Chapter 5:

"We should probably eat soon. You hungry?" Jack looked towards Salina. "Starving!" They both walked down the steps and the cooks began to fix supper. The crew ate out on the deck that night, celebrating Salina's new life as a pirate. It was a lovely night; the stars surrounded them like a blanket does to keep a baby warm. "Let's have some music! Henry, would you?" Barbosa barked. Henry walked over; fiddle in hand ready to play. The music sounded and laughter began.
Barbosa walked over to Salina, who was sitting on the step next to Gibbs and Eric Necklder; one of the cooks. "Would ye like to dance Miss Rose?" Barbosa held out his hand. "I'd love to." Salina got up and they started spinning around the deck, the men all in laughter. "I haven't danced in such a long time with such a fine women." Barbosa pulled her closer. "Aye." Salina said it in almost a whisper. That language was almost a part of her now. They continued spinning until a shot rang out. All was quiet as everyone turned and looked at Eric. "Foods ready!" He yelled, and everyone started to laugh again. The food was brought out; it was a feast that could feed a thousand men at least.
Barbosa and Salina stopped dancing and walked over to the food. "I had no idea pirates had such a big appetite." "Aye that we do." Barbosa replied as he took a chunk out of a chicken leg. "You must be starving. Eat!" Salina picked up a hunk of meat and began to chow down. Jack sat in his cabin away from the feast outside. He looked depressingly out the window at the joy and happiness of the crew. 'What was I thinking? I can't have her on board. She'll get hurt or. killed. I shouldn't of let her come.' Jack walked over to his desk and plopped into the chair. 'But, she's changed me in only a day and a half. I can't explain how, and the crew loves her.'
A knock at the door interrupted Jack's thoughts. "Jack are ye there?" Salina poked her head into the doorway. "Aye! I'm here. Whatcha' need?" "Nothing just wondering if you are gonna' join us out there. We're having a great time. You should come out." Salina walked into the room and sat on the desk in the same spot she sat the night before. Jack stared up at her. "I don't know. I'm feeling tired. I hit my head today during the fight." "Oh, come on Jack." Salina hopped off the desk and grabbed his hands and pulled him up out of the chair. When she pulled him up, he was so close he could've hit right into her head, had she'd pulled him up any harder. Salina looked at him straight in the eyes. But this time when she looked in his eyes she saw passion and kindness, where as the night before she saw hate and pain.
She felt weak and didn't like it, but couldn't move from that spot. It felt like forever standing there in front of him, like that. Jack bent down enough to try and kiss her but just as he did she pulled away. "Come on, let's go outside." Salina took his hand and pulled him outside. When she opened the door the noise filled the room with cheer. Salina stepped out and was immediately swept into a dance with Eric. Jack stood by the door watching, as Salina was past from man to man; dancing with all of them. She mesmerized Jack as she spun across the floor her figure lightened his spirit.
"It's nice to have a women aboard once in a while, aye captain?" Gibbs nudged his side. "Aye it is." Salina walked over and held out her hand to Jack. "Come on! Dance with me Jack!" Gibbs nudged him again in his side. "Aright, but I'll warn you I'm not that good." "Then I shall have to teach you. Now come on!" Salina and him walked out on to the deck. "Now my hand goes into yours like this and you hold my waist with your other hand, and then my other hand rests right here on your back. See, not so hard, eh?" "No, no it's not." "Now, one- two- three. Good, again. See you've got it. Now we can dance."
They started out slow and then continued with the music. Soon they were gliding across the floor, laughing and spinning. The song stopped and Henry quickly changed the pace to a slower song. The men around Jack and Salina started to hoot and shout. Salina pulled Jack in closer before he could walk away and then gently rested her head on his shoulder.
"Jack's usually not like this around women." Eric stated to Gibbs. "Yes. But, given the right women. You never know how a man would react." "Ah." Both men nodded and watched as their captain danced with the right women, as they put it. "Jack?" Salina turned her head and looked up at him. "How old are you?" "Twenty-five. Why?" "No reason. I was just curious." "Oh. I hope you don't mind me askin', but, if you have a good family that loves you, why choose us?" "Well. I suppose it's because I didn't want that life anymore. I already told you I felt like a prisoner and I wanted to be free. That's why." "Oh." "To be truly honest, it was mostly because of you." Jack peered down at her, questioning her statement. "Me?" "Well, you put hope in me that I've never had and restored strength in me where it was lost. I thank you for that." "Well. you're welcome. I guess." Salina stopped and let go of Jack. "Jack. The dance was lovely. Thank you." Salina leaned up and kissed him on his cheek and then walked back to the cabin. Jack stood in the center of the floor watching her walk away, realizing that this would never work, but he had to try.
'Oh god, why? Why do I feel like this?' Salina walked over and sat on the couch. 'Why him?' Salina turned as she heard the door open; Nicholas Hunts stepped into the room. "Nick?"