Author's note: I'm very sorry! I've been at various summer camps and my computer's been giving me so much trouble! I hope these chapters will make it up. I've finished Chapters 3 and 4 on paper as well. But I have to get them typed up.
Also, some changes have been made to Chapter 1. Please check on them, for those details will affect the reader in later chapters.
Chapter 2: "The Sailor she wants to be."
Jack sighed as he put on his hat and straightened his coat. He stepped off the ship and onto the dock. The clouds hinted rain for the night, but Jack's mind was elsewhere. He was still unsure of whether he should abide by what Stephen had said. In all times past, Stephen had always given the best advice. But was it a good idea to have a girl on board?
While Jack waited, Stephen was in the middle of finding a decent pair of shoes. Not that he had much of a choice: two pairs were enough. He was looking for the other of his better pair.
"Blast it," he muttered to himself, and was surprised to find it underneath a messy pile of books.
Quickly, he put them on and rushed out to the deck of the Surprise. He stepped around to the dock and Jack frowned, "That took a while."
"You're always in such a rush," Stephen patted him on the back.
Captain and Doctor found their way to the front of the old store. A sign hung in front of the door.
Closed.
Stephen frowned, "Why is it not open?"
"Maybe they've sold the store. She's probably found a new place."
"Or she's sitting on the street, begging for food and money." He snapped.
Jack began to pace back and forth, "This is absurd, Stephen. We're arguing over a girl! A girl on my ship-" he was cut off.
"Psh! There are voices inside." He walked up to the door and pressed his ear against the wood.
Before Jack could speak, Stephen knocked. "Oh, here we go." He muttered.
There was a long moment of silence before the door was opened. The girl looked curiously at Stephen, who hurriedly backed up to leave some space between them.
"We aren't open at this time, sir. Sorry." She failed to notice Jack, who lingered some few feet behind, so Stephen seemed like any other customer.
"Err...Miss, I believe you will remember Captain Aubrey of the 'Surprise'?" He stepped aside to let her see Jack, who was looking quite flustered.
She broke into a nervous smile. "We've met."
The doctor nodded, "I'm Stephen Maturin, miss. I'm the surgeon aboard the Surprise."
She looked amused, "I see."
"I am aware that you wished to work aboard the Surprise." Stephen began.
Her head tilted to one side, "Yes."
Jack looked a little uncomfortable. After all, he was the Captain. He must be in charge.
"So," Jack interrupted, "Dr. Maturin and I had a talk, and we realized that...well, you must need pay, and this work pays well. Though, I must have you know that the work is not easy and it may not be suitable for you."
Stephen frowned at Jack's last remark, and made a mental note to remind him about their deal.
"Well then," Stephen continued, "When can you come and take a look at the ship?"
Jack rolled his eyes and the girl frowned.
"I guess...now would be fine." She eyed Jack warily.
"You aren't busy with someone inside?" Jack raised his eyebrows.
She sighed, "No, he just wanted to make sure that I had somewhere else to go. But he's left now."
She didn't mention who, yet neither of the men asked. Stephen was listening and was suddenly struck by a simple question, "I don't believe I know your name."
She looked back at the doctor, "Riviera, sir. Lise Riviera."
"You can call me Stephen. And Jack is–"Stephen began.
"Captain or Sir." Jack finished, seething.
"Yes, of course, Captain." Lise nodded to Stephen, "Should I follow you back to the ship?"
Stephen flashed a grin at Jack, who plainly disapproved of the entire affair. "Sure."
"Here we are." Stephen murmured as the threesome boarded the H.M.S. Surprise.
Lise looked up and observed the masts and sails. Some of the crew stared back, pointed fingers and whispered to each other. She tried to look indifferent, and smiled a little or nodded. Though, inside, she felt odd and out of place.
The three went down below decks and Lise stared at the cramped halls. Surely they could move all the sacs of flatbread that lined them on either side. She wondered what happened when they beat to quarters.
Jack opened the door to his cabin and beckoned for Stephen to follow. He then promptly shut the door in Lise's face.
She crossed her arms and turned around. Was she supposed to report up on deck? Or wait until the Captain came back out and told her what to do?
She sighed and leaned against the wall opposite the door of the Captain's cabin.
And closed her eyes.
"What are you doing?" Stephen said quietly.
"This was not a good idea, Stephen. It's really not going to work out!"
"Capital! Jack, she's already on the ship...you can't just..."
"I can do whatever I want! This is my ship! My crew!" Jack interrupted furiously. "Stop being so difficult!"
"I'm being difficult?" Stephen said softly, "Jack, this is irrational."
The Captain sat down at his desk and sighed, "She can't last more than a month."
Stephen looked at him in disbelief. They were venturing back to the subject that should have been solved yesterday. He frowned, "I'll make a deal. If she can make it through more than a month, she can stay. If for any reason, you feel that she doesn't deserve to stay any longer, we can send her back here."
The Captain sighed again. "Were on a mission. I have my orders. We can't just turn back in the middle of the Atlantic to send her home!"
"No, we cannot. I'll have her work with me and not as a sailor, if she should prove incapable of keeping up with the rest of the crew. I'll tell her nothing of our deal, so she will not purposely impress us and her performance will not change drastically after the first month. Does that sound fair to some degree?" Stephen sounded exasperated.
Jack stayed silent for a long while. "I hope she will be a better doctor than the sailor she wants to be."