Disclaimer: I don't own half the characters in this story, but I do own the plot.

SHE WAS A PHANTOM OF DELIGHT

Chapter 13: Life On the Black Pearl

"Good lord, don't you people have lives?" Jack exclaimed, flabbergasted.

Camille looked from the redcoats to him. "I'm sorry Jack, I suppose this just isn't your day."

"I suppose not," he said as he felt Dorian's pistol poke into his back.

Gillette was one of the soldiers, and he put his gun down and made his way forward. Taking Camille's hands in his, he said, "Camille, I'm so glad he didn't harm you! I heard about the robbery and I've been tracking him down all day," he tried to explain.

Camille looked at him incredulously. Even Jack knew to stand back. "Bad move, mate," he muttered.

"Oh dear," Dorian agreed. Even Norrington and most of the men seemed to freeze.

She took a moment to try and form her rage into rational sentences, and then went off. She pulled her arms away from him. "Do you really expect me to believe that?" she yelled, her hair coming down as she flailed her arms about. "You," she said as she poked him in the chest, "left me at the altar, at a wedding I was loath to attend in the first place, in a Catholic church! Not Protestant, mind you, no, not the way I was brought up, but Catholic! Do expect me to put up with any more of your…your…" she was so angry, she was at a loss for words. Bring her fist back, she punched him squarely in the nose, causing him to fly backwards and hit the ground flat on his back.

She took this opportunity to grab his pistol from his waist while he was busy trying to keep the blood in his nose. She stood up, aiming at him. "Now, does anyone have anything else to say before Captain Sparrow and I leave this town ALIVE?" she demanded, looking at the navy. Most of the men cast their eyes down. Even Norrington did not dare to stand up to this rage. (Wise decision, too.)

Without turning around, she kept the pistol level with the sniveling Gillette. "Let him go, Father," she said sternly. Jack felt the pistol's point lighten up and stepped forward, cocking his own pistol.

He looked back, nodding at Dorian. "Thanks very much. Shall we, love?"

She smiled at him, then turned back to everyone else, still pointing the pistol as they slowly moved through. "Good evening, gentlemen."

"Love, run," Jack whispered, grabbing her wrist as they got to the edge of her father's property. She obeyed without any objection as she nearly toppled over her own slippers in an attempt to make it to the docks.

She had to stop when they were nearly there. "Jack, I can't run anymore."

"But we're nearly there! Come on love, you've got to!"

"Jack I'm sorry, it's this damned corset."

"Curse your damned corsets. Bloody Brits," he mumbled as he picked her up.

"Jack, that's really not-" she tried to protest as he literally swept her right off her feet.

"Nonsense, you're no burden for me at all," he said as he started running. They ended up making it to the ship with those navy idiots firing shots off into the night and arousing the citizens. Jack could distinctly hear Norrington announce his name and something about being shot on sight. He turned triumphantly to Camille, who was at his side. "How was that for adventure, eh?"
"I think you're starting to wear those soldiers out," she said, still out of breath from her restricted breathing. Running was a chore in her attire.

He looked at her closely. "Would you like a little less restriction there, Camille? I can't promise I won't do anything ungentlemanly," he said, grinning.

She nodded, feeling like she was going to pass out. It felt like her ribs were all pressing against one another, when suddenly…the pressure was taken off. She took an amazingly deep breath when she looked around and saw her corset lying on the ground, along with the top half of her dress hanging down around her waist. Instinctively, she put her hands over her breasts in spite of the petticoat.

Jack was behind her, holding the knife he had used to cut the corset off with. He was squeezing his eyes shut tightly. "Go on now, put your dress back on. I'm not looking just yet," he said seriously.

She got it back on and fastened the back with minimal difficulty. Jack opened his eyes and reached down to get the corset. He kicked it to the side, seeing the pleased look on the lady's face. "Feel better?"

"Much."

"I must say, the way you handled the situation was frightening," Jack admitted as he leaned against the banister.

Camille laughed. "Well now you know not to get on my bad side," she joked. "So what now, Captain? If I am to remain on this ship you have to admit, I'm not going to be very beneficial."

He nodded. "You're right, love. I'm going to have to teach you a thing or two about getting along on my ship."

"Well I think I may have a slight advantage, and this time it is that fact that I am a woman," she said.

"Is it now?"

She nodded, and walked up to him until she was inches from his face. He rested his hand on her shoulder, taking some of her red hair and stroking it gently. "I don't know Miss Camille, if I like you better with a proper dress on and your hair pinned up, or on my ship."

She smiled. "I think you've known me long enough to make that decision, Jack."

"Mmm, and I think you've know me long enough to decide whether you want to kiss me or not, love."

They were still the same distance apart, and Jack made no move towards Camille's face. He was not expecting to have won her over so easily, and was still a bit wary.

"Speaking of decisions, have you decided the order in which you are planning to take my clothes off?"

This question caught him completely off guard. "What? I…uhm…" he stumbled, looking for an answer.

She sighed, leaning back on the banister. "Did you expect me to be seduced so easily by you?"

"You're right, you're not like other women Camille," Jack admitted. "But I never did expect a virgin to be so cunning."

She gave him a funny look. "Who said anything about me being a virgin?"

His eyes widened. That was three times now this evening she had caught him completely by surprise. He scolded himself for not knowing better by now.

"Will I have a cabin tonight Captain, or must I sleep on deck?" she asked politely. She may have been clever and sly, but she was not stupid. She'd learned very early never to make a mockery of Jack.

"Er…I'll find you a cabin." He had completely given up now. "You need to change, love?"

"No, thank you. I think I'll be all right," she said as he led her below deck and into a small cabin much like her last one. "Goodnight, Jack."

"That's Captain Jack to you now. As of tomorrow, you will become an official member of this crew. Goodnight, love."

The next morning she woke up to find a simple dress laid out on her bed for her. There was an apron next to it. She dressed, and went up on the deck. She squinted in the bright sunlight and shaded her eyes while it took them a moment to adjust. Some of the crew stopped and pointed, noticing that the lively redhead was back aboard their ship.

"Oy there! Missy!" said a familiar voice.

"Hello, Mr. Gibbs," she said kindly.

He made a small bow, not forgetting his manners despite the surroundings. "S'good to see ya again, Miss Camille. Captain's orders are to clean the decks. They be in bad need of swabbin', too. Ye'll find a bucket and a mop in the kitchen."

"Yes, sir," she replied cheerfully. Going back down to the kitchen, she took the bucket and began cleaning the floors. Gibbs had been right. They were very dirty, and very sticky. There were pieces of broken glass everywhere, and she took it upon herself to clean that up as well. By the end of the first afternoon, her feet ached and her back hurt. She put the mop and bucket away and stood up straight on her tiptoes, trying to relieve some of the soreness she felt.

Ana Maria was in the kitchen, already getting utensils out. She eyed Camille, and a slight flicker of a smile flashed across her face. "Evening, Camille," she said as she got out a set of knives.

"Hello, Ana Maria," she said, making her way over to the big pot. Ana Maria handed her a few potatoes and she began peeling them.

"Captain's makin' you work, I see," Ana said, looking at Camille's dress.

"Yes, I somehow managed to become part of the crew last night," Camille said, trying to figure it out for herself.

Ana looked at her, hesitating for a moment. "Did you sleep with him?"

"No! No, of course not!" she said, appalled. "Why would you even say that?"

Ana Maria chuckled. "I'm glad to see Jack's making some exceptions, then. The only women around him are me and whores."

"Well, I'm neither."

"Aye," was the last thing Ana Maria said as they continued preparing the food. The crew meandered in as usual, and most of them chatted with Camille for awhile. It felt good to be back on board that ship.

After supper, she nearly ran into Jack. She couldn't help but feel that throughout their short conversation he acted a little differently. He stumbled upon most of his words, and his eyes failed to remain on hers.

"Captain, I was wondering if I am do the same things tomorrow. Or would you just like me to do any miscellaneous chore that comes up? I'm still getting used to this life," she said, trying to be casual.

"Uhm, whatever you see fit, love."

She nodded. "Captain, you should get some rest. You seem…tired," she lied.

He nodded. "Of course, love." He passed her and made his way down to the brig. She shrugged and headed above deck. Everyone had their strange days, and Jack was certainly prone to being strange.

The thought of going into his cabin crossed her mind, to see if there was anything there that might be of interest to her. She stopped in the middle of the deck. No. She and Jack were…well, they were something like friends now. She needed to show that he could trust her as well as any member of his crew.