Chapter 7: This always happens to me…

As the sunrise broke through the trees, Cleo stood herself up and stretched. She shook Jack a few times to try to wake him. Figuring it was useless, she began to shake Murtogg. He woke with a start and sat up quickly. She put her finger to his lips and asked him for his pistol. He willingly gave it to her and fell asleep again. Cleo crept silently through the forest, keeping a sharp eye out for any wandering settlers. She came across a small cabin in a clearing. She knew that her dress would give her away as a pirate if she was caught, but she took the risk anyway. In the cabin, she found a bit of food and took it while the occupants still slept. When Cleo returned to the group, she found all of them awake but one. Jack Sparrow was still curled up with the rum bottle from the night before in hand. She allowed another crew member to take what she had 'found' and took the bottle from Jack. She requested Murtogg put water in the bottle and return it to her. He did as she asked, fearing what she would do to him if he denied her. Gibbs laughed as she poured the water over Jack and he started to cough and sputter.

"What was that for?"

"I was waking you up, Jack." She replied.

He grumbled something under his breath, curses no doubt, and stood.

"Well, are we ready for the next leg of our journey?"

The men responded with a joyous shout. Cleo smiled and looked at Jack.

"Make sure all signs of our presence are gone. Once this chore is completed, we can forge ahead."

It took almost two hours to make sure everything was in order. Cleo and Gibbs had elected to go ahead to scout for them. Cleo wondered why Gibbs had tolerated her when she was aboard the Pearl before she had become captain of her own ship. She knew how superstitious he was, but he never made an odd remark about her being bad luck. Cleo made a mental note to ask him about it later. They came to the same road as Cleo had earlier that morning. Just as they got across the road, a team of horses thundered past. The pair took cover behind a few trees and watched the team ride off into the distance. A bit later, a single horse and rider came by, stopping just after passing their hiding place. Cleo still had Murtogg's pistol and put her hand on it in case she needed it in the near future. The man dismounted the horse and looked around. Cleo stepped forward, remembering who the man was. Gibbs tried to stop her, but reached for her a bit too late. She was to face off with the officer alone. The two started each other down for a moment before exchanging 'greetings.'

"Traitor…"

"Pirate…"

"Why don't you just get back on your pretty horse and go do whatever it is you do now?"

"My job be takin' pirates like yerself to the prison."

"Good luck catching me." She teased, walking over to pet his horse.

"Well, when ye be this close it ain't goin' ter be hard."

Cleo shook her head; Barbossa turned his back on her. She silently mounted his horse and took off on it; she stopped and allowed her companion to get on behind her.

"I be thankin' ye for the donation of this fine steed." She called, laughing.

Barbossa threw his hat on the ground angrily and swore vengeance upon her. Meanwhile, Cleo and Gibbs rode to a safe spot and dismounted. The two laughed together.

"I must say, Cleo, that was a good trick. What do you think will become of him?"

"Who cares?" she said laughing. "Now what do we do?"

"We wait for Jack and the others."

Wait they did. The two waited until about midday for them; when they didn't show Gibbs began to get anxious. Cleo sat down with him and kept a hand on him at all times.

"What if Barbossa had them arrested? We'll be next!"

"Joshamee, don't think the worst. Jack is good at getting out of tight spots."

Not long after Cleo finished her sentence, there was gunfire in the distance. Gibbs looked at her with an "I told you so" stare. She shrugged and mounted the stallion, helping him on behind her. Upon arriving at the scene, they were not pleased with what they saw. Pirates and Officers faced off against one another; the parties were equally matched. Gibbs dismounted the horse and gave Cleo an instruction. She hated to leave him behind, but did as he asked. She picked up Jack and sped off; she dropped him off a ways away and gave him the horse. She told him to just go look for the tree while she went back to the scene of the fight. Cleo returned just in time to see Barbossa aim his pistol at Gibbs. She was too late to take the shot for him, but it's never too late to return fire. She missed the first time, but her second shot caught him in the shoulder. Eventually, the battle ended with both sides retreating to nurse their wounds. Cleo took Gibbs back to the ship with the help of the uninjured crewmen. She threatened to keel haul them if they weren't careful with him. He was unconscious by the time they got him to her cabin and in her bed. Cleo carefully dug out the shot while he was out, tended and dressed the wound, and stayed by his side until he woke.

Once he had woken up and she had looked him over, Cleo allowed him to sit up and have something to eat and drink. It was in her nature to take care of the injured, but this particular man meant more to her than any other she had tended.

"When will I be allowed to walk the ship again?"

"When I'm sure you're fit for it. I'll not have you on deck when you're unfit to be there."

"Cleo, don't keep me from my duties for long."

"I'll keep you away from them as long as I see fit. Jack wouldn't want you to put your life in danger. The crew can manage without you for a while, Joshamee. I have faith in them. Now, get some rest." She said, kissing his forehead softly and making him lie back down.

Gibbs nodded and allowed her to cover him with the sheet. After a while, he fell asleep again. Cleo slumped in her chair and watched him sleep. His face was twisted into an unpleasant look and she wondered what caused it. She touched his cheek softly and went to answer the knock at the door.

"Reah! It is good to see you. How's my crew?"

"They be quite well, Miss Cleo. We was jus' wonderin' when ye'd be comin' back, ye see."

"I'm not going back to the ship any time soon, but I do want you to move 'er from 'er current position. I'll find you when it is time to leave here. Don't go anywhere near the settlement, though."

"Yes, Cap'n."

With that, Reah took his leave and left Cleo to watch Gibbs sleep.

After a few days, Gibbs was able to get up and move about, but he was still weak from the blood loss. Cleo accompanied him most places and stayed in the room with him. Gibbs often whispered in his sleep, but the mutterings were unintelligible half the time.

A few weeks passed and Gibbs was deemed able to go back on deck. He seemed to be thrilled, but secretly he wanted to stay with Cleo a bit longer. He left her cabin for a bit, then returned and entered silently while she was asleep. He curled up beside her and wrapped his arms around her small frame. She nestled into him and sighed happily. He laid there with her until she awoke in the late afternoon.

"Joshamee, what are you doing here? I thought you said you had work to do."

"I think the crew can manage without me for a bit longer. Haven't held you like this in a long time."

"It's true. I've not felt your touch in the longest time."

Gibbs smiled and held her. He felt strange, but it was a good kind of strange. His mind began to wander and a thought popped into his head, but he wouldn't say anything to anyone.

Why me? Why is it always me? He thought.