Misconception

Chapter 8

Two days later they were at sea again and Isabella had grown sick and tired of sitting all day long inside the brig. She hadn’t seen any of the crew, not even Jack, for those two days and only Gibbs visited her in order to give her food. The smell of sea combined with the stale smell of the brig had a bad impact on her appetite and she found herself eating very little. She had started getting worried that she was going to spend the entire trip locked up but at the night of the second day Gibbs arrived at her cell with no food and a key in his hands.
“Come on, lass.” He said with a small smile and she regarded him warily.
“Where are we going?” she asked as he unlocked the door.
“We’re getting you to sleep elsewhere.” Was all he said as she stepped out of the cell and followed him upstairs.
“Where are we going? London?” she asked hopefully but Gibbs shook his head.
“We’re stopping at Haiti for some supplies. We left in a hurry from Tortuga you see…” he said as they stepped onto the upper deck. Isabella inhaled deeply the clean night air with closed eyes and when she opened them again Gibbs was standing in front of the Captain’s cabin, ready to knock. Isabella’s eyes widened and she took an involuntary step back.
“I am sleeping in…there?” she asked and Gibbs paused.
“Aye. There’s a small bunk at the side cabin. Now come along.” He said as he knocked and then entered.
“Oh, Gibbs. What is it?” Jack drawled from inside and Isabella paused at the threshold, hesitant to enter.
“I just brought the lass, remember?” Gibbs said and Jack turned to look towards the door.
“Well, where is she then?” he asked and Gibbs motioned for her to come in.
Isabella entered while clutching self consciously at her robe.
“I really think we need to get her a proper dress, Captain. The men stared at her as we came up-…”
“Dully noted, Gibbs. Now be gone and take the helm from Cotton. Wake me when we dock in the morning.” Jack waved him away dismissively without taking his eyes off Isabella who stood near the door. Gibbs passed by her and patted her shoulder before he closed the door behind him.
Isabella looked around her surroundings for a while, while Jack stared at her with his head cocked to the side.
“Are you going to come in, love?” he said after a minute of more awkward silence.
Isabella gasped softly at his voice and turned to look at him, her grey eyes locking with dark ones. The pet name made her skin tingle but she stubbornly ignored it.
“It depends.” She said quietly and he chuckled softly.
“On what?” he indulged her nonetheless.
“On what mood you are.” She stated and he chuckled again as he stood up, letting go of the quill he was holding.
“I am in a perfect mood, darlin’. No worries.” He said as he approached her and placed a hand at the small of her back, urging her to walk further inside his quarters. At his touch she tried to force the urge to flinch but she wasn’t so successful for he felt her body stiffening in response. He removed his hand and grasped her wrist in his hand, turning her to face him.
“Why-…None of that.” He snapped as she tried to tug her hand free. Isabella looked up into his familiar face and felt her heart accelerating against her ribcage.
“Why are you so scared of me? I’ve done nothing to deserve it.” He said, frown still in place.
“Oh, really? Okay, let me see…First of all you kidnapped me-…”
“No, correction; Grog did.” He said with a pointing finger and she sighed.
“You were the one behind it. Second of all, you left me alone in a brig. And finally, you threatened me.” She finished as she tried again to free her wrist but he held on.
“When?” he asked quite petulantly and she gaped at him.
“When you brought me up here for dinner!”
“Oh, that…Yes, well, that was an unfortunate action of me part and you have me most sincere apologies. Now may we proceed to more merry things?” he asked with a charming smile that almost made her mouth twitch against her will.
“I do not believe your apology is sincere at all, Captain.” She stated as she finally snatched her hand back and crossed her arms over her chest protectively.
“My, my, you don’t trust easily, do you, love?” he asked amused with a raised eyebrow.
“I have a name!” she suddenly snapped and he only grinned his trademark lopsided smile.
“Which one should I use? You have two.” He said and his eyes twinkled with playfulness.
“I-sa-be-lla. My name is Isabella, Captain Sparrow. How hard is it to remember a single name?” she asked angrily and he shrugged.
“I have a lot of names to remember, love.”
“So, that is why you’re using the sickly sweet pet-names? To get off the hook for not remembering the right names of your companions?” she asked with a face of disgust and he pursed his lips even though his eyes were laughing.
“Sickly sweet? You mean they do not work on you, Isabella?” he asked as he leaned close to her face and looked at her. She flinched back and he smirked.
“No, they don’t.” she replied at last in a firm voice.
“Pity. Great pity.” He murmured in a low voice before he stepped back and turned from her.
“Come along then. I’ll show you where you will be sleeping from now on.” He said as he led her through a door. Isabella stepped in after him and she felt a wave of relief at the sight of the bunk and covers.
Jack must have noticed the change because he grinned and outstretched his hand towards her cheek. He brushed his finger down her cheek fleetingly before he took it back, a look of innocence on his face when she turned to glare at him.
“Why must you always invade my personal space?” she asked but he only raised his hands up in surrender.
“So, make yourself at home and …yes.” He said before he turned to walk out. Isabella blinked at the abrupt change of attitude and she bolted after him.
“Wait. Jack!” he stopped and turned to look at her.
“What…what about the clothes Mr. Gibbs mentioned?” she asked and he resumed walking towards his desk.
“Well, for that, Isabella,” he emphasized her name and she felt that annoying tingle again, “We need to dock first. I have no proper dress for you in me cabin.” He said as he sat in his chair and laced his feet upon his desk in a relaxed manner. She came to stand next to him and his eyes scanned her face before they trailed down her body in a calculating way. Isabella felt uncomfortable under his intense scrutiny and shifted where she stood. When his eyes left her body and came to rest on her face and more specifically his eyes, she started getting really nervous. She wanted to tear her eyes from his but she couldn’t break their connection for some absurd reason. After a few more moments he blinked and she tore her gaze way.
“Would you like a drink, love?’ he asked and she blinked stupidly.
“I’m sorry?” she voiced and he smiled.
“Would you like something to drink?” she asked and Isabella shifted her eyes to the bottle of rum on top of his desk.
“I don’t…”
“…Like rum. What a surprise. I am just offering it to you in order to warm you. I realize that the brig is quite humid.” He said and she swallowed hard.
“Then why did you leave me down there?” she asked and he grimaced.
“I thought it’d be better…”
“Why?”
“Look, love, I mean Isabella. You’re a woman. Women are not…are not suited for pirate ships. Or ships in general. Men have needs and well, having you walk around like that,” he pointed at her attire, “Would be like offering you to me crew as a treat. Savvy?” he finished with a smile and she found herself nodding.
“Good. So, want some?” he raised the bottle and she nodded. He motioned for her to come closer and when she was in close proximity he passed her the bottle.
“From the bottle?” she asked with wide eyes and he looked at her blankly.
“I assure you that I do not have any contagious diseases.” He said with amusement and Isabella’s eyebrows arched at that.
“Are you sure? “ She asked with a snort of disbelief and he chuckled.
“You’re funny, love. Drink up.” He waved his hands at her.
Isabella brought the bottle to her lips and took a tentative ship before she grimaced.
“Urg…It’s horrible.” She stated as she handed him the bottle and wiped her mouth with her hand.
“Is it? I like it.” He shrugged and she swallowed multiple times in order to get the sting out of her throat.
“Is there…?” she trailed off as a blush crept up her cheeks.
“Yes?” he urged as he took a sip himself and tapped his fingers against the bottle.
“Is there any food?” she asked as she placed a hand over her stomach.
“Oh! Aye. Go to the galley and ask them for two plates.” He waved at her and she blinked.
“Should I go…alone?” she asked as she pointed at her attire. Jack’s eyes widened briefly before he stood up and smirked.
“I forgot. I’ll go. Be back in a tick!” he said as he left her alone in the cabin.

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The next morning Isabella was awoken by loud voices. She turned over in the bunk and stretched comfortably. For once she had slept peacefully. She opened her eyes and sat up before she turned her gaze towards the small window by the bunk. She kneeled on the mattress and looked outside with a sigh. They had docked. She plopped down on the bed and looked at the ceiling with a frown.
“I miss my routine.” She muttered childishly before she threw the covers over her head and curled in a ball.

End of chapter 8

Author’s note: Thank you for reading! This was more like a filler chapter but more to come in the next one! Please review!
Lina :)