Sorry I take so long, college work and other fanfics distract me, please review...even if it's just a smiley face.

Catrina threw her captor down on the bed, it was a very odd thought. Her, assisting her kidnapper. She looked down at him, he was a pitiful site, he returned her gaze with a frown. "Don't rape me." He drawled keeping the energy in his voice. She huffed before disappearing into the bathroom.

She fixed her hair, while using the mirror to secretly observe Jack, who made no attempt to see what she was doing, she could have been making a weapon for all he cared, but his drowsiness was overwhelming him, which would benefit her greatly.

It was a novelty to be in such a cleaner place, and no rust. Though she couldn't get use to it...she'd be out of here in a couple of hours and on her way home. Catrina took a deep breath before gracing Jack with her presence, he turned his head towards her, a dark look in his eye. She made sure her chair was more than an arm's length away, to be on the safe side. "So you might as well sleep, that's why you brought us here, right?" She said nonchalantly.

"Yeah, you would like that wouldn't you?" He awkwardly shuffled to the end of the bed, and Catrina instinctively thought he was going to swipe her, but all he did was turn on his side, so his body was fully facing her. "I can't sleep."

She quirked an eyebrow. "Do you want me to read you a bedtime story?"

"Piss off." He half panted, triggering a smile that dimpled her cheeks. "You need protection."

"-We both need protection." Not hesitating to point out the obvious, he was foolish to think he could hold her in one place and protect them simultaneously. "You're not fit for anything-"

"Now that's not a nice thing to say to a guy." He muttered, staring up at her through heavily lidded eyes. There was a pregnant pause which had Catrina fidget, he drew in a shallow breath, before deliberating. "I think you should sleep, right here." He patted the edge of the bed. She stared at the space he had suggested, hoping it would take her to the underworld and out of his clutches.

"Sleep is the last thing on my mind." She rubbed her temples, he observed her wariness and smirked.

"It's the last thing on your mind?...I don't think I'm fit enough to give you the first." Catrina narrowed her eyes at his attempt to make a joke out of a sick situation.

"I need to get us something to eat, there's a vending machine downstairs, do you have any change?" Her hand hovered sheepishly in his face, she tried to sound as innocent as she could allow, even when he remained silent, sucking in his lips as if contemplating.

"You'll have to wait 'till morning."

"Why?" restraining a squawk. "I could just go. " She urged.

Jack bit back a laugh. "Then why haven't you?" The suggestion lilted his face, and he looked very humoured to her displeasure, that was a good question.

The pregnant pause was a little too long, and she cringed, she hadn't given him a quick fire answer. Did he really get under her skin that bad? "Oh... I will." She managed. "I was just making sure you had no magic tricks up your sleeve to drag me back into the room." She faked a little arrogance; it never came naturally to her. She caught his wounded look and awkwardly gave him a straight lipped smile, was he seriously using his looks to keep her there?

"If you do decide to go, I'll be forced to come with you." He pushed himself up, an action that surprised her, it made the journey to the door look slightly impossible, for he now looked more than capable to pursue her, maybe even drag her to the floor and pin her.

"Are you willing to risk hurting yourself?" She inquired keeping her voice void of frustration, if she didn't sound concerned enough for his well being he would never let her leave, if she didn't sound willing to come back.

"I'll take the risk honey."He stood to his full height, he wavered, his knees were buckling, she shocked herself at what she did next; weeks ago she would have happily witnessed him fall on his smug face, but now she was running to him, her front pressed against his, her arms tucked under his to steady him.

"Careful'" The word tumbled out of her mouth before she could stop herself, and Catrina sensed the tension in the muscles of his chest cavity, as if he was struggling to breathe. Was her presence affecting his inner demon. She reluctantly pulled back, face flushing. "Um, right, so...food." Coming back to reality, quickly catching his confused facial expression, which was a rarity. "So those vending machines I seen downstairs...they've gotta work, right?" She moved away from him, feeling the coolness return to her. She had to get away, she felt warm and confused with him, she almost couldn't trust herself anymore, knowing how his powers can create urges to benefit him. She recalled him saying 'he would protect her', but would he faulter if she willingly threw herself on him. It was crazy, she hated the man, she wasn't sexually attracted to people who forcibly took her from home.

Catrina's mother closed her cabin door behind her, her husband turned at the sound, and awarded her a strained smile. "Did you speak to Murphy?" She nodded and breezed forward, taking his hand.

"The question is what or who, could be doing this?" Every creak in the hallway behind her put her on edge, and she softened the tone of her voice to deter eavesdroppers "We might even have to go to shore."

Mike snapped, pulling out of her grasp. "No, no..and no! Don't you understand this is what he wants, this has...it's got to be Jack, it has to be!" Maureen shushed her husband, inching closer so he could feel her breath, to sooth his current aggressive state.

"Don't you think I might have considered that too. It's not just Jack that's against us here, it's over half of the underworld. Do you remember what I told you about Pavlov, and Robert's mother...the medium?"

Mike gave her a soulful look. "Yeah...messages from beyond the grave, yadda yadda yadda-"

"Then you'll know we have forces on our side, Catrina has a little protection." She stated, trying to convince herself as well as the man before her. "But what worries me is our crew, don't you think it's possible they don't want us to get there?" This played on her mind, it made her grow cold, her trusted friends could ruin everything, just because they were scared and wouldn't admit it. She was startled when dodge cleared his throat.

"Maybe we should call a meeting, instead of talking behind their backs?"

r&r