Leave Right Now
By Sharron Ibbitson
Rating: R- for some graphic violence.
Disclaimer- okay how many times must you make me say it! Captain Jack and the rest of the cast of PotC do not belong to me, as much as it pains me to admit it!
Summary: Will once made his friend captain Jack Sparrow promise that if he needed any help he would return to Port Royal to seek it from his friends, yet when it comes down to it can the pirate bring himself to ask for the help that he need?
Leave Right Now
Jack Sparrow sighed deeply as he knocked back yet another tankard of rum. He winced as the movement pulled at his wounded side. When had life gone so wrong?? He thought to himself as he sat in the bar, alone as it seemed he was destined to be forever. He gasped as another wave of pain shot through him, life had taken a dramatic turn for the worse just a few short days previously, and if Jack had seen it coming he would probably have ended it all there and then.
Flashback
Jack Sparrow stood in his usual position starring out to sea but today something was different. For today Jack Sparrow was almost completely alone. His deck lined with he lifeless bodies of his pirate crew, the wooden floor awash with blood as the aftermath of the fierce battle lay evident on the beautiful ship.
End Flashback.
Jack bit back on a sob as the memory snuck up on him, and he clutched his hand tighter around his bleeding stomach. He knew that he was doing himself no favours, he had bleeding heavily since the attack, and yet he had sought no help. A part of him simply didn't care if he bled to death, who would miss him anyway? Jack sighed, he wished that he could convince himself that no one could care if the infamous Jack Sparrow went to the bottom of Davy Jones Locker, yet he knew of at least two people that would.
Flashback
Will Turner stood beside the clear blue waters of Port Royale, trying to keep the sadness out of his eyes as he looked at his friend. He didn't know how long it would be before he laid eyes on the pirate again, but he did know hat he would miss his friend greatly. Will sighed to himself, and squeezed the hand of his fiancée. The two of them had grown so fond of Jack when he had saved their lives, and were grateful that he had stayed in regular contact. Yet they couldn't help but feel that he still kept them at arms length, almost afraid to be hurt should he let them get too close. He shook his head to clear his thoughts as Jack moved to stand in front of them.
"Well then lad, looks like I be off now" he told the younger man affection clearly laced in his voice. Will smiled lightly at him.
"Yes Jack, you just be careful you hear" Elizabeth told the pirate as she surprised him by pulling him into a hug. After he got over his initial shock Jack returned the embrace, then extended his hand out to the young blacksmith, Will ignored the gesture and instead also pulled the pirate close to him, he then gently pushed the pirate back but didn't release his hold, instead he looked Jack directly in the eye.
"At least this time we get to say goodbye. Please Jack be careful, and stay in touch" he asked of the pirate.
"Of course whelp" Jack replied with his custom gold and white grin. Will returned the smile before continuing.
"Promise me one thing? Please promise me that if you are ever in trouble, if you ever need our help, please just come straight to us or get word to us? We will be there in a shot" Will told his friend, his eyes clearly portraying the feeling behind his words. Jack chuckled lightly.
"Look lad that's hardly the sort of promise that a pirate makes now is it? Besides what would it matter if I promised you should know you can't trust the word of a pirate" jack responded, a hint of sadness in his tone. Will sighed deeply.
"You may be a pirate Jack, but you are also a good man, and you have never given me reason not to trust you" Will told the man, and Jack's eyes danced with amusement, well the whelp had certainly grown up he was even throwing his own words back at him.
"Aye I guess you're right. Aye I promise ye lad, you'll be the first I come to savvy?" Jack reluctantly agreed, knowing that that was a promise that would be extremely hard to keep, after all the code hardly had a passage for keeping allegiances with governor's daughters and their blacksmith fiancés. Satisfied Will released his hold on the pirate and after a few more words of goodbye Jack rowed his way back to his ship and the mighty Black pearl was at full sail before the sun was fully risen in the sky.
End Flashback.
Jack chuckled a humourless laugh to himself, gradually getting dizzier and dizzier as his life's fluid flowed from his multiple wounds. The majority of his crew gone, dead. Only he,, Anamaria and Gibbs had survived the onslaught, it was his fault. It was the only time in the last year or so that he had regretted getting the Pearl back.
Flashback
"Captain they are turning. Shit they are firing on us!" Marty yelled out, and Jack turned around just in time to see the cannonball rip through his crewmates body, leaving blood splattered all over the Captain's face. Jack had to bite down on the urge to gag, he knew even then that that image would stay with him for the rest of his life. He took a deep breath, and then with a voice that was far calmer than his raging nerves should have allowed, he began to bellow out his orders.
"Right you rabid dogs, return fire, give em everything ya got" he yelled, drawing his own pistol and sword in preparation. The battle was bloodier than any even Jack Sparrow had seen before, and when the crew of the other ship began to board the Pearl most of his crew had already perished, yet that did not stop Captain Jack. He may have been accused of many things in his life, but he could never be found guilty of quitting, no Sparrow could never stop without a fight. Right now he and only ten of his crew member were left standing, and the eleven of them were fighting the battle of their lives.
End Flashback.
Jack sobbed, and regretted the noise instantly. He didn't even really know what he was doing here. He was a wanted man in this town, he knew it and most of the residents had witnessed his somewhat miraculous escape from the gallows the previous year, yet he had still come. His heart was telling him to go to his friends to seek the refuge he so desperately desired, yet another part of him knew that it was against everything he had ever stood for to admit to weakness, and admit to needing help. Fortunately Jack's body took that moment to remind him that that was precisely what he did need and exactly what he had come to Port Royal for. Jack sagged weakly against the wall and slid down until he was sat down with just his back resting against the brick surface. He rested his head back and fought the urge to cry. He had lost so much, the things that he had left by no way amounted to the same that had perished that previous day.
Flashback
Jack was tiring quickly and he knew. The battle was still in full swing and the Pearl was grossly out numbered by their opposition, yet they fought on. Jack had seen many more friends fall, yet he allowed himself no pause he already had his hands full. His time for grieving would come later, when this was over and the fates had decided whether he would live or die. He hissed in pain as a blade clipped him on his sword arm, but only hesitated for a second before neatly transferring his cutlass to his other arm and continuing his fight. His opponent loomed over him, yet Jack didn't even seem to notice as he cut the man to shreds and eventually pushed him overboard. Jack took a moment to collect himself before he turned to take in the carnage that had befallen his ship, it was only with a small sense of satisfaction that he noticed that the battle seemed to be drawing to a close as only a handful of the enemy ship's crew seemed to still be on board. He carefully pressed his hand against his bleeding arm and began to move forward to see if he could assist any of his crew. His moves were halted when in his peripheral vision he caught a hint of movement to the side of him. Quick as a flash he whirled around his pistol raised, and simultaneously two shots were fired.
End Flashback