Feeling stiff and achy Ruby opened her eyes and shifted awkwardly. The uncomfortable matress she was laying on and gave no mercy and the stale smell of the air reminded her where she was. Groaning Ruby stretched her legs out only to have one of them rendered by the iron clamp.
"Damn you Sparrow,"muttered Ruby as she looked down at the iron clamp around her ankle.
"It's Cap'n Sparrow," Ruby moaned again as she lifted her head and seen her husband sitting at his desk with his feet propped up on it.
"As I told you, if I have to be your wife then I shall call you what I damn well please,"said Ruby bitterly as she sat up leaning on her elbows,"and I am quite sure Sparrow is one of the kinder ones I can think of."
"Aye I've been called worse,"shrugged Jack.
"Will you take this bloody thing off my leg,"said Ruby nodding to the clamp,"I must relieve myself." Ruby watched as Jack's eyes fell on the clamp then wandered up her bare legs that were barely covered by the large shirt she wore.
"Bastard,"muttered Ruby."Same ta ya love,"smirked Jack. Ruby scowled as she knew she couldn't argue with him, she was as much of a bastard as he was.
"Take this damn thing off Jack and I will give you want you want,"huffed Ruby not even bothering to banter with him.
"A good romp in the sheets? Nah love don't need ta be taken yer irons off fer that,"smirked Jack.
"Not that you daft idiot,"spat Ruby,"I give up I will tell you where the bloody treasure is if you take this vile thing off and let me go at the Crown's next port." Jack considered her offer as he dropped his legs off the desk and stood up. He sauntered over to the bed and looked down at Ruby with a creased brow.
"As temptin' as that is love, yer not the jewel,"said Jack as he squated down to eye level with Ruby.
"Really? You were the one who said I was,"said Ruby.
"That I did,"nodded Jack,"but see love, yer secret is no more. Yer not the jewel,"said Jack simply with a smile. Ruby looked at Jack curiously trying to figure out what he knew.
"If I am not the jewel then why keep me?"asked Ruby.
"Cause love, ya may not be the jewel but it doesn't mean ya don't have it,"said Jack. Ruby inhaled sharply as she became aware of the ring on her finger, slowly she pushed it around so the jewel was in her plam and she closed her fist tightly. Jack leaned over and seen what she had done with her ring.
"That's right love,"said Jack nodding,"yer pretty lil' ring there love is the jewel, and if ya think ya can hide still, I know that beautiful engravin' on it is the map." Ruby looked wide eyed at Jack surprised that he could have figured out the whole secret without her help.
"Now's the time that I start offerin' up deals,"said Jack.
"What?"asked Ruby.
"Now we're on our way ta India and either way love I'm getting my way,"said Jack,"Now here's the deal, ya give me the ring and I'll let ya go, but if ya don't yer never leavin' the Pearl." Ruby raised her hand and slapped Jack straight across the face.
"If you think for one godforsaken minute you will ever have my ring or that treasure you must be the stupidest man to ever live,"spat Ruby. Jack rubbed his cheek where Ruby slapped him.
"I told ya love, either way I'm gettin' me way,"said Jack softly,"and remember love yer my wife so any measures ya push me ta take will be over looked cause yer mine." Jack slowly got up and walked back over to the desk and sat down. Ruby sat up straight and looked at Jack with a deathly sight. Jack just sat at his desk and smirked at her with self content. Ruby looked down at her hand with the ring then up at Jack.
"Answer me a question Jack,"said Ruby softly,"when you get to the island where the treasure is how will you find it? Do you think my father was such a fool as to place a giant sign saying here is the Hellstorm treasure." Jack nodded as Ruby's words made sense.
"I suppose you haven't figured that one out,"said Ruby in a mocking tone. Jack inhaled deeply as he realized that Ruby was right and she still held part of the secret.
"Aye mind tellin' love since chances are I'll be findin' out on me own?"asked Jack. Ruby smiled at this as she leaned back on her hands and looked at Jack.
"Of course I will tell you,"said Ruby,"for a price." Jack's smirk faded as he seen Ruby turning the tables on him and playing his own games against him.
"And what woulda ya be wantin'?"asked Jack sitting up and leaning forward.
"For starters,"said Ruby,"I want free run of this ship and this bloody thing taken off. Then I want to keep my ring, if you want the bloody treasure so badly then you have it, I will go with you and once you have it I will take my ring with me."
"That could be worked out,"said Jack nodding.
"And I want this marriage dissolved,"said Ruby. Jack raised an eyebrow at her last request, he didn't want to let her out of the marriage. Sighing he sat back and thought of what would happen if he told her he wouldn't allow for the marriage to disolve, how would he find out the final part of the secret? But then again he had a good month before they came even close to India, so he'd have a lengthy time to find out the secret on his own, he'd also have a lengthy time to convince Ruby to the marriage.
"Okay,"nodded Jack. Ruby smiled happily as she shuffled towards the end of the bed and flung her cuffed ankle over the edge of the bed with expectation. Jack grimaced as he got up and recieved the keys for Ruby's leg cuffs, he didn't want to let her go just yet. He atleast wanted a chance to see if Ruby would perform some of her wifely duties.
Once the clamp was off Ruby drew her leg in and rubbed her ankle trying to get rid of of the redness. Jack watched as she quietly got up and flexed then picked up her nightgown which was dry.
"Ya canna walk around the ship in that,"said Jack eyeing the gown.
"Well you cannot expect me to wear this,"said Ruby looking over the shirt she wore,"and I'm not wearing men's clothing."
"Hold on,"huffed Jack as he walked out of the cabin. Ruby rolled her eyes and sat back down on the bed, she looked at her ring. She was honest when she said she didn't care if she had the treasure, she just wanted the ring, it was the only thing she had left of her father.
Jack came back into the cabin with an armful of brown material. Ruby creased her brow as she watched him drop the bundle on the bed. Slowly she spread it out to see a very plain looking brown dress that looked like a burlap sack. Looking up at Jack, Ruby gave Jack a doubtful stare.
"It's Anamarie's, she wears it when she needs ta be on land and blend in,"explained Jack,"it's the only other thing ya gonna wear besides a pair of breeches."
"Oh really?"challenged Ruby.
"Ya may not like it, but on this ship yer either me wife or me crew and either way ya'll listen and obey me,"said Jack,"and I'm suggestin' ye take the wife choice cause I'm sure there's jobs that need ta be done that yer well bred hands couldna handle." Ruby looked at Jack angrily for a moment before she grabbed the dress and pulled it into her lap.
"Well atleast it does not have a bloody corset,"huffed Ruby as she stood up,"may I have some privacy?"
"Nay love, my cabin,"smirked Jack before sitting on the edge of the bed and pulled off his boots,"I've got some sleep ta be catching up on." Ruby looked around the room for a place to change but found none that were private enough. Sighing she dropped the dress back down on the bed and proceeded to turn around to unbutton her shirt. She could feel Jack's eyes burning into the back of her as he watched her but as long as she didn't have watch him watch her. Carefully Ruby pulled on the dress and did the buttons up at the back as best she could, the dress hung on her unlike her ones at home that hugged her curves and enhanced what she had.
"This looks like a bloody sack,"muttered Ruby.
"Good then none of me crew will be geting the wrong ideas,"said Jack rolling on to his back. Ruby ignored Jack's comment as she took advantage of her freedom and walked across the cabin to the door.
"And where the bloody hell do ya think yer going?"spat Jack.
"Away from you,"snapped Ruby as she pulled the door open and walked out of it slamming it behind her. Jack sat up slightly and looked at the door, he shook his head and laid back down.
Ruby walked across the deck of the ship ignoring the stares from the crew. She walked up to the wheel where Anamarie and Gibbs were. Gibbs greeted her with a smile while Anamarie raised an eyebrow at her. Silently Ruby approached them and it was obvious from her expression she was not happy.
"Ya kill Jack?"asked Anamarie.
"I wish,"muttered Ruby.
"I can relate ta that feelin',"said Anamarie.
"So 'ave ya come ta an agreement?"asked Gibbs."We have,"nodded Ruby.
"Well it's good ta see ya gettin' along,"said Gibbs.
"It is good to see alot of things Mr.Gibbs, anything on this pearl is not one of them,"snapped Ruby. Anamarie snickered at Ruby's comment, she looked over at the smaller woman who had a look of fury and determination on her face. Ruby rolled her eyes and walked away from the two of them towards the side of the ship.
"I'd 'ave ta say Gibbs, I'm startin' ta like her,"laughed Anamarie,"she's gonna keep things interestin'."
Hours later Ruby walked into Jack's cabin to find him still sleeping. Scowling at him she quietly walked around the cabin inspecting her surroundings. It was obvious that Jack wasn't the neatest of people but he could keep a room cleaner without a maid than most men she knew. She walked over to the desk and sat down behind it as she glanced over at Jack's sleeping form. Slowly Ruby pulled open one of the drawers and looked inside, besides a few coins and scraps of maps there was nothing of interest to her.
"Whatcha be lookin' fer love?" Ruby looked over at the bed to see Jack sitting up slightly watching her.
"For a all mighty pirate who has ransacked some of the richest ships in the Caribbean you sure seem to like the poverished lifestyle,"comment Ruby casually as she sat back in the chair. Jack raised an eyebrow as he sat up properly and rested against the headboard of the bed.
"Well I know it's not that accomidations yer use ta but it does me quite well,"said Jack.
"Hm, one might belief the stories about you are nothing more than myths,"said Ruby.
"I can guarantee ya one thing love, nothin' 'bout ol' Jack is a myth,"said Jack. Ruby rolled her eyes as she let her eyes roam over to a few bottles of rum sitting on the desk.
"One thing for sure is you are a drunk,"muttered Ruby. Jack snickered slightly as he shook his head.
"This comin' from the lass who drinks well breakin' her fast,"laughed Jack.
"Oh shut up,"snapped Ruby. Jack smirked and patted the matress area next to him.
"Well love, why donta ya come over 'ere and perform some of yer wifely duties," Ruby sat up with wide eyes.
"If you think for one moment that I am going to sleep with you then you truly must be the most stupid, moronic man to ever walk the earth,"said Ruby.
"Ah c'mon love, what else are we ta do? If we're stuck together we might as well 'ave some fun,"said Jack.
"If I share a bed with you Jack then I lose any chance of ever anulling this poor excuse of a marriage,"said Ruby.
"Ya need me approval for that love,"pointed out Jack.
"Not if I go to the King,"said Ruby smuggly.
"Then that would ruin yer precious reputation."
"If you do not hold up your end of the agreement then I will not care who knows I was so foolish enough to marry you, I will go to the King and have this marriage dissolved,"said Ruby before standing up,"and you will not live to see another day." Jack looked at Ruby with doubt at her last comment.
"Oh dear Jack you seem to forget who my father is, there are men out there who are still living and were faithful to my father,"said Ruby,"I am quite sure it would not take much to have a bounty put on your head." Jack smiled as he shook his head.
"Love, I hafta tell ya everyday I'm happier I married ya,"said Jack,"ya've got fire in ya that just gets hotter with every minute."
"No Jack, you are happy you married me because I am nothing more than treasure map to you,"said Ruby quietly in a deadly calm voice.
"Is that what ya think?"asked Jack.
"That is what I know." Jack shook his head as he heard his wife's words. Jack stood up and walked over to Ruby and stood directly in front of her.
"I married ya because I want ta,"said Jack calmly,"if it was yer bloody ring I was after I would just stolen it from ya." Ruby stood there taking in Jack's words with confusion.
"But you do not love me,"said Ruby. Jack shrugged simply.
"Aye I never said I did,"said Jack as he seen Ruby's face take back the scowl,"but then again, I never said I didn't." Ruby rolled her eyes and crossed her arms over her chest.
"Now love, I do believe we've come ta an agreement, I get the treasure and ya get yer ring and safe passage home ta India when alls said and done,"said Jack again in a calm voice,"now I'm sure yer as tired of this bloody fightin' and threats as I am. So I'm callin' a truce and we stick ta the agreement."
"You do know it is my treasure technically,"said Ruby letting the scowl slide from her face.
"Aye love that it is, now I could be tellin' ya that since yer my wife, it's me treasure," Jack seen the anger rise once more in Ruby,"but I won't, but I do remember ya sayin' ya didna want the treasure cause it was nothing but troubler fer ya. So since there's such a valuable treasure out there wouldn't ya rather it be found and apperciated by you or someone who'll do ya no harm then have it go ta waste or have some fool like Norrington discover it." Ruby huffed as she tried to find a way to rebutal but it was impossible, Jack was right and she knew it. She also knew it would be easier if they just let sleeping dogs lie and stop their bickering until the treasure was found.
"Fine, but if you think for one moment I performing any of these so called wifely duties then you Sparrow have a lot more to worry about than you think,"spat Ruby before she walked away from him to the back of the cabin. Jack smiled as he watched his wife walk away from him. Ruby aimlessly looked around the cabin inspecting it again and only finding a dusty unsuitable mess.
"You should have kidnapped Mandeep instead,"muttered Ruby running her finger along a self coated in dust. Ruby looked at her grey finger in disgust as she wiped it off on the skirt of her dress.
"Get that dress dirty and Anamarie will 'ave all hell ta raise with ya,"said Jack. Ruby turned and looked at him with a raised eyebrow.
"I am the captain's wife,"said Ruby plastering on a fake smile,"anything concerning me is to be dealt with you, and to be rude or unpleasant to the captain's wife is none more than an insult to the captain." Jack smiled as he nodded his head.
"I do expect that you do know, that the crew of this ship will treat me with the same respect and courtsey they give you,"said Ruby.
"Love, tis no secret the men of this ship will be givin' ya anything ya want,"said Jack,"ya enchant more respect and courtsey from em' than I ever will." Ruby smiled again in self satisfaction, she could definately use the crew's fasination with her to her advantage. Yawning Ruby walked back over to the bed and sat down on the edge of it. She looked over it curiously then looked up at Jack with large doey eyes.
"Jack is there possibly any other bedding aboard this ship?"asked Ruby softly,"these sheets do not seem they would meet standards for the captain's cabin." Jack looked at the sheets Ruby was refering too and nodded in agreement.
"I'll find someone,"muttered Jack.
"Oh and clean water, for washing,"said Ruby,"I fear I am starting to smell dreadful and that is no way for the captain's wife to smell." Jack looked at her again and nodded in agreement.
Once Jack left Ruby sighed in self satisfaction, she looked at her ring. She hated to admit it but Jack was right, if anyone was to have that treasure she would pefer Jack have it and not some bastard pirate who had probably been responsible for the murder of her family. Plus she realizied that being with Jack was not going to be as bad as she thought, she just had to honey coat her demands to make Jack think they were best for him.