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Natalie sat quietly at the table as the guys inhaled their dinner. She'd grudgingly changed her clothes after her encounter with Sig and was fairly sure the slippers were a total loss. She'd made it back to the galley just in time to pull everything out of the oven and get it on the table before the guys headed inside. Sig had set the boat on autopilot and come down to eat with the group. Natalie was sure she'd have enough food to make hash with the leftovers but all the platters were almost empty.
"Ok, the gear's in the water so now we'll head back to the first string and see how the fishing is" said Sig.
"Hopefully we won't be pulling in the trough" said Matt.
"By the time we get back there the tides will have changed" said Sig confidently.
Edgar rubbed is neck and turned it making it crack violently.
"Don't do that" said Natalie.
"It makes it feel better" said Edgar.
Natalie rolled her eyes. Realizing that her physical therapy work was going to be starting shortly after dinner she started to mentally make a list of who probably needed what and in what order.
"Who wants dessert?" asked Jake as he got up from the table.
"Everyone" replied Nick. "I hope it's a special Junior dessert."
"What's a special Junior dessert?" asked Natalie.
"You'll see. He manages to pile 1000 calories into one bowl" said Nick.
"Wow, that must be a big bowl" said Natalie.
"Not as big as you think" said Norman quietly.
Jake crashed around in the kitchen for a few minutes and eventually emerged with a tray full of paper bowls. The bowls were full of ice cream, with oreos stuck in the side, with kit kat bars sticking out of the other side, topped with whip cream and chocolate syrup. Jake proudly passed out his concoction and everyone dug in.
"Best one so far" said Edgar.
"Delicious" said Nick.
Jake turned to Natalie awaiting her response.
"I don't think I've ever eaten this much sugar in my life. It's super tasty but I'm going to be up all night on a crazy sugar high" said Natalie with a giggle.
After the dishes were done Natalie started making the rounds. Her first stop was Edgar, he was probably in the most physical pain since he was coming into the season with a current injury. She worked on him with warm healing massage and some chiropractic adjustments. He was sound asleep when she turned to Norman.
"I don't need anything" said Norman quietly.
"It's just a massage. If anything it will make you sleep better" said Natalie.
She felt like she was trying to coax a skittish animal. Norman took another small step away from her.
"Ok, I'll check back with you later, just in case you change your mind" said Natalie.
Norman just nodded and went back to reading his book. The moment the stateroom door was closed Edgar's muffled voice filled the air.
"What's your problem?" he asked.
"Nothing. I feel fine" replied Norman defensively.
"She's here to help us all feel better. You don't have to be all tough" said Edgar.
"Go to sleep Edgar, don't worry about me" said Norman.
Natalie wandered into the galley and found Nick there with an open bottle of pain relief pills. He smiled at her and raised his glass in salute before slugging down a handful.
"What's hurting?" Natalie asked.
"Everything. But that's really par for the course" said Nick.
Natalie studied him for a moment and realized that he was massaging his hands. She sat down next to him and took his hand in hers. She moved her fingers over his knuckles and then turned over his hands until the palms were facing up. Her hands traced up his wrists and up to his elbow feeling the sinewy muscles.
"I think you have carpal tunnel" announced Natalie.
"What? I don't type" said Nick.
"It can actually be caused by any repetitive movement" said Natalie.
"Well opening and closing 200 pots can probably count as repetitive movement" said Nick.
Natalie slowly pulled at Nick's hands working hard to relax the muscles. Eventually the massage traveled up his arms, where she paid special attention to the injured wrist. As she passed over his arm muscles she noticed a spattering of scars. Nick explained that everyone had scars in this profession. It was impossible not to get hurt.
"Speaking of getting hurt" began Nick.
"Yes" asked Natalie.
"What were you doing out on deck today?" asked Nick.
"Trying to help" replied Natalie defensively.
"Unless you are completely kitted out for work on deck I wouldn't suggest coming out" said Nick. "We'd hate for something to happen to you."
Natalie sighed deeply and looked down for a moment.
"I just wanted to help, but I won't make that mistake again" she said bitterly.
"We want you to help, we'd love your help but not if you are going to get hurt while doing it" said Nick.
"Fine" said Natalie.
"I can tell you don't mean that" said Nick.
Natalie just shook her head and released Nick's arm.
"Do you feel better?" asked Natalie.
"Much, thanks" he replied with a smile.
Natalie smiled and went off to find the other crew members.
Jake and Matt were in their stateroom reading letters from home. They both looked up when Natalie knocked on the door before walking in.
"Everyone decent" she asked.
"We're dressed but definitely not decent" said Matt.
"Ah boat humor, can't get enough of it" said Natalie with a laugh.
"What's up?" asked Jake. "Still on a dessert sugar high?"
"Yes, I'm sure I'll be on a sugar high until tomorrow" said Natalie with a wink.
"I'm glad you liked it" said Jake.
"Ok, who wants go go first?" asked Natalie.
"First for what?" asked Jake.
"First to get checked out and treated for any aches and pains?" replied Natalie.
"I thought you were just here for Edgar. He gave us a lecture about not abusing you" said Jake.
"I thought that was about abusing her in a completely different way" said Matt with a wink.
"You are definitely not decent" said Natalie. "Just for that I'm going to check out Jake first."
"Eww, can I watch" said Matt.
"Sure, if that's how you get your kicks" said Natalie.
"How do you want me?" asked Jake.
Matt leaned forward in his bunk waiting for Natalie's answer.
"You just stay right there, I'll come to you" replied Natalie in a sultry drawl.
"Oh My God! You have no mercy, I'm going to have that voice running through my head for weeks" said Matt banging his head against the wooden bunk.
"Don't hurt yourself. I don't have a remedy for brain damage" said Natalie.
"Well then I guess Matt is passed help" said Jake.
Natalie took Jake's hands in hers and examined the small cuts on his palms. She reached into her little bag and took out some antiseptic cream and massaged it into his hands. She then turned him around and started on his shoulders, working her way down his arms until he was a lump of jelly.
"Amazing" whispered Jake. "Thanks, I feel great."
"Get some rest and drink some water" said Natalie.
Then she turned to Matt and asked to see his hands. He reluctantly placed them in hers. His knuckles were bruised and battered, a few looked like they'd been broken.
"What's the story with these" said Natalie running her hands over his knuckles.
"I use to get in fights a lot" said Matt. "I'm not proud or nothing, it's just something I did when I was younger."
"Do they hurt a lot?" asked Natalie.
"Not so bad during king, but in Opies when it's cold they hurt like a son of a bitch" said Matt.
"I think they are arthritic" said Natalie.
"Oh yeah, well that makes me really feel old" said Matt.
"It has nothing to do with age, it just has to do with damage. These were never properly treated and now you have arthritis" explained Natalie. "Probably some anti-inflammatory medication will help your hands not to hurt so much."
"I'm hesitant to take anything too strong. I have a bit of an addictive personality" said Matt.
"Oh really? How on earth could anyone do this job while high?" asked Natalie.
"You can't at least not safely. I was never using on the boat. In fact I came on this boat many times to dry out" replied Matt.
"You must be really good at your job because this isn't the kind of job to just let anyone do. I mean you have to trust everyone that work's on the boat with your life" began Natalie.
"Sig's old man always bailed me out and always said that if I could come on sober, I'd always have a job" said Matt.
"He seems like he must have been a very generous guy" said Natalie.
"He was a hard ass, the kind of guy who could yell at you with curse words you'd never heard of, then turn around and lend you money" said Matt.
"Is he..." began Natalie.
"He passed away kind of suddenly a while back" said Matt.
"Thanks for the heads up" said Natalie. "Do you feel any better?"
"Yeah, my hands don't hurt as much" replied Matt.
"If you are up for it, I can use acupuncture to bring down the swelling" said Natalie.
"I'll think about it" replied Matt.
"No pressure" said Natalie with a smile.
She collected her kit and headed back to the galley.
Natalie made a new pot of coffee and decided to try a new plan with Sig's coffee delivery system. Placing a few generous scoops of grinds in a french press she waited for the water to boil. Waiting for the coffee to steep she went to work on updating a small notebook she kept with her healing kit. She noted everyone's chief complaints as well as others she'd noticed. By the time she'd finished the coffee was probably strong enough. She slipped a few cookies on a plate, grabbed the coffee and headed up to the wheelhouse.
"Knock knock Sig" called Natalie.
"Come up, if you're bearing coffee" said Sig.
"You're in luck" said Natalie.
She walked over to the console and set down the french press and plate of cookies.
"What the hell is this?" asked Sig.
"It's a french press, I found it in your kitchen" said Natalie.
"In this kitchen? I wonder where it came from" contemplated Sig.
"I thought you'd like to use it. It holds at least 8 cups of coffee or 4 Sig sized cups" said Natalie.
Sig took a tentative sip and then a bite of a cookie.
"How's the coffee?" asked Natalie.
"Fine. How long will this thing keep it hot?" asked Sig.
"At the rate you drink coffee, I don't think it's a concern" replied Natalie.
"Yeah, we'll see" said Sig. "Good work."
"Thanks" said Natalie trying to hide a smile.
Sig winced slightly while looking at Natalie. She frowned then realized she was standing under a light
"Another headache?" asked Natalie.
"Yeah, same as always" replied Sig.
Natalie walked up behind him and began the process of working out the knots in his neck. The tendons in his neck eventually began to relax and Natalie started to gently rub his temples. Sig relaxed more and stopped mid sentence of his captain interview.
Chris turned the camera away from Sig and focused on Natalie.
"So Natalie, how are you adjusting to life on the boat" he asked.
"It's hard, the fact that the boat is always moving. The constant motion is exhausting, you know always trying to catch your balance or prevent yourself from running into stuff. But I'm sure what I experience is nothing compared to what the guys on deck have to do. I'm just cooking, not moving pots around" explained Natalie.
"What else" prompted Chris.
"It's amazing how much these guys eat or the numbers of calories they burn in a day" said Natalie. "And the old injuries that they have. I can't imagine the pain they deal with every time they suit up."
"So what happened to Edgar to require you to be here?" asked Chris.
"You should ask him" said Natalie.
"Why won't you tell me?" asked Chris.
"Because it's not my story to tell" said Natalie.
"She's smart" said Sig.
"Ok, just tell me if it's an embarrassing story" prompted Chris.
"I'm not saying a word, patient privilege. Ask Sig or anyone on the boat I'm sure they'd know the story" said Natalie.
"But I don't have them in front of the camera right now" replied Chris.
"What are you talking about" said Natalie. "Sig's right here."
"Are you kidding? He's practically in a coma thanks to you" said Chris.
Natalie took a moment to look at Sig's heavy lidded eyes.
"Sig, should I get someone else to drive the boat or are you ok?" asked Natalie.
"Fine, I'm fine" replied Sig his eyes slipping shut.
"Right. Who has wheel watch?" asked Natalie.
"rhmn" replied Sig.
"Sorry, what was that?" asked Natalie.
"He said Norman" answered Chris.
"Really? Well I had no idea you were fluent in Sig" said Natalie.
"You have to be. We're the ones that do all the subtitles for the show. You get to learn the jargon and their exhausted mumblings " said Chris.
"Nice. Do you think you can keep an eye on sleeping beauty, while I go get Norman?" asked Natalie.
"No problem" said Chris.
"I'm fine" muttered Sig.
Natalie had already turned to walk down the stairs. If she heard Sig, she'd studiously ignored him.
Natalie made a brief stop in the kitchen to pour Norman a cup of coffee. She debated taking it to his bunk but thought it was pretty likely it would be spilled on the way. Walking into the stateroom she stumbled over a pile of clothes and cursed quietly. Sitting down on the corner of Norman's bed she grabbed Norman's hand and began rubbing. Norman sighed deeply and then slowly opened his eyes. Natalie smiled quietly and reached for his other hand. Norman obediently placed his other hand into hers.
"I have some bad news" said Natalie quietly.
"You could tell me anything right now and I wouldn't care" replied Norman.
"Ok, it's your turn at wheel watch" replied Natalie.
"Figures" said Norman.
"I poured a cup of coffee for you in the kitchen" said Natalie.
"Thanks" said Norman.
He swung his legs over the bed and stretched. Natalie moved away and climbed into her bunk. Norman stood up and leaned over her.
"Good night" he said tucking the blankets around her.
"Thanks" said Natalie fumbling with her alarm clock.
"What'cha doing?" asked Norman.
"Setting my alarm, so I can make breakfast" said Natalie.
"I'll come down and get you" said Norman.
"But I have to cook breakfast, so you have to get me at least an hour or two before everyone has to start on deck" said Natalie.
"I swear to god you both need a muzzle" muttered Edgar. "Norman call her on the fucking phone. Natalie go to sleep."
Norman and Natalie laughed quietly before Natalie settled into bed and Norman slipped out of the room and up to wheelhouse.