Chapter 9

Ruth felt the vague, intangible world of her dreams being pulled from her like the comforting warmth of a blanket on cold winter's day as a gruff voice unlocked the mental doorway from dreams to reality, and her eyes snapped opened. Ruth groaned, as it was Jack's voice that brought her from sleep, and she looked up at him with sleepy, squinted eyes.

"Sorry to wake ye, love, but ye slept in quite a bit," he said monotonously, as she sat up, "We've just arrived." Although Jack's voice didn't bear its usual qualities, his words impacted her in such a way that her eyes widened, and she quickly slid from the bed.

"What – what time is it?" she asked softly with a slightly tense air to her voice as the memories of the night before came at her in a disturbing rush.

"That's not important. Just meet me at the helm when you're ready," he replied without even a glance toward her. His voice seemed so empty that anyone would think that he was simply talking to a wall, and snatching her letter from the desk, he quickly exited his room.

Ruth stood motionless for a moment, and felt that even when this day was one to rejoice for, it's joy was draped with the dark blanket of Ben's previous actions. As Ruth reminisced upon his bold, riskily-taken words, she began to dip her toes into the pool of understanding by realizing emotionally compelled reactions, and began to realize that such a verbal rebellion against Jack may have been just the product of anger. He may have never considered his words, but he hastily reasoned that if Jack could have almost slaughtered a good man like his father, he could have easily ravished a defenseless young girl like Ruth…

The thought of Ben's possibly horrific punishment only remained as clear and unbearable as it did the night before, and she couldn't imagine functioning normally through this day with the distraction. Still, she quickly fixed up her knotted hair, and changed her clothes before dashing out to the deck. The morning air had a slight coolness about it, but as it was that time when the morning transitioned into young afternoon, and the sun had not gained enough power to become too harsh.

She found Jack standing with his hands clasped behind his back, gazing out into the heart of Tortuga, the letter quivering impatiently within his hand. It seemed strange for Jack to so eagerly take the letter, which was rightfully hers, and yet, considering his character, it wasn't…

She arrived at his side, and Jack slowly turned his head, looking at her with neutral eyes, "Aren't ye hungry?" he asked rather lazily.

Ruth didn't seem to notice a feeling of hunger, and she shook her head, "I – I supposed I'm a bit too nervous to feel hunger at the moment," she answered.

Jack nodded, and turned to Gibbs, giving him a set of instructions necessary to keep the ship, including the crew, under firm control, and while these precious words were exchanged, Ruth looked out to the crowded buildings and taverns that were Tortuga. Even with the streams of smoke that leisurely snaked from the chimneys of several building, and the calm of the morning, Ruth knew that in the morning, it was a period of rest, when the waken pirates recovered from their massive hangovers brought on by the alcohol that had adulterated their bodies the night before, and the taverns prepared for another night; for at night was when this serene mask was removed, and the state of violence and anarchy was able to gain its full momentum.

When Jack had finished, they both exited the ship, strolling along the platform that connected the ship to the dock, and made their way into this deceitful town. Whores were easily separated from female tavern workers, with their excessively low-cut dresses and their heavily drawn eyeliner, as they sashayed down the streets with their smug grins and their cupped mouths as they whispered to one another when Jack and Ruth crossed their paths. Occasionally, a drunk could be seen sitting with his back against the wall of an alleyway, his fingers wrapped loosely around the neck of a rum bottle. Their eyes would bore into Ruth's, and in response, she would move slightly closer to Jack's side, trying desperately to hide behind him like a protective barricade.

"So," he began, as he stopped in front of a tavern called The Faithful Bride, "do you remember the rest of the clue?" he asked, finally casting his eyes to her.

"I think so," she answered, "May I please see the letter?" Jack rummaged through his coat pocket, revealed it, and gave it to her. She gently opened it.

"It says here that he works in a drunken daydream. I thought that it could be the name of a location, because the words "drunken daydream" is much too general when discussing a place like this…"

Jack nodded, "Although it's not in capital letters, and it refers to it as "a drunken daydream", rather than the drunken daydream, your father could have worded it that way to throw you off. Why don't we hunt around for a tavern?" he finished, flashing a small grin, which deeply comforted Ruth, even in its insignificance.

She nodded, and smiled softly, "We have nothing to lose, I suppose."

A man, wearing a tri-cornered hat, and sporting a shabby coat, became Jack's first possible source of directions, "Hey you, you there…yes you, would you perhaps know of a tavern named The Drunken Daydream?"

"The Drunken Daydream? Yeah, I've heard of the place," at this, the two inwardly cheered, "…Shame ye didn't know, it's one of Tortuga's best kept secrets."

"Could ye possibly direct us there?"

He then turned, and pointed the end of a row of buildings, "Ye just make your way past that beach, and then when the beach ends, they'll be an entrance into a sort of jungle. Don't just walk into it, now, there's gonna be a pathway ye take. After that, ye just rely on the path to get ye there."

The two thanked the man, who then walked into The Faithful Bride, and began to make their way to the beach, the excitement within Ruth dampened by her worry-filled thoughts of Ben.

………………..

As the unlikely team neared a large wall of foliage, Ruth pointed to an opening into the twisted mess of braches, which looked scooped out like seeds from a watermelon, or a tunnel. A pathway, as the stranger had told them, had been cleared and trampled by the feet of man. As they entered this entity of a world, the two were forced to walk in a single file line through the trail, as the path was rather narrow.

Wildly growing leaves reached from their section of the forest and softly brushed against their shoulders, and hung like large raindrops from their braches, while exotic, vibrant flowers seemed to glow from the sunlight that trickled in, and within these spears of light, little particles, which were unidentifiable to Ruth, seemed to be suspended like fairy dust. The greenery was bright, unadulterated by man, and the colors of this rainforest seemed almost ethereal. Ruth heard the call of a bird, and found it peering down at them with curious, beady eyes. She looked about this place with delight, and hoped that she could perhaps return.

Jack remained silent through this walk, and Ruth felt tempted to break the silence, but since the night before, she feared speaking to Jack for some reason. Perhaps it was now awkward for them to speak, or perhaps it was because of his haunting, outlandish tone of voice he had shown Ben…

Finally, a wall of brown shown behind twisting vines and branches, and Jack saw the metal of a doorknob glinting in the sunlight. As this moderately sized building came into view, a sign just above the door declared its name: The Drunken Daydream.

When they had fully approached the door, they almost tentatively entered. It bore the same general qualities as many of the taverns in Tortuga, but various paintings adorned the walls, and the tables were not uniform in style or color. The decorations of this tavern seemed almost eclectic, and the only light at moment to brighten the atmosphere came from the back windows. Apparently, this establishment was not situated within the forest, but at the end of it, for the rush of the waves could be heard, and the golden sands of the shores were visible from the windows.

A voice brought their attention from the unique style of the tavern to a man, who looked to be in his early thirties, and obviously was employed here, standing behind the main bar, wiping the inside of a mug with a rag, "Welcome to the Drunken Daydream," he said, eyeing Ruth almost suspiciously, "What can I do for the two of ye?"

"Well," Ruth began, glancing at Jack, and then at the letter in her hand, "We were just wondering… could we possibly speak to the manager?"

"You're looking at him, sweetheart," he said, and set the mug and rag upon the counter.

She then approached him, and opened the envelope, fishing from it a small pendant that she and Jack had discovered days earlier, which the clue instructed she was to use if he held disbelief in her claims.

"Do you recognize this?" she asked, extending her palm to him, the tiny thing nestled in her hand.

For a moment the man gazed into her palm as if it were actually a tiny leprechaun that sat there instead of an ordinary pedant, and his eyes slightly widened. He looked with disbelief first at Jack and then at Ruth, and motioned for them to follow him, "Come with me," he ordered, and left his station, only to retrieve a group of keys from his pocket and unlock a door directly across from the bar.

Ruth followed Jack into the room, which upon entering, she found was a sort of office. It wasn't in fact his home, but like the letter described, it was quite cluttered. Stacks of parchment filled the corners of the room, while on the floor beside his desk lay several empty bottles of rum. Behind his desk a shelf held a healthy amount of books, but because it couldn't support all of his collection, the rest lay in small towers upon the floor.

"Please, take a seat," he said, motioning his open palm to the chairs in front of his desk. They sat.

"Well, I'll be, Ruth," he said to her, shaking his head in a sort of disbelief, "I can't tell you how much you've grown. The last time I saw ye," he flattened his hand and held it above the ground as he gave her an idea of her short height, "Ye were this small, and ye hardly spoke a word to me." He chuckled, "You're all grown up now. How old are ye?"

"I turned sixteen in March," she said.

"Sixteen, eh? That's a good age," he replied, giving her a curt nod.

He turned to Jack, "And your guardian would be…"

"Captain Jack Sparrow," Jack said, making sure to emphasize his title.

"Well, well, captain, I've heard a great deal about ye. How ye sacked Port Nassau without using a gun to your advantage, did ye? It's an honor to meet ye. My name would be Robert, and I can't tell ye how pleased I am to meet ye both."

"So," Jack said, running his thumb along the pendant, and resting his chin upon the back of his fingers, "Did ye give this pendant to Ruth's father?"

Robert nodded, "That I did, mate," he said, "That was actually me sister's, she unfortunately passed away around your age, Ruth, but she had a large collections of pendants and such. That was definitely one of my sister's," the held out his hand, "May I?" he asked. Jack handed him the pendant.

He turned it over, and held it up to them, "Ye see there?" he asked, pointing to several scratches found at the bottom. Jack and Ruth leaned over to get a better look, and found that their complexities reached father than simple scratches, for they were actually the words Lily Aderson.

"You didn't have to give my father one of your sister's things, though," Ruth found herself almost exclaiming to him, "What if something happened and I never came to find you?"

Robert chuckled, and gazed down at the pendant with a look of nostalgia, "I knew ye would come back, though," he said with a grin, "Ye have your father's blood, Ruth."

……………….

When Robert had given them a small parcel, which bore the next clue, the three exchanged their goodbyes, and when Ruth approached Robert to give him her particular farewell, she thanked him gratefully for keeping her father's item safe and secure.

"Oh, it was the least I could do," he replied to this, "If I were to tell you about the number of times your father saved me neck, you two would be here until midnight."

The three chuckled, and then Robert opened the office door and led them outside the entrance of the Drunken Daydream.

"Well, Ruth, Jack, I wish ye two only the best of luck, and Ruth," he said turning to her, his expression serious, and his tone of voice drained of its liveliness, "Ye be extra careful now. I know about the dangers out there at sea, and your task at hand is rather risky."

"I will, Robert," she said, her eyes gleaming with determination, "My father taught me a great deal about the ocean and its many perils, but with my resources and knowledge at hand, I believe that I'm ready."

Robert nodded, "Your father is probably lookin' down on ye with pride, Ruth."

With a final goodbye from each, the captain and Ruth quietly left the Drunken Daydream and as Robert sent them another wave, Ruth glanced behind her shoulder every now and then until the tavern and Robert disappeared behind a tangle of leaves, branches, and vines, like the entrance of a portal into another world.

…………………

Adrien, a man only very slightly older than Ben, swaggered lazily down the main street of Tortuga, and allowed a gentle breeze to move his wild locks of hair into his eyes as he scanned the docks for his ship, The Intrepid. He licked his rum-stained lips, and turned his head, only to see a young girl, and an eccentric-looking pirate strolling leisurely past The Faithful Bride. Something about the two caught his interest, and he moved behind a tree to get a good look at them without stirring up feelings of suspicion within the two.

First, he studied the attire of the man, and concluded that, without a doubt, he was in fact the legendary Captain Jack Sparrow. He was much too distinct, like a flamingo among a flock of various birds, to blend in so easily. Besides, Adrien recalled him in a single memory when he worked upon Porter's ship. He hadn't changed a bit.

He remembered that smug, almost pompous look about him as he made those strange hand motions when he spoke or walked. And then the girl…

With just a glance, his eyes widened, and moved fully behind the tree, his breathing falling into a slightly labored state. Could it be?

He looked behind the tree, and back at the two, narrowing his eyes, and licking his lips a second time. It was. He ran through the pages of his memory once again, and found her, though only a bit younger, with her long, long hair waving about her like seaweed on the ocean floor. He had only stopped to visit his daughter, and remembered very clearly his concern for her safety, which was why he refused to take her out into open water. He could clearly remember her arguing with her father about the matter, and the way her eyes shimmered with tears as she exclaimed to him her misery of being pent-up in her mother's house. He ran both his hands through his hair, and took in a deep breath: it was Ruth Celine Porter that walked by Jack's side. He tried to register this, but his disbelief drove him to look at the two again as they walked by. What would Ruth be doing with a man like Jack Sparrow? Jack Sparrow did know her father, perhaps he became her guardian after he died, but then again…she had a mother, did she not?

Another possibility clouded his thoughts: could her father have left her a cache of treasure? It was a common a tradition among pirate captains to leave their children a store to find after they passed, and it seemed too much of a possibility to overlook. Could her father have used Jack to help her? It seemed fairly possible after he had lost his ship. Still, whether Ruth had made a deal with the knave, he thought, the insightful gears of his cunning mind whirling at top speeds, or her father had negotiated with him, Jack was still a pirate…and after having told her the secrets to her father's treasure, Sparrow would have disposed of the girl by now. There had to be a reason that he needed her. There had to be something that she knew.

If she was so valuable…then he would have to exploit it. Adrien smirked as a plan began to develop within the cunning of his mind.

…………………..

When the two finally returned to the Black Pearl, a crewmember informed them that lunch was ready, and they made their way down to the mess, their stomachs protesting their emptiness with faint growls. Ruth ate her meal quickly, though quietly, and only spoke to Jack occasionally. Afterwards, Ruth followed him to the cabin, where he placed the small parcel upon his desk, and turned to Ruth.

"We're actually going to be stayin' for the night, so if you'd like, we can tackle the next clue later on…I actually have to see to a bit of business right now, anyway."

"That's fine, Jack," she said, giving him a tired, gentle smile, "I'm actually a bit tired."

Jack returned the grin, and walked to the door, wrapping his hand around the doorknob, but before he left, he turned, "If ye need anything, I'll be here on the deck," he said, and then left an anxious Ruth, who immediately sat upon the bed when the door closed before him.

She couldn't believe how casual and calm Jack had been throughout this day, although he did acknowledge last night's events by acting unusually quiet. It was much too obvious now that he had punished Ben. When she stood at the deck that morning, she couldn't find Ben working at his usual duties, and later that day during lunch, he was nowhere to be seen. Also, a tension had built steadily between she and Jack, one that kept Jack from his usual self, and that frightened Ruth deeply. He, of course, had probably also sensed that Ruth knew of this chastise, and this only worsened things between them.

She slowly lowered herself onto the bed, and lay there without expecting sleep to come to her and so quickly take her from her problems temporarily. She had to find out what had happened to Ben. If only Jack had not expressed such a frightening side of him, the question itself wouldn't be so grim and forbidding. If he had caused such a fear to develop just with the beginning stages of his wrath, she couldn't imagine provoking a new level of his anger. She also couldn't imagine, however, Jack unleashing such an emotion on someone like herself. Then again, Jack had failed to apologize, or simply speak about the night before, and had been so silent about Ben, that she began to wonder if he had done something truly torturous to him.

She turned her head and gazed at her arm, which lay limply to her to her side, and bit her lip as she began to decide whether or not to take Jack aside and ask him. It was just a question…but it was one that could spark only conflict, if, of course, she pressed the matter. She could easily hold her tongue and not persist if Jack chose not to tell her, but in this case, she felt that it was necessary. Jack had every right to keep the truth from her, but he also needed to consider Ruth's feelings in the process. Would he?

She began to wonder if she should test him, and finally, she sat up, and felt her stomach churn as her conscious argued with her nagging fears.

She had to ask him.

…………………

As Ruth walked into the dying sunlight, she sighed, closed her eyes, struggled to mentally prepare herself, and then quickly ran her eyes about the area. She realized he wasn't there, and began a more thorough search of the deck. For the last several hours, she contemplated her decision, and she concluded that in fact, it would be the right thing to do, but she dreaded his reaction if she felt it important to know if he kept the answer from her.

When she rounded a corner, she felt a gasp escape her lips as he came into view. There he was, walking in his usual manner, his eyes bright, alert, almost as if he were preparing for the night's pandemonium.

"Hello Ruth," he greeted her.

"H-Hello, Jack," she stammered, her eyes darting nervously to her side before she correctly composed herself, "Can I…can I have a word with you?"

Jack shrugged, "Alright then…If ye wish, we can discuss this in the cabin area or-"

"Y-yes," she cut him off hastily, "let's discuss this in the cabin," she finished, her eyes avoiding him, as if his were forbidding.

They both then made their way to the cabin in a grim silence, and when immediately when entering, Ruth migrated to the far end of the room.

"Jack," she said, "I…I need to ask you about Ben."

Jack slowly approached her, and pursed his lips, studying her with narrowed eyes, "What about him?" he finally replied to this, his voice taut with a sort of irritation.

"Oh, Jack," she said, slowly shaking her head, "you know perfectly well of what I've feared the entirety of last night, and this day…"

A frightening silence fell between them.

"Please, Jack," she struggled to beg as tears flew to her eyes, and her voice became strained with emotion, "Please tell me what you did to him."

Jack's eyes slightly softened as her tears became evident, "Ruth…it's not necessary at this point-" he said.

"Not necessary?" she questioned with such anger, that it seemed to compel her to approach him, "How can you simply say that like…like you just scolded him? I know you did worse. My father was in fact, a pirate captain, if you forgot," she finished with sharp, bitter sarcasm.

Jack raised his eyebrows at her sudden outburst, and gave her an intensely exasperated look, "I have every bit of authority to stop this, Ruth. Telling you would only worsen things."

"No, Jack," she answered him, clenching her fists, the idea of his anger abandoning her as her courage increased, "You don't seen to understand that if you fail to tell me, my worry will only worsen."

"Tell me, Ruth," he said, cocking his head, a strange, angry amusement playing upon his lips and eyes, "Why are ye so concerned about the boy? Is it because ye fancy him?"

"No, Jack!" she said, her exasperation now the equivilant of his, "I don't fancy him, I care about him…but it seems that you couldn't see the difference between lust and love seeing that you're nothing but a pirate."

Her words at that moment, when she only felt sheer regret, and when Jack gazed at her with a dangerously still, unmoving face, was the quintessence of irrational words driven by pure rage. He took a step toward her, "What did ye say?" he said, his voice low and icy; the very voice Ruth feared.

A single tear rolled down her face, "Please, Jack," she begged, the possible result of her thoughtless action sending goosebumps down her arms, perfectly aware that trying to direct his attention from her own slander would be in vain, "please just tell me…"

"Not with your mouth, I won't," he replied coldly, narrowing his dark eyes "How dare you take after that insolent little bastard and insult me…"

"He's not a bastard, Jack!" she screamed, "he was just brought up on that preconception. I myself was a bit surprised that you didn't do such a thing!"

"Why Ruth," he seethed, "after I took ye in as a whimpering, vulnerable, little victim, and provided ye with clothes, food, and shelter, would ye question me in such a way?"

"How can you keep such a thing from me?" Ruth questioned through her tears, "The more you keep this from me, the more I begin to believe that you did something unspeakable to him!"

"Don't try and change the subject, Ruth," he spat, "whether ye said those word or not, I would never tell ye."

A look of fury came upon Ruth, "Ben was right…you're no better than any other pirate that corrupts the ocean!" she screamed.

At that moment, Jack felt such an intense rage boil over within him, that he felt a strong urge to do something, anything, to put her in her place. He could no longer tolerate her ungratefulness, and in a sudden movement, his hand flew up.

Time seemed to slow, and in those seemingly painstakingly slow seconds, he stopped his hand as he realized his pact with himself never to bring his hand up to a woman, and as Ruth ducked to avoid the blow. The two stood in their positions, as if now time had fully come to a halt, and stared at each other with widened eyes, Jack, with his hand in midair, and Ruth, whose own hand had shot up in an attempt to block him.

It was Jack's turn to regret his action.

Finally, Jack slowly lowered his hand, and Ruth brought down hers, but began to back away from Jack, her eyes now producing tears at a rapid rate.

"Ruth," he said, his voice returning to its usual, gentle state, "Please, I…I didn't mean to scare ye." Her fearful gaze could break the hardest of hearts, and it was unbearable to look upon.

He approached her, and held out his hand to touch her upon her shoulder. She quickly recoiled.

"DON'T TOUCH ME!" she shrieked, practically leaping to dodge him, "STAY AWAY FROM ME!"

"Ruth!" Jack said desperately, putting out his palms to signal a truce, "I'm not going to hurt ye!"

He tried to near her, but she bolted from him and snatched a book from his shelf, "I SAID…STAY AWAY FROM ME!" she screamed, hurling it at him. Jack was lucky to have accumulated such fast reflexes over the years, and he avoided the potentially agonizing impact of the book with a quick dodge.

She then expressed a look of sheer repent at attempting to harm the man she trusted, but she quickly escaped her regret, and made a mad dash for the door with Jack close behind, "Ruth!" he yelled, "Ruth, please, just let me speak!"

Just as she reached the door, he caught up to her, and grabbed her arm, pulling her to him, struggling to grab her other as she began to flail like an angry fish taken from water. Jack finally caught her other arm, and as he tried to move away from the door, Ruth pulled her arm forward, and swiftly elbowed him in his side, causing her to immediately be freed of his grasp.

With Jack distracted by the sharp pain, and as he doubled over and clenched his teeth, Ruth opened the door, and darted outside. Jack, who did his best to recover as quickly as he could, fled from his room, his hand upon his side, slightly bent over, running with a bit of a limp, but his determination to keep her from leaving was left without the slightest falter.

Meanwhile, Ruth continued through the docks, but because the sound of Jack's boots pounding the deck could not be heard, she slowed, and finally glanced behind her shoulder. Through blurry tears, and thick sobs, she looked back at the ship that she had called her home, and had felt more like her home than her mother's. Despite her fright, and her new fear in Jack, she longed to return without having to encounter the various dangers in Tortuga, but she felt that couldn't turn back now. She had already chosen this sojourn, and felt the greatest urge at that moment to leave the confines of the Pearl, if only for the evening. This would be one of the greatest acts of rebellion against Jack, and as she thought of how it would affect him, it brought a steady flow of tears from her eyes, but yet, it strangely satisfied her anger and her need for revenge.

She ran.

That one action, though not fully done, sparked such a horrifying store of memories of her time aboard the Sea Charmer, that it also brought about a reservoir of anger and sadness that she had tried to pent up within her, and that one movement by Jack only triggered her longing to set it free…

The only image she had of Jack now was his hand, and the terrifying detail of it as it came so closely to her face. Jack had committed to protecting her from harm, and even if he didn't hurt her, the fact remained that he attempted to. Who knows what would have happened if she had stayed, or if Jack had successfully hit her?

She knew perfectly well of the irrationality of her decision, and she knew that she could have allowed Jack to speak, but she needed to get away, and in her fume, she felt that she could have punched him in the face if she had stayed...perhaps, she thought, she just needed to cool down.

The shouts and screams gained their notorious noise level as she neared, she took another look behind her, only to see Jack sprinting down the docks like the Kraken was on his heels, and tentatively, she darted into the town and disappeared into the crowds.

Well, that just goes to show how our anger can make us do things we wouldn't normally do. I'm sorry if this chapter was also a bit sad, and that I left off on a bleak note. Adrien is also going to add kinda a little twist to the plot, I hope you don't mind. I can try to update as soon as possible, because I don't like leaving endings like this.

Also, thank you to those who have reviewed!

Please review more, everybody! Your reviews really make my day and bring a smile to my face!