"They've got her," Jim said. And he heard Delbert over the phone. "If she gets hurt Jim I'll have your head, do you have any idea how hard it was to leave her?!" Jim said, "You don't love her." And with that he hung up the phone. He looked over at his second in command and nodded. "It's time to move," he murmured. And academy men filed out and surrounded the ship in the dry dock. They could hear some movement inside and Jim eased up and onto the deck as quiet as a mouse. The rest of his men followed suit and suddenly movement caught their eye. A mugger was on deck and Jim rushed him, caught his neck, and held him in a head lock. Pinning him until he stopped fighting and fell unconscious. Jim eased over to the captain's cabin and could hear Ryker talking to Lunette. "We're just using you to find your pa, we heard he's in town somewheres," he explained. "However if he doesn't get here soon, we will have some fun, how does that sound dearie?"
"Ryker I'll make sure you rot in the stocks!" Lunette threatened and Jim raised himself just enough to peer through a nearby window. He made his way around the the doorway and could just barely see them through the jarred door. "Really girl?' Ryker leaned in and slammed his mouth onto hers, stealing a ravaging kiss. Jim felt his anger wrap around him as he touched the door to the cabin. But before he could think, another hand grasped the door and ripped it wide open. "You get your filthy mouth off my daughter!" Jim's eyes went wide at the sight of Silver and Lunette yelled, "He's got a pistol! Watch out!" And the laser from the hand pistol went off, right after Jim tackled Silver down. "Are you crazy!" Jim yelled, "You're asking for an execution!" he growled. And he fired his own weapon, catching Ryker in the hand. Ryker froze in pain before he glared and took stepped over to Lunette and held a blade to her throat. "If either one of you attacks again, I'll kill her!" Silver froze as did Jim and Lunette held her head high, pulling her throat further away from the blade of Ryker's sword.
She gulped and her eyes met Jim's as fear finally overtook her. Jim set his pistol down and raised his hands. "Ryker, there's no need to bring her into this, you have what you want, Silver. She has no reason to be here anymore," he reasoned. Ryker chuckled and moved slowly away from Lunette with the blade pointed out to Jim. "You'll die here tonight trying to play the hero," he chuckled. Jim looked over at Lunette and saw her eyes flick just over his shoulder and she mouthed, Get down! And Jim hit the floor while Lunette threw herself over. And suddenly, Silver's hand cannon flew off one solid round taking Ryker down in an instant. And just like that it was set and done.
She felt her heart stop as the sound of his lifeless body falling flat beside her. She scrambled to roll up and away from it and she backed into a nearby wall. She panted for a good breath and her chest felt so tight it was like her heart was trying to break free from it's bonds inside of her. She gulped and could feel hot tears begin to pour out of her eyes. Lunette felt her tears falling uncounted as she watched Jim pulled himself up and off of the ground and walk over to her. He pulled her ties from her and pulled her free. She sat there and eyed him. "You used me as bait!" she snarled. Jim's eyes went wide, "What?" he asked. She frowned at him through her tears, "Why else would Delbert check on me before he left! He never has before!" she cried, "This whole thing was set up to catch him wasn't it?!" She hiccupped back a sob and cried. "Either way he was after you. And you would've been killed," he reasoned and her eyes narrowed, "So that gives you reason to be so…so irresponsible?!" her tears began falling, and she couldn't finish her sentence. He caught her hand with his and held it tight, "I'm sorry," he whispered, "please, you must understand that I was only protecting you and Silver."
"How could you not tell me you knew Ryker was after me!" she demanded. And finally her father said. "To protect you," he murmured. And he walked into the cabin and cupped her face and suddenly she realized what he had done. "You told me about Stella to make me get away from Jim!" she accused. Silver chuckled, "How smart like your ma you are." Her eyes widened and he wiped away her tears. "Come on lass, you'll be alright, alls apart of a pirate's life." She eyed him, "Father I am not a pirate!" Jim lifted her to her feet and she shoved his touch away. "Just bugger off!" she snapped. He sighed. "Don't be so ridiculous," he pressed. He pulled Lunette closer to him, and pulled her around to face him. "What do you think you're-"
He held her and as he pulled away her tears began to fall once more. She bit back her words. His blue eyes bore into hers and she gulped once more. "Lunette," he whispered and she shook her head. "Do you have any idea how miserable I've been for the past two days?!" she cried. He chuckled at her and cupped her face, "I watched you every hour, of course I know." Her eyes widened and she smacked her hands against his chest. "JIM!" she snapped and he smiled ruefully at her. "Lunette," he retorted. "I love you." Her eyes popped open and then narrowed, "Don't think that saying those words will make me not be upset with you because I-"
"Silver turn away," he ordered and Silver frowned before Jim caught her up and kissed her. He kissed her more than any man should in front of a woman's father, but damn it to hell he knew if he kissed her she'd love him again. She protested, he pulled away and she stared at him. "Jim," she whispered, and he knocked his nose to hers. "Yes?" His lips gently touched hers once more before he pulled away. He smiled that boyish grin. "I'm taking a two weeks to Tortucana, are you coming with?" And her teal blue water eyes smiled at him. "Of course." And finally he knew he had her, he held her tight and she tucked her chin over his shoulder as he lifted her up and held onto her. "I do love you Mister Hawkins," she murmured. And she slipped from his arms and he kissed those pert lips once more.