Deepest apologies if Jack seems a bit OOC here. I do realize that they've known each other for maybe two days but put yourself in her situation a minute and tell me you wouldn't get attached to the man yourself, especially if you had no one else that showed you the kindness he does. Yes, this is a rather short chapter and really is just… filler (euck) but the next one is longer and… better! (I hope). And thank you so much to Caripsle for returning my faith in this story. :)
Disclaimer: I own nothing, as per usual.
Chapter Four: Spin Me a Story
While trying to get his heart rate back to normal, Jack wrapped the noose around the wheel and began prowling about the poop deck for his little predator. "Come out luv," he whispered menacingly. "Come out!" Soon, he heard the soft padding of sneaking feet behind him and grinned. "GOTCHA!" Jack called, spinning around and grabbing the girl.
Mary squealed in surprise and began cackling as Jack tickled her mercilessly. "This is what you get for sneakin' up on ole' Jack!" He laughed as she squirmed in his grasp.
"Mr. Jack, Mr. Jack, I can't breathe!" The little lass panted between fits of laughter. Jack ceased his tickling and watched as she laid herself out on the deck, looking up at the endless starry sky. "I thought ye might gets lonely up here without no one to talk to or nothin'," she explained quietly, tracing made-up constellations in the air with a pudgy finger.
"It ain' so bad," he replied, lying down beside her, remembering the noose still securing the wheel. He pointed to the North Star, "See, that's me dog."
"That's not a dog, Mr. Jack, that's a star," Mary giggled.
"Naw, luv, that's Polaris, the dog star. Some call 'im Canis Major or Sirius, but I like Polaris meself. He's always there, right at the northern-most point, ready to show me the way. Never leaves me, he does. Good ole' fella, nice 'n loyal. As long as you know where Polaris is, you'll never be lost, remember that."
The girl was quiet a moment, taking in the knowledge Jack had just bestowed to her. She shivered a bit, edging closer to him and his warm jacket.
"Mr. Jack?"
"Yes, luv?"
She yawned. "Tell me a story, please?"
Jack smiled. 'Curious girl, always has a question on her lips,' he thought. "A'ight, Miss Mary." He agreed.
"A good one."
"Wouldn't dream of tellin' anything less."
"A'ight." She shivered again and he remembered the blanket he found her in. "Back in a tick, luv." He whispered, getting up and going to get the blanket. He laid it over her small form on the dock and she snuggled into it gratefully, mumbling a 'thank-you' as he returned to the wheel, throwing off the noose. Jack examined his compass under the nearby lantern light and turned the ship just a touch west before thinking of what tale to spin for the youngin'.
"Mr. Jack…" The girl muttered expectantly.
"Patience child," Jack replied. "When I was a lad, just about that Auburn boy's age, my father took me to Tortuga for the first time. He was a rum runner and had to deliver a cache of the stuff and decided it was time I see the real world…"
"… And that's when we took our leave." Jack chuckled to himself. He turned, waiting for the questions to come tumbling out of her little mouth only to find Mary snuggled into her blanket, breathing deeply and evenly. Gibbs suddenly appeared to relieve Jack of his watch and spied the young'n.
"Jack, where'd she come from?" Gibbs whispered superstitiously, an 'it's-bad-luck' phrase poised on his tongue.
"Caicos, of course. An old friend gave me a good trade to take her to our next destination. She's harmless, Gibbs so none of yer superstitions, savvy?"
Gibbs shifted. "Yes, Cap'n, about that; the destination part, that is. The crew is suspicious because you're not tellin' them where we're headed. They think… funny business is afoot." He gave the captain a wary eye to prove his point.
"Well, they'll figure it out soon enough. Don't they trust me?"
"Well you are dishonest, sir."
"Precisely."
A tad confused, Gibbs looped the noose around the wheel and took a seat on a barrel near it. "Whatever you say, Cap'n. G'night."
"G'night Gibbs," Jack replied, picking up Mary carefully. The girl groaned in her sleep and snuggled closer to the man's warm body, mumbling something incoherent. "Oh and best not to mention this particular piece of cargo to the crew."
"Waiting for the opportune moment?"
"Now you're gettin' it, Gibbs." Jack gave the man a smart nod and headed back towards his cabin, placing the girl on the floor near his bed, deciding to deal with the whole 'sleeping arrangements' bit tomorrow. The captain shrugged off his jacket and effects, keeping his pistol close by and his boots on, and settled into his bed, ready for a good few hours of sleep.
The morning came too quickly for Jack. He groaned at the sunlight streaming through the portholes, cursing the brightness of the day, and looked for a bottle of rum to dull the pain of his headache. His slumber had been peaceful enough and he was grateful for that. It wasn't often he felt semi-rested the morning after a night up on watch. He placed a foot on the floor beside his bed but instead of his boot hitting wood, he felt a more slippery ground. Looking over, he recognized Mary's blanket – empty.
"Shit."
