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.
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The noon sun beat heavily upon two stilled figures lying haphazardly on the docks as sailors came to and from their boats. The dock bustled with activity as men yelled back and forth to each other.
Something warm and sickeningly wet wavered on Jack's face as he snored away. Drops of liquid landed on his closed eyes and jerked him awake. There were sharp curses as he scrambled to sit up to come face to face with a mangy dog, his tongue hanging out.
Captain Jack Sparrow made a noise and ran a sleeved arm across his face. "Yech! Get outta here ye filthy, mangy fleabag!" he ranted as he jiggled his foot in a kicking motion to shoo the animal away.
"I'm glad to see ye finally decided to wake!" Anamaria exclaimed with a chuckle as she neared him, her hand shielding her eyes from the sun. "I was beginning to wonder if I was gonna 'ave to drag your sorry carcass back onto the boat."
Jack sneered at her and pulled the blanket he clung to up under his chin. Hmm, wait a minute, he thought as he stared at the blanket. Looking over, he saw a similar blanket overlaying the still snoring Gibbs.
Anamaria saw the questioning look in his eyes and spoke up, "Well, whad'ya expect? For me just to leave ye, drunk and passed out without any blankets on the dock?"
Jack shot her a look to which she answered, "Don't tempt me, Jack Sparrow."
"It's Captain! Captain!' he corrected her with emphasis as he climbed to his feet. "How come ye insist on callin' me anything but Captain?"
Anamaria huffed. "I'll start callin' ye Captain when ye start acting like one, Jack Sparrow!" She turned on her heels and headed up the plank to the ship.
Jack followed her, his blanket flailing out behind him like a cape as he thrust an arm into the air, his right pointer finger standing straight up. "Now wait just a bloody minute, love. What do ye mean by 'start acting like one?' I am one! I'm Captain Jack Spar-" his sentence ended into a crash as he tripped over the trailing blanket and landed face first on the deck of his ship.
Stifling her laughter Anamaria claimed, "Well, for one thing, a true captain never trips over his own feet. Maybe ye should just stick with the basics first Jack. Then maybe eventually ye can earn the right to be called Captain." With that, she turned and headed below deck to start the day's chores as she did everyday.
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The evening found everyone aboard the ship in good spirits, including Gibbs who had the worst hangover this side of Tortuga had ever seen.
After herself and the crew had done the chores, Anamaria found herself sitting among the others, laughing and having a good time. Jack sat nearby, a perplexed look upon his face. Anamaria had constantly tried prying any details of their stay in Tortuga from him, but he said nothing. She figured he was still sore about their quarrel from that morning but didn't let her accusation stop her.
Once again, she found herself pestering him for answers, this time, armed with a backup plan. She casually waltzed towards him, her arms hidden behind her back. Coming to a rest beside the quiet man, she frowned. Jack looked up and raised an eyebrow. "What is it?" he questioned all but merrily.
She held her hand out to him. Jack eyed her suspiciously, then eyed the would be rum bottle in her hand. Annoyed she inquired, "Well do ye want it or not?"
Jack tilted his head in amusement. "And if I don't?"
Anamaria growled. "Then I'll be takin' it back to the stash." She stood there a while longer before adding, "Would ye hurry up already! Me arm feels like it's gonna fall off."
Reaching out a hand, Jack kept an eye on the wary woman while rubbing his fingers together. He could taste the rum in his mouth already as he gingerly tried to pluck it from her grasp. Just as his fingers were about to wrap around the bottle, she pulled back.
Jack's eyes went wide as he saw his precious rum dangle out of his reach. "Blast."
Anamaria shook a finger at him. "Calm down ye rapscallion. Ye can have yer rum, but there's a catch."
There was silence then a nasal sigh, "I'm listenin'."
"Tell me what business is it in Tortuga that ye have to tend to." She answered.
Jack cringed. "I can't do that love."
Anamaria tucked the bottle back into her jacket. "Pity. I guess I'll just 'ave to put this last,' she emphasized the word 'last' and continued. "Back in the cabinet where Gibbs will probably fin-" a tug at her shirt sleeve made her stop.
Jack roughly pulled her down into a sitting position on the deck beside him. She watched him for several seconds before speaking. "Jack?"
Shaking his head with hesitation he started, "A while back I left something in the care of a dear friend o' mine. Family heirloom. That was before I was marooned by that traitor, Barbossa and left to die on that island. Well, now I want me treasure back, love, simple as that."
"And the debt to be repaid…?" she slowly asked as she handed him the bottle of rum. He opened the bottle and took a drink.
Scratching his goatee he stated, "As for the debt to be repaid… there really is no debt to be repaid. I just thought it was dashing while the moment lasted. It really added charm to the whole mess of things!"
There was an exasperated cry as Jack just barely missed the landing blow of Anamaria's hand. "Ooh, why you… ugh! You empiric rogue!" She raised to her feet, her eyes watching the man before her.
Jack grinned. "Sticks and stones love," he proclaimed as he took another swig from his bottle.
Anamaria retreated back to the corners of the ship leaving Jack to his rum.
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"Ok men… now I won' be long in Tortuga. Ye all know what to do." Jack was instructing the crew before his departure into the town to retrieve his prize. He nodded swiftly to someone in the crowd. "I'm leaving 'er in charge."
"I'm coming with you." Anamaria quickly retorted as he nodded her way.
Shaking his head, Jack said, "No yer not."
"Yes, I am."
"No yer not."
"Yes, I am." Seethed a now frustrated Anamaria.
"No.. yer.. not! Savvy?" Jack implied rashly.
"Yes! I am,' she exclaimed pulling something from her pocket.
Jack swelled up about to out do her once again when his eyes landed on the item she held. He flinched, brought his hand up, a single finger extended as he made a face unable to find his words.
She smiled knowing she had won. She dangled something in front of him as she asked, "Savvy?"
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Slight curses and grumbling came from a cloaked person as they walked down the lane next to another person. "Would ye stop yer belly-achin' already. It's drivin' me mad!"
The person doing the grumbling stopped and stared at their partner. "Oh, it's drivin' ye mad, now is it? Well how do ye think it's makin' me feel? Knowin' I lost to a bloody wo-' they stopped suddenly.
Jack cringed. "Oh Ana, I-' he was rudely cut off as Anamaria taunted, "Whatever. Let's just get this over with, ok."
The rest of the walk was in silence as Jack led them to an old run down shack on the edge of the town. Anamaria's eye twitched. "Ye left a precious family heirloom in a dump like this?"
Offering her one of his toothy grins, he explained, "Well, one last place a pirate would look for precious treasure, now ain't it?"
Jack knocked on the door three times and waited. Anamaria stood nearby seemingly to be more interested in her nails when the door creaked open.
A face appeared in the crack and Jack gave a goofy wave and pointed to himself. "Jack!" The door swung open and an old man stood in its thresh-hold. "Why… I thought ye done got yeself killed, it's been so long." He moved aside and allowed the two visitors passage through the door.
"No chance for that, now is there?" Jack gestured as he ushered Anamaria inside.
The old man closed the door and led the two into a scantily clad room. He took up rest in an old rickety chair as he cleaned his spectacles. Placing them back on the bridge of his nose he asked, "So what can I do fer ye?"
Jack's head titled slightly, a smile on his face as he answered, "I've come for me treasure."
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Author's Corner: Wow… time sure does fly, yes? Any how… end scene of chapter three. Who's the old man in which Jack trusted his treasure with? What's really going on in Anamaria's mind? Did Gibbs' hangover subside? And what is that annoying little thing that keeps crawling all over the computer screen?
All these questions plus some answered in the next chapter! Whoo-hoo!
(evil laugh) Ok now on to the real author's note. Third chapter is seemingly underway and yes. Yes, I know, it's a bit on the sluggish slide. But trust me when I say, there is tons of action later on in the plot. Juicy gossip, sword fights and… rum!
Chapter four is being written as you read this; so rest assured. More answers will be revealed, but not all of them. Just not yet. But in due time… etc. etc. etc.
Review Thanks (yay, I have reviews!)
Welcome to the Caribbean: Thanks for the kind words. As small a part as Anamaria had in the movie, I felt she was unfairly placed and her small role did not do her justice. But alas! She has a chance here in our stories to go on to do great things. Also, I don't see myself as a skilled writer in the least, I'm just here having fun and putting down my opinions in words, but the compliment is greatly appreciated.
Jackfan2: Thanks! (laughs) As for the talking like a pirate part, it's understandable. Of the people I work with, I have taken 2 with me along with my room mate's little brother, my little brother and his friend. We all talk that way! I've dissected the story a bit more and in order to carry the story a little longer, I will bring in Will and Elizabeth. Expect them around chapters 6-7. ^_~
Ames: Well… I'm leaning towards yes… and as it were, thanks a lot!
Cal: Yes, Jack and sensual can go hand in hand. However, this story will not get that far out of hand, if you catch my drift. As by sensual I mean, scenes leading up to where it could go a little farther.
Mak4: I do plan to keep going and I thank you for your inspiration and faith. True, she wasn't in the movie much, but we can fix that lil' problem, now can't we. (grins)
FYI: Zoë Saldana kicks pirate booty!
-Dragon Demon