Will Turner stretched his back after sitting so many hours in his quarters and went out. His first mate had given him news that they had arrived in Tortuga a short while ago and now, after writing in his log the last events of his journey up to mooring to the infamous pirate-infested island, he wanted to finish his business quickly: his ship was almost empty of all provisions and fresh water, so the sooner he had sold the goods and got enough money to take care of that problem, the better.
This was his first trip with Arabella and he couldn't be more pleased with himself. It was true that he had spent almost all his savings that he had made in his former days as a blacksmith on her; but he felt that it was worth it. She had a fine, sturdy hull and she was quite cheap for a sloop, so he was able to hire with the rest of his money a few men who were just as eager to try out their luck out on the sea as he was. His only regret was that there weren't any money left for his wedding with Elizabeth. She claimed that she didn't mind at all, since the ship meant so much to him; and, as far as she was concerned, they were married already after their adventure on the Black Pearl brought them finally together.
Still, that didn't comfort Will at all. So now, with his new identity as a pirate, he intended to gather as much money as possible from looting any enemy French ship (he despised them for their war against his own homeland) or any other unfortunate pirate ship that would attack him. He had figured that, if everything turned out well, he would gather enough wealth by the end of the year and thus give Elizabeth a wedding that would be worthy of a governor's daughter.
This first outing to the seas had turned out better than he had believed. He managed to sack a pirate lugger filled with precious gems and jewellery, and he was certain that he would get a handsome price for them. Even now, as he was walking to the store, he couldn't help thinking of the money he would earn and how proud would his beloved be for him. His hand reached for the pocket of his overcoat, wherein was a small pouch, and looked once again at the shining golden ring, the emerald that decorated it sparkling before his eyes. He had already decided to save this fine thing for Elizabeth as a wedding ring.
So engrossed was he on his prize that he didn't notice a figure running towards him until it was too late; whereas the force of their collision was such that both men ended on the ground. It was only thanks to Will's quick reflexes that he caught the ring before it fell on the ground and rolled out of sight.
"Awfully sorry," he heard the other man say apologetically.
"You could be a little more bloody careful," growled Will, unable to hide his anger and annoyance, putting the ring back in its place. He had almost lost it because of this fool!
"I said I'm sorry, mate. What more can I say to Bootstrap's kid?"
That made Will quickly look up, to face a pair of most familiar eyes.
"Jack!"
"It's always nice to see I'm remembered," remarked the dark-skinned pirate, his golden teeth glittering as he grinned broadly.
"But what are you doing here? I didn't see the Black Pearl when I arrived at the harbour."
"I dropped anchor at the western shore, 'cause I needed to avoid some trouble," answered Sparrow in a confidential tone.
"Trouble?" echoed Will, raising an eyebrow.
At that very moment, above Tortuga's commotion, sounded a very angry woman's voice.
"Jack Sparrow!!!"
Without losing any time (and muttering something to the likes of "It's Captain Jack Sparrow!") he grabbed his young friend from the collar, so that they could hide the best way possible in a dark corner, the hardened sea-dog's hat serving as a screen for their faces. All that Will managed to see was a brunette lass passing by, looking quite furious and, apparently, very eager to speak her mind to Jack.
"Has she gone?" asked Jack, still hiding his face behind his hat.
"If you mean your trouble, yes," replied young Turner, one corner of his lips tugging to a small smile. "Are you sure it was such a good idea to come here? You are bound to receive such 'warm' welcomes."
"Under other circumstances, I wouldn't. But I had to see to some business here which couldn't wait."
"Like?" asked Will, looking around to make sure that they weren't seen as both pirates stepped out of the shadows.
"I wanted to pick up something. As soon as I have it, I'll be out of here in a jiffy."
"Why don't you finish your business then? If anything, you won't have to fear of any… ladies that are after a piece of you."
"Everything in good time, mate. Right now, bumping into you is too good a chance to pass up and it certainly calls for a bit of rum. How about you join me?" said Jack with a sly smile.
"As much as I would like to," replied Will politely, "I wanted to sell my loot and then take to other seas."
"All the more reason for us to share a drink! After all, I got the Black Pearl back because of you and the lovely Miss Swann and I didn't even say a proper thank you," argued the roughened seaman, his grin never leaving his face.
"If I remember right, you actually took a little dive off Port Royal's walls," noted young Turner, chuckling.
"Exactly. Not to mention that it's been already more than a month since then and I don't know if me poor heart will stand the guilt much longer." The pirate's eyes became almost watery as he said those words, and Will actually laughed at the mingled expression of utter sadness and mirth that were reflected on the dark-skinned pirate with such comic results.
"Well, I suppose I don't want to be the one who breaks the great Captain Jack Sparrow's heart," he said, playing along.
"Then it's settled!" concluded Jack triumphantly, placing an arm full of friendliness across Will's shoulders. "The rum's waiting for us!"
"Don't get carried away, Jack, I'll just have a mug or two," warned Turner.
"It'll be enough," replied Sparrow. Had Will paid more attention, he would have clearly noticed a strange glint shining through the pirate's dark orbs.
--------------------
"So," said Will amid all the clutter and shouts inside the tavern. "What have you been up to after you escaped Port Royal? Trying to shake Norrington off your back?"
"The Black Pearl is faster than the Crown's ships, in case you've forgotten," Jack answered with a tinge of pride for his beloved ship, "which means no. I'm currently catching up with some… assets to make up for the ten years I've lost 'cause of Barbossa."
"Plundering whatever ships or towns cross your path?" asked young Turner, smirking.
"That's the game, isn't it?" replied Jack, taking another swing off his rum, straight from the bottle. "Don't worry, your ship is safe, for old times' sake."
"Thank you, that is a comfort," laughed Will, joining his friend in the merry-making by taking another draught off his mug. "Where will you go after your business?" he asked then curiously.
"My what?" questioned Sparrow, blinking in confusion.
"Didn't you say that you had to pick something up from here?" said Will, his turn to feel puzzled.
"Oh, that's right!" exclaimed the dark-skinned pirate, laughing heartily. "Well, if everything works well, I'll sail to the western English colonies."
"In search of more treasures?"
"You could say that," answered Jack, his expression turning for a moment unusually serious. "Which brings me to somethin' I meant to ask you, mate!" he added immediately, his grin broadening once more.
"Oh?"
"I saw the pretty little thing that you put in your pocket after we bumped onto each other. A gift for Miss Swann, I presume?"
"Yes. What does that have to do with anything?" questioned Will immediately, his eyes shining with slight suspicion.
"Well, where I'm going to there's plenty of that," answered Jack, pointing with his finger at Turner's pocket. "I was thinking that you can come with me, and even help me out in my own job there."
Will shook his head at once.
"It's too far for me. I want to be able to see Elizabeth from time to time."
"You're sure about it?"
"Absolutely. Besides, I have now my own ship to take care of; I can't just leave it here in the middle of nowhere."
"It's noted," said Jack, putting on his hat, his smile always broad. "But you're wrong about one thing, young Turner: Tortuga is the centre of the world, where one can meet all the interesting people."
"Really?" said Will. "Like who?"
"Like Mr. Gibbs here!" said Sparrow, his eyes shining as he recognised the figure that approached their table. "Glad you could join us!"
Will turned instantly; and there indeed was Gibbs, the wizened seaman who had become a member of Jack's crew and was something like a mentor to young Turner while the latter was amid the company also, telling him the secrets of a pirate's life.
"Gibbs!" exclaimed the young man, standing up at once to handshake his old friend, not noticing Jack darting his look on the still half-full with rum mug.
"Hello to you too, lad," said the first mate, smiling kindly. "It's good to see you again. That's some fine clothing you've got there! So you're a regular pirate now?"
"I try to be anyway," replied Will modestly, straightening his vest in embarrassment. "Do you want to sit?"
"I'm afraid it won't be possible, I only came to notify the Captain here that everything's in order and we can set sail whenever he's ready," said Gibbs, turning his look on Sparrow, who had thrown away his empty rum-bottle and was now holding Will's mug.
"Excellent, I'll be there in a minute," he assured Gibbs, and got ready to drink off the mug. However, the sound of a clearing throat stopped him.
"Jack, I paid for that," said Will, his eyebrow rising ever so slightly. All that Jack did was smile sheepishly.
"I thought you didn't want the rest, mate," he said innocently, handing the mug back to Turner. "Well, cheers!"
"Cheers," answered Will and swallowed the contents of the mug in one gulp. "And now, since you two have already some work to do, I should go and be done with my own," he added, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand. "Goodbye!" And he started walking out.
He hadn't gone ten steps to the door however, when, to his surprise and confusion, it seemed to him that the room was moving about. He shook his head in an attempt to snap himself out of that spell, but that only resulted in making him feel more light-headed. What was in that rum, anyway? he managed to think before he felt his legs giving way underneath him. It took all his will-power to brace himself against one of the tables, and yet Will somehow knew that it would be a matter of minutes before he would finally collapse on the floor if he didn't find a place to sit down soon. At that moment, a pair of hands held him tightly offering their support.
"Are you alright, lad?" he thought he heard Gibbs say as from afar, but he didn't find the time to answer, because it was then that he felt himself falling down. The last thing he heard as darkness engulfed him was Jack's voice:
"If you can't handle your rum… don't drink it!"
_________________________
Will opened his eyes slowly and uncertainly, to find himself on a bed in an unknown room. And when he tried to stand up to get a better look on things, he also registered the splitting headache that seemed to course through his head, making it feel as heavy as lead. Grunting softly and rubbing his temples with his hands, he tried to figure out where he was and how he got there. He was in the tavern, that much he could remember at least, drinking with Jack and Gibbs, and the next he knew was nothingness; he must have lost his consciousness some time then. Did the fellow pirates help him up in one of the rooms the tavern offered on the first floor then? That seemed a good enough possibility.
He stood up cautiously to look around, hoping that Jack or Gibbs would come at some point soon to tell him what happened, and started examining the place. He wondered at the elaborate work that was done to some of the woodwork. It was also interesting to see how some of the things were certainly old but rather valuable as well. That was quite unusual for a room in a tavern of dubious quality. After all, why keep such valuables, when the tenants that it usually housed were bound to take them away in their departure? Tortuga had its surprises then, he concluded.
At that moment Will froze and checked himself. If he hadn't known any better, he would have thought that the room was moving about.
I'm not drinking another mug of rum in my life! he thought wryly, not at all pleased at how it seemed to affect him. If nothing else, it easily explained how Jack acquired his swaggering gait.
Just then, another shake of the room almost made him lose his balance. Will's eyes widened in realisation to see that the room was moving; it wasn't just a hangover's trick! He looked outside the small window to see what was happening and he gasped in surprise: he couldn't be looking at what he thought he was looking, could he? His hands quickly wiped the windowpane to get a clearer view of the outside world.
"Oh, heaven almighty!" exclaimed the blacksmith.
He was looking at the sea!
______________________
Everybody aboard the Black Pearl paused momentarily to hear the cry of wrath that came out of their captain's room, while all that Jack did as he stood by the prow was wince a bit, thinking that that boy really should do something about that temper of his.
"JACK, IF I GET MY HANDS ON YOU, I SWEAR--" roared Will, rushing on the ship's deck and looking around frantically for the culprit of his predicament.
"Hey, you're awake!" smiled Sparrow sweetly, as though having Will on board was the most natural thing in the world. "For a moment I thought I had overdone it with the drug I stole from the wench you hid me from."
Will stared at Jack for many long moments, hardly believing his ears.
"Drugged me? Drugged me?" he repeated over and over incredulously. "I should let the woman have her way with you!"
"You would understand me if you heard how much she actually asked for it!"
"Damn it, Jack, that isn't the problem here and you know it!" exclaimed the former blacksmith in exasperation. "You kidnapped me, for crying out loud! How am I supposed to get back to my ship?"
"Oh, don't you worry about that, mate. Your crew was saddened to hear about your unfortunate… accident in a brawl and now they're searching for mythical treasures on a map marked with "X" that I generously handed to them. Good luck to them, I say, 'cause they'll need it."
If Will's eyes could have widened more at this, they would have.
"You told them I died?! If that reaches Elizabeth's ears--"
"We will be done and you'll be with Miss Swann again by then," Jack assured him. "News travels slow, after all. Do you know how long it took me to find out where you would drop anchor next and so finally catch up with you? And I was even looking for you!"
Will blinked a couple of times, trying to register what was Jack telling him.
"Looking for me?" he echoed softly, all feelings of anger ebbing away. It was then that everything fell into place. "I was the 'something' you meant to pick up!"
"You catch on fast," commented Sparrow, grinning.
"But… Why?"
"I did say you can come with me and help me out with my job to the western colonies, mate."
"Yes, you did… and I remember clearly that I said no!" said Will indignantly.
"And I noted it; but there is a difference between 'you can come with me' and 'I'm offering you the option to choose if you can come with me or not', savvy?" replied Jack.
The former blacksmith sighed hopelessly.
"Jack, I had my reasons when I said I didn't want to drift too far away from these waters," he said sadly. He could almost feel his heart bleeding at every mile the Black Pearl sailed, separating him even more from Elizabeth and their home.
"As I had my reasons to bring you here," answered Jack. To Will's surprise, his tone had discarded the nonchalant manner that it usually had, to be replaced by a tinge of worry and regret. Before Turner could ask for any further explanations, however, Jack had already gone up to the steering wheel and relieved the helmsman by assuming control of the ship himself.
"What reasons?" mused Will under his breath. What could be so important that Jack just had to bring him on the Black Pearl in such a way?
"His brother," said then Gibbs, approaching the lad and cutting into his train of thought. "No one has seen him for the last three months."