Proffitable Affairs

Disclaimer: I do not own Pirates of the Caribbean. If I did I’d be rich and happy.

Chapter 17


Mary sat at the same place Jack had left her for hours. It was getting rather late, but she didn’t feel tired or sleepy at all. Her mind kept going back to the evening’s happenings and she was confused. Something was going on between Jack and that woman. Or at least, something had happened in the past. She had never seen Jack that angry before and she was rather unsettled by the fact that the blonde woman could evoke such feelings in him.
On the other hand, why in God’s name did he kiss her? To push back his anger? To forget? Or he did it simply because he could? She was pretty sure that the fact that she had pushed him away hadn’t lessened his anger. Quite the contrary in fact. He had seemed even angrier. And where was he so late? She was sure he wasn’t on the ship.
Why do you care? Her inner voice asked and she bit her lip.
I don’t know…What if something happened?
Like what?
“I don’t know.” She murmured out loud.
A knock on the cabin door brought her back and she looked up.
“Yes?” She called slowly and the familiar face of Gibbs came into view.
“Sorry, lass. Just wanted to check on you.” He said to her, obviously uncomfortable.
“I’m fine.” She stated as she shook her head and started moving around the cabin.
“You sure? Something happened? I saw the Captain storm off…You didn’t anger him, did you?” he asked and she sighed.
“No, Mr. Gibbs. He was angry before I came in here.” She muttered and Gibbs frowned.
“Really? What for? Was it the rum? You did give it to him…” He trailed off as his eyes fell on the broken pieces of glass across the floor.
“What happened in here?” He exclaimed as he walked fully into the cabin and looked at her.
“I…I am not sure. Mr. Gibbs…Who is Elizabeth?” She asked as she leaned down and started picking up the glass.
“Elizabeth? You mean…” He trailed off again.
“I mean the blonde woman…with the ship.” She said as leaned forward to pick up more pieces.
“She was here?” he asked and she nodded.
“Oh, bloody hell. What did she want now?”
“I don’t know…but I think she wanted to make a deal with Jack.” Mary said as she sat back on her knees thoughtfully.
“Deal? What kind of favors could she possibly ask of him? After what she did.” He huffed and Mary was even more confused.
“What exactly did she do?”
“She left him to die.” Gibbs said and Mary froze.
“But Jack’s alive…”
“She sent him to the Locker.” Gibbs clarified and she blinked blankly up at him.
“Where’s that? Wait, a minute…You mean Davy Jones’s locker?” she asked with wide eyes and he nodded.
“Ah, you’ve heard of it.” Gibbs smirked.
“Of course! I mean…I’ve heard stories.” She quickly corrected herself before she continued picking up the glass.
“No need to do that, lass. I’ll send someone to clean this mess up.” Gibbs said as he gazed at her.
“No reason. It’ll keep my mind occupied-Ouch!” She yelped when one of the sharp glass pieces cut into the skin of her forefinger.
“Told you. You should have left it. Put some water on it.” Gibbs sighed as he helped her up and handed her a tattered, but clean cloth.
“Thank you…But why did she leave him? And how did she leave him? I mean-…”
“Ever heard of Judas’s kiss?” Gibbs asked her with a raised eyebrow and that silenced her.
“Oh…I think that’s enough information for tonight.” She murmured as the facts started sinking in.
“I’ll send someone.” Gibbs repeated, but Mary shook her head.
“It’s fine. Really….” She said with a small smile and the man started walking towards the door, “Mr. Gibbs?” she called and he paused.
“Jack…is fond of her, isn’t he?” she asked quietly and the older man turned to her.
“I wouldn’t be so sure of that, lass. Not anymore.” He said cryptically before he turned and walked away.
Mary looked at her bloodied finger and frowned.
“That was helpful.” She stated as she was left alone. She wrapped the cloth around her finger and carried on cleaning the floor, emptying the broken pieces out of the window and into the sea before she tidied Jack’s chaotic desk.
Once everything was as before, she collapsed on the bed and removed Gibbs’s cloth from her finger. She winced as she removed it for it pulled on the dried blood and it stung. She sighed and gazed at Jack’s pillow before she got up and started pulling off her clothes.

oOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOo


Jack finished buckling his belt and leaned over the sleeping woman to pick up his coat and hat. He sniffed in irritation for his little romp with the woman didn’t even calm his anger and confusion. He was even more ruffled than before. Sure, it had been nice momentarily, but the moment she had tried to snuggle up close to him in order to sleep he had found himself grimacing and tensing. He put on his coat and grabbed his sword and pistol from the floor before he turned and walked to the door. He paused and looked back. He growled and walked back to the nightstand. He picked up the half empty bottle of rum and then proceeded to walk out of the room, firmly pulling the door shut behind him as he did so.
He walked out in the street and headed for the docks. He took a swing of rum to wash the bitter taste from his mouth and wiped his lips his with his sleeve. Bloody hell, he smelled like the woman…Mia, he thought her name was. He wrinkled his nose and rolled his eyes at the cheap perfume she had chosen and kept walking.
He looked around and nodded to himself. It was very late and Mary would be asleep. Good. He didn’t want to do or say something he’d regret later. Not even one part of his anger was her fault. Had he been irritated that she had chosen to pull back from him? Yes, of course. That had added to his anger, but he couldn’t blame her. Women like her shouldn’t be with men like him. It wasn’t in his nature to give as much as he took. Women knew that and they didn’t expect anything in return. He wasn’t sure if that would happen with her too though. She was too innocent and sentimental to get involved with him no matter how much he wanted her.
Wait…Do I? He asked himself as the Pearl came into view.
You do.
“Do I?” He asked out loud.
You do. Just go in and get what you want.
“Can’t do that.” He muttered loudly as he started walking up the gangplank.
Why not?
“’Cause she’ll hate me if I do…She’ll be scared.” He breathed as he took another sip of rum.
And you don’t want her to be?
Jack pursed his lips and remained silent as he walked towards the cabin.
“Jack!” Gibbs hissed and the slightly inebriated captain paused.
“What?”
“Where have you been?” The older man asked as he got closer.
“Around.” Jack said and Gibbs grimaced.
“What’s that smell?” he asked and Jack shrugged.
“Don’t you like it?”
“Me nose is about to burst!” Gibbs commented as the strong smell of cheap perfume invaded his breathing space.
“Oh, well, I better be on me way then, aye?” Jack said bored as he turned around and continued walking.
“But-…”
“Night, Gibbs.” He called as he shut the door.
Once inside, he looked around the dim lighted cabin and walked towards his…neat desk. His eyes searched for any signs of broken bottles, but he found none.
“I cleaned everything.” Came the soft voice from the bed and Jack closed his eyes in resignation.
“Could’ve told Gibbs to do it.” He said without looking at her.
“That’s alright. I had nothing better to do since you stormed out like that.” She said quietly and he groaned inwardly.
“Yes, well…” He trailed off, not really knowing how to reply.
“Where have you been?” She asked and he could sense that it was more than mere curiosity behind her question. It took him aback.
“And you want to know because…?” he asked as he finally turned around to face her while shrugging out of his coat.
Mary looked at him for a while before she averted her gaze and lay back down on the bed.
“Never mind.” She whispered as she stared at the ceiling.
Jack narrowed his eyes at her, but he walked and sat down on the bed nonetheless. He reached down and removed his boots before he sat back against the headboard.
Mary’s nose wrinkled and she turned her head sharply towards him. Jack noticed and looked at her as well.
“What?” He asked sharply and she looked forward again.
“Nothing.” She muttered, for it became quite clear where he had been.
“Then why did you just wrinkle that rosy nose of yours?” He asked as he leaned a little closer.
“I thought perhaps you could change your shirt.” She said quietly and Jack smirked.
“Really? And why would I do that?” he asked as he tucked some of her hair behind her ear.
“Suffice it to say that you smell like…” She didn’t finish her sentence.
“Yes?” he quirked an eyebrow, urging her to continue.
“Oh, I don’t know…Brothel perfume?” She admitted with exasperation and he chuckled lowly.
“Oh, but darling, she wasn’t a whore.” He said huskily in her ear before he let his lips brush against it.
“I have no interest to hear about what you do, Jack. But I’d appreciate it if you at least paid me some respect.” She said as he pushed on his chest and he supported his head on his hand as he looked down at her.
“Have you not?” he asked.
“That’s what I said.” She said as she turned her back to him and closed her eyes.
“Fine.” He snapped as he got up and removed his shirt. He got under the covers and shrugged out of his breeches as well before he settled back down. He fluffed his pillow just to annoy her with the noise before he laid his head on it.
“You never said that Elizabeth left you to die.” She said after a while and he sat up.
“Who told you that?” He asked more harshly than he intended to.
“I asked Mr. Gibbs.” She whispered and his hand shot out to grasp her arm. He turned her over and looked down at her.
“And what made you ask?”
“Your behavior after she left.” She replied softly and he blinked.
“What?”
“You were…furious.” She explained and he narrowed his eyes.
“And you care?”
“Is that so shocking?” she asked with a frown.
“I haven’t done anything to deserve your care.” He stated and she nodded.
“Correct. You didn’t even have the decency to put on a shirt, like I requested.” She said with a raised eyebrow and he smirked.
“Are you teasing me, kitten?”
“You fancy Elizabeth, don’t you?” She asked, changing the subject completely.
“I fancy you, lass.” He answered back and she blinked.
“Sorry?” She asked wide eyed.
“What?” He blinked at his own words and grimaced.
“That was not funny.” She accused.
“I didn’t mean it to be funny. And to answer your question, yes; I’d fancy to wrap me hands around her neck and squeeze the life out of her.” He stated as he traced the shell of her ear with his fingertip.
“Don’t talk like that.” She said as she looked away.
“Why not? Does it scare you?” He murmured and she looked at him quizzically.
“Jack, are you drunk?” she asked and he chuckled.
“Why?” he smirked as he started stroking any part of her face he could find with the same finger he had used on her ear.
“You don’t make any sense.”
“Do I ever make sense?” He pointed out and she laughed at their conversation.
“No, I don’t think you ever do.” She replied after a moment.
“When are you going to sleep with me?” He asked her after a moment and she gasped.
“What? Sleep…?”
“Aye, sleep. Don’t you think I have the right to finally touch me own wife?” He asked as his hand left her chin to slide down her collarbone.
“Why would you want to do that?” She almost squeaked.
“Why wouldn’t I?” He fired back with a raised eyebrow as his hand stroked right above her breast.
“That has nothing to do with the map and Fountain. Why would you want me?”
“Why wouldn’t I?” Je answered back obnoxiously.
“Stop answering with questions!” She snapped and his eyes widened minutely.
“I’ll stop when you stop thinking like that.” He said as he pulled his hand back and rested it on the mattress next to her.
“Sleeping with other women and then coming here smelling like them won’t make me believe that you’re serious, Jack. I thought you were an expert with women.” She suddenly spat before she threw the covers away and stood up from the bed. She grabbed the blanket and disappeared into the side cabin, leaving him alone in the empty bed.
“Bugger.” He hissed as he buried his head in her pillow and sighed in defeat.
Well done, mate. Well done…

End of chapter 17