Sorry for the delay, I had some severe writers block and as a result, this chapter isn't too long and may be somewhat boring, but in conpensation for that, TWO friends of ours appears. Can anyone spot them out? ;)
Thanks to everyone who reviewed!: WulfLuvr22, Pirategirl, Written Angel, butterflyninja935, Pirategirl4ever, Ella Unlimited, Tsukiyomi Zakuro, WriterMonkey0626, Lyn9965 and Lauren (She reviewed several times on the same chapter! Thanks! LOL)
Chapter 26: Oasis II
"This is foolish! Inane! Stupid!" Angelica screamed at the pirate captain as he spread a map over the circular table inside his cabin, "Crowley and his men will shoot you down on sight, Jack. He may even torture you for breaking the treaty you agreed upon!"
He hardly bothered to give a response, "I sincerely doubt Crummy an' his lackeys will be leavin' any imperfections on me perfect skin."
Narrowing her eyes at his arrogance, she whirled around to the first mate, "Do something."
"Umm," Gibbs fidgeted uneasily where he stood, "ye already know the dangers, aye Jack?"
A hum of recognition vibrated from Sparrow's chest as he continued to chart the approximate arrival time for his desired route to England.
"The Cap'n knows what he wants, miss Angelica. Wishin' to change his mind ain't wise."
She swept a pile of withered maps and notes to the floor in a rage, "My concern is not just for your benefit! I will die as well if you sail to London, you buffoon!"
Gradually, his head rose so he could perceive the anger and anxiety which was clearly detailed on her visage. Moisture clung to her smouldering brown hues and the golden mocha skin of her cheeks began to redden slightly.
It seemed she wasn't fooling with him.
"Ye don' think I have a plan?"
"No, I don't."
Jack stood straight from his previous arched position over the table, "Yer underestimating me, Angelica." He smirked, "Have ye no faith?"
The brim of her lip began to quiver as she reasoned, "Crowley plans to marry that girl. Eventually, you must forget she ever existed because he will stop at nothing until she is completely his. Even a celebration will be held at Crowley's manor in several days to-"
"How do ye know somethin' like that?" Jack eyed her quizzically, "I thought ye were a prisoner on his ship, not a guest."
She froze in her place, scolding herself and her over-zealous tongue. Scowling, she rested a hand on her hip and confidently said, "I overheard two of his henchmen speaking about various details of the event.."
He did not respond as his gaze fell to the map again, some suspicions still rousing within him.
"You know.." Angelica came to his side, running a tempting finger along his back, "That girl, Katherine was it? It's possible that she may have feelings for the General. They have previous history together, just like you and I.."
Gibbs scowled; he didn't like where this was headed. He knew the captain of the Black Pearl all too well as both a friend and a colleague, and he was well aware that the lad was weak around beautiful women; especially ones with close connections to him.
"Perhaps she wishes to forget you. After all, she did seem the type of woman who could easily be taken advantage of. She could fall for anyone, Jack.."
Gibbs refused to listen to anymore of her blather about the young woman who held a daughterly nook in his heart, "Miss Katherine ain' like that. She be as pure as they come; with a heart o' gold. Nay the type ta' be swayed by anyone."
Jack knew his first-mate was right. Katherine was not one to change her will, even if someone were to propose a higher bargain.
"I know miss Katherine has high hopes and respect fer the Cap'n, which be a hard thing ta' find these days with all the trouble aroun'."
"Are you saying that I do not hold any respect for Jack?"
"I wouldn' be surprised if ye didn', miss.."
A fist clenched at her side, she prepared to launch it towards the older male, though she was interupted by Jack, "I can't have ye hittin' me first-mate, Angelica. I need im' fer piratey things and whatnot."
After a moment of tense atmosphere, she thundered out of Jack's cabin with a slam of the two doors following after her.
Gibbs released a build of oxygen that he had been withholding before questioning, "Are ye still going to find miss Katherine?"
Nodding, Sparrow dug through the pocket of his breaches and flipped open his compass. His dark eyes followed the point of the needle. North, was it?
"Ye do have a plan, aye..?"
"I do. Angelica mentioned a gathering at Crowley's manor," A golden grin developed on Sparrow's lips, "I plan to take advantage o' that."
Gibbs smiled fondly in memory, "The ol' disguise routine?"
The captain's expression fell, "I was thinkin' more along the lines of sneaking around the place until I found er'…"
It was silent between the two men for a moment or so.
"Jack, yer a fool."
He downed the remainder of rum before slumping in the chair with a pout, "Aye, the biggest o' fools."
.
In a matter of several days, the Pearl reached England and the town of London. Once docked at port, Jack was the first down the gangplank with Gibbs following closely after him. If they plotted to infiltrate Crowley's manor, they first needed to know where it was located.
The night-sky was a luminous and clear, meaning many people of London would be out enjoying the night; it would be simple to question various individuals for information on such an evening.
"Jack," The first-mate motioned his head to a gathering of people outside of a bustling shop. Absentmindedly, the captain nodded and the two men entered to find a pale redheaded woman clothed in a intricate dark gown standing behind a counter.
Gibbs noted that her dress happened to be covered in flour; was this a bakery of sorts?
"Ello' gents," She chimed; her voice heavy with an English flair, "may I get ya somethin' ta eat? I have warm meat pies for-"
Sparrow scanned around her shop idly while denying her offer, "No thanks, love. Listen, have ye ever heard of a man named Edward Crowley?"
The woman placed a finger to her lip and contemplated before she replied, "I can't say I 'ave, sir. Perhaps my collaborator may have? Lemme call 'im down for ya." She glanced up at the roof, "Mista' T!"
While they waited, both Gibbs and Jack sat impatiently at a table and sipped on gin. Eventually, a man with dark hair entered the shop; a razor in hand. Quite clearly a barber.
"What is it."
"These men 'ere are lookin' fer an Edward Crowley, have ye heard of 'im?"
A frown permanently etched onto his face, the barber sniped, "No, I haven't."
He returned to the doorway he had entered through, but then turned to face Sparrow, "…There is a district of lawbreakers not too far from here. The people there will surely know of the man you seek.. "
Just by sight alone, it was apparent to Jack that this man was also hiding from the law.
"Thanks mate," A golden grin developed over his lips as he saw a bit of himself in him, "we'll head there next."
Gibbs quickly thanked the redheaded woman for the gin before they left the pie shop. Striding down the cobble street, they entered a menacing alleyway inhabited by prostitutes, thieves, cutthroats and thugs of all kinds crowding the narrow passage as some less than noble acts took place in the shrouded area.
The taut line of Jack's jaw clenched while he complained, "Tha' blasted Crowley certainly has som-"
"Crowley, eh?"
They both halted in their steps at the ragged old voice which spoke from behind them, "Aye, mate. Crowley's the man we're lookin' for." Jack spoke as he gradually turned.
The male whom had spoken was flawlessly concealed in shadow. A slow, dark chuckle rang in the biting air as the man stepped forward into the flickering light of a nearby sconce; his boots clapping against the stones as he moved.
The light fully illuminated his face, "I suppose ye be needin' some assistance in killin' a man like 'im, don' ya Jack?"
Sparrow's mouth curled into a sneer as he eyed in distaste the person who stood before him, "Hector Barbossa, what the hell are ye doin' here.."
What are your thoughts on Barbossa's sudden appearance? What do you think will happen? What do you want to see happen? And what about Katherine? Tell me all of your thoughts and comments by clicking that little review button! :)