A/N: Took longer than usual to get this out of my head but it's long so I hope that makes up for the wait. And I like this chapter. Gets a bit fluffy and begins turning angsty for next chapter. (Hint, Hint!) So please review and enjoy!!


Chapter 12: Of Memories and Differences

Bella could hear people talking around her. A distinct and gruff German accent said, "We need to figure out what to do." Even with her eyes shut, she knew it was Captain Englehorn.

A rough yet calm voice said, "We need to leave." Bella wasn't sure who this was, but it was a man.

"We should rescue him, shouldn't we? He rescued us Jack." Bella noticed this voice as Jimmy's right away. It was gentle, like him.

"Yes, but remember what happened last time Jimmy," Jack presumably said.

Jimmy sighed. "You're right."

A light fluttery voice belonging to Ann asked, "Why? Why'd they take Bruce?"

Captain Englehorn said, "I don't want to find out. We'll leave at noon, whether he's back or not."

Footsteps could be heard walking out of the room as Bella cracked open an eye. She saw Jimmy sitting at her bedside. "You can quit the act now, Bells."

She sat up, noticing she was back in Jimmy's cabin. "How did I-?'

"You fainted," he told her. "Lucky for you that skipper was checking some of the men. I saw you being brought to your room and had him bring you here instead," he grinned proudly.

She smiled weakly. "Thanks. I'm just not good with blood. My mother...Before she died, she coughed up blood for days. It reminds me too much of that...I shouldn't have left the cabin. Should've listened to Ann and Jack," she said looking at him with guilt.

"It's fine, Bells," Jimmy told her as he fixed his hat.

She squeezed her eyes shut. "I even broke my promise to you." When she opened her eyes, Jimmy's face was close to hers and she felt his lips lightly on hers. She felt dizzy. 'Woozy. Again. But this time I'm not going to black out...I think.'

-Jimmy POV-

It was different. Something else that was new to him. He saw Jack and Ann do it before. Even some of the crew when they were with women, but for some reason it was different from just seeing it. 'I don't know if I'm doing this right.' Jimmy knew he was going to have to talk to Jack again.

Bella pulled away, her cheeks a bright shade of red. 'As much my face is burning, mine probably are too.' He grinned at Bella momentarily. "You should rest," he recommended as he got up and walked over to his desk, picking up his book from earlier.

"Will you stay with me...a while longer?" he heard her ask softly.

Jimmy turned around and gave her a crooked smile. "Sure."

-Englehorn POV-

The captain looked at his watch. '12:00.' Jimmy hurried into the navigation room. "Sorry skipper," he said quietly.

"You're on time Jimmy." He looked out the window and saw Jack, Ann, and Bella all pointing at something. "Jimmy, see what they're pointing at before we set sail."

"Yes sir." Englehorn squinted, trying to see what they were looking at. "Uh...captain?" Jimmy said, handing him the binoculars.

When he looked through the binoculars, he saw Bruce on the shore line of the island, holding something. Englehorn sighed and gave the binoculars back to Jimmy. He walked out onto the balcony and yelled, "Let's get a boat out to him, now!"

Some of the crew began to cheer, but Englehorn didn't think it was much to be happy over. 'Hell. It's just Baxter.'

Within minutes, a boat was on its way to the island and Captain Englehorn was standing next to Jimmy on deck, waiting for the boat to return. "Captain, did you see what he was holding?"

In the distance, the boat was beginning back towards the Venture. Captain Englehorn shook his head. "I did not," he told Jimmy. They stood and waited for the boat patiently. As soon as it came up, Bruce jumped out of the boat holding something protectively. It looked like a small child, maybe a native but with another glance, Englehorn saw it was a gorilla. A smaller version of the one he captured nearly a year ago. "What the hell is this Baxter?" Englehorn barked.

Bruce gulped. "The natives gave him to me. I'm not sure why, but I think they want me to care for it," he said as he pet the little ape's head.

"Well, I don't trust it. Juan! Viktor!" Two men, assumably Juan and Viktor, came rushing over. "Lock it up in a cage below deck."

Bruce glared at Captain Englehorn and held the ape against him protectively, as if he were the father. "I'm going with him."

Captain Englehorn sighed. "I don't give a damn. Just lock it up," he said loudly as he began towards the navigation room. 'If we set sail now, we can make it in a day and a half. Maybe two.' "Jimmy!" he yelled from the navigation room door. Jimmy hustled up to him. "Set a course for England."

"Yes captain," he said as he adjusted the speed.

-Ann POV-

As soon as she saw Bruce Baxter holding that small creature, she felt a tingling in her soul. "Jack," she whispered.

"I know," he said as hugged her. Bella stood next to her and was just in awe. She wouldn't stop saying how cute it looked.

When Jack let go of her, she turned around. "I'm going down to get a closer look at the creature," she told him.

Jack sighed and nodded as she jogged across the deck, holding her long tan dress in place as she followed Bruce and the two men to the cargo hold. The two opened a cage a pushed Bruce, who was still carrying the creature, into the cage. Bruce glared at them as they walked away. Ann's eyes set on what looked to be a smaller version of Kong. She smiled lightly at the thought of her old friend and the possibility of a new one.

-Bella POV-

Bella walked into the galley. She saw Max, the ship's cook, in the kitchen making supper for the crew. "'ey Max!" she said, sitting on one of the chairs.

Max tuned around, wiping his hands on the apron he was wearing around his waist. "Yes Al?" he laughed.

Bella smiled. 'That joke will never get old.' "Is Ann still down in the hold?"

"Seein' the chimp you mean? Yep, she's still down there," he said pointing out the door.

"Thanks," she said, picking up a banana. 'Hope the little monkey likes bananas.' Bella held onto her lucky hat as she bolted down to the cargo hold. "Ann?" she called walking down the small set of steps.

"Yes?" she heard Ann yell. Walking around the corner, she saw Ann sitting on the floor of a cage with the small ape across from her. She looked sad.

Bella shook the banana as she held it at arm's length. "Brought 'im somethin'."

Ann made a small smile. "Thank you," she said while taking the banana and handing it to the small ape.

Bella joined her friend in the cage, kneeling down next to her as she cooed at the monkey that was pulling the peel off the banana. "So...what d'you make of him Ann?"

She shook her head. "I'm not sure. It could be Kong's son," Ann said unsurely. Bella laughed as the monkey took a bite out of the banana. "What?" Ann asked in obvious confusion.

"I think it could be more like...his brother," she stated.

Ann smiled. "Maybe," she snickered.

"Ann, I wanted to talk to you about-"

"Bella!" Bella and Ann turned to see Jimmy standing outside the cage with his hands in his pockets and looking at the ground.

"Jimmy. You scared me..." Bella said fixing her hat.

"I came to walk you back to the cabin," he said with out looking up. His voice was nearly as gruff as Captain Englehorn's.

She eyed him curiously and nodded while she stood. "Cya around Ann. I'll talk to you about it later," she said quietly as she stepped out of the cage. Jimmy started up the metal steps towards the cabin and she followed him wordlessly. 'Something's up...'