Ok, this story just popped up in my mind when I was considering writing a Sparrabeth. This one basically isn't a Sparrabeth, it's more like they hate each other with this one. I'm gonna disregard that Jack got killed at the end of DMC. He was chained there then got away before the Kraken came. This is post-DMC.
Disclaimer: I truly don't own pirates, trust me... I mean, wouldn't we ALL like to own it???
Summary: AU Post-DMC. Davy has still not called off his "terrible beastie" the Kraken. Jack continues to run and keep to the land after he escapes the shackles and gets away in the longboat, hoping he will see his Pearl again. But how long will that last?
Waiting on Life
PROLOUGE
The longboat hit the shore of the island. Once again, stranded, but this time with a longboat. Elizabeth went off by herself into the jungle. Why hadn't he died?! She was so close to getting rid of the biggest problem in her life, but he'd escaped. Well, he was the infamous Captain Jack Sparrow. He could escape anything. She should know, she'd read all about him, admired him her whole life, that is, until she met him. She remembered that day perfectly...
I couldn't breath. I felt myself hit the water and sink faster and faster. I was losing conciousness. Then, I felt arms close around my waist. I barely registered coming up to the surface and sinking down again. The person pulled my dress off from around me. We came up to the surface and I felt myself being laid on a hard surface. Everything was spinning. Just when everything was about to go dark, someone slit my corset strings. I coughed up all the water and looked up at my rescuer. Was that...?
"Clearly you've never been to Singapore..." I dully heard him say.
He looked down at me then picked up the necklace I forgot I had hanging around my neck. "Where did you get that?" he asked, clearly amazed.
His gaze slowly traveled up to a sword in front of his face. "On your feet." the commodore ordered. My rescuer slowly got up and moved backward. My father helped me up and put his coat around me. "Elizabeth, Elizabeth, are you alright?" he asked.
I was distacted by the pirate standing just feet away. "Yes, yes, I'm fine..." I answered automatically. My father looked weirdly at on of the Navy guards who was holiding my corset. Murtogg motioned towards the pirate. Father was disgusted. "Shoot him."
No! "Father! Commodore, do you really intend to kill my rescuer?" I asked him. Norrington's men lowered their weapons.
My rescuer smiled at me, clapped his hands together thankfully, and bowed.
"I believe thanks are in order..." The commodore held out his hand.
Ah... It was a trap...
The other reluctantly extended his hand and his sleeve was flung back suddenly. "Have a brush with the East India Trading Company, did we, pirate?" Commodore Norrington spat out that last word. The pirate winced.
So I was right. He was a pirate! I admired him already.
"Keep your guns on him, men. Gilette, fetch some irons." He swiped his sleeve back more. "Ah... Jack Sparrow, isn't it?"
It was him! It was--- It was--- Captain Jack Sparrow!
"Captain Jack Sparrow, if you please..."
"Well, I don't see your ship..., Captain." Norrington mocked.
"I'm in the market..., as it were." Jack explained.
"He said he would come to commadeer one." Murtogg confessed.
"I told you he was telling the truth!" Mullroy cut in. "These are his, sir." he continued, showing the commodore Jack's weapons.
The commodore went through Jack's things. "No additional shots nor powder." he said, examining the pistol. He put that down and picked up Jack's compass. "A compass that doesn't point north..." He half unsheathed Jack's sword. "And I half expected it to be made of wood..." Jack smiled at him. "You are without doubt the worst pirate I've ever heard of."
Jack gave him a 'But wait' look. "But you have heard of me..." He grinned.
Commodore Norrington yanked Jack by the arm over to the other side of the pier. The Lieutienant started to put on the handcuffs.
"Commodore! I really must protest! Pirate or not, this man saved my life!" I pushed away from my father and ran after the commodore.
"One good deed cannot redeem a man of a lifetime of wickedness." the commodore explained to me.
"But it seems enough to condemn him..." Captain Sparrow cut in.
"Indeed."
That day had been so perfect. She had met the man she had admired and read about. And better yet, one of his adventures would be rescuing her! But that perfect moment had ended abruptly when he threatened her...
"Finally..." He slung his chain around my neck and jerked me backward. "I knew you'd warm up to me." he whispered in my ear. He turned serious again. "Commodore, my effects, please...and my hat ...Commodore!"
Commodore Norrington grabbed Jack's weapons and handed them to me. His look he gave me was full of compassion and concern. But it was unrequited. I turned around and looked into Jack's eyes. I hated him at this moment, but I had admired him my whole life. The man who escaped the island he was mutineered on, the man who disappeared under the eyes of seven agents of the East India Trading Company, the man who would now escape again...
"Elizabeth, it is Elizabeth, right?"
"It's Miss Swann." I answered with all the anger I could muster. I was looking at Captain Jack Sparrow!
"Miss Swann, if you'd be so kind..." He smiled at me. "Come, come, dear. We don't have all day..."
"Now, if you be very kind..." He smiled even more. His eyes bore into me, but all he saw in mine was anger. The anger that was hiding the burning admiration.
I stuck his gun into his belt and his compass. Then I slammed his hat on his head. I hooked the the belt around him and hooked on his scabbard. He put his head over my shoulder and I swear I could feel him grinning.
"Easy on the goods, darling." he muttered.
"You're despicable." I sneered.
He looked at me, apparently unaffected. He had probably been called worse in his day. "Sticks and stones, love. I saved your life, you save mine. We're square."
He turned me around. "Gentlemen," he turned to me, "milady, you will always remember this as the day you almost caught...Captain...Jack...Sparrow!!!"
He threw me towards my father. I turned around in just enough time to see him hit a lever to bring him up on a rope.
As Elizabeth thought back to this, she had absentmindedly been walking through the jungle. She snapped out of her daze and found herself in a clearing. Her eyes, for some reason, traveled over to a bush. She swore she could see something red through it. She walked past it, though. A voice made her jump and turn around quickly.
"Why did you try to kill me?"
She turned to see no one other than the man she was just thinking about. Captain Jack Sparrow.
"I said..., why did you try to kill me?" Jack repeated, thinking she hadn't heard.
Elizabeth looked him in the eyes. There was sadness there. Had she caused this? "I...I don't know, Jack..." she finally answered.
"Then why did you try...?"
"I said I don't know Jack!" Elizabeth yelled at him, then covered her mouth and took a few steps back.
Jack was taken aback. He stood up. "I'm sorry. I went too far, love. But you've got to know why... You didn't just wake up thinking 'I'm gonna kill Captain Jack today!' Eh? There's got to be a reason."
"There...is." she stated hesitantly.
"I'm all ears..." Jack sat back down and cocked his head expectantly.
What had been Elizabeth's reason? Why had she chained Jack to that mast?
"What? Were we all supposed to die with you? We're at risk even now! All because you're a coward!" Her voice rose with every word she spoke.
"Ah, so you were trying to be noble, eh? That doesn't make up for the horrible deed, dearie." He stood up and walked around her. "Aye, you may be right about us being at risk because I'm running..." He got inches away from her face. "But never do you call me a coward!"
That last word echoed through the jungle. Elizabeth covered her face, then ran off, leaving Jack to think over what she'd just said.
