The mouse doesn't like to share and sadly I do not own Captain Jack Sparrow, the Black Pearl or any of the wonderful character around her. I just own Wolfe and her story on the Pearl. Hope you like this chapter. Would love reviews.

Fighting was the last thing either of them wanted to do, but somehow that is just what happened….

Wolfe was looking for a distraction from thoughts about Jack Sparrow when she walked into the Faithful Wife Tavern, a game of cards, a chance to concentrate on something other than Jack. She didn't want to think about would happen when she saw him again after three days apart. She wasn't all that sure how he was going to react to losing the bet to her. One think that she realized over the last three days was that Jack scared her, or her feeling for him scared her. And it might be taking the cowards way out but she just couldn't sit on the wharf waiting for the Black Pearl to make port, so she was looking for a distraction. What she wasn't expecting was on was one Captain Edward Teague holding court at one of the back tables.

"Samantha Wolfe, been far to long." Came a familiar voice from the back of the tavern.

Wolfe had been standing just inside the door way of the tavern trying to assess if it was the right time to join the game. Turning in the direction of the voice she saw Captain Edward Teague sitting at one of the back tables, strumming his guitar.

Lifting his tankard of rum he kicked out the chair next to him "Come child sit yourself down. Join me in a drink or two, we have a lot to catch up on" and turning to the barmaid he order another bottle of rum for the table.

Wolfe made her way thought the tables, dodging a drunk here and there, stopping and acknowledging a question here and there. At last she pulled up the chair Teague had offered her and taking a long drink from the tankard he handed her, she greeted her old friend and Jack's father. "Captain"

"Been to long Samantha"

"Too long indeed. You appear to be keeping well"

Holding up his tankard and taking a drink of he replied "Some would say I am to well pickled for anything else."

Wolfe laughed "You never change do you?"

"Can't teach an old dog new tricks." He responded reaching down to pet the head of the dog sitting at his feet. "But you my dear, how you be liking your new berth as first mate of the Black Pearl?"

Wolfe gave him a look "I'm not the first mate, just one of the crew. And I like it, after all the Black Pearl is one of the finest ships in the Caribbean"

"Really, I was sure her Captain would have been smart enough to make you first mate by now. How you be liking her Captain?" Teague asked with the same dangerous tinkle in his eye that his son had.

"As you should know your son is a very capable Captain."

"Capable? That not be the word Jack would like to hear you use. How long have you been sailing with him now? A year? "Teague asked.

"About that." Wolfe replied. Lord had it really been that long she thought. It seemed like just yesterday that the Black Pearl had slipped through the wreckage of the Contessa and Jack had swept her aboard his ship. "Oh, please we both know Jack will never have a first mate after what happened with Barbossa. He'll never trust another man with his ship"

"Ah, but then you are not Henry Barbossa and clearly you are man my dear. A fact I hope me boy is smart enough to realize." Teague told her giving her one the family's trade mark smiles and winks.

God she thought Jack was clearly his father's son. Both had the same devilish charm and rakish ways. Stare to long into either ones eyes and one could find one doing things you had not planned on. No wonder Jack's mother was willing to put up with the Teague being gone to sea for so long, as long as he gave her one of those smiles when he returned.

"He seems to trust you enough to sail a rather valuable prize into port for him." Teague continued. "Would have thought my boy would be know enough to make sure the finest treasure he has ever found didn't get away from him"

"Are you suggesting that I would sail off with the Maria? I thought you knew me better than that."

"Now Samantha you know I would never think that. But I wasn't referring to that pretty little Spanish merchant you sailed into port. I was thinking of something far more valuable." Taking her hand in his and looking directly into her eyes. "Always thought my Jackie was smarter than this. Thought his ring would be gracing his hand by know."

"What" Wolfe exclaimed pulling her hand away "Just how much rum have you been drinking? If you are suggesting what I think you are. I have as much chance of that happening as I have of being made the first mate of the Black Pearl"

"You sure about that are you Samantha? From what I hear you are the first mate of the Black Pearl in all but name. And from the way you two have been carrying on over the last year I be willing to wager that you are far more than just a member of Jack's crew." Teague said with a wink. "And you be thinking far differently of me boy than the other Captain's you have served."

Wolfe could not meet Teague's eyes this time. "Just what have you been hearing?"

"Oh, something about a little race across Nassau harbor, you taking a shot that was meant for my boy, which I be grateful to ye for. A tankard of rum dumped over his head in Antigua among other things." He told her with just a hint of a smile. "Course there is also the look ye get on your face when I mention him."

"Look?"

"Aye, The same look Jack's dearly departed ma used to have. Like she wasn't sure if she should kill me or sweep me up in her arms and never let me go. Jack be a lot like his daddy, hard on thems that loves us."

Wolfe stood knocking over her chair. "I DO NOT LOOOVE Jac…" she exclaimed before realizing every eye in the tavern was looking at her. She picked up the chair and sank back down in it pulling her hat over her eyes."

"Admit is lass you have if bad for me boy"

Wolfe just sat there staring into her tankard. "You know Captain I have no idea what you think you know. I am just a member of the crew of the Black Pearl and Jack be her Captain. There is nothing else to it."

Teague smiled to himself. "Yes Samantha you have it bad for my boy. And Lord help us all when you two stopping fight your feelings for each other. Captain Jack Sparrow and Samantha Wolfe will be a force in the Caribbean once you start working together." And with that he wisely changed the subject.For the next hour they talked about his old friend and Wolfe's adopted Father. The shared their memories of William Barrett, laughed and even shed a tear or two.

"You know lass, he couldn't have loved more if his own blood ran through your veins. You was his daughter in every way and he was damn proud of you." Teague told her taking her hand in his again.

"I know." Her voice cracking as a lone tear slipped down her cheek. "Lord I miss him."

Wiping the tear away Teague eyes misted up as well. "I miss him too. He was a good friend." Then looking into her eyes he reminded her. "I promised him I would watch out of you, you know. If you need anything you can come to me. Even about Jackie."

"I know, but there really isn't anything to talk about. I'm fine"

"You sure lass. You don't seem yourself"

"I'm fine, really"

"Then why don't you tell me how you and me boy can take sure a fine merchant ship as the Lady Maria with no damage to the ship?"

"Skill and cunning!"

Would happen you be sharing some of Barrett's tricks with me boy would ye?"

"Tricks, I have no idea what you be talking about" Wolfe said with a laugh

"Oh me seems to remember you and Barrett bring in one or two ships the same way. Never could get either of you to tell me how ye did it. If ye be sharing Barrett's secrets with Jackie ye must feel something for him. Know you never told Adams."

"Captain, you just never give up do you?" She said with a laugh

"Not when I know I am right." He paused and glanced at the doorway behind her. "I always wanted a daughter and I would be damn proud if me son would wise up and make you me daughter in law." Continuing before she could say anything. " Just promise me that should he make you the offer you will consider it seriously. I think you two be good for each other. Promise me you will consider the proposal?"

"And just what proposal would that me Father?" Wolfe stiffened at the sound of an all too familiar voice from behind her.

Teague had not realized just how much his son cared about the woman sitting across from him until he had glance up and seen his son walk into the Faithful Wife. In those first few moments a whole range of emotions had crossed Jack's face. First the look of a man who was afraid he had lost his most valuable procession, and then when he had caught sight of Wolfe, relief and joy at having found her. And now the look on his face as he stood behind Samantha told the rest of the story. Teague just hoped his son would not blow it. For it was clear Jack was jealous of his own father.

"Jackie, pull up a chair and join us. Samantha and I were just thinking of ordering some of Martha's stew for a bit of supper." Teague said ignoring Jack's comment. "Sit, join us. Another tankard for me boy." Teague directed the bar maid.

But Jack was not to be put off. He had spent the last couple of hours looking for Wolfe and was not in the best of moods. The Black Pearl had made Tortuga an hour or so after high noon. And while he had been both relieved to see the Lady Maria tied up to the wharf at D'Arcy's he was more than a little angry to learn that Wolfe had gone into Tortuga rather than waiting for the Pearl to arrive. Three days and nights without Wolfe, losing a bet he had thought was a sure things and then spending endless hours searching the streets for her had left aching for a fight. Finally finding her sitting laughing and talking with his father had been the last straw. Reaching their table and hearing his father talking about a proposal had broken the proverbial camels back of Jack's temper. "What proposal should Wolfe be considering?" Jack asked again.

"Jack sit down and have a drink. You look like you need one."

"I didn't think you were low enough to try and steal my crew?"

"Crew can't be stolen if they be happy" was Teague's reply.

"Well Wolfe is happy aboard the Black Pearl. It's where she belongs. So you can just take your proposal and…."

"Captain's you know I can speak for myself" Wolfe pointed out. But both men just ignored her.

"If you must know son I was just reminding Samantha that she always has a place on the Misty Lady"

"She doesn't need a place on your rat trap of a ship. She already has a place on the Pearl. Besides last time I knew you still had a first mate of your own, you don't need to be trying to steal mine."

Looking over at Samantha with a smug look on his face Teague asked her. "Why Samantha you didn't tell me you were first mate of the Black Pearl."

"Because I am not the first mate of the Pearl" She stated in a clear voice as she stood and turned to look at Jack. "I am just a member of the crew"

"Oh please" was Jack's reply "We both know you have been doing the job for months. You're the first mate of the Black Pearl. The crew knows it and treats you that way."

"If they do they are mistaken, and I will correct them when I return to the ship" Wolfe told Jack. "I'm sorry if I have done anything to go against your orders. I know you have no need or desire to have a first mate aboard your ship"

"Have you become a Squiffy in the last couple of days Woman?" Jack asked her "You're the first mate of the Pearl. Maybe I haven't 'Officially' announced it. But the crew knows it, I know it. Seem you be the only one that doesn't. So stopped being such a stupid woman and accept it." Jack yelled at her

"Well then it is a good thing you don't have such a stupid woman as your first mate then." Wolfe yelled back.

"Damn it woman you have been doing the job for months, the crew treats you as first mate, I treat you as first mate. You are the first mate of the Black Pearl. It is what you do, where you belong. That's it." Stepping around Wolfe and facing his father "Wolfe will not be taking you up and your proposal. Sorry to disappoint you Pop"

Wolfe reached out and grabbed Jack's shoulder spinning him around to face her. "Now just wait one second Captain Sparrow. I'm the one who says where I belong, not you. If I want to accept Captain Teague's generous proposal it is for me to say not you."

Glaring at her "You belong on the Black Pearl. The ship knows it, the crew knows, I know it. And damn it Woman you know it so just shut it."

"Tell me you didn't just tell me to shut it. Captain" Wolfe glared back

"Children please" Teague yelled

"You don't speak for me Jack. I'm the one who says where I belong, not you"

"You want to leave the Pearl?"

"I didn't say that"

"You want to sail on the Misty Lady?"

"I didn't say that"

"Then what the blazes are you saying Woman"

"That you Jack Sparrow do not speak for me. I can speak for myself. And I will decide where I go. What ship I sail on, If I chose to leave the Black Pearl and join the Misty Lady or any other ship is my decision." She yelled back at Jack

"You are not leaving the Pearl, it's where we both know you belong." Yelled back at Wolfe. By now they were standing toe to toe. "You'll leave the Pearl over my dead body"

"That can easily be arranged" Wolfe yelled back her hand on her cutlass.

"You and what army"

"Oh please, I can out fight you any day any place"

"Can not"

"Can to"

"Can not"

"Can to"

"Can't"

"Can"

"Can not, Can not Can not, Can not Can not, Can not"

"Can, Can Can…

"JACK…SAMANTHA…SHUT IT NOW" Teague yelled at the two of them. This was getting out of hand. If he didn't do something these to were going to tear each other to pieces. "SIT DOWN NOW"

Jack and Wolfe turned and looked at Teague. Seeing the expression on his face they both sank down into their chairs without saying another word.

Teague handed them both a tankard of grog. "Drink"

They both stared into their tankard a good long time before taking a long gulp. Neither dared to even glance at the other, so instead they sat staring into the bottom of their tankards as if they were expecting to find a fist of gold doubloons at the bottom, or at least the meaning of their lives.

"When was the last time either of you ate" Teague asked his stubborn children. When neither answered he called over the barmaid and order stew for all of them. "You Jackie you always get cranky when you are hungry. Your mother always knew when you were hungry by your mood."

Wolfe glanced up at Teague for an instant before returning to stare at the bottom of her tankard and looked at the two men with just the hint of a smile.

"What would you know" Jack grumbled "You were never there"

"Oh, I got reports on your progress lad. And you haven't changed. Ye still be a willful, stubborn brat." Teague said with a laugh. "And from what Bess tells me you lass were no better"

"Bess talks too much" Wolfe murmured under her breath and went back to staring at the bottom of her tankard.

The food soon arrived, but instead of digging in, Jack just moved the food around with his spoon. Why was he fighting with Wolfe when all he really wanted was to sweep her up into his arm and never let go. It wasn't the taste of food he craved, but the taste of her kiss. He had thought of little else these last three days. But the minute he saw her instead of telling her he missed her, he picked a fight first with his father and then with her. What was he doing? All he wanted was to see her smile at him the way she had been smiling at his father when he walked into the tavern. But instead they had somehow started fight over what? Jack wasn't sure what they were really fight about, all he knew was that it wasn't really about Wolfe joining the crew of the Misty Lady.