Title: Caribbean Hybrid
Rated: R
Chapter: 21
Chapter Author: Wickedswanz
Summary: They've saved Elizabeth, but is Jack happy to see her?

Everything was happening so fast. Achille threw Elizabeth overboard,
and now Jack was dragging the unconscious woman into the long boat.
Will prepared to climb back down the rope, but stopped and turned
first.

"Go!" Selene yelled, her eyes wide and her voice shill.

Will held out his hand to her, "Come with us."

"No…I can't, I have to…"

"What? Bill abandoned you, just like he did my mother. He won't come for you."

"I know but…" Selene looked behind her then back at Will, "How can I leave?"

"Easy, just take my hand. I won't leave you." A look passed over
Selene's eyes and Will thought he saw her eyes glimmer and dampen for
a moment. She took his hand and they turned and jumped into the sea
together.

Will climbed up onto the longboat and looked around anxiously but
grinned when he saw Selene climb up with ease. With her safe he
turned his attention to Elizabeth. Jack was leaning over her with his
ear to her mouth.

"Is she breathing?" he asked and tried to find her pulse.

"Don't know…I don't think so." Jack was gasping for breath himself.
"Row the boat Will. Get us the bloody hell outta here."

"Right. Yeah. Alright." Will took the oars and looked shocked for a
moment when Selene took one as well.

She grinned at him and positioned herself next to him, "You're not one
of those ladies-stick-to-the-kitchen men are you?"

For a moment Will looked confused. His eyes flicked to Elizabeth and
he smiled. "No, not any more." And they rowed in perfect time back
to the Black Pearl.

Jack barked orders at the crew as he marched briskly towards his
cabin. "On ye feet lads! We have a need to get out of here right
now. Never mind the heading just run with the wind."

He carried the unconscious woman to his cabin and lay her gently on
his bunk. She was breathing, it was slight but there. Absently, Jack
brushed a stray hair from her face and sat beside her. She began to
shiver and tremble and her head moved from side to side.

"Blankets!" Jack growled to William who was hovering in the door way.
The other man nodded and left.

Jack looked back down at Elizabeth.

Her clothes were sopping wet and so were his for that matter. Deftly
he stripped her of her wet nightdress and clenched his teeth hard as
his eyes roved over her naked form. He pushed all thoughts of what
might have been out of his head and grabbed one of his dry shirts and
quickly slipped it over her arms and closed all the buttons up to her
neck.

With her suitably covered he began to strip of his own wet clothes.

William cleared his throat loudly from the doorway. "Hope I'm not
disturbing you." his voice was restrained and his eyes flashed.

Jack grinned. "Not a chance, Mr Turner. She's going to die if I don't
keep her warm tonight and I don't need that on my conscience." He
grabbed the blankets from Will and covered Elizabeth in them. He
removed his pants and hung them over a railing with his shirt then
grabbed a dry pair from his drawers and pulled them on.

Will watched as Jack lay down beside the sleeping woman and wrapped
himself tightly around her. Immediately her trembling slowed and her
breathing calmed.

"Are you sure it's proper to spend the night that way?"

The pirate glared up at Will. "Don't worry Maynard," he smirked as
Will cringed, "Her virtue is not at risk, at least not from me…not
anymore." Jack rested his head on the pillow and closed his eyes.

He heard William close the door and quiet voices from the younger man
and their new passenger, Selene. He smiled to himself. He'd always
liked Selene. A little too flighty for his taste but always made
friendly and entertaining company. Bill had been a bastard to keep
her hanging for so long. Though the letters he'd caught sight of it
sounded like she was waiting for him, saving herself and turning away
all others for a man who was never going to come. Bill wasn't a bad
man, but he loved the sea and the pirate life too much to have time
for the lasses. Though he seemed to have one waiting in every port.

He heard William show the lady to Elizabeth's cabin and heard him
stumbling over his words as he said goodnight and she did likewise.
Will seemed quite taken by her. Not surprising; Jack thought she was stunning, too. But she
didn't compare to the sleeping form beside him. His eyes opened and
he lifted his head to look down at her sleeping form. She looked so
calm now, so innocent, so perfect. He stroked her cheek and revelled
in the softness of her face.

An image of her standing on tiptoes to kiss that sick bastard
flickered into his mind and blazed repugnantly though his senses. He
pulled his hand back as though she'd burnt him. He cringed.

How could she? How could she kiss him like that? So warm and soft and
responsive in me arms then turn and kiss that butcher with equal
valour. Jack's jaw clenched and his eyes turned cold. Just like
Annabella.

At least I managed to save this one before he could do the
same to her. She's a conniving fortune hunting doxy, but she doesn't
deserve what Achille would have done to her.

Jack climbed out of the bunk. Immediately she began to shiver again.
A sliver of guilt ran through him but only a sliver. How he wanted to
lay down with her again, to pull her close and kiss her, love her and
forget everything that he'd seen. He could believe her beautiful lies
as he kissed them from her full red lips.

With a frustrated growl he turned on his heel and left the room. He
would find Will and have him lay with her for the night.

William stood on the deck looking out at the ocean moving quickly
below them. The Pearl was the fastest ship in the Caribbean, and
tonight it was showing them just how fast it could go. The Unity was
out of site and it would take that pathetic excuse for a crew at least
a week to even find the right heading. Will chuckled to himself and
looked up at the stars. They reminded him of Selene, and her amazing
hair...

"Here you are, thought you'd be all tucked up in yer beddie-byes."
Jack's voice mocked lazily.

"What are you doing out here Jack?" Will turned and was shocked by
Jack's pale appearance. "Jack?" the man wavered slightly and Will
caught him and helped the pirate to sit on the deck.

"Couldn't be near 'er no more lad. I'm afraid Tia might be right."
he raised his eyes to Will, "Guess it's yer lucky night."

"What the hell is wrong with you!" Will jumped to his feet. "You go
on and on about how much you love her and how much you want to be with
her again. She is NOT Annabella." Jack cringed and looked away but
Will continued, "We know nothing about what happened on that ship or
what we saw. How can you throw her to the wind the first time…the
FIRST time her faithfulness is called into question?"

"What's your point lad?" Jack sniped as he pulled his hat down over
his eyes. "I ain't gonna throw her to the wind, we'll drop her off at
Tortuga. I'm sure she'll fit in just fine. Might even go visit her
from time to time me self." He grinned and closed his eyes.

Will seethed, "My Point? What's my POINT!?" He had to clench his fists
to stop himself from punching the pirate right in the mouth. "My
POINT is that you are a stupid, one eyed, JACKASS!" with that Will
turned and marched down to the Captain's quarters.

"Tha's not fair, I have two eyes!!" he heard Jack retort.

On his way down Selene opened her door and peeked out.

"Is everything alright?"

Will pasted on a slightly strained smile, "Yeah. Jack's just feeling
sorry for himself."

"Why? He found his wife, didn't he? And she's going to be alright."
she tipped her head slightly to the side and smiled, "Mmm I can hear
her breathing…she's cold."

"I'm going to lay with her for the night." He looked uncomfortable
and scuffed his feet nervously. "You know to keep her warm." his
eyes suddenly looked up, "How can you…?" she smiled and something
moved across her eyes and Will knew, "You're a Garou as well aren't
you?"

She nodded, "Achille found me while I was waiting for you're father to
come for me. He changed me." She closed her eyes and smelt the air,
"You will change for the first time soon." She reached out to touch
his face. "I don't envy you, the first time is no fun. But if you
like we could change together." She blushed and smiled. "Sometimes
it's easier when your relaxed and with someone."

He grinned and nodded, "I'd like that." he turned to go then thought
for a moment and turned back. "I'm not my father. I'm nothing like
him and will never be like him." She tried to speak but he shushed
her with a finger. "I was wondering if it would be O.K for me to ask
you to accompany me on a walk on deck tomorrow morning after we've
breakfasted."

She smiled back, "I would like that William." She looked away, "If you
like, I could lay with Elizabeth and keep her warm tonight. We've
become close over the last few days and I'll take good care of her."

Will grinned, relieved. "Thank you."