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
(Quick A/N: In tradition with reviews, it seems I have 2 faithful reviewers whom I'd like to dedicate this chapter to. Jackfan2 and Cal, you guys are the greatest! Thanks for all of your support and encouragement! Now, on with the show!)
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(Don't let go of the things you believe in)
You give me something that I can believe in
(Don't let go of this moment in time)
Go of this moment in time
(Don't let go of the things that you're feeling)
I can't explain the things that I'm feeling
(Don't let go)
No, I won't let go
--Bryan Adams
---
The sound of a pistol going off echoed through the hallway. Jack's head came up just as he saw Anamaria stumble and fall forward screaming.
"Anamaria!" Jack let go of the rope and ran to her side. The guard who fired fumbled to reload his pistol when Jack's fist sent him backwards knocking the pistol out of his hand and over the balcony.
Jack ran over to the fallen woman and crouched beside her. Blood had begun to seep through the dress from where the bullet had found its mark. Jack gingerly reached down and laid a hand over the wound when suddenly another hand shot out and grabbed his.
"Touch it again, and I'll kill ye."
Startled Jack jumped back falling onto his bottom. "Ana- Anamaria! You're not dead!"
Anamaria pushed herself up, the pain showing in her eyes. "Seems that way. Looks like you're stuck with me, Sparrow. Now help me up."
Jack dusted himself off and carefully helped Anamaria up only to have her fall into his arms. She seethed in pain as she reached down and took her shoes off. Cursing, she tossed them aside and tried to stand up but to no avail.
"I thought…"
Anamaria cut him off by saying, "It'll take more than that to kill me, Jack Sparrow. Ye should know that by now. Let's get out of here."
"How did ye… dodge that bullet?" Jack asked her as she hobbled down the hall.
Anamaria smirked. "I didn't. I twisted my ankle and fell. Stupid shoes. That's the last time I listen to ye Jack Sparrow."
"Aye, but they saved your life." Jack teased.
Anamaria was ready to knock him into yesterday when shouts from behind them drew her attention away. Jack broke into a run, forgetting the injured women who clung to him, until she tumbled forward. Jack slowed down and tightened his grip on her keeping her from falling face first onto the floor.
A certain pain crossed Anamaria's eyes as she realized that she was dead weight on Jack's hands and that they would both be caught if he continued the slow pace for her sake. "Jack, just leave me. Go and find that key. Thousands of lives depend on ye; mine is only one. Go. "
Jack's face-hardened at the words as he said, "I won't leave ye behind. You're part of me crew, and I don't turn me back on me crew."
Anamaria glared at him in anger. "Don't be stupid Jack! If they catch ye, then what about the rest of your crew? They will catch them too, and hang them along side us! Is that what ye want?"
Jack didn't answer as he ducked to avoid a bullet that whizzed through the air. The shouts were closer now. Guess that statue didn't slow 'em down much, Jack thought bitterly. He knew what he had to do. He knew Anamaria was right. They would catch them, and then they would catch the crew. And they would all be hanged- together.
But Jack couldn't… no he wouldn't leave Anamaria behind. She was an asset to his crew, to himself. She was a friend. He wouldn't betray her and leave her to die alone at the hands of Governor Garrison and his men.
Jack was so deep in his thoughts that he didn't hear Anamaria screaming at him, telling him to save himself. Nor did he hear her scream his name or that they had come to a dead end. Jack snapped out of his reverie just in time to see that they were quickly running out of hallway in which to run. The rope, he pondered. No, I can't- not with Anamaria injured like this. We wouldn't make it out.
Another thought struck Jack's mind as he stared ahead. Without another word, he scooped Anamaria up in his arms- her shouts and kicking doing nothing to help matters- and broke into a run. His only words were, "Hold on."
Anamaria's face paled when she saw what he was planning on doing. "Jack! No! Don't!"
But her pleas fell on deaf ears as Jack crashed through the window at the end of the hall.
Anamaria screwed her eyes shut as her grip on Jack tightened. She felt her stomach flutter and her heart raced with terror. What was he thinking? She thought as she held on- there wasn't much else she could do. Burying her face in Jack's neck she whispered, "Don't let go."
---
It felt like he was flying. The feeling of falling through the air felt like freedom. But Jack was scared. No, he thought. Not scared. Terrified. He felt Anamaria's arms tighten their hold on him as they fell downwards- to what, he didn't know. He wasn't sure why he had gone through the window- perhaps there was some odd chance (should he not die first) that he could escape back to the Pearl without being caught.
It was risky. But wasn't his entire life about risk taking? Of course not! He told himself. There was rum, the Black Pearl, revenge, his freedom, his friends-- his thoughts stalled out on him as one name came to mind. Anamaria.
She had been with him from the start. He had stolen her boat, yet she joined his crew when he needed one. She had also had the Pearl in her possession, when he was due to hang for his crimes, yet she came back.
He never would understand why she stuck around, but now more than ever, he was glad she had. She had always been there when he needed her. He trusted her. No, he told himself. I won't forsake her, not when she had many a chance to leave me, and didn't.
He felt her in his arms, knowing that, for as long as they were in the air, she was safe. But he wasn't sure of what would await either of them once they hit the ground. He couldn't promise her the future, but he knew he could promise her the present. Safety, a spot on his crew and his friendship.
His love--?
Was it possible that Jack even felt a twinge of love for this woman? Could it be possible that she had a place in his heart? Or maybe had even stolen it without him knowing. He wasn't sure.
He felt her bury her face into his neck and he heard her soft and scared whisper, "Don't let go."
There were many things Captain Jack Sparrow was unsure of. But the one thing he was sure of… was he wouldn't ever let her go.
Holding her close, protecting her, trying to comfort her, he told her reassuringly, "I won't."
No, there were many things Captain Jack Sparrow was unsure of. And the one thing he knew was… that he loved this woman.
---
Anamaria screamed as she felt a wave of coldness wash over her. She felt Jack's arms loosen their grip on her and she struggled to stay in their grasp. Her chest felt constricted, she couldn't breathe, and the sudden thought that she was going to die claimed her mind.
She felt something pull her up, to where she had no idea. She couldn't see as a blanket of darkness draped over her. Just as she felt like giving in, she felt a strong tug on her arm bringing her back from the brink.
Anamaria surfaced the water with a loud gasp as she inhaled deeply. She coughed to remove the water that had built in her lungs, thankful that she was still alive. She was cold and soaked. Her body was numb, and she found it hard to stay afloat as the weight of the waterlogged dress drug her down. But she wasn't sinking. Something was keeping her above the water.
Her endeavor was short lived as she felt someone pulling her, trying to catch her attention.
Craning her neck back, she saw Jack, struggling with the attempt of pulling her from the water. Shouts from above distracted her and she looked to see Garrison's guards rushing outside.
"Search the perimeter! Don't let them escape!"
Anamaria ignored the shouts as she used her good arm to help wade through the water. Jack crested the small shore and helped her to her feet.
"Ye alright?" Jack questioned as he pulled off his soaked jacket.
Anamaria, still in shock over what had happened, deftly nodded. The shock soon passed as she slapped Jack across the face and hissed, "Don't ye ever do that again, Jack Sparrow! We could have been killed!"
Jack didn't budge, but instead looked away. Better to die trying to escape than not being able to escape at all. He thought with a tinge of aggravation.
Anamaria unsteadily stood up, her injured ankle flaring with pain. Choking down the scream, she followed Jack through the trees as they made their way back to the docks.
Several times she and Jack had to stop on account of Anamaria's pleas to slow down so she could catch her breath. Finally they reached the docks and Jack pulled her into the shadows of a building as a group of guards rushed by. When the coast was clear, Jack and Anamaria made a run for the ship, both hoping and praying that someone wouldn't see them.
---
Jack stood on deck, a bottle of rum in his hands. His mind thought back to the earlier events at Sunny Dale. His treasure in which he had painstakingly kept hidden had been stolen. The past was, undoubtedly repeating itself. And Anamaria had been injured.
Jack was at least thankful that her injuries weren't severe; he knew he wouldn't have been able to finish the task ahead had they been.
Anamaria had been furious with Jack at the stunt he had pulled, and she was sure to let him know. He gingerly traced a hand over the now forming bruise on his cheek. He never would understand that woman, and frankly, he wasn't sure if he wanted to.
Still, maybe she was right. Perhaps leaping out a two-story building window wasn't the way out he was looking for, but it was the best he could do on such short notice. He remembered how she had looked when they finally boarded the Pearl. It was a sight he knew he wouldn't soon forget either.
Flashback
Jack clambered onto the Pearl and turned to help Anamaria up. The sound of feet sounded on the deck and Jack could see the woman tense at the noise. It was Gibbs'; his face flushed, his shirt wrinkled and what appeared to be a fish in his hand. His arm was raised above his head as if he were ready to strike when his eyes fell upon Jack.
"Jack! Ye bloody scared the 'ell outta me ye did. Though' some'ne was sneakin' aboard." Gibbs said all at once.
Jack cast a curious glance at the man. "And what would ye have done Gibbs had it been just that? Pummel them with a flounder?" he asked as he gestured to the fish in Gibbs hand.
Gibbs was obviously drunk because he blinked in confusion and stared at the fish. Shrugging he absently tossed the fish overboard as if it never had happened. Gibbs shuffled towards Jack when he stopped and yelled, "Mary Mother of God! Anamaria! Why are ye dressed like that?"
Anamaria scowled at him and tried to give him what for only to find herself barely kissing the deck. "Careful love, the deck may be your friend, but let's try to keep the feelings to a minimum, savvy?"
The anger once again rose in Anamaria's eyes as she put the rest of her strength in a punch that totally caught Jack off guard. He staggered back, his face emanating an immense pain of the likes he had never known.
Anamaria glowered at him as she asked, "How could ye?"
It wasn't long before more of the crew had come up on deck to see what the commotion was. They found a drunken Gibbs, a dazed captain and a soaked Anamaria in, what appeared to be to them, a dress. One of the men whistled out and yelled, "Hey darlin'! I got an extra bunk if ye wan' to use it!" From somewhere else in the crowd someone stated, "Man! I'd like to swab her deck!" There was a round of laughter but they were soon silenced with a dangerous glare from Jack.
Jack saw the pain in his first mates eyes at the rude comments and immediately felt sorry for having dragged her into this. Anamaria, desperately trying to remain strong and look unfazed by the remarks, fled from the deck to her cabin below.
"Hey, was that Anamaria?" a guy asked from the back as she ran past him.
One of the guys who had made one of the remarks cringed as he said, "Oh crap."
After Anamaria had left the deck and the humiliating stares of her crew mates, Jack gave the crew their 'oh crap', a lecture that even the devil himself would fear.
---
Jack rapped softly on Anamaria's door. He heard her shuffle around inside as something fell to the floor. "Ana--? Are ye all right? Open the door."
The silence hung in the air as the door separated them. But reason finally won out and the door creaked open. Jack stepped inside and closed the door behind him. Anamaria sat in a chair on the far side of the small room, her back facing him.
Jack could see that she had taken the liberty to rid herself of the dress and put on something dry. The wet dress lay bunched in a pile on the floor; it's fabric still dripping.
Anamaria was hunched over, her wet hair falling over her shoulders and soaking the back of her white shirt. She was gently massaging her right ankle, quite aware that Jack stood behind her watching.
From where he stood he could see the small splotch of red seeping through her shirt. "Anamaria?"
The woman ignored him as she continued to rub her ankle. Jack felt his irritation grow, but knew that he had no right to be mad. Instead of lashing out at her, he sat on her bed and stared at her.
"You're bleedin'." He mentioned softly.
Anamaria looked up then and glanced at him. Sighing she said, "I know. It won't stop."
Jack could see that she had already tried to bandage it, but at the angle it was at, she apparently had had some difficulty in tending to it. "'ere, let me help you." He said as he picked up a bottle from the floor and a bandage.
"No!" Anamaria refused as she backed away. She almost looked ashamed as she corrected herself. "I mean, no- thank you. I'm fine, Jack. Please, just… " her voice faded as he neared her.
He frowned at her. "Now, if me memory serves right, ye never let me turn down your help when I was wounded. Why would now be any diff'rent? Is it 'cause you're proud and afraid to admit ye need help? Or is it 'cause you're a woman and think your job is to take care o' us?"
"None of the above." She replied. A certain look passed her features at the thought of Jack helping her; a look Jack knew all to well.
"If it's 'cause ye might have t' take off your shirt, don't worry, it's not like it's anythin' I haven't seen before." Jack offered with a sly grin.
Anamaria managed a strangled cry of disgust (and what Jack could tell, a slight smile) as she muttered, "Pervert."
"Just tryin' to help, love."
When he saw Anamaria was still refusing his help he added, "Ye know, Ana, ye are a strong woman. Determined. Proud. Caring. Ye expect others to lean on ye 'cause they have for as long as ye can 'member. But I'm tellin' ye now, even the proud and strong need someone to lean on at times." He paused and hoped to see some cooperation.
When there was none he continued, "Take it from me, I know. See, I was and still am a proud man, to my word and me death. That was 'till I met a certain woman who made me realize that even the proud fall and need a hand. She taught me to swallow me pride, because in the end, pride gets ye no where. To this day, I still find that hand helping me up when I stumble. I also know that without her, I wouldn't be here today."
There was a sigh and a nod as Anamaria slipped her arm from her shirt; her head turned to the wall. Her mind was swarming with thoughts at her situation. Ironic, she said silently. Her line of concentration was broken by Jack's voice.
"Ye were lucky the bullet just grazed your arm." He assured. Sensing the silence once again he told her, "And I'm sorry about what happened on deck with the crew, Anamaria. I don't think you'll be havin' any more problems out o' that lot."
"Don't worry about it, Jack." Anamaria lied. "It's not like ye planned for it to happen."
She hissed in pain as he dabbed a cloth covered in rum onto her shoulder, the burn spreading through her arm. "Sorry," he whispered.
After some time, Anamaria got up the courage to ask, "Why didn't ye tell me?"
Jack looked at her, confused at what she was asking. He eventually nodded acknowledging her question. "I didn't think it mattered."
"Well it did!" Anamaria snapped. "It does."
Jack remained silent and began to wrap a new bandage around the pirate's arm. "Jack, we are your crew. Your friends. Ye should have told us. Not kept it hidden like it was some child's secret."
"Well I'm bloody sorry for tryin' to keep it from getting around. It's not like I had intended for this to happen! It's the last thing I want to be happenin' right now. That's why I kept the key hidden and the secret just that! A secret!" Jack retorted.
Anamaria closed her eyes and looked away from Jack. She knew she had crossed the line she had told herself to never cross. But he had not told anyone. Not even her. She felt almost betrayed knowing that this wasn't the only thing he was keeping from her. She thought she was his friend, that he could trust her with anything. I guess I thought wrong.
Jack was angry with himself for having let the tension get the better of him. He knew he had upset Anamaria. He could see it just in the way she sat. She had turned away from him. "Ana… look at me."
When she refused to listen, he gently placed a finger under her chin and lifted her face to meet his. "I don't want anyone else getting hurt or dying. Includin' you. Just please, trust me. And promise me that no matter what, you'll stay out of this and let me take care of it. I can't-- I don't want to lose you. Just promise me, ok?"
Anamaria numbly nodded her agreement to his request. Jack forced a smile. "Ok. Why don't ye get some rest, I know ye must be exhausted." He observed as he stood up. He placed the bottle of rum on a table, his back to Anamaria.
She stood up and fixed her shirt. "I'm sorry, Jack. For getting mad at ye." She apologized as she finished buttoning her blouse.
"Forgiven." Jack reassured. "Now into bed wit' ye." As he turned to leave he looked back, "I'll be down later to check on you."
He was answered with a nod and he closed the door silently behind him.
Now he stood alone at the bow of the boat, his mind a maze of jumbled thoughts. He had indeed been down to check on her just as he promised. Several times in fact. He was relieved to see that she was sleeping soundlessly despite what she had been through.
Swishing the contents around in the bottle, his mind went back to Governor Garrison. It was possible that the Governor could know of the whereabouts of the key, since he did have the book in his possession for the past 10 or so years.
Yes, he thought demurely as he noiselessly found a rowboat and made his way to shore. It's time to pay Garrison a lil' visit.
---
Author's Corner- Mwuhaha! How about that for 'romantic moments?' Hehe, I don't know how, but this chapter just, seemingly found it's way to the story. Talk about ironic. Ok, this will probably be only one of few scenes with Jack and Anamaria in rare form, such as they were here.
Now, tell me, does anyone else disagree with the fact that, even though Anamaria seems able to fend for herself, that perhaps, some men of the crew harass her? Just curious.
As for the chapter, strange I know, and I played Jack's cards just as I figured he would. Not completely letting his guard down, yet, being compassionate enough to show he has feelings as well. Jack really is a softie. Can I get an 'aye!'
Meaning, I don't want to see any insults (a.k.a) flames, on the review board. Please, to open your options, if you as a reader/reviewer have something to say about how you do NOT like the story, then by all means, use my email address. I mean, seriously! The review board is for constructive criticism, (i.e.- a chance to tell me that I need to work on my character detail, my format or even to backtrack my plot to see where this all makes sense and meets together!) and I suppose good news.
People don't want to read a review board only to find derogative and meaningless gibberish scrolled across the screen. (You SUCK!) I mean, jeez, at least offer a little bit of encouragement (You Suck!) So, in short, if you as a reader/reviewer can't respect a simple request such as emailing me if you want to flame, your review (a.k.a. flame) will be made fun of, emailed back to you with a short flame of my own and deleted from my board.
Ok, on to the next chapter, and don't worry… it won't be… all fluff. Blah, blah, blah.
Review Thanks- (Wow, what does a girl gotta do around here to get more reviews? If anyone knows, hey, let me in on the secret!)
Sillyfangirlwith2muchfree(time?)- Wow, a first time reviewer. Thanks so much! Yes, cliff hangers are evil, but heh, what's a body to do when the story threatens to steal away all your red gummy-bears if you don't place the cliffhanger somewhere? I guess now we know. I am glad you enjoyed this little tidbit of nonsense, and hope you stick around for more!
Jackfan2- (sighs) It seems ff.net has become an enemy as of late, with it's numerous server problems and the likes. But hey, who can complain! It's one of few places who allows us to rip off such great titles as 'Pirates of the Caribbean!' I'm also sorry to hear that your POS system had some temporary memory problems on behalf of reviews. Allow me to let you borrow me Ugly Stick, it comes in handy! Also, the 'trinket' referred to is the key in which Jack had stored in the book. Ok, so it's not really a trinket of sorts, but it'll work. Right? I'm sure that this chapter was confusing, and so offered to you (and anyone else who may be confused, please feel free to email or IM me and I will explain!) But rest assured, there will be another 'trinket' later on, one in which Jack is very fond and proud of. (hint hint)
Cal- You have a wonderful observation on things! The whole kiss and make better thing, wow, I'd have to say two thumbs up for you on that one! I'd have never dreamed of looking at it that way, and then again, we may never know why she treats him as such. Although, I have heard that when someone likes you, they tend to pick on you or such to cover up their feelings. Of course, I wouldn't know. Also, do you mind if I sorta use your theory of Ana's actions on Jack for a later story bit?
-Dragon Demon