CHAPTER 8

Enrique seeing Jack with the woman was enraged, and with determination ran harder trying to catch up. When he saw that they were at a dead end against a cliff he thought he had them. This would be the time that he could finally get rid of Jack Sparrow.

The wind began whipping, getting stronger and stronger. Enrique then saw Jack Sparrow take the woman in his arms and kiss her. Right before his eyes they disappeared. The two men slid to a stop not believing their eyes.

"Damn that Jack Sparrow, what does he have up his sleeve now?" Enrique was so mad that he was throwing anything he could get a hold of. The man that was with him knowing his legendary temper was quietly trying to sneak away from the enraged captain.

(Past)

Jacks theory worked and Amanda was swept back to his time with him. As the wind was dying down Amada pulled away from Jack and looked at him. She was seeing him for the first time as not just a dream but a flesh and blood man, a man that was looking at her with passion in his eyes. Never had a man looked at her that way before. She had boyfriends throughout her life but none of them were anything like this Captain Jack Sparrow.

Amanda was 30 years old and was the type of woman that led a boring life of work and more work. The only excitement was in her mind and she dreamed about a man that would come along and sweep her off her feet. A man that was daring, handsome and passionate and here he was holding her in his arms.

All of this was going through Amanda's mind with lightening speed. Now Jack he had other thoughts on his mind. He couldn't settle for just one taste of this woman; he decided another kiss was in order. Without saying a word Jack pulled her back against him and started plundering her mouth with his. Immediately Amanda's legs turned to jelly and Jack tightened his arms around her supporting her weight against him which was fine with Amanda because to her Jack was her lifeline.

With a groan Jack pulled away from Amanda breathing heavily and glanced down the beach. He then looked back at Amanda and with a glint of amusement in his eye said, "It seems we have company coming."

At those words Amanda's heart leapt with fear until she realized that Jack didn't seem worried. Looking in the direction that Jack had looked she could she two figures approaching and every once in a while their words floated to them on the breeze.

"See I told you we would be findin' the captn' on the beach," retorted Ragetti.

"And I be tellin' ya that the captin' didn't want to be bothered while visitin' his friends," argued Pintel.

"Mr. Gibbs said that the captin' needed to be knownin' about the sightin' of Enrique's ship."

"Now see he be with a woman," Pintel points down the beach, "you be knowin' how the captin' not likin' to be bothered when he's with a woman. I don't be seein' why we haveta be the ones to be doin' the disturbin'." Pintel was ready to go back to the Pearl and tell them to get someone else in fact he was turning back when Ragetti clutched his arm pulling him back around.

"The captin' already be spottin' us so we haveta be tellin' him."

"Since when did ya get so brave?" Pintel mumbled at him.

"Since I got religion that's when, it says in the good book…"

"It ain't sayin' nothin' in that book cause you can't read."

Ragetti pulled the bible from inside his coat pocket, "Just by holdin' this here Bible has made me closer to God."

Pintel rolled his eyes, "The next thing you know you gonna become a man of the cloth; fat chance that'll be, you a man of the cloth."

The very last part of the conversation was over heard by Jack and Amanda.

"Gentlemen, if you would be so kind as to continue your argument later and tell me what was so all fired important to disobey my orders?"

"Well Captain, Mr. Gibbs…" Pintel stopped speaking and looked at Amanda with wide open eyes and then he looked at Ragetti. "I've never seen a woman wear somethin' like that before."

Amanda looked down at herself seeing nothing wrong. She was still wearing the shorts and tee-shirt that she was wearing before.

Jack looked at Amanda and her state of undress, as you will. "Mandy dear did ya happen to think about bringin' my coat with ya as we were leavin'?"

"No, what's the problem Jack?"

Jack leaned over and whispered in her ear, "Woman here don't dress like that not even the ladies of the evening."

"Oh…OH…um…" Amanda was beside herself and didn't know what to do so Jack took matters in his own hands.

"Now gentlemen this lady is under my protection and will be treated with the up most respect. She has been in some terrible circumstances and was unable to properly dress. So for now please keep you eyes to yourselves, savvy?"

Both men shook their head in agreement still staring.

Jack glared at them getting their attention and the continued, "Now tell me what Mr. Gibbs said."

Finally tearing his eyes away Pintel started up again, "Well Captain, Mr. Gibbs sent me and Ragetti here to tell ya that Enrique's ship the Demon was spotted."

"I've no doubt about that gentlemen," Jack brushed past the two men headed for the long boat pulling Amanda along with him, "where is the ship now?"

"Well, that's the funny thing captn' we were trackin' her progress and all of a sudden she was gone."

"Yup, just like that," Ragetti snapped his fingers.

"That's not surprising," Jack looked at Amanda and then back at the two men, "you didn't happen to bring any rum with you in this boat?"

During the whole conversation Jack was walking towards the long boat that Pintel and Ragetti came to shore in, dragging Amanda along. When they reached the boat Jack reached around and picked Amanda up into his arms getting to ready to set her in when she finally spoke.

"Jack what are you doing?"

"I'm helpin' you in the boat, luv."

"No, not that, I mean what are you doing? I can't go anywhere with you, we can't leave those…those people back there."

"What do you purpose that I do try to go back and walk up to them and say, 'Come on lads why don't you join us?' That just wouldn't make any sense at all."

"You must know how to get back, Jack. How did you get back to me when I was in trouble?"

"I don't know how I got back. I came to the beach and suddenly I was back."

Suddenly both Jack and Amanda noticed that they had a captive audience in Ragetti and Pintel.

"Don't you gents have somethin' better to do?" Jack glared pointedly at the two pirates.

"Oh yes, yes sir," Ragetti turned and ran smack dab into Pintel. They both fell into the sand arms and legs twisted and tangled.

"Get offin' me ya clumsy fool," huffed Pintel.

"Me eye, I lost me eye. Help me find it!"

"Find ya eye later, can't you tell the captn' wants us to leave em alone?"

"If I don't find me eye now, we'll never find it. I can't go around without me eye," argued Ragetti.

The who time the two were untangling themselves and discussing the eye problem Jack stood there with Amanda in his arms and they both were watching the interchange.

Realizing that Jack was still holding her Amanda said, "Jack put me down I'm too heavy for you to be carrying."

Jack took his attention from Ragetti and Pintel and looked down at the woman in his arms.

"You aren't heavy, luv, in fact you could stand to put a little more meat on ya bones."

"Well, thanks for the compliment but it's obvious you are full of crap, so will you put me down."

"Jack put her down frowning, "Crap? Why would you think I'm full of poop, do I smell?" He lifted his arms and smelled.

Amanda rolled her eyes, "Jack it's just an expression, it doesn't literally mean you smell or anything…oh never mind." Amanda plopped herself on one of the benches in the long boat and crossed her arms.

"Sometimes luv, you sure talk funny," stated Jack with a grunt as he got in the boat.

"Jack I still think we should stay on the beach. If I leave I may never get back."

"You can't be goin' back now, anyhow's so you are comin' to the Pearl." Jack picked up the oars and looking at Pintel and Ragetti said, "Unless you two want to stay here I would suggest you hurry up and find that eye."

Ragetti scrambled across the beach and picked something up off of the sand and hurried back to the longboat, while dusting it off on his breeches.

Holding out something that looked like a round wooden ball he stuck it where his eye used to be and blinked. With fascination Amanda looked at him. Ragetti climbed in to the boat where the others were waitng and seeing Amanda staring at him smiled showing a mouth full of rotting teeth and tilting his head to the side said, "Ma'am." Amanda gave him a little smile and turned away looking at Jack.

Jack handed Ragetti the oars, Pintel pushed them off and then climb aboard and then took one of the oars. Soon the boat was bumping against the side of the Pearl. Reaching out Ragetti steadied the long boat and Jack started climbing the ladder to the deck. Once he made it he looked over the side, "Come on luv, climb aboard."

Amanda stood up in the rocking boat and reached for the rope ladder. With big grins from Pintel and Ragetti Amanda started up the swaying ladder. As she got closer Jack reached down and helped her the rest of the way pulling her aboard and wrapping his arms around her.

"Welcome aboard the Black Pearl," Jack whispered intimately in her ear creating goose bumps down her spine. Turning his head he shouted, "Mr. Gibbs?"

Suddenly there was a voice to her right, "Aye Captain."

"Set a course for Pelegosto, we have a need to travel up river."

"Aye Captain," he then turned toward the crew, "Alright you scurvy dogs you heard the captain, prepare the ship to set sail."

The crew turned and hurried to complete their tasks while still trying to keep an eye on the half dressed mysterious woman that their captain brought aboard.

Turning with his arm around Amanda's shoulders Jack started for his cabin, "Mr. Gibbs see about finding our guest a pair of breeches small enough to fit her and bring them to my cabin."

"Aye Captain."

Jack led Amanda across the deck and opened the door to his quarters. Being the captain his cabin opened right onto the main deck. Amanda was too preoccupied to notice much. 'How was so going to get back to the 21st century; what if she couldn't get back to the 21st century; how was she to survive in the 18th century; what would people think with her just disappearing the way she did, would they think she was murdered?'

Once they entered the cabin she turned towards Jack, "Jack we have to talk."

"Alright, luv, what do you want to talk about?" he sat on the corner of his work table.

"Aren't you even concerned about this time travel business? You sure are taking this in stride as if you were used to this sort of thing?"

"I've seen many strange things in my life and have learned not to question them, just accept things the way they are."

"That's all fine and well with you because this is your time. But I'm not from this time and….Jack how am I to get back? Will I ever get back?" Tears started silently rolling down Amanda's cheek.

Jack was expecting this, what with everything that had happened in a short time that had happened to them he would have been surprised if she didn't break down.

"Don't cry Mandy, you know I hate it when you cry."

Turning her face away she said, "I don't know what you are talking about, I'm not crying!"

Reaching around and taking her chin in his hand he turned her face back towards him. With out saying a word he reached up and wiped her tears away with his thumb and then pulled her into his arms.

"I promise you we will figure this out. I am taking you to see an old friend of mine. If anybody were to have answers it will be her, here this will make you feel better." Jack reached around and pulled out a bottle of rum and handed it to her. Looking at the bottle and then looking at Jack she raised the bottle to her lips and took a sip.

The fiery liquid burned a path all the way down her throat making her gasp and cough; she wasn't able to get any air through her wind pipe. Jack thumped her on the back a few times and when it looked like she was about to spill his precious rum took the bottle from her and took a hefty swallow himself.

"That stuff was vile, how can you stand to drink it?" Amanda gasped.

"That's nectar from the God's love."

"That wasn't nectar it tasted like piss."

"Now don't be puttin' down the rum. If you don't like it, then that just leaves more for me."

Before she could come back with another retort there was a knock at the door. "Enter," Jack grumbled.

The door opened and Mr. Gibbs was standing there with clothes piled in his hands.

"Good lay them down over there I'm sure the lady will want to see what you were able to collect." As Gibbs walked out the door Jack followed but turned back to Amanda, "Once you have changed come out on deck and I'll show you around." As the two men were headed out the door Amanda could hear Gibbs saying, "Captn' you know how women are bad luck on a ship," and then the door shut.