Jack sat in his cabin, not really paying attention to what Jones was telling him. The last sentence that Jack understood had had something to do with Anne, and then Jack had tuned him out, thinking. It was obvious Jones was pushing the two of them together. Ever since they’d had a break in the winds and a pause in their pillaging, Jones had been insufferable. Still, the thought of Jones putting them in the same room and sending Anne to his cabin because he felt like it was beginning to irk Jack. They had been at sea for nearly a month now, and Jones had not let up yet. Eventually, Calico Jack became conscious of Jones’s voice calling his name, and was pulled back to reality. He looked up, and saw Jones watching him expectantly with a triumphant grin on his face. Jack barely glanced at him before replying, “What?" Jones stared at him. Jack repeated his halfhearted inquiry and Jones shook his head, “You ’aven’t 'eard a word I’ve said, ‘ave you, Jack?" Jack didn’t answer, and Jones gave him a rapid review of what he had been rattling on about. “I said, Captain," Jones said the title with contempt and indignation, “that the crew is startin’ ta get restless. They’re hopin’ we’ll go out on a venture soon."
Jack nodded, thinking. After a moment, he stood and walked out of his cabin and onto the deck, where the crew stood, waiting. Looking around, he began to bark orders, “Get ta work, you feckless pack of ingrates! Weight anchor! Haul those sheets!” he subsequently walked up the stairs leading to the Captain’s Wheel and turned the ship facing northwest. Jones appeared behind him and swallowed visibly. “Something wrong, sailor?” Jack addressed him formally, since they were out on deck. Jones fidgeted, and Jack snapped, “Out with it, man.” Jones blanched at Jack’s tone, but answered, “Where are we ‘eaded, sir?” Jack replied nonchalantly, “Master Jones,” he said. “We’ve a need ta travel upriver.”
All movement on the deck ceased. Everything and everyone was still and silent when Jones spoke out hopefully, “But a ‘need’ d’ya mean, a…a ‘triflin’’ need, say a…passing fancy?”
Jack looked at him blankly, a little annoyed, “No,” he said steely. “A resolute and unyielding need,” he finished, putting emphasis on each word, proving who was in charge. Looking around at the crew, he spat, “Get a move on, you scurvy dogs, or it’s the brig fer any man what wants ta question my orders!”
Up in the rigging, Anne watched the entire scene play out, silent. The crew was good at obeying orders the first time they were given and—as such—Jack proved to be a fairly lenient Captain, so why hesitate now? Once Jack had set course and disappeared inside his quarters again, Anne dropped down out of the rigging and came to rest by Jones, who nearly jumped out of his skin. “Mary, Mother of God!” he yelped as she landed.
Anne shook her head, “No, love. I’m Anne.” Jones gave her a wary look, but let the slight pass. Anne ignored his choice of words, “Where are we going?”
Jones shuddered, “ta see…’er…” Anne’s brows knitted together, “Who’s ‘’er’?” Jones’s voice was low, “Jocylen…” Realizing that this was going to take a while, Anne asked, “Who’s Jocylen?”Jones jumped again, amazed at Anne’s lack of understanding, “Gracious, girl! Don’t you know nothin’?”
“No,” Anne snapped, “Now answer my question.” Master Jones shook his head, but acquiesced, “She ‘takes in’ sailors what lose their way.” Now, Anne was interested. “Takes in?” she repeated, trying to get Jones to answer her questions with a longer response than just one word. To no avail. “She’s a witch,” he said, and she sighed. They were back to four-word answers again. After further questioning—to no avail—she left him at peace, deciding to solve the problem at its source. With a determined air, she headed into Jack’s cabin, Jones and the crew watching nervously as she vanished behind the mahogany doors and out of sight.
***************
As she stood with her back to him, looking through the contents of the cabinet on the wall, his heart jumped, ‘I love you, lass,’ he thought desperately to the back of her head. She spun around and looked at him, surprised, “What?” Jack nearly jumped out of his skin. “I didn’t say nothin,” he replied, more than a little confused. “Yes you did,” Anne corrected pensively. “You must’ve…I ‘eard it clear as day,” She gave him a lost look. “It sounded like…’I love you, lass’…”
He faltered, momentarily terrified, but recovered sufficiently enough to reassure her, “Well, then that proves it wasn’t me,” he said, and then to himself, ‘I’d never get up the nerve ta say it to your face, anyway…’ Anne’s eyes widened, “Y-you what?” Jack looked at her, confused again. Then it hit him. She could hear his thoughts! He had forgotten that part of her Dhampyre condition included telepathy—the reading of people’s thoughts. Despite himself, he swore under his breath, sealing his fate.
Anne took a step closer, “You did think that…didn’t you?” She looked up at him, a bit of a blush showing on her tanned cheeks.
Jack swallowed nervously. The truth was out. Anne knew that he loved her. He swallowed, “A-aye…” he looked into her eyes momentarily and then immediately away again. “Anne, I—…” he stopped. It was no use. The words just wouldn’t come. Instead, his mind wandered over everything he couldn’t say—against his will. Anne was now standing right in front of him, looking up through those luxurious, full, black lashes. Jack had to swallow again.
Before he realized what he had done, his hand was positioned beneath her chin, and his lips were caressing hers, giving life to the frantic and uncontrollable devotion he had hidden from her for nigh on three years.
Anne wrapped her arms enthusiastically around his shoulders, hoping for time to freeze right at that moment, so she could hide it in her heart forever.
The kiss ended anyway, and Jack stammered out in a voice thick with emotion, “I—I love you, Anne.” Anne stared at him, taken aback. “Anne,” he seemed to plead with his eyes, added to by his desperate tone. “Anne—I love you more than words can say. For four years I’ve hidden that…” he dared to meet her gaze again. “Now that it‘s out I can take your rejection an’ be done wit’ it.”
***************
Jack awoke from the dream suddenly, sitting straight up on his cot in the dark cabin. He heard the noise again, a small, faint clinking noise, like someone gently tapping two bottles together. Looking around in the dim light, he thought he saw movement by the cabinet against the wall. Abruptly, Anne spoke, “’S about time you got up, love,” she said. “I’ve been waitin’ for quite a while.” He started, “’Ow long ‘ave you been there?”
Anne sat down the two bottles of rum she had been holding, uncorking one of the bottles and pressing it to her lips for a drink. After a moment, she replied nonchalantly, “You’d best hurry up, pet. The crew’s itchin’ ta get this over with.” Jack repeated the query, and she finally answered, “About ‘alf an ‘our, why?”
“Why didn’t you wake me sooner, then?” he asked, not really ready to hear the answer she was going to give. She winked conspiratorially before answering, “Your dreams are too interesting to interrupt.”
Calico’s face was paler than the ship’s sails, he was sure, and he was suddenly thankful for the lack of decent lighting in the cabin. “Why, did I talk in my sleep?” to himself, he thought, ‘Please say no...’ Anne shook her head, “No, but I could tell they bothered you anyway. You may want to make mention of them ta Jocelyn, love,” She walked over to Jack and pushed the second bottle of rum into his hands before continuing. “An’, speakin’ which, get your effects. By wha’ th’ crew’s been sayin’ ‘bout ‘er, you may need ‘em.”
I'll give you an overall critique for some suggestions [of course, I don't have time for an in-depth critique either 
].
Got some serious testing tomorrow. Sorry this is long, but it really seems long because of the long quotes. 
I apologize.
Gender:
Points: 890
Reviews: 42