Usual disclaimers – pah!
Aurora – thank you :) I wanted to make Jack as realistic as I could without losing any of his character.
Chelsey – I know it's realize, that one must have slipped through the net!
Caribbean-mama – I don't intend changing that, but maybe Jack's priorities will shift slightly in the future…(hint, hint)
Jack-Sparrow-lover and Rachel Sparrow – have you never been tempted to lash out at someone when you've been angry? No, Jack would never delibrately hit a woman, but this was different.
Summery – I knew you'd enjoy it! ;)
Roxula's Bride, True spirit – thank you :)
SummerRain – gosh, when I read your review, I felt like printing it out and framing it! Thank you.
Thanks as always to Hilary and Linnie XXX
…
Chapter sixteen: 'Since when you been captain, luv?'
Jack shivered despite being warmly dressed and cast an eye through the rain filled grey at the heavy sea. 'No wonder I live in th'Caribbee,' he thought to himself, bracing as a wave crashed over the bow and sent water pouring across the deck of The Black Pearl. He glanced at Paul Rochester who was manning the helm with him, the sea being too rough for just one man. His helmsman grinned ruefully then turned his attention back to the tumultuous ocean as another wave crashed across the bow.
'If this is summer, I'd hate ter see winter, Cap'n,' Paul yelled, despite standing next to Jack.
'You an' me both mate,' Jack yelled back, 'You an' me both.' The two men wrestled with the wheel as the sea tried to push them off course then took a momentary breather as the wind died down a little, before the next onslaught began. Jack wondered whether to sail further out to sea and not hug the coast as much, until the weather improved but decided against it.
…
Jenny winced as another wave came higher up the stern, almost reaching the cabin windows. Although she felt queasy, she had not yet been sick for which she was immensely grateful. 'Must be getting used to it,' she mused before untying the leather strap anchoring her to the bunk and staggering across the cabin as she spotted a drawer in Jack's chest that had worked loose from its binding and was threatening to fly across the cabin with the next pitch of the ship. Jenny cried out as The Pearl rolled violently and she went sprawling on the floor at the same time as the drawer came flying out of the chest. It caught her on the head, sending her into a black oblivion.
…
'Jack! Shall we furl th'sails? They won't hold much longer.' Joshamee Gibbs clung to the mizzen mast, almost blinded by rain and sea water.
'All right Gibbs, don't want th'men risking it if th'weather gets any worse.' Jack looked up at the poor souls high on the rigging and shuddered, remembering the time he had to climb up when he was just an ordinary seaman under the command of another captain. 'Poor bastards,' he muttered out loud, eliciting a murmur of agreement from his helmsman. 'Should be nearing th'Virgin's Cape soon, Paul. Though how th'hell we'll see it, gawd only knows.'
'We'll just have ter hold her steady til this weather blows over, Cap'n. Should it blow over.'
'Aye Paul, that we will. God, why'd it have ter be so bloody cold down here?' Jack shivered again, desperate to get out of his cold, wet clothes.
'Just hope it's worth it, Cap'n.'
'Aye, me too lad,' Jack replied, then gasped as a wave came across from port and almost knocked him off his feet. Jack coughed and spluttered as the freezing cold salt water entered his lungs, but resolutely clung onto the helm for dear life, not daring to let go. 'Ya all right Paul?' he yelled, noting with a worried frown that his helmsman had taken a knock to the head and blood was pouring down his face. 'Gibbs! Gibbs, take over from Paul. Paul, go below, yer in no fit state ter steer.'
'Aye Cap'n, sorry sir.' Paul Rochester staggered his way along the deck, through the hatch and down the steps, a small part of him grateful to be out of the cold, wet environment that he encountered above the deck.
…
Jenny became aware of a pair of piercing blue eyes looking into hers and she jumped with a start. 'Oooh, Mr. Cotton. My head hurts,' she accepted the mute's helping hand and stood gingerly. 'How did you know I was hurt?'
'Aye me beauty, aye me beauty,' cawed the parrot, perched on the man's shoulder, bobbing up and down as his owner led Jenny back to the bunk. Jenny climbed on and let Mr. Cotton examine her cut, feeling relieved when he smiled and nodded, indicating it was not too serious.
'I'll be fine now, you go and get yourself strapped back in somewhere,' Jenny yelped as another roll had her and Ned Cotton clinging onto the bunk, while his parrot flapped wildly, still gripping his master's shoulder. 'In fact Mr. Cotton, I think it might be worth you staying and strapping yourself in here.' Jenny moved over so there was room for him, and threw the strap across them both, feeling it tighten as he fastened the buckle.
…
'Jack!' Joshamee Gibbs pointed excitedly in front of him, 'The channel, three points off starboard.'
Jack peered through his spyglass at the opening to the Strait of Magellanes and smiled to himself. 'We'll get through there Gibbs, 'specially now th'wind's dying a little an'th' rain's stopped. Loose th'sails.'
'Aye, I just hope th'sea's not too rough goin' into the Strait.'
'Only one way ter find out mate…' He steered his ship away from the coast slightly then back in, lining her up with the opening. 'C'mon darlin' we'll make it all right,' he crooned, stroking a wheel spoke, ignoring the man standing next to him who was well used to his Captain's idiosyncrasies.
They approached the Strait cautiously, not loosing all the sails so The Pearl was easier to manoeuvre. Jack and Gibbs could see the turbulent sea at the start of the Strait and looked at each other ruefully, then kept a tight grip on the helm as they approached it.
…
Jenny breathed a sigh of relief as the violent rocking of the ship eased then groaned as it pitched, along with her stomach.
'I'm sorry Mr. Cotton...' she quickly unstrapped herself from the bunk and clambered over the ship's doctor unceremoniously, diving for the side cabin and the head just in time. She clung onto the head as the ship pitched and rolled, watching the waves through the hole cut into the planking, crying out in alarm as a particularly violent roll seemed to lay The Pearl on her side before she righted again. Then it went calm. She looked up at Ned Cotton who was busy untying himself from the bunk, clambering off once he was free and beckoning her to follow him, which she did, albeit rather gingerly. She shivered as they climbed the steps up to the hatch and onto the deck which was sopping wet with sea and rain water. She spotted Jack leaning against the wheel, his face grey with fatigue, his eyes dark hollows.
'Jack!' She ran over to him, a worried frown on her face. 'Get below, now.' She wrapped her arms around him for support and started back towards the hatch.
'Since when you been Captain, luv?' he smiled weakly, grateful all the same for the scant warmth of her body.
Jenny ignored him and helped him down the steps and to his cabin. 'Let's get these clothes off you.' She peeled the sodden layers off him, slinging them into the bath tub in the side cabin.
'S-s-so c-c-cold, Jen,' he chattered, his body shaking with cold.
'I know you are.' She rubbed him vigorously with a rag then wrapped it around his hair. 'Get into the bunk, I'll get some stone bottles filled with hot water for you.'
'N-n-no luv, j-j-just you. Want… hold me...'
Jenny put Jack on to the bunk and gathered up all the blankets and thick coats she could find and lay them on top of him then peeled back the layers and climbed in beside him. 'Are you feeling warmer now?' She curled as much of her body around his as she could in a desperate attempt to warm him up.
'Aye luv, much warmer…' he murmured, his head nodding on to Jenny's shoulder as exhaustion took him and he fell into a deep sleep.
…
Jenny sat and watched as Jack's chest rose and fell in his sleep. He'd been unconscious for the best part of a day and she was starting to worry. She shot off the chair as he moaned in his sleep and rolled over.
'Jack…? Jack?' She stood over him and stroked his hair relieved to feel his temperature was normal.
'Mmm… Jen…?' One eye opened followed by the other and Jack looked up with languid eyes. 'Th'Pearl?'
'She's fine, Jack. Mr. Gibbs has held position until you recovered.'
'Good man. Now what're ya doin' out th'bunk luv? Come an' keep ol' Jack warm,' he hauled back the covers and patted the mattress beside him.
'I've been keeping you warm since yesterday evening, Jack Sparrow,' Jenny chided playfully, sitting on the side of the bunk.
'That's Captain Jack Sparrow, if yer please missy. What's th'time now?'
'The three bells of the dog watch sounded a short while ago. Ah, ah. You stay right where you are Captain Sparrow,' she pushed him back down as he made to get off the bunk. 'I'll fetch you something to eat first then you can get up.'
'Bossy madam,' Jack retorted, a grin splitting his face then he lay back down as Jenny went on her errand, savouring the warmth of the bunk and listening to the familiar creaks and groans that told him all was well with his ship.
…