Chapter Thirty-Seven: Intruders in the Night

Alaina shivered and tried to get in a different position where she was warmer.

It'd been four days since they'd first been stranded here, and so far nothing more had gone on between them than a few good-natured comments and quite a few drinks. Though after the first night Alaina had decided to sleep on the ground and let Captain Sparrow have the bed, which he protested until he was too tired to argue.

But now Alaina was now trying to get warmer. She hadn't anticipated that the storm that afternoon would make everything so cold. But she was not going to sleep in the same bed with Captain Sparrow, mostly on account of constantly imagining what her father would say if he knew.

Jack watched Alaina struggle to get comfortable and thought about the first night. He wasn't sure why the hell he'd let her kiss him. But he had. Though she didn't remember—at least he didn't think so—because she hadn't mentioned it. Which was fine by him.

She was attractive but young. Too young for him. Maybe if she were a whore it'd be all right, but she was Will's daughter and he didn't know what would happen if he and Alaina became close.

'Probably make me a eunuch,' he thought, amused. Will's overprotective nature amused him greatly, but he knew if he were Will he'd be the same way.

Jack was starting to drift off to sleep when Alaina got up and walked out.

"Wait, luv, where you going?" he asked after her. Alaina didn't reply, but he just shrugged and closed his eyes.

Why should he care about what she was doing? She was old enough to take care of herself. So he forced his protectiveness away and rolled over.

Sighing, he slowly drifted off to sleep.

***

Alaina began to walk around the small island, wishing that it were morning. She was freezing and scared. The island was completely different at night; it made chills run up and down her spine. And the fact that there still was a dead man hanging from a tree nearby only made matters worse.

Sighing and rubbing her arms, her thoughts turned toward her father. He had changed so drastically after her mother died. He had become distant, almost unreachable. It was as though he couldn't hear their words of comfort or feel the security of their hugs. It was as though his grief consumed him as to where he could feel nothing else. Only pain and anguish.

She was so absorbed in her reminiscing that she didn't hear the sound of oars on the water or comprehend the presence of other people until the cold metal of a knife pressed against her throat made her freeze.

"Where's Krite?" a hoarse voice asked as a face pressed against hers.

Alaina swallowed and closed her eyes. "I…I don't know anyone named Krite," she managed to say, although her voice was shaking almost as much as her body was.

"I think you do," the man said, taking his other hand and trailing it down her neck and shoulder.

Alaina shook her head no and tried to think of how to get away from them.

"You sure?" another voice asked from behind her, and Alaina nodded quickly, praying that God would get her out of her situation. The hand slowly began to make its way down her torso, making her squirm at the awkward touch.

"But, there's someone over there," she said, pointing a shaky hand where the man still hung.

"Thanks a million, lass," the man purred, and Alaina felt the blade begin to cut into her flesh. Thinking quickly, she elbowed his stomach and tried to run, but the blade managed to slice her left shoulder and halfway down her arm.

Alaina was too frightened to scream in pain as she ran toward the small hut where she hoped she'd find Captain Sparrow.

As she brushed past the few palm leaves in her way, she was grabbed from the darkness and a hand was clamped over her mouth, muffling the small scream.

"It's all right, Alaina," Jack assured quickly as she tried to bite him. Slowly he backed away from the lighted torches that made their way after them. "We're going to head to the boat," he said in a lower tone, releasing her and quickly running back toward the other end of the beach.

Alaina nodded and gritted her teeth as her badly damaged arm brushed against a rough palm leaf, but she didn't say anything, just helped him shove the boat into the water and scrambled after.

Jack jumped in the boat and landed on top of Alaina, who gave a quick gasp of pain and slapped him as hard as she could.

"Jesus, Alaina," Jack said, getting off her and beginning to row.

Her shirt was hanging off of one shoulder, exposing the deep cut as well as quite a lot of skin. Alaina didn't say anything, only blushing as she picked up the other oars and began to help him, trying to ignore her pain and focus on what else would happen if they were caught.

Only after Jack thought they were far enough away from the island did he motion for Alaina to stop.

"Let me take a look," he said, scooting closer to her and straining his eyes to see the blood pouring out of her arm. "Take off your shirt," he told her after a few seconds. Alaina's eyes grew wide. "I won't look! Now take off your shirt!" he told her, turning around so he was facing the other direction.

Alaina took a deep breath and began to unbutton her shirt, but she could only use one hand so it took a few minutes. While she was wrestling with the buttons Jack was taking off his shirt as well, throwing it behind him to her when he was done.

"Umm," Alaina said, looking at it for a second.

"Put it on," Jack told her with a sigh.

"I know, but, uh, could you hold my hair up for a second?" Alaina asked nervously, turning around so her back was facing his.

Jack slowly looked behind his shoulder and gathered up her hair in his hands and lifted it up.

"Thanks," Alaina managed to say, pulling the shirt over her right arm, then struggling to get it over her left arm and onto her shoulder.

Jack felt extremely awkward being this close to her with no one around. Alaina gave a small gasp as the fabric made contact with her cut. It was burning and almost unbearable. Jack let go of her hair and quickly turned around again and let out the breath he'd been holding in.

"You done?" he asked, not wanting to turn back around.

"Mm hmm," Alaina confirmed, leaving the first two holes unbuttoned like she always did.

Jack turned back around and slowly ripped off the left sleeve of the shirt, which was already soaked in blood. Alaina bit her lip as hard as she could so she didn't cry out as Jack ripped up her old shirt into sections and tied them tightly around her arm.

Jack didn't look at her face; he focused on her arm as he tied the old cloth. 'When Will finds out about this I need to be as far away as possible,' he thought grimly, knowing that Will was going to kick his ass for this.

***

A/N: Well, that's it for now. I'm sorry that my Alaina/Cap'n chapters are so long but I just have so many ideas about what I can do with them. And I have almost no ideas about what I could do with Will that would go with how I wrote the ending. Darn.

Anyhow!!! I'm having fun writing and reading all your reviews lol!! They make me laugh!!! And want to cry!!! Your all are so nice to me!!!