A/N: Thanks for sticking with me! Enjoy!
Time on a ship was always changing. An unsteady constant. Jack generally was content to allow time to run its natural course. This voyage, however, he felt he was in a race against time. Each day was a fight against time, against his compass that was traitorous and would not pick a direction, against his strong will pulling him back to Lizzie to check her breath.
To amuse himself and also as a detraction Jack had the witch girl brought up on deck with him. "Your quarters satisfactory?" he asked with irony as the 'quarters' offered were in his brig.
She smiled slightly at him. "'Tis clean at least," she told him.
"Hm."
She gingerly placed her hand on his arm. "She be safe, Cap'n."
He looked at the arm then to her earnest face. "Voodoo magic tell you that?"
She shook her head. "I know me mum an' her skills. Ye Liz'beth be safe," she repeated.
He grunted then turned away as a mate Cuthbert approached him. He watched the girl walk away before addressing him. "Aye?"
Cuthbert, normally quieter than the rest, started to stutter. "I, uh, I mean, can, uh, it would be nice if...I mean, could you possibly...?"
Jack felt some mercy and reached his hand out to stop the madness. "Hold. Remember I'm Captain Jack Sparrow. No unnecessary keelhauling. Speak your piece."
Cuthbert visibly relaxed, drew a breath, then the cook said his thought. "Breon be uncomfortable so many weeks in a cell. Mayhap a bunk can be found for her?"
Jack narrowed his eyes and studied the shorter man. "How've comfort become discussed?"
The cook straightened his shoulders. "Meals, Cap'n. Been 'liverin' them meself."
"Discussions prove worthsome otherwise?" Jack asked, suspiciously.
Cuthbert brightened. "Aye, Cap'n! Ne'er knew her da. I ne'er knew neither. She a voodoo hoodoo. I believe."
Again Jack stopped him. "You've not gotten captured by the prisoner, Bert...?"
The man blushed but stayed straight. "She a nice one, Cap'n. Don't get much chance ta meet fancies."
"Fancy not be her. Be wary, Bert. Traps a plenty when women involve."
"Aye, Cap'n."
As the man walked away, whistling something that sounded vaguely like a love song Jack rolled his eyes. He would honor the request- the little witch posed no harm as far as he could see- but the involvement of his cook mate an eye was needed on the pair in wanting of safety.