Jack… Jack… Jack…JACK!
Jack felt a sharp slap to his face, and he groggily pulled himself out of the enshrouding darkness of his subconsciousness. He clawed his way through the blackness like a drowning man reaches for the surface, awakening with a start, almost head-butting Will as he jerked suddenly upright into a sitting position. His eyes were wide and his breaths fell quickly. His heart thundered in his chest, and his skin was slick with sweat. His ribs and shoulder aches, but he was mercifully alive. Jack took a deep breath and stretched out on the comfortable bed, savouring the moment. His shoulder, ribs and chest still ached and throbbed dully, but he ignored their protest.
"Jack, are you well?" Will asked, the concern about his captain's welfare evident in his worried tone. "You were shouting for a good five minutes, and we couldn't wake you." Jack peered into Will's anxious dark eyes, If only you knew, lad. Instead, still leaning back, Jack propped himself up on his elbows. He surveyed Will, sitting close to the bedside in a padded wooden chair, and Elsey, removed slightly from their affairs, seated at the small rounded table at the opposite end of the room. In fact, she appeared to be sulking that Jack had occupied Will's attention and concern instead of herself. Jack knew enough about Tortuga's settings to surmise they were at a hotel, and a fairly cheap one at that. Regarding Will and Elsey, Jack placed a hand hesitantly over his stomach, grimacing. "Just what did that fair wretch of yours put into that rum?"
Elsey rolled her eyes elegantly, "You weren't supposed to drink it." she explained in exasperation.
"I am a pirate, luv." Jack sighed, mentally rolling his eyes. Frankly, Jack couldn't see what Will found so attractive about her. Fairly, she had a pleasing face, what with all that wavy fiery red hair and those jade almond-shaped eyes and soft pink lips, and she certainly possessed a figure that looked extremely attractive in a dress, but… Okay, so she was physically alluring, Jack conceded in exasperation, but he was under the impression Will went for more than just looks. It was more Jack's type of thing to do, to seek out women for their looks, but even Jack had standards. He liked his women to be feisty and independent (look at that whole fiasco with Scarlet), and even though Elsey had sprung them from the gaol, Jack still felt… displeased with her.
Finally rising out of her seat and joining the rest of the company by Jack's bedside, Elsey walked up to Will – hips swaying provocatively - and sat herself in his lap, ignoring Jack. "Speaking of gaol, what horrible person locked you in there in the first place, Willy?" She pouted, lightly tracing a bruise forming on his tanned cheek, frowning slightly at the thought that someone had dared to incarcerate her dear William. Will blushed under his tan but made no attempt to dissuade her.
"A member of the royal Navy, and a right royal pain in the - " Here Will broke off, not wanting to swear in front of Elsey's delicate ears.
"Vice Admiral Jason Stone." Jack finished curtly, feeling sorry for Will - to some extent -but at the same time feeling annoyed he let Elsey continue on with her obvious flirting and fawning.
Almost as if reading his mind, Elsey dropped her hand back into her lap in surprise. "The Vice Admiral Stone; nephew to the Queen?" She asked, her green eyes wide, addressing Jack directly.
"Aye." Jack answered offhandedly, not really curious as to what the wench was about to say next. No doubt some smidgeon of worthless gossip – how many relations could the Queen have anyway? Inbred, the lot of them.
"Why, but that's impossible!" She exclaimed, turning her attentions once more back to Will.
"How so?" Jack questioned, as Will was obviously too occupied with Elsey's presence to manage anything else but gawp.
Not even bothering to tear her eyes away from Will, Elsey answered,
"Vice Admiral Stone is currently serving in the waters off Asia with the rest of his fleet. There was a report just two days ago. I know this because Daddy's a very important Naval man himself." Jack wasn't surprised about Elsey's parentage, but what had him taken-aback was her reference to the Vice Admiral's whereabouts. He hadn't foreseen this turn of affairs. If Vice Admiral Stone had been serving in Asian waters naught but two days ago, three at the very most, there was no way he could have been in Tortuga yesterday. Mayhaps the lass had gotten her facts mixed up. Contemplating her as she played with a strand of Will's hair, giggling, it certainly wouldn't shock Jack. Still, Jack had turned over… custody of Alex to the Vice Admiral and the Navy, so he best make sure he had, in fact, given Alex to the Vice, not to a total stranger.
"Excuse the interruption," Jack began bitingly, fighting to keep the sarcasm out of his voice, "what did your Vice Admiral Stone look like?" Looking severely put out that she had to turn her attentions off her William, Elsey turned to face Jack once more.
"He's just under 6 foot, with dark brown curly hair, brown eyes, cheek-bones to die for; your typical Welshman." She describes.
"Ah. Did he have an accent of any type? Any infliction from serving in foreign waters?" Jack asked hurriedly, before Elsey's attentions waned and turned back to Will. She frowned prettily, "Not that I remember. I haven't spoken to him for over a year, however, so it is possible he had picked it up since last time we met."
"He has a diamond for a tooth." Will added, finally snapping out of his trance and speaking.
"That's not Vice Admiral Stone." Elsey replied instantly with conviction. "He would never get a tattoo or anything of that sort. Certainly not a diamond tooth. His Aunt would kill him. And look around; if the navy were moored at Tortuga, it'd be a ghost town."
Will looked over at Jack, a dark expression appearing over his features. So then who took Alex away? Relieved of her conversation with Jack, Elsey once more turned her attentions back to Will, smoothing some hair away from his forehead, gazing deeply into his eyes. Will immediately forgot all his consternations over Alex. Jack decided he couldn't handle this public and disarming flirting any longer, and threw himself from the bed, taking no heed of the pain in his shoulder. He just hoped Will wouldn't get any ideas now the bed was unoccupied…
Damn, I know she's done nothing wrong, but I hate Elsey. She's just so…fake… Of course, why am I complaining, when I was the one that wrote the character…
Almost forgot – I have 150 reviews! Let me just say that again: 150 reviews! 150, 150, 150! Very excited. Reviews are even better than a sandwich – with a pickle on it – and…and… another pickle! Anyway, I'd just like to again thank all my reviewers and mystery readers that wish to remain unknown for their support and interest :D Welcome to xthexstarlettex and thanks for reading and reviewing. Thanks also to DCoD and Lonaargh (who went to Greece and who I am consequently very jealous of), who boosted up the reviews so I got 150 last chapter. What was that number again – I didn't hear properly. 150.150.150. 150!