By Anna Summers
A short story about Bridget Sparrow trying to persuade
her father, Captain Jack, to give up piracy. Well, we all know that Jack will
have none of that, but he's torn between his love for the sea, and the love for
his daughter. Please read and Review!!!
Disclaimer: I do not own Captain Jack Sparrow, however I do own Bridget! :)
Happy readings!
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A vase flew across the room and hit the wall of the cabin, breaking into a
thousand pieces. Captain Jack Sparrow ducked, narrowly missing it.
"Bloody hell, ye could have killed me!" He stared wide-eyed at his
seventeen-year-old daughter.
"That was my motive!" She picked up a half-full bottle of rum that was lying on
the floor and shook it at him.
"Bridget, love. Put down the rum, please. Don't do anything stupid," Jack eyes
were fixed on his rum, his hands together, pleading his daughter not to do
something rash.
But strong-willed Bridget Sparrow only sneered at her father. Jack watched
horrified as Bridget opened the door of the Captain's cabin and threw the
bottle out onto the deck.
"There, the line's been crossed!" He walked over to Bridget and caught her arms
in his hands as she lunged to hit him.
"You promised!" Bridget yelled as she squirmed.
"I know, love." Jack's eyes softened when he saw the disappointment in his
daughter's eyes. She yanked out of his grasp.
"You swore to me that you would stop this piracy! You swore we could move
somewhere and make a home...and you would find a wife." Her eyes bore into his,
leaving Jack feeling extremely guilty.
"Love, I can't just -- stop." Jack tried his best to explain, but he couldn't.
He couldn't explain the feeling he had when the sea sprayed in a salty mist
upon his face as he stood at the helm of his ship. He couldn't explain the rush
he got from adventure, the excitement he felt, even when staring death in the
face. He couldn't put into words the power he felt holding a steel sword in his
hand.
Bridget held her anger firmly, even when seeing her father's face go blank as
he daydreamed about his "pirate's life." She wasn't giving in this time, no
sir. He wasn't going to break his promise again and get away with it...not if
she could help it.
Bridget broke Jack's blank stare and walked over towards his desk. The two were
in the Captain's quarters on The Black Pearl, Jack's ship; as well as his pride
and joy.
Too many times, Bridget's father had made empty promises. She had been sailing
with him for near 5 years, since her mother died suddenly of a strange illness.
Usually, they adored one another. But if there was one thing Bridget hated
about Jack, it was his broken promises.
"I don't care for your obsession with piracy. What about me? Has it ever been
about me? No. It's always about you...You and your rum."
"Don't bring me rum into this!" Jack yelled, "Have ye not noticed that
everything is affected by you? Before you came along, I was this reckless
pirate who didn't have a bloody care in the bloody world! But now, I'm
responsible for two lives."
"Oh, so all this is my fault now?" Bridget shot back, her anger rising
momentarily. Jack exhaled.
"I didn't say that, Bridget. What I'm tryin' to make ye see, is that I'm not
giving up bein' a pirate. I was born a pirate; I'll die a pirate. Frankly, I
don't give a bull's ass if ye come to my funeral! As long as I know, and
everyone knows, that I, Captain Jack Sparrow, gave life me all." Jack's words
were harsh, but he spoke them in a kind tone as he gazed into Bridget's deep
brown eyes, very much like his own.
"Look, dad." Bridget still couldn't get used to the word, even after five
years. After her mother's death, she had hated Jack. She hated him for leaving
her mother pregnant and alone. She hated that he thought he could just show up
after twelve years and expect everything to be okay...and she hated how he expected
her to pick up and move from place to place on his stupid ship.
"I know it's been hard for you...living with me. And I know there are so many
more things you'd rather be doing than taking care of a teenaged girl."
Bridget's voice was no longer loud and yelling, but softer and calm, yet it
still contained the anger.
"But, I didn't choose this life either! Believe me, if I could have mom back,
I'd take her!"
Jack looked a bit hurt by Bridget's words, but tried his best not to show it.
"I'm sorry, love."
"You're not sorry."
And with that, Bridget Sparrow turned on her heel and walked out of the small
cabin, slamming the door loudly and making her father jump.
Angry, Jack hit the wall with a clenched fist. He closed his eyes and tried to
figure out what he could do to clear up this situation. He came to the dreadful
conclusion:
It was Bridget or piracy.
Jack knew it shouldn't even be a question as to which he should pick. He was a
father, a father with responsibilities. Piracy was not a responsibility. But,
before Bridget, Jack was never known to be the "responsible one."
"What can I do to make her see?" Jack thought aloud, "This is my life!" he
stomped over to his desk chair and sat down, propping his feet up on the desk.
Jack sighed, and then spoke quietly in a realization,
"But so is she..."
***
Read and Review! :)