Author's Note: Okay, just as a clarification...because a whole lot of my
reviewers asked if this was over or almost over, well, no. I've got quite
a bit more, actually and from what I've been told by a private
reader...Chase...you all should enjoy it loads...hopefully. So, sit back
and enjoy the ride because "What's in a Name?" has more surprises in store
for you!
Author Thanks:
Jinxd n cursed - Thanks for the review. Enjoy the chapter!
TriGemini - Thanks for the review. Things are progressing nicely between Jack and Christina, and she is finally starting to let go of her emotional baggage. Enjoy!
Zubachickqt4u - I hope you like dancing, lol. Thanks for the review. Nope, haven't gotten around to see the Secret Window yet. I would like to but unfortunately for me, there are only 24 hours in a day...let me know if you have a way around it. *I've heard that its good, though* Enjoy this chapter!
WeasleyGIrl - My sincere and utmost apologies, mon amie. But you gotta give me credit for thanking you for the extra scene help. Where are we gonna get The Phantom, though? That is a slight problem? If it were a canoe, we'd be good, but we gotta find a ship somewhere...Ports can be dangerousl places, lol...very dangerous for a noble person...like Elizabeth...Too right you'd send CAPTAIN Jack Sparrow to me! If you don't...Will might get into an unfortunate accident. Enjoy! *You DO NOT have permission to mutiny against me...that's cheating*
Piper8188 - Thanks for the review! I'm glad you enjoyed the extra scene! Hope you like this chapter!
Cagalli - You were about right...I wanted Jack to be around 32 or 33 because if I made him too much older then I'd start having spasms every time I wrote a love scene...THanks for the review, as always. Hope you enjoy this chapter!
movielvr - Thanks for the review! No, its not over yet. And as far as the treasure goes, Jack went back with the crew to get it while Christy was asleep after Ana died. She woke up and was staring out at the ocean when she saw Jack and the crew in the boats heading towards the Black Pearl. She has yet to actually go down and look at it but we know its there. Enjoy this chapter!
Disclaimer: I own Christina, Colin and any characters not in the movie...still no luck on owning Jack...
Last Time:
Jack gasped slightly. "That's not very nice, Christy."
I turned my head and grinned devieantly at him. "Bad luck, huh?" I slipped through Jack's arms gently, flashed a final smile and left to go down to the galley.
~*~
What's in a Name?
Chapter 17: Birthdays and Storms
Colin was already there and cleaning some dishes. I walked over to him, picked up a towel and began to help.
"Yer a wee bit later than usual, Christy," Colin said jokingly.
I blushed. "I was delayed..." I muttered, still a furious shade of red.
Colin laughed. "No worries, lass. Ye two deserve each other. 'E's stubborn as a mule and so are ye. It fits," Colin said.
I continued to blush. "Colin...I..."
"Relax lass. I'm not judging ye. 'S no one's business but the two o' ye what ye do. Don't worry 'bout me telling...ye 'aven't been any trouble ta me...don't worry 'bouts it, I figure. Christy's a smart gal, she can take care o' 'erself," Colin said calmly.
I gazed up at him. "You're a great friend, Colin. And if something should ever happen to either of us, I want you to know that."
"Ye plannin' something, miss?" Colin asked suspiciously.
I shook my head firmly. "No. Just Ana dying put things in perspective. There isn't always a chance to say 'Thank you' or 'You've been great to me', is there? You have to seize the opportunity when it presents itself."
Colin nodded silently. After a moment, he said, "Wise words for a kid," jokingly.
I stepped on his foot. "I am nearly twenty-one years old, thank ye kindly, Mister Lewis. And ye would do well to nay forget it," I said, adopting the speech of a crewmate.
Colin laughed and pushed me lightly. "Somehow ye speakin' like that don' fit...yer too proper on any other occasion, Christy."
I laughed in turn and said, "Yes, well, I suppose. But you know what? I once got my hands slapped at school because I said 'Thank ye' instead of 'Thank you' on a couple occasions. I don't know why I said it but I did, you know, and well...my grammar teacher didn't take to kindly to my impropriety, so to speak. She would look at me and say, 'Christina, you know that young ladies should use proper grammar.' But I would just look back at her, all polite like, and say 'But, I ain't a lady, ma'am. I'm a little girl!' She got riled by that...didn't appreciate it too much if I recall correctly."
"I can see ye doin' that...ye have that fiery streak in ye, from what I sees," Colin replied.
I nodded. "You have no idea how much that got me into trouble at school. One time, I got in trouble from my homemaking instructor...I think I was about 14 at the time...and I got sent to the headmistress. And the headmistress got all mad at me and gave me an enormous lecture about how I needed to respect my elders and not...what was it...not willfully destroy school property. I believe that I said, 'Is it alright, then, if I destroy school property on accident.' As you could imagine, that didn't help much. She said that she was going to send a letter home to my family, expressing concern about my attitude. Then she told me to get out of her sight. I nodded and left. But that night, I snuck out of my dormitory and broke into her office. Well, I didn't break anything, per say, but I did manage to...er...accidentally break her window. And once I had gotten in, I sort of stole the letter that she had been drafting off of her desk. Then I went back to my dormitory and threw it in the fire...Later the next day, she called me to her office and asked me if I knew anything about it. I looked her straight in the eyes and said as innocently as I could manage, 'No, ma'am. I returned to my dormitory and didn't leave at all until this morning. Besides, you told me not to willfully destroy school property and to respect my elders. So being the good girl that I am, I wouldn't dare destroy something that belonged to the school willfully...it would disrespect you.' She couldn't figure out that I was lying through my teeth. She called other girls from my dormitory down and questioned them too about my where-abouts during the night but they were all asleep. But even if they had seen me, I could justify it. Because, I had waited until it was about 1 in the morning, it was only grudgingly that I broke her window...she had already confiscated my lock-picking set...and I certainly didn't respect her in the first place...so there was nothing to disrespect!" I said, between peels of laughter.
Colin laughed and I heard his laugh be accompanied by a deeper tenor laugh. I whirled around and saw Jack standing in the door frame.
I shook my finger at him, "Its not very nice to eavesdrop, Cap'n."
Jack continued to laugh gently as he approached me. "Why Christy. Who would 'ave know that inside all the timidness and propriety was a right lil devil?"
I grinned foolishly.
Colin coughed. "I think I'll leave the two of ye alone," he said hastily before edging towards the door.
I stuck my arm out and caught him in the chest. "Don't be silly, Colin. There's nothing to leave for. Jack was just leaving...weren't you, Jack?"
"No, love. I was just coming to tell ye that that devil of a lemur of yers messed up me cabin."
I scowled. "She isn't a devil...she's a baby. She doesn't know any better."
Jack looked annoyed. "Well, then, you can clean up after yer baby...I swear I don' know why I let ye keep that beast..." he growled.
I smiled up at him, "Oh, don't bother, Jack. I know that you happen to be fond of her too. Otherwise you wouldn't have brought it back with me."
Jack rolled his eyes. "Ye know, it's not nice to call a bluff, Christy."
I hit him lightly in the stomach, "Well, its not very nice to keep following me when you should be steering the ship."
Jack rolled his eyes once more and left.
I turned to Colin, who was looking at me as though he knew something I didn't.
"What?" I asked.
Colin smirked. "Nothin' miss. Just thinkin' o' a joke Gibbs be tellin' me last night."
"Liar!" I cried, playfully throwing a towel at him.
"Pirate!"
I scowled. "Well, I best be getting up to Jack's cabin and clean up whatever mess Chaton made now," I said before leaving.
~*~
Once I had gotten back, I looked in and saw that Chaton had spilled the maps off the table but hadn't done anything else. Kneeling down, I gathered the papers, quickly straightening them before placing them back on the desk.
Scowling slightly, I made a mental note to tell Jack that Chaton had not made all the mess that he made it seem to be. As I turned to go, an arm snaked around my waist. I laughed inwardly. So this is what Colin was laughing at me about...But now how do I react? Shall I be evil to Jack...or play the good girl.
I smiled as Jack pulled me against him. "You know, Captain Sparrow," I said jokingly. "Its not very nice to plant false evidence."
Jack laughed slightly. "Okay, so ye found me out. Christy, ye ruin all me fun!" he said, burying his face in my hair.
I twisted in his arms and grinned devilishly. "What type of fun were you trying for, Jack?" I asked, flirtatiously putting my hands on his chest.
Jack smiled down at me. "Oh, ye know what type of fun I was wanting, Christy."
In a split second, I decided to be a bit evil...just to see what he would do. I ran my hands up and down his muscled chest. Standing up on my toes, I leaned in to kiss him lightly. After we broke apart, I pulled easily out of his grip and said, "Have fun cleaning, Jack," before I walked towards the door.
Jack caught me up in his arms and carried me over to the bed before dropping me on it. I scrambled into a sitting position before Jack himself sat down. "Not nice to tease, young missy," Jack scolded in a pseudo-stern voice as he shook one ringed finger at me scoldingly.
I grinned at him for a moment before reaching over and pushing him lightly back. Seizing my chance, I scrambled off of the bed...or at least I tried. Jack was much faster than me and caught my leg. I clawed at the bed as he pulled me back in easily.
"Lemme go, Jack," I hissed.
Jack merely pulled me back against him and I stopped struggling. I leaned back against his chest and relaxed.
"You know that you're terrible, don't you?" I whispered conspiratorially.
Jack put his lips near my ear, "Oh, yes, I know, love."
I shuddered as his lips brushed my ears. The warmth of his breath sent pleasant chills down my spine!
The bed shifted as Jack moved from the bed. He moved to the table and retrieved two mugs. I raised a questioning eyebrow but didn't say anything as Jack went to his sea chest and got a bottle. He came back over to the bed, wine in hand and sat back down.
I watched silently as he uncorked the bottle with his teeth and poured us each a glass. I accepted the rum graciously and drank silently, enjoying the flavour.
All of a sudden, there was a knock on the door.
"Enter," Jack called.
I watched as the door swung open. Colin came in, carrying a tray of food...food that just happened to be my favourites. I grinned, catching on to part of Jack's plan. He was going to try to get me to let him off the hook for going to Hawaii.
I smiled, shaking my head, "If you think this'll get you off the hook for going to Hawaii...then you're wrong, Captain."
Jack laughed as Colin set down the tray. He muttered something that sounded like, "We'll see," under his breath before taking a long draft from his rum.
Chaton chose that exact moment to launch herself onto Jack. Seizing one of the beads in his hair, she pulled violently.
Jack cursed and tried to get her off but she wouldn't let go.
Laughing, I moved over to him and gently pried my lemur off of him. I brought her back over with me and she sat calmly in my lap as I stroked her absently with one hand.
Jack, after fixing his bead, "Honestly. What is is with me and monkeys?"
"She isn't a monkey, Jack. She's a lemur. And a baby at that," I chided.
Jack growled under his breath and pulled me closer to him. Just as I was running my hand down Chaton's back, Jack began running his hand down my back, in turn. It felt blessedly warm and I wanted to melt into his touch.
I moved closer and leaned my head onto his shoulder. Jack's other arm rested around my waist, tattooed side staring up at me. Absently, I traced the tattoo of the sparrow and the pirate brand. "Did that hurt?" I asked, my fingers lingering on the brand.
"For a bit. Nothing too bad, though. Nothing a man can't handle," Jack said in a strong, overly confident voice.
I snorted quietly at this declaration and continued to trace it with my finger.
By now, Chaton had become bored with me and scampered off to play with some device that Jack had on a shelf. With her out of the way, Jack pulled me into his lap and into a kiss.
After a moment, Chaton started shrieking wildly and throwing things at us. I pushed myself out of Jack's lap and retrieved the problem. "Perhaps we ought to eat," I suggested.
Jack nodded, looking visibly put out but moved to the table.
Colin had done an excellent job preparing the food. Golden bread, roast fish, and fruit...the aromas wafted up to my nose, enticing my senses. I sat down across from Jack, keeping Chaton in my lap. To placate the little devil, I fed her fruit with one hand as I ate silently. Jack poured rum into mugs and handed me one. I took it wordlessly, absorbed in my own world.
After about ten minutes or so of silence, I asked, "Jack, what day is it?" I knew that it sounded like an odd question...but I had lost track of the days and I didn't even know if I'd had my birthday yet.
Jack answered, "May 24th, love. Why do you ask?"
I grinned. "I turned twenty-one yesterday...and I didn't even know it. I think I must be crazy."
"Birthdays, I love birthdays, drinks all around!" Jack chanted before taking a draft from his mug.
I smiled broadly and took a drink from my own. "You know, I never would have thought that I would be spending my twenty-first birthday on a pirate ship, heading for some island I've never heard of, with a pirate captain lover to boot!" I said laughing. "And you know what? I like it! I really do! If I were home, my birthday would entail sitting at home with my family and some friends talking about things like politics and who was marrying who."
Jack laughed. "Some how, I don't see ye doing that too well, love."
I nodded. "Oh, I didn't. I would doze off...I'd get so bored! My father got so upset with me one year because I stormed out of the party because all that was discussed was whether or not the Countess of Something or Other would be visiting the next of our sorted affairs. I was so bored that I couldn't take it any longer so I ran out of the room and into the wooded area behind our home. Papa gave my ears such a thorough boxing that they stung for two days. He kept saying that something bad could have happened to me...that I could have been killed or violated or something. I was so mad at him that I was tempted to run away but I couldn't because one of the butlers had to stand guard outside of my door and another below my window. So I was stuck. But, it ended up fine, all the same. I survived to another birthday and managed not to make an idiot of myself at that party..."
Jack laughed richly, his deep tenor of a laugh rising above my own mezzo- soprano one.
Jack tossed a bit of bread at me playfully. It hit my arm lightly and fell to the floor. Chaton lept off of my shoulder and scurried at the floor to pick it up and eat it. I grinned and picked up a piece of my own fish and threw it back at him. My aim, for once in my life, held true. The bit of fish hit Jack smack in the forehead! I laughed even heartier.
Jack scowled slightly and wiped the fish juice off of his forehead. "Now that's not very nice," he murmured.
"Well, I guess I'm not that nice of a person," I said, stifling laughs.
The remainder of the night passed rather easily. Jack and I relished each other's company. As the night passed, we both became steadily more drunk and once more, I made a complete idiot of myself, as I was prone to do when drunk.
Jack and I talked wildly about exceptionally obscure topics, culminating in a spirited discussion of sea turtles. I drank so much that soon enough, I passed out.
~*~
Fortunately enough for me, I did manage to convince Jack that a trip to Hawaii would do some good for all of us...but it did take a great deal of bargaining and...well...work...on my part.
~*~
A week later, we were steadily making our ways towards Hawaii. I woke up that morning in the bed by myself. Stretching, I rolled out of bed and made my way barefooted out to the deck to watch the sunrise. Of late, it had become my custom, a new addiction or fascination of mine.
The morning was crisp and chilly. The ocean was choppy today. I had to keep a tight grip on the rail as I stood at the prow...so as to not fall overboard.
As I watched the sun charge in, waving a bloody flag, the back of my mind recalled the old adage, "Red skies at night, sailor's delight. Red skies come morning, sailor's take warning." Unlike most days, it was not at all a fresh morning. The sky had the colour of dirty dishwater and the ocean followed suit. The longer I stood, the colder it got and the more fiercely the wind blew.
"Get inside, missy, now!" Gibbs called from the helm.
I whirled around and saw him with Jack at the wheel. I made my way carefully up to him. "What's going on?!" I called over the wind.
"Storm's coming! Get in the cabin, Christy!" Jack ordered.
"I can help! You need extra hands," I cried. Adding in my head, 'With Ana gone.' My hair, which I had left loose today, whipped around me.
"NO! Get inside!" Jack bellowed.
Frustrated, I cried, "I can bloody help!"
Jack passed the wheel to Gibbs and quickly grasped my upper arms in a fiercely tight grip. I fought to get away but I wasn't nearly strong enough. Jack swiftly guided me back to his cabin. Once we were inside, he released me.
"Jack, I can help!" I said, once I had pulled considerably away.
"Christy, have you ever been in a storm on the ocean?" Jack asked seriously.
I shook my head, a silent 'no.'
Jack nodded sanctimoniously. "Didn't think so. Love, ye'd be washed over in no time. That tiny body o' yers would get tossed about like a rag doll."
I scowled up at Jack and opened my mouth.
Jack quelled my speech by placing a finger gently on my lips. "Listen, darling, if that storm is nearly as bad as I imagine it will be, I won't have time to keep an eye on you or save you if you get washed overboard," Jack said in a quietly serious voice. His hands didn't even give their usual performance as he spoke.
Some of the seriousness of the situation washed over me but still, I scowled. I never liked people telling me not to do something. I opened my mouth to protest but Jack pulled me to him and kissed me passionately.
But as soon as it began, the kiss was over. Jack strode out of the room and I stood unbalanced for a moment. Before he shut me in, he turned, "Do us a favour, stay here and try not to do anything stupid."
The door snapped shut and I heard the lock click into place.
My mind re-engaged and I went over to the door and pounded hard on it. It wouldn't budge.
I heard Jack give the order of "All hands on deck!"
The crew thumped past the door. I pounded and screamed for someone to let me out but they just continued thumping past.
I screamed in frustration, stormed over to the desk and pushed the papers off violently.
Before I could continue my angry rampage, the floor dropped. I fell in a crumpled heap, narrowly missing a collision with the desk. On the way down, Chaton shrieked wildly as the ship crashed against the waves.
Pushing myself up, I made my way over to the bed. I perched nervously on the bed. Chaton was still screeching and I whistled low to call her. She scampered over immediately and sat in my lap. Every time the ship fell with the increasingly violent waves, she screamed wildly. I tried frantically to quiet her, my head was starting to ache from the constant noise.
I stared out of the window, trying to discern something in the blackness outside of the window. All of a sudden, lightning split the sky. So bright was the fawke of lightning that I could see it emblazoned on my eyelids. Almost immediately afterwards, thunder roared angrily in response. The sky opened up and I could hear the wind and rain lashing out against our ship. It was so violent out that I wondered if we could make it through the storm in one piece. I could hear the shouts filtering down from the decks.
The ship dropped deeply and Chaton bit my hand in surprise. The waves keep getting worse and more violent. It was a strain for me to keep from loosing what little food in my stomach. Clutching my stomach, I lay back on the bed. Eventually, I dozed off.
~*~
Author's Note - Hope that you all enjoyed this chapter! Reviews are always a nice way of rewarding an author that you like, hint hint. Next chapter probably around Sunday or Monday.
Check out Pirates of the Caribbean: The Aftermath by the QuidditchGals...Great story, really underappreciated...its on my favourites list.
~CrazyCanoeingGIT
Author Thanks:
Jinxd n cursed - Thanks for the review. Enjoy the chapter!
TriGemini - Thanks for the review. Things are progressing nicely between Jack and Christina, and she is finally starting to let go of her emotional baggage. Enjoy!
Zubachickqt4u - I hope you like dancing, lol. Thanks for the review. Nope, haven't gotten around to see the Secret Window yet. I would like to but unfortunately for me, there are only 24 hours in a day...let me know if you have a way around it. *I've heard that its good, though* Enjoy this chapter!
WeasleyGIrl - My sincere and utmost apologies, mon amie. But you gotta give me credit for thanking you for the extra scene help. Where are we gonna get The Phantom, though? That is a slight problem? If it were a canoe, we'd be good, but we gotta find a ship somewhere...Ports can be dangerousl places, lol...very dangerous for a noble person...like Elizabeth...Too right you'd send CAPTAIN Jack Sparrow to me! If you don't...Will might get into an unfortunate accident. Enjoy! *You DO NOT have permission to mutiny against me...that's cheating*
Piper8188 - Thanks for the review! I'm glad you enjoyed the extra scene! Hope you like this chapter!
Cagalli - You were about right...I wanted Jack to be around 32 or 33 because if I made him too much older then I'd start having spasms every time I wrote a love scene...THanks for the review, as always. Hope you enjoy this chapter!
movielvr - Thanks for the review! No, its not over yet. And as far as the treasure goes, Jack went back with the crew to get it while Christy was asleep after Ana died. She woke up and was staring out at the ocean when she saw Jack and the crew in the boats heading towards the Black Pearl. She has yet to actually go down and look at it but we know its there. Enjoy this chapter!
Disclaimer: I own Christina, Colin and any characters not in the movie...still no luck on owning Jack...
Last Time:
Jack gasped slightly. "That's not very nice, Christy."
I turned my head and grinned devieantly at him. "Bad luck, huh?" I slipped through Jack's arms gently, flashed a final smile and left to go down to the galley.
~*~
What's in a Name?
Chapter 17: Birthdays and Storms
Colin was already there and cleaning some dishes. I walked over to him, picked up a towel and began to help.
"Yer a wee bit later than usual, Christy," Colin said jokingly.
I blushed. "I was delayed..." I muttered, still a furious shade of red.
Colin laughed. "No worries, lass. Ye two deserve each other. 'E's stubborn as a mule and so are ye. It fits," Colin said.
I continued to blush. "Colin...I..."
"Relax lass. I'm not judging ye. 'S no one's business but the two o' ye what ye do. Don't worry 'bout me telling...ye 'aven't been any trouble ta me...don't worry 'bouts it, I figure. Christy's a smart gal, she can take care o' 'erself," Colin said calmly.
I gazed up at him. "You're a great friend, Colin. And if something should ever happen to either of us, I want you to know that."
"Ye plannin' something, miss?" Colin asked suspiciously.
I shook my head firmly. "No. Just Ana dying put things in perspective. There isn't always a chance to say 'Thank you' or 'You've been great to me', is there? You have to seize the opportunity when it presents itself."
Colin nodded silently. After a moment, he said, "Wise words for a kid," jokingly.
I stepped on his foot. "I am nearly twenty-one years old, thank ye kindly, Mister Lewis. And ye would do well to nay forget it," I said, adopting the speech of a crewmate.
Colin laughed and pushed me lightly. "Somehow ye speakin' like that don' fit...yer too proper on any other occasion, Christy."
I laughed in turn and said, "Yes, well, I suppose. But you know what? I once got my hands slapped at school because I said 'Thank ye' instead of 'Thank you' on a couple occasions. I don't know why I said it but I did, you know, and well...my grammar teacher didn't take to kindly to my impropriety, so to speak. She would look at me and say, 'Christina, you know that young ladies should use proper grammar.' But I would just look back at her, all polite like, and say 'But, I ain't a lady, ma'am. I'm a little girl!' She got riled by that...didn't appreciate it too much if I recall correctly."
"I can see ye doin' that...ye have that fiery streak in ye, from what I sees," Colin replied.
I nodded. "You have no idea how much that got me into trouble at school. One time, I got in trouble from my homemaking instructor...I think I was about 14 at the time...and I got sent to the headmistress. And the headmistress got all mad at me and gave me an enormous lecture about how I needed to respect my elders and not...what was it...not willfully destroy school property. I believe that I said, 'Is it alright, then, if I destroy school property on accident.' As you could imagine, that didn't help much. She said that she was going to send a letter home to my family, expressing concern about my attitude. Then she told me to get out of her sight. I nodded and left. But that night, I snuck out of my dormitory and broke into her office. Well, I didn't break anything, per say, but I did manage to...er...accidentally break her window. And once I had gotten in, I sort of stole the letter that she had been drafting off of her desk. Then I went back to my dormitory and threw it in the fire...Later the next day, she called me to her office and asked me if I knew anything about it. I looked her straight in the eyes and said as innocently as I could manage, 'No, ma'am. I returned to my dormitory and didn't leave at all until this morning. Besides, you told me not to willfully destroy school property and to respect my elders. So being the good girl that I am, I wouldn't dare destroy something that belonged to the school willfully...it would disrespect you.' She couldn't figure out that I was lying through my teeth. She called other girls from my dormitory down and questioned them too about my where-abouts during the night but they were all asleep. But even if they had seen me, I could justify it. Because, I had waited until it was about 1 in the morning, it was only grudgingly that I broke her window...she had already confiscated my lock-picking set...and I certainly didn't respect her in the first place...so there was nothing to disrespect!" I said, between peels of laughter.
Colin laughed and I heard his laugh be accompanied by a deeper tenor laugh. I whirled around and saw Jack standing in the door frame.
I shook my finger at him, "Its not very nice to eavesdrop, Cap'n."
Jack continued to laugh gently as he approached me. "Why Christy. Who would 'ave know that inside all the timidness and propriety was a right lil devil?"
I grinned foolishly.
Colin coughed. "I think I'll leave the two of ye alone," he said hastily before edging towards the door.
I stuck my arm out and caught him in the chest. "Don't be silly, Colin. There's nothing to leave for. Jack was just leaving...weren't you, Jack?"
"No, love. I was just coming to tell ye that that devil of a lemur of yers messed up me cabin."
I scowled. "She isn't a devil...she's a baby. She doesn't know any better."
Jack looked annoyed. "Well, then, you can clean up after yer baby...I swear I don' know why I let ye keep that beast..." he growled.
I smiled up at him, "Oh, don't bother, Jack. I know that you happen to be fond of her too. Otherwise you wouldn't have brought it back with me."
Jack rolled his eyes. "Ye know, it's not nice to call a bluff, Christy."
I hit him lightly in the stomach, "Well, its not very nice to keep following me when you should be steering the ship."
Jack rolled his eyes once more and left.
I turned to Colin, who was looking at me as though he knew something I didn't.
"What?" I asked.
Colin smirked. "Nothin' miss. Just thinkin' o' a joke Gibbs be tellin' me last night."
"Liar!" I cried, playfully throwing a towel at him.
"Pirate!"
I scowled. "Well, I best be getting up to Jack's cabin and clean up whatever mess Chaton made now," I said before leaving.
~*~
Once I had gotten back, I looked in and saw that Chaton had spilled the maps off the table but hadn't done anything else. Kneeling down, I gathered the papers, quickly straightening them before placing them back on the desk.
Scowling slightly, I made a mental note to tell Jack that Chaton had not made all the mess that he made it seem to be. As I turned to go, an arm snaked around my waist. I laughed inwardly. So this is what Colin was laughing at me about...But now how do I react? Shall I be evil to Jack...or play the good girl.
I smiled as Jack pulled me against him. "You know, Captain Sparrow," I said jokingly. "Its not very nice to plant false evidence."
Jack laughed slightly. "Okay, so ye found me out. Christy, ye ruin all me fun!" he said, burying his face in my hair.
I twisted in his arms and grinned devilishly. "What type of fun were you trying for, Jack?" I asked, flirtatiously putting my hands on his chest.
Jack smiled down at me. "Oh, ye know what type of fun I was wanting, Christy."
In a split second, I decided to be a bit evil...just to see what he would do. I ran my hands up and down his muscled chest. Standing up on my toes, I leaned in to kiss him lightly. After we broke apart, I pulled easily out of his grip and said, "Have fun cleaning, Jack," before I walked towards the door.
Jack caught me up in his arms and carried me over to the bed before dropping me on it. I scrambled into a sitting position before Jack himself sat down. "Not nice to tease, young missy," Jack scolded in a pseudo-stern voice as he shook one ringed finger at me scoldingly.
I grinned at him for a moment before reaching over and pushing him lightly back. Seizing my chance, I scrambled off of the bed...or at least I tried. Jack was much faster than me and caught my leg. I clawed at the bed as he pulled me back in easily.
"Lemme go, Jack," I hissed.
Jack merely pulled me back against him and I stopped struggling. I leaned back against his chest and relaxed.
"You know that you're terrible, don't you?" I whispered conspiratorially.
Jack put his lips near my ear, "Oh, yes, I know, love."
I shuddered as his lips brushed my ears. The warmth of his breath sent pleasant chills down my spine!
The bed shifted as Jack moved from the bed. He moved to the table and retrieved two mugs. I raised a questioning eyebrow but didn't say anything as Jack went to his sea chest and got a bottle. He came back over to the bed, wine in hand and sat back down.
I watched silently as he uncorked the bottle with his teeth and poured us each a glass. I accepted the rum graciously and drank silently, enjoying the flavour.
All of a sudden, there was a knock on the door.
"Enter," Jack called.
I watched as the door swung open. Colin came in, carrying a tray of food...food that just happened to be my favourites. I grinned, catching on to part of Jack's plan. He was going to try to get me to let him off the hook for going to Hawaii.
I smiled, shaking my head, "If you think this'll get you off the hook for going to Hawaii...then you're wrong, Captain."
Jack laughed as Colin set down the tray. He muttered something that sounded like, "We'll see," under his breath before taking a long draft from his rum.
Chaton chose that exact moment to launch herself onto Jack. Seizing one of the beads in his hair, she pulled violently.
Jack cursed and tried to get her off but she wouldn't let go.
Laughing, I moved over to him and gently pried my lemur off of him. I brought her back over with me and she sat calmly in my lap as I stroked her absently with one hand.
Jack, after fixing his bead, "Honestly. What is is with me and monkeys?"
"She isn't a monkey, Jack. She's a lemur. And a baby at that," I chided.
Jack growled under his breath and pulled me closer to him. Just as I was running my hand down Chaton's back, Jack began running his hand down my back, in turn. It felt blessedly warm and I wanted to melt into his touch.
I moved closer and leaned my head onto his shoulder. Jack's other arm rested around my waist, tattooed side staring up at me. Absently, I traced the tattoo of the sparrow and the pirate brand. "Did that hurt?" I asked, my fingers lingering on the brand.
"For a bit. Nothing too bad, though. Nothing a man can't handle," Jack said in a strong, overly confident voice.
I snorted quietly at this declaration and continued to trace it with my finger.
By now, Chaton had become bored with me and scampered off to play with some device that Jack had on a shelf. With her out of the way, Jack pulled me into his lap and into a kiss.
After a moment, Chaton started shrieking wildly and throwing things at us. I pushed myself out of Jack's lap and retrieved the problem. "Perhaps we ought to eat," I suggested.
Jack nodded, looking visibly put out but moved to the table.
Colin had done an excellent job preparing the food. Golden bread, roast fish, and fruit...the aromas wafted up to my nose, enticing my senses. I sat down across from Jack, keeping Chaton in my lap. To placate the little devil, I fed her fruit with one hand as I ate silently. Jack poured rum into mugs and handed me one. I took it wordlessly, absorbed in my own world.
After about ten minutes or so of silence, I asked, "Jack, what day is it?" I knew that it sounded like an odd question...but I had lost track of the days and I didn't even know if I'd had my birthday yet.
Jack answered, "May 24th, love. Why do you ask?"
I grinned. "I turned twenty-one yesterday...and I didn't even know it. I think I must be crazy."
"Birthdays, I love birthdays, drinks all around!" Jack chanted before taking a draft from his mug.
I smiled broadly and took a drink from my own. "You know, I never would have thought that I would be spending my twenty-first birthday on a pirate ship, heading for some island I've never heard of, with a pirate captain lover to boot!" I said laughing. "And you know what? I like it! I really do! If I were home, my birthday would entail sitting at home with my family and some friends talking about things like politics and who was marrying who."
Jack laughed. "Some how, I don't see ye doing that too well, love."
I nodded. "Oh, I didn't. I would doze off...I'd get so bored! My father got so upset with me one year because I stormed out of the party because all that was discussed was whether or not the Countess of Something or Other would be visiting the next of our sorted affairs. I was so bored that I couldn't take it any longer so I ran out of the room and into the wooded area behind our home. Papa gave my ears such a thorough boxing that they stung for two days. He kept saying that something bad could have happened to me...that I could have been killed or violated or something. I was so mad at him that I was tempted to run away but I couldn't because one of the butlers had to stand guard outside of my door and another below my window. So I was stuck. But, it ended up fine, all the same. I survived to another birthday and managed not to make an idiot of myself at that party..."
Jack laughed richly, his deep tenor of a laugh rising above my own mezzo- soprano one.
Jack tossed a bit of bread at me playfully. It hit my arm lightly and fell to the floor. Chaton lept off of my shoulder and scurried at the floor to pick it up and eat it. I grinned and picked up a piece of my own fish and threw it back at him. My aim, for once in my life, held true. The bit of fish hit Jack smack in the forehead! I laughed even heartier.
Jack scowled slightly and wiped the fish juice off of his forehead. "Now that's not very nice," he murmured.
"Well, I guess I'm not that nice of a person," I said, stifling laughs.
The remainder of the night passed rather easily. Jack and I relished each other's company. As the night passed, we both became steadily more drunk and once more, I made a complete idiot of myself, as I was prone to do when drunk.
Jack and I talked wildly about exceptionally obscure topics, culminating in a spirited discussion of sea turtles. I drank so much that soon enough, I passed out.
~*~
Fortunately enough for me, I did manage to convince Jack that a trip to Hawaii would do some good for all of us...but it did take a great deal of bargaining and...well...work...on my part.
~*~
A week later, we were steadily making our ways towards Hawaii. I woke up that morning in the bed by myself. Stretching, I rolled out of bed and made my way barefooted out to the deck to watch the sunrise. Of late, it had become my custom, a new addiction or fascination of mine.
The morning was crisp and chilly. The ocean was choppy today. I had to keep a tight grip on the rail as I stood at the prow...so as to not fall overboard.
As I watched the sun charge in, waving a bloody flag, the back of my mind recalled the old adage, "Red skies at night, sailor's delight. Red skies come morning, sailor's take warning." Unlike most days, it was not at all a fresh morning. The sky had the colour of dirty dishwater and the ocean followed suit. The longer I stood, the colder it got and the more fiercely the wind blew.
"Get inside, missy, now!" Gibbs called from the helm.
I whirled around and saw him with Jack at the wheel. I made my way carefully up to him. "What's going on?!" I called over the wind.
"Storm's coming! Get in the cabin, Christy!" Jack ordered.
"I can help! You need extra hands," I cried. Adding in my head, 'With Ana gone.' My hair, which I had left loose today, whipped around me.
"NO! Get inside!" Jack bellowed.
Frustrated, I cried, "I can bloody help!"
Jack passed the wheel to Gibbs and quickly grasped my upper arms in a fiercely tight grip. I fought to get away but I wasn't nearly strong enough. Jack swiftly guided me back to his cabin. Once we were inside, he released me.
"Jack, I can help!" I said, once I had pulled considerably away.
"Christy, have you ever been in a storm on the ocean?" Jack asked seriously.
I shook my head, a silent 'no.'
Jack nodded sanctimoniously. "Didn't think so. Love, ye'd be washed over in no time. That tiny body o' yers would get tossed about like a rag doll."
I scowled up at Jack and opened my mouth.
Jack quelled my speech by placing a finger gently on my lips. "Listen, darling, if that storm is nearly as bad as I imagine it will be, I won't have time to keep an eye on you or save you if you get washed overboard," Jack said in a quietly serious voice. His hands didn't even give their usual performance as he spoke.
Some of the seriousness of the situation washed over me but still, I scowled. I never liked people telling me not to do something. I opened my mouth to protest but Jack pulled me to him and kissed me passionately.
But as soon as it began, the kiss was over. Jack strode out of the room and I stood unbalanced for a moment. Before he shut me in, he turned, "Do us a favour, stay here and try not to do anything stupid."
The door snapped shut and I heard the lock click into place.
My mind re-engaged and I went over to the door and pounded hard on it. It wouldn't budge.
I heard Jack give the order of "All hands on deck!"
The crew thumped past the door. I pounded and screamed for someone to let me out but they just continued thumping past.
I screamed in frustration, stormed over to the desk and pushed the papers off violently.
Before I could continue my angry rampage, the floor dropped. I fell in a crumpled heap, narrowly missing a collision with the desk. On the way down, Chaton shrieked wildly as the ship crashed against the waves.
Pushing myself up, I made my way over to the bed. I perched nervously on the bed. Chaton was still screeching and I whistled low to call her. She scampered over immediately and sat in my lap. Every time the ship fell with the increasingly violent waves, she screamed wildly. I tried frantically to quiet her, my head was starting to ache from the constant noise.
I stared out of the window, trying to discern something in the blackness outside of the window. All of a sudden, lightning split the sky. So bright was the fawke of lightning that I could see it emblazoned on my eyelids. Almost immediately afterwards, thunder roared angrily in response. The sky opened up and I could hear the wind and rain lashing out against our ship. It was so violent out that I wondered if we could make it through the storm in one piece. I could hear the shouts filtering down from the decks.
The ship dropped deeply and Chaton bit my hand in surprise. The waves keep getting worse and more violent. It was a strain for me to keep from loosing what little food in my stomach. Clutching my stomach, I lay back on the bed. Eventually, I dozed off.
~*~
Author's Note - Hope that you all enjoyed this chapter! Reviews are always a nice way of rewarding an author that you like, hint hint. Next chapter probably around Sunday or Monday.
Check out Pirates of the Caribbean: The Aftermath by the QuidditchGals...Great story, really underappreciated...its on my favourites list.
~CrazyCanoeingGIT