The Captain's Cabin Boy

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Disclaimer: I do not own Pirates of the Caribbean.

Chapter 27

The first thing that Josette felt when she started waking up was the wetness soaking her shirt. She stirred and frowned when she felt extremely hot. She tried to open her eyes but when she realized that she couldn’t, she started panicking. Her brain slowly started waking up and the fog that was making her thoughts fuzzy started clearing up, leaving only one sensation behind; pain.
She cried out and tried to move her arms. She only managed to bring her left hand up to her face because her right one was being held down by the hand of another person. She flexed the muscles of her right hand but she let out a piercing scream while doing so. Her entire arm felt like it as on fire and she could swear that someone had skinned her alive.
“Shh, shh, lass. Don’t move. I need to wrap this up somehow.” A familiar voice crooned into her ear and she immediately stilled, her limbs going limp as Jack’s familiar voice washed over her.
“Just two quick moves and it’ll be over.” He murmured and she felt his fingers moving over the carved P on her arm just above her wrist.
Fighting against tears and pain she slowly opened her eyes and her blurred vision revealed a sweat soaked Jack leaning over her with a piece of cloth between his teeth while he worked on cleaning her arm as good as he could with another.
Her eyes perused his form for any signs of bruises or cuts and apart from a forming bruise on his cheekbone she found none.
As the cloth brushed over the open skin of her arm she tensed and groaned as more tears fell from her eyes. Her nose felt closed up and she could feel herself slowly coming out of breath.
“You need to sit up.” Jack told her as he slid a hand under her neck and slowly pulled her up to his chest, “Here.” He thrust another cloth under her nose and she realized with clarity that it was a piece from his sash, “Clean your nose and wipe your tears.” He told her and she shakily brought the cloth to her nose while he gently wrapped the cloth around her arm.
Every touch of his fingers and cloth made her shudder but she gritted her teeth and remained silent as he finished bandaging the wound.
“What did you do to make them snap like that?” he asked her as he brought her closer and pushed some hair away from her face, his usually warm hand feeling incredibly cool to her burning skin.
“They k-know I’m a woman.” She whispered and he nodded.
“Aye. I am aware of that. They were trying to peek down your shirt as they brought you here. Got a bruised cheek for trying to stop them from ogling you.” He told her and she looked at his hurt cheek.
“Thank y-you.” She murmured and he smirked but the smirk did not hold the same brightness it usually did.
“I also got a knee in the family jewels as well. Hurt like hell.” He joked and then frowned, “Are you sleepy?” he asked when he noticed her eyelids fluttering.
“Hmm.”
He brought a hand up to her forehead and his eyes widened, “Bugger.” He muttered before he picked her up and pulled her towards the left corner of the cell where some hay lay piled. It was better than the soaked ground.
He sat down and placed her head on his lap while holding her arm away from the wetness of the brig.
“H-how long was I asleep?”
“Two hours or so. Took me some time to bandage you up because the bloody guards were not leaving. I couldn’t flaunt my knife in their presence now could I?” he murmured and placed his hand on her cheek. She shivered.
“They want something Hawk has.” She whispered as she blinked with heavy eyelids up at him.
“Hawk?” Jack frowned, “Hawk?” he murmured and then his eyes widened, “Hawk.”
“You know something?” Josette asked him.
“I might…I may have talent with the ladies, all the ladies,” he smirked and then added, “But Hawk has different tastes. He prefers his lasses to be wealthy and members of the upper class.” He said and Josette shifted her head on his lap.
“Is that why he’s s-so refined? He didn’t seem like a pirate to me at first.” She whispered as she unconsciously pressed closer to Jack’s body.
“Aye. He likes to seduce them, make them believe that he’ll give them everything and then once he’s got all their money and family assets he leaves them in some island to rot.” Jack’s lip curled in derision.
“So what does Downer want from Hawk? H-he thought I knew.” She said and Jack grimaced.
“Then he thinks I know too…”
“He s-saw us talking to Hawk that day. When I came back to the Pearl.” She looked up at him and at the mention of his ship he went still.
“God knows what he’ll do to my beloved Pearl…” he muttered, “Did he give any clue?”
“N-no.” she paused to get her breathing under control, “He said that he had someone spying on us…He said that…” she took a deep breath, “That his source is impeccable.”
“Impeccable? If his source was impeccable he wouldn’t have us here, asking us about Hawk. His so called perfect source would have known everything if it was perfect.” Jack scoffed as he idly twirled a lock of her hair around his finger.
“Do you have any idea of w-who the spy could be?” she asked as she let her head loll to the side towards his stomach.
“I have a lot of ideas, love. I always do but…Love?” he murmured but his voice sounded far away. Before she was lost into blessed oblivion she saw that the cloth around her arm was swimming in bright red crimson.

oOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOo
When she woke up again she was alone in the cell and her arm was still bleeding, having already created a pool of blood to the side of her body were it rested. Her head felt heavy and she couldn’t move. She tried to sit up but one single movement made her cry out in pain.
Defeated she lay back down and closed her eyes, hoping for Jack to come back soon.

oOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOo


When she woke up again the cell was covered in darkness but she could feel warmth to her side. She realized that she was in the circle of Jack’s arms and that his legs were entwined with hers. She could feel his hot breath on the side of her neck and she could hear the familiar sound of his obnoxious snoring.
His right arm was cradling her head so it wasn’t resting on the ground and he had his other arm wrapped around her waist, holding her close. She could feel the sway of the ship as it moved and she suddenly realized that they were no longer docked. Her hurt arm was extended beyond their bodies and she could feel it throb painfully. She tried to bring it closer but as the skin flexed over the wound it brought tears to her eyes.
With a soft groan she let it as it was and let her head rest on Jack’s arm. She felt him stir behind her and then he spoke.
“How’s the arm, love?” he asked groggily, as he raised his head and looked down at her in the semi darkness.
“Hurts like hell.” She whispered and he sighed as he let his nose nuzzle the skin below her ear.
“The scar you gave me never healed. Have you noticed?” he murmured and his chest vibrated with his words.
“The x?” she asked as she turned her head to look at him.
“Hmm. It’s still there. I was impressed when I realized it. You managed to mark me for life.” He chuckled as he rubbed her stomach.
“Where did you go?” she asked him and he paused.
“Eh?”
“I woke up before and you weren’t here.”
“Oh that. Downer wanted me. A situation arose and we didn’t do much talking.” Jack replied darkly and she stiffened.
“You tried to escape.”
“I managed to grab his bloody sword but his guards pointed a gun to my head. I had to choose. Well, with my head off I wouldn’t have any freedom, would I?” he said and she felt her eyes closing again.
“I think not. But you wouldn’t leave me behind, would you…?” she trailed off as she started loosing herself again.
Before everything faded to black she felt chapped lips on her own and heard a single word.
“Never.”

oOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOo
A day later…


Josette watched as the guard unlocked the cell and entered with a tray in his hands. He looked at her and Jack for a moment before he stepped closer to them.
“We need alcohol.” Jack told him as he held Josette, his eyes dark and narrowed.
“Are you having a party?” the guard smirked and Jack rolled his eyes.
“Does your mother have any other son as intelligent as you?” he mocked and the guard glared at him, “I need to clean her arm.”
“No alcohol is allowed.”
“It will get infected.” Jack said through gritted teeth.
“I have no orders about offering you any alcohol.” The guard said dismissively.
“But you could give me some.” Jack said but the guard ignored him and leaned down.
“I have no alcohol.” He said at last.
Jack watched with dark, furious eyes as the guard placed a plate with some bread and two mugs of water on the ground and then made to step out of the cell. When he stepped over Josette’s legs Jack’s eyes flashed and he tightened his hold on her shoulders as he spoke.
“Hey!” when the guard didn’t stop he let go of Josette who winced and stood up, his fingers bloodied as he wrapped them around the bars of the cell.
“I can see the bloody flask on your belt, you bastard!” he barked at the man who only proceeded to ignore him as he made his way down the corridor.
“It’s just a little alcohol! She’s going to bloody die!” he shook the bars with all his strength before he pushed away with a snarl.
“Fuck!” he hissed before he grabbed one mug of water and kneeled down next to her. He raised the bloodied cloth away from her arm and winced when she whimpered.
“Don’t….u-use the water. We’ll n-need it.” She whispered as she shivered, her body shaking with fever induced spasms.
“If you die you won’t need it.” He snapped at her as he grabbed the hem of his shirt and ripped another part.
“I w-won’t die.” She said as she gazed at him with heavy lidded eyes, “N-not yet.”
Jack paused and looked down at her before he leaned down and pressed a firm kiss on her forehead.
“I know. Now shut it and let me clean it.” He told her softly before he poured water over her wound. She cried out.
“I know it hurts.” He murmured as he dabbed the water and caked blood away with the cloth.
“No, you d-don’t.” she choked out and he paused before he rolled his sleeve up and showed her the P mark and the other scars that were running on the underside of his arm.
“Believe me, I do.” He said hoarsely before he poured more water. He washed away as much blood as he could with such a small amount of water and then wrapped the cloth around her arm.
She hissed at the contact and Jack pursed his lips as he secured the bandage with a knot.
“I’m sorry.” She whispered and he looked at her with a frown.
“What for.”
“For what I said. I forget that you’ve been here before.” She whispered and he chuckled.
“Yes, you do.” He told her as he grabbed her good arm, “Come on. Let’s try to eat that bread.” He groaned as he handed her one piece.
She brought it to her mouth and when she bit into she winced.
“Hmm.” Jack hummed while chewing, “Careful. Your teeth might fell off.” He told her as he chewed, “This is worse than ours.” He said with wide eyes and she nodded.
“You think D-Downer eats that?” she asked and he paused.
“No. But the hardness of this here bread reminds me of the thickness of his skull.” He said with a smirk and she chuckled.
“How long are they going to keep us here?” she asked when her chuckles subsided and reality returned.
“Not long, love. Drink.” He handed her the water and she took a greedy sip before she handed it back to him. He took a small sip as well and then put it away for later.
Once they had finished with their pathetic excuse of a meal Jack turned to her and opened his arms.
“Cold?” he murmured with his head cocked to the side and Josette’s heart fluttered inside her chest.
She nodded and he grinned, “Come to ol’Jack then.” He winked and despite her pain she smiled and slid over to him. He brought her to sit sideways onto his lap and closed his arms around her as she leaned her head onto his chest.
“Thank God you’re short.” He commented and she should have been offended but she wasn’t.
“How are the…family jewels?” she asked him quietly and his laughter vibrated against her ear.
“Now that you’re sitting on them, much better.” He chuckled and lightly reached down to slap her thigh.
Josette smiled tiredly and turned her face into his chest before she let her eyes drift shut.

oOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOo

It was still early in the morning when Downer decided to pay them a visit. He entered the cell with one of his guards and looked at Josette.
“How’s the arm?”
“I-…”
“Bad. We need alcohol.” Jack cut her off as he stood and came to stand in front of Downer, “Has the Royal Navy stooped so low that they are now letting young women die in their cells? Where’s your so called justice I wonder?” he hissed and Downer smiled calmly.
“She won’t need her arm in the gallows.”
Jack sneered at him, “Is that meant to scare us?”
“Maybe.”
“Well it doesn’t.”
“I could offer medical attention if you told me where Hawk is going.” He said casually and Jack rolled his eyes.
“Hawk again. Are you in love with him or something, mate?” Jack drawled and Downer glared at him.
“Charming, Mr. Sparrow, but I am afraid that your witty tongue won’t save you this time.”
“Witty tongue?” Jack smirked and Josette wished he would stop provoking the man, “No one’s told me that before.”
“Choose. Tell me-…”
“Yes, yes. I have seen your precious ship.” Jack cut him off and Josette’s eyes widened.
He knew what Downer was after?
Downer froze but quickly recovered, “Is that so?”
“The Defiance. I had wondered how he managed to change his old ship. Charming little boat.” Jack grinned.
“The Defiance is the fastest ship in these waters.”
“Second to fastest. The Pearl is the fastest.” Jack said while staring at him dead in the eye.
“And yet it’s in my possession.” Downer reminded him and Jack glared at him.
“But I do have a proposition for you, Jack.” He started as he started pacing around the cell. Jack’s eyes followed him.
“What kind of proposition?”
“Your ship will be returned to you. And you will be able to sail in these waters under the protection of the crown if you help me hunt down Hawk.” Downer smiled and Josette froze while Jack burst out in laughter.
“Good one, mate!” he chuckled and then sobered, “I have sailed under the protection of the crown before. It turned out that you ain’t the best blokes around.” He said darkly and Downer frowned.
“You’re talking about the EITC not the Royal Navy.”
“Potato, patata.”
“No, it is not potato, patata as you call it. The Wicked Wench was not under our command.” Downer said and Josette blinked.
Wicked Wench?
“The Company is cooperating with the Navy.” Jack said and Downer rolled his eyes.
“Still holding that grudge against EITC? Come on now, Jack. A bunch of slaves caused a little too much trouble, don’t you think?” he drawled.
“I ain’t sailing under the command of no one ever again.” Jack said in a low voice as he sent a quick look at Josette.
“Ah, but there is more at stake here, isn’t there?” Downer drawled as he clicked his fingers and the guard pulled out his pistol and pointed it at Josette.
“What is it that you want most in this world, Captain Sparrow?” Downer said as he pulled Jack’s compass out of his pocket and threw it at Jack who caught it easily.
Jack’s eyes widened and Josette frowned.
“Let us check, shall we?” Downer grinned and Jack nervously licked his lips.
“It doesn’t work.” He said nonchalantly and Downer chuckled.
“I am not stupid, Jack. I’ve done my research. Now open it.” Downer narrowed his eyes and Jack grimaced before he slowly did as he was told.
Josette watched with increasing alarm as Jack’s face paled while Downer’s lit up.
“Ah, a rose by any other name? I am surprised at your taste in women, Jack but…” he inclined his head towards Josette who was staring at them wide eyed.
“Don’t confuse desire for love, mate.” Jack said as he snapped the compass shut and glared at Downer.
“Is that so? Stevens.” He said as if bored and the guard aimed his gun and fired.
“No, no wait! Wait!” Jack stepped in front of Josette but the bullet was not directed towards her. It pierced the bulkhead instead just by her shoulder.
“Well?” Downer grinned.
“I will help you find Hawk. But you’ll spare my crew and she comes with me.” Jack said and Downer nodded.
“Of course. We have a deal, Mr. Sparrow.” He extended his hand for a shake but Jack didn’t take it.
“W-what else is in that ship?” Josette asked, trying to ignore what had just happened. What had Jack just sacrificed for her.
“The daughter of the Duchess of Kent of course, my dear.” He said and Jack locked eyes with Josette before he sent her a knowing look.
Told you so. His eyes screamed at her and she groaned not only from the pain.

End of chapter 27

Author’s note: Thank you for reading. I hope you liked it! Please tell me your thoughts. I really want to know what you think. Your comments are my only payment.
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Xxx Lina :)