What in the World

Chapter 29

"Mr. Gibbs." Jack said enthusiastically loud as he came on deck.

"Cap'n?" Gibbs said looking back at Jack from his position at the wheel.

"How long till we reach the island?"

"Figure we should be sighting it late tonight or early tomorrow mornin Cap'n dependin on the wind remainin in our favor." He said as he looked aloft at the sails.

"Ah good." Jack said with a smile. "I shall take over for awhile Mr. Gibbs, feel free to…to go do what ever it is you do when you are not doing something you are accustomed or required to be doing when you have something to do, which you don't have at the moment, other than doing something you don't have to do unless you wish to be doing it." Jack said with a flourish of hands as he took the wheel from Mr. Gibbs.

Mr. Gibbs stared for a moment trying to make sense of what the Captain said, then deciding it was permission to go drink rum, after all that was what he wished to be doing, he left the deck headed for the galley.

Jack stood at the wheel humming to himself. Every once and awhile he would sing a phrase out in a low, but very nicely in tune voice. He stopped momentarily as he heard someone walk up behind him.

"What puts you in such a fine mood?" James asked as he walked up to stand beside Jack, his hands clasped behind him, something he hadn't done since he had taken his leave.

Jack glanced at him out of the corner of his eye and never one to refrain from baiting someone if the opportunity presented its self said, "I was just standin here thinkin Commodore, and hopin in fact, you would appear with your completely endearing, at least to some it would seem, stuffy Commodore-ly attitude and stand stick up the arse stiff beside me. You don't know how much I have missed that." Jack said flashing him a wide smile, the sun glinting off said smile.

"Indeed!" James said but smiled himself. He was in too good a mood over Leah to let Jack get under his skin with that little jab. Then deciding to try a little baiting of his own said, "Ah, so you will be just ecstatic when you are standing on the gallows and have quite a few stick up the arse stiff types standing around you Captain." And flashed his own wide grin back at the pirate.

Jack gave him one of his sad puppy dog looks and said, "I ah…I ah… think we should change the subject, I don't care for this one at all."

James smiled and winked at him and said, "I thought you might think as much."

They turned their gazes away from each other and to the horizon. They remained standing easily beside each other, each drawing their own peace from the ocean surrounding them. A strange camaraderie existed between them. Despite their differences they were both men of the sea, both loved and drew their strength from her. Each, no matter what she threw at them, loved every day, every hour, every minute, every second they spent upon her, neither wanting anything more than to spend their lives doing just what they were doing now, Sailing.

"Well you two certainly look content." Leah said as she walked up to James and put her arm around his.

"Aye luv, your fair Commodore here is busy thinking simply lovely thoughts about hanging me again." Jack said grinning at James.

"James! I thought we were past that." Leah said giving him a look.

"Your fair Captain is exaggerating in his usual manner Leah. I would have thought by now you would have learned not to take everything he says for the absolute truth. My thoughts were not about hanging him…….this time." James said returning Jack's grin over Leah's head.

She said a little unsure of whether they were kidding or not, "Well that's good, I think."

James took Leah's hand and led her towards the bow where they stood arm in arm looking out over the vast expanse of emerald green water around them.

"Has anyone ever told you your eyes are almost a perfect match for the sea James?"

"Perhaps on an occasion or two yes." James said as he placed a kiss on her lips then moved to softly say in her ear, "My Grandmother used to tell me when I was growing up that I was destined for the sea because of that very reason. "You've got the cast of the briny in them eyes Jamie. She'll draw you to her one of these days and you'll have no choice but to heed her call, you're already among her chosen boy no doubt about that, knew it the day you were born."

Leah snuggled close to him thinking how his eyes did reflect the ocean, a beautiful sublime green when he was calm, and a dark foreboding green when he was not. He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her close, and that's where they stood lost in each other. After awhile they slowly headed arm in arm towards the companionway headed to the galley to see what they could find to eat.

Jack joined them later and found them sharing a bottle, and talking and laughing and thoroughly enjoying each other's company. He had a brief, a very brief twang of loneliness run through him, and then it was gone and he was back to his usually unusual self.

"I hope you've left some rum for me." He said as he entered and sat down at the table.

"We're not drinking your rum Jack, James found something better." Leah said smiling at James.

Taking a closer look at the bottle sitting on the table in front of the two of them he let out a yelp, "Oye there! What you be doin? That be me special bottle of scotch whiskey I been savin for a special occasion."

"Well Jack, just what kind of occasion would you deem special enough to break out your bottle of scotch whiskey?" Leah asked, a sly grin on her face.

"Well it certainly wouldn't be the occasion of you and the Commodore getting drunk again." Jack said as he eyed the bottle, giving serious thought to repossessing it from their possession.

"Well name off your requirements of this special occasion then." She said moving the bottle out of his immediate reach, the smile still on her lips.

"If I do will you give it back, or at least what's left of it?" Jack said poutily.

"Maybe, maybe you won't want us to." She answered.

"I doubt that." Jack said, and then after a pause started listing the occasions appropriate for his prize bottle of liquor to be consumed under.

"The commandeering of a fine Royal Navy vessel, or sinking of such would definitely be one I'm sure." He said giving James a wicked smile. In reply James smiled a little smile, raised his glass of scotch whiskey to Jack and took a drink. Jack gave him a sour look and continued, "Or happenin across a galleon loaded to the scuppers with swag would be another, or comin onto a whole ship full of scotch which is how I came to be possessin that very bottle you're doin your best to drink while I'm sittin here talking about it." Jack finished poutily.

"Anything else you can think of that would be worth drinking your precious bottle Jack?" Leah asked innocently.

"Not at the moment luv." Jack said sullenly. "You're not really intendin to drink the whole thing now are you luv?"

"Yes we thought we might Jack, and how about a wedding? Would that meet your requirements?"

Jack answered without really thinking, he was still pouting about his rapidly disappearing liquor, "Have to be one heck of a mighty special wedding……" and then to himself cocking his head to the side, "Wedding?" and then his head snapping up and looking unbelieving from James to Leah, "Did you say wedding?"

To Be Continued

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