Misconception

Chapter 16

Isabella idly dipped her spoon in the bowl of broth while she stared at it. She was in the galley as well some of the crew. She would have been more at ease if Jack hadn’t been there, sitting across from her. He was talking and laughing with the crew like he had no care in the world while she was sitting there uncomfortable, like she was stepping on broken glass barefoot.
Jack’s booming laughter made her look up and what she saw made her flush immediately for even noticing it. His cheeks were flushed as he laughed at something Grog was telling him and he had his head thrown back while holding his stomach. He recovered fairly quickly and started talking again animatedly with him while making hand gestures. Not wanting to be caught looking, she averted her eyes and stared at her food again.
“What’s wrong, lass?” Gibbs broke her from her safe solitude and then every pair of eyes turned to stare at her.
“Um…nothing.” She said quickly, ducking her head as she felt Jack’s eyes on her as well.
“Perhaps I can cheer you up, darlin’. Want to pay a visit to me hammock?” a man spoke up and Isabella didn’t even know who he was. He was tall and quite young but he was scary with dark but charming features. She stiffened as the man leered at her but he quickly lost his grin when Jack’s hand came down hard against the table. The men jumped and turned to look at their Captain whose eyes were narrowed.
“You’ll be cheering up no one, Dan. Either you all return to your food or you’re excused to tidy up the hold and brig. It’s been getting quite dirty down there.” Jack’s smirk was cold and sharp and the men, including Dan, looked away from Isabella while mumbling to themselves.
Isabella breathed a sigh of relief when the attention was diverted from her and ate quickly in order to leave as soon as possible.
“Want me to walk you up?” Gibbs asked quietly as soon as she pushed back her bowl of half eaten broth.
“No, thank you.” She mumbled as she stood up and hurriedly exited the galley.
Jack watched her go and moments later he stood up and followed behind her in silence. He opened the cabin door just a minute after she had entered the cabin and she visibly stiffened at his entrance.
“Are you okay?” he asked simply as he pushed the door shut with his body, leaning against it.
“Fine.” She spoke quickly and he gazed at her.
“Is something bothering you?” he asked at last and she laughed humorlessly.
“I will pretend you didn’t even ask me that question.” She said as she turned her back to him, not wanting to look into his eyes because they were far too bewitching for their own good.
“Is it because of what we talked about five days ago?” he asked and he sounded far closer than she thought he was.
“You’ve been counting?” she asked surprised as she turned to face him. He shrugged, giving her a cheeky grin as he stepped even closer.
“What can I say? I’m an impatient man.” He smiled and she frowned.
“Well, you’ll be waiting for a long time so…” she trailed off and he cocked his head to the side.
“So your final answer is no?” he asked curiously and she felt her throat going dry.
“I…haven’t even started considering it.”
“Yet.” He grinned and she scowled.
“I just want to know why you would propose something like that. Do you think it’ll be interesting, amusing even?” she asked angrily and he frowned.
“Yes, I think it will be.” He said and she gaped at him.
“Why? Because you’ll get to do it with the little inexperienced girl? Think you can tell it as a story to your crew in order to amuse them like you did today?” she snapped and he stepped back slightly.
“That’s just stupid, love. I’d never tell anyone about you. Us.” He shook his head and she snorted.
“And do it? I mean really? You can call it sex, you know. It won’t hurt you.” He said and she felt her body temperature rising.
“I’ll call it whatever the hell I want. And stop pressuring me. This whole situation is stupid and ridiculous! And I really don’t understand what you’ll get from all this.” She spat but before she had the chance to walk away he gripped her wrist tightly.
“Don’t say it is ridiculous.” He murmured as he tugged her closer and leaned down towards her face, “I’d get you. Does that answer your question?”
“For a night. And you could get that any time you’d like it. From others.” She snapped and he grinned, his eyes shining.
“Who knows? Perhaps you’d come to like it.” He said, ignoring the rest of her words and she pushed him back, causing him to chuckle at her anger.
“You sound so sure of yourself.” She said in a steady voice even though her knees felt like they were ready to buckle from his intense stare.
“Always am, love. Always am. So don’t be quick to decide.” He leaned down suddenly and placed a sloppy kiss on her nose before he stepped back, chuckling at her disgusted expression.
“Ew! You still smell like rum!” she said while rubbing the wetness of his kiss from her nose. He winked and shrugged.
“I’ll be having dinner in me cabin with a guest tonight.” He said suddenly and she frowned.
“Guest? We’re in the middle of the sea.” She exclaimed curiously.
“Hmm. Joan’s will be coming over. I need to tame her down ‘cause she almost blew me hat off me head this morning with her pistol.” He frowned while patting his hat tenderly.
“I hadn’t realized she was that close by.” Isabella muttered and he grinned.
“She’s watching out for her money. Can’t blame her really.” He shrugged as he placed his hat on his head.
“Okay…I’ll just lie down for a while and then head down to the galley. I won’t be in your way.” She muttered as she turned to walk to the side cabin.
“You’re welcome to stay if you want. I don’t mind.” He called and she paused at the door.
“No, thanks.” She shook her head and he rolled his eyes.
“You’re no fun.”
“Thank God or you’d never leave me alone.” She sad sarcastically and he smiled at her.
“Hey, love.” He called and she waited, “Eat with me. I won’t bite. Neither will she.” He said softly.
“I doubt that she won’t. And I might say something stupid…Anyway, I have a lesson later on.” She said smugly and he frowned.
“Eh? What lesson?” he asked before she had the chance to escape again.
“Cotton’s going to teach me how to fish.” She said simply before she disappeared in her cabin.
Jack stared at the door with his mouth agape as an image of a wet, laughing Isabella trying to grab slimy fishes popped into his head. He licked his lips and glared at his cabin door.
“Bloody lucky mute bastard.” He hissed petulantly as he plopped down in his chair and looked solemnly at the maps in front of him.

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Isabella laughed at Cotton’s expression as she once again failed to follow his instructions. The old man glared at her and she patted his arm before she smiled.
“I’m sorry. Should I try again?” she asked and he nodded before he handed her the fishing stick.
Jack looked at them through his open cabin door while swirling his goblet of wine in his hand.
“Seems like you find looking at her a quite fascinating thing.” Joan spoke up from the other side of the table and he turned his gaze towards her.
“Can you blame me?” he asked with a raised eyebrow as he looked at Isabella again.
“Yes. What do you find in her? Don’t get me wrong; she is pretty, maybe too pretty for you but…what about the rest of it?” Joan asked and Jack rolled his eyes.
“Women need to be women, Joan.” He drawled before he took a sip from his wine.
“What does that mean?” her vibrant eyes flashed as she looked between the door and him.
“It means that feistiness and wildness is all good but a woman must have an air of vulnerability around her. It’s an instinct, you know? Men need to protect and teach.” he grinned widely and Joan scowled.
“So your taste has diverted towards feeble women now? I am surprised because you used to say that their kind is extremely clingy.”
“I was wrong.” He shrugged and she stared at him.
“So why is she not in the brig again?” Joan asked, changing the subject.
“Because.”
“That’s not an answer.”
“Of course it is. And it’s the only one you’re getting.” He replied with finality.
“Fine. So how does your whole scheme going?” she asked and he frowned.
“Scheme?”
“Aye. The kidnapping and all. Really, Jack I thought you couldn’t stoop that low. I mean kidnapping a girl?”
“She’s not a girl.” He scowled and Joan laughed.
“Oh, yes she is.”
“If she is then I must be considered a perverted ol’ bugger for the thoughts I’ve been having.” He murmured and Joan shrugged.
“She is too young for you.” She said and he huffed.
“You’re just jealous because little Jack hasn’t visited you for the last couple of years.” He smirked and she rolled her eyes.
“Keep saying that and you’ll believe it. Not that I’d have a problem getting together with him.” She smirked right back at him and he grinned.
“Is that an offer?” his left eyebrow went up and she chuckled.
“Sure.” She said simply and he inhaled sharply as his eyes roved her form before he relaxed back in his chair and shook his head.
“Can’t do.” He said with reluctance.
“Really? Why is that?” she asked surprised that he of all people declined.
“Well…I am experimenting with something here…” he said nonchalantly and she blinked.
“Can I ask with what?” she asked simply.
“Nope. Personal business.” He replied and Joan’s eyes went to Isabella who was currently clapping her hands excitedly.
“Not so personal.” Joan said as Jack’s eyes were immediately drawn to Isabella at the sound of her laughter, “I still think she’s too young for you.”
“Oh, shut it.” He snapped as he stood up, filled a goblet with wine and headed for the door.

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“Come on! You have to give me credit! I helped you catch those.” Isabella laughed as Gibbs took the basket of fish and headed for the galley, Cotton trailing behind him.
“Aye, lass. You did and he says thank you!” Gibbs called with a chuckle and Isabella smiled before she turned.
“Oh!” she collided with Jack and she reached up a hand to rub at her forehead. He rubbed his jaw and smirked at her.
“Collision.” He said with a chuckle as he offered her the goblet of wine. She looked at his hand with suspicion and he laughed, “It’s just wine, love. Since you didn’t accept me invitation and all.”
“Oh, thank you.” She said in a small voice as she took the wine from him and took a small sip. He looked at her as she drank and he smiled.
“Good?” he asked and she shrugged.
“I wouldn’t know. I have no idea about wines.” She said as she looked at the red liquid in her cup.
“Oh, Jack knows a lot about them. You should teach her, Jack.” Joan said as she came to stand behind Jack, a smirk on her face.
Isabella shifted uncomfortably while Jack glared at Joan.
“Weren’t you leaving?” he asked and Joan smiled.
“Of course. Good night and have a nice journey.” She said still smiling as she touched Jack’s arm and placed a quick openmouthed kiss on his closed mouth. He tensed and pulled his head back as he narrowed his eyes at her in warning.
Isabella looked away and took another sip of wine as she turned to look at the sea.
“Bye, Isabella.” Joan called as she landed on her ship, letting go of the rope she was using as leverage to jump.
Isabella turned and gave a small wave before she turned to Jack, “May I go in now?” she asked quietly and Jack nodded.
“Of course, darling.” He said quietly and she passed by him on her way inside.
Jack glared on last time towards Joan’s ship before he followed Isabella.
“There’s leftover food.” He motioned to the table and she shook her head.
“I already ate but thank you.” She replied as he shut the door. She placed the goblet on the table and turned towards him.
“So…I’m going to bed. Goodnight.” She said awkwardly as she turned to leave.
“Bella, wait.” He called and she paused.
“Yes?”
“About before, she and me…”
“You don’t have to explain yourself to me, Jack.” She said with a shake of her head, “I don’t care what you do.” She said coolly and he blinked, uncharacteristically bothered by the words.
“Oh. Alright. Glad to know.” He said crisply, “I am still waiting for an answer you know. Remember what you and I talked about?” he asked and she blinked slowly.
“I do. And I already have the answer. The answer is no. Goodnight, Jack.” She said quietly, almost too quietly before she turned and walked away, leaving him staring after her vacantly.

End of chapter 16