A.N.: I do not own POTC….

Chapter IX

I stared at the pirate drain down his fifth tankard of rum.

I stared at his cat like grin as he motioned the bartender to it fill up.

I stared and stared for what seemed like five hundred hours.

He swallowed the filthy drink again and pounded his tankard

"So…Captain- what- are- we- going- to- do?" I gritted as the pirate sipped noisily at his precious alcohol.

"We-" He swayed casually on his chair, "we are going to spend our time wisely in this- might I say- beautiful tavern and- rum?" he held his filled rum at me.

"No thank you" I started, "Don't you even care about your ship?"

"Of course I do lass" he leaned forward and spoke slowly, "But it's in good hand love, I can trust me crew to find us."

"No worries" I mumbled, still the guilt washed over me.

It was partly my fault we were in this mess.

Actually, my heart grudgingly did admit, it was entirely my fault, though I dared not to say it out loud.

 "Are you sure ye don't want to try some?"

"I despise alcohol" I hissed

"Yer missing something grand, love" he chugged it down, "More rum-"

"Oh God" I exasperatedly breathed and stood up, "Well- I'll meet you here an hour later. I want to see why Tortuga's such a grand place as you describe"

Jack spurted his rum back out, fiercely shaking his head, "No- no lass, its-"

"I'm sure I won't get lost" I called out

I couldn't even last five minutes outside that tavern door.

A couple of sickeningly disgusting drunken men chased me all the way up to the boat docks, where eventually all of them fell in the water. Not having a damned clue where they were.

After a pant for breath I marched back into the tavern.

There was a thick smell of smoke and sweat- rum and er- other things wafting inside the dim tavern.

"Jack" I searched

No sign of the pirate.

Bloody hell.

My eyes wandered around the heaps of drunken men- and women all over the tables and floor. Never sitting properly on the chair or stools.

When do they all sleep?

A snore interrupted me.

I rolled my eyes.

Of course, drink and sleep…on the floor.

"Um- you!" I called out to the bartender who himself gulped down a bit of alcohol, "Where's the pir- er- the man- the colorful man who sat right there?"

He blinked his confused eyes and shrugged.

"You know!" I impatiently continued, "The man- a bit taller than me. Weird hair, weird teeth-"

"Ahhh- now me thinks I remember lass" the man snapped his pudgy fingers, "He went out in search for you"

Oh great.

I swore, that drunken stupid pirate will get lost…even in his own- favorite little town.

I growled in frustration.

Well…I could go out to look for him or stay here…

Another loud snore jumped me up to my feet.

Instantly I made up my mind and pushed to go out.

Suddenly at the corner of my eye one of the sleeping bodies on the floor rose and shook his head dazed.

Jack!

The sudden thought of not having to go out on his search filled me with joy.

Squinting towards me, he straightened his ruffled collar and coughed. He marched towards me, his arms flinging everywhere, his steps unbalanced and awkward.

Drunk? I shut my eyes and took in a deep breath.

At the wrong moment he collapsed on top of me, his breath stunk of alcohol, and his dark usual alert eyes were slightly glazed, "Apologies-miss…?"

I groaned loudly as he leaned his entire shoulder on me and stared at me fully, "You know love, you must be the most beautiful girl I have ever" he swayed, "seen in Tortuga"

"Yes, yes very charming" I spoke through my clenched jaws, and heaved him back to his feet.

"Strange- what brings you here?" Jack motioned around the room, "Ye seem very very familiar"

"Jack- ugh you stink" I shoved him up, "Get cleaned- or whatever"

"Ye have the greenest eyes" he eyed me closely, "Very pretty"

"Yes thank you"

"I don't see quite a beauty like yourself here in Tortuga"

"How very kind" I spat

"Feisty" he grabbed the nearest barrel and sat on it, "Reminds me of another girl I used to know…"

"Yes?"

"Juliet? No Julia?" He tapped his head his eyes shut in concentration, "Jud- no, Jennifer, Jasmine-"

"Jessica?" my arms were folded, I leaned back as the pirate clapped his hand and pointed at me, "Aye, right love, that girl Jessica- have ye met her?"

Was he serious?

Cause I had no time for…tending a drunk-

"What's your name love, eh?" he held my hand and kissed it.

My hand twitched and reflexively I hit him in the jaw.

He fell back, his mouth open in surprise, the barrel in which he sat on rolled away noisily.

"Wake up Jack Sparrow- you touch me again- and-and I'll have your head!" I shook my fist.

He sat up quickly in confusion, "Have we met?"

"Y-" I stopped myself and thought it over, "Of course not"

His mouth twitched to a frown as he struggled to focus, "Aye- as I thought"

"Jessica has blue eyes- ye have green eyes" he assured himself aloud.

He thought I had blue eyes?

God, for six years I have been teased as 'Green-Eyes' by my schoolmates.

It wasn't that hard to notice my eye color.

Jack Sparrow, rolled back his barrel and plopped on it again.

"So where were we?"

"Er-"

"Ah yes have ye met Jessica?"

"I've been acquainted" I stilled my face to be serious

"Aye- what a lass eh?"

"She's very polite" I weakly added

The pirate snorted, "I beg to differ- but perhaps she treats ye different- ye know with lady friends" he wagged his hand

The nerve-

"Oh! Aye- must find her" his eyes widened in memory, "She's gone out- that devil of the lass"

My eyes narrowed.

"So you don't get along with her do you?" I sweetly pretended.

He smiled and swayed dangerously, "I like the lass plenty- very bold, charismatic, adventurous- another spoilt brat from the Caribbean"

Brat?

"The problem is" He seriously continued, "She doesn't think of me as anything but a pirate"

Damn right

"She told me you were a stupid arrogant scoundrel" I stated pleasantly.

His face lit up, "Now did she, eh?"

"A complete bastard and so on- I don't want to hurt your feelings" I satisfyingly finished

"Honestly I think she likes me, don't ye agree?" he displayed his colorful teeth

I scowled, "I think not"

"I can tell- although it was she that landed us here." He waved in the air, "I should thank her."

"You're happy?"

"Never been happier" he tapped on the barrel, "Rum. Women. Can't get any better in Tortuga."

I raised my eyebrow.

"Last time I came here in Tortuga I was off in a search of my stolen ship-" and on he continued his story, as I tried to decide whether he was fibbing or not.

"And now the Turner goes to Miss Swann, I get back me ship- and yo ho the story ends" he finished loudly.

"Very interesting" I hesitantly worded.

He unsteadily got up and tipped his worn hat, "I'll catch ye later- perhaps dinner next night?" he said, "Miss…?"

Stumbling unevenly he pulled on the heavy door.

"Elizabeth" a name blurted from my mouth.

He looked strangely at me and smiled, "Of course….miss Elizabeth"

"Where are you going?" I shot up

"Off to find that bloody girl before she finds herself kidnapped or worse" a sudden look of regret, "As soon as I get back we'll have a drink together, eh?"

"Sweet dreams milady Elizabeth" he stumbled out

I stared at the heavy door shut loudly.

Strangest pirate I have ever seen.

I was asleep, my head and arms on the hard dusty table, sitting on a near broken seat.

Until a hard shake on the elbow woke me up from my dreamless nap.

My eyes snapped open.

A sharp studying dark pair of eyes stood just an inch away from me.

I shot up and fell to the floor surprised.

Jack helped me up.

"Next time don't scare me like that" I snarled croakily.

He spun me around to gaze into my eyes again. He weakly stated, "Ye have green eyes"

Suddenly my face was bright red.

Jack let go, "Ye- ye were Elizabeth?"

"Don't have a clue what you're talking about" I snapped

"Couldn't resist, eh love?" He let out a hearty laugh, "I never knew you to be so crafty-"

"How long was I asleep?" I interrupted

"Four hours?" he shrugged, "Only an hour ago, I had me thoughts cleared and I rushed back here to find ye sleeping"

"Four hours" I echoed softly.

"Ye know lass- that was the most decent conversation I've had with ye" he spoke softly

"That's nice"

"It was nice" he agreed solemnly

"You're very charming when you're drunk" I coolly mentioned

"I'm very honest when I get a bit - I meant every word I said when we were talking- though I can't remember" he trailed off

Thank God

"Well-"

"How long are we planning to stay here?" I wondered aloud

"A week?" he spoke slowly.

"A WEEK?" I glared.

I would run off my own if I wanted to. I did want to. But I knew I couldn't last here in Tortuga. Jack was the only protection I had here.

Oh god this looked bad.

"Relax lass" he quieted, "It's not bad here at all."

"Well then! We'll hijack a boat and get the hell out of here!" my voice increased

Frantically he waved to quiet me down, " Ye need to calm down lass,"

"Calm down?"

"Aye- take a deep breath-" his chest puffed

"Ye bloody scoundrel"

"So I've heard" he grinned, "Yer too tight- too stiif fer yer own good love-"

"Don't tell me what I am" I threatened, "If we're not out of here today- I'll- I'll- I'll-"

"Have rum with me?" he suggested

"Yes! No!" I realized, "No- I'd rather be back in jail than to drink with you"

With a disappointed sigh Jack shook his head, "Alright lass, keep yer bonnie head on- we'll find a ship. We'll find it and take her to Port Royal and meet the Pearl on its way. Don't throw another tantrum" he motioned desperately.

Tantrum.

I fumed

"Fine- with your plan" I let out.

"Good" his shoulders relaxed, "We'll go to the ship docks and find us a ship- follow closely it's still a bit dangerous in the morning-savvy?"

I reluctantly followed him.

Oh how I hated Tortuga.