Disclaimer: The characters of PotC are not mine in any way, shape, or form. They belong to Disney and Gore Verbinski.

Ch. 2: Jack

"Hello, luv." Startled, Hanna gasped as the gorgeous pirate continued to unabashedly stare at her.

"Who are you?" she asked, cautiously approaching the cell.

"Captain Jack Sparrow at your service, my lady," he answered, removing his tri-cornered hat and giving her a sweeping bow. He was sporting a red bandana, which was tied across his forehead, keeping his dark dreadlocks in check. Everything else that he wore seemed to be standard pirate gear from his boots to his few gold-capped teeth. But one thing that struck her as unusual was the silver trinkets he had woven through his hair and the colorful beads dangling from his braided goatee.

"It's not possible," she whispered. "The Captain Jack Sparrow?"

"In the flesh," he grinned mischievously at her. "And who might you be?"

"I'm nobody special," she answered quickly, looking at the floor. He frowned at this.

"That's not true, luv. Someone obviously thinks you're special," he said, pointing at the large diamond engagement ring on her left hand. He's called me 'luv' twice in the space of a minute, she thought giddily. What is wrong with me? Why do I care so much – he's just a pirate.

"Thanks for reminding me," she said sarcastically. "But I'm pretty sure he thinks my rather large dowry is special, not me. There's a big difference."

"Ah," said Jack, knowingly. He continued to gaze at her, making her feel a tad shy. Thankfully, he saved her from embarrassment by breaking the uncomfortable silence.

"Won't you tell Captain Jack your name?"

"I'm Hannah Miller," she told him, and they shook hands through the bars. "It's good to meet you." She felt a strange tingling sensation run up her arm as they touched but she quickly shrugged it off.

"And who is the lucky man?" She glared at him. "Or shall I say, unlucky man," Jack added, raising his eyebrows.

"His name is Commodore James Norrington, and I hate him," she stated emphatically. Jack made a disgusted face.

"That makes two of us – he was the one who caught me doing what I do best."

"I didn't think you could be caught - I've heard and read so much about you, Captain Sparrow!" she gushed. "You were always my favorite pirate growing up – you always had the most exciting adventures. I can't believe I'm actually getting to meet you in person." He smiled wryly, clearly enjoying the complements.

"Please, call me Jack. I'm not one for formalities, savvy?"

"Alright then, Jack," she said smiling. "But you must call me Hannah as well." He nodded to show that he understood.

"Did you really sack Nassau Port without firing a single shot?" Jack nodded, grinning proudly.

"Wow!" she exclaimed, breathlessly, amazed by his awesome feat. "How did you do it?" Jack was about to reply when suddenly they heard footsteps.

"Quick, hide!" whispered Jack. She took his advice, not wishing to be discovered conversing with the pirate as she didn't want to get in trouble with Norrington. He'd prevent her from ever seeing Jack again, which was, for some reason, a very upsetting thought. Hiding in the shadows behind some crates of gunpowder, she watched, unseen, as a guard came down the rickety stairs with Jack's meal.

"Here you are, Sparrow." The guard unlocked the cell just long enough to give Jack the tray, which was full of stale leftovers from the day's lunch.

"That's Captain Sparrow," Jack corrected him. "Is there any chance that I may be getting dinner as well?" The guard smiled evilly.

"I wouldn't count on it." Jack sighed, clearly disappointed.

"Just asking."

"I don't know why we bother to feed you at all, seeing as you have an appointment with the gallows," the guard commented.

"Trust me, the Commodore is a smart man - you wouldn't want to hear me when I'm hungry," Jack informed him. The guard locked him back in and then without a goodbye, made his way up the stairs. Hannah waited another full minute after she hadn't heard anything before coming out of her hiding spot.

"You're going to be hung when we arrive! How awful!" she cried, upset that he was going to have to die. Jack shrugged.

"You don't seem too broken up about it," she commented.

"I'm really not," he assured her. "If it's my time, it's my time. But I'm not going down without a fight. Perhaps half of me still thinks that I can worm my way out of this situation somehow."

"How were you caught?" she asked him curiously, sitting down on the floor in front of his cell.

"I had just sunk a ship belonging to the East India Trading Company, and stolen their rather large shipment of tea. The Commodore just happened to be in the area, and caught us by surprise. They boarded my ship, and rather than fight them I surrendered, knowing that my crew hadn't recovered enough from the last fight. As soon as I was captured, I was branded with this." He pulled up his sleeve to reveal a large 'P' imprinted onto his tanned skin.

"Ouch," said Hannah, wincing. "That must've hurt."

"It hurt terribly," he agreed, remembering the red hot agony he underwent that day. "I have your bloody friend Norrington to thank for that." She scowled at the pirate.

"He's not my friend. We're barely even acquaintances! It's not fair that I have to marry him." Briefly she told Jack how her parents had set up the marriage without even consulting her.

"I'm sorry," said Jack quietly. "It's a shame that such a pretty young thing like you has to marry a stuffy old codger like Norrington, especially if you don't love him." He looked at her intently. Hannah inwardly glowed at being called pretty…Norrington wasn't one who handed out complements, not that she would've listened to him anyway. But this pirate had nothing to gain by flattery…he complemented her freely.

"You shouldn't go through with it," he advised. "There's got to be an alternative…you deserve to enjoy the finer things in life, although they may not be the things you are used to," he said cryptically.

"I won't be going through with the marriage," she told him defiantly. "As soon as we arrive in London, I'll run away. I'll sell my engagement ring and live off that money until I can find a job." They continued to talk until she ran out of things to tell about herself…Jack seemed so interested in her life, so she didn't see any harm in indulging him. Saying goodbye, she promised to return the next day at the same time.

"I'm looking forward to it, luv," called Jack as she made her way up the stairs. He's just saying that because he's bored and would welcome the chance to talk to anyone, whoever they may be. It has nothing to do with him wanting to see me, she rationalized.

Over the next few weeks, she always went to visit Jack after lunch. Somehow she managed to bring him extra food that she'd nicked from the kitchens. She grew quite fond of him, and enjoyed listening to his strangely lilting voice as he spun tales of his many adventures. They discovered that they had much in common, from their distaste of navy men down to having a certain disregard for the rules. After-lunch quickly became Hannah's favorite part of the day. Each day she found herself lingering longer and longer…Jack was great company and helped to keep her spirits up.

But one day when she went to visit the pirate, Hannah uncharacteristically stormed down the stairs, her fists clenched. Jack picked up on her foul mood immediately.

"What's wrong, luv?" he asked concernedly. "You look tense."

"You'd be too if you'd just been kissed by Commodore Norrington," she screeched.

"Ew," Jack wrinkled his nose. "I see your point."

"Ohmigosh…ohmigosh," she muttered, pacing the length of the hold. She could still feel hips dry, parched lips on hers, and wiped her mouth with her sleeve for the umpteenth time. At least he didn't try to use tongue – she shuddered at the thought.

"Calm down, luv," he instructed. "All that pacing is giving me a bloody headache."

"Easy for you to say," she snapped. "How would you like it if he was your first kiss?"

"Ah, but I have just the thing to counter it," he said mock-seriously.

"I didn't know they gave you mouthwash," Hannah quipped.

"Very funny, luv." Jack rolled his eyes. "I'm afraid I can't do anything about Norrington but…did I ever tell you that not only am I famous for pirating but in certain circles I'm also famous for giving massages as well?" He pointed at himself when he talked. Hannah gave him a look.

"Even if I did allow you to touch me, it wouldn't matter seeing as you can't come out of your cell."

"Yes, that's regrettable," Jack said mournfully. "I sure could do a number on your back, work out the kinks and all that." In her mind, a pleasurable picture surfaced of her moaning under Jack's talented fingers while they caressed and rubbed her back. She blushed crimson, thankfully the darkness saved her from embarrassment. Where did that come from?

"Let me see your hand." Curious as to what Jack had in mind, she held out her left hand. He covered her small delicate hand with his own two hands and began to slowly rub. He started with the tops and then worked his way inward to her palm.

"How does that feel?" he asked her softly.

"Mmmm…very nice," she responded. He continued to massage her fingers, lightly stroking each one. How could something as simple as a hand massage be so sensual, she wondered, as she closed her eyes, relaxing under his gentle touch.

"Don't stop," she protested when he slowed his ministrations.

"Sorry luv, me hands are getting tired," he smirked at her reluctance to pull her hand away.

"Thank you," she said softly.

"You're very welcome," he answered her with a slight bow. "Why did you hold out your left hand and not your right?" She shrugged.

"I guess because I'm left handed…I just did it automatically."

"Really…that's interesting," he mused.

"Why?" she prodded him.

"I am left handed as well."

"I didn't know pirates could write," she said without missing a beat.

"Of course we can!" Jack defended his kind. "I happen to be very literate young missy…" but then he saw her smirking face and realized that she was just teasing him. Their playful banter continued until Hannah made up her mind it was time for her to leave. She didn't want Norrington discover where she'd been so eager to go to after lunch.

"Until tomorrow then, luv," said Jack, smiling at her.

"See you later, Jack," Hannah called over her shoulder and then she raced up the stairs as fast as her legs would carry her. When she reached the top deck, she was surprised to see dark, heavy clouds crowding the sky. Lightening flashed off in the distance, and she noticed that the ship was rocking more than usual. Occasionally, waves lapped up onto the deck.

"Storm's a comin', miss," one of the sailors confirmed her worried look.

"There you are, Hannah dearest," said Norrington, appearing out of nowhere behind her.

"I want you to say in your cabin during the storm…it's for your own safety." Hannah was not going to sit around idly when she could possibly be of some use to the crew, no matter the danger. After all, weren't they all in danger during a storm? She opened her mouth to inform the Commodore of this, but before she could say a word, she was pitched forward into the side of the ship and knocked her head against the wood railing.

Vaguely she saw James approaching her, and then her vision swam and she saw no more.

The storm raged on, as Hannah fell to the deck's floor, unconscious.

End Ch. 2

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