An: Hopefully this chapter captures Angelica a little bit better.

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Pushing open the door quietly was always a pain when it came to the dorm rooms at Tortuga. The hinges on the doors were always rusty, while the wooden slabs fashioned with knots and knobs hung heavy against their deteriorating supports. Care for these rooms was never really taken, except for a quick clean up when their patron set sail once more, which was why Jack cursed internally when he peeked into the room he had called his for the first few days of his trip.

Resting with only the corner of the sheet over her hip, Angelica slept soundly with her whole body stretched out against the comfort the worn mattress provided. The wavy locks of her hair cascaded down her back, and he watched her slightly shiver against the cool breeze of the harbor coming in through the open windows. Stepping softly, he swore that intruding further into the room would awaken her, but once he stepped on a very loud, loose board, and she showed no signs of waking up, he assumed himself to be clear. A sudden surge of intimacy hit him uncomfortably as he turned to look at her barely clothed body, pliant and exhausted from physical and emotional stress. Her eyes moved behind her eyelids, and she shivered once more as a hard breeze struck her bare skin. He bent down to pick up the blanket that she had kicked to the floor; gently shaking the afghan out before he allowed it to cover her from the harbor gales. A soft smile turned up the corner of her lips, and the sudden urge to brush her hair from her face almost overtook him, before he pulled his hand back and turned to leave the room.

He had a meeting to get to anyway, and she deserved to sleep.

~*~*A+J*~*~

"Jack Sparrow!" a thin man with a gravelly voice called loudly as soon as the captain stepped into his offices. "Long time no see, dear friend. When did you get into port?"

"A week at most Benjamin," Jack answered, meeting his long lost friend in a strong hand shake. "I meant to come see you earlier, but considering the traditional festivities-"

"I understand, Jack," Benjamin laughed. He sighed and absently scratched at his cheek; depositing some of the oil under his nails onto his tanned skin. "So, what brings ye here? It's not often that you sail into Tortuga. Yer usually off on some adventure, or in prison."

"Yes, well I have managed to do both of those in the past couple of weeks, so I thought it only right to take some time off for awhile," Jack muttered, smiling with his friend who chuckled along with his story. "Though, I'm not here for a cordial visit."

"Ah, business then?"

"Business indeed."

"What do ye need, Jack? You know I would do anything for a friend."

Leaning forward on his elbows, Jack looked around at the other workers melting down and pounding at metal with heavy hammers. He cleared his throat quietly, and motioned for his friend to come near; their conversation lowering so that no one except for themselves could hear their words. "I've heard tales...myths...of ships that sail like galleons, but are fashioned from metal. They are made of iron, and are fierce weapons in battle...have you heard of such myths?"

"Aye," Benjamin nodded, stroking at the stubble against his cheeks. "I have. Others believe it not to be true, but I've taken a particular interest in the subject myself. I've been studying the architecture of almost every ship inside and out, and I have found that most of them can support much more weight than they already do. A large vessel like your own can be outfitted and plated in iron, as well as hold a heavy artillery and still sail with the best of them. It's a wonder brighter men than myself haven't figured that out yet."

"Intelligence is only a small factor of success, Benjamin," the captain assured. "Passion is your main sail."

"Aye. So, I'm assuming that yer here because you want me to try to build an ironclad with yer ship?"

"Not mine," Jack corrected. "A friend of mine."

"Is he a close friend?"

"Yes, she is."

A bright smile flowered on Benjamin's lips; soft, suggestive chuckles bubbling from deep within his lungs. "You dog," he mumbled, before leaning closer still. "Doing chores for the woman you fancy, eh Jack? I never pictured you a man as such."

"Because I am not," he spat quickly, the smile fading from his friend's face. "She is just a friend of mine. She needs help, so I'm giving her help. Her ship has been taken away from her, and she must go into battle to win it back. Her problem is that her ship is strong...much stronger than any other vessel that might come to your mind."

"And, I assume she has a vessel now?"

"Yes, it isn't hers, and it isn't meant for fighting."

"Cargo?"

"Yes," Jack nodded, sitting back and slinging his arm behind his chair. "If she goes into battle with a few measly cannons, and no protection, I might as well kill her tonight and save her the trouble."

"I understand yer request, and I'll be happy to help, but I would like to meet with her and look over her ship before I start working on it," Benjamin offered. "Price wise, the cost won't be too terrible. I have large piles of iron in the back I've no use for."

"Money is no trouble for me," the captain assured, standing as if to conclude their meaning. "I can pay whatever price you give me. It shouldn't be too terrible though. Her vessel is rather small."

"What small vessel emerges from a fight victorious?" Benjamin laughed, shaking his head and moving to one side of the room which housed large rolls of parchment he used for his sketches. "Don't worry, my friend. She will be ready for fighting in a fortnights time. I will speak with my brother as well. He crafts our weapons. I'll make sure she sails with enough fire power to sink whatever ship crosses her path."

"I will have my first mate sail her ship to your docks," Jack stated, making his way to the door in hopes of quickly emerging from the humid, hot interior of the building. "When her captain awakens, I will bring her as well."

"Aye," Ben nodded, following his friend outside and onto the small pier that led to his shop. "By then, I should have a basic outline of what my brother and I plan to do. As well as a price."

"Splendid," he smiled, waving his hand through the air in a gesture of thanks. "I appreciate you meeting with me Benjamin."

"It's nothing for an old friend," the smith assured, shaking hands with Jack once more. "I'll expect you here an hour after closing time. Right before the sun sets. It'll give us all privacy to discuss our plans without foreign ears listening to our words."

"Aye," Jack nodded, turning to look over his shoulder. Precious ships loomed a mile away, and even this far from the pub and Tortuga's harbor, he could still see the masts of the Pearl stretching higher than any other around it. Her flags whipped with the wind, and a precious memory passed his mind as he remembered witnessing his majestic ship sailing on a never ending sea within a glass bottle. The loss that he felt when he learned the Pearl was somewhere unknown was crippling, and he wished for nothing more than to find Barbosa and convince him to take another ship so he could steer Angelica away from this massive naval war.

"Jack," Benjamin called, gaining his friend's attention after the fifth time speaking his name. "Does something else trouble you my friend?"

"Have you heard of a man named Barbosa sailing through Tortuga?"

"I believe so. I heard he left his ship out in the ocean, and sailed with his crew on long boats to stock up on food and drink before departing that same hour. I heard no tale of where he was going though. Why?"

"No reason. Thank you, Benjamin. I'll return before sunset."

"Make sure you bring this lady friend of yours," Benjamin teased once more, hoping he wasn't treading too much on a touchy area. "So I can sign this deal and make it official, of course."

"To make it official...of course."

~*~*A+J*~*~

Late in the afternoon, her chocolate colored eyes opened against the cool glow of the departing sun streaming in through the bedroom window. A soft throbbing made its presence known against her temples, and she groaned as she tried to move her incredibly stiff muscles. Her throat was sore and dry from her prolonged exposure to the rain, and as she sat up feebly in bed, she noticed that the blanket she had thrown to the ground during one of her heat flashes within the night, had somehow made its way onto her bed once more. She brought the fabric to her chest, and ran her fingers through her hair as she tried to grasp some sense of time. The air outside was cool after the storm, and a gentle gust of wind sent a violent shiver down her spine before gentle knocking was heard against her door.

Without her having to say a word, the loud door opened and revealed a one Jack Sparrow peeking inside. Seeing her sitting up and staring back at him with an amused grin on her face, he straightened, and strolled in proudly. "Good, you're up."

"How long have I been sleeping?" she asked, her voice nothing more than a husky purr as she rested back against the plethora of pillows on the bed.

"Since you feel asleep," he pointed out, smiling when her eyebrow crept towards her hair line and she simply glared at him from her curled position; hissing in annoyance.

"I mean what time is it, idiota insoportable," she growled, sitting up and throwing the blankets away from her even though her clothing was few and far between.

"I see you're in a better mood today," Jack mumbled, his eyes darting down to trace the lines of her mile-long legs to her thin waist and predominant chest. Vague memories of years ago pulled to the forefront of his mind; his knuckle rising to his lips to stop the usual weakened groan that followed those memories.

"Stop staring," Angelica ordered, her hands working quickly to pull on the extra pair of clothes she had brought in the night before.

"You were covered when I walked in here-"

"And now I'm not," she said, buttoning her pants and grabbing her shirt before she walked over to the captain and pulled his bandana over his eyes. "Don't peek."

"It's nothing I haven't seen before."

"And it's nothing you're going to see anytime soon, so keep the bandana over your eyes," she said, turning him to assure her privacy before she tore away the small camisole-like garment covering her chest, and pulled her shirt over her head. With ease the rest of her clothes came on as well as her make up; her fingers running through her hair to bring the waves of soft brown locks to fall over the smooth skin of her shoulders. Turning to the side and smiling as she looked over her reflection in the small mirror in the room, she assured herself she looked amazing, and began walking for the door.

"Can I look now?" Jack asked, her body dodging his, but her perfume still lingering where she once was.

"Can you walk without looking?"

"Not very well."

"Then I suppose you have your answer," she said, already making her way down the stairs and out of the boarding house. He followed after her, slowly making his way into the harbor air where she was waiting for him, looking over to her ship further down the pier. "Did you talk to the man who you said was going to help ready my ship?"

"Not even a 'hello, good morning Jack. It's lovely to see you'? I liked you better last night. You seemed a lot more...human."

"Sorry to disappoint you," she said, her tone obviously betraying the exact opposite of her statement. She paced forward, and once more the captain followed her, his own annoyance growing as she made her way to her cargo ship and boarded. "Tell me, Jack. What have you arranged for her?"

"Why are you in such a hurry," Jack whined. "I can't function properly this early in the day."

"It's two hours before sunset," Angelica stated, turning to observe the sun's placement in the sky. "How is this 'early' for you?"

"Well, usually I get really drunk, and then don't wake up until about this time."

An irritated huff shot from her nose, and her hands rose to settle on her perfect hips as she regarded him with a silent stare that seemed to dig into the marrow of his bones. In the last month, he had grown very familiar with that look, and he silently thanked whomever could hear his thoughts that she was being as patient as she was. "I talked with a friend of mine. He has plans for your ship, and I'm supposed to bring you, and your ship to his port so he can judge his plans."

"Why must we wait?"

"I ask again, what is the rush?"

"I know the one-legged man was here," she growled, her voice thick and fiery; full of rage and distaste. "When did he depart for the seas?"

"Four days ago-"

"Do you know where he is going?"

"Oh," Jack said, nodding in understanding. "I'm working on that."

"Ay dios mio, obviamente usted está sentado aquí a discutir con mi! ¿Cómo voy a encontrar al hombre con una sola pierna si todo lo que hago es darme el infierno?" she ranted, her words flowing together with the perfect Spanish accent on her tongue. Though he was dumbfounded, and unsure what she was saying, he couldn't help but muse about of how sexy she was when she spoke her native language.

"You know, I liked it better when you were nice to me."

"You already told me that," she smiled, walking down to the pier and untying the lines she had fashioned to the docks the night before. "I hope you know where we are going, because you're going to have to direct me while I steer."

Jack sighed, knowing full and well his battle had been lost. He took initiative into his own hands, lowering the masts and allowing them to catch enough air to back the cargo ship away from the docks slowly. Her Latin smile spread across her face beautifully, before she moved her way up to the wheel and turned the Most Holy Trinity en route for the north. "It's a large dock ahead about half a league. No trees, lots of noise, you can't miss it."

"Now was that difficult, Jack? Maybe I'll actually start being nicer to you if you continue to help me without much hassle."

"Now Angelica," Jack laughed ruefully, tying down the masts before making his way to her side. "You are many things, but you are not a liar. We both know that isn't going to happen."