evoj8

A/N: To all my fabulous, wonderful, gorgeous readers. Thank you so much for your continued support, encouragement and criticism. Its what this writing caper is all about. I can honestly say without all of you I would have given up ages ago.(And to all the smart arses who just said "Oh I thought you already had" I am just slow. Still here. Slower than usual 'cos of many real life traumas but that's not why we're here).

This chapter is slightly shorter than I wanted but i needed to get something out to you. I refuse to let the story die:)

In that spirit...

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Rogue woke up.

Then she really, really wished she hadn't.

"Oh god!" she groaned, the words seemly drawn out of her mouth with hooks. Or spikes. Or some other incredibly painful, pointy objects.

Her memories of last night were confused to say the least. Bits and pieces kept floating to the surface, like hideous unidentifiable lumps in a lunchroom stew. Bars and random pirate-types, a couple of fights? It was all brief flashes

"Oh god! Did I kiss him!" she shrieked, bolting upright.

That, as it turns out, was the worst thing she could have possibly done in the history of doing things. Which, all history considered, was pretty impressive.

Her body assaulted her brain with a large blunt object labelled 'Hangover' and Rogue realised that she had to be elsewhere instantly. Elsewhere as in someone else's body.

She ran for the side, which was thankfully only a few steps away, stumbling as her legs refused to co-operate with the rest of her body.

She clutched the polished wooden rail and hung on for dear life as her body, almost of its own accord, lunged forward and emptied itself into the dark green water below.

She heaved until her throat was burning. She felt as though her stomach and most of her small intestine were trying to clamber up her oesophagus and out of her mouth.

Oh God, oh god she was never ever gonna drink again.

Drink. Oh god!

Thinking about drinking sent her over the side again, dry heaving now, until she thought she should just pitch into the ocean and drown rather than suffer this agony.

"Ah the fair flower of our vessel at last opens her eyes" Jack exclaimed extravagantly, coming up from behind to where she was draped inelegantly across the rail.

"Just kill me and get it over with" she muttered bitterly, pressing her head between her palms.

"Where would be the sport in that hmmm?" he said and even through the back of her head she could feel his mocking grin.

'Will kill him' she thought muzzily 'Just as soon as I stop dying'.

"You've quite recovered then? No more singing? No more fighting? No more trying to kill me?" seeing her look at his last statement he laughed again "Good to see the grog didn't addle all your wits."

While she hung there, plotting his death she looked down and noticed the dark green water foaming and tossing as it moved past the hull.

"Are we still in Tortuga?" she asked confusedly, trying to force her brain to think when all it wanted to do was curl whimpering in a corner for a while. Several years at least.

"Shoved off this mornin' " was the reply.

"Huh?" was all she could manage . She gathered her thoughts from where they were cowering in her brain and tried again "How. We ain't got..."

Jack interrupted her "Got one this mornin'. Right before we shoved off.'

"Well duh!" she said before realising Jack wouldn't understand "I mean, couldn't have left unless we had crew" Talking was becoming difficult, what with the extreme pain and nausea distracting her somewhat.

"Where " she rasped painfully "where're m' gloves?"

"Don't know me old girl, you weren't wearing them when we hauled you aboard last night. Mayhap one of you're swains has them pressed near his thumper for luck, or near his.." he trailed off with a smirk as she glared at him with heavily bloodshot eyes.

"If you even think about finishing that sentence I will kill you in ways you never imagined" she threatened, managing a credible growl despite her extreme hangover.

Jack chortled in that irritating way that Rogue was fast becoming accustomed to. Which didn't mean she stopped wanting to maim him whenever he did it.

Sobering slightly Jack said "Don't take on. There'll be naught to fear of your trouble with this lot. They'll keep their yards. A'course" he continued smirk curling his lips again "One shine at your fair face and t'will take a power to restrain them."

"Or not" he amended, not even phased by her Absolute Death Glare.

"Keep it up and I'll puke all over you in punishment" she threatened, gratified to finally see his concern. Typical. Go for the outfit.

"Even the hat" she grinned horribly, red eyes squinting menacingly

"No need to get nasty wench" he said huffily, moving away in case she was serious.

Always the hat, she thought painfully levering herself to her feet, hands grimly gripping the rail, stomach churning ominously. Deep breaths girl she thought, closing her eyes and swallowing desperately.

You've faced down some of the meanest bastards in two eras, a little hangover is not gonna defeat you.

"See now, I just wanna hit me" she muttered as she pushed away from the rail. Slowly, as slowly as a friday afternoon class, she raised her head and opened her eyes.

And blinked.

"Whoa! Who the hell are all these guys?" she demanded wincing when her quiet voice hurt her own ears.

"Lass, did ye conk yer noggin? We'd just over talkin' about the new crew." Jack said coming to stand beside her.

"Okay crew yes. Not the annual gathering of certified 'uglier than sin and twice as stupid' guys" she said one hand gripping her pounding head while she squinted disbelievingly at the crew.

"What's wrong w' em?" Jack questioned, sounding hurt. Rogue knew he was putting it on, tactical nuclear weapons couldn't dent Jack's hide.

'Oh nothing. They're just dandy" she cooed sarcastically "Look that man only had one leg, I'm sure he'll be very useful with the climbing and the running. Maybe he can hook up with the guy with one eye. Or the one with one hand"

She turned to Jack, ignoring the look of injury on his handsome features.

"Y'know I think that altogether you might have one whole man. Well done." She patted him with false camaraderie on his well covered shoulder.

"Better a dozen half men than one woman" can a gravely voice from behind them.

They both turned, Rogue carefully and gently out of respect for her stomach and head.

The man who had spoken was short and thickset. He looked to be older than forty and his face bore the flush and bruising of a lifetime at the bottle. Lips pulled back in a sneer revealed broken yellow teeth and his lank hair hung in his bloodshot eyes.

Rogue instantly loathed him.

"What was that?" she demanded, turning fully to face him.

"Ah Mr Gibbs, may I introduce Miss Rogue, the brightest jewel in the Caribbean.

Rogue my dear, this is Mr Gibbs, our first mate" Jack flourished, totally ignoring the instant antagonism between the two.

"Yeah, cos I care what his name is." Rogue snapped, glaring at the filthy sailor. "I asked you a question."

"Women ain't no use on a ship" Gibbs said by way of an answer "Only use they got has no place on a ship at sea" he looked her up and down suggestively "and they're powerful bad luck."

Yep. This man had to die. Preferably right now.

"Hey Grandpa" she demanded angrily "What the fuck're you smirkin' at?" He looked at her face now, startled at her words. "First off, look at me when your talking to me. And second have the fucking balls to insult me to my face."

She took a step toward him, hands on hips, hangover for the moment forgotten in her rage.

"Third. Yes I'm a woman. Well spotted. Guess you've worked out how to piss by now too.

How bout you don't hold that against me and I won't hold you up for the fact that you're old, ugly, stink worse than the pile of shit I woke up in two days ago and clearly have never known the love of a woman!"

"I have known..."

"Dead bodies don't count."

"Well she's got a mouth on 'er right en'o'." one of the crew smirked as the rest sniggered openly, having gathered around to watch the fun.

Gibbs face flooded with colour and he took a menacing step toward her, and Rouge beckoned him on. A fight might be just what she needed. Making someone else feel or at least look as shitty as she felt was a heartening prospect.

"Now now Rogue," came a smooth voice "That's not the way to make friends."

Jack, forgotten until now, moved between the two of them and fixed her with a stern look one eyebrow raised.

"Gibbs. Be about your work" He ordered calmly.

The stocky man gave her one final glare before touching his forehead and muttering,

"Aye aye Cap'n."

The rest of the crew dispersed until Jack and Rogue were left alone before the mizen mast.

"Like I said Jack. Great crew." Rogue growled, hands going back to her temples.

"They'll do well eno' before the end" he said mildly. "Rogue when you're on my ship you obey my commands. I'm the Cap'n and that's the way of it"

"Yeah I know" she answered sullenly.

"Well Gibbs is my second in command. You'll not be causing trouble with him that'll crimp my sails, y'hear?"

"But he's a total assmuncher! And a sexist pig to boot!" She protested, hands dropping in disbelief.

"You take orders from the first mate" Jack said pleasantly but with an undercurrent of iron, which brooked no arguments.

"As you command my captain" she bowed sarcastically.

He just shook his head and moved off, whistling and swinging his spyglass. Rogue turned back to where Gibbs stood grinning triumphantly. She smiled and fluttered her lashes at him, moving towards him slowly. It was a testament to his stupidity that he didn't have the sense to look concerned at her sudden change of demeanour.

"Jack said I had to obey you...but that won't be a problem if you're dead. And trust me, it'll look like an accident." she said softly, smiling sweetly at him.

Gibbs blanched and backed away from her.

At least I can still take care of assholes she thought grimly.

She noticed Will looked at her stonily and flipped him off. He was one crew member they could do without.

When his response was a confused look she realised that he didn't know what the gesture meant.

'Though anyone with half a brain could get the gist' she thought,

Jesus that guy was a pain in the ass. He was wound tighter than Scott 'Dudley Do Right' Summers. Which was actually quite impressive given that she hadn't thought such a feat was physically possible.

Sighing she turned away, heading to where several crew were hauling sail lines.

Taking her place behind a tall African man, she gripped the rope and pulled, hoping the work would help take her mind off her increasingly crappy situation and her churning stomach. Concentrating on this she didn't notice how easily she fit in to the rhythm of the work, her body using the memories borrowed in all the recent transfers.

Like a punch to the head she realised the person in front of her was actually a woman.

"What the..." she said, dropping the line and tapping the woman on her jacket covered shoulder.

The woman turned with ill disguised impatience. She gave the barest flicker of an eyelid upon seeing Rogue.

"What?" The woman demanded angrily, turning her head while still continuing her work on the rope.

She was beautiful despite the dirt and shabbiness of her attire. And the enormous ill-fitting hat she wore.

'What is it with these people and hats' Rogue wondered. Her eyes were clear and hard, determination writ large in every line of her body. And she gave the barest flicker of surprise at recognising Rogue's gender.

Just then the sail was raised and the others dispersed to continue their work. The tall woman and Rogue stayed eyeing each other up. The teenager was the first to speak.

"Rogue" she said, facing the woman, "I don't take bullshit".

"Annamaria" she responded, looking the young Southerner over "I don't give quarter".

Rogue smiled, and turned to look at Jack who was watching them with concern. At his anxious expression, Rogue smiled even wider, showing her teeth in a less than friendly way.

'Oh yeah. She has the dirt on him alright' she thought with glee.

"Well Annamaria, I think we're gonna get along just fine" she said. The older woman had noticed her glance at their captain and she too now wore a grin that promised no good things for said captain.

"Rogue, I think you may be right" she said.

Jack had the sense to look worried.

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