A/N: Thank you for all the wonderful reviews. They motivate me to update faster.
The next few days found the crew hunkering down inside while hurricane force winds pounded the boat. Sig was jogging in 30 foot seas riding out the storm before fishing could resume. Since they were on the edge of the crab grounds there was no way to run and take cover behind an island. Instead the Northwestern would do it's best to ride out the storm as safely as possible. The pitch and roll of the boat was almost soothing and Natalie had a hard time staying awake. With the break in the fishing came more time for interviews. Bishop made her way to each of the staterooms asking the guys why they got into fishing and why they continue to come back year after year. In the wheelhouse Sig watched the boat sail up and over each massive wave. He'd sent the crew out to double check the small stack of pots. Ideally he would ditch them but he didn't want to risk sending the crew out on deck for an extended amount of time. The sound of feet on the stairs made him tense, he hadn't seen Bishop except for meals since he gave her the silent treatment a few days ago. Deciding it would just be easier if he ignored who ever was coming in he continued to stare out the front windows. The hand set the french press down and Sig snuck a glance at it. For all the times Natalie had touched him he had no idea what her hands looked like. Next to the coffee was a slab of chocolate.
"Thank you" said Sig.
"You're welcome" replied Bishop's voice.
Sig cringed and his hackles went up. He couldn't believe that this girl was trying to bribe him with chocolate.
"Come on Bishop, I want to take a nap. Just put down the coffee and come back down" called Natalie's voice from downstairs.
"Coming" said Bishop.
Sig was disappointed that Natalie hadn't delivered his coffee but knowing that she had probably fixed it for him made him feel slightly better. Bishop stopped just before going downstairs.
"Do you think I could interview you a little later?" she asked quietly.
"I'll think about it" replied Sig.
Bishop and Natalie walked into the stateroom and climbed into the small bunk. Norman and Edgar were sitting in their bunks reading mail. Neither said anything when the girls entered the room or when they got into bed together. They didn't need to, the expression on their faces said it all. Bishop curled around Natalie placing her hand over her stomach. The space was tight and although she wanted to object Natalie was too tired to care, all she wanted was to do was sleep. A moment or two later Norman could hear the quiet snuffling he'd become familiar with, it signaled Natalie was in deep sleep. He and Edgar could see the girls reflection in the mirror on the wall. As Norman looked up he could see Bishop looking at him in the mirror. She smiled seductively and slipped her hand under Natalie's shirt lifting it to expose her tummy. Norman's eyes widened and he wondered what the hell Bishop was playing at. Norman's eyes shifted and he realized that Edgar was probably seeing the same thing he was. Bishop rubbed her hands up and down Natalie's soft skin. Natalie didn't react, she was still asleep. Emboldened by her audience Bishop reached up under the shirt and stroked Natalie's breast. She caressed her nipple bringing it to a stiff peak. This move made Norman and Edgar lean forward. Both knew the shit that would happen if Natalie woke up, but they were going to enjoy the show while it lasted. Bishop pulled up Natalie's shirt in an attempt to expose her breasts but the shirt was wedged under Natalie's prone body. Before Bishop was able to pull it all the way up Natalie rolled over, effectively ending the show. In response Norman winked at Bishop in the mirror and then got up and left the room. Bishop untangled herself from the blanket and slipped out the door less than a minute after Norman. Edgar smirked to himself, at least someone on the boat was getting some. His attention was drawn to Natalie's sleeping form, he felt guilty that she'd been used without her knowledge. She turned again, this time facing out, Edgar studied her angelic face and felt a tremendous weight settle over him.
Natalie sat in the wheelhouse half listening to Sig rant about the weather coming down and ruining his fishing. The weather had gotten better after Sig had turned tail from the fishing grounds in an effort to get away from the brunt of the storm's fury. The waves were still huge and the stationary camera set up by Bishop was capturing each and every one. Sig was fairly sure the deck was a mess but he feared sending anyone outside to asses the damage. Dinner was on the table but Sig couldn't pull himself away from driving the boat to eat. Natalie had brought him a plate, but he was too busy to eat.
"I need you to sit here while I eat" said Sig.
"I'm not comfortable with that" said Natalie.
"Just sit, I have to take a piss and I'm hungry" replied Sig grumpily.
"I will if you do your interviews with Bishop" said Natalie.
"You manipulating..." began Sig.
"Just a yes or no, I don't need the commentary" interrupted Natalie.
"Fine" said Sig getting out the chair.
Natalie slipped into the seat and watched as a large wave blew past the windows. Sig hurried to his stateroom to pee and then returned to eat his food. He sat on the bench seat behind the captain's chair watching Natalie.
"You need to push the throttle to get up this wave" said Sig conversationally.
When Natalie didn't immediately do what he'd said he got up and grabbed her hand. He placed it on the throttle and pushed it forward until the boat had cleared the wave. Then he pulled it back.
"Do I have to do that for each wave?" asked Natalie.
"Probably" said Sig. "I'll let you know."
"Can you take my picture?" asked Natalie.
"Why?" asked Sig.
"Because, I'm driving a boat" she replied. "I've never done this before."
"Well you look good doing it" said Sig with a laugh.
Just then a huge wave came up and Sig watched as Natalie throttled the boat through it like a pro. He was confident that once she learned to use the radar she could probably sit through a wheel watch or two.
"Hey, are you done eating yet?" asked Natalie.
"Tired of sitting in the big chair already?" quipped Sig.
"Yes" replied Natalie. "Besides I have to go tell Bishop about her interviews."
"Fine" said Sig.
Natalie flounced out of the wheelhouse in search of Bishop.
The storm had calmed and Sig began the slow steam back to his strings. The attempt to outrun the storm had put them a half a day's steam away from their pots. The waves were still big but manageable. The crew was out on deck cleaning up and getting ahead on bait set ups. Natalie was out with the guys slashing and stringing cod. Bishop sat up in the wheelhouse attempting to coax Sig into speaking to her using the information she'd gleaned from Edgar.
"Are the storm warnings from the weather service usually accurate?" asked Bishop.
Sig took a deep breath and debated just ignoring her. He's promised Natalie he'd give her an interview but he suppose he didn't really have to honor it. Sig was still contemplating when Bishop's voice cut through his musing.
"Sig, watch out for the wave" she yelled.
Sig lifted his head from the monitor and saw a massive wave heading towards the boat from the side.
"Oh shit!" he yelled.
He grabbed the hailer to alert the deck but realized the wave was already too close. He barely had time to press the buzzer before the wave hit the boat pushing it over about 45 degrees and shattering the small side window. Bishop skidded off her feet rolling into a small cabinet on the other side of the wheelhouse. Sig shielded his face from the raining glass. The boat sat at the angle for a moment before slowly righting itself. Sig shook the glass from his head and scanned the video monitor for the crew on deck. The deck was swamped with white frothy water and Sig noticed the coiler was knocked over.
"Give me a damage report" called Sig over the hailer.
All he got in response was silence. He looked over at Bishop who was just sitting up, he could see a rivulet of blood dripping from a cut above her eyebrow.
"Hey are you ok?" asked Sig.
"I think so" said Bishop.
"Come over here, let me check you out" said Sig.
Bishop walked unsteadily over to the captain's chair, she stumbled slightly and Sig reached out to steady her. He could see a growing bump on her head and the deep cut oozing blood. He ran his hands over her arms and legs making sure nothing was broken.
"That hurts" said Bishop as Sig brushed over her elbow.
Sig bent her elbow back and forth and when she didn't wince he pulled up her sweatshirt and found it red and bloody.
"Looks like you just scraped it" said Sig. "Natalie can fix you up."
"Where is Natalie?" asked Bishop.
"Outside. Stay here, I'm going to check on everyone else" said Sig.
Bishop nodded and took her place in Sig's chair.
The deck of the Northwestern was strewn with debris. White totes were all over the place along with spilled bait and buoy bags. The pots that had been tied in the center of the deck were now against the stern piled like toy blocks. Sig skidded out of the wheelhouse and took the ladder steps two at a time. He scanned the deck looking for any signs of life. The only sounds he heard were the waves.
"Where are you guys?" he yelled.
His voice was lost to the howling wind. He sprinted to the bait station and found Jake and Matt huddled over a prone Norman. Sig's fears were being realized, his brother was hurt.
"What happened?" he asked.
"A huge wave just wiped out the entire crew" said Edgar from behind him.
"Who's hurt?" asked Sig.
"No one, we're just a little banged up. Nothing serious" said Edgar.
Jake pulled Norman to his feet while Nick and Natalie appeared from behind an overturned bait bin.
"Everyone accounted for" said Sig.
"Roger" said Edgar.
"Thank god" said Sig. "Lets get the hell inside."
No one needed to be told twice, they scrambled to their feet and headed off the deck.
In the ready room everyone stripped out of their oil skins, they were soaked to the bone. Edgar pulled clothes out of the dryer and everyone stripped off their wet clothes and slipped into dry ones. Natalie was still shivering violently so Nick grabbed and extra hoodie and slid it over her head.
"Thanks" said Natalie through chattering teeth.
"Lets get you warm" said Norman.
Natalie nodded and walked unsteadily through to the galley. Norman sat her down while Matt brought out the pot of coffee and passed out cups to everyone.
"Too bad we don't have anything stronger" said Jake.
"Coffee will have to do until we get to town" said Edgar.
Natalie wrapped her hands around the hot coffee letting the cup burn them. Her hands tingled like electricity was running through them making her set down the cup with a clunk. Looking around the room she noticed some of the movies had fallen off the shelf. She wondered how messed up the cabinets in the kitchen were. As her eyes shifted past everyone she noticed a glint in Sig's hair.
"Sig, you have glass in your hair" she said.
"I know. We have a blown out window in the wheelhouse" he replied.
"Are you cut?" asked Natalie climbing over Norman to get to Sig.
"No. But Bishop has a cut you need to look at" said Sig.
"Is she upstairs?" asked Natalie.
"Yes" replied Sig.
Natalie grabbed the first aid kit and ran up the stairs.
"Is Bishop ok?" asked Edgar.
"Just a small cut" said Sig. "She saved my ass up there. She saw the wave before I did. If she hadn't said something I could have been blinded by the breaking glass."
"Glad she was there" said Norman.
"Yeah, me too" said Sig. "I should go check on her."
Sig walked into the wheelhouse and into a scene out of a porno movie. Bishop was laying on the floor in her pants and bra. Natalie was straddling her while her hands caressed Bishop's torso. Next to Natalie was the open first aid kit and she was apparently looking for further injuries. Sig watched as she finished her inspection and then moved up to kneel just under Bishop's breasts. She reached over and grabbed some gauze and antiseptic.
"Linz, it's going to need a few stitches. It's deep" said Natalie.
"I trust you" said Bishop.
Natalie stroked her hand across Bishop's forehead soothingly.
"Just close your eyes. I'm going to put some numbing stuff on and then I'm going to stitch it up" explained Natalie.
"Will you kiss it and make it better when your done?" asked Bishop.
"Of course. Just try to relax" said Natalie.
With an incredible delicate hand Natalie stitched the deep cut closed and then cleaned it again before putting on a small bandage. Then she leaned down and placed a gentle kiss on the bandage.
"No, I want a better kiss than that" said Bishop seductively.
Natalie placed her hands on the Bishop's chest running her fingers from her collar bone to the tips of her breasts. Bishop's hips tilted up in response. Natalie bent down until her lips were an inch from Bishop's.
"It may work on the boys, but it won't on me" said Natalie.
Then she stood and closed up the first aid box before walking out of the room, leaving Bishop on the floor. Sig saw Natalie coming and he ducked into his stateroom until she passed. He hadn't been able to hear what she'd said, but clearly it had been quite a line because it left Bishop completely incapacitated. Sig took a breath and walked into the wheelhouse. Bishop was still on the floor.
"Are you ok?" asked Sig.
"Um, yeah. Natalie just stitched me up" said Bishop.
Sig leaned over her and pulled her up. She wobbled a little and Sig put his arms around her to steady her. Bishop placed her head on his chest and Sig instinctively put his arms around her.
"Thanks" she whispered.
"Of course" said Sig placing a kiss on the top of her head.
There was a commotion on the stairs and Edgar and Jake barged into the wheelhouse with a piece of plexiglass.
"Wow, sorry" said Jake.
He tried to turn around but ran smack into Edgar.
"What the fuck Junior" yelled Edgar.
"I think" began Jake.
"We don't pay you to think" began Edgar. "Move."
Jake did as commanded and stepped aside. Edgar moved into the room and his mouth dropped open at the sight of Sig hugging a half naked Bishop.