Falling Full Circle (Bring Me To Life)
Disclaimer: I don't own POTC except my own characters.
Chapter 5 Captain Sparrow I presume?
Rating T to sometimes M in nature
From chapter 4:
"Actually I'm its owner" Anna cut in "or at least I was."
Rory brows knit together at this information. She began again. " So that means the person running this good ship lollypop has to be none other than----"
"Captain Jack Sparrow" Anna Maria supplied with a mix of pride and -maybe regret in her voice?
"Of course." Rory tried not to roll her eyes at the young Jamaican woman. 'God these people really know how to stay in character' she thought. "Um well" trying to remember the events that led to how she got here aboard The Black Pearl in the first place. Even the name of the captain sounded vaguely familiar. Where had she heard it before? "Could you take me to see him?''
"No"
"No?"
'Es busy. 'ere just put these dry clothes on. I've got work to do myself 'ant stay here all day jabbering to the likes of you can I? The 'aptain says I'm to let you my room for a night till we get you settled in elsewhere"
"Settled in your room?"
The next statements from Anna Maria the next came motor mouthing a mile a minute:
"Yes? You daft woman? Unless of you want to bunk in the crew quarters, but I wouldn't recommend it. Oh they're not really bad sorts, not like the crew Captain 'ad when Barbosa was 'ith em,but ya gotta remember they don't come across too many women for months at a time and they could still get ideas. Especially that redhead, he's an young one and full of the devil, possibly worse than the cap' cuz he's still a bit new and me, I can take care of meself if anybody gets an funny ideas, been on me own since I 'as a girl of ten. Sleep with a big knife 'uder me pillow. DONT MOVE it 'ya 'ear? My quarters is up those stairs make a left go down the 'alley way second door to your right. And your name is?"
"Uh-- Rory"
Funny name thought Anna. But then most of the crew went by funny names of some sort.
"Mines Anna Maria. Oh an Uh Rory if your feeling better already you can get your skinny arse on deck and help out the crew. Ya no good to anyone just sitting around sleeping all day!"
Not waiting for an answer Anna Maria flew back up the stairs.
Speechless, Rory could only stare at her opened mouth as she disappeared from sight. Completely forgetting to ask her if there was a phone on deck or could they possibly take her back to the harbor to make a call to her friends.
Chapter 5
Immediately after changing in drier clothes she joined Anna Maria on deck and was informally introduced to the crew and put to work immediately doing grunt work washing down the deck, sweeping, emptying out chamber pots. She had been on board for several days now.
It wasn't until the second day that Rory noticed something was missing. She looked down at her fingers; the rings were still there. Rory pulled up the sleeve of her arm, so was her divers watch. She felt her other wrist. The bracelet was gone. She'd had it on the day of the festival. Had it fallen off in the water? No, It had still be on when she came to in the infimary-makeshift jail. She tried to think, remembering some hazy dream she had about fighting with someone before she woke up. Voices, 'Pretty fancy just help me get this off. Don't touch that!' Then those strange dark ringed eyes looking down at her. Dreaming that she struck out at someone, feeling her hand make contact with flesh.
No. Someone took it off her. She was pretty sure it wasn't a dream. Anger began to rise up inside her. 'Wait till I get my hands on the person that …' Well she didn't really know what she was going to do, but whatever it took she was getting back what was rightfully hers.
Then there was the matter of getting back to shore and off this boat. Every time she tried to speak to Anna Maria or the man named Gibbs, about going to shore so she could make a call, she was met with a strange look as if she were speaking Swahili.
She tried to speak with the captain, but Anna would always dismiss her with "es busy" or he's taking his "morning break". Which apparently was Anna Maria's code for "He's asleep now and I have the wheel and I'm not going to wake him for the likes of you" or just plain block her from physically reaching his quarters.
Another thing troubled her. There seemed to be no modern conveniences of anything on board. No sign of electrical out lets, no place to bathe. No phone or on board radio transmission to call Harbor Patrol. She made a note to herself to do a full search of the boat later when she wasn't being so closely supervised.
Finally on the sixth day while helping one of the crew members scrub the deck, Gibbs tapped her on the shoulder.
"The captain is coming on deck now."
She looked up at him, blinking. She stood up and followed him to the side of the deck and stood beside him. She looked up. Anna Maria was at her post as usual eyes staring straight ahead out to sea.
Finally she thought, 'The good captain finally decides to grace me with his presence.'
She gaped at the appearance of the creature now approaching.
Rory's eyes widened, Oh
Her eyes slowly traveled upward to stare at the figure making his way toward them.
My God'
Her eyes began at the bottom, starting at the cuffed boots, loose fitting breeches and faded military captains coat and slowly making their way up the lean figure dressed in late 17th century clothing. She was pretty sure the somewhat otherworldly looking creature that- was now making it way in a graceful tom-cat like swagger was indeed male
Long black hair spilled down out of a large weather beaten brown tricorn hat and down in wild shoulder length dreadlocks. Each raven colored lock was tied at the end with colored leather string and beads. Long ornate turquoise beaded ear-rings hung from each ear. A short trimmed beard edged along the side of his jaw line and ended in a long goatee, the longer hairs of which were also braided and tied with a bead on each end.
The face was dark complexioned from years of being in the sun making him appear more Spanish or Indian than what passed as typical British. Judging from the few expression lines and lack of gray hair, she would guess that he was no older than thirty or so.
The few chapters she'd read on him didn't mention any of this.
'Well gee Captain you didn't have to get all turned out in yer Sunday best just for little 'ol me.' Something bubbled up through her throat that was either a gasp or a giggle, quickly stifling it, as he now turned his eyes toward her. His eyes were dark coffee color that were thickly lined with kohl, that gave him a sort of exotic far east look. It was a face that was alternately handsome, exotic and alarming all at once.
Rory held still as he stood there appraising her.
Miss Calhoun I presume he thought. Anna Maria had briefed him on the new comers 'demands'.
He gave her the once over twice taking in Anna Maria's clothing on her.
She was staring back at him perhaps not as boldly every other second dropping her gaze as if--- What? Now she was biting her lower lip. Why was that? Was she about to say something? Or, it looked like...
Was she laughing at him?
" Miss Calhoun, do you find something amusing?"
The expression on her face turned serious and she began to fumble "Um no, er Mister ah, Sparrow--
"Captain Jack Sparrow" he supplied. He nearly rolled his eyes at her. What was it with young people today they couldn't remember to show the least bit amount of respect when addressing superiors? Even that young whelp O'Brien who supposedly was raised on the sea since the age of four...? his thoughts trailing off.
His eyes turned back to her.
"Gibbs tells me you'll be taking Bosley's old quarters" he flatly stated.
She nodded. Still staring wide-eyed at him.
"Quarters" was an overstatement. It was more like a 7 x 7 broom closet with barely enough room for the cot and some pegs to hang her clothes on. She'd lived in houses that had larger guest bathrooms than that.
"So if your all settled in then you'll be with us for awhile helping out the crew for awhile--"
Rory hesitated then opened her mouth to speak. In a slightly timorous voice she began " If you don't mind um, Sir I mean Captain Sparrow when we might be going back to shore?"
"To shore?"
"Yes you see I'll need to do something about contacting my family and letting them know I'm okay and--- ''
"Miss, we're fifty miles from the nearest shoreline and until we run low on supplies its very unlikely we'll be seeing land anytime soon. I don't know how much you remember before you were brought on board but we're trying to put as much distance between us and whoever opened fire on us that night." He stopped as if he'd decided he'd said too much already. He knew very well what they had crossed paths with that night. Not that that ship was a problem anymore, but if and when word got back that a pirate ship was responsible for the sinking of the Seahawk. He turned back to his "guest". He looked at her evenly ''which brings us back to what you were doing out there on the water and where you came from.''
Rory's eyes widened in shock ''But--".
"No buts! Miss Calhoun is it?"
Rory nodded.
"This isn't the place to discuss this. If you want to argue this matter, then you may meet me in the infirmary below deck in the early evening before I relieve Anna Maria at the wheel. Shouldn't take more than half hour. But I warn you it wont do any good as my answer will still be the same. However I do have some questions for you."
Her breath caught in her throat. In spite of his court jester-meets-rock star appearance he appeared gravely serious 'Uh oh I think I'm in some kind of trouble here.'
"You've got another four hours of work ahead of you till sunset. Ill see you then."
He turned on his heel ending the brief conversation.
'What the? --thought Rory staring open mouthed at him.
"Well back to work" said Gibbs, slapping her on the shoulder.
The captain started making his way back to his quarters. He then stopped as if remembering something and went up to Anna Maria at the wheel. "Very funny" he whispered in her ear.
"What?" Anna looked at him questioning
Your order that Miss Calhoun had to take care emptying all the chamber pots on board, you know that for the most part we' all responsible for own own---"
Caught, Anna tried a halfhearted flirty smile at him, "Hey just trying to initiate the new comer to life at sea."
"Yeah well stop that. For now." he tersely told her. "Wait till she does something out of line before unduly punishing her."
Anna Maria waited till he was well out of earshot. "Oh don't worry I'm sure she will." She looked down at the young woman with light brown hair that had resumed scrubbing the deck. "I have a feeling about that one."
Scene: Evening in the lower most deck of the Pearl.
She had been in the "infirmary" for over an hour while she was drilled about where she came from and whom she was with. It was turning into a regular inquisition. Gibbs stood behind her at the door listening in as a witness.
"So you mean to tell me you were out about sailing about for no other reason than for your own pleasure? Near to where a British naval ship was-''
"I told you before", Rory cut in. "We did not know we were in anyone's way." She suddenly had an impulse to dig her nails into her arm hard to see if she was dreaming. 'This is not happening. I'm having some strange intense dream that seems to last forever and any moment Ill wake up in the little cabin on the Cygnet II and at breakfast I'll tell Theresa and the guys about my dream and we'll all have a good laugh.'
"Look I already told you we thought this was a part of the days festivities that were going on at St Clair…" There was a soft knock on the door. Gibbs opened it was Anna Maria. Gibbs shook his head at her joining her just outside the door.
"What is happening? Anna Maria mouthed.
"Trouble" Gibbs said.
"I knew it! I say we throw her overboard when this is through!" Anna Maria hissed back.
Gibbs joined her just on the other side of the door "Shhhh" he put a finger to his lips shushing her. They both pressed their ears to the door to hear.
The captain was suggesting that Miss Calhoun was some kind of 'spy'. They could her voice rising, "… Really Captain do I sound British to you?"
Sparrows voice countering "You know as well as I do that doesn't mean anything as the British government uses …"
The interrogation went on for another hour. When it was over the woman was taken down to the infirmary and locked inside while they decided what action to take.
"So what do you think Captain?" Gibbs looked at him.
"She's either the best actress I've ever come across or she's more insane than I am." He paused, looking straight at Gibbs. "No I don't believe she's was with them or at least part of them. I don't know how or why but I believe she's telling the truth." Well maybe the truth, as she believed it. She had to be some kind of prisoner-- or something. From his questioning of her, she had probably been rendered temporarily unconscious. That could have affected her mind and sense of reality. He looked at Gibbs.Also while going through the young woman's things he had come across her "sack" that held a personal journal. The entries told nothing about being on a British ship, being a prisoner or anything to do with piracy. Actually the entries were more curious and disturbing with entries dated 300 hundred years hence and made reference to places things, events that didn't exist or never happened. Still couldn't that just mean she was trying to throw off whoever might catch her? 'No' she's must be insane then.' Still there was the question of those other strange objects contained within the pack.
'Dammit my head hurts just thinking of it. What I could use is a good swig of rum'
He then remembered their almost forgotten guest in the infirmary. He thought about sending Gibbs down to release her. Sighing he decided to release her himself. Grabbing the key to the door to the infirmary he made his way down the stairs.
"Well it's about time." An irritated voice called out.
He jangled the keys to the door in her direction.
"Miss me luv?"
She rolled her eyes. "What's with the luv bit? Have you been drinking rum again?"
Busted. So she knew about his little stash he sometimes kept near by.
"No but that's not a bad idea, care to join me after your done on deck?"
Unbelievable. Locks me up, then comes on to me? He was kidding right? "Frankly I'm more a tequila girl myself" Almost as soon as the words were out of her mouth, she wished to pull them back in again. 'Good Rory give him ideas about you'
He raised his eyebrows. Well, well who who'd have guessed.
"Actually I was joking", seeing his expression. "I don't drink-that much", she finished nearly breathing the last two words under her breath, remembering the last time she had really gotten terribly drunk and hung over.
"Have a little trouble holding your liquor do we?"
Rory burned inward at the mocking tone. She slowly turned "Noo, I just don't care for the taste." Okay that wasn't entirely true but he didn't need to know that.
"Don't knock it till you've tried it luv." She sharply turned to look at him. "Maybe you weren't trying hard enough". He grinned, thinking back a few years to certain young prim young woman who had loosened up a bit after a few swigs of rum on a certain deserted island. Matter of fact Miss Calhoun---
She cut into his thoughts "Are you always this lecherous with every female that comes on board or am I a special case?"
"Can't blame man for trying." He grinned Cheshire cat-like, flashing gold teeth. " Been awhile since we 'ad a woman on board."
"What about Anna Maria?"
Wha about 'er? Anna. "She's another crewmember 'n more like a man than a woman that one."
Rory's eyes narrowed slightly, she decided to try something. "That's not what I heard," she piped in.
"Heard?"
She dropped her eyes, trying to pull off her best 'It don't make no difference to me' shrug "Somehow got the impression that you were---"she paused searching for the right term "together or something."
The captain his smoked lined eyes widened at her amazed at her brazenness. Well what business was it of hers if he and Anna Maria had once been---- ?
"And what business is that of yours missy? ' 'Y'ed better not be going 'round making assumptions here" He stopped looking back now at her. He caught himself He was about to start like a mild tirade about brazen newcomers who had only been on board a few days and just WHO did she think she was?
Rory looked at him mimicking his wide-eyed appearance only hers was mocking. She put her hands on her hips and tried to keep the smirk back she felt starting to make its way to the corners of her lips.
'Little like the pot calling the kettle black' she thought.
Grrrr he growled under his breath." 'et up back on board you got another two hours to go."
"You said I was finished at the end of the day" she pointed out
Well then Get 'ack to your quarters or whatever it is you do on your own time And be up just before sunrise! I 'ant you to learn to help Cotton in the galley." he gruffly shot back, miffed at being called on. "Bloody woman" he breathed under his breath.
Point scored, Rory quickly turned and shot up the stairs like a rabbit but not as she did she was careful to keep the grin of triumph from the Captains view.
Decided to end chapter here because mine are pretty long.
R and R? Anybody here?
---