The Black Pearl was approaching Port Royal, and within the hour would be close enough to allow a party to go ashore. The pirate ship was already within view of the fort, and would soon be well within firing range of any cannons that happened to be pointed her way. Jack stood at the ship's wheel, keeping the ship on course. He was determined to speak with Commodore Norrington, but the rest of the crew wasn't particularly fond of the idea of walking into the hands of the Royal Navy. Mr. Gibbs was designated, as usual, to voice the concerns of the crew.

"Captain, are you sure this is a good idea?"

Jack turned and frowned at his first mate. "Are you implying your intentions to disregard your Captain's orders?"

"Of course not," Gibbs said quickly. "But Jack, don't you think it might be a bit foolish to just sail right on up to the Commodore's harbor? Won't his Royal Navy boys see us coming?"

"If they've got eyes, likely yes."

"And you're not at all concerned about, I don't know, being shot? Or hanged?"

Jack turned away again, putting his hand resolutely on the ship's wheel and making a show of his determination to continue. "Norrington wouldn't hang me," he said. "Not once he knows I've come to save him a very unwelcome surprise later on, and perhaps, with his permission, assist in alleviating the adverse effects of the upcoming surprise."

Gibbs sighed. "Jack, you don't even know for sure where Beckett's headed. It could be anywhere."

"Not England," Jack threw over his shoulder. "Proof enough that his intentions are not nearly as honorable as he would like to think he's made us think."

"Even so..." Gibbs crossed around in front of Jack to face him. "Is it really worth risking our necks just to save the Commodore a bit of trouble, which might not even come, or might not even be trouble at all?"

"Mr. Gibbs," Jack said, "who of the two of us be the Captain here?"

"That'd be you, of course, but - "

"Good. That's what I thought. For a moment there you had me concerned I'd gotten myself confused with someone else."

Most of the crew had forgotten about the map in Jack's possession. Few people even knew of the map's existence, and Jack was perfectly happy to keep it that way. The map did what his compass couldn't. The map spoke to one person at a time, showing the locations of any others who the viewer wanted to observe. Since parting ways after the skirmish at the Northwest Shortcut, Jack had checked Cutler Beckett's location every day, and then more frequently when it became apparent that Beckett was not returning to England as he had promised. Instead, it seemed that Lord Beckett was headed for Port Royal.

"I hope you know what you're doing, Jack," Gibbs said, shaking his head and pulling out his ever-present flask of rum. "I've got a bad feeling about this."

"You'd be having a far worse feeling if Beckett comes after us once he's rendered the Commodore incapable of providing any sort of assistance," Jack replied. "He wants revenge and we can't let him have it."

Ruby woke up when the sunrise lit up her room, and went out into the hallway. The house seemed empty, and she wondered if the Commodore was already gone for the day until she saw that his coat and hat hanging on a rack by the door and his sword and pistol were sitting on a table nearby. That they weren't still lying on the chair where he had tossed them was the first evidence Ruby had seen of the housekeeper. She looked around the house a little, tentatively venturing into rooms and feeling pleased when she recognized them from the tour she had received, though she soon found herself turned around and lost, eventually ending up in the kitchen.

A loaf of sliced bread was set out on the table next to a jar of jam, and two empty teacups sat next to a steaming teapot. Ruby frowned slightly and glanced around the kitchen for the housekeeper. The tea must have been set out just recently, but Ruby saw no sign of Henrietta or anyone else.

She heard a small movement from the front room, and went towards it to where she found the Commodore sitting in his chair, resting his head against the back of the chair. The curtains were still drawn, but the weak sunlight had the room half-illuminated. He turned when he heard Ruby enter the room.

She smiled at him. "I thought you had a meeting with the governor this morning," she said.

"I do," he replied.

Ruby wasn't sure where to stand. She was very aware of the Commodore's high-class furnishings and wasn't sure how to interact with the chairs and tables and even the carpet. She positioned herself next to the chair by the sofa across from the Commodore. "Is everything all right?" she asked.

"Everything's fine," he said, quickly, to reassure her. He rested his head back against the chair again and rubbed his eyes. "I'm just not feeling well this morning."

"So, you're sitting here trying to summon the willpower to go all the way to the fort?"

He coughed, and tried to force a smile. "Something like that," he said. "Jacobs is bringing the carriage around."

"You really don't sound good. Do you want some water?" she asked. "I'll get you some water." Ruby went to the kitchen and came right back with a cup of water. She handed it to Norrington and cautiously sat down in the chair across from him.

He thanked her and drank the water, and she looked around the room. The furniture wasn't new, but it wasn't suffering from age, either. The furnishings in the Commodore's home were not nearly as showy as they could have been for a man of his station, but the home could hardly be called modest. If the curtains were open, the harbor and the ocean would have been visible from the wide front window. The house suited the man.

"Henrietta's likely gone to town already," Norrington said. "If you see her when she returns, would you tell her I'll be home early today? Just after the meeting."

Ruby started to agree, then paused, hesitating as she saw the shadows under the Commodore's tired eyes. It was obvious that the last thing he wanted to do was get up out of his chair and go meet with the governor. "Shouldn't you be in bed?"

"I promised the governor a meeting."

"You're not well."

"Ruby..." he sighed, beginning a protest. Then he closed his eyes and rested his head back against the chair, admitting defeat. "I know," he said. "You're right." He pushed himself out of the chair. "Is Jacobs outside yet?"

"I'll have him send the governor your regrets," Ruby said, then cut off his automatic protest. "Just let me do it."

Norrington coughed again, and gave up. "I'm going to bed."

Ruby went outside and met Jacobs as he brought the carriage up to the house, and gave him the Commodore's message. The man seemed confused at first, and Ruby realized he had no idea who she was. But she finally got the message through. Apparently the servant agreed with Ruby's assessment of the Commodore's health. As Jacobs took the carriage back, Ruby looked out towards the harbor, enjoying the beautiful view. She saw the Commodore's ships, several smaller ships, and then she frowned as she saw a ship she recognized. It had black sails. The Black Pearl was in Port Royal.

Ruby stared at the ship for a moment, wondering what Jack could possibly be doing in Port Royal, but then she decided to think about it later. She had no doubt that Jack would make his intentions known soon enough. Ruby went back inside, remembering the fresh pot of tea in the kitchen. A few minutes later, she found her way to the Commodore's bedroom, carrying a tray with tea and fresh water. The Commodore's door was left halfway open, and she knocked on the door frame before cautiously opening it the rest of the way.

Norrington was lying on top of the bed with his hand over his eyes. He looked over at Ruby when she came into the room.

"I brought you some tea." Ruby set the tray down on a small desk by the bed and filled a teacup.

Norrington sat up on the edge of the bed. "You don't have to do that."

"I know." Ruby handed him the teacup. "Tea, with lemon and a little honey for your throat."

"Thank you." He took a small sip from the cup. It helped.

Ruby filled a cup with water and left it on the desk by the bed. "Do you need anything else?"

"I'm fine," he said.

"You're really not."

"All right, but I have no intention of making you my nurse."

"Well, of course. You know better than to think you could make me do anything I didn't intend to do anyway."

He smiled slightly, trying not to let his frustration show. "Thank you," he said again. Any other day he would have found the light banter entertaining. Today his head ached and he was exhausted, and he really didn't want Ruby to keep seeing him like this. At the same time, though, he was glad she was there.

Here it is: the promise of conflict with everyone's favorite villain. (Or least favorite, depending on how you look at it.) Leave a review and let me have some feedback from you guys!