The sound of water crashing against a wall woke me up, the world spinning above me. Sitting up quickly, I promptly banged my head against the low ceiling and dropped back down, the dull ache I had heightened now to another sharp pain. After a moment of recovering from the dizziness I attempted to go to a sitting position again, this time dipping my head.

A shiver struck me as I looked at my surroundings. It was cold in here, much colder than any house on Lark Haven during the summer. But this was obviously no house. The rocking of my quarters gave it away that I was on a ship, and not a very nice one, either. The bed I was on had only a mattress stuffed with hay and a very dirty quilt with patchwork that might have been pretty if it hadn't faded into unrecognizable brown. There were barrels in every corner with bold black letters advertising its contents. I saw ones marked "Food" "Water" and "Gunpowder" in one corner and the same pattern in the next. While taking all of this rather frightening news in, another cold shiver hit me.

"Blast! Why is it so cold in here? This dumb gown should at least keep me warm."

I trailed off, because as I had reached to rub the clothed arms of my dress, I had touched bare skin. Screeching in absolute surprise I glanced down at my ruined garment. The sleeves had been neatly cut off to the top of the shoulder, exposing my entire arm, with only about a two-inch strip as a sleeve on either side. Glancing down I let out another gasp, as the long train that had once housed yards of fabric had been cut away, leaving the hem to fall just at the bottom of my feet all the way around. Though this was an improvement, the thought of a pirate touching me made me want to gag.

That combined with the steady rocking of the boat made my wish come true. Leaning over the headboard of my rank bed I let the vomit spill out for almost an entire minute before collapsing again with a foul taste in my mouth and desperation in my heart.

I wasn't alone long, though. As I stared at the dark damp ceiling I contemplated going out of this room to find the captain, or at least the pirate who had captured me. But I realized that out that door might be people or things I didn't want to deal with in my current state.

While I was gingerly rubbing the sore spot on my head and weighing my options I heard the door creak ever so slightly.

Turning on my side abruptly I felt my heart pounding so hard that I thought it would jump out the low cut neckline of my ruined clothes. A shaft of light came flooding in as a tall shadow entered and closed the door quickly and silently.

Closing my eyes I prayed to God that He would keep me safe, but I barely had time to think the words before the same pirate that I had seen before knelt by my bedside.

"Good evenin' love."
The voice prompted me to open my eyes. What a handsome face he had even in the shadows! But I regained my control and narrowed my eyes. This man had taken me captive! He had put me in these unlivable quarters and expected me to appreciate it!

"What have you taken me here for, pirate? I warn you, I won't let you have your way with me so easily!" My words were bolder than my emotions, actually, but he wouldn't know that.

The scoundrel grinned that same lopsided grin and put his hands on either side of my shoulders, gripping me as if he would tip over any moment. I smelled rum on his breath, and though it didn't smell terrible, the thought of a drunken man being able to touch my bare skin almost brought on another bout of sickness.

"No need to worry, love. I haven't brought ye here to hurt ye at all. Couldn't have a pretty little woman like ye running off and telling the Navy 'bout a docked pirate ship, now could I? And I needed yer help."

I shrugged out of his grip and stared him in his dark peat boggy eyes, "What would you need my help with, pirate?"

This time he looked irritated and his eyes darkened, "If yer going to be here on this ship ye'll be callin' me by my title. Captain Jack Sparrow."

I assumed his look and retaliated, "I shall call you no such thing. I chose not to come aboard this ship, and therefore I choose not to call you anything but what you are. A thief and a murderer who gave himself a title so he could run a dirty boat."

Captain Jack Sparrow's deep eyes were filled with an amusement now, an amusement that frustrated me even more. He looked me up and down, his eyes raking my form in a most ungentlemanly manner. I felt my cheeks heat up as he reached for my dark curls and wound one around a long finger.

He looked at my face while still playing with a long curl. I could scarcely breathe, my heart which had been pounding so wildly was still in my chest. He grinned again and whispered, "Such forceful words for a lass who is dressed for show and not thought."

I realized he was staring at my chest and I realized how ridiculous I must have looked with my cleavage practically there for the whole world to see. But his words stung me. With that I took advantage of his unbalanced crouch and pushed him with all my might. He fell backwards hard and landed a couple feet away near the door.

"Probably deserved that." He muttered and got to his feet again, bending d own as he approached and sat down by me on the bed.

"I'm sorry for my extremely rude behavior, love, but you don't strike as the type to talk much."
I crossed my arms as a five year old would and focused on a food barrel while mumbling, "shows what you know."

He was silent. I turned to him and suddenly asked, "When will you take me home?"

He laid back on the bed lazily and let his eyes rove the ceiling, "Not soon, love. That's all I can tell ye."

The thought didn't trouble me much, so I asked instead, "Where will you take me?"

Captain Jack Sparrow searched my face, "For now ye'll have to be traveling with me and me crew and in a while I promise to take ye wherever you wish."

That lessened my fear knowing that he promised he'd take me somewhere, meaning I'd be alive to go. My prospects were looking up. "So where am I? Who are you? For that matter, how old are you? Are you really a pirate?"

My series of questions prompted him to sit up and face me once more, "Yer on the Black Pearl, my ship if you could not tell by me title that ye refuse to say. I am Captain Jack Sparrow, as we have pointed out before. My age is now about twenty-three, and yes I am a pirate."

It was like I was a little girl again and I looked eagerly back at him, "Have you ever found any treasure?"

Sparrow shook his head, "Not yet, love. Right now we be searchin' for the Isla de Muerta. But we not be findin' that fer some time."

My interest dwindled and I stood up carefully, "What am I supposed to do for now then?"

Captain Sparrow approached me and stood very close, his body brushing mine. He let his hand wander to the back of my head, picking up a few locks of hair. My body tingled and I was faced with the crazy desire to press closer to him. He leaned down and whispered, "Yer to be me mistress."

The shock raced through me and I stumbled backwards into a wall, "I.never! What do you.. I am not.. How dare.!" my jumbled words were stopped by Sparrow's hand on my back leading me to sit down on the bed.

He chuckled a bit and tried to calm me, "Slow down, love. I don't mean literally. My crew hasn't had a pretty lady on board in a long time. If they think yer mine, they won't lay nary a finger on ye. All ye have to do is sleep in my quarters and hold my arm sometimes. Will that near kill ye?"

Shaking my head dumbly my mind raced. A handsome pirate, a mangy pirate crew, and me pretending to sleep with said handsome pirate captain. It sounded as if it were a story that Pamela liked to hear about sometimes.

He nodded and smiled and helped me stand up, "I have a few woman's clothes in me rooms if ye need somethin' nice to wear. Apologies for the dress, but we needed to mend a tarp, and that fabric is somethin' strong."

Still in a daze, I let him open the door for me and was immediately struck by moonlight and hollers of the crew. At least a hundred men were running up and down the decks shadowed by huge black sails. I spotted one pirate carrying a large tarp with some light blue poking from one end. I shook my head unbelievingly and followed Captain Sparrow.

The crew members we passed gave me a once over but nodded respectfully to their captain who lead me down a wide hall way that branched into a smaller one and housed a large polished wood door with a gleaming brass handle. He pushed it open and revealed a richly furnished room. The large deliciously decorated bed was in the corner, allowing for a bureau on one wall, a large mirror on the other and a small door leading to the captain's lavatory on the other. A beautiful oriental rug covered the middle and a brass chandelier swayed gently above.

Jack Sparrow called over his shoulder, "I have a nightgown for ye in the bottom drawer. Hope it's to yer liking."

I nodded absentmindedly and walked barefoot to the bureau, opening the drawer he told me to. Inside were a couple nice dresses, silk if I was correct, and a nightgown. Pulling it out I gasped. It was of a fine quality to be sure, but nothing suited for a girl of my age. The cloth was satin to the touch, but low cut and trimmed with delicate lace. The sleeves were almost no better than my ruined ones, barely covering the shoulder.

Grimacing at the indignity of it all I hurried out of my dress and into the nightgown, hoping Sparrow wouldn't come out while I was mid-change. He opened the lavatory door dressed in brown cloth breeches and a clean white shirt just as the hem finished dropping on my own nightclothes.

He came over and looked me up and down again, "I see it fits you well."

Taking in my offended expression he assured me, "No need to fret, love, I shall not lay a hand on you while we slumber, savvy?"

Warily I nodded and climbed under the thick covers of the bed, scooting over as far as I could. Captain Jack followed my lead and left a six inch gap between our bodies. "G'night love," he said sleepily before dozing off.

But sleep would not come so easily to me. I lay on my back staring at the much higher ceiling and letting the dim chandelier candles burn out so I was left in utter darkness. The silence was penetrating, the only sounds being the waves against the ship and Sparrow's breathing.

I let my head sink back into the pillow and closed my eyes, praying for dreams to come. Just when I was about to slip into sleep, I felt a long arm pass around me.

Immediately my eyes shot open and knew who it was. Listening to the steady breathing of the captain I knew he was still asleep and decided not to disturb him, as long as he didn't touch me inappropriately. Sleep came swiftly after that, and I fell into a dreamless slumber.