AN: This is my first story on POTC and ever. Now rewritten with my beta-reader corrections. Many thanks to her))) Hope you'll enjoy it!
Disclaimer: I own nothing. As all of us here ;)
It had been a whole month since Jack, Captain Jack Sparrow, got his beloved Pearl back. It had been a month of joy, celebration and new hope for both captain and crew. Well, you can't be too glad when you get you life and ship back once you've already said goodbye to them. But now both holidays and Tortuga were left behind and everyone had returned to their usual routine on the ship.
All except for Anamaria. Of course she was there on deck, shouting orders and curses, given that she was a first mate now. But nobody knew or saw what was inside her. When all the fights and races were over she had time to think about her own goals, business and ambitions that weren't connected to Pearl or anyone on deck or below it.
'I need a ship, and Jack, that silly bastard, owes me one. Yeah, right… A ship… And a bit of advice. Maybe.'
So, later that day, when the Captain went to his cabin, Ana decided to go and speak to him. 'No sense in waiting, I've already wasted a lot of time'. She knocked at the door.
"Captain? I need to talk to you…"
"Aye, Anamaria, is that you? Come in, love…"
Ana opened the door and stepped inside. Jack was sitting at his desk writing something in his log. He was still in his coat and his hat, despite the fact it was rather hot in the room. He didn't stand up, or even turn his head towards Ana. The lack of his attention both embarrassed and angered Ana. 'Am I transparent? Or maybe he thinks it's something unimportant? In both cases he is wrong…'
"Jack, I need my own ship. You remember, don't you?" She began straight ahead.
Jack looked at her, his expression unreadable.
"Oh, that one… Aye, I remember…"
"So?!"
"Well, I gave you HMS Interceptor, love…"
"You sank that one, Jack. It's your fault I don't have that ship, not mine. Therefore, you still owe me a ship!"
"Not my fault, love. See, if you carefully looked after your lil' boat, it wouldn't get water in it and wouldn't have sunk in Port Royal. Then I would've returned it to you, and…" Jack waved his hand instead of speaking. Then he grinned "Savvy?"
Ana gave him a fierce look and walked a little further into his cabin.
"Do you really think so, Jack Sparrow? I'm guilty of all my problems, is that what you want to say? I bloody saved your life you ungrateful bastard! You OWE me a ship!" Ana shouted.
"And I'm grateful. I made you me first mate, see?" Jack stood up and approached her. "I'm still in the dark about why you did it. Maybe, 'cause you missed me?" He continued quietly, leaning closer to her face.
"Oh, really, what would I miss about you? You're untrustworthy, you don't keep your promises…" Ana said irritated. "Look- will you give me a ship or not?"
Jack walked back to his desk and sat down. After a little pause he said:
"I will. Satisfied?" He smiled a bit.
"Aye… and surprised" Ana answered. Then she sat on chair next to him and continued thoughtfully "You know, there is something else I need from you…"
"It's my turn to be surprised, love. And what be it? Maybe… something personal?" Jack's eyes lit up, as he put one arm around Ana's shoulders.
"Aye, personal it is" Ana threw his hand off her with a bit more strength than needed and took a piece of paper out of her pocket. "It's a map…"
"A map?" Jack looked somewhat disappointed.
"A map. It's from my father. He was a pirate captain." – Ana unwrapped it and held it out to Jack. "Look, there's a cross…" Jack took a map and studied it quietly.
"Treasure?"
"Not quite sure. It might be" Ana answered simply.
"How did you get it? You ne'er told me about your father…" Jack continued reading the map.
"You've never asked, Captain… My mother was a white girl, and neither loved, nor needed me. So I grew up in some Catholic orphanage not knowing anything about my heritage. Nice place to stay, you know" She added sarcastically. "And then, when I was thirteen, one night a man came and he gave me an envelope. Inside, there were a letter and this map…"
Jack wasn't listening. "Hmm… Interesting, it is… Never heard of that island… Interesting…" He mumbled. "Better keep it to meself…"
"…And so, I decided to be a pirate. I ran away from those blasted nuns, and… Jack, are you listening?!" Ana yelled angrily. "What do you think of it? Where is that place?"
Jack waved his hands in unsure gesture. "Well, I think…"
But Ana had already seen there was nothing in his hands…
"Jack Sparrow, where is my map?" She said slowly and quietly, yet dangerously.
He stood up and stepped back from her fury. Putting his hands up defensively, he muttered;
"Maybe, I've dropped it somewhere here…"
"Oh, sure…" Ana stood up and began moving towards him. "You dropped it? Or, maybe borrowed? With every intention of bringing it back?" Ana got very close to him. "I'm such a fool for trusting you again! Where is it? Where have you put it you bastard?!" She shouted.
Her mind and body were trembling with anger and self-reproach. Her only heirloom, the only thing left from her father… Ana felt that nothing could keep her from finding that map. Her eyes glowing with fury, her hands seeking his pockets, pulling away his coat, his vest, nearly ripping his shirt… Ana stopped, frozen as she felt his bare chest under her hands. Instinctively, she looked up and her eyes locked with his. Jack looked strangely contented with her stormy behavior, his eyes dark and mischievous smile playing on his lips.
"Why stop, love? You're a little hurricane of emotions, aren't ya?" He said in a silky voice. He put his hands around her waist pulling her even closer to him.
Ana blushed and remained still for a few seconds. There was nothing in her mind; she was floating peacefully in some kind of daydream. But, realizing the situation she was in, Ana dropped her hands down. 'Ana you're an idiot!' She thought irritated 'Need to stop this now.' Casting a hateful look she took out her pistol and moved it to Jack's throat…
"Where is it?" She tried to keep her voice and mind calm.
"Sorry, love, I'm surely mistaken. That's not just emotions, that's real passion…"
"JACK SPARROW!" Ana yelled, cocking her pistol. "And get your bloody hands off me!" She added.
"Okay, okay… Look a lil' higher, love…" Jack rolled his eyes indicating said direction.
Ana looked up as he told her and saw her precious map popping out of his hat like a feather. She grabbed it quickly and put her pistol back. "You bloody scoundrel" She muffled through clenched teeth. Still shaking with anger she headed for the door.
"Glad you've found you map, love. Anyway, that's not a map…" Jack said cheerfully and loud enough for her to hear.
Ana turned back. "Not a map? What in the hell it is then, you daft pirate?!"
Jack shrugged his shoulders.
"A mere drawing, I s'pose… Come 'ere" He said waving his hand towards the map on his desk.
Ana waited a little, not sure whether to believe him, but Captain looked quite serious. Finally, she came up to his map and stared at him impatiently.
"Give me your lil' paper again, love. Don't worry" He smirked at her suspicious glare. Then he put her map on his. Standing behind Ana, he explained "See these two islands? Here" He pointed with two fingers on her map "and here" he pointed on his bigger map.
Ana looked at his hand. It was still bandaged, reminding of his fight with Barbossa. His rings with glittering gems looked rather odd on rough dirty hand. 'He is all odd' she thought.
"Look at the shape – it's not correct, and the distances are all wrong… It's not a map, just a scheme of map… Savvy?" Jack added in her ear, tickling her neck with his beard and moustache. Ana almost jumped at his sudden nearness.
"Savvy" She murmured, trailing her fingers on maps just like he did a moment ago.
"Not here, here, love." Jack corrected her taking her hand and guiding it to mentioned islands. Ana froze again at his touch and felt strange desire to close her eyes. So, she stayed there, listening to her heart beating wildly, until Jack put his hand away and walked around the room. The charm was gone once again…
"You can't find a place with a map like that, love. No chance…" He said thoughtfully.
Ana looked at him, really disappointed and said in a trembling voice:
"So, all my hopes are gone, then. I'll never find what my father wanted me to…" She sighed.
"No need to be that depressed, love. You're forgetting one thing…" Jack said with a little smile. He even sounded encouraging.
"What thing?" Ana said blankly, not really waiting for an answer.
"I am Captain Jack Sparrow!" He grinned.
"Oh, stop that rubbish, will you?" Ana growled.
"Now you wound me heart, love. Me words aren't just hot air." Jack said, putting his hand where his heart supposed to be and making an offended look.
"Here, take this…" He took out his compass. "Guess, it's your strongest desire to find that lil' piece o' land?" Jack stretched his hand to Ana. "Take it."
Ana moved her hand slowly and the compass, trying not to touch Jack's fingers. 'Two times is enough for one evening, right?' She said to herself. 'Well, that was not so bad, really. Just remember that look in his eyes…' said somebody else in her head. She smiled a bit, recalling the feeling of being pressed to his chest. Still floating in her thoughts Ana looked down at the compass. Her eyes widened in horror – it's needle was pointing directly to her Captain…
"Do concentrate love. Just forget that "seek-me-map" accident" Jack grinned wickedly.
Ana mumbled some curse of hers as she felt the heat glowing at her cheeks. She glanced fiercely at Jack, and then closed her eyes. She tried to think only about her father and his island somewhere there in Caribbean waters. 'I need to find it, need, need, need…'
"Holy God, Jack, it works!!" She gasped opening her eyes. "I can't believe it…"
"I was sure 'bout that…" Jack stated. "Now will you give me one o' me precious effects back?"
Ana looked at him and her heart sank. All joy and excitement were gone.
"So" she started "I can't go there without your help. Right?" She waited for his answer uneasily.
"That's right, love. Not sure, if I'd like to go there…" Jack walked towards window and stood there, staring at dark horizon.
Ana couldn't believe what she'd just heard. He couldn't do this to her!
"You can't say that, Jack!" She protested.
"Pirate." He said without looking at her. She could almost feel his trademark grin without even seeing it.
"Jack, listen, I need to be there. You don't have any particular place to go on your mind at the moment, do you? Jack, just take me there… instead of giving me a ship!" Ana finally found something to bargain with him. And that was wise.
Jack turned his head, smiled a little and pointed his finger at her in one of his wild gestures. He looked interested.
"Hmm… Maybe. I'll put it like this… If I get you there, I do not owe you a ship, any treasure is divided with crew and me, and you'll stay me first mate for three more years. Agreed?"
Ana was shocked.
"Three years?! I'd rather shoot myself than spend three years on one ship with you, Jack Sparrow!!!"
"It's Captain, love. And you'd better agree now, or I can say 5 or 10 years… Savvy?"
Ana gritted her teeth. 'Oh, what the hell…'
"Well, Captain, I agree." She looked straight into his eyes with determination.
"That's my Ana." Jack smiled. He loved that firmness and force in her. The fact that he could get her to play by his rules, well… that was outstanding.
"Now, love, I think, you'd better go to the helm and change our course. Here." He gave her his compass.
Ana grabbed it and stormed away to the deck. It was beginning to drizzle but even that couldn't cool down her inspiration.
"I'm coming, father…" She whispered and took the wheel in her hands.