Chapter Seven : Bathing with Monkeys

Later that night at dinner, Saviya looked out over the mess hall that was packed with eating men. Joking, talking and playing cards while eating, they seemed to fill every inch of the room. Finally she spotted an empty spot next to Patrick and walked over, sat down and began to eat. She knew she should feel extremely uneasy being near all these men who made a life of plundering, killing, drinking and pirating. But, looking around now, it began to remind her of the camaraderie and friendship, the makeshift knit of a misfit family of the gypsies. For a second she felt almost home. Of course home had always been the hatchin-tuts (pitching grounds) but there was no mistaking the comforting feeling she felt now, even around such men that would intimidate most other women. So when Patrick began to talk to her, she had no problem answering freely.

Across the room, Jack stared over his hand of cards at them, bemused. Seemed Saviya was already having an effect on his crew. Next to Jack, Sam folded and Jack grinned before setting his own hand of cards on the table amidst the groans of the other men at the table who tossed down their cards. Jack swept the pile of coins in the middle to in front of him and leaned back with a bottle of rum to his lips as Charles shuffled the deck.

Patrick was friendly enough with the crew but it was the crew who kept a distance. For Patrick had a truly fearsome reputation in the Caribbean as a pirate and a man that was only half exaggerated. But, seeing no malice or ill intent in the way Patrick was talking to Saviya, he shrugged and turned his attention back to his rum and the boisterous game of cards.

After the meal, Saviya took her plate back to the kitchen where Jacob snidely informed her she was to help with the dishes, too. Giving him a look that told his clearly to go to hell, she turned to walk back to the mess hall and Jacob, thinking she meant to leave him to the work, reached out and grabbed her arm just as she reached the doorway. Saviya's head snapped to the side to look at him, her eye's annoyed rather than scared, and she yanked her arm out of his grasp, turned and shoved him away from her.

"I'm getting the plates," she told him, her brown eyes almost black, "and, in the mean time, don't touch me. Got it?" Jacob reluctantly nodded and watched her walk into the mess hall and begin grabbing empty plates. At his table, Jack sat back down. And some of the other men, who'd looked over at the two when they saw where Jack's attention was, turned back to whatever they were doing after seeing Saviya shove him and walk away.

Dishes were not done until a half hour later, during which time Jacob had been grudgingly less mean to Saviya. By the time she was done wiping off the mess hall tables and got back on the deck, it was dark outside and near deserted. Breathing in the sea air, she turned in the direction of the Captain's cabin and went in to find a candle lit but no one inside. On the bed was her bags and she grabbed them before going into the little bathroom on the right, and stripping off all her clothes. She'd requested a bath earlier and buckets of hot water had been brought in, along with some soap. Opening one of her bags, she surveyed the bottles inside before pulling out one of a sweet smelling oil. She poured some into the tub, creating bubbles everywhere and a fragrant smell. Her hair tumbled off the side of the tub as she rested her head back against the basin lip and shut her eyes. The hot water relaxed her muscles and each breath filled her with the sweet air. Sighing softly, she opened her eyes and let out a shriek when she saw Jack standing right next to her, bent at the waist with one hand reaching towards the water and a confused look on his face.

"KHUL! SO KERES?!" (SHIT! WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!)" she yelled, slapping at his hand. But Jack just dipped it in slightly to get some bubbles on his hand, brought it up in front of his eyes and examined them seriously. Saviya could only stare at him.

"You are one streyino gadgie (strange man)," she stated, glad that the bubbles covered her at the moment.

"What are these?" Jack asked.

"Monkeys," she said sarcastically.

"What?"

"Nothing."

"What are these?" Jack asked again, experimentally blowing on the bubbles in his hand and causing them to fly everywhere.

"...Not monkeys?" Saviya guessed.

"No they are not, unless I am very drunk and ye bathe with monkeys," he wiped a few bubbles off of Saviya's nose.

"Ah, well no."

"No what?"

"Huh?"

"What did ye-nevermind."

"Jack?" Saviya asked after a minute, during which minute Jack sat on the floor next to the tub and repeatedly dipped his hand in to get bubbles and blew them around the room. He seemed to be enjoying himself immensely.

"Yes, luv?"

"Ge' out," she told him.

Jack looked confused, "Why?"

"'CAUSE I AM TAKIN' A BATH, AND WHAT ARE YE EVEN DOING IN 'ERE??" she screamed, worrying about the lessening amount of bubbles in the tub.

"Ah!" he exclaimed happily as he remembered his reason and jumped to his feet. "I came to bring ye a towel!" He held one open between his two hands and motioned with his head for her to get out, "C'mon, luv, nice warm towel right 'ere." Saviya stared open mouthed at the giant grin on his face, seeing the sly glint in his eye.

"GET OUT!"

"Ye sure scream a lot, luv."

"ZA (GO)! Now!"

"Fine, fine," Jack muttered and sulked as he went to leave the room. At the doorway, he turned around quickly with a flourish, one of his hands out at a weird angle, "But can't I-"

"No."

Jack muttered incoherently and left. Saviya quickly jumped out of the tub, ran over and locked the door. She finished bathing, washing her hair and shaving quickly and then got out and wrapped herself in the towel that Jack had brought it. She knew gypsies were typically dirty, but Saviya loved water. She was always swimming in lakes and rivers wherever her group happened to be at the time and her mood was greatly improved now, seeing as how she was SURROUNDED by water. She just wished she could jump off the ship for a swim soon. After she'd combed out her hair and dried it a bit with the towel, she put her skirt back on and then a black undershirt with thin shoulder straps. She let the water out and went back into the room with her two bags. Jack was rummaging through his desk when she came out, muttering to himself.

"What are ye doing?" she asked, confused.

"Wha'?- nuthin, nuthin!" he shoved all the papers back in his desk and slammed the drawers shut. He turned to watch her walk across the room and set down her bags on the floor. Her hair was slightly damp and that skimpy top attracted most of his attention. He watched the easy swing of her hips- where the rest of his attention was- as she walked and when Saviya turned and saw him staring there, she sighed.

"Maybe I should jest sleep on the floor," she said, looking to the side for a blanket to use.

Jack waved his hand, "Nonsense. Lay on bed, much more comfortable than the floor." He got out of his chair in several odd movements and continued to mumble to himself as he went about the room. Doing what, she had no idea. This captain was insane. She debated in her head for a moment about where to sleep, part of her yelling indignantly to grab her stuff and march out but another part told her that since nothing could happen unless she chose it to, there was no harm in staying in this man's room. And still another part was incredibly attracted to him. A small smirk swept over her face as she slipped under the blankets on the side farthest from the door next to the wall. Since she wasn't one to give easily to anything and he was, in fact, a gorgio, he would have to really impress her.

Jack turned and gave her a smirk and she sat up, pointing a finger at him, "Let me tell you somethin', CAPTAIN Jack Sparrow, just because I have to stay indoors to sleep on yer ship does NOT mean that ANYTHING is gonna happen. Got it?"

Jack didn't look upset, just grinned and threw his arms out. "Whatever ye say, luv!" Saviya looked at him very confused for a minute and then laid back down with her back to him. Yes, he was indeed very mentally insane. She felt the bed shift as he got in behind her, the room sunk into darkness as he blew out the candle. A thin stream of moonlight came through the porthole and cast a silvery glow in the middle of the room. Staring at the boarded wall right in front of her, Saviya closed her eyes and abruptly saw an open field in her mind. A small clearing in it where she could lie and stare up at the sky, counting the stars. When she opened her eyes, the wall stared back at her unblinkingly.

Saviya frowned and moved to sit up, "On second thought, I think I'll sleep outside after all..."

Before she could move though, Jack had wrapped an arm around her tiny waist and pulled her back down, his arm circling even more as he brought her back to touch his chest and lied there comfortable.

"Nope," he said simply. "Cap'n's orders. Not allowed."

Saviya opened her mouth to protest but then became aware of the feeling of his bare chest pressed up against her back, his strong arm wrapped snugly around her waist with his fingers wrapped around her hip. The urge to move against him was as strong as the voice in her head telling her to run. She turned her head to look at him, mouth open to say something, but the words died in her throat when she saw his dark eyes staring back at her, most of his features hidden in shadow. She closed her mouth and swallowed.

"Somethin' wrong, luv?" he asked, his voice low.

Saviya quickly shook her head and turned back to the wall, but not away from him. Closing her eyes, she pictured the field in her mind again and relaxed in the feeling of lying outside. At the same time she was constantly aware of the heat radiating off of him, his warm skin pressed against hers and a comforting weight around her stomach. She fell into a deep sleep quickly, knowing she was protected. Jack heard her breathing even out and deepen a few minutes later and knew she'd fallen asleep. He raised his hand and brushed her hair behind her shoulder so he could see her face in the faint light. She looked beautiful. She was so fiery and full of life when she was awake, but when she slept she was finally still and had a look of gorgeous content and calm on her face. She also confused the hell out of him. He wrapped his arm again around her little waist, enjoying it when she curled up against him in his sleep. He grinned down at her. Maybe this venture of his would not be as impossible as it seemed. He closed his eyes and fell asleep.

He dreamt of the ocean.

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(A/N) K, guys, heres the deal. I'm extremely sad and frustrated that I only have 3 reviews. I know there's plently of people out there reading POTC fan fiction (look at the numbers of stories written about it at least). Now the voices in my head are turning their backs now when I write. They say they'll only turn around and give their genius worthy contributions of creativity once they feel they are being appreciated. So please review and make them happy!!