[a/n1: This goes in a few days after Jack died in the previous chapter and before Ana and Jewel left the Pearl, okay? Sorry if it's confusing, but the muse just got this idea and withheld other things for ransom until this was written and posted.]
Part 2.75 – Acquiesces to Requests
The Black Pearl bobbed atop the gently rolling waves of the Caribbean, but there was a different ambience about her this night: her sails hung rather limply, flapping listlessly in the gentle night breeze and she rode low in the water. Instead of playing the part of the mighty pirate ship that was feared across the world she played more like a small fishing rig that had taken a beating in a hurricane and lived to tell the tale.
This weakness—this vulnerability—lay in a great loss both the ship and crew had suffered not long ago: the loss of their rather flippant captain.
The Black Pearl glided lethargically over the dark waters, moving slowly as if her hull were covered in barnacles. All on board noticed that the ride was rougher than ever before and yet the fault did not lie in the helmsman, for she was well-versed in her job.
No, it was the dark lady mourning her loss and rebelling any way she could.
With a sigh, Ana cast a sad look up to the stars and silently begged to be woken from this nightmare. She begged that Jack wasn't gone and that he were here, caring for his beloved ship.
Yet, no matter how she prayed, reality was unchanged.
Ana lowered her gaze, tears once again pricking her eyes even as a breeze played with her long, dark hair. Taking in the clear, starlit night encompassing the mighty vessel, she lashed the wheel and slowly paced away from it. As she walked her shoulders drooped and she took on the look of a defeated lioness.
Fog rose from the water's surface in opaque tendrils, reaching up onto the dark ship's deck. It wove its way up to the quarterdeck and collected directly behind the helm. The light thud of boot soles hitting the wooden planks echoed across the deck, but went unheard by Ana and the sentry alike.
A golden grin glinted in the pale moonlight as a leather-wrapped hand reached for the spokes of the helm and caressed it lovingly. The grin disappeared when the shifting rustle of fabric came from the starboard side of the main deck. Kohl-rimmed coffee-brown eyes looked up from the helm and searched the deck for the source of the sound. They softened, if not clouded over, when their gaze fell on a dejected-looking Anamaria.
Why was she so sad? It wasn't right. She was alive; she had her freedom on the Pearl…
Jack's eyes widened a bit in contemplation. He lowered his head, looking down at the deck beneath his feet, looking like a kicked puppy. He knew all too well why she was sad…
And it was all his fault.
Before anyone could utter anything more, Jack slipped back into the darkness of oblivion, his eyes never again to see the light of day as they once had.
"Jack, don't leave…not yet," Ana begged, taking his hand in both of hers and allowing a tear to slip down her cheek.
"'M…sorry," Jack gasped weakly, "but…s'time. Remember th' promise…luv."
Ana's eyes filled with salty tears as his breathing became more ragged and finally stopped all together.
'All my bloody fault,' Jack thought angrily to himself, shaking his head roughly to chase away the remnants of the memory. The last thing he wanted was to be missed this much. True, he wanted his legend to live on, but he never wanted his departure from this world to hurt those he had let through his barriers.
He didn't want to hurt those he had…loved.
Ana leaned heavily on the ship's rail, staring blankly out at the shimmering ocean. Silent tears fell down her face and she didn't care enough to stop them.
Jack was gone; there was nothing that could change that.
The crew had already accepted that fact, though it was obvious that they missed him. It seemed as though she was the only one who couldn't let go. Who refused to let go.
Jewel still believed the excuse that Jack had given her, and she believed he would return some day. Unfortunately, Ana could not make herself believe that no matter how hard she tried. Being a pirate, she knew that once death had you, it would never let go.
Jack wasn't ever coming back.
Jack watched Ana with a saddened expression and found himself abandoning the helm of his beloved ship and drifting down onto the main deck. His step was measured, the sound muffled by his care. Everything about his movement seemed real to him…
…until Ana looked up at the soft padding sound and seemed to look right through him. At that moment, he felt himself go invisible like ocean spray disappearing into the sky. Jack froze mid-step and grinned at her, keeping up his somewhat insane persona and reveling in the way the pale moonlight seemed to transform her into a wild angel.
"Ana, I-" he stopped when she turned sharply away and slowly headed for the stairs leading below deck. Jack watched her go in confusion. Had she even seen him?
'Of course not you fool. You're dead,' a part of his mind chided.
Jack lowered his head, taking the realization to heart. So she couldn't see him. That made sense. And she probably couldn't hear him, either. Jack released a heavy sigh, suddenly feeling more alone than he had on that island so many years ago when he was first marooned. He unenthusiastically padded down the remaining stairs and turned for his cabin.
Upon entering, he was only half surprised to find that everything was the same as when he had lived in the cabin. From the looks of it, no one had disturbed his quarters since his death; everything was where he remembered it.
Anger flared inside him unexpectedly.
Why did they have to leave it like this? To remind them of what they had lost?
No.
He didn't want to be remembered like that.
Swept up in a fit of anger he pounded around the small room, taking random objects light enough to throw and sent them whirling about the cabin. Thuds and a few crashes announced that the objects had met with either the floor or another piece of furniture. Lastly, he grabbed a lantern from the table and threw it to the ground at his feet, watching in a twisted sense of accomplishment as it shattered into hundreds of fragments. The pirate captain stood glaring down at the broken glass for an unfathomable amount of time, taking deep, shaking breaths.
Finally the anger passed, leaving him more tired, alone, and confused than before. With a deep sigh, he sank down onto the edge of the cot and buried his face in his hands, allowing his dark locks to shade any view of his face.
Ana nearly jumped into the air when thuds from somewhere above deck reached her ears. She silently left her quarters, being careful not to wake Jewel, and made her way down the narrow hallway carefully before quickly climbing up to the main deck. Once she was standing near the main mast, she paused to listen.
A shriek of shattering glass seemed to echo from within the captain's cabin. But how was that possible? It had been silently agreed upon by the crew that no one was to go in there for anything.
Deciding she had to investigate, Ana tentatively stepped up to the door and opened it as silently as possible. After taking one look into the room and finding nothing but destroyed items, she had to do a double take as a faint shimmer seemed to inhabit the area around the bed. Opening the door all the way, she admitted herself into the forbidden quarters and stared openly as the shimmer on the bed took on a very familiar form.
"Jack?" Ana breathed amazedly, gasping in confusion at his presence.
The man looked up slowly at the sound, his kohl-rimmed eyes bright from tears. "Ana?"
"Jack,"
A weight seemed to lift from the man's shoulders as she cautiously stepped forward and acknowledged his presence. "Ye can see me?" he questioned, grinning at her uncertainly.
Wordlessly she nodded.
A genuine smile broke out on Jack's face and he rose quickly. Before she knew what was happening, Jack was mere inches in front of her with his arms wrapped about her waist. He buried his head on her shoulder and held her close, seemingly crying.
"Jack, how're you-"
Jack captured Ana's mouth in a passionate kiss, stopping her tongue as he gently pressed her against the cabin wall. She melted in his embrace as she had many times before, memory taking hold of them both. They stood together against the wall for a long time, neither wanting to break the embrace, but both knowing that this couldn't be happening. Slowly, they broke the kiss, but didn't step away from one another.
Jack grinned shamelessly. "Sorry luv,"
Ana gently put a finger to his lips, but frowned as she realized she could no longer feel his arms around her. "Jack? How're you here?"
Jack shrugged and although she should have been able to feel the movement, she didn't. "Don't rightly know."
Ana gasped as Jack's form began growing transparent. "Jack, don't leave!"
Jack looked at her, his eyes warm, but his posture commanding. He quirked his head and mocked a stern expression. "Don' beg luv, it doesn't become ye. Don' worry. Keep yer promise an' I'll keep mine, savvy?"
Ana nodded, the tears falling anew. "Right; petals."
Jack nodded as well, his eyes bright with new tears. "An' I'll come back fer you…"
Ana watched with warring emotions as his body slowly melted into a cool fog and dissipated, leaving her alone in the dark cabin. The last echoes of Jack's presence encompassed her and she felt a sudden sense of safety as his voice reached her ears one last time. "I promise."
Ana took in several deep breaths, trying to hold back any further tears, but found she could not. She allowed herself to sink to the cabin floor and pulled her knees to her chest. Hiding her face behind her knees, she began to sob outright. She knew Jack wouldn't approve, but she didn't care.
Her pain was just too great.
[a/n2: Okay, sorry that was so…sad, depressing, despondent, slow, random, and completely pointless, but as I said before, BLAME THE MUSE!! -points to Dia, who is sitting in the dark corner- Reviews are greatly appreciated. Thanks all!]