Chapter 1
"Jack!" Turner's voice called from the distance. The drunken pirate's body whirled slowly around to face him. "Yes, Captain Turner?" The boy and the man stood on the Flying Dutchman, the rest of Turner's crew mulling around them, paying more attention to the ship than to either of them.
"Let us talk, before I go."
"Meaning before you leave for the next ten years taking care of mangy, dead sailors?" He smirked. "Speak away, son," he added, his hands swaying in the air for Turner to speak.
Turner sighed at his annoying slurs of mockery. "About Elizabeth—"
"You mean Mrs Turner," Jack interrupted. What he thought would make Turner more irritated actually made him smile smugly.
"Yes."
"Well, come come, we don't have all day," then with another smirk, Jack added, "Especially you."
Turner sighed, but not because of him, and faced the other way, leaning against the railing which looked out at the beach his beloved was waiting for him on. "I love her, Jack."
Sparrow's brow furrowed.
"I love her courage and her pride. I love her, Jack. But I need to protect her."
If possible, Jack's brow furrowed even more. "And end up just like dear ol' Jones?"
Turner's head dropped. "No." He turned and faced him. "That is why we are having this conversation."
"No," he said, "you are having this conversation. I am simply listening to this superfluous speech of your love for your bonny lass."
"I need her to be safe. And I want you to take care of her," he said, practically gagging on the words. Jack's body swayed back, his hand floating in the air. "Aye?"
"I don't trust you, Jack. I think you're a selfish being with absolutely no regard for others."
"Stop, you're making me blush," Jack said sarcastically with a toothy smile.
"But," Turner continued, gritting his teeth, "Deep down, Elizabeth thinks you are a good man. And I trust her." He took a step towards Jack. "So I want you to look after her. To protect her. Lord knows, she needs it." Jack was abnormally silent through this, but he spoke up.
"You want me to be by Lizzie's side for the next ten years..." He looked bewildered. "But where will I hide the rum?"
Turner smiled. "I know you'll take care of her, Jack. Or I will take care of you," he threatened. Jack raised a challenging brow. But he paused, thinking about what Will was saying. Then, Jack raised his hat from his tangle of dread locks and placed it over his heart. "I promise," he said.
And that was the last Jack saw of Captain Will Turner for a long time.