Anya lay quietly waiting for Jack to return. It had been nearly fifteen minutes and he was still out there. And as much as hated to admit it, Jack had made her impatient. The way he'd touched her, kissed her, she wanted it back. Her stomach was doing flips and her chest was tight with apprehension. She wondered if he'd been satisfied with her… he HAD been rumored to have been with many, MANY women… and Anya had no experience.

All this was making her extremely nervous… where was Jack? The door creaked open and Anya propped herself up on her elbows, about to scold him for keeping her waiting so long… even though she knew he probably had good reason.

But not only Jack stood at the door. There was an elderly looking chap with spectacles and gray hair, carrying a large black carpet bag, looking at her strangely. Anya pulled the sheet up to her chin, feeling a bit exposed, though she was wearing one of Jack's shirts.

'Love, this is the doctor I told ya about…' Jack ground out. Anya smirked. Jack was really not enjoying the fact that he would have to wait even longer to get her alone again. Anya on the other hand, had psyched herself out so much, she wasn't as disappointed.

'Madam.' The man said with a small bow. Anya cocked an eyebrow. This 'whig' survived on a pirate ship? Then Anya realized that she had survived, and made a mental note that if she could, basically anyone could. 'Now then,' he said walking over quickly, nervously, and opening his bag. 'Let's check this cough, eh?' he said taking out something and placing it on her chest. Anya looked over at Jack and again couldn't help smiling. He was glaring ferociously at the doctor, who had his hand on Anya's ample chest.

'Well, heart rate is very fast.' He said retracting the device. It was Anya's turn to blush, and Jack's to smirk. Okay so it wasn't exactly subtle what they had been doing. Anya did look a bit disheveled. The doctor could probably guess the rest.

He continued checking her out for another fifteen minutes. Jack looked as if he were about to explode. Finally the doctor announced that she was already well mended and that she should stay in bed one more day and she'd be fine. Jack quickly ushered the man out and followed, much to the dismay of Anya.

But he returned a few minutes later. Anya smiled sweetly as he sauntered up to the bed, practically tearing off his coat and tossing his hat along with it across the room.

'Now then…where were we?' he grinned, his arms outstretched. And suddenly the pangs of nervousness returned in full force and Anya sat up looking down shyly. Jack instantly picked up on it. 'What's wrong love?' he asked with a frown, placing his hands through his belt loops. Anya forced a smile and shook her head, though she couldn't look Jack directly in the eye.

'Nothing…' she said as she crawled across the bed and knelt on the edge, coming face to face with Jack. 'Just a little nervous…' she said playing with one of the beaded strands of inky black hair hanging from his head. He caught her hand and forced her to look at him.

'Ya weren't nervous before pet…' he said flashing a sexy smile. Anya bit her lip as her cheeks tinted pink at his insinuation. 'Come on now,' he said as he stepped closer to her, nose to nose, looking deep into her green eyes, 'don't make a pirate beg… we're not very good at it …' he joked. She smiled back.

'I just…' she couldn't finish her sentence.

'Is it me?' he asked, his eyes dark with obvious desire. 'Are ya afraid of me still?'

'Don't kid yourself Jack.' She said defiantly, but maintained a small grin, 'I was never afraid of you…'

'Cause I don't bite hard love…well… not unless you like that kind of thing…' he brushed back her golden tresses. Anya chuckled and pulled him closer, so that she was leaning forward against his chest.

'I just want to be good…for you…you know?' Jack didn't move, 'You don't know?' she asked, as her eyebrows rose. Jack shook his head.

'No, I think I know what yar gettin at m'dear.' He said hands slipped over her shoulders, making her tremble slightly. 'I don't think that'll be a problem…' he said, his fingers dancing down her back, down past her rear and came to the hem of the shirt. Anya nodded, her hands moving down his chest, making Jack's eyes grow even darker.

'SPARROW!' came a loud bellow from outside. Jack let out a frustrated cry, releasing the hem of Anya's shirt and striding across to the door, completely oblivious to the fact that Anya fell off the bed. He wrenched open the door.

'WHAT?!?!' he roared, unaware who he was yelling at. Gordon stood on deck, looking positively vehement. Jack waved his hands apologetically. 'Sorry commodore.' He said walking forward. 'Thought you were someone else…' he said coming to a stop in front of Gordon. 'What do you need?' Jack asked hurriedly, tired of all these interruptions. He wanted Anya and the buildup was torturing him.

'The girl.' Gordon said stiffly. Jack blinked.

'What?'

'The girl. I want the girl.' He repeated looking livid. Jack shook his head.

'Why? I thought we agreed-'

'Yes well, your obvious neglect has gotten the lass sick. I'm not going to sit back with my feet up and have you put my investment in danger…' he said threateningly. Jack rolled his eyes. This couldn't get any bloody worse.

'Look, I'll look after her better, promise, in fact I was just tending to the young lass when you called me out.' He said gesturing back to his lodgings. Gordon snorted.

'Too bloody bad Sparrow. The girl will stay on the Giant the rest of the voyage.' Jack was about to protest when Gordon glared him down. 'IF you cooperate, and she does not fight either… I may consider letting her go after the treasure is safely on board. Then you can 'tend' to her, till the sea cows come home.' Gordon said standing tall. 'So what will it be Sparrow. You hand her over willingly, or we gut you and slice her throat when we're done with her?'

Jack paused for a moment. 'It's gotta be the first one… commodore.' Jack said glaring at him but forcing a smile. 'Just keep your filthy crew away from her.' He said turning away and walking back to his quarters.

**************************************************************

Jack slammed the door behind him when he came back inside, fuming. Anya watched him perplexed.

'Jack, what's wrong?' she asked, sitting on the edge of the bed. Jack remained silent and took out a small weave bag and began stuffing some clothing in it. Anya watched him, afraid of the reason he might be doing this. 'Are you…going somewhere?' she asked slowly, standing up.

'No.' he said turning around with her skirt in his hands. 'You are.' He said, handing her the skirt. She frowned.

'Where am I going?' she asked taking it from him. He snatched his hand away and began wrapping a loaf of bread and placing it in the bag.

'On the Giant.' He said not able to face her. Anya's eyes widened and she dropped the skirt, hoping to god this was a sick joke. Jack kept his gaze down, taking out his pistol from his drawer and wrapping it in some clothing, placing it at the bottom of the bag.

'What?' she asked breathlessly. 'But I thought Gordon agreed to me staying here?'

'Well, he's a complicated salt, Gordon is.' Jack said bitterly as he placed the bag on his desk. He turned and saw the skirt on the floor. He bent over and picked it up holding it in front of her. 'Put this on. Don't want none of those dirty pirates lookin at your bare legs. They're far more vicious and far more a them on the Giant then here.'

'You cannot be serious.' Anya said, looking at him, looking betrayed. 'You said-'

'I know what I said god dammit!' Jack yelled. 'Now take the damn skirt and put it on!' Anya stared at him a few moments before stepping in to the tattered excuse for a skirt and pulled it around her waist, tying the strings. Jack exhaled deeply.

'Love, this is for your own good.' He said dragging his hand through his dreaded hair. Anya let out a small laugh.

'Yeah, put me on a ship with a bunch of pirates who want to rape me, a captain who wants to kill me and send me off on a dangerous treasure hunt… sounds like you're trying real hard to keep me safe…'

'I don't have a choice!' he yelled as she snatched the bag off the desk in front of him. She was about to run out the door, when Jack's hand encircled her small wrist and dragged her back to him. 'It was either this or they kill you. That's why you've gotta be good, don't fight em… unless they put their dirty hands on you… then I'll kill em.' Anya looked up at him when he said this. Her icy glare melted and she let out a breath, feeling like she wanted to cry… but she couldn't let anyone see it. She blinked them back and looked up at him, her eyes glassy and pleading.

'I don't want to go.' She said as he released her arm, her bag dropping to the dirty floor. Jack smiled sadly, raising one rough hand to her cheek, running his thumb along it softly.

'I don't want you to go either.' He said, his rum scented breath wafting over her, putting her into a sort of daze. 'But I don't want em to kill ya either. Cause I've kind of grown fond of you…' He said jokingly. Suddenly, both looked up at his words staring at one another, both with their mouths a gape.

'You…have?...' Anya asked, fighting the urge to cling onto him and not let go. Jack himself was shocked at his words. He'd never been fond of anything except his rum and the Pearl. This was a revelation new to him too. Before he said anything the door burst open and Gordon walked in stiffly.

'I suppose you've been briefed.' He said smiling, his crooked teeth bared at them. 'Now git on the ship.' Anya took one last look at Jack, who nodded, and turned out of his embrace, picking up the weave bag and walking out the door, her head lowered. Gordon was about to follow when Jack jumped in front of him.

'You let any of those men touch her Gordon…' he threatened. Gordon glared at him and shoved him aside.

'Remember who you are dealing with Sparrow. I'm not one of those pathetic merchant pirates. You can't threaten me. You can't touch me. So forget it.' He said as he walked out the door, looking so smug. Jack's teeth grinded together, as he watched her board the Giant.

He wasn't going to forget her.