A/N - This is an awkward filler of a chapter, and has driven me mad for weeks. I'm still far from happy with it, but t'will serve to link my last, equally bumbling chapter with something I'm actually halfway proud of.
The sun sunk low and wide in the clear sky over Tortuga, casting long shadows over the workers as they gathered up their tools. Shards of sunlight broke out from behind the newly-careened Pearl, making her look larger and darker than normal, a brooding presence over the ship yard.
I stretched luxuriously in my makeshift hammock, fashioned from a spare jib sail. I had spent the day trying to divert myself whilst the crew worked, expecting any minute for Anamaria to arrive. She had not, and as the sky deepened and darkened, I began to worry.
"Miss Barbrook." I started so violently my hammock nearly collapsed, that was the first time Sparrow had called me by that name. Just when I thought that man couldn't get more unnerving.
"Captain." I replied, attempting to mock his formal tone. To my surprise he looked slightly hurt. His face was smudged with wood dust from the days work, sweat had washed away most of his customary kohl and he held his hat in his hands. All this served to give him an air of, had he been another, I would have called vulnerability.
"Cathy, then." He blustered "Us lads are heading down to the Three Turtles, it's no Faithful Bride – but I wondered of you might join me in a dram of rum?" This time he spoke with more than his usual swagger, but this is not what made me hesitate.
"I really should look for Anamaria, I haven't seen her all day…"
"Oh, Ana can look after herself, if ever a woman could." Jack touched his cheek thoughtfully as he spoke. "What say you?" He held a hand out, looking at it, I had a flash of that same hand knocking my fingers away from his britches, and felt the colour rise.
"I need to find Anamaria."
"As you say," Jack gave a deep bow and replaced his hat with a flourish. "I myself, am keeping out of her path."
As he strode off with the other men, I pondered on his last comment. Surely Ana couldn't still be suffering with overindulgence?
Yet it appeared so. Or else so other ailment forced her to shun company; I searched for a good hour, but could not find her anywhere at the Faithful Bride. Her quarters were empty, and no one could tell me where she had gone. Indeed, it seemed she had disappeared directly after I had seen her at breakfast.
I had only the vaguest recollection of her once speaking of visiting relatives in Tortuga; Aunts, nieces and nephews from her mother's side. I had no idea where to begin my search, and dusk was stealing in fast.
Tortuga, so quiet and sleepy during the day began its nightly reincarnation; brothels shrieked and taverns bellowed, business was slack no longer, it took up heavy trade in the dark alleys and clandestine meeting places. Alone under the young moon I realized it was only in the dark could you see what Tortuga really was.
Having no where else to turn, it was with a heavy and full heart I made my way to the Three Turtles.
The sudden heat and noise reminded me of nothing so much as entering a stable. Everywhere men and women were eating, drinking, talking, laughing, singing and dancing – humanity in all its most base and familiar forms.
Yet in this multitude I could not see one familiar face. Not wishing to plunge into the fray, I found myself a hidden corner, ill-placed and cold; hidden from the room's great hearth. Here I sat, and tried to collect my thoughts.
I had not gone far however, when a figure rounded on my hiding place with a tentative:
"Catherine?"