Chapter 36
"Loose One, Gain Another"

I lay between the sheets of the small bed in the cabin. The sun ran brightly through the small window that the bed sat next to. I pulled the sheets up with a grunt, not ready to emerge from bed just yet. My left arm flew hoping to meet Jack's warm body. I was disappointed when he wasn't there. I poked my head out of the sheets and looked in his vacant spot.

'Now where could he have ran off to?' I asked myself with a sigh before returning the sheet over my head. Hoping to get a little more sleep.

I heard the cabin door open as footsteps walked in, closing the door behind whoever it was.

"Aren't ye up yet?" the voice questioned

A muffled "no" could faintly be heard

"Why not?" he asked

"Well, 'cause I was havin' a nice dream. If I fall asleep now maybe I can resume it."

"Was it of me?"

I rolled my eyes, hearing the smirk through his voice.

"Nope." I stated

"Well then ye have no reason to be goin' back off to sleep."

I pulled the sheet down to look at him I stuck my tongue out at his back.

" I will sleep as long as I want."

"We 'ave some things to attend to.." Jack trailed off as he shuffled through some parchments that were piled on the table.

"Like what?" I asked, continuing to lie on the bed, scooting over to Jack's side.

"The girl, for one." He said turning to look at me

"What about 'er? Ye said when she was conscious, she will be taken back into Port Royal."

"She wants to come wit us.."

I sprang from the bed, landing on my feet, as I looked him over. "Yer not actually considering bringin' her along? Are ye?"

"Aye, I am. She can't go back to where she 'ad been livin'. It is no life for a young girl."

"Neither is being on a pirate ship, Jack! Why are ye takin' pity on her?"

"She's beggin' me to bring 'er along. I don't think we can leave her behind.."

"No, she isn't coming! There is no way; ye don't know what kind of trouble that could lead to! What the bloody 'ell are ye thinking?" I yelled, throwing my hands on my hips.

"Ye go down there and look into 'er eyes as she tells 'er story and ye tell me ye can refuse 'er!" Jack stated, spinning to look at me.

"Yer to soft Jack, especially when it comes to women, of all ages." I stated

"Get dressed, I'll take ye to meet 'er, I can't explain the story as well as she can."

I rolled my eyes, throwing on my clothes. After emerging from the bathroom Jack grabbed my hand and literally pulled me below. The girl rested in Ana Maria's old cabin; after all she wouldn't have any use for it now. Jack slowly opened the door to reveal the young girl. She sat on a bunk in the corner, her arms cradled around her knees that were pulled protectively to her chest. Her blonde hair was an absolute mess; it was tangled and matted, in some spots by dry blood.

"Missy, This is the woman I 'ave been telling ye about. Captain Robins, I want ye to tell yer story to her, exactly as ye did to me." Jack said softly.

She nodded slowly as her gaze left Jack and laid on me. I gave a steely gaze, as I looked her over. Jack pulled me to a chair and pointed to it. I sat down and looked from Jack to the girl.

"I've got something to take care of. I'll be back in a few minutes." Jack stated, turning on his heel as he exited the cabin.

"Your Captain Ravenica Robins?" The girl asked quietly.

I nodded. "Aye I am."

"I've heard of you, you're a ruthless pirate that has no problems killing a man."

I smirked at this, at least my reputation was well known. "What's yer name, lassy?"

"Valencia." She spoke quietly as her eyes met mine.

I could sense the fear and terror that sat in the blue orbs that were in front of me. Her face was streaked with dirt and tears.

"So, what is this great story? I suppose it should be good, seeing that Jack didn't try to explain it." I stated, sitting back casually in the unbalanced wooden chair.

"Please allow me to stay, I can't go back home.. I just can't." she begged.

"Why not? Isn't Port Royal where all the upper-class people live?"

"Most of them, yes. Please don't make me leave the ship."

"And why not? What are ye so afraid of?"

"My father.. Well he's not really my father.." she trailed off. "It started three years ago, my parents were both killed in a fire that plagued our home here in Port Royal. I had nothing left after they died, my brothers and sisters had moved away leaving me to fend for myself."

I nodded, motioning for her to continue.

"With having nothing, I began to steal, food at first and then clothes and money. The snobby people here had enough money to spare. Until one day I met this man, Thomas. He lived with his wife; they were unable to have children. So, they invited me to live with them until I was old enough to go out on my own. Thomas' wife died, a year ago. Something Thomas has no problem blaming me for." She stated sadly, her eyes welling with tears, I kept my steely gaze upon her as she looked down at her hands. "With his wife gone he had began to drink, an awful lot, to much.. He started beating me, saying I was the reason his wife was dead, that I am bad luck. Last night he came home in a drunken stupor, something I have seen many times as of late."

She looked back up at me, the tears streaming down her face like a river. She kept her eyes straight, looking into my eyes as she spoke her words. "Last night, he beat me again, something that I have gotten used to. But then... then.." her words trailed off as she continued to look at me. "He tried to rape me, something he has never done before."

I heard her words full of so much emotion as she sat before me. Her hands in a pile on her lap as her gaze stayed upon me. I kept my face absent from any emotion as I pondered her words with care.

"He wouldn't try it again I don't think, but can never be to sure. I ran away before he could get very far, I ran onto The Pearl, knowing a ship would lead me far away. I planned to hide below or something until we were far out to sea.. Please don't make me go." She pleaded once again. "I'll do anything, I'll cook, clean.. I'll stay out of your way.. Please.. Don't make me go."

I looked her over one last time, taking her words into consideration. "I'll think about it, I can't promise anything, we have many men aboard."

She nodded quickly. "Thank you for considering it."

I stood, looking at her one last time; I exited the cabin. I closed my eyes after shutting the door, resting my back on it. I was going to have to be the voice of reason in all this. I sighed, opening my eyes, I began to walk toward the stairway. I walked into the galley, where Gibbs sat at the table by himself.

"What ye doin in here all on yer onsies?" I asked, sitting across from him.

"Juss taking a breather before I get back to work. I'm surprised to see ye up, I suspected that ye would sleep all day." He smiled.

"Well, I planned to sleep in, but Jack 'ad a different idea." I sighed

"Aye, ye mean the girl."

I nodded.

"Is it true 'es considering brin 'er along?" Gibbs asked

I nodded. "Wit Ana Maria gone, we do 'ave the room."

"Mothers love, we loose one and we gain another. Ye know its bad luck to 'ave a woman aboard." Gibbs commented.

"Then how is it ye 'ave no problem wit me bein aboard?" I questioned curiously

"Well, 'cause yer a Captain.. a damn good one. Therefore, I shall give ye the respect ye deserve. Even though its bad luck to 'ave ye aboard.. I don't mind, yer different than any other woman I 'ave met." He winked with a small smile.

I shook my head "Yer a frightfully superstitious man Gibbs. But, I thank ye that ye don't mind 'ave me aboard."

He nodded quickly.

"When was Ana Maria released?" I questioned.

"This mornin'." He stated

I nodded. "Ye goin' to miss 'er?"

"Nah, but I suspect ye should ask that question to Lefty..." he trailed off.

"Whys that?" I asked

"Ah, I will not reveal that, ye will juss 'ave to take to him. I'm goin to get back to work, before the Captain kicks me in the bum." He grinned

I nodded with a smirk as I watched the older, plump man make his way up the stairs. 'ask Lefty? Why would he care?' I thought to myself, I shrugged it off, if it was important he knew he could come to me. I stood and made my way back on deck. Jack sat on the rail as I emerged from below. I hadn't noticed him I was too lost in thought.

"Well?" I heard a voice question; I just about jumped out of my boots. I stared down Jack for scaring the crap out of me.

"Well what?" I asked

"What do ye think bout the Lass?" Jack questioned.

"What about 'er, Gullible? She can't come along wit us, ye should know better. She's nothing but a petty thief. We all 'ave our own problems why are ye so instant to bring these problems to our door step?" I questioned, the steely gaze returning to my eyes as I crossed my arms over my chest. My long auburn hair blowing slightly against my shoulders in the breeze.

"'cause, how can ye justify leavin' a 14 year old girl in that predicament?" he asked, his voice becoming low.

"She's only 14?" I asked, as the surprise ran over my face.

"Aye, 14, ye can't tell me ye are so cold hearted ye will leave a 14 girl in that type of living condition." He stated, stepping off of the rail.

"She can't come Jack, for one, she's way to young to be living on a PIRATE ship! That's what we are, isn't it? Pirates! We can't go picking up every damsel in distress that ye want to help!" I argued. "What is it about 'er that has ye acting so funny?"

"I don't know, its something. She'll die if we don't 'elp 'er."

"I don't care at this point, she's going to 'ave to go somewhere else.. She can't come!" I yelled

"Since when do ye depict who is welcome on me ship and who isn't?" Jack questioned, becoming furious that I was denying him the right to give a valid reason.

My green eyes began to show the hurt that passed through me at that remark. I didn't know what to say to that remark.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean It.." Jack said

"Forget it, its nothing." I said through a clenched jaw. I wasn't sure to be hurt or extremely mad at his remark. "We don't need to 'ave to take care of a child as well as the ship." I yelled, turning on my heel with a huff, making my way back to the cabin.

"We'll talk about this later then? After ye have thought about it?" I heard Jack question hearing the hope in his voice as I felt his eyes on my back.

I slammed the door to the cabin after I entered. 'What the hell is he thinking?' I questioned to myself, pacing back and forth. 'He's gone crazy, we can't have a child on board.. That would not be good. This could create so many problems!'

I threw myself onto the bed, pondering the situation at hand. Should I allow Jack to bring her along.. or should I continue to refuse it?