A/N: Getting used to fanfic's new uploading system...admittedly it's not that different but small things tax small minds, savvy? ;)
Once again thank you to my wonderful reviewers! You rock guys! (and don't you forget it)
I have stayed up very late to get this out to you because it was either that or wait another twenty four hours so I hope it was worth it. :)
Chapter 6: Attacks
Soon turned out to be almost a week. Jack was busy and when he wasn't Sylvia found she had unavoidable appointments of her own. Lord Ryecroft privately hoped Jack Sparrow had disappeared from their lives forever but this was not the case. It was early one evening, dinner had just finished and Sylvia had decided that she would like to take a walk on the beach when he made his next appearance. She was expecting to be accompanied by her doting maids but to her very great surprise George said he would very much like to join her. They walked along the shore keeping up polite but slightly forced conversation, it had got a lot harder talking to George recently and Sylvia had no idea why.
"Isn't the water just beautiful?" Sylvia said as she looked out at the ocean. The sun was setting and the water seemed to darken as the sky was lit with a rich purple.
"Yes," agreed George, "Although I won't make you swim in it like that..."
"Jack didn't make me do anything," said Sylvia sharply. She had not expected George to bring Jack into the conversation even indirectly. She was certainly not willing to tolerate George putting him down no matter what it sounded like.
"You must admit he should not be encouraging certain things though," said George carefully, ever the proper gentleman.
"I don't believe what I do is of any concern to you," said Sylvia feeling very defensive. It was bad enough to have her father lecturing her but if George was going to start as well...
"Of course it's my concern," said George and there was a softness to his voice Sylvia had never heard before, "I should..." But quite what he should Sylvia never found out.
"'Ello, what have we here lads?" said a voice from alarmingly close quarters, "A pretty young rich girl and her rich man." Sylvia turned to see a group of five men approaching swiftly. Their clothes were torn and dirty, their hair matted. To her horror Sylvia saw each of them held a knife in one hand. George reached automatically for his sword but his hand grasped nothing but air, he had left it aboard the Conqueror. The men closed in, backing George and Sylvia up against the water's edge. George grabbed Sylvia and moved her so she was behind him.
"Don't worry," said what looked to be the group's leader, "We won't kill the bitch, she's much more useful to us alive." His eyes were suddenly lit by an insane hunger.
"You will not lay a finger on her!" said George bravely preparing to fight with his bare hands as that seemed to be the only weapon he had available to him.
"And how exactly do you plan to be stopping us rich boy?" one of the men asked. They all smelt of stale alcohol and smoke even from a few metres away. Sylvia found she did not quite believe what was going on. The situation was so surreal. It just couldn't be happening. But it was.
As soon as the reality of the situation sunk in Sylvia found herself praying for someone to help them, something, anything. And it seemed as if her prayer had been answered for when the leader of the gang stepped forwards, his knife held before him, there was the loud unmistakeable sound of a gunshot. The bullet must have hit the water because the bang was followed by a deep splash. All five of the attackers turned in the direction of the shot.
"I think ye better be leaving now." Sylvia's heart leapt. It was Jack! He had fired a warning shot but now his pistol was pointing directly at one of the men. His other hand was gripping the handle of his sword.
"By my reckoning there be five of us and only one of you," said the leader pretending to look around to see if Jack had back up to illustrate his point. Clearly they were not going to back off. Jack rolled his eyes before speaking.
"There be four of ye," he said.
"What?" asked the leader clearly bemused by this inaccuracy in the simple mathematics. Jack's bullet did not hit the water this time. One of the men fell to his knees and then collapsed on the sand.
"Kill him!" roared the leader and the remaining three men charged towards Jack who promptly unsheathed his sword.
"Run back to the Conqueror," ordered George, "Go!" But Sylvia could not move. Her eyes were trained on Jack who fired another shot and another man fell. There was a roar of anger and Sylvia saw one of the men knock Jack's pistol from his hand. It flew through the air and landed a fair distance away. Before George could stop her Sylvia had darted forwards. She grabbed the gun just before one of the men's fingers closed around it. The man in question raised his knife and Sylvia closed her eyes but nothing happened. When she opened them again Jack was pulling his sword from the man's body which was now lying face down on the sand. Sylvia saw blood shining on the blade. She turned away her stomach threatening to turn itself inside out. She clamped her eyes tight shut not wanting to see the lifeless and bloody body she knew was lying only feet from her. It took a few moments before the sounds of continued fighting forced Sylvia to look up. She clutched Jack's pistol in her hand more for something to stop her hands shaking than anything else, she certainly did not know how to use it as a weapon.
There were two men left. Jack fought them expertly making sure he was between them and Sylvia at all times. Sylvia stayed well out of the way but she was still close enough to be in very real danger. George, who had been on the look out for a suitable weapon, bent down to pick up a knife that one of the dead men had dropped. While he was down one of the remaining men noticed him and headed over, his dagger poised. Jack called out a warning and George rolled out of the way just in time missing the man's blade tip by mere inches and causing Sylvia to let out a horrified gasp. Watching out for George cost Jack dearly. The man he was fighting took advantage of his opponent's lapse in concentration and slashed at Jack with his knife. The blade sliced deeply through the muscle on Jack's arm as easily as if it had been cutting through butter. Jack's hand immediately went to the wound and the man laughed demonically as Jack dropped his sword but as he went eagerly for the final strike Jack kicked sand in his face. The man staggered blindly and tried to rub the irritating particles out of his eyes. Jack picked up his sword and Sylvia looked away as he drove the blade deep into the man's chest. When she looked back she saw the man had crumpled to the floor and George had slit the throat of the last man with apparent ease.
Jack was on his hands and knees and George was walking over to him. Sylvia assumed George was going to help Jack so she did not hurry to join them, sick as she felt, but instead of helping him George kicked Jack hard in the ribs.
"What are you doing?!" shrieked Sylvia running over ignoring the scattered dead bodies with effort. Jack lay on the sand winded as George stood over him.
"He did it," George said breathing heavily, "They were pirates too, he ordered them to attack." Sylvia looked at him in disbelief. She tried to reach Jack but George pushed her away roughly. Jack looked up at George but his eyes lacked Sylvia's disbelief. His sword was out of reach leaving him defenceless and they both knew it. George kicked him again.
"No!" cried Sylvia, "Stop it!" She grabbed George's arm in an attempt to stop him but he was a lot stronger than her.
"He deserves to bleed like the rest of them," said George coldly. Seeing she was doing no good Sylvia let George go and launched herself forwards. She sank to her knees beside Jack. He was struggling to get his breath back desperately. Sylvia put her hand on his shoulder and looked over at George.
"Leave him alone," she said coldly, "You've done enough." Whether George felt he really had done enough or whether he just did not want to risk hurting Sylvia she didn't know but whatever the reason he backed off slightly and Sylvia felt it was safe to turn back to the wounded pirate captain.
"Jack? Jack? Are you alright?" she asked. Jack sat up gingerly, winced and then nodded. The last few minutes had been so fraught with emotion that Sylvia felt she had to release it somehow. She did it by hugging Jack trying to making sure at the same time that she didn't hurt him.
"Sylvia," said George sharply and Sylvia released Jack automatically though she really did not want to. She got to her feet and helped Jack to his. Sylvia reached down to give Jack back his sword but George stepped on the blade. Sylvia remembered she had left Jack's pistol a little way away and wished she had kept hold of it although she wasn't sure she would have given it to Jack who was currently looking murderously in the direction of George, not that Sylvia could blame him for that.
"Ye bloody idiot," growled Jack, "They weren't pirates, they were just a group of drunken thieves and if it weren't fer me they would a' killed ye."
"He saved your life," pointed out Sylvia, "That man would have stabbed you."
"I had it covered," said George his face reddening slightly.
"Oh did ye?" said Jack incredulously, "Where exactly was yer sword? Yer gun?" George coloured more deeply.
"Come along Sylvia," he said crisply as if to assert his authority over the pair of them.
"Aren't you going to say thank you?" Sylvia asked, "And sorry for what you've done? They weren't pirates at all, Jack saved us."
"I will never be thankful to a pirate," said George contemptuously. Sylvia walked straight up to him and, without so much as a moment's hesitation, she slapped him hard around the face.
"You horrible, horrible man," she said her voice actually shaking with rage, "One day you'll see how blind you are." George looked completely stunned for a few moments and then he turned and walked off without a word, his hand at his face.
"Are ye alright luv?" asked Jack.
"Me? Of course I'm alright. Thanks to you," said Sylvia, she did not have even a scratch on her.
"I'm just glad I were passing," said Jack. He looked around at the dead bodies.
"What a mess," he said as if commenting on a children's room strewn with toys. Sylvia did not want to look. She closed her eyes and began to shiver. Jack put his arms around her forgetting all about the blood on his arm.
"They were bad men," he said, "Don't feel guilty on account of them luv. I had to kill 'em, you understand that don't ye?" Sylvia nodded. She clung to the front of Jack's shirt and tried to come to terms with what she had just seen.
"You were cut," Sylvia said reluctantly removing her head from Jack's chest and looking at his arm. He looked at it too and pulled a face.
"Let me guess," she said with a smile, "You've had worse?"
"Aye luv," said Jack with an amused smile. Sylvia bent down and handed him back his sword then retrieved his pistol for him.
"I should go back," she said looking over at her father's ship.
"I'll walk ye," said Jack. They walked in silence until Sylvia said, "If you hadn't been there Jack..."
"The important thing is I were there," said Jack, "Don' think about what didn't happen, tis bad fer ye." They reached the Conqueror.
"Good night Jack."
"Night luv," said Jack. As Sylvia disappeared Jack saw soldiers from the town hurrying down the beach, they had probably heard the gun shots. Jack thought it best if he disappeared too. He had no desire to be found near the bodies of five men with a fired pistol and a bloodied sword.
George did not speak to Sylvia the next day. He deliberately avoided her. Lord Ryecroft had been told what had happened and came to speak to Sylvia about it after carefully deciding his position on the matter.
"I hear Captain Sparrow was a hero again last night," he said betraying no discernable emotion.
"Who told you?" Sylvia asked. She had been rather hoping to avoid mentioning the whole fiasco but she supposed that had been foolish.
"George," replied Lord Ryecroft, "He told me everything."
"Everything?" questioned Sylvia, "Even that he attacked Jack after he saved us?"
"Yes," said Lord Ryecroft quietly, "He told me. He regrets it."
"Then why won't he apologise?"
"You must try to understand Sylvia. Jack is a pirate and pirates represent all that is bad about mankind." Sylvia shook her head but said nothing, there did not seem to be much point.
"Captain Sparrow has proved himself to be more than trustworthy with regards to you however. I see no reason why I should worry about you while you are in his charge."
"And George? Does he trust Jack?" Sylvia asked.
"Sylvia, I..."
"I guess some prejudices run too deep," said Sylvia and she left the room unable to bear even a moment more in her father's company. This left Lord Ryecroft feeling rather lost. He had intended to suggest that Sylvia stuck closer to the ship in light of the recent events but it seemed she had left without the subject coming up. He sighed and wondered whether all daughters gave their father this much grief.
Sylvia hoped Jack would come and visit but he had not made an appearance even after two more days. Sylvia found herself unable to concentrate on anything again and she would check the water frantically to ensure that the Black Pearl was still there. On the morning of the third day Sylvia ignored the dress that Lotte had put out for her and dressed instead in her trousers and shirt. She left the Conqueror alone miraculously avoiding detection. She passed the site where Jack had killed all those men, their bodies were gone. There wasn't the slightest trace of what had happened there. The sea had wiped it clean. Sylvia could not help feeling grateful for this, she had been haunted by nightmares of the dead men and she had not wanted to be reminded of them even in the daytime. She was heading in the direction of the Black Pearl when she saw someone she recognised.
"Mr Gibbs!" she called quickening her pace. The man turned and his face broke into a grizzled smile.
"Hello there young missy," he said cheerfully, "What brings ye so far from yer side of town?"
"I'm looking for Jack," said Sylvia, "I thought you might be able to tell me where he is."
"Aye lass I would," Gibbs said, "He be in town at the moment but he's due t' be back soon. Will ye be wanting t' wait fer him?"
"Yes," said Sylvia nodding, "If that's alright."
"Oh aye," said Gibbs, "I could do with the company if truth be told." They began to walk slowly along the shore. Sylvia could not help realising that she was very much more at ease with Gibbs than she had been with George but before she could fathom a reason why Gibbs began to speak.
"Jack tells me he be rescuing ye again lass," said Gibbs after a minute, "Got a nasty cut he did."
"Is he alright?" Sylvia asked anxiously.
"Oh aye, he be fine," said Gibbs waving a hand in apparent dismissal of Jack's injury.
"If he hadn't come I dread to think what would have happened," said Sylvia.
"Jack be telling me no detail missy, only that he saved ye." Gibbs was clearly implying he would like to hear the tale.
"He fought off five men," said Sylvia and then she added, "He killed them."
"Ye never seen a man killed before, eh lass?" asked Gibbs perceptively. Sylvia shook her head.
"It's hard," said Gibbs sensitively, "Fer decent folks it never gets easier. I don't mind telling ye lass tha' Jack only be killing when he needs to." Sylvia looked down at her black shoes which were now covered in sand. They walked in silence until they reached the Black Pearl.
"You been aboard missy?" Gibbs asked.
"Yes," said Sylvia, "Only once."
"Then I don't suppose Jack will mind ye being aboard again." Sylvia followed Gibbs through the enormous ship.
"This be Jack's cabin," said Gibbs not knowing that Sylvia had been in there before, "He won't mind us waiting fer him in here." Sylvia looked around. Nothing had changed except there was a book on Jack's desk that had not been there before. It was open but flat on the desk top with the cover facing upwards. Sylvia went closer and looked at it. It seemed to be about ship building. Gibbs saw what Sylvia was looking at.
"Is that yers?" he asked.
"No," said Sylvia, "Must be Jack's." Gibbs looked a little confused for a moment and then he shrugged and said, "That Jack be full o' surprises." He sat down but Sylvia remained standing. Gibbs watched her. Despite her unorthodox clothing she still held herself like a lady. There was the mark of an elegant upbringing about her every movement.
"I don't mean t' be rude missy but you don't look the sort t' be mixing with pirates," he said unable to stop himself.
"I didn't make a point of it," said Sylvia, "Until I arrived here." She walked around the room and then perched lightly on the corner of the desk.
"I weren't always a pirate ye know," said Gibbs almost proudly.
"Oh?" said Sylvia.
"I were an honest sailor once, deck hand I was."
"What made you change your mind and assume a life of piracy?" Sylvia asked curiously.
"I did," said a voice from the doorway.
"Jack!" said Gibbs visibly startled, "I were keeping yer guest entertained." Jack removed his hat and threw it at Gibbs who caught it untidily.
"Yer doing a fine job," he said.
"How are you Jack?" asked Sylvia her eyes travelling to his arm.
"I be fine luv," said Jack moving so she had to look away, "And how are ye?"
"Much better now I know you're ok," said Sylvia blushing slightly. She realised she was sitting on Jack's desk and jumped off. Gibbs, still holding Jack's hat, looked a little awkward. Jack did not seem to know what to do either.
"You're wearing yer pirate gear," he said at length.
"Pirate gear?" said Sylvia looking down at herself, "Do I really look like a pirate?"
"Aye," said Jack. He didn't elaborate, in fact he looked tired.
"Shall I go?" asked Sylvia hesitantly. She suddenly felt very much like an intruder and wished she had not let Gibbs lead her in here.
"Ye don't have to," said Jack, "Just give me a minute."
"Shall we go up on deck lass?" Gibbs suggested. Sylvia nodded as she looked warily at Jack.
"I'll join ye shortly," said Jack as they left.
Gibbs and Sylvia walked up onto the main deck.
"I hope Jack doesn't want me to leave," said Sylvia voicing her concern.
"He'd tell ye so lass," said Gibbs reassuringly, "I'll be off now, ye be alright here."
"Ok," said Sylvia wondering briefly why Gibbs was so determined to make himself scarce, "Have a good day Mr Gibbs."
Sylvia heard Jack's boots on the wood. She turned and saw Jack walking towards her. He still looked tired but he smiled at her.
"I'm happy to see ye," he said and that was the first time Sylvia realised that she might not be the only one who found the gaps between their meetings difficult.
"I'm happy to see you too," said Sylvia, "I've missed you."
"Ye have?" asked Jack blinking in surprise.
"Yes, a lot," said Sylvia before quickly changing the subject to spare more blushes, "How are your ribs?"
"Fine," said Jack plainly.
"And your arm?"
"Tha's fine too."
"I'm so sorry for everything that happened Jack," said Sylvia, "I don't know how to make it up to you."
"Why are ye sorry luv?" asked Jack, "I'm fine, yer fine, there be nothing t' apologise for." Sylvia took a deep breath of the sea air, perhaps he was right. The sun was high in the sky, Sylvia looked around and for the first time realised it was a beautiful day.
Sylvia and Jack spent the day in a secluded cove. They didn't see another person. They waded in the warm shallow water and looked at the tiny crabs that scuttled out of their way. As the afternoon wore on they got hungry so Jack found some wild coconuts. He split them expertly with one stroke of his sword. Sylvia caught herself just watching him on several occasions and had to look away before he noticed. As the sun began to fall Jack and Sylvia stretched out under the frilly leaves of a large palm tree. Jack put his hat to one side and lay back. Sylvia hummed softly as she watched the sun colour the sky as it set. She stopped humming and looked over to Jack. He was asleep, his mouth slightly open. One hand was resting on his chest. Sylvia watched him and as she did so she thought she could have happily watched him forever. It was quite dark when Jack woke up. He opened his eyes and caught Sylvia looking at him.
"Ye should 'ave woken me up," he said blinking to adjust his sight.
"Why?" asked Sylvia. Her legs were drawn up and she was leaning against them. "You looked peaceful." Jack sat up with a small wince. Sylvia's face clouded over with anxiety.
"Is there anything I can do to make you feel better?" she asked innocently. Jack raised one eyebrow but chose not to answer this question.
"It's such a glorious evening," said Sylvia, "I could stay out here all night."
"I'm not going anywhere," said Jack. She could not have explained what it was but something made Sylvia move closer to him, so close that they were almost touching. She could smell his reassuringly warm, salty smell. They did not speak as the sun sank lower until it disappeared completely.
"I'm cold," said Sylvia as the stars began to appear one by one.
"I could try and keep ye warm," said Jack, "But to accept wouldn't be very ladylike."
"I don't care," said Sylvia feeling more reckless than she knew she should have been. She could feel herself trembling as Jack put his arm around her. She thought she might explode with pleasure as Jack held her close under the now star filled sky.
Sylvia arrived back at the Conqueror just in time to say goodnight to her father who did not say a word about her lateness. Sylvia collapsed onto her bed with her eyes open. She could still feel Jack close to her; still feel the warmth of him. She fell asleep dreaming of him without even removing her clothing.
A/N: Really must go to bed now........... :D!
