Authors Note:

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Chapter 7:

Too Much Rum

It had become morning and Elizabeth and Jack had still not fallen asleep. They talked the whole night about rum and Jack's new found to desire to consume it. Elizabeth and Jack also discussed love, hate, pirates and just about anything that they wished to discuss. Jack had never felt so free before in his life and for Elizabeth, she never felt so comfortable before. As previously written, Elizabeth was insatiable, even quite a tad too much. She never laughed, that is until she met Jack and his eunuch friend William. She enjoyed their presence and it was quite noticeable that they enjoyed hers as well.

Jack and Elizabeth sat side by side in front of the fire that continued to burn all night. Elizabeth closed her eyes slowly and whispered to Jack "It's mornin'…." Jack looked around the barn to see sunlight peeking through the cracks on the walls. He smiled and replied back in a whisper "I am amusing it is". Elizabeth placed her head on Jack's shoulder and said sadly "I'm tired".

Jack smiled at her and tucked a strand of her hair behind her ear while whispering, "Then sleep Lizzie". Elizabeth looked up into Jack's eyes and whispered back "I can't. I've got to find me some scallywags…." Jack's smile faded as she said this. He cleared his throat softly and then took her head, and Elizabeth asked exhausted "What do ye think ye be doin'"? Jack didn't reply, all he did was hold her head and whisper "Shh…." He then took off his jacket and put it on the ground.

He then slowly led Elizabeth's head to the jacket and placed her head on top of it. He then whispered, "I'll go with Gibbs to find a crew. You sleep Lizzie". Elizabeth closed her eyes and whispered "Nay, Jack. I must go". Jack chuckled as he noticed that she was drifting off to sleep. He sat there looking at her for a few seconds.

Jack rubbed his eyes and thought 'Again! Stop! Stop staring'! Jack then united his hands as if he was about to pray. He put his head in his hands and thought of his life and how it would unfold after this rescue. What would happen? What was his Destiny? Jack didn't know…he had no idea. Suddenly a rooster began to make its call because it was the crack of dawn, or a little past it for that matter.

Jack took his right hand and scratched the back of his head when he noticed that Will and Gibbs had woken up. He gasped and realized that Elizabeth then might have woken up. So he glanced at her, but she was still asleep. He smiled and bit his lip while whispering, "I guess I'm off to find a crew".

- - --

"So what makes ye worthy to ride along side the famous Captain Elizabeth Swann"? Gibbs asked as he sat in a bar interviewing hopefuls. Jack stood at the back of the line and smiled at the sailors while handing them a piece of paper that explained what they had to do when they reached Mr. Gibbs. Most pirates stared at him blankly and asked for an explanation since a majority of them had no idea how to read.

Jack looked at sailors in the line and noticed a trend seemed to form. About half of them were too old to sustain any pressure that may come their way and the other half looked too young. Jack bit his lip as he observed the men in line, and he sighed realizing that they weren't young at all. They were about his age…. but why did this bother him? Jack looked at his hands and tried to eavesdrop on a group of the younger sailors because they were having a conversation.

"…And then she called me a scoundrel". Jack smiled as he heard this and the conversation between the few mates continued. Another man said surprised "I can't believe she called ye that mate. All ye did was bed her sister"! Jack chuckled…a bit too loudly as he heard this. The group of men turned to look at him and the one that was the "scoundrel" asked Jack angrily "Ye think that's funny mate"? Jack rolled his eyes and said softly "Not really, no".

One of the "scoundrel's" mates then said to Jack sternly "Mind yer business alright." Jack chuckled and ignored his comment and asked interested "So why do you men want to be part of Captain Swann's crew"? The men looked at each other with a grin on their face but the "scoundrel" replied, "What kind of question be that? I mean have ye seen her…. and have ye heard of her"?

Jack began to look at them confused as he asked, "What do you mean by that"? The "scoundrel" answered his question in bewilderment "She's beautiful mate, and I've heard the things she does at night aren't so bad either". Jack's mouth dropped from the statement the man said. Jack bit his lip angrily and said, "Your nose is bleeding…" The man examined his nose and whispered "Nay, its not".

Suddenly, Jack clenched his fist and punched the "scoundrel" right in the nose. He then walked away while saying "Yes it is". Jack made his way to a stool beside the bar when Gibbs had called him. Jack rolled his eyes and tried to make it to Gibbs. Gibbs looked down at the chart that he had drawn for the crew. He then said to Jack as he approached "Young Jackie, I believe we be havin' enough to stir a ship".

Jack smiled at Gibbs and whispered "Brilliant". Gibbs looked at Jack and said grinning, "Ye know Jack. I saw what ye did to those scallywags, and I must say… ye be a good man. Ms. Elizabeth has had that reputation in the past, but landlubbers and sea mates tend to exaggerate". Jack nodded his head slowly and thought about what he did to those men. Gibbs interrupted his thoughts by sayin' "If ye don't mind me askin' young Jack. Why exactly did ye get so angry? I mean it is not wise to start a belly with a few young men who seem to have a big belly".

Jack smiled at his question but then shrugged his shoulders and replied, "I just felt it was right. That's all Gibbs". Gibbs nodded, got out of his chair and picked up his chart while saying "Aye, it be right. (Pause) Would ye like somethin' to drink young Jack"? Jack stared at the floor now, still thinking about why he had become so aggressive. Gibbs getting impatient asked, "Jack, would ye like somethin' to swallow down"? This time Jack heard and he nodded his head and said frustrated "Rum, and lots of it".

- - - -

It had become evening and Elizabeth and Will sat in front of the fire drinking some hot coco that Jack had left them before he left with Gibbs. Elizabeth held the mug in her hands and asked impatiently "Do ye think they found a crew"? Will smiled at her as she continued to ramble on "What be I sayin'? If they found a crew, they would be here. Why aren't they back yet"?

Will chuckled as Elizabeth took a sip of her hot coco. Elizabeth swallowed the coco and then turned her head to face William. She asked frustrated "And what is so amusing Mr. Turner"? Will took a sip out of his hot coco and then whispered "Nothing, Captain." Elizabeth rolled her eyes and started pacing around the barn while asking, once again, impatiently "They found a crew. I can feel it in me heart, but then why wouldn't they be back"?

Will chuckled once more and Elizabeth snapped at him "What be so bloody amusing Mr. Turner"? Will smiled realizing that this conversation was similar to the one he had with Jack about Elizabeth. Will wrinkled his nose, got up and said, "They will be back, Captain." Will paused for a second and decided to test Elizabeth. He then continued, "…Unless of course he's found a lass or something".

Elizabeth stopped pacing and asked worried "Another…. lass"? Will shook his head realizing her mistake with her words. Will then asked pretending to be confused "Another"? Elizabeth gulped and tried to cover her mistake up quickly "I mean… he has Juliana". Will nodded and he was about to continue to test her but the door to the barn flew open.

"Daddy! Jackie's here!" Jack shouted as he walked into the barn. Actually, he wobbled into the barn. He took a few steps into the barn and saw Will and he smiled and said "William…. my best friend Mr. Turner". Will chuckled and asked, "Drank too much Jack"? Gibbs then took off his coat and said amused "A wee bit too much. He ordered one rum, and then another and another turned into 10".

Elizabeth chuckled as she heard this and Will made his way towards Jack. Jack put his arms around Will and said, "I love you mate". Will tried to cover up the fact that he wanted to laugh, but all he did was say "You too Jack". Gibbs then whispered sadly "He loves the rum too. He even took me shots of rum". Elizabeth walked up to Gibbs and asked confused "Why didn't he just order another"?

Gibbs looked at her and said angrily "I did. He drank those ones too". Elizabeth then laughed and made her way over to Jack and asked "I told ye to take a risk…. and ye drank the rum last night. And now ye probably drank all the rum in Tortuga". Jack finally let go of Will as he saw Elizabeth. He smiled as he wobbled over to her.

Jack then said happily ""Lizabeth…" He then flicked her shoulder and while he did that he bumped his head on her hat. He chuckled playfully and tipped her hat forward while whispering "Oh, sorry. It's Captain 'Lizabeth". Elizabeth lifted her hat back to its original position. Jack's eyes widened and he then said bashfully "At least those fools be right about one thing…." Gibbs cleared his throat and shouted out interrupting Jack "That be enough Jack"! Jack pushed the air away and shouted in Gibbs' direction "No! I can say whatever I want, to whoever I bloody want"!

Gibbs gulped and then Jack put his right hand on Elizabeth's shoulder and pulled her closer. Elizabeth looked at him confused and then he leaned in closer to her and whispered "You told me last night to, take a risk…" He then pulled his head closer to hers and whispered, "Take a risk. Take…. a…take…what's the word Will"? Will then said quietly "Risk…you stupid fool".

Jack then shouted out happily "Yes! That's it!" He then leaned in again to Elizabeth and whispered, "You told me last night to take a risk you stupid fool…." Elizabeth rolled her eyes, but then Jack grabbed her face and whispered, "I didn't take a big enough risk…" Elizabeth then looks up at him half worried and half happy. Jack then begins to lean in further and further until their lips were about two centimeters apart. Just then, Jack stopped moving towards Elizabeth and fainted right on top of her. Will and Gibbs ran to Jack to see if they could do anything to help him. But Elizabeth just stood their frustrated, with Jack in her arms and thought 'Nay exactly what I had in mind…again'.

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