A New Accord



He saw her standing on the dock, waiting for him. He smiled and walked over to her. "Have you come to apologize for bein' so mean to me?"

Patrice rolled her eyes. "Absolutely not."

"Then why are you here, love?"

"I heard you're going after the Treasure of Alba."

Jack laughed. "You don't miss a thing, do ya?"

"I want to go with you," she stated, matter-of-factly.

He shook his head and hoisted a barrel onto his shoulders, walking towards the ship.

"Wait!" she cried, following him. "Wait!"

"Do you have a name, missy?" he asked, spinning around to face her.

She straightened up. "Patrice St. Clair."

"Well, Miss St. Clair, you can turn yourself around and march back up those stairs from whence you came. Where we're goin', ain't no place for a lady."

"And who says I'm a lady? I can handle it! I stole from you, didn't I?"

He scratched his chin. "Yes, and I would very much like those things back, if you don't mind."

"And you can have them...if you let me go with you," she mocked him.

He handed the barrel to Gibbs who eyed Patrice with a cautioned eye. "It's bad luck to bring a woman aboard, sir. We've already got one - don't burden us with another," he pleaded.

"Aye," Jack agreed, pushing Patrice out of the way. "Bad luck."

She crossed her arms, looking unimpressed. "I hardly believe in superstition such as that, Captain Sparrow. Besides," she lowered her voice. "You need me."

"And why is that, lass? What could I possibly need from a pick-pocket?"

"A map," she said, simply, watching as he immediately stopped what he was doing.

He walked over to her, beguilingly sliding an arm around her waist as they began to walk away from the dock. "And let me guess...you have one."

"No...But I know where it is."

Jack leaned backwards and laughed heartily. "You know where Henry Blackheart's map is? That's impossible! Improbable! Men have been searching for that map as long as I can remember. No one has ever found it!"

"Perhaps they've been searching in the wrong places, Captain Sparrow."

"Don't be daft, love."

She pulled away from him. "And without a map...how will you find the island?"

Jack opened his mouth to speak, but then fell silent.

"Still working that one out, eh?" she replied, sarcastically.

He shook his head. "And, if I let you accompany us, what's in it for you?"

"10 percent of your takings. I think that's more than fair, don't you?"

He nodded, pursing his lips.

"Let me aboard your ship, and I'll take you to Alba."

He thought for a moment, then spoke, "And you'll give back my compass and my ring?"

Patrice huffed. "And I'll give back your bloody compass and your ring!"

He smiled. "We have an accord. Welcome aboard the Black Pearl, Miss St. Clair."

"Patrice," she said, happily, before turning around to fetch her belongings.

Gibbs wondered down to Jack, looking frustrated. "Are you crazy?!"

"She knows where Blackheart's map is," he declared.

Gibbs stammered. "That's not possible!"

He turned to face Gibbs, placing a hand on his shoulder. "If we don't take her, we might as well plan on sailing around the Spanish Main for the rest of our lives, lookin' for this island."

Both men watched as Patrice dragged a large wooden trunk up the gangway and onto the ship. Gibbs heaved with annoyance. "Women."

Jack looked outward toward the port. "Where's our English friend, I wonder? Hutchinson said that he would be here."

"There!" Gibbs pointed out, as an impish man hurriedly made his way down to the dock.

"Yoo-hoo! Pirates!" he called out, waving at the boat. "I could use some assistance with my things!"

Jack sighed, rubbing his temples. "This is going to be a voyage I shan't forget."

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For now, chapters won't be much longer. Sorry. That is just how I write. :)