That as exiting! But who's calling out for help I'm devastated also I forgot to post im going to nees the nice reviews.
Six
Jade blew the wet hair out of her eyes and leaned forward, peering through the rain lashed darkness with a scowl. The weather had worsened a lot, and the boat was now being tossed by fifteen-foot seas. Jade had the big searchlight on the bow turned on, but it really did very little – the light reflected off the huge raindrops and almost made it seem like she was plowing into a silver curtain.
The Bertram rolled in a swell, and she turned into the wave, watching both her radar and her sonar with careful eyes. She was concentrating so hard; she didn't hear Tori come up the ladder and almost jumped right through the console topper when her partner plopped down in the seat next to her. "Yeeeah!"
Tori sniffled, and pulled her jacket closer. "Sorry." She patted Jade's back. "Didn't mean to scare you."
"Mmph." Jade collected her composure. She glanced at Tori, watching her slit her eyes against the rain. "Y'know, there's no reason for you to suffer up here in this mess."
"Yes, there is." Tori disagreed. She carefully put her elbows on the console. "I can either sit up here and brave the best Mother Nature can offer, or I can stay downstairs and chuck my cookies."
"I'm so glad the riviera back home's bridge is covered… though this is fun to drive."
"I like the name." Tori said "it's our ship name…. We should take it for the Riviera."
Jade smirked then peered more closely at her. "Yeah, you look a little…"
"Just call me Kermit." Tori admitted, swallowing. "Didn't think I got seasick."
"I think you can blame the weather this time." Jade comforted her.
Tori grimaced, and then managed a wan smile as the Bertram rolled in the waves again.
"Watch the horizon." Jade advised, reaching over and circling her wrist with two long fingers.
"Honey, I love you." Tori leaned against Jade's shoulder. "But you don't have to hold my hand, really."
Jade chuckled softly, pressing down on Tori's wrist with her fingertips. "Try calling him." She asked, more to distract Tori than anything. There had been no response to her last two hails, and Jade was afraid their unlucky friend had run into more trouble.
Tori took a few more deep breaths, and then picked up the mic. "Siren of the Sea, Siren of the Sea. This is Dixieland Yankee. Do you copy? Over." She paused and listened to the crackling, closing her eyes as the boat hit a trough and pitched down.
Jade shifted her grip slightly, and then pressed again, watching Tori's face carefully. After a moment, her eyelashes flickered open, and a look of mild surprise appeared. "Better?" Jade asked hopefully.
"Eyah." Tori murmured. "Did you do that?"
Jade smirked.
"Oo. I love you." Tori said. "Hang on. Siren of the Sea, Siren of the Sea, do you copy?"
A harsh buzz suddenly cut the static, then a second. A blast of lightning lit up the sky and they both ducked in reflex. Jade grabbed Tori and shielded her as she felt every hair on her body stand up; the boat was forgotten, the storm was forgotten for that brief instant. She heard a loud crack, and then the glare vanished, leaving a wild blast of thunder in its wake.
"Holy shit." Jade looked up, searching the topmast anxiously, then her eyes went to their instruments, hoping like hell they hadn't lost the GPS or the sonar. She relaxed when the iridescent glow of the devices remained steady. "Wow."
"Jade?" Tori's voice was muffled. "I think you can let me up now."
"Oh. Sorry." Jade straightened, but kept one arm around Tori's shoulders.
"You all right up there?" Charlie's voice suddenly erupted in the radio. "That sucker hit the water just off the stern."
"We're fine." Tori answered. "Everything's all right."
Jade glanced up at the sky. "This isn't gonna work. I'm going to turn and get out of here." She decided. "We'll report the mayday when we get into dock." She reset their course, and checked the depth. "I'm not risking the boat or you."
"Jade."
Jade turned and looked her in the eye. "Yes?"
Tori knew that look. She knew Jade didn't like to be challenged, especially when she was off balance and scared. Tori could see the jangled nerves in her wife's eyes, and by the short, restless motions of her hands on the controls knew that Jade's temper was very much on edge. "He's waiting for us." She said, very gently. "Can we go for a few more minutes?"
Jade very much wanted to say no. Tori could read it. "Let me call him one more time, and see if he can at least give us a click. If not…" She watched the rain plaster Jade's hair to her forehead, half obscuring her eyes. "At least we tried."
A breath. "Okay." Jade said, briefly. "Then, please, Tori. Go below."
"Okay." Tori agreed, flexing her hand around the mic. She paused, and set it down before she reached out and caught Jade's hand, squeezing it. "Thanks."
"Grumph." Jade adjusted the throttles, and started the boat on a long, shallow curve to cut across the swells. She didn't want to turn too sharply and get caught inside them, since the waves were cresting up to around twenty feet.
"Siren of the Sea… Siren of the Sea. If you can hear this, please key in twice." Tori requested, speaking clearly. She listened intently to the hiss. "Siren of the Sea, please key in twice if you receive this. We are trying to locate you."
The hiss broke, returned, and then broke again. Tori grinned, then looked up at Jade.
"Could be coincidence."
"Siren of the Sea, please key in twice again."
Two clicks answered her again, and then a voice crackled through. "I'm here! Help!"
Jade sighed, and shook her head. "We still don't have a chance at finding him." She told Tori. "All I've seen on radar for the last half hour is…" Jade stopped, and leaned closer to the small scope. "Wait." She increased the pulse, and studied it, unsure. It might be a tiny blip, but then it might now. "Could just be wave return."
But she was already swinging the wheel around, and gunning the engines. "Either way, we're going back if that's not him."
"Right." Tori put the mic down, and stood. "I'm going to go up on the bow."
Jade's eyes widened. "Not with out a safety belt." She stated. "I don't want you launched overboard."
"Aye, Aye, Cap'n." Tori patted her, then made her way to the stairs, carefully climbing down them and stepping onto the pitching deck. Charlie and Bud were standing in the cabin doorway. "We think we see him." She said.
"Bout time." Bud picked up the rope and floatation gear, slinging it over his broad shoulder. "Lotta trouble for some jackass who didn't have the sense to get out of the rain." He got up onto the railing and walked around to the bow. Tori counted to ten under her breath as she got a double clipped safety rope and hooked one end on to the rail, then followed him.
The wind hit her as she came around to the front of the boat, driving rain right into her eyes. Tori struggled forward gamely, careful to keep her footing as she edged around the large cruiser cabin and emerged onto the sloping bow of the boat. It was pitching up and down, and seawater was crashing over the rails, chilling her even through her jacket.
She got to the very front of the boat and knelt, peering into the darkness. All Tori could see was ruffling waves and rain. The swells rose and fell, making it hard to see anything at all.
"There." Bud was standing next to her. "To starboard."
Tori strained her eyes. "I don't see anything… oh. Wait!" In a break in the waves, she spotted a flash of white, then it disappeared. Her mind tried to resolve it as part of a sailboat, and failed. "Wh…"
Jade, apparently, had also seen it. The Bertram altered course to starboard, and the engines reduced.
Tori leaned forward. Then the waves broke again, and she got another look. "He's capsized" She yelled, recognizing the white flash now as an overturned hull.
"Yeap." Bud didn't seem surprised. "Jerk probably didn't bring the sail."
Tori stood up, biting her tongue to keep the sharp words back. The boat worked itself closer, and she could see the capsized boat more clearly. "He's on the back!" She pointed at a dark, forlorn looking figure clinging to the hull.
Then her eyes almost came out of her head as the sea in front of her dropped, and they were looking downslope from twenty feet up at the shipwreck. Tori's stomach almost came out of her nostrils as the wave crested, then she hung on as the Bertram rode the wave down, its forward motion slowed.
The wave picked up the sailing boat and lifted it, then a cross wave unexpectedly tossed it to one side. As Tori watched in horror, the small figure on the back flew off into the water and disappeared. Without really thinking once, much less twice, she unclipped her safety rope and jumped to the top of the railing, then leaped out into the darkness.
Hitting the water was a total shock. It was cold, and it grabbed her mercilessly and whirled her around. Tori fought her way to the surface and realized she'd probably just made a really big mistake. A wave nearly swamped her, but she rode through it, then felt something hit her on the shoulder. She whirled to find the floatation ring next to her and grabbed it.
The storm was too loud for her to hear any shouting, but she knew it was there. A dagger of hot fear hit her in the gut, and she got an arm around the ring, glad for it's buoyancy. Then she turned and started for the last place she'd seen the hapless boater, trying not to swallow the seawater constantly washing over her head.
It was hard to make any headway. Then Tori discovered if she found the right waves, they'd take her where she wanted to go. She waited for one, then swam into it and let it carry her down and across the capsized boat's bow.
The searchlight suddenly penetrated the rain, blazing across the choppy water. It tracked over Tori, pausing a moment before it reluctantly moved on. Tori's eyes followed it, then she lunged forward as she caught just a glimpse of a hand near the back end of the boat. She struggled towards it, hearing the rumbling roar of the big diesels behind her as the Bertram fought to hold it's position in the water.
"Hey!" Tori got her head above water and yelled. She flailed with her arms through the wave, feeling under the surface near the edge of the capsized hull. Three times, nothing, then suddenly her hand touched something that wasn't water, and wasn't boat.
Her fingers closed, with a brief, heartfelt prayer to God that it was a person and not a shark she was grabbing onto. She felt cloth, and pulled hard, heaving backwards with all the strength she could muster. It was like pulling at a wet, sand filled sack. "C'mon!" Tori gave another tug. An arm broke the surface, then a dark, wet head.
For a moment, Tori wasn't sure she'd been in time. Then the head lifted, and the other arm flailed out, smacking against the boat. The man coughed, spitting up a mouthful of water.
"Here!" Tori got his hands around the life preserver. "Hang on!!!" It wasn't easy, but she wrapped the device around him, then turned her head, searching for the boat on the other end of the line. Her strength was draining out of her and the chilled water was starting to make her shiver. Warm though the seas were this far south, at night, in a rainstorm they were no bathtub.
"Tori!!!"
Jade's voice through a loudspeaker was the last thing she expected. She blinked through the rain, hanging on to the rope.
"Clip on to the rope!!!! We'll pull you in!"
Oh. Tori fumbled at her waist, finding the belt, then the big metal clip that hung from it. She clipped it onto the rescue rope and wrapped her arm around her rescuee, feeling the powerful tug as she began to be towed back to the boat.
The waves swamped over them. Tori felt her body ache from the strain of remaining upright and she reached up, clasping her hand over a knot in the rope to hang on. They came closer and closer to the boat, and as they did, she realized how high the bow was over their head. She was used to coming aboard from the stern, and now she wondered how they were going to manage.
The Bertram lunged forward, and she crashed into the hull, slamming her shoulder into the fiberglass. It knocked the wind out of her, and she pushed dazedly off before the belt tightened around her waist and she realized she was being pulled right up out of the water. "Hold on!! Hold on!!" She yelled, scrambling to make sure the straps on the preserver were tight. The man inside it seemed very dazed, and he clutched at the rope with very uncertain fingers.
Tori felt her body clear the water, and she sucked a breath in against the painful grip of the single belt that supported her weight. She kept one hand on the hull, and tried hard not to kick out, her other hand tangled in the man's sodden shirt as they rose up out of the sea.
Halfway up, lighting cracked, and the boat rolled, pitching down so far her feet hit the water again. Tori gasped as the wave rolled back the other way, slamming her against the bow with stunning force. She reached a hand up in reflex, feeling for the railing, and hoped like hell that didn't happen again.
Her back thumped against the hull, and she felt a tingling start below where the belt was wrapped around her, the edges digging into her ribcage and almost cutting off her breathing. She tried to pull up with her arms, but it didn't help, and she was on the verge of panic when suddenly hands were grabbing her arms and shirt.
The belt released, and she was lifted over the railing, arms closing around her body and supporting her with powerful strength she immediately recognized. She turned her head and buried her face into Jade's shirt, knowing now she was safe and everything would be fine.
"Got im!" Bud's voice broke through the rain. " Charlie!!! Get the hell outta here!!!!!"
Tori felt the boat begin to move. The rain was still pelting her. Now that it was over, the adrenaline rushed out of her, and she felt too weak to move. It was easier to just sit on the deck, wrapped in Jade's arms and half in her lap, limp as a dishrag.
She could hear the man she'd rescued coughing, gagging up the seawater he'd swallowed. Her own mouth felt like she'd been sucking on caviar, and her throat was raw from yelling. "Buh."
Jade's arms tightened around her. "Let's get inside. I think my little hero here needs some hot tea."
Hero. Tori blinked. Good grief. I just saved someone's life, didn't I? A tiny, incredulous smile crossed her face at this totally new sensation.
Wow.
Jade shut down the engines, reaching up and pushing the rain hood off her head before she stood up. They'd outrun the storm, and now it's fury was nothing but a heavy rumbling and light on the horizon. Jade exhaled, leaning against the console and trying to summon up the strength to go down the stairs.
She was exhausted. More, she suspected, from the intense, emotional stress than the physical activity. Her hands were shaking, she noticed, and she had a headache that started at the nape of her neck and worked upward from there.
It was well after midnight, and heading for St. Johns tonight was out of the question. Even if the weather wasn't chancy, she didn't trust herself to pilot the boat and so further investigation into their mysterious pirate encounter would have to wait for the morning.
Ah well. Jade shook herself. Buck up, Gigi, and git yer ass moving. She walked to the ladder and slowly made her way down it, stepping onto the deck and pushing the cabin door open. "All right." Jade entered and closed the door behind her.
Inside the cabin, Tori was curled up on the couch in her robe. Bud and Charlie were sitting at the table, and their rescued sailboat owner friend was across from Tori, swathed in a big towel.
Jade put a heavy clamp down on her immediate instincts, which were urging her to throw everyone off the boat so she could concentrate on her somewhat pale, and definitely ragged looking partner. Instead, she went to the galley and put some water on, fiddling restlessly with a spoon while she waited for it to heat.
"I was trying to get back into port." The rescued man was saying. "I don't know what happened. One minute, I was pulling in the mainsail, then the next thing I knew, my engine dropped out and everything started going nuts!"
"That can be scary, Bob." Tori murmured. "I capsized in Lake Erie once. Not fun."
"You can sure say that again!" Bob shook his head. "You folks got a phone?" He addressed Bud and Charlie.
"Nope." Bud answered. "Marine radio." He got up and walked out.
Bob blinked. "Something I said?" He asked, hesitantly.
"Naw." Charlie reassured him. "Just been a long day." He cleared his throat. "Well, Mr. Gallareaux, I'm sure glad it all turned out alright. We got a spare bunk up top if you like. You can get a run over to St John's tomorrow."
Bob looked pathetically grateful. "You all have been so nice." He glanced over at Jade, then looked at Tori. "How can I repay you? You saved my life." He had a nice face, slightly rounded with high cheekbones, and kind, hazel eyes.
A visible blush colored Tori's skin. "I'm glad we could help." She smiled at him.
Now it was his turn to blush to the roots of his dark, curly hair. "I feel like an idiot." He admitted. "I've been sailing since I was a kid. It's not like I'm a neo, but that storm caught me flat."
"Weather's like that down here." Charlie said, placidly. "Well, let's let these ladies get some rest. It's been a busy night for em." He got to his feet, limping awkwardly towards the door. "We can kick the generator back on since it's late watch."
Bob stood, removing the towel from around him. "I appreciate the offer. I'm about tapped."
"We're heading to St. Johns ourselves tomorrow." Tori said. "If you want a ride over, we can take you." Out of habit, her eyes flicked over to the silently watching Jade. "Right?"
Jade nodded. "Sure."
"Thanks." He replied simply. "Maybe I can start salvaging what I've got left there." Bob folded the towel and put it on the table, and followed Charlie. At the door he turned, and looked at them. "I owe you." His eyes met Tori's, then he slipped out the door and closed it behind him.
After a moment of silence, Tori rolled her head towards Jade and let out a half groan, half sigh. "Got any Advil to go with that incredibly wonderful smelling coffee over there?"
Jade blinked. "Headache?" She asked.
"Everythingache." Tori was glad everyone was gone. "I feel like I was run over by a truck." She cautiously straightened, wincing as her body protested. "Ow."
Jade gladly chucked her emotional turmoil in favor of this new issue to focus on. She brought two cups of coffee and a bottle of Advil over, set them down, then took a seat next to Tori on the couch. "Where does it hurt?"
Tori put a hand on her belly. "That belt nearly killed me." She joked wanly.
Jade untied her robe and opened it. "Jesus." Her eyes widened a little at the lurid bruise circling Tori's waist. "I bet that hurts." She touched the bruise, then gently turned Tori over. "All across your back, too."
Tori found herself nestled against Jade's chest. It was nice, even though she was still damp. "Honey, you need to change. You're wet." She murmured. "You'll catch a cold."
Jade examined another bruise crossing Tori's spine. "Does this hurt?" She probed carefully.
"A little." Tori replied. "More like an ache." She added. "I don't think anything's seriously damaged."
"Thank you for your opinion, Dr. Vega." Jade remarked dryly. "Did you hit your head anywhere?" She slid her fingers up into Tori's thick, brown hair and felt for any telltale bumps.
"No, I don't think so." Tori said. "I'm just sore – that water was brutal."
Jade stroked the back of her neck and gave her a pat. "Well, that's what you get for being a hero." She told her partner. "You scared the sense out of me, you know that, right?"
Tori rolled over and stretched her body out, putting her head in Jade's lap and looking up at her. "I scared the sense out of me." She replied. "I realized in mid air just what an incredibly stupid thing I was doing."
Jade smiled briefly.
Tori studied Jade's face, seeing the residual tension in it. Her eyes were bloodshot, and there was a deep furrow between her brows. She lifted her hand and touched Jade's cheek. "Do heroic things always seem so dumb?" Tori asked. "I mean, when you think about what you did?"
Jade let her hand rest on Tori's stomach, her thumb rubbing gently against the soft skin above her belly button. "Um." She exhaled, letting some of the tension dissipate. "It's a lot like pitching new technology."
Tori blinked. "Huh?"
"If it works, you're a visionary genius. If it doesn't, you're a whacko." Jade explained. "You saved that guy's life - and it took a ton of guts to do it. You took a chance, and it worked."
"Hm."
"Just like I took a chance going through those reefs, and it worked." Jade went, quietly. "If it hadn't, we'd be in real trouble right now, and if the waves hadn't broken right, you could have been in real trouble when you jumped." Jade cleared her throat, then leaned over and picked up the coffee, taking a sip of it.
"Catching cold already?" Tori teased, hearing the hoarse note in her usually mellow tone.
"No." Jade put the cup down. "I was screaming your name so loud I lost my voice for a while." She sighed, her shoulders unlocking and slumping a little. She lifted a hand and rubbed her temples. "I think I'll have some of those pills too."
"Tell you what." Tori heaved herself up off the couch. She tied her robe closed again, then took her cup of coffee and gulped a mouthful down. "Instead of drugs, how about we get you out of those wet clothes, and get us both into that nice, dry, soft bed."
"Yeah." Jade agreed. "That sounds great." She stood up and stretched, wincing at the pops as her back and shoulders released their wound up tension. "Hope that storm bypasses us."
"God. Me too." Tori stifled a yawn. "I want a nice, peaceful night's cuddle with you before we have to figure out what the heck is going on around here."
"Cuddle." Jade mused. "Yeah. I think I need a cuddle." She admitted. "I feel sandblasted."
Tori captured Jade's hand and led her towards the bedroom. Inside, she turned and unbuckled the belt holding up Jade's shorts, unbuttoning them and letting them drop to the cabin floor. The dim light in the room threw Jade's face into shadows, but Tori could hear her still tense exhale as she stripped her denim short-sleeved shirt off and tossed it onto the dresser.
Tori removed her robe as Jade slipped out of her swimsuit. She set the robe down as Jade sat down on the bed, moving over to give her space to climb in next to her.
It was dark, with the hatches shut, and very quiet. The boat was rocking gently, it's violent pitching just a fading memory as Tori carefully lowered herself onto the soft surface. She reached for Jade, and found open arms waiting as they slid together into a tangled embrace.
They both sighed, then chuckled. "What a day." Jade yawned.
"Mm." With her ear pressed against Jade's chest, she could hear her heartbeat. As she listened, one hand stroking Jade's side idly, the beats slowed, and the tense body under her relaxed as her own did. "Hey, Jade?" She asked, after a little while.
"Hm?" Jade's low murmur answered.
"Do you think those guys just were looking for a quick score?" Tori wondered, her mind still churning despite her exhaustion. "The pirates? Maybe they just saw an expensive boat, out at night, all alone."
Jade was quiet for a bit, apparently thinking. "Maybe." She eventually replied. "Boat this size, out this far.. could be."
Tori yawned again, her eyes closing almost against her will. "But you don't think so, do ya?"
Jade snorted softly. "Let you know tomorrow once I get a database run on 'em." She replied.
It was quiet again for a while. Tori kept her eyes closed, but sleep was held at bay by recent memories of the night. "Jade?" She whispered.
"Yes?" Jade seemed wide awake.
"I didn't jump into the water to be a hero or anything stupid like that."
Jade stroked Tori's cheek. "I didn't think you did." She replied. "Something had to be done, you were there, and you did it."
"Yeah." A pause. "Is that how it is with you, when you do stuff like this?"
"Ah…" Jade cleared her throat. "Yeah." She sounded vaguely sheepish. "Yeah, I guess it is."
"Mmph." Tori drew in a breath, then released it with a contented grunt.
The boat rocked. Thunder rumbled softly in the distance. Peace draped at last over two sorely tested souls.
Lesson one. Tori regarded her reflection in the mirror with critical eyes. Heroism hurts. She put her hands on her hips and shook her head at the truly spectacular purple, green and red mark right across her stomach. "Glad I never went for the bikini look." She remarked after a moment, chuckling and scrubbing her hands through her hair before she smoothed it down into some semblance of order. Breathing too deeply was painful, and her back was stiff, but she suspected she'd survive with a couple of painkillers and a dose of relaxing on the deck.
It was sunny, and breezy outside and a good night's sleep had restored most of her good humor. She brushed her teeth and slipped into an emerald green one-piece swimsuit. "There." She took a cautious breath, then released it. "That sure looks better." Her eyes flicked over her body, now so used to her heavier, more muscular form that it was hard really to remember what she used to look like before she met Jade.
She gave herself a nod of approval, then emerged into the boat's main cabin. Jade was curled up on the couch, a tray of coffee, biscuits and cut up fruit next to her on the table, and a magazine folded in her hand. "Hey, sweetie." Tori greeted her.
"Howdy." Jade laid the magazine down and shifted, nudging the tray towards her.
Tori took a croissant, neatly split it, applied butter and jam to its surface and retired to the couch herself, snuggling up in back of Jade and draping herself over her partner's lower body. "Mm." She nibbled her breakfast. "Whatcha reading?"
Jade held up the Unix systems administration periodical.
"Nerd." Tori chortled softly, shaking her head. "Feeling better this morning?"
Jade stifled a yawn. "Yeah, a little sleepy, though." She said, reaching over to tug a bit of Tori's hair. "What about you?"
"Well." Tori swallowed a mouthful. "It hurts, I won't deny that." She said, licking a flake from her lips. "But in kind of a weird way, it feels good, because I know it was for a good cause."
"Huh." Jade flexing her hand absently, a faint smile crossing her lips. "I never thought of it like that, but yeah. I remember the morning after you got carjacked, when I couldn't even close my fist." She gazed at her fingers.
Tori obligingly captured Jade's hand and pulled it closer, kissing it. "You were amazing."
"Ahem." Jade cleared her throat. She put her magazine down and pulled the tray closer, dumping cream and sugar into a cup then topping it with a little coffee. "I'll be glad to get to St. Johns." She took a sip. "The place we're going to has great food, and better views."
"Oo." Tori accepted the subject change gracefully, giving Jade a fondly knowing look.
"And I really want to get a line on those bastards."
Tori grinned. "Thought there was an ulterior motive there." She neatly took the cup from Jade's fingers, took a sip, and then put it back. "But that's okay, because I want to know more about them too." She rested her chin on Jade's hip, grinning happily.
"You're in a good mood." Jade observed.
"Yeah, I guess I am." Tori agreed. "Storm and terror filled nights do that to me, I guess." She paused, her brow creasing. "Once they're over."
"Uh huh." Jade regarded her drolly. "I'll have to remember that."
"Of course…" Tori drew a fingertip slowly down Jade's thigh. "Hedonistic nights full of love and snuggling put me in an even better mood." She batted her dark lashes at her partner. "Make sure you put that down, too."
Jade chuckled. "I knew that already." She drawled, running her fingers through Tori's hair and watching her eyes close in pleasure. "Shall we get this tub ready to go?"
Tori wriggled closer, squeezing in behind Jade until they were wrapped around each other. She rested her chin on Jade's shoulder, and blew lightly into her ear. "How about we just take it easy for a while?" She whispered, watching the pale blue eyes inches from her blink and close slightly. "You in a rush?"
Jade eased over onto her back, then turned towards Tori, sliding her body up against hers. She pulled Tori closer and kissed her gently, letting one hand slide down to rest at her waist. "No rush." She answered, rubbing noses with Tori playfully. "But I just want to remind you all the windows are open, and the gangway's down."
"Eerrwwooough." Tori growled, deep in her throat. "What a dilemma." She mock sighed. "Indulge my libido, or retain my upright New England reputation."
Outside the deck creaked, and Tori's eyes widened as she started against her will.
Jade snickered. "You can take the corn out of the girl…."
"I'll corn you." Tori leaned forward and kissed her passionately, feeling Jade's body react as she was pulled against her. Her ribs protested gently, but she ignored them, preferring to concentrate on the jolt of sensual reaction that rapidly warmed her guts.
Her hands explored Jade's body eagerly, fingers sliding up under her tank top to trace her breasts. The soft surface pressed up against her as Jade inhaled and she found herself short of breath as well as she felt Jade's touch high up on the inside of her thigh.
Oh, to hell with her reputation. Tori felt her swimsuit straps slide off her shoulders as she pulled Jade's shirt up, feeling the heat as their skin met, and her weight pressed down against Jade's body.
"Hey!" A voice outside erupted suddenly. "Anyone home!!"
Tori found herself nose to nose with a lethally frustrated Jade, whose darkened blue eyes and definite snarl perfectly captured how Tori herself was feeling. "Arggghh." She released the groan softly, letting her head drop to rest against Jade's collarbone.
"That about covers it." Jade sighed. "Oh boy." She cleared her throat and swallowed, attempting to collect her composure. "Be right there." She raised her voice. "You godforsaken son of a bitch." The last was added in a quiet but heartfelt tone.
Tori started laughing. "Bookmark this." She advised her partner. "For later." With another groan, she reluctantly untangled herself from Jade's body and stood up, easing her straps back into place and rubbing her face to clear the flush she knew was coloring it. "Jesus."
Jade stretched out on the couch and yawned, curling back up like a large, half naked cat. She picked up her forgotten coffee cup and sipped at it, watching Tori over the rim with a seductive look.
"You're not helping." Tori ran her hands through her hair. "Let me go greet our guest."
"You invited him." Jade drawled.
Tori slapped herself on the side o f the head, and continued to do so as she walked towards the cabin door.
With a chuckle, Jade leaned back against the couch's pillow and enjoyed Tori's sexy little swagger, as she ducked through the entrance and went out onto the stern deck. She heard Tori greet their rescued guest, and she sighed, putting her head back down on the soft fabric.
"Morning." Tori lifted a hand to wave at the man standing on the deck. Bob was dressed in khaki shorts a little too big for him, and the polo shirt he'd been wearing the night before. In the daylight, his slightly rounded, cheerful face and curly hair completed a picture of a reasonably good-looking man about Tori's age. "C'mon aboard."
Bob took advantage of her invitation and crossed the gangplank. "Thanks. Good morning to you." He replied, as his eyes took in her swim-suited body. Politely, he then glanced away. "Weather cleared up at least, huh?"
Tori turned and surveyed the clear horizon. "Sure did." She smiled. "We're not really ready to get underway yet, want to come in and grab some coffee?"
"That'd be great. Thanks." He returned her smile warmly. "Listen… I, um.." He glanced around, then back at her. "I really want to thank you again, for what you did last night."
Tori felt a curious mixture of pleasure and embarrassment. "I was glad to help." She said. "I'm really glad everything turned out all right."
"Me, too." Bob replied easily. "But it wouldn't have, if it hadn't been for you." He courteously held the door for her. "I won't forget that."
"Well, you're very welcome." Tori entered the cabin, her eyes automatically tracking until she found Jade's tall figure behind the galley. "Got some extra coffee there, Jade?"
Jade's eyes flicked past her, then a wry grin appeared. "Sure."
"Morning." Bob greeted Jade.
"Hi." Jade replied. "I'm going to get us ready to take off." She told Tori. "I want to run up and talk to Charlie for a minute before we go."
"Okay." Tori traded places with her, reaching for the coffee. "Tell them I said hi, okay?" She really didn't have a personal need to face the troublesome Bud at the moment.
"Uh huh." Jade patted her back, then slipped past her and headed for the door.
Tori smiled to herself, and shook her head. Then she got down another cup from the cupboard. "How do you take it?" She looked up, a little surprised to find Bob leaning against the galley's counter.
"Black." He replied, accepting the cup she offered. "Thanks." He took a cautious sip. "So, Tori. Where are you from? We didn't get to talk that much last night."
Tori poured herself a cup and added cream and sugar to it, then eased out from behind the galley and took a seat at the small table. Bob settled next to her, patiently waiting for her to answer.
"Connecticut." Tori said. "What about you?"
Bob grinned. "Thought I recognized the accent. I'm from New Haven." He said. "My family owns some property just outside the city." He paused, sipping his coffee. "You go to UConn?"
Tori nodded. "Matter of fact, I did." She agreed.
"I went out of state to college." He related. "Boston." A thoughtful look crossed his face. "My father's family's from there. Old seafaring men, you know."
"Mm."
"That's where I learned to sail." Bob said. "When I was a kid, and then again when I got older. You sounded like you'd sailed a lot." He neatly turned the subject back to her. "That one of your hobbies?"
Tori looked up and found him looking back at her, watching her face with a faint, shy half smile. "No, not now." She propped her head on one hand. "Underwater photography, and keeping up with work." She came to the vague realization that Bob was showing some definite interest in her, and couldn't decide if she were amused or embarrassed. "How about helping me get the boat ready? Jade should be back soon."
"Sure." He agreed amiably. "You name it, I'm yours."
Yikes. Tori slid out from behind the table. She hoped the trip to St. Johns was a short one.
Jade stuck her hands in her pockets as she walked up the sandy path. Bob's arrival had definitely put a knot in her shorts, and she'd considered leaving the better part of hospitality when she'd almost succumbed to the urge to toss his preppy butt right off the boat.
Ah, Jade. She chuckled wryly at herself. Your background's showing. He's not a bad kid. She kicked a pinecone ahead of her, and glanced up the empty path. You'll drop him off in St. John, and that'll be that.
She climbed up the steps to Bud and Charlie's restaurant, pausing with her hand on the door when she heard loud voices inside.
"Thought you could duck out on me last night, huh?" A snarl. "Where's the money!"
"Look. I told you we don't have the cash." Charlie's tone sounded uncharacteristically tense. "You can't get blood from a damn rock."
"Yeah?" The strange voice answered. "Well, either you cough up that ten grand, or there'll be plenty of blood on the floor of this dump, got me?"
"We can work somethin' out." Bud interjected. "You gotta give us time. You know we're good for it."
"I don't know shit." The stranger laughed. "Cept I know I'll be back here day after t'morra, and either you give me what you owe, or I'll take what I can get out of your skin."
Heavy footsteps headed towards her, and Jade only just stepped back in time to avoid being smashed in the face as the door slammed open. A tall, burly man in a tank top and far too tight jeans shoved past her, giving her a cursory glance as he went by.
Jade stared at his back, before she turned and entered the restaurant. Her appearance startled Bud and Charlie, and they broke apart a little, before the recognized her and relaxed. "What's going on?" She asked, without preamble.
"Morning, Jade." Charlie couldn't quite summon his usual friendly smile. "Get a good night's sleep?"
Bud studied the floor.
"Fine." Jade replied briefly. "What's going on?" She asked again.
"Not your business." Bud answered gruffly.
"Bud." Charlie frowned. "Just a little business stuff, Jade. Nothing major."
Jade put her hands on her hips and gave them both the kind of look she usually reserved for newly hatched sales managers questioning her decisions. "I deal with business 'stuff' all the time, and I never get threatened with bodily harm, though most of the people I deal with probably consider it." She remarked. "Can the crap. What's Cheapside Guido's problem?"
"It's NONE of your business!" Bud snapped, turning and thrusting his way into the kitchen. The hinged door flapped behind him wildly, then stopped with a sodden thunk.
Charlie sighed, and rubbed his forehead. "Damn it."
Jade waited with moderate patience. "C'mon, Charlie. You really want me to just forget it and leave? I will. " She offered. "But if you need help, I'm listening."
Charlie glanced towards the door, then shrugged a little. "We can handle it." He finally said. "It's just the loan we took out to start up this place." He plucked at the pocket on his shorts. "Taking a little longer to pay back than we'd planned, but we'll work it out."
Jade studied him. "He wasn't from Bank of America."
Charlie snorted softly. "Hell no. Two beaten up Navy scrubs – you think they'd give us a loan?" He asked. "We just went to the co-op. But anyway." He determinedly regained his good humor. "Everything settle down from last night? We chit chatted with Bob for a while, he's quite a talker."
"Charlie." Jade leaned against the wall. She plucked a pencil from Charlie's pocket and picked up a piece of torn envelope that was sitting on the counter next to them. "Here." She wrote down a phone number, then handed the envelope and the pencil back to him. "If that shark starts biting your ass, call me."
Reluctantly, he took the paper. "Jade, I appreciate it, but we can handle this. Bud'd sooner cut his arm off than ask for help." He hesitated. "Specially yours." His face was apologetic.
"Too bad." Jade told him bluntly. "Tell him to grow up and get over it."
Charlie winced.
"I have to ask people I can't stand for things every day."
"It's not that he doesn't like you, Jade." Charlie protested hastily. "He does. We both do. He just can't forget stuff in the past with your dad, and…"
"I… am not my dad." Jade broke in, leaning forward.
"No, I know that." Charlie sighed. "I know that, Jade." He ventured a smile. "Though, you did grow up to look a whole lot like him, y'know."
Jade sighed inwardly, then gave up the effort, deciding on a different tack. "Yeah, that's what people tell me." She admitted. "Listen, we're heading out. Anything you guys need out there we can drop off on the way back?"
Charlie relaxed, now that the conversation had turned. "WD40." He joked, tapping his artificial knee. "Always running out of the damn stuff." He cleared his throat. "Listen, Jade… you guys were asking about pirates last night…"
"Hm?" Jade crossed her arms.
The big ex-serviceman glanced around. "They ain't always what they seem." He said.
"What do you mean?" Jade asked.
"Chuck!" Bud's voice interrupted. "Fish man's here!"
Charlie glanced at the kitchen. "Them jerks last night… they ain't the kinda pirates we know about." He said quickly. "That's all I'm saying. Good luck, good trip." He put a hand on the door, then took a last look at Jade. "Tell your dad I said hey."
Jade watched him disappear. She released a sigh, letting her glance travel around the inside of the tattered, and somewhat threadbare restaurant. With a silent shake of her head, she turned and left the room, emerging back into the sunlight. The island's emptiness surrounded her, and as she walked back towards the dock, her mind turned over the puzzle pieces that though scattered, were beginning to nudge at her with their curious nature.
She spotted the loan shark as she walked onto the dock. He was standing next to a small, racy looking runabout with another man, half his size. They were both looking at the Dixieland Yankee, and they turned to watch her as she approached the boat.
"Hey baby." The bigger man yelled over. "That your boat?"
Jade paused and looked at him over the tops of her sunglasses. "Yeah." She replied briefly, as she paused to unloop the bow line.
"Want a good man to drive her?"
Jade tossed the line onboard then walked to the stern, releasing the boat and leaping onto the back deck. "No thanks." She dropped the line, and dusted her hands off, turning her back on the two of them and ignoring their ribald laughter.
Tori emerged from the cabin, an almost fierce grin crossing her face as she spotted Jade. "Thought I heard you." She greeted her lover. "We outta here?"
"Oh yeah." Jade made her way up to the flying bridge. "Let's go find some better scenery." She took her seat and started the engines up, adjusting the throttles and easing the boat out of the dock. At low tide, maneuvering in the cramped space was even more difficult than usual, and she had to really concentrate to avoid taking out part of the dock on her way out.
She cleared the last pylon and turned into the channel, feeling the wind pick up as she increased speed, heading out across the green blue water.
Tori placed her deck chair on the stern carefully, half turned so she could look up and watch Jade at the controls of the boat. She settled into it as Bob took the seat next to her, and resigned herself to a trip full of small talk. "So, Bob – you never did get around to saying last night. Were you on vacation?"
Bob leaned on the chair arm. "Vacation? I wish." He sighed. "No, it's… " He glanced around. "Kinda stupid, really."
If he tells me he came out here looking for his one true love, I'll chuck up on him. Tori thought, while keeping a pleasant expression on her face. "How stupid could it be?" She asked.
He edged a little closer. "Remember I said about my grandparents?"
"From Boston." Tori promptly replied.
"Yeah." Bob nodded. "My grandfather was lost at sea."
Tori straightened a little. "Oh. I'm really sorry to hear that." She said sincerely. "How did it happen?"
"He was the captain of a .. um.. fishing boat." Bob admitted. "Not very glamorous, I know, but he was really successful at it." He added. "Anyway… he was on a trip out here to the islands, and he just never came back."
Tori leaned back in her chair and tucked one leg up under her. "Wow." She shook her head. "That's really sad. They never found the boat, or anything?"
Bob gazed at her. "They know where it went down. This guy who was a witness contacted my grandmother and sold her a map… "
"Sold her?"
Bob shrugged. "Yeah, I know.. probably a sucker deal. But she gave me the map, and I decided I'd come out here and see what I could find."
Tori frowned. "You don't even know if it's accurate."
"No, but it's something." Bob said. "Problem is, I came out here, and found out the spot he was supposed to go down in's been licensed by some salvage outfit."
One of Tori's eyebrows hiked slightly. "Really?"
"Yeah, I tried to talk to them, but they ran me out of there." Bob shook his head. "Real bunch of jerks. Big money types, you know." He gave her a wry smile. "The kind that like to let you know it."
"Uh huh." Tori wondered if it was the same pair they'd run into. "Were they sort of young? A thin guy, and a bossy woman?"
Surprised, Bob nodded. "Yeah! You know them?"
Tori got up and paced over to the cooler, opening it and removing a chilled bottle of ice tea. She was aware of Bob's eyes on her back - could almost feel the heat between her shoulder blades – and she briefly wished she'd put her overalls on over her sheer bathing suit. "Not exactly." She answered the question. "We ran into them back at that island. They were asking about a site Jade and I dove that day." She returned. "I guess it was part of that area you're interested in."
"Really?" Bob murmured. "So you're a real diver, huh? Got all your own gear?"
Tori nodded. "Sure." She opened her tea and took a sip. "Jade's a master diver." She glanced fondly up at her lover, who was leaning back with one bare foot propped up against the console. "We've even got a compressor on board for refills."
"I always wanted to learn to dive." Bob said. "You got any pointers for me?" He asked. "Hey, how about a lesson tomorrow?"
Eight bit card, thirty-two bit bus. Tori sighed inwardly. "Sorry, we've got plans." She said. "But there are lots of places in St. John that have certification courses."
"Yeah, I'd better get my insurance stuff straightened out anyway tomorrow." Bob sighed. "You staying anywhere special on the island?"
"Jade made the reservations." Tori smiled. "I can't remember the name of the place."
"Oh."
Tori spotted a fringe of land on the port side of the boat. She got up and peered around the corner of the cabin. A low, beautiful island stretched out before her, offering a semicircle of pure white beach backed by lush, green foliage. "Wow."
Bob came up behind her. "Yeah. It's beautiful, isn't it?" He murmured. "Hey, maybe I'll stick around a few days, since I can't do anything else, might as well catch some rays, right?"
Tori exhaled silently, her eyes rolling out of his line of vision.
"Besides, I owe you dinner and a drink." Bob said. "You gotta let me do that, at least, for what you did for me."
Yikes. Tori watched the marina approach. "Jade? You want me to call in to the dockmaster?"
"Yeap." Jade responded. "Looks like it's busy."
Tori turned. "Excuse me." She waited for Bob to back off, then walked to the cabin radio. "St. John Marina, St. John Marina, this is Dixieland Yankee, over."
"That's a cute name." Bob offered. "Does it mean something?"
Tori eyed him wryly. The boat wasn't theirs, but she figured this was a way to break it to him without letting him lose face. "She's the Dixie part, and I'm the Yankee." She explained simply.
"Dixieland Yankee, this is St. John. G'wan."
Bob cocked his head, producing a puzzled smile. "Oh." He said. "You guys related?" and this guy was going to be another clueless one. She hadn'tbeen propositioned more in her life, than since she'd come out.
Tori sighed, and leaned against the cabin door. "St. John, we have a reservation for a berth. Please advise." She gave Bob a kindly smile. "You might want to sit down. Sounds like a busy dock."
"Okay." Bob wandered over and took a seat, leaving Tori to finish her radio work.
"Gotcha, Dixieland Yankee, tenth row, third berth. You've got 54 feet, yeah?"
"That's a roger." Tori replied. "Thanks." She put the radio down, and walked to the ladder, climbing up it as fast as dignity allowed and joining Jade at the console. "Row 10, slot three." She sat down and rested her elbows on her knees. "Jade…"
"How's your little worshipper doing?" Jade drawled, giving her a wicked smile. "He invited you to dinner yet?"
Tori sighed. "Dinner, drinks, diving, you name it." She muttered. "Why do guys always do that?"
Jade eyed her. "Cause you're charming and adorable?"
"Pffffttt." Tori stuck her tongue out . "But you know something? He had a run in with those 24 karat sleezoids we met on the island, too."
"Yeah?"
"Yeah. He's looking for the wreck of his grandfather's fishing boat. Supposedly it went down in that area they blocked off."
Jade frowned. "Busy spot of ocean."
"Mm."
They looked at each other. Tori scratched her jaw. "Um. He really did ask me to dinner, to thank me for saving his life." She studied Jade's face. "Would you mind if I went?"
Jade's expression went still for a moment, only the tiny muscles on the sides of her eyes twitching. A silence fell between them, then Jade glanced at the oncoming marina and adjusted their course. She watched the console for a moment, then returned her eyes to Tori's face. "Yes, I would mind." She spoke very softly.
Tori felt a mixture of surprise and pleasure. Surprise, because she expected Jade to profess a disinterest in preventing her from going, and pleasure because of the gut level honesty of the actual reaction she'd gotten. "Good." She exhaled. "Because I would if it were me."
Jade grinned briefly. "Jealousy's an interesting sensation." She commented, before she returned her careful attention to their approach.
"Mm." Tori agreed, watching the island grow larger. "Ain't that the truth."