Disclaimer: Anything created by Disney is not mine.
A/N: Sorry for the delay and thank you for the splendid reviews! I bet you guys can't wait to see the heap of trouble Gallagher and Sparrow get themselves into. Baby steps, baby steps. I am full of pizza, cookies, and ginger ale and I am ready for some Microsoft Word tush kicking. Well, off to chapter five!
PineAppleLint
* * *
Gallagher cocked her head to the side and kissed Jack's tanned cheek slowly before resting back against the pillow, closing her eyes in contentment. She was still trying to regain her normal breathing pattern. Jack had collapsed on top of her two minutes ago and had made no sign that he was going to move anytime soon. He was resting his full weight on her, and she liked the feeling of him so close, of his body matching up with hers. His dreads tickled her flesh and the trinkets braided into his matted hair were surprisingly cool against her flushed skin. He had his head buried in the crook of her shoulder and she felt him still breathing rapidly.
"Why, Captain Sparrow," she teased, "Given up so easily? I think you're losin' your touch."
She felt Jack's lips run up the length of her neck and him murmur in his sea-weathered voice, "Just restin' up for the next go 'round, luv. Won't be but a moment."
Terrence laughed as he rolled over, taking her with him so that she suddenly lay on top of him. She traced the tattoo on his lean chest with her fingernail and stared down at his dazed, pleasured expression. Her black hair whispered across his throat and caressed his whiskered chin as she moved her head to get a better look at him.
Jack said with a grin, "That was well worth the wait. I'm glad we made this arrangement, me darling. Because this pirate probably couldn't have gone another month without..."
She silenced him with a kiss. His grin widened against her lips as he gave his expert mouth to hers freely with untamed passion. When they came up for air, they were gasping from the lack of oxygen. Jack suddenly felt something caress his naked thigh.
"Terrence! You litt'l minx! Can't get enough o' me, can ye?" he said wickedly, nuzzling the side of her face.
"I think the tables have turned, Captain. I saw that predatory look in your eyes in the tavern. Couldn't wait to jump me bones, hmm?"
"No argument there." Again, he felt something slither against his side under the sheets. "That tickles, Gallagher," he added with a wink.
"What? What tickles?"
"You strokin' me thigh o' whatever you're tryin' to reach," he commented devilishly, his brown eyes darkening once more, "Not that I'm complainin'..."
"I'm not strokin' your thigh, Sparrow," Terrence replied, kissing him quickly on his chapped lips before she continued, "But if ye want me to, hell, I'm all for it..."
Jack frowned and threw the sheets off of them. The cool air chilled their sweat-slicked forms as he stared down the length of them.
"Bloody hell!" he cried out, and he grabbed Gallagher and they went tumbling off of the bed in a heap of tangled arms and legs.
"What is wrong with you?" she asked and peered back over the edge of the bed. She recoiled from the mattress. There was a large, black cobra entangled in the blankets! It caught her gaze and hissed at her in warning.
"Where's me pistol? I'm going to blow its head off," Jack growled and jumped up, making his way across the room in that quick swagger of his. It looked all the more absurd without clothes on. Gallagher froze as the snake slithered over to her side of the bed and sat there on the edge, just staring at her with its little black, beady eyes.
"Uh, Jack?" she whispered. If she tried to back away, would it strike? Sparrow picked up his belt from the floor in a hurry and closed his fingers around the pistol. He glanced over at Gallagher, who was frozen on the floor, and the snake was slowly making its way off the bed and over to where she was sitting in shock.
He unlocked the safety, aimed, and fired. Terrence jerked as the bullet intercepted the snake's head and the reptile flew about a foot in the air from the impact. It writhed for a couple seconds, then grew still. The cobra was no more.
"I never liked snakes," Terrence said matter-of-factly, still staring at the snake corpse.
"Never seen one of these damned things in Tortuga before," Jack said quizzically as he picked it up by its tail and flung it out of the open window without care. A loud shriek erupted from the streets below.
He stared at their bed and paranoia washed over him. He checked the sheets twice before picking up Terrence and settling her back against the warm linens. He joined her, grabbing her by the hips and pulling her close.
"It's the curse, isn't it?" Jack asked as he ran his callused palm over her abdomen, "Hell, the things you run into, Gallagher...I mean, snakes? Its kind o' kinky, but if that's what Lucifer wants on our wild night together, I suppose I could accommodate them..."
She turned and shook her head at him, saying, "You are one of a kind, Jack. We almost got bitten by a damn cobra and ye think its all fun and games."
"Isn't it?" he frowned innocently, blinking. Terrence chuckled at his insatiable behavior. His kohl had been rubbed off ages ago. He smiled when his wandering fingers caused a small gasp to erupt from her lips. "Let's not worry about it. Tomorrow we'll go get our questions answered. But for now..." he nipped at her jaw line, "I want your up most attention, savvy?"
Terrence grinned and replied against his mouth, "Savvy."
* * *
Captain Malvado was an impatient man. And when he grew impatient, the air grew heavy and thick with dangerous tension.
"Run out the sweeps!" he barked loudly. His crew shouted their devotion to their captain before running off to carry out the task.
Malvado turned to Michael, his first mate, and snarled, "I want to get there as soon as possible. No delays. No problems."
"Aye sir. At this rate it will take three days."
"They'll be gone by then!" the furious Captain replied, gnashing his teeth and wringing his hands, "Jack Sparrow and his fuck friend will be long gone by then."
"We could ask around," Michael informed him, "There's bound to be a few drunks in some tavern that have heard of their plans. Then we'll catch 'em, sir. They won't know what hit them."
"Don't take Sparrow for granted," Malvado chuckled bitterly, "That bastard isn't as stupid as he looks. And Gallagher, well...I've heard the stories. She's cunning as she is beautiful. And uses both to her advantage."
"They won't know they're being followed, Captain. We'll catch them on the open sea. Then they won't be able to escape."
"I want that key, one way o' the other," Malvado hissed, "I won't be pleased until it's in the palm o' me hand, Michael, mark me words."
"What do ye plan on doing with them once we intercept them, might I ask?" the bulky first mate questioned eagerly.
"It matters how cooperative they are in the first place." Malvado squinted his beautiful eyes as well as arching his perfectly sculpted eyebrows in thought. Licking his lips, he added, "Sparrow, now I'd like to destroy that Pearl of his that he's always boastin' about. Can't be the fastest ship in the Caribbean if it's underwater, aye? And Gallagher? I've never seen her, but she sounds fuckable. Who knows? She could provide all o' us more than a litt'l amusement."
"Sounds like a good plan to me, Captain," Michael sneered.
"Did I ask your opinion?" Captain Malvado questioned icily, narrowing his eyes at him. Michael cowered a little and mumbled his apologies before getting back to his duties and leaving Malvado to think in peace.
"Whether ye wait for us o' not," he whispered menacingly at the dark horizon, "We'll be huntin' ye down, you bitch. That key is rightfully mine."
* * *
When Gallagher awoke to an empty bed, for a couple of moments it felt as if her heart had been yanked out and thrown to the floor. That is, until she remembered Sparrow was actually going along for the ride this time. Gallagher and Sparrow had always varied it a little. Each 'morning after' in Tortuga, one of them would end up gone, leaving the other to an empty bed all to themselves. It wasn't a wonderful feeling, to be left behind, that is, so Gallagher had always tried to wake up a bit earlier than him. She pulled off the same routine every time she got the opportunity: she'd untangle herself from his embrace, dress quietly, and sneak out the door unnoticed. Hopefully by the time he woke up, the Dancing Horizon would be long gone. If they ever caught each other in the act of leaving, it was an awkward experience. Deep down in her gut she didn't want to leave him, his touch, his rustic smell, that familiar feeling of comfort. But she had to rip her raw emotions away from her rational mind and not let her love for Sparrow interfere with her life as a captain. After all, a pirate had to do what they were destined to do, right?
"Finally," Jack said with a grin from where he was perched at the end of the bed, fully dressed, "I didn't mean to tire ye out so badly. Actually, I take that back. I'm not sorry for a damn thing that I did to you last night. Now get your arse out of bed."
"If ye are going to use that tone with me, I think I'll just stay here a litt'l while longer," she said slyly and stretched lazily, "After all, it's so warm and comfy...why move?"
"Luv, it's a beautiful day outside. I'm ashamed o' ye for not takin' advantage of it."
"I can think of other things I'd rather take advantage of," she thought aloud and purposefully let her eyes wander up and down his cocky figure.
"That's it," he said with a smug smile, "You're getting out of bed whether ye like it or not. No wench of mine talks to me that way."
"'ey! Who you callin' a wen...put me DOWN!" she said with a shriek as he scooped her up into his arms and carried her over to a wooden chair and dropped her into it. She watched in amusement as he picked up her scattered clothes across the floor and threw them at her.
"Now I think that antiques shop on the outskirts o' town opens up about this time," he mumbled, half to himself, half informing her, "Might as well get there right when it opens so we can ask all the questions we want." He leaned over and kissed her nose before plopping her shirt over her head.
"I can dress myself, thanks very much!" she huffed. Pulling on her shirt the rest of the way, she said, "I sure hope someone knows what that key is to. I would like to know what we're dealing with before goin' off on a wild goose chase."
"I specialize in wild goose chases, luv," he commented, watching with a smile as she pulled on her clothes, "I am the professional goose chaser."
"I'm not fond o' geese, either. Temperamental buggers," she responded while pulling on her boots, "Add that to the long list."
"Pity," he sighed. Jack held her necklace out to her, holding the chain hesitantly with two fingers as if it was going to give him a disease, "Quick, take it before the bastard burns me again."
Terrence smirked at his daft tendencies and clasped it gingerly around her neck. She accepted her effects when Sparrow held them out to her. Right after she wove together her belt around her hips, Jack took her impatiently by the arm and said cheerily in a sing-song voice, "Off we go!"
* * *
A tiny bronze bell jingled as Jack and Terrence strode into the antiques shop around eight in the morning. She was surprised that the building was even considered a shop: it would take prying eyes to discover that the worn, run down building actually held many treasures on the inside. The shutters were hanging in the air at odd angles, the wood was termite infested, the steps crumbling and decayed. The small, swinging sign was eroded and covered in a film of dirt.
"How did ye find this place?" Terrence said with a shake of her head, "I wouldn't be able to tell it from a brothel from the outside."
"Maybe I mistaked it for a brothel and went to go take a peek," Jack suggested, crossing his arms and staring at her pointedly. Instead of getting a jealous rise out of her, he was a mite surprised when she smiled and patted him on the arm.
"Poor man. So impatient to get a piece of ass."
"Don't worry me gel," he said with a sigh, "The last time I stepped foot into one o' those things..." he paused and squinted his eyes, "Well, it had to be before I met you, I wager."
"What can I say?" she shrugged, "I'm a good influence on ye."
He laughed and pulled her against him once more. Jack Sparrow was about to give her a knee-buckling kiss when a raspy voice proclaimed from behind, "Are you going to just stand there and let all the hot air in o' come inside?"
Jack smiled and turned, still keeping Terrence in his embrace as he said warmly, "Drake, it's good to see ye again." She peered over Jack's shoulder. There was a short, skinny man studying them with a friendly smirk. He had jet black hair that was graying around the edges, and a tanned face that was sporting a few wrinkles...wrinkles that showed off years of wisdom and hard earned experience.
"Captain Jack Sparrow, we meet again," Drake cried and shook his hand with a firm grip after Sparrow let go of Terrence. He cocked his head towards her and added, "Now when did ye forget your manners, Jack? Who's the lass?"
"He wasn't born with manners, don't mind him," she replied. Sticking out her own hand, she said, "Captain Terrence Gallagher, at your service, luv." Drake seemed mildly impressed as he took her hand into his own.
"So what can I do for you two?" he asked, ushering them deeper inside the shop. Jack took off his hat and ran a hand through his dreads. Gallagher gazed around the dusty, dank room. A few old candles were lit to provide wavering light. There were old shelves on two of the walls, scattered with knick-knacks, jewelry, cutlasses...
"You certainly have a wonderful collection," she breathed, examining the jewel-encrusted gold statue of an Arabian dancer that could have fit in her palm. Drake had ran behind his desk, searched through the plethora of papers, and found his bifocals.
He placed them on his steeply slanted nose. Jack said while scratching an itch on his cheek, "Terrence picked up somethin' in Isla de Fuego that she would like someone to take a look at."
She nervously fingered the key hanging on her chain before unclasping it and setting it on the desk in plain view. Drake adjusted his bifocals and peered down at it.
"It's cursed," Jack stated matter-of-factly. Drake went to touch it but Jack added, "I wouldn't do that if I were you, mate. That key burns flesh."
Drake murmured, "I'll take my chances," and picked it up. Nothing. No shouts, no shrieks. The key obviously didn't mess with him.
"Why doesn't it like ME?" Jack pouted.
"Well I'll be damned," Drake said softly with a shake of his head. He looked up and met Terrence's stare. "You got this in Isla de Fuego?"
"An old woman handed it to me. She said I should protect it. The question is, from who? Or what?"
"Captain Gallagher," Drake said and ran the key through his rough fingers, "You are dealing with a hell of a lot more than you think ye are."
"I think Jack and I figured that out when we found a cobra in our bed last night," she said and flushed when Drake quirked his eyebrows.
"Let's take this into the back room," Drake said quietly as he walked over and locked the front door so no other customers could come waltzing in, "We need to have a serious discussion. No detail needs to be left untouched."
Terrence felt Jack place a hand at the small of her back as they followed Drake through a creaky door about to fall off of its hinges. She couldn't help but sneeze as the dust tickled her nostrils.
Drake pulled up another chair for Jack around an uneven creaky table. He went and sat on one side; Jack and Terrence got comfortable on the other. He set the key right in the middle of them.
"One of my crew members believes in superstitions," Gallagher began, "And he said that Lucifer supposedly set foot on Isla de Fuego in the past. Sounds like a bunch of lies, but I don't know if that has any connection..."
"All right, I heard different versions of the story, but most have told me of a silver key that is able to unlock a certain stone chest that holds documents of power."
"And what kind of power are we talkin' about here?" Jack asked, leaning in close.
"It is said that the documents contain some sort of chant or incantation. Whatever the hell it is, it's supposed to be directions that will unleash the Devil's powers into your body."
Terrence and Jack began to crack up. Drake glared at them.
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry..." Terrence wheezed, "Devil powers? What kind o' bastard started a rumor like that?"
"Lucifer," Drake shrugged, "The key was supposedly made by Lucifer. Ye said you were experiencin' some weird voodoo happenings once you got the key, right?"
Gallagher nodded anxiously. "Things falling above me head, snakes, burnin' flesh..."
Drake shook his head slowly. "Well, congratulations. You're burdened with the Devil's Curse."
"Sounds like some type o' cheap rum," Gallagher joked. She grew quiet when no one laughed at her comment. "So what am I dealin' with here?" she questioned quietly.
"I don't even know where this chest is located," Drake said softly, "And I like it that way. Ye don't need to get in over your head and look for it, Captain Gallagher. I think all ye need to worry about is keepin' the damn thing safe."
"Who knows what could happen if it fell into the wrong hands?" Jack added soberly, his serious eyes meeting hers.
"Sayin' this is true," Terrence sighed, "Which I bet it is, since the curse seems real enough, does that mean I'm goin' to stay cursed forever?"
"As long as ye have it in your possession. This woman," Drake replied, "That gave ye the key, she seemed to trust you with it. If ye hide it or throw it into the depths of Davy Jones', there's always the chance o' someone findin' it one day. Then all Hell could break loose. Literally."
"Can it be destroyed?" Jack asked while taking Gallagher's hand and running his index finger along her palm.
"You could try," Drake smirked, "But I seriously doubt it can. It's been around for thousands of years...I'm sure it would have been destroyed by now." The room was consumed by silence.
"Well, mate," Jack stood up and fiddled with his coat, "I think we must be goin'. Our crews are waitin' for our return."
"Thank ye," Gallagher replied with a weak smile.
"Glad to be of help," Drake said gently and gave her a quick hug, "Good luck with everythin'." Jack put his hat on and tipped it in a goodbye gesture. They were about to make their way out the door when Drake added, "Gallagher? One more question."
"Aye?" she paused, turning to look back at him.
"No one knows ye have it in your possession, right?"
"Nay. I don't think so, Drake. Except for you."
Drake let out a sigh of relief. "Good. No worries then. Where are ye headin' next?"
"That's yet to be determined. Jack and I need to talk some things through."
Drake nodded and gave them a little wave as they finally made their ways out into the sunshine yet again. She winced as her eyes adjusted to the sunlight.
"Ye need some kohl, luv," Jack teased, wiping the pad of his thumb under her bare eyes, "I'll give ye some when we get back, savvy?"
"So you're actually taggin' along, then?" she asked hopefully as they walked arm in arm down the bustling streets of Tortuga. It was quieter during the day than at night. It seemed more innocent when the sun shined, yet by night fall Tortuga bared her fangs.
"Why the hell not?" Jack shrugged casually, "I wouldn't mind a couple more weeks with me bonny lass."
She smiled and commented, "I still am tryin' to figure out where I'm going to keep the key for safe keepin'. I can't go gallivantin' around with it hangin' in plain view around me neck. Someone's goin' to have me head." Terrence stroked her chin in thought. "What would be the least likely place you'd look for a cursed Devil key?"
"Norrington's dresser," Jack responded, eyes twinkling.
"Fair enough," she laughed, "How about the most likely place you'd look?"
"Your knickers drawer." She glanced up at him, finding the corners of his mouth twitching.
"Ye just want to get your hands on me knickers," Terrence accused, pointing a finger in his face.
"Ye caught me, fair an' square," he said dramatically, placing a hand over his heart.
"All right, we need to be serious about this. Where to put this key...where to put this key..."
"The eunuch household!" Jack cried.
"What?" she blinked at him.
"Let's visit our dear Turner friends in their humble Port Royal abode," Jack suggested, "Wasn't Elizabeth supposed to be havin' her baby a month o' two ago?"
"Yeah, the litt'l bugger ought to have popped out by now," Gallagher thought aloud.
"Elizabeth's a mum! Drinks all around!" Jack said excitedly, "I'm an uncle!"
"You're not even related to either o' them, "Gallagher pointed out, "So ye can't be an uncle."
"'ey, I can be an uncle if I want to be,' Jack said lazily, beginning to take even longer strides. Gallagher fought to keep up with his pace. He added, "They could even keep the key for us."
"Do we want to drag them into this?" Terrence asked worriedly, "The last thing I want is for them to get cursed also, especially with their new addition to the household."
"Well it's still YOUR key," Jack stated, pinching her side, "So basically all they'll be doin' is givin' it a safe home. And no one knows about it, so it's all dandy."
"So we're decided?" Terrence said with a grin.
"Luv," he replied with a wink, "We're decided. Port Royal it is, then!"
* * *
Woot! I hope this was worth the long wait. You have your romance, suspense, adventure...I hope...well, review please! You guys are the bee's knees! We're off to Port Royal, drinks all around!!!
A/N: Sorry for the delay and thank you for the splendid reviews! I bet you guys can't wait to see the heap of trouble Gallagher and Sparrow get themselves into. Baby steps, baby steps. I am full of pizza, cookies, and ginger ale and I am ready for some Microsoft Word tush kicking. Well, off to chapter five!
PineAppleLint
* * *
Gallagher cocked her head to the side and kissed Jack's tanned cheek slowly before resting back against the pillow, closing her eyes in contentment. She was still trying to regain her normal breathing pattern. Jack had collapsed on top of her two minutes ago and had made no sign that he was going to move anytime soon. He was resting his full weight on her, and she liked the feeling of him so close, of his body matching up with hers. His dreads tickled her flesh and the trinkets braided into his matted hair were surprisingly cool against her flushed skin. He had his head buried in the crook of her shoulder and she felt him still breathing rapidly.
"Why, Captain Sparrow," she teased, "Given up so easily? I think you're losin' your touch."
She felt Jack's lips run up the length of her neck and him murmur in his sea-weathered voice, "Just restin' up for the next go 'round, luv. Won't be but a moment."
Terrence laughed as he rolled over, taking her with him so that she suddenly lay on top of him. She traced the tattoo on his lean chest with her fingernail and stared down at his dazed, pleasured expression. Her black hair whispered across his throat and caressed his whiskered chin as she moved her head to get a better look at him.
Jack said with a grin, "That was well worth the wait. I'm glad we made this arrangement, me darling. Because this pirate probably couldn't have gone another month without..."
She silenced him with a kiss. His grin widened against her lips as he gave his expert mouth to hers freely with untamed passion. When they came up for air, they were gasping from the lack of oxygen. Jack suddenly felt something caress his naked thigh.
"Terrence! You litt'l minx! Can't get enough o' me, can ye?" he said wickedly, nuzzling the side of her face.
"I think the tables have turned, Captain. I saw that predatory look in your eyes in the tavern. Couldn't wait to jump me bones, hmm?"
"No argument there." Again, he felt something slither against his side under the sheets. "That tickles, Gallagher," he added with a wink.
"What? What tickles?"
"You strokin' me thigh o' whatever you're tryin' to reach," he commented devilishly, his brown eyes darkening once more, "Not that I'm complainin'..."
"I'm not strokin' your thigh, Sparrow," Terrence replied, kissing him quickly on his chapped lips before she continued, "But if ye want me to, hell, I'm all for it..."
Jack frowned and threw the sheets off of them. The cool air chilled their sweat-slicked forms as he stared down the length of them.
"Bloody hell!" he cried out, and he grabbed Gallagher and they went tumbling off of the bed in a heap of tangled arms and legs.
"What is wrong with you?" she asked and peered back over the edge of the bed. She recoiled from the mattress. There was a large, black cobra entangled in the blankets! It caught her gaze and hissed at her in warning.
"Where's me pistol? I'm going to blow its head off," Jack growled and jumped up, making his way across the room in that quick swagger of his. It looked all the more absurd without clothes on. Gallagher froze as the snake slithered over to her side of the bed and sat there on the edge, just staring at her with its little black, beady eyes.
"Uh, Jack?" she whispered. If she tried to back away, would it strike? Sparrow picked up his belt from the floor in a hurry and closed his fingers around the pistol. He glanced over at Gallagher, who was frozen on the floor, and the snake was slowly making its way off the bed and over to where she was sitting in shock.
He unlocked the safety, aimed, and fired. Terrence jerked as the bullet intercepted the snake's head and the reptile flew about a foot in the air from the impact. It writhed for a couple seconds, then grew still. The cobra was no more.
"I never liked snakes," Terrence said matter-of-factly, still staring at the snake corpse.
"Never seen one of these damned things in Tortuga before," Jack said quizzically as he picked it up by its tail and flung it out of the open window without care. A loud shriek erupted from the streets below.
He stared at their bed and paranoia washed over him. He checked the sheets twice before picking up Terrence and settling her back against the warm linens. He joined her, grabbing her by the hips and pulling her close.
"It's the curse, isn't it?" Jack asked as he ran his callused palm over her abdomen, "Hell, the things you run into, Gallagher...I mean, snakes? Its kind o' kinky, but if that's what Lucifer wants on our wild night together, I suppose I could accommodate them..."
She turned and shook her head at him, saying, "You are one of a kind, Jack. We almost got bitten by a damn cobra and ye think its all fun and games."
"Isn't it?" he frowned innocently, blinking. Terrence chuckled at his insatiable behavior. His kohl had been rubbed off ages ago. He smiled when his wandering fingers caused a small gasp to erupt from her lips. "Let's not worry about it. Tomorrow we'll go get our questions answered. But for now..." he nipped at her jaw line, "I want your up most attention, savvy?"
Terrence grinned and replied against his mouth, "Savvy."
* * *
Captain Malvado was an impatient man. And when he grew impatient, the air grew heavy and thick with dangerous tension.
"Run out the sweeps!" he barked loudly. His crew shouted their devotion to their captain before running off to carry out the task.
Malvado turned to Michael, his first mate, and snarled, "I want to get there as soon as possible. No delays. No problems."
"Aye sir. At this rate it will take three days."
"They'll be gone by then!" the furious Captain replied, gnashing his teeth and wringing his hands, "Jack Sparrow and his fuck friend will be long gone by then."
"We could ask around," Michael informed him, "There's bound to be a few drunks in some tavern that have heard of their plans. Then we'll catch 'em, sir. They won't know what hit them."
"Don't take Sparrow for granted," Malvado chuckled bitterly, "That bastard isn't as stupid as he looks. And Gallagher, well...I've heard the stories. She's cunning as she is beautiful. And uses both to her advantage."
"They won't know they're being followed, Captain. We'll catch them on the open sea. Then they won't be able to escape."
"I want that key, one way o' the other," Malvado hissed, "I won't be pleased until it's in the palm o' me hand, Michael, mark me words."
"What do ye plan on doing with them once we intercept them, might I ask?" the bulky first mate questioned eagerly.
"It matters how cooperative they are in the first place." Malvado squinted his beautiful eyes as well as arching his perfectly sculpted eyebrows in thought. Licking his lips, he added, "Sparrow, now I'd like to destroy that Pearl of his that he's always boastin' about. Can't be the fastest ship in the Caribbean if it's underwater, aye? And Gallagher? I've never seen her, but she sounds fuckable. Who knows? She could provide all o' us more than a litt'l amusement."
"Sounds like a good plan to me, Captain," Michael sneered.
"Did I ask your opinion?" Captain Malvado questioned icily, narrowing his eyes at him. Michael cowered a little and mumbled his apologies before getting back to his duties and leaving Malvado to think in peace.
"Whether ye wait for us o' not," he whispered menacingly at the dark horizon, "We'll be huntin' ye down, you bitch. That key is rightfully mine."
* * *
When Gallagher awoke to an empty bed, for a couple of moments it felt as if her heart had been yanked out and thrown to the floor. That is, until she remembered Sparrow was actually going along for the ride this time. Gallagher and Sparrow had always varied it a little. Each 'morning after' in Tortuga, one of them would end up gone, leaving the other to an empty bed all to themselves. It wasn't a wonderful feeling, to be left behind, that is, so Gallagher had always tried to wake up a bit earlier than him. She pulled off the same routine every time she got the opportunity: she'd untangle herself from his embrace, dress quietly, and sneak out the door unnoticed. Hopefully by the time he woke up, the Dancing Horizon would be long gone. If they ever caught each other in the act of leaving, it was an awkward experience. Deep down in her gut she didn't want to leave him, his touch, his rustic smell, that familiar feeling of comfort. But she had to rip her raw emotions away from her rational mind and not let her love for Sparrow interfere with her life as a captain. After all, a pirate had to do what they were destined to do, right?
"Finally," Jack said with a grin from where he was perched at the end of the bed, fully dressed, "I didn't mean to tire ye out so badly. Actually, I take that back. I'm not sorry for a damn thing that I did to you last night. Now get your arse out of bed."
"If ye are going to use that tone with me, I think I'll just stay here a litt'l while longer," she said slyly and stretched lazily, "After all, it's so warm and comfy...why move?"
"Luv, it's a beautiful day outside. I'm ashamed o' ye for not takin' advantage of it."
"I can think of other things I'd rather take advantage of," she thought aloud and purposefully let her eyes wander up and down his cocky figure.
"That's it," he said with a smug smile, "You're getting out of bed whether ye like it or not. No wench of mine talks to me that way."
"'ey! Who you callin' a wen...put me DOWN!" she said with a shriek as he scooped her up into his arms and carried her over to a wooden chair and dropped her into it. She watched in amusement as he picked up her scattered clothes across the floor and threw them at her.
"Now I think that antiques shop on the outskirts o' town opens up about this time," he mumbled, half to himself, half informing her, "Might as well get there right when it opens so we can ask all the questions we want." He leaned over and kissed her nose before plopping her shirt over her head.
"I can dress myself, thanks very much!" she huffed. Pulling on her shirt the rest of the way, she said, "I sure hope someone knows what that key is to. I would like to know what we're dealing with before goin' off on a wild goose chase."
"I specialize in wild goose chases, luv," he commented, watching with a smile as she pulled on her clothes, "I am the professional goose chaser."
"I'm not fond o' geese, either. Temperamental buggers," she responded while pulling on her boots, "Add that to the long list."
"Pity," he sighed. Jack held her necklace out to her, holding the chain hesitantly with two fingers as if it was going to give him a disease, "Quick, take it before the bastard burns me again."
Terrence smirked at his daft tendencies and clasped it gingerly around her neck. She accepted her effects when Sparrow held them out to her. Right after she wove together her belt around her hips, Jack took her impatiently by the arm and said cheerily in a sing-song voice, "Off we go!"
* * *
A tiny bronze bell jingled as Jack and Terrence strode into the antiques shop around eight in the morning. She was surprised that the building was even considered a shop: it would take prying eyes to discover that the worn, run down building actually held many treasures on the inside. The shutters were hanging in the air at odd angles, the wood was termite infested, the steps crumbling and decayed. The small, swinging sign was eroded and covered in a film of dirt.
"How did ye find this place?" Terrence said with a shake of her head, "I wouldn't be able to tell it from a brothel from the outside."
"Maybe I mistaked it for a brothel and went to go take a peek," Jack suggested, crossing his arms and staring at her pointedly. Instead of getting a jealous rise out of her, he was a mite surprised when she smiled and patted him on the arm.
"Poor man. So impatient to get a piece of ass."
"Don't worry me gel," he said with a sigh, "The last time I stepped foot into one o' those things..." he paused and squinted his eyes, "Well, it had to be before I met you, I wager."
"What can I say?" she shrugged, "I'm a good influence on ye."
He laughed and pulled her against him once more. Jack Sparrow was about to give her a knee-buckling kiss when a raspy voice proclaimed from behind, "Are you going to just stand there and let all the hot air in o' come inside?"
Jack smiled and turned, still keeping Terrence in his embrace as he said warmly, "Drake, it's good to see ye again." She peered over Jack's shoulder. There was a short, skinny man studying them with a friendly smirk. He had jet black hair that was graying around the edges, and a tanned face that was sporting a few wrinkles...wrinkles that showed off years of wisdom and hard earned experience.
"Captain Jack Sparrow, we meet again," Drake cried and shook his hand with a firm grip after Sparrow let go of Terrence. He cocked his head towards her and added, "Now when did ye forget your manners, Jack? Who's the lass?"
"He wasn't born with manners, don't mind him," she replied. Sticking out her own hand, she said, "Captain Terrence Gallagher, at your service, luv." Drake seemed mildly impressed as he took her hand into his own.
"So what can I do for you two?" he asked, ushering them deeper inside the shop. Jack took off his hat and ran a hand through his dreads. Gallagher gazed around the dusty, dank room. A few old candles were lit to provide wavering light. There were old shelves on two of the walls, scattered with knick-knacks, jewelry, cutlasses...
"You certainly have a wonderful collection," she breathed, examining the jewel-encrusted gold statue of an Arabian dancer that could have fit in her palm. Drake had ran behind his desk, searched through the plethora of papers, and found his bifocals.
He placed them on his steeply slanted nose. Jack said while scratching an itch on his cheek, "Terrence picked up somethin' in Isla de Fuego that she would like someone to take a look at."
She nervously fingered the key hanging on her chain before unclasping it and setting it on the desk in plain view. Drake adjusted his bifocals and peered down at it.
"It's cursed," Jack stated matter-of-factly. Drake went to touch it but Jack added, "I wouldn't do that if I were you, mate. That key burns flesh."
Drake murmured, "I'll take my chances," and picked it up. Nothing. No shouts, no shrieks. The key obviously didn't mess with him.
"Why doesn't it like ME?" Jack pouted.
"Well I'll be damned," Drake said softly with a shake of his head. He looked up and met Terrence's stare. "You got this in Isla de Fuego?"
"An old woman handed it to me. She said I should protect it. The question is, from who? Or what?"
"Captain Gallagher," Drake said and ran the key through his rough fingers, "You are dealing with a hell of a lot more than you think ye are."
"I think Jack and I figured that out when we found a cobra in our bed last night," she said and flushed when Drake quirked his eyebrows.
"Let's take this into the back room," Drake said quietly as he walked over and locked the front door so no other customers could come waltzing in, "We need to have a serious discussion. No detail needs to be left untouched."
Terrence felt Jack place a hand at the small of her back as they followed Drake through a creaky door about to fall off of its hinges. She couldn't help but sneeze as the dust tickled her nostrils.
Drake pulled up another chair for Jack around an uneven creaky table. He went and sat on one side; Jack and Terrence got comfortable on the other. He set the key right in the middle of them.
"One of my crew members believes in superstitions," Gallagher began, "And he said that Lucifer supposedly set foot on Isla de Fuego in the past. Sounds like a bunch of lies, but I don't know if that has any connection..."
"All right, I heard different versions of the story, but most have told me of a silver key that is able to unlock a certain stone chest that holds documents of power."
"And what kind of power are we talkin' about here?" Jack asked, leaning in close.
"It is said that the documents contain some sort of chant or incantation. Whatever the hell it is, it's supposed to be directions that will unleash the Devil's powers into your body."
Terrence and Jack began to crack up. Drake glared at them.
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry..." Terrence wheezed, "Devil powers? What kind o' bastard started a rumor like that?"
"Lucifer," Drake shrugged, "The key was supposedly made by Lucifer. Ye said you were experiencin' some weird voodoo happenings once you got the key, right?"
Gallagher nodded anxiously. "Things falling above me head, snakes, burnin' flesh..."
Drake shook his head slowly. "Well, congratulations. You're burdened with the Devil's Curse."
"Sounds like some type o' cheap rum," Gallagher joked. She grew quiet when no one laughed at her comment. "So what am I dealin' with here?" she questioned quietly.
"I don't even know where this chest is located," Drake said softly, "And I like it that way. Ye don't need to get in over your head and look for it, Captain Gallagher. I think all ye need to worry about is keepin' the damn thing safe."
"Who knows what could happen if it fell into the wrong hands?" Jack added soberly, his serious eyes meeting hers.
"Sayin' this is true," Terrence sighed, "Which I bet it is, since the curse seems real enough, does that mean I'm goin' to stay cursed forever?"
"As long as ye have it in your possession. This woman," Drake replied, "That gave ye the key, she seemed to trust you with it. If ye hide it or throw it into the depths of Davy Jones', there's always the chance o' someone findin' it one day. Then all Hell could break loose. Literally."
"Can it be destroyed?" Jack asked while taking Gallagher's hand and running his index finger along her palm.
"You could try," Drake smirked, "But I seriously doubt it can. It's been around for thousands of years...I'm sure it would have been destroyed by now." The room was consumed by silence.
"Well, mate," Jack stood up and fiddled with his coat, "I think we must be goin'. Our crews are waitin' for our return."
"Thank ye," Gallagher replied with a weak smile.
"Glad to be of help," Drake said gently and gave her a quick hug, "Good luck with everythin'." Jack put his hat on and tipped it in a goodbye gesture. They were about to make their way out the door when Drake added, "Gallagher? One more question."
"Aye?" she paused, turning to look back at him.
"No one knows ye have it in your possession, right?"
"Nay. I don't think so, Drake. Except for you."
Drake let out a sigh of relief. "Good. No worries then. Where are ye headin' next?"
"That's yet to be determined. Jack and I need to talk some things through."
Drake nodded and gave them a little wave as they finally made their ways out into the sunshine yet again. She winced as her eyes adjusted to the sunlight.
"Ye need some kohl, luv," Jack teased, wiping the pad of his thumb under her bare eyes, "I'll give ye some when we get back, savvy?"
"So you're actually taggin' along, then?" she asked hopefully as they walked arm in arm down the bustling streets of Tortuga. It was quieter during the day than at night. It seemed more innocent when the sun shined, yet by night fall Tortuga bared her fangs.
"Why the hell not?" Jack shrugged casually, "I wouldn't mind a couple more weeks with me bonny lass."
She smiled and commented, "I still am tryin' to figure out where I'm going to keep the key for safe keepin'. I can't go gallivantin' around with it hangin' in plain view around me neck. Someone's goin' to have me head." Terrence stroked her chin in thought. "What would be the least likely place you'd look for a cursed Devil key?"
"Norrington's dresser," Jack responded, eyes twinkling.
"Fair enough," she laughed, "How about the most likely place you'd look?"
"Your knickers drawer." She glanced up at him, finding the corners of his mouth twitching.
"Ye just want to get your hands on me knickers," Terrence accused, pointing a finger in his face.
"Ye caught me, fair an' square," he said dramatically, placing a hand over his heart.
"All right, we need to be serious about this. Where to put this key...where to put this key..."
"The eunuch household!" Jack cried.
"What?" she blinked at him.
"Let's visit our dear Turner friends in their humble Port Royal abode," Jack suggested, "Wasn't Elizabeth supposed to be havin' her baby a month o' two ago?"
"Yeah, the litt'l bugger ought to have popped out by now," Gallagher thought aloud.
"Elizabeth's a mum! Drinks all around!" Jack said excitedly, "I'm an uncle!"
"You're not even related to either o' them, "Gallagher pointed out, "So ye can't be an uncle."
"'ey, I can be an uncle if I want to be,' Jack said lazily, beginning to take even longer strides. Gallagher fought to keep up with his pace. He added, "They could even keep the key for us."
"Do we want to drag them into this?" Terrence asked worriedly, "The last thing I want is for them to get cursed also, especially with their new addition to the household."
"Well it's still YOUR key," Jack stated, pinching her side, "So basically all they'll be doin' is givin' it a safe home. And no one knows about it, so it's all dandy."
"So we're decided?" Terrence said with a grin.
"Luv," he replied with a wink, "We're decided. Port Royal it is, then!"
* * *
Woot! I hope this was worth the long wait. You have your romance, suspense, adventure...I hope...well, review please! You guys are the bee's knees! We're off to Port Royal, drinks all around!!!