What's in a Name?
A/N: Okay, I know that it's been a while since I've updated but, things have been a little chaotic.plus the fact that up until Thursday, I was under lock and key. But on a much happier note, I am free now, although, I 'get' to fill in for one of my co-workers in a couple of hours.but c'est la vie and I need the money anyway. So, a big thanks to everyone who reviewed.and just as a little note, I like chocolate chip cookies and I have found that if you slide them into the floppy disk drive, they get to the person you are sending them to instantaneously, no matter where they are, and are nice and toasty. (if you believe this.wow.I have nothing else to say to you.)
So, thank you to - TriGemini, applekrisp14 and DimonahTraloh for your reviews, I really appreciate them
Last time:
Jack walked over to me and said quietly, "It ain't your fault, love. You couldn't have stopped him. He's bigger and."
But whatever else Tomas Potier was, I didn't know. I blacked out.
What's in a Name?
Chapter 6: New Experiences
~*~
It was dark when I woke up. My head felt like someone had wedged a piece of wood into it and I felt like I was spinning in very fast circles. Sitting up, I leaned my head on my hand and asked, "Where am I?" Once I saw Jack, though, I remembered. "What day is it?"
Jack, who had been at the desk, walked over and sat on the edge of the bed. He moved my hand away from my head and ran gentle fingers over the bump. I winced slightly but it felt a little good at the same time.
"You were out for a day and a half, love."
I tried to sit up again but Jack gently pushed me down. "Lie still. Do you want anything? Colin is coming in a little while so I can take the helm. He can bring you some tea or something."
I interrupted, "I'll be fine."
As I looked into Jack's dark eyes, I saw concern for me reflected back.
Colin walked in and noticed that I was conscious. "Awake there, lassie?" he asked. "'Bout time. I was wondering what it would take to get ye t'awake. I was gonna tell Jack ta kiss ye."
I scrunched my nose in disgust but Jack merely grinned mischievously.
"I hardly think that's necessary, Colin, but I appreciate the concern from both of you." I said. "What are we going to do about Tomas?" I asked after a moment's pause.
"The deal's still on.those other two.Francois and Jean.they came over to check on you a while ago. They're going to keep Tomas on their ship and if they need any information, they'll come over and talk to me and I'll be in the room with ye along with Colin. Savvy?"
I nodded. "Can I have something for my head?" I asked. "And some food?"
Colin nodded and left.
After he was gone, Jack stood and said, "Well, love, I'll go then and you'll be with Colin for a while.we don't think you should be alone till we know that you're okay."
I smiled faintly and pushed myself up a bit before saying, "Thanks for taking care of me."
Jack smiled and left.
When Colin came back, he brought some more bitter tea and bread. He sat with me for the night and when the sun had risen, he retired to sleep before making breakfast and Jack returned.
I was awake when Jack came back but as he and Colin had strictly ordered, I had not yet gotten out of bed. When he walked in, I scooted over in the bed to make room for him. I trusted him a bit more now, I mean after all he had taken care of me when I was unconscious and he was right it was a big bed.
However, Jack did not even glance at the bed. He grabbed a blanket that had been lying on a chair and lay down of the floor.
"What are you doing?" I asked quietly.
"What does it look like, love? I'm going to sleep," Jack replied.
Shaking my head slightly, I said, "You can sleep on your bed. I don't mind."
"Little more trusting now, are we, lass?"
"Aye. I figure I owe you this."
"How's the head?" Jack asked as he climbed in the bed.
"Okay.still really hurts."
"Let me feel that goose egg you got."
I slid back down and lay on my uninjured side as Jack ran his fingers along the bump. I hissed slightly in pain as he found the spot that hurt the worst. "That hurts," I said quietly.
"I could have guessed as much," Jack replied good-naturedly. "Are ye still dizzy?"
I nodded.
"Well, take it easy a while longer. I reckon that you can start moving around me cabin today.just don't even try to go on deck.don't want you washing overboard."
I nodded again and stared up at the ceiling and listened to the rhythm of Jack's breathing after he had fallen asleep.
~*~
Over the next few days, I was able to move around more. Every time I tried, either Colin or Jack was right behind me and I quickly found out why. Whenever the ship gave a lurch, I would start to fall, but always they would catch me. As the days passed, I became more comfortable with Colin but especially with Jack. He didn't seem scary any more. He still was a mystery to me, but a mystery who I could trust a tiny fraction more than I could when we met.
During the time that I couldn't really do anything, I was overcome with boredom. Whenever no one was around, I would read one of the books that Jack had despite the fact that they were rather boring. Colin and I talked and Jack and I talked often but still I had nothing really to do. Often times when I was alone, I would start to think about the way that things use to be and homesickness would almost overpower me. I often wondered idly about what had happened to my friends. And wondering about my friends would lead me to wishing and dreaming about my family and that would lead to the rest of the day being very depressed.
After a week had passed, I was allowed to move freely. My balance was still a bit off and I would drink several mugs of Colin's tea in a day to ease the pain in my head.
By the time I was back to my normal self, we had sailed around the tip of South America and were making our way steadily northwest towards Madagascar. I considered myself to be fairly lucky that I wasn't able to move about during the time when we were so far south. Colin told me that it was unbelievably cold up on deck and that the crew had to keep a sharp eye out for ice.
One night, I was sitting in the cabin reading and I realized that I had not yet told Jack what the riddle had said. Colin had just told him that it was a jumble of words he didn't understand and left it at that. I knew that to go up on deck at night would be "fair foolish" as Jack would say and so I waited until he had come back to the cabin to sleep.
It was later than usual when he returned and he opened the door quietly. The lock and key had long since been abandoned. And I hadn't even tried to escape since the night Colin and I met.granted that I'd been injured but escape was no longer first on my priority list any more. Jack walked in quietly, evidently thinking I was asleep.
"I'm awake, Jack," I said quietly.
"So ye are, lass, so ye are."
That was odd, there was something that felt wrong in his voice.
"What's wrong?" I asked as I moved over in the bed.
He sat down on the edge and removed his boots but didn't answer me.
I poked him in the back. "Hey, I asked what's wrong?"
"It's nothing, love. Those French blokes want to talk to you tomorrow it seems. But only the one, Jean, I think his name was. The brother of Tomas," Jack explained.
My heart skipped a beat. "And, you're going to let them?" I asked shakily.
"Aye. But Colin and I will be in here with you. They won't lay a hand on you, ye have my word."
"I don't trust them." I said.
"Well, you didn't trust me a little while ago and now look at you. In bed with a pirate.well, sort of," Jack replied in an easygoing voice.
I smiled faintly and said quickly, "Yes, well, this is as far as getting me into bed that you'll get, Captain Sparrow, so lets change the topic, shall we." Then I added, "And I still am not sure if I can trust you or not," I joked.
Jack roared in mock outrage and cuffed me lightly on the arm.
"Why Captain Sparrow!" I said. "I do believe that's the first time that you've struck me!" I cried in a voice of horror.
Jack did a little false bow and said stiffly, "Accept my deepest and most sincere apologies, my dear and noble woman. For I was most wrong in tapping your arm in such an inappropriate fashion. Would it be too much for me to ask for your forgiveness?"
I sniffed in a way that girls at school would do when they wanted something to go their way. "I think that that would make all the difference in the world, Captain. I hope you learned your lesson."
"Oh yes, my little poppin jay, I believe I have. Now, let me sleep in peace for I have the forgiveness of a teenaged girl who happens to be in my bed keeping me awake."
"Firstly, I am nearly twenty-one years old. And secondly, you might want to hear what I have to say. It might peak your interest slighlty."
Jack pushed himself up a bit on the bed. "And that would be?"
"Well, seeing as I was unable to tell you about the riddle that Papa left after reading it, I thought you might want to know what it said now," I said in a casual voice.
Now I had his interest. "And that would be?" he asked again, anxiously.
I sat up on the bed and leaned against the bedpost before reciting the poem.
When I had finished, Jack looked a bit puzzled. "What does it mean?" he asked slowly.
"I don't really know. I am completely in the dark about the key that I am supposedly holding to treasure and mystery. And I have no idea what the whole mystery thing is. I think the rest means that if you go looking for the treasure without a need for it or without some purpose behind the search you will fail. But I'm just not sure."
Jack didn't talk for a while. Finally he said, "I guess we're doomed to fail, then."
Grinning, I said, "No, not really, because, I only told you about it because my life was in danger. So therefore, there was greatest need. I think that we're square on that aspect. It's just the rest of it that I'm unsure of. And then the part of will cause much forlorn is a bit foreboding, if I do say so myself."
"Aye.well, I'll just sleep on that thought then, shall I? G'night lass," Jack said before lying back down.
I stared into the darkness of the cabin without really seeing anything. I was wondering about what the poem meant when I finally fell asleep.
~*~
That night, I dreamt of my childhood. Certain aspects were shown in fast motion and others in slow. The dream was mostly memories that I had long since forgotten. Memories of my father telling me stories before I went to sleep whenever I was home for the summer from school. Memories of lessons that I thought that I had never even learnt.
In one, I was sitting on my father's lap. I couldn't have been more than seven. I listened wide-eyed as he told me tales of pirates and raids and maidens. I thought that they were just stories at the time but in retrospect, they all had one character, Pierre Delcot, my father. He was telling me stories of him being a pirate the entire time. Why hadn't I realized this when I found out who he really was?
At the end of his story, he looked down at me and said, "Now, Christy, I want you to remember this, okay, lovie? Don't trust pirates. Ever. They would hurt you and you don't deserve that. Keep them thinking that your will is broken but be thinking about escape. Never stop trying to get away. I don't care if it takes years but you can never give up. Do you understand, sweet?"
My dream-self looked up at my father and said, "Yes, Papa. But I don wanna meet a pirate. Teacher said they was bad men. That they mean and rude and evil and we should never even be close to them. Is that right, Papa?"
My father chuckled and said, "You never know how close to a pirate you might be at any given time, Christy. You just have to keep a watchful eye. It may be that someone who seems like a good person is a pirate and a pirate may end up being a good person."
"Okay, Papa. But I still don wanna meet a pirate."
"I know, love. But remember the things I've taught you and even if someone hurts you, don't tell them what they want to know."
"What would they wanna know, Papa?" I asked in my childish voice.
"They would want to know where I've hidden something very valuable. But it's very dangerous and if you knew about it or told them, you could get hurt. Do you understand what I'm saying, Christy?"
"Kind of, Papa. Will someone try to get me to tell them?" I asked.
"It's possible, if they know who I am, that they might try to go after you. But you have to remember not to tell them anything about Madagascar."
"What's Madagascar?"
"It's just a place. You don't need to worry about it. If a teacher asks you about it, say you've never heard of it. Okay?"
"Yes, Papa."
"You're a good girl, Christy. Don't forget it."
I knew that the conversation continued but my father was ripped from me and pulled away by some invisible force. I screamed and fought to run after him but couldn't, something was holding me back.or rather someone was holding me back.
~*~
I woke up to someone shaking me. Jack was leaning over me looking very disgruntled. "You know that if you didn't want me to be in here, I would have bunked on the floor, lass," he said gruffly.
I rubbed my eyes and sat up. "Huh?" I asked confused.
"You kicked me out of bed.literally. I'm sound asleep and then someone's foot plants itself into my body and shoves. I really appreciate the warning about you kicking in your sleep. You should have told me," Jack pouted.
I sat up on the bed and said, "I usually don't, Captain Sparrow. But I was having a nightmare. Or really a dream about my father.but he was taken away from me. I don't really know but it was some memories that I had forgotten."
"And that would be?"
Remembering the dream, I decided to be vague. "It didn't really make a great deal of sense. I was little. But the part that I kicked you was because someone took my father away from me and I was trying to get him back. But it was just a dream. Nothing important."
Jack stared at me for a moment before lying back down and going to sleep.
~*~
The next day, I was in the galley with Colin when Anamaria came down to get me. I had forgotten that I was supposed to talk to Jean today about the riddle/poem.
As the three of us walked to Jack's cabin, I tried in vain to quell some of the animosity between Anamaria and myself.
"It's a lovely day today, wouldn't you say so, Anamaria?" I asked politely.
"Aye.perfect day for young ladies to take a swim," she hissed back.
Shot down from my attempt at mending fences, I sighed. What was it that she held against me so much? Was it still what I had said the first night? Because if it was, I would not be apologizing for that. I felt no remorse for saying what I had and I would have liked to say more than I had. However, I knew that that would not be a wise move. Maybe she thought there was something between Jack and me.that might be why she was so catty towards me.
I followed, absorbed in my thoughts until we reached the cabin. The sound of Anamaria knocking on the door jolted me out of my reverie and I focused now on keeping a quick mind about whatever would happen next.
I walked in to the cabin followed by Colin and listened as the door shut. Quickly I located Jean and Jack.they were standing by the desk hovering over a piece of paper.
"What's going on?" I asked cautiously.
"Come here," Jack said calmly.
I slowly obeyed.
"Have you seen this before?" Jack asked.
"What?" I asked bemused.
"This letter.it's addressed to you. But it doesn't make sense. There isn't a signature or anything. It is a list of things and names.can you understand it?"
I took the piece of parchment and sat down. Over and over I pored over the paper not understanding much of it but enough to get a general idea. From what I could tell, it was another riddle.full of warnings and dangers that lie in the place where the treasure was buried but it didn't make any sense.
I looked from Jack to Jean and shook my head.
"Chreestina, tu as comprends ce lettre?" Jean asked.
"Non, Monsieur Jean, je ne comprend pas," I said before turning to Jack. "It doesn't make any sense to me, and with that, I turned and left the room at a run. 'Okay, so I'm a bad liar,' I thought as I ran from the room, that's not the end of the world.
I was so confused. My mind was reeling and I tried to ignore the footsteps behind me. Finally, I ended up at the rail in the front of the Pearl. I stared down, not really seeing anything below me. Those footsteps stopped.I didn't need to turn around to see who it was but instead I focused all my energy on ignoring him.Jack.
"What's next, Christina?" I heard him ask.
I didn't bother to answer. I didn't know and I doubted that I would have told him even if I had all the answers in the world.
A few more footsteps and a warm hand made itself at home on my shoulder. I made an effort to shrug it off but it wouldn't budge.
"What's next, Miss Smit?" the voice persisted.
I squeezed my eyes shut at the sound of that name.that identity that I had assumed was mine for the last twenty years of my life.that name that stirred memories all to fresh and painful.
Still the weight resting on my shoulder was there. Didn't this man know how to take a hint? A few more silent seconds elapsed.
Finally, feeling a little more than frustrated, I whirled around to face Jack. "I don't know what's bloody next! Okay! Happy, now?" I screamed.
Jack didn't look hardly phased. He winced slightly at how loudly I was yelling in a close proximity to his ears but didn't try to stop my rant.
His lack of response only served to make me madder. "I have no clue! I'm not so sure of who I even am! Am I Christina Smit, a merchant's daughter from a good respectable family or am I Christina Delcot, a pirate's daughter who made his fortune by stealing from innocents? A year ago, I had a normal nice life with my mother, father, and brother. I had friends! I had a house! I had a father who was just like all the other merchants and had made a great deal of money and loved his family. Now I'm here! I don't have a family! I'm all alone in this bloody world. And you know what? It scares me! Alright?" this was all screamed in Jack's face but he didn't try to stop me or save his ears. His lack of reactions drove me on, to expel some of the emotions that had been welling up inside me for the past three weeks. "And before my mother was murdered by her-" I pointed to Anamaria "- I found out the truth about my family. I don't even know what my last name is any more. But what's in a name, right? Right?" I snorted. "If Shakespeare was so ingenious, I'd like to see him in this situation!" I screamed gesturing wildly around at my surroundings. Tears prickled in my eyes and I turned so that no one would see my weakness.
Those cursedly warm and gentle hands landed on my arms and started to lead me back to the cabin. My dulled mind barely registered the call to get back to work as I was being led away.
Once we were alone, I shrugged out of the grip and took refuge in a corner. Jack just watched me, still standing beside the door. I didn't know what he was looking for but maybe he could read me better than even I could.
"What are you staring at?" I snapped.
Hands raised and palms pointing out, Jack approached me slowly. When he was within arm's reach, he said, "What am I staring at? I am staring at a beautiful, confused, intelligent young woman who is standing right in front of me, so visibly shaken. And all I want to know is why she is so."
I glared at him. "What do you want?" I asked exasperatedly. I met his dark brown gaze and some of my resolve crumbled. Tears broke through my eyes, tracing cool lines down my face.
A ring hand came up to wipe the tears from my eyes and brought its way down to linger at my chin.
I pulled away. This was too close. Even though I had been closer to this man before, I felt very uncomfortable around him right now."Leave me alone.please," I pleaded.
"What was it in that letter that scared ye so much, Christy?" Jack persisted.
I pushed past him and walked away to stare out the window. Still he followed me. "Just leave me alone, Sparrow!" I shouted. And surprise of all surprises, he didn't. Feeling angry, again, I turned to face him. "That's it! I want out! I'm done! No more!" I said hoarsely. "Drop me off at a port somewhere, I don't care! But let me go! No more deal. I won't help you find the treasure. I'm out."
"Now see, love, that's where we run into a problem," Jack explained soothingly.or as close to soothing as a pirate could manage. I glared up at him but didn't speak. "Because, the moment I was to drop you off in a port and leave, ye'd be in danger. Ye'd end up on yer back, if ye know what I mean. And then I would feel a might guilty for your lack of fortunes for the rest of me piratious life. Ye don't want me to feel guilty to ye, Christy?" Jack asked, making giant puppy dog eyes at me.
Timothy use to make that face whenever he wanted something. The thought of my brother made me smile and I shook my head. As an afterthought, I added maliciously, "Though I daresay that if a lifetime of piracy hasn't made you grow a conscience, I doubt that anything could. Even if someone were to beat you over the head with one."
"You wound me, lass," Jack replied, grinning devilishly.
"Unfortunately for me and fortunately for you, I think that it would take a lot more for me to wound you than a few caustic words on my part, Captain Sparrow," I said.
"Sticks and stones, love," Jack answered, hands dancing merrily in the sunlight flooding through the window.
For a moment, I thought about how hypnotic his hands were.they seemed to have a life of their own. Then I remembered why I was in this situation. Why my throat felt worn and my eyes burnt with tears. "Captain Sparrow," I said softly. "I don't want."
He looked as me as one looks at a stubborn child. Perhaps he saw me as one, I was probably ten years his junior. I knew that my arguments were in vain and that I could do nothing to change his position but I was too stubborn to accept.
So, a might flustered, I said again, "Captain Sparrow. Did you hear me? I don't want this any more!"
A graceful hand reached down and cushioned my chin, bringing my hazel eyes up to meet his dark ones as his other arm snaked around my waist and brought me closer to him. "What about this?" he asked in a low voice before warm lips enveloped my own.
My eyes closed on their own accord and my hands brought themselves around his neck. Strong arms encircled my waist and drew me closer. A tongue flitted against my lips and I opened my mouth. 'Ooh, he tastes good!' I thought, caught up in the heat of the moment. It was a different sensation than I had ever had before but, I had to admit it was a good one. His tongue gave my mouth the most thorough once over that it had ever been given and then started a wresting match with my own.
But before any more could happen, the door to the cabin opened and someone coughed loudly. I jerked out of Jack's grip and stared red-faced at Anamaria and another crewmember, both of whom looked like they were barely restraining laughter.
"Yes?" Jack asked, sounding annoyed.
"Yer needed on deck, sir and Ana needs to talk to you about 'er," the crewmember said, pointing at me.
I glanced nervously from Anamaria to Jack. I chewed my lip for a moment and then said, still blushing furiously, "I think I'll go.uh.see if Colin needs any help in the galley. Yeah, I better go do that.bye!" I said quickly on my way out the door.
I heard laughter and a quiet comment as I was walking away. Quickly I made my way to the galley and after jerking open the door, shut it tightly behind me.
Colin, who had his back turned, looked around to see me leaning against the door breathing heavily. He smiled and asked, "Alright there, Christina?"
I nodded.then shook my head. "I don't know," I said exasperatedly. I walked over to the roughly hewn table and sat down.
"What's wrong?" Colin asked sounding concerned.
I sighed and buried my head in my hands. "I just kissed Jack," I whispered. "And it was a good kiss too.I liked it.but Anamaria and a crewmember walked in on us. And now, everyone's going to think that I'm some two-pence whore.and.and.I'm not! Am I?"
Colin laughed and walked over to me. "Listen Christina, ye ain't a whore and don't even start a-thinkin so. Ye would be wrong if ye did. The crew.well the crew thinks the Cap'n will have forced ye on that first day so it won't mean nuffin to them."
Shock coursed though my body. "But he didn't!" I cried. "He took some liberties, but nothing more than kisses. He hasn't done anything that terrible. I swear it, I still have my honour, Colin, I swear!"
"Easy, there Christina. Ye don' need ta get all riled. I believe ye. And I know that Cap'n is a good man and he wouldn't force a woman. Like I told ye when I caught ye sneaking out of his cabin, ye needn't worry."
I sighed slightly in relief.I didn't know why but Colin's words had a healing affect on me. "Do you want any help?" I asked.
~*~
A/N: Well, I hope that this was an enjoyable chapter for all of you. I certainly am enjoying writing this story and I hope that all of you feel the same way about it. I hope that this gives a little more insight into Christina's personality.sometimes I feel like I'm not making her seem as multi-layered as people tend to be.anyways, I hope that you all liked it and PLEASE leave a review.
~ Now, I'd be much obliged if you'd drop me a review.
A/N: Okay, I know that it's been a while since I've updated but, things have been a little chaotic.plus the fact that up until Thursday, I was under lock and key. But on a much happier note, I am free now, although, I 'get' to fill in for one of my co-workers in a couple of hours.but c'est la vie and I need the money anyway. So, a big thanks to everyone who reviewed.and just as a little note, I like chocolate chip cookies and I have found that if you slide them into the floppy disk drive, they get to the person you are sending them to instantaneously, no matter where they are, and are nice and toasty. (if you believe this.wow.I have nothing else to say to you.)
So, thank you to - TriGemini, applekrisp14 and DimonahTraloh for your reviews, I really appreciate them
Last time:
Jack walked over to me and said quietly, "It ain't your fault, love. You couldn't have stopped him. He's bigger and."
But whatever else Tomas Potier was, I didn't know. I blacked out.
What's in a Name?
Chapter 6: New Experiences
~*~
It was dark when I woke up. My head felt like someone had wedged a piece of wood into it and I felt like I was spinning in very fast circles. Sitting up, I leaned my head on my hand and asked, "Where am I?" Once I saw Jack, though, I remembered. "What day is it?"
Jack, who had been at the desk, walked over and sat on the edge of the bed. He moved my hand away from my head and ran gentle fingers over the bump. I winced slightly but it felt a little good at the same time.
"You were out for a day and a half, love."
I tried to sit up again but Jack gently pushed me down. "Lie still. Do you want anything? Colin is coming in a little while so I can take the helm. He can bring you some tea or something."
I interrupted, "I'll be fine."
As I looked into Jack's dark eyes, I saw concern for me reflected back.
Colin walked in and noticed that I was conscious. "Awake there, lassie?" he asked. "'Bout time. I was wondering what it would take to get ye t'awake. I was gonna tell Jack ta kiss ye."
I scrunched my nose in disgust but Jack merely grinned mischievously.
"I hardly think that's necessary, Colin, but I appreciate the concern from both of you." I said. "What are we going to do about Tomas?" I asked after a moment's pause.
"The deal's still on.those other two.Francois and Jean.they came over to check on you a while ago. They're going to keep Tomas on their ship and if they need any information, they'll come over and talk to me and I'll be in the room with ye along with Colin. Savvy?"
I nodded. "Can I have something for my head?" I asked. "And some food?"
Colin nodded and left.
After he was gone, Jack stood and said, "Well, love, I'll go then and you'll be with Colin for a while.we don't think you should be alone till we know that you're okay."
I smiled faintly and pushed myself up a bit before saying, "Thanks for taking care of me."
Jack smiled and left.
When Colin came back, he brought some more bitter tea and bread. He sat with me for the night and when the sun had risen, he retired to sleep before making breakfast and Jack returned.
I was awake when Jack came back but as he and Colin had strictly ordered, I had not yet gotten out of bed. When he walked in, I scooted over in the bed to make room for him. I trusted him a bit more now, I mean after all he had taken care of me when I was unconscious and he was right it was a big bed.
However, Jack did not even glance at the bed. He grabbed a blanket that had been lying on a chair and lay down of the floor.
"What are you doing?" I asked quietly.
"What does it look like, love? I'm going to sleep," Jack replied.
Shaking my head slightly, I said, "You can sleep on your bed. I don't mind."
"Little more trusting now, are we, lass?"
"Aye. I figure I owe you this."
"How's the head?" Jack asked as he climbed in the bed.
"Okay.still really hurts."
"Let me feel that goose egg you got."
I slid back down and lay on my uninjured side as Jack ran his fingers along the bump. I hissed slightly in pain as he found the spot that hurt the worst. "That hurts," I said quietly.
"I could have guessed as much," Jack replied good-naturedly. "Are ye still dizzy?"
I nodded.
"Well, take it easy a while longer. I reckon that you can start moving around me cabin today.just don't even try to go on deck.don't want you washing overboard."
I nodded again and stared up at the ceiling and listened to the rhythm of Jack's breathing after he had fallen asleep.
~*~
Over the next few days, I was able to move around more. Every time I tried, either Colin or Jack was right behind me and I quickly found out why. Whenever the ship gave a lurch, I would start to fall, but always they would catch me. As the days passed, I became more comfortable with Colin but especially with Jack. He didn't seem scary any more. He still was a mystery to me, but a mystery who I could trust a tiny fraction more than I could when we met.
During the time that I couldn't really do anything, I was overcome with boredom. Whenever no one was around, I would read one of the books that Jack had despite the fact that they were rather boring. Colin and I talked and Jack and I talked often but still I had nothing really to do. Often times when I was alone, I would start to think about the way that things use to be and homesickness would almost overpower me. I often wondered idly about what had happened to my friends. And wondering about my friends would lead me to wishing and dreaming about my family and that would lead to the rest of the day being very depressed.
After a week had passed, I was allowed to move freely. My balance was still a bit off and I would drink several mugs of Colin's tea in a day to ease the pain in my head.
By the time I was back to my normal self, we had sailed around the tip of South America and were making our way steadily northwest towards Madagascar. I considered myself to be fairly lucky that I wasn't able to move about during the time when we were so far south. Colin told me that it was unbelievably cold up on deck and that the crew had to keep a sharp eye out for ice.
One night, I was sitting in the cabin reading and I realized that I had not yet told Jack what the riddle had said. Colin had just told him that it was a jumble of words he didn't understand and left it at that. I knew that to go up on deck at night would be "fair foolish" as Jack would say and so I waited until he had come back to the cabin to sleep.
It was later than usual when he returned and he opened the door quietly. The lock and key had long since been abandoned. And I hadn't even tried to escape since the night Colin and I met.granted that I'd been injured but escape was no longer first on my priority list any more. Jack walked in quietly, evidently thinking I was asleep.
"I'm awake, Jack," I said quietly.
"So ye are, lass, so ye are."
That was odd, there was something that felt wrong in his voice.
"What's wrong?" I asked as I moved over in the bed.
He sat down on the edge and removed his boots but didn't answer me.
I poked him in the back. "Hey, I asked what's wrong?"
"It's nothing, love. Those French blokes want to talk to you tomorrow it seems. But only the one, Jean, I think his name was. The brother of Tomas," Jack explained.
My heart skipped a beat. "And, you're going to let them?" I asked shakily.
"Aye. But Colin and I will be in here with you. They won't lay a hand on you, ye have my word."
"I don't trust them." I said.
"Well, you didn't trust me a little while ago and now look at you. In bed with a pirate.well, sort of," Jack replied in an easygoing voice.
I smiled faintly and said quickly, "Yes, well, this is as far as getting me into bed that you'll get, Captain Sparrow, so lets change the topic, shall we." Then I added, "And I still am not sure if I can trust you or not," I joked.
Jack roared in mock outrage and cuffed me lightly on the arm.
"Why Captain Sparrow!" I said. "I do believe that's the first time that you've struck me!" I cried in a voice of horror.
Jack did a little false bow and said stiffly, "Accept my deepest and most sincere apologies, my dear and noble woman. For I was most wrong in tapping your arm in such an inappropriate fashion. Would it be too much for me to ask for your forgiveness?"
I sniffed in a way that girls at school would do when they wanted something to go their way. "I think that that would make all the difference in the world, Captain. I hope you learned your lesson."
"Oh yes, my little poppin jay, I believe I have. Now, let me sleep in peace for I have the forgiveness of a teenaged girl who happens to be in my bed keeping me awake."
"Firstly, I am nearly twenty-one years old. And secondly, you might want to hear what I have to say. It might peak your interest slighlty."
Jack pushed himself up a bit on the bed. "And that would be?"
"Well, seeing as I was unable to tell you about the riddle that Papa left after reading it, I thought you might want to know what it said now," I said in a casual voice.
Now I had his interest. "And that would be?" he asked again, anxiously.
I sat up on the bed and leaned against the bedpost before reciting the poem.
When I had finished, Jack looked a bit puzzled. "What does it mean?" he asked slowly.
"I don't really know. I am completely in the dark about the key that I am supposedly holding to treasure and mystery. And I have no idea what the whole mystery thing is. I think the rest means that if you go looking for the treasure without a need for it or without some purpose behind the search you will fail. But I'm just not sure."
Jack didn't talk for a while. Finally he said, "I guess we're doomed to fail, then."
Grinning, I said, "No, not really, because, I only told you about it because my life was in danger. So therefore, there was greatest need. I think that we're square on that aspect. It's just the rest of it that I'm unsure of. And then the part of will cause much forlorn is a bit foreboding, if I do say so myself."
"Aye.well, I'll just sleep on that thought then, shall I? G'night lass," Jack said before lying back down.
I stared into the darkness of the cabin without really seeing anything. I was wondering about what the poem meant when I finally fell asleep.
~*~
That night, I dreamt of my childhood. Certain aspects were shown in fast motion and others in slow. The dream was mostly memories that I had long since forgotten. Memories of my father telling me stories before I went to sleep whenever I was home for the summer from school. Memories of lessons that I thought that I had never even learnt.
In one, I was sitting on my father's lap. I couldn't have been more than seven. I listened wide-eyed as he told me tales of pirates and raids and maidens. I thought that they were just stories at the time but in retrospect, they all had one character, Pierre Delcot, my father. He was telling me stories of him being a pirate the entire time. Why hadn't I realized this when I found out who he really was?
At the end of his story, he looked down at me and said, "Now, Christy, I want you to remember this, okay, lovie? Don't trust pirates. Ever. They would hurt you and you don't deserve that. Keep them thinking that your will is broken but be thinking about escape. Never stop trying to get away. I don't care if it takes years but you can never give up. Do you understand, sweet?"
My dream-self looked up at my father and said, "Yes, Papa. But I don wanna meet a pirate. Teacher said they was bad men. That they mean and rude and evil and we should never even be close to them. Is that right, Papa?"
My father chuckled and said, "You never know how close to a pirate you might be at any given time, Christy. You just have to keep a watchful eye. It may be that someone who seems like a good person is a pirate and a pirate may end up being a good person."
"Okay, Papa. But I still don wanna meet a pirate."
"I know, love. But remember the things I've taught you and even if someone hurts you, don't tell them what they want to know."
"What would they wanna know, Papa?" I asked in my childish voice.
"They would want to know where I've hidden something very valuable. But it's very dangerous and if you knew about it or told them, you could get hurt. Do you understand what I'm saying, Christy?"
"Kind of, Papa. Will someone try to get me to tell them?" I asked.
"It's possible, if they know who I am, that they might try to go after you. But you have to remember not to tell them anything about Madagascar."
"What's Madagascar?"
"It's just a place. You don't need to worry about it. If a teacher asks you about it, say you've never heard of it. Okay?"
"Yes, Papa."
"You're a good girl, Christy. Don't forget it."
I knew that the conversation continued but my father was ripped from me and pulled away by some invisible force. I screamed and fought to run after him but couldn't, something was holding me back.or rather someone was holding me back.
~*~
I woke up to someone shaking me. Jack was leaning over me looking very disgruntled. "You know that if you didn't want me to be in here, I would have bunked on the floor, lass," he said gruffly.
I rubbed my eyes and sat up. "Huh?" I asked confused.
"You kicked me out of bed.literally. I'm sound asleep and then someone's foot plants itself into my body and shoves. I really appreciate the warning about you kicking in your sleep. You should have told me," Jack pouted.
I sat up on the bed and said, "I usually don't, Captain Sparrow. But I was having a nightmare. Or really a dream about my father.but he was taken away from me. I don't really know but it was some memories that I had forgotten."
"And that would be?"
Remembering the dream, I decided to be vague. "It didn't really make a great deal of sense. I was little. But the part that I kicked you was because someone took my father away from me and I was trying to get him back. But it was just a dream. Nothing important."
Jack stared at me for a moment before lying back down and going to sleep.
~*~
The next day, I was in the galley with Colin when Anamaria came down to get me. I had forgotten that I was supposed to talk to Jean today about the riddle/poem.
As the three of us walked to Jack's cabin, I tried in vain to quell some of the animosity between Anamaria and myself.
"It's a lovely day today, wouldn't you say so, Anamaria?" I asked politely.
"Aye.perfect day for young ladies to take a swim," she hissed back.
Shot down from my attempt at mending fences, I sighed. What was it that she held against me so much? Was it still what I had said the first night? Because if it was, I would not be apologizing for that. I felt no remorse for saying what I had and I would have liked to say more than I had. However, I knew that that would not be a wise move. Maybe she thought there was something between Jack and me.that might be why she was so catty towards me.
I followed, absorbed in my thoughts until we reached the cabin. The sound of Anamaria knocking on the door jolted me out of my reverie and I focused now on keeping a quick mind about whatever would happen next.
I walked in to the cabin followed by Colin and listened as the door shut. Quickly I located Jean and Jack.they were standing by the desk hovering over a piece of paper.
"What's going on?" I asked cautiously.
"Come here," Jack said calmly.
I slowly obeyed.
"Have you seen this before?" Jack asked.
"What?" I asked bemused.
"This letter.it's addressed to you. But it doesn't make sense. There isn't a signature or anything. It is a list of things and names.can you understand it?"
I took the piece of parchment and sat down. Over and over I pored over the paper not understanding much of it but enough to get a general idea. From what I could tell, it was another riddle.full of warnings and dangers that lie in the place where the treasure was buried but it didn't make any sense.
I looked from Jack to Jean and shook my head.
"Chreestina, tu as comprends ce lettre?" Jean asked.
"Non, Monsieur Jean, je ne comprend pas," I said before turning to Jack. "It doesn't make any sense to me, and with that, I turned and left the room at a run. 'Okay, so I'm a bad liar,' I thought as I ran from the room, that's not the end of the world.
I was so confused. My mind was reeling and I tried to ignore the footsteps behind me. Finally, I ended up at the rail in the front of the Pearl. I stared down, not really seeing anything below me. Those footsteps stopped.I didn't need to turn around to see who it was but instead I focused all my energy on ignoring him.Jack.
"What's next, Christina?" I heard him ask.
I didn't bother to answer. I didn't know and I doubted that I would have told him even if I had all the answers in the world.
A few more footsteps and a warm hand made itself at home on my shoulder. I made an effort to shrug it off but it wouldn't budge.
"What's next, Miss Smit?" the voice persisted.
I squeezed my eyes shut at the sound of that name.that identity that I had assumed was mine for the last twenty years of my life.that name that stirred memories all to fresh and painful.
Still the weight resting on my shoulder was there. Didn't this man know how to take a hint? A few more silent seconds elapsed.
Finally, feeling a little more than frustrated, I whirled around to face Jack. "I don't know what's bloody next! Okay! Happy, now?" I screamed.
Jack didn't look hardly phased. He winced slightly at how loudly I was yelling in a close proximity to his ears but didn't try to stop my rant.
His lack of response only served to make me madder. "I have no clue! I'm not so sure of who I even am! Am I Christina Smit, a merchant's daughter from a good respectable family or am I Christina Delcot, a pirate's daughter who made his fortune by stealing from innocents? A year ago, I had a normal nice life with my mother, father, and brother. I had friends! I had a house! I had a father who was just like all the other merchants and had made a great deal of money and loved his family. Now I'm here! I don't have a family! I'm all alone in this bloody world. And you know what? It scares me! Alright?" this was all screamed in Jack's face but he didn't try to stop me or save his ears. His lack of reactions drove me on, to expel some of the emotions that had been welling up inside me for the past three weeks. "And before my mother was murdered by her-" I pointed to Anamaria "- I found out the truth about my family. I don't even know what my last name is any more. But what's in a name, right? Right?" I snorted. "If Shakespeare was so ingenious, I'd like to see him in this situation!" I screamed gesturing wildly around at my surroundings. Tears prickled in my eyes and I turned so that no one would see my weakness.
Those cursedly warm and gentle hands landed on my arms and started to lead me back to the cabin. My dulled mind barely registered the call to get back to work as I was being led away.
Once we were alone, I shrugged out of the grip and took refuge in a corner. Jack just watched me, still standing beside the door. I didn't know what he was looking for but maybe he could read me better than even I could.
"What are you staring at?" I snapped.
Hands raised and palms pointing out, Jack approached me slowly. When he was within arm's reach, he said, "What am I staring at? I am staring at a beautiful, confused, intelligent young woman who is standing right in front of me, so visibly shaken. And all I want to know is why she is so."
I glared at him. "What do you want?" I asked exasperatedly. I met his dark brown gaze and some of my resolve crumbled. Tears broke through my eyes, tracing cool lines down my face.
A ring hand came up to wipe the tears from my eyes and brought its way down to linger at my chin.
I pulled away. This was too close. Even though I had been closer to this man before, I felt very uncomfortable around him right now."Leave me alone.please," I pleaded.
"What was it in that letter that scared ye so much, Christy?" Jack persisted.
I pushed past him and walked away to stare out the window. Still he followed me. "Just leave me alone, Sparrow!" I shouted. And surprise of all surprises, he didn't. Feeling angry, again, I turned to face him. "That's it! I want out! I'm done! No more!" I said hoarsely. "Drop me off at a port somewhere, I don't care! But let me go! No more deal. I won't help you find the treasure. I'm out."
"Now see, love, that's where we run into a problem," Jack explained soothingly.or as close to soothing as a pirate could manage. I glared up at him but didn't speak. "Because, the moment I was to drop you off in a port and leave, ye'd be in danger. Ye'd end up on yer back, if ye know what I mean. And then I would feel a might guilty for your lack of fortunes for the rest of me piratious life. Ye don't want me to feel guilty to ye, Christy?" Jack asked, making giant puppy dog eyes at me.
Timothy use to make that face whenever he wanted something. The thought of my brother made me smile and I shook my head. As an afterthought, I added maliciously, "Though I daresay that if a lifetime of piracy hasn't made you grow a conscience, I doubt that anything could. Even if someone were to beat you over the head with one."
"You wound me, lass," Jack replied, grinning devilishly.
"Unfortunately for me and fortunately for you, I think that it would take a lot more for me to wound you than a few caustic words on my part, Captain Sparrow," I said.
"Sticks and stones, love," Jack answered, hands dancing merrily in the sunlight flooding through the window.
For a moment, I thought about how hypnotic his hands were.they seemed to have a life of their own. Then I remembered why I was in this situation. Why my throat felt worn and my eyes burnt with tears. "Captain Sparrow," I said softly. "I don't want."
He looked as me as one looks at a stubborn child. Perhaps he saw me as one, I was probably ten years his junior. I knew that my arguments were in vain and that I could do nothing to change his position but I was too stubborn to accept.
So, a might flustered, I said again, "Captain Sparrow. Did you hear me? I don't want this any more!"
A graceful hand reached down and cushioned my chin, bringing my hazel eyes up to meet his dark ones as his other arm snaked around my waist and brought me closer to him. "What about this?" he asked in a low voice before warm lips enveloped my own.
My eyes closed on their own accord and my hands brought themselves around his neck. Strong arms encircled my waist and drew me closer. A tongue flitted against my lips and I opened my mouth. 'Ooh, he tastes good!' I thought, caught up in the heat of the moment. It was a different sensation than I had ever had before but, I had to admit it was a good one. His tongue gave my mouth the most thorough once over that it had ever been given and then started a wresting match with my own.
But before any more could happen, the door to the cabin opened and someone coughed loudly. I jerked out of Jack's grip and stared red-faced at Anamaria and another crewmember, both of whom looked like they were barely restraining laughter.
"Yes?" Jack asked, sounding annoyed.
"Yer needed on deck, sir and Ana needs to talk to you about 'er," the crewmember said, pointing at me.
I glanced nervously from Anamaria to Jack. I chewed my lip for a moment and then said, still blushing furiously, "I think I'll go.uh.see if Colin needs any help in the galley. Yeah, I better go do that.bye!" I said quickly on my way out the door.
I heard laughter and a quiet comment as I was walking away. Quickly I made my way to the galley and after jerking open the door, shut it tightly behind me.
Colin, who had his back turned, looked around to see me leaning against the door breathing heavily. He smiled and asked, "Alright there, Christina?"
I nodded.then shook my head. "I don't know," I said exasperatedly. I walked over to the roughly hewn table and sat down.
"What's wrong?" Colin asked sounding concerned.
I sighed and buried my head in my hands. "I just kissed Jack," I whispered. "And it was a good kiss too.I liked it.but Anamaria and a crewmember walked in on us. And now, everyone's going to think that I'm some two-pence whore.and.and.I'm not! Am I?"
Colin laughed and walked over to me. "Listen Christina, ye ain't a whore and don't even start a-thinkin so. Ye would be wrong if ye did. The crew.well the crew thinks the Cap'n will have forced ye on that first day so it won't mean nuffin to them."
Shock coursed though my body. "But he didn't!" I cried. "He took some liberties, but nothing more than kisses. He hasn't done anything that terrible. I swear it, I still have my honour, Colin, I swear!"
"Easy, there Christina. Ye don' need ta get all riled. I believe ye. And I know that Cap'n is a good man and he wouldn't force a woman. Like I told ye when I caught ye sneaking out of his cabin, ye needn't worry."
I sighed slightly in relief.I didn't know why but Colin's words had a healing affect on me. "Do you want any help?" I asked.
~*~
A/N: Well, I hope that this was an enjoyable chapter for all of you. I certainly am enjoying writing this story and I hope that all of you feel the same way about it. I hope that this gives a little more insight into Christina's personality.sometimes I feel like I'm not making her seem as multi-layered as people tend to be.anyways, I hope that you all liked it and PLEASE leave a review.
~ Now, I'd be much obliged if you'd drop me a review.