Authors Note:
Thank you to all who reviewed last time and hope you all continue to do so.
Enjoy!
Chapter 6:
Take A Risk
A few moments later Gibbs had taken the three to a Pub, where of course they served rum. Captain Elizabeth sat with Gibbs at one table and Jack and Will were trying to make it through the Pub without either getting shot at, or getting trampled on in any way. Jack and Will made their way towards the bar and sat down on two empty stools.
Jack glanced over at Gibbs and Elizabeth and he could see that they were deep in conversation. Jack turned to Will and asked worried "What do you think they're talking about"? Will shrugged and looked at Jack while answering, "I have no clue. But maybe it is about their mutual affair that they had years ago"? Jack's eyes widened as he asked recklessly "Gibbs and Elizabeth? They were…ugh…lovers"?
Will chuckled and shook his head while stating confidently "No, but even if they did why does it worry you so"? Jack rolled his eyes and clenched his fist while asking frustrated "You still on that William?" Will nodded proudly and whispered, "When are you going to understand that I know you better than you know yourself".
Jack sighed in pity as he shook his head vigorously because he couldn't believe what he was hearing. The bar man turned to him and asked "And what would ye be havin' mate?" Jack and Will both answered, "Water". Jack turned to look at Will surprised and stated, "He was asking for my order." Will nodded and whispered, "I know. But now it's proved that I know you better than you know yourself."
Jack rolled his eyes and nodded to the bartender to bring him a glass of water. Will then put his hand on Jack's shoulder and whispered reluctantly "I'm sorry. I believe you Jack. If you say you don't like her, then you don't like her". Jack turned to look at Will and asked happily "You really mean that?" Will chuckled and stated sharply "No".
- - -
Gibbs looked at Elizabeth with wide eyes as he explained, "Ye say Miss. Elizabeth that ye be goin' after the Pearl…" Elizabeth nodded satisfied with herself and her plan, and Gibbs then shook his head and said sadly "Elizabeth, it's a fool's errand: You've heard the tales they tell about the Pearl." Elizabeth smiled at him sweetly and continued his phrase "Aye, and that's why I know where it's going to be, and that's why I know what Barbossa is up to. All I need is a crew." Gibbs shakes his head while stating yet once again "A fool's errand".
Elizabeth smiles at him and states "Not if the fool has something Barbossa wants. Something that he needs." Gibbs asked interested "And you've got that have ye?" Elizabeth smiles enigmatically, and shifts her eyes' – behind her and shifts her head in the direction of Will and Jack. Elizabeth smiles and begins to explain, "Back there, at the bar sits Jack and the son of old Bootstrap Bill Turner".
Gibbs' eyes widen over the edge of the tankard. He begins to look at Will. Then he smiles, with more missing teeth than good ones. Gibbs picks up his chalice and says to Elizabeth happily "Well, lookee there. Ye may be onto something, Captain Swann…." Gibbs then pauses and mutters, "There's bound to be sailors on this rock crazy as ye. I'll find some men…and women, if any. We set sail tomorrow but for tonight, tonight...we drink"!
- - -
A few hours later, Gibbs had let the three sleep in his barn. Jack walked into the barn and said a bit sarcastic "Thank you for letting us sleep in this place. I'm sure I will have a good night's rest with all the pig's litter lying around." Gibbs chuckled and whispered to him "I know ye be used to havin' a nice bed, with warm meals, but this will have to do for one night."
Jack crossed his arms across his chest and protested "There is an inn just across the street from here. If you all would like…." Elizabeth took off her hat and interrupted with a stern voice "This will be fine Gibbs". Gibbs nodded with a slight smile and he grabbed his cantina and offered it to Jack. Jack refused and said "Rum? You have got to be kidding…."
Elizabeth then cleared her throat in frustration and grabbed Jack's arm and led him towards the side of the barn. Elizabeth then said angrily "Gibbs is a mate of mine and he be tryin' to be hospitable, now it would be nice if ye showed at least some gratitude". Jack chuckled and looked at her straight in the eyes while saying sarcastically "Oh, I should be grateful for the intoxicating smell of Pig urine"?
Elizabeth shook her head and whispered impatiently "Ye have got to cut the lad some slack, Jack. We are nay longer in Port Royal!" Jack sighed and whispered "Fine, Miss. I won't say anything anymore". Elizabeth smiled at him and put her hand on his while whispering "Thank ye, swain. Gibbs be as a second-father to me…."
Jack blushed and tried to hide it by turning around and whispering "As to you Miss. Swann, he was to me as a child". Elizabeth then walked up to him and looked at him in the eyes while whispering, "Call me Elizabeth, Jack. Us two, we nay have to be so formal. After all, were mates…."? Jack nodded and whispered slightly sad "Yes, Lizzie. We're mates."
He looked at her for a few seconds and she did the same to him. For what he knew the barn could cave in, but nothing in the world could have broken that glance. Elizabeth after a bit cleared her throat and whispered "G'night." Jack then whispered "Ugh… Lizzie." Elizabeth took his hand and asked "Aye"? Jack cleared his throat and whispered disappointed in him-self "Good night".
- - - -
A few hours later it had become the dead of the night, and Jack couldn't sleep. He held his nose repeatedly through out the night because of the stench of the barn. He looked over to his right and began to look at the fireplace. Jack smiled as he saw someone sitting in front of the fireplace drinking from a cantina. He got up and walked over to the fireplace and whispered, "Couldn't sleep either Will"? Then Jack sat down and saw that it was not Will. Elizabeth took the blanket that was wrapped around her off and chuckled quietly and asked whispering "Oh so ye think that I look like a lad Jack"? Jack's eyes widened as he saw Elizabeth but she continued "Or do ye think that William looks too much like a lass, and that's yer excuse for calling me a lad"?
Jack chuckled slightly and whispered "Neither, Lizzie. I didn't know it was you…" Elizabeth smiled and whispered, "Nay need to apologize Jack. What are ye doin' up at this hour"? Jack rubbed his hands along his arms trying to create warmth and whispered, "Couldn't sleep." Elizabeth nodded and whispered "Aye, I too. But for other reasons than ye I assume."
Jack placed his hands in front of the fire and asked confused "For what reasons Lizzie"? Elizabeth looked down at the ground and whispered sadly "Me Pearl, me ship, and me freedom was taken away at the edge of a mutiny". Jack smiled at her and whispered slightly confused "Your freedom? Don't ye still have it"?
Elizabeth nodded and took a sip of her cantina. She then whispered sadly "Notall of it". Jack smiled and whispered, "At least you have some of it. I have no percentage, no dose, no nothing. All I have is a comfortable home in Port…and sometimes I wonder if that's what I need".
Elizabeth then wrapped the blanket around Jack and herself and whispered "Yer cold." Jack tried to take off the blanket and whispered "Not necessary.." Elizabeth smirked at him and asked "Why is there a problem with sharing a blanket with me"? Jack shook his head and Elizabeth then took Jack's hand and whispered seductively "Well then there shouldn't be a problem with this either.."
Jack breathed in and out deeply and his voice cracked as he spoke "Not really no." Elizabeth smiled at him and whispered interested "So tell me about Juliana". Jack sighed sadly and put his arm around Elizabeth while whispering "Where should I start? Well she is the niece of Cutler Beckett, and she is a nice and proper woman."
Elizabeth looked up at him puzzled as she asked "And ye be findin' that ghastly"? Jack nodded slightly and whispered, "Yes, because…. I don't want her. I don't love her…I don't feel anything towards her". Elizabeth chuckled and asked, "Ye know if ye don't feel…." She then squeezed his hand slightly and continued "…. anything for her. Then ye shouldn't marry the lass."
Jack coughed out an innocent chuckle and whispered "If only if it was that simple. My life is not like yours Lizzie. You could do anything you want and not be afraid of the consequences". Elizabeth looked in Jack's eyes and whispered "Speakin' of not being afraid of the consequences…." She then put her head on his chest and whispered, "Take a risk. Do something that ye never thought ye would ever do….and ye could start… now".
Elizabeth then leaned in closer to Jack and Jack gulped and whispered "Now"? Elizabeth nodded and whispered seductively "Aye…right in this barn…right...now". Jack's eyebrows narrowed and he shrugged and whispered "Alright." He then moved Elizabeth away from him and took her cantina and drank a sip of rum. Elizabeth crossed her arms across her chest and whispered, "Nay exactly what I had in mind."
Authors Note:
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