Thank you so much to all who have reviewed and Emom for being my beta reader. I hope everyone is enjoying my story so far. Sorry it has taken this long to update. It has been really crazy.

Just a side point, the crab fishermen on Deadliest Catch will be starting king crab season on the 15th. May they be in out prayers as they go out on the Bering Sea.

On the Northwestern...

The 5 deckhands were on the deck, trying to tie the crab pots together for the trip out to the fishing grounds. They had about 6 hours before dark and wanted to have the boat ready so Sig could leave that night. Plus, they decided to talk in private while the Discovery boys weren't filming them on deck.

"You know, I thought for sure that paramedic was going to be hard on the eyes, you know, being assigned out here of all places, but, damn, she's hot!" Jake Anderson said, tying two pots together half way up the stack. When he first saw Karen, his eyes just about bugged out. He was glad they didn't stay long in the wheelhouse or he would have made a fool of himself and drooled right there.

Matt threw Norman a line as he said, "I know. I would have never guessed! It is going to be hard to keep my mind out here, knowing she's on board!"

Norman didn't say anything, he just grinned as he tied a pot on top of the stack. Norman was a man of few words, but his silence said a lot. Nick was next to him, also tying. Nick's mind was not on the paramedic, but his family back home.

"Ya think! I can't believe they sent her out here. This is going to be fun!" Matt said, grinning from ear to ear.

Even though it was against tradition to have a woman on board, Edgar was beginning to think that that tradition was really over rated. But, he did start plotting a few jokes to play on Karen, not realizing that she was doing the same thing.

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Later that night, the Northwestern pulled out of Dutch Harbor and set a course for the fishing grounds. Karen was up in the wheelhouse, checking her gear over and making sure she was ready for anything. She was trying to get some of her paperwork done. She still couldn't believe she was here. Her one partner was on another boat, heading out to the fishing grounds as well, the other partner still in LA. She already missed the warm weather and going out to surf and just being with the guys.

She watched the camera guy as he was filming Sig. This whole thing was a new experience for the young paramedic. She watched the show some, but to see the filming in real life was something else. She went back to her paperwork, unaware the cameraman had just turned the camera over to her to film.

Sig watched from the corner of his eye. He couldn't believe that the woman paramedic assigned was as pretty as she was. Not that he was looking or anything. Kristina was at home and a better wife he could not find. He loved her with all his heart and missed her with all his heart while he was fishing. Karen was old enough to be his daughter.

Sig realized that his guys on the deck might be a different story, noticeably Jake and Matt. He could almost guarantee that those two would be at it before they even reached the grounds. He made a mental note to talk to them about leaving her alone.

He started to smell whatever it was Matt was cooking the galley. He realized that he was hungry. He set the auto pilot and stood up. "Hey Karen, let's head on down and get some food. Smells like Matt is almost done."

"Sounds good to me, I could use a break," she replied also standing. She didn't realize how much time had passed and how hungry she was. The cameraman followed them down the stairs.

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The 6 fishermen and 1 paramedic were eating spaghetti in the galley while the camera guys took a break to eat too.

"So Karen, what part of California are you from?" Edgar asked, taking a drink of his coke.

"I live in Carson. It's about 10 minutes out of LA. Carson is where the station I'm assigned to is," she replied, finishing the noodles on her plate. No one noticed the camera guys finishing their food and getting their cameras and filming the conversation taking place.

"How long have you been a paramedic?" Sig asked, getting seconds on the food.

"I've been a firefighter for 8 years and 6 of those I have been a paramedic too. How long have you guys been fishermen?"

"I've been fishing since I was 14. I became captain at 22, so I've been fishing officially for 27 years. But Edgar, Norman and I were all raised on this boat. Dad was captain before me," Sig replied.

"Cool. So you are generation fishermen. That's neat. What about you three?" she asked, waving over at Nick, Matt and Jake.

"Three years for me," Jake said, slurping up a piece of spaghetti.

"Ten for me," Matt said, standing up.

"I've been fishing for 18 years," Nick said.

"Wow. It's a lot like fireman. Some are fireman like their fathers and grandfathers before them. Wow, that is really cool guys. You must love what you do."

"Oh yeah. Fishing is great. What do you do when your not on duty?" Jake asked, washing down his dinner with his milk.

"I like to surf, and just hang out with friends. I don't have any family left, so the guys and their wives and kids are all I have. It's great to hang out with them."

"I'm so sorry to hear that," Sig said sincerely, realizing there was much more to this young girl than met the eye.

"Yeah, they died about seven years ago in a car accident. I miss them so much. I lost them when I was 19 years old. I felt so angry that they had died. It happened at a time I needed them most. But Cap and his wife had really taken me under their wing and I confide in them like they are my mom and dad. They will never take my parents place, just direct me when I need it." Karen sat in silence for a moment.

"Well, Matt that was good dinner," Sig said, breaking the silence as he grabbed a cup of coffee and headed back for the wheelhouse. He realized that this was not the time to get into anything sentimental, lest he upset her.

"Thanks," he replied, starting to clear the table; the others helping him. As they cleared, they didn't notice Karen slip away quietly to the stateroom her gear was in. Nor the tracks of a few tears as they rolled down her cheeks.