A Pirate's Love

Chapter 54

Chapter 54

Madeline wrapped her arms around Jack. "You were gone so long Jack. I thought something happened to you."

"What could possibly happen to me other then having a beautiful woman want to ravage me?" he teased.

Madeline pulled away from him slightly. "That's not funny Jack Sparrow."

"Don't worry love, I paid her," Jack told her.

Madeline pushed away from him. She didn't know what to say. She was stunned. But then again, Jack was a pirate. He did as he pleased.

"Ye wouldn't want me to be the cause of her going hungry another day and possibly being killed, now would ye?" Jack asked.

"Ye didn't have to sleep with her." She said in a quiet voice. "No wonder ye were gone so long." She tried to hide her tears.

"That's just it love I did have to... well that's not exactly what I did... anyway, Pang will be here in a couple of hours which gives me time to tell ye some things it's become clear to me ye don't know." Jack said taking her hand and kissing it.

Madeline pushed the thought of Jack being with another woman in the back of her mind. At least she tried to. She was jealous. She thought about pulling her hand away from Jack, but she couldn't bring herself to.

"Love the reason why I couldn't let ye go with me to meet with Pang was I couldn't risk ye being kidnapped and forced into slavery," Jack told her gently.

"Slavery?" she asked looking at him. "What in God's name are you talking about Jack?"

"That girl who I was with, she was no more there by her own free will then I am going to ever step foot on the moon." Jack said hoping she'd understand. "That is why if I'd not done something with her, she would have been punished." Jack added.

Madeline looked at him. Trying to understand and she did to a point. But it still hurt. She tried to pull away from him, but he held tight to her hand. "Couldn't ye have just given her money?" she asked quietly.

"She'd have to go to her master and give him the money. If she went to him without smelling of sex he'd think she'd tried to enlist me to help free her and that she had told me what was really happening to her. The girl with Pang was just a child, now do you understand why I think this man can help me find Jacquette?" Jack asked.

"Jack, that's just. Oh God, JJ. Jack." She cried out. The thought of JJ being forced to do things like that were just unimaginable to her.

"I am glad he's not fair haired as that would make him even more sellable, and in China it's even worse, see the Brits have come into Singapore and cleaned up a lot of that sort of thing but there are still a few places where it happens, the Brits aren't in China, Pang is a collector. Now I only tell ye this so ye'll be aware and careful around him but I do not want ye to confront him in anyway or he will not help us, do ye understand Maddy, if you defy me our son is lost." Jack said firmly.

Fear was in Madeline's eyes. "I swear to you Jack, I won't defy ye anymore. Oh God Jack, why would people do this?" she asked reaching for him.

"The money... plan and simple, Maddy... I think ye should know how I know Pang," Jack said timidly.

Madeline wasn't sure if she wanted to know. But it would be better for her to know. "Alright Jack." she said quietly.

"I worked for Pang, it was after I'd lost the Pearl and I was willing to do anything to earn some money to help get me closer to getting my ship back. I was with him when he lost his arm, he owes me, but he's got a problem with me because my conscious wouldn't allow me to keep working for him." Jack said he turned away from her he was so ashamed for some of the things he did, things he couldn't take back ever.

"Jack, please don't turn away from me." Madeline said quietly. She reached for him.

Jack stood up and went to the window, "I'm as guilty as Jacquette." He growled through gritted teeth.

Madeline came to stand behind him. She rested her head on his back. "No Jack. Ye are better than him. Don't put yourself in the same category as him."

Jack slowly turned around, "Ye have every reason to hate me. I'm a pirate Maddy, I'm no saint, far from it, but I swore I'd never do another thing that my conscience couldn't live with once I got the Pearl back. So ye see why I had to let that girl bed me, if it didn't mean her possibly getting killed I swear I would never have touched her but I couldn't hurt her, being untrue to you was something I didn't want to do either but do ye see why I chose her instead of ye?" Jack asked.

Madeline nodded and leaned her head on his chest. "I understand Jack. Aye, ye are a pirate, but ye are a pirate with a heart. A big heart." she said looking up at him with a smile.

Gibbs came to the door and knocked, "Jack Pang is here." he called.

Jack sighed, "Remember what I said love... JJ's life could rest in this man's hands, because if there is anyone who knows the places Jacquette might take JJ for a price it's Pang," he said. He tilted her head up and leaned in and kissed her, "I love ye Maddy," he whispered.

Madeline nodded and savored Jack's lips on hers. "I love you Jack Sparrow." She whispered against his lips.

Jack took her hand and led her out of the cabin and up on deck. Pang was just getting up the rope ladder. Jack found it amazing how well the man got around despite his missing an arm, "Pang ye kept ye word." Jack smiled.

Pang looked at Jack, "I always keep me word, and who would this beauty be?" He asked looking Maddy up and down.

"This is JJ's mother Madeline, and she's mine." Jack said firmly.

Pang bowed, "Miss Madeline, I promise I shall do all I can to get yer and Jack's son back." he said.

Madeline couldn't help but feel her heart rise a notch at Jack's proclamation. She eyed Pang up and down as well. He just looked seedy. "Thank you sir. I can't tell you how much I appreciate your help." she said quietly, not moving from Jack's side.

"Don't need yer thanks ma'am just make sure ole Jack here pays me." Pang quipped.

"I will don't worry." Jack assured him.

"So when do we eat?" Pang asked.

Jack rolled his eyes, "Later, first we get back out to sea," he told him firmly. "Gibbs show Pang to a bunk?" Jack said.

"Aye captain." Gibbs said motioning for Pang to follow him. Pang followed dutifully.

"Oh Jack," Pang said just before going below.

Jack looked at him, "Aye," he asked.

"If ye don't want to part with the money ye promised me then I'd gladly take the pretty lady off yer hands." Pang quipped.

"She's not for sale to ye or anyone, she's me wife." Jack growled.

"Oh, well that's a horse of a different color now isn't it," Pang grinned and quickly turned to catch up to Gibbs.

Jack looked at Maddy, "Don't ever let him believe anything different." He told her.