Yeah! I'm finally back home, so I can post more often. Well this may be
the last chapter (with the exception of an epilogue.) I have to see how
long it is. If it starts to get too long, I'll just cut it off and there
will be two chapters before the epilogue. To reviewers (I can do this
again!):
Cpt-Jack-Sparrow: You always seem to be one of the first ones to review ( Anyway, about how Elizabeth was willing to kill herself- maybe she was.or maybe she was just masquerading but the Commodore believed her. Hmmm. I'm not even really sure. This story just seems to write itself.
haldir2: He won't magically get better (perhaps Elizabeth will do something.) Read this chapter. Of course you're not flaming my story! There's a difference in slight criticism and flaming. I highly value some criticism; it helps the author change their story so it's more appealing to readers. I'm keeping in mind, that Jack is somewhat injured. (The weak feeling is temporary, not something that necessarily has to still be there.)
molly22: JE rocks! Commodore sux! Sounds good to me.
RisingPhoenix: Well! I was really touched when I read your review. I'm certainly glad you're enjoying it. I think yours was one of the best reviews I've gotten so far. I appreciate you reviewing. What's the first one that captured your interest? I want to read it!
emeraldmedallion: More random writings to go! I already have an incredibly random hilarious (well in my opinion) scene written for the end. FUN! "Bloody 'ell" just seems like something Jack has to say at least once in every good POTC fic. (Whether or not mine is a good fic, I'm trying to make it good.)
Karin: RUM!!!!!!!!! I needed that. (Hehe- Dana you'll get it, if you're reading this.)
***
Disclaimer: Do I have to say it? Fine. (Quickly) I own nothing! *breaks down into hysterical tears*.
Jack: (comes popping out of no-where) There, there, love.
Me: (suddenly not crying anymore) Where did you come from? Get back in the story!
***
"Ouch," Jack winced as Elizabeth applied a salve to the cut on his cheek.
"Hold still," she ordered, trying to be careful.
Jack let out a string of swears. "Jack!" Elizabeth exclaimed.
"Capt'," he muttered.
She ignored him. They were in the Captain's cabin of the Shadow. Jussic and his crew had been moved to the Dauntless and were set to be hung by the Commodore who was determined at least to prosecute some pirates, if not the ones most ideal to him. Though Elizabeth hated Jussic to heart, she still felt it was wrong to hang pirates. She did not protest however, knowing her luck with the Commodore had reached its limits. She would refuse to attend the hanging, when the time came, however. The Dauntless had sailed back to Port Royal, right away. Jack, the new captain of the Shadow, had decided to go to Tortuga, before Port Royal, to pick up another crewmember but as Tortuga was not the place for stocking up, they would be at Port Royal directly afterwards. Or so he had told the Commodore. In truth, they would still be back to Port Royal second, but first they were going to the island to pick up Will's treasure.
Elizabeth had weaseled her way into going with them, as Governor Swann trusted Will and was sure he would 'keep her safe around the pirates.' Really, Will hadn't been around Elizabeth much. He was moodier than normal and kept watching AnnaMaria. Elizabeth didn't notice all that much, however, as Jack had hardly left her side over the past few days. This was the third day she was tending to his wound and it was healing well. "There," she told him, "It's defiantly healing."
"Good," Jack smiled, "I almost pity Jussic now."
"Even though he marooned you on the island?"
"Well, considerin' we found the treasure, aye," Jack laughed, "And because he marooned ya there with me."
His voice was softer. Their eyes met for a moment and then Elizabeth looked away, blushing. Jack held no trace of embarrassment on his face. He merely changed the subject. "What will ya do when we reach Port Royal?"
"Marry Will, I suppose," Elizabeth answered, her face went grim. It was the last subject in the world she wanted to discuss with him.
"So he still holds to 'is proposal?"
Elizabeth nodded. "That's funny," Jack told her, "As he seems ta 'ave his eye on a certain female pirate."
Elizabeth gave him a sharp look. "He is just tired. This whole thing has beaten him down and is wearing him out. It's more likely AnnaMaria is after him. He just seems like he wants to be alone."
"Hmmmmmmm."
Jack placed his fingers under his chin, with a look of mocking innocence, his eyebrows raised. He was starting to annoy her. "Don't start at my fiancée, Jack Sparrow," Elizabeth snapped.
Curse him! He'd gotten her to defend Will when she didn't even love him. And now he was looking offended. "Sorry, darlin'," he murmured, still hiding that looking of annoying satisfaction, "I did not intend to insult yer dear William."
"Yes you did!" spat Elizabeth, "And don't 'darling' me."
"As you wish, love."
She glared at him. Sometimes he could be so damn annoying. To bring up the subject of her wedding when she was so infatuated with him. 'But he doesn't know that you are,' she told herself. But if he didn't, he still knew (and thought he was even more) annoying her about Will. Jack was watching her, his shrewd black eyes calculating. Why could he just make her happy these last few days she had with him? Talking a deep breath to calm herself, she asked, "What will you do after you leave Port Royal?"
"Not sure exactly, love," he replied, "I was thinkin' of sailin' to Spain. They say there's treasure aplenty, there."
"You'll come back and visit, of course?"
"I'm 'faird not," Jack choice a spot over her shoulder and stared at it. This was so hard for him to say, it was going to be even harder to do. He attempted a weak smile. "The Commodore is after me blood. His promise ta ya, won't last ferever and it's just a matter of time before he's back on my trail."
This wasn't the real reason, of course, but it sounded good. If Elizabeth loved him, he would never let the Commodore stand in the way but as she didn't he had to get away from her before he went mad with longing. Maybe after a few months at sea he would forget her. Maybe he could even flirt with AnnaMaria. It wasn't likely. That wench slapped him three times a day if he didn't watch her.
Elizabeth studied him. Her heart hurt. He was going to leave and never come back. She wanted to yell at him, "How can you leave me to Will when I love you so much?"
They sat in silence for a few moments. Elizabeth was toying with something around her neck. She looked down and realized it was the necklace Jack had given her on the island. She had forgotten about it. She unlatched it and held it up so that Jack could see it. "The necklace I gave ya," his voice was soft, "Did ya ask Will about it?"
She shook her head, "I forgot."
"Then ya can tell 'im when we get ta his treasure."
The corners of Elizabeth's mouth twitched in a smile. "I don't intend to tell him, Jack."
Far from blushing, Jack gave a rugged grin, "Ya've been around pirates far too long, love."
"Some of them are better than law-abiding people," her eyes lingered on him, the annoyance she had felt before forgotten.
They were looking at one another when a Will's voice called from the deck, "We're coming upon that island you wanted to stop at, Jack."
Jack grinned. Will knew the treasure was here but he was going to be surprised by it. "Wait 'til he finds out there's rum stored with it," he exclaimed, getting up and walking onto the deck.
***
That was sort of short. Sorry. So that didn't turn out at all how I planned! This story practically writes itself, as I said. There may be two more chapters before the Epilogue, after this. I'm not really sure. I'll have to see how the next chapter comes out. Anyway, review! I don't know about you, but I like this chapter. Sort of pointless talking but lots of JE moments.
Cpt-Jack-Sparrow: You always seem to be one of the first ones to review ( Anyway, about how Elizabeth was willing to kill herself- maybe she was.or maybe she was just masquerading but the Commodore believed her. Hmmm. I'm not even really sure. This story just seems to write itself.
haldir2: He won't magically get better (perhaps Elizabeth will do something.) Read this chapter. Of course you're not flaming my story! There's a difference in slight criticism and flaming. I highly value some criticism; it helps the author change their story so it's more appealing to readers. I'm keeping in mind, that Jack is somewhat injured. (The weak feeling is temporary, not something that necessarily has to still be there.)
molly22: JE rocks! Commodore sux! Sounds good to me.
RisingPhoenix: Well! I was really touched when I read your review. I'm certainly glad you're enjoying it. I think yours was one of the best reviews I've gotten so far. I appreciate you reviewing. What's the first one that captured your interest? I want to read it!
emeraldmedallion: More random writings to go! I already have an incredibly random hilarious (well in my opinion) scene written for the end. FUN! "Bloody 'ell" just seems like something Jack has to say at least once in every good POTC fic. (Whether or not mine is a good fic, I'm trying to make it good.)
Karin: RUM!!!!!!!!! I needed that. (Hehe- Dana you'll get it, if you're reading this.)
***
Disclaimer: Do I have to say it? Fine. (Quickly) I own nothing! *breaks down into hysterical tears*.
Jack: (comes popping out of no-where) There, there, love.
Me: (suddenly not crying anymore) Where did you come from? Get back in the story!
***
"Ouch," Jack winced as Elizabeth applied a salve to the cut on his cheek.
"Hold still," she ordered, trying to be careful.
Jack let out a string of swears. "Jack!" Elizabeth exclaimed.
"Capt'," he muttered.
She ignored him. They were in the Captain's cabin of the Shadow. Jussic and his crew had been moved to the Dauntless and were set to be hung by the Commodore who was determined at least to prosecute some pirates, if not the ones most ideal to him. Though Elizabeth hated Jussic to heart, she still felt it was wrong to hang pirates. She did not protest however, knowing her luck with the Commodore had reached its limits. She would refuse to attend the hanging, when the time came, however. The Dauntless had sailed back to Port Royal, right away. Jack, the new captain of the Shadow, had decided to go to Tortuga, before Port Royal, to pick up another crewmember but as Tortuga was not the place for stocking up, they would be at Port Royal directly afterwards. Or so he had told the Commodore. In truth, they would still be back to Port Royal second, but first they were going to the island to pick up Will's treasure.
Elizabeth had weaseled her way into going with them, as Governor Swann trusted Will and was sure he would 'keep her safe around the pirates.' Really, Will hadn't been around Elizabeth much. He was moodier than normal and kept watching AnnaMaria. Elizabeth didn't notice all that much, however, as Jack had hardly left her side over the past few days. This was the third day she was tending to his wound and it was healing well. "There," she told him, "It's defiantly healing."
"Good," Jack smiled, "I almost pity Jussic now."
"Even though he marooned you on the island?"
"Well, considerin' we found the treasure, aye," Jack laughed, "And because he marooned ya there with me."
His voice was softer. Their eyes met for a moment and then Elizabeth looked away, blushing. Jack held no trace of embarrassment on his face. He merely changed the subject. "What will ya do when we reach Port Royal?"
"Marry Will, I suppose," Elizabeth answered, her face went grim. It was the last subject in the world she wanted to discuss with him.
"So he still holds to 'is proposal?"
Elizabeth nodded. "That's funny," Jack told her, "As he seems ta 'ave his eye on a certain female pirate."
Elizabeth gave him a sharp look. "He is just tired. This whole thing has beaten him down and is wearing him out. It's more likely AnnaMaria is after him. He just seems like he wants to be alone."
"Hmmmmmmm."
Jack placed his fingers under his chin, with a look of mocking innocence, his eyebrows raised. He was starting to annoy her. "Don't start at my fiancée, Jack Sparrow," Elizabeth snapped.
Curse him! He'd gotten her to defend Will when she didn't even love him. And now he was looking offended. "Sorry, darlin'," he murmured, still hiding that looking of annoying satisfaction, "I did not intend to insult yer dear William."
"Yes you did!" spat Elizabeth, "And don't 'darling' me."
"As you wish, love."
She glared at him. Sometimes he could be so damn annoying. To bring up the subject of her wedding when she was so infatuated with him. 'But he doesn't know that you are,' she told herself. But if he didn't, he still knew (and thought he was even more) annoying her about Will. Jack was watching her, his shrewd black eyes calculating. Why could he just make her happy these last few days she had with him? Talking a deep breath to calm herself, she asked, "What will you do after you leave Port Royal?"
"Not sure exactly, love," he replied, "I was thinkin' of sailin' to Spain. They say there's treasure aplenty, there."
"You'll come back and visit, of course?"
"I'm 'faird not," Jack choice a spot over her shoulder and stared at it. This was so hard for him to say, it was going to be even harder to do. He attempted a weak smile. "The Commodore is after me blood. His promise ta ya, won't last ferever and it's just a matter of time before he's back on my trail."
This wasn't the real reason, of course, but it sounded good. If Elizabeth loved him, he would never let the Commodore stand in the way but as she didn't he had to get away from her before he went mad with longing. Maybe after a few months at sea he would forget her. Maybe he could even flirt with AnnaMaria. It wasn't likely. That wench slapped him three times a day if he didn't watch her.
Elizabeth studied him. Her heart hurt. He was going to leave and never come back. She wanted to yell at him, "How can you leave me to Will when I love you so much?"
They sat in silence for a few moments. Elizabeth was toying with something around her neck. She looked down and realized it was the necklace Jack had given her on the island. She had forgotten about it. She unlatched it and held it up so that Jack could see it. "The necklace I gave ya," his voice was soft, "Did ya ask Will about it?"
She shook her head, "I forgot."
"Then ya can tell 'im when we get ta his treasure."
The corners of Elizabeth's mouth twitched in a smile. "I don't intend to tell him, Jack."
Far from blushing, Jack gave a rugged grin, "Ya've been around pirates far too long, love."
"Some of them are better than law-abiding people," her eyes lingered on him, the annoyance she had felt before forgotten.
They were looking at one another when a Will's voice called from the deck, "We're coming upon that island you wanted to stop at, Jack."
Jack grinned. Will knew the treasure was here but he was going to be surprised by it. "Wait 'til he finds out there's rum stored with it," he exclaimed, getting up and walking onto the deck.
***
That was sort of short. Sorry. So that didn't turn out at all how I planned! This story practically writes itself, as I said. There may be two more chapters before the Epilogue, after this. I'm not really sure. I'll have to see how the next chapter comes out. Anyway, review! I don't know about you, but I like this chapter. Sort of pointless talking but lots of JE moments.