A/N: i'm in a bad mood so this a good time for this chapter. No one's very happy at the moment.I think my story is getting too long to gain new reviewers, lol. Oh well, im starting a new one soon, so im finishing this one for myself and for DeynaIanBloom !! lol.. also, I might change my screenname on here, but keep the same account. You can do that right? Okay well here goes this chapter, and "the scene" is here, as promised. ;)
Chapter 14: Screaming Infidelities
Fifteen minutes later, Will and Caroline were seated in Jack's cabin aboard the Black Pearl, with Juliet lying on his bed, still unconscious. Jack was pacing from corner to corner in the room, pressing the two waking individuals for details that they were reluctant to give him.
"Now, Caroline, darling," Jack emphasized, doing his best to break her silence. "What is it that you know about this situation?" He gave her his signature smile, which was certainly enough to win her over.
"Well, I only know that what he's got is her- OWWW!!" Will crushed his foot onto Caroline's before she could utter another word.
"Caroline," he said, forcing a smile, "Your services are no longer required this evening." A muffled "He has to know, Will!!" could be heard through Will's hand, which was clasped over her mouth. He shoved five shillings into Caroline's hand and pushed her out the door. Then, closing it, he turned back to Jack who looked very much confused, and slightly frightened- a look that was not often seen on him.
"Well, Jack, umm... sit down, mate."
Jack did as he was told and looked up at Will expectantly.
"It seems that Juliet... has something Conway... can hold against her, so to speak."
"That something being..." Jack prompted, adding in his usual hand gestures.
Will ran his hand through his hair nervously. He looked down at the floor. "A child," he whispered.
"What?"
"A child!" Will shouted, slamming his hand down onto the table in frustration with the situation.
"Ahh," Jack breathed, his expression darkening. "It seems Juliet has been rather busy then, ey?"
"Well, no, not exactly..." Will stammered.
"How's that? She's a strumpet. Not bloody surprising if you ask me... She always was-"
"JACK!"
"What?"
"Thechildisyours." Will slurred the words together and got them out as quickly as possible. He held his breath, waiting for Jack to respond. Jack's face turned very serious and angry-looking. Will had only seen him look like that one other time- when he shot Barbossa.
"You think this wise, boy? This isn't a time for joking." Jack said, trying to incorporate some humor, but obviously getting more and more annoyed by the minute.
"I mean it Jack. A girl. Six years old. She looks just like you, acts like you, there's no question that she's yours. Juliet even named her after you. She's called Jacquelyn."
Jack's lips threatened a smile for a second, considering the prospect of having someone named after him. But then he remembered the situation, and his frown recommenced. He pursed his lips, considering the possibilities he faced. After another couple moments like this, he said, "You're telling me, that I have a child, a girl, who I was never told about, unless it slipped through my mind... unlikely... who is now in the clutches of an alcoholic, strumpet-crazed, violent, sinister, evil, and otherwise bilge-sucking madman?"
"Basically, yes." Will answered him honestly, though he was concerned about how Jack would deal with all this at once.
"AND, that her life may depend on my crew, Juliet, and myself risking or compromising our lives." Jack didn't even need to hear Will's response, he already knew what would be in store for him over the next few weeks. "Very well," he said quietly, pushing himself up from the chair. "Let's get you going, ey? When dear Juliet awakes, we'll have quite a lot to... discuss... If I don't kill her first. Sorry my visit was short this time, give Liz my best. Keep a weather eye open for any news of Conway or the child, savvy?"
Will nodded and clasped his hand on Jack's shoulder, trying to encourage him a bit. Jack wrapped his arm around Will's shoulder, walking him to the door, and saying farewell. Then he sat down at his bed-side, waiting for Juliet to awake.
.............................
After another ten minutes had passed, Jack concluded that this was far too long for Juliet to be unconscious, and that she may have just fallen asleep. The quickest remedy: arm tapping. He drummed away on her arm rather roughly, but within seconds she was coming back to reality. Her eyes fluttered open and she saw Jack's face above hers, and immediately her breath caught in her throat, her memory came back to her, and she began to cry all over again. She knew Jack would know Jacquelyn was his by now, and she couldn't hold in her shame about not telling him. Tears rolled down her cheeks and she covered her face with her hands, leaning into her own lap and the blanket for comfort. Seeing her like this, Jack couldn't help but let his anger fade, and let his sympathy for her take over. Now, Jack wasn't sympathetic towards everyone he met, but Juliet... his darling Jules, he couldn't help but want to protect her.
"Jules... Jules, calm down," he murmured as he lifted her top half up and attempted to look into her eyes. She was overcome with grief and guilt, and most definitely could not pull herself together that easily.
"Oh, Jack... I'm... I'm so sorry... Sorry for everything," Juliet choked between sobs. She collapsed into his shoulder, wrapping her arms around his neck and shaking with every fresh lament. Jack climbed up onto the side of the bed, then resolved to sit himself down next to her. She was mostly under the covers, her chest and arms stretched out only so that she could breathe. She would have loved more than anything to hide under the blankets, but she couldn't bring herself to move. Jack cradled her shoulders in his left arm, and wiped the tears from underneath her eyes with his right arm's fingers. He moved his hand up her cheek and she let it support her head, completely losing any strength she still possessed into her never-ending sobs.
"Darling, darling..." Jack whispered, "It'll be alright. We'll get her back... After all, I'm Captain Jack Sparrow..." Jack ran his thumb across her soaked eyelashes, hoping she would open her eyes. She flicked them open and they were still full of tears. She shook her head slightly, staring straight into Jack's deep brown eyes.
"How can you possibly forgive me for what I've done?" she whispered, still trembling with every breath.
"Well, not to be... improper, love, but you couldn't have done it without me." He grinned, amused by his own jokes as usual, but Juliet just looked like she was about to start crying even more. Noticing this, Jack followed up. "Jules... I can never stay mad at you... But why didn't you tell me? You shouldn't have had to bear that burden all by your onesies, savvy? How long ago was this? Because I certainly had no idea you were going to have a child."
"It was right before I left, Jack." Jack's lips parted a bit in shock as she spoke, and his eyebrows scrunched together. "I found out when I visited a doctor in Port Rochester for a broken wrist, and I couldn't bear the thought of you sacrificing your life over my mistake, after you'd done so much for me already... I just..." Her throat choked up again, and fresh tears welled up in her eyes.
"What mistake, love?" Jack murmured, interlacing his fingers in her long locks of hair. "I never thought of that night as a mistake. Not even now." Juliet only just then noticed that the space between their faces was getting smaller by the second. Jack ran his thumb across her lips, and then closed the remaining distance between them, reminding her how to live without regrets.
Jack: You could be, if you were older.
Rachel: Why older?
Jack: Because you're not legal.
Rachel: Puhleez, hang the rules. I wouldn't consider it a crime. Well, not coming from you anyway.
Jack: Well... maybe if I had some more rum first.
Rachel: hehe... good pirate!
Jack: You're scaring the people.
Rachel: THWAP! shhhhhh!!
DeynaIanBloom: Hopefully "the scene" was what you were hoping for, I know you'll appreciate the last paragraph. ;) I'm pretty sure you're gonna like the next few chapters, too.. if they turn out as I plan... hehe.. if I change my screenname, i'll leave you a message letting you know so that you can still find the story! And thank you SO much for being my reviewer, even if I don't have a lot of people reviewing, I always know you'll read it. ( Well thanks again!!! =)