Author's Note: Haha, thought it might just be too mean to leave you hanging with that one. I probably, almost certainly will update from now till after my exams, don't worry. I've discovered revision isn't my scene.

Anyway, thanks to all my reviewers! Remember to keep them coming XD.

Chapter Fourteen: Intruder

"I hate this ship."

Lainey muttered to herself as she sat curled up on Sparrow's bed that evening. They had docked, and the ship was quiet and still, the most peaceful it had been. Lainey was sitting alone, nursing her stinging lip. Stupid Jack Sparrow... why did he have to irritate her so? Why couldn't he just leave her alone?

"I hate him. I really, honest to God, hate him."

She looked at her dress. The pale green looked scruffy already, the edges more ragged than before. Curse this ship! Her hair was still braided, but most of it hung free. Her lip must have looked terrible. She supposed she looked quite the part on this ship.

She wanted to go and see Edward. Longingly she thought of holding him. It would be nice to be with someone who cared. But she did not dare go down. Tobias would be patrolling, and she feared crossing him.

Speaking of Tobias, she could hear gentle footsteps outside the cabin. He was probably sneaking around to try and make her nervous. Bloody pirates. She tried to ignore them, turning her head into the wall, closing her eyes, seeing hot red eyelids. Gradually they cooled to black, and she lay still, her mind numb, blank.

"Bloody Jack Sparrow," she muttered, but absent-mindedly, her head somewhere else.

There was a loud clatter of a door being forced open somewhere near to this cabin. Lainey sat up, trembling from the shock. Why would Tobias be forcing doors open?

Unless it wasn't Tobias.

Her heart was thundering in her chest. Sure, the pirates on this ship hadn't been too nice to her, but that said they hadn't hurt her- apart from Jack Sparrow, that is, but she supposed that she had been equally to blame for that (as much as it pained her to admit it, even in her head). But if there was someone else on the ship, they might do...

What to do? She placed her cold hands to her hot forehead and tried to think. She needed to get to Tobias. She just had to hope she didn't run into the intruder on the way.

She flew to the door, tugging it. It was locked. Frustration over-rode logic and sense, and she found herself shouting, "Curse you, Jack Sparrow!"

Then she froze, realising what she had done. If there was an intruder, he knew she was there now. There was nothing for it now. She needed Tobias.

"Tobias!" she screamed. "Tobias!"

Heavy footsteps outside the cabin door. Lainey shrunk back, terrified, tense. Whoever it was tried pushing the door. Lainey guessed what was going to happen a second before it did, and threw herself against the far wall as a pistol went off, blowing the lock open.

She turned her head to see the large figure in the smokey shadows of the door. She couldn't make him out, but it was obvious it wasn't Tobias.

"Well, well, well," came an unfamiliar, deep voice. "What have we here?"

Lainey fought down a whimper and forced her voice to remain steady. "Who are you?"

"I might ask you the same question, but it's pretty obvious why Sparrow's got a girl in his cabin." He chuckled to himself, then stepped forward. He was huge, with lank black hair and dull grey eyes. He was dressed as a pirate, heavily armed, waving a pistol at her.

"Why are you on the ship?" Lainey asked, willing him to stay still. She was tempted to start screaming. Where was Tobias?

He threw his head back and laughed roughly. "Stealing, of course. A ship docks, full of pirate loot, and it's so easy to sneak on when it's deserted." Then he fixed her with a sharp, hungry stare. "You're the best bit of loot I've seen so far."

She didn't hesitate now. She was screaming now, not thinking, filled with blind fear. "Sparrow! Sparrow!"

"Sparrow can't help you now, pretty," leered the man, stepping forward, growling.

"Jack! Jack!"

The man was so close now, he reached out to touch her. "Pretty, I already told you, Sparrow isn't here to save you..."

Lainey closed her eyes as his hand descended towards her. This was it... no Tobias... no Edward... no Jack... She fought back the tears that threatened to spill, determined not to let this evil man see her cry. Fingers brushed her shoulder, and she shuddered, horrified...

"Get your hands away from her." It was the coldest, hardest voice Lainey had ever heard Jack Sparrow use. She opened her eyes, staring at him, standing so firmly in the doorway. She knew now why he was the most feared pirate in the Caribbean, why people thought him so scary. The look in his eyes was not the usual twinkle, but something dark and threatening. His teeth were bared in an almost wild fashion, the gold teeth flashing threateningly.

"Jack," whispered Lainey, and for a moment his eyes met her face, and for a moment they were tender.

"Jack Sparrow," said the intruder. His hand was still on Lainey's shoulder, but she no longer feared it.

"That's Captain Jack Sparrow," Jack said slowly, and Lainey noted that it was also the most formal and correct English she had ever heard come from his mouth. "And you'd better get away from her. Nobody, nobody, does anything against Captain Jack Sparrow, the Black Pearl, or Carmen, savvy?"

Lainey blinked, but didn't have much time to think on these words. The intruder released her shoulder, and turned with his pistol to Jack. Jack reacted like lightning, kicking the pistol away then running the man through with his sword.

Lainey gasped, horrified, as she watched Jack pull his sword from the man, who gave a low moan before crumpling lifelessly to the floor.

"Carmen," Jack said, replacing his sword in his belt, and fixing her with a concerned look. "Are you alrigh'?"

She didn't think. She just threw herself into his arms, nestling into his warmth. He held her tightly, apparently not surprised. Tears were splashing down her face but she didn't even notice. Nobody, nobody, does anything against Captain Jack Sparrow, the Black Pearl, or Carmen, savvy? Jack cared about her, he really did.

"Oh, Jack," she whispered.

"It's okay," he said softly, running fingers through her hair tenderly. "Let's get yer outta here, away from him, eh, luv?"

She nodded numbly, and he lifted her simply, silently, and carried her out.

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Her fingers closed automatically over his hot hand, feeling the rough skin there.

He smiled, revealing those golden teeth. "Wha'd yer expect, luv? I'm Captain Jack Sparrow." Then the smile became more gentle, more sincere. "Though I note your new use of my first name."

"Jack." Lainey said it without thinking.

"Aye, tha's the one," he said, eyes twinkling.