CHAPTER 10: THE TRUTH
The crew turned to look at their Captain and Connor. "Mates, I say we celebrate. We destroyed an enemy and found one of our own." There was a chorus of cheers as the crew set up for a party.
Jack turned to Connor, "Come on. Ye said they only fed you bread so let's get something into you. You'll eat in the cabin." He began to lead her to the cabin but was cut off by Will and Elizabeth.
"Thank God, your all right. Jack stayed in his cabin all week drinking, we really didn't know what we would do to snap him out of it."
Connor laughed at the thought of Jack being lost without her. Jack narrowed his eyes and stared at her, shutting her up. He stood behind her and placed his arms around her waist. She leaned back into him.
"Is that true Jack?"
"Did you not see all the bottles on the floor. Of course not, you were to busy staring at me."
"It's such a relief to know that your alive."
"It's a relief for me too."
"As much as this little reunion is nice, my lass here hasn't had anything proper to eat in a week. Liz if you could get something to bring to my cabin."
"Oh of course Jack. We'll talk to you later. Will come on."
Jack continued to lead Connor into the cabin and shut the door behind them. He watched her make her way over to her hammock. She sat down and sighed. "Jack I really need to talk to you."
"I'm listening luv." He said, walking over and taking her hand. He led her to the bed and sat her down in his lap.
"Okay, well, Jack you see. . ." She was interrupted by a knock on the door. She let out a groan of frustration and placed her head on Jack's shoulder.
Jack laughed before telling the person to come in. Elizabeth walked in, a tray of food in her hand. She placed it on the bed next to them and left, realizing their need and want for privacy.
"How about you eat, and then we talk."
"Don't you want to go out and join the others?"
"No, I'm quite content right here."
Connor stared down at the food on her plate. She gulped it down quickly, enjoying the taste of the food. Jack watched her eat some of the food before walking over to his window and looking out at the sea.
When she finished, she cast her eyes on Jack. She placed the tray on his desk before walking over to him. "Jack, do you think we could talk now?"
"I don't think anyone else will interrupt us."
"Good." She began to pace the floor as Jack sat on the bed staring at her. "Okay, I have to tell you something. It's about me. I'm sorry I didn't tell you earlier but this should help explain why I am so content with being left alone."
"Darling, just spit it out."
"Right. Jack I was born with a map on my shoulder. I had no idea where the map led until about 10 years ago. I found this man who said he was looking for the treasure of Atlantis. He said that nobody could find the map, so I showed him the one on my back. That's when I found out that my map is the one that leads to the treasure of Atlantis. The guy tried to force me onto his ship, but I was saved. Johnson is the man who saved me.
'He had overheard our conversation and knew I was in trouble. He told me that if I told anyone then that what had just happened, would continue to happen. He swore to tell no one, and he's kept to that word. And that night I became like I am now, private. What no one knew, couldn't hurt me.'
'Then about a year and a half ago, I met Nate. I never told him, but he would lose his temper and I was afraid that if someone I loved ever found out they would betray me and treat me like he did. Since he already hurt me, I was afraid he would become even worse. He made me so afraid, that I decided that it wasn't safe for me to even feel love. So I hid my emotions after him. That was about half a year ago, and when I left I went back to Johnson.'
'When I returned he told me about you, he said you were looking for the treasure of Atlantis and that he had told you to meet me at the Faithful Bride. I was upset, to say the least. I had just spent six months making my way back to Johnson for him to tell me that now I would have to tell someone about the treasure. But he said that you were not like the others and I believed him. So I went to the Faithful Bride, told you, and here we are now."
Jack had sat in silence, listening in his shock as Connor told him the part of her past she had always skipped. He gulped and asked slowly, "Can I see?"
She nodded and turned around. She scooted her sleeve off her shoulder just enough to show the map but keep the scars hidden. She felt Jack's fingers slide across her shoulder. Connor shivered at his touch and closed her eyes.
Jack's fingers disappeared from her shoulder and moved around her waist. He pulled her back to his chest and kissed her cheek. "Johnson was right. I'm not like the others."
"Good." She murmured, before turning around kissing him softly on the lips. But Jack took control of the kiss and deepened it. They would not be seen until the next day.