A/N: Thank you for the reviews, I hope you'll continue to read and review the story. I love suggestions. Also, just as an FYI, I'm no longer living in Okinawa, Japan and am perfectly safe stateside.
The sound of a waterfall invaded Natalie's stupor. Her first thought was that she'd left her sound machine on all night. Usually she set the timer but a few times she had forgotten. However, when she moved her arm she hit a hard object and then a soft one. Her tried to open her eyes and she found she couldn't, they'd crusted shut. Lifting her hand to her face she pulled apart one of her eyelids just in time to see a pair of pajama bottoms retreat out of her sight. Opening her other eye she took in her surroundings. She was laying face down in the shower, in a puddle of what she prayed was just water. Taking a quick inventory she found she was still fully dressed and although her face was wet everything else seemed to be dry. Sitting up she was horrified to discover she was sleeping in a puddle of her own vomit. Getting up she locked the bathroom door and then stripped out of her clothes and got into the shower. After she was clean she started cleaning the bathroom, once it was clean she showered again. After almost an hour she emerged from the bathroom in just a towel and headed back to the stateroom. Slipping inside she quickly changed into some clothes before taking her soiled ones out to the washer. She pulled the towels out of the dryer and was pleasantly surprised that most of the blood had washed out of them. Sitting out in the cold morning air she folded the towels and tried to piece together the events of the previous night. She remembered drinking a few toasts to Chris, finding out a new producer would be on the boat today and then listening to karaoke. There are brief flashes of a cab ride, getting onto the boat, falling out of bed and bad dreams. Natalie shook her head to clear her thoughts and immediately saw stars. She was forced to sit down for a moment and take a few cleansing breaths before she was able to stand up and go inside. The boat is quiet, everyone seemed to still be asleep even though it was already past 10 in the morning. Natalie decided the best course of action was to start breakfast. She grabbed the essentials and started to cook. As if drawn out by the pied piper's flute the crew begins to assemble in the kitchen. Natalie smiles softly at each one but doesn't say a word. There is no singing show this morning much to everyone's disappointment. When the last plate is set on the table Natalie notices Sig hasn't come down.
"Where's Sig?" she asks.
"Probably still in bed" said Edgar.
"I'll get him" volunteers Natalie.
Walking up to Sig's stateroom she quietly knocks on the door. When no answer is received she cracks the door and peeks in. The room is surprisingly dark and once her eyes adjust she sees Sig asleep in bed in just a pair of low slung sweatpants. Padding over to the bed she sits down next to his sleeping form.
"Breakfast is ready" Natalie says quietly.
"What time is it?" mumbles Sig, his eyes still closed.
"It's after 10" replies Natalie.
"Has the new producer shown up yet?" he asks.
"No" said Natalie.
"Fuck, we are burning daylight and wasting a days fishing waiting for whoever it is to grace us with their presence" said Sig angrily.
Natalie had to give Sig credit, he could sound incredibly vicious even with his eyes closed.
"What's for breakfast?" asked Sig.
"Bacon and eggs with some toast" said Natalie.
"Smells good" said Sig.
"Thanks" said Natalie.
Sig got up and made his way to his small private bathroom. Natalie looked down at the recently vacated bed, the rumpled sheets and mushed pillow. It looked so inviting and Natalie's head was still hurting. Without a conscious thought she lay down in the still sleep warmed sheets and snuggled into the pillow. Taking a deep breath she inhaled the unique scent that was all Sig. In that moment she felt better, safe and well protected. She closed her eyes and let herself be wrapped up in the warm feeling. She was asleep by the time Sig walked out of the bathroom. Sig looked down at her sleeping form and smiled at the look on her face, she was completely at peace. Deciding that he didn't want to wake her he carefully covered her with a blanket and went down for breakfast.
Sig walked into the kitchen and found two slices of bacon and a small pile of eggs saved for him. Every member of the crew was looking a little worse for wear. They were suppose to be ready to leave as soon as the new Discovery producer arrived.
"Where's Natalie?" asked Edgar.
"She's sleeping" replied Sig.
"Where?" asked Edgar.
"In my bed" said Sig.
The eyebrows of every guy at the table went up. Sig looked at each of them in turn, daring them to ask a follow up question.
"I'm not surprised" said Matt.
"Why's that?" asked Jake.
"Because I saw her sleeping in the shower this morning passed out like a rock star in a pool of her own puke" said Matt.
"No way" said Jake. "The bathroom is completely clean."
"She must have cleaned it when she woke up" said Matt simply.
"No wonder she's tired, the bathroom is spotless" said Jake.
"Yeah, well she's fine to sleep as long as she wants to, but we need to get going as soon as Jason and the new guy get here" said Sig.
"Who's the new guy?" asked Jake.
"Does it matter? His name is Bishop" said Sig.
"Never heard of him" said Edgar.
"Probably someone new, which means we'll need to keep a closer eye on him. No more accidents" said Sig.
"Roger" said the crew.
"Did we restock the fresh food yesterday?" asked Sig.
"No, but Natalie has her list" said Nick.
"Alright, lets get the stuff on her list quick. Who knows when the new kid is going to arrive" said Sig.
"Should we ask Natalie if she wants to go?" asked Nick.
"Let her sleep, she's tired" said Sig.
"The stuff we ordered for her arrived this morning" said Edgar conversationally.
"Good, put it on her bunk" said Sig.
The impromptu meeting seemed to be over and everyone got up to start on their tasks. Nick and Matt headed to the grocery store while everyone else made sure the boat was ready to go.
Natalie woke up warm and content a few hours after she'd first laid down. She snuggled into the pillow taking in lung full after lung full of the wonderful smell. The room was still dark but the shadows cast through the breaks in the curtains showed that a fair amount of time had passed. She stretched languidly and took another deep inhale of the pillow.
"If you keep breathing like that you are going to hyperventilate" said a voice from the corner.
Natalie yelped and turned to see Sig rummaging through one of his seabags. She smiled sheepishly, not saying a word.
"Are you feeling better?" asked Sig.
"Yes, much" said Natalie.
"You missed lunch, but I think Matt saved something for you" said Sig.
"Ok. I'm starving" said Natalie. "Have we started back to the crab grounds yet?"
"No, still in port" said Sig, his voice full of annoyance.
"What's the problem?" asked Natalie. "Is it because I didn't do the grocery shopping?"
"You are definitely not the problem. We are waiting for the new producer to arrive" said Sig. "They were suppose to be here first thing this morning. We've lost a full day."
Natalie noticed Sig rubbing his forehead. She got untangled from the bed sheets and went over to where he was kneeling on the ground. Standing behind him she placed her hands in the now familiar position on his temples. The massage was a staple in Sig's day while they were out on the water, however he hadn't had a headache while in port. Natalie's fingers slid through Sig's hairline massaging his scalp. Sig leaned back until he was resting his weight against Natalie's torso. He could feel her breasts pressing against his neck like a perfect support. Her body was still warm from sleeping and its heat radiated through her thin tank top. Sig felt as if he could drift off to sleep using only her soft breasts as pillows. The moment was broken by a commotion downstairs. The boat phone in Sig's room rang and Natalie moved so Sig could answer it.
"What" said Sig.
"Fine, I'm on my way" he continued after a pause.
Natalie had started to straighten up the bed when Sig grabbed her by the arm.
"Come on, the new producer is here, lets go say hello."
Sig walked through the galley and onto the deck. Edgar had said the new producer was here and that Sig should come out. Usually Sig liked to meet any new person in the wheelhouse, it was a little bit of psychology. He liked to meet them on his home turf, the place that showed he was the boss. The scene on the deck was almost comical. When Sig walked out on deck no one would meet his eye. He scanned the deck for the newest crew member and when his eyes fell on a girl in leather printed pants and a black shirt his stomach dropped and his blood started to boil. Before he could take a breath the girl walked up to him and introduced herself.
"Hi, I'm Bishop" she said thrusting her hand into his. "I'm taking over for Chis, I'm usually a line producer but I can handle anything. My last assignment was doing B-roll for Bear Grylls."
Her eyes slid past Sig to Natalie who was still standing under the shelter awning next to the bait bin.
"Hey Natalie" said Bishop. "Remember me from last night?"
Natalie just shrugged her shoulders, unable to find her voice. Hearing this Sig spun around and glared at Natalie.
"Did you do this?" he asked angrily.
Natalie shook her head, eyes wide with fear.
"We just met last night at the bar. I sang her a song" said Bishop with a wink.
Natalie felt like her whole world had just tilted on it's axis.
"Jason" barked Sig. "You couldn't figure out that we don't need another girl on this boat."
"Sorry Sig" said Jason. "I tried to reason with them."
"It'll be fine, I'm a consummate professional" said Bishop. "Natalie, show me where we'll be sleeping."
With that statement Bishop all but dragged Natalie inside. The guys on deck watched the girls retreating forms.
"Did she just say we?" said Matt.
"We are in a for a shit load of trouble" said Nick.
Bishop stopped suddenly after dragging Natalie inside. It took Natalie a moment to realize why, Bishop didn't know where she was going. Natalie jerked her arm to the right and Bishop took the hint and started down the narrow hallway. She kept going until they reached the room at the end of the hall and Natalie stepped forward to open the door.
"Wow, this is tiny" said Bishop.
"Yeah, mines the top" said Natalie.
Bishop climbed up and assessed the bunk for a moment before hopping down.
"Cozy" she commented. "Are these for me?"
"What?" asked Natalie.
"The rain gear" replied Bishop holding out some gear. "Because I already have some."
"Um, I don't think so. Maybe they're for me" said Natalie. "They kind of rigged some together for me on the last trip."
"Cool, you should try them on" said Bishop.
"Yeah, maybe later" said Natalie. "Um, Bishop..."
"You don't have to call me that" said Bishop. "My real name is Lindsey. You can call me Linz."
"Lindsey's a pretty name, why don't you go by that?" asked Natalie.
"I'm from Bishop, California. So when I was in college I got that nickname and it just kind of stuck. Kind of manly, you know" said Bishop.
"Yeah, it sure tricked Sig" said Natalie.
Bishop just smiled while she shrugged her shoulders.
"So tell me Natalie, how did you get sucked into this little petri dish?" asked Bishop.
"I'm here for Edgar's and everyone else's health" said Natalie. "Physical therapy."
Bishop was unpacking her bag, mixing her clothes in with where Natalie's were kept. Natalie watched in a state of confusion wondering what the point was. Finally Bishop finished doing her unpacking and opened the door to walk out. Before she left she turned back to Natalie and kissed her. Natalie was shocked, her lips staying sealed shut. Bishop turned and walked out of the room leaving a stunned Natalie to face a very inquisitive Edgar.
"What the hell was that?" he asked.
"I have no idea" said Natalie wiping her mouth.
"Did you try on your gear?" asked Edgar.
"No. I didn't know if it was for me" said Natalie.
"Well it's not for the new girl" said Edgar. "Try it on."
Natalie slipped the pants and jacket over her clothes and did a little twirl to show the fit.
"Looks good" said Edgar. "Now there is no excuse for you not to be out on deck."
"I have no interest in ever being on deck again" said Natalie.
As if to emphasize her point she stuffed the gear into Edgar's bunk and walked out of the room.
"Hey, don't go" said Edgar grabbing her arm.
"Why?" countered Natalie.
"Because I need to know if you knew anything about Bishop coming on this boat" said Edgar seriously.
"I swear to you, I don't even remember meeting her last night" said Natalie.
Edgar studied her face for a moment before nodding his belief.
The sound of Sig's voice echoed through the Northwestern. He wasn't on the hailer, but it sounded like he was. Natalie, Bishop and the rest of the crew sat in the galley listening to every word being spewed out to Jason and whoever Sig was taking to on the phone.
"I don't care who made the decision. It was wrong! I don't know how many pussies you think we need on this boat..."
"No the answer is none! You are lucky I have crab to catch or else you'd be talking to me through a ventilator bag..."
"Ok, here's the deal. I'll take her out, but you better have a new producer with a dick and a strong stomach by the time I get back. You have a week" yelled Sig.
The crew in the galley stifled their laughter at Sig's ultimatum. Bishop smiled saucily at each member of the crew before she moved to walk up to the wheelhouse. Natalie stood immediately to stop her.
"Don't do it" she said.
"I can handle him" Bishop boasted.
"I'm sure you can, but you don't want to right now. It's not worth it, no matter what you said he's going to hate you" pleaded Natalie.
"Ok, I'll just stay with you" said Bishop cupping Natalie's cheek.
She threaded her hand through Natalie's and drew her back to the bench seat. Natalie struggled to extricate her hand from Bishop's to no avail. Sig appeared a moment later.
"We're going, get ready to cast off."
"You" said Sig to Bishop. "Get your camera, you're going to want to start doing some sort of work."
Everyone scattered leaving Natalie sitting in the booth facing Sig.
"Well, why don't you come with me" suggested Sig.
"Roger" said Natalie.