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.
---
Gibbs silently watched Anamaria board the enemy vessel, concern filled his mind. Despite the notion that he thought women were bad luck, he held so much respect for his fellow crewmate. Against his better judgement, he knew what had to be done and he didn't much care for the fact that it was left to him.
But he knew that if anyone could find Jack- It be that lass. He told himself as the Pearl began to make her getaway. Hurry back lass, and God Speed. He whispered mentally as the other ship began to get smaller and smaller in the distance.
---
Anamaria unceremoniously landed on the deck of the ship, her breath caught in her throat. Gaining a tight grip on her sword she quietly crept up to get a better view of what was going on around Jack.
Just as she was about to slip past the group to get closer, she heard a noise behind her and spun around. Anamaria's eyes widened in surprise as she tried to bring her sword up but wasn't quick enough and soon found herself crashing to the floor.
---
Jack cracked an eye and instantly regretted doing so. His head throbbed with pain and he could feel a knot the size of a goose egg forming near the nape of his neck. He groaned as he pushed himself up on one elbow to look around.
He frowned upon seeing where he was. The brig. The last thing he remembered was fighting the crew of that ship that attacked the Pearl and that someone had called his name when he was following Anamaria.
Jack suddenly paled. Anamaria. he thought. I wonder if she managed to make waves with the Pearl… or at least get everyone to safety.
A faint noise on the other side of the cell drew him from his thoughts. He squinted in the darkness allowing his eyes to adjust to the dim lighting. Must be nightfall. He assumed from the lack of light.
After his eyes adjusted, he could make a shadow wedged into the corner of the cell. To his eye it appeared to be a pile of some sort in a heap on the floor. He carefully observed it trying to make out what it was.
He was about to forget it and lay back down when something caught his attention. Did it just move-? He thought he was going insane as he watched it again in hopes to see if his mind was playing tricks on him.
But he wasn't disappointed as the heap on the floor did in fact move- barely, but surely. There it is again! He screamed to himself as he scrambled to his feet.
He scurried across the cell floor and soon dropped to his knees beside the heap. Gingerly reaching out, Jack's hand fell across something smooth and slightly cool. He pulled his hand back as if there was a fear of something snapping at him.
It's a person. Jack concluded after having reached out again and feeling an arm.
Jack bent over the figure and turned them to where he could see their face, or at least what little of it the dark brig allowed. He narrowed his eyes trying to capture what little light on the face that he could.
A loud banging noise startled him and he drew away from the person on the floor. Moments later, he could see the soft glow of a light making it's way to his cell. The light grew brighter and Jack had to force himself to watch the cell door instead of looking at the figure on the ground beside him.
His hand fell across something soft and yet course and he turned to catch a glimpse of what it was only to have his head snap back around as someone stopped at the cell door. A short and stocky man stood there, a lantern in his hand. Jack could see his face clearly and noted that the man was visibly aged with graying hair and a scraggly beard.
A single scar made it's way down his face; the start of it jutting above his right eyebrow and ending just under his eye. Jack noticed when he smiled that most of his teeth were considerably missing and that the few he had left were black with decay.
The man glared at him and in a slurred voice stated, "Good, ye ar' awake. Th' cap'n will see ye as soon as the poppet comes to. Iffen I be ye, I'd be tryin' t' find some way t' wake th' wench up. Th' cap'n don't like t' be kept waitin'."
Jack titled his head in thought. Poppet? Wench?
As if noticing Jack's perplex stare, the man made a curt nod to the figure beside Jack. Turning, Jack saw that it was indeed a woman lying beside him. Her dark hair spilled across her face and the floor and for a brief moment Jack felt a sort of recognition pass over him.
She almost looks like- Jack's train of thought came to a short end as he lunged forward at the man on the other side of the cell. The man easily eluded the pirate captain's hands and watched in amusement as Jack glared dangerously at him.
Grinning the man hung the lantern on a peg nearby while saying, "Remember, t' cap'n don't like t' be kept waitin'," and left just as quickly as he had come.
Jack yelled a string of curses after the man even well after the door to the brig closed. Angry and concerned, Jack spun on his heel and dropped back down beside the woman on the floor.
He shook her lightly trying to get her to come around. "Ana! Wake up."
A soft moan escaped Anamaria as she rolled over and slowly opened her eyes. Unable to focus clearly, she saw a figure before her and brought her arm up to defend herself. Jack swiftly dodged the blow as he pulled her into his arms.
"Anamaria! Stop! Its me!" Jack soothed as she struggled in his arms.
The struggling ceased as Anamaria registered in her mind whom was holding her. "J-Jack?"
"Aye, its me."
Anamaria relaxed in his grip as she mumbled, "Thank God. I was afraid ye were one of those cretin's."
Jack sighed. "Shhh now, Anamaria. It's only me."
There was a moment of silence before it was broke by the shuffling noise of Anamaria as she moved out of Jack's grasp and leaned against the wall. She rested her elbows on her knees as she cradled her head in her hand, wincing slightly as she did so.
Jack studied her, a worried expression on his face as his eyes passed over. She was tired- that much he could tell just by the way she sat hunched over. Her black hair was tangled and hung loosely in her face. Her shirt- still covered in blood- was ripped in several places but Anamaria didn't care.
Her head pulsed with pain and her neck was stiff. She drew her knees closer to her as she huddled in the corner, a chill running down her spine.
"Are ye okay?" Jack finally asked after he had looked over her.
Anamaria lifted her eyes to meet his. "Me head hurts."
Jack leaned forward and moved Anamaria's hand from her forehead to reveal a small gash near her hairline. "That would be why." He shifted and pulled something from his pocket. He scooted away and crouched near the wall of the cell and returned momentarily. In the dim light, Anamaria could make out a piece of damp cloth.
Jack grinned. "Seems th' old boat has a bit of a leak," he whispered gruffly as he pressed the cloth against Anamaria's head. She jerked back at the sudden sting but soon resisted as Jack cleaned the wound.
"Why are ye on this ship, Anamaria?" Jack eventually asked. He felt her tense up under his touch and raised an eyebrow in reaction.
Pushing her hair from her face, Anamaria murmured, "I came to get you."
Jack didn't answer but nodded instead. "And the Pearl?"
"The Pearl is fine. Gibbs has everythin' under control."
There was another nod and Anamaria heard Jack mutter, "Good job, Gibbs."
Aye, a good job indeed. Anamaria thought sourly as she closed her eyes and drifted into a light sleep.
---
Jack sat in the silence as he watched Anamaria dozing. He wandered when they both would be expected to meet with the Captain, but more importantly, he wondered exactly who the Captain was.
He scratched his chin in thought racking his brain for a reasonable explanation behind this all, but could find none. He rechecked his memory in hopes of finding something he overlooked, like perhaps, some thing he had done to anger or otherwise offend someone enough to cause them to ambush the Pearl. But still he could find no flaw or error in which would result in this.
His gaze fell on Anamaria who shivered from the cold air that seeped through the many cracks of the brig. Jack noiselessly slipped his jacket off and draped it around the woman's shoulders in a feeble attempt to keep her from getting chilled by the night air.
Jack slid his arms through the cell bars and gazed at the brig door. Where the bloody hell is that old man?
After some time, Jack slid into a sitting position beside Anamaria and rested his head against the wall. He could hear his first mate's shallow breathing and sighed. Jack continued to listen to Anamaria's short breaths as he too fell into a light slumber.
---
A shudder from beneath the ship woke Anamaria from her dreamless sleep. Shifting her position, she pulled her form of cover tighter around her. A smile played on her lips as she thought, Jack's jacket.
Dropping her head forward, she looked over at Jack assuming that he was sleeping. She reached up and massaged her left shoulder and neck.
"Arm botherin' ye?"
Anamaria jumped back in surprise at the question and smirked. "I thought ye were sleepin'."
"I was."
Anamaria's lips twisted into a frown. "Did I wake you?"
"No."
The woman nodded. "So what did?"
Jack leaned forward and looked up at the ceiling. "The storm."
Anamaria quirked an eyebrow. She followed Jack's gaze upward to see what was so intriguing, but only found molding wood. She was about to ask him what he was staring at when she heard it.
Rain drops.
Anamaria strained her ears to better hear as the rain pelted on the deck above. "It's really pourin' isn't it?"
"Aye." Jack answered gravely.
Anamaria's dark eyes scrutinized Jack as he continued to stare at the ceiling of the brig. "Jack, why do ye think this ship attacked us?"
Jack finally pulled his gaze down and stared at her. "I have no idea, love. I've tried and tried to figure out who would attack us, but I can't come up with anyone. And those I could, I couldn't come up with any logical reason as to why."
"They weren't regular pirates just out for a raid, Jack! Those are savages just out for blood. All the fighting and killing, its pointless!" Anamaria interjected.
Jack scrunched his nose up. "Actually, I'd like to call it survival. The world is cruel, Anamaria and the sea is a harsh lady. Only the strong, smart and determined survive here."
"Being strong doesn't always mean you'll survive, Jack. Even strength can be a weakness." Anamaria said plaintively.
Jack smirked. "Aye, then I guess we'll have to rely on luck alone to survive, eh Anamaria?"
The woman scowled at him before lowering her gaze, her eyes full of what Jack could only describe as sadness, as she whispered, "Luck will only get you so far, Jack-- then it gets ye killed."
Jack contemplated her words while trying to think of something to say in response to her statement. As he opened his mouth to speak, the door to the brig opened at the same time.
Two men made their way to the cell that held Jack and Anamaria. Jack noticed that the man from earlier was one of the two, and the other was one of the men who had drug him aboard the ship to begin with.
Jack stood up and stared at the two before saying, "Its about bloody time ye got back. I was beginning to worry there for a minute, mate. Well I suppose its time to meet with the captain, eh gentlemen?"
The first man who had previously been down before retorted, "Shut yer mouth, whelp!"
Jack grinned deviously at the two as the cell door opened and the one man shuffled in clapping shackles onto Jack's wrists. Anamaria watched with confusion as they drug Jack from the cell. The second guy, a tall lanky fellow with a patch over one of his eyes, moved towards Anamaria.
"Get up wench!" he demanded as he grabbed her roughly by the arm and yanked her to her feet. Anamaria yelped in surprise as she stumbled forward; a pair of shackles bounding her hands together as well. The man pushed her out of the cell and up the stairs behind Jack.
The closer she got to the top, the more she could hear the rain beating relentlessly on the deck above. A chill ran through her as she was pushed out into the rain, the drops of water soaking her to the skin.
Jack, she thought. I hope ye have a plan.
She watched as Jack was pushed to his knees in front of the helm. He turned his face skyward and closed his eyes. As if on cue, the rain slacked off and soon just a drizzle greeted those on deck.
Anamaria was roughly shoved to her knees beside her Captain, a slight hiss of pain rewarding the action. She looked around to see that it was only Jack, the two men and herself who occupied the deck.
Jack noticed this too and impishly quipped, "Well it seems that we are here and accounted for, but no captain, boys. Perhaps ye can kindly tell your captain, that we don't like to be kept waitin'."
The stocky man quickly delivered a blow to the back of Jack's head causing him to jerk back in pain and surprise. Anamaria cringed.
"Ye won't disrespect t' captain that way, or else I be makin' ye walk the plank, ye hear?"
Jack sneered at the man who answered with the raising of his hand once again.
"That is enough!" a voice instructed from above the four. Jack and Anamaria looked up to see a dark figure shrouded in the darkness of the shadows. The shadowed figure chuckled, "Well well… Jack Sparrow, isn't it lad?"
There was a growl in the back of Jack's throat as he seethed, "Captain Jack Sparrow."
The figure grinned and nodded. "Aye, Captain Sparrow then. It is such an honor to have ye aboard me ship."
Jack narrowed his eyes. "Well I'd normally say that the pleasure is all mine, but there's one problem mate."
"And what would that be?"
"It's not an honor to be here, especially when there was no invitation." Jack spat back.
The figure came out of the shadows and stood at the helm glaring down at Jack and Anamaria. "So it would seem." He started towards them as he said, "Well, allow me to introduce myself all the same. I'm Captain Flood."
As he stopped in front of him, Anamaria let out a short gasp as she glared at Flood. "It's you!" she seethed.
Flood looked at her with amusement. "Aye, what about me, lass?"
"You're the one who attacked Port Maria! You're the one who killed my parents!" Anamaria screamed at him.
Flood rubbed his chin and stated nonchalantly, "It seems then, that the raid was unsuccessful."
"What's that suppose to mean?" Anamaria asked angrily. "You killed everybody and burnt every buildin' to the ground."
The captain grinned. "Well it seems it was a raid gone bad indeed." He stepped close to her and placed a dagger under her chin. "It seems to me, we left a survivor. A minor mistake, lass, and one that can be resolved quickly." He laughed as he traced Anamaria's neck with the small blade.
Anamaria held her chin high as she retorted, "I ain't afraid to die."
Out of the corner of her eye she saw Jack tense up. I just don't want to die alone, she finished silently. She closed her eyes as Flood twisted the blade making her wince in pain as the dagger nicked her skin. A trickle of blood ran down her neck and Flood wiped it away with the back of his hand.
"I hope you've made your peace, lass, because this is the end of the line for ye."
From beside her she saw a blur of movement as Flood was sent stumbling back.
"Ye stay away from her, savvy?"
Jack stood between Flood and Anamaria, hatred in his eyes as the two captains's glared at each other. Flood smirked. "Well well, Captain Sparrow. It seems ye do have a heart after all."
He pointedly gestured at Anamaria and said, "But she is just a woman, a wench. Is that why ye keep her around, Sparrow? Ye know what they say lad, women are only good as whor-" he was abruptly cut off as Jack used his bound hands to his advantage and slugged Flood across the chin.
Flood reared back in anger as the shackles caught him across the face busting his bottom lip. The captain wiped the blood from his face and glared at Jack. With a nod of his head, Jack soon found himself crashing to his knees as Flood's men roughly dragged him across the deck
Flood withdrew his sword and followed the two men who were dragging Jack. He pointed his blade at Jack and sneered when another voice rang out stopping Flood in his tracks.
"Now now Flood… that's no way to treat our guests of honor."
Anamaria and Jack turned with the others to see another person step out of the shadows. Anamaria choked back a scream as Jack stared in shock. Finally he bared his teeth and said, "You."
The person laughed and answered, "Aye, 'tis me."
---
"Barbossa."
Jack's face was drawn into a scowl as he glared at his ex-first mate. "Why aren't ye dead?"
Barbossa chuckled. "'Tis a secret Jack. A secret to which only I know." There was a pause and then, "And besides, mate, ye forget one very important thing. I'm Captain Barbossa."
Jack growled as Barbossa said this. "Then I guess I'll just have to kill ye again."
"Jack. Jack- didn't ye learn anythin' t' las' time?"
Jack cocked a grin and replied, "Only if ye did, mate."
Barbossa nodded. "Stubborn as always, Jack. Ye know why you're here, now don't ye?"
"I'm afraid I missed that Barbossa. Why am I here?"
"Because Jack! You're the missin' link, don't ye know." Barbossa exclaimed.
Jack quirked an eyebrow at the man. "Am I now? That's news to me."
"Don't play dumb with me, Sparrow! Ye know well what I am talkin' about."
"That's where ye are wrong, mate. 'Cause see, I don't know what ye are talkin' about." Jack told him truthfully.
Barbossa rolled his eyes. "Then perhaps a lil' persuasion will help your memory, Jack." He looked from Jack to Anamaria and grinned slyly. "Ye got a name, missy?"
Anamaria shot him a look of disgust and said nothing. Someone grabbed her from behind and said, "Th' cap'n asked ye a question, whore, now answer it!"
"No."
Her answer was met with a sharp slap as the person said, "Answer th' captain, whore or else ye are gonna be walkin' the plank."
Anamaria's dark eyes flashed with anger as she defiantly stated, "I'm not answerin' anythin' and I'm not anyone's whore."
The man tightened his grip on her and dragged her to her feet. He roughly pushed her to the side of the ship, Anamaria fighting him the whole time. She managed to strike out with her feet causing the man to let go of her. The ship rocked back and forth in the choppy waters making it hard for Anamaria to stand up.
She suddenly felt something grab her foot and she hit the deck with a loud thump. Rolling over, she saw Barbossa standing over her with a malicious grin on his face. He grabbed her by the arms and stood her up, all the while never taking his eyes off her.
"Ye know missy, you're a fiery one. No wonder why ole' Jack likes ye." Barbossa looked at Jack. "I bet she's wild in bed, eh Jack?"
If looks had been able to kill, Barbossa would have never stood a chance as Jack stood there, his brown eyes burning with rage.
"So Jack, about that persuasion, I'm sure your lil' firecracker here, would love to walk the plank. Unless of course, ye tell me what I want to know." Barbossa proposed as he held Anamaria in front of him. She would be his leverage, and if Jack refused to tell Barbossa what he wanted to hear, Anamaria would be walking.
"And if ye help me, Jack, I promise t' not hurt your lass here. And jus' t' show how much of a nice guy I be, I'll even let 'er stay wit' me on th' ship. She be good entertainment for th' gents. Do we 'ave an accord?" Barbossa added.
Anamaria shifted uncomfortably as Barbossa's hand snaked its way across her chest. Jack cut his gaze to the floor before saying, "We 'ave an accord."
Barbossa smiled. "Marvelous!"
"Jack! No!" Anamaria protested as she struggled against her captor. Barbossa tossed her aside and nodded to Flood.
Flood shoved past Jack and yanked Anamaria up. "Get up wench. Ye have an appointment with the sharks and we best not keep them waiting."
"Barbossa ye lyin' bastard! What happened to our agreement?" Jack called after Barbossa.
"Ah, Jack. So naïve. Ye see I promised I wouldn't hurt 'er. But as for Flood's boys, well, they be on their own." Barbossa insisted.
"Ye best be sayin' your prayers, Barbossa, cause if anythin' happens to her, I'll personally be escortin' ye to Hell." Jack hissed through clenched teeth.
Barbossa shook his head with a grin. Overhead a crack of lighting lit up the sky as the rain came in sheets, each drop stinging with the promise of death.
Jack frowned as the ship began to toss violently in the waves of the storm. Barbossa remained where he stood, his eyes never leaving Jack's.
With the crashing waves came a loud grunt as Anamaria elbowed Flood in an attempt to get free. One of hiss men rushed to the fallen captain as the other tackled Anamaria. The ship lurched fiercely causing the man to stumble taking Anamaria with him.
Jack pulled away from Barbossa and rushed to his first mate's side. As he bounded over the wet deck, a wave caught him off guard and sent his feet from under him. Jack slid across the deck as the ship leaned resulting in loosing several things into the water. Bracing his feet against the railing, Jack stopped himself from going over the side.
From behind him, there was a scream and Jack looked up just in time to see a man go over the side with Anamaria still in his grasp. Her eyes were wide as she watched Jack shrink above her as she fell into the swells below.
"No! Anamaria!" Jack leaned over the railing and reached out trying to catch her before she fell, but only grabbed air.
Jumping to his feet, Jack ran across the deck to where he could see Anamaria barely keeping her head above the waves. Something yanked him back and he turned to see Flood and Barbossa, both with a firm grip on him to keep from going after the woman.
Jack growled at Barbossa, "I'll kill ye Barbossa. And I won't let your soul rest until I find her."
"You'll ne'er find her Jack… not with the storm brewin'." Barbossa laughed. "She's as good as dead."
Jack was dragged back to the brig watching helplessly as Anamaria slowly disappeared in the distance.
---
Author's Corner- (catches her breath) Ok, and as we wrap Chapter 12 up, I will go and hide from the lynching mobs of reviewers. The story isn't over yet!
I know that a lot of you are probably asking yourself questions like- Who is Captain Flood? What does Barbossa want from Jack? Will Jack escape? And is Anamaria still alive? Well, they do say that all good things must come to an end. To every beginning, there is an end.
But it doesn't mean that the story is over, oh no! It's far from it. Flood's origin and appearance will be answered in the next chapter as Jack gets closer to fate's end. Also, Barbossa's reasoning and returning will also be explained in the next chapter, so stick around!
I managed to get this chapter done a bit earlier than expected, so I figured I'd not keep you waiting. Hope you all enjoy it!
Review Thanks- (Wow, look, lots of new reviewers!)
Jorja- is it possible for someone to get something back only to lose something else? Heh, it is here. And again, thank you!
Mental and Knowing It- Hi! And thanks for the review. Here's the next chapter, hope you like it.
Jackfan2- Ok, so instead I shall leave you with another cliffhanger, how about that? (hides)
Jade- Ah, well here is the newest chapter, I hope it's to your liking!
-J