Chapter 19
Jack Sparrow stood by the window of a great balcony looking over the ocean. He was holding a half downed bottle of rum. Elizabeth had given them her best guest room, she understood Jack's restlessnes well.
"You miss the Pearl, don't you?" Anamaria asked quietly coming to stand next to him.
"The crew's gong to come back eventually, love. They're making their rounds and they'll be here soon." Jack sighed, the moon played shadows over his face. If there was any doubt in her mind that the Pearl was part of him it was banished now.
The ocean view was reciprocated in his eyes and there was a certain part that was missing to him. He had been on land for too long.
"Do you have everything you need?" Elizabeth asked coming to the door.
"Aye, everything's perfect." Anamaria answered.
"Alright, well, good night then." A look passed between the two women. Anamaria and Elizabeth may have been from different worlds, but at that moment understanding passed between the two. Elizabeth half-smiled to herself as she went to find Will.
"Ana, what was it like to die?" Jack asked a troubled expression in his eyes.
"I don't remember," she said, "All I know is that It's unlike anything we've ever seen, will ever see, and likely to hold the peace we've always sought for."
"I don't know what I would have done had you not come back, Anamaria." It was the rum's fault, normally Jack would have said that with a touch of humor, but the alcohol allowed him only sincerity.
"And you think I would have left you alone, Jack Sparrow? You still owe me a ship and I plan on collecting before my time comes." She rested her head on his shoulder and stared out at the horizon.
"So what are we to do now? We can't ask Norrington, he's in trouble as 'tis."
"What do you mean?" Jack's gaze sharpened at the thought of Norrington being held accountable for his actions. Too many people that had helped him ended up either dead or in some kind of difficulty of their own.
"It was something I heard when Elizabeth and Will were talking. He might have some explaining to do with the higher-ranking men at the fort.
"His position here won't be compromised, will it?" Jack took another sip of the rum and closed his eyes to savor the taste.
"That's a likely outcome, yes. Remember we used to hear Norrington referred to as the most feared pirate hunter in the Caribbean? Imagine what will happen when people hear that he aided a pirate, pirates, in battle."
"There is that point, love. We'll have to do something about it then, aye?" his mind was already working out the kinks and getting ready for another plan.
Anamaria yawned and Jack put his arm around her shoulder pulling her closer to his side.
"What say you to getting some sleep?" he walked with her to the fine four poster bed and pulled the sheets back.
"Sounds good, Jack. Sleep is good." He took off his vest, boots, and shawl then lay down with her curled up next to him. It had been awhile since he'd last slept in a bed, more often than not it was a small cot in the midst of his captains' quarters.
"Have I told you that I. . ." he looked down at Anamaria and smiled ironically. She was already asleep, he sighed, there was always tomorrow to tell her.