My dearest reviewers: I love you all SOOO much! ^_^ *gives you all Jack, Will and Liz plushies* I'm trying to make the chapters longer, this big update will finish the story! 0_0
And just for the record, this isn't (or wasn't intended to be, in any case) a Mary Sue, but... *shrug* to each his own I suppose ^_^
Pearl
Chapter 3: Bad Luck
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He hadn't slept at all, but strangely his bed had become more comfortable. Realizing she had nowhere to go and no money, he had, smiling, offered to share his room with her, expecting her to be completely surprised, to stutter and stammer, then he'd sweep her off her feet, take her to his room and be occupied until later in the day.
To his surprise, however, her answer was a vehement no. Oh, how she must have loved that look on his face. He was practically gaping.
"If that's the only reason you're going to help me-" she began. Catching her meaning, he shushed her and smiled again.
"All right love, all right. I'll just pay for a different room for you, then?" He was surprising himself. When did Jack Sparrow become a gentleman? Her features softened and she gave him a genuine smile, not the sardonic smile she had been flashing him before. Bloody, she was pretty when she wasn't being sarcastic. Or rude, presumptuous, arrogant... He had shaken that thought out of his head as quick as he could.
Yet... it was still there as the sun rose, still there as he left his accomodations to see that preparations were going well. He didn't know where she was at the time. He had told her high tide, she knew he meant it. If she wanted to go, she'd be there. He approached the Pearl.
"I told you no! What kind of idiot do you take me for? Now get going, Miss!" It was Gibbs. Jack neared the Pearl and saw the man, red in the face, pacing up and down the dock. The crew was loading supplies as they should have, but the "Miss" to whom Gibbs had been speaking was nowhere in sight.
"Aye, morning Gibbs," he drawled. "Problem?"
"Oh, Jack," Gibbs said, obviously relieved. There's some bloody woman, she's been giving orders and walking around, trying to get on board the Pearl, and-" She walked up behind him while he was talking.
"Hello, Pearl," Jack said dryly. She, seemingly remembering he was in charge, nodded curtly.
"Captain," she stated. Gibbs whirled.
"This is her! Jack, this is the woman that-"
"I know, Gibbs," Jack said. "We've already been acquainted." Gibbs stopped in his tracks, mouth still open.
"What?! You mean you- she- knows-" he stammered. Jack walked calmly past the confused man.
"Yes, mate, I know her. She's coming on board the Pearl with us. We're on a mission of sorts." Pearl smirked at Gibbs and turned to follow Jack up and onto the ship, leaving the poor man to ponder what had just happened. Anamaria approached Jack as he got on board.
"Captain," she said. "We're almost prepared to leave." Jack half-smiled at her.
"Good. Anamaria, this is Pearl. She'll be on board with us." Anamaria was shocked for a moment as Jack revealed the woman standing behind him. She didn't look at all like a prostitute- why, she had two earrings in her left ear! Quickly she hid her surprise and prepared to ask why this woman was coming along.
"Jack! Jack!" Gibbs came barreling up the gangplank. He stopped in front of the Captain. "You can't bring a bloody woman on board! It's bad luck!" Anamaria raised an eyebrow and cleared her throat. Gibbs turned and paled. "You see? We've already got one! We'll be cursed if we have two! " Pearl took this opportunity to laugh, setting Jack's mind whirling about bells again. He shook it off.
"All right, all right, I'll tell you both the story, in short," he said. "This is Pearl DeRogue. She's-" She cut him off.
"Captain Pearl DeRogue," she said with emphasis. She raised an eyebrow at him. He bowed mockingly.
"Pardon, Captain Pearl DeRogue. We are chasing her ship, the Amythest Tiger. It has been, er..." he searched for the right word. "Commandeered." Looking at her to check it, her eyes showed approval. He grinned. Gibbs, however, still did not approve.
"But Jack," he began. Jack looked him in the eye.
"She'll be coming, savvy?" That would be the last word. Gibbs nodded.
"Aye, Jack," he said, then walked slowly away, still thinking, to watch over the last bit of cargo being loaded and whatnot. Jack turned to Pearl.
"We'll set said when all is ready." She understood. Anamaria came up again to tell him that everything was prepared and loaded; it was time to give his order.
"Avast, men!" he shouted. He had their attention immediately. "Hoi-"
"Hoist the sails, full speed southwest!" came a voice from beside him. Pearl stood tall, hand braced against the mast. She caught him looking at her. "What?"
"Bloody hell, woman, I'm the Captain of the Pearl!" he nearly shouted. "I give the orders here, savvy?" She sighed, acting as if she were doing him a favor.
"Right, sorry," she said, holding up her hands in mock apology. Jack sighed.
This could be a long trip.
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Two days later, they were caught in a storm. He was stuck steering, of course. Anamaria hated steering in the rain and he didn't trust anyone else enough to let them take the wheel. Bloody women. Blinking slightly to see through the raindrops, he turned the wheel a bit to the left to counter the strong wind. He didn't notice her.
She had perched herself on the edge, between the wheel and the steps. The rain, coupled with the clouds that obscured the moonlight, shadowed her. She had always loved the rain. She would stand, steering the Amythest Tiger, and tilt her head up to catch the tiny crystalline droplets. She leaned back slightly and looked up, water splish-splashing off the end of her nose, catching on her eyelashes, falling on her bared shoulders. She was missing her ship. Though she tried as hard as she could, she couldn't stop herself from occasionally shouting an order, berating some member of the crew for slacking, complaining that they weren't moving as fast as they could. She knew it irritated him, but she almost enjoyed most of the time when he was flustered and angry. She smiled a little. She turned her head to look at him, standing in the rain, Captain of his ship. It didn't seem like the rain bothered him much either. He looked so... proud. Nearly regal. She had the sudden thought that nothing could bring his spirit down, nothing could ever really depress the legendary Captain Jack Sparrow. And he had agreed to help her.
She had no idea who he was when he rescued her. Those bloody idiots on the Tiger- they'd pay dearly for what they did. She had known the Black Pearl immediately, however. She had touched it, nearly in awe. And when he had told her... she couldn't help but stare at him for a moment. This was Captain Jack Sparrow? The legend? This man with the beads in his hair, tattered hat on his head, and khol-rimmed eyes... The ones you think are incredibly sexy, her mind cut in. Sitting up straight immediately, she flung the thought from her head. Where had that come from?
No, she told herself. You've sworn off men. Any men, all men. After what he did- she visibly shuddered and forced herself not to think of her former fiancee. An idiot, like all men. Running off with that- that-
She turned her head violently towards the sea. It had been a year since she last thought of him, nearly nine since she had last seen him. When she herself had run away, found a ship and a loyal crew- or one she had thought to be loyal at least- and set off to make a name for herself as one of the best pirates on the Caribbean, and a woman at that. She had no reason to think of him now. She forced herself to believe that any water on her face was rain, nothing else. She hadn't thought of him in a year. Why now?
You also haven't allowed any man into your life in any way for nearly nine years, the voice inside her head reminded her again. She berated herself. No man had currently entered her life either, she replied. She sighed. What a sight she would make. Having a mental conversation with herself aboard the Black Pearl in the middle of a rainstorm. Lightning flashed.
Scratch that, in the middle of a thunderstorm. She wiped her face with her sleeve, though it did close to nothing- her clothing was nearly sopping wet as it was, and it was still raining. In fact, it was getting more violent as time passed. She decided to talk to him. Hopping lightly off the side, she started towards the wheel.
At that moment, Jack was thinking about her. The orders she had been giving while on board- bloody woman, she knew how it irritated him. She had to be constantly reminded to call him Captain, not "Jack", not "Mr. Sparrow", though the latter was usually when she was in a fit of that explosive temper of hers and trying to annoy him purposely. Yet... she was positively gorgeous when she was angry, and her eyes flashed with such intensity when she was trying to make him mad. Even moreso when he figured out that she was trying and purposely didn't give in. It was also getting increasingly difficult to be in close proximity to her without noticing how smooth her shoulders looked, without noticing how, with a tiny tug, he could send the scrap of red around her neck to the floor, without thinking about how she slept in the only other cabin built for a single person on the Pearl, without thinking about what she wore when asleep-
"Bloody woman," he muttered again. She did things to him that she'd never know. He whirled at a noise behind him.
"Jack?" It was her- oh bloody hell and good God. She was wet. Of course, she had been when he had first met her as well, but then he didn't take the chance to fully notice it. And he fully noticed it now. He could only hope that she didn't realize that he was noticing. And appreciating. His mind screamed at him.
"Aye?" he replied, not bothering to notice that she left off his important title. She walked closer.
"Would you like me to take over for a bit?" she asked. Good Lord, it was the first selfless, nearly kind thing she'd offered since boarding. But... would he let her steer his Pearl? He looked at the wheel in his hand. Then back up at her. He had to stop the thought that crossed his mind- Pearl steering the Pearl. He looked down again, before closing his eyes briefly and making his decision in a snap.
"All righ-" he began, when the wheel in his hands jerked violently to the right. The Pearl rocked. Catching the spinning wheel, he twisted it back to the left, regaining momentary control.
"What did we hit?" Pearl asked anxiously, running to the side and peering over. He waited for her to answer her own question, but she remained silent for a moment too long.
"Well?" he prompted.
"I can't bloody tell!" she said, annoyance in her voice. "It's too damned foggy." Well, this was lovely. Gibbs and Anamaria came running. He was surprised that one shake could be enough to get Anamaria out in the rain.
"What happened?" Gibbs said, worry lacing his voice.
"We've hit something," Pearl answered for Jack. "We can't tell what, though." Lightning flashed again and it began to rain harder. Something in the back of his head started nagging Jack.
"Anamaria, get the crew on deck. I want every man ready in case we're hit- anywhere." She nodded and ran off to relay the Captain's orders. "Gibbs, tie down anything we need to save. These waves are a bit violent for the Pearl and we might lose a bit of our cargo, savvy?" Gibbs, too, nodded and without a word went off to find rope and tie down supplies and anything else of value. Pearl waited for orders. Well, this was a first. Jack said nothing.
"Captain?" she questioned, emphasizing the word and tilting her head slightly to the side.
"I want you up here with me," he stated simply. He missed the crossed look of pleasure and pain that flashed across her features. Why would he possibly want... The wheel took the opportunity to spin again. "Bloody-" he began. "Pearl, we hit something else. See if you can see this one." Again, she leaned over the edge. She shook her head.
"I can only make out shadowy shapes, Jack," she replied. Turning back to him, she caught his look. "Er, Captain." Gibbs ran back up.
"I've turned over the job of tying things down to Mr. Cotton," he reported.
"Fine," Jack said. "Go see if you can make out these 'shadowy shapes' that Pearl sees, will you?" He was getting a headache. Gibbs ran over to the side and leaned out.
"Not really, Jack," he shouted to be heard over the wind. "But from what I can see, I'd say we were floating through-" he was cut off again as the waves rocked the Pearl, throwing her violently from side to side. Lightning flashed again, a terrific cracking was heard, and flame leapt up from the portside.
"Bloody hell!" Jack cried. "Pearl- was she hit?" Pearl leaned over and straightened back up almost immediately. She didn't answer. "Pearl?" Jack questioned. She was stock-still. "Anamaria!" he shouted. She ran up at once. "Take the wheel, and don't let her spin out of control!" Jack ordered, then ran over to Pearl. Catching her by the shoulder, he began. "Pearl! I asked-" He followed her vacant gaze and took in a breath.
They were cutting through wreckage. The Pearl hadn't been hit, luckily. What had been hit was a large piece of the other ship's hull, still mainly in tact. It was burning now, giving a little light to the rest of the area and casting strange shadows in the fog. He barely heard Pearl's whisper.
"The Tiger was here."
"What?" he asked. At that moment, Anamaria decided to complain about steering in the rain.
"Captain!" she began, taking one hand off the wheel to gesture dramatically. "I-"
Everything happened suddenly. The Pearl hit another piece of floating wood- small, luckily- the wheel started spinning, the Pearl rocked again to the right, and Gibbs, still leaning over the side, staring at the wreckage, was thrown over. Pearl, seemingly mortified, was snapped back with Jack's cry.
"Man overboard!" he screamed down to the crew, simultaneously rushing to grab and control the spinning wheel. "Dammit all Anamaria, I told you not to let her spin!" Anamaria looked scared out of her mind.
"I'm sorry- Captain-" she stuttered. "What about Gibbs? We can't throw over rope, surely it could catch fire and-" He turned to her, eyes blazing.
"I already thought of that, thank you love," he said sardonically. What could they do? He turned toward Pearl. Or where Pearl used to be. "Bloody hell, where's Pearl?!" he cried. Anamaria, silent, pointed to a spot on the edge, near the prow. Pear was perched, standing, extremely precariously. "Pearl!" Jack screamed at her. She looked back at him for a moment as more lightning flashed, and he noticed she had a piece of rope held in her teeth. "Pearl!" he yelled again, just before she made a neat dive into the water. "Dammit!" he screamed. He wanted to go over to the side and hold the other end of the rope- but he had to steer. Anamaria couldn't. God, women on board were bad luck! He turned to Anamaria, and his eyes must have communicated his thoughts.
"Cotton!" she cried at once. Summoning him and a few other members of the crew to the prow, they held fast to the other end of the rope, waiting for it to tighten as a sign to pull. It took all his willpower to keep his concentration on steering and not think about Pearl or Gibbs. If he steered straight and didn't let her spin, it would make for a much easier rescue. He forced himself to stare straight ahead, but more than half of his mind was on the woman in the water, attempting to rescue his first mate. "Bloody... stupid woman..." he muttered.
Meanwhile, in the other half of his brain, negativity had taken over. Too much time has elapsed, it said. Either Gibbs is dead or they both are. They got too close to wreckage. The rope caught fire. They can't be pulled back up, they'll drown.
"Dammit!" he screamed again. Anamaria turned immediately toward him.
"Captain?" she questioned. A moment later, she stifled a small scream. The rope had suddenly gone taut, surprising her. "Pull up!" she ordered the men with her. Heaving with all their might, they pulled up a figure. Jack could hardly keep himself at the wheel.
"Gibbs?!" he cried. "Where's Pearl?" Gibbs lay on deck, coughing and gasping for air. At the moment, Jack didn't care.
"She... tied me arm to... the rope," he gasped out. "Didn't take any... herself..." His story was true- Anamaria held up his arm with the end of the rope tied neatly to it. Jack's mind flooded with worry. The question of why he was worried never even entered it.
"All hands search overboard, find Captain DeRogue!" he ordered immediately. The men sprang into action. Precious minutes passed, yet there was no sign of her on either side of the Pearl. He was gripping the wheel so tightly his knuckles were turning white. He had to give another order. "Throw over ropes! If she's there, she'll grab one!" he cried. "And all hands-" There was a coughing from slightly behind him, near the edge. He whirled to see Pearl, sopping wet, smirking like he'd never hear the end of it. "How..." he began.
"It's much easier to scale the side of a boat when you don't have an anchor tied to you, Captain," she stated with a smile, her eyes flashing. "Savvy?" He could have hugged her. Only the fact that he was still steering kept him in place, but that wouldn't last long. The rain was letting up, they were passing through the wreckage.
"All hands report to stations! Inform Mr. Gibbs of any damage received. Anamaria, take her. And do not let her spin again," he said. She nodded immediately, and he knew this time she wouldn't complain. He walked silently past Pearl, motioning for her to follow.
"Wha-" she started. He interrupted.
"You want to get sick, in wet clothes?" he asked. He could have sworn she blushed. "Then follow me, I'll get you something dry." Down the steps they went, and into his cabin.
"I-" she began again, but stopped abruptly when he threw one of his shirts at her. She looked at him incredulously. He met her stare and gave her his classic half-smile.
"It's all I have to offer, love," he said, gesturing wildly with his hands and shrugging slightly. She looked down at it, then at him, and waited for a moment.
"You could at least turn your back," she said haughtily. He grinned. Holding up his hands, he perched himself facing away from her on his bed. She quickly stripped herself of her wet articles and slid on his shirt, reveling in the feel of it against her skin. She thought of something, hesitant to bring it up, but finally spoke. "Did I hear... as I was climbing the side... something about 'Captain DeRogue' ?" she asked, turning towards him, indicating it was all right to turn around.
He turned with a perfect comeback, but whatever it was was immediately lost. If she had attracted him before, this was torture to end it all. His shirt scooped low, she had attempted to tie it. It rode the tops of her legs, which seemed endless to him. Good God.
"I-" he tried, but it was useless. Her eyes lit up and she sauntered toward him. He had to catch himself now or he'd be lost. And, for some reason, he didn't want to take her now. There was something inside him that didn't want it to be like that. That was like any other woman. Like any whore in Tortuga, like anyone else. And she... now his thoughts were killing him... she wasn't like anyone else. He broke away from her gaze and started towards the door. "You'd... better get back to your cabin and turn in," he said slowly. Her eyes glazed for a moment, then she stooped, gathered her things, and stepped lightly out the door. Shutting it, Jack shuffled back to his bed and flopped down on it, not caring that he was sopping the sheets. He closed his eyes and almost groaned- a mental picture of her was still there. Getting through the night would be tough. So, as he typically found most quickly erased his memory, he dug around in a drawer until he found what he was looking for- a half-filled bottle of rum.
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She had hurried back to her cabin, mindful of what she was dressed in. She laid her clothes out flat to dry as quickly as possible, then hopped onto her bed and stretched out. Turning over onto her side, she thought of him.
What were you doing?! Her mind screamed. Trying to seduce Captain Jack Sparrow?! She bolted into a sitting position.
"No!" she cried out loud. Quieting, she thought hard. You swore off men, she reminded herself. And love. Love only gets you hurt, remember?
Yes, she remembered. Remembered all too well. Nights of no sleep and endless crying. Feeling like her heart was empty, like there was literally nothing left inside of her. Feeling like, when he had left, he had taken her soul with him.
She had finally regained feeling when she had commanded the Tiger. It was such a wonderful feeling, and she had loved that freedom- the freedom to go wherever she pleased, whenever she pleased, and do exactly as she liked. The thought of being a pirate hadn't even entered her mind until she realized she needed to do something to buy food and supplies when they docked. And then, with a little practice and learning from mistakes, she'd learned fast, she had become one of the most notorious pirates of the Caribbean. When she took flight and obtained the Tiger, she had taken to wearing the red in her outfit. Red bands on her arms to show that she was a pirate. She was a woman who knew how to kill. Red band around her neck...
That was to show that she didn't need a man.
And now what? The Tiger was in the hands of... she hated to think about it. Her first mate, Shaw. He was the smartest of the lot (in itself not a hard feat), extremely crafty. If the men were indeed planning on 'stranding' her at Tortuga, no doubt it was Shaw who had come up with the idea to tie an anchor to her and drop her a few hundred feet out to sea. Any other woman would have been dead. Only the fact that she had spent the previous eight years learning how to swim extremely well and the fact that she was too stubborn to die kept her alive long enough to reach the docks. And the it was pure luck that Jack happened to be there to save her when she lost her grip.
There she was again, back to thinking about Jack. Her mind berated her again. She laid down, closed her eyes, and chose to ignore it. She smiled.
If she was falling in love with Jack Sparrow, she was enjoying every minute of it.
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A/N: Only a little more coding to go! Waahoo! ^_^
