Usual disclaimers!
Thanks you for your reviews Scarlett, Rachel and Chibi-Ami! A word of warning, Jack gets a bit nasty in this chapter. I agonised over whether to do this, but decided it fitted with what had happened to Maddy.
Chapter 21
Maddys fingers traced patterns along Jacks chest, tickling him. She leaned on one elbow and looked into her husbands' eyes, smiling. Jack wound an arm around her back and pulled her down to him, kissing her passionately. 'Y'alright luv?' He smiled lazily, his gold teeth glinting in the morning sun.
'I'll show you how alright I am Jack.' Maddy straddled Jack, a wicked smile on her face.
They lay in each others arms afterwards, talking, kissing and just holding one another, before Eb Tuckers voice boomed across the ship.
'Ship ho!'
Jack and Maddy sprung to their feet, dressing hurriedly before making their way to deck. Jack checked his spyglass, 'It's The Chinaman.' Maddy felt sick, but was determined not to let the fear overcome her. 'Stand by the canons,' Jack ordered, the crew rushing to get in position.
'Jack, wait!' Will walked over to his friend. If you pretend you think they still have Maddy and draw it out, rather than go in with all guns blazing, I think we'll have a better chance. Jack regarded Will with a thoughtful look on his face.
'So ya mean, negotiate a little? Ye-e-es....., Mr Gibbs, organise a crew to take two boats around the back of The Chinaman.'
'Y'mean take them from both sides Jack?' Gibbs smiled, he liked the sound of this plan.
'Aye, hit 'em on both fronts, the bastards won't know where to turn.' Jack suddenly felt impatient, wanting revenge immediately. 'Madalene, go down below.'
'But Jack, I.......'
'No Madalene, down below.' Jacks' voice was sharp, then he looked at his wife, seeing the fear in her eyes. 'Madalene darlin', I don't want yer in any danger.' Jack stroked her hair.
'What if the worst happens Jack, what if you're all over-run? Am I to stay there and await my fate? I think not.' Maddys jaw jutted with determination. 'I need to do this Jack, I need revenge as well.'
Jack sighed. He understood Maddys' need for revenge, but he also needed to know that she was safe. There was no doubt in his mind that they would defeat the crew of The Chinaman. Maddy saw her chance. 'Jack, I will be well armed, and you know I can take care of myself. Please, I will go mad not knowing what is happening.'
Jack looked deep into Maddys eyes. 'If anything happened to yer.......' He frowned, 'No, you're to go below.'
'Jack!'
'Madalene, I'm yer husband and yer captain, now do as yer told! Get below. Gibbs, lock her in the cabin.'
'Jack, NO!' Maddy kicked and lashed out as Joshamee Gibbs carried her down to the cabin. 'Mr Gibbs, please don't lock the door. I promise I'll stay in here, just don't leave me with no means of escape, please.' Maddy was desperate. Gibbs hesitated, torn between Maddy and his Captain.
'Alright Maddy, but if the Cap'n finds out........'
'He won't I promise you Mr Gibbs, I'll say I picked the lock or something. Thank you.' Maddy gave him a kiss on the cheek, making him blush deep red.
The Chinaman moved closer, the crew of The Pearl made prepared themselves for battle. Jack turned to his crew, his face a mask of hate. 'Kill everyone on board, I don't care if he's yer mothers cousin twice removed, *but*, yer leave Burns to me. Ya can hurt him if yer like, but if anyone kills him, they'll have me to answer to, savvy?' The crew of The Pearl cheered, then jeered as the other ship drew in. Jack turned to face his adversary, wondering how he was going to keep control.
'Sparrow!' Burns made a face, as if the name had left a bad taste. 'Took yer bleedin' time didn't ya?'
'You've got something that belongs to me Burns.' Jacks voice drawled lazily, dangerously.
'An' you've got something I want.' Burns ran his eyes along the lines of The Pearl, soon to be his ship.
'Well, ya see Burns, I want me wife back, but I also want to keep me ship, so we have a little problem there mate.'
'Ah yes, your wife. Feisty little thing - good lay.'
Jack felt the bile well up in his stomach, Gibbs grabbed hold of him as he sprang forward. 'Don't Jack, not yet,' the older man whispered.
I'll cut your balls off Burns,' Jack spat at him, shaking with anger.
'Ha! You'll have to get me first.' Burns strode up and down the deck, watching Jack the whole time.
'I'll get you,' Jack hissed quietly, 'And you'll wish you'd never heard of me Burns.' Jacks eyes narrowed, he allowed himself a little smile, as he saw his crewmen climb over the far side of The Chinaman.
'Attack!'
The crew of The Pearl sprang into action, throwing the grappling hooks onto the other ship and swinging over, slashing with their swords and knives as they did. Burns cut down a couple of men, then made his way down some steps, towards the hold of the ship, with both Jack and Will in hot pursuit. They could hear the fighting still raging on the deck above them, as they searched for Burns, Will leading the way. He knew the bowels of this ship more intimately than he cared to. Jack saw a movement to the side of them and grabbed Wills arm and set off down the corridor, closing in on Burns. They cornered him in a small hold, holding his pistol to his head.
'Trust you to take the cowards way out Burns,' the contempt heavy in Jacks voice. Quick as a flash, he kicked Burns' hand, knocking the pistol from it. 'Ya don't think I'd let yer get off easily did ya?' Jack grabbed Burns by the hair and pulled him up. 'Let's go somewhere more.....private shall we?' Jack took him to a cabin, shutting the door behind them. 'Stand guard Will, me an' Burns have some unfinished business.'
Will stood outside the door, listening to the screams and cries of Burns, feeling slightly uneasy. He didn't think Jack had it in him to be like this. Then he thought back to how Maddy looked when he first saw her in the brig, and willed Jack to hurt him some more.
'William, a hand if you please.' Will helped Jack drag Burns up to the deck, leaving a trail of blood from the man. The crew of The Pearl had defeated their enemy, with few losses, they cheered when Jack and Will appeared with Burns. 'String him up, but do it so he's upside down. I want him to watch as his ship is blown to kingdom come.' Jack watched as his crew tied a rope around Burns' feet and started to haul him upwards. Jack stopped them, and walked over to Burns, 'Welcome to hell mate,' Jack sneered at the stricken man. He indicated for the men to carry on, and ordered the others to spread gunpowder over the ship. Will showed them where the powder was kept and they spread it all along the corridors, up the stairs and onto the deck.
'Jack, what are you doing?' Jack spun around at the sound of Maddys voice.
'What the hell are you doing here? I told Gibbs to lock you in.' Jack felt angry and sick. He hadn't wanted Maddy to see what he'd done to Burns.
'I picked the lock.' Maddy looked up at Burns, hanging upside down, blood dripping from him. 'What did you do to him Jack?'
'That doesn't matter luv, all's that matters is that he'll never hurt you, or anyone else again.' Jack put his arm around his wife's shoulder and led her away from the scene. 'Go back to The Pearl luv, we're going to blow the ship.' He grabbed a rope and handed it to Maddy, watching as she swung back to The Black Pearl, then turned and helped some men empty a barrel of gunpowder over the deck, making sure there was plenty under where Burns hung.
Thanks you for your reviews Scarlett, Rachel and Chibi-Ami! A word of warning, Jack gets a bit nasty in this chapter. I agonised over whether to do this, but decided it fitted with what had happened to Maddy.
Chapter 21
Maddys fingers traced patterns along Jacks chest, tickling him. She leaned on one elbow and looked into her husbands' eyes, smiling. Jack wound an arm around her back and pulled her down to him, kissing her passionately. 'Y'alright luv?' He smiled lazily, his gold teeth glinting in the morning sun.
'I'll show you how alright I am Jack.' Maddy straddled Jack, a wicked smile on her face.
They lay in each others arms afterwards, talking, kissing and just holding one another, before Eb Tuckers voice boomed across the ship.
'Ship ho!'
Jack and Maddy sprung to their feet, dressing hurriedly before making their way to deck. Jack checked his spyglass, 'It's The Chinaman.' Maddy felt sick, but was determined not to let the fear overcome her. 'Stand by the canons,' Jack ordered, the crew rushing to get in position.
'Jack, wait!' Will walked over to his friend. If you pretend you think they still have Maddy and draw it out, rather than go in with all guns blazing, I think we'll have a better chance. Jack regarded Will with a thoughtful look on his face.
'So ya mean, negotiate a little? Ye-e-es....., Mr Gibbs, organise a crew to take two boats around the back of The Chinaman.'
'Y'mean take them from both sides Jack?' Gibbs smiled, he liked the sound of this plan.
'Aye, hit 'em on both fronts, the bastards won't know where to turn.' Jack suddenly felt impatient, wanting revenge immediately. 'Madalene, go down below.'
'But Jack, I.......'
'No Madalene, down below.' Jacks' voice was sharp, then he looked at his wife, seeing the fear in her eyes. 'Madalene darlin', I don't want yer in any danger.' Jack stroked her hair.
'What if the worst happens Jack, what if you're all over-run? Am I to stay there and await my fate? I think not.' Maddys jaw jutted with determination. 'I need to do this Jack, I need revenge as well.'
Jack sighed. He understood Maddys' need for revenge, but he also needed to know that she was safe. There was no doubt in his mind that they would defeat the crew of The Chinaman. Maddy saw her chance. 'Jack, I will be well armed, and you know I can take care of myself. Please, I will go mad not knowing what is happening.'
Jack looked deep into Maddys eyes. 'If anything happened to yer.......' He frowned, 'No, you're to go below.'
'Jack!'
'Madalene, I'm yer husband and yer captain, now do as yer told! Get below. Gibbs, lock her in the cabin.'
'Jack, NO!' Maddy kicked and lashed out as Joshamee Gibbs carried her down to the cabin. 'Mr Gibbs, please don't lock the door. I promise I'll stay in here, just don't leave me with no means of escape, please.' Maddy was desperate. Gibbs hesitated, torn between Maddy and his Captain.
'Alright Maddy, but if the Cap'n finds out........'
'He won't I promise you Mr Gibbs, I'll say I picked the lock or something. Thank you.' Maddy gave him a kiss on the cheek, making him blush deep red.
The Chinaman moved closer, the crew of The Pearl made prepared themselves for battle. Jack turned to his crew, his face a mask of hate. 'Kill everyone on board, I don't care if he's yer mothers cousin twice removed, *but*, yer leave Burns to me. Ya can hurt him if yer like, but if anyone kills him, they'll have me to answer to, savvy?' The crew of The Pearl cheered, then jeered as the other ship drew in. Jack turned to face his adversary, wondering how he was going to keep control.
'Sparrow!' Burns made a face, as if the name had left a bad taste. 'Took yer bleedin' time didn't ya?'
'You've got something that belongs to me Burns.' Jacks voice drawled lazily, dangerously.
'An' you've got something I want.' Burns ran his eyes along the lines of The Pearl, soon to be his ship.
'Well, ya see Burns, I want me wife back, but I also want to keep me ship, so we have a little problem there mate.'
'Ah yes, your wife. Feisty little thing - good lay.'
Jack felt the bile well up in his stomach, Gibbs grabbed hold of him as he sprang forward. 'Don't Jack, not yet,' the older man whispered.
I'll cut your balls off Burns,' Jack spat at him, shaking with anger.
'Ha! You'll have to get me first.' Burns strode up and down the deck, watching Jack the whole time.
'I'll get you,' Jack hissed quietly, 'And you'll wish you'd never heard of me Burns.' Jacks eyes narrowed, he allowed himself a little smile, as he saw his crewmen climb over the far side of The Chinaman.
'Attack!'
The crew of The Pearl sprang into action, throwing the grappling hooks onto the other ship and swinging over, slashing with their swords and knives as they did. Burns cut down a couple of men, then made his way down some steps, towards the hold of the ship, with both Jack and Will in hot pursuit. They could hear the fighting still raging on the deck above them, as they searched for Burns, Will leading the way. He knew the bowels of this ship more intimately than he cared to. Jack saw a movement to the side of them and grabbed Wills arm and set off down the corridor, closing in on Burns. They cornered him in a small hold, holding his pistol to his head.
'Trust you to take the cowards way out Burns,' the contempt heavy in Jacks voice. Quick as a flash, he kicked Burns' hand, knocking the pistol from it. 'Ya don't think I'd let yer get off easily did ya?' Jack grabbed Burns by the hair and pulled him up. 'Let's go somewhere more.....private shall we?' Jack took him to a cabin, shutting the door behind them. 'Stand guard Will, me an' Burns have some unfinished business.'
Will stood outside the door, listening to the screams and cries of Burns, feeling slightly uneasy. He didn't think Jack had it in him to be like this. Then he thought back to how Maddy looked when he first saw her in the brig, and willed Jack to hurt him some more.
'William, a hand if you please.' Will helped Jack drag Burns up to the deck, leaving a trail of blood from the man. The crew of The Pearl had defeated their enemy, with few losses, they cheered when Jack and Will appeared with Burns. 'String him up, but do it so he's upside down. I want him to watch as his ship is blown to kingdom come.' Jack watched as his crew tied a rope around Burns' feet and started to haul him upwards. Jack stopped them, and walked over to Burns, 'Welcome to hell mate,' Jack sneered at the stricken man. He indicated for the men to carry on, and ordered the others to spread gunpowder over the ship. Will showed them where the powder was kept and they spread it all along the corridors, up the stairs and onto the deck.
'Jack, what are you doing?' Jack spun around at the sound of Maddys voice.
'What the hell are you doing here? I told Gibbs to lock you in.' Jack felt angry and sick. He hadn't wanted Maddy to see what he'd done to Burns.
'I picked the lock.' Maddy looked up at Burns, hanging upside down, blood dripping from him. 'What did you do to him Jack?'
'That doesn't matter luv, all's that matters is that he'll never hurt you, or anyone else again.' Jack put his arm around his wife's shoulder and led her away from the scene. 'Go back to The Pearl luv, we're going to blow the ship.' He grabbed a rope and handed it to Maddy, watching as she swung back to The Black Pearl, then turned and helped some men empty a barrel of gunpowder over the deck, making sure there was plenty under where Burns hung.