a/n: Sorry for the long time between chapters, I wasn't sure if I was going to continue writing on this site or really at all. But I am determined to not leave this unfinished.
After two days the Time Bandit finally made it into St. Paul harbor to offload. Natalie had spent the time playing cards and checking on the crew members. She'd adjusted some backs, cleaned some wounds and massaged everyone on the boat. While she didn't mind, she missed the Northwestern. Now she sat in the captain's chair watching the dock workers scrambling to offload the crab in sub-zero temperatures. Andy was sitting in the port side chair nodding in and out of sleep. She'd insisted both he and Mike Fourtner go to the clinic on the island for a check up. They received an all clear, and by the way Andy and Mike were acting she suspected they may have gotten a shot of something for their pain. The offload would take at least another twelve hours. She wondered if the Northwestern would be able to meet up with the Time Bandit before everyone headed back out to sea. Larry from the Sea Star had managed to drop off her bag the day before the harbor opened. Natalie had spent a good hour in the bathroom using all her shampoo and soaps. She felt more human with her own clothes and a fresh pairs of underwear. The men of the Time Bandit were more than a little disappointed by her new wardrobe.
The radio crackled to life above Natalie's head.
"Time Bandit, this is the Northwestern, you there Andy?" asked the voice.
Natalie struggled to untangle the radio from the wall and then pulled it to her mouth.
"This is Natalie on the Time Bandit, go ahead Northwestern."
"Natalie" said Sig, with a sigh.
"Hi Sig" replied Natalie breathlessly.
"Where are you guys?" asked Sig, regaining his composure.
"Offloading in St. Paul" said Natalie.
"Is the offload almost done?" asked Sig.
"Not really, they're just finishing the first tank" said Natalie.
"We are almost there" said Sig. "I can pick you up before you leave the harbor."
"That sounds fine" said Natalie. "But I'll double check with Jon or Andy when I see them."
"Roger" said Sig.
Natalie set the radio back into the cradle with a wide smile across her face. As she turned to get up she saw Andy staring at her.
"I guess I didn't really have a chance then" he said quietly.
"You are a great guy" said Natalie. "But I met Sig first."
"Well if you ever want to be with someone better, I'm here" said Andy with a smirk.
"I'll remember that" said Natalie.
The Northwestern steamed hard towards St. Paul. Sig had the throttle completely open, burning fuel at a ridiculous rate. He needed to get to Natalie and get Nicole off his boat as soon as possible. Nicole's non existent appetite for food was replaced by her unending appetite for sex. She wore Matt out in less than twelve hours. The last time Sig saw him he was holding a bag of pees over his crotch in the galley. Sig had made a mental note to avoid eating anything with peas for the rest of the trip. Nicole had moved onto Jake who tried and failed to keep their little trysts a secret. They'd been caught on the galley table, in the tiny shower and worst yet in Sig's bunk. Jake hadn't been able to look Sig in the eye since. Sig groused that he could send Nicole back on the first boat heading to Dutch, whatever kind it happened to be. He secretly hoped it was a processing ship, the smellier the better. The dulcet tones of an aria were making their way into Sig's wheelhouse making his frown deepen. If Nicole wasn't having sex with one of his crew members she was singing in some foreign language. He could hear her mounting the stairs and the thought of having to speak to her set his teeth on edge.
"Sig" she called. "Are we almost there?"
Sig closed his eyes, offering up a silent prayer her could keep his temper in check enough to answer her.
"Yes, we should be there in six hours or so" he answered through gritted teeth.
"Oh, that long" pouted Nicole.
She sat lightly in the port side chair and looked out of the window her face full of disdain.
"This is taking forever" she complained.
"Yes, well it's a boat not a plane" said Sig.
"I'm so bored" said Nicole.
Sig gave her the side eye, wondering if Jake had some sort of aneurysm from too much sex.
"Can I talk to someone on the radio or something?" asked Nicole.
"What?! God No" replied Sig, his voice split between horror and annoyance.
"Why not?" said Nicole. "I know you just push the button."
"It's not a question of knowing how to use it, I mean a 2 year old can use it, so you could probably manage it with a little help" quipped Sig. "But the guys on the other end are working. You know at their job. They don't have time to shoot the shit with some oversexed pop star."
"I'm not a pop star, I'm an opera singer" said Nicole.
"Same difference, they don't have time to talk to you" said Sig.
"I bet I could get them to make time for me" said Nicole, her tongue darting out to moisten her lips.
Sig turned his head away in disgust. His thoughts went once again to how two identical twin sisters could be so completely different.
"Whatever, you can't use the radio" said Sig.
"What about the phone?" asked Nicole. "I could call home or something."
"It's for emergency use only" said Sig.
"It is emergent" said Nicole.
Sig looked her up and down and then frowned.
"You aren't bleeding" he stated.
"I'm dying of boredom" said Nicole in her most dramatic voice.
"Look, we will be in St. Paul in less than six hours" said Sig. "Find something to do, someone to fuck, go for a fucking swim for all I care. Just get the FUCK OUT OF MY WHEELHOUSE!"
"Asshole" muttered Nicole as she got up. "I don't know what the hell Natty sees in you."
Sig scowled at her retreating back before turning his attention back to the slate gray sea.
Natalie waved the small light back and forth in front of Scotty's pupils making them dilate. Jon stood over her right shoulder starring at his son. Scotty blinked furiously as Natalie shone the light into his eyes again.
"Stop looking down my shirt" said Natalie.
"I can't see shit, just little dancing lights" said Scott.
"Too bad, her tits are amazing in this shirt" said Jon.
Natalie elbowed him in the ribs with surprising force.
"Oh fuck, that hurt" said Jon.
"You deserve it you pervert" said Natalie. "By the way his eyes are fine, normal and reactive."
"Good to know" said Jon. "Glad there is no lasting brain damage."
"You can put the ice pack back on your head" said Natalie.
"Ok" said Scott, placing the frozen corn back on the crown of his head.
"And I guess, watch out for falling ice" said Natalie, with a smile.
"Yeah, ok" said Scott, with a roll of his eyes. "I'll make sure to do that."
"I can't believe the heater for the crab was enough to loosen that piece of ice" said Jon.
"Believe it" said Scott. "I've got the goose egg to prove it."
"Just take it easy, take some pain meds and get some rest" said Natalie.
"He probably has a concussion, he shouldn't sleep" said Jon.
"His pupils are fine, he didn't loose consciousness or vomit" explained Natalie. "I assure you he's fine."
"He's my son" said Jon, suddenly serious. "My only son."
"How about I sit with him for bit" said Natalie. "Just to be on the safe side."
"Thanks" said Jon, his expression full of relief.
"Lets go cowboy" said Natalie teased. "If you're good I'll help you into your jammies."
"Oh, I sleep naked" said Scott with a wicked gleam in his eye.
"Not today" said Natalie sternly.
Jonathan watched the pair walk towards the staterooms. He was going to miss having Natalie on the boat. She gave the guys a sense of stability. Even if fishing was shit they knew she'd be there to take care of them. He glanced at his watch and realized that Sig and the Northwestern would probably be pulling into St. Paul in a couple of hours, maybe less. With a sigh he headed back out to the deck to watch the end of the offload.
Sig had never been happier to see St. Paul island in his life. The weather was coming up and he was lucky to get in before the harbor closed. He could see the Time Bandit tied up at the processor. He smiled when he saw a brailer being lifted up from the deck.
"They aren't done yet" he mumbled.
"It usually takes a while" said Neil Hillstrand.
"You happy to get back to your boat?" asked Sig.
"Well, this one seems to have a lot more action" said Neil with a smirk.
"God, I can't wait to get her off this boat" muttered Sig. "Now, don't go running your mouth to your brothers about all the shit that went down. I don't want to hear about it for the next 40 years."
"Oh sure" said Neil. "Scouts honor."
Sig didn't have to look at him to know he was lying. This was going to be the talk of the fleet for years. He'd already been the topic of conversation for having Natalie on the boat, now this. Sig pulled a cigarette out of the pack sitting next to him and before he could reach for his lighter, Neil lit it for him.
"Don't worry boss, I'm sure if the fishing doesn't work out you can make this into a floating brothel." said Neil with a chuckle. "I had no idea there were so many places on a boat to have sex."
"Well you obviously aren't very creative" said Sig.
Neil's eyebrows rose to his hairline and he regarded the captain thoughtfully before heading outside to help tie off the boat.
The ropes were thrown and the Northwestern was secured alongside the Time Bandit. The guys were already clamoring over the wave wall onto the Time Bandit's slick deck. Sig stood on his own deck, waiting for Natalie to appear. Nicole was securely locked in his stateroom and he could hear her muted yelling from the deck. He hoped Natalie would get there before Nicole broke the door down. He didn't care if she destroyed the whole room, he just didn't want her to be seen by any of the other boats. The rumors would be one thing, but the last thing he needed was visual proof of her existence. He just wanted to get Natalie on the boat and Nicole out the door.
"Hey Sig" said Natalie, her voice full of smiles.
"Natalie" said Sig.
With that one word his voice seemed to convey everything he'd felt in her absence, the longing, sadness and annoyance.
"I need help with the cases" said Natalie.
Jake hopped back onto the Northwestern and motioned for her to throw the first bag.
"Be careful with this one, it's the medical kit" said Natalie.
"I will" said Jake.
Natalie tossed the bag gently and Jake carefully placed it on the deck. The next bag was tossed haphazardly. The bag had barely left her hands before she was climbing onto the Northwestern. She walked nimbly along the side of the boat until she could reach the ladder that would take her to the deck. The moment her feet touched the deck Sig swept her into his arms and planted a kiss on her lips. It took Natalie a moment to catch her breath, but once she did she deepened the kiss, her mouth opening and tongue darting out to meet Sig's. There were whistles from the deck of the Time Bandit but Sig and Natalie paid them no mind. When they finally broke apart they were both breathless.
"I missed you" said Natalie.
"I missed you too" replied Sig.
The touching moment was destroyed by the sound of a tremendous crash coming from the wheelhouse.
"What the hell was that?" said Natalie.
"Your sister" said Sig menacingly.
"My what?!" exclaimed Natalie.