Usual disclaimers. sigh!
Last chapter tonight... and I want those reviews or I'll cry!
***
Jack did not see Catherine again until much later in the day, although he had heard her talking in French to Jean Claude in the galley. He frowned, wondering what they were talking about, but continued down into the hold on a mission to find some more wine for Catherine for the meal. He knew that he had some special bottles somewhere - if only he could remember where he had put them. By the time he had found what he was looking for, plus another two bottles of rum and some brandy, the galley was empty and the crew were sitting down to eat. He hurried to the cabin, pleased to see that they had not yet started - typically Catherine had served the crew first.
"Nice of you to join us dear," she smiled, her voice heavy with sarcasm. "I was just about to send out a search party..."
He looked in amazement on the table - for they most definitely did not have the fish stew that the crew were eating. With Jean Claude's help she had created a meal which would not have looked out of place on the Governor's table. "Well I'm glad I took th' trouble t' search out somethin' special luv," he smiled presenting Catherine with the wine. She raised an eyebrow appreciatively as he tossed a bottle of brandy to Jean Claude before sliding a bottle of rum to Anamaria. "An' now perhaps yer can tell me how I came t' find yer on that island..." He sat down, reaching hungrily for the food.
"It was August when it all started," Jean Claude explained. "I'd just taken the Catalyntie and had gone to New Orleans for some special repairs." He smiled at Jack. "You know what I mean. Anyway, I was sitting there with Paul in Le Coq..."
"How is he?" Catherine interrupted, remembering her time working for him fondly.
Jean Claude laughed. "You should have seen his face when I told him who you really were. He couldn't believe how you'd duped us all. He wants you back you know - the new bargirl is useless! Well, we were talking when suddenly Louis walked in. He said he'd been rescued from the savages but had to sell the mine to cover the debts. He was very bitter towards the two of you. I took him on as crew - he had nothing else..." Anamaria gaped at this, finding it hard to imagine Jack's wife as a barmaid and wondering exactly how she and Jack were involved with Louis.
"The Chickasaw?" Catherine asked. "Red Cloud, Silent Wolf..."
Jean Claude frowned, not realising who she was referring to. "Th' savages mate," Jack explained. "Th' Indian tribe?"
"Commander Laurent took a large number of captives when they rescued my brother. I do not know how many for Louis did not say..." Jean Claude shrugged.
Catherine looked at Jack with tears in her eyes. "Little Feather! We must tell him!"
She started to rise from the table, but Jack put his hand on her arm. "Later Kitty! A few more minutes will make little difference, an' I would hear th' rest of this tale..." Reluctantly she sat and Jean Claude continued.
Anamaria sat quietly, remembering the tall silent native from her introductions by Joshamee as Jean Claude spoke quietly.
"Everything went fine, I thought he was settling, until he found out about the levy. We were on our way to pay when he led a mutiny against me..." He sighed heavily. "My own brother!"
"Where do yer come into this Ana?" Jack frowned.
"They hit my ship four days out of Tortuga," she sighed. "Louis killed all of the crew and then shot Neithan as he tried to defend me..." She looked across at Jean Claude. "Despite him being the cause of my loss, I owe him my life for standing against his crew when they mutinied. Hell, he even shot the pistol out of his brother's hand else I'd be dead too!"
Catherine glanced across at Jack knowing her belief in Jean Claude had been right, but he avoided her gaze. "So let me see if I've got this right... your man was Neithan Hallam, one of the Hallam boys?" Jack summarised.
Anamaria nodded. "That is why I need to get to Tortuga. I've no ship and no protection for Edan - and Jeremiah will want to see his grandson."
Jack nodded. It made sense for her to seek the protection of Old Man Hallam whilst Edan was young. "An' what d' yer want out of this Jean Claude?" he asked.
"Revenge... and my ship!" Jean Claude looked at Jack. "I know you want Louis and I know I cannot get him on my own. Take me on as crew and I'll serve loyally for a chance at him..."
Jack frowned, looking at Catherine. With Mary missing he had hoped to be able to visit the Turners, but that could be difficult with Jean Claude onboard especially if Theodore or the Commodore discovered his identity. "Well, yer see that might be a bit difficult. Kitty's brother is Captain Groves... an' Captain Groves' wife is the eldest daughter of the Governor..."
"The bitch!" Catherine hissed under her breath.
Jack ignored her comment. "Captain Groves often visits this ship... an' yer are still a wanted pirate to th' English..."
"So," Jean Claude smiled. "Apart from a few minor problems to be sorted you agree?"
"Theo doesn't know what he looks like," Catherine suggested. "Has the Commodore ever seen you?" She looked at Jack, glancing around the table. "Well, I know at least two here who've spent months pretending to be somebody else..."
"This is different!" Jack argued.
"How? Oran and I going to New Orleans was a risk..." she countered. "One slip and we'd have been hanged!"
Anamaria looked on in amazement as Catherine argued with Jack, but Jean Claude just smiled - he had seen this before when he had been aboard.
"I will let yer know my decision in th' morning..." Jack decided, turning to Catherine. "An' whatever I decide is final!"
Catherine lowered her eyes, biting her lip, sighing heavily. "Aye Captain," she acknowledged, knowing when not to argue with him.
"But I think now Jean Claude an' I ought t' go an' find Little Feather. I've a feelin' we've a trip up to th' Carolina's..."
Jean Claude and Jack left the cabin, heading to the lower decks to find Little Feather. Catherine knew Jack was right - Little Feather would be duty bound to return to his tribe. She suspected some of the crew would want to go with him for Little Feather was popular - which might leave the opening the Jean Claude desired. Wheels within wheels. She sat, staring into space, nursing her pewter goblet of wine.
"Do you mind if I ..." Anamaria interrupted her thoughts. Edan had woken and was crying for his feed.
"No worries," Catherine smiled. "I'll lock the door though - nobody ever knocks!"
Anamaria smiled as she picked up her son and started to feed him. "Nobody ever did!" she laughed.
Catherine watched for a few moments envious whilst Edan suckled. "So how did you meet Jack?" she asked, curious for she could hardly recall him ever speaking of her.
"It was just after Jack lost the Pearl," Anamaria confided, "the mutiny, Barbossa and all. My family were fishermen, but my older brother Job was a rum runner. They found Jack marooned and happily drinking their rum on one of the islands they used - brought him back with them. He often came back to the village doing the occasional favour for Job. Took him nearly ten years though to get the Pearl back..."
"And then you joined?" Catherine asked.
"No. Jack came back about a month before that, got me drunk and stole my fishing boat!" Catherine raised one eyebrow. "Oh, don't worry," Anamaria laughed. "He was so drunk that nothing happened anyway - silly sod fell asleep... too much rum!"
Catherine stared at her in shock and then burst out laughing. Although she felt jealous of this woman being intimate with Jack, she realised that he had been honest with her in that he had not been an angel and had never claimed to be.
Anamaria noticed Catherine looking wistfully at Edan. "You and Jack got any children?" she frowned.
Catherine sighed. "I cannot have any - I nearly died as a child..."
"I'm sorry," Anamaria apologised. "If you'd rather I..." She rose to leave.
"No, it's alright - honestly." Catherine smiled sadly. "I'm just jealous..." She rose to leave herself, heading out onto the deck. "I'd lock this behind me though, until you are finished..." She shut the cabin doors behind her, surprised to find herself face to face with Jack. The lock clicked. "Anamaria is feeding Edan..." she explained.
Jack said nothing, merely hugging her for he knew there was nothing he could say. "Wanna get drunk?" he suggested.
"No... I think I need you too much tonight for that..." A teasing smile flitted across her face.
Jack looked at her, realising what they had been talking about. "What?" he gasped. "She didn't..." he pleaded. "Tell me she didn't!"
She stood on tiptoe, kissing him. "I thought we'd agreed that our previous lives didn't matter?" she smiled. "But if you ever do that to me Jack Sparrow I'll make sure the whole crew know!"
He gulped. "Never m' dear.. never!" he vowed.
***
Last chapter tonight... and I want those reviews or I'll cry!
***
Jack did not see Catherine again until much later in the day, although he had heard her talking in French to Jean Claude in the galley. He frowned, wondering what they were talking about, but continued down into the hold on a mission to find some more wine for Catherine for the meal. He knew that he had some special bottles somewhere - if only he could remember where he had put them. By the time he had found what he was looking for, plus another two bottles of rum and some brandy, the galley was empty and the crew were sitting down to eat. He hurried to the cabin, pleased to see that they had not yet started - typically Catherine had served the crew first.
"Nice of you to join us dear," she smiled, her voice heavy with sarcasm. "I was just about to send out a search party..."
He looked in amazement on the table - for they most definitely did not have the fish stew that the crew were eating. With Jean Claude's help she had created a meal which would not have looked out of place on the Governor's table. "Well I'm glad I took th' trouble t' search out somethin' special luv," he smiled presenting Catherine with the wine. She raised an eyebrow appreciatively as he tossed a bottle of brandy to Jean Claude before sliding a bottle of rum to Anamaria. "An' now perhaps yer can tell me how I came t' find yer on that island..." He sat down, reaching hungrily for the food.
"It was August when it all started," Jean Claude explained. "I'd just taken the Catalyntie and had gone to New Orleans for some special repairs." He smiled at Jack. "You know what I mean. Anyway, I was sitting there with Paul in Le Coq..."
"How is he?" Catherine interrupted, remembering her time working for him fondly.
Jean Claude laughed. "You should have seen his face when I told him who you really were. He couldn't believe how you'd duped us all. He wants you back you know - the new bargirl is useless! Well, we were talking when suddenly Louis walked in. He said he'd been rescued from the savages but had to sell the mine to cover the debts. He was very bitter towards the two of you. I took him on as crew - he had nothing else..." Anamaria gaped at this, finding it hard to imagine Jack's wife as a barmaid and wondering exactly how she and Jack were involved with Louis.
"The Chickasaw?" Catherine asked. "Red Cloud, Silent Wolf..."
Jean Claude frowned, not realising who she was referring to. "Th' savages mate," Jack explained. "Th' Indian tribe?"
"Commander Laurent took a large number of captives when they rescued my brother. I do not know how many for Louis did not say..." Jean Claude shrugged.
Catherine looked at Jack with tears in her eyes. "Little Feather! We must tell him!"
She started to rise from the table, but Jack put his hand on her arm. "Later Kitty! A few more minutes will make little difference, an' I would hear th' rest of this tale..." Reluctantly she sat and Jean Claude continued.
Anamaria sat quietly, remembering the tall silent native from her introductions by Joshamee as Jean Claude spoke quietly.
"Everything went fine, I thought he was settling, until he found out about the levy. We were on our way to pay when he led a mutiny against me..." He sighed heavily. "My own brother!"
"Where do yer come into this Ana?" Jack frowned.
"They hit my ship four days out of Tortuga," she sighed. "Louis killed all of the crew and then shot Neithan as he tried to defend me..." She looked across at Jean Claude. "Despite him being the cause of my loss, I owe him my life for standing against his crew when they mutinied. Hell, he even shot the pistol out of his brother's hand else I'd be dead too!"
Catherine glanced across at Jack knowing her belief in Jean Claude had been right, but he avoided her gaze. "So let me see if I've got this right... your man was Neithan Hallam, one of the Hallam boys?" Jack summarised.
Anamaria nodded. "That is why I need to get to Tortuga. I've no ship and no protection for Edan - and Jeremiah will want to see his grandson."
Jack nodded. It made sense for her to seek the protection of Old Man Hallam whilst Edan was young. "An' what d' yer want out of this Jean Claude?" he asked.
"Revenge... and my ship!" Jean Claude looked at Jack. "I know you want Louis and I know I cannot get him on my own. Take me on as crew and I'll serve loyally for a chance at him..."
Jack frowned, looking at Catherine. With Mary missing he had hoped to be able to visit the Turners, but that could be difficult with Jean Claude onboard especially if Theodore or the Commodore discovered his identity. "Well, yer see that might be a bit difficult. Kitty's brother is Captain Groves... an' Captain Groves' wife is the eldest daughter of the Governor..."
"The bitch!" Catherine hissed under her breath.
Jack ignored her comment. "Captain Groves often visits this ship... an' yer are still a wanted pirate to th' English..."
"So," Jean Claude smiled. "Apart from a few minor problems to be sorted you agree?"
"Theo doesn't know what he looks like," Catherine suggested. "Has the Commodore ever seen you?" She looked at Jack, glancing around the table. "Well, I know at least two here who've spent months pretending to be somebody else..."
"This is different!" Jack argued.
"How? Oran and I going to New Orleans was a risk..." she countered. "One slip and we'd have been hanged!"
Anamaria looked on in amazement as Catherine argued with Jack, but Jean Claude just smiled - he had seen this before when he had been aboard.
"I will let yer know my decision in th' morning..." Jack decided, turning to Catherine. "An' whatever I decide is final!"
Catherine lowered her eyes, biting her lip, sighing heavily. "Aye Captain," she acknowledged, knowing when not to argue with him.
"But I think now Jean Claude an' I ought t' go an' find Little Feather. I've a feelin' we've a trip up to th' Carolina's..."
Jean Claude and Jack left the cabin, heading to the lower decks to find Little Feather. Catherine knew Jack was right - Little Feather would be duty bound to return to his tribe. She suspected some of the crew would want to go with him for Little Feather was popular - which might leave the opening the Jean Claude desired. Wheels within wheels. She sat, staring into space, nursing her pewter goblet of wine.
"Do you mind if I ..." Anamaria interrupted her thoughts. Edan had woken and was crying for his feed.
"No worries," Catherine smiled. "I'll lock the door though - nobody ever knocks!"
Anamaria smiled as she picked up her son and started to feed him. "Nobody ever did!" she laughed.
Catherine watched for a few moments envious whilst Edan suckled. "So how did you meet Jack?" she asked, curious for she could hardly recall him ever speaking of her.
"It was just after Jack lost the Pearl," Anamaria confided, "the mutiny, Barbossa and all. My family were fishermen, but my older brother Job was a rum runner. They found Jack marooned and happily drinking their rum on one of the islands they used - brought him back with them. He often came back to the village doing the occasional favour for Job. Took him nearly ten years though to get the Pearl back..."
"And then you joined?" Catherine asked.
"No. Jack came back about a month before that, got me drunk and stole my fishing boat!" Catherine raised one eyebrow. "Oh, don't worry," Anamaria laughed. "He was so drunk that nothing happened anyway - silly sod fell asleep... too much rum!"
Catherine stared at her in shock and then burst out laughing. Although she felt jealous of this woman being intimate with Jack, she realised that he had been honest with her in that he had not been an angel and had never claimed to be.
Anamaria noticed Catherine looking wistfully at Edan. "You and Jack got any children?" she frowned.
Catherine sighed. "I cannot have any - I nearly died as a child..."
"I'm sorry," Anamaria apologised. "If you'd rather I..." She rose to leave.
"No, it's alright - honestly." Catherine smiled sadly. "I'm just jealous..." She rose to leave herself, heading out onto the deck. "I'd lock this behind me though, until you are finished..." She shut the cabin doors behind her, surprised to find herself face to face with Jack. The lock clicked. "Anamaria is feeding Edan..." she explained.
Jack said nothing, merely hugging her for he knew there was nothing he could say. "Wanna get drunk?" he suggested.
"No... I think I need you too much tonight for that..." A teasing smile flitted across her face.
Jack looked at her, realising what they had been talking about. "What?" he gasped. "She didn't..." he pleaded. "Tell me she didn't!"
She stood on tiptoe, kissing him. "I thought we'd agreed that our previous lives didn't matter?" she smiled. "But if you ever do that to me Jack Sparrow I'll make sure the whole crew know!"
He gulped. "Never m' dear.. never!" he vowed.
***
