Proffitable Affairs

Disclaimer: I do not own Pirates of the Caribbean.

Chapter 19

Mary was sure that the ship had been hit, but she didn’t know where exactly. At least nothing had passed through the cabin and she was thankful. Almost…
For quite some time she had sat behind the door listening to gunshots, shouts and she had the suspicion that she heard a very familiar voice just a few minutes ago. They said that curiosity killed the cat and Mary was more than curious to find out what was going on. Still, she hadn’t mastered the required courage to walk out of the cabin.
Her eyes widened when suddenly everything went quiet. Her hand inched towards the door and she made to open it only to find it locked. She was certain that Jack hadn’t locked it on his way out so he must have locked it some time during the mayhem. She scowled at the thought. He either didn’t trust her enough or he was worried. She frowned at her last thought. Why would he be worried? She wasn’t stupid enough to actually step out of the cabin. She would only look at what was going on and nothing more.
Her thoughts were interrupted by footsteps coming from outside of the cabin. Voices accompanied them; one of them belonged to Jack. She heard the footsteps halt just in front of the door and she took a few steps back from it.
“You either open this door or I’ll shoot it open.” It was her father’s voice. Her hand flew to her mouth and she started panicking. How had he found them?
“In your dreams, mate.” Jack answered back, but his voice wasn’t controlled. Mary took more steps away from the door as she heard the click of a gun.
“One last chance.” Her father warned and she could tell that he was more than a little nervous too.
“Fine.” Vilmort’s voice was tight and Mary shrieked when he shot at the door three times. One of the bullets slashed the air right next to her arm and she felt her entire body freeze at the realization that he had almost hit her. The door was pushed open seconds later and she could only watch as her father stormed inside, pistol in hand, while Jack followed him with wide dark eyes. He had his gun also drawn.
“Mary.” Jack’s voice was quiet, but filled with relief as he saw her standing frozen next to his desk, but unharmed. His voice brought her back to reality and it was then that she noticed Gibbs behind Jack. A man was holding a sword to his neck while he stood still next to the tall fellow.
“Father? What is the meaning of this? What are you doing?” Mary finally found her voice.
“Surprised to see me, daughter? I bet you are. What did you expect? That I wouldn’t find you? You have something that it should have been mine and you thought I’d let this man take it away?” Vilmort hissed and Mary swallowed hard.
“The map.” She whispered.
“Of course the map, you foolish child! I thought I had raised you better than this. Betraying your father like that.”
Jack fought the urge to roll his eyes at the man’s cheek.
“Some father…” The words slipped out of his mouth without his consent.
“I heard that, pirate!” Vilmort spat before he turned to his daughter again.
“You must have figured it out by now. So, where is it?” He demanded and she blinked.
“Where is what?” Jack asked with innocent eyes and Mary wanted to hit him for his behavior.
“No games, Sparrow. Funny thing you still kept my daughter around. Found her useful?” The older man snarled and Mary cringed at the words.
“I might have.” Jack answered back through gritted teeth.
“There’s no need for guns, father. We are all grown ups here. We can solve this differently.” Mary said quietly, feeling greatly unnerved by the sight of guns.
“Sure. Just tell your dear husband to give me the map and we’ll all be civil.” Vilmort said simply and Mary quickly looked at Jack who stared back at her intently.
“Even if I gave you the map-and I’m saying if-you couldn’t do anything with it. It’s still useless.” Jack said without looking away from Mary’s eyes. Since when did he have trouble looking away from her eyes?
Mary was the first to break the eye contact and Jack turned his gaze to Vilmort who was looking at them quite angrily.
“You’re lying.”
“I am not lying.” Jack said calmly.
“Yes, you are.”
“I am not-…”
“You are!” Vilmort snarled and in two strides he had Mary pressed up against him, his gun digging to her temple.
“Oi, there’s no need for that.” Jack started nervously while Mary’s chest heaved from her shock.
“You kept her around. You got the map but you haven’t found the Fountain yet. So, she is the key. Am I right? What stands in your way, Sparrow? What was my wife done? Hmm?” Vilmort asked lowly as he tightened his grip on Mary.
“Just…just let her go and we’ll talk. We’ll take things from right where we left them-…”
“Shut up! Answer me!” Vilmort cut him off and Jack closed his eyes briefly.
“I am not sure what is going on.” Jack said as his arm started going numb from holding the pistol high in front of him.
“Really? Are you sure?” Vilmort asked as he pressed the gun harder against Mary’s head.
“Father…” Mary whispered.
“You either show it to me or else…”
“You bloody bastard! She’s your daughter!” Gibbs spat, but Jack glared at him warningly.
“Alright, I’ll show it to you.” Jack nodded as he slowly walked towards his desk and started looking for the map. Once he had located it, he unrolled it and held it up to show it to Vilmort. The older man’s eyes swept over the half filled map and he grimaced in irritation.
“Damn it.” He hissed before he glared at Mary. Jack watched as he grabbed hold of Mary’s arms and threw her roughly towards his direction. He barely managed to catch her and she hit her side against the rough edge of his desk. She gasped from the pain and held onto Jack’s arms, trying to keep her balance.
“You’re just like your mother. She was as whiny as you are.” Vilmort said with a dark expression and Mary shuddered against Jack at the hurtful comment. She felt Jack going rigid next to her, but when she looked up at him his expression was blank.
“I’d very much appreciated if you removed your men from me ship.” Jack stated and Vilmort chuckled darkly.
“Only if you don’t run away with the map again.”
“Deal. You’re paying for the ruined sails though.” Jack snapped angrily as he still held onto Mary.
“Very well. We’ll make a stop at Tortuga so you can fix your precious ship, Captain.” Vilmort said tightly.
“Good. Now get lost.” Jack snarled and Gibbs was finally free from the man’s clutches as Vilmort slowly made his way out of the cabin.
“Wait.” Jack called as he released Mary and looked at the other man’s back.
“How did you know we were here?” he asked and Vilmort smirked inwardly.
“Let’s just say that I have my informer. And you wouldn’t even dream who it is.” The arrogant man said before he walked away, gathering his men as he went.
Jack glared wildly at his back while Mary tried to calm her fast breathing. Her own father had threatened her. Jesus Christ, could the man get more insane?
“Orders, Captain.” Gibbs said as he massaged his neck.
“Set sail for Tortuga. We can’t travel with broken sails.” Jack said distantly and Gibbs nodded before he walked away, leaving them alone.
“Jack?” Mary started when she realized that he still hadn’t looked away from the door.
“It’s alright, love. He’s gone.” He murmured hoarsely before he slowly turned around to face her. Mary nodded and rubbed her arms to warm them. Since when had the cabin turned so cold? Or was it just the fear? Jack tucked his pistol away when he saw her looking at it fearfully.
Mary’s eyes swept over his form in worry.
“Are you alright?” She frowned when she spotted a cut on his neck, just under his ear.
“Aye.” He shrugged as he once again looked at the ruined door, just to make sure that Vilmort was gone.
When he turned around she was in front of him and reaching towards him. He pulled back reflexively and she paused.
“There…there is blood on your neck.” She explained shakily, still in shock.
“It’s just a scratch, love.” He dismissed her worry, but he didn’t stop her from brushing his neck with her handkerchief, cleaning away the blood.
“Still…” Mary whispered as she tended to the cut absentmindedly.
Jack’s breathing got labored the more she stayed close. It shocked him that she wasn’t angry. Her damned father had just threatened her and here she was, fussing over him. No one could be that good.
He hissed when she rubbed the cloth harder against the cut and his hand shot out to clasp her wrist.
“How can you be so calm?” He asked or better hissed at her.
“Calm? I am shaking, Jack.” She whispered as her eyes turned teary. Jack watched her hand shaking in his grip.
“I am standing here only because he thinks he can benefit from me. Just because I am not acting like a madwoman it doesn’t mean that I am fine.” She said as she tugged her hand from his grip only to have him catch it again. He tucked her to his body and looked down at her.
“I wasn’t going to sit back and watch him shoot you, Mary.”
“It wouldn’t suit your purpose I suppose.” She whispered and his eyes narrowed.
“Is that what you think?”
“What should I think? Why did you marry me? Because you love me? How could you possibly have loved me in a week? I am not an idiot, Jack. I might seem like one but I am not.” She snapped at him loudly.
“Stop shouting, Mary. I am not deaf.” He snapped back and she pressed her lips into a thin line.
“You men are all the same.” She whispered bitterly and Jack didn’t like the comment.
“What’s that supposed to mean?” he asked through gritted teeth.
“It means what it means.”
“Could you be a little more specific?”
“No.” Came her calm response and Jack felt his stomach stirring with amusement at her tone. So, the girl had a bit of a backbone. He smirked and she scowled.
“Good to know I am amusing you, dear husband.” She was being sarcastic and she knew it.
“Oh, more than just amusing, pet. You’re getting me all excited with your new attitude. Have I managed that? I am impressed.” He murmured as his hand let go f her wrist and slowly snaked around her back.
“You didn’t manage it. My father did.” She said as she flushed in embarrassment.
“Then I might have to thank him.” He whispered before he leaned down and stole a kiss from her parted lips. Mary’s head reared back at the contact and her eyes widened.
“What are you doing?” She yelped as she saw him leaning towards her again.
He didn’t answer her as he closed the distance between them and kissed her fully on the lips. Mary was too shocked to do anything but stand there as he kissed her forcefully. His hands were both tangled in her hair and he was pressing his body tightly against hers. Slowly, but steadily, she started responding to the kiss and Jack groaned hoarsely as her hands came to rest on his waist. His velvet tongue brushed against her bottom lip and Mary gasped when he slid it into her mouth with ease. His hands tugged at her locks as he kissed her, but she didn’t care about the slight pain it caused her. Jack pulled back from the kiss to breathe and started nibbling on her lower lip teasingly.
“Why-why did you do that?” she asked against his lips and she shivered as his warm breath brushed over his lips.
“Because I want you, kitten.” He murmured and Mary’s eyes widened.
“Jack-…”
“Jack! We need you at the helm.” Gibbs said breathlessly as he came to stand at the door.
Jack reluctantly pulled his hands from Mary’s hair and stepped back.
“Just something to think over, eh?” He gave her a playful wink before he turned and walked away.
Mary swallowed with difficulty and placed her fingers on her lips. Could her life get any more confusing?

End of chapter 19