Disclaimer: I don't own POTC. Simple as that.
Jack's Daughter-Chap3-
Mama was yelling. I thought I could hear another voice, but it was quite effectively drowned beneath the shouts. It must have been bad, whatever it was. Mama never yelled unless it was something worth yelling about, and things she found worth yelling about were nearly non-existent.
I heard plates splinter and scream as they crashed to the floor. I winced, groping for a pillow. I guessed I was lying on the low back couch from the way my feet were uncomfortable scrunched at the end. I couldn't find the pillow, I was afraid my head was going to burst.
"Miss Dannica?"
Blearily I cracked one eye open. I could make out the swimming figure of William as he knelt before me. Empty lobster crates were stacked behind him, or were they against the far wall? I couldn't remember. Why did we have lobster crates? A cough rattled through me chest and burst out, scratching my throat.
"I don't care what you say Jack! How dare you!"
More smashed plates.
William snuck a side-glance toward the kitchen that was hidden half from view by a red curtain. He glanced back at me. "Do you think you can get up Miss Dannica?"
"Don't know William," I sneezed. I felt miserable. "Where we go?"
"Into town. Gibbs said it would be quieter."
I winced at Jack's pleas. Yes, this could go on for a long time. "Hate to sound weak William, but I don't think I can stand." My head was swimming and it was becoming disorienting the way William came in and out of focus.
Concerned, he touched my forehead and frowned. "I think we should get you to a doctor." He lifted me up and made his way through the living area; quietly as possible though it was unlikely Mama would have heard anything. "Is there anyone decent?" It sounded like an afterthought.
"There's ol' Salina down in the Fisherman's Wharf," I muttered. "She might look halfway crazy but she's not. It's just to scare everyone off."
"Ye can't be thinking!"
My head shattered. Whimpering, I pressed my face against William's tunic, trying to hold back a sneeze. Sunlight seeped into my voluntary prison, and I bit back another whimper. I realized I was terribly sick.
There was silence, but I was moving, cradled in strong arms. Bless that he is a blacksmith, I thought. There was no way Gibbs could have carried me and I figured Mama had forgotten I was even alive. "I hate being carried."
"I can put you down Miss Dannica."
I hadn't realized that I had spoken. I managed a shake of my head. "Just get me to ol' Salina."
"She be crazy! A witch."
"Ye don't know 'er Gibbs. The only thing you know in this 'ere town is the pigs!" I snapped, instantly regretting it. If it was possible the headache grew worse and I shuddered. "Blanket Jack. I be cold."
"She be going delirious!"
Couldn't they be quiet already? I couldn't take it. My head spun. Feebly I grasped William's shirt, for a handhold. "Stop spinning…where's my blanket?"
"Gibbs?"
"Take her to Salina."
I heard nothing more. I don't know how long I was unconscious. William told me later it had been only a few minutes. Whatever the case, when I had aroused enough, I knew I was in Salina's home in the Fisherman's Wharf. The assault of mingling smells, and some not even pleasant, was enough to confirm my guess.
"Is this place safe?"
I was sure it was William. I realized my head wasn't hurting as much, that I wasn't as cold. I guessed it was a good sign.
"Perfectly safe Master Turner," a thin reedy voice answered. A door closed. "And how be you feeling Miss Dannica?"
I pried my eyes open and I smiled at Salina. She was a shorter woman, her form long gone over into elderly plumpness. Her face hadn't changed though, she was still missing a front tooth and her eyes still gleamed wickedly. Her iron gray hair was pulled sharply away from her face, but a few rebel strands escaped. Despite the relatively normal appearance she shed enough mystique to keep sailors far away from her.
"Eh Bonjour!" I greeted, watching her face light up. She had one been French before she had moved to Tortuga. I saw the confusion on William and Gibb's faces.
"Ne parle pas le Francais," she scolded me, bustling to the bedside. She pushed aside hanging assortments of beads, bones and herbs. It was an unorganized jumble but one that she could sort through in no time to find what she needed.
"Why not?" I demanded. I was definitely feeling better. There was a whisper of the headache in the back of my head, but it wasn't unpleasant. I tried to propel myself up into a sitting position but she flattened me with a well-aimed blow to the shoulder. It stung, but I should have known better.
"Too much stress," she clucked. "What were you thinking?" Her voice was heavily accented, remnants of France that she had never shed.
Rubbing my shoulder gingerly, I smiled. "I wasn't Salina."
"O' course not." She cackled, amused by the answer. "Master William."
In response, William jumped then stumbled back as he came face to face with a leering skull. I chuckled. "Its not human William. Leave Salina and me alone, alright? We're old friends."
I saw the dubious glare Gibbs shot the old woman, but he propelled William away. I guessed the only reason he didn't argue was because he wanted to be as far away as possible.
He shot an, "I'll be looking for crew," over his shoulder before he vanished.
"He is quite the handsome young man, Mr. Turner is."
I shrugged, and stared at the weatherworn ceiling. "Not bad," I agreed. "Not for me Salina."
"I wasn't looking for you."
I chuckled, no wonder everyone thought she was crazy. "You scared Mr. Gibbs."
"I said nothing to him."
"Of course," I turned my head, and smiled. Salina had never been one for words. "Have you heard anything?"
"I be hearing Jack's in town." She slid a sideways glance to me before turning away to hang more herbs from her ceiling.
"Aye, I know that much Salina. What he be doing here? He hasn't been around for a long time."
"He be here last month. To steal Anna Maria's boat."
"Aye I heard. Why did he come back?"
"Hear he's getting a crew to sail after the Pearl."
My heart jumped to my throat. I started struggling into a sitting position until the slanted glare caught my attention. With a dejected sigh, I slumped back. "He wasn't going to tell me."
"Course not Dannica. You're his only daughter."
"He promised me he would take me Salina. When I was thirteen. I'm well beyond that age."
"Never trust a Pirate's promise. It's as shallow as his heart."
"Jack's heart isn't shallow, it's just confused," I grumbled.
Salina chuckled. "Aye he is a good man and a Pirate."
"Still doesn't take away he tried to lie."
"It wasn't lying."
I glared at my friend's turned back. "I have to go."
"Now why? You can't even swim."
"Salina, please help me."
"For glory? For fame?"
"For nothing but the Sea," I shot back. "I want to be with Jack."
"It'll be dangerous." Salina thoughtfully stroked a hand down a bone browned from age. "Very dangerous."
"O' course," I answered. "But please Salina help me. Jack would never let me come. I'm not going to let him sail away again."
"You love him."
"He's my Father."
"Not for glory? Not for fame?"
"Never has been."
"But you're a Pirate."
"Aye, half," I agreed. I knew she was caving. I knew from the way she went to the one tiny window in the room and stared out pensively.
"What be the real reason Dannica? You're not going because of Jack. You're not going for glory or fame."
If I had been standing my jaw would have hit the floor. I had never heard something so long winded from Salina before. What was she talking about? How could she tell? I writhed under the blankets. "Salina…"
"Tell me."
"I can't stand Tortuga Salina. It's like a cage with no door. I been stuck 'ere forever. Things are worse then ever with Mama. I need to escape before I do something rash. I want to live but if this continues…!"
"Then you'll be leaving Tortuga and going somewhere else?"
"I'll be getting off the first port Jack stops at," I agreed, my voice low. I didn't like the way it sounded. I didn't like the way it made me a runaway. I looked guiltily at Salina.
"It's a part of growing up," she smiled in a motherly fashion. "I'll see what I can do."
"Thank you," I murmured. The tight clenching in my belly that I had never noticed, loosened. "Thank you."
Salina, wandered over to me, pressed her hand against my forehead. "Get some rest. Get better. I'll get ye on board."
I nodded, and turned away. I heard the door click and knew she had left. A trembling breath escaped my lips, as I clutched the blanket tightly to me. "I'm sorry Mama," I murmured. I couldn't risk saying goodbye.
I had just begun falling into the hazy oblivion of sleep when the second thought struck me. Jack would never know I was on board. Jack would never know where I got off. Jack and Mama would have no way of knowing where I was.
A sob clung to my throat, I tried swallowing it but tears leaked onto the pillow. I would truly be alone, but it was too late to turn back.
A/N: My apologies for the large amount of talking in this chapter! Hopefully the next one won't be so bad. And, I'm not sure if in those days if word 'doctor' was being used. If it's wrong, let me know please? Thanks!
