Pirates of the Caribbean: Treasures of the Lost Abyss
Disclaimer: I own Nell, the crew of the Aggressor, and the Gray Dynamic. I wish I owned Jack Sparrow, but – alas – I'm not so fortunate
Summary: He loved her more than anyone, but when she died, Jack learned to live without her. When Will and Elizabeth need his help again, he comes face-to- face with his lost love...literally.
Jack Sparrow, 19 and naive, stood alone on the port side of the Gray Dynamic. It was nearing midnight, and the stars blazed in the blackness of the sky. He let the salty spray assault his face while he mused. He sighed aloud, rubbing his short beard between his fingers. 'Barely five days as a pirate, and my long-term prospects are damaged.' Jack heard light footsteps approaching him; he pretended not to notice.
Nellie, 16 and stubborn, wrapped her arms around Jack's waist from behind. She tried not to let his indifference break her resolve. Swallowing hard, she pulled herself closer toward him and whispered, "I'm sorry."
Instantly Jack felt his anger melting away. Despite what she'd done, he knew he couldn't go on being mad forever. Especially since he understood her sacrifice. True, Jack had spent his entire life longing to escape monotony, but his little Nell seemed to thrive off it. To give up tradition must have taken all her courage. 'It can't be that bad of luck to have a woman like her aboard.'
He pulled her off him and turned around, wrapping one arm around her waist, and the other around her neck. Despite their considerable height difference, their faces were inches apart. "No worries, love. You're my favorite, still." He leaned over and kissed her passionately, holding her like he'd always wanted to. Until that moment, the confinements of propriety had kept them at a respectable distance, but now, without any barriers...
"You know," Nellie pulled away suddenly, "I only did it because I couldn't live that long without you."
"I know, I know," Jack sighed, wishing she hadn't interrupted his racy imaginings.
Nellie moved next to him and gripped the railing with all her strength. "I just love you too much, Jack; three years is too long – even if you're earning what we'll need to survive on." Jack tried to interrupt, but she rambled on. "I thought I'd never be happy before I found you – but then you came and made everything wonderful. There's not a part of me that doesn't want to be with you every second of every day, and I'd die if I had to give you up, even for a little while," her grip strengthened, turning her knuckles white, "I thought that, perhaps, if I followed you, it would be fine, that we wouldn't have to be apart at all. How was I to know you'd catch trouble for it? You never told me, I didn't know." She bit her lip to hold back a tear. Jack's concern grew. He rubbed her shoulders gently, hoping to calm her. Nellie took a deep breath. "You didn't let me explain before you went off on me. It wasn't fair of you. You didn't listen."
"Shhh..." Jack quieted her. "I know. And I'm sorry, my dear. But you know, I wasn't exactly in the mindset that you'd try and follow," he chuckled, "Most society ladies would be quite content to stay at home."
"Yes, well, most society ladies also would not let themselves be engaged to a pirate," she countered bitterly.
Jack nodded, "Fair enough." He grabbed her hips and forced her to turn to face him. His eyes gleamed lustily and he tried to let his hands feel through the fabric of her weighty garment. "But, they do say that all's fair in love, so you're forgiven."
"It just infuriates me what my father said!" she barked, a sudden fire burning in her eyes. She pushed her fiancée away, pacing a few feet away in frustration.
Jack winced; he hated when she got herself riled up. Once she started, it was difficult to stop her.
True to form, she continued, "He thinks he owns me! Well I tell you what, he's DAMN wrong! I'm nobody's property but yours!"
"Yes, my darling, I completely agr-" she smacked his arm as he tried to caress her shoulder.
"He's infuriating! A pompous pighead! I'd rather be dead than living in his house!"
Jack jumped back, startled. His eyes widened. 'Lord, here we go,' he thought. "I agree, my precious," he said aloud silkily, "That's my point, dearest-"
Nellie completely ignored him. "How could you expect me to live with him?! I've had all I can take! I'd rather be a pirate than a sheltered little BRAT like I've been my ENTIRE LIFE!" She was yelling now, throwing her arms in the air and shouting loud enough to raise sunken ships.
Abandoning all sense of personal boundaries, Jack grabbed his fiancée's arms and pinned them to her sides. Shocked into silence, she quieted long enough for him to cover her mouth with his right hand. "Nell, before you go making a mutiny upon the deck of a ship you shouldn't be on in the first place, let me remind you how fully I agree with your perspective. However, I should also remind you that I have nearly been removed from duty due to your shenanigans, and I would rather not repeat the process. Savvy?"
Embarrassed, she smoothed a strand of loose hair behind her ear. "Yes. Of course. Um...again, I apologize." She smiled sheepishly.
Jack took a deep, exasperated breath. 'Women,' he thought, 'not one of them is properly trained.'
For a long time, neither of them spoke. Silence filled the air between them, and the open sea provided the perfect distraction. Jack took a deep breath. He knew the ocean was where he belonged. Ever since he was a boy he'd dreamed of becoming a pirate. Now he was living out that dream to the best of his ability. Granted, his boyhood aspirations had not included a tagalong fiancée, but he found that he rather liked the company. Giving her a sideways glance, he momentarily forgot the sea.
'God, she's lovely,' he thought. Nellie seemed blissfully unaware of her boyfriend's eyes giving her the once-over. He couldn't help staring; she was the most beautiful woman he'd ever seen. Even for a well-to-do girl, she was very tiny. Barely over five feet tall, she reminded him of a pixie. Her long brown curls softly framed her face and tumbled down her back, cascading like a waterfall. Hazel eyes gleamed softly in the moonlight, and the silhouette she made looking out to the water accentuated her tiny button nose.
Of course, no one is perfect, and Jack had to admit he'd chosen the most difficult woman in the new world. She was a first-rate snob, a priss, and a virtual land mine. Probably close to twelve times a day, she'd fly off the handle for no reason – mostly when her parents were involved. Somehow she had grown so spoiled that she began to despise the very people who had treated her like a princess. She resented her parents for trying to keep her within the limits of propriety, yet at the same time she was apprehensive of the lower classes. Rebellion was her sport of choice. If her father said, "walk," she ran. If her mother said, "dress nicely," she'd go without a corset. If both of them said, "we'd like you to marry the Crane's oldest son," she'd find herself an aspiring pirate. At first, their relationship had existed purely to infuriate her parents. They'd nearly died upon meeting him – his long unkempt hair, earrings, ragtag clothes, and foul speech. But somewhere down the line, an actual respect and love had grown. What had started as an experiment in rebellion had become the most thrilling experience their lives. Nell's father was horrified when Jack had asked for her hand. He refused to believe that his daughter was seriously committing to the scurvy son of a drunk and a whore. But after many screaming arguments, bouts of tears, and threats, he'd been forced into allowing the union. As luck would have it, it was barely a month after the engagement that Jack was handed to golden opportunity to do what he'd always dreamed of: join a pirate crew. It was the perfect deal – he'd get the life he'd always wanted (temporarily), the girl he longed to be with, and all the treasure he could plunder. Only a fool would turn down such an opportunity; Jack had always been wise.
The conversation with Nell had been tearful and angst-ridden. Nell swore she'd never survive the three years he'd spend at sea, and Jack promised to return as soon as he had means to support them both. The dramatics weren't nearly over, though. His third day at sea, the first mate opened the lowest storeroom and found his bride-to-be huddled in with the rum. It was a miracle the captain didn't order a complete turnabout or throw Jack straight off the ship, and he'd become instantly infuriated with Nellie. Of course, he could never stay mad for long.
Eventually, Nell noticed she was being watched. She smiled mischievously. "What?" she asked.
Jack let the lusty glow spark up in his eyes once more. "Oh, nothing," he responded, "just imagining a few circumstances I'd enjoy sharing with you, love."
Never one to pass up an opportunity, Nellie moved towards him. She ran her fingers down his arm, letting her nails tease his skin gently through his thin shirt. "Well, what can I do to help your thoughts journey forward, Mr. Sparrow?" Jack recognized the desire in her eyes.
"Perhaps you could tease my imagination some," he responded, pulling her into another passionate embrace. He savored her tongue in his mouth, drifting away in thoughts of other, naughtier things they could be doing. He gasped when she suddenly grabbed him in a most improper way. She giggled through their kiss and suddenly broke away. The gleam in her eye was unmistakable. "Shall we continue this in my cabin?"
Jack tried to hide his surprise. "Glad we're on the same page, love."The next morning, Jack awoke in Nell's bed. He recalled with deep satisfaction the events of the night before. 'Damn propriety,' he thought, 'This is far more enjoyable.' Nellie was no longer in the cabin; he assumed she's gone up on deck for a breath of fresh air or a walk. Not content to leave just yet, he basked on her bed, letting the soft female scents drift around him. A deep breath introduced the warm smell of roses to his senses, and he let his hand run up and down her – terribly worn – sheets. There was no denying it; Jack Sparrow was in love with the damned-best woman in the Caribbean, and he knew it.
After taking in her room for several more minutes, Jack finally found the strength to pull himself out of bed. He picked his garments up off the floor and slowly dressed for the day. He speculated that the captain had guessed the reason for his late awakening and therefore decided to leave him alone – a notion he was greatly thankful for. Strapping on his boots, he sauntered out into the hallway, swaggering more than usual. He noticed the approving glances of several of his contemporaries as he left his fiancée's cabin. 'I adore women,' Jack thought.
He took the stairs two at a time and emerged on deck in the full sunshine. He stood at the top of the stairs proudly, surveying the sights. Men worked tirelessly around him, navigating, cleaning, and safeguarding the ship. Then he spied her, standing at the port bow.
Putting on a smug smile, Jack swaggered up behind Nell and traced a curved line on her shoulder with his index finger. "Good morning, love," he crooned, flashing her a good glimpse of his pearly whites.
Nell's cheeks glowed with exposure to the sun and slight embarrassment. "Miss me?" she asked, somewhat sincerely.
He couldn't help noticing the self-conscious tone in her voice. She seemed unable to hide the slight discomfort their intimacy had given her. Trying to quell any fears she harbored, Jack turned on his charm as full as it could go. He stroked her cheek with his thumb and set his other hand on her waist, replying, "I simply could not wait to see you and describe to you how much I enjoyed our rendezvous."
To his satisfaction, this seemed to put his lovely girlfriend at ease. "Mmm, yes, we'll have to try this more often, I believe," she smiled, erasing all traces of self-doubt.
Returning her smile, Jack kept his charm oozing. "Yes, I think we've hit on an enjoyable idea." Winking, he ran his fingers lightly through her hair.
Nell wrapped her arms around his neck, smiling serenely. "Now see," she began, "aren't you glad I came along?"
"If we can continue to have as much fun as we did just a few hours ago, then I'd venture to say you never had better idea, love." He kissed her lightly on the lips.
Teasingly, Nell stole away and beckoned Jack to follow her. He glanced around, making sure relatively few important people noticed the two of them slinking off. She led him through the underbelly of the ship back to the storeroom where she had spent her first nights aboard. Swiftly locking the door behind them, Jack and Nell fell to kissing passionately atop a large crate. Nell leaned back and produced a bottle of rum from a box nearby, and she handed it to her fiancée gleefully. "Drink up me hearties, yo ho," she giggled, taking a large gulp. The liquid wasn't easy going down, and she gave a violent shudder, making her laugh all the more.
Perplexed, Jack took the bottle. "What's that supposed to mean?" he asked gruffly.
Nell laughed, "It's a song. I'll teach it to you later. Here, drink!" she cried, forcing the bottle into his mouth and tilting it up. A considerable amount of alcohol rushed down Jack's throat all at once, causing him to sputter a great deal all over Nell's dress. The two of them laughed heartily, sipping more and more from the bottle and pausing every so often to steal a kiss...or four.
It was midway through one of those kisses that a sudden explosion rocked the Grey Dynamic. Instantly beget with worry, they ran to the door. Jack yanked on the handle before he remembered he'd locked it. Frantic cries and loud explosions raged above their heads. Jack stuck his hand into his pocket, searching for the key. "Damn!" he swore aloud.
"What is it?" Nell squealed. "What's going on up there?"
"Bloody hell, how should I know? I've been right here with you!" He stuck his hands into all his pockets, slapping his sides in extreme frustration.
"What's taking so long?"
"I can't find the key!" he barked, as the gunshots overhead grew louder.
Nell gasped, horrified. "We're trapped in here?!" she cried.
Jack waved his arms in the air angrily. "Help me find it, damnit!" The two crawled through the storeroom, searching the floor. The screams of his fellow crewmembers caused a lump of panic to grow in his throat. At that moment, a cannonball raged into the wall ten feet away from Nell, ripping a hole through the storeroom. Nell screamed, throwing herself backwards onto Jack. He grabbed her and held her close, giving up on the lost key.
It was worse being in the storeroom than being amidst the battle. All Jack had to judge by were the screams and frantic footsteps he heard overhead. He listened intently to the massacre, trying to tell who was winning the fight. Then, abruptly, the shots all but ceased, and for a moment, there was nothing. Jack swallowed, his heart pounding against his chest violently.
Without warning, a sharp crash resounded on the storeroom door. Nell screamed involuntarily as the hilt of an extremely heavy sword broke through the wood. The assailant brought the weapon down on the door again and again, until there was finally enough broken off to constitute space for walking through.
A tall, fierce-looking creature strode inside and looked at the lovers lying on the floor. Jack tried to calm Nellie's quivering body, but her sobs came without disruption. Smiling like a maniac, the intruder reached down and picked Nellie up off the floor, dragging her out of the storeroom by the back of her dress. She screamed and groped the air, trying to catch hold of Jack as she was carried away.
"NO!" Jack shouted, scrambling to his feet. He dashed out of the room, only to be grabbed by two burly men waiting just outside the door. "NELL!" he cried, trying frantically to break away from his captors. It was no use; he was overpowered grossly. The two burly men dragged him up on deck to witness the destruction.
There was little left of the Dynamic and her crew. A few remaining sailors stood grouped and guarded at the center of the ship, cowering from their guards. The ship was a wasteland of sails, wood, and rope. The destruction was overwhelming. Jack chanced to look to the wheel and recoiled in horror; like a grotesque scarecrow, the former captain's body had been crudely lashed against it.
The captain of the opposing ship stood smugly before him, looking down on Jack as though he were a nine year-old girl. Jack turned his head to look at the ship floating across a short space of water – the word "Aggressor" emblazoned on the side. "Well, well, well, what's this about? Your ship is in danger, so you run off with your little whore and try to have one final romp?" the captain sneered.
Rage exploded within Jack's chest. Again, he tried to wrench free of his captor's grip, but it was no use. The captain clicked his tongue. "Now Jack, we mustn't be so violent. Have you not heard it is in better form to ask politely for what you desire?"
Jack swallowed the urge to scream an epithet about the well-spoken pirate's mother, and instead turned his face into a well-crafted smile. Trying his best to remain dignified while still groveling properly, he asked, "Would you consider letting the lady free?"
"No." The answer came shortly. "Fact is, we've been searching the seas for such a lovely wench," he turned and smiled to the crew, "I think she'll be perfect for the job."
Nell took a deep breath and shouted, "You PIG! Let me go at ONCE! I'm not your WHORE!" Jack took in a sharp breath. Although he had spent relatively few days at sea, he had a strong suspicion this was not the proper way to handle the problem.
The captain seemed to agree. He spun on his heel to face her; a putrid disgust crossed his face as he stepped ever closer. "You filthy child. Do you honestly think I would consider using you for such a purpose? You make me sick!" He slapped her hard across her right cheek. Jack tensed at the blow. A slow panic began to build inside him. What was the captain's plan, if not for just that?
The captain turned to face Jack defiantly. He cleared his throat and delivered an order to his crew, but watched Jack's face as he spoke. Every word was spoken with precise detail, watching Jack's face distort in horror with every syllable. "I believe it's time we put the lady to use."
The guards holding Nell stepped across a large plank bridging the Aggressor to the Dynamic. Jack thrashed against his captors, the panic within him hitting fever pitch. Nell screamed as they dragged her on board, kicking her heels and writhing in the pirate's grip. "JACK!" she screamed, freeing her right hand.
Adrenaline coursed through Jack's veins. Somehow, he knew that he had to get Nell off the ship. A dire foreboding clouded his brain. He couldn't say why, but he knew her life depended on it. Breaking free of his captors, he rushed to the bridge, only to be knocked to the ground by another opponent. Lying sideways on the deck, held down by the largest man he'd ever seen, he watched the captain slowly cross to his own ship.
Time slowed indefinitely. The captain stepped onto the deck of his ship, his hat fluttering slowly in a cool ocean breeze. A cruel smile slowly spread across his lips, and he unsheathed his sword, turning to face Jack's beloved fiancée. Nell stopped struggling, breathing heavily. Her soft brown curls hung limply around her face, and the glimmer of defeat hazed her deep eyes from fear. Smiling, the captain reached out with the tip of his sword and lifted her chin. The blade was remarkable, shining blue and white under the harsh sun. Shimmering delicately like the sea around them, it glowed with malice. The captain pulled the blade back, leaving Nell's face turned up to look at him. Thrusting his entire weight behind the sword, he plunged the blade deep into Nell's chest.
Jack heard himself scream as the blood seeped down her dress and out her mouth. The permanent look of death glazed her eyes, and the pirate holding her let her body crumple to the deck. Suddenly, a thunderous force came down on Jack's head, and he lost his senses to immeasurable darkness. Sixteen years later, Captain Jack Sparrow awoke from this memory, cracking his head on the board above his bed. Cursing, he rubbed his forehead; the man responsible for his pain would pay.
Author's Note: Muaha, my story is on its feet! Of course, I want to make sure that anyone actually cares about my endeavors, because if not, I won't bother to continue it. So if you want more, then please review!! Danke, cherubs!