A/N: Sorry for not updating for almost a week! Sorry, sorry, sorry! This whole week has been too stressful and I haven't been getting enough sleep. So please don't be too disappointed. You haven't completely forgotten about me have you? Review, please!

Disclaimer

Chapter 13: Apologies

You could say I was disappointed. I had purposefully put them next together in hopes that they will eventually get along. But not far into the meal…Such childish behavior! It wasn't surprising coming from Jack, but I had thought better of Norrington.

I had excused myself from dinner, with not a bite in my hollow stomach.

There was a sudden knock on the wooden door and I called out, "Who is it?"

"Just dear Jack, love."

"Go away. I'm not in the mood, Jack."

"Please, Is. Open up."

"No." My voice was firm this time.

There was a window in the cabin that looked out onto the deck. Jack's face soon popped up and his face filled the window frame.

"Come now, love. I'm a persistent man, and I get what I want. Open the door."

I walked over to the window and pulled down the shades, covering the window.

"And I'm a patient woman, and I get what I want."

This cabin surely wasn't a fancy inn, for the walls did not absorb the sound. I could clearly hear Jack pleading on and on from the outside.

I heard a thump against the door. "If ye won't open, then I'll sit here for a while, aye? And I'm sure ye can still hear me."

I walked over to the door and sat down, leaning against it. In my head, I could see Jack leaning on my door from the other side. I could feel the door strain as it supported the pressure he put on the door while he sat.

"I really didn't mean to, ye know. Just…it's just a sudden reaction that I couldn't help. That man hates my guts, I'll let you know. I only dislike him 'cause he dislikes me. Sorry for ruining your dinner." His voice faded and sounded drowsy. "Didn't mean to, didn't mean to, didn't mean to…"

I waited until all was silent on the other side of the door.

I slowly opened it and found Jack leaning against the door with his eyes closed. In the middle of the ocean, nights can get pretty cold. I pulled him in, and may I say that Jack was a deep sleeper. It took a lot of strength to set him on the bed. I stepped back and saw that there was no space left for myself and decided to sleep on the ground.

- - -

Norrington dared not knock upon her door after what had happened. What had come over him? Stranded on a ship with Jack Sparrow made him like this. Desperately yearning for Isabel made him this way.

He sat alone in the dining hall, staring at nothing in particular. Jack and David left shortly after Isabel had, and the rest of the crew cleaned out the tables.

His face was buried in this hands and he groaned. He hated himself.

- - -

The next morning, Jack woke up to find himself not against the door on the deck, but on a bed. He turned around, trying to recognize where he was. His eyes stopped searching and came to a halt when he saw Isabel crouched in the corner, sleeping. Seeing that she gave up her bed for him made Jack feel guilty. He crept to the corner where she slept when she suddenly opened her eyes.

"I'm not a light sleeper like you, Jack Sparrow."

"Eh? Am I right to assume that ye have forgiven me by letting me stay here last night?"

I tried to keep a straight face. But one cannot stay mad at Jack forever. I covered my mouth and let out a muffled laugh. "For now," I said.

My laughter was short-lived and ceased when I opened the door and found James in front of me. "What business could you possibly want with me, Commodore?"

My harsh words seem to cut into his flesh, making deep wounds. He flinched at my choice of words.

"I want to…"

I looked at him with disinterest and said, "Get on with it, I haven't all day."

I was personally shocked at how bitter my words were. Never have I spoken to anyone in this manner. Looking at Norrington made me feel as if my soft, gracious self had hardened and was replaced with a raging animal. I glared at him and tapped my foot. I was getting impatient and it was obvious.

"I want to apologize for what happened last night and wanted to know if I could say, make it up to you?" His speech came out rapidly and his hands trembled.

Jack sat on the bed behind me and with his legs crossed, and watched as my little episode with Norrington unfolded. Apparently, he found it quite amusing.

Before James could continue, I cut him short. "Save it, Commodore." My emphasis on the word made him draw back, as if I had flogged him with a whip. I pushed past him and left the room.

Jack followed suite and waved at Norrington with the tips of his fingers and said victoriously, "Have a good day, Norry, aye?"

- - -

A/N: Sorry if it's too short. Reviews, please. And I've already slapped myself for not updating this whole week.