Chapter 8: The Sunrise Reflected

Cleo stood on the bow of the Black Pearl, looking out onto the shore. She wondered where jack was and if he was okay. She knew he had probably gotten rid of the horse ages ago, but that didn't matter much to her. Jack never did seem like one to have too much use for a horse. Members of the crew came by occasionally and spoke to her before carrying on with their duties. There wasn't really much to do since they had been there for quite some time. Gibbs brought her a dress around midday and motioned for her to follow him. Once they were safely inside her cabin, he explained himself.

"We're low on supplies and two of us are going into town to get some. We'll be disguised as settlers, of course…"

"I suppose you should help me get laced up in this dress then, aye? We've got work to do before you're ready to go anywhere near that town."

"I'll make you a deal. I help you get into the dress now, but later I get to take it off you. What do ye say? Do we have an accord?"

"I do like the sound of that. We have an accord, Mr. Gibbs."

And so it was that the two disguised themselves as settlers and made their way into town. No one thought it odd that two new people appeared overnight. Or, at least, they didn't seem to question the presence of the newcomers. Gibbs and Cleo picked up the things the crew needed and headed back to the ship. They kept their disguises on until the ship was loaded and they were below decks.

"Gibbs, you look a sight. It's so different seeing you cleaned up like this. I don't think I like it…"

"I know the feelin', Miss Cleo…" he replied, running a hand across her face and down her chest. He loved the way her soft skin felt under his worn hands. Gibbs began to slowly unlace the dress, wanting to take in every bit of her he exposed. It was like a drug.

Cleo watched him, wondering what was going through his head at that moment.

"Joshamee, I…"

She began, but was cut off by a finger at her lips. Cleo shrugged and kept silent for him. He was the only one she would allow to silence her. She looked at his face, which had been scrubbed clean for the journey into town. It wasn't a look she preferred. The gentle whisper of fabric falling to the floor seemed to echo in the room. Gibbs ran his fingers over every reachable inch of his companion, wondering how such a precious thing had fallen into the hands of a pirate. He was jerked out of his reverie when he felt Cleo's feather-like touch. The tiny vixen had started trying to remove his clothes. The innocent look she wore on her face made him chuckle softly and take her face in his hands. Cleo met his gaze, but kept removing the offending clothing from his body. Gibbs backed Cleo into a wall and pressed himself against her.

They were interrupted by a muffled voice outside the door asking for Gibbs. Cleo ground her teeth angrily and dressed herself enough to open the door.

"What do you want?" she barked irritably.

"I need Mr. Gibbs, Miss. It's urgent."

"Mr. Gibbs is busy! Answer my question, sailor."

"We've got a prisoner on deck, Miss."

Cleo sighed and brushed her hair out of her face. "Keep the little cockroach on the deck until I pass judgment upon him."

"Yes, very good, Miss."

Cleo retreated into the cabin and put on the white dress she had worn before changing into before the outing. It was ripped and smudged with dirt in places, but it had been kept fairly clean.

"What ye be doin', Cleo?"

"Prisoner on deck, Joshamee. Dress yourself and come as soon as you can."

"Can't it wait?"

"If it waits, I'm afraid the rest of the crew will be in a panic. Besides, this one is easy to get rid of."

"As you wish, me beauty."

Cleo smiled and walked out the door. She waited until it had snapped shut behind her to lean against it with her hand to her chest. He had never called her that before, but she loved it.

'Be still, my heart.'

She stormed onto the main deck, her ice-cold glare making a few of the crew members shrink back from her.

"Where is the captive I was told about?"

After a short scuffle, a man was shoved to his knees at her feet. This man was a sailor, a sailor who was in the employ of the royals. He wore no hat and kept his eyes on the planks of the deck. Cleo knelt in front of him and took his face in her hand, forcing him to look at her. She stood abruptly and looked at Leech.

"Take him to the brig; I will speak alone with him there."

Leech did as she asked, and locked him in the brig. She sauntered down the wooden steps and wound her fingers around the metal bars of the cell.

"Hector Barbossa…Never thought I would see you on this ship again."

"I wanted to see ye; there was no other way."

"Of course there were other ways."

"Not that a pirate be considerin'."

"Don't let your pals at the barracks hear you talk like that. They might get suspicious."

"I know ye be hatin' me, Cleo, and ye have good reason, but hear me out."

"Why should I listen to a word you have to say? Huh?"

"I can' give ye no reason. I only ask that ye listen, an' hope ye show mercy upon yer dear ol' Hector."

"I will listen. You walk a thin line, Barbossa, so watch your tongue."

"Cleo, when ye shot me in the forest I was in the infirmary for several weeks. I was angry at Gibbs for takin' what I thought was mine. I be beggin yer forgiveness for shootin' him."

"I will never forgive you for that."

"As ye wish. This may very well be the last time ye see me alive, Cleo."

Cleo straightened and looked at his shoulder. The uniform was now soaked with blood, and she could see him weakening. She called to Bo'sun to bring her some rum, a needle and thread, and a length of cloth. The cell opened, she made the man she had once cared for lie on his back. Cleo did what she could for him, but did not know if it would be enough to save his life. She ordered he be taken to the captain's quarters and checked on every once in a while.

As for Cleo, she returned to Gibbs. He helped her clean the blood off her hands and get a longboat ready to go ashore. The two went to the same beach he had found her on the night before they were attacked. They built a fire and slept by it that night. Cleo awoke early the next morning and watched the sunrise. She stood silently in the surf, the waves breaking around her shins. The reflection of the sunrise on the water mesmerized her.

"What's become of Jack?" she whispered.