Chapter 14 - Interrupted

The morning had gone so well. The sun shone brightly despite the winds, Jack seemed happier despite still not telling Louise what was bothering him and all of a sudden she was going to get a fight, something to disrupt the normal days. And then without warning she was in the brig. The angry Louise paced the small space she had, trying to think of anything but her mind was clouded with annoyance, that's when hope walked in.

Danny had been below when he had heard the hollering on deck. He was rushing to see what was going on when he heard even louder angrier shouts, namely those of Louise. It had reminded him of the first time he'd met her and she'd called him every name under the sun.

"What're ya doin' in there?" he asked cautiously.

Her eyes lit up , "I… er, was cleaning up down here when I got locked in".

"What were ya…", his question was interrupted but the sound of the Pearls guns.

"Danny can you just let me out? I'm going to get killed in here, for real this time", she added the joke on the end for good measure. It calmed the initial shock in his eyes and returned his focus, he grabbed the keys and let her out. 
More gunfire sounded, Danny tried to shout over it, "What's going on?"

"Navy attacking, get up to the deck and don't tell anyone it was you who let me out" she said before setting off in a run.

"Why?"

She stopped only for a second, "captains orders I stay in there".

Louise felt slightly bad for using Danny, especially with the look on his face as he realised what he'd done but the sound of the two ships at war allowed her to get over it. She felt a rush of fresh air on deck and she saw the damage both ships had caused and retained in the few minutes she had been away. She seemed to have missed most of the proceedings as the Navy ship was now beside the Pearl and they were preparing to board. Everyone was shouting or generally growling like caged up animals, each thirsty for some blood. Louise ignored everyone else and her eyes quickly found her target. She pelted full force towards Jack, her momentum forcing him against the wheel, "what were you playing at?"

"Luv I think there's more import…"

Louise couldn't remember ever being this angry. "No! Come on I really want to know, am I that useless that I can't handle this? Is that all I'm good for Jack, cooking and… looking at?" she faltered for a second but recovered and screamed the last words louder than the rest.

The redcoats jumped aboard the Pearl and met the full force of the pirates. She heard Gibbs shout something to Jack and she replied for him by yelling, "just get on with it!"

"Louise?", the voice was far too proper to be a pirate. Looking away from Jack for a moment she saw the Commodore pointing at her and Jack saw it too, unfortunately he thought a lot faster in these situations. 
"Sparrow leave her alone!"

For a split second Louise didn't understand. Then she caught up, Jack had a blade to her throat and almost without moving his lips he hurriedly whispered, "just play along darling".

She knew he was trying to calm her down with the 'darling' but in her current frame of mind it only made her angrier.

Jack could feel her racing heartbeat and he knew it wasn't going to be easy with how angry she was. As his crew fought a courageous battle below him his mind raced. That's when Louise said the stupidest thing she could have at that moment.

"Don't worry, he won't hurt a member of his crew. Not when I'm such a good little cook".

If his hands had been free he'd have buried his face in them, luckily James ignored her his eyes flaring in Jacks direction.

"Just hand yourself and miss Roberts over and we'll let your crew go."

Jack smiled, "it would seem I'm the one with a knife to miss Roberts throat commodore".

"It's Louise" she threw in pointedly. Again she was ignored.

James' eyes darted about, clearly he hadn't accounted for Louise in his plan, "we... we just want you Sparrow".

This time his bargain was met with laughter, "you're really missing the point".

"Yes, the point is I don't need rescuing and…" but out of the corner of her eye something distracted her. The sight of Stella being led onboard the Navy ship and a crushing wave of realisation washed over her. "That backstabbing bitch!" Her anger was quickly transfered to Stella who actually paid attention to her long enough to wave.

Jacks eyes flickered down to his crew, they were fighting a losing battle. He chuckled to himself, Tia had been right about everything.

"Me crew can go?"

James was smiling now, "you have my word".

"That's almost as good as the word of a pirate, I want your crew gone first".

"And leave me defenseless? I think not".

Jack took a step back, taking Louise with him. She had just realised what he was about to do and was now wriggling to get free but he tightened his grip. James weighed up his options and nodded silently, calling his men to fall back giving Jack and Louise a brief moment of privacy.

"Don't you dare", she said warningly.

"Thought you'd be glad ter get rid o' me luv?"

She elbowed him in the gut but he didn't relinquish, it was only once the redcoats were on their own ship he let her go, making a quick stride to stand in front of her.

James had a pistol trained on Jack, "the infamous Jack Sparrow".

"Captain Jack Sparrow", he corrected stamping his foot merrily, "ye can clearly me ship".

"I will never forgive you if you do this" Louise said behind him.

He turned to her for the tiniest second, "that's what I'm counting on". 
Before she could question anymore James had the pistol in his back and she heard the words "clap him in irons". A silent tear rolled down her cheek, Jack was many things but he didn't give in, not that easily.

Gibbs was there in a second with a suspicious blood stain on his right sleeve, "what 'appened?"

"We've got to go after him, we need to find a different to way in. We'll get him back". Louise wiped the tear from her cheek and Gibbs pretended not to see, "Stella will tell them where you docked last".

James turned back to Louise and heroically held out a hand for her.

"I'd take that back if you want to keep it".

---

Jack sat locked in the lower bowels of a ship much cleaner than his but by no means as fast or impressive. His fantastical plan to follow a fabled map, sink his hands into some gold and sail off into the sunset a considerably richer man had gone somewhat off course. He calculated the journey back to Port Royal, assuming his appointment at the gallows was still at dawn that would give him at least an extra day to figure something out. His stupidity was apparent now but he hadn't been thinking about his own skin, for once. He damned himself for not listening to Tia.

"Jack?" he heard the cautious whisper before he saw her. Louise appeared and relief washed over her face when she spotted him.

"What are ye doin' here?" he asked covering the surprise in his voice with boredom.

She looked around the room in the useless hope of finding keys helpfully hanging on the wall as she talked, "well I was hoping to get you out but I guess I'll have to settle for whatever plan you've got".

"What?"

"Keys Jack, I was looking for keys but there aren't any so what's your plan?"

"I don't 'ave one"

She frowned at him and tried to search his face but he was looking at the floor. She laughed or else she may have cried. "I don't believe it, you wouldn't have just walked aboard without… no you wouldn't have".

He bit his tongue. He could have so easily reassured her and restored her faith in him but that wasn't part of his plan.

"It was for the good of me crew, and me own sanity".

"Excuse me?"

"You. I needed to get away from you", he was on his feet now with his back to her.

She stood at the bars her voice full of pleading, "Face the gallows rather than see me? You don't mean that Jack. I don't believe…"

He looked at her with disdain, "think a lot of yerself luv? You were doin' me 'ead in. Every five minutes, you've in a mood or you're in trouble".

"Fine. You're taking it out on me. That's fine, I'll wait till you've calmed down. But have no doubt I will get you out of this", she said in one quick but forceful breath before leaving quickly. She only just made it out of sight before the tears fell thick and fast.

Jack heard her struggle for air as she cried. He sat down and tried to think of anything else but it took her what seemed like a lifetime to compose herself and walk away. "It's for her own good" he muttered, more to convince himself than anything else.

Louise was barely back at the room she had been left in when she was summoned to see James. His room was a eclectic mixture of lavish formality, although his large desk was clearly where he spent most of his time. It's where he was as she walked in.

"You wanted to see me?"

"Yes I wanted to see how you are feeling?"

"I'm fine James, what would make you think there was anything wrong?"

He frowned, "well your behavior abroad the pearl was more than worrying".

"What shall we blame it on? A lapse of judgement or bad company?" Her voice was cold, she had no intention of playing sweetness and light.

"Well I understand if you wish to rest first but I'd hope you'd tell me how you ended up there".

"I'd rather not".

Despite her unwillingness to cooperate he still seemed concerned more than anything, "understandable and in any case, I'll ensure your kidnapping and the threats on your life are added to Sparrows list of crimes".

This broke Louise, she looked at the floor in quiet contemplation, "so he's to be…?"

"Yes, he will finally pay for his crimes".

"What about Stella?"

"She will be paid her reward and returned to her home in Port Royal".

This was what he believed was justice, "James?"

He looked at her hopefully, "yes?"

"I'm tired, I think I'll go rest now".

He nodded and had her escorted back to the room. She couldn't call it hers, because it wasn't. Her room was aboard a pirate ship she hoped was keeping a safe distance behind them not just for Jacks sake but for her own.

--Authors Notes--

Hey guys. I'm never promising anything ever again. Every time I promise a chapter something happens so I can't make it. So please just take my word I'm not giving up on the story and the next chapter will be soon hopefully. As always thanks you for your reviews, I always appreciate them and I'd love some on this chapter if you have the time. Many thanks!