Chapter Five
He walked into the room, cocked an eyebrow, and laughed. "That's why I refuse to drink. I might end up in some poor woman's bed."
"What say we tie him to the bed and keep his rum just out of reach? Torture 'im a little."
He shook his head, "No, that's not torture. That's beyond torture for the poor fool. That's heartless."
Fiona laughed, moving to the bureau, "I'll get the other room across the way. 'Night, Bill."
"Sleep well."
Before she left the room, she took a blanket from the night stand and draped it over him.
"No sense in him wakin' up with a headache and freezin' 'is ass off." She smiled softly in his direction, blowing out the candle by the bed and closing the door.
Bill grinned at her, "He fancies you."
"He fancies every girl," she said, taking off her boots, "And if he fancies me so much, why wouldn't he give me fifty percent?"
"Well Fiona- there's only two things he hates to share: treasure and rum. He gave you thirty percent of the treasure and any amount of rum you wanted. That is what he defines as a sacrifice in order to woo his love."
Fiona scoffed, "Getting me drunk means he loves me?"
"Don't be so hard on him. He's trying to manage commandeering, plundering, being a captain of a crew of thieves, and a woman."
"I know all that! But 'e never says anything to me to ever give me any sign that he really thinks abou' me," she said wistfully.
"I think you should stop focusing on what he's blind to, and instead see that you have not showed him that you care, either."
Fiona was stunned, then smiled, "I haven't, have I?"
"Let's see..." Bill pondered, "You stole his ship, denied finding him attractive, hated him when he kissed you, and questioned his love of rum."
She stared out at the ocean for a bit, then nodded, "I tried to kill 'im. But the hating him wasn't unjust. He was trying to take advantage of me!"
"Agreed, agreed," said Bill, laughing carelessly, taking a small sip of ale. "Oh, and I'd like to thank you for the free ale. I've never liked rum."
"Rum's the best way teh get drunk," joked Fiona, then pointed at the room she was about to go into. "But I'm too tired to drink anymore."
Bill smiled fondly, whispering, "Goodnight. Please, give him time. He's never loved anyone before."
Fiona cracked the door open a bit, "And he never will. 'Night." She closed the door behind her, removing her pants and slipping under the sheets.
Bill sighed, going into the captain's cabin and falling asleep on top of the only blanket. 'God help that man,' he thought, drifting in and out of consciousness. 'I have to see Jocelyn soon...'
Jack slowly edged his way into the land of the conscious at dawn, opening his eyes, shutting them, then opening them wide, and shouting abruptly. "Bloody window!" he yelled in protest of the sun. Then, he put his finger to his lips and his eyes widened, "Oh...They've all gone up on deck and left me 'ere. Well then..."
He walked into the room across the hall and was about to yell for Bill when he saw Fiona asleep in the bed, pulling the covers close around her. Then, he noticed her pants on the floor and flashed a sportive smile.
"Not even in your mind," answered Fiona, eyes still closed.
Jack laughed sleepily, lifting the cover slowly and slipping into the bed beside her.
She turned towards him, "If yeh'd just done this before tryin' to kiss me I might've thought better of you. But you didn'. So I'll ask you to leave my bed now. Goodbye, Jack."
Jack sighed, getting out of the bed and leaving the room. The door swung closed with a dull click. Fiona's eyes reflected the sadness she felt within. "I should've trusted Bill," she muttered to herself, "I should've let 'im stay with me. Today's a new day. I still 'ave some time..."
Fiona moved from her bed to the mirror across from her bureau on the wall. It appeared to be Spanish, and very elaborately decorated. It was obvious to her now that she had never seen such priceless things in her life. She may never see anything like them again. Unless she could earn a place on their crew. "More likely than a place in his heart," she groaned, taking a moment to check the mirror again.
"Don't be too sure, love," said Jack, walking by her door. Fiona blushed, yelling, "Stay far from my door, Sparrow- or you're libel to regret it!"
The floorboards ended their creaking, then commenced when he walked back to look through her slightly cracked door, "Impos'ble to regret bein' at yer open door, love. You, most ov all, should know that by now."
Fiona smiled to herself, sliding her right boot on and walking out of her cabin. Jack was already on deck with Bill; she could hear their laughter echoing through the planks. It was such a joyous noise to wake to.
"Mornin' boys," Fiona said briskly as she appeared from below deck.
"Fiona!!! Come join us! We're attempting to greet the natives!" Bill laughed uncontrollably. He waved at the aborigines dancing on the sand, and they danced and held sticks in the air. She laughed, waving along with Bill. Jack simply rolled his eyes and shook his head.
"You two are ridiculous," he said, stifling laughter. "Get back to your posts."
They were about to drop anchor when Fiona squinted, realizing that they weren't carrying sticks, but spears.
She gasped, "No! We have to turn back!"
"Why's that, love?"
Fiona pointed to the spears, and the boat now rowing towards their ship. "Bloody 'ell..." said Jack in astonishment. "TURN 'ROUND! BILL- HARD 'A PORT!"
But it was too late. They'd already headed towards the ship, preparing to board. They spoke in native tongues, yelling some hatred towards them.
"One ov us 'as to jump," said Jack.
"What?!" she exclaimed.
Bill nodded, "I will. I can find you both. As long as they don't see me now, I can be invisible for a while. But I have to go."
"No, Bill! Are you bloody crazy?!" yelled Fiona.
"She's right."
"I am?"
"Yes," said Jack, "You should be safe, stay 'ere until the crew comes back."
Before she could answer, Bill dove overboard into the sea.
"BILL!" Fiona said as the natives come over the port side of the ship.
Jack grasped her hand, pulling her close to him, "Just stay with me, love. I won't let anythin' happen." He stepped forward, standing in front of her. "Gentlemen! I mean... no... harm. This is my lady- Fee-yo-nah."
A tall man with a necklace of human teeth stepped forward, speaking to the others, "Kill the man. Take the woman, use her as you will."
Jack took out his pistol, "Ye won't be doing that, gents."
His gesture was followed by two clicks from the cocking of pistols of two much taller men to the left and right of the leader. "Give us the woman. We will spare her life, and yours."
"Go righ' ahead. Take me life." Jack made a gesture for them to shoot him, then opened his shirt. "But let 'er go."
"Jack," Fiona urged, trying to stop him.
"Silence!" the tall man said, ordering the men to shoot Jack. Jack pushed Fiona from behind him as the men both aimed for his heart, firing with a resounding crack of gunpowder and bullet.
"NO!" Fiona cried, watching in horror as Jack was blown backward into the ocean. She attempted to reach her knife, but even as she did, the natives took it away, carrying her off of the boat. She called for Jack, but there wasn't a reply.
Underwater, Jack felt his body sinking, but couldn't make an effort to kick to the surface. They had missed his heart, but the blood was seeping out of him so fast... Somehow he felt a glimmer of his former strength and swam up for one breath. By then, Bill was already so far away he could never have aided his confidant. Jack took another deep breath when he reached the surface again, and swam as fast as his legs and wounded chest would allow. Breathing doggedly, gasping, plunging, and emerging, all in succession till he reached the sand far from the natives who had captured Fiona.
"Fiona," he said at barely a whisper, watching the two men who shot him drag her away, bawling and trying to tear them to pieces, and almost succeeding. He clutched at the sand, the pain becoming unbearable. Jack took off his sash around his waist and slipped it underneath his body, tying it tightly around the wounds, hissing in pain.
Just then, a small bottle of rum washed onto the beach near him. He smiled faintly, taking the rum and gulping half of the bottle down, then pouring some on the bullet wounds. As soon as he was able to stand, he hid behind a tree, leaning against it for a moment.
With the group of natives, Fiona was now being carried back to their village, weary from her battle with the two taller men. She refrained from crying, or showing any sign of weakness from that moment on. Jack was dead. There was nothing she could do now. She would have to wait until night, then kill them all. She could manage...
"Girl," said the leader, "What is your name?"
Fiona growled angrily, "You'll 'ave to kill me."
"Do not feel a need to die like the man. You will be of use to us, alive or dead."
"...Of use?" she flinched, answering blankly, "Fiona."
"Well Fiona," said the leader, "You will be on Carne Comodores for a while."
"Carne Comodores?... You're... flesh-eaters...cannibals?!" She thought she would be sick, "You mean to kill me."
The leader nodded, "Yes. But the reason my men have taken you is because they think you are beautiful, like the goddesses." He pointed to the nymph-like women on a slab of stone far from them. "They will do what they wish, and then, my child..." he laughed menacingly, kissing her hand. She spat at him, glaring intensely, "You will not take my life or me pride. I'll kill you all firs'."
They arrived at the village, and as soon as they set her down, the first of the taller men cocked his pistol and aimed it at her head. "You and your friend will both be dead if you try to run," said the familiar voice of the leader.
"What will you do? Kill me and roast me over some fire like barbarians?" sneered Fiona, causing the taller man to press the gun closer to her head.
The leader turned, "My men haven't been off this island in some time. They require... company." The natives chuckled and made grunts of agreement. She stared at him in loathing, "Never. I'd rather ye killed me now. Please."
"You will be of more use to us alive. And we aren't known as merciful enough to give a woman her dying wish. Nor will we ever. Take her away."
Internally she felt herself wanting to cry for help, or just to cry. Poor Jack. He shouldn't have pushed her out of range of the bullets...
Meanwhile, Bill was already aboard the second ship which the crew had commandeered. "We have to go back for them."
Barbossa paused, "...Them?"
"We've taken a woman aboard. A thief. She's worth her weight in gold."
"A woman? Ye know very well that we don't allow women aboard."
Bill moved towards the helm, "Well then, you'll have to make an exception. She's perfect for our crew."
"Alright gents- let's try something new, what say?"
The pirates cried out, "Aye!" then returned to their posts. Jack was still on the island, leaning against a palm tree. It had been a while since he had reached the shore, and his wound was barely bleeding, though he was still weak.
"Bloody natives..." he muttered, then heard Fiona scream. At that bone-chilling sound, he dashed into the shadows, making for the village by following the echo of the scream. After a few minutes of wandering, he came upon the most horrid sight he had ever seen.
Fiona had been tied to a large vertical slab of stone protruding from the dusty ground, and was surrounded by the men of the village. She seemed to have been slashed with some kind of knife on her upper arm, and it was dripping blood into the dirt. The tallest man held a sharp dagger. He could see tears welling up in her eyes as the tall man raised his dagger to strike.
Jack dashed out of the shadow, yelling angrily at the men. He shot as many as he could, then quicky cut Fiona free. "Jack!" she cried, "You're alive! How?!"
"Explain on the ship, love. Take th' ugly one's dagger!"
Fiona took the dagger from the dead man's hand, preparing to fight to the death. Jack drew his sword, killing two men with one blow. Fiona kicked the man in the stomach, then practically skewered him and moved to the next, and the next, and the next, until all were dead.
When Jack had killed the last, there was a long period of silence, then Fiona ran into his arms and cried, leaning against his shoulder. He held her tightly, feeling her body shake when she sobbed.
"They were so close... I thought... I thought no one could save me. All I heard was the gunshot... I saw you falling..."
Jack kissed her forehead, still holding her close. He lifted her chin up gently, "We'd better go."
She nodded, walking close to him toward the shore. He handed Fiona his rum bottle to clean her cut. She noticed his bandanna concealing the bullet wounds and frowned, "I'll clean those up when we get back on th' ship. How did you–"
A low rumble and the tremor of the ground turned their attention to an entire village of cannibals charging through the trees towards them. Fiona yelled, grabbing Jack's hand and making a run for the ship docked offshore. "CANNIBALS, JACK?! HOW DIDN'T YOU KNOW THAT CARNE COMODORES MEANT FLESH-EATERS?!"
He didn't answer, instead, he yelled to the crew, "RAISE ANCHOR AND PREPARE TO CAST OFF!"
"Give 'em a round!" ordered Barbossa, the crew firing at the cannibals. The first row fell, while the other cannibals hurled spears, barely missing. Bill hung two ropes over the side so they could climb onto the deck. "Did you make a few new friends, Jack?!" yelled Bill.
"CAST OFF! CAST OFF!" he answered as loud as he could. They were already sailing away when Fiona and Jack were climbing up the ropes. The cannibals that were still alive chased them into the ocean, and the crew continued to fire. One spear thrown grazed Fiona's ankle, leaving a gash above her ankle bone. She cried out, and Jack turned his head toward her quickly. She was slipping down the rope, dangerously close to being hit by the thrown spears.
"...'OLD ON, LOVE!" he said, reaching for her hand and swinging her over to him. Fiona latched onto him, Bill looking over the side. "Men! Get them on deck!!!" he demanded. Once she was on deck, Fiona saw one of the cannibals climbing the side of the ship.
"JACK! BELOW!" The cannibal had latched himself onto Jack's leg and was steadily pulling him downward. With her all her strength, Fiona took her pistol into her hand and shot the cannibal, taking Jack's hand. He climbed aboard and flopped on deck, rolling her on top of him. The crew cheered as they sailed from the island, the cannibals so few in number that they returned to their island.
Jack kissed her with a soft grin, helping her up off the deck. He picked her up, carrying her to the stairs. "Barbossa- this..." Jack put Fiona back on her feet, "...is Fiona."
Barbossa froze with a stunned look on his face. He surveyed the woman in front of him in wonder, then took her hand and kissed it hesitatingly. "Milady."
"Can she stay then?" asked Jack with a smile.
He returned the smile with a faraway gaze, "Aye. We're heading for an unmarked island o'er there." Barbossa rarely took his eyes off of Fiona, and Jack had obviously noticed, wrapping his arm around her waist a bit tighter than before.
"Jack, a little less stranglin' if you don't mind," joked Fiona, slipping an arm around his waist as well.
"Allow me, Miss," said Barbossa courteously, showing her to her room. "Yours'd be down the hall, aye?" he said to Jack.
Fiona spoke up, "Really, we'll be fine sharing a room. And I'm Fiona, ye don't have ta call me Miss."
He took this harshly, glaring at Jack, "Apologies, Fiona. I didn' know ye'd be sharin' a room with Jack."
She continued down the hall with Jack, who kept his gaze locked with Barbossa for a while before turning his head to face Fiona.
"Don't know wha's gotten into 'im," said Jack, closing the door to the captain's cabin. A smile spread across his face, "Said ye were going to... dress my wounds."
Fiona shoved him, "An' that's what I'm going to do." She took a bucket from the corner of the cabin and went out into the hall and onto the deck to fill it. Bill was laying on the deck beside her, gazing at the stars.
"What do you think of our crew?" he asked.
She was blunt, "I'm not one for murderers myself. They may be alrigh', but I just don't see them as true friends. D'ya know what I mean, Bill? Not a group to be with in a...difficult situation."
"They're company. And I trust most of them."
"Most?"
"Some I can't trust, but th'other on the crew keep them in check. Besides, they make for good drinking partners."
Fiona laughed, "Well then. They're friends fa drinkin'. I 'ave a lot of friends like that." She tied a rope to the bucket and swung it over the side. "But this one's got my 'ands full. I've got to go dress 'is wounds."
"Goodnight, Fiona." Even in the dark, she could see the lines of thought creasing his face, and she knew the remedy...
"Night, Bill. I know you're thinkin' about Jocelyn. Every day ye take a moment ta think about 'er, sort of like this. Well don't fret. Ye'll meet her soon enough."
Bill nodded, feeling at peace when she left. "Soon I will."
Jack sat on the bed, holding a blood-soaked cloth in his hand.
"Fiona..." he muttered, hearing her approach.
She nodded, "They would 'ave killed me if you hadn't been there ta save me, Jack."
He touched the skin around the gash on her arm, a sharp groan emitted answered his question. "I should 'ave got'n there sooner."
Fiona laughed merrily, "Jack, you were shot through the chest. When did you expect to be there to save me?" She kissed him gently, cleaning the wounds with salt water. He groaned, "You do that on purpose?"
"Fight pain–"
"–with pleasure?" Jack said, looking straight into her eyes with a sly wink.
"Whatever works. 'specially in your case."
"Give me some more o' that pain then," he answered, scooting back to lay against the headboard. Fiona took the bandages with her and sat across his lap. "Wish granted."
She wrapped the first bandage tightly. He jumped, startled by the sudden severe pain, "Aaah no no no! Not tha' much pain!"
"The more pain..."
Jack smiled, tipping his hat over his eyes, "Whatever you say, love. Do ya worst."