Yeah, I couldn't really think of a name befitting this chapter…. Sorry about that. Lol. Anyways, here ya go!

Chapter Ten

James walked back towards his room, not even glancing over his shoulder to make sure Lorraine was following him. He didn't need to. He could hear her breathing, feel the heat of her body. When they reached the door of his room, he opened it and stepped inside, leaving the door ajar for Lorraine to follow him in. Slowly, he turned to face her.

He was surprised to see that he had frightened her. Her face was paler than usual, and she seemed to be trembling. She had a look of anxiety on her face as she looked from him to the floor and back again. He crossed his arms at his chest and studied her, waiting for her gaze to settle.

Finally her beautiful eyes, now more violet than blue, met his. They stared at each other for what seemed like an eternity, and James wondered if he really could be angry with her. He didn't know what to say. He had brought her back to his room planning on yelling at her, on letting her know just how furious he was, but now that he had her in there, alone in his room with him, all the words went right out of his head.

After a moment, he managed, "This is dangerous, Lorraine…." He trailed off, and when she did not reply, he continued, "Why? Just tell me that: why?"

"I don't know, James," she replied softly.

He sighed wearily. "I don't buy it, Lorraine."

"I'm sorry." And she said nothing else.

He studied her. Her lovely heart shaped face was anxious, and James thought he saw shimmering tears in her eyes. She wrung her small hands and chewed her bottom lip nervously.

As he stood there watching her, the feelings that had been somewhat suppressed in the days of their separation… well, their supposed separation… came flooding back in his mind and his heart. Despite how much he wanted to scream at her, to make her regret her foolish decision, he couldn't. Instead he wanted to do just the opposite. He wanted to take her into his arms and place soft kisses on her brows and lips and tell her that it was all okay.

But he couldn't do that either.

"You shouldn't have done this," he said, despite the fact that she already knew his sentiments where that was concerned, "You've put yourself in unnecessary danger. In Port Royal, you would have been safe." And I wouldn't have the distraction of you being so close to me, he finished silently to himself.

"I know," she replied, looking up at him again, "But you wouldn't have been." She froze as if she had not meant to say that and quickly looked away again. Her cheeks were stained crimson.

James was certainly no less startled. Her voice echoed through his mind. So she had been worried for him then? The realization filled him with triumph and elation, but along with those feelings came wariness. Was this really a sign that her feelings for him matched his for her? Or could it be a design like Elizabeth's? A design to get something that she wanted? He looked at her and thought. He couldn't bring himself to believe that she was really like that, but still he didn't dare risk too much of his heart.

Silence filled the room like a third presence, separating them. James sought for something to say. "I will not be able to concentrate at all on defeating Sparrow if I'm worried about you being carried off by one of his crew members," he told her.

"It is not my intention to distract you, James," she told him a little pleadingly, "I didn't even think of that. I just… wanted to come along."

Despite himself James laughed. Leave it to Lorraine to just wake up and decide to tag along on an excursion to capture an infamous pirate.

Lorraine studied the floor again before finally looking back up at him. "Are you very angry at me?" she asked. Her voice was hopeful, as were her beautiful eyes.

James sighed. "As much as I know I should be, no not really," he told her with a shrug. He tried his best to give her a stern look. "But I'm not happy either."

She smiled radiantly, and before he knew what was happening, she was pressing herself against him with her arms tight around his neck. Feeling the warmth of her body pressed to his, the softness of her, he could hardly catch his breath. He realized that he had his arms wrapped around her waist, and his hand was itching to caress the beautiful round bottom that was in perfect view because of the tight material of her pants. With very conscious effort, he restrained himself.

She cleared her throat and pulled away. She smiled up at him shyly, a faint blush once again staining her cheeks. "Thank you," she murmured softly, "I'm so glad you're not angry with me."

James could hardly find his voice, so shaken that he was from their close contact a moment before. In the brief moment that she was in his arms, it was as if everything else was gone. His mind was blank of everything but Lorraine and her soft body pressed to his. There was no Jack, no Elizabeth, no fear, no worries. But, alas, it had to end. And with that moment's end, reality came back to him.

Rather than replying to her thanks, he changed the topic. "Well, you can certainly no longer sleep with the crew," he said, "You will sleep here."

James looked up when he heard a gasp come from her lips. Her cheeks were a brighter red than he had ever seen them. "J- James," she stuttered, "W… what…? You… I…. I mean…."

It took him only a moment to realize what had put her in such a state, and then his cheeks were almost as red as hers. "I…. No… no, certainly not… erm…. I meant you would sleep here… alone. I will sleep with the crew."

"Oh." Lorraine chuckled nervously. It sounded forced. "I'm sorry…. I… um… misunderstood."

James simply nodded. He didn't want to test his voice, for he knew it would sound strained. The thought of sharing a room, and more importantly a bed, with Lorraine was getting to him. He found himself, not for the first time, picturing what she would look like, bereft of her clothing, laying before him, droplets of sweat earned in passion on her body, her long auburn locks disheveled by his hands. He barely bit back a groan.

He knew he needed to be away from her for a few moments, or at least not alone with her. He wasn't sure how much more of that sweet torture he could stand.

"I'll move my things shortly," he said, walking towards the door, "And we'll accommodate you."

"You really do not have to give up your comfortable room, James," she protested now that her composure seemed to be back, "I can manage."

James snorted. "With the crew?" He shook his head. "They are good men, but I still wouldn't trust you alone at night and unprotected with the lot of them."

She gave him her special smile. "Thank you for being so concerned for me."

He forced a smile, even though he wasn't feeling exactly humorous.

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Jack looked at the man across the table from him. The only sound breaking the silence was the waves lapping up against the side of the ship, the King's Gold, Jack thought it was called. It was a fine ship. Not as fine as his Pearl, of course, but still a fine ship. The Black Pearl was anchored just beside the King's Gold, and his crew waited there with his crew.

"I believe we have some things to negotiate, Mr. Sparrow," said the man across the table from him.

Jack winced in annoyance. "Captain, mate," he said, "Captain Sparrow. Savvy?"

"Of course," the man said with a slight arrogant smirk, "Captain Sparrow. As for the negotiations…."

Jack cut the man off. "If I may, sir, I believe that I should be the one to begin these negotiations," he said, lifting his index finger matter-of-factly, "I am, after all, the very gracious pirate who allowed these negotiations rather than simply sending this lovely ship you have here to the depths without another thought. So what can you do for me that will make me not regret my gracious decision? Hmm?"

The other man let out a weary sigh and smoothed one of his chubby hands back over the greasy locks of what was left of his thinning blonde hair. He shook his head. "Captain Sparrow, I believe you underestimate me."

Jack rolled his eyes in a bored manner. "Is that so?"

"Indeed," the man replied, "If you hadn't noticed, my men outnumber yours greatly, and they are skilled in the arts of battle. And you have no way of knowing whether there are other ships of mine patrolling these waters, ready to come to my aid should the need arise. So I believe the statement is: what can you do for me?"

Jack grinned at the man. "You already forget one thing, mate."

"And what would that be, sir?"

Jack flourished his hands in an arrogant matter and managed a small bow as he sat in the chair. "I'm Captain Jack Sparrow."

"Ah, yes," the man replied with a patronizing smile, "There is that." There was a pause. "But I believe you will find that your luck may have run out, Mr. Sparrow."

"Captain," Jack muttered, "Captain."

The man ignored him and continued. "You see I could have simply ordered that my canons be fired and sent your ship to the depths, but I didn't. Do you know why?"

Jack's good humor was quickly diminishing. "I suppose you are going to tell me why," he commented dryly.

"It's because there is something that I want you to do for me."

"I suspected as much."

The man paused and took a sip of his wine. His fat face was ruddy and red, and Jack did not think he looked like anything so much as someone's prize swine. "There is something of value I would like returned to me."

"And you would have me retrieve this thing of value?"

The man nodded.

"Why?"

"Because," the man explained, "You are one of the best at what you do, Mr. Sparrow." Jack let the absence of his title slide with a sigh. "And this thing that I would have you bring to me is very important."

"And would you mind telling me what this 'thing' is?"

The man smiled malevolently. "My fiancée."

Jack raised his eyebrows. This was interesting. "So this 'thing' you want me to bring back is a woman?"

"That's what I said."

"And why, might I ask, has your bonny lass run off if she is, in fact, your affianced?"

A dark look came over Lord Darcy Wellington's eyes. "That is really none of your business, Mr. Sparrow, now is it?"

Jack shrugged. "I only believe that if I am to go after this lass that I should know why she is not with her… beloved… in the first place." He raised an eyebrow.

Wellington sighed. "If you must know, let's just say that Miss Hawthorne… doesn't always know what is in her best interest."

"Ah, I see." And then he asked the question that was foremost in his mind. "And what's in it for me?"

Jack's eyes widened to the size of saucers as Wellington dropped a large pouch of gold coins in front of him, some spilling out onto the surface of the table. "And then this tripled when Miss Lorraine Hawthorne is delivered to me."

Tripled?! "And where might I find this Miss Hawthorne?" he asked. Already, he was thinking about what he would do with the large sum of money.

"Port Royal."

Jack's spirits sank.

He couldn't go back there! Not after he'd just sacked the place! And he likely had the determined Commodore Norrington right in his wake. Turning back towards Port Royal so soon would surely be ruined. Blast his impatience! If only he could have waited a short while.

His eyes landed lustfully on the coins laying on the table then they traveled to the door. He gauged his chances of making it back to the Pearl unscathed…. Unlikely, but after all he was Captain Jack Sparrow. He smiled wickedly to himself.

He stood and pretended as if he was stretching. "Your offer is quite generous, Lord Wellington," he said slowly. This amount of money wasn't much compared to the sum he would have if he could go back to Port Royal for the lady, but it was more than nothing. "I think I shall… take it!" And with that he lunged for the sack of money and grabbed it. Money in hand, he ran out the door.

"Don't let him get away, men!" Wellington's outraged yells followed him. He tucked the sack inside his vest and drew his pistol. He fired haphazardly at the men who tried to bring him down as he made his way to the makeshift bridge connecting the King's Gold to the Black Pearl. He ran across it and was met by a dumbfounded Gibbs.

"Captain…er… Wha…."

Jack cut him off. "Don't just stand there, man," he shouted, "Help me with this thing!" Together they threw the piece of wood into the water before any of Wellington's men could get across it.

"Raise anchor!" Jack commanded. He knew that Wellington would not give up and would probably fire the cannons on his beloved Pearl as soon as they could be readied. "Move! Move! Move!"

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Ah, finally the appearance of the detestable Darcy Wellington. I hope I kept Jack in character well enough. For some reason, every time I try to write him, it just doesn't seem right. He's just a hard character for me to write. Anyways, more about our beloved James next chapter. Please review!