AN: Hey :) here's the next update! I'm really enjoying typing this story! Hope you guys like it too! Don't forget to review please, they keep me going!
Chapter Four
Sherlock stood in his cabin, rummaging through one of the many piles of treasure that he has amassed trying to find some ink and a quill. He finds bound leather books, necklaces, rings brooches and finally a leather casing that contains a beautiful quill, fashioned of a peacock's feather and tipped in gold it was the perfect 'welcome aboard' gift for John who would want to write. Sherlock took a new bottle of black ink from his stationery putting it next to the leather case that contained the quill. John would sit at the main table today, just for today with him and the rest.
Satisfied with his look, he checks himself one last time in the full-length mirror, takes the ink and leather casing and heads down into the galley where the tables have been set up for dinner. Of course the wine caskets won't be out tonight because they will be docking in Tortuga, the pirate haven for the night where they will drink to their hearts content.
Sherlock scans the room looking for a particular person, the light blonde haired head of a certain John Watson. He spots him soon enough, with Molly and Mrs. Hudson, smiling, he strides up to them, kissing Mrs. Hudson on the cheek, "Good evening milady," he teases her. She is a rather senior woman in her early fifties, a kind and caring person, to Sherlock she is like his mother, the mother he never had.
"Oh Sherlock," she says, smiling as she bats him on the arm playfully.
"I see you met Mrs. Hudson, John?" Sherlock says looking to the other man, "She's the best cook any pirate ship could have."
"Now Sherlock, flattery isn't going to make me keep special portions for you," Mrs. Hudson chides as she goes back into the kitchen to bring out more food, Molly going along with her.
"She's very nice for a pirate ship's cook…" John says as he walks beside the captain, following him to what he guesses is the main table.
Sherlock indicates the seat on the bench to his left as he takes his place at the head, "She's not much of a pirate really. More like a mother to all of us."
"And the rest of them?" John asks, noticing that there is still not many people at their table yet.
"Each one of them, has their own story to tell I guess. You can ask them yourselves," Sherlock says, then pauses, "Before I forget, this is for you," he says taking the leather case and the bottle of ink out from his coat pockets and handing it to John.
"For me?" John asks rather surprised by the gesture.
"Don't get all happy now. You said to pay you in pen and ink so here it is, your first payment to ensure that you do a good job as the ship's doctor," Sherlock said, a smirk on his lips when he saw the other's happiness fade into an annoyed expression.
"I didn't mean it literally…I'll need money as well won't I?" John asks, thanking Molly who sets his plate, laden with delicious food down before him, his stomach growls loud enough for Sherlock to hear and he sees the captain look away trying to stifle a laugh. "I'm hungry dammit, it's only human," John retorts, a little embarrassed as he begins to dig into the food.
"I know you probably didn't eat a good meal since goodness knows when, being a stowaway and all."
John freezes, his mouth still full of food, quickly he chews and swallows, fearing his secret is out, "How did you know?" he asks trying to keep his cool.
"Hmm, the fact that you had nothing but a satchel clutched to you even as you hung on for dear life, the fact that you're still in the exact same clothes that you came in and…" Sherlock trailed off indicating John's nearly empty plate, "the fact that you're eating up all this in seconds."
John furrows a brow at the man, he's smart for a pirate, he cannot deny. When Molly comes again to clear his plate he offers to help her but she shakes her head shyly and refuses. It's about then that John realizes that they are still the only two sitting together at one table while all the rest are crowded with people. "Where's the rest of them? Aren't they supposed to be here or are you always alone?" he asked.
"You ask quite a lot of questions you know. For one yes, you could say I'm always alone. I am the captain what do you expect. The crew fears me," Sherlock said matter-of-factly, "Secondly Lestrade's always at the helm during dinner, Molly as well adopts the same routine, taking her dinner time up in the nest. Mycroft sits right over there," Sherlock said pointing to a table in the corner of the galley where John spotted Sherlock's older brother.
"Sibling rivalry?" John asks, jokingly.
"You could say. Then you saw Molly, she helps out in the kitchen like I said so yes, I spend most of the time on the ship alone."
"And you're proud of that? Being alone?" John asks.
It had never really occurred to Sherlock before, the notion of having friends, of putting all your trust solely in one person alone…of having someone to confide in, in times of need. But now that John talked about it, yes, he wanted friends, a companion. He was lonely but he wouldn't say it. "Yes. I'm just fine on my own, thank you."
John shook his head at the reply, it wasn't his business anyway, he took the leather casing now, opening it, his eyes widened at the exquisiteness of the quill, of course he had to remind himself that this belonged in the possession of a pirate and he had probably plundered it off some poor chap's ship.
"Do you like it? It's peacock feathers and gold."
"I've never seen anything like it," John said, lovingly touching the golden tip of the quill, it was truly a lovely gift, "Thank you, I'll work hard in return I promise."
It made Sherlock smile for some reason as a feeling of happiness bubbled inside his chest. This must be how it felt to give gifts to friends and see them happy, "I'm glad you like it," he says, his words sincere, "You better work hard or I'd have wasted this on you as payment."
"Clearly you need experience on how to talk to people nicely," John said as he, closed the leather case that contained the quill and stood to go, a smile on his face at the captain's gift.
"Where are you going?" Sherlock asked, anxious that his company was already leaving so soon and worried that it might have been because of his bad manners.
"Back to my room, I want to write now that you've given me this."
"Oh. We'll be docking at Tortuga sometime later for drinks just to let you know," Sherlock says watching as John nods and waving at him, leaves the table headed back for the main deck.
Sherlock is once more left alone and he feels the loneliness this time. "I don't need friends," he mutters as he takes to the main deck. He finds Lestrade and Donavan at the helm together, talking, smiling and laughing. 'Are you proud of that? Being alone?' John's words ring in his head. He stands now on the Starboard side of the ship, he looks towards the cabin where John is in, the soft glow of candlelight flickering through the open window.
'A friend…' he thought to himself, watching now as Lestrade smoothly docks the ship and the crew lowers the anchor.
AN: Hope you guys were happy with this chapter! I know i was :) Stay tuned for the next update!