Chapter Seven

"I'm tellin you Gibbs, there's nothing wrong with having a woman aboard the ship." Beatrice said.

"It's bad luck." He said determinedly, wagging a finger at her.

She scoffed and lifted herself up to sit on the ship's railing. "You're still the superstitious bastard I remember you as."

Beatrice had boarded the Interceptor the day before with the rest of the crew, much to Gibbs's dismay. But he had been happy to see her in a sense and Beatrice enjoyed the time spent getting reacquainted with Gibbs. He had been a good friend in Port Royal and she had missed him when he left, or rather the arguments they got in over his superstitions.

The crew that Gibbs had rounded up were working on the ship, Will among them, while Jack stayed at the wheel. She could see him from where she stood and he had an intent look on his face. She stared at him for a minute, still a little surprised he let her on the ship. Once they left the bar after Beatrice quit her job –something Mary was not happy about until Beatrice gave her all the tips she earned, much to Beatrice's disappointment – she expected Jack to make passes at her every chance he got, the reason she believed he let her on the ship, but he didn't.

Beatrice couldn't quite figure Jack Sparrow out and she didn't know how she felt about it. Relieved definitely, but it also made her believe that there was a little more to Jack than she first assumed. She had even been able to get around chores. Earlier that morning she was "sick" and didn't have the stomach to do anything. True her sea sickness was still there, but only when she was below deck. And being the little spitfire she was she pulled Gibbs away from his chores to talk to her.

Gibbs smiled, despite the nagging feeling of worry on the ship's behalf. There were two woman aboard the ship and both were less than sweet, doubly bad luck for the ship. "Aye, it has been quite a while since I left Port Royal. I never asked how you faired."

Beatrice shrugged. "Once you left there wasn't any more interesting sailors. Just a bunch of new recruits or cocky old guys who are too arrogant. Drinking became boring, conversations dull. I actually missed your stories, no matter how boring I thought they were at the time."

"Well those stories are going to be doing you some good where we're headed." Said Gibbs matter-of-fact. "And you'll be glad I told you of the Isla de Muerta and the pirate code."

Beatrice waved a hand. "Sure, sure. Now. But then it was so boring."

Gibbs gave her a look and she smiled sheepishly. "Not that you didn't try." She patted his shoulder. "Good effort to keep my attention."

Even as Gibbs rolled his eyes at her behavior he couldn't help but find her antics amusing. "There's not a man alive who could."

Beatrice pouted. "I wouldn't say that. There might be one or two. Depends on my mood actually."

Gibbs laughed softly. "You haven't changed Bee."

She smiled and looked at the sky. "I guess not."

Gibbs leaned against the railing beside her. "So, Bee, I'm curious. What are you doing here?"

Her eyebrows furrowed and she looked at him again. "You should know from the little you heard in the bar, I'm here for Will."

He shook his head. "No, what I mean to say is, what happened to you in Port Royal that would drive you away? Like you said in the bar, you didn't go just to find Will, but for yourself. Did things not work out with Captain Norrington?"

The smile that once stood dropped and Beatrice turned sad eyes away from Gibbs. "Actually it's Commodore now, and...things didn't work out."

Gibbs patted her shoulder. "I'm sorry, Beatrice."

She shrugged, smiling returning. "It's fine, it's been months. I've had time and ways to vent. No need to brood over the past, right?"

Ginns nodded. "Yes, because it's a woman's ill feelings that bring bad luck to the ship. The sea is in turmoil enough."

Beatrice rolled her eyes. "That is not true."

A sudden clap of thunder, followed by a streak of lightning on the horizon came to the twos' attention. They looked up simultaneous and saw the dark clouds peaking ominously on the horizon, heading for them fast. Gibbs gave her a look.

She gave him on in return. "That is not my fault."

"Gibbs."

Beatrice and Gibbs looked to the side to see Jack walking down the stairs from the top deck. Gibbs stood a little straighter while Beatrice stayed slump seated on the railing.

"Aye, captain?"

"A storms coming." Jack said. "Check the lines."

Gibbs nodded. "Aye, captain." He turned, headed for the mast to do as Jack asked, yelling at other crewmen as he passed them.

"Beatrice."

Looking away from Gibbs she raised an eyebrow at Jack. "Yes?"

"You'll want to be getting off the side before you're blown over. We won't be stopping to save you." He said with a smirk.

She glared at him, but did as he said. She could already feel the wind picking up. Crossing her arms she faced him. "Anything I can do."

A look passed over his face and she snapped. "Besides what you're thinking now."

Jack chuckled. "You're an interesting woman, love."

"I'm not your love." She grumbled, but it fell to deaf ears as Jack headed back to the top deck. She followed after him. "But really. Anything ship related?"

Jack took a comfortable stance in front of the wheel, his hands grasping it easily. "Nothing I can think of where you wouldn't be in the way." He said thoughtfully. "This storm will be a rough one. You should stay bellow deck." He turned to her and grinned. "My cabin is open for you to wait in."

She ignored his suggestion and crossed her arms over her stomach, already feeling a memory of sickness. "Below deck during a storm doesn't sound very comfortable."

"This is a pirate ship, love, comfort is not our top priority." Jack said.

"Technically it's a Navy ship, a stolen Navy ship for that matter." She said smartly.

Jack waved a hand. "Technicalities mean nothing. We are pirates and are running this ship, so logically it's a pirate ship."

She rolled her eyes, but didn't argue. She supposed she didn't have choice in the matter of where she would be during the storm. She didn't know a lot about ships. Edward and Lucas tried to teach her things, but she already forgot most of it. She wouldn't be much help, but she still hated it below deck. Being sick was...sickening. As well as tiring. Beatrice wondered if she could sleep through the storm. If she tried sleeping now maybe it could be a possibility.

"Where's your cabin?" She asked.

Jack grinned. "I knew you'd come around."

She took his hat and hit him with it then shoved it in his face. Moving around him she headed down the stairs. "Nevermind, I'll just look for the cabin with the overflow of rum bottles."

Jack's eyes widened and he pulled Cotton away from the ropes and situated him in front of the wheel before following Beatrice. "You stay away from my rum."

Beatrice laughed, but as she headed down the stairs and towards the cabin she swayed and caught herself with the wall. She was suddenly dizzy once she was no longer in an open space and the rocking of the ship became more apparent. She groaned and slumped. After a moment she turned to head back up, but jumped when she saw Jack in her way.

Jack looked amused. "I see you don't have your sea legs yet."

"Shut up." She muttered, but there was no real force behind her words.

Jack took a step towards her and before Beatrice realized what he was doing she was lifted in the air and held in Jack's arms. Beatrice covered her mouth as a wave of nausea passed over her from the sudden movement. She didn't have much chance to fight him, but a part of her was telling her to just throw up on him.

She never got a chance to think about that as she was brought in to what she assumed was his cabin and dropped her on the bed. Jack stood over her for a moment before moving to his desk on the other side of the room, closing the door as he passed it. He opened and closed a few drawers of the desk, mumbling under his breath.

Beatrice watched him for a moment, but once she decided he didn't bring her into his cabin to forcefully have his way with her she found it safe enough to lay back on the bed. It helped a little. Her head feel less heavy, but she still felt dizzy. Throwing an arm over her eyes and only listened to Jack as he continued to rummage through his things.

"You know, the head ache, dizziness, and nausea may be helped if you stop making so much noise!" She snapped.

Jack ignored her and continued to move about the room. If anything he was making a little more noise.

"Aha!" Jack said triumphantly.

Beatrice moved her arms to see what he found. "Rum? Really? You think the time calls for rum?"

Jack gave her a smooth look as he uncorked the bottle. "My dear, there is never a time where rum is not called for, and I think it would interest you to know that this rum will help your dilemma."

"Getting drunk off rum helps sea sickness?" She asked, clueless.

"Not just any rum, but ginger rum." Jack grinned and sauntered over to the bed, taking a seat beside Beatrice. "And ginger helps reduce sea sickness."

Beatrice sat up, eyes alight. "Really?"

Jack nodded and held out the bottle. "On my word as a pirate."

"I don't think that's a very good word, but alright." She took the bottle. "And who am I to refuse the captain's generous hospitality?"

Jack smirked. "Quite right."

Beatrice lifted the bottle slightly. "Cheers then." She took a long swig, swallowing one gulp after another. Trickles of rum ran down the side of her mouth and down her chin, but she barely noticed.

"Woah there, love." Jack brandished, pulling the bottle away. "No need to rush. Should leave some to share with the generous captain."

She smiled sweetly and took the bottle back. "Ah, yes, but the captain has a ship to run while I am fighting off sea sickness to get through a storm. As you said, there's nothing I can do on deck anyway."

Jack grabbed the bottle's neck. "Quite right, but then again you haven't done anything to repay said captain after he kindly took you onto his ship and offered you his rum. You, Ms. Brown, still have to pay passage for this voyage."

Beatrice glared and pulled the bottle, but Jack's hand followed. She pulled harder, but he held tight. It soon became a full out tug of war over the bottle. Jack was teetering over the bed for a moment so he pushed Beatrice over more, raising himself slightly over her on the bed.

"I'm sure you have plenty of rum! You just came from Tortuga." She snapped while she tried to kick him. He grabbed her calf with one hand, keeping hold on the bottle with the other, while his legs keep her other leg secure. The both kept the bottle upright even as they wrestled for it.

"Yes, but it's my rum, so there's no point for you to drink it all."

"You offered." She grunted, sitting up to get closer to the bottle. She tried to tip it, but Jack held strong.

"But did not give." He retorted.

Beatrice tried to turn them, but Jack proved to have more upper body strength to stay above her. So Beatrice dropped all support and fell back onto the bed. Jack, surprised, fell on stop of her, bending slightly as he still held onto her leg. His grip on the bottle slipped and Beatrice tipped it to her mouth, gulping down the rum. It was almost gone when Jack gained his wits.

"Oh, no you don't." Jack grabbed the bottle from her, it was empty, and tossed it aside. In a quick motion he turned them over, chest to chest, so she was on top and crashed his mouth to hers. Beatrice was in the process of swallowing the rest of the rum when this happened and she gasped, opening her mouth on his and he slyly, via gravity, got the last of the rum and swallowed it.

He pulled back with a satisfied grin. "Got the last of it."

She stared at him, shocked. "You...You." She sat up and placed her hands on either side of his head. "You cheated!"

Jack raised an eyebrow. "There were no rules set."

"Oh I can't believe you. You're such a pirate."

Jack leaned up, his face closer to Beatrice's. "How's your sickness?"

Beatrice blinked and realized that she was actually feeling better. Her stomach was still doing flips and she still felt tired, but her dizziness was all but gone. "Better. It actually worked." She smiled at him and leaned even closer. "I suppose this calls for something." She said, her eyes half-lidded.

Jack placed his hands on her hips and sat up against the headboard, pulling her closer. "Yes, a thank you of sorts?"

Beatrice nodded slowly. "Of course, captain." She purred in his ear. Jack's eyes glinted and he grinned. He liked the way she said his title. He wanted her to keep saying it like that and agreeing with him. She was much more appealing when she wasn't arguing.

Beatrice smiled mischievously and leaned closer to his ear, pushing his hair back to whisper into his ear. "Thank you, because now it'll make being in bed much more comfortable." She breathed.

He shivered and stared into her eyes as she puled back. Beatrice stared into his eyes for a moment before leaning down again and giving Jack a quick kiss on the cheek. "And I can get some sleep." The next second she rolled off Jack and rolled herself in his blankets, shielding herself from him.

Jack blinked. "What?"

Beatrice slipped a hand out of the blankets and waved towards the door. "Shouldn't you hurry Jack? A storm is coming and your crew needs their captain. Wouldn't want to get too far behind whoever we're chasing."

Jack stared at her figure under the blankets. He blinked once, twice, three times in a quick fashion. Beatrice still felt his weight on the bed and peeked out from under the blankets. "You still here?"

Jack narrowed his eyes, but a smile formed on his lips. He stood and gave Beatrice a look. "You cheated."

She sat up and smirked. "You never set the rules, Jack."

"Well then, I'll make sure they're clearer the next time." Jack said.

Beatrice said nothing, but her smirk did not leave her face. She raised an eyebrow at him and tilted her head. Jack stared back, but then shook his his head and opened the door. Beatrice watched him leave and close the door behind him. Her smile dropped immediately once he was gone and she touched her mouth with his fingertips.

"Damn."

Shaking her head she leaned over the blow out the candle on the bedside table. Once the room was darker she laid back down and hugged the blankets to her chest. She didn't need to worry much about what happened. It wasn't like it affected her in any way.

Beatrice took a deep breath and closed her eyes, ready to sleep.

The pillow smelled like Jack.


The storm crashed upon them with a sudden ferocity and lasted for a long time. Beatrice assumed she slept through half of it because the sun had been high in the sky when the clouds formed on the horizon, and now it was pitch black. The lit candles, securely being kept in by their glass cases so not to go out from the rain or wind, only gave the crew a dim light as they scrambled around the ship, grabbing lines, securing the sails, and making sure they themselves didn't fall overboard.

Beatrice wrapped her arms around the railing of the stairs and squinted. She tried to see past the rain and darkness to find Will. "Will!" She called.

"Beatrice?" Will called in return.

Her head swiveled to the left and she vaguely saw him pulling a rope. She looked up and saw it was attached to the sail, flinging around from the wind. It came untied from the railing tie. Will was trying to pull it straight to tie it back to the railing.

Beatrice let got of the stair rail and walked against the wind towards Will. She grabbed the rope and held it for him while he tied. She sighed, pushing wet hair from her face and grinning at Will through the covering rain. A sudden wave came over the edge of the ship and hit Will and Beatrice with force. They fell over, sliding to the other side of the ship, hitting Gibbs and knocking him over in the process while he was pulling on a rope of his own.

Beatrice gasped when she hit the other side and winced. Gibbs was laying face down. Will was the first to get up. He checked on Beatrice and Gibbs for a moment before grabbing onto the rope Gibbs let go of as he fell. Will tied the rope on the railing tie and helped Gibb's up, his gaze going to Jack as he steered, looking quite calm in the middle of a storm. "How can we sail to an island that nobody can find with a compass that doesn't work?" He yelled over the wind and the thunder.

"Aye, the compass doesn't point north but we're not trying to find north, are we?" Gibbs yelled back.

Beatrice stood and held onto the railing tightly as she walked towards the stairs to the upper deck. She stumbled, but made it to the top, falling over to sit against the railing to feel a bit more secure. "Jack! This is madness!"

"Why did you leave the cabin?" He asked, not looking at all interested in her as he stared at her compass and the raging sea before him.

"Oh, you know, the fresh air and what not!" She said sarcastically, watching Gibbs follow in her path up the stairs and address Jack.

"We should drop canvas, sir." Gibbs's hair was plastered on his face and he squinted as rain got into his eyes. Jack on the other hand was able to keep his hat on his head and his eyes were wide with anticipation. He looked like a madman. Suddenly nothing seemed as important as the look in Jack's eyes. Beatrice shivered and it wasn't from the freezing cold rain beating down on her.

Jack turned the ship's wheel with a fierce pull. "She can hold a bit longer."

Gibbs blinked and squinted. "What's in your head that's put you in such a fine mood, Captain?"

Jack grinned, an animalistic look in his eyes. "We're catching up."

Beatrice stared up at him with wide eyes. She never expected such a serious expression to even be on Jack Sparrow's face. It made her stomach flip. She stood on shaky legs and turned away from him. She wanted to get as far away from Jack than she ever wanted to before.

Maybe he wasn't a big a fool as she first thought.

"There's something about Jack Sparrow that doesn't sit right with me." She muttered to herself. Another wave hit her and she fell over. Angrily she glared up in his direction. "Like how he doesn't know how to steer a bloody ship in a storm!"

Her yell was lost in the wind and thunder, but she continued to star up at him, and for a moment she could have swore he looked back and their eyes locked. Her vision was blurry so she couldn't be sure, but even so Beatrice was the one to look away first.

Yes, there was something about Jack Sparrow she couldn't, and probably didn't want, to figure out.