Okay, so its been a while since I've updated. Sorry 'bout that. I'm a lazy
bum, and, to be honest, I didn't leave that last chapter too open for the
next one. I've been having a bit of trouble starting it. Bad me. Very bad
me. Anyway, I'll just go write that next chapter, shall I....
Disclaimer:
You know. All this now owning stuff is down right depressing. I say we riot! Are you with me?
Randomly appearing crowd: ....
Me: I said are you with me?!
Randomly appearing crowd: *Cricket noise* *Cricket noise*
Me: Like I said. Depressing.
Chapter 9
Secret Compartments
"Meline!" Shouted Jack, putting his broken compass in his pocket. "Pass me that line, luv."
Hastening to obey, and still quite filled with terror, Meline looked around her feet until she found a rope lying innocently on deck a few feet away from her. She started for it, when the ship gave a sudden, very violent rock.
Meline's feet were instantly swept from beneath her, the braces clanking as they got tangled on each other. She screamed, unable to keep her balance when her legs were stuck together as one.
"Jack!" She shouted, desperate to not fall. But, try as he might, Jack couldn't get to her in time. With a loud smash of her braces, Meline hit the deck. She winced horribly. The metal piece felt stuck in her leg, which was throbbing. She put her hands out in front of her, ready to try and get back up. But, just then, she heard the unmistakable sound of metal on wood. She quickly turned her head in time to see a small piece of gold spin in circles in front of her face, then collapse on the ship beside her.
"Luv, are you-?" Jack knelt beside her, no doubt ready to help her up. However, glancing at the gold coin next to them, he stopped, and then gasped. "Mary, mother of-"
"Jack, I know that bit of gold is very important and all," said Meline, her face slightly pale. "But this position is extremely painful. Especially this piece of metal that's stuck IN my leg!"
"Oh! Right, luv." Jack pocketed the gold medallion, then grabbed Meline's shoulders and helped stand her up.
But, no sooner had he let go, then she swayed and almost fell again.
"Whoa!" he shouted, grabbing her around the middle before she could hit the ground.
"Like I said," Meline moaned, her face now very pale, "there's a piece of METAL from one brace in the SKIN of my other leg. Meaning that my legs are attached by the immense pain coming from my calf."
"Oh! Right." Repeated Jack. He bent down and picked up Meline, then looked at the shadow of the ship behind them. It was closer than it had been ten minutes ago.
"They're going to catch us, aren't they?" Whispered Meline, terror in her voice.
"No," Jack replied, turning and carrying her below and to her cabin. "They're movin' fast, but we're too close to Isle de Muertes now. We'll reach it a good ways ahead of them. Now," he added, reaching the room and placing Meline on the bed. "Where is this little cut of- Good God, child!"
Jack had just looked down at Meline's calf, which was drenched with blood.
"Don't worry, Jack. I bleed a lot. Just get this thing out of my leg, and I'll take care of it."
"For not being able to walk, your pretty independent, child," Jack sighed, looking at her. "Now, this is going to hurt some, so just grit yer teeth a bit."
She did, closing her eyes and clenching her fists as well.
In one swift motion, Jack pulled her legs apart, wrenching the metal out of her calf. Meline screamed between her closed teeth, her eyes leaking tears under their lids.
Jack, clasped her hand momentarily to comfort her pain, then proceeded to undo the braces and remove them from her legs. God, they even look fragile, Jack thought to himself as he looked down at her porcelain-seeming legs. He could only imagine what she had already gone through in her life. And to now bring this upon her.
Jack pulled a cloth out of his pocket, and wiped the blood off of Meline's legs as she opened her eyes and started to sit up.
"I'll get it thanks," she said, taking the cloth from him and continuing what he had started, her face flushing with embarrassment. She hated when people saw her legs without the braces. They just looked so unnatural. Like they belonged to a different creature, but had been stuck to her on accident.
Jack, who hadn't seemed to notice the sudden color change in Meline's face, had reached into his pocket and pulled out the medallion.
"I get it!" He shouted suddenly, smacking his palm to his forehead as though he had missed something in front of his face.
"What do you get?" Asked Meline, who had jumped at his sudden outburst.
"The medallion! It was in- it was in your-" he stopped for a second, collecting his excited self. "The medallion WAS with you the whole time. Just as I had said before. And you who wouldn't listen to me. I told you you had it."
"What- what are you talking about?" Stammered Meline.
Jack bent down and picked up the brace with the metal piece on it, and showed it to Meline. The piece was no longer stuck out at a weird angle. In fact, it was barely attached to the brace at all. It was hanging on the side, along with another part of the brace. This scrap had been shaped into a sort of door, which had a small compartment in the brace large enough for a certain gold coin to fit.
"It's been in my brace all this time?" Awed Meline.
Jack pulled the coin out of his pocket and placed it in the small compartment in the brace.
"Don't shut the door!" Warned Meline. "I've played with that metal piece for a long time and never knew there was a door there. I highly doubt it will be easy to get it open again.
"More the reason to shut it luv," replied Jack, closing the door with a small snap. "We've got pirates after us, and the only leg up we have on them is that they don't know where this little bit of treasure is. The governor must have made that compartment when your father wasn't at the shop. These things are so bulky he wouldn't have noticed. I mean," he added quickly, seeing the angered look on Meline's face. "These things look very hard to make."
"So, now that we know where it is, what do we do with this coin?" Meline asked.
"Well, luv" sighed Jack. "The plan was to just leave the coin in the cave for the pirates to find, and that they'd just leave us alone since they would have what they want, but now that they're so close...." His voice faded for a moment.
"Well?" Urged Meline.
"Well, now that they're so close, we're going to have to fight. And, of course, I've got no problem with fightin'. I mean, my day isn't fulfilled without a bit of throat slashing and-" He cut off at the look of horror on Meline's face. "The point, is that you might get hurt."
"I'll be fine," she assured Jack. "Just find me a place to hide, and I'll....well....hide." She finished lamely.
Jack smiled. "I love yer spirit, luv," he said, and Meline blushed. "Now then, if yer leg's all patched up, we best put these metal contraptions back on. And remember; don't tell anyone where the coin is. I mean, I trust me crew and all, but it's just safer this way. Got it?"
Meline smiled, stretching out her legs so that Jack could help put her braces on. She suddenly didn't mind him seeing them. He seemed very nice. Strange of course, but that was no matter. He was putting his own life on the line to help her. And he really seemed to be doing his best to keep her alive. And who couldn't like that?
A sudden knock on the door brought her back out of her thoughts.
"Enter," called Jack, clasping the second brace closed onto her leg.
The door opened and Gibbs walked in.
"Captain," he said in his scratchy, always interesting voice. "We're here."
Well, there you go. Chapter nine. I hope you liked it, because it took a long time to get to it, and writing it was somewhat exhausting. Or maybe I'm just tired. Oh well...
Quick question. I've been thinking about writing another ff. This time on the movie "Signs." It would be the same story the movie told, except in the view of the alien who lost his fingers and was killed by Merrill. Not sure if it will be a comedy or drama. Heck, I'm not even sure if I'll write it. Give me your thoughts. Should I do it? If so, comedy or drama. Pick for me, cause my simple mind can't make very good decisions on its own. Well, review and you might see me again. And thank you all so much for all of your reviews. You have no idea how much they mean to me. I read every one at least twice. Don't ask why. Maybe I just have too much time on my hands. Well, not for long. School's back tomorrow. Yeck! Well, give me your thoughts on this chapter and my other story idea, and I'll...well, I don't know what I'll do, but it'll probably be interesting.
TA!
Disclaimer:
You know. All this now owning stuff is down right depressing. I say we riot! Are you with me?
Randomly appearing crowd: ....
Me: I said are you with me?!
Randomly appearing crowd: *Cricket noise* *Cricket noise*
Me: Like I said. Depressing.
Chapter 9
Secret Compartments
"Meline!" Shouted Jack, putting his broken compass in his pocket. "Pass me that line, luv."
Hastening to obey, and still quite filled with terror, Meline looked around her feet until she found a rope lying innocently on deck a few feet away from her. She started for it, when the ship gave a sudden, very violent rock.
Meline's feet were instantly swept from beneath her, the braces clanking as they got tangled on each other. She screamed, unable to keep her balance when her legs were stuck together as one.
"Jack!" She shouted, desperate to not fall. But, try as he might, Jack couldn't get to her in time. With a loud smash of her braces, Meline hit the deck. She winced horribly. The metal piece felt stuck in her leg, which was throbbing. She put her hands out in front of her, ready to try and get back up. But, just then, she heard the unmistakable sound of metal on wood. She quickly turned her head in time to see a small piece of gold spin in circles in front of her face, then collapse on the ship beside her.
"Luv, are you-?" Jack knelt beside her, no doubt ready to help her up. However, glancing at the gold coin next to them, he stopped, and then gasped. "Mary, mother of-"
"Jack, I know that bit of gold is very important and all," said Meline, her face slightly pale. "But this position is extremely painful. Especially this piece of metal that's stuck IN my leg!"
"Oh! Right, luv." Jack pocketed the gold medallion, then grabbed Meline's shoulders and helped stand her up.
But, no sooner had he let go, then she swayed and almost fell again.
"Whoa!" he shouted, grabbing her around the middle before she could hit the ground.
"Like I said," Meline moaned, her face now very pale, "there's a piece of METAL from one brace in the SKIN of my other leg. Meaning that my legs are attached by the immense pain coming from my calf."
"Oh! Right." Repeated Jack. He bent down and picked up Meline, then looked at the shadow of the ship behind them. It was closer than it had been ten minutes ago.
"They're going to catch us, aren't they?" Whispered Meline, terror in her voice.
"No," Jack replied, turning and carrying her below and to her cabin. "They're movin' fast, but we're too close to Isle de Muertes now. We'll reach it a good ways ahead of them. Now," he added, reaching the room and placing Meline on the bed. "Where is this little cut of- Good God, child!"
Jack had just looked down at Meline's calf, which was drenched with blood.
"Don't worry, Jack. I bleed a lot. Just get this thing out of my leg, and I'll take care of it."
"For not being able to walk, your pretty independent, child," Jack sighed, looking at her. "Now, this is going to hurt some, so just grit yer teeth a bit."
She did, closing her eyes and clenching her fists as well.
In one swift motion, Jack pulled her legs apart, wrenching the metal out of her calf. Meline screamed between her closed teeth, her eyes leaking tears under their lids.
Jack, clasped her hand momentarily to comfort her pain, then proceeded to undo the braces and remove them from her legs. God, they even look fragile, Jack thought to himself as he looked down at her porcelain-seeming legs. He could only imagine what she had already gone through in her life. And to now bring this upon her.
Jack pulled a cloth out of his pocket, and wiped the blood off of Meline's legs as she opened her eyes and started to sit up.
"I'll get it thanks," she said, taking the cloth from him and continuing what he had started, her face flushing with embarrassment. She hated when people saw her legs without the braces. They just looked so unnatural. Like they belonged to a different creature, but had been stuck to her on accident.
Jack, who hadn't seemed to notice the sudden color change in Meline's face, had reached into his pocket and pulled out the medallion.
"I get it!" He shouted suddenly, smacking his palm to his forehead as though he had missed something in front of his face.
"What do you get?" Asked Meline, who had jumped at his sudden outburst.
"The medallion! It was in- it was in your-" he stopped for a second, collecting his excited self. "The medallion WAS with you the whole time. Just as I had said before. And you who wouldn't listen to me. I told you you had it."
"What- what are you talking about?" Stammered Meline.
Jack bent down and picked up the brace with the metal piece on it, and showed it to Meline. The piece was no longer stuck out at a weird angle. In fact, it was barely attached to the brace at all. It was hanging on the side, along with another part of the brace. This scrap had been shaped into a sort of door, which had a small compartment in the brace large enough for a certain gold coin to fit.
"It's been in my brace all this time?" Awed Meline.
Jack pulled the coin out of his pocket and placed it in the small compartment in the brace.
"Don't shut the door!" Warned Meline. "I've played with that metal piece for a long time and never knew there was a door there. I highly doubt it will be easy to get it open again.
"More the reason to shut it luv," replied Jack, closing the door with a small snap. "We've got pirates after us, and the only leg up we have on them is that they don't know where this little bit of treasure is. The governor must have made that compartment when your father wasn't at the shop. These things are so bulky he wouldn't have noticed. I mean," he added quickly, seeing the angered look on Meline's face. "These things look very hard to make."
"So, now that we know where it is, what do we do with this coin?" Meline asked.
"Well, luv" sighed Jack. "The plan was to just leave the coin in the cave for the pirates to find, and that they'd just leave us alone since they would have what they want, but now that they're so close...." His voice faded for a moment.
"Well?" Urged Meline.
"Well, now that they're so close, we're going to have to fight. And, of course, I've got no problem with fightin'. I mean, my day isn't fulfilled without a bit of throat slashing and-" He cut off at the look of horror on Meline's face. "The point, is that you might get hurt."
"I'll be fine," she assured Jack. "Just find me a place to hide, and I'll....well....hide." She finished lamely.
Jack smiled. "I love yer spirit, luv," he said, and Meline blushed. "Now then, if yer leg's all patched up, we best put these metal contraptions back on. And remember; don't tell anyone where the coin is. I mean, I trust me crew and all, but it's just safer this way. Got it?"
Meline smiled, stretching out her legs so that Jack could help put her braces on. She suddenly didn't mind him seeing them. He seemed very nice. Strange of course, but that was no matter. He was putting his own life on the line to help her. And he really seemed to be doing his best to keep her alive. And who couldn't like that?
A sudden knock on the door brought her back out of her thoughts.
"Enter," called Jack, clasping the second brace closed onto her leg.
The door opened and Gibbs walked in.
"Captain," he said in his scratchy, always interesting voice. "We're here."
Well, there you go. Chapter nine. I hope you liked it, because it took a long time to get to it, and writing it was somewhat exhausting. Or maybe I'm just tired. Oh well...
Quick question. I've been thinking about writing another ff. This time on the movie "Signs." It would be the same story the movie told, except in the view of the alien who lost his fingers and was killed by Merrill. Not sure if it will be a comedy or drama. Heck, I'm not even sure if I'll write it. Give me your thoughts. Should I do it? If so, comedy or drama. Pick for me, cause my simple mind can't make very good decisions on its own. Well, review and you might see me again. And thank you all so much for all of your reviews. You have no idea how much they mean to me. I read every one at least twice. Don't ask why. Maybe I just have too much time on my hands. Well, not for long. School's back tomorrow. Yeck! Well, give me your thoughts on this chapter and my other story idea, and I'll...well, I don't know what I'll do, but it'll probably be interesting.
TA!