Rules of Attraction
Chapter 4
Disclaimer: Disney owns the pirates not me. I promise I'll put them back when I'm done.
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Catherine tried to quietly slip out of bed. She had promised Anamaria to relive her from her all night shift at the helm. She tried her hardest not to wake Jack. Suddenly a pair of arms wrapped around her waist and pulled her back down.
"Jack, I have the morning shift." she whispered.
"Anamaria, won't mind." he answered nibbling on her earlobe.
"Yes, she will."
He let go of her and sighed. "I know."
"I'll make it up to you later." she turned over and kissed the tip of his nose.
"I know you will." Jack went about lighting a candle as Catherine went to dress.
She sat down on the edge beside him and waited while he laced the back of her dress. Of course she could do it herself but she liked when he did it. She went to leave but was again pulled back into the pirates arms.
"Get back 'ere, wench." he whispered to her.
She fixed Jack with a glare that could easily have meant his death. "You do know you are the only one that can even come close to getting away with calling me that."
"I know, Love." he kissed the side of her throat gently before letting her go.
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Catherine loved mornings like this. The moon still hung in the lightening sky as the sun was just beginning to peek up over the horizon. Everything was bathed in a gentle pink light dulling the harsher edges. She was so absorbed in the sights around her that she didn't notice the man sleeping on the deck before her until she tripped over him.
She pulled her self up quickly and looked to where Will was scrambling to his feet, begging forgiveness.
"It's fine, Will." she looked him over, "Have you been sleeping on the deck?"
He rubbed the back of his neck and grinned at her sheepishly. It was then she noticed the dark bruise over his eye.
"What the bloody hell happened?" she rushed over and tended lightly to his affliction.
"I went to sneak into our cabin last night after Elizabeth fell asleep."
"I take it she wasn't asleep?"
He grinned. "Not exactly."
"We'll make a pirate of her yet." she took his arm and pulled him back toward her cabin. "Come on, you can sleep on the chair in here till it really is morning."
"I couldn't impose. I've already asked too much of all of you."
"Don't be a foolish whelp." he was shocked for a moment to be called that by a woman who couldn't be any older than him. "Besides, blame it on woman's instinct or something but I would feel better if you slept inside."
Will smiled and let her lead him. The cabin was dark and much warmer than the deck had been.
"I knew you couldn't resist me." Jack's head came out from beneath the covers. "Oh… do I want to know?"
"His wife left him on the deck. He's sleeping on the chair."
"Oh…Fine." he disappeared again into a sea of blankets.
She rolled her eyes and pulled the top cover off and handed it to Will. "Sleep tight."
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Will groggily opened his. He started and flopped back into the chair when he came face to face with Jack.
"Was wondering how long it would take you to wake up." he went about the cabin as Will pulled himself from the last dredges of sleep.
"What time is it?"
"Couple hours past sunrise." he extended his hand down to the man in the chair. Will accepted it and was pulled to his feet. He was stiff and his face was monstrously sore.
"She got you good, mate." He examined Will's bruise. "Catherine doesn't even hit that hard. Not me anyway."
"I feel like my head is going to explode." he stood awkwardly suddenly feeling the urge to empty his stomach. Jack handed him a cup and he looked into it suspiciously.
"It's bloody tea." he grabbed his hat from the table and strode out.
Will drank the tea quickly and followed. The sun was blinding for a moment until his eyes adjusted. It was making to be a warm day. The crew bustled about and Will felt useless. He walked around a bit. He looked up toward the helm. Jack was pacing about arguing with Catherine. He couldn't make out much. She said something about needing supplies and he said he need to do something first. She threw up her hands and stormed away from him. He took the wheel after a moment and pulled out the compass Will recognized.
"Catherine?" he approached her as she came down the stairs. "What's going on?"
"Jack's a fool." she stated simply. "Gibbs?" she called the older pirate over. "Find something for will to do."
"Where are you going?"
"To talk to your wench."
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