Caribbean Hybrid

Title: Caribbean Hybrid - Chapter 7
Chapter Author: Wickedswanz
Disclaimer: We don't own these characters, we are simply using them as toys
in our playhouse.

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Jack stood in the doorway to Elizabeth's cabin. He knew he should just leave her alone and let her translate the damn book but… But, he thought to himself. He just wanted to be close to her, even if that meant standing in her doorway watching her work.

But suddenly she was looking right at him, and didn't seem happy to see him. Can't say I blame her, he had snapped at her after all and was making her translate a whole book even though from what he could tell he only needed three pages. Another pang of guilt hit, but his swept it away. She couldn't know not yet, not till he had some kind of control over his beast.

Maybe he didn't know her as well as William seemed to, but he knew enough to know that if she knew she'd want to know more…much more. And the truth was that he didn't trust his beast enough to leave them alone together. If it was true that his beast was an extension of himself then it would either kill her or… He felt something move and growl inside him, and his groin responded painfully. He knew which.

Ah oh she's waiting,

"Hello luv, how's it coming?" He watched, his head tilting slightly to the side as she turned back to her notebook. She looked tense and tired. He moved closer to look over her shoulder. There wasn't much to see and this sent another pang of guilt, she had told him that she only knew enough to get by. "Ah I see, how many pages did you do?"
She pointed at the first page and he cringed at her annoyed grunt.

"One?" he tried at an encouraging smile, "Well, that's better then none." he was leaning over her now his face so close he could smell her sweet perfume. He closed his eyes and for a moment let it consume him. He opened his eyes to see her looking right back at him. So close and she seemed to be leaning closer. He could hear her heart beat as though it were his own, so loud it was deafening and getting faster by the second.

He took a deep shuddering breath as he closed the space a little more. So close and all he could think about was getting closer. He parted his lips as she parted hers and he inched just a little closer. The urge to flick out his tongue and taste her was unbearable.

He saw her teeth clench and knew that he's lost his chance. Damn! "You seem tense, Peapod." He stood up and placed his hands on her smooth shoulders and began to rub and squeeze the tight muscles in her shoulders. If he couldn't have her now at least he could touch her a little and maybe even make her feel better in the process.

She complained a little at first but soon relaxed into his firm soothing movements. He grinned to himself. Years of watching his mother do this for his father after he'd spent hours working the fields had paid off. He closed his eyes tight and tried to rid himself of the warm happy memories from his childhood. Those after all were the people who had abandoned him after he'd been attacked.

At her slightly pained gasp he looked down again and softened his movements, he was being to rough with her, he needed to relax. She leaned forward a little and he felt his breath catch as her hair fell over one shoulder, revealing the back of her long neck. Instinctively he ran his hand down the long column of her neck and massaged the tight little muscles he found there.

He felt her body heat up and her blood roar in his ears. His beast answered. He could feel it filling him again trying to push outwards. What the hell? it was not a full moon tonight so why… He heard her blood call to him again. No, not to him to the wild animal inside him. Whether she realized it or not she was calling him. But the question was, was she ready to be answered?

But before he had time to think further, Gibbs appeared at the door breathing hard and gripping the doorframe as though he might collapse.

"What is it man?" Jack turned on his mutinous first mate, "Can't you see Miss Swan and I are busy?"

"Jack…Ship…Unity…Achille!" Gibbs managed to gasp out.

Jack's head filled with images he had tried so hard to forget. Blood…so much blood, and that poor woman's face…his head was filled with her screams as that animal tore her apart and devoured her as a beast would. But the difference was that Achille had been in human form. Jack had been helpless and unable to stop what was happening, I was only fourteen! he screamed in his head, but that didn't stop the flashes.

Elizabeth was touching him. Oh god Elizabeth…She said something but he wasn't listening, "Lizzie" he wasn't sure that he could continue but he did, "You have to stay here."

"But Jack…?"

She was asking questions why was she asking questions? He had no time…no time. "Ye promised to stay away from anything that bites. I am keeping you on that promise." he walked out and slammed the door shut firmly then thought for a second.

Jack banged hard on the door next to hers and was met by a rather angry looking William.

"What is it?" the lad said trying his best to look bored but Jack could see him and smell him fuming.

"You once said that you'd die to protect her." there was no need to say who and Will stiffened, "Is it still true?"

"It is"

"Good answer" Jack muttered and grabbed him by the arm. He threw open her door again and threw William inside her cabin.

"What the…" Both Will and Elizabeth yelled in unison.

"You" Jack spoke to William, "Do not leave her side, you will stand before her and give your life if the need arises." William looked confused, but he nodded and Jack knew that he would do as instructed.

Jack slammed the door again and locked it. He reached up and untied the large black curtain so it hung over the door. He didn't really thing that this would hide the fact that there was a cabin here, but it was worth a try and his options were few.

He turned and raced towards Gibbs who was waiting for him on the stairs. Together they climbed in silence both understanding what was about to happen and both ready to fight. Jack filled his hands with his pistol and sword and Gibbs did the same.

"You know William would be useful right now" Gibbs spoke as they crossed the deck.

"I know." they looked at each other for a long moment until Gibbs nodded and they proceeded to the stern.

The strong French accent sent chills down Jack's spine and he tried not to cringe as he looked over the Unity and saw Achillie standing tall on the railing, holding a rope to keep his balance. He was at least a foot taller then Jack, with straight shoulder length ice-blond hair. It was cut sharp and jagged and, to Jack, seemed to resemble thin shiny blades shifting and spinning in the wind. He almost expected them to clink together. Achille's eyes were light sky blue and Jack swore that sometimes he could see clouds floating by in them.

"Jack, so good to see you again"

Jack planted a wide grin on his face, "Archie wonderful to see you…thought you were dead" he was proud of the flippant tone.

"Funny, I heard you had been marooned by that beast of a man Barbossa"

"I'm Captain Jack Sparrow and I always come out on top" Jack leaned forward as he spoke and his arm flew to the side, servicing to both.

"So I've noticed and I see that you have you're pretty, pretty ship back" Achille swept his arm out wide as he spoke. His voice drawled and peaked with that French accent that seemed to be mocking Jack with every syllable.

"No one ever keeps the pearl from me…for long" Jack returned and there was a definite threat there.

Achille chuckled his eyes flicking around the pearl…he was looking for something. "And a little birdy tells me that you 'ave a new friend" his eyes were sharp on Jack and his grin widened when he saw the man twitch slightly.

"No" Jack kept his flippant tone in place, "Just a slightly new crew"

Achillie smiled at Jack his eyes holding Jack captive. Slowly, he waved his arm to the crew of the Unity signalling for them to advance.

The opposing crew swung over to the pearl shocking Jack out of the trance.

"Kill them all!!", Jack yelled to his crew and he lunged forward to the first enemy slashing his throat without thought and moving to the next.

His crew fought hard, slashing and shooting the murderous bastards of the Unity. Jack swung his sword hard and fast working his way towards Achille. This was going to be the last battle between them. It had to end and Jack had to end it. Today one of them would die.

Where the hell was he? His rival had been standing right there, fighting his way towards Jack just as Jack had been battling towards him and now he was…Jack looked around, proud to see that his crew was pushing the enemy back. No wait as he watched it appeared that the Unity crew were actually retreating and Achille was nowhere to be seen.

Some would have thought that the other man had fled like a coward, but Jack knew better. He turned on his heel and ran towards the stairs. "Push 'em back lads Kill the ones that want to stay. Get these bastards off my ship!" yelling over his shoulder he ran down the stairs to the hallway to the cabins.

Achille stood before Elizabeth's door. The curtain had been pulled down and now lay at his feet. He had his hands planted firmly against the door and he was sniffing and grunting, his eyes closed tight. Smiling he turned his face towards Jack and slowly opened his eyes.

"She smells sweet Jack" he sniffed again and closed his eyes as though he were savouring the scent. "Mmmm lime and roses and…purity." he grinned again, "Oh Jack you bad boy" and he waggled his finger from side to side.

Jack took a single menacing step closer, "Get away from that door."

"And what if I don't?" He turned towards Jack, "Will you stop me? This time?"

Jack's breath came fast and his heartbeat pounded so hard he thought that it might actually explode. Then something changed, he could feel his muscles pulse and expand. No. His beast shifted and growled within him. Can't be. A thick brown hair sprouted on his hands and arms. Oh god. He could feel his teeth lengthen and his mouth changing shape to accommodate them. Oh yes. He tipped his back and let a loud howl escape him. It started in his chest and roared up his throat, leaving his mouth in a deep, long cry of range and joy.

Achille trembled as he watched. For the first time he was truly afraid. Jack fell to the floor as he body changed and the beast took over. Achille took this chance to escape. He edged past the half man withering on the floor and fled back up the stairs.

He looked back once, his face a mask of rage, fear and confusion. "What are you?"