Morgan scrubbed at her eyes for the second time that day, wondering why the memories chose to haunt her after so long. The scars on her back seemed to throb in time with the whip that fell in her memory, and she could remember every detail of the long night when she finally avenged her tortured father after four long months. Sighing softly she folded her hands in her lap and tried to slow the tumble of emotions that threatened to overcome her. Deciding that she needed to try to sleep she quietly stood up, trying not to disturb Allison. She stripped out of her breeches, deciding that she didn't want to sleep in them again, and walked around the desk. Morgan jumped as a hand reached out from the bed and grabbed her wrist. A pair of sleepy green eyes blinked up at her.

"Sleep here," Allison murmured at her. Morgan looked at her in shock.

"I'm going to sleep in the chair," she said softly, "go back to sleep."

"No...there's plenty of room. Get in here," Allison said as she tugged on her arm. Morgan opened her mouth to protest again, but Allison had already slipped deeper back in the bed and was giving her a look that said she would take no argument. Turning around she blew the oil lamp out and paused for a moment.

"Don't even think you're sleeping in that chair, Morgan," Allison's warning drifted out from the bed. Morgan chuckled to herself and felt for the edge of the bed. Carefully she climbed in, slowly letting herself sink into the mattress. A sigh escaped her lips as the familiar comfort of her bed enveloped her. A soft laugh tickled her ears from close by as Allison pushed the edge of the blanket over her. "Sleep well, Morgan."

"You too, Allison." Morgan settled more comfortably on her back, her hands resting on her stomach. Allison's breathing deepened in the shadows next to her and her body finally started to relax. She closed her eyes and let herself drift, listening to the familiar creaks and groans of the ship around her. Yawning she rolled over onto her side and settled deeper into her bed, finally succumbing to sleep.

Allison felt herself waking up and fought against it. Her dream had returned, though a bit more innocent than before. She was wrapped up in a pair of strong arms, pulled back into the curve of the body behind her. Snuggling back deeper into the embrace, she couldn't believe how real the dream felt. The body behind hers shifted a little, one hand slipping down to rest on her bare hip. Allison's heart did a double step as the fingers twitched a little, making her nerve-endings dance in reaction. A soft rap on the door made Allison's eyes pop open, and she looked down to find herself really and truly wrapped up in Morgan's arms. Allison twisted herself over in Morgan’s arms to face her and Morgan nuzzled against her neck as the door to the cabin creaked open a bit and Morgan's first mate peeked his head in. Allison smiled at him hesitantly from behind Morgan's shoulder and lifted her arm up to wave him in then dropped it to rub her hand softly on Morgan’s side. "Morgan," she whispered, trying to wake the captain up gently. The captain tightened her grip on Allison, the hand on her hip flexing against her skin in a caress.

Jacob cleared his throat softly in the background and Morgan's hand stilled. She exhaled slowly against Allison's hair then Allison heard her whisper softly to her, "Forgive me for this...," Morgan stretched against her then rolled over onto her back. Flexing the arm under Allison’s side she tried to pull her closer. Allison resisted subtly, keeping their bodies from coming in full contact again.

"Morning, Jacob, is there a reason you're disturbing us so early?" Jacob shifted uncomfortably from one foot to the other.

"M'pologies, Cap'n, but t'first island is in sight and I figured you’d want to know." Allison lay stiffly next to Morgan for a moment until she realized that Morgan’s reputation demanded that she be more than just sleeping in the captain’s bed. Jacob kept glancing up at her when he thought the captain wasn't going to catch him, and the tension in Morgan's body had her strung as tight as a bow. Allison’s thoughts tumbled over one another as she tried to figure out what was happening between the captain and her first mate, until she realized that the first mate was worried. Her suspicions were confirmed as he continued on.

"I also wanted to tell you that those mates from the other ship are stirring some trouble."

As he said that the pieces fell together for Allison. Realizing that her conversation with the boy this morning had probably caused the situation that Jacob was worrying over, she decided to take Morgan's reputation in hand and melted herself against the body next to her. Morgan kept the surprise off her face, but Allison felt the start of surprise as Allison slid her thigh over hers and slid a hand across her stomach. Idly running her fingers up and down the soft skin under her fingers, she propped her head up on her other hand, boldly meeting Jacob’s eyes.

"So what are they saying about me, Jacob?" Morgan asked, her voice low and dangerous. The captain’s fingers were drawing circles on the curve of Allison’s lower back, causing goose bumps to trail across her body. Jacob straightened a little, looking like he felt a bit more comfortable in his position now that Morgan looked more confident.

"Cap’n, there’s a couple of them thar that’s sayin’ the crew’s weak for letting a woman lead ‘em, and when the boys try to defend you they say the li’l miss thar’s got you in her clutches." Jacob shot Allison an apologetic look. "An, well, forgive me, Cap’n, but ya havena been acting yer normal self here of late….’specially not normal wit t’boys wantin’ to think yer "entertainin’". Jacob blushed at Allison and she smiled reassuringly at him. Morgan frowned a little and looked off in thought. Finally she looked back over at Jacob.

"Well, Jacob, I guess we’ll have to figure out a way to give the crew something to support their story," Morgan grinned at Jacob. "Now, who is the worst for spreading stories?" she asked, with a smile on her face that said that she knew the answer already. Jacob frowned for a moment, then looked up at the captain.

"Cook!!" Morgan nodded. Allison looked from one to the other with a slight look of confusion on her face. Morgan caught a glimpse of her out of the corner of her eye and looked up at her. Allison found her face mere inches from Morgan’s, and the other woman spread her hand against her back to keep her from moving. Morgan spoke softly to her.

"Allison, if the men think I’m not the captain that they think I am, they will mutiny, regardless of the fact that we’re a mere half a day from port. If the captured crew is demoralizing them, then I have to make them feel better about me. Will you help me?" Allison nodded, causing Morgan to chuckle softly. "You don’t even know what I’m going to ask you to do!"

"It doesn’t matter….If they mutiny then I don’t want to think about what would happen to me." Allison stated, watching a sad look pass across Morgan’s face as she said it.