A/N: Please read and review.
Natalie managed to stay off the deck for almost the entire voyage to Dutch. She emerged only twice, once to take a picture of a pod of whales and the second time to get some meat out of the freezer. Both sojourns out on deck were completely uneventful and gave her some much needed confidence in her sea legs. The crew of the Northwestern was also impressed with Natalie, she hadn't thrown up or complained about anything. Sig was convinced she was saving her bitching for when they were out fishing and he had no where to drop her off. The food she'd made so far was tasty even though there was a distinct lack of fresh ingredients. Natalie's list for the grocery store in Dutch was growing by the day. She discussed her desired ingredients in great length with Matt, who informed her what she could and couldn't expect to find in Unalaska's only grocery store.
"What about wine?" asked Natalie.
"Why would you need wine?" asked Matt.
"For cooking, incase I want to flambe something" said Natalie.
"I would save the setting stuff on fire to Edgar, he might be a little unnerved if someone is stealing his thunder" said Matt.
"Oh, ok. I guess fire and boats don't really mix well anyway" said Natalie.
"That is very true" said Matt. "How's the list?"
"Huge" replied Natalie. "Will I be able to shop for fresh veggies and fruits every time we drive back to Dutch?"
"Firstly we don't drive we sail, secondly it's called offloading and yes each time we offload we can restock the fresh stuff" explained Matt.
"Do you really need to correct me every time I call something by the wrong name?" asked Natalie.
"No, but it will help Sig like you more if you use all the correct lingo" said Matt.
"Lingo? I feel like I just stepped back into the 70's. All that's missing is your bellbottom pants" teased Natalie.
"How old were you in the 70's?" asked Matt.
"I wasn't born yet" said Natalie.
Matt's mouth dropped opened and for the first time he realized how young Natalie was. He was too shocked to ask her actual age. Edgar appeared in the galley and grabbed Natalie's list off the counter and began to inspect it. Taking the pen he increased the amounts of everything on the list.
"There, that's probably a better idea of what we'll need" said Edgar handing the list back to her.
"I was just going to buy for the first trip, not the whole time we're at sea" said Natalie.
"I was adjusting your numbers for one trip" said Edgar.
"There is no way you are going to eat 12 dozen eggs in a few weeks" said Natalie.
"You're right, we will probably eat more. We usually cook close to a dozen per breakfast" said Edgar taking back the paper.
Natalie's mouth hung open at Edgar's pronouncement. She grabbed the list back and re-read the increased amounts. Turning back towards the cupboards she inspected the size of the pots and pans available to her. She pulled out a tiny skillet and held it up for inspection.
"Then why do you have such small things in here?" she asked. "I could never cook 12 eggs in this."
"True, but it came with the set" said Edgar smugly.
Natalie frowned and tossed the skillet back into the cabinet. Slamming the cabinet closed with her foot she walked out of the galley towards the staterooms. She was going to have rethink the portions of the meal plans she created, clearly one pan of lasagna wasn't going to be enough.
According to Sig they were less than 24 hours away from Dutch Harbor. The weather had picked up as a storm was heading towards the Bearing Sea. The boat pitched in the rough weather making doing almost anything far more challenging than it should be. Natalie was sitting in the wheelhouse with Sig and Edgar watching the waves roar by the wheelhouse windows. Although she'd never been on a commercial fishing boat before she'd certainly seen a fair share of storms. Spears of lightning in the distance lit up the sky.
"What happens if the boat is hit by lightning?" asked Natalie curiously.
Sig turned around from his chair and glared at her for a moment before turning back towards the windows.
"It's bad luck to ask questions like that" scolded Edgar.
"Do you have some sort of handbook you could give me so I can learn what I should and shouldn't say while on this boat" sneered Natalie.
"Nope, you just have to learn through experience" said Edgar.
"It would be easier if you just told me all the rules and superstitions all at once" said Natalie.
"That would be too easy and nothing out here is easy" said Sig.
"I realized that this morning when I fell down trying to put on a pair of socks" said Natalie.
"Which was hilarious. I think Norman is still laughing about it" said Edgar.
"I'd be careful what you say. I know where you sleep and have sharp needles in my possession" threatened Natalie.
"I thought you took an oath not to cause harm" said Edgar.
"That oath is for doctors, I took no such oath" said Natalie.
"Natalie, when does the magical healing start?" asked Sig.
"Whenever someone needs something healed and it's not magic" answered Natalie.
"How about my butt? It's going numb" said Sig.
"That's caused by lack of circulation from sitting too long in the chair. The remedy for that is getting up every once in a while" said Natalie.
"Come over here and take over" said Sig.
"I don't know how to drive a boat, I'm not licensed" said Natalie in horror.
"It drives itself" said Sig.
"So what do you do up here all day if it drives itself?" asked Natalie saucily.
Edgar's mouth dropped open in shock he wondered if Sig was just going to kill her outright or if he would torture her first. But instead of the verbal flaying he expected Sig just laughed.
"You have some guts" said Sig.
"Not enough to want to drive a boat in the middle of a storm" said Natalie.
"This storm is nothing" said Sig ominously.
Natalie walked behind Sig's chair, placed her hands gently on his neck and slowly began to knead the knots out it. Sig was silenced, his eyes closing in a combination of pain and relief. Edgar watched them for a moment, wondering if he got such a ridiculous look on his face when Natalie massaged him. He hoped not.
"Don't get him too relaxed" said Edgar. "Right now he's the only one between us and the ocean floor."
Natalie's hands stilled and Sig's eyes popped back open.
"Edgar, you are such a killjoy" said Sig.
The next morning Natalie was working on making breakfast while trying to remain upright on a constantly swaying boat. Every thing she'd set on the counter had already fallen to the floor at least once. The large mixing bowl was now sitting in the sink in order to keep the eggs in it from spilling again. She'd realized why they needed so many eggs, clearly breakfast could not be made without dropping at least half a dozen. The bacon was cooking in the oven which thankfully locked shut. Natalie had patted herself on the back for that brilliant idea however the debacle with the egg had soured her good mood. The only thing that saved her from walking out of the kitchen in a huff was her ipod. The music made her smile despite her kitchen disasters. Popping three cans of biscuits she lined them up on a huge sheet pan while swaying her hips to Def Leopard. Norman walked sleepily into the kitchen and headed for the coffee pot. Grabbing his mug down from the shelf he noticed the delicious smell of bacon wafting from the galley. He was surprised to see Natalie swaying back and forth whisking something in the sink. At first he wasn't sure if she was dancing or just unsteady on her feet, he realized after she attempted to execute a turn and unintentionally ran into the counter that it was clearly a little of both. The tiny white earbuds in her ears told him she was completely unaware of his presence which gave him the chance to watch her unobserved. The first thing he noticed was that she was still wearing her pajamas, the low slung pants showed off her waist and the t-shirt was short enough that a few inches of skin was exposed each time she raised her arms. Her hair was still tousled from sleep and pulled back in a messy ponytail. The thing that caught his attention most was her smile, it was beaming. Her happiness was contagious and Norman found himself smiling back at her dancing form.
"You should just take a picture it would last longer" said Matt making Norman jump.
"Why are you up so early?" asked Norman.
"Because I smelled bacon" replied Matt as he poured himself a cup of coffee.
Natalie poured the eggs into a large skillet and began slowly turning them into scrambled eggs. By the time she'd finished making the eggs she was singing out loud and off key. Matt and Norman had to physically stifle their laughter by stuffing their hands in their mouths. The racket from the kitchen drew the other members of the crew into the galley. They all stood quietly watching Natalie dance and sing around the kitchen while she cooked breakfast. She knew she was caught the moment she put the serving bowl full of eggs on the counter. Natalie stood in complete shock and then smiled and continued to sing. By the time breakfast was on the table everyone was laughing hysterically.
"So have you ever considered singing professionally?" chuckled Nick.
"I didn't know they had a need for tone deaf talent" said Natalie.
"What you lack in tone you more than make up for in enthusiasm" said Matt.
"Thanks" said Natalie.
"Breakfast is delicious and the pre-meal entertainment was phenomenal" said Edgar with a smile. "We'll be in Dutch in a few hours and then the real work will start."
Natalie stood on the deck of the Northwestern watching the buildings on land slowly become bigger and more defined. The sight of land was a relief after the last storm filled hours. The sky was just starting to clear and the sun finally making a much welcomed appearance. The guys had spent the last few hours of free time resting. Natalie had spent the time reviewing her grocery list, it had grown exponentially since she'd first written it. She'd gone back to the freezer to double check what was already in there before finalizing what she needed. Wrapping her arms around her she realized the wind had started to pick up. Turning to walk inside she heard Sig's voice bellow over the hailer.
"Natalie, it's getting rough again, come inside" he said.
Natalie nodded towards the camera mounted on deck and continued inside. She stopped briefly to change the laundry from the washer to the dryer and then continued up to the wheelhouse. Sig had gotten her into the habit of checking in with him so he could verify her physical well being after each time she ventured outside. Natalie smoothed her hair before presenting herself for inspection. Hearing her soft tread on the stairs Sig turned in his seat as soon as she crossed the threshold.
"Good Afternoon" he said with a smile. "Did you enjoy your time outside?"
"Yes, but the wind messed up my hair" said Natalie with a smile.
"It looks fine" said Sig.
Natalie smiled shyly and Sig thought he saw a brief blush stain her cheeks.
"Well, we are going to be in Dutch within the hour" said Sig.
"Roger Dodger" said Natalie.
"Well you got that half right" said Sig.
"I said roger, that's what I'm suppose to say" said Natalie hotly.
"Yes, but it sounds very unfishermanlike to say dodger afterwards" said Sig, in a voice more suitable for speaking to a toddler.
Natalie bristled at the tone and briskly turned away and started down the stairs.
"Oh, don't get all hurt over what I said" called Sig.
But Natalie was already out of earshot.
The crew was assembled on the deck poised to throw the lines and get the boat secured in port. Natalie sat in the wheelhouse with Sig waiting for the all clear to go down on deck. She was dressed for her shopping excursion in jeans and a sweater. Her coat was laid over her lap as she anxiously waited for a chance to walk on dry land again. Sig pulled up next to the Time Bandit and told the guys to throw the lines. Natalie watched in horror as the Northwestern was secured to the boat next to it instead of the dock.
"How are we suppose to get to the dock?" asked Natalie.
"We just walk across the other boat" replied Sig distractedly.
Natalie studied the distance between the decks of the boats, using her high school math knowledge she tried to estimate the distance she was going to be expected to jump. Frowning to herself she realized that the distance had to be more than 6 feet. She was slightly relieved as the lines were tightened and the boats drew closer together.
"Why are you frowning like that?" asked Sig as he powered down the engine.
"I don't think I can jump that far" said Natalie.
"If you can't make the jump we'll just have someone throw you" said Sig.
Natalie wasn't sure if he was joking or serious.
"Let's go" called Sig from the bottom of the stairs.
Natalie gritted her teeth and hurried after him, in her distraction she didn't notice he'd stopped at the bottom of the stairs and smacked straight into him.
Sig turned around, helped Natalie back to a standing position before leading her outside. The rest of the crew was standing on the deck waiting for word to go ashore.
"Alright, who's doing what?" asked Sig.
"What needs to get done?" asked Matt.
"We need to get the bait situated and tell Trident how many pots we are going to carry" said Sig.
"Someone needs to take Natalie grocery shopping" said Edgar. "And I need to get a few extra parts for the boat."
Sig fished out his wallet and handed Natalie a credit card.
"What's my budget?" asked Natalie slipping the card into her jean pocket.
"You don't have one" said Sig. "Make sure you get enough, if you are in doubt buy more."
"Ok" said Natalie but amended it to Roger when she saw the look on Sig's face.
"I'll go with Natalie" volunteered Matt. "I know what we need."
"No, I want you to go with me" said Edgar. "Send Junior."
"Fine" said Matt.
"Junior, take one of the company cars and hurry back" said Sig.
"Roger" said Jake and started to lead Natalie away from the group.
"Do you have your list?" asked Jake.
"Yes" said Natalie.
Jake crossed the deck and deftly pulled himself onto the rail before hoping onto the Time Bandit. Once on the deck he turned around to see if Natalie was following him and was slightly annoyed not to see her. He climbed back up the rail and looked back onto the Northwestern, he found Natalie standing on the deck in the same position he'd left her.
"Come on" said Jake.
"Fine, just tell me how I'm suppose to get over there" said Natalie.
Jake stared at her trying to see if she was joking then realized that she was completely serious.
"Just carry her across" said Sig.
"No. I can do it myself" said Natalie.
Looking down at her poorly chosen footwear she cringed at the ankle boots. Shaking off her fear she pulled herself up onto the rail and stood up shakily. Jake held out his hand and after a moment of paralyzing fear Natalie leaned over and grabbed it. Jake led her across to the rail of the Time Bandit. A small fissure of pride flowed through her as she made it to the other side without falling into the water. Her pride however was completely wiped out as she slipped on the wet deck and fell into Jake causing both of them to crash to the ground.
"Sorry" muttered Natalie.
"If you wanted to get me horizontal all you had to do was ask" said Jake with a smirk.
"Funny" said Natalie as she got up.
Jake stood and rubbed his back.
Well since I'm the one to injure you I'll give you a nice treatment when we get back" said Natalie.
"Can't wait" said Jake with a smile.
Natalie barely made the jump from the Time Bandit to the dock and Jake had to grab her before she tumbled backwards into the water. Natalie was shaken from her near death experience but managed to compose herself enough to follow Jake to the nearest SUV. Jake opened the drivers door and climbed in, he checked the visor for keys and smiled when they fell into his lap.
"We're in business" said Jake with a wink.
"Are we stealing this car?" asked Natalie.
"No, the cars are here for us to use" said Jake.
"Who do they belong to?" asked Natalie.
"Trident I guess?" said Jake. "I've never really bothered to ask."
"So we could actually be stealing this car" said Natalie.
"Technically we'd only be borrowing it because we are bringing it right back here when we're done" said Jake.
Natalie frowned but said nothing more about the car situation.
Jake drove through the town at breakneck speed trying to get a rise out of Natalie. But she remained outwardly calm, the only break was when he almost smacked into a slow moving car that pulled unexpectedly into their path. The gasp she admitted was almost silent but her quick sign of the cross was clearly visible much to Jake's delight.
"It's nice to see you aren't made of stone" said Jake.
"If you are just trying to scare me, then consider your objective met" said Natalie.
"You just seem so calm" said Jake.
"Are you kidding me, I almost fall into the water trying to jump to the dock and then you spend the ride in the car trying to give me a heart attack. I think you are going to be my guinea pig for the acupuncture" said Natalie.
"Sorry, just wanted to have a little fun" said Jake. "I'll be on my best behavior for the rest of the trip."
The sentence was barely out of his mouth before he turned into the parking lot of the grocery store and jumped the curb. Natalie gave him a scathing look before rolling her eyes.
"That was an accident" said Jake. "Honest."
"Right" said Natalie.
Jake pulled the SUV into a spot and threw open the door. Natalie collected her list, smoothed her hair back and took a deep breath before exiting the vehicle. Jake walked ahead of her like an excited puppy on a walk.
"This is going to be a very long trip" muttered Natalie as she hurried to catch up.