A/N: Apologies for the delay. If you read 'Black Mariah', then you'll know my reason for returning to this genre. I've gotten props from the first and second pirates films. Not those little coin props they gave away with the dvd. HINT: Here's only one of the things I recieved. I have something...more...useful. If only it would point north... Anyhow, enough of that. I hope my small faithful group of readers like this new addition, keep me informed either way.
Bootstrap's bootstraps...
McFadden-
Chapter Six
Sparrow greedily leaned back in to capture another kiss, remembering days of times past where that was all he used to do. Some mornings it had been his sole purpose in waking up. With Jazebel's hands underneath the open part of his jacket and roaming around the skin there and her lip making a small and dangerous path down his neck, the combination was torturous. A breeze floated into the room from the open door stimulating the effect. They both were so caught up in eachother that neither registered the sound of footsteps on the stairs outside the door. Only when they heard the aggravated clearing of a throat did they both freeze for a moment then turn to see what had made the noise.
Dominic stood there, stiff as a board and fuming with anger. His eyes traveled disgustingly over the form of Jack Sparrow, and then he shot daggers in the direction of his fiancé. His voice was tight with calm restraint, but Jezebel could clearly see the veins in his neck popping up from under his skin.
"Sweetheart, I do hope you were having trouble breathing, because from the look of it the only air passing between your lips was this Blackheart's breath."
Jack smirked.
"That name sounds so much sweeter when she's whispering it to me, Mate..."
Dominic's nostril's flared at Jezebel. The flush on her neck told him that the pirate was telling the truth. He's was quickly becoming less able to control himself. He leaned forward menacingly.
"You'll die before you touch her again."
Jack had the good humor to look momentarily hurt by his comment. Making sure to keep the brawny soldier's eye contact, Jack purposely brushed his fingers across the top of Jezebel's bodice, keeping them there longer than necessary to prove a point . He felt her go rigid with fear in his arms and he ran his hand soothingly down her back, staring mockingly at Dominic with a hinting smile as he did so. Dominic reached out and grabbed Jezebel hard by her hurt shoulder. So roughly in fact that it caused her to yelp out in excruciating pain. Jack immediate reaction was to grab the younger man by the throat and squeeze until he was panicking for oxygen.
"Wrong move...that was very rude."
Jezebel watch in horror and strange secret relief as her fiance's body flailed at the hands of Jack. Slamming him against the exterior of her house, the pirate pulled a small dagger from his belt and held it to Dominic's throat as he gagged. Jezebel realized that if she didn't stop him that Dominic was a dead man. She reached a hand out and touched Jack's shoulder.
"Jack, no..."
Jack turned around and looked at her as if she had lost her mind. Due to that one move, Dominic decided to take a cheap shot and his fist connected squarely with Jack's jaw. Jezebel screamed out, horrified that she had caused him to get hurt. But, the blow didn't seem to hinder the pirate's ability at all. He returned the brutality as he laid punch by punch upon Dominic's face, shattering his nose and covering his face with his own blood. After Dominic's body went limp and dropped on the steps, Sparrow turned to Jezebel. She was crouched by her doorstep with her knees to her chest and deliberately looking in the direction on her closed door. Her body shook with sobs. Jack only looked at her for a second, instantly regretting the fact that he had been so violent in front of her. In past times, she had seen many fights between the captain and the foe, but this time was different. This time she didn't have to look up to know that Dominic wasn't going to move again. Jack bent down and tipped her chin up. There was an apology hanging there between them but his gaze was very serious.
"Jeze...I..."
Somehow, now didn't seem to be the proper time to apologize. It would just have to wait. He looked at her again, trying his best to give her strength for what he was about to ask of her.
"...We need to leave. The Pearl is the safest place for the both of us now."
Jezebel felt like giving up. This was crazy. Her fiancé was dead and now she was going to run off with a man that was more unpredictable than the sea itself! All this happening on seconds of time...seconds! Was this not the same reason she left him years ago? Sadly, she knew that Jack was right. He had it all figured out. Once Dominic failed to report for duty, the Navy would come looking for him, and her house was second on the list. If she wasn't there and he was dead, they would assume foul play. And if she took all of her jewelry but no clothes, they would think it was a simple, petty robbery. And when they couldn't find her, it would be marked up as abduction. They had to leave.
Running upstairs with him at her heels she grabbed every piece of jewelry and finery she owned. Most were bribes or presents from Dominic to show off his wealth. Nonetheless, she didn't want them. Jack assured her that they would fetch a pretty price on neighboring ports. Or she could just barter them for other things she might need for the journey, such as clothes. Sticking some of the jewel into his belt and pockets, Jack grabbed her by the arms and hauled her out of the door. Jezebel barely caught a glimpse of the body lying at the foot of the door. Jack didn't want her to see it at all, so they ran as fast as they could back down to the docks where his ship stood massive and dark against the blue sky. Jezebel stopped dead in her tracks at the sight of it.
Memories flooded her head of the numerous times she had been underneath those sails. It wasn't scary to her back then, but this time, it was terrifying. Jack didn't seem uncomfortable with the prospect of having her there. Years ago, he would have given her grief over bad luck. But it seems like she was already having a bout with that as it was. Now, she was being pulled aboard. Numbly following wherever he was leading her.
"That you, Cap?"
A waterlogged older man yell from the bulk of the ship. Jack turned his head in the direction of his first mate, Gibbs, who looked Jezebel over with a familiar eye. She remembered him well as a kind man with a bit of a crazy streak. A perfect mate for Sparrow's crew.
"Aye! Whatcha got here Jack?"
Jack would've smiled but he was too concerned with keeling the Pearl out of this harbor as fast as he could. Gibbs nodded at Jezebel who offered him a weak smile. Nudging her forward and pointing to a large cabin, Jezebel left them and went inside. Gibbs gave Sparrow a questioning look and Jack leaned in and told him why they had to leave.
"Hoist the sails! We're turning rudder on Southland and heading further down...Tortuga!"
A bellow of approving shouts and grunts could be heard. No argument there. There wasn't anyone on Jack's ship who didn't like Tortuga.
Inside of the Captain quarters', Jezebel sat heavily on the bed and laid her head in her hands. Once the shock of things wore off, she finally began to realize that Dominic was actually dead. She hadn't wanted him to die. Maybe things would've changed after they were married. Now she would never know. Moreover, she would have to live with the guilt that it was indirectly her fault that he was killed, not Jack's. Curling up into herself, she began to cry. Outside, she could hear the sounds of waves crashing up against the hull, trying to soothe her.
After successfully pulling the Black Pearl out of port, Jack handed her over to the capable hands of Gibbs and went straight away to his cabin. There, he found her in his bed wrapped up inside his old blue overcoat fast asleep. Sitting down at the foot of the bed, he removed his boots and laid down. It was obvious that she had been crying. He knew why, he just wished she wouldn't. He was never good with crying women. Just ask Elizabeth... he had nearly shot her twice in his life. Once when she burned the cache on that damned island and once when she blubbered over Will wanting to leave on one of Jack's more recent ventures to Isla De Muerta. He grumbled at the memory and rubbed his sore knuckles. It was obvious too that Jack had been in a squabble, but no one cared to ask him about the blood on his shirt. Most of the crew were used to the sight. There was blood caked on his forehead too. Jack wasn't sure if it was Dominic's or his. Either way, he wasn't going to worry about it now. All he wanted to do was sleep off the screaming headache from being punched in the face.
He couldn't have been asleep very long, but something jarred him awake. It was only Jezebel, who moved with her sleep. Jack turned to watch her as she settled back into the mattress. She was beautiful while she slept, mostly because she was quiet and her eyes were closed. He could think back to their last few days together. They were at eachother's throats constantly. He loved it when she got angry, but at the same time, it drove him mad. Her eyes always held sadness in them. He hated to see them. The only thing worse was when the suspicion and disappointment settled into them as well. That was only after she and him fought. He saw it the other night when they crossed paths again. And now, here she was, where he knew she belonged.
Jack nearly jumped out of his skin when her eyes fluttered opened. A smirk settled there on his lips.
" 'Ello, 'ello Lass..."
Jezebel's eyes knitted and her mouth set in a uncertain frown.
"Oh God...we... we didn't...did we?"
Jack's smirk only grew as he laid assuredly into the pillows. A knowing smile plastered across his face.
"A little late for that one, isn't it Jez?"
Her expression melted into a horrified one and she went to spring out of the bed but not before Jack caught her around the waist, laughing like a madman.
"I'm kidding love..."
He pulled her back down closer to him. Hushing her and chuckling softly into her ear.
"Settle...settle... Nothing happened, you just fell asleep."
She seemed to relax then. God! He infuriated her like no one else! She turned around with every intention of swatting him, when her face became truly frightened. Jack cocked his head in question to why she was looking at him like that.
"What?"
Jezebel's hand came up to cover her mouth. From behind it, he could hear her muffled reply.
"Jack,...you're face!"
