Give me Love, Give me Life

TITLE: ABH- Give me Love, Give me Life
Part 4 of ?
PAIRING JS/OF
RATING NC-17 This part R for violence and implied non con...
DATE POSTED: Nov 1, 2003

THIS CHAPTER IS THIRD PERSON JACK............


DISCLAIMERS:
I sorely wished I owned Jack and his compatriots, but I do not. I am only
borrowing them and will returned them relatively unscathed. Go see the
movie! Give them MORE money. Everyone say SEQUEL (Now a reality in the
making!
YAAH US!)
ARCHIVE INSTRUCTIONS: Will be archived eventually at wildbadgers.net.
Anyone else must
ask first please.

AUTHOR NOTES:

You have two chaptcomicoming for the price of one... PArt Three....and PArt Four
Part Four is in THIRD person, dealing with JAck... Its one of Jacks chapters that he beat me into writing...

I would love feedback. ITs been a while
since Ive written much so Im a bit rusty. Take flames and visit old hobs
with em ye scabberous dogs!

Jack Sparrow ducked a low branch as he carefully made his way through the evening jungle. In the unusually quiet darkness, residual moisture from the torrents of rain dripped eerily from the tops of the tall trees to splash in the numerous puddles and fresh swamps that had developed around their roots with resounding splashes. The normal accompaniment of small animals and nighttime creatures were silent, still hiding. He could hear the breaking waves of the ocean to his right, not far through the wall of vine and moss covered trunks.

It had been quite easy to slip through the streets earlier, as the entire town was still holed up from the storm, and nothing much could be done that late at night. The morning would be a different story as everyone crawled out to clean up the aftermath of the hurricane.

To dispel his underlying uneasiness and bolster that outward appearance of confidence he liked to keep, Jack haltingly whistled a couple lines from some unnamed sea shanty. Not having much of a singing voice himself he had never paid much attention to the words or tunes past the enjoyment he got from listening. He wasn’t very good at whistling either, since he spent most of his time aboard ship, and everyone knew that whistling aboard one’s ship would only bring a wicked whistling wind to disrupt ones travels and perhaps a storm.

Using the pounding and rushing of the sea as his main guide, he kept the sound of it in his ears, running parallel to the shoreline, even though it would take a bit longer then heading straight though the rainy, congested woods. He had always prided himself on his good night vision, unaided as of yet by the earring that other pirates swore by to improve it, and in the low light of the quarter moon, he was thankful for what he had. Nighttime in the blackened forest, when he couldn’t see quite as well as he liked, was not the time to be risking a fall into quicksand, or against some sort of large creature that might be haunting the trees. Fortunately he had traversed enough small islands to know that said dangers usually didn’t occur this close to the edge. The shoreline itself would have been too rough and dangerous to walk directly, as it tended to disappear into steep cliffs and treacherous rocky shorelines. These islands weren’t all peaceful rings of sandy beaches.

Tripping over the occasional exposed root and downed branch, he figured he was holding his own quite well, and making rather good time considering. Holding his sword out in front, he swept it back and forth in a steady rhythm. He kept it not only in case of ambush, he was able to use it to cut through some of the leafy vegetation, and keep from running nose first into any large objects he might have just missed.

Jack figured that in a few hours AnaMaria and Gibbs would have the Pearl in that small bay he had been told about by a fellow pirate in Tortuga a few months back, and once the tide went out, the ship would be beached and tipped. Since all the plunder had been removed and stored earlier or doled out as payment for services, she was quite light at the moment, better able to get into and out of the shallows. The remaining articles on the ship, such as the cannons and munitions would be removed by hand to make the ship lighter and easier to move if need be.

Having some rather fine sandbars in the sheltered cove would be of great use, making the process a bit easier. The Pearl would not have to be marooned on the beach, or have the workers set up a block and tackle to aid them in tipping it. The drawback was they only had during the low tide to be able to work on her. Despite the relative security of this obscure island and cove, Jack was loathe to leave her completely helpless for the weeks it would take to clean her. It also afforded them the option of moving her out to deeper water if need be in case of another serious storm, which would be impossible if he had paid the enormous amount to have her hauled completely out of the water and dry docked. During this season, Jack surmised that this was his best chance of safely getting the Pearl cleaned up. Fewer ships would be traveling which meant fewer navy scouts and guards to give him headaches.

The Pearl had not been careened or dry docked since well before Barbossa’s mutiny. Part of the speed and maneuverability of a ship came from her ability to cut through the water, and all the crud that liked to call a ship home really reduced that ability. Barbossa never felt the drag as the current captain did, as part of the curse on the sailors kept the poor Pearl under some said spell as well, giving her even more unholy abilities. Now, with the curse being lifted, Jack could tell his ship needed a bit of loving attention.

Jack was in the odd position of being one of the few pirate Captains that actually “owned” his ship, so to speak. Most pirate ships were run by a twisted form of democracy, where no one actually owned the ship and all the hands voted their leaders; the Captain, the Quartermaster, the Gunner and the Carpenter. On the Pearl, Jack was Captain, first and foremost. AnaMaria was his first mate and Gunner when need be. Gibbs was his other right hand man, and closest thing to a confidant, and the Quartermaster and acting Bo’sun of the ship.

Jack shrugged. Perhaps the crew giving him back command of the Pearl after picking him up from the waters off Port Royal was their way of voting him in. To this day none of his crew ever spoke of the Pearl as anything but Jack’s ship, and all new recruits were all laid down the law as to how this ship was run, and who was in charge. Jack made sure his crew was well paid, and well treated, and firmly believed in the loyalty of this group of stout men and women who worked for him. Old betrayals died hard though, and Jack still had a hard time rationalizing the part of him that realized this, and the part that went though the mutiny that lost him the Pearl so many years ago.

The men he had staying on to do this daunting task of scraping the razor sharp barnacles were in for a chore, but Jack figured he was compensating them quite well for their efforts, and out of his own pocket nonetheless. Normally Jack would stay there and monitor the situation closely, but with AnaMaria and Gibbs staying on, he was kind of superfluous, especially if he checked in on them frequently. Jack could do more good scouting around the town, getting word on potential future plunders, and keeping his eyes open for any sign that the islanders knew they were there. Besides, Jack thought merrily, while it was not the familiar comfort of his own cabin, a warm soft bed and good food was better then a bug ridden hammock between two palm trees and old stew and coconuts any day of the year.

He hadn’t told Gibbs were he was staying, figuring that his onalonal life was just that…personal. Jack suspected that Gibbs notion was that the Captain was hooked up with some flouncy trollop or two, wasting his gold on the fabled wine, women, and song. Never was the man farther from the truth and would probably have keeled over to see Captain Jack Sparrow climbing around like a monkey fixing windows that day.

It was then it struck Jack that he still carried the bulky unopened pouch from Ester. Deciding a breather was in order, he sheathed his sword and sat on a rather large uprooted tree and carefully untied the knot that held the edges of the cotton cloth together.

“Ah, Ester, ye darling,” Jack grinned as he saw a stash of vittles and a clay bottle that the housemaid had apparently thrown together for him. He eagerly dove into the hard cheese and bread, as his grumbling stomach reminded him he had eaten nothing but that fruit he pocketed since the gruel that morning. Uncorking the small bottle, he sniffed at the contents. The faint smell of vinegar under the sweet minty odor gave him pause, and then the sip told him it was a sekanjabin. Boil sugar and water and vinegar together g wig with a flavoring such as spices, fruit or herbs, down to a thick substance, and you had the makings of sekanjubin. The sweet beverage was a pleasing substitute for regular plain water. If you carried the concentrate separately, it didn’t spoil easily and gave murky, poor water a better taste, and the sugar and vinegar helped replenish the body, especially on hot days or long journeys.

Not wanting to waste too much time dawdling, Jack tied two ends of the cloth through his belt to make a pouch he could reach into, so he could eat as he walked. It was sheer luck that the island where he found the woman who seemed to compel him as much as the Pearl did, was also the perfect place to do the careening he needed so badly.

Jack thought back to when he returned to where he met her, and discovered she was gone. The landlord had no clue where she had headed, other then it was by ship, and since it was an island, that seemed to speak for itself. A few well placed drinks at her previous place of employment, and he was able to discover that she had left on a ship called the Leopold. A few raid and pillages later, and he was able to trace the Leopold to here, with a few stops in between.

He had kept his relationship, if you wanted to call it that, a secret. He knew there was much speculation when he had arrived back without his merchandise, cleaner then any of them had been in months, with new clothing and missing his traditional hair ornaments. Jack just claimed he stole the clothes, and lost his hair in some scuffle with a soldier and a careless bayonet. He never did give them an answer about the precious stones he replaced the colorful beads with.

Jack slashed at the passing vegetation with a renewed ferocity as he slogged his way to his hidden cove, his mind whirling in thought. Life was easier when you had no strings. Now he had given himself a whole spindle of strings, and he routinely desired to kick himself in the arse for it. His existence had always been the Pearl and the piracy, and the freedom it gave him, to go and do whatever he chose. That made things simple, and easy to understand. The day she had stuffed him down in that tub things became increasingly more complicated.

He had never planned to stay like he had. At first he thought it was merely his weakness for pretty female flesh, and she was more than good looking enough for him. Jack Sparrow was going to ply her with wine, take what he wanted and leave in that grand glorious style that pirates did. He couldn’t quite put his finger on the moment that all changed in that short day and a half, or why. All Jack Sparrow knew was that it did.

He had meant what he had written in that letter he had left on her bed. There was something about that woman that called to him and drew him to her almost as much as his Pearl and the sea did. Perhaps it was because she seemed to see beneath the masks he worked so hard to wear, and because she asked for nothing from him but himself. She was another lost soul, searching for something that society was denying her, and living life more then what she was supposed to be able to have. She had not once ceased to amaze him with her willing eagerness, and her thirst for adventure, even vicarious adventure. She was like him, only a girl, and much prettier, so he thought.

The humidity had risen drastically, and Jack sighed, wiping beads of sweat that trickled down his face, burning in his eyes. He could feel his shirt sticking to his skin under his long sleeved Captains coat. The heavy coat was a bit too much for the rainforest here, but it did offer good protection from the scratching bran and and underbrush. He drained the rest of the sekanjubin to replace the fluids he knew he was sweating out, and tried to figure how long he had been walking.

He didn’t have to ponder on it long, as he broke through the line of trees and brush and to the top of a large cliff overlooking the moonlit ocean with its sparkling whitecaps. Jack smiled as he saw the familiar black outline of his Pearl, anchored there in the deeper part of small inlet. Seeing his first love always lifted his heart. A couple of lighters were tied off next to the hull, to be used for hauling anything off the Pearl that needed to be offloaded. He didn’t see a long or a jollyboat on the shore, so he figured the crew that had stayed on were camped aboard the ship till the early dawn. Well, he wasn’t going to swim to the ship; he would find a way to bring them to him.

Even with the quarter moon waning, Jack could see enough to pick his way warily down the rocky outcrop to the pebble and sand beach below. When he reached the shore directly across from the Pearl, he noticed that large unlit torches had been set up in a semi circle around the beach. Trust Gibbs to think of everything, he thought with glee. Reaching into one of the deep pockets on the inside of his long coat, Jack removed a small box with flint and steel, and set to lighting all the torches. He then sat down on a large rock in the center and waited.

It wasn’t long before herd trd the splashing of oars in the water, and a jollyboat carrying Ana Maria and Gibbs appeared. Jack stood up and grinned wickedly at the two as the sloshed through the shallows, grounding the small boat.

“Jack,” Gibbs growled as he faced the Captain, ”You have all the timing in the world, and it be poor, I tell ye! I was just dreamin’ of that red’ead in Tortuga when Cotton and his blasted parrot come a wakin’ me up, and Jarod is sayin some damn fool is settin’ our torches afire. Then I have me a looksie thru the eyeglass, and by the lord, he be right if it aint some damn fooYer Yer a day late or few hours early.”

“I missed you too, Mr. Gibbs.” Jack drawled, placing his hands on his hips in amusement at his friends blustering. “I didn’t feel like sittin’ out here all by me onsies in the dark, so I figured I’d either have some light, or some visitors or a bit o’both. I gather she weathered the tempest wi’out too much trouble?” He lis eis eyes rest on his First mate.

Ana Maria just glared at him in her usual perturbed way. “Where have you been?”

“Right where I said I would be, luv,” Jack replied nonchalantly, running his boot through the sand to make an abstract pattern with the toe.


“You said that you be checkin’ on the guard an a letting us know! I didna’ think it took t’ree whole days to check da port and make ye way back!”

“Well, I wanted to be thorough…”

“You got distracted!”

Jack winced and then shrugged, “Mebbe a bit, but I knew you wouldn’t be startin’ wi’out me, and then we had that terrible bit o weather there…”

“While me an Gibbs are out here churnin our guts out in that mess,” the young, mulatto woman pointed vaguely out towards the open water,” you are doin’ what? No, let me guess!” She got up nose to nose with Jack. “Checking out every tavern and empytin’ every cask of grog and rum and tossin’ every wench that would even considerin having ye on that side o’ the island!”

“I hit me one tavern and had a few nips o’ Brandy! So disparaging a line of thought ye have for Jack now,” he said in an obvious mock affront. “You would think I was responsible fer the entire rum and whore trade in the Caribbean the way everyone describes me now.”

“And I t’ink they be right.” AnaMaria snapped, her dark eyes practically shooting sparks.

Jack reached out and gingerly touched her shoulders, not quite a grasp, but not quite a caress. “Now, AnaMaria,” he consoling said, “I was doin’ what I said. Can’t help it if part of me job lands me in the occasional…establishment. I had more then enough confidence that ye could handle such a little squall wi’out me runnin’ and takin’ over like ye be a infant or somethin’.”

“That’s right!” she scoffed, tossing off his fingers. “We did jus’ fine wi’out the likes o’ you!”

“See!” Jack exclaimed proffering his hands, palms out. “Consider it experience well gained, luv.”

Ana Marie glowered at Jack with that small pout of hers, shaking her finger wordlessly as she searched for a response. Looking at Gibbs, she blurted out, “Remind me agin’ why I’m here, Mr. Gibbs, wastin’ me time on this old peacock?”

“Perhaps it’s the 20 extra gold Guineas you be earning from this venture,” Jack murmured, cleaning his nails with the tip of a small dagger he had retrieved from being hidden somewhere in his clothing, “and the fact you find me simply irresistible.”

“Incorrigible is more what I be t’inkin’. One day, Sparrow. One day, you will be turnin’ round to findin’ me stickin’ ye with something and ye won’t be likin’ it much.”

Jack laughed, and gave the lady pirate a blatant leer. “Nay, lass. I think it sounds much more realistic that I’ll be doing the stickin’, you’ll be loving it in spades, and it wont be my dagger I’ll be stickin’ ye with!”

AnaMaria’s mouth curled into an offended ‘oh’ shaped and she growled, whirling, and stomped her way up the beach.

“Why do ye insist on tormenting her like that?” Gibbs sighed and scowled at Jack. “Ye know she’ll never bed ye, and you know its bad luck to make mad a lady, especially that one. Women scorned and all, ye know. An’ AnaMaria can git madder then most.”

“Aye,” Jack cheerfully said, nodding his head. “Already been down that path a couple o’ times, but it’s too much fun to remind her what she’s missin’.”

“I don’ think she be mis it, it, Jack.” Gibbs said bluntly, scratching his short grey hair.

Jack, chuckling quietly, watched the hotheaded woman melt into the dark. She was a lovely little spitfire all around, Jack bemused in his thoughts, a spicy dish he had heartily enjoyed once upon a time ago. He had bedded her many years back to get his hands on her leaky old boat when he had to get to Port Royal, right before he got his hands back on his Pearl.

Now that she was a crewmate, despite the long, lonely nights, and as tempting as she was, to him she was off limits. They had their run, and despite the excellent sex, he felt nothing deeper for her then friendship and an extremely high respect. AnaMaria was one of his men, and to take it further even if just for physical release, seemed ludicrous and stank of perfidy to the Captain. He was determined not to let his base male desires destroy the working relationship he had with her.

As much as they goaded each other, Jack and AnaMaria had a silent understanding. Jack never questioned her abilities or made light of her being a woman in front of the men, and she backed him up one hundred percent as his first mate. Here in private, with Gibbs, they always let loose on each other, part of the love-hate relationship the two had. As much as she threatened, Jack knew that the test of their relationship had come and gone, back on the Pearl not a few months after the curse had been lifted.

To have a properly run pirate ship the size of the Pearl, or practically any ship for that matter, you needed more then the diminutive collection of survivors that was left, so Jack needed to add to his crew. They had sailed into Tortuga after the quick getaway from Port Royal with the pride and grandeur of a crew who had defeated the devil, as so they had.

The story of the Black Pearl and Barbossa was legendary in the buccaneer town, and here it was, back under the command of the very man whom it was stolen from to begin with. That he was able to overcome ancient black arts with a handful of a mish-mosh crew, and actually win, to many people this just proved that Jack Sparrow was teeming with the mad luck of a raving lunatic. The attention was both a hindrance and a blessing, as some good pirates wouldn’t think of signing with the Pearl for all the promise of booty in the world, and others, not always of the highest caliber, tried to worm their way on for the nostalgia of it.

With Gibbs at the forefront weeding out the sputum as best he could, Jack had been confident that the Pearl had acquired a half way decent crew. Some were old salts, wanting one more grand adventure; others were barely boys out of puberty needing a place to go and a place to chomehome. While many of the new men seemed a bit leery of the idea of AnaMaria being on board, none who finally signed the contracts seemed to make any further issue of it. Jack was soon to discover that this would be a large test of his commanding abilities, and a lesson to mark down in his book of experiences.

Three days out to sea was when the fateful events took place. It was mid-morning, and Captain Jack Sparrow strode from his cabin in an excellent mood. The air was crisp and the weather as beautiful for sailing as you could imagine. Hands in his pockets, Jack ambled over the deck, sidestepping the men in their seemingly endless tasks. Some were scrubbing the decks with wiry bristle brushes while others were polishing the many metal and brass bits from bells to knobs.

He looked up and observed the variety of men crawling up and down the shrouds of the various masts. Mr. Cotton sat quietly with his parrot prominently at the mizzentop, his watchful eyes on the several young men unfurling the topsails on the fore and main masts, their great mainsails already set and tied down. With such a prevailing wind, the additional sails would speed the already swift ship up significantly to their intended destination; the prime shipping lanes of the Spanish main.

Jack rocked back and forth on his heels, taking in a deep breath, relishing the feel of the salty air and droplets of spray on his face. He saw Gibbs, right in his element, amidst the crew on the deck, directing them to various chores that need to be done. Most of the crew was up and working now, before the sun got too high in the sky, and the heat too oppressive. The few on the first and grave watch were sleeping in the numerous hammocks strung in the berth-deck below.

“You man,” he called, motioning to one of the new recruits closest to him, who scurried over right quick.

“Luis, sir,” the man replied, his accent thick with his native Spanish tongue.

“Luis,” Jack said slowly, trying as best he could to commit that to memory. It would take him a while to get to know all the new names, and speaking with the hires was the best way for him to go about it. His eyes darted around, searching for an excuse to have called him over. “Grab that cordage there, and stow it, ‘for someone gets waylaid by it. Make it your duty to be sure that none of this gets ly’in around to be lost or ruined.”

“Aye, Captain.” The dark haired Spaniard said, and took off to moving the length of rigging rope that was coiled at the base of a mast from having been replaced the previous day.

Jack turned back and started searching the decks, and not finding what he wanted, marched over to the older Quartermaster. “Gibbs!”

“Aye there Captain. Fine morning aint it now? Dawn came bright and clear as any man could dream of. I have good feelings for today. Any clue where be ‘offen to in these here waters yet?”

“That is why I’m here actually,” Jack said, his fingers aimlessly playing with tho smo small braids on his chin. “AnaMaria was s‘posed to come to me cabin after mess to discuss routes, and she hasn’t shown up yet. Have ye seen her?”

Gibbs looked around the decks of the great ship, squinting against the bright sun. “Last I saw ‘er she was goin’ to the aft cockpit to check on somethin’. I’m supposin’ she got held up in whatever she was doin’”

The trinkets threaded and braided in the mass of black hair clinked and jingled as Jack nodded. “Aye, that would be her. Attention to the details. I’ll go have me a looksie and see if the thought of a loaded galleon would draw her attention back to the maps we should be goin’ over. Being me first mate I should give the lady some input into where we be headed, since she will be helping me get us there.”

With that, the flamboyant Captain took off at a solid pace towards the back of the ship, down into the bowels where the lower storage cabins and rooms were located. It took him a moment for his eyes to adjust to the low light levels below the deck. Small sealed lanterns with wax candles hung at the bottom of the stairway down. He was headed towards the larger storage rooms where he figured she might be inventorying their goods, when he was sidetracked by an odd noise from one of the smaller sealed rooms to the side. He almost missed it, but his sharp ears caught the sound of muffled voices and soft thumping.

The pirate frowned, and placed a hand on the pistol in his belt. Cautiously he reached out a hand and pushed open the simple plank door, and his eyes opened wide at the sight that greeted him inside. AnaMaria was sprawled out on her back atop the flat top large keg, two men on either side, holding her down, and one planted firmly between her legs. Hantsants had been ripped down, and a large leather strap was pulled firmly between her lips and teeth to stifle any cry that might have come from her. Her dark eyes were wide and bright with a mix of terror and rage.

Jack recognized the man starting to do his business to her as one of the new crew, an experienced tar by the name of John Eason from another pirate vessel, the Venture, who had been scuttled only recently. He was a fairly large man, with straggly brown hair and a face full of blackened rottingth, th, an unfortunate commonality amongst sailors. The other older man was a shipmate who went by the name Sapcott Mollenieux and the third, Daniell Frank, a young lad with no prior pirating incidents who had taken to hanging around with the older, more knowledged men. Originally Jack felt that this was a boon to young Frank, to be taken in and guided by two well-rounded hands and taught the ropes. Now he doubted that the ropes b tau taught were something that young Daniell should have ever learned. While Eason and Sapcott seemed utterly enthralled with raping AnaMarie, it did not go unnoticed to the observant Captain that Daniell was awfully silent and pale as he watched his compatriot force his way into the young woman’s unwilling body.

All fours heads turned at the sound of Jack’s pistol cocking, AnaMaria’s being the only one with relief on it. “GIBBS!” Jack bellowed back up the corridor, hoping someone above heard it, and came down. The Captain glared ferociously at the three men, his face taut with unspoken anger. “Don’t be tellin’ me that I see what I think I be seein’ now mates,” he said stiffly, calmly sweeping the metal barrel of the gun between the men.

AnaMaria struggled free of the loosened grip, pulling out the strap from her mouth. With some rambling French and native mixture of insults and invectives, she limped over to Jack. “Take me jacket, mate, “he said to her, starting to shrug out of the long overcoat, not once removing his eyes nor aim from the other men.

There was a clumping in the passage behind them, and Jack glanced over to see Gibbs and several of the crew emerging from the shadows, carrying one of the lanterns from the stairwell. “Sweet Mary,” the renegade Navyman blurted out, as he looked around in confusion; AnaMaria in Jack’s coat next to the Captain who was holding three men at its point. “Cap’n? What’s goin on ‘ere?”

“Bring them up to the main deck, and I’ll explain it there. It seems we have some issues that need resolvin’,” the pirate said, lowering his weapon only after Gibbs and his men had taken the three firmly in hand. He turned to AnaMaria and softly murmured, ”Go be changin’ and muster on the main anyone below.”

Jack stormed his way up to the Quarterdeck where the handsbell sat, and grabbing the short cord, began to ring it furiously. Hands began to swarm down the rigging and from all corners to gather on the wooden deck below where Jack stood. The only one to remain in his station was the topman on the main in the crow’s nest. Easton, Sapcott and Franks were roughly hauled out and into the center of the maindeck, refusing to meet the confused and wondering looks of their seamates.

AnaMaria appeared next to the Captain in a fresh set of clothing, her features hard as stone. Gibbs ascended the steps halfway between the two decks.s Qus Quartermaster, I need to know what be the charges you be levying against these men.”

“I gather,” Jack coolly replied, “that these gentlemen have forgotten the code, and need a bit o remindin.”

This was when Easton spoke up, speaking to the crowd, hoping to get some moral support, ”This aint got nut’in to do wit da code. We was jus havin us a bit o’ fun wit the woman thar. We were told equal shares when we signed on, an’ that means the Capn’s whore too.”

Murmurs arose in the muster, and hearing a sharp intake of breath, Jack shot up an arm to hold back a livid AnaMaria, and narrowed his eyes at the big man with bad teeth. “Did you miss, or perhaps be sleepin through where I introduced this here as my First Mate? I never heard Capn’s whore come out anywhere in me speech.”

“Did ye expect us to really believe that you would put some WOMAN,” Easton hollered, stressing his contempt,” in as yer First Mate? Tis bad ‘nough we ‘ave one of them on the ship and all, so let us call a spade a spade to what she really is!”

Jack flung his arms up to the sky and spoke to the air. “I must ‘ave been speaking Swahili or perhaps I was under a spell and be speaking in tongues. First mate or not, when ‘ave we taken to breaking the code and committin’ rape?”

“Rape?” Easton sneered. “The code speaks of prudent women. No prudent women would be aboard a pirate ship in the first place, so I sees no prudent women here. She’s a mulatto mixed breed slut and fair game.”

While the Captain’s face remained blank and stony but for a twitch in his cheek, any who paid attention saw Jack’s fingers curl tightly around the decorative railing of the Quarterdeck, his knuckles turning white in the process. From his vantage point between them all, Gibbs watched the sailors speaking in hushed tones amongst themselves, and darting glances between the outspoken crewmnd tnd the icy Captain. Giblmoslmost feared what must be going through the mind of the crazy bastard he called his mate and superior.

Finally Jack released the rail and with an odd postulating of his arms said loudly, “I believe you be right there. This is no woman that stands behind me.” AnaMaria’s eyes grew wide in disbelief as she listened to Jack’s ranting. Jack turned to look her up and down. “No. This be no woman before me. Never would I name just a woman to be me first mate.”

Gibbs saw the dark skinned woman’s fists clench in growing emotion.

Jack whirled back towards the crowd and leaned over the rail. “There stands before ye all one of the best, most fearsome pirates I ‘ave ever laid eyes upon. Steadfast and sturdy, who has proven themselves a pirate amongst pirates in the face of the most malevolent demon the seas has seen in ages. One who has proven themselves a pirate in my eyes more then most of you have yet. One who has the courand fnd fortitude to stay true in the face of danger and almost certain death!” Jack stopped, his sudden silence drawing the crowd in closer a step. He looked almost like the wild man lunatic the stories had played him out to be, his dreadlocks and red ends of his scarf blowing out in the stiff breeze, the black rimmed eyes giving him a darker more penetrating stare. “So in that line of thought, you cant rape a pirate, cause no pirate would ever allow or admit of themselves to being raped, so Easton be correct that there be no rape involved.”

AnaMaria and Gibbs’ jaws both dropped.

“What there be though,” Jack continued, enunciating his speech with a single finger,” is a grievous act against a fellow pirate and shipmate. At first I was thinking theft. Gibbs, what is the punishment for theft amongst shipmates again?”

“Depending on the level of the act, the person could be shot, or marooned,” Gibbs replied.

“Shot or marooned,” Jack repeated. The faces of Easton’s compatriots blanched a bit. Eaton himself shifted uncomfortably under the eyes of the whole ship. Jack slowly walked down the steps to the main deck, followed cautiously by his First. He made his way to the doors before the cabins, in front of the muster and a few feet away from the accused. “But no. There was no direct theft either. What we do have here is a breach of two other different codes. I can attest that I saw with me own eyes that this pirate was being struck against their will while incapacitated and restrained in fact, while under the protection of the articles of the Pearl. We all know that only the Quartermaster has the right and authority to direct any physical action against a crewmate. Secondly, here in front of all, this same pirate was maligned and denigrated, that is being slurred, and under the same articles has the right to seek recompense against the accuser. We will deal with that first since that is a more grievous act.”

Gibbs saw something in Jack’s eyes, something that only he could read having known and served with Jack for so long. Gibbs gave a half grin. “Aye Captain.” He pushed his short grey hair back, trying to smooth the small ponytail despite the wind. “You have a chance to renounce what ye said, here in front of all, and apologize and just face punishment for lying.”

Easton’s face twisted red with rage. “I aint no liar! And I aint takin back a word I said. And I sur’in hell aint apologizin’ to no black whore.” He spat a huge gobbet of slimy spit right at the feet of Jack and AnaMaria. The crew gasped and a wave of chatter sped through the ranks.

“Then a duel is called for. A trial by combat as they may say. AnaMaria fer the sake of her pirate honor, and Easton for the sake of his. Daggers to the death.”

“Are ye crazy?” AnaMaria started taking a step forward, but Jack’s iron fingers grasped hem anm and a near painful squeeze silenced her.

“Be ye forgettin’, Gibbs, that a duel involves fighting, and we shall have none of that outside battle related, on my ship?” Jack interrupted quickly.

Gibbs shook his hand. “Ah, yes, thanks for remindin’ me. Yes, it be precedence that a duel needs to be done off ship. Sadly enough we are at least two days from the nearest land.”

“Well, I don’t want to be dealing with the uncertainty for that long Gibbs,” Jack smirked. He nodded at a couple of the men. “Lower me a pinnace.” He motioned to the riggers. “Get to the halyards. I want the sails all reefed if not furled completely. I want to be at a near stop within the half.”

“What be ye meaning to do Captain Sparrow?” Easton hesitantly asked.

“Givin ye your chance for redemption, and prove that I be talking thru me hat,” the Captain replied taking great care meet his eyes. “There will be a duel today, and not on the Pearl.”

“You ARE insane, Sparrow!” Easton exclaimed with incredulity.

AnaMaria stepped forward as she realized what Jack was up to, a wash of astonishment and misgiving twisting her pretty features. “You cant be serious ye daft blaggart, can ye? Ye expect us to fight on that boat?” Then she hissed only for Jack’s ears, “You expect me to be fightin’ ‘im?”

Jack merely patted her shoulder. “Yep.”

During all this the other two men in custody had been watching the events with a growing tretiontion. Daniell Franks had grown so pale and ashen; one would think he was already dead. His limbs trembled under the strain of the proceedings, until he broke free from the men who held him to everyone’s astonishment.

The next thing they all saw was the skinny young man throw himself at AnaMaria’s feet. “Please. Please. I’m so sorry. I didn’t know.” He sobbed, grabbing at her feet and pant legs. “I beg of you. Forgive me. I didn’t mean… oh please ma’am!”

There were several mixed reactions at Frank’s groveling. AnaMaria tried to step back and shake him off, obviously shocked at the outburst. Jack was able to more or less hide his surprise, studying the lad with a renewed and silent interest. Easton and Sapcott on the other hand glared at their third in disgust. “Git up, ye bastard,” Sapcott cried, lashing out unsuccessfully, “and shut ye trap!”

The men who had been holding Franks were able to grab hold and pull him up off the deck, where the weeping man continued to softly beg his forgiveness.

When the ship had gone almost dead in the water, the pinnace, a small eight-oared boat minus its oars at the moment, was lashed to the side of the Pearl. Gibbs motioned for Easton to be brought to the edge of the ship, and AnaMaria followed. Easton was actually showing a lot of confidence as he outweighed the girl by a good 150 pounds. The Quartermaster stood between them, holding two very large, nasty looking daggers. They were thick and sharp, and about 18 inches long. Instead of the normal curve, the second edge had been sharpened down to make it a formidable double-edged weapon. The damage from the second edge would make avoiding a swipe a lot harder, and a stab wound nearly impossible to fix. Any decent strike to the body would most certainly be a deathblow, as it would rip the flesh wide open, and even if it didn’t hit anything vital, it would probably make you bleed to death within a ma of of time.

AnaMaria stared hard at Jack, her face unreadable as she was lowered down by rope to one end of the pinnace. Easton was lowered down to the other end. The rest of the crew all lined up on all the decks or on the yardarms where they could see. Jack took a center spot next to Gibbs, who had to oversee the duel to make it legal. His only acknowledgement to his First was a small wink and a nod. What Jack had neglected to inform anyone was that using the pinnace gave AnaMaria the actual advantage. Big men like Easton were used to the sea yes, and had their legs, but their reflexes were built upon ships and rigging. Small crafts were used only for transporting to and from shore. AnaMaria on the other hand had been brought up to the ship after spending a lifetime on a boat. Her legs and bearing were honed on small open vessels, like lighters, gigs and one masted boats such as the leaky fishing rig of hers he had commandeered from her months back.

The small boat wobbled precariously as the two gained their balance and footing. Easton looked fiercely at the smaller woman, who in return have him her own defiant stare back. He took the deadly knife, and waved it threateningly back and forth, growling, “Ye put your faith in a madman, whore. See what he’s done to ye is far worse then what I was doin to ye.”

AnaMaria raised her own knife in a defensive stance and through gritted teeth said, ”I’d rather die then be taken by the likes of you!”

“I can be obligin’ that.” Easton stepped forward, slashing, and the First jumped back. The pinnace rocked violently and both parties threw up their arms, legs wobbling, trying to keep the craft from tipping. As the shaking began to subside, AnaMaria grabbed an advantage and slipped down low, striking out, and able to get a soild cut on the man’s leg.

“Damn you whore,” he bellowed and lashed out in pain and anger. The boat took to rocking again, and as the big man strove to keep himself from tipping into the drink, the lithe lady pirate skipped her way past him to the other side. Easton whirled with a roar and rushed her. Anamaria tried to sidestep him but with nowhere to go, and the pinnace shaking with a ferocity under the larger mans quick actions, was caught up in his lunge, and both participants went over the edge into the ocean.

Jack and Gibbs both leaned over the side of the Pearl, searching for some sign of either combatant. Gibbs grabbed Jack’s arm, his fingers digging into the flesh under the white shirt.

“Give it a moment,” Jack comfortingly murmured, praying to himself that hadn’t been misguided in his decision.

Suddenly a dark head burst above the water, gasping in a deep loud breath. “AnaMaria!” Gibbs exhaled in relief.

Everyone’s heads craned to see any sign of Easton. A bump was heard from under the pinnace, and from the side underneath the large form of Easton emerged… face down. Bright red stain started to color the water around him. A cheer and whistles arose from the onlookers excepting Sapcott.

Jerking his head, Jack said, ”Get her up ‘for the sharks start arriving for their dinner.”

The rope used to lower her down soon brought the soaking wet pirate back up the main deck of the ship. She crawled over the edge, and tossed the evil looking knife back at the feet of Gibbs, straight into thed ofd of the deck.

Mr. Cotton threw a blanket around the shivering woman. “Shiver me timbers! Shiver me timbers!” his parrot screeched obnoxiously.

“Aye, Cotton, I’m fine, no t’anks to Sparrow. I appreciate your concern,” she answered back with a groan.

Jack sidled up to her, his trademark half grin prominent on his face. “Very good. I didn’t think you’d let me down.”

A light brown fist waved in face. “I could have DIED there Jack Sparrow!”

“Aye,” Jack nodded in agreement, and then with a cock of the head,” but you didn’t,” and he strode back to the stairs separating the two decks, leaving an astounded AnaMaria gawking after him.

Leaning against one of the many protrusions on the ship, Jack looked back at the two remaining men. “Well, it seems that guilt has been decided. Since neither of you participated directly in the slighting of my First, I will show some mercy.” Jack turned and spoke prominently to the crew who had remustered around them. “Since there seems to have been a misunderstanding as to how this ship works, if any mate here has an issue with how we run here on the Pearl, and who be in charge, when we reach port I shall allow release of any individual without penalty who cannot live by the code as it applies to any and all who works aboard my ship. And I mean ALL. If there be any who wish to take advantage of my offer, speak now, step forward, or forever hold yer peace.”

Sapcott almost looked relieved, and stepped forward. He glanced around warily when he realized that he was the only man to step forward. Even Daniell had remained firm footed to his spot.

Jack looked over at Daniell. “Franks. You realize that you have broken an important code, and must suffer the consequences of your actions, and I can still throw ye off my ship, on a reef if I so choose.”

Licking his dry lips, the young man choked out,” Yes sir.”

Rubbing his chin beneath his fingers, Jack silently pondered things, his gaze out on the wide horizon.

Gibbs rruprrupted his train of thought. “Captain, there still be the matter of their complicity in the act. The articles are clear.”

“Aye,” Jack replied slowly. “A visit to the Captains Daughter is in order if Im not mistaken?” Jack looked out to the gathered crew. “It be up to you men. Should the Quartermaster adhere to articles as we all agreed to?”

There was a loud cheer of approval from the majority of the gathered. There were shouts of “Moses’s Law” heard amongst the din. Gibbs disappeared into his cabin.

“What?” Sepcott screamed in dread. “You said we were to be let off the ship without penalty.”

“Aye,” Jack countered with a sparking gold grin. “And I shall hold to that. But you see that just has to do with who serves on me ship. I have nothing to do with the carrying out of the discipline for breaking the articles. That be the rnsibnsibility of the Quartermaster, not the Captain. You should know that, being the old salt ye are.”

Kicking, struggling and screaming the entire way, Septcott was dragged to one of the low spars and tied arms overhead to the wooden boom. Gibbs emerged carrying a cowhide woven whip, about three feet long, with nine knotted lines off the end of the thick handle. In a loud, commanding voice, Gibbs addressed the crew as much as he addressed the victim. “You have been found guilty of severe violation of the signed articles and I turn wanting of flogging by yer mates, and under my authority as Quartermaster of the Black Pearl, dictate that the penalty for yer actions be Moses’ Law under the dictates of the Captains Daughter.”

Jack looked over at AnaMaria who had moved closer, looking befuddled. She had never had need to have experience in this arena, never having been with the Royal Navies or serving with a crew who had need of actually enforcing the articles. “He’s getting 39 lashes with the cat’o nine, luv,” he softly said into her ear.

The lash struck out with a snap, and was followed in short order with a screech as the ends cut into the flesh under the thin linen shirt Sapcott wore. It seemed like forever as Gibbs reared back his arm and repeatedly brought the reddening leather down upon the angry, bleeding back of the pirate. Jack kept his eyes on Daniell, though, who flinched at the wicked sound of each lash, but stood his ground. The shrieks were lessening as the crew counted off each lash, until finally at about thirty the sounds from Sapcott ceased altogether as he passed out, his body going limp on the lines.

Shaking his tired arm, Gibbs ordered, ”Cut ‘im down and toss ‘im in the brig till we reach landfall.” A couple of the men sliced the ropes and hauled the unconscious Sapcott away into the bowels of the ship. The greying Quartermaster motioned to Daniell. Unexpected to all, the young man walked of his own accord to the same boom, to stand in the puddle of dripped and splattered blood, where the horrible flogging had just occurred. His soft hazel eyes looked meekly over at the woman whom he helped violate earlier, and he weakly said,” I am guilty of a heinous act, which I can only pray that someday I will be forgiven for. I accept the punishment being allotted for me, knowing it can never actually make up for what I did.” AnaMaria ked,ked, and grabbed hold of Jack’s sleeve.

He was tied up same as Sapcott, but without the screaming and begging that the other man had done in the pos position. Gibbs uncoiled the cat o nine again, and began the wicked lashing. While Daniells could not stop sounds of pain from emanating from his lips, he did not shriek and wet himself the way Sapcott had. It was at the count of twelve lashes that a slender dark skinned hand restrained Gibbs arm as he wound back for a thirteenth strike.

AnaMaria had silently walked up, and halted the Quartermaster’s next lash. She said nothing, but merely looked into Gibbs eyes, and then closed hers, and turned away. Gibbs lowered his arm wearily. “Cut him down,” he gratefully muttered, and reached for his small flask, swigging at the contents within.

Captain Jack Sparrow had stood silently in the background, soaking it all in, from AnaMaria to the crew, to the reaction of each violator.

Gibbs scuffed his way over to the brooding Captain. “Only with you Sparrow, I swear,” he said, leaning against the solid wood of the wall.

“What needed to be done got done, and in the long run, I think it will be the best thing that could have happened, “Jack mused, rubbing the back of his neck. “ AnaMaria got exactly what she has always deserved today.”

“How can ye be sayin that? How can anything that happened today…” Gibbs started.

“Think about it Joshemee,” Jack said, using the rare personal address. “She gained more then she could have ever earned any other way. It’s a hard lesson, I admit, but nothing worth having comes easy. Firstly she gained a confidence in herself, overcoming the odds that she will need as me First, and the reputation that she will need as a pirate. Secondly, there are two things men tend to respect. That is power and mercy, and today, AnaMaria showed both. Things will be a lot better for her as this gets around the docks, and pretty soon, the way stories tend to be exaggerated, no one will dare ever try that again on her for fear of her chewing off his balls and serving them for mess.” Jack smirked at his long time friend. “Now, lets get back on course, and down to the business of pirating, shall we?”

Gibbs laughed and slapped Jack on the back. He walked back out into the muster and commanded,” All right ye scurvey bilge dogs! Break’s over. Back to work. Lets get this barge here underway. Drop the canvas…”

Jack watched the men take off into the ropes and masts, like he used to do when he was younger. Slowly he walked over to where Franks was huddled down on the deck, having vomited from the pain, and still trying to get his wits back about him after getting flogged. AnaMaria still stood there, just watching him. The ostentatious pirate squatted down next to the boy. “Well, you showed something today, Daniell. Guts and honor. Yes, a te hte had his own form of honor. When we reach the next port, I will give you the option of staying on if you choose.”

The young man looked up at him startled. “If you choose to stay on the Pearl, be advised that it is under these conditions; for the next six months you are at the beck and call of the First Mate for any and all things that she demands from ye. I don’t care if it be emptying her chamber pot and wiping her arse, you will be doing it with a please, thank you and a smile. Also, your share of any booty will be hers for the duration of this indentureship. Oh, and ye get the Graveyard watch every night till I say.” Jack at this point had his attention on the female pirate who silently listened to Jack’s speech. She rubbed her lips with her fingertips, and then nodded. Jack cocked his head to take Franks into his peripheral vision. “And if anything like this would ever happen again, I reserve the right to gut ye like a fish and leaou iou in bits and pieces for the sharks to knash on. Savvy?”

“Aye Captain.”

Jack reached out his leather-covered hand. “Then we have an accord.” Daniell weakly took it, and with the firm grip of the pirate Captain, was hauled to his feet. Jack surveyed the mess on the deck, and snapped, “Now get this swabbed, and be quick about it. I don’t want it stinking up me ship anymore then it does.” Taking AnaMaria by the arm, he whirled and led her towards the outer stateroom under the quarterdeck where he kept his charts. “Now, since you’ve had your fun for the day, there be business we need to be attending to there mate. No time like the present.”

”…no time like the present,” Jack heard a voice say in the back of his mind. “Jack?”

“Huh?” Jack was startled out of his thoughts, and suddenly he was back on the dark beach waiting for the tides to rise so they could fall.

“I said,” Gibbs repeated in frustration, ”that the tide is getting high enough that we could start maneuvering her in further if you want. By the time we are ready with the sweeps and the jollys it will be perfect. There is no time like the present.”

Jack sighed. “Aye, you be right. You go roust the men and I’ll go find AnaMaria. I’ll be needing her to guide me in. Send someone back with a boat.” He peered out into the darkness beyond the light from the torches and grinned. “Hopefully she’s cooled off a bit by now, other my my cheek will probably be smartin’ once I find her.”