Disclaimer: Pirates of the Caribbean and all associated characters belong to their respective owners. I just play and give back. All I can lay claim to are the OC's in this story – and not even them. They own themselves, alright? I guess I come out with nada. Sadly.
Author's Note: I'm fairly sure I made a mistake with the Spanish in this chapter…if anyone catches it and can correct it, you get an extra ration of grog. :P Um…yea, Diia enjoyed helping me with this chapter, so please review and make her want to help me with the next one! (Shameless plug, I know!)
Well, despite the hopeful news I provided on my last update, my grandfather passed on the very next day. Blood clots traveled from his legs to his heart and lungs and he went into cardiac arrest.
Dedication: I dedicate this whole story to my grandpa who lived an eventful, healthy 86 years and instilled knowledge and the love of gardening in most everyone he came into contact with. He was joking up until the very end, and that's how I like to remember him.
Chapter 6 – Drinks All Around!
Moonlight claimed the gently rolling sea, gilding it an eerie silver. Firelight danced across the beach and the edges of the waves rubbing against the sandy shore. Sounds made by primitive instruments and voices pierced the night and Ana paced purposefully toward the dancing light.
"¡Parada!"
"Permita que mí pase," Ana growled at the darkness in a dangerous tone. She heard faint noises as the guards lowered their weapons and she proceeded stalking toward the large fire. A familiar laugh rose from a large group of natives as she drew near and she suppressed a growl as she stalked closer.
Ana stopped several feet away from the fire and watched the scene in silence.
Seated on the far side of the fire was Jack, surrounded by both men and women from Caciques' tribe. Caciques sat beside Jack and had a hand pressed to the pirate's shoulder as the one swayed and his hands flitted in the air before him, weaving a tale. As he finished one part of his story, a chorus of laughs rose from the group, drawing even more listeners in.
A woman wearing barely a scrap of clothing pushed her way to the two leaders in the center of the group, bearing a coiled pitcher. Jack turned to greet her with a wide smile and raised his empty glass, which she filled. The firelight danced across his tanned features, casting severe shadows across his face. His few gold teeth reflected the firelight as he reached up and pulled the woman down into his lap, one arm wrapped around her waist. The woman leaned back into the pirate, letting another woman with yellow paint on her body take the pitcher from her to fill Caciques' cup.
Jack took a large swig from his cup, leaning back far as he drained its contents. Caciques' hold on the pirate's shoulder tightened as the pirate leaned forward quickly, though Jack didn't seem to notice. Jack kept his hold on the cup and looked to his audience, who eagerly awaited his next words.
The pirate captain narrowed his eyes, as if thinking back on where he had left off. "Ah yes, so then…" Jack trailed off as he swerved hard and only Caciques' strong grip on his shoulder kept him upright. The woman seated comfortably in his lap reached up and toyed casually with the trinkets strung through his hair, oblivious to his lack of equilibrium. Jack blinked heavily and swallowed. "Th' bloody foolish whelp goes an' smacks me upside th' 'ead wit' a paddle…th' only one th' whelp an' 'is lass left, I found later…interestin', tha'…" Jack swayed hard again and Caciques righted the pirate with both hands.
Ana had seen enough. She walked over to the group and shoved her way past the first few listeners who were oblivious to her presence and as she made her way nearer and nearer to Jack and Caciques the group split of its own volition, clearing a path for her. She stopped two feet in front of the seated men, glaring down at them dangerously. The woman in Jack's lap continued to toy with the trinkets in the pirate's hair.
"Sale," Ana growled at the woman, who turned a dark glare on the female pirate, abandoning her play with the trinkets. Ana's own glare darkened and the woman gave up in a huff, slipping easily out from under Jack's arm and disappearing into the crowd.
Jack looked dazedly up at Ana, his eyes hazy and heavily lidded. "Wha' tha' fer?" he slurred in question, narrowing his eyes as if trying to see her clearly.
Ana knelt in front of Jack and met his eyes, her gaze razor sharp in comparison. "Story time's over, Jack," she said lowly, hiding her concern at his condition. She cast a glance toward Caciques, only to find that he stood in agreement with her. They exchanged nods and each took hold of one of Jack's arms.
"¡Todos, salen!" Ana snarled loudly. Not one of the listeners moved to comply.
"¡Usted la oyó! ¡Vaya!" Caciques boomed. This proclamation, made by their chief, sent the natives scattering, clearing the space around the three in moments.
Ana looked over to give Caciques a grateful smile, only to find that he was already standing. Though he had released his grip on Jack's arm, he had placed his leg behind the pirate when he stood and Jack now leaned heavily back on said leg. She stood as well, keeping her grip on Jack's upper arm. Caciques bent down and secured his own grip on the pirate's other arm and together he and Ana lifted Jack's almost limp weight. Caciques wrapped one arm around Jack's waist and put the pirate's arm over his shoulders, supporting most of his weight.
Caciques easily half-dragged Jack across the sand and into the largest of the huts. Ana picked up the cup that Jack had dropped and sniffed it carefully. Her eyes watered and her lip curled upwards in distaste before she deposited the cup in the sand from whence she had retrieved it. With a new idea of what was ailing her captain, she stormed into the shelter.
When she entered she found Jack seated, albeit unsteadily, on a bed of leaves and Caciques stood near the door, only half-hidden in the shadows, looking incredibly amused. She cast a wary glance at the chief and knelt in front of Jack, placing a steadying hand on his shoulder.
The pirate lifted his head to meet her gaze, which in and of itself seemed to take great effort. She scowled mildly when he did finally look at her and she saw how glazed and heavy-lidded his eyes truly were.
"Jack," she began slowly, "how much have you had to drink?"
The pirate narrowed his eyes in concentration and was silent for many moments.
"At least a full pitcher – if not more," Caciques supplied in an amused tone. "Probably closer to two."
Ana's scowl darkened. "And you let him keep goin' without even watering it down, Caciques?" she demanded angrily, keeping her gaze locked with Jack's fading one. "You know that stuff you brew up is much too strong."
Caciques shrugged, though she missed the gesture.
"Nothin's too strong fer ol' Jack," the pirate argued heavily, his eyes only halfway open. "I ken 'andle 'nythin'."
"Uh-huh," Ana breathed, unconvinced.
Jack's brows furrowed slightly. "'na? Wha're ye doin' 'ere?" he asked, apparently just realizing she was indeed there.
Ana ignored his question and addressed Caciques again, looking at him as she spoke. "Did he at least get something to eat?"
"He was offered much but took very little."
"Figures, the bloody fool," Ana growled. "I'm surprised he's still awake!"
"'na…" Jack muttered, tugging on her sleeve. "S' go back…" He fell back, bracing himself with his hands and somehow managed to lever himself to his feet after a few tries. Once up he swayed severely, stumbling a few steps to either side.
Ana caught his arm and held onto him firmly. "Alright Cap'n, we'll go back. but first, let's have a drink to go, eh?"
Jack pressed a finger to his lower lip, apparently thinking her offer over. He looked as if there was something he was going to answer with, but he couldn't seem to find the words or the thought – much less combine them. With a sigh he resigned himself to a simple nod and she felt him start leaning toward her heavily.
"Caciques, could you get us something to drink?" she asked of the chief who had already disappeared. She turned her attentions back to Jack and found that his eyes were barely open and his legs seemed even more unsteady than they had been a moment ago.
Caciques returned with a coiled pitcher and three cups. Ana helped Jack to sit back down on the bed of leaves and accepted two of the filled cups from Caciques. She handed one to Jack, keeping her hand on it as his grip was incredibly slack.
"Than' ye," Jack mumbled, bringing the cup to his lips and taking a long drink. Ana subtly used her grip to pull the cup away from his mouth.
Ana took a small sip of her own drink and gradually let Jack take another drink, thereby draining the cup's contents. She winced mildly at the burn that swallowing the strong beverage caused. Jack allowed her to take his empty cup, which she gave to Caciques. Jack leaned heavily on Ana, resting his head on her shoulder. With each breath she felt him growing heavier and heavier and she quickly handed her cup to Caciques. She carefully wrapped her arms around Jack and lowered him to the bed of leaves, pleased with his lack of arguments.
Jack lethargically waved one hand in the air and looked up at Ana, his eyes mere slits. "We goin'?"
Ana nodded. "Aye Cap'n, that we are."
Jack barely nodded before his eyes fell shut and his hand slowly laid across his stomach. He took a deep breath and exhaled quietly, contentedly. His features slackened as Ana gently brushed the unruly locks of dark hair away from his face. His breathing fell into a soft, shallow rhythm and Ana toyed with a braid of his hair.
"Capitán Sparrow likes his drink almost as well as his ship," Caciques observed wryly.
"Unfortunately." Ana agreed grimly.
"He'll be fine by morning Miss Anamaria," the chief said kindly. "Except the Capitán will have one bloody headache."
Ana looked up at Caciques with a start, the braid dropping from between her fingers. "Since when do you speak like that?"
"Since I have pirates teaching me the manner of speaking Inglés." Caciques answered with a wink.
Ana's small smile melted into a frown as another thought struck her. "Now how am I gonna get this bloody fool back?"
"There's always his horse, if you simply must leave so soon."
Ana looked quite startled but she quickly hid it. "I'd rather not have to hold him onto the horse," she said quickly, "and there's no way me – or one of your men – is gonna drag 'im down the beach tonight."
Caciques shrugged. "I guess he's here for the night, since we've run out of options."
Jack groaned in his sleep and rolled onto his side, then stilled.
Ana sighed. "I'd best stay wit' him. Poor sod'll think we ran off with his ship again." She added the last in a whisper, letting her gaze soften as she looked down at her fretfully sleeping captain. When she looked up again, Caciques was gone and the door-flap closed in his wake.