A PIRATES TREASURE

Disclaimer:- POTC belongs to the Disney Corporation along with it's characters. I have no claim to any of their work and make no money out of my stories. I have introduced some characters that belong to me to fit with the story.

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A Pirates Treasure

Chapter 4

The Black Pearl had been in port for three days but Jack was in no hurry to leave. His life was as close to perfect as it could get. He found it difficult to believe that everything had come right, that he was with Elizabeth and they faced a golden future. He and Elizabeth were too wrapped up in each other for him to even think about leaving…but…after 6 days; he reluctantly had to broach the subject with her. His crew were restless to take to sea again but he knew that it would be difficult for him to leave and that Elizabeth would be upset at what he had to say

Early the next morning, he plucked up his courage told her that he was planning to set sail the following day. The Pearl had been resupplied and was ready to sail. She looked bewildered.

"Leave…?" she said, her eyes filling with tears. "You're leaving? You're planning on setting sail and leaving me here?"

"Aye, Lizzie. But it won't b' long b'fore we're back. Tis only a short trip we'll be makin'…'bout 3 weeks shou'd do it! God, I'll miss ye, darlin'"

"Miss me? Miss me!" she screamed at him, the rawness of her emotions evident as it finally hit her that he was planning to sail without her. "Don't you dare, Jack Sparrow! Don't you dare even think that you can pick me up and then drop me whenever you feel like it! I'm coming with you and that's an end to it!"

Jack stood, arms crossed, his gaze boring into hers, a determined expression on his face.

"Now jus' ye listen, missy…"

"No Jack! I will not! I can't believe that you would have the audacity to think that I would wait here like a little woman and wait for you to put in an appearance after all that we've been through!"

"But, Lizzy, it's jus' too dangerous, luv. I want ye to be safe, not facin' whatev'r happens out at sea! Anythin' could go wrong and I'm not puttin' ye at risk!"

"You coward!" she hissed at him, taking a step closer and poking him square in the chest with her outstretched finger. "You bloody coward! After everything that's happened, everything that we've survived, you finally show what you really think of me!" she walked forward, prodding him with every stride, fury flashing from her eyes. "Well I'm telling you now, Captain Sparrow, if you set sail tomorrow and I'm not with you, then don't bother coming back because I won't see you! You may have taken my virginity, but you don't own me! I will not be ordered around and told what to do by you or anyone else!"

Jack stepped back as she advanced, until his back was against the wall,

"Lizzie, luv, I never promised ye anythin. Ye know who I am."

She did. She had always known who and what he was, yet since making love, since giving her heart to him, she had expected more. Had expected that life would be as before, when they had sailed together, fought side by side against every adversary, only, this time they would be together in every sense of the word, an impenetrable force. His words ripped her world apart. She realised that she had been a fool to expect anything more.

Suddenly, the fury left her and she felt bereft. Lost and lonely. Saddened that he felt she was unable to take care of herself, disappointed that he was unwilling even to try. She turned from him and stared, unseeing out of the window.

Jack felt empty. He'd known it wouldn't be easy but had thought she'd understand his need to know she was safe. He certainly hadn't expected her to react like this. His stomach clenched. He couldn't take her with him. It was a cruel and dangerous life at sea. He couldn't bear the thought of putting her in danger, loved her too much to run the risk. It was different before…she had been with the whelp, now they were together he wouldn't…couldn't take the chance. Looking at her, he knew that he wouldn't be moved from his decision, felt like begging her to be reasonable, to understand his point of view, but he had his pride. He wouldn't be begging her for anything.

"Tis for the best, luv. Ye know yerself how The Pearl can b' an accident waitin' for somewhere t' happen. Only a few months ago we lost a crewman when he slipp'd an' fell t' the hold. That's without the storms an' battles. Hurricane Seas'n's almost upon us an' it'll be treacherous. Sorry, sweetheart, but yer stayin' here where I know yer safe. Don't make this any harder than it is already, Lizzie."

Elizabeth walked to the door and opened it. She turned to Jack and fighting tears, managed to force her words out. "You're absolutely right, Captain Sparrow. There's no need to make this any harder, and as I've taken enough of your precious time, I'll leave you to your ship. Please close the door on your way out!"

Jack went white, the colour visibly draining from his face. He looked at her as if she had lost her mind. "Lizzie…"

"I said go Jack!" she said fighting for control. "Now!"

Jack's mind worked furiously, but, even his lightning quick responses failed him. His instinct told him to give her time to calm down, and so, reluctantly, he picked up his effects and walked to the door. "Lizzie…" he started to say.

"Go, Jack." She said.

He looked at her, at the tears welling in her eyes and felt his heart plummet. As he walked out he distinctly heard her say, "Bloody Pirate!" before the door slammed behind him and he heard her sobbing.

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Jack returned to The Pearl in a foul mood, to be greeted by Mr Gibbs who had news of his own.

"Jack. I was jus' comin t' see ye. We've got trouble. T' mizzen mast's got a hairline fracture. Tis goin' t' take a few days t' fix 'er."

"Oh bloody hell! That's all I need. Get it fixed…and fast! I'll b' in me cabin!"

Heading straight for his cabin, he added over his shoulder, "An' I don't want t' be disturbed!" Once there, he grabbed a bottle of rum from the table and proceeded to get gloriously drunk.

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Once she had stopped crying and her anger had abated slightly, Elizabeth decided that she was cold and went to light the fire in the parlour. It soon became apparent that there was a problem.

She had yet to use the fireplace in that room and it seemed that most of the smoke was being forced directly into the room, not up the chimney where it was supposed to go. Puzzled, Elizabeth extinguished the flames, put an apron over her gown and, coughing due to the smoke, stooped to peer up the chimney. Surely she should be able to see more light than that, she thought, and, removing her head from directly beneath the chimney, she put her hand up as far as it would go. Feeling around, she felt something sticking out of a ledge just above the fireplace. Taking a firm hold, she pulled, and then gasped as the offending item came free and a load of soot fell from the chimney, into the fireplace and settled over every object in the room, including her. Coughing furiously, she peered at the object in her hand through watering eyes. It looked like a leather map case of the sort sailors would use. Ignoring the carnage all around her, she went to the table, wiped the soot away with her apron and undid the case. Rolling it out on the table she was amazed to see that it was indeed a map, crude, but readable. Looking about her, she sighed deeply. The whole room was a mess. Soot clung to every surface and she made a mental note to find a chimney sweep as soon as possible. Rolling the map up, she replaced it in the case and decided to look at it properly later. Now she had to clean the room up…at least, she thought, it would keep her mind off Jack!

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Oh poor Jack! Why does his life never run smoothly?

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