FATHER: *leaves the nets for a bit then begins to haul them in*

ARIEL: *panics as she's being hoisted up*

FATHER: *gasps as he sees the mermaid*

ARIEL: *looks at him with wide eyes and squirms around*

FATHER: *stares at her in the bottom of his boat* Boys, come look at this! *calls to his sons*

DEAN: That's so cool!

SAM: She's beautiful!

ARIEL: *shakes in fear and tries to scoot farther from them*

FATHER: Can you understand us, mermaid? *asks Ariel*

ARIEL: *nods shakily*

FATHER: what is your name? *moves slowly towards her*

ARIEL: A-Ariel... Queen Ariel...

FATHER: *eyes widen a little* A queen?

ARIEL: Y-Yes... Of Atlantica

FATHER: *looks around nervously for mermaids about to attack*

ARIEL: It's alright... No ones going to come and hurt you...

SAM: *walks forward to touch Ariel* Can I touch it?

FATHER: You mean "her", son? Show some respect! *walks over and begins to try to untangle her*

DEAN: Yeah stupid! *hits him upside the head*

FATHER: *ignores the boys as he finishes untangling her* You have a nasty cut in one of your fins. *looks apologetically at Ariel*

ARIEL: *winces* Then I can't swim... Oh no...

FATHER: I'll clean it up as best as I can. *fetches a cleaning kit*

SAM: *goes to her and sits down, petting her hair* What a sweet mermaid you are...

ARIEL: *is shaking and is uncomfortable*

DEAN: Sam! You're freaking her out! What did mom tell you before she died about how to treat females!?

FATHER: *patches up her fin as well as he can*

SAM: Shut up, Dean! I'm trying to comfort her!

ARIEL: *sighs as her tail bleeds*

DEAN: I'm not sure you're helping!

FATHER: Boys, quit fighting. *sighs as he looks at her tail* I don't know how quick merfolk heal but if you were a human I'd say this'll take about three days to heal.

SAM: Dad... I've got an idea...

FATHER: what is it, Sam? *puts away the kit*

SAM: What if we show the king our discovery?

FATHER: Why would we do that?

SAM: Our family is poor dad... If we don't get money fast we'll lose everything! If we send her to him she'll be priced at a pretty penny.

FATHER: *sighs* You have a point, son. We don't have money. But, allow me to remind you that this is the queen. If we harm her the merfolk will not be kind to us as they have been. You have seen what they have done to the big companies.

SAM: *looks at Dean* What do you say, brother?

DEAN: I go with Dad. We can't just sell the Merfolk queen unless we want major trouble. *looks at Ariel* I assume there are people who will be after you? A husband? Father?

ARIEL: *looks down* Not so much...

DEAN: still, it isn't wise.

FATHER: Dean is right. We'll take her home and she can stay in one of my fish tanks until she's well enough to return to the sea.

ARIEL: W-What's a fish tank..?

SAM: *smirks* It's a prison for fish

FATHER: Its the only thing I have that I can keep sea water in at all times. I assume you need to be in water? *speaks to Ariel*

ARIEL: I do... Or else I dry up and... Die...

SAM: *motions for Dean to follow him downstairs of the boat*

FATHER: Then, you'll have to stay in the fish tank. It's kinda small but you should fit with a little room to move around.

DEAN: *glares at his brother but follows him down*

ARIEL: Thank you... You're kind for humans.

FATHER: Well, you merfolk haven't done me wrong. I don't see any reason to do you wrong.

ARIEL: My husband wouldn't do that to you

FATHER: I wondered if you were married. What do you mean by "he wouldn't do that to me"?

ARIEL: He only takes out big business ships

FATHER: So he's the one that's been cutting the nets. They are furious with him!

ARIEL: *smiles* They shouldn't be taking innocent fish...

FATHER: I have to admit, I see their point. I, myself, do that. But, I have a family to feed. They're just lining their own pockets.

ARIEL: he leaves people like you alone so you can live a life, and actually survive.

FATHER: Then, your husband is a good merman. Thank him for me when you go home.

ARIEL: I will.

*boat docks on shore*

FATHER: thank you. *ties up the boat and picks Ariel up in his arms*

ARIEL: *giggles a bit* Your hands tickle my tail.

FATHER: *laughs* My apologies, your highness.

ARIEL: *smiles as she's taken to a small house near the beach*

~Meanwhile Beneath In the Hull~

DEAN: promise me you won't mess with her?

SAM: I'm not going to mess with her...

DEAN: Good. She seems like a nice girl.

SAM: Yeah... But she's a woman, Dean

DEAN: yes, and that means we should treat her even more kindly.

SAM: I'm not becoming her servant

DEAN: You don't have to! Just be kind to her. She's probably very scared.

SAM: Whatever... *gets off the boat, gathering up the fish*

DEAN: *rolls eyes and helps gather up the fish*

SAM: *gets it all up and goes into the house*

~Back to the Father~

FATHER: *takes her around back to a holding tank* This is where you'll be staying until that heals. I cleaned it our recently. It's the best I have.

ARIEL: Thank you. *dips her wounded tail into the water*

FATHER: *smiles* Is there anything I can get you to eat?

ARIEL: Do you have anything like seaweed?

FATHER: I don't have sea weed but I have some greens from the garden.

ARIEL: That might work

FATHER: *fetches some* try this. *hands them to her*

ARIEL: *tries it and smiles* It's good. *smiles as she's dropped into the water*

FATHER: *smiles* wonderful. My boys hate the greens so they won't fight you for them.

ARIEL: *pops her head out of the top, her face looking more refreshed*

FATHER: feel better?

ARIEL: Much

FATHER: then I shall leave you be. I have a catch to deal with. If you need anything just shout. *bows and leaves*

ARIEL: *smiles and takes a nap underwater+

FATHER: *goes to find his sons*

SAM: *is putting away the catch*

FATHER: Sam, if you can't be polite to Ariel, I want you to stay away from her. *examines the catch*

SAM: I will, dad.

FATHER: Thank you, son.

SAM: Only twenty fish today...

FATHER: We came in early. Tomorrow will be better. *sighs*

SAM: I hope so...

FATHER: I'm sure. Now, where is Hailey, your sister? I was hoping she might be working on supper but I haven't seen her yet.

SAM: Probably out with Tom again

FATHER: probably. Well, I'll make supper for us. I hope she's home before it gets too dark.

SAM: She ain't exactly the worker of the family, dad

FATHER: I know. But, she should try to keep the house a little bit. That was her mother's job and that is her job since your mother's passin'.

SAM: Darn shame... *sighs*

FATHER: A darn shame indeed. *walks towards the kitchen*

SAM: I hope we don't have to eat the spinach tonight... Nasty stuff

FATHER: No, Ariel is getting that. You boys are being spared that torture. *begins working on something to eat* Lucky thing I know how to cook... *mumbles to himself*

SAM: I'll check on her

FATHER: No, leave her be. She's resting. She needs all the rest she can get. The quicker she is healed goes back to the sea the quicker I won't fall prey to the same merman that the big companies have.

SAM: It won't happen

FATHER: Why wouldn't it? I don't want to be on the bad side of her husband. He's the one who's been doing it. By doing so, our business has been better. Less competition.

SAM: I guess so

FATHER: let's let her rest. After supper you and your brother can go check on her together. Where is he anyway?

SAM: Playing outside with Max

FATHER: Alright.

SAM: *goes down to the basement*

FATHER: *finishes supper and goes out to get Dean*

SAM: *gets supplies and goes back upstairs*

FATHER: *calls the boys to the supper table*

SAM: *eats quickly*

FATHER: You in some sort of hurry?

SAM: No... I'm just worried about Hailey

FATHER: Why?

SAM: What if she doesn't come home?

FATHER: She will.

SAM: *sighs and finishes* I'm going to check on Ariel

DEAN: I'll come with you. *stands up*

SAM: You go see where Hailey is... I'll check on Ariel and meet up with you

DEAN: Alright. I'll head over to Tom's house first. That's probably where she is.

SAM: *nods and heads out*

ARIEL: *is fast asleep in the tank*

SAM: *walks to the tank*

ARIEL: *smiles in her sleep, her tail curled up*

SAM: *looks into her tank* Such a pretty thing....

ARIEL: *tail flaps a bit in her sleep, her deep in a dream*

*there's a lid for the tank nearby*

SAM: *sees the lid and quickly covers the tank* I'll pretend to be sick tomorrow. When I stay home, I'll fetch the king and you will be his property. A pretty price for a pretty girl. *hurries away to meet with Dean*