Disclaimer: I don't own The Pirates of the Caribbean or any of it's characters. Although, if you review I'm sure I could get my hands on a few signed muscle shirts which previously graced the Godly bodies of our beloved… ahem, ummm, next!

Last Chapter: The evil Sharp captured Jessica and used her to lock Jack in the Brig. Jack rescued her though (gotta love him) and we left them with…

Jack pulled her onto his lap and gently rocked her back and forth as sobs wracked her body. "Shhhhh s'alright luv. You're safe now Miss Tanner."

Jessica looked up at Jack as if seeing him for the first time. "Jessica, my name is Jessica."

Chapter 10: Golden curls and chucked bread

Jack looked down at the woman sleeping in his lap. Jessica. He liked it, it fit her. It could be womanly, or, if you left off a few letters, it was a name fit for a pirate. He moved his feet onto the bed in order to ease her off his lap and lay her down gently. He propped himself up on his elbow and watched her sleep. The moonlight made her face glow and spun her chestnut curls into gold.

Jack shook his head. Since when did he, Captain Jack Sparrow, think this way? He heaved a sigh and dropped back onto his bed.

Jack awoke in the dark to find his arms wrapped around a slim waist. He allowed himself a devilish grin, then frowned. He couldn't imagine that she would be too comfortable waking in the arms of a pirate, no matter what the circumstances were.

He made the mistake of waking up with a woman only once before and didn't plan to repeat it. He still remembered the awkward words, his desire to be both near her and miles away. He had grimaced when the sharp light of morning destroyed the dark beauty a woman can have only under the cover of night. Since then he placed a handsome tip on the bedside table and made his way out before day hit.

Jessica was the first woman to even sleep in his bed. He had enjoyed a good few women in his time, but they were enjoyed only in taverns. On a ship, where everyone shares everything, his cabin was a luxury. He needed it to be his own space, and had been very strict with his crew about intruding upon it. When she was here though, he didn't feel intruded upon, he felt right.

Jack shook his head and got up slowly to avoid waking her. He pulled the blanket up over her and (after grabbing a bottle of rum) left his cabin as fast as his legs would carry him. He was swaying with greater abandon than he had in days when he made his way up to the wheel.

An hour later Jack looked for golden curls or glowing faces in the bottom of his bottle of rum, but couldn't find any. Satisfied, he plunked the bottle down beside him before leaning back against the helm and falling asleep.

Jessica woke with a roaring pain in the side of her head. She found that coherent thoughts were difficult to form through the pounding ache. She tried desperately to remember what had occurred to cause such pain.

She leaned back with a groan as all of the memories from yesterday assailed her. The dead boy, Sharp's fingers gripping her hair, his hot breath on her neck, his filthy hands crushing her…

Jessica realized with a grimace that her head wasn't the only place that Sharp had injured her. The angry bruises she could see just above the neckline of her dress were testimony to that.

There was something else though. Jessica knew she could certainly endure the physical pain, but some other pain seemed to be eating away at her soul making her feel dead inside. What else…

Jessica moaned as an image of shattering crystal flashed before her eyes. The hummingbird, the only connection she still had to her beloved Mrs. Bella, was destroyed. Jessica realized with a sad shudder that last night she had come close to sharing something else with her mother. The memory of Sharp's fists locked around her wrists as he lowered his face towards hers reminded her of how Mrs. Bella had met her end.

But I did not meet my end like her. Jack's pistol prevented that.

The enigma of Jack Sparrow was enough to make her head pound again. He had laughed when Sharp told him to take his men to the brig. Jessica had expected nothing less, but a few minutes later Jack had agreed to give up his ship without a second thought. He had also escaped the brig without making a sound. Jessica didn't see how that was possible when she had seen Sharp's men search his crew and take all of their remaining weapons and spare keys. The most surprising thing of all was the gentle way that Jack had untied her and gathered her up into his arms. Jessica blushed as she remembered her own sobs and the pirate's soothing words. It didn't make sense. Of course, nothing about that man seemed to make sense.

Jessica decided that she would sort it out later as her grumbling stomach and the bright sunlight reminded her that it must be midday already. Although something will have to be done about these stupid bruises.

After Jessica had pulled the door shut behind her, an angry voice spat behind her, "Has her majesty finally decided to grace us with her presence?"

Jessica whirled around and her jaw dropped. The words had been spoken by …

"I be a woman yes. But that don't mean I sleep in fer half the bleedin' mornin'. I don't know why Jack's overlookin' it, but his firstmate sure as hell won't. If ye want t' make yourself useful ye can go help our cook, seein' as how he lost 'is help yesterday."

The rapid fire of words only served to shock Jessica further. "But, then, you're a pirate," she sputtered.

"I'm glad to see yer mind's as sharp as your looks. Now go help the cook."

The woman fixed Jessica with one last glare before stomping off.

"Don't be mindin' her lass. She was a bit alarmed by Jack's actions yesterday is all."

Jessica turned to see a short portly man with outrageous sideburns standing beside her.

"But the cook would be grateful fer any service ye can offer, t' be sure."

Jessica gazed quizzically at the man before turning to find her way below deck.

Jack wasn't surprised that he hadn't seen Jessica all day. He was sure she was still very upset about last night's events. She would probably stay curled up on the bed for a few more days. He would have to see about getting her meals to her. Blast, I hope there won't be any trouble getting her to eat. It wasn't that he didn't feel bad for the lass, but Sharp hadn't exactly finished the job, and women made life so difficult at times like these.

Gibbs cut into Jack's train of thought with a shout.

"Cap'n, cook says that noon-meal be served."

Jack called down to his second mate, "Thank ye Gibbs. I'll be down in a moment."

Jack left the wheel to Anamaria and made his way down below.

Jack squinted as his eyes adjusted to the dark galley. Most of the men were already gathered around the various tables while hearty laughter, heated words, and rowdy voices filled the room accordingly. He slipped into a corner and watched the men from under his hat.

A raised eyebrow was the only indication of his surprise when he glimpsed a swish of skirts between the bustle of men. The view soon cleared to reveal a slightly flushed Miss Tanner balancing an armful of bread and apples. Jack allowed a small grin to slip past his features. Would this woman ever cease to surprise him?

He watched as she twisted John's ear until a roving hand made it's way back to the table.

Jack chuckled to himself. Apparently not.

Jack observed that she had used some of the leather cords from one of his coats to hitch up the neckline of her dress. Absolutely nothing had been left for the eyes of the crew to enjoy. She tossed him an apple in passing and did a double take when she saw who caught it.

"Oh, er, it's you."

Jack motioned to the chair across from him, "You're welcome to join me."

Jessica dropped quickly onto the edge of the seat. "I, umm, well, I." She tucked stray curls behind her ears and opened her mouth to speak again but only succeeded in biting her lip. Jack was heartily enjoying the moment and made no move to volunteer a response.

Jessica sighed and finally looked him in the eye. "I wanted to thank you for your help last night."

Jack held her gaze and only dipped his head in response.

Jessica's eyes fell once again to intensely examining the patterns in the wooden table. Jack took pity on her when she continued to pull nervously at her skirts.

He sat back and gave an extra dramatic sweep of his arms. "I say, the service here is quite terrible. I've waited here a full ten minutes and no little strumpet has brought me a drop of gruel."

Jessica pushed herself up from the table and chucked Jack's bread at him. "Then I suggest you go get it yourself."

Jack called out to her retreating back, "Any chance of rum then luv?"

His words were greeted with a shriek as Jessica threw up her arms in annoyance.

Jack chuckled, he would have to head to the store rooms and get it himself then.

He pushed open the door and wrinkled his nose when it was greeted with a foul smell. After a glance inside he was surprised to find the light caught by shards of crystal scattered on the floor. Jack kneeled down to investigate one of the larger pieces. In it's cracked features he could make out the head of a hummingbird. What caught his eye though, was what was sticking out of it.

Jack peered closer, "I'll be damned."

Author's note:

Okay I know you guys are wondering where I disappeared to this time. Shortly after writing the last chapter I saw Phantom of the Opera and became mildly obsessed.
While I was writing the next chapter in "Of Love and Loss" I realized that Jack was sounding a bit too "phantomy" in the way he was talking about Jessica. This disturbed me because it is very important to me to keep Jack in character. So to get the phantom out of my head I starting writing a phantom fic, hoping that I would be able to get back to "Of love and Loss". I didn't post it or anything, it's sole purpose was to allow me to continue my POTC fic.

After receiving an e-mail recently, I dug my heels in and finished the chapter. It was a very sweet e-mail from a reader who said that she had been pulled into my story and was hoping that I would be continuing it. I updated the next day. Tell me people! If you like my story, or have any comments about the latest chapter, please, please, pleeease let me know in a review. The next chapter will be up that much faster I promise.

To get into specifics…

Dimonah Tralon – Yes, Jack came to the rescue yet again. Isn't he fabulous?

Clueless Patty – Your reviews just keep getting better! Not only was it hilarious (I particularly liked that bit about the rum) but it was very sweet. You have no idea how glad I am that you felt that way about the chapter.

Lucy- It will be very funny when the time comes, but unfortunately that time is not now for our poor Jack and Jessica. By the way, thanks for reviewing both chapters.