I've been working on this story for a while and I think I've finally gotten the first chapter ready to post. This takes place I'd say about a year before Jack frees the slaves and is branded (according to the back story from Wikipedia). I wasn't originally going to add Bill Turner to the story because originally the little girl would have an older sibling or maid to accompany her and the trip was planned but I decided I liked for it to go this way instead but figured Jack could probably use a little guidance on dealing with children so I threw ol' Bootstrap in there because well I like the guy.
As for the name Saoirse (pronounced Seersha). I heard this when my sons were in a playgroup when my husband was in the marines. One of the mothers was Irish and her daughter had this name. When someone complimented her on it, she told us it meant "Freedom" and I thought it would be perfect for a girl in a Pirate story.
Anyway, the standard disclaimers apply. If you see a name, quote, back story, etc. from the movies, Mortimer owns it, not me. Anything else (except perhaps a historical reference) is my own creation. Enjoy!
As was typical for England, a fog rolled in during the early hours of the morning and when Jack Sparrow awoke at oh seven hundred hours in his quarters aboard his ship, the Wicked Wench, the fog hadn't lifted yet. Rubbing his dark eyes, he groaned, knowing that today was the day he had to meet with the despicable Cutler Beckett. The diminutive man was a pain in Jack's arse. It was only cause Jack needed the money (and wasn't interested in pursuing piracy) that he had sought to work with the East India Trading Company.
Cutler Beckett was one of those guys you'd imagine must have been constantly picked on as a lad for his short stature and seemed to enjoy the power he could now wield over others, especially those who had vexed him as a boy. Jack hadn't been one of said bullies, but he figured Beckett hated him simply based on his height (amusing, since Jack himself wasn't even that tall) and strength.
As the merchant Captain dressed, a knock at his door interrupted the process. In his shirtsleeves, breeches and waistcoat, he was decent enough and answered the door. One of his crew was standing outside with the elbow of a small girl tightly in his grasp. She was dressed too nicely to be a street urchin and her pretty red hair was curled to frame her little freckled face that was shadowed by the white hat and trimmed with a blue ribbon that matched the color of her silk dress. When Jack stood aside, the man dragged the child inside the cabin.
"What's this?" He asked, curious as to why his bo'sun would be handling such a little one so roughly.
"She was tryin' to stow away, cap'n." Jack wanted to laugh but instead kept his calm.
"How old are ye, lass?" She held up four fingers. "Why would a little four year old lass stowaway on a merchant ship headed across the world, hmm?" She seemed to know he was talking to her and tried to yank her arm out of the Bo'sun's grasp. "Let 'er go, I don't think she's gonna hurt anyone."
"She might run off." Jack shrugged.
"Close the door behind ye." The man understood that as a command to leave so he released the girl's arm and walked out, making sure the door was shut soundly. The bang made the little girl jump and shiver.
"Sir, are-are you really a pirate? Is this a pirate ship?" Jack smirked, knowing that he did sort of resemble one with his fondness for rings, his leather tricorne and odd hairstyle. He might have been contracted with the EITC but since he wasn't directly employed by them, he wasn't required to obey their dressing standards. Lowering himself to one knee in front of the girl so he wouldn't be so intimidating, he smiled gently at her.
"Nay, lass, remember I said it's a merchant ship?"
"But that could have been a cover, right? So if you made me go home I wouldn't tell anyone?"
"You have a wonderful imagination, miss…"
"Saoirse." Jack smiled wider. His paternal grandmother was Irish and that had been her name so he knew what it meant and wondered if she did.
"Miss Saoirse, I am a merchant Captain, I assure you." The girl seemed to relax a bit. "And you, you still haven't answered my question. Why are you on this ship? Were you trying to stowaway?"
"What's a stoday?"
"A stowaway, lass, is someone who tries to get passage on a ship without permission from the captain."
"I was just hiding, sir." Jack frowned.
"A ship ain't the best place to go when yer playin' hide an' go seek, pet. It could make sail and weigh anchor and ye'd never see yer mum and pa again." The girl's large hazel eyes lowered to the deck.
"They're dead, sir. I'm running away because I don't want to live with my uncle anymore. He hates me cause Mama, his little sister, ran away and married my Papa and had me and he says I should have been killed at birth cause my hair's red!"
"Who's your uncle?" She shook her head fiercely.
"No, I won't tell! You'll send me back if I tell!"
"What if I give my word that I won't, hmm?" Her eyes met his with disbelief as she wrung her little hands.
"Why would you keep me here?"
"Well I ain't exactly keen on those who would harm an innocent li'l girl and let's face it, you were the one who came aboard my ship without permission so why would you choose to stay here, hmm?"
"I dunno, it was closest?" Jack smiled and lifted his hand but the girl jumped back, shielding her face.
"I ain't gonna hurt you." He said softly, taking one hand in his as he gently touched her cheek with the other.
"Oh." When the girl shivered, he let her go, knowing he was possibly frightening the girl.
"Who is yer uncle?"
"Sir Cutler Beckett of the East India Trading Company." Jack froze at the sound of that name. He wasn't afraid of the guy, but even though the man apparently hated the angel in front of him, there was no doubt he'd accuse Jack of kidnapping his niece if he were to sail off with her. Rubbing his forehead with his fingers, he sighed as he stood and crossed to the large windows in the cabin.
"It had to be him, didn' it?" Her eyes filled with tears as she stomped her little foot.
"You said you wouldn't send me back, mister!"
"Captain!" He bellowed, his tension exploding in that one word before he realized that he'd forgotten his company when he heard her crying uncontrollably where she'd crumpled in the floor with her hands in a protective position behind her head. "Bugger" he whispered as he walked over to her and knelt.
"Sorry, lass. I didn't mean to scare ye. Please tell me I heard ye wrong. Tell me yer uncle's name again."
"Sir Cutler Be-Beckett." She answered between sobs. "Wh-why?"
"He's my employer, pet and he ain't exactly my biggest admirer so if he found ye missin' then discovered ye on the Wench, he would likely accuse me of kidnapping." Saoirse looked up at Jack, worried.
"B-but if I go back, he'll hurt me again." Jack shook his head, sighing with resignation. He might be terminated, even punished for his actions if he kept her aboard the Wicked Wench but he'd never forgive himself if he found out that due to his selfish self-preservation, this helpless little sweetheart of a girl would be punished. He could take punishment, he'd dealt with it before and came out of it just fine (okay maybe a tad less trusting) but the lass already seemed to have an injured spirit from being hit so much already.
"Don't worry, angel, I'll-" Jack was cut off by the sound of knocking. Shooing her towards the sleeping quarters, he waited until she closed the door before going to the main door to his cabin. There was Beckett, standing as straight and tall as he could (given he was a good five inches shorter than Jack) as he smiled smugly.
"Captain Sparrow, I find I have a need to ask you to transport some cargo, rather I did, for this cargo has vanished."
"So am I transporting it or not?"
"Well I have it on good authority that a child with atrocious red hair and a blue dress found her way on this boat." Jack resisted the urge to correct him.
"Ye think she made off with said cargo?"
"It is the cargo." Jack blinked.
"You mean the cargo I need to transport is in her possession? Well fine then, we'll find her and she can hand it over and the two of ye can be on yer merry way." He was bluffing only to get him to refer to little Saoirse by her name, or at least a feminine pronoun instead of "it".
"No, Sparrow, the female is your cargo. It's caused me some headaches in the months I've had to deal with it since my sister inconveniently died and left it to me to deal with." He shrugged. "Well I'll see you when you return from your trip to Africa and Port Royal." Turning away, he walked away but stopped and sent an evil smirk over his shoulder. "Oh and I will pay you even more than agreed upon if you will conveniently and permanently lose the recent addition to the cargo somewhere in the middle of the ocean. She can't swim and that's her heaviest dress ." Jack just stood and stared at the man, not saying anything about accepting or refusing the offer. When Beckett climbed into his ornate carriage, Jack turned and went back into his cabin, shutting the door behind him and continuing into his little room. Saoirse was sitting on the floor with her legs straight out in front of her and her hands twisting the fabric of her skirt.
"Do I have to go back?" No doubt she heard her Uncle's voice. Jack shook his head and hoped she didn't hear what he said.
"He found out ye came aboard, missy, and what's more, he was going to send you off wiv me anyway so don't worry, ye ain't goin' back and I ain't gonna get in trouble for it so we both get what we want." She nodded solemnly. Too solemn for such a little girl, he thought.
"But…where am I to go?" Jack shrugged.
"He didn't say." No need to tell the lass that her uncle suggested killing her. It would only frighten her and make her fearful of something that wouldn't happen anyway. "But it would seem that we are in need of a room for you, little lady."
"What's your name? I told you mine."
"Captain Jack Sparrow. Ye can call me Captain Jack if ye like but don't forget the title when ye address me." She nodded seriously, making him smile. "Relax, pet, yer free now. Rather fittin' if ye ask me." Saoirse looked at him, puzzled.
"Why?" Kneeling in front of her again, he took her little hands in his and squeezed gently.
"Has anyone told ye the meaning of your name?" She shook her head. "It means freedom and from now on, yer free. I'll take ye with me and when we get to Jamaica, I'll drop ye off wiv an old friend who will look after ye kindly." Standing up, he pulled his coat off a hook and slid it on. After pulling his hair from under the collar then buttoning it up, he held out his hand. Saoirse just stared at it with fear in her eyes. "Come on, I'll show ye to a cabin ye can sleep in. It's directly under mine so if anythin' happens, just scream and I'll come check it out." Her small, soft little hand slid into his as she bit her lip nervously. Figuring he'd told her enough times he wouldn't hurt her, he didn't bother to repeat it.
As he led her across the deck to the stairs that led below, she looked around in amazement at all the men in the rigging and on the yardarms, unfurling the sails so they could get on their way. Jack could see the awe plain in her face and enjoyed the wonder she displayed while observing his beloved Wench.
"Come, little one." She wouldn't move when she saw the stairs and her eyes widened with terror. "What's wrong now?"
"Um, the stairs…they're open!" Jack frowned, confused as to her meaning.
"Yes they're open, love. If the gate was closed we wouldn't be able to get down here."
"I might be wrong, but I think she means there's no back to them, Captain." William Turner came up behind Jack and pointed to the space between the steps before flattening his hand and holding it vertically between the steps. Jack understood.
"Is that right?" She nodded. "Why is that so scary?"
"I'll fall through." Smiling, Jack held out his arms.
"I'll carry you down." Saoirse shook her head violently. Apparently she didn't trust him enough. Looking to his friend and the ship carpenter, surgeon and amateur blacksmith (he never actually apprenticed that position but rather learned a few things from friends who had and found he had a natural talent for it), Jack sighed. William, or Bill as they tended to call him, had a son so certainly he'd have an idea to get the girl downstairs.
"Captain, you take one of her hands and I'll take the other and we'll make her fly down." One of her eyebrows rose and she actually smiled, making both men smile as well.
"I can fly?" She almost squeaked with the excitement. Bill chuckled warmly as he winked at Jack before holding out his hand.
"Aye, me son, William does it all the time and he's a few years older than you. The captain will hold one hand, I'll hold the other and we'll count to three." Both men's hands were too big for her to get a tight hold on the whole hand so she grasped as many of their fingers as she could. "On your count, Captain."
"One, two, three!" With one swift movement, little Saoirse was swung from the top step to the deck below, squealing with peals of laughter that made the men laugh as well, including the ones who gathered to watch the "flight."
"You're a natural, lass. Now if you'll excuse me, young lady, Captain, I must get to my duties." Jack smiled as the slightly older man climbed same stairs to the deck and disappeared.
"That was fun!" Saoirse was still giggling as he guided her along a corridor to a doorway near the stern.
"Glad ye liked it." Slipping a key in the lock, Jack turned it and swung the door open. It was a little dusty but the bed sheets were clean and the bed still sound, if not perhaps a little too high for the four year old to get into bed on her own. "This will be your quarters. I'm sure we can find a stool for you to use to get into bed." Her face fell. "What?"
"So no one will tuck me in here, either?" Jack's heart went out to the precious girl. Walking over to her, he slowly lifted his hands to her chin but she didn't flinch this time as he lifted her face to look into her eyes. Big puddles of tears welled up in her eyes that seemed greener now. He found it interesting that they changed color so much.
"When was the last time you were tucked in?" She shrugged.
"I-I don't remember." When she blinked, tears spilled from her eyes. Brushing them away with his fingers, Jack crouched in front of her.
"I'll tuck ye in tonight, what say you to that?" Saoirse bit her lip as she nodded hesitantly. Apparently she wanted the caring comfort of being tucked into bed but perhaps wasn't comfortable with him doing it. "Ye might as well get used to me and the crew, Miss Saoirse. You'll be with us for a long time." She looked at her feet with her hands clasped in front of her like a child scolded. "Come on up with me, pet."
"Where are we going?"
"To get you something to eat while the crew and I get the Wicked Wench out to sea."
"Oh. Why can't I be up there?"
"You can eat in me cabin and look out the windows but I don't want ye out on deck because you could get in the way." Saoirse frowned.
"Oh." Jack stood and held out a hand, which she took hesitantly still but not with as much hesitation as before.
"You can come out on deck once we're underway but I just don't want anyone trippin' over ye. They ain't used to a li'l one and they won't be lookin' fer ye when they're runnin' about." She nodded.
"Oh." She stayed quiet as he led her to the galley and found a couple biscuits and poured some tea from a kettle. Seems someone had already anticipated the lass needing something. Good men. Leading the lass to his cabin from there, he helped her up to a chair and pushed it in. Kneeling on the cushion, Saoirse contented herself with the food and drink once Jack sweetened the tea and with a pat on the head, he walked out to get the ship underway.
It wasn't until after he left the ship that he found himself slightly panicking. What the hell had he gotten himself into? Well, technically he didn't get himself into it, as the girl found her own way onto the ship then Beckett told him he'd be transporting her. Still, what was he to do with a little girl? He didn't know the first thing about caring for a child and prayed she didn't need any nappy changing. But what if she needed help getting dressed?
Wait…did she even have anything else to wear? Jack immediately sought out Dawes, one of the men who typically loaded cargo.
"What is it, Captain?" Dawes wiped his hands on his pants before reaching for an apple to cut into the supper he was preparing.
"When Beckett showed up, was any extra cargo loaded? For example, a trunk that might possess child's clothing?" Dawes scratched his chin beneath his chestnut beard as he thought.
"You know, there was a chest but I don't know what was in it. It's below with the rest of the cargo, since I didn't know what it was." Jack nodded.
"Thanks, mate." Jack went down to the hold and unlocked the door after lighting a lamp to carry in. Looking around, he frowned until he saw a large brass and black leather trunk, the only trunk in the hold. It wasn't locked so Jack flipped up the catches and lifted the lid, groaning with frustration when he saw the contents. There were only fabrics and fancy accessories. What in the hell did Beckett expect of Jack? To let the little girl wear that uncomfortable dress for the months it would take to sail to Africa, India and then to Jamaica? It would be nearly a year!
Standing up, Jack left the hold and doused the lamp before heading back up to the deck, a frown set in his still boyish face (even though he tried hiding the boyishness with facial hair) as he rubbed his head with his palm.
"What's the matter, Captain?" Jack started slightly, so deep in his thoughts that he didn't hear Bill Turner come up behind him.
"Only that this voyage will be about a year and Beckett did not send one change of clothes for the lass, not even a nightie." Bill scowled.
"Can't stand the thought o' a man who would send his niece off with so little thought that they don't even prepare the lass for the voyage." Jack shook his head.
"I suspect he didn't plan to send her off at all mate. I think he heard she wandered onto the Wench and saw his chance to be rid of 'er. Do we need travel papers to transport a li'l lass like 'er?" Bill chuckled.
"You're the captain."
"I've never transported anythin' but cargo an' the crew, Turner." The older man smiled suddenly. "I know what yer thinkin' and no, I don't know what I'm going to do wiv 'er."
"Cap'n, ye didn't have any siblings?" Jack nodded.
"Aye, I did but they were all older." Smiling at his friend, Jack's face turned hopeful. "However, ye 'ave a lad." Bill shook his head, his warm chuckle escaping with his words.
"Aye, exactly Capt'n, a lad and Molly does mos' of his caretakin' with me out at sea." Jack sighed.
"There ain't anythin' ye can tell me about children her age?" Bill looked out to the horizon thoughtfully before turning back to his Captain.
"Well, ye have to be firm. If ye say no to somethin' and she throws a fit, ye can't give in just to get 'er to stop whinin' and cryin'. A lass her age is old enough to know how to use tears to manipulate ye and she will." Jack rolled his eyes.
"Get started early, don't they?" Bill laughed. "Honestly mate I can't see ye as bein' much of a disciplinarian." His friend grinned sheepishly.
"I ain't, really. Call it guilt, I suppose, but when I'm home I tend to break a lot o' the rules Molly makes for William cause I hate sayin' no when I'm home. The whole thing I jest told ye about stayin' firm is what she tells me." Both men chuckled. "But seein' as you'll be the one dealin' with the li'l miss most, you'll have to be the one to lay down the rules and be firm with her." Jack nodded.
"Thanks mate, it helped." Patting his friend on the shoulder, Jack headed to his cabin so he could look at his maps to find out where he could stop to buy her some clothes for the journey and figure out how much he could spend. He heard Bill run up behind him.
"Almost forgot somethin'. Watch yer tone and volume when yer talkin' to her. I tend to yell out o' habit at home and it scares William…and neither Molly nor I have ever hit him." Jack understood and smiled.
"Thanks again."
"Well I gatta get back to a project."
"What are ye workin' on?" Bill hadn't had a construction project since the last time they careened the ship or spoken about any upcoming projects so Jack was a little surprised and concerned that there was a need for repair on the Wench that escaped his notice.
"Nothin' too big, but I figured the li'l miss could use a stool to help her get into her bed." Jack smiled.
"Good man." With that, Jack headed towards his cabin again with the intention of getting to know the lass and setting down some rules for the voyage. Nothing too formal and restrictive, but rather rules that if obeyed, would keep her safe.
As for the offer...Jack hissed with frustration when the little devil on his shoulder (that looked how he would imagine himself as a pirate to look like) tempted him to take Beckett up on his offer. "Shut up" he growled before entering his cabin. "She's only a baby."