Junior stepped into the living quarters and offices of the Pegasus operation trying to figure out why she was in such a bad mood. Could be the bitchy tree lover writing up everything she can get into that notebook? The little voice in her head was a constant unwanted companion, but more often than not it hit on the problem on the first shot.


"Boss, are there two visitors on board by any chance?" The radio operator Rick sat behind the desk at the entrance holding a message slip in his hand.


"Yeah, they just flew in, so please tell me all of our paperwork is in order?"


"The tour might be short. Their office just radioed over and one of them has to fly out to the Mobile operation. Jack's group hit some sort of snag in off loading into one of the boats and they had a minor spill."


"Fuck, that's too bad for them, and just Jack's luck in that he's getting the bitch from hell over there to add to his problems." The air was starting to get chilly against her still damp skin so Junior started toward her quarters.


"If her name is Tony then we'll say a prayer for him." Rick got someone to listen for any other incoming messages while he went off to look for Possum and their guests as his boss walked down the hall cursing up a blue streak.


Jillian didn't hold out any hope that her partner was going to be back that night after the initial report they had gotten on the rig seventy-five miles away from where she was stuck for the night. The spill confirmed her fears of what could happen when you drilled at the depths these people were trying. She had finished her tour with the nice older gentleman named Possum pointing out where they needed some modifications and work before they would be given the go ahead to start drilling. Going against her gut, Jillian had cut them some slack in some areas after Possum explained that it had only been six months since they had started to put the platform together and would be at least another eight months before they even thought of letting Pegasus fly.


Dinner with the three main supervisors, Billy Bob, Ellis and her tour guide had been nice and Jillie had to agree with their pilot in that Baxter Oil did employ the best cooks in the Gulf. Her hosts had offered to walk her to the guests quarters, but the thought of being stuck in the living quarters until the next morning didn't sound all that appealing since it was only seven o'clock.


With the help of the rig's lighting Jillian made her way back up to the helipad, which was dark for the night. In her experience in coming out to the rigs, this was the best place to visit at night because it gave you the greatest view of the stars. With no buildings or city lights, the sky would come alive out here at night. It reminded Jillie of why she put up with the oilfield mentality on a daily basis.


Upon reaching the last step at the top she saw the glow of a cigarette in one of the corners as the person smoking it sat with their legs swinging over the side inhaling deeply. Without the ball cap her hair was flying in all directions again and it was then the inspector remembered the rude bitch was still on the platform. She was about to turn around and head back to her room for the night when the deep voice stopped her from moving.


"Please don't let me stop you from enjoying a pleasant evening, Ms. Sterling. Almost every constellation is visible tonight along with some of the planets." Junior took her eyes off the sky and turned her attention to the stairs to see if Jillian would take her up on her offer. When the blonde stepped up and started walking over, she never saw the smile on Junior's face as the woman headed toward her. Jillian took a seat close enough so the perfume she was wearing wafted over to where Junior was sitting.


Jillian sat back on her hands and looked up at the sky instead of at Junior. "You don't look like the stargazer type."


"I guess I didn't give you the best first impression, did I? Would you please accept my apologies for my behavior this morning, it was uncalled for and unprofessional of me. You were right in that you and your partner are only doing your job."


The blonde head did turn then as Junior took another puff of what Jillian could see was not a cigarette but a cigar. "You do know smoking on an oil rig is strictly forbidden, don't you?" The laugh was deep but it sounded to Jillian like that of a child's. The kind of laugh that came right from your belly and from someone who hadn't forgotten how to find humor in the smallest of things.


"You can add it to the book you wrote today, ma'am, if what Possum tells me is true. Exactly how much did today cost me?"


"Enough to save some of those trees you think I love so much. Is your name really Junior?" Rick came up the stairs and called out to his boss interrupting Junior from giving an answer.


"Boss, I just got off the radio with Sally. She wanted you to know that the pipeline leases are coming up in the next two weeks, so she sending a bird for you tomorrow morning. I'll let the guys know so they can get with you if they need anything before you go."


"Sorry about that." Junior looked at her with an open expression that made Jillian feel like the most important person looking up at the sky that night.


"It's ok. What do you call that one?" Jillian pointed to the sky as the quiet enveloped them again. Junior turned out to be quite knowledgeable when it came to the night sky and charming in a weird sort of way. Jillian found she could have sat there and listened to her for hours. By the second formation Junior pointed out, Jillian had rested her head on the shoulder next to her. If Junior minded she never said anything however when Jillian tried to hide a yawn the lecture came to an end, but Jillian felt the beginning of something else when Junior smiled at her. Maybe the woman sitting next to her maybe wasn't the rough neck Jillian made her out to be.


"Please enjoy the sky for as long as you want, Ms. Sterling, I have to go and pack up if I want to be back in New Orleans early tomorrow. I'm sorry I went on like that, I didn't mean to bore you."


"You didn't bore me at all. If I'm assigned to come out here again we have a date right here so you can pick up where you left off." Oh my god, I can't believe I just said that. Jillian rushed on so Junior wouldn't think she was flirting with her. "Is there anyway to catch a ride in with you. Not that the hospitality isn't good but I don't know how long Tony is going to be." The cigar that wasn't as nasty as Jillian first thought was stubbed out in an ashtray next to Junior before the long body stood up and towered over her. I thought she would have thrown it in the water, and does this woman ever wear shoes?


"No problem, meet me in the mess at seven tomorrow morning. Good night, ma'am."


"Good night."


At seven the next morning Jillian was sitting in the mess hall waiting for her traveling companion and talking with Possum about the report she was going to submit. "Ma'am, I'm not trying to tell you how to do your business, but you might not want to talk about this with Junior on the way back. You are kinda cute and I would hate for her to throw you out of the helicopter miles from land."


"Thanks for the heads up." They both got up when they heard the helicopter touching down outside and Junior stepped in and motioned for Jillian to get moving. Before they left one of the cooks came out and handed Junior a traveling mug, waiting for her to take a sip to see if there was anything else he needed to add.


"Perfect, thanks. Ms. Sterling, would you like a cup of coffee to go?" Junior toasted her with the mug in her hand.


Jillian shook her head and said sheepishly, "I know this is going to sound snobby, but I only drink Starbucks Breakfast Blend."


"Your in luck, ma'am, how do you take it?" The cook pulled out another mug and filled it with the coffee Junior supplied whenever she was working on the rig. The guys liked it so much that on the next supply run it was going to become one of their staples.


"A stargazer and gourmet coffee drinker, I may have misjudged you," said Jillian as she pointed to the pot of steamed milk the man had made for Junior's coffee. Junior's smile was infectious as Jillian mirrored it. Jillie, oilfield workers are not your type.


The helicopter ride was uneventful and Jillian was surprised when they landed, not in New Orleans, but in the small town of Morgan City. Two men came out to meet the Baxter chopper when it touched down on one of the company's field office helipads. Jillian followed Junior into the main building, hoping she wasn't going to have to take a cab for the eighty-mile trek back into the city if the Baxter employee wasn't going any further.


"I'll just be a minute. If you want, you can wait here or out in the car. The boys should be finished loading our stuff and bringing it around to the front." Junior pointed to the waiting room that housed one dusty potted plant and every oilfield magazine printed. Along the walls were pictures of all the offshore rigs they had put into commission over the years, and one of Baxter Oil Company's owner.


Avery Leland Baxter, Sr. had started his career as a wildcatter in Texas back in the fifties. Those in the industry back then said the man had a nose for crude like he was part bloodhound. Through his years of drilling he had moved the industry forward like few before or after him. The picture the company hung in the lobby was one of a young man surrounded by three other young men in front of a gushing well in the background. It was in black and white, but there was something about the man's smile and build that seemed familiar to Jillian as she studied it. In fact all four of the young men looked like people she should know.