Chapter Four. Mostly an intermitant chapter setting Anamaria up once more as Jack's wall. Also setting up circumstances for chapter 6.
Jack's Outing
Anamaria was highly concerned.
It had been over six months, and the captain still hadn't set foot on shore. He made excuses to the crew, of course. He wanted to guard some treasure or another, wanted to make sure the ship got loaded properly, repaired right, be certain that no dirty rotten pirate stole it. The crew seemed to be buying it thus far, but it wasn't going to last much longer. They were already starting to ask questions. It wouldn't be long before they started wanting answers.
"Cap'n, this is gettin' out o' hand." She watched him closely, trying to determine whether or not the empty rum bottle in his hand was about to be sent on its way to a close encounter with her head. "Ye can't stew in here forever."
"An' why not?" He looked at her with one squinted eye. "With such lavish apartments as these, why would I ever want to leave?"
Anamaria gave him a look. She could barely tiptoe her way around all the empty bottles and random pieces of clothing thrown everywhere. It was worse than the inns at Tortuga. Jack winced.
"A little while longer, all right? Next time we make port. How 'bout that?"
"You said that last time. And the time before that. It's time for you to be leavin' the ship." She crossed her arms over her chest.
"All right. Why don't you go on ahead, and I'll… tidy up a little, how bout that? I'll make a path to the door!" He grinned hopefully, kicking a bottle out of the way almost bashfully.
"Cap'n, your going to leave, one way or t' other. The only choice you have is whether you walk out o' here, or whether I carry you." To illustrate exactly what she meant, Anamaria cracked her knuckes.
Normally, having a woman crack her knuckles at him wouldn't be the most intimidating thing Jack had ever seen. This was, however, Anamaria. Anamaria was not one you messed with.
Jack sighed and picked his way to the door. Smiling in satisfaction, she took a hold of his arm and helped him up the stairs, more to make sure he didn't run off than to keep him from falling.
"You know, Anamaria, I would have done this on my own eventually." Jack squinted in the bright morning light, randomly groping about for his hat.
"I know, Cap'n. She smiled, plunking said hat down upon his head. Not even she really knew from whence she had gotten it.
"I mean, I got over him the first time. Well, not him, but… You know. And they always say the first times the hardest."
"Yes, Cap'n." She helped him over a coil of rope, almost without realizing it herself.
It was just what she did.