Disclaimer: Wheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee! (Java java java java java java java!)
AN: Wow. That's really all I can say, wow. I have received so many reviews to the first chapter of Silver and Gold. My favorite reviewers and even some new ones that I don't know. I thank you all so very much for reviewing and letting me know what you thought. I am sorry for the delay, but as I promised, I wrote some when I was gone (I just got back last night!) and now I am here to post, so don't hate me too much!
PED-sarah: I agree that the beginning was quick, but I was in a hurry to post it. And as for a twist? Well, trust me, there will be one.
"A woman shall have the last word in any argument. Anything a man says after that is the beginning of a new argument."
~bumper sticker seen in Wal-Mart
Silver and Gold
Chapter Two: Nightmares and Reality
The sounds of canon fire echoed in the pre-dawn light. Sparks flew as gunshots sounded. Pieces of wood flew as the top sail blew apart, tiny tongues of flame erupting from the wooden mast. Lor Adams stood her ground as the mast fell in back of her, taking a slice of her skin with it. She hissed through her teeth, attempting to hold in the pain. "Hold yer stance me!" she yelled. "Don't let them come aboard!"
Then it dawned on her. The distance between the two ships, the way that they were positioned, the amount of shots that their attacker was firing. Their purpose was not to board the Sui Generis, it was to destroy it.
Lor bolted up in bed, her sweat drenched shirt clinging to her skin. Her breathing was ragged, coming in short gasps. She ran her fingers through her long, wet hair and closed her eyes, attempting to calm her breathing. She took one last deep breath and then threw her legs over the side of the bed and made her way slowly out of the captain's cabin.
The pre-dawn sunlight beat down on her as she stepped out onto the top deck among the other dozen or so pirates that worked among the masts and sails. She nodded at AnaMaria as she scanned the people on deck. "Where be Jack?"
AnaMaria looked up at her. "At the bow, watchin' the sun rise."
"Thank ye," she replied, nodding her head once again and then walked toward the silent Jack.
She walked up to him slowly, her bare feet making no noise on the hard wood deck. She stood for a moment, watching him as the wind played with his hair that hung out from underneath his hat. He closed his eyes and turned his head slightly to the slowly rising sun.
"Never seen you so calm, love," she said, crossing her arms over her chest.
Jack turned around, a smile breaking out over his face. "Mornin' love."
"Morning. Yer up early."
"Got a ship ta run, lass. An' besides, I didn't wanna wake ya."
Lor sighed. "I wish you had."
Jack trailed his fingers down her cheek. "Bad dreams?"
"I don't want ta talk about it."
"Uh huh," he replied, taking off his hat and placing it on top of her still damp hair. "Yer gonna have ta square with it one day love. You can't keep hidin' from it."
"Jack, please, you promised."
Jack's head tilted back slightly. He placed his hand on the back of her neck, pulling her closer to him. "Ah, that I did," he whispered, pressing his lips to hers.
Moments later, a cheer rose up from the crew on the deck, causing them to pull apart. Lor laughed softly, a smile crossing her lips. Jack turned around quickly to look at his crew. "Back to work you scabrous dogs!" he yelled. "Don't let me catch you slackin' off on my watch!"
The crew jumped at his words, rushing to finish the chores that they had started. Lor laughed again, shaking her head. Jack turned around slowly, rolling his eyes. Suddenly, a broad grin spread out over his face. His hand left her neck and instead grabbed her hand. He pulled her with him as he walked across the deck.
"Jack, where are we going?"
He turned his head slightly to look back at her. "That, my dear, is a surprise."
Lor reclined in the bathtub, pressing her back against Jack's chest. She placed her head on the crook of his shoulder. Jack reached up and brushed some stray strands of hair off of her chest. His fingers played with the long, red strands, twisting the hair around his fingers. "Why'd you let it grow out love?"
Lor shrugged. "Never felt like cuttin' it. I'll probably cut it later."
Jack laughed, the sound rumbling against her back. "You look fine," he said, wrapping his arms around her.
Lor lifted her legs slightly, straightening them out so that she could rest her feet on the edge of the tub. "I'm glad you think so. It feels great meeting other people's approval."
Jack trailed his fingers across her skin, massaging her stomach through the water. "Mmmm," Lor mumbled, running a cloth along her leg. "You know that tickles, right?"
"Of course," he whispered into her ear. His left hand slowly made its way up her chest, up her neck to her cheek. He turned her head slightly so that their lips could meet.
Lor twisted her side to the right so that she could deepen their kiss. She added to their embrace all of her anger, pain, and passion. Her hand wrapped around his that still lingered on her cheek.
A sudden knock on the door caused them to jump. Jack sighed and rested his forehead against hers. "Come in," he growled.
The door opened quickly, revealing a smiling Gibbs. The smile fell from his face as he took in the two people in front of him. He averted his eyes, turning his head to his right. "Sorry Cap'n, didn't mean to intrude."
"S'alright Gibbs. What is it that you needed?" he asked, turning his attention back to Lor. His fingers trailed up and down her arm, sending goose bumps over her flesh.
"Port Royal in on the horizon, sir," Gibbs replied. "We'll make anchorage within three days."
"Port Royal?" Lor asked. "We're headed to Port Royal?"
Jack smiled. "Aye, love. Figured it's been awhile since you've been to see 'em. Plus, I haven't been there in a year."
Gibbs cleared his throat. "If that'll be all sir I think I'll be leavin' ya to yer business."
The two people gave no response to Gibbs as he left the small cabin, merely held onto each other again, their lips once again touching.
Lor's hand broke free of the waters surface, grabbing hold of the small piece of wood floating above her. She kicked her feet, pushing herself up above the water. Her head broke the surface and she rose above the water gasping for air. She clutched the wood for dear life, pressing her cheek against the rough grain of the wood.
She opened her eyes slowly to stare up into the first rays of dawn. She coughed quickly, releasing whatever water had entered her lungs. The wound on her back burned from the salt water that had been absorbed into her broken flesh.
The sound of sails snapping in the wind and laughter drew her attention to her right. She turned her head slowly, scraping her cheek along the rough wood. Her eyes widened as she caught sight of the ship sailing away into the sunrise. The words painted on the back of the ship stung her eyes. They were words that would haunt her dreams for eternity.
The Dancing Lady.
Lor bolted up in bed, sweat once again soaking her body. Jack looked up from the map he was looking at. "Dreamin' again?"
Lor pressed her palm against her forehead, closing her eyes. "Aye."
Jack walked over to her and ran a hand through her damp hair. "Sorry love."
"I saw the ship Jack. The one that destroyed the Sui Generis. I saw the name, I heard their laughter."
Jack pulled her to him, wrapping her in a tight hug. He knew not what to say. He wasn't even sure if anything he said would comfort her with what she had lost. He stared up at her as she pushed away from him and stood up. He watched as she bent over slightly and picked up her black vest. She pulled on her vest, buttoning it up half way.
He watched still as she picked up an arm cuff and placed it on her left arm over her white shirt, tying it tight to hide the burn marks on the inside of her arm. She pulled out a glove next, one with the fingers cut out. The glove, she had told him, hid the large scar on her right hand where Skinner had stepped on it, grinding her hand into the ground. This was a ritual that she had done every morning since he had met up with her in Tortuga.
Jack had often wondered why she bothered. Most pirates were proud to show their scars, especially scars they had gained in battle. He supposed, though, that Lor attempted to hide these scars as a way to forget everything she had been through two years before. He knew that she would never forget about it, though, events like that never left someone's memory.
She sat down on the bed next to him, pulling on her black boots. Lor patted him on the knee lightly, turning to him. "C'mon mate, ye've got a ship ta run," she said, standing up and starting to walk away.
Jack's hand shot out, grabbing hold of her arm. Lor turned around to look at him. He said nothing to her but his eyes betrayed his question. She knew he wanted to ask her about her dream, about her ship and crew, her family. She knew he was fighting with himself, battling with the promise he made to her and the curiosity that begged him to ask her about her problems. "Not now, my love," she said, breaking away from his grasp and walking towards the cabin door. "Please, just not now."
AN: Next: Chapter 3: Port Royal Revisited.