Chapter Seven: Wind in the Sails

Samantha woke up as early as she usually does the next morning, warmly burrowed into Jack's side. She shifted slightly, trying to not move Jack too much so as not to wake him. She hadjust gotten out of his grip and was hovering over him as she tried to get out of the bed.

Jack's arms lashed out, wrapping around her waist, dragging her back down before falling asleep again.

"Lazy pirate." Samantha muttered as she curled back up and waited for him to wake up. After a few hours, the sun was up and Jack was still not awake. So, Samantha took initiative.

Slowly, she started tracing his battle scars, kissing each one. She twirled his beard before roaming the planes of his face.

Jack was slightly conscious at this point, a satisfied smile creeping onto his face. She leaned in, placed a soft kiss on his lips.

As she did so, her hands moved slightly to his side.

He licked her lips, and she flipped him off the bed.

"What the... where's the rum?" Jack blubbered.

Samantha grinned as she stood up, getting dressed as she found various pieces of her outfit on the floor. "We finished it last night." She reminded as she tossed his trousers and shirt at him.

"We did?" Jack asked, spotting two bottles of rum on their sides near the bed. "Oh yeah. That's right, we did that right after the second round." Jack reminisced.

Samantha nodded as she tied her corset against her waist, adjusting her bust so that it wasn't crushed.

"Where's my... found it." Jack started but stopped as he answered his own question. "Catch." He called, tossing Samantha her weapons belt.

Samantha swiftly caught the belt and strapped it on, adjusting the knife and gun on it. "I need a new cutlass." She muttered. "Check the armory in the haul, might have one." Jack suggested. "Alright." She accepted with a nod as she threw on her jacket.

She was about to open the door when she paused. "Jack?" She hesitantly started. "It doesn't have to mean anything if you don't want it to." He assured her as he came up behind her. "No, no- I mean aye- maybe- but, this can't happen as much as it did then, if this is to be a thing." Samantha stuttered. "Why not?" He asked with a cock of his head. "The crew will talk, I can't seem like I'm trying to gain favor. It's easier to stay out of talk than to be the center of it." Samantha explained slowly.

"A hard lesson learnt." Jack admitted as he stared down at her. "And it definitely left it's scars." He noted as he traced a spot where he knew a scar to lay buried on her skin. "Don't worry luv, it doesn't need to be all the time." Jack reassured with a smile. "What do you want it to be, emotionally?" Jack asked slowly, in reference to her first answer.

Samantha sighed as she looked into his hard but warm eyes. "I don't know, it's not like we can make a promise to each other, but what if we just-" she started to work through. "Take it day by day?" Jack suggested. "Aye." She agreed with a relieved smile. "That'll work." Jack reassured happily.

The pair left the captains quarters, noticing Will practicing on the poop deck again. The boy hadn't noticed their appearance so they simply made their way below deck. No words were exchanged between the three, the two pirates simply making their way to the main deck, where the light weapons were to be stored. There they found an array of rifles and pistols, the cutlasses being stored in the center. Samantha found a light weight one that was easy to handle and that she could rely to get the job done.

"This will work." She allowed before slidding the sword into her belt hold. "Do you want a new one?" She asked as she looked down at the other cutlasses. "No luv, I am quite content with mine." Jack stated with a grin. "I miss my cutlass, damn Norrington, stealin' my stuff." She growled slightly with narrowed eyes as they made their way back towards the stairs.

They emerged from the lower deck just as Gibbs strode onto the the deck. "Cap'n." The man greeted. "Mister Gibbs." Jack returned. "I 'ave yer crew, waitin on the dock." Gibbs informed. The three who were on the ship earlier quickly followed Gibbs to see a line of men waiting for them.

"Feast your eyes, Captain. All of them, faithful hands before the mast, every man worth his salt." Gibbs announced, he then leaned in towards the trio. "And crazy to boot." "So this is your able-bodied crew?" Will asked slightly, but softly. "I've sailed with worse." Samantha muttered to the boy, who looked shocked.

"You, Sailor!" Jack shouted at an older looking man. A bright parrot sat on his shoulder while his wrinkled face seemed to pull into a slightly worried look. "Cotton, sir." Gibbs provided. "Mr. Cotton… do you have the courage and fortitude to follow orders and stay true in the face of danger and almost certain death? Mr. Cotton! Answer, man!" Jack interrogated.

Samantha narrowed her eyes as Cotton looked desperately to Gibbs.

"He's a mute, sir. Poor devil had his tongue cut out, so he trained the parrot to talk for him. No one’s yet figured how." Gibbs explained. Jack looked taken aback but quickly recovered. "Mr. Cotton's parrot... same question." "Wind in the sails! Wind in the sails!" The parrot squaked. "Mostly, we figure, that means 'yes.'" Gibbs translated. "Of course." Jack stated, as though he had known this all along. "Satisfied?" He asked his companions. "I like them." Samantha allowed with a bright smile. Will looked wary. "Well, you’ve proved they’re mad." "You are not being very nice." Samantha scolded Will, who rolled his eyes.

"And what’s the benefit for us?" A woman asked from the end of the line. Her face was shrowded by the hat she wore and her figure was slightly hidden under the tunic. Samantha recognized the voice but wasn't sure from where.

Jack crept forward, almost nervously, and tipled back her hat. "Anamaria!" He nervously exclaimed.

Samantha grinned, which only grew wider with the distinct sound of a slap across his cheek.

"I suppose you didn’t deserve that one either." Will teased. "No that one I deserved." Jack admitted. Anamaria nodded angrily as she glared at Jack. "You stole my boat." She accused. "Actually-" he started but was cut off with another sharp slap, "borrowed." He continued but brightened his voice hopefully. "Borrowed without permission. But with every intention of bringing it back to you." Jack pleaded. "You will get another one!" Jack offered hastily. Anamaria glared and raised her finger at him. "I will." "A better one!" Will added, trying to soothe the woman. "A better one." Jack agreed happily."That one!" Will stated with a smirk. "What one? That one!" Jack cried worriedly as he spotted the Interceptor. "Aye, that one. What say you?" Jack lamented. The crew quickly replied with hearty 'ayes' cottons parrot squaking a joyfull 'anchors aweigh' earning a smile from Samantha.

Anamaria and the crew boarded the ship but Gibbs stayed to complain. " No, no, no, no, no, it’s frightful bad luck to bring a woman aboard, sir." He warned. "You had no problem with me." Samantha pointed out. "Thats because I've sailed with you before." Gibbs defeneded. "It’d be far worse not to have her." Jack stated with a grimace as he started to the ship again, with the three in tow.

About a half days sailing in, the winds picked up. Samantha was the only one worried at first. Most just continued to work, paying no heed to the sky. Being a well experienced sailor, however, Samantha could tell a storm from the smell of the wind.

"There's a storm brewing." Samantha warned Jack as she moved to take the helm. "Aye." He agreed with a nod as he watched the horizon. "A click Northeast." He ordered, Samantha quickly obeyed. "I'm going to go in and check our course, maybe get some sleep as well, tell Gibbs to get me if the storm gets to be too much.

It was an hour to dusk when the storm started. It was like the sky just opened up it began pouring so badly. Samantha kept a great hold of the ship, moving her with the waves the most effectively and maneuvering the winds perfectly. With her at it's helm, giving orders to the crew, the ship ran rather smoothly. It was an hour into the storm when Jack came up to take her place. He kept her control over the ship with one hand, his other holding the compass in it. Samantha started ordering the crew about with jobs to adjust best under the conditions.

Gibbs and Samantha were talking about how much longer the ship could keep it together when Will approached. "How can we sail to an island that nobody can find with a compass that doesn’t work?" He yelled over the screaming winds.

"Aye, the compass doesn’t point north but we’re not trying to find north, are we?" Gibbs stated with a wide grin as Samantha made her way to the quarter deck.

"We should drop canvas, sir." She suggested as she gripped the railing. "She can hold a bit longer." He assured with a grin. "What’s in your head that’s put you in such a fine mood, Captain?" Gibbs asked as he stole an accusing glance to Samantha, sure she had some part in it. "We’re catching up." Jack stated with a grin. Samantha and Gibbs grinned as well, throwing themselves back to work to keep the ship going.

Samantha collasped into the captain's bed that night falling asleep a little after Jack entered the room, exhausted from the days work.

"Tired?" He asked sarcastically as he kicked off his shoes and took off his weapons. "Yes." Samantha answered, not quite awake enough to understand the sarcasm. "Sleep well." He ordered her gently, falling asleep soon after himself.