Yet again, usual disclaimers apply throughout this tale. If you recognise it, it probably belongs to the Mouse – else it is mine!

Chapter 7 – The Island

Jack's good mood did not last long once he surveyed the condition of his beloved ship. Every mast of the Black Pearl was damaged, the ship's boats were either missing or damaged and debris from the sea littered the decks. One of the cannons had broken free in the storm and had been lost overboard, smashing a large hole in the ship's rail.

"Let's find us a safe harbour Gibbs. We've some repairing to do..." He bellowed to the rest of the crew to clean the decks as he stomped up the stairs to the quarterdeck.

"What headin', Captain?" Joshamee asked.

"West... nearest land is west. We're way off course. With luck we can reach a safe cove I know of in th' Bahamas, but keep an eye out fer sails. We'll not outrun any ship like this," Jack muttered sourly.

He started, surprised to see Catherine climbing the stairs to the quarterdeck. He could see she was forcing herself, step by step, biting her lip as she climbed. He had obviously had some effect on her, he smiled as he remembered a small island a few days away which would be perfect for repairs as well as privacy.

"Captain Sparrow, are we safe to re-start the galley stove?" she asked quietly, relieved when he nodded. "I'll fix us all something warm then, I think we all need it after yesterday." She stopped at the top step and paused. "No, I won't forget your rum…" she assured him before heading towards the galley.

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It took two days for the Black Pearl to limp towards the Bahamas to make their repairs but Jack quickly found the secluded cove he remembered on one of the numerous small islands. Twenty-four crew that were able to swim and were not going to be working on the ship gathered on the main deck, sorting pistols, powder and shot. They were to go hunting on the island for it was rich with game.

"Want t' come, Kitty?" Jack asked, praying that she would agree so that he could try his plan.

"Yes, I'd like to" she admitted, "but I cannot leave James..."

"S'all right, Kitty. Cotton is stayin' an' he'll see no 'arm comes t' th' boy," Jack suggested. "Come with us!" He smiled. "But we've no boats at th' moment, so yer'll have t' swim with th' rest of us..."

Catherine struggled with her wish to be off the boat but realised she would not be able to swim in the heavy fabric of her dress. She bit her lip, pondering. Jack wondered again if she had any idea how that gesture attracted him – probably not – else she would not do it, he reasoned.

"Well..." he asked, his eyebrow arching.

Common-sense gave way to her desire for dry land. "I would like to but..." she indicated her dress.

"I think I've some spare breeches an' a shirt in m' locker... come on, I'll show yer!" Jack offered, grinning delightedly.

She followed him into the side cabin where he stored all his clothes. Boxes and trunks were piled everywhere haphazardly and there appeared to be no order to the chaos. Jack paused for a moment, a frown on his face before he spotted the trunk that he was looking for, partially concealed by other trunks and boxes that had fallen in the storm. He opened it, smiling broadly. "These were washed recently," he smiled, offering the reasonably clean clothes to her. Laundry was clearly not high on his list of priorities.

"Thank you, Captain," Catherine smiled, waiting for him to leave. "Captain! I can undress myself you know."

"I was about t' offer t' unlace yer, that's all," Jack smiled innocently.

Catherine frowned at him, suspicious of his motives, but turned, allowing him to assist her. She made him leave whilst she undressed though, much to his disappointment, but he smiled as he left, remembering a soft, pale white back.

His defeated mood did not last long; he grinned appreciatively when she emerged from the cabin. Her wavy hair was still tied back with the lace ribbon that he had purchased in Tortuga, and he was relieved to see that she was barefoot. She wore one of his old shirts buttoned and knotted at the waist and the breeches... well, they fitted, if a bit snug about the hips. She had had to roll them up several times – he had not realised before quite how dainty she was. He would have to hack them off for her at the bottoms for length.

"Yer look lovely, Kitty," he smiled, realising she was ill at ease wearing breeches. "Here..." He crouched down, reaching for his knife to cut them to a more reasonable length for her. Now roughly mid-calf length, a dainty pair of feet were revealed and the promise of a pair of shapely legs.

"Thank you, Captain," Catherine smiled, looking with some unease at her ankles being seen. Jack smiled reassuringly at her and she leaned over the side of the boat, checking the distance to the water. He knew he should not, but he could not resist running his hand gently across the taut fabric covering her bottom. He stepped smartly aside though as she turned on him. "Captain Sparrow!" Her eyes blazed indignantly but also with fear as she pushed him away.

"I'm sorry, luv," he smiled. "Couldn't resist it." He stepped back smartly to avoid her fists, surprised to realise that she would punch and not slap. He was used to slaps, happened to him quite often in fact, but punching was another matter.

Finding himself against the broken rail, his foot stepped back into open air. His arms windmilled as he tried to regain his balance and he fell backwards, squawking indignantly into the sea. Considering everything, it was not one of his more graceful entries into the water. Catherine stood looking down at him, unable to help laughing at him with the rest of the crew. Treading water Jack glowered up at them sourly.

"Whaaaa!" Catherine was shocked to find herself pushed firmly from behind, nearly landing on top of Jack as she splashed into the sea.

"All's fair in love and war, Mistress Kitty!" Joshamee Gibbs laughed, misinterpreting how he had found them the other morning, but not misinterpreting how Jack's eyes followed her.

"I didn't know this was war," she spluttered as she broke the surface, "or love!" She started swimming for the shore.

"Ah Kitty, you wound me," Jack sighed before following her, pacing himself so that he swam beside her. Catherine's easy banter assured him that, although surprised, she was not too cross at the abrupt manner of her entry into the water.

The rest of the crew that were going ashore entered the water in a more leisurely manner, floating a barrel containing their pistols to keep them dry. When they reached the beach, Joshamee Gibbs handed Jack and Catherine a pistol each, raising his eyebrows in question as he gave the spare shot and powder to Jack.

"Okay, split up you scurvy dogs and find some food!" Jack ordered, grinning at his quartermaster. The crew dispersed quickly. "You're with me, Kitty!"

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