Full Summary: When Jack has no choice but to pose as a Navy officer in order to get his precious Black Pearl fixed from a sea battle against another crew of pirates, he ends up finding help in one of the most unlikely of places.

Chapter Twelve

Her neck ached and the muscles in her legs, arms and fingers felt cramped and stiff. Slowly, Nell opened her eyes to see the morning sky above her, blocked by the face of Gibbs. Once he noticed she was awake, he turned to Jack and began to rouse him while Nell tried to wake herself properly. Slowly, she lifted an arm to rub her eyes when said arm collasped onto her chest. She tried to move her fingers and found that she couldn't. Pushing herself into a sitting position as Jack began to awaken, she rubbed her right hand roughly on her arm, bringing back circulation and feeling. At least it had only been numb.

Once she felt she had use of her arm once more, she rubbed the back of her neck and stood ungracefully. Her legs felt wobbly and as she stepped forwards she found the floor racing upwards towards her until strong arms wrapped around her waist. Looking up, she found the familiar face of Jack, concern shining in his dark eyes. Laughing, Nell stood and held onto his upper arm.

"Jack Sparrow, saving a damsel in distress!" She exclaimed.

"There should be a 'captain' in there somewhere, darlin'," He reminded her as he looked up at the helm where Cotton and his parrot where. As Nell followed his gaze and watched, a little monkey, dressed in clothes, decended from one of the many ropes that kept the sails in place and sat on the desk, watching them. Cotton's parrot squarked something and Nell stiffled another laugh as Jack shooed her away.

"I'm off up to the helm. No doubt the crew will be looking forwards to breakfast after yesterday's meal." His hands were planted firmly on her shoulders as he steered her towards the galley, holding the door open for her. Nell rolled her eyes.

"Jack, stop acting like I'm a woman from up on high. I was a maid; I'm used to opening doors for myself."

"Aye, that may be, but yer a woman. Be grateful that someone is looking out for you, love. I doubt any of the crew would help ye."

"Fine, but I can still do things by my self." She told him and disappeared through the door, leaving Jack to go to the helm.

She slowly walked around the tables, shaking her head at the mess. She had cleaned up last night, so someone - probably Ben - had eaten something and left a mess.

Moving around the counter, her toes knocked into someone. There, by her feet, was Ben. He was unconcious and a bottle of rum - empty now - was grasped lightly in his fingers. Sighing heavily, she bent down and began to pull the Irishman over to one of the benches, proping him up against it. Then she returned to the counter, thinking of what she could serve. Pulling open cupboards, she found some shrivled mushrooms and, to her delight, relatively fresh bacon. There were chickens too, hens most likely, and they should have layed some eggs. She was right, for under the hens were around five eggs each. Lifting each one up to the light, she made sure none had chicks inside and placed them on the counter in a small bowl so they would't roll of the side and crack on the floor.

Grabbing various pots and pans, Nell began to cook, placing the bacon in a pot over the small stove and turning the bacon over now and then. While that was cooking, she cracked all the eggs, whisked them a little and placed them in a pan, scrambling them with ease. Nell then cut up the mushrooms and put them in another pan after turning the bacon. Before long, the crew had started to file in, pointing out Ben where he was still against a bench. When she noticed they had started to arrive, she began to get the pewter plates out and serving, making sure each person had a nice amount to get him through the day. And if they ever wanted something more, all they had to do was come in and ask.

After serving a stout man and his friend with one eye, Nell looked up to see Jack. He pointed to Ben.

"Got drunk, did he?"

"Looked like it. I moved him over there so I wouldn't trip over him while cooking. I'll save him some breakfast, but it'll probably be cold by the time he comes around." She spooned some egg onto his plate, followed by a spoonful of mushrooms. Jack grimaced.

"Don't like mushrooms, love."

"I think my mushroom will be better than Ben's, Jack. Eat them up like a good boy." She teased and gave him some bacon.

"Can't I swap them for some more bacon?"

"Sorry Jack, no. You're a big boy now, aren't you? The mushroom will help to keep you strong."

Jack sighed but nodded, carrying his plate away. Nell smiled and continued to serve, finally getting some food for herself. Once again, Jack had saved her a place, and she sat down in it.

"Do you like your mushrooms then, Jack?" They had all disappeared from his plate.

"I only ate them because I had to."

"Just tell me whether you liked them or not."

"Fine, love. They were alright. I told ye, I don't like mushrooms."

"But you still ate them," Nell pointed out, and began on her own meal. "Now, be a good boy and eat the rest of your breakfast. If you eat it all, you can have some more bacon."

Jack's eyes lit up at that and he began shovling food into his mouth, barely chewing before he swallowed.

"I'll have none of that, Mr. Sparrow. Eat it slowly or you'll get stomach ache."

Jack began to eat slower, chewing his food properly before he swallowed and started on another mouthful.

Happy that he was eating properly - she didn't want to have to deal with a sick Jack later on - Nell went back to her own meal, eating it properly. Some of the crew looked at her, watching the motions and other, mainly the younger ones, began to copy her. She shook her head and told them to eat as Jack stood and all but ran over to the counter, grabbing a rasher of bacon and eating it where he stood.