Kindred Spirits

Disclaimer: I do not own POTC or Jack Sparrow. If I did I would hide him from all your preying eyes and have my filthy way with him (Thanks the lord on bare knees, my husband can't read English) buy a brand new Alfa Romeo Spider, shop even more fanatically than I already do and would take a looooooooooooooooooooooooooong break from work. Oh, and I would be living in a castle (not just a big house but a CASTLE! For I am a princess) …. Gets carried away by Jack.

But I don't. So... keep dreaming of winning the lottery once (Like that'll ever happen) or hope to be discovered once by one of Disney's head hunters... sighs

A/N

Thanks to all you lovely reviewers, I am so glad you all like Devon and you like the story I've written so far. Speaking of which... I best get started then, don't I?


Chapter 5

Of Dragons and Sea turtles


He watched her stroll out of the "Treasure Chest" with her head held high, and a slight sway in her gait. For a moment he contemplated whether he should go after her. But it only took him another moment to realise that he would more than likely get slapped again. It was strange how many women tended to enjoy that … they did it often enough after all.

He quickly turned on his heel, trinkets jingling and hitting his face, to look into the tavern and get a good look at the men Devon had been sitting with. He couldn't believe his eyes.

‘Drake! How’ve ye been ol’ boy! Haven’t seen ye sailin’ these waters fer a long time!’

‘Sparrow! Can't believe I didn’t notice ye before now! Have a seat, mate! An’ tell me all ‘bout what ye’ve been up ta lately.’

‘How long ‘as it been? Eight, nine years now?’

‘Ta be honest, I think I’ve had a bit too much rum ta recall when it was, Sparrow. But I know fer damn sure tha’ it’s been too long.’

Jack pulled up a chair and waved Gibbs over to their table, since he was still sitting at the table in the back.

They were soon entangled in a loud conversation, swapping stories, laughing, and trying to impress the other.

Then Johnson took advantage of a lull in the stories to ask how the two captains knew each other.

‘We were part o’ th’ same crew fer several years a long time ago, but then we parted ways ta seek our fortunes elsewhere. Then I became Captain o’ “The Hazard,” an’ Jack Sparrow became one o’ th’ most infamous pirate Captains in th’ whole Spanish Main.’

‘Ye be a captain now? Funny ol’ world innit?’

Drake grinned. ‘I may not be as infamous as ye are, for yer reputation greatly precedes ye…. Hear th’ women talkin’ about ye every port we dock, I do. But yes, I am a Captain now, Sparrow.’

Suddenly he realised something very interesting. Captain Jack Sparrow just ‘ad quite th’ encounter with th’ only woman I’ve ever known o’ tha’ had th’ same illustrious reputation as he does, an’ yet they didn’t leave th’ tavern together. Actually if me eyes are workin’ correctly, Devon hadn't even shown interest in ‘im. Usually Dee is quite a fast worker when she finds someone attractive… an’ from hearin’ all th’ stories ‘bout th’ womanizin’ Sparrow, I think th’ same could be said ‘bout him. Strange. Very strange indeed.

‘Drake?’ Jack queried. ‘How do ye know the woman that sat with ye earlier?’

Drake smirked, and the other men sitting at the table leaned in to hear better, they knew this was going to be an interesting story.

‘Ye mean our little angel?’

The crewmembers of "The Hazard" laughed loudly at that comment.

Shredder yelled, ‘She be from a small nunnery in St. Martin. We took ‘er aboard, ‘cause we wanted ta clean our consciences an’ she blessed us with her angelic features. Reads th’ Bible ta us every night an’ all…’

Hoggins just couldn't help himself, and soon there were tears of laughter running down his face.

Jack looked as if he'd seen water burn. ‘Enough men!’ Drake shouted, trying very hard to contain his laughter. ‘If th’ Captain wishes ta be told ‘bout Dee, he shall hear all he wants ta know.’

‘Why is this all so amusin’ ta all o’ ye? I’ve heard ‘er name mentioned fer years now, so I am a tad bit curious ‘bout ‘er. Now tell me!"

‘She be one o’ th’ best members o’ me crew, Sparrow,’ Drake said seriously, eying the men sitting at the table as he did so. None of them spoke another word.

Then Drake told him how he had met her and how she joined his crew. He told him everything there was to tell. Granted there was much more to Dee than he ever got a chance to find out, but he told Sparrow all he knew of regardless.

Jack’s mouth fell open slightly during the stories Drake told. So, th’ stories are real, therefore she is real. It was really her. But if tha’ WAS her, then why didn't she ravish me an’ let me have my way wit’ her? No woman can resist me. What went wrong there?

‘But if she is as good o’ a pirate as you say she is, then why did ye all get branded an’ I haven't seen ‘er wit’ a "P" on her forehead or on ‘er arm? What’s th’ deal? Does she hide in ‘er quarters until th’ fights are over, an’ therefore she escaped while th’ others got branded or somethin’?’ Jack asked, eager to any find loopholes in her story.

‘Jack? Did ye not notice th’ Dragon tattoo on her arm?’ Drake asked looking him straight in the eye.

‘Nay, I spotted tha’ right away, but tha’ still doesn’t answer me question, Drake.’

‘She ‘ad ‘er good friend in Singapore tattoo it o’er it. I don't know why but she hated th’ brand mark, an’ since she loves tattoos she covered it. Not ta mention she also does a spot o’ tattooin’ ‘erself.’

Jack blinked in astonishment. The woman was a tattoo-artist AND a pirate?

‘Yer kiddin’ me right?’ he nudged Drake's side. ‘Right…?’

‘Hell no, I wouldn't lie ‘bout Duville, Jack. It be th’ truth, she worked fer a guy called Lee b’fore she joined us in Singapore. I don't know his last name, but everyone calls ‘im “The Dragon Man.”’

‘I heard o’ him, apparently ‘e’s one o’ th’ best in th’ trade.’

‘Aye, but so is she, mate. So is she…’ Drake spoke the words out slowly, in order to convince Sparrow that he wasn't lying.

‘Very well then, I believe ye. But what's wit’ tha’ odd lookin’ dog o’ hers? I mean, tha’ IS a dog, isn't it?’ Jack asked.

‘Tha’ be quite a long story Jack…’

‘Tell me anyway! I’ll get this round,’ he told Drake as he waved his hand in the air, calling one of the wenches.

‘Need more rum here, luv,’ he said with his soft melodic voice.

‘I can bring ye a lot more than just th’ rum, Sir,’ the slender girl said seductively.

‘Not now luv, be a good lass an’ just bring us th’ rum. But p’haps I'll take ye up on tha’ offer later…’ He said as his eyes raked down her slender figure. Thank God, there are still women attracted ta me. Fer a crazy moment there I thought I had lost me touch.

He turned his head away from the wench and back towards Captain Drake, waving his hands in front of him, gesturing him to continue.

‘Well, we raided a French merchant vessel a few years back an’ Dee was one o’ th’ first ta get ‘board. Mind ye, she flung herself o’er by a rope, never could contain herself when it came ta battles. Always runs head first inta danger, she does. First we thought it was her lack o’ experience, but she knows all there is ta know ‘bout th’ Sweet Trade. She's just a thrill seeker, an’ patience is not one o’ ‘er best attributes.

‘When she landed on th’ deck o’ th’ ship she was immediately surrounded by four men. An’ she smiled, nay not smiled, she was grinnin’ like a mad woman. Not yer average lass that one is… An’ then when one o’ those men ‘ad his blade at ‘er throat, she reached behind her back an’ grabbed th’ man’s crown jewels.’

Jack’s face twisted as though he felt the pain as well.

‘She nearly castrated ‘im, because almost instantly, ‘e dropped ‘is sword an’ fell down. By th’ time we got ‘board, she ‘ad taken out th’ four men. Th’ first, I just told ye about… she got two others wit’ ‘er throwin’ stars, an’ th’ third she shot right b’tween th’ eyes. An’ she had done tha’ shot whilst runnin’, aimin’ ‘er gun behind her back. She is without doubt, th’ best shot I've e’er seen.’ Drake said glowing with pride.

‘Well, I see how she is a great asset ta yer crew an’ all, but ye still haven't told me ‘bout th’ dog…’ Jack said impatiently, he was very impressed with the story, and wanted to move forward rather than have to show it unknowingly. He knew Drake was not the type to tell him lies, but it just seemed impossible – nay, improbable – for a woman to be as Drake described.

‘Ah yes, we were too strong fer th’ French crew, though they outnumbered us. Devon an’ Dacosta went ta search th’ ship fer plunder…. When Dacosta came back yellin’ fer help ta carry th’ cargo – consisting o’ fine fabrics, barrels o’ wine, an’ jewels – Dee was nowhere ta be found. So Shredder was sent ta look fer ‘er.’

‘Aye,’ Shredder said, joining in the narration of the tale. ‘An’ I looked everywhere fer th’ darn woman, especially th’ armoury where I searched th’ whole room top ta bottom, since she be a collector o’ weaponry I figured that's where she would be, but nay, the vixen wasn't in there.

‘Almost feared tha’ she had been taken by one o’ th’ bloody French, but then I heard strange noises comin’ from behind th’ door o’ th’ quarters next ta th’ armoury…. So naturally, I thought Dee was keepin’ one o’ th’ French crewmembers herself fer her ta play her wicked games with. That was until I heard her talk. She spoke in a whole different voice, an’ she even GIGGLED fer cryin' out loud!

‘An’ when I opened th’ door, there she was, holdin’ a very wrinkled black an’ white puppy dog in her arms. It had a small scar on its paw, an’ it was lickin’ th’ wound Dee had gotten fightin’ off th’ French. An’ that be how she got th’ bleedin' mutt!’ When he finished with a flourish, Shredder realised what he had just called Bullet, and quickly looked around, scanning the tavern.

‘Relax Shred! She ain't here.’ Hoggins taunted.

Jack was amazed. So this hellcat had adopted the dog and had kept it ever since.

‘Not like a pirate ta ‘ave a pet,’ he remarked.

‘Well Sparrow, Dee's not like any other pirate ye’ve ever met. An’ she has more pets than just th’ Bulldog.’ Drake added with a wink towards his men.