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 Thirteen

Swords clashed and the sound of metal on metal rang through the room. The table and chairs had been pushed to the side under Jack's hammock, and every other piece of furniture that could be moved was stacked against the walls while Jack circled Nell, sword raised.

"Right. I go here," His sword swung down and Nell raised her own, only just blocking the sharp blade. The force sent shock waves up her arm. Panting, Nell went to swing at Jack, but her heavy sword almost sent her sprawling onto the ground.

"Aye," Jack said, holding out a hand. "Ye need to work on yer attack. However, I'm guess that sword it a bit too heavy for ye. Have this one." He handed her a well balanced, lighter sword that was also shorter. As she held it, she certainly felt the difference, and when she tried to attack Jack, it didn't make her stumble. But she still wasn't that good with the weapon.

"Remind me again why I have to do this?"

"Yer on a pirate ship, love. We could get attacked at any point and ye need to know how to defend yerself," He raised his sword once more. "Now, again."

They continued to spar, Jack alternating between attacking her and defending himself against her shallow attacks.

"Yer getting better love. That lighter sword has helped ye. Ye can keep it. I'll get you a belt and a scabbard so ye can keep it on ye. Now, attack me again. Show no mercy, love!"

Nell put all her power behind her attacks, but Jack blocked every single one. This feirce dance went on and on as the sun reached its highest point and then began to decend. Nell's stomach grumbled; she hadn't had any breakfast either, as Jack had wanted to get started straight away.

After being beaten multiple times, the majority of which she had ended up on the floor, either with her sword out of hand or Jack's boot on her stomach, she managed to get a soft blow on Jack's shoulder. It was only a small scratch but she began to worry.

"Oh Jack, I'm sorry!"

He raised his sword.

"Don't worry, love. It's only a scratch. If ye're injured in battle, ye need to continue on. Ye need to continue fighting. Ye could die if ye don't."

And they began again, moving around the room at quite a pace. The crew had long since gotten used to the loud sound of the fight and had stopped pushing their heads through the door to see how she was doing against their formidable captain.

Somehow, Nell had ended up on the table and Jack jumped up to join her as they exchanged blows. She could feel the edge of the table beneath her heels and jumped down. This was a mistake, as she was at a disadvantage. Jack had the upper hand and she had to raised her sword at quite a height to block him. This proceeded to wear her out as she moved away from the table. If she got too far away, Jack would have to jump down too.

He did so and persuded his attack until she ducked and pushed through his legs. Before he realised, she was behind him. Suddenly, the monkey appeared out of nowhere and took Jack's hat. Jack exclaimed something and, while he was distracted, she pushed him to the floor. As he rolled over, she placed the tip of her sword by his neck, near his jaw. She saw his Adam's Apple bob as he gulped and laughed. She'd beaten him!

Jack glared angrily at the monkey, jaw set.

"I hate that monkey."

"I think he's cute. What's his name?"

"Barbossa named him Jack to spite me."

The monkey jumped up onto Nell's shoulder and she took the hat off him, placing it on her own head.

"Thank you, Jack."

Jack (the man, not the monkey) stood and placed his sword flat on the table, taking Nell's out of her hands and placing it next to it.

"That was great love. Very pirate. Ye saw an opening and ye took it," He praised her, grinning roguishly. "In a battle, ye'll have to push harder: I let ye win." He looked out of the very large window at the back of the cabin; the sun was setting. He turned around to look at Nell and saw her eyes drooping. Carefully, he began to lead her to the bed and sat her down on it and took his hat back.

"Ye stay here, love. I'll put everything back."

As he turned away towards the table, Nell slumped back on the bed and fell asleep, troughroughly exhausted from the day. Even the sounds of the table and other, various pieces of furniture being scraped carefully across the floor didn't wake her.