gave him a quick kiss on the cheek, and then headed over to where the Time Bandit crew was sitting.
"Joelle! Where ya' been my whole life?" Mike asked, smiling as she walked up.
"Waiting for you? Where have you been?"
"Stuck with these assholes. Come make it better."
Joelle laughed, shaking her head. She gave him a kiss on the cheek in greeting, then sat on his lap, setting her drink on the table.
"We were wondering if you were going to join us." Andy asked, smiling at her.
"Not even Sig can keep me from a drink with my favorite crew."
"Hey, I heard that." Matt said, slapping Joelle on the back of the head as he walked by.
"Second favorite." Joelle added, watching Matt with a smile.
It was then that Joelle noticed the new greenhorn on the Time Bandit. She was sitting in between Eddie and Scott, quietly watching everyone as they talk amongst themselves. Joelle couldn't help but think that she was going to be eaten alive by the crew at the table, but kept her mouth shut.
"So, are you guys going to introduce me, or are you gonna' be rude all night?" Joelle asked, slapping Eddie in the shoulder.
"Oh, yes, this is Katrina, our new greenhorn. Kat, this is Joelle." Eddie said, making the introduction.
"What do you do?" Katrina asked, trying to make conversation.
Everyone at the table but Joelle laughed at the comment, making Katrina blush as she bit her lower lip. Her shyness wasn't going to help her at all, Joelle thought.
"This is the chick you need to strive to be like. However, there is no way you would be able to measure up." Johnathan said, taking a drink of his beer.
Katrina gave him a questioned look.
"This is Joelle Hansen. Works on the Northwestern."
"Oh, wow, now I recognize you. You look nothing like on TV."
"I know. TV makes me look like a guy." Joelle said, making a face.
"One sexy dude." Andy said, but then bit his tongue.
"Really, Andy, you would know a sexy guy if you saw one?" Joelle asked, crossing her arms as she leaned back against Mike, smiling.
"Shit, if guys looked like you do right now, then yes."
"What does your wife think of this?"
"On that note, I'm going to get our crew shots."
The guys laughed at Andy's departure, as he ignored the question.
"So, Kat, ever been on a boat before?" Joelle asked, lighting a cigarette.
"Yeah. I grew up on boats. My father is a fisherman." She said.
"Anyone I know?" She asked.
"No. He mainly fishes lobster. Nothing like this."
"So, what made you decide to do this then?" She asked curiously.
"Wanted to prove to my family and friends that even though I'm quiet, I can do crazy things too."
"Even with these guys?"
"I can handle it." She said.
"This is definitely not a walk in the park." Scott said, watching her. "I hope I don't have to pick up the slack after you."
"You won't. Just you watch." She confidently responded. Joelle had a hard time believing her.
"Alright, crew shots all around." Andy said, coming to the table with a tray full of shots.
"What is it this time?" Joelle asked, glancing at it with a face.
"Do we ever tell you? Just get your crown and coke ready, and take the shot with us." Andy responded, smiling at her.
Joelle made a face, and as Johnathan made the toast, she downed the shot, and before she could taste it, she drank from her crown and coke, hoping the taste would go away.
"I think I just drank vomit." She said, making a face.
"Okay, I have questions." Kat said, sitting up as she set her shot down on the table.
"Damn, it's starting already."
"First, why did Joelle do the crew shot with us, if she is on the Northwestern?"
"She's our honorary member." Mike said, smiling at Joelle as she finished off her drink, still trying to get the taste of the shot out of her mouth.
"This here is the only chick that is worthy enough to join our crew. No offense, but you wouldn't be on the boat if Discovery didn't set this up." Johnathan answered.
She nodded.
"What's the other question?" Mike asked.
"Okay, so, I thought you were dating Crosby." She asked Joelle.
"I am actually engaged to him, why?" She asked.
"I just watch the way you flirt with everyone in this bar since you got here, and do you really think that it is appropriate? I mean, is Crosby really okay with that?"
Joelle's mouth dropped open at the comment, and found herself a little annoyed with it.
"Wow, I sense a little tension between the two chicks of Dutch Harbor." Scott said, sitting back in his seat.
"Do you know me?" Joelle asked, smiling sweetly at Katrina.
"Well…"
"Just because you see me on TV, doesn't mean that you know a damn thing about me sweetheart. Just because you got a 'pass' to get here, doesn't mean that you are accepted into our community, and get to pass judgment on other people. I am very much in love with my fiancé, and he means the world to me. My friendships up here, however, are none of your business. You don't know me, and you never will know me. All I can tell you is, you just set yourself up for a difficult time fitting in." She said, standing up. "Gentleman, it was great seeing you. You all stay safe out there."
"Joelle, don't go." Eddie said, shaking his head. Everyone at the table seemed upset with what Katrina had said, and Johnathan looked even more annoyed with the fact that Discovery was making them take her out with them at that point.
"I came out to see my fiancé, and unfortunately, he isn't here, so I am going to him." She said.
"You know we will deal with this, right?" Andy asked her, walking with her away from the table.
"I hope you do, because the bitch needs to be put in her place." Joelle said, turning to him.
"You know you're our girl. You stay safe out there yourself, got it?" He asked her.
She smiled, giving him a hug.
Joelle walked out of the bar, definitely not unnoticed, and headed down to the docks. She walked over to where the Wizard was docked, and immediately saw everyone busy at work.
"Well, well, well, look at all you guys acting like you're working." Joelle said, as she walked up to the boat.
"Yeah, you look like you're pretty busy yourself." Monty said, smiling at Joelle.
"I deserve a break working for the goons I work with." She said, leaning against one of the pillars on the dock.
"I heard you guys aren't heading out at the start of the season." Crosby said, smiling at his fiancé.
"You heard right. The engine is dead in the water. I have a feeling we'll be leaving just a couple days after the rest of the fleet."
"Then why aren't you working on the engine now?" Monty asked.
"Edgar and I wanted a break, and we wanted to meet the new greenhorn on the Time Bandit."
"Is she going to be eaten alive by those guys?" Monty asked.
Joelle smiled at the comment.
"I sure as hell hope so."
"Is someone jealous she isn't the only chick in Dutch anymore?"
"Hell no. It'll be nice to not have the spotlight on me anymore. I just wish she wasn't such a bitch."
"Wow, you sound like most chicks I know when they meet you." Travis said, laughing.
Joelle flipped him off with a smile on her face. It was then that Crosby came off the boat and walked over to her. She immediately wrapped her arms around his neck, giving him a kiss.
"I wish I could stop and spend time with you." He said to her, smiling.
"I know you're busy, but I had to see you before you guys headed out. I knew tomorrow was going to be insane for everyone, and didn't want to take my chance in not seeing you."
"You're right. I would definitely not have been able to see you tomorrow." He said, giving her another kiss.
"You two make me sick." Monty said, throwing something down on the ground.
Joelle couldn't help but smile at the comment.
"I really should get back to work." He said, making a face at her.
"Stay safe out there, okay?" She said to him, sighing.
"Only if you do the same." He responded with a smile.
The two of them gave each other one last parting kiss before she watched him jump back on the boat to get back to work. She sighed, and then headed back towards the Northwestern. Once on board, she headed down to the galley and grabbed a bag of chips before going into her room. She laid in bed as she munched on the chips, depressed. She always was when she left Crosby, not knowing when she would see him again. She just had to remember that the season would go by quickly, like it always did, and she would be back in his arms soon.
There ya' have it. Hope to have updates more frequently now that my computer is back in tip top shape. :)
Please tell me what you think! :)