Well, here it is. Part one of the latest wager to take place on the
Renegade. There's a little switching back and forth between past and
present in this one. Try not to get confused. And as always.Enjoy!
**************************************************************************** **
The rest of the day passed slowly for the Turners. Both remained constantly on their guard, suspicious of any interactions with either captain that might result their loss. Surprisingly, both found that neither Jack nor Julianne seemed particularly interested in making any effort to win, and in fact appeared to have completely forgotten about it. At first, this only rose the Turners' suspicions even more, but eventually, as the captains went about their day in their usual, casual way, Will and Elizabeth fell comfortably back into theirs. Unbeknownst to them, this was exactly what Jack and Julianne were counting on.
Juli was no fool, she never willingly engaged in a bargain she wasn't one hundred percent sure she could win. And this instance was no different. Though a difficult task, she and Jack had planned their strategy together well. Getting the first one out of the way would be easy, but once the second knew they would be on high alert making it much harder to do. They figured Elizabeth would be harder to break, so she would be first. And to avoid any suspicions or assumptions, both captains would use completely different tactics in their scheme, helping each other wherever necessary along the way.
And so it happened that later that evening Jack put his plan into action. While the crew convened on the main deck to engage in the night's festivities of drinking, playing music, exchanging stories, and dancing, Julianne knew what she had to do. Taking her place among her crewmen, and women, she sat with them laughing and dancing happily with some of the younger men. In the 'audience' sat Will and Elizabeth who watched in amusement. Almost every person on the ship was present save one, Jack.
Standing up on the quarter deck, he leaned over the railing that overlooked the main deck and surveyed the scene beneath him. Surveying the crowd, his gaze met Elizabeth's for only a second, and he gave her a smile and a small wave. She took the bait. Excusing herself from the company and her husband whom had been pulled into the melee of "A Pirates Life For Me", she made her way between drunken sailors and up to where Jack stood. For a few minutes, he did not acknowledge her, but stared longingly at Julianne, a small smile tugging at his lips.
"Jack?" Elizabeth asked when he did not speak.
"She's beautiful isn't she?" he asked without looking over at her.
"Who Julianne?"
"Aye."
Turning to look down at the pirate woman who was twirling in and around her sailors, Elizabeth smiled too. "I should say so", she agreed despite the other woman's total lack of propriety. "You really love her don't you?"
Jack glanced at her for a second then turned back to watch the scene before him. "Since the day I met her. Well", he continued thoughtfully. "maybe not exactly the day, but close enough I guess. Took almost a disaster to make me realize."
"What happened?"
"She got arrested up along the eastern coast for messing with one of the navy's ships. Turned into a big case because she was the first woman ever set to hang."
Elizabeth listened in surprised at Jack's story. She wondered how he could be so nonchalant about it. "How horrible."
"Aye, it was. I was a wreck when I found out."
"So how did it work out? I mean she's obviously still very much alive as far as I can tell", Elizabeth went on lightly.
"Well my Ms. Turna, I shall tell you. But it will require something first."
"And what's that", she asked growing suspicious.
"A drink", he answered with a grin. Moving swiftly from his position at the rail, he walked down the stairs and called back to her, "ye coming?"
"Oh, yes of course", Elizabeth replied and followed. She took the bait.
Entering Julianne's cabin, she found Jack already set up behind the desk, feet proper on its top and a bottle of rum in hand. For whatever reason, both of the chairs that normally sat in front of Juli's desk were gone, so Elizabeth made herself comfortable in the window seat.
"So where was I", he asked after a long sip.
"You hadn't actually started yet."
"Oh right, well then, I happened to be in Tortuga at the time. As is the case with most stories worth telling. This was after that bastard Barbossa had taken me ship and left me stranded on our lovely little island. Jules and I had parted ways for awhile. Nothing major, just need some time out on our for a bit. She didn't even know about the mutiny yet."
~~~
Jack sat in the Faithful Bride, mug in hand and whore at his side. It had been 5 months since he had been left in the middle of the Caribbean by Barbossa and his former crew. Since then, he had spent his time in Tortuga, wallowing around in self-pity and a constant state of drunkenness. Tonight was no exception.
As he downed his sixth or seventh rum, by this point it was getting tough to keep count, Jack slowly became aware of a commotion at the front door. Abandoning his partner and his drink, he made his way to the group that had assembled to also discover what was going on. He was surprised to find Dipst at the center of the group along with a few other of Julianne's crew. All looking very distraught.
"What's going on?" he barked over the ruckus, silencing everyone else
"Jack?" Dipst answered. "I didn't know you were here. Where's the Pearl?"
"Long story for another time. What's going on", he repeated.
"It's bad news for sure. Juli's been caught, as well as a few o' the crew."
"WHAT? You can't be serious", Jack exclaimed, panic evident in his voice.
"I couldn't be more. Had a run in with the navy up along the Carolina coast line. Beat the hell out of em we did, but they send another after us later."
"Where is she now?"
"Locked up."
"YOU JUST LEFT HER?" Jack yelled angrily.
"There was naught we could", Dipst defended. Apparently the lieutenant up there has had his sights set on getting her for awhile. Word is he's hoping to made commodore and the governor doesn't take too well to females who don't know their place. Getting her would be damned near impossible. I sent one of the men in to check things out, see if we could break her out, and they've got her guarded as thought she's the queen herself. Not even in the regular jail either, have her barred into the fort."
Jack looked perplexed, and a little hopeless on top of it. "Is the ship in any condition to sail?"
"Yeah, she could make it."
"Is the crew still aboard?"
"Yes."
"Good then let's go."
"Go? Jack to what point and purpose? We can't save her."
"I'LL THINK OF SOMETHING ALONG THE WAY", Jack snapped back at him. "NOW LET'S GO!"
Though low on provisions, and sporting an exhausted and devastated crew, the Renegade pulled from Tortuga's harbor not an even an hour after she docked. Desperate to reach Julianne before she met her death, Jack had a man on the helm constantly, and sailed straight through the night. He hoped and prayed that the governor would want to make quite a spectacle of the hanging, and therefore would hold it off long enough to gather a suitable audience.
The Renegade made it up the coastline in record time. Having worked relentlessly to do it, the crew was utterly dead on their feet. Jack docked the ship a safe distance away from the settlement that was their destination, and made for land in a row boat along with Dipst and two others. Creeping silently through the town, the made their way cautiously to the fort by cover of darkness. Reaching the fort, Jack's fears were confirmed.
Dipst had been right. From below, they found that Julianne was being kept in a small corner room with only one barred window. Light flooded the room, obviously for the purposes of sleep deprivation, revealing Juli's silhouette sitting in the window sill. All around the fort, guards stood on alert as though they were guarding some precious treasure.
"I told you", Dipst said somberly, "it's hopeless. Even if we were to get to her, we'd never made it out alive. And one can be sure the execution will be guarded much the same." Jack knew he was right.
Still though, if she was to die he had to see her one last time. As they made their way back to the ship, he pondered how he could make it possible. About halfway through the little town, an idea struck him.
"Hold up a minute", he said to the other three stopping in front of a tavern.
"You honestly mean to drink at a time like this", Dipst asked incredulously.
"No I do not mean to drink", he shot back. "I want to find out something."
Stepping inside, Jack quickly made his way to the bartender. "'Cuse me good sir", he greeted him warmly. "Might ye know when that pirate lass is set to hang?"
"Aye, 2 days from now, first thing at dawn. Ye here to see it? Set to be some big event from what I've 'eard. The lieutenant is out roundin' up spectators down in Charlestown as we speak."
"Thank you", Jack replied without answering, and quickly headed back outside.
***
Based on what the bartender had told him, Jack set to work on putting his plan into action. Ordering all aboard the Renegade to stay out of the town, he went back alone the next morning. Unfamiliar with the town, he had exchanged his typical pirate garb for something a little less noticeable, allowing him to roam freely throughout the streets. A necessity for what he intended to do. After wandering around for a time, Jack found what he was looking for: the church. Checking to make sure no one was around, he quickly ran around to the back door and peered in. Being a Thursday the place was deserted.
Quietly, he made his way inside the back of the church, where the reverend prepared for the service. Checking again that no one was around, Jack threw open the closet and surveyed its contents. Pulling out a brown, drab looking robe, he threw it over his head. He then proceeded to tie his unruly hair back into a presentable looking ponytail, minus the beads which he had removed earlier. Putting on a few finishing touches in the mirror, Jack decided he was satisfied and headed back out of the church. He headed straight for the fort, and made it all the way to the front entrance without so much as a look in his direction.
Coming to a stop in front of two redcoats, Jack waited to be addressed.
"Can we help you Reverend", one spoke up.
"I certainly hope so my good man. I am here to deliver the prisoner her last rights before her execution tomorrow. Just awful isn't it, young women turning themselves over to a life of sin like that. May God have mercy on her soul", Jack added dramatically, really quite impressed with himself.
"I should say so", the other guard piped up. "Because she's going to need it. Right this way then Reverend, I'll show you to her."
"Thank you kindly", Jack continued to act. The guard led him through the fort, and Jack was surprised at the sheer number of guards on duty.
"My word I've never seen so many of the navy's finest in one place like this before", he wondered aloud.
"Aye. The lieutenant's got us all on high alert for this one. Wants to make sure nothing goes wrong."
"I see."
"Well here we are", the officer came to a stop in front of a room guarded by two more men. "Mr. Scopes, Mr. Leary, the Reverend is he to deliver the prisoner's last rights."
The two other men nodded and stepped aside while the first left for his post.
"Am I to go right in", Jack asked.
"Aye", we've removed all her weapons so she should pose no threat to you. Although one of us can accompany you if you'd like."
"No that's quite alright. I will shout if anything should arise. Although under the circumstances, I may be awhile. The noose had a tendency to have some very strong effects on people, and I want to make sure the lass has the chance to cope with that."
"Aye Reverend, take all the time you need."
"Please don't interrupt", and giving them a nod of thanks, Jack opened the door and closed it behind him. Stepping inside he found Julianne still at the window gazing out.
"Jack!" she exclaimed, only to be hushed. "What are you doing here?" she continued in a whisper rushing to him.
He grabbed her in a hug and held tightly. "I thought I might try and get ye out, but since that isn't lookin likely, I figured I at least 'ad to see you before, well ye know."
At this Julianne nodded grimly.
"What happened", he asked her.
"I don't even know. We weren't even stopped 'ere, just makin our way down to Charlotte from up north a bit going about our own business. Out of nowhere the HMS Valiance comes straight at us firing a full out assault. Naturally we fought back, and eventually they retreated. So the Renegade continued on its way and before we know it here comes another of the navy's ships. Now this time we're a bit worse off and they over take us fairly easily. They boarded the ship and came straight after me. Didn't touch anyone else save a few who tried to stop em. Next thing I know I'm in 'ere waitin to be hanged just so some sleezeball lieutenant can get a promotion from a jackass governor who hates women." Julianne finished her story in exasperation, walking back to the window which offered the only seat in the room besides sitting on the floor. She was clearly upset, but was doing a good job of hiding it even from Jack.
"Are you afraid?" he asked her when she fell silent.
She let out a sigh, avoiding his gaze. "Of course I am. I always thought I'd meet my death in a fight."
Jack nodded in understanding and made his way to sit behind her.
~~~
At the same time in Julianne's cabin, Jack made the move on Elizabeth. Getting up from his place at the desk, he crossed slowly to where she sat while continuing with his story, and looked at her as though he was really back in the moment. He sat down behind her and continued his story.
~~~
"I don't want to go like this Jack. If I'm to be hung for my crimes that's one thing. But to be someone's prize, and someone's bargaining tool to get what he wants, that I cannot accept. I've spent all my life trying to prove that I could do just as well as any man, and here I am stuck back where I started."
"You aren't back where you started luv", Jack replied softly, wrapping his arms around her and pulling her tight. "You've proven yer worth a thousand times over, and no one can deny ye that."
Julianne sighed again, unconvinced.
"Listen to me", Jack continued firmly, turning her face to meet his. "ye are by far the most cunning and clever pirate to ever sail the seas. Yer an extraordinary captain, a position which you well deserve. And as far as being a woman, well, yer the most amazing and beautiful woman I've ever met. I know it, yer crew knows it, just about every pirate out there knows it, and that lieutenant damn well knows it or else ye wouldn't be 'ere. And they can't take that away from ye no matter what."
~~~
Out on the main deck of the Renegade, Will suddenly took notice that Elizabeth was no longer around. He had seen her walk over to talk to Jack earlier, but had since lost sight of her. Tearing himself away from the festivities, he looked around anxiously until his eyes settled on the light glow radiating from Julianne's cabin. Swiftly, he ran to the door, only to be head off by Julianne.
"Now now William, I think it's safe to say that you'd be cheating by interrupting Jack's work."
A fleeting look of desperation flashed across his face before Will thought up a clever retort. "Well, how can we know whose won if we don't see it?"
"It's called a window luv, look through it", the captain answered pushing his head toward the door's window. Both looking inside, all of Will's hopes were dashed, while a triumphant grin spread across Julianne's lips.
Resting in Jack's embrace, Elizabeth's breath fluctuated slightly, while Jack continued with his story which no longer seemed to be about Julianne being captured prison.
"Elizabeth, I don't have much time. Everyone will begin to wonder what's going on", he uttered in a husky whisper. "I just had to be alone with you one last time. I don't know what I'll do once you've gone. But I want you to know", he trailed off, his face only inches from hers, his dark brown eyes gazing into hers, boring straight into her soul. "I want you to know", he leaned closer and she did not back up. "that I", his lips grazed hers as he spoke and she swallowed and bit her lip. "I, think you just lost yer bet", he concluded before kissing her roughly.
It took her a minute to process what he had said. It finally hit her in mid-kiss, and her eyes went wide just as Will could take no more and threw open the door.
"I think you've proven your point Jack", he said flatly, shooting his wife a look at the same time. Behind him, Julianne still bore her celebratory grin.
Immediately after Will spoke, Jack jumped up from his seat in the window and grinned victoriously down at the still shocked Elizabeth.
"One down, one to go", he chimed making his way to Julianne and taking her by the arm. "Ta!" he called back to the Turners as the two captains left them there to go engage in the evenings festivities together.
Later that evening, when Elizabeth had finally managed to overcome her humiliation, she and Will rejoined the group outside.
"So how did you get out of that prison anyway", she asked Julianne haughtily.
"What prison?"
"The one in Carolina."
"What?" Julianne looked confused and turned to Jack.
"Jack!" Elizabeth demanded.
"I dunno luv, I never thought that far into it", Jack replied.
"You mean to say you made that whole thing up?"
"Aye, every word of it", he answered happily.
Elizabeth gaped.
"Surprised ye didn't pick up on it", he continued, salting the wound. "I mean Jules was practically the first person to know about me Pearl getting nabbed. How could ye'ave believe otherwise?"
"You, you said you were spending time apart", she stammered in response.
"Yeah, right", Julianne added with a snort.
Mouth still hanging open, Elizabeth motioned to say something further but Will stopped her from digging herself a deeper hole. "Care to dance", he asked turning her away from Jack and Julianne.
Elizabeth looked confused for a second, but eventually conceded leaving Jack and Julianne to sit and laugh together over their victory.
**************************************************************************** **
The rest of the day passed slowly for the Turners. Both remained constantly on their guard, suspicious of any interactions with either captain that might result their loss. Surprisingly, both found that neither Jack nor Julianne seemed particularly interested in making any effort to win, and in fact appeared to have completely forgotten about it. At first, this only rose the Turners' suspicions even more, but eventually, as the captains went about their day in their usual, casual way, Will and Elizabeth fell comfortably back into theirs. Unbeknownst to them, this was exactly what Jack and Julianne were counting on.
Juli was no fool, she never willingly engaged in a bargain she wasn't one hundred percent sure she could win. And this instance was no different. Though a difficult task, she and Jack had planned their strategy together well. Getting the first one out of the way would be easy, but once the second knew they would be on high alert making it much harder to do. They figured Elizabeth would be harder to break, so she would be first. And to avoid any suspicions or assumptions, both captains would use completely different tactics in their scheme, helping each other wherever necessary along the way.
And so it happened that later that evening Jack put his plan into action. While the crew convened on the main deck to engage in the night's festivities of drinking, playing music, exchanging stories, and dancing, Julianne knew what she had to do. Taking her place among her crewmen, and women, she sat with them laughing and dancing happily with some of the younger men. In the 'audience' sat Will and Elizabeth who watched in amusement. Almost every person on the ship was present save one, Jack.
Standing up on the quarter deck, he leaned over the railing that overlooked the main deck and surveyed the scene beneath him. Surveying the crowd, his gaze met Elizabeth's for only a second, and he gave her a smile and a small wave. She took the bait. Excusing herself from the company and her husband whom had been pulled into the melee of "A Pirates Life For Me", she made her way between drunken sailors and up to where Jack stood. For a few minutes, he did not acknowledge her, but stared longingly at Julianne, a small smile tugging at his lips.
"Jack?" Elizabeth asked when he did not speak.
"She's beautiful isn't she?" he asked without looking over at her.
"Who Julianne?"
"Aye."
Turning to look down at the pirate woman who was twirling in and around her sailors, Elizabeth smiled too. "I should say so", she agreed despite the other woman's total lack of propriety. "You really love her don't you?"
Jack glanced at her for a second then turned back to watch the scene before him. "Since the day I met her. Well", he continued thoughtfully. "maybe not exactly the day, but close enough I guess. Took almost a disaster to make me realize."
"What happened?"
"She got arrested up along the eastern coast for messing with one of the navy's ships. Turned into a big case because she was the first woman ever set to hang."
Elizabeth listened in surprised at Jack's story. She wondered how he could be so nonchalant about it. "How horrible."
"Aye, it was. I was a wreck when I found out."
"So how did it work out? I mean she's obviously still very much alive as far as I can tell", Elizabeth went on lightly.
"Well my Ms. Turna, I shall tell you. But it will require something first."
"And what's that", she asked growing suspicious.
"A drink", he answered with a grin. Moving swiftly from his position at the rail, he walked down the stairs and called back to her, "ye coming?"
"Oh, yes of course", Elizabeth replied and followed. She took the bait.
Entering Julianne's cabin, she found Jack already set up behind the desk, feet proper on its top and a bottle of rum in hand. For whatever reason, both of the chairs that normally sat in front of Juli's desk were gone, so Elizabeth made herself comfortable in the window seat.
"So where was I", he asked after a long sip.
"You hadn't actually started yet."
"Oh right, well then, I happened to be in Tortuga at the time. As is the case with most stories worth telling. This was after that bastard Barbossa had taken me ship and left me stranded on our lovely little island. Jules and I had parted ways for awhile. Nothing major, just need some time out on our for a bit. She didn't even know about the mutiny yet."
~~~
Jack sat in the Faithful Bride, mug in hand and whore at his side. It had been 5 months since he had been left in the middle of the Caribbean by Barbossa and his former crew. Since then, he had spent his time in Tortuga, wallowing around in self-pity and a constant state of drunkenness. Tonight was no exception.
As he downed his sixth or seventh rum, by this point it was getting tough to keep count, Jack slowly became aware of a commotion at the front door. Abandoning his partner and his drink, he made his way to the group that had assembled to also discover what was going on. He was surprised to find Dipst at the center of the group along with a few other of Julianne's crew. All looking very distraught.
"What's going on?" he barked over the ruckus, silencing everyone else
"Jack?" Dipst answered. "I didn't know you were here. Where's the Pearl?"
"Long story for another time. What's going on", he repeated.
"It's bad news for sure. Juli's been caught, as well as a few o' the crew."
"WHAT? You can't be serious", Jack exclaimed, panic evident in his voice.
"I couldn't be more. Had a run in with the navy up along the Carolina coast line. Beat the hell out of em we did, but they send another after us later."
"Where is she now?"
"Locked up."
"YOU JUST LEFT HER?" Jack yelled angrily.
"There was naught we could", Dipst defended. Apparently the lieutenant up there has had his sights set on getting her for awhile. Word is he's hoping to made commodore and the governor doesn't take too well to females who don't know their place. Getting her would be damned near impossible. I sent one of the men in to check things out, see if we could break her out, and they've got her guarded as thought she's the queen herself. Not even in the regular jail either, have her barred into the fort."
Jack looked perplexed, and a little hopeless on top of it. "Is the ship in any condition to sail?"
"Yeah, she could make it."
"Is the crew still aboard?"
"Yes."
"Good then let's go."
"Go? Jack to what point and purpose? We can't save her."
"I'LL THINK OF SOMETHING ALONG THE WAY", Jack snapped back at him. "NOW LET'S GO!"
Though low on provisions, and sporting an exhausted and devastated crew, the Renegade pulled from Tortuga's harbor not an even an hour after she docked. Desperate to reach Julianne before she met her death, Jack had a man on the helm constantly, and sailed straight through the night. He hoped and prayed that the governor would want to make quite a spectacle of the hanging, and therefore would hold it off long enough to gather a suitable audience.
The Renegade made it up the coastline in record time. Having worked relentlessly to do it, the crew was utterly dead on their feet. Jack docked the ship a safe distance away from the settlement that was their destination, and made for land in a row boat along with Dipst and two others. Creeping silently through the town, the made their way cautiously to the fort by cover of darkness. Reaching the fort, Jack's fears were confirmed.
Dipst had been right. From below, they found that Julianne was being kept in a small corner room with only one barred window. Light flooded the room, obviously for the purposes of sleep deprivation, revealing Juli's silhouette sitting in the window sill. All around the fort, guards stood on alert as though they were guarding some precious treasure.
"I told you", Dipst said somberly, "it's hopeless. Even if we were to get to her, we'd never made it out alive. And one can be sure the execution will be guarded much the same." Jack knew he was right.
Still though, if she was to die he had to see her one last time. As they made their way back to the ship, he pondered how he could make it possible. About halfway through the little town, an idea struck him.
"Hold up a minute", he said to the other three stopping in front of a tavern.
"You honestly mean to drink at a time like this", Dipst asked incredulously.
"No I do not mean to drink", he shot back. "I want to find out something."
Stepping inside, Jack quickly made his way to the bartender. "'Cuse me good sir", he greeted him warmly. "Might ye know when that pirate lass is set to hang?"
"Aye, 2 days from now, first thing at dawn. Ye here to see it? Set to be some big event from what I've 'eard. The lieutenant is out roundin' up spectators down in Charlestown as we speak."
"Thank you", Jack replied without answering, and quickly headed back outside.
***
Based on what the bartender had told him, Jack set to work on putting his plan into action. Ordering all aboard the Renegade to stay out of the town, he went back alone the next morning. Unfamiliar with the town, he had exchanged his typical pirate garb for something a little less noticeable, allowing him to roam freely throughout the streets. A necessity for what he intended to do. After wandering around for a time, Jack found what he was looking for: the church. Checking to make sure no one was around, he quickly ran around to the back door and peered in. Being a Thursday the place was deserted.
Quietly, he made his way inside the back of the church, where the reverend prepared for the service. Checking again that no one was around, Jack threw open the closet and surveyed its contents. Pulling out a brown, drab looking robe, he threw it over his head. He then proceeded to tie his unruly hair back into a presentable looking ponytail, minus the beads which he had removed earlier. Putting on a few finishing touches in the mirror, Jack decided he was satisfied and headed back out of the church. He headed straight for the fort, and made it all the way to the front entrance without so much as a look in his direction.
Coming to a stop in front of two redcoats, Jack waited to be addressed.
"Can we help you Reverend", one spoke up.
"I certainly hope so my good man. I am here to deliver the prisoner her last rights before her execution tomorrow. Just awful isn't it, young women turning themselves over to a life of sin like that. May God have mercy on her soul", Jack added dramatically, really quite impressed with himself.
"I should say so", the other guard piped up. "Because she's going to need it. Right this way then Reverend, I'll show you to her."
"Thank you kindly", Jack continued to act. The guard led him through the fort, and Jack was surprised at the sheer number of guards on duty.
"My word I've never seen so many of the navy's finest in one place like this before", he wondered aloud.
"Aye. The lieutenant's got us all on high alert for this one. Wants to make sure nothing goes wrong."
"I see."
"Well here we are", the officer came to a stop in front of a room guarded by two more men. "Mr. Scopes, Mr. Leary, the Reverend is he to deliver the prisoner's last rights."
The two other men nodded and stepped aside while the first left for his post.
"Am I to go right in", Jack asked.
"Aye", we've removed all her weapons so she should pose no threat to you. Although one of us can accompany you if you'd like."
"No that's quite alright. I will shout if anything should arise. Although under the circumstances, I may be awhile. The noose had a tendency to have some very strong effects on people, and I want to make sure the lass has the chance to cope with that."
"Aye Reverend, take all the time you need."
"Please don't interrupt", and giving them a nod of thanks, Jack opened the door and closed it behind him. Stepping inside he found Julianne still at the window gazing out.
"Jack!" she exclaimed, only to be hushed. "What are you doing here?" she continued in a whisper rushing to him.
He grabbed her in a hug and held tightly. "I thought I might try and get ye out, but since that isn't lookin likely, I figured I at least 'ad to see you before, well ye know."
At this Julianne nodded grimly.
"What happened", he asked her.
"I don't even know. We weren't even stopped 'ere, just makin our way down to Charlotte from up north a bit going about our own business. Out of nowhere the HMS Valiance comes straight at us firing a full out assault. Naturally we fought back, and eventually they retreated. So the Renegade continued on its way and before we know it here comes another of the navy's ships. Now this time we're a bit worse off and they over take us fairly easily. They boarded the ship and came straight after me. Didn't touch anyone else save a few who tried to stop em. Next thing I know I'm in 'ere waitin to be hanged just so some sleezeball lieutenant can get a promotion from a jackass governor who hates women." Julianne finished her story in exasperation, walking back to the window which offered the only seat in the room besides sitting on the floor. She was clearly upset, but was doing a good job of hiding it even from Jack.
"Are you afraid?" he asked her when she fell silent.
She let out a sigh, avoiding his gaze. "Of course I am. I always thought I'd meet my death in a fight."
Jack nodded in understanding and made his way to sit behind her.
~~~
At the same time in Julianne's cabin, Jack made the move on Elizabeth. Getting up from his place at the desk, he crossed slowly to where she sat while continuing with his story, and looked at her as though he was really back in the moment. He sat down behind her and continued his story.
~~~
"I don't want to go like this Jack. If I'm to be hung for my crimes that's one thing. But to be someone's prize, and someone's bargaining tool to get what he wants, that I cannot accept. I've spent all my life trying to prove that I could do just as well as any man, and here I am stuck back where I started."
"You aren't back where you started luv", Jack replied softly, wrapping his arms around her and pulling her tight. "You've proven yer worth a thousand times over, and no one can deny ye that."
Julianne sighed again, unconvinced.
"Listen to me", Jack continued firmly, turning her face to meet his. "ye are by far the most cunning and clever pirate to ever sail the seas. Yer an extraordinary captain, a position which you well deserve. And as far as being a woman, well, yer the most amazing and beautiful woman I've ever met. I know it, yer crew knows it, just about every pirate out there knows it, and that lieutenant damn well knows it or else ye wouldn't be 'ere. And they can't take that away from ye no matter what."
~~~
Out on the main deck of the Renegade, Will suddenly took notice that Elizabeth was no longer around. He had seen her walk over to talk to Jack earlier, but had since lost sight of her. Tearing himself away from the festivities, he looked around anxiously until his eyes settled on the light glow radiating from Julianne's cabin. Swiftly, he ran to the door, only to be head off by Julianne.
"Now now William, I think it's safe to say that you'd be cheating by interrupting Jack's work."
A fleeting look of desperation flashed across his face before Will thought up a clever retort. "Well, how can we know whose won if we don't see it?"
"It's called a window luv, look through it", the captain answered pushing his head toward the door's window. Both looking inside, all of Will's hopes were dashed, while a triumphant grin spread across Julianne's lips.
Resting in Jack's embrace, Elizabeth's breath fluctuated slightly, while Jack continued with his story which no longer seemed to be about Julianne being captured prison.
"Elizabeth, I don't have much time. Everyone will begin to wonder what's going on", he uttered in a husky whisper. "I just had to be alone with you one last time. I don't know what I'll do once you've gone. But I want you to know", he trailed off, his face only inches from hers, his dark brown eyes gazing into hers, boring straight into her soul. "I want you to know", he leaned closer and she did not back up. "that I", his lips grazed hers as he spoke and she swallowed and bit her lip. "I, think you just lost yer bet", he concluded before kissing her roughly.
It took her a minute to process what he had said. It finally hit her in mid-kiss, and her eyes went wide just as Will could take no more and threw open the door.
"I think you've proven your point Jack", he said flatly, shooting his wife a look at the same time. Behind him, Julianne still bore her celebratory grin.
Immediately after Will spoke, Jack jumped up from his seat in the window and grinned victoriously down at the still shocked Elizabeth.
"One down, one to go", he chimed making his way to Julianne and taking her by the arm. "Ta!" he called back to the Turners as the two captains left them there to go engage in the evenings festivities together.
Later that evening, when Elizabeth had finally managed to overcome her humiliation, she and Will rejoined the group outside.
"So how did you get out of that prison anyway", she asked Julianne haughtily.
"What prison?"
"The one in Carolina."
"What?" Julianne looked confused and turned to Jack.
"Jack!" Elizabeth demanded.
"I dunno luv, I never thought that far into it", Jack replied.
"You mean to say you made that whole thing up?"
"Aye, every word of it", he answered happily.
Elizabeth gaped.
"Surprised ye didn't pick up on it", he continued, salting the wound. "I mean Jules was practically the first person to know about me Pearl getting nabbed. How could ye'ave believe otherwise?"
"You, you said you were spending time apart", she stammered in response.
"Yeah, right", Julianne added with a snort.
Mouth still hanging open, Elizabeth motioned to say something further but Will stopped her from digging herself a deeper hole. "Care to dance", he asked turning her away from Jack and Julianne.
Elizabeth looked confused for a second, but eventually conceded leaving Jack and Julianne to sit and laugh together over their victory.