Chapter 13
Ana sucked in a sharp breath as the rum-soaked rag met the new cut on her cheek, but she refused to flinch away from the burning sensation.
"Sorry lass, but s'gotta be clean," Gibbs apologized, keeping the rag where it was. "Well, makes sense now why Jack wears those rings…does a whole lot o' damage in a fist fight."
Ana closed her eyes and nodded slightly as the rag was taken away. She opened her eyes and looked at the older sailor squarely when he sighed. "What?"
"If tha' keeps bleedin', we'll need t' stitch it up."
"Right. See you in a few hours," Ana said quickly, standing and briskly making her way onto the main deck.
As Ana stepped across the deck, being careful to give the captain's cabin a good berth, she was stopped by the distant sound of hooves striking stone and packed earth in a three-beat pattern. Turning back to face the island, she saw two horses, each with a rider, cantering down the hillside. From this distance, it was difficult to determine just who the riders were, excepting the fact that there was one male and one female.
"Sharp shooters to th' riggin'!" Ana yelled, drawing crewmen onto the deck without having to move from her spot beside the rail.
The horses were drawn to sharp halts, still several yards from the shoreline and even further from the Pearl's vantage point.
Ana straightened to stand at her full height, silently asserting her authority. She squinted against the sun, trying to identify the civilians. When that failed, she turned to verbal communication. "State your names and purpose or we'll open fire."
The man straightened nervously in his saddle as the sharp shooters aimed their rifles in the riders' direction. "Will Turner."
Ana's eyes widened in shock. "Git a long boat into th' water ye swabs!" She snapped up to the sharp shooters in the rigging, who quickly dropped back to the deck.
~*~
Once Will and Elizabeth had climbed aboard the Black Pearl, they were met by a sour-faced Ana with a split cheek. Deciding not to comment, they shifted their focus to the larger problem at hand.
"I don't know how to put this any other way, but…how will—what will you do now? I mean, now that Jack is…dead?" Will stuttered, his last word coming out as a saddened whisper.
"Dead? One could only wish!" Ana growled, a hidden vexation fueling her sharp outburst.
Will and Elizabeth stared at her in open-mouthed shock to which she simply glared at the sea. Will turned to Gibbs for an explanation. The old sailor shrugged and leaned close so as not to be overheard.
"I think she's a bit roiled; don' let 'er git to you."
"Roiled about what? What happened?" Will questioned in utter confusion. "Do you know what happened to Jack's body?"
"'e's sittin' in 'is cabin, tha's what."
Elizabeth's brow furrowed, her mind sorting through the events of the hanging that would explain such a fact. "That's impossible. The last I saw of him, he was hanging at the end of a noose."
"Well, by some act o' God, he's alive an' well."
Ana snorted in tainted amusement at Gibbs' comment. "I wouldn' call 'im 'well', he's not himself."
"How is he even alive?!" Will yelled in frustration, his annoyance with being left out on the secret showing itself in his tone of voice.
"Not sure lad, but you know how stubborn Jack is."
"Even so, I've not heard of someone being hung and living to tell of it!"
"Ana, Gibbs!" An angry voice boomed from behind the group, followed by irritated if not hesitant footsteps.
The pirates, as well as Will and Elizabeth, turned to face the vexed captain.
"Wha' is this?!" Jack demanded, anger burning in his otherwise flat eyes. The bruise encompassing his neck was still prominent, but seemed to be healing at an abnormally fast pace.
"Jack!" Elizabeth exclaimed happily, rushing forward with arms spread, prepared to draw the pirate into a hug.
Before she could execute her intention, she was met by the back of a calloused hand colliding with her tender cheek, sending her careening to her side on the deck. Will's sword was unsheathed in a second, instinct adding to the speed of the action. Realizing who he had just drawn against, Will returned his sword to its scabbard and instead rushed to Elizabeth's side instead, gently taking hold of her arm and helping her to his feet.
"What was the meaning of that!?" Will demanded, anger flaring up in his light brown eyes.
"Sorry mate, but as much as I appreciate yer strumpet's concern," Jack hissed dangerously, stressing the last, but his tone showing he didn't believe the words he spoke, "there's other business t' tend t'."
"Like what?"
"Let's just say I've got a few scores t' settle." Jack replied indifferently, his eyes betraying his true feelings. "Savvy?"
[a/n: Please review. I love y'all for giving me as many as I have!]