Give Me Vengeance If Not Love

TWENTY ONE
After I drank the tea I knew he'd drugged me. The way he was watching me told me he was waiting for something to happen. "Please leave so I may get out of the tub," I said.

Jack looked at me, "Better help ye love," he smirked. He was a devil even if he wasn't ONE OF THEM…. I thought.

"How much of the drug did you give me," I asked nervously.

"Not much, but since I've no idea how strong it is to begin with I think we should take precautious," he said unfurling the towel and holding it open for me.

I reluctantly stood and he wrapped me in the towel then lifted me out of the tub. When he had me back with my feet on the floor he cupped my chin and looked into my eyes intently. I turned my face away, "Don't," I whimpered.

Jack handed me my gown, "Get dressed," he sighed and picked up the irons from the bathroom floor.

I tried to back away, "Please… those aren't necessary," I gasped.

"Until ye begin to trust me, I see no reason I should trust ye," he quipped. He then snatched the towel from me.

I immediately flung the gown over my head, covering my body as quickly as possible. "I trust you," I lied.

Jack pursed his lips for a moment then clapped one of my wrists in the irons. "And lying to me doesn't help yer cause either," he hissed.

I began to cry as he pulled me from the bathroom into the bedroom. "Please no, Jack please don't hurt me," I cried as a fought him.

Jack jerked me hard and I found myself wrapped up in his arms. "Would ye prefer the basement," he asked.

I was feeling the effects of the drug… my stomach began to feel nauseous. I could pass out at any moment, "No," I sobbed.
Jack took my face in his hands and I could see he was loosing all his patience with me, "FOR THE LAST BLOODY TIME, I am not going to hurt ye," he growled.

A small cry escaped my lips just as his came down on mine in a deep and breathtaking kiss. He removed the iron from my wrist and handed them to me. He held out his hands to me, "Go ahead Elle, make me yer prisoner again," he growled.

Jack was furious not at her or even Mouldare and his crew, no he was furious at himself. I should have found another way of getting her out of that danger, he cursed himself. She was looking at him, then down at the irons in her hand trying to decide what to do. Jack kept standing there with his wrists ready to accept being in irons to earn her trust.

She backed away from him. Her gray eyes wide and uncertain.

"Even if ye had told me from the start what ye wanted to do to me, I would have followed ye anywhere, Elle… from the moment I looked across the room into those big gray eyes ye had me bewitched," Jack told her.

She didn't move she reminded him of a scared mouse cornered by a cat.

"I didn't want to hurt ye Elle, at the time, I couldn't think of any other way to get ye out of there alive," Jack insisted. "If clapping me in irons is what it takes to make ye feel safe then for God sakes Elle… do it," he added exhausted.

Gabrielle continued to look at him confused.

"Or if ye want me to… I'll simply leave," Jack sighed and lowered his hands.

Gabrielle dropped the irons onto the floor and rushed to his arms, "Don't leave me please Jack don't let them hurt me," she cried.

Jack was on the brink of tears… she felt so vulnerable, fragile in his arms. She was trembling and sobbing as she clung to him desperately.

"It's all right little one. Sshhh, I'm not going to leave ye alone," he whispered.

"I'm so sorry oh god Jack, what I did to you was unforgivable," she sobbed into his shoulder.

Jack never wanted to let her go, "Not unforgivable," he murmured. She began to get heavier and he knew the drugs were making it harder for her to hold herself up. He swept her up into his arms and carried her to the bed.

"Jack," she moaned.

"Aye love," he replied.

"Where did you find the drugs," she asked.

"In a vile in the kitchen," Jack told her.
TWENTY TWO
I gasped, "Jack… that wasn't the drug," I told him.

Jack looked at me, "What do ye mean love," he asked panicked.

I closed my eyes and swallowed hard, "It was poison," I said as tears began to fall.

"No, Elle, what are ye saying to me," Jack said excitedly.

"When I first planned out my revenge I planned to kill the pirate I took my revenge out on… the drugs are in the top drawer of the dressing table," I said pointing.

Jack jumped up and ran over to the dressing table and tore open the drawer. He rummaged through it and then froze. His hand came out of the drawer and in it was the bottle, it was a different color glass but unmarked just as the one containing the poison. He looked at me. "Why didn't ye tell me," he asked.

"I was so upset I didn't think about it when you said something about the drugs," I whispered.

Jack rushed to my side, "Elle, how do ye know so much about these things," he asked.

"I was a nurse for awhile… before Thomas Jr. was born," I told him.

"Then tell me what to do… I won't let ye die," Jack pleaded.

I closed my eyes and shook my head, "Nothing Jack… it's too late," I sobbed.

Jack pulled me into his arms and held me tightly, "I only used a little, maybe it wasn't enough," he murmured.

"I doubt it was that little," I said feeling my stomach begin to cramp up on me.

Jack looked at me, "Tell me what to do," he said.

"Make me another cup of tea… add a little of the drug to it, it will help with the pain," I told him.

"Oh god, what have I done," Jack said terrified.

It was my turn to take his face in my hands, "It's my fault Jack… if I hadn't been so hell bent on revenge this wouldn't have happened," I said firmly.

Jack kissed me passionately, "Please tell me ye have a chance, please," he begged.

"I doubt it, without knowing exactly how much… now please my stomach is beginning to cramp up on me," I said and flinched.

"I'll be right back," Jack said rushing out the door. He grabbed the vile on the dressing table as he went.

TWENTY THREE
Jack quickly turned the stove back on and heated more water. He got another mug from the cupboard as well as more tea. She was going to die… he'd killed her. The thought was unbearable. What was he to do? All he could to keep her from suffering. Poisons could be very agonizing for any creature to die from… he'd killed her. The one thought screamed inside his head… the demon within laughed, "Ye'll be keeping ye word to Mouldare," it taunted. He carefully opened the vile of the drug and put in a little of the white powder in the mug. He didn't want to give her too much. He could only hope it was enough to ease her pain.

When Jack got back to her she was lying very still and her eyes were closed. "Elle," Jack shouted frantically as he rushed to her side.

She opened her eyes, "There's no need to yell Jack," she groaned.

Jack saw she was in pain, "Sorry but ye scared me," he said sheepishly.

Gabrielle sat up, "Did you put the drug in it," she asked indicating the mug Jack held.

"Aye love," Jack assured her. He once again smiled sheepishly because he forgot he was holding it. "Let me help ye," he said setting the mug on the bedside table. He sat on the bed and helped her up then retrieved the mug.

Gabrielle let him hold the mug because her hands were trembling so badly she was sure she'd drop it if she tried to do it herself.

"I've been thinking about Mouldare and I think there's only one place we can go to avoid him," Jack told her.

"Where," she asked although she had some idea of what he would say.

"The Black Pearl," Jack replied just as she expected.

"Your ship," I asked.

"Aye love," Jack replied.

"I'm glad you are the one suggesting it," I whispered.

"So ye were thinking of it as well," Jack quipped surprised.

"Not really, I was just thinking how I don't want to die here," I sighed trying to be brave but a sob escaped me betraying my intentions.

"Ye don't know yer going to die," Jack insisted. God he was trying so hard to deny the truth.

"Yes Jack, I do. I don't want you to feel guilty about it. Promise me," I said softly.

"Can't make that promise love," Jack confessed wrapping his arms around me as I leaned into his chest.

I sat up again and drank my tea. I then leaned against him again and we sat in silence as I waited for the drug to take effect.

When I began to feel the pain ease off I sat up slightly, "I suppose I should get dressed so we can get out of here," I told him. But when I tried to pull away he held on as if not wanting to release me.

"I need to know," he said.

"Know what," I asked.

"Ye don't hate me, that ye don't just see me as the less of two evils," Jack replied seriously.

I turned within his arms and looked into his dark eyes. What was he really saying to me? Was he saying he loved me? It seemed to be the most impossible thing after all I'd done to him and yet there in those dark eyes was something. "No Jack," I lowered my eyes briefly and he placed a finger under my chin. "I think I'm falling in love with you," I said breathlessly as his eyes demanded an answer.

He grinned his devil's grin, "So me charms finally worked," he quipped.

I leaned forward and brushed my lips against his, "Your charms worked," I whispered.

Jack's hand came up and he took hold of my face and kissed me deeply, "Don't leave me Gabrielle please," he pleaded.

I lowered my eyes, "I thought we were friends," wondering why he'd used my full name not the shortened version.

"Much more, deeper, more complicated, besides yer too beautiful to call ye just Elle," Jack murmured.

I wrapped my arms around his neck, "Oh Jack, I'm so scared," I said helplessly.

"Ye aren't going to die, I won't allow it," Jack whispered.

I didn't have the heart to argue with him. I gently pulled away, "Let me get dressed," I said.

"I'll help ye," Jack said getting up with me.

"I can manage on my own," I smiled.

Jack sat back down on the bed and suddenly we were both staring at the blood stain on the bed. I saw the look of guilt in his eyes.

I moved close to him and he looked up at me. "Elle I'm, I'm so sorry," he said in a hoarse whisper.

I wrapped my arms around his head and held him to my stomach, "You saved my life," I reminded him. I then released him and went to my dresser. I pulled on a pair of pants and white shirt. I dressed in front of him without looking at him but I could feel his eyes on me. I felt better once I was dressed. "I'm a little woozy but I think I'll make it," I said confidently. I took out a bag made of carpet and began to pack a few things. Jack handed me the vile of the drug and I placed it in my bag without either one of us saying a word about it. I think we had simultaneously decided that if we didn't speak about it, I'd be all right.

He stood between me and the blood stain… that was behind us, time to move forward. I had learned one very important thing about Jack Sparrow… he lived in the here and now. Past was left behind and the future was to be taken as it came… all we had was now and he was not going to let me do anything less. "Let's get out of here," Jack said as if suddenly the walls of the house were closing in on him. I understood how he felt, I felt it too. I nodded and we left the house with nothing but what I carried in my bag and the clothes on our backs, neither of us looked back.

TWENTY FOUR
The trek to the docks took longer then Jack remembered. But then Gabrielle and he had hailed a carriage before. He was also on edge this trek as he wondered if Mouldare was watching them. He kept a sharp eye on what was going on around them. The one thing in their favor was the sun had set a long time ago so they had the cover of darkness to help them keep out of sight.

At last his dark beauty came into view. He held Gabrielle's hand tighter as they made their way across the gangplank. Her fear was palpable in the silence; she'd not spoken a word since they had set out for the docks. "She's the fastest ship in the ocean, nobody will touch us," he told her. Barbossa stood on deck and looked at Jack questioning but Jack shook his head and his first mate kept quiet.

He then led her down to his cabin. "Ye get settled while I get the crew rounded up and us underway," he told her.

Gabrielle simply nodded and tried to hold back her tears. Jack smiled and gave her a wink, "Trust me," he quipped then left her alone.

Jack hurried on deck. "Go round up the rest of the crew Barbossa… we leave tonight," he told his first mate.

"We're still going to the Isle de Muerta are we not," Barbossa asked.

"Aye," Jack assured him.

"I don't like the idea of taking a woman along," Barbossa snapped.

"Then ye can stay here," Jack growled back. Barbossa looked stunned, Jack never spoke harshly to him. Who was this girl and why was she here he wondered.

"Who is she anyway," Barbossa asked.

"That isn't your concern, or are ye forgetting which one of us is captain," Jack replied.

"I've not forgotten. I'll go round up the crew," Barbossa sighed and disappeared in the night thinking how he should be captain instead of the much younger Sparrow.

I closed my eyes and went to sleep. I slept soundly until the dreams began. I dreamed Jack and I were on a beautiful tropical island just the two of us. We were happy and my grief seemed to be gone. We were swimming when suddenly Jack was caught in undertow. He was pulled under and I tried to get to him but the current kept him just out of reach and every time he resurfaced he was farther away then he'd been before. When he was quite a distance away he went under for the last time. I called out his name over and over as I frantically tried to find him. But once again, I had to reside myself to being alone. I woke up in pain and weeping hopelessly. I looked around the cabin for him but Jack had yet to return. But I realized the ship was now moving. I lay back down and curled into a ball to wait for my new love to return to me. I had thought my dream was of Jack slipping away from me when in fact it was I who was slipping away… the pain told me what I tried to deny.
TWENTY FIVE
When Jack had steered his beloved ship from the rocky coastline of Tortuga and was sure that Barbossa knew the general direction they were going the sun was coming up on the horizon. As tired as he was he refused to sleep until he was sure his Gabrielle was safe and out of danger from the poison he'd accidentally given her.

He went below deck and found her curled in a ball and she was moaning. Jack went into her bag and found the drug. He didn't bother saying anything just went to the galley to make her tea and added a bit of the drug. He returned to her, "Love I have ye some tea here," he said softly.

Gabrielle just moaned but didn't move. Jack helped her sit up and held the tea to her lips. She drank it and then once again lay down in a ball with her head in Jack's lap. "Jack… I want you to make love to me," she moaned.

"I'm afraid I might hurt ye love," Jack told her.

"Please Jack… I don't want to die without one good thing between us," she pleaded.

Jack stroked her hair, "Ye didn't kill me which is a good thing," he quipped.

She groaned, "Jack please… I need to feel how good a pirate can be," she told him.

"Not fair to use me own words against me now love," he whispered.

"I thought you wanted me," she sighed.

"I do," Jack retorted.

The drugs were easing the pain again and she sat up to look at him. He sat on the bed and watched her. She began to unbutton her blouse. She then stood and undressed in front of him. "I love you Jack," she whispered as she got back on the bed and sat on her knees in front of him. She slowly began to undress him. Jack growled low in his throat. "Touch me," she whispered.


I'd never wanted or needed to feel a man near me more, I was dying. But it was more then that, for the first time since loosing my husband I believed it was possible to love again. Had anyone told me six months ago I would be begging a pirate to make love to me I would have told them they were insane. Jack let me undress him then lay beside me caressing my breasts as I savagely kissed him and stroked his hard erection. His hand moved down between my legs and he inserted his fingers inside of me, stretching me. I shuddered with anticipation of more. Jack did everything slowly. I know it was because he was afraid of hurting me. "You aren't going to hurt me Jack, please love me while you can," I whispered before kissing his throat. He rolled me over and took my hands in his, holding me down he looked into my eyes. I could tell he was going to once again tell me I wasn't going to die, but he didn't. Instead he lowered his head and kissed my mouth. I parted my lips and invited him to take me in. His tongue went over mine in a slow erotic dance.

He broke the kiss, "My beautiful captor," he whispered.

"I am the captive," I said breathlessly.

He parted my legs with his and I wrapped them around his waist, "I love you," I gasped as he moved inside me. My body rose up to meet his and his mouth savagely took one of my breasts. He moved our hands up above my head. He was in total control now of me. I had to accept it for to fight would be to refuse his love and I needed that more then anything at that moment.

I was hit with another spasm of pain and I cried out, "Jack, oh Jack," and bit my lip against the pain.

Jack's thrusts became more urgent and deeper.

The spasm left and was replaced by my orgasm. I could feel him become more rigid and knew he would soon spill his seed into me. "I love ye Gabrielle," he growled then bit down on my shoulder through his orgasm.

I cried out and wrapped my arms around him as he had let go of my hands to get better leverage. My body was nothing more then a shuddering bundle of nerves.

Jack's declaration of love had affected me more then I thought it might and I began to cry into his neck. "Oh Jack I don't want to die," I sobbed.

"Sshhh, my love, I'm here," he murmured.

Another spasm hit my stomach and I held him tighter, "Oh god it hurts," I cried out.

Jack waited till it had passed then rolled off of me and pulled me into his arms, "I've got you," he whispered.

I drifted off to sleep for a little while only to wake up to my breathing becoming more shallow. "Jack," I panted.

"Shhh save yer strength," he pleaded with me.

"I want to go outside, I want to feel the sun on my face," I told him.

"As ye wish," he said and slowly released me and got dressed.

TWENTY SIX
Jack lay in his bed holding the only woman he'd ever loved like this and listened in utter sadness as her breathing became weaker. She was dying. Gabrielle was right, they needed to make love when they had or the chance was going to be out of reach. Guilt filled his heart along with a love he could neither let go of nor explain. Nobody would ever understand, not even he could, how their love had come to be and how strong it was would remain a mystery to everyone. Jack made a vow to himself that he would from that day forward honor her memory by not letting loosing her make him bitter… he would be true to what he was but he would never allow himself to become one of them.

"Jack," she whispered.

"Aye me love," he replied snapping out of his thoughts.

"Can we go outside," she asked.

"Certainly, ah I suppose ye'd like to get dressed," he quipped.

"Where did you go," she asked.

"Just thinking… nothing to worry about," he assured her as he helped her dress.

He helped her stand but it was obvious that she had become too weak to get around on her own, she'd grown so pale.

"Perhaps making love was not wise," he said softly.

She looked up at him with hurtful eyes, "I can't think of a more perfect time," she said.

"I didn't mean that I regret it love, I was just thinking ye should have saved yer strength," he told her.

She put her hands on his chest, "It doesn't change anything," she assured him.

Jack scooped her up in his arms and she clung to his neck, "I love ye Elle… god I never thought I could feel this way," he said tearfully.

"I don't believe you," she quipped.

Jack looked at her stunned. "I've never lied to ye thus far love, why would I start doing so now," he asked.

"You're telling me you've never been in love," Gabrielle said cynically.

"Never stuck around long enough, no my loves have been me ship and the sea," Jack assured her.
Jack carried her to the bow of the ship. He lowered her onto her feet and she took hold of the rail for support. "It's so beautiful," she murmured gazing out to sea.

"Aye indeed it is," Jack concurred.

"Jack, will you…," Gabrielle's voice broke off and she didn't finish her sentence.

"Do what love," Jack asked coaxing her to finish.

"Bury me at sea," she whispered.

"If that is what ye want then that is what I will do," Jack replied.

"It is," she assured him.

"Who shall I notify," Jack asked.

"There's no one," she replied sadly.

"Ye have no family," Jack asked.

"No, my parents died shortly after I was married, both of them were only children, my older brother died at birth, I'm all I have left," she sighed.

Jack wrapped his arms around her waist from behind. None of the crew bothered them, but Jack knew that Barbossa was curious and was probably watching. "Gabrielle," Jack whispered in her ear.

She leaned into him savoring his warmth, "Yes my darling," she sighed.

"When me crew asks, I'm going to tell them yer me wife," Jack told her. "Unless ye mind," he added quickly.

"Why," she asked.

"Simplifies things," Jack shrugged.

"I don't mind," Gabrielle told him closing her eyes and rubbing his arms.

Jack felt his heart swell with emotion, "I need ye Elle, please stay with me," he moaned.

She turned in his arms and faced him, "I'm not leaving because I want to," she said caressing his cheek.

Jack turned and kissed her palm, "I know," he sighed.

"There's something I want you to have," she told him.

"All I want is right here in me arms," Jack whispered and kissed her tenderly.

Gabrielle gave him a smile, "And I would like nothing more then to give it to you," she said then removed the ring from her hand. "It's how I slipped the drug in your drink the first night we met," she said showing him how it worked. It was an unusually large ring that fit her thumb. So when she gave it to Jack he was able to slip it onto his right index finger.

"I'll treasure it always," Jack told her. He held up his hand so the sun could shine on the stone, "Sometimes it's black and sometimes it's green," he observed.

Gabrielle felt the worst pain she felt ever and collapsed against Jack.

Jack caught her, "Elle, Elle, look at me," he said panicked as he cradled her in his arms. A couple members of his crew started to come to help him but he growled at them, "Go away," and they made a hasty retreat. Jack looked back down at his beloved, "Elle please open yer eyes, please not yet, don't leave me," he pleaded.

Gabrielle opened her eyes slightly, "Take me back to bed," she gasped. It was getting harder for her to catch her breath.

Jack lifted her and quickly carried her back to bed. "Gabrielle please stay with me," he pleaded as he held her in his arms in bed.

“I’m sorry Jack,” Gabrielle whispered.

“Elle, I love ye, there’s nothing for ye to apologize for,” Jack said holding her close.

“I love you,” Gabrielle gasped and then her body went limp.

Jack held her and knew she was gone. He’d been concentrating hard on the feel of her breath on his skin; the sensation was no longer there. He tuned his face, burying it in her hair and began to weep. He cried silently, only the shaking of his shoulders would have given him away had anyone entered the room. But no one did, Jack knew that no one was coming so he allowed himself the luxury of grieving. When he felt like he was in control again, Jack laid her down in his bed and went in search of chains to prepare her for burial at sea. No one asked him any questions; Jack's demeanor was enough to tell them they should stay out of his way.

Once the chains were found, Jack returned to his cabin. He wrapped her carefully in the bedclothes and then bound the chains to hold it in place and to anchor the body. He carried her to the deck. The crew including Barbossa watched but kept their distance as Jack approached the rail.

Jack cradled her for a very long moment before he mustered the courage to let her go. He watched as she disappeared and he knew his life would forever be altered by her. She'd given him so much to think about. He turned and went to the wheel of his ship. Barbossa was there and silently stepped back and relented control to the captain.

Jack stood still, his head full of thoughts and his heart full of emotions… too many to really put a finger on one.

At last Barbossa's curiosity got the best of him, "Who was she Jack," he asked softly.

Jack snapped out of his thoughts but kept his eyes on the horizon, "Me wife," he told him.

"I didn't know ye were married Jack," Barbossa said surprised.

Jack glanced over at his first mate, "A man is entitled to his secrets hey," he asked.

"I suppose yer right," Barbossa replied as he began to think about his own agenda.

"Something on yer mind Barbossa," Jack asked.

"I just think ye need time to grieve," Barbossa said shrugging.

"And," Jack asked.

"We're still quite a ways from the Isle de Muerta are we not," Barbossa asked.

"Aye," Jack replied.

"Let me get us there, give me the bearings and then ye can have time to lay yer wife at rest," Barbossa said sympathetically.

Jack thought a moment, "I suppose I will be a bit distracted for a time," he admitted.

"She was quite the beauty," Barbossa murmured.

Jack called over Pintel to take the wheel. He wrapped his arm around Barbossa's shoulders, "Come mate, I could use a drink," he said.

"We'll drink to yer beauty," Barbossa smiled.

"Aye and to treasures that lay ahead," Jack quipped.

Barbossa gave a terse nod and followed Jack below deck.
The End….