Life After Loss post AWE parts 7, 8/14?

[soleilpirate]

Author: Soleil Compeau
Title: Life After Loss
Pairing: Jack/OFC
Spoilers: set after AWE
Rating: NC17
Disclaimer: These stunt doubles have just reenacted what takes place after the final cut. No profit or wages are being made. I do this out of deep love for the characters.

Summary: Jack impulsively rescues a woman from Barbossa, and she inches her way into his bed and his heart. Can she be his equal on land, and can they conquer the sea, land, and time itself? 

Chapter 7 - Old Friend

 
Jack took the deck with only a slight limp, grinning proudly at Sarah. They stood together looking over the rail, watching the lovely green island shrink in the distance. Sarah leaned against him, laid her head against his chest, and sighed contentedly. He held her tenderly, rubbing small circles over her back. She felt the warmth and life in his body, his chest rising and falling under her cheek. She could hear the sound of his heart thudding in his chest steadily and strongly.
 
"Where to now, Captain?" she asked.
 
"The gold and jewels have been divided up among the crew, which makes them very happy. We've been wanting something shiny for quite a bit now. We still need a place to stash it. All our old hiding places have been...compromised. Or sank into the bloody ocean." Jack glowered. "Would you mind terribly if I took a look at the maps to that land you own now?"
 
"Ah. Think it would make a good treasure hiding place?"
 
Jack hesitated. He had several half formed plans in his head but he was not ready to share them yet. He tended to only tell bits and pieces of his notions anyway, very very few people ever went along with some of them anyway since they sounded and appeared mad, hare brained, and half a dozen other bad sounding names. But they nearly always paid out.
 
It was too difficult to explain things anyway. Jack Sparrow operated on intuition, making plans by the seat of his pants. Explaining took too much time and important things were usually lost in translation. Like the time he'd sent his best friend Will on a quest to get a hidden key from an evil ship. Will was the best man for the job, but he came back convinced Jack had betrayed him to death and soul slavery.
 
"Perhaps," was all he answered.
 
The Black Pearl sailed towards her destination, and Jack and Sarah lost themselves in a haze of lust. Nightly he buried himself inside her. Uncaring of the various positions he knew, wanting only to get skin to skin with her and pleasure her as many times as he could manage before he lost control and took his own release. It was always either Jack on top, or Sarah on top, but one night she made his head swim by the innocent lewdness of volunteering her feet up on his shoulders. What was constant was being face to face, of cupping her cheeks when she came and staring in joyous wonder at her eyes as she broke and surrendered to him.
 
Despite this pleasing time of his life, Jack was troubled and nervous. True to form he would not face what vexed him until it bit his nose. Instead, he turned to what soothed him most. He took the wheel of the Pearl. It was a bright clear night. The seas were calm and the wind puffed them gently along. Sarah was near, her excuse was that she was mending sails, but instead was glancing sweetly at him frequently. 
 
There's treasure near, my Captain. Other ships, weighted down, Pearl murmurmed. "We shall catch them, my sweet!" he answered, low and husky.
 
She was edging closer to him, and suddenly was behind him, caressing his back. "Jack...I'm lonely!" she teased in a lilting voice.
 
"Ahh Sarah luv. Now's not the time!" he scolded absently.
 
"Awww," she whispered. "There's barely any crew topside! No one will know!"
 
Jack glanced upwards. "There's a man in the lookout, darling." Despite his negative words, his body language was encouraging her. He widened his legs a bit, leaned black slightly into her touch.
 
"And he's not looking at us, is he? He's looking out, at the horizon!" Sarah pressed close to him, her hand sliding beneath his baldric, his vest and sash.
 
The small one touches you Pearl observed. Jack's brow furrowed and he bit his lip, a combination of pleasure and nervousness of his ship's jealousy. Sarah's fingers found his bare skin now, and swept downward. Ah, it felt so good! Can you hold me steady, Jack? While her hands hold you? Pearl's voice was teasing.
 
Sarah giggled. "A good question, Jack! Let's find out!" She stroked him in earnest.
 
Jack couldn't think. Her fingers were wrapped around his stiffening flesh, encouraging him to rise further. Did Sarah just respond to the Pearl's talk? His legs began to tremble, his hands shook as he fought to keep the wheel steady. Sarah was whispering lewd encouragement, he was moaning, and was the Pearl moaning as well? Her hands are so good Jack. Would they touch me so sweetly? Would they feel as good as yours do? 
 
"I can hear her, Jack! I can hear your ship." Sarah moaned, pumping him rapidly and rubbing herself wantonly against his backside. Jack spasmed, spurting warm gobs of pleasure on the wheel.  Mmmm, the small one makes you feel so good, my Captain. You like her.
 
Jack breathed heavily as Sarah cleaned him up and walked away to take care of the abandoned sails.  I like her Jack. The pirate to relieve his watch came topside, looking questioningly at his captain to see if he was needed. Grinning, Jack tracked Sarah down and yanked her down the stairs and into his cabin. He could never let her get away!
 
"There's someone I want to bring you to meet. An old friend of mine." He told her one morning as they drew closer to Florida. The green shores of the mainland invited them in a friendly manner. Jack had disappeared into his cabin. Sarah shrugged mentally. He would find her in time. She had grown accustomed to him springing pleasant surprises on her. She didn't mind in the least, Jack's surprises were always pleasurable. Lost in her reverie of the lovemaking they'd shared, she didn't hear him come up behind her and jumped when he took her arm.
 
"Time to dress up in your finest, love," Jack was arrayed in his full Captain's regalia, tricorne hat tipped at a rakish angle. "You'll make a slightly better impression in a lovely dress that hugs your curves than you will in those boy clothes, much as I love the look on you." His tone was light and flirting, but Sarah noted that this person he was bringing her to meet must be quite important to him.
 
Agreeably, she allowed herself to be led to the captain's quarters and shook out the skirts of one of the dresses she'd bought on the last shore leave. It was a very pale green with an inlay of darker silk in a pattern of leaves on a tree. Some might call it a simple frock, but it was the fanciest thing she dared purchase for use on a ship.
 
While she removed her vest, shirt and trousers, Jack sat with his chair tipped back on two legs and watched her. His breath came heavier as she dropped the scraps of fabric at her feet and raised her arms to untie the bandanna on her hair. He swallowed hard, eyes roving over her naked frame. "Perhaps we can delay the meeting a bit."
 
It was some time before she was fully dressed. And Jack's clothes needed quite a bit of straightening, considering he hadn't taken them completely off in his urgency. It was strange, but extremely exciting, to be pinned on the bed beneath him while the material of his breeches rubbed over her legs. Instead of stroking his chest, Sarah held handfuls of his shirt. His breath was hot on her ear as he whispered fiercely, "My Sarah! God, you drive me insane!"
 
Knowing his crew was waiting for them, he put his hand over her mouth when she screamed in release, and bit his lip hard, struggling to hold back his own cries when he orgasmed only a moment behind her. Later, as he rowed the longboat towards shore, he could not wipe the satisfied smirk from his lips.
 
They walked towards a snug little cabin built not far from the bluff overlooking the ocean. A woman was in the yard, singing softly as she hung laundry on a line. Her dark gold hair streamed out behind her in the breeze. Jack stopped them several feet from her. "Mrs Turner!" he called out.
 
She whirled around. "Jack!" and hurried towards him, smiling exuberantly. The smile made her look younger, and if possible even more beautiful. Her belly was just beginning to show in pregnancy but her step was still light. She reached her arms out for Jack even before she got near enough to touch him.
 
"Elizabeth!" Jack stepped quickly to meet her halfway, throwing his arms around her in a warm bear hug. They were smiling and chuckling as they pulled back to look into each other's eyes. Jack bent down and spoke directly to her stomach. "Hey there, little Turner! It's your old Uncle Jack come to pay his respects!" He patted the woman's belly tenderly.
 
Straightening up, he grinned once more into her face. "Jack," she said affectionately. "How are you?"
 
He waved his arms expansively. "I'm wonderful darling! Brought someone to meet you, I have." The lovely lady's eyes shifted over his shoulder to Sarah as Jack turned and beamed at her. He waved her to come forward. "This is Sarah Deverleigh. Sarah, this is me dearest friend, Mrs. Elizabeth Turner."
 
Sarah stepped forward nervously, a shy smile on her face. The loveliness of the "friend" Jack had brought her to see had caused a stab of jealousy and insecurity to well within her. The sight of her stomach bulging with baby had caused her own stomach to twist in fear. Hearing Jack refer to himself as Uncle relieved her mind somewhat. Hearing him introduce her as Mrs. did even more to alleviate her fears. And the way Jack was beaming at her as he watched them meet calmed her completely.
 
"It's lovely to meet you Sarah." Elizabeth Turner grabbed her hand and smiled warmly.
 
"Likewise, Mrs. Turner. Any friend of Jack's--"
 
"Oh please, you must call me Elizabeth!" Mrs. Turner laughed, and tugged Sarah towards the house. "Please come in. I'm just ready to set some supper, and it'll be so wonderful having company." Her voice broke at that, and Jack rushed to her side. Side by side, they all stepped to Elizabeth's home. Jack held the door and bowed with a flourish to the ladies.
 
They dined on simple but sumptuous food. Elizabeth seemed to live quietly yet lack for nothing. Sarah could not help wondering where 'Mr. Turner' was, particularly when Elizabeth, getting up to fetch more bread and butter, was followed by Jack. He discreetly gave her a small bag that clinked with coins and gave a kiss to her forehead. Sarah sipped her tea and pretended not to notice.
 
Elizabeth was very happy to have them stay for hours. She and Jack regaled Sarah with stories of their adventures, and how they'd met. Sarah was older than Elizabeth, but was reduced to childishness by these stories and her eyes felt permanently rounded with wonder. "I've been sheltered far too long! Jack, you must teach me this luck you have, to escape such close calls!"
 
Elizabeth spoke the name of Will only once. Her hand went to her belly, and she turned her head away for a moment. Jack chewed his mustache and looked bleak. Sarah near held her breath, feeling the reverence of the moment, and did not ruin it by asking who Will was. She was sure she would find out in time.

Chapter 8 - Trust II
 
She slept, a small lump under the sheets, while he sat and pored over the chart he'd cut from the larger map. He compared it to the information that had once been in Robert Downing's possession. They were so close, of that he was certain. Jack's brow furrowed. He glanced again at Sarah's sleeping form. Why would she come into his life now? He didn't believe in chance. Too many strange things had happened in his life. That he was fortuitous in encountering her, of that he was certain beyond all shadow of a doubt.
 
Jack raised his compass. It whirled, then pointed unerringly at his bed. He raised an eyebrow, and drank more rum. Of course he wanted her! He didn't need the compass to tell him that, another that lived in his breeches testified readily to that. As well as the steadily increasing tug of his heart. No, she would lead him to what he most wanted. She was the way to it. In other words, they belonged together.
 
He thought of Calypso, whom he had known as Tia Dalma. Knowing a goddess was frighteningly intense. Her touch had given him power, a power he'd been unaware of for years and had apparently made him an extremely lucky man. Even situations that seemed hopeless had a way of turning out well for him. From her though, he had learned bitter lessons.
 
"For what you want most, there is a cost must be paid in the end."
 
Will wanted to free his father and marry Elizabeth. The price was a life on land. Hector wanted his fate in his own hands, and it cost him his lover when he freed Calypso. Davy Jones had paid his price too. Wrapped up in every story was betrayal of some kind. What Jack wanted most was to live free and live forever. What would he have to pay? Would it cost him Sarah? And would he pay that price?
 
Jack Sparrow knew about love. As a child, he'd loved his mother and father. As a very young man, he'd loved young women, and as a sailor hardly qualified to shave he'd experimented with another lad. Then he'd known love for his ship the Wicked Wench, later the Black Pearl, and the love of camaraderie, friendship with Bill Turner and others of his crew. And he knew the taste of betrayal as well.
 
After drinking of that bitterness for far longer than he cared to, he came to know love again. Love in the face of Joshamee Gibbs, then Will Turner and Elizabeth Swann. It was wonderful, a heady drink he wanted to drink deeply, like his rum. But it was very rare on this earth. What he had here, in the form of a tiny bit with wild dark hair, spectacular breasts, tight gripping pussy, and sweet sincere nature, was love wrapped up in skin and the rarest treasure he'd yet encountered.
 
The Fountain of Youth was on one of the Florida Keys. Sarah was now a landowner of a fine property on Florida's southernmost shore. Jack paced, unable to sleep. His leg ached where the bullet had been removed. Finally he sat down on the edge of the bed, and Sarah stirred. "Jack? Everything all right? Come lie down with me."

As usual, those beautiful eyes melted him. He ran a hand through her hair and grinned. "Have you energy enough for that, luv?"
 
A spark came into those eyes and she sat up, letting the sheet fall down from her breasts. "For you Jack? Do you have to ask?"
 
He laughed in delight. A hungry beast lived within the petite Sarah. "Wench! Your appetite puts mine to shame!" He playfully tickled her neck, then knocked her back onto the bed, pinning her with his torso. A bit of a wrestling match ensued, and much laughter. They wound up with Jack sprawled sideways across the bed and Sarah draped over his chest, her legs tangled with his.
 
With a heave, he flipped over and pinned her arms above her head. She stared up at him from her helpless position and mock glared at him. "Well Captain? Do you surrender?"
 
He laughed from deep in his gut and kissed her nose. "To you lass, aye. You have my parole." And gathered her tenderly in his arms, rolling again until they were on their sides. "I thought we might take a bit of an extended shore leave in Florida darling. Take a good long look at that land you have now. Would you like that?"
 
"Mmmmm. The islands off Florida are rich pickings for pirates. Is that what motivates you?" She giggled with delight at discovering his 'secret' motivations.
 
This is the opportune moment Jack, a voice from his conscience whispered. Tell her about the chart and the Fountain. Trust her. Don't lock your heart away. "Aye lass. Ye've got me pegged for certain."
 
I'll tell her later. When I'm sure we're almost there, he promised himself. I'll tell her just before we get to it. They fell asleep together, and Jack's last thought was that he was so busy playing and talking with her, he'd forgotten to have sex with her.
 
Before dawn the cry came. "Sail ho!"
 
Jack came awake and jumped out of bed so quickly he nearly dumped Sarah to the floor. "Sorry!" he called back to her, stepping into his boots, buckling on his belt and running through the door almost at the same time. Sarah shook her head in wry amusement and followed him a bit more slowly.
 
She found Jack at the rail, knuckles white and face grim. Sarah looked at the ship without recognition. It was flying pirate colors. "Who is it?"
 
Mr. Gibbs answered from behind her. "It's Barbossa."
 
Jack bared his teeth as he peered through his spyglass. "He's taken on a new crew." Men that had not encountered Jack Sparrow as the old crew had and would therefore not care about any lingering loyalty they might have felt for him. "Probably drawn here for the same reason as us. Simple piracy and treasure hunting. Too bad he's spotted us."
 
The first, or southernmost, islands were near. The Black Pearl was the faster ship, but the wind happened to be against her that morn. Jack lowered his spyglass. "Make for the island," he ordered. A cannon blast followed his words.
 
The ship trembled, and Jack shouted orders. "Run out the guns! Return fire!" He grabbed the wheel, steering hard to make for the nearest Key.
 
The Sweet Angel hove closer, and fired again. The Black Pearl returned fire. But Barbossa had captained the ship for ten years and knew her well. He knew where to strike to cripple her. Jack cursed viciously, and heard a sound that turned his blood cold. A splash, as of someone falling overboard. He rushed over to the rail and peered over.
 
Mr. Gibbs was hanging over the edge, looking as deeply distressed as Jack had ever seen him look. "She tried to climb the rigging to see what was happening! I don't rightly know WHAT was in her head, but I tried to stop her Jack. I swear I tried to stop her, but she fell afore I could reach her!"
 
"Sarah!" Jack screamed. As he watched, Sarah's head broke the surface. He exclaimed with relief. Barbossa fired again, and pieces of the ship exploded outward and struck the water. Sarah ducked back under the water. The Sweet Angel came up alongside.

Barbossa also was leaning over looking at the woman in the water. "Throw out a rope!" Jack cried.

"Lost something, did you?" Hector mocked him. A rope from his ship was already in the water, with a sailor from the Sweet Angel holding it. As Jack watched, he grabbed hold of Sarah.

She fought back, pushing the man's head under water repeatedly. Exasperated, the man finally managed to grab her legs while underwater and pulled her down as well. Now the advantage lay with him, and quick as lightning he wrapped the rope around her waist. They broke surface together, and the pirate now grabbed Sarah by the throat. "Heave, Captain!"

The struggling, screaming Sarah was brought on the deck of the Sweet Angel, landing in a heap at Barbossa's feet. The crew cheered. Meanwhile, Jack's mind worked furiously. He had felt absolute horror and utter helplessness watching his woman being captured by his enemy.
 
He pulled Sarah to her feet and she went completely silent. In the quiet that followed, Jack called to him. "The girl for the Pearl, just like I told you, mate." Sarah turned her head sharply to look at him.
 
Hector narrowed his eyes. "Are ye telling me you don't want the pretty back?"
 
Jack shrugged negligently. "Was just about to throw her overboard when you saved me the trouble."
 
The pirate lord looked back and forth between Sarah and Jack. Jack went on. "She's more trouble than she's worth Barbossa. Pretty as she is," his eyes shifted to stare into hers, "she's a harridan."
 
"Is she now?" Barbossa's voice showed that he did not believe this.
 
Jack waved his hand dismissively. "Complains all the time. Nothing's ever good enough for her. She's useless aboard me ship, and she's bringing bad luck besides. Good luck with her mate." He turned aside as if he did not care in the slightest.
 
"All right Jack. I'll just take her for meself then."
 
Jack clenched his teeth, upper lip curling in anger and disgust. He schooled his features and turned back again. "Fine with me." He stared dead straight at her. "As I said, she's an utter, screaming, harridan."
 
The ships parted, Jack giving orders to head back to open ocean while Barbossa sailed further into the Keys.
 
"Captain!" Mr. Gibbs hurried up to him, looking woebegone.
 
"He'll dump her on one of the lesser Keys. I'll give him three days."

"Begging yer pardon Jack, but what if he doesn't?"
 
Jack had no answer. He tipped his face to the sunny sky and hoped desperately that he had spoken truth.

Chapters 9 and 10