Ok. I published this first back in... '07, I think it was. Pulled it down for some reason or other, and it disappeared. * Poof * Off my computer to remain a distant memory I had no hope of calling up ever again.

Until tonight, when I went hunting in the forgotten realms of the old desktop for something completely unrelated. So here it is, once again. I found only two chapters, I could have sworn there were more originally?

Anyways, I DO remember that I had asked my readers to mail me with suggestions/situations for the good Capt. Sparrow to find himself in. That offer still stands, and if I write it, you will be credited with the idea.

Sorry for the extended vacation, I found myself stuck in a reality where not only was I a busy single mom, but a busy single mom of a Cub Scout, and with a full time job as well. Still a mom, still employed, but with internet at my house and the chance to actually use it now!

Ah, well, back to the story now. As always, R&R.

XxX

Jack stepped onto the ground of Tortouga and took a deep breath. Immediately the smell of stale alcohol hit his nose. How he loved that pungent odor!

"Remember matees, we shove off at dawn in two days, so don't get too drunk." Jack admonished, waving to his crew after leaving instructions for restocking of the ship.

"Ha! Just make sure that you show up on time, Captain Sparrow," retorted Ann Maria, inciting a laugh from the crew. It was common knowledge that their much-loved captain was a hopeless drunk. Every time anyone saw the captain, he had a hand wrapped around a bottle of rum. Anna Maria was starting to worry about Jack's health. Lately, his skin had taken on a sickly yellow color. There was no hope for it though, as NOBODY told Captain Jack Sparrow to lay off the rum. Anna Maria shook her head and got back to work.

"Aah, me firs' luv," Jack muttered, walking into a noisy pub. He bought a bottle of rum, took a swig, and looked around, taking the various displays of drunken chaos. Not feeling like the usual brawl, he decided to take his bottle someplace quieter – if such a place existed on the rowdy island.

Finally, after walking (staggering, really) around half the island, Jack managed to find a secluded area. He sat on a rock and took a long drink of rum.

He almost fell off his rock when a large orange cat burst out of the bushes. It was chasing a… what the hell? Was that a blue... rat?

Jumping up, Jack kicked the cat across the clearing.

"Thank you sir!"

"Err…" Jack bent down to look at the little blue… thing. It was about three inches tall, blue, and wore a white shirt and hat. "Do you mind.. What the bloody 'ell are you?" He asked it.

"Why I'm a Smurf, of course!" it answered excitedly. "Thank you for scaring off Azrael. Now I have to get back, Papa Smurf, he's expecting me! Thanks again!" And with that, the little smurf ran back in the direction he came from.

Jack looked at his half empty bottle. He looked at the bushes. He dumped the bottle out.

"Captain, what the hell happened to you?" Anna Maria asked the grumpy captain two days later. It was painfully obvious to everyone on board the Black Pearl that for the first time in years, their captain was sober.

"Mind your own business, girl," growled Jack. "I'm done drinkin', that's all you need to know."

"Aye, Captain."

As she turned back to her work, Anna Maria glanced at her captain. He was harsher than usual on his crew, and had bags under his eyes, proof of sleepless nights. She also saw how he stood straighter, and looked healthy. As healthy as a pirate can be, that is. She wondered what had happened to Jack to make the worldly pirate put down the bottle, then smiled and shrugged. Whatever it was, it was a good thing.

Jack watched his crew sneaking peeks at him, wondering why he was without his rum, and smiled. There was no way he was going to tell them.