Aftermath
By: L'Morgan
Disclaimer: I guess I really do need to remind you all that anything and everything related to Pirates of the Caribbean, their characters and settings are all the property of Disney - Disney - Disney - nobody - but -Disney ---- I-just-borrowing-to-play-with-and-giving-back. Only Disney can make money on anything to do with Pirates of the Caribbean. NOT ME!
*************************
Summary: Port Royal lies in ruins.. The Black Pearl has battled and won.. But - does Jack Sparrow at the bottom of the sea or does he not?
A/N: Yes, the last two chapters have had cliff hangers - would you believe I absolutely hate to run across cliff hangers myself in a story? I really do! It's like - how could you let it end THERE!! Give me the rest! I swear I will read even if you don't leave me hanging!!!
Well - unfortunately, its also kind of hard to post a chapter that would print out to over 20 pages - so I divided them (evil laughter) - and now that I've had that fun and we are past that - back to the much more sane method? THE CURTAIN SLOWLY RISES AND THE LIGHTS DIM ..
Chapter 14: Lost Sparrow
The muffled force of the first explosion caught Jack by surprise and still managed to send him flying into a wall with a force that stunned him. Shaking his head to clear it of stars, he pushed himself forward as Ana came running around with a fierce man right behind her, determined to separate her head from her shoulders.
Jack's sword intercepted his path and the man swung on the pirate, burying his sword point first into the wooden wall that Jack had been standing against just a fraction of a second before. Jack brought the hilt of his sword up and hit the man as hard as he could on the back of the head and the man crumpled instantly.
He ran after AnaMaria, wondering how much longer before the second charge was going to go off. It was surely overdue. They had to get off this ship! He saw Ana racing for the ropes but with all the smoke from the cannon fire he couldn't see the 'Pearl'. It must have disengaged itself from the 'Rover'. He saw her swing out, jump, and hit the water: and then a second later there was a deafening roar from below and behind him. He felt himself blown upward and then something very large and solid collided with him from behind and all went black.
AnaMaria was hit by the shock wave of the explosion as a wave of pressure. Bits and pieces of wood and metal went flying through the air as a thousand splinters and slices. She surfaced to see bits and pieces of wood and flame and bodies still raining down around her.
Jack - where was Jack? Where was the 'Pearl'? Where was the 'Freedom'? In the darkness there was only the light cast by the fire of the burning pieces. Quickly she swam outwards and away from the burning boat. She saw a figure struggling feebly in the water. Whoever it was apparently had less then poor swimming ability. She hesitated. She had her own life to save at the moment! She could just see herself hauling around some idiot from the 'Rover' who didn't even have the brains to realize that the ability to swim might be a good idea if you are going to be a pirate?
Unbidden, the events of the past few weeks came to mind, the rescue of all the survivors, buying the supplies and leaving them. Even Jack pulling Norrington off the cliff. Damn it - this was insane! Some shark would probably come and eat them both anyway! Why on earth should she bother?
She changed direction and headed for the struggling figure. Just before she got there, whoever it was sunk beneath the waves for the last time. Again she hesitated. It would be one of the 'Rover's' crew - unless somebody else was running around that ship that shouldn't be, besides her and Jack Sparrow. Whoever it was, they were currently in the process of drowning even as she argued with herself. She swore softly and dove under the surface.
She caught a glimpse of a dim pale hand that bore a largish silver and black ring on the first finger, bordered by a white sleeve, drifting slowly downward with the body into the total darkness. If she wasn't underwater she would have gasped in recognition at seeing the ring. He'd worn the thing as long as she'd known him! Damn that blasted pirate to all hell, she swore to herself.
She dove down, caught hold of his hand and kicked her way back up and away from the blazing wreckage. The smoke was going to choke both of her if she didn't get away. She looked around but saw no sign of the Pearl or the Freedom. but there was land somewhere across the bay. She knew it was there.
The figure she had pulled to the surface was limp and motionless under her arm. She tread water and half turned the figure. His head lolled forward limply, jaw slack and eyes closed. He didn't seem to be breathing but the heartbeat in his chest was racing frantically.
She turned him around and clasped her arms around his middle, kicking hard to keep them up as she brought her fist into his stomach and up into his diaphragm. Nothing happened and they both sunk. She kicked and brought them back up and did it again and now water streamed from his mouth. Once more, and suddenly he jerked, gasped, and began choking as he struck out with his arms feebly.
It took him several long minutes of choking and retching seawater where if she had let go he would have sunk instantly. She kept an arm around him as she paddled them more away from the burning wreckage. The smoke from the pitch was so thick and choking that it was impossible to bear. As she paddled them away, a barrel of floating powder suddenly exploded, making her lose her awkward grip on the pirate who instantly disappeared beneath the waves.
She turned around frantically, only to have him surface nearby, gasping and choking and coughing and ready to sink again in a second. She grabbed him by the back of his shirt and pulled him to her, wrapped an arm around his chest. At first he frantically fought against being turned on his back in the water.
"Jack stop it! It's me! Hold still you blasted fool!" she commanded fiercely and he stilled; now just breathing hard and raspily as he gave her an extremely disoriented look.
"Can you help me swim at least?" she asked breathlessly and he did some, but his movements were weak, awkward, and feeble and any hint of water in his mouth set him to choking and coughing again and she would have to stop until he could breathe again.
"Alright! Alright Jack - stop - Quit thrashin' around!" she said and he did, seeming utterly breathless as she again wrapped her arm around him and began towing him. She paced herself very slowly, giving him time to regain his breath, more concerned with keeping water out of his face than how quickly they were making headway and as far away from the choking smoke as they could get. She still saw no sign of either ship, but the smoke billowing across the bay from the flaming wreckage was severe. If the ships were on the other side of the flames, there was no way they could get there. For long minutes the only sound was of her slow strokes and Jack's heavy breathing.
'AnaMaria-" he finally managed in a rough tone as his hands came up to her arm over his chest.
"Le' me go- I can do i' myse'f ." he told her, his hands fumbling to remove her arm.
"Hold on Jack - lets get a little closer first." She said, but he insisted on trying to paddle as well. She let him go, but kept an eye on him. Compared to the fact that she knew he could swim like a fish, he was definitely way off kilter. But he was making headway slowly. Every so often he would tire and stop, panting for breath, and then he would start to sink and she had to grab his shirt and pull him back up. Then he'd cough and choke for a few more minutes before insisting she let go so he could do it again. He absolutely refused to just let her tow him She actually considered using her fist to put an end to his refusal, but just didn't have the energy to spare. He was lucky this time.
This went on for what seemed like hours before she finally realized the dark shadow looming right ahead was the rocks and trees and mountain of the land. They had made it!
Keeping Jack in sight she finally found her footing and was able to stand. He tried but stumbled, coughing more and she ended up grabbing a fistful of his shirt and half dragging him further up onto the damp sand where now she let go.
She stumbled up onto the dry land and collapsed to her knees, body trembling from exertion and the shock of the experience. She collapsed on the dry sand and used one arm for a pillow, trying to catch her breath. Slowly her heartbeat calmed some and she quit shaking uncontrollably. With a heartfelt groan she rolled over and slowly sat up, supporting herself on her arms behind her.
She scowled at the dark figure lying prone on the beach, face down and not far from where she had dropped him.
"The damned fool gonna reach shore only t' drown in the surf if he don't move". She muttered to herself crossly.
Sure enough a wave swept up, gurgling and swirling to the level of his shoulders. It was when she saw his one arm limply flow back with the water when it rushed away that she realized there might be a problem.
She rose unsteadily and staggered across the sand to fall to her knees beside him. Only then did she realize his eyes were closed, features slack and he wasn't moving. She rolled him over and hauled him further up and out of the water, then sat down heavily a little further up. She reached under his arms and drug him up and into her lap.
"Jack Sparrow - this is not a good time for this!" she half yelled hotly, shaking him roughly. She thought she saw the mere hint of a frown furrow his brow. He stirred a little, his eyelashes fluttering, then opening. She roughly pushed him to sit up in front of her. When she let go, he fell back heavily into her to clunk her chin with the top of his head.
"OW!! Wha"" he breathed and she scowled in mild exasperation. She leaned sideways to consider his features, and realized he was still very disoriented and off balance. She was lucky he hadn't drowned in the surf while she was 'lounging on the beach' she thought to herself rather harshly.
"Shhh - you're alright Jack. Just sit here for a bit. We made it. Are you hurt anywhere?" She asked as she gently pulled him back into leaning against her and settled her hands over his chest. She could feel him struggling to catch his breath as they stared out at the bay.
"Where are we?" he finally asked in confusion, not answering her question. She frowned down at him for a moment, then out at the scene before them.
"Still on the same land. I think Port Royal is those little bitty lights way, way, way over there across the bay.and all that smoke and fire out there on the water, that's where you n' me jus'bout got ourselves killed tryin' to do Norrington one too many favors!" she told him, pointing at each in turn.
"Where's t' Pearl?" he asked and she shook her head. He still didn't sound quite right.
"I don't know Jack - probably out there in the darkness. Maybe in the harbor itself by now." She said and he frowned and tensed.
"You don't think the explosion hurt her, do you?" he asked worriedly and she pat his chest reassuringly.
"I doubt it Jack. That bucket of yers is built like stone. It's just dark out there. Consider it this way - now we can see how hard she is to see at night when its' us on her and somebody else lookin' to see if we be coming." She said and felt him chuckle mildly and relax again with a nod.
'Aye - pretty effective, don' cha think?" he said more cheerfully, and before she could answer he tried to take a deep breath and ended up coughing thickly and deeply and long, then seemed to lay against her breathing hard and he felt heavier and half limp.
"You all right Jack?" she asked softly and felt him nod. She frowned down at him.
"Liar" she said sternly, right by his ear and felt him sigh softly, but make no effort to move or dispute her claim. They were silent for a few minutes.
"AnaMaria?" he asked finally in a soft tone and she half smiled.
"What Jack?" she answered and he sighed shallowly.
"Thank ye for seeing I got out of the water." He said softly, bobbing his head in customary style. His tone was simple and sincere and she felt her cheeks blush and was glad he couldn't see.
"I almost didn' Jack - I almost didn'." she told him lowly, and he half looked back at her and started to sit forward away from her with a puzzled frown. Quickly she caught him and pulled him back like he had been - sitting in front of her and leaning against her. She could feel that he had stiffened and tensed up. She put her arms around his waist and found his hands. Her fingers encountered the ring on his forefinger and absently traced the oval stone.
"Listen first ya fool.. I didn't know where you were! I didn' know where the Pearl was, or the Freedom, all I knew was it was rainin' bits and pieces and fire all around me, so I swam away some. To be honest Jack - I thought you were more n' likely fine and a lot further away then me! You kin swim like a fish and I know it. Then I saw somebody splashin' all around in the water. Couldn't barely stay afloat. And - well - for some cockeyed reason I swam over there. Just as I got there- they just quit thrashing and sunk under the water. And - well, I almost didn' go Jack - I almost didn." She said and he looked back at her.
"One of those 'funny situations'." he observed thoughtfully and left off and she half smiled shyly and nodded.
"Can't hardly even tell you now why I bothered to dive down and even see! Nobody but me and the angels in heaven would'a known if I'd just swam away. But I didn'.. And then - all I could see was that ring of yers and a bit of sleeve. Turned out it was you I pulled up." She said, the last softly, and now he turned back to watching the bay and was relaxed again when he leaned back on her. He didn't protest her arms still around him either, but just seemed to be watching the dark bay.
"Guess you been rubbin' off on me when I wasn' lookin' Jack Sparrow. You and yer good deeds. I didn' think pirates were supposed to be makin' a habit of doin' good deeds Capt'n. But.. I can't help but think.. What if I hadn't done it - what if I just gone and saved myself like any other sane body would 'a done? If I hadn't gone and grabbed that hand.. Jack - right now you'd be -" she said, the last very roughly and quickly cleared her throat.
He seemed to know what she felt anyway. He pat her arm and intertwined just his fingertips with hers, seeming more himself finally.
"Don't let it bother you none Ana. If you hadn't - right now I'd be restin' in the bosom of the beautiful blue sea. Woulda' been meant to be I guess is all. Besides, if I have to die, I honestly don't want to be resting on dry land for all of eternity." He said softly and she frowned.
"Don' be talkin' like that Jack. All right? Its' gonna bother me - what if I hadn' - I didn' know it was you at all. Didn' even think it might be!" she told him and felt him sigh deeply and silently. There was a long few minutes of silence and then he chuckled.
"What?" she asked and he gave her a quick glance and his normal grin, mischief in his eyes.
"If you had known it was me - you probably would have strangled me with your own hands for almost getting' you blown up - then let me drown!" he said teasingly and she smiled, thought, and then shook her head.
"Nah, I would have considered stranglin' you - and then drownin' you .. But then I probably would have hauled you to shore just so I could - do it proper like!" she said as abruptly she put her hands around his neck and squeezed teasingly and felt and heard him laugh deeply.
"Ya' shoulda done it when you had the chance, missy!" he proclaimed, reaching behind to poke her in the side sharply. She let go and found him suddenly on his hands and knees over her as she landed on her back in the sand, laughing.
"Gotcha now!" he proclaimed triumphantly as he leaned down closer and she met his intent stare with her own. He paused for a long moment, studying her, his eyes taking on a completely 'not playing' look. Gently he stroked the wet hair away from her face, staring. Their bodies touched from waist to knee. He leaned closer still, his eyes barely inches from hers.
She knew he was going to kiss her if she didn't do something. She could see it in his eyes as plain as day......
******************************* Today is Tuesday, then comes Wednesday, then Thursday, and on Friday is Chapter 15! Let me know what you think?
**********************
Disclaimer: I guess I really do need to remind you all that anything and everything related to Pirates of the Caribbean, their characters and settings are all the property of Disney - Disney - Disney - nobody - but -Disney ---- I-just-borrowing-to-play-with-and-giving-back. Only Disney can make money on anything to do with Pirates of the Caribbean. NOT ME!
*************************
Summary: Port Royal lies in ruins.. The Black Pearl has battled and won.. But - does Jack Sparrow at the bottom of the sea or does he not?
A/N: Yes, the last two chapters have had cliff hangers - would you believe I absolutely hate to run across cliff hangers myself in a story? I really do! It's like - how could you let it end THERE!! Give me the rest! I swear I will read even if you don't leave me hanging!!!
Well - unfortunately, its also kind of hard to post a chapter that would print out to over 20 pages - so I divided them (evil laughter) - and now that I've had that fun and we are past that - back to the much more sane method? THE CURTAIN SLOWLY RISES AND THE LIGHTS DIM ..
Chapter 14: Lost Sparrow
The muffled force of the first explosion caught Jack by surprise and still managed to send him flying into a wall with a force that stunned him. Shaking his head to clear it of stars, he pushed himself forward as Ana came running around with a fierce man right behind her, determined to separate her head from her shoulders.
Jack's sword intercepted his path and the man swung on the pirate, burying his sword point first into the wooden wall that Jack had been standing against just a fraction of a second before. Jack brought the hilt of his sword up and hit the man as hard as he could on the back of the head and the man crumpled instantly.
He ran after AnaMaria, wondering how much longer before the second charge was going to go off. It was surely overdue. They had to get off this ship! He saw Ana racing for the ropes but with all the smoke from the cannon fire he couldn't see the 'Pearl'. It must have disengaged itself from the 'Rover'. He saw her swing out, jump, and hit the water: and then a second later there was a deafening roar from below and behind him. He felt himself blown upward and then something very large and solid collided with him from behind and all went black.
AnaMaria was hit by the shock wave of the explosion as a wave of pressure. Bits and pieces of wood and metal went flying through the air as a thousand splinters and slices. She surfaced to see bits and pieces of wood and flame and bodies still raining down around her.
Jack - where was Jack? Where was the 'Pearl'? Where was the 'Freedom'? In the darkness there was only the light cast by the fire of the burning pieces. Quickly she swam outwards and away from the burning boat. She saw a figure struggling feebly in the water. Whoever it was apparently had less then poor swimming ability. She hesitated. She had her own life to save at the moment! She could just see herself hauling around some idiot from the 'Rover' who didn't even have the brains to realize that the ability to swim might be a good idea if you are going to be a pirate?
Unbidden, the events of the past few weeks came to mind, the rescue of all the survivors, buying the supplies and leaving them. Even Jack pulling Norrington off the cliff. Damn it - this was insane! Some shark would probably come and eat them both anyway! Why on earth should she bother?
She changed direction and headed for the struggling figure. Just before she got there, whoever it was sunk beneath the waves for the last time. Again she hesitated. It would be one of the 'Rover's' crew - unless somebody else was running around that ship that shouldn't be, besides her and Jack Sparrow. Whoever it was, they were currently in the process of drowning even as she argued with herself. She swore softly and dove under the surface.
She caught a glimpse of a dim pale hand that bore a largish silver and black ring on the first finger, bordered by a white sleeve, drifting slowly downward with the body into the total darkness. If she wasn't underwater she would have gasped in recognition at seeing the ring. He'd worn the thing as long as she'd known him! Damn that blasted pirate to all hell, she swore to herself.
She dove down, caught hold of his hand and kicked her way back up and away from the blazing wreckage. The smoke was going to choke both of her if she didn't get away. She looked around but saw no sign of the Pearl or the Freedom. but there was land somewhere across the bay. She knew it was there.
The figure she had pulled to the surface was limp and motionless under her arm. She tread water and half turned the figure. His head lolled forward limply, jaw slack and eyes closed. He didn't seem to be breathing but the heartbeat in his chest was racing frantically.
She turned him around and clasped her arms around his middle, kicking hard to keep them up as she brought her fist into his stomach and up into his diaphragm. Nothing happened and they both sunk. She kicked and brought them back up and did it again and now water streamed from his mouth. Once more, and suddenly he jerked, gasped, and began choking as he struck out with his arms feebly.
It took him several long minutes of choking and retching seawater where if she had let go he would have sunk instantly. She kept an arm around him as she paddled them more away from the burning wreckage. The smoke from the pitch was so thick and choking that it was impossible to bear. As she paddled them away, a barrel of floating powder suddenly exploded, making her lose her awkward grip on the pirate who instantly disappeared beneath the waves.
She turned around frantically, only to have him surface nearby, gasping and choking and coughing and ready to sink again in a second. She grabbed him by the back of his shirt and pulled him to her, wrapped an arm around his chest. At first he frantically fought against being turned on his back in the water.
"Jack stop it! It's me! Hold still you blasted fool!" she commanded fiercely and he stilled; now just breathing hard and raspily as he gave her an extremely disoriented look.
"Can you help me swim at least?" she asked breathlessly and he did some, but his movements were weak, awkward, and feeble and any hint of water in his mouth set him to choking and coughing again and she would have to stop until he could breathe again.
"Alright! Alright Jack - stop - Quit thrashin' around!" she said and he did, seeming utterly breathless as she again wrapped her arm around him and began towing him. She paced herself very slowly, giving him time to regain his breath, more concerned with keeping water out of his face than how quickly they were making headway and as far away from the choking smoke as they could get. She still saw no sign of either ship, but the smoke billowing across the bay from the flaming wreckage was severe. If the ships were on the other side of the flames, there was no way they could get there. For long minutes the only sound was of her slow strokes and Jack's heavy breathing.
'AnaMaria-" he finally managed in a rough tone as his hands came up to her arm over his chest.
"Le' me go- I can do i' myse'f ." he told her, his hands fumbling to remove her arm.
"Hold on Jack - lets get a little closer first." She said, but he insisted on trying to paddle as well. She let him go, but kept an eye on him. Compared to the fact that she knew he could swim like a fish, he was definitely way off kilter. But he was making headway slowly. Every so often he would tire and stop, panting for breath, and then he would start to sink and she had to grab his shirt and pull him back up. Then he'd cough and choke for a few more minutes before insisting she let go so he could do it again. He absolutely refused to just let her tow him She actually considered using her fist to put an end to his refusal, but just didn't have the energy to spare. He was lucky this time.
This went on for what seemed like hours before she finally realized the dark shadow looming right ahead was the rocks and trees and mountain of the land. They had made it!
Keeping Jack in sight she finally found her footing and was able to stand. He tried but stumbled, coughing more and she ended up grabbing a fistful of his shirt and half dragging him further up onto the damp sand where now she let go.
She stumbled up onto the dry land and collapsed to her knees, body trembling from exertion and the shock of the experience. She collapsed on the dry sand and used one arm for a pillow, trying to catch her breath. Slowly her heartbeat calmed some and she quit shaking uncontrollably. With a heartfelt groan she rolled over and slowly sat up, supporting herself on her arms behind her.
She scowled at the dark figure lying prone on the beach, face down and not far from where she had dropped him.
"The damned fool gonna reach shore only t' drown in the surf if he don't move". She muttered to herself crossly.
Sure enough a wave swept up, gurgling and swirling to the level of his shoulders. It was when she saw his one arm limply flow back with the water when it rushed away that she realized there might be a problem.
She rose unsteadily and staggered across the sand to fall to her knees beside him. Only then did she realize his eyes were closed, features slack and he wasn't moving. She rolled him over and hauled him further up and out of the water, then sat down heavily a little further up. She reached under his arms and drug him up and into her lap.
"Jack Sparrow - this is not a good time for this!" she half yelled hotly, shaking him roughly. She thought she saw the mere hint of a frown furrow his brow. He stirred a little, his eyelashes fluttering, then opening. She roughly pushed him to sit up in front of her. When she let go, he fell back heavily into her to clunk her chin with the top of his head.
"OW!! Wha"" he breathed and she scowled in mild exasperation. She leaned sideways to consider his features, and realized he was still very disoriented and off balance. She was lucky he hadn't drowned in the surf while she was 'lounging on the beach' she thought to herself rather harshly.
"Shhh - you're alright Jack. Just sit here for a bit. We made it. Are you hurt anywhere?" She asked as she gently pulled him back into leaning against her and settled her hands over his chest. She could feel him struggling to catch his breath as they stared out at the bay.
"Where are we?" he finally asked in confusion, not answering her question. She frowned down at him for a moment, then out at the scene before them.
"Still on the same land. I think Port Royal is those little bitty lights way, way, way over there across the bay.and all that smoke and fire out there on the water, that's where you n' me jus'bout got ourselves killed tryin' to do Norrington one too many favors!" she told him, pointing at each in turn.
"Where's t' Pearl?" he asked and she shook her head. He still didn't sound quite right.
"I don't know Jack - probably out there in the darkness. Maybe in the harbor itself by now." She said and he frowned and tensed.
"You don't think the explosion hurt her, do you?" he asked worriedly and she pat his chest reassuringly.
"I doubt it Jack. That bucket of yers is built like stone. It's just dark out there. Consider it this way - now we can see how hard she is to see at night when its' us on her and somebody else lookin' to see if we be coming." She said and felt him chuckle mildly and relax again with a nod.
'Aye - pretty effective, don' cha think?" he said more cheerfully, and before she could answer he tried to take a deep breath and ended up coughing thickly and deeply and long, then seemed to lay against her breathing hard and he felt heavier and half limp.
"You all right Jack?" she asked softly and felt him nod. She frowned down at him.
"Liar" she said sternly, right by his ear and felt him sigh softly, but make no effort to move or dispute her claim. They were silent for a few minutes.
"AnaMaria?" he asked finally in a soft tone and she half smiled.
"What Jack?" she answered and he sighed shallowly.
"Thank ye for seeing I got out of the water." He said softly, bobbing his head in customary style. His tone was simple and sincere and she felt her cheeks blush and was glad he couldn't see.
"I almost didn' Jack - I almost didn'." she told him lowly, and he half looked back at her and started to sit forward away from her with a puzzled frown. Quickly she caught him and pulled him back like he had been - sitting in front of her and leaning against her. She could feel that he had stiffened and tensed up. She put her arms around his waist and found his hands. Her fingers encountered the ring on his forefinger and absently traced the oval stone.
"Listen first ya fool.. I didn't know where you were! I didn' know where the Pearl was, or the Freedom, all I knew was it was rainin' bits and pieces and fire all around me, so I swam away some. To be honest Jack - I thought you were more n' likely fine and a lot further away then me! You kin swim like a fish and I know it. Then I saw somebody splashin' all around in the water. Couldn't barely stay afloat. And - well - for some cockeyed reason I swam over there. Just as I got there- they just quit thrashing and sunk under the water. And - well, I almost didn' go Jack - I almost didn." She said and he looked back at her.
"One of those 'funny situations'." he observed thoughtfully and left off and she half smiled shyly and nodded.
"Can't hardly even tell you now why I bothered to dive down and even see! Nobody but me and the angels in heaven would'a known if I'd just swam away. But I didn'.. And then - all I could see was that ring of yers and a bit of sleeve. Turned out it was you I pulled up." She said, the last softly, and now he turned back to watching the bay and was relaxed again when he leaned back on her. He didn't protest her arms still around him either, but just seemed to be watching the dark bay.
"Guess you been rubbin' off on me when I wasn' lookin' Jack Sparrow. You and yer good deeds. I didn' think pirates were supposed to be makin' a habit of doin' good deeds Capt'n. But.. I can't help but think.. What if I hadn't done it - what if I just gone and saved myself like any other sane body would 'a done? If I hadn't gone and grabbed that hand.. Jack - right now you'd be -" she said, the last very roughly and quickly cleared her throat.
He seemed to know what she felt anyway. He pat her arm and intertwined just his fingertips with hers, seeming more himself finally.
"Don't let it bother you none Ana. If you hadn't - right now I'd be restin' in the bosom of the beautiful blue sea. Woulda' been meant to be I guess is all. Besides, if I have to die, I honestly don't want to be resting on dry land for all of eternity." He said softly and she frowned.
"Don' be talkin' like that Jack. All right? Its' gonna bother me - what if I hadn' - I didn' know it was you at all. Didn' even think it might be!" she told him and felt him sigh deeply and silently. There was a long few minutes of silence and then he chuckled.
"What?" she asked and he gave her a quick glance and his normal grin, mischief in his eyes.
"If you had known it was me - you probably would have strangled me with your own hands for almost getting' you blown up - then let me drown!" he said teasingly and she smiled, thought, and then shook her head.
"Nah, I would have considered stranglin' you - and then drownin' you .. But then I probably would have hauled you to shore just so I could - do it proper like!" she said as abruptly she put her hands around his neck and squeezed teasingly and felt and heard him laugh deeply.
"Ya' shoulda done it when you had the chance, missy!" he proclaimed, reaching behind to poke her in the side sharply. She let go and found him suddenly on his hands and knees over her as she landed on her back in the sand, laughing.
"Gotcha now!" he proclaimed triumphantly as he leaned down closer and she met his intent stare with her own. He paused for a long moment, studying her, his eyes taking on a completely 'not playing' look. Gently he stroked the wet hair away from her face, staring. Their bodies touched from waist to knee. He leaned closer still, his eyes barely inches from hers.
She knew he was going to kiss her if she didn't do something. She could see it in his eyes as plain as day......
******************************* Today is Tuesday, then comes Wednesday, then Thursday, and on Friday is Chapter 15! Let me know what you think?
**********************