Proffitable Affairs

Chapter 11

Gibbs hesitantly knocked on the cabin door, but when he received no answer he slowly pushed the door open and walked inside. The cabin was quite dark, but he could still see Mary on the bed, surrounded by her cocoon of covers.
“Eh…lass?” he asked and there was movement on the bed as Mary turned her head towards his direction.
“Who is it?” she asked as she held a self made compress against her forehead.
“It’s me Gibbs. The captain sent me to check on you, lass.” He said with sympathy.
“Oh…Where is he?’ Mary asked in a hoarse voice since her throat felt a bit funny too.
“He’s at the helm. You need something?” Gibbs asked as he approached the bed.
“Yes…could you please soak this again, It’s too hot.” She asked weakly as she stretched out her hand to hand him the wet cloth.
“Of course.” Gibbs said quickly, pity feeling his gut for the young woman. She looked positively ghastly.
“It hasn’t gone down at all?” he asked as he returned with the compress and she shook her head. She made to take it from his hand, but he stopped her.
“I’ll do it.” He said gently as he placed the soaked white cloth on her forehead. Mary shuddered at the coldness, but she was glad for it. She pushed the covers down and she rubbed her eyes which felt heavy.
“Is he afraid that he might catch my cold?” she asked and Gibbs shifted uncomfortably.
“He has to man the ship, lass.”
“All day?” she asked quietly and the man sighed.
“He-…Don’t get him wrong, it’s just how he acts. He’s always…” he thought for a proper word.
“Insensitive?” she offered as her lower lip trembled slightly.
“I was going for improbable actually.” Gibbs said as he moved back and looked at the empty glass on the nightstand.
“More water?” he asked and she nodded once.
“Yes, thank you.” She murmured and he smiled quickly.
“He told me to ask you what you want to eat. The cook can make you something warm.”
“I am not hungry.” She said while shaking her head.
“But you must be hungry. You’ve been here since yesterday.” Gibbs frowned.
“I don’t want to eat. I can’t eat with this fever.” She said as she closed her eyes.
“But-…”
“Thank you for your concern, Mr. Gibbs. Clearly you’re the only one who had the decency to visit me. If I am hungry I’ll eat something. Right now all I want to do is stay here.” She said and he winced when she started coughing.
“Some tea would be good for this.” She said between coughs and he grimaced.
“No tea aboard a pirate ship, lass.” He said and she rolled her eyes.
“I knew that already. I was just making a point.” She muttered as she readjusted the compress.
“Okay…I have to go. If you need anything, yell.” He was reluctant and she blinked.
“Yell? I don’t think I can, but I’ll try.” She said as she turned onto her side and shut her eyes.
Gibbs walked out of the cabin shaking his head.

*********************************
Hours later, the cabin door opened, waking Mary from her sleep. She turned her head and her bleary eyes locked with Jack’s. He shut the door and walked over to her with a bowl of food in his hands and a strange, unreadable expression on his face.
“Gibbs told me you haven’t eaten.” He said simply as he held out the bowl for her to take. Mary turned onto her back and sat up, the compress falling from her forehead in the process to pool at her lap.
“I can’t eat.” She said without looking at him.
“You will eat or I’ll force-feed you if I have to. It’s stew and it’s warm.” He said sternly as he took hold of her hand and placed the bowl on her palm. Mary shuddered at the loss of the covers from around her and she fought to keep the bowl from shaking too much in her hold. Jack stepped back from the bed and removed his coat as he headed for his desk. He placed his compass on top of the maps and looked at her out of the corner of his eye as she tried to eat. It was obvious that the fever hadn’t lessened at all for her hands were shaking like leaves in the wind. Her face was flushed and her hair clung to her face. She was making quite an image, but all Jack could think was that she looked… adorable.
He frowned deeply at the thought.
Adorable? Since when do I find weakness attractive? Do I want her to be dependent to me?
He ventured another look towards her and saw her lowering the spoon in defeat.
Yep. I do. He concluded mortified as the thought of actually helping her eat made his stomach flip quite pleasantly.
He cleared his throat and approached her again.
“Need any help?” he asked and she looked up at him in hesitation.
“What if do?” she asked hoarsely and he shrugged.
“I can help if that’s the case.” He said casually and she scowled.
“No, thank you.” She declined as she sighed and placed the bowl of soup on her lap.
Jack rolled his eyes and sat on the bed making it bounce before he reached for the bowl.
“Hand it over.”
“No.”
“Hand it over, Mary.” He insisted as he tried to pry the bowl away with little success.
“I said no-…”
“For the love of the sea, woman!” he snapped as he slapped her hand away and took the stew, “What’s wrong with you? You’re acting like I’m attacking you or something. I just want to bloody help you eat.” He said with a scowl and she looked away.
“Why?” she asked with a hiss as she turned towards him. He was taken aback.
“I…” he faltered, “I don’t happen to want to hurt you, Mary.” He said, refraining from calling her any of his pet names. She would not be glad if he used one, he was sure.
“Then where have you been all day?” The question came out as more of a whine than an actual inquiry.
Jack resisted the urge to grin at her wounded expression.
“I have a ship to run you know. I can’t sit all day long.” He said as a matter of fact and she swallowed hard.
“Fine.” She muttered as she looked at her lap.
“Stop sulking and open up.” He commanded and she looked up startled to find him aiming a spoonful of stew towards her mouth.
“Sulking? I don’t sulk.” She protested and he didn’t answer; he simply looked at her expectantly. Suppressing the urge to hide behind her pillows, she parted her lips and he delivered the first spoonful of food. Many more followed until she pushed his hand away and shook her head.
“Enough.” She managed after swallowing the more than salty stew.
“Good?” he asked as he placed the bowl on the nightstand and looked at her.
“Too much salt.” She complained as she reached for the glass of water only to have him beat her to it. He handed her the water and smirked.
“What is food without salt, hmm?” he asked and just before she raised the water to her lips, he reached with his hand and swept his finger over the corner of her mouth. Mary froze, but he simply grinned.
“Stew.” He explained as he pulled his finger back and cleaned it with his lips and tongue, all the while looking at her.
Mary was sure that her face would explode from the embarrassment, but she simply drank her water while looking away from him and his devious eyes.
Jack wanted to chuckle, but he stopped himself. She would not appreciate that, but her discomfort was more than just amusing.
He reached for his feet and removed his boots before he sat on the bed, bringing his feet under his knees.
“Do you perhaps want to discuss your anger towards me?” he asked as he took the glass from her.
“I am in no mood to discuss anything right now.” She said weakly as she collapsed on her pillow and stared at the ceiling.
Jack looked at her for a moment before he leaned down and placed his cheek against her burning forehead, shocking her.
“We need to bring down the fever.” He murmured as he continued feeling her skin.
“You need to take a bath.” He said suddenly as he stood up from the bed and walked over to the cabin door. She heard him shouting something and soon enough a tub was resting in the middle of the cabin. A couple of crewmen carried water in buckets and when they were alone again, Jack tugged the covers from her body and she yelped.
“Jack!”
“That’s me name. Now stand up, kitten, and remove your clothes.” He said as he rolled up his sleeves casually.
“No way!” she said in a high pitched voice and he looked at her bored.
“What now?”
“I am not having a bath in front of you.” She shook her head mortified.
“Why not? I have seen enough, remember?” he asked with a lopsided grin.
“No! I will not get naked in front of you!” she almost yelped and he rolled his eyes.
“Very well.” He muttered as he marched over to her and pulled her to her feet with a potent yank. His hands bunched up her night dress and once she was standing in front of the tub he yanked the clothing from her, ignoring her complains. He dropped the night dress and pointed at the tub with a ringed finger.
“Shut it and get in.” he said firmly and the fact that she was trembling from the cold made her forget the fact that he was watching her naked body and she got inside the tub, shivering as she did so. Jack looked at her as she sat down and then placed a hand inside the water, just next to her knee.
“How’s the temperature?” he asked and she didn’t look at him as she answered.
“Fine.” She mumbled and he removed his hand, ignoring her offended expression.
He walked over to a cabinet and started going through it before he produced a bar of soap. He threw it towards her and she failed to catch it. It fell inside the tub under her thighs and she had to look around for it. Jack watched her and he had the chance to gaze at her bare back.
“I don’t know what you’re blushing about. You’re officially me wife. I could do more to you than just watch you wash yourself.” He stated matter-of-factly and she looked up at him in shock.
“What?” she whispered as she froze in washing her arms.
“Oh, my, you look so scandalized.” He chuckled as he approached the tub and squatted down next to it, “Why?” he asked with slightly narrowed eyes.
“I thought you said this was an agreement, not an actual marriage.” She said shakily, not knowing if she should feel scared or excited about his statement.
“I never said anything of the sort, love. As far as I am concerned this could be a highly beneficial agreement. For the both of us.” He said as his eyes swept over her quickly.
“Jack, this is highly inappropriate.” She said as she resumed washing her hands.
His laugh startled her and she looked at him.
“Inappropriate? I doubt that. You couldn’t tell inappropriateness even if it bit you in the arse. Me on the other hand…” he said as he ran a casual hand over the water, “I could say and do lots of inappropriate things.” He winked and she slapped his hand away from the water.
“Stop it, Jack.” She whispered and he frowned at her expression.
“What did I say? You’re a grown up woman not-…”
“A child. I know. Now, could you please hand me something to cover myself?” she asked hoarsely and he sighed, but didn’t push her more.
He handed her a long robe he found in her chest of belongings and handed it to her.
“Turn?” she said and he huffed.
“I was wrong. Age doesn’t make you a woman. You’re the living proof.” He muttered and her eyes narrowed in anger, her fever long forgotten.
“What’s that supposed to mean?” she snapped and he turned, not caring if she was covered or not.
“It means that you need to stop blushing at me every word, kitten. I can’t deny that it’s charming coming from you, but it can get tiring after a while.” He said as he crossed his arms over his chest.
“Why are we even having this conversation? You don’t even like me.” She said as she sunk further into her robe, “Not that I do.” She quickly added and he nodded with a raised eyebrow, obviously amused.
“Alright.” He said and he raised his hands up in surrender as he slowly approached her. He looked at her upset face before he leaned his face towards her ear.
“Just saying that perhaps we should both benefit from our little situation. You might learn something and me…” he trailed off dramatically, “Let’s just say that it is quite a long time between ports.” He said, hoping it would agitate her enough to bring a response out of her. However, she remained positively still and silent at his huskily whispered words and moved back from the brush of his lips against her ear.
“Thank you for your help.” She said quietly as she made her way towards the bed with shaky legs. She didn’t know if she should feel fluttered or offended by his blunt offer. One thing was for certain after his little speech; he didn’t care. He simply wanted to gain something more from their agreement. But why? Why would he want her? But then why had he helped her with the food and bath?
All those questions kept swirling in her mind as he made himself comfortable next to her on the bed and closed his eyes to sleep. Needless to say that his words and snores kept her awake that night.

End of chapter 11