A New Lead - Part IV

[Laeli Rose]

The girl's extravagant response troubled and confused Gabrielle. Is the girl mad? She had never seen someone switch moods so rapidly without the slightest provocation. In addition, Gabrielle rarely dealt with this type of overflowing sweetness - she found it more difficult to handle than any amount of sharp rocks aimed at her eyes.

"Right... well listen, you seem like a smart kid. You know well enough that I came here with an agenda. Why have you been treating the captain so harshly?" Coughing quietly, Gabrielle pressed her hat further down on her head. Why do I always get the awkward assignments?!

[nerezza]

Her lips pursed and her forehead wrinkled in annoyance, before sighing and acting as if it was the most obvious thing int he world before responding,

"Well, I have, in the past couple days, been kidnapped from my family, thrown around some development of sort, forced to follow a strange man back to a boat in order to learn the whereabouts of my father, not being told where he was - only that he knew him."

She paused for a breathe before continuing, her face slightly flushed from lack of air,

"Being chased around by random men shooting at me, being forced to jump from several feet high into a freezing cold ocean, almost drowning to death, being chased around some more and being thrown into a random cabin."

And of course, her plight would seem obvious, if you were a normal nine year old girl. But sadly the crew was not, and it had been overlooked by the crew members as a day on the job, when the girl was clearly not used to such antics and spent the whole of her life living happily on land with her family.

[Laeli Rose]

The girl's repsonse saddened Gabrielle initially - how could Hawkins still conceal Abe's death from the girl? But that was not Gabrielle's responsibility. Hawkins would break the news much more gently. After dismissing these thoughts, Gabrielle smiled, stretching her arms over her head and yawning.

"Well, in the past couple of days, I've had to fight off an entire ship, by myself, to save a little girl who refused to be saved, was shot in the arm in the process, had to jump from several feet high into a freezing cold ocean after said little girl, was almost left to die on a rock, and on top of all that, I'm usually a rather cranky person." She paused, staring at Anette as she wiped the smile off her face. "But I haven't propelled any sharp objects at you, have I? I don't blame you for being angry. I don't blame you for lashing out. But take it out on me, if you must. The captain's main concern right now is to help you. Don't repay him with cruelty."


(If I ever have to be all sentimental and gross in real life I think I might cut my tongue out. XD)

[nerezza]

She shrugged, rolling her shoulder slightly in an almost proud manner. A small smirk weaved it's way to the girls face but she brushed it off quickly, replacing it with a small scowl and waved her hand hastily in the air.

"Shoo now, I must concentrate!"

She made more off the gestures with her hand, trying to get the girl to leave, while indicating down to the book with her hauntingly blue eyes. She narrowed them quickly when she saw that the girl had not yet left, so she hurriedly got up and began shoving her frame towards the door, she had just barely pushed her confused frame from the doorway before shouting,

"and don't bother to disturb me again!"

before slamming the thin wooden door in her mildly shocked face and returning to her room, cuddling her bear to her chest and continued reading from her book as if nothing had happened.

[Laeli Rose]

Gabrielle threw her hands into the air with a groan. Several obscenities coursed through her head in reference to the little brat. How dare that spoiled little-?! With her hand on the doorknob, ready to burst in screaming, Gabrielle stopped herself. That should be good enough for the Captain. She doesn't seem to care about us either way. Marvelling at how such a wonderful man like Abe could have raised such a terrible demon, Gabrielle limped back to her room. At the moment, all she wanted to do was take her frustration out on the crew - but then she would make herself a hypocrite. The best remedy would be to sleep it off.

Several weeks passed, and Gabrielle never saw Anette again. Granted, as her arm healed she became steadily more involved with the crew and had little time to worry over such nuisances. Then she ran out of ointment. Though her arm was entirely healed, and the medicine no longer necessary, the occurence reminded her of the frustrating little girl. I wonder what happened to her?

(This works? Yes? I think you can post your flu now haha.)

[nerezza]

[Anette]

She had been holed away in some cabin, dragged into it by some odd person that they all referred to as 'Ghost.' She picked detachedly at some sort of bread placed in front of her, by the side of the ragged bed she was on - not that she was eating it, it was more of something to do and keep her slightly occupied. She had been quite isolated lately, and with nothing to do besides memorize antidotes and medicine she had been thinking a lot.

Memories of her family and homeland swirled through her mind, twisting an intricate web of longing into her thoughts. She had become homesick on a large degree scale, and wondered where her papa was, 'Hawky' said he was friends with him and wondered when they would meet.

She hadn't been eating lately out of sheer depression and it showed, she had already had a naturally frail and skinny form, but now you could see the small of her ribs poking out and her shoulders jutted out in an almost menacing manner. She had become even more pale and her face was sallow in color, she had been squirreling her food away in corners, or under the bed to make it look like she was eating, else the maid would yell at her.

She had apparently caught some sort of cold, a deep cough racked her system and seemed to shake her small figure with a startling burst of rage. She had concocted a small brew, though she was missing a few ingredients, as she couldn't find a lot aboard the ship, and it didn't appear to help that well. She had been stuck in the small straw bed for the past couple of weeks and nobody came in, save the maid - apparently nobody wanted to be bothered seeing the small 'troublemaker' and figured she was full of enough spirit and should well fine.

It was either early in the morning, or late at night, she couldn't quite tell. She shakily dragged herself into a sitting position and administered a sort of broth next to her bed, the taste was bitter - but weak and watered down, there was obviously not enough herbs in the poultice. She let herself down to her bed and felt her head bump uncomfortably against the slab of wood at the head of the bed.

She heard the maid enter the room, she set the food down at a small table by the end of the bed, she heard the woman muttering something about an influenza, probably thinking she caught it - but she knew well enough she was dehydrated, and suffering slightly from starvation, she wondered at the back of her mind if the maid would ever tell anyone, she didn't really care and she slightly didn't want her to, save her father come back. Besides, she had been muttering about the so called 'influenza' for the last couple days and nobody had heard wind, she hoped quietly that the lady dare not gossip.

She felt her lashes flutter softly, making thin charcoal slashes of shadows against her chalk white skin. Darkness surrounded her with a sly crawling, and she drifted to sleep, rocky dreams of her family meddled with reality while her body began to bead with sweat, an apparent fever starting to brew. But the dreaming girl had no clue of the severity of the situation, and she slept on, dragging bits of memory and wanting until she was contented and a small smile draped over her face, chapped lips quirking with a sad longing.

[Laeli Rose]

Unable to quit wondering what had become of Anette, Gabrielle called one of the sailors to take her place at the helm. "You know what happens if you fall asleep," she growled.

Taking her time, Gabrielle walked slowly across the deck and down to Anette's room. Give the brat an early wake-up call, she laughed silently. The laughter disappeared the second she opened Anette's door. She smelled the putrid odor of rotting food, and once in the room, saw Anette's shriveled, dehydrated form.

"What's been going on here?!" she screamed in rage, running back to the stairway. Shouting to the top, "Captain! Helson! Get down here quick!" Gabrielle rushed back into the room and toward Anette's bed, where she stopped and stood motionless. She had no idea what to do. "Helson!" she screamed at the top of her lungs, a volume she rarely used. "Where are you?!"

[Captain Hawkins]

Oh shit.... Hawkins thought when he and Helson burst into the room. The girl, who was already pale could have blended in with the Sekot's sails themselves.

"Bethany!" He yelled. The maid rushed in and courtseyed.

"What is it Captain?" She asked politely.

"This..."Hawkins gestured at the girl, "How long has she been like this?" he growled.

"Only a few days my lord..." the servant stammered. "She refused to eat or anything...."

Helson checked her over, placing a hand on her forehead and then feeling her pulse. "It's bad Captain..." he said grimly. "Another couple of days and she would have been a goner."

Hawkins swore again in his islander tounge and ran a hand through his hair. "Make her a broth and feed it to her. Also, mover her into my quarters....there is more space and the bed should be more comfortable." Moving out the door he added, "And give her some damn light!"

Nicholas motioned Gabriel. "Come with me." He said with his jaw clenched.

[Laeli Rose]

"Sarcasm aside, Captain, I sincerely hope that maid will pay for such neglect. She could have killed her!" shouted Gabrielle as she followed the captain to the deck, furious at the idea of anyone dying in such a way. "This is simply unacceptable. I mean-" She stopped, unable to express her anger. Sufficing for a simple shake of the head, Gabrielle asked, "What did you want, Captain?"

[Captain Hawkins]

Still clenching and unclenching his teeth he beckoned her over to the rail. When she sat down on one of the crates he began.

"I should have never left her in there." He said shaking his head. "I just figured that if I left her alone, she would be fine and no longer...."

Sighing he put a foot up on another crate next to her and leaned in.
"Did I ever tell you about Abe's wife?"

She shook her head so Hawkins started. "She was always in on Abe's acts....sometimes even playing key roles in missions." he chuckled, "But when they had a child, she knew right then she had to give it all up."

Watching as Ghost carried the wrapped figure of Anette, Nicholas' voice became grim. "They knew that Abe still had to fight the government if their countrymen would ever survive....but they also knew the costs."

He spat and swore softly. "Before, Abe and Clara, his wife, never had a home because they were rebels....always on the move. But when they settled down, someone ratted them out."

Nicholas watched as the maid followed Ghost in, carrying a steaming pot.

"Apparantly, Clara was able to hide Anette before her killers had gotten to her.....but Abe was devestated." Looking into Gabby's eyes, his own eyes echoed those of Abe's eleven years ago. "Clara was the love of his life.....so when she died, a huge part of him died."

Leaning back he shrugged. "I know you aren't the type who gets miffed or teary at these things Gabriel, but I am only explaining how things came to be."

Taking a swig from his side flask he continued. "Most of the time one of Abe's friends or comrades would take care of her....but you know how rough rebels, even if they are friends, can be."

He held up a hand and counted off. "No mother for emotional needs, not really a father for support, and surrounded by thieves and murderers....." He winked at her even though his face was still grim. "Not much of a family, is it?"

Motioning at Gabriel's healed wound he went on, "But Anette became used to it I guess, putting herself into all sorts of hobbies. I only met her once when I was about twenty, but I doubt she would have remembered me."

Seeing a vengeful glint in her eyes, Hawkins knew what she was thinking. "Oh yes, the murderers of Clara? My own father and Abe found the traitors and well....let's just say they would prefer hell than earth." He said with a growl.

Hawkins stretched and nodded towards his cabin where Anette was kept. "I doubt I will ever break through that wall that she has built around her heart....and I definately don't want to destroy it by telling her that her father is dead....."

He trailed off and looked her Gabby.

"Look, we are almost at the Southern Port....we dock there, get her to a doctor, Ghost will leave with the ship and drop her at the islands where I know a few people."

[Laeli Rose]

Gabrielle nodded to show her understanding. Then onward to fate. The story Hawkins told did help her better appreciate what Anette had experienced - she'd lived much the same life. Though Philip was never remotely concerned about my safety.

"I guess we should go see how Helson's doing?"

(This has to be my shortest one yet. XD)

[Captain Hawkins]

He nodded and allowed her first to walk up the stairs leading to his quarters. Knocking on the door to let Helson know he was coming in, he turned the handle and opened it, letting Gabrielle slide in first.

"How is she doing Helson?" He spoke quietly, not sure if Anette was still conciouse or not.

"Same as the last five minutes." Helson growled.

Hawkins shot him a quick look and the doctor sighed.

"With the better living conditions, I'd say she is going to make it if we keep monitoring her...." He said, looking at the girl who was dwarved by the sheets she was enfolded by.

Nicholas watched as Gabby crossed the room and sat at the edge of the bed.

Sighing again, the young captain nodded and patted Helson on the shoulder. "Thanks James..." he said before leaving.

"It's my job Captain." He simply replied. "If I didn't do it, I would be swimming towards the nearest enlistment office." He chuckled.

[Laeli Rose]

"Personally, I should like to know how this was allowed to happen at all," Gabrielle growled, shooting daggers at the incompetent maid. "Though I'm sure Captain Hawkins will find some way to justify your neglect, I'll have you know that if it were up to me, you'd be put off the ship at the next port." Anette seemed so frail, so helpless in Hawkeye's bed, overwhelmed by the expensive sheets. The whole situation left a bitter taste on her tongue. You're the one who's to blame for this, you know. You shouldn't have forgotten her.

"But I suppose you aren't entirely at fault," she conceded with a sneer. Then Gabrielle had a thought. "Helson, she had a book with her full of medicines and healing procedures. Do you think there's something in there that might help?"

(kk, you can play Helson since he's your NPC. I don't feel like it. :P)