Insert disclaimers here (.)

Where are you all?! I only have Pendraginnink, A Depp Girl and RandomGal to thank for reviews… Five lashes and down to the brig with the rest of you!

Pen, I'm glad you liked the description of Jack. I half wondered whether to do it, as everyone knows what he looks like. But then realised that Patience didn't really, so did it through her eyes.

RandomGal – glad you like Patience!

…

Chapter Eleven: 'Th'bloody minx wouldn't know reason if it jumped up an' bit her arse.'

Jack made his way wearily back to his cabin, looking forward to some peace and quiet with Jenny. He frowned as he opened to door to see Patience sitting in his chair and having her ratted hair combed by Jenny.

'Come in Jack,' Jenny smiled, indicating with the comb. 'I'm just making Patience more presentable.'

'Aye, so I can see,' he replied dryly, looking sardonically at the girl.

'What about my payment, Sparrow? Ya promised ya'd pay me well if my information proved good. Well it did.'

'If ya start usin' me correct title, then I might see about yer payment,' he snapped, walking over to the bunk and pulling the drapes across. He lay down, feeling drained. His injury had taken more out of him that he admitted to anyone, Jenny excepting, and he wondered if he would recover fully from it. 'I think I will stay wi'Jen fer a while,' he thought to himself. 'Give myself chance ter recouperate.'

'How long did you work for Valentine?' Jenny asked the younger woman as she teased a particularly stubborn knot from her hair.

'Just over two years. Two years too bleedin' long.'

'Why did you work for him?'

'The woman's a mind reader,' Jack mused, smiling to himself. 'I was just wonderin' that.'

'Me mother was a whore. On her deathbed, she made me promise not ter go down th'same path. Some o'the jobs I've had have been worse than whorin', Valentine's being one of them,' she shuddered, remembering the times she had had to clean up blood stains from the floor and walls.

'And what made you leave?'

'One of his lackey's had tried to come on to me and I told him ter bugger off. He thought it would be a great revenge to trip me as I was carrying a tray with Mr. Valentine's afternoon tea on and it spilled on him. He beat me with a cane and dismissed me.'

Jenny sighed in sympathy. 'Not the nicest best man to work for then?'

Patience snorted derisively and shook her head. 'I only went there because I was desperate for work. It was either that or whoring an' I ended up a whore anyway.'

'Not by choice,' Jenny reminded her. 'How long were you at the Tortuga Arms?'

'I had been there fer about a year an' I really liked it. But a new landlord took over recently an' he was a right bastard.'

'So what will you do now?' Jenny sighed with relief as she finally untangled the knot without hurting Patience too much and carried on combing.

'When I get me payment, I'll get me a new house an' maybe try an' find a better job. Not that there are many of those on Tortuga.'

'Have you ever thought of moving elsewhere? There are better places to live, I can assure you of that.'

'Living somewhere other than Tortuga? I dunno, never really thought about it,' Patience admitted. 'Can't see myself livin' somewhere else.'

'There,' Jenny smiled, admiring her handiwork. 'You've got lovely hair.' She handed Patience her looking glass so she could see herself, smiling as her eyes shone in wonderment at the mirror. Obviously she had never held such a costly thing before, nor seen herself in one.

'Cap'n,' Shay called, knocking on the door and walking in. 'Ah, sorry ladies,' he grinned, looking in astonishment at Patience's shining golden hair. 'Bloody hell, woman! Ye look more beautiful than ever.'

'I hope it's Patience yer referring to an' not Jen,' came Jack's laconic voice from behind the drapes.

'Ah but of course it is. Not that yer not beautiful as well, Jenny,' he flattered, smiling disarmingly at both women. 'I'm off into town, Cap'n. Is there anythin' ye need?'

'Nah, Shay. Just don't get into trouble, eh? We've had enough of that fer a while.'

'I'll be a good boy,' he promised, laughing as he winked at Patience then left the cabin.

'That'll be a first, Erinman' Patience called then went back to staring at her reflection in the mirror.

'I'll show you where you can sleep tonight, if needs be,' Jenny offered, wanting to let Jack get some peace. 'The men might not be back before nightfall.'

'I am ter sleep on board? I don't bloody think so.'

'Off ya go then,' Jack retorted. 'Give me regards ter Valentine's men.'

'Yer a bastard, Spa… Captain Sparrow.'

'A bastard who is keepin' yer safe fer now. Though gawd only knows why.'

'Come on.' Jenny led the younger woman from the cabin, mentally reminding herself to keep the two of them apart as much as possible. 'Our helmsman, Olabisi, has offered you his cabin for the night. He will bunk down with the rest of the crew.'

'That's very kind of him,' Patience replied, a mite uncertainly. 'Why is everyone so concerned about me welfare?'

'Why shouldn't we be? Jack is not the bastard you think he is. If he was he would have used you to get to Valentine, not do everything he can to protect you.'

'Hmpf! Maybe…' She followed the older woman to the helmsman's quarters, looking around the sparsely furnished cabin.

'Why don't you take some rest. You look as though you haven't slept in a week.'

'I think I might do that,' she smiled, suddenly realising just how tired she felt. 'Thanks.'

'It's a pleasure. It's nice to have another woman on board, even though it's giving poor Joshamee a fit of the vapours,' she laughed. Jenny left Patience and hurried back to their cabin, hoping that Jack would not be asleep.

'About bloody time too,' he moaned from the bunk. 'Thought ya'd never get here.'

'The poor girl needs someone to be a friend at the moment,' she chided, climbing on the bunk and snuggling up to her lover.

'She's got Shay.'

'Don't be pedantic. You know what I mean.'

'Enough about Patience, come here woman. I want ya,' he growled, trying to roll over on top of her but having to stop as it became too painful.

'Jack! You're in no state for rolling around.'

'Try tellin' that ter him down there,' he moaned, shifting as his breeches became uncomfortably tight.

'There are ways and means, Jack Sparrow. You've taught me that at least,' Jenny chuckled seductively, unlacing his breeches and pulling them off. She took a foot in her hands and ran her thumbs along his sole, smiling as he squirmed on the bunk then she sucked on a toe, watching as Jack closed his eyes in bliss. She worked her way up his legs, alternating between the two, kissing, licking and nibbling gently until she reached his groin. Jenny ran her nose along the length of his manhood and flicked her tongue across the tip, tasting the droplets beaded there.

'Jen…' he murmured, tangling his fingers through her hair. 'Come here luv.'

She followed the trail of hair from his groin to his stomach and thrust the tip of her tongue into his belly button, feeling him rumble with pleasure.

'Like that?' she chuckled, moving from his belly to a brown nipple and sucking noisily on it whilst her hand caressed his balls.

'I like anythin' ya do ter me,' he rasped, groaning as her fingers ran feathery light strokes along the length of his shaft then grasped it firmly and started pumping, squeezing him gently on the downward stroke.

'Anything?' she whispered huskily into his ear, before biting the lobe, making him jerk.

'Ah! Ya know I do,' he gasped, his fingers probing between her legs and finding her entrance. 'Th'same as you like anythin' I do ter you.' He started thrusting his fingers into her, hitting a spot inside that made Jenny moan and buck and bite on his neck hard.

'Oh… Juh ack,' she panted, her hand moving faster along his prick as she neared her release.

'Harder Jen,' he urged, his own fingers gathering pace until with a cry, his seed squirted from him, slathering his belly.

'Ohhhh,' she moaned, her body tensing up as her own climax took over her body.

'Bloody hell woman,' he chuckled as he withdrew his fingers from within her and brought them to his mouth, sucking lazily on them. 'There are ways an' means indeed,' he grinned.

'We'll have to think of other ways and means tonight,' she smiled, circling his nipple with her finger.

'I can think of a few already.'

'Mmm, me too…'

…

Shay started to whistle as he climbed up the side of The Pearl and stopped himself just in time, remembering the age old superstition about whistling up the devil. He took the knapsack off his back and cradled it carefully in his hands. He had had a productive time during his trip to town and felt very pleased with himself.

'Have ye seen Patience?' he asked of one of the crewmen then headed for Bisi's cabin, grinning. He ran his hand through his black, rather unruly hair, despite it being tied back in a club, and knocked on the door.

'Who is it?'

'It's me, Shay,' he replied, hoping she would let him in.

'What d'ya want?' she asked in a surly tone.

'I've brought ye somethin'. Can I come in?'

She opened the door and looked at him suspiciously. 'What?'

'Ye'll have ter let me in ter find out,' he smiled, holding the knapsack up in front of her.

Patience sighed theatrically, feigning apathy, but in reality she was eager to find out what he had brought her.

'Close yer eyes,' he instructed, wagging a finger at her when she looked at him sardonically. 'Close them.'

'Isn't this a bit childish?' she retorted, but closed them all the same.

'Hold yer hands open.'

'Fer gawds sake, Erinman. Ya like ter make a song an' dance about it, don't ya?'

'Well, if ye don't want me gifts…'

'All right, all right,' she conceded, holding her hands out, frowning as he placed two objects in her hands, one light and the other quite a bit heavier.

'Open.'

Patience opened her eyes and stared at the bone comb and hand glass, inlaid with tiny pearls, in amazement, too shocked for words.

'D'ye like them?' he asked, smiling for he could see that she did by the look on her face.

'I-I…' she gulped, too overwhelmed to speak. She took refuge in spite and looked at him suspiciously. 'What d'ya want from me?'

'Nothin,' he replied, still smiling despite the rebuff.

'Don't give me that!' she sniped. 'Ya still want me ter open me legs fer ya. Well forget it. Here, have them back.'

'All right, there is something I want,' he admitted, holding his hands up in surrender.

'I knew it,' she replied triumphantly.

'A smile…'

'A what? A smile? Are ya mad, man? What is a smile ter ya?'

'I've never seen ye smile since the moment I clapped eyes on ye an' I bet ye have got a smile as beautiful as yer hair.'

'Bloody charmer,' she snorted, looking back at the gifts. 'These must have cost ya a pretty penny an' all ya want is a smile?'

'Well a kiss'd be nice too, but I know me limitations.'

'Damn right there, Shay.'

'So do I get one?'

'A smile or a kiss?'

'Both…? A smile.'

Patience looked at herself in the hand glass and felt the corners of her mouth twitch almost of their own accord. A slow smile spread across her face and she found herself blushing, much to her astonishment. She took the comb and ran it through her hair, pulling it away from her head then letting it drop down as the comb reached the ends.

'Thanks,' she smiled shyly, reaching over and giving Shay a quick peck on the cheek.

'It's a pleasure, me darlin'. Happy ter oblige.'

'Ya still ain't getting' me ter open me legs fer ya.'

'Give it time, me little Imp. Give it time,' he laughed, hurrying from the cabin before her fist could find him again.

'I'll give ya bleedin' Imp, Erinman,' she yelled, hugging the comb and mirror to her chest tightly as if afraid they would disappear if she let them go.

…

'Nothing?'

'No, Captain Sparrow, not a sign of either of 'em.' John Williams looked as though he had spent the night sleeping rough, which was precisely what they had all done, making it back to the ship mid morning.

'Bleedin' hell,' Jack cursed, although he wasn't too surprised. He'd had a hunch that his nemesis was still alive.

'What now Jack?' Joshamee Gibbs asked. Do we try and find them?'

'Where? Ya say there was no sign of another hideout?' he asked Davy Phillips, who shook his head. 'He could have gone anywhere. Probably got a boat hidden in a cove, knowing him.'

'Aye, that was my thought,' Gibbs agreed.

'We go to Isla de Muerta, Scurvy Tom is retirin' from th'sea an' so wants his booty, then we make fer th'Fragrance Isles, build a home fer Jen, savvy?'

'What about Patience?' Shay put in. 'She can't stay on Tortuga.'

'She says she doesn't want ter leave th'fair isle,' Jack replied sarcastically.

'I'll talk her round,' the young Irishman promised. 'Make her see reason.'

'Reason?! Ha! Th'bloody minx wouldn't know reason if it jumped up an' bit her arse. An' just where d'ya propose we take Madame?'

'We could take her to the Fragrance Isles and she could be my companion,' Jenny suggested from the capstan on which she was sitting.

'What? I don't bleedin' think so.'

'I think it's a great idea,' Shay beamed, throwing a grateful look at Jenny.

'Aye, ya would,' Jack replied dryly. 'An' just what would a companion do, exactly?'

'She could keep house for me when I am too big and too busy to do so. She would be a friend and company in a strange place. Tom would be able to keep an eye on us both, if he decides to live there too.'

'I dunno…' Jack said doubtfully, thinking he knew a nice spit of land he would rather leave her on. He wondered if the palm trees had recovered yet from Elizabeth's fire.

'She has to live somewhere,' Jenny implored.

'Why are ya all discussin me like I'm a bloody child who doesn't know her own mind?' came a caustic voice coming up the steps from below. 'If yer goin' ter be makin' decisions, don't ya think I ought ter be in on them?' Patience marched over to Jack and stood before him, hands on hips. 'Did ya find them?'

'Nah luv but I didn't expect to, which is why ya can't stay in Tortuga.'

'So ya've signed me death warrant then?' she sighed, shaking her head at him.

'I've made it more dangerous fer Jenny too, missy. So don't think yer on yer own.'

'Would ya like me as a companion?' she asked Jenny, still sitting on the capstan. 'Why?'

'Why not? I like your company, I will need help as I get bigger and then after the baby arrives. You need somewhere safe to live – kill two birds with one stone.'

'Th'Pearl would be droppin' by every now an' then,' Shay added, a hopeful look on his face.

'I need time ter think about it,' Patience said uncertainly.

'We're stockin' th'ship now so ya have th'rest of th'day. We leave at dawn tomorrow, with or without ya, savvy?'

'Fair enough. Can I go ashore?' she asked.

'With an escort, yes.'

'I'll go with her.'

'Are ya me bleedin' shadow, Erinman?' she sniped, rolling her eyes.

'Shay, I want yer back on th'ship by dusk, with her if she's comin', savvy?'

'Aye Jack,' he grinned, winking at the young woman who scowled at him. 'Ah, but yer much prettier when ye smile, cailin,' he chided gently, following her as she made for the side of the ship.

'Shay. No risks. If she don't want ter come, leave her. That's an order, savvy?' Jack warned as he handed over a pouch of money to the young Irishman. Shay looked inside the pouch, whistling in amazement as he realised it was what Jack had said he would give her. He realised Jack did not think she would be coming back.

'Aye Ja.. . Captain,' he replied heavily. I understand.'

…

'Mr. Valentine! There's a ship heading for this cove.' Tobias Hoskins ran into the makeshift hut, set high on the beach, panting with exertion and panic.

Absolon Valentine jumped to his feet and ran outside, looking in disbelief. 'I don't believe it,' he muttered, shaking his head. 'He did it.'

'Who did it? What is going on?'

'You'll see, Toby. You'll see.'

They watched as the ship dropped anchor and a boat was lowered down the side. A man climbed down and started rowing for the shore. Hoskins peered into the distance, thinking that he recognised him.

'That looks like…'

'Richard Page. Yes, it is.'

'What is going on, Sir?'

'You're alive!' Page called as the boat drew closer to the shore. 'I thought Sparrow's men may have succeeded.'

Valentine ran down the beach, grabbing the rope as it was tossed to him and heaved the boat up the shingle beach, grinning at Page. 'Not a chance, son. It will take more than the likes of Jack Sparrow to get the better of me.'

'I'm sorry about the ships. I had to go along with it or my cover would have been blown.'

'No, you did the right thing. We can easily get more ships, once we get to Port-de-Paix.'

'Sir?' Toby Hoskins looked from one man to the other in bewilderment.

'Richard Page is my son, Toby. I used to visit… a lady of the night when my wife, Sarah, first became ill and she bore me Richard. I have surreptitiously paid for his upbringing all these years and gave him a position on my ship, just a cabin boy to start with and he worked his way up, so as not to bring suspicion upon himself. He has used his experience to be a spy for me, bringing me information that I would otherwise never have found out.'

'Your son?'

'I have more secrets than you will ever know about,' he chuckled. 'It was Richard who has kept this hideout stocked with food.'

'I-I see... this is where you used to go to when you would disappear for a few days, isn't it?' he asked, realisation suddenly dawning on him.

'So Richie, tell me what has happened.' Absolon Valentine led the way back up the beach to the hut, his hand on his son's shoulder.

'I tracked Bailey down to Tortola and who should turn up but Sparrow, spouting on about revenge against you. Bailey decided he wanted some of the action and got together a crew and we all sailed on The Black Pearl until we found that,' he jerked his thumb towards Le Brestois, sitting at anchor in the small bay. 'I was in charge of the ship, Bailey spent the entire time drunk,' he sneered condescendingly. 'But I had to go along with the attack, the men were eager for it and would probably have killed me if I hadn't.'

'I told you, that doesn't matter. New ships and crews are easy enough to come by. Where are Bailey and Sparrow now?'

'Well…' Page grinned coldly. 'Bailey just so happens to be sitting in the brig.'

'Is he now?' Valentine chuckled, winking at Tobias Hoskins. 'It seems we'll have a little fun with Job Bailey, eh, Toby?'

'More than a little fun,' he agreed, still reeling at the shock of his employer's secrets.

'Sparrow is still in Tortuga but not for long. From what I've heard, he is making base on the Fragrance Isles.'

'What? Why on earth would he do that?'

'Jenny Samuels is pregnant with his child.'

'So he got her back then? Did you happen to find out who those men were, the bounty hunters?'

'No, Sparrow never spoke of it and neither did any of his crew, no matter how drunk I got them. Sparrow must have threatened them with a fate worse than death if they spilled.'

'Ah well,' Valentine sighed. 'No doubt all will be revealed in time.'

'How badly injured is he?' Hoskins enquired, wanting to know if his shot had been good or not.

'He can move about but I think he's worse than he's letting on. Shall we go after him, father? Le Brestois was carrying French weapons and although we had to split it half and half with Sparrow, we've still got more than enough to take him on.'

'And he's got more than enough to hit us back,' Valentine reasoned. 'Is your ship fast?'

'Not as fast as The Pearl, but then few are. She handles quite well, shallow on the draught when she's not loaded up and we were able to keep pace with Sparrow but then we weren't in pursuit.'

'No, we don't go after him now. We go to Port-de-Paix and re-group then we pay Sparrow a little visit…'

…

Dum-dum-duuuuum!

Port-de-Paix is on the Haitian mainland.