Chapter Ten

Home… and Annoying Fan Girls

A couple days later, Tortuga gleamed in the distance. Karissa and I stood on deck, and I felt a few tears roll down my cheeks as the Ocean Song, soon to be the Ocean Pearl, shone in the sun. I was her captain. Soon I would have her back.

Jack, who had just strode up, gently rubbed the tears away. I glanced up at him and smiled a little, a silent apology for all the times we had fought. He responded by stroking my hand, sending me a quick smirk, and paraded off.

Karissa rolled her eyes. "You don't mean to say you trust that worm, do you?"

"A lot more than I used to. If he'd stop with the sly comments and the smirks, we might be able to trust him with the usual important choices."

Karissa gave me a weird look. "Do you like him?"

"Not at all. Even if I did, I wouldn't have a chance with all his fan girls. Besides, you know me; no romance, no limits. It just wouldn't be freedom if I had a romance."

Karissa sighed. "I guess we kind of have to join him, because of the compass."

I got the precious compass out, and the needle swung to the Song. "Just like it always did. As soon as we get there, we need to gather the crew. I'm going to stop at the bar where Megan works to say hi. Plus, I bet some of the crew will be there. And, you know, we're clean out of dried pineapple, and I still need my sword."

"Business as usual, then," Karissa smiled.

I was home again. Almost. I couldn't wait to get back on my ship.

"You go that way, I'll go that way," I told Karissa.

As soon as she left, Jack sauntered up to me. "Going to the bar?"

"Yeah, I'm rounding my crew up. Come on." We left for the bar.

"Sade!" Megan called. "You're safe!"

"Always was." I ducked behind the counter and hugged her. "How are you?"

"I was afraid for you! Is it true that you actually faced Davy Jones?"

"Yeah, actually it is. Jack here helped." I turned around, expecting to see the pirate. "Jack?"

Jack was over in the corner, bombarded by his fan girls. For once, he looked like he'd rather be somewhere else.

Help, he mouthed to me.

I rolled my eyes and turned back to Megan. "Anyway, have you seen any of my…"

"Captain River!" I turned and saw Jeanette, Artemis, Zada, and a couple others running towards me.

"Hi, guys! Oh, God, am I glad to see you!"

"Orders, Cap'n?" asked Artemis, beaming.

"Yes," I said happily. "Get everyone and gather at the Song. I'll be there in a minute." They all ran off to carry out my orders, and I turned to Megan. "I might not come back, but I promise that if I live, I will come back," I told her. She nodded, and paled. I hugged her and turned around to face Jack. "Come on, Jack," I called.

Looking relieved, Jack stumbled through his pack and stopping by my side. "To tell you the truth, love, I'm getting quite annoyed by them."

"There's a first," I said, and grabbed a pack of dried pineapple. "Now come on, I need a sword."

I stopped at a blacksmith's and got one, then we hurried back to my ship, where all of my crew and Jack's had gathered.

Karissa, Jack, Gibbs and I stood on the steering platform and explained to everyone the situation. I sent Dolly to change the ship's name, and told everyone we would leave tomorrow. I told Karissa that she was in charge of the girls' bedroom at night, and Jack informed Gibbs that he was in charge of the boys'. Then I showed Jack to my cabin, we set him up a cot, and we shook hands in a truce.

I tried to pull my hand away, but Jack smirked. "You're holding my hand, love," he reminded me.

"Get off," I growled, jerking my hand back. "And you are to address me as Captain Sade River."

"Hey, I let you call me Jack."

"And you can call me Sade. Just not love."

"Sorry, love. But like I said, it's in my contract." He glanced at me slyly. "You don't happen to have any rum, do you, love?"

Some things will never change.

Karissa was steering as I emerged from the cabin. She gazed out at sea, the wind ruffling her brown hair.

"I'll take over," I told her.

"Thanks, Sade," she said. She stood aside as I took the wheel.

After a few minutes, she asked, "Orders, Captain?"

I let the sweet words sweep through my senses. I was captain again. My hair was blowing in the ocean breeze. I was on my ship, with my crew. We were going to defeat Davy Jones.

The golden lion was ready to prowl.

Thanks for reading! This was a lot of fun to make. I'm about halfway into the second one, so in the reviews can you tell me whether I should post it or not? Thanks!