Andy Hillstrand was having the most wonderful dream. He was pulling full pots of crab on a boat in the Mexican Riviera. He knew it was a dream because at no time was it possible to pull pots in nothing but a pair of trunks. Natalie was there, in a swim suit holding up the crab count on a large white card. It was strange but wonderful. Andy hoped the dream would never end. Then his brain reminded him that he had the real Natalie in bed with him, on the Time Bandit, right now. And if he was lucky she would still not be wearing pants. He hardened at the thought and began to try to pull himself out of the dream. He woke up with a start and then leaned over to spoon his sexy bedmate, only to find that side of the bed empty. He felt the blankets, they were still warm. With a silent swear he laid back down covering his eyes with his forearm. He heard the door open.
"Come back to bed" said Andy.
"Um, I'd love to, but Jonathan wanted me to tell you that we are almost to St. Paul" said Josh Harris.
Andy moved his arm slowly, trying to think of a way to make the situation less embarrassing. When no immediate thought came to mind he just nodded. Josh took that as a dismissal and turned to walk out of the room.
Natalie sat in the galley wordlessly stirring her coffee. She had been mildly shocked to find herself bottomless in Andy Hillstrand's bed. The events of the previous evening had come back to her in a rush and she felt the overwhelming need to get the hell out of there. Finding there was really no where to go on a boat she'd poured herself a cup of coffee and just sat down. Josh had passed her on the way to the staterooms and announced they were almost to St. Paul. Natalie wondered if Sig was there waiting for her. She hadn't heard anything from him since she got onto the Sea Star. Of course he was busy, so really she had no right to expect him to put his fishing on hold to call her on the radio. Plus that would out their pseudo-relationship to the whole fleet. Her head was still spinning when Josh slid into the seat across from her.
"A penny for you thoughts?" he said quietly.
"Not really worth a penny" said Natalie.
"You seem sad" said Josh.
"I'm kind of numb" said Natalie.
"Everyone gets that way out here" said Josh. "If it's not the cold numbing you from the outside it's the exhaustion numbing from the inside."
"You have a very poetic soul" said Natalie thoughtfully.
"Thanks" said Josh with a half smile.
Andy sauntered into the kitchen a moment later looking like the cat that ate the canary. He smiled at Josh and gave Natalie an exaggerated wink. Natalie scowled at him in response then dropped her eyes to her coffee cup.
"What's for breakfast?" asked Andy. "I'm starving."
"There are some eggs and potatoes on the stove and some english muffins next to the toaster" answered Josh.
"Excellent" said Andy.
He fixed himself a plate and slid in next to Natalie. She moved over slightly to give him a little more room.
"Your shoulder seems like it's feeling better" said Natalie.
"It feels better" said Andy. "And that has everything to do with you."
Natalie smiled slightly and turned back to her coffee. Her mental musings were interrupted by Jonathan's disembodied voice on the hailer.
"We need to break some ice asap, we are close to listing" said Jonathan.
"Fuck" said Andy. "Put your gear on and get out there. This is the last thing we need on this trip."
Josh hopped up quickly and extended a hand to Natalie. She slid around to the other side of the booth and got up.
"Put on an extra layer or two, it's going to be cold out there" said Andy. "I wouldn't want you getting anything frost bitten."
"Thanks for your concern" said Josh.
Natalie laughed into her hand and followed Josh into their stateroom.
The wind whipped Natalie's hair as she stepped out on deck. She hurried to pull her hood on. The deck was covered in ice and while the majority of the pots had been dropped there were still a few on deck. The pots looked like ice sculptures. Natalie slid across the deck towards the sorting table. Josh handed her a metal pole with a smile.
"Ok, all you have to do is your best" said Josh. "The sledge swingers will do most of the work."
"Not a problem" said Natalie. "I'm a bit stronger than you give me credit for."
"I have no doubt" said Josh.
"Less chatting more breaking" said Scotty from behind Natalie.
"Roger" chorused Josh and Natalie.
Travis, Scott and Josh used sledge hammers and Natalie used the long metal pipe to break the ice off the railings and the deck itself. Eventually the broken ice started to stack up and Natalie was upgraded to ice shoveler. It was back breaking work and it seemed like every single time Natalie got close to the railing she got soaked. The boat cut through growing seas and as the day grew later the sky began to glow red.
"That looks ominous" said Natalie.
"No, it's great" said Travis.
"How do you figure?" asked Natalie.
"There is a famous saying 'Red skies in the morning, sailor take warning. Red skies at night, sailors delight'" explained Travis.
"What sort of delight?" asked Natalie.
"Who knows" said Travis. "But it's nothing bad."
Natalie looked skeptical but just went back to shoveling ice. The hours passed, after a while she literally lost all thoughts and just focused on moving the ice off the boat. Josh tapped her on the shoulder startling her back to the present.
"Oh shit, sorry" said Josh. "I didn't mean to scare you."
"No, it's ok" said Natalie. "I was just wool gathering."
"Lets get you a little warmed up" said Josh.
"Ok" said Natalie.
In the wheelhouse Andy saw Josh pull Natalie into the bow shelter and hand her a cup of coffee. The last place he wanted to see Natalie was out on deck in subzero temperatures but what could he do, the crew was short handed even with her out there. Mike Fortner sat on the bench seat looking forlornly at the deck.
"Fourtner, if you want to go out there you are more than welcome" said Andy.
"Natalie told me in no uncertain terms I was not allowed to go out on deck" said Mike. "I popped two stitches last time."
"What is she going to do to you?" challenged Andy.
"She said something about cutting off my balls" said Mike.
"If that's the case I wouldn't risk it" said Andy with a chuckle.
"No joke" said Mike.
"Besides, they are almost done" said Andy. "And we are pretty close to St. Paul."
"Awesome" said Mike.
Andy turned his attention back to the deck and was surprised when he couldn't see Natalie or Josh. His brows wrinkled and he called for Mike to take over.
"Dude, if Natalie's going to cut my balls off for going outside, I'm pretty sure that she would do the same for you" said Mike.
Andy stopped and then walked back to the captain's chair. He picked up the phone and buzzed Jonathan's room.
"Hey brother, can you go out and see how the guys are doing" asked Andy. "Thanks."
Mike wanted to find out what had gotten under Andy's skin. He looked outside and saw Josh and Natalie emerge from the sauna. From the clench in Andy's jaw, Mike realized exactly what had gotten under Andy's skin.
"Can I get you some coffee?" asked Mike.
"Huh?" said Andy, his attention pulled from the deck.
"Coffee, do you want some?" repeated Mike.
"Thanks, that would be great" said Andy distractedly.
Jonathan appeared on deck a moment later and walked over to where the crew was breaking ice. He spoke briefly and pointed to the wheelhouse and shrugged. Then he turned around and hustled back inside.
Finally back in the house Natalie shrugged out of her rain gear. Her muscles were sore and her head was pounding. All she wanted to do was take a hot shower and fall into a deep sleep. Josh took her gear from her hands and hung it up on the same hook as his.
"Ready to eat?" asked Josh.
"Not really" said Natalie. "I just want to shower and sleep."
"You need to eat" said Josh. "You probably burnt a couple thousand calories working that shovel."
"What's for dinner?" asked Natalie.
"Um, I don't know" said Josh. "Lets go find out."
The pair walked the short distance to the galley and was greeted by two huge pans of lasagna, salad and lots of bread.
"Maybe I will eat, this looks delicious" said Natalie.
Scotty appeared in low slung pajama pants and a t-shirt.
"I got your new set of clothes" said Scott with a smirk. "They are on your bed."
"Ok, thanks" said Natalie.
"I think Travis is in the shower right now, but he'll be done soon" said Scott.
"So I guess I should go take my shower" said Natalie. "Don't eat all the food before I get back."
"We'll keep something warm for you" said Josh.
Natalie gave him a broad smile and then turned to walk down the hall. Her progress was impeded by Andy's broad chest.
"Sorry Andy" said Natalie. "I didn't see you there."
"You seem distracted" said Andy sternly.
"Probably just exhaustion" said Natalie.
"Hmph" said Andy.
"How's your shoulder feeling?" asked Natalie, her hand slipping to his collar to pull it to the side.
"I thought you were going to shower?" said Andy, his voice frosty.
"You're right, I was" said Natalie, her voice showing her confusion.
She pushed passed Andy and trudged down the hall. Once she was gone Andy served himself a plate and sat down grumpily at the table. Josh and Scotty shared a look, then filled their own plates and began eating quietly.
Natalie, stood in a towel staring opened mouth at the stack of clothes sitting on her bed. There was some sort of dress from the box of clothes in Jonathan's room and a sweater. Her eyes narrowed as she held up the dress to her. It would fit, but certainly not leave a lot to the imagination. With a shrug Natalie dropped her towel and slipped into the dress. Without underwear or a bra the dress looked like a hookerish nightgown. But the fabric was soft and it smelled freshly washed. She figured she would eat, then do her laundry and change once her clothes were finished. When she sat down on the bed to put her socks on she realized how tired she was and decided to close her eyes just for a minute.
"Natalie, your dinner is getting cold" said Josh as he walked into the room. "Whoa."
He found Natalie laying on the bed, her feet still on the floor, legs akimbo. He took a step closer and studied her. The soft rise and fall of her chest told him she was still alive. Josh studied her outfit, he couldn't tell if it was a dress or a nighty but either way she looked incredibly sexy.
"Dude, is she coming or what" said Scott from the doorway. "If not I'm going to eat her share."
"I sort of doubt it" said Josh.
He moved aside so Scott could see Natalie's sleeping form. Scott's eyes roved over her body, stopping once he got to her slightly parted legs.
"Makes me want to just crawl in there with her" said Scott, more to himself than Josh.
"I guess we can just save a plate for her and she can eat it when she wakes up" said Josh.
"Good idea, I'll tuck her in" volunteered Scott.
Josh moved aside warily. He walked to his duffle bag and slowly began shuffling thought it's contents. Scott paid him no mind, as he walked towards the bed. He untucked the blanket from under Natalie's body taking care not to jostle her. Next he gently lifted her legs onto the bed before smoothing down the hem of the skirt. His hands flitted over her bare legs, surprised at the softness of them. Scotty bit back a groan as he imagined the feeling of them wrapped around him. Finally with great self-control he pulled the blanket up to her armpits and tucked it in.
"Lets go dude" said Scotty as he stepped away from Natalie's bed.
"Roger" said Josh.