Dead Man's Chest I Jack Sparrow

Chapter Ten

       "And what makes you worthy to sail the Black Pearl?" Jacqueline slouched against the wall, running her fingers along the hilt of her dagger. Jack sat on the wall adjacent to her, flipping his compass open every other second.

      "I know what I want." He repeated the mantra, his eyes flickering to Jacqueline's every time his compass opened. She raised a brow. Did his compass point to her? She would ask, but she still hadn't spoken to him since the prior night. But as he kept performing the action, she asked,

      "Would you like me to try?" She held out her hand, palm-side up. Jack grumbled under his breath, but handed her his compass. She flipped it open, and watched as the arrow moved, until it stayed in place. She snapped it shut and gave it back to Jack, the man that taunting red arrow directed towards. She knew she wanted to have a conversation with him. She was ready to forgive him, as long as he recognized why she was upset.

      "Jack—"

      "My story." She paused after hearing a deep voice from the table Gibbs interviewed at. Where have I heard that voice before? "Is the exact same as yours, just one chapter behind. I chased a man and a woman across the seven seas. The pursuit cost me my crew, my commission, my life." As he went on, she realized who he was, and she frowned deeply.

      "Commodore?" Gibbs inquired, and the ex-Commodore flipped over the table.

      "Not anymore, weren't you listening?" She saw Jack move, but she remained in place. She wasn't intimidated by Norrington. "I nearly had all of you in Tripoli. I would have, if not for the hurricane." She almost felt pitiful, if not for the fact it was his own decision to commandeer through a hurricane. 

      Gibbs balked. "Lord. You didn't try to sail through, did you?" She took in the man's appearance. Dirt smeared his face, which was partly covered by frizzled white hair. But through all that, she could still see the rage in his eyes for a certain sparrow.

      "So, did I make your crew or not? You haven't said where you're going. Somewhere nice?" She held back a laugh as Jack poorly tried to hide himself behind a plant. "So am I worthy to serve under Captain Jack Sparrow?" Norrington whipped out a pistol and aimed it at Jack. "Or should I kill you now?" She sprung up from the ground, her grip on the dagger tightening.

      "You're hired." She waited for the ex-Commodore to lower his weapon, yet he kept it in place.

      "Sorry. Old habits and all that."

      "Back off, Norrington." She growled, raising the knife higher in the air. James turned to her and smirked.

      "Ah, there's the other one. I knew it wasn't true when they said you left again." She squinted her eyes.

      "Lower your weapon." As he faced her, Norrington still held Jack at gunpoint, and he shook his head.

      "Sorry, can't do that." As soon as he tilted his head away from her she let her knife go. It soared through the air, skimming the flesh on James's arm. The wounded arm shot up, and his pistol went off as some of the new recruits pounced on Norrington. The gunshot created a spiral of actions, and a fight soon broke out through the whole tavern. Jacqueline dashed over to the far wall, wedged her dagger out of it, and regrouped with Jack. She followed Sparrow, Gibbs trailing behind her as music bore into her ears and screams echoed across the room. She dodged two men fighting on the staircase, laughing as Jack stole one of their hats. She'd forgotten that he lost his own. They made it up the stairs, and Jack exchanged hats with another man.

      "Thanks mate." He nudged the man's shoulder with light force, yet somehow he still went tumbling. She winced, but continued walking. Out of nowhere, Jack grabbed her hand, stopping her in her tracks. Two men carried another man towards the railing, and Jack released his hold on her to give the poor fellow Jack's newly acclaimed hat.

      "Thank you." She muttered just loud enough for Jack to hear. He nodded, and the three made their way out into the cold night. Gibbs left the two alone as they hurried towards the Pearl.

      "Jacqueline, I am truly sorry." She maintained her speed, but allowed herself to look at him. 

      "Do you mean that sincerely?" All she wanted was for him to understand, and if he could do that, she would be more than willing to let it all go.

      "Aye. I should have never deceived you, or made a decision for you." She breathed a sigh of relief.

      "You're forgiven. But do it again and I'll make your life hell." She waved her pointer finger at him.

      "Knowing you're upset with me is hell." She rolled her eyes, a smile still on her lips. But it faded as she was reminded of the letter.

      "Jack, there's something you should know." He ceased walking, and she did as well, pulling him to the side where there were less people. "When I was looking for the map, I found a letter addressed to me. I let my curiosity get the best of me, and I read it. It was—"

      Jack pinched the bridge of his nose. "The letter I wrote after you left."

      "I'm sorry, I didn't know what it was. I shouldn't have read it." Sparrow waved his hand at her, a grin on his face. 

      "It's alright. Why did you tell me? You could have kept that to yourself."

      "I felt guilty. I still do. Jack, why did you keep it?" His brows furrowed ever so slightly, and she knew that meant he had to think. 

      "I don't know. It was a reminder, I suppose. It reminded me of what love is like, it reminded me of you, and it also reminded me what my vulnerability is." Her jaw slacked. Did he just say his vulnerability? She was torn from her thoughts as Jack chuckled.

      "It sounds ridiculous out loud." She shook her head violently, placing a hand on his cheek.

      "It's not ridiculous. I have something similar..." Her hand dropped to her side, and she shifted all of her weight on one leg.

      "Do tell."

      She fidgeted with her fingers, intently staring at the ground as she mumbled, "I have that silly little pouch on my desk that we used to exchange all the time." She risked a glance at Jack, waiting for him to tell her how absurd she was. Instead, his eyes lit up.

      "The one we would keep stealing from each other as if it were a challenge?" She nodded. His grin grew, and the glint in his eye became greater, as if he were remembering those times.

      "That used to be one of my favorite games to engage in with you."

      "Mine too." She whispered. They stayed like that for a moment, silent and unmoving. She wondered if he were reminiscing just as she was.

      "We should make towards the Pearl." She dipped her head in agreement and allowed Jack to lead the way to his ship.