Ok readers, I know I don't update very often and I'm sorry. I am still writing the story so for every chapter I finish writing I will put another chapter online.

I hope you enjoy this chapter even though it is slightly shorter than the others.

After visiting the brig to drop off our unconscious thief, myself and Gibbs headed up to the captain's cabin. I could tell that Jack had already forgiven me and it felt like a huge weight had been lifted. Whilst he was angry at me I had felt so depressed and had hardly spoken to anybody except Joey and my guitar had been my only comfort. My feelings didn't make sense to me. I hadn't even known jack for longer than a month. But everything about him affected me in this weird way and I couldn't help but smile when I was around him.
Jack already looked like his usual self by the time I had reached his cabin and sat down in my usual seat across the table from him. Gibbs sat in the seat next to me. We all enjoyed a bottle (or two) of rum in celebration. Hours passed and during that time I told jack and Gibbs what had happened in the run room before I came to get them. Gibbs left at around midnight I guessed judging by the height of the moon and me and Jack listened to his uneven footsteps fade as he crossed the deck. There was no doubt in my mind that he was drunk. He hadn't drunk any more than me or jack but it took a lot to get me drunk.
"Sam." Jack broke the short silence that existed after Gibbs left. "I think I owe you an apol... an apol... Oh what's the word"

"An apology," I suggested.

"That's the one, an apology." he shouted and smiled.

"Thank you captain but I understand, it was a logical explanation." I didn't want him to feel like he owed me for anything.

"Well, you have earned my trust and that is something I don't give out very often, Savvy" he smiled in a way that showed all of his golden teeth. I nodded.

"Aye. I'm going to go get some sleep now, most of the crew were asleep and hour or two ago." Jack nodded in understanding. "Goodnight Captain" I said as I left.

XXXX

I lay in my hammock staring up at the ceiling. Jack was talking to me again. I felt relived and once again kind of happy. At least I did until the morning. During the night I kept having flashbacks from the night that Blackbeard attacked. It caused me to wake frequently which unfortunately led to me brig quite tired in the morning.
On a regular morning I would be up at dawn to get on with my daily jobs such as pumping the lower bilges, repairing and retying ropes and removing folds from the sail cloth. On top of this I had to fix and clean my clothes which only some crew members could be bothered to do. It was hard work but I had lots of experience and rather enjoyed it. Today however was different. Instead of a regular day of work I was in Jack's cabin ready to question the thief down in the brig. We were just waiting for Gibbs who still hadn't arrived. I leant against the wall and pulled my hat partly down over my eyes to cover up quite how tired I felt. Jack wandered over from his table that was currently littered with maps and a half empty rum bottle, and lent against the wall beside me. "Gibbs is probably unconscious from all that rum he drank last night." I laughed although I think Jack was being serious.

"Bit easy for him to get drunk isn't it, he only had one bottle." I pictured Gibbs in his hammock dead to the world. The thought amused me.

"Yes, doesn't take all that much to get him drunk. But you, you really can handle your drink." Jack turned his head to look at me, the beads in his hair rattled as he did so. "Especially for a woman." he added. I caught my breath as he pushed himself from the wall and moved to stand in front of me. Unable to breath properly and form words I opened and closed my mouth in an attempt to say something. Finally I managed to get out just five words.

"How long have you known." my voice was barely a whisper but It was my normal voice rather than a fake masculine one.

"Last night your voice faltered when you came to me with the key, that simply confirmed my suspicions but I have suspected it for a while." I let out a long slow breath before lifting my hat to look him in the eyes. There was no sign of anger or annoyance, and now that I came to think of it, his eyes were beautiful. A warm almond brown. I quickly averted my gaze.

"Are you annoyed with me for lying?" I questioned, trying to keep my voice steady. He shook his head.

"Not at all love." he then reached over and pulled off my hat allowing my long, wavy, blonde hair to fall over my shoulders.

"Really." I felt my eyes widen. "I assumed you would be." he gave me a questioning look and I elaborated. "Most men have superstitions about a woman being aboard a ship, about it being bad luck." Jack chuckled.

"Me, I'm not one for superstitions, prefer to take life as it comes rather than worry about bad luck." His smile turned to a frown. "Gibbs on the other hand is very superstitious and so it would probably be easier for you and for me if he doesn't find out. Savvy?" I nodded.

"So you won't tell anybody? I confirmed.

"Your secret is safe with me love."

"Thank you Jack." I breathed

"By the way, what is your real name?" he raised his left eyebrow.

"Clara Adams." I answered before taking my hat back from Jack and hoisting my hair back up inside it.

"That's a nice name" I was about to thank him again when Gibbs stumbled through the doorway into the room, holding his head with an agonised expression across his face.

"Sorry I'm late captain had maybe a tad too much to drink last night I think." Jack looked at his diary mate and sighed.

"Mr Gibbs, for someone who drinks as often as you, you can in no way handle your drink." Jack said in a joking manner.

"Aye captain, I have probably kept you long enough. Shall we go down?" Jack nodded.

"Lead the way." Gibbs turned to go and started rather clumsily for the door. Me and Jack followed him out.