"Not All Treasure is Silver and Gold"

Chapter 12

Dani remained in a good mood for the rest of the week. Jack, however, promised himself that there wouldn't be any more treasure hunting or danger until after the baby was born.

H didn't want anything to happen to Dani or the baby and he had a horrible feeling that if they went out, something would inevitably happen.

It was going to be a long trip back to Tortuga. They had sailed southwest towards Panama and were now following the coastline of South America.

Jack knew it would be easier to just sail straight to Port Royal, but he also knew that the men really needed a visit to Tortuga.

And there was also something nagging Jack's mind. He thought it was just nervousness over the forthcoming child, or maybe it was just indigestion, he hadn't the faintest idea. But he thought about it and what he was feeling was different than either of those two things. And doing something else new, he decided to talk to Danielle about it.

He found her in the galley, attempting to cook.

"Hello, love," he said, sitting down at the very long table in his usual spot and propping his feet up.

"Hello, Jack," she said, smiling at him.

"Can I ask your opinion on something?"

"Are you sick?" she asked, turning from the large kettle quickly to look at him.

"What?"

"Jack Sparrow does not as for the opinions of others."

"Well, I am trying something new today."

"Okay…" she said rather apprehensively. She was curious to find out what this was about.

"I've been feeling something odd lately. I think back to that night…"

"What night?"

"That night," he answered her, not elaborating any further. "I can't seem to get it out of my head."

"I think, Jack Sparrow, that you are developing a conscience."

"Bugger," he said. "Do I need a doctor for that?"

"No, Jack," Dani laughed. "A conscience isn't an illness, it tells you right from wrong."

"I don't need or want one of those…what is it?"

"A conscience," she repeated. "It's a little voice in your head to help you."

"I do not need voices in my head. There are enough voices outside of it. How do I get rid of it?"

"That's the problem with a conscience; you can't get away from it."

"Do you have one?"

"I suppose," she thought out loud. "But I usually ignore it."

"So I suppose that the voice is telling me that I was wrong to kill that bastard?"

"Well, if it eases your mind, I would have done the same thing. And I am extremely grateful that you did it."

"Does your voice ever tell you that you're wrong?" Jack asked, mesmerized with how smart she sounded right then.

She nodded, and then added, "Especially when I'm around you."

"Good. I am totally wrong for you."

"So wrong that it has become a right," she answered before she kissed him.

"Captain!" A voice called, interrupting their conversation yet again.

"That's me!" he shouted back at the voice and chuckling to himself. "What?" he called back to the person who obviously didn't get the joke.

"Should we prepare to make port at Curacao?"

"Yes!" Jack shouted once again. He was irritated that his crewmember didn't just walk his ass down the stairs.

"Good, since you're stopping, buy me some bread."

"Bread?" Jack asked.

"Yes. That stuff you bake with flour, salt and yeast."

"I know what bread is, Danielle. Why do you want it?"

"Would you believe to eat?"

"I am not going to say what I want to say right now because I am just going to get smacked. I will bring you bread. Do you mind if I go back on deck?"

"By all means, go captain the ship. It is sort of an important job."

"Sort of," Jack smiled back and kissed her on the cheek.

He walked up to the deck and shouted loud enough for Dani to hear him below. "Do not let me forget the bread!" He then commenced shouting the rest of his orders to the men.

Danielle stayed on the ship with a couple crewmembers and Felix, their newest cabin boy. He was cleaning windows as she walked up to him. She then started an argument over who would finish said windows.

"Ms. Danielle, please, Captain Sparrow will be so angry if he finds out you helped me."

"How old are you?"

"Thirteen."

"Thirteen year old boys should have some responsibilities and some fun. I know how to handle my husband."

"My mother did tell me to continue to practice my reading."

"Where are you from?"

"Tortuga."

"Well, go practice your reading before the rest of the crew gets back. That way, when you see your mother in a couple of days, you can impress her with your improvement."

"Really?" The boy's face brightened.

"Of course. Do you honestly believe I'm going to keep you from your family?"

"Thank you, Ms. Danielle."

The boy ran off to the crew's quarters and Danielle finished the few windows that the boy left. It wasn't much of a help to him at all. She would have to talk to Jack about his duties later. She wasn't going to tell Jack that she was cleaning. She knew he didn't even like her doing the cooking. But that might be because she was a terrible cook.

Jack and the crew returned to the ship later that evening. He and various other crewmembers returned with armfuls of bread; all shapes and sizes, all different flavors, more than she would ever be able to eat.

But she definitely tried to eat it. She stuffed her face for half an hour, craving it more now that it was under her nose.

The men watched her eat. Some even made references to the kraken under their breath and some just laughed. She stopped suddenly when she realized she was being watched.

Dani smiled and stood from the table. Jack took her arm and escorted her to their cabin. Tortuga was only two days away and they'd be in Port Royal in two weeks. They were sailing into familiarity.

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A/N: Please review. I had a good time writing this chapter and I hope everyone has a great time reading it. Please let me know!