Adult-FanFiction.org : Movies

The Flying Dutchman	By : BrethlessM Category: Pirates of the Caribbean (All) > General Views: 3366 -:- 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
- 4
- 5
- 6
Chapter Five

Jack sprang to his feet while still trying to look casual. He shot a glance at Elizabeth, as if seeking instructions.

To his great relief, she had some. �Don�t get too close� she�s blind as bat. Maybe she won�t notice you�re a pirate if she can�t smell you.�

Sneering a fake smile at her jab, Jack nevertheless obeyed, hanging behind as Elizabeth greeted her unexpected guest.

�Mrs. Ellis! How delightful to see you again. Did you leave something this afternoon?� Elizabeth purposefully stepped between the woman and Jack, taking the older woman�s hands in hers.

�Why yes, silly me,� Mrs. Ellis said, momentarily distracted. �Mr. Ellis and I were headed home and we saw the light still on.� She peeked over Elizabeth�s shoulder. �I left my sewing hoop here. I wouldn�t have bothered to disturb you if it wasn�t for my daughter�s wedding being only just around the corner, and I simply must finish her dress.�

�Of course, I understand. William will fetch it for you,� Elizabeth called for her son.

A moment of awkward silence fell, and Elizabeth twisted the sleeve of her dress nervously.

Mrs. Ellis smiled in Jack�s general direction, unaware of the tension in the room. �Forgive my intrusion, young man,� she said, as if it weren�t scandalous for a married woman to be entertaining someone who was not her husband.

Elizabeth started. �Oh! It�s no intrusion. This is��

�Uncle Jack!� William ran into the room, running straight to Jack instead of his mother.

Elizabeth�s mouth dropped in shock, but she recovered quickly enough that Mrs. Ellis noticed nothing. �Yes! This is William�s Uncle, Jack -�

�Swann!� Jack interrupted. Bending slightly, he lifted William into his arms, balancing him on one hip and moving closer to Elizabeth. He threw his free arm around her shoulder, although still a step or two behind so as not to be too close to the near-sighted old woman. �Jackson Swann. I arrived in port today, just in time to welcome my prodigal brother-in-law home from his voyage.�

Mrs. Ellis� face lit up. �Oh, Elizabeth! I�d forgotten you had a brother. Jackson� now I remember. A sailor like your father Weatherby, am I right? Yes,� she said. �It�s been quite a long time since you�ve returned to Port Royal. I hope you�ll be staying long?�

Jack tried not to let the confusion show on his face. �Erm, well� that all depends on the tide,� he finally said. �Can�t say for sure just when I�ll be shov-, er, sailing again.�

�Yes, I remember what it was like; my husband was a sailor for nearly fifty years, and no matter how many times he promised to settle in, the sea always called him back again,� Mrs. Ellis chuckled. �Well, I�ll let you three get back to catching up, if I could just get that hoop��

Elizabeth recovered herself. �Yes, of course. Come this way and I�ll fetch it for you.�

Alone again, William looked at Jack, grinning widely. �I just saved you, didn�t I?�

Jack couldn�t help grinning back. �Aye, that ye did, Lad. I said you were a right clever little pirate.� He put the boy down and made a sloppy bow. �I am in your debt.�

William positively wriggled with glee. �And now you�ll have to stay� at least until Father returns.�
Jack�s smile froze on his face, but he couldn�t find it in him to dampen the boy�s enthusiasm. �Won�t that be nice.�

Hurriedly but politely showing Mrs. Ellis to the door, Elizabeth leaned back against the portal, closing her eyes and sighing with relief.

Jack spoke first. �How can the woman be sewing her daughter�s wedding gown if she�s blind as a bat?�

Elizabeth opened her eyes but did not move from the door. She looked at Jack as though sizing him up before answering. �She can see close up � she�s fabulous with detail work, but everything else is a blur.�

Jack didn�t answer � he was unsettled by the way Elizabeth was staring at him.

�Mother! Can Jack sleep in my room?� William asked, tugging at the waist of her dress.
Jack smiled, but didn�t take his eyes off Elizabeth. �I�m afraid your mum� and I,� he added quickly, although perversely aware of how paternal it sounded, �were thinking it might be best if I were on me way, Lad.�

Elizabeth still said nothing, continuing to stare at Jack. William looked between Jack and his mother. �But now you have to stay � he has to, Mother,� he said. �Mrs. Ellis thinks your brother�s here to see Father come home. It would ruin everything if he left now!�

Jack frowned, remembering something. �And why is it that she remembers your handsome brother, �Jackson�,� he asked, �when you and I just met the chap mere moments ago?�

Elizabeth�s laugh erupted in a short, distracted burst of air. �She knew my father long ago� the only person in my current acquaintance who did,� Elizabeth said. �But her memory is as infamously bad as her vision � I could convince her I had a daughter instead of a son, if I had to.�

�But no one else knew Grandfather, or Mother, before she left with you,� William explained with bright eyes. �No one would know you weren�t my Uncle Jack, and Mother,� he added, thinking fast. �If Jack stays, he can help us get the house ready for Father!�

Jack didn�t think he liked the sound of that very much, but something inside him wanted to stay badly enough that he didn�t think to protest. He looked at Elizabeth and added softly, �He has a point � and it�s only two days, Love.�

With both men staring at her expectantly, Elizabeth looked at them each in turn. William�s large eyes were hopeful, and she was a little surprised, although only a little, to discover that sending Jack away would hurt her son more deeply than she ever would intentionally choose to. He�d taken to Jack so quickly, a part of her knew he was bound to see the older man as a father figure.

Still, it would be good to have someone around for William to talk to � even if it was Jack Sparrow. William was such a solitary child, with so many family secrets; maybe Jack could impart to her son some of his natural joie de vivre � neither she, nor Will had it like Jack did.
It was at last, in Jack eyes, that Elizabeth found her decision, though she knew she would question her judgment every moment thereafter. In his eyes she saw fear � he was afraid she would send him away, and she didn�t understand that. He wanted to stay, and for a blinding moment of what felt like insanity, she wanted him there just as badly.
Pulling in a deep breath, Elizabeth finally spoke, looking steadily at Jack. �You�ll have to behave yourself � act the part of a respectable sailor.� When he didn�t immediately answer, she added. �It�s a lot to ask � but I have the reputation of myself and William to protect. If you can�t, or aren�t willing, it�d be better to risk awkward questions than chance the disruption of our lives.�
Jack answered easily, as though he didn�t need to think about his decision. �Contrary to certain viewpoints about my person, love,� he grinned, �I was not always the dashing and debonair pirate captain you see before you.� Feigning disinterest, he wandered over to a nearby bookcase and picked up a small bottle with a ship in it from the shelf, turning it to peer into the open neck at the miniature vessel. �Once upon a time, yours truly was a dashing and debonair merchant seaman� captain,� he said with nonchalance.
Elizabeth went and took the bottle from his unsteady hands, replacing it gently on the shelf. �You were not, Jack.�
Jack�s left eyebrow arched high into his bandana. �Oh no? And how do you think I came into the acquaintance of one, Cutler Beckett? I didn�t stand in line to get this little pretty,� he said, indicating the �P� shaped scar on his forearm.
Elizabeth frowned, searching for the lie in Jack�s face, eyes widening when she didn�t find one. �You�re perfectly serious!� she exclaimed softly.
Jack gave a mock sigh. �Yes, love, it�s true. I was once in the employ of the East India Trading Company. That is,� he added, �until I no longer found the job to be to my satisfaction.� Jack lowered his voice. �I hope this doesn�t lessen your opinion of me, Lizzie.�
�Not enough gold in honest sailing, Jack?� Elizabeth tried to joke, but even to her ears, it fell flat. She was still stunned by this new revelation.
The expression on Jack�s face changed ever so slightly from humorous to pained. �That, my dear, I�m afraid, is a story for another, less rum-free occasion.�
She could see that he meant it, and as much as Elizabeth wanted to demand he answer the many questions suddenly popping into her head, she decided to let it be for now. �Well then, as it�s settled that you�ll be staying with us for a few days, I suggest that we make you look more� presentable.�
Jack paused in his wanderings about the room, and turned slowly to look at Elizabeth. �What exactly did you have in mind, Love?�
�A bath, to start,� she answered, ignoring the sudden pallor of Jack�s face. �Then we�ll have to do something about your clothes, and your hair.� She paused, making a face. �And that breath.�
Jack looked as though he wanted to protest, but wasn�t sure which atrocity to take on first. Before he could do more than open his mouth, William grabbed his hand.
�Come on, Jack! I know where we have some of Father�s things!�
Seeing once more the unrelenting steeliness of Elizabeth�s gaze, Jack shuddered and sighed. Allowing himself to be dragged from the room, Jack dared to wonder just how bad it would get before he began to regret deciding to stay.

As it happened, it didn�t take very long at all before Jack Sparrow was cursing Gibbs for making him look into his bloody compass and follow the heading straight into Hell. It had to be Hell � there was even steam, although it was coming from a tub full of scalding hot water.

Deciding that, if he was going to be forced into a tub for the first time in who knew how many years, he certainly wasn�t going to lift a finger to speed up the process. Undaunted, Elizabeth filled and heated bucket after bucket of water for Jack�s bath while the pirate sat by, determinedly ignoring her exertions.

From a chest at the foot of Elizabeth�s bed, William pulled a white linen shirt, woolen trousers and short coat in a beige color that reminded Jack of the coral reefs near the islands, stockings, shoes with squared-toes and small brass buckles, and at last, a brown knit cap. They had been using some of the extra money Elizabeth had earned from her medical practices to buy and store clothing for Will to have on his return. The thought was so miserable to Jack that it was the only thing he made no complaint about.
Handing him a caustic smelling bar of soap, Elizabeth pushed Jack into the relative privacy of the kitchen where the steaming bath awaited. Putting Will�s new clothing on a wooden chair nearby, she left without another word.
Almost. At the last moment, she turned to Jack again. �Don�t forget to wash your hair, too.�
Jack stared at her back as she quickly left for the adjoining room. �My hair?� he shouted after her, but got no response. Grumbling, Jack set the soap near the tub and began to undress.
He couldn�t even remember the last time he�d taken off the bandana covering his scalp, let alone the last time he�d gotten completely naked. Pirates worked and slept in their clothing most of the time, and the last time he�d visited Tortuga� well, even if he had gone to see Giselle or Scarlett, there usually wasn�t the need to remove everything.
Standing nude before the tub, Jack stared at the water for several long moments before daintily lifting a leg and breaking the surface of the bath with his toe. It was hot. Sucking in air through his teeth, Jack braced himself with eyes scrunched tight before thrusting first one leg, then the other into the tub.
Having gotten that far, he sat down before he could change his mind. There. That wasn�t so bad. Proud of his accomplishment, Jack sat for a moment, not doing anything as he allowed his body to adjust to the temperature of the water.
He was just contemplating picking up the soap when something crashed to the floor behind him. Jack sprang from the tub, attempting to leap over the side towards his gun, which he�d set near him on the floor. Catching a foot on the edge of the basin, Jack crashed to the floor with his legs still dangling up over the side and into the water. Snatching up his gun, Jack aimed it shakily towards the door.
William stood near the wooden block in the center of the kitchen, staring at Jack sprawled half in and out of the tub. A metal bowl lay right side up on the floor at his feet where he�d dropped it and rose petals were scattered everywhere. Within moments his surprise turned to amusement, and the boy broke into gales of laughter that made Jack drop his head to the floor in relief and embarrassment.
�What in the world� oh, God�� Elizabeth took one look at the scene in her kitchen and left in a hurry, trying to burn the image of Jack�s naked and oh-so-prominently displayed backside from her mind. As long as no one was dead, she felt it best to leave the situation well enough alone.
Jack groaned as he listened to Elizabeth�s swift entrance and exit, and struggled to right himself and restore some of his dignity � an act made difficult by the giggling child staring at him.
�Ha, bloody ha-ha,� Jack grumbled as the boy wiped the tears from his face and began cleaning up the mess on the floor. �If you were on me crew you�d be keelhauled for that.�
Will looked up excitedly. �Can I be on your crew, Uncle Jack?�
Jack blinked at the honorific, but didn�t say anything about it. William amused him. �Aye, lad � I�ll make you my powder monkey.�
�Powder monkey?� William complained.
Jack nodded. �t�is an important job � and much better than being a cabin boy. Trust me.�
William nodded, but looked discouraged. �Mother sent me in to remind you about your hair. Oh, and to give you these.� He tipped the now re-filled bowl of flower petals into Jack�s bath water.
Jack wrinkled his nose, recoiling slightly from the delicate red flotilla. �What are they?� he asked uncertainly.
�Rose petals,� William said, picking one up and rubbing it between his fingers. �You�re supposed to scrub with them.�
Jack eyed them suspiciously. �I�ve already got the soap, what do I need these for?�
William shrugged. �They make you smell good.�
�Womanly,� Jack corrected, but he remembered the scent of jasmine that had surrounded him when he�d carried Elizabeth from the beach earlier. Sighing deeply to show his injury, Jack grabbed the soap from where it still sat and began scrubbing years of dirt and salt water from his flesh.
It was a lengthy process, and the water soon turned a murky brown. The smell of the soap stung his nose, and he found himself glad of the rose petals to sooth the bitter odor. Finally deeming himself clean, Jack began to stand up.
William put a hand on his wrist to stop him, shaking his head. �Hair,� he reminded firmly.
�Hair?� Jack echoed weakly.
William mimicked his mother�s grimmest expression. �Hair.�
It was pointless to sigh any more, but Jack did it anyway. It didn�t make him feel any better, and he began undoing the various knots around his head. Starting with the large braid in back and then the smaller one on the side, Jack then moved on to the bits of ribbon tied in here and there, then the leather cords that wove the beads and things into the mixture. Last of all he removed the bone marlinspike and the twine holding it in place against his scalp. Finally, all that remained were the twenty dreadlocks, ten on each side of his head, and a small pile of adornments on the floor by his clothes.
William watched the process in silence and then examined the results quietly as Jack again pick up the soap and began washing the oil and dirt from the straight lengths of his dark hair. The dreadlocks he left untouched.
Running from the room a moment later, William returned just as Jack began to rinse thought his hair one last time and handed the pirate a comb. Jack put it aside for the moment.
Looking to William finally for approval, Jack again rose from the tub and stepped out, picking up his soiled shirt to dry himself with.
Again William leapt to his feet, this time taking away Jack�s old shirt and replacing it with a clean dishcloth. Jack scowled, but said nothing.
Silently, Jack began to dress in the clothing bought for Will, but did not put on the brown knit cap. Gesturing to William, who took the lead, Jack went in search of Elizabeth.
She was sitting on the bench of the pianoforte, hands pressed against her knees, and she stood when she saw them. Elizabeth looked surprised by Jack appearance, and he wondered if she was more surprised by how he looked or that he had obeyed her with so little fuss.
Going to him, Elizabeth lifted a segment of Jack�s still damp hair, eyeing the dreadlocks critically, like a dressmaker deciding between fabrics. �I don�t suppose these can be removed?�
Jack shook his head with a slight grin. �I�m not cutting them, and it would take more time than we have just to get one out, let alone twenty."
Elizabeth lifted one matted segment thoughtfully. �I suppose they�ll be alright then, as long as you tie your hair back. It�s not a bad effect.� Stepping slightly closer, Elizabeth�s hand lifted automatically to run her thumb beneath his eye to erase a stray line of kohl that had run. �If I didn�t know any better, I�d think you were a gentleman, Captain Sparrow.�
She was close. She was so close, and she was touching him. Jack could smell the sweetness of flowers hovering around her, and realized she must have bathed recently too. Reaching up, he grabbed Elizabeth�s wrist just as she began withdrawing her hand. Their eyes met.
�I�m not,� he whispered in a thick low voice.
Elizabeth�s eyes fluttered low, nearly closing as she swayed a bit nearer to him. She realized she was staring at Jack�s lips, which suddenly parted.
�Breath,� Elizabeth exhaled quickly, pulling slightly away. She blushed, and cursed herself for it. �We�ve got to do something about your breath,� she finished.
Turning around at top speed, Elizabeth returned to the kitchen with William, and then Jack following behind. Opening the cupboard where she stored her medical supplies, Elizabeth buried her warm face in the darkness until she felt better. She returned to the wooden block in the middle of the room with a round canister in one hand and some cloth in the other.
Tearing a strip from the cloth, Elizabeth handed Jack the small segment, avoiding his gaze and his touch in the exchange. Opening the canister, she held it between herself and the pirate. �Put some of this on the cloth and rub your teeth with it. That should help to start with.�
Jack took the cloth without comment, eyes lingering on Elizabeth as she struggled to compose herself. He was delighted to see that he had had an effect on her. Absently taking some of the white powder from the proffered canister, he stuck the substance into his mouth.
And immediately spit it back out. �What is this?� he demanded.
Relieved to be rid of the intensity of his gaze, Elizabeth regained her stern demeanor. �Bicarbonate of soda,� she replied. �It cleans the teeth.�
�Taste�s like sh- uh,� he threw a glance at William. �Like � really bad eggs,� he improvised.
Elizabeth held out the canister to him again. �Drink up, me hearty.�
The two faced each other unwaveringly for a few moments. Finally, Elizabeth made a frustrated sound and tore two more strips from the cloth, handing one to William. �Fine. We�ll do it first.� Giving some of the bicarbonate of soda to her son and taking some herself, Elizabeth continued to stare at Jack confrontationally as she scrubbed at her teeth.
Jack watched, fascinated by the sight of Elizabeth�s finger working inside of her mouth against the rigged planes of her teeth. He�d thought of an idea. Looking at William, Jack asked, �she make you do this often?�
William took his finger out of his mouth, nodding his head. �All the time,� he complained, trying to talk around the foul-tasting grit.
Elizabeth finished her cleaning. �Only as necessary,� she corrected after rinsing her mouth with water and spitting into an empty bowl. �It�s much better than having them pulled out of our mouth�s, isn�t it, William?�
William didn�t look convinced, but he didn�t dare argue. �Yes, Ma�am,� he said dutifully.
Elizabeth nodded at Jack again. �All right, now you.�
Leaning back against the wooden block, Jack crossed his arms and legs, smiling. �No love, I don�t think so.�
Elizabeth�s eyes narrowed. �Jack, you promised-�
�To be presentable,� Jack interrupted her. �I don�t see what that has to do with me breath."
�Just speak in the general direction of another person Jack, and you�ll knock them over,� Elizabeth was angry. �I�ll do it myself, if you don�t,� she threatened, as Jack knew she would.
Jack�s grin widened. Elizabeth took the remaining cloth in hand and took another pinch of bicarbonate of soda, watching him threatening.
Jack opened his mouth to give a witty retort when she surprised him by not giving him another opportunity to speak. The minute his mouth was open Elizabeth jammed her finger inside, fighting the retreat of his head in an attempt to clean his teeth.
Recovering from his surprise, Jack again grabbed Elizabeth�s wrist so that she couldn�t escape. Eyes never leaving hers, Jack managed to close his lips around her finger, gently maneuvering his tongue into a position where it could wrap around the invading digit in his mouth.
The light brown of Elizabeth�s eyes darkened for a moment. Then she jerked her hand away from him, leaving the cloth dangling from Jack�s lips. �Finish, please,� she said quietly. �I�m going to put William to bed.
Jack smiled as he watched Elizabeth dragged her disappointed son from the room. He�d seen the look in her eyes. She�d reacted. It had gone better than he could have hoped. Finishing with his teeth and rinsing, Jack spied a few stray rose petals on the floor near his feet, and he quickly picked them up and stuck them in his mouth, chewing fervently. They tasted horrible, but he knew it would improve the quality of his breath.
Elizabeth returned with a handmade quilt, giving it to Jack without comment. He took it, following her into the sitting room.
�You may sleep in here,� Elizabeth made a gesture in the direction of the settee. �I�m going to bed as well. Good-night, Jack.�
He continued to follow her down the hallway to her room where she turned to face him, one hand on each of the two doors that framed the entrance to her boudoir. �And before you ask,� she said, �no, you may not,� and with that, she shut the doors gently in his face.
Jack only grinned, returning to the sitting room. He found himself actually looking forward to the next day.
For her part, Elizabeth stared at the ceiling for a while before curling onto her side and burying her face into her pillow. �Damn you, Jack Sparrow,� and in her head she heard him tease softly, �Captain�.�
- 4
- 5
- 6
You need to be logged in to leave a review for this story.You need to be logged in to leave a review for this story.
Report Story

The Flying Dutchman