The Call of the sea
By Latanya
Disclaimer: I don't own anything to do with the Pirates of the Caribbean or NUMA but I do own Pearl, her yacht "The Black Pearl II" and anything else that I made up.
Chapter Seven: Return to the Black Pearl.
Pearl walked across the deck of the HMS Greyhound, her red curls whipped back by the wind. Beside her, Jack and doctor Peters were talking to one of the crewmen though the whole time their eyes were watching Pearl in case she had a relapse. She had been kept in the sickbay for a month and a half while Andrew Peters watched over her health. Now, Pearl and Jack would be returning to the Black Pearl II with the blessings of Admiral James and the crew of the HMS Greyhound.
Glancing over to where she could see her beloved yacht anchored, Pearl laughed and threw her head back to stare up at the sky. "At last, at last, free at last! Isn't the sky beautiful Jack? I have not seen the clear blue of the sky or the murky depths of the sea nor have I felt the spray of the wind and waves upon my skin for so many days now."
"Pearl, really luv, do you have to make such a performance on the deck of the ship in front of all these men?" Jack raised an eyebrow at her, his eyelids half shut against the glare of the sun.
She sniffled at him, leaning over the rail and staring down at the water, "Yes I do because drama is what I'm especially good at. What do you know, that water down there is awfully inviting… I think a swim when we get back to the Black Pearl II would be a very welcome and enjoyable pastime for us to partake in."
"And if I refused to join you?" There was a grin on his face though Pearl could not see it since she had her back to him.
Shaking his head, Andrew turned away and nodded to the Admiral, "Admiral sir, they're ready to head on back over to the yacht now. I think that Miss Turner is starting to get rather restless simply pacing the deck."
Returning the nod, Admiral James gave several orders to the officers before walking over to join Andrew and Jack in watching Pearl. "Are you quite sure she's ready to leave your capable care doctor?"
"Yes sir, I think she is. Besides, she told me that she has to be in a place called Broome, which is in Western Australia, in roughly one month in order to work with NUMA, the Australian division. Apparently there is a site there where some water planes were sunk by Japanese fighter planes during World War II." Andrew smiled, waving his hand at the air.
"Miss Turner, would you do me the honor of turning around so that I may speak with you face to face?" Greg James waited for her to turn about before she continued speaking. "It has been an honor for those of us aboard the HMS Greyhound to have you here even if it was only because you were in dire need of a doctor."
Taking a page out of Jack's book of actions while talking, Pearl moved her hands about whilst she spoke to the Admiral. "Yes and you have my eternal gratitude for offering me help when the circumstance seemed almost hopeless. I hope that you have not been seriously put out of your way because of me, as I would not forgive myself. Both you, your good doctor and your crew have been overwhelmingly welcoming to Jack and myself which is a wonderful thing for it proves that the British are generous people."
He smiled to her and bowed his head, "You are a truly incredible woman Miss Turner and if you had no where else to go, I would warmly welcome you aboard the Greyhound. If you are ever in need of help or a job, please, do contact me because you will always be welcome on my ship… and Mr Smith also."
"I'll remember that Admiral James and as soon as I get my hands on my PDA, I'll write it down in my diary. Just so you know, I do not think I can thank you enough for your response to my cry for help probably saved my life. Jack wouldn't have been able to help me and he has no idea how to operate a yacht like my Black Pearl II… or any ship we have today." Pearl rolled her eyes at Jack who growled at her.
"That's not true Pearl!" Jack cried out indignantly. "I can sail ships and you know it."
"Yes but not the kind we use today. I know you specialize in the sailing ships from the 1600 to the 1800's but you're still hopeless when dealing with ships from the 1900's and the 2000's." Her eyebrows knitted and she turned back to Admiral James with a faint smile. "His sailing abilities are one of the reasons I hired him… you know he knows a fair bit more about the structure of those ships then I do and it's so annoying sometimes."
"Of course, I'm sure it is. Now Miss Turner, are you absolutely certain that you are ready to return to your own ship and look after yourself? We can escort you to the nearest safe harbor with a good doctor who can continue looking after you. I'm positive that we have crewmembers who can sail a yacht like your Black Pearl II." He replied, giving her a meaningful look.
Shaking her head, Pearl waved her hands about in the air, "No! No, we will be fine, I will be fine, and everything will be perfectly fine. Though, if I could, I would steal your good doctor."
"Pearl lass, it's commandeer, not steal. Steal is such a nasty word." Jack shook his head at her.
Raising an eyebrow, Greg gave the orders for a boat to be lowered which would take Jack and Pearl back over to the yacht, "Again I ask you Miss Turner, are you sure, and I mean absolutely, positively sure, that you are feeling well enough to leave the care of doctor Peters? And doctor, are you sure she should be leaving your care already."
Andrew nodded, "I'm sure. Her body has totally rid itself of the infection and blood levels are all returned to normal. And, since she is going to be making her way to Australia, I'm sure she'll be able to seek medical health if she needs it. Thank you Miss Turner for being such good company for me, you have many interesting things to talk about. I'm glad I met you."
"And it's been wonderful knowing you doctor and you are equally as interesting as I am. It has been a pleasure being aboard the HMS Greyhound and knowing you all but I think it's time I go back to my beloved yacht were I belong… and I think it would be a good idea for me to pry poor Jack there from a place where alcohol can be found before he drinks it all." She shook hands with the Admiral, the doctor and the officers who were standing there with them.
Following suit, Jack did the same and thanked them all profusely for saving his boss. They were helped down into the boat and taken over to the Black Pearl II where Pearl rushed around making sure her beloved yacht was safe and sound. Waving to the people aboard the HMS Greyhound, Pearl and Jack exchanged smiles of joy.
"Let's use the sails rather then the motor Pearl." Jack turned to her once the HMS Greyhound was on her way.
Acquiescing to what he asked, Pearl set about hoisting the sail and showing him how to operate the yacht. When they could finally relax, Jack pulled her to him and planted a kiss on her pouting lips.
"Jack, do you mind awfully if we don't return to the Isla de Muerta right away? I did promise some friends that I would be at a site in Australia in a month… well; it was two and a half months when I made the promise." She pulled away from him and studied his face.
"Can we go back there just once Pearl? So I can tell me Pearl that I will be back soon enough. It would mean a lot to me." He pleaded with her.
She nodded, "That would be a good idea because we have to seal up the entrance to the cave again so no one can ever go in there again."
Kissing her again, Jack ran his hands along her back. "And I believe we have some other unfinished business."
Removing herself from his grip, Pearl gave him a faint grin before handing the old compass to him. "I believe that your guidance is called for Captain Jack Sparrow."
Taking his place beside her at the wheel, Jack chuckled. "Pearl luv, you do know how to get what you want don't you?"
"I'm a woman Jack, of course I know how to get what I want. Now, please don't do anything to hurt my baby while I go and get changed into something more comfortable." She gave him a look of warning as she walked out of the room.
Going into her room, Pearl observed the place before walking over to the draws to find something to wear. Pulling out a pair of pale green cotton pants and a sarong tie shirt, she moved to her underwear draw and searched for a matching green or white bikini. Stripping, she pulled on the bikini before dressing herself. Brushing her hair, Pearl hummed a song she'd heard earlier that year. Quickly going through her cd's, she found the song "Too lost in you" by the Sugerbabes and put it on to play.
"You look into my eyes, I go out of my mind, I can't see anything, Cos this love's got me blind, I can't help myself, I can't break the spell, I can't even try. I'm in over my head, You got under my skin, I got no strength at all, In the state that I'm in. And my knees are weak, And my mouth can't speak, Fell too far this time. Baby, I'm too lost in you, Caught in you, Lost in everything about you, So deep, I can't sleep, I can't think, I just think about the things that you do, I'm too lost in you. Well you whispered to me, And I shiver inside, You undo me and move me, In ways undefined, And you're all I see, And you're all I need, Help me baby, help me baby. Cos I'm slipping away, Like the sand to the tide, Flowing into your arms, Falling into your eyes, If you get too near, I might disappear, I might lose my mind." She sung softly, standing in front of a mirror and brushing her hair slowly.
Jack stood outside the door to her room, listening to her sing. She had a good voice he had to admit and the song was an interesting one. Walking into the room, Jack approached her and placed his hands on her waist so he could lean against her gently. "I can define the ways I undo you and move you."
Pearl laughed, putting the hairbrush down on the side so she could reach around and ruffle his hair, "Now Jack, don't be getting any ideas. I plan to go for a swim before I do anything else."
He kissed her neck, running one of his hands over her bare stomach. "A swim? Yes, I do remember you mentioning something along those lines. Well, you want a swim Pearl? I'll give you your swim."
Picking her up, he carried her out on deck and put her down before tugging the clothes off her body. Picking her up again, Jack tossed her over board before she could work out what was going on. Screaming, Pearl cursed him loudly, swearing to get her revenge. He stood at the rail and smiled down at her.
"Jack Sparrow, I am going to kill you when I get back on board my yacht. You'd better start running Sparrow." She snarled, catching onto the dingy and pulling herself up out of the water.
Stripping himself of his clothes, Jack dived into the water just as Pearl made it back on board. Cursing again, she dived back into the water after him and grabbed his leg just as she broke the water.
"Gotcha!" Pearl chuckled, holding tightly onto his ankle.
Jack splashed water at her and when she turned her head away, he grabbed her. They struggled in the water, each fighting to gain control over the other. Pearl was a strong swimmer but she was not as powerful as Jack was. He pulled her under the water with him and managed to plant a kiss on her lips before breaking away and swimming as far as he could from her.
Surfacing again, Pearl decided to ignore him and finish her swim before returning to the Black Pearl II. Swimming closer to the yacht, she kept an eye out for Jack as she climbed aboard. Shaking the access water out of her hair, Pearl put her clothes back on… at least; she was pulling her pants on when Jack crept up on her.
"Oh no you don't Miss Turner." Jack wrapped an arm around her waist and pulled her back against him. "You've had your swim and your fun. Now it's my turn to play."
"Why Mr Sparrow, I thought you had more decency than that!" She snorted, pushing him away, "I have a ship to care for unless of course, you'd like to drop anchor and therefore make me late for my appointment in Broome?"
He shook his head, his face forming an expression of disappointment. "You're getting good at avoiding me aren't you? Well, I'll let you get away this time but just you wait."
Laughing, Pearl finished dressing before going inside to take care of the yacht. With Jack's help, they reached the Isla de Muerta with in two days. Performing another scan of the site, Pearl made sure that she had enough evidence to support her claim of finding the HMS Dauntless and the pirate ship, the Black Pearl… though she had sworn to herself never to tell another soul where they rested. When the two of them went into the cave, Jack bowed his head mournfully while Pearl made sure she took photos of everything.
"I hope no one ever finds that bloody chest of Aztec gold Pearl. No one deserves to have to suffer that curse." Jack stood beside the stone chest and shook his head.
Studying him, Pearl felt her heart flutter. He was so incredible and he did not belong in her time with her. Jack deserved to be back in the 1700's on board the Black Pearl, he deserved to be free to be a pirate and to sail the seas. Blinking back tears, she turned away and decided to explore the cave.
Jack looked around for Pearl and frowned when he could not see her. Shrugging, he went about gathering as many small items of treasure that he could carry on his person. Even if Pearl was rich, he had no intention of relying on her all the time. Stepping over a skeleton, Jack shook his head.
"Hello Barbossa, having a nice time in hell? I hope those flames are really hot because you deserve it." He spat, staring down at the remains of his mutinous first mate.
"What is that?" Pearl balanced herself carefully on a stone ledge, studying a carving on the wall.
She frowned, trying to see it clearer when there was a shudder in the rock beneath her feet and the ledge gave way. Screaming as she fell, Pearl tried to grab anything but the rocks pulled her along. Jack heard her scream and came running in time to see her struck by a large rock. He threw himself down after her, skidding on the rocks, while all the time trying to grab her.
"Jack!" She whimpered, falling into the water.
He saw her dragged under by the rocks before he made it to where she had been. "Pearl!"
Struggling, Pearl tried to free herself but there was darkness clouding in on her mind. She was faintly aware of arms surrounding her and pulling her up but her mind refused to respond anymore and Pearl had to fight to stay conscious.
Putting her down on the ground, Jack made sure she was still breathing before cradling her carefully in his arms. "Pearl lass, don't you dare leave me. Please don't leave me."
Pearl smiled faintly, "I'm still here Captain Jack Sparrow, you haven't lost me yet. Don't worry, I'll be fine."
"I know you will be but I felt like being dramatic. Why did you wonder off Pearl?" He glanced over her and saw no wounds that were sever except for the one on her arm where the rock had struck her.
"You don't have to tell me that my arm is broken Jack, I can tell it is from the pain." She cringed, biting her lip.
"Everything will be fine Pearl lass but I have to admit that you don't have any manor of luck."
She closed her eyes, trying to clear the darkness forming in her mind. "Jack, something's wrong… I can feel it in the air around us."
He looked up and glanced around before turning back to Pearl, "Luv, I don't know what you're talking about."
"I can hear voices shouting your name Jack… they are looking for you." Pearl whispered, her eyes still closed. "They sound worried about you and there is a woman with them."
Holding her closer to his chest, Jack lifted her up. "Don't go to sleep on me Pearl, just stay awake."
"I love you Jack, I want you to know that." Her voice caught in her throat, "Jack, they're calling you home… they're calling you back to the Black Pearl where you belong. I was being selfish in wanting to keep you with me."
"No you weren't Pearl and I love you as well. There is no other woman in the world like you and there never has been one. Even Elizabeth is pale beside you." He smiled, kissing her forehead gently.
Her lips turned up in a faint smile and Pearl whispered, "Jack, you're going home and I'm going with you. The world will never know what I found her and it's right that they don't. I just wish I could have given my beloved yacht to my cousin Nathaniel before I left."
Jack stopped and listened. He could hear what Pearl was talking about. "Well Pearl, you're right. We are going home and peace will be with us."
Suddenly someone burst around the bend in the tunnel and a pirate stared at Jack and Pearl, "My god Jack, what has happened 'ere?"
*****
Was that a cliffhanger or what?
