Rejoice all ye mortals! Another chapter is up!

This chapter is dedicated to:

Amberly:

Just when I'm about to give up on this story, somebody sends me a review like yours. You are the type of person that keeps this story going!

Sarah-K-O-M: you are such a sweet girl! Chippy Kipp- lol

LittleCountryDragon: wisdom teeth? Oww! I know how that goes. I was so drugged up on vicadin I was laughing at the battle death scenes in "Gone With the Wind". That is, until our transformer blew up and knocked out our power…

Ponysteph15: merci beaucoup

AKAfredandgeorge: ok, so his name is Christopher, but people call him Kipp. Chip was his nickname when he was younger, he changed it to Kipp as soon as he started going to school. Jack just calls him that to annoy him, and is the only one who can get away with it.

Second Star to the Left: um, no it's not, I don't use TV shows…sorry.

Darkangelkikyo2323: thanks dearie! Oh, did that make me sound like an old lady? Creepy.

AKAFredandGeorge: very…short

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Katrina sat for a moment, collecting her thoughts. "Why?" she asked.

Kipp shrugged. "He's new to my crew. I like to know the type of men I employ. What better way then to ask someone that seems particularly… close to him?" He paused and tugged the blue sash from his waist. "Let me see your ankle."

"Close?" Katrina repeated, shifting so Kipp could inspect her ankle. "Yes, I suppose we are. It made many of the girls jealous, both at Bridgewood and the village nearby. He was considered quite the catch, most eligible bachelor and all such stuff.

"If it wasn't for Rachel I might have never met Link."

"Rachel?"

"Sera's mother." Katrina clarified. "She was one of the first people I met at Bridgewood and we became good friends. Link saw her as a younger sister, he was very protective of her, and of me. I think that is part of why the other girls were jealous of our friendship. But friendship isn't the right word, is it? Link is more than a friend," Kipp threw her a quick glance before returning to his ministrations. "He is more like a brother than anything else."

"That ought to do it." Kipp tied off the last knot. "You'll have to stay off of your ankle as much as possible for the next day or two. But it will be fine, just a small strain."

"How do you know so much?"

Kipp shrugged. "Picked it up, here and there." He said as he helped her up. Katrina, trying not to put weight on her ankle, wobbled on one foot and grabbed Kipp's sleeves to keep from falling. He automatically grabbed her upper arms to steady her.

Katrina blushed furiously, realizing that her face was pressed into Kipp's chest and shakily stood up. she looked into Kipp's serious expression. He shook one arm free of her grasp, wrapped it around her back and leaned down. His other arm hit the back of her knees, effectively picking her up in his arms.

"I thought you said I could walk on my ankle!" Katrina protested.

"As little as possible for the next few days." Kipp reminded her with a grin. "Doctor's orders."

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Sera was busy picking an armload of flowers that grew where the beach met the trees while Link helped his crew mates load the newly filled barrels of fresh water into a boat. He paused to wipe his forehead when he saw Kipp carrying Katrina out of the woods.

Link reached them just as Kipp set Katrina down under the sailcloth awning

"Thank you. " Katrina said with an easy smile.

"You are welcome. I need to talk to my uncle now. Excuse me." With that Kipp turned and went to seek out Jack.

"Kitty!" Link knelt down by her. "What happened? Are you hurt?"

"I'm fine, Link. Just a twisted ankle is all. " Katrina assured him.

"Kitty!" Sera came and set the flowers down.

"How pretty, do you want me to show you how to make a flower necklace?"

Sera nodded "Why don't you get some long grass? We'll need some of that too." Sera scampered off to the closest grass, carefully plucking handfuls of the stuff. Katrina looked at Link and sighed at his concerned expression. "Link, I really am fine. I just need to be careful with my ankle for a few days…"

"Link, give us a hand mate!" one of the crew called.

"Go." Katrina encouraged with a shooing motion.

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One flower necklace, flower crown, two flower bracelets and a flower ring later, Kipp returned. "I just finished talking to my uncle." He stated. "We are headed to Port Royal."

"Port Royal?" Katrina started.

"Yes. He knows some people there that will be willing to take both of you in. You'll be traveling on my ship as my uncle has had some… disagreeable interactions with the law there. We also managed to get Anamaria to loan you a skirt. We will be leaving as soon as we finish loading supplies."

"Thank you." Katrina said softly.

Kipp nodded his head in the form of a bow and turned to oversee the rest of the supplies loaded.

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Kipp looked down at her sleeping form with a half grin. He hated to wake her. He dropped to one knee and gently shook her shoulder.

Katrina groaned softly but settled back into sleep. Kipp shook harder. "Not now, Sera." she mumbled, barely coherent and rolled to her side. Kipp grinned a fraction wider and bent down. "Kitten."

Katrina opened her eyes and sleepily blinked at him, rolling onto her back. "Hmm?'

"Time to get going, Kitten."

She sat up and stretched with a yawn.

"Where?"

"Back to the ships."

"Already?"

"Yes." Kipp said amused. "It has been two hours."

"Alright." Katrina nodded, slightly more awake.

Kipp picked her up.

"I'm not invalid." She said, arms automatically going around his neck.

"Only injured." Kipp added.

"If I didn't know better," she casually teased. "I'd say you enjoy carrying me around."

Kipp merely grinned. "Who said I didn't?"

Katrina gave him a mock glare. "You're teasing me again."

"Here we are." He sat Katrina down in a rowboat. "Will you be able to climb the ladder?"

"I'm sure I'll manage." She replied as a flower bedecked Sera, who was already in the boat, climbed onto her lap.

Kipp grinned at her and helped shove off the boat.

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Link watched the exchange between his captain and his Kitty. When Kipp turned back to the beach to help with the other boats, Link stalled him.

"Captain."

"Yes, sailor?" Kipp answered, still grinning.

"I know you are my superior," Link began, face dead serious. "but if you hurt her, you won't live to regret it."

Kipp's grin vanished. "Is that a threat, sailor?"

"A promise." Link replied, still serious.

"I could have you keelhauled for insubordination."

"I know that."

Kipp suddenly grinned and placed his hand on Link's shoulder. "She's lucky to have your friendship and loyalty."

"Thank you, captain." Link replied with a grin of his own.

"Let's get these boats going, eh?"

"Yes, sir."

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Male bonding, I will never quite understand it…though I hope I portrayed it well.

Did any of you think Kipp was gonna kiss Katrina? I just had to put that in, it was just too tempting to leave alone, sorry.

I know it is too short in length for how long I made you wait. this chapter was kinda hard to write and I picked up a second job for the holidays. It has been hard to find the time... Thanks for your patiance.

More familiar faces showing up in the next chapter or two…

quote:

Why is the chocolate always gone?

-me