Disclaimer: Must I keep saying it? I do not own anyone from POTC.
A/N: I definitely must keep saying thank you. Your reviews never fail to inspire me to write more. So, keep them coming and I shall keep writing. Okay, now, onto Chapter 14
Ana threw the core of an apple into the fire and watched as the edges twisted and blackened. She had eaten four apples. She got up from where she sat on the cave floor and wandered towards the entrance. She had done this six times already. Jack really should have returned by now. She paced in front of the cave's mouth, for the tenth time. He was only going up to her house to get something for her to wear. She left the cave and stared up at her house. It was a short walk. Jack knew which room was hers. Finding a dress should not be taking this long.
Chewing on her lower lip, Ana went a few steps towards her house. He had told her to stay put, but what if something had happened. Ana walked on towards her house. He had been feverish in her bed less than two nights ago. She should have let him rest. What if he was sick or hurt or . . . Ana quickened her pace, despite the pain in her stomach. She should have let him sleep. He had saved her life. She never should have let him go. They had been relatively safe in the cave. By sending him back to her house, she was putting his life in danger. If something happened to him because of her . . . no. She was not going to think about that. Jack was fine. He was probably just searching her kitchen for rum. He had to be okay. Or maybe he did not know what dress to bring. Of course, that was it. Jack was fine.
Jack. Ana smiled inwardly as she climbed the stone steps leading to her back door. The illustrious Captain Jack Sparrow had told her to call him Jack. Ana rolled her eyes. She was being silly. Why on earth did this pirate have such an effect on her? He was able to turn her mind to mush in mere seconds. If he stayed away for more than few minutes, then she was overcome with worry. Why? How was he different than anyone else in this world? Call him Jack. Well, of course she could call him Jack. That was his name, after all.
Pulling open the back door, Ana entered her house. She stood still as her eyes adjusted to the lack of light. She could not hear anything. Jack was probably just being really careful. He would not want to alert anyone by making a lot of noise. Right?
"Jack?" she whispered.
"Señora?"
Ana's blood ran cold. Jack did not have a Spanish accent. Slowly, she turned to face the voice. "Miguel?" she said, her own voice betraying her relief.
"Who is Jack?" the Spanish captain asked, stepping into the moonlight.
Ana searched his eyes. They were dark, like the pirate's. They were taking in her disheveled appearance. She had no reason to trust this man. She had only met him yesterday . . . no, two days ago at the harbor. He had not been outwardly hateful towards pirates, but that did not mean he was sympathetic either. He was still Don Cornado's son, and as much as she wanted to, she could not bring herself to trust him. "Jack? I don't know? What are you talking about?" she asked hoping to sidestep his inquiry altogether.
"Where have you been? Everyone at the fort thinks you're dead."
Ana's eyes widened. "Even my brother?"
"Who?"
Ana shook her head, "Captain Tarret, he's my brother."
Miguel nodded. "Everyone."
"Why?"
"Some of my father's soldiers found blood upstairs in the study. They assumed that pirate had –" He stopped talking mid sentence. His eyes narrowed. "Jack Sparrow. You were expecting to find him in this house, not me."
Ana raised her eyebrow. She nearly opened her mouth to yell at Miguel. To tell this Spaniard just what she thought of what he was implying, but something in the way he spoke told her to remain silent.
"You won't find him here."
"No?"
"No. He has been arrested."
"What!" Ana responded reflexively. She had not meant to display any emotion in front of Captain Cornado. She did not know how he would react if he knew that she cared for Sparrow. Wait. Cared for Sparrow? Did she really care about a pirate?
"My father's men have been stationed in your house since the blood was found, in case the pirate returned."
Ana felt as though her heart had skipped a beat. Spanish soldiers had been in her house. Jack would not have gone back inside if she had not asked him to. This was entirely her fault. She was responsible for sending him back to Don Antonio. It did not matter if she cared for Jack or not. Either way, whatever happened to him now was on her head.
She blinked a few times, trying in vain to shake the images of la Cerradura that were assaulting her mind. She swore that she could smell Jack's burning flesh and hear his ragged breath as he struggled against the pain. She brought her hand to her head. The room seemed to be spinning. She swayed on her feet.
Suddenly, Captain Cornado was at her side. He wrapped his arm around her waist and unintentionally touched her wounded stomach. Ana gasped, in spite of herself. She looked into Miguel's concerned eyes.
"Señora, what happened to you?"
Ana pulled away from the Spaniard. He seemed to care, but as soon as he found out where she had been and who she had been with, what would stop him from alerting his father?
"It's nothing," she said.
He grabbed her wrist, halting her retreat. "It is not nothing."
Ana pulled back her free hand and slapped the Spanish captain as hard as she could across his face. He let go of her wrist and looked at her, his black eyes full of surprise and . . . and what? He almost looked impressed. Ana squared her jaw, daring him to speak.
"Sparrow is being held at the fort for now, not on my father's ship. Capitán Tarret insisted. They will be leaving for Spain tomorrow afternoon."
"Why are you telling me this?" Ana asked.
"Because you do not have much time," he answered.
"Time for what?"
"Señora, I know what happed to Sparrow while he was in la Cerradura."
"You mean what was done to him." Ana knew that she should not be allowing her feelings to show, but when she thought of Jack's battered body, she could not hide her fury. The pain that he lived through was unthinkable.
"Sí, what was done to him," Miguel corrected himself, "Señora, I do not like it anymore than you, and I have no wish to see it continue."
Ana searched the man's face. He appeared to be sincere. "Then, I ask you again, Captain Cornado. Time for what?"
"To break him out."
That's all for now. I know there wasn't any Jack, but fear not, he'll return soon. Don't forget to review before you go!