Usual disclaimers... curse them!

###

Chapter 18 - Standing Firm

Joshamee Gibbs watched Jack at the wheel, noting his arm around Bessie. "Business and pleasure indeed," he muttered.

"Here Gibbs!" John Thomson sidled up to Joshamee. "What's it with the Captain and this woman anyway?" he asked. "It's not like the Captain to bring a woman onboard!"

"It's none of your business is what it is," Joshamee warned. "And the Captain won't take too kindly if he thinks yer bein' nosy. She is onboard only until the babes are buried..."

"But how come the Captain gets himself a woman," he moaned. "And we have to wait until Tortuga to see a whore!"

"Miss Bessie is no whore!" Joshamee said darkly. "I'd be keeping your mouth shut if I were you or I'll be shutting it for you! Miss Bessie is the Captain's woman - and you will treat her with respect!"

"She's a whore if she'll open her legs to a pir..." he began, but did not get the chance to finish. Joshamee's fist connected with his mouth, forcibly shutting it.

"You should be grateful the Captain did not hear that - or you'd be dead!" he threatened. "Now get below and out of my sight!"

"Gibbs!" Joshamee jumped at the sound of Jack's voice. He had been hoping Jack would not notice the punch.

"Go!" he hissed angrily, relieved to see the pirate disappear below decks. "Coming Captain," he acknowledged, turning towards the stern. He climbed the stairs to stand before Jack.

"What was that about?" Jack demanded for it was unlike Joshamee to hit one of the crew.

Joshamee shuffled his feet uncomfortably. "Nothing important Captain, just a misunderstanding..."

"Tell me!" Jack ordered.

"Captain... I..." Joshamee looked awkwardly at Bessie by his side.

"That is an order Gibbs!" he shouted. Bessie flinched at his tone, but his hand around her waist prevented her from leaving.

"He called Miss Bessie a whore..." Joshamee said quietly, anticipating the explosion from Jack.

He was not disappointed. Jack's face darkened angrily and let go of Bessie, his other hand releasing the wheel. "Take th' helm!" he ordered, storming off the quarterdeck without pausing to see if Joshamee obeyed.

"Stay here Miss Bessie," Joshamee warned, placing a comforting hand on her arm. "The Captain will do what he must - do not interfere..."

"What will he do?" Bessie asked quietly, turning to look at the older pirate.

Joshamee shrugged. "Probably kill him," he admitted, smiling reassuringly at her. "The Captain warned them all before you came onboard that he'd take no disrespect towards you. If he doesn't act then his commands would lose their effect..."

"But to kill a man..." she gasped.

"Thomson's no loss," Joshamee admitted honestly, tightening his grip on her arm as he saw Jack dragging the other pirate from below decks. "Stand firm Bessie," he warned. "You must stand firm for Jack whatever you might think..." He could feel her shaking but was relieved to see her nod. "That's my girl," he smiled.

###

"But Captain!" John Thomson protested. "I was only jesting!"

"You called Bessie a whore!" Jack raged, forcing him up the stairs and onto the main deck. The crew clustered around, sensing trouble. "Even after I warned you!"

"But I was only jesting... honest!" he cried, wincing in pain as Jack threw him to the deck. Realising that Jack was not going to believe his lie he slowly drew his blade.

"That's not a wise thing t' do..." Jack warned.

"You're going to kill me anyway," Thomson laughed. "I might as well try to take you with me!"

"I don't think so!" Jack drawled, his voice heavy with bored indifference. He drew his pistol, shooting Thomson through the head.

Jack turned to face the rest of the crew. "I trust there will be no need to repeat this?" he warned, relieved when a chorus of 'No Captain' echoed around the ship. "Good!" Jack nodded. "Somebody clean up this mess!" He walked away calmly as if nothing had happened towards the base of the stairs to the quarterdeck. He nodded to Joshamee. "Bessie, would you join me in th' cabin please," he asked, waiting whilst she descended the stairs. He could see she was shaking but glad that she had not spoken out. He slid his arm about her waist, guiding her whilst giving her the support he could see that she needed. Only when he turned to shut the doors did she speak.

"You... you killed a man..." she stuttered in disbelief, tears welling in her eyes.

"It had to be done Bessie. I warned them what would happen if they spoke ill of you..." Jack began to explain.

"But you killed him for saying what many consider the truth!" she protested, turning to face him.

"Yer are m' woman Bessie, never a whore," Jack said softly, wrapping his arms around her. "I'll not have yer called a whore... not by anybody!" He brushed her windswept hair away from her face. "Especially after all you've been through..."

"But to kill a man..." she sniffed.

Jack sighed, walking across to one of the chairs and pulling her onto his lap. "Bessie, if I hadn't acted then I could not rely on m' next order being obeyed. They're a good crew on th' whole, but they need t' be controlled else they'll run riot like th' lowest kind of scum!"

"Some would say that pirates are the lowest kind of scum," Bessie countered.

"Some deserve t' be called that," Jack admitted wryly. "But I'll not have them on m' crew." He turned her face to him with his hand, wiping the tears from her cheek. "I said I'd protect yer," he said softly, "an' if that means from m' own men then so be it... savvy?"

Bessie nodded tearfully. "Yes," she said quietly. "But that doesn't mean I have to like your methods..."

"As long as yer never question them in front of m' crew, then that is fine," Jack smiled, holding her to him as she cried. "Sssshhh!" He stroked her hair, rocking gently on the chair until she quietened, surprised to find after a while that she was asleep. He smiled to himself as he sat there, letting her fall deeper asleep before easing himself from the chair and carrying her through to his bunk. He pulled the blanket across her, leaving her to sleep as he sneaked out of the cabin and back up to the quarterdeck.

"Captain," Joshamee nodded, still at the helm. Jack nodded. "She did you proud Captain, not a murmur of protest..."

"At least that the crew could hear," Jack smiled wryly. "But she trusts me now... we have her!"

"That's all that matters," Joshamee chuckled. "How did she take it? About Thomson?"

"She didn't like it," Jack admitted, "but she accepted it."

"Perhaps there is a bit of her father in there after all," Joshamee mused.

"Perhaps there is," Jack laughed, "perhaps there is..."

###

Jack let Bessie sleep for a couple of hours before checking in on her, taking her some food and drink. He was unsurprised that she did not want to leave the cabin, considering what had happened the last time. "I'll come back fer yer when we reach the middle of the Passage," he offered.

"Thank you," Bessie smiled gratefully.

"But are yer sure yer won't change yer mind?" Jack asked. "I'd welcome yer by me at th' helm?"

"I'd rather stay here..." she said quietly. "Unless I have to..."

Jack smiled, shaking his head. "Nah, yer don't have to - although it would be nice..." He kissed her gently on the cheek as he rose. "I'll be at th' helm if yer change yer mind," he offered, leaving her to finish her meal in peace.

###

Alright, that is all for today. Mulberry is having a hectic time in real life, but is doing her best to keep up with the edits.

How about some nice reviews to make her day... and mine?

ï‚— 4 ï‚–