A change in the winds

Chapter twenty-two: Revelations

It was early morning when Kenna awoke in Jack's arms. The night had been amazing and she felt relaxed and renewed. They were very much in love and nothing could ever change that. She was going to fight to keep him, nothing could ever change the way she felt for him. She would spend the rest of her life beside him.

Jack felt her stir in his arms and pulled her closer. Kenna kissed him on the neck and received a gentle grunt from him.

'' Good morning,'' she said against his neck and moved her head lower, kissing him on the collarbone.

'' Good mornin','' he replied with a smile, opening his eyes.

'' How did you sleep?'' she asked as she trailed circles on his chest with her finger.

'' Never better. Our little exercise last night left me beat.''

'' Glad to be off service,'' she said with a grin.

'' Wouldn't mind acquiring said service again.''

'' We'll see. If you behave, I might consider it,'' she said with a laugh.

'' Ye want ta sound all in control but I know ye can't resist me,'' he said as he slid his hand down to her butt, giving it a squeeze.

'' Jack!'' she yelped. '' Don't do that, it tickles!'' She tried to remove his hand from her behind but he took a hold of her hand and held it down behind her on the bed.

'' What are ye gonna do about it?'' he grinned as he crashed his lips against hers. ''I'll grab yer arse if I want ta. Ye can't stop me.''

Kenna admitted herself defeated and returned the kiss. '' If you get to grab my arse it's only fair I get to do the same to you,'' she said with a grin as she reached around him with her free hand and gave his firm buttock a good squeeze.

'' A tit for a tat? Interestin'…So if I touch ye here…'' He released his hold on her hand and cupped her breast. '' What will ye do?''

Kenna looked down at his hand cupping her breast and raised her own hand to grab his chest muscle. '' You have breasts too you know,'' she chuckled.

'' Not as soft as yers,'' Jack said as he lowered his head to her chest, licking a path between her breasts.

'' Thank God for that,'' she laughed. '' I would never have slept with you if you did.''

Jack chuckled. '' So if I would touch ye here…'' He moved his hand to her lower half.

'' Jack! Stop that! What are you doing?''

'' Seein' where the boundaries lie.''

'' Are you seriously checking whether I would touch you between your legs if you touched me there?''

'' It doesn't hurt ta try,'' he said with a mischievous smirk.

'' You're a sick man, Jack.'' She shook her head.

'' Nah, just a man in love.''

'' This is not love! This is just plain and simply sick.''

'' Ye can't say ye haven't thought about it…''

'' Jack! Can we please change the subject?''

'' If you insist,'' he said with a grin. '' What do ye want ta talk about?''

'' Anything other than my wish to touch your genitals!''

Jack laughed. '' Fine, we won't discuss it any further.'' His eyes landed on the burn mark on the door. '' What happened? Why is there a burn mark on me door?''

Kenna didn't know what to reply to that. She had promised her father to tell Jack her secret in the morning but now when the time had come she wasn't sure she could go along with it.

'' Yeah…about that…'' she begun. '' Uhm, Jack…I have something to tell you.''

Jack narrowed his eyes at her. '' What is it?''

'' I haven't been completely honest with you…,'' she admitted, feeling Jack's eyes on her.

'' What happened?''

'' Nothing happened. Well, yes, something happened, but it wasn't an accident.''

'' What are ye talkin' about?''

Kenna climbed out of the bed, wrapping the covers around her. '' Jack, I have something to tell you. I know you're going to freak out but I beg you to listen and give me time to explain.''

'' Explain? What did ye do?'' Jack asked confused. He didn't like the sound of it.

'' It's nothing I did, it's what I am.''

'' And what are ye?''

'' An angel.'' Kenna knew he wouldn't believe her and wasn't surprised when she saw the look on his face.

'' An angel? How can ye be an angel?''

'' My father is an angel and I inherited it from him.''

'' Yer father is an angel?'' Jack didn't believe a word she said and was starting to worry for her health. '' Are ye all right luv?''

'' Yes. I know this may sound unbelievable but you've got to believe me. I know this is a lot for you to handle and I understand if you need some time.''

'' Ye're not jokin' are ye?'' Jack said in fright. '' Ye really are an angel.''

'' Yes. I wanted to tell you sooner but I knew you wouldn't take it well. I was afraid that once you knew what I really was you would kick me off the ship.''

Jack didn't know what to say. He had never imagined his life could get this complicated. How could she be an angel? Angels were mythical creatures, not sexy, red haired women.

'' I don't get it…how can ye be an angel? I thought they only existed in fairy tales.''

'' So did I. I'm still very new to this so I understand the shock you're in.''

'' If ye're an angel, ye must have wings. Where are yer wings?'' He was trying to hold onto the last straw of reason in his life. She couldn't possibly have wings; she was just sick and needed medical help.

'' I can show you my wings if you want to. I guess it's the only way to make you fully believe me.'' She allowed the covers to fall to the floor as she stepped to the center of the room. She closed her eyes and focused on the tingling sensation in her back. Soon she felt a gush of wind behind her and opened her eyes.

Jack's mouth fell open; he couldn't believe his own eyes. Standing in front of him was a beautiful red haired angel, her wings flowing gracefully from her back. He hesitantly got to his feet, never taking his eyes off her, and fumbled for his breeches.

'' This can't be happenin'. Ye can't be an angel…angels don't exist.''

'' I'm sorry but I can't change who I am. I didn't choose this.''

Jack had now put his breeches on and started looking for his shirt. '' I can't deal with this right now…''

'' I understand what you're going through.''

'' No, I seriously doubt that.'' He found his shirt and started buttoning it up. '' Was any of it true?''

'' What do you mean?''

'' The feelings ye had for me. Were they true or just a spell ye cast on me?''

'' They are all true. I love you. You've got to believe me. The only reason I didn't tell you sooner was because I was afraid. Afraid that you couldn't love me as I am.''

'' I don't know what ta do.''

'' Nothing has changed. We can just make everything go back to normal…''

'' No, we can't. Nothin' will be the same.''

'' Please, don't give up on us. I love you and can't imagine living without you.''

'' I thought I couldn't either, but now I'm not sure. This changes everythin'.''

'' No, it doesn't have to change anything. You love me and I love you. Why should it change because I'm an angel? It's not like it's a disease. It's not contagious.'' She stepped towards him and laid her hand on his arm but he pulled it back.

'' I think ye should get dressed,'' he said with his back to her and left the cabin.

Kenna felt the rejection sting her heart and let herself fall down on the bed. She knew it. This hadn't been a good idea. He had taken it just as she had expected and now he didn't want anything to do with her. Her chest ached with sorrow and her eyes filled with tears. He would never talk to her again. She had lied to him and proved she couldn't be trusted. Why should he waste his time loving someone whom he couldn't trust? But he did love her, she was certain of that. That love couldn't just fade away so quickly could it?

She found her clothes and put them on, combing through her hair before leaving the cabin. No one had to know what happened here. It would be their secret.

Christian saw Jack leave the cabin with a strange look on his face. He had been on the Pearl for a few years now but he couldn't recall ever seeing that look on his face before. What happened? His chest filled with hope as he saw that Kenna didn't follow him out on deck. There had to be some trouble in paradise. He walked up to Jack, which didn't notice him at first so he almost walked into him.

''What do ye want?'' Jack asked when he had caught his balance.

''I just wanted ta know how ye and Kenna be doin'. '' Christian said with a smirk.

''It be none of yer business, get back ta work!'' he replied irritated. His eyes landed on Christian's burnt hand and he narrowed his eyes at him. ''What happened ta yer hand?''

'' Uhm, I spilled some hot water on it. It's nothin','' Christian replied, tucking his hand in his armpit.

''It doesn't look like it be nothin'. Ye should get Steven ta take a look at it.''

''I will,'' he said with a forced smile. He had gone to Steven the day before and he hadn't believed his story about the hot water incident. He was a doctor and therefore knew the difference between a burn mark caused by water and one caused by fire. Christian didn't want to tell him what really happened and told him to mind his own business and give him something for the burn. He got some ointment, which had taken most of the stingy burn feeling away. He had to be more careful with that woman in the future.

Jack went up to the helm and relieved Gibbs of his duty. Gibbs knew something was wrong, having sailed with him for years, but wasn't sure how his Captain would take his concerns.

''Jack, where be tha lass? Will she be joinin us soon?''

''I don't know,'' he replied without taking his gaze of the horizon.

''Be everythin' all right between ye two?''

''Yeah, why wouldn't it be?''

''I don't know, ye just seem…''

''I be fine, now leave me alone.''

Gibbs knew better than to go against his Captain's wishes so he went down to the galley. He was certain there was something going on between his captain and his lass, and he feared it was bad.

Kenna entered the galley in a short while and got herself a bowl of porridge. She sat down by the table and started eating. Gibbs was eating an apple and watched her every move, trying to figure out what was wrong.

''Kenna, ye be all right?'' he asked. She looked up from her bowl with a smile.

''Yes, I'm fine.''

They were alone in the galley so Gibbs didn't hesitate to inquire further into what was going on between her and the Captain.

''I hope ye don't mind me askin' but what's goin' on between ye and the Capt'n?''

''What do you mean?'' Kenna inquired surprised. ''What did Jack tell you?''

''Nothin, that's the problem. I be knowin' him inside out and I know when he be upset. What happened between ye two?''

''Nothing. We're both fine. He must be concerned about the ship, it was damaged a lot in the storm.''

''It's not the storm. We both know that,'' Gibbs took her hand in his and looked her in the eye. ''What happened?''

''It's nothing. We'll sort it out ourselves. Just a minor fight that's all.'' She took her hand from his. ''Please don't worry about us. We can handle this.'' She stood up from the table and left the galley. She went up on deck and saw Jack by the helm. She knew it would be best to leave him alone for the time being so she went to search for her father. He had to have some advise for her.

She found him near the stern, talking to a crewmember.

''Dad…I need to talk to you.''

Malak saw the look in his daughter's eyes and knew something bad had happened. Clearly Jack hadn't taken the news as well as he had hoped. He quickly excused himself and took his daughter's hand.

''Come down to my cabin. We can talk there.''