Author's note:

Way too sorry about how long this took. Just life fuckin' with me. Just know that this story will be finished. I'm just doing so many things right now. I am writing the other chapters, its just a matter getting on the computer and posted. My goal is to have this done before the next movie comes out. Crossing my fingers.

Chapter Eight: Tortuga, Repairs, Realizations

The air is rancid in the pub. A place made of old driftwood and Caribbean palm trees. The bar is close to the exit long enough for eight people to sit in front of it with a fat burly man walking back and forth serving drinks. The floors are uneven, warped from years of water and beer being poured over it. The lights are scatter intermittently around the cramped box with tables line the walls some more in shadows than others. The men are falling all over themselves as the time turns to the witching hour. The music is raucous but good for dancing and the prostitutes are making good coin. In a corner, one table placed mostly in the shadows sat Jack and Ana, the rest of the crew either drunk, on their way to drunk or laid up in the arms of a lover, had long since left. This made it easier for Jack and Ana despite the noise, to discuss various topics including her sister.

But as of an hour ago, Ana hasn't had a word to say to Jack instead she is fixated on the picture laid before her. She turned it upside down, sideways, diagonal. At first Jack tried to joke with her about it but when she continued to ignore him he just went back to is drink. After a few minutes of considering if Anamaria would direct any of her attention towards him, he finally let his eyes wonder across the pub. Eventually he catches the eye of a strumpet in an emerald green dress with brownish blond hair and perk breasts. She sashays over to him, sliding onto his lap.

"Wut it'll be luv?" she said in a sultry voice.

Jack eyed her intently, "Oh, I don't know maybe a little…" he leans into her whisper in her ear. A moment later she giggles.

Ana pretends not to notice the make out session that has started across from her. And yet a flare of hot jealously and annoyance courses through her. You can't get mad Ana you pushed him away. But dammit he didn't have to jump on sumthin that quick! Slightly shaking her head she goes back to examining the wanted poster before her. Every since she has gotten that picture she has had a tingling feeling coursing through her. Something about the drawing is making her think that she is missing something. She can't figure it out for the life of her and no matter how much she tries to nudge the feeling in her to provide her some guidance she gets nothing.

Jack is enjoying the company as much as he could while he jealously wished he was the piece of paper that holds Ana rapt attention. The way she fiercely grips the sheet creates a fantasy in his mind of her holding him in such a manner as he grinds into her. He could almost her hear pleasure ridden voice, screaming his name. As he fantasizes about Ana, the woman in his lap has begun stroking his inner thigh moving slowly to the aching rock hard dick. His turns to the woman his dark eyes lit with carnal baseness as a sinful smile develops. He grabs her hair pushing it to his mouth his tongue flicking out in anticipation…

"Jack!" Ana says in a shocked voice.

Jack stopped instantly a growl emanating from him is his only acknowledgement.

Ana doesn't look up from the picture when she says, "Piss off tart. Me and the captain have business to discuss." She tosses a coin at the woman before the woman could respond.

The woman stares at Jack who is staring at Ana. Ana only looks up long enough to glare at the woman for still being present at the table. Jack takes note of the seriousness in Anamaria's face and unceremoniously dumps the woman off his lap. The woman stumbles to prevent herself from being face down on the floor. Stuffing her money between her breasts she storms off in a huff.

"Well," he snarls. He is hard as a rock and his ability to satisfy it has stumbled onto a new customer. Jack no doubt can get another woman but he wanted it now!

Ana just ignored his annoyance instead she said, "We're going back to Port Royal."

Jack blinks a moment. Then sticking a finger in his ear, he wiggles it a bit before saying, "Sorry luv. I thought I 'eard you say we going back to Port Royal."

"I did and I mean it…"

"Anamaria, last time I looked I'm the Captain of the Black Pearl and I don't recall saying anything about going to Port Royal especially now that there's an Admiral berth there.

Ana just stared at him before saying, "Jack we have to go. It's important…"

"Why is it important?" he leans back in his seat waiting for her reply.

"My sister. I think this person might know my sister," she says earnestly.

She could help but notice the air of disbelief on Jack's face. He leaned back into his sit a minute stroking his beard before saying, "How the hell did you divine that from a picture?"

Sighing knowing she is about to hit the hardest part, "Look Jack. Me and my sister have always been connected. When we was kids we always knew what the other was feeling, like when I was sad she would be too even if she wasn't around me to see me sad. We had a feel for when one was hurt and would be able to get a sense from someone who has hurt us. After we split, I still knew me sister was okay but, I got so caught up in my life, I began to ignore the feeling," her voice starts the quiver a bit, "I had to to survive if I was to find her later. But now the feeling has gotten mighty powerful and when I look at this drawin', I feel a strong connection to her. I know it in me bones that if I find this person I will find me sister. And I can't do no findin' sitting in a bar in Tortuga. I have to get back to Port Royal Jack. I have to."

Jack listened intently noticing the pain and urgency laced together in her voice. It pained him to hear her need but Jack had to be practical. More than half the crew was shit out of their mind drunk and won't be likely to sail until well in the morrow morn. And heading to Port Royal knowing that there is an Admiral at its berth waiting for them would be the crazy thing in the world even for jack. The men won't hear of it. They think he's daft but that would push them too far and he couldn't blame.

But a moment later his contemplating came to an abrupt end when Anamaria jumped up from the table.

"I'm going Jack. With or without your help." She spun on heel and in a determined paced stormed out the bar.

Jack sat a moment before swearing harshly. Getting up and walking out he tosses money at the barkeep. The woman from earlier comes up to him but he just pushes past her.

Anamaria wiped her eye harshly. She felt like a fool thinking she could ask Jack to help her like that. She hoped that whatever feelings he had for her would make him help her especially after she told how she knew why it was important but he just stared at her like he ate something sour. Yet as much as she hates to admit it she understood his response. He has to think about more than her needs. He has a crew and that crew would think it folly to go back to Port Royal at this point especially after just fleeing from it to avoid capture by an Admiral's fleet. That was just asking too much from him with no guarantee of riches at the end of the day. No, she should have just told Jack it was time for them to go their separate ways. But a part of her couldn't let him go because she needed him to help her through what is to come.

Enough of that Ana. That's over. Sighing she had to think. She couldn't count on Jack. She used all her currency with him. She needed to figure out a way to get a ship so that she can get back to Port Royal. But that will cost and cost a lot. And she couldn't afford to work her way on a ship. She needs to leave and leave now.

She was so deep in her thoughts that she didn't hear anyone behind her until she was ripped around. Thankfully she has lightening reflexes because her knife was out and ready for jabbing by the time she faced…

"Jack," her had swung out slapping him soundly, "I could have gut you, ye bloody idiot."

Jack gripped his jaw a bit before shaking his head. Once the pain subsided he glowered at Ana.

"Walking down the street oblivious to all around you in Tortuga is the dumbest thing in whole of the world."

"I can take care of meself!" she snaps. She turns storming down the street.

"Right luv," he falls in step with her. "You didn't give me a chance to answer you back there."

She rolled her eyes, "You didn't need to. I saw your face." Stopping again she turns again facing him, "Jack I understand. You can't help me no more. You got responsibilities and I can't keep asking you to shirk them for me."

Jack nods, "True indeed but you have and I promised to help and a what's a man who can't keep his promises…"

"A pirate," she said with an arched eyebrow.

Jack tilts his head. Then nods, "True but," he straightens taking on a more nobler air than one who has lived as a pirate should, "But I didn't make the promise to you as a pirate but as a man. And as a man I don't make promises that I can't keep, especially to a beautiful…loyal friend such as you."

Ana didn't miss the way he looked at her in particular when he called her beautiful. Her heart did a hard thump in her chest as she stared at him silently assessing what he said. Finally she nods before asking, "So you'll take me?"

Jack sighed a bit, "Aye. I'll take you but it has to happen my way Ana."

She nods grateful that he is willing.

"First we got to find some crew whose sober enough to take out the Pearl. Then we…I have to promise then double pay for the trip…"

Ana's eyes widen, "Jack. You can't afford it. We 'aven't been exactly bringin' in barrels of treasures."

"Yeh, I know but I 'ave to offer them somethin' to make 'em go. So we have to make a stop to Isla Muerta…"

"Jack we can't. We wiped the place clean…"

Jack smiled evilly at her, "Not so clean."

Shaking her head, "those coins are cursed Jack. You can't be willin' to do that!"

Rolls his eyes and in a drunken gait walks away from her. Ana follows hissing at him that he is crazy and how she can't let him do that to the crew but he just ignores her until they reach the Pearl. By the time they get there Anamaria is so incensed that she ready to pound Jack's head in a bloody pulp.

They walk the plank climbing aboard. Taking the short walk to the Captain's cabin, Jack allows Anamaria to enter first before following. He closes the door locking it before turning a serious eye on her.

"Too many ears luv. Now like I was sayin'. I'll get them money from the Isla…"

"I know what you said and like I said you can't because there is nothing there. We took it all and divide up wiv the crew. It's all gone 'cept the coins."

Jack smirk, "Well luv, not quite. You see I hid some of the more valuable things before the crew came for a look-see. I figure a rainy day might come and I'll need it. I guess it has come. Drink." He holds out a rum bottle and seeing her not taking it, take a swig himself.

Ana's mouth hung open. She didn't know if she should be pissed that he cheated them or happy that he did because he has bribe money. Then her brain caught up and she realized what Jack is doing for her.

"Jack, you would give that up for me."

There is a lot I would give up for you, well not a lot but enough he thinks but says, "don't' worry luv. It won't break me."

She rolled her eyes, "You are a dirty little cheat."

"I'm a pirate. It comes with the territory. Now here's what we're doing. We will leave first light…"

"Jack, no. I have to leave now…"

"On what, hmm? No one is sober not even me really," he pauses a moment, "although I would prefer to be drunker than I am." With a wave of his hand he says, "The point is no ship is leaving port until first light. Secondly even if you want my help then we need a crew and they have to rustled up. Thirdly, I don't know if you have paid attention but I have smell a storm brewin' so any ideas of ridin' the waves on a skiff is out of the question, well mostly."

Anamaria's patience is running thin especially because Jack has the nerve to make sense. She wants to go now but she is at the mercy of Jack and the truth of her situation.

"We also have to plan how we berth and walk around Port Royal without drawing attention to ourselves so that we can find this bloke whom we have no idea if the bastard is still in Port Royal or the island now I think about. Finally we have to convince him not to cut off important parts of me anatomy while at the same time getting him to talk." He walks a little before flopping into one of the armchairs in his cabin, " How do you propose that we do that?" shaking his head, "There's so much to do."

Ana snarls a bit, "When do ye plan on doin' it, hmm. It won't get done while we hover in yer cabin while you suck and caress a rum bottle."

Jack's hand stop mid-stroke on his beloved drink, "She don't like being insulted," he takes a swig.

Ana rolled her eyes frustrated. She glanced around before walking to the chair taking a seat. She turned over the comments Jack made then said, "I have no choice…"

"You have a choice. My help my way or not," he said in a quiet cool voice.

They stare at each other intensely. It suddenly became hot in the cabin. Ana didn't want to let jack know that the heat between then was affecting her but she still clear her throat before saying, "Maybe we should get the crew together.

Jack remained silent, slowly taking swigs from his rum jug. He studied Ana from head to toe, his mind's eye slowly removing her clothes. When he focuses on her face a wicked smile forms on his lips. She wants me. He thinks.

Ana swallowed, her lips parted to try and find some cool air to breath. A part of her was melting under his gaze. There is a longing there that was making her moist in very interesting places. She had to fight herself to prevent the shifting of her legs. For a brief moment, Ana closed her eyes but not before seeing the faint smirk on Jack's sexy lips.

Placing a determined expression on her face, Ana stood. She decided that now was the time to run for her life before she finds herself taken to a place of pleasure that she is determined to avoid.

Ana headed for the door saying, "Let's go…" However Jack grabs her arm, pulling her to him. He captured her lips in a searing kiss. At first Ana didn't react, keeping her hands stiff at her sides as Jack pulled her close. One hand slides under her shirt, the other gripping her head. She opened her mouth to protest but jack then took the opportunity to slip in his tongue effective silencing and drawing out a moan from her. He savored her taste, the spicy flavor mixed with a touch of rum. Ana found her hands had a life of their own because they were in his crazy main of hair, gliding through the textures of rough dread and silky strains. His kiss was burning her soul, taking away tension, and making her forget everything including herself. Ana was caught up in the fiery touch, the fierce emotions. The intensity was driving her mad with need and want.

Ana's hands moved from Jack's hair, down his strong back, pulling closer. Jack's left hand began fondling her breast, stroking and tugging as his right cupped her face. Ana moan as she placed her hands on Jack's chest ready to remove his jacket when Jack pulled away from her. His fierce eyes gazed into hers a moment. Then he stepped away.

"Let's go get that crew, luv," he grumbled.

Ana stood stunned, unblinking. Noticing that Jack has left, she gathered her confused thoughts and annoyance for letting Jack get her all hot and bothered. She straighten her shirt and left.

Getting some men that could see straight was a lot harder than both Jack and Ana anticipated but they managed to get fifteen plus Gibbs, who would mind the ship while Jack and Ana were investigating Port Royal. By first light though they were had already set sail, the men sobered up enough to do so. Four hours later they were hit by a ferocious storm.

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