Okay guys, most of this and the last post was written in my spare time during classes (seems I've found the answer to my homework straining my time, lol), anyhoo, so I don't know if it's as good as when I sit down and write, but the last post was okay, right? So, yeah, don't think it'll be a problem and it saves me time. (and it means I update faster)
Lil W/E sweetness this post, and then (since I know you all have been waiting for it-I know someone said they loved that I realistically developed the feelings, but that she was anxious for the romance, heehee) Jack/Gin mushiness is in the next post after this one!!!!
Chapter 7
"You can slow down, Ana," Jack said, standing behind her as she steered. "I think we lost 'em."
"For now," she agreed, nodding at Gibbs, who informed the crew that they could start lowering the sails.
Jack turned to find Gin, seated on the deck of the dais, knees drawn up to her chest. Sighing, he kneeled down in front of her. "Ya alright, love?" he asked.
She looked up at him. "Am I putting you in danger?"
He grinned at her. "No more'n usual," he assured her. He offered a hand for her to take and hoisted her to her feet. "C'mon," He headed off down the stairs and in the direction of her cabin. "You need to get some rest. Big day for you, washing dishes, outrunning a fleet of prissy Englishmen."
He led her below deck and through the small hall to her door at the end. He opened it for her and waited for Gin to enter.
She hesitated, standing in the doorway. "If they find you with me…" she began, "they will kill you."
He seemed to scoff at this. "I'm not that easy to kill."
"Still," She smiled up at him, "you must owe Will a large favor."
"A few actually." He glanced back into her room. "Get some sleep," he advised. A slow smile crept up on his lips. "More dishes to wash tomorrow."
She laughed in spite of herself, then turned in the doorway. "Good night, Captain Sparrow."
"G'night Miss Harold."
Smiling at the proper title, she shut the door. He stared at it for a minute, then shook his head as if clearing it and headed back up on deck.
* * * * *
"Will," Elizabeth began, glancing back at him from her position at the steering wheel. He looked up from the map he had been studying and she nodded her head toward the horizon, indicating the small smudge on it that she assumed was an island. Will rose to his feet and squinted at it, then looked over at Elizabeth and grinned.
"Land ho."
* * * * *
"Alright, here's what we're gonna do!" Jack shouted, making sure he had the attention of his entire crew. "We're all goin' down. When we get on the streets, fan out. Take what we need and I'll pick up a few extra swords." He reached down to strap his pistol to his belt. "Oh, and men!" He gave a pointed look to everyone save Anamaria and Gin. "No distractions this trip. We don't have time to stay the night." A round of groans rose up from the majority of the group and Gin saw Anamaria roll her eyes.
"Ginny," Jack walked over to her, leading one of the other men over. "You stay on the Pearl with Matthews 'ere."
"Why can't I just come down with everyone else?" she demanded, watching the crew prepare to descend the ramp on the starboard side.
"Because Tortuga ain't no place for a lady," he told her sternly. He looked her over. "'Less o' course, you think you can pass yourself off as a whore."
That comment finally did earn him the hard slap she had been wanting to give him for days. And in front of the entire crew no less. He turned back to her, his cheek still stinging.
"Alright," Jack conceded. "I deserved that." Gin glared at him and he glanced back at the men and Anamaria, finally noticing their stares. "What're you scallywags lookin' at? Get down there!" They immediately scattered, all except Matthews, who stood next to Jack, staring hesitantly at Gin.
"Jack," Gin began as he turned back to her, "wouldn't I be a lot safer with you than with…um…"
"Matthews," Matthews supplied.
"Right, Matthews." She waved a dismissive hand at him and looked up at Jack hopefully. The last thing she wanted was to be left all alone on the ship with no one but this crewmember, who, truth be told, seemed rather dull, and not very capable, nor, it seemed, willing to protect her.
Jack sighed, appearing reluctant and Gin smiled sweetly at him, hoping it would tip the odds in favor of her propaganda. He glanced at Matthews who simply shrugged, offering no opinion. "Alright," Jack finally agreed. "But you stay beside me and never," He thrust a finger at her, reminding her of her father in a parental snit, "ever, go anywhere that I can't see you. Savvy?"
She nodded at him. "Yessir," she said mockingly, slurring on purpose to mimic the crew's piratical speech.
"Don't push it," Jack warned, grabbing hold of her wrist and dragging her off the ship.
* * * * *
"Tortuga?" Elizabeth declared, stepping off the rope ladder of the Avenger and turning to glare at Will. "We sail for three days straight, and we end up in the most wretched settlement in the Spanish Main?"
"At least it's land," Will reminded her, cringing when her glare continued. "Look, it'll be fine. Just stay close to me, we'll pick up enough food, and head back to Port Royal. Those men should be gone by the time we return." He began to make his way through the crowd, guiding Elizabeth along with him.
"And when we do return, how do you expect to explain your second stolen ship to the authorities?" She glanced warily at the barbaric men surrounding them.
"Well, we'll…deal with that later," he assured her.
"Will," She pulled him to a stop and turned him to face her. "I've got a bad feeling about this. I mean…Tortuga?"
Sighing, he pulled her into his arms and kissed her forehead. "You know I'm not going to let anything happen to you."
She buried her face in his chest and leaned further into his embrace, half collapsing against him. "Promise?"
Will smiled into her hair. "Promise."
* * * * *
"I thought you said you were going to pick up some extra swords," Gin commented, staring at The Faithful Bride's swinging sign as Jack led her into the dim tavern. Men and women, most likely pirates and prostitutes, shouted and laughed around them.
"I did," he confirmed, heading for the bar. "But it's easier to come here than snatch 'em off some blacksmith."
"You steal swords in a pub?"
"No," he scoffed. "Someone steals 'em for me and I pick them up." He came to a stop, winking at one of the whores passing them, then turned to the bar tender and tipped his tri-cornered hat at him. The man nodded in understanding and reached down where he kept the alcohol. He pulled out a long bundle and Gin could see several scabbards poking out of the end of it. Jack accepted the swords and dropped a few shillings on the protracted table that the other man immediately pocketed.
After that, Jack didn't move from his seat, leaning back against the bar.
"What are you doing?" Gin asked, lowering herself onto the stool beside him.
"Gettin' a drink," he said, as if it should be obvious. The bar tender slid a large mug of what she was sure was rum over to Jack.
Rolling her eyes, Gin took the opportunity to look around. Jack had been right. So far, Tortuga definitely seemed no place for a lady. The whole scene was extremely unsettling. Though she supposed it was the ideal place for a pirate. Plenty of rum and willing women, and no fear of being arrested.
A few of the men, she saw, were beginning to notice her, smiling or nodding at her. Jack seemed to not care much about this. He sat back in his chair, hat pulled down over his eyes. Gin scooted her chair a little closer to him and kept her eyes on the door, waiting for any sign of the crew.
Expecting someone along the lines of Gibbs or one of the unwashed miscreants surrounding her, the last thing she imagined she would see was Will walking through the doors, dragging Elizabeth behind him. Gin's eyes widened and she jumped to her feet, startling a few of the people in her general area.
"Will!" she called loudly, beginning to cross the large room, following the trail her friends were making. "Elizabeth!"
"'Ello Missy."
Gin came to an abrupt halt when an extremely large and unpleasant man stepped in front of her, blocking her path. He looked her up and down, suggestively. "Now where's a pretty thing like you headin' off to all by yerself?"
* * * * *
Don't worry, none of them have seen the last of His Majesty's Royal Navy ;)
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