DISCLAIMER: Disney owns everything except the fictional character Mick and Carmen.
TEASER: Jack and Mick follows Carmen to the Pearl to pursue Norrington, but can they even catch up?
WARNING: Rated PG13
GENRE: Humour/drama

The Hunt For The Compass CHAPTER X

Jack's mouth opened slightly:
"Ye know Tia Dalma??", he asked dumbfounded and almost stumbled over his own feet, trying to keep up with Carmen. The slender woman, whose glance was locked on the black sails ahead, simply answered:
"You could say we go way back, captain Sparrow" They quickly reached the docks and Carmen walked at a quick pace down one of the bridges which lead to the Pearl… Jack was falling behind again, pondering about what she had said about Tia… this was weird indeed. Mick was making some grunting sounds behind Jack – this was going a little too fast for a man his size.
"Ahoi – who be there??", someone yelled from aboard the Pearl, and a silhouette could be seen standing by the railing. Jack waved his hand in the air even though it would be impossible for anyone to see it in the darkness:
"It's me, Mr Gibbs… and a lovely lady who shall accompany us to Port Royal!", Jack yelled back. Mick cleared his throat from behind Jack:
"Oh, and the whelp who stole my compass and tried to kill me", Jack added as he ran up the planks aboard the pirate ship. Carmen and Mick followed him closely and they almost ran directly into Mr Gibbs who had seemed to disappear in the black darkness of the late night.
"Ey, watch yer step!", Gibbs burst out, but fell silent when he eyed the young lady and Mick in front of him:
"Jack, since when do you pick up whores and mutineers?", he yelled at the captain who was already standing by the wheel. A loud smack' filled the night air followed by a loud "Auch!" from Mr Gibbs. Carmen
placed her hands on her hips:
"I am no whore, Mr Gibbs, I am catching a ride", she said and pierced Gibbs with her deep green eyes.
"And I am no mutineer… or… well, not anymore", Mick added and watched as Gibbs turned his head towards Jack:
"Jack!! You know that bringing a woman aboard a shi….", he, started, but was interrupted:
"Brings bad luck and yada yada yada – indeed, Mr Gibbs – but LUCKILY she was the one who found out our destination", Jack said and then yelled:
"MAN THE SAILS! COME ON, YOU COWARDLY DOGS, DAMN SCALLYWAGS!! HOISE THE ANCHOR!"
Both Gibbs, Carmen and Mick jumped by the sudden noise – and within a few seconds the deck was one big chaos of crew men running to and fro, readying the sails and loosening knots. Soon the Pearl was on the move and a smile formed on Jack's lips as the early morning sun rays started to shimmer beyond the horizon.
"Mr Gibbs – take the wheel", Jack said and walked over to Carmen and Mick:
"Ye two… I just can't figure out", he said and rubbed his dirty face.
"Come with me to me cabin", Jack said and gestured towards the captain's quarters. Mick and Carmen just nodded and walked past Mr Gibbs, who was sending them a suspicious glance as he handled the big, wooden wheel. As they entered Carmen almost started coughing from the intense stench of rum – Mick merely looked around:
"Nice decor", he mumbled as he followed Jack to the dining table.


"Come on and sit, luv", Jack said and Mick sat himself down – Jack just stared at him:
"I meant HER, but ye're welcome too I guess"

Carmen couldn't help but giggle a little bit as she walked in front of the chair which Jack had pulled out for her. Carefully he shoved the chair under her and she sat herself down, the black velvet dress flowing over the seat's edges. Jack stood there, dumbfounded, for a minute… well, that's a first… pulling chairs out for ladies…', Jack thought and shook his head. He then sat himself down opposite Carmen, studying her in the growing sunlight. Her tan – or lack thereof – was perfect… her skin was like ivory, like the finest china. And her eyes were the colour of the Caribbean sea depths…
"Ahem…", Jack said and grabbed a bottle of rum:
"So… anyone hungry?", he asked and both Carmen and Mick nodded.
"Too bad, no food… here", Jack said as he tossed each of them a bottle of rum. It hurt his heart a little, but they had to get SOME… euh, nutrition. Carmen glanced down at the bottle, almost in disgust:
"You expect me to actually open this, Captain Sparrow?", she asked and wrinkled her nose a little bit. She never liked spirits that much… and rum was a vile drink.
"Oh, sorry, luv", Jack said and snatched the bottle from her, opened it and handed it back.
"There ye go, me lady", he said and smiled expectantly. Mick had already opened his bottle and was taking down big gulps. Carmen raised her thin, black eyebrows:
"Thank you…", she said and studied the bottle again.
"Let me bring out a toast! To the lovely lady!", Jack said and raised his bottle high in the air. Mick frowned and looked at Jack….
"Oh, and the whelp!", Jack added and Mick smiled as he raised the bottle. Carmen squinted her eyes a bit, but finally she raised her bottle, clinked it against the two others, and put it to her lips – as the spicy liquid ran down her throat, it burned all the way down her stomach. Coughing she put the bottle down. Jack couldn't help but laugh:
"Too strong for ye, luv?", he asked and watched as her ivory cheeks turned a slight pink. Carmen's eyes flickered a bit:
"No…", she just said and put the bottle to her lips again and took down a big gulp. Her stomach seemed to turn, but she ignored it.
"That's more like it!", Jack laughed and smacked Mick's shoulder.
"Now tell me your stories!", he added and gulped down some more rum.

"LAND IN SIGHT!"
Commodore Norrington immediately grabbed his spyglass and put it to his right grey bluish eye… indeed there was land – Port Royal was now in sight. The sun was shining brightly in the blue sky and a smile
spread across the commodore's lips – this time everything seemed right. He would deliver the compass, increase his rank AND marry Miss Swann… now nothing could go wrong. As he was thinking about this, his
long, slender fingers were caressing the small black box inside his shirt.

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