The Map

A/N: Usual disclaimer. Thanks to AniSparrow for her hard work in correcting this. Any remaining errors are all mine. I hope you enjoy this…

Chapter 44
To The Shock Of Miss Nell

The Reclamation and the Black Pearl were still side by side; orders had been given for double watches on both ships and the remaining crew had gone below to sleep.

Beaumont and De Mornay's bodies had been pitched over board with no ceremony and no official words. Norrington and Bryant had returned to the Reclamation and lights out had been ordered; there was an air of peace over both ships that belied their positions in day to day life.

Jack shut the cabin door behind him and pulled the hat from his head. "It'll be nice to sleep in my own bunk," he murmured and threw the hat onto the cluttered table.

"I'll just be glad to sleep," Nell replied quietly and looked away from him uneasily.

"Nell, you're not shy with me are you?" he asked in delight, a wicked grin on his face.

Nell blushed fiercely and turned away from him to cross to the cushioned seats.

"After all that's gone between us," he murmured and slid out of his coat and effects; he let them drop on one of the chairs by the table and moved towards her with slow, swaying steps.

"We've… well, it's a bit… I'm tired, Jack." As if on cue a huge yawn over took her and she covered her face with her hand.

"Which is why all I have planned for you my little darlin', is a good night's sleep; all wrapped up in my arms of course, but nothing more," he winked at her. "Although that's not to say that the moment you're refreshed I'll not be ravishing you until you're once more exhausted." Jack spoke with such exaggerated hand movements as he swaggered his way towards her that Nell couldn't help but giggle slightly. "Are you laughing at me, lass?" He raised a black eyebrow at her in mock offence.

"Yes," she replied with a giggle and tried to scoot past him as he drew closer but Jack was a lot faster than she was; he hoisted her up and lifting her clean off the floor he crossed to the curtained-off bunk and threw her down on it. Nell laughed and realised that she was no longer uneasy with him; no longer shy but she was still very, very tired.

"Did the good Commodore attend to your arm?" asked Jack as he flopped down next to her, leaning back on his elbows, as he looked sideways at her.

"Yes, he did." Nell lifted her arm and showed him where the cut was cleaned and bandaged. "I've never seen him in full uniform, it was odd seeing him with that wig on."

"Tis just the Navy's way of making idiots out of them." He stood up from the bed and with a speed that made Nell blink he removed all his clothes and was back on the bed grinning at her. "Keeps them in line; because no one else will take them seriously with that thing stuck on their heads!"

"It's a sign of rank," she corrected and gasped when his fingers went to the ties on her shirt, making short work of them, pulling her shirt apart, groaning as he looked down at her.

"I'm thinking, Nell, that you ought to be doing the rest yourself; there's only so much a man can stand."

A funny feeling speared through Nell; it was a mix of instant arousal and a sense of power over him. She could see quite plainly the effect she was having on him and it made her light-headed with delight.

"Maybe I'm not that tired," she whispered and laid her hand on his cheek, her fingers curling into the hair by his ear.

"Aye, Nell," he sighed and leaned into her touch, his eyes closing. "You're more than tired and while I'd love nothing better than to touch you, it'd not be fair on you. You've been through more than most people see in a year, let alone a few weeks."

"I'm not made of glass, Jack," she replied quietly.

"No, you're not, but neither are you made of rock, lass," he pointed out and flopped down onto his back when Nell moved to wiggle out of her clothes. She threw them over him to land on the deck of the cabin. "Are you going to be an untidy wench? Am I going to be forever chasing you to keep the place tidy?" he grinned at her as she settled down beside him; curling into his side and putting her hand on his chest.

Nell closed her eyes, surprised by the wash of fatigue that slid over her as she lay her head on the pillow. "Give me a couple of minutes and I'll be fine," she muttered and was asleep before she knew it.

Jack turned his head to look at her and smiled. Dark shadows bruised under her eyes and her cheeks were whiter than normal, but she was safe and back where she belonged, right next to him.

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When Nell woke the following morning the sun was high in the sky; but the motion of the ship told her they were still at anchor. She stretched out and grinned at nothing in particular; she was feeling more refreshed than she had in a long time, her mind felt lighter and the insistent, constant fear was gone. Nell stretched her arms over her head and sighed in contentment despite the sudden gnawing feeling that told her she was hungry.

"Someone looks happy," came a familiar slur from the other side of the cabin. "I take it you feel better for sleeping ten hours straight out."

Nell turned onto her side and pillowed her head on her hands as she watched Jack sitting at the desk with a bottle of rum in one hand and a quill in the other.

"Ten hours?" she stretched her legs out under the covers and pointed her toes. "That would explain why I'm hungry then."

"You slept through breakfast and lunch; although I have no doubt Soames or Dwent will have something you can eat." He put the quill down and took a swig of rum, eyeing her over the bottle rim.

"We're still at anchor, aren't we?"

"Aye, you can tell the difference now." He nodded in satisfaction and stood up. "We're still beside the Reclamation, a fair amount has happened while you've been sleeping."

"What?" Nell watched as he sauntered across to her. He pulled the curtains around the bed right back and looked down at her.

"Norrington and Bryant have cleaned up remarkably well for red-coats, although this you already know. Lady Clarence has announced her intentions in remaining with Mister Hock to the said red-coats, which came as no surprise. Gillette has been let loose from the brig and is back as Captain under the watchful eye of Norrington." He drew a deep breath and sat down stretching out his legs in front of him and crossing his ankles. "The Governor is doing well despite the fact Elizabeth is clucking around him like a mother hen; Will is slowly improving and even has slight feeling back in his lower arm, which is excellent news. So all in all, things are rather rosy."

"Hum…" Nell narrowed her eyes and sat up, pulling the blankets up with her. "And what will happen next?"

He looked round at her and shrugged. "Time will tell; although I do know that Norrington has declined the ten percent which was his according to our accord."

"Why?"

"Gillette knows too much, but not everything. If Norrington were to turn up at Port Royal with only a small share of a huge treasure, questions will be asked that will make Norrington very itchy under the collar. Gillette knows nothing about the island or you, other than that Beaumont was your guardian, you ran away from him, I caught you, he caught you back and we rescued you from the island, along with the help of Norrington and his loyal side-kick."

Nell sat silently for a moment processing Jack's words and then she nodded. "I can see the problem. Poor James, he's completely empty handed isn't he?"

"Not really; it's his and Bryant's still, they can reclaim it any time they choose, and they know that, although whether they'd ever lower themselves to become thieves is another matter. But I don't think that's what worries him," mused Jack and lifted his head to regard the ornately carved wood above their heads. "What worries Norrington is Gillette; and I think he has good cause."

"He can't cause them trouble can he?" Nell's concern showed clearly in her face and voice.

"Sweetheart, a man like Gillette is made for making trouble. He's a born brown nose and Norrington no longer holds his respect."

"Brown nose?" Nell frowned.

"He kisses the arses of authority to further his own advancement, figuratively speaking of course." He waved his hands around and then stopped wrinkling his nose up. "Or at least I hope it's figuratively speaking…"

Nell sank back against the pillows, some of her earlier feelings of contentment were fading as she realised that things were still far from sorted. "And where does all this leave you?"

"Me?" He looked at her and grinned widely. "It leaves me exactly where I want to be - sitting on the edge of my bed with a completely naked, beautiful ex-nun at my mercy."

"Seriously," she chided him but couldn't help the grin that curved her lips.

"Oh, I am," he replied. "I have a lot of admiration for the Commodore; I always will; granted he annoys me a lot of the time but if he were ever to remove the stick from his arse…" he cast her sideways glance. "Figuratively speaking… he'd make a damn fine pirate, but I don't think anything will happen that he can't handle. He may not have Gillette's respect but he has the Governor's, Bryant's and most of the marines, if not all of them."

"So, Gillette holds no threat to us then?"

"No," Jack shook his head, snorting as the notion amused him. "Norrington and Bryant will return to Port Royal this evening and we will head for yonder seas, making merry and turning you into a bloody good pirate."

Nell laughed and brought her knees to her chin under the blankets, hugging them to her in delight. "I like the sound of that," she giggled.

"Aye, and do you know what I like the sound of?"

"Waves?" she asked her eyes going wide as he turned on the bed and began leaning towards her; he lifted a hand and pushed her knees to one side.

"Something other than waves," he whispered softly, his voice low and smooth like honey; he gripped the edge of the blanket. "I like the sounds you make when I'm touching you."

"Jack!" Nell blushed fire-red as a thrill of excitement shot through her. She watched as he lifted the bottle of rum in his hand and tipped it over her bare shoulders; the coldness of the rum made her gasp as she sat back in shock. "What are you doing?"

Jack didn't reply as he watched the progress of the small amount of rum as it slid across her breastbones. He licked his lips and very gently tugged the blanket inch by inch downwards, watching the progress of the rum; he watched in satisfaction as her breathing hitched and her nipples hardened. He leaned forwards and fastened his lips to the trail on rum on her neck. "Can't waste it," he muttered and lapped at the rum on her skin.

"Oh, Lord, Jack!" Nell's hands went to his shoulders as pure fire raced through her veins.

"I'm making good on my word," he muttered as he licked and bit his way downwards following the path the rum had taken. "You are about to be exhausted again."

"Wonderful idea," she sighed.

"All my ideas are wonderful, and combining rum and you, well that's just outstanding," he said cheekily looking up at her.

"Jack, quit babbling and kiss me," Nell commanded and sitting forwards she gripped his head in her hand, crushing her lips to his.

"I…" he caught her hands and drew them down, "do not…" he pushed her backwards and looked down at her with lust filled eyes, "babble..." He lowered his head and fastened his mouth onto her nipple licking a trace of rum from the tip. Nell arched right off the bed, the gasp that left her mouth made him chuckle against her skin. Nell pushed him backwards away from her and he looked up at her in surprise.

"Take your clothes off, Jack," Nell husked unable to stop the blush that tinted her cheeks at her forwardness.

"Is that an order?" he enquired, his eyes glittering as he smirked at her.

"Yes," she replied and reached forwards to undo the few remaining buttons on his shirt.

"Well, I'd best comply unless you order me to walk the plank instead," he slurred and drew his shirt off completely.

Nell slid a finger around one of the dark scars on his chest, her bottom lip between her teeth as she studied the mangled flesh. "Does it still hurt?" she asked him softly.

"No," he lied and knelt up on the bed. "How brave are you feeling, Miss Nell?" he enquired softly.

She looked at him and realised his intentions. "I'm not sure," she replied honestly. "I want to find out though."

"So do I," he murmured. "Sit up." He took her arms and pulled her into a kneeling position. Nell automatically moved to cover herself, but he tugged her hands away and shook his head at her, his beads swinging around his face. "Don't hide from me, Nell, you have no cause to."

He brought her hands to the ties on the front of his britches and Nell swallowed when her fingers brushed against his need. She looked into his eyes; they were almost black with desire, need, and something that gave her courage - love. She undid the ties; her movements were slow, mostly because her hands were shaking so much.

"I've never… seen…" she swallowed again as his britches fell open and he was revealed to her. Nell met his gaze and was surprised at the look of pure desire on his face; her courage grew and she let her sight drift downwards. She lifted her hand and trailed it down his chest, following the dark line of hair that started at his naval and spiralled downwards. He sucked in his breath as her touch caressed over him as light as a feather; her fingers slid along his hard length and he groaned, shuddering beneath her touch. Nell was in awe that she could make him feel this way, that she could elicit these desires in him. She stroked him gently, not certain if she was doing it correctly, but encouraged by the low keening noise he made; his hands fastened on her shoulders needing to support himself as she continue to drive him close to the point of no return.

She could feel herself growing wet; the insistent ache between her legs becoming a throb the more she touched him. His breathing was laboured as her fingers caressed him gently, exploring his entire length; his clutch on her shoulders tightened as she leant forwards and placed her mouth over one of his nipples.

"Nell, you're killing me," he grunted and bucked against her when she fastened her teeth on his nipple and tugged gently. He pushed her and using his weight, collapsed her backwards onto the bed, her legs straightened and opened as he lay sprawled between them; her hand was trapped between him, still holding him intimately.

"Don't you like it?" she asked him innocently when he lifted his body and tugged her hand free.

"Like it?" Jack drew in a long ragged breath. "Nell, carry on touching me like that and I'll come quicker than a boy on his first night."

"You do like it," she smirked and the knowledge made her feel heady as she snaked her hand back underneath gripping him tighter than before. His eyes crossed and he buried his face in her neck.

"You're very brave," he muttered in her ear. "But I wonder if I can still shock you?"

"I doubt it," she said confidently, certain that after touching him the way she had there was nothing left that could shock her now.

"Really?" He lifted himself away from her and drew her hand away. "You're very confident for a nun," he smirked wickedly.

"I'm not a nun anymore," she laughed up at him. "You're very fixed on my being a nun aren't you?"

"Darlin' the thought of you in that habit of yours and nothing else has kept me warm on many a night since I took you from the Rose."

"Really?" Nell beamed up at him even as colour flooded her cheeks.

He nodded and winked at her. "Enough talking I think; time for some shocking of Miss Nell."

Nell arched an eyebrow and opened her mouth to reply but he stopped any words coming out with his own mouth. He thrust his tongue deep into her mouth and stroked her own, coaxing and encouraging her until she was kissing him with abandon; her hands clutching at his arms as his hands gripped her hips. He was so snug to her skin that Nell found if she lifted her hips, the throb deep inside her intensified, especially if she circled her hips and rubbed against him.

"Witch!" He drew away from her. "I'm supposed to be shocking you, and here you are shocking me," he teased her as he knelt over her, denying her contact with him. He lowered his head and his mouth found her nipple, tugging and licking it until she was arching up; the feelings were becoming so intense that Nell thought she'd explode if he didn't finish it soon. He inched downwards, his tongue flicking out and tasting her sweat covered skin as he settled himself between her knees; he licked around her belly button and then looked up at her with liquid black eyes.

"Ready?" he asked her quietly.

Nell tried to speak, tried to tell him she'd been ready for him the moment he'd touched her but the words wouldn't form in her overheated brain. Her breathing was fast and hard and she just wanted to feel him inside her, filling her completely; but he didn't move from kneeling between her legs. His hands slid under her hips and clutched her bottom and she gasped when he lifted her hips upwards. His mouth went to her stomach again but he ignored her belly button and instead kissed just below it; and then to Nell's completely shock, he inched lower, kissing and licking at her skin until his mouth was fastened over her need, his tongue flicking over the most sensitive part of her body, rubbing and licking the tight bud between her folds; his hands holding her hips still, even as she instinctively tried to move away from him. But oh, Lord, the feelings he was creating in her; Nell was keening low in her throat, her bottom lip firmly between her teeth as screams threatened to spill out of her. Her hands clenched in the sheets, twisting as her head thrashed from side to side; the sensations were building, coiling tighter and tighter as his tongue slid down her length and plunged into her. Nell lost her grip on reality and the cries that left her mouth shot straight to Jack's groin. He thrust his tongue into her in mimicry and then, because he was close to the point of losing control himself, he lifted his head to look down at her; almost regretting it. Her head was turned to one side and her hands were twisted in the sheets, her breasts were heaving with her ragged breathing and she was covered in sweat and so close, so damn close to coming that he had to close his eyes to stop himself thrusting into her roughly.

"Nell," his voice was rough and deep and filled with ragged desire. "Nell, look at me, I want you to look at me."

Nell turned her head, her heavy eyes opening as she looked up into his face. She could see the effort of control clearly on his face; she swallowed and wriggled, the needs he'd built in her were raging out of control like a fire.

"Please, Jack, please!" She begged him.

His eyes glittered as he lowered his head and kissed her. She could taste herself on him and it made her moan into his mouth.

"Please, Jack, I need you… please…" she was whimpering into his mouth, her hands clawing and clutching at his back, arms and hips. She brought her knees up and tried to lift her hips but he held her tightly as he ducked once more between her legs; he drew his hands from underneath her and gripped her knees, pushing her legs open wide. His mouth fastened on her again and Nell cried out his name loudly; his tongue swirled around the tiny bud that he knew was the key to her climax. He could feel her body shaking as she neared, knowing that she was going to come soon whether he tipped her over the edge or not -he just wanted to make sure it was him that tipped her over, so he fastened his teeth around the bud and used his tongue to give her the pressure she needed to fly. Nell screamed as her orgasm hit her; her hands went to his head as she writhed, trying to pull away from the sensations that were getting just too much for her as white hot lights exploded behind her eyes. Jack held her tightly, just long enough for her to completely lose all control before he lifted his upper body away from her and moved upwards bringing his own need against her; unable to do anything except thrust deep inside her. The muscles in her walls were still convulsing and it made him shout out as she gripped him tightly inside her as he thrust into her. His hands went to Nell's head as his mouth went to her neck; he groaned as he picked up speed, thrusting only a few times until he felt his own release hit him. He cried out her name as he held himself rigidly, spilling his seed deep inside her as she clung to him, her legs wrapped firmly around his waist and her arms around his neck. Jack was shaking as he collapsed on top of her; sweat covered them both as they lay completely wrecked, tangled together.

"Bloody hell," he muttered into her ear, his beard scratching at the delicate skin of her throat.

Nell could do nothing except sigh deeply as she cradled him to her. Her legs slid down to cocoon his legs and her arms linked around his waist.

"I'm too heavy for you," he muttered and began to lift himself away from her.

"No," Nell clutched him tighter. "I like it, just for a few moments. I like feeling you in me, on me."

"Tell me you weren't shocked," he chuckled into her ear and lifted himself onto his elbows to relieve some of his weight on her.

"Shocked?" Nell blinked up at him. "I was mortified! Goodness only knows how many Hail Mary's I'll have to say to redeem myself for that!"

He frowned down at her and cupped her face with his hands. "Nell, it's not wrong, nothing we can do together is wrong. Do you think it's wrong?"

"Jack," she said slowly. "You're talking to a woman who was taught sex was wrong. Not just sex outside marriage, but sex altogether. My guardian told me of sex being a punishment, a form of torture and then, according to my mother superior, there was one reason and one reason only for sex and that's to reproduce and only in the bonds of holy matrimony. And I used to believe it; I really did."

"And do you believe it now?" he asked her and reached out to trace a finger over the bridge of her nose.

She chuckled and raised an eyebrow at him. "What do you think?"

"I think that I'm going to be able to make you blush for awhile yet," he said seriously. "Nell, you have to tell me though, if I do something that you really don't like, you have to tell me."

"Jack, I don't think there's anything you could do that I wouldn't like," she replied and coloured up. "And don't I sound like a brazen hussy?"

"You sound innocent," he smirked. "You also thought you couldn't be shocked again and you were. Nell, I've never made love before you; I've only ever had sex and that's mostly been with women who will do anything for the right coin."

"Jack!" Nell frowned not liking the bolt of jealousy that went through her at his mention of other women.

"Nell, listen to me, I don't ever want to make you feel like a whore; if you don't like something I do, I won't do it, but you have to tell me."

"Jack, I'll tell you," she whispered realising that he wasn't going to shut up till he heard her say what he wanted her to. But secretly, Nell didn't think there was much that Jack Sparrow would do that she would object to; it made her feel brazen and wanton and she enjoyed it. Nell the nun had well and truly fallen from grace.

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Norrington sighed deeply as he stared at the door Gillette had just gone through.

"Part of me wants to take Jack's offer of piracy up," he whispered quietly. "I never thought I would live to see the day that I would do anything but hate a pirate."

"Things change, people change," Elizabeth commented from where she was sitting opposite him beside Will.

"I'm too old for this," Norrington replied. He leant back in his chair and steepled his fingers under his chin, his elbows resting on the arms of the chair.

"You're hardly old, James," Elizabeth said briskly.

"I'm forty two," he shrugged. "At one point in my life, not so long ago, I knew exactly what I wanted. Exactly where I wanted to be; and now… I'm not so certain. I despise piracy, I always shall, but at the same time I understand the need to survive, and the ones I hated I find myself not only admiring but liking."

"Jack has a nasty habit of wiggling his way into your life and staying there," Will agreed with a grin. "He's done it with all of us."

"He's not a bad man really," Elizabeth added. "But what will you do if he returns to piracy, which he will."

"I'm going to cross that bridge when I come to it," Norrington replied. "What will you two be doing once we arrive back in Port Royal?"

Will's face darkened as he looked down at his arm. "Not much," he said bitterly.

"Nonsense," Elizabeth replied firmly but her voice was edged with pain. "We shall do as your surgeon instructed you and exercise your arm as much as possible."

Will looked at him wife and started to disagree, but the look of devotion was so plain in her eyes that he closed his mouth and smiled at her.

"The ship's surgeon was quite hopeful for a recovery in your arm, wasn't he?" Norrington asked quietly.

"Yes, he was to a certain extent," Will replied and grinned at him. "And I'm certain that Elizabeth will mend it by will alone."

"Of course," she replied curtly and then spoiled it by smiling at him lovingly. She looked across at where Bryant was sitting quietly before turning to Norrington. "And what will you be telling Lord Davenport?"

Norrington winced and lowered his hands from his chin. "Nothing; she has written him a letter which I shall deliver and then make myself scarce as quickly as possible."

"He will not take kindly to the letter," Will pointed out. "In fact I can imagine him commanding the fleet leave Port Royal at once to give chase."

"He can command all he wants," Norrington snorted. "But I won't be listening."

"Do you anticipate any trouble from him?" asked Will.

"None that I can't deal with," Norrington replied. "The truth is known by the relevant individuals that need to know and that is all that really matters. Neither Mister Gillette nor Lord Davenport can do much trouble on their own."

"Lord Davenport is mixed up with the East India Trading Company, isn't he?" Bryant mused quietly. "He could cause trouble that way, especially if he is intent on retrieving his wife and exacting revenge on her and the Pearl."

"Lady Clarence is of the opinion that he will not make a fuss but, instead, spread word of her demise. We will say nothing to contradict him." Norrington was firm in his words.

"And if he chooses to marry again?" asked Elizabeth slightly shocked.

"That will be his business; he is aware of the truth of Lady Clarence's departure, he knows what he can and cannot do legally and morally. Although I doubt morally will be in his thoughts; Lady Clarence has signed across her fortune and lands, including her family name. She must really love that scoundrel Hock."

"Yes, I believe she does," Elizabeth spoke up. "But I also think she loves her freedom as well. I understand that there was an agreement between her and Nell that they would take the shares Jack offered and leave together."

"I'm not surprised by that," Will snorted. "I have heard some tales about that man that curled my toes."

"Indeed," Norrington replied nodding his head. "Word has reached my ears too."

"Then everything would appear to be sorted for the better," Elizabeth said brightly. "Although you are going to have to turn a blind eye to a few things, James. Especially when we commission a new ship…"

"Don't tell me," Norrington held up his hand with a grin. "If I don't know I won't lie if I have to."

"You're a good friend," Will said softly, hearing the message that Norrington would defend them if necessary even to the point of lying.

"It's returned." James shrugged and looked around the room with a sigh; he had an uneasy feeling at the base of his neck, and the feelings of completion that Elizabeth held were not with him. He had a funny feeling it was not over yet and the thought made him wearier than he could ever imagine feeling.

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A/N: There's another chapter yet…. Keep going…. Then review ;-) oh and the title is a slightly changed version of the Lost Boys song To the Shock of Miss Louise.