Title: Of the Sea Rating: PG-13
Chapter Title: 1. Another Ship
Summary: Thoughts of Jack and Matt.
Timeline: Tuesday, May 3, 1675
Author: Cicatrix (Marin K.)

Captain Jack Sparrow considered the encounter. There had been a slight pause... a hesitation, when he'd asked the boy for his name. He was sure of that. But what did it mean? Was the kid lying, or had he simply knocked his head? Wasn't unheard of, but it still made him nervous. Later, he'd have Gibbs bring the boy down, and they'd sit down and talk, though perhaps not about the name.

He'd looked about twenty-five, maybe give or take a year, with dark hair and pale, stormy eyes. His build was slight, but he'd stood with a straight back, a defiant tilt to his chin, even moments after being fished from certain death at sea. His face was made tan by the sun, but it was clean-shaven. Jack remembered the way calloused hands had irritably tugged at a stray raven tress, as if there had once been more there. He wondered at the cause of the mottled bruise on the boy's cheek, the cut on his lip.

More cautious men would probably be more cautious, Jack thought with a self-deprecating smile, but instead the captain was intrigued. Why had the boy been left to die a merciless death, adrift on the ocean's breast? But the sea had been to the him a kind mistress, and she had led him to the Pearl. He took a swig of his rum, swallowed it thoughtfully. He would have to talk more with this Matthew before he could decide anything about his character. There was a knock at the door.

"It's unlocked," Jack said absently, looking up as the door opened. Gibbs stood in the doorway, a triumphant smile on his face. The captain arched a brow at the quartermaster, waiting to be told what the good news was.

"Cap'n!" the older man exclaimed, "I think we've found the spare set of hands y've been lookin' for!" A slow smile spread across his captain's face.

"Send him in here, would you? I'll have to talk to him 'bout it." Gibbs nodded quickly, and ran out.

Miriam breathed a sigh of frustration, giving the knot a final tug. Standing, she eyed her handy-work; it would hold. Experimentally, she prodded the livid bruise on her right cheek, and winced. Yes, it still hurt. But for her life, she could not remember how she'd earned it, nor any of the other contusions and incisions which marred her skin. She considered the past few hours of her life. She had resigned herself to death, alone at sea, but she had been rescued. She had no recollection of the hours before that, no indication as to what had placed her in that position, drifting endlessly, only barely conscious.

She grappled with her mind, and a name there appeared. Anthony. She considered it, and decided that had been the name she had used before. Another ship, she reflected, another name. Yes, it made sense. It occurred to her, suddenly, that she had been discovered. More ideas fell into place, and she began to understand the circumstances which may have led to her situation, but beyond that, she remembered little. She did not know if she had abandoned ship by choice, or if she had been forcefully cast overboard. A woman's scream echoed in her ears, and she pushed it aside. Perhaps it was best to not remember.

In any case, it was not terribly important. Matthew was a name as good as any other. She'd been found by another ship, and if she could prove her value, she might have another chance. Her thoughts were interrupted by a voice behind her, which she recognised immediately as belonging to the man she'd been introduced to as Gibbs.

"Boy, the Captain's wantin' to talk with you," he informed her. Miriam, now Matthew, nodded, and at his indication, she followed him to the captain's quarters.

Author's note: First chapter is complete! Again, characters that are from PotC aren't mine, original characters (namely, up to this point, Matt/Miriam) are. So there y'go. Please read and review. There'll be more soon... well, as soon as I write it, that is.