Chapter One: By Chance
Loud men and the smell of liquor assailed his senses as he walked through the door to The Plank tavern. This would be the fourth tavern they walked into tonight. The fourth one in a very long series of fourth ones to Gibbs thinking.
"Jack don't you think that maybe we should call it a night." Gibbs said looking at the unsavory characters in the tavern. Oh how he missed his rum. That was his deal to the lady at the fountain, give up the drink. On nights like tonight though he wished he never made that deal.
Jack didn't answer him just kept looking at every woman that could be found in the tavern. He would even grab some by their shoulders to get their attention when they were occupied with other men. Some of the men were British soldiers that Gibbs knew would love to hang both he and Jack given the chance.
"Jackā¦" Gibbs trailed off when one of the soldiers gave Jack an odd look after Jack looked over the man's companion for the evening.
"Sorry mate. Tryin' to find someone." Jack said while walking off to look at another women.
Gibbs decided that he would sit down and wait for the trouble to start. It usually always did and he might as well save his energy. It wasn't long in coming either. A few moments later he heard a man shout from the other end of the tavern and Jack was sneaking his way back to the entrance. "Time to go" he said to Gibbs as they made it out into the night air.
Jack glanced around the town they were in. He had no idea where they were. All Jack knew was that he now had less than two months to finds his "mate" make her love him and sail back to the fountain. All the while cursing his luck. To make matters even worse he had spent a better part of the last nine months on dry land and longed for the open sea. Oh how he missed his Pearl.
On a positive note though, Jack knew that he left nothing unturned in his search for the woman and was nearing the last settlement before meeting up with the Pearl again. He had to be close and refused to think of what might happen if he didn't find her.
"Jack maybe we should head back to the Pearl and sail as far away from the fountain and this mess as we can." Gibbs said while opening a door to a nearby inn.
Jack stopped dead in his tracks and looked at Gibbs, "Mate if I thought I could run I would, however I don't think that will be workin' this time." Gibbs only nodded as they continued their way into the lobby of the Inn.
Jack walked into the small dinning area they had while Gibbs got them a room for the night. It was not an elegant place by far, but it was clean. There were not many people about and only a couple of women trying to sell their wares on some unsuspecting men. Jack sighed he wasn't even interested in a good romp anymore he was so consumed by his quest.
Gibbs knew that Jack was only half listening to him as he had been doing a lot more frequently lately. He doubted that Jack even knew he was sitting there. Finally Gibbs gave up all together when Jack spotted a pretty little blond thing in a blue dress. She was pretty but mighty young to Gibbs way of thinking and looked a little sickly around her eyes. The lady noticed Jack looking at her and made her way over to him.
Jack smiled when she stood next to the table with a very fake smile on her face. "You gentlemen look awfully lonely, maybe Gracie could fix that."
Gibbs said nothing but Jack slightly snapped at her, "Then again maybe not luv. You look awfully young and mighty weak for a man such as myself." Gibbs waited for it and then there it was, the resounding slap across his face as the lady stormed off.
"May have deserved that." Jack mumbled and it made Gibbs smile a little to himself to see the old Jack for a second. The moment was short lived though when there was a clatter across the room. It appeared that Gracie was angry enough to knock over a women carrying a load of dishes and several of said dishes breaking all over the floor.
"Watch it wench!" Gracie yelled as she continued on her way out.
"That's comin' out your wages Addy!" A man yelled from somewhere. The poor thing closed her eyes for a moment and then opened them to start cleaning up. She glanced in their general direction and he heard Jack gasp.
"Captain." Gibbs said looking at him. There was no response, he just got up and made his way over to the girl and proceeded to help her clean up. Gibbs saw her give Jack a teary eyed thank you before she disappeared to a back room.
"That be her Gibbs!" Jack said triumphantly as he sat back down.
"Be she now." Gibbs replied truly happy taking a sip of what now was water.
