A/N: I hope you guys like this so far! I won't be able to add more for awhile though, so you guys are gonna have to be patient . . . Review a lot please!
~*Oh! Me bloody head! What the . . . Why's me shirt off? Dun remember doin' that. Hm, musta been really pissed last night. Les' see I remember that
redhead. Then jus' as we was finishing our drinks . . . wait Will came in didn't he. Said somethin' ''bout Ashley . . . fell in the water. Ah yes we found her, and
er, uh what did I say then? Oh well . . . wait how did I get back to my cabin?*~
"Miss Ashley, I really must warn ye that goin' in thar is not-"
"Shut up Gibbs." Ashley banged on the door with her fist. "Jack Sparrow open this damn door right now."
~*Mm me bloody head.*~ "Go away." He muttered, putting a pillow over his head.
BAM! Ashley had kicked open the door and was now storming into the captain's quarters. She glared at the hungover man and had drawn her sword.
"Where are they?" Ashley screamed, her eyes shooting daggers.
"Where's what?" Jack asked, his words muffled by the pillow. Furious, Ashley ripped off the pillow, and pointed the tip of her sword against the pirate's neck.
Just as some crew member tried to enter the room, Ashley dragged the captain backwards, as she grabbed the door and pinned it to the opening. Thrusting all
her weight into the man, she threw him at the broken door, and hoped that no one would enter.
"That's not very nice," he whined as she stuck the blade deeper into his throat.
"Where are my anklets?" She glared at him, daring a lie to pass through his lips.
"What anklets?" This time, Ashley got impatient. The door was going to break, and then she'd be surrounded by a number of pirates loyal to Jack.
"Give them back. I know you stole them!"
"Dunno what you mean, luv." While he said this, he flicked his hand down to a hidden pocket in his pants. Ashley saw the movement and instantly moved her
left hand down to where he had unconsciously reached down to feel the stolen jewelry, and kept her sword pointed at Jack's neck with her right hand.
"Easy there, luv, you're a little to violent for my taste." Jack mumbled as Ashley began ripping the pants on the left side, slightly above his knee. The gold anklet
fell out first, followed by the silver one.
"You thought I wouldn't know?" She stared hard into his kohl-rimmed eyes. "I'm not some stupid girl, Sparrow, I'm just as good a fighter as you are."
"Really? Then what say you to a little duel?" Jack seemed to have stopped slurring, as if his hangover had vanished into thin air.
The door was being knocked upon more as Jack was thrown with such force into Ashley that she was almost on the floor. But she quickly shoved Jack back
into the door and gritted her teeth asking,
"An' what are the stakes?"
"If you win, you can have anything you want. Ask and I shall give it to you freely." Ashley thrust her sword closer to him as she retorted,
"An' if I lose, I'm thrown off the ship?"
"Nah, I was actually thinkin' more along the lines of just killin' ye on the spot, but if you insist." Jack asked, "Do we have an accord?"
"So I can kill you if I win?"
"Aye, that ye can." After saying that, Ashley removed her dagger, and made an incision on her palm. (Author's Note: this is not meant to have anything to do with the original plot of POTC)
Reaching for his hand, she did the same to his palm. Pressing their hands together, she looked up into his dark eyes and answered,
"Agreed."
~~**~~
Will Turner did not like this at all. Jack Sparrow was a good sword fighter, and a man of his word. He really would throw Ashley off the ship if she lost.
~*What do you mean if she loses? Of course she's going to lose, she doesn't know Captain Jack Sparrow.*~ Sighing, Will began contemplating what he
could do. ~*I could tell Jack that it wouldn't be fair, fighting a lady would make him look like a coward.*~ Will knew exactly how Jack would respond,
"She's no lady, mate, she's a bloody hellcat." ~*Maybe if I got Ashley to apologize . . .*~ Looking over at the furious girl, who was playing with her dagger he
shook his head. ~*There would be a better chance of her wearing a gown and taking up sewing.*~ Again, Will shook his head. He had grown to care for
Ashley as one would care for a younger sibling. And Jack was a friend to him, a little lacking in the loyalty department, but still he was a friend. Will did not
want to see either of them hurt.
He turned to see Jack stepping out of his quarters, and heading toward Ashley.
"Ready?" He looked down at the girl. She stood up, refusing to make eye contact, and nodded.
"Mates!" Jack's voice rang loud and clear. His crew quickly stopped whatever they were doing, and listened to their captain. "Me and Miss. Ashley will be
having a little duel. No man is to interfere." Jack grinned, ~*easiest fight I ever won.*~ Removing his hat, Ashley suddenly drew her pistol, and put it on the
ground.
"No guns." She commanded.
"Right, no guns." Ashley watched as the pirate put down his weapon. Just as he was fully raised, he received a quick blow to the face. Fuming, Jack stepped
back as she went at him again. She was slightly off balance because of the movement, and Jack used this to his advantage. Moving towards her, his sword
outstretched, she was forced to block while falling backwards. Crawling back, still blocking Jack's thrusts, Ashley pulled out her dagger, and trapped his sword
in the two blades. While she had him standing there, trying to break out of her trap, she stood up, and lunged forward.
Will was watching intently. There were times when Ashley would be cornered, and then she would make some incredible maneuver. Then she would be
winning, and Jack would be defending her constant blows. It was hard to tell what the outcome would be of the duel. Crew members would stop and watch,
and then continue with their tasks, sure that Jack would be the victor. There were only two people questioning the aftermath of the battle, Will, and Jack.
~*No more playing around.*~ Jack lunged, aiming for her stomach. Ashley sprang backwards, Jack fell forwards and she saw her chance. ~*I got him!*~
Kicking the sword out of his hand, Jack was knocked backward by a blow to his stomach. Grunting, he fell, as he felt cold metal against his throat. The crew
gasped. Ashley was the victor.
His eyes were shut, he did not want to see her gloating expression. He also did not want to watch the sword plunge into his neck. Jack Sparrow was a man of
his word, if this is what she wanted, she could have it. ~*Bloody hell, can't she just get on with it.*~ Daring to open one of his eyes, he was surprised to see a
hand outstretched in front of his face. Looking cross-eyed at her hand, he flared one of his nostrils slightly and asked, "Whasat?"
"It's my hand, grab it." Ashley groaned at the daftness of Jack.
"Why?"
"Well, if you prefer sitting on the floor, suit yourself." Her hand still floated in front of his face.
Grabbing it, she hoisted him up, and the two stood face to face. He studied her, looking for a change in her expression. Ashley was staring back at him, her
sword in her sheath, and she wasn't even holding onto it. Will was the most shocked, she's not going to kill him?
~*She's not going to kill me?*~
"I want to be named co-captain for the time being." Instantly Jack recoiled at the statement. She simply raised one of her eyebrows, and then asked, "That
wouldn't be a problem, now, would it? I mean, we did make the deal." Jack squirmed under the girl's gaze. He felt very uncomfortable. ~*Jus' tell her no, Jack,
it's very easy. Say no, smile sweetly, and turn on your charm, offer her a *night* though. Maybe she'll settle for that.*~ Looking up at the woman in front of
him he shook his head. ~*No, somehow I don't think that would work.*~
"Mr. Sparrow? Did you hear me?"
"Yeah, I 'eard you."
"Excellent," she grinned and began walking away. "And I would like to discuss our present course after supper." Turning for a final time, she walked away, and began to climb back up to the crow's nest. ~*Damn gel . . .*~ Jack angrily walked off deck. He shouted to his crew staring at him in wonder,
"What the hell are ye lookin' at? Git back to work, all of ya!"
~~**~~
Will was sitting in Ashley's old quarters. She had taken off all the sheets and blankets (there were not many) off of her bed, and had dragged them to her
doorway. He watched the young woman intently, still unbelieving that she had beaten Jack in a sword fight.
"Where are you taking all that?" He indicated to the pile of bedding.
"Well, since I am now co-captain (she put a lot of emphasis on the word *captain*), I can sleep wherever I want. And what better place to sleep than under the
stars?" Her very eyes seemed to shimmer with happiness as she spoke these words. Noticing Ashley's immediate joy, Will asked,
"What is it about the stars that makes you so content?" Ashley shrugged and didn't say anything, so Will didn't press her about it. For a while they sat in silence,
neither of them minding the quiet.
"Ashley?"
"Hm?" She didn't make eye contact, she was staring out of the grubby window in her room.
"Why didn't you kill Jack?"
At this she laughed quietly. "What would that have accomplished Mr. Turner? Killing a perfectly good pirate, and then having an entire angry crew turn on me,
not exactly what I wanted."
"What did you want?" At this, Ashley looked up stared straight into his eyes. The look made him flinch.
"To prove I was just as much a pirate as that bloody captain o' yours." Suddenly she looked seething. Standing up she muttered, "Jus' ''cause I'm not a man
doesn't mean I'm some whore, I'm a bloody thief." And grabbing the blankets, she stormed out of her room, leaving Will alone.
~~**~~
SLAM.
~*Ello, what was that?*~ Jack was steering his ship as he saw a figure storm across the deck. ~*Whose that?*~ He watched as the figure began laying some
sheets on the ground. His eyes followed the unknown person as they climbed up to the ledge of the ship. As moonlight hit her long, dark hair, instantly Jack
knew it was Ashley. ~*Perfect evenin' spoiled by the likes o' her.*~ She seemed not to notice that she was being watched. The anchor had been pulled down
for the night, so she had assumed the captain and crew were all asleep. She began removing her clothing, to Jack's utter astonishment. ~*Whoa, what *is* she
doin'? She's got nothin' on but her panties and that damn binding she always wears.*~ Ashley had removed her shirt, pants, and allowed her usually tied back
hair to fall around her. Standing at the top of the ledge, she leapt in, and Jack heard a soft splash.
~*Well, well, well . . .*~ Jack looked over the edge and couldn't help but smile as he watched her resurface.
"Mmmm . . ." She floated on her back and began swimming out farther away from the ship. For a while Jack watched her as she lay on her back. ~*She isn't so
bad when she isn't threatening you or trying to humiliate a mate in front of his own crew. Actually, shame she's such a violent thing.*~ Noticing her climbing
back on deck, he ducked down so that she wouldn't see him. Watching her change back into her clothes, Jack could not stop grinning, ~*she's not skin and
bones, got some muscle on her.*~
Continuing to observe Ashley, he saw her take out her silver chain, the one with the black skull. Fingering it, she closed her eyes, with the chain laying over her
heart. Steady breathing informed the captain that she was sleeping soundly. After a few more minutes, Jack walked by her, stopping just at her feet. ~*Always
frowning damn women, can't they ever smile?*~
"Stop . . . we had a deal . . . can't do this." Moaning in her sleep, and struggling with some invisible enemy, Ashley thrashed violently. Wondering briefly what sort of nightmare she was being haunted by, Jack simply shrugged, and left her alone on deck.
