Usual disclaimers: If you recognise anything, it belongs to Disney. Anything else is mine.

Thanks as always to my beta, Pendragginink.

Chapter 21 – Aftermath

Mab held her hands to her ears, shaking with fear as she hid in Jack's cabin, crouched beside the bunk. Although this was not the first ship that the Black Pearl had attacked whilst she had been on board, it was the first that had tried to fight back. The starboard cannons of the pirate ship boomed again, rocking the ship with their force before silence… a silence almost more terrifying than the noise. She could hear shouts, pleading, in a language that sounded like French although she could not catch the words. Cautiously she removed her hands, listening, straining to hear Jack's voice as she prayed for her lover's safety. Their involvement had caused more than a few comments on board, for Joshamee had indeed wasted no time in spreading the gossip following the riot, but most of them had been good natured. She reasoned being ribbed for her and Jack's frequent absences was a price worth paying for his loving. Jack, as she had first guessed, was a very persuasive seducer and experienced lover and she delighted in every moment they were together.

"You know th' drill, gentlemen," came his drawl, and she breathed with relief, assuming that the other ship had finally surrendered. Fearfully she peered through the window, trying to make out the blurry shapes beyond, but it was hopeless. Between the rippled glass of the window, and the obstruction of the stairs to the quarterdeck, she could see nothing except the odd flash of colour. She had not realised before quite how many of the crew wore red. Disheartened and still more than a little frightened, she sat back down on the deck, reasoning that he would come to her when it was safe.

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Jack watched as his crew boarded the small French vessel, swarming over the ship in their eagerness to discover something worth stealing. "You have command," he nodded to Joshamee, turning back to his cabin and missing the look of disbelief on his quartermaster's face that he was not participating in the looting. Jack knew how frightened Mab had been previously when they had taken ships, and worried how she would have reacted to the force they had used this time. She had confessed to him how she felt when the Tarantara's guns were fired in practice and he hoped that she had not been too scared. He opened the great cabin doors cautiously, looking around as he shut them behind him. "Mab?" he called softly. "Are yer all right?"

"Sì…" Mab's voice came uncertainly from behind the drapes of the side cabin. He pulled them back to find her still sitting on the floor, her arms wrapped tightly around her scrunched up knees.

"Yer sure?" he puzzled, thinking she looked pale. He offered her his hand, hauling her to her feet and into his embrace. "I'm sorry if yer were scared," he consoled, surprised to feel her trembling as he led her through to the main cabin, although her grip was firm. "Hey, yer are all right now… safe..." He tilted her face up, kissing her, stunned to find the contact arousing him as well as surprised at how strongly she kissed him back. "We've enough of a cargo," he offered, breaking away briefly, shocked at the strength of his sudden need for her. Women had good cause to be fearful of being taken by pirates, their lust after the thrill of battle infamous, and Jack knew of more than one captain who had lost control over his crew at such a time. Anamaria may have been the exception when she served with him, considered by many to be pirate first and woman second, but Mab was most definitely woman - his woman. "If this ship's haul is half as good as it should be, how about we head to San Juan, eh?" he suggested, wrapping his arms about her once more and burying his face in her neck as he inhaled her scent, a low groan giving voice to his feelings.

"San Juan?" Mab puzzled, tilting her neck so that he could nibble the skin. "Is it another pirate town?" she asked doubtfully as his hands trailed down her back, clasping her buttocks and pulling her against him. "Jack!" she squealed in pleased surprise as she realised his intentions.

"Aye, in a way, but it's a better class o' town than Tortuga," he assured her, nipping her earlobe before trailing his tongue down to her collarbone. He pressed her against the bulkhead, one arm caressing her breasts through her shirt as he stretched across to lock the cabin doors. "I want yer," he rasped, rubbing himself against her. "Take yer clothes off!" he growled, kicking off his boots. He eased off her slightly, still kissing her, barely giving her enough room to unbutton her shirt and shrug it to the floor as she willingly surrendered to his wishes. She reached for her laces, a wry smile on her face. Although the situation was unusual, she would never refuse him, could never refuse him; just the thought of his touch was enough to arouse her and she knew his loving would drive the sound of the cannons from her mind.

"Jack!" she gasped in surprise, shaken from her thoughts as he yanked her breeches down, unwilling to wait any longer before he saw her naked.

"Now undress me," he insisted, his calloused hands squeezing her breasts as he licked and kissed his way towards them. Mab struggled to do so, unable to see what she was doing. Jack's sash, as usual, proved especially awkward - but at last it fluttered to the deck, enabling her to reach for his breeches, an eager grin on her face.

"All clear, Cap'n," came Joshamee's voice from the other side of the doors, making her jump. "An' a nice, profitable cargo!" He paused when he received no reply. "Err, where do yer want us t' make for?"

"San Juan," Jack shouted in return as Mab tugged at his laces. "An' yer can keep command…" he added

"Aye, Cap'n," Joshamee nodded, shaking his head ruefully, acknowledging that Jack would not likely be out of his cabin for some time. Archie Swain winked at him from the helm, chuckling, wondering to himself how quiet – or not – the lovers would manage to keep it. "You heard th' Cap'n!" Joshamee ordered. "San Juan!"

"San Juan it is," Archie acknowledged, deftly turning the wheel as he adjusted their course towards the walled town.

"We won't be interrupted… now…" Jack grinned ferally as her fingers finally managed to

undo his breeches, her hands caressing his hips as she slipped his them down. He twirled her round, making her laugh as he walked her backwards across the cabin, not stopping until she pressed up against the large round table. His arm swept the forgotten remains of their earlier meal to the floor in his haste as he leaned Mab backwards across the dark wood. He held her, arms outstretched, her feet barely touching the deck, barely caring whether it was comfortable for her or not, his need for release overwhelming all of his senses.

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"M' apologies," Jack husked as he lay above her, suddenly realising he was squashing her under his weight; his legs shaking, he wobbled sideways towards a nearby chair. He looked at Mab, frowning as she sat up gingerly rubbing her back. "I didn't hurt yer, did I?" he worried, his eyes widening, noticing the bruises now appearing on her wrists where he had pinned her.

"I'm all right," she replied, frowning in bewilderment as she looked at him. "Wha…" she began, wondering what had brought on the change in his manner.

Jack winced at her tone before grinning at her sheepishly. "I guess it's true what they say about battle an' women not mixing," he explained ruefully, holding his hands out to her, vastly relieved when she came to him. He pulled her onto his lap. "I've never… I was not prepared fer… it won't happen again," he assured her, resting his head once more against her shoulder. "I just needed yer more than I realised…"

Mab smiled, guessing he was unused to apologising. "It's all right, I understand," she assured him, stroking the side of his face. "I guess I needed you too… but if it does happen again, can it be somewhere softer?"

"Yer didn't mind?" he gasped, having fully expected to be slapped silly at the very least and worried that he would have frightened her, especially considering her harsh treatment at the hands of George Willoughby the last thing he wanted to do to such a willing and skilled bed partner.

"No," she smiled, leaning across to kiss him. "Although I've never been loved on a table before." She chuckled as she brushed one of his plaits aside, remembering a number of occasions in the past when handsome faces had concealed even rougher lovers, ones that had taken pleasure in hurting her. "But perhaps now we could go more slowly…" she suggested, satisfied that Jack's behaviour had been out of character, and that he had had the courtesy to apologise.

Jack's grin returned and he rose, patting her backside as she tumbled, laughing, from his lap. "Well get yer pretty backside t' my bunk then an' I'll see what I can do!" He watched as she walked towards the side cabin, ashamed to see that her back was bruised as well. He felt worse as he recalled that the bruises from her captivity in the summerhouse had only recently faded. He helped her up onto the bunk, running his hand softly down her spine in apology as she wriggled across to give him room to join her.

"You never answered my question, you know," Mab frowned, turning to face him as he flopped down beside her.

"What question was that?" he asked, running his hand across her stomach.

"What San Juan is like," she explained. "You said it was a pirate town, but that was about all…"

"Not a pirate town as such," he replied. "In a way… it's as much like any other town around here, except that it welcomes pirates. It's cleaner an' more respectable like than Tortuga too." He leaned across, kissing her deeply.

"Unlike you then?" she teased.

"I never claimed t' be respectable," he chuckled. "In fact, I mean not t' be…" He brought his hand up and wrapped his arms about her, hugging her close to him. "Are yer sure you are all right?" he asked, tilting her head towards him.

"Sì," she smiled, looking him in the eye.

Jack brushed the hair from her face, surprised at her trust in him. He kissed her again, smiling as she responded, his hands tracing the outline of her body. "Perhaps I can make yer feel more than all right, eh?" he chuckled.

"Perhaps you can," Mab gasped, arching her body towards him.

"I assure you, I will," he chortled, teasing her until she writhed beneath him.

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"Yer liked that then, Missy?" Jack grinned, looking down at her as they lay side by side.

"Sì," she groaned as she pulled his head down to her lips.

"God, woman!" Jack gasped breathlessly when they finally broke apart. "Yer don't know what ya do ter me, do yer?"

"I have an idea," she shivered, reaching across to kiss him once more. Sebastian had always assured her that there was a 'somebody special' for everyone somewhere in the world and she was beginning to wonder if he was right after all. She had thought that Paolo had been the one but now, in Jack's bunk, she was beginning to worry that she had been wrong and that the pirate captain now in her arms was the man for her. She glanced at him, her smile hiding her fears that she was beginning to become overly fond of him. "If it is but half what you do to me…" she whispered.

Jack beamed, wrapping his arms about her and pulling her close. "Aye, that an' more."

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