A/N: Thank you for all the reviews. Because of it, I'm posting a little early.
The deck was completely frozen as if stuck on pause. Waves broke over the side of the rail as the guys stood around dumbfounded at what had just occurred. Matt was the first to recover and once he pulled himself off the deck he moved to stand over Bishop. She was crying angrily holding her thigh just above the knife.
"Call the cops, I want her arrested" she yelled.
"Maybe you haven't noticed but we're in the middle of the ocean" said Matt. "But if you want to call the Coasties be my guest."
Bishop thrust out her hand to Matt but instead of helping her up he simply walked away.
"Matt, why aren't you helping her?" asked Sig as Matt approached.
"She hit me. I don't owe her anything" replied Matt.
Sig huffed slightly at Matt's comment and walked briskly across the deck to where Bishop was sitting. Looking at the knife protruding from her upper thigh he called to his brother.
"Edgar, get the first aid kit" he commanded.
For a moment it looked like Edgar was going to balk at the request but instead he went inside for a moment before reappearing with the giant kit. Dropping the kit on the deck he stood behind Sig assessing the situation. His first thought was Natalie would be able to figure out just what was needed.
"Well?" asked Sig.
"Well what, you wanted the kit, so here it is" said Edgar.
"Everyone has lost their fucking mind" said Sig.
He bent over and rummaged through the kit until he found a compress. Just as he was about to pull it out of the kit a wave crashed over the side wetting everything.
"We need to get inside, it's a mess out here" said Sig. "Pick her up."
Edgar scooped Bishop into his arms and carried her across the shifting deck into the warmth of the house.
Setting her down on the bench seat in the galley Edgar stepped back allowing Sig to move in next to her. He assessed the situation and decided that the Coasties were probably required. He didn't want to pull the knife out in case the artery had been nicked. Edgar could see Sig's indecision and decided to offer a suggestion.
"Do you want me to get Natalie?" asked Edgar.
"Are you fucking kidding me?" said Bishop incredulously.
Edgar's eyes shifted to Bishop and he smiled evily.
"She's probably the only one on the boat who can make sure you're ok" said Edgar.
Bishop's eyes went wide in realization that the girl who stabbed her, who she tried to push over the side of the boat was the only person on the boat qualified to treat her injury.
"Fine" said Bishop.
Edgar went off to find Natalie. He returned a while later dragging a tear streaked Bug.
"Just fix her" said Edgar.
Natalie didn't even look at Bishop's face. Sig acted as assistant handing her a pair of scissors. She carefully cut Bishop out of her pants, learning first hand she hadn't been lying about not wearing underwear. Next she reached down and pulled the knife out of her leg with a ferocity that made Sig and Edgar both wince. The moment the knife cleared the skin she placed the compress on the cut and held it tightly. Holding it for only a minute she removed it and proceeded to clean the cut. Her face was a blank mask even as Bishop whined and moaned on the bench. The cut was barely oozing and the knife which had seemed so dangerous on deck was no bigger than the average kitchen paring knife. Natalie studied the cut and then reached into the first aid box for the stitches kit. She sewed three stitches into the skin, neatly closing the cut. The whole process took less than twenty minutes.
"Keep it dry" said Natalie curtly.
She started to walk away when Sig caught her arm.
"I need to talk to you" he said seriously.
Natalie just nodded, not trusting herself to speak.
Sig sat her down on the bench seat and then started to pace. Natalie cast her eyes around the wheelhouse wondering how long it would be before fishing resumed. Jake popped his head into the wheelhouse and was immediately told to go back out.
"What the hell just happened?" asked Sig.
"I was just trying to" began Natalie.
"You know what, don't talk" interrupted Sig. "You just stabbed someone on my boat."
"She tried to push me over the side" said Natalie.
"So" said Sig.
"So, she was trying to kill me" said Natalie.
"Why?" asked Sig.
Natalie just looked away, she couldn't respond.
"Well?" prompted Sig.
"She was trying to ruin you and everyone else on this boat" said Natalie.
"How?" asked Sig.
"She was filming personal conversations" said Natalie.
"That's what she does, that's what we signed up for" said Sig exasperatedly.
"Her films were personal, intimate" explained Natalie.
"It's fine, we agree to that" said Sig.
"No, you don't understand" said Natalie.
"Then tell me" said Sig.
"I saw her talking to you in your room" said Natalie. "You were talking about your brothers."
"You are remanded to quarters" said Sig stoically.
"What?" asked Natalie.
"You are remanded to quarters" repeated Sig.
"My quarters?" queried Natalie.
"Yes" replied Sig. "You'll stay there until we get to port."
"Fine" said Natalie.
She stalked to the wheelhouse door before turning back for one last comment.
"Sig Hansen you are an amazing fisherman, but you suck at life" said Natalie.
Sig opened his mouth to respond but found he had nothing to say.
Natalie sat grumpily in her bunk, she'd been sitting there for the past 3 days doing nothing but sleeping and reading. Norman and Edgar had been in the room for less than 3 hours a night to sleep. Sig was pressing the crew to finish the trip as quickly as possible. Natalie hadn't eaten in the galley she was only allowed to go to the bathroom and return to her room. When she wasn't reading she was sleeping and her dreams were unsettling. She'd stop wondering if it was day or night, she knew time was passing but she didn't know how much. Edgar and Norman trudged into their room dropping into their bunks like lead weights. They slept for five hours before Sig walked into their rooms and flashed the lights signaling to the guys that nap time was over.
"Time to make the donuts" said Edgar with a groan. "Hey Bug, any chance for a massage? My back is killing me."
"Huh?" replied Natalie sleepily.
"Back treatment?" said Edgar slowly.
"Sure" said Natalie.
She dropped over the side of the bunk landing deftly on the floor. The first thing Edgar noticed was that she wasn't wearing pants. She had a tank top on and a pair of shorts. The second thing he noticed was the bruise around her throat.
"Ok, I'm ready" said Natalie. "Lay down."
"Norman, where is the flashlight?" asked Edgar.
"Here" said Norman handing it over.
Edgar shined the light into Natalie's face before tilting her head up.
"Stop, that hurts" said Natalie trying to dislodge his hand.
"Don't move" said Edgar.
Norman stood up and walked over to see what the hell Edgar was going on about. He was shocked to see the clear outline of each of Bishop's fingers on Natalie's skin.
"If you're done looking down my top or whatever I'm ready to give you a treatment" said Natalie.
"Great" said Edgar.
"By the way your tits look great" said Norman.
"Thanks" said Natalie with a smile.
Edgar lay on the massage table as Natalie pressed into his sore muscles. He made only soft groaning noises as she passed over his painful discs.
"How much longer until we're done?" asked Natalie.
"Probably a couple more days" said Edgar. "We're already stacking gear."
"What day is it?" asked Natalie.
"You'd have to ask Sig that" said Edgar. "I have no idea."
Natalie didn't respond she just finished massaging Edgar's shoulders and then moved back into her bunk.
"Why do you want to know what day it is?" asked Edgar.
"Because, Thursday is Thanksgiving. I bought a turkey. I don't want it to go to waste" said Natalie.
"Oh" said Edgar with sudden understanding.
Edgar left the room a few minutes later leaving Natalie laying forlornly on her bed.
Jake and Matt were the last onto the deck, Sig had been yelling about their slacking for the past 5 minutes. They'd been finishing up the dishes in the galley. Since Natalie wasn't allowed out of her room and Bishop was "not able" to do anything more than lay in Sig's bed and sit in the wheelhouse they crew had moved back to cooking for themselves.
"I fucking hate this boat" complained Matt.
"Lets just get this shit done and go home" said Edgar.
"No joke" replied Jake.
The grind was painful but each pot over the side, each crab in the tank, was one step closer to home.
"25, two five" said Edgar into the loudspeaker. "By the way what day is it?"
"Why do you want to know?" replied Sig over the hailer.
"Just wondering if it's Thursday" said Edgar.
There was a pause and then Sig returned to tell them it was in fact Thursday. Edgar called Matt over and told him it was Thanksgiving and that Natalie had wanted them to have a turkey dinner.
"But she's not allowed out of the room" replied Matt.
"I know" said Edgar. "I want you to cook it."
"Seriously?" said Matt. "I don't want to do that."
"It's important to her" said Edgar.
Matt looked at Edgar and then nodded. He disappeared into the house and returned a moment later when Sig questioned where he was. That's the way it went all day, Matt would disappear into the galley for as long as he could before someone would notice his absence. Finally Matt started to slip into the galley through the window from the deck. Edgar would hoist him into it and he would return to the deck through the regular door.
Matt charged down the hallway towards Natalie's stateroom. He was anxious as time was running out before dinner needed to go into the oven. It had taken him all day to prep everything for the Thanksgiving meal. Bursting through the door he found Natalie asleep in her bunk.
"Bug, get up" called Matt.
He received no response and climbed up to shake Natalie. She was sleeping heavily her breath coming in short gasps. He saw the purple bruising around her neck and used his hand to pull back her hair. Running his fingers across her cheek he called her name softly. Natalie stirred slightly before falling back into sleep. Matt huffed and then shook her shoulders.
"What" said Natalie, shocked by the rough treatment.
"Hey, I need some help with dinner" said Matt.
"Is it Thanksgiving?" said Natalie.
"Yes, but you didn't buy any stuffing" said Matt.
"Oh, yeah. That's what the White Castle hamburgers are for" said Natalie.
"What!" said Matt.
"It's delicious. Stuff the turkey with the frozen burgers and it will be amazing" said Natalie.
"You are fucking kidding me" said Matt. "You want me to stuff a turkey will burgers."
"Yes, it's amazing, trust me" said Natalie.
"I thought you were all into healthy food" said Matt.
"I am into healthy living and sometimes splurging on delicious food is just as important as eating roughage" said Natalie.
"Whatever you say" said Matt. "I have to go before Sig starts looking for me."
"Good luck with dinner" said Natalie.
Matt scuttled out the door and Natalie returned to the land of nod.
Hours later everyone sat around the galley table, everyone except Natalie. Matt had set a huge table, the center piece was the golden brown turkey. The traditional sides were all in attendance; mashed potatoes, yams, green beans and gravy. While it was strange that Natalie wasn't there, nobody seemed to notice.
"How did you make this turkey?" asked Sig.
"It took a while, but I managed" said Matt modestly.
"It's amazing" said Sig. "I've never had stuffing like this."
"It's stuffed with White Castle burgers" said Matt.
"No, really. How did you make it?" asked Sig.
"I just told you" said Matt.
"Well, honestly it's delicious" said Sig.
"Um, thanks" said Matt.
He felt guilty that he didn't give credit to Natalie, but it had been decided by the crew not to mention her name to Sig unless absolutely necessary. Dinner was consumed in record time and everyone scraped their plate clean. Jake opened the pumpkin pie for dessert and passed it out to everyone. It took him a moment to figure out why he had an extra plate in hid hand, instead of taking it to Natalie he slid it back into the pie tin. The dishes were piled into the sink and everyone slunk into their bunks.
Two days later the tanks were stuffed, the pots were stacked and the Northwestern was headed back to Dutch Harbor with their final offload. While the crew was securing the deck Jason snuck into Natalie's stateroom.
"Hey" he said waking Natalie up.
"Oh, hi Jason" she replied her voice sounding weak.
"I just wanted to see if I could tape a final interview" said Jason.
"Sure. I owe you at least that" said Natalie. "I wanted to help you make up the tapes I threw overboard and I didn't get a chance."
"Are you kidding?" said Jason. "I taped everything you did on deck. I'm going to get the season preview. You have nothing to be sorry for."
"I'm glad it all worked out for you" said Natalie.
Jason pulled his camera up and turned it on. Natalie smoothed down her hair and got ready to interview.
"Ok Bug, what have you been doing?" asked Jason.
"Nothing. I've been remanded to quarters so I've just been here" she said.
"How long have you been here?" asked Jason.
"Um, since the incident" said Natalie.
"Have you left the room at all?" asked Jason.
"Just to go to the bathroom" said Natalie.
"You didn't make the Thanksgiving dinner?" asked Jason.
"No. I just gave Matt directions" said Natalie.
Natalie yawned, tilting her neck back, revealing her bruise. Jason zoomed in immediately on the injured skin. Because he'd paused in his questioning Natalie trained her eyes on him.
"What's wrong?" she asked.
"Nothing, just looking at you" said Jason.
"I know, I'm gross. I haven't taken a shower for way too long" said Natalie.
"Ok, back on target" said Jason. "Why did you do that to Bishop?"
"Are you kidding? said Natalie. "You know exactly why I did it. She taped Sig in a completely personal and inappropriate situation that he was completely unaware of."
"Sig doesn't think that" said Jason.
"That's fine" said Natalie, her voice quieting. "I just want to make sure he doesn't get hurt."
"If he doesn't have any loyalty to you, then why do you have so much for him" asked Jason.
Natalie stayed quiet for a moment before answering with a shrug.
"No, not an answer" said Jason.
"I suppose the reason is that I care for him" said Natalie. "And I don't want to see him hurt, either professionally or personally."
The boat pulled into the Trident processor with only moments to spare. Sig had boasted on his quick catch and the processor had pressed him with a ridiculously in date. He hadn't slept since hearing of the new deadline and now that the tanks were opened he fell into his bunk exhausted.
"You can't sleep yet" said Bishop.
"I'm done" said Sig. "We've talked for the last 22 hours."
"Yeah, but those were for Discovery" said Bishop. "These are just for me."
Sig lifted his head to see Bishop completely naked approaching his bed like a tigress. That was the last thing he was interested in.
"No thanks" said Sig. "The trips over and I need to sleep."
"Fine" said Bishop.
"Come in to bed" said Sig. "But don't expect any talking."
Bishop cocked her head to the side before taking the few steps to reach the bed.
"Honestly Sig, I really need this tape" said Bishop. "It's something for me to remember my time with you."
"Well it's not going to happen right now" said Sig.
Bishop huffed angrily before stopping the recording. Deciding she could play Sig as an impotent she collected her stuff and stalked out of the room.
Natalie laid listlessly in her bunk. She had heard the guys talking about reaching port but she couldn't bring herself to leave the bed she'd been in for the past 10 days. For the past two days she'd been feeling sick. While the crew slept, so did she. She hadn't even left to go to the bathroom. Laying quietly on the bunk she tried to list what she needed to do but her thoughts wouldn't become cohesive. Edgar came bustling in and began to pack his bag.
"I can't believe you're still here" he said. "I mean after the week you've had I can't imagine why you're here. I mean even loyalty has it's limits."
After a beat Edgar looked up at Natalie's bunk.
"Bug, it's over, you're free to leave" he said.
Wondering why she didn't respond he started shaking her shoulder. He got no response. His alarm was raised when she failed to respond to even him lifting her off the bed. Grabbing the boat phone off the wall he called the wheelhouse.
"What" said Nick.
"Call 911, Natalie's sick" said Edgar.
"Roger" said Nick in reply.
The roar of the sirens cut through the air of the Dutch Harbor docks. Edgar sat with Natalie in his arms, waiting for word of the ambulance's arrival. Norman had chosen to act as liaison between the deck and Edgar. He walked back and forth at the sound of any approaching vehicle. So far he'd gotten Edgar for half a dozen cars. Finally he spotted the Ambo and sprinted inside to the stateroom.
"It's here" he said.
Edgar scooped up Natalie, she was in the same exact position he'd carried Bishop off the deck a mere 10 days earlier. He emerged on deck and met the paramedics reluctantly handing Natalie over to their waiting arms.
"What did she eat or drink in the last 24 hours?" asked the paramedic.
Edgar hesitated before answering.
"I don't know."
"Ok, does anyone else on board know?" countered the paramedic. "It's important."
Edgar did a quick poll of everyone on board and came up empty. No one remembered giving Natalie anything to eat or drink in the past 24 hours.
"Ok, we'll have her at the clinic, if they can't handle the issue she'll be medivac'd as soon as possible" said he paramedic.
He passed Natalie onto the dock and she was in the rig before anyone volunteered to go with her. The crew watched the ambulance speed off.
"What just happened?" asked Jake.
"I don't know" said Edgar.
Bishop appeared on deck, her camera trained on Sig's observation of the offload.
"What just happened?" Sig asked.
"Bug, just got taken to the hospital" said Edgar.
"Why?" asked Sig.
"We don't know" said Edgar. "But it seems serious."
Bishop trained her camera on Sig capturing his concern.
"I'm sure it's nothing" she said.
Sig's frown deepened for a moment before he walked gingerly away from the camera.
**Sorry about the cliffy.