You Forget One Very Important Thing mate - (26)
"Jack…ohhhh Jack!?" Metheros' high-pitched voice echoed throughout the lower deck.
"Lass, watch the helm would ye?" Ashley nodded and took Jacks place whilst he went down to see what the 'island Queen' wanted.
"Aye?" He asked, watching her as she walked around the galley.
"I'm starving" She replied.
"Good idea love, so am I, you get to work and I'll leave you to it," Jack said, turning to leave, Metheros grabbed his arm.
"No you don't Sparrow, do you want me to starve?" Metheros said.
"Aye, I'm good with it; have an apple" Jack said, taking one from the cupboard and tossing it at her. "Then you will come up onto the top deck an' I'll tell ye yer chores,"
"What?"
"Work lass, I ain't letting ye get free passage on this ship an' not do anything, its been a while since I had a woman on the ship, so you can do all the stuff that a woman would do," Jack said, walking up onto the top deck.
"Excuse me! Your daughter is a woman isn't she? Get her to do it!" Metheros screeched.
"Ashley was brought up on the streets, therefore she has no idea of how to do woman's work and is much more useful to me up 'ere doing man's work," Jack exclaimed.
"I can do mans work! I can do mans work just fine!" Metheros said, finishing her apple and tossing the remains over the side of the ship.
"Eh? If ye think ye can do wha' Ashley does then go up to the crows nest and be lookout for the rest of the day," Jack stated, crossing his arms.
Metheros looked up at the mast, and the crow's nest, which was looming over her.
'I CAN'T DO THIS!' The voice in her mind screamed.
But seeing as how stubborn the girl was, she started to climb the ropes leading up to the crow's nest.
"Don't fall, love," Jack shouted, laughing and then going to relive Ashley of her post at the helm.
"What is that Metheros doing now?" Ashley asked him as he walked over and took the helm.
"Nothing love, nothing at all," Jack grinned.
"HOLY MOTHER OF GOD!" Jack heard Gibb's shout.
Jack turned and saw Metheros in Gibb's arms.
"How de ye get all the way down 'ere?" Jack asked.
"She fell Captain," Gibb's said, looking at Metheros who had 'fainted'…or appeared to have done anyway.
"Well..that'll teach her to try an' get away with not doin' any work," Jack said turning back to face Ashley, who was now on the floor.
"Eh? Ashley get up!" Jack said, he shook her, she did nothing.
Putting his head to her chest he heard that her heart was still beating.
"What happened?" Jack asked out loud.
"She fainted captain, the heat I be thinkin'…has she eaten? We were on that island for an awful long time," Marty tried to help.
Jack sighed, the rum was gone...and now he had two unconscious women on board his ship. Or at least one. He was certain Metheros was just pretending for attention, and maybe to make him look bad. But, just so he could get the woman out of the way he turned to Gibb's.
"Put Metheros in Ashley's cabin…for now. Ashley'll be in mine until she wakes up,"
"Aye Captain," Gibb's said, taking Metheros below deck.
Jack carried the unconscious Ashley to his cabin, laid her down on the bed and pulled the blanket to her shoulders. He frowned as he looked at her-- she'd changed quite a bit since coming onto The Black Pearl. The sun had darkened her skin, lightened her dark brown hair. If they continued on the planned course they would reach Port Royal in a matter of days and Jack couldn't help but wonder. Would Ashley remain his (as he desperately wanted her to) or would she get forced back into the Swann household? And if she doesn't, what after that? He knew he was going to want to return to Tortuga pretty soon. Did he even want to take that chance? Tortuga terrified Ashley, Jack knew it did, but she loved and missed her friends. Jack could change course and not go to Tortuga, he could tell Ashley it was too far out of the way and he would get his beloved rum somewhere else. How long could he get away with saying that? Jack sighed, as much as he hated to admit it he didn't want to lose Ashley. He loved her more than his rum, more than his bloody ship. He turned his back to the bed. He would continue as planned, dop Metheros off in Port Royal, avoid Elizabeth and Will (Or at least get Ashley to avoid them so she doesn't get dragged back into their house)..surely Ashley would choose to stay on the ship. Surely she would.
The first time he saw her she was going on about wanting to be a pirate, and heck, she did sign. She was a part of his crew, whether she liked it or not. Of course, she did in fact like it; no SHE LOVED it, and had no intention of leaving. But Jack just wasn't sure; they didn't even know each other that well.
'What are ye thinkin' about Jack, no rum is getting' ta ye I suppose…. I wonder if Port Royal has a nice supply…' Jack thought, closing his cabin door and walking back out into the cool breeze.