If you want the full set of disclaimers, go to chapter one, otherwise, you know the drill by now!

Thanks for reading and reviewing.  I just hope affnet stays online this week :-o

Thanks to Hilary and Linnie for editing and hope you feel better today Hils {{hugs}}

Chapter eight: 'Ya might learn something.'

Jenny soon fell into the ships routine, working hard all day and dreading the nights when Jack would take her.  She would avoid his gaze as he walked past but glare daggers at his retreating figure.  More often than not she would find herself silently wondering if there was any way she would be able to get off the ship.  She stared in amazement and more than a little anger at Jack as he started to sing The Spanish Lady, wincing as the words struck home.

Will you hear a Spanish Lady,

How an English man she woo'd.

Tho' he held her as his captive,

Ever gentle was his mood…

Jack grinned as Jenny stomped past him and went below, but the smile faded as soon as she was out of sight.  He did everything he could to show that he did not care that she still was not compliant, but he could not keep his hands off her.  He scarcely remembered the last time he had wanted anyone so badly and it was because of this that he put up with her lying there not responding to his touch.  But it hurt… it hurt a lot more than Jack was prepared to admit and he promised himself a good time in San Juan where at least the whores would appreciate him.

…   …   …   …

Sitting on deck some time later and enjoying the not-too-hot sun on her face, Jenny was lost in her thoughts.  When a shadow fell across her, she opened her eyes only to look up and find Jack's face, complete with its ever-present grin.  'C'mon luv, time fer the riggin.' 

Jenny groaned; she really dreaded the climb up there.  It was not so much the going up, as the coming down.  She was terrified she would miss her footing and plunge into the sea. 

'We're going up to the crows nest, off ya go.'

Jenny tensed; she had only been up about ten feet before, and even then it was with a crew member, not Jack.  She looked up but then felt hands bringing her head back down.  'Don't look up luv, just look at where ya are, savvy?'  Nodding, she began to climb the rigging that went to the centre of the nest, feeling the ropes sway slightly as Jack followed her. 

Higher and higher she went, hearing his voice encouraging her until suddenly she found herself at the basket of the nest.  'Hang on there Jen, I'll go ahead of ya.'  He went past her then helped her into the nest.  She clung to the rail for a while, not daring to look or even move in spite of Jack trying to cajole her.  When she eventually opened her eyes, she gasped at the incredible view.  She could see the island of Porto Rico in the distance and everywhere else there was only the deep blue of the ocean. 

'This is beautiful,' she murmured looking at Jack who was grinning at her.  He pointed out some dolphins swimming ahead of the ship and handed her his spyglass so she could get a better look.  She peered through it and stepped back in surprise at the wonderful sight.  She stepped back into his body and froze for a moment wondering whether or not to move.  Jack made that decision for her when he put his hands on her hips to hold her in place. She frowned when she felt his hands there, his thumbs caressing her hips and sides as he held her.  Jenny debated whether to do anything but decided to leave it be.  She was enjoying the glorious view and sense of freedom in the nest too much to argue.

'C'mon luv, time to go back.'  Jack knew she dreaded this so he climbed out first and guided her onto the ropes.  He placed his body over hers, pressing into her and grinning behind her back.  Then covering her hands with his own, he led her down steps at a time.  Jenny's stomach was churning from the twin dreads of climbing down and his body flush against hers, but to her relief they reached the deck quicker than she expected.  She looked back up at the crows nest and blanched, she hadn't realized at the time how high up they had been.

'Ya did well there Jen, good girl,' Jack winked at her before he made his way to the helm, leaving her feeling slightly proud at the praise as she made her way in the opposite direction to the galley.

…   …   …   …

Jenny walked wearily to the captain's cabin that night, exhausted from a hard day in the galley.  She entered without knocking, exclaiming in surprise when she saw a bath tub in the middle of the side cabin, steam rising from it.

'Ah, yer just in time ter scrub me back Jen.'  She blushed furiously and looked away as Jack's naked form appeared in view.  'Bloody hell woman, yer not still shy are ya?' he laughed as he climbed into the tub and sighed as the hot water relaxed his stiff muscles. 

'C'mon luv, grab th'soap and get scrubbin.'  Jack leaned forward so that she could wash his back.  She picked up a tablet of soap and a strange sponge like thing that she had never seen before off the floor and lathered up.  She rubbed the sponge against his lean, tanned back and gawped at the tattoo of a buxom mermaid on his shoulder blade with a tail that trailed down to his waist.  He purred with pleasure as Jenny cleaned the grime and saltwater from his skin, then sat back so she could wash his front.  A smug grin appeared on his face as his erection bobbed up and down in the water, which caused her to blush even deeper.  He ducked under the water to wet his hair, then surfaced again, shaking his head like a dog and soaking Jenny who squealed then overbalanced, falling to the floor.

'Very dignified yer look luv,' Jack grinned, reaching over and pulling her back to her feet.  'Fetch that bottle on th'table luv, ya can do me hair now.' 

Jenny walked to the table and picked up the earthenware bottle and pulled the stopper from it and she wrinkled her nose at the pungent coconut smell that came from within.

She poured a generous handful out and rubbed it into his hair, suddenly realizing he had taken the beads and trinkets out then massaged it in.  While she washed his hair, she tried hard not to get her fingers tangled with the knotted hair Jack had, but even with her precautions, sometimes she would accidentally pull it and would apologise profusely.  Jack didn't mind the pulls at his hair and just sat back in the tub with a blissful smile on his face, thoroughly enjoying her ministrations.

After she finished and Jack rinsed his hair, he stood and climbed out of the tub, dripping water across the cabin as he made his way to the bunk and got a large clean rag to dry himself with, all the time watching Jenny trying not to watch him

She jumped at a rap on the door and watched as four crewmen came in with two large buckets of hot water each.  They put the buckets down, lifted the bath tub to empty the water of out an open window then fill it up again with the buckets of hot water before they left the cabin once more.  She looked in puzzlement at Jack then understood that she was to have a bath too and that he was probably going to return the favour.

She undressed quickly and climbed into the tub as she retrieved the soap and sponge herself with the hope that he would not wash her, but she was sadly mistaken and her heart sank as he made his way towards the tub, still naked.  'I-I'll be all right, you get yourself dressed,' she stammered, keeping her eyes locked on a picture on the wall dead ahead of her.

Jack plucked the sponge from her grasp and took the soap off her as she handed it to him resignedly.  He proceeded to lather up the sponge and slowly rubbed it in circles around Jenny's back, down her arms and across her front.  Naturally, he took his time over her breasts and enjoyed it as he teased her nipples into rigid buds with the sponge.  She closed her eyes and tried hard not to enjoy it but she could not help herself.  Her eyes shot back open when Jack started to wash between her legs, then down her thighs and calves and finally ending at her feet.  Not being one to resist temptation, Jack used the sponge to tickle her feet, then took her big toe in his mouth and sucked on it.

'No, stop it.'  She pulled her toe from his mouth and shoved her foot back in the water.

Jack merely grinned at her then pushed her head under the water, laughing as she emerged coughing and sputtering.  'Sorry luv, I ain't tryin' ter kill ya, really.'  He then took a handful of the soap from the bottle and gently kneaded it into her hair, playfully placing a blob of lather on the tip of her nose.  He took a pitcher and rinsed her hair off, watching the soap as it ran watery rivulets between and over Jenny's breasts.  Jack ran his hands down, following the line of lather until he cupped each breast in his hands and began massaging them round, his thumbs rubbing against her erect nipples.

Jenny shifted uncomfortably in the water, gulping as she felt Jack's lips press against her neck then felt them making their way up to her ear, pausing so his tongue could play around inside it.  He broke away and released his grip on her breasts then stood and pulled Jenny to her feet and out of the tub, pressing his body against hers and growling softly in her ear.  He led the way to the bunk, his eyes roving lustfully along her body as she lay down and he ran his hands upwards along her legs then up her body as he lay on top of her, catching her wrists in one hand and raising them above her head.  Jenny mewled softly as Jack took her, then she forced her body to tense up as a voice in her head screamed at her not to enjoy it.

…   …   …   …

'Port ho!' 

Jack opened a bleary eye at the call and sighed, feeling dejected.  He had hoped for a breakthrough with Jenny the night before and thought he had it until they got to the bunk.

'Get dressed luv,' Jack gave Jenny a shove to wake her.  'C'mon, we're going ashore.'  Her eyes shot open and she looked at him in confusion.

'I'm coming with you?'  She queried as she quickly clambered off the bunk and fetched her clothes off the table where she had put them the night before.

'Aye luv.  I don't trust yer enough to leave ya on board alone, and it ain't fair ter ask any of the men to give up their last shore leave fer a while t'watch ye.  So yes, yer comin' with me.'

Jenny followed Jack to the deck clambered over the side of the ship and down the rope into a boat, glad to have the chance to be able to put her feet on dry land again.  It was not long before they reached the quayside and she gratefully accepted Jack's hand as he helped her ashore.  She wobbled, not used to the ground beneath her feet being stable and went up the road hanging onto his arm, both of them swaying to and fro while they tried to find their land legs.  They wandered around a market, where Jack bought Jenny a pair of soft leather boots and a dark brown coat, some smaller shirts and one more pair of tight black breeches, not to mention the various herbs and potions for Mr. Cotton's medicine bag.  He had the items sent back over to the ship and then issued the men with orders to go and get drunk but also reminded them to meet up by the docks in the morning to get the supplies in.  He then led Jenny to a tavern set back off the main street.

'Jack Sparrow!  Well I never!  Come 'ere an' give yer Edith a kiss.'

He gave himself up to the voluptuous woman's embrace with a grin and told her to keep the rum coming, then went and found a quiet alcove where he could see the door to keep an eye on who came in and went out.  Jenny grew progressively bored as he proceeded to get drunk while he entertained a bevy of women who would sit on his lap while their hands constantly wandered around his body, laughing loudly at his stories.  She was just about to doze off when she felt herself being pulled to her feet.  'Wha…?  Where are we going?'

'Ter bed luv.'  He led the way upstairs where Edith was waiting by a door.  Jenny walked in, taking in the dingy decor and the dirty mattress on the bed.  She turned to say something to Jack only to see that he had closed the door on her and gasped when the key turned in the lock.

'What are you doing?!  Let me out!'  She was enraged and didn't care that she shouted loud enough for the whole tavern to hear.

'Sorry luv, but I'm going to have a little fun, with women who like men, savvy?  Y'can always come and watch if yer like....' Jack slurred through the closed door.  'Ya might learn something.'  She pounded on the door as she heard his laughter fade away as he went into the next room.

She sat huddled in a corner of the room, forced to listen to the moans and laughter through the thin walls.  As far as she could gather there was more than one woman in with Jack.  She closed her eyes and tried to get to sleep so that she wouldn't have to listen to the noise any longer.  She was greatly relieved when it finally went quiet in the other room, but was much too uncomfortable on the floor to get a decent rest.

…   …   …   …

Jack went cautiously into Jenny's room, just in case, and felt a large pang of guilt when he saw her huddled in the corner, and wished she would come round to him.  He had started to wonder if it would be best to leave her here with enough means for her to make her own way back to Port Royal but was surprised at the violent feeling he felt at the thought of it and so pushed it to the back of his mind. 

'Jenny…. Jen luv c'mon.'  He shook her gently, jumping away when one green eye opened and looked at him malevolently.  'C'mon, we got ter get supplies in, I want to be gone with th'high tide this afternoon.'  He tentatively held out a hand, but withdrew it a few times before he trusted that she was not going to do anything to hurt him, and he pulled her to her feet.  He led the way back downstairs, very un-nerved by her silence and filthy looks, but nonetheless gave Edith a slobbering kiss goodbye.  Finally leaving the tavern, Jack led the way to the docks, swaggering down the street with his arms flailing around him, drawing looks of alarm from those passing by.

A lot of the crew were already waiting, so they were sent off to get food and water provisions and Jack delegated latecomers to loading the boats and taking the stores back to the ship.  Jenny helped with the loading, glad of the exercise to ease her stiff muscles.  While she waited for a boat to come back from the ship, she sat at the quayside eating a hunk of bread and cheese watching the hustle and bustle of people alighting and boarding boats of various sizes.  She looked round and saw the crew of The Pearl through the legs of the crowd, and realised she was out of Jack's sight.  Quick as a flash she got to her feet and blended in with the crowd, making her way towards the town, not daring to look back in case Jack was behind her.  Jenny dodged into an alley and ran up it for all she was worth then down another until, panting, she came to a stop, satisfied that she was well away from the docks.

Jenny looked around, feeling slightly panicked, realizing that passing men were leering at her and that she had nowhere to go, nor any money.  'What on earth came over me?' she wondered in alarm as she walked along the deserted side street, trying to decide what she should do now.  'Maybe I can work my passage to Port Royal?' 'Doing what?'  'Well, I don't care but I certainly don't want to go back to him.'  'Oh no?'  The argument within her raged for a time and she did not notice that a gang of men had followed her until a hand grabbed her throat and slammed her against a wall.

…   …   …   …

Author's notes:

Firstly, re the'rape' in the last chapter.  Some of you think it was rape, I personally don't.  Ok, she didn't want to sleep with Jack but he gave her a choice.  A Hobson's choice admittedly, but it was a choice nonetheless.  Plus the fact that he was stoned, she was drunk and a little stoned and Jack felt that he had done the wrong thing afterwards.  There, that's that off my chest! :D

The eagle eyed amongst you would have noticed the 'incorrect' spelling of Puerto Rico, but Porto Rico is how is was spelled in those days.