Proffitable Affairs

Disclaimer: I do not own Pirates of the Caribbean.

Chapter 16

Jack shut the door to his cabin and paused just in front of it. The deep frown on his face betrayed his confused emotions, but luckily enough there was no one around to see it. He felt like his head was about to explode from thinking. The damn map was playing tricks on him. As the days had passed it had slowly developed to the right place and then all of a sudden the damn thing decided to change bearings and more land and water appeared at the bottom of the parchment. That left the center of the map blank. He bloody needed the center to get to the damn Fountain.
Jack groaned inwardly and rubbed his eyes as he took a few steps towards the rail. He placed his hands on his hips and sighed as his eyes scanned the dock. Two figures caught his attention and he settled his gaze on them.
“What the…?” he trailed off as he spotted Gibbs with Mary. He was showing something just above the ship and she was quite focused on what he was telling her. Jack looked up, but he didn’t see anything. He frowned and looked at them again. Mary was smiling and nodding her head as Gibbs spoke with hand gestures.
“What in bloody hell is he showing her?” Jack wondered out loud, trying to push away the feeling of envy that came over him. She never smiled like that in his company. What was so bloody entertaining? Gibbs wasn’t supposed to be entertaining; he was supposed to be the one she would smile at, not his bloody first mate.
Jack’s nostrils flared and his expression turned even sourer as he watched them. His hands gripped the rail tightly and he was ready to spoil their obvious fun by a biting remark when he hard footsteps behind him. The footsteps stopped just a few inches from his back and then he felt a hand on his shoulder.
“Jack?” The voice was definitely feminine.
“Aye?” He asked as he turned around and his eyes widened in surprise.
“’Lizabeth?” he asked with a frown and she nodded.
“Good evening. I saw you were up here alone.” She said as she fidgeted. Jack’s eyebrows went up at that.
“Oh? And?”
“I was hoping to speak with you in private.” She said as she cleared her throat.
“I was actually ready to join me wife for a stroll.” He lied with a smirk.
“It won’t take long.” Elizabeth insisted and he sighed in annoyance.
“I don’t think we have anything to say.” He said wearily as gazed at her. Her blonde hair was falling in front of her face as the wind blew and she stood there nervously. He wondered what she wanted. She was always so proud and unyielding.
“I have.” She replied and he became interested.
“Have you? Too bad I’m quite busy to-…”
“Busy with what? Giving the puppy dog eye look at your…wife?” she asked and he inhaled sharply.
“What I give or don’t give to her is not any of your business.” He stated crossly and chuckled.
“Fair enough. Can we talk now?”
“You’re here. I am here. Talk.” He waved a lazy hand towards her direction.
“Not here…”
“Why not? Are you planning to seduce me?” He asked with a raised eyebrow and lopsided grin. She looked away briefly before she spoke.
“Someone might hear.” She said and with a huff of annoyance he waved his hand towards his cabin.
“After you, your highness.” He said sarcastically but she chose to ignore it and together they headed for the cabin. Jack closed the door soundly behind him.

oOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOo


“How is it that you know so much about stars, Mr. Gibbs?” Mary asked as she looked curiously at the man next to her.
“I’m a sailor, lass. When in the sea you need to know about the stars, the wind, the sea. Everything is important.” He said with a shrug.
“I wouldn’t be able to learn any of this.” She laughed and he chuckled.
“Oh, I am sure you would. I bet you were an excellent student.”
“Well…I was when I wanted…” She trailed off.
“Hmm…Were you lazy?” he asked and she shook her head.
“I was unhappy as a child and that made me weary of everything.” She murmured as she looked at the ship with far away eyes.
“Father or mother?” Gibbs asked and she rubbed the back of her neck nervously.
“My father…I suppose we never had the best of relationships…I never understood why he…” she trailed off, deep in thought.
“They decided to have me. It’s not my fault that I exist.” She said after a while and Gibbs grimaced.
“No fault of yours, lass.” He murmured and nodded.
“I know. I guess things got worse when he realized that I wouldn’t be getting him a wealthy son-in-law. As you may have heard him say I am not-well, I wasn’t- a popular choice for a bride.” She said with a chuckle.
“Why would you want to be married?” Gibbs asked with a shudder and she looked at him.
“I-…I don’t know. But I am, am I not? And what a strange marriage I have.” She said with a frown.
“Could be worse.” The older man commented and she looked at him.
“I know…I’ve heard.” She whispered as she rubbed her arms.
“Want to go back?” He asked, but she shook her head.
“I’ll just stand here for a while.” She whispered and Gibbs frowned.
“Are you sure?” he seemed reluctant to go and she nodded.
“Alright, I have to go buy something. If you need anything yell. Cotton’s on watch at the helm.” Gibbs said as he patted her back.
“I will.” She chuckled and with a last nod he walked away, leaving her alone with her thoughts.

oOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOo


An hour later, she decided it was time to get back to the ship. On her way up the gangplank she met with Gibbs.
“What are these?” she asked with a laugh and he smiled.
“Umm, rum, rum… and more rum.” He said as he took a bottle and handed it to her.
“For the Captain.” He explained and she nodded her understanding.
“I fear this won’t be enough, but anyway…” she mumbled as she continued walking.
When she was in front of the door she frowned. She hadn’t seen Jack all evening. Maybe he was sick? Her hand touched the door and she carefully pushed it over in fear of waking him up if he wasn’t feeling well.
Since when do I care if he’s sick or not? She wondered as she poked her head through the door. The cabin was strongly lighted and when she moved a little bit forward she saw Jack and he was not alone. He was standing up next to his desk while gripping tightly onto…a woman’s wrist. Mary frowned deeply at the scene, but didn’t move to make her presence known. The woman turned slightly and Mary was able to make out her profile. Her eyes widened when she realized that the woman was Elizabeth…What was her name?
“I fear that you’re not in your right mind, Mrs. Turner.” Jack’s voice cut through the silence.
“I am being serious-…”
“You’re being ridiculous and foolish!” Jack snapped as he still held onto the woman’s wrist.
“I am not. You have something I want and I can give you something that you want.” The woman’s voice shook slightly.
Mary could see Jack’s smirk clearly.
“Oh, really? I wonder what dear William would say.” He murmured as his hand left her wrist to slide up the blonde woman’s arm with deliberate slowness.
“I wonder what he would think of his virtuous bride if he were to know of her anything but virtuous proposal.” He said huskily as his hand reached her shoulder and started playing with a lock of her hair.
Mary almost gasped at the intimacy of Jack’s gesture and she could do nothing but stare at her husband’s hand as it toyed with the woman’s hair. The image they made together was magical and at the same time devastating for Mary. She didn’t have a right to feel anything, but at the moment she wasn’t so sure that she didn’t. She didn’t have a claim on Jack and she never would. Swallowing hard, she made to step back, but she stopped when the woman spoke again.
“I will be doing it for him.” Elizabeth said and Jack’s hand stilled in her hair.
“And what made you think that I want what you have to offer? What ever gave you the idea that the whelp’s leftovers would interest me?” Jack’s voice was terribly low and hoarse.
“I am trying to make an exchange, Jack-…”
“Exchange? No, no, love.” He chuckled as he stepped back from her and shook his head.
“Nothing that you can give me can ever compare to what I have right here.” He patted his desk drawer for emphasis.
“Believe me when I say that I could get the…attentions you offer for free.” He continued and Mary’s eyes widened.
What is going on? He doesn’t mean… She trailed off.
“We can share.” Elizabeth said suddenly and Jack looked at her bemused.
“Share? I don’t share, dear Lizzie.” He said coldly.
“But I need the Fountain-…”
“I don’t care what you need!” Jack billowed suddenly and Mary almost dropped the bottle she was holding.
“Why would I? You left me to die. There’s nothing you can give me to make me change me mind. Save your words for those who care enough to listen to them.” He hissed as turned away from her in anger.
Die? She thought and she could see Jack’s hands curling into fists by his sides.
“Jack…”
“Out.” He ground out and Mary was surprised. Wasn’t she the woman he wanted? Why was he throwing her out? A part of her was glad, but her other part felt bad for the woman.
“I-…”
“I said out!!” Jack whirled around and glared at Elizabeth.
Mary was quick enough to move back from the door, but she didn’t make it far. She had barely taken a few steps from the door when Elizabeth walked out. Their eyes met and Mary was the first one to look away.
“I’m sorry.” The taller woman muttered to her before she walked past Mary.
Mary frowned at the apology, but she didn’t have enough time to think it over. A loud crush erupted from the cabin and she jumped. She walked back to the door and entered the cabin. Broken pieces of glass was all around the floor and Jack had his back turned to her as he sat in his chair with his hands rubbing furiously at his temples. His head turned towards her when she stepped onto the pieces of shuttered rum bottles and she stilled.
His dark eyes locked with hers and for a moment she couldn’t breathe. It was obvious that he was furious.
“I…” She trailed off and Jack briefly narrowed his eyes before he pushed back his chair and started advancing on her.
“Jack, I-…” she was cut off by his hand that curled around her hair in a fist and tugged her closer to his hungry mouth. He crushed her to him tightly as his lips opened above hers and his tongue slid into her gasping mouth. The bottle slid from her hand and shuttered against the floor at their sides along with the rest of the glass, but neither of them seemed to care. Her hands flew to his coat in order to steady herself as he plundered her mouth mercilessly. Slowly, but steadily, she gave into him and he groaned lustfully as his hand found its way into her bodice. Mary gasped against his moving mouth and gripped him tighter as he pushed his body hard against hers in an attempt to get closer. He broke the kiss to take a breath before his mouth was on hers again. His hand left her breast to slide behind her. It skimmed up and down her back for a few seconds before it slid down to her bottom, using it to push her pelvis into him. He moaned hoarsely at the friction it created between them and broke the kiss to mumble her name.
“Mary…” His voice was choked and hoarse and it did little to the wild beating of her heart.
The sound broke her from her daze and she wiggled in his arms until he reluctantly loosened his hold on her. Her hands pushed against his chest and she broke any contact he had established by moving out of his arms. He swallowed hard and before she had the chance to speak, he turned and walked out of the cabin, slamming the door behind him. The only sound she heard afterwards was the thudding of his boots upon the deck as he walked away and off the ship.

End of chapter 16