*Disclaimer*: I don't own POTC, blah blah. I own my mind, Lee, her crew, and anyone else you see in this story not associated directly with the movie. Don't steal. Savvy? -sniggle- Couldn't resist that. -smacks self-
^Lil Note^: Thanks to all my reviewers! I LURVE yew tew PIECES! -skuhweeziz yew all- I'm gonna try to put a little action into this fic (try, not gonna promise nothing ^_____^;) but I can tell ya there is some SERIOUS drama comin' up. Angst too. I'm gonna try to keep Jack IC as best I can but with the romance n stuff it'll be kinda hard. He just dunt seem like the real affectionate-romantic type but we'll see what plays out ^^ Cause dair's deferntly gonna be romance. Oh yesh, this ain't rated PG-13 fer nuffin. -evil grin-
As the day dwindled into evening, the crew began to settle and the dirty looks toward Jack seemed to fade. He found it quite funny that whatever mood Lee was in her crew seemed to follow.
/Best to keep that lass happy then./ Jack thought.
The beer was finally revealed, much to Jack's delight. He'd prefer rum, but it all gets you drunk anyway so he was satisfied. A few men had fashioned a table from a large trunk and some empty crates for chairs. It was an evening of friendly conversation and sarcasm. And beer. Within hours the entire crew was slurring their words and making ridiculous jokes. Even Lee was talking complete nonsense.
"I think… that seagulls are funny. Because they… orange fee…feet."
Jack looked at her slowly with an amused grin. Her head was bobbing, or it looked like she was nodding off with her half-closed eyes. He set his head down on the make-shift table and his shoulders shook with laughter. When he looked up the crewmen (and the dark woman) were all displaying their toothy smiles.
Except the bald one. Booker, wasn't it? Jack had heard Lee call him that at some point. Booker stood and walked to the end of the table nearest Lee with a mug of beer in his hand. Lee hummed as she looked up and smiled at him. He returned the smile to a much more sober degree. A raspy voice from somewhere around the table began chanting.
"Toast…toast…toast." It spread to the other members and a few of them banged their mugs on the trunk, splashing beer in all directions. Booker nodded and raised a hand to silence them.
"A toast." His deep voice echoed. "To our dearest Captain."
Murmurs of sarcasm came from the crew and Lee gave them a fake stern glance.
"May she always be happy."
Nods and noises of agreement.
"May she always be healthy."
More nods and noises
"And may she always find…" His voice quieted. "What she's lookin' for."
Lee glanced up at Booker. That last one had meant something. Jack's eyes went back and forth from Lee to Booker, looking for an explanation. With a soft smile Booker tapped his mug to Lee's. A few crewmembers tried ignorantly to lean over the trunk and reach Lee, but they fell over. Lee stood and climbed on top of the beer-drenched black surface.
"Lemme make it easier on ya ole boys!"
She sauntered down the trunk, tapping mugs with one side of men and then spinning around and walking back, tapping mugs with the other side. She centered herself on the table and gulped the last bit of beer from her mug, and everyone followed. Lee stumbled off the table and Jack had to swing an arm around her waist to keep her from bashing her head on the deck. She looked at him with a goofy grin and brought her mug to his face.
"I'm drunk as a… uh… skunk, Mr.Finch-- er, Sparrow."
Jack couldn't help but chuckle.
"That you are, Miss Caelum."
Lee found her feet and straightened herself, leaning back and pointing at Jack. She scrunched up her face and whined.
"Captain. /Captain/ Caelum."
Jack rolled his eyes.
"Ah yes, very funny. If I didn't know better I'd say you were me."
"Yay! Yer smart, how'd ya know who I was imitatin'?"
"Lucky guess" Jack said sarcastically.
With some help from Jack, Lee clambered below deck to her cabin and sprawled out on the bed. She squirmed and squiggled until she was comfortably under the covers. Jack patted her shoulder and looked at her almost pitifully.
/Poor lass, must not be used to drinkin'. Hate to be her in the morning'./
As he turned to leave the room he heard her shifting and stopped. She opened her eyes and mumbled.
"Where are you sleepin'?"
Jack shrugged. "On deck, I guess. Not picky 'bout where I sleep, really."
Lee nodded barely and closed her eyes again as if she hadn't really been awake. Jack watched her for a moment.
/Stop gawkin', mate. She's only sleepin'./ He brought a hand square to his face.
Between his fingers he watched her still. He wasn't entirely sure why he was doing it. Maybe it was because she looked so peaceful when she slept. Like nothing in the world could disturb her. A strand of caramel colored hair drifted across Lee's cheek and fell over her eye. Jack stood still for a few moments, then quietly walked over and slid the stray strand behind Lee's ear.
/Oh bloody hell, look at yerself. You'll be followin' her around like a puppy before you even know it. Gotta get a hold of yerself, Jack. She ain't nothin' special./
Jack's eyebrows flattened and he waved his hands at the woman as if tossing her out of his mind. He walked out of the room shaking his head and smiling to himself.
/She almost had ya there ole boy, better watch out./
