Disclaimer: I do not own anything of Disney's! (grumbles)
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Author's Notes:
Hello! Thank you so much for telling me what you think. Now the last chapter was kind of controversial, because writing romance crap is kind of hard. You can't make it too mushy (for goodness sakes, they're pirates!), you can't make it too gross (Like, ew?), and you don't want to offend anyone. So I tried to be as DISCREET as possible. Don't think the story is over already, chums, for I still have some tricks and funny hijinks up my sleeves!
Now let's get this straight: I just can't see Jack Sparrow getting married or proclaiming his undying love, savvy? As much as some people would like to see it, it would be completely out of character, as well as for Gallagher. She does love him, but she isn't sappy. (heehee, sappy is a cool word. Reminds me of maple syrup.) As much as it hurt to see Jack say "you know it doesn't change anything" at the end, it's true! Jack's going to have to start pondering real hard if he had even the slightest inkling she was any different than any other strumpet he's bedded, and he isn't going to change his life around just because he met someone that fit his fancy.
So, another reason I decided to put that in was because it was chapter 23, and we have waited long enough for any action between the two pirates. After all, they kind of have loose ways themselves, and they would have given in to their attractions by now. The story is already dwindling down, and it seemed like the right time for some personal emotional developments.
My game plan: They are going for the treasure, if Gallagher gives Jack the coordinates. After all, she is the only one who knows where Snidely's lies! Will something happen that make her change her mind and not share her loot? Will Jack pilfer and plunder mercilessly? Does Jack really feel like that night was just a way to slake his lust? Too many questions, I'd say. Let's get on with the freakin' story!
PineAppleLint : )
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
The sun beat down on my back and I wiped the trickling sweat off my forehead, grunting as I organized the ropes and tied them in the appropriate spots. The crew had been neglecting them while we were gone in the midst of trouble, and the knots and frayed ends were plentiful.
"Terrence," I heard a soft voice behind me proclaim.
"What is it, Elizabeth?" I asked, grunting as I finished tying the rope to its notch, yanking it a couple of times to make sure it stayed in place. I turned to face her, hands on my hips.
"How is your arm holding up?" she asked, running her palms over the front of her skirts, calming the creases in the lavender fabric.
I replied, "Tis all right. Better than I thought it would be. What have you been doing?"
"Preparing a fancy dinner. Captain's orders," Elizabeth said with a small smile, now smoothing her curls that were fanned out across her forehead, knocked out of place by the fierce wind.
"What kind o' dinner?" I questioned, my stomach immediately growling in response. It had been a long day.
"Chicken," she commented, glancing up at the dark sky.
I grinned and said, "Captain's orders, eh?"
Elizabeth glanced back at me, a bit confused. I shook my head, motioning her to forget about it. "I best be getting back to work before the storm hits," I informed her, nodding my head towards her and beginning to climb up to the crow's nest.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
My legs dangled over the edge, swinging rhythmically as I watched the waves become choppier and the sun set slowly. The sky grew darker, not just from the coming night, but from the storm.
Lightning flashed and I smiled, turning my face towards the sky as I felt the raindrops begin to pelt my skin.
"Gallagher!" I heard Will yell.
I looked down and saw him covering his mouth, hollering up at the crow's nest, squinting his brown eyes at me. His wild brown hair flew around in the wind, even if a black ribbon tied it.
"Yeah?" I shouted back, grinning, waving down to him like a fool.
"Get in the mess hall before the lightning gets you!" he hollered, motioning for me to come down.
"All right, spoilsport!" I replied, "I'm comin'." I grabbed a rope and swung down, gracefully landing on my feet.
"Show off," Will muttered and I gave him a large, sweeping bow. We both ended up letting out a yelp as a big crack of thunder boomed from overhead and we stared at each other in bewilderment. We ended up chuckling between ourselves, and then he grabbed my arm gently yet forcefully pulled me along, both running for cover.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"Playing out in the rain again?" Elizabeth sighed, looking me over and I shrugged sheepishly, taking my spot at the table. Jack was sitting right next to me, the table crowded so we all had to sit extremely close.
Candles were lit and Elizabeth began to serve us with proper ladylike manners. I didn't look at Jack until I caught him staring at me from out of the corner of my eye.
Our eyes met and he grinned devilishly. I gave him a confused look, not knowing what he was grinning about until I felt his warm, rough hand on my thigh underneath the table.
Will took his place at the table across from us, wiping his wet forehead with a handkerchief. He was soaked from the rain, and his boots sloshed as he walked. When he sat down, his breeches gave a little 'squish' and I snorted with laughter. Jack's fingers gently massaged my thigh and I bit my lip, instantly becoming quiet. I could still see a glimpse of him smiling.
"So Jack, where would we be heading?" Will asked with interest, spooning some fresh greens onto his plate.
"That's up to Gallagher, lad," he answered in that throaty, weathered voice of his that always seemed to hold a mixture of amusement and sarcasm.
Jack was doing more interesting things with his fingers and I sneakily grabbed my fork from the tabletop, and brought it down slowly to my lap. Sparrow was busy taking a swig of rum when I poked him in the hand with the rungs of the fork.
He let out a little cry in surprise, spitting his rum everywhere and holding up his hand, examining it. I didn't stab him hard enough to break skin, but it should have hurt all the same.
I didn't look at him but I took a sip of my drink, trying to hide a knowing smile from my face but failing miserably.
"Anything wrong, Jack?" William asked with concern, staring at him, waiting for an explanation.
"Bad rum, is all," Sparrow said hastily.
"Didn't know certain kinds of rum could bother Captain Jack Sparrow," Will said with mock politeness, smiling at him.
Jack glared at him, but said nothing more. He leaned in towards me as I ate a piece of chicken and I listened to him closely as he whispered, "Don't think I'll put up with that, Gallagher."
"That's CAPTAIN Gallagher to ye, Captain Sparrow," I corrected with fake sarcasm, my eyes still on my plate. I glanced up and Will was watching us with fascination, even if he couldn't hear what we were saying.
Jack had an arm around the back of my chair and was leaning comfortably close to me. Any fool could take one look at us and see the closeness and intimacy of how we reacted towards each other. I wanted to keep it secret, but Jack didn't give a damn if he proclaimed it to the whole crew. The last thing I wanted was complications and people interrogating me, or thinking I was just there to please their captain. I had a purpose, and a job to fulfill for myself, not anyone else.
"Well," I said, sitting up straight in my chair, "I best be helpin' out Elizabeth with the dishes, hmm?" I grabbed my plate and Jack cocked an eyebrow up at me, clearly interested in my reaction.
"Ye don't need to help, Gallagher," Elizabeth called from the other end of the table, "It's Stu and Lanky's night to do the washing." A couple men grumbled in response, eyeing the dirty dishes on the table that were piling up slowly. "After all, I know how you LOVE to do domestic work," Mrs. Turner added warmly.
I made a funny face in response and she laughed, motioning me to go do what I wanted. I placed my palms together and bowed slightly to signal my thanks, and went out of the mess hall and headed to Sparrow's room. I had some work to do, and I needed some of Jack's maps in order to do it.
The door creaked slightly as I opened it and shut it lightly. The lamplight flickered as I entered. I heard the gusty wind and the rain as it beat down on the ship overhead. It was calming, in a way. I had always loved rainy days.
I sat in the rickety chair at the old intricately carved desk, opening drawers calmly and gently, like it was a tender task to be going through his things.
I came across rolled maps and I opened them slowly. The parchment was yellowed and worn, having been used quite often on many past adventures. I ran my finger over the map, the gentle rustle of the paper soothing me as I located the Spanish Main, the Caribbean Sea, and, ah, there it was. My salvation: Nassau Port.
My fingers ended up nosily going to the other drawers and rifling through his things. He had trinkets, beads, shells, and other assorted artifacts in one drawer, more maps in the next, then, there was one drawer left.
I opened it cautiously and my nose was instantly filled with a musty smell. I expected rum, bullets, but not this. I picked up the book gingerly, rifling through the pages. The pages were falling apart and the binding was loose. I stared at the cover for a moment, desperately trying to make sense of the words. It had been a long time.
"Shakespeare's Macbeth," I read aloud, shaking my head in silent wonder.
"Like what ye found, luv?" Jack asked and I looked up, finding him perched in the doorway, watching me, his arms folded lazily.
"Didn't know you read," I said, standing up, the book still in my fingers.
"Occasionally," he said, walking over to the bed and falling onto it, staring at the ceiling, "Or when the mood strikes me."
"It's been a long time," I said, caressing the cover with my fingertips.
He watched this careless action with a smile and said, "Keep it then if ye find it to fit yer fancy."
"I couldn't, Jack. It's yers."
"Me gift to you, luv. Don't be hurtin' me and refusing a gift from dear ol' Jack!" he replied with a hand to his heart, a face full of fake sorrow.
"Jack givin' someone a gift," I said, partly to myself, "Now I've seen everythin'."
"If ye've seen everythin', Gallagher, what do ye have to live for?" Sparrow asked, still staring at the ceiling.
I cast a thoughtful glance towards him and smiled. "Snidely's."
"Ah, that reminds me," he said and suddenly sat up, sprang out of bed and asked, "Do ye have the coordinates? A general direction? Even the slightest WHIM of where we are headin'?"
I opened my mouth to speak but stopped halfway.
Jack stared at me with wide eyes, motioning his hands, telling me to come out with it.
There was silence.
"Ye don't trust me." Jack broke the quiet, staring at me in disbelief.
"No, I do. It's just...................."
"Then what, Terrence? We come so far and ye decide to back out o' our lil' accord, is that it?"
"No."
"Out with it then!" he shouted, clearly agitated.
"Nassau Port," I said, letting it out in a big breath.
Jack's face immediately turned from an irritated frown to a big grin.
"Thanks, luv. Ye won't regret it," he commented giddily.
"I sure hope so," I muttered.
"Well if you'll excuse me, dearie," Jack said, running a hand through his unruly locks, "I have to have a talk with Mr. Turner. Savvy?"
"Go right ahead," I said with a sigh, "But when ye formulate a plan, don't forget to tell me."
"I promise luv," he said with a wink, "Ye look tired. Get some sleep. I'll make sure to hurry it up a bit, for I wouldn't want ye sleepin' all by yer onesies." He slinked through the door, leaving me to stare at the map. What was I getting myself into?
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
I was growing restless.
Sweat dripped down my forehead as I lay in the white sheets, desperately trying to get some shut eye. I couldn't stand the fact that they were preparing a course of action without me. I hated being the last to know anything. It was my treasure after all.
With a growl, I ripped the sheets off of me and pulled on my clothes hurriedly, making my way out and down the stairs to the mess hall in bare feet. The rain had stopped, and all that remained was a clear night sky and puddles on the deck.
I heard serious male voices and I knew they were still in there discussing. I reached for the door handle but stopped mid-motion.
".....................knew she would give it to me," Jack was saying from behind the door in a playful tone.
"And how did you get her to trust you, Jack? Gallagher isn't one to give up so easily," Will replied and she heard a clink, as if someone was setting down a mug of rum.
"Let's just say I did a bit o'................convincin', is all," Jack said.
"Jack! What the hell are you talking about?" Will asked in shock.
Sparrow let out a laugh.
"I thought you were falling in love with her," Will replied quietly.
"Pirates don't love, mate. Now spend meaningless nights in each other's beds, that's a different story."
I ran, not caring if they heard the soft tip tap of my feet against the wood as I barreled back to my OWN cot. I slammed my door shut and stared out the window, running my fingers through my hair, trying to rid my mind of those awful words.
I was confused beyond belief, so angry I felt myself tremble.
"This changes nothing, you know," ran through my mind over and over. He had warned me, and I had chosen not to listen. Now I knew what those words meant. I felt sick.
My fingers touched the book, Macbeth, which was lying on my bed, and I picked it up and threw it against the wall with a cry.
He was one out of a handful of lovers, yet I would remember his touch and his alone until the day that I died.
"There ye are, luv," Sparrow said and made his way into my quarters, "I was lookin' for ye." I turned to face him.
He was barefoot himself, clad in only his breeches and long brown coat, looking quite comfortable. He stared at me, his gaze void of any emotion except desire.
"I'm just sittin' here thinkin', is all," I replied.
"Would ye like to think in bed, luv?" he asked suggestively, holding up a finger to touch my cheek but I backed away.
"I thought ye would have had yer fill of me last night," I scoffed coldly.
"What is bloody in yer head?" he asked with a frown, those kohl rimmed eyes examining me.
I wanted to hurt him like he did me, for what I remembered him saying to Will made me lower my eyes in shame. My whole body ached, and I felt raw.
"Ye weren't that good anyways," I said lazily, shrugging.
Sparrow's mouth dropped open as if he couldn't believe I had just told him that.
"But luv...................I thought you.............."
"Loved you?" I finished with a yawn, "Hardly. I just wanted to make sure you saved my ass, that's all. I knew you'd take pity on me about The Dancing Horizon and finding Snidely's treasure. After all, you just needed to convince me, right?"
Jack fell silent, and he immediately knew I had heard the conversation.
"Terrence," he said softly, pleadingly, "I......................"
"You poisoned me, Jack," I lied, "Yer touch makes me want to heave. At least ye happened to get some pleasure out of it."
"It sure looked like ye were enjoyin' yerself also," he corrected.
"It was an act," I said, trying to convince even myself, "Whores make good actresses, don't they?"
Jack gritted his teeth in anger.
"What we have is somethin' I can't describe, luv. How can ye say this to me?" he asked in astonishment.
"Somethin' ye can't describe, my arse. I'm glad ye got the coordinates. Do with 'em what ye want, but ye remember, oh dear Jack of mine, it is MY treasure. Savvy?"
"Ye are not a whore," he said, eyes flashing.
"Then CONVINCE me, Jack. Tell me ye didn't just use me. Ye are nothing to me except a cruel bastard that just cares about his damn gold and silver."
Jack clamped his mouth shut with rage. He reached into his pocket, grabbing his pouch.
"Then I suppose I must pay my whore, shouldn't I?" he said, his voice low, filled with hurt and fire.
His fingers jerked into the pouch and he threw four shillings at my feet, the soft jingling as they clattered against the wood broke the silence.
He turned on his heel and slammed the door shut behind him.
Leaving me alone.
And for the first time in my life, I wasn't afraid to cry.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Woo! Don't think it is over between them just yet, luvs, for two stubborn pirates are going to have to take a bit of convincing themselves to admit to anything.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Author's Notes:
Hello! Thank you so much for telling me what you think. Now the last chapter was kind of controversial, because writing romance crap is kind of hard. You can't make it too mushy (for goodness sakes, they're pirates!), you can't make it too gross (Like, ew?), and you don't want to offend anyone. So I tried to be as DISCREET as possible. Don't think the story is over already, chums, for I still have some tricks and funny hijinks up my sleeves!
Now let's get this straight: I just can't see Jack Sparrow getting married or proclaiming his undying love, savvy? As much as some people would like to see it, it would be completely out of character, as well as for Gallagher. She does love him, but she isn't sappy. (heehee, sappy is a cool word. Reminds me of maple syrup.) As much as it hurt to see Jack say "you know it doesn't change anything" at the end, it's true! Jack's going to have to start pondering real hard if he had even the slightest inkling she was any different than any other strumpet he's bedded, and he isn't going to change his life around just because he met someone that fit his fancy.
So, another reason I decided to put that in was because it was chapter 23, and we have waited long enough for any action between the two pirates. After all, they kind of have loose ways themselves, and they would have given in to their attractions by now. The story is already dwindling down, and it seemed like the right time for some personal emotional developments.
My game plan: They are going for the treasure, if Gallagher gives Jack the coordinates. After all, she is the only one who knows where Snidely's lies! Will something happen that make her change her mind and not share her loot? Will Jack pilfer and plunder mercilessly? Does Jack really feel like that night was just a way to slake his lust? Too many questions, I'd say. Let's get on with the freakin' story!
PineAppleLint : )
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
The sun beat down on my back and I wiped the trickling sweat off my forehead, grunting as I organized the ropes and tied them in the appropriate spots. The crew had been neglecting them while we were gone in the midst of trouble, and the knots and frayed ends were plentiful.
"Terrence," I heard a soft voice behind me proclaim.
"What is it, Elizabeth?" I asked, grunting as I finished tying the rope to its notch, yanking it a couple of times to make sure it stayed in place. I turned to face her, hands on my hips.
"How is your arm holding up?" she asked, running her palms over the front of her skirts, calming the creases in the lavender fabric.
I replied, "Tis all right. Better than I thought it would be. What have you been doing?"
"Preparing a fancy dinner. Captain's orders," Elizabeth said with a small smile, now smoothing her curls that were fanned out across her forehead, knocked out of place by the fierce wind.
"What kind o' dinner?" I questioned, my stomach immediately growling in response. It had been a long day.
"Chicken," she commented, glancing up at the dark sky.
I grinned and said, "Captain's orders, eh?"
Elizabeth glanced back at me, a bit confused. I shook my head, motioning her to forget about it. "I best be getting back to work before the storm hits," I informed her, nodding my head towards her and beginning to climb up to the crow's nest.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
My legs dangled over the edge, swinging rhythmically as I watched the waves become choppier and the sun set slowly. The sky grew darker, not just from the coming night, but from the storm.
Lightning flashed and I smiled, turning my face towards the sky as I felt the raindrops begin to pelt my skin.
"Gallagher!" I heard Will yell.
I looked down and saw him covering his mouth, hollering up at the crow's nest, squinting his brown eyes at me. His wild brown hair flew around in the wind, even if a black ribbon tied it.
"Yeah?" I shouted back, grinning, waving down to him like a fool.
"Get in the mess hall before the lightning gets you!" he hollered, motioning for me to come down.
"All right, spoilsport!" I replied, "I'm comin'." I grabbed a rope and swung down, gracefully landing on my feet.
"Show off," Will muttered and I gave him a large, sweeping bow. We both ended up letting out a yelp as a big crack of thunder boomed from overhead and we stared at each other in bewilderment. We ended up chuckling between ourselves, and then he grabbed my arm gently yet forcefully pulled me along, both running for cover.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"Playing out in the rain again?" Elizabeth sighed, looking me over and I shrugged sheepishly, taking my spot at the table. Jack was sitting right next to me, the table crowded so we all had to sit extremely close.
Candles were lit and Elizabeth began to serve us with proper ladylike manners. I didn't look at Jack until I caught him staring at me from out of the corner of my eye.
Our eyes met and he grinned devilishly. I gave him a confused look, not knowing what he was grinning about until I felt his warm, rough hand on my thigh underneath the table.
Will took his place at the table across from us, wiping his wet forehead with a handkerchief. He was soaked from the rain, and his boots sloshed as he walked. When he sat down, his breeches gave a little 'squish' and I snorted with laughter. Jack's fingers gently massaged my thigh and I bit my lip, instantly becoming quiet. I could still see a glimpse of him smiling.
"So Jack, where would we be heading?" Will asked with interest, spooning some fresh greens onto his plate.
"That's up to Gallagher, lad," he answered in that throaty, weathered voice of his that always seemed to hold a mixture of amusement and sarcasm.
Jack was doing more interesting things with his fingers and I sneakily grabbed my fork from the tabletop, and brought it down slowly to my lap. Sparrow was busy taking a swig of rum when I poked him in the hand with the rungs of the fork.
He let out a little cry in surprise, spitting his rum everywhere and holding up his hand, examining it. I didn't stab him hard enough to break skin, but it should have hurt all the same.
I didn't look at him but I took a sip of my drink, trying to hide a knowing smile from my face but failing miserably.
"Anything wrong, Jack?" William asked with concern, staring at him, waiting for an explanation.
"Bad rum, is all," Sparrow said hastily.
"Didn't know certain kinds of rum could bother Captain Jack Sparrow," Will said with mock politeness, smiling at him.
Jack glared at him, but said nothing more. He leaned in towards me as I ate a piece of chicken and I listened to him closely as he whispered, "Don't think I'll put up with that, Gallagher."
"That's CAPTAIN Gallagher to ye, Captain Sparrow," I corrected with fake sarcasm, my eyes still on my plate. I glanced up and Will was watching us with fascination, even if he couldn't hear what we were saying.
Jack had an arm around the back of my chair and was leaning comfortably close to me. Any fool could take one look at us and see the closeness and intimacy of how we reacted towards each other. I wanted to keep it secret, but Jack didn't give a damn if he proclaimed it to the whole crew. The last thing I wanted was complications and people interrogating me, or thinking I was just there to please their captain. I had a purpose, and a job to fulfill for myself, not anyone else.
"Well," I said, sitting up straight in my chair, "I best be helpin' out Elizabeth with the dishes, hmm?" I grabbed my plate and Jack cocked an eyebrow up at me, clearly interested in my reaction.
"Ye don't need to help, Gallagher," Elizabeth called from the other end of the table, "It's Stu and Lanky's night to do the washing." A couple men grumbled in response, eyeing the dirty dishes on the table that were piling up slowly. "After all, I know how you LOVE to do domestic work," Mrs. Turner added warmly.
I made a funny face in response and she laughed, motioning me to go do what I wanted. I placed my palms together and bowed slightly to signal my thanks, and went out of the mess hall and headed to Sparrow's room. I had some work to do, and I needed some of Jack's maps in order to do it.
The door creaked slightly as I opened it and shut it lightly. The lamplight flickered as I entered. I heard the gusty wind and the rain as it beat down on the ship overhead. It was calming, in a way. I had always loved rainy days.
I sat in the rickety chair at the old intricately carved desk, opening drawers calmly and gently, like it was a tender task to be going through his things.
I came across rolled maps and I opened them slowly. The parchment was yellowed and worn, having been used quite often on many past adventures. I ran my finger over the map, the gentle rustle of the paper soothing me as I located the Spanish Main, the Caribbean Sea, and, ah, there it was. My salvation: Nassau Port.
My fingers ended up nosily going to the other drawers and rifling through his things. He had trinkets, beads, shells, and other assorted artifacts in one drawer, more maps in the next, then, there was one drawer left.
I opened it cautiously and my nose was instantly filled with a musty smell. I expected rum, bullets, but not this. I picked up the book gingerly, rifling through the pages. The pages were falling apart and the binding was loose. I stared at the cover for a moment, desperately trying to make sense of the words. It had been a long time.
"Shakespeare's Macbeth," I read aloud, shaking my head in silent wonder.
"Like what ye found, luv?" Jack asked and I looked up, finding him perched in the doorway, watching me, his arms folded lazily.
"Didn't know you read," I said, standing up, the book still in my fingers.
"Occasionally," he said, walking over to the bed and falling onto it, staring at the ceiling, "Or when the mood strikes me."
"It's been a long time," I said, caressing the cover with my fingertips.
He watched this careless action with a smile and said, "Keep it then if ye find it to fit yer fancy."
"I couldn't, Jack. It's yers."
"Me gift to you, luv. Don't be hurtin' me and refusing a gift from dear ol' Jack!" he replied with a hand to his heart, a face full of fake sorrow.
"Jack givin' someone a gift," I said, partly to myself, "Now I've seen everythin'."
"If ye've seen everythin', Gallagher, what do ye have to live for?" Sparrow asked, still staring at the ceiling.
I cast a thoughtful glance towards him and smiled. "Snidely's."
"Ah, that reminds me," he said and suddenly sat up, sprang out of bed and asked, "Do ye have the coordinates? A general direction? Even the slightest WHIM of where we are headin'?"
I opened my mouth to speak but stopped halfway.
Jack stared at me with wide eyes, motioning his hands, telling me to come out with it.
There was silence.
"Ye don't trust me." Jack broke the quiet, staring at me in disbelief.
"No, I do. It's just...................."
"Then what, Terrence? We come so far and ye decide to back out o' our lil' accord, is that it?"
"No."
"Out with it then!" he shouted, clearly agitated.
"Nassau Port," I said, letting it out in a big breath.
Jack's face immediately turned from an irritated frown to a big grin.
"Thanks, luv. Ye won't regret it," he commented giddily.
"I sure hope so," I muttered.
"Well if you'll excuse me, dearie," Jack said, running a hand through his unruly locks, "I have to have a talk with Mr. Turner. Savvy?"
"Go right ahead," I said with a sigh, "But when ye formulate a plan, don't forget to tell me."
"I promise luv," he said with a wink, "Ye look tired. Get some sleep. I'll make sure to hurry it up a bit, for I wouldn't want ye sleepin' all by yer onesies." He slinked through the door, leaving me to stare at the map. What was I getting myself into?
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
I was growing restless.
Sweat dripped down my forehead as I lay in the white sheets, desperately trying to get some shut eye. I couldn't stand the fact that they were preparing a course of action without me. I hated being the last to know anything. It was my treasure after all.
With a growl, I ripped the sheets off of me and pulled on my clothes hurriedly, making my way out and down the stairs to the mess hall in bare feet. The rain had stopped, and all that remained was a clear night sky and puddles on the deck.
I heard serious male voices and I knew they were still in there discussing. I reached for the door handle but stopped mid-motion.
".....................knew she would give it to me," Jack was saying from behind the door in a playful tone.
"And how did you get her to trust you, Jack? Gallagher isn't one to give up so easily," Will replied and she heard a clink, as if someone was setting down a mug of rum.
"Let's just say I did a bit o'................convincin', is all," Jack said.
"Jack! What the hell are you talking about?" Will asked in shock.
Sparrow let out a laugh.
"I thought you were falling in love with her," Will replied quietly.
"Pirates don't love, mate. Now spend meaningless nights in each other's beds, that's a different story."
I ran, not caring if they heard the soft tip tap of my feet against the wood as I barreled back to my OWN cot. I slammed my door shut and stared out the window, running my fingers through my hair, trying to rid my mind of those awful words.
I was confused beyond belief, so angry I felt myself tremble.
"This changes nothing, you know," ran through my mind over and over. He had warned me, and I had chosen not to listen. Now I knew what those words meant. I felt sick.
My fingers touched the book, Macbeth, which was lying on my bed, and I picked it up and threw it against the wall with a cry.
He was one out of a handful of lovers, yet I would remember his touch and his alone until the day that I died.
"There ye are, luv," Sparrow said and made his way into my quarters, "I was lookin' for ye." I turned to face him.
He was barefoot himself, clad in only his breeches and long brown coat, looking quite comfortable. He stared at me, his gaze void of any emotion except desire.
"I'm just sittin' here thinkin', is all," I replied.
"Would ye like to think in bed, luv?" he asked suggestively, holding up a finger to touch my cheek but I backed away.
"I thought ye would have had yer fill of me last night," I scoffed coldly.
"What is bloody in yer head?" he asked with a frown, those kohl rimmed eyes examining me.
I wanted to hurt him like he did me, for what I remembered him saying to Will made me lower my eyes in shame. My whole body ached, and I felt raw.
"Ye weren't that good anyways," I said lazily, shrugging.
Sparrow's mouth dropped open as if he couldn't believe I had just told him that.
"But luv...................I thought you.............."
"Loved you?" I finished with a yawn, "Hardly. I just wanted to make sure you saved my ass, that's all. I knew you'd take pity on me about The Dancing Horizon and finding Snidely's treasure. After all, you just needed to convince me, right?"
Jack fell silent, and he immediately knew I had heard the conversation.
"Terrence," he said softly, pleadingly, "I......................"
"You poisoned me, Jack," I lied, "Yer touch makes me want to heave. At least ye happened to get some pleasure out of it."
"It sure looked like ye were enjoyin' yerself also," he corrected.
"It was an act," I said, trying to convince even myself, "Whores make good actresses, don't they?"
Jack gritted his teeth in anger.
"What we have is somethin' I can't describe, luv. How can ye say this to me?" he asked in astonishment.
"Somethin' ye can't describe, my arse. I'm glad ye got the coordinates. Do with 'em what ye want, but ye remember, oh dear Jack of mine, it is MY treasure. Savvy?"
"Ye are not a whore," he said, eyes flashing.
"Then CONVINCE me, Jack. Tell me ye didn't just use me. Ye are nothing to me except a cruel bastard that just cares about his damn gold and silver."
Jack clamped his mouth shut with rage. He reached into his pocket, grabbing his pouch.
"Then I suppose I must pay my whore, shouldn't I?" he said, his voice low, filled with hurt and fire.
His fingers jerked into the pouch and he threw four shillings at my feet, the soft jingling as they clattered against the wood broke the silence.
He turned on his heel and slammed the door shut behind him.
Leaving me alone.
And for the first time in my life, I wasn't afraid to cry.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Woo! Don't think it is over between them just yet, luvs, for two stubborn pirates are going to have to take a bit of convincing themselves to admit to anything.