Miss Anya…I'm sorry you're having problems with ff.net too, but I'm glad that you are still reviewing. It's perfectly fine to send me emails instead…I just enjoy getting to read your take on things.
Kungfuchick…Thanks for the review mate…hope I didn't keep you waiting too long.
Cal…Glad I can provide you with at least one happy story for the moment ;o) Enjoy…
Kenn…Just going to keep you waiting a bit longer on that seduction scene…but don't worry… it's coming ;o)
Chapter ElevenThe three had not been seated long when a barmaid walked over to take their orders.
"Will you be havin' your usual Captain?" she asked Jack as she brushed up against him, poking her chest out.
"Yes luv, rum would be wonderful," he said, winking at her, "and whatever they want."
Anamaria rolled her eyes at the barmaid's overt flirtations towards Jack as well as his reaction to them. She could not stand the way these stupid wenches acted around men and she despised even more the way that the men responded to them. "I don't need a man to pay for my liquor," Anamaria said flatly. "In fact, you can put both of them on my tab."
The barmaid looked at her stunned.
"It's alright dear," Anamaria said, smiling sarcastically, "I have a real job."
Jack couldn't help but smile at her smart remark as well as the look of jealousy that reflected on the barmaid's face. He was glad Giselle was not here tonight; she would have had more than a few things to say about his drinking with another woman, even if she was a pirate.
"I'll have rum also," she added.
"Aye, me too," Mr. Gibbs answered.
The barmaid left to get their drinks and Jack turned to Anamaria. "I appreciate your agreein' to treat us very much. Just when I was beginning to think you were ungrateful for the 'elp we offered ya earlier."
"I didn't need your help," Anamaria said.
Jack raised an eyebrow. "You could 'ave fooled me," he said, taking a swig from the mug the barmaid had brought him.
"Hmmph," Anamaria scoffed.
"'aven't I seen you in 'ere before?" Jack asked.
"No, I don't believe you have," Anamaria said almost too quickly. She really didn't want him to know that she recognized him.
"Uh-huh," Jack said slowly, nodding and giving her a look that let her know he believed differently but wasn't going to push the matter. "What's your name lass?"
"If you want to know my name, then I'll be having yours first," Anamaria remarked.
"Fine, I'm Captain Jack Sparrow and this 'ere," Jack held his hand out towards Gibbs who was sitting on his other side, "is my good friend Mr. Joshamee Gibbs."
Gibbs had fallen silent for the minute, enjoying his rum and observing this girl that he and Jack had saved. Her fiery attitude made him wonder if Jack was making a mistake.
"You're Captain Jack Sparrow?" Anamaria asked.
"That's me," Jack confirmed proudly.
"As in the infamous Captain Jack Sparrow of the Black Pearl?" Anamaria found herself slightly surprised to find that he was the man who had come to her rescue.
"So you 'ave 'eard of me."
"I've heard you've been quite unlucky Captain. Although if you believe the rumors, being marooned on that island might have been one of the best things that ever happened to you."
Gibbs sighed in somber agreement and Jack gave her a half smile, dropping his eyes. He proceeded to take a long drink of his rum.
"Well, Captain Sparrow and Mr. Gibbs, I'm Captain Anamaria Saldana, but you can call me Anamaria. Not everyone understands, much less agrees with a woman being a captain, so I'll make it easy for you."
"Well Anamaria, it's nice to meet you," Jack said.
"Aye lass, it is," Mr. Gibbs added.
"Well it's nice to meet both of you as well."
"So, what happened to make those pirates so angry with such a beautiful young lass like yerself?" Gibbs asked. He was very curious to find out what she had done to make them angry enough to want to kill her.
"I seem to have aggravated quite a few men and women during the time I have served as captain of my own ship. It's not unusual for them to decide to take revenge on me at any given moment."
"Ah-ha," Jack commented.
"Surely you understand Captain Sparrow," Anamaria said smartly and then finished her rum in one long last swallow. "Up until today, I've never had a problem getting myself out of tight situations. I have no doubt that had the two of you not shown up, I could have gotten out of it on my own. MORE RUM!" she shouted to the barmaid.
Jack almost spat out his drink upon hearing her boast. "Unlikely," he mumbled after choking the bitter liquid down.
The barmaid placed a new mug in front of Anamaria. "I'll 'ave one as well," Jack said, "Gibbs?"
Mr. Gibbs waved his hand no as he finished his drink and the barmaid gave a nod, leaving to get Jack's rum.
"Well miss," Gibbs said, standing up and walking over to Anamaria, "it was nice to meet ya, but I cannot allow you to pay for my alcohol." He placed several shillings on the counter in front of her. "Try not to get yerself into too much trouble while you're enjoyin' your stay in Tortuga." Turning to Jack and placing a hand on his shoulder, he added, "Jack, I'm afraid I must be on my way this evenin', it's been a rather long day."
Jack laughed, placing his hand on top of the older man's, "I'll see ya soon Gibbs."
"Aye, I'm sure ya will." Gibbs turned to leave, but paused hearing Anamaria's voice.
"Mr. Gibbs…thank you," she said simply.
"Anytime lass," Gibbs said, smiling at her and then leaving. Gibbs was tired, last night had been a hard night for him as he was not used to drinking so heavily and his body was begging him for rest. He also wanted to give Jack some time alone with Anamaria so that he would have a chance to get to know her. She would be more open to Jack if he were the only one around.
Jack knew that Gibbs was trying to allow him some time alone with Anamaria, now he only hoped that she would feel comfortable enough around him to share some things about herself with him.
The barmaid brought Jack his rum and he lifted the mug in celebration, "Cheers!"
"Cheers," Anamaria agreed, clinking her mug to his. They raised their mugs and both emptied them in a single long drink, Jack finishing first and Anamaria not long after. She placed the empty container down hard on the counter so the barmaid would know to bring them more and shortly thereafter she did.
"So, where are you from Anamaria?" Jack asked.
"Originally, I'm from a small island called St. Croix, most people have never heard of it," she replied. "And yourself?"
Jack had not expected her to ask him the same question and it made him feel uncomfortable to answer it so he vaguely responded, "A little bit of everywhere actually, no one place to call home."
"Is that right Captain Sparrow?" Anamaria questioned. She could tell by his response that she would be better off not continuing on the topic.
"Jack, call me Jack." While he did enjoy hearing someone get his title right every once in a while, he knew she would feel more comfortable around him if they went on a first name basis.
"Alright…Jack."
"You seem to hold your liquor pretty well," he commented.
"I am a pirate," Anamaria reminded him.
"Aye," Jack said, "and 'ow is it that you came by such profession?" He was interested in seeing if she would provide him with her history.
"It's a long story Jack. I don't feel like getting into it tonight," Anamaria said, taking another long drink of her rum.
"'ow long 'ave you been Captain of your own ship?" he asked next.
"Damn, you're just full of questions aren't you?!" Anamaria stated. Her tone suggested that maybe he should back off, however, he had noticed that she was becoming more open with him as the night wore on. He wondered how much more she would be able to drink before she started to really let her guard down.
There was a pause of silence for a moment and then for some reason unbeknownst to herself she decided to answer his question. "I've been Captain for about four years. I ran into some problems with my crew about a year ago and I've been on my own since then, but I'm looking towards putting another crew together fairly soon. MORE RUM!" she shouted again, realizing her mug was empty.
Looking down at his own half-full mug, Jack wondered for the first time if this girl might be able to out drink him. He drained the liquor so that the barmaid would bring him another as well.
"You're falling behind Sparrow," Anamaria joked. Jack shot her a look, but even though she was making fun of him, he liked her spirit. She had a definite boldness about her and that was very attractive to him.
After the barmaid brought their drinks, both Jack and Anamaria fell silent as they enjoyed the rum. Jack was being careful to hold his own against her to prevent anymore jokes from occurring and he ended up finishing before her. He was looking around the tavern to see what was going on and who had come in when Anamaria said his name.
"Jack." Her tone had changed, her voice turning less harsh and a little more inquisitive. He turned to face her and as he looked into her eyes he saw that they had softened a bit.
"Yes," he responded, waiting for her to continue.
"What happened on the Black Pearl?" she asked, her voice only above a whisper.