Pirates Of The Caribbean Fan Fiction ❯ Lost in Translation (Pirates of the Caribbean) ❯ Courage and Stupidity ( Chapter 21 )
[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]
By: Kilala81 
Non Anime: Pirates Of The Caribbean Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Drama / Adventure / Action / Romance / Supernatural | Type: Other | Uploaded On: 01.24.2007 | Pages: 3 | Words: 3.6K | Visits: 231 | Status: Work In Progress
Non Anime: Pirates Of The Caribbean Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Drama / Adventure / Action / Romance / Supernatural | Type: Other | Uploaded On: 01.24.2007 | Pages: 3 | Words: 3.6K | Visits: 231 | Status: Work In Progress
Chapter Twenty One:
Courage and Stupidity
Courage and Stupidity
* * *
Jack sat on the bed and took a short swill of rum and then let his eyes linger on Kaitlyn. She was lying on her front, contentedly, seemingly half asleep. Her hair was lying loosely around her, making her look much younger than she actually was.
“Didn't hurt you, did I, love?” He asked curiously. Given her inexperience with men, the few times he had been with her, he had gone out of his way to be more careful than he ever would have with a strumpet or whore. This night had started out the same. When he was with Kaitlyn, there was more of a playful, easy going aura between the two of them, rather than a mindless need for physical fulfillment. However, the intensity and emotions from the day seemed to have caught up with him and he had found himself being much more aggressive and passionate than he had intended. She had whimpered out several times but if they were in pain or pleasure, he hadn't been certain.
“No, not really,” she answered. “It was different than before.”
“Uh huh,” he said with interest as he let his hand run down her back halfheartedly. “Different being a good thing or a bad thing, exactly?”
“Different,” she answered and then turned over to look at him. “More serious.”
“Are you saying I didn't take it seriously before, love?” He teased.
“No, you just seemed much more-serious,” she tried to explain. “It didn't hurt.” She assured him with a slight smile.
“Good, good,” he muttered and took another drink.
“Do you really believe this curse can be ended?” Jack nodded confidently and offered her one of his infamous self assured smirks.
“Course it can, love, you're talking to Captain Jack Sparrow.” Kaitlyn nodded slightly but still seemed unconvinced.
“Do you suppose that Mr. Gibbs was right? That until the curse is broken, I can't die?” She questioned. Jack stared at her for a moment, wondering himself what the full extent of the curse would be and how they would go about breaking it.
“Would certainly seem so. All though,” he said and paused. “If it were me, love, I wouldn't go about testing that theory, savvy?” Kaitlyn nodded in full agreement and then sat up and pulled the sheet around her self. “And technically, love, you can die. You just don't stay that way. Not necessarily a terrible trait to possess though, eh?”
“I suppose not,” she said simply and seemed to sink into her own thoughts again; most likely remembering what it had been like to experience such a thing.
“Have a drink,” he offered. She looked up at him for a moment and then took the rum. Even though she had drank with him before, she still didn't hold liquor well and only sipped a bit before handing it back to him.
“My father would say I brought this upon myself,” she sighed. “I ran away with a crew of pirates, deceived navy men, and allow myself to be a whore to the Captain. Maybe I have brought this on myself.”
“Didn't hurt you, did I, love?” He asked curiously. Given her inexperience with men, the few times he had been with her, he had gone out of his way to be more careful than he ever would have with a strumpet or whore. This night had started out the same. When he was with Kaitlyn, there was more of a playful, easy going aura between the two of them, rather than a mindless need for physical fulfillment. However, the intensity and emotions from the day seemed to have caught up with him and he had found himself being much more aggressive and passionate than he had intended. She had whimpered out several times but if they were in pain or pleasure, he hadn't been certain.
“No, not really,” she answered. “It was different than before.”
“Uh huh,” he said with interest as he let his hand run down her back halfheartedly. “Different being a good thing or a bad thing, exactly?”
“Different,” she answered and then turned over to look at him. “More serious.”
“Are you saying I didn't take it seriously before, love?” He teased.
“No, you just seemed much more-serious,” she tried to explain. “It didn't hurt.” She assured him with a slight smile.
“Good, good,” he muttered and took another drink.
“Do you really believe this curse can be ended?” Jack nodded confidently and offered her one of his infamous self assured smirks.
“Course it can, love, you're talking to Captain Jack Sparrow.” Kaitlyn nodded slightly but still seemed unconvinced.
“Do you suppose that Mr. Gibbs was right? That until the curse is broken, I can't die?” She questioned. Jack stared at her for a moment, wondering himself what the full extent of the curse would be and how they would go about breaking it.
“Would certainly seem so. All though,” he said and paused. “If it were me, love, I wouldn't go about testing that theory, savvy?” Kaitlyn nodded in full agreement and then sat up and pulled the sheet around her self. “And technically, love, you can die. You just don't stay that way. Not necessarily a terrible trait to possess though, eh?”
“I suppose not,” she said simply and seemed to sink into her own thoughts again; most likely remembering what it had been like to experience such a thing.
“Have a drink,” he offered. She looked up at him for a moment and then took the rum. Even though she had drank with him before, she still didn't hold liquor well and only sipped a bit before handing it back to him.
“My father would say I brought this upon myself,” she sighed. “I ran away with a crew of pirates, deceived navy men, and allow myself to be a whore to the Captain. Maybe I have brought this on myself.”
For a long moment Jack didn't respond, just stared at her silently. “First of all, love, you've done nothing to deserve being cursed,” he said. “There are many miscreants out there far more deserving than you of that honor.” Kaitlyn nodded but he could still tell that she didn't fully believe his words. “And I happen to know for a personal fact that you are not a whore.”
“My father would think so,” she answered. She was aware that any person of power or position would consider her no better than a common whore or strumpet now, despite the fact that she had been with only one man and never accepted payment. She wasn't married and to make it worse, he was a notorious pirate.
“And what do you think, eh?” Jack questioned. Honestly, he was beginning to wonder if she felt obligated to sleep with him so that she could remain on the ship and he hoped that wasn't the case. “Do you believe that you owe me some form of debt that you pay by sharing my bed now and then?”
“My father would think so,” she answered. She was aware that any person of power or position would consider her no better than a common whore or strumpet now, despite the fact that she had been with only one man and never accepted payment. She wasn't married and to make it worse, he was a notorious pirate.
“And what do you think, eh?” Jack questioned. Honestly, he was beginning to wonder if she felt obligated to sleep with him so that she could remain on the ship and he hoped that wasn't the case. “Do you believe that you owe me some form of debt that you pay by sharing my bed now and then?”
Kaitlyn looked up in surprise. Jack's words sounded somewhat accusing but also tinting on hurt. “No,” she answered softly. “I wanted to be with you.” He watched her for a moment and then finished off his rum.
“Look, love,” he said heavily. “Whores are whores, they mean nothing more to me than any other Tom, Dick or Harry I pass in the streets of Tortuga, savvy?” She nodded, not exactly sure what she was agreeing to but could tell that he was either upset or trying to say something that he wasn't sure how to say. “It's not the same with you, love; it never has been.”
“I'm sorry,” she relented. Jack watched her for a moment and then grinned.
“Besides, Captain Jack Sparrow does not kiss whores,” he stated matter-of-factly. “Filthy mouths, never know where they've been.” Kaitlyn looked at him oddly for a moment and then laughed slightly at the look on his face. Despite being a less than hygienic pirate himself, she did believe him. He had many quirks and somehow that one seemed very much in character with the rest.
“So you see, love,” Jack said and then leaned forward and kissed her then grinned. “You can't very well be a whore now can you?”
“I suppose not with that logic.”
“Need more rum,” he said and stood unsteadily. She sat and watched as he poured himself another glass and downed it before pouring a third and walking back to the bed and offering it to her. Again she simply took a few sips and handed it back to him. He quickly finished it and then looked at her curiously as she sat watching him, apparently enthralled with his ability to sustain so much alcohol.
“Comes with the territory,” he said simply. But rather than replying she continued to watch him until he became almost uncomfortable under her stare then she laughed but found herself blushing.
“Something you find humorous, love?” He questioned.
“I was just realized why it is that you won't kiss whores,” she acknowledged. He smirked a bit and nodded. The very idea of a woman pleasuring other men and then kissing that same mouth was something that, no doubt, turned the stomach of someone like Jack, and Kaitlyn could understand why.
“And you find this funny, eh?” He asked in confusion.
“No-I just-I didn't realize,” she said while blushing at her own ignorance and naivety. Jack dropped himself onto the bed again, suddenly feeling much older. There were many things that she had never experienced and probably considered taboo. It was a strange feeling for him. He was a pirate, lived a real life, knew the way the world worked. He wasn't ashamed of things he'd done, they made him who and what he was. But something about having her around, made him much more aware of the contrasts from his past and his presence encounters with women.
Kaitlyn watched as he leaned back and relaxed, seemingly lost in his thoughts now, though the rum could have been adding to the glassy look in his eyes. For a moment she simply watched him curiously. It was true he was the only man that she had ever known intimately but she still found herself curious about him both physically and emotionally.
“Where are we going now?” She inquired. Jack looked up at her with tired eyes and she almost felt badly for bothering him more. She imagined he would simply like to get a good nights sleep after the turmoil they had faced that day.
“Thought we might sail back and have a little discourse with the lass that called you Catalina. Seems she had a bit of a premonition, eh?” Kaitlyn nodded slowly recalling the woman's dire words.
“It did seem as though she knew something bad was going to be happening to me,” she admitted.
“Who knows, maybe this time she'll give you a bone from a more preponderant animal, eh?” He said.
“That was the first night we were together,” she said offhandedly as she laid down beside him, which made Jack grin arrogantly.
“At least you got some good luck out of it, eh, love?”
“Go to sleep, Mister Sparrow,” she said as she rolled her eyes and turned over to go to sleep herself. A moment later she felt the bed move and Jack put his arm around her. From the steady sound of his breathing behind her, she could tell he was near sleep already so rather than bothering him further, she simply closed her own eyes and let herself join him.
* * *
“Didn't Jack leave you in charge?” Ana Maria inquired with a smirk as she sat down across from the first mate.
“Look, love,” he said heavily. “Whores are whores, they mean nothing more to me than any other Tom, Dick or Harry I pass in the streets of Tortuga, savvy?” She nodded, not exactly sure what she was agreeing to but could tell that he was either upset or trying to say something that he wasn't sure how to say. “It's not the same with you, love; it never has been.”
“I'm sorry,” she relented. Jack watched her for a moment and then grinned.
“Besides, Captain Jack Sparrow does not kiss whores,” he stated matter-of-factly. “Filthy mouths, never know where they've been.” Kaitlyn looked at him oddly for a moment and then laughed slightly at the look on his face. Despite being a less than hygienic pirate himself, she did believe him. He had many quirks and somehow that one seemed very much in character with the rest.
“So you see, love,” Jack said and then leaned forward and kissed her then grinned. “You can't very well be a whore now can you?”
“I suppose not with that logic.”
“Need more rum,” he said and stood unsteadily. She sat and watched as he poured himself another glass and downed it before pouring a third and walking back to the bed and offering it to her. Again she simply took a few sips and handed it back to him. He quickly finished it and then looked at her curiously as she sat watching him, apparently enthralled with his ability to sustain so much alcohol.
“Comes with the territory,” he said simply. But rather than replying she continued to watch him until he became almost uncomfortable under her stare then she laughed but found herself blushing.
“Something you find humorous, love?” He questioned.
“I was just realized why it is that you won't kiss whores,” she acknowledged. He smirked a bit and nodded. The very idea of a woman pleasuring other men and then kissing that same mouth was something that, no doubt, turned the stomach of someone like Jack, and Kaitlyn could understand why.
“And you find this funny, eh?” He asked in confusion.
“No-I just-I didn't realize,” she said while blushing at her own ignorance and naivety. Jack dropped himself onto the bed again, suddenly feeling much older. There were many things that she had never experienced and probably considered taboo. It was a strange feeling for him. He was a pirate, lived a real life, knew the way the world worked. He wasn't ashamed of things he'd done, they made him who and what he was. But something about having her around, made him much more aware of the contrasts from his past and his presence encounters with women.
Kaitlyn watched as he leaned back and relaxed, seemingly lost in his thoughts now, though the rum could have been adding to the glassy look in his eyes. For a moment she simply watched him curiously. It was true he was the only man that she had ever known intimately but she still found herself curious about him both physically and emotionally.
“Where are we going now?” She inquired. Jack looked up at her with tired eyes and she almost felt badly for bothering him more. She imagined he would simply like to get a good nights sleep after the turmoil they had faced that day.
“Thought we might sail back and have a little discourse with the lass that called you Catalina. Seems she had a bit of a premonition, eh?” Kaitlyn nodded slowly recalling the woman's dire words.
“It did seem as though she knew something bad was going to be happening to me,” she admitted.
“Who knows, maybe this time she'll give you a bone from a more preponderant animal, eh?” He said.
“That was the first night we were together,” she said offhandedly as she laid down beside him, which made Jack grin arrogantly.
“At least you got some good luck out of it, eh, love?”
“Go to sleep, Mister Sparrow,” she said as she rolled her eyes and turned over to go to sleep herself. A moment later she felt the bed move and Jack put his arm around her. From the steady sound of his breathing behind her, she could tell he was near sleep already so rather than bothering him further, she simply closed her own eyes and let herself join him.
* * *
“Didn't Jack leave you in charge?” Ana Maria inquired with a smirk as she sat down across from the first mate.
Gibbs hand froze mid way to his mouth and he glanced down at the glass of rum he was holding. “Aye,” he replied. “But he never said anything about enjoyin' a drink, now did he?”
“I don't recall him saying anything about not enjoying a drink either,” she retorted.
“Exactly,” Gibbs said and took a long swill from the glass. “It's been a long day.” Ana nodded in agreement and then glanced around the ship. The waters were calm and the night was still. She was now sitting across from Gibbs on an old crate on the ship's deck, enjoying the peaceful atmosphere that was so different from what they had been experiencing earlier in the day.
“What about him?” Ana asked and motioned across the deck towards Dallin, who was doing busy work, apparently doing what he could to maintain distance from the rest of the crew.
“Hard to say,” Gibbs answered and let his gaze linger on the boy. Despite knowing Jack for years, even Gibbs had a hard time gauging his personality at times. He knew that Jack wouldn't and didn't appreciate the way Dallin had spoken to him, particularly in from of the crew and Ackhart. But he never could tell when such a thing would upset Jack or if it would impress him. The boy had shown courage and loyalty, even if it had been ill timed. After a moment Ana stood and shook her head.
“Might as well send 'im below deck,” she said. She could tell that he wasn't really getting anything accomplished, so she saw no reason for him to stay upstairs avoiding the rest of the crew. Gibbs gave a nod but didn't move. At the very least, he knew he could sneak an extra glass of rum while she was preoccupied. Ana made her way over and put her hand on her hips, waiting for Dallin to acknowledge her. Finally, he stopped and looked at her, clearly waiting for some sort of confrontation.
“Might as well take yourself below deck,” she said.
“I'm not tired,” he said simply and returned to the ropes he had been working with.
“The captain will have you up at dawn,” Ana warned.
“I'm sure he will.” For a moment Ana Maria stood watching him, not sure if she was frustrated with his stubbornness or impressed with the fact that such a young boy would not only stand up to Jack but to a pirate like Ackhart.
“You've got a lot to learn about being on a pirate ship,” she informed him.
“If being a pirate means allowing women die so that men can live, then I don't suppose I belong here,” he said as he turned to look at her. For a moment he caught her eyes but then turned and began working again. “I would have done the same if it had been you he'd sacrificed.” The words should have insulted Ana Maria. She was a pirate, part of the crew. She didn't want special treatment because she was a woman. However, the idea of someone reacting the way he had to save Kaitlyn, if it were her life in danger, left her feeling at odds. Pirates and the like rarely put importance on other human life and it certainly wasn't something that she had everexperienced.
“I wouldn't ask you to,” she retorted. “I'm part of the crew like everyone else.”
“Maybe so, but that doesn't mean your life has no value,” he said as he turned to look at her again. Ana wasn't quite sure how to respond to such a statement. However, something behind her caught Dallin's eye and made him furrow his brow. She turned to see Gibbs standing, speaking with a crewmen, and Pepe was now sitting on the crate inspecting the glass of rum that sat there. The small monkey kept sniffing at the liquid and then pulling his head back in disgust.
“You think he'll actually take a drink?” Dallin asked, mostly to himself.
“Wouldn't surprise me,” she answered. “Monkey acts like every other man on this ship.”
“But will he take a drink before he gets caught,” Dallin countered. Ana Maria couldn't help but grin at the thought of Gibbs' catching a monkey drinking his rum.
“Guess we'll find out what kinda pirate that monkey really is,” she replied. Both watched as Pepe took another sniff of the half empty glass and then tentatively lower his head inside the rim. Gibbs glanced in their direction and saw them both staring at the crate behind him. He turned to see what had caught their attention and found Pepe's head now lodged into his glass, obviously trying to get to the bit of rum that remained in the bottom half.
“Blasted monkey!” The loud and sudden noise made Pepe jerk his head back up, glass still firmly attached, causing him to spill rum all over himself and the crate. Gibbs wasn't certain if he wanted to kill the monkey or laugh as it desperately tried to pull the glass off of its head. After a few seconds of urgently pawing at the glass while stumbling around blindly, he fell off of the side of the crate and onto the deck. Luckily, his head dislodged from the glass upon impact. . For a moment he jumped around and frantically squawked at the offending glass before climbing back onto the crate where he continued to stare down at it while chattering angrily. The look of complete indignation on the monkey's face was enough to finally make Gibbs start laughing.
“Teach you to steal rum,” Gibbs said and then decided he should return to work before the noise drew Jack back to the deck of the ship.
“Told ya you shouldn't be drinkin',” Ana quipped as Gibbs walked by. He glanced at her and shook his head as he continued towards the stairs.
“Bloody ship is full of women and animals, amazing it's still afloat,” he muttered to himself as he took the helm and went about his duties.
* * *
The rising sun woke Jack early and he decided to relieve Gibbs at the helm of the ship. Kaitlyn was still sleeping and he had no intention of waking her. After her experience the day before and being awake late into the night, he imagined that she was exhausted and needed sleep. The morning was tranquil, a perfect time to be alone with ones thoughts and Jack had plenty of things to think over.
“Captain Sparrow?” Dallin said as he approached the helm. Jack mentally rolled his eyes at the intrusion of his quiet time but avoided showing his annoyance.
“Aye?” He replied, wondering if he was about to get into another argument over the previous day's incident.
“I came to apologize to you.” Jack looked over at him, surprised to hear that from the boy.
“Is that a fact?”
“I don't agree with what went on but it wasn't my place to speak to you that way in front of the crew.” For a long moment Jack remained silent. It was true that he didn't appreciate being spoken to that way, especially in front of his crew. But a part of him wanted too admire the boy's courage. Not many people would stand up to someone like Ackhart the way that he did.
“You know son, the only difference between courage and stupidity, is that even stupid people can be smart enough to run away,” Jack opined.
“So you're saying that courageous people are stupid?” Dallin asked.
“No, of course not,” Jack replied. “That would be insulting all of the stupid people that are smart enough to run away, now wouldn't it?”
“So you would rather your crew be stupid than courageous?”
“I'd rather me crew be alive than stupid,” Jack countered.
“But you just said that-” Dallin stopped and decided the conversation was going no where. “Never mind.” Jack grinned to himself at the look of complete confusion and frustration on the young boy's face.
“I'm going to give you some pearls of wisdom that me father told me years ago,” he said and turned to face Dallin, as usual his hands were speaking before he was. “You can lead a horse to water but you will never get the bloody thing to swim.” There was a moment of complete silence while Dallin stood trying to figure out the point to Jack's 'pearl of wisdom'.
“What does that mean?” He finally asked.
“Dont know really,” Jack said as he turned back to the helm. “Didn't make much sense when me father said it either. The point is-if you want to be on a pirate ship you need to act like a pirate, savvy?”
“Aye,” Dallin agreed, thinking it would be easier than hearing any more of Jack's rambling.
“Does this mean that I can remain on the ship?” Dallin asked.
“That all depends...are you stupid enough to be a member of my crew or are you not?”
“Well-I'm alive,” Dallin replied not exactly sure if there was a proper way to answer that question.
“Fair enough, lad,” Jack answered. Dallin turned and headed back down to the deck, still playing the conversation in his mind. Even if Jack's words couldn't be considered wisdom, they were certainly thought provoking.
“I don't recall him saying anything about not enjoying a drink either,” she retorted.
“Exactly,” Gibbs said and took a long swill from the glass. “It's been a long day.” Ana nodded in agreement and then glanced around the ship. The waters were calm and the night was still. She was now sitting across from Gibbs on an old crate on the ship's deck, enjoying the peaceful atmosphere that was so different from what they had been experiencing earlier in the day.
“What about him?” Ana asked and motioned across the deck towards Dallin, who was doing busy work, apparently doing what he could to maintain distance from the rest of the crew.
“Hard to say,” Gibbs answered and let his gaze linger on the boy. Despite knowing Jack for years, even Gibbs had a hard time gauging his personality at times. He knew that Jack wouldn't and didn't appreciate the way Dallin had spoken to him, particularly in from of the crew and Ackhart. But he never could tell when such a thing would upset Jack or if it would impress him. The boy had shown courage and loyalty, even if it had been ill timed. After a moment Ana stood and shook her head.
“Might as well send 'im below deck,” she said. She could tell that he wasn't really getting anything accomplished, so she saw no reason for him to stay upstairs avoiding the rest of the crew. Gibbs gave a nod but didn't move. At the very least, he knew he could sneak an extra glass of rum while she was preoccupied. Ana made her way over and put her hand on her hips, waiting for Dallin to acknowledge her. Finally, he stopped and looked at her, clearly waiting for some sort of confrontation.
“Might as well take yourself below deck,” she said.
“I'm not tired,” he said simply and returned to the ropes he had been working with.
“The captain will have you up at dawn,” Ana warned.
“I'm sure he will.” For a moment Ana Maria stood watching him, not sure if she was frustrated with his stubbornness or impressed with the fact that such a young boy would not only stand up to Jack but to a pirate like Ackhart.
“You've got a lot to learn about being on a pirate ship,” she informed him.
“If being a pirate means allowing women die so that men can live, then I don't suppose I belong here,” he said as he turned to look at her. For a moment he caught her eyes but then turned and began working again. “I would have done the same if it had been you he'd sacrificed.” The words should have insulted Ana Maria. She was a pirate, part of the crew. She didn't want special treatment because she was a woman. However, the idea of someone reacting the way he had to save Kaitlyn, if it were her life in danger, left her feeling at odds. Pirates and the like rarely put importance on other human life and it certainly wasn't something that she had everexperienced.
“I wouldn't ask you to,” she retorted. “I'm part of the crew like everyone else.”
“Maybe so, but that doesn't mean your life has no value,” he said as he turned to look at her again. Ana wasn't quite sure how to respond to such a statement. However, something behind her caught Dallin's eye and made him furrow his brow. She turned to see Gibbs standing, speaking with a crewmen, and Pepe was now sitting on the crate inspecting the glass of rum that sat there. The small monkey kept sniffing at the liquid and then pulling his head back in disgust.
“You think he'll actually take a drink?” Dallin asked, mostly to himself.
“Wouldn't surprise me,” she answered. “Monkey acts like every other man on this ship.”
“But will he take a drink before he gets caught,” Dallin countered. Ana Maria couldn't help but grin at the thought of Gibbs' catching a monkey drinking his rum.
“Guess we'll find out what kinda pirate that monkey really is,” she replied. Both watched as Pepe took another sniff of the half empty glass and then tentatively lower his head inside the rim. Gibbs glanced in their direction and saw them both staring at the crate behind him. He turned to see what had caught their attention and found Pepe's head now lodged into his glass, obviously trying to get to the bit of rum that remained in the bottom half.
“Blasted monkey!” The loud and sudden noise made Pepe jerk his head back up, glass still firmly attached, causing him to spill rum all over himself and the crate. Gibbs wasn't certain if he wanted to kill the monkey or laugh as it desperately tried to pull the glass off of its head. After a few seconds of urgently pawing at the glass while stumbling around blindly, he fell off of the side of the crate and onto the deck. Luckily, his head dislodged from the glass upon impact. . For a moment he jumped around and frantically squawked at the offending glass before climbing back onto the crate where he continued to stare down at it while chattering angrily. The look of complete indignation on the monkey's face was enough to finally make Gibbs start laughing.
“Teach you to steal rum,” Gibbs said and then decided he should return to work before the noise drew Jack back to the deck of the ship.
“Told ya you shouldn't be drinkin',” Ana quipped as Gibbs walked by. He glanced at her and shook his head as he continued towards the stairs.
“Bloody ship is full of women and animals, amazing it's still afloat,” he muttered to himself as he took the helm and went about his duties.
* * *
The rising sun woke Jack early and he decided to relieve Gibbs at the helm of the ship. Kaitlyn was still sleeping and he had no intention of waking her. After her experience the day before and being awake late into the night, he imagined that she was exhausted and needed sleep. The morning was tranquil, a perfect time to be alone with ones thoughts and Jack had plenty of things to think over.
“Captain Sparrow?” Dallin said as he approached the helm. Jack mentally rolled his eyes at the intrusion of his quiet time but avoided showing his annoyance.
“Aye?” He replied, wondering if he was about to get into another argument over the previous day's incident.
“I came to apologize to you.” Jack looked over at him, surprised to hear that from the boy.
“Is that a fact?”
“I don't agree with what went on but it wasn't my place to speak to you that way in front of the crew.” For a long moment Jack remained silent. It was true that he didn't appreciate being spoken to that way, especially in front of his crew. But a part of him wanted too admire the boy's courage. Not many people would stand up to someone like Ackhart the way that he did.
“You know son, the only difference between courage and stupidity, is that even stupid people can be smart enough to run away,” Jack opined.
“So you're saying that courageous people are stupid?” Dallin asked.
“No, of course not,” Jack replied. “That would be insulting all of the stupid people that are smart enough to run away, now wouldn't it?”
“So you would rather your crew be stupid than courageous?”
“I'd rather me crew be alive than stupid,” Jack countered.
“But you just said that-” Dallin stopped and decided the conversation was going no where. “Never mind.” Jack grinned to himself at the look of complete confusion and frustration on the young boy's face.
“I'm going to give you some pearls of wisdom that me father told me years ago,” he said and turned to face Dallin, as usual his hands were speaking before he was. “You can lead a horse to water but you will never get the bloody thing to swim.” There was a moment of complete silence while Dallin stood trying to figure out the point to Jack's 'pearl of wisdom'.
“What does that mean?” He finally asked.
“Dont know really,” Jack said as he turned back to the helm. “Didn't make much sense when me father said it either. The point is-if you want to be on a pirate ship you need to act like a pirate, savvy?”
“Aye,” Dallin agreed, thinking it would be easier than hearing any more of Jack's rambling.
“Does this mean that I can remain on the ship?” Dallin asked.
“That all depends...are you stupid enough to be a member of my crew or are you not?”
“Well-I'm alive,” Dallin replied not exactly sure if there was a proper way to answer that question.
“Fair enough, lad,” Jack answered. Dallin turned and headed back down to the deck, still playing the conversation in his mind. Even if Jack's words couldn't be considered wisdom, they were certainly thought provoking.
* * *
A/N: I apologize for this story coming in dribs and drabs. I have more posted at fanfiction.net under the same pen name. I'm getting the formatting taken care of now and will be catching up this site.
Unfortunately, I'm a relapsed cancer patient. I've been fighting Hodgkin's lymphoma since I turned 24 and will be going back in for a second bone marrow transplant soon. We're in the process of finding a donor so it will probably be another 4 to 6 weeksbefore I get to the hospital. Hopefully, I will be able to continue updating while I'm in the hospital, providing I don't have any major complications.