Chance Meeting

OrionRedStar

Chapter 1: Return To Port Royal

Author: OrionRedStar
Title: Chance Meeting
Venue: Romance/adventure
Pairing: Jack Sparrow/Elizabeth Swann
Coupling: M/F
Disclaimer: No Relation to Disney, just love the characters!
Rating: R or Mature/Adult
Time Frame: After World's End
Story Summary: Jack Sparrow after a year of being in the waters of the Orient returns to Port Royal for expertise repairs to his ship, and finds a whole lot more as well. Jack takes a walk from his ship one rainy night and happens to walk into a pub. Inside, he finds a very familiar face...one who has not fared so well with the passage of time. From that moment on a small adventure begins and a race from danger.

Chapter 1 - Return To Port Royal

It was still tempestuous out among the rolling waves of the sea as the large and majestic Black Pearl had skittishly pulled into Port Royal using extreme caution not to further injure her hull. It was quite dark and dismal outside so the Royal Navy had not been particularly alerted to the fact the large ship had entered the waters and its infamous pirates were bleeding slowly onto shore. The dust of discord had pretty much settled down since the last time the ship and its inhabitants had visited their town to cause any commotion, happening so long ago that the fervor was nearly forgotten. Nearly all of the pirates were able to leak off of the ship in small groupings and wander about and into the town to go their various ways. Most meandered into nearby pubs and brothels, some were unfortunately assigned to the ship as their shift, unable yet to go ashore, needing to adhere and follow captain's implicit orders. A few were to arrange filling out a rather hefty and specific supply order…and one pirate in particular…the captain in fact, was in a strange sort of mental miasma. Not about where he was, but the quandary of where he possibly could go under the circumstances? This was not a scheduled stop that he was looking forward to, but necessity being the mother of invention, had to port here in order to pick up special parts to repair his beloved ship. This was probably the best place to obtain it for the craftsmen did a meticulous job with their workmanship. And the Pearl was taking on too much water to safely reach any other island business that would support such an extensive list of items needed for said repair.

At the moment he was strolling though the dampness and it had just rained leaving a shiny sheen upon the streets. Having departed from his vessel, there was a rawness and bite into the air and he gathered up his coat about the neck, giving a quick shudder. How much he would have rather been on his way to Singapore or to sunny Madrid. This time of the year with the seasonal rains was very depressing, and if the sun did not make a good show of it the next day, he would be down in the mouth. In fact it was the warmth of the sun Jack Sparrow was craving to feel upon his face at the moment. Having weathered these questionable clouds even on route to Port Royal, the never ending, overcast gray skies seemed to also herald the likelihood of his mood whirling just as murky and dim.

There was an awful smell down by the port, so intrusive and offensive even to his nostrils, Jack could not discern exactly what the stench was, but it seemed rancid. The rot of old wood, dumped waste down by the shore, or garbage deposited disrespectfully by a ship, perhaps even a dead rodent or two…all Sparrow wanted to do was peddle his way as far from the repugnant scent as quickly as his long legged lope would allow. A gust of strong and blustery wind had enveloped him and once more he felt a chill creep up his spine. His quickness of pace finally took him higher up the town's natural incline and into a bevy of inns and dining spots. By show of lighted torches and street lamps currently being relit by the townsmen whose task it was to service these street illuminations, it was keen to see how they kept the vistas and avenues of Port Royal well lighted and as crime free as possible.

As Captain Sparrow had draw closer to the spotted grouping of flames in the distance, they were now distinguished as the burning lamps he was presently walking under. He saw a few of his crewmen loitering outside of an inn, huddled together and obviously talking. One man Jack recognized well for he had been crewed with the Pearl for some time, and the other came to join the ship only a few months ago, hailing from St. Dominique. As soon as they saw Sparrow heading their way, and as he slowed down to peer at the sign above, they acted oddly. Their faces reflected genuine dread, as if they were going to be held accountable to something terrible, and were in dismay of Sparrow's wrath. They quickly glanced to one another and actually gaped when Jack reached out his hand to clutch the handle to said door. As he began to open it, the pair of them shared another dubious inside glance. Finally, unable to handle this irritating measure of display, Jack dropped his fingers from the knob. He stood tall, cocked his head to one side, and arrogantly addressed the stray crewmen, locked in place with unhinged jaws,

"Right…what 'tis the mystery, then…y' lot look as if ya jus' thieved this place an' the innkeeper's out fer yer ruddy hides."

Again the two exchanged another glance between them, the more older and sage crew member who knew Sparrow better, was the one electing himself to speak informally to the captain.

"Tis best y' not go in there Cap'in."

His rugged features twisted into a scowl and a subtle negative shake came forth from his head.
His countenance contorting into a sideways tug of the mouth, and brows sinking to shape a frown, Sparrow took offense to the warning.

"Why the bloody hell not?"

Neither of them answered Sparrow and he had already lost the impetus to find out why from those two. It was far better to walk inside this establishment and figure it out for himself what the matter was. Glancing upwards once more to glean the name off the misted wooden sign swinging over his head, the faded and chipped paint on the plank spelled out The Fanciful Filly.

"Well, can't say that the advertisement doesn't loan out the notion t' possess far more enlightenin' prospects, than yer bleedin' faces, eh?" Jack mused to the pair as he boldly stepped inside of the inn.

Once inside, Sparrow's first impression was that the Fanciful Filly was not exactly a brothel, but a pub that served food; evidently by the other posted signs strewn behind the managers counter, this place also rented out beds as well. It was smoky from tobacco and grilled food, and Sparrow had to align his eyes to adjust to the dim an hazy layer within. As he threaded his way through the tables to locate a spot suitable to his liking, Sparrow could not help but notice the level of din sinking down into hushed murmurs as he made his way through the inn. Jack knew he was becoming recognized by the patrons as the whispers and glances suggested. This was a somewhat bothersome feature that Jack had grown accustomed to over the decades. Since his notoriety and own boasting had made it virtually impossible for him to go anywhere in the Caribbean without being noticed, it was expected. Sparrow's fame superseded him, and especially the havoc he created here the last time, it was certainly not forgotten. Many understood this was the very same pirate that had a noose around his neck as he was perched upon a scaffold. Only by the skilled hand of William Turner had he narrowly escaped certain death. But these were regular folks, and they cared not what Sparrow did, so long as he did not bother them. Sparrow's legal fate was intended for the Royal Navy to manage. So, as he maneuvered to a far end corner and settled in, Sparrow removed his hat and coat to soak up the radiant warmth from the hearth nearby.

Jack sighed and rubbed the palms of his hands together, and began to search for the bar maid, eager to order a drink and a bit of food. His coal black eyes finally adjusted to the low light, as they slowly scanned the vast dining area until he caught sight of something that instantly stopped his survey. There, over at the far end of the dining room, was a long bar. And sitting there was the image of a woman. Her back to his peer, but she was wearing a tall tower of honey-blonde locks, a hue which begged familiarity. At first Sparrow scoffed the notion and started to resume his scan of the room past that individual, but his head was unable to obey the mental command. Jack sat there transfixed, as if his eyes were seeing an indistinct mirage. If that was her, what in blazes was she doing in this place at this hour of the night? It was highly unlikely that this scenario would be possible, if Jack had not witnessed it with his own eyes. The alarm mounting within his sense of purpose by the moment, he sat stilled. It was only when Sparrow heard that loud and boisterous laugh come forth it was decided it was too coincidental. The woman seemed to find something hilarious and began chortling to the point of nearly falling off the stool. Jack was about to get up when suddenly his line of sight was obstructed by the waist and torso of a server who just arrived at his table.

"Can I help you then, handsome?"

Jack tried to continue peering around the barmaid's figure as he was terribly distracted. However, in spite of said impediment, Sparrow was quite capable of ordering rum….lots of rum. He was so enticed and enthralled as to what the woman at the bar was doing that he had forgotten what his appetite had desired for supper. Jack bade the barmaid to return with the drink first, and by then he should be decided what to order. The girl was about to saunter off when Sparrow suddenly halted her from leaving with use of a lowered volume of voice teaming with intrigue.

"Mmmm…pardon, then….d' you 'appen t' know who that woman would b', then….the one perched in that seat over there b'twixt those two gents? The blonde with the high hair sweep, evidently findin' humor in another's utterance, I should think."

The barmaid nodded knowing exactly who Jack was referencing.

"Swann, then…..Elizabeth."

Right between the eyes. As the barmaid trailed off to fill the order, Sparrow leaned back and crossed his arms over his chest and those infamous black eyes narrowing considerably. What on earth were the fates doing to him now? What were the odds of his being in Port Royal and of all the small pubs, whorehouses, and inns littered about the port-side area…..he had to stray into this one…..and there she was. Jack looked up and down the length of the service bar and it did not appear as if Elizabeth was paired off or readily escorted by any one man in particular. In fact, there was a string of them that seemed to be doting upon her and vying for Elizabeth's attentions. Those closest apparently hanging dutifully onto every clever word she spoke. Jack received his drink, ordered a bit of beef stew, all the while not having taken leave of Elizabeth's shapely form - not out his sight for a single second. Before leaving, the barmaid asked in a rather snippy tenor,

"Is there anything else….?" Making it an obviously snide dig that she felt neglected and overlooked, since Sparrow's preoccupation was apparently affixed upon the blonde Elizabeth over on the other side of the room.

"Oh….mmmm…what know you of 'er, then….Miss Swann?"

"A local….lives in the governor's mansion…..father dead, fiancé dead…sort of a runabout these days."

Those obsidian eyes still coveting Elizabeth's svelte form as he spoke about her. Jack's handsome features twisted into a considerable scowl as he puzzled over the barmaid's selection of base terminology and wanted a bit more clarification as to why the tag was so vulgar.

"Wha' do you mean by…'runabout,' then?"

"I was tryin' to be polite…a better word fer it would be lush…..taken t' drink, if you will….since she got back...real tragedy, that..."

Sparrow nodded, even though the report on Elizabeth's current, and unsavory, social stigma was detrimental. This had surprised him. Always a plucky sort and definitely not a cry-in-your-beer sort, Jack assumed after Turner's assignment at sea on the Dutchman, they had went on their merry way in life. Sparrow never thought about whether or not they….or rather if Elizabeth, would return to Port Royal. Although the way Jack thought about it, Elizabeth would probably not manage very well on her own remaining on at Shipwreck Cove either. Jack had been off on a lark to the Orient since that business with Beckett was finished. He never saw much use to hang around these waters anyway and it was far better to be so removed from all familiar sights and sounds or memories that were too painful to recall. It was only his last skirmish with battling the Spanish galleon that forced him to sail this way. With the Black Pearl taking on so much water to last, the sort of repairs his ship required needed craftsmen. Only the real professionals would do for this special task. And the closest speck of land to them after the battle was Jamaica. So much for luck of the draw, but at least he was thankful they made it to terra firma before his beloved vessel sank. And Jack knew there were good men about in Port Royal to hire for the repairs.

But, Elizabeth Swann―no, Turner was here in Port Royal. For one to go about spitting out her newly acquired surname so precipitously after first receiving it, why did the locals refer to her as Elizabeth Swann? Jack was in no hurry to disclose his being there inside the inn. Instead of announcing himself, he sat back in his seat, sipping the rum, and enjoyed spying on Elizabeth and her interactions with those seated about her. From what those obsidian eyes could discern from this vantage point, she was still uncannily beautiful. It may have been a year hence, but age did not seem to stake it's claim upon her delicate profile, nor the joyful ring of her laughter. It pealed out like a melodic instrument that caused his stomach to clench at certain intervals.

By the time Jack's meal had arrived to the table, he noticed a few of his other crew members had just entered through the door, most likely seeking a good cooked meal as well. They spotted him instantly, and as if it was ordained by providence, they walked up to the long service bar and instantly spotted and recognized Elizabeth. Glancing to one another and then casting curious asides to Sparrow, they wondered how was it possible that these two had not met up with each other. Jack shook his head in a vigorous but silent 'no' to thwart them. Jack did not want them pointing out his being there to her, but they had not looked back in his direction before approaching Elizabeth. Once they had arrived at the decision to notify Elizabeth of their Captain's opportune whereabouts, the gig was up. Sparrow's first inclination was to jump out of his seat and flee, but it was too late―and he was hungry. Unable to shirk into the shadows any longer and malinger there as a voyeur, as soon as the crewmen reached Elizabeth, her head snapped around to peer directly at Jack. He did a half smile as she nodded in acknowledgement to him, remaining where she was. Taking a few moments to speak to the crewmen, no doubt gleaning all the necessary information beforehand of where they had been all this time, and then crucify Sparrow with it.

Elizabeth seemed astounded, if not hesitant to whatever words she was being fed to catch her up on the latest news. Hearing of the Pearl's current and nearly fatal venture, she reacted. Sparrow assumed Elizabeth no doubt had to be mildly disturbed or puzzled as to why he had not made himself known. Evidently with a meal set before him, she would know Jack had been there for some time. As she turned to the men that were now parting company with her, Elizabeth left her seat. Of course as anticipated, she was making straight for Sparrow. Elizabeth as well was maneuvering through the tightly knit tables and patrons pressed together, carrying what appeared to be a falcon of liquor. Maybe she had been taken to drink as the barmaid attested earlier. When Elizabeth finally reached his table, Jack stood up accordingly, to pay his homage of greeting her in a gentlemanly fashion. In taking a deep breath, as if she was getting over some sense of shock, Elizabeth stated breathlessly,

"Jack…."

"Aye…..that it 'tis…." Sparrow answered somewhat unevenly, unsure if he was smiling too much or too little.

Elizabeth stood there shaking her head back and forth as if she were seeing a mirage. A denial of what image was set in front of her and the inability to impart a rational reason how this was occurring. How often she wondered where Jack Sparrow was or what had become of the infamous Captain and the crew of his massive Black Pearl. Her golden eyes smiling warmly at him, Elizabeth then said,

"How have you been?"

This awkwardness between he and Elizabeth was just about making him choke, especially since she was still standing alongside his table and made no motion to sit down and join him. Most eyes seemed to be upon them in this preliminary meeting as well, and Jack was feeling over exposed. Placing his napkin down, the use of a subtle wave of his hand made gesture for Elizabeth to make herself comfortable at his bidding.

"Why not sit y' down, then?"

Elizabeth looked at him strangely, as if she was daunted he would even venture to ask her to sit with him. The next words she spoke confirmed that suspicion when Elizabeth asked,

"Are you certain….I mean is it alright?"

Jack's scowl began to form as he was vague about why she assumed he would be adverse to that, when he already made the offer. But while Sparrow pondered over that notion, he quickly replied so that she would not get the impression he was adverse to her company.

"Why not?"

As she sat down in the chair across from him, Elizabeth shrugged her shoulders and seemed intimidated. Watching her skittish moves and the manner of delicacy she slipped into the chair, it was easy to see she was feeling self conscious. Sparrow could not remember ever having this influence of discord over Elizabeth. She was fidgeting so much with her hands, unable to sit still and glancing about at the other patrons and definitely not settled.

"Oh, I know not…I had assumed you would rather remain on your own…to eat your supper….after all, you had not made yourself known to me when you came in. There must have been a very definite reason why you had not."

Caught right in the middle of it. Jack swallowed a bit of his food nearly choking on the morsel, but washed it down with a fresh gulp of rum to get it dislodged. Wiping his mouth with a swipe of his napkin and returning to Elizabeth once more, Jack then replied in a somewhat glib tenor,

"I was…mmmm…..not certain it 'twas you then…not straight off."

Elizabeth sat there and just smiled dryly at him, intimating that she was not exactly believing his excuse, but all the same so happy to see him. It was impossible not to relish viewing those rugged and dark features once more after such a long time. So sidestepping the lecture, Elizabeth simply stated as her gaze to Jack remained hollow,

"I see."

Sensing that she too was feeling awkward in his presence, Jack lifted his head, gestured a wave of a hand to his dinner bowl and then offered a suggestion to break the ice,

"Would y' care fer a spot of beef stew, then? Tis rather good 'ere….I could order another―"

"Oh no, thank you very much, but I shall be leaving soon…"

Halting from placing another spoonful of this delightful stew into his mouth, as his arm lowered Sparrow's brows knitted into a subtle scowl of curiosity over that address.

"Really, what manner of business d' you 'ave, then….. what carries y' out of the Frolickin' Filly nearly at midnight, eh?"

Elizabeth stared at Jack and reacted as if she had been affronted, but held back from responding with a terse comment in kind. Sparrow knew her personality well enough from past dalliances to detect a nasty remark indeed was lurking about and purposely being held at bay. His mischievous grin sprouted slowly in recognition of his habit of galling her, until that grin grew into a more advanced beam. Elizabeth appeared to get flush in the cheeks and then glanced over to the door, starting to get up.

"Well, it was good to see you, Jack―"

"Wait….can I buy you a bit of a drink, then?"

Jack offered that in lieu of a supper hoping that offer might be appealing enough to make her stay. Elizabeth glanced down into her mug, her lips pursed and seemed to be struggling with some inner turmoil as to what should be the retort. Jack was intently tuned into her Aquiline facial features and could discern Elizabeth was indeed conflicted as to a rejoinder. Her beautiful facade screwed into a doubtful scowl in regard to what she wanted. Jack deliberated in his mind it was plain enough to see she wanted to stay, but felt it a more appropriate action to depart―for whatever reason she harbored. Elizabeth heaved a heavy and forlorn sigh before she glanced back up to Jack and locked her eyes with his, almost flinching from the intimate exchange that transpired without control.

"I should not."

Now Sparrow was intrigued more than ever, having been a step ahead of her and already was prepared for that eventuality. So in turn, Sparrow already had a response ready to dispatch and was waiting to counter offer her dismissal. Jack could not let Elizabeth just vanish out of his sights so easily, not after so long a time apart. Now that all this mysterious behavior she shrouded herself within came into play, he was more determined. Wolfing down the last few bits of the meat and a few potatoes from his savory stew, Sparrow wiped his mug clean, reached for his rum and seemed to be harried in the winding up of his meal. His dark, kohl framed eyes remained fixed upon her ivory bust shimmering with each breath she took, and highlighted by the candle light. Sparrow swiftly suggested,

"Well, perhaps I should offer escort then, not a first-rate plan fer a young lady t' be shufflin' 'bout the streets at this hour."

Elizabeth appeared cornered and started to fluster as if she was very uneasy, and then abruptly stood up. Jack in accordance assumed she had been agreeable to the proposal and taken him up on the offer. Sparrow also started to rise when Elizabeth abruptly stated with a skittish aura about her,

"Oh no…that is very kind and thoughtful of you, but it is quite alright. I am certain you have better things to do rather than waste your time shepherding me about, Jack. I shall make my own way home….but, thank you. It was grand to see you again, really…I am pleased that you are well."

And with that hastily delivered line, Jack was shocked as Elizabeth set her empty mug down and bolted for the exit of the inn. Jack was nearly frantic and falling over in a tangle of tablecloth, napkin and waistcoat, grabbing at his hat, reaching into his purse and awkwardly tossing his payment of coin upon the table. Slamming his hand down upon them, to prevent the hastily tossed coins from rolling, Jack was struggling to depart. Finally half freed from the table, he clamored over the people in a frantic race to catch up to Elizabeth sprinting out the door. By the time Sparrow had navigated through the obstacle course of tables and reached the outside street, one arm half in his coat and hat on crooked, Elizabeth was nowhere to be seen.

"Blimey…that was bloody quick! How could I not catch 'er up, then….." Sparrow seemed befuddled as to how Elizabeth could have simply evaporated so swiftly within the clinging mists of the dewy streets.

Jack did not know if she had fortuitously caught a passing by carriage up to the governor's mansion, ducked into an alley, or how it was feasible to vanish like vapor. Sparrow was even unsure if that is who he had even been speaking to for the past twenty minutes. Where had Elizabeth gone? Was it possible that she was still living there in the governor's mansion as the barmaid seemed to suggest? Was it even appropriate for Sparrow to try and give chase or follow, when it was obvious Elizabeth was not yearning for his continued company?

Sparrow stood there, fixing his coat while cinching his other arm into the empty sleeve, and adjusting his hat squarely upon his mop of dreadlocks. Realizing he was standing in the middle of an annoying drizzle, Jack ducked under the canvas awning and stood there a few moments. For some bizarre reason, he was undecided about what to do with himself. A grown man, standing about like a dote in the middle of the sidewalk, at sea for nearly two months in the journey back from sailing around the Asian continent…..and now here he was - stuck on an avenue in Port Royal.

There was only one venue which seemed left to him. Sparrow quickly loped towards the one place where he knew he would be welcome, as well as his coin. Towards the local brothel he went, cursing under his breath the entire way and hating himself for the carnal cravings of his own body. Why did the meeting go so terribly with Elizabeth? If it had gone favorably, would it had made any difference at all? Sparrow assumed he would not know or ever would in the immediate future. They all would be in Port Royal for some time while the Pearl was going under those extensive repairs, so only time would tell if this meeting was indeed ordained by providence. Jack wondered if this was possibly a punishment instead. What if this chance meeting with Elizabeth had been slated as a need of restitution or to make amends? Shoving his hands into his pockets and turning up his back collar to the chill, Sparrow disappeared as well into the mists of the night to seek amiable company elsewhere.