Chapter 5

"This, luv. This is Tortuga."

Zoe stood next to Jack, cowering into his side as she tried to sort through the commotion around them. There were women all around, hanging on men who were drunk, and drunk men chasing after scantily-clad women. Breaking glass and fist-fights, yelling and cat-calling all came flooding into her ears. Zoe flinched as a man fell off a balcony right in front of them, and Jack placed his hands on her shoulders, pulling her back.

"Give him space, darling." Jack muttered. Zoe looked up at her pirate companion with pleading eyes.

"Can we please go? I don't like it here." She asked, rubbing her hands together.

"Zoe, luv. You'll be fine. But before I go find some old friends, let's go get you some real clothes." Jack told her.

"What's wrong with the clothes I have on?" Zoe questioned.

"Trust me, you're going to want to move freely." Jack explained, tugging her towards a more quiet part of the town, where he escorted her into a small boutique-type shop. A large, dark-haired old woman stood behind the counter, and Jack smiled as he came in.

"Jade! How are you?" He asked, greeting the women loudly.

"I'm great, Jack. Who's your friend?" Jade inquired, motioning towards the women who was hiding halfway behind Jack, hands wrapped around his arm as she peered around him.

"I'm Zoe. Sorry about… hiding. I don't often go out." The blonde said, smiling at the shopkeeper.

"Don't worry, Zoe. I'd want to hide if I'd never been in this town before. Rough place this time of night." Jade assured her. "So what can I help you with?"

"Zoe here needs some proper clothes. Not this," Jack motioned up and down at her dress, getting an indignant look from Zoe, "frilly stuff."

"You've got it, Capt'n. Right in the back is the stuff that's gonna fit her." Jade told them.

Jack took Zoe's hand and led her to the back of the store.

"Aha! Perfect. You'll be a real sailor if I've ever seen one." Jack smiled, holding out a few articles of clothes to her. Zoe gave him a quizzical look, snatching the clothes from his grasp.

"I'll be back in a moment."

She marched behind the changing screen, and looked at the articles Jack had given her. There was a white long sleeve top, with billowing sleeves and a scooping neckline that came lower than Zoe would've liked. A pair of black trousers were under that, and Zoe looked at them curiously. She'd never been allowed to wear trousers when in Italy, and she had only worn one pair, when acting in a small play that the town shops put on. But those were loose and flowing. These were black, tight, and clung to every curve. Apprehensively, Zoe pulled them on, fastening the leather ties at the top. Thankfully, a deep purple waist sash was also included in the clothes, and it covered most of her bum that was outlined so much in the tight trousers. But the item on the bottom of the stack was the one that Zoe disliked the most. A black corset, made to go over her shirt. She wrapped it around herself, quickly lacing up the front. Immediately, she noticed how much it pushed up her bust, and she narrowed her eyes, playing with the neckline of the blouse to try and cover as much as possible. Finally, Zoe sighed, and huffed out a breath before walking out to face Jack.

"How do I look?" Zoe caught him by surprise, as he had been over looking at Jade's small collection of tricorn hats. Jack spun, nodding appreciatively.

"Fantastic! Now, you need shoes. Barefoot won't work well, I don't think." Jack kept his rambling up as he searched through wooden crates of clothes. "Ah, here we go. Perfect."

The pirate handed her a set of mid-thigh high black boots, the tops folded over as Jack's also were. Zoe slipped them on, appreciating the comfort they provided over her typical leather flats. "These are nice."

"Good. I'm glad you like all of it." Jack told her, motioning to the clothes. "Let's grab an assortment that way you have some."

An hour late found Jack and Zoe in a crowded pub, the loudness and constant crashing giving Zoe an immediate headache. Though Jack was looking for someone, and he seemed to know exactly where to look. Zoe was still cowering against him, while men continuously were getting close and winking suggestively at her. Every time someone got too close, Zoe hid against her friend's shoulder, and he always chuckled, reassuring her that no one would do her harm as long as she stayed near him. Zoe still didn't feel safe, and continued to shield herself behind Jack's larger frame. She was watching, disgusted, as a women led a man up a set of spiral stairs, the man tugging her dress down to try and reveal her breasts every chance he could. The women laughed all the way, but Zoe couldn't believe it. She shook her head just as Jack's voice cut through her reverie, and Zoe turned her head to look at him, though he wasn't talking to her.

"Hector Barbossa. It's been a long time." Jack's greeting caused Zoe to peep her head out from behind him and see the man he was talking to.

The man was the epiphany of scary pirate. A raggedy beard, with a wide-brim hat stuck on his head. His skin was weather-beaten and wrinkled, but his unnerving blue eyes stood out against the raggedness of his other features. He was probably in his late forties if Zoe had to guess, but he looked older due to the condition of his skin.

"Jack Sparrow. It had been a while." Hector answered. He drew his words out at the end like all of the Navy men always joked that pirates did, and Zoe couldn't help but giggle.

"And who's the lass today, boy?" Barbossa questioned, motioning towards Zoe's blonde mop of curls.

"Barbossa, this is Zoe Ricci. Zoe, this is Hector Barbossa. Pirate Lord of the Caspian Sea, and hopefully new crew member to the Black Pearl." Jack said.

Barbossa looked fairly shocked at the proposal at first, until a smile spread across his scruffy face. "You've got you a new ship, ay?"

Jack shifted his weight, Zoe coming forward to stand beside him rather than cowering behind him. "Unfortunately I was forced to acquire one. The Wench is at the bottom of the sea, I fear."

Taking in the information, Barbossa to turned to face Jack straight on. "And you want me to join your crew?"

"Aye." Jack confirmed, eyes flicking around and taking in all of the commotion that surrounded them. "And how's about this? Since I don't have another sailor here that I trust with my life, that I've known for longer than a year, you take the first mate position."

Barbossa's eyebrows rose, and he nodded appreciatively. "You have yourself a first mate, Jack."

Smiling, the two men shook hands. Zoe was a little wary of Barbossa, as he gave off an uncomfortable vibe that she didn't like. But who was she to question? She'd never met him before. Obviously Jack had, and she trusted Jack enough to smile, and release his arm from the death grip she had on it.

"You think you can get a crew together by morning?" Jack asked Barbossa, looking around the tavern at all of the drunken men.

"I think I might be able to get somethin' in order. Is the lass part of your crew too, or just your newest?" Hector asked blatantly, motioning up and down at Zoe's short frame.

"Excuse me?"

The words were out of her mouth before Zoe could even process them, and her eyes widened slightly. Jack even looked a bit shocked at her words, until a small smile broke out across his face. "That's my girl!" He said proudly, still surprised she spoke out against Barbossa, "And no, she's not my… newest." Jack swirled his hands around comically, and Barbossa narrowed his eyes in confusion. "She got me back on my feet after the Wench sunk. I told her I'd bring her out to sea after as payment."

"Ahhh, a deal with Jack Sparrow, ay?" Barbossa questioned, looking to the blonde hair girl who was beside Jack. "You haven't got any… government connections that are gonna get us caught, do ya, lass?"

Zoe glanced at Jack before speaking. "My mother died two weeks ago. She was a seamstress, and she was all I had. I have no one to miss me." Her words were spoke with a hardness and confidence that Jack had not heard from her before, and he nodded his head in approval.

"Well good. About no one missin' ya, I mean." Barbossa corrected himself before turning to Jack. "I'll find some men. There's got to be some on this rock somewhere."