Of Maids and Swords

Disclaimer: I do not own Pirates of the Caribbean or any of its characters (unfortunately) but I do own any original characters/places.

A/N: Deepest apologies for the very long… extremely long delay between this chapter and the last – and I don't even have a good excuse but I am very sorry. Anyhow I hope anyone who is still with this story enjoys this chappie, it is a little shorter than most I'm afraid but I want to know if anyone still wants me to continue this story before I plough headlong into it. So you know what that means….review!!!!! Please please review if you want me to continue. Anyhow chapter 10………………….

Chapter 10: A Plan?

"Luv…" Jack began, pausing to her his best smile, "I'm Captain Jack Sparrow." He told her, as if that cleared everything up before continuing to run.

Dani just stared at him before getting pulled along, this is not good – she thought silently.

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He felt her pull on his arm, and turned around to face her. He opened his mouth and promptly closed it again as she begged him for a plan.

"Luv…" He began, before pausing – what the hell am I going to tell her? He silently questioned himself before smiling, what I always tell people, "I'm Captain Jack Sparrow." Well that was close – he thought, turning around swiftly before she could question him further. After all he did have a plan, it just relied heavily on someone else that's all and that was something Jack never liked doing – leaving his fate in someone else's hands… and what about Dani's fate hmmm have you thought about that? The thought floated insultingly across his mind.

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"Right then luv, 'ere we are." Jack announced proudly.

"Thank God for that." Dani wheezed, holding her sides as she attempted to draw deep breaths.

"I told ye there was no need to worry." Jack chided her.

Dani looked at him like he had gone completely mad, "Jack, we are running away from the King's Navy, you dragged me half way across this island to the middle of nowhere and your telling me there is nothing to worry about!" She pointed out incredulously, although managed to keep her voice level.

Jack looked at her for moment before spreading his arms wide, "Yeah." Was all he said smiling and nodding.

Dani just rolled her eyes and concentrated on her breathing. Jack watched her silently for a few minutes, knowing he should say something.

"Ye might wanna sit down luv – we could be 'ere a while." He told her at last.

"A while Jack?" She queried, taking his advice and sitting down on the grass, leaning against a tree.

"…yeah." He answered slowly, looking down on her – tell her the thought came back to him. "Ye see luv – I left me Pearl with… the crew… on the understanding that they would come back fer me in two weeks… but…" He haltingly explained to her, wavering his arms around in an attempt to express the things that his words couldn't – fear they wouldn't come back and that he'd lost her again.

"They'll come back Jack." Dani told him rising to her feet. "No one would want to lose you as they their captain, now would they?" She said trying to lighten his mood.

"It breaks the code luv." He replied.

Dani opened her mouth to reply but closed it as she saw the look of sadness that moved across his face – today had been the 14th day he had been in Port Royal, she realised.

"Jack…" She whispered moving towards him and doing the first thing she thought of – she put her arms around him and hugged him tight.

Jack was so surprised by her action that it took him a moment before he responded, wrapping his arms around her, leaning his head on hers.

"Ye know Dani perhaps its best if ye go back to Norrington… tell him I left ye once I was out of the mansion." He told her, taking the coward's way out – it was easier not looking at her; he couldn't have done it if she was looking at him.

But Dani had other ideas, pushing herself away from him, looking him in the face, "If you don't want me to come with you all you have to do is say so." She told him, hurt radiating from every word.

"Dani – I didn't mean it like that." He told her, somewhat shocked. "Its just they might not come back and even if they do… life as a pirate… it ain't the safest life luv." He argued his point.

"You think I don't realise that Jack – I'm not a simpleton." Dani retorted, feeling so deeply hurt that he wanted to get rid of her – what was it he had really wanted from me she thought bitterly.

"I know ye not luv – I jest don't want to see ye hurt that's all." He told her softly, placing his hands on the tops of her arms.

"It'll hurt more not going with you Jack." She said looking down; she couldn't look him in the eye after what she had just thought. She felt his hand lifting up her chin till she looked in his eyes and became lost in them.

Jack looked into Dani's eyes, beautiful blue like the ocean, before leaning down and claiming her lips with his.

Dani was jolted back to reality as Jack pressed his lips to her, kissing her gently but with a passion just tamed. Jack's arms encircled her pulling her into him and deepening the kiss in the same instant. She could feel his tongue begging entrance to her mouth, unsure why she opened her mouth and let him in. She wasn't prepared for the sensation that then swept through her as Jack truly deepened their kiss.

Finally the need for air became overpowering and they broke away. Dani was left gasping for breath – damn corset she thought. Dani looked up at Jack all flushed, only to see him waiting anxiously her response to his actions. He could tell that she enjoyed it as much as he did by the way she had kissed him back but he couldn't be sure that she would be too happy about the fact that had actually kissed her in the first place – he didn't know why but woman were definitely funny about things like that.

"Dani?" He asked hesitantly, preparing to be slapped but Dani just smiled at him causing him to return the smile.

"I just found another reason to hate corsets." She told him playfully, putting her arms around him once again.

"I'd be happy to help ye outta it ye know luv." Jack grinned.

"Tempting as that may be Captain, I hardly think now is an appropriate time."

"Now is always the best time." Jack growled into her ear, causing her to giggle. Jack decided that he liked that sound, but at that opportune moment, they were interrupted.

"Captain?" A hesitant voice broke the moment. Jack immediately pushed Dani behind him and pulled out his pistol.

"Who goes there?" He demanded.

"Captain, that ye?" Gibbs asked as he stepped forward into the clearing.

"Gibbs?!" Jack grinned – they had come back for him!!

"Ye did say two weeks Jack." Gibbs pointed out.

"Aye." Jack lowered his pistol and turned around to face Dani. He took a deep breath, "…"

But Dani saved him from having to speak; she gently put her hand over his mouth and whispered: "I know its dangerous Jack but I'm coming." Her eyes were bright and intense but suddenly she lowered them, "…that is if you want me."

Jack gently removed her hand from his mouth, Dani mustered all her courage to look him in the eyes – the moment of truth she thought, silently praying he would want her.

"Aye luv I do." He told her seriously, before his trademark grin took hold and he leaned in and whispered in her ear, "and not jest on me ship." He pulled back and gave her a wink, which made her blush bright red making him chuckle.

"Well Mr Gibbs…" Jack turned to his first mate but the rest of his command was lost in all the shouts. "Oh bugger… it seems they're improving." He muttered dryly as the pride of the King's Navy came rushing through the bushes. Jack looked around hastily.

"Err Captain?"

Jack suddenly focused on Dani and a remorseful look spread across his features; "Sorry luv – change of plans." A look of concern mixed with confusion spread across her face but before she could reply, Jack took a step forward and she felt a sharp pain in the back of her head, just before everything went black.

XOXOXO

And there you have it!! What's Jack going to do??? How's the plan changed??? I hope people liked it and remember let me know!!!!! Please please please please review. If I don't get reviews I'm going to assume that no-one is reading this story anymore and I shall not update any further and consider this story consigned to the rubbish heap.

Thanks

Blueraven33