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On the Northwestern...
Things weren't getting any better for Sig Hansen. The storm still hadn't died down, the Coast Guard was on their way to rescue his youngest brother, who was still on the floor in the galley. Norman had taken Matt's place holding pressure on Edgar's arm that was still bleeding slightly. Jake was sitting nearby, his arm in a makeshift sling. And now, his paramedic was unconscious on the floor of the wheelhouse.
"Damn it all to hell!" Sig yelled, pounding his fist on the wooden dash in front of him. His coffee cup rattled as the board shook. This was not how he pictured this King crab season. For the most part, his guys sucked up their injuries and got right back to working on deck. Sig didn't want to be the first to admit that he had been scared to death. First, he thought he lost his whole crew when the rogue wave washed over them. Then he thought for sure he lost Edgar. The thought that his brother almost bled to death was enough to make this normally clear headed captain turn his boat around and head for St. Paul.
He looked darkly over the unstable waters of the Bering Sea, realizing that he almost lost his family to the watery deep. He sighed deeply before turning his attention back to Karen. He noticed that her breathing seemed irregular, like she wasn't getting enough air.
"Oh damn it!" he yelled, getting on the loud hailer. "I need one of you up here now!"
He threw the mic down as he heard heavy footsteps on the wheelhouse stairs.
"Sig, what's going on?" Matt asked, noticing for the first time the paramedic was on the floor.
"I'm not sure. I need you to take the wheel. Karen passed out a few minutes ago. I called her partner on the Time Bandit and he told me what to do. I've tried waking her, but she won't wake up. Plus now she is starting to have trouble breathing."
Matt sat in the captain's chair, taking Sig's place. Sig kneeled on the floor next to Karen. He noticed that she seemed to be going pale and her skin taking on a blue color.
"Oh damn it! Matt, check with the Coast Guard, see how much longer before they get here," Sig yelled, taking his jacket off and putting it under Karen's head.
"What's wrong?" Matt asked, glancing over at his boss. He could tell that her condition was going south fast as he grabbed the mic. "Northwestern calling Coast Guard Kodiak. Northwestern calling Coast Guard Kodiak. Come in Coast Guard."
"This is the Coast Guard, Northwestern. Go ahead with your transmission."
"We need your ETA to our vessel. Our paramedic is now unconscious and having difficulty breathing," replied Sig, who had grabbed the mic from Matt.
"Our ETA is 5 minutes Northwestern. Have you determined her injuries?"
"Yes we have. She may have a sprained ankle, cracked ribs, a slight concussion and most likely a punctured lung. Something is not right. Her breathing has gotten worse. I believe her lung may collapse."
Matt's head jerked up when he heard Sig describing Karen's condition. Man she is getting worse.
"10-4 Northwestern. We are 2 minutes from your location. We will be sending a rescue swimmer down to assess the injuries and help evacuate them."
"10-4 Coast Guard. Northwestern out," Sig replied, handing the mic back to Matt. "Keep an eye out up here, I'm going below to let them know what is going on."
Matt heard him run down the steps to the galley below. He heard a slight moan and glanced over at Karen. He saw that she was trying to wake up. "Karen! Karen wake up!" he said as his eyes went back to the rough sea.
Karen's eyes opened a slit and she looked over Matt. "Ma..Matt. Wh..what happened?" she asked, her breathing ragged.
"You passed out. The Coast Guard is almost here. Just take it easy," he replied, glancing back at her when he heard her gasp loudly. Her face was contourting with pain and starting to turn blue. Plus he could tell she definately wasn't getting enough air. "Sig! Sig, Karen's having trouble breathing!" Matt bellowed, knowing his captain could hear him below.
He heard a muffled curse then pounding footsteps as Sig and Nick ran up the stairs. They both ran for Karen, kneeling next to her.
"Karen can you hear me?" Pain filled brown eyes tore into Sig and Nick's hearts as she nodded her head. She was gasping for air, the pain unbearable.
Sig heard the J-hawk first and jumped to his feet. "Matt, go lead him in! Nick, take care of her! She's going to have to be the first to go!" he yelled as Matt ran downstairs and Sig reclaimed his chair. His eyes stayed on the sea, every now and then traveling back to the suffering paramedic. Sig felt so out of control, not being able to help her. His head whipped around again when he heard footsteps on the stairs. He saw Matt run up with an orange clad Coast Guard carrying a board behind him.
"She's over here," Matt said as he flew to Karen's side. The rescuer kneeled next to her as well.
"Hi, I'm Alex. We're going to get you up into the J-Hawk and help you breath better, okay?" Karen again nodded slightly. Alex laid the board beside her then looked at the other two. "I need you guys to help me move her over onto the board, okay?"
Matt and Nick nodded before one grabbed her legs, one her midsection and Alex took her head and neck. "Okay, one, two, three," Alex said as they gently moved her onto the board. Karen began to fidget as Alex strapped her down loosely. "Hey, its okay, its just for a few minutes okay sweetie?" Karen again nodded.
Alex and Matt lifted the board up and began to head down the wheelhouse steps. Sig watched them leave.
"They'll be fine Sig," Nick said, coming behind his captain. Sig didn't respond, just kept looking out at the sea and trying to keep his vessel steady. He didn't want to admit that he was worried. He glanced over his shoulder to see that Nick was still there.
"I know, I know. Could you do me a favor? Can you go down and check to make sure the rescue guy takes care of Edgar and Junior? I just want to make sure they make it okay."
"No problem," Nick replied, heading down to the galley.
Alone again in the wheelhouse, Sig's eyes stayed on the rough waters outside as his mind began to wander and his heart began to ache. He knew it was bad for Karen. Her breathing was even worse when they took her downstairs. His prayer was that she survived the flight to St. Paul.
He looked outside and watched as the helicopter left and their vessel was once again alone. Sig jumped a foot when a hand landed on his shoulder. So engrossed in watching the seas that he didn't hear Norman come up.
"Their on their way. The Coast Guard took all three of them. They said they would be back at St. Paul's in about an hour or so." Norman paused for a moment before adding softly, "I hope they're going to be okay."
"Yeah, me too Norm," Sig replied, his voice and eyes filled with worry.