Gibbs stood staring, mouth slightly ajar, "What did you just say?"

"You heard me, Gibbs."

"How come you never told us?"

Jack gave him a hard look. "You know me, I don't like to say a lot. Not about those kinds of things at least."

"Not after the last time," Annamaria mumbled to Cotton. The mute only nodded, hoping to keep the parrot quiet.

"You mean to tell me she's your daughter?" Gibbs nearly yelled as he pointed toward the captain's cabin where Reagan was waiting.

Jack sighed, the repetitive questions were becoming more than slightly annoying, "For the thousandth time, man, yes!"

"She looks enough like you," Annamaria said, glancing at the closed doors.

Silence fell on deck; the crew was beginning to understand. However, accepting that Captain Jack Sparrow had a daughter was another matter. What would they say when he told them she was legitimate? He could see the looks of disbelief. Of course Gibbs would ask the obvious question, "You were married?" Come to think of it, maybe he could get around telling the crew. He was, after all, Captain Jack Sparrow. Yes, he'd wiggle out of that somehow. Turning to leave he threw over his shoulder, "Come get me if anything happens, I have a feeling this may take a while."

XXXXX

Reagan watched in silence as Jack leaned on the chair opposite her. Suddenly she realized that she felt rather self-conscious. The fact that she was wearing britches was bad enough, not to mention the in the left leg that showed more than her entire knee. In the pub it hadn't mattered so much. For one, it was Tortuga; secondly she had simply been trying to find Jack...just to see what he was like. She had hardly expected the man who had branded and then left her to invite her aboard his ship. Though, now that it was all said and done she had been hoping for such a thing.

"How old are you know?" he asked, disturbing Reagan's wondering thoughts.

"Twenty five," it was a whisper even though she hadn't meant it to be. More silence followed as Jack took an apple from the fruit bowl and tossed it to her. When she caught it one handed he gave her a wink before starting again.

"Alright, Blackbird, whatever it is, ask."

"Just like that?"

He turned and looked at the rippling water, "I've got my share of questions too, luv."

"Well, to be blunt, why did you leave me a Port Royal?"

At this Jack smiled. She might look like a pirate's daughter but she sounded more like a certain Miss Swann. "It was safest for you there. I couldn't take you with me to look for the Pearl."

"I was fifteen when you found it! Why didn't you go back for me then?"

The captain cringed, the conversation was getting loud, "I figured Christopher wouldn't tell you 'bout me. And even if he had you would hate me."

Reagan didn't respond to his answer. Instead she rolled up the cuff of her left pant leg, "What about this?"

For the first time he had no answer, he just stared at the pirate's brand on her ankle. From there his eyes moved upward to the tattoo that sat right above the other mark. It matched the one on his arm. "Does anyone at Port Royal know about that?"

"Only Tio."

"Good," he offered her a curt nod. For some reason he had thought this would be a lot easier. Slowly he swallowed the lump in his throat, ready to throw her off the ship if need be. Without warning he spun on his heel to face her. What he saw caused him to take a step back. In the low candlelight she looked worn, hard, like she had in the pub. "So, which one's the real you? The girl who demanded a pint from me or the cut out copy of Elizabeth Swann?"

This time Reagan was quiet. It had been much easier to act on instinct in Tortuga. But now...She stood, knocking over her chair, "For diplomacy! Why'd you brand me and then dump me with a bunch of dull high lifes?"

Jack laughed, "Now, that's me Reagan. However, to stories are going to have to wait. We were supposed to set sail at sunset. It's well past now and we'd best be going. You're welcome on the Pearl for now."

She was about to protest but then thought better of it, "You really wanted to keep me safe?"

He didn't answer but walked past her toward the door. He could tell she was trying not to ask a second time. Slowly he fixed a steel gaze on her, "That's the only reason I'd ever give you up, Blackbird."

"Good enough for now, Jack," she mumble after he had exited the cabin. Suddenly he was standing in the door way again.

"I'm your father!"

"You heard that?! Oh bloody..." she stopped short when she noticed him glaring at her. Pirate or not swearing was not acceptable for any woman. Her reaction caused him to grin a bit.

"Remember, I hear everything."

Reagan laughed and threw the apple back to him, "I'm sure you do."