21. Affirmative Action

We arrive back at my house much later as it is beginning to grow dark.

"I don't think yer mum needs t' know if a parallel you if goin' t' take yer place here while yer gone," Jack says finally getting out of the car with me.

"She needs to know!" I exclaim, almost angry with Jack.

"Lindsey, if she finds out, she's goin' t' know the parallel universe you isn't YOU" he exclaims in return. "She can't know yer twin isn't you, luv! It will throw off the balance o' things!"

"No Jack! I won't leave my mother again! Not without saying good-bye!" I exclaim, running to my house. Jack grabs me before I get too far.

"Luv, I can't let ye do this!:

"No Jack! Please don't!" I shout as he pulls me into the darkening woods beside my driveway and away from my house. Jack's grasp around my waist is too strong for me to wiggle free.

"Luv, shh, this is how it has t' be. I'm sorry!" Jack says, his voice hushed and trying to calm me.

"Jack, no! Please don't let me leave my mother again without saying good-bye! Please," I begin to sob. Jack has never really seen me cry before.

"Forgive me, luv. I'm sorry," he says as he rubs some powder under my nose. I turn to him briefly and feel my eyes water at the scent of the strong powder.

"Jack?" I ask as calming tears roll down my numbing cheeks.

"Shh, luv," Jack whispers in my ear as I fall unconscious in his arms.

0 0 0

There is an intense throbbing in my head as I slowly open my eyes. I rub my head with my hand and blink my eyes a few times.

"Luv, yer awake!" Jack comes bounding in, a smile on his face, displaying his golden teeth.

"What happened to me?" I ask, "Where am I?" I ask, suddenly realizing where I am. I slowly get out of bed. "No…no…no, no, no, no!" I scream realizing that I'm back in the 17th century.

"Luv, it's goin' t' be just fine. I promise," Jack says soothingly.

"No Jack! You took me away from my home—from my mother! I never got to say good-bye! She thought I was going to be home for dinner!" I shout at him as tears begin falling down my face once more.

"You will there for dinner—yer twin will be there in yer place, luv," Jack says, sitting down on the bed next to me.

"No Jack! I won't be there!" I scream at him. He takes me in his arms.

"Shh, luv—I promise it's goin' t' be okay. Have I ever given ye reason t' doubt me?" He asks with his voice low.

"You promise?! Jack—you've lied to me in the past—what makes you think things will be fine now?!" I retort back angrily, ripping myself free from his grasp.

"Pet!" Jack exclaims after me, chasing me out of his cabin. I realize I'm on the Pearl and Mr. Gibbs is standing by.

"Well grab me by the ankles and slap me silly—if it ain't Lindsey!" Gibbs exclaims at the sight of me.

"Mr. Gibbs," I laugh suddenly, wiping away my tears as he embraces me.

"We've missed ye, lass," he says, looking up at Jack who has emerged from the cabin behind me, "Captain—our heading?"

"To Port Royal," Jack says, "for Elizabeth,"

"Aye Captain," Gibbs says, letting go of me, "'tis a fine thing havin' ye back," he says as he leaves.

I keep my back to Jack, knowing he is behind me. I feel him coming closer to me.

"I heard ye laugh when ye saw Gibbs. Ye can't be mad at me forever, dahling," he says into my ear from behind. I feel his body close on my back and it sends chills down my spine. I close my eyes and breathe in.

"Hold me," I say finally.

"Huh?" he asks.

"Hold me, Jack," I repeat.

"Is that an order?" He asks, pressing up against me.

"Damn right it is," I reply, a grin spreading across my lips.

"Affirmative action," Jack says as he wraps his arms around my waist.

0 0 0

"Captain Sparrow—it's been too long since we've done that," I say with a laugh.

"Indeed it has, luv," Jack says as he kisses my stomach.

"Captain Sparrow! We've arrived in Port Royal!" Gibbs calls from the other side of the door.

"Bloody 'ell! That was quick!" Jack exclaims huskily.

"Do you have to be Captain right now?" I ask, pulling him down and kissing him.

"Not really, luv. I can stay 'ere as long as ye want me…"

"Captain! We're ready to go ashore!" Gibbs calls again.

"Bloody fuckin' 'ell!" Jack retorts. "Not now Gibbs!" He yells back.

"No it's okay, Jack. We should go ashore and get this done with," I say sitting up.

"Aye, dahling," he agrees. There is a silent pause between the two of us.

"But we can do this again later, right?" I ask quickly.

"Definitely," he replies just a quick. We throw on our clothes and run out of the cabin to the long boat.

"Hoist 'er down, Gibbs!" Jack orders. "QUICKLY!"

"Alrighty, Captain! We're goin' as fast as we can!" Gibbs replies.

"No yer not! There can be no time wasted!" Jack exclaims as he takes the oars and rows faster than he's ever rowed before. The dinghy strikes land and Jack and I jump out of the boat and run ashore in search of Elizabeth.

"Ye think they'd be runnin' motivation er somethin'" Ragetti says.

"Aye, I think they be runnin' on Affirmative Action" Gibbs replies.