Lost So Long Ago

Jack walked aimlessly down the street, looking around at all the shops and people. Some of the townspeople threw him untrusting looks, while others ignored him completely. Jack merely shrugged and continued on his way. He finally made it to his destination, the tavern.

The infamous pirate captain opened the tavern door and entered, surveying the tables. He spotted his friend, Will Turner, and made his way to him.

"Afternoon, whelp," Jack grunted, sitting down.

"Hey there, Jack," Will replied. "What took you so long?"

Jack shrugged. "Slept in. Didn't sleep too well last night. Had a nightmare." A barmaid came over and set a mug of ale in front of him, and Jack drink a deep drink out of it. He looked into the amber liquid and thought back to his dream.

There was a face; the most lovely face in the whole world. Long, golden hair and blue-gray eyes filled his mind, and a smile that made Jack's heart pound.

"You alright Jack?" Will frowned. "You look as though you've seen a ghost."

"In a manner of speaking, Will, I have," Jack told him, taking another drink of his ale.

"Oh." Will didn't say anything more, leaving Jack to his thoughts.

The tavern door opened and Gibbs entered. He spotted Will and Jack and came over to them. "Afternoon, you two," he greeted them, taking a seat. "Good God, Jack! You look awful! You sick?"

"Aye, sick with loneliness," Jack replied. "I dreamt of her again, Gibbs."

Gibbs nodded with understanding. "She's a hard one to forget. Especially after what she did."

Will looked between the two. "What are you talking about? Who, Jack?"

"No one, whelp."

Gibbs shook his head at Will, indicating to keep his mouth shut. "Well, Jack, I don't know what to tell you. Perhaps you'll see her again one day."

Just then, the door opened for the third time, and a woman walked into the tavern. The only problem with her was, however, that she was out of place. She looked to be a woman of noble blood. What was a woman of her stature be doing in a place like this?

Jack looked over at her and choked on his ale. He wiped his mouth, staring wide-eyed at the newcomer. "Well, well," he muttered. "Look what the cat dragged in."

Gibbs looked over and did a double take on the woman. "What are you going to do, Jack?"

Jack shook his head and watched the woman closely. She leaned in to the bartender. He nodded and handed her a room key. "I have some business to sort out with her."

Will looked at Gibbs as Jack stood and strode up the stairs after the woman. "Who was that? An old lover?"

"You could say that. That woman is Jack's wife."

"Wife!"

"Aye. He married her five years ago. Three weeks after the wedding, she left him with no explanation or note. Jack was heart-broken. He loved her as he had never loved any other woman before."

"Wow. I never knew Jack had it in him."

"Amazing, isn't it?"

"Yeah. I didn't think Jack was that sensitive."

Gibbs shrugged. "Oh well. Jack is always full of surprises. What do you say we get out of here while the building still stands?"

Will nodded and rose from his seat. He and Gibbs left the tavern, letting Jack get on with his uncompleted business.