Disclaimer: I own nothing! Don't sue me!
Title: Crossing Blades
Thank you sooooo much to those who reviewed! Oh yes, Derrick St. John isn't mine; so don't sue me for that either.
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"Can people learn to kiss right?"
What was he talking about? "I don't understand," she confessed.
"Can people learn to kiss right?" he asked again.
"Really, your kisses don't need improving," she couldn't believe what she was saying.
"Well that's good news, and I always thought women hated my kisses."
"Do we have to talk about this?"
"No, I guess not," he said, "Come on, I'll show you around the ship."
"Alright, I guess I'll heal better if I stand up." Jack put a reassuring arm around her shoulders. She could smell that he drank, but she liked the smell of rum, so she didn't mind. She looked down. No dress. Now that wasn't right. She looked around and saw her dress hanging on a chair. As soon as Jack opened the cabin door she forgot about the dress. He walked her over to the side of the deck to where a man who looked to be twenty stood. He obviously didn't notice them. Jack cleared his throat, and the man turned quickly.
"Captain! I'm sorry, I didn't see you there!" he exclaimed.
"It's alright, St. John, we were a little quiet. This here is Gwyneth Turner, Bootstrap's granddaughter."
"Allow me to introduce myself, my name is Derrick St. John, and it is a pleasure to meet you. I am Captain Sparrow's first mate." He held a delicate hand out to her and she shook it gracefully while blushing. He was a very handsome man; he wore breeches that were black and a shirt that had buttons down the front and was also black, and leather boots that went up just below the knee. Many men didn't look nice in black but he looked great in it. She still held his hand and realized it and let go embarrassed.
"Derrick, I want you to keep an eye on her. I don't want her straying off," he talked as though she wasn't there.
"Aye, aye, Captain." Jack walked away leaving Gwen and Derrick to themselves.
"Is he always like that?" Gwen asked.
"No, he's normally laid back, he isn't used to women on the Pearl. Well, except for Anamaria."
"I was wondering about the rigging. Have you ever climbed it?" she asked.
"Yes, many times. Once I almost slipped. I had blisters all over my hands," he turned his palms over showing little, barely noticeable white dots.
"I can tell that it was not too long ago," Gwen said. "It isn't too hard to climb, is it?"
"No. You cannot climb it. I can't risk it. If you were to fall Captain Sparrow would probably kill me. Literally," Derrick ordered.
"But it's not like I'd fall. I'm not that uncoordinated," Gwen objected.
"I don't care. I recently almost fell, and I've been climbing it for years," Derrick said embarrassed. "What else do you want to see?"
"Where am I staying while I'm here? I'm fine with anything but the ship deck when it's raining," Gwen said. She was right, she could be found sleeping on the floor, claiming the bed was too soft.
"Oh. You're sharing a cabin with me. It's not as big as Captain Sparrow's, but it's big enough for two," he led her down a few stairs and into a door in which he opened. It had two beds, a table that was built into the floor along with two stools. The beds had regular blankets that Gwen was perfectly fine with.
"I know you're used to better quality-'' Derrick started.
"No, it's perfect!" Gwen sat on one of the beds; not too soft, exactly how she liked them.
"Well that's good. Would you like to see the rest of the ship?" Derrick asked nervousness creeping into his face. Gwen noticed.
"Are you uncomfortable in a small space with a girl?" she asked curious.
"N-no. It's not that, it's just, well, never mind," he stuttered.
"Are you a pirate?" she asked changing the subject purposely.
"Yes. You don't have a problem with that, do you?" he asked sternly his eyebrows knitted together.
"I'm sorry, I was just curious. I have never met a pirate before now. Excluding Jack." Later that day, Derrick showed her around the ship. When Gwen decided she would probably go to bed Derrick told her he would be there in a little while. Gwen lay in her bed thinking of what happened that day. Why had Jack been so keen on getting her to the Black Pearl? He didn't seem angry or anything. Was it a pirate's way of fun? Or was he protecting her? The questions puzzled her. She finally realized she wouldn't get any sleep with these thoughts. So she crept to the stairs and heard voices. Not wanting to interrupt she stayed where she was unnoticed.
"Captain, tell me why again you brought Gwyneth Turner onto the ship?" that was Derrick's voice.
"Didn't you hear? After we left, about four hours later there was an attack on Port Royal," that was obviously Jack.
"How did you know? The only time we stopped was when you got caught."
"When I was in my cell. I heard some other prisoners talking about the attack planned on Port Royal. I had Gwyneth free me. Well, I guess she saved my life and I saved hers. It all works out nice and easy."
"No, about the attack. How did you know it was four hours after we left?"
"Let's just say a little fish told me. I suggest you go to bed. Gwyneth is probably wondering where you are. We've a long day ahead of us." Derrick descended the stairs while Gwen ran back to her cabin. As Derrick opened the door Gwen hopped into bed. Derrick obviously suspected she was up.
"G'night Gwyneth Turner. I hope you enjoy the Black Pearl."
(I bet you think I'm gonna stop it there don't you? Well you're wrong. I intend on going much further.)
The next day Gwen woke at around three thirty. Derrick was still asleep. Not wanting to wake him up, she quietly crept out the door. As she reached the stairs she walked up them carefully. When she got up to the ship deck it was still dark. She went over to the side of the ship and watched the small white caps. She liked the sea, she decided. Gwen felt a body come up and lean against the side of the ship.
"It's beautiful," Gwen said breathlessly not looking at the person next to her.
"Aye, it is," Captain Jack Sparrow replied.
"It's as if when you see it, you can't leave it," Gwen said.
"That's one reason I chose a life at sea, it's soothing," Jack took a deep breath.
"You're acting weird. I believe you should cut down on rum."
"Cut down?" he snorted, that was more like the Jack she sort of knew.
"No. I'm just never going to drink. It'll make me smell like, well, you."
"Thanks a lot. The smell is an important part of a pirate. It brings character," Jack said.
"Derrick's a pirate and he doesn't smell."
"He's a different kind of pirate. For one, he doesn't drink, and two, he's pretty respectable, besides the pirate part."
"What does that make you? A thief?" she asked curiously.
"No. He's a captain," a new voice came behind them. It was Anamaria.
"Just a captain? What about the famous Captain?" Jack inquired.
"Fine, he's a famous captain. Happy now?" she asked a smile twitching on her lips.
"Very."
"Anamaria," Gwen said, "Have you ever climbed the rigging?" Jack and Anamaria both rolled their eyes.
"Yes, but no, you cannot do so. It's too dangerous. You heard what happened to St. John," Anamaria said.
"Okay. I'm still exhausted. I am going back to bed for another hour," Gwen fake yawned; she honestly didn't want disturb them. Once she got to the cabin she saw Derrick getting up.
"Am I late for something?" he asked rubbing his eyes.
"No, don't worry, it's still dark out," she said as she crawled back into bed.
"Well that's good. For a minute I thought I had to get up," he collapsed onto his own bed. After a while he asked, "Gwyneth, are you attracted to the opposite sex at all?" he obviously knew it was a stupid question but he wanted to make sure.
"Are you attracted to me?" she asked smiling at the top of the room.
"No, I never said that. I was just thinking about mates and stuff, nothing big," his voice quivered as he shifted in his bed.
"Well, I have to admit, you are pretty attractive for someone your age," she said. He was only a few years older than her.
"You really think that?" he asked voice getting more excited. "Not that that means anything."
"Oh, I believe you," Gwen said sarcastically.
"Thanks," was all he said. She didn't expect anything more.
"You're not tired, are you St. John?" she asked.
"No. Why?"
"The deck is beautiful in the morning."
"We only met a couple hours ago."
"No! I don't mean that. Come and enjoy some moon with me," Gwen started getting up. Derrick sat her back down.
"Now Miss Turner, there are better ways of traveling," he scooped her up in his arms, her arms around his neck.
"I think you are attracted to me," she accused.
"Have you a problem with that?"
"No."
Did you like? I meant to have Derrick and Gwen go too fast because problems rise and emotions run high.
~*SoccerrSweet*~
