INTO THE CARIBBEAN
CHAPTER NINE – A Storm and Apologies
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Ugh, it reeks down here…Alex thought in disgust as she woke to the snores and grunts and awful odors that surrounded her. She met the morning early, for nobody had yet left their cot or other place they had found comfortable enough to sleep. Sitting up in her own cot, she observed the forecastle with a bored curiosity and looked around her close surroundings. She herself stayed in the middle section of the forecastle with two men on the two cots on either side of her. Mr. Cotton slept on her right with his bird perched on the wooden frame above him, tempting her many times during the night to shoot it when it would 'sleep-talk' or flap it's wings loudly; the other on her left was the smaller man - the smallest on that ship - who still appeared to look angry even in his peaceful sleep.
Not able to stomach the sickening odor any longer, which only seemed to grow worse, Alex decided to breathe in some fresh air from above. Quietly slipping from her cot, she slowly sneaked past the rows of cots and men as she headed towards the stairs. She snuck past Gibbs, who seemed to be half-grinning in his sleep; Anamaria, whose black hair and stern face was covered by her large hat; and Will, who slept with his sword near at hand. Alex stood at the foot of his cot for a brief moment, recalling the previous night when she had retorted to his sudden angry burst. Both actions were uncalled for, but nothing could be taken back now.
With one last lengthy look at Will, she silently proceeded up the stairs and across the empty deck to the immediate port side to watch the rising sun. Quietly, she rested her elbows on the wooden rail and watched through relaxed russet eyes as the sun slowly rose and grew brighter against the darker contrast of the vanishing night sky. It was a calm morning; the soft sounds of the water lightly splashing against the ship's hull created a relaxing effect, and the small breeze seemed to fill her senses with the cool, sweet Caribbean air.
"Beautiful, innit?"
Startled, Alex turned her head towards the source of the deep, slurred voice to find it was only Jack. Dressed in his usual attire, such as his wool coat, dark breeches and dirty off-white V-neck shirt that revealed a smooth, sun-kissed chest, he grinned when she noticed him.
"Yeah, it is." She suspiciously eyed him. "You know, your crew isn't even awake yet…why are you up so early?"
Jack shrugged. "I always wake with the sun on a ship. Habit, I suppose."
"I see."
Time passed as they watched the sun slowly rise in silence, each dwelling in their own unmonitored thoughts until Jack spoke up with a question.
"So are you going to tell the eunuch today?"
Alex furrowed her eyes at the unusual nickname Jack produced for Will, but nonetheless chuckled at it, too. "I doubt he'll want to talk to me today, but – wait, tell him what?"
"I don't know," Jack shrugged, "maybe that you're desperately in love with the lad and you want him to forget the Swann lass and fall in love with you."
"I am not desperately in love with him, Sparrow." Alex glared. "And no way, that's the last thing I'll ever tell him."
"Why's that?"
"Since when did you become all womanish?" Alex irritably snapped, hoping he would drop the subject. "This is what most of the upper class women back in Port Royal are suppose to talk about, not a pirate and a lass like me."
"A roguish lass." Jack added with a hearty chuckle. "I'm not being womanish, Keller, I'm just curious. There isn't much amusement going on around this pathetic splint of wood."
"You find this amusing?"
"Aye," Jack grinned. "I'm finding it interesting how you handle these things."
"So now you're studying me, is that what you're saying?"
"Like I said, luv," Jack winked, "There isn't much amusement going on around here."
Alex rolled her eyes. She was beginning to think it was a mistake to admitting her feelings for Will to Jack, because now he was just picking at her more and more and growing increasingly annoying. He must have been aware that she wasn't comfortable with the subject, at least not just yet, because after clearing his throat he spent a few minutes in thought before he suddenly spoke upon a different topic.
"A storm is brewing." He smiled adventurously, his chest swelling with anticipation. "I can feel it."
After looking at the wide sky to search for any dark clouds and finding none, Alex stared at Jack like he was crazy. "You think there's going to be a storm?" Alex scoffed, but Jack just nodded. "Jack, the skies are clear! There's no sign of a storm anywhere!"
"Aye, it would appear that way, wouldn't it?" Jack mysteriously answered with a half grin.
"You're daft, Jack." Alex snorted, and very confidently she stated, "There's not going to be a storm!"
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Lightning flashed, bringing a momentary relief from the black skies. There seemed to be an endless roar in the air, along with the sharp winds and great waves that would rise and harshly fall directly onto the Interceptor, which now seemed like a small plank of wood in the water under the stormy circumstances.
Alex, through the pelting rain that would sting the skin without mercy, tried to find her way back to the rope she was trying to hold down before a wave almost knocked her overboard. Through squinted eyes she found her rope dangling in the air and was just about to grab onto it when the little midget, who was swinging around on another rope that he was hanging on for dear life, knocked into her and sent her sprawling back onto the flooded deck.
"Bloody HELL!" Alex finally screamed out loud in frustration as she once again attempted to grab the rope, and this time succeeded. She pulled it over to where Will struggled with Gibbs, and furiously tried to tie the rope down before she was separated once again by another wave.
"How can we sail to an island that nobody can find with a compass that doesn't work!" Will yelled over the storm to Gibbs.
"Aye, the compass doesn't point north," Gibbs agreed with a knowing grin. "But we're not tryin' to find north, are we?"
"We're not going to get anywhere if we don't drop the canvas!" Alex shouted as another burst of lightning lit up the sky. With her knowledge of ships combined with this storm, she knew that they'd never be able to get anywhere if Jack keeps up this mad sailing technique of his.
"Aye, I agree with ye, lass!" Gibbs yelled, and then together he and Alex fought through the working bodies of men and pelting bullets of raindrops towards the helm where Jack stood in deep, unbreakable concentration, drenched in rain and randomly spinning the helm before consoling his compass once more and doing it again.
Gibbs stumbled in front of Jack as Alex followed and grabbed onto a rope with a death-grip that not even the Devil himself could pry her from. "We should drop canvas, sir!" Gibbs hollered at Jack.
Jack defiantly shook his head before glancing at them. In the midst of his dark brown eyes, Alex thought he looked crazed. "She could hold a bit longer!"
"Are you insane?" Alex screamed, but she wasn't heard.
"What's in your head that's put you in such a fine mood, Captain?" Gibbs asked, noting his change in attitude. He almost seemed to be welcoming the storm and daring to give him all she's got.
Jack gave them an almost maniacal smile. "We're catching up!"
"You ARE insane!" Alex screamed again, and this time Jack heard her.
"But I've never felt better, lass!" He laughed until it became drowned out by the roaring winds.
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"Don't even say it, Sparrow, don't you dare say it." Alex warned with a glare as she, Jack, and Gibbs made their way down into the galley for a pint of rum to warm them up. Their clothes were soaking wet from the storm which they had successfully sailed through and were not in the least shaken up.
"Say what, my dear?" Jack teased with a smug grin. "Don't say 'I told you so'?"
Alex groaned as she took a seat at the wooden table, accompanied by the other two men. "Yeah – that."
Jack let out an accomplished, hearty laugh as he occupied the vacant seat beside Alex. "I say we have a toast. Bring the rum!"
"And what exactly are we toastin' to, Capt'n?" Gibbs inquired.
"That Captain Jack Sparrow is never wrong. Ever."
Alex rolled her eyes at Jack's statement. Tilting her head to the side, she began to squeeze the water from her short black hair before shaking her head like a dog, causing her cheek-length bangs to cover her eyes. With a small chuckle, she shook it from her face and ran a hand through her wet hair. "I can't wait until the day where I'll use that against you, Sparrow, because I know there will be a time when you will be wrong."
"You do that, Keller. And that's Captain Sparrow to you" Jack corrected as he uncorked a bottle and took a large swig before sloppily pouring into two tin mugs. Alex and Gibbs wasted no time in claiming theirs as Jack kept the remaining bottle.
They spent the evening in pleasant leisure as they drank rum, talked loudly, and laughed merrily. It reminded Alex of the numerous nights back in Port Royal with her old friends such as Fred or Charlie, and some men like Jonathan or Thomas. Gibbs was never without a tale to speak of and Jack was never without a witty comment or clever remark. Alex herself didn't fail to amuse neither Jack nor Gibbs; their deep, chorused laughter encouraged her to continue with her antics.
Further on in the evening, after Jack curiously brought up their past voyage together when Alex was a child, their conversation revolved around Gibb's memory of the 'hellcat' back on the Dauntless those eight years ago.
"...she made a habit of tryin' to steal Lieutenant Norrington's hat and hiding it, but ever after a warning from her father and a fierce scolding from the Lieutenant himself, she still would try her best." Gibbs laughed and looked over at the proud, beaming Alex with a wink.
"Actually, its Commodore Norrington now, mate." Alex corrected with a smirk. "But now that'd explain why he especially doesn't fancy me back in Port Royal." She pondered with a loud laugh. "'tis a shame, I'll admit." She added with a mocking smirk.
"I'll be warning you now, Keller," Jack said in a warning tone, "if you even touch my hat then I'll throw you overboard."
"Sounds like fun." Alex chuckled, bringing her mug up to her lips with a wink. Jack raised his brow cleverly.
"Ahem…Alex?"
All three heads at the table turned to see Will standing in the doorway. His wet hair fell to his shoulders, and his clothes appeared dry and different. Black breeches covered his legs while his white button-up shirt warmed his chest. With the intent stare towards Alex, it was clear that he wished to speak to her, but Jack and Gibb's didn't seem to notice. After glancing at Jack and Gibbs then at the door a few times, they just looked at each other in confusion until Alex began to obviously nod her head towards the exit. Gibb's widened in realization as he quickly stood, but Jack just remained in his undisturbed position and lazily watched them all.
"Aye, tonight will about do it. G'night, lass. Capt'n." Gibbs gave a nod and then quickly departed.
Expectantly, Alex stared at Jack, but all he did was stare back over the tip of the rum bottle as he took a drink.
"Um, Jack…do you mind?"
"Mind what, lass?"
Alex rolled her eyes. "I'd like a moment or two with Will."
Jack's eyes shifted from Alex to Will, then back to Alex with a shrug. "Ol' Jack's charm is too much for you to handle in one night, aye? I understand." With a wicked grin, Jack addressed to Will, "I should be taken in small doses so the lasses won't get too overwhelmed." Alex glared at him in annoyance and he loudly coughed. "I'll be taking my lovey with me, so if you'd excuse me…" In one swift motion, he snatched the almost-empty bottle of amber liquid as he stood while he simultaneously whispered deeply into Alex's ear, "Good luck." With that, she watched him with a confused expression as he disappeared out of the galley and left them in their privacy.
Good luck? For what? That I won't yell at him, that I'll-
"Alex?" Will said as he stepped inside and sat beside her where Jack was only moments before.
"Hm?" She shortly replied.
"Can I talk to you for a moment?"
"We're talking now, aren't we?"
"Yeah…" Will replied, then cleared his throat. "Look, about last night—"
"Forget about it."
"No, listen to me. I should have never spoken to you like that—"
"Keep it, I don't care."
"—I just had a lot of stuff on my mind, and I know you wanted to talk to me about it because you're my friend. I wasn't being much of one with the way I acted."
Alex listened in silence until he paused and looked sincerely into her eyes. She felt more angry than hurt, but because of the hold he had over her…she knew she couldn't be mad at him for long. She never could, ever since they were young.
Will reached for her hand and held it with his calloused blacksmith's hand, which she looked down at in hidden surprise before carefully staring back into the deep brown eyes that begged clemency.
"Forgive me?" He finally asked.
Alex firmly stared at him as he uneasily stared back himself, thinking that she wasn't going to forgive him. The thought was instantly forgotten when she cracked a small smile, and heavily sighed, "You'll scrub the decks for me tomorrow?"
"A week if I have to." He softly chuckled.
"Well…then I guess I could I forgive you..." She winked, and Will sighed in relief
"I promise I won't ever be like that again." He said, and then gave her a firm hug.
"You better not. Then I'll start doing what Jack's friends do and slap you."
"If that's what it takes," Will chuckled, and asked as he broke the hug, "That was some storm, wasn't it?" He ran a hand through his wet and slowly drying hair.
"Yeah, I was predicting it but Jack wouldn't listen." Alex fibbed innocently, quickly glancing at the door in the corner of her eye to make sure that the pirate himself wasn't listening and about to jump in and correct her, then mock her some more.
"I'm just glad you're not hurt." He smiled with relief. "I know I haven't been around lately for you, in my head or physically. If there's anything you ever want to tell me, feel free to, okay? I'll do the same for you. We're best friends – we don't have to keep anything from each other."
"Right." Alex scoffed with a wink.
"I'm being serious, Alex. Anything."
Okay, if anything…I need you, Will. She stared at him for a brief moment before glancing at her nearly empty mug of rum. She sighed. We don't have to keep anything from each other. "Well…" She started hesitantly.
He watched her curiously and intently. "Go on?"
She briefly grinned nervously, and deeply sighed to calm her nerves. "Will, I…" She started, but when she heard a sudden loud, slurred voice singing from outside, no doubt Jack's, it caused her to stop and look up into Will's eyes, his beautiful brown eyes… "I forgot what I was going to say." She sheepishly chuckled.
He laughed. "I'm sure it will come back to you."
"Perhaps, but not now. I'm feeling really tired right now." She faked a yawn while stretching her arms.
"That makes two of us then." He laughed. "We should head down and get some rest; that storm really wiped me out, and who knows what Jack's got up his sleeve for us tomorrow."
"You go on ahead, I'm just going to finish this," Alex raised her mug.
He stood to his feet, the chair scraping the wood behind him. "I'll see you tomorrow, then. Goodnight, Alex."
"Night, Will."
When he left, Alex tilted her head back and downed the rest of the rum without stopping for air. She knew could never be mad at Will for long, that was just proven, but she couldn't tell him everything, either. Not now…
…but would she ever?
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A/N: This was a short chapter, so I apologize...but know that I have more already written and ready, I just need to find time to edit them and submit them when the time comes. But right now I'd like to take the time to thank my wonderful reviewers!
This includes Sirael (Thanks!) doctress (That would be more than utterly delicious,mate! Thanks!) VagrantCandy (She used Elizabeth's full name to see if Anamaria knew of her, and to also show that she wasn't one of Jack's 'women'. Otherwise, it would just be her usual nicknames for her. Hope that clears it up!) JosieAndThePussyCats (Haha, thank you! And I agree, Anamaria is an awesome female pirate. Glad you enjoyed this chapter!) Sparrows Rum (He is humerous, no? Thanks for reading!) Starpossum (I'm glad you're enjoying this story! It's nice to know that people actually enjoy this, hehe. Thanks for reading!) Terriah (I know, that's one of my favorite parts in this story...it's just so...ahh...) and SilverWolfSingsToTheMoon (Oh wow, thanks for telling your friends about this! Tell them to let me know how they're liking this, it's always nice to have a review from a reader! And thanks for yours!)
Thank you all!
Okay, so who has seen Charlie and the Chocolate Factory? (waves arms about) If you haven't already, go see it now!
Please review!