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Saints and Sinners	By : JennyPugh Category: Pirates of the Caribbean (All) > General Views: 6291 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own the Pirates of the Caribbean movie series, nor any of the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
- 19
- 20
- 21
Usual disclaimers � life ain�t fair!
With thanks for the reviews and to Kat
for editing it and Hils for being Hils!

WELCOME BACK AFFNET!!!� (pops champagne corks, throws streamers,
yadda yadda!)

�
Chapter Twenty

�Matthias?� Celia enquired hesitantly as
she hovered outside the sick quarters.�
�Can I come in?�
�Course yer can,� the ship�s doctor
beckoned.� �I reckon th�sight of ya will
do this one good, at least!�
Celia was grateful it was gloomy enough
in the cabin to hide her blushes as she walked over to the low bunk on which
Oliver was laid out.� �How is he?�
�I�ll live, apparently,� came his Irish
brogue and Oliver turned his head to look at her, a smile on his face.
�It looks worse than it is,� Matthias
informed her.� �But no heavy liftin� fer
a while.�
�Oh good!� Remind me ter get stabbed more often!� the Irishman quipped,
winking at the young girl hovering over him.�
�Is th�cap�n all right?�
�Yes,� Celia nodded.� �He�s just pulled the skin open, that�s
all.�
�That�s all?� Jack snorted as he entered
the cabin.� �It hurts like buggery.�
�Tell us about it,� Oliver
sympathised.� �Thanks fer comin� fer me,
Cap�n.�� He struggled to rise on the
bunk, only to be held down by two pairs of hands belonging to Celia and
Matthias and he sank back, wincing from the pain reverberating around his body.
�I wasn�t about ter leave you there,�
Jack stated.� �Some bloody soft pirate I
am, eh?� he chuckled.
�It�s why yer th�best,� Matthias
observed.� �Th�cap�n has more nous an�
integrity in his little finger than any other captain I�ve ever served under,�
he told Celia.
�Now I know why I give yer so much
treasure - so you can say nice things about me!� Jack laughed.� �So, Mouse, you�ll live then?�
�Aye, so th�good doctor tells me,� he
mumbled, his eyes drifting shut as exhaustion started to overtake him.
�Time we left,� Jack mused, taking
Celia by the arm and leading her from the cabin.� �Saint Martha?�
�Huh?�
Oh, yes.� She is the saint of
housewives amongst other things,� the former novice told him.� �But why her image was on that grave, I have
no idea.�
�I wonder if there�s a Saint Martha
around?� he pondered, stroking his braids.
�Jack!� It means nothing - it doesn�t lead to his
treasure,� Celia argued, throwing her hands up in exasperation.� �You�re taking us on a wild goose chase.�
�I�m
captain of this ship,� Jack reminded her, curtly.� �I�ll decide whether
we�re on a wild goose chase or not, savvy?�
�Fine!� she snapped, darting into the
galley as they passed it to get away from him.
�Yer all right?� Tobias enquired as he
pounded a lump of dough to within an inch of its life.� �Cap�n windin� yer up again?�
�Do you
think he�s leading you all a merry dance over this so called treasure
hunt?�
�I can see how some might think that,�
the burly cook nodded.� �But us -
th�crew? �Nah, most of us have sailed
fer too long under him, an� them that ain�t would�ve heard all about him before
they joined.� Mark my words, somethin�
will come out of this.� Might not be
what we expected, but somethin� will.�
�That�s what I was afraid you�d say,�
she sighed, half sitting on the edge of the trestle table.
�Look at it this way,� Toby smiled,
flashing his silver teeth.� �We�ve got
ter sail somewhere, might as well
sail to� where are we sailin� to?�
�He�s probably looking for a Saint
Martha as we speak,� she replied with a rueful smile.
�Hey!�
There�s a Saint Marta in Colombia,� the cook cried, slapping the dough
down.� �Go an� tell th�cap�n, there�s a
good girl.�
�All right,� Celia sighed heavily,
gettin down from her perch and heading out of the galley.� She peered her head around the sick
quarters, smiling as she saw Oliver sleeping peacefully, then she made her way
up the steps to the main deck, squinting as the setting sun caught her eye.� �Ja� Captain,� she called, as she shielded
her eyes and spotted him at the bow.�
�Toby says there�s a Saint Marta in Colombia,� she informed him as she
made her way along the deck towards him.
�Is there, now?� Jack grinned,
exchanged glances with his quartermaster.�
�That isn�t too far away now, is it?�
�Indeed not, Cap�n,� the older man
agreed.� �There or�� he hesitated before
speaking again.� �Isla de Muerta?� he
shuddered.� In spite having been there
many times since the defeat of Barbossa and his cursed crew, he still hated the
place and was always thankful when he was back on board the Pearl and sailing away from the dread
isle.
The pirate captain pondered for a few
minutes, weighing up which would be better before nodding his head, looking
around in slight bewilderment at the nearby crew who had been waiting with
baited breath.� �Saint Marta,� he
declared.
�

Although Gibbs had declared the chasing
ship would not catch them, the crew of the Black
Pearl were still busy for
the rest of that day drawing out a bigger margin between the two ships and it
was only when darkness fell and Jack had ordered all but the necessary lights
to be doused, did they finally shake off their pursuers,
�Go on, Captain,� the quartermaster
urged as Gabriel Jennings softly called out the end of the first watch
(midnight), and not sounding the bell thus giving away their position once
again.� �I�ll take the ship.�
�You sure?� Jack enquired wearily,
rubbing his eyes.� �Make certain��
�Don�t worry, they won�t find us.�
�I know,� the captain of the pirate
ship smiled.� �Just make sure th�men
keep a sharp eye, eh?�
�I will,� Gibbs promised, clapping the
younger man gently on the shoulder as he passed.� �Goodnight, Jack.�
Jack crept as quietly as he could into
the cabin, peering in the dark as Celia had not lit any of the lanterns or candles.� �Good
job I know th�way,� he thought wryly, picking his way across to the side
cabin.
�Jack?�
�Aye,� he confirmed.� �I didn�t think yer�d be awake.�
�I�ve been dozing,� Celia
admitted.� �The stern seat isn�t the
most comfortable of places to sleep.�
�Why are you there?� Why didn�t yer rig th�hammock?�
�I-I was too busy keeping watch of the
other ship through the window and then realised that it was too dark to see
what I was doing,� she confessed, blushing at her silliness.
�Ah� you�d best come an� share th�bunk
then,� he chuckled lasciviously.
�N-no!� she stammered, not wanting to
be in such close proximity to him.�
�I-I�ll be f-fine��
�What�s th�matter, luv?� Jack purred,
his voice getting closer to her.� �Don�t
you trust yourself any more?�
�What do you m-mean?� Celia enquired,
gulping audibly as she felt him stand in front of her.� �H-how can you find your way in the dark?�
�Years an� years of practice, Ceila,�
he murmured, sitting beside her and leaning over.
�S-stop it.�
�Stop what, I�m not doin� anythin�� yet.�
An� you haven�t answered my question��
�W-why wouldn�t I trust myself?� she
whispered, cursing herself for shivering as he blew on her neck.
�You know I heard you,� he chuckled,
moving closer still and nuzzling her hair.�
�Have you ever done that before?�
�Stop it!� Celia wailed, jumping to her
feet and stumbling in the dark.� �It�s
wrong��
�If it�s wrong - if what you did to
yourself is wrong, why hasn�t there been a thunderbolt from th�skies ter strike
you down?� Why hasn�t every man on this
ship been struck down fer their collective wickedness, eh?�
�Stop twisting things!� she pleaded,
catching herself as she crashed against the table in the middle of the cabin.
�I�m not,� Jack purred, standing and
following her, using his ears to track where she was.� �You want me, Celia
Hammond, an� I don�t care how much yer deny it.� Give yourself ter me an� then all this turmoil yer goin� through
will end, eh?�
�To be replaced by turmoil of another
kind!� she retorted, yelping as she stubbed her toe on the mizzenmast.
�Ah, so you admit you want me, then?�
�I admitted nothing!� she retorted,
feeling her way around the mast and hoping to reach the door before he caught
up with her.
�You said you�d have a different kind
of turmoil, which means you�re considerin� givin� yourself ter me� plus, you
didn�t deny that you want me�� Jack
took one more step forward and reached out to where he judged the young woman
to be, grabbing her hand triumphantly and pulling her back to him.� �Did you?� he murmured, tracing her face
with his hand until he found her mouth and then replaced his fingers with his
lips, wrapping her in his arms to quell her struggle.
�Jack�� Celia croaked as she pulled
away.� �Please don�t.�� She pushed against him in an effort to break
free, but his grip was too strong and she sagged in his arms, sighing
resignedly.� �I-I can�t��
�Why?� he whispered, his breath hot on
her face.� �Just answer me this one
thing - honestly.� Do you want me?�
Celia swallowed several times, all that
she had been taught about propriety fighting with the need and desire racing
through her veins.� �I� Jack�� she pleaded.
�It�s just a simple yes or no,� he
urged softly, still holding on to her tightly.
�Simple!� she snorted ruefully.� �If only��
�It is��
�I� can�t.� I�m scared,� she gulped, trembling against him.
�There�s nothin� ter be scared of,�
Jack told her.� �I won�t hurt you.�
�I-I know y-you wouldn�t, but��
�I tell yer what, how about we go an�
lie on th�bunk an� just touch each other, eh?�
�With our clothes on?�
�Heh!�
No,� Jack chuckled, shaking his head at her.� �Maybe if yer just touch me, then you won�t be so scared, eh?�
�Jack - I can�t!� I truly can�t!�
�Celia, luv�� he sighed, running his
hand across his bandana.
�You don�t get it, do you?� Celia
cried, jerking away from him.� �I had to
touch him!� she spat.� �I had to do things to him, I had to watch
him and Syndony do things and now you
want me to do the same to you!�
�Bloody hell,� Jack swore, mentally
kicking himself for not realising, especially after the way she had reacted to
the name of the tavern they had visited in Saint Georges.� �I�m sorry, luv, I didn�t��
�Think?� No, that�s obvious,� she sniffed, wiping
away tears with a handkerchief.� �It was
horrible, Jack, and I� I don�t want to sully the way I feel about you with
having to do that.�
�Th�way
she feels�?� he thought, elation soaring through him but he sobered
immediately, wanting to reassure her, but making a mental note to bring it up
when the opportune moment arose.� �Rape
isn�t just about a man penetratin� a woman,� Jack replied gently, reaching out
once more and drawing her to him, relieved when she did not pull away.� �Rape is about a man forcin� a woman ter his
will.� Come on, we�ll just lie, eh?� he
urged, tugging at her.
�Naked?�
�Not if you don�t want to, no.�
�A-all right,� Celia agreed hesitantly
and found herself being lead carefully across the cabin.
�Is it that that�s worryin� yer more
than it being against what th�church believes in?� he asked as he felt his way in
to the side cabin.
�I�m not sure,� she admitted,
swallowing when she realised where they were.�
�Not naked�?�
�Not naked,� he sighed ruefully.� �Although I�ve never touched yer when we have been naked, have I?�
�No,� the young woman agreed, biting
her lip as he stopped by the bunk.�
�What do you want to do then?�
�You know what I want ter do!� Jack
grinned, squeezing her hand as she stiffened.�
�Just hold yer, kiss yer, an� see what transpires from that, eh?�
�A-all right.�� Celia squealed as he grabbed her around the
waist and hoisted her up on to the bunk, then climbed up himself, settling
quickly and sliding an arm underneath her, his fingers curling around her ribs.
�Comfy?�
�Yes,� she replied,
having no choice but to snuggle against him due to the lack of room in the
small bunk.� She hesitantly stretched
her own arm across him, praying that she would not touch where his shirt gaped
open and breathing a sigh of relief when she felt his shoulder, but moving her
hand rapidly when she remembered his wound.
�How about puttin� it
there?� Jack suggested with a chuckle, taking her hand and putting it on his
midriff, not so low down as to spook her but low enough for him to sigh
blissfully.� �What about a kiss, eh?�� He did not wait for a reply but turned onto his
side and kissed her, his tongue pushing into her open mouth and exploring it,
probing deeper and more urgently as she responded beneath him, her arms winding
around him and pulling him on top of her and her legs tangling with his.� �Bloody hell, luv!� he panted, breaking away
from her.� �I thought you didn�t want
ter��
�I-I got carried away,� Celia admitted
timidly, both scared and elated at how quickly she had lost control.� �Jack - I don�t know what to do!� she
bewailed.
�Do you trust me?� he murmured, his
tongue idly playing inside her ear.
�Y-yes� why?�
�Celia, do you trust me?� Jack repeated, wishing there was some light in the cabin
so he could see her face.
�Yes,� she replied, more firmly.
�I want ter show you how pleasurable
it� can be.� I won�t force you or hurt you, but yer have ter trust me, all
right?�
Celia shivered and bit her lip but
found herself nodding in the dark.� �All
right,� she agreed, bracing herself for what might be coming, and whimpering as
he moved down her body and lifted her dress, tugging at her knickers until they
were around her ankles.� �J-Jack�?�
�Trust me,� he muttered, wishing more
than ever that he could see her as his hands ran up her legs until they reached
the soft fuzz of hair at the top and he buried his face in it, his tongue
licking and probing along her slit.
�Jack!�
she cried, clutching the bedcovers as a white hot flame shot through her
body.� �N-n-no,� she gasped, arching her
back and writhing as his tongue thrust into her warm, moist womanhood while his
fingers worked along her slit, caressing the nub and driving her almost insane
with desire.� �Oh� Lord��
�It�s not wrong,� Jack rasped as he
broke away from his ministrations for a moment before plunging back in, licking
her more urgently as she moaned and squirmed, her panting getting more and more
ragged until she cried out and her legs clamped his head as he drank her
juices, her cries of passion mixing with the slurps from his mouth until she
sagged back down against the bunk, breathing heavily from exersion and shock.
�Oh�� Celia gulped, the rest of her
words being cut off by Jack�s lips closing over hers and she started as she
tasted herself on and in him.
�Nice?� he chuckled as he broke away to
suck at her neck.
�Yes,� she gasped, shifting as his
teeth nipped at her skin, sending another wave of passion coursing through
her.� �Oh, yes� but��
�We�ll go at your pace, savvy?� he murmured, his fingers working on the laces at
the front of her dress.� �We can still
just touch, if that�s what yer want eh?�
�Why?�
Why are you being so understanding?�
�You�d rather I wasn�t?� Jack teased as
he gave up in trying to undo her dress.�
�Toby was right when I said I love women so much that I can�t understand
a man who doesn�t.� It goes against
everythin� that I am ter hurt a woman - even a whore.�
�You�re not really a pirate, are you?�
Celia mused, subconsiously stroking his back.�
�Not deep down.�
�Heh!�
I suppose not,� he agreed.� �I�m
not driven by th�same forces that turns other men ter piracy which is probably
why I�m firstly, successful, an� secondly, still alive.�� He sighed heavily, glancing around in the
dark.� �Stay there, luv, I�m goin� ter
fetch some light.�
�Is that wise?� she fretted.� �The other ship might��
�It�s worth th�risk,� he assured her, kissing
her deeply before climbing down from the bunk.�
�Celia�?�
�Yes, Jack?�
�Don�t fall asleep, eh?�
�Of course I won�t,� she giggled,
feeling light headed and a little shaky.��
�You�ve done it now,� she
thought to herself once she was alone, pulling her skirts back down again,
having enough pride to want to preserve her modesty.� �There�s no going back�� Celia lay there for a few moments, willing
herself to feel guilty but instead found that she was listening intently for
Jack�s return.
�Here we are,� came his growl from the
main cabin and Celia could see the flickering of the lantern against the
bulwarks as he approached the side cabin.�
�Much better,� he grinned, the light glinting on his gold teeth and
making him look even more rougish than he already did to Celia�s mind.
�Yes�� she agreed hesitantly, her nerve
all but failing her now that she could see him.� �A-are you sure it�s safe?�
�Th�other ship won�t be able ter catch
us anyway,� he shrugged, starting to strip out of his clothes until he noticed
Celia watching him warily.� �Still not
naked?�
�D-do you mind?� Celia fretted, biting
her lip.� �I-I�m sorry��
�That�s all right,� he sighed, smiling
although deep down he was bitterly disappointed.� �I�ll keep me breeches on, eh?�
�Thank you, Jack,� she replied,
rewarding him with a sweet, relieved smile.�
�I will try��
�I told you - at yer own pace,� Jack
interrupted, standing beside the bunk once he had divested himself of his
shirt, boots and bandana.� �Do you
perhaps want ter take your dress off?� Yer�ll
never straighten it out otherwise.�
�Yes, I had better,� Celia smiled,
getting down from the bunk and continuing what Jack had started on her laces
until the garment was loose enough to pull down and it pooled at her feet and
she was left in only her undershift which she always slept in anyway.� Celia bent to pick it up, unsurprised when
Jack patted her bottom and then fondled it, his fingers reaching between her
legs and brushing against her.� �Jack��
she warned, her voice catching as a wave of desire washed over her.
�Just feelin� th�goods, darlin�,� he
chuckled throatily, pulling her to him as she straightened with the dress in
her hands, and he buried his face in her neck.�
�Yer hair�s getting� long,� Jack mused as he brushed it aside in order
to reach her skin which he nipped gently.
�S-stop,� she gasped, arching her back
and clutching the dress tightly as another throb pulsated deep in her
womanhood.
�Yer sure you want me to?� he rasped,
biting harder at her neck and making her gasp and groan.
�Y-yes��
�Yer don�t sound very certain,� Jack
teased, flitting his tongue across her ear lobe as he ran his hands down her
body.� �I can make you feel even better
than before,� he boasted, rubbing his hand along her slit, albeit through the
material of her shift.
�Oh, Jack,� she groaned, writhing in
his arms.� �P-please don�t��
�Why?� he whispered, his hot breath
tickling her ear.� �I think you want me
to, really��
�N-no� please, Jack.�
�Why?� he demanded again, pulling away
slightly and frowning at her behind her back.
�I� oh�� Celia sighed, throwing her
hands up in exasperation and turning to face him.� �If� when I give myself
to you, I want it to be a conscious decision rather than having my desire
making the decision for me� does that make sense?�
Jack chuckled ruefully, a slow grin
spreading across his face as he kissed the tip of her nose.� �Perfect sense,� he acknowledged, taking her
hand and raising it to his lips.� �Let�s
go ter bed, yeah?�
�Thank you,� she smiled tearfully,
wondering how a pirate would be more considerate and gentle than even her
well-bred fianc�e had been as she snuggled up to him, resting her head on his
bare chest, lying in silence until sleep took her.
�
Celia opened her eyes, blinking in the
strong morning light and turned over, mewling with disappointment when she
found the other side of the bunk empty and cold - obviously having been vacated
for some time.� �I�d better get up,� she thought ruefully, clambering from the bunk
and stretching luxuriously, wondering where the pirate captain was and soon
finding her answer.
�Ah - you are alive, then?� came Jack�s
acerbic voice from within the main cabin and she poked her head around the
door, blushing furiously as she saw not only Jack, but Joshamee Gibbs, Gabriel
Jennings, Myles Burford and Oliver Fernan, all huddled around the table,
studying a chart.
�Y-yes,� she spluttered, backing
quickly away, but not before she had caught the look of hurt and anger in the
eyes of the tall Irishman.
�Mornin�, Miss Celia,� Gabriel called, more
than a hint of amusement in his voice.�
�Did yer sleep well?�
�Jennings�� Jack growled, looking up
from the chart and shooting a warning glance at his crewman.
�Sorry, Cap�n,� he muttered, a smirk
still twitching the corner of his lips.
�It�s not me you should be apologisin�
to��
�Sorry, Miss Celia,� Gabriel called
towards the direction of the side cabin.�
�Forgive me m�manners.�
�It�s all right,� Celia replied, as she
tried to wash herself with the scant bit of water still left in the pitcher
from the previous night before deciding that she would have to do and pulled on
her yellow dress, wincing at the creases in it.� �I�m going to have to face
them,� she thought, biting her lip.�
�And they know what happened last
night� well, not exactly what
happened, but enough� oh no!�
�You comin� in or not?� Jack enquired
from where he was standing in the doorway of the larger side cabin, his head
cocked to one side as he watched her.
�I-I�ll wait,� she smiled weakly.� �I don�t want to interrupt.�
�Never stopped yer before�� you�ve got to face th�crew sometime,� Jack
reasoned.� �Or is it just Fernan yer
don�t want ter face, I wonder?�
�What?�
she gasped, wondering if he had found out about the kisses she and the helmsman
had shared the other day but realising that he would most certainly not so
jovial about it if he did.
�I know he likes you, an� I suspect yer
like him.� But not as much as you like me, eh?� he murmured, stepping closer to
her and brushing his lips across hers.
�They�ll see,� she squeaked, backing away
and trying to look over his shoulder.
�They�ve gone,� he grinned, winding his
arms around her and drawing her in to his arms.� �Do you like Mouse?� he
asked, looking deep into her eyes.� �Do
you prefer him ter me?�
�Jack!�
Celia cried, looking in horror at him.�
�Do you really think that I would have let you do what you did last
night if I preferred Oliver?�
�I don�t know,� he shrugged.� �But I do know that he is married an� that
you probably would consider givin� yourself ter him even less than you considered
givin� yourself ter me.� So, maybe I�m
th�lesser of two evils, as it were, hmm?�
�How dare you!� she spat, slapping
him.� �I�m not some whore!�
�When did I say that you were?� Jack
reasoned as he rubbed his cheek.� �I
just suggested that you maybe like Oliver but consider him out of bounds.�
�But you�re still suggesting that I�m
prepared to give up my virtue, willy-nilly!�
Why?� Just when I decide what I
want to do, why do you do this?� Have
you decided that you don�t want me but are too afraid to tell me?�
�No,� he laughed, throwing his head
back as he did so.� �No, luv, I want yer
more than ever.� But I saw th�look on
yer face when you saw Fernan in th�cabin, an� I saw th�look in his eyes��
�What would you do if I said I
preferred him?� Celia frowned, chewing her lip with worry and not sure she
wanted to hear the answer.
�Ter be honest, I haven�t really
thought about it, most likely because I know
you prefer me, but if you said you wanted him�?� Probably take what you still owe me from his purse an� wish yer
both good luck as I left yer at th�next port of call.�
�Oh�� she gulped, feeling both relieved
and frightened by his reply.
�So�?
�So?�
Oh!� I do want you, Jack,� she replied shyly, looking away from him and
blushing, unused to discussing her deepest feelings.� �I always did, if I�m honest with myself.� I suppose things got a little� complicated.�
�Complicated?� How?� Jack mused, looking at her down his nose and frowning.�
�I� erm� j-just that I wasn�t certain
at first,� she gabbled as she realised that she nearly spilled the beans about
the kiss.
�I see�� he nodded slowly and Celia had
the horrible feeling that he saw only too well.� �Come on then, young lady, or breakfast�ll be all gone by th�time
we get there!�� He grabbed her hand and
virtually dragged her across the deck before she had chance to protest and
yanked open the cabin door, bounding out on to the main deck.
�I was just comin� ter tell yer that
th�oats are ready,� Elliot grinned as he almost collided with his captain at
the top of the hatch.� �An� Toby�s in a
right mood, an� all!� Mornin� Celia,� he
beamed at the woman who was just a few years older than he was.
�Yer getting� a little familiar,
Deane�� Jack mused, looking darkly at the young crewman.
�Ah, she�s like th�sister I never had!�
he chuckled, stepping onto the deck.�
�Nothin� ter fear from me,
Cap�n,� he said innocently, whistling as he went and winking broadly at
Matthias Swain.
�Yer�ll get yourself inter trouble one
day, my lad,� the ship�s doctor hissed as Jack and Celia disappeared down the
hatch.� �An� I wouldn�t be able ter
patch yer up again, like as not.�
�Ah, th�cap�n wouldn�t hurt me,� Elliot
boasted as she started to climb the rigging.�
�It�s someone else he needs ter worry about��
�There - you�ve faced some of th�crew,� Jack announced as they
walked along the dimly lit corridor, �an� yer survived.�
�Yes, Jack,� Celia sighed, shaking her
head at him.� �Although I hardly think
just Elliot counts.�
�Heh!�
Seriously, luv.� If you get any
snide remarks from anyone, I want ter
know, savvy?�
�No,� Celia stated firmly, shaking her
head once more.� �It�s going to be
something I will have to learn to live with - might as well start now.�
�All right,� Jack agreed, regarding her
with a sideways glance.�
�What?�
�Your attitude�s changin� an� I admit ter being a little surprised
by it� why?�
Celia closed her eyes, as she
thought.� �I don�t know,� she replied
eventually, opening them again and glancing at the pirate captain, blushing as
she saw the intensity of his stare.� �I
suppose I�ve started to realise that I can�t be the same person I was when I
came over here - that I couldn�t be the same person I was when I left England,
even if I had gone to the Virgin Isles as a missionary.� It�s a different way of life, a different
outlook but it�s taken me the best part of five months to realise it.�
�Quicker than most,� he quipped as they
reached the mess and he lead her in to it, casting a quick glance around the
men gathered there and frowning slightly as he saw Oliver turn his head
away.� �Bugger!� he thought to himself.�
�I�m goin� ter have ter have
another word with you, Fernan��
�I�d almost given up on yer,� Toby
sniped as he stomped into the mess and slammed two bowls down onto a trestle
table.� �It might be cold.�
Jack raised his eyebrows at the
departing figure of his cook and looked at Thomas Frazer questioningly.
�Lost his rum rations playing dice last
night,� the Scotman informed him with a shrug.
�Ah, that�ll teach him ter gamble,
then, won�t it?� Jack stated firmly.�
Although he allowed the men to gamble small amounts of money or their
rum rations, it was not something he entirely approved of, believing it to
cause more trouble than it prevented.
�Cap�n, can I borrow Celia ter help
patch th�spare topmast sail?� Jacob Sumner enquired.�
Jack looked at the young woman who
nodded resignedly, and he smiled sympathetically as he knew she hated the task
but did it, largely without complaint.�
�Keep you occupied fer th�day,� he chuckled as he tucked in to the
lukewarm oats.
�When will we arrive in Saint Marta?�
Celia enquired, pulling a face at the taste of the gruel but eating it
nonetheless, knowing it was that or nothing of substance until supper.
�I reckon two or three days, eh
Fernan?�
�Two or three days, aye,� the helmsman
echoed in a surly tone.
�Oh dear,� Celia sighed quietly,
glancing at Jack who was frowning at his bowl.
�So,� Jack said loudly and cheerfully,
deciding to ignore his crewman�s mood.�
�You still think this is folly?�
�Yes,� she replied, grateful of the
distraction.� �If I had any money, I
would take a bet with you that nothing will come of this.�
�You would, would yer�?�� Jack learned in close, his lips pressing
against her ear.� �You don�t just have
ter bet with money, you know�� he growled, grinning with evil delight as he
felt her shiver.
�What do you propose I bet with,
Captain?� she enquired, quiet enough for the men nearby not to overhear and a
teasing smile playing on her lips.
�We�ll have ter see if we can come up
with somethin� eh?� he chuckled, watching as Oliver Fernan limped from the mess
as he favoured his wound, a dark look on his face.� �Now, if you�ll excuse me, lady and gentlemen, I have a ship ter
run.� Catch yer later, luv.�
�Yes,� Celia nodded as she finished off
the unappetising porridge.
�Ah, Gibbs - just th�man I want ter
see,� Jack said as he spotted the quartermaster ambling down the corridor.� �I think there may be problems with Fernan��
�Aye, there are,� the older man sighed,
shaking his head.� �We�ve tried ter warn
him but he�s� well, he�s got it bad for her.�
�Well he�ll just have ter not have
anythin� fer her, will he?�
�Why don�t you?� Gibbs retorted,
holding a placating hand up to stop Jack�s outburst.� �He likes her every bit as much as you do, Jack.� How would you feel if the tables were
turned, eh?�
�Like killin� him,� Jack nodded
ruefully, seeing Gibbs� argument.� �How
do th�men feel about havin� her on board?�
�They�re fine about it.� There�s ribald comments, as you�d expect,
but Mouse, and Butler aside, the men
don�t have any problem with her� or you,� he stated, knowing what was really on his captain�s mind.
�Now I know why I won�t let yer
retire,� Jack grinned, clapping the older man on the back.� �Ta!�
�It�s a pleasure,� Gibbs chuckled.� �And yes, I�ll have another quiet word with Mouse.�
�
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Saints and Sinners