Unattainable Desire

No matter how much rum Sparrow drunk, he didn't feel any better. If anything, it just made things worse. The loud atmosphere of the bar didn't help, and the girl by his side wasn't helping either. Needing fresh air, he dumped a load of gold coins onto the table.

"Get lost, luv." He muttered. The girl greedily grabbed up the coins and left him, looking for other prey. Jack gulped down the rest of his tankard and made his way through the drunken fights to the door. The atmosphere outside the tavern wasn't much better. Girls were still squealing, and the men were still brawling over them. Quite why, Jack didn't understand anymore – prostitutes were abundant here in Tortuga, more than enough to satisfy England twice over.

Jack shook himself, why was he thinking like this? Normally he'd be just as willing to fight over them as the others would. Hell, as soon as he had got here, he found himself one and spent the night with her. But being on that island gave him time to think, and it simply didn't feel the same anymore. No, he needed more, something more intense, more real than what paid company could give him.

Jack always had got what he wanted in the past but now, it was just out of reach. There was nothing he could do about it and in a way he felt powerless. As soon as he thought up a plan, another thought would come along and ruin it. Maybe it was out of choice; after all it was probably for the best. He couldn't have everything he wanted. No matter what he said to himself he couldn't stop thinking about it...her.

Walking through the streets of Tortuga Jack tried to sort his head, and his heart, out. He didn't notice the streets becoming quieter and emptier – there was too much noise from his mind. He loved her, he supposed, but was it really love? Nothing else had ignited such passion in him though, no gold enticing his desire, no prostitute earning his lust.

Jack walked and walked, and thought and thought but it seemed hopeless. He glanced at the sky as if to look for help from some higher power, but not even the stars could aid him; the clouds obscuring them from his view. He didn't want to admit it but he was well and truly alone. Not even a drunk in the street that he could lift some drink from.

He continued walking, not caring where he was headed. His head ached but he could no longer tell if it was the inebriating rum or his sober thoughts. Squeezing his eyes shut, he hoped the pain would go away but all it resulted in was the image of the one thing he wanted so much.

He opened his eyes instantly when he realised he had bumped into someone. A young girl looked up at him from the cobbles with pleading grey eyes as if to say please don't hurt me. When he didn't reply she just gathered the clothes back into the wash basket she had been carrying and scampered off. Jack's hand grabbed her wrist before she got far.

"Apologies, miss." He mumbled still holding her. The girl just nodded and turned to go. Jack let go of her wrist and just gazed at her longingly. She stopped and turned around sensing his solitude.

"Jessica." She said.

"What?" Jack asked, slightly taken aback.

"My name's Jessica. Would you mind helping me?" She suggested.

For the first time all night, Jack smiled, "Yes, I mean, no." he paused and gathered his wits. The girl just smiled kindly, "O' course I'll 'elp ya."

"Good." She replied simply and offered him one of the basket handles. "What's your name?"

"You don't know who I am, luv?"

She shook her head.

"Me. I'm Captain Jack Sparrow." He told her with a golden smile as he took the handle, all thoughts of his previous strife gone.

FIN

Up to you to decide whether or not that was post-PotC and about Elizabeth or pre-PotC and about The Black Pearl, I'm not too sure myself. Also please tell me what you think, because I'm not very certain if I can write angst okay or not.

Oh, and read my other stories, pretty please!