Misconception

Chapter 17

“Mr. Gibbs, that’s filthy.” Isabella shuddered as she watched the older man’s stained shirt.
“Nay. I washed it.”
“Really? How?” she asked with a face of disgust.
“With sea water of course!” he exclaimed and Isabella paused.
“Salt makes the dirt worse. It sticks on the clothes and…and has that result.” She pointed at his soiled shirt.
“Bugger! Is that why all me shirts are ruined?” Grog exclaimed from behind them and Isabella turned to him.
“The answer to that would be yes.” Isabella laughed at their crestfallen expressions.
“Could you do something about that?” Gibbs asked slowly and she shrugged.
“I’d need soap for that.” She said and Cotton eagerly poked Gibbs’ arm and then pointed towards the stairs.
“Oh, aye! We might have some of that!” Gibbs said enthusiastically as he went in search of the precious soap.
Isabella looked at her own dress and shook her head. Her own clothes needed a good wash. She wondered how Jack kept his clothes clean…well relatively clean. Perhaps he had someone in Tortuga who….
Don’t even go there. Her inner voice warned and she shook her head.
“Will you wash mine too?” Grog asked while blinking rapidly.
“Um…sure.” Isabella agreed reluctantly.
“Mine too?” Jim asked as he poked his head through the stairs.
“Okay…” Isabella trailed off and the men grinned.
“Thanks, lass.” They both said before they hurried to fetch their clothes.
“Oh, God…what have I gotten myself into?” she muttered as she headed for the cabin.
She opened the door and passed by Jack who was at his desk looking at his maps with such a face of extreme puzzlement that it was almost funny. He didn’t look up as she passed by him and went to her cabin. She grabbed her second, dirtier dress and made to leave when she paused. Her eyes widened as she looked at the door…well the place where her door previously existed. Where was her bloody door!? It had been there a few hours ago.
She pursed her lips and walked out of the small room.
“Jack.” She called and the pirate briefly looked up at her before he looked down at his compass.
“Aye? How can I be of help, Bella?” he asked and she pointed towards her room.
“Where is my door?” she asked and when he didn’t look up she slammed her hand against his desk. Looking as if he was bored as hell, he gazed up at her expectantly.
“I am talking to you, Jack! Where is my door!? My previously damaged door.” She seethed and he shrugged.
“It was damaged like you said so, I got rid of it.” He said calmly and her eyes widened impossibly.
“You what? Why did you take my door?” she exclaimed and he leaned back in his chair.
“Technically it was my door, darlin’, so I did what I thought was best.” He stated and she felt her cheeks heating with anger.
“I am sleeping in there! How in hell am I supposed to have some privacy now that you decided to remove the door from my cabin?”
“That door was squeaking and it was bothering me at nights. Besides you don’t need a door. I barely come to your cabin so you have no fear of exposing your virtuous assets to me lecherous eyes.” He said with grin before he leaned towards his maps again.
“That’s not the point! I need the door. It gives a sense of security. I want it back.” She hissed and he rolled his eyes.
“Again, you are in position to demand anything. You’re me prisoner or have you forgotten that part?” he asked as he placed one leg on his desk.
“That is not fair! The door was barely squeaking! Your reasoning is absurd!” she looked at him with angry grey eyes and he only smirked.
“Life’s not fair, love. Deal with it. Now, I heard that you’ve taken over laundry. Me clothes are over there.” He pointed towards his bunk, “Be a sweetheart and wash them for me.”
“I am not doing your laundry!” she cried in indignation and he stood up. He walked to his bunk, picked up his clothes and walked to her. He placed them roughly in her hands and slipped his hand to the back of her head. His fingers threaded through her hair and he used his grip to pull her close to his face.
“Yes, you are if you don’t wish to return to the brig where you rightfully belong. Savvy?” his voice was low as he stared into her angry eyes.
“Perhaps you should put me back there then because there’s no way in hell that I’m doing anything for you!” She hissed as she pushed him back, threw his clothes at him and exited the cabin with a slam of the door.
Only when she was away did he allow the amused chuckle to escape his lips. He shook his head, picked up his clothes and threw them in a chest, grin still in place.
“Good girl.” He murmured as he returned to his desk and propped his feet up on his desk. He reclined back in his chair lazily as more quiet laughter shook his body.

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Isabella fluffed her pillow and angrily lay back down. She crossed her arms over her chest and turned into her side, facing the door. The bed croaked loudly in protest and she winced at the sound and the dangerous sway that came along with it. She listened to Jack’s footsteps and saw his shadow as he walked. She rolled her eyes and groaned.
A book landed on her belly all of a sudden and she yelped.
“Did it get you?” he called as he poked his head through the threshold.
“No.” she scowled as she picked up the book and then looked at him. Her eyes widened at the sight of him shirtless. If he noticed her stare he didn’t comment on it.
“Yeah, I thought you’d be glad if I gave you one of me books.” He shrugged, “And then perhaps you’d stop possessing the extreme desire to kill me?” he offered as he crossed his arms over his chest and leaned against the frame.
She looked away from his tanned skin and swallowed.
“Thank you, I guess.” She murmured and he grinned.
“You’re welcome, love.” He said amused.
“What happened to your shirt?” she asked before she could stop herself.
“Had to give them to Cotton. They needed to be washed and since you didn’t oblige me…” he shrugged and she cleared her throat.
“Right. Thank you for the book.” She said shortly as she opened said book and started flipping through its pages.
“You’re welcome, love. You’re welcome.” He said quietly as he walked away, “Oh and be careful with that bunk. Doesn’t sound well to me.” He called and her eyes widened. The last thing she needed was for her bed to collapse.
After that she had to watch him sharpening his sword and cleaning his boots while shitting in the floor just a few feet away from her threshold, shirtless.
Great.

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She was gazing at the water when she felt a hand tapping her shoulder. She turned her head and gazed at Jack who waved at her. Her eyes narrowed and he raised his hands up in surrender.
“Just wanted to see if you’d like to accompany me to the helm? It’s quite a nice day.” He said simply and sighed.
“Do I have to?” she asked and he groaned.
“No, you don’t have to. But I’d like you to.” He said with his hands on his hips. She pushed back from the railing and brushed past him to go to the cabin.
“Why?” she asked as he followed close behind her.
“Do I need to have a reason to want a pretty girl at me side?” he grinned at her back as they entered the cabin.
“Yes.” She said simply as she stopped walking and turned to face him. He staggered slightly at her abrupt turn but then smirked.
“Trust me I do not need a reason. You need to relax, love. I am not around here to get you. No matter what you think.” He said as he reached over and fingered a stray lock of her hair. Isabella didn’t flinch back and he grinned as he gently tucked it behind her ear.
“I don’t think anything. And you need to stop thinking that I am like this because of what happened…before. I am not. I simply don’t trust you, Jack. With anything.” She said and his hand fell from her hair.
“So, you’re telling me that you’re not angry with me for bedding you that night and that the only thing that keeps you away is your distrust?” he asked and she simply nodded, “Wow, that’s even worse.” He muttered and she frowned.
“No, it’s not.” She shook her head and he cocked his head to the side.
“Explain.” He said simply and she smiled gently as she took a step closer to him. Jack’s eyes widened slightly at her close proximity and his body tensed with excitement.
“You can earn my trust, Jack. If you tried you’d find out that it’s quite easy actually.” She said quietly as she fleetingly touched the lapel of his worn coat. He visibly gulped and the fingers of his right hand found her hand and grasped it just as she tried to move it away from his coat.
“Since that is so…perhaps you could give me a clue because I honestly don’t know what to do.” He said hoarsely and she chuckled softly.
“The infamous Captain Sparrow doesn’t know what to do? That’s shocking.” She smiled as she tried to pull her hand back.
“Perhaps if you’d stop being suspicious of me every move would make it easier to trust me, Bella.” He said as he tugged her hand to his mouth and turned it over. He pressed an openmouthed kiss at her palm and she swallowed hard.
“I-…” she was cut off by a loud yelp and a crushing sound that came from the side cabin.
Isabella jumped back from Jack with wide eyes, “What was that?” she asked and he narrowed his eyes before he stomped towards the side cabin.
“Eh, sorry, Cap’n. It was just ol’ me.” Grog said as he gazed up at Jack from his place on Isabella’s bed.
“For fuck’s sake, man! What is the meaning of this?” Jack barked as he looked down at his crewman.
“Oh, my God! The bunk!” Isabella exclaimed from behind Jack.
“Sorry, lass. Looks like your bed ain’t right.” Grog said nervously as he stood up from the collapsed bed.
“What in bloody hell did you do, Grog!?” Jack asked while trying to reign in his anger and his laughter.
“I just wanted to open that bloody window! Figured that the lass wasn’t tall enough to do so.” Grog defended himself as Isabella entered the cabin and walked to her destroyed bed.
“What were you doing in here in the first place? Were you listening to our conversation?” Jack’s eyes were narrowed with anger.
“Nay, Cap’n! I was cleaning the cabin. See? Me bucket and mop are over there.” Grog said and Jack rubbed his temples.
“What did you do? Jump up and down on my bed?” Isabella asked and Grog smiled sheepishly.
“Just once. I was curious!” he said to his defense when Isabella glared at him, “I’ve been sleeping in a hammock for too long. But I am sorry, lass. I’ll try to fix it. It’s just the legs.” He said quickly and Isabella sighed in defeat.
“Okay.’ She said simply as she picked up her pillow and held it to her chest.
“Right, back to your work, Grog. But you’ll have to replace the bunk.” Jack said as he stepped aside to let him pass.
“Aye, Cap’n.” the crewman muttered as he picked up his mop and bucket and left them alone.
Jack looked at Isabella’s slumped form and cleared his throat.
“Right! So, how about you start getting acquainted with me larger and comfier bunk, love?” he clapped his hands and grinned at her. She stared at him blankly for a few moments before she threw her pillow hard at him and walked out of the room.
“What?” he muttered confused as he looked between her retreating form and the pillow in his hands, “I was just being polite!” he called but the slam of the door was his only answer.
“Bugger.” He whispered as he was left alone.

End of chapter 17