A/N: Okay, here comes Chapter 2.please please review. Hope you like the
story.enjoy!
Disclaimer: We only own Kate and Katie and other people who you haven't met yet.no new ideas on how to own Jack and Will yet, unfortunately, but.c'est la vie.
Chapter 2: Getting to Know Each Other
After a while of sitting where she was left, absolutely bored, Kate decided to venture up on deck. When she finally managed to get up there, she saw Katie and Will sword fighting. Katie was really good, even better than Will who was excellent himself. Kate, not knowing what to do, just stood there and watched them. It was really neat to see people who could counter each other with such ease.
"Hey, do you mind?" Kate asked when the wandered nearer her and gestured to the ropes that bound her hands. "They're a bit uncomfortable."
Kate didn't think that they had heard her, but Katie whirled around and sliced the ropes down the middle. However, she didn't stop fighting until she had knocked Will's sword out of his hand.
"Thanks!" Kate said, gleefully. "Captain What's-His-Face wouldn't cut them for me."
"Yeah," Katie said. A look of comprehension came across her face when she realized what Kate had just said. "The Captain refused to cut the ropes. . . meaning that I wasn't supposed to cut your ropes either!"
"Yeah," Will said, laughing. "Sucks to be you, I guess."
"Shut up, Will," Katie said, still looking apprehensive.
"Anyways, thanks," Kate replied. "Who are you?" she asked Will, because, you know, they weren't introduced yet.
"This is William. Oops, I mean Will," Katie told her.
"What?" Will asked. "Did you say something to me?"
"No. I was trying to be polite, seeing as no one has introduced the rest of us to her. So I took the liberty of telling her who you are," Katie told Will.
Will still looking confused said, "I'm Will Turner."
"Nice meeting you," Kate said grudgingly.
"Well. . ." Will said, looking bored.
"You were both really good fighters. Have you been fighting long, Will?" Kate asked.
"I've been fencing since I was 9. I was a blacksmith but since about 2 years ago . . . I've been here," Will told her.
"Interesting. I was taught how to fence when I was 3, like Katie. Then I had to steal my father's sword all the time to practice," Kate said, looking hopeful. "I would fancy a go, if you don't mind."
"I do mind! I already cut your hands free. Jack would probably kill me if I gave you a weapon," Katie responded testily.
"Oh, come on, Katie. Give the kid a shot. Even if she could beat you, we're a day and a half away from her home. She's got no where to go. Even if we were half a day out, she couldn't swim all that way, it isn't possible," Will said.
"Nothing is impossible," Kate told him. "It is just improbable."
"Whatever. Just give her a go," Will said.
"Okay, fine. Lets go, kid," Katie responded, grudgingly.
Will gave his sword to Kate and took up a seat on the deck. Katie shot one final look of apprehension at Will and held up her sword at the ready.
"On guard," Kate said, her sword at the ready.
"On guard," Katie replied, still looking apprehensive.
They lunged toward each other and locked swords. The girls were equally matched for skill and were able to keep each other at bay. Neither gave up and they continued to fight for 30 minutes until they both were exhausted.
"Okay," Kate and Katie said together.
"You're good, kid," Katie said, "I think that you're better than William here."
"Thanks. I haven't fought anyone as good as you for a long time. I beat my teacher when I was 10 and haven't had a decent match since," Kate replied smiling.
All of a sudden, Katie's smiling face fell. Jack was fast approaching, looking livid. Kate shrank back behind Katie, in an attempt to hide herself.
"Why does the girl have a sword? And why are her hands free? I thought that I told you that she would stay tied until later. She's already tried to escape once," Jack said in a-would-be-calm voice but for his flushed face.
"Umm . . . well," Katie said nervously. "See, I cut her ropes when she was watching Will and me fight. Then she asked if she could fight and Will thought it'd be okay, so we let her."
"I see . . ." Jack replied, "Well, Miss, I am going to insist that you come with me."
"NO!" Kate said.
"I don't think that you get it. Let me explain. It doesn't make a difference if you want to or not. The point of the matter is that you are going to come with me. Katie can come too, for that matter."
"Fine," Katie said, defiantly.
Jack led them down to a small cage in the bottom of the boat. There he bowed them in and locked the door behind them and left.
"Why are we locked in here?" Kate asked Katie after about an hour of sitting in silence.
"Obviously I'm down here because I gave you a sword and cut your ropes when Jack said not to and you are in here for some reason totally beyond me," Katie informed her.
The positive thing about being in the cage was being able to talk to Katie. Kate figured that this was the only positive thing. Each told more about their childhood and things like that. Kate was still silent on the entire name thing and refused to tell Katie her name.
"It's not that bad here, you know. Other ships, you would be dead probably," Katie was telling Kate.
"Well, maybe I'd be better off dead," Kate replied defiantly.
"Oh, come on, now. You'll warm up to Jack. He's not that bad."
"I don't like him at all," Kate said quietly. "It's his fault that I'm here. It's his fault that I'm . . ."
"Alive," Katie finished for her. "Anyway, its not like you're going to die or anything at our hands. You may be a prisoner but it could be a lot worse."
"How?" Kate asked obstinately.
"Trust me. You're lucky that Jack took you. Of all the pirates that could have kidnapped a girl like you, Jack is probably the most decent of all of them. He's a good man. Him and Will are both good men. Trust me."
"You fancy Will," Kate stated bluntly.
Katie gasped quickly. "I do not!"
"You do so. It's extremely obvious," Kate replied.
"Please, don't tell him!" Katie shrieked. "I just. . . I couldn't. . .Jack fancies you," she stated suddenly.
"WHAT????!!!!!!!" Kate asked in horror.
Just then Jack walked in and opened up the door to the cage. "Katie, out you get, if you please," Jack said calmly.
Katie gave Kate a reassuring smile and walked out. Rather than shutting Kate in, Jack climbed in and left the door open.
"What?" Kate asked defiantly.
"Nothing. I was just wondering if you fancied getting out of this accursed cage?" Jack asked casually.
"Why should you care?" Kate responded hotly. "You're the one who shut me in here."
"Fine. I'll go then," Jack said as he got up to leave.
"Wait! What do you want with me anyway?"
"Why can't you just act like any other hostage that I've taken. Usually they just mope around, not looking at anything but their feet. You're the first one that I've ever taken before that has been smart with me or had the guts to punch me, numerous times," Jack asked her.
"Are you going to kill me?" Kate asked bluntly.
"No. I doubt it."
"So let me go!"
"I can't do that either."
"Can't or won't?" Kate asked defiantly.
"Won't!"
"Argh!" Kate growled.
"You know, it'd be less frustrating if you tried to have a conversation with me that we haven't already had 5 times," Jack suggested.
"Oh yeah, a real heart-to-heart with my kidnapper. How touching."
"I did save your life. Show a little gratitude."
"I already have," Kate said and at the blank look on Jack's face she added, "I could have hit you harder."
"I imagine that you could have. My eye was smarting where you punched me the entire next day," Jack said, laughing. And with that Jack scooted closer to Kate. Intent on not showing emotion, Kate kept her face blank but stiffened. "You act like I am going to hurt you," he said.
"What proof do I have that you won't?" Kate asked hotly.
"My word."
"The word of a pirate! Ha! I already told you that wasn't good enough!" Kate scoffed.
Jack moved closer still and pulled the hair out of her face. Kate shuddered and still stayed emotionless. When he put an arm around her, however, she jumped up and kicked him hard.
"Don't touch me, you snake!" She yelled. "Get away from me!"
To Kate's surprise, Jack got up and left. She didn't protest as he locked the door. Before climbing back on deck, he turned and said, "I expect that you would want some food and clothes. I'll have Katie bring some down to you."
~*~
"Real smooth, Captain," Katie said to Jack when he got back up on deck. "Why don't you just kill the kid now? She's probably half dead from the shock of that little fiasco."
"Shut up!" Jack said hotly.
"What did you do, anyway? All I heard was her shouting and then you came up," Will asked.
Jack told Katie and Will what had happened. Katie gave Jack a look of "real good, idiot" before saying, "Well there you go. That's your problem."
"What?" Jack asked, nonplussed.
"Okay. How can I explain this so that you understand it? How about this? Put yourself in her shoes, okay. You were torn away from your burning home by some man that you don't know, you wake up a day and a half away from your home in the company of complete strangers, pirates. And the same guy that took you from your life as you knew it makes an advance on you. Most of the stories that you heard while growing up were about the cruelty of pirates and what they do to their prisoners. So, all the stories that you have ever heard are rushing through your head while you try and get a feel for how miserable you will be for a long time," Katie told Jack.
"You've used that already haven't you?" said Will, scratching his head.
"I don't remember," Katie shrugged.
"Oh...yeah, I could see how that may have something to do with her reaction. Well, what should I do?" Jack finally said.
"Leave her be tonight unless you would like her to die from a combination of anger and fright. Make a compromise with her and be slow. Even if you do fancy her, don't move too fast unless you'd like her to stay the way that she is now. Personally, I don't. She's got spunk and a great deal of it. But, I imagine that she'll shut down if you do anything at all."
"Like I was planning," Jack replied sarcastically.
~*~
The next morning, Kate woke up early. As far as she could tell, anyway but the sun moving across the floor through a window was her only guide. Not that it mattered. But she would just have to grin and bear this, feeling sorry for yourself never gets you anywhere. Although, she wouldn't pass up an opportunity to hit Jack, she couldn't deny that.
Katie came down not too long after Kate woke up and asked her to get ready for breakfast. Kate got dressed in the clothes that Katie had given her and followed Katie to the room that she woke up in. Katie knocked once on the door and walked in, Kate on her heels. Jack was sitting at a table with food on it and two chairs seated across from one another.
"Good morning, Jack," Katie said cheerfully, while indicating to Kate to sit.
"Morning, Katie. You can go," Jack replied genially. "Please, eat," he said to Kate.
"Thanks," Kate mumbled while taking some food.
"You know, you still haven't told me about yourself," Jack noted, "I'll make you a bargain, if you would consider it."
"Alright, then," Kate said.
"Okay. I will challenge you to a fencing match. If I win, you answer all of my questions about you. If you win, you get a bed to sleep in and you tell me about yourself."
"Why should I tell you about myself? Does it really matter? Or is there some law in the Pirate's Code that says that a hostage must tell their life story?" Kate answered hotly.
"It matters because, like I said earlier, you aren't like any other hostage. Maybe if you listened instead of being so stubborn, occasionally, you would know why."
"Well, whether or not I care to listen to your musings has nothing to do with my situation, here. I could well make my way on my own. Just as I could have made my way out of my house unharmed until you showed up and ruined things for me. But anyway, you have a deal! I would fancy a chance to beat you."
"Excellent. When you're ready, we'll go, then."
Kate put down her fork and knife and said, "Lets go."
Jack led Kate up to the deck of the ship. He handed Kate a sword and took up a position opposite her. Katie and Will, who had been practicing themselves, came over to watch.
"Oy, Captain. You were all mad about me giving her a sword and now you two are actually going to have a match?" Katie asked.
"Change of plans," Jack said lightly. "I figure, we may as well give the kid a shot."
Katie turned to Will, grinning and said, "Let's watch. I'd pay to see something like this on land. I wager 3 shillings on the kid."
"Deal," Will said.
"Let's go, already," Kate said impatiently.
"On guard!" Jack called.
And with that, Kate and Jack locked swords. Kate was not quite up to Jack's level but she used her anger towards him to her advantage. At one point, when their swords were locked and they were close together, Jack suddenly roughly kissed Kate on the mouth. As Will and Katie laughed and cheered, Kate bellowed in rage and re-attacked in fury. From that point on, Kate did not even attempt to keep her emotions at bay. She was able to knock Jack's sword out of his hand and knocked him down to the floor.
"Ah ha!" Kate yelled. "I win."
"HAH! William, you owe me three shillings, thanks," beamed Katie.
"Deal's off. You called me William," Will pouted.
Katie stuck her tongue out at him. Will just grabbed it between his fingers, brought Katie closer, and pinched her on the ass (again). Katie stepped hard on his foot. Will let go off her tongue and started hopping around the deck, screaming girlishly with pain.
For the first time since Kate had come to the boat, she smiled and laughed out loud. Jack, Katie, and Will all looked at her in shock. All three seemed surprised that she seemed happy.
"What?" Kate asked, noting their shocked stares.
"Very good, kid. You win," Jack said while getting up.
"Wow, Jack. I can't believe that you got beaten by a kid," Will said, trying to ignore the throbbing pain in his foot.
"Shut up, eunuch."
"I thought we were past that. I am not a eunuch!" Will grumbled.
"Nope, you're definitely all there," Katie growled as she walked past him towards Kate. Will just stood there, and sort of stared after her in shock. Katie led Kate to the room that Katie slept in. "That was really good, you know. No one has beaten Jack in a long time. I don't know if it's happened before!" Katie told her.
"Seriously?" Kate asked.
"Yeah. I've been here a long time and haven't seen anyone beat him. Will came really close once, but he lost in the end. That was when he was a blacksmith. Jack had threatened the girl that Will was in love with and he too had a lot of rage. Even then, it wasn't enough."
"What happened with Will and the girl?"
"Oh, she and Will got married but she caught some disease and died. Will doesn't talk about her, anymore. That's how he met Jack. Jack agreed to help Will rescue Elizabeth from Captain Barbosa, who was the captain of the Black Pearl, until Will and Jack lifted the curse and saved Elizabeth."
"Oh...I didn't know that."
"Yeah, they don't talk about it. Will really misses her. Obviously. I mean they were in love and then she died. That's why I don't want him to know that I fancy him, he isn't over Elizabeth, yet.
"How long has it been?" Kate asked.
"Nearly a year. I don't push him. I figure that he'll come around in time."
"I think he fancies you, too, though," Kate told her, at Katie's look of confusion she said, "I was watching you two fight yesterday and he was really hesitant about attacking you. Plus, he pinches you and flirts with you a lot."
"Hmmmmm....I never noticed," Katie said.
"It seemed pretty obvious to me. But I dunno. I may have imagined it."
"You're pretty quick, kid."
"Yeah, it helps. The quicker you can catch on to things, the quicker you can react."
"I never thought of it that way."
"Most people don't."
"You know, I think I know why Jack fancies you."
"Oh yeah?" Kate said defiantly.
"Yeah," Katie said. "You're quick, sarcastic, a good fighter, and spunky. A lot like Jack. Maybe that's why..." But what was why, Kate never found out because Katie cut off her sentence as Jack walked in.
"Why what?" Jack asked casually.
"Nothing. Me and the kid were just having a little chat," Katie told him.
"Ah, so she talks to you. Now I know who knows all," Jack said jokingly.
"I don't know anything," Katie said. "She hasn't even told me her name. But I do know that she catches on to me very fast. Be warned Jack."
"Trust me, I recognized my warning as the shouting rather than punches that I received last night."
"You deserved it!" Kate told him stubbornly.
"I'm sure," Jack said. "Come on, Miss. You have you're end of the bargain to hold up. I've done my part. It's your turn."
"You have not. I don't remember you showing me a place to sleep."
"Why, in here with me," Katie told her. "I knew I forgot something! Crap. Me and my stupid memory. Bad luck with walls . . ."
"Yeah, you told me that already. But anyway, I seem to have a wee bit of bad luck with things too," Kate said. "I know exactly how you feel."
"Bad luck?" Jack asked. "How is this bad luck? You're on the best ship there is, you've been able to embarrass the man that you seem to blame all your recent problems on and you just got a great kiss," he added roguishly.
"Yeah, it's the latter that I have the problem with," Kate grumbled before leaving at a run.
Despite the fact that ultimately there was nowhere to go, Kate wandered the deck for a minute or two before deciding where to go. She couldn't go anywhere on the deck to escape Jack but she could go up. So she walked over to the center mast and started to climb. She climbed as high as possible and sat at the top. In spite of her anger at the past few minutes, she found herself in awe at the sights that greeted her eyes. The horizon and the view were magnificent. All of a sudden, the very voice that she didn't want to hear interrupted her reverie.
"Oy. Are you planning on jumping? Don't if you are," the voice of Jack called up to her.
"Go away!" Kate shouted down to the climbing form of Jack.
"I don't think I can do that," he said, now even with her.
"Can't or won't?"
"Won't. See I can leave you alone but because I don't know what you are about to do, I won't."
"What difference does it make?"
"Well, can't means something that is absolutely set and it is impossible to do. Won't is a matter of choice. And since I have a matter of choice as to whether or not I'll leave you alone, I won't do it. Just like you can jump to your death from up here but you won't because in spite of how much you are hating me and this, you still love your life too much to throw it away."
"How do you know that I am not planning on jumping?" Kate asked him, despite the fact that doing so was not at all what she was planning on doing.
"I just do," Jack told her. "Anyway. Tell me about yourself. All I know is that you're 17, are good with a sword, have a mean punch and a smart mouth. Plus where you live and all that but actual information, like your name, is all beyond me."
"Fine. Ask your questions. We made a bargain and I'll stick to it," she said grudgingly. "But only because I mean to stay honest in this whole thing. Not for you."
"Fine. Whatever you have to tell yourself," he replied. "First of all, what's your name?"
"Kathryn Elizabeth Black. But if you call me Kathryn, I will kill you. I go by Kate and nothing else. A man called me 'Hun' once and he couldn't move his mouth for a year afterwards."
"When were you born?"
"March 17."
"What's your favorite color, parents' names, and siblings' names?"
"What difference could that possibly make?!"
"Just answer."
"Fine! Blue. Elizabeth and Jonathon Black. Matthew, Colleen, David and Eliza. Any other questions from the firing squad?"
"Just one."
"So ask it and let's get this over with."
"What do you think of me?"
"What kind of a rubbishy question is that?" Kate asked frustrated. "Fine. Keeping to my word, I'll tell you. I think that you are. . . never mind, I'm not answering," she ended as she stared to climb down.
"Wait," Jack said, grabbing her arm in a surprisingly tight grip.
"NO!"
As Kate struggled to continue down, her footing slipped and she nearly fell. The only thing keeping her from sudden death was Jack's fierce grip on her arm. She screamed in surprise and struggled to find a place to stand. Jack pulled her up and back to the place where she sat moments before.
"Thanks," she mumbled.
"Not a problem," Jack said to her. "Now, can you answer my question?"
"Okay. . . I think that even though you tore me away from my life and have made awful advances on me and don't seem to care how much I fight you that you are at least half way a decent of person but that is basically because every time that I have said something about you in rage, Katie is almost always there to contradict it. And despite the fact that I really don't like you, you don't seem really horrible except when you try to be," Kate said in a rush. "I am going now." And with that, she left Jack sitting up on the mast and climbed down.
A/N: Please review..we'd be very very grateful.thanks for reading
Disclaimer: We only own Kate and Katie and other people who you haven't met yet.no new ideas on how to own Jack and Will yet, unfortunately, but.c'est la vie.
Chapter 2: Getting to Know Each Other
After a while of sitting where she was left, absolutely bored, Kate decided to venture up on deck. When she finally managed to get up there, she saw Katie and Will sword fighting. Katie was really good, even better than Will who was excellent himself. Kate, not knowing what to do, just stood there and watched them. It was really neat to see people who could counter each other with such ease.
"Hey, do you mind?" Kate asked when the wandered nearer her and gestured to the ropes that bound her hands. "They're a bit uncomfortable."
Kate didn't think that they had heard her, but Katie whirled around and sliced the ropes down the middle. However, she didn't stop fighting until she had knocked Will's sword out of his hand.
"Thanks!" Kate said, gleefully. "Captain What's-His-Face wouldn't cut them for me."
"Yeah," Katie said. A look of comprehension came across her face when she realized what Kate had just said. "The Captain refused to cut the ropes. . . meaning that I wasn't supposed to cut your ropes either!"
"Yeah," Will said, laughing. "Sucks to be you, I guess."
"Shut up, Will," Katie said, still looking apprehensive.
"Anyways, thanks," Kate replied. "Who are you?" she asked Will, because, you know, they weren't introduced yet.
"This is William. Oops, I mean Will," Katie told her.
"What?" Will asked. "Did you say something to me?"
"No. I was trying to be polite, seeing as no one has introduced the rest of us to her. So I took the liberty of telling her who you are," Katie told Will.
Will still looking confused said, "I'm Will Turner."
"Nice meeting you," Kate said grudgingly.
"Well. . ." Will said, looking bored.
"You were both really good fighters. Have you been fighting long, Will?" Kate asked.
"I've been fencing since I was 9. I was a blacksmith but since about 2 years ago . . . I've been here," Will told her.
"Interesting. I was taught how to fence when I was 3, like Katie. Then I had to steal my father's sword all the time to practice," Kate said, looking hopeful. "I would fancy a go, if you don't mind."
"I do mind! I already cut your hands free. Jack would probably kill me if I gave you a weapon," Katie responded testily.
"Oh, come on, Katie. Give the kid a shot. Even if she could beat you, we're a day and a half away from her home. She's got no where to go. Even if we were half a day out, she couldn't swim all that way, it isn't possible," Will said.
"Nothing is impossible," Kate told him. "It is just improbable."
"Whatever. Just give her a go," Will said.
"Okay, fine. Lets go, kid," Katie responded, grudgingly.
Will gave his sword to Kate and took up a seat on the deck. Katie shot one final look of apprehension at Will and held up her sword at the ready.
"On guard," Kate said, her sword at the ready.
"On guard," Katie replied, still looking apprehensive.
They lunged toward each other and locked swords. The girls were equally matched for skill and were able to keep each other at bay. Neither gave up and they continued to fight for 30 minutes until they both were exhausted.
"Okay," Kate and Katie said together.
"You're good, kid," Katie said, "I think that you're better than William here."
"Thanks. I haven't fought anyone as good as you for a long time. I beat my teacher when I was 10 and haven't had a decent match since," Kate replied smiling.
All of a sudden, Katie's smiling face fell. Jack was fast approaching, looking livid. Kate shrank back behind Katie, in an attempt to hide herself.
"Why does the girl have a sword? And why are her hands free? I thought that I told you that she would stay tied until later. She's already tried to escape once," Jack said in a-would-be-calm voice but for his flushed face.
"Umm . . . well," Katie said nervously. "See, I cut her ropes when she was watching Will and me fight. Then she asked if she could fight and Will thought it'd be okay, so we let her."
"I see . . ." Jack replied, "Well, Miss, I am going to insist that you come with me."
"NO!" Kate said.
"I don't think that you get it. Let me explain. It doesn't make a difference if you want to or not. The point of the matter is that you are going to come with me. Katie can come too, for that matter."
"Fine," Katie said, defiantly.
Jack led them down to a small cage in the bottom of the boat. There he bowed them in and locked the door behind them and left.
"Why are we locked in here?" Kate asked Katie after about an hour of sitting in silence.
"Obviously I'm down here because I gave you a sword and cut your ropes when Jack said not to and you are in here for some reason totally beyond me," Katie informed her.
The positive thing about being in the cage was being able to talk to Katie. Kate figured that this was the only positive thing. Each told more about their childhood and things like that. Kate was still silent on the entire name thing and refused to tell Katie her name.
"It's not that bad here, you know. Other ships, you would be dead probably," Katie was telling Kate.
"Well, maybe I'd be better off dead," Kate replied defiantly.
"Oh, come on, now. You'll warm up to Jack. He's not that bad."
"I don't like him at all," Kate said quietly. "It's his fault that I'm here. It's his fault that I'm . . ."
"Alive," Katie finished for her. "Anyway, its not like you're going to die or anything at our hands. You may be a prisoner but it could be a lot worse."
"How?" Kate asked obstinately.
"Trust me. You're lucky that Jack took you. Of all the pirates that could have kidnapped a girl like you, Jack is probably the most decent of all of them. He's a good man. Him and Will are both good men. Trust me."
"You fancy Will," Kate stated bluntly.
Katie gasped quickly. "I do not!"
"You do so. It's extremely obvious," Kate replied.
"Please, don't tell him!" Katie shrieked. "I just. . . I couldn't. . .Jack fancies you," she stated suddenly.
"WHAT????!!!!!!!" Kate asked in horror.
Just then Jack walked in and opened up the door to the cage. "Katie, out you get, if you please," Jack said calmly.
Katie gave Kate a reassuring smile and walked out. Rather than shutting Kate in, Jack climbed in and left the door open.
"What?" Kate asked defiantly.
"Nothing. I was just wondering if you fancied getting out of this accursed cage?" Jack asked casually.
"Why should you care?" Kate responded hotly. "You're the one who shut me in here."
"Fine. I'll go then," Jack said as he got up to leave.
"Wait! What do you want with me anyway?"
"Why can't you just act like any other hostage that I've taken. Usually they just mope around, not looking at anything but their feet. You're the first one that I've ever taken before that has been smart with me or had the guts to punch me, numerous times," Jack asked her.
"Are you going to kill me?" Kate asked bluntly.
"No. I doubt it."
"So let me go!"
"I can't do that either."
"Can't or won't?" Kate asked defiantly.
"Won't!"
"Argh!" Kate growled.
"You know, it'd be less frustrating if you tried to have a conversation with me that we haven't already had 5 times," Jack suggested.
"Oh yeah, a real heart-to-heart with my kidnapper. How touching."
"I did save your life. Show a little gratitude."
"I already have," Kate said and at the blank look on Jack's face she added, "I could have hit you harder."
"I imagine that you could have. My eye was smarting where you punched me the entire next day," Jack said, laughing. And with that Jack scooted closer to Kate. Intent on not showing emotion, Kate kept her face blank but stiffened. "You act like I am going to hurt you," he said.
"What proof do I have that you won't?" Kate asked hotly.
"My word."
"The word of a pirate! Ha! I already told you that wasn't good enough!" Kate scoffed.
Jack moved closer still and pulled the hair out of her face. Kate shuddered and still stayed emotionless. When he put an arm around her, however, she jumped up and kicked him hard.
"Don't touch me, you snake!" She yelled. "Get away from me!"
To Kate's surprise, Jack got up and left. She didn't protest as he locked the door. Before climbing back on deck, he turned and said, "I expect that you would want some food and clothes. I'll have Katie bring some down to you."
~*~
"Real smooth, Captain," Katie said to Jack when he got back up on deck. "Why don't you just kill the kid now? She's probably half dead from the shock of that little fiasco."
"Shut up!" Jack said hotly.
"What did you do, anyway? All I heard was her shouting and then you came up," Will asked.
Jack told Katie and Will what had happened. Katie gave Jack a look of "real good, idiot" before saying, "Well there you go. That's your problem."
"What?" Jack asked, nonplussed.
"Okay. How can I explain this so that you understand it? How about this? Put yourself in her shoes, okay. You were torn away from your burning home by some man that you don't know, you wake up a day and a half away from your home in the company of complete strangers, pirates. And the same guy that took you from your life as you knew it makes an advance on you. Most of the stories that you heard while growing up were about the cruelty of pirates and what they do to their prisoners. So, all the stories that you have ever heard are rushing through your head while you try and get a feel for how miserable you will be for a long time," Katie told Jack.
"You've used that already haven't you?" said Will, scratching his head.
"I don't remember," Katie shrugged.
"Oh...yeah, I could see how that may have something to do with her reaction. Well, what should I do?" Jack finally said.
"Leave her be tonight unless you would like her to die from a combination of anger and fright. Make a compromise with her and be slow. Even if you do fancy her, don't move too fast unless you'd like her to stay the way that she is now. Personally, I don't. She's got spunk and a great deal of it. But, I imagine that she'll shut down if you do anything at all."
"Like I was planning," Jack replied sarcastically.
~*~
The next morning, Kate woke up early. As far as she could tell, anyway but the sun moving across the floor through a window was her only guide. Not that it mattered. But she would just have to grin and bear this, feeling sorry for yourself never gets you anywhere. Although, she wouldn't pass up an opportunity to hit Jack, she couldn't deny that.
Katie came down not too long after Kate woke up and asked her to get ready for breakfast. Kate got dressed in the clothes that Katie had given her and followed Katie to the room that she woke up in. Katie knocked once on the door and walked in, Kate on her heels. Jack was sitting at a table with food on it and two chairs seated across from one another.
"Good morning, Jack," Katie said cheerfully, while indicating to Kate to sit.
"Morning, Katie. You can go," Jack replied genially. "Please, eat," he said to Kate.
"Thanks," Kate mumbled while taking some food.
"You know, you still haven't told me about yourself," Jack noted, "I'll make you a bargain, if you would consider it."
"Alright, then," Kate said.
"Okay. I will challenge you to a fencing match. If I win, you answer all of my questions about you. If you win, you get a bed to sleep in and you tell me about yourself."
"Why should I tell you about myself? Does it really matter? Or is there some law in the Pirate's Code that says that a hostage must tell their life story?" Kate answered hotly.
"It matters because, like I said earlier, you aren't like any other hostage. Maybe if you listened instead of being so stubborn, occasionally, you would know why."
"Well, whether or not I care to listen to your musings has nothing to do with my situation, here. I could well make my way on my own. Just as I could have made my way out of my house unharmed until you showed up and ruined things for me. But anyway, you have a deal! I would fancy a chance to beat you."
"Excellent. When you're ready, we'll go, then."
Kate put down her fork and knife and said, "Lets go."
Jack led Kate up to the deck of the ship. He handed Kate a sword and took up a position opposite her. Katie and Will, who had been practicing themselves, came over to watch.
"Oy, Captain. You were all mad about me giving her a sword and now you two are actually going to have a match?" Katie asked.
"Change of plans," Jack said lightly. "I figure, we may as well give the kid a shot."
Katie turned to Will, grinning and said, "Let's watch. I'd pay to see something like this on land. I wager 3 shillings on the kid."
"Deal," Will said.
"Let's go, already," Kate said impatiently.
"On guard!" Jack called.
And with that, Kate and Jack locked swords. Kate was not quite up to Jack's level but she used her anger towards him to her advantage. At one point, when their swords were locked and they were close together, Jack suddenly roughly kissed Kate on the mouth. As Will and Katie laughed and cheered, Kate bellowed in rage and re-attacked in fury. From that point on, Kate did not even attempt to keep her emotions at bay. She was able to knock Jack's sword out of his hand and knocked him down to the floor.
"Ah ha!" Kate yelled. "I win."
"HAH! William, you owe me three shillings, thanks," beamed Katie.
"Deal's off. You called me William," Will pouted.
Katie stuck her tongue out at him. Will just grabbed it between his fingers, brought Katie closer, and pinched her on the ass (again). Katie stepped hard on his foot. Will let go off her tongue and started hopping around the deck, screaming girlishly with pain.
For the first time since Kate had come to the boat, she smiled and laughed out loud. Jack, Katie, and Will all looked at her in shock. All three seemed surprised that she seemed happy.
"What?" Kate asked, noting their shocked stares.
"Very good, kid. You win," Jack said while getting up.
"Wow, Jack. I can't believe that you got beaten by a kid," Will said, trying to ignore the throbbing pain in his foot.
"Shut up, eunuch."
"I thought we were past that. I am not a eunuch!" Will grumbled.
"Nope, you're definitely all there," Katie growled as she walked past him towards Kate. Will just stood there, and sort of stared after her in shock. Katie led Kate to the room that Katie slept in. "That was really good, you know. No one has beaten Jack in a long time. I don't know if it's happened before!" Katie told her.
"Seriously?" Kate asked.
"Yeah. I've been here a long time and haven't seen anyone beat him. Will came really close once, but he lost in the end. That was when he was a blacksmith. Jack had threatened the girl that Will was in love with and he too had a lot of rage. Even then, it wasn't enough."
"What happened with Will and the girl?"
"Oh, she and Will got married but she caught some disease and died. Will doesn't talk about her, anymore. That's how he met Jack. Jack agreed to help Will rescue Elizabeth from Captain Barbosa, who was the captain of the Black Pearl, until Will and Jack lifted the curse and saved Elizabeth."
"Oh...I didn't know that."
"Yeah, they don't talk about it. Will really misses her. Obviously. I mean they were in love and then she died. That's why I don't want him to know that I fancy him, he isn't over Elizabeth, yet.
"How long has it been?" Kate asked.
"Nearly a year. I don't push him. I figure that he'll come around in time."
"I think he fancies you, too, though," Kate told her, at Katie's look of confusion she said, "I was watching you two fight yesterday and he was really hesitant about attacking you. Plus, he pinches you and flirts with you a lot."
"Hmmmmm....I never noticed," Katie said.
"It seemed pretty obvious to me. But I dunno. I may have imagined it."
"You're pretty quick, kid."
"Yeah, it helps. The quicker you can catch on to things, the quicker you can react."
"I never thought of it that way."
"Most people don't."
"You know, I think I know why Jack fancies you."
"Oh yeah?" Kate said defiantly.
"Yeah," Katie said. "You're quick, sarcastic, a good fighter, and spunky. A lot like Jack. Maybe that's why..." But what was why, Kate never found out because Katie cut off her sentence as Jack walked in.
"Why what?" Jack asked casually.
"Nothing. Me and the kid were just having a little chat," Katie told him.
"Ah, so she talks to you. Now I know who knows all," Jack said jokingly.
"I don't know anything," Katie said. "She hasn't even told me her name. But I do know that she catches on to me very fast. Be warned Jack."
"Trust me, I recognized my warning as the shouting rather than punches that I received last night."
"You deserved it!" Kate told him stubbornly.
"I'm sure," Jack said. "Come on, Miss. You have you're end of the bargain to hold up. I've done my part. It's your turn."
"You have not. I don't remember you showing me a place to sleep."
"Why, in here with me," Katie told her. "I knew I forgot something! Crap. Me and my stupid memory. Bad luck with walls . . ."
"Yeah, you told me that already. But anyway, I seem to have a wee bit of bad luck with things too," Kate said. "I know exactly how you feel."
"Bad luck?" Jack asked. "How is this bad luck? You're on the best ship there is, you've been able to embarrass the man that you seem to blame all your recent problems on and you just got a great kiss," he added roguishly.
"Yeah, it's the latter that I have the problem with," Kate grumbled before leaving at a run.
Despite the fact that ultimately there was nowhere to go, Kate wandered the deck for a minute or two before deciding where to go. She couldn't go anywhere on the deck to escape Jack but she could go up. So she walked over to the center mast and started to climb. She climbed as high as possible and sat at the top. In spite of her anger at the past few minutes, she found herself in awe at the sights that greeted her eyes. The horizon and the view were magnificent. All of a sudden, the very voice that she didn't want to hear interrupted her reverie.
"Oy. Are you planning on jumping? Don't if you are," the voice of Jack called up to her.
"Go away!" Kate shouted down to the climbing form of Jack.
"I don't think I can do that," he said, now even with her.
"Can't or won't?"
"Won't. See I can leave you alone but because I don't know what you are about to do, I won't."
"What difference does it make?"
"Well, can't means something that is absolutely set and it is impossible to do. Won't is a matter of choice. And since I have a matter of choice as to whether or not I'll leave you alone, I won't do it. Just like you can jump to your death from up here but you won't because in spite of how much you are hating me and this, you still love your life too much to throw it away."
"How do you know that I am not planning on jumping?" Kate asked him, despite the fact that doing so was not at all what she was planning on doing.
"I just do," Jack told her. "Anyway. Tell me about yourself. All I know is that you're 17, are good with a sword, have a mean punch and a smart mouth. Plus where you live and all that but actual information, like your name, is all beyond me."
"Fine. Ask your questions. We made a bargain and I'll stick to it," she said grudgingly. "But only because I mean to stay honest in this whole thing. Not for you."
"Fine. Whatever you have to tell yourself," he replied. "First of all, what's your name?"
"Kathryn Elizabeth Black. But if you call me Kathryn, I will kill you. I go by Kate and nothing else. A man called me 'Hun' once and he couldn't move his mouth for a year afterwards."
"When were you born?"
"March 17."
"What's your favorite color, parents' names, and siblings' names?"
"What difference could that possibly make?!"
"Just answer."
"Fine! Blue. Elizabeth and Jonathon Black. Matthew, Colleen, David and Eliza. Any other questions from the firing squad?"
"Just one."
"So ask it and let's get this over with."
"What do you think of me?"
"What kind of a rubbishy question is that?" Kate asked frustrated. "Fine. Keeping to my word, I'll tell you. I think that you are. . . never mind, I'm not answering," she ended as she stared to climb down.
"Wait," Jack said, grabbing her arm in a surprisingly tight grip.
"NO!"
As Kate struggled to continue down, her footing slipped and she nearly fell. The only thing keeping her from sudden death was Jack's fierce grip on her arm. She screamed in surprise and struggled to find a place to stand. Jack pulled her up and back to the place where she sat moments before.
"Thanks," she mumbled.
"Not a problem," Jack said to her. "Now, can you answer my question?"
"Okay. . . I think that even though you tore me away from my life and have made awful advances on me and don't seem to care how much I fight you that you are at least half way a decent of person but that is basically because every time that I have said something about you in rage, Katie is almost always there to contradict it. And despite the fact that I really don't like you, you don't seem really horrible except when you try to be," Kate said in a rush. "I am going now." And with that, she left Jack sitting up on the mast and climbed down.
A/N: Please review..we'd be very very grateful.thanks for reading