Disclaimer: Seeing as, this disclaimer thing has gotten way out of hand, I, the insane author of this 'fan'-fiction will allow you, the reader to improvise. So without further ado I present the new and improved method of crediting disclaimers. At the beep… please fill in the blank with your favorite disclaimer (so that I won't have to fill it in for ye.) BEEP (fill in the blank with your disclaimer now.)_______
The Joy of the Hunt
By: Dragon Demon
Rating: PG-13 for violence, brief language and sensuality.
Summary: Set in motion after Jack's escape from Port Royal, the crew of the Black Pearl pay a visit to Tortuga where Jack repossess a valuable trinket he left behind. In doing so, he has unleashed a chain of events that will lead him on a wild goose chase for treasure, love and survival.
---
Jack smiled a toothy grin as he gazed at the spit of land looming in front of him. Tortuga, he thought. Ah, such a wonderful place.
Gibbs, Cotton and Anamaria stood on deck, their backs to Jack and their thoughts on the tiny island they would be docking in.
Finally Anamaria broke the silence. "Why Tortuga?"
Due to Cotton's ability to be unable to speak, the question fell to Gibbs to answer. He studied the woman intently before shrugging and shaking his head. "All the cap'n says is that he 'as a debt to repay. Now stop both'rn me, woman."
She scowled at him, her eyes narrowing dangerously. "All I'm saying is that it's only been a month since we last left Tortuga. We've barely sailed out of land's sight if ye haven't noticed, ye drunken fool."
Gibbs chortled. "Goes t' show that not only 'tis a woman bad luck, but she ain't smart either."
Anger flashed in Anamaria's eyes as she stood straight. "Oh really? Then tell me, why 'ave we been circling Tortuga for three days now?"
Gibbs opened his mouth to retort but stopped, his jaw hanging open. He made a passing glance at a nearby cove; it's mouth full of jutted rocks. Come to think of it, he had indeed seen this tiny cove numerous times, but each time, he felt it was naught but his mind playing tricks on him due to the excessive drinking he had been doing.
Cotton just stood by, a twinkle of mirth in his eyes.
Anamaria smirked seeing the look on Gibbs face. Looks like a codfish 'e does, she thought with amusement.
"Ana! Gibbs! Stop that! You're scaring the crew,' Jack yelled down to the both of them. "Not to mention, meself! It's unnerving the way ye two are starin' at each other."
The shout brought Anamaria out of her reverie and she turned to the source of the noise. She rolled her eyes and muttered something under her breath no one but herself could hear. Gibbs still stood with a bemused expression on his face and Anamaria decided that saying anything to the man would be no better than talking to a wall.
Carefully planning her words, she climbed the steps to the helm. Jack stood close by, his kohl-rimmed eyes fervently studying the fast approaching island. "Jack."
Upon hearing the name, her captain cast a sideways glance that would have made any man cringe. Fortunately for Anamaria, she was no man; she pressed on, her words carefully thought out and her tone firm. "Jack, why 'ave you been circling Tortuga? Why not just dock and get this 'debt' out of the way. Why wait a month? Jack? Jack, are ye listening to me?"
The overly calm captain furrowed his brow but said nothing. Anamaria finally gave in with an annoyed sigh and stormed away down to the lower deck. Jack just silently watched as she began to bark out orders among the other crew, her frustration being taken out on the men.
Gibbs defiantly barked back at her causing the woman's anger to double. She yelled something to him, something Jack didn't catch but he knew it was something he would never want to hear when he saw Gibbs jump then hurriedly run off to do as told. Jack smirked. Such a fiery one, that Anamaria, he plaintively told himself. The more he dwelled on the thought, the more he realized that, he had never really made himself clear about how he never meant to sink her boat. Or have I? he questioned himself. Oh well, if not, then that's one more thing to add to my 'to do' list. He chuckled at the thought, then proceeded to the lower deck where Anamaria was now destructively throwing punches in a nearby cabin wall.
He slinked around behind her ready to give her a jolly good scare and a quick reprimand about the way she was treating his ship. As Anamaria's fist connected with the wall, Jack spoke up firmly, "Stop punching me ship."
Startled, Anamaria gasped and turned, her fist accidentally connecting with Jack's face. Jack's body jerked from the force, but his feet held steadfast to the place they rested. His face never faltered. A growing red color began to rise on his left cheek. His eyes never left her's.
Anamaria's jaw dropped as she fought for the words to say. Seeing Jack make no move against her, she frowned. "Next time, don't sneak up on me an' it won't happen.' She finally lashed out.
Jack's head tilted slightly as he asked, "Are ye quite done now, love?"
Anamaria's eyes went wide as her mouth twisted to form words. Her hand balled into a fist as she tried to slake her anger without landing another blow to his face. She sighed in exasperation and tore herself away from Jack; her frustration rising as she walked off.
Jack just smiled his toothy grin and returned his attention to the small town they would soon be docking in.
---
Gibbs and Cotton silently dropped anchor, a rather large splash breaking the silence. Gibbs glanced at Cotton who just shrugged. Gibbs shrugged in return and took a step back.
From the corner of his eye he saw Jack, his arms crossed, his chin up and his eyes trained on something invisible behind Gibbs and Cotton. Looking behind him, Gibbs saw two other men and Anamaria tying down the riggings. He shrugged once more, pulled out a flask hidden deep within his vest and took a long swig.
Eventually Jack came forth from the helm. Giving a slight nod, he announced, "Men, to the docks!"
The crew cheered and scrambled for the docks. Anamaria; her arms firmly crossed over her chest, took in the scene. Pushing herself away from the railing, she headed in the direction of the docks. Two burly men pushed past her and she stumbled backwards bumping into something hard.
She felt a hand on her back giving her a slight push forward. "Careful love, wouldn't want ye to get trampled, now would we?"
Snapping her head around, she saw Jack, his face contorted in one of his signature smiles. Uttering a cry of disgust, she headed for the docks all the while muttering, "Despicable! Unbelievable! Of all the pig headed, stubborn, obnoxious- just who does he think he is?!" Her voice trailed off as she headed into Tortuga leaving Jack still standing on the boat, a smile on his face.
---
"Gibbs! Gibbs, where are you mate?!" A swaggering Jack called out into the crowd that bustled in the tavern; the Faithful Bride.
A small hoard of women parted and an equally drunk Gibbs sat up. His eyes half closed he hiccuped and called out, "Aye?"
Jack waved his arms around in a friendly gesture, the bottle of rum sloshing out with the actions. "Gibbs! Ye old blighter you, where ye been hidin'? I've been lookin' all over for ye!" He sat down heavily upon the bench of the table Gibbs occupied.
"Why… I've been right 'ere, Jack, with all..' he paused and hiccuped again before continuing. "All 'hese booty-ful women."
Jack gazed around him and saw several beautiful women indeed standing over him and Gibbs. He let out a seemingly innocent laugh, "Why Gibbs! I didn't know ye 'ad it in ye, you scoundrel." He leaned over and promptly gave Gibbs what could only be described as a noogie.
There was music, laughter, women and most of all… rum. A whole lot of rum! Jack was a happy man indeed as he sat there in the tiny tavern spitting out slurred verses of songs he didn't know. Gibbs was too enthralled with the pleasurable company he had found in the women who clung to him. Somewhere across the room, Cotton was laughing and drinking to his heart's content, his parrot faithfully perched upon his shoulder screeching out things that made no sense.
"Cotton, 'as your bird been drinkin'?" Jack yelled out. "I think ye should give 'im a litle more rum, I think he's broken!"
Hours later, after the crew had gotten good and drunk, they slowly went their ways back to the ship. Gibbs and Jack, arms linked, bottles of rum in their hands, made their way down to the docks, loudly blurting out the lines to Jack's favorite song.
Jack toasted his bottle to no one in particular and piped up, "And REALLY bad eggs!"
Gibbs fell into a fit of laughter as he added, "And really bad rum!"
The two stopped as Jack turned to his friend and stated, "Really bad rum? Nonsense mate, thet's just pure nonsense."
Gibbs nodded stupidly, his mind not grasping the concept of the situation as they continued their way back to the boat. As they came to the docks, Jack stopped and cocked his head. Trying his best to act sober he asked in a slurred voice, "Do ye remember where you anchored the boat?"
---
Anamaria leaned against the railing as she watched the two drunken men stumble down the docks looking for the ship. She heard Jack yell out, "Ye lost the ship!"
She shook her head in annoyance and sighed. When she had stormed off the boat earlier she had just wandered around town. She didn't stay long, just long enough to stop in and buy a bottle of rum, a bottle in which she was sure she wouldn't drink in all one night.
Holding the bottle in her hand, she gave it a slight shake, feeling the weight of the contents inside. Sensing how light the bottle had become in contrast to how heavy it had been when she bought it, she knew she had drank more than intended.
Down below she heard Jack shouting out curses to the air. Looking, she now saw the body of Gibbs lying face first on the docks and Jack idly kicking him in the leg demanding, "Get up, ye bloody drunk. We're gonna miss t' boat."
As amusing as it was, Anamaria knew there was no way the great Captain Jack Sparrow would sleep anywhere other than on his beloved Pearl. Placing the rum bottle on a nearby barrel she turned to head down to the dock when she heard a loud thump below. Leaning over the railing, she saw the form of a now passed out Jack sprawled awkwardly on the dock.
Laughing to herself, she took her time heading down to the two passed out men. After all, there was no real hurry.
---
Author's Corner: Ok… I hope this chapter was a bit longer for those people who enjoy the long chapter stories. (wink wink) This chapter gives a bit of insight on how Tortuga affects the crew. It's light, airy, it's funny. Even in the most crucial times, humor is abound. In the next chapter, we'll delve more into 'why' Jack has returned and just what his 'debt to be repaid' is.
For those of you wondering, yes! Anamaria has a "huge" role in this story. As do the others. Perhaps I'll make Mr. Cotton's parrot have a larger role than Gibbs. (grins evilly) I do plan on bringing in the ever so… um, practical Will Turner and Elizabeth Swann. (Does anyone really even know if her name is spelled with one N or two? This is just preposterous!) I'm not sure when they will come in, if at all. The same goes for the dastardly Norrington and his men.
There will be slight cameos from other characters not related to Pirates of the Caribbean. Seeing as, Barbossa died and his crew locked away for all eternity in the first movie, I need a villain. (rubs hands together) So I might just have to make one. As for who Jack is going to see in Tortuga, I think I'm gonna have to make that one up too, even though I really hate having to make these character's up because it takes away from the essence of the real character's.
And no… sadly being the bearer of bad news, this fic has nothing to do with Bootstrap Bill, even though he may have a slight mentioning. Seeing as, I have naught a clue to how he would have survived those 10 years underwater, or how he would have escaped, or died for that matter, I won't bother to go into that subject. It would all be assumptions, and I make it a point to never have any familiarity with assumptions… Yada, yada, yada.
-Dragon Demon