Disclaimer: I don't own Pirates of the Caribbean-this is just some of the crazy stuff that comes out of my head. I would appreciate any comments or suggestions---this is my first fan fic so please be gentle..grin

Seeing Is Believing

Chapter 1: The Making of a Pirate

"Evenin', Miss Jo. Working on the Captain again tonight?"

Jocelyn Perry smiled up at the tall, lanky security guard as he turned to punch in the security code at the employee entrance of the casino resort. The hot Nevada sun had set more than an hour before, but the blacktop parking lot beneath their feet still radiated shimmering waves of heat, enough to make her eager to get inside the cool harbor of her studio deep inside Vegas's undisputed flagship of the casino fleet . Funny….she thought with a silent chuckle as she proceeded Frank into the building….ever since I started on this latest project, I've even started thinking in nautical terms. I guess I finally have to admit it…I am officially obsessed……

"Maybe a little later, if I have the time. It's time for Diana's seasonal change, The King is losing eyelashes at an alarming rate, and Brad Pitt is in need of his weekly touch up. Ever since he did that nude scene as Achilles in Troy, women just can't seem to keep their hands off of him, and he's not going to have any lips or ass left at this rate."

"It's not just the women, sweets---you should see some of the surveillance video we have on file sometime!" He grinned widely at her amazed stare and shrugged his shoulders. "Well, there's no accounting for taste. I'd much rather lock lips with Marilyn Monroe than Aaahnold" adopting the California Governors distinctive accent "But hey, to each his own." Frank chuckled heartily as he swiped the lock on the inner doors with his magnetic key and punched the access code before opening it with a courtly bow. "After you, milady." The 60'ish guard intoned gallantly as he did each evening, removing his hat with a sweeping gesture, ushering her forward into the icy hallway. He couldn't resist taking a moment to admire the artist's legs displayed by the knee length khaki skirt and wedged espadrilles she wore, or the nicely rounded curves charmingly accented by the thigh length belted crinkle cotton blouse.

"Thanks, Frank…..see you in the morning, and I promise I'll try to keep it down tonight." Jo grinned mischievously and wrinkled her nose at the guard, who favored her with a serious scowl that was tempered with the humorous glint in his eyes. "See that you do!." He called after her as she headed down the corridor.. "I get enough reports about the museum being haunted without calls of someone strangling a cat on the premises."

"Opera, Frank….it's called opera!" Exasperated but amused, Jo stuck her tongue out at his retreating back before pulling her own magnetic key out and swiping the lock to her studio. Flipping on the lights as the door closed quietly behind her, she tossed her purse on the shelf above the clothes rack and grabbed her smock before heading over to the corner table where her favorite project awaited her handiwork.

The head and upper shoulders of a man rested on the stand in front of a tray of neatly stored tools, paints, brushes and sections of hair. Along the wall were close up photos of Captain Jack Sparrow, in all his pirate glory, along with readouts listing minute measurements, etc. Madame T's had been granted permission to open a POTC Section, and Jo had been thrilled to be selected to be the artist that would create the famous Caribbean character from wax. She was only about a third of the way done with him, but now that the eyes and part of his famous dreadlocked hair had been added, he was well on his way to being the star of the new movie display. Reaching out a hand to pat the cool wax head fondly, she sighed with disappointment. "Sorry, Jack, but I'll have to get back to you later. The King and the Princess have priority tonight." She turned away, but her overly active imagination must have been working overtime, for she could have sworn she heard a rough, rogue-ish whisper from behind her….

"That's Cap'n Sparrow, luv."