Wolves on the Water ((attn: Brig, Drew and friends))

'Are you sure you want to do this?'

LT could not help but grin as his Uncle sat nodding repeatedly in the passenger seat of one of the Piper's silver Excusions. He had actually asked that question five minutes earlier, but Uncle Brian kept nodding as he stared out at the water.

He had never known his Uncle to shy away from anything, but even LT had to admit that the open sea wasn't one of his most favorite things. It was one thing to Command a mission involving water, and the Commander did so without so much as a single flinch, but recreational activities? That was a completely different thing. Reaching out, LT put his hand on the CO's shoulder to stop him.

'Sure,' his uncle said looking at him. Then he seemed to right himself and shrug with a smile. 'Mind over matter, boy.' Pointing at his temple, he pulled his bag out of the back seat and exited the SUV.

'Sure, Uncle Brian.' LT got out and took the cooler of food out of the trunk. 'No, I got it,' he said as his Uncle tried to take the cooler. 'Interested in seeing the boat.'

Brig had wondered if maybe LT was planning to tag along - it wasn't a private invitation, at least he didn't think it was. LT was dressed in dark green cargo shorts, and Itunda sport sandal-shoes with a light polo. Brig had decided on another red T with khaki cargo shorts and canvas boat shoes. He supposed he did have a thing for red.

Brig was one hundred and ten years old, yet seeing the water made him unbelievably uncomfortable. It wasn't quite a phobia, not...really, and it wasn't as if he wasn't a strong swimmer. It was just...unnatural. Swimming...in water? Shaking off his nervousness, Brig put his arm around his nephew's shoulders and gave him a firm squeeze.

'Taking me up on the offer to come with, then?'

'I don't know, maybe,' LT replied squinting at the horizon.

'You could call Carol? Have her meet us here before one?'

LT remained silent as they walked down the boardwalk per Kai's directions.

'You're thinking about telling her, aren't you? You like her that much, huh?'

LT looked at him with squinted eyes and sighed. Brig looked at his nephew - he was technically in his late 30's, almost 40 now, but he could not help seeing him as a boy when it came to personal things between family. LT was troubled, although not with the way he felt about Carol, but what it would mean in the future.

'You love her, I can see that,' Brig said quietly, 'you just do what you feel is right for you and her.'

'I know, Uncle Brian,' LT replied quietly.

Looking back toward the water, Brig spotted the boat Kai had procured and let the conversation drop. They walked up to the boat and yelled up.

'Ahoy there! Permission to come aboard?'

Kai had returned to her perch on the deck chair after the crew had arrived and she'd greeted them, had a nice meeting with them and they went on their way to get things ready. She sat contentedly watching the ocean, but that familiar voice had her grinning and uncurling from her chair.

She went to the side of the boat, leaned out over the railing and waved. "Permission granted. Let me be the first to welcome you aboard the Aqua Aquarius!"

Laughing softly, she leaned on the rail as she watched them climb the gangplank. LT made her hesitate in her greeting with Brig, instead of hugging him like she wanted to she smiled and offered a hand to them both.

"Good morning Brig, LT. Will you be joining us today?" The question was directed to the lieutenant, but her eyes were on Brig.

LT set down the cooler and turned to look down the length of the Aqua Aquarius with an appreciative whistle.

'Well, my uncle invited me,' looking back, he watched his uncle take up Kai's hand and kiss the back of her fingers gently, murmuring a hello. With a chuckle, he politely excused himself. 'But I don't think so. My sea legs are a bit wobbly and I'm off to see someone. Thank you though.'

Walking back down the gangplank, he gave his uncle and Kai a final wave and jogged back toward his SUV.

((OOC - LT out!))

Brig brushed his lips along the back of Kai's fingers and let her hand linger so he could smell the cherry blossom scent she always seemed to have. He barely noticed LT excusing himself, but was thankful that the lad realized he wanted to be alone with Kai, if only for a few minutes before the rest of the party showed up.

Still holding her hand, he gently massaged it as he murmured softly, 'I hope you realize that I'm probably going to be throwing up as soon as we hit open sea.'

He was exaggerating, at least he hoped he was, but pointed at her with a finger as he added, 'So I expect lots and lots of brownie points for showing up today.'

She gave LT a big bright smile as he excused himself and managed to wave with her free hand.

The rest of her body didn't cooperate at all and she was glad to break the tension she felt with laughter. "Yes, you get lots of brownie points."

She pressed her hand to his cheek and grinned. "Every big bad wolf that's afraid of the water but comes on a boat for a girl gets lots of points almost a whole ten."

Laughter bubbled out of Kai as she gave his cheek a pat. "I'd offer to hold your hair back, but..." She ran her fingers up through his hair, down his neck to rest on his shoulder. "I'm sure you'll be fine and if you're not...well I won't hold it against you."

He bent his knees slightly to let her reach his hair, but he practically started twitching his leg when she did it. Brig held in a cheesy comment about him welcoming her holding things against him, preferably more than just her hand against his cheek, but instead he stood straight and grinned down at her. Taking her hand in his, hoping she wouldn't pull away, he turned and looked at the boat.

'Alright then,' he said pointing at the length of the boat, 'show me around this dingy here. All the choice puke spots, too, if you please.'

Kai snickered a little, as she curled her fingers around his hand. "I've never thrown up on a boat, so you'll have to decide what choice puke spots look like."

She started them off toward the bow and spoke as they walked. "There are three decks on this boat, the lower deck holds the cabins and research lab. This is the second or main deck and it holds the galley, dining area, forward and aft open decks and crew quarters. The upper deck holds the bridge."

A sweeping gesture of her arm encompassed the boat. "She's a hundred and twenty feet from bow to stern, and can hold up to twelve researchers if four of them are two couples. The Aqua Aquarius crew is responsible for finding the remains of a German U-boat that sank off the coast during World War II."

They walked around to the front of the boat, and she stopped to look out over the water. "We're not going far, only about fifty nautical miles due east from here. And the island's about six square kilometers."

She turned and gave him a crooked smile. "Come on I'll show you where we're bunking for the night."

Brig nodded as she led him around the boat, letting the knowledgeable edge of her description impress him. His eyebrows rose as she left, what he thought, was the best for last.

Kai began to descend into the boat when he tugged her back up. 'I meant to do this about a minute ago, but got a nervous about it. I'm good now.' Before she could ask why, he pulled her close and kissed her.

He wrapped one arm around her waist and cupped her face with the other. The kiss was chaste, to begin with, but once he felt her body relax against his, he parted her lips with his tongue and deepened the kiss. Brig wagered his odds of getting kneed in the groin were dissipating as she returned his kiss.

It had been several months since he had kissed a woman. Carol had been the last and now she was dating his nephew, quite seriously apparently. He mentally winced at that thought, but discarded it just as quickly. Kai was a lovely girl and seemed receptive to his charms. Definitely worth getting to know, even more so kissing.

Catching her bottom lip gently with his teeth as he pulled away, he captured both her lips again with his as his hand reached into her hair and entwined his fingers with the soft strands. He was an aggressive kisser, he just couldn't help it, but he wanted to be clear that he enjoyed her company and was looking forward to this trip without acting like a pirate and throwing her on the deck for some pillaging.

She was startled when he tugged her back up and opened her mouth to ask what was the matter, but it was quickly shut by him pulling her close and pressing lips to hers, causing her to rise up on the tips of her toes.

Oh but it had so long since she'd been kissed, and Brig was damned good at it. Her body responded in a melty relaxy kind of way and pressed against him as he deepened the kiss.

Her hands slid up to rest on his chest, and slowly a bit reluctantly she pulled away, smiling at him. "Yep, you seem fine." Was her somewhat breathy response to the pounding of her heart and the struggle of her lungs to feel with breath, and the wobble in her knees.

"You owe me boy."Â?

Reign growled as she rubbed her eyes behind her glasses which were tinted dark in the bright sunlight. She'd just gotten in from a tournament on Thursday only to have the Boy sitting on the edge of her bed -early- Friday morning and cheerfully informing her she had weekend plans. She'd had to quickly make arrangements for the mutt and get the blue out of her hair and now she was headed to a boat, against her better judgment. He was just so damned hard to say no too.

Even as she growled at him he didn't flinch, he just smiled more.

"Yeah yeah yeah whatever. You need to get out more you're turning into a hermit. Think of it as a vacation."Â?

"I was going to sleep. That's a vacation too."Â?

She snapped, he snorted.

"It is boring. Besides you've been complaining we don't see each other since I took the night shift."Â?

Apparently, he'd found an argument she couldn't counter as Reign just muttered and kept step with him. Sure, she was coming off cranky right now but Drew knew she'd settle in after a few minutes.

They approached the boat, which was bigger than he'd anticipated, but being a desert rat, he didn't know what protocol was. Did you just walk on or what?

"Oi! Kai!"Â?

He called as Reign snorted at him, Drew couldn't tell if she was embarrassed or amused. He just shrugged and grinned again.

"Little pig little pig let me in?!"Â?

It was less obvious than 'huff and puff and plow your house down any way. Drew thought it deserved points for style.

Drew's shout startled her, as she was so busy being lost in Brig, she'd forgotten there was a world around her. Laughing softly at herself, she stepped away. "That was a much shorter amount of time than I'd hoped for. But I can assure you it won't be the last."

She walked to the railing of the boat and waved down at Drew and company. "Ahoy Drew! Come aboard. Though usually you ask permission a bit less...fairy tale like."

Pushing back from the rail, she waited for them at the top of the gangplank. "Welcome aboard the Aqua Aquarius."

Drew just chuffed, totally unconcerned about traditional ways of boarding a boat.

"Everything I needed to know about sailing I learned from Gilligan's Island. Besides it worked didn't it?"Â?

And that was all that mattered wasn't it?

He cast a quick glance behind him to make sure that Reign hadn't vanished, she was suborn enough to do that.

Oh look, Brig was here already too. Drew wondered for a second if he was interrupting anything, but as it was too late to do anything about it and he wasn't going to embarrass any one by asking if they wanted to be alone he didn't let it phase him or slow him down.

"Heya S...Brig. This is Reign. Reign this is Kai and Brig. Reign this is Kai, its her boat and this is Brig and... well he is."Â?

He didn't feel the need to explain anything else about Reign and their relationship. She was family and they were friends and that was enough for him, he figured it would be enough for everyone else.

Reign rolled her eyes as Drew greeted the boat and when the girl called back down she suddenly felt old. It was unintentional but the Boy could do that to her once in a while. She just swallowed it and moved on.

Hauling herself up the gangplank she took a look at Kai and Brig. Kai was pretty, at the very least cute and her guess was the Boy had flirted with her a bit. Reign wasn't at all jealous, just just knew Drew. Brig was another matter, good looking guy and older which was a little refreshing. But he was probably a wolf and so he was probably even older than he looked.

She shoved her glasses up top of her head for the introductions, squinting a bit, but she made it a habit to look people in the eye the first time she met them. Reign smiled at each of them in turn and offered her hand. She had a good grip and she knew it not that she pushed it or anything, it was just a hazard of her profession.

"Nice to meet you both. If he gets obnoxious you have my permission to throw him overboard."Â?

Kai scrunched her nose up at Drew. "Well yeah, but still."

She took the offered hand of Drew's friend. "A pleasure Reign. And technically this isn't my boat, but I get to use it when it's free and I want to, so I guess it's mine, sort of."

Reign had a firm hand shake and Kai liked that. She was almost always annoyed with girls who shook hands all limp wristed and weak.

"I have no doubt he'll get obnoxious, but if he get's too bad, Brig can sit on him."

She laughed at her own joke, something she was apt to do now and again. "Drew where are the rest of your friends?"

Brig greeted Drew with a friendly smile and a nod. He made no move to stay close to Kai, not wanting to crowd her or let anyone assume anything about them being alone. The status of what they were would be left up to Kai.

Reaching out, Brig took Reign's hand and gave her a polite nod. 'Reign. Pleasure.' Turning back to his cooler, he circled his arm around it and grabbed his bag with the other.

'Where do you want us to stow our stuff, Kai?'

Dubiously Drew eyed Brig... yeah he could probably pull that off. Of course Drew was faster than he looked and he wasn't a push over, but still...

"I just hope it doesn't come to that."Â?

Where were those two slackers? It was a fine question.

"I think Wil had a class and it might have gone long and Jared was driving but they should be along in a minute or two. Oh and I know its last minute but Jared said he might bring Celeste but it depends on her schedule... well that and if they are fighting."Â?

All three were about Drew's age, in their mid to late twenties. Wil and Jared were brothers they'd grown up somewhere in Wisconsin. Jared had a job in the city and was the more athletic of the two playing on the same softball team Drew did. Wil was more of a bookworm but had a good sense of humor. Both were just under six feet and build like brick walls. Celeste, if she showed up, was a tall curvy African American girl, she and Jared had been dating for a while.

Just as he gave an apologetic shrug about the guys being late there was a shout of,

"Benally! Where are you you skinny punk?"Â?

Drew trotted over to the rail and waved.

"Only two then. So you can't shoot me for bringing unplanned guests."Â?

The two Midwestern wolves came on board exchanged polite greetings and introductions. Both of them remembered helping Kai with her bags and asked if she'd gotten settled in OK. As obnoxious as they could be with Drew they were both very polite until they got to know people.

"Good, some one understands him."Â?

Reign cheerfully agreed with Kai.

She was happy enough to hang back and just let things settle in, although she was a bit on Brig's side, she'd love to drop her stuff somewhere. Then maybe just kick back and get some sun, maybe try some fishing.

Wil and Jared shouting up at Drew made her smile a bit as she settled her dark glasses over her eyes again. They were good kids, the three of them seemed to keep each other in line and she was comfortable around them. She had a feeling most people were, or at least could be, they were so relaxed and open.

Kai opened her mouth to answer Brig, when all manner of shouting happened. She remembered Wil and Jared and so greeted them warmly.

"All right everyone follow me."

She lead them down to the lower deck. The stairs opened onto a living room set up. The opposite wall held a large flat screen television and an entertainment unit. "That thing," she said pointing across the room. "Has a decently library of movies and games and I'm told all three consoles. I don't play video games so I didn't bother to check it out."

The room was furnished with a long low L-shaped couch, two plush arm chairs, two large bean bags, several large floor pillows and two of those gaming chairs that looked suspiciously like seats from a sports car. The entertainment center sat between two doors. "Those doors lead to the lab and equipment rooms, do me a huge favor guys and stay out of them. I like my job."

Kai grinned and pointed to the three doors on the port side wall. "Those are double rooms with single beds." Her arm swung to the opposite wall and its two doors. "The far door is a master room with a bed big enough for two and the closer door is another double room."

She smiled again. "You guys feel free to fight over the master room, each room has its own head and shower, so there won't need to be any sharing if you all pick your own room."

Turning, she stepped out of the way and touched Brig's arm, and gestured to the door next to the stairs. "I thought you might want to um, stay with me." Her cheeks turned a pretty shade of pink but she managed to keep her gaze on his.

'I...you...what?'

Brig blinked as he considered Kai's offer. Would it be that easy, he thought to himself? Wait, was he that easy? Well, yes he was, but that wasn't the point. Kai maintained eye contact, although blushing brightly, so her seriousness was pretty obvious. He assumed she meant...well, he thought she meant...huh.

Smiling awkwardly, Brig leaned closed to Kai and whispered, 'Wait, what?'

Kai lifted her head and spoke quietly, close to his ear. "I thought this all out last night. I'd like for you to stay with me."

She touched his arm, as she felt her cheeks grow hot. "You don't have to, I won't have my feelings hurt if you say no. Well, I will a little, but not enough to make me think less of you and if you think less of me for asking, that just makes me a little sad."

Her lip found its way between her teeth, as she thought a moment. "Besides I have something I need to give you and you can't have it unless you say yes."

Brig bent over so Kai could reach his ear and then she whispered softly into it. Pulling back a little, he gave her his best suspicious look.

'You are a dirty girl.'

Walking by her, he nudged the door to the stateroom she pointed out and looked around. Boats were neat, but everything was so small, even for normal sized people and for someone his size, it was itty bitty. Setting the cooler down by the door, he threw his bag on the bed and then sat down on it.

'If you really want me to stay with you, be forewarned, I'm a bed hogger.' Holding his hand out, he waited for her to join him in the room.

"I am not!" She laughed and followed behind him hanging in the door frame for a moment, watching. She figured Drew, Reign, Wil and Jared could figure out the room thing with out her, and she'd feel odd standing there watching them decide anyway.

The room was set up with the bed under the slanted ceiling of the stairwell and a chest of drawers directly opposite. On that same wall was the door to the head, and above the dresser was a single portal window. On either side of the bed were low tables, one of them being a small refrigerator, and the other another place for storage.

"I'm small so I don't take up much room. Besides, I can always just kick you out of my way."

She crossed the small distance and slipped her hand in his, sitting down beside him. "I took the top drawer, everything fit in the one, so you can have the rest. What's in the cooler?"

Now that she had him here, she didn't actually know what to do with him, so she resorted to babbling.

Brig snorted. 'No. You promised me something.'

Holding her hand, he began to massage it gently like he did up top on the deck. His hands swallowed her tiny one and he rubbed his callused thumbs over her silky soft hands. That was the great thing about women; they were so soft.

Brig ignored the fact that Kai's friends were barely twenty feet away from them, but he had no plans on attempting sex practically in public. He had class. He was incredibly turned on by Kai, but he still had respect for her.

Softly he asked, 'What did you want to give me?'

Oh, right. She smiled at him, turned her body to face his, then slid up on the bed, laying on her tummy to pull something out from under her pillow. Pushing up, she turned and sat next to him again with a little bounce.

"Here, you go."

She offered him a neatly fold red t-shirt. "I, ah, slept in it on those nights when having the windows open was just a little too chilly for bare skin. Other wise, it was safely under my pillow waiting for today."

Kai turned over and stretched out onto the bed giving Brig a decent view of her tan legs and all the fun curves above when she pulled out the red t-shirt he had loaned her. He took it and laid the folded shirt in his hands.

Teasing, he said, 'So, you wore this to bed, but otherwise you sleep nude?' He brought the t-shirt up to his face and inhaled deeply, taking in her sweet scent. She hadn't washed it, per his request. Grinning, he laid it down in his lap and then leaned back onto the bed, resting his weight on his elbow.

Reaching with his free hand, he cupped Kai's face and pulled her down to the bed with him. He paused for a moment, looking deep into her beautiful blue eyes.

'Thanks, Kai,' he said before closing the gap and kissing her softly.

"Well, yeah. Don't you?"

She went willingly to him, laying her body along his, resting her weight on her elbow. "For what?"

But he was kissing her. Kai gave herself over to it, melting against him. She was actually rather thrilled to be kissing someone. And even more thrilled that he shared her nature so she didn't have to hide anything, or do the worst and lie to him. She could be open, honest, herself. It was refreshing.

With a soft sigh she pulled away. "I should go let the captain know were ready to go." Her voice was soft and breathy again.

Brig let her go without protest. Maybe he had done too much, too soon.

'Probably a good idea.'

He left her question about his sleeping habits unanswered and sat up on the bed. Pinching his lips, he gently wiped at them. His eyes fell on his cooler and remembered her question.

Pointing at it, he answered, 'Oh you said to bring your own food. Just cooked stuff for me - sandwich meat and stuff.' Stuff being two six packs of dark ale that would last him all of one hour, but he figured he'd save that for later.

She stopped on her way to the little bathroom, and tilted her head at him. "Um, oh gosh. We have a cook on board that has been chopping and prepping like a mad man for the last two days."

She guessed, he'd misunderstood when they were talking about it at dinner Wednesday. "The powers that be are still sucking up to me a bit, trying to make up for the pile they dumped on my head, so the weekend is totally provided by them."

Laughing she went to the bathroom door and ducked inside a few moments later she emerged tying a bright turquoise cloth around her hips, covering the lower half of her swim suit.

"Just don't let Spike see that cooler, he might actually cry."

'Uh oh,' he said as Kai stepped into the bathroom. Looking back at his cooler, he lifted the lid and pulled out a beer. Twisting the cap off, he drank the cold beer quickly as he poked around the cooler for something else to munch on. There really wasn't that much in there - just a few dozen proteins for sandwiches or just snacking since he figured he could cook whatever raw food they might serve. He'd keep the cooler in the stateroom so not to insult the cook.

'God forbid,' he mumbled as he put the empty beer bottle back in the cooler and pulled another out.

A minute, and another beer, later - Kai stepped out of the bathroom in her bikini. He was just finishing his third beer when he got a good look at her.

It wasn't as if he hadn't already seen her naked, but just seeing the unmentionable parts barely covered made his eyes nearly pop out of his head. She made a comment about the cook as he barely managed to put the empty bottle back into the cooler without dropping it on the floor.

'Grown men crying. Shameful.'

Covering the cooler again, he stood and held his hand out to her. 'You look absolutely delicious. Ready to head up?'

Snickering softly, she tucked her hand in his. She'd tell him about the little fridge later, his stuff was fine in the cooler for now.

They stepped out into the common room to find Drew, Wil, and Jared fighting it out in some bloody video game. She laughed and nudged the back of Drew's head. "C'mon boys, let's go meet the Skipper so we can get this hunk of bolts moving."

With a tug on Brig's hand, and not waiting to make sure they followed, they would or not, if they felt like it, and the boat would set sail whether they met the captain first or not, she headed above deck.

Up on the main deck they found Reign soaking in the sun. "Want to meet the captain before we sail?"

She asked, slightly bothered by disturbing the girl's peace.

The nudge to his head threw Drew's focus and Jared took advantage of that to kill him. This, of course, lead to a brief friendly scuffle.

"That was cheating Kai."Â?

But he bounced to his feet the other guys fell into step with them.

"You really call him a skipper? For real?"Â?

That just cracked him up, although he kept most of the humor to himself not certain anyone else would appreciate it. Either way he was all for getting this ship underway and he could play games any day of the week.

Reign was still in her jeans, t-shirt and tennis shoes. She wasn't sure there was an agenda at all but if there was that was a versatile outfit. Besides, it was comfortable. Comfortable enough she was half nodding in the sun. That she would blame totally on the Boy, waking her up at an inhuman hour the day before and a long drive in the day before that.

"Absolutely. No point in being on a boat if you don't go any where."Â?

And it appeared that was boat etiquette. You didn't meet the pilot of a 737, but they did at least introduce themselves on the PA. And it never hurt to put at least a name to the person you were trusting to keep you afloat whether it be in the sky or the water.

Kai rolled her eyes at Drew. "Yes, really."

She gave Brig's hand a squeeze and moved to climb the ladder that lead up to the bridge. "Permission to enter the bridge, Captain."

"Granted, Miss Kai." Came the lightly accented reply. She finished the climb and stepped on the bridge, moving to the far side so that every one could join her.

The captain, was Kai's ideal of a ship's captain, medium height, rotund, salt and pepper hair and beard, dressed in crisply pressed whites and captain's hat. "Captain, this is Brig, Reign, Drew, Wil and Jared. Our guests for this trip. Guys, this is Captain Tom Flay."

She then motioned to the young woman standing next to him. "This is Nessa West, First Mate." She was taller than the captain, dark complected, with her black hair braided and the braids in a ponytail behind her head. She wore the standard NUA uniform of kaki shorts, and blue polo with the NUA logo on her left breast and her name, rank and department on her right.

When everyone had shaken hands and said hello, Kai gave the captain a nod.

"Feel free to set sail at your pleasure Skipper."

He smiled at her. "Thank you Miss Kai. The weather looks perfect for your trip. There might be some rain in the middle of the night, from the tropical storm still deep in the Atlantic. It should take us a little over two hours to reach the island, as we are leaving a bit early and I don't have to push the speed."

"Sounds great!"

Kai turned to the others. "You guys hungry? Trevor said lunch would be ready by now."

Brig climbed up to the bridge of the Aqua Aquarius and politely shook hands with the Captain and First Mate. The ship itself was impressive and he felt fairly comfortable with the trip ahead of them, short though it would be. As the captain explained the sea conditions, Brig took a moment to look at the instruments and displays.

In a pinch he could sail and in fact had done so before. Most newer ships practically sailed themselves, but as he slowly turned, his eyes flickered from one display panel to another, leading back to the captain. He could probably handle it fine, besides, the Pipers would be able to find them if something happened quicker than the coast guard anyway.

With a smile, he turned back to Kai and rubbed his tummy dramatically. 'I am starved! Let's eat!'

Drew and the fellas were polite enough when introduced, their spirits weren't even dampened by possible rain. Storms could make for some interesting waves.

"Now that is right up my alley."Â?

Wil declared, Jared nodding in agreement and the two of them started down from the bridge obviously in search of the galley. Drew managed to remember his manners a bit better and stuck with Reign. She could be a bit shy with new folks and he didn't want her to feel abandon. After all he'd invited her.

"I can't say I disagree with that. What's cooking?"Â?

At least Kai had had the sense to ask about dietary issues so everyone should be covered. He was just curious what you fixed on a boat. It seemed like you should have something all tropical but this was the east coast so maybe that wasn't appropriate.

Waiting until they were clear of the crew and the bridge he ventured another question.

"Any chance of some hunting on this island?"Â?

Drew was never adverse to bringing down some game and it was even more fun in a pack.

Reign exchanged a few polite words with the captain and first mate. She privately thought Drew was going to have some issues getting his sea legs. He was used to a very land locked existence. At least she had taken a few cruises in her day and unfamiliar with smaller boats and things about this size out on Lake Michigan. Of course thinking of the cruises made her think of Bas which made her feel a bit bad about the whole break up and a bit lonely. Maybe she'd made a mistake not sharing a room with Drew

She covered that with a snort at the enthusiasm all the men seemed to be expressing in food. Sure a bite wouldn't go a stray, but she still shook her head.

"Is it a guy thing or a wolf thing, this attacking the food?"Â?

"Mostly a guy thing, I think. Don't get me wrong I love to eat but I don't feel the need to attack it."

Kai laughed softly and followed every one down to the main deck. "I don't know Drew, I've never been to the island" And around to the fore of the boat, where Trevor had set up a long low table with a pretty blue cloth, and a very large buffet. She'd told him to pretend he was cooking for twenty, but she didn't think he would produce this much food.

Trevor came out of the galley as the boys tucked into the buffet. When Kai thought young chef, he was not what came to mind. He as almost as tall as Brig, but wider. He'd told her he played football in school, but only because his dad expected it. The kitchen was where his passion lay, and she had to admit he had a grace there that belied his size. His olive skin, and dark hair told of his samoan heritage, and his friendly way told of his gentle mother.

She greeted him warmly and introduced him around. As he was greeting the others, a much smaller man of average height, with bright blonde hair, blue blue eyes, and skin as tan as Kai's, came out of the galley as well. "Hey Brett. Everyone this is Brett, he's the steward aboard the Aqua Aquarius. If you need anything feel free to ask. He's also going to serve as our bartender, so be nice to him or he might spit in your drink."

she laughed at her little joke and he asked if he could get her anything. She asked for water, and then went to join Brig. She touched her hand to the swell of his bicep, before picking up a plate and delightfully filling it from the raw portion of the buffet. Trevor had followed her instructions well, a third of the food raw and the rest cooked anyway he pleased.

As they started lunch, the Captain, First Mate and dock crew set sail.

Brig stood off to the side and watched the ship's crew bring in the buffet. 'Oooooh,' he said happily as they brought in tons of protein and delicious finger foods, plus raw food for those inclined. He wrinkled his nose at that, but he always found it curious that he thoroughly enjoyed it as a wolf, just not as a human. As everyone crowded the tables, he leaned back against the rails as the engines began to rumble.

Turning toward the wind, he let the warm breeze carrying smells from the water and the city, mingling together in that undeniable Nachton scent. Closing his eyes, he felt Kai return to his side, feeling her slight touch and catching her scent in the air. The engines soft rumble roared as the boat pulled out of its dock and with it went his stomach.

Blowing air out of his mouth, he grumbled as his stomach's hunger pains turned into a quiet revolt.

Reign chuckled a bit at Kai's comment.

"Yeah, I used to have six fingers on my right hand but I got between my brothers and Thanksgiving dinner once."

Reign stood back off to the side, she didn't quite understand why Drew had even invited her. Probably thought she needed to meet people or something. Whatever. More to the point she'd learned, even with her human family that you didn't just jump in the front of the pack, not unless you intended to back things up. And reign wasn't in a backing up kind of mood.

She would have gone to speak to Kai, thank her for the use of the boat and everything, but well she'd ambled over to talk to Brig. Maybe she would be intruding, maybe she would, she couldn't tell. She compromised by venturing,

"This is an impressive spread. I'm surprised a university would spring for it."Â?

In her experience universities were always scraping for funding. Unless it involved football. But such was the bias of a liberal arts graduate with no interest in sports.

Drew wasn't nearly so shy about his food and followed Kai's example finding plenty of raw goodness. He hadn't even realized he'd been hungry up until right now.

"You know I didn't even think of it, I should have brought some of my beer."Â?

He tried to remember if he had any ready to go and wound up shaking his head.

"Nope the next batch isn't ready it. Well next time I guess."Â?

After that it was hard to talk polity as his mouth was full. Happy, but fully.

Kai finished filling her plate, and went to rest against the railing next to Brig, letting her hip touch his.

She gave her attention to Reign and shrugged a bit. "They don't usually, but I think they still feel bad for the bait and switch they pulled so we get a nice catered weekend, with I might add a completely open, fully stocked bar."

Kai never drank, but she didn't begrudge it in others, and knew most young people enjoyed it as part of their off time. She wasn't about to take that from them, just because she didn't like it.

She lightly nudged Brig, and spoke softly. "Are you alright?"

Brig opened his eyes and peered down at the human, Reign. He didn't know much about her, just necessary facts as an Illamar and a friend of the Alpha - beyond that he had to admit to skimming the rest of her file. It wasn't because he held onto the old tradition of humans being beneath one of them - hell, he had married four humans, but with the boat rocking on the water, and his stomach preparing an upward exit, he was being as polite as possible. Kai answered her question about the food and then nudged him softly.

Pointing at his stomach he grimaced. He wasn't that sea sick (yet) but he was starting to feel his age around Drew and the other pack members. You could only pretend to be forty going on twenty one for so long.

'Just trying to hang on to my breakfast here.'

"Absolutely nothing wrong with exploring guilt."Â?

Reign agreed cheerfully before Wil cornered her and started grilling her about the university that her father taught at and she'd just graduated from. She was happy enough to have something to focus on. Other than that she just wanted a few drinks and a deck chair. She'd stuck a book in her bag and unless something more interesting came up she would be just as happy to disappear into it.

Drew she knew would be able to keep himself and the other two boys entertained. He'd already expressed some interest in trying some fishing and she had no doubt he'd be happy to play in the water too. It should be a good trip.

"Oh, Brig. I am sorry."

She leaned her head against his arm for a moment. She'd never been seasick and so couldn't sympathize, but empathy she had in spades. Her own tummy new food was near and growled at her.

Glancing up at Brig, and noting his closed eyes, she popped a lettuce wrap thingy in her mouth. She was surprised to find it full of citrus flavored tuna, and very nearly expressed her delight in the form of the little moan that usually accompanied good food, but managed to suppress it in difference to his plight.

"Do you want to go back below deck, the rocking is a little less noticeable down there. I've also heard ginger tea helps too. I can get Brett or Trevor to make you some, if you'd like."

Brig wrapped an arm around Kai's shoulders, his hand paying close attention to the softness of her them.

'Mind over matter, babe,' he said with a deep sigh. 'I'll be fine.'

He refused to throw up. Brig kept telling himself that as he took deep breaths in through his nose and out of of his mouth. After a few moments, his stomach seemed to settle, returning to its earlier hungry status. The sea wasn't so bad, and he wholeheartedly agreed with his cousin and nephew about it being rather erotic - being in the water with an affable and willing female - he looked forward to some swimming once they got to the island.

Pulling away from Kai, he approached the buffet table slowly and happily rubbed his tummy which was now agreeing with him. Picking up a plate, he piled it high with cooked protein and grabbed two beers, opening them with his bare hand. Walking back to Kai, he handed her one and drank half of his in one gulp.

'So what all are we doing on the island?'

"Ah, I see"

Kai took the bottle from him, looked at it for a moment and sighed. She'd give it to him when he finished the one he had, there was absolutely no sense in making a fuss about it. She tucked the bottle between two of the fingers holding her plate, so that it dangled below it, and popped another of the lettuce wrap thingies in her mouth, only this time she let the moan have its way. It was a lovely bit of culinary genius.

"There's a speed boat that lives there, and we can use it to ski, plus the fishing of the eastern side of the island is amazing, so I'm told."

Another bit of Trevor's genius went into her mouth and she showed her appreciation for it as well. "I also thought we could snorkel or just swim. The caretaker is supposed to have a bonfire built for us on the western beach"

Kai shrugged, and ate something else from her plate. "I kind of figured we'd all just do whatever suited our fancies."

Brig finished his beer and looked at Kai's.

'You're not going to drink that, are you.'

It wasn't question but a happy declaration as he gently took the second bottle from her fingers and began drinking that one. It would be his fifth beer, but at his size, he wasn't even feeling a buzz yet, so he consumed her bottle with as much enthusiasm as the last four.

'So, tell me about your job. Tell me about you. Where are you from? What do you like? Ever been married? Have any kids? Tell me everything.'

He smiled at her as he squinted against the morning sun. They hadn't really talked, not a lot anyway, and he wanted to know more about her before the inevitable happened down below. Call him old fashion, but Brig liked knowing a girl before...whatever happens, happens.

Not wanting to assume anything, he'd take this trip one step at a time. Kai was a lovely girl, very shy but adventurous, but he wasn't going to be a dick about the thing between them and nailing her the first chance he got.

'Quid pro quo. You tell me something of yourself, I'll share...then I might let you have your way with me tonight.' Eating something rolled up in bacon and meat, he grinned at her as he chewed.

Kai willingly relinquished the beer with a soft laugh. It was easy to laugh with Brig and she liked that about him.

His questions didn't surprise her, she wanted to ask them of him as well.

"That works for me. Let's see.We'll start with the uncomplicated ones. I've never been married, no children and I'm from Tasmania."

She finished the food on her plate, and set it on a low table nearby. Turning, she rested her elbows on the rail and looked out over the water. They had moved far enough out that the land was no longer in her peripheral vision. "My job is... so odd. I'm a marine biologist and I've spent the last twelve years on various research vessels off the Great Barrier Reef.

I was offered a job as a researcher for the NUA, but when I got here, they asked me to take over as the general manager of the Aquarium. I've spent the last two weeks fixing the mess the last person made, and I think I'm at a point where I can get down to the serious business of marine life."

Turning back around, she once more rested her elbows on the railing. "As for what I like, well I like to think I'm a simple girl. I like to read, and technology makes me giddy, and of course I like the water. Any combination of the three will make me happy as a pup with a new smell."

'Ok.' Brig rolled up his eyes and squinted into the sky as he thought deeply. 'I was born in Scotland but raised in Russia along with the Beta. Our families have been close for generations - wherever the Hammerthynns are, the Jamesons follow. We even share inherited memories. The Beta is my first cousin and best friend.

'I'm the Commander of the Pipers. You've met my boys - the LT is my nephew from my youngest brother, Charlie, Red...they're cousins of the Hammerthynns and Jamesons alike. Been leading them almost all my life. LT will step up into my position when I'm too old to be doing the job. Not anytime soon, though.' Brig gave her a youthful wink.

'I absolutely love my Iphone. I'm one hundred and ten years old, and...I've been married four times.' He winced at that and took a long pull at his beer, finishing it.

'I've no children though. None of the marriages were serious enough for that. LT is the closest thing to a son that I have.'

Brig mimicked her position on the rail and let his body casually lean against hers. 'Ok, my turn for more questions. Uh...do you ever plan to marry? Looking forward to children?'

Kai blinked at him several times. A hundred and ten? Wow, she sometimes forgot how long lived their people were, though she shouldn't. Her own mother was nearing a hundred, her father even older though no one had ever told by how much.

She rested her weight into him, and sighed softly. "Maybe one day I'll get married, when life isn't so tumultuous. I think that if I stay in Nachton long enough that I'll stop thinking as a transient and start looking toward the future. As for children... no I do not I wish to go through such hardship. Selfish of me I know, but in my nearly thirty one years I have witnessed, and participated in the birth ceremony for sixteen mothers. I do not ever want to experience such pain.

My mother says, you forget it as soon as the little squalling thing is in your hands and you are offering thanks to the moon. I don't know that I believe her. My sister agrees, as she's already had a child, but then she was always just a little odd."

Kai chuckled lightly. "My father says it is my duty to the pack to be fruitful and multiply. I think my duty to the pack lies elsewhere."

She shrugged a bit. "Hmm, that was probably more information than you wanted."

She watched Wil and Jared wrestle over a chair for a moment, laughing lightly at them. They made her feel a little older than she really was, but then she almost always had been. "Can I play with your phone? I was thinking about getting one when I finally get around to buying a personal phone. I love my iPod Touch, so the phone seems like a nice little step up."

Brig pulled out his iphone from one of his pockets and unlocked it for her. While she played with it, he moved back over to the buffet table and secured another beer and more food. Walking back, he stood in front of her as the boat rushed out to sea.

'I have sisters and they say the same thing. My brother, David, LT's father...he enjoyed being a father for the short time that he was.' Brig grew quiet and took a long pull on his beer as he looked around, watching the younger wolves play. Reign had wandered off to do her own thing. Brig watched the blond for a moment before returning his attention back to Kai.

'It has that face-to-face option. The Beta is rather disgusted with it.' Breaking himself out of his sad reverie, he grinned at the thought of his cousin's dislike for personal electronics.

'Hammer and I have made it this far without children, but we still have time to have heaps.'

Kai made a delighted little sound as she took the phone from him. She began to pick apps at random and play with them. When he returned, she glanced up at him with a smile.

The sadness in his voice made her look up for a moment. "I'm sorry about your brother."

She couldn't say much else, she'd lost family members, a cousin to a stupid motorcycle accident, a grandmother to age, an aunt to childbirth, but that aunt had not been gifted, instead choosing to live as human among wolves, and knew it was never easy no matter what amount of time had passed.

She smiled at him, she'd not yet met the beta, but if he was anything like her father, technology made him cranky and he refused to use the webcam she'd given him. "Neat, that would make talking with Mom easier. She likes the webcam, but getting me in front of it is more difficult as I am rarely sitting long enough to get it up and running and then have a conversation long enough to make a difference."

She tilted her head to the side, and studied him for a moment. "My aunt says that time will temper me, and I will change my mind. I'm young yet and haven't found a mate that makes me want to give him flesh from my flesh."

A soft chuckle left her as she handed him back his phone. "My family is very poetical."

Kai peered at his plate and managed not to wrinkle her nose. Excusing herself, she refilled her own plate with the lovely yummy things Trevor had made for her and Drew. She returned to her spot on the rail, as she popped something she didn't recognized that had been rolled up and skewered, into her mouth.

"So, do you have any hobbies, well besides running before dawn and getting seasick?"

Brig smiled softly at her condolences for his long gone brother. He was embarrassed that he brought it up, but relieved when she redirected it elsewhere.

'LT has a thing about sitting in front of his computer during downtime. Although now he's dating someone on the outside and it's pretty rare we see him around the Den unless it's work related. We're happy for him.' He thought a moment and then gently took the phone back. 'Look at this, this is great.'

Scrolling through his pictures, he found one of Hammer giving his ever angry yet perplexed expression glaring back at him. He showed her the picture giggling to himself.

'Don't tell him I showed you this,' he said laughing out loud now. 'Hammer is a great guy. We've grown up together, suffered through adolescences before our gifting, and scared the living shit out of the humans when we finally were.' Pausing, he remembered the fond memories of being young with his cousin. 'Yeah, I don't know what I'd do without him.'

Kai took her turn and asked about hobbies, teasing him about his seasickness.

'Oh ha ha,' he said leaning back on the rail and standing close to her. 'Uh...let's see. I enjoy going to the movies, boxing with Hammer and the boys. I'm very sociable and enjoy just meeting new people. Heading out into the city, the museum,' he shrugged. 'I enjoy anything and everything, really. Lately I've been a little busy with work, though. This is the first chance I've had to get out and flex my 'meetin' people' muscles, so to speak.'

He pushed his food around his plate, picking at this, consuming that. Slowly he reached out and took her hand, lacing his fingers with hers and quietly added, while still looking at her hand, 'I also like meeting beautiful women...like you.'

She giggled at the very put out man on Brig's phone. She had no doubt that when she finally met the beta, she'd have to suppress laughter.

As he talked, she consumed the food on her plate and debated about getting more when he took her hand. She decided she was full, and set the plate down again. It was easy to turn her body into his and smiled up at him, laughter behind her words. "Ah, so you make it a habit of meeting pretty girls, and taking random boat trips with them?"

He was fun to tease and she was enjoying the opportunity to practice those long unused skills on someone she didn't have to hide anything from.

'Every single weekend. You're lucky, I was just barely able to pencil you in.' Brig looked up into her face and grinned as he leaned in and kissed her cheek gently. Wrapping his arm around her, he then kissed the hair next to her temple.

'So when are we getting to this island?'

Her laughter turned to a gentle sigh at the tender little kisses. Kai rested against him for a moment, then looked at the slim diver's watch on her wrist.

"We've only been on the water a half hour, Brig. We've got another hour and a half give or take."

She cocked an eyebrow at him. "You don't like my boat?"

Laughing, she pushed back from him. "Care to try a little fishing? You might catch something bigger than you."

Brig slumped his shoulders dramatically and whined, 'But we need to get there now!' Standing tall, he clapped his hands together and rubbed them happily.

'Oh, fishing? Let's go!'

Laughing, she stepped away from him. "Oi! You guys want to fish?"

A chorus of yeses in varying forms answered and she lead them all to the open deck in the aft of the boat. One of the long bench seats opened to reveal fishing gear suited for moving deep sea fishing. They took a little while to get sorted out, but soon enough she had all four men decked out with lines out over the sides of the boat.

None of them ever caught a thing, but they had a grand time trying to sabatage each other, and drank more beer than she could keep track of, while she and Reign chatted amiably. Reign was an odd duck, but Kai liked her.

The time passed quickly, and before they knew it, and with a bit of whining, they arrived at the island. Their boat pulled alongside one dock that had another boat moored to the other side. A small wickedly fast looking speed boat. Further down the shore was another dock with a small old fashioned shrimping boat. There were two people loading parcels onto said boat. They stopped, and darted down the beach to help tie off the Aqua Aquarius.

In a short time, things were explain to them, there was no running water, but there were ah...primitive facilities up behind the house. They were to stay out of said house as light sensitive experiments were being conducted, other than that they had run of the island, and the caretakers were off in their little boat.

It was a small island, one that could be walked for shore to shore in about twenty minutes. One end was cleared and had a nice sturdy house on it, the rest had been left to be taken over by mother nature. A small forest of trees grew and rustling could be heard from with in.



((permission for movement wasn't given, so let me know if you want anything changed!))

Reign was quick enough off the boat, tossing a few things at the Boy, obliging him to carry them while he took some good natured ribbing from the other two. Reign just as quickly threw something at them to carry. She could delegate like no body's business and it kept the three of them in line.

She liked being on the water but truthfully was looking forward to some beach time. Of course she'd made friends with the bartender and wouldn't be without libations although she wasn't about to get smashed. They were also intended as a bribe for the boys who, other than Drew, had not thought that far ahead.

"Hmmm I'm an indoor kind of girl, I might not go too far from the ship."Â?

Reign commented with some irony. She was damned adaptable and not at all squeamish or faint of heart. She wouldn't have made it past the age of thirteen if she'd been delicate.

The island was nice, she could very much enjoy it here and those sentiments were echoed by the other three. She did wish, however, she'd brought the mutt. Ah well, he probably wouldn't have liked the boat.

The boys spent some few minutes ogling the speed boat, but as Drew was sticking with her, even casually sliding a hand around her waist, both the others followed even if it was a protest or two and one or two comments about being a stick in the mud. One good glare and a perfectly cheerful but well placed cutting remark got them to follow.

Soon enough they'd found a spot where she could hang out on the beach either in the sun or shade and read, Reign had brought two of her favorite books Good Omens and one of the early Dresden files, and had every intention of finishing both. The boys had no qualms about diving into the water and trying their hand at body surfing, with varying results. She'd join them later.

Before long, Brett and Nessa had carried over and set up a bit of a shelter near where a bonfire had been laid, Kai had staked beach blankets down under it and the whole thing was very idyllic.

Trevor announced that dinner would be at sunset and he expected them all to be back by then, before disappearing into the galley. Once every thing was set up to her satisfaction. Kai ran off to find Brig.

She found him exploring up near the neat little house, and since she was coming up from behind him, she let her feet go silent.

Creeping up behind him, she got fairly close before pouncing and landing on his back with a whoop of laughter. "What are you doing way up here?"

Brig smiled as Kai's scent wafted up to him and he caught her, hooking his arms behind her knees as she rode him piggy back.

'I am being very nosy and looking around.' Reaching with both hands, he twisted her around him and settled her legs around his waist. He tried not to flush as he felt her warmth as she now faced him. Lacing his fingers beneath her bottom, he carried her weight in front of him as he continued walking up to the house.

'This is a nice house. So we're not bunking here? Still on the boat?'

Brig didn't care either way. He rather liked the idea of falling asleep naked on a rocking boat with hopefully equally naked female laying next to him.

Still laughing she wrapped herself around him, and nuzzled into his neck. He had this great sort spicy scent and she filled her nose with it.

"The caretakers are research biologists and when you've got photo-sensitive experiments going, you do your best to control all outside interference."

She shrugged a bit. "I'd rather sleep on the boat, or if we feel like it the beach."

It had been a long time, just like with everything else it seemed, since she'd slept on a beach, and even longer since she'd made love on one. Pulling herself a bit closer, she pressed a soft kiss on his neck.

'Oh, I should turn around then.'

Turning on his heel, he started back down to the beach, but at a slow pace. She began nuzzling on his neck, making him push up his shoulders.

'Ticklish...tick...lish!' Brig began rubbing his chin on the side of Kai's face, hoping to tickle her back, but his beard hadn't quite made an appearance yet so early in the day still, so he tilted his head down and began nibbling on her shoulder.

'You're going to make me drop you,' he chuckled as he turned toward the forest instead, hoping to explore that part of the island without interrupting any crazy island of Dr. Moreau experiments and he said as much to her.

'Hopefully there's nothing I can destroy out here.'

Giggling, she lifted her face from his neck, with a final deep inhale of the scent she would forever associate with him.

"Hmm, now I have a weapon in my arsenal."

With a sly grin, she looked over her shoulder out at the woods. They called to the wolf in her and she wriggled in his arms a bit. "Only the ferns and other little growing things."

The crew had returned to the boat, making any choices they made in the woods free from those outside the pack. Of course it would probably be better to wait until the night, but she would be game either way, well so long as Brig could remember where their clothing was.

Stepping out of his shorts, he grabbed her by the hips and continued his assault on Kai's breasts till finally he let his mouth climb up her body and he slipped himself out of his boxer briefs. Without hesitation, Brig pulled himself out and pushed up into her wanting warmth.

Together they moaned, ignoring the fact that odds are they could be heard, and he pushed up into her roughly, grinding himself against her sex. Grabbing her thighs, he lifted them higher, deepening the penetration and pushed so hard into her he shook the tree.

Kai's arms wrapped around his neck and pulled him closer to her, their lips meeting again, full of tongue and desire.

'Oh...shit,' he moaned as he picked a rhythm, encouraged by her breathless gasps. Her body was petite, but firm, young but moving with experience he had not seen in someone her age in many years. Brig wanted to move faster, but he held back, savoring the burning need between them.

Breaking their kiss, he bit down on her neck, nibbling the soft skin as he whispered into her ear, telling her how good she felt and how much he wanted her.

Kai pushed forward, angling perfectly for him to go as deep as he wanted, further than what should be legally allowed. He grabbed her hips tightly enough to leave bruises and pulled on her as his own hips met hers.

It had been a long while since Brig had been with a female of his pack. Maybe he avoided them, maybe he liked the fragility of human females, but for the need readying itself to explode in him, he wondered why he had waited so long to bed a pack female. He certainly had not maintained any type of relationship beyond sex with a kadzait female, but he didn't partake in the fruits of them, either. Kai's perfect body reminded him not to ignore what was right in front of him.

Pulling her off the tree, he lowered her to the ground and turned her over roughly as he slipped out of his briefs completely. Grabbing her hips again, he penetrated her without even the slightest thought of taking his time and had to grab her shoulder to still the desire in him that wanted its release. He took a breath and then began to pump into her, his breathing becoming hoarse and ragged. Reaching around, his right middle finger found her warmth and began playing with her sex, forcing her inevitable outcome quicker and with ferocious speed.

'Kai...' he moaned, 'oh...jesus.'

The sweet pain pulled at his center, warning him of what was to come.

Brig looked up into the sky trying to see past the trees above them. Smiling, and just a little out of breath, he turned and looked at Kai as she laid comfortably across his chest.

'What did I tell you? Dirty girl.' He laughed quietly and finished it with a deep breath. 'Well now that we've christened the island, what about we head back and try to be sociable with the others?'

Brig was more than happy to lay there naked on the forest floor, but the odds of someone coming across them were a little too high for him. The weekend was starting off to be memorable as well as fun and he was only too happy to stay and enjoy it with Kai.

A very put upon sigh was her answer to him, before she began to laugh and pushed up away from him. "Yes, but will you respect me in the morning?"

Snickering softly, she found the pile of their clothes and tug the bottom to her swimsuit from under his leg. With a couple hard snaps she got the leaves and things that had found their way in and on it and pulled them up over her hips, only to retie one of the bows.

She watched Brig get to his feet, and found she just simply had to stare. Great day in the purple morning... A low hum of satisfaction passed her lips and she managed to pull her eyes away long enough to get her clothes back on in the way they were intended.

Laughing and joking they made their way down to the beach, where Drew, will and Jared were currently engaged in the sport of male posturing known as throwing around a foot ball. With a squeeze of Brig's hand, she left him to run down the beach and in front of Jared catching the toss meant for him.

"Hey! Where'd you come from?! Ninja like skills are not permitted in football!"

Kai responded by sticking her tongue out, and moving far enough away that she could join in the game, and tossed the ball to Drew.

Reign had tried her hand at body surfing with he and the brothers but the sun, the ocean and the lack of sleep from the past few days caught up with her fast. She'd pulled on a pair of board shorts over her bathing suit and fallen asleep in the shade. Drew felt moderately guilty. He'd not even asked if she wanted to come, he'd just drug her. And he hadn't even asked how the tournament had gone.

But guilt didn't last long in Drew-land and he and the guys had started screwing around with the football. Running around on the beach, in and out of the surf and just having a good time.

"Ninja my ass."Â? Drew shot back. "You weren't paying attention."Â?

"Yeah, don't make me start telling stories."Â? Wil added. He was the older of the two and had no issues picking on his little brother. Of course if any one else did it he was a bit protective.

Drew had quickly learned not to get in between the brothers. He had sisters, well and a ton of cousins, so the etiquette came naturally to him. He rolled his eyes at the two of them and jerked his chin at Kai so she'd back up.

"Come on then let's see what those tiny girly hands of yours can do."Â?

Kai narrowed her eyes at him and straightened, effecting her professorial voice. "The ball doesn't care what size one's hands are. It cares only for trajectory and velocity. In other words, ya little runt, be prepared to run."

With a flash of her bright smile she pulled her arm back and launched the ball to somewhere beyond Drew. It flew straight and sweet with a lovely little spin.

Brig watched Kai run off and join the football scrimmage and just as he was kicking off his shoes to join, his pocket started to vibrate. With a sigh, he slumped his shoulders unhappily and sat down on the sandy beach, pulling out his iphone.

Kai was currently running headlong after the pass Wil had thrown for her. With a shout of triumph, she jumped into the air and caught the ball. Spinning with her momentum, she caught sight of Brig coming down the sand with a most peculiar look on his face.

She flashed him a smile, before turning around and lobbing the ball at Jared. "Be right back, go ahead and play amongst yourselves."

An impish little grin followed and she jogged the small bit still separating her and Brig.

"Everything okay?" She reached up and touched his arm, instinct causing her to want to comfort him. He looked like someone had just told him his dog died.

Brig explained the situation to her, all with a slight grimace of expectant pain on his face.

'I really am sorry. It's my cousin,' he paused feeling like a total asshole. 'I just don't want you to think...'

He let his voice trail off and he slowly blinked his eyes, fully expecting her to be angry, but hoped she'd understand. His phone vibrated and he pulled it out of his pocket. A text message from his Sergeant, Charlie, was waiting to be read.

Kai's nose scrunched up all on its own as Brig explained. But it was smoothed out quickly when he apologized.

"It's alright, Brig. Well it's kind of not, but I understand. I'm glad you got to come even if it was just for a little while."

Her nose crinkled again when he showed her the text.

"This just gives you an opportunity to make it up to me is all."

Laughing softly she walked down to the dock with him, calling up to the captain to inform him of an incoming vessel. They stood on the dock, her small hand in his until the boat arrived.

Brig hugged her a little roughly, and kissed her thoroughly, before boarding the boat with Charlie. She stood there waving him off, and before joining the others again, grabbed snorkel equipment.

Jogging back to them, she held up the masks, snorkels and fins. "Who wants to go look at fish?!"

Drew half watched the whole thing with Brig and Kai and filled it way to think about later. He rather wanted to know what was going on, but he couldn't justify asking. So he bit his tongue, it hurt, but he managed.

Reign sat up while Kai was gone, she looked... bleary. Like she hadn't quite finished her nap. That could be dangerous she was not at her best first thing in the morning. He fondly recalled her trying to clobber him with a book. Drew considered himself lucky she hadn't set Sirius on him.

Letting the brothers keep playing he moved over to her and absently started putting sun screen on her.

"Don't give me any grief pale face. I'm not going to listen to you bitch if you get burned and look like a lobster."Â?

Kai returned with another activity and Wil pipped up.

"Do we get to eat them?"Â?

Both of them trotted over with little hesitation. Celeste was not going to be amused if she heard about this. She was the jealous type and even though there was no flirting no nothing... well... Drew was glad he wasn't dating her.

Nudging Reign he managed to get her to her feet and to mostly agree to the suggestion. Speech was apparently eluding her for the moment.

"If you want to, but reef and barrier island fish are little more than flashy colors and lots of bones. So if you're short on calcium in your diet, go for it."

Laughing, Kai gave Wil and Jared their share of the burden, and gave Drew his and Reign's with an impish grin.

"Did you enjoy your nap Reign?"

They started the short journey to the other side of the island. The fish would be more prolific on that side as they were rarely disturbed by more than the occasional diver. It was likely they'd see a turtle or two as well. Kai was excited about that prospect.

They walk, which took just a bit more than twenty minutes was full of laughter and joking, and a great deal of Kai catching crap for disappearing into the woods with Brig. It was quite nice to have simply been accepted as one of their number, as though she'd always been. She gave as good as she got.

When they made it too the opposite beach, Kai tossed her flip flips and wrap next to a largish rock, and weighed them down with a smaller rock. As the others got into snorkel gear, she checked the compass on her watch. It would suck to get turned around under the water.

There were days that Reign thought she kept the Boy around because he could be a bit touchy feely. She wasn't much on physical displays of affection, except with her family and even those weren't frequent. But human, or werewolf touch, wasn't something to be just shunned. She relaxed a bit as Drew made sure she didn't get burned.

"Whatever you say Tonto."Â?

She muttered while sleepily letting her head fall back on to his shoulder.

Wil and Jared made disappointed noises about something to do with fish as she and Drew got moving. Let it not be said chivalry was dead, the boys seemed to be doing all the carrying while she stumbled along still waking up a bit. She yawned and stretched as they walked.

"Yeah. Sorry between the ocean and this punk,"Â? She cheerfully shoved Drew who stumbled a few steps, "waking me up ungodly early the other day it was called for."Â?

It was Reign's way of apologizing for falling asleep.

Drew kept one arm companionably around Reign's waist as they headed to the water's edge.

"You know it really wasn't my fault. She shouldn't have driven all night like that."Â?

Wil and Jared set up the snorkeling gear and plunged into the water. It wasn't even especially cold to them having grown up on a lake in Wisconsin.

"We're not going to have to watch for jelly fish or anything freaky like that are we?"Â?

Kai took a deep breath, and looked up and down the small beach. "There aren't any on the sand, so I doubt you'll run into a great number of them. Though jellyfish are pretty much everywhere."

Laughing softly, she headed down to the water. "Hey Drew, don't forget to spit in your mask. Keeps it from fogging up."

A grin was flashed and she walked deeper in before diving under the waves, gear in hand. Surfacing she followed her own advice and donned her gear.

They frolicked in the waves for a couple of hours, pausing from time to catch their breath or share details of something they found. Kai was delighted to see a pair of sea turtles. She'd not really expected to, but they didn't disappoint her, and they were small and young which gave her a sweet hope.

Exhausted from the waves and reminded by the lowering sun, they headed back to the other side of island. When Kai stumbled over a hidden root, Wil carried her piggyback, making Jared carry his stuff and hers. Feeling the active day in her body, she was more than happy to rest her cheek on his shoulder and let him do all the work.

Trevor's dinner was even more sublime than his lunch had been. And the four wolves and their illamar ate until they simply couldn't put another bite in their mouths, making sure Trevor's efforts did not go to waste. As they'd descimated the meal, Brett was down on the beach getting the fire started and set out stuff for s'mores, the only cooked thing Kai would eat. She'd had them one night when docked at a small island similar to this one, and had fallen in love with the gooey treats.

With dinner finished, they disembarked and returned to the beach and the fire side.

Reign didn't hide her relationship with the Boy, not at all. However, she was much happier letting everyone think they were just friends. Drew tended to understand that and was OK with and respected it. But it had been a -long- day and even with her nap, she was still feeling a bit wiped out. So, she was just as happy to stretch out next to the Boy and use him as a pillow as she stared at the bon fire.

This had actually been a good day. It had taken her a while to settle into it but all in all, it did remind her of home and the days she and the guys would spend at the lake. It was a good reminder that she had a home here.

"Right. You realize this obligates us to tell ghost stories don't you?"Â?

She said through a lazy stretch.

"Unless you four want to go off on a run or something."Â?

Not that there was a lot of room on the island but she wasn't going to knock it. At least it wasn't a full moon. Thank god for that.

Wil and Jared were off trying to convince the bar tender to do something, Drew didn't even want to know what. Those two could be down right dangerous when it came to drinks. They were always tasty, but ... well strong. Jared had also mentioned something about s'mores. That, -that- he wasn't going to stand in the way of.

He was a bit surprised Reign would just crash on him, but he wasn't going to knock it. Sure she had a list of flaws a mile long, all of which she'd admit to, and they both knew the relationship wouldn't go further than friends but she was also a good looking woman and good solid people.

Still he snorted at her suggestion.

"You say something like that pale face and you have to start. Cause unless you want a plot synopsis of Friday the 13th part nine hundred I'm not much of a story teller."Â?

Which was a total lie.

"Come on Kai you must have some good Aussie ghost stories to tell."Â?

He goaded the hostess as Jared came back laden with what smelled like chocolate, graham crackers and marshmallows.

"Wil'll be back in a minute. What'd I miss?"Â?

Kai had showered and changed into a pair of little white shorts and a purple camisole before dinner, figuring if they slept on the beach, she'd be dressed for it. Her tush was planted on a brightly colored towel, and her back was resting on one of the logs that had been placed around this fire pit a long long time ago.

With a laugh she took the skewer from Jared that he'd shoved several marshmallows on. "I'm not much of a story teller, and while my pack was very ceremonially oriented, they didn't really have any ghost stories, and I never took the time to listen to the ones the crews of my research vessels liked to tell."


She set the white blobs over the fire, giving them some time to melt. "But if it's really that you just want to listen to me talk, I'm sure I can make one up."

Kai winked at Drew, before returning her attention to her marshmallows.

Wil's drink, the fire, the water and the s'mores had Reign relaxed to the Nth degree. Enough that she told an old silly ghost story about The Viper. She even managed to get the accent right when she got to the punch line about 'coming to vash and vipe the vindows'.

She stretched hugely, going back to the boat seemed like such an effort, sort of like keeping her eyes open. Hell even the sand felt comfortable, sot of soft and warm.

"You're going to think I'm either old or a total bore. I keep falling asleep on you."

Suffused with a lassitude that was wholly unknown to Kai, she laughed lightly at Reign's story. Somehow she'd managed to move her resting place from the log to Wil's chest, and she wasn't quite sure when that'd happened.
He'd handed her a mug of something warm and sweet and since she didn't smell or taste alcohol; she'd drunk the entire thing, in between gooey melty s'mores. The combination, along with the activity of the day, made her tired.

"I don't know Reign; I'm feeling a bit like sleeping right now too, though I just can't seem to find the energy to move from this spot. Wil, you make a pretty good pillow."Â?

Another light laugh and she found her attention once more taken up by the crackle and dance of the fire. Wil gave her shoulder a pat, and moved a stray hair from her face. A soft sigh moved her chest, and she wrapped her arms around her knees.

Kai had awakened in a big puppy pile of arms and legs consisting of herself, Wil and Jared, to the sounds of cursing and splashing water. Sitting up consisted of the three of them working together to untangle everything, and Kai rubbed the sleep out of her eyes, and peered out to the water to see Reign and Drew splashing about. Before she knew it strong arms had picked her up and jogged her to the water, summarily dropping her into the drink.

The rough housing that followed was great fun, and made Kai even more hungry than she already was. After a shower, she dressed in denim shorts and a cami, forgoing a bra because hers was drenched in sea water. The ride back to shore was bittersweet for her, and she spent it chatting with her new friends and soaking in sun that was promising 100 plus degrees soon.

The docked at just after four on Sunday afternoon, and she wondered if everything was alright with Brig and his cousin. As the boat was tying off to the dock she went below to gather up her things, tossing all the dirty things into one bag and everything that was still clean in another. Once finished she returned and disembarked with everyone else.

After hugs and smiles and thanks, and setting up a lunch or two, she bid farwell to her new friends, and thanked the crew, before heading to her little car and heading home.

((Kai out pending response))

All things considered, Drew was damned satisfied. He'd gotten Kai out and to meet some people, he'd try and get her out again, without the over night so they weren't limited to family. Wil and Jared had had a good time and even Reign had admitted to having a good time.

Kai headed out where every she was, the guys both headed back to the den and Drew took Reign home.

Not a bad weekend.

((OOC... all out))