Disclaimer: Sadly, I must say that all characters and objects pertaining to the movie Pirates of the Caribbean are property of Disney and not my own. Even though I would love to own Jack Sparrow, sadly I don't. All other characters and objects are of my own creation.

Author's Note: Once again, thank you bunches to all who have commented. This chapter a longer than the last and to me it doesn't seem like its really going anywhere but we'll just have to see how it goes...

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Chapter 6

"We ain't tryin to turn ya into a nun. On second thought... Are you..."

When Rachel woke, she reached out beside her to find Jack missing. As she sat up, she realized that the ship was nearly perfectly still and she cursed under her breath. The Black Pearl was docked which meant that Rachel would have to leave. She went about the cabin, fighting back tears as she packed up clothes and books into the chests Jack had given her. She had poured her heart out to Jack the night before, telling him how much she wished to stay aboard and work with the crew, how much she wanted to stay with Jack. But Jack had put his foot down and she had to gave in.

"Mornin' lass. I see yer already getting started on packin'." Gibbs stated as he stepped through the open door of the cabin. Rachel simply nodded and continued to pack. "Jack and a few of the crew went to search fer a good place to put you up in."

"Mr. Gibbs. I know you're trying to make me feel better but I'd rather just go about this quietly." Gibbs nodded and called out for some men to start taking the chests up deck. Patting her shoulder, Gibbs gave her a reassuring look, the same look her father used to give her. "Mr. Gibbs. Does the crew have a problem with me on board?"

"Only the two the Captain took care of. They were the worst kind of pirates this sea has sailin' on her. The rest don't mind ye at all."

"Then why is Jack doing this?" At that moment, Gibbs realized that Rachel had begun to fall for Jack. Matters of the heart was a thing Gibbs tried to avoid but with Rachel, he had started to look at her as a daughter.

"There is one thing above all that ye got to remember with Jack Sparrow, lass. He does things his way for good reasons, most of the time. And when he sets his mind to something, there ain't no turnin' back." and with that Gibbs left the room, giving her time alone to pounder his words.

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Jack had searched everywhere on the Pearl for Rachel and found not hide nor hair of her. Pintel and Rigetti, the two bumbling pirates on his crew, had found a place to set Rachel up in and Jack was actually impressed with their finding. He stomped up onto the main deck cursing about how women were too much trouble no matter what time they're from, when a leather glove hit him in the head.

"Bloody hell!" just as he looked up, another glove hit him. "Rachel, get down here now you hell cat!"

Rachel laughed at the look on his face as he tried to act upset but failed miserably at the sight of her climbing down the rigging.

"Fer a woman who hates heights and was terrified of the crows nest, you climb it better than most of me men do." Rachel grinned as her feet landing firmly on the deck.

"Well, if thats the case, then let me stay." Jack groaned.

"I'm not gonna tell you again, Rachel. No. Yer stayin on shore where yer not distractin me."

"Whoa... Distracting you? I thought this was about my safety around your crew." She stood before him, smiling inwardly at how easily Jack had slipped up while he cursed himself for it.

"Come here." he beckoned her over to the railing and looked out over the port of Tortuga.

She was amazed at how different this place was from the Tortuga of her time. The harbor was bustling with pirates and merchant sailors who were there to seek out good trades, rum, and women.

"Tortuga is one of five things I have come to love in my life. The sights, the sounds, the smells.. the whole town. Soon enough you will fall in love with her too." Jack gave a toothy grin as he stared out at Tortuga. "Well, lets get ya to yer new home, luv."

Reluctantly, she turned back around at the deck of the ship for the last time before climbing down into the row boat where Jack was already seated. Once on shore, Jack put a protective arm around Rachel's waist, a clear sign to all men in Tortuga that the woman next to him was taken.

"Until you get settled in, luv, yer to stay with either me or Gibbs. Tortuga is not the place fer a decent woman, even one with yer.. background. Once yer place is ready, I'll have one of me best men watchin over you."

"You're going to make a crew member stay with me? That doesn't hardly seem fair, Jack."

He waved it off as the walked along the busy market street, dodging merchants and fighting men. As they continued further on, the crowds began to dwindle then the hardly saw anyone at all. Off to the right of the end of the main street on the outskirts of Tortuga, stood a small two story chapel. Rachel stopped and stared at it puzzled.

"Jack, I hope you're not serious.. I am not living in a church." Jack laughed heartedly.

"Don't worry, luv. We ain't tryin to turn ya into a nun." Jack turned to her and eyed her from head to toe. "On second thought.. Are you.." Jack grinned mischievously.

"Jack Sparrow!" Rachel exclaimed as she slapped his arm playfully.

"Alright, alright. This church has been run down since before I ever even stepped foot on a boat and its the only place safe enough and decent enough fer a woman to live in." he gently coaxed her to continue up the stoned pathway to the door where Mr. Gibbs greeted them.

"She'll need a bit of work on the inside, Captain, but for the most part she's sturdy as a rock." Jack grinned and gently pushed Rachel inside so she could examine what was to be her new home.

She was surprised to see the majority of the crew already tearing out the old pews and alter that cluttered the small sanctuary. Jack explained to her that the sanctuary would be turned into a foyer and stairs added along the left side to make the second floor accessible from the front rather than through what remained of the small kitchen in the back. Rachel was absolutely stunned beyond words.

"If you like this, wait till ya see the back." Jack whispered in her ear, leading her past all the men and through what used to be the priest's study and the kitchen.

Outside, the garden that had at one point been well kept was now wild and untamed. What was left of the stone gazebo was over run by wild tropical vines and flowers and even the stone benches that dotted the pathway were moss covered. The sight of it all was beautiful and mesmerizing

"So what do you think, Ms. McKree. Like the idea of livin in Tortuga yet?"

"I could live here, Jack. Its very beautiful. But the Pearl is almost like home to me and thats where I really want to be." Jack rolled his eyes and escorted her back into the kitchen.

He urged her straight for the stairs, smiling as she climbed up slowly, the stairs creaking under the strain of her weight. Once at the top, she noted the short hallway had only three doors lining the walls. The left wall held two doors, both broken and hanging off their hinges. The remaining door stood intact to her right, not but three feet from the top of the stairs. Curiously, she opened the door on the right, revealing a large bedroom almost twice the size of Jack's cabin.

But what caught her eye the most was the large balcony at the back of the room. She walked out onto the balcony and took a deep breath, filling her lungs with the crisp Caribbean air, perfumed by the flowers below. Rachel closed her eyes and leaned on the railing enjoying the fragrances that filled her.

Jack grinned as he watched her taking in her surroundings. Her hair shimmered red in the sun and flowed loosely down to her waist. The more he stared at her, the more he felt a stab of desire for her. The way she leaned on the railing allowing the breeches she wore to further exhibit her back side. For a brief moment, Jack had begun to question his judgment of making her stay on land where it would be harder to be near her.

"Beautiful.." He whispered as he took the image of her in. She turned and smiled, assuming he was talking about the view but her smiled faded she turned to face him.

"I want you to be straight with me, Jack, and don't lie to me on this. . Is it because I distract you that I'm being left here or is it you don't trust your crew with me on board." Jack shook his head.

"Yer not lettin it go are ya?" This time, Rachel shook her head as she stepped closer to him.

"Jack, I need to know what is going on. If I'm in danger and you don't tell me everything then how can I protect my self in the best possible way. But if I distract you, Jack... God just please tell me."

"Ya really want to know that bad? Alright. The fight I had to resolve was about you. Two of the new men we took on from the last ship we looted before we found you had conspired to break into my cabin, rape you and dump your body out my window and stage it as if you committed suicide. These men were over heard by Marty and he quickly passed word on to the rest of my original crew. The crew spoiled everything and when I got on deck the men were spouting off threats on me, my ship, my crew..and you. It wasn't until later that we discovered who the men really were, who they worked under, and what they had really been planning." Rachel stood stunned.

"They were going to destroy the Pearl weren't they?" Jack only nodded. "Thats why you wanted to know how she ended up at the bottom of the sea..." Rachel turned her back towards Jack and looked out at the horizon.

"The people these men work under are cruel men, even by pirate standards. These men live on the sea, rarely going on land.. Thats the main reason why I want ya to stay here." Jack walked out onto the balcony and stood next to her, staring out at the harbor and the sea beyond.

"And the other reasons, Jack?" she asked, looking over at him.

He turned to her, wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her close to him. For a moment they stared into each others eyes not needing to express what the other was thinking. Rachel laced her arms around his neck as Jack pulled her closer to him, their lips barely brushing together. From the doorway, Gibbs shifted on his feet uncomfortably as he cleared his throat loudly, startling his captain and the woman in his arms.

"Bloody hell, Gibbs. What is it?" Jack asked through gritted teeth.

Rachel released Jack almost immediately and turned once again towards the balcony, her cheeks flushed from embarrassment and the brief feeling of Jack's lips on hers.

"Its time for that meetin'." Jack cursed under his breath, quickly placing a small kiss on Rachel's neck.

"Later, luv. Stay here and help the crew. Don't go wonderin' off without on of 'em with you. Thats an order." Rachel nodded, biting her lip to restrain the urge to pull him back to her.

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AN: Sorry once again for the change in the chapter. For some reason, after I post a chapter I start finding all my errors and pieces that need changed. So so soooo sorry about this ladies. Don't forget to review!