Disclaimers – who'd have 'em?
Thanks for reading and reviewing. Thanks as always to Hilary and Lin for their hard work behind the scenes XXX
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Chapter six: 'I'll throw ya in th'brig for a third time.'
Jenny blinked in the strong sunlight, then climbed off the bunk and pulled back the drapes that sectioned the bunk off from the rest of the cabin. She looked around for Jack, and when she was satisfied he was not there, went to the side cabin which served as a washroom and toilet. She pulled off her shift that she had slept in and quickly washed herself down, using the pitcher of warm water and a none too clean damp rag that she realised Jack had probably used for washing himself. She looked at the clothes Jack had found out for her as her dress was all but ruined and impratical to wear on board the ship. Jenny pulled on the slightly too big shirt and fastened the few buttons remaining on it before she realized it gaped very low and looked positively indecent. She panicked, wondering frantically what she could do, then spied the slip that she had worn under her dress. She took a knife on Jack's table and raggedly cut the bottom half of it off, before removing her shirt and putting the slip on. She put the shirt back over the top of it, smiling with relief that she was now in no danger of exposing herself to all and sundry.
Jenny looked hesitantly at the worn grey breeches before pulling them on, but had to admit that once the initial feeling of discomfort had passed, she enjoyed wearing them as they gave her freedom of movement that was impossible in a dress. She was not too sure about showing off her calves as the breeches only came halfway down her legs. Jenny then pulled on the too large boots that Jack had left for her and tried to walk in them, but winced in pain as they slopped up and down, the hard leather chaffing her delicate feet, which were more used to softer leather or fabric shoes. She pulled them off again and looked at her now tatty, green velvet dress shoes before deciding they were too impractical. Jenny had seen some of the crew going about barefoot so decided to chance that instead. She cautiously left the cabin, unsure as to where to go until she spotted Mr. Gibbs hurrying along the corridor.
'Mr. Gibbs, what am I to do?'
'Well pet, I'd get meself along to th'mess and grab some food. You need ter build yer strength up.' Joshamee Gibbs led the way, much to Jenny's relief, and bade her to sit down while he fetched two bowls of oats. She shifted uncomfortably under the watchful stares and leers of the crewmen who were in the mess and was grateful when Gibbs returned and sat next to her.
'T-thank you Mr. Gibbs,' Jenny ate a spoonful of oats and pulled a face at the taste, but carried on eating. 'Tell me, what am I to do on board?' Jenny looked in confusion as the mess rang out with the laughter of the men.
'You're to work pet. Cap'n Sparrow don't take passengers.' Joshamee Gibbs smiled kindly at Jenny, feeling sorry for her.
'Work? I get brought aboard against my will, thrown in the brig twice, catch a fever and he expects me to bloody well work?'
'Aye luv, I do. Now I suggest ya do as Gibbs says and eat up then we'll go an' see if we can find ya something ter do,' Jack drawled lazily from the doorway.
'And if I refuse?' Jenny glared at Jack, suddenly losing her appetite for the stale porridge.
'I'll throw ya in th'brig for a third time. Now hurry along darlin', we don't have all day.' Jack winked at Jenny with a big grin on his face, clearly enjoying her anger.
Jenny pushed the bowl aside and stood, smiling her thanks to Mr. Gibbs, as she left the mess, scowling at Jack who merely grinned back, making the anger bubbling under the surface well up and spill over.
'Just who do you think you are? You kidnap me on a whim and expect me work and sleep with you?
Jack stopped and turned suddenly, pressing Jenny against the side of the corridor with one hand while the other stroked her cheek with a tenderness that belied the anger flashing in his eyes. 'Aye, I kidnapped ya, an' aye, I expect yer to work fer ya keep, an' warm me bunk, but I will not force meself on ya, savvy?'
Jenny snorted with derision and turned her head away from Jack, wincing as he roughly pulled it back round, so she was facing him once more. She gulped as Jack pressed his lips against hers, his fingers digging into her cheeks as he continued to hold her face while his free hand slipped down and cupped a breast. She staggered as Jack abruptly released her and continued along the corridor, glancing back to see if she was following and continuing on his way when he saw that she was. He bounded up the steps to the deck and spied a crewman he wanted to talk to so left Jenny to her own devices as he climbed the rigging.
Jenny leaned over the side of the ship, despair falling upon her like a heavy cloak. She scanned the ocean to see if the naval ship was still in pursuit, then watched as her tears dropped down to the ocean as she realised it was not. She became aware of someone standing beside her and wiped her face before turning to face them.
'Hello Miss, Pete Symmonds, or Mad Pete as I'm known.' Jenny recognized the burly man as the one who had marched her out of the cabin on The Galton.
'J-Jenny Samuels, pleased to meet you.' Jenny found her hands were shaking and clasped them together.
'You look like you could do with something to occupy yer mind and hands. Can ye sew Jenny?'
'Well, yes I can. I helped mend the sails on The Galton after..... Jenny faltered, unsure what to say.
'Ah, good, good, it's sails that need mending.' Mad Pete led Jenny across the deck, where a group of men where sitting crossed legged, repairing a sail.
'I-I don't suppose you have any leather gloves I can wear, have you? I found it easier wearing them last time.' Jenny found a position as far from the fierce looking men as was possible and sat down self-consciously. Mad Pete came back presently with some ladies gloves from the hold, stolen from a Dutch frigate the week before, which Jenny gratefully accepted and she joined the sailors repairing the sails which occupied her for the rest of the day. She cast hesitant glances toward the men from time to time, growing more and more uneasy at the way they were looking at her then whispering to each other, laughing raucously.
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Jenny looked out at the darkening horizon, not realizing how late it had become. She stood stiffly and made to join the men on their way to the galley until Jack's hand on her arm stopped her.
'Yer dinin' with me tonight luv,' Jack slurred as he slipped his arm around Jenny's waist and led her towards his cabin, but he stopped short of the steps and looked out over the sea. 'Look at that Jen, did ya ever see anything so beautiful?'
Jenny looked up and gasped at the livid oranges, deep pinks and duck egg blues of the brilliant sunset. She broke away from Jack's grasp and stood at the side of the ship, taking in the light that seemed to surround her. Jack joined her, smiling as he leaned on the rail. 'I've never seen a sunset like this before Jack, it's incredible,' Jenny looked at him, her eyes filled with wonder. 'I've seen some beautiful one's back in England and some in Port Royal, but this…'
'You'll see many more of them luv, I can guarantee that.' Jack cursed himself as Jenny's demeanour changed and her face hardened with anger. 'C'mon, food'll be gettin' cold.' Jack took her arm once more and led her to his cabin, where the table was nicely laid out.
'What's the occasion?' Jenny's voice was brittle as she eyed him suspiciously.
'I just thought you'd need cheerin' up luv.' Jack shrugged, then sat and pulled off his boots, sighing with pleasure as he did. He took off his hat and untied the dirty red bandana that seemed to be permanently attached to his head, allowing his long hair to fall forward over his shoulders. He then finally took off his battered jacket, got off the chair and took his effects to a chest of drawers in a corner of the cabin.
Jenny tried not to gape as the candle light cast a silhouette of Jack's body through his loose fitting shirt. She glanced hurriedly out of the window as Jack looked up and caught her watching him, her face burning red at his smirk.
'Pete says yer good with a needle.' Jack poured out two mugs of rum, handing one to Jenny, watching with a smile as she took little sips of it. 'You'll get used to the taste luv.'
She sat down, suddenly realizing how tired she was and flexed her aching back, leaning over the table to try and ease it. Jack put his mug down and gathered Jenny's hair up and put it over her shoulder, out of the way, then gently rubbed her back, his long, flexible fingers working at the knots. Jenny felt too tired to resist and gratefully accepted his ministrations, then she felt her eyes droop, too heavy to stay open.
Jack savoured the warmth of Jenny's body through her shirt and fought against an urge to kiss the nape of her neck. He closed his eyes as Jenny sat back up, moaning blissfully and all his desire shot to his groin. Jack found his fingers working their way down the front of Jenny's shirt.
Jenny tensed and shot off the chair, her face twisted with fury. 'How dare you. How dare you take liberties, you monster!' Jenny went to slap him but he was too quick and grabbed her wrist.
Jack looked embarressed at his actions and held up his hands placatingly. 'Sorry luv, I got a little carried away, savvy? C'mon sit yerself down an' I promise to behave.' He pushed Jenny back into the chair, where she stayed much to his surprise, before he realized that she was famished and probably too exhausted to argue after a long days work. 'Get stuck in luv, I don't stand on ceremony.'
Jenny glared at him, but piled some food onto her plate and started to eat, alleviating the hunger pangs that had been nagging at her for hours. She sat in silence while she ate, trying to ignore Jack rabbiting on about all and sundry as he wolfed his food, washing it down with copious amounts of rum.
'So Jenny, ya like me books then?'
Jenny's head shot up sharply at the unexpected question. 'Ah, um, yes. You have a good selection.'
'I bet ye were surprised that I can read, eh?' Jack's eyes twinkled mischievously as he watched a blush creep up Jenny's neck and face.
'W-well…, I…, yes I was,' Jenny admitted, wondering what else the pirate was going to surprise her with. She turned her head as she heard music coming from the deck, then watched Jack as he fetched two small hand drums from a chest.
'C'mon luv, should be fun.' Jack led the way out of his cabin and up the steps to the deck, where Jenny spied Davy Phillips playing on a flute, another man had a fiddle, while a third was plucking a harpiscord. Jack sat on the deck with the drums between his legs and started drumming out a beat in time to the music with his hands and fingers, winking at Jenny as she stared at him in astonishment. She leaned against the ships' side listening to the medley of folk songs and sea shanties, tapping her foot in spite of herself and marvelling at the beautiful voices of some of the roughest looking men on board. After a couple of hours, the men started to drift away, eager for their hammocks and Jenny shifted uncomfortably, wondering where she was to go.
'Enjoy yerself Jen?' Jack stowed the drums under one arm and wrapped the other around Jenny's waist, leading her back to his cabin.
'Er, y-yes, it was very pleasant,' she stuttered, her mouth going very dry.
Jack put the drums away and turned to Jenny, 'C'mon then luv, dunno 'bout you, but I'm ready fer bed.' He pulled his shirt off, chuckling quietly to himself at the look of horror on Jenny's face.
'I-I-I'll sleep in the chair,' Jenny stuttered, turning away from Jack and ridding herself of the shirt and breeches, leaving her in just the cut-off slip and her knickers.
'Up ter you luv, but it ain't comfortable. Ah, but you already know that.' Jack climbed into the bunk and patted the mattress besides him. 'C'mon, ya have me word I will not touch ya.'
'What's your word worth, Jack Sparrow? You're a thief and a villain, your word is worthless,' Jenny spat, sitting heavily in the chair and scowling at the pirate, but her stomach churned as Jack's face hardened. He got off the bunk and moved towards her, standing bent down so that his face was a breath away from hers.
'Aye, I'm a thief an' a villain, an' far more besides, but I've never forced meself on a woman, and I'm a man o'me word, savvy?' he growled menacingly.
Jenny flinched in the face of Jack's anger and realised, too late, that he had kept his breeches on. 'Y-yes Jack,' she whispered, feeling more nervous than she had ever done.
'Good, now get into th'bunk, I will not tell ya again.' Jack straightened up and stood before Jenny, hands on his hips, his face still a hard mask.
Jenny stood shakily and pushed past Jack, who followed her back to the bunk, climbing in besides her. 'Goodnight Jack.'
Jack frowned at the hitch in her voice and cursed himself for being too heavy handed, then wracked his brain for something to say to lighten the situation, but found nothing. 'Night luv,' he whispered gently.
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