Author's Note: Sorry for the delay in updating chapters, but I'm finally back at it again! As always thanks so much for the lovely reviews! This chapter will be shorter than the rest, and I apologize for that, but here it is.
Chapter Seven
In the morning Gibbs and Norrington were out on deck at the same time and both reported to Jack to get their orders. Jack gave Gibbs orders then looked at Norrington and considered. He knew without asking that his ribs were still bothering him and he was still very sore. He also knew that if did ask Norrington wouldn't ever admit any weakness to him. Still, Jack didn't want to give him a job that may be too strenuous.
However, before he gave Norrington his orders he couldn't resist saying "Did ye sleep well Commodore?"
Norrington glared at Jack a moment before saying "Yes, if your idea of a good night's sleep is spending the night listening to incredibly loud snoring, then I'd say I slept very well indeed."
Jack grinned and said; "Now ye know what I put up with when ye was in me cabin mate."
"I suppose", Norrington, said stiffly, "So what do you want me to do?"
"Well for now ye can be in the crows nest" Jack said, "if ye see another ship ye call the alarm."
"If I do that will you rob the ship?" Norrington asked keenly.
"Likely not, the particular area we're in doesn't offer many ships with much worth robbing" Jack said unconcernedly.
"But there is still a chance?" Norrington asked.
"There's always a chance, we're bloody pirates. You just keep in mind that the closer we get to Port Royal, the more likely one of the ships will have someone onboard that recognizes ye, so it would benefit ye to tell when ye see a ship, so we can prepare" Jack said. Norrington nodded and climbed to the crows nest.
Around noon Jack called for a break so the crew could eat lunch if they wanted to. Jack himself skipped the food, but he did sit in the galley and drink some rum. "Drinking on the job Sparrow?" Norrington asked.
"Aye" Jack said with a grin, "that's the thing with me chosen profession, no rule against rum."
"Hear hear!" shouted Gibbs and he was echoed by the crew (with the exception of Cotton, who just raised his tankard).
Jack grinned and turned to Norrington and held out a bottle of rum, "Do ye want some Norrington?"
"No thank you, I don't drink when there is work to be done" Norrington answered stiffly.
"More for us men!" Jack yelled, "And women!" he added hastily at a glare from Annamaria. After the break Jack put his crew to work. He let Norrington off crows nest duty and told him to help the cook prepare dinner.
"Oh gee thanks" Norrington snarled when he received his orders.
"No problem mate" Jack grinned.
After Norrington was gone Annamaria said, "Ye put him on kitchen duty just to get rid of him for awhile didn't ye Cap'n?"
"Well that, and the cook's been complainin' that he has to much work to do in the kitchen and he needs help. I figured after Norrington he may change his mind" Jack said, humor sparkling in his eyes.
"Aye, he may agree to do it all by himself!" Annamaria laughed.