"Well Jack," The woman leaned forward as her head tilted to the side. "The watch. Did it help?"
Jack brushed off his shoulder and took a long drink before replying. ". . . I suppose so. . . If you call it 'help'. . ."
He frowned.
"You nearly got me killed Tia."
"Won't be the first time ye nearly died, yes?" She remarked.
"So get over it," She muttered in a low voice holding out her hand. "and give me my watch back. . ."
Jack looked as if he was about to protest.
"NO! Not a word out of you, Sparrow! Me watch. . ." She narrowed her eyes threateningly. "I need it."
"Have it then. . ."
Jack sighed as she picked up the watch and dropped it into one of the many sashes wrapped around her waist. She reclined in the chair and began to smile again.
"Ye look sober Jack. . ."
"I'm working on it." He muttered in between gulps. He was no longer watching Tia Dalma but a vertical beam feet behind her. He had seen a flash of red.
After the bottle was empty he once again resumed speaking. Only now his words were slightly slurred and Tia Dalma was much happier then she had been before. She pulled out the watch and stroked it lovingly as Jack ranted on about what he had been through over the past four months.
". . . and do you know where they put me next?" He pointed first out into the distance in no particular direction then back to himself.
". . . In an. . . Asylum. . ." his eyebrows were raised as he stared at an empty bottle. "and no rum. . . At all. . ."
Tia Dalma chuckled. "I see."
"Well Jack Sparrow. Ye hardly look like a pirate anymore. . . So what will ye be doing now I wonder. . ." She questioned darkly, finding the idea amusing.
Jack rocked back in his chair surveying the crowded room for familiar faces. He found one and waved, causing the unfortunate soul to nearly faint in shock. The poor man believed that he had seen a ghost. Quite amused Jack turned to look at Tia Dalma.
"What I do best. . ." He muttered. "The beard will take awhile to grow back though. . . But I'm in no hurry. . ."
"Anyway. There are advantages to being presumed dead. . ."He said watching his old acquaintance blanch and run out of the tavern. Jack stood and meandered over to a table littered with discarded rum bottles.
Tia narrowed her eyes. "Indeed."
"Touchy subject Tia?" Jack remarked as he returned with another full bottle. He had only had just enough time to grab one before having to return to the table to see Tia Dalma's reaction to his jibe. Of course his efforts were in vain so he simply shrugged and sat down perfectly content with his new found rum. Tia Dalma had left.
I'm sorry this is so short. I will try to make the next one longer. I'm not sure if this is going anywhere so I may just remove my story from the site. Yes I know this chapter is horrible. . . But it's all that I've got right now. . . so. . .
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