Chapter 4

The Black Pearl

"Tortuga ho!" called Weebles from the crow's nest. On deck men scrambled to get The Black Pearl ready to make port. Margot sat slumped against the railing watching Jack Sparrow navigate the ship through the waters.

"Margot," admonished Jack, "Help the men lass".

"If I help do I get to go ashore?"

"No".

Margot frowned, "Da. I used to live there".

"Lass, if I had known that, ye and yer mother would not have lived there for so long. Tis not the place for ye".

Margot crossed her arms and slumped further against the railing, "I hate being a girl".

Johnny Turner shook his head when he saw Margot pouting at the helm. His eyes soon passed over her and alighted on the town of Tortuga as they anchored. On the docks, scantily clad women waved at the incoming ships.

"This is my kind of place," he grinned.

"Aye lad," smiled Mr. Gibbs.

"Gather around men," ordered Jack Sparrow, "Now most of ye will get to experience the many delights of Tortuga. But a few unlucky chaps will stay on board as per usual. This time around twill be Margot of course, Groves, Red Rob, Hector, LaMontagne, and young Turner".

Johnny started when he heard his name and stared furiously at Jack. The men who were not chosen to stay on board let out cheers and clambered onto the docks. Mr. Gibbs shook his head patted Johnny on the shoulder and headed off with the other men.

"No Tortuga today," said a voice behind him.

He turned to see Margot smirking at him. He opened his mouth to respond when Jack called, "Turner. Over here".

Jack grinned at Johnny, "Ye look furious lad".

"Yes well I thought I'd get to see Tortuga," snapped Johnny.

"Be needing a woman?"

Johnny glared at him and he laughed, "Turner me boy. I saved ye for a special duty".

"Why do I have a feeling I'm not going to like this?" muttered Johnny.

"Ye'll get to see a bit of Tortuga with me lad, help me get supplies. Then ye'll come back here and keep an eye on Margot, saavy?"

"Wait. I'm supposed to watch your daughter all night?" asked Johnny incredulously.

"Aye lad, she's a crafty one too. And be warned. That lass steps one foot into Tortuga, it'll be your neck," commented Jack, "Now. Supplies".

Tortuga

Johnny followed Jack around to many different merchants' shops all around Tortuga. They ordered supplies and had them sent to the ship.

"Now, me favorite stop," smirked Jack as they came to a ramshackle building with a sign proclaiming, 'The Dancing Lass'.

"Isn't this a…" started Johnny and stopped talking when he noticed the beautiful women inside.

Jack called him over to the bar, "We be needing lots of rum".

He ordered several casks of rum to be delivered to the ship as Johnny flirted with a petite blonde. Jack Sparrow finished his bartering and grabbed Johnny's arm, "It's time ye be heading back to the ship lad".

Johnny grimaced, "But I was just…"

"They'll be plenty o' time for Tortuga later Turner. Back to the Pearl".

Johnny turned abruptly and stalked out of the bar as he saw his blonde sit herself in Jack's lap calling out, "Bye Johnny!"

He made his way back to the ship as night began to fall on Tortuga and the streets became rowdier. He pushed his way through the crowd to get to the docks. He had just clambered on board The Black Pearl when he saw a small form shimmy down the line and land on the dock. He cursed under his breath as he glimpsed long black hair before it was tucked up under a cap.

Margot finished putting her hair under the cap and checked that her curves were still bound. She smiled as she caught her reflection in a puddle, "I'm a passable lad".

She shoved her hands in her pockets and slouched, swaggering off into Tortuga. She headed for the street where she and her mum used to live, hoping to see a familiar face. She stepped over the bodies of drunk pirates and avoided dark alleys. She had just reached her old street when she ran staright into a smelly pirate. Her cap flew off and before she could grab it, the pirate grabbed her.

"Aren't ye a bonny lass," he slurred, his face inches from hers.

She scrunched her face in distaste as his foul breath washed over her, "Let go".

"Nae lass. I be craving ye and I be having ye," the pirate grinned a toothless grin and pushed her against the wall. He was much stronger than she anticipated and she tried to fight back but to no avail. He started pushing up her skirts with his one hand as she struggled.

Suddenly the pirate slumped against her, she shoved him off her, wiping the tears from her eyes and looked up to see…Johnny Sparrow.

Johnny held a broken bottle in his hand, the bottle he had used to bash the bastard's head to get him off of Margot. He saw the tears in her eyes and kicked the pirate before pulling her into his arms.

"What happened to the ferocious lady pirate?" soothed Johnny as she shivered uncontrollably.

Margot stiffened and pushed away from the comfort of his arms, "I had things under control".

"Yes, as you were just about to get raped. Completely under control," glared Johnny.

"John Sparrow. I can take care of myself. I don't need a shadow," muttered Margot as she shoved her hair back under her hat.

"Well your father seems to think you do. And for once I agree with him. Back to the ship, Margot".

"I don't take orders from lubbers, Turner," smirked Margot as she turned on her heel and headed back onto the street.

Johnny growled and grabbed her around the waist, picking her up and throwing her over his shoulder. She tried to kick him and hit him, but she just wore herself out.

"Damnit Johnny," she panted as he reached the docks.

Johnny smiled and shoved her on board the ship, jumping up after her.

The Black Pearl

Margot landed in a heap on the ship and Johnny picked her up again, carrying her into her cabin and dumping her on the bed.

Her hair had fallen out of her hat and she pushed it out of her eyes in time to see Johnny lock the door from the inside and place the key in his pocket, sitting in a chair at the table.

Margot glared as he smirked and pulled out a bottle of rum, pouring himself a glass.

"You sitting there all night then?" grumbled Margot.

"To keep you out of trouble? And save my neck? You better believe it," Johnny took a swig of rum.

Margot sighed and sat up in bed, "The least you can do is give me some rum".

Johnny laughed and handed her a bottle.

Two hours and countless bottles of rum later, Margot was feigning drunkenness while Johnny was experiencing it.

Johnny stared as two Margot's patted the bed beside them, "The bed is softer than that chair love".

He stumbled to the bed and plopped beside her. She grinned and pulled his face towards hers, slurring, "Ye be the most handsome pirate in the world".

"You think so?" Johnny grinned lopsidedly.

"Mmm. All the lassies will crave John Turner," replied Margot stroking his hair.

"And what about this lassie," murmured Johnny as he stared into her eyes.

Margot was taken aback at what she saw there and began to pull away, but quickly recalled her plan.

"I could be persuaded," she whispered as she closed the distance between their faces.

Johnny stared at her lips and groaned as she lightly brushed his lips with her own. Their kiss was tentative at first and then Margot ran her tongue against the seam of Johnny's lips. He opened his mouth, his tongue meeting hers and the kiss deepened. Margot ran her hands over his chest, and down to his stomach, reaching in his pocket and extracting the key.

She was about to pull away when Johnny's hand brushed the side of her breast and she gasped and sank into him. He smiled and kissed her again, his fingers deftly unbuttoning her shirt.

"Johnny wait," Margot grabbed his hands and stared into his face. A face that seemed almost sober.

"Those were some sobering kisses Margot," he murmured as he pushed her hands away and grabbed the strip of cloth that bound her breasts.

Margot moaned as he teased the sensitive spot on her neck with his tongue and teeth and then pushed him onto the bed, straddling him.

"Sorry Turner".

She gave him one last kiss and then hopped up, running to the door, unlocking it and locking it behind her.

Johnny rushed to the door and started pounding when he found it locked. When no one answered, he found a bowl of water and stuck his head in, cursing at the cold. When he had sobered up and cooled down he flung himself into a chair.

"You will rue the day Margot".

Outside, Margot hung the key above the door and fixed her shirt. She sauntered off, whistling, and rammed right into Groves.

"Bloody hell," she muttered.

"Where be John Turner, Margot?" asked Groves suspiciously.

"I'm not his keeper," snapped Margot, marching away from him.

Groves grabbed her arm and pulled her back to her cabin, finding the key and unlocking the door. He shook his head at Johnny who was slumped at the table. He shoved Margot into the room, and pulled Johnny out of it.

Before Groves shut and locked the door, Johnny shot Margot a fierce look, "Payback is hell".