One More Taste of Freedom

10 against the alley wall

Disclaimer: See the previous chapter.

Author's Note: Don't read too much into this chapter. Take it at face value. Jack and Elizabeth are in a strange situation and he is doing the only thing he knows to calm her down. Also because of the use of the word 'panicking' a lot of people are getting the semi BtVS reference. But, guys, Johnny fans, did none of you notice that importance of a almost forced kiss against an alley wall? One of the best scenes in From Hell. Yes indeedy.

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One more look around the tavern and Jack gathered up the purse and started moving towards the door. Elizabeth followed, almost by habit looking over her shoulder to see if she saw anyone familiar. There was no one. As soon as the two reached the door there was a commotion behind them, and something that sounded oddly like a monkey, the voice of one of the barmaids called out.



"I'm terribly sorry, sir! The little thing just went mad!"


Elizabeth's eyes went wide when she saw the object of the wench's statement, Jack, the monkey, pounced on the table where the gold had been, screeching and pointing at the pair. Jack, the pirate, placed a tight grip on Elizabeth's arm pulled her through the door.



"Run." it was one word, but the emphasis he put on it was clear.



Before she could process what had just happened Sparrow had taken off, dragging her along with him. Weaving through fights and drunks he wandered down the streets of Tortuga, looking for a suitable place to regroup. One such place was found in an alley that happened to be unoccupied. Releasing her arm, Jack looked around to make sure they hadn't been followed. Elizabeth, on the other hand, leaned against the alley wall catching her breath.



So many thoughts racing through her mind at once, Elizabeth placed a hand over her heart, which was also racing, still trying to regain her composure. 24 hours ago she had been in Port Royal living her terribly dull life and dreaming of adventure on the high seas, now, she was in a dark alley, with Jack, with cursed gold - again. After trying to form a sentence, unsuccessfully, a few times, she succeeded.



"Did that really just happen?"



"It did." Jack was now leaning against the other wall.



"And that is really a piece of the cursed treasure?"



"It is." his tone was calm, and that almost bothered her. Why wasn't he more upset?



"And our plan is --" she stopped, leaving it for him to finish.



"Our plan, pet, is to stay here until such time as it is safe to not be here anymore, savvy?"



"So in other words our plan is hiding."



"You're a quick study."


Growing more and more frustrated she propelled herself from the wall and began to walk in the opposite direction, towards the open street. With an irritated sigh followed her and pulled her back from view.


"And where do you think you're goin', miss?"



"I don't know." She stopped and turned, having not really thought her grand exit through. "But we cannot just stay here. We have to find out what's going on."


"We've found a piece of cursed gold that was supposedly lost when I killed that traitorous bastard, Barbossa. His little devil of a pet monkey is here, and I don't have to be a very learned man to know that little monkeys don't sail ships. So then that would mean that someone has returned to the island, or that some of the Pearl's old crew escaped the fine justice system of Port Royal. Either way. Monkey here. Gold here. Us gone. Are you with me so far?"


"Yes, I know that. So what are we going to do about it?"



He stopped, shaking his head.



"You're a pretty lass, but your memory needs work." she stared at him, obviously not getting his statement. "I've told you already. We are going to stay `ere and not do anything stupid."


"How can you remain so perfectly calm about this, Jack? Do you remember last summer at all? If it is some of Barbossa's crew then don't you think that they'll be coming after you in some way or another?"



"We'll deal with that when the time comes. At the opportune moment." he shrugged.



"The opportune moment? When's that going to be? When they've captured your ship and crew and us, and oh god, Will could already be on his way. What if they've already gotten to him? It could already be too late, he, or Anamaria or Gibbs or Cotton, all of them they could already be dead or captured and we wouldn't even kno---"



Before she knew what was happening, Jack had placed his hands on her shoulders and pushed her back against the alley wall. Closing the gap between them he hovered just a few inches from her face.


"What are you doing?" Even when she felt his rum tainted breath on her face, she wasn't sure what to do or feel.


"Panicking."


And then he kissed her. Her eyes went wide at first but she made no attempt to push him away. Hovering somewhere between slapping and giving in she finally closed her eyes and waited for him to stop. Two different voices screaming in her head, one of Will, and the other that was completely lost in the moment. When he moved away, she covered her mouth and stared for a moment.



Jack had only meant it to calm her. He'd seen it work before and thought maybe it was the best course of action. The look on her face would neither confirm or deny his theory. He wasn't sure what she was thinking at all. Maybe it was the rum he had in him, or the way the moonlight hit her face. But it'd seemed like a good idea at the time.



Before either of them had a chance to react the little bit of light in the alley was covered in the shadow of a newcomer, and a voice neither of them wanted to hear spoke.



"`Allo poppet."