Disclaimer: I do not own any of Disney's Pirates of the Caribbean! Meh.
Author's Notes: Alas, I did not know it has been so long between updates for this story! Perhaps I take more time with this one than any other because it's my pride and joy. Every story needs a little TLC, you know. (wink) I really hope you enjoy this chapter, for you guys are awesome reviewers. Without further ado, chapter six!
PineAppleLint
* * *
Malvado took another puff from the pipe and rolled his eyes to the back of his head in ecstasy. The opium was working now, he could feel his skin thrumming, his heartbeat slowing, his limbs growing limp.
And then he began to drift off on his fantasies, his ill-bred dreams, his nightmares... The cursed key flamed to life in his palm, and he backhanded the bitch that stole it from him. She cried out in pain as she hit the floor, staring up at him in horror when he slid his long, silver dagger across her cheek, drawing blood. She was a pretty lass, and he wanted to make her the ugliest thing he'd ever seen. He imagined running his hands along that deadly figure of hers, holding her hair in a vise-like grip as he drowned out her cries with his mouth. He would destroy her. And he'd start with the knife. After that, perhaps he would go for the hammer. She wouldn't need her kneecaps after he was through with her.
Ah yes, that Gallagher was a dead woman.
* * *
Jack glanced over his shoulder to see the peaceful Dancing Horizon following closely behind the Pearl. He could see the faintest shadow of Terrence standing at the helm through the meager fog. It was a dreary night, void of any type of moonlight. Leaning against the helm, he watched as what he guessed was her first mate exchanged a few words with her before taking her spot at the helm. Jack unscrewed the cap of his tiny canteen and took a swig before focusing back on his own ship.
"Gibbs!" he called, "Where the hell are ye?"
Gibbs trotted up to where Jack stood, running a hand through his graying hair. "Nice night, isn't it, Captain? Sets a certain chill in the bones, it does."
"Joshamee," Jack replied, "I'm sorry ye are frightened by a mere overcast night, and unfortunately I'm not your mum so you'll receive no comfort from me."
"Yer sarcasm fails to amuse me, Capt'n," Gibbs said sourly, "What is it that ye be wantin'?"
"I want ye to bring the Pearl to the side of the Dancing Horizon. I be needin' to discuss some things with Captain Gallagher."
Gibbs raised an eyebrow, but did as he was told as he grabbed onto the pegs of the helm, careening it to the side with concentration. The sudden movement slowed the ship down, and the Dancing Horizon, being a fast vessel, soon slid up next to the Pearl. Jack grabbed a rope and held on tight as he quickly swung over, landing on his feet, crouching a little like an agile cat.
"Captain Sparrow? What do ye need?" Jacobs asked kindly, leaning on his mop.
"I need to have a talk with Terrence, if ye don't mind."
A concerned, suspicious look passed through Jacobs's eyes. Jack grinned. Ah, here it comes…the brotherly protectiveness Sparrow would have to be careful about.
"Clearly it's none o' me business what ye do with Captain Gallagher aboard her ship," he stated seriously, "But be careful wit' her."
Jack's grin faded and he questioned, "Do ye think I would hurt her, Jacobs?"
He shook his head and said with a sigh, "No, Sparrow. Yer a good man, and she speaks highly o' ye. She probably didn't want ye to know that, but she does. And she gets this look in her eyes whenever she's speakin' o' ye." He paused and added, "But ye know how the pirate's life is. Anythin' could happen."
Jack smiled, impressed with the pirate's concern for Gallagher's welfare. He respected this man. Clapping him on the back, he said, "I'd rather cut out me heart than hurt your captain. So no worries, savvy?" Jacobs nodded and watched as Jack made his way towards Gallagher's cabin, humming an unrecognizable tune to himself as he laid his hand on the doorknob.
* * *
Gallagher didn't even look up from her map when she heard the door open and that steady sound of his boots as he swaggered over to her.
"Jack."
"Terrence." His voice held a tinge of amusement as he stared down at her, where she was sitting cross-legged on the floor, her documents strewn about, the desk long forgotten.
Crouching down beside her, he ran a thumb down the side of her sweating face, lifted her raven hair, and blew cold air against her nape. She 'mmm'ed in response, then turned to face him.
"We have a day until we reach Port Royal, right?" Gallagher asked, closing her eyes when he kissed her soundly, his moustache tickling her face.
"Aye. And you're going to be needin' a disguise." He kissed her again and she groaned against his mouth.
"Dammit, I hate it when ye make me do this. So which one will it be, the black one o' the blue?"
"I prefer the black," Sparrow said slyly, "It makes yer legs look longer."
"I don't know how you'd be able to tell wit' me legs underneath all those skirts," she smirked, "But fine. The black dress it is."
"Would ye need some help tryin' it on?" he wondered aloud, wiggling his eyebrows at her.
"Don't be an idiot."
* * *
Eighteen hours later, on the island of Tortuga…
Drake heard the front door of his shop slam open and he flung his bifocals on before hurrying out to his desk. He froze.
A tall man with broad shoulders stood comfortably next to the door, his face shadowed by the large-brimmed black hat atop his head. And there, between his hands, was one long, valuable cutlass Drake had been fortunate enough to purchase in India. The mystery man was stroking it with his fingers, treasuring the cold metal. Drake could see that mouth curling into a sneer from underneath the hat.
"May I help ye?" Drake asked hesitantly, trying to sound friendly to this intimidating figure.
And then the man lifted his head, and those bright green eyes met his.
"Everett!" Drake cried, "Everett Malvado, ye son o' a bitch! Haven't seen ye in a while! What have ye been up to?"
Malvado grinned and shook hands with his close friend and ally. "I'm going after that key I told you about. And rumor has it, you have some information for me."
Drake leaned over, keeping his voice down as he replied, "Terrence Gallagher and Jack Sparrow stopped by a couple o' days ago. And she had the key."
"And you didn't take it from her? I'm sorely disappointed in you, Drake."
"They were already suspicious enough as it is, Malvado," he argued, "And they knew that keepin' it in Tortuga would be a stupid choice. They wouldn't give it to me even if I had tried."
"So you should have snapped their necks. It's easy to steal things back from people when they're dead."
Drake laughed and said humorously, "I'm just a worn-out old man, Captain. I'm not capable o' the things I once used to be capable of."
"That's a pity." Malvado examined his fingernails as if he were bored, "Can we cut to the chase?"
"As impatient and hot-tempered as I remembered ye last, Malvado. I've asked around. Usually Sparrow heads to Port Royal after his visits here, or so he tells me. And they're headin' in that direction. Terrence Gallagher's followin' him."
Malvado's gaze locked onto Drake's face at the mention of the lass's name. "Will she prove to be a problem for me?" he asked quietly.
"Yeah, I reckon she will be. She won't go without a fight."
"Good. That's the way I like them."
Drake chuckled and said, "She was a nice girl though. Very polite when need be, but she has that look in her eyes, ye know? Ye can tell she's been through a lot."
"And Sparrow?"
"I found him wit' her on me doorstep practically ready to swallow each other's tongues. He's extremely taken wit' her. She's changed the stories around."
"Stories?" Malvado quirked an eyebrow.
"Ye know…Sparrow's infamous in the Caribbean. And there were tales goin' around, leaving people to wonder how many women he's actually slept with, since they're so keen on him. Ye have heard about his past reputation, haven't ye?"
"Yes, unfortunately."
"Well, main word in that sentence is past. There's only one lass that can suit him now."
"Interesting. And all this time I thought their relationship just revolved around fucking each other." Malvado tapped his chin thoughtfully. "I'll take note of this, Drake. I will find a way to use this weakness of his in the near future."
"So I reckon yer off to Port Royal?"
Malvado grinned maliciously. "Aye, mate. That I am."
* * *
Meanwhile, in the bustling streets of Port Royal…
"I can barely breathe in this damned corset," Gallagher muttered, gathering up her black skirts in order to walk better, "Whoever invented them blasted things deserves to get shot 'tweenst the eyes."
"Try actin' more like a proper lady," Jack whispered in a frustrated tone from under a large hat, keeping his head down. Gallagher had her arm laced through Sparrow's offered elbow, tensely waiting for someone to unfortunately notice them for who they really were. Gallagher had her hair loose, falling around her face and down her back. She wore the black dress, which was plain, simple, yet oddly alluring. Jack loved it when she wore it; paying no heed that it practically squeezed her lungs out through her nose. Terrence still wore her boots underneath the layers of petticoats, though.
Jack had cleaned himself up a bit, and was concentrating on keeping his head down and his swaggering to a bare minimum.
"Why don't ye start actin' more like a proper man?" she shot back, "Ye act enough like a lady for the both of us." He jabbed her with his elbow between her ribs and she yelped. Even though she couldn't see his face, she knew he was grinning, just like he knew she was glaring at him without even seeing her expression.
"We're almost there," she whispered as they headed quickly through the crowd of the busy marketplace. Terrence breathed a sigh of relief when they rounded the corner and what she thought would be safety…
…until she rammed right into a British soldier.
"Pardon me, miss," he apologized, recollecting himself. Brushing off his uniform, he stared at her suspiciously.
"I haven't seen you here before," he stated flatly.
"No, senor," Gallagher replied in what she hoped was a fairly decent Spanish accent, "I came with mi padre in order to settle some business deals. You have a lovely town. Un pueblo pintoresco." [a picturesque town] She swallowed nervously and stared down at Jack, who was leaning on her, his head lolling to the side.
"Is that your father?" the soldier asked distastefully, pointing to Sparrow.
"Ah yes. He always did drink a bit too much," she laughed with a wave of her hand, "We best be going. Excuse me." She tried to walk past him but he stepped in her way.
"You look oddly familiar," he said cautiously, "What is your name?"
"Penelope Dominguez," Terrence informed him, holding her head high, "And this is my father, Juan."
"You don't look Spanish."
She frowned at him and retorted, "Well, maybe you don't look English, senor. Ever think of that?"
Gallagher cursed herself when the soldier bent down to look at Sparrow's face. His face grew slack and his mouth dropped open when it finally dawned on him.
"You're…you're…" SMACK. Sparrow's fist flew out and punched him square in the face. The soldier fell to the ground, obviously unconscious, his bayonet tossed like a toy to his side.
Sparrow grabbed her arm and pulled her along as they sprinted in a dead run to the Turner's. In a moment, someone was going to find the unconscious man, and they didn't want to be anywhere near that when it happened.
They snuck around to the back door of the tiny white cottage and Terrence softly knocked three times. They waited impatiently until the door was thrown open and there stood Will, with a huge smile on his face.
"Well, took you two bloody long enough."
* * *
In regards to the beginning of this chapter, just say no to drugs! They are oh-so-bad for you! Now, please review, because that would be very kind of you. (wink)