Disclaimer: I don't own POTC
Chapter Eight: Tortuga
Rachel felt very foolish for crying in front of the captain, so the next day she tried her best to avoid him, as anyone else would after having told him something she never told anyone before. As she was preparing breakfast for the crew the following morning, Rachel thought about the previous day's events which led her to wonder why she even told Jack.
She angrily chopped the poor fish into tiny pieces, the knife pounding on the wooden table. 'Sure, he had yelled at a bit and tried to force it out of me, but I'm tough! I've been faced with much worse than this! ... so why did I tell him?'
Her thoughts were interrupted when someone from on deck yelled 'Land ho!', which meant that Tortuga wasn't that far away, and then they'd be getting rid of Jonathon. This made Rachel feel relieved and happy as she finished carrying to food to the table. The crew bustled into the galley earlier than the designated time, probably because of their excitement to reach Tortuga.
Jack always ate in his room and for the past three meals Rachel snuck into his room to place the food on his desk beforehand so as she wouldn't have to run into him. So to see him eating in the galley ever since her tantrum was no surprise to her because she knew he wanted to talk to her about what happened, but she still took food to his room, hoping that he would eat there instead of the more public place.
As everybody piled in, Rachel tried to push her way out, just like yesterday's lunch and dinner so she wouldn't have to face Jack. But her efforts were to no avail this time. Just when she thought she made it through another meal without having to look at Jack, Rachel ran right into him, causing her to stumble backwards. She frowned.
"Excuse me, sir," she said, still obviously pissed off about him delving into her past with her as a guide.
Jack ignored her angry state. "Rachel, could I speak with ye fer a momen'?" Jack asked seriously, very sorry that he made her tell him what happened when he technically didn't need to know.
Rachel sighed resignedly and decided that she couldn't be angry at him the entire journey, so she followed him up on deck where the sun had just risen. Jack didn't speak, he just stared out into the brightening ocean, making Rachel think that she misheard him when he asked to speak with her.
Uncomfortable by the silence that was ensuing, Rachel cleared her throat and Jack swung around and looked at her.
"I put your breakfast in your room," she tried, speaking slowly.
"Rachel, I wan' to talk to ye,"
"What about?" she replied, acting as if it never happened.
"Ye know very well wha' about," he said lowly.
"What else is there to say, Captain? I told you everything. Please don't make me tell it to you again,"
"I'm sorry tha' I made ye tell me somethin' tha' was none o' me business. I did'n think 'twas tha' personal t' ye, I thought it was jest a battle wound an' I was curious is all," he apologized, looking her in the eyes and waiting for her reaction.
She sighed again. Jack was beginning to like that sound. "It's alright, you didn't know... I s'pose. Just please keep it to yourself. I never told anyone about what happened to me, so don't tell anybody or I'll have to kill you," she said, half smiling to show she was joking and that they were on good terms again.
But Jack didn't smile back. "Why did ye tell me, then? I did'n 'ave a pistol t' yer head,"
"I don't know," said Rachel, biting her lower lip. Jack decided he liked that lip. And the other one, too.
Jack stepped closer, pressing his body up against her and slid his hand over the back of her head. His fingers wound in her auburn hair as he gently pulled her head back so her face was turned up to his own. He placed a hand along her cheek and lightly guided her lips against his. Forgetting everything, Rachel attempted to deepen the kiss by flicking her tongue against Jack's teeth, receiving a moan from him for her actions.
Before they could get any farther they heard the crew nosily leaving the galley. Hearing this brought Jack and Rachel back, realizing where they were and what they were doing. She quickly pulled away from Jack and headed downstairs to clean up just as the crew was arriving on deck, more than ready to reach dry land and get supplies for the long trip that awaited them.
Jack resumed his duties as captain, shouting orders to the crew and manning the helm. Although he tried to hide from the crew that anything had gone on between he and Rachel, no one failed to notice and didn't comment on the bulge in his trousers.
By nightfall the Black Pearl reached Tortuga, just in time for the regular nighttime festivities. For the first time ever, Jack told the crew to make the visit to Tortuga a short one – they would be leaving the very next night, and before leaving they would release Jonathon. Most of the crew went to shore besides Rachel and Anamaria. They stayed and made sure that Jonathon didn't escape and try anything stupid. He knew that no other pirate ship would take him onto their crew if the word was spread around about his attempt to shove the captain overboard, and he would be lucky if he lived a month after being left in Tortuga. Even pirates have some kinds of morals, and no buccaneer likes the thought of a young arrogant lad trying to kill a captain and thinking he would succeed.
Jonathon figured out that they were docked at Tortuga and he could hear Anamaria and Rachel talking on deck, so he started shouting threats and calling them names from the brig, secretly in fear of his fate. The women tried to ignore him and talked amongst themselves for the first few hours the crew was gone. They talked about previous adventures they had had, which led to the story of the Aztec gold curse. Rachel had heard the story before, but there were many embellishments added from the drunks she heard it from. She had never heard the true story and was amazed by it, especially Will and Jack's courage. She never would have expected the Will that she knew to go after the woman he loved and risk his own life to save her.
The story then led to the thought of Jack. She cringed jealously when she pictured what he was probably doing in Tortuga. Rachel hated this helpless feeling, she never felt it before now. She was jealous over Jack's "activities" in the town and she was frustrated with that jealousy feeling that she shouldn't be feeling. Anamaria saw her shudder.
"Wha's th' matter? Cold?" she asked, shifting her seat on the railing to look at Rachel.
"No, I'm fine. When does the crew usually return?" she asked, trying to sound casual.
"Well, depends on wha' they be doin'. Some return late a' night, some in th' morning, or even later."
"What... when does Jack usually return?" Rachel tried again, not making eye contact with the other woman, knowing that she would give herself away if she looked at her.
Anamaria smiled. "Ye got a thing with th' Captain, eh? No need t' fret, most women ca'n resist 'im. I'd never live it down if he 'eard me say tha'."
"Did you and Jack ever..." Rachel's voice trailed off, finally turning to face Ana.
Her face screwed up in horror. "My Jesus, no! Good Christ! I ca'n stand th' pig, but I 'ave to respect 'im as captain. He's a good man, but he's very full of 'imself if ye ask me. I do'n like it much," she grinned.
Rachel laughed at the face Anamaria made when she suggested that she and Jack "engaged in activities" together, then grew quiet.
"So, wha' happened with ye and Jack?" Ana asked, this time not making eye contact with Rachel in case she was getting to personal.
Rachel was hesitant. She had never had a girlfriend that she gossiped and talked about boys with, and needless to say she wasn't used to it. Rachel hoped that if they did become close friends that it wouldn't make her look weak, but she then realized that her and Ana were very similar in that she probably wasn't used to any girl talk herself being on a ship full of stinky men.
"Nothing really. During breakfast today he kissed me, right before everybody came up on deck. I was caught a bit off guard," Rachel laughed, trying to act like the kiss didn't mean anything.
Ana smiled and was about to respond when a shout from Jonathon came from below.
"Ye goddamn whores! Should'n ye be workin' th' streets while yer here? Or are ye gettin' enough from Gibbs an' Sparrow?" he cackled, going out of his mind in fear of what would happen to him when he was released.
"Oh no, he didn't go there," Rachel said, rising and thumping down to the brig, with an equally furious Anamaria at her heels.
When they reached the brig, Jonathon saw them and jumped up from his position on the floor, about to yell out another insult. He swallowed his words when he saw Rachel and Ana's faces and backed further into his cell.
Rachel pulled out her cutlass and banged it on the bars, making Jonathon leap further back.
"Not so brave with your words now, are you? You know, me and you haven't gotten off to be the best of friends and I've killed my best friends before without a second thought, so don't fucking think that I wouldn't think twice about slitting your throat!" her voice rising as she spoke. She lowered her voice back to it's normal tone. "You say somethin' like tha' about me or Ana here ever again and I do'n care what the captain says, I'll cut you so fast you would'n see it comin' and save th' pirates waitin' for ye in Tortuga the effort. So piss off, ye bilge-sucking blighter." Rachel turned to Ana. "Anything to add?" She shook her head and they turned to leave, not hearing a peep from Jonathon for the rest of the night.
Jack and a few others returned right before dawn with the town sutler to bring the supplies on deck. The first thing Rachel noticed was there wasn't nearly as much rum as she would have expected from Jack.
"What happened Jack? Did they not recover their rum supply from the last time you came?" Rachel asked.
"It's all grog now. I was hard pressed t' find some pure rum in th' whole town. Had t' visit me secret sources," he replied with a wink, finding no offense to her statement about his love of rum.
Once all the supplies were loaded and paid for, the two hands that came along to help went down to the crew's cabin to sleep.
"Any problems, ladies?" Jack asked, grinning. His smirk made Rachel think about what he was doing in Tortuga that night besides chasing down rum and she had to look away.
"Aye, Jonathon made some rude remarks 'bout us, and ye too in fact. No worries though, Rachel 'ere took care o' 'im," Ana said cheerfully, patting Rachel on the back.
Jack looked mockingly scared. "Oh no, wha' did ye do to 'im?" he asked, looking at Rachel with wide eyes, making her laugh.
"She jest shouted swears at 'im, scared 'im shitless. I'll tell ye though, if I was'n there I bet he would've met the rope's end,"
"Rachel, honestly. Ye do'n 'ave to stick up fer me all th' time. 'Tis a tough job," Jack said jokingly.
"I was pissed off. And he didn't just insult you... he insulted Gibbs too," she responded, grinning.
Jack and Ana laughed. "Well, I'll be sure t' tell him ye stood up on 'is behalf. He'll be mighty touched by it." With that, the rest of the crew stumbling on deck, tired and feeling the last of the alcohol wearing off.
"Get t' bed, ye scurvy dogs. If yer not ready by t'night t' set sail, I'll 'ave yer lights and livers!" Jack shouted, appearing tough but really giving the hard working crew a well earned break.
Jack nodded to Rachel before heading down to the supply room to double check that he had everything he paid for and wasn't taken advantage of.
"We'll be settin' sail a' sunset," he murmured in her ear before departing.
Rachel turned to Anamaria.
"This is going to be an interesting adventure."
Chapter Eight: Tortuga
Rachel felt very foolish for crying in front of the captain, so the next day she tried her best to avoid him, as anyone else would after having told him something she never told anyone before. As she was preparing breakfast for the crew the following morning, Rachel thought about the previous day's events which led her to wonder why she even told Jack.
She angrily chopped the poor fish into tiny pieces, the knife pounding on the wooden table. 'Sure, he had yelled at a bit and tried to force it out of me, but I'm tough! I've been faced with much worse than this! ... so why did I tell him?'
Her thoughts were interrupted when someone from on deck yelled 'Land ho!', which meant that Tortuga wasn't that far away, and then they'd be getting rid of Jonathon. This made Rachel feel relieved and happy as she finished carrying to food to the table. The crew bustled into the galley earlier than the designated time, probably because of their excitement to reach Tortuga.
Jack always ate in his room and for the past three meals Rachel snuck into his room to place the food on his desk beforehand so as she wouldn't have to run into him. So to see him eating in the galley ever since her tantrum was no surprise to her because she knew he wanted to talk to her about what happened, but she still took food to his room, hoping that he would eat there instead of the more public place.
As everybody piled in, Rachel tried to push her way out, just like yesterday's lunch and dinner so she wouldn't have to face Jack. But her efforts were to no avail this time. Just when she thought she made it through another meal without having to look at Jack, Rachel ran right into him, causing her to stumble backwards. She frowned.
"Excuse me, sir," she said, still obviously pissed off about him delving into her past with her as a guide.
Jack ignored her angry state. "Rachel, could I speak with ye fer a momen'?" Jack asked seriously, very sorry that he made her tell him what happened when he technically didn't need to know.
Rachel sighed resignedly and decided that she couldn't be angry at him the entire journey, so she followed him up on deck where the sun had just risen. Jack didn't speak, he just stared out into the brightening ocean, making Rachel think that she misheard him when he asked to speak with her.
Uncomfortable by the silence that was ensuing, Rachel cleared her throat and Jack swung around and looked at her.
"I put your breakfast in your room," she tried, speaking slowly.
"Rachel, I wan' to talk to ye,"
"What about?" she replied, acting as if it never happened.
"Ye know very well wha' about," he said lowly.
"What else is there to say, Captain? I told you everything. Please don't make me tell it to you again,"
"I'm sorry tha' I made ye tell me somethin' tha' was none o' me business. I did'n think 'twas tha' personal t' ye, I thought it was jest a battle wound an' I was curious is all," he apologized, looking her in the eyes and waiting for her reaction.
She sighed again. Jack was beginning to like that sound. "It's alright, you didn't know... I s'pose. Just please keep it to yourself. I never told anyone about what happened to me, so don't tell anybody or I'll have to kill you," she said, half smiling to show she was joking and that they were on good terms again.
But Jack didn't smile back. "Why did ye tell me, then? I did'n 'ave a pistol t' yer head,"
"I don't know," said Rachel, biting her lower lip. Jack decided he liked that lip. And the other one, too.
Jack stepped closer, pressing his body up against her and slid his hand over the back of her head. His fingers wound in her auburn hair as he gently pulled her head back so her face was turned up to his own. He placed a hand along her cheek and lightly guided her lips against his. Forgetting everything, Rachel attempted to deepen the kiss by flicking her tongue against Jack's teeth, receiving a moan from him for her actions.
Before they could get any farther they heard the crew nosily leaving the galley. Hearing this brought Jack and Rachel back, realizing where they were and what they were doing. She quickly pulled away from Jack and headed downstairs to clean up just as the crew was arriving on deck, more than ready to reach dry land and get supplies for the long trip that awaited them.
Jack resumed his duties as captain, shouting orders to the crew and manning the helm. Although he tried to hide from the crew that anything had gone on between he and Rachel, no one failed to notice and didn't comment on the bulge in his trousers.
By nightfall the Black Pearl reached Tortuga, just in time for the regular nighttime festivities. For the first time ever, Jack told the crew to make the visit to Tortuga a short one – they would be leaving the very next night, and before leaving they would release Jonathon. Most of the crew went to shore besides Rachel and Anamaria. They stayed and made sure that Jonathon didn't escape and try anything stupid. He knew that no other pirate ship would take him onto their crew if the word was spread around about his attempt to shove the captain overboard, and he would be lucky if he lived a month after being left in Tortuga. Even pirates have some kinds of morals, and no buccaneer likes the thought of a young arrogant lad trying to kill a captain and thinking he would succeed.
Jonathon figured out that they were docked at Tortuga and he could hear Anamaria and Rachel talking on deck, so he started shouting threats and calling them names from the brig, secretly in fear of his fate. The women tried to ignore him and talked amongst themselves for the first few hours the crew was gone. They talked about previous adventures they had had, which led to the story of the Aztec gold curse. Rachel had heard the story before, but there were many embellishments added from the drunks she heard it from. She had never heard the true story and was amazed by it, especially Will and Jack's courage. She never would have expected the Will that she knew to go after the woman he loved and risk his own life to save her.
The story then led to the thought of Jack. She cringed jealously when she pictured what he was probably doing in Tortuga. Rachel hated this helpless feeling, she never felt it before now. She was jealous over Jack's "activities" in the town and she was frustrated with that jealousy feeling that she shouldn't be feeling. Anamaria saw her shudder.
"Wha's th' matter? Cold?" she asked, shifting her seat on the railing to look at Rachel.
"No, I'm fine. When does the crew usually return?" she asked, trying to sound casual.
"Well, depends on wha' they be doin'. Some return late a' night, some in th' morning, or even later."
"What... when does Jack usually return?" Rachel tried again, not making eye contact with the other woman, knowing that she would give herself away if she looked at her.
Anamaria smiled. "Ye got a thing with th' Captain, eh? No need t' fret, most women ca'n resist 'im. I'd never live it down if he 'eard me say tha'."
"Did you and Jack ever..." Rachel's voice trailed off, finally turning to face Ana.
Her face screwed up in horror. "My Jesus, no! Good Christ! I ca'n stand th' pig, but I 'ave to respect 'im as captain. He's a good man, but he's very full of 'imself if ye ask me. I do'n like it much," she grinned.
Rachel laughed at the face Anamaria made when she suggested that she and Jack "engaged in activities" together, then grew quiet.
"So, wha' happened with ye and Jack?" Ana asked, this time not making eye contact with Rachel in case she was getting to personal.
Rachel was hesitant. She had never had a girlfriend that she gossiped and talked about boys with, and needless to say she wasn't used to it. Rachel hoped that if they did become close friends that it wouldn't make her look weak, but she then realized that her and Ana were very similar in that she probably wasn't used to any girl talk herself being on a ship full of stinky men.
"Nothing really. During breakfast today he kissed me, right before everybody came up on deck. I was caught a bit off guard," Rachel laughed, trying to act like the kiss didn't mean anything.
Ana smiled and was about to respond when a shout from Jonathon came from below.
"Ye goddamn whores! Should'n ye be workin' th' streets while yer here? Or are ye gettin' enough from Gibbs an' Sparrow?" he cackled, going out of his mind in fear of what would happen to him when he was released.
"Oh no, he didn't go there," Rachel said, rising and thumping down to the brig, with an equally furious Anamaria at her heels.
When they reached the brig, Jonathon saw them and jumped up from his position on the floor, about to yell out another insult. He swallowed his words when he saw Rachel and Ana's faces and backed further into his cell.
Rachel pulled out her cutlass and banged it on the bars, making Jonathon leap further back.
"Not so brave with your words now, are you? You know, me and you haven't gotten off to be the best of friends and I've killed my best friends before without a second thought, so don't fucking think that I wouldn't think twice about slitting your throat!" her voice rising as she spoke. She lowered her voice back to it's normal tone. "You say somethin' like tha' about me or Ana here ever again and I do'n care what the captain says, I'll cut you so fast you would'n see it comin' and save th' pirates waitin' for ye in Tortuga the effort. So piss off, ye bilge-sucking blighter." Rachel turned to Ana. "Anything to add?" She shook her head and they turned to leave, not hearing a peep from Jonathon for the rest of the night.
Jack and a few others returned right before dawn with the town sutler to bring the supplies on deck. The first thing Rachel noticed was there wasn't nearly as much rum as she would have expected from Jack.
"What happened Jack? Did they not recover their rum supply from the last time you came?" Rachel asked.
"It's all grog now. I was hard pressed t' find some pure rum in th' whole town. Had t' visit me secret sources," he replied with a wink, finding no offense to her statement about his love of rum.
Once all the supplies were loaded and paid for, the two hands that came along to help went down to the crew's cabin to sleep.
"Any problems, ladies?" Jack asked, grinning. His smirk made Rachel think about what he was doing in Tortuga that night besides chasing down rum and she had to look away.
"Aye, Jonathon made some rude remarks 'bout us, and ye too in fact. No worries though, Rachel 'ere took care o' 'im," Ana said cheerfully, patting Rachel on the back.
Jack looked mockingly scared. "Oh no, wha' did ye do to 'im?" he asked, looking at Rachel with wide eyes, making her laugh.
"She jest shouted swears at 'im, scared 'im shitless. I'll tell ye though, if I was'n there I bet he would've met the rope's end,"
"Rachel, honestly. Ye do'n 'ave to stick up fer me all th' time. 'Tis a tough job," Jack said jokingly.
"I was pissed off. And he didn't just insult you... he insulted Gibbs too," she responded, grinning.
Jack and Ana laughed. "Well, I'll be sure t' tell him ye stood up on 'is behalf. He'll be mighty touched by it." With that, the rest of the crew stumbling on deck, tired and feeling the last of the alcohol wearing off.
"Get t' bed, ye scurvy dogs. If yer not ready by t'night t' set sail, I'll 'ave yer lights and livers!" Jack shouted, appearing tough but really giving the hard working crew a well earned break.
Jack nodded to Rachel before heading down to the supply room to double check that he had everything he paid for and wasn't taken advantage of.
"We'll be settin' sail a' sunset," he murmured in her ear before departing.
Rachel turned to Anamaria.
"This is going to be an interesting adventure."