A/N: Thanks for the reviews. Keep reading!
Natalie walked through the ready room and started to clean up the pile of bloody towels. Matt immediately bent to help her but she just waved him off. The mindless work was what she wanted, she didn't want to have to think about what happened or Chris. Counting the towels as she threw them into a basket, when the last one was tossed in the total was 11. Not all of them were soaked with blood but they all had a significant amount on them. Doing a little mental math made her shudder at the amount of blood she estimated Chris had lost. She didn't know what kind of equipment the Coastie team carried but she prayed it was enough to get Chris to a hospital for the critical care he needed. Edgar caught up to her as she was putting the towels in the washer.
"Don't forget to put your clothes in there too" said Edgar.
Natalie looked down at herself for the first time and noticed that she was saturated in blood.
"It's not mine" she said automatically.
"I know, but you still need to take the clothes off to wash them" said Edgar.
He pulled the sweatshirt over her head smearing her cheeks with blood. The shirt underneath was just as messy. Natalie stood shell shocked as Edgar began to undress her. However when he tried to remove her second long sleeved shirt he couldn't because it was stuck to her.
"Well crap, what the hell is making this stick. Lets get you to the shower" muttered Edgar.
He steered her through the galley and the hall stopping in front of the bathroom door. He could hear the shower running and wondered which member of the crew was currently making him wait. For a moment he considered turning off the fresh water pump but before he could walk away the shower was turned off.
"Hey, I need to get Natalie in there" yelled Edgar through the door.
Norman opened the door in just a low slung towel. The first thing he noticed was the blood all over Natalie's shirt the second was the ghostly look in her eyes. He moved aside allowing Edgar admittance into the bathroom. But instead of walking to the stateroom to dress he stood in the doorway. Edgar again tried to pull the shirt over Natalie's head but the shirt was still stuck on her skin. Flipping on the shower he pushed her arm under the water. He managed to get the shirt off her arms but it was still catching on something on her torso.
"Bug, I need some help here. Pull your shirt off" said Edgar.
Natalie reached down mechanically and grabbed the edge of her shirt, as she wrenched it over her head she revealed a gash on her side just below her bra. The fabric from the shirt tore open the already scabbing wound. Natalie hissed in pain and dropped her arms back to her side.
"Well fuck" replied Edgar. "Norm, help me get her rinsed off. I can't tell what is her blood and what isn't."
Edgar and Norman descended on her pulling the shirt off and stripping her down. They rinsed her gently and when all the blood was rinsed off the gash seemed much more manageable.
"Been practicing your stitching?" asked Norman.
"Not recently" said Edgar.
Edgar moved to turn off the shower but Natalie's hand on his arm stopped him.
"I want to wash my hair. I need you to help me wash my hair" she said quietly.
"Um, ok" said Edgar.
"Or better yet just squirt some soap in my hair and I'll do it myself" said Natalie.
Edgar did as he was asked. Natalie washed her hair twice before she turned off the shower and signaled she was ready to get out. Edgar handed her a towel and she wrapped it around her body.
"Thanks" she said quietly and walked out of the bathroom.
"Hey, after you get dressed I need to sew up that cut" called Edgar.
Natalie just nodded in response.
Norman followed her into the stateroom they shared. Natalie bent over her bag and pulled out a pair of sweats and a t-shirt. Setting the clothes on the bed she debated how she was going to put them on without lifting her sore arms. Norman slipped on a pair of sweats before turning to look at Natalie.
"Can I help?" he asked.
"Sure. Why don't you just dress me" said Natalie.
Norman waited a moment to see if Natalie was kidding but when she didn't add anything he moved towards her. Natalie dropped the towel and Norman froze.
"How about we start with the pants" she suggested.
"Roger" said Norman.
He slipped Natalie's yoga pants over her hips before slipping her t-shirt over her head. Carefully Natalie put her arms through and pulled the shirt down over her tummy.
"Thanks" she said tiredly.
"Why don't you lay down in Edgar's bunk, just to rest a little until he gets back" Norman suggested.
"Roger" said Natalie as she all but fell into the bed.
It was dark and the water just continued to pour over the deck. Natalie ran towards Chris's prone body never able to reach him. Natalie woke up with a start at the end of the dream and then after a while fell back asleep. She slept unsoundly through the rest of the trip to Dutch. Edgar managed to dodge a bullet because once the wound was looked at again it clearly didn't need stitches. Placing a few bandages on her side was all that needed to be done. The boat docked at Dutch and the unload began in earnest. Natalie woke hours late and emerged on deck.
"Look who's up?" said Matt.
Natalie smiled weekly as she walked over to Edgar.
"I want to go see Chris" said Natalie firmly.
"He's not here" said Edgar.
"Well of course he's not on the boat, I watched him leave" said Natalie. "I want to see him at the hospital."
"He's at the hospital in Anchorage" said Edgar. "If you want to talk to him ask Jason. He's already gotten an update."
"Thanks" said Natalie practically sprinting in the opposite direction.
She didn't make it off the deck before running into Jason.
"Hi" she said.
"Hey, I'm glad to see you're up" said Jason.
"Thanks" replied Natalie. "How's Chris?"
"Good. Got to Anchorage safely" said Jason.
"How's his arm?" asked Natalie suspiciously.
"It's too soon to tell" said Jason.
"Oh" said Natalie.
"Don't worry, I'll get updates" said Jason.
"Um, let me know if you hear anything else" said Natalie.
She wandered off deck falling into a crumpled heap of sobs on the bench of the galley table.
The offload finally finished and Sig walked back inside. Natalie was still in the same position on the galley bench. He stood over her for a moment before calling the crew up to the wheelhouse. It took a moment for everyone to arrive and in the respite Sig called the Aleutian Hotel. He reached the Discovery crew and found out how Chris was doing. The crew assembled in the wheelhouse, anxiously awaiting Sig's announcements of the spoils of the trip and Chris's update.
"Ok, we've done a pretty good job" announced Sig. "We've caught about 30 percent of our total quota and according to Discovery Chris is doing well."
A small cheer went up from the assembled group. Sig held up his hand to bring everyone back to silence.
"I'm giving you shore leave" began Sig. "But! I have a few requirements."
"Deal" said Jake.
"Wait to see what he's going to ask" said Nick.
"It's simple" began Sig. "I want you to take Natalie out for a night out, a couple of drinks. She deserves a little break from reality, give it to her."
"Roger" chorused everyone.
Everyone was filling out of the wheelhouse when Sig called Edgar back.
"Take care of her" he said. "But make sure she forgets about what happened if only for a little while."
Edgar nodded and walked down the stairs. He passed Jason during the descent.
"Edgar, is Sig available?" he asked.
"If you mean he's up there? Then yes, if he's in the mood to talk, I can't say" said Edgar.
"Ok" said Jason who hesitated on the steps.
"Just go up there" said Edgar.
Back in the galley Matt pulled Natalie by the legs to the edge of the table and then picked her up like she weighed nothing. He carried her down the hall the stateroom she shared with Edgar and Norman.
"Where are we going?" asked Natalie sleepily.
"We're going out, but you need to change" said Matt.
"I don't really want to go anywhere" said Natalie.
"Well, we don't get shore leave very often so we're taking advantage of it and so are you" said Matt.
Natalie sat down on Edgar's bunk trying to ignore the smell of dirty socks that had permeated the air in the room. Norman and Nick were searching through her bag flinging clothes out.
"What do you want to wear?" asked Nick.
"Don't ask her, just pick something" said Matt anxiously.
"Fine" said Nick.
Norman picked out a pair of jeans, t-shirt and a sweater. Natalie had laid back on the bed trying to will the tears to stop. Nick leaned over her and sighed when he saw she was crying.
"Hey, lets change" he said softly.
Natalie nodded and then sat up quietly. Nick helped her slide her shirt over her head and started to replace it with a clean one.
"I need a bra" said Natalie.
"You're wearing one" said Nick.
"I know but I want a nice one" said Natalie.
"Girls are so complicated" said Matt.
"How about this one" said Norman tossing a black bra on her lap.
"It's fine" said Natalie. "I can dress myself."
"Ok, but hurry up. Time is ticking" said Jake.
The guys filed out of the room leaving Natalie leaning against the door for a moment. Taking a huge breath she quickly changed into the clothes the guys picked out for her. She smiled at the t-shirt that Norman selected, it was a shirt she usually used to sleep in and featured a rainbow. Deciding that while it was comfy it wasn't what she wanted to wear out. Grabbing a black shirt she slipped it on along with the sweater and headed out to the deck.
The bar was almost empty when they arrived. Sig was already sitting at a table with a couple of Discovery producers. Natalie's first instinct was to go ask about how Chris was doing but it looked like the conversation was definitely getting heated. The tiny stage in the corner was set up for Karaoke. Natalie eyed the song book for a moment while she stood at the bar waiting for her drink.
"You going to sing?" asked the bartender.
"No, I don't think so" replied Natalie.
"I'll ask you again after a few drinks" said the bartender.
"For your ears sake I hope I don't change my mind" said Natalie.
The bartender smiled and passed the drink across the bar. Natalie took a small sip before turning to find the guys. They weren't too hard to find. Gathered around a table they were swapping fish stories with some of the old timers. Jake waved Natalie over and quickly moved so she was able to slide into his seat.
"What's this pretty lady doing here?" asked Cal, one of the old timers.
"She's just stopping by for a visit" said Edgar.
Natalie looked at him quizzically but Edgar just responded by shrugging.
"How is that wife of yours Edgar" asked Cal. "I hope she's doing well taking care of your little bambinos."
"Antha is fine. Thanks for asking" said Edgar.
"It's a better place for a woman to be" began Cal. "They just prove to be a distraction on boats or here in Dutch. Unless of course they are serving your drink or on their back."
Natalie's eyes widened and her mouth opened to give Cal a piece of her mind when she was interrupted by Sig.
"Cal, nice to see you. Still unmarried?" he said clapping Cal on the shoulder with a less than friendly squeeze.
"Sig, good to see you too."
"I think I just saw Harold outside" said Sig casually.
"That fucker owes me money" said Cal. "See you guys."
"What an asshat" said Natalie when Cal was out of earshot.
"Agreed. Thanks for not hitting him or calling him a name. He runs the steelyard where we get our pots" said Sig.
"I'm glad I could play nice with the neanderthals you call colleagues" said Natalie.
"Lets get you another drink" said Sig. "I know I could use one."
"Before you get one, how's Chris?" asked Natalie.
"He's in surgery" said Sig.
"Ok. Make mine a double" said Natalie.
"Sure" replied Sig.
Natalie was drunk. She sat at a table swaying from side to side listening to the locals singing karaoke. Sig and Edgar were discussing something across the table but Natalie couldn't understand what they were saying. To her everything sounded like it was underwater. A warm hand on her thigh made her look up. Natalie smiled quickly before turning back to the table. She wanted to lay her head down but wasn't sure when the last time the table was cleaned properly.
"You're next" said a voice to her right.
"I'm not singing" said Natalie.
"I know, I wasn't talking to you" said the voice.
Natalie nodded, her cheeks flaming with embarrassment.
"I'm singing this one for you."
Natalie did her best to focus on the song being sung and after a moment her head cleared just enough to recognize it. Cheap Trick, "I want you to want me". Matt scooted in next to Natalie.
"How are you feeling? You want another drink?" he asked.
"No thanks. I'm done. I'm ready to go after this song. It's dedicated to me" said Natalie with a smile.
"That's sweet. Who's the girl singing it to you?" asked Matt.
"I don't remember her name" said Natalie.
"You can ask Sig, I think he was talking to her earlier" said Matt helpfully.
"Everyone's ready to go" said Nick.
Natalie took half a step and promptly lost her footing. Without pausing Matt scooped her up.
"Now Natalie, there is just one rule for the rest of the night" said Sig. "Don't puke in the cab."
"I don't think there is much chance for that, she is out cold" said Jake.
At two AM Natalie woke with a start, the dream she'd been having was horrible. She was once again out on the deck of the boat only this time everything was so much worse. Waves were flooding the deck causing the pots to slip and slide. Chris was going over the side and she was holding onto his arm but was unable to pull him up. The dream ended with his arm coming off in her hand causing her to scream and wake herself up. Her eyes opened causing her head to spin. She reached her leg down to touch the floor and tipped right out of the bunk. Landing with a thud on the ground.
"I hate this boat" she mumbled.
Climbing to her knees she felt her stomach began to churn. Saying a prayer she quickly bolted to the bathroom.