When love interferes

Disclaimer: I wish I could say I owned Pirates and Jack included, but sadly I can’t. And I don’t make any money by writing this…not that I don’t deserve it ;-)


Chapter fourteen: Oh, what a woman must suffer


It had been a month since Christine was abducted from the life she knew and cherished. It's true that she didn't live the best life, mistreated by her employer and paid same as nothing. All the long hours she had to endure, and didn't get paid a shilling. Besides all that she lived a very fulfilling life. She had her little hut by the sea, and though nearly starving she felt happy there. She had just met the commodore and her life had just begun to seem a bit brighter. That was before she was taken away. Now, kneeling on the deck, scrubbing the stains out of the wood, and soaking it so it wouldn't dehydrate and shrink, she felt all her memories come back. She missed James more than she could imagine possible and wanted nothing more than to see him again. Jack had over the passing week noticed that something was troubling her. She seemed to be in a very low spirit, but would never show her true feelings to the crew, not even him. Jack, feeling that this had been going on long enough decided to pay her a visit where she was scrubbing the stairs below the helm.

'' My tremendous intuitive sense of the female creature informs me that you are… troubled.'' Jack sat down in the stairs beside her.

'' Well then your intuition isn't very good.'' Christine replied as she kept on scrubbing.

'' My intuition has never failed me…so I know I be right.'' Jack said with a raised finger. ''So let's save ourselves some valuable time and spit it out lass. What's troublin' ye? ''

Christine looked at him, knowing that he would never give up. '' It's nothing…nothing that you care about at least.''

'' Why do ye say that luv…maybe I be just the right man ta talk ta...well it depends on the issue.''

'' It's not about ships or pirating so I doubt you can help me.'' Christine replied with a sad smile.

'' Who be sayin' I don't know anythin' related ta other things that ships and pirating…in yer case, love.'' Jack smirked.

Christine looked up at him shocked. '' Love? Why should this be connected to love?''

Jack smiled. '' 'Cause it is…don't ye think I've seen that look a dozen times before? Yer missin' yer man, the commodore.'' Jack rolled his eyes over the last statement.

'' I don't get what ye women see in those brats.'' Jack frowned.

Christine sighed heavily and stared out into the ocean. Jack moved closer to her, placing his arm around her shoulder.

'' Why do ye torture yerself by waitin' for some man that will never find ye? ''

'' Because I love him.'' Christine replied frankly.

Jack grimaced. He moved his hand further down her shoulder, closer to her bosom. '' Love…it comes and goes. You'll find a new man…a strong, handsome, fearsome, pirate captain with a ship and a crew and lots of rum.''

Christine felt his hand sliding lower and pushed him off her shoulder. '' You? Why should I pick you?''

'' Well ye're stayin' on me ship, eatin' me food, sleepin' in me bed…and ye obviously fancy me.'' Jack said with a golden grin. ''

'' So as a repayment for letting me use your facilities you want me to engage in a relationship with you? '' Christine said stunned.

'' If ye want ta call it that…'' Jack stood up, standing right in front of her. '' Ye're a pretty lass and it would be a shame ta waste that while ye wait fer yer prince charmin' ''

'' Waste what? My body? So you only want me for sex…I knew it…you men are all the same…'' Christine replied with a disgusted frown on her face.

'' Luv...that's puttin' words in me mouth. I never said I only wanted ye fer sex…but I admit that it is the pleasurable part of the arrangement.''

Christine couldn't believe her own ears. '' I can't do this now…'' She picked up her bucket and brush and headed downstairs. Jack stood by the helm grinning.

'' Eventually she will give into her longings…'' He walked over to his cabin, uncorking a new rum bottle and taking a large swig. '' She will come to her senses…'' He looked at his bottle. '' …in the meantime you will keep me company old friend.''

Christine went down to her cabin and put the bucket on the floor. Throwing herself on her bed she sighed. Men. Thoughts of James came racing to her head, where she was comparing him to Jack. James was a gorgeous man, tall and slender with the most beautiful emerald eyes she had ever seen. Courteous and gentlemanlike he treated her like a queen. Jack on the other hand was dangerously sexy, had the most stunning deep brown eyes that glowed with mischief and a flirtatious grin on his lips. He was neither courteous or gentlemanlike, but one gaze from him could turn any girl's legs into jelly. The remembrance of Jack's bare chest popped up in her mind, making her smile. Oh how it glowed! Her thoughts were interrupted by a knock on the door.

'' Christine…are you in there?'' The voice of Lucas was heard on the other side.

'' Come in.'' Christine offered as she put her hands under her head as she lay on the bed. Lucas opened the door and closed it behind him before sitting down on the bed beside her.

'' Why are you down here? Shouldn't you be up scrubbing?'' Lucas inquired.

'' No, I'm finished. I'm just resting now.'' Christine said with a smile. '' What about you…don't you have any chores to attend to?''

'' Yeah…I just wanted to see how you were doing.'' Lucas said with a smile.

'' Thanks…I'm fine, you don't have to worry about me.'' Christine closed her eyes.

Lucas watched her as she lay on the bed. She was so beautiful. He leaned down, pressing his lips against hers softly. When feeling his lips on hers, Christine's eyes shot up and she pushed him off her.

'' What are you doing?'' She inquired startled.

'' I'm sorry…I don't know why I did that…'' Lucas apologized. '' I just…you know…you told me nothing happened between you and the Captain…so I…I…''

'' We can't do this…I'm so sorry…I thought you knew…'' Christine said with a sympathetic frown.

'' I knew it…it had to be…Stupid! Of course she's with the Captain…'' He cursed himself for his ignorance.

'' No…it's not him…I have a man waiting for me in Port Royal.''

Lucas turned his head towards her. '' A man in Port Royal…but you live alone, there were no signs of another inhabitant in your hut.''

'' We don't live together…our relationship hasn't gone to that level yet. We've actually only known each other for two days…if you don't count the time we've been apart.''

'' Two days…and how can you be sure he hasn't given up on you? '' Lucas inquired surprised.

'' I don't…but I hope he is out there looking for me. I depend on it.''

Lucas gazed at her as she stood by the window. '' You must really love him.''

Christine turned her gaze away from the window. '' More than you think.''

'' I'm really sorry for kissing you…I had no idea…'' Lucas apologized.

'' It's alright…let's just pretend it never happened.'' Christine smiled to him.

'' Thanks…'' Lucas smiled back. '' Will this incident affect our friendship from now on? ''

'' Well, I guess it will be a bit more uncomfortable for us to interact, but we will still be friends.''

Lucas smiled.'' Great…I think I better go back upstairs…still have some chores to finish. You should take a bath or something…it might help you relax.''

'' That's a great idea…thanks Lucas.'' Christine smiled as he closed the door after him. '' A bath…that's not such a bad idea.'' She said to herself.

The tub was kept in one of the cabins below deck. It was a rather large wooden tub, one that Jack had pillaged from one of his trips to France. Christine went up on deck and threw a bucket with a string attached to it into the ocean. Not much water came from every bucket so it took a while to fill the tub. In the end she had some of the crew helping her transporting water from the deck down to the cabin where the bath was positioned. When the tub was full she slowly started undressing, throwing her clothes on the floor beside the tub. Sticking her toe in the water it was freezing. With some determination she managed to sit down in the cool water, which felt quite nice after a few minutes. Reaching for the soap she brought with her she started rubbing it, making it turn into a white froth in her hands. Applying the froth to her legs and other parts she rubbed away all the dirt that had gathered on her skin. Once cleaned she lay back, relaxing her muscles in the semi-warm water. Forgetting the time and place she fell asleep in the tub, but awoke a few minutes late when a dark male voice spoke to her.

'' I see ye be quite comfortable in there…mind if I join?''

Christine quickly tried to cover herself with her hands. '' What are you doing here! Get out!''

Jack grinned, enjoying the view he had on her body underneath the water.'' There be no need ta cover up luv…I can see it all from here anyways.''

Christine's jaw fell to her chest.'' Get me a towel. NOW!''

Jack chuckled and reached down to the floor, picking up the towel Christine had left there. '' Calm down luv…there be nothin' there I haven't seen before.''

Christine ripped the towel out of his hands and wrapped it around her body. '' And you never will again! Why are you here….other than to ogle at me?''

Jack grinned. '' Luv…I got worried. The crew told me ye were down here…and had been there for a while…''

Christine narrowed her eyes at him and stepped out of the tub. '' You got worried? That I might drown?'' She questioned.

'' Ye never know what a woman is capable of…'' Jack grinned. '' And I've always wanted ta see ye naked…seemed like the perfect time.''

Christine could feel the anger boil inside her. '' Get out! I need to get dressed.'' Jack didn't move. '' Are you just going to stand there? Get out!''

'' I'd rather stay here…wouldn't like to miss it for the world.'' Jack said with a smirk.

Christine huffed as she picked up her clothes, revealing her thighs to him as she bent over. Jack grinned and leaned a bit backwards, hoping to get a glimpse of something more exciting. Christine caught him peeking under her towel.

'' JACK! How dare you!'' She slapped him in the face, leaving a red mark on his cheek. '' If I ever catch you again doing that…you will be sorry you rescued me.''

Jack grinned, though feeling the sting in his cheek. '' Let's see about that…how about tomorrow night in me cabin.'' He winked at her.

Christine huffed and stormed away, slamming the door behind her. She headed to her cabin, but met a few of the crew on the way. Ogling at her, some whistling, they fantasised about seeing what was hidden behind that towel. Christine, feeling quite uncomfortable rushed through the crowd and pushed her way to her cabin. Once inside she slammed the door and locked it.

'' James Norrington…you are so dead when I find you!''