*Disclaimer*: Dunt own POTC, lalalala. I own Lee and her crew and anyone else you didn't hear about it the movie. Didn't see the movie? Well that ain't my problem. Don't sue me. BAH.
^Lil Note^: Weee! Finally we're getting some plot development. And fluff too! Weeeeeeeeee okay so yeah, we're finally getting somewhere. Please go back and re-read the chapters just incase you missed something because I've had to go back and edit each chapter at least twice and I dun want you to miss something that pops up in the later chapters and go "Hey that popped outta no where" cause you'd be WRONG and I'd say "No that popped outta the fourth paragraph in chapter 3." Muahahahahaha -cough- ANYWAY. Thanks to ALL my reviewers! You guys are so helpful. I LURVE YA! Without you I'd probably quit posting this story. Now Imunna warn you, I've been doing some research and I'm not quite sure yet but I think that my entire plan for this story might not work. I'm not entirely positive, though. I need the Mistress of all that is Cheesy and Good and Historical (a.k.a. SUKI! DER SUKES!) to come back from church camp thing so's I can ask her 'bout it all. But until then I'll just keep writing ^^
Jack took his time sauntering back to the tavern. He had no idea what he'd done to make Lee mad. But he was headed to the tavern to drown himself in rum, which would no doubt drown his frustrated confusion as well. He stepped through the door and drug himself to the table. Booker immediately noticed that Lee wasn't with him and stood, reaching for his knife and glaring at Jack as if he would kill him right here. Lana stood as well and put her hand on Booker's arm. He looked at her sternly and she did the same. It was almost a silent communication, and Booker sat back in his chair. His knife did not go back in his pocket, however. Lana grabbed Jack's arm and pulled him out the door.
"Oh come on, luv, don't be draggin' me off again. I haven't even had time to get me rum!"
"Will ya ferget yer stupid rum for just one minute? Oi…"
Jack took offense as if she had just insulted him. "Stupid? Stupid rum? My dear lady, rum is most certainly not stupid. Without rum I'd--"
"Spare me your rum rants."
Jack's forehead wrinkled. What was it with these pirate wenches? No other woman he'd ever met acted like… him. They weren't ever this rude. Although they did slap him occasionally.
Lana dragged Jack outside the tavern and pushed him against a wall. She leaned against it as well and folded her arms. "Alright, here's yer chance. Ya better explain quick before Booker loses what little patience he has and decides to just kill you and be done with it."
Jack gave her a skeptical glance, then looked away and tried to explain what happened when even he wasn't sure what had happened.
"If I knew I'd sure as hell tell you. Lee saw some man in the crowd and acted like he was gonna kill her or somethin', she kept tryin' to run off. He came up and started callin' her Natalie and talkin' about how he'd been lookin' fer her. She bloody punched the lad in the face and ran off. When I asked her about it she kept sayin' it was nothin' and then she tore off again."
Lana looked down and nodded. She put her hands on Jack's shoulders and looked him in the eyes. His eyes shifted and he leaned back slightly.
"Listen Jack." Her voice was low. "There's a lot of things about Lee that are best left unsaid. Hardly anyone knows those things, not even the crew. Booker knows because he--" She paused and looked to the side as if trying to find her words. "Because he came with her. And I know because I'm her best mate. Ya can't force her to tell ya. When she knows she can trust ya, then she'll let you in on her secrets."
Lana looked at him for a moment longer. Jack nodded and she released his shoulders. She walked back into the tavern and noticed Booker standing in the doorway. She patted his shoulder as she walked past and he nodded before looking back at Jack. Jack walked to the doorway and expected to go right through, but a massive hand took hold of his throat and slammed him back against the cold stone wall. A small blade was brought to Jack's chin and he tilted his head up to avoid the sharp tip.
"If you hurt her I'll hurt you ten fold. You break 'er heart, I'll break yer neck." Booker's voice was deep and ominous, and his dark eyes stared directly into Jack's own. He could barely nod his understanding for the blade, but it was enough. Booker released him and strode back into the tavern.
"This lass is causin' more trouble for me than anythin' else."
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Jack was too frustrated to do anything. He leaned against the wall and just watched the different people skitter past. What was he supposed to do? He tried to talk to her and she ran off, which got him yet another lecture and a knife at his damn throat. If he left her alone she'd probably assume he didn't care about her and once again, the crew would gang up against him.
/Ya see? You let yerself fall into a love-thing and look what happens! She's got ya wrapped right around her damned little finger. Look at ya! Sittin' here thinkin' 'bout how yer gonna make it up to her. You've lost it, mate./
Jack shook his head and brought his hands to his face, letting them slowly slide down and drag his features with them. Different thoughts ran through his head, and he looked for a solution to his dilemma.
/Go talk to her. At least everyone's here, they can't kill you if you make her mad if they don't know she's mad. Well how 'bout just lettin' her come to you. Let her come crawlin' back with the tears in her eyes and the apology just spillin' out. Or… oh, good thinkin' mate! Find yerself another ship and run off! No one's payin' attention, they all hate ya right now. Ya got a few shillings in one of these pockets… maybe someone'll let ya tag along. Good plan!/
Jack began to walk off to the dock triumphantly. It was perfect, all his problems would be solved this way. But what about Lee…
He kept walking.
Lee was an alright lass. Did he really want to leave her?
He kept walking.
Well if he didn't leave then he'd be admitting that he felt something for her which is completely insane because it's not like she's attractive to him and she's certainly not a good drinking partner and not to mention the fact that her quirky attitude isn't at all amusing.
He stopped walking.
/Dear God… I think I like the woman./
It wasn't at all unusual for Captain Jack Sparrow to like a woman. He liked many women, many of which he couldn't remember their names. But he remembered their eyes and their lips and the feel of the skin against his. But this woman made him feel something different from that. Hell, he hadn't even taken her to bed with him. And somehow she managed to make him turn around and head toward her ship, conjuring up an apology on the way.
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Jack began untying one of the rowboats from the dock post. He lifted a foot to step into the boat when he felt a hand on his shoulder and stopped. The dock keeper glared at him sternly.
"This is not your boat, sir."
Jack looked around as if the man might be talking to someone else. "Uh… yes it is." He went to step in it again when the man grabbed his arm.
"Sir, this is /not/ your boat. This boat came from /that/ ship." The man pointed to the Mare Orientale.
"Yes, I know. I came from /that/ ship."
The dock keeper looked puzzled, then shook his head. "No you didn't. The nice lady said that a man might try to come steal one of her boats. She gave me three shillings to keep him away. You did not come from that ship, sir."
"Yes I did."
"No you didn't."
"Yes… I did."
"No you didn't! ."
"Yes. I. Did."
"… well I didn't see you."
Jack threw his arms up. "That's because you were thrashing about in the water when I walked by!"
The man looked at his feet in embarrassment. Jack picked up the rope he had dropped and tried, once again, to step into the boat.
"I said you cannot take that boat!"
"FINE!" Jack threw the rope at the man's face and walked to the end of the dock, muttering a few insults about the ignorant fop. He gave the man one last irritated glance and dove into the water. It was a long swim, but it was faster than trying to convince that crazy bastard that he came from /that/ ship.
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Jack dragged his soaked body up the rope ladder and onto the boat, sloshing around the deck looking for Lee. He tapped his head.
"Ah ha!" The bow. Jack scampered to the bow of the ship, only to find it devoid of Lee. He hoped to God he hadn't swam all the way out here just to have her be hiding somewhere in the town. He turned around and saw the cabins door was open just slightly. He sauntered through the door, grabbing and twisting his clothes trying to ring most of the water out. A dim light shone from Lee's room. He walked slowly, trying to quiet the squeak in his wet boots. He peered into the room and saw Lee sitting on her bed with a picture in her hands. Beside her was a small cloth with different things scattered about it: A necklace, a brush, a few hairpins and some ribbon. Jack stepped into the room and her head shot up. She threw the picture onto the cloth with other things and scooped it up, tossing it into a drawer in her nightstand and shutting it with her foot. She glanced up at Jack and then quickly looked back down. Jack stepped forward, his arms swaying loosely by his sides as he prepared to apologize.
"Lee, I'm s--"
"No. You don't need to apologize when you didn't do anything, Jack."
His eyes shifted and he nodded. /Well maybe this'll be easier than I thought…/
Lee put her hands in her lap and tapped her fingers together as she looked for her words. "I…" She paused. "I'm not… I." She smiled at her own stuttering. "I wasn't always a pirate." She sighed, glad she got the words out. Jack took a step forward and listened intently.
"I just… I've only come close to being caught… once. And… I don't want it to happen again. And, Jack… I'm sorry. I want to tell you but I just." She brought her hands to her face and rubbed hard before she set them back in her lap. "I'm not sure, Jack. I'm not sure about anything. When this happens I just loose my footing and it feels like everything I do I just seem to slip and fall. So I just don't wanna move at all, ya know?"
Jack nodded and stepped closer to her, taking her hand in his. She looked up and smiled and then looked back down.
"Ya got no need to be embarrassed, luv." His voice was soft and he spoke with a grin.
Lee smiled and patted the space beside her with her other hand. Jack nodded and turned to sit, but then raised an eyebrow.
"Yer aware that I'm soakin' wet, right?"
"Yes, now sit. I got somethin' fer ya."
Jack grinned and sat down on the small bed, grinning with delight. He could only imagine what this 'something' would be.
/Rum maybe? She did promise me rum. Or maybe… nah, Jack. She wouldn't lay with ya yet. But then again she is a pirate lass, never sure what they might do./
Lee reached under the bed and pulled out a limp old box. She brushed the thin later of dust off of it and handed it to Jack. He took it with an awkward expression and lifted the top.
"Bloody hell! It's me hat!" He dove into the box and pulled out his hat, examining it with a wide smile before setting it on his head. "And me effects!" He looked them over with the same smile.
Lee grinned as she watched him. He looked like a little boy at Christmas. "We stole 'em from the prison that day we rescued ya. I would have given 'em to ya sooner but we didn't exactly get off on a great start, now did we?"
Jack shook his head but didn't look up. He was busy strapping his effects to his waist. Finally he felt complete. He had missed his hat. And his empty pistol. Jack remembered the moment he shot Barbossa, and how the old fool thought Jack had wasted his one shot. He grinned with delight as he replayed the scene in his head. He'd have to get more bullets now. Lee grabbed his hand and tugged, pulling him off the bed.
"I'm sick of bein' in here. Come on, we'll go on deck and get some fresh air."
Jack jumped up and nearly skipped out the door with delight. Once they got on deck he swung Lee around and she twirled back to his chest. He spun her around and they danced like two drunken cranes for quite a while. Once their energy had drained they settled for a gentle slow dance. Lee wrapped her arms around his neck and rested her head on his shoulder. Jack put his hands around her waist and leaned his head against hers. The sun was just beginning to set and the sky was painted with golds and lavenders and pinks. The sea mirrored the colorful canvas and animated the sunset with ripples and splashes. The sound of the waves gently crashing against the ship and on the sands creating a soft song for the couple to dance to. All Lee's worries seem to fade with setting sun as Jack held her in his arms, and she sighed happily as she closed her eyes. Jack thought to himself as they danced, and couldn't quite figure out why he felt so different with Lee. He wasn't normally an affectionate man. If he was it was only for one night, and only for one purpose. But at the moment he wasn't thinking about wooing Lee to the point of going to bed with him. He actually enjoyed this moment and wanted to stay in it as long as he could. Jack was pulled from his thoughts as Lee lifted her head and turned it toward him slightly. She wasn't quite sure why she looked at him, but now hat she had she couldn't turn away. Their faces were close. So close, in fact, that when Lee blinked Jack could feel her eyelashes brush against his cheek. Their eyes were straining to focus on each other so close, and Lee stepped back and smiled as she looked down. Jack put his hand under her chin and brought it up so he could see her eyes. Lee's smile faded and her expression became a mixture of excitement and nervousness. Jack saw her uncertainty and went about everything as gently as he could. Her lips quivered as Jack's face came nearer to hers and she held her breath. The moment long awaited finally happened. Jack's lips touched her own, and she closed her eyes as she wrapped her arms tighter around his neck. A rough hand moved slowly from her waist and up her torso, finally resting on her face, and his thumb caressed her cheek ever so lightly. They broke away and Lee stayed in the dream-like state for just a bit longer before opening her eyes. She looked at Jack who tilted his head with a slight grin.
"Not bad lass. But I went easy on ya."
She laughed and looked down again, but then looked up on her own. Her lips parted slightly and she connected with Jack in a more passionate kiss. Jack rubbed her back softly with one hand while the other was brought to her warm neck. He pulled her close and she pushed him back until he fell over the trunk in the middle of the deck. They didn't falter in their kiss and she moved her hands down his chest and over his strong arms. They had both kept the idea locked away for so long that when it was released it was uncontrollable. Neither of them could breath and when the finally stopped for a breath they only dove back into the passion again. The need for oxygen wasn't the only thing that stopped them, however. A loud thud came to their ears and Lee shot up and fell off the trunk. Jack rolled off the side of the trunk and toppled down onto one of the crates. He sat up and straightened himself. Lee hopped back on the trunk and let her legs swing off the end. Just as they situated themselves in unsuspicious positions, the plump whiskery man that had rowed the boat when Jack was rescued poked his head over the side of the ship. He appeared to be having trouble steadying himself on the rope ladder as he swayed back and forth and his voice came in broken sentences.
"M'laDY. We're ALL goin' to the INN in a FEW hourssss" He leaned back dangerously and waved his free hand to propel him back towards the ship. "Booker asked me to TELL YOU" He nearly slipped and fell, but he grabbed the ship's railing and finally felt steady. "Just so's you don't miss us and go lookin' all around."
Lee nodded quickly. "Thank you Sam, we'll go back with you." She huffed, brushing her hair away from her face and breathing heavily. The noise had scared her beyond all reason and made her lose her breath for a moment, and she cursed Jack for messing her hair all around. Hopefully Sam didn't notice her messed hair, he was probably too busy concentrating on not falling to notice anyway. Sam nodded and found his way back down the ladder and Lee and Jack let go of their laughter. Jack pointed at Lee "You shoulda seen yer face, luv! You fell right to the floor!" Lee snorted and shook a finger back at him. "Yer eyes were wider than my hips Mr.Sparrow! And you would've fallen to the floor too, had it not been for that conveniently placed crate." Lee then pointed to the crate Jack sat on and glared at it as if trying to let it know the hatred she felt for it. Jack just laughed and patted the crate gratefully.
^Note^: SMOO! Yeah, not as much happened in this chapter as I would've like to, but I'm at a serious lack of creativity right now and hey, at least I gave you a little romance -elbow elbow - huh? HUH? 'Ja like? Oh, and just a little bit of info fer ya: I, myself, have never been kissed. It's a pitiful thing for a 15 year old but it's TRUE. So I honestly have no clue what it's like. I know what I hear and what I see on movies, but I don't really know exactly what a person feels when they are kissed so I can't relay that through Lee. I hope I described the kissies good enough, though. ^^ Oh, and don't worry. We'll have much happen in chapter 6. MUCH. I'm still not sure if I'm gonna actually follow through with this story though. Jack is, I guess, alright in character right now, but I will tell ya that we got some MAJOR drama on the way and I'm not sure how he's gonna feel about all that. So just bare with me and I'll keep you updated. ^-^
