Chapter 3
"I don't understand," Gin said, struggling to keep up with the pirate's longer stride as he dragged her along behind him. For someone who needed a guide, he didn't seem to consult her much about his journey. At the moment he was settling for glancing down alleys and carefully studying the streets, most likely searching for something familiar.
"Understand what?" he asked, not even bothering to look back at her.
"Why you're helping me," she clarified, nearly ramming into him when he came to an abrupt stop.
He turned to face her. "I can be rather nice if the occasion calls for it."
She arched an eyebrow at him, which by the look it earned her, he seemed to resent.
"You don't believe me?"
"No," she answered without hesitation.
"You seem awfully cavalier about this situation," he pointed out. "How do you know I won't kill you?"
She glared at him. "You would have done it already."
He grinned at her, nodding his head in agreement. "Clever girl." He then tugged on her wrist to get her moving again.
"And what do you want with Will Turner?" Gin demanded.
He stopped a second time. "Why does that matter?" he asked, throwing her earlier words back at her.
"Because I don't know you won't kill him."
"And it would matter to you if I did?" There was that grin again.
"He's a friend."
"Well same here, love." He began walking again.
She was silent for several moments. "Are you…Jack Sparrow?" she finally asked, a bit hesitant.
For the third time, he stopped. "It's Captain. Captain Jack Sparrow."
"Sorry," she apologized. "Are you?"
He stared at her as if debating whether or not he should give such information away. He sighed. "Yes." His gaze turned quizzical. "How'd you know?"
"Elizabeth is a friend of mine," Gin explained. "She's why I'm here. Visiting."
"Got a little more than you bargained for, didn't ya?" He gestured toward the retreating pirates.
She glared at him. "You know, when Elizabeth told me her story about Will and the heroic pirate that helped save her, she forgot to mention that you were such a bastard."
"I would have thought the word 'pirate' would cover that." He continued on his way again.
"You're going in the wrong direction!" she observed, glancing behind them where they should have been heading.
Sighing in exasperation, Jack halted for a fourth time. "You could have mentioned that earlier." He pulled her round and began walking.
"You didn't ask," she said sweetly, though obviously mocking his own sarcastic nature.
He looked back at her again, but kept going this time. "You're a piece 'o work," he commented, grinning once more. "I like you. What's your name, love?"
She hesitated.
"Hey, I told you mine, you tell me yours. And I guarantee you, mine's worth a lot more."
"If I tell you, will you stop calling me 'love'?" she questioned, frustrated.
"Probably not," he told her. "But it's worth a shot, isn't it?"
She stared at the expectant expression on his face. "Virginia," she eventually sighed. "Virginia Harold."
"Virginia," he echoed, looking her up and down unceremoniously as if seeing if the name fit her. By the look on his face, it didn't. "I'm gonna call you Ginny," he told her. "That alright with you?"
"No," she said, barely resisting the urge to slap him hard across the cheek.
"Good." He pulled her down a street to the right and stopped in front of a barn-like building. He stared at the familiar swinging sign. J. Brown. "This it?"
She nodded. "Yes."
Jack shoved the door open, surprised to find it not bolted. He glanced back at his companion who shot him a worried look. "Will?" he called out. He waited and received no answer. "Hey, Turner!" Still nothing. "Anybody?"
"They're not here," Gin said, looking back outside through the double wooden doors.
"They?"
"I lost Elizabeth just before you found me."
"So Lizzie's out there somewhere too?" he deducted.
"Yes."
"And Will is missing?"
"Apparently."
"Okay, here's the deal," he began, dragging her back outside. "You're coming with me."
"I beg your pardon?" she half laughed. "Coming with you where?"
"Who knows. Back to my ship for now." He started back toward the main road.
"Let me get this straight," she started, letting him lead her for the moment. "You want me to go with you to your ship where you could sail off with me to where I can never get home?"
"That's pretty much it, yes."
"And you want me to do this all on faith that you actually do know Will?" She stopped walking, which eventually pulled him to a stop as well.
"Look," He turned to face her. "I'm doing this for you, alright? Will and Elizabeth could be dead, and with this pirate raid, I'll guarantee you the governor is. Either that or taken on a ship. I'm not leavin' you here alone." He indicated the few pirates still roaming the streets that thankfully for the moment, were ignoring them.
She stared at him, searching his dark eyes and his hand tightened around hers in reassurance. His eyebrows lifted in a silent question of whether or not she trusted him.
"Fine," she agreed.
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Replies:
Ivy3: Thanks, I'd like to know where it's heading too! Lol
Andboriel Swan: Thanks!
Leolyn Greenleaf: Hope that helps with your suspense and doesn't give you too much more!
MovieLvR4Lyfe: Thanks. I was hoping I could get Jack's character right, and I think I did better in Chapter 3, but I was worried about it.
MadamStella: Thank you so much, I love complements like that. (I'd grin, but I don't think this thing does emoticons)
