Disclaimer: Same old stuff, see chapter 1. Reviews are greatly welcome, input spurns output ya' know.

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---For an instant, Jack feared that she may do an encore presentation and keel over in her chair; but he was proven wrong as her lips began to move, her speech stronger and steadier than he would have anticipated---

"I'm not entirely sure what you mean Captain," she began, her voice taking on a false cheeriness. "The only marks I'm aware of came from an unfortunate accident during the recent storm." Tanya's breath hitched in her throat as the words left her mouth. She closed her eyes as she once again tried to control her emotions and memory as Jack spoke again.

"Ye were mistreated lass, in a way no man should ever mistreat a woman. You know it, I know it, and Mr. Gibbs knows it."

Tanya felt her shoulders slump as she brought her hands together in her lap. focusing intently on her hands she spoke, her voice soft and flat. "Men, Mister Sparrow... plural," pausing momentarily, she lifted her gaze to meet the Captain's before continuing, her voice never wavering in tone or strength. "Based on your earlier assertions, am I correct in assuming that you and your first mate came about his knowledge under the most honorable of circumstances?"

"Aye luv," Jacked answered her in an equally even, but he hoped warmer tone, "When we found you after the storm you were soaked though and through, and near frozen to death. Had to get ye in dry clothes to warm ye up."

"Not withstanding," he added, "This crew sails under the understanding that all contact with females on board or off, if they wish to remain a part of the crew, must be under mutually willing circumstances or they risk the most severe punishment by the Captain. And I assure you lass, they know the punishment is not worth the risk."

The words provided scant comfort in Netanya's mind, but enough to allow her to settle into the knowledge that she had found a safer place to escape to. A wave of exhaustion passed over her as she let down some of the defenses she had been maintaining during dinner. "In that case Captain," she replied, "I believe that you have the pertinent details of my story already at your disposal. If you don't mind, I would like to retire now. I'm feeling quite exhausted."

Jack read the silent plea in Tanya's comment and decided to honor it. It did him no good, he reasoned, to press her further and risk losing what small level of trust he had gained with her. Besides which, despite the rest and decent meal, she had obviously not recovered fully from her ordeal. The physical and emotional strain showed in her eyes, her voice and even her posture. He certainly did not want to have her fainting dead away again anytime soon.

"Of course," Jack responded, gesturing to his bed, "you are more than welcome to take my bed." Seeing the expression that briefly crossed her face, he added in clarification, "And I will take the floor, until other arrangements can be made."

A small smile, the first Jack was sure he had ever noticed from her, fluttered across Tanya's lips.

"Thank you."

The words were little more than a murmur, but the heartfelt sincerity behind them was quite tremendous. With a smile in return, Jack reached for Tanya's untouched glass of rum and drank it down.

Taking an extra blanket from the bed, Jack waited until Tanya had made it into the bed safely before blowing out the candles at the table that had been dimly lighting the cabin. Making his way towards the center of the room with the remainder of the flask of rum safely tucked under his arm, he lay down and attempted to make himself comfortable. "Other arrangements," he thought as he took a long swig from the flask, "would have to made sooner than later." As he listened to the soft breathing coming from his bed, Jack noticed the girl fell right asleep. Briefly he toyed with visions of her lying there, but quickly stilled his thoughts as he recalled the tenuous balance of trust he had achieved. Every part of his body he decided, taking a second long swig and bringing the bottle well past the halfway mark in the process, may desire her more than anything else, but nothing would be done without her trust, let alone consent. Thoughts settled for the time being, Jack closed his eyes and fell into a dreamless slumber.