Author's Notes: So it's my first Pirates story. Expect it to be finished within a couple of days (: I've been working on this one for a couple of days, seriously, since I saw the second movie on Monday (24/07/06). So, naturally, this is set after the second movie, but I would say that if that's the case, then Jack didn't die, and escaped with the rest of them, and slain the Kraken and got away with the Pearl successfully, or it's after the third movie, where they've revived him and yadda-yadda-yadda, and they've rescued Elizabeth from evil-Chinese-guy and now she's… well. –ahem-. We won't go into that; it's spoilers for the fic x)

Genre: PotC

Characters: Commodore Norrington, Captain Jack Sparrow, Cutler Beckett, Will Turner, Elizabeth Swann, Joshamee Gibbs. Plus others.

Rating and Warnings: Oh, it's slashy. Sparrington stuff abound. If that's what you want to believe. I would say I'm rating this T, 'cause I dunno what it's gonna turn into x) You'll just have to wait and see ;3

Chapter One

Fiercely Stormy

The night was fiercely stormy, and waves lashed the side of the sleek black ship that cut through the waters like a knife. Rain hammered down onto the decks and soaked the crew that were busy tying off ends and securing cannons, and the wind howled like a wild animal, threatening to tear the sails from their moorings. All around the Pearl, there was nothing but pitch black, save the few spots churning water, illuminated by the lamps desperately trying to light up the ship. Soon enough, the Captain would give up trying to sail through the storm and order that they simply sit where they were, and drift with the tides. It would save the crew's energy at least, energy that could be well spent the next day. It wasn't as though they would get too far off course; but the weather didn't seem as though it was going to let up any time soon. It was the most sensible course of action - then again, the Captain commanding this ship wasn't one for taking the most sensible course of action.

He stood at the wheel, squinting into the rain; tricorne hat having collected a great deal of rainwater that was now splashing down his already sodden form. Hands gripped the wheel firmly, as under currents meant that the ship was becoming rather difficult to handle, and every now and again dark eyes would flick to the compass, held awkwardly between finger and thumb as he tried to keep them on course. He was just about managing it.

But the crew; Jack could see they were tiring; soon to give up and mutiny; even Briggs...shaking his head, knowing that tonight it was a no go, Captain Jack Sparrow barked out a fresh set of orders.

"Let down the sails lads, and get below deck; we're sitting this one out." He hoped they had heard him over the rain and the wind, and the roar of the sea, to be fair he was looking forward to getting some drink down him and having a few minutes to himself.

The task completed, Jack left the wheel and entered his cabin, sinking into a chair and throwing his dresscoat over the table. Aching arms and legs, he simply sat there, quite still. A few minutes past, and he reached for the bottle of rum that always lived next to his map and sextant, and took a hearty swig, relaxing a little.

Their latest excursion had gone rather well; they had been chasing a ship down the coast of a string of islands, all partly on Will Turner's orders. Elizabeth had been taken one night, and as such the whelp had insisted that they go after her; Jack wanting to go after something much more shiny had grudgingly agreed; as his first mate wasn't going to do a decent job if she was absent.

Though the Pearl was no doubt the fastest ship, this other was smaller, lighter and perhaps a little more maneuverable; as it had stuck to the shallows and cut across islands using the inland waterways, they had followed it, but not quite been able to catch it. Wearing Jack's tether indeed, the Captain had tried every trick in the book to try and trap the other ship, but every time he was out foxed.

A few people had sprung to mind as he tried to put a face to this adversary, but the more important thing that niggled him was why they had only taken Elizabeth when the ship lay wide open to assault. The enemy had literally come from out of the blue, one night a few weeks ago. Leaving them a note of sorts, Jack had pinned it onto the main mast for everyone to read - he himself had glanced at it a few times, but it was just a ransom note declaring the price for her head.

Jack had had the confidence at the time, that they were going to catch the ship before they docked, for if the others managed to reach port Royale, Elizabeth would be hanged. At the time, the Captain wasn't vexed in the slightest, but as time wore on and they neared the mark, he began to become a little more concerned - they were certainly giving him a run for his money.

Still, none of this showed on his exterior, he was still the same old Jack - wasn't he?

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James wasn't having the best of months, nor the best of lives, nor the best of days. With the terrible note about Elizabeth, every moment he had to himself he noticed himself blinking more – to rid his eyes of the shallow tears there. But that had nearly passed; after all, she was Will's girl through and through now, wasn't she? There wasn't a bloody chance she could ever think of marrying him – the only emotions he supposed she showed towards him were anger and pity. Foolish girl… a blacksmith. A pirate. And now he was being hypocritical – it was true he had shown himself up rather to be a pirate of sorts… with a devious smile he dismissed the idea. Definitely not. Norrington the pirate of the seven seas? – It just didn't work.

With a sharp laugh he followed the other crew members below deck, settling himself against the wall with a small bottle of rum, sipping from it now and again as he cast an intent eye around the other crew hands, and kept a sharp ear listening to their conversation. Eventually he could stand no more – their comments on working out who really had captured Elizabeth drove him insane – of course his loyalties lay… he cleared his throat quietly and left for his bed, sharing the quarters with at least half of the crew. He itched to tell them the truth, so that the Captain had a better lead… Norrington had a slight respect and … admiration for the man, for his talents as a pirate certainly were quite awful, but deceptive all the same and it kept his enemies hopping from one foot to the other, waiting in suspense right until the most unfortunate of moments until they found out the real truth behind Sparrow.

The former Commodore sighed heavily and departed from being flumped across his bed to the Captain's chambers… he needed to talk.

He rapped twice upon the timber door, and pushed it open, wincing a little as it creaked loudly.

"Captain? Have you any idea how long the storm will take to pass?"

Jack opened one eye and stared at James standing in the doorway. Sitting up, for he had been leaning over the back of his chair, he turned around in his seat to gawk at the man, a plain look of disgust on his own face as those dark eyes travelled up, and down the shoddy attire. He loved to do that, make his old enemy feel no better than the goats they kept on the ship; everyone else hated him, for they were loyal to their captain, and besides, the ex-commodore had been so full of himself, it took rather a lot to actually like him. Jack loved to play along with it all, as his liking of the man hadn't particularly grown since they picked him up in Tortuga, and it cheered him up rather a lot – James was often the butt of all his jokes, and the crew seemed to join in.

It was a shame he was in that position, but hey, he hadn't changed one bit. Jack was silent for quite a long time, making James stand there slowly becoming wetter and wetter until he smiled in a sickly sweet manner, his free hand waving the man inside.

"Do come in Jamsey boy – wouldn't want you getting wet what with the storm an all." He said cheerily, a hand gesturing towards a seat.

"I don't know and I don't care - doesn't look like it's stopping any time soon, so I'm not interested. Was there anything else you wanted?" Jack enquired, making it quite clear he was not about to offer the man any form of hospitality, drinks or otherwise. It was clear though, he was looking for some sort of resignation from the man, a hint that he wanted this unfairness to end against himself of course if he asked, Jack would probably make him do something utterly humiliating and possibly not worthwhile his sanctity, but still...he held this mad urge to get the ex-commodore to admit that he was an idiot. He had become quite sick of the man looking down his nose at him, when in reality he was no higher than the common man.

He dropped his gaze a little nervously, and looked down at the floorboards, shining with rainwater and grease. James muttered something quiet as he entered the Captain's rooms, which sounded awfully like, "I'm already bloody wet…" but nonetheless he came in, but shook his head when offered the seat, choosing instead to stand just behind it, twisting his hand around his middle finger agitatedly, choosing his words, eyes darting about the cabin as he thought.

"You… don't care?" Norrington's comment on Jack's reply to his earlier question. He shook his head to dismiss the statement and eyed the chair wearily, before choosing to sit to relieve himself of trying to keep upright on a ship that was somewhat violently rocking.

James swallowed and looked a little desperately at the inviting bottle of rum placed there upon the table, not slipping an inch from where Jack had undoubtedly put it down, it's contents however splashing all over the job like the wild angry seas outside.

"I…" he hesitated, trying to avoid eye contact with the man as he studied the strange trinkets around Sparrow's neck and tied into his hair.

"just wanted to know… if I could be of any more help during the voyage…. Captain?" He laid a delicate stress upon the formal and correct addressing.

"Indefinitely – Don't care, couldn't give a monkies, not bothered…Savvy?" He replied, picking up his drink and taking another deep swig before replacing it on the table, "You'll only tire your little legs out running up and down the decks, which amusing though it may be, it's pointless. I thought you knew how to sail a ship?" He retorted happily, only becoming more gleeful the longer James sat there and fumed; Jack adored winding the poor man up.

"Be of use?" He said, "Not unless you intend on becoming a woman anytime soon." Jack stated, smirking slightly. For sex was the only thing he desired at the moment. True he could have been searching for treasure, and there could have done with being a little more liquor on board; Jack had had to ration what the crew had so that he himself had plenty.

But a woman's touch was the only thing he truly wanted, and at sea this often became a problem.

There were plenty of things James could have done to make himself useful around the place; entertain the crew was one thing, bring him some more rum was another, see where Will had got to…that was a third. Ah James – so infinitely useful in every single way.

Apart from sex…Jack eyed him suspiciously, before adding as an afterthought "Don't think about it – I was joking." Norrington was the kind of guy who would take a comment like that seriously, or at least Jack envisioned he would, and laughed inwardly at the thought of it.

His eyes widened at the latest words of rubbish spewing from Jack's mouth, and his heart beat faster; what in God's name… where the devil… in this situation he was even trying not to swear inwardly. He would have laughed had he not been a more serious man, but…

"I should hope not…" there was a strange glint in James' eyes and he looked Sparrow up and down before clearing his throat. "Though I don't doubt that you make your bedmates feel wanted, Captain…" there was no laughter behind the comment and he merely raised an eyebrow and stood, restraining himself from turning his back on Jack; it would be a rude gesture.

"Sparrow I thought you would have worked out that I'm nobodies fool?" he whispered, eyes narrowed and hands clenched into tight fists. He could feel the adrenaline racing around his body… if he didn't leave soon there would be a black eye on either side…

"If you're that desperate you've turned to me, pirate…" and he walked out of the room, boots clicking on the floorboards. Norrington headed straight for his rooms, temper high. He ignored the rain, ignored the cat calls and jeers from the other crew mates as he stormed through the quarters and sat on his bed, almost as angry as the seas. Indeed it appeared as though Jack's prediction was correct, and Norrington had taken it seriously.

"Why – you jealous Jamsey boy!" Jack called after the man's retreating back, shaking his head and laughing. James would have to be humiliated in the morning; it would take his mind of how badly the chase was going, and teach him another lesson. As it went the ex-commodore still hadn't learnt to look up to him; as soon as he was insulted he seemed to drop all formalities. He should have remembered to call him captain.

But Norrington had gotten to him – Jack was slightly irked at his comment. Still, he hadn't done himself any favours and the Captain continued to have the upper hand in all this. He smiled to reassure himself and closed the door to his cabin, sinking into the bed adorned with cushions and kicking off his boots. Rum made him sleepy, and he had tired of this weather.

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