Chapter 9 - Calm before the Storm

Ana saw Jack and Louise walking back along the beach looking quite content and in no rush. She didn't know who she wanted to shout at first so she settled for marching up to them, slapping Jack and shouting at Louise.

Through the shouting Louise heard him say, "Not sure I deserved that", and she couldn't help but laugh.

"...and not even telling anyone," Ana turned to him, "that was what I owed you for earlier Jack".

Louise looked like a drowned rat but still managed to pull off a sweet and innocent smile, "I told Cotton where I was going", Jack watched amused as Ana looked like steam was about to come from her ears.

"You told Cotton? Cotton?", she would have continued this rant but Louise patted Ana on the arm leaving a dripping wet hand-print and skipped onboard heading for the galley. Ana looked defeated at Jack, "Cotton?".

Jack's gaze had followed Louise but snapped back to the now calm and just confused Ana, he chuckled, "Aye, Cotton".

She shook her head and followed Jack up the gangplank, "least we'll get dinner".

Louise served dinner as usual, by hollering to the crew, but the unusual factor was that the first person in the galley was Jack. Ana followed and she and her began their usual banter, which was more a combination of poking fun at each other and sarcasm. Louise sat down opposite Ana and didn't notice the slight look of dejection in Jacks face that she didn't sit next to him. But she did notice his approval at the food and took all compliments with her usual over dramatic grace. She found it strange that other than his late night visit to the pearl she hadn't seen Jack in days yet now she couldn't get him off her mind. She also suspected he had been on her mind while he was in Tortuga, but she hadn't realised. It confused her no end but then again he was Captain Jack Sparrow. Louise wondered if every woman he met felt like this, if all the women eventually succumbed to the Sparrow charm?

Ana tried waving a hand in front of Louise's face, which was blank as her fork hung limply from her hand not yet reaching her mouth. Jack too was staring at Louise's strange behavior and a few other crew members were beginning to notice the spectacle that was Louise. What they didn't realise was what was causing such a distraction for her. Louise sat there deep in thought, until Ana went as far to shove her, which nearly sent her flying off the chair.

"What?" she asked, after being brought back to reality, all thoughts of Jack quickly repressed.

Ana went back to her food, "Oh no nufin nufin, just you asking crazy". Louise smiled, at a loss for words, maybe it would just be best to finish eating quickly, quietly and to not think about Jack.

Later that evening Jack stood outside Louise's door, he knew what he wanted to say, but he didn't know how to say it, without causing trouble, women were afterall, very tricky. He knocked on the door and heard a thump from inside, followed by a obviously flustered voice.

"Who is it?"

Jack frowned wondering why she sounded so nervous, "it's Jack luv".

"Jack?" she panicked, "erm hang on just a minute". He stood there listening to the sounds of Louise moving about the cabin and obviously having problems with something.

"Everythin' alright luv?", he went to walk in but the door creaked open and he saw a stressed, red faced Louise.

"Jack!" she exclaimed as if seeing him for the first time, "What's the matter?"

His neck outstretched as he tried to see what she had been doing, "not going to invite me in darlin?"

She stepped back and dramatically signaled for him to enter, "why of course captain".

He sauntered in and observed the sight, not just the room but Louise herself. She was wearing her trousers backwards, the shirt was the one that was slightly too big and one of the sleeves was hanging past her hand and her hair was tangled in every direction possible. This was obviously someone who had dressed in a hurry and as he observed the room he figured out why, sticking out of her bag was pale pink material that could only be found on a dress. He snickered at the thought of Louise in a dress and as he did she saw what had caught his eye.

Hitting him on the arm she tried to act stern, "don't you laugh at me" but as he turned to her he could see the grin pulling at the sides of her mouth. "What did you want Jack?".

He glanced sideways, avoiding her eyes "Well luv I came to talk to you about your little disappearin' act today"

She sat back down on her bed, "Oh yeah?",she was intrigued she had thought this over and done with.

"Yes, erm, well I was thinking maybe it's best if ye don't leave the ship again...alone", Louise let these words sink in and she felt a sickly feeling of anger building up.

"Alone! What I'm not allowed to leave the ship without someone to hold my hand?" she made no attempt the hide her emotions.

"You don't know how to look after yourself luv, especially not in Tortuga", he needed her to understand but already he could hear her defensive anger.

"I'm not a child, captain", the bitter emphasis on captain almost made Jack cringe.

"I know your not luv, but you need to be careful"

"Do you make all of your crew travel in packs?" she asked with her arms folded, not even bothering to look at him.

"No, but I know they can look after themselves, savvy?", he didn't want to make it worse and mention her tantrum was childish but it was riling him up.

"Well I'm sorry captain, I'll be sure to make sure I travel with someone to protect me, because apparently I am incapable of staying out trouble".

Even if he was right Jack knew he couldn't win but at the same time he couldn't hold back his anger either, "Fine, go off wherever you like just don't expect me to come to your rescue when you're in trouble".

He slammed the door behind him and heard Louise scream through it. "Oh don't worry dear captain I wouldn't dream of asking for your help", every word she said was dripping with rage.

Louise attempted to kick the wall and release some of the anger but it had only ended with her foot hurting and a small voice in the back of her mind saying 'see Jack was right you are just a weak little girl'. Which in turn made her angrier at both Jack and herself. She slumped onto the bed, for the second time that day her thoughts consumed by Jack except now she was trying to think of anyway in which to prove him wrong.

Meanwhile Jack stomped to his cabin, but halfway there he had a better idea, Tortuga. With the aggravation from the argument still pounding through him he decided all he wanted to do was drown the whole evenings memory in some rum. Maybe he could kill two birds with one stone and get Louise off his mind by distracting himself with some pleasurable company, afterall the night was still young.

"Louise?"

Louise heard the voice but it was too early for her to recognize it, or care for that matter. She rolled over taking the blanket with her and snuggled further into the bed.

"Louise answer me now ye lazy git", only Ana got that angry that fast. She groaned and heard the door open, "what are ye still doing in bed?".

"Sleeping", Ana whipped the blanket from her and Louise felt a rush of cool air hit her. "Fine, fine I'm awake, happy?"

"No, now get up, I wanna show ye me new cutlass"

Louise sat up and considered throwing Ana overboard, "you woke me up at this ungodly hour to show me your new sword?".

Ana smiled back at her, "firstly it's gone noon, secondly it's a fine sword". Louise got up and saw Ana take out her new sword like it was made of glass, she handed it to Louise, who took it and started swishing it through the air enjoying the sound.

"You almost look like you know what you're doing".

Louise feigned hurt, "are you suggesting I don't know how to fight dear Ana?".

"Yes", they both laughed, "which is why I got this for you". Louise hadn't noticed the second blade in her hand and Ana gave it to her enjoying the look of appreciation on her face. Holding it she experienced a certain feeling of power, suddenly she remembered her argument from the night before.

"Ana, do you think you could teach me?", Ana had expected the question but still couldn't help but wonder why Louise wanted to learn.

"Well I can't give ye a sword that ye don't know how to use, can I?"

"You could but I'd probably stab myself before someone else, when do you wanna start?".

Ana grinned and raised her sword, "how about right now?"

Louise raised a eyebrow "Alright but go easy on me", although from her expression she could tell Ana wasn't making any promises.

Abrey leaned against a wall lazily watching the pearl, as he had found himself doing a lot recently. He found it wasn't hard to guess what was going on aboard, after seeing Jack leaving in apparently a foul mood yesterday he hadn't seen him return, Abrey cast a guess that there had been some sort of disagreement. What made Abrey wonder was why had it been Jack that left his own ship? The only answer he could come up with was the girl. The girl who Jack had been looking for, the odd looking girl, the one who seemed out of place. He didn't need to be worrying about the captains wench though, he needed to focus, the easy part would be getting to the treasure, the hard part would be getting away from Jack Sparrow long enough to make the lot his. But then again maybe she was important, maybe she was the key to distracting the pirate and all he had to do was figure out a way to use her.

--Authors Notes--

Hey guys.

As usual I hope you like the chapter, and as usual please R&R. This chapter is really a combination of getting the story along but mostly putting some tension between Jack and Louise, which I felt they needed. Anyway I will start work on the next chapter soon, hope to get it up this weekend, maybe tomorrow if I am really good. Thanks everyone for your continued support.