Wow, you guys certainly thought Jessica was mean enough. hehe Last Chapter: Jessica calls Jack many bad things before passing out from the fever and Jack is less than happy. Chapter 6 Revelations
Jack propped a stool up at the helm of the ship. He leaned back, putting his feet up to rest between the spokes of the wheel. The rest of his crew was now sleeping down below.
Jack thought of his own bed. It would be much more comfortable than his current arrangements. However, there was no way he was going to sleep in the same bed as that wench, and removing her from the bed would require touching her, so Jack decided against that as well. Yes, the helm is the best place tonight.
Sleep didn't seem to be able to find Jack that night. He kept hearing her words in his head, try as he might to block them out. How dare she accuse me of being unfit to captain the Pearl. She had berated him because his crew came to save him. While they did break with the code, Jack knew they came for him because he was such a good captain.
And nothing could excuse her words about the Pearl. Jack never needed a steady woman because the Pearl was his one and only true love. She was the greatest ship in the Caribbean. Every landlubber in the Spanish Main knew that. No, there is absolutely no excuse.
Jack had just closed his eyes when the morning sun peeked over the horizon.
Gibbs was very surprised to see his captain still sitting at the helm. Jack wasn't a man to sleep on deck when there was a woman in his bed. Must've fallen asleep up there.
"Jones's servin' breakfast Cap'n" he called out cheerfully.
Jack opened one eye and regarded his second mate. "Take the helm Gibbs." he grumbled before sulking off to the scullery.
He brought a bowl of lord-knows-what to the table and took a seat with the men. He was contemplating whether the contents were moving of their own accord or if it was just the swaying of the boat when Robert took a seat beside him.
"How's she feeling?"
"Who?"
"The girl."
"HOW THE BLOODY HELL SHOULD I KNOW ??" Jack roared.
Robert eyed his captain suspiciously. He knew the girl had been giving the captain grief, but Jack certainly hadn't been acting like this. Perhaps he's been drinking. Robert decided it was the most likely option considering that Jack was now swaying dangerously in all his fury.
Jack scowled. Why did that whelp have to remind him of her again? (Jack chose to ignore the fact that he had never stopped thinking about Jessica since the day before.)
Once again he was lost in thought over the way her lip curled disdainfully when she spoke to him. He had been kinder to her than any other pirate would have been. Sharp certainly didn't allow her to stay in his cabin. Maybe Sharp had the right idea. Perhaps the brig would teach this girl some respect.
Jack turned towards Robert again and had to suppress a smile when his fellow pirate subtly attempted to slide toward the other end of the bench.
"Don't worry man, I'm not after killin' ye today. I need ye t' help me out a bit."
"I'm listening."
"Take that lass in me cabin down to the brig. I want her to be gone by the time I finish breakfast."
Once again confused, Roberts walked off to do his captain's bidding.
Jack smiled to himself, always good to keep 'em on their toes.
Roberts lifted the woman from the bed. She was a lot warmer than yesterday. He knew her fever wasn't life threatening yet, but after a couple days in the damp brig...
Robert reached for a blanket but hesitated. The captain might not like him giving special treatment to a woman who had angered him so. While he stood debating with himself, Jessica whimpered in her fever and snuggled closer to the body holding her. Her eyelids fluttered open for a brief moment and she smiled at Robert, before drifting off once again.
A blanket wouldn't hurt. The captain would hardly miss it. After all, he never told me not to give her a blanket.
Jack strolled up to his cabin and began to take out his maps and captain's log. Since Sharp had so kindly thrown them off course, it would take Jack a while to get them back on track.
They were farther off course than Jack thought. Plus he still hadn't documented the provisions they had picked up while in Tortuga. That whole thing was a mess because the crew had to leave to come get him before all the transactions were completed. By nightfall he had sorted everything out, but his head was pounding and his eyes were sore. Jack decided to just close his eyes for a minute before taking over the helm from Gibbs.
Jack awoke in the early hours of the morning to the sounds of commotion on deck. "Bloody pirates." he grumbled to himself, pulling on his hat and heading out the door.
"You cheated ye bilge rat."
"I did not ye lily livered scallywag."
"Did too"
"Did not"
"I'll not be givin' ye a single piece of eight ye dog."
The pirate pirate's eyes bulged in outrage as he whipped out his cutlass.
"We'll see about that."
"Gentlemen, gentlemen! I think we can find another way to solve this. Ye know the code, if ye have a disagreement, it'll need to be settled next time we make landfall."
"I don't think so Jack. I'll not let this cheatin' dog keep my gold."
Jack 's face darkened, "You will address me as Captain, and yes John, you will wait to settle this matter. Otherwise you'll be spendin' the rest of the voyage in the brig."
John glared at Jack before turning to look at the other pirate, "I want my money now!" He lunged for the offending pirate with his cutlass extended before him. Before he moved a foot Jack had cracked his wrist with the grip of his pistol. Twirling the pistol in his hands he rested the muzzle on the pirate's temple.
"Allow me to show you your new accommodations." Prodding the man with his sword. Jack led John down below. When they reached the brig. Jack was surprised to find a body lying on the floor wrapped up in a wool blanket.
Bloody hell
He certainly wouldn't be giving John the pleasure of locking him in the brig with a woman for a month.
"In ye go." After binding his hands Jack kept his pistol trained on John while scooping up Jessica and carrying her out.
The only place left to put her was his own cabin. Jack dreamed about all the punishments he could devise for John. Decapitation...death by sharks... cutting him up into little pieces then throwing him to the sharks. None of them seemed bad enough to make up for what Jack was going to have to do. He hated himself for putting the girl back in his cabin. Although, now that he had his records caught up and organized, there was very little need for him to be there. He could even sleep on the deck, then he would never have to see her anyway. Jack relaxed a little; if he didn't have to be near her it wouldn't be so bad... right?
Looking up at the thousands of stars above his head Jack sighed in contentment. This is what the Pearl is about. He made a mental note to spend the night on the deck more often. There's only one thing that could possibly make this moment any better. Jack smiled to himself as he sauntered over toward his rum cache.
"Rum, Rum, Rum. I love Rum. Rummy rum rum."
(A/N: Anyone know the movie?)
Jack rummaged around in his coat for the key. "peanuts, nope, priest collar, nope, monkey food, apple, garter, Norrington's wig, how'd that get in there? Aha!" Victorious, Jack pulled the key from his pocket. Just as he was putting it in the keyhole he heard a moan from the bed next to him. Jack glanced over at the girl.
She was pale and her hair clung to her sweaty face. Not the most attractive wench at the bar. He chuckled to himself until the girl began to cry. Jack was surprised when sobs began to wrack her body. Surely she wasn't awake.
Jack stretched his hand out to her forehead and recoiled when it made contact. Her skin was on fire.
"Mama! Mama!" Jack jumped when the girl began to yell.
"They have her, the pirates have her! Please come back mommy, please. I love you. I promise I'll never rip my dresses again. I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. Please don't leave me."
She continued to sob.
"I can hear you screaming but I can't see you, where are you? Tell me where to find you, I can't find you!" Jessica was now thrashing and screaming hysterically.
Jack moved to pin her down, she had already reopened the wound on her head. Jessica fought Jack ferociously, "Give her back! I want her back!" Finally Jessica went limp as exhaustion and the fever claimed her again.
Jack just sat on the edge of the bed and stared at her. The violent flush in her cheeks brought him back to reality and he ran out of the room to find water.
Jack placed cool pieces of cloth on her forehead and every other visible piece of skin. Reaching for the rum in his cabinet, Jack worked furiously to clean the wound on her head.
The next morning Gibbs sent Roberts to inform the captain that breakfast was ready in the galley. Finding the door cracked open, Robert stuck his head inside. His jaw dropped. Jack sparrow was sitting in a chair with his arms resting on his bed. He was fast asleep. The surprising thing was the girl asleep on his bed. She had a fresh bandage on her head and her body was covered in cool, wet blankets. Was this not the same girl that Jack had ordered him to lock in the brig before he finished his breakfast? He realized now that he would never fully understand Captain Jack Sparrow.
"Breakfast is ready Captain."
Jack's head snapped up and his arm moved reflexively to Jessica's forehead. Still warm, but cooler than last night.
Looking around, Jack noticed Robert standing in the doorway. "Hello there mate."
Robert watched Jack. He was obviously alert, and his eyes kept straying to the girl, but Robert could see in his face that he hadn't slept very much that night. "Gibbs sent me to tell you breakfast is ready."
"If you'd bring it up with a bucket of cold water, I'd be much obliged."
Robert nodded and left for the galley. Jack looked over his new patient carefully. Her fever did seem to be coming down a bit, for this he was very thankful. They had a scary moment last night when Jack wasn't sure she was going to make it, but then her fever broke and Jack hoped it would be uphill from there.
Jack poured some water down her throat and changed all of her wrappings before forcing down his cook's interpretation of gruel.
Last night, all he had time to worry about was bringing down her fever and healing that cut on her head. However, now that the emergency had passed, he was able to think about the things she had said. It certainly explained a few things. While most women feared him at first, his charming ways brought them around soon enough. In fact, this was probably the longest time a women had ever lasted. Well at least I know it's not me. Losing one's mum to pirates would certainly generate a fair degree of hatred for men of the profession. Maybe I can forgive her for her words. It's not like the crew actually heard her...
Author's Note:
Another chapter done. sighI miss Jessica. Oh and yes, Jack's reference to the code was also part of the code written by Bartholomew Roberts.
Another thanks to all the wonderful people who we call reviewers. You make my day (and remind me I need to update). Drop me a line(or a few) and let me know what you thought of the chapter or the story in general.
Dimonah Tralon- yeah, Jack couldn't believe she did either.
Xkurox – I'm sure that's exactly what Jessica was trying to do. Save her honor and kill a pirate in the same go... what more could she want?
The sickness- I'm glad you thought it all worked together, that's what I was going for. I think your name is great (I'm just a little too lazy to do all those x's)
Cayenne Pepper Powder- Super reviewer returns!! Yes, I never thought I'd see the day Jack threw a woman out of his cabin.
Agent Katy –I'm happy you see where Jessica was coming from, I was beginning to get worried.
Lucy- you're welcome
YueMichiruNaraqisawaMiko- Haha! You can't escape! And poor Jessica! I promise, Jack knows she's no competition next to you.
Clueless Patty- You be nice to Jack!!
Jack: Yes, be very nice to Jack.
I sigh as begins to kiss Clueless Patty shamelessly... again.
Loriendeva- Thank you for the review (and the compliments :) It would mean a lot to me if you e-mailed me ) and told me exactly what it was that you found offensive.