Chapter Four: Trust

"Jack! What are you doing in my cabin!"

"I'm here to change your bandages luv."

"No. I am of perfect health and capability to change them myself.

"Are you saying you're gonna fight me luv?"

"Absolutely Jack," Cordelia said, crossing her arms.

Suddenly he swept past her and locked the door. She saw no trace of the key.

"Jack, why are you doing this to me? I've done nothing but accidentally stowaway on your ship and I'm making up for it by cooking. Please just leave me in peace."

"Look luv. I've only locked you in because I've the feeling you don't trust me. I'm not going to hurt you at all. I just want to establish an understanding."

"I really can redress them myself Jack. I am not a child. And what understanding is that?"

"That though I be a pirate I mean you no harm. And the fact that you can do it yourself isn't the point."

"What is the point then Jack?"

"It's not the point luv. It's the principle of the thing. Just come 'ere alright?"

"No."

"Stay away from me Jack."

He made a grab at her but she dodged him. He tried a second time and she just barely avoided that too.

THUD!

"Ohhh," she moaned. "My head."

Cordelia tripped over her skirt. Knowing she lost she stayed still, hoping he would leave. Again she was wrong. He lifted her up, sat in the chair by her bed and set her on his lap. She didn't move as he took off the bandages but when he swabbed a scrape with a cloth soaked in something brown and vile smelling she recoiled.

"Ow! That stings! Stop!"

He grabbed her arm and pulled it back.

"Sorry 'bout that. It's rum. It'll sting a little."

She kept struggling.

"Don't wash my scrapes with rum, are you insane!"

"Luv, I know what I'm doing so stop your struggling or I'll tie your arms."

Cordelia shut her mouth and remained still. She didn't want to think of being tied up by this man. Very unpromising scenarios came to her mind and she focused on the stinging of the rum, but she instinctively pulled away from the cloth again as me moved to a cut on her cheek.

"What now luv?"

"You'll get it in my eyes."

"Now why on earth would I do that? All it would do is make you struggle and complain more. You are so difficult. It would be so much easier if I just threw you over board."

Cordelia blushed and stopped moving. She realized how rude she had been. He really was trying to help her.

"I'm sorry Jack. You've been kind to me even though you're a pirate. I'll try to cooperate from now on."

"All I want is for you to sit still. Try to understand that I don't want to hurt you."

"I'm sorry. I just want to go to bed. I'm exhausted."

"Well luv, we could do that too."

"Give it up Jack. I want to step off this ship alive and intact if you get my meaning. I want to start my life over."

"All right, just sit still, I'm nearly through."

We sat in silence while he continued. She remained calm when he reached a scrap on her collarbone. He did nothing. Finally he puts the rum and cloth down.

"Done. Now we can go to bed."

"No we won't be doing anything. Please leave, I am very tired."

He unlocked the door and tossed her he key.

"G'night luv."