Hey all! Sorry this has taken so long to get out. I've been working like mad on my other story Just Breathe and now have a Warcraft story starting up. So many stories and so little time! ARGH!

Chapter 3: Bloody Pirates

"Yo ho. Yo ho. A pirate's life for me."

It wasn't to many weeks before James started despising his bed rest. He didn't like being considered an invalid much less actually being one.

When Alex caught him trying to walk, things started going downhill between the two.

It got to the point were either Doc, Alex, or Crow would be sitting in with him to make sure he didn't push himself. While Doc and Alex were tougher on the subject Crow at least could be talked into letting him up a bit.

The lanky black teen was hard to understand though. So James took it upon himself to try and improve the boy's English.

It alleviated the boredom some at least.

James of course had a rather different approach to it then Doc or Alex did. Where as Doc assumed Crow was confused and Alex thought the teen was a little slow, James knew better. The boy just needed some discipline and drilling.

Slowly Crow's speaking improved, and the teen's story came out.

Crow had been on a slave on the auction block when he met Alex. She managed to win the bidding on him and several of the more sickly and damaged slaves who most people didn't want. Crow didn't know where Alex got the money but afterwards she'd brought them to a little island community where they were treated for any illnesses and injuries they had by Doc and others. All the while the slaves had been expecting to be ordered to work, instead Alex had given them an offer. They could go on their own way or they could stay. Some had stayed and some had gone their own way.

Crow himself had stayed.

When James asked about the other's on the ship Crow admitted that he didn't know much. He knew Doc had been with Alex since she was small. Zhong had been first mate for as long as Crow knew. Some of the crew had been saved from trouble by Alex much like him. Other crew were folks who had signed on looking for decent paying work and had simply stayed.

Even without the talking James could tell Crow was completely devoted to Alex. Something rather akin to hero worship glowed in his eyes whenever he said her name.

"So, what exactly do you all do on this ship? Is Alex a merchant?" James asked one day.

"Marchan?" Crow said looking confused.

"Merchant." James corrected him. "Now say that ten times."

Crow sighed having gotten use to this from his near three weeks of keeping an eye on James and parroted the correct pronunciation ten times, although it took him five times to get it right in the first place.

"Very good." James said with a nod. "A merchant is a ship that takes goods from one port to the other so they can sell them."

Crow's nose scrunched up telling James that he was thinking hard. "We's kinda merchants."

James opened his mouth to correct the teen when there was suddenly a great amount of activity above. He looked up curiously as he heard someone bellow for all hands on deck.

"Oi! I's a get!" Crow said jumping up looking excited. "We's cot tem!"

James sighed as the boy took off running out the door. While his english was getting close to decent when all was calm, it was shredded in five seconds when Crow got excited or emotional.

However, with Crow off doing whatever he was needed to do, there was no one to scold James taking a small walk.

The hard thing about standing again was getting use to the motion of a ship all over again. James fell over twice but then his legs had gotten use to his weight again. He took a couple careful steps while holding onto things till he was sure he'd gotten the hang of it all over again. His wound stung from the exercise but he ignored it.

Stepping outside James was greeted by a somewhat familiar sight. Sails, ropes, wood, and racing men. Whatever was going on had the men busy enough not to look twice at him standing just outside the captain's quarters.

It was the ship herself that surprised James. He'd assumed it would be a moderately run down commercial ship like most pirate's had. This one however, was a naval frigate that someone had spared no expense on. The cotton sails and copper plating told him that. He had never heard of any military ships being used by anyone but the Royal Navy though.

"How in the..." James muttered as he leaned over the side and looked down. There had to be at least fifty cannons on the ship and it was moving faster then James would've thought possible for a warship. "Where did they get a warship?"

Another shout rang out and James spotted Crow dragging a long box up from below decks. There was a couple others with him dragging other boxes. The lot then opened up the boxes and started handing out rifles, grappling hooks, and cutlasses. Looking further out he could see another ship that they were closing in on fast.

There was a suspicious and rather unpleasant thought rolling around in his head.

"Mr. Norrin! What are you doing out here?"

Alex glared at James making him think of some angel about to deliver divine retribution. She had her hands on her hips and he could see a knife sticking out of her sash. Other then that she didn't appear to be armed.

James was about to say something when Alex grabbed his arm. "Zhong take over!" She barked as she pulled him back into her quarters.

Once in she glared at James giving him the oddest feeling she was looking down her nose at him. Which was quite a feet considering she had to tilt her head back a bit to look him in the eye.

"I swear to God if you do not stay in bed..."

"Your a bunch of pirates."

Alex was a bit taken aback by the sudden icy statement. "Yes, so?"

"So?" James repeated. "I got saved by a bunch of filthy, thieving, bunch of..."

Alex eyes narrowed dangerously. "Watch your mouth Mr. Norrin. That filthy thieving bunch of pirates are lead by me. I can quit easily reverse your recovery."

James simply glared down at her he wasn't sure what he had been about to say but he didn't get a chance as someone pounded on the door.

"Coming Zhong." Alex yelled. "We'll discuss your attitude problem later." She hissed.

"Attitude problem?" James said as Alex slammed the door on her way out.

It wasn't the first time in her life Alex wished she'd known how to handle a sword. She'd have been happy knowing how to shoot something too. As it was her pride kept her from asking one of the men and Doc simply did not know how to do either one. Still she would've happily shaved her head to be able to hold her own in a fight. It might have taken the edge off her anger.

Sadly though she stayed on her ship as Zhong and others boarded the Trade Company ship they'd come across. She was a master at navigation, negotiation, and organization. Fighting however she lacked at severely.

When the battle was over and the ship relieved of it's cargo they let the other crew and ship go. Alex knew most people of the Trading Company weren't much different then her little band. They just had fallen into a bad crowd. She was just to soft hearted to go leaving them in the middle of the ocean with no supplies and no way to land.

She supposed she was lucky to have command of her ship. Then again she made it a point to be sure none of the crew had reason to complain. They got fed, they got time to play when they were in port, they got paid handsomely, and in some cases their families benefited. Putting up with the oddities of their captain was easy enough with all those good points.

The only unhappy person on her ship was sitting in her quarters.

The thought of James made her grip rough as she helped Doc with some of the injured. The man under her hands yelped painfully and she cringed before apologizing and soothing him.

Doc had noticed Alex's preoccupation. He'd also spotting James on the deck earlier and seen Alex haul him back to her cabin. He could only guess what had happened between the pair in the scant couple of minutes she'd been in there but she'd looked furious when she'd come out. Her irish temper was up and Doc knew that while easily prodded it took a bit for it to cool as well as actually discussing the problem.

"So I saw our guest up on deck during the preparations." He stated smoothly.

Alex gave an unladylike grunt and seem to concentrate harder on holding the skin together as Doc stitched, even though he was far enough along that she could've let go.

"Nice man Mr. Norrin. Seems like a real gentleman." Doc continued as he finished up.

Alex snorted and muttered something that earned her an open hand to the back of her head.

"We'll have none of that young lady." Doc said sternly, shaking a finger at her. "Bad enough you look like a pirate. I'm not having you start swearing like a sailor now too."

"You know I could make you walk the plank for that." Alex grumbled rubbing her head.

"I'll be sure to tell your parents hello when I reach the pearly gates." Doc stated as he gathered up his things on a tray and moved to tend to the next man. He knew full well she'd never do such a thing to anyone. "Why don't you take some bandages and ointment and go check on Mr. Norrin. I'm sure he's at the very least sore after his exercise. Plus you can discuss whatever it is causing you to try and injure these poor men worse."

"I'm sure I should..."

"Quit your procrastinating Alex. I can finish up here. No get!" Doc said as he shoved the needed materials into her hands while practically pushing her out the door. He knew if he didn't push her she'd never do it.

Alex scowled. It wasn't often that Doc managed to reverse their roles but she allowed it since she knew he was right. She was putting the impending argument off. She wasn't sure why but she truly dreaded it.

There had been people before who she'd saved in one way or another who'd been shocked to find out she was a pirate, a pirate captain no less. Some men had even tried to cause a mutiny, most failed and were dumped at the next available port.

There was simply something that unnerved her about that irritating man in her quarters. He had this air of superiority about him that grated but at the same time stated that he could do anything. She wasn't sure if she admired that quality or despised him for it. It simply made her want to rub him the wrong way till he lost that aggravating polite calm of his.

Alex found herself staring at the door to her quarters. With a sigh she raised her hand to knock.

When Alex had slammed the door in his face James came close to chasing after her to teach her some manners. He doubted the crew would've permitted him to go around spanking their captain though.

So he brooded.

He didn't think he had an "attitude problem" as Alex had put it. His manner regarding pirates was the same as any other normal person's would be. Pirates were rogues that were not to be trusted and should be hanged at every opportunity.

Then again, Elizabeth had become a pirate...

James laid down on the bed with a groan. When had life become so blasted complicated?

He didn't realize he'd fallen asleep till he heard someone knock on the door and saw Alex come in with bundle of bandages, some ointment, and a bowl of water.

James could feel the anger pouring off her. He half expected with all the insanity going on for her to simply stab him with her knife or something.

"Sit up and take off your shirt." She stated flatly as she set her things down. "With your sudden bout of exercise Doc needs me to check you."

"Excuse me?" James said in a disapproving tone. "I will not remove my shirt with a lady present."

"Oh, you need me to step out of the room so then you can take the shirt off?" Alex hissed in annoyance.

James lips flattened to a thin line. "I'll wait for Doctor Bradford."

"Doc still had 5 men to tend to. It's getting late and he's going to be exhausted when he's done. Quit stalling and take off the shirt." Alex growled. "You act like I haven't seen you without one before."

"If I had been conscious you never would have. I..."

"You have nothing I haven't seen before and honestly you are not impressive." Alex snapped. It was a little white lie to her mind, he did have an impressive chest but she failed to see any reason to inform him of that. It would only cause his ego to grow she was sure.

James glared at her. "I don't thinks it's possible for a more improper lady to exist."

"Well good thing I'm neither proper nor a lady." Alex sneered as she grabbed the edge of his shirt and yanked on it. "Either take off the shirt or I'll cut it off you and you can spend the rest of the voyage without one."

While those who knew Alex better would've called her bluff James did not. He manage to keep from muttering highly improper and impolite things about her under his breath as he started unbuttoning his shirt, but just barely.

"The rest of the voyage?" He asked finally pulled the shirt off, cringing a bit from the pain in his side.

His question pulled Alex's mind away from his chest and onto the business at hand as she made it a point to stare at his bandages and no where else. She could only pray he didn't see her face turning pink though. "You have a dislike of pirates. Logically you don't want to be on this ship but I doubt you really want us to dump you back in the ocean. We're near St. Augustine. It's a..."

"Spanish port. I know of it." James stated staring at the ceiling and doing his best not to think about the fact that he was shirtless in front of a woman he wasn't married to. A woman with surprising soft hands.

Who's an irritating and shameless little wild child of a pirate. He reminded himself.

"We will be there in a couple weeks. You can disembark then." She said in a heated tone as she grabbed the water bowl. While still mostly intact he was bleeding just a bit. "Then you can forget all about us horrible people and be on your merry way." She sneered bitterly.

"I didn't say you were horrible people." James stated.

This earned him a glare and James saw in those eyes that he had not just made Alex angry, he'd hurt her.

"You called us filthy, thieving, pirates." She challenged.

"I didn't call you horrible."

Alex opened her mouth but found she couldn't argue with that.

James frowned and let Alex finish tending him in silence. Neither spoke till she gathered everything up while he buttoned his shirt back up.

"One thing. I must request that you stay in this cabin." Alex said from the door.

James frowned. "I'm sure I can sleep somewhere..."

"If you do go sleep somewhere else my crew might decide to knife you in your sleep. They're a bit overprotective of me at times." Alex interrupted in a matter of fact tone.

James nodded but then frowned. "May I ask a question?"

Alex simply stood and waited.

"Where did you get a naval frigate?"

Alex snorted and a smile twisted on her face. As if she was sneering at some cosmic joke. "It was the last ship my father was commissioned to build. He use to make warships for England. Until the East Indian Trading Company bullied it's way into it."

"What does he think of his daughter being a pirate?" James asked.

"I don't know. He's been dead for ten years now thanks to the Trading Company."

With that Alex turned and left the room closing the door behind her.

James found himself staring at the door with a frown pondering if maybe there wasn't a reason Alex was a pirate.