Dead Man's Chest I Jack Sparrow

Chapter Five

      Fortunately, her crew understood the situation at hand; at least the parts she told them. However, her first mate knew her better, and approached her as she lowered a rowboat into the water.

      "What's going on, Jacqueline?"

      "I told you." The boat splashed into the ocean quietly, and she released a rope. She twirled a strand of brown hair around her finger as Julian continued,

      "What aren't you saying? I can see it in your eyes, Jacqueline. Something has you frightened." She stiffened.

      "Frightened." Usually, nobody ever dared to call her that. The last time a crew member did, he was stuck below deck for a week.

      "I'm sorry to say it, but it's true, right?" Jacqueline tilted her head towards the Pearl. She could easily pick out Jack, who paced around his ship. 

      "Jack's going after Davy Jones." When she glanced back at her first mate, he shuddered.

      "Why?" 

      "Well, he probably wants the heart. I don't know what possessed him to do it now, but he is." She watched Jack again, who stopped moving, and instead leaned against the railing, looking towards her ship. She turned back to Julian, whose green irises flickered with concern.

      "I'll be fine. Now, go on." Julian hesitated, and she began to climb down her ship before he walked off. She hopped into the longboat, giving the Crimson Vengeance one last good look before rowing to the Pearl. She was there in minutes, and the moment she landed on deck, Jack ran up to her.

       "Jacqueline, took you long enough. Mr. Gibbs!" He waved his hand at Gibbs, who nodded and ordered the crew around. 

      "Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't realize I was on your time. If I'm taking too long for your liking, I can just go." She gripped onto a rope and swung over the rail for effect.

       "No!" Jack grabbed her wrist and pulled her towards him. She struggled to find her footing, and stumbled into Jack. He caught her, his arm wrapped around her waist. When she raised her eyes to his, her cheeks heated as she realized how close their faces were.

      "I quite like this position." She rolled her eyes and wrangled herself out of his grasp.

      "I've been in better." She winked at him, ignoring the warmth on her face. Jack's grin widened, his brown eyes twinkling under the glow of the sun. She studied his face, taking in the man she could always trust to sail next to.

      "Are you alright?" Jack brought her out of her thoughts, and she offered a smile.

      "I'm okay. Do you want to talk now, or later?" Jack seemed to consider her question before supplying a response.

      "We'll arrive at our destination by night. Let's talk in my cabin." She dipped her head in agreement and followed him across the deck. They slipped into his cabin, and he shut the door. Jack perched on his desk, and she took it upon herself to sit on the edge of his bed.

      "Jack, what else is going on?" She leaned forward, resting her elbows on her knees.

      "Jacqueline, there's something I need to tell you. Something I kept from you before." She raised her brows. Before as in all those years ago or months ago? She wanted to ask, but she kept silent.

      "Do you remember when the Wench was destroyed?" She hesitantly nodded.

      "Well, I never told you how I got it back. I made a deal with Davy Jones, where he would bring it back from the depths of the sea." She sucked in a breath. 

       "You made a deal with Davy Jones?" She hissed, and he threw his hands in the air defensively.

       "Hold on." She crossed her arms over her chest.

       "I wanted the Wench, or then it was called the Pearl, back. So the deal was I get thirteen years as Captain of the Pearl, and then..." He trailed off, but he didn't need to finish his sentence for her to understand. She sat still as shock overwhelmed her. Different thoughts struck her mind like lighting. Jack made a deal with Jones. It's been thirteen years. Jones is going to collect...She couldn't handle the idea, and she sprung up from the bed. She went to leave, but a hand gripped her wrist. She whirled back around to face Jack, who had sadness in his eyes. 

       "Jacqueline..." She felt so frustrated and angry to the point where tears slipped down her cheeks.

      "How could you?" He dropped his hand.

      "I—I thought it was best. The Pearl means so much to me, and it did back then too." We were together. 

      "Tell me, Jack. Did you plan your future ahead? Did you decide we weren't going to be together in thirteen years?" He gaped at her, which made it obvious he hadn't even thought of her.

      "You didn't care. You picked the Pearl. I'm not surprised." She chuckled dryly.

      "Jacqueline, when I made that deal, I wasn't thinking clearly. But that was the past." She shook her head furiously.

      "No, it's not just the past! Now you have to make up for your end of the bargain." She whispered harshly, and Jack stepped forwards. She didn't move, instead just glared.

      "That's why I'm looking for the heart. Okay? I find the key, and then—"

      "It won't work!" She snapped, and Jack's mouth shut. She kept going in a quieter tone,

      "It won't work. You won't get the heart, Davy Jones will come for you, and I'm going to lose you again." Tears poured out of her eyes now, and she couldn't stop them. She didn't want to lose Jack. She'd just gotten him back.

      "You...you won't..." Jack's voice cracked, and when she caught sight of his face, she noticed a tear in his eye. She held back a sob and pushed against the wall to steady herself. I can't lose him. I can't lose Jack. Arms enclosed around her, and she clutched onto Jack's shirt, burying her face in the crook of his neck. He tightened his grip, his hand rested in her hair, cradling her head to his chest. She felt unusual; she hadn't allowed herself to cry in years. But still, security wrapped around her in the form of Jack. After another minute, she stepped backwards so that she could look at his face. He still held onto her, and she gulped. 

      "I'm sorry." Her voice came out as a croak, and she pinched her lips together. Jack's hand ran through her hair, and he smiled softly.

      "It's alright, love. We're going to get through this, okay?" She nodded, not able to form words. Her eyes locked with Jack's, and she found herself lost in those deep chocolate eyes. Jack's gaze flickered from her eyes to her lips, and she reached her hand up to rest at Jack's neck.

      "Lin..." He slowly leaned down, and she tilted her head up. 

      "Captain?" The two separated at Gibbs's call. She cleared her throat at the recognition of what she'd almost done.

      "What?" She became interested in the floor as Jack went to open his door. She spun on her heel, as she was sure she looked terrible. Gibbs and Jack spoke in low voices as she searched for a bottle of rum. She found one and finished off the little liquid remaining. 

      "Oi, that was mine!" She looked over her shoulder to check if Gibbs was gone. Seeing he was, she turned to face Jack with a smirk.

      "I know you don't like to share, but I really don't care." He narrowed his eyes at her, but remained silent.

      "Did he need something?" She inquired.

      "Yes, I need to go out there. Why don't you sit in here until you feel okay?" She wiped her face with her hands.

      "Thank you." She once again seated on Jack's bed, this time falling backwards on the soft cushion. She heard Sparrow chuckle, and she saw him exit the room out of her peripheral vision. She laid on the bed in silence, and exhaustion crept into her senses. Her eyelids weighed down heavily, and she soon faded into unconsciousness.