A change in the winds

Chapter twenty: Back on track.

Jack's hand slid down her thigh and up again, pushing the towel up. His lips had taken possession of hers and they were engaged in a heated kiss. Kenna knew where this was going but didn't want it to end. She knew that Jack wasn't fit to fulfil his end of the bargain just yet, but he didn't seem to care. He was much stronger than he had been the day before, but it wasn't enough. This had to wait. Kenna pushed lightly on Jack's chest, making him release his hold on her lips.

'' What is it luv?''

'' We can't do this. Not now.'' Kenna reached up and gently caressed the side of his face.

'' Are ye just sayin' that ta get yer vengeance on me for stoppin' ye the other day?'' Jack narrowed his eyes at her.

'' No, of course not. We both know you're not strong enough for this kind of exercise.'' Kenna took one of his trinkets between her fingers and played with it.'' You should take it slow, it will speed up the recovery.''

Jack rolled off her and sighed. She was right, he wasn't strong enough. No matter how much he wanted this, there was no way he would be able to perform his task. Kenna turned over so she was hovering over Jack's side.

'' You know I'm right…don't you?''

Jack turned his gaze towards her and nodded slightly. '' Now, can we please stop talkin' about it. It's ruinin' me reputation.''

'' Who cares about your reputation? I wish I had never heard of it. You are the only thing that matters to me, not your abilities to please the women you have encountered in your life.'' Kenna lowered her head to brush her lips against his. '' Although the reputation is quite astounding,'' she said with a grin. Jack, seeing that his incapability hadn't offended her in any way, grinned back and pulled her head down for a real kiss.

'' I'm glad ta know.'' He deepened the kiss, pulling her on top of him. '' I promise ye won't be dissatisfied when I'm done with ye.''

'' I'm counting on that,'' Kenna said in between kisses. When things were starting to heat up again she broke the kiss and raised herself up on her elbows on his chest.

'' We need to get dressed.''

'' What for?'' Jack inquired with a raised brow.

'' A walk. You need to stretch those legs of yours.''

'' I would much rather we'd stay here and…''

'' None of that Jack. If you want to be able to steer your ship again you must exercise to regain your former strength.''

'' I know of a few ways ta exercise without leavin' the bed.'' Jack said with a mischievous grin.

'' Oh, I know all about that. And you're not getting your way. Get up or I'll sleep in my own cabin tonight.'' She climbed off him and picked her breeches up from the bed.

'' Ye're not bein' reasonable.'' Jack complained.

'' My happiness depends on your physical state so I'm allowed to be harsh.''

Jack raised himself up on his elbows and stared at her surprised. Then he burst out laughing. '' I never thought I would hear that comin' from yer mouth.'' He sat up and pulled her down in his lap.

'' Jack, let me go,'' she complained.

'' No.'' She turned her face to meet his.

'' Do ye really want me that bad?''

'' You know I do. Now, let me go. You're being silly.'' She blushed slightly as she tried to get away. Jack turned her face to meet his and captured her lips in a passionate kiss.

'' I'll do whatever ye want me ta do. I wouldn't want ta take away the pleasure of a night with me.''

Kenna rolled her eyes. '' You can be so arrogant sometimes.''

'' Just statin' the facts luv,'' Jack said grinning.

'' Get your butt off the bed, we have some walking to do. I hope the ocean air will clear those delusions out of your head.'' She pulled her breeches and shirt on.

'' What delusions? Ye told me ye wanted me.''

'' I could always change my mind.'' She pulled her boots on.

'' Ye won't. I'm too irresistible.'' Jack grinned. Kenna looked over at him and sighed.

'' Whatever. I'm going out on deck. If you ever want me in your bed again I advise you to follow me.'' And she left the cabin.

'' Women…'' Jack shook his head and quickly put his clothes on. He was not going to risk angering her, he didn't want to spend the night alone. He slowly got up from the bed and managed to get over to the door without falling. He stopped to catch his breath and then opened the door, revealing Kenna standing on the other side.

'' Did you honestly think I would make you walk all the way to the helm without help?'' she asked with a smirk.

'' I was hopin' not…but ye seemed quite fed up with me.''

'' Tough love is the only thing that works on you. You tend to get sidetracked.''

Jack laughed. '' Ye know me too well luv.''

Kenna took his arm and put it around her shoulder. '' You're not a hard man to predict.''

'' Some would disagree with ye,'' he said with a laugh.

Kenna supported him over the deck and up to the helm.

'' By the heavens Jack, ye're up!'' Gibbs said cheerfully.

'' No need ta stay in bed longer than necessary. I have a ship ta steer and problems ta solve.''

'' Problems? What be said problems?'' Gibbs inquired.

'' Look around mate, the ship is a mess.'' Jack waved his hand over the deck, where the men where busy trying to fix what could be fixed.

'' That storm did much damage to the ship. We must find a port ta buy what we need ta fix it.''

'' About that Capt'n…That storm…I've never seen anythin' like it in me life.''

'' Neither have I.''

'' It may be foolish of me ta ask, but do ye think it was caused by somethin'… or someone?''

'' I'm certain it was. My guess is that Toby…''

'' Tobo,'' Kenna corrected him.

'' Tobo, the man who stole Kenna's grandmother, knows that we be followin' him.''

'' Ya mean the magician?'' Gibbs asked terrified. Jack nodded his head.

'' Then we be in grave danger.''

'' We are, but that was known as soon as we started this mission. The crew of the Black Pearl contains the most fearsome pirates in the Spanish Main. We won't let a magician stop us.''

'' But Jack…we know nothin' of magic and sorcery. We can't defeat him.''

'' There be nothin' we can't do. We will defeat him. I won't stop until we do.''

Gibbs opened his mouth to speak but Jack cut him off. '' This will be a challenge, but imagine the praise we'll get once we defeat him. No pirate crew has ever gone against a magician and won.''

'' I'm not likin' the odds against us Capt'n…''

'' We have Kenna. She can help us defeat him.''

'' I don't know…my magical skills are very limited.''

Jack turned to face her. '' I believe in ye. Together we'll defeat him and rescue yer grandmother.''

'' You have too much faith in me. Look what my runes did against the storm.'' She swept her hand over the scenery. '' Nothing…my magic did nothing to help. The ship is a mess, you almost died…''

Jack took her face in his hands. '' Luv, imagine what the storm would have done if ye hadn't used yer magic. We would probably not be havin' this conversation then.''

'' I just feel so useless. I dragged you into this. I shouldn't have done that. I knew there was nothing anyone or I could do.''

'' Stop blamin' yerself for what happened. It wasn't yer fault.''

'' I know it wasn't. I just shouldn't have allowed you to help me. I've condemned your crew to death.''

Jack released her face and pulled her close for an embrace. '' No, ye haven't. We'll defeat him. No one is goin' ta die.''

'' A few already have. I can't have more lives on my conscience.'' She felt tears fighting to escape her eyes and pressed her face into his chest.

'' Luv…ye can't blame yerself for everythin' that happens here. People die every day, I've lost men in storms before.''

Kenna didn't say anything, but he felt his shirt getting damp with her tears. He stroked her back affectionately and pressed his lips to her hair.

'' I don't blame ye for anythin'. I love ye, and I'll do anythin' in me power ta protect ye and make ye happy.''

Kenna started sobbing, shaking against his chest. Jack held her closer and whispered soothing words into her hair.

'' I can't do this…I've almost killed you once,'' she sobbed against his chest.

'' I'm not gonna die. We'll get through this.'' He rubbed her back soothingly.

Kenna pushed herself off his chest. '' No, we won't. You're going to take me to wherever he is and I'm going to exchange my life for my grandmother's. You will then take her to a safe place.''

'' Kenna, I can't do that.''

'' You have to. We will never be able to defeat him. This way you all keep your lives.''

'' We don't have any guarantee that he won't kill us after he takes yer offer, there is if he will take it.''

'' I know that…but it's possible he will. That's better than nothing.''

'' I can't let ye do that. We're all in this together and we will walk away from this.''

'' No, we won’t. He's going to kill us all.''

'' Then we'll die together. I'd rather be killed than spend a day without ye.''

'' I can't let you take that risk. You deserve so much better.''

Jack grabbed her and shook her. '' Stop it. Why can't ye see that ye're as much a part of the crew as the rest of them? When they agreed ta serve under me they knew what they were gettin' themselves into.''

Kenna felt the tears fill her eyes and Jack released her. '' We all want ta help ye.''

Kenna shook her head, she refused to condemn those men to death. Jack sighed in frustration and stepped away from her.

'' Gents, can I get yer attention,'' he shouted over the crew. The men stopped and looked up at their captain.

'' Ye all know this girl don't ye?'' The crew nodded their heads and a few ayes were heard.

'' This girl is a part of the crew, right?'' Jack continued. The men nodded their heads again, a bit confused about where this was going.

'' Well this girl has a problem that we will solve. It'll be dangerous, and the odds are very much against us, but when has that stopped us? We are the crew of the Black Pearl, we won't let anyone or anythin' stop us from gettin' what we seek.'' The crew cheered and hollered in response.

'' She doesn't agree with ye. She thinks that ye don't care, that ye think of her as a burden. I sure as hell hope ye don't, because the ones that do will be severely punished. We are a crew, and the crew sticks together. We will fight ta protect the cause and each other.'' Another wave of cheering ran through the crowd.

'' So, will ye do yer absolute best ta serve me and me girl through the rough times ahead?'' The men drew their swords and waved them into the air, declaring their allegiance to the Captain.

Jack turned to Kenna. '' See. We're all in this together, whether you like it or not.''

'' I still don't think this is right.''

'' This is how it's got ta be. Ye can't save them all.''

Kenna sighed. '' I need some time alone. Do you think you'll be all right on your own?''

'' I'm Capt'n Jack Sparrow,'' Jack said with a grin. '' This will all work out fine luv.'' He brushed the back of his hand over her cheek.

'' I'll be in my room if you need me.'' Kenna left the helm and walked down towards the stairs that led to the cabins.

Kenna's father hadn't seen her much since the storm struck the ship and saw an excellent opportunity to talk to her, now that she was alone. He caught her outside her cabin and pulled her inside, closing the door behind him.

'' What is this all about?'' Kenna inquired baffled.

'' Have you told him yet?''

'' Told him what?''

'' Kenna…you must tell him what you are. You can't have a relationship with him if he doesn't know your true nature.''

'' Why not? It's been working out so far.''

'' Kenna, he must know. You can't keep this from him. He deserves to know.''

'' I will tell him, but not yet. He's been sick. He needs to rest.''

Malak grabbed his daughter's arm. '' You can't keep avoiding it. It won't go away.''

Kenna pulled her hand out of his grip. '' I know I can't change who I am, I'm not dumb.''

'' Yes, you are. You've been keeping this away from him for far too long. Now Christian knows. He has been threatening you and telling you to do what he pleases. He highly enjoys torturing you. You could put an end to this if you only spoke to Jack.''

'' No, I can't. Don't you see? Jack has enough on his plate. I can't dump this on him.''

'' He has a right to know, Kenna. You are putting him and the crew in more danger by keeping them in the dark.''

'' I can't tell him. He would never accept me for what I am. I'm a freak!''

'' He will understand. He loves you. I can see that. He won't let it affect his feelings for you.''

'' How can you be so sure? You can't know the future. You don't have a clue what you're talking about.''

'' Oh, I do. Do you think it was easy for me to tell your mother that I was an angel?''

Kenna opened her mouth to speak but closed it again.

'' You are not the only one who has problems,'' her father said with a sigh. He sat down on the bed. Kenna walked over to him and sat down beside him.

'' I'm sorry. I know it must have been hard.''

Malak turned his head to face her. '' It was, but she was very understanding. We were so much in love.''

Kenna felt the sadness emit from her father and wrapped her arms around him.

'' I know you only want what's best for me, and that I can be a handful sometimes. And I'm sorry that I don't have the courage to tell Jack about my angelic heritance.''

'' Just promise me you'll do it soon. The longer you wait the more consequences it will have.''