Claire drummed her fingers against the wooden grain of Jack's desk. Her dark brown hair was slightly windswept from being on deck. She had long ago decided not to bother doing anything with it- it was virtually impossible to have a good hair day while at sea. Rather, she preferred to have it swept back in a dark green bandana, in an attempt to somewhat tame the wild locks. She was a pretty girl, particularly for a pirate lass. Together with her long dark hair and almost black eyes, she had a wonderful olive complexion- highlighting her spanish origin. At only 24, Claire had seen a lot more than most refined girls her age would have. In fact, if her father had his way all those years back, she would be married and onto her fourth child by now! But instead, Claire had decided to try a life of piracy- void of society expectations and restraints. The perfect life as far as Claire was concerned.
Still, her life had been anything but perfect... well, until Jack rescued her from Captain Hetherington, that is. She smiled as she remembered Jack attacking the Nemesis, and whilst searching the holds for treasure, he had found her- nothing but skin and bones, her body bruised and bloody from the torture Hetherington had inflicted on her. Claire shuddered as the painful memories were brought to the surface, but she managed to push them back down, to be dealt with another time. No use worrying about what has been. The crew of the Pearl had reported to Jack that Hetherington had been killed in cross cannon fire. At least with him out of the way, Claire could move on, knowing that the world was a better place with one less decrepit inhabiting it.
Lost in her thoughts, Claire didn't hear the cabin door open, nor was she aware of Jack's presence until he waved an arm in front of her face. She blinked, shook her head and looked up in surprise.
"Yoohoo... Ye with me, love?"
"Jack. Sorry, I was just thinking..."
"About anything in particular?..." Jack asked with eyebrow raised, thinking that it wasn't a good idea for Claire to do too much thinking... it always ended up in trouble, or with him being slapped.
"No, nothing important."
Jack nodded and went to a cabinet in the corner of his cabin to pull out a bottle of rum. He let out a huge sigh as he landed on his bed and unplugged the bottle. Claire smiled as Jack gulped down the firey liquid as if he was chugging water.
"Want some love?" Jack slurred, as he held out the rum for Claire to take. Grimacing, she took the bottle off him and brought it to her lips. Sure, she was a tough pirate chick, but couldn't quite get used to the bitter taste of rum.
"Thought that after a couple of years of drinkin' love, that you'ld be used to it by now." Jack commented, his amusement obvious.
"Me too." Claire managed to choke out, handing the bottle back to her Captain. "Uggghhh... that was gross."
"Hey, this is top quality stuff love. Not my fault ye don't have good taste!" Jack said dryly, sniffing in offence.
Claire rolled her eyes and watched as Jack downed the rest of the bottle, throwing it on the ground next to him. He laid back on his bed with his arms propping his head up. He eyed her with suspicion.
"You're very quiet tonight love. Ye sure you're not hatching up some crazy scheme that I'll be inclined to disagree with?"
Claire laughed, thinking of the past times Jack had had to put up with her "scheming" as he called it.
"I'm fine Jack. I'm just a little tired. Not in the mood for conversation."
Jack raised a dark brow and his eyes started to twinkle. "Ah... well that's a good thing darlin'. Not much in the mood for talkin' meself. Not when there's much better ways to spend me time." Jack started towards Claire, his intent obvious. Just then, the cabin door burst open, revealing a very wet Gibbs.
"Jack" he panted, "the storms hit, it's all fire and fury up on deck! Yer ship needs ye."
Jack looked disappointed at being interupted, but his duty was to his ship and crew above all else.
"Aye Gibbs. I'll be along." Gibbs, just realising what he probably interrupted nodded and shut the cabin door behind him. Jack turned to Claire and kissed her lightly on the forehead and then trailed down to her lips.
"We will continue this later darlin'. I'll call for you if yer needed. Ye should get some rest."
"But the storm Jack... you'll be needing me up there now." Claire said, puzzled.
"No Claire, it's just too-"
"-Too what, Jack, dangerous? I'm part of the crew. I will pull my weight!" Claire spoke with venom. Claire understood that Jack wanted to protect her, but she was a pirate for god's sake! It was getting ridiculous that whenever danger reared it's ugly head, Jack expected her to hide in his cabin and wait for him to return.
Jack stared at Claire contemplating her words. After a good staredown, it was obvious who had won.
"Fine, okay, ye win love. Just be careful, and don't do anything stupid." Claire grinned and jumped up, planting a firm kiss on Jack's lips before running in the direction of the deck. Jack shook his head, wondering if Gibbs was right about women being bad luck. He grabbed his hat and his old jacket. It promised to be a long night...
Still, her life had been anything but perfect... well, until Jack rescued her from Captain Hetherington, that is. She smiled as she remembered Jack attacking the Nemesis, and whilst searching the holds for treasure, he had found her- nothing but skin and bones, her body bruised and bloody from the torture Hetherington had inflicted on her. Claire shuddered as the painful memories were brought to the surface, but she managed to push them back down, to be dealt with another time. No use worrying about what has been. The crew of the Pearl had reported to Jack that Hetherington had been killed in cross cannon fire. At least with him out of the way, Claire could move on, knowing that the world was a better place with one less decrepit inhabiting it.
Lost in her thoughts, Claire didn't hear the cabin door open, nor was she aware of Jack's presence until he waved an arm in front of her face. She blinked, shook her head and looked up in surprise.
"Yoohoo... Ye with me, love?"
"Jack. Sorry, I was just thinking..."
"About anything in particular?..." Jack asked with eyebrow raised, thinking that it wasn't a good idea for Claire to do too much thinking... it always ended up in trouble, or with him being slapped.
"No, nothing important."
Jack nodded and went to a cabinet in the corner of his cabin to pull out a bottle of rum. He let out a huge sigh as he landed on his bed and unplugged the bottle. Claire smiled as Jack gulped down the firey liquid as if he was chugging water.
"Want some love?" Jack slurred, as he held out the rum for Claire to take. Grimacing, she took the bottle off him and brought it to her lips. Sure, she was a tough pirate chick, but couldn't quite get used to the bitter taste of rum.
"Thought that after a couple of years of drinkin' love, that you'ld be used to it by now." Jack commented, his amusement obvious.
"Me too." Claire managed to choke out, handing the bottle back to her Captain. "Uggghhh... that was gross."
"Hey, this is top quality stuff love. Not my fault ye don't have good taste!" Jack said dryly, sniffing in offence.
Claire rolled her eyes and watched as Jack downed the rest of the bottle, throwing it on the ground next to him. He laid back on his bed with his arms propping his head up. He eyed her with suspicion.
"You're very quiet tonight love. Ye sure you're not hatching up some crazy scheme that I'll be inclined to disagree with?"
Claire laughed, thinking of the past times Jack had had to put up with her "scheming" as he called it.
"I'm fine Jack. I'm just a little tired. Not in the mood for conversation."
Jack raised a dark brow and his eyes started to twinkle. "Ah... well that's a good thing darlin'. Not much in the mood for talkin' meself. Not when there's much better ways to spend me time." Jack started towards Claire, his intent obvious. Just then, the cabin door burst open, revealing a very wet Gibbs.
"Jack" he panted, "the storms hit, it's all fire and fury up on deck! Yer ship needs ye."
Jack looked disappointed at being interupted, but his duty was to his ship and crew above all else.
"Aye Gibbs. I'll be along." Gibbs, just realising what he probably interrupted nodded and shut the cabin door behind him. Jack turned to Claire and kissed her lightly on the forehead and then trailed down to her lips.
"We will continue this later darlin'. I'll call for you if yer needed. Ye should get some rest."
"But the storm Jack... you'll be needing me up there now." Claire said, puzzled.
"No Claire, it's just too-"
"-Too what, Jack, dangerous? I'm part of the crew. I will pull my weight!" Claire spoke with venom. Claire understood that Jack wanted to protect her, but she was a pirate for god's sake! It was getting ridiculous that whenever danger reared it's ugly head, Jack expected her to hide in his cabin and wait for him to return.
Jack stared at Claire contemplating her words. After a good staredown, it was obvious who had won.
"Fine, okay, ye win love. Just be careful, and don't do anything stupid." Claire grinned and jumped up, planting a firm kiss on Jack's lips before running in the direction of the deck. Jack shook his head, wondering if Gibbs was right about women being bad luck. He grabbed his hat and his old jacket. It promised to be a long night...