Disclaimer: Okay, how many bloody times must I go through this? (It's a rhetoric, dears.)I have yet to own Jacky and his hot self, or any other part of the movie as far as I am concerned. Unless, of course, those lawyers of mine are not figments of my imagination and have actually acquired him for me...but I doubt it. So, what do I really own, you ask? I own Emma Whibley and the nameless guy in the story. Not that I want him. No, really -I don't. You'll understand why when you read the story. THE END!
A/N: I haven't gotten many reviews. You are dissapointing me, my public. I do not even ask for good reviews. You could send me HATE MAIL for all I care! believe it or not, some authors actually like it when you critique their work! Whoa, what a concept, right? Get with the program, will ya?
Chapter 7 – Ashes
It was 1:30 in the afternoon and a few of Tortuga's locals were already occupying the dirty streets. Nothing really happened during the daylight hours there, Jack knew, but come nightfall Tortuga would come to life, showing its true colors. This visit would only be a small taste for Emma, he decided. Striding confidently between Will and Emma, Jack went on about the wonderful and proliferous aspects of the pirate town, waving his hands in tune with his explanations, as was his custom. He had allowed the crew one night's shore leave, as long as they were ready to set sail in the morning. It would allow them enough time to saddle up,as it were, but if any man was late or absent come dawn, he would be left behind and immediately replaced at the next port.
On a normal visit, Jack too would indulge in Tortuga's more pleasurable attractions, but this time he had something else in mind – or rather, someone else. Emma. She was beautiful, elegant, and got under his skin like no other girl he had met before. Jack also had the feeling she could be more of a spitfire than he had witnessed. What he had seen proved that she could hold her own. Emma was different from other women he had been with, in what way, he could not depict, but he knew she would by no means be easy. She was a challenge, and Jack liked challenges.
'Yes, she is definitely a challenge,' he thought. But conquerable all the same.
Jack Sparrow always won.
Weaving down the streets of the 'quaint little drinking town' Jack had mentioned, Emma began to doubt his credibility.
'He is a pirate, after all.'
True, there was not much activity right then, but what was happening slightly disturbed her. Walking beside Jack, Emma looked about her, wide-eyed, as he pointed out several things. Dirt, hung-over men lined the streets, most casting lustful looks at her with a combination of lewd comments and whistles, all calling after her. Recoiling from the street-sides intuitively, she ended up bumping into Jack. Taking the opportunity to be fresh, Jack wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled her to him. Groans and curses sounded as men realized that so long she was with Jack Sparrow, she was off limits.
Grinning, Jack winked at Emma. Her eyes widened and she bit her tongue, turning her face so he would not see the array of colors painting her cheeks.
Sighting their flirtatious behavior, Will became extremely uneasy, though he did not say anything to express his agitation. Turning to look at a vender's goods, he attempted to keep his temper under control. What Emma found fortunate that he did not see was the true reason for her fluster. If he had only caught a glimpse of Jack pinching her bottom, she was sure there would have been a lot of bruises and at least one broken nose.
With nothing more having been seen or said, the trio continued through the portly town until they reached a tavern whose battered sign bore the name 'Faithful Bride'. Inside the tavern smelled of stale smoke and cheap perfumes. Sitting at a table, Will and Emma waited patiently as Jack went to make small talk with a bar wench.
"Hopefully," he had said, "there will not be any bad news about the navy patrolling the waters. I have a meeting, and would truly hate for it to be cancelled."
All the while, Emma could not help but feel uneasy sitting next to Will. After a short silence, she spoke.
"Will?"
"Yes Emma? Is something wrong?"
"No, nothing is wrong; there is just something I have been meaning to ask you." Emma paused uncertainly before continuing. "Oh, Hell, I'll just say it! William…You've been acting, well, different lately, to say the least. Is everything alright with you? I mean, is there something you need to talk about?"
Will caught his heart in his throat. Could he tell her yet? Would Emma really understand? After considering these, he answered her.
"Y-yes. Everything is fine."
Emma looked incredulously at him. "Then why have you been so defensive? You know Jack is only trying to help us."
"It's just…It is just that you are extremely important to me, Emma. If anything were to happen to you on this ship, I would never be able to forgive myself! The only reason I agreed to come along on the trip was to watch over you, you know."
A flood of relief washed over Emma's body. "Oh good God, Will! It thought it would be something terrible! You're the best friend a gal could ever ask for, William, but you really should not worry as much as you do." In her joy, Emma wrapped her arms around his neck and pecked him quickly on the cheek.
"William! And all this time I thought ye were a eunuch!" Jack exclaimed sitting down at Emma's other side. "That, and you have gotten yourself a beautiful woman. I must admit, Emma, I am jealous," he said faking a sophisticated accent.
"I don't have the faintest clue as to what you are talking about, Jack," Emma insisted innocently.
"I'm saying it's not fair!"
"You want a kiss, is that it?" Emma crooned seductively. Jack raised his brows. Leaning closer to him, she pulled on his jacket, running her finger along the leather. "Well you know what I have to say?"
Will watched in horror. He felt his veins about to burst. Then to his surprise, Emma did something unexpected. Slowly, she moved her face closer to Jack's. When they were merely inches apart, she stopped.
"What do you have to say, dear lady?" Jack asked hoarsely, a smug grin painting his lips. He was just as surprised as Will when Emma's hand shot up between them yielding a mug of ale.
"Drink up! Because you, sir, are not getting one from me!" Grinning, Emma pulled away from him, and throwing her head back, downed half of her mug at once.
Jack looked at her in utter shock. She had tricked him. She knew he was interested, and was teasing him. His fuming of her deception was broken by the very familiar sound of a cup hitting the table…or something else.
Emma sighed happily. "Ah, it's been such a long while that I have not tasted rum! …What?" Both Jack Sparrow and Will Turner were looking at her oddly.
"Where on earth did you learn how to do that?" Will asked, secretly intimidated. He had never seen his friend drink before, and the fact she was familiar with the liquor made him ill at ease. Jack was already rum crazed enough for his whole crew. Just the thought of Emma and Jack running around the Pearl with rum bottles scared him.
"That's not really important. What I'm curious about is how did you know, Sparrow?"
"Know what?" he asked aggravated.
"That rum is my favorite drink? Will certainly didn't know."
"Hold on, Rum can't be your favorite drink, because it's mine! Besides, what you did wasn't very nice."
"Nice? You're a Pirate for Christ's sake!" Emma cried out in disbelief. "But if you're going to be sore about it…" Yanking on the twin braids that hung from his chin, she pulled his face to her and kissed him on the cheek.
"There, satisfied? And think carefully how you answer that question," she warned at Jack's devilish grin.
Jack faked a gold-toothed smile. "Extremely."
Watching the fiasco before him, Will could not help it any longer – he simply had to laugh. Soon, Jack and Emma joined him in chorus.
"And that, love, is the way I retrieved the Black Pearl, isn't it Will?"
The afternoon had been spent, and after several hours, Emma found herself sitting exactly where she had come in, listening to the exciting story behind Jack Sparrow and his Pearl. Emma looked to Will who confirmed Jack's account of the mission with a nod.
"That sounded like such a marvelous adventure! I only wish I could have been there." Emma sat staring thoughtfully at her half-empty mug of Rum. She seemed to be concentrating. It was the same one she had started with that day, although Jack and Will were on their second rounds.
"I think it is better that you were not there," Will assured.
Drinking from his cup, Jack grunted in response. 'She would've been much more fun than Elizabeth', thought Jack. 'Daft Rum burner!'
Finally looking up from her drink, Emma seemed to have made a decision. "Well, this is all fine and dandy, boys, but I think that I am going for a stroll." Before she could fully stand, Will grabbed her arm.
"Emma, that really is not a good idea! You don't know Tortuga…It's not safe!"
"Aye," Jack nodded, "Tortuga is far worse by night. Even during the day it's not place for a girl like you to be taking a stroll on her onesy." It was the truth.
"Oh, come on!" Emma whined. Looking around, she saw that the Faithful Bride had become more crowded. All around her there were brawls, noise, and whores looking for work. It was lively, she concluded, and that was how she liked it. Not that she liked whores or anything…
"I can very well take care of myself, William, and you know it! I refuse to be kept under supervision like a child! And do not even consider for a second that I will let either of you accompany me."
Will hated when she used his full name. It made him feel impersonal.
"But Emma –"
"Well," Jack cut in, "since you insist on going alone, I suggest you take these incase you get into trouble. Trust me, if you don't find it here, it'll find you." Grinning good naturedly, Jack reached into his coat pocket and removed a money purse and a moderate-looking dagger. As he placed it in her hands, Emma began to protest.
"Jack, thank you, but the money – I can't accept it, I-"
"You can accept it, and you will. I have plenty more where that came from, so if you don't find it useful in a sticky situation, then buy yourself something nice."
Emma opened her mouth to speak, but Jack raised his brows in challenge.
"Just take it, Emma," Will urged at last, "Jack will not take it back."
"Th…Thank you, Jack, really." Casting her look downward, Emma spoke in timid sincerity. Jack felt something in his stomach leap. She looked so vulnerable when she did that.
"It's a pleasure, love."
Saying her temporary goodbyes, Emma left the Faithful Bride and began her trajectory through the crowded streets of Tortuga. Lively is what it was. A bit too lively. Outside the painted ladies displayed their wares, their cheap perfumes mixing with the portly stench of sweat, blood, sea and grog. Men drank and fought, pistol shots ringing out in the backdrop, and if she looked closely, Emma could see a whore administering to a client through an open window. She learned to ignore the catcalls that came her way and continued walking, stopping every now and then to look in a store. It was when she reached one little shop that Emma gasped under her breath. Through the dark, dirt-smudged windows of the quaint wooden shack, a dark blue dress clothing a mannequin caught her eye. Hoping they would happen to have it in her size, she stepped inside and rang the rusty service bell.
Moments afterward, a b back door opened, from it emerging a petite middle-aged woman, mating her unruly curls down with her hand.
"I didn' think we'd 'ave 'nymore cost'mers this time 'o night! What can I do fer ye, dear?"
"Oh, yes. I saw the dress in your window as I was passing by. I was hoping that you might have it in my measurements?" Emma wet her lips. She knew it was a far stretch, but maybe, just maybe…
The seamstress observed her curiously for a while before speaking.
"Yer not from 'round 'ere, are ye?"
Wincing, Emma ducked her head in response. 'Am I really that obvious?'
"No, not at all. In fact, I just arrived this afternoon."
"Alright," the woman hummed thoughtfully, "I'll se wha' I can do fer ye." Studying the young lady further, she stepped around the dusty counter and took her by the wrist. "Come wit' me, dear." Locking the door, she walked behind the window, setting the young woman's wrist free for her next task. Once she had freed the old doll from its bodice, it was time to help her costumer out of her own. When that had been accomplished, she again lifted the dress and slid it over the girl's arms, past her thin waist until it hung at her ankles. Silently slipping behind her, she tied the laces tightly and directed her to the shop's only mirror.
Studying her own reflection, Emma passed a hand over her stomach, feeling the smooth fabric beneath her fingers. Now, she realized the dress had not been a royal blue as she had first imagined, but a velvety burgundy. It was of an uncommon cut, tight fitting from the chest to the hip, where it loosened in an elegant flow to the floor.
"Are-are you sure it fits correctly? It feels a bit…snug."
"Gobbledygook!" exclaimed the older woman. "It looks bett'r 'an it does on me mann'quin!" It was a lie she had told many times before, and most of the time convinced the gullible street whores into buying the gowns. It was a cheap trick, she knew, but she had to make money somehow. Her children needed to eat, and at her age, it would be nigh impossible to find a man who would pay her for her company if she were to solicit herself. Yes, if a fat boar of a woman were to come into her shop and pick out the slimmest dress, she would smile her best and lie through her teeth, even if her creation were bursting at the seams. But not this time. The beauty of the naïve young woman that stood before the mirror was enchanting, the dress only seeming to enhance her voluptuous features. For a moment, the old maid contemplated drearily that this angel had plunged right into hell, that with her youth and charm it was a waste to loose her to the whores and their houses. On second thought, though, she realized - and hoped – it would never happen. There was something special about her.
"Turn more'an a few 'eads, ye will," she smiled warmly.
Chewing on her lip, Emma at last smiled and settled.
"I'll take it."
"Good, me sweet! Would ye like the matchin' corset to go?"
"I don't wear corsets," Emma's eyes widened in horror at the mere mention of the constricting garment.
"Didn't think it," the woman sighed, shaking her head, "but there's an extra to yer purchase. Come, ye must see it!" Running to the back room, she reappeared with a short, red silken nightgown. "Ye like it?"
As Emma's eyes fell upon the nightgown, a deep flush of crimson spread through her cheeks, as the first thought that popped into mind was the one and only own Captain Sparrow. The thought alone of crawling under the sheets with him unnerved her, and to her dismay, not in a bad way. She liked to deny it, though. 'It is useless, you know you're resistance team is no match for that incredible specimen of a man. Oh, stop it!' The argument with her subconscious began. At once, she tried to explain without mentioning Jack.
"No, really I can't! Honestly, Madam, I don't think I'd have enough -"
"Don't worry yer pretty li'le head 'bout it, darlin'! Ne'er said I'd be chargin' ye for it," she winked.
"Free! B-but I can't, truly -"
"There be somethin' real special 'bout ye, Miss – ye'll make some man real happy on'day. Now please, take th' dress."
Emma could only cringe at the though. 'Yeah, he'd be happy alright if he saw me in that.' Sighing she reached out and accepted the garment along with her fate. She had to take it; else, it would be disrespectful to the wonderful woman. Laying Jack's purse on the counter, she counted the shillings and handed the seamstress the due amount. With her boxes in hand, she then departed, once more in search of Jack's Pearl.
"Jack, have you even listened to a word I have said?" Will watched for the third time as his captain-friend chatted with a local tavern girl before she left in search of a new costumer, noticeably upset. She was the third offer he had rejected that night, which Will found extremely odd of Jack
"Yes, yes!" Jack waved his young comrade off, taking a drink from his mug. Normally he would have jumped into bed with the women that had approached him, but for some reason he did not feel attracted to them that night. Not that Katie was unattractive herself… 'Was it Katie? Katie…Kathy, Katherine? Ah, well.' Weather or not he could remember the ladies' names was unimportant to him, too, for he had bigger things in mind. He was saving his appetite for something better.
"I'm sure Emma's fine, boy. 'Sides, she wouldn't want ye worrying like this, and frankly I don't blame 'er. Yer like a mother hen!"
Will sighed and remained still for a few seconds. After that, he simply could not control himself.
"I don't know, Jack, I-"
"Will it make ye feel better if we go out an' look for her?" Jack rubbed his temples. He was tired. The eunuch had been annoying him since the minute that Emma had left. She was all he had talked about, as if the woman were not already stuck in Jack's mind.
"Well let's go then," Jack groaned as Will nodded eagerly. Throwing some shillings on the table, Jack drowned his rum and left the Faithful Bride with Will at his heels.
"Ashes, Ashes," Emma sang, stepping off the docks. She had stored her dress beneath Jack's bed, where she was sure he would not look for it, and replaced his moneybag in the top drawer of his armoire. Now she began her search for the bar they had been at for the majority of the evening, deciding that a change of tune was necessary.
"Yo-ho, yo-ho, a pirate's life for me!"
So it was not a very good choice either, but it was her reality now. She had knowingly boarded a pirate ship with the intention of leaving voluntarily, and therefore considered herself part of the crew, although she was new to the trait. That and it was better than singing about the Black Plague and burning corpses. She could not express how happy she was to have left England.
"No, how did that go again?" She could not remember. Shrugging it off, Emma continued her journey through the rowdy streets, humming the melody to herself. When she was about halfway to the Faithful Bride, a man confronted her. He was different from the others, who had only offered her catcalls, but something remained ominously amiss about him.
"'Ello, poppet."
Surprised at the abrupt actions of this stranger, Emma could not help but stutter. By the looks of him, he was in his mid-twenties, and was not exactly terrible to look at. She played with the idea that given other circumstances, she would allow him to take her for a night on the town, but when she imagined Jack… 'What a specimen.'
"Erm, yes, can I assist you with something? I really am in a hurry." Emma was annoyed. This man, however handsome he may be, was keeping her from Jack, and though she did not readily admit that he was breaking through her barrier, she was eager to see him again.
"Maybe ye can make some time?" he grinned salaciously, "Ye see, I 'ave a beautiful prop'sition fer a beaut'ful woman…"
Emma was appalled. If this stranger were indeed implying what she thought he was, then there would be some serious problems. With a fire rising in her reflected in her eyes, she slapped him, the sound alone enough to make one squirm, but not enough to draw attention from the busy streets.
"You disgusting swine…I'm not in that line o' business, so go find yourself another bleedin' harlot to harass!" She turned with every intention of leaving, and yelped as he tightly gripped her arm.
"I said I wanted ye, and soon 'nough ye'll learn I get what I want!" he yelled gruffly.
"I said I'm not for sale!" She looked upon him with as much determination and defiance as she possibly could, but behind those hazel dragons she held as her viewing orbs, there was something else. There was fear. Fear of what she was certain would come next.
"Bett'r fer me!" Smiling crudely, he dragged her into an alley.
She felt she was beaten, but she would not give up without a fight. Struggling to escape her captor, Emma kicked and lashed out frantically, using her foulest language against him, cursing at him to let her go, but his grasp was like steel. Finally, he succeeded on throwing her to the ground, lying over her in the process. He was dead weight, and had pinned her legs. With her mind spinning into automatic, Emma panted in exasperated relief, pulling Jack's dagger from her bosom and burying it deep beneath his shoulder blade.
Screaming in pain, the young rapist reached to pull it out, but it was set in too deep. When he turned to his victim again, he was red in the face. Raising his arm, he backhanded her square across the right cheek, and Emma felt her world reel.
"Now yer really getin' it, ye damn bitch!"
It was when he began to pull at her skirts, when she felt his hand against her outer thigh, that, for the first time, Emma cried. She screamed in protest, and called for help, all the while crying up a storm. She continued to struggle, but deep down she felt her hope dwindling. One face kept coming into her mind, and through her distress, she said the only name she could muster anymore.
"Jack! Ja-ak," she sobbed, her voice cracking. He had held her in her moments of serious need. He had saved her from a life of certain dullness, and now seemed her only savior from certain death.
"Ye really are a eunuch, Will," Jack slurred casually as he made his way past two scuffling drunks.
"I am not! Will you stop calling me that already!" Will demanded
"Bet ye haven't even bedded that bonny lass o' yours yet! If you don't mind me saying, ye might as well. She's practically Mrs. Turner." What was a sly smirk on Jack's face faded instantly into an attentive frown. Will had to dig his heels into the earthen floor to prevent himself from running into Jack as he came to a sudden halt. "Do you hear that?" Jack said more to himself than his friend. Being a pirate and coming from a maraud-and-embezzle family, Jack's ears had grown keen at distinguishing different sounds, even in a place as chaotic as Tortuga.
"What? What is it?" Certainly Will heard something. In fact, he heard a whole lot of things. Whether he could tell one thing from another was a completely different matter. His question, however, remained unanswered as Jack alarmingly broke into a run through floods of people. The only thing left for Will to do, was to run as well, and try to keep his eyes on the scallywag that led him.
'There better be a good explanation for this.' Little did he know how important his next find would be, and how grateful he would feel that he was friends with a pirate.
"No! Stop!" Emma had been struggling for several minutes and was still fighting, but she began to grow weak. "Ja-ack," she sobbed to herself in agony.
"Shut up, ye wench! No one's goin' to hear ye, an' no one's goin' ta help!" the rapist yelled aggravated. He was having a difficult time getting up the skirts of the squirming woman beneath him, and was rather irate about it. 'Yer almost there,' he thought, 'once that's done, ye can be in, off an' out.'
The man was right, Emma realized. He would rape her. She would tell someone later, but no one would do anything about it. He would rape her and it would be pitiful. She would be pitiful. Her eyes shut tight; Emma braced herself for the inevitable. Then she suddenly felt light. At first, she thought that perhaps she had fainted, but when she opened her eyes, she knew she had not. Choking on a gasp, she recoiled, holding her knees to her chest with her back against the wall. Across from her stood the young man who had attempted to assault her, except he was in a very interesting predicament.
"No one will hear her, is that what ye said?" came Jack's words. The flat of his blade was against the man's neck. It was pressed so tightly, that if Jack did not decide to slit his throat right then, Emma guessed he would die from lack of oxygen.
"Jack!" Will ran into the alley after the captain, his breathing labored from chasing him wildly through the streets. Skidding to a halt, he observed Emma's tearstained face, and then Jack threatening a man that Will was not acquainted with.
"Now tell me, son, will anyone hear you?" Jack continued his menacing interrogation. There were no words to describe the anger…the hate he possessed for the man he had only known for mere seconds. The man, in turn, gasped, grabbing a hold of Jack's arms, trying to free his throat, trying to breathe.
"I hope they do," Jack's eyes glinted dangerously. "I hope they hear you squeal like the miserable swine you are. Come on," he prompted mockingly, "scream for me."
Will watched in horror as a trickle of blood ran down the man's throat. Emma, on the other hand, watched in amazement. She felt numb and disoriented – degraded even – but she wanted nothing more than for Jack to run the violator through.
"Scream for me," he taunted again.
The grating sound that came from the man's vocals in his attempt to speak was nerve wreaking. William Turner could not take much more. From the picture he saw, he could only have guessed what had happened, but even if it was so, it did not justify the cold-blooded murder of this man.
"Jack, stop," Will prompted him timidly. Jack's eyes never left the man at the end of his sword. His stare was cold and burning all at once.
"Come on, mate, ye didn't have this problem before."
"Jack…" Will urged him firmly.
Jack was growing irate. The man's hesitancy was making him tired, and the Turner boy's persistence was only annoying him further.
"Scream, you son-of-a-bitch!"
"Jack, stop it! He's not worth your time!"
Gritting his teeth, the Captain shrugged William's hand off his shoulder violently. He was beyond angry. Shoving the man's shoulder hard into the wall, he re-sheathed his sword. Immediately the felon fell to his knees, and with both hand over his throat, choked and gasped for air. The dagger in his shoulder had embedded itself further when he and the wall had their confrontation, and the wound on his back was now bleeding profusely. Unfortunately, for him, Jack spied it and yanked it out, kicking the already beaten young wretch onto his back and setting his heavy booted foot on his chest. Almost instantly, the man beneath him began to cough wildly.
"If I ever see you again – anywhere – I will not hesitate to put a bullet through that thick skull of yours, savvy?" Jack's voice was low and unnervingly steady. "When a lass says no, she means no. Maybe you'll catch on, hmm? Now get out of my sight before I change my mind, you mangy cad."
When Jack lifted his foot, the man scrambled to his feet with the energy he had left, and ran away, sore and bloody. Turning quickly, Jack glared daggers at his younger friend, but his gaze softened when he looked upon Emma. Rushing to either side of her, the two men examined her for any permanent harm. She was shaken, pulling at her skirts, her face and neck soaked from crying. Turning her cheek to him, Jack observed a red streak across her face, and felt himself seething. He had hit her. He had struck the beautiful dame that huddled forlorn in the alley.
"I should've killed him," he muttered crossly.
"Emma – Emma, are you alright?"
Drying her face, Emma nodded briefly and cleared her throat. "I-I think I would like to return to the ship."
Helping her up, Jack and Will walked her to the Black Pearl. All the while, they were silent as the grave, the sounds of the night owls around them lost to their thoughts. Especially Jack's.
He had let her down. 'I shouldn't have let her go alone.' It was because of him that she had to fight for her life; because of him that she had almost been raped. 'It was her first night here. It's never safe in Tortuga. I should have gone with her, known better than to just…' But why did he suddenly care so much? Why was he so upset? ' Because Emma's different, she deserves better than what that man did to her. Because I took her with me so that she would have her freedom, so she would never be forced to do anything again. And now here she was, being forced again against her will, and I let it happen.' He wished he had killed the bastard, but it was too late now to go back.
The threesome returned to the Black Pearl, and after much convincing from Emma's part, William Turner retreated to his berth. Jack had wandered off somewhere shortly after securing the premises, and she had not seen him since then. 'To drink most likely.'
Emma leaned against the rail, staring out into the dark vastness of the Ocean. This time, she did not dream of faraway lands and treasures to be discovered, but simply wished she could be part of it. All she wanted was to melt into a puddle as black as she felt, and slip away with the currents. She wanted to throw herself at the Sea's mercy and be lost in the waves – to lose her past. Reflecting on her misfortunes, silent tears rolled down her dazed face. It was reflexively that she sprung back from the hand that grasped her shoulder before a familiar voice reassured her.
"It's alright, it's just Ol' Jack." When he had returned to his ship, Jack was feeling surprisingly miserable because of what had happened. He felt himself to blame, but then nothing was Jack Sparrow's fault. Trying to evade his guilt, he slipped away unnoticed. Maybe if he didn't see her, he wouldn't think about her. Alas, Jack's philosophy was doomed to fail. The more he did not see her, the more he wondered what she was doing. When he would realize he was thinking about her again, he would try to imagine a room stocked-full of rum. But the more he tried not to think about her, the more she popped up in his mind. Deciding there was nothing left to do, he decided to watch her for a while, and he was glad he did. He did not like the look she had at all. He had seen that look before from, people who thought they were at the end of their rope, and sometimes for those kinds of people, the ocean seems a very good solution. It was time for him to interfere before she did anything insensible.
"Emma, do you need anything?" Emma turned her face from him instantly, drying her face, and not daring to look up at him. 'It's my entire fault, isn't it?' There was that twang of guilt again in the back of his mind.
"No…no, please don't waste your time with me, I'm quite alright."
"Don't lie to me, you're not alright," Jack argued heatedly, turning her to face him, "not after what happened to you." He watched Emma levelly, awaiting her response. He admired her composure, her attempt to be strong, but pretending she was not affected would not make it go away. If only Jack could have prepared himself for what came next.
Emma tensed, her eyes welling. There was a knot in her throat that she simply could not swallow. Jack was right – on the outside she was calm and careless, but on the inside she was trembling. Suddenly image after image presented themselves from the recess of her mind, ones she had spent all night trying to bury. The man's face. The Fear. Her fear. She tried as hard as she could to fight the pictures, but they were all too vivid now. 'They are real.' Broken, Emma began to weep.
"No! No, no, no! Don't do that!" Jack waved in a panic. This was the second time he had been put into this situation, and he was completely ignorant on what to do. Sure, plenty of women cried for him, begging for him not to go after a night of intense pleasure, but this was completely different. He was a pirate, and crying women was not something that he was accustomed to. To make it short, it wasn't his thing. So, unsure of what to do, he placed a hand gingerly on her back, freezing with insecurity as she automatically latched onto him, crying deeply into his chest.
"I want to forget," she sobbed, "…I want…to forget…"
"So forget, darling," he soothed, encompassing her in his arms, "It's alright now." The statement seemed to bring Emma away from her mantra. Holding her, Jack tried everything in his power to calm her, searching his brain for anything he could think of to make her feel better. 'I have to…I need to.' When her racking lessened, he shushed her softly.
"It's over now, Emma…"
'I'm sorry…'
"It wasn't your fault…It's over."
Emma stopped crying and slowly looked up at him.
"That's better," he smiled lightly. Looking into her eyes, he saw again how beautiful they were – how beautiful she was. The rims of her eyes had become red from crying, and her cheek was beginning to bruise a yellow-brown, but even so, she was perfect. Lifting his hand, he wiped away the stray tears that were making their way down her face.
As his thumb brushed her cheek, Emma closed her eyes, shivering inwardly at his touch. That night, she had felt terrible. 'I shouldn't have left Port Royal,' she had thought. 'Now this is God's punishment to me for being so foolish.' Jack, however, made her feel different. "It wasn't your fault…it's over." That was what he had said. But if it was not her fault, then whose did he believe it was? It was certainly not his. Even so, he made her feel better. For some reason, he always tended to do that.
When Emma opened her eyes, she saw the soft gaze of his; those pools of pure chocolate that seemed to read her met her. Suddenly felt stupid. Stupid for wanting the unattainable. 'He's a pirate. A rogue who probably knows how handsome he is. He does not want me, he pities me.'
Time seemed to stand still as Jack Sparrow examined the woman before him closely. His eyes scanned her face, tracing every outline of it, landing on her lips at last. 'Those soft, silky lips…' No longer in control of his actions, Jack seized her lips with a gentle, yet fervent, passion. Digging his hand in her hair, he pulled her closer by the waist.
Emma was startled at first. He had contradicted her very thoughts, just another part of Jack Sparrow that had caught her off-guard.
'I can't, I should not…Shouldn't you?'
Soon after, she gave in, willingly returning the kiss and parting her lips every so slightly. A surge of heat rose in her as his hot, wet tongue slid in her mouth. Jack felt the same as hers reacted. In that moment, there was nothing but them their tongues fighting for dominance.
Time was eternal. Nothing else existed.
Will Turner paced the wooden floors of his cabin, his feet landing evenly like a pendulum. A deep frown dented his handsome features.
"This is not where I should be." For the fourth time that night, he stopped mid-pace, and stared at the door. Heaving a sigh of decision, he left the room and climbed up to the main deck. Seeing Emma nowhere in sight, he guessed she could be found in the bow of the ship, leaning against the railing.
"I will tell her."
'You will tell her what, exactly?'
Again, Will frowned the interference of his conscience."I will tell her what I must. She deserves to know as much." Taking a deep breath, he began to walk towards the front of the Pearl. He climbed the quarterdeck and turned a corner. What he saw next astounded and destroyed him.
"What is this?"
Emma and Jack, in their own little world, had completely blocked out everything but each other until the exclamation reached their ears. Taken completely by surprise, Emma jumped back from Jack, only to see William Turner with a mixture of rage and confusion written upon his face. With the look he gave her, Emma could feel the blood that had risen to her head during her session with Jack drain into her stomach. Not knowing what to do, she looked from Will to Jack, whose eyes had enlarged at the younger man's unexpected visit. Realizing she had been caught by her best friend in the most unsuitable circumstance, she blushed a deep crimson. The three stood in uncomfortable silence, Will fuming, Emma day-dreaming, and Jack, for the first time, lacking words. It was Will that finally broke the ice.
"That is it! Emma, we need to talk – now!"
A/N: Thanks for the few of you that support me. Please review and I see more chapters coming your way!