Eden Isle
By: L'Morgan
Only Disney owns or can make money on anything to do with Pirates of the Caribbean. I-just-borrowing-to-play-with-for-personal-entertainment-and-giving-back. Can I be any clearer? NO profit being made here by or for me!
Rated: Mature Teen for violence, innuendo and some language. Mild W/E pairing, J/A pairings. Authors comments at end of this chapter.
Chapter 5: HIDE AND SEEK
AnaMaria frowned to herself as she considered the vacant deck before her. Jack could certainly be moody at times, and nothing about the most recent events were likely to have caused that to be a pleasant mood. And, just to add to it, the pirate captain had absolutely insisted on being up no matter what anyone else thought of it.
The crew had been wise enough to give the Captain his space, even if the doctor hadn't been quite so wise himself. But, last she had heard, Jack had won out on that contest of stubbornness and now the pirate seemed to be reacting more to the encounter with the Spanish man o' war then these so called 'friends' of his! The man had hardly touched his dinner due to his mood and she just wanted to assure herself that he hadn't passed out in some unseen corner somewhere.
Jack was a pirate - as were all of them, and while some of the newer crew members had been a bit stunned by the vicious nature of the encounter, it certainly wasn't Captain Jack Sparrow's first encounter with sudden death at sea. He had certainly caused his fair share of the same when the circumstances forced the issue. Besides, it wasn't as if the Commodore was dead! He, at least, Jack had managed to save!
She noticed that the top deck was unusually quiet for it being only a couple of hours after sundown. No lanterns with a group of men around them, no music, no tall tales, no laughter - Only those few who had been assigned watch stood silent sentry tonight.
She had already checked his cabin and found it empty. She wondered if the doctor knew he was up wandering about again. Quietly she made her way down from the quarter deck area and slowly explored the ship, working her way towards the bow. One dark silhouette she discovered turned out to be a canvas draped over a lumpy object of some sort, although it had startled her at first.
She reached the bow and still could find no sign of the captain. He had to be here someplace! She would just outright kill him if he had gotten dizzy and collapsed in some corner – oh yes she would strangle him with her own bare hands… and then, of course, wish fervently that he would open his eyes and be his usual, impossible self.
She headed below decks, but still had no luck, nor had anyone seen him since dinner time it seemed. She was just about to return to the top deck when the doctor came up behind her, as if to venture topside himself.
"How's the Commodore doin'?" she asked and he sighed with a mild frown.
"He's breathing better. With a little luck, I think he'll be alright." He said and she smiled mildly and nodded.
"Have you seen Jack tonight?" he asked in return and she gave him a wary look.
"Captain Sparrow has been a pirate for well nigh more than a few years Doctor Cook. Nothin' like this is gonna cause him any problems. I don' know where he is. Couldn' find the bloody fool. I looked, but he's probably off somewhere doin' whatever it is he's up to now." She shot back and he quickly scowled.
"What do you mean you couldn't find him?" he asked unhappily and she sighed at him.
"Doc, I'm sure Jack's fine. I've checked this ship from top to bottom and haven't seen even a hint of him - which means he's movin' jest fast enough fer me to constantly be just missin' him." She said as she went up the stairs to reach the top deck and he followed her.
"You don't mind that he's just - missing?" he demanded as he gained the deck . She stopped and turned and rolled her eyes at him as they reached the railing.
"Look mister - " she started in a very irritated tone and he cut her off.
"You may think he doesn't care - that it's not a big deal to him. But you ARE talking about a pirate who is known for his lack of bloodlust, who's lost a ship once to the fact that he would stand by that rule, rather than give into the wishes of his cutthroat crew. He must have some very strong feelings on the subject to stick by that call even when he's been challenged severely on it. He stood by his guns once on that issue and lost his ship. Yet even now he still stands by it, unless he doesn't have any other choice. Don't tell me it's just some casual matter with the man, or just whim and fancy. It matters to him - it must matter to him a lot. And what we ran into the other day isn't something you find every week. Not to mention that he was hit in the head awfully hard. I told you he definitely had a severe concussion, if not worse. Never mind, I'll find him myself." He told her, the last in a very disgruntled tone and then he headed off to the captain's cabin without her.
Ana thought for barely a fraction of a second and then followed right behind him, now frowning deeply as well.
After another half an hour and still no sign of the Captain, now she was beginning to get concerned. There were only a limited number of places on a ship where a man could go, and she swore that by now they had visited each one at least twice.
They stopped by the galley where a lantern was still lit and waited until the dour faced cook looked up at them. The man arched an eyebrow at her and she shook her head.
"Just lookin' fer the Capt'n, Scotch. You seen 'em lately?" she asked and he narrowed his eyes somewhat over a plate he was washing in a tub of steaming water.
"Meybe - what'cha need with 'im?" he asked back and she blinked at him in surprise and looked around. Suddenly she realized the room was warm, as if something had recently been cooked even though dinner was over by hours and he was still washing dinner ware items. He followed her gaze to the plate he held, and then gave her a hard glare, as if daring her to even ask.
"Was he alright?" the doctor asked and the man gave him a very wary look.
"Gibbs came and collected 'im bout half an hour ago. Brought a nice bottle of fine rum with him of course. The Capt'n was feelin' a bit better by the time 'e left." He said much more casually and the one nodded.
"Any chance Gibbs'll be takin' him back to his cabin soon?" he asked and the one shrugged.
"He might walk 'im around first - let him talk - say what he needs to. Keep 'im outta the riggin' so he don't crack his head open on the deck fer us." He said and the doctor nodded with an approving look.
The two left and the doctor sighed at the female pirate. "I need to get back to my patient. I'm sorry if I was a bit rough AnaMaria - but you know I was only thinking of Jack. He's only human. Long as he's with someone instead of off brooding by himself somewhere or feeling dizzy I won't interfere. You and I both know that if something happened, Gibbs would let us know immediately.." he said, and at her nod he left and went back to the infirmary below.
Ana returned to the deck and took up quiet watch on the quarterdeck where she could see down the long expanse of the deck. She sat and thought about what Dr. Cook had said. For somebody who had only first met Jack Sparrow not that long ago, he seemed to be good at figuring things out about the man….IF you didn't count him actually thinking Jack had shot his precious Commodore. To herself she could admit that yes, it would be like Jack to be a bit on edge after a things like this - more upset inside than he would ever allow to show outwardly.
She considered her lap in silence. It had never really occurred to her outright that Jack had suffered what he had from Barbossa because of his insistence on as little killing as possible - but from the stories, that was exactly what had led to his problems then. And yes he did stick to that even now just as firmly as ever. Odd rule for a pirate it was. But what about Captain Jack Sparrow was ever normal or as would be expected? The man was infamous for his oddities and eccentricities!
She looked up from her lap to see a lone figure now weaving its' way slowly along the rail with a limp, his step swaying in the way only one man ever walked, drunk or sober. She leapt up and quickly descended the stairs and then stopped, watching his progress along the railing. She heard no sound, but his one hand waved in the air slowly as if he were holding some inner dialogue with himself.
He came to a stop in the dark corner by the quarterdeck but didn't turn to come her way. Instead he stood there, hidden from observation by the moon shadows cast over the deck and seemed to stare out over the dark ocean. She went over to the railing herself, but some distance down from him, giving him time to realize she was therebefore she approached him.
He didn't even glance at her, but as she neared she heard him sigh softly. One hand rose from the railing as if he were about to say something, then paused in mid air and swayed unsteadily, then fell back to the railing. He sighed again, more heavily and shifted his weight, which put him off balance and he tipped over towards the wall to land against it with a thud and softly muttered oath.
Ana sighed as she took his arm and helped him back upright. Jack gave her a rather sloppy smile.
"I hear you got a bottle of the best from Gibbs did ye?" she asked as she gently resting a hand on his back. He nodded with a rather 'satisfied look'.
"I' shoul' see we're still on course -" he muttered as he turned and had to put a hand to the wall to make his way along it towards the stairs. Easily she stepped in front of him, hands on her hips. He stopped and looked up - then narrowed his eyes and frowned at her as if puzzled by her sudden appearance there. She met his gaze steadily.
"We're fine Capt'n Sparrow. Just fine. Same heading you asked for. Headin' straight for Swallow's Cove. You thinkin' uh changin' it fer some reason?" she asked and he frowned with one finger to his lower lip as if considering the idea, swaying unsteadily.
"No, don' think so -" he finally muttered and she smiled as she took him by his good arm and gently but firmly wheeled him around to face the other direction.
"Good! I do have somethin' I need t' bring t' yer attention. Was hopin' I'd run into ye before ye got t' the helm and spent the night there an' I forgot 'bout it." She said as she drew him back down the deck. Jack frowned at her suspiciously, one hand already up.
"Wha'?" he asked with a heavy slur and she smiled at him secretively as she still slowly drew him towards his cabin at the far end of the ship. Half way there he swayed into her heavily and she quickly put an arm around him to steady him.
"I'm fine," he muttered, shaking his head and rubbing at his eyes.
"Course you are Jack. Ain't nobody sayin' yer not." she agreed readily and he gave her a very relaxed smile.
"S' not every night you escort me t' my cabin by the arm on the false pretense of showing' me something' luv," he slurred lightly with a brief flutter of one hand, and she gave him a very surprised look.
"Oh, I'm not as drunk as ye think. T'was only 1 little bottle after all darlin''" he smirked, - and promptly tripped over a coiled rope and then over the other side of the coil and twisted as he fell heavily to his knees with a very colorful explicative.
AnaMaria had to bite the inside of her cheek to keep from laughing at him as he rolled over to sit there, glaring up at her indignantly. One little bottle indeed!
From the author:
Reviews? Oh wow, REVIEWS! Oh geez! I can't believe you guys even remember me or the first story I put up here! You are just incredible people – truly incredible! If anything at all, I expected a long list of complaints, if not worse!
I think just knowing that they are currently filming 'Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest' has finally given me a spark of inspiration to start writing with again! Thank you so much everyone – I truly am more than amazed by your encouraging comments! I read them and wish I had something more to post that very instant – and then I go write it so hopefully I soon can! I actually went to a 'casting call' for Pirates 2 and 3 in Hollywood, and it was tons of fun for the day!
For those of you that had favorite parts of the stories that were removed to make room for this one – PLEASE DON'T KILL ME! Most of the parts will show up again – just in a little different position and effect! Thank you again – and happy sailing to you all!
L'Morgan