This chapter is my version of another past event mentioned in the films. Enjoy! :)


8. Ana Maria

Jack was woken in the morning by Gibbs, who told him that he'd found somebody willing to let Jack captain their ship.

'It's not the grandest of vessels,' said Gibbs. 'And there's only a crew of eleven, thirteen if you include us, but it'll do until we can find something better.'

Jack and Gibbs left the inn they'd been staying in and headed down to the dock. Gibbs led Jack up a gangplank onto an average-sized ship called the Ocean Raider. Jack wandered around, inspecting it. He peered into the cabin, checked below deck and the brig and ran his hands over the railings and the wheel.

'Yep,' he said after a while. 'It'll do. Perhaps not what I'm used to with the Pearl, but not everybody can afford a ship that magnificent.'

'Get off my ship!' yelled a woman walking up the gangplank.

'Your ship?' asked Jack. 'Darling, this is my ship now. Savvy?'

The woman opened her mouth to retaliate, but Gibbs walked up behind her and laid a gentle hand on her shoulder.

'Ana,' he said. 'This would be Jack.'

The woman walked up to Jack and looked him up and down.

'So this is Captain Jack Sparrow,' she said, before slapping him.

'Ow! What was that for? I definitely did not deserve that!'

'That,' she said, 'was for calling me 'darling'. It's Ana Maria to you.'

'Aye,' said Jack, putting on a smile.

'So why should I let you be captain of my ship?' asked Ana Maria.

'Isn't it obvious?' asked Jack and she shook her head. 'I'm Captain Jack Sparrow. Why shouldn't I be captain of your ship?'

'Because you're a rum-drinking bastard who was useless enough to get himself marooned by his first mate,' answered Ana Maria.

That was not the answer Jack had been expecting.

'But I managed to escape, didn't I?' grinned Jack. 'That's got to count fer something.'

'I want fifty percent of everything we earn,' said Ana Maria.

'Fifty? Ain't that a bit steep, love? Fifteen?'

'Forty!'

'Let's say thirty, and I'll give you some special priveleges on board the ship,' said Jack.

He put his arm around Ana Maria's shoulder.

'I know how to give a woman what she wants,' he whispered seductively into her ear. 'I can show ye if ye like. Later, in the cabin.'

Ana pushed Jack's arm off her shoulder.

'I can protect ye from the rest o' the crew,' said Jack. 'If they make advances on ye.'

'They're my crew,' said Ana. 'I don't need protecting. They know not to make advances on me. Unlike some people.'

Jack ignored her.

'So, am I hired?' he asked.

She turned to face him.

'I suppose you'll have to do.'

'Excellent!' said Jack. 'I say we set sail first thing in the morning. But how about ye pop round to me cabin tonight? We'll drink to the ship's future together and have a good time. If ye know what I mean.'

'If you're offering me dinner, then I won't refuse,' said Ana Maria.

'Sundown tonight it is then,' said Jack. 'I look forward to it Ana Maria.'

She turned away and left the ship, leaving Jack and Gibbs alone on the deck.

'I'm sorry about Ana,' said Gibbs. 'She's a tough 'un, but all I could find at such short notice. And I know it's bad luck to have a woman on board…'

'I don't think I could get much worse luck that I had on the Pearl, and we didn't have a woman on board,' said Jack, before grinning. 'But I'm sure I'll get to know Ana Maria very well indeed.'

'Oh, I wouldn't be so sure about that cap'n' laughed Gibbs.


Jack spent the day in Tortuga, making sure that the Ocean Raider was fully stocked up on food, and more importantly, rum. Gibbs introduced him to the rest of the crew, who seemed normal enough as pirates go, and Jack had a word with the ship's cook about getting him to make dinner for himself and Ana Maria that evening.

Sundown came, and there was a knock on the cabin door. Ana Maria entered.

'Ana Maria,' said Jack. 'So good to see ye again.'

'If only I could say the same Captain Sparrow,' she replied.

'Call me Jack,' he said with a smile.

He poured two glasses of rum and they went to sit down at the table in the centre of the cabin; The cook had prepared a simple meal which lay waiting for them. They ate the meal, chatting amicably about various things. Jack boasted about his escapades, some of which were true, many more of which were creations of his own imagination. He was surprised to hear that Ana Maria had many stories of her own to tell him.

By the time they had finished the meal, they were most of the way through a second bottle of rum, and Ana Maria seemed to have relaxed. Jack had tried his best to be pleasant and un-womanising throughout the evening and she seemed to be enjoying herself and his company.

She stood to leave and Jack got to his feet too, stepping so that they were only a foot apart. She looked up at him.

'Thank you for tonight Jack,' she said. 'You know, you're actually quite a nice person, now that I've got to know you a bit better.'

'I like you too Ana,' Jack murmured. 'I like you a lot.'

He leaned forwards and kissed her, gently brushing his lips against hers. As she kissed him back he moved his hands to her waist. The kiss deepened and Jack pushed Ana back against the cabin wall, her arms wrapping around his neck. He moved his lips to her throat, licking up her jawline and nipping her ear, then returning to explore her mouth with his tongue.

His hand moved to her front and he started unbuttoning her shirt. When he got to the third button, she froze and pushed him away.

'What's the matter love?' he whispered against her ear as he fumbled with the buttons.

She swatted his hand away.

'I can't do this,' she said, pushing him off her and moving away.

'Come on darling,' he begged. 'We both know it's what ye want.'

'I don't want it,' she said. 'I can't have any sort of relationship between me and you messing up the way we run this ship. I'm sorry Jack.'

She left the cabin, closing the door behind her. Jack sighed, finishing off the second bottle of rum and slamming it on the table.

'Stupid woman,' he muttered. 'All I wanted was a bit o' fun. Did I say I wanted a relationship? No I bloody well didn't! Honestly! Women!'

He muttered for himself for a few more minutes, taking off his effects, boots and vest, lying down on the bed in just his shirt and breeches. He fell asleep minutes later, still cursing Ana Maria in his head.


Jack woke very early the next morning. The sun was just starting to appear over the horizon. Gibbs and some of the crew were also awake, preparing the ship for departure.

'Mr Gibbs, what is the earliest we can leave?' asked Jack, strolling up to him.

'I'd say in 'bout half an hour,' said Gibbs, staring out to sea. 'The wind's in our favour and the weather looks fine today.'

'Good,' said Jack. 'I want to leave as soon as we can. Wake the rest of the crew up and tell them we're leaving now.'

Half an hour later, they were sailing away from Tortuga.

'Captain?' said Gibbs. 'Pardon me if it ain't me business, but where's Ana?'

'Who?' asked Jack.

'Ana,' said Gibbs. 'Woman who owns the ship?'

'Oh Ana,' said Jack, smiling. 'I took yer advice Mr Gibbs.'

'And which advice would that be?' he asked.

'When ye said it was bad luck to have a woman on board,' said Jack. 'I decided I wouldn't want any more bad luck so I left her behind.'

'Ye left Ana behind?' asked Gibbs. 'And is Ana happy with yer decision?'

Jack walked to the back of the ship, took out his telescope and looked back to the dock, smirking as he saw Ana Maria visibly yelling and waving angrily as the Ocean Raider left the bay.

'It would appear not,' he said with a laugh, handing Gibbs the telescope so he could take a look.

Gibbs chuckled and shook his head.

'Captain, yer the only pirate I've met who's managed to persuade somebody to let ye steal their ship.'

'Mr Gibbs, I'm Captain Jack Sparrow!'