NOTE: I don't own Pirates of the Caribbean. Jennie Sparrow and Stephan Fletcher are my own creations, not Disney's.
NOTE 2: This story takes place AFTER the 3rd movie. If you haven't seen it yet, some things may be confusing...
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A week later, Jennie sat at a table, going over the list of people who had signed up for her crew. Most of them were tavern scum, inexperienced drunkards trying to earn a few extra coppers. Jennie crossed them off the list. She was left with about ten people, two of them women. That's not enough, she thought.
Gibbs joined her at the table. "How goes the crew searching?" he asked, grinning.
Jennie gave a frustrated sigh. "Not so good."
"Maybe I can help," a voice behind Jennie said. She jumped and spun. A tall man, stood there, his hand placed casually on his sword hilt, a smile on his face. "Good reflexes."
Jennie blushed a deep red and put her knife that she had drawn away quickly. "I… I'm not used to being startled by people who aren't enemies," she admitted, still blushing. He nodded understandingly.
Gibbs stood beside the man. "Jennie, this here be Stephan Fletcher."
Jennie reached out to shake Stephan's hand.
"And I'm Jennie Sparrow," she said.
"Glad to meet you," Stephan took her hand, but instead of shaking it, he kissed it. Jennie flushed, her skin prickling. No one had ever done that to her before…
Feeling flustered, she looked away as he let go of her hand. "What brings you to Tortuga, Mr. Fletcher?" she asked.
"Call me Stephan."
Jennie's heart thumped heavily. "Okay then, Stephan, what brings you to Tortuga?"
"Adventure," Stephan answered. "I have a small crew with me, we used to be a privateer crew, but our Captain left to take on new people, so we came here to find a new one."
Jennie's spirits rose. These people were experienced! That was just what she needed.
"Privateers?" she asked.
"Yes," Stephan watched her expression. "But you'd rather we were just… pirates."
Jennie swallowed. She didn't like the way Stephan had pronounced "pirates."
"Well, of course, lad," Gibbs broke in. "Jennie herself is one, although a special pirate at that," he winked. "We're off to preserve a certain brotherhood of the pirates and…"
"Gibbs!" Jennie hissed. "Keep the details for now!"
Stephan looked at Jennie. He seemed to be trying to figure something out about her. His eyes flicked from her sword, to her knife hilts, to her outfit of breeches, shirt, and vest (all fitted for freedom of movement), and then to her eyes. Jennie felt uncomfortable under his stare. She looked away, waiting for him to stop.
"Jiian," he said at last and Jennie froze. She looked at Gibbs accusingly, but he seemed as surprised as she was.
"How… how do you know about Jiian?" Jennie stammered.
"I used to train under Jirevan."
Jennie was thoroughly shocked now. "He didn't train privateers!" she snapped. "He only trained the pirate followers of Jiian!"
"And maybe I was a follower of Jiian," Stephan shot back. "And maybe I stopped training when Jirevan was killed, and maybe I decided to save my own life by giving up being a pirate!"
Jennie gasped. "You betrayed Jiian!" She stepped back.
"I did it to save my life and the life of my friends and family!" He moved toward her, but Jennie was several feet away now. She looked at him with hatred and spoke in an icy voice.
"I will not sail on the same ship with you." She turned, and fled.
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The plot thickens… (evil laugh) Please Review!
