Disclaimer: I own no one 'cept for Diana. Everyone else goes to Disney, Savvy?

Chapter 4

"A dress?" Repeated a fat little Italian man with a peg leg. He quirked an eyebrow as Jack grinned roguishly.

"Aye, mate. Give ye Spanish gold for the food, rum an' a evenin' gown." He said, stroking his beard.

The Italian pirate shrugged doubtfully.

"Okay, 'S your gold. Do what you want with it." He said, motioning to his crew to get the supplies.

"There's a good man, Riggoli." Smiled Jack. He tossed the pirate a small leather bag. Riggoli grinned greedily as he poured it's contents --large gold coins-- into his hand.

"Happy doin' business with ye, mate." He chuckled.

"As always." Jack replied, bowing with mock formality.

Riggoli leaned foward quietly.

"So, ye got a woman on board, Jack?" He whispered.

"Aye, why else would I be buying a dress?" Snickered Jack. The Italian shrugged. "What do ye plan on doing with her?"

Jack's head tilted slightly, but before he could speak, Riggoli cut him off.

"'Cos if ye are just gonna sell her in Tortuga or someplace like that, I could always take her. Headed there me'self." Riggoli grinned slightly, eyes twinkling.

"Nah, I can handle her. Although she can be a bit annoying." Jack added with a smirk.

"Aye, as with all women." Laughed the Italian. "Have fun with her, mate. Ye don't know the next time ye'll be around a lass. Take full advantage of what ye can do with her."

Jack frowned. The thought of taking advantage of a woman had never bothered him before. Women were created for only a few purposes in Jacks mind; the two most important ones being the highest form of pleasure, and cooking. However, the image of Diana's face when she was 'rescued' still burned in his memory. Fear. The terror in her eyes was unforgettable. She almost certainly was expecting, maybe even looking forward to death after Jack attacked the Blood Stone. Chances were she had be used as Captain Snow' play toy for the majority of his trip. The thought of taking advantage over her left Jack feeling empty.

One of Riggoli's pirates stepped forward with the dress in hand.

"Sir." He acknowledged, handing it to him.

"Ah, yes. Fine silk it be." Riggoli purred, stroking it. It was a lovely thing, dark maroon in color with puffed sleeves and lace embellishments. It was very form fitting, Jack noted. He wondered how any lady could even fit into it. Jack took from Riggoli and handed it to Barbossa.

"Take it to the Lady." He ordered. "And pray ye don't wrinkle it."

Barbossa narrowed his eyes, but obeyed. As he stalked off, Jack turned back to Riggoli.

"Thankye, ol' mate. Was good to see ye again." The two shook hands, and Riggoli limped back to his ship, The Avenger.

Jack found his mind wandering to the dress, and more specifically how it would look on Diana. The maroon would go beautifully with her dark hair, he found himself thinking.

'What am I telling me'self?' Jack scolded himself. 'That girl's only good fer one thing - me treasure.' He shook his head with self disapproval. He had been with many whores in his lifetime. Plenty that were better looking than Diana Rose. Or were they? Jack's mind fazed to Diana again. Her eyes....striking sapphire blue that gleamed when the sun hit them.

Shaking himself out of his reverie, Jack closed his eyes.

'She's nothing special.' He told himself. 'Don't get emotionally involved, and you'll be fine."

***

A soft knock on the cabin door woke Diana from her slumber.

"Miss Rose , If ye are decent, I have here something for ye." Came the hoarse voice of Barbossa. Diana sat up.

"Come in." She beckoned groggily.

The old pirate stalked into the cabin, a forged smile playing across his lips.

'What is with that man?' Diana thought, the hair on her neck prickling. Everything about the strange first mate Barbossa made the girl fidget uncomfortably.

"A gift from the Cap'n" He said in his slightly Irish accent. Grinning toothily, he presented Diana with the dress.

"Oh!" The girl exclaimed as she took it from the old man, trying to act thoroughly thrilled. But as she examined it's delicate fabric and stunning lace, she found herself being completely truthful. "It's beautiful!" She then noticed how tight it looked, and it's low cut front, and revealing back. Quickly looking at Barbossa, she added suspiciously, "For what occasion?"

Barbossa chuckled darkly. "Dinner, of course, missy."

Still laughing quietly to himself, the first mate walked out of the room without another word.

Diana stroked the dress. The exquisiteness took her breath away.

'Awfully kind of him'... She thought, her mind wandering to Jack. But she quickly shook her head.

'He's just a scoundrel. Nothing more. You forget you are his prisoner.' She told herself firmly. 'He probibly only wants to see you in it for his own lustful purposes. How selfish men are...'

Tossing the dress into a crumpled heap in vacant chair, she sat at the writing desk and put her head in her hands.

Diana was so confused. She was kidnapped from her home by a band of vile pirates and used as their plaything for the last three weeks. Now she found herself aboard another pirate ship, where the same fate most likely waited for her. She hated the crew. She hated the Black Pearl. She hated Jack Sparrow.

'I'll show him,' she told herself bitterly. 'I'll make him wish he left me to die in the depths of the sea.' And deep down, Diana would rather she had been left to die, than to be violated again.

****

Jack Sparrow rubbed his temples irritably. 'She should have been here an hour ago.' An empty keg of rum lay dripping on the floor. Jack flashed his eyes in the direction of an old grandfather clock that sat in the corner of the gallery, collecting dust. She was ignoring his wishes just to annoy him. How immature....how rude....how frustrating...how infuriating!

"Barbossa!" He growled crossly, finishing off the last of the rum. "Where is that girl?" The first mate sauntered into Jacks presence, smirking.

"She has lock herself in her room, sir." He explained, grinning wickedly.

"Wipe that smirk off your face!" Snapped Jack, slamming his fist down on the table. Barbossa's smile faded only slightly.

"Shall I fetch the lass, Captain?" He asked with a hint of testiness.

"Ye shan't be needin' to, Mr. Barbossa." Snarled Jack, standing up. "I'll see to her me self." He shoved roughly past the old man out of the gallery, throwing his steel mug to the floor harshly.

***

The door to Diana's cabin swung open, hitting the wall behind it with a loud bang. The girl snapped out of what she considered a very peaceful sleep, baring in mind the past events. She irritably sat up to look at the offender. Jack Sparrow stood in the threshold of the door with a look of pure venom, taking deep terrible breathes of frustration. Diana had expected this.

'Actually,' she mused silently to herself, 'I had expected him to be much angrier.'

"I locked my door." Diana said raising an eyebrow. "How the Devil did you get in here?"

"Key." Jack said with a slight grin, and holding the key up in his strong hand. Instantly realizing that he was supposed to be murderously angry, all amusement on Jack's face disappeared. "Do you have any idea what time it is?" He demanded furiously. Diana's eyes wandered over to the elegant clock on the wall.

"9:15?" She recited almost innocently.

"You were supposed join me for dinner at 8!" Jack said sourly.

"Why, so you can interrogate me?" Challenged Diana with equal bitterness. She rose from her seated position. "I've had enough of that to last me a lifetime, thank you very much!"

"Interrogate?" Jack repeated, smirking wickedly. "I don't need dinner and some candles to interrogate." He advanced on Diana darkly.

Trying her hardest not to show fear, Diana stood her ground. Staring him right in the face, she laughed haughtily.

"You don't scare me, Captain Jack Sparrow." She spat.

'Liar...' A nasty little voice in the back of her head whispered.

"Ye should be, love." Hissed Jack. "This ain't no Gentlemen's club, Miss Rose. You're on board the Black Pearl. Ye are in a worse position then ye were with Ol' Snow back on the Blood Stone."

A cold chill crept down Diana's spine. He really was angry. If she kept up her smart tone, he might go as far as killing her...or worse.

"Unless you wish to live your worst nightmares, ye better start talkin" Jack threatened. "Savvy?" He added with a horrible smirk. "I be givin' you one more night to set yourself straight, love. After that, no more games." He paused a moment. As he stared her down, Diana noted that all warmth she had noticed previously in his eyes had vanished, leaving two frigid eyes. Then turning on his heel, Jack stormed out of the cabin, slamming the door behind him. The tension in the room collapsed as Diana threw herself onto her bed.

'Things are just going to go downhill from here.' She told her self despairingly.