Greetings all……well, ask and ye shall receive, so here's what you've been wanting for! I want to thank all of those who have been reviewing this story so far, and I appreciate all your kind words. I am also working on another story at present, which is one set just after POTC. More of a historical piece, but still full of fun, so be watching for it.

P.S. Mlle. Fox,…….. you and my hubby are on the same wave-length….he thought my story somewhat resembled Mannequin also! LOL I have to admit, this story was in part inspired by that movie—I loved the song "Nothing's gonna stop us now!" by Starship from the film's soundtrack.

Now…..on to Chapter 6----ENJOY!

Chapter 6: Handle wax with care….

7:00 pm Halloween night

"On behalf of the management and artists of Madame T-------'s Las Vegas, I would like to welcome you to tonight's debut of our latest display. Many months of hard work by our artisans have gone into creating what is sure to become one of Sin City's favorite attractions. To celebrate the great honor that Disney has bestowed on us, we invite you to join us in the Grand Ballroom for a mug or three of rum and a feast that even a pirate like Jack Sparrow, or should I say Captain Jack Sparrow, couldn't pass up." Michael Dixon was in his element, and the crowd seemed to be lapping it up as they whistled and clapped. "And now, without further ado, my assistant and co-host of tonight's gala, Miss Jocelyn Perry will, with military precision I might add," drawing a chuckle from the crowd "now unveil Vegas's own "Pirates of the Caribbean". With a nod to her, he swept his arm back dramatically as Jo pulled the cord, allowing the curtain to fall and the movie soundtrack to begin playing. There was a loud gasp of awe followed by thunderous applause.

Nearly the entire cast of the movie was there in the large display….in one corner of the huge display stood Will and Elizabeth, gazing into each other's eyes while they embraced atop the fort's stone wall. Over there was The Faithful Bride's taproom, where mangy looking pirates cavorted with ladies of ill-repute over mugs of rum. A distinguished looking Commander Norrington towered over the Governor of Port Royal, beside an stone archway where hung three skeletal pirates and a worn wooden sign..Pirates, Ye Be Warned!. And over in the other corner, looking evil enough to make even the bravest man shiver as he towered over the stone chest of Aztec gold, was Captain Barbosa, surrounded by several of his crew of the damned. And in the center of it all, in front of an impressive mural of the setting Caribbean sun, was 1/5 size replica of The Black Pearl, with her famous captain at her helm.

As the crowd surged forward, Jo moved ahead of them and walked up the stairs to the quarterdeck to stand beside Jack. Looking at his profile, her heart gave a strange kind of flutter that could have been pride or dare she say or even think it, maybe even… love? She thought he had looked impressive before, but now, in his rightful place behind the wheel of his beloved ship, he looked invincible, a man above all other men. It took all of her willpower not to wrap her arms around his waist and bury her face against that tattoo covered chest….it sure seemed like a good alternative to facing all those people at the party….

As the guests approached the display, she once again found Michael at her side. Grasping her elbow, he leaned close as if in a friendly conversation, when in reality, what he said could be considered anything but. "Don't think our little conversation from earlier is either over or forgotten, Josie. After the celebration is over, I want to see you in my office, where we will discuss your future with this company…that is, if you have one or not."

The voice she had grown accustomed to growled angrily in her ear. Making threats are ye, you toad faced, limp-dicked son of a squint eyed, one legged, syphilis ridden whore!", Seeing Jo's sudden flush, Michael stepped back with a satisfied look on his face, thinking he had struck a nerve, and observed her through hooded eyes with a predatory hunger. "Now, let's go and mingle with our guests, shall we?"

Jo met his gaze evenly but said nothing, even though inwardly she was trapped between the desire to laugh her ass off at the best verbal assault she had ever heard, and the fear that had her trembling like a leaf. It was time to mix and mingle, and that was the thing she dreaded the most. She had held up pretty good so far, but midnight was a long, long way away………

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11:47 Halloween Night

Jo stumbled and cursed softly as she pushed open the heavy doors to the POTC display. The lights had been lowered for the evening, but there were still dim spotlights over each display, giving off just enough light to see by. Leaning against the door, she let out a sigh and let herself sag against it and pulled of her hat and itchy wig. Throwing the detestable wig and hat aside, she slipped the awkward rifle complete with bayonet off her shoulder and gently laid it on the floor beside the abandoned hairpiece. No sense in giving the Devil…a.k.a. Michael Dixon, another reason to fire her by damaging expensive props.

That being done, she sat down Indian style and unscrewed the top off the bottle of Captain Morgan's that she had swiped from behind the open bar before heading to the calm serenity of the display. The heat of the straight spiced rum made her eyes water as she choked down the first few swallows, feeling the powerful drink burn all the way to the fluttering pit that was her stomach. God, how she had needed that drink…..the noise, the crowd, the costumes….tonight had brought it all back, the terror she had felt as a child lost at Mardi Gras, and even the double dose of Valium combined with several cups of rum punch had only taken the barest edge off her fear.

At first the party hadn't been too bad….she had spent the early part of the evening with Bethany, answering guests questions about the museum. It was later on, when the lights were lowered while the music volume was raised that she began feeling stressed. As the celebration wore on and the rum soaked party-goers got rowdier, her panic grew. When a fat, balding man dressed as Julius Caesar grabbed her butt, it was all she could do to keep from screaming.

Taking another healthy swig from the bottle, which went down much easier this time to her surprise, she rose to her feet and wandered around the display, humming that weird tune that seemed to always be in her head these days. "Yo-ho, yo-ho, a pirate's life for me…". She stopped in front of the evil Captain Barbosa and wrinkled her nose at him in distaste. "I like you about as much as I like your creator, you wanker…." She grinned at her creative use of one of Bethany's favorite phrases before sticking her tongue out at the looming figure. Another long swig, and the bottle was half empty. She turned and headed once again toward the steps leading to the helm of The Pearl, only a slight sway in her feminine stride hinting at her inebriated state.

Sighing, she looked again at the figure of her Captain, as she referred to him in her mind, as he stood with his hands on the ships dark wheel. Still holding the bottle in her left hand, Jo approached the wheel and leaned against it, resting her head on her right arm as she looked up at the handsome face. For some strange reason, she felt as if he was in a listening pose, as if waiting for her to speak, so speak she did.

"You know, Jack…..part of me is so envious of you…..free to go wherever the winds will take you, taking what you want, and to hell with the consequences. You are very lucky, y'know….very few people have ever known that kind of freedom and power. Shit, look at the President, one of the most powerful people on the planet, leader of the free world, who can't even go to the bathroom without half a dozen secret service agents in attendance." She hoisted the bottle again for another swallow, and brought both arms to rest on the wheel, resting her cheek against the cool glass bottle and closed her eyes with a sigh. "There are times like tonight when I feel like I'm in a cage, and if I don't get out I'll go stark raving mad. I have the feeling you know what I'm talking about." She could feel the statues gaze on her through her closed lids, and she smiled softly.

"Silly, aren't I, talking to a wax statue……but like I said before, there's no one I can think of that I'd rather talk to right now…..I wish you were really real, because when I'm with you I feel safe, protected….special." She hiccupped and stood up, feeling just a bit lightheaded, but savoring the warm, fuzzy sensation that the alcohol had given her. She leaned forward, staring intently at the statue… "I only wish there were more men like you around…a girl could use a hero like you now and then." Tipping the bottle again, she drained it in one long swallow. Frowning with disappointment, she carefully setting the empty bottle down. "What the hell….no one will know, and I can tell my future grandkids that I kissed the best pirate in the whole Caribbean, no…" she stopped and corrected herself., raising her index and pinky finger in one of the Captain's most well known jestures . "In the whole Spanish Main!" Giggling softly at her own naughtiness, she stepped around the wheel and ducked under the extended arm into the narrow space between the figure and the ships steering. With a sigh, she reached up, placing one gentle hand on his cheek and the other on his shoulder to hold herself up. "The world would be a much nicer place with you in it, Captain Jack Sparrow." Her eyes slid closed as she stood up on her tiptoes to place a tender kiss against his cool waxen lips.

What she didn't expect was the sudden return assault of those lips as the figure came to life, wrapping his arms around her back and waist, bringing her even closer to his now warm and fully breathing body. The alcohol and Valium combined had the pleasant affect of removing any inhibitions she may have had where Jack Sparrow was concerned, and she returned his kiss with great enthusiasm, sliding her fingers into the dark hair beneath the worn scarf. She felt him growl low in his throat as he deepened his kiss, and felt herself being bent back, his tongue demanding entrance and she granting it. She felt as though she were floating, or maybe the better description was soaring in a soft, warm cocoon, a place of supreme sweetness where time stood still, …….at least until the rational part of her mind kicked in.

Reality reared its ugly head, and putting her hands on his shoulders, she wrenched her mouth away from his and lay gasping in his arms as her own startled hazel eyes met his amused and still aroused chocolate brown gaze. It was he that broke the silence, which was good because she didn't think she was capable of speech. The stunned look on her face was absolutely priceless when the man of her dreams murmured his first real words to her….

"I appreciate the sweetness of your welcome, luv, but did you have to drink ALL the rum?"