Wow another update? Yep thats right! I finished this chap and decided to post it. Happy Reading Everyone! dunt forget to review or i'll be crushed. lol..

Chapter 9
"Caught In The Act"

I stayed in my own little world for most of the night, steering The Pearl with as much care as Jack. Halfway through the night Ana Maria approached me; I looked over at her.

"Ye need something?" I questioned

"Aye, Jack wants me to take over for a bit and let ye rest."

I wasn't in the mood for a fight, and with Ana Maria it was always a fight.

"Aye." I nodded, letting her take over.

I went to Jack's cabin; it was dark except for one candle that was almost burned all the way down. The smell of rum filling my nose, that man and his rum if he could survive on only drinking rum he probably would. I closed the door quietly behind me; Jack was laying on the bed that sat by the window just inside the door. I smiled to myself as I watched him sleep for a few moments. Running my eyes over his hair, to his forehead, to his cheeks, my eyes rested on his lips for longer than expected as I wondered what it would be like to kiss them for real. Then my eyes trailed down to his shirtless chest. I gave a small devilish grin, but it quickly disappeared as I shook my head, what was I thinking? I wasn't even capable to love at the moment. I sighed and walked over to the table, I took off my sword and quietly set it on the table. I was very careful not to wake Jack. I leaned over and blew out the remaining candle sending darkness into the room. The moonlight that flowed into the small window guided my way back to the bed. I crept to my side and slowly sat; throwing my legs onto the bed I laid on my back. Staring at the ceiling once again. I wasn't actually tired, but I did need a break from standing. I had been standing for a few hours. Jack stirred in his sleep mumbling something about midgets and rum. I quietly laughed to myself; it was funny how he talked in his sleep. I rolled onto my right side, my arm under the pillow. I had come to enjoy the way the pillow smelled of Jack. Even for a dirty pirate he had a very intoxicating scent. I closed my eyes, the thought of what was about to happen in the next 3 days lingering in my mind. I drifted off into a peaceful sleep.

Morning

I opened my eyes; I was extremely close to Jack's face, our noses barely touching. I threw my head back and gave a look that said 'what the hell'. I slightly pushed him trying to gain my own personal space. I thought I only pushed him hard enough to push him back, but I was wrong. I watched him roll right off of the bed. Talk about déjà vu all over again. I snickered quietly. He quickly stood.

"Uh what? I didn't do it I swear!!"

I looked at him confused, didn't do what?

"Oh don't tell me ye pushed me outta my own bed." He said, shaking his head.

"I wouldn't do that.. Would I?" I asked giving him a winning grin.

"Ye would." He nodded.

"So what if I did, what ye gonna do about it?" I asked, in pure curiosity

He thought about it, his eyes going up in thought.

"How long will it take ye to figure it out?" I asked, taking over his part of the bed. Propping my head up with my right hand, my elbow resting on the bed.

"I don't know, a second or so?" he shrugged

I grinned as I looked him up and down.

"Oh, 'fore I ferget, here is yer map." Jack said, digging in his pocket, he held out the parchment. "Out of curiosity what would ye do to get it back?"

I raised a brow. "What would ye have in mind."

His eyes rose in thought again as I waited for a reply. A grin slowly crept across his face, the glint returning to his eyes. "I think ye already happen to know."

"Not going to happen, now hand it over." I said, holding out my hand.

"Nah uh." He shook his head.

I watched him shift the folded piece of parchment between his fingers.

"Give it." I said, sitting on my knees, moving closer to the edge of the bed.

"On second thought, I think I'll hold on to it." Jack said, still holding it up for me to see. I moved even closer to the edge of the bed.

"Please?"

He held it just out of my reach, I continued to try and reach it. I was close a couple times but could never actually get a grip on it. I moved off of the bed and stood on the cold floorboards.

"Can I have it? Please?" I asked again.

"No." he said simply.

I continued to try and get it; nothing was going to stop me. I knocked it out of his hand and smiled at him, thinking I had won. The question now was where did it go? Both of our eyes scanned for it, I spotted it laying next to the outside leg of the table. Not wanting to give away its position I quickly looked at Jack. I was fine, until he spotted it also. We looked at each other, and then simultaneously we both jumped for it. He had the advantage of longer arms and was able to grab it.

"Mine!" I growled, pushing him.

He grinned triumphantly, still holding the parchment. I tackled him to the floor, trying to grab the parchment from his right hand. He held it above his head. We wrestled around for a few moments; I now sat on him, straddling his hips, holding the parchment with a grin.

"I win!"

"Not yet, luv." He said, picking me up and rolling me over, pinning me to the floor. I laid there looking up at him as he grinned again, his golden teeth flashing. He held the parchment up once again.

I rolled my eyes. "Ye think yer so cute don't ye."

He nodded. "Well, it's the truth, isn't it?"

I rolled my eyes. "Please! Ye is far from being cute!"

"Is that why ye been staring at me when ye thinks I'm not paying attention?"

I rolled my eyes. "I have never stared at ye, gullible!" I denied it.

Suddenly the door flung open, Ana Maria came running in. she looked at me laying on the floor, sending me a look of death and then looked up at Jack. Feeling embarrassed she turned her back to us.

"Sorry to bother ye, yer needed on deck Captain." She said

"Aye, I'll be out in a minute." She quickly left, turning enough to throw me another look filled with daggers. Jack stood and held his hand out, I took it, and he pulled me up. I sighed and grabbed my sword placing it at my side. Jack approached my back, extending his arm over my shoulder, holding out the parchment. My whole body tensed at him being this close.

"Here's yer parchment, luv." He whispered in my ear, I took it, putting it in my bodice between my breasts.

He quickly made his exit to see why Ana Maria had bothered him. I sighed as the tension that had been inside of me subsided. I walked out of the cabin into the morning sunlight. The light warmed my face almost immediately; I could tell it was going to be a scorching day. I walked to the helm where Jack stood, steering.

"What was the big thing that broke up our little.. Adventure?" I asked, standing beside Jack.

"Seems were coming up on no man's land." He said, nodding toward what was in front of us. I looked at him confused, slowly turning my head to the bow. I saw at least 10 broken up ships, floating in the dark Caribbean water. My jaw dropped, I had never seen anything like it. Pieces of broken, rotting wood cut through the dark waters like nothing. I walked over to the rail, wanting to get a closer look. I saw various things floating in the water, from crates to clothing. I lowered my head, thinking of the many lives that were probably lost there. My gaze then trailed back to it. After passing over it,

"Get back to work, mangy dogs!" I heard Jack command. I walked back over to him and stood next to him once again, watching Ana Maria work silently.

"What's with Ana Maria and ye?" I questioned, nodding toward her.

A look of surprise passed over Jack's handsome face. "What ye mean?"

"Well, when she caught us this morning, she gave me the look of death, what's the story?"

"Ah, she wants me." he grinned to himself. "But, I 'ave no feelings for her, she is just another worker to me, that's it, savvy."

I nodded. "Savvy."

There was a moment of silence until my stomach decided to speak up. I looked around hoping no one had heard that. Jack began to chuckle.

"Go get ye sum food, before yer stomach decides to hold a conversation with itself."

I gave a half smile and nodded, leaving his side to go get something to satisfy my hunger.