A/N: Thank you for all the reviews.
The Northwestern pulled into Akutan port just after 10 at night. The Trident Seafood processor was anxiously awaiting Sig's arrival. There was no wait and the Northwestern was immediately signaled to the dock. The unloaders lowered the brailers onto the deck and the entire crew walked out on deck to see the catch. As the bolts were released and the hatches were opened it became very clear the Northwestern was truly stuffed with crab. As the first tank was opened and drained the crabs were already trying to make a final bid for freedom. Samantha picked up a wayward crab and tossed it back into the tank.
"It's looking great" said Sig.
"Yeah, I've never seen it this stuffed" said Edgar.
"It's going to take them a while to unload all this" said Sig. "Lets make sure we keep an honest tally for them."
"I'll get the notebook" said Norman.
Samantha took the first shift of writing down the totals. Sig sat next to her for most of it noting how heavy the crab were. Every time he made a comment Samantha smiled and patted his knee.
"Did you think there would be this much crab in the hold?" asked Sig.
"No. I can't believe how much actually fits in the boat" replied Samantha.
Sig just smiled smugly then got up and headed inside. The moment Sig was out of sight Edgar looked around the deck before sidling up to Samantha.
"Hey" he said.
"I give them 2 minutes before they come out here and tell you to do something" said Samantha.
"Probably, lets make the most of it" said Edgar.
"Hang on" said Samantha as she wrote down the weight of the brailer. "Ok."
Edgar leaned down and was about 2 inches from kissing Samantha on the cheek when Norman slammed open the door.
"Edgar, Sig wants to see you" announced Norman.
Samantha and Edgar began laughing hysterically.
"Check ya later" said Edgar.
Samantha just smiled and waved as Edgar took the outside stairs up to the wheelhouse. Norman slid into the seat Edgar had just vacated.
"Was I interrupting anything?" asked Norman.
"Kind of, but I assume that was the plan" said Samantha.
Norman brushed off the question and grabbed the notebook from Samantha's hands.
"How's it going?" he asked.
"Good, the crabs are very heavy" said Samantha.
"Says who?" asked Norman.
"Says Sig and he's the captain so I'm sure he knows best" said Samantha with a roll of her eyes.
"If you want to rest or something I can take over" said Norman.
"Sounds good" said Samantha.
"Don't be too hard on him, he's probably out of practice" said Norman.
"Who are you talking about?" asked Samantha.
"Edgar" said Norman.
"Um, ok" said Samantha in confusion.
Edgar had finished sitting with Sig in the engine room looking through each of the engine's pneumatic components. Nothing was resolved except for Edgar's feeling that Sig was just down here to keep him away from Samantha.
"Sig, I can't find the problem. We need to go to Dutch and have it checked out" said Edgar in exasperation.
"Fine, I just hoped we'd be able to just turn around and get back out to our gear" said Sig.
"Really? We're just going to leave Samantha here?" asked Edgar in disbelief.
"She can fly out of here just like she can fly out of Dutch" replied Sig dismissively.
Edgar's eyes narrowed angrily.
"Or she can stay on the boat for the rest of the trip" said Sig quickly.
"Stay on the boat?" asked Edgar. "Why?"
"Because it's been nice to have someone make meals without bitching and everyone gets along with her, she's not costing us anything" explained Sig.
"It has been nice" said Edgar.
"But if she stays the no sex on the boat rule will be enforced" said Sig seriously.
"When did that rule start?" asked Edgar.
"It's always been there" said Sig.
"What for? In case Nick and Junior decide to take their relationship to the next level?" scoffed Edgar.
"Exactly. Besides it's not fair for one person on the boat to be getting some and leaving the rest out. It's like when you chew gum in class, you either don't chew it or have enough to share with everyone" said Sig.
"So basically if I want to have sex with Samantha then everyone gets to?" asked Edgar.
"Theoretically yes" said Sig.
"You have completely lost your mind" said Edgar.
"I'm just letting you know the rules" said Sig.
Edgar shrugged his shoulders, shook his head and left the engine room. Sig watched his retreating back wondering what parts of this conversation he'd be sharing with Samantha.
Samantha was sitting on the floor of the stateroom packing her clothes. All the shirts and pants were rolled into neat bundles waiting to be placed in the duffle bag. She was wearing a pair of bunny pajamas and a tank top. Matt and Nick were laying on their bunks watching her progress through half lidded eyes. Jake was fast asleep on the floor and Samantha had taken to using him as an impromptu table. He was currently holding a dozen pairs of socks balanced on his softly rising chest.
"Antha, I don't want you to go" said Matt sleepily.
"I only promised to stay until the winds changed" replied Samantha.
"What are you going to do now?" asked Nick.
"Right now I'm going to finish packing, then I'm going to sleep" said Samantha.
"That's not what I meant and you know it. What are you going to do once you get back to LA?" asked Nick.
"Look for a job. I'll maybe do some freelance editing until I find something permanent. It really depends on what's out there" said Samantha.
"Is it going to be hard to find a new job?" asked Matt.
"I have no idea. I'll probably have to work on my resume" said Samantha.
"We can help" volunteered Matt.
"I may take you up on that. Can I use you as a reference?" asked Samantha.
"Of course" said Matt. "Although I suggest waiting until after red crab season so your future bosses can actually get a hold of me."
"Good point. Maybe I'll take a nice long vacation until you guys are done fishing" said Samantha with a dreamy smile.
"Where would you go?" asked Nick.
"Somewhere warm and tropical. Maybe the caribbean" said Samantha.
"You should just wait and we'll go with you" said Nick.
"I don't know how much of a vacation that would be" said Samantha.
"It would be an amazing vacation. I promise" said Matt with a smirk.
"Hmm, I'll have to think about it" said Samantha.
Finishing up the last of her packing she climbed into her bunk and closed her eyes. Edgar appeared in the room an hour later and narrowly avoided stepping on Junior. Using Nick's bunk as a stepping stone he hoisted himself into Samantha's bunk.
"Hey Antha" he whispered.
"Hi" replied Samantha sleepily.
"Come with me" said Edgar. "I want to tell you something."
"Ok" said Samantha sleepily.
Edgar hopped down onto the floor and waited patiently for Samantha to climb down behind him. Once she was safely on the ground he guided her over Jake's sleeping body and into the hallway.
Edgar pulled Samantha into his stateroom which was blessedly empty. Pulling her down onto his bunk he laid down next to her. His lips sealed over hers and his hands flitted over her sleep softened body. Samantha stroked her hands under his shirt and attempted to pull it off him.
"Wait" said Edgar disengaging himself from Samantha.
"What? I thought we were waiting for this?" asked Samantha.
"I know, but I had a talk with Sig" said Edgar.
"Ok" said Samantha.
"He wants you to stay on the boat for the rest of the trip" said Edgar.
"What does that have to do with us? Doing this?" asked Samantha slipping her hands over Edgar's thigh.
"The only catch about us is that it needs to be fair for everyone" said Edgar.
"I don't understand" said Samantha.
"Basically if I have sex with you on the boat then everyone has to have the same opportunity just to be fair" explained Edgar.
"Like some sort of Northwestern gang bang?" asked Samantha.
Edgar bit his lip and looked away, the imagery that Samantha conjured up with her words making him hard.
"But that's only the rule on the boat" said Edgar helpfully.
"Oh" said Samantha. "But if I stay on the boat then no sex."
"Not necessarily" said Edgar.
"So you want me to have sex with everyone on the boat so it will be fair?" asked Samantha in disbelief.
"No. I mean unless you want to" said Edgar.
Samantha sat up and stared out at Norman's empty bunk trying to imagine herself laying in it. She shook her head unable to picture the image. Edgar's hand stroked down her back.
"I didn't mean to suggest that you do anything. I just wanted to tell you Sig's rule. A rule which I should mention I'm happy to break at any time" said Edgar.
"I don't want you to get in trouble" said Samantha.
"But trouble is my middle name" said Edgar with a smirk.
"I bet" said Samantha.
Edgar maneuvered Samantha so she was sitting astride him, his hands cupped her face and drew her mouth down into a searing kiss. Samantha's hands moved to twine into his hair scratching her nails along his scalp. Edgar's hands slipped into the back of her pants kneading the flesh of her bottom. Samantha responded by grinding herself down onto Edgar's erection. Slipping his hands to the hem of her tank top he was just about to lift it off of her when the door to the stateroom flew open.
"Hey, you're wanted on deck" announced Norman.
"Go fuck yourself" replied Edgar.
"I would never be able to if you're in here. Besides, I thought there was a rule of no sex on the boat" said Norman.
"Oh Sig said that if everyone gets some then it's fair" said Samantha.
Norman couldn't say anything his mouth was opening and closing like a fish out of water. Edgar got up pulling Samantha with him.
"Well lets go see what Sig wants" said Edgar pulling Samantha with him out of the room.
As they walked down the hall Edgar couldn't stop himself from laughing.
"Did you see Norman's face" said Samantha between giggles.
"Antha, you are in for a world of trouble" said Edgar.
**So clearly this story has the options of going two ways. I'm open to suggestions if you'd like to give me your opinions.