Disclaimer: I do not own anything of Disney's.
A/N: I'm glad to be back! I've missed you all as well as these delightful characters! Let's get on to the story, shall we?
Lightning flashed again, showing the whites of his teeth as he clenched them. "First of all, I want my effects back. Second of all, what am I doing here, and thirdly…who the hell are you?"
"Wh-wh-what?" she stammered, blinking multiple times. Was her mind playing tricks on her? Did he say what she thought he said?
"Who the hell are ye and what am I doing here?" he demanded, pushing the barrel of the pistol into her abdomen.
"Very funny, Jack," she laughed nervously, "Stop playing games. I know you were traumatized by the accident but come on, really now…"
"Does it look like I'm toying around wit' you, Miss…?"
"Blake," Belle whispered, "Belle Blake." Her arms dropped to her sides and she felt lightheaded. No. It couldn't be. He didn't remember her? Not at all?
"Well Miss Blake…I suggest you gather up my effects for me at once or I will be willing to take drastic measures, savvy?"
"Do you know who you are?" she asked him softly.
"The infamous Jack Sparrow of course…Captain Jack Sparrow if you please. This is amazin'…it's nice to be off o' that bloody island and stuck in a room with a saucy hellcat…" he murmured thoughtfully, beginning to pace in that mindless swagger of his, "How did I end up here?"
"What's the last thing you remember?" she pressed.
Jack grew quiet. His brow furrowed as he recalled, "Being marooned on an island with a single shot by me mutinous first mate, Barbossa." A torrent of fresh emotions sprang across his face and quickly vanished under that cool exterior of his, "You can help me forget about the whole ordeal tonight, luv." He slid a finger down the front of her bodice and she caught his hand in a vice-like grip.
"Jack…" she began.
"Captain Jack," he corrected with a shake of his finger, "Naughty naughty."
"…a lot has happened since you've been marooned…"
"Well, this is wonderful!" he cried gleefully, sweeping across the room with wild steps, "She's back! All of her! I thought that bastard would sail away wit' her for good…"
"Jack…"
"Are you alright, my darling?" he crooned, stroking the wooden wall of the Pearl, "That son of a bitch won't be bothering ye anymore. Mark my words."
"He won't," Belle whispered, "He's dead."
Jack raised his eyebrows. "What? And I suppose you're the one that killed him?" She cringed at the mockery lacing his voice.
"A lot has happened since you've been marooned, like I've been saying all along!" she said in exasperation, "You killed Barbossa and got the Pearl back. It's been years, Jack. You've been Captain and have remained Captain for a while now." She paused, hoping to see a flicker of recognition but received none. She continued, "You met me a while ago in Port Royal and we're looking for my father's ship. And…" she flushed, "We recently became, erm, lovers…"
"…I see." Sparrow's eyes roamed predatorily over her body many times. He licked his lips before saying, "I think you're makin' this cock n' bull story up."
"Why!" Belle cried in indignation.
"Because ye look like a good lay. And Jack Sparrow never forgets a good lay, savvy?"
Belle just stared at him. A terrorizing thought suddenly swept through her mind: What if this was permanent? She'd have to start over with him again, rebuilding all that had been knocked down in terms of their familiarity, their trust...
"But I'm flattered that you'd make all o' this up just to have a little dirty roll in the hay wit' me, honestly. And ol' Jack would like to repay ye for your kindness," he commented with a suggestive wink. He took a step closer to her and she took a hesitant step back.
Holy Jesus, it was like de ja vu. She was back in Norrington's bedroom all over again, trying to ward off a rather horny pirate with weak defenses. Oh, how much had changed over the past months that had slipped through their fingers. It was a circle. She had ended up where she started.
"No Jack…you're sick…" she croaked, realizing he was backing her against a wall. He took one hand and slid it along the line of her jaw, touching her gently. Belle felt the familiar fire begin to kindle in her belly as her reasoning fought for control. It would be like making love to a stranger…
"How did ye get on me ship in the first place, darling?" he crooned, placing a lingering, 'innocent' little kiss to her cheek.
"You let me aboard," she said shakily, "Stop fondling me, please."
"I think if I let you aboard, I'd remember," he said in a low voice, blowing cool air against her nape before kissing the skin located there.
"Jack, you were hit in the head by a part of the mast during the storm which, might I point out, is still going on full force above deck. You dislocated your shoulder and you were unconscious. You woke up not knowing what has happened since you were marooned!" Suddenly, she was blinking back tears. "You have no idea who I am and I love you…"
The invincible Jack Sparrow sucked in a breath. It wasn't every day he had a beautiful young woman confessing her love for him to his face. And he didn't even know who the hell she was or where she came from! She might as well have dropped onto his bed from the bloody sky! He usually didn't receive words like this…usually, there were no words involved at all. Slaps or a quick rendezvous were all he got.
"I'm sorry…" she laughed bitterly, wiping away her tears furiously, "That wasn't something to tell someone who has amnesia."
The awkward air of silence was killing him. "I suppose not," he stated at last, eyeing her carefully.
"Well," Belle hastily wiped her tear-stained hands on the front of her breeches, "What's done is done. Now what we have to worry about is how you're going to be fit as captain in your condition…"
"I'm in great condition!" he argued, throwing up his hands in frustration.
"You are walking around, disoriented, in naught but your shirt. I would say that's a fine sign of not being fit for captaining a ship."
Jack retorted, "I remember lots of things…"
"…yet you do not remember me, Belle Blake, who got you wrapped up in this adventure in the first place." She placed her hands on her hips and waited for an answer. She didn't receive one as she watched Jack seethe silently, crossing his arms and glaring in her direction.
"Am I right?"
"I suppose," he huffed.
"Fine. First of all, put some damn pants on. Second of all, we need to figure out who you want in charge for the time being. Savvy?" She threw some trousers at him.
Jack caught them gracefully and began to pull them on. "Savvy. I'm sorry to disappoint you by removing me most agreeable assets from your eyesight…"
She smirked at him. "You think that was agreeable?"
He winced. "Ouch, luv. That stung. A direct blow to me dignity, that was."
"I was only kidding. Now, who's in charge? We have Anamaria, Gibbs…"
"You."
Speechless, she turned to him, blinking. "You can't be serious."
Jack Sparrow casually sat on the galley table and inspected her with a thoughtful glance. He looked odd without his usual kohl, which had been previously washed off in the torrents of rain. "Think about it, Miss Blake. You and I supposedly have a special pact to find your father's ship, aye?"
"Aye," she agreed uncertainly.
"You must know more information about it than the others, am I correct again?"
"Yes." She was beginning to feel faint, "But Jack, I couldn't possibly…"
"Gibbs and Anamaria, of course, can help navigate. I trust them with me Pearl as I trust you with this certain adventure of ours. Therefore, I'm leaving the act of giving orders up to you."
"Me?" Belle squeaked.
"Congratulations, Miss Blake," Jack replied with a mocking grin, "If you think I'm not fit for Captain for the time being, then you are takin' me place."
Holy molys! What is Belle going to do? Whose ship is docked at Ridgeway Cove? How is the crew going to respond to Jack's condition and to Belle's temporary position as Captain of the Black Pearl? Answers will come in due time, mates. Please review!
