What in the World

Chapter 54

Jack scooted over beside James and wrapped an arm around the man's shoulders in a congenial manner as he spoke, "Now Commodore, no need to be distressed. I for one, and I've no doubt me crew as well," he said with a flourish of his hand towards the crew, many of who were still staring their way, "were more than happy to learn there's more to The Scourge of Pirates Everywhere, currently on leave by the way, than a stiff uniform and an ambiguous wig. More than happy indeed." Then leaning a little closer and pointing an ever moving finger a few inches from James' face said, "I may have to be keepin me eye on you Commodore, afore you know it you'll be right up there with me own reputation with the ladies. Especially if your dearly beloved engages in any more public speeches as to your…. inane prowess and….fuddled aptness for such dealings. You'll be in demand in every port in the Spanish Main afore you know it Commodore, won't be able to walk the streets without gaggles of girls flockin along in your wake just waitin for a look or a …….touch." Jack poked James in the chest lightly as the last word left his mouth.

James gave Jack a glare out of the corner of his eye, ungently removed the arm from his shoulder, scooted away from Jack, and said as haughtily as he could at the moment, "Captain Sparrow, if you please!"

Jack's smile glittered in the lantern light as he tapped a finger to his chin, "I believe you're the one whats been doin the pleasin here Commodore. It was however quite pleasin to hear of the pleasin you've been up to, in fact so pleasin it would please me to get your bonny lass to give a few more details as to specific pleasins that may have been goin on during the over all pleasin that was or may have been happenin at the time as it were Commodore.

"I do not foresee the occasion on which such a conversation would ever take place Captain." James got to his feet, took Leah, who was sitting there totally flummoxed, by the hand, pulled her up beside him, nodded to Tia and Ragan, and with a Commodor-ly straightening of his shoulders said, "By your leave Tia, gentlemen." He seized a currently unclaimed bottle of rum that was sitting on the deck, and strode off with Leah in tow. The laughter from the crew as he and Leah made their retreat served only to make his posture stiffen all the more.

Leah walked beside James with her head down and mumbling, "I'm so sorry James. I was just trying to…….I didn't mean to embarrass you…..I only wanted to…….Oh James, I am so sorry. Please don't be mad at me."

They had reached the cabin now and James opened the door and entered. Leah had no choice but to follow as James still had her hand securely gripped in his. He let go of her as soon as they entered the room, turned, shut the door, gave it a rap with his fist, let out an oath, pulled the stopper out of the rum, took a long drink, and began pacing the cabin, muttering to himself, swallowing mouthfuls of rum as he did.

Leah stood there trying not to draw attention to herself as she watched James pace. The look on his face scared her. She thought sure, and with good cause she admitted to herself, he was furious with her for blurting out the things she had. She knew those things must have embarrassed him to no end, especially considering the audience they had been said in front of. She had found in the time she had known the man that James was usually very proper when it came to matters of being socially correct in his behavior. And you most definitely didn't go jabbering your most intimate dealings in front of a bunch of pirates, let alone Captain Jack Sparrow. Her unthinking outburst may have done irreparable harm here. She tried to keep her tears back but they managed to seep out around her tightly closed eyes. She sobbed quietly to herself, but none the less drew the attention of the man pacing the room. She heard him come to an abrupt halt in front of her and her body trembled. "Well now you've done it, as if you hadn't done enough already." she said mournfully to herself, and waited for the man's wrath to descend upon her. He was close enough she could smell his scent, and the rum, and hear his harsh breathing. She stood there trembling; her eyes still shut as tightly as possible, her body wracked with sobbing shudders. They stood there like that long enough Leah was beginning to wish James would just get it over with, swear at her, shout at her, tell her how she had ruined his life. Do anything but just stand there. Do something, finish the berating she had coming so she could go to her room and berate herself for loosing what she cherished most. But still the man didn't utter a word, didn't continue with his pacing, just stood there. She wondered if she dared open her eyes and look at him if that would ignite the storm. Maybe he was waiting for that very thing. Well if that was what he was waiting for she would give it to him if for nothing more than to get it over with, she couldn't stand this any longer. She slowly opened her eyes, steeling herself, ready to accept her punishment.

But he wasn't even looking at her. He was standing there in front of her; his shoulders slumped, looking at the floor, the bottle of rum held loosely in one hand. Before she could think or stop herself, she reached out and touched him tenderly on the arm. He jerked and flashed a brief look her way before returning his gaze to the floor. But in that brief look she saw the pain in those expressive emerald eyes she had come to love. He didn't jerk away from her, nor let out a stream of curses at her touch, didn't in fact do anything but stand there with his head bowed.

"James." She said softly.

A groan somewhere from deep inside his chest escaped at the sound of his name. He took a shaky breath, cleared his throat, and spoke then, his voice filled with the pain she had seen in his eyes, "I'm sorry Leah, I'm.. sorry." He halfway turned from her as he spoke.

"Wait a minute." She thought to herself totally taken aback, "Why is he sorry, I'm the one that should be sorry here. This is making no sense at all."

"James." She said as she renewed her touch on his arm. "You have nothing to be sorry for, I am the one in the wrong here. I should not have said what I did. I just wasn't thinking."

He answered in a shaky voice, "No, I should not have reacted as I did. And I had no right to manhandle you as I did." He looked at her then, the pain still clearly showing in those eyes, and tears forming there also? "I….I…hope you will forgive me for being…….for….for doing anything so…..improper. I would wish anything but that you would hate me."

She thought to herself, "Leave it to this dear self effacing man to turn everything around to rest on his shoulders." She took the rum bottle out of his hand, set it on a nearby table, closed the distance between them, and wrapped her arms around his neck. She smiled up at him and with a kiss whispered to him, "I don't think you will be getting rid of me that easily Mr. Commodore James Norrington. You might as well make up your mind right now you are stuck with me for a long long time."

"The appropriate word here is blessed I believe, not stuck." He said returning her smile and her kiss and wrapping her tightly against him. "And no matter how long I have the delight of your presence it will not be long enough by half."

To Be Continued

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