The Water is Wide

Summary: Jack Sparrow and Mary O'Conner re-acquaint themselves! Much more Jack in the chapter!

Disclaimer: I do not own Jack Sparrow or Pirates of the Caribbean, in case you hadn't guessed.

Warning: I hear that pink rabbits can be dangerous when cornered.

"Do I know you, miss?" Jack asked, squinting up at the woman. He was sure he didn't remember her, but come to think of it she did look vaguely familiar. Not exactly his usual type, though.

Grimly, she put out a hand and pulled him to his feet. Just as he had found his balance- WHAM! A well aimed punch on his nose sent him sprawling back onto the floor. He spluttered in amazement as the red-haired battle axe descended on him, kicking and punching, scratching and clawing, all the while spewing a torrent of words almost incomprehensible through her rage;

"You… bastard! You… nearly-killed-my-da! Put… a bullet in his… leg! I'll kill you! Let me… come here, you filthy, vile… worm! Argh!"

She screamed in fury as he managed to grab both her wrists, holding them high above her head. She tried to struggle but he was too strong for her, and as he regarded her, he began to build up a faint picture of their last encounter.

"I think you better tell me what's goin' on," he told her, unable to recall the memory.

"Why, don't y'remember me? 'Cause I sure as hell remember you. You're the son of a whore who robbed my father's ship eighteen years ago. You shot 'im in the knee and you left him to bleed to death, you bastard!" Mary's eyebrows were furrowed and she was snarling at her opponent. He merely shrugged, releasing her.

"I'm a pirate, love. That's wha' I do. Hazard of the trade for you, in't it?"

"So that's all you have to say? He caught an infection, he nearly died! He couldn't work for a year afterward!"

"I expect 'e was glad o' the rest," Jack said simply, settling himself in a corner.

Mary exhaled in frustration, and paced the short length of the cell under Jack's gaze. Feeling his eyes on her, she turned towards him with a blazing glare. He stared back, unbothered. After a few seconds of her most murderous glower Jack still did not turn away, and Mary punched the wall in anger. She could never have forgotten those eyes, cool and amused, which had stared into hers seconds after their owner tried to slay her father. "Never mind with 'er," he had yelled to his mate. "She's just a kid."

"Like it or not, love," Jack's voice cut into her thoughts, "we're stuck 'ere together for a while. Might be time to start thinkin' about forgettin' wha'ever grievances you 'ave about me. It's only gonna get worse."

"I'll never forget what you did to me family, you scum. And you keep one eye out, because if I ever get the chance, I'll repay the damage you did on my da. And then we'll see if you're glad o' the rest."

"You'll have me tremblin' in me sleep, love."

"You arrogant bastard. What makes you so sure I'm not goin' to rip my sleeve off and throttle the life outta you this very minute?"

"Well, I'm sensin' you want ta spend our entire imprisonment punishin' me," Jack answered, smiling.

"Ah, you'd better understand that, Cap'n. And one other thing- don't you start thinking' you'll be able to take advantage of me, understand?"

"In what way, darlin'?"

"You know exactly what I mean."

"Well, I'll try me best love… but you know how a rocking ship can make a man feel…" he laughed at her expression of disdain. "Besides, it's not me you should be worryin' about."

Her stomach twisted in fear as she realised Jack was right. What was going to happen to her on this ship? Logic told her exactly what she would have to enjoy during this stay. She imagined there were about fifty sailors on the ship. Captains tended to ply their crew with alcohol on a regular basis, to keep them happy during the long, boring days. She was probably the only woman amidst a group of drunk outlaws who, it was likely, hadn't had the chance to be sexually active for a long time. She would be used like a piece of meat. She banished the thought from her mind as it occurred, simply because she could not bear to think about it. She couldn't stand the idea of being with anybody other than Colm.

"Anythin' else you wanna get out in the open, love?" Jack asked, having retreated to the opposite corner from her. "Any further grievances you may have against me?"

"I'll let you know if one crosses my mind," she replied coldly, sitting down heavily with her back against the metal wall of the cage.

"In that case, I think I'll get some kip."

"You're going to sleep? At a time like this!" She called, incredulous.

"Good a time as any. That is, if you don't mind keepin' it down a bit."

"Don't think I'm going to make anything easy for you!"

"Alright then."

Jack closed his eyes and sighed contentedly. Sneering, Mary began to tap the side of the ship with her hand- first lightly, then building up to a loud, repetitive slap. She then started to violently elbow the cage wall. Jack did not even stir. She had been drumming for about a minute, when two of her captors burst into the brig.

"What the 'ell's goin' on in here!"

"I think she's trying to make a break, Johnno."

"What are you playin' at lass, makin all that bleedin' racket, eh!"

Their faces were contorted with a mixture of anger and confusion, and Mary could not help momentarily recoiling.

"I was just, it wasn't-" she steeled herself. "I'm sorry about the noise, I was just playin'- I didn't know I was bein' so loud."

"Aw," said one of them, his expression relaxing into a smile. "Playful, are ya?"

"Like to play around, do you gel?"

"We like 'em a bit mischievous, don't we Pete?"

"I'm sorry," Mary said again, keen to break this line of thought. She glanced nervously at Jack, but he was still pretending to sleep.

"Don't apologise to us, darlin'. We don't mind ya havin' a jest."

"You don't wanna be tryin' anything like that with the Captain though, love. Tell 'er how the Captain likes his birds, Pete."

"He likes 'em all the same, Johnno. He likes 'em set in front of him, trussed up… silent… ready to be stuffed!"

At this last statement the two men laughed uproariously, slapping their legs and holding each other's shoulders for support. As they calmed down and their cackles turned to wheezes, Johnno, the biggest one, turned to face Mary and put his face right up against the bars. She could see that most of his teeth were missing and he had lost his sight in his left eye, probably the result of a fighting injury.

"Don't worry about us, gel. Captain's orders not to touch you 'til he unlocks this door. You just better 'ope no man on this ship finds the keys first…"

They both laughed again, and walked back out of the brig. Mary hugged her knees to her chest and wondered about what they had told her. No man would be allowed to touch her until the Captain ordered it? When would that be, and why? Was he making them wait so that they would relish it all the more when they finally got hold of her, or was he taking her for himself? She had no choice but to wait to find out. And until then… she was going to make the most of this chance to exact vengeance on her most hated enemy. She flicked her eyes across to him again- he gave all the appearance of being asleep. Perhaps he was, but she wouldn't trust him for a second.

Her father, Dermot, as a reasonably successful merchant captain, owned two ships. The largest was called the Horseman, inherited from his father. The smaller was bought just after Mary's birth. Dermot decided that his daughter would bring a rise in his luck, and bought the small ship to expand his business. As a tribute to both his newborn child and the Virgin, he named the new boat Lady Mary. It was this ship that they were sailing when pirates attacked.

She was just twelve years old; it was her fourth voyage with her father and his crew. He did not allow her to work on the Horseman, which she did not mind because the loved the Lady Mary. Her mast and body seemed so much more delicate and graceful next to her larger brother. Mary liked to think of her father's ships as brother and sister, although he had told her that all boats were female. They were on the return leg of this particular journey, having delivered their consignment of potatoes to one of the larger islands in the Caribbean. They had left land a day ago, and had a long trip ahead of them. Their hold now contained the money they had been given in exchange for the vegetables, as well as a small amount of sugar that they were taking back to Ireland to sell.

It was around midday when the shout was given from the crow's night. A pirate ship was on the horizon, and it was advancing upon them with a haste like nothing they had ever seen before. Dermot knew that there was nothing they could do to avoid being raided by these pirates, and panic almost set in when he thought of his daughter. He silently berated himself for allowing her to come on such a long mission. She should be at home, with her mother.

Quickly, he called a few names. The summoned sailors assembled before him.

"We won't get away from these blighters," he told them swiftly, aware that the ship would be upon them within minutes. "You all need to gather around Mary, to avoid her being noticed by them."

"Why don't we hide her in the galley, or one of the cabins?" Suggested a sixteen-year-old Colm.

"No," Dermot shook his head. "They'll be sure to search them for valuables, and if they find the lass hiding they'll take her for sure."

"Alright," agreed the sailors, arranging themselves around her on the deck, so that Mary was sandwiched in the middle of the small huddle. Dermot stood in front of them.

When the pirates boarded, the captain barked orders at his grimy crew members, who rushed to carry them out. He swaggered up and down, regarding his victims and swinging a long, dirty, unsheathed sword dangerously near to their heads. He nodded his appreciation as his own sailors brought out armfuls of money and valuable items.

"Nice little ship you got here," he mused. "You'll be 'er captain, I presume," he asked, pointing his sword at Dermot, who was standing slightly further forward to the others.

"I am that."

"Well, well, a paddy. Shame about your voyage, mate. Woulda been a nice little earner for ya, eh. Yeah."

"It's no loss. What a pity for you that you didn't rob us two days ago, when the riches were double this. But we had a fine time spendin' them. As a celebration for a successful year," Dermot lied.

"Your year's about to get a little poorer, mate."

"It'll take more than one robbery to dampen our achievement these past seasons," he shrugged. Mary was thrilled at her father's daring.

"I see," the Captain hissed, annoyed. His eyes searched through the small crowd, but did not notice the small girl in the middle. Mary looked away, towards the enemy ship. The Black Pearl was the name painted across the side. Its sails were ragged and worn, but they were pitch black.

Just then, the last pirate appeared from below deck. "There's nothin' more down there," he told his captain.

"Fine," replied the man. "Back to the Black Pearl, you ruffians. And what about you, Captain," he spat at Dermot. "What can we give you as a… parting gift?"

A few members of his crew lingered, to see what would happen. A wide smile spread itself across the dirty face of the pirate Captain. Mary could see glints of gold in his mouth. The sneer transformed into a grimace as he drew back his sword, then plunged it into Dermot's right thigh.

"Let's see if that spoils yer success," he laughed, as Mary let out a scream. She pushed through the protective huddle to reach her father, who had sunk to the floor, blood pouring from his leg.

"What 'ave we 'ere?" Muttered the captain in surprise, watching the child trying to stem the blood flow.

He evaluated her quickly. She was definitely a girl, he decided, although her hair was short enough to pass for a boy. He guessed that she was about nine, for she was extremely slightly built and little developed. She looked up into his eyes in anger and hatred. He stared back for a moment, unbothered.

"Never mind with 'er. She's just a kid," she called to his crew, and with that they swiftly returned to their own ship. As the crew milled around to help her father, Mary watched the Black Pearl sail out of sight. As it disappeared, she swore the bastard would not get away with his crime.