Bittersweet Reunion

"I seem to recognize your face,
Haunting, familiar, yet I can't seem to place it.
Cannot find the candle of thought to light your name,
Lifetimes are catching up with me."

***

            Jack stood in the crowd looking up at the platform that currently served as the center of everyone's attention.  He and the crew were docked in Port Antenea, a little town that offered few amenities but was notorious for its slave auctions.  For his part, Jack was never much a supporter of the slave trade; the Pearl had only stopped there to restock on a few items and he had wandered down to the auction sight just to pass the time until they were ready to leave. 

            Scanning the scene around him, he found himself quite disgusted at the very idea of it.  Everywhere grimy, dirty old men stood with bags of money in their hands, eyeing the stage area greedily.  His attention to the crowd was soon broken though by the sound of a bell being rung, signaling that the auction was to begin.  Turning back to the stage, Jack watched indifferently as several young men of various races were brought up and sold off for fairly reasonable prices. 

            Things remained the same and pretty uneventful for sometime, and Jack shifted his feet, making ready to leave.  An announcement from the auctioneer however, soon changed his mind.

            "Alright ye scabrous dogs, pipe down", the man yelled over the crowd of riled men.  "I've got somethin next yer sure to be interested in."

            After he had finished speaking two men ascended onto the platform, dragging between them a woman dressed in man's clothing.  The woman fought and struggled against them, putting up one hell of a fight in Jack's opinion despite her bound hands.  Finally though, with the auctioneers help, they were able to overtake and control her, holding her in place for the crowd to admire.

            "She's a beaut ain't she", the auctioneer called out again as he jerked the woman's face up by her chin.  His question was answered by a chorus of screams.

            Jack glanced around in distaste then returned his focus to the woman.  Seeing her face clearly for the first time, his eyes widened in recognition; he knew this woman.  Desperately, he searched his memory, trying to place how he knew her or where from.  In the end, he came up empty handed, but something inside of him moved him to take action.

            Bidding began.  All around him men called out prices they were willing to pay, and they rose quickly.  Through all of this, Jack remained quiet, until the number of people making offers grew smaller and he was sure he would not be bought out.

            "SOLD", the auctioneer confirmed after Jack's first and the final bid.  The woman was pulled forward roughly, so hard that she fell hard to the ground.  The two men who had led her onto the stage jumped down beside her to pick her up, but she had already stood on her own.  Grabbing her by each arm, they dragged her through the crowd towards Jack, head down.  Stopping in front of him, they unbound her hands upon his permission and pushed her forward. 

            Jack looked her over appraisingly, still trying to place how he knew her.  Putting a hand to her chin, he raised her head softly to get a good look at her face, and found cold, grey eyes staring back at him, full of hate. 

            "Sophia", he gasped in realization.  His eyes grew wide as she raised her hand as though to slap him, then punched him hard in the mouth.

            "Suppose that was betta than gettin slapped", he muttered under his breath as he rubbed his jaw.  When he looked up again, Sophia was not standing in front of him.  He looked around frantically, not ready to lose her just yet, and was relieved when he saw he emerge from between a few men carrying a bag in her hands that she had just pick-pocketed.

            "Ere", she said, harshly thrusting the bag forward.

            "What's this?"

            "I'dave rather been bought and ravished by some filthy bastard than owe me freedom to the likes of you Jack Sparrow", she answered him with a glare.

            He looked at her in shock for a minute before regaining his cockiness to retort.  "Who said I was lettin ye go free?'   

            "Who said I was asking", was her answer as she dropped the bag to the ground, spit on it, then turned on her heel and marched away.  Jack watched her go, half of him desperately wanting to follow her, and half of him knowing it was best to leave her alone. 

            "What was that all about", Gibbs asked coming up next to him.

            "Oh, old friend, you know", the captain answered his first mate.

            "Friend?  Didn't sound like that ta me", Gibbs chuckled.

            Jack opened his mouth to answer him but found no words to say.  Noticing his captain's discomfort Gibbs cleared his throat and continued with his original purpose.  "Anyway, ship's ready to go whenever ye want to be leavin."

            Jack nodded.  "There's a few things I want to take care of while we're 'ere.  We'll leave first thing in the mornin."

            "Aye Cap'n", Gibbs agreed and turned to head back to the ship to inform the crew they had another day in town to enjoy.

            Lingering a moment, Jack watched in a daze as the auction continued, then shook his head to clear his mind and made his way into town.