Disclaimer: I don't own Jack or anyone from PotC. And Terrence's ship, crew, and adventures are all her own.
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Sparrow had never gotten used to Terrence…she was always surprising him one way or the other. Just when he thought he had her all figured out, she'd do something to shock him. Like cutting off body parts of enemies. Or sashaying into his cabin in the middle of the night and unexpectedly stripping him naked. Jack grinned to himself. He always liked that one.
"What are you smirking about?" she mused from beside him as they both walked under the night sky back to the docks. Jack had given her his coat to drape over herself so no one would notice the blood smeared all over her skin.
He raised an eyebrow at her and she replied, "Right. Nevermind. I don't want to know."
Jack licked his lips and winked, "As it just so happens, I was thinkin' o' you…"
She placed her fingers in her ears and said, "I don't want to hear about your dirty thoughts, Jack Sparrow! None o' them whatsoever!"
"Actually, sorry to burst your bubble darlin', but I was plottin' ways to get rid of ye."
Terrence smiled and snaked her arm through his, keeping up with his irregular gait as they made their way onto the creaky, spotless docks of Port Royal. "I'm sure ye were." She jumped into the waiting rowboat and Jack followed, causing the boat to rock dangerously from side to side. She held onto the edge of the boat with a death grip and added, "If ye tip this thing, I'll shoot you. Do ye know how hard it is to swim in a damn dress?"
Jack commented, eyes twinkling, "Luv, we're about twenty yards from shore."
"Still…" she scowled, "This blood could attract all the sharks in the Caribbean."
"We're about twenty yards from shore," he repeated devilishly, "I think you'd live."
Sighing, she grabbed an oar and they both began rowing simultaneously. The oars caused ripples in the water and frightened a school of fish that had been swimming lazily past them. Sure enough, the Black Pearl and the Dancing Horizon were waiting peacefully in the distance, the moonlight shining off of them, making them glow.
"Why don't ye put a little more muscle into it?" Jack complained, poking her in the back.
"I am, you useless cad!"
"I'm doing enough rowin' for the both of us! It's not me problem you row like a gel."
"I AM a gel!" she cried, rolling her darkening eyes at him, daring him to comment further. Of course, Jack had to provoke her. It was as if it was in his blood to do so.
"You are?" He looked her over. "Oh, sorry…failed to notice." She grinned at his retort and began rowing faster. He gazed at her soberly before saying, "You're in a better mood."
"I finally came to terms with meself, Jack. I mean, why the hell should I worry? Malvado gave us a free ticket to Madrid to steal back that key. And we're leavin' right away, so there's nothin' to worry about!"
Jack swallowed hard and glanced out at the horizon.
Terrence dropped her oar, flipped some of her wild black hair over her shoulder, and stated flatly, "We ARE leavin' right away, aren't we, Jack?"
Silence.
"Aw, hell," she cursed, "What have ye gone and done this time?"
Jack never liked that look. It was that piercing stare she sent his way all the time. Jack never felt so scrutinized by a woman before Terrence…it was a 'You're-not-going-to-weasel-your-way-out-of-this-one-and-I-can-tell-when-you-lie-so-don't-even-try-me' stare. Of course, sometimes that same look turned him on, but why share that with her? Just one more weakness for her to know and use to her advantage against him.
"Remember that whole mess about shipping goods to Oxbay?" Jack questioned hesitantly.
She nodded, pursing her lips in annoyance.
"And remember when Will said I would help with such matters?"
She nodded again, her glare growing fiercer as the seconds ticked by.
"Well, tomorrow come dawn…I'm goin' to have goods carried onto me Pearl with orders to have them received in Oxbay by seven days time," he said quickly with a wince.
"I thought we would leave tonight," Terrence pointed out, "That would make us only a couple hours behind Malvado."
"Darlin', I have to do this…Crowe will have the entire Royal Navy up me ass if I don't," he argued.
Terrence crossed her arms and began sorting this information thoroughly in her mind. Wait a damn minute, she thought excitedly, if Jack goes to Oxbay, then he wouldn't be in danger of losing his life for the Prophecy! We could part paths for a while and meet up when this whole mess blows over. The downside would be that she wouldn't have the back-up of Jack and the Black Pearl crew, something she would definitely need if Everett had many allies working on his side. Which was something she didn't doubt for a second. She had to make a very important decision and fast.
"I'll go my way, ye go yours," Terrence stated with a smile, "It wouldn't be a problem."
"Problem?" Jack's brown eyes flashed dangerously, "Problem?! Gallagher, me luv, think o' what you're saying…you are crossing the ocean to come head to head with a psychotic Devil-raiser who could have a crew of a hundred men…who knows? I'm not puttin' ye in that predicament! Are ye daft?"
She bit her lip. He didn't know how the key had to be destroyed. Someone she cared for had to lose their life. And right at that moment, all signs pointed to Jack.
"Besides," he added, "This Everett fellow has certainly made it clear that he wants to fight ye…why would he go ahead, pack his bags and leave Madrid if he was waitin' for ye? One week won't make much difference."
"The whole world's at stake here, Jack!" she snapped, "Can't ye get that through your empty head? I'll go…me and me crew can handle it, honestly."
"Want to talk honest? Fine, let's be honest…pay in mind this is comin' from a dishonest man…" Jack sighed and massaged the back of his neck before saying, "I don't want…anything…happenin' to ye, savvy? Not if I had known I could have been there to prevent it."
Gallagher let out a shaky breath and realized she really didn't want to go travel to Spain without him. But if it meant his life, she would surely go alone. Alone all the way to the edge of Hell and back. As long as Jack's life was spared.
"No…" she croaked, "We can't…"
Jack nestled his hand into her hair, gently pulling her by the back of her head to him, and kissed Terrence roughly, shushing her. He broke away after indulging himself in her sweet mouth, saying, "Me answer is no. I'll make ye go to Oxbay even if I have to shackle ye in me cabin."
"Sounds kinky."
"And it was supposed to. We're defeatin' this together, all right? I can't believe you would try and keep me from this adventure o' a lifetime," he commented with a grin.
"Yeah, what was I thinkin'?" she asked with a meek smile in return. He winked at her and grabbed both oars, beginning to row them back as silence surrounded them yet again.
She had known exactly what she had been thinking…she had been trying to save his life. But if all of the British Royal Navy got wind of him deceiving and making a fool out of Governor Crowe, who was in all honesty not a pleasant man, Jack's life could be endangered in that way as well. Both sides of the coin looked bleak.
If she and Jack stayed together, she could look out for him. She could watch him like a hawk and stop the Devil in his tracks.
She couldn't tell him about the Prophecy. She couldn't burden him with such rumors. After all, it all could be a lie, right?
God, how she hoped so.
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DON'T FORGET! PineAppleLint is having a contest! To partake in the contest, readers must submit a poem/short story about Jack and Terrence (It can be about anything you want, me dears! Let your imaginations run wild!) and it doesn't necessarily have to pertain to Trade with the Devil. The winner with the best poem or short story will have their work posted in the last chapter after the ending of Trade with the Devil, so that people can admire them for the fantastic writer they really are! And, dare I say it…they will receive the beginning chapter of the third installment of Terrence's and Jack's adventures before it's even posted on The contest shall go on until Trade with the Devil is completed. So get to it, mateys! Send your completed poem/short story to:
DayDreamr1 at aol . com
Title your emails as "Jack/T contest"
Good Luck!
Short A/N: Yay plot! I love plots, plotty plot plots, down in my belly, mm mm mm! Haha, sorry about that. Things just aren't looking good for Jack and Terrence. As to what will happen next, I can't tell! I'll never tell! Neener neener neener! Ahem. On to review responses!
Goth Princess: Jack Sparrow…in a bra? (blinks multiple times, and then shudders)
PiratePrincezz: Ha, thanks! Trying to write an asshole is fun. Drake is especially good at being one all by himself.
Louisefamesavvy: Awaiting on tenderhooks, heehee, sounds painful. Updating three days in a row! Going for the record, mate! GO FOR THE GOLD!
Euterpe: (review hug) Thank you so much! Terrence is a big piece of work, as is Jack…maybe that's why they go so well together…?" (strokes chin ponderously) Mayhaps. Yay, it isn't predictable! I know what you mean, luv…what's a story without some major cliffhangers and jaw droppers along the way? (winks) Much more to come, I assure ye!
I rule u all: Aw, it wasn't meant to be insulting! Now if I called ye daft, THAT would be insulting. But I didn't so it's all good. You wish you had blood? (checks your pulse) Can I get an ambulance over here please? And thank you for the owl post…I would rather leave the poop, though. And yes, the poem can be written ANY STYLE! WOOT!
ShadowStar21: Got to have Terrence chopping off body parts somewhere in the story, eh? (winks)
AnastasiaWalker: I didn't have writer's block, DUDE! I was just wondering what to put and you reminded me (which was nice of you by the way) and it was for the other story anywho! So if you want to argue about this, bring it on in the LITTLE TOO MUCH RUM review post board thingee, WENCH! IT's ALREADY BEEN BROUGHTEN! : )
Pirate Gyrl: Thank you! (hugs) And that whole preview of the King Arthur CD? SO kick arse! I want to buy it now. Jeez, burnin' a whole in my pocket. Oh yes, Drake as the new Van Gogh! The only problem is, he'll be wanting his revenge in due time…and I know what's going to happen! Bwahahahahaha! Fine, keep your secrets! Grr!
Hopeless-romantic84: Hehee, aw, you're so nice! Yes, beauty sleep! (powders nose with big fluffy white fluff) I'm just in a writing mood, dearie, what can I say? ;)
GreenEyedelfGurl13: Haha, your pen name is confusing…very nice, but confusing to type if I wanted to capitalize it just right. Hehee, anywho, thank you so much! I'm glad you think it's noice! I am touched!
Elizabeth-Swann-10: Aw, dearie! You're so sweet! I've always wanted to write a book. (smiles) Thank you for having faith in me that I could accomplish such a feat. (salutes) You are truly a cool reviewer, savvy?
Belinda: Needles? (shivers) I don't like needles. Get them away! Get them away from me!
Delly: Hope you have fun on vacation and oh yes, Malvado, Jack and Terrence are all in for surprises of a lifetime. Yeah, I don't know what I'd do if an ear fell on MY chest! Freak out, mostly. Do the 'ew, ew!' dance.
Plateado: Yay! My bud again! Reviewed about twenty seconds before I updated! : ) Perfect timing, lass. Oh yes, I have many, MANY tricks up my sleeve but no peeky! (holds shirt to self) Mine!
Anyone else who missed the updation train…choo choo! Thank you! Wow, updation. Have I made a new word in the English slang language?