Disclaimer – Disney owns the entire franchise of Pirates of the Caribbean.
Special thanks to Minicinnamon99 for inspiring this fic.
From Father to Son
It was a gift from an old shipmate and it had served Edward Teague well through the years. Old Morgan might have taken it from some Spanish noble given the ornate metalwork too fine to be a common soldier's. He saw fit to give it to his former shipmate, the son of a school teacher turned pirate captain. The firearm still worked despite all the abuse it had been subject to between the saltwater and weather.
Now it nestled snugly in its box under his bed. Teague scratched his belly and winced at that now-familiar ache in his side. He never thought he would end his days in this manner, in bed. He always thought it would be in a sea battle. Perhaps having a young son tagging along made him more cautious with his life. He was never one to take foolhardy risks, although he was still as formidable in battle, ever since Jenny Wren dumped Jackie in his arms and took off on a raid. Thankfully she kept their next child with her. Raising a little girl was too much to demand of him.
He grinned at the memory of his wee Jackie boy…
Many years before...
"Jackie, stay away from those men, do ye hear?" Teague did not like the way Jack's bright eyes alit on the myriad riches brought ashore by the crew of the Adventurer. A seven-year-old as inquisitive as his son was bound to wind up in trouble sooner than later. His son nodded, although his eyes coveted the fine bejewelled dagger atop the pile of gold trinkets. Teague knew where the chests of gold and jewels were bound for. There was a merchant in Tortuga who did not ask awkward questions but would pay good coin for the haul. No doubt the jewels would be sold back to the witless gentry while the gold and silver cast into ingots or coin.
Kidd was a different ilk of pirate. He sought to squirrel away a tidy fortune for retirement instead of spending it all in a night of drunken debauchery. One can only admire the man's optimism.
The merchant and the captain haggled and came to an agreement. Kidd gave the orders to weigh anchor. His business on land was concluded. Teague ordered his mate to carry the crates of lime onto his ship. Now where did Jackie boy get to?
"Stop thief!"
Jack Sparrow came running out of the crowd towards his da with the jewelled dagger in hand, a stolen prize. Oh bother…
With one swift move, the flintlock discharged. Kidd would need a new merchant to fence his stolen loot now.
That was the first time he used the flintlock to save Jackie boy's bacon but it would not be the last.
Many, many years later…
The lamp flickered, casting deep shadows upon the weathered features of the ancient mariner lying upon his bunk. A smile crinkled his face at the memory of how they had fled helter-skelter with the merchant's fellow thugs at their heels. That was so long ago. One could trust Jackie boy to get into trouble without fail. Cocky Jack Sparrow would throw caution to the winds and laugh in the face of danger. That was part of his nature, just like the sea which called to them. Ah, he could hear the waves breaking on the wrecks of the reef guarding the Cove.
There was another sloshing which was nearer. Wilhelmina coming with a basin of warm water for him to wash up with. He never could understand his daughter's constant need for cleanliness. His Jenny brought her up differently from how he raised Jack.
"Is Jack in yet?" he wheezed as she helped him sit up.
"Not yet, Father." He felt the gentle warmth of a cloth run over his face and neck.
"Get me the box under me bed…" A shuffling and scrapping sound close by announced that Wilhelmina was obeying his instructions. His daughter was not as flamboyant as her brother but a fine pirate all the same. A weight on his lap announced that she had placed it on the blankets.
"Your flintlock pistol, Father?" Ah, she had opened it.
"Promise me, Willy lass. Give it to me Jackie…"
"No, Father. You give it yourself."
The statement hung over them both. Teague coughed violently, forcing Willy to thump him on the back to clear his chest. The Code Keeper was ailing and if Jack did not show soon…
"Willy lass… promise…" he pulled away from his daughter.
"I promise, Father," Wilhelmina allowed her fingers to trace the metalwork of the pistol once before shutting the lid and fastening the clasps. "Upon the lives of my children."
Teague grinned. His sight was hazy now but he could imagine the face she was making. Wilhelmina never thought highly of Jonathon Edward Teague, alias Jack Sparrow. "You can have my silver, Willy, including the flask…" he added in a reconciliatory tone.
"I guess Brother Jack needs the pistol more than me," Willy Raven agreed. "Are you up to some chicken soup, Father?" She forced a smile on her face. Doc Sawyer was clear in his grim prognosis.
Author's Notes:
This is going to be a series of one shots centring on Teague's flintlock pistol. You may wish to read the fic Return of the Prodigal Son as a companion fic as I will not be writing the funeral of Teague again.
