Disclaimer: I own nothing/no one from PotC.
A/N: This one shot is in response to a challenge from the Black Pearl Scrolls to write a story on the lessons learned in life.
"Lessons"
"Jack?" Anamaria's voice was hesitant as she entered the Captain's cabin. She had knocked twice and received no answer. Knowing Jack was inside, Ana had decided to go in anyway. She was worried about Jack. Ever since he had come back aboard in grand style yesterday after barely escaping the noose, he had been quiet and somewhat withdrawn.
Inside the Captain's quarters, Jack was sitting on the window ledge, his back against the wall and one foot propped up in front of him. His arm was resting on his knee, and a half empty bottle of rum was waiting in his hand. He was staring out at the moonlit sea, and had not seemed to notice Ana's intrusion.
She could only imagine what he was thinking about. In the space of a few days, he had saved the governor's daughter, been arrested, faced execution, sailed with a blacksmith in search of the ship he had been seeking for ten years, fought undead pirates, been marooned on a tiny island, fought undead pirates again, and then faced execution again. A man could not help but be effected.
Ana sat on the ledge at Jack's feet and took the bottle from his hands. Surprisingly, he made no move to resist her. Her eyes traveled to the bandage on his hand. If she were to ask, she doubted that Jack could remember how he got all of the various scars on his body. Some scars, however, ran deeper than his skin.
"I couldn't beat him," the pirate said, his voice soft and far away.
"Who?" Ana asked, unsure of where this was going.
"Barbossa," Jack replied. "Ten years, I waited, and, still, I couldn't beat him."
Ana furrowed her brow. "Barbossa's dead. You shot him."
Shaking his head, Jack met Ana's eyes for the first time. They were blacker than the night sky. "Before that," he said. "I took one of the coins. I was cursed too. If I hadn't have been . . ." Jack's hand came to rest over his heart. "He stabbed me. I should be dead."
"You're alive, Jack. Barbossa's gone," Ana said forcefully, as she reached out and took her Captain's hand in her own. She spoke the truth, but her words sounded hollow even to her own ears. They both knew that Barbossa would never be truly gone. Every time someone would ask for Jack's trust, he would see his mutinous first mate, hear his treacherous laughter. Ten years Jack had been without his ship. Ten years he had spent hating himself for confiding in such an evil man.
Trust someone, and they will betray that trust. It was a lesson hard learned, and one Ana doubted that Jack would ever forget.
Please leave me a review before you move on!