Chapter Five – Me First Taste o' Plunder

Dinner was a noisy affair. Except for Anamaria, who sat glaring at me in stony silence. Jack, seated beside her noticed our warring eyes and frowned; moments later she'd jumped as though prodded by a sharp stick. Her eyes shot hotly to Jack and I could only deduce he'd stepped on her foot. There was only one thing that could cause that raw agony in a woman's eyes. Extreme foot pain. I know that I got this look in my eyes whenever I had to don high heels for fancy get ups like my cousin Mildred's wedding three summers ago. I tell you, if someone had offered to shoot me then, I would have gladly accepted.

Wisely I stifled a chuckle and turned to the pirate beside me. It was Zhao, the miniature pirate. He may have been small in one respect, but his voice certainly wasn't. He laughed rakishly, leaning over and effectively pouring rum down the front o my shirt. I stumbled backwards out of my chair surprise and rum on my face

"Well, hell." I muttered, pulling the soaked fabric away from my chest with a disgusting sucking noise. I wrinkled my nose at the warm pungent scent of rum. "Wonderful." I grumbled before shooting Jac a questioning glance. His eyes were locked on my chest area which, now, being wet, was visible for the entire crew to see. I had the grace to blush, before casually wrapping my arms across the front of my chest, casually covering myself. "Captain Jack?" I asked sweetly, aware of the growing smiles around the table.

"Aye lass?"

"Could I impose on you for a shirt seeing as this one is a bit . . ." I looked down at the golden shirt, that had once been a pristine white. The words were smeared, and I cursed. I worked bloody hard on making the calligraphy on this thing perfect! "Ruined?" I finished weakly. He nodded, covering his mouth with his hand, presumably hiding a smile. It didn't do much good, because I saw his eyes glowing with mirth, and laughing into mine. I nodded and made a move to excuse myself. I have to admit I was really surprised that each and every pirate in the room at the time kept their laughter bottled up until I was out of the room. I nearly chuckled myself at the sound of unrestrained male laughter that reached my ears as I climbed the stairs towards Jack's cabin. After rumaging through the pile of clothes, I donned one of the cleanest, least foul-smelling one I could find. I pulled the collar over my nose and breathed in deeply. It smelled of the sea, rum; muted of course, and the individual scent that was the captain.

Some time later, I was sitting by the bow, thinking about how my life had changed up to this point. I had never slept well as a child, and since coming aboard the Pearl, I had eaten, slept and done more than I had in a year, it seemed like. I was at peace here. I didn't quite know my place, but I felt I could scratch one out among the pirate crew. I could honestly say, that if a pirate's life consisted of eating, drinking and getting a tan, as well as a lucrative payday, I would sign up in a heartbeat. It sure won out over a year in the same, small claustrophobic building with mean- spirited kids and teachers with goofy views on the world, and what made someone a success.

I leaned my head back against the railing and breathed out a sigh. My thoughts drifted to my mother and Charlie. I wondered if the missed me, or even if they knew I was gone. It didn't matter that much though, they were there and I was here and we had better make the best of our given situation, even though I wasn't sure just what my situation was. Anamaria hated me, the crew didn't trust me as far as they could throw me and Jack . . . Jack was an enigma. I'd caught him looking at me repeatedly over the week I'd been sailing with them. In his eyes was confusion, frustration, and curiously, hunger. Hunger for what I wasn't sure. That was a puzzle for another day. My eyes drifted closed as the rocking of the ship and the light spray of the warm seawater on my face lulled me to sleep.

"Lass?" A hand shook my shoulder. "Chloe wake up, love." I groaned and attempted to swat his hand away. I dimly thought I heard his chuckle and some low spoken words. Apparently to another person because said person laughed loudly.

"Go 'way!" I grumbled when his hand shook my shoulder again, rougher this time.

A pair of wiry arms slid under my shoulders and my knees and I moaned turning my face into the warmth of someone's throat. His smell enveloped me and I grinned. "Mmm." I whispered, curving into his arms so that I was pressed more securely against the warmth of his chest. I felt his chuckle as his scent tugged me back into the world of dreams.

My eyes popped open as the Pearl rocked violently. So violently in fact, I was nearly tossed out of bed. "What the hell?" I muttered putting a hand to my head. I heard people shouting, and grimaced as their noise made my head throb. I concluded that I must have bonked it some time in the jerky motions of the ship.

"Prepare to board!" I heard Jack yell, followed by the unintelligible shouts from his crew.

"Board?" I whispered, confused. My eyes widened Board! Holy God, they were in the middle of plundering a ship! And I was bloody missing it! I tossed my feet over the side of the bed, teetering with the rocking of the ship toward the desk, where I'd put the dagger I'd found in the midst of cleaning the captain's cabin.

After tucking the blade in the small of my back, I raced to the door, flinging it wide in my haste to have it open. I raced up the stairs, smacking into the walls on either side as the Pearl's cannons fired again, sending the boat back and forth.

The deck was utter chaos. Pirates running here and there, and n the midst of this, Captain Jack Sparrow stood, sword in hand looking like a tranquil sea. I ducked behind some wooden debris on deck when his eyes slid my way. I didn't want him to see me, because, knowing the white-knight syndrome all men suffer from, he would have probably sent me below decks and stay there. Since this was the first, and probably the last time I would ever see how a real pirate ship did its thing, there was no way in hell I was missing it.

The ship the Pearl was currently attacking looked horrible. The gorgeous golden wood of the hull was filled with holes, making it look like Swiss cheese, or moth eaten, I couldn't decide which, The creamy white sails hung in tatters, stained with gunpowder and filth, the air heavy with smoke and the coppery scent of blood and death. I covered my mouth, all romantic thoughts of plundering a ship flew out of my head, and I prayed to any god that might have been listening that I wouldn't faint right there on the deck. I peered over the side and stared at the deck of the opposing ship was just as chaotic. Men brandishing cutlasses and pistols, one in particular caught my eye. Instead of aiming at the pirates swarming his deck, he was aiming his pistol at the Pearl. I followed his line of sight and paled. He was aiming for Jack!

Without thought to my own safety, I raced across the deck, the rapport of a pistol ringing in my head as I tackled him to the boards. He looked at me strangely, eyes blinking, and wide. He opened his mouth to say something but I noticed his expression as he looked down at his chest. The red smear of blood had me sliding off of him. Had I been too late? "Jack!" I ran my hands over his chest, trying desperately to find the wound. Pressure, got to have pressure elevate the area, stop the bleeding, stop the bleeding. My lifeguarding teacher's voice rang in my head as I pressed my fists to the spot where the blood had appeared. He stared at me strangely.

"What are you doin' lass?"

"You're hurt!" I exclaimed.

"That's funny." He mused, as I began to search everywhere for a bandage. "I don' feel hurt."

"That's blood." I stated, pointing to the stain on his shirt. He rubbed a finger over it and smiled.

"Yes, it is but it's not mine." I frowned before helping him to his feet, putting my arm around his waist just to be safe.

"I don't like this." I muttered. "I want to have a better look at you." He grinned.

"I'd be more than happy to oblige ye love, but perhaps some other time. I'm kind of in the middle of something now." I rolled my eyes.

"You know what I meant, Sparrow."

"Aye, but it would be a waste of time. I'm fine." He disentangled himself and stepped away. "You should go back in the cabin, it's not safe here just yet." He smirked at me before dashing off to board the other ship.

I stood like a deaf-mute watching his body swing from deck to deck with ease. Suddenly I felt incredibly light headed. With a curious frown I rubbed my fingers agains a small tear in the shirt I was wearing, grimacing when they came away stained in blood. Jack hadn't been shot, but apparently I had. And as I sank to the deck, shaking my head, I figured I didn't like the sensation one bit.

The ship didn't last long against the flood of pirates boarding her. It was over in a matter of minutes. By the time the pirates were coming back on board hauling plunder onto the deck of the Pearl, I had tidied a majority of the mess left behind by the battle.

Jack eyed the deck of the Pearl in appreciation. Not only was it glittering with silver and gold but also with cleanliness. His eyes slid to mine and he winked. I blushed and turned to address Gibbs, exposing the bloodied tear in my shirt to his eyes.

"Chloe!" Jack exclaimed. I whirled back around.

"What?" I demanded, startled by the look on his face.

"You're bleeding!" He strode over and gripped my arm, tearing the hole, so that the muscles of my upper arm and shoulder were bared. His warm fingers palpated the wound gently. I sucked in my breaht and pushed at his chest.

"Don't do that!" I exclaimed, alarmed at the smear of blood on my skin. "It's just a scratch." I muttered, hugging my arm to my chest. He stared at the torn sleeve, the blood glittering red and wet on my tanned shoulder. He frowned. And seemed to struggle with my order. After a while, his dark eyes drifted to mine, and the punch in them nearly knocked me over. He gave a curt nod before marching stiffly up to the helm. The crew all glared at me, and I lowered my head. I hadn't meant anything by that, I just had never liked anyone messing around with my wounds.

Just ask Mildred Denny, the nurse at my elementary school. I had fallen down and scraped my knee. She'd put all sorts of stinging creams and sprays on it, until I thought I would die. She ended up leaving work that day with two arches of four red welts, where my baby incisors had dug in. I still hold, to this day, that woman got what she deserved, being ninety or not. I blew out a breath and slumped my shoulders before climbing up the steps to the helm.

I knew Jack was miffed at me when he didn't turn, look or even acknowledge I was on the same planet much less than on the same boat – pardon me, ship – and standing right in front of him. "I'm sorry." I stated without preamble. His only reaction was to quirk a brow and adjust the wheel. I groaned. So, he was one of those who dragged apologies out for hours upon hours. I frowned and crossed my arms across my chest, ignoring the stinging pain in the wound, protesting to the movement. "I just don't like people touching my wounds." I offered the explanation calmly, with an appeasing smile on my face. He nodded, not saying a word. "I didn't mean to snap at you." I muttered, looking at the scuffed boots I'd borrowed from Zhao, whose feet were just my size. My nickname with the crew was now Tiny Feet.

"I know, lass." My head popped up and he smiled. I nodded and turned to go. "Chloe?"

"Yes?" I turned back just in time to see a flash of gold flying through the air, and I caught it only on instinct. The sharp edges stung my palm and I turned the item over in my palm. It looked suspiciously like a piece of eight. My eyes lifted to his and he winked.

"Your first taste o' plunder, lass." I grinned and tucked the coin into my pants pocket, turning to go again. "Chloe!" I whirled back around. "Get that wound seen to." I nodded.

"Aye Captain."