Title: Send Her My Love Title: Send Her My Love

Pairings: JS/OC, WT/ES

Overview: The Infamous Captain Jack Sparrow has had interesting acquaintances and activities in the past. This story is of a chain of many events that have gone awry, and come back to haunt him.

Disclaimer: It's not mine… yet! –laughs evilly, then scampers away-

A/N: Okay, so the idea for this chapter is EATING ME ALIVE! No, seriously. I was feeling all accomplished – I mean, I did just get out my longest chapter ever. However, less than a day after I'm sitting here thinking… hmmm, what to do next?

I curse myself.

In several different languages.

However, to my awesome reviewers!

CaptainESavvy – okay, consider the last phrase. Did that sound like anything particularly nice was going to be headed Payton's way? And yes, the intent was to suck people further into the story, hence why you must be anxious. I'm glad you liked the part with the stick, I thought it was pretty funny myself. –grins-

Sirenne Claire – While I was writing that part with Mr. Gibbs, I was giggling in a most evil fashion to myself. I'm glad that eight was your favourite, but my hope is that they'll keep getting better and better.

On a different tact, I'm going to need to figure out some more plot here – it's mostly just fluff, and that will never do. Especially when I want to have death, chaos, and/or destruction happening in the near future. I have soooo much stuff planned!

And on another note, I was speaking with Isabella Night, and she was mentioning how obsessed I have become with this story. And she's right you know – this isn't healthy for me. I'm not dealing with my coursework. So, this means I'll be taking a more lethargic pace to the remainder of the story (which by the way will max out at 20 chapters). There will also be an additional set of stories I was begin working on – drabbles and whatnot.

However, if I don't start writing up chapter nine, you'll never get to it, and all my ideas will be to waste. Away to the story!

Chapter Nine: What Do You Desire?

Where Payton speaks to Jack, Jack trains Payton, and a peculiar friendship appears – yes, it's another flashback chapter.

Payton had stayed in his cabin the entire day. Jack had told her shortly after their conversation that he had to go. She had nodded serenely from her seat at the window beside the bed, but hadn't said a word. He left her, shaking his head while considering her.

He had been a bit distracted at the helm for the majority of the day.

When night fully fell upon the ocean, Jack had stretched, and nodded to another crewmember, indicating that he should take over the helm. A quick affirmative, and Jack escaped to go back to his cabin. It was then he recalled that Payton hadn't eaten since the morning.

He groaned, changing his vector to head to the galley. Aye, I be takin' care of the girl alright… if I keep it up, she'll be dead afore the week is out!

Jack retrieved a bowl of nondescript food substance, and quickly headed to his cabin. Upon approaching it he saw that there were no candles on, no light at all, and no noise.

Carefully opening the door to the room, he placed the bowl of food on the desk. He saw Payton's form sitting where he had left her, on the window seat, looking out at the sea. A half full moon partially illuminated the room, which only fell into darkness when a cloud sailed across it. He couldn't see her face, but she seemed at peace. Making himself busy, Jack lit a few of the candles in the room. Payton turned to look at him, then turned back to look outside. He thought that he had seen her turn when he opened the door, but he couldn't be sure.

Picking up the food, he moved to her side, easily dwarfing her tiny frame.

"Luv? Brought you some food…" He held it out in front of him, as if he thought she might bite him.

She looked at him, and graciously took his offering. "Thank you Captain Sparrow." She picked up the spoon which Jack had dropped in the food substance, she began to eat slowly, while still looking outside.

Jack noticed that one of the windows were open. He moved to close it, but Payton stayed his hand. He looked at her in confusion, and she blushed.

"I… am having some difficulty adapting to sea life. The… persistent rocking of the boat tends to make me rather queasy."

He nodded sagely. "Aye, I've heard that it can happen. Should pass in a week."

"That is happy news. I would not desire to be like this for very long." She did not make eye contact with him for very long, however, she seemed agreeable, so Jack left it be. He looked over her, and saw that she seemed to be shivering.

"Ye alright luv? Ye seem a bit cold." He placed a hand on her shoulder.

"A… a bit Captain. My clothes are not made of the best material for the wind."

He nodded sagely, then went to a small sea chest. Opening the lid, he reached inside, pulling out a shirt and pair of pants. Looking at her lean frame, he shook his head. "I'd think that these would be too large fer ye, aye?"

Payton looked them over. "Aye, Captain, they do appear that way. Don't worry about it, I'll manage. I wouldn't want to trouble you."

Jack gave her a look, then started muttering about females in general. "Ye think ye could fit inta this shirt?"

She seemed unsure. "Um, probably. But what about-" Jack put up a hand to interrupt her.

"Don't ye worry about pants, I'll find ye some." He threw the shirt at her, which she deftly caught. He then left the room, closing the door quietly behind him.

Payton sat down again, folding her skirt beneath her legs. Curling her legs up beside her on the wooden window seat, she looked out again at the twilight sea. She barely heard Jack return. She did notice when he place a hand on her shoulder. She looked up at him, questioningly. He held up a smaller pair of pants.
"Ana had extra." He grinned at her, his golden teeth glimmering.

Payton nodded, and took the pants from him. "Er…" She looked embarrassed again.

"Aye luv?"

"Um, where can I change?" She asked in a near whisper.

Jack held back a chuckle. "I'll turn around, savvy?"

She nodded slightly, and waited for him to turn. She quickly shimmied out of her dress, and threw on the shirt. It was half way down her legs. She then pulled on the pants, tying the belt tightly closed, her shirt tucked in.

"Um… how do I look?" Her eyes were big, seeming fearful of rejection.

He turned, and smiled. He was tempted to say, like a pirate, but he felt that it wouldn't go over well. Instead, he responded with, "Just perfect luv. We'll need ta find ye something ta tie yer hair back with, savvy?"

She nodded timidly back at him, and barely stifled a yawn. He did let out a chuckle at that. "Luv, why don't ye go ta sleep. I'll talk ta ye more in the morning."

"Where should I sleep?" She looked around the room, perhaps searching for another bed.

Jack waved to his bed. "On the bed luv. I'll rest on the floor for tonight."

Payton was horrified. "No, I couldn't do that Captain!"

He shook his head. "Don't fret luv. I'll be fine. Get yerself some sleep."

"Well… alright." She seemed hesitant at first, but quickly fell asleep when she relaxed in the bed. Jack looked down at her, and shook his head.

Strange women.

The morning found Jack stiff and sore. He had indeed slept on the floor, as he promised he would. He sat up, to see Payton already awake, sitting up in the bed with a puzzled and frightened expression on her face.

"Luv?"

She turned at the sound of his voice, and upon seeing him, she visibly relaxed. "Sorry Captain. I couldn't recall where I was."

He stood up and stretched out his muscles. "A bit of a shock then luv, aye?"

"Aye Captain." She moved out of bed, and carefully remade it as if no one had used it.
Jack walked to her side. "Er, luv? What are ye doing?"

She paused, looking up at him. "I'm sorry… I just thought –"
"Luv, don't apologise, ye haven't done anythin' wrong. I just wanted ta know what ye were doing."

"I just thought you'd want the bed remade." She looked at the floor, almost seeming ashamed.
"Don't worry about the bed luv. It's lasted a while, and will last a while longer. It doesn't need to be remade."

"Sorry…" She seemed utterly miserable. Jack sighed, and placed a hand on her shoulder. "Don't worry about it luv." He sat down on the bed, and indicated she should sit too.

Rather hesitantly, she sat down beside him, angled so she could look at his face.

He absent-mindedly rubbed the back of his neck. "Luv, answer me this… has there been anything ye ever wanted so badly ye would've gladly gone against yer parents ta get it?"

Payton looked at him, the warm breeze coming in from the open window toying with her hair. 'I… I think so. A few years back, my parents had to… deal with my rather… unruly nature. I used to love to climb trees on our property, go running through the muddy creeks, without having anyone there to watch me of course. It was the strangest feeling I've ever felt. I loved it."

Jack nodded. "I take it them luv, that it didn't last for long?"

She shook her head, a bitter smile on her face. "No. Father was so very mad over my behaviour, he threatened to ship me away to a school on me away to a school on etiquette and deportment and such."

Jack made a face. "Sounds pleasant." She grinned at the evident sarcasm. "How did ye manage not ta have ta go?"

She rolled her eyes. "Grovelled." Sighing, Payton continued. "I never got to do it again though, Father had the servants watch me far too closely for me to go off ever again. Then all this happened." She waved her hand around.

"See luv, that's what ye've been missin' all yer life. Freedom."

It was later that evening when they next spoke. Jack had responsibilities elsewhere, and had informed Payton to stay put for the meantime. She had of course acquiesced to his demand. When he next entered the cabin, he seemed rather distracted.

She looked over his posture. "Captain?"

He looked up at her. "Aye luv?"

"What's bothering you?"

He blinked, that was the last thing which he expected. "Well, luv, I'm trying to figure out where we can go ta train ye on fightin'. I figured that ye wouldn't want ta be doing that while the crew is watchin' ye?"

"Oh, no, I'd much rather not have them watching Captain."

He nodded. "I thought as much luv. We've found an island with fresh water, we'll be restocking there. During the days, ye can train with me. Asides from that, ye can do as ye please."

It was Payton's turn to be perplexed. "Oh."

He laughed at her. "Ye've never been allowed ta do that before luv, have ye?"

She smiled at him. "No, I haven't. It shows, doesn't it?"

"Aye luv, that it does. Don't fret, ye can spend time with Ana, savvy?"

"Er, Captain… I don't think she likes me."

Jack shook his head negatively. "Nay luv, she was just frustrated with you. She isn't used ta women."

"Oh. Then… perhaps I could talk to her?"

"Now luv?" Jack questioned.

Payton paused, weighing her words carefully. "Well, where is she?"

"Last I heard, going ta bed."

"Oh." She paused, gathering her thoughts. "Then maybe tomorrow?"

"Aye, ye do that. We'll be at the island in a week, which is plenty good timing."

"We're running out of water Captain?"

"Not so much as ta worry, but t'would be good ta stock up. Now, don't ye fret no longer. Get yerself some sleep, savvy?"

She nodded, then headed to bed. Jack fell asleep much later than she, considering all that he had learned that day.

Payton actually ventured on deck the next day. Jack had risen early to speak with Ana, who had agreed to attempting to talk to the other girl. And it didn't go as badly as Payton, Anamaria and Jack all feared.

Over the following week, Payton talked to Anamaria frequently, getting to know the older woman. Anamaria in turn learned some interesting things about Payton. The two of them became closer in a very short span of time, with Payton opening up and becoming more relaxed around the woman. By the end of the week, they were acting like close friends of several years, or even sister. However, though Payton had begun to open up with Anamaria did not mean that she was entirely comfortable around Jack. She voiced her fears to Anamaria on numerous occasions, and the mulatto woman offered her input and advice as best she could.

The nagging doubt still remained at the back of Payton's head though.

At the end of the week, they reached the small island as Jack said they would. Instructing his crew to retrieve more freshwater and relax, he turned to Payton, who was standing at the railing of the Black Pearl.

"I trust ye have no idea how to fight, aye?"

She turned quickly when she heard his voice. The week in the sun had done well for her – although she had obtained a burn on her fair skin. It was quickly turning into a tan. Asides from the obvious physical changes, Jack noticed that she appeared more confident, and less frightened.

"Well, I did watch my brother training, but I don't know how to fight, no."

She had also developed something of an attitude – not like he minded, much. It was better than all the title nonsense which she insisted on before.

"Figured as much." He stood beside her, gazing out at the ocean. "Do you even know the basics luv?" He received a blank look for that one, so he tried a slightly different tact. "Do you know how ta defend yerself luv?"

She shook her head. "No, Father said it wouldn't be necessary for a woman of my standing, and that I would be taken care of, so I shouldn't worry about it."

Jack snorted. "Fat lot of use that idea is out here… say what luv, I'll give ye a hand in this matter savvy? Start from the ground up, aye?"

"Well, I suppose it's better than starting at the more difficult stuff… Alright, but go slowly. It's hard getting used to this sort of thing, it goes against everything I was taught."

"Ye feel like everythin' is goin' a bit fast fer yer tastes luv?"

She nodded, somewhat relieved that he understood. "Aye Captain. It takes a lot of getting used to."

"That's alright luv, but ye have to understand, I have ta teach ye at some point or other. I can't be goin' into a battle whilest I'm worrin' 'bout you, savvy?"

She nodded, it did make sense. "Perhaps you might want to start on the theory of it? Or even… prepare me, mentally, for the worst?"

Jack paused, thinking about it. "Aye luv, I'll talk ta ye fer now. Tomorrow we start. Savvy?"
She smiled. "Savvy."

Please review! More up soon!